Mancini’s take on rookie tackle Austin Howard following Philadelphia’s 28-27 preseason win over Jacksonville: The undrafted lineman put his stamp on Friday night’s victory by sealing the edge on Michael Vick’s 10-yard touchdown run in the second quarter by overpowering the helpless Larry Hart and burying him into the ground. The block opened up an outside rushing lane that Vick accelerated through on his way to paydirt. The Northern Iowa product flashed his brute strength and impressive technique throughout the game. Howard has already earned the backup left tackle spot behind Jason Peters with his exceptional play in OTAs and in training camp. If he continues to play like he did yesterday, he’ll not only keep his job, but may even see some action during certain packages in the regular season. The former tight end’s long arms and fluid drops in pass protection make him a natural at
Author Archives: NFL Draft News Feed
Training Camp Confidential: Doug Worthington
The jump from college to the pros essentially creates a new life for football players, one filled with new challenges. Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round (242nd overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft, former Ohio State Buckeye Doug Worthington is getting a taste of that new NFL life.
The 6’5”, 292-pound defensive tackle was busy catching punts after practice in an effort to increase his value and earn a spot on the 53-man roster. When asked if this was something he had done before, the rookie said, “Never have I done anything of that nature. Most I ever did was punt and bare punt.” This is life for a seventh-round rookie. Only a few months ago Worthington was playing (and winning) in the Rose Bowl. Now he’s the low man on the totem pole, fielding punts after practice in heat ratios over 100 degrees in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
With
DE Dontay Moch Runs The Fastest 40-Time Ever!
They were the ones who timed the run. They were the ones who saw it happen right in front of their faces. But they didn’t believe it. Nevada’s Dontay Moch had just run a 4.18-second 40-yard dash. That time would be among the fastest ever recorded. In disbelief, they made him run again. He clocked a 4.08 in his second try. That time is almost inhuman. So, they made him run again. On his third and final try, he covered the 40 yards in 4.2 seconds. Maybe he was a little tired, but even that time is run by only the most nimble wide receivers and cornerbacks. Imagine a 6-foot-1, 245-pound defensive end like Moch running it. Unthinkable. “He has freakish talent,” Wolf Pack defensive coordinator Andy Buh said. “Freakish talent. That would be my two words for Dontay Moch. When he puts his mind to it,
Name You Need To Know | UConn LB Scott Lutrus
Football coaches are extremely reluctant to give a player the freedom to freelance from the textbook assignments and lanes, but it was during Scott Lutrus’ first year on the field (after sitting out his freshman year as a redshirt) that UConn coach Randy Edsall began to appreciate things about Lutrus he couldn’t know when recruiting him out of Brookfield High. Lutrus was more known as a running back in high school (with over 2,000 yards rushing as a senior), but didn’t project as an NFL-type player in the backfield. He is an NFL-type player at linebacker, a powerfully built 6-foot-3, 243 pounds, and one NFL scout projects him before the season as a third- to fifth-round guy, with better quickness than pure speed and instincts off the chart. “It’s nice to have a kid like that because he might not always have to do everything by the
Friday The 13th: FFI Show #3 Live At 10AM ET
SPECIAL FRIDAY THE 13TH EDITION!
Take no prisoners as you get ready to lace up the shoulder pads for your fantasy football draft! Kick the competition to the curb with advice you can count on, join hosts Rick Serritella, Ross Mandel and Ralph Mancini as the go around the league with the burning questions for all 32 teams entering training camp. Plus the latest hot topics! 90 minutes.
Training Camp Confidential: Mike Wallace
It’s all about opportunity in the NFL when it’s shown to you what to you do with it. Some players veteran or rookie fumble away their hopes of making it. Others grab the opportunity, like Pittsburgh Steelers second-year receiver from Ole Miss, Mike Wallace. You catch the game winning touchdown against Green Bay as time expires—that my friends are how great careers get started.
One of the most fun loving, flamboyant players on the team, Wallace is excited about getting on the field this weekend saying, “Got a real good grasp of the offense. I’m excited about Saturday.” Wallace knows he won’t be getting many snaps when the Steelers open their pre-season at Heinz Fields against the visiting Detroit Lions but added, “We know it’s a game situation that’s
Tar Heel Marvin Austin In Sticky Situation
Kentwan Balmer, a North Carolina alum who is now a defensive tackle with the San Francisco 49ers, paid for former Tar Heels teammates Marvin Austin and Cam Thomas to travel to California during summer 2009, Thomas told the Raleigh News and Observer. ‘Twan paid for [the trip],” Thomas, currently with the San Diego Chargers, told the newspaper. Thomas told the newspaper that he and Austin worked out at the Proactive Sports Performance in Westlake Village, Calif., to prepare for the 2009 season. Thomas, who started all of UNC’s games at defensive tackle in 2009 and was drafted in the fifth round by San Diego, didn’t provide financial details or dates for the trip. Austin, a senior defensive tackle for North Carolina, is projected as a high 2011 NFL draft pick. – ESPN
NFL Scouts Clamor For Patrick Peterson
Cornerback Patrick Peterson’s feet give him the speed to chase down receivers. His long arms allow him to bat away balls just before they find their target. His powerful, chiseled frame creates havoc at the line of scrimmage. NFL scouts clamor for Peterson, a potential first-round pick in next year’s draft. Coaches and teammates have a hard time explaining how a man so big — 6-foot-1, 222 pounds — can cover so much ground. At an LSU workout in the spring, Peterson covered the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds, the best time of his college career. “With my physicality, my size and my speed, I believe I can keep up with any receiver out there,” Peterson said. – The Advocate of Baton Rouge
Click here for more news on LSU CB Patrick Peterson
Terrelle Pryor Matures On and Off The Field
Make no mistake: Terrelle Pryor has grown up. He seemed mature beyond his years two years ago, but the junior quarterback seemed much more grounded yesterday. It almost goes without saying that the Jeannette, Pa., native knows more football. He also seems a lot smarter about life. “The fun part of what we do, every guy that comes in at 17 or 18, it’s dramatic how we see them change,” coach Jim Tressel said. “And Terrelle is no different. He just happened to be walking around with the spotlight on him the whole time. I think his changes have been as significant as anyone else. He views things differently than when he first arrived because he has a different perspective.” — Columbus Dispatch
Click here for more news on Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor
Small School Standout Pat Devlin On The Radar
To his credit, Pat Devlin doesn’t make Delaware’s upcoming season about himself. The senior is expected to be the first FCS quarterback taken in the 2011 NFL Draft, with current projections suggesting around the third round, but he has only team goals in mind. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Devlin could have been Penn State’s starting quarterback this fall had he not grown dissatisfied while sitting behind Darryl Clark and having to wait until the job opened up this fall. He transferred to Delaware after the 2008 season. Devlin, strong, accurate and possessing a quick release, had a strong junior season last fall, leading the CAA in passing yards per game (242.18) and total offense per game (253.7), while finishing second in passing rating (139.12). He completed 220-of-344 passes for 2,664 yards and 16 touchdowns, while throwing nine interceptions, and set a school record with 42 completions against FCS