Ahh, that new player smell! A number of players with San Diego connections are set to rise to the forefront in the NFL for the first time this season, and there is also a scent of renewal among a number of local veterans whose careers had been facing hard times.
As of now, it looks like renewal is bigger than the fresh and new, but we'll start with the latter. The top dog among them appears to be RB Arian Foster, who appears ready to become the feature back of the Houston Texans. Foster is a Mission Bay High product who was the primary ball-carrier for Tennessee but never really became a star in Knoxville. QB Josh Johnson, the former USD superstar, will start this weekend for Tampa Bay because of an injury to starter Josh Freeman, and who knows what can happen with a big performance? The other major newcomer is Lance Louis, who left San Diego State under criminal investigation for an assault in a team meeting room but is now set to start at G for the Chicago Bears. Life can lead you on a strange path.
The big news, though, ought to come from the veterans who will find themselves finally ready to fulfill expectations, or are in new places with big shoes to fill. The most microscopes will focus on San Francisco QB Alex Smith, who has had four average or worse seasons since the 49ers took him first in the NFL draft. The 'niners look like a potential division champ, but need the Helix High alumnus to get them there. All reports out of SF the past year or so have said he's finally ready, but injuries have slowed his progress. Now, if the offensive line can keep him alive, we'll see if he's ready for stardom.
Kirk Morrison has moved from the middle of the Oakland Raiders defense to the center of the Jacksonville Jaguars stoppers, who seem much happier to have him than his hometown employers ever did. The SDSU product is set to start for a LB corps that includes former Aztecs Russell Allen -- a Vista High alum slated to be the top backup -- and Freddy Keiaho, the former Colt who is on injured-reserve with a concussion.
For the Chargers, former Aztec offensive lineman Brandyn Dombrowski is set to play a major role for a unit that will be watched closely this season, and ex-SDSU LB Antwan Applewhite will hope his ability to make plays finally gets noticed by coaches, who really need to get him on the field more often.
Former SDSU T Chester Pitts, the longtime Texans starter and Super Bowl TV commercial star, might start in place of injured Russell Okung for the Seahawks for a couple of weeks. That is even though Pitts missed all the exhibition games because of injury. Khalif Barnes of Mount Miguel High will be the Raiders main backup at LT. G Stephen Neal (San Diego High) returns to the Patriots line after being hurt last year.
OTHER LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCTS:
-- RB Reggie Bush of Helix High (New Orleans Saints)
-- LB Brandon Chillar of Carlsbad High (Green Bay Packers)
-- LB Travis Goethel of Vista High (Oakland Raiders)
-- CB Leon Hall of Vista High (Cincinnati Bengals)
-- WR Marcus Smith of Morse High (Baltimore Ravens)
-- WR Brett Swain of Carlsbad High and SDSU (Green Bay Packers)
-- LB Pisa Tinoisamoa of Vista High (Chicago Bears)
-- WR Roberto Wallace of Oceanside High and SDSU (Miami Dolphins)
-- RB Ricky Williams of Patrick Henry High (Miami Dolphins)
OTHER SAN DIEGO STATE PLAYERS
-- LB Heath Farwell (Minnesota Vikings)
-- RB Lynell Hamilton (New Orleans Saints)
-- WR Kassim Osgood (Jacksonville Jaguars)
-- WR Chaz Schilens (Oakland Raiders)
By the way, Hamilton is on IR and Schilens might miss the first couple of months with another injury. More fuel for the "why does SDSU suck?" mystery: 14 alumni will be on NFL opening weekend rosters in 2010, including the two IRs.
This list is after the weekend cut-down to the final 53-man rosters. The eyes can glaze over while researching this stuff, so let me know if I've missed someone.
Showing posts with label Josh Johnson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Josh Johnson. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Thursday, September 06, 2007
2007 Football Predictions
This fall has the makings of what could be a highly successful season of local football, maybe more so than the late-1970's when San Diego State ruled the roost and the Chargers were beginning to come on strong behind Dan Fouts.
The Aztecs appear to have better personnel entering this season under coach Chuck Long than they did in a 3-9 2006. The offensive is, for the most part, healthy. QB Kevin O'Connell is a senior. The running back corps is deep, and the wide receivers could become a threat for the first time since JR Tolver and Kassim Osgood were running patterns for the red and black. The tight end position has a chance to be productive for the first time in more than a decade.
The defense has switched to a 3-4 set, a long overdue move based on recruiting realities -- the difficulty a non-BCS school has at attracting talented defensive linemen and SDSU's growing reputation as a linebacker factory. The Aztecs have usually attracted far more defensive ends than tackles, too.
The keys to the season: keeping the offensive line starters healthy and the secondary able to at least put up a fight to opposing wideouts. The line may never be able to power a strong running game, but they should be able to give O'Connell that extra split-second he's been needing to find receivers. The secondary is a total unknown, but reports claim they're pretty athletic.
If those points above are met successfully, the Aztecs could go somewhere around 7-5 and qualify for a bowl game -- a welcome holiday gift for suffering fans. If things don't work out so well, then a 4-8 semi-disaster is likely.
My bet is the offensive line will hold together at a reasonable level but the secondary will probably struggle early, particularly since the defense probably won't generate much of a pass rush against good teams. That means something more middlin', meaning the Aztecs could be 6-5 and needing to beat a Top 25 TCU squad when they come to town for the regular season finale on Nov. 24.
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What else is there to say about the Chargers other than they have the most talent in the NFL, and might by far. There are some issues noted in previous posts, such as two new starting inside linebackers and a pair of safeties who are suspect. They might end up in some shootouts this year against quality opponents.
On offense, the wide receivers don't look improved as a group, but Vincent Jackson might be ready to blossom into stardom in his first season as a starter. We'll have to see. And, remember, Philip Rivers had a couple poor games last year. I don't see him having a sophomore jinx in 2007, but the possibility is there nonetheless. The offensive line depth is thin behind some quality starters.
Maybe the biggest problem the Chargers have is Denver being vastly improved, at least on paper. The Broncos are good enough to split with the Bolts and then who knows what they do with the rest of their schedule.
All things being equal, it's probably too much to expect another 14-2 against a tougher schedule, and facing NFL competition. I'm guessing, after going through the Chargers slate, that they'll go 12-4 or 11-5. If they get hit with injuries in the offensive line, the receiver corps beyond what they already face with Eric Parker, it could get worse. Otherwise, this is a high quality team that will almost certainly go to the playoffs. Postseason is the real season as far as Chargers fans are concerned.
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There's a lot of talk in town of USD running the table behind superstar QB Josh Johnson, star RB JT Rogan and a solid defense. But the Toreros do have two games against teams at a higher level: Northern Colorado at home and UC Davis to end the season on the road. Davis is the squad that rather comfortably dealt the Toreros their only loss last season. So one or two Ls this season could happen, but no one else should give them a problem.
The Aztecs appear to have better personnel entering this season under coach Chuck Long than they did in a 3-9 2006. The offensive is, for the most part, healthy. QB Kevin O'Connell is a senior. The running back corps is deep, and the wide receivers could become a threat for the first time since JR Tolver and Kassim Osgood were running patterns for the red and black. The tight end position has a chance to be productive for the first time in more than a decade.
The defense has switched to a 3-4 set, a long overdue move based on recruiting realities -- the difficulty a non-BCS school has at attracting talented defensive linemen and SDSU's growing reputation as a linebacker factory. The Aztecs have usually attracted far more defensive ends than tackles, too.
The keys to the season: keeping the offensive line starters healthy and the secondary able to at least put up a fight to opposing wideouts. The line may never be able to power a strong running game, but they should be able to give O'Connell that extra split-second he's been needing to find receivers. The secondary is a total unknown, but reports claim they're pretty athletic.
If those points above are met successfully, the Aztecs could go somewhere around 7-5 and qualify for a bowl game -- a welcome holiday gift for suffering fans. If things don't work out so well, then a 4-8 semi-disaster is likely.
My bet is the offensive line will hold together at a reasonable level but the secondary will probably struggle early, particularly since the defense probably won't generate much of a pass rush against good teams. That means something more middlin', meaning the Aztecs could be 6-5 and needing to beat a Top 25 TCU squad when they come to town for the regular season finale on Nov. 24.
---
What else is there to say about the Chargers other than they have the most talent in the NFL, and might by far. There are some issues noted in previous posts, such as two new starting inside linebackers and a pair of safeties who are suspect. They might end up in some shootouts this year against quality opponents.
On offense, the wide receivers don't look improved as a group, but Vincent Jackson might be ready to blossom into stardom in his first season as a starter. We'll have to see. And, remember, Philip Rivers had a couple poor games last year. I don't see him having a sophomore jinx in 2007, but the possibility is there nonetheless. The offensive line depth is thin behind some quality starters.
Maybe the biggest problem the Chargers have is Denver being vastly improved, at least on paper. The Broncos are good enough to split with the Bolts and then who knows what they do with the rest of their schedule.
All things being equal, it's probably too much to expect another 14-2 against a tougher schedule, and facing NFL competition. I'm guessing, after going through the Chargers slate, that they'll go 12-4 or 11-5. If they get hit with injuries in the offensive line, the receiver corps beyond what they already face with Eric Parker, it could get worse. Otherwise, this is a high quality team that will almost certainly go to the playoffs. Postseason is the real season as far as Chargers fans are concerned.
---
There's a lot of talk in town of USD running the table behind superstar QB Josh Johnson, star RB JT Rogan and a solid defense. But the Toreros do have two games against teams at a higher level: Northern Colorado at home and UC Davis to end the season on the road. Davis is the squad that rather comfortably dealt the Toreros their only loss last season. So one or two Ls this season could happen, but no one else should give them a problem.
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