Arizona Cardinals
Link: Training Camp Information Location: Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, AZ) Dates: July 30 (Rooks & Vets) - August 21 Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)
The Cardinals report to North Arizona University with a lot of questions for a team that's won back-to-back division titles and appeared in a Super Bowl. But the Cardinals lost a ton of key contributors not the least of which was potential Hall of Fame QB Kurt Warner. The coaching staff provides continuity and the cupboard is not bare, but the Cardinals have roughly three weeks to solve a lot of uncertainties.
Preseason Game Schedule
8/14 - Houston (8:00 PM EST) 8/23 - @Tennessee (8:00 PM EST) 8/28 - @Chicago (8:30 PM EST) 9/02 - Washington (10:00 PM EST)
What We're Watching
Is it possible we're all wrong about QB Matt Leinart? - Matt Leinart failed to win the starting job and was displaced by Kurt Warner, and the rest is history. Most fantasy owners are convinced Leinart either won't play well or won't hold onto the starting job. Is that selling him too short considering his only real competition is Derek Anderson, who the Browns didn't even have a place for? No QB in the league has as much opportunity to reshape his perception as Leinart does over the next month.
RBs Chris Wells vs. Tim Hightower - Fantasy owners are sure that Beanie Wells will displace Tim Hightower as the Cardinals lead runner. Yet, Hightower has drawn rave reviews during OTAs and mini-camps, and the Cardinals intend to run the ball much more this year to take pressure off of Leinart. Might this be a true committee situation?
WRs Steve Breaston vs. Early Doucet - Steve Breaston is in line to replace Anquan Boldin opposite Larry Fitzgerald, but Early Doucet has opened eyes this preseason. It's unlikely but it wouldn't be shocking to see Doucet earn the WR2 role leaving Breaston in his natural slot position.
Solidifying one guard spot while problems arise at the other? - The Cards are happy to add Alan Faneca who Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm know from their days together in Pittsburgh. Yet at the same time they're upgrading the left guard spot, Deuce Lutui is making it hard to feel good about the right guard spot. The coaches have been unabashed in their criticism of Lutui's weight problems and he's not guaranteed a role if he doesn't find a way to shed some pounds.
Will DT Darnell Dockett be a happy camper? - Dockett wants a new deal and has told anyone willing to listen, but the Cardinals haven't made any progress on the eve of camp. Will Dockett stage a hold out to build leverage? And if so is Alan Branch up to the challenge?
Is S Kerry Rhodes capable of replacing Antrel Rolle? - Rhodes failed to excel in the Jets attacking system; will he regain his penchant for big plays as Antrel Rolle's replacement?
St. Louis Rams
Link: http://www.stlouisrams.com/article/79931/ Location: Lindenwood University (St. Charles, MO) Dates: July 28 (Rooks), July 30 (Vets) - August 24 Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)
The Rams head to Lindenwood with an understanding that it will take more than one season to right a ship that finished 3-13, 2-14 and 1-15 in the last three years. HC Steve Spagnuolo and OC Pat Shurmur's first order of business is getting 1st overall pick Sam Bradford ready to take the helm. Beyond that, any improvement would be welcome as the Rams finished 32nd in points scored and 31st in points allowed. Spagnuolo is probably not on the hot seat, but his coordinators likely are without tangible improvement in all facets of the game.
Preseason Game Schedule
8/14 - Minnesota (8:00 PM EST) 8/21 - @Cleveland (7:30 PM EST) 8/26 - @New England (7:30 PM EST) 9/02 - Baltimore (8:00 PM EST)
What We're Watching
When will QB Sam Bradford start? - It's a question of when not if Sam Bradford starts for the Rams in 2010, with the answer hinging on Bradford's progress in camp and the coaches' belief that the offensive line can keep him from getting annihilated. A.J. Feeley, intimately familiar with Pat Shurmur's system from their days in Philadelphia, will hold down the fort in the interim.
Will the Rams add veteran free agents? - The Rams have entertained both Brian Westbrook and Terrell Owens at points this preseason and could make a case for adding both given the dearth of talent at their respective positions. But neither has signed at the start of camp, and both would prefer to play for contenders.
Can the Rams field a competitive offensive line? - The Rams sent Alex Barron packing and will hope rookie Roger Saffold is capable of playing at right tackle immediately while Jason Smith must earn his keep as last year's top draft pick.
A WR battle royale - The Rams have lots of options at receiver but are any of them good ones? Donnie Avery is the team's top option but it's not clear he is well suited to be a #1. Rookie Mardy Gilyard has a bright future but graduation rules at his university robbed him of months of OTAs. Laurent Robinson and Keenan Burton are still recovering from injuries, which has allowed Danny Amendola and Brandon Gibson to take snaps with the 1st unit in the preseason. Will any of them amount to viable fantasy options?
Will the rookie TEs earn a role? - Daniel Fells is the starter, but the Rams used two picks in April on Fendi Onobun and Michael Hoomanawanui. Will either push for playing time, and do the Rams plan on running 2-TE sets often?
Can castoffs improve the defense? - It's hard to see how the Rams are going to turn the ship around by bringing in other team's disappointments, but that appears to be the plan as LBs Bobby Carpenter and Na'il Diggs and DTs Fred Robbins and Chris Hovan are all going to have real shots at earning starting roles.
CBs aplenty, but are any of them great? - The Rams need playmakers at every position and hope there's a diamond in the rough from a quintet of CBs: Ronald Bartell, Justin King, Jerome Murphy, Bradley Fletcher and Kevin Dockery.
San Francisco 49ers
Link: http://www.49ers.com Location: Marie DeBartolo Center (Santa Clara, CA) Dates: July 30 (Rooks), July 31 (Vets)- TBA Open to the public? - Limited (check website for details)
The 49ers are a secretive bunch and are the only team at press time to not disclose when their camp officially ends. Either way, rookies report on the 30th and veterans join them a day later on a team that many believe can contend for a division title this season. In order for that to happen, a lot of things have to go right and a lot of questions have to be answered, particularly on the offensive side of the ball as Alex Smith faces his last and best chance to prove he was worth the 1st overall selection.
Preseason Game Schedule
8/15 - @Indianapolis (1:00 PM EST) 8/22 - Minnesota (8:00 PM EST) 8/28 - @Oakland (9:00 PM EST) 9/02 - San Diego (10:00 PM EST)
What We're Watching
How good is QB Alex Smith? - Smith exited last training camp as a backup but got another chance and played well enough in 10 starts to enter this season as the clear starter. The perception is that San Francisco has all the pieces in place to win the division, if only Smith plays well. If Smith is sharp in camp, expect fantasy expectations for the entire offense to rise. If he struggles, all bets are off.
How quickly do the rookie offensive linemen contribute? - The 49ers used a pair of first round picks on OT Anthony Davis and OG Mike Iupati to improve an offensive line that had trouble opening holes for Frank Gore at times and more importantly allowed 40 sacks. The 49ers would love for both to play so well they have no choice but to be inserted in the lineup by Week One, but more likely Iupati gets a nod inside while Davis starts his career as the swing tackle.
Avoiding unhappy superstars - TE Vernon Davis and DT Aubrayo Franklin want new deals and don't have them as camp looms. Davis has given every indication he won't let his contract status affect his participation in camp, but Franklin has yet to sign his franchise tender and could well be preparing for a long holdout. The 49ers can't afford to lose either for any extended period.
WRs Ted Ginn vs. Kyle Williams for the KR/PR roles - When the 49ers traded for Ted Ginn, it was widely expected he would earn his keep as a dynamic returner. But rookie Kyle Williams is also up to the task and Ginn really needs to avoid being outplayed by the rookie in order to secure his roster spot.
Seattle Seahawks
Link: http://www.seahawks.com Location: Virginia Mason Athletic Center (Renton, WA) Dates: July 30 (Rooks & Vets) - August 16 Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)
The Seahawks head to their state-of-the-art practice facility on the 30th under the watchful eye of new head coach Pete Carroll. The team has undergone significant roster turnover this offseason but you get the sense Carroll isn't done tinkering. Just about everyone is fighting for their jobs including many of the team's long-time cornerstones. Carroll retained DC Gus Bradley but will certainly install his own defensive philosophy on the team, while the offense will fall into the hands of Jeremy Bates and offensive line coach Alex Gibbs who are implementing Gibbs' vaunted zone-blocking scheme.
Preseason Game Schedule
8/14 - Tennessee (10:00 PM EST) 8/21 - Green Bay (10:00 PM EST) 8/28 - @Minnesota (8:00 PM EST) 9/02 - @Oakland (10:00 PM EST)
What We're Watching
Does QB Matt Hasselbeck have enough left in the tank? - Some thought Charlie Whitehurst would have a chance to compete after signing with Seattle but he's struggled throughout the preseason and Hasselbeck appears the clear cut starter. But age, injuries and a consistent pounding lend doubt to whether Hasselbeck is still a plus NFL QB. If he's not, can either Whitehurst or J.P. Losman really play better?
Rebuilding the left side of the line - Walter Jones called a Hall of Fame career quits and the Seahawks expect rookie Russell Okung to step right in at left tackle. Those are enormous shoes to fill but he'll have help from new starting LG Ben Hamilton.
RBs Julius Jones vs. Justin Forsett vs. Leon Washington - It's anyone's guess how carries will be divvied up between this trio, and ultimately fantasy owners may be better off avoiding the entire situation. But there's still the chance one of them rises to the occasion and claims a more significant role. Fantasy owners seem confident that will be Justin Forsett, but Leon Washington is probably the biggest playmaker of the group; yet his injuries make him an uncertainty.
Who starts opposite WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh? - Houshmandzadeh hardly looked the part of a top WR1 last year but has no concerns about his role in 2010. Last year's 3rd round pick Deon Butler will contend with rookie 2nd rounder Golden Tate for the other spot. Tate has had an up and down preseason but is polished and could be in line for significant work with a strong camp. Veteran Deion Branch believes he's still the team's top pass catcher, but the new coaching staff isn't going to have much patience for his oft injured ways. And we can't completely discount USC alum Mike Williams, who has enjoyed a strong preseason thus far.
Where's the pass rush coming from? - The Seahawks effectively swapped Darryl Tapp for Chris Clemons and it's not clear how that was an upgrade. Last year's 1st round pick LB Aaron Curry was supposed to be a once-in-a-generation playmaker but that wasn't evident last year. Can Will Herring bring pressure from the outside? What about DE Red Bryant? Perhaps 3rd year Lawrence Jackson is finally ready for prime time?
Is Earl Thomas the lynchpin for a secondary in need of one? - Texas Longhorn Earl Thomas is expected to start right away at free safety and the Seahawks need his free-range ability to help stabilize a secondary that allowed 3,927 yards and 27 TD passes last year.
Questions, suggestions and comments are always welcome to wood@footballguys.com.