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07/16/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In addition to being three people who have never been in my kitchen, former NFL running backs Troy Hambrick, Greg Hill, and Neal Anderson all share another important commonality - they all followed legends.
And, in a circumstance as predictable as a Jaguars game being blacked out, each failed to rival the success of their more famous predecessor.
Hambrick (972 yards, 5 TD in 2003) earned the starting job in Dallas after Emmitt Smith defected to Arizona, and though he was good enough to help the Cowboys to the playoffs, was released the following May.
Hill (542 yards, 4 TD in 1999) was brought to Detroit as a stop-gap after Barry Sanders abruptly retired on the eve of training camp, but his uninspiring lone season with the Lions also represented his final bow in the NFL.
Anderson actually enjoyed some success after taking over for Walter Payton full-time in 1988, ending up with over 6,000 rushing yards and 50-plus touchdowns in eight seasons, but a promising career was derailed by injuries and Anderson is viewed by many Bears fans as an unfortunate case of "what if".
We offer this history lesson to those who wonder what will become of San Diego Chargers first-round pick Ryan Mathews. Mathews, the No. 12 overall selection in the April draft, will be the next in line to follow an all-time, top 10 NFL rusher when he carries San Diego into the post-LaDainian Tomlinson era this fall. Tomlinson was released by the Chargers in February and later signed by the New York Jets.
Asked if he felt the burden of succeeding Tomlinson, who left San Diego as the No. 8 rusher in NFL history, Mathews told the San Diego Union-Tribune, "I don't feel pressure replacing L.T. Big shoes. It's hard to fill those shoes. I'm going to play my game."
Mathews' game was just fine at Fresno State last season, when he led the NCAA in rushing during a junior campaign that saw the Bakersfield, CA native amass 1,808 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games. Spurred on by that showing, Mathews opted to enter the draft, where the combination of a weak running back crop, a 4.45 40-yard dash and a round of strong in-person interviews saw his stock rocket into the first round. Though some thought Mathews would last late into the first round, the Chargers took no chances, moving up to the No. 12 position to secure his services.
Immediately, head coach Norv Turner pegged the 6-0, 218-pounder for 250 carries and 40 catches as a rookie, a testament to the direction a formerly pass-happy offense is heading.
"Ryan was the most complete back in the draft," Turner told reporters in May. "He's got great speed and vision. What puts him over the top is he's capable of being a very physical runner."
Handling the physical demands will be critical for Mathews, who will likely be the team's primary offensive weapon early in the season. No. 1 wide receiver Vincent Jackson will serve a three-game suspension to open the year, and could be out longer if he fails to settle a contract dispute with the Chargers. That situation should open the door for plenty of extra touches for Mathews.
Perhaps more important for Mathews will be handling the expectations. Though Tomlinson's production had dropped off in recent years, Chargers fans know what a high-caliber running back looks like, and will be expecting to see some of the same flashes from Mathews that Tomlinson showed when he burst on the scene as a rookie in 2001.
After a long holdout, Tomlinson opened eyes with a 1200-yard, 10-touchdown performance in '01, one that served as a springboard to a certain Hall of Fame career. You can bet Bolts supporters will be breaking out the yardsticks come September to see whether Mathews is following the same trajectory.
You won't find Mathews comparing himself to Tomlinson, though he's already L.T.'s equal in terms of self-assuredness.
"I knew I should be playing with those guys after I got here," Mathews recently said of his initial steps in the NFL. "I didn't struggle. It was good. A running back has to be confident; you can't second-guess."
Below, as the seventh installment of our eight-part "GameChangers" series, we look at five incoming running backs who will enter their first year in a new uniform as central figures in their team's 2010 development:
5. LaDainian Tomlinson, Jets (free agent, from Chargers) - Though Tomlinson is old news in San Diego, big things are expected out of him in Gotham, where the Jets controversially signed him to a two-year deal worth $5.2 million after dumping the cheaper (and more recently effective) Thomas Jones. There have been indications that Shonn Greene will nominally be the Jets starter following a strong finish to 2009, but you have to believe, given his price tag and legacy, Tomlinson will get considerable touches as well. The NFL's active rushing leader did not post a single 100-yard game last season, but told ESPN in regard to those who feel he has diminished skills, "I'm tired of being doubted by so many people about what I can do." The motivation appears to be there for Tomlinson. But at 31, are the legs?
4. Thomas Jones, Chiefs (free agent, from Jets) - It's too bad Jones didn't hit his stride until he was 27 years old, otherwise we might be talking about him as a future Hall of Famer like Tomlinson. As it is, the 31-year-old Jones has now posted 1,100 or more yards in each of the past five seasons, split among two teams that ultimately decided he wasn't good enough to continue playing for them. Jones hopes to make the Jets pay for that decision just as he did the Bears three years ago, but there's no doubt that the odds are stacked against him repeating that scenario in Kansas City. The emerging Jamaal Charles (1,120 yards and eight TDs last season) and second-round draft pick Dexter McCluster (Ole Miss) are going to siphon carries away from Jones, and the Chiefs offensive line isn't nearly as strong as the one Jones ran behind as a Jet. Though he still appears to have something left in the tank, the former No. 7 overall draft pick is going to have to fight for an opportunity to shine.
3. Jahvid Best, Lions (rookie, California) - The Lions have had a rough history with promising running backs that they can't seem to keep healthy (see: Kevin Smith, Kevin Jones), so it was a little bit curious that they moved up into the bottom of the first round to select Best. Best had both elbow and foot surgeries while at Cal and missed the final four games of his junior season due to multiple concussions, but the 5-10, 199-pounder's sub-4.4 speed and 7.3 average per carry as a member of the Golden Bears were too enticing for Jim Schwartz's team to pass up. To start out, Best could play in a rotation with incumbent Kevin Smith (if he recovers sufficiently from knee and shoulder surgeries), with Best counted on most off the edge and as a pass- catcher. That's probably a prudent approach for a guy who might not be physically ready to take the punishment he would face behind a still- developing Detroit offensive line.
2. C.J. Spiller, Bills (rookie, Clemson) - There have been a number of ominous pronouncements about how bad the Bills could be in their first year under Chan Gailey, as the team has an uncertain quarterback situation and did very little to upgrade the already-marginal talent throughout the rest of its roster in the offseason. If there is an antidote to that line of doomsday thinking, it is Spiller, the first running back selected in the April draft. Though he'll have his work cut out for him on a team with a shaky offensive line and limited passing attack to take the pressure off, his 4.37 speed, pass-catching ability and good head for the game give the Bills a chance to be competitive. What Buffalo must avoid is another situation like the one it faced with last- year's first-round pick, Aaron Maybin, who held out late into the 2009 preseason and was rarely a factor in his first year in an NFL uniform.
1. Ryan Mathews, Chargers (rookie, Fresno State) - Though as mentioned above, following a legend is difficult, there are some positive examples to whom Chargers fans can point as they assess the possibilities for Mathews. The Browns' Leroy Kelly became a Hall of Famer after following Jim Brown, while Herschel Walker (succeeded Tony Dorsett) and Willie Parker (succeeded Jerome Bettis) each had at least modest success after filling big shoes. One thing that Mathews hopes not to emulate about Tomlinson is the protracted holdout that delayed his development slightly back in 2001. "My main thing is to get into camp as soon as possible," Mathews told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "I've talked to my agent; I need to be there. Too many guys hold out for all the wrong reasons and I'm not going to be one of them."
Next up at the Line of Scrimmage: 2010 GameChangers Part VIII - Specialists
<< Lincecum blanks Mets
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tim Lincecum shut out the Mets, becoming
the second-fastest Giants pitcher to win 50 games, as San Francisco posted a
2-0 victory in the opener of a four-game set at AT&T Park.
It took the hard-th
<< Twins put Morneau on DL
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin
Morneau was put on the 15-day disabled list following Thursday's 8-7 loss to
the White Sox due to a concussion.
The move is retroactive to July 8. Morneau suffered the i
<< Pineiro beats former team, Angels down Mariners
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joel Pineiro threw seven solid innings to win
his seventh straight decision and the Angels got three RBI apiece from Erick
Aybar and Bobby Abreu in a 8-3 win over the Seattle Mariners to start the post
All-Sta
<< Lincecum blows out candles, blows away Mets
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tim Lincecum shut out the Mets, becoming
the second-fastest Giants pitcher to win 50 games, as San Francisco posted a
2-0 victory in the opener of a four-game set at AT&T Park.
It took the hard-th
Closing birdie saves Mickelson >>
St. Andrews, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With the wind picking up, the cut
line will likely climb through Friday afternoon, and possibly into Saturday
morning, at the British Open.
Phil Mickelson birdied the 18th hole Friday to post
Tigers, Scherzer open set with Indians >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Max Scherzer goes after his fifth straight winning decision
this evening when the Detroit Tigers start the second half of their season in
the first test of a four-game set against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive
Field.
Reds, Rockies get second half started in Cincinnati >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two potential National League playoff teams square off
tonight when the Cincinnati Reds host the Colorado Rockies in the opening
contest of a three-game weekend series at Great American Ball Park.
The Reds enter the season
First-place Braves resume series with Brewers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With rookie sensation Jason Heyward back in the outfield
for the Atlanta Braves, things may get a bit easier for the current National
League East leaders. Tonight Heyward and the Braves will resume a four-game
series versus t
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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The NFL preseason is approaching. Time for players, coaches and teams to turn over a new leaf. General managers have hired some new coaches, while coaches have added some offensive and defensive assistants to try and improve things. Here’s a look at some changes to look for in the preseason.
New York Jets: The Jets were one of the surprise teams in the NFL last season, making the playoffs under hard-driving first-year coach Eric Mangini. Mangini rebuilt the offensive line with rookies D'Brickashaw Ferguson (the No. 4 pick in the 2007 Draft) and Ohio State center (the 29th pick in the first round). This season he upgraded the defense with rookie linebacker David Harris (Michigan) while the secondary picked up a much needed top-notch corner in Pitt CB Darrelle Revis (No. 14 overall).
The Jets have added balance to the offense for QB Chad Pennington with RB Thomas Jones, essentially stolen from the Bears. He will upgrade a New York ground game that was 20th in rushing with a weak 3.5 yards per carry. They have their first true feature back since Curtis Martin. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer prefers ball control, like his father Marty. In preseason, behind Pennington you’ll see second-year QB Kellen Clemens and mobile newcomer QB Marques Tuiasosopo.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The heat is on Jack Del Rio in Jacksonville as the Jaguars flopped last season despite a ton of talent. Keep in mind that under Del Rio the Jaguars have been outstanding in preseason with a 12-4 SU, 11-5 ATS August mark. online football betting Their defense is loaded, it’s the offense that has been stuck in first gear the last few years.
Enter a new offensive coordinator in Dirk Koetter, the former Boise State and Arizona State pass-happy coach. He will try and upgrade a passing game that ranked 24th last season. Del Rio has criticized wide receivers and Matt Jones this summer, both of whom have battled injuries. It will be interesting to watch the “new” Jaguars passing game in preseason.
Arizona Cardinals: Word out of Arizona is that the players like new coach Ken Whisenhunt, who was the Steelers offensive coordinator last year. We think of Arizona as all-passing because their running game has been awful of late because of a poor offensive line. However, keep an eye on the running game in preseason as they’ve made a lot of changes.
The new coach brings in Russ Grimm to coach the offensive line (Grimm did a marvelous job building the Steelers line). They took Penn State OT Levi Jones in the first round and signed two offensive linemen, Mike Gandy and Al Johnson, to provide depth. Reggie Wells was moved from right tackle to left guard and they want more speed out of the offensive line for pulling and traps, a Pittsburgh staple under Bill Cowher.
Atlanta Falcons: While all the attention has been focused on QB Mike Vick’s off-field problems, new coach Bobby Petrino is revamping the Falcons from an all-running team to a more balanced one. Petrino likes the experience of backup QB Joey Harrington and he has veteran backup Chris Redman, who used to play for Petrino at Louisville and knows his offenses better than anyone. Petrino wants Vick to be more of a pocket passer.
The addition of FB Ovie Mughelli is a sign Petrino wants a power rushing attack behind a physical fullback and newcomer WR Joe Horn should upgrade what was a below average wideout corps. Petrino is changing their old zone-blocking scheme to a more traditional in-line blocking scheme and the offensive line is bigger. Rookie DE Jamaal Anderson was grabbed in the first round and the secondary got younger with former Auburn cornerback David Irons, who the Falcons think was a steal as a sixth-round pick.
Cleveland Browns: The 2007 Browns look like a double-edged sword. There was the excitement of the offseason, trading for RB Jamel Lewis, upgrading the offensive line with Wisconsin’s Joe Thomas (the No. 2 pick in the draft) and free agent LG Eric Steinbach, then trading for Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn when he fell to No. 22. GM Phil Savage and head coach Romeo Crennel feel they have a talented, balanced offense with these new pieces, plus TE >Kellen Winslow and WR Braylon Edwards.
However, were these moves made in desperation? And were they foolish ones? The Browns gave up their 2008 first-round pick for Quinn and we all know QBs take time to develop. And even first-round QBs can be busts (Joey Harrington, Akili Smith). We also don’t know if the offensive line is that much improved (31st in rushing in 2007) and they did nothing to improve a defense that was awful against the run (142 yds pg allowed).
The Browns have a new offensive coordinator in Rob Chudzinski. This is a young offense and Quinn looked tentative, indecisive and inaccurate early in camp. Crennel will play Charlie Frye, Quinn and Derek Anderson in preseason. And there is a mixed bag for rookie QBs receiving significant starts: Tim Couch (14), Kerry Collins (13), Ben Roethlisberger (13), Vince Young (13), Joey Harrington (12), Matt Leinart (11) and Kyle Boller (nine). While all the focus will be on the Browns new-look offense, I’m more concerned with the defense.
Carolina Panthers: Coach Jon Fox loves the ground game, but Carolina has made some interesting changes for 2007. Fox fired offensive coordinator Dan Henning and brings in Jeff Davidson to run the offense. Davidson has brought in zone-blocking schemes to the Panther offense, a dramatic change for a system that's been built around a power-running style.
In zone-blocking, offensive linemen are responsible for blocking any defender who appears in their zone, instead of focusing on one defender. The Broncos and Falcons have had success with the system, which features smaller, more athletic offensive linemen and can create running lanes on the inside and outside. Keep an eye in preseason on how Carolina adjusts as it will take time to learn the system. Fox has been one of the top coaches in preseason, with a 15-5 SU, 12-7-1 ATS August record.
Dallas Cowboys: WR Terrell Owens is still here, but QB Drew Bledsoe and Bill Parcells are gone. New head coach Wade Phillips takes over, replacing Parcells. He ran the Chargers defense last season. Phillips was chosen by teary-eyed owner Jerry Jones partly because he is one of the best 3-4 coaches in football and the Cowboys have loaded up on players for that scheme.
Remember that Phillips was blitz-happy with the Chargers last season and early reports out of the Dallas camp have mentioned how the Cowboys have been blitzing a lot, a departure from Parcells. The theme of the 2007 Dallas defense appears to be one of attack.
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