Buckeye News Around the net for 09/17/08
AJ Hawk, Alex Stepanovich, Kirk Barton, Troy Smith, Jay
Richardson, Na’il Diggs, Chris Gamble, Matt Wilhelm, Roy Hall, Rob Sims and Ted
Ginn Jr.
By Bill Smith
The Good
LB A.J. Hawk (chest) played at weakside linebacker in
Week 1. The harness he wore to protect his chest didn't hinder him, and he
finished with a team-high 10 tackles (seven solo) and a quarterback hit.
Hawk is not listed on the team's injury report for Week 2
and is expected to play in the game.
C Alex Stepanovich (back) participated in practice
Wednesday, Sept. 10.
The Miami Dolphins have claimed OT Kirk Barton
(Bears) off waivers. The Bears cut him
after game 1.
The Bad
QB Troy Smith did not participate in practice
Wednesday, or Thursday. He will have tests done Friday, Sept. 12, to determine
condition. Smith did not practice and is not expected to suit up. He is out
indefinitely. From Pro Football
Weekly: The Ravens love rookie QB Joe
Flacco’s poise, something they believe he has in ample reserve for a first-year
player. And they love his skill set. But they are wary of the hard lessons he
might endure after being thrust into the starting lineup because of a
season-ending shoulder injury to Kyle Boller and a tonsil infection that kept
Troy Smith off the active roster in Week One. The way we hear it, it will not
be a surprise if the Ravens bench Flacco if he struggles once Smith is back in
the fold. Flacco did get off to a winning start, though; helping lead the
Ravens to a Week One win over the Bengals. He completed 15-of-29 passes for 129
yards and didn’t turn the ball over. He also ran 38 yards for a TD. In short,
the Ravens have Flacco’s long-term future in mind as well as the present. In
the meantime, Flacco is being asked to run an offensive package that isn’t
quite as expansive as the one the Ravens would run with Boller or Smith.
From The Sporting News:
“Flacco will be the starter this week,” Coach John Harbaugh said at
Monday’s news conference. The 18th
overall pick in the Ravens’ draft, Flacco was rushed into the starting role
because the team’s other quarterbacks, Troy Smith (tonsil infection) and Kyle
Boller (season-ending shoulder injury), were sidelined with medical
issues. Boller was put in IR and Smith
was inactive for week 1.
In his NFL debut, Flacco was 15-for-29 passing for 129
yards. He ran for a 38-yard touchdown and provided the key block in the Ravens’
other touchdown. The Ravens won but it
was the Bengals. You and I could beat
the Bengals if you were having an off day.
From PFW: Jay Richardson was unable to claim full-time spot at
defensive end for Raiders. Sources in Oakland say the Raiders were
hoping that second-year DE Jay Richardson would prove he could handle a
full-time starter’s load, but thus far, he hasn’t shown he’s prepared for it.
Instead, the team is likely to use Richardson
on first and second downs and bring in Kalimba Edwards as a pass-rush
specialist in 3rd-and-long situations. Richardson
had just one sack as a rookie last season and didn’t have a single sack in
three preseason starts in August. He has been very strong against the run, but
hasn’t made enough of an impact on passing downs. The Raiders are counting on
Edwards to be a playmaker off the edge, but he has been far from reliable in
past seasons. The seventh-year player has been slowed by a groin injury
recently and if it gets worse, Richardson
could be thrust into the full-time role, even if he’s not ready for it.
LB Na'il Diggs suffered a foot injury in week 1 and
still had a good game with 6 solo tackles, 2 assists and a sack. Despite the injury he is considered
day-to-day with a sprained foot. Diggs did not participate in practice
Wednesday, Sept. 10. He probably will play Week 2.
CB Chris Gamble (arm) was limited during practice
both Wednesday and Thursday. He should be able to play Week 2.
Omar Kelly, of the South Florida SunSentinel, reports Miami
Dolphins WR Derek Hagan worked with the first-team offense during practice
Wednesday, Sept. 10, replacing WR Ted Ginn Jr. It was not clear if Ginn
was hurt during his first game as a starter.
Despite practicing some behind Derek Hagan this week, Coach Tony Sparano
confirmed Thursday that Ted Ginn remains a starter. "We're still trying to
find the right pieces to the puzzle," Sparano said. "We need to see
consistency come out of some of these guys." Ginn was benched in week
2. He was the 4th receiver
with one catch. He was also removed from
the return teams.
ILB Matt Wilhelm is getting roasted for his game on
Sunday. Wilhelm looks to rebound after being pummeled by some run blocks and
not knocking down the final pass, which was the game winner.
WR Roy Hall (knee) did not participate in practice
Thursday, Sept. 11. He may not be able to play Week 2.
The Ugly
The Seattle Seahawks put OG Rob Sims (pectoral) on
the Injured Reserve Wednesday, Sept. 10, because of a torn pectoral muscle.
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