Training Camp Update Volume 9, Issue 2 8/12/14
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Dolphins Depth Chart QB: Ryan Tannehill, Matt Moore, Brady Quinn, Seth Lobato RB: Lamar Miller, Knowshon Moreno (3RB), Daniel Thomas, Mike Gillislee, Cameron Marshall, Damien Williams (inj) WR: Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline, Brandon Gibson, Jarvis Landry, Rishard Matthews, Matt Hazel, Damian Williams, Marcus Thigpen (KR/PR), Ryan Spadola, Armon Binns, Kevin Cone, Stephen Williams TE: , Charles Clay, Dion Sims, Michael Egnew, Arthur Lynch, Gator Hoskins, Kyle Miller, Emmanuel Ogbuehi, Brett Brackett LT: Branden Albert LG: Darren Colledge, Shelley Smith C: Samson Satele, Mike Pouncey (inj), David Arkin, Nate Garner, Sam Brenner RG: Dallas Thomas, Billy Turner, Danny Watkins RT: Ja’wuan James, Jason Fox K: Caleb Sturgis, Danny Hrapmann DT: Randy Starks, Earl Mitchell, Jared Odrick, A.J. Francis, Isaako Aaitui DE: Cameron Wake (W), Olivier Vernon, Dion Jordan (susp), Derrick Shelby, Terrence Fede MLB: Koa Misi, Jason Trusnik (S) OLB: Philip Wheeler (S), Dannell Ellerbe (W), Jonathan Freeny (S),Jordan Tripp, Jelani Jenkins (W) CB: Brent Grimes, Cortland Finnegan, Jamar Taylor, Will Davis, Jalil Brown, Walt Aikens S: Reshad Jones (SS) (susp), Jimmy Wilson (FS/SS), Louis Delmas (FS), Don Jones (FS) (susp), Jordan Kovacs (SS), Michael Thomas(SS) Minnesota Vikings QB: The first round in the battle for the Vikings’ starting QB job was scored decidedly in favor of Matt Cassel during Friday night’s preseason opener against Oakland. Cassel completed five of six pass attempts for 62 yards on Minnesota’s opening drive; capped off by a 1-yard Matt Asiata TD run. Head coach Mike Zimmer was impressed with the veteran, saying, “I thought he did a great job. He made a couple big throws on third down. He played like a veteran; he had control in the huddle." After the game, Cassel stated he was “very comfortable” running Norv Turner’s offensive scheme, but expressed a desire for increased reps. Teddy Bridgewater, who had reportedly been closing the gap on Cassel in training camp practices, came in on the next series and played into the third quarter. While his one drive with the starters ended in a 30-yard Blair Thomas field goal, Bridgewater was predictably erratic in his first NFL action. He finished six out of 13 for just 49 yards, and was sacked twice, including a strip sack in the red zone. "There was a couple times in the game when he just didn't act like a veteran," Zimmer said. "Things happened that he hadn't seen before. So those are all great experiences for him, but he made some great throws. There was a couple mishaps that he had, but I think Teddy's going to be a great player.” The Vikings remain without a timetable to name a starter, but at this point it would be a major upset if Cassel is not behind center in Week One. Meanwhile, Christian Ponder has continued to struggle. RB: With Adrian Peterson unlikely to see a preseason carry, it was Matt Asiata who played the entire opening series with the Vikings’ starters (including third downs). Asiata would finish with three carries for 13 yards, including the aforementioned goal line TD. The player to watch from a fantasy perspective is rookie Jerick McKinnon, and he didn’t disappoint as Minnesota’s most heavily featured back. On his only drive behind the Vikings’ starting offensive line, McKinnon picked up 36 yards on six carries, including a long run of 12 yards that he bounced outside and turned up the sideline. The third rounder out of Georgia Southern would finish with 45 yards on 12 carries, but his pass protection was the biggest story to come out of his pro debut. McKinnon, whose workout metrics make him the “Calvin Johnson of running backs”, should push the plodding Asiata for backup duties, or at least carve out a role on third downs if he continues to prove capable as a pass blocker. Teammates and coaches have praised his ability to pick up the skill, and McKinnon himself sounds confident in the progress he’s made. Zimmer was impressed with McKinnon as well, though he did offer up a critique on his special teams play. WR: Fantasy owners who plan on meeting Cordarrelle Patterson’s steep asking price should be encouraged by the team high four targets and 38 yards he posted in just one quarter on Friday night. Patterson displayed physicality and ran sharp routes, the latter of which will be crucial to his success in OC Norv Turner’s vertical scheme. Starting flanker Greg Jennings caught one pass for 13 yards, but had a 21-yard gain (on Bridgewater’s best throw of the night) negated by an illegal formation penalty. Both Jerome Simpson (one catch for six yards on two targets) and Jarius Wright (zero catches on three targets) did little to distinguish themselves in the battle for WR3 duties, though it was interesting to see Wright do his best Patterson impression on a 17-yard end around. TE: Kyle Rudolph lived up to the hype in the preseason opener, getting pushed out of bounds just short of the pylon on a 22-yard first quarter grab. Rudolph remains primed for a career season, playing in the same offensive scheme that turned Jordan Cameron into a top five tight end a year ago. Earlier in the week, the Vikings waived rookie tight end A.C. Leonard, a workout freak who had shown flashes as a pass catcher during early training camp. The Vikings now carry four tight ends on the 90-man roster behind Rudolph: Rhett Ellison, Chase Ford, Allen Reisner and Mike Higgins. Defense: Granted they were playing the Raiders, but Minnesota has to be happy with the performance of the first team defense. The Vikings gave up only one first down and zero points on the first two series; holding QB Matt Schaub to 0-2 on third downs in the process. All eyes were fixed on ninth overall pick Anthony Barr, who showed up on the score sheet with a sack. After the game, Zimmer lamented not giving Barr more opportunities to blitz. Minnesota’s 31st ranked pass defense also looked improved in the small sample. Backup free safety Kurt Coleman got a chance to start at strong safety with Robert Blanton and Jamarca Sanford injured. Coleman took advantage of the opportunity by recording the game’s only interception. Earlier in the week, the Vikings signed DB Chris Crocker, who spent seven seasons playing under Zimmer in Cincinnati. Crocker figures to enter the mix at strong safety as well. K/P: The Vikings played their first game in TCF Bank Stadium, in which kicker Blair Walsh, punter/holder Jeff Locke and long snapper Cullen Loeffler have been assessing wind patterns and conditions since early in the offseason, along with quizzing several Minnesota Gophers specialists. Against the Raiders, Walsh hit a 30-yard field goal, but was wide right on a 53-yard attempt. Locke averaged 38.9 yards on eight punts, placing two inside the 20-yard line. OL: Left tackle Matt Kalil made a notable play in the preseason win over the Raiders by out-running two defenders to recover a Teddy Bridgewater fumble. Kalil technically gave up the sack but it appears like the ball should have been gone earlier. Center John Sullivan was given a slight admonishment by the coaching staff for allowing the nose tackle to disrupt. In spite of the criticism, Sullivan is one of the league’s better centers and this seems like nitpicking. The rest of the first team line was solid in run blocking during the contest. Vikings Depth Chart QB: Teddy Bridgewater, Matt Cassel, Christian Ponder RB: Adrian Peterson, Jerick McKinnon, Matt Asiata, Joe Banyard FB: Zach Line, Jerome Felton WR: , Greg Jennings, Cordarrelle Patterson (KR), Jarius Wright, Jerome Simpson, Adam Thielen, Rodney Smith, Josh Cooper, Kamar Jorden, Kain Colter, Erik Lora TE: Kyle Rudolph, Rhett Ellison, Chase Ford, Allen Reisner, Michael Higgins LT: Matt Kalil, Mike Remmers LG: Charlie Johnson, Jeff Baca, David Yankey C: John Sullivan, Zac Kerin RG: Brandon Fusco, Vladimir Ducasse, Joe Berger RT: Phil Loadholt, Kevin Murphy K: Blair Walsh DT: Linval Joseph (NT), Sharrif Floyd, Fred Evans (NT), Chase Baker (NT), Shamar Stephen, Kheeston Randall, Tom Johnson DE: Brian Robison, Everson Griffen, Corey Wootton, Scott Crichton, Justin Trattou MLB: Jasper Brinkley, Audie Cole, Michael Mauti OLB: Chad Greenway (W), Anthony Barr (S/DE), Gerald Hodges (W),Larry Dean (S), Brandon Watts CB: Josh Robinson, Captain Munnerlyn, Xavier Rhodes, Shaun Prater, Marcus Sherels (PR), Antone Exum, Kendall James, Derek Cox, Jabari Price, Kip Edwards S: Harrison Smith (FS), Jamarca Sanford (SS), Mistral Raymond (SS),Andrew Sendejo (SS), Robert Blanton (FS), Kurt Coleman, Chris Crocker, Brandan Bishop New England Patriots QB: Tom Brady didn't play in the Patriots' first preseason game of the year, but he took significant repetitions during their joint practices with Washington. Reports suggest that Brady shone in those practices. Ryan Mallett was another player who supposedly shone in practice, but struggled once the actual game began. Third-string quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has had an inconsistent start to training camp. That inconsistency continued in his debut during the regular season, but he did throw a few impressive deep passes against the Washington third-string defense that hinted at his potential. RB: Stevan Ridley started against Washington. He only carried the ball twice, but it was a good sign that the starting role should be his if he can keep hold of the football. Rookie James White has been impressive in training camp, but did little of note against Washington. Jonas Gray led the team in carries and Roy Finch led the team in yards against Washington, but both had limited impact. It appears that Ridley and Shane Vereen are likely to be the busiest backs in New England this year, unless White can rebound with some bigger displays over the coming weeks. WR: After his breakout season in 2013, it appears that Julian Edelman's relationship with his starting quarterback is continuing to prove prosperous for the Patriots ahead of the 2014 season. Aaron Dobson is yet to practice and didn't play against Washington. Dobson's absence should open the door for Brandon LaFell to be a more prominent piece of the offense. LaFell had a limited impact in his debut for his new team, but it's also unrealistic to judge him until he plays with his starting quarterback. Danny Amendola also sat out the first preseason game, but Josh Boyce did little to make him feel uncomfortable about his spot in the receiving pecking order. The one receiver who did stand out against Washington was Brian Tyms. Tyms finished the game with 119 yards on five catches, including a 53-yard reception and one touchdown. It should be noted that Tyms played against Washington’s backups and will be suspended for the first four games of the regular season. TE: Predictably, Rob Gronkowski remains wrapped up in cotton wool. Gronkowski is a transcendent talent. Missing time at this time of the year shouldn't be a concern for him so long as he stays healthy. The bigger concern for the Patriots right now is the absence of Michael Hoomanawanui. Hoomanawanui is a veteran and a reliable replacement for Gronkowski if he misses games. Without those two, and third-year journeyman D.J. Williams, undrafted free agents Justin Jones and Asa Watson got the majority of the snaps against Washington. Neither featured positively in the passing game and that was likely a motivating factor behind the addition of Ben Hartsock. Hartsock is primarily a blocking tight end. Defense: Darrelle Revis has been the talk of training camp. He appears to be fully healthy and has been shutting down his assignments on a regular basis. It's the other cornerback spot that will concern Patriots fans. Brandon Browner has been roughing up receivers in practice and was immediately flagged in his first preseason game. Aggressiveness is a huge aspect of Browner's play on the field, with the NFL focusing on calling more illegal contact penalties his effectiveness may take a significant hit. The Patriots didn't put the starting defense on the field for the first preseason game. The Patriots have a lot of veterans on that side of the ball at this stage, so there isn't a huge amount to investigate. K/P: Kicker Stephen Gostkowski discussed his quirks last week: “You know, as you get older, I might look at (kicking) like setting up for a golf shot. But there’s really nothing that I’m anal about. Maybe in my first couple of years, but I’ve come to realize that stuff doesn’t help you. I just try to focus and have a positive attitude.” This week against Washington he missed his only field goal attempt, a 54-yarder that hit the upright. The long snapping competition between Danny Aiken and rookie Tyler Ott rages on. OL: The Patriots trotted out a patchwork line in their first preseason contest against Washington. Along with Tom Brady and the rest of the team’s best players, Logan Mankins had the night off. In something of a surprise, Dan Connolly started the game at center, with Ryan Wendell not appearing until the second half. Jordan Devey started in place of Mankins while Josh Kline started in Connolly’s usual right guard spot. Neither player was impressive. Wendell was seen getting first team reps at practice in the days after the game. The team reportedly wants to cut either Connolly or Wendell for financial reasons, but don’t appear to have an obvious replacement. This interior line situation bears further observation. Fourth round draft pick Bryan Stork has been slowly rehabbing his injury and is mostly watching this center competition from the sidelines. Patriots Depth Chart QB: Tom Brady, Ryan Mallett, Jimmy Garoppolo RB: Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen (3RB), James White, Brandon Bolden, Jonas Gray, Roy Finch, Tyler Gaffney (IR) FB: James Develin WR: Julian Edelman (PR), Aaron Dobson, Danny Amendola, Kenbrell Thompkins, Brandon LaFell, Josh Boyce, Jeremy Gallon, Matt Slater, Reggie Dunn, Brian Tyms (susp), Greg Orton (IR) TE: Rob Gronkowski, Michael Hoomanawanui (FB), D.J. Williams, Nate Byham, Justin Jones, Asa Watson LT: Nate Solder, Cameron Fleming LG: Logan Mankins, Jon Halapio C: Ryan Wendell, Bryan Stork, Braxton Cave RG: Dan Connolly, Josh Kline RT: Sebastian Vollmer, Marcus Cannon K: Stephen Gostkowski DT: Vince Wilfork, Tommy Kelly, Dominique Easley, Chris Jones (NT),Armond Armstead, Joe Vellano, Sealver Siliga, Marcus Forston, Eathyn Manumaleuna DE: Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Jake Bequette, Michael Buchanan, Will Smith, Zach Moore MLB: Jerod Mayo, Chris White OLB: Jamie Collins (W), Dont′a Hightower (S), James Anderson, Steve Beauharnais (S), Ja′Gared Davis CB: Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner (susp), Alfonzo Dennard, Logan Ryan, Kyle Arrington, Justin Green S: Devin McCourty (KR/FS), Duron Harmon (SS), Tavon Wilson (FS),Patrick Chung (SS), Jemea Thomas, Nate Ebner, Kanorris Davis New Orleans Saints QB: Drew Brees missed the first preseason game as he continues to nurse his sore left oblique. Head coach Sean Payton commented: "We'll be smart with his recovery. He understands it's an area that affects you every time you throw." Luke McCown played two series, posting 7/10 for 49 yards passing, zero TDs and one interception thrown. Ryan Griffin played for the majority of the contest, and looked good with 16/23 for 179 yards passing, one TD and zero interceptions thrown, with zero sacks taken (none of the Saints' quarterbacks were sacked in the game), although he did fumble a snap. Logan Kilgore came in late in the exhibition and threw 4/7 for 24 yards, zero TDs and one interception. "Overall I thought they had good command of what we're doing," Payton said of the quarterbacks who played. "I thought they located the ball well." Griffin may surpass McCown to become Bree's backup if his solid play continues throughout the rest of preseason. He is a player on the rise according to the local media. The Saints break camp this week (Thursday) and return to New Orleans. RB: Mark Ingram had two 22-yard long runs (one went for a TD) and finished the game with 8/83/1 rushing and 1/4/0 receiving, while counterpart Khiry Robinson (5/23/1 rushing with 2/16/0 receiving) also had solid results in the contest. "I'm just trying to get back out there and get into a groove," Ingram said after the game. "The line did a great job just getting movement off the ball and creating seams for us to run through." Coach Payton added: "I was encouraged with our ability to run the ball and their efforts. I thought they played with good pad level. It was good to see from both of them." Payton refused to comment on why Pierre Thomas sat out of the first preseason contest, reiterating that he doesn't address injuries during preseason. The opinion of local beat writer Larry Holder is that Thomas is falling to #3 on the depth chart, with Ingram and Robinson heading for a work-sharing arrangement between #1 and #2. Other local reports indicate that during practices, Thomas has started taking snaps with the second team in walkthroughs while Ingram and Robinson got the first team reps. FB Eric Lorig was out with an undisclosed injury, but Greg Jones, signed just last Wednesday, did play in the contest at fullback. Tim Flanders (1/3/0 rushing with 1/9/0 receiving at St. Louis) and Derrick Strozier (1/5/0 rushing with 3/23/0 receiving) are not projected to be on the final 53-man roster, according to NOLA.com's Larry Holder . 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