NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

10. “Don’t Blink You May Miss A Score Special”:  Week 1 – Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears. This has the makings of a high-powered shootout.  Biggest arms the league has to offer go head-to-head in what will be a wild offensive thriller.  Team with the ball last wins.  Both defenses have mediocre secondaries.  Aerial display of fireworks at its finest, Stafford vs. Cutler, the two most unpredictable, inaccurate, shaky gunslingers.  51-48 sound appealing?

9. “Clash Of Styles Collide In Lambeau”:  Week 13 – San Francisco 49ers @ Green Bay Packers. You would think the warm weather West Coast team would provide the pass-happy offense and the cold weather Midwest squad would give you the run it down your throat up the gut attack, right?  Both teams have playoff admirations in mind -49ers could be wrapping up the division while the Packers could be fighting for their playoff lives trying to keep up with division rival Minnesota.  In what should be an evenly matched affair and a big road test for San Francisco, you could argue that more could be riding on the line for Green Bay at this stage of the season.  Nonetheless, an entertaining NFC outer-conference battle between two storied franchises.

8. “Early Season Measuring Stick, Playoff Preview”:  Week 2 – New Orleans Saints @ San Francisco 49ers. Monday Night contest features two of the finest and innovative coaches.  Sean Payton’s explosive passing show against Mike Singletary’s tricky defensive unit.  X’s and O’s should not be underestimated with these two mastermind gurus.  I like this game a lot because the Niners have much to prove, and what better way to treat the home fans to an early season victory on MNF against the defending Super Bowl Champs!  Week 2 games often give way to crazy results and you have to believe something unexpected will come before this night is over.

7. “Hall Of Fame QB’s In The Nation’s Capital:  Week 12 – Minnesota Vikings @ Washington Redskins. Tough, gutsy, confident, prideful…Winners.  They leave it all on the field.  Favre vs. McNabb – does it get any better than this?  Two of the most consummate professionals and persevering warriors we’ve ever seen take the gridiron will do whatever it takes to come out on top in this unique, one-of-a-kind match-up.  Two ultimate competitors who never miss a down square off in what will be Must-See TV come late November.

6. “Passing Wizards Take Center Stage”:  Week 9 – Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers. Two teams that many experts think have an excellent opportunity to represent the NFC in Dallas come February will meet Sunday Night in a pivotal NFC showdown.  Rodgers-Romo will be yet another prime time chance to catch an outstanding head-to-head QB duel.  How loaded is Dallas on both sides of the ball? Certainly you can make a case for Green Bay being just as stacked.  No doubt points will come easy, punters will be left at home, and quite possibly the winner might have the edge atop the conference in what will be a wide-open NFC.  Is there any reason not to tune in to NBC November 9th?

5. “The Game Inside The Game -Once Admired Hero Returns Home —To Boos”:  Week 4 – Washington Redskins @ Philadelphia Eagles. The beloved, yet often criticized, and misunderstood Donovan McNabb will have his hands full when the chance of a lifetime calls, to stick it to his former team in the NFC’s #5 game to watch in 2010.  What a golden opportunity for the future H.O.F. signal caller ran out of town because of his inability to deliver the city of Brotherly Love a Super Bowl championship to seek and capture revenge.  A coach’s nightmare, a fan’s dream come true.  Even better, a media-filled frenzy, as they will be chomping at the bit turning this game into a circus before the game even starts.  Post game recap, Donovan McNabb’s performance best described – a field day. 

4. “Legend Makes Another Visit To Old Stomping Grounds”:  Week 7 – Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers. Favre-Rodgers Round 3.  Favre returns to Green Bay!  Rivalry game will captivate even the most casual fan.  This will be the highest rated prime time game of the year.  Both teams love to score and both teams hate each other.  Both teams could be 6-0 vs. 5-0?  No, not a chance…

3. “Trying To Reach Your Level”:  Week 6 – Dallas Cowboys @ Minnesota Vikings. 34-3.  No need for bulletin board material.  America’s Team remembers.  There season ended in the Metrodome, soaked in embarrassment and drenched in humiliation.  This game will mean so much to Dallas – Shall I say, “Statement Game”?  Circle this date on your calendar, if you haven’t already.

2. “Dethroning The Team Atop, Time For Payback.  Picking Up Where We Left Off, Time To Defend Our House, Our City, Our Crown -Our Supremacy”:  Week 1 – Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints.  5 Reason Why Vikings Will Win NFC Title Rematch

Any time you have “Twitter Wars” going back and forth between key players in May, four  months (baffled by this fiasco) before the actual game, you know there’s bad blood and you know this game has something more to it —and to top it off, we don’t have to wait because it kicks off the 2010 NFL season!  Imagine this game on Pay-Per-View!  Would you pay $44.95?  $49.95?  $54.95?  Do I have any takers? $59.95?  $64.95?  $69.95?  Is that my highest bid?  Could it spark your interest that much?  So much, that you would be willing to take out the wallet and throw down some cash on this Week 1 NFC Title Rematch?  Even in during these crazed economic times?  Vikings-Saints, The Sequel of the Overtime Thriller and Best Game of the 2009-2010 NFL Season.

1. “Tantalizing Thanksgiving Treat“:  Week 12 – New Orleans Saints @ Dallas Cowboys. Arguably the two most talented teams in all of football playing at the biggest stadium, on one of the biggest days for football -can you ask for any bigger of a scene, setting and stage?  This game has all the potential!  It takes the cake, it takes the top honors, and it will come at a time when teams are usually playing their best football.  All eyes will be feasting on the only game playing at the time and this game will live up to all the hype surrounding the atmosphere come Thanksgiving Day.  Dream scenario…10-0 vs. 10-0?  NFC Title Preview?  Must-See TV.

Welcome back Kevin Ellison.

The safety, brought in on a waiver claim June 22 and then put back on waivers two days later, rejoined the Seahawks for the second time in seven days today when he signed with the team.  The Seahawks waived Ellison due to a failed physical.  According to Seattle’s communications department, Ellison cleared waivers and was then signed “in order to adjust contractual issues.”

An Associated Press story that came out when Seattle initially brought Ellison in reported that the former starting safety for the San Diego Chargers was booked and released on $10,000 bail in May after 100 Vicodin pills were found in Ellison’s car during a search of his car after he was pulled over in Redondo Beach, Cali. for speeding in a school zone.

The second-year safety was a four-year letter winner at the University of Southern California for former USC and current Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll.

The Chargers are in a tough situation with some players that are unhappy and don’t want to report to camp till they get a new deal. One such player is now on the trading block reports the Sporting News.

Wide receiver Vincent Jackson, currently a restricted free agent who has said he’ll sit if he doesn’t get a new deal, on on the market, and a couple teams are already making calls on him.

Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune says several teams are interested in trading for up and coming pass catcher. Seattle, who wanted wide receiver Brandon Marshall, are one of them.

The Chargers reportedly have made it clear they are interesting in moving Jackson and team officials have had discussions with the Seattle brass. The other named suitor is from Washington on the other coast, the Redskins.

It would be a tough blow to the Chargers, who had a star in the making in Jackson, and now may have to start from scratch from that spot if he gets moved.

Going into the 2009 season the Lions wanted to base the offensive attack around a steady running game that would set the table for an aggressive downfield passing attack.  The Lions' running game finished 24th in the league in rushing yards, rushing attempts per game and 25th in yards per carry in 2009.  They finished 31st in both rushes over 20 yards and rushes over 40 yards.  Needless to say, the table was not set for the aggressive downfield passing attack and the offense struggled to create big plays despite the best big play receiver in the league, Calvin Johnson.

Injuries, inconsisntancy and a change in philosophy were the two biggest obstacles that the Lions running game was unable to overcome in 2009.  Kevin Smith was banged up early in the season and was slow to adapt to the change in philosophy.  The Lions were a zone blocking team in 2008, a scheme that Kevin Smith spent his entire career in.  The Lions switched to a more balanced blocking scheme that featured zone and man running plays, but more of a "downhill" running mentality.

In a zone blocking scheme the back takes the handoff and patiently reads his blockers and allows the play to develop before determining which hole to run through.  The Lions' offense called for more structured plays with designated holes that require the back to hit the hole decisively.  Smith was finally starting to get acclimated to the scheme when he suffered his season-ending knee injury.

Injuries and  inconsistency plagued the offensive line and outside of two or three games, the rushing attack never got on track.  Scott Linehan and Jim Schwartz are both proponents of a strong running game, so there was a high priority placed on adding personnel to accomplish that goal during the offseason.

Two subjects have dominated discussions of the Lions' backfield this offseason, the addition of Jahvid Best with the 30th overall pick and the recovery of Kevin Smith.  I am a big fan of Jahvid Best, but Kevin Smith's recovery may be the more integral to the Lions' success this season.

Jahvid Best provides the Lions with their first legitimate game breaking threat since Barry hung up the cleats.  Best is not the next Barry Sanders, but he offers a similar big play threat that should open up the passing game and cause defensive coordinators to honor the Lions' running game.

Best can't be relied on to do it himself though.  While I don't think Best's size or injury history will be a limitation, I do think the "rookie wall" will be.  College players play 12-13 games a year, Best only played nine last season due to the season-ending concussion.  This season he is expected to play in 20 games, most likely as the Lions' starting running back.  The Lions need a second back to help keep Best fresh all season and prevent him from hitting the rookie wall.  If Best fades down the stretch, all the benefits he brings to the offense become moot.

By all accounts, Kevin Smith is ahead of schedule in his recovery.  Although, when is the last time a player/coach has said a player is behind schedule or struggling with rehabbing an injury?  When healthy, Smith is a slashing runner that is competant in every phase of the game but doesn't stand out in any.  He is shifty in the hole, catches the ball well out of the backfield, has decent power and the quarterbacks trust him in pass protection.  I have always likened him to a poor man's Marion Barber.

Maurice Morris is a veteran presence in the backfield who is a capable starter for short periods and has made a career as the second back in the rotation as well as a very good thrid down back.  He is a little faster than Kevin Smith but isn't as adept at shedding tackles.  He will be relied on to bridge the gap if Smith's recovery isn't complete by Week 1.

Aaron Brown is elusive and difficult to grasp, both literally and figuratively.  He would flash playmaking ability one play and the next play he would look so lost you'd swear he was blindfolded.  Brown has big league speed and acceleration, but needs to develop better focus and patience.  If Smith is healthy, Brown will most likely not make the active roster.

One of the biggest disappointments of the 2009 season was Jerome Felton.  Felton is a multi-dimensional fullback who was rarely asked to use that ability.  Felton carried the ball 575 times in college and set the school record for most points scored in a career.  Despite the impressive college resume, Felton only has 17 carries and 22 receptions in the NFL.  Felton struggled with assignment errors at times in 2009, perhaps the coaching staff was reluctant to give him more opportunities until he could handle his blocking assignments.

Jake Nordin and Matt Clapp will compete for the back up fullback slot, if the Lions decide to carry two.  Nordin has an edge due to his experience playing tight end and fullback last season.  Clapp rarely did anything but block in college as his 17 career touches show, but he was a solid special teamer and is the only pure fullback on the roster.

The Lions made two aggressive moves to acquire Best and almost as importantly LG Rob Sims.  Sims is entering the black hole known as the Lions starting left guard, where 15 others have ventured in the last nine years.  There are a lot of expectations on the two newcomers, but the front office and coaches obviously have faith that they represent the missing pieces.  Factor in the Lions' additions to the receiving corp and Matthew Stafford's continued development and the Lions have given the ground game all the help one could expect in a single offseason.