Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 9, Issue 10 (Saturday, May 3rd)
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Hi Folks,
Hope your weekend is rolling along well. We're in that lull after the draft but there are still some things you'll want to know about. Let's get to it. JINSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. SF - 49ers OC Martz Discusses New Offense2. CAR - Williams Willing To Share Carries
3. ARZ - QB Leinart Nearly 100% After Collarbone Injury
4. IND - Colts Part Ways With TE Fletcher
5. CAR - WR Muhammad Looking Like A Starter
6. DAL - RB Coach Compares RB Jones To Charlie Garner
7. TEN - RB Johnson Gives Titans Options
8. DEF - NFL - Players Getting Used To Helmet Radio
9. DEF - DAL - Emmit Smith To CB Adam Jones: 'Stay Out Of Trouble'
SF - 49ers OC Martz Discusses New Offense
Source: John Crumpacker, San Francisco Chronicle
Mike Martz discussed how the San Fransisco 49ers offense is starting to take shape under his tutelage. Martz explains that the situation at QB between Alex Smith and Shaun Hill will sort itself out. He says that RB Frank Gore, while not an exact fit in the Marshall Faulk mold, are of similar size and both are excellent receivers as well as runners. At WR, Martz says that Isaac Bruce looks to be the primary receiver with Bryant Johnson at No. 2. Arnaz Battle and promising second-year man Jason Hill will also be involved.
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After the time in Detroit, it's not hard to temper expectations for Martz. But I'm still excited. With the ultra disciplined Rod Marinelli calling the shots, it wasn't hard to see some of the friction coming with the less than conservative Martz. The situation in San Francisco feels a little different. He doesn't have the receivers to play with that he had in Detroit, but the overall situation seems like a better fit. If nothing else, it'll be exciting.
If you've got a little time, the entire article is well worth the read. Lots of good details.CAR - Williams Willing To Share Carries
Source: Steve Reed, Gaston Gazette
When Carolina selected RB Jonathan Stewart from Oregon with the 13th pick in the NFL draft, it changed the complexion of the team's running game. We all knew they were going to get a running back to replace DeShaun Foster, we just didn't know when. Could've been in the first round, maybe the fourth.
So when Stewart's name was called early, Williams' carries quickly shrunk. The reality is, teams don't pick a player that high and not expect to play him. "No, I wasn't upset at all," Williams said of the team's decision to draft Stewart. "I took it in stride. This is the National Football League and every year there will be always be another back, another quarterback, another wide receiver or another offensive lineman. They just reload in this league." "I still have the same mindset whether I'm the starter or not the starter," Williams said. "Everybody is going to the two-back system, so whether he starts the game off or I start the game off, we'll both get the same amount of carries give or take a few. Having the opportunity to play the game - period - is important to him and me."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
That's a refreshing attitude from Williams. He understands the team concept. "It will be fun," Williams said. "I'm not going to hold hard feelings toward anybody because that is not the way you play this game. It's we, not me."
The reality though for fantasy owners is that Williams won't be seeing the feature role numbers we thought he might when DeShaun Foster was released. The two back system is obviously effective and while it's probably good news for Carolina, Williams' pre-draft projections will take a hit.ARZ - QB Leinart Nearly 100% After Collarbone Injury
Source: Kent Somers, Arizona Republic
Leinart is almost 100 percent now and threw the ball well in the two practices Friday.
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I'm not sure what it says about Leinart but the talk about his health was buried in a story talking about Leinart's recent pool party photos that were circulated on the internet showing him with a beer bong and in a hot tub with young ladies. I'm more interested in his collarbone and it looks like that's going to be fine.
IND - Colts Part Ways With TE Fletcher
Source: StampedeBlue.com
ESPN's John Clayton Clayton reports that the Colts have parted ways with OL Dylan Gandy and TE Bryan Fletcher.
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Don't overlook this story as it means Jacob Tamme will see work and could be a contributor. The move seems a little odd as Fletcher had been a pretty solid player. Expect the Colts and Peyton Manning to reload though and keep to business as usual.
CAR - WR Muhammad Looking Like A Starter
Source: Charles Chandler and Stan Olson, Charlotte Observer
You get the sense that Muhsin Muhammad, not D.J. Hackett, should be the favorite to start at the wide receiver spot opposite Steve Smith. Delhomme was among the people raving about the impact of Muhammad's return after three seasons in Chicago.
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It's May, but the early reports on Muhammad are very good. He looks like the Moose of old and is in great shape. The good news is that it's just D.J. Hackett in front of him. We'll watch this one closely this summer but the early word is that we could see a Steve Smith / Muhsin Muhammad WR corps.
DAL - RB Coach Compares RB Jones To Charlie Garner
Source: Tim MacMahon, Dallas Morning News
"The guy (rookie RB Felix Jones) is a very special kid in my mind," RB coach Skip Peete said. "I had an opportunity to coach a guy who had a lot of similarities to him as far as impacting the game -- a kid by the name of Charlie Garner. You had him matched up with a guy who was a physical, tough runner in Tyrone Wheatley. Then you've got Garner in the game and it's two drastically different styles, so the defense had to prepare for different styles."
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It's too early to start reading too much into this but Charlie Garner was a 12 carry / five catch kind of back for coach Peete. With the way Barber runs though, someone to take some carries for him is probably the only way he'll make it through a season. Might as well be an explosive guy like Felix Jones.
TEN - RB Johnson Gives Titans Options
Source: Jim Wyatt, Tennessean
As the first-round rookie RB Chris Johnson took the field for the first time as a Titan on Friday, offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger and the other coaches already were imagining the possibilities.
"We were out there making up routes," Heimerdinger said. "I've never had a guy that can do (things Johnson can). ... You need to be able to take advantage of the guy because he can do so many things. We'll just see what he can handle." The Titans envision playing "Where's Waldo?" with him on Sundays this fall, lining him up in the backfield, in the slot, out wide and perhaps in the return game. The Titans have their fingers crossed that he's a fast learner.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
You'll hear the "Reggie Bush" comment thrown around some as the Titans may use Johnson in multiple positions like the Saints use Reggie Bush. As the article says, let's hope he's a fast learner.
DEF - NFL - Players Getting Used To Helmet Radio
Source: Greg Beacham, AP
Mark Roman is still getting used to that little voice in his ear telling him where to go and what to do.
The San Francisco safety knows he'll have to adjust to the NFL's new way of calling defensive signals with the freshly installed communication device in his helmet. At the 49ers' minicamp, Roman and three fellow safeties joined dozens of players across the NFL this weekend as the first to try out the league's next technological step forward. Quarterbacks have used the sideline-to-field devices for years, allowing coaches to relay plays to the offensive huddle without elaborate hand signals or shuttling in the plays with substitutes. NFL owners only approved the headsets for defensive players at league meetings last month, overcoming a bit of dissent from offensive-minded head coaches. "I didn't even know the rule had passed until they said we're going to try it with the headset," Roman said. "It's cool. It's going to help out because we aren't going to have to be scrambling to get the calls."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
I love this new rule. It just makes sense given that the offensive guys have had it for this long. Nobody knows the bottom line effect but it makes sense that the defense will be more prepared on the field with last second adjustments than they've been able to make in the past.
DEF - DAL - Emmit Smith To CB Adam Jones: 'Stay Out Of Trouble'
Source: AP
Emmitt Smith has some advice for suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones: Stay out of trouble.
"As long as you're not killing anybody, getting anybody shot at and going to jail, then I don't have any issues," said Smith, NFL career rushing leader. The former star running back for Dallas was visiting Cowboys rookie minicamp Saturday. "Pacman is a grown man," Smith said. "He understands the do's and don'ts, the rights and wrongs. He has choices to make. Hopefully he starts making better choices."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Not exactly earth shaking advice from Mr. Smith there. It's the same thing everyone has told Adam Jones. The question will be if he listens this time.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great rest of your weekend and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J