Rite of summer: Position battles will heat up NFL camps
Article By ddillon.tsn on 15th July, 2010
Nothing adds intrigue to an NFL training camp more than a good position battle. Here are 10 competitions to follow when camps open later this month, according to a Sporting News survey of head coaches:
Running back Steve Slaton only played in 11 games for the Texans last season.
Buccaneers: wide receiver. It's expected to be a wide-open race, with veterans Michael Clayton and Reggie Brown the leading candidates to win starting jobs. Coach Raheem Morris wants some veterans on the field helping out second-year quarterback Josh Freeman.
But the Bucs have high hopes for rookies Mike Williams, the team's most impressive wideout during the offseason, and Arrelious Benn. Second-year wideout Sammie Stroughter is expected to be the slot receiver.
"We have so much competition at that spot, between a bunch of young guys with fresh legs and our veterans," Morris said. "I think the competition is going to be at an all-time high there."
Falcons: starting cornerback opposite Dunta Robinson. Brent Grimes (eight starts, six interceptions last season) and Christopher Owens (six starts, two interceptions) will go one-on-one to see who pairs up with Robinson, an offseason addition from Houston. "It will be the one (battle) most people will be watching," coach Mike Smith said. "It was a very good battle in OTAs, and I think it will continue on into the preseason."
Texans: running back. This has been somewhat of an unsettled position, with Steve Slaton in 2008 being the team's only back to rush for more than 1,000 yards in the last five years. As a team, the Texans averaged only 92.2 rushing yards per game (30th in the league) last season.
"We're going young," coach Gary Kubiak said. "I think how far Arian (Foster) comes, Steve (Slaton) coming back, how quick (rookie Ben) Tate becomes a dang good player is probably the key to our offensive team."
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for NFL
Buccaneers: wide receiver. It's expected to be a wide-open race, with veterans Michael Clayton and Reggie Brown the leading candidates to win starting jobs. Coach Raheem Morris wants some veterans on the field helping out second-year quarterback Josh Freeman.
But the Bucs have high hopes for rookies Mike Williams, the team's most impressive wideout during the offseason, and Arrelious Benn. Second-year wideout Sammie Stroughter is expected to be the slot receiver.
"We have so much competition at that spot, between a bunch of young guys with fresh legs and our veterans," Morris said. "I think the competition is going to be at an all-time high there."
Falcons: starting cornerback opposite Dunta Robinson. Brent Grimes (eight starts, six interceptions last season) and Christopher Owens (six starts, two interceptions) will go one-on-one to see who pairs up with Robinson, an offseason addition from Houston. "It will be the one (battle) most people will be watching," coach Mike Smith said. "It was a very good battle in OTAs, and I think it will continue on into the preseason."
Texans: running back. This has been somewhat of an unsettled position, with Steve Slaton in 2008 being the team's only back to rush for more than 1,000 yards in the last five years. As a team, the Texans averaged only 92.2 rushing yards per game (30th in the league) last season.
"We're going young," coach Gary Kubiak said. "I think how far Arian (Foster) comes, Steve (Slaton) coming back, how quick (rookie Ben) Tate becomes a dang good player is probably the key to our offensive team."
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for NFL
Readers Comments
Related News
Featured Sponsors
Interested in getting MLB Tickets for this coming season? The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division. Get your New York Yankees Tickets today!
The Baltimore Orioles Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1992, the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
New York Mets Tickets: The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Get your Minnesota Twins Tickets today!
The Toronto Blue Jays Tickets are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners Tickets are looking to be a good team this year.
Detroit Tigers Tickets: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises.
The Philadelphia Phillies Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. One of the biggest games of the season are the Phillies Red Sox Tickets. Another long time rival in the same state is Phillies Pirates Tickets.
The Chicago White Sox Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division.
The Atlanta Braves Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. Get your Texas Rangers Tickets today!
San Diego Padres Tickets: The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California.
Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
The Florida Marlins were established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins Tickets are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Indians Tickets are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League.
The Baltimore Orioles Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1992, the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
New York Mets Tickets: The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Get your Minnesota Twins Tickets today!
The Toronto Blue Jays Tickets are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners Tickets are looking to be a good team this year.
Detroit Tigers Tickets: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises.
The Philadelphia Phillies Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. One of the biggest games of the season are the Phillies Red Sox Tickets. Another long time rival in the same state is Phillies Pirates Tickets.
The Chicago White Sox Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division.
The Atlanta Braves Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. Get your Texas Rangers Tickets today!
San Diego Padres Tickets: The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California.
Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
The Florida Marlins were established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins Tickets are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Indians Tickets are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League.
