OL - Total state of flux here, with our most talented player (Jason Peters) moving over to to LT from the RT spot one game ago, pushing our old LT Mike Gandy in at left guard (his natural position). Center stays the same in Melvin Fowler, who is small and doesn't get much push but at least can create a decent pocket up front. While the left is new, it has perfromed okay in the one chance it's gotten against the colts. The right side is the reall issue, back up Duke Preston who has all of two starts will be filling in for Chris Villarial for the rest of the season at RG, and that is a huge downgrade. Then filling the LT spot that peters vacated is Terrance Pennington, a very raw rookie from this years draft. (7th round I believe.) Both looked bad in last weeks game at times. The right side is where the texans D will make it's hay IMO. Run blocking to left side has been MUCH improved though....expect to see the ball come through that side a lot.
QB - JP Losman...what can you say....he's passed for about 340 yards the past three games, seemingly shows none of the mobility that got him notcied in college, and he has many wondering if the coaches are afraid to let him play. To be fair, an atrocious pass blocking group does him no favors, so a lot of chicken and the egg there. His biggest strength the past few games has been avoiding turnovers...it helped us win against GB and almost got us the win against Indy, as the D has been creating. They ask him to manage the game and he does okay...not sure what will happen if the game has to be put on his shoulders.
WR - Group is not living up to expectations that many had here for all the speed we have assembled. Lee Evans seems to be our only reliable target, and even he is having an off year thanks in large part to the departure of a certain Mr. Eric Moulds. Peerless Price' return has been anything but good, with a pithy amount of yards and several big drops getting lots of people on his case. We're short one of our best possesion recievers in slot man Josh Reed, and filling in for him will be smurf Roscoe Parrish, an amazing speedster with incredbile talent but the frame of a high school kid. Every time he gets hit we hold our breath. But if he gets the ball in his hands, watch out. Fourth receiver will most likely be Andre Davis or Sam Aiken. Sam has a large tattoo across his stomach that says sleeper. It is very apt. Watching him play would put just about anyone to sleep. Davis is a deep threat...nothing else.
RB - The loss of Willis McGahee was a blow to the team, but vet Anthony Thomas has stepped in with two very solid games of 95 and 105 yards. Their styles are totally different and Trains actually seems to fit our team as well if not better. He is a head down straight ahead guy who often busts the first tackle. Willis had a tendency to use his talent to create behind the line, but often pays for his hesitancy. When the line is as bad as ours, the straight ahead runner seems to be the better choice, the holes simply were not developing for Willis. Train hits the holes or the back of a lineman and keeps chugging.
TE - You won't see much offense out of our TE spot (that is to say, maybe ONE catch), but you will see lot of two TE sets to help with protection. Robert Royal is the first man up, who has made some great catches and abominable drops so far this year. Can block pretty well. Our other blocking TE Neufeld recently went on IR, so we are expecting Brad Cieslak to get promted from the PS. Mainly a blocking guy. 3rd round pick from last year Kevin Everett was supposedly a monster offensive threat, but an ACL injury that has seemingly hampere his speed and a lack of blocking ability has limited his opportunities.
Defense
DL - FA accquisition Larry Tripplett is not having the year some envisioned, but IMO it is a solid campaign considering the talent around him. I know you guys are familiar with him. Starting next to him will be pleasant surprise 5th rounder Kyle Williams, who has seemingly taken the starting job from incumbent Tim Anderson. Due to the broken foot of first rounder John McCargo, he is out for the year, and his roster spot has been taken by Jason Jefferson. Tripp and Williams are the men to watch, though Anderson will make plays in pursuit. DE's are having a good season to date. RDE Aaaron Schobel is one of our better players, and leads the team with 7 sacks. High energy Anthony Hargrove recently joined the team, but has as of yet to make a big play. Ryan Denney and Chris Kelsay make for a hard working duo at the LDE position, getting most of their sacks from good pursuit and good coverage.
LB - Strong area of the defense IMO. While Takeo is not 100% back from his Achilles injury no matter what he says, his play HAS improved in past weeks, and he seems to be shaking the rust off. Angelo Crowell graduated to the big leagues during Spikes recovery last year, and has stuck. Good young player with good tackling and coverage skills. Then there is of course Mr. London Flethcer Baker in the middle. Has been playing well this season and played out of his mind 2 games ago against Green Bay. Expect to see him all over the field.
DB - After a lackluster beginning to the season, Pro Bowler Nate Clements has seemingly picked up his game the past few weeks, as has Terrance McGee, who had been painted with a target by opposing Qbs in past contests. They did an excellent job of shutting down Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne vs Indy last week. Problem is consistency though IMO, and we will see who shows up this week. Rookie safties patrol the secondary, and tend to play like rookies at times and not at others. SS Donte Whitner has proven to be a good pick at #8 in the draft, with better coverage skills than advertised and a nose for the run game. Not the hard hitter seemingly that he was in college, but that may come. FS Ko Simpson is raw as raw gets (played only two years college ball) and has been late to help out the corners on occasion. All things considered though, most are happy with the safety play, keeping in mind they are rookies.
Special Teams
KR/PR - Terrance McGee seemed to be getting back to form vs Indy, and he is a top return man in the league. One of our best weapons.
K - Rian Lindell had turned into one of the more reliable kicker in B-lo history--then he missed the 41 yarder against the Colts. Tough miss, but for the most part we have faith in him. Has been solid from 50+.
P - Brian Moorman is one of the best punters in the league. Placement and distance are often perfect, with excellent hangtime. As a college track star he has tremendous speed and used it last week to convert a fake punt to a 1st down. As an aside, Roscoe Parrish also returns punts for us, and while his fielding skills leave a lot to be desired, once he has the ball in his hands he is electric.
Special teams as whole are our strongest unit (number one in the league past two years) followed by the defense and atrocious offense.