NFL Update: The Race for the Houndies
Is Smith the second coming of Randle El?In this period of creating our own jumper, I have found it increasingly difficult to keep up with the omnipresent Adam Rittenberg, ESPN’s B10 blogger and the wide array of subjects he covers every day.
Not only am I jealous as hell of his job, it seems like every idea I have written down to watch for the week, he has it taken care of by noon on Tuesday. However, the one area I can be assured of not being accused of stealing his subjects is the NFL, which no longer has an offseason and contains plenty of Buckeye news.
Flacco to Smith? Troy Smith turned a few heads on the last day of Baltimore’s OTA this week, as they lined him up at receiver, in their continuing search for ways to utilize his skills.
At this point, only an injury to Joe Flacco would put Troy under center and with a movement in the NFL towards the Wildcat formation, Baltimore and Smith are looking to expand his role.
“Without making it a huge story, I’m quite sure that Troy will be lined up in different places this year,” coach John Harbaugh said Tuesday. “He can split out and play receiver. He can play running back. We definitely want to expand guys.”
The Ravens official site was excited about the potential flashed by Smith when he got the chance, as he snagged a 20-yard strike and an 8-yard timing route along the sidelines from Flacco. The Ravens have always lacked a strong #2 wideout behind Derrick Mason, but with over 14 weeks before the regular season, Smith has time to make that push for more playing time.
Buckeye flavor in Rams linebacking corps? The Rams made a controversial move last month when they released leading tackler Pisa Tinoisamoa and it looks like the move could have been triggered by not only the drafting of Little Animal, but also the recent play of Larry Grant.
Grant spent most of last year on the 49ers practice squad, but was signed by the Rams for the last few games. In the recent OTA’s, Grant was running with the first team, while JL was running with the second unit. The Rams new coach Steve Spagnoulo is heralded as a defensive guru and he inherited a bad team, so both of the former Bucks will get plenty of chances to make plays this season.
The only downfall of the Tinoisamoa release falls on Marcus Freeman, after the Bears signed Pisa to a one-year contract. Freeman was going to have a difficult time regardless seeing the field as a rookie, but now it is almost certain any playing time will be spent on special teams.
Receivers making noise. It’s assumed Anthony Gonzalez will start opposite of Reggie Wayne, now that Marvin Harrison is gone, but Gonzo isn’t taking things for granted, while new coach Jim Caldwell is accusing AG of being a “gym rat.” Gonzo is poised for a breakout season, as he simply feels more comfortable with all aspects of NFL life.
“It’s a completely different animal,” Gonzalez said. “My rookie year, I didn’t even know anybody. I was just trying to shut up and stay out of the way and hopefully be called upon to do something on the field. This year, kind of building on last year, I think I have some friends on this team and I have great relationships with a lot of the guys on this team and the coaches and just the city in general. I know my way around now. I know where the grocery store is. I know where the dry cleaner is.
Down in Miami, Brian Hartline was able to make his debut last week at Dolphins camp and quickly earned rave reviews from his teammates and coaches.
Meanwhile, Dolphin coach Tony Sparano claimed Ted Ginn looked “pretty dominant” at times during the early season workouts. Like Gonzo, Ginn is entering his third NFL season and feels more comfortable in all aspects of his game.
“You can see his confidence is really at a high level right now. He’s running better. Playing a little bit stronger. I mean, even handling kicks back there I’ve seen a little different guy.”
This could be the year Teddy finally hushes all his critics and creeps close to a 1,000 yard season and it will be interesting to see who has a better 2009, Gonzo or Ginn.
Troy needs a break… since winning the Heisman he has had nothing but grief and bad luck. Who has a near fatal tonsil infection as an adult??? He had the starting job in his grasp and poof……..gone! I hope he gets his chance as a Percy-Harvin, Pat-White, Ronnie Brown type… Throw out of a spread, run from a direct snap, catch out of multiple formations…. Troy is so multi-talented that I think he can shine if given the opportunity. The fact that his head is still in the game speaks volumes for his leadership ability.
troy at RB would be a crazy way for things to come full circle for him
very interesting indeed…. he was a great QB at OSU, but being totally objective I think alot his shortcomings were hidden by the ridiculous talent of the 2005 and 2006 teams. Troy is multi-talented and can excel anywhere on the field…. and his leadership skills are one of his best assets. I don’t see him as a true RB though, RB/WR/HB hybrid would be how I would envision him… Imagine him lined up differently in many formations… defenses would not know if he was gonna get a direct snap and go, run, catch out of the backfield, catch a quick slant, or take a snap and throw. He could be a dangerous weapon.
When did Troy ever play RB? I think that’s one of the biggest misconceptions in Buckeye football lore. Right up there with him being a nice guy off the field. Not hatin’, just statin’.
Not that I don’t believe you, but I’m just a bit curious what knowledge you have about how he acts off the field. What has he done (aside from that booster incident, which seemed like it there was some justification at least) that indicates he’s a jerk? He at least knows how to say the right things on television.
He did get kicked out of his first HS for elbowing a kid in the head during a bball game, just sayin’.
And there was an alleged bitch smack at OSU, just sayin’. Love ya Troy.
Seriuosly, that’s nothing compared to what Percy Harvin did…mark my words, he is going to implode in Minny…watch. I give him 3 years max.
There’s the rumor that he hooked up with a teammate’s girlfriend the night before the Florida game, and because of that got into a fight with gonzo just prior to gametime. That wouldn’t mean he’s a bad guy, but it’s not cool, or smart.
Perhaps the girl shouldn’t have been such a slut.
true that
troy smith was recruited as an “athlete” and had three carries as a RB in 2003:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=232420194
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=232700194
wow, check out how many different receivers we threw to back then
That’s still fewer than the number of kick returns he had that season. So was he a kick return specialist? He was recruited as an ATH, but he never was a running back at Ohio State.
hahah geez dude, lighten up. i’m not saying he was a RB exclusively or even primarily, but you asked “When did Troy ever play RB?” and i’m telling you, he played at RB in two games in 2003.
i don’t really see why you’re getting your underpants all in a bunch here.
Didn’t he play RB a little at Glenville?
Jesus, we actually threw to two tight ends back then?
When he first started playing pee-wee football he was RB, and then the coach put him in as QB and that’s where he’s been ever since (according to wikipedia, lol)
I love T to death like any good Buck fan should, but I don’t think Baltimore ever envisioned him as the starter and would have drafted Flacco with or without tonsil infection. I trhink they liked his versatility more than anything.
Thats not to say T isn’t good enough to be a starter, there’s always room for a guy who makes plays, even if you are 5′9 listed as 6 foot, lol!!!
Im callin it, Teddy Ginn to the Pro Bowl and wraps up the Houndie!!!!!
Actually they drafted Flacco before the tonsil infection and Troy was still slated to start and Flacco was going to learn the ropes first.. then Troy got sick and they had no choice but to throw Flacco to the fire.. but turns out he handled it well and now they aren’t looking back..
I went to the Ravens training camp last season. Troy was a very hot commodity. Ray Lewis wanted him under center. Ozzie sang his praises to fans on the sidelines. He was very much being groomed for starter–prior to the infection. Yes, they did draft Flacco as their QB of the future, but no doubt Troy was being given the opportunity to make his mark with Flacco int eh wings. The Ravens never wanted Joe to start his rookie year.
Bad luck for Troy, but again, another example of his character revealed in how he handled this situation. To the guy who was questioning who he was off the field–are you for real? You are really going to judge someone’s complete composition by some rumors you heard about star athlete at a major football school acting like a jerk off campus? Wow, what a sheltered life.
Tell John Boy I said goodnight.
Mack Brown is on board:
(Via EDSBS)
Ahh Hell Naw Shawty, them texans are going to be mad as a castrated steer about this pic
Nah, I don’t think so. The fan posts I’ve seen make Ohio State-Texas appear to be one of the friendliest rivalries around. Mack Brown is a class act, and every game we’ve played them in recently was a very close game between very good teams. There seems to be a lot of respect between the programs.
You know, before the first Texas game, I really hated Texas. I was tired of them being ranked high every year and not doing anything. Tired of media coverage etc. Since that game I’ve had a chance to meet some of their fans and had some friends who were aIn austin say that they loved it when Ohio State came down there. This is a team I’d love to see another series against. They have a historic program, cool fans, and a great city. It’s a team I don’t mind see win, when they aren’t playing the Buckeyes.
The current series, I have no respect for. USC’s players and coach talk shit in the media about everything. Also, I hate Miami, thug players, and an idiot fan base. I also pretty much hate the whole SEC with the exception of maybe Auburn. They seem to be an ok team from down south.
I can relate, I think Texas and OSU mirror eachother in alot of ways. I actually vowed to root for Texas from now on AFTER they beat us last year, hook em.
no all sec teams suck – try living down here like me – all sec sucks. don’t ever ever cheer or root or feel good about any sec team!!!!!
He’s doing it to impress Jordan Hicks with how in touch he is with Jordan’s Ohio roots.
we also never landed on the moon
Grassy knoll!
I love how 4 of the top 7 players from Rittenberg’s rankings are from Penn St…. yet has Ohio State as the favorite in the big 10. am i missing something here? maybe he should rethink having pryor a little higher (From good Shizzy)
I also have had some encounters with Texas fans. I have to agree that they are among the nicest when it comes to mutual respect. As far as the “big fat mouths from California”… USC will suffer at least two humiliations this year, and as great a talent as they seem to attract, I think they will turn out to be mediocre in 2009 performance. We Buckeyes are becoming subject matter experts on talent-laden teams performing poorly, and USC is due for more than their customary one-game-a-season egg.
I kin smeel thems rottn eggs a stankin even now!!
Go BuckHorns!