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The
Tony Finn
Column
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Positional Battles (Part III of IV)
Posted 07/07/06
4for4.com Exclusive
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Positional Battles Part I
Positional Battles Part II
Positional Battles Part IV
P
NFC North
Chicago Bears
Battle: Rex Grossman vs. Brian Griese for the starting QB role.
The important question in this battle - can Grossman stay healthy long enough to enter the regular season as the starter? He’ll get the nod as the team’s starting regardless of Griese’s success in this preseason.
Tony’s Take - The Winner: Rex Grossman
Battle: Cedric Benson vs. Thomas Jones for the starting RB role.
While many still believe Jones has a chance to overcome Benson for the featured running back role, his semi-holdout over his contract has vaulted Benson to the top of the depth chart. Throw in reasons like; Benson is a better fit in the offense, his personality and field demeanor, and his draft status -- all make him a lock for at least half of the carries in the Turner offense, if not all of them. Could the theme in Chicago this year be more Benson, or more RBBC? While training camp will likely determine the starting role, the final decision is likely to see Benson winning the starting job and holding onto it as long as he is healthy.
Tony’s Take - The Winner: Cedric Benson
Battle: Mark Bradley vs. Justin Gage vs. Bernard Berrian for #2 WR spot.
Bradley has the physical attributes Ron Turner wants in a second receiver - speed that keeps the safety out of the box. Gage is a good locker room influence and his ability to fill in as a third receiver offers Chicago a solid possession threat in down and distance situations. Gage is a misfit in the Turner offense and isn’t an option in the slot. Berrian has better speed and much more upside than does Gage.
Tony’s Take - The Winner: Mark Bradley starts opposite Muhsin Muhammad, Bernard Berrian as the slot in three receiver sets with Justin Gage filling in when needed.
Detroit Lions
Battle: Jon Kitna vs. Josh McCown for the starting QB job
Behind closed doors, Kitna has already been named the starter, but backup McCown is familiar with the style of offense Mike Martz uses and has the ability to execute the game plan given the opportunity.
Tony’s Take - The Winner: Jon Kitna, but he will have to play well to hold the job for the entire season.
Battle: Charles Rogers vs. Mike Williams vs. Corey Bradford vs. Scottie Vines for the second receiver role.
How can Matt Millen still have a job in the Motor City considering his run of first round wide receiver flops? You know Mike Martz was shaking his head when he took the Detroit offensive coordinator job; he has a roster full of big possession receivers that don’t exactly fit his up-tempo scheme. Rogers is the logical fit while Williams checked into minicamp out of shape. Vines doesn't possess the speed necessary to help the Martz scheme and Bradford is a tweener that could garner playing time with a productive training camp.
Tony’s Take - The Winner: Charles Rogers, but he’ll be looking over his shoulder the entire training camp.
Green Bay Packers
Battle: Najeh Davenport vs. Samkon Gado vs. Noah Herron for the backup RB role.
The entire Green Bay backfield is a mess. Davenport (ankle) and Green (quad) didn’t take part in offseason drills. Both players had season ending surgery in ‘05. Gado also had surgery after the season, but participated in most of the team OTA and minicamp work. He is reportedly 100%. Herron ran with the first team along with Gado this spring and whoever stays healthy among this group will have fantasy value entering the 2006 regular season.
Tony’s Take – The Winner: Samkon Gado has a slight edge due to Davenport’s ankle injury, but the entire Packers running back quartet will get playing time this season.
Battle: Robert Ferguson vs. Rod Gardner vs. Marc Boerigter vs. Greg Jennings for the #2 wide receiver role.
While the free agent acquisition of Boerigter is intriguing, and the coaching staff loves big receivers, Boerigter is nothing more than a role player even in the depleted receiving corps of Green Bay. Jennings did impress the coaching staff with his route running but he is still learning the offense. Fragile Ferguson got most of the first-team work in off-season programs while Gardner received mop up duty as the third receiver.
Tony’s Take - The Winner: The wide receiver roles in Green Bay aren’t likely to be sorted out before early September. For now I consider Robert Ferguson the #2 and Gardner the option in three receiver sets.
Minnesota Vikings
Battle: Troy Williamson vs. Travis Taylor vs. Marcus Robinson for the #2 WR role.
Taylor was the early season favorite last year and a huge 2005 sleeper consideration by most fantasy forecasters. He got most of the first team spring work running opposite Koren Robinson. The coaching staff will likely use Troy Williamson as much as they use Taylor with Robinson serving a red-zone weapon when the Vikings are threatening opposing defenses.
Tony’s Take - The Winner: Troy Williamson long term with Taylor getting plenty of snaps in Minnesota’s new West Coast theme.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
Battle: Marcel Shipp vs. J.J. Arrington for the backup RB role.
If Edgerrin James were to suffer an untimely injury the Cardinals would pump up the pass and be much the same offense they were in 2005. Shipp is an injury risk and second year RB Arrington is still the one with upside to back up James for the next three seasons.
Tony’s Take - The Winner: J.J. Arrington
San Francisco 49ers
Battle: Kevan Barlow vs. Frank Gore for the starting RB role.
Barlow has struggled to match the production he imposed on the NFC West during a solid 2003 campaign. Barlow has good size and strength, but comes with durability issues. Gore, the 49ers second round selection in 2005 is also an injury risk, maybe more so than Barlow. The duo makes for a solid RBBC team and should be drafted as such if at all possible.
Tony’s Take - The Winner: Neither. Find a way to get both running backs, or avoid them all together.
Battle: Eric Johnson vs. Vernon Davis for the starting tight end role.
When healthy Johnson should be considered one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the league, but he has miss two of the last three campaigns with season ending injuries. The fact that the 49ers spent a first round selection on TE Vernon Davis offers solid evidence that the organization doesn’t trust Johnson to stay healthy. Davis comes into camp full of talent and potential, but Johnson enters camp as the starter.
Tony’s Take - The Winner: Vernon Davis long term.
Seattle Seahawks
Battle: Bobby Engram vs. Nate Burleson for the #2 WR role.
Call the signing of Burleson revenge for the controversial contract the Vikings offered All-World guard Steve Hutchinson, but what ever you do -- call it a good move. Darrell Jackson showed signs of wear and tear last year missing double-digit games to a knee injury. Burleson's '05 season began with high expectations, but was shortened by injury and the fact that the Vikings had too many qualified wideouts. Engram is much better suited as the number-three or slot man in Mike Holmgren’s WC scheme and will likely start the regular season behind both Jackson and Burleson.
Tony’s Take - The Winner: Nate Burleson, he has a chance to match or exceed his 2004 numbers of 69 catches for over 1000 yards and 9 touchdowns in the Holmgren offense.
St. Louis Rams
The Battle: Dominique Byrd vs. Joe Klopfenstein for the starting TE role.
Expect the Rams tight ends to battle to the bitter end of training camp for playing time. Neither rookie has ideal size for a NFL tight end, but Klopfenstein is tall, has good speed and showed promise during organized team activities in the spring.
Byrd has durability issues that included surgeries on both his knee and foot the past three seasons.
Tony’s Take - The Winner: Joe Klopfenstein
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