NFL Newslinks – 08/12/09

Posted on 12. Aug, 2009 by Jesse in NFL Newslinks

• It’s August now, and that means we’re off to the races. Training camps have already begun, and GoHuddleUp has you covered. Our Newslinks will keep you abreast of the latest developments, so come back often.
• Steve Smith gave the Panthers brass a real scare with a shoulder injury, but coach John Fox still believes Smith will be ready for week one.
• Trent Edwards is looking pretty comfortable in Buffalo’s no-huddle offense. In fact, the team has primarily practiced with the no huddle during the entire preseason, and Edwards is improving.
• The Michael Crabtree holdout situation continues to be an utter standoff. Crabtree may not report at all during the preseason, and could wait to sign until right before the season opener.
• Even though he just reported to camp after signing his new deal, Falcons WR Roddy White should play in the preseason opener this weekend.
• Terrell Owens caught two balls during his preseason Buffalo debut on Sunday night, but he’s now injured. Owens is limping around camp with an injured toe.
• While he’s still behind Ray Rice on the RB depth chart, Willis McGahee may finally be endearing himself to coaches once again.

Willis appears to be working hard once again.

• In an effort to satisfy Leon Washington’s contract demands, the Jets have upped their offer.
• Derrick Mason should be fine after a dislocated finger.

NFL Newslinks 8/3/09

Posted on 03. Aug, 2009 by Jesse in NFL Newslinks

• It’s August now, and that means we’re off to the races. Training camps have already begun, and GoHuddleUp has you covered. Our Newslinks will keep you abreast of the latest developments, so come back often.
• With Derrick Mason’s return, any speculation about Broncos WR Brandon Marshall heading to Baltimore now come to a crashing halt. Marshall continues to miss time in Denver.
• Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen denies the team has any interest whatsoever in Michael Vick. Apparently Bowlen has no plans on meeting with Ron Mexico.
• Reggie Bush missed practice on Monday afternoonwith swelling in his surgically repaired knee. Still, it’s sounding like Bush has looked explosive when actually on the field.
• The Eagles had a stellar offseason, but they got some very disappointing news on Monday when they found out that they had lost starting MLB Stewart Bradley for the season. Bradley suffered a torn ACL.
• ESPN analyst Adam Schefter believes that Falcons WR Roddy White could end up holding out “a little while. At least.” White is asking for more money, and is refusing to report to camp.
• Braylon Edwards continues to sit out with a mysterious injury. Rumors indicate that Edwards injured himself while playing hoops. That won’t endear him to coaches anytime soon, but at least he isn’t dropping passes.
• Larry Johnson appears to have had a major attitude overhaul this offseason. He’s happy to be with the Chiefs, is working hard, and is fitting in nicely.                                                                  
• Could a happier LJ produce better in 2009?
• Tony Romo knows he has critics, but he’s not letting that bother him. Instead, he’s working on the finer pointsin his game.
• Devin Thomas is looking to redeem himself for a lackluster rookie season last year in Washington. He’s on the right track. Thomas is currently starting at WR opposite Santana Moss.
• As we reported via Twitter earlier tonight, Marshawn Lynch will be suspended for the first three games of the season. He’ll be replaced by Fred Jackson, and Dominic Rhodes will also see time.
• Plaxico Burress is screwed.
• Eagles rookie WR Jeremy Maclin just got paid.
• Kellen Winslow feels the Tampa offense is quite complex, and is having a bit of a hard time adjusting. But his testicles aren’t swollen to the size of coconuts, so he’s all good.

The future is NOW in Atlanta

Posted on 20. Jul, 2009 by Jesse in Articles

With Matty Ice at the helm, the sky is the limit.

Just two years ago the Falcons were rudderless and floundering. Their star QB and franchise cornerstone, Mike Vick, was imprisoned for dog fighting. Thier coach, Bobby Petrino, quit abruptly and returned to the collegiate ranks with his tail firmly between his legs. Apparently, Vick had beaten him down too. It appeared that the franchise would take years to turn around as the talent had eroded and leadership had vanished instantaneously. My how things can change in a hurry.

Owner Arthur Blank deserves a lot of credit. He’s got hair that looks like the Fonz, but heeeeeeeeey, he was cool when it counted most. He chose a little-known coach in Mike Smith, and handed the franchise over to a rookie QB in Matt Ryan. Those calls saved the franchise. The addition of workhorse tailback Michael Turner ended up being one of the biggest free agent signings of the 2008 offseason. Roddy White magically transformed from a mediocre talent to a Pro Bowler. Nobody would have even thought this club could make the playoffs last season, but that is precisely what the Falcons did. Now, as 2009 approaches, expectations are as high as the optimism was at the end of last season.

Not satisfied with the status quo, Blank added veteran TE Tony Gonzalez during the offseason. Gonzalez, who came over from the Chiefs, promises to add another weapon to an already dangerous offense. Gonzalez has had high praises for Matt Ryan, who is turning heads as he enters his second season. NFL.com senior writer Pat Kirwan recently reported that Ryan has added muscle to his frame during the offseason; this just the latest in a long line of positive reports about the BC product’s work ethic. Ryan has also drawn praise from coaches for his dedication to film sessions in the months of February and March, where the rookie supposedly poured over every play from the ‘08 campaign dissecting each read and decision.  Positivity abounds.

It appears the future is now in Atlanta, but what should fantasy owners do about drafting these playmakers? The high level of optimism is also driving up the prices on all of the Falcons key components. Fear not fantasy freaks, I’m here to tell you what to expect from the core playmakers in the A-T-L. For if you land the right mix, you could be doing the Dirty-Bird yourself this season.

QB, Matt Ryan-  Ryan’s detractors will cite his mere 16 TD’s last season as reason enough to pass on Matty Ice as your fantasy starter. Those detractors are missing the point. Coach Smith held the reigns tightly on Ryan for the first part of the season, which curtailed his production.  After failing to notch a single 200-yard passing game through the first five weeks, Ryan erupted over his next nine games. During that stretch, he averaged a staggering 254 yards per game. As a rookie. Also, this season Ryan will benefit tremendously from the addition of Gonzalez, who promises to add six or seven TD’s to Ryan’s total alone. When you consider that Ryan had one of the most impressive rookie campaigns in the history of the QB position, it’s easy to see that he is a tremendous value in fantasy play this year. He’s proving that he’s got an insatiable desire to win, and the skills required to do just that. If you nab Matt as the ninth or tenth QB taken in your draft, you will have landed a major peice to your fantasy puzzle. Trust me, at that ranking, Ryan is undervalued.

RB, Micahel Turner- Was there a bigger surpise at fantasy’s most important position last season than this guy? DeAngelo lovers may make a case, but unlike the late-surging Williams, Turner was legit from week one. His stellar nose for the endzone had him outproduce Adrian Peterson by a sizable margin, and is causing some owners to feel safe in drafting the former Charger with the #1 overall pick. That would be a monumental mistake. Not that Turner isn’t capable of replicating last season’s numbers,  but it just doesn’t seem likely. First off, you’ve got to remember that the club used a run-heavy scheme, in part, to protect the aforementioned Ryan during his rookie campaign. That’s going to change. Then you also have to factor in versatile backup Jerious Norwood, who will see an increase in opportunities as the club has vowed to relieve Turner more frequently this season. Which brings me to my final point: as last seasons leader in carries, Turner is a risk for injury. Don’t get me wrong, the guy is a bonafide stud with high TD potential. I just believe he’s not going to be quite as productive in ‘09.

WR, Roddy White-  Two seasons ago White looked like he was going to be a total bust in the NFL. While he salvaged his career in 2007, last season he became a star. White is now being taken as a #1 fantasy receiver, and for good reason. He’s vertically explosive, has great hands, makes catches in traffic and is the total package. Oh, and he’s only going to get better as Ryan matures. Roddy deserves top-5 consideration in dynasty formats, as his run is just getting started. I don’t necessarily see a huge spike in his production this season, but fantasy owners should rest assured that he’ll at least duplicate his Pro Bowl numbers from last year. That makes White a surefire weekly starter in fantasyland, and gives you every reason to feel safe starting him as your #1 receiver on a weekly basis. Remarkably, Roddy’s ceiling is actually much higher with very little risk of him falling off.

TE, Tony Gonzalez-  Gonzo got his wish this offseason and was traded to a contender. He will be an instant upgrade over what the team had at the position last season, and will quickly become Matt Ryan’s favorite target on third downs. In fact, I think Gonzalez helps Ryan’s fantasy value more than the move to Atlanta helps the future HOF’er. See, as a Chief, Gonzo was often the only real option in the passing game. That won’t be the case here with the Birds. There’s just no way Gonzalez approaches 100 catches with an offense this loaded around him. Sure, the TD’s are going to be there. Probably 6-8 of them. But I’m guessing the yardage totals we’ve come to expect from Tony G fall off sharply. People taking him as the #2 TE behind Witten will be very sorry they passed on Gates.  Think solid, not spectacular.

RB, Jerious Norwood-  Don’t sleep on Norwood’s big play potential. The speed this guy posesses is elite. He’s faster on the field than I am in the buffet line, and in the right crease, J-Wood is going to take it to the house. The club has been scheming up extra ways to get Norwood the ball, so he could develop into a poor mans Leon Washington. Problem is, Washington himself is kinda poor. That means fantasy owners will never be able to start him with absolute confidence. If Michael Turner were to suffer injury, Norwood could be effective over a short period. But he runs to upright to ever be a feature back in this league, and thus he’s most valuable when cuffed to the beefy Turner.

WR, Michael Jenkins-  The Falcons were elated with Jenkins’ development last season. In prior seasons, while working with stiffs like Michael Vick and Joey Harrington, Jenkins seemed to drop everything thrown his way. Ryan should be credited with Jenkins’ resurrection. Jenkins flourished under the rookie’s leadership, and made crucial plays in the clutch. Just ask any Bears fan about the sideline grab he made with the clock winding down in what proved to be one of the more dramatic moments of the season. Jenkins should improve on his numbers somewhat this year, but shouldn’t be viewed as anything more than a #4 WR in most formats. You could certainly do worse with a late-round flyer.

Isn’t it amazing how much can change in just one year? This club went from laughing stock to serious contender seemingly overnight. Yes, the future is NOW in Atlanta. Fantasy championships can be won this season with these players on your roster. Just keep your expectations for Gonzo and Turner in check and you’ll be pleased.