Camp News & Notes: NFC West
Chad Klassen
Love of Sports Correspondent
Besides the fact we’re constantly getting closer to the start of the NFL season, the first few days of Training Camp don’t lend to overwhelming excitement or drama (although Redskins head coach Jim Zorn might have a different opinion).
All that’s really happening is the teams are restlessly breaking down hours of film before (re)introducing schemes in the playbook to the old and new.
Training camps around the NFC West don’t buck that trend.
Seattle’s high-flying offense welcomes back a veteran Seahawk; a covetous Cardinal begrudgingly reports in the desert; St. Louis “rams” ahead without a dynamic weapon on offense; and a quarterback controversy’s brewing in 49ers nation.
These are some of the top stories as The Love of Sports investigates Training Camp 2008 in the NFC West.
NFC West News & Notes
Seattle Seahawks
--Nothing, even an ongoing contract dispute, was going to keep record-setting receiver Bobby Engram from catching passes at Training Camp. The veteran Seahawk strapped on the pads and has been working out with the first-team offense since the festivities kicked off a week and a half ago. He’d refused to participate in mini-camps and other team activities, but eventually swallowed his pride. His return’s an exciting prospect for Matt Hasselbeck and a Seattle offense that was looking thin at the receiver position, given the loss of D.J. Hackett and the questionable return of Deion Branch.
--Shaun Alexander ran himself out of town, and now the Seahawks boast a nice one-two punch in Julius Jones and Maurice Morris. Jones, the former Cowboy, wants to prove his worth as the go-to guy and has looked determined through early practices, hitting the holes with the quickness he displayed in Dallas his first four seasons.
--Pro Bowl defensive end Patrick Kerney is taking it easy and will be out indefinitely after suffering an apparent calf injury last weekend while easing into drills. The NFC’s sack master (14.5) last season had already endured shoulder surgery in the offseason, so Mike Holmgren suggested he rest, wanting to conserve his premier rush end for the riggers of another 16-game regular season.
Arizona Cardinals
--Receiver Anquan Boldin, despite demanding a new contract and lashing out at Cardinals management, has reported and is suiting up. He’s raking in over $5 million a year to catch passes in Arizona, but has felt some jealously over Larry Fitzgerald’s new four-year, $40-million contract and let the team know it. This is great news for an Arizona offense that relies so much on his playmaking ability, as he hauled in a career-high nine TD catches last season, as did Fitzgerald.
--You might’ve thought there’d be a minor quarterback controversy this year, as there was in the first half of last year before Matt Leinart broke his collarbone and Kurt Warner took over the reigns. But that really hasn’t been the case at all, and second-year head coach Ken Whisenhunt made no qualms about who’s his man. Despite Warner’s 27 TDs last season, Leinart’s been named the starter and will be treated accordingly with the majority of first-team snaps during Training Camp.
--In Arizona’s 3-4 defense, versatility and athleticism at the linebacker position is crucial. With the loss of Calvin Pace during free agency, this means battles in camp to fill the void are taking place. Chike Okeafor was Arizona’s standout during Training Camp a year ago, returns after tearing his bicep during last preseason and has looked determined to become the leader of a relatively young group of Cardinals linebackers.
St. Louis Rams
--The Rams continue 2008 preparations minus their most dynamic player, running back Steven Jackson, who’s missed the first five days since St. Louis opened camp. Jackson’s absence stems from his demands for a lucrative contract extension after last season, including $20 million guaranteed up front. Head coach Scott Linehan’s kept in touch with his most lethal offensive weapon and isn’t imminently worried about No. 39.
--Jackson’s primary blocker, left tackle Orlando Pace, is slowly recovering from the devastating shoulder injury he suffered in the 2007 season opener and has seen limited action in Training Camp. Linehan said Pace is close to returning, but the team wants to make absolutely sure he’s 100 percent so there’s not a repeat of last year, when the Rams’ season took a nosedive following Pace’s season-ending injury.
--Elsewhere on the field, second overall pick Chris Long is making great strides on the Rams defensive line during the first week of Training Camp. Pace, though, gave him a sneak peek into the NFL trenches, as the Virginia grad was knocked to the ground by the veteran left tackle when he tried to make an inside move.
San Francisco 49ers
--The quarterback situation in the San Francisco will be the most intriguing storyline to follow as it plays out during camp. Alex Smith had a season mired by injuries and suspect decision making. While he’s presumably got the upper hand entering camp, he’s by no means guaranteed the starting job. Head coach Mike Nolan has declared an open competition in camp, meaning Smith and backup Shaun Hill will both split reps with the first team. To this point, Smith has looked more like the first overall pick he was projected to be, albeit in practice, including a couple nice tosses to newcomer Bryant Johnson on day four of camp. Overall, he’s been technically sound overall, improving his mechanics in the offseason, but there’s room to grow as he continues to work out the under new offensive coordinator Mike Martz. For his part, Hill’s kept mistake free for the most part, only throwing two interceptions and a couple bad balls into triple coverage. Don’t forget about third-stringer J.T. O’Sullivan, though. While a long shot, he’s shown his arm strength with a few long completions in the first few days of practice. That said, the offense is still learning and adjusting to Martz’s complex playbook, and it’s too early to tell who will separate themselves and emerge as the 49ers main pivot.
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(There’s nothing we love better on Sunday afternoons than NFL action and a frosty adult beverage! Check out our sister site, The Love of Beer, to see the top beer news of the week and what our flavor of the day is.)
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