Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher Could Use Running Back By Committee
Fisher, in his talk with the media on Thursday, said the team may use a revolving door at running back. Here are his direct quotes, via Pro Football Talk: “I’ve usually had a guy, but that’s what competition is about, and that’s what camp’s for an preseason games are for. It’s not going ot be out of the question that we don’t play two or three of them quite a bit. We me not end up with a ‘bell cow’ like we’ve had last year in [Steven Jackson] and previous years, and just let them all play.”
Fisher added: “One of them may emerge and carry it 350 times this year, we just don’t know. But offensively, it’s nice to have two or three guys in a rotation just because there’s different ability levels at the position.” Daryl Richardson is currently the starter, and, if there was a heavily favored starter, it would be him. Richardson should head the three-man monster, but there’s not a ton of fantasy value to be had, as a three-headed monster can be quite hard to predict. Be sure to keep eyes and ears on this situation throughout training camp and preseason.
Ryan Mathews Says He Can Be a “Top-Five” Running Back
Mathews told CBS Sports’ Clark Judge that he believes he can be a “top-five back” and “be up with the best of them”. He’s absolutely right. He wasn’t a top 12 pick in 2010 for nothing, and he has the talent to be much more productive than he was in 2012. However, he needs to stay healthy, and it sounds like he’s working to do that.
Mathews came into camp 10 pounds lighter this year, making an effort to reprimand his 2012 performance. “That’s one thing I wanted to focus on. Losing the weight and not being so bulky. I feel quicker, and I feel faster … I feel healthy. Last year, coming out of the first practice, my legs were tired. Not today,” Mathews said via the Union-Tribune San Diego. Mathews has missed 10 games in his first three seasons, so if he can get 16 and perform like we’ve seen him do in the past when he’s healthy, he could be one of fantasy football’s biggest steals.
Chiefs Ink First-Round Offensive Tackle Eric Fisher
Fisher was one of only four top ten picks that have yet to sign. It’s a four-year deal that includes offset language and signing bonus of roughly $14.5 million, according to Pro Football Talk. Fisher was in practice on Friday and was already lining up as the starting right tackle.
Tim Tebow Spotted Catching Passes
New England media noted that Tim Tebow was catching passes in the Patriots first training camp practice of the year. It was an odd drill that had Tebow running with the running backs and wide receiver with Ryan Mallett under center. Tebow struggled badly in the first day of camp, showing his regular tendencies such as relayed reads and had many short-armed, forced thows. This isn’t actually a story line, but I thought you might want to hear about it, so it’s here. Much of the media, including ESPNBoston’s Mike Reiss, is expecting Tim Tebow to be cut before the season.
Mark Sanchez Starts Camp With Big Advantage Over Geno Smith
Sanchez worked exclusively with the first-team offense in the first day of training camp, as was expected. Geno Smith will have to snatch his job from the jaws of mediocrity as he starts with the second team. We’re all expecting him to take the job before the end of the year. It’s better for Smith to be given the job now than Week 8, but it doesn’t look like the Jets want to go that route. I project Mark Sanchez as the Week 1 starter.
Redskins DE Jarvis Jenkins Suspended for Four Games
Jenkins has been suspended for the first four games of the 2013 regular season for violationg the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Jenkins was expect to start, and with Adam Cariker ailing, there was not supposed to be a competition. It looks like the Redskins will struggle at the defensive end position for the first four games, with Carriker expected to miss the season and Jenkins now suspended. It wouldn’t be surprising to hear the Redskins in the veteran defensive tackle discussion soon.
Redskins linebacker Keenan Robinson Done For The Year
Robinson tore his pectoral and is out for the year. Robinson tore his pectoral last season as well, but tore his opposite one on the first day of camp this year. Robinson was drafted out of Texas and was expected to be groomed to become the heir of London Fletcher, but in the early going, it appears that it’s unlikely. However, it’s worth noting that a pec tear isn’t as serious to a player’s career as an ACL or Achilles. Browns linebacker D’Qwell Jackson returned from dual-pectoral tears and is a top linebacker in the league.
Jets Wide Receiver Santonio Holmes Doesn’t Know if He Will Play in 2013
When asked when he thinks he will return from his Lisfranc injury that he sustained in 2012, Holmes replied to reporters with: “I can’t answer that question right now.” Holmes is currently on the active/PUP list. The injury is a major cause for concern; so concerning that the team brought in Braylon Edwards. Holmes did run today in practice, but has not cut at camp at all. It doesn’t sound like he is too far in his rehab. I’m expecting Holmes to be placed on the regular season PUP and Edwards to be the starter opposite Stephen Hill come Week 1.
LeSean McCoy Expecting Big Year In Chip Kelly’s Offense
McCoy to the Wilmington News Journal: “The last few years, I’ve had good years, but I don’t think I was dominant. In this offense, [I’ll have] the ability to run the ball more, where I can take over a game. There have been flashes of it in the past, but having the ability to do it day in and doubt and game in and game out has been a different story.” Both McCoy with Chip Kelly and Jamaal Charles with McCoy’s former coach -- Andy Reid – sound happy in their new systems. McCoy added: “I’ve got that feeling. Last year it didn’t end well. I got that chip on my shoulder and that attitude.” Expect both McCoy and Bryce Brown to get a hefty workload in Kelly’s run-heavy offense.
Quick Hits
A.J. Green injury give you a bit of a scare? Have no fear. The Bengals wide receiver suffered no structural damage to his knee, and many believe the knee was just hyperextended.
Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin hinted that the Cowboys could cut ties with him before next season after he restructured his deal this year. “There’s new people coming into the league. People leaving the league every year,” Austin told ESPNDallas. “That’s just the way the system goes. To be naïve of the fact, you’re lying to yourself.”
Jets corner back Aaron Berry tore his ACL during practice on Friday after colliding with wide receiver Joseph Collins in one-on-one drills. Berry was picked up by the Jets last year after he was released by the Lions after multiple arrests. It’s a tough blow to the Jets who have little depth at the position with Revis leaving.
Saints wide receiver Marques Colston will start camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list because of a foot injury, but isn’t expected to miss more than a week. No fantasy implications. However, it will give youngsters Joseph Morgan and Nick Toon some extra run, both of which are solid dynasty prospects.
In other Saints news, Kenny Stills (wrist), Victor Butler (knee), Patrick Robinson (knee) and Roman Harper (hernia) will all miss portions of training camp. Butler, who tore his ACL, will be placed on the PUP for the time being. Robinson will start camp on the PUP, but the other two will just be limited to start the season.
Free agent fullback Vonta Leach looks like he will return to Baltimore after being cut earlier this offseason. This is great news for Ray Rice and even Bernard Pierce, as Leach is still an elite fullback and pile driver. It’s a widely known fact that Leach is only still on the market because he wants too much money, which is also the reason why the Dolphins dropped out. It shouldn’t be too long before he is a Raven.
The Dolphins tight end depth chart is coming into clarity. Dustin Keller has been working with the first team while rookie Dion Sims works as the No. 2. It’s clear that Sims has already surpassed 2012 rookie Michael Egnew. His roster spot is in jeopardy with Charles Clay locked into the Dolphins’ plans.
After the Cardinals waived running back William Powell, the Philadelphia Eagles claimed him, a team that’s already deep at the position. Instead of cutting him later, Powell failed his physical and was released.
Steelers tight end Heath Miller (ACL) was seen walking around with no limp or brace, but avoided the media on Friday. Expect him to be eased in, but he should not be starting the season on the PUP. He was placed on the active/PUP along with Alameda Ta’amu (hamstring), Sean Spence (knee), and David Johnson (knee).
Both cornerback Cary Williams and wide receiver Arrelious Benn went down with injuries at Eagles camp on Friday. Williams injured his hamstring and is day-to-day, while Benn is dealing with a knee injury that will have to be re-evaluated. This will hurt Benn’s chances to make the team greatly, as he was competing for a roster spot behind Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson.
Jets running back Chris Ivory missed practice but it’s not expected to be serious. He’s dealing with a hamstring injury, but Ivory said he is not expecting to miss more than two days of practice. Let’s hope that that is all it is, and not a lingering injury.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Darrelle Revis (ACL) participated in seven-on-seven drills in the team’s second day of training camp. He wanted to do more going forward, and it appears he’s already earned the cleared to do that from coaches. No reason he shouldn’t be starting against his former team in Week 1.