Loose Slag from the Still Mill
(July 31st, �01)
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If they play and practice well, Troy Edwards and Plex Burress must start in the
latter part of preseason.� Hines Ward is
a nice complimentary/�third� receiver, as is Bobby Shaw.�� But the 2 most explosive, impact-oriented
receivers on this team are Plex and Edwards.��
And, if they are going to provide impact, they both need to be starting
with their starting QB the final 2 games of preseason if the team truly wants
to upgrade from its perennially 29th-ranked passing offense.�
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Speaking of Ward and Shaw, I�d personally love to see more 3 and 4 WR sets in
the �base set�.�� Why?�� For starters, it would spread the field and
allow Doughboy Bettis some creases to run --- creases in which there�s less
congestion for the lateral-movement-impaired Bettis to operate.�� Sure, this would require �but he�s a great
blocker� Mark Breuner to sit on the pine in this formation.�� Great.��
Breuner�s �presence� in a game allows defenses to literally ignore the
stiff and crash hell-bent at the RB.��
Further, it would create mismatches in the passing game where Shaw and
Ward would be covered by DBs who are not starting-caliber CBs.�� Shaw literally ate up this kind of coverage
last year in leading the AFC in YPC.�
There�s no sense in waiting for a 3rd-and-long play to reap the benefits
of Shaw�s 16 YPC average.��
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Some may recall that much of my objection with the Jon Witman signing was the
mere fact that this was a player who:
a.
was coming off a season-ending leg injury, and
b.
has had a chronically bad back for about 4
years.�
Anyone
recall how long it took Woodson to recover?��
Greg Lloyd?� Chad Scott?� Justin Strelzyk?� And a funny thing occurred last week at camp -� Witman�s back
acted up.� Gee, what a stunning
surprise.� And then Witman commented in
the Trib Review about his leg, "I'll probably never be the way I was, but
I'm a lot better than I thought I would be," he said.��� Hey, he said it, not I.�
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The same TR article had a blurb about TE Mark Breuner.�� Seems that every year, Breuner �writes a
number on a piece of paper and tucks it away in a drawer. The number represents
his targeted amount of receptions for that season. "I haven't reached it
yet, but I have a good feeling this year," he said.�� Let me help you out, Mark: �19�.
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There�s been some occasional chatter about Clark Haggans.�� My take, based on what I saw last
year?�� I was impressed with his
instincts and nose for the football.��
I�m eager to see how he looks this year, but, again, I saw some nice
things about the guy during preseason last year.� I�m not as worried about his �forty� time as I am his ability to
stuff the run at the point of attack; sniff/string out sweeps; and harass (note
I said �harass�, not �sack�) the QB.��
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Some have emailed me, asking me my thoughts about the DW and Chad Scott
extensions.� I was actually in the midst
of moving when the extensions took place, so that precluded me from writing an
article.�� I�m pleased that both men are
locked up.�� Having said that, I�d like
to see Chad Scott step it up and be a bit more aggressive this year.� Note that I didn�t say �foolish� or
�riverboat gambler�, but simply more aggressive.�� Chad has been notorious �- perhaps due to a gimpy knee �- of
going thru stretches where he gives up 12-14 yard cushions.�� The size of his new contract dictates that
he needs to use that size and athleticism of his, and minimize those fatty cushions.�� The one remaining man who MUST be extended
is none other than Earl Holmes.� It�s a
shame that it hasn�t been done already, although Colbert was productive in
dealing with DW/Chad, and there are 5 weeks left to get this task done.�� I�m expecting Holmes to have a monster
season, and if allowed to enter the UFA market, he�ll be lavished with some
healthy offers.��
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While it�s nice that Rooney has finally allowed the moths to escape from that
airtight wallet of his, I still maintain that this could have, and should have,
occurred 2 years ago.�� Every
business in the world makes capital investments based on projected future
revenues.�� Once that football stadium
was approved for state funding and architectural drawings completed, Rooney had
a minimum guaranteed revenue stream starting in �01, based on PSLs, naming
rights, increased number of season tickets, and luxury boxes.�� There�s not a single valid reason on earth
why Rooney couldn�t have made capital investments (read: FA signings,
extensions, etc.) starting 2 years ago, other than myopic, stubborn
stinginess.� Why do firms build new
plants, such as BMW�s building of a plant in Spartansburg, SC?� Because they expect more revenues to stream
in once the plant is built.�� They
borrow now to earn more revenues later.�� Every firm, every government, and every individual in the
country operates this way.�� (Why do
people spend thousands of dollars attending college full-time, when they could
be working & earning money instead?��
Answer:� to invest in themselves,
so that, 4 years later, they�ll presumably be making more money than if they�d
never gone to college.)�
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Here�s what I think must be done with this convoluted mess at backup QB.� Cut Graham now, and give more work to Martin
and Maddox, both of who clearly need all the reps they can get.�� If Stewart breaks a collarbone or tears up
a knee, simply re-sign Graham at the veteran minimum.� After all, once Graham is cut, do you really think any other NFL
team is going to rush out and sign the guy??
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I�m surprised that no one has been able to come up with a slower, more pass
catching/RAC deficient trio that Bettis, Witman/Kreider, and Breuner.�� C�mon guys...there has to be some other
trio that can claim this dubious honor...right?