|
|
TEAM BUZZ
By D.J. Boyer
8/26/06
|
|
|
Baltimore Ravens
Jamal Lewis will miss the rest of the preseason with a strained hip flexor. The hip flexor is an injury that has been lingering for a few weeks and the Ravens decided it was best to keep him out of action until the regular season begins. This benefits running back Musa Smith more than anybody else. Smith entered training camp as the #3 running back behind Lewis and the newly acquired Mike Anderson but has easily been the most impressive and productive thus far. Keep your eye on Smith and I believe he’s worth a late selection.
Steve McNair continues to look relaxed and comfortable in the preseason but there is a small cause for alarm. Throws 15 yards and longer have been a problem for McNair as he seems to lose velocity on these longer throws. There were three occasions during the Ravens preseason game against Philadelphia where balls floated into the secondary and he put his receivers in a dangerous position. The Ravens are still happy with his play but McNair has been working on longer pass plays more and more since his last outing.
Rookie Dawan Landry has now officially leapfrogged Gerome Sapp on the depth chart at strong safety and looks like he will open the season starting with Ed Reed in the back of the Baltimore defense. Landry may come very cheap to you in an IDP draft and was a player we have told you to watch in the past. This should come as no surprise because in the 2007 NFL Draft my current #1 prospect at safety is also a Landry...LaRon who plays at LSU and is Dawan’s brother.
Detroit Lions
First Round pick Ernie Sims has drawn raves from the coaching staff in limited action during his first two preseason games to date by posting 5 tackles and a quarterback sack. Sims came at a high price to many fantasy IDP owners as the #9 pick overall and the opportunity to play often as a rookie. Sims had 5 concussions during his NCAA career at Florida State so there is a reason for owners to be concerned but so far so good.
No need for Kevin Jones owners to get too alarmed. The injury that is keeping Jones on the sidelines is not considered serious. Jones experienced pain in his foot at the start of camp only to have the pain subside. The pain has recently returned and the Lions are being as cautious as possible. The Lions have been guarded when talking about the condition and not wanting to say too much about who involved, if at all, he will be with the teams final regular season games.
The wide open battle at wide receiver has Charles Rogers on the outside looking in once again. It appears that Rogers roster spot is not in jeopardy and that the Lions will have room for both he and Mike Williams. Expect receivers like Glen Martinez and Mike Furrey to get extended looks.
Oakland Raiders
Oakland is still looking for playmakers along the defensive line and a player that is getting more and more attention is 4th year pro Terdell Sands. Sands came to the Raiders in 2003 via the Green Bay Packers and was thought of as a liability with his 6-7 frame and was briefly tried at an offensive tackle. Sands has made the roster every year since even though he has been a long shot on more than one occasion. With continuing questions surrounding Warren Sapp and his health this may be the year Sands gets a starting nod in Oakland. If you are in need of a DT in your IDP league keep a close eye on Sands. As teams will double down on others players along the line (Tommy Kelly and 2005 sack leader Derrick Burgess) it could mean big things for Sands.
Andrew Walter has ascended into the #2 role at quarterback for the Raiders and should be looked at by owners in large Dynasty leagues as a candidate as a starter by 2007. The Raiders like the mobility of Aaron Brooks and his arm strength but if the team ends up on the wrong side of .500 again (likely) we could see Walter getting some time late in the year as an effort to groom the next in line at quarterback. Quarterbacks coach Jim McElwain has praised Walter as far as defensive recognition and improved footwork but areas such as conditioning and working the two-minute drill need improvement.
Another question on many fantasy owners minds is just how healthy is Ronald Curry? Questions surrounding who will be the #3 receiver in Oakland continue to be a hot topic as Curry battles back from his Achilles tear in 2005. The good part for Oakland is they have a pair of capable receivers in Curry and Doug Gabriel. It is an interesting situation right now because I believe both receivers look undervalued from a fantasy standpoint. Oakland looks like one of the few offenses where a #4 receiver could provide some limited fantasy value with the right matchup
|
|
|
|
|
|
|