Florida senior center Mike Pouncey, expected to be the focal point of the offensive line this season, said he may have to start the year at tackle because of the injuries the team has suffered in preseason. Tackles Matt Patchan (broken wrist) and Xavier Nixon (knee) are both still trying to get back to full speed from camp injuries. Nixon figures to miss the Sept. 4 opener after having minor surgery and Patchan still isn’t taking full contact. “I might have to play tackle the first couple of games, so we’ll see. I thought I was going to play center but I’ll do whatever I need for us to win games and if it means me ending up having to play tackle that’s what it’s going to be,” Pouncey said. He added there was a “good chance” it will happen. If Pouncey moves to
Monthly Archives: August 2010
Scouts Flock To Villanova For Ben Ijalana
Just the thought of being in a select fraternity brought a smile to Ben Ijalana’s face. Earlier this month, the Villanova left tackle rattled off the names of three former Rancocas Valley High products who played in the NFL. “Alonzo Spellman, Franco Harris, and Irving Fryar,” said Ijalana, a 2007 Rancocas Valley graduate. “Those are all greats.” If everything goes as planned, the 6-foot-4, 320-pound senior’s name may be added to that list. NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said most NFL teams give the Wildcat a third-round grade. “He’s barely 6-foot-4, but he’s got long arms,” said Mayock, who think Ijalana is suited to play left tackle in the NFL. “He’s got real good feet. And in a pass-first league, he’s the kind of tackle teams are looking for.” — Philadelphia Inquirer
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Lance Kendricks Embraces Blocking | Stock Up
Going into his senior year, the 6-foot-4, 241-pound Lance Kendricks is back on the national radar as one of the tight ends on the John Mackey Award watch list. This comes on the heels of Kendricks’ eye-opening performance (seven catches for 128 yards) against Miami (Fla.) in last December’s Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Fla. In addition, Kendricks is one of six UW captains for 2010, joining Carimi, who’s regarded as a first-round NFL draft choice. (Bscherer left the program last spring.) UW tight ends coach Joe Rudolph, a former offensive guard for the program, likes the way Kendricks handles himself physically as a lead blocker for the tailback at the point of attack. “He’s about as tough as they come and he plays big,” Rudolph said. “Boy, he’s blossomed into a really good player. And you have to love his unselfishness, his greatest attribute. Ask him
NFL Team Capsules: Denver Broncos
Studs: RB Knowshon Moreno, WR Jabar Gaffney, OT Ryan Clady, CB Champ Bailey
Duds: LB Elvis Dumervil (out for season with pectoral tear)
Sleepers: QB Tim Tebow, RB LenDale White, WR Eddie Royal
X-Factor: Are the Denver Broncos players buying into Josh McDaniels’ coaching style?
Synopsis: The team seems to have gone backwards since Mike Shanahan was fired and Josh McDaniels was hired. The Broncos had budding, young superstars in the making with QB Jay Cutler and WR Brandon Marshall but jettisoned them off due to poor attitude and contract demands. The new faces on offense consist of QB Kyle Orton, WR Jabar Gaffney and a man named Tim Tebow. One bright spot on offense is OT Ryan Clady who has been nothing short of spectacular during his first two seasons. Denver selected
NFL Team Capsules: Oakland Raiders
Studs: TE Zach Miller, LB Rolando McClain (rookie)
Duds: RB Darren McFadden, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey
Sleepers: LB Kamerion Wimbley (sacked Jay Cutler four times in one preseason game)
X-Factor: Can QB Jason Campbell bring this team back to respectability?
Synopsis: The JaMarcus Russell experiment came to a screeching halt after three horrid seasons, in which the former number one overall pick failed to do anything positive. Enter new starting QB Jason Campbell, who brings a little bit of hope if nothing else. Another former first round pick RB Darren McFadden has also failed to deliver but he suddenly finds himself as the featured back once again with the recent thumb injury to RB Michael Bush. Yet another first round bust, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey had just nine catches during his rookie season. Look for
NFL Team Capsules: Kansas City Chiefs
Studs: RB Thomas Jones, RB Jamaal Charles, WR Dwayne Bowe, OT Brandon Albert
Duds: DE/DT Glenn Dorsey, DE Tyson Jackson
Sleepers: RB/WR Dexter McCluster (R), LB Andy Studebaker, CB/KR Javier Arenas
X-Factor: Coaches Reunited. HC Todd Haley, OC Charlie Weiss, DC Romeo Crennel.
Synopsis: General Manager Scott Pioli has managed to assemble an all-star roster of coaches, bringing in OC Charlie Weis and DC Romeo Crennel to join head coach Todd Haley all of whom are Bill Parcells disciples. Whether or not that can help turn QB Matt Cassel into a NFL quarterback remains to be seen. The running attack will carry the offense, literally. The committee consists of RB Thomas Jones (Jets), dynamic RB Jamaal Charles and 5’7 RB/WR Dexter McCluster, a second round pick who brings big-play potential. WR Dwayne Bowe is
NFL Team Capsules: San Diego Chargers
Studs: QB Phillip Rivers, RB Ryan Mathews (rookie), WR Malcolm Floyd, TE A. Gates
Duds: WR Vincent Jackson
Sleepers: RB Darren Sproles, WR Legedu Naanee
X-Factor: Will WR Vincent Jackson and OT Marcus McNeil holdouts ever end?
Synopsis: The troubling storyline entering the season remains the ugly, lengthy holdouts by All Pros, WR Vincent Jackson and OT Marcus McNeil. Both have threatened to sit out the entire season, which is bad news for QB Philip Rivers who is in danger of losing his favorite target and the man who protects his blind side. First round pick RB Ryan Mathews was drafted to replace LaDainian Tomlinson (Jets) and backup RB Darren Sproles may be called upon to play a larger role in the passing attack with the absence of Jackson. Look for WR Malcom
Charles Scott Dealt to the Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals have acquired RB/FB Charles Scott from the Eagles in exchange for fellow rookie CB Jorrick Calvin.
Mancini’s Take: Scott is reportedly being looked upon as a fullback. After performing well in OTAs with Philly, the rookie fell out of favor when he proved to be a step slow at halfback and also dropped some catchable balls during the preseason. The Cards have brought in the former LSU Tiger to replace Nehemiah Broughton, who is out for the season with an ACL injury. This isn’t the end of the road for Chuck “The Truck”; he may end up being a fine lead blocker in the mold of a Tony Richardson. The sooner he accepts the fact that he isn’t a halfback, the better it will be for him. Despite his lack of speed, Scott is still a punishing runner who can be useful around the goal line. It
Top Draft Eligible OLB Prospects In The Land
The NFL Draft Bible big board rankings are based on the accumulation of BLESTO and NATIONAL reports, in addition to feedback from NFL personnel, college football coaches and internal scouting department:
QB RB FB WR TE OT OG C DT DE OLB ILB CB SS FS ST
| TOP DRAFT ELIGIBLE OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS | ||||||||
| # | FIRST NAME | LAST NAME | SCHOOL | HT | WT | 40 | INFO | |
| 1 | Bruce | Carter | North Carolina | 6030 | 225 | <span style="color:
NFL Team Capsules: Jacksonville JaguarsStuds: RB Maurice Jones-Drew, WR Mike Sims-Walker, DE Aaron Kampman Duds: QB David Garrard Sleepers: QB Luke McCown, RB Rashad Jennings, WR Mike Thomas X-Factor: Is there a quarterback controversy brewing in Jacksonville? Synopsis: The Jaguars suddenly have an unexpected quarterback controversy, as backup QB Luke McCown has outplayed starting QB David Garrard during the preseason games. At this point, head coach Jack Del Rio will try just about anything to save his job, he is on the hot seat! RB Maurice Jones-Drew is a mini-cannonball and one of the finest runners in the league. Jacksonville has collected a bunch of mediocre wide receivers and really don’t have much behind WR Mike Sims-Walker. They are hoping that OTs Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton will pay dividends with a year under their belt, after | ||