Troy Smith is the only ex-Buckeye on the Ravines but he
could have a huge impact. The
quarterback position is in total flux since veteran Steve McNair retired.
By Bill Smith
Baltimore—Troy
Smith has the inside track to starting so far.
Q Smith,
Troy 2y
Troy Smith
is the only ex-Buckeye on the Ravines but he could have a huge impact. The quarterback position is in total flux
since veteran Steve McNair retired. The
list of suspects, and they all are suspects at this point, to fill the job
includes Smith, veteran Kyle Boller, and rookie first round choice Joe Flacco
from Delaware.
Boller
started 8 games last year and ended with a rating of 75.6. He was a UFA at the end of the year but was resigned
on a 1 year contract. That alone shows
the Rav's had very little belief that he was a long term solution.
Smith
started the last 2 games in 2007, winning one, and had a QB rating of
79.5. He has been working hard on his
footwork. He has always had a strong arm
and great escapability. With the
problems that the offensive line had last year, that was an important
characteristic.
Flacco
comes in as the strongest armed but least prepared QB of the top 5 in the
draft. He is huge. Although he looked good in the all star
games, it must be mentioned that the defense in those games is limited to man
or static zone. At his level of
competition, he has never seen a rotating zone or a combination of zone-man defense. That lack of experience added to the much
faster game at the pro level means he probably would not be ready to contribute
this year.
The rumors
coming out of the OTA's in that Smith has looked very good. There is at this point a better than even
chance that he will be the starting QB on week 1. To keep the rookie on the sideline holding
the clip board, Smith will need to show he is the one that can lead the team to
wins.
Cincinnati—No
ex-Buckeyes.
The Bengals
will be forced to go no huddle this season because the law prevents felons from
being within 20 feet of each other.
Cleveland—Bentley
on schedule to play in 08.
Bentley,
LeCharles 6y
The history
of the Browns return has been marred by staff infections. Bentley, the former All-American Buckeye
standout and all pro center and guard, wanted to play for the Browns. The moment he became a free agent, he left
the Saints and signed with Cleveland. On the first play in training camp, he tore a
ligament in his knee.
He was the
first Brown to have his surgery complicated by a staff infection. Since a half a dozen other players have been
affected. Even so, the Browns continue
to use the same doctors and hospitals to take care of their players.
Bentley has
had multiple operations on the knee most of which were directly the result of
the infection. He has shown the same
work ethic he did at OSU. When many
players would have taken it easy being on IR and still getting paid, he has
worked his body back to the point where he should be ready to participate in
the Summer camp.
He will be
needed because the starting guard Ryan Tucker was hurt in the OTA's. Bentley was all pro at both center and guard
before the injury. If he returns to even
90% of what he was, he will start at RG for the Browns in 08.
Pittsburgh—Holmes
ready to take advantage of Roethlisberger 's strong arm.
Holmes,
Santonio WR 3y
Holmes
provided the speed that the Steelers so desperately needed in the passing game
last year. The 2006 first round choice
of the team defied the league rule of thumb on rookie WR's by having an
excellent first year. He caught 48 balls
in 06 averaging over 16 yards per catch.
In 07 he started 13 games before being hurt and caught 52 balls for over
18 yards per catch and 8 td's.
He will
start opposite Hines Ward for the Steelers and should have another great
season.
Bill Smith is a
former coach of several semi-pro teams and has scouted talent. He is a senior writer for http://BrutusReport.com. He has
also published several novels on http://ebooks-library.com/index.cfm and
edits http://fryingpanpolitics.blog.com