Fan and media access to NFL training camps is a double-edged sword. On one side, access is fun. Fans seems to genuinely enjoy going to camp practices and reporting what they see on their social feeds. Media members know how voracious the fan hunger is for new NFL content and gets tons of mileage out of their analysis of 7-on-7s and late-practice red zone sessions. And if you … [Read more...] about The Perils of “Reality” Television: Previewing the Chicago Bears on HBO’s Hard Knocks
Grading the Roster: Defense
Camp approaches, which means it’s time for me to grade the roster. Like I’ve done the last few years, I’ll grade on a 1-10 scale, with 1 being the worst in the NFL, 10 being the best, and 5 being an average NFL unit. Let’s get right down to it. Defensive Ends: 3 Key players: Montez Sweat, DeMarcus Walker, Jake Martin, Austin Booker Others: Dominique Robinson, Daniel Hardy, … [Read more...] about Grading the Roster: Defense
Grading the Roster: Offense
Camp approaches, which means it’s time for me to grade the roster. Like I’ve done the last few years, I’ll grade on a 1-10 scale, with 1 being the worst in the NFL, 10 being the best, and 5 being an average NFL unit. Let’s get right down to it. Quarterback: 3 Key players: Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent Others: Austin Reed, Brett Rypien Caleb Williams was the #1 pick in the draft … [Read more...] about Grading the Roster: Offense
Zooming in on the OL: Tackles
The offseason is winding down as we are now firmly in training camp and shifting into preseason mode, but before the real games start I want to sneak one last series examining part of the roster to give us a better sense of what to expect in the 2024 season. I’ve spent quite a bit of time looking at the offense in the last few months, as we’ve learned together about new OC … [Read more...] about Zooming in on the OL: Tackles
Zooming in on the OL: Interior
The offseason is winding down as we are now firmly in training camp and shifting into preseason mode, but before the real games start I want to sneak one last series examining part of the roster to give us a better sense of what to expect in the 2024 season. I’ve spent quite a bit of time looking at the offense in the last few months, as we’ve learned together about new OC … [Read more...] about Zooming in on the OL: Interior