Every week we will highlight the great performances that didn’t make NFL Total Access.  I.E. these are the guys who do the grunt work.

• Richard Seymour, fresh off the plane, put on a show with two sacks Monday night as his team fell short to the San Diego Chargers.

• John Abraham took second-year tackle Jake Long to school as the Falcons’ defense dominated the Miami Dolphins.  Abraham recorded two sacks, including a spectacular bull-rush that will be on the highlights for some time.

• Buccaneers OT Donald Penn shut Cowboys LB DeMarcus Ware out for the second consecutive meeting. Ware was my NFL MVP last year and Penn did a great job of keeping him from sacking the statuesque Byron Leftwich.

• Tully Banta-Cain had two sacks as the New England Patriots pulled off a fourth-quarter comeback win over the Buffalo Bills. This was a glass half empty, glass half full selection given the problems on the Bills’ offensive line.

• Jets OT D’Brickashaw Ferguson kept Super Mario Williams in check as New York pulled off the upset win over the Houston Texans.  Ferguson’s performance was the main reason rookie Mark Sanchez had time to do his thing.

• Cowboys OT Flozell Adams still has a little something left in the tank.  He controlled DE Gaines Adams throughout the Cowboys’ domination of the Buccaneers.

Who did I miss?

Catch Me On Twitter @jamiedukes

It’s a concern to me that current NFL players are so big and explosive. It’s an issue, not necessarily with current players, but with retired players. In my latest Put Up Your Dukes segment on NFL Total Access, I shared my story about fighting the battle with obesity.

Every year, I believe there are eight teams that legitimately fit into the Super Bowl conversation. And every year, one team jumps into the mix, like the Arizona Cardinals did last season. Here are my 2009 Elite 8 teams:

NFC
Philadelphia Eagles
New York Giants
Minnesota Vikings
Green Bay Packers

I have been on the record as saying that I thought the Chicago Bears would make the Super Bowl representing the NFC with the acquisition of QB Jay Cutler. I do believe the Bears have the talent to get there but the receiver position is a major concern. You need to look no further than the Philadelphia Eagles for the last 10 years.

AFC
New England Patriots
Pittsburgh Steelers
San Diego Chargers
Baltimore Ravens

I am as shocked as you are that the Colts are not on this list. I don’t have doubts the Colts will make the playoffs but there are too many mitigating circumstances to put them in the Elite 8 (Tony Dungy’s retirement, consultant coaches, new defensive coordinator, suspect offensive line).

Let’s talk about the contenders. As I said, it never fails that a few teams have magical years. Here is my list of playoff-caliber contenders other than the Bears and Colts who have the personnel to get to the big dance.

NFC On the Fringe:
Arizona Cardinals
NFC South Division winner (Saints, Falcons or Panthers)

AFC
Tennessee Titans

What Say You?

Catch Me On Twitter @jamiedukes

Last week I made the statement on NFL Total Access that Eric Mangini needed to pick a QB and tell a little white lie.

The white lie serves two purposes. First, it will build the confidence of the QB chosen as the starter. Second, it builds the confidence of the team in the guy who is the named starter. The lie would consist of telling the starter that he clearly outperformed his competition. Needless to say, Mangini is marching to his own drum.

However, in Detroit Jim Schwartz has subscribed to my theory. Schwartz named Matthew Stafford as the Lions’ starting QB. Schwartz says with a straight face that Stafford outperformed Daunte Culpepper in the preseason. I don’t want to say it is a blatant lie, I consider it a little white lie.

Stafford completed 30 of 55 for 389 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions in the preseason. On the other hand, Culpepper hit on 22 of 34 for 194 yards with one TD and no interceptions.

Truth of the matter is, Culpepper performed better but he is hurt and would be limited in practice. The Lions don’t want to send a gimpy Culpepper out there with rust from limited playing time.

Stafford has shown he has a command of the offense. And yes, he’s made mistakes. But from my seat, those mistakes are more about adjusting to the speed of the pro game. If you look at all the interceptions, there was a receiver in proximity. Stafford has to learn only through reps at game speed what throws he can make. I applaud Schwartz’s decision and, more importantly, I can forgive the little white lie.

What say you?

Catch me on Twitter: @jamiedukes

The reinstatement of Eagles QB Michael Vick was the story of the day on Thursday. The key to Vick fitting in the system of the Philadelphia Eagles is how well he can run the offense as a backup QB. That’s what we have to see with Vick.

Eagles head coach Andy Reid also needs to find out tonight exactly how he wants to utilize Vick. I discussed the ruling and how the Eagles will incorporate Vick into the offense with Rich Eisen and Rod Woodson today on Total Access.

I also did a Playbook segment today on ‘Vick Rules’, and what happens when teams lose defensive containment of the pocket against Vick. There are rules for regular quarterbacks, and then there are ‘Vick Rules’. You can see what I’m talking about in the video above.

I started this series on no-win situations with WR Roy Williams, who finds himself in the middle of the soap opera in Dallas. Now I’m adding Kyle Orton to the list. It’s easy to say, if they produce at an incredibly high level there won’t be a problem.  Well, we have a problem, because in both situations Pro Bowl play is the bar.

Orton has been booed before in Chi-Town, but he did not imagine he would find himself smack dab in the middle of a lover’s quarrel. Josh McDaniels got caught flirting with Matt Cassel and, like all diva’s, Jay Cutler rightfully felt scorned.  Cutler insisted on and was granted a divorce.  I just hope fans recognize Orton is an innocent bystander in this fiasco.

What say you?

Catch me on Twitter: @jamiedukes

Roy Williams had a disappointing start to his time in Dallas. (Matt Slocum / Associated Press)

Well, maybe “no-win” is a little strong, but Roy Williams is in a real conundrum of a situation. Most teams would give an appendage or two to have two front-line wide receivers. Many would, or at least I have surmised that was Jerry Jones‘ intention when he acquired Williams from the Lions and one could have imagined getting rid of Terrell Owens was also in the cards.

T.O. was very popular among Cowboy fans. He was also popular among the players. Why? Because he produced on the field. They didn’t care about his crying at press conferences. They didn’t care about him getting fired up on the sidelines. Cowboys fans want production and the tape don’t lie.

Enter Williams with the lofty price tag of first-, third- and sixth-round draft picks in 2009 along with a seventh-round choice next year. Exiting is Owens’ 1,300 yards and 12 TDs per season. Adding insult to injury, did I mention Jerry didn’t do Roy any favors when he admitted part of his decision to release T.O. was based on giving Roy an opportunity to flourish?

On the field, Williams will need to at least match T.O.’s production. And … and … the Cowboys will need to make a push in the playoffs. Which brings us back to the root of the problem in Dallas. For the Cowboys to make that push, Tony Romo has to perform in December and January. In continuing down this path of logic, if Romo does perform and the Cowboys fall short of the Super Bowl, fans will reason that T.O. would have taken them over the top.

At the end of the day, I have empathy for Williams because, in my mind, he’s been placed in a no-win situation. Fans are likely to be tougher on him if he does not produce at a high level because he was caught in the middle of a canard. That canard is the notion that T.O. was the reason the Cowboys did not win games.

What say you?

Catch me on twitter @jamiedukes

A tip of the old ball cap to coach Rex Ryan for the job and decisions he has made thus far for the New York Jets. Now that doesn’t mean the Jets are going to the playoffs, but it’s obvious that Ryan has learned some lessons along the way about how to make decisions — and more importantly how to execute them.

The latest in the line of good decisions came with the naming of rookie QB Mark Sanchez as the starter. But let’s back up to when Ryan was hired. The first thing he did was go get someone who could run his defense on the field. Ryan was going to bring in one of his veteran linebackers from Baltimore – Ray Lewis or Bart Scott — to the team because he knew a key part of his success was having that guy who is an extension of him on the field.

Fast forward to draft day. There were several teams who were talking the talk about Sanchez, but Ryan and the Jets got the deal done. My sources on the team have told me that Sanchez clearly has been the better quarterback in camp, but Ryan gave Kellen Clemens a chance to compete for the job. That’s important in a situation like this because it shows the other players fairness.

Naming Sanchez the starter now gives the offense the opportunity to focus in on Sanchez’s style of play. I’ll say it again – I’m not saying this will translate into a single win. What I am saying is that Ryan is executing the job as head coach with wisdom and great timing.

What say you?

Catch me on twitter @jamiedukes

Week 2 of the preseason was important as there are many jobs hanging in the balance and, more importantly, there were individuals who needed to atone for their poor Week 1 performances.

• Kyle Orton had a bounce back week.  He finished 18 of 26 with 182 yards and guided the Broncos’ offense down the field for 2 scores.  He was on the verge of a third when Jabar Gaffney dropped a TD pass in the back of the end zone. On the next play, Orton threw an ill-advised, left-handed interception on fourth-and-goal. That put a damper on the night, but Orton showed he has a grasp of the offense.

• The Colts offensive line found their sea legs. QB Peyton Manning was sack three times in six plays during the first week. Manning was sacked only once  against the Eagles this week and showed why he is one of the best players in the league.

• Although it was against the Detroit Lions, Derek Anderson looked sharp, despite throwing a pick. He completed 8 of 13 passes for 130 yards.  The Browns looked really lethargic in Week 1, but “Mangenius” lit a fire under the Brownies.

• Jay Cutler gave the Bears fans something to cheer about as he masterfully dissected the New York Giants with an 8 of 13, 121-yard performance that included a short touchdown pass to TE Greg Olsen.  This was a particularly impressive statement given that it came against the G-Men.

Conversely, more questions are being asked based on these preseason Week 2 performances.

• Matthew Stafford got his first start and he looked like a lost ball in high weeds. He still has not quite adjusted to the speed of the game as evidenced by some of his throws. He’ll need to do better than 5 of 13, 34 yards and an interception to win the Lions starting quarterback job.

• As an analyst, there’s nothing sweeter than an “I told you so”.  I actually hope that is not the case for the Bills. With all the optimism about another year for Trent Edwards and the arrival of Terrell Owens, the offensive line is poised to rain on the Bills’ parade.

• Jason Campbell continues to struggle with the Skins. He completed just one pass in seven attempts Saturday. You have to wonder if the pressure has gotten to him.

• One of my favorite movies is Dumb and Dumber.  In the case of the 49ers, it appears to be Worse and Worser.  That is the story of Sean Hill (Worse) and Alex Smith (Worser).  The way things are going, I would not be surprised to see rookie Nate Davis get a serious look.

Lost in all of the “Favre Watch” hype are the basic facts of Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress’ twofold plan.

Part 1: Have a seasoned, championship-caliber quarterback get the ball to franchise running back Adrian Peterson.

Part 2: Create a paradox for opponents, because the only way to consistently stop Peterson is to put eight defenders in the box.

Consequently, that means giving a three-time NFL MVP single coverage on one side of the field. Therefore, teams will have to engage in a chess match of when to go with seven or eight defenders in the box close to the line of scrimmage. Childress now has the ability to run the ball from more three-receiver sets because teams must respect Brett Favre’s ability.

There are some who want to make this conversation about the ego of Favre. There are some who say Favre is too old, and they will point to last year as proof. Lest we forget, Favre is on the verge of breaking Jim Marshall’s NFL record for consecutive games started by a non-kicker (Marshall’s record is 282; Favre is at 271). Don’t let that overshadow the impact Favre’s presence will have on the field.

• The Detroit Lions may have stumbled on to a playmaker in Texas Christian rookie RB Aaron Brown.  Brown had six rushes for 47 yards and a rushing TD.  He also had two receptions for 51 yards and a receiving TD.  Brown has a nice burst when he runs the football; would love to see him with the first unit.

• Rookie WR Kenny Britt was a first-round pick, but no one knows about the big target from Rutgers.  That won’t last long, though, as Britt had five receptions for 89 yards and a TD in the Titans’ win over the Bucs.

• A local legend from Queens, WR David Clowney of the Jets was a preseason wonder last year before he got hurt.  Picking up on last year’s flashes,  Clowney had three receptions for 102 yards and a TD against the Rams.

• All the QB talk in Raider Camp has been about the faux QB battle between JaMarcus Russell and Jeff Garcia.  Bruce Gradkowski made his case to make the roster by completing 9-of-16 passes for 161 yards with a TD and no INTs in the Raiders’ 31-10 win over the Boys.

• The Bills are getting dividends out of their throw away pick, CB Ellis Lankster, who was the 220th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.  Ellis had two key picks in the Bills’ 27-20 victory over the Bears.  That’s one way to get the coaches attention.

5. Tom Brady (QB, Patriots) – This list is based on physical toughness and there are several players who arguably deserve this spot (Brian Dawkins comes to mind). I put Tom Terrific on this list because behind those baby blue eyes is the heart of a killer.  There is something about Brady that wants to crush his opponent.  This is the distinction I draw between him and the second best player in the league, Peyton Manning.  Manning is a perfectionist who will do whatever it takes to win.  But there is something about Brady that says, if he could play LB, he would to help the team win.

4. Ray Lewis (LB, Ravens) – In years past, Lewis would have been higher on this list. When you can intimidate a man’s man like Eddie George, you’ve done something.  Lewis’ body is a heat-seeking missile of mass destruction.  He will give his body up for the team.  But his most dangerous attribute is his intellect.  I’m reminded of Mike Singletary and the late Sam Mills who got in their opponent’s head.  I can tell you first hand that there’s nothing more demoralizing than watching the player across from you call out every one of your plays before they happen because they know your formations and tendencies.  Lewis is that kind of genius.

3. Darnell Dockett (DT, Cardinals) – Dockett is one of the emmerging young stars in the league.  He is a mean defender who seeks to create carnage.  Dockett has taken the place of Tommie Harris as that undersized DT who wreaks havoc in the backfield of his opponent. Dockett hails from FSU and is not accustomed to the anonymity of life in the dessert.  I mention this because I think it is also a driving factor for him. He knows his game will have to bring the attention he rightfully wants.

2. James Harrison (LB, Steelers) – Any man who turns down an opportunity to meet the president must have a screw or two loose.  Harrison is a little man in stature who has a chip on his shoulder the size of the Appalachian Mountains. The bigger they are, the meaner he gets.  Offensive lineman shutter when they have to face this pint sized dynamo. I’ve been told Harrison has a sense of humor but I get the impression that amusement for him might be ripping off an opponent’s fingernails with a set of rusty pliers.  Maybe that’s an overstatement.  Then again, maybe not.

1. Marc Colombo (OT, Cowboys) – Colombo is not among the most gifted athletes in the NFL. In fact, I would say he is in the lowest percentile of athleticism in the league.  But there is no doubt he’s  mean, vile, nasty, cantankerous … you get the picture.  Colombo plays with bad intentions and he wants to maul you.  Colombo has taken the spot held for a decade by Jon Runyan and, like his predecessor, gets beat from time to time. But his willingness to throw his body around is admirable.  I must confess, it was music that convinced me Colombo was No. 1 on this list.  Colombo is the lead singer of a heavy — and I mean heavy — metal band that includes other tough guys in Leonard Davis and Kyle Kosier.  Listen to the rage with which he sings.  That elevator is not going up to the top floor.

What say you?

Catch me on twitter @jamiedukes

• Now Josh McDaniels doesn’t want to make any “knee-jerk” reactions. That was the phrase he used to characterize his decision to stay with Kyle Orton. He also had this classic coach-speak line when he said, “I feel very confident where we’re at.” Somehow, I don’t think Broncos fans are sharing that assessment.

• I don’t know whether it was the monsoon-like rain or the stars not being aligned, but it appeared that Brodie Croyle looked like the best QB on the Chiefs on Saturday night. If this performance is an indication of things to come, it’s going to be a long year in KC.

• The Detroit Lions are going to have a hard time taking the slow approach with Matthew Stafford. Stafford showed poise and a command of the offense. With $42 million in guaranteed money, fans have an expectation that Stafford should be on the field earning that big contract.

• The headlines are already extolling the uneventful first game of Jay Cutler, and while he did not have a Cutler-type game there are bigger fish to fry. It’s abundantly clear the Bears are in need of not one, but two wide receivers. Devin Hester is a talent, but he lacks receiver instincts. There were several passes where Cutler and Hester just were not on the same page. Even on the ill-advised interception, a seasoned receiver would not have allowed the defender to come down with the ball.

• Who said the Bills need Terrell Owens? Trent Edwards completed all 10 of his passes for 79 yards.

• Maybe the ‘Skins and 49ers should have taken that shot at Michael Vick. Both teams have the defense to get them to the playoffs, but the offense leaves a lot to be desired.

• We got our first look at Shawne Merriman, and he looks to have the standard post-surgery “Peg-Leg,” which is the phenomena of a slight limp.

• The Colts are having growing pains without Tony Dungy. Some would say the Colts traditionally lose in the preseason and they would be right. But the Colts don’t traditionally give up three sacks in a quarter. The Colts’ offense has always been known as a finesse offense, but they have never been manhandled in the passing game. The Colts’ O-line will have to man up, or Peyton Manning is going to have a long season.

• We always talk about the three facets of football: Offense, defense and special teams. Well, the Cleveland Browns are in need of help in all four facets. Facet No. 4 is coaching.

What say you?

Catch me on twitter @jamiedukes

Some of my random thoughts about Michael Vick signing with the Eagles after watching Friday’s press conference:

• I was particularly moved by the comments of Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie. I had a dog for 15 years and know the pain of losing a pet that you love. Lurie reminded me of that mental anguish, which I have tried to quell. He also made it abundantly clear that Vick has no room for error with the Eagles. There is a clear expectation that Vick is to be more than a football player in Philadelphia.

• My respect for Eagles QB Donovan McNabb has grown — if that’s possible — because of the part he played in Vick coming to Philadelphia. McNabb has opened Pandora’s box for the deranged faction of Eagles fans who believe he’s the problem with the team. As soon as Vick gets a first down in his Wildcat duties, the boo birds will begin to chant, “We Want Vick.” McNabb recognized his longtime friend needed a break and that getting in the way of giving Vick an opportunity was something he couldn’t bring himself to do, even though he knows controversy is just a first down away.

• Another initial thought was confirmed when Eagles coach Andy Reid acknowledged that his sons’ travails were a mitigating factor in wanting to give Vick a second chance.

• For those fans who oppose the Vick signing, you’re within your rights to feel that way, and you’re also within your rights to give up your season tickets. Conversely, the Eagles are within their rights to show mercy.

What say you?

If I were Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson (and I’m not), I would lobby to sign free agent QB Michael Vick.  Why? Because Peterson would break the NFL single-season rushing record with Vick in the backfield.  Don’t take my word for it, see the diagrams and explanations below.

The first diagram below is a stretch play to the right, with Vick at quarterback and Peterson in an off-set I formation. An offense that has Vick at the helm will lead the league in rushing.  That’s a statistical fact.  Add the best running back in the game in Peterson and you have a potential 2,500-yard season.  The impact of Vick on the running game is simple.  The backside DE and OLB on this play have to stay home to protect against Vick coming out the backdoor on a bootleg.  That means the offense gets extra blockers in the running game.

Stretch Play

The second diagram shows a bootleg off the same stretch play, which also puts the defense in a bind because the key is still Peterson. There are open areas in the zone coverage, particularly on the play-action because the defense is frozen for a split second off the snap. That creates one-on-one match ups with the primary receivers — which are the TE and FB/HB — who are running angle routes away from the defenders that are dropping into coverage.

Stretch Bootleg

What say you?

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