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      2009 NFL Preview: #20 Seattle Seahawks

      September 3, 2009 /

      Check out all of our 2009 NFL team previews.

      Offseason Additions: T.J. Houshmandzadeh (WR); Egerrin James (RB); Ken Lucas (CB); Bryan Pittman (C); Justin Griffith (FB); Colin Cole (DT).

      Offseason Losses: Julian Peterson (LB); Leonard Weaver (FB); Bobby Engram (WR); Rocky Bernard (DT); Maurice Morris (RB).

      Player to Watch: Aaron Curry, LB.
      Curry was the most talented defensive player in the 2009 draft and the Hawks were fortunate that he slipped to them with the fourth pick because he could have gone No. 1 overall. Curry will start at strong-side linebacker and will also see action at defensive end. He’s a gifted, versatile athlete that can play multiple positions and once he learns the nuances of the pro game, he could excel as a pass rusher. He will also have an impact in pass coverage while blanketing tight ends with his excellent speed.

      Team Strength: While their pass defense is a concern entering the season, the Seahawks’ run defense is not. Veteran middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu has excellent sideline-to-sideline speed, is tenacious and excels at shedding blocks. Tatupu will be aided by the re-signing of Leroy Hill, who is undersized but also a gifted playmaker. Julian Peterson won’t be easy to replace, but Curry is certainly up to the task – even as a rookie. What Curry brings to the field in terms of pass rushing ability and athleticism should more than make up for the trade of Peterson. As long as Curry doesn’t turn out to be a bust, this is an outstanding linebacker trio.

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      NFL

      Review of “Shooting Stars,” the LeBron James autobiography

      September 3, 2009 /

      TrueHoop isn’t fond of it.

      There are fascinating elements of the James story that have not been told. He was an amateur high-school player worth millions, and for years he was on rails to be an NBA superstar. What was the role of William Wesley (whom James called, in a GQ article, a “great role model”?) How did James navigate that forest of those who congregated to influence him, give him things and skirt the rules? Can he tell us more about the fascinating character of his mother? Did he know Sonny Vaccaro, Phil Knight or any of the various other stars in the constellation of youth basketball? What kinds of overtures did he get from colleges? Did anyone ever offer to help him cheat on his SATs? How did agents, financial advisers and the like approach him? How did he build the most important financial relationship of his life, with Nike? How did he choose his first agent, Aaron Goodwin? How is it LeBron’s close friend Maverick Carter got a job at Nike while James was in school?

      But James and Bissinger essentially passed. If you’re looking for a dose of reality, look elsewhere.

      Instead we get some touching but shallow insight into how much he likes his friends. Some pretty basic denials of wrongdoing in the little controversies that were in the paper (the expensive Humvee he drove with no visible means of support, the retro jerseys he accepted as a gift) and a little story about getting in trouble for once smoking marijuana.

      It’s safe to the point of glossy. Barack Obama, running for the highest office in the land, took more chances.

      It shouldn’t be all that surprising that James took the safe way out. His persona is generally calculated and anytime he does speak off the cuff (not shaking hands after the Magic series, rooting for the Yankees, being loyal to Akron, etc.), he usually gets in trouble. Maybe we’ll get the real story in 10 or 20 years after he hangs ’em up.

      NBA, Reviews

      Bucs fire offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski

      September 3, 2009 /

      In a surprising move, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have fired offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski, who was hired in January.

      From NFL Fanhouse.com:

      Jagodzinski spent the last two seasons as Boston College’s head coach, but he was fired early this year after he interviewed for the New York Jets’ head coaching job against the wishes of the BC athletic department. He didn’t get the Jets job, but new Tampa Bay head coach Raheem Morris hired Jagodzinski as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator shortly after.

      But now Morris has fired Jagodzinski and replaced him with quarterbacks coach Greg Olson. It is not clear why Morris fired Jagodzinski, but the big story in Tampa Bay’s training camp this year has been the quarterback competition between Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown, and there’s already speculation that Morris and Jagodzinski butted heads over the decision to start Leftwich.

      It’s important to keep in mind that the offensive terminology will stay the same as Olson takes over, so it’s not like the Bucs are going to have to learn a completely new offense. That said, this is not an ideal situation just 11 days before the start of the regular season. If his coaches aren’t on the same page, Morris has the right to jettison one of them so that the rest of his staff can be cohesive. But this is a stunner and it’ll be interesting to see if any more details are released.

      I guess Jags shouldn’t have flirted with the Jets last year (which led to his ousting at Boston College).

      NFL

      Fantasy Football: 10 Late Bloomers to Watch

      September 3, 2009 /

      Usually, the term “late bloomer” is used to describe someone that raises his level of play later than usual in his career, but in this case I’m referring to guys that have become fantasy relevant late in preseason. I wasn’t thinking about these players when I put together our fantasy football preview or even when I suggested several late round WR sleepers. These guys emerged as viable fantasy players as injuries took their toll, position battles were won and depth charts were adjusted.

      Maybe it’s too late to draft these players, but they’re worth considering when scouring the waiver wire for help.

      In no particular order…

      1. Brian Hartline, WR, Dolphins
      I really like Davone Bess and Greg Camarillo in PPR leagues, but it appears that Hartline has passed both on the Miami depth chart. This is a fuzzy, fluid battle. Hartline is a deep threat as evidenced by his 56-yard grab against the Bucs last week. Reports this week have Hartline and Camarillo rotating at flanker with the first team. Given his rise, I like the rookie Hartline here, but since he plays with a weak-armed QB on a run-oriented team, he’s only worth a flier in the late rounds. 9/7 Update: Now it appears that Greg Camarillo is the starter opposite Ginn in MIA. This situation continues to be very fluid.

      2. Justin Gage, WR, Titans
      3. Kenny Britt, WR, Titans
      Nate Washington’s hamstring injury opened the door for both these players to get off to a good start early in the season. Britt is the high upside rookie, while Gage is the under-the-radar vet. Gage appears to be the safer option at this point, because he should still be the starter when Washington returns and has always been pretty productive when healthy. In the last preseason game, he posted 6-57-1 and looks to be Kerry Collins’ go-to guy. Meanwhile, Britt has shown flashes of excellence (like his 89-yard effort in the previous game), but he still looks overwhelmed at times. If you need help early on, Gage is your man, but Britt isn’t a bad guy to stash on your bench.

      4. Shaun Hill, QB, 49ers
      Now that it’s finally clear that he’ll be the 49ers’ starting QB, it’s safe to draft Hill in the later rounds. He was quite productive fantasy-wise in 2008, posting 227 yards and 1.4 pass TD over the last nine games. He also rushed for two TD. He faces an easy schedule and should have more weapons in the passing game once Michael Crabtree signs and if Vernon Davis ever reaches his potential. Hill is a sneaky good pick in the 11th or 12th round as a backup (or as part of a QBBC).

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      Fantasy Football

      2009 NFL Preview: #21 Jacksonville Jaguars

      September 3, 2009 /

      Check out all of our 2009 NFL team previews.

      Offseason Additions: Torry Holt (WR); Tra Thomas (OT); Marlon McCree (S); Sean Considine (S).

      Offseason Losses: Paul Spicer (DE); Mike Peterson (LB); Khalif Barnes (OT); Reggie Williams (WR); Matt Jones (WR); Chris Naeole (G); Fred Taylor (RB); Gerald Sensabaugh (S); Jerry Proter (WR); Drayton Florence (CB).

      Player to Watch: Maurice Jones-Drew, RB.
      Now that Fred Taylor is in New England, the spotlight is solely on the highly talented MJD this season. The Jaguars figure to rely on MJD in the same fashion as the Eagles have relied on Brian Westbrook throughout the years, which can be viewed as both a positive and a negative. While giving MJD more opportunities to make plays in the offense is a plus, he’s never had over 300 touches and he’s expected to get 330-350 touches this season. Nobody doubts his ability to succeed, but can he carry Jacksonville’s offense or will he wear down?

      Team Strength: Injuries ravaged the offensive line last year and sunk the Jaguars’ entire season. Now healthy and bolstered by the selections of Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton in the draft, Jacksonville’s strength should once again be the running game. The Jags did a nice job building depth along the offensive line in the offseason so if injuries do strike again, the team will be better prepared this time around. Jones-Drew is a budding star and as long as everyone stays healthy, Jacksonville will once again have one of the better rushing attacks in the AFC.

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      NFL

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