Kaspers Korner

This is the time of year when the so called experts like Mel Kipers of the world start coming out, and with that pick experts are all over the board.  However, they are missing one key fact, and that is what tackle Jonathan Ogden was quoted as saying.

Ogden is on the fence about coming back, or not, and has told the Ravens to plan like that he was retiring.  With that in mind the Ravens have to take a tackle with the number eight pick in the draft.  After all left tackle is way to important of a position to ignore.

The left tackle spot next to the quarterback is one of the most important positions on the offense.  They protect the blind side of the quarterback, and left tackles usually become the point of the attack most of the time in the running game.

It is amazing that people within the media has overlooked this comment.  It is a pretty good sign that Ogden will retire, and if he does not then then Ryan Clady, who some experts have the Ravens taking, can play right tackle untill Ogden retires.

In regards to their second round pick do not be surprised that the Ravens take someone on defense.  Many experts believe that a quarterback will be taken there, but that depends on how they feel about quarterback Troy Smith.

Mike Preston wrote this about Smith, “Smith showed some promise at the end of last season as a rookie, but not enough to earn the starting job.”  If the Ravens agree that Smith showed enough last season, and the quarterback coach feels he has progessed also this off season, then they might by pass a quarterback completely. 

Preston did go on to also say that Smith does not deserve the starting job, because he was also drafted in the fifth round.  However, any football fan that pays attention knows that Tom Brady was taken in the seventh round by the Patriots.  So, that statement is just plain dumb.

In the end Ravens fans need to pay attention to their own instincts, and nothing to what the team actually says, because at this time of year teams lie to try to throw off other teams from what they are actually doing with their pick.

At this time last year Buffalo Bills fans were hearing how offensive coordinator  Steve Fairchild was going to open the offense.  Now the same thing is being said by SI.com’s Don Banks.

Banks is stating that new Bills offensive coordinator Turk Schonert will be much more aggressive in his play calling.  Banks cited Schornert reintegrating the fullback as part of the proccess.

Pretty much every Bills fan is saying in their mind as they read that they will believe it when they see it.  Many fans have that right, eventhough Schonert is not Fairchild.

Schonert should have no problem giving quarterback Trent Edwards more audible control.  After all one of Edwads stong suits is being able to read defenses, which he showed game in and out last season.  

What many fans do not realize that quarterbacks must be allowwed to audible if an offense is going to be successful.  The problem is that when a quarterback cannot audible, then he must run the play that is called no matter what, even if it is a play that is bad against what the defense is running.

In the end what will make or break the Bills being able to open the offense is how the draft goes.  The reason is that if the Bill use the first pick on a tall wide receiver, then Edwards will be given the green light to throw deep more often, especially to the tall wide receiver side.

The New England Patriots this offseason has taken a major hit in free agenct in regards to their cornerbacks.  However, that will not be the main concern for fans in 2008.

The only real loss the Patriots suffered in free agency this year was the loss of Asante Samuel, which was expected.  The other two players they were not able to resign were Eugene Wilson, and Randall Gay.  Gay was the nickle defensive back, while Wilson was relegated to backup duty thanks to two injury plagued seasons.

The main wory of the team will be the linebacking position.  Not one starting linebacker is under the age of 30.  To make matters worst they cut Rosevelt Colvin, who they signed as a free agent in 2003.  Now, add in two middle linebackers past their prime, and you now have a position to worry about.

The good news is that thanks to a trade last year the Patriots have a top ten pick,  which many experts are saying it will be used on a linebacker.  That is due to the Patriots drafting cornerback Brandon Merriwether in the first round last year, who should fill the nickle spot vacated by Gay.

Also, cornerbacks are way overhyped, and do not deserve the attention they get.  What impacts the corners is the pressure from the front seven, and obviously with the Patriots defensive line the omis falls on the linebackers. 

In the end the media is doing nothing more than creating a story out of nothing.  That is thanks to free agents signing quicker than usual, which was pointed out by ESPN’s John Clayton.

In the 2006 National Football League draft the New York Jets took center Nick Mangold and tackle D’Brickshaw Ferguson to anchor their offensive line for years to come.  Already, expectations from the media are raised.

ESPN’s website has an article on how the acquisition of guard Alan Faneca should make the two offensive lineman better.  However, that is not how you evaluate football players, especially offensive lineman.

Football players in general are judge on an individual basis.  Offensive lineman in general are judge also that way, and not really on how communication is.

In pass blocking offensive lineman are judge on how square his feet position is to the defender, how much the knees and hip bent, hand explosion technique, and foot work.  In the running game they are judged on head placement, how much the knees and hips being bent, hand placement, and leg drive.  Coaches usually worry about communication when it becomes a consistent problem between certain players.

If Ferguson or Mangold is still struggling then they will be replaced eventually.  For instance, in the article Mike Tainer notes that the sack total of the Jets went from 35 to 53 total per the year from 2006 to 2007.  So, what if of those 35 sacks Ferguson was responsible for 20 of them.  You think that if the total number of sacks per a year went down this upcoming season, and if Ferguson still was responsible for allowing 20 sacks, do you really think that he is going to keep his job?  NO!

The fact of the matter is that regardless of what ESPN, or Jets fans think, if the coaches feel a player is not getting job the done in their eyes then that player will be replaced.  With Mangold and Ferguson struggling last year, along with the added pressure of raised expectations from free agency, then add in over hyped free agents, and you have a receipe for disaster this upcoming season.

The Cincinnati Bengals already had a big problem on their hands in Chad Johnson, and now, according to Adam Schefter of the NFL Network, Bengals Wide receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh wants a new deal.  With that news the Bengals need to plan for their long term future.

The two Bengal receivers made up one of the best wide receiver tandems in the NFL.  Now, with both disgruntled, the Bengals will have to get rid of one of them, and that is due to the market for wide recievers being out of control. 

If the Bengals are going to get back to the playoffs they will have to improve their defense.  You have to look no further than the Indianapolis Colts for a reason to trade a wide reciever, and build up the defense.

The Colts worked out big deals for both Marvin Harrison, and Reggie Wayne.  When they did that they sacraficed how good the defense could be, because they tied up most of their salary cap room on the offense.  With that in mind look at how many Super Bowls the Colts have won with that philosophy, and that being one.

With Bill Polian being the general manager for the Colts you can throw in the Buffalo Bills of the early 1990s.  Polian was the general manager that put together the Bills team that went on to four straight Super Bowl appearances, and not win one of them.

The Bills were built the same way as the Colts, and that is the offense leading the way.  While, the offense lead the way the defense struggled, and cost their team Super Bowl appearances, and possibly of a championship.

The fact of the matter is that the Bengals are going into a different direction with their team if they want to, or not  If they do not sit down right now, and plan out the future, then disaster is on the horizon for the Bengals.

The Atlanta Falcons is a team that is now in the midst of an Extreme Home Makeover, with its latest move being the  trading of cornerback  DeAngelo Hall.  In the end General Managef Thomas Dimitroff.

The Falcons made their best move of the offseason in trading Hall.  Hall was a disgruntled loud mouth, who reportedly got into a fisticuffs due to it with teammates.

In Si.com’s Peter King’s Monday Morning Quarterback stated a NFC South offensive coaching source stated, “That he is a flashy player that is only a little above average.”

Hall is apparently going to receive a seven year contract worth $70 million. 

The real question is any cornerback woth that kind of money?  HELL NO!!  Cornerbacks have to rely on the pressure of the defensive lineman. Without pressure from the defensive line then even the best cornerback is going to get burned.

For the best example look no further than the current Super Bowl Champions New York Giants.  Now, can anyone, besides Giant fans, tell me the names of the Giants starting cornerbacks? 

They are Sam Madison and Aaron Ross.  Madison is 33 years old, and is way past his prime, and Aaron Ross was a rookie last season.   However, thanks to the Giants dominating pass rush led by Michael Strahan, and Osi Umenyiora that does not matter.

The fact of the matter is that the need for a great solid starting cornerback does not mean anything.  Along, with the removal of a cancer in the lockerroom, and the Falcons getting a second round draft pick you have a great move by the Falcons front office.

The Cleveland Browns signed center LeCharles Bentley to a huge contract in the offseasom before the 2006 season, but tore his left patella tedon.  If Bentley were to return to form it would be a huge addition for the Browns this year.

According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain dealer, Browns head coach Romeo Crennel said at the NFL Scouting Combine last month that he expects Bentley to participate in the organized team activities, or voluntary spring practices that begin in May.

If Bentely were to return to old form, and being only 29 that is a possibility, it would be a huge up grade for the offense in genreal  The reason is that the center is an extension of the quarterback, and has to make adjustments as well, according to what the he sees in the defenses alignment.

All the great teams throughout the history of the National Football League have had solid to great play from the center position.  In the end if the Browns are going to get to the post season, then they need Bentley to return to old form.

Bentley’s play is just as important as the play of defensive tackles Corey Simon, and Shaun Rodgers.  In the end those are the position that makes or breakes their units play.

Bentely

The Jacksonville Jaguars website has made headlines before with comments about the New England Patriots. Now, they are making news that will affect the entire upcoming draft.

The Jaguars website is reporting that defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey had knee surgery. If the news is true then Dorsey will slip into round two.

Teams were already worries about his ankle. This news will surely turn teams away.

The front office needs to tell the website employees to zip it. For some team will use the site’s words against them.

One would have thought they would have learned their lesson from the Patriots incident. However, apparently that is not the case.

Bill Parcells is now in control of the Miami Dolphins.  However, it will be the input of Dolphins quarterback coach David Lee that will most likely decide the fate of the Dolphins number one pick.

Lee before joining the Dolphins was the quarterback coach of the Dallas Cowboys.  According to the Miami Herald Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo credits his development as a quarterback to Lee.

Quarterback John Beck, who was drafted by the Dolphins in the second round in last years draft, stated that he has received more individual attention this offseason than he did all of last year.  Beck sited that being the third quarterback on the depth chart as the reason.

Beck went on to say this about the increased attention, and his development, ”Now, it’s been nice because we’ve been able to focus a little bit of time on me. Coach Lee definitely has helped me. I’ve made a lot of strides since the end of the season in some smaller detailed things.”

This is huge for Dolphin fans in regards to the upcoming draft.  If Lee feels that Beck will be a quality quarterback in the National Football League, then Parcells, along with the rest of the front office, will decide on another position to take with the first pick.

What could also influence the Dolphins choice at number one is what happens to defensive end Jason Taylor.  Taylor on Saturday in an interview pretty much shot down all the rumours that have been going around.

So, in the end what will happen in regards to the draft with the Dolphins? 

With Beck progressing, and Matt Ryan not a clear cut number one a quarterback will not be taken by the Dolphins.  Also, running back is out of the question with the Dolphins having Ronnie Brown, and Ricky Williams on the roster.

If you have been looking at mock drafts then you know it will come down to between offensive tackle and defensive tackle, and maybe defensive end if a player takes a lower guaranteed contract.

in the end looking at Parcells history I would not be surprised if the Dolphins grabbed a defensive player, especially a defensive tackle.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been a team for years that have been to the playoffs constantly, which is amazing looking at the number of players they let go over the years.  The reason for that is their front office have perfected a system.

John Harris of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review had an insight peice this week as to how the Pittsburgh Steelers work.  After reading it one can conclude that if Bill Cowher were to return to coach in the National Football League he would not be as successful as he was with the Steelers.

The Steelers have a system in place that rivals the New England Patriots when it comes to drafting.  One that could even surpass the Patriots, depending on the out come of Spygate.

The Steelers understand that when a player’s level of play is declining, and when his contract is up ususally, to let the player walk when they reached the end of a contract in their 30’s.

When a player is near the end of a contract, in their 30’s, the Steelers do one thing.  They sit back, and look at where the player’s level of play is, look at what their contract demands are, and then evaluate if it makes sense for them.

The Steelers usually take three different kinds of avenues.  First, if a player has a high cap number near the, or wants a big contract, and if they feel his level of play is declining they will cut the player, as in linebacker Joey Porters case, or let them walk like offensive guard Alan Faneca, and the numerous linebackers over the years.

Second, there is a player like defensive end Aaron Smith, who signed a $24.5 million contract extension.  The reason they resigned Smith is that they expect his level of play to be high for several years to come.

Finally, there is the case of linebackers James Harrison, and James Farrior.  Harrison, who turns 30 in May, has two years left on his contract, but his numbers are less than $2 million each year.  Farrior, who is near the end of his career, has a contract that actually reduces from the previous year.

Farrior might be the only guy outside of a quarterback that will retire with the same team.  The reason he simply understands what the Steelers expect contract wise, and feels that the small things in life are worth more than any big pay day.

Eventhough, they locked up quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to a monster deal that will not hurt how they operate.  That is good news for Steeler fans, because you got to have that kind of system in place when you find a franchise quarterback like Big Ben if you are going to make the playoffs for years to come.