Bucs seek progress in red zone, secondary and from backup QB vs. Jags.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- After two days of joint practices in Jacksonville, Thursday the Tampa Bay Buccaneers face the Jaguars on ESPN in their second preseason game. It's a good opportunity to work toward cleaning up some of the issues they had last week against the Cincinnati Bengals, like red zone and poor tackling from some of their backups on defense.
It will also help answer questions about their offensive line, a secondary that has suddenly been hit by the injury bug, their backup quarterback situation and their new kicker.
Red zone
Quarterback Jameis Winston moved the ball with ease last week on the opening drive against the Bengals despite starting from his own 6-yard line, completing 5 of 6 passes for 79 yards. But he failed to hit Mike Evans twice in the end zone on a pair of fade routes.
"Me and Mike Evans cannot get inside the 2-yard line and not connect on two straight attempts," said Winston, who did not throw a touchdown pass in the opener. "That's the only negative I take from the game."
After a sluggish practice Monday, which head coach Dirk Koetter said "wasn't very good," Winston and Evans hooked up for several touchdowns. Evans caught a toe-tapper in the corner of the end zone and made a one-handed grab in one-on-ones against cornerback Solomon Patmon, who's been getting a lot of work in the absence of A.J. Bouye.
It should be noted that DeSean Jackson, who has been nursing a sore ankle did very little Tuesday, so he could very well be held out.
Offensive line
Last week it was Geno Atkins, Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson. This week, the Bucs' offensive line will be tested again, and if you need proof, watch the first brawl that broke out on Tuesday between these two units.
Left tackle Donovan Smith will face defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, who had the second-most sacks of any rookie last season. With consistency being his biggest issue, this is a great test for Smith. Center Ali Marpet will also have his hands full against Malik Jackson -- there was some great competition between those two in one-on-ones.
Cornerback depth
Veteran cornerback Brent Grimes likely won't play again as he's still recovery from his lacerated shin, which means Ryan Smith is expected to get a lot more reps once again.
If you caught a glimpse of practice Tuesday, when Smith lined up against Allen Hurns, you'll see he needs that experience. He didn't play a single defensive snap last season and spent the season practicing with the safeties.
Vernon Hargreaves III can also continue to build his confidence after that goal-line interception he had last week on the first defensive series. He faces a tough challenge against Allen Robinson, who made a really nice catch against him on a deep ball down the right sideline Tuesday.
Backup quarterback
Ryan Fitzpatrick might have scored on a 6-yard touchdown run in the second quarter last week, but he looked downright dreadful when, in a single offensive series, he was nearly picked off, fumbled and then was picked off.
In practice, Ryan Griffin has looked liked the stronger No. 2 option, but he's now out for several weeks with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder. Either way, it's become quite clear that the Bucs really can't afford to lose Winston this season.
Kicker
Nick Folk was awarded the job this week after Roberto Aguayo missed a field goal and an extra point attempt. General manager Jason Licht praised Folk's mental makeup and his ability to nail kicks in games, even when his practices aren't perfect. A perfect performance Thursday could go a long way in restoring Bucs' fans faith in that position.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- After two days of joint practices in Jacksonville, Thursday the Tampa Bay Buccaneers face the Jaguars on ESPN in their second preseason game. It's a good opportunity to work toward cleaning up some of the issues they had last week against the Cincinnati Bengals, like red zone and poor tackling from some of their backups on defense.
It will also help answer questions about their offensive line, a secondary that has suddenly been hit by the injury bug, their backup quarterback situation and their new kicker.
Red zone
Quarterback Jameis Winston moved the ball with ease last week on the opening drive against the Bengals despite starting from his own 6-yard line, completing 5 of 6 passes for 79 yards. But he failed to hit Mike Evans twice in the end zone on a pair of fade routes.
"Me and Mike Evans cannot get inside the 2-yard line and not connect on two straight attempts," said Winston, who did not throw a touchdown pass in the opener. "That's the only negative I take from the game."
After a sluggish practice Monday, which head coach Dirk Koetter said "wasn't very good," Winston and Evans hooked up for several touchdowns. Evans caught a toe-tapper in the corner of the end zone and made a one-handed grab in one-on-ones against cornerback Solomon Patmon, who's been getting a lot of work in the absence of A.J. Bouye.
It should be noted that DeSean Jackson, who has been nursing a sore ankle did very little Tuesday, so he could very well be held out.
Offensive line
Last week it was Geno Atkins, Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson. This week, the Bucs' offensive line will be tested again, and if you need proof, watch the first brawl that broke out on Tuesday between these two units.
Left tackle Donovan Smith will face defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, who had the second-most sacks of any rookie last season. With consistency being his biggest issue, this is a great test for Smith. Center Ali Marpet will also have his hands full against Malik Jackson -- there was some great competition between those two in one-on-ones.
Cornerback depth
Veteran cornerback Brent Grimes likely won't play again as he's still recovery from his lacerated shin, which means Ryan Smith is expected to get a lot more reps once again.
If you caught a glimpse of practice Tuesday, when Smith lined up against Allen Hurns, you'll see he needs that experience. He didn't play a single defensive snap last season and spent the season practicing with the safeties.
Vernon Hargreaves III can also continue to build his confidence after that goal-line interception he had last week on the first defensive series. He faces a tough challenge against Allen Robinson, who made a really nice catch against him on a deep ball down the right sideline Tuesday.
Backup quarterback
Ryan Fitzpatrick might have scored on a 6-yard touchdown run in the second quarter last week, but he looked downright dreadful when, in a single offensive series, he was nearly picked off, fumbled and then was picked off.
In practice, Ryan Griffin has looked liked the stronger No. 2 option, but he's now out for several weeks with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder. Either way, it's become quite clear that the Bucs really can't afford to lose Winston this season.
Kicker
Nick Folk was awarded the job this week after Roberto Aguayo missed a field goal and an extra point attempt. General manager Jason Licht praised Folk's mental makeup and his ability to nail kicks in games, even when his practices aren't perfect. A perfect performance Thursday could go a long way in restoring Bucs' fans faith in that position.
AC in the AM: Starters Back In Spotlight Tonight.
It is time for the next step.
A week ago in the preseason opener against the Falcons, it was mostly about the younger players. It was their moment to show that further evaluation was warranted. But tonight against Baltimore at Hard Rock Stadium, the focus shifts toward the veterans and continuing to build toward the start of the regular season, now just a few precious weeks away.
The feeling is that the veterans will play at least a quarter, perhaps slightly more, after playing just a series or so against the Falcons. Next week, in the third preseason game, they’ll amp it up even more, probably playing all of the first half and, in some cases, into the third quarter. That’s usually all we see of the most prominent veterans in preseason games.
Which makes tonight important. It is imperative that this team has a strong September and the seeds for that are usually planted in August. The starting lineup must come together. The reserves must learn their roles. Communication must be refined and the new players, both rookies and free agents who figure to play right away, must develop a comfort zone with their teammates. You take steps in that direction all during training camp. But you need games to know that it’s working.
We’re not looking for any earth-shattering developments tonight. By the time the second quarter is halfway over, I expect we’ll see most of the younger players on the field. But that first quarter or so will provide a measuring stick for the veterans. How much more work do they need? Who looks in regular season form? Where are the concerns? The positives? What needs to be the emphasis in practice next week?
All of these questions in some form should be answered tonight.
I’m sure most of the attention will center on quarterback Jay Cutler and rightfully so. Barring a last minute change of mind by Adam Gase, I expect we’ll see Cutler for at least one or two series.
The importance of these next two preseason games for Cutler has nothing to do with learning the offense. You can already check that box off your list of concerns. He knew this offense when Gase was in Chicago and he’s already absorbed the few things that have changed since.
The importance now is learning his receivers. Where does DeVante Parker like the ball? How sharp does Jarvis Landry make his cuts? What’s second gear for Kenny Stills? How high can he get away throwing it to Julius Thomas? Cutler has answered some of those questions in practice. But until you play a game, until you’re going live against another team, do you really know for sure? So if Cutler plays, it’s hard to imagine him not being tonight’s major story. But he won’t be the only story. What else do I want to see? Five things quickly come to mind.
Which rookies take another step? Five draft picks will play tonight and all have a chance of contributing as rookies. It starts with No. 1 pick Charles Harris, a defensive end, continues with cornerback Cordrea Tankersley, offensive guard Isaac Asiata and finally a pair of defensive tackles in Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor. Harris has already shown me plenty, but I need to see more from both Tankersley and Asiata. As for Godchaux and Taylor, they have both had impressive camps with Godchaux spending the last two weeks lining up with the first team defense. At this point, what we’re looking for is a continuation of what we’ve already seen.
What about the rushing defense? This was a huge theme entering training camp and it remains that way today. Up until now, we haven’t seen the first team defense together long enough to properly gauge improvement in the rushing defense. That should change against the Ravens, I’m especially interested to see how the three starting linebackers – Kiko Alonso, Lawrence Timmons and Mike Hull – work together in the base defense. They will have so much to do with improving a rushing defense that ranked 30th in the league a season ago.
An impressive moment from Julius Thomas: It has been a relatively quiet preseason for the talented tight end, a free agent acquisition. While that’s no cause for concern for a veteran like Thomas, I wouldn’t mind seeing a one or two play reminder of how special he can be. Got a feeling we’ll see his number called at least a few times against the Ravens.
More of Jakeem Grant: I know I mentioned him last week, but his continued progress is important to this team. He is so fast and so explosive that he can change the course of a game in less than seven or eight seconds. I’d like to see him cleanly field a few more punts and do something special with at least one of them. I also continue to be intrigued with his switch to wide receiver and, with some injuries at that position, I expect him to get a long look there tonight.
Laremy Tunsil looking comfortable: We haven’t heard much from Tunsil in training camp, but his successful switch to left tackle remains one of the keys to the success of this offense. He’ll get his first extended minutes tonight and his importance only increases with Cutler at quarterback, given that Cutler just isn’t as mobile as Ryan Tannehill. You expect the Ravens will challenge Tunsil with a variety of looks. Interested to see how he handles it.
It is time for the next step.
A week ago in the preseason opener against the Falcons, it was mostly about the younger players. It was their moment to show that further evaluation was warranted. But tonight against Baltimore at Hard Rock Stadium, the focus shifts toward the veterans and continuing to build toward the start of the regular season, now just a few precious weeks away.
The feeling is that the veterans will play at least a quarter, perhaps slightly more, after playing just a series or so against the Falcons. Next week, in the third preseason game, they’ll amp it up even more, probably playing all of the first half and, in some cases, into the third quarter. That’s usually all we see of the most prominent veterans in preseason games.
Which makes tonight important. It is imperative that this team has a strong September and the seeds for that are usually planted in August. The starting lineup must come together. The reserves must learn their roles. Communication must be refined and the new players, both rookies and free agents who figure to play right away, must develop a comfort zone with their teammates. You take steps in that direction all during training camp. But you need games to know that it’s working.
We’re not looking for any earth-shattering developments tonight. By the time the second quarter is halfway over, I expect we’ll see most of the younger players on the field. But that first quarter or so will provide a measuring stick for the veterans. How much more work do they need? Who looks in regular season form? Where are the concerns? The positives? What needs to be the emphasis in practice next week?
All of these questions in some form should be answered tonight.
I’m sure most of the attention will center on quarterback Jay Cutler and rightfully so. Barring a last minute change of mind by Adam Gase, I expect we’ll see Cutler for at least one or two series.
The importance of these next two preseason games for Cutler has nothing to do with learning the offense. You can already check that box off your list of concerns. He knew this offense when Gase was in Chicago and he’s already absorbed the few things that have changed since.
The importance now is learning his receivers. Where does DeVante Parker like the ball? How sharp does Jarvis Landry make his cuts? What’s second gear for Kenny Stills? How high can he get away throwing it to Julius Thomas? Cutler has answered some of those questions in practice. But until you play a game, until you’re going live against another team, do you really know for sure? So if Cutler plays, it’s hard to imagine him not being tonight’s major story. But he won’t be the only story. What else do I want to see? Five things quickly come to mind.
Which rookies take another step? Five draft picks will play tonight and all have a chance of contributing as rookies. It starts with No. 1 pick Charles Harris, a defensive end, continues with cornerback Cordrea Tankersley, offensive guard Isaac Asiata and finally a pair of defensive tackles in Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor. Harris has already shown me plenty, but I need to see more from both Tankersley and Asiata. As for Godchaux and Taylor, they have both had impressive camps with Godchaux spending the last two weeks lining up with the first team defense. At this point, what we’re looking for is a continuation of what we’ve already seen.
What about the rushing defense? This was a huge theme entering training camp and it remains that way today. Up until now, we haven’t seen the first team defense together long enough to properly gauge improvement in the rushing defense. That should change against the Ravens, I’m especially interested to see how the three starting linebackers – Kiko Alonso, Lawrence Timmons and Mike Hull – work together in the base defense. They will have so much to do with improving a rushing defense that ranked 30th in the league a season ago.
An impressive moment from Julius Thomas: It has been a relatively quiet preseason for the talented tight end, a free agent acquisition. While that’s no cause for concern for a veteran like Thomas, I wouldn’t mind seeing a one or two play reminder of how special he can be. Got a feeling we’ll see his number called at least a few times against the Ravens.
More of Jakeem Grant: I know I mentioned him last week, but his continued progress is important to this team. He is so fast and so explosive that he can change the course of a game in less than seven or eight seconds. I’d like to see him cleanly field a few more punts and do something special with at least one of them. I also continue to be intrigued with his switch to wide receiver and, with some injuries at that position, I expect him to get a long look there tonight.
Laremy Tunsil looking comfortable: We haven’t heard much from Tunsil in training camp, but his successful switch to left tackle remains one of the keys to the success of this offense. He’ll get his first extended minutes tonight and his importance only increases with Cutler at quarterback, given that Cutler just isn’t as mobile as Ryan Tannehill. You expect the Ravens will challenge Tunsil with a variety of looks. Interested to see how he handles it.
Blake Bortles on arm: 'It feels good, I'll be all right'
Blake Bortles got some rest for his weary arm over the weekend as the Jaguars curtailed his snaps after a heavy workload to open camp. The quarterback says his arm is fine despite the needed rest. "My arm is fine," Bortles said Tuesday, via ESPN's Michael DiRocco. "It feels good. I'll be all right."
Bortles has taken heat from everyone -- from coaches, to media, for inconsistent play. The quarterback said to turn his career around entering a pivotal season, the Jags ramped up the preparation.
"I've taken more reps in this camp than probably the last three years all combined," he said. "That was something in talking with coach [Doug] Marrone and coach [Nathaniel] Hackett that I knew they had done that in the past. They had their reasons and philosophies on why they do it. I totally agree with it."
Despite the added reps, Bortles is still having his bouts with struggles. He's had a five-interception practice. There have been good moments for Bortles during camp, but the fourth-year pro knows he needs to limit the miscues by continuing to ramp up the reps.
"We're still making mistakes, and we've had thousands of reps," Bortles said. "Imagine if we only had 500, it would be probably way worse. I think the only way to eliminate those mistakes is continue to do it and continue to do it and continue to correct it in meetings until it's beaten in your head that you know how to do it."
Despite the increased workload this camp, Marrone still sees an inconsistent quarterback.
"I think when anyone asks me about someone's ability, and a lot of times that comes with the quarterback, they are always like, 'Hey, where are you? How did his week go? Are you happy with him?'" Marrone said. "I think for me personally, I'm always trying to get more, so for me I'm one of those guys that it's hard for me to say. There are some throws that I'll think, 'Hey, that's a good throw,' and then I'll be like, 'That's a horse s--- throw.' At the end of the day, I'm just trying to get more and get better.
"So we rested him the other day. I thought he came back and really had no issues for these two days [against the Buccaneers]."
A Jacksonville team with the talent to make the playoffs hopes the increased workload -- and reliance on the ground game -- can help morph Bortles into a productive, game-managing quarterback in 2017.
Blake Bortles got some rest for his weary arm over the weekend as the Jaguars curtailed his snaps after a heavy workload to open camp. The quarterback says his arm is fine despite the needed rest. "My arm is fine," Bortles said Tuesday, via ESPN's Michael DiRocco. "It feels good. I'll be all right."
Bortles has taken heat from everyone -- from coaches, to media, for inconsistent play. The quarterback said to turn his career around entering a pivotal season, the Jags ramped up the preparation.
"I've taken more reps in this camp than probably the last three years all combined," he said. "That was something in talking with coach [Doug] Marrone and coach [Nathaniel] Hackett that I knew they had done that in the past. They had their reasons and philosophies on why they do it. I totally agree with it."
Despite the added reps, Bortles is still having his bouts with struggles. He's had a five-interception practice. There have been good moments for Bortles during camp, but the fourth-year pro knows he needs to limit the miscues by continuing to ramp up the reps.
"We're still making mistakes, and we've had thousands of reps," Bortles said. "Imagine if we only had 500, it would be probably way worse. I think the only way to eliminate those mistakes is continue to do it and continue to do it and continue to correct it in meetings until it's beaten in your head that you know how to do it."
Despite the increased workload this camp, Marrone still sees an inconsistent quarterback.
"I think when anyone asks me about someone's ability, and a lot of times that comes with the quarterback, they are always like, 'Hey, where are you? How did his week go? Are you happy with him?'" Marrone said. "I think for me personally, I'm always trying to get more, so for me I'm one of those guys that it's hard for me to say. There are some throws that I'll think, 'Hey, that's a good throw,' and then I'll be like, 'That's a horse s--- throw.' At the end of the day, I'm just trying to get more and get better.
"So we rested him the other day. I thought he came back and really had no issues for these two days [against the Buccaneers]."
A Jacksonville team with the talent to make the playoffs hopes the increased workload -- and reliance on the ground game -- can help morph Bortles into a productive, game-managing quarterback in 2017.
What to watch for in Week 2 of NFL preseason.
The first week of the preseason gave us some of the most enjoyable rookie quarterback play we've seen in a warmup in quite some time. Everyone from Mitchell Trubisky to Bills fifth-rounder Nathan Peterman created some memorable moments, generating an appetite for a far more competitive preseason Week 3 slate. Battles are tightening and players near the bottom of the roster are jostling for position.
Here's what we suggest looking out for this week (all times Eastern):
THURSDAY'S GAMES
Bills at Eagles, 7 p.m.
Eagles: The Eagles traded Jordan Matthews to the Bills less than a week ago, in part, for cornerback Ronald Darby. The intrigue for Philly is two-fold: Darby plays against his former team. Fine. But the Eagles also are debuting free-agent prize Alshon Jeffery. While Jeffery's arrival and Matthews' departure are not mutually exclusive (Matthews became trade bait the moment Nelson Agholor flashed promise in the slot), the team is gambling on Jeffery's ability to shoulder a huge amount of work throughout the season. Thursday gives us a front-row seat.
Bills: Who might be guarding Jeffery? Bills first-round pick Tre'Davious White. Bills beat writer Vic Carucci said of White this preseason: "He performed better than Ronald Darby" and "usually wasn't getting beaten on throws." So as we put the puzzle of this trade together, White's emergence made Darby expendable. Now, how will White do against a receiver who made Matthews nearly as expendable in Philadelphia?
Ravens at Dolphins 7 p.m.
Ravens: Last week we suggested keeping an eye out for Ryan Mallett, wondering if he might be hearing footsteps. This week, the team also is armed with fellow veteran backup Thad Lewis. The backup quarterback slot is going to be a lingering discussion over the coming weeks, especially if Colin Kaepernick remains available. But this week, let's focus on something highlighted by the Baltimore Sun -- the real problem. Tons of offensive line combinations have already been used. Raiders castoff Austin Howard is making a start against Miami. Can they find stability in a few quarters of work?
Dolphins: Sorry to grasp at the obvious storyline here, but Jay Cutler is making his preseason debut for the Dolphins. Nothing in coach Adam Gase's universe will be more important than how Cutler handles his first few throws against a very good Ravens defense. Miami's season hinges on Cutler's ability to make this work, plain and simple.
Buccaneers at Jaguars 8 p.m. (Live on ESPN)
Buccaneers: More Mike Evans. Because of the market he plays in and the comparisons to other receivers in his class, he'll never be fully appreciated outside of Florida. And yet, in a preseason game last weekend he's already knifing between two defenders and pulling in a tight grab by the sideline from Jameis Winston. One has to appreciate players who don't turn it off and on when the games don't count.
Jaguars: I'm not alone in thinking the pressure on Blake Bortles is starting to mount. Not the we'll bench you for Chad Henne pressure, but the internal pressure Bortles is placing on himself. Every poor practice throw is now magnified. Every wobbly pass that was once part of his progression is now part of his ultimate burden. He'll be under the magnifying glass against a good Buccaneers starting defense. While that makes for good theater, it also creates pressure on the new Jags coaching staff to harness the frustration and use it for good.
The first week of the preseason gave us some of the most enjoyable rookie quarterback play we've seen in a warmup in quite some time. Everyone from Mitchell Trubisky to Bills fifth-rounder Nathan Peterman created some memorable moments, generating an appetite for a far more competitive preseason Week 3 slate. Battles are tightening and players near the bottom of the roster are jostling for position.
Here's what we suggest looking out for this week (all times Eastern):
THURSDAY'S GAMES
Bills at Eagles, 7 p.m.
Eagles: The Eagles traded Jordan Matthews to the Bills less than a week ago, in part, for cornerback Ronald Darby. The intrigue for Philly is two-fold: Darby plays against his former team. Fine. But the Eagles also are debuting free-agent prize Alshon Jeffery. While Jeffery's arrival and Matthews' departure are not mutually exclusive (Matthews became trade bait the moment Nelson Agholor flashed promise in the slot), the team is gambling on Jeffery's ability to shoulder a huge amount of work throughout the season. Thursday gives us a front-row seat.
Bills: Who might be guarding Jeffery? Bills first-round pick Tre'Davious White. Bills beat writer Vic Carucci said of White this preseason: "He performed better than Ronald Darby" and "usually wasn't getting beaten on throws." So as we put the puzzle of this trade together, White's emergence made Darby expendable. Now, how will White do against a receiver who made Matthews nearly as expendable in Philadelphia?
Ravens at Dolphins 7 p.m.
Ravens: Last week we suggested keeping an eye out for Ryan Mallett, wondering if he might be hearing footsteps. This week, the team also is armed with fellow veteran backup Thad Lewis. The backup quarterback slot is going to be a lingering discussion over the coming weeks, especially if Colin Kaepernick remains available. But this week, let's focus on something highlighted by the Baltimore Sun -- the real problem. Tons of offensive line combinations have already been used. Raiders castoff Austin Howard is making a start against Miami. Can they find stability in a few quarters of work?
Dolphins: Sorry to grasp at the obvious storyline here, but Jay Cutler is making his preseason debut for the Dolphins. Nothing in coach Adam Gase's universe will be more important than how Cutler handles his first few throws against a very good Ravens defense. Miami's season hinges on Cutler's ability to make this work, plain and simple.
Buccaneers at Jaguars 8 p.m. (Live on ESPN)
Buccaneers: More Mike Evans. Because of the market he plays in and the comparisons to other receivers in his class, he'll never be fully appreciated outside of Florida. And yet, in a preseason game last weekend he's already knifing between two defenders and pulling in a tight grab by the sideline from Jameis Winston. One has to appreciate players who don't turn it off and on when the games don't count.
Jaguars: I'm not alone in thinking the pressure on Blake Bortles is starting to mount. Not the we'll bench you for Chad Henne pressure, but the internal pressure Bortles is placing on himself. Every poor practice throw is now magnified. Every wobbly pass that was once part of his progression is now part of his ultimate burden. He'll be under the magnifying glass against a good Buccaneers starting defense. While that makes for good theater, it also creates pressure on the new Jags coaching staff to harness the frustration and use it for good.
FRIDAY'S GAME
Vikings at Seahawks, 10 p.m. (Live on NFL Network)
Seahawks: As crazy as it sounds, I want to see more Trevone Boykin. Boykin was fantastic against the Chargers last weekend, completing 12 of 15 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown. If you are the Seahawks, there are plenty of young players to keep an eye on, including Shaquill Griffin. I'm interested in the player who is legitimizing Seattle's decision at backup quarterback. We saw a year ago how hampered the offense can be when Russell Wilson is injured -- here's a look at what's on deck if the unfortunate happens.
Vikings: I would watch for more of Dalvin Cook in the passing game. The more the Florida State product becomes acclimated in this offense, the less likely it will be that he ever leaves the field. Cook's four catches in a little over a quarter of action make for a promising scenario in Sam Bradford's world.
Vikings at Seahawks, 10 p.m. (Live on NFL Network)
Seahawks: As crazy as it sounds, I want to see more Trevone Boykin. Boykin was fantastic against the Chargers last weekend, completing 12 of 15 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown. If you are the Seahawks, there are plenty of young players to keep an eye on, including Shaquill Griffin. I'm interested in the player who is legitimizing Seattle's decision at backup quarterback. We saw a year ago how hampered the offense can be when Russell Wilson is injured -- here's a look at what's on deck if the unfortunate happens.
Vikings: I would watch for more of Dalvin Cook in the passing game. The more the Florida State product becomes acclimated in this offense, the less likely it will be that he ever leaves the field. Cook's four catches in a little over a quarter of action make for a promising scenario in Sam Bradford's world.
SATURDAY'S GAMES
Panthers at Titans, 3 p.m. (Live on NFL Network)
Panthers: One of the key elements of Carolina's near-perfect season two years ago (before their Super Bowl collapse) was a semi-reliable, defense-slicing speed receiver. Ted Ginn is in New Orleans now, but the Panthers were gifted an eye-opening four-catch, 98-yard performance from Damiere Byrd against the Texans last week. We'll see how Byrd plays with a target on his back, but even in an offense supposedly ripe with weapons, his skill set can thrive.
Titans: While the Titans did not put up a touchdown in their preseason-opening loss to the Jets, they did establish a potential young star on defense. Rookie fifth-round pick Jayon Brown led the team in tackles and, according to the team's official site, picked off the Panthers' Joe Webb during joint practices this week. Is he in line for another performance that could pave the way to a role on opening day?
Chiefs at Bengals, 7 p.m.
Chiefs: According to the Kansas City Star, the Chiefs' starting offense will play an entire half, delaying the Patrick Mahomes show until the third quarter. This is good. The closer we get to an entire 60 minutes with starting caliber players, the closer we get to opening kickoff. Mahomes was electric during his preseason debut, which sparked a tweetstorm from colleague Marc Sessler about the Chiefs' so-called sit-and-wait plan.
Coach Andy Reid might be a little more patient than Sessler, but could we see a little heat under Alex Smith this time out?
Bengals: Bengals first-round pick John Ross (shoulder) checked into practice for the first time this week. While the Bengals are sure to be careful, it has to be tempting to give Ross a taste of the first-string offense against a great Bob Sutton defense.
Colts at Cowboys, 7 p.m. (Live on NFL Network)
Colts: I loved watching Malik Hooker last week. The first-round pick is a hard hitter and a ball hawk, this much is evident already. This week? I'm interested to put him into context with the entire defense. This is an interesting, completely revamped Colts front that was exploring new ways to get to the quarterback last week against Detroit. General manager Chris Ballard said discovering rush lanes was his number one goal this offseason. Might they show us a little more of the grand plan?
Cowboys: The absence of Dak Prescott rubbed at least a few analysts the wrong way last week. NFL Network analysts Heath Evans and Terrell Davis mentioned Prescott should be getting regular-season reps and has not yet reached the tenured starter level where skipping preseason games is OK. If Prescott doesn't take the field, worry not. The Cowboys are trotting out 2016 second-round pick Jaylon Smith, who caps his incredible road back from a devastating knee injury suffered in his final college game.
Jets at Lions, 7:30 p.m.
Jets: Last week against the Titans, 15 different Jets caught passes. This is important. After letting their top two veterans walk this offseason, the team immediately found itself in a frantic search for pass-catching targets. The audition continues this weekend, with names like ArDarius Stewart, Charone Peake and Chad Hansen leading the way.
Lions: The Greg Robinson audition went as expected last week, and generally well with Matthew Stafford in the game. The Lions tested Robinson early with some deep drops for Stafford, and will continue to work their prospective left tackle throughout the preseason. Despite his "bust" status, I firmly believe there is a great offensive linemen in there. Can Detroit find it?
Packers at Redskins, 7:30 p.m.
Packers: Last week, we wrote about the implementation of the Packers' Nitro defense. Be on the lookout this week for different players vying for linebacker jobs -- specifically all-terrain gigs to handle great pass-catching running backs and tight ends.
Redskins: The Washington Post noted that 2016 first-round pick Josh Doctson could play against the Packers, though it's not entirely clear yet. He's been a man of mystery the Redskins have been waiting a long time to unlock.
Patriots at Texans, 8 p.m.
Patriots: An interesting development from Houston-New England joint practices: According to the Boston Herald, Patriots offensive tackle Marcus Cannon has been handling J.J. Watt quite well. The Herald went as far as to call Watt's moves "shockingly desperate" in an attempt to get to the quarterback. What will happen when the league's ultimate competitor gets under the bright lights?
Texans: Can we see Deshaun Watson make a few more plays in the pocket? It was a joy watching Watson scamper through a tattered Panthers backup secondary last week, though I'm sure coach Bill O'Brien would have loved to see him hang in just a bit more. Make no mistake, Watson's athleticism is what will eventually put him over the edge in this quarterback battle. But he also has a bullet for an arm that nearly connected on a beautiful deep ball during his debut. Let's see more of that.
Broncos at 49ers, 10 p.m. (Live on NFL Network)
Broncos: Paxton Lynch's turn to win the starting job. Although it seems like a Hail Mary at this point, he'll get an opportunity to make this decision difficult for new coach Vance Joseph.
Niners: As NFL Network's Mike Garafolo recently noted on Good Morning Football, Marquise Goodwin could be coach Kyle Shanahan's best kept secret in San Francisco. The former track star did not record a catch in the team's preseason opener, but seeing Brian Hoyer uncork a 70-yard touchdown pass to the former track star could go a long way toward firing up an unsure fan base.
Bears at Cardinals, 10 p.m.
Bears: As the great fictional general manager Sonny Weaver said on Draft Day: "The barbarians are at the gates." In this case, it's area columnists already calling the Mike Glennon-Mitchell Trubisky quarterback competition a sham. While this is ridiculous (Glennon was the only one playing against a first-string defense) a second strong outing from Trubisky is not going to quiet them down.
Cardinals: Who will be calling the plays this week? Bruce Arians' wonderful tradition of promoting hungry assistants and giving them in-game experience rolls on.
Rams at Raiders, 10 p.m.
Rams: A brief Sammy Watkins debut might make some sense here. The Rams have to vacuum seal Jared Goff and Watkins together for the next few weeks in order to create some on-field chemistry.
Raiders: Rookie seventh-round pick Treyvon Hester keeps piling on the sacks. While being the J.J. Watt of warmup games is a time-honored tradition for eventually forgettable players, the Raiders seem to be high on the Toledo product.
SUNDAY'S GAMES
Falcons at Steelers, 4 p.m., (Live on NFL Network)
Falcons: From Falcons beat writer Vaughn McClure: An offensive package with 300-plus pound nose tackle Dontari Poe could "come alive," according to coach Dan Quinn. While it would be silly to burn this during a preseason game, it's always fun for teams to put something on tape just for other teams to worry about.
Steelers: The T.J. Watt hype train has left the station. The first-round pick has relegated James Harrison to spot duty on defense but he'll have to continue earning the job. Harrison isn't punishing his body deep into his 30s just to look good on the sidelines.
Saints at Chargers, 8 p.m. (Live on NFL Network)
Chargers: The debut of Anthony Lynn's offense was actually quite fun to watch. The problem? We have no idea how that offensive line will hold up. A speedy, pass-heavy drive gave no practical window into the troubles L.A. could face once teams figure out how to match up against their diverse set of pass catchers. Hopefully a longer look at the first string will give us some answers.
Saints: According to ESPN.com Saints beat writer Mike Triplett, we should see second-round offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk make his debut against none other than Joey Bosa. This will be a trial by fire and, if nothing else, an excellent look at a highly regarded offensive lineman in a ho-hum offensive line class.
MONDAY'S GAME
Giants at Browns, 8 p.m. (Live on ESPN)
Giants: There are so many teams with one or two questions on the offensive line that could end up becoming real concerns down the road. The Giants have done this dance with former first-round pick Ereck Flowers in the past, but the stakes are much higher in 2017. His week to week evaluations will continue to be must-reads for Giants fans concerned about the status of their potentially high-flying offense.
Browns: Brock Osweiler is apparently being groomed as Cleveland's starting quarterback but DeShone Kizer looked fantastic last week against the Saints. The quarterback position will continue to be the story until it isn't. Tired of thinking about offense? Watch Jabrill Peppers possibly drop down and play some linebacker or follow Briean Boddy-Calhoun around the field. The 5-foot-9 undrafted free agent could be on his way to a big season in Cleveland. The Browns are quite high on him.
Panthers at Titans, 3 p.m. (Live on NFL Network)
Panthers: One of the key elements of Carolina's near-perfect season two years ago (before their Super Bowl collapse) was a semi-reliable, defense-slicing speed receiver. Ted Ginn is in New Orleans now, but the Panthers were gifted an eye-opening four-catch, 98-yard performance from Damiere Byrd against the Texans last week. We'll see how Byrd plays with a target on his back, but even in an offense supposedly ripe with weapons, his skill set can thrive.
Titans: While the Titans did not put up a touchdown in their preseason-opening loss to the Jets, they did establish a potential young star on defense. Rookie fifth-round pick Jayon Brown led the team in tackles and, according to the team's official site, picked off the Panthers' Joe Webb during joint practices this week. Is he in line for another performance that could pave the way to a role on opening day?
Chiefs at Bengals, 7 p.m.
Chiefs: According to the Kansas City Star, the Chiefs' starting offense will play an entire half, delaying the Patrick Mahomes show until the third quarter. This is good. The closer we get to an entire 60 minutes with starting caliber players, the closer we get to opening kickoff. Mahomes was electric during his preseason debut, which sparked a tweetstorm from colleague Marc Sessler about the Chiefs' so-called sit-and-wait plan.
Coach Andy Reid might be a little more patient than Sessler, but could we see a little heat under Alex Smith this time out?
Bengals: Bengals first-round pick John Ross (shoulder) checked into practice for the first time this week. While the Bengals are sure to be careful, it has to be tempting to give Ross a taste of the first-string offense against a great Bob Sutton defense.
Colts at Cowboys, 7 p.m. (Live on NFL Network)
Colts: I loved watching Malik Hooker last week. The first-round pick is a hard hitter and a ball hawk, this much is evident already. This week? I'm interested to put him into context with the entire defense. This is an interesting, completely revamped Colts front that was exploring new ways to get to the quarterback last week against Detroit. General manager Chris Ballard said discovering rush lanes was his number one goal this offseason. Might they show us a little more of the grand plan?
Cowboys: The absence of Dak Prescott rubbed at least a few analysts the wrong way last week. NFL Network analysts Heath Evans and Terrell Davis mentioned Prescott should be getting regular-season reps and has not yet reached the tenured starter level where skipping preseason games is OK. If Prescott doesn't take the field, worry not. The Cowboys are trotting out 2016 second-round pick Jaylon Smith, who caps his incredible road back from a devastating knee injury suffered in his final college game.
Jets at Lions, 7:30 p.m.
Jets: Last week against the Titans, 15 different Jets caught passes. This is important. After letting their top two veterans walk this offseason, the team immediately found itself in a frantic search for pass-catching targets. The audition continues this weekend, with names like ArDarius Stewart, Charone Peake and Chad Hansen leading the way.
Lions: The Greg Robinson audition went as expected last week, and generally well with Matthew Stafford in the game. The Lions tested Robinson early with some deep drops for Stafford, and will continue to work their prospective left tackle throughout the preseason. Despite his "bust" status, I firmly believe there is a great offensive linemen in there. Can Detroit find it?
Packers at Redskins, 7:30 p.m.
Packers: Last week, we wrote about the implementation of the Packers' Nitro defense. Be on the lookout this week for different players vying for linebacker jobs -- specifically all-terrain gigs to handle great pass-catching running backs and tight ends.
Redskins: The Washington Post noted that 2016 first-round pick Josh Doctson could play against the Packers, though it's not entirely clear yet. He's been a man of mystery the Redskins have been waiting a long time to unlock.
Patriots at Texans, 8 p.m.
Patriots: An interesting development from Houston-New England joint practices: According to the Boston Herald, Patriots offensive tackle Marcus Cannon has been handling J.J. Watt quite well. The Herald went as far as to call Watt's moves "shockingly desperate" in an attempt to get to the quarterback. What will happen when the league's ultimate competitor gets under the bright lights?
Texans: Can we see Deshaun Watson make a few more plays in the pocket? It was a joy watching Watson scamper through a tattered Panthers backup secondary last week, though I'm sure coach Bill O'Brien would have loved to see him hang in just a bit more. Make no mistake, Watson's athleticism is what will eventually put him over the edge in this quarterback battle. But he also has a bullet for an arm that nearly connected on a beautiful deep ball during his debut. Let's see more of that.
Broncos at 49ers, 10 p.m. (Live on NFL Network)
Broncos: Paxton Lynch's turn to win the starting job. Although it seems like a Hail Mary at this point, he'll get an opportunity to make this decision difficult for new coach Vance Joseph.
Niners: As NFL Network's Mike Garafolo recently noted on Good Morning Football, Marquise Goodwin could be coach Kyle Shanahan's best kept secret in San Francisco. The former track star did not record a catch in the team's preseason opener, but seeing Brian Hoyer uncork a 70-yard touchdown pass to the former track star could go a long way toward firing up an unsure fan base.
Bears at Cardinals, 10 p.m.
Bears: As the great fictional general manager Sonny Weaver said on Draft Day: "The barbarians are at the gates." In this case, it's area columnists already calling the Mike Glennon-Mitchell Trubisky quarterback competition a sham. While this is ridiculous (Glennon was the only one playing against a first-string defense) a second strong outing from Trubisky is not going to quiet them down.
Cardinals: Who will be calling the plays this week? Bruce Arians' wonderful tradition of promoting hungry assistants and giving them in-game experience rolls on.
Rams at Raiders, 10 p.m.
Rams: A brief Sammy Watkins debut might make some sense here. The Rams have to vacuum seal Jared Goff and Watkins together for the next few weeks in order to create some on-field chemistry.
Raiders: Rookie seventh-round pick Treyvon Hester keeps piling on the sacks. While being the J.J. Watt of warmup games is a time-honored tradition for eventually forgettable players, the Raiders seem to be high on the Toledo product.
SUNDAY'S GAMES
Falcons at Steelers, 4 p.m., (Live on NFL Network)
Falcons: From Falcons beat writer Vaughn McClure: An offensive package with 300-plus pound nose tackle Dontari Poe could "come alive," according to coach Dan Quinn. While it would be silly to burn this during a preseason game, it's always fun for teams to put something on tape just for other teams to worry about.
Steelers: The T.J. Watt hype train has left the station. The first-round pick has relegated James Harrison to spot duty on defense but he'll have to continue earning the job. Harrison isn't punishing his body deep into his 30s just to look good on the sidelines.
Saints at Chargers, 8 p.m. (Live on NFL Network)
Chargers: The debut of Anthony Lynn's offense was actually quite fun to watch. The problem? We have no idea how that offensive line will hold up. A speedy, pass-heavy drive gave no practical window into the troubles L.A. could face once teams figure out how to match up against their diverse set of pass catchers. Hopefully a longer look at the first string will give us some answers.
Saints: According to ESPN.com Saints beat writer Mike Triplett, we should see second-round offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk make his debut against none other than Joey Bosa. This will be a trial by fire and, if nothing else, an excellent look at a highly regarded offensive lineman in a ho-hum offensive line class.
MONDAY'S GAME
Giants at Browns, 8 p.m. (Live on ESPN)
Giants: There are so many teams with one or two questions on the offensive line that could end up becoming real concerns down the road. The Giants have done this dance with former first-round pick Ereck Flowers in the past, but the stakes are much higher in 2017. His week to week evaluations will continue to be must-reads for Giants fans concerned about the status of their potentially high-flying offense.
Browns: Brock Osweiler is apparently being groomed as Cleveland's starting quarterback but DeShone Kizer looked fantastic last week against the Saints. The quarterback position will continue to be the story until it isn't. Tired of thinking about offense? Watch Jabrill Peppers possibly drop down and play some linebacker or follow Briean Boddy-Calhoun around the field. The 5-foot-9 undrafted free agent could be on his way to a big season in Cleveland. The Browns are quite high on him.
