NFL Pre-Season Central...Previews,Injuries,Results,Signings,Pictures,Etc,Etc.

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AFC training camp battles headlined by two QB races.

1) Broncos quarterback: Mark Sanchez vs. Trevor Siemian vs. Paxton Lynch
Either the Broncos are doing a masterful job lowering expectations for their first-round pick or Lynch truly will get a redshirt year. It still defies logic that Siemian, a second-year pro who was active for one game last season, has a better chance to start than Lynch. Siemian is the kind of storyline that often cuts sharply once pads arrive and the pass rush matters in practice. This is Sanchez's job to lose, but don't rule out general manager John Elway acquiring another veteran.

2) Browns quarterback: Robert Griffin III vs. Josh McCown vs. Cody Kessler
The winner of this battle will throw to a sneaky-fun collection of weapons: Josh Gordon (beginning in Week 5), Gary Barnidge, Corey Coleman, Duke Johnson and Andrew Hawkins. Based on their play from 2013 through '15, McCown should be the favorite over Griffin. Based on Hue Jackson's offseason comments and the expected snap distribution, Griffin is almost certain to win. Based on the NFL always making us look stupid, Kessler (whose third-round selection surprised many) will somehow be a factor before all is said and done.

3) Dolphins running back: Jay Ajayi vs. Arian Foster vs. Kenyan Drake
This is the ultimate boom-or-bust backfield. All three players have high ceilings and all three have durability questions. Foster is no lock to make the roster if he can't recapture his 2014 form after Achilles surgery. Ajayi is the favorite to start and owns a throwback power game to go with good hands. Taken in the third round, Drake has the gifts to be a strong third-down back and the curse of injuries dating back to Alabama.

4) Steelers outside linebacker: Jarvis Jones vs. James Harrison
It's an age-old NFL story. At what point do the Steelers call the fight and admit that a disappointing first-round pick can't unseat the ageless veteran? Jones started games last year. Harrison played more snaps and closed the games. That tells you what Mike Tomlin thinks of this battle. You try to be the coach who tells Harrison he's on the bench.

 

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AFC training camp battles headlined by two QB races.

5) Steelers No. 2 receiver: Markus Wheaton vs. Sammie Coates
Coates enjoyed the rare distinction of gaining more yards in Pittsburgh's playoff loss (61) than he did his entire rookie regular season. That makes him the underdog in a battle with Wheaton to fill Martavis Bryant's big shoes in the starting lineup.

6) Jaguars running back: Chris Ivory vs. T.J. Yeldon
The Jaguars likely will settle on a committee approach, with Ivory gobbling up goal-line carries and Yeldon taking the passing-down work. Ivory's contract ($32 million over five years) indicates he's the favorite to earn the majority of the rest of snaps available. He just needs to win the battle against his own body in August by staying healthy.

7) Jaguars left tackle: Luke Joeckel vs. Kelvin Beachum
Joeckel was the No. 2 overall pick of the 2013 NFL Draft. Beachum was the No. 248 pick of the 2012 NFL Draft. This is Beachum's job to lose if he can show he's fully recovered from a torn ACL. Isn't meritocracy grand?

8) Jaguars OTTO: Myles Jack vs. Dan Skuta
The Jaguars drafted Jack out of UCLA to run their defense at middle linebacker. For now, that's Paul Posluszny's job on running downs. Jack will play in sub-packages right away, but we're curious to see if he'll steal snaps from veteran Dan Skuta on the outside, too.
Now is probably the time to tell you that coach Gus Bradley calls his outside linebacker spots "LEO" and "OTTO" for mystical reasons better explained elsewhere.

 

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AFC training camp battles headlined by two QB races.

9) Texans defensive ends
My editor wanted to kill this battle from the list when it was framed as: "Who starts opposite J.J. Watt?" Now it could be: "Who starts at both defensive end spots while Watt gets healthy?"
With 2015 starter Jared Crick in Denver, the lack of proven options (Devon Still, Christian Covington, Brandon Dunn and Jeoffrey Pagan) should be a big concern for Texans fans.

10) Texans No. 2 receiver: Jaelen Strong vs. Will Fuller vs. Cecil Shorts III vs. Braxton Miller
If you believe the OTA hype, second-year pro Strong might just be the slight favorite to start over Fuller, the team's first-round pick in April. Believing OTA hype is usually not good for your health.

11) Ravens running back: Justin Forsett vs. Buck Allen vs. Kenneth Dixon vs. the field
Forsett finally found a home in Baltimore. Now he has to fend off no fewer than five challengers to his throne, all with significant recent NFL experience. Allen made few mistakes as a starter last year, while Dixon has the skill set to play every down. This battle probably will come down to a three-man fight for one roster spot between Lorenzo Taliaferro, Terrance West and walking headline generator Trent Richardson. Forsett could be a surprise cut candidate if the young kids play too well.

12) Ravens tight end: Ben Watson vs. Dennis Pitta vs. Crockett Gillmore vs. Maxx Williams
After a year-long worst-case scenario come to life, GM Ozzie Newsome isn't taking any chances at tight end this year. The variety here is remarkable. You have a 35-year-old coming off a career year in Watson. Pitta is trying to complete an improbable comeback from multiple hip surgeries. Gillmore was Baltimore's most dangerous pass catcher for a stretch last year, and Williams was a 2015 second-round pick.
Watson is the early favorite, but Gillmore is the most explosive player. If Pitta builds on a promising offseason, the Ravens could have a great problem on their hands.

 

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AFC training camp battles headlined by two QB races.

13) Titans receiver battle royale
The most ignored team in the NFL has an intriguing set of receivers, even if it doesn't add Andre Johnson. Free-agent pickup Rishard Matthews should be a lock to start. After that, it's anyone's guess.
We'd think that former 1,000-yard receiver Kendall Wright would have a big role, but coach Mike Mularkey put him in the principal's office this offseason, in part because of Wright's reputation for freelancing. Dorial Green-Beckham and Justin Hunter are former second-round picks with immense physical gifts that have yet to fully translate in the NFL. Harry Douglas played for Mularkey in Atlanta.
Somehow, all the names above were running behind fifth-round rookie Tajae Sharpe from UMass over the summer. Hunter and possibly Douglas could be the odd men out here, with Sharpe cutting into Wright's snaps.

14) Browns running back: Duke Johnson vs. Isaiah Crowell
It was written: Football Svengali Marc Sessler already let us know that Duke Johnson will Make the Leap, so now it's time to sit back and enjoy the ride. Johnson has the tackle-breaking toughness and ability to make defenders miss in the hole that could make this a one-sided committee.

15) Bengals wide receivers: Who replaces Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones?
There are no magic answers coming for Andy Dalton beyond the Bengals' fierce running game, offensive line and defense. (Perhaps this isn't such an emergency after all.) Sanu should be simple enough to replace with rookie Tyler Boyd, the favorite to get snaps in the slot. Going from Jones to Brandon LaFell outside could be a bigger problem. It's hard to see who else could emerge from the Bengals' depth chart at the position: Brandon Tate, Cody Core, James Wright, Mario Alford and Jake Kumerow.

16) Patriots entire interior offensive line
The Patriots might have won their fifth Super Bowl if they could have protected Tom Brady late last season. They are healthier at tackle now, but their interior offensive line has seven players battling for three open spots. Former top-10 pick Jonathan Cooper, part of the trade that sent Chandler Jones to Arizona, will be in the mix for one of the starting guard spots, along with third-round pick Joe Thuney. The biggest reason for optimism: Bill Belichick convinced offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia to end his retirement.

 

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AFC training camp battles headlined by two QB races.

17) Steelers secondary: Top two draft picks vs. veterans
Pittsburgh GM Kevin Colbert has drafted well during his underrated 16-year tenure, although his track record in the secondary is wanting. Mike Tomlin hopes that changes this year. The team's first-round pick, Artie Burns, is vying for snaps at cornerback behind Ross Cockrell. Second-round safety Sean Davis is trying to displace veterans Robert Golden and Shamarko Thomas. Despite his lower draft position, Davis is the better bet to start Week 1.

18) Broncos defensive end: Who replaces Malik Jackson?
The Broncos let Jackson walk to Jacksonville for a variety of reasons, most of them financial. Coordinator Wade Phillips' ability to maximize D-line talent also played a role. Vance Walker is a solid rotation player. Gary Kubiak imported old friend Jared Crick from Houston. The team could move Sylvester Williams from nose tackle to play snaps at end. Australian rookie Adam Gotsis has only played football since age 13 and landed with the perfect coach to help him learn his trade.
It's worth remembering that Jackson wasn't even a starter until 2015. In SonofBum they trust.

19) Bills No. 3 receiver
This battle makes the list because Sammy Watkins' foot injury threatens to linger through the season. It also makes the list because the depth chart ranks among the league's least inspiring. Robert Woods is stretched as a starter. Greg Salas, Dezmin Lewis and Leonard Hankerson are the leading options to start if Watkins is out. Translation: Rex Ryan has his excuse to not allow forward passes this season.

20) Jets outside linebacker
Jets coach Todd Bowles says that his team is "not just about the quarterback position." He had better hope it's not just about outside linebacker. This group is so thin (Trevor Reilly, Jordan Jenkins) behind promising second-year pro Lorenzo Mauldin that Bowles should line up primarily as a 4-3 team in order to keep his best players on the field. (And his outside linebackers off it.)

 

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What we learned: 10 takeaways from Thursday.

The Vikings have built their organization the right way. Their general manager Rick Spielman has been with the team since 2006. Over the last two years, he's helped transform the roster to fit coach Mike Zimmer's feisty personality. They are cresting as a budding NFC superpower just in time to move into their new stadium.

Thursday's contract extension for Zimmer was another nod to the team's newfound stability. Zimmer, like Bruce Arians, was ignored for too long in head coaching interviews because he may have been too honest. While Zimmer may not play the politics well, he has the full attention of his players. He has a knack for developing defenders, especially on the defensive line and secondary. They have an all-time great Adrian Peterson trying to squeeze out another season of greatness before his contract becomes an issue. The Vikings boast promising youth throughout their defense and look to take a Cardinals-like leap toward the upper echelon of NFL teams.

On Thursday's Around the NFL Podcast, Marc Sessler took issue with everyone handing the NFC North to the Packers. The natural inclination is to wonder if Minnesota will take a step back after 11 wins last year, but there are plenty of reasons to believe they can be even better. They might have bought low on Zimmer.

 

[Greenbacks]

1. While Broncos VP John Elway says it's an open competition for the team's starting quarterback job, coach Gary Kubiak has sounded a different note publicly. He gave Mark Sanchez first team reps, with Trevor Siemian occasionally mixing in with the starters. Rookie Paxton Lynch was with the third team and showed "stage fright", according to NFL Media's James Palmer, in his first camp practice. Kubiak admitted Lynch's head was spinning.

2. Don't rule out a Tyrod Taylor extension in Buffalo just yet. Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News reports that the two sides have been talking "frequently" and Taylor still has a chance for an extension before the season. It's a tricky contract to figure out; the Bills would essentially be buying low.

3. One clear change to the Colts' offense showed up at practice on Thursday. The base two-tight end offense appears to be gone, according to the Indianapolis Star, along with Coby Fleener. The team now appears to be working out of a base offense with three receivers on the field: T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief and Philip Dorsett. Moncrief and Dorsett are in prime position to make the leap.

4. One notable name missing from the Cowboys' team charter to training camp in Southern California: linebacker Rolando McClain. It's worth wondering if the suspended starter will join the team ever again.

5. Joe Flacco participated in his first full practice since tearing his ACL last season. He wasn't thrilled with his accuracy, but just his presence on the field is great news for the Ravens.

6. Washington's first-round pick Josh Doctson told reporters Thursday that he is set to test out a sore Achilles' tendon, but he hasn't run in a month. Doctson could have a hard time getting healthy in time to earn snaps at a crowded position.

7. Presumptive Cardinals cornerback Justin Bethel suffered a setback in his return from a foot injury. Arizona is dangerously thin at the position, especially with Tyrann Mathieu saying he's at least three weeks away from returning to the field.

8. Is Thomas Rawls a lock to carry the load early in the season for the Seahawks? The second-year back is not ready for camp as he tries to recover from a serious leg/ankle injury and Pete Carroll has hesitated to promise Rawls the starting job. The position battle to see who else emerges in Seattle is one to watch.

9. Good news for the Saints, as safety Jairus Byrd was healthy enough to open training camp on the field for the first time in three seasons.

10. Coach Todd Bowles made a few things clear about his quarterback position on Ryan Fitzpatrick's first full day with the Jets. Fitzpatrick is definitely the starter. Geno Smith is the backup and isn't going anywhere. That would seem to put Bryce Petty's job in jeopardy.

 

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Training camp report date: Rookies and veterans, July 29.

Training camp location: Chargers Park, San Diego, California.

Offseason in a nutshell: If we don't count nearly moving the franchise to Los Angeles, everything was fairly quiet in breezy San Diego this offseason. Antonio Gates is back but Ladarius Green is gone. Eric Weddle got his wish and separated with his long-time team, paving the way for Dwight Lowery. Running back Donald Brown wasn't re-signed but wide receiver Travis Benjamin is here to hopefully add a much-needed second dimension to this offense. The minor swaps, along with a change to Ken Whisenhunt as offensive coordinator, should have the team on more stable footing in 2016, but did they do enough to drastically improve from 4-12?

Player to watch: Defensive end Joey Bosa. As we've noted in the past, Bosa's lost spring is a crying shame for both the Chargers and the young pass rusher. We can endlessly rationalize the argument on both sides but it comes down to minutiae that will never be a problem if the Chargers develop Bosa like they are expected to. Cash flow and offset language. No end in sight. When Bosa takes the field he'll be unfairly subjected to the he doesn't love the game chorus, just another hurdle to overcome as he learns an NFL defense for the first time -- one which he's expected to anchor on the left side.

THREE BURNING QUESTIONS

1. Does Philip Rivers' return to the sweet spot coincide with the return of Ken Whisenhunt?
Rivers completed nearly 70 percent of his passes back in 2013, the last time Whisenhunt was involved with San Diego's offense. During that 9-7 season, Rivers chucked 32 touchdowns on 4,478 passing yards and finished the year with just 11 interceptions. Watching Rivers work with Keenan Allen was a thing of beauty, a relationship that paved the way to Allen's big-time contract extension this summer. So is this a better team personnel-wise than the last time Whisenhunt roamed the sidelines? Rivers, who has had better statistical seasons before and after 2013 but maybe never one as rhythmic and consistent, is out to prove as much.

2. Can Melvin Gordon make a 180-degree turnaround?
Gordon's futile first season was not all his fault, but reading between the lines, one could tell there was some behind-the-scenes cringing done by the Chargers' coaching staff and executive group after witnessing a wildly disappointing 184 carries and 641 yards. It's not fair to blame his struggles on the offensive line alone either, which is why this offseason served as a motivational pick-me-up campaign to boost Gordon's confidence heading into camp. The NFL moves fast and San Diego needs some kind of running game after Gordon finished third to last among qualifying NFL running backs in Rushing Net Yards Over Average (NYoA), a wonderful stat compiled by NFL GSIS that measures a team's performance with that player on the field against a league average that factors in just about everything. The only running backs theoretically worse? DeMarco Murray and Jeremy Hill. The bottom line: San Diego cannot afford to have a player on the field that makes the team markedly worse. Can Gordon show us that 2015 was just an aberration?

3. Can San Diego capitalize on their hotbed of defensive talent?
John Pagano survived an offseason coaching shakeup with one clear directive: Find a way to take a statistically average defense packed full of first-, second- and third-round picks and make it work. Last year, San Diego was -4 in turnover margin and was one of the worst teams in the NFL in defending passes over the middle, short right, deep left and deep middle. Sometimes all it takes is a few tweaks, and the addition of Casey Hayward should help sure up some of the issues they had at the nickel position. Jason Verrett's continued ascension up the cornerback rankings should also make life a little easier on Pagano as he toys with new blood at safety.

Way-too-early season prediction: The division is for the taking, with the Broncos' expected regression thanks to the loss of Peyton Manning/Brock Osweiler, but is San Diego strong enough to compete with Oakland and Kansas City? If this pass defense improves and their 27th-ranked rushing defense can catch up to league average, San Diego could easily double their win total (four) from 2015.

 

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