Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 730 of 1503)

      2009 NFL Preview: #23 Buffalo Bills

      September 2, 2009 /

      Check out all of our 2009 NFL team previews.

      Offseason Additions: Terrell Owens (WR); Dominic Rhodes (RB); Drayton Florence (CB); Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB); Geoff Hangartner (C).

      Offseason Losses: Jason Peters (OT); Derrick Dockery (G); Angelo Crowell (LB); Jabari Greer (CB); Melvin Fowler (C); Duke Preston (C); Robert Royal (TE); J.P. Losman (QB).

      Player to Watch: Terrell Owens, WR.
      With how much attention he has drawn to himself since signing with Buffalo, is there anyone else that fits this section better than T.O.? Even though a toe injury has sidelined him for the entire preseason, Owens will be healthy and ready to play in the Bills’ season opener. While many expect him to tear the locker room apart as he did, well, everywhere else’s he’s been, don’t forget that Owens is usually a model citizen in his first year with a team. Expect T.O. to be more flamboyant in Buffalo than destructive…at least until he’s ready to tear quarterback Trent Edwards’ face off for not getting him the ball enough.

      Team Strength: The Bills actually have a couple of strong positional groups this year, including wide receiver and defensive tackle. (The Bills always have the best special teams in the league as well, but who wants to talk about special teams?) But the secondary is the best unit on this team. Thanks to a pair of playmaking cornerbacks in Terence McGee and Leodis McKelvin, as well as solid free safety Donte Whitner, Buffalo is going to be hard to pass on this season. Throw in a savvy veteran like Bryan Scott (although Jairus Byrd or Ko Simpson could push him out as starter) at strong safety and the Bills are solid at all four defensive back positions. The nickel back position should be strong as well with the addition of free agent Drayton Florence and developing second-year player Reggie Corner.

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      2009 NFL Preview: #24 San Francisco 49ers

      September 2, 2009 /

      Check out all of our 2009 NFL team previews.

      Offseason Additions: Dre’ Bly (CB); Demetric Evans (DE); Brandon Jones (WR).

      Offseason Losses: Jonas Jennings (OT); Bryant Johnson (WR); Tully Banta-Cain (LB); J.T. O’Sullivan (QB); Donald Strickland (CB).

      Player to Watch: Glen Coffee, RB.
      No, Coffee isn’t going to unseat Frank Gore as San Fran’s starting running back. But the third round pick out of Alabama has definitely earned some playing time after impressing coaches this preseason. Coffee has showed good burst, speed and blitz-pickup ability. The Niners are expecting to keep the ball mostly on the ground this season, so Coffee will get a fair amount of carries and could even emerge as a sleeper to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.

      Team Strength: The 49ers boast a pair of solid running backs in Gore and Coffee. San Fran expects to use a 60-40 mix when it comes to running and passing, which means Gore and Coffee will get plenty of opportunities to make plays this season. Although Coffee has earned playing time with a terrific preseason, Gore will remain the backbone of the offense. He’ll get a sizeable workload in both the running and passing game and as long as the 49ers’ offensive line doesn’t hold him back, Gore is in store for a big season.

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      2009 NFL Preview: #25 Denver Broncos

      September 2, 2009 /

      Check out all of our 2009 NFL team previews.

      Offseason Additions: Kyle Orton (QB); Brian Dawkins (S); Andre’ Goodman (CB); Renaldo Hill (S); Jabar Gaffney (WR); LaMont Jordan (RB); Correll Buckhalter (RB); Andra Davis (LB); Chris Simms (QB); J.J. Arrington (RB); Brandon Llyod (WR); Ronald Fields (DT); Nick Greisen (LB).

      Offseason Losses: Jay Cutler (QB); Dre’ Bly (CB); Erik Pears (RB); Michael Pittman (RB); Nate Webster (LB); Jamie Winborn (LB); Ebenezer Ekuban (DE); Darrell Jackson (WR); Dewayne Robertson (DT); Patrick Ramsey (QB).

      Player to Watch: Knowshown Moreno, RB.
      Moreno will excel as a pass catcher in Josh McDaniels’ offense and should find plenty of running room behind the Broncos’ solid offensive line. He has outstanding vision and has picked up the art of pass-blocking. Although he’s been limited the past few weeks after suffering a MCL sprain in Denver’s preseason opener, Moreno is on track to play in Week 1. As long as he stays healthy, he could emerge as the Broncos’ every down back.

      Team Strength: Led by tackles Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris, the Broncos have one of the best offensive lines in football. As a rookie, Clady demonstrated outstanding run-blocking skills and strength at the point of attack. Harris isn’t as athletically gifted as Clady, but he surrendered just 2.5 sacks last year and has excellent technique. Center Casey Wiegmann and guards Ben Hamilton and Chris Kuper are solid pass-blockers, although they could struggle with run-blocking as the team transitions out of the old zone-blocking scheme.

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      2009 NFL Preview: #26 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

      September 2, 2009 /

      Check out all of our 2009 NFL team previews.

      Offseason Additions: Kellen Winslow Jr. (TE); Angelo Crowell (LB); Derrick Ward (RB); Byron Leftwich (QB); Mike Nugent (K).

      Offseason Losses: Jovan Haye (DT); Derrick Brooks (LB); Jeff Garcia (QB); Phillip Buchanon (CB); Kevin Carter (DE); Joey Galloway (WR); Cato June (LB); Warrick Dunn (RB); Ike Hilliard (WR).

      Player to Watch: Kellen Winslow Jr., TE.
      The Bucs didn’t trade their second round pick in April’s draft to have Winslow block. As long as he stays healthy, the new coaching regime expects Winslow to play a big role in the Bucs’ passing game. Winslow will not only line up at tight end, but also in the slot in efforts to create mismatches on slower linebackers. Considering he’s Tampa’s second best receiving option after Antonio Bryant, Winslow should see plenty of targets this season from new quarterback Byron Leftwich.

      Team Strength: The Bucs have one of the most underrated offensive lines in the NFL. Earnest Graham and Derrick Ward should see plenty of running lanes thanks to Tampa’s zone-blocking scheme and a quintet of athletic linemen. Of the five starters, right guard Davin Joseph is the most talented and excels in pass protection. Right tackle Jeremy Trueblood doesn’t have the quickest feet, but he more than makes up for his shortcomings with a nasty demeanor that aids him in one-on-one matchups. Donald Penn (an agile, technically sound tackle) and Aarron Sears are on the left side, although former third round pick Jeremy Zuttah could unseat Sears for the starting left guard position at some point. Jeff Faine gives the group a smart, instinctive center.

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      White Sox might shut down Peavy for 2009

      September 2, 2009 /

      The White Sox are considering shutting down Jake Peavy for the rest of the 2009 season at the risk of further injuring his elbow.

      From the Chicago Tribune:

      “Believe me, if we fall more and I don’t think deep inside my heart and my guts that we have a chance, I will tell [general manager Ken Williams and pitching coach Don Cooper] to just shut him down and wait for next year,” manager Ozzie Guillen said. “I am honest with myself. It’s funny, because you can tell the fans anything you want. But when you go to sleep and think about how good you are or how bad you are, you’re not lying.”

      Time could be against Peavy because the minor-league regular season ends Monday. Double-A Birmingham will advance to the playoffs, so that could be Peavy’s option if he recovers in time to pitch in a minor-league game.

      Even though it would be disheartening for fans to see the White Sox’s new toy shut down without making his Chicago debut in ’09, it would be the right move. The Chi Sox are currently 7 games back of the Tigers in the AL Central and it isn’t worth risking injury to Peavy when he’d only pitch in three or four games anyway.

      Shut it down.

      MLB

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