Jones has the most “upside”, but can’t seem to stay healthy. Remember when at Arkansas with McFadden, Jones was who they ran the “pro-style” offense through. Choice has always been more of a 3rd down type back, he has capable hands, does an adequate job pass-blocking, and can do an average job running the ball. Murray seems to me, to be the question mark. He doesn’t have blazing speed, but can make people miss in the open field. He wasn’t without injury problems in college, but you never know how hard someone was willing to push it, before getting paid. If/when Jones goes down, he will be the one who will benefit the most.
But Felix Jones is Jerry Jones’ boy (Arkansas connection), and I think in the end will pressure to have him get a majority of the playing time.
I think it’s going to pretty much suck across the board. They’ll be constantly injured and rotating players. Jones hasn’t ever been a workhorse and I have almost no faith that he can become one, and behind him it’s very unproven. Choice showed some flashes two years ago but he’s also slipping down the depth chart. The rookies Murray and Miller have potential but little else, in this very short training camp rookies will suffer and neither of these guys will be able to pass protect and it’s unlikely they survive the full season without missing time.
Jones might break out and become a stud like RNATB is speculating, he’s got the ability, but his pass protection, short yardage and durability concerns are all very real. I think the Cowboys will be really gambling if the put Romo’s well being into the hands of this group of RBs, especially if Choice gets the boot.
I know I asked this question before. When was the last time an NFL head coach was also the OC or DC? I know a lot of head coaches call their own plays, but when was the last time a team simply didn’t have an offensive or defensive coordinator? It seems especially weird for a rookie head coach to have that on his plate. I wonder if that means Holmgren is more involved in the coaching than his position of president indicates.
Buccaneers pound the Chiefs 25-0 on the road in the preseason opener. It’s preseason, and the Chiefs’ #1 QB, RB and WR didn’t play, but it’s still a good night.
Wade Phillips was the defensive coordinator most of his time in Dallas.
John Gruden was the offensive coordinator his entire time in Tampa. Officially, we had an offensive coordinator, but he was actually the quarterbacks coach. Raheem Morris is the head coach and defensive coordinator right now, and was last year too (as a rookie HC). Our head coach was hired to be defensive coordinator, and our offensive coordinator (Greg Olson) was hired to be the quarterbacks coach (and was promoted after Jeff Jagodzinski was fired during the 2010 preseason).
Well at least it’s fun to see Detroit look solid for a little while. It of course doesn’t feel good for long, knowing it is the Bengals, and the unforgettable memory of 4-0,0-16.
My Steelers did not look good last night, but I don’t mind. First game of preseason might as well be touch football. In fact, I am a little superstitious about them winning in preseason - I get nervous if they do.
The 49ers offense and special teams looked awful against the Saints. Th Defense looked good, keeping Breeze without a first down on three drives and a QB rating as bad as Alex Smith’s.
Kaepernick looked like a rookie, no big surprise. It didn’t help that the offensive line was as impenatrable as a slotted spoon.
Aldon Smith looked great, got a sack, tied for most tackles, and played smart. He should be a starting OLB by the regular season, and could be a Defensive ROTY candidate.
Taylor Mays didn’t help himself by being a half-second late on every play he should have made. The rookie CB, Chris Culliver looked good.
I thought Dalton played well enough after his rough start. Its clear he shook off the early rattling on played with confidence the rest of the way. It doesn’t help when you start off in a 14-0 hole because your UDFA KR fumbles a kickoff after the Lions score and they recover and score again. Dalton’s INT wouldn’t have happened had not Bobbie Williams the RG not apparently put on about 50 extra lbs…Suh just manhandled him the whole game and he smashed Dalton before he could follow through on his pass attempt. Maualuga looked great at MLB, he was everywhere. Benson is a fucking stud as long as he’s not assaulting people off the field (37 yards on 6 carries)…our wideouts are really good…everything is just so new, new QB, new O-coordinator, only two weeks of practice…its preseason…
Stafford looked really sharp. Guy is going to be a good one if he doesn’t keep getting hurt.
Yes, they played. I expect the line play to improve soon, but it was just not good Friday.
Part of it was the Saints decided to blitz almost every play in the first preseason game, and they didn’t expect that. Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee details the failures in this blog post. All three of the guys you name messed up at some point, and blitz pickup was generally nonexistent.