Pro Football Notebook
NFL Preview-Final Weekend Games-Preseason.
Chargers-49ers..San Diego trying to sort out pecking order at backup WR…and which extra LBs make team as special teams player….OL not run blocking well-just (2.5YPC) with number one unit on the field…. Decision coming on Nick Novak-vs-Josh Lambo in kicking game….49ers (1-2) in preseason-defense leaky-having to replace so many people….Colin Kaeperneck not strong preseason.
Saints-Green Bay….New Orleans defense not played well-now beset by injuries to Junior Galette, Anthony Spencer, Keenan Lewis….Packers defense been nicked up-but appear ready to start season.
Baltimore-Atlanta…Falcons still searching for running backs…QB-Matt Ryan-lots of hits and sacks in preseason….Ravens defense looking for answers for missing players-don’t look ready for season…Joe Flacco needs to find big play WR to replace Torry Smith.
Bengals-Colts…Indianapolis doesn’t really care about wins-losses in preseason-just evaluating no-name players they seem to find….Cincinnati QB-Andy Dalton got dinged (neck) last week, which was scare, but like lots of things Marvin Lewis has put together on roster.
Eagles-Jets…Philadelphia running its offense like it is real season….QB-Tim Tebow-Matt Barkley will share snaps this game see who survives last roster cuts….Jets look very pedestrian on offense…Have had tough camp injuries-suspensions to defense…..Don’t know if they are ready to start season, and now prized DT-Leonard Williams out with knee issue.
Tampa Bay-Miami…..QB-Jameis Winston dinged up with ankle…Had very tough weekend with blitzing defenses (6-15) passing-4 sacks-interception….Team will rely on heavy duty RB-Doug Martin…now WR-Mike Evans ailing-hamstring…..Dolphins QB-Ryan Tannehill growing as star in league…Offensive line improving.
Jacksonville-Washington…..Kirk Cousins is the starting quarterback….Team trying to diffuse the ongoing RG3-Soap Opera….Team really looks dysfunctional….Jaguars have bright star in making in QB-Blake Bortels….Still think WR corps is substandard…..Defense better than advertised.
Carolina-Pittsburgh….Who is in more trouble? Panthers WR group or entire young Steelers defense? Not a good preseason for either. Luckily Pittsburgh has RB-WR combo to go with Ben Roethlisberger. Panthers have not found anyone to help out QB-Cam Newton yet.
Buffalo-Detroit….EJ Manuel-Tyrod Taylor are the Bills QB-de-Jour for time being….Interested in seeing if QB-Matt Cassell survives roster cut to 53…..Bills worried about on-going hamstring RB-LeSean McCoy…..Lions defense does not look tough enough…Offense will score points.
NYGiants-NEngland….Border War game, but both coaches have roster issues…..Giants-Eli Manning not had good preseason games….Injuries at WR….OL problems still there…..Absolutely ravaged by injuries in secondary….Patriots confident in Jimmy Garappolo at QB-good preseason action…but WR group very questionable…Don’t know what to make of Belicheck’s defense right now.
Vikings-Titans…Minnesota Ted Bridgewater taking jump to next level at QB-impressive under Norv Turner….Mike Zimmer doing good job on defense….Titans very competitive with QB situation…Tough call coming for Ken Whisenhunt-either Marcus Mariota or Zac Mettenberger as starting QB.
Browns-Bears….Think Mike Pettine building something on defense-even with release of NT-Phil Taylor…..QB will be journeyman Josh McCown-can he lead a limited group that side of ball….John Fox-Jay Cutler offense seems to be meshing, but it is preseason, and it is Jay Cutler….Jury still out on rebuilt defense that had age-injuries issues last season.
Houston-Dallas…Cowboys (0-3) have hardly played regulars-protecting against injury-so record is misleading….Have stayed free of injuries that hurt them early last year….Texans look solid with Brian Hoyer at QB and defense just awesome…Interesting to see how offensive minded coach Bill O’Brien can build this team’s anemic offense-far cry from just two years ago, the Schaub-Foster-Johnson trio.
Chiefs-Rams…Andy Reid offense still seems to be weak in the passing game in terms of production….Alex Smith-Chase Daniel put up nice numbers, but they don’t scare anyone….Secondary seems rebuilt….Rams have not had good camp….Now RB-Tre Mason hurt along with concern whether lst round pick Todd Gurley is ready to play opening day….St. Louis defense looks great on paper-will it perform on field?
Arizona-Denver….Carson Palmer had two good outings-then bad one against bad Raiders team…Run game will improve…WR-dynamic group….Defense is fast and furious…..Very different production with Peyton Manning under center….Will this new-look work under Gary Kubiak? Will Manning be healthy? Will John Elway’s rebuilt defense produce? Stay tuned.
Raiders-Seahawks….Think Jack Del Rio arrival has brought credibility to Raiders roster….They do play hard….Just need to get productive run game to help QB-Derek Carr…..Seahawks OL was in disarray….QB-Russell Wilson ran for life last week…..Seattle run game looks loaded…..Defense remains blazing fast but there are holes and no Kam Chancellor (holdout) nor Earl Thomas (injury) sightings yet. But it is just preseason.