Klein: Training Camp Position Battles (NFC East)

NFC East

Washington Redskins-Redskin Park
Down at Redskins Park in Virginia the 'Skins look to move forward in one of the toughest divisions in professional football. Jim Zorn now has a year under his belt and is ready to keep plugging away on the defensive side of the ball. With a defense that seems just about set at every position, the offense seems a bit unsteady. Yesterday, Zorn named WR Devin Thomas (15-120 yards) the starting flanker opposite of WR Santana Moss, which will send WR Antwaan Randle El down the depth chart and more importantly WR Malcolm Kelly (3-18 yards). Thomas and Kelly have been fighting for the 2nd WR spot for quite some time now ever since Randle El lost a lot of his speed and playmaking talent. Both were drafted in the 2nd round back in '08, Thomas at the 35th overall spot and Kelly at the 52nd. The two youngsters struggled in their rookie seasons but it is clear that Thomas has much more talent. Although Zorn has named Thomas the starter, I expect Kelly to bring his "A-game" to camp and get plenty of reps at the 2nd flanker slot. If Kelly is so be stuck behind him on the depth chart, don't expect to see him much. Kelly, who is 6'4", doesn't have the athleticism to play in the slot nor the body structure to make him a threat there. Anticipate a strong season from Thomas playing alongside Moss. The more important battle on this Washington squad is at right tackle. Now that RT Jon Jansen is gone they have somewhat of an iffy situation. Stephon Heyer is the heavy favorite to win the job because he won it last year. But, after winning the job, he lost it and that means he may be in a battle again. Heyer will probably just get the call because he knows the offense better than veteran Mike Williams and Jeremy Bridges. Heyer has the right size, the right speed, and athleticism that is right for this offensive line. Bridges will probably get placed at RG now that Randy Thomas is on his way out. Mike Williams has close to no shot due to his weight issues and he was also a complete bust when the Bills drafted him! Jason Campbell better get ready for some pressure because Heyer and Bridges will NOT be a force on the right side of his line.

BATTLES
2nd WR: Devin Thomas vs. Malcolm Kelly
Winner: Devin Thomas

Starting RT: Stephon Heyer vs. Jeremy Bridges vs. Mike Williams
Winner: Stephon Heyer

New York Giants- SUNY Albany
I guess this is what happens when your star wide out shoots himself in the leg and could possibly land in jail for 3 1/2 years. With Plax and vet WR Amani Toomer gone, the Giants need to put something together fast...very fast. Back in April they drafted the best player to ever play in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, WR Hakeem Nicks, to fill a void in their set of offensive threats. It is safe to say that WR Steve Smith (57-574 yards) has the #1 spot locked up after leading the team in receptions last year. The battle for the other flanker spot is going to get interesting while Domenik Hixon, Ramses Barden, and Nicks duel it out at camp. Nicks was drafted for the sole reason of him being that guy to play in that spot but there is only one problem with that, he's a rook! This goes with well-sized Ramses Barden as well. Barden comes from a small school but just like Nicks he has no intangibles yet because of his lack of experience. This is where Hixon (53-596 yards) has the edge. Hixon busted out on the scene in the last 6 weeks of the season last year when he had to fill in for Plax who was out with his gun wound. He averaged close to 5 receptions a game and was able to solidify himself a spot in the offense. Behind these three guys there is also Sinorice Moss and Mario Manningham. These two big play threats could make pushes this month but only expect to see them in during 4-receiver sets.

BATTLE
2nd WR: Domenik Hixon vs. Ramses Barden vs. Hakeem Nicks
Winner: Domenik Hixon

Philadelphia Eagles- Lehigh University
NBA Zeus, my friend Matt, and I went out to get some food last night at one of our favorite local restaurants, Candlelight. Matt was telling me about how he thought the Eagles would win the Superbowl this year, which I somewhat agree with. The E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES are poised for a great year in the NFC, the conference that the reached the finals of last year. This was all swell until they lost their best defensive player, MLB Stewart Bradley (108 tackles), to a torn ACL on Sunday. Bradley was ready to become the leader of this defense after Dawkins departed out west to Denver. After leading the team in tackles in '08 the Eagles expected him to be the glue of their defense but now they need a replacement. There are a few possibilities for this position. OLB Chris Gocong could move to the inside where his athletic nature could be very suitable for the job OR the Andy Reid could have youngster MLB Joe Mays deul it out with 3-year vet OLB Tank Daniels (14 tackles). This is tough to tell right now but if I were to give it to someone I would say it is going to be Mays. It is tough for a player to move in MLB in a 4-3 defense where the OLB position is so different from the MLB position. Mays rode the bench in '08 but is ready to use his strength and talent to make the best of his crack at becoming a starter. Another defensive battle will be found in the secondary at free safety. This one will be weird for Philly fans as for years they have watched #20 run the secondary in their city. Now that Dawk and FS Sean Consodine left, the door is wide open. The battle will be between newly acquired FS Sean Jones and Quintin Demps, who played in dime packaged in '08. Demps was the front runner until they signed Jones, but he was brought in for a reason. Coach Reid wants the two of them to duel it out and bring out the best in each other. That is what competition does. If that is the case then I am sure pine-rider FS Rashad Baker will get plenty of reps in camp. I think this one is pretty easy to sort out though. Jones is a vet, he is strong, he forced turnovers, and the Eagles obviously went out to get him for a reason. Let's not forget the problems they faced in the NFC Championship game against Larry Fitzgerald. Yes, you are right, Demps was the free safety. Enough said.

BATTLES
Starting MLB: Joe Mays vs. Tank Daniels
Winner: Joe Mays

Starting FS: Sean Jones vs. Quintin Demps vs. Rashad Baker
Winner: Sean Jones

Dallas Cowboys-San Antonio, TX
The Cowboys look to get over "the hump" this year with their new stadium and new quarterback (a single Tony Romo). By "the hump" I mean the 12 years that the Cowboys have not won a playoff game. Jerry Jones hopes this year can be different down in the Lonestar state with no botched snaps, no extremely annoying girlfriends, and no Pacman Jones or T.O.. The whole team looks pretty set except for one or two position battles that will take place during this month. On offense, there will be a heated duel between WR Miles Austin (13-278 yards-3 TDs) and WR Patrick Crayton (39-550 yards-4 TDs). This is a very, very interesting battle just because of what Crayton did last season. He was expected to come onto the scene and explode as a #2 WR with T.O. drawing most of the double team coverages. With close to 700 yards and 7 TDs in '07, he did not live up to expectations in '08. I think that Austin will get the job as the #2 just because Crayton proved he wasn't able to step up behind a Pro-bowl wide out last year. They traded for WR Roy E. Williams during the season because of the lack of production from Crayton and they needed a more explosive wide out. With Austin being a presence in camp, I could very well see this youngster filling in as the Terry Glenn role in their offense while Crayton gets looks in the slot when TE Jason Witten is not there. Expect Austin to beat out Crayton by mid-August and solidify himself as a solid #2 wide receiver. On the defensive side of the ball expect to see a duel at cornerback between CB Orlando Scandrick and former 1st-round pick Mike Jenkins. Back in '08 the Cowboys decided to select two cornerbacks in the draft, Jenkins and Scandrick. Jenkins went in the 1st-round and Scandrick in the 5th-round. You would think that Jenkins adapted to the NFL in '08 much quicker than Scandrick but that is where you are wrong. This 5'10" speedy corner out of Boise State made things happen as a rook last year by deflecting 4 passes on the season. I beleive that Scandrick will seal this job up opposite of CB Terrence Newman but expect to see Jenkins on the field a lot due to the fact that Wade Phillips 3-4 defense calls for plenty of Nickle packages and slot coverage.

BATTLES
2nd WR: Patrick Crayton vs. Miles Austin
Winner: Miles Austin

Starting CB: Orlando Scandrick vs. Mike Jenkins
Winner: Orlando Scandrick