Hey guys, I will be attending the annual Chargers Fan Fest tomorrow at Qualcomm stadium and will be reporting later in the afternoon about what I see on the practice field.
The anticipation is high to observe the young Ryan Mathews in person as well as all the new and old faces on this year's squad.
On a lighter note, I am also looking forward to observing the new faces on the hottest dance team in the NFL, the Charger Girls... :-) Nothing finer than a So Cal girl... IMHO. Hahahahaha...
I'll have TONS of photos to post from the event as well.
Have a good evening my friends!
~Dino
Learn, discuss and debate what's going on with the teams in the NFL's AFC Western Division minus the hate, immaturity and stupidity found on the ESPN Blog or anywhere else.
Friday, August 6, 2010
HOOK A BROTHER UP !!
WOULD LIKE SOME ADVICE AS TOO WHERE I CAN GO ONLINE TO GET ACURATE FACTS ON PLAYERS , RECORDS , HISTORICAL AND MODERN DAY FACTS FOR AND ABOUT THE NFL ! THX ! JEDUNK3
Thursday, August 5, 2010
"Doom" May Be Done in 2010
Elvis Dumervil suffered a torn pectoral muscle during a Wednesday evening practice and will be out about four months. This will greatly impact Denver's defensive scheme. Dumervil had a league leading 17 sacks in 2009. The initial reports have him returning in four months.
Your heart and soul of the defense is out possibly for the year. Do you save a roster spot for him or do you put him on the injured reserves and end his season? This is one tough decision for the Denver organization to made, that is for sure. With all of the previous injuries to the team, this one truly hits at a bad time.
What do you all think?
Your heart and soul of the defense is out possibly for the year. Do you save a roster spot for him or do you put him on the injured reserves and end his season? This is one tough decision for the Denver organization to made, that is for sure. With all of the previous injuries to the team, this one truly hits at a bad time.
What do you all think?
A "Mile High" Pickup?
Some like the move, others are puzzled by it. With the signing of LenDale White to a two-year contract, the Denver Broncos take an interesting route to increase their depth at running back after Correll Buckhalter (back) and Knowshon Moreno (hamstring) were injured on the first day of training camp. Judging from the photo, LenDale (No. 26) looks to be in shape. Ironically, White will miss the first 4 games of the season after violating the NFL's substance- abuse policy. Additionally, LenDale is a native of Denver, so he coming back home to play for his hometown team.
This move comes as odd to many after Coach Josh McDaniels has made it his mission to bring in players with high character, it seems that he's willing to offer second chances. "We're going to judge him and make our judgments on LenDale White going forward as a Denver Bronco. Everybody makes mistakes," said McDaniels after practice on Wednesday evening. So, is this a marriage of situation or desperation?
I say it is situation, not desperation. Coach McDaniels is looking for individuals who are ready work and put team first. LenDale has gone through some serious adversity in recent months and found out it can be taken away from you as quickly as you get it. McDaniels described him as "humble person now." That is key to understanding the reason for the move. LenDale has the talent and skills to give Denver a solid rushing game. When Buckhalter and Moreno come back, this trio could truly balance out Denver's offense play calling. Injuries are a part of the game and you can not depend solely on your starters to have a success season.
LenDale is coming back home after walking through the valley of trouble and confusion. He like a "Prodigal Son" and hopefully with the Denver Broncos, he can find a place to enjoy being a part of the NFL in his hometown. Time will truly tell if this "Mile High" pickup pays off.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Well, it's a little late and everyone already knows.Ryan Mathews is officially a San Diego Charger.
Sorry for pulling a DHB and dropping the ball by posting this a little late (;-) @ Raiders fans, couldn't help myself). But unlike Bill Williamson, I actually work for a living and couldn't break away to do the things I wanted to this past weekend.
At any rate, I'm sure I speak for all Charger fans when I say I'm glad to have Mathews finally under contract and practicing with his team. The price to obtain his services? Well... Does it really matter? It's a lot more than what most of us will see in our lifetimes even if we were to combine our total earnings! And at this point everyone knows what the particulars are concerning his contract. I think now that the formalities are out of the way the fans just want to see what the kid can do.
No doubt, there is a lot of pressure on this young kid. He is replacing his childhood idol and an iconic NFL legend. The anticipation is that he will restore some potency to what has been a relatively ineffective running game the past couple of seasons. Early thoughts from camp have been glowing. Coaches, teammates and the beat writers are all impressed with not only his game but his attitude.
Kevin Acee, a writer from the San Diego Union Tribune had this to say about Mathews: "Mathews showed vision, speed and an ability to get outside that has been missing for a couple years."
Personally, one of the things I love about this kid is how humble he is. He is very much aware of where he has come from (his mom, Trish, at one point raised him while working 3 or 4 jobs at a time while living in the back of their car). He understands it's a privilege to play in the NFL. He doesn't consider himself bigger than the game.
If you don't know Ryan Mathews then maybe you will get a better sense for him after reading this quote he made regarding the time he took to sign autographs following his first day of training camp practice: “It’s crazy. I feel bad for all the people I didn’t get to,” Mathews said. “It kind of sucks that you have people calling your name and you can’t get to every single one, but it’s amazing to see how many people recognize you and look up to you.”
I'll be going to the annual Chargers Fan Fest this coming Saturday to observe this young man in person. I'll be taking photos and making notes and posting them here next week.
(photo courtesy: San Diego Chargers, Chargers.com)
Monday, August 2, 2010
Kansas City Training Camp Battles
I've been following the word from Missouri Western State University pretty closely. It seem like camp has been pretty exciting from just about every point of view. So here's a position by position run down of the current battles.
QB - Cassel is the starter. You know it, I know it, the American people know it. But it seems like Brodie Croyle hasn't gotten the memo. Of course this is nothing new for KC. Training Camp Brodie belongs in the HOF while game time Brodie usually ends up in the trainer's room. Tyler Palko is a distant third and there are thoughts that he might not even make the team.
RB - It's like watching a couple of titans go at it. Oh, and Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles are there too. That's right, the guys turning heads right now aren't the ones you'd expect. Keshtahn Moore and Jackie Battle know they have an uphill battle, and so far they've performed well. McCluster has taken a few snaps in the Wildcat and performed about as expected, but I doubt he lines up very often in a traditional RB position.
WR - BOWE!!! He's catching everything. He's running crisp routes. He's beating every defender thrown at him. He's even taking time to do a little posing for the crowd. The only thing he isn't doing is talking. It looks like Larry Fitzgerald's receiver camp was exactly what he needed. Chris Chambers is picking up where he left off from last year. He looks solid and is showing some athleticism you wouldn't expect from a guy his age. McCluster might just be unstoppable. He's embarrassed every defender on the roster. Well, not every one. He got some alligator arms on a crossing route when he heard footsteps. The rest of the receiver corps has been pretty average with flashes of talent here and there.
TE - With Cottam's injuries, Leonard Pope looks to be the #1 TE for the Chiefs to start the season. Moeaki has looked good so far and this battle could heat up once the Chiefs get to preseason.
T - Branden Albert is the starting LT and looks to be playing with some confidence. He's leaner than he was last year and has handled the role well so far. Ryan O'Callahan looks to be the starter on the right side but still has some learning to do. Barry Richardson would appear to be the #3 tackle and has seen time rotating in on both sides of the line.
G - With Brian Waters on the sidelines with what is rumored to be an inflamed calf, Daryl Harris and Jon Asamoah have gotten plenty of time on the field. Neither projects to start this year, but this is a valuable opportunity for both players. Ryan Lilja looks set on the right side and is the probable starter.
C - Rudy Niswanger is currently edging out Casey Weigmann for the starting role. You can tell that Coach Haley doesn't want to start Weigmann because of his age, but it's getting harder and harder to ignore the facts. Niswanger is playing hard, but Weigmann is playing better.
DE - Glenn Dorsey is continuing to show improvement. It's hard to measure DEs in the 3-4, but he has continuously chewed up double teams to free up pass rushers. Tyson Jackson remains the starter and seems to have improved. He's being pushed by Alex Magee and Wallace Gilberry. This could become one of the better battles as camp goes on.
DT - Ron Edwards will likely retain his role as the starter. But with Derek Lokey and Shaun Smith continuing to earn praise from the staff on the field, I would expect all three to see about equal time this season. There is no clear cut leader in the group, but they all seem to be playing solid.
ILB - This is the battle that's got everyone talking. It seems clear that the Chiefs are going to go with a tag team mentality here. Demorrio Williams and Corey Mays were the starters coming into camp and are constantly lined up next to each other. But Derrick Johnson and Jovan Belcher have recently started seeing more time with the first team. Both sets are playing well together and clearly they are able to pump each other up. It looks like the Chiefs will go with the best tandem and not necessarily the best individual players. An interesting idea.
OLB - Tamba Hali is going to kill somebody. The only player to continuously give every lineman a hard time. He looks to pick up where he left off as the Chiefs leading sack man. On the other side there could be a real competition between Mike Vrabel and Andy Studebaker. So much so that the Chiefs have lined Vrabel up on the inside in certain formations to get Studebaker more time on the field.
CB - Flowers and Carr have been playing some tight coverage. And fortunately for them, they've been getting a chance to deal with some great passes and catches. That's the kind of thing that will help them in the upcoming season. Arenas has gotten his nose around the ball consistently when he's on the field. And Maurice Leggett has been aggressive and tough against everyone he's lined up against. He'll need that attitude if he wants to see the field this year.
S - If you didn't know any better, you'd think Eric Berry was an 8 year veteran. The kid carries himself like a professional both on and off the field. John McGraw started camp as the other first team safety, but Kendrick Lewis has started to get some time in. Rashard Langford seems to be penciled in on the second team.
K - No competition. Ryan "Mr. Irrelevant" Succop continues to outplay his draft status.
P - Again no competition. Dustin Colquitt is pretty much locked in as the team's punter. If ain't broke, don't fix it.
Coaches - The word is you can hear Charlie Weiss and Todd Haley really rip into people followed by a roar of approval from the crowd. Weiss is apparently toughing out a leg injury and has a cart that drives him around the field. Romeo Crennel seems excited about what the front-7 are doing. He looks happy to be back doing what he's good at.
Overall it's the defense that is shining. The front-7 look much improved, but it's the secondary that is above and beyond the best group on the field. The RB battle could be even more exciting than we had originally anticipated. And the top 3 WRs (Bowe, Chambers, McCluster) seem to be able to impose their will on just about anyone.
They're probably still a year or two from making a serious playoffs run, but this team is headed in the right direction.
QB - Cassel is the starter. You know it, I know it, the American people know it. But it seems like Brodie Croyle hasn't gotten the memo. Of course this is nothing new for KC. Training Camp Brodie belongs in the HOF while game time Brodie usually ends up in the trainer's room. Tyler Palko is a distant third and there are thoughts that he might not even make the team.
RB - It's like watching a couple of titans go at it. Oh, and Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles are there too. That's right, the guys turning heads right now aren't the ones you'd expect. Keshtahn Moore and Jackie Battle know they have an uphill battle, and so far they've performed well. McCluster has taken a few snaps in the Wildcat and performed about as expected, but I doubt he lines up very often in a traditional RB position.
WR - BOWE!!! He's catching everything. He's running crisp routes. He's beating every defender thrown at him. He's even taking time to do a little posing for the crowd. The only thing he isn't doing is talking. It looks like Larry Fitzgerald's receiver camp was exactly what he needed. Chris Chambers is picking up where he left off from last year. He looks solid and is showing some athleticism you wouldn't expect from a guy his age. McCluster might just be unstoppable. He's embarrassed every defender on the roster. Well, not every one. He got some alligator arms on a crossing route when he heard footsteps. The rest of the receiver corps has been pretty average with flashes of talent here and there.
TE - With Cottam's injuries, Leonard Pope looks to be the #1 TE for the Chiefs to start the season. Moeaki has looked good so far and this battle could heat up once the Chiefs get to preseason.
T - Branden Albert is the starting LT and looks to be playing with some confidence. He's leaner than he was last year and has handled the role well so far. Ryan O'Callahan looks to be the starter on the right side but still has some learning to do. Barry Richardson would appear to be the #3 tackle and has seen time rotating in on both sides of the line.
G - With Brian Waters on the sidelines with what is rumored to be an inflamed calf, Daryl Harris and Jon Asamoah have gotten plenty of time on the field. Neither projects to start this year, but this is a valuable opportunity for both players. Ryan Lilja looks set on the right side and is the probable starter.
C - Rudy Niswanger is currently edging out Casey Weigmann for the starting role. You can tell that Coach Haley doesn't want to start Weigmann because of his age, but it's getting harder and harder to ignore the facts. Niswanger is playing hard, but Weigmann is playing better.
DE - Glenn Dorsey is continuing to show improvement. It's hard to measure DEs in the 3-4, but he has continuously chewed up double teams to free up pass rushers. Tyson Jackson remains the starter and seems to have improved. He's being pushed by Alex Magee and Wallace Gilberry. This could become one of the better battles as camp goes on.
DT - Ron Edwards will likely retain his role as the starter. But with Derek Lokey and Shaun Smith continuing to earn praise from the staff on the field, I would expect all three to see about equal time this season. There is no clear cut leader in the group, but they all seem to be playing solid.
ILB - This is the battle that's got everyone talking. It seems clear that the Chiefs are going to go with a tag team mentality here. Demorrio Williams and Corey Mays were the starters coming into camp and are constantly lined up next to each other. But Derrick Johnson and Jovan Belcher have recently started seeing more time with the first team. Both sets are playing well together and clearly they are able to pump each other up. It looks like the Chiefs will go with the best tandem and not necessarily the best individual players. An interesting idea.
OLB - Tamba Hali is going to kill somebody. The only player to continuously give every lineman a hard time. He looks to pick up where he left off as the Chiefs leading sack man. On the other side there could be a real competition between Mike Vrabel and Andy Studebaker. So much so that the Chiefs have lined Vrabel up on the inside in certain formations to get Studebaker more time on the field.
CB - Flowers and Carr have been playing some tight coverage. And fortunately for them, they've been getting a chance to deal with some great passes and catches. That's the kind of thing that will help them in the upcoming season. Arenas has gotten his nose around the ball consistently when he's on the field. And Maurice Leggett has been aggressive and tough against everyone he's lined up against. He'll need that attitude if he wants to see the field this year.
S - If you didn't know any better, you'd think Eric Berry was an 8 year veteran. The kid carries himself like a professional both on and off the field. John McGraw started camp as the other first team safety, but Kendrick Lewis has started to get some time in. Rashard Langford seems to be penciled in on the second team.
K - No competition. Ryan "Mr. Irrelevant" Succop continues to outplay his draft status.
P - Again no competition. Dustin Colquitt is pretty much locked in as the team's punter. If ain't broke, don't fix it.
Coaches - The word is you can hear Charlie Weiss and Todd Haley really rip into people followed by a roar of approval from the crowd. Weiss is apparently toughing out a leg injury and has a cart that drives him around the field. Romeo Crennel seems excited about what the front-7 are doing. He looks happy to be back doing what he's good at.
Overall it's the defense that is shining. The front-7 look much improved, but it's the secondary that is above and beyond the best group on the field. The RB battle could be even more exciting than we had originally anticipated. And the top 3 WRs (Bowe, Chambers, McCluster) seem to be able to impose their will on just about anyone.
They're probably still a year or two from making a serious playoffs run, but this team is headed in the right direction.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Fantasy League Update
Hey everyone. I haven't been around recently because I was on vacation, did some sea fishing and went camping! But I am back now, and it looks like the league has pretty much filled up (I can add some more spots if necessary. I am assuming that everyone wants to do a live online draft, so hopefully we can all find a day and time that works, so leave comments so we can all figure it out. Also, let me know if you want me to change anything, like if you want to be drafting defensive players or want more roster spots or something. Okay well that is it, good luck to everyone.
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