NFL Pre-Season Week One Wrap-Up: NFC

Added on Aug 17, 2010 by Eric Galko in

NFL

Once again, I’ll warn to not look to much into pre-season. However, as you’ll see with the story-lines here, there can be intriguing tidbits that could have an impact this year and for the future.

With rookie quarterbacks getting their shot, quarterback battles forming, former dominate players returning to their old form, and a pair of wide receivers going in difference directions, the pre-season still provides some entertainment, both on and off the national spotlight.

Sam Bradford Starts His Career with St. Louis
In what was a much anticipated moment in the Rams recent history, Sam Bradford took the field in pre-season. And while I wasn’t expecting much from him because of the lack of great receivers, his lack of chemistry with them, and the poor offensive line in front of him, from what I saw, I was rather encouraged. I thought Jimmy Clausen was the better pro prospect from last year’s draft, and while I stand by that, Bradford didn’t look like a bust as of now.

The one concern I had with him and one of the reasons that I felt he should have never been the top overall pick with 50 million guaranteed was his shoulder. It is fully recovered and isn’t a concern as of now, but you have to believe that Rams management will be holding their breath every time he gets sacked and lands on that shoulder. He landed on it twice in that game, for the record.

Tavaris Jackson Starts, Sage Rosenfelds Leads the Team
With Brett Favre not in camp and not in the pre-season mix, the Vikings have to plan on the fact that he won’t be there this year. And according to reports by Brad Childress and other players, their confidence is in former starter Tavaris Jackson. They feel he has the talent to be successful and they respect him as a player.

However, Jackson started the game and went out relatively quick, and Sage Rosenfelds took the reigns. Rosenfelds put up some impressive drives, and while numbers mean about as much as TV ratings in the pre-season to coaches, his 23-32, 310 yard, and 3 touchdown performance has to be encouraging coming from a backup quarterback.

Former Lions Bust Mike Williams Performs Well In Seattle With Old Coach
While many fans mock the draft busts, it’s sometimes unfair for some players, and though I won’t crown Mike Williams, formerly of USC, as a good player, he did have a rough start to his career. For one, he declared for the draft after Maurice Clarett was ruled eligible to go to the NFL, and when it was overturned, Williams was forced to sit out a year. Then he was drafted way to high by Detroit, and while he needed a year to develop, he played by mid-season with a lackluster unit.

After bouncing around the league with a few teams, he’s now landed with his former USC coach Pete Carroll in Seattle, and judging by his training camp and pre-season thus far, he has a great chance to not only make the team, but a chance to get some playing time. I wish the best for Williams, and I hope his talent doesn’t go to waste.

Colt McCoy Throws Two Picks, Injures Hand
The fourth of the notable quarterbacks taken in last year’s draft, McCoy maybe had the worst outing of all of them. He was viewed as the one who needed the most work, and it showed. His arm strength and need to move in the pocket hurt him in his first NFL appearance.

He threw two interceptions, one of them pretty awful, and injuried his hand in the game as well. Jake Delhomme played very well and has already earned tons of respect, so McCoy has no pressure to play well, but it wouldn’t hurt to show some promise.

Albert Haynesworth Lead Team Out of the Gate, and At Nose Tackle
After what has been a dead-time story film in the NFL, the Albert Haynesworth isn’t over, but it looks as though it’s on track to being normal again. I think everyone remembers “Haynesworth Watch”, in which he demanded a trade, realized that wasn’t going to happen, and had new coach Mike Shanahan embarrass him by making him pass a conditioning test.

Well, of all the guys to lead out the Redskins out of the gate, it was Albert Haynesworth. Not only that, but Mike Shanahan couldn’t even stick it to Haynesworth by leaving him on the 2nd string because the “starter” was injured. So in the end, Haynesworth got to start. Oh, and as for the reason he wanted a trade, the fact that he didn’t want to play in the 3-4 defense, this is what Haynesworth said about the defense after the game. “I like it”.

The Return of the Dynamic Mike Vick?
Since his return to the league, besides the occasional picketers, fans either want to watch him fail or watch him become the human highlight reel he was before. We didn’t see much of Mike Vick last year, as he was buried on the depth chart and used very rarely last year.

However, in practice he looks quick once again. Really, really quick. While I won’t be the first to say he’ll be a dynamic player once again this year, he so far looks as though he may be a deadly weapon this year and back to his old self if given a starting job in 2011.

Malcolm Kelly, Willie Parker Soon to Be Out in Washington?
As is usual when a new regime comes in to a rebuilding team, players from the past years get released or traded, and we’ve already seen that with Ladell Betts, Jason Taylor, and Jason Campbell. However, two players, one who was brought in this year, that the franchise liked when they started may be on their way out.

Malcolm Kelly was taken in the 2nd round in one of the worst receiver years in recent memory, and has never been more than a bundle of potential. He has yet to emerge as a possible starter in Washington, and Shanahan could be sick of watching him struggle. As for Parker, he was battling for the number two or three spot at the very least, but with Portis being the top guy, Larry Johnson the power back behind him, and now Ryan Torain ahead of him, Parker could be on his way out.