NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

Adrian Peterson is not gaining a lot of love today from coach Brad Childress. The star running back missed minicamp for the Vikings Friday as he gets ready to take in an event in his honor in his hometown – “Adrian Peterson Day.”

“I just know that there’s a bunch of guys here,” Childress said. “This has the term mandatory for a reason. The work’s here.”

The fourth annual Adrian Peterson Day is scheduled for Saturday in Palestine, Texas, where the All-Pro running back was raised. There will be a parade and a meet-and-greet session for the locals with Peterson, who has been mostly working out on his own in Houston this offseason.

Childress said he “had an inkling” about the conflict but that Peterson didn’t tell him until an appearance at the team’s facility this week. “I don’t know if it’s going to be like every year they’re going to have that,” Childress said, “but we’re going to have this too.”

Asked whether he would consider this absence excused, Childress demurred. “That’s something that we’ll talk about upstairs,” he said.

Peterson, like several Vikings veterans, chose not to attend the voluntary practices and workouts in Minnesota this spring. The organized team activities, as they’re called by the NFL, are important to the coaches and have become a part of the offseason routine around the league even if they’re not contractually required for the players.

The Raiders made another move Friday to add to the defensive line, as the team inked free agent defensive tackle John Henderson to a one-year deal.

Henderson (6-7, 335) spent his first eight seasons with the Jaguars, but was released this past offseason and was looking for a new home.

While with the Jags, Henderson and Marcus Stroud made a solid 1-2 punch, but now both are gone as Stroud was moved to the Bills.

Henderson, 31, is a two-time Pro Bowler and has recorded 329 and 29 sacks in 124 games played. Although he is past his prime, he is still a very capable defender against the run—an area where the Raiders have struggled mightily for the past seven seasons.

The Raiders have made done quite a bit to try to address the D-line and trying to stop the run, as they selected middle linebacker Rolando McClain and defensive tackle Lamarr Houston with their first two picks in the draft.

The team has sent written notification to the players who haven't signed their offers yet. As of June 15 the offers will be reduced and then it becomes really interesting to see what happens.

Fullback Lawrence Vickers would get about $589,000 instead of the $1.759 million tender. Running back Jerome Harrison would get $593,000. D'Qwell Jackson would get $704,000. And linebacker Matt Roth would get $770,000 instead of the $1.809 million tender for a five-year player.

Safety Abram Elam, who was also a restricted free agent last year, would get $1.65 million instead of $1.759 million.

Jerome and Lawrence have been practicing with team since last week. I would be surprised if these guys didn't sign the tender before June 15. The other three guys who knows what is going to happen by June 15.

As the offseason activity dies down and we roll towards the promise of football again under the summer sun, let us look to the future! Bengals Gab will be looking at each of the individual position groups on the team over the next several days, providing readers with a grade on each and a primer as mini-camps, training camp, and the preseason approaches.

Next up, the big uglies—the offensive line.

The play of the offensive line in 2009 was perhaps the biggest reason for the team's turnaround.  At the end of 2008, the once-formidable group was in shambles. Aside from the steady play of RG Bobbie Williams, every other position was up for grabs and in need of upgrades.

The running game was unreliable, and the passing game was non-existent. The team had not had a bona fide starting-quality center since Richie Braham. The tackles, once considered a team strength, were suddenly a huge question mark.  Worst of all, it appeared the team was going to fill the voids in a typical way (read: insufficient).

Starting guard Andrew Whitworth was moved to left tackle, a position he was supposedly not suited for and one he hadn't played since his rookie season in 2006. Nate Livings, a college free agent and Whitworth's former teammate at LSU, was brought up to take over at left guard. Kyle Cook, another untested former college free agent, was installed as the starter at center.  They did try to address the position in free agency (Evan Mathis) and spent their first round pick on Alabama behemoth Andre Smith.  Center Jonathan Luigs was brought in from the draft as well.

Things looked bleak.

Nonetheless, Whitworth became a solid blind-side protector, Livings and Mathis platooned at left guard, Anthony Collins and Dennis Roland held down the right tackle spot until Smith was ready and Bobbie Williams was his usual steady self at right guard.  Best of all, Bengals Gabbie award winner Kyle Cook became a sturdy, reliable, smart, and feisty center.  They quickly built a rapport under Cook's leadership, and what was once a perceived weakness became the clear strength of the offense.

Cedric Benson and the running game took off, and the line provided admirable protection to QB Carson Palmer.

Team brass re-signed unrestricted free agent Bobbie Williams, and restricted free agent Evan Mathis.  The signings ensured that the entire 2009 line would return in 2010, along with the additions of draft picks Otis Hudson and Reggie Stephens.

Overall Position Group Grade:  A-

Look for Whitworth to hold down the LT spot again in 2010, along with Evan Mathis at LG, Cook at center, Williams at RG, and Smith at RT. This group should only improve upon their showing last year, with Andre Smith having a full offseason of conditioning and a year's experience behind him. If Smith can become the man-beast he was at Alabama, and the talent that made him the sixth overall pick, the offensive line will be even better in 2010.

Anthony Collins, Nate Livings, Jonathan Luigs, and Dennis Roland all provide solid, veteran depth. It will be tough for Hudson or Stephens to stick on the roster.

Offensive line coach Paul Alexander is an underrated assistant who has earned a great deal of respect within the organization and in league circles.

Overall, the team retained all five starters and all the key reserves, while also bringing in some young players to provide competition and added depth to an already strong and well-coached unit.

I expect the 2010 Cardinals defense to be a marked improvement over the 2009 version, despite losing the highest paid linebacker and free safety in NFL history during the same offseason.  The Cardinals got younger and more talented in a number of areas while peppering in a few seasoned veterans to light the path.  Let's make a position-by-position comparison between the '09 and projected '10 squad.  I have the Cardinals improving at DE, DT, OLB, and CB, regressing at ILB, and pushing at FS and SS.

Defensive End (+)

2009- Calais Campbell, Darnell Dockett, Bertrand Berry

2010- Calais Campbell, Darnell Dockett

Calais Campbell had an outstanding rookie season and there's no reason to doubt that he'll do anything but improve in his sophomore effort.  That fact alone leads me to believe that the DE position will be stronger in 2010.  Darnell Dockett turned in a Pro Bowl season, though his run support could improve.  He's a bit feast or famine when it comes to stopping the run.  I expect the Campbell-Dockett combination to produce around 14-16 sacks.  When you factor out an over the hill, underproductive Bertrand Berry, this position only gets stronger.

Defensive Tackle (+)

2009- Gabe Watson, Bryan Robinson, Alan Branch

2010- Gabe Watson, Bryan Robinson, Dan Williams (rookie)

Gabe Watson and Bryan Robinson turned in very mediocre 2009 seasons.  Although Gabe Watson has been working harder than ever before, I don't expect much of a difference in his on-field production.  In addition, Robinson's real purpose is to mentor rookie Dan Williams.  Speaking of Williams, he represents the greatest hope for a dominating Cardinals defense in the future.  Hopefully, that future will come sooner rather than later.  If Williams is ready to make an impact this season, the DT position will be drastically improved.

Outside Linebacker (+)

2009- Clark Haggans, Chike Okeafor

2010- Clark Haggans, Joey Porter, Cody Brown, Will Davis

Haggans had a slightly above average season, whereas Okeafor was a shadow of his former self.  The addition of Joey Porter immediately brightens the outlook for the outside guys, even if Porter doesn't return to prime form.  I would certainly take 8-10 sacks from Porter this season while he picks up the emotional slack from Dansby's departure.  Anything more would be a bonus.  Haggans will be his reliable self.  He won't grab too many sacks (5.0 in 2009), but he shows up ready to play every game.

Inside Linebacker (-)

2009- Karlos Dansby, Gerald Hayes, Monty Beisel

2010- Gerald Hayes, Paris Lenon, Daryl Washington (rookie)

The Cardinals take their first hit here.  They really need Daryl Washington to develop in a hurry to take the sting out of losing Dansby, but they aren't going to throw him out there too early.  In the meantime, Gerald Hayes is serviceable as long as his weak back holds up.  Paris Lenon is a big problem area, which places greater emphasis on the need for Washington to develop.

Cornerbacks (+)

2009- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Darren McFadden

2010- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Greg Toler, Michael Adams

DRC is going to continue to get better, provided he fully recovers from his knee surgery; there's no reason to think he won't.  Although Toler is unproven, there are those in the Cardinals' organization that believe he's actually more talented than DRC.  Toler's upside, therefore, upgrades the CB position for the Cardinals considering how bad McFadden was last season.  He was a bane to that unit in 2009.  If Toler doesn't pan out or DRC gets hurt or both, the Cardinals defense is in really deep trouble.  Depth is definitely a concern at this position, but Whisenhunt has mentioned going after a veteran to add some insurance.  We do not want to see Michael Adams playing CB.

Free Safety (push)

2009- Antrel Rolle

2010- Kerry Rhodes

Here's a great debate.  I think many people would call this one differently because Antrel Rolle has gotten so much positive press, but Cardinal fans know the whole story with Rolle.   I've written before that Rolle is a playmaker, but for every game he positively impacted for the Cardinals in 2009 with an interception or sack, he negatively impacted another with spotty tackling and horrendous coverage blow-ups.  Rolle is not right for the Cardinals defense.  Antrel is much better suited for a defense that already has solid and reliable coverage from its CBs, which would allow him to be a ball-hawking play-maker like Darren Sharper in New Orleans.  The Cardinals, however, desperately need a free safety that provides solid and consistent coverage without giving up big plays or committing major breakdowns.  I, along with Cardinal fans everywhere, are hoping that Kerry Rhodes is that guy.  At this point we have no reason to think he isn't.

Strong Safety (push)

2009- Adrian Wilson

2010- Adrian Wilson

There's not much to say here.  As long as Wilson stays injury free, there aren't many strong safeties in the NFL that can do the things he does.  With a healthy Matt Ware to provide adequate nickel and dime coverage, Wilson is a very dangerous weapon for the Cardinals defense.  Further, if Toler joins DRC as a  shut down corner, which is entirely possible, the sky is the limit for the Cardinals' secondary.

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