Other NFC Preview Capsules: Saints see chance for more titles
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — When New England hosted the Saints for joint practices in mid-August, Patriots players referred to New Orleans as the new standard for NFL success.
The idea would have raised eyebrows only a year ago, when the Patriots could boast of four Super Bowl appearances and three championships in an eight-year span, and the Saints had never even been to the title game.
Then came New Orleans' magical year. The Saints won 13 regular season games, then three more in the postseason en route to their first NFL championship.
All those jokes about New Orleans not winning the Super Bowl until you-know-what freezes over are dated now. The Saints enter 2010 still among the league's elite. They're confident that they'll be there for a while.
New Orleans is "trying to be a dynasty, not just a one-time defender," running back Reggie Bush said.
"This is a special time for us right now," Bush continued. "We feel like we have all the pieces to the puzzle right now to be a contender every year. It's up to us to make that happen, to be able to make those playoff pushes every year."
The Saints haven't lost many key players from a year ago.
On offense, all starters are back. Some, most notably receiver Lance Moore, are healthier.
In the four seasons since head coach Sean Payton began calling the plays and quarterback Drew Brees began executing them, the Saints have led the league in yardage three times. Their lone "off" year was 2007, when they were fourth.
The Saints' offensive line has been among the best at preventing sacks, and if Brees stays healthy for a fifth-straight year, New Orleans could very well rack up the most yards in the NFL again.
On defense, the Saints lost two starters: linebacker Scott Fujita, who left in free agency, and defensive end Charles Grant, who was released. The Saints may be stronger at end this season after replacing Grant with longtime Chicago starter Alex Brown. New Orleans also brought back Bobby McCray, who started all three playoffs games, and added free agent Jimmy Wilkerson, a former Tampa Bay starter who can play both end and tackle.
After Fujita's departure, New Orleans signed free agent linebacker Clint Ingram, but a lingering injury has left his prospects for this season unclear. Defensive coaches also are considering moving veteran weakside linebacker Scott Shanle to the strong side and using one of their younger linebackers, perhaps second-year pro Jonathan Casillas, on the weak side.
In the defensive backfield, the Saints have one of the NFL's best cornerback tandems in Tracy Porter and Jabari Greer. Starting safeties Darren Sharper and Roman Harper also are back, although Sharper's recovery from offseason knee surgery has lasted well into the preseason. Sharper, an All-Pro last season who had nine interceptions, could open the regular season on the sideline while second-year pro Malcolm Jenkins gets the nod at free safety.
Last season, the Saints' opportunistic defense helped New Orleans come up with 39 turnovers, 17 more than the 22 they forced in 2008. The improvement was the key to their success, because the Saints ranked 25th in yards allowed per game at 357.8 in 2009.
"One challenge is if we can take the ball away as effectively as we did a year ago, because we did it as well as anyone," Payton said.
On special teams, the Saints have a pair of young players with strong legs in third-year kicker Garrett Hartley and second-year punter Thomas Morstead. Bush has been an inconsistent but considerable threat in the return game. Porter, who returned punts in college, is preparing to do so with the Saints this season, along with Moore.
With so many key players back, it's no wonder the Saints see themselves as contenders again.
They've already overcome their own losing history. Now there's the matter of recent NFL history. No Super Bowl champion has repeated since the Patriots did it in the 2003 and '04 seasons. And the NFC South has never had a repeat winner since the division was formed in 2002.Meanwhile, players tend to agree that defending champs usually get the best efforts of their opponents, which only makes things harder.
"You'd be naive to think that you could just show up and everyone would be intimidated because you're the defending world champions," Brees said. "It's going to be very challenging, but we embrace that challenge.
"There's still a lot more to be done here."
Falcons want more than a winning record in 2010
ATLANTA (AP) — Mike Smith believes the foundation for the 2010 version of the Atlanta Falcons was set in the closing weeks of last season.
The Falcons, coming off an 11-5 playoff season in Smith's first year as head coach, were 6-7 and already out of the playoff hunt when they put together three straight wins to close the season.
The stretch included road wins at the New York Jets and Tampa Bay. The win over the Buccaneers on Jan. 3, gave the Falcons a 9-7 final record for their first back-to-back winning seasons in franchise history.
"I told our guys this was not the last game in 2009 season, it was the first game for the 2010 season," Smith said, remembering his pep talk to his team before the game in Tampa Bay. "It was, in the calendar year, 2010 and we needed to start 2010 off in the right fashion.
"It got us over the hump in terms of back-to-back winning seasons. But with that being said, we were very, very disappointed with the final results of the season last year just because our internal goals were much, much higher than just having a winning season."
The higher goals have carried over into the third season for Smith, general manager Thomas Dimitroff and quarterback Matt Ryan. Clearly, anything short of a return to the playoffs will be a disappointment.
Just ask owner Arthur Blank, who says he was excited about the long-awaited consecutive winning seasons but now is looking for more.
"Now I'm excited about rings," Blank said.
If their defense improves, the Falcons may have enough talent and balance on offense to challenge the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints in the NFC South.
Running back Michael Turner lost about 15 pounds and says he is back at his listed weight of 244. He missed five of the last seven games last season with an ankle injury but looks healthy and quicker in training camp. Turner was most effective as a straight-ahead runner last year, but he has been able to turn the corner on outside runs in camp.
Turner finished second in the NFL in 2008 with 1,699 yards rushing and set a team record with 17 touchdowns. He had 871 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns last year.
"I think Michael came into this offseason with the mindset that, hey I'm not going to be a one-year wonder, I'm going to be a very productive running back and a very productive player for a very long time in this league," Smith said.
Pro Bowl receiver Roddy White and tight end Tony Gonzalez each had more than 80 catches last year.
Ryan's season still was a mild disappointment as his 58.3 completion percentage ranked only 23rd in the league. He missed two games with a toe injury and finished with 2,916 passing yards, 22 TDs and 14 interceptions.
There are other stars on the offense, but Ryan remains the key.
"We're in year three of the process, so we should advance what we want to do," Smith said. "Of course the quarterback is the guy who runs the offense. Matt has gotten to a point where we feel very, very comfortable with what we've done so far and we plan on adding things this season."
The Falcons hope Ryan, the 2008 NFL offensive rookie of the year, places himself among the league's top quarterbacks this season.
"He is looking great," said Gonzalez of Ryan. "He is doing really well. He has really improved and I am happy with the way he is going. Just got to keep him healthy and the sky is the limit with him. It is just a matter of when and not if. He will be one of the best. It is just about getting that experience."
The New England Patriots visited the Falcons for combined practices last week after working with Drew Brees and the Saints last week. Coach Bill Belichick didn't hesitate to group Ryan with Brees.
"They're similar in that they're real good," Belichick said, adding "They're as good as anybody in this league."
Left tackle Sam Baker, who was drafted after Ryan in the first round in 2008, also is a third-year starter. All five starters return on the offensive line. Ryan also is protected by veteran fullback Ovie Mughelli.
There are questions at receiver behind White, who had 1,153 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns last season. Michael Jenkins, the projected No. 2 receiver, suffered a right shoulder injury early in camp and is questionable for the start of the season.
Harry Douglas showed big-play potential as a receiver and return specialist in 2008 before missing the 2009 season with a knee injury. Douglas drew compliments in the combined workout with the Patriots and may be the team's strongest candidate for a breakout season.
Eric Weems and Brian Finneran also return at receiver. Rookie Kerry Meier might have joined the rotation at receiver before suffering a season-ending knee injury last week. Smith says the team has ample depth without looking for help at the position.
The Falcons signed free agent Dunta Robinson to be the shutdown cornerback the team lacked last season. Rookie first-round pick Sean Weatherspoon could win a starting job at outside linebacker. Even if he doesn't start, he'll likely be on the field on passing downs.
A key is defensive tackle Peria Jerry, the 2008 first-round pick who missed most of his rookie season with a knee injury. Jerry has been watched carefully in training camp.
The Falcons tied for 26th in the NFL with only 28 sacks in 2009. End John Abraham, who set a career high with 16.5 sacks in 2008, had 5.5 sacks last year. He is convinced he hasn't lost a step.
One problem was the lack of pressure from the other end. Jamaal Anderson, who had only one-half sack as a starting defensive end last year, is spending most of his time at tackle. Kroy Biermann may join Abraham as the starting ends.
Anderson may help inside on passing downs.
"I think he's embracing his role as a defensive tackle," Smith said of Anderson. "I think he's going to be more productive this year in the tackle position. He has been changing his body a little bit. He has put on over 20 pounds. I think that's going to help him when he plays inside."
Robinson, who signed a six-year, $57 million deal after six seasons with Houston, likely will join Brent Grimes or Brian Williams as the starting cornerbacks.
-- Charles Odum
Who's that guy? Youthful Panthers hard to predict
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — So many signs in Carolina seemingly point to cost-cutting.
Over 30? Making decent money? Chances are you were cut, traded or allowed to walk via free agency by the Panthers in the offseason. Nine starters from last year are gone, leaving 31-year-old Steve Smith as the oldest position player.
Even the folks left over have little security. Coach John Fox is in the last year of his contract. So is starting quarterback Matt Moore, running back DeAngelo Williams, cornerback Richard Marshall and numerous other veterans.
A year before a potential work stoppage, the team owned by the co-chairman of the NFL committee responsible for labor negotiations is suddenly the league's third-youngest team without stalwarts Julius Peppers, Jake Delhomme and Muhsin Muhammad.
But suggest to general manager Marty Hurney — himself with an uncertain contract situation — that the Panthers are shedding payroll ahead of a potential new NFL salary structure and he bristles.
"We've said it over and over and over again: We made a decision to have young players," Hurney said Thursday. "You have to make tough decisions. That's the decision we made. We'll see if our young players are ready."
That will define whether owner Jerry Richardson's Panthers can rebound from last season's disappointing 8-8 record and contend in the competitive NFC South.
It will also determine if Fox, entering his ninth season, will be fired or become one of the NFL's top coaching free agents.
"We feel comfortable with the guys we have," Fox insisted. "Obviously, we all liked and miss Jake. But there are other guys — Muhsin Muhammad, Brad Hoover, a lot of guys — that have been a big part of this organization for some time. Now we've just got a younger bunch."
It starts with the 26-year-old Moore, the laid back Californian who was promoted to starting quarterback after the Panthers released Delhomme, their seven-year starter. That wasn't cost-cutting — the Panthers still owe Delhomme $12.7 million in guaranteed money — but a move made necessary by Delhomme's 18 interceptions in a miserable 2009 season.
Moore went 4-1 to close the year after Delhomme was injured. But all eight of his NFL starts have come when the Panthers have been virtually eliminated from playoff contention.
Moore's grip on the starting job appeared perilous when Carolina drafted Jimmy Clausen of Notre Dame in the second round. But Moore has been far superior in camp, displaying a strong arm and good decision making.
If Moore stays healthy, the Panthers may let the promising Clausen play spectator as a rookie.
"His demeanor is excellent," Hurney said of Moore. "He's got a calm confidence about him that is contagious to players. I think players respect him and he enjoys playing the game. He's got a lot of leadership qualities."
Moore will have one of the NFL's top targets in four-time Pro Bowl pick Steve Smith, whose recovery from a broken left forearm suffered in an offseason flag football game is on schedule for him to be ready for Week 1.
But Carolina is still trying to find a No. 2 receiver to replace Muhammad, who wasn't re-signed and later retired. Dwayne Jarrett and rookie Brandon LaFell appear to be the top candidates in a weak group.
The best bet for Moore may be to not throw much at all.
"He hands the ball off well," Williams joked.
Jonathan Stewart and Williams, the first teammates in NFL history to each rush for over 1,100 yards in the same season, give Carolina one of the league's best backfield tandems. And they run behind one of the top offensive lines.
With Hoover released, the Panthers are turning to second-year pro Tony Fiammetta at fullback to open a path for the backs. Tight end Jeff King, another player in the final year of his deal, provides solid blocking and another target for Moore.
The defense needs more work. After paying their five-time Pro Bowl pick Peppers $18.2 million last season, the Panthers didn't use the franchise tag again. Peppers quickly signed a free-agent deal with Chicago.
The Panthers also released starting defensive tackles Damione Lewis and Maake Kemoeatu, leaving a logjam of players competing for starting jobs on what's become one of the most anonymous defensive lines in the league.
"Yes, Julius is an incredible player, and you take him from any defense and it's going to be a setback," defensive tackle Louis Leonard said. "But we've got a lot of young guys and guys trying to prove themselves."
A possible season-ending knee injury to weakside linebacker Thomas Davis means untested Dan Connor will start at middle linebacker, with two-time Pro Bowl pick Jon Beason moving to Davis' spot. James Anderson replaces the released Na'il Diggs at strongside linebacker.
Safety Chris Harris was traded to Chicago and replaced by speedy, second-year pro Sherrod Martin, who represents a theme for Carolina.
"We thought we needed to upgrade our overall team speed," Hurney said. "A lot of the time that comes with youth."
Another theme is small salaries and short-term deals. Fox seemed to part from the company line in May when he said they made the Harris trade because "we've got a budget."
Hurney, whose own deal expired in June, wasn't willing to go there. But it's still jarring when you consider the turnover from the 2008 team that went 12-4.
"We had some young guys that we acquired through the draft and other means that we thought were ready to step in," Hurney said. "It was time to give them that chance to step up and fill some roles.
"Hopefully, that's what's going to happen. I think through training camp we have seen flashes and seen some of that ability."
-- Mike Cranston
Morris expects improvement from young Buccaneers
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The youngest coach in the NFL isn't bothered by the perception that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in for another long season.
Raheem Morris looks past last season's 3-13 finish, an inexperienced young quarterback and a shortage of proven playmakers on offense and defense and insists there's no reason his team isn't capable of contending for a playoff berth in year two of a rebuilding project.
"You'll never hear me use youth as an excuse," said Morris, who turns 34 on Sept. 3. "We should win games."
The Bucs had one of the most youthful rosters in the league in 2009. They figure to be even greener this fall, with the club's first six draft picks — defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Brian Price, receivers Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams, cornerback Myron Lewis and punter Brent Bowden — expected to contribute right away.
Throw in the fact that second-year quarterback Josh Freeman has only made nine pro starts, and there isn't a wide receiver on the roster who had more than 31 catches last season, it's not difficult to understand why few people outside the Tampa Bay locker room think much of the prospects for a turnaround.
"Last year doesn't matter right now. We're 0-0," Morris said, adding that dwelling on 2009 does about as much good as pointing out the 2002 Bucs won the Super Bowl.
"You can't go back and dig up a championship, just like you can't dig up a bad season. The message that I give these guys is we're getting ready to get in the starting blocks ... and it's a race to 10 wins for the whole league. Once you get there, you give yourself a chance to get into postseason play."
Missing the playoffs the past two seasons not only sparked an overhaul of the roster, but it also has taken a toll on the franchise off the field. Season ticket sales have declined dramatically, and for the first time since Raymond James Stadium opened in 1998, there's a good chance that most — if not all — of the club's home games will be blacked out on local television.
Morris replaced Jon Gruden after one of the biggest collapses in NFL history. Following a 9-3 start that had them atop the NFC South, the Bucs lost the last four games of 2008 to miss the playoffs and start a skid that would grow to 11 games before the team would get its first victory under Morris.
Last season seemed doomed from the start. Morris fired offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski the final week of the preseason and cast aside defensive coordinator Jim Bates after a 1-9 start. With Morris taking over the defense in practice and calling plays on game day, the Bucs improved statistically and went 2-4 over the final six games.
Middle linebacker Barrett Ruud expects the trend to continue now that the Bucs have had a full offseason and training camp to get familiar with the changes implemented by Morris, whose system is a variation of the Tampa 2 scheme the Bucs played while ranking among the best defenses in the league for more than a decade.
"It's night and day, I think. We all know what we're supposed to be doing," Ruud said. "We all are kind of playing to our strengths this year. We all know where we need to be on the field, and guys are getting a chance to make plays."
Morris expects players to be more comfortable on offense, too. Offensive coordinator Greg Olson replaced Jagodzinski last year, but not has had a chance to install his entire system.
"There's no pad they hand you and say this is the way you go as a head coach. You have to go out there and find your niche. You come in with your thoughts on how you want to do it," said Morris, who took over as head coach less than a month after Gruden had promoted him from coaching the secondary to defensive coordinator.
"You do what you think is right at the time and then if it's not, you make changes. Those were growing pains. I wanted to make this year better, and I believe that's what we've done."
Freeman, the third quarterback selected in the 2009 draft behind Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez, made his first start in the eighth game and went 3-6 the rest of the way. Two of the three wins came against playoff teams — Green Bay at home and eventual Super Bowl champion New Orleans on the road.
The quarterback's statistics weren't great — 54.5 percent completion percentage, 10 touchdown passes, 18 interceptions and 20 sacks — but Morris was encouraged by consecutive victories over Seattle and the Saints in December and felt Freeman played well enough to give the Bucs a shot at winning seven of the rookie's nine starts.
This year's draft was geared to finding help for the 22-year-old, whether it was adding playmakers on offense or improving the defense in hopes of giving Freeman more opportunities to get the ball into the end zone.
McCoy and Price were taken in the first two rounds to bolster the defensive line. Benn (second round) and Williams (fourth round) are receivers Morris and general manager Mark Dominik envision growing with Freeman. They feel the rookies will become reliable targets in a passing attack that featured tight end Kellen Winslow (77 receptions, 884 yards, five TDs) but little else last season.
The Bucs also hope to take some of the pressure off Freeman with an improved running game.
Cadillac Williams returned from major knee surgery to become one of the feel-good stories of 2009 with 823 yards rushing. If last year's big offseason acquisition, Derrick Ward, a one-time 1,000-yard runner with the New York Giants, can revert to form after being limited to 409 yards and one TD then Morris would like to employ a two-back rotation that will enable both to stay fresh.
-- Fred Goodall
North
Vikings will go as far as Favre takes them
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — When Brett Favre arrived in the Twin Cities last August, the Minnesota Vikings called him "a decent piece" to a talent-rich roster that they felt was Super Bowl worthy with or without him.
It was a staggeringly understated way to refer to a three-time MVP who owns every passing record worth having and one — interceptions — that isn't. But with a proud, veteran defense and Adrian Peterson in the backfield, the Vikings managed expectations for their then-39-year-old quarterback by saying that Favre wouldn't have to carry the offense.
This year, coming off what Favre called the best season of his 19-year career, the Vikings know better.
Favre is their leader, their friend, the main source of their swagger. With him under center, they think anything is possible.
"I think that is a definition of a leader — somebody that people want to play for, and play well for," Childress said. "Just at the time he came back, sitting in our cafeteria the buzz was palpable. It elevates everybody in the building. That is what a franchise quarterback does."
The Vikings saw it firsthand last year. They need to see it again this season.
In his first season in purple, Favre was everything the Vikings hoped he would be, and then some. He threw for 4,202 yards, 33 touchdowns and just seven interceptions to lead the team to a 12-4 record and a berth in the NFC title game.
Everything went so well, in fact, that Favre openly wondered afterward if he could top it in 2010 or if he'd given football his best shot.
The latest in a long line of decisions on whether to return for another shot turned into a tough thing for the indecisive Favre.
It took two visits from Childress, an ankle surgery from Dr. James Andrews and a surprise pop-in from teammates Steve Hutchinson, Ryan Longwell and Jared Allen to convince the soon-to-be 41-year-old to come back for one more run.
"He played so well that it was more of the fact that, 'What more can I do type of thing?'" Longwell said. "That's why we basically told him, 'It's not about the passes or the games or who you're playing or what's going on. Just do it for the guys and if this is it enjoy the last year just for the fun of the game and the fun of the locker room.'"
Favre has waffled about returning every offseason for the last seven or eight years. But at his latest welcome back news conference it was clear that he was considering retirement as seriously as he ever has before.
The reasons to walk away were significant. Favre took a beating in the NFC title game loss to the Saints, injuring a left ankle that had already been surgically repaired twice.
In addition to the tremendous statistical season, he thrashed his former team — the Green Bay Packers — in both regular season meetings. Favre threw for 515 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions in victories at the Metrodome and Lambeau Field, sticking it to Green Bay GM Ted Thompson for deciding to move on with Aaron Rodgers after the three-time MVP announced his retirement in 2008.
"I have nothing left to prove," he said.
Favre butted heads with Childress toward the end of the season and openly admitted he had a fear of failure, of letting everyone down.
Now Favre is a grandfather, with a 465-acre spread in Hattiesburg and a body full of aches and pains from 309 consecutive starts, including the playoffs.
So where does he get the motivation this year?
"I could make a case for both playing, not playing," Favre said. "I think ultimately much has been made about the three guys coming down. It was really about them, the team."
The Vikings weren't ashamed of their unprecedented courtship. They know that the other three quarterbacks on the roster — Tarvaris Jackson, Sage Rosenfels and rookie Joe Webb — have yet to show the kind of consistency and playmaking ability that a Super Bowl-contending team needs.
And Favre was so beloved in the locker room that the team welcomed him back with open arms, despite having to answer questions about him all summer long, again. And despite him skipping training camp in Mankato, again.
"I don't think anybody violated any sacrosanct bylaw of anything," Childress said. "You look and see what a situation calls for and you do it. Now it may never have been done before but that doesn't concern me. You do what you need to do or feel like you need to do in a given situation."
If this is his last year, it doesn't figure to be easy.
Leading receiver Sidney Rice will miss at least the first half of the season after having hip surgery on Monday and Percy Harvin, the offensive rookie of the year who quickly forged a bond with Favre, has barely practice in the preseason because of recurring migraine headaches.
The Vikings also have a much tougher schedule, including the opener at New Orleans and games against Miami and Dallas and at the Jets, Packers and Patriots in the first eight weeks.
Maybe that's why the Vikings jumped through so many hoops to get him back.
"I can't expect anyone in here on the outside who's not affiliated with this group to understand it, agree with it," Favre said. "People are going to break it down and say, 'This is wrong. This is right. This is inspirational.' Whatever. Everyone's going to have their take on it. But I think it's really a tribute to the guys."
-- Jon Krawczynski
High-powered Packers embracing expectations
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — With a young quarterback knocking on the door of the NFL's elite and the 2009 defensive player of the year running the show on the other side of the ball, the Green Bay Packers aren't just embracing the Super Bowl-or-bust expectations they'll face this season.
It's more like a bear hug.
In a talk with the team just before the start of training camp, coach Mike McCarthy pointed out that the only pictures on display in the meeting room depicted past Packers teams that won championships.
"Everything that we have done throughout the offseason and everything that we'll do starting tomorrow will be taking a step to being the next team up on that wall," McCarthy said before the team's first camp practice. "That's our goal."
Sure, every team talks about wanting to go to the Super Bowl. But the Packers truly expect to go, and don't mind saying so.
Brett Favre is back in Minnesota? Big deal.
"I haven't really thought about it, to be honest with you," Aaron Rodgers said.
The Packers are aiming for more than just trying to beat their ex-quarterback this season — although that would be nice, too, after Green Bay lost a pair of emotionally draining games to the Vikings last year.
Rodgers says the Packers have "real confidence," a sign that one of the league's youngest teams is maturing.
"In the past, there hasn't been that more calm confidence, I'd say," Rodgers said. "It was kind of an uncertainty. This year, there's more of a confidence that, you know what, we've had success from the previous season. We have our guys back and we feel like the expectations in this locker room — now, I'm not going to address the expectations (outside) of this locker room — but in this locker room, we feel like they're realistic expectations."
The Packers are loaded on offense, fielding one of the league's deepest and most talented group of receivers.
Tight end Jermichael Finley, whose remarkable combination of size, speed and agility is a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses, is expected to have a breakout year.
Rodgers proved last year that he can take a pounding behind a shaky offensive line without getting rattled. Despite being sacked a stunning 50 times, Rodgers completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 4,434 yards with 30 touchdowns and only seven interceptions.
Veteran right tackle Mark Tauscher is back for a full season and first-round draft pick Bryan Bulaga has spiced up the position battle at left guard, providing reasons for optimism about improved pass protection.
The Packers' passing attack is so good that it's easy to ignore Ryan Grant, who has rushed for more than 1,200 yards in each of the past two seasons.
"We can be the best offense in the league — and that's what we're going to be, to tell you the truth," Finley said. "How good can we be? We're going to go out, and everybody can see, we can score when we want."
The Packers' most significant questions are on defense and special teams.
They'll need to find a punter, a glaring weak spot in recent years. Kicker Mason Crosby needs to improve after an unsettling 2009. Coverage and return units need to improve dramatically.
On defense, the Packers made remarkable strides under new defensive coordinator Dom Capers and his 3-4 scheme last year. Still, they'll need to muster a better pass rush.
Presuming his nagging hamstring injury is OK for the start of the regular season, Clay Matthews is expected to continue his progression into becoming one of the league's elite pass rushers. But the Packers didn't do anything to address the other outside linebacker spot, relying on second-year player Brad Jones, veteran Brady Poppinga or converted inside linebacker Brandon Chillar to grow into the role.
Defensive player of the year Charles Woodson and Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins return as a steadying force in the secondary. But there are questions all around them.
With veteran Atari Bigby likely to miss the start of the regular season after having ankle surgery, the Packers will probably rely on third-round draft pick Morgan Burnett to start at safety. And for a team that proved to be vulnerable to multiple-receiver formations last year, cornerback Al Harris must return and prove he can be the same player he was before 2009's season-ending knee injury.
The Packers also won't have defensive lineman Johnny Jolly, who has been suspended for at least this season under the NFL's substance abuse policy. Ryan Pickett is moving to defensive end, making B.J. Raji the primary nose tackle. Getting meaningful contributions from oft-injured defensive lineman Justin Harrell would help.
If all that comes together, the Packers are poised to go far.
-- Chris Jenkins
Bears get more kick with Peppers on 'D'
CHICAGO (AP) — The ink had barely dried on his gargantuan contract when Julius Peppers started to feel comfortable in his new surroundings. The Chicago Bears can only hope that means plenty of discomfort for opponents.
If not, they could be in for more changes.
"All I know is this year, we really aren't in need for much," Peppers said. "We pretty much have everything we need. I predict great things from this defense, and hopefully, we can live up to it."
Whether that group comes through will go a long way toward determining if the Bears get back into contention following a 7-9 season and third straight playoff miss that has coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jerry Angelo down to maybe their last chance.
Patience is running thin in Chicago.
Even president Ted Phillips acknowledged he had seen enough, although not quite enough to get rid of the head coach and GM, when he issued a win-or-else mandate after last season.
The coaching staff got a makeover with two new coordinators and an overhaul on the offensive side. Rod Marinelli got moved up to defensive coordinator, although Smith will still set the tone. The Bears turned over the offense to Mike Martz, hoping he can get Jay Cutler to cut down on his interceptions and deliver the way they thought the quarterback would last season.
The Bears brought in Chester Taylor to beef up the running game alongside Matt Forte and added tight end Brandon Manumaleuna to help protect their quarterback.
The biggest move of all was bringing in Peppers, the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end.
The Bears envision him taking pressure off the oft-injured Tommie Harris on the line and terrorizing quarterbacks the way he did in Carolina, in turn helping a secondary that has its share of questions.
Peppers just might be the Bears' best pass rusher since Richard Dent. He had 81.0 sacks in eight seasons with Carolina and ranked third in the NFL over that span, which is why the Bears gave him a six-year deal potentially worth $91.5 million. A defense that tied for 13th with 35 sacks and ranked 17th overall last season needed help in a big way, and reinforcements don't come much bigger than the 6-foot-7 Peppers.
"Julius is a great addition to the Bears," Harris said.
But he alone can't carry them.
They'll need more from Harris after being limited by knee and hamstring problems the past few years. They'll need middle linebacker Brian Urlacher to show his old Pro Bowl form after suffering a season-ending wrist injury in the 2009 opener. And they'll need to answer some questions in the secondary, particularly at safety.
And on offense, there's the Martz-Cutler relationship.
Can these two strong personalities coexist? They've spent the offseason singing each other's praises, but what happens the first time Cutler throws an interception — or five?
Or will their relationship simply produce big results rather than a big blowup?
"I've heard that sometimes he is going to put a lot of pressure on you, sometimes he is going to yell at you, sometimes he is going to scream at you, but he does it for a reason," Cutler said of his new boss. "I think that is the biggest thing. You've got to see the big picture with Mike. You've got to realize that he wants to get the best out of you and he knows how to get the best out of you."
Martz's track record with quarterbacks is well-documented. No need to rehash the Kurt Warner story. And it would be difficult for him not to get Cutler to reduce his interceptions; the 26 he threw last year were the most in the NFL since Brett Favre's 29 for Green Bay in 2005 and the most by a Bears quarterback since Sid Luckman's club record 31 in 1947.
Then again, the offensive line will play a big part.
A year ago, Cutler was running for his life and got sacked 35 times when he wasn't simply making poor decisions.
At least he was on the move.
Forte simply went nowhere, going from 1,238 yards rushing as a rookie to 929 last season while averaging 3.6 per carry. He finally acknowledged after the season that hamstring and knee problems had slowed him, though his blockers weren't much help.
Now, with no major additions, they're relying on self-improvement and hoping new line coach Mike Tice can bring out something that was missing a year ago when the Bears ranked 23rd on offense and 29th in rushing.
They still have a six-time Pro Bowl center in Olin Kreutz, although he is 33, and left tackle Chris Williams showed some promise late last season. For now, the rest of the line looks like this: Roberto Garza at left guard, 2009 seventh-round pick Lance Louis at right guard, with Frank Omiyale at right tackle.
"I just like the potential of the group," Smith said.
The Bears open the season Sept. 12 at home against Detroit.
-- Andrew Seligman
Lions preview: Detroit's QB and DT give team hope
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The good news in Detroit: Matthew Stafford's arm and an influx of talent on offense could help the Lions take a step toward respectability this season.
The bad news: The Lions' defense could stunt Detroit's progress — even if Ndamukong Suh proves he was worthy of being drafted No. 2 overall.
Looks like another tough year for Lions fans, or at least a year with some tough moments, but signs of hope are growing.
Stafford can throw a crisp, deep out or perfectly loft a pass to receivers down the field. And, unlike his rookie year, he has options if opponents double-team Calvin Johnson.
Detroit decided Nate Burleson was the complimentary receiver it needed in free agency and quickly signed him during a busy offseason. They also added first-round pick running back Jahvid Best, tight end Tony Scheffler and guard Rob Sims to Stafford's surrounding cast.
"We're much improved on offense," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said in an interview with The Associated Press. "We have a lot more weapons, and our quarterback has taken a big jump."
The Lions selected Stafford No. 1 overall a year ago, hoping he will be the QB who can fix a franchise that has lost an NFL-high 111 games since 2001 and won only one playoff game since the 1957 NFL championship.
He showed signs that gave hope to even the most fed-up fans last season, especially when he tossed a fifth touchdown against Cleveland — returning after getting knocked out of the game — and was as dedicated as any player to improving his game physically and mentally during the offseason.
Stafford created more excitement in the second preseason game when he led the Lions to scores on all four of his drives, including the one that ended with a 20-yard pass to Johnson in the end zone that simply could not be defended.
The coolly confident QB has developed a rapport with Johnson on the field, and has made a connection with all of his other teammates by incessantly slapping hands, bumping fists and tapping helmets between snaps during practice.
"I don't think about it," Stafford said of his touchy-feely ways. "I guess it's just something I do naturally."
Detroit desperately needs this year's top pick to pan out, too.
Suh and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch might make the defensive line an asset, but the back seven of the defense appears to be woeful.
Other than hard-hitting safety Louis Delmas, who was slowed by a groin injury during training camp, and veteran linebacker Julian Peterson, Detroit's linebackers and secondary look lackluster.
Detroit's weak links won't be exposed consistently if Vanden Bosch, who was signed as a free agent, and Suh can help generate pressure as part of a four-man front.
"That's going to be a big key," cornerback Chris Houston said. "If you don't have a pass rush, no one in the league can run all day with receivers."
The Lions have been historically bad the past two years — winning just twice last season after enduring the NFL's first 0-16 mark — in large part because their defense ranked among the league's all-time worst in points allowed.
The mess Matt Millen left behind, though, after seven-plus years in charge of an NFL team for the first time in his life couldn't be cleaned quickly by president Tom Lewand and general manager Martin Mayhew.
Detroit does not have one player on its roster from a five-year stretch of drafts from 2002 to 2006 and missed on many of its moves in free agency, creating a lot of holes on the roster.
Lewand and Mayhew, who have led the Lions since early in the 2008 season, seem to be pushing the franchise toward a potential turnaround with a series of sound moves that have been part of their rebuilding process.
"We've got a level of confidence that it's going to bear the fruits that we expected it to when we started down this road," Lewand said.
It's tough, however, to have confidence in the Lions on the road.
Detroit has lost 20 straight — by an average of 17 points — as visitors since Oct. 28, 2007, and might threaten the NFL record of 24 the franchise set during Millen's first three seasons from 2001-03. The Lions open the season at Chicago and against Minnesota, Green Bay and the New York Giants in their first four road games.
Delmas, perhaps the most cocky player on the team, isn't worried about approaching that dubious record because he truly believes this team will earn a spot in the postseason.
Playoffs? Yes.
"That is a goal of ours and I'm not afraid to say it because I believe we can do it," Delmas said.
-- Larry Lage
West
Leinart on the spot in Arizona's NFC West defense
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Read any analysis of the NFC West and two words are used to describe why the Arizona Cardinals won't win a third consecutive NFC West title: Matt Leinart.
In the shadow of Kurt Warner's remarkable legacy of lifting this downtrodden franchise to NFL success, Leinart steps in as a polarizing figure, even to Cardinals fans. Every mistake is magnified, even the slightest misstep compared unfavorably to his saintly predecessor, who retired after leading Arizona to the playoffs for the second year in a row.
Entering his sixth pro season, the former Heisman Trophy winner knows he already has been written off by some as an NFL bust.
"I've dealt with so much and so much criticism that it really doesn't bother me what people say about me any more," Leinart said. "I just think I've got to let my play do the talking. I'm confident in my ability to do that."
He reminds everyone that it wasn't all that long ago that Warner was the villain.
"The funny thing is I remember my rookie year Kurt was getting booed off the field, when I came in and started," Leinart said. "Then, now look what happened in the last three years. As a quarterback, it doesn't matter who you are, it's going to happen. Even if you're playing well, there's people who don't like you, there's people who don't want to see you succeed. Big deal. I don't really care."
He admired Warner for having the same kind of attitude through a career that saw him benched repeatedly only to rise again.
"He even texted me before camp," Leinart said. "He's like, 'Don't let one bad game, don't let anyone else define you. You move on to the next day, you move on to the next play.' That's this position, that's what being in this position is about. You're going to take a lot of heat. You get a lot of glory, but you get a lot of heat, too."
Coach Ken Whisenhunt remains firmly behind Leinart, although the team brought in strong-armed but erratic Derek Anderson as an alternative.
"What really ultimately Matt's going to be judged by is how he plays," Whisenhunt said. "... I think Matt's aware of that. I think he's comfortable with that, a lot more comfortable with that than maybe he was four years ago, in the way he's grown."
Whisenhunt was the offensive coordinator at Pittsburgh and said when he came to Arizona he wanted a Steelers-style tough, run-oriented style. But he altered his philosophy to fit the talent at hand and the result was a stunning run to the Super Bowl in the 2009 season, followed by another run to the playoffs and a postseason victory last year.
With the uncertainty at quarterback, expect Arizona to rely on the run more behind the 1-2 punch of Tim Hightower and explosive second-year pro Beanie Wells.
The quarterback gets all the attention, but there are other personnel changes that could be just as significant for Arizona.
Assistant coach and recent Hall of Fame inductee Russ Grimm must hone a reshuffled offensive line that includes free agent signee Alan Faneca at left guard. Levi Brown has been shifted from right tackle to left tackle and Reggie Wells from left guard to right guard. Untested third-year pro Brandon Keith is the right tackle.
Tough wide receiver Anquan Boldin finally got his wish to be traded, but Arizona has talented Steve Breaston to fill in. Four-time Pro Bowler Larry Fitzgerald has a sprained right knee but expects to be ready for the regular season opener.
The defense had been improved until it allowed 90 points in two playoff games, then the unit lost big-play linebacker Karlos Dansby and safety Antrel Rolle to free agency.
The Cardinals brought in 11-year veteran Joey Porter and his 92 career sacks to be reunited with former Steelers and Colorado State teammate Clark Haggans at outside linebacker.
Inside linebacker is a big question mark. Whisenhunt has praised the preseason performance of free acquisition Paris Lenon. With Gerald Hayes recovering from back surgery, second-round draft pick Daryl Washington has had an impressive early showing.
Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie made the Pro Bowl in his second season but the other side is the problem. Second-year pro Greg Toler and free agent Trumaine McBride are fighting for the job. At safety, Adrian Wilson is the rock of the defense, with ex-New York Jets safety Kelly Rhodes joining him.
Whisenhunt, with a big new contract, has not had a losing season in his three years with Arizona, and that's saying something for a franchise that, before his arrival, had just one winning season since coming to Arizona in 1988. The Cardinals went 8-8 in 2007, 9-7 (and on to the Super Bowl) in 2008 and 10-6 in 2009.
From the opening of camp, the intense Dockett has repeatedly talked about how the San Francisco 49ers seem to think they are the heir-apparent to Arizona. It's a perception that helped motivate the Cardinals in an intense training camp.
There is a swagger in this franchise now, a confidence that has been bred by the calm, steady leadership of Whisenhunt.
"People can have their opinion but we know what's important here. We know what we believe," Hightower said. "We have confidence. We know what we have to do. We know what it takes to win. Whether it's special teams, offense or defense, we're going to show up.
"It's our division. You can write that down."
-- Bob Baum
49ers set on getting back to the playoffs at last
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Mike Singletary has felt a sense of urgency like never before since the interim tag came off his coaching title with the San Francisco 49ers to begin last season.
Now everybody around the organization knows exactly what has to happen this year: get back to the playoffs. Feeling like they should have been there after 2009, Singletary and his players won't stand for anything less than a trip to the postseason.
San Francisco has reason to be optimistic. Every key member of a talented defense is back, led by star linebacker Patrick Willis. Quarterback Alex Smith is again in charge of an offense featuring second-year pro Michael Crabtree at receiver and tight end Vernon Davis, ready to build on his 2009 Pro Bowl season. Smith, the 2005 No. 1 pick out of Utah, is in a contract year and has been proclaimed the man — and his NFL future is largely riding on this make-or-break year. Frank Gore will handle the load at running back and the 49ers signed Brian Westbrook to give him a capable relief man.
Singletary's top two offseason priorities were upgrading the offensive line and return game. The 49ers have rookies Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati in starting roles on the line and Ted Ginn Jr. eager to resurrect his career with a strong showing on special teams returning kicks and as the team's third receiver.
"It's a very good feeling to know that there can be some continuity. I think that would be the word that connects everything that we did last year and take in the positives and beginning to build on those things and let this be a continuation of building and learning, rather than something new where you are trying to learn plays. So that's a very good feeling," Singletary said. "It was more difficult last year because there were so many unknowns."
Offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye returns for a second season — the first time in eight years there hasn't been a new person in the job. With injured center Eric Heitmann on the sideline for up to eight weeks with a broken left fibula, the Niners are counting on David Baas being a quick learner in the position he hasn't played regularly since his senior year in college.
The 49ers endured an interesting offseason, during which former general manager Scot McCloughan abruptly left the franchise in March in what team president Jed York called a "mutual parting." In June, McCloughan landed as a top executive with the NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks as right-hand man to general manager John Schneider. Trent Baalke ran the 49ers draft for the first time and is a regular presence on the practice field as the new head of the team's football operations.
One of his big moves: locking up Willis for the long term.
In May, the inside linebacker signed a $50 million, five-year contract extension with the Niners that takes him through the 2016 season and includes $29 million in guaranteed money.
Willis has made his impact felt already, flattening Brett Favre on a sack for a 10-yard loss in the 49ers' 15-10 exhibition win over the Vikings on Sunday night.
San Francisco wasted no time blitzing.
"That's how our defense is judged. We go out, we are not just approaching it that it's just preseason," Willis said. "We're going out to get better."
Willis, the 11th overall pick in the 2007 draft out of Mississippi, has led the Niners in tackles in each of his first three seasons and has made 48 straight starts. Singletary is counting on him even more.
Smith, too. He has plenty of options around him for what should be a productive offense.
"I think it's easy to say, just because it looks good on paper," Smith said. "We have to go get this right. ... But yes, I mean the possibility is there. It's fun being a quarterback and having all those weapons outside."
Smith threw for 2,350 yards and 18 touchdowns last season but also had 12 interceptions and was sacked 22 times. He took over for Hill at halftime Oct. 25 at Houston and started the rest of the way for San Francisco, which finished 8-8 and ended a franchise-worst stretch of six straight losing seasons.
The Niners started talking playoffs after a 3-1 start last season only to lose their next four and five of six. They also dropped six straight road games, five in a row by a combined 19 points, before winning their season finale at St. Louis.
This season, Smith is showing he's more comfortable and confident. It doesn't hurt having such a good supporting cast.
Davis' 13 touchdown receptions last season tied Antonio Gates' NFL record for a tight end. Not only did the 26-year-old Davis have a breakout year that earned him his first Pro Bowl roster spot, he was named a captain by Singletary — a sign of how far Davis had come in a year's time since having his share of run-ins with teammates, his coach and opponents.
"I definitely expect it to be different than last year because we have a lot of guys who are willing to step up to the table this year," Davis said. "There will definitely be a lot more playmaking."
Having Crabtree in camp this year has been important, too. The 49ers' 10th overall draft pick last year didn't show up and sign until Oct. 7 after missing 71 days.
He went on to catch 48 passes for 625 yards and two TDs in his shortened rookie campaign. With him, fellow wideout Josh Morgan, Gore, Davis and Smith, the 49ers have talent on the offensive side — if the line hold up its end of the bargain.
"Our offense is striving to be a balanced attack. We want to be physical when we pass the ball, when we run the ball," Singletary said. "I want our team to get the message that we want to be physical, regardless whether we are running or passing."
-- Janie McCauley
USC savior Carroll tries to rebuild Seahawks
SEATTLE (AP) — Bring on "the meat grinder."
Pete Carroll had it his way at Southern California. Talented recruits, LA glamour and amazing results: seven Pac-10 titles; two national championships; and a 97-19 record from 2000-09.
At USC "Win Forever" wasn't just his book title, it was the coach's way of life. He was, as Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke says, "the 'King of L.A.'"
Yet Leiweke and $30-plus million got Carroll off his throne and back to the NFL for the first time since 1999. Carroll's return is about to begin in Seattle, where he has sweeping powers to rescue Seahawks who have gone 9-23 the last two seasons.
"People say, 'Gosh, why would you do that when you win all the time in college football, and here, you're going into the meat grinder of the NFL?' I'm ready. I couldn't be more prepared for it. I couldn't be more excited about it," Carroll said, his words rolling, as usual.
"I hope we can do things better than it's ever been done before around here. ... I love setting our sights so far out, setting our standards so high, that maybe it doesn't even seem feasible."
Right now, it does not.
His Seahawks begin the season Sept. 12 against NFC West-rival San Francisco still trying to recover from two rough years.
Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is coming back from his two worst, most injury-filled seasons. He turns 35 in September and is in the final year of his contract. Carroll preserved the three-time Pro Bowler this preseason by limiting his practice repetitions.
Yet the key to whether Hasselbeck can play all 16 games for the first time since 2007 — Seattle's last playoff season — and whether he'll have a supporting running game with former Jets All-Pro Leon Washington, who is healthy again, lies with a shaky offensive line.
Carroll and his new sidekick, general manager John Schneider, drafted Russell Okung sixth overall and guaranteed him more than $29 million to replace retired All-Pro Walter Jones at left tackle. But Okung sprained his ankle in the second preseason game. He could begin the season either unavailable or having played just four preseason series in first-year coordinator Jeremy Bates' new offense of zone run blocking and revamped pass protection.
Irascible new line coach Alex Gibbs added former Broncos guard Ben Hamilton to help Okung on the left side, but Hamilton's biggest impact so far has been tripping Okung on the first play of Aug. 21's exhibition game and causing the sprained ankle. Center Chris Spencer has struggled for years; the 2005 first-round pick was demoted to right guard at the end of last season. The right side has second-year guard Max Unger, who finished last season as Seattle's center, and inconsistent tackle Sean Locklear.
Tackle Chester Pitts arrived as a free agent from Houston but has yet to practice following microfracture knee surgery.
"We'll go as far as they take us. It's up to those guys to take us to victories," Bates said of his blockers. "They don't get any recognition except when they let up a sack or a penalty so you don't hear about those guys. But they're the key to our success this year."
Uh-oh.
The situation is only slightly better on the defensive line. Former Pro Bowl pass rusher Patrick Kerney retired and Lawrence Jackson, a 2008 first-round pick from Carroll's Trojans, was traded despite being the team's returning leader in sacks.
Chris Clemons, acquired from Philadelphia to be a bigger pass rusher than the traded Darryl Tapp, has been a preseason star. The other end is 6-foot-4, 335-plus pound Red Bryant, a seldom-used former tackle who may be the league's biggest end, fitting Carroll's desire for a huge run stopper outside.
But the Seahawks may again have to rely on blitzing from linebackers or backs to pressure passers. Doing that recently exposed a secondary that was 30th in the league in pass defense in 2009. That backfield now has 36-year-old Lawyer Milloy — an '09 backup who played for Carroll in New England more than a decade ago — and 21-year-old rookie Earl Thomas starting as safeties.
"When you look at this team and when Pete looks at it, it's not a one-year turnaround," Leiweke admits. "But I think Pete is one of those guys that can ignite a spark unlike anyone else."
Just like at USC, Carroll is enlivening meetings with surprise guests and practices with thumping music. He's throwing passes and running through drills. His daily command to "Always compete!" has spawned more than 125 transactions since he arrived in January. He's turned over half the roster and promises more churn.
"I'm pumped about it. There is not a position on this football team right now that isn't competing," Carroll said. "These guys have taken to it.
"Nobody really wants it that way. They would rather have, 'OK I know what I am doing, I'm the lead the guy.' But that doesn't mean that's what is best. ... we don't operate that way."
Not this time, not in this return.
"I have always loved the NFL so much," he says.
The league didn't love him back the first time. He was done after a 6-10 season in 1994 leading the Jets, and gone from New England, basically for not being Bill Parcells, after coaching there from 1997-99.
"I know so much more clearly where I'm coming from than I did then," Carroll said. "I was not at my best in New York. I can't tell you how far away I was then from where I am right now. I was not at my best in New England.
"I think the Seahawks have benefited from the facts of what I've been through, what I've gone through."
The true test of that is about to start.
-- Gregg Bell
Jackson will be Bradford's security blanket
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Naturally, the No. 1 pick hogs all the attention. At the St. Louis Rams' training camp, all eyes have been on Sam Bradford.
So far, the former Heisman Trophy winner with the rebuilt shoulder has justified the team's decision to draft him first in 2010. The coaching staff, and teammates have been impressed with Bradford's earnest, eager approach.
"He has a burning desire to be really great and that's what you want to see in a young player," safety Oshiomoghe Atogwe said. "Not just be good, not just be a starter, but to be great. And he has that."
The supporting cast is far from great, though.
The offense averaged an NFL-low 10.9 points last year, and the only significant upgrade is Rodger Saffold, a second-round pick who will start at left tackle.
"It's a big year for all of us," tight end Daniel Fells said. "We've got the bad taste of last year still in our mouths, so we've got a lot to prove. Not just to everyone else, but to ourselves."
While Bradford learns on the job, the Rams' hopes of making incremental improvement in the second season of coach Steve Spagnuolo's rebuilding effort are heaped high atop Steven Jackson's surgically-repaired back.
The hard-charging Pro Bowl running back, a guy who can create his own holes, was the lone threat on a 1-15 team, even though defenses keyed on him and he was soldiering through the final six weeks with a herniated disk that kept him out of practice.
Jackson dressed but didn't play in the preseason opener. He got four carries for 20 yards in Week 2. Don't expect to see much more than that before the opener Sept. 12 against the Cardinals in St. Louis.
A healthy Jackson could be the difference in toss-up games. He had a season-high 149 yards and averaged nearly seven yards per carry in the team's lone victory last November at Detroit.
"That last five, six weeks of the season was pretty painful," Jackson said. "But pulling through, I think I proved a lot to myself, to be able to fight through that pain and still be somewhat productive.
"I think I proved a lot to myself, and I'm really excited about the season and ready to get after it now."
Midway through the preseason, the Rams were searching for a suitable backup. But that's just one of many items on the wish list for a franchise that's been floundering with a 6-42 record the last three seasons.
Though Spagnuolo has a defensive background, the Rams have concentrated most on improving the offense. The infrastructure is in place with Saffold joining tackle Jason Smith, the second overall pick last year, and center Jason Brown, a free agent pickup in 2009.
The hope is that Bradford, named as the starter for Thursday night's game at New England after A.J. Feeley injured his thumb, won't get too beat up.
Bradford was sacked four times in the preseason opener, but he wasn't sacked in the second game at Cleveland. An offense that emphasizes quick, short passes will try to keep him healthy.
An open question is whether they'll have enough quality wide receivers to stretch the field so Jackson will have room to maneuver and Bradford will get to showcase the arm that won him the 2008 Heisman Trophy. St. Louis had a hodgepodge collection of pass catchers last year, and was short enough in mid-August this year to sign former Missouri star Danario Alexander.
The defense figures to be improved, especially if cornerback Ron Bartell can stay healthy. Middle linebacker James Laurinaitis led the team in tackles as a rookie, and heads an all-Ohio State linebacking crew along with Na'il Diggs and Larry Grant.
End Chris Long, the second overall pick in 2008, is showing signs he could become a pass rush threat with all five sacks in the last nine games.
"We'll see how it all plays out, but I think we have a better sense of what Spags expects out of this defense," Laurinitis said.
Spagnuolo has a better idea what the job's like, too. He's loosened up, learned to better ration his time, and has last year's blueprint as a guide.
"Eventually, the head coach finds out about everything," Spagnuolo said. "I might not find out about it when it happens or when it just happened, but when all is said and done, the head coach finds out about everything."
