Category: NFL (Page 133 of 1282)

      Kaepernick in the mix to start for 49ers?

      April 30, 2011 /

      49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh told the media on Friday that second round pick Colin Kaepernick will be given the opportunity to start as a rookie.

      “Alex (Smith) has the ability the license to be the starting quarterback and so does Colin,” Harbaugh said.

      Smith is a free agent but the consensus seems to be that San Fran will bring him back on a one or two-year deal – assuming he wants to return, that is. If the 49ers do bring Smith back, he would be the favorite to start over Kaepernick next year, and he should be.

      I don’t want to take Harbaugh’s comments out of context. He’s a former NFL quarterback and he knows that sometimes it takes a while for a young signal caller to grasp playing in the pros. But I don’t like the idea of Kaepernick starting right away. He played in the pistol offense at Nevada – no matter how talented he is, it’s going to take some time for him to learn how to play in a pro-style offense. Imagine being taught Spanish in college and then turning around having to learn Italian in order to succeed in your profession. It’s going to take some time and Kaepernick should hold a clipboard in his first year.

      Now, before 49er fans get upset with me and call me a moron because they think I’m criticizing Kaepernick – I’m not. In fact, this is what I wrote in my “15 Observations from the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft” piece after the Niners took Kaepernick on Friday evening:

      3. It may take a couple of years but give Jim Harbaugh some time and he could turn Colin Kaepernick into a good pro quarterback. Kaepernick is a bit of a project but the kid has good size, a great arm and is one hell of an athlete. He has all the tools to succeed and if fans are patient, this could wind up being a beautiful marriage.

      If he turns out to be the rookie of the year, then great! I would love to see Kaepernick succeed because he’s easy to root for. I just think everyone in the Bay area should be patient when it comes to this young man‘s development. He could be a real good quarterback in due time.

      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

      15 Observations from the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft

      April 29, 2011 /
      The National Football League logo is displayed near the stage during round one of the 2011 NFL Draft Pick at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York City. UPI/Monika Graff

      Here are 15 observations, thoughts and projections (sure to be wrong knowing my luck with predictions on prospects) from the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

      1. Hey kids, if you want to be a NFL quarterback…don’t…do…drugs. I’ve never seen so many quarterback-needy teams stay away from a prototypical pocket passer like they’re doing with Ryan Mallett this year. I may be in the minority here, but I think he’s going to be a steal no matter where he winds up. (Side Note: Before this article went live, I saw that Mallett got taken by the Patriots in the third round. Bill Belichick is going to make this kid a winner someday.)

      2. Andy Dalton may not have the strongest arm but he’s a solid fit for Jay Gruden’s offense in Cincinnati. I’m thinking the dream scenario for the Bengals would be for Carson Palmer to suck it up for one more season and then they can turn the keys over to Dalton in 2012. But if Palmer is done, the Bengals can sign a veteran and bring Dalton along slowly.

      3. It may take a couple of years but give Jim Harbaugh some time and he could turn Colin Kaepernick into a good pro quarterback. Kaepernick is a bit of a project but the kid has good size, a great arm and is one hell of an athlete. He has all the tools to succeed and if fans are patient, this could wind up being a beautiful marriage.

      4. The Browns did well in the first two rounds. Not only did they acquire 62 picks from the Falcons in exchange for the No. 6 overall selection, but Mike Holmgren addressed needs along the D-line with Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard, and at receiver with Greg Little (who isn’t Julio Jones but he’s a solid prospect nonetheless). All three players should see action as rookies.

      5. So what does it say about Beanie Wells if the Cardinals are taking Ryan Williams in the second round? If Williams stays healthy, he’s an explosive runner with good vision but he’s going to have to fight for carries next year in the desert. Given how many needs Arizona has, this is a strange fit.

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      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

      ESPN reports that stay was granted, then retracts story

      April 29, 2011 /
      NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell does a television interview before the 2011 NFL football Draft in New York, April 28, 2011. REUTERS/MIke Segar (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      ESPN reported that St. Louis’ Eighth Circuit Court granted a “stay” of the lockout injunction on Friday, but then retracted the story.

      From Rotoworld.com:

      Yahoo Sports’ Mike Silver is still reporting that a stay is expected, but it isn’t official yet. Some reports claimed teams were already kicking players out of their facilities; that isn’t the case. Expect a formal ruling to be handed down from the Eighth Circuit Court before the start of round two.

      How ridiculous is it that in the midst of all this hype for the draft, the owners are waiting to hear if their lockout can continue? If you flip on NFL Network or ESPN right now, all the talk is about whether or not these prospects will pan out and what kind of impact they’ll make for their team next year. And yet, there is no season as of right now.

      If Roger Goodell makes more appearances at Radio City Music Hall this weekend, he can expect more boos from fans.

      Fans on Thursday night: “We want football! We want football!”

      Goodell: “I hear ya – me, too.”

      What a joke.

      External Sports, NFL

      The Falcons’ first round trade has been three months in the making

      April 29, 2011 /
      Wide receiver Julio Jones of the University of Alabama stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected as the sixth overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2011 NFL football Draft in New York, April 28, 2011. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      Heading into this year’s draft, the overall consensus was that the Falcons would use their first round pick (No. 27 overall) on defense after they gave up 48 points in an embarrassing Divisional Round loss to the Packers last January.

      But that ugly showing inside the Georgia Dome that night must have showed GM Thomas Dimitroff that he had a more pressing need than defense. One that facilitated the biggest trade so far of the 2011 NFL Draft.

      It was apparent in the Falcons’ loss to the Packers that they didn’t have another receiver opposite Roddy White to stretch the defense. In fact, the Falcons had an issue all season in gaining yards after the catch. Tight end Tony Gonzalez is still productive, but he’s lost a step over the years. Michael Jenkins comes up with a couple of clutch receptions every season and is a solid blocker in the run game (an important skill in Atlanta‘s offense), but he doesn’t threaten defenses with his speed. Slot receiver Harry Douglas does have good speed, but he’s been slow to recover from a knee injury that he suffered in training camp in 2010.

      So Dimitroff packaged five picks (including his 2012 first round selection) in order to move all the way up to No. 6 (which was the Browns’ original pick) in order to select Alabama receiver Julio Jones in the first round on Thursday night. Jones is the ultimate blue-chip prospect. He can break tackles, make plays after the catch and yes, stretch defenses vertically. Assuming Jones isn’t a bust in the making, defenses won’t be able to double-team White and Matt Ryan now has even more weapons at his disposal.

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      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

      Cam Newton to get the chance to start as a rookie?

      April 29, 2011 /
      Quarterback Cam Newton of Auburn University poses with a jersey after being selected as the first overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in the 2011 NFL football Draft in New York, April 28, 2011. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      Panthers’ head coach Ron Rivera indicated after the draft that No. 1 overall pick Cam Newton will have the opportunity to play as a rookie.

      “Cam will play when Cam gets himself ready to play,” Rivera said. “I’m putting a little bit of a challenge out there for him. That’s what he thrives on.”

      As long as the Panthers don’t rush Newton’s development or force him to play before he’s ready, there’s nothing wrong with handing the keys over to a rookie. Granted, it didn’t work for Carolina last year with Jimmy Clausen, but the Ravens and Falcons obviously had success with Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan, both of which took their respective teams to the playoffs in their rookie years. Even though he eventually suffered an injury, Matthew Stafford had some success as a rookie in Detroit, too.

      Does that mean Newton will have as much success as Flacco or Ryan? Of course not. But teams seem a little less apprehensive these days than they were 10-12 years ago when guys like Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith and Joey Harrington were ruining lives. If the Panthers can simplify the playbook and allow Newton to mainly use athletic ability next year, then maybe he/they will find some success in his rookie season.

      Like any top-10 quarterback, the projections on Newton seem to be mixed. Assuming he beats out Clausen for the starting job in training camp, we may find out right away if Newton can have an impact in the pros.

      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

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