Tag: Anthony Stalter (Page 78 of 133)

      Why would any team trade for Matt Leinart right now?

      September 1, 2010 /
      Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart stretches during warmups before a preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on August 28, 2010. UPI/Brian Kersey Photo via Newscom

      Apparently nobody wants quarterback Matt Leinart.

      Well, that’s not true. The Cardinals, Giants, Raiders and Bills don’t want him. I’m just assuming nobody else does either – especially in his current state.

      This morning, there was a report released by ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the Bills, Raiders and Giants had discussed trading for Leinart, although it has been denied here, here, here, here, and here by various sources connected with those three teams.

      But whether or not Schefter’s report holds any water (normally they do), the question is: Why would any team trade for Leinart right now? Everyone knows that the Cardinals want nothing to do with him (any team that chooses Derek Anderson over Leinart clearly doesn’t believe there’s much hope for the former No. 1 pick) and are likely on the verge of releasing him anyway.

      So why not just wait?

      The other issue here is Leinart’s contract. He’s set to earn $2.485 million in 2010 and $7.36 million in 2011, which isn’t something that another team wants to absorb right now if they don’t have to. And seeing as how he’d likely be a backup no matter where he lands, there’s no reason for any team to pay him that much just to watch him ride the pine.

      If anything, Leinart will be cut and then he’ll catch on as a backup someplace else. The Giants and Bears would love to add insurance at the quarterback position and the Bills make sense just because they don’t know what they have in Trent Edwards.

      But none of those teams, or any team that is even reportedly interested in him for that matter, is going to trade for Leinart right now. It just doesn’t make any sense.

      External Sports, NFL

      NCAA being hypocritical when it comes to Jeremiah Masoli

      September 1, 2010 /
      Dec 29, 2009; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Jeremiah Masoli at press conference for the 2010 Rose Bowl at the Marriott Los Angeles Downtown. Photo via Newscom

      I don’t feel bad for Jeremiah Masoli that the NCAA has denied a waiver that would have allowed him to play at Ole’ Miss this season without having to sit out a year like most transfers.

      The kid has had his chances and he has blown every single on of them. But that doesn’t mean that the NCAA wasn’t hypocritical in its ruling.

      In a press release following the announcement, the NCAA said: “The waiver exists to provide relief to student-athletes who transfer for academic reasons to pursue graduate studies, not to avoid disciplinary measures at the previous university.”

      On the surface, I agree with the statement. Masoli didn’t transfer to Ole’ Miss to further his education – he transferred so he could play one more year of college football in hopes of getting drafted into the NFL.

      Don’t forget that after he plead guilty in January on a felony burglary charge, Oregon suspended him for the entire 2010 season. So essentially, the waiver allowed him to leapfrog the suspension at Oregon and play at Ole’ Miss without facing any discipline.

      But while I agree with the rule in principle, how is Masoli any different than Darius Barksdale or Ryan Perriloux?

      Barksdale never suited up for the Rebels, but was charged with DUI and driving without a license in August of last year, then, when enrolled at Ole Miss for the spring semester, Houston Nutt suspended him for an undisclosed violation. Finally, just before practice began this year, Barksdale was kicked off the team entirely.

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      College Football, External Sports

      Offensive line has emerged as the Dolphins biggest issue

      August 31, 2010 /
      MIAMI - JANUARY 4: Jake Long #77 of the Miami Dolphins looks on while sitting on the bench during an AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens on January 4, 2009 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

      Merry preseason, everyone. It’s been a long offseason, but football is finally gearing up again and to celebrate I’m rolling out a new series on TSR entitled “2010 NFL Question Marks,” where I discuss one or two of the biggest concerns that teams have heading into the new season. Granted, some teams have more issues than others, but I’ll primarily be focusing on the biggest problem areas. Today I’ll be discussing the issues the Dolphins have had on their O-line thus far in preseason.

      Had I wrote this piece before the preseason started, I would have written it about the Dolphins’ free safety position. But considering how good Chris Clemons has looked this offseason, it would be a reach to say that safety will be a big issue for Miami in 2010. (Especially when the ultra-productive Yeremiah Bell remains the starter at strong safety.)

      After watching their first three preseason games, the biggest question the Dolphins’ faithful should have is what happened to the offensive line? Once considered a strength because of how well the team could run the ball, Miami’s O-line has be incredibly suspect thus far.

      Jake Long and Vernon Carey remain entrenched at the tackle positions, while Richie Incognito and John Jerry are the projected starters at left and right guard, respectively. Joe Berger is slated to start at center after beating out Jake Grove this offseason.

      The biggest problem is at the two guard positions, where Incognito and Jerry haven’t been good in pass protection or run blocking. Both are getting shoved backwards at the snap, which is troubling considering the Dolphins signed Incognito this offseason because of his power and drive in the running game.

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      External Sports, NFL

      Is pass defense still the Lions’ biggest concern?

      August 31, 2010 /
      SEATTLE - NOVEMBER 08: Safety Louis Delmas #26 of the Detroit Lions returns an interception for 29 yards against the Seattle Seahawks on November 8, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Lions 32-20. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

      Merry preseason, everyone. It’s been a long offseason, but football is finally gearing up again and to celebrate I’m rolling out a new series on TSR entitled “2010 NFL Question Marks,” where I discuss one or two of the biggest concerns that teams have heading into the new season. Granted, some teams have more issues than others, but I’ll primarily be focusing on the biggest problem areas. Today I’ll be discussing the huge issues the Lions still have in their secondary.

      A year ago, it was easy to spot the Lions’ biggest weakness, as their offensive line was an absolute mess. But after a productive 2009 campaign and a couple of offseason additions, Detroit’s O-line is no longer an issue.

      Now the concern shifts to a secondary that received an offseason makeover, but remains the Lions’ biggest question mark after a dismal performance in 2009.

      Last year, Detroit finished dead last in passing yards allowed, yielding 265.6 yards per game. The poor play of the defensive backfield contributed to the defensive unit giving up 30.9 points per content and over 6,000 total yards.

      To address the issue, the Lions traded for former second round pick Chris Houston, whom Atlanta had given up on after signing big-money free agent Dunta Robinson. Houston has an impressive skill set and enough talent to make him a No. 1 corner, but he has yet to put it all together for an entire season.

      The biggest issue with the former Arkansas product is that he always seems to put himself in position to make the play, but rarely does. He has great speed and is a physical corner, but he’s at his worst when the ball is in the air. He fell out of favor last season in Atlanta because he had major trouble locating the ball when it was in the air and making a play on it. In fact, 66% of the passes thrown his way were completed, which is a staggering number to say the least. That said, if he ever lives up to his potential he’s going to be a solid player.

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      External Sports, NFL

      Can Jake Delhomme really lead a weak Browns’ passing game?

      August 31, 2010 /
      GREEN BAY - AUGUST 14: Jake Delhomme of the Cleveland Browns calls out a play during the NFL preseason game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field August 14, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Tom Dahlin/Getty Images)

      Merry preseason, everyone. It’s been a long offseason, but football is finally gearing up again and to celebrate I’m rolling out a new series on TSR entitled “2010 NFL Question Marks,” where I discuss one or two of the biggest concerns that teams have heading into the new season. Granted, some teams have more issues than others, but I’ll primarily be focusing on the biggest problem areas. Today I’ll be discussing the major issues the Browns could have with their passing game this season.

      Usually teams have enough skill players to make an offense work, but their line holds them back.

      The Browns have the opposite problem.

      Joe Thomas is one of the top pass blocking left tackles in the game and will once again anchor a solid Cleveland offensive line. While he needs to improve his pass protection, young center Alex Mack is a budding star and Eric Steinbach completes a pretty dominating left side.

      Unfortunately, not even a good offensive line will save the Browns from what should be one of the worst passing games in the NFL.

      I’ve never been a fan of Jake Delhomme and while he may be fooling Cleveland fans with his “veteran presence” act right now, the guy was atrocious last year. He doesn’t handle pressure well, he forces passes into coverage and even when he does have time he still turns the ball over.

      Granted, he was a consistent performer in 2008 before his disaster in the playoffs against the Cardinals that year. So if he can recapture some of that magic then maybe the Browns will be okay, but 1) I wouldn’t bet on it and 2) that means other players will have to step up around him.

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      External Sports, NFL

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