Line of Scrimmage: NFC Training Camp Previews
By Tony Moss, NFL Editor
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – While those of us who both cover and follow the league ought to adopt a “just don't look” mentality to Brett Favre's latest shenanigans, similar to the way the town of Springfield (with help from Paul Anka) kept the Lard Lad at bay on a classic Simpsons episode, we all know it just isn't possible.
Though every reasonable person on the planet expects Favre to report to the Minnesota Vikings at a time in training camp when the heavy lifting has been completed, No. 4 figures to leave just enough doubt about his intentions to keep his name in the headlines for at least the next couple of weeks.
Unless and until he ambles off a private plane and onto some Minnesota airstrip to begin his 20th season in the league, Favre's name will be above the fold in most training camp discussions, not that he's the only story in town.
Below we take a capsule look at the training camp missions of the 16 teams of the National Football Conference, with reporting dates and sites included for your perusal. AFC training camp previews will follow on Friday:
NFC EAST
Dallas
REPORT DATE: July 24th
SITE: Alamodome, San Antonio, TX/Marriott Residence Inn Oxnard River Bridge, Oxnard, CA
CAMP OBJECTIVES: The Cowboys are certain to have some drama at training camp because, well, they're the Cowboys, though there are not a lot of high-profile position battles of which to speak. The left tackle spot is worth watching, since Doug Free is being asked to switch to the left side to replace the released Flozell Adams, and the team dealt for ex-Rams first-round flame-out Alex Barron in order to push Free. Elsewhere on offense, it will be interesting to see how reps are dispersed among running backs Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice, and if and when Dez Bryant gets signed, how he'll fit in with Miles Austin, Roy Williams, and Patrick Crayton. Defensively, Wade Phillips' group is pretty much set. The biggest question is at free safety, where Mike Hamlin, Alan Ball, and Pat Watkins could all factor in. Hamlin, a 2009 fifth-round pick out of Clemson, is viewed as the favorite. Otherwise, there will be a lot of eyes on former kickoff specialist David Buehler, who has a strong but erratic leg and needs to prove that he can handle placements. Otherwise, Jerry Jones could be on the horn to someone like Dallas native Matt Stover.
N.Y. Giants
REPORT DATE: Aug. 1st
SITE: University at Albany, Albany, NY
CAMP OBJECTIVES: Though it's offense that sells tickets, the side of the ball that everyone wants to talk about with respect to the Giants is defense. The debate starts up front, where first-round end Jason Pierre-Paul's boom-bust potential will be hyper-analyzed, as will Osi Umenyiora's happiness level while playing for new coordinator Perry Fewell. If this group gets in step early, things will be easier for a highly questionable linebacking corps. The G-Men surprisingly failed to significantly upgrade the LBs in the offseason, meaning either Jonathan Goff or fourth-round rookie Phillip Dillard (Nebraska) will have to be the real deal in the middle, with Clint Sintim and Michael Boley on the outside. On the back end, the Giants are looking for big things out of $37 million safety Antrel Rolle, and will be eager to gauge how well former first- rounder Kenny Phillips can rebound from a career-threatening knee injury. Offensively, the big story is William Beatty's ability to transition to left tackle, which will affect David Diehl's possible move into a left guard battle with Rich Seubert. Eli Manning's reps will likely be limited during the preseason, which will give the Giants and their fans plenty of opportunity to assess the work of backups Jim Sorgi and Rhett Bomar. On special teams, the pressure is on rookie punter Matt Dodge to replace Jeff Feagles, and the club needs a return man after Domenik Hixon was lost for the season with a knee injury.
Philadelphia
REPORT DATES: July 26th (Rookies), July 29th (Veterans)
SITE: Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
CAMP OBJECTIVES: Kevin Kolb might play two series in the Eagles' preseason opener against the Jaguars on Aug. 13th. If he looks sharp in that meaningless game, Birds fans will rush to Modell's to buy their No. 4 jerseys. If he struggles, the local radio stations will be fielding calls comparing Kolb to Bobby Hoying. The play of backups Michael Vick and Mike Kafka will also factor into the summer discussion, as will the ability of LeSean McCoy to assume primary running back duties in the first year of the post-Brian Westbrook era. Otherwise, the focus should be on a defense where virtually no one is assured of a job. Coordinator Sean McDermott has to hope that rookies Brandon Graham (Michigan) and Nate Allen (South Florida) can solidify themselves at defensive end and free safety, respectively, that two outside linebackers emerge from a giant group of hopefuls (Moise Fokou, Ernie Sims, Omar Gaither, Akeem Jordan, Alex Hall), and that Stewart Bradley's knee holds up well enough to allow him to step back into the middle. The starting cornerbacks will probably be Asante Samuel and Ellis Hobbs, but Joselio Hanson could have something to say about that with a strong camp. At punter, Ken Parrish looks like a long shot to beat out Sav Rocca, at least at this early stage.
Washington
REPORT DATE: July 29th
SITE: Redskins Park, Ashburn, VA
CAMP OBJECTIVES: Expectations are extremely high for the Redskins in 2010, but the degree of personnel and staff turnover this team faced in the offseason makes a productive training camp absolutely essential to achieving any of the lofty goals. All eyes, of course, will be on Donovan McNabb and his play within Mike Shanahan's offense. While the play of Washington's suspect receiving corps (Santana Moss, Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly, Bobby Wade, Joey Galloway, Mike Furrey) is going to be paramount to the attack clicking, an offensive line featuring rookie Trent Williams and ex-Saint Jammal Brown also needs to keep McNabb clean. The re-invigorated Clinton Portis looks like the starting running back, but veterans Larry Johnson and Willie Parker could push him. Defense appears to be he more complete part of the team, even if Albert Haynesworth never shows up to assume his spot up front. But coordinator Jim Haslett must find the right chess pieces as his unit transitions to a 3-4, particularly among the front seven. The big change on the special teams is at punter, where GM Bruce Allen brought in his old Buccaneers buddy Josh Bidwell to try and shut the revolving door the team has encountered at that position.
NFC NORTH
Chicago
REPORT DATE: July 30th
SITE: Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbonnais, IL
CAMP OBJECTIVES: Every minute the Bears offense spends on the practice field in advance of their Week 1 date against the Lions is critical. New coordinator Mike Martz must have the attack clicking once the team leaves Bourbonnais, which means Jay Cutler and the team's less-than-respected wide receiving corps and offensive line need to show a comfort level with the pass-happy scheme. Getting running backs Matt Forte' and Chester Taylor involved will be key as well. The defense, now under the tutelage of ex-Buccaneers head coach Rod Marinelli, needs to make strides after struggling throughout 2009. Linebacker Brian Urlacher must show sufficient recovery from the injury that ended his '09 season in Week 1, and new Bear Julius Peppers must set the tone for a defensive line that was altered drastically in the offseason. If tackle Tommie Harris can remain healthy throughout camp, it will be a bonus. The secondary is less than set as camp begins, with cornerbacks Zackary Bowman and Corey Graham battling for a spot opposite Charles Tillman, and safeties Danieal Manning, Craig Steltz, and Chris Harris all trying to secure jobs.
Detroit
REPORT DATE: July 30th
SITE: Detroit Lions Training Facility, Allen Park, MI
CAMP OBJECTIVES: Jim Schwartz knows that if the Lions are to take a step forward after going 2-30 over the past two seasons, the effort will start with fixing the NFL's worst defense. In that respect, Detroit has to come out of camp with new defensive line lynch pins Ndamukong Suh and Kyle Vanden Bosch in a comfort zone, must have young linebackers like Zack Follett and DeAndre Levy emerge as starters, and needs to find two or three corners out of a new-look group comprised mainly of castoffs (Dre' Bly, Dante Wesley, Chris Houston, Jonathan Wade). Offensively, the team requires continued progress from quarterback Matthew Stafford, though more of coordinator Scott Linehan's focus will be on hammering out some position battles. First-round rookie Jahvid Best (California) and holdover Kevin Smith are each seeking primary running back duties, incumbent tight end Brandon Pettigrew could face a threat from newcomer Tony Scheffler, and expensive free agent receiver Nate Burleson will have to fend off holdovers Dennis Northcutt, Bryant Johnson, and Derrick Williams for playing time. The biggest question mark along the o-line is at right tackle, where veteran Jon Jansen and disappointing former first-rounder Gosder Cherilus are competing.
Green Bay
REPORT DATE: July 30th
SITE: St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI
CAMP OBJECTIVES: The Packers should have the luxury of dealing with a relatively drama-free camp, as the team had very few personnel changes in the offseason and there simply aren't many jobs up for grabs. Perhaps the biggest question mark is who will take over in the defensive line rotation for recently-suspended end Johnny Jolly, with second-round pick Mike Neal (Purdue) the leading candidate to step into the NFL's No. 1-rated run defense of a year ago. Another rookie, strong safety Morgan Burnett (Georgia Tech), could get a look if Atari Bigby fails to sign his restricted free agent tender some time soon. The offensive line is worth keeping an eye on, as incumbent tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher have had injury issues, and the team used a first- round pick on the promising Bryan Bulaga (Iowa). There is also a competition at left guard, where Jason Spitz and Daryn Colledge are attempting to prove their usefulness. On special teams, the club will turn to either first-year pro Tim Masthay or ex-Aussie Rules player Chris Bryan to close what has been a revolving door at punter. The Pack could also use a fresh start in the return game, so keep a close eye on that area.
Minnesota
REPORT DATE: July 30th
SITE: Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN
CAMP OBJECTIVES: All other stories in Vikings camp figure to be overshadowed by the Favre drama, which is exactly the way the venerable 40-year-old wants it. There is other intrigue if you look hard enough, however. With Chester Taylor now a Bear, it will be interesting to see how Brad Childress integrates rookie Toby Gerhart (Stanford) and/or newcomer Ryan Moats (ex-Texans) into the offense behind Adrian Peterson. On Leslie Frazier's defense, the play of an oft- maligned secondary will bear watching in Mankato. Inconsistent safeties Madieu Williams and Tyrell Johnson could be pushed by overachieving Jamarca Sanford, while incoming cornerbacks Lito Sheppard (ex-Jets) and Chris Cook (Virginia) will battle holdover Benny Sapp for the corner job opposite Antoine Winfield. Otherwise, the return from serious injury of healing linebacker E.J. Henderson (leg) and cornerback Cedric Griffin (knee) merits a look. Henderson insists that he'll be ready to go Week 1, but Griffin looks highly likely to start the year on the Physically Unable To Perform (PUP) list.
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta
REPORT DATE: July 29th
SITE: Atlanta Falcons Training Facility, Flowery Branch, GA
CAMP OBJECTIVES: The Falcons don't have a lot of high-profile position battles as they enter camp, but the look of the team in the trenches heading into September could have much to say about their chances. Along the offensive line, the team needs either Justin Blalock or rookie Mike Johnson (Alabama) to emerge as someone who can help Michael Turner and the running game. On the defensive line, a battle is brewing at one end between the overachieving Kroy Biermann and disappointing former first-rounder Jamaal Anderson. On the interior, Peria Jerry is a question mark coming off a knee injury, and could lose some of his reps to promising third-rounder Corey Peters (Kentucky). First-round rookie Sean Weatherspoon (Missouri) must develop quickly at one of the outside linebacker positions, and big-money cornerback Dunta Robinson (ex-Texans) needs to make an immediate impact for a secondary that struggled during key stretches of the 2009 season. Opposite Robinson, coordinator Brian VanGorder needs to see continued maturation from the slight but athletic Brent Grimes, and strong safety Erik Coleman will have to hold off William Moore.
Carolina
REPORT DATE: July 28th
SITE: Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC
CAMP OBJECTIVES: For the first time since Rodney Peete and Jake Delhomme duked it out for starting duties in 2003 (Peete actually won the job, before being replaced by Delhomme in the second half of Week 1), the Panthers enter training camp with something of a quarterback battle on their hands. Matt Moore is nominally the starter after playing well down the stretch in 2009, but Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame) wasn't drafted in the second round to be a long-term backup and could push John Fox's hand if he performs capably. Who the quarterbacks will throw to is also subject to debate, as the disappointing Dwayne Jarrett and rookies Brandon LaFell (LSU) and Armanti Edwards (Appalachian State) look like the best options to offset Steve Smith. In spite of those concerns, defense could be the bigger conundrum for Fox heading into camp. Julius Peppers is gone and linebacker Thomas Davis is out for the year with a knee injury, among several other changes. A rotation at end, led by Charles Johnson and Tyler Brayton, is planned. At linebacker, Jon Beason has moved to the weak side to replace Davis and former Penn State star Dan Connor has emerged in the middle. Among the other question marks is second-year free safety Sherrod Martin, who must prove he can handle the workload.
New Orleans
REPORT DATE: July 29th
SITE: Saints Training Facility, Metairie, LA
CAMP OBJECTIVES: The defending Super Bowl champs have very few pressing questions on the offensive side of the ball, with the work of soon-to-be acquired backup (and former Tulane star) Patrick Ramsey perhaps of the greatest interest to Saints fans. Ramsey will battle Chase Daniel for the backup job. A team that created a ton of turnovers but was bottom-half of the league against both the run and pass last year made an effort to get better defensively in the offseason, and training camp and the preseason will be a good place to gauge the fruits of GM Mickey Loomis' labor. At defensive end, newcomer Alex Brown (ex-Bears) will vie for starting duties opposite Will Smith. Meanwhile, Jo-Lonn Dunbar and offseason acquisition Clint Ingram will be fighting for the right to replace the departed Scott Fujita at weak side linebacker. Some intrigue is also brewing in the secondary, where the development of first-round corner Patrick Robinson (Florida State) could impact Malcolm Jenkins' proposed move to free safety.
Tampa Bay
REPORT DATE: July 30th
SITE: One Buccaneer Place, Tampa, FL
CAMP OBJECTIVES: With one of the youngest and least certain rosters in football, August will be a critical month for the Buccaneers and head coach Raheem Morris. Offensively, the Bucs need to see continued development from second-year quarterback Josh Freeman, which won't be easy given how thin the team is at receiver and on the offensive line. At wideout, Tampa Bay needs a rookie like Arrelious Benn (2nd Round, Illinois) or Mike Williams (4th Round, Syracuse) to navigate the sharp learning curve, especially since Michael Clayton looks like the closest thing to a No. 1 receiver on this team. Otherwise, the big question marks are on defense, which Morris himself will coordinate this season. The NFL's worst run-stopping team of a year ago needs immediate contributions from tackles Gerald McCoy (1st Round, Oklahoma) and Brian Price (2nd Round, UCLA), must have a player like Tim Crowder or Kyle Moore prove worthy of a starting job at a depleted end position, and would like to see secondary newcomers like safety Sean Jones and third-round corner Myron Lewis (Vanderbilt) make an impact.
NFC WEST
Arizona
REPORT DATE: July 30th
SITE: Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ
CAMP OBJECTIVES: With Kurt Warner having joined an already substantial group of Arizona retirees, much of the training camp focus will be on whether Matt Leinart and/or Derek Anderson has the goods to step in and keep the offense rolling. With newcomer Alan Faneca having upgraded the interior offensive line, Ken Whisenhunt will also focus on the transition to a more run-based approach utilizing Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower. In the first year of the post-Anquan Boldin era, the team will also need Steve Breaston and Early Doucet, among others, to show productivity opposite Larry Fitzgerald. The Cardinals defense is in transition as well, as playmakers Karlos Dansby and Antrel Rolle were among those who defected in free agency. A linebacking corps now including ex- Dolphin Joey Porter, journeyman Paris Lenon and rookie Daryl Washington (2nd Round, TCU) will have to show some chemistry, and Kerry Rhodes will have to prove that he's Rolle's equal at one of the safety positions. At cornerback, Michael Adams and second-year pro Greg Toler will vie for starting duties opposite Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Arizona also made an offseason switch at kicker, replacing the erratic Neil Rackers with the well-traveled but slightly more reliable Jay Feely.
St. Louis
REPORT DATE: July 28th (Rookies), July 30th (Veterans)
SITE: Russell Training Center, Earth City, MO
CAMP OBJECTIVES: Though the work of quarterbacks A.J. Feeley and Sam Bradford (once he signs) will be the highest-profile story of Rams camp, it appears that the Rams will make Feeley their Week 1 starter regardless. Who he'll throw to is anyone's guess, though Donnie Avery, fellow holdover Laurent Robinson, and fourth-round rookie Mardy Gilyard (Cincinnati) have a chance to nail down the top three receiver jobs. A young but talented offensive line needs to mature quickly, with second-round rookie Rodger Saffold (Indiana) a good bet to start on the right side and 2009 first-rounder Jason Smith on the left. On the other side of the ball, head coach Steve Spagnuolo and GM Billy Devaney made efforts to upgrade the front seven, but linebackers Na'il Diggs, Bobby Carpenter, and defensive tackles Fred Robbins and Chris Hovan need to develop some chemistry in the summer. A questionable pass rush will be better off if Leonard Little opts to join the team, and his presence would also help a still-developing group of corners including 2009 starter Ron Bartell, third-round pick Jerome Murphy, second-year man Bradley Fletcher, and ex-Giant Kevin Dockery.
San Francisco
REPORT DATES: July 30th (Rookies), July 31st (Veterans)
SITE: Marie B. DeBartolo Sports Center, Santa Clara, CA
CAMP OBJECTIVES: The 49ers' 2010 fortunes lie primarily with the continued development of quarterback Alex Smith, so head coach Mike Singletary, offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye II, and San Francisco fans will be heavily scrutinizing the former No. 1 pick's summer work. The depth chart behind Smith is uncertain, though David Carr is likely to beat out the promising Nate Davis for the No. 2 job. Finding targets to complement Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis is also a priority, with newcomer Ted Ginn, Jr. and holdovers Jason Hill, Josh Morgan, and Brandon Jones attempting to establish themselves. The offensive line will also be worth watching, as first-round picks Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati look to carve out starting jobs at tackle and guard, respectively. Defensively, coordinator Greg Manusky is looking to prop up a unit that was just 21st against the pass last year. Newcomers within the pass rush (Travis LaBoy, rookie Navorro Bowman) and in the secondary (cornerback Will James, rookie safety Taylor Mays) have a chance to positively impact that area, but will have to show that they're ready for prime time in Santa Clara.
Seattle
REPORT DATES: July 29th (Rookies), July 30th (Veterans)
SITE: Virginia Mason Athletic Center, Renton, WA
CAMP OBJECTIVES: The first training camp of the Pete Carroll era in Seattle will have to follow an aggressive agenda, as a team that expects to win immediately needs to solidify a few key position battles before the meaningful opener. The biggest could be at running back, where Julius Jones is a career underachiever, Justin Forsett is intriguing but undersized, and Leon Washington is coming off a major leg injury and undersized. The backup QB battle between Charlie Whitehurst and J.P. Losman should also be interesting. Up front, rookie left tackle Russell Okung and guard Ben Hamilton (ex-Broncos) need to be difference-makers. On the other side of the ball, the most pressing concern is at defensive end, where Patrick Kerney, Cory Redding, and Darryl Tapp are all ex-Seahawks. Chris Clemons (ex-Eagles) and Lawrence Jackson must prove that they're up to the task there. But the player to watch for the Seattle “D” will be free safety Earl Thomas, the No. 14 pick in the April draft. Thomas needs to make an immediate impact for a Hawks secondary that has made few big plays in recent years, and waved goodbye to mainstays Ken Lucas and Deon Grant in the offseason.
07/22 11:50:56 ET