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The next rookie QB studs? Stafford, Sanchez ready for spotlight
By Darron Cummings
July 1, 2009
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez are set to become rich beyond comprehension long before throwing their first official NFL pass.
The quarterbacks will be anointed as saviors — Stafford for a Detroit team that went winless in 2008, and Sanchez for a New York Jets club that hasn't tasted the Super Bowl in 40 years.
The accompanying pressure can be overwhelming.
So Stafford and Sanchez often find themselves seeking someone who understands their situation. They call each other.
Already linked as the top two quarterbacks in this year's draft, Stafford and Sanchez have forged a separate bond. They go back and forth as a sounding board for the other while attempting to turn potential into performance.
"We're just learning, playing football," said Stafford, the No. 1 overall pick who went off the board four slots ahead of Sanchez. "Obviously, during the season, you want to win football games. That's the No. 1 priority. But at this point, we're just trying to learn and give ourselves a chance to be competitive during training camp and get a chance to get on the field."
The friendship started last summer, when they were counselors at the same camp for elite high school quarterbacks. They've kept in contact regularly since, talking about practically every imaginable topic.
On Tuesday, at the NFL rookie symposium, they were on the same field together — throwing footballs around with dozens of kids brought in to interact with the game's newest professionals. But in down moments during this mandatory event for first-year NFL players — which offers education on how to handle subjects like personal conduct, finances and security — the two young quarterbacks tend to huddle together.
"We talk so much about how's the playbook coming, what are the guys like in the locker room, have they treated you OK," Sanchez said. "Both of our situations have been very similar. Obviously, we're in different markets, but you're a rookie quarterback, you just signed your contract, you and your family are financially secure. There's a dynamic to that. It means a lot to be able to talk to someone."
The biggest lesson many of the rookies took from the symposium, Stafford included, was that they'll have to say "no" a lot — especially when it comes to people asking for money, gifts or favors from the new millionaires.
"I've had to do it for a while," said Stafford, who spent most of last season at Georgia being touted as the possible No. 1 pick.
Of course, neither Stafford nor Sanchez is all that removed from being a kid, either, so they fit right in with the high schoolers.
"All about the kids, today," said Sanchez, who posed for photos, signed countless autographs on the backs of T-shirts and has been known to keep a Sharpie marker on his keychain in case the mood strikes to scrawl his name. "All about the kids."
Sanchez, who starred at USC, is already a huge name in the massive market that is New York. He's gotten to meet Tiger Woods and Derek Jeter, both of whom offered their advice on how to handle all the attention that he'll draw playing in the Big Apple.
"You've got to be smart," Sanchez said. "You've got to protect yourself and protect your team."
Stafford hasn't quite commanded that sort of Woods-and-Jeter attention, even though he was the top pick.
Even on Tuesday, when they walked onto the converted flag-football field — it's typically a driving range at the PGA National compound — within moments of one another, cameras and heads started turning quickly toward Sanchez. Stafford, meanwhile, seemed almost invisible by comparison, and didn't mind that whatsoever.
"We're both pretty similar, easy-going guys," Stafford said. "Pressure really doesn't get to us too much. We just talk about how much fun it is to be living the dream."
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Change is the only sure thing as Bucs prepare for uncertainty
By Scott Zucker
July 1, 2009
In recent years, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were probably best-known for longtime defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin's Tampa 2 scheme. But this season, it's more accurate to say the Bucs are running the "Tampa New."
Everywhere one looks around team headquarters at One Buccaneer Place, the faces have changed, from general manager Mark Dominik to head coach Raheem Morris to quarterback Byron Leftwich to running back Derrick Ward. Dominik and Morris, who replaced Jon Gruden, jettisoned several veterans including 14-year linebacker (and 11-time Pro Bowler) Derrick Brooks, venerable running back Warrick Dunn, receiver Joey Galloway and quarterback Jeff Garcia.
Gruden, who failed to earn a playoff victory after winning Super Bowl XXXVII in January 2003, his first season with the team, was undone by the team's late-season slide in 2008. After a 9-3 start, Tampa Bay dropped its last four and missed the postseason.
That led to Gruden's ouster — as well as that of former GM Bruce Allen — and a roster turnover.
Defensive tackle Chris Hovan, entering his 10th NFL season, says players are still getting to know one another. "The OTAs (organized team activities) are about getting comfortable, getting more familiarity in the locker room," he says. "Once we get to training camp, the team will really start to jell. You really find out about your team when it's time to get violent."
Hovan recognizes the leadership void created by the departures of Brooks and the others and is prepared to step in. "I'm not going to go out there and be a rah-rah guy," he says. "One of the best guys in the locker room I've ever seen is Derrick Brooks. He showed everyone the right way to lead. I firmly believe that leaders lead by example."
If Hovan and others on defense, such as Pro Bowl cornerback Ronde Barber, are to lead by example, they'll have to do it while learning a new system. Jim Bates brings a more traditional 4-3 scheme to replace Kiffin and his speed-oriented system.
Hovan knows that means making changes.
"In the Tampa 2, I played at about 300 pounds, but this defense is predicated on strength rather than speed," he says. "I'm never going to be a 330-pound guy. I can hold 310."
He realizes that his role has changed as well.
"The Tampa 2 is predicated on drops and being in certain spots on the field," Hovan says. "This defense is more about occupying (the offensive linemen) and letting linebackers like Barrett Ruud go sideline to sideline and make plays."
Jermaine Phillips is another guy Bates will ask to make plays. The hard-hitting safety is being asked to make the move to linebacker at Brooks' old spot on the weak side.
But the changes on defense figure to pale in comparison to those on offense — which will feature new faces at quarterback, running back, tight end and, possibly, wide receiver … along with a new philosophy under new coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski.
Ward split carries with Brandon Jacobs as the New York Giants featured a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in 2008. The Bucs will try to duplicate that success as Ward joins Earnest Graham in the backfield and looks to lift the Tampa Bay rushing attack beyond its No. 15 overall ranking.
Tight end Kellen Winslow II came over in an offseason trade with the Cleveland Browns and seeks to put an injury-marred 2008 season behind him. Winslow should provide a lift to a receiving corps that boasted little beyond Antonio Bryant's surprising comeback season in 2008.
Former Giants wideout Plaxico Burress, who expressed interest in joining the Bucs even though his legal issues in New York remain unresolved, could be a consideration.
But the biggest news is at quarterback. After letting Garcia go, the Bucs signed Leftwich, the former Jacksonville Jaguars starter who won a Super Bowl ring as a backup for the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. It seemed Leftwich and little-used backup Luke McCown were going to compete for the starting job.
But Dominik and Morris threw a wrench into the works by drafting Kansas State's Josh Freeman with the 17th overall pick. The Kansas State star showed enough in minicamp that Morris says it could be a three-way battle.
"I'm going to play the best guy," says Morris, who was K-State's defensive coordinator during the quarterback's freshman year. "I don't want to give anybody anything. I want that quarterback to take it."
But Morris did stop short of saying Freeman was the leading contender for the starting job.
"We'll continue to evaluate this thing throughout training camp," the coach said during minicamp. "We'll continue to evaluate it throughout the season."
AROUND THE FIELD IN TAMPA BAY
» Quarterback: battle was expected between Byron Leftwich, now on his fourth team in three years, and Luke McCown. But first-round pick Josh Freeman could be in the mix. Leftwich and McCown split snaps in the spring, but new coach Raheem Morris said Freeman has shown enough progress to merit consideration.
» Running back: Derrick Ward, who ran for 1,025 yards last year as the New York Giants' No. 2 option, was signed in March. Ward, who also boasts nice hands (67 catches over the last two years), will likely shoulder much of the load, but power back Earnest Graham should see plenty of carries, especially in the red zone. Carnell "Cadillac" Williams is again trying to rebound from a knee injury.
» Wide receiver: Out of the league in 2007, Antonio Bryant earned the franchise tag after resurrecting himself with career highs in catches (83), yards (1,248) and touchdowns (seven) in 2008. Despite disappointing production since his rookie year, Michael Clayton signed a five-year extension, and the team is hoping he thrives under new offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski. Morris has acknowledged that Tampa Bay players have vouched for free agent Plaxico Burress.
» Tight end: The Bucs acquired talented but outspoken Kellen Winslow II from the Cleveland Browns, and then gave him a six-year extension. Expect Winslow — dangerous if healthy — to be an offensive centerpiece. Jerramy Stevens, a 6-7 target, will continue to see plenty of playing time.
» Offensive line: This is a talented, though unheralded, group. Right guard Davin Joseph did finally earn recognition in 2008 with his first Pro Bowl invite. Jeremy Zuttah showed enough as a rookie that he might displace mauler Arron Sears at left guard. Center Jeff Faine and tackles Donald Penn and Jeremy Trueblood are entrenched.
» Defensive line: Tackle Chris Hovan leads a group that is transitioning from a scheme that stresses speed and agility to one that values power and strength. Right end Gaines Adams might be on the verge of a breakout. Jimmy Wilkerson took the left end job this spring from Stylez G. White, who changed his name from Greg White.
» • Linebacker: With Derrick Brooks gone, middle linebacker Barrett Ruud, the team's leading tackler, takes on an even more important role — perhaps why Ruud wants a new deal. Quincy Black and Angelo Crowell will battle for the strongside post. But the grand experiment comes at Brooks' vacated weakside spot, where Jermaine Phillips is attempting to make the transition from safety.
» Secondary: The corners are solid with 2008 first-rounder Aqib Talib paired with veteran Ronde Barber. Sabby Piscitelli will team with Tanard Jackson on the back end, though Phillips might unseat Piscitelli at strong safety if he doesn't work out at linebacker.
» Special teams: Kicker Matt Bryant drilled 32 field goals in 2008, including three game-winners, despite the death of his young son. Still, he'll have to fend off ex-New York Jet Mike Nugent, who has a stronger leg, in training camp. Punter Josh Bidwell is solid. Clifton Smith came out of nowhere in October and made the Pro Bowl after giving the Bucs something they've never had: a game-breaking returner.
» Coaching staff: Morris, 33, comes in with no head coaching experience. He has never even served as an NFL coordinator. It's not an easy jump from defensive backs coach to the top spot, but others have made the leap. He brings in coordinators Jagodzinski, off a successful run at Boston College, and Jim Bates, off an unsuccessful run with the Denver Broncos' defense.
» Outlook: Morris has his work cut out for him. His success or failure will hinge on a revamped defense and a new starting quarterback who must mesh with new offensive weapons.
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