Four second-year players — Colts running back Donald Brown, Lions safety Louis Delmas, Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno and 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree — talk with Sporting News‘ Dennis Dillon about their initial impressions of the NFL in a roundtable discussion.
Michael Crabtree caught 48 passes for 625 yards and two touchdowns in his rookie season with the 49ers.
What advice would you give a rookie coming into the NFL?
Delmas: "Give 110 percent, no matter if you mess up on a play. When that ball is snapped, run as fast as you can to the ball. And if you catch the ball, run with it as fast as you can."
Moreno: "Learn from and listen to the veterans because they’re going to help you out. They’ve been through the situation you’re going through. Keep your ears open for the things you can get better at."
Crabtree: "Just work hard, stay in that playbook and don’t take any days off. Every day is a work day for you. And every day you can learn something."
What’s the biggest difference about playing your position in the NFL compared to college?
Brown: "Obviously, everybody is bigger, faster and stronger. The defensive linemen are a lot faster in the NFL than they were in college. There are some guys who are 300 pounds, but the way they can move on their feet and get to the ball — some of those guys are pretty impressive."
Moreno: "Basically, how fast it is and how holes open up so quick and you have to hit the hole on instinct."
Crabtree: "In the NFL, it’s discipline. All your routes have to be disciplined. Your depth on a route is probably the biggest difference. You’re running deeper routes, and you’ve got to run faster."
Which one teammate do you look up to most?
Brown: "We have a bunch of All-Pros on our team, not only on the field but off the field. Obviously, Peyton Manning, Dallas Clark, Jeff Saturday, Reggie Wayne, guys like that who are true Pro Bowl-caliber players but off the field they’re doing just as well — helping out in the community and being true role models."
Delmas: Kyle Vanden Bosch. "We just got him (as a free agent this offseason), but the first day he got here he stepped in as a leader and he’s continued to be one of the best leaders we have right now."
Moreno: "We have a lot of veterans I think people look up to, such as Correll Buckhalter and Brian Dawkins, just because of the way they carry themselves on and off the field. I think everyone looks up to them. They’re looking out for your best interests."
Did you hit the "rookie wall" last year?
Brown: (laughs) "I probably hit it twice. At that point, you take a step back, collect your thoughts and talk to a veteran. The veterans have been through it, too. They can help you through it. The important thing is taking care of your body. When you have a chance to rest, get off your feet and relax; don’t go do other things."
Veteran safety Brian Dawkins is one of the players Knowshon Moreno looks up to.
Delmas: "To me, there’s no such thing as a rookie wall. No matter if you hit it or not, you still have to go out there and play. I might have been tired, but I had good dudes around me who kept me motivated. I think I did a good job as a rookie as far as not breaking down."
Moreno: "There’s no way of avoiding it. It’s just basically keeping your body intact as well as you can, eating the right things and basically playing through it."
What was the strangest or funniest thing an opposing player said to you last year?
Delmas: "I was chit-chatting with (Bengals receiver) Laveranues Coles and he told me, ‘Man, you ain’t got enough years in the league. Get your bank up.’ Meaning get my money before I could even talk to him."
Moreno: "I can’t really hear out there. So much stuff is going on that it goes in one ear and out the other."
Crabtree: (laughs) "(Packers cornerback) Al Harris stared me down the whole game. I guess he was trying to intimidate me. That was kind of funny to me. I was in the huddle, he was staring at me. Coming out, he was staring at me. He was trying to play the whole tough-guy role, but it really didn’t work. I caught my first touchdown on him."
Is there an NFL player at your position you studied or tried to emulate?
Brown: "I watch pretty much every back. You always want to be your own player, but it doesn’t hurt to take little bits and pieces and learn from other running backs and try to make your game that much more complete."
Delmas: "Troy Polamalu. When you look at him, he doesn’t look like a safety when he moves … but because he’s so smart and watches so much film, he puts himself in great position to make plays. And that’s one thing I want to do this year."
Crabtree: "I try to steal something from everybody. Every receiver in the NFL, I try to steal something and put it in my own way."
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
Four second-year players — Colts running back Donald Brown, Lions safety Louis Delmas, Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno and 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree — talk with Sporting News‘ Dennis Dillon about their initial impressions of the NFL in a roundtable discussion.
Michael Crabtree caught 48 passes for 625 yards and two touchdowns in his rookie season with the 49ers.
What advice would you give a rookie coming into the NFL?
Delmas: "Give 110 percent, no matter if you mess up on a play. When that ball is snapped, run as fast as you can to the ball. And if you catch the ball, run with it as fast as you can."
Moreno: "Learn from and listen to the veterans because they’re going to help you out. They’ve been through the situation you’re going through. Keep your ears open for the things you can get better at."
Crabtree: "Just work hard, stay in that playbook and don’t take any days off. Every day is a work day for you. And every day you can learn something."
What’s the biggest difference about playing your position in the NFL compared to college?
Brown: "Obviously, everybody is bigger, faster and stronger. The defensive linemen are a lot faster in the NFL than they were in college. There are some guys who are 300 pounds, but the way they can move on their feet and get to the ball — some of those guys are pretty impressive."
Moreno: "Basically, how fast it is and how holes open up so quick and you have to hit the hole on instinct."
Crabtree: "In the NFL, it’s discipline. All your routes have to be disciplined. Your depth on a route is probably the biggest difference. You’re running deeper routes, and you’ve got to run faster."
Which one teammate do you look up to most?
Brown: "We have a bunch of All-Pros on our team, not only on the field but off the field. Obviously, Peyton Manning, Dallas Clark, Jeff Saturday, Reggie Wayne, guys like that who are true Pro Bowl-caliber players but off the field they’re doing just as well — helping out in the community and being true role models."
Delmas: Kyle Vanden Bosch. "We just got him (as a free agent this offseason), but the first day he got here he stepped in as a leader and he’s continued to be one of the best leaders we have right now."
Moreno: "We have a lot of veterans I think people look up to, such as Correll Buckhalter and Brian Dawkins, just because of the way they carry themselves on and off the field. I think everyone looks up to them. They’re looking out for your best interests."
Did you hit the "rookie wall" last year?
Brown: (laughs) "I probably hit it twice. At that point, you take a step back, collect your thoughts and talk to a veteran. The veterans have been through it, too. They can help you through it. The important thing is taking care of your body. When you have a chance to rest, get off your feet and relax; don’t go do other things."
Veteran safety Brian Dawkins is one of the players Knowshon Moreno looks up to.
Delmas: "To me, there’s no such thing as a rookie wall. No matter if you hit it or not, you still have to go out there and play. I might have been tired, but I had good dudes around me who kept me motivated. I think I did a good job as a rookie as far as not breaking down."
Moreno: "There’s no way of avoiding it. It’s just basically keeping your body intact as well as you can, eating the right things and basically playing through it."
What was the strangest or funniest thing an opposing player said to you last year?
Delmas: "I was chit-chatting with (Bengals receiver) Laveranues Coles and he told me, ‘Man, you ain’t got enough years in the league. Get your bank up.’ Meaning get my money before I could even talk to him."
Moreno: "I can’t really hear out there. So much stuff is going on that it goes in one ear and out the other."
Crabtree: (laughs) "(Packers cornerback) Al Harris stared me down the whole game. I guess he was trying to intimidate me. That was kind of funny to me. I was in the huddle, he was staring at me. Coming out, he was staring at me. He was trying to play the whole tough-guy role, but it really didn’t work. I caught my first touchdown on him."
Is there an NFL player at your position you studied or tried to emulate?
Brown: "I watch pretty much every back. You always want to be your own player, but it doesn’t hurt to take little bits and pieces and learn from other running backs and try to make your game that much more complete."
Delmas: "Troy Polamalu. When you look at him, he doesn’t look like a safety when he moves … but because he’s so smart and watches so much film, he puts himself in great position to make plays. And that’s one thing I want to do this year."
Crabtree: "I try to steal something from everybody. Every receiver in the NFL, I try to steal something and put it in my own way."
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
A taste of success in his rookie season doesn’t mean a player has it all figured out. These five high-profile NFL sophomores know what they need to do to be better in 2010.
Colts RB Donald Brown
What he did: Rushed 78 times for 281 yards and three touchdowns playing behind starter Joseph Addai.
Donald Brown, a star back at UConn from 2006-08, skipped his senior season to enter the NFL draft.
What he wants to improve: "Just my knowledge of the game. Being that much more familiar with the offense, being that much more familiar with my opponents and just having my tools sharpened and being ready to go. Making my weaknesses my strengths and making my strengths even greater."
Lions FS Louis Delmas
What he did: Became the first rookie in NFL history to return an interception for a touchdown, return a fumble for a touchdown and record a safety.
What he wants to improve: "Communication with the front seven. Last year, once I lined up I kind of got tunnel vision and didn’t always get my teammates in the right position. I’ve got to see the whole field, sideline to sideline."
Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno
What he did: Led all rookies in rushing yards (947), yards from scrimmage (1,160) and touchdowns (nine).
What he wants to improve: "There are a lot of things: My running reads, pass protection, everything. It’s never one thing you can improve on; it’s a lot of things you can get better at — even the things you do well.
49ers WR Michael Crabtree
What he did: Caught 48 passes for 625 yards and two touchdowns even though he didn’t play until Oct. 25 because of a contract dispute.
What he wants to improve:"Probably my whole overall game. There’s not one aspect of the game you want to get better on. You just want to get better overall and take that next step in your second year and establish yourself as a top-five receiver.
Redskins LB Brian Orakpo
What he did: Tied for the team lead in sacks (11) and made 60 tackles.
What he wants to improve: "I want to harass the quarterback a lot more often than I did in ’09."
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
A taste of success in his rookie season doesn’t mean a player has it all figured out. These five high-profile NFL sophomores know what they need to do to be better in 2010.
Colts RB Donald Brown
What he did: Rushed 78 times for 281 yards and three touchdowns playing behind starter Joseph Addai.
Donald Brown, a star back at UConn from 2006-08, skipped his senior season to enter the NFL draft.
What he wants to improve: "Just my knowledge of the game. Being that much more familiar with the offense, being that much more familiar with my opponents and just having my tools sharpened and being ready to go. Making my weaknesses my strengths and making my strengths even greater."
Lions FS Louis Delmas
What he did: Became the first rookie in NFL history to return an interception for a touchdown, return a fumble for a touchdown and record a safety.
What he wants to improve: "Communication with the front seven. Last year, once I lined up I kind of got tunnel vision and didn’t always get my teammates in the right position. I’ve got to see the whole field, sideline to sideline."
Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno
What he did: Led all rookies in rushing yards (947), yards from scrimmage (1,160) and touchdowns (nine).
What he wants to improve: "There are a lot of things: My running reads, pass protection, everything. It’s never one thing you can improve on; it’s a lot of things you can get better at — even the things you do well.
49ers WR Michael Crabtree
What he did: Caught 48 passes for 625 yards and two touchdowns even though he didn’t play until Oct. 25 because of a contract dispute.
What he wants to improve:"Probably my whole overall game. There’s not one aspect of the game you want to get better on. You just want to get better overall and take that next step in your second year and establish yourself as a top-five receiver.
Redskins LB Brian Orakpo
What he did: Tied for the team lead in sacks (11) and made 60 tackles.
What he wants to improve: "I want to harass the quarterback a lot more often than I did in ’09."
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
Sporting News staff reports
Steve Phillips is still thinking up trades seven years after being fired as the Mets’ general manager.
On Monday, he told New York radio station WFAN that if he were Astros GM Ed Wade, he’d be asking for Nationals pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg in a trade for right-hander Roy Oswalt. Washington reportedly is interested in acquiring Oswalt to bolster its rotation.
Monday night: Strasburg has worst Triple-A start: Two runs in five innings
Per The Washington Post’s Dan Steinberg, Phillips added that Rizzo wouldn’t deal Strasburg, but that didn’t stop the former ESPN analyst from explaining why such a swap would make sense:
"Listen, (Strasburg) was a good college pitcher, he’s a good minor league pitcher so far," Phillips tells host Mike Francesa. "But if I can get one of the top, what, top five starting pitchers in the game today for Strasburg? Because I really, truly, I hope that (Strasburg) could be that guy. I have to tell you, I don’t know that he could be that guy. And with his delivery, I could see the potential of a Mark Prior sort of breakdown."
That said, Phillips values Oswalt highly enough that he advocates asking for the game’s top prospect in a trade.
"If I’m the Astros, I’m asking for Strasburg. And I understand … they won’t do it. But that’s the caliber of player I want for Roy Oswalt," Phillips said.
Steinberg, meanwhile, indirectly points out that Strasburg can’t be traded just yet. Major league rules prohibit clubs from trading draft picks until 12 months after they signed. Strasburg, the first pick in last year’s draft, signed with the Nationals last August. Strasburg could conceivably be moved after the anniversary, as a player to be named.
Per Steinberg, here’s the audio.
Sporting News staff reports
Steve Phillips is still thinking up trades seven years after being fired as the Mets’ general manager.
On Monday, he told New York radio station WFAN that if he were Astros GM Ed Wade, he’d be asking for Nationals pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg in a trade for right-hander Roy Oswalt. Washington reportedly is interested in acquiring Oswalt to bolster its rotation.
Monday night: Strasburg has worst Triple-A start: Two runs in five innings
Per The Washington Post’s Dan Steinberg, Phillips added that Rizzo wouldn’t deal Strasburg, but that didn’t stop the former ESPN analyst from explaining why such a swap would make sense:
"Listen, (Strasburg) was a good college pitcher, he’s a good minor league pitcher so far," Phillips tells host Mike Francesa. "But if I can get one of the top, what, top five starting pitchers in the game today for Strasburg? Because I really, truly, I hope that (Strasburg) could be that guy. I have to tell you, I don’t know that he could be that guy. And with his delivery, I could see the potential of a Mark Prior sort of breakdown."
That said, Phillips values Oswalt highly enough that he advocates asking for the game’s top prospect in a trade.
"If I’m the Astros, I’m asking for Strasburg. And I understand … they won’t do it. But that’s the caliber of player I want for Roy Oswalt," Phillips said.
Steinberg, meanwhile, indirectly points out that Strasburg can’t be traded just yet. Major league rules prohibit clubs from trading draft picks until 12 months after they signed. Strasburg, the first pick in last year’s draft, signed with the Nationals last August. Strasburg could conceivably be moved after the anniversary, as a player to be named.
Per Steinberg, here’s the audio.
Sporting News staff reports
The Colorado Rockies on Monday agreed with infielder Kazuo Matsui on a minor league contract, MLB.com reports. Pending a physical, Matsui will report to the club’s Triple-A affiliate in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Matsui, 35, was part of the Rockies’ 2007 National League championship team, providing speed at the top of the order. Since then he has slowly declined, culminating in his release by the Astros last week. Matsui batted .141 in 27 games for Houston this season.
MLB.com reports Matsui will provide infield insurance for the Rockies.
Sporting News staff reports
The Colorado Rockies on Monday agreed with infielder Kazuo Matsui on a minor league contract, MLB.com reports. Pending a physical, Matsui will report to the club’s Triple-A affiliate in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Matsui, 35, was part of the Rockies’ 2007 National League championship team, providing speed at the top of the order. Since then he has slowly declined, culminating in his release by the Astros last week. Matsui batted .141 in 27 games for Houston this season.
MLB.com reports Matsui will provide infield insurance for the Rockies.
Sporting News staff reports
Rays vice president Andrew Friedman tells ESPN he expects left fielder Carl Crawford will remain with the club all season.
Friedman made the claim in response to a question by Dan Schulman while being interviewed during tonight’s Rays-Red Sox broadcast.
"I feel very strongly we’re going to have a lot of staying power (this season), We have a lot of respect for how long the season is, but we feel like we have the depth and the talent on hand to compete throughout the year, and obviously we’re a much better team with Carl than without him," Friedman said.
Crawford is in the final season of his contract and there has been much speculation about whether the Rays would be able to re-sign him. Many people concluded that Tampa Bay would deal him if it fell out of contention this season, but the Rays have the majors’ best record at 32-12.
Tampa Bay has an almost-ready replacement for Crawford in Desmond Jennings, who is playing for Triple-A Durham.
"He’s tremendously talented," Friedman said of Jennings, who was Tampa Bay’s minor league Player of the Year in 2009. "He’s a very, very good defensive outfielder, runs the bases very well, works an extremely good at-bat, real good contact skills. He has a chance to really impact us for a lot of years."
One knock on Jennings has been his injury history; he missed the start of Durham’s season after hurting his wrist in spring training, then suffered a shoulder injury.
Sporting News staff reports
Rays vice president Andrew Friedman tells ESPN he expects left fielder Carl Crawford will remain with the club all season.
Friedman made the claim in response to a question by Dan Schulman while being interviewed during tonight’s Rays-Red Sox broadcast.
"I feel very strongly we’re going to have a lot of staying power (this season), We have a lot of respect for how long the season is, but we feel like we have the depth and the talent on hand to compete throughout the year, and obviously we’re a much better team with Carl than without him," Friedman said.
Crawford is in the final season of his contract and there has been much speculation about whether the Rays would be able to re-sign him. Many people concluded that Tampa Bay would deal him if it fell out of contention this season, but the Rays have the majors’ best record at 32-12.
Tampa Bay has an almost-ready replacement for Crawford in Desmond Jennings, who is playing for Triple-A Durham.
"He’s tremendously talented," Friedman said of Jennings, who was Tampa Bay’s minor league Player of the Year in 2009. "He’s a very, very good defensive outfielder, runs the bases very well, works an extremely good at-bat, real good contact skills. He has a chance to really impact us for a lot of years."
One knock on Jennings has been his injury history; he missed the start of Durham’s season after hurting his wrist in spring training, then suffered a shoulder injury.
KANSAS CITY—If the Chiefs are going to be significantly better in 2010—and a team coming off a 4-12 record has much room for improvement—their young players on defense must make big-time contributions.
The Chiefs have invested a lot on defense in recent years. They have selected a defensive player with their No. 1 pick in five of the last six drafts, including each of the last three years, when they had a top-five pick overall. Now, it’s time for those players to step up and be pillars on defense.
Tyson Jackson must improve on a shaky rookie season with the Chiefs.
"They have to be," second-year coach Todd Haley said Monday, shortly after the team’s fourth practice of the offseason. "What I’ve been taught about the key to being a good team year in and year out is developing your young players. You’ve got to draft well, but then you’d better develop your young players. And that’s what I feel like is happening."
The Chiefs’ defense has undergone an evolution. It has changed from a 4-3 scheme under former coach Herm Edwards and coordinator Gunther Cunningham to a 3-4 hybrid last season under Haley to a more traditional 3-4 front under Romeo Crennel—the team’s third defensive coordinator in as many years.
Last season, the Chiefs finished 30th in the league in total defense, 31st in run defense and 29th in points allowed. They recorded 22 sacks—not a great number by league averages but a step up from ’08, when they had just 10 sacks, the fewest by a team in one season in NFL history. And they allowed too many explosive plays by the opponent.
"I’m not talking five or six; I’m talking 20 plays," Haley said. "We had plays on cutbacks that were going for 60 yards and a touchdown. Those are killers."
The Chiefs will improve defensively in 2010 if these five No. 1 draft picks contribute as expected.
DE/NT Glenn Dorsey (2008)
Dorsey struggled from the beginning last year. He came in out of shape and spent much of the season trying to regain his stamina. Skeptics wonder if the former 4-3 tackle is a good fit in a 3-4 scheme, but Haley says Dorsey has a unique skill set that allows him to play end and, sometimes, nose tackle.
Haley’s take: "This year, he didn’t go backwards. He came in way ahead of where he was. I think he’s got the right mindset to become a good player. To me, he has some versatility. If he’s doing the things he has to do, we’ll have him in there and he’ll end up being a contributor. And he has to be a big-time contributor."
DE Tyson Jackson (2009)
His rookie season was a real education for Jackson, who didn’t expect to be challenged as much as he was week after week. He has made gains in the weight room this offseason and should show improvement in ’10. His primary role will be to stop the run and keep blockers off the linebackers.
Haley’s take: "If you’re expecting big-time stats from him, you’ll be disappointed. It’s a lot of the other things that he’ll do that will allow other people to be productive."
OLB Tamba Hali (2006)
Despite making the switch from a 4-3 end to a 3-4 linebacker and sometimes struggling in coverage, Hali led the team with 8 1/2 sacks last season. He excels in rushing the passer and easily would have finished in double digits if he could have brought more quarterbacks to the ground.
Haley’s take: "He was one of our best, if not the best, players on defense last year. He’s worth watching on a down-to-down basis just to see a guy that plays with an unbelievable motor every snap. He’s relentless."
ILB Derrick Johnson (2005)
After starting 58 games in his first four seasons, Johnson made only three starts last season and saw his role reduced mostly to special teams. But he became only the third linebacker in NFL history to return two interceptions for touchdowns in one game—in the season finale at Denver. If Johnson can regain his starting position and display sideline-to-sideline running ability, he should be a good fit in Crennel’s scheme.
Haley’s take: "He’s the type of guy who should be productive in this defense. He’s in a position where he can make a lot of plays if he continues to push and go in the direction he’s going."
S Eric Berry (2010)
The fifth-overall pick last month, Berry was a high-rated player who met one of Kansas City’s biggest needs: A safety who should prevent opponents from turning those 5- or 6-yard gains into 30- or 40-yard plays. It might not be significant, but Berry ran with the first-team defense Monday after being third-stringer last week.
Haley’s take: "If the early indicators are any kind of sign, he should have a chance to come in and be a productive young guy for us."
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com. SN Redskins correspondent John Keim contributed to this story.
KANSAS CITY—If the Chiefs are going to be significantly better in 2010—and a team coming off a 4-12 record has much room for improvement—their young players on defense must make big-time contributions.
The Chiefs have invested a lot on defense in recent years. They have selected a defensive player with their No. 1 pick in five of the last six drafts, including each of the last three years, when they had a top-five pick overall. Now, it’s time for those players to step up and be pillars on defense.
Tyson Jackson must improve on a shaky rookie season with the Chiefs.
"They have to be," second-year coach Todd Haley said Monday, shortly after the team’s fourth practice of the offseason. "What I’ve been taught about the key to being a good team year in and year out is developing your young players. You’ve got to draft well, but then you’d better develop your young players. And that’s what I feel like is happening."
The Chiefs’ defense has undergone an evolution. It has changed from a 4-3 scheme under former coach Herm Edwards and coordinator Gunther Cunningham to a 3-4 hybrid last season under Haley to a more traditional 3-4 front under Romeo Crennel—the team’s third defensive coordinator in as many years.
Last season, the Chiefs finished 30th in the league in total defense, 31st in run defense and 29th in points allowed. They recorded 22 sacks—not a great number by league averages but a step up from ’08, when they had just 10 sacks, the fewest by a team in one season in NFL history. And they allowed too many explosive plays by the opponent.
"I’m not talking five or six; I’m talking 20 plays," Haley said. "We had plays on cutbacks that were going for 60 yards and a touchdown. Those are killers."
The Chiefs will improve defensively in 2010 if these five No. 1 draft picks contribute as expected.
DE/NT Glenn Dorsey (2008)
Dorsey struggled from the beginning last year. He came in out of shape and spent much of the season trying to regain his stamina. Skeptics wonder if the former 4-3 tackle is a good fit in a 3-4 scheme, but Haley says Dorsey has a unique skill set that allows him to play end and, sometimes, nose tackle.
Haley’s take: "This year, he didn’t go backwards. He came in way ahead of where he was. I think he’s got the right mindset to become a good player. To me, he has some versatility. If he’s doing the things he has to do, we’ll have him in there and he’ll end up being a contributor. And he has to be a big-time contributor."
DE Tyson Jackson (2009)
His rookie season was a real education for Jackson, who didn’t expect to be challenged as much as he was week after week. He has made gains in the weight room this offseason and should show improvement in ’10. His primary role will be to stop the run and keep blockers off the linebackers.
Haley’s take: "If you’re expecting big-time stats from him, you’ll be disappointed. It’s a lot of the other things that he’ll do that will allow other people to be productive."
OLB Tamba Hali (2006)
Despite making the switch from a 4-3 end to a 3-4 linebacker and sometimes struggling in coverage, Hali led the team with 8 1/2 sacks last season. He excels in rushing the passer and easily would have finished in double digits if he could have brought more quarterbacks to the ground.
Haley’s take: "He was one of our best, if not the best, players on defense last year. He’s worth watching on a down-to-down basis just to see a guy that plays with an unbelievable motor every snap. He’s relentless."
ILB Derrick Johnson (2005)
After starting 58 games in his first four seasons, Johnson made only three starts last season and saw his role reduced mostly to special teams. But he became only the third linebacker in NFL history to return two interceptions for touchdowns in one game—in the season finale at Denver. If Johnson can regain his starting position and display sideline-to-sideline running ability, he should be a good fit in Crennel’s scheme.
Haley’s take: "He’s the type of guy who should be productive in this defense. He’s in a position where he can make a lot of plays if he continues to push and go in the direction he’s going."
S Eric Berry (2010)
The fifth-overall pick last month, Berry was a high-rated player who met one of Kansas City’s biggest needs: A safety who should prevent opponents from turning those 5- or 6-yard gains into 30- or 40-yard plays. It might not be significant, but Berry ran with the first-team defense Monday after being third-stringer last week.
Haley’s take: "If the early indicators are any kind of sign, he should have a chance to come in and be a productive young guy for us."
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com. SN Redskins correspondent John Keim contributed to this story.
Here’s an amazing stat.
Entering the week, the Rays and the Diamondbacks have scored the same number of runs on the season (240); that total is tied for third in the majors. The Diamondbacks, though, have allowed the most runs in the majors (275) and the Rays have allowed the fewest (138). That’s a stunning disparity—almost double the total of runs allowed.
This joint effort has the Rays and Diamondbacks on an epic pace. Even the best and worst pitching staffs in baseball history (post-1900, as defined by fewest and most runs allowed in a season) failed to duplicate that feat.
• The 1972 Orioles allowed just 430 runs during their 154-game season; the Braves were worst that year at 730 runs allowed
• The 1930 Phillies allowed 1,199 runs in 154 games; the Senators were best that year at 687 runs allowed.
• In 1996, the Tigers allowed 1,103 runs in 162 games; the Braves were the best that year at 648 runs allowed.
Amazing. Anyway, on to the poll.
John Jaso is making his case to be in the lineup.
1. Rays (1). Backup catcher John Jaso is making it hard for the Rays to keep him out of the lineup. He’s hitting .349 with a 1.015 OPS this season, with 18 RBIs in just 22 games.
2. Phillies (3). Here’s a strange stat swap: Ryan Howard has a higher batting average than Shane Victorino (.299 to .257) but fewer RBIs (32 to 33).
3. Twins (4). Justin Morneau is crushing the ball. He’s up to a .383 average, 11 homers and 34 RBIs entering the week.
4. Yankees (2). That was a forgettable week for the Yankees; they went just 2-5 in a stretch against the Red Sox, Rays and Mets. A three-game series in Minnesota starting Tuesday doesn’t promise better things on the horizon.
5. Padres (6). After allowing just six earned runs in his first six starts, young lefty Wade LeBlanc gave up eight in three innings against Seattle, the worst offensive team in baseball.
6. Cardinals (13). A 5-2 week pushed the Cardinals back in front of the Reds entering the week; how they perform on a six-game road trip through San Diego and Chicago will determine if they stay there.
7. Dodgers (10). During the Dodgers’ current 12-2 hot streak, Manny Ramirez has more RBIs (nine) than base hits (eight).
8. Tigers (9). Two players—Gerald Laird and Alex Avila—have played catcher for the Tigers this season. Laird is batting .155; Avila is hitting .154. They’ve combined for three homers and seven RBIs. And, yet, Detroit is only a game out of first in the AL Central.
9. Blue Jays (5). The Blue Jays have hit 76 home runs entering the week, which is 16 ahead of any other team in the majors.
Mike Leake is having a stellar rookie year.
10. Reds (7). Poor Mike Leake. Kid’s 4-0 with a 2.91 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in eight starts, and he’s not even getting more than a mention in the Rookie of the Year conversation because of that Heyward kid in Atlanta.
11. Red Sox (16). Could this be the week the Red Sox move ahead of the Blue Jays and into third place in the AL East?
12. Rangers (12). Nelson Cruz is seventh in the AL with 33 RBIs. He’s had just 98 at-bats because of injuries; everyone else in the league with at least 25 RBIs has 141 at-bats or more.
13. Braves (17). The old guys at the back of the bullpen know how to get the strikeouts. Billy Wagner, 38, has 25 strikeouts in 16 innings and Takashi Saito, 40, has 26 in 19 1/3 innings.
14. Giants (8). The recently finished 1-6 road trip was nothing short of an offensive disaster—they were shut out twice and scored only one run three other times.
15. Marlins (11). Ace Josh Johnson is working on an 18-inning scoreless streak; in his past eight starts, he’s posted a 1.70 ERA.
16. A’s (19). Trevor Cahill was, apparently, the slacker of the A’s staff this weekend. He’s the only Oakland pitcher who allowed a run in the three-game sweep of the Giants, though it seems rough to chastise him for giving up just the one run in 6 2/3 innings Friday.
17. Nationals (14). Washington hasn’t been more than one game under .500 since April 9, but the Nats have their work cut out for them. They enter a 10-game road trip against the Giants, Padres and Astros at just one game above.
18. Rockies (15). After a strong bounce-back 2009 season, Todd Helton is struggling again this year. Through 134 at-bats, he has a .736 OPS (the lowest of his career) and just nine RBIs.
19. Mets (20). Taking two of three from the Yankees certainly didn’t hurt Jerry Manuel’s job security; doing the same to the Phillies this week would help, too.
20. Angels (18). Being 4 1/2 games behind first-place Texas isn’t nearly as troubling as being four games under .500 entering the week.
21. Diamondbacks (26). The D-backs averaged 9.3 runs per game during their four-game winning streak last week.
Don’t blame Kouske Fukudome for the Cubs’ problems.
22. Cubs (23). All three starting outfielders—Marlon Byrd, Alfonso Soriano and Kouske Fukudome—are batting better than .300 and have at least 21 RBIs. So, that’s not the problem in Wrigley.
23. Pirates (21). The Pirates swept the Reds in their first series this year, then were swept in the next one against Cincinnati. So, who knows what’ll happen during their four-game series this week?
24. White Sox (24). The power still isn’t there, but Carlos Quentin has hit .343 in his past nine games, raising his average from .172 to .216.
25. Royals (28). Chris Getz, who opened the season as the Royals’ starting second baseman, has zero extra-base hits and a .197 average in 20 games. Mike Aviles, who has taken over at second, has five extra-base hits and a .347 average in 19 games.
26. Brewers (25). During the Brewers’ current 2-11 stretch, Rickie Weeks (.118 average) and Ryan Braun (.205) are struggling. Casey McGehee (.321) and Prince Fielder (.319) are not.
27. Indians (22). That six-game skid dropped the Indians back into last place in the AL Central to start the week.
28. Mariners (27). Seattle scored 15 runs in a win against San Diego this week. There have been 19 games this year where they failed to score more than two.
29. Astros (29). Ace Roy Oswalt reportedly wants to be traded. That 2.66 ERA is intriguing for potential suitors; the $29 million he’s guaranteed over the next few years isn’t.
30. Orioles (30). A pair of one-run losses to the Nationals this weekend seem to fit right in with the story of the O’s season.
Ryan Fagan is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com, and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ryan_fagan.
Here’s an amazing stat.
Entering the week, the Rays and the Diamondbacks have scored the same number of runs on the season (240); that total is tied for third in the majors. The Diamondbacks, though, have allowed the most runs in the majors (275) and the Rays have allowed the fewest (138). That’s a stunning disparity—almost double the total of runs allowed.
This joint effort has the Rays and Diamondbacks on an epic pace. Even the best and worst pitching staffs in baseball history (post-1900, as defined by fewest and most runs allowed in a season) failed to duplicate that feat.
• The 1972 Orioles allowed just 430 runs during their 154-game season; the Braves were worst that year at 730 runs allowed
• The 1930 Phillies allowed 1,199 runs in 154 games; the Senators were best that year at 687 runs allowed.
• In 1996, the Tigers allowed 1,103 runs in 162 games; the Braves were the best that year at 648 runs allowed.
Amazing. Anyway, on to the poll.
John Jaso is making his case to be in the lineup.
1. Rays (1). Backup catcher John Jaso is making it hard for the Rays to keep him out of the lineup. He’s hitting .349 with a 1.015 OPS this season, with 18 RBIs in just 22 games.
2. Phillies (3). Here’s a strange stat swap: Ryan Howard has a higher batting average than Shane Victorino (.299 to .257) but fewer RBIs (32 to 33).
3. Twins (4). Justin Morneau is crushing the ball. He’s up to a .383 average, 11 homers and 34 RBIs entering the week.
4. Yankees (2). That was a forgettable week for the Yankees; they went just 2-5 in a stretch against the Red Sox, Rays and Mets. A three-game series in Minnesota starting Tuesday doesn’t promise better things on the horizon.
5. Padres (6). After allowing just six earned runs in his first six starts, young lefty Wade LeBlanc gave up eight in three innings against Seattle, the worst offensive team in baseball.
6. Cardinals (13). A 5-2 week pushed the Cardinals back in front of the Reds entering the week; how they perform on a six-game road trip through San Diego and Chicago will determine if they stay there.
7. Dodgers (10). During the Dodgers’ current 12-2 hot streak, Manny Ramirez has more RBIs (nine) than base hits (eight).
8. Tigers (9). Two players—Gerald Laird and Alex Avila—have played catcher for the Tigers this season. Laird is batting .155; Avila is hitting .154. They’ve combined for three homers and seven RBIs. And, yet, Detroit is only a game out of first in the AL Central.
9. Blue Jays (5). The Blue Jays have hit 76 home runs entering the week, which is 16 ahead of any other team in the majors.
Mike Leake is having a stellar rookie year.
10. Reds (7). Poor Mike Leake. Kid’s 4-0 with a 2.91 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in eight starts, and he’s not even getting more than a mention in the Rookie of the Year conversation because of that Heyward kid in Atlanta.
11. Red Sox (16). Could this be the week the Red Sox move ahead of the Blue Jays and into third place in the AL East?
12. Rangers (12). Nelson Cruz is seventh in the AL with 33 RBIs. He’s had just 98 at-bats because of injuries; everyone else in the league with at least 25 RBIs has 141 at-bats or more.
13. Braves (17). The old guys at the back of the bullpen know how to get the strikeouts. Billy Wagner, 38, has 25 strikeouts in 16 innings and Takashi Saito, 40, has 26 in 19 1/3 innings.
14. Giants (8). The recently finished 1-6 road trip was nothing short of an offensive disaster—they were shut out twice and scored only one run three other times.
15. Marlins (11). Ace Josh Johnson is working on an 18-inning scoreless streak; in his past eight starts, he’s posted a 1.70 ERA.
16. A’s (19). Trevor Cahill was, apparently, the slacker of the A’s staff this weekend. He’s the only Oakland pitcher who allowed a run in the three-game sweep of the Giants, though it seems rough to chastise him for giving up just the one run in 6 2/3 innings Friday.
17. Nationals (14). Washington hasn’t been more than one game under .500 since April 9, but the Nats have their work cut out for them. They enter a 10-game road trip against the Giants, Padres and Astros at just one game above.
18. Rockies (15). After a strong bounce-back 2009 season, Todd Helton is struggling again this year. Through 134 at-bats, he has a .736 OPS (the lowest of his career) and just nine RBIs.
19. Mets (20). Taking two of three from the Yankees certainly didn’t hurt Jerry Manuel’s job security; doing the same to the Phillies this week would help, too.
20. Angels (18). Being 4 1/2 games behind first-place Texas isn’t nearly as troubling as being four games under .500 entering the week.
21. Diamondbacks (26). The D-backs averaged 9.3 runs per game during their four-game winning streak last week.
Don’t blame Kouske Fukudome for the Cubs’ problems.
22. Cubs (23). All three starting outfielders—Marlon Byrd, Alfonso Soriano and Kouske Fukudome—are batting better than .300 and have at least 21 RBIs. So, that’s not the problem in Wrigley.
23. Pirates (21). The Pirates swept the Reds in their first series this year, then were swept in the next one against Cincinnati. So, who knows what’ll happen during their four-game series this week?
24. White Sox (24). The power still isn’t there, but Carlos Quentin has hit .343 in his past nine games, raising his average from .172 to .216.
25. Royals (28). Chris Getz, who opened the season as the Royals’ starting second baseman, has zero extra-base hits and a .197 average in 20 games. Mike Aviles, who has taken over at second, has five extra-base hits and a .347 average in 19 games.
26. Brewers (25). During the Brewers’ current 2-11 stretch, Rickie Weeks (.118 average) and Ryan Braun (.205) are struggling. Casey McGehee (.321) and Prince Fielder (.319) are not.
27. Indians (22). That six-game skid dropped the Indians back into last place in the AL Central to start the week.
28. Mariners (27). Seattle scored 15 runs in a win against San Diego this week. There have been 19 games this year where they failed to score more than two.
29. Astros (29). Ace Roy Oswalt reportedly wants to be traded. That 2.66 ERA is intriguing for potential suitors; the $29 million he’s guaranteed over the next few years isn’t.
30. Orioles (30). A pair of one-run losses to the Nationals this weekend seem to fit right in with the story of the O’s season.
Ryan Fagan is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com, and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ryan_fagan.
Sporting News staff reports
Is Orioles manager Dave Trembley about to be fired?
Baltimore Sun columnist Kevin Cowherd writes that "the death watch is on" and "there are whispers that Trembley could be fired as early as Monday." The Orioles just lost two out of three to the Nationals and have fallen to 14-31, the worst record in the majors.
But MASNsports.com blogger Roch Kubatko says he is "fairly convinced that Dave Trembley is safe at home, at least right now." ESPN.com’s Buster Olney, meanwhile, tweets, "It appears O’s Manager Dave Trembley is not being fired today."
Trembley has a 186-275 record in his three years as manager of the Birds.
Sporting News staff reports
Is Orioles manager Dave Trembley about to be fired?
Baltimore Sun columnist Kevin Cowherd writes that "the death watch is on" and "there are whispers that Trembley could be fired as early as Monday." The Orioles just lost two out of three to the Nationals and have fallen to 14-31, the worst record in the majors.
But MASNsports.com blogger Roch Kubatko says he is "fairly convinced that Dave Trembley is safe at home, at least right now." ESPN.com’s Buster Olney, meanwhile, tweets, "It appears O’s Manager Dave Trembley is not being fired today."
Trembley has a 186-275 record in his three years as manager of the Birds.
Nate Allen could start as a rookie, but he’ll have to earn it. The Eagles took the former South Florida standout with the 37th overall selection, one of the picks they received from Washington in the Donovan McNabb trade. Allen will battle Marlin Jackson for a starting spot during OTAs, training camp and the preseason.
The biggest question is whether Allen can be a viable long-term replacement for Brian Dawkins, who was sorely missed last season after he left the Eagles to sign with the Broncos. Sporting News’ Clifton Brown caught up with Allen recently to talk about what lies ahead.
Clifton Brown: Do you think you’re where you need to be at this stage of OTAs?
Nate Allen: I’ve got a lot more to learn. I’m still getting a feel for the basic stuff, just trying to get with the coaches and learn.
SN: Because the Eagles blitz frequently, do you feel this will be a fun system for you?
NA: Definitely. It gives you the opportunity to play fast once you learn it. You should be able to make a lot of plays. You can be aggressive. You don’t have to be conservative and sit back.
Nate Allen has a shot at a starting spot as a rookie with the Eagles.
SN: How do you feel about coming to a place where you could start immediately?
NA: I’m excited. Whatever role that might be, I’m ready to do whatever they need me to do. Come in and try to make plays, help the team win. I have to come in and compete. I’m not going to say I’m going to start. I have no idea. Whatever happens will happen. (I’ll) try to let my performance handle all that.
SN: You were a high school quarterback. Does that help you at all playing safety?
NA: It helps a little bit. But the jump from being a high school quarterback to college is big. It helps a little bit because you have a feel for what the quarterback might be thinking, what their progressions are. But it’s a whole new level now.
SN: You’ve been labeled as a safety with good ball skills, but not the best tackler. Is that a fair assessment?
NA: It doesn’t matter. I’ll just let my play do the talking.
SN: Did it bother you to hear that you were not a good tackler during the draft process?
NA: I really didn’t watch all that draft stuff, the mock and whatnot. That’s what people say? Try to prove them wrong. Don’t worry about it and just play. Being a safety, you’ve got to come up and tackle, and I definitely feel I don’t have a problem. I’m not afraid to get down in the box and tackle.
SN: You were not able to run at the Combine due to a quadriceps injury. How is that progressing?
NA: It feels 100 percent now.
SN: How different is this defense than the one you played in at South Florida?
NA: It’s a lot more diverse. We played a cover 3, zone. I never played nickel. This has a lot more checks and audibles.
SN: Playing in a defense that blitzes frequently could leave you in one-on-one coverage. Are you comfortable with that?
NA: Yeah. That’s part of being in the secondary, especially nowadays in the NFL. Safeties are cover guys. It’s something you have to be able to do.
SN: You are part of a new era for the Eagles, trying to replace Dawkins and being part of the McNabb trade. How do you feel about that?
NA: Everyone keeps talking about Donovan, but I’m going to come in and be myself, play my game.
SN: How do you feel about coming to a team that has usually made the playoffs over the past 10 years?
NA: I’m excited. My goal, and I’m sure all the rest of the guys, the coaches, and the fans, is to win a Super Bowl. I know we have a good chance of doing that this year.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
Nate Allen could start as a rookie, but he’ll have to earn it. The Eagles took the former South Florida standout with the 37th overall selection, one of the picks they received from Washington in the Donovan McNabb trade. Allen will battle Marlin Jackson for a starting spot during OTAs, training camp and the preseason.
The biggest question is whether Allen can be a viable long-term replacement for Brian Dawkins, who was sorely missed last season after he left the Eagles to sign with the Broncos. Sporting News’ Clifton Brown caught up with Allen recently to talk about what lies ahead.
Clifton Brown: Do you think you’re where you need to be at this stage of OTAs?
Nate Allen: I’ve got a lot more to learn. I’m still getting a feel for the basic stuff, just trying to get with the coaches and learn.
SN: Because the Eagles blitz frequently, do you feel this will be a fun system for you?
NA: Definitely. It gives you the opportunity to play fast once you learn it. You should be able to make a lot of plays. You can be aggressive. You don’t have to be conservative and sit back.
Nate Allen has a shot at a starting spot as a rookie with the Eagles.
SN: How do you feel about coming to a place where you could start immediately?
NA: I’m excited. Whatever role that might be, I’m ready to do whatever they need me to do. Come in and try to make plays, help the team win. I have to come in and compete. I’m not going to say I’m going to start. I have no idea. Whatever happens will happen. (I’ll) try to let my performance handle all that.
SN: You were a high school quarterback. Does that help you at all playing safety?
NA: It helps a little bit. But the jump from being a high school quarterback to college is big. It helps a little bit because you have a feel for what the quarterback might be thinking, what their progressions are. But it’s a whole new level now.
SN: You’ve been labeled as a safety with good ball skills, but not the best tackler. Is that a fair assessment?
NA: It doesn’t matter. I’ll just let my play do the talking.
SN: Did it bother you to hear that you were not a good tackler during the draft process?
NA: I really didn’t watch all that draft stuff, the mock and whatnot. That’s what people say? Try to prove them wrong. Don’t worry about it and just play. Being a safety, you’ve got to come up and tackle, and I definitely feel I don’t have a problem. I’m not afraid to get down in the box and tackle.
SN: You were not able to run at the Combine due to a quadriceps injury. How is that progressing?
NA: It feels 100 percent now.
SN: How different is this defense than the one you played in at South Florida?
NA: It’s a lot more diverse. We played a cover 3, zone. I never played nickel. This has a lot more checks and audibles.
SN: Playing in a defense that blitzes frequently could leave you in one-on-one coverage. Are you comfortable with that?
NA: Yeah. That’s part of being in the secondary, especially nowadays in the NFL. Safeties are cover guys. It’s something you have to be able to do.
SN: You are part of a new era for the Eagles, trying to replace Dawkins and being part of the McNabb trade. How do you feel about that?
NA: Everyone keeps talking about Donovan, but I’m going to come in and be myself, play my game.
SN: How do you feel about coming to a team that has usually made the playoffs over the past 10 years?
NA: I’m excited. My goal, and I’m sure all the rest of the guys, the coaches, and the fans, is to win a Super Bowl. I know we have a good chance of doing that this year.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
Sporting News staff reports
Albert Pujols and Tony La Russa are publicly trying to downplay their heated dugout exchange from Friday night.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Pujols was upset that La Russa ordered a two-out steal attempt by Ryan Ludwick with Pujols batting and St. Louis leading by four runs in the eighth inning. Ludwick was thrown out, denying Pujols an RBI chance.
After the play, Pujols tossed his bat and helmet as he returned to the dugout, then flipped a pair of trays holding gum.
The histrionics angered La Russa, who, according to a witness, told Pujols, "That’s enough." From there the exchange escalated, with La Russa finally telling Pujols, "I (expletive) know how to manage."
On Saturday, La Russa told reporters, "Part of (Pujols’) greatness is that he cares. It’s why he ends up doing well and whatever needs fixing he fixes."
The manager said the incident wasn’t unique, but he added that it was a heat-of-the-moment occurrence.
"I didn’t talk to him afterwards because he doesn’t do it excessively and I know he’s sincere," La Russa said.
Pujols also tried to minimize the situation, saying, "I was hitting and we got thrown out stealing. I wanted to hit. That’s all it was. … It’s over. We said what we said. It’s over."
Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak called the incident a "non-issue."
Sporting News staff reports
Albert Pujols and Tony La Russa are publicly trying to downplay their heated dugout exchange from Friday night.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Pujols was upset that La Russa ordered a two-out steal attempt by Ryan Ludwick with Pujols batting and St. Louis leading by four runs in the eighth inning. Ludwick was thrown out, denying Pujols an RBI chance.
After the play, Pujols tossed his bat and helmet as he returned to the dugout, then flipped a pair of trays holding gum.
The histrionics angered La Russa, who, according to a witness, told Pujols, "That’s enough." From there the exchange escalated, with La Russa finally telling Pujols, "I (expletive) know how to manage."
On Saturday, La Russa told reporters, "Part of (Pujols’) greatness is that he cares. It’s why he ends up doing well and whatever needs fixing he fixes."
The manager said the incident wasn’t unique, but he added that it was a heat-of-the-moment occurrence.
"I didn’t talk to him afterwards because he doesn’t do it excessively and I know he’s sincere," La Russa said.
Pujols also tried to minimize the situation, saying, "I was hitting and we got thrown out stealing. I wanted to hit. That’s all it was. … It’s over. We said what we said. It’s over."
Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak called the incident a "non-issue."
