Aug. 24, 2008

NFC South

 After a failed preseason experiment on the D-line, word is the Bucs will move Greg White from left end back to his natural position on the right, as a backup. Tampa envisioned White on the left, disrupting quarterbacks’ rhythm with his pass rush and complementing Gaines Adams’ talents at right end. The defensive coaching staff didn’t see the results they hoped for, and it appears veteran Kevin Carter will return to his starting role at left end. This isn’t a good development for White, who has been clamoring to cash in on a long-term contract since his breakout year last season, when he led the Bucs in sacks (eight) and forced seven fumbles.

Buccaneers DE Greg White

 Panthers WR Jason Carter, once an afterthought when it came to making the team, has a good shot to remain on the roster because of a strong training camp, Steve Smith’s suspension and a banged-up receiving corps. Carter entered camp as the No. 6 receiver, but he impressed head coach John Fox and he could continue to see a good chunk of playing time if D.J. Hackett, Ryne Robinson, Dwayne Jarrett and Muhsin Muhammad, who have all missed time recently, continue to be nagged by injuries.

 Injuries to Saints DTs Brian Young (knee) and Hollis Thomas (shoulder) have opened the door for Orien Harris, and he’s taken full advantage of the opportunity, the way we hear it. New Orleans considered its DT corps deep when camp began, and Harris appeared to be on the outside looking in. That has changed, and his strong showing in the preseason games will make it hard for the Saints to move on without him when it’s time to trim the roster.

NFC West

 Perhaps the biggest surprise at Rams Park this preseason has been the emergence of undersized Nick Leckey as a serious contender for the starting center job. “Nobody expected him to even make the team,” one source close to the team told PFW. “He’s gotten more playing time because Brett Romberg fractured his non-snapping hand, and he’s really done well. In the San Diego game, he had a (defensive) tackle in his face the entire time and more than held his own.”

 A Rams offensive line that had already been dealt an early blow with season-ending injuries to backups Mark Setterstrom and Brandon Gorin could be cause for even greater concern with the news that starting OLT Orlando Pace reinjured his right shoulder in the team’s second preseason game. “If there’s good news, it’s that he says he hurt a different part of the shoulder (than the part that was injured in Week One in 2007 and ended his season),” a team insider told PFW. “But you just don’t know about him. It’s still a real wait-and-see type situation.”

 The Cardinals are saying the high ankle sprains recently suffered by FS Antrel Rolle and TE Ben Patrick should take about a week to fully recover, but our sources in the desert believe that recovery date could be a bit premature in the case of Patrick, who looks like he might be sidelined for a spell.

 Heading into the Cardinals’ third preseason game in Oakland, it appeared that newly acquired Travis LaBoy had moved past veteran Bertrand Berry for the starting WOLB job. Cardinals LB coach Bill Davis recently told PFW that LaBoy is “relentless. He has only one speed, and it’s full-throttle.”

 We hear Niners WRs Bryant Johnson and Arnaz Battle, both of whom have been sidelined for an extended period with hamstring injuries, are expected to be able to see some playing time in the team’s final preseason game.

 Don’t be surprised if Niners OG David Baas, who we hear is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a torn pectoral muscle suffered while weightlifting, switches over from right guard to left guard with projected starting OLG Adam Snyder currently out with a right ankle injury suffered in practice. Word is Snyder was really struggling, primarily with his pass protection, even before hurting his ankle.

 If Seahawks fans have their way, we hear there would be no way diminutive seventh-round RB Justin Forsett would not make the team. Forsett, who accumulated 261 all-purpose yards in the preseason game against the Bears, has quickly become a crowd favorite. At the same time, we hear the natives have been more than a little restless regarding newly acquired veteran RB T.J. Duckett, who had failed to show much of an ability to move the pile halfway through the preseason.

 Daily Seahawks observers tell us no defender was as impressive in training camp as second-year CB Josh Wilson, who we’re told has made great strides in his ability to cover opposing slot receivers. In addition to growing up on the field, word is Wilson has become much more mature off the field, displaying a much more conscientious work effort than in his rookie season, when he was widely considered too cocky and a bit of a cut-up.

NFC North

 Don’t be alarmed or surprised that Lions first-round pick Gosder Cherilus has taken snaps at both OT spots. If anything, it shows the team is willing to give extra reps and looks to the rookie, who should overtake George Foster for the starting ORT spot. Cherilus perhaps has OLT starting potential down the line, but he’s slated for the right side as a rookie, barring a major injury to Jeff Backus.

 Did the Niners and head coach Mike Nolan go out of their way to make Packers QB Aaron Rodgers look bad in their recent preseason encounter because they had passed over Rodgers in the draft three years ago in favor of Alex Smith? “They were in an all-out blitz mode big-time,” a longtime Packers insider said of the Niners’ amped-up defense in the second preseason game, which sacked Rodgers four times in the first half. “I’d like to think pettiness doesn’t exist at the pro level, but there’s no doubt it does.”

 Our Packers sources tell us it’s quite possible the team could go out of its way to pick up a veteran tight end off the waiver wire, with rookie Jermichael Finley looking like a major work in progress and third-year pro Tory Humphrey continuing to be a major injury risk behind starting TE Donald Lee.

 Vikings TE Garrett Mills’ bothersome right ankle has kept him off the field and could cost him a roster spot. His lack of play this preseason has hurt his cause, despite the coaching staff’s interest in his ability. If Mills is cut, don’t be surprised if the team that drafted him — the Patriots — take a hard look.

 Our Bears sources were quick to mention after the team’s preseason loss to the Niners that second-year RB Garrett Wolfe might have very well put himself on the bubble following his fumbled kickoff return that set up a Niners TD in that game. The fact that newcomer Kevin Jones looked impressive in his first preseason action vs. the Niners certainly doesn’t help Wolfe’s cause.

 Bears sources who have been dealing with starting LBs Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs on a regular basis report that the two players’ relationships with the local media have made a 360-degree turn for the better this season. On the field, meanwhile, although Urlacher has looked pretty sharp most of the time, we’re told Briggs has been uncharacteristically sloppy and slow to reach his normal All-Pro form.

NFC East

 There are some in Cowboys land who feel that second-year S Courtney Brown might be a player to watch. Sure, Roy Williams is in no danger of losing a starting spot. But Brown has opened some eyes, and he’s working both in the nickel defense and being used as a backup at both safety spots. If Williams is in his final season in Dallas, Brown could be a starting possibility down the line.

 The Eagles have a glut at linebacker. Right now, Chris Gocong, Stewart Bradley and Omar Gaither are starters and locks to make the team. Veterans Akeem Jordan and Rocky Boiman are likely to make it, and rookie Joe Mays has shown enough to earn a roster spot. But that leaves Andy Studebaker, who also has impressed, as the likely odd man out. Sources say it might be tough to sneak him back on the practice squad, as some team might claim him.

 Not only do the Giants have one of the best starting fives on their offensive line, but they are feeling good about the depth, too. Among the backups, young OLs Kevin Boothe and Guy Whimper have fared fairly well when given the chance, though Adam Koets might be sliding a little.

 Redskins DT Anthony Montgomery doesn’t get low enough in his stance and appears to have fallen back to the second team in favor of Kedrick Golston. Although Montgomery has the ability to make more plays and occupy two blockers, Golston’s consistency appears to have given him the edge.

AFC South

 The Colts are willing to suffer the inevitable growing pains and mental mistakes of second-year LB Clint Session, who has been thrust into the starting SLB role with Tyjuan Hagler rehabbing a torn pectoral muscle. Session is more natural on the weak side, but the feeling is that his knack for the big play could make him a star on either side if he can learn to harness his energy.

 We’re hearing there’s a realistic chance that DEs Quentin Groves and Derrick Harvey — the latter unsigned as of this writing — will be the only two of the Jaguars’ five draftees to make the final roster. Some of those picks, however, should earn spots on the practice squad.

 Don’t expect the Titans to sign recently cut WR Joe Horn. Although they are needy at the receiver position, Tennessee learned from its failed experiment last season with Eric Moulds that grabbing an aging wideout is not the answer. The club is more likely to sign a younger player who gets left off his team’s 53-man roster.

 There are whispers that if Texans RB Ahman Green does not prove he’s healthy before Week One, he could be in danger of not making the final roster. Green injured his groin on the first play of the preseason and hasn’t been back in action since. Houston is likely to use a committee approach regardless, but they’d certainly prefer to have Green’s experience as part of their backfield.

AFC West

 We hear the Broncos have been very impressed with SS Marquand Manuel in training camp and in preseason games. He has passed up the presumed starter heading into camp, Hamza Abdullah, and sources say it’s Manuel’s job to lose at this point. Strong safety will become an even more important position in Denver’s defense this season since first-year defensive coordinator Bob Slowik plans to move him up into the box much more often to help stop the run, which was a major weakness of the team in ’07.

 Although rookie OLT Branden Albert had been expected to miss only a few weeks with his foot injury, we’re hearing that his status for Week One is uncertain. All he’s been able to do thus far is walk around in a boot, meaning it could be some time before he can return to contact drills. With starting ORT Damion McIntosh also banged up, the Chiefs may enter the season with fill-ins at both tackle spots.

 There are concerns within the Chargers’ organization that LB Shawne Merriman’s knee issues could be career-threatening. The Pro Bowler recently visited a number of specialists, and it was determined that he has serious ligament damage. If he opts to undergo reconstructive surgery, he’ll miss the entire season. If he tries to fight through the pain and injures the knee further, it could lead to the end of his playing days.

 The Raiders are having a difficult time finding a replacement at kick returner for Chris Carr, who departed for the Titans in the offseason. Second-year veteran Johnnie Lee Higgins has received most of the looks thus far, but he has shown no consistency and seems to alternate between making big plays and boneheaded mistakes. Oakland doesn’t have many other options — it drafted Tyvon Branch to compete for the job, but he had thumb surgery recently and may not be ready when Week One rolls around.

AFC North

 Our sources in Pittsburgh have fully endorsed the Steelers’ decision to make Santonio Holmes their punt returner this season. Holmes had been requesting a shot at the return duties, but coaches had been resistant because of concerns that it would be too much of an injury and fatigue risk since they’re counting on him to deliver in the passing game, as well. It’s a gamble to have such a productive receiver on special-teams units, but Holmes’ big-play ability proved too tempting in this case.

 Sources in Baltimore say the Ravens are losing hope that Pro Bowl FS Ed Reed will be ready for their season opener Sept. 7 against the Bengals. Reed missed the team’s first two preseason games with a shoulder injury and has been practicing with a red jersey on, meaning he can’t do any hitting. Head coach John Harbaugh remains optimistic that Reed will be prepared to play in Week One, but we hear backup Jim Leonhard will likely be getting the start at free safety.

 Recently acquired Browns CB Travis Daniels was a player whom Cleveland GM Phil Savage had been eyeing for a long time, a source close to the team tells us. He’s likely to be the primary backup corner but won’t be seeing time as the nickel back. Because Daniels is new to the system, the Browns don’t want to burden him with learning slot responsibilities.

AFC East

 CB Jabari Greer saw the writing on the wall when the Bills grabbed CB Leodis McKelvin in the first round. But he’s done an admirable job of erasing the message (“back to the bench”) with his scrappy play through the preseason. Sources say McKelvin’s superior athleticism is mitigated by his slow absorption of the defensive playbook, and that the Bills feel more comfortable right now with Greer holding down the fort.

 Given the high-flying tendencies of the Patriots’ passing attack, it would seem as though running backs would be deemed expendable. Yet word out of Foxborough is that five backs — Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, LaMont Jordan, Kevin Faulk and Heath Evans — could end up making the roster. If one is to get cut, it’s likely to be either Jordan or Morris, who play very similar roles.

 For as much hype as Dolphins rookie OLT Jake Long has generated, sixth-round OG Donald Thomas has been awfully impressive in his own right. Thus far, Thomas has easily represented to be the best value among the Dolphins’ rookie class. He’s already locked down the starting ORG job.

 Word out of New York is that lightly regarded WR David Clowney was mounting a strong case to be the Jets’ No. 3 receiver before suffering a broken collarbone, which will keep him sidelined upward of two months. With such a long time on the fritz, the preseason revelation is no certainty to make the final cuts.