[CBFF] CT - NFL training camp previews

[Jerry Madsen]

NFL training camp previews

By Don Pierson
Tribune pro football reporter

July 16, 2006

NFC NORTH

1. BEARS (Defending champ & Pierson's favorite)
Where: Olivet Nazarene College, Bourbonnais, Ill.
When: July 27.
New Arrivals: QB Brian Griese, CB Ricky Manning Jr., CB Dante Wesley,
WR Alex Bannister.
Gone: CB Jerry Azumah, QB Jeff Blake, S Mike Green.
Top rookies: S Danieal Manning, CB-KR Devin Hester, DT Dusty Dvoracek.
What's up: The only NFL team neither to lose nor add a front-line
player, the Bears believe they are ready to win. Griese provides best
depth at quarterback in years. Can Lovie Smith keep RB Thomas Jones,
LB Lance Briggs and CB Nathan Vasher happy? Big camp for RB Cedric
Benson and WRs Mark Bradley and Airese Currie.

2. Minnesota Vikings
Where: Minnesota State-Mankato.
When: July 30 (July 27 rookies).
New Arrivals: Coach Brad Childress, RB Chester Taylor, OL Jason
Whittle, LB Ben Leber, PK Ryan Longwell, FB Tony Richardson, G Steve
Hutchinson, QB Mike McMahon.
Gone: Coach Mike Tice, QB Daunte Culpepper, WR Nate Burleson, S Corey
Chavous, CB Brian Williams, RB Michael Bennett, LB Sam Cowart, DE
Lance Johnstone.
Top rookies: LB Chad Greenway, CB Cedric Griffin, C Ryan Cook, QB
Tarvaris Jackson.
What's up: One year after exit of Randy Moss, Culpepper leaves after
he reminded Childress too much of selfish Terrell Owens. Team starts
by revamping running game to help soon-to-be 38-year-old QB Brad
Johnson. Vikes were 9-7 despite off-field turmoil and Culpepper
injury, so Childress expects adjustment.

3. Green Bay Packers
Where: St. Norbert College, DePere, Wis.
When: July 28.
New Arrivals: Coach Mike McCarthy, S Marquand Manuel, DT Ryan Pickett,
K Billy Cundiff, WR Mark Boerigter, LB Ben Taylor, DT Kenderick Allen,
CB Charles Woodson.
Gone: Coach Mike Sherman, LB Na'il Diggs, K Ryan Longwell, KR Antonio
Chatman, QB Craig Nall, C Mike Flanagan, RB Tony Fisher, WR Javon
Walker.
Top rookies: LB AJ Hawk, OL Daryn Colledge, WR Greg Jennings, LB Abdul
Hodge, G Jason Spitz.
What's up: Brett Favre hopes he returned to a better team than the
4-12 disaster he helped create with career- and league-high 29
interceptions. Losing WR Walker to Denver won't help. Getting a
healthy RB Ahman Green back is vital. Hawk and Woodson will shore up a
defense that ranked seventh in the NFL.

4. Detroit Lions
Where: Lions Facility, Allen Park, Mich.
When: July 27.
New Arrivals: Coach Rod Marinelli, QB Jon Kitna, WR Corey Bradford, TE
Dan Campbell, QB Josh McCown, OT Barry Stokes, S Idrees Bashir, OL Rex
Tucker, CB Jamar Fletcher, G Ross Verba, LB Paris Lenon.
Gone: Coach Dick Jauron, CB R.W. McQuarters, QB Joey Harrington, QB
Jeff Garcia, G Kyle Kosier, LB Wali Rainer, DT Dan Wilkinson.
Top rookies: LB Ernie Sims, S Daniel Bullocks, RB Brian Calhoun, T
Jonathan Scott.
What's up: Marinelli took pal Lovie Smith's advice in hiring offensive
coordinator Mike Martz, who must manufacture a quarterback.

AFC NORTH

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (Pierson's favorite)
Where: St. Vincent College, Latrobe, Pa.
When: July 28.
New Arrivals: S Ryan Clark, DE Rodney Bailey.
Gone: FB Jerome Bettis, S Mike Logan, DE Kimo von Oelhoffen, WR
Antwaan Randle El, S Chris Hope, QB Tommy Maddox, CB Willie Williams.
Top rookies: WR Santonio Holmes, S Anthony Smith, WR Willie Reid.
What's up: QB Ben Roethlisberger survived a motorcycle crash, but will
he be ready for heavy practices? Scrapes with the law by top draft
pick Holmes have tested coach Bill Cowher. Defending a Super Bowl
title is never easy.

2. Cincinnati Bengals (defending champ)
Where: Georgetown College, Georgetown, Ky.
When: July 29.
New Arrivals: S Dexter Jackson, DT Sam Adams, QB Anthony Wright, WR-KR
Antonio Chatman, WR P.K. Sam, QB Doug Johnson.
Gone: QB Jon Kitna, TE Matt Schobel, WR Kevin Walter, LB Nate Webster.
Top rookies: CB Johnathan Joseph, OT Andrew Whitworth, DE Frostee Rucker.
What's up: QB Carson Palmer promises to be ready for the season after
rehabbing from serious January knee surgery. He was knocked out early
in playoff loss to Steelers. Outspoken WR Chad Johnson promises
Steelers are old news.

3. Baltimore Ravens
Where: McDaniel College, Westminster, Md.
When: July 30.
New Arrivals: QB Steve McNair, RB Mike Anderson, DT Trevor Pryce, DT
Justin Bannan, P Leo Araguz, DB Corey Ivy, LB Tim Johnson, LB Gary
Stills.
Gone: DT Maake Kemoeatu, DE Anthony Weaver, P Dave Zastudil, RB
Chester Taylor, S Will Demps, QB Anthony Wright, S Chad Williams, WR
Randy Hymes, TE Darnell Dinkins.
Top rookies: NT Haloti Ngata, OL Chris Chester, CB David Pittman.
What's up: Old pro McNair moves from Tennessee to archrival Ravens and
supplants young Kyle Boller, justifying decision by Jerry Angelo to
pass up Boller for Rex Grossman in 2003 draft. LB Ray Lewis needs to
prove he's not on last legs.

4. Cleveland Browns
Where: Browns
Facility, Berea, Ohio
When: July 26 (July 23 rookies).
New Arrivals: C-G LeCharles Bentley, WR Joe Jurevicius, P Dave
Zastudil, DE Willie McGinest, DT Ted Washington, G Bob Hallen, QB Ken
Dorsey, TE Darnell Dinkins, K Jeff Chandler, T Kevin Shaffer.
Gone: QB Trent Dilfer, WR Antonio Bryant, DE Kenard Lang, T L.J.
Shelton, TE Aaron Shea, LB Ben Taylor, C Jeff Faine, G Kevin Garmon, S
Chris Crocker, DT Jason Fisk, TE Keith Heinrich, DB Ray Mickens.
Top rookies: LB Kamerion Wimbler, LB D'Qwell Jackson, WR Travis Wilson.
What's up: Ohio natives Bentley, Jurevicius, Zastudil and Hallen join
the cause. Coach Romeo Crennel adds old defensive linemen he tutored
in New England, McGinest and Washington. They need young QB Charlie
Frye and rehabilitated TE Kellen Winslow to come through.

AFC SOUTH

1. Indianapolis Colts (defending champ and Pierson's favorite)
Where: Rose-Hulman Institute, Terre Haute, Ind.
When: July 30.
New arrivals: K Adam Vinatieri, QB Shaun King.
Gone: K Mike Vanderjagt, RB Edgerrin James, DT Larry Tripplett, LB
David Thornton, KR Troy Walters, DT Josh Williams.
Top rookies: RB Joseph Addai, CB Tim Jennings, LB Freddie Keiaho.
What's up: Loss of James means margin for error gets smaller for team
overdue for Super Bowl breakthrough. Quick development of Addai is
crucial. Vinatieri helped Patriots win Super Bowls, so Colts hope luck
follows.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars
Where: Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville.
When: July 28.
New arrivals: CB Brian Williams, OT Mike Williams, OT Stockar
McDougle, LB Nick Griesen, WR Troy Edwards, WR Randy Hymes, OT Wayne
Hunter.
Gone: LB Akin Ayodele, CB Kenny Wright, LB Jamie Winborn, S Deke
Cooper, OT Mike Pearson, OT Ephraim Salaam, WR Jimmy Smith.
Top rookies: TE Marcedes Lewis, RB Maurice Drew.
What's up: Scrambling to find replacement for Smith, who suddenly
retired. Looking for offensive linemen to protect injury-prone QB
Byron Leftwich. Rookies Lewis and Drew may have to contribute heavily
for Jaguars to match last year's 12-4 record.

3. Tennessee Titans
Where: Baptist Sports Park, Nashville.
When: July 28.
New arrivals: WR David Givens, C Kevin Mawae, LB David Thornton, S Chris Hope.
Gone: QB Steve McNair, OT Brad Hopkins, C Justin Hartwig, LB Rocky
Boiman, S Tank Williams.
Top rookies: QB Vince Young, RB LenDale White.
What's up: Still rebuilding, backup QB Billy Volek takes over for
departed McNair while Young is groomed. White could become
rookie-of-year candidate if he's in shape. Coach Jeff Fisher has to
figure out how to get defense back to contender level.

4. Houston Texans
Where: Reliant Park Practice Facility, Houston.
When: July 28.
New arrivals: Coach Gary Kubiak, DE Anthony Weaver, FB Jameel Cook, QB
Sage Rosenfels, TE Jeb Putzier, WR Kevin Walter, C Mike Flanagan, WR
Eric Moulds, LB Sam Cowart, DE N.D. Kalu, RB Antowain Smith, LB Wali
Rainer, OT Ephraim Salaam.
Gone: Coach Dom Capers, QB Tony Banks, S Marcus Coleman, RB Tony
Hollings, S Jason Bell, WR Corey Bradford, T Milford Brown, WR Jabar
Gaffney, QB Dave Ragone, DT Gary Walker.
Top rookies: DE Mario Williams, LB DeMeco Ryans, OT Charles Spencer,
OT Eric Winston.
What's up: Williams has to show he was worth passing up Reggie Bush in
draft, a tough assignment for a defensive end. Offensive line under
new assistant Mike Sherman must learn to protect David Carr before he
can learn how to find new receiver Moulds.

NFC SOUTH

1. Carolina Panthers (Pierson's favorite)
Where: Wofford College, Spartanburg, S.C.
When: July 28.
New arrivals: DE Maake Kemoeatu, C Justin Hartwig, S Shaun Williams,
DT Damione Lewis, S Kevin McCadam, WR Keyshawn Johnson, CB Reggie
Howard, LB Keith Adams, LB Na'il Diggs.
Gone: DT Brentson Buckner, RB Stephen Davis, LB Brandon Short, KR Rod
Smart, LB Will Witherspoon, S Marlon McCree, CB Dante Wesley, S Idrees
Bashir, DE Kemp Rasmussen, CB Ricky Manning Jr., G Tutan Reyes.
Top rookies: RB DeAngelo Williams, CB Richard Marshall.
What's up: Bears-killer Steve Smith and newcomer Johnson need to
develop rapport. Health of RB DeShaun Foster a concern, so rookie
Williams could step up. Defensive line got even stronger with Kemoeatu
and Lewis.

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (defending champ)
Where: Disney's Wide World of Sports, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
When: July 27.
New arrivals: G Toniu Fonoti, LB Jamie Winborn, WR David Boston, OT
Torrin Tucker, FB Jerald Sowell, QB Jay Fiedler.
Gone: S Dexter Jackson, FB Jameel Cook, QB Brian Griese, T Todd
Steussie, LB Jeff Gooch, TE Will Heller, OL Matt Stinchcomb.
Top rookies: G Davin Joseph, OT Jeremy Trueblood.
What's up: This is QB Chris Simms' first training camp as the starter.
They replaced Brian Griese with Jay Fiedler. Adding controversial
receiver Boston for his last chance not a bad move. Defense will miss
coach Rod Marinelli.

3. Atlanta Falcons
Where: Falcons Facility, Flowery Branch, Ga.
When: July 27.
New arrivals: S Lawyer Milloy, DE John Abraham, OT Wayne Gandy, WR
Jerome Pathon, S Chris Crocker.
Gone: DE Brady Smith, OT Kevin Shaffer, S Kevin McCadam, OT Barry
Stokes, S Bryan Scott.
Top rookies: CB Jimmy Williams, RB Jerious Norwood.
What's up: Must rebound from 8-8 season. Coach Jim Mora is hoping
Abraham provides speed rusher to boost No. 22 defense. QB Michael Vick
is starting his sixth season already, so expectations rise.

4. New Orleans Saints
Where: Millsaps College, Jackson, Miss.
When: July 27.
New arrivals: Coach Sean Payton, QB Drew Brees, LB Scott Fujita, RB
Michael Bennett, LB Anthony Simmons, S Omar Stoutmire, WR Chris Horn,
S Bryan Scott, C Jeff Faine, DT Hollis Thomas, QB Jamie Martin, WR
Bethel Johnson.
Gone: Coach Jim Haslett, G-C LeCharles Bentley, DE Darren Howard, CB
Fakhir Brown, QB Aaron Brooks, OT Wayne Gandy, LB T.J. Slaughter, RB
Anthony Thomas, RB Antowain Smith, S Mel Mitchell, DT Johnathan
Sullivan, LB Courtney Watson.
Top rookies: RB Reggie Bush, S Roman Harper.
What's up: They're back in the Superdome following Hurricane Katrina.
Bush and Brees give reason to buy tickets. Also, RB Deuce McAllister
returns from injury. Must figure out how to stop run.

Copyright (c) 2006, The Chicago Tribune


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