The 6-foot-5, 240-pound Blaine Gabbert led the Tigers to an 8-5 record in his first season as the team’s starting quarterback after throwing just 13 passes as a freshman the previous season. He completed 58.9 percent of his passes for 3,593 yards and 24 touchdowns against nine interceptions. He also rushed for 204 yards and scored three touchdowns. Teammates have noticed a change in their quarterback. The quiet kid who was once in the background is now front and center telling his teammates what they need to do and setting the pace for the football team. “He’s become more of a leader,” senior running back Derrick Washington said. “Last year was his first year starting. He was quiet, but toward the end of the season he became more vocal, getting in guys, letting them know what they needed to do. He showed it in the spring. He
Author Archives: NFL Draft News Feed
Conditioning Key To Mark Ingram’s Improvement
Alabama junior running back Mark Ingram was asked if he has improved since last season. “Definitely,” he said. “I think I’m in better condition. I think I’m a better student of the game. I’m more aware of defenses, what they try to do in certain circumstances, what they do in this look, where my look might go if there’s a 3 technique. … Things like that. I’ve gotten better making my reads on the run, my hands have gotten better, my routes have gotten better. I’m just trying to improve every aspect of my game. There’s always room for improvement.” — Birmingham News
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DeMarco Murray Set To Return Some Kicks
Oklahoma running back DeMarco Murray compiled 774 return yards in 2008, the second-highest total in school history, but played only running back last season following a special-team injury. “We’ll give him an opportunity to return some kicks,” said running backs coach Cale Gundy. “It’s situations I see and coach (Bob) Stoops sees. The first kick of the game, he’s fresh, let him go. Maybe he starts to get a little tired, so we put somebody else in there.” Mossis Madu, OU’s leading kickoff returner last season (21.4 yard average), and a few freshmen also are in the mix. — The Oklahoman
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Heisman Push Made For Jacquizz Rodgers
Oregon State’s Jacquizz Rodgers, the 5-foot-7, 191-pound junior from Richmond, Texas, also is being touted as a Heisman Trophy candidate, but said he doesn’t expect the notoriety he’s receiving to turn into a distraction heading into the Sept. 4 opener against TCU at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. “That’s not my focus as of right now,” Rodgers said. “My focus is just getting my team ready for this first game against TCU.” At the same time, Rodgers admitted to doing some research on recent Heisman winners. “You’ve got to win games,” Rodgers said. “The last 10 Heisman winners, most of them only lost one game or lost none. (Florida quarterback) Tim Tebow was the only one, I think, that lost three games and still won the Heisman, so you’ve got to win in order to be mentioned.” — Oregonian
One To Watch: Pat Illig of Wofford
Pat Illig, a fifth-year senior left guard (6-foot-5, 320 pounds) from Wofford and an NFL prospect, will be part of a veteran line returning four starters from a squad that led the Southern Conference in rushing last season and ranked fourth in overall offense. Head coach Mike Ayers said he is counting on Illig to pave the way for what happens this season. “Pat has been playing a bunch of football for us and he’s come into his own,” Ayers said. “I think he’s a well-respected lineman in our conference.” The offseason conditioning seems to have helped the offensive linemen, in particular, get ready for the season. “It went well,” Illig said. “I’m in fantastic shape, as is everybody else.” “Our strength program since January has really affected those kids,” Ayers said, “as far as trimming them down and getting them a little bit quicker and little
Brandon Graham Unstoppable in Camp
ESPN’s Matt Mosley reports that rookie defensive end Brandon Graham has “exceeded everyone’s expectations” in training camp. Graham is purportedly running circles around offensive linemen who don’t know what to do with him.
Mancini’s Take: Graham has all the tools to be a difference maker from Day One. At this rate, Philly may just have to put him in the starting lineup once the bullets start flying about a month from now. Graham’s teammates have been extremely impressed by the former Wolverine’s lightening quick hands and his ability to get real low when powering his way past helpless blockers. The high effort defensive end is hard to stop once he gets his opponent to turn his shoulders. Graham’s emergence will undoubtedly free up Trent Cole from double teams he routinely faces. While some are forecasting a letdown on the part of the Eagles this season, I’m pretty high on this
Brandon Graham Unstoppable in Camp
ESPN’s Matt Mosley reports that rookie defensive end Brandon Graham has “exceeded everyone’s expectations” in training camp. Graham is purportedly running circles around offensive linemen who don’t know what to do with him.
Mancini’s Take: Graham has all the tools to be a difference maker from Day One. At this rate, Philly may just have to put him in the starting lineup once the bullets start flying about a month from now. Graham’s teammates have been extremely impressed by the former Wolverine’s lightening quick hands and his ability to get real low when powering his way past helpless blockers. The high effort defensive end is hard to stop once he gets his opponent to turn his shoulders. Graham’s emergence will undoubtedly free up Trent Cole from double teams he routinely faces. While some are forecasting a letdown on the part of the Eagles this season, I’m pretty high on this
Marcus Easley Done for the Season?
The Associated Press is reporting that Buffalo Bills rookie wide receiver Marcus Easley has suffered a knee injury that could put his entire 2010 season in jeopardy.
Mancini’s Take: Wow. What a tough blow for a talent deprived Bills team and their fans. Easley was shaping up to be a walking highlight reel during the early stages of training camp by making acrobatic one-handed catches and routinely getting open on deep patterns. The real shame of it is that outside of Lee Evans, the Red, White and Blue are stacked with retreads and unproven commodities at the wide receiver position. The 6-5 James Hardy is a huge target, but lacks the speed and cutting ability to get open on a consistent basis. Steve Johnson, on the other hand, is a big, physical possession receiver, but not exactly a game breaker. Ex-Patriot Chad Jackson has some skills, but can’t stay in
Marcus Easley Done for the Season?
The Associated Press is reporting that Buffalo Bills rookie wide receiver Marcus Easley has suffered a knee injury that could put his entire 2010 season in jeopardy.
Mancini’s Take: Wow. What a tough blow for a talent deprived Bills team and their fans. Easley was shaping up to be a walking highlight reel during the early stages of training camp by making acrobatic one-handed catches and routinely getting open on deep patterns. The real shame of it is that outside of Lee Evans, the Red, White and Blue are stacked with retreads and unproven commodities at the wide receiver position. The 6-5 James Hardy is a huge target, but lacks the speed and cutting ability to get open on a consistent basis. Steve Johnson, on the other hand, is a big, physical possession receiver, but not exactly a game breaker. Ex-Patriot Chad Jackson has some skills, but can’t stay in
NFL: Rookie Duo Set To Spark 49ers
On Thursday, six days before the team’s first preseason game, San Francisco 49ers’ head coach Mike Singletary named first-round draft picks Mike Iupati and Anthony Davis starters along the offensive line. Iupati had been competing with David Baas at left guard, with Davis going up against Adam Snyder at right tackle.
However, after both Baas and Snyder returned to practice after suffering injuries, neither jumped back into the starting lineup. Singletary confirmed the rookies as starters saying, “Nothing permanent, but as of right now they’re the starters.”
Both Davis and Iupati were considered raw entering the draft, but San Francisco selected Davis 11th overall and followed by grabbing Iupati 17th.
“It’s a positive thing, but at the same time my goal is just to keep getting better,” said the 20-year-old Davis. “It is a confidence boost, but you have to put everything in perspective. This is just the first step. I