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Mardi Gras Weekend Sports Notes
By Mike Detillier
For most watching Peyton Manning walk off the football field after losing to the Indianapolis Colts 24-13 during the 2014 playoffs, you thought that may be the last game Manning ever played football. But a few weeks off and some rehab to an injured quad muscle now has the greatest football player to ever come out of the state of Louisiana returning to the Denver Broncos for 2015.
You may have wondered how the very structured veteran quarterback would react to dramatic changes to the Denver Broncos coaching staff that now has a new head coach in Gary Kubiak, a new offensive coordinator in Rick Dennison and a new defensive coordinator in veteran coach Wade Phillips. But Manning has great trust in the most important figure in the Broncos organization in John Elway. Manning's return to the game he is consumed by is all tied to his close relationship and trust in John Elway to help piece together a team that will get Manning and Denver to another Super Bowl.
While some of the passing "oomph" has been taken away from Manning because of injuries and age, is there any debate that he is still one of the top five quarterbacks in the game today? The answer is clear. Peyton Manning may not be considered the very best in the game today, but he is in that area code and he is still a "star" player and an elite one in the NFL.
Now Elway needs to break out the checkbook and gain long term deals with standout wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and star tight end Julius Thomas, but they must also protect Manning better and gain a better "power" rushing attack.
Reports are that Peyton Manning will work out this off-season in New Orleans for a stretch with workout/nutritional guru Mackie Shilstone.
Book this, one day when the playing career is over with, watch for Peyton Manning to be a minority owner of an NFL team and run the football show in the same manner John Elway does in Denver.
A possible spot is the Tennessee Titans.
Signing Ingram
One thing to watch out for over the next few weeks is the "heat up" in negotiations between the New Orleans Saints and soon to be free agent halfback Mark Ingram.
Ingram is more important to the Saints than any other team in the league. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis made the trade during the 2011 NFL draft to acquire Mark Ingram, but it was Saints head coach Sean Payton who pushed for this deal to be made. The Saints gave up their second round pick in the 2011 NFL draft and a first round pick in 2012 to gain the selection rights to Ingram.
The 2009 Heisman Trophy winner from Alabama has fought off injuries throughout his NFL career, but last season Ingram stayed healthy for the majority of the season and he had his best season ever. He rushed for 964 yards on 226 carries, averaged 4.3 yards per rush and scored 9 rushing touchdowns, along with catching 29 passes for 145 yards.
Ingram is still a young talent at running back. He is 25 years old and won't turn 26 years old until December 21.
Payton has always loved the running back by committee method of using his backs and he has a good threesome with Khiry Robinson, Pierre Thomas and Ingram, if the two sides can come up with the proper money deal.
Right now the market is not great for a running back to break the financial bank for any NFL team. With the possibility that veteran running backs like DeMarco Murray and Adrian Peterson could be available and highly touted halfbacks like Melvin Gordon, Todd Gurley, Tevin Coleman, Ameer Abdullah, Duke Johnson and Jay Ajayi are likely either first or second round selections in the 2015 NFL draft, the best place for Ingram may well turn out to be right back in New Orleans.
I still see the Saints taking a running back somewhere late in the 2015 NFL draft and a great "fit" pick would be LSU halfback Terrence Magee in Round 5. The former Franklinton High School quarterback has been a very good edge runner, a tough/rugged inside runner, a 1st rate receiver coming out of the backfield and one of the best pass protecting backs in college football at LSU. In many ways the 5-9, 218 pound Magee is a shorter and a more stout version of what the Saints have now in Pierre Thomas and that is high compliment.
The Kicking Competition for Saints
Glad to see the New Orleans Saints bring back place-kicker Shayne Graham to compete for his spot on the roster in 2015. Graham is a good field goal kicker and like most kickers he has had a nomadic career in the league. Despite feeling a little heat from the head coach, and he is used to that, Graham was still "money" as he hit on 19 of his 22 field goal attempts and he connected on 46 of his 47 extra point tries.
But the buzz from some members of the Saints coaching staff is that they may have hit a player personnel "gusher" in signing former Florida State and Buffalo Bills kicker Dustin Hopkins.
Hopkins was regarded as the top place-kicker in the 2013 NFL draft after having one of the greatest careers ever for a kicker in college. He became the FBS record holder with 466 total points and he hit on 25 of his 30 field goal attempts as a senior for the Seminoles.
The 6-2, 195 pounder won the kicking spot for the Buffalo Bills in late August of 2013 over veteran Rian Lindell, but he sustained a groin injury that put him on the football shelf for most of his rookie campaign. Hopkins was brought back to compete with Dan Carpenter, but the Bills decided to keep the veteran kicker over Hopkins. Scouts and now members of the Saints coaching staff are praising Hopkins for his leg strength, kicking techniques and leg speed.
We all have seen that Saints head coach Sean Payton is not the most patient coach when it comes down to kickers, very much like his mentor Bill Parcells. For now, Hopkins staying healthy is the key. Watch out for the competition between the veteran Graham and the promising young kicker in Dustin Hopkins.
Getting Help along the Offensive Line
At this stage of the evaluation process, I firmly believe that pass rushers like Nebraska's Randy Gregory, Florida's Dante Fowler, Jr. and Missouri's Shane Ray will be off the board when the New Orleans Saints pick at the 13th spot in Round One in the 2015 NFL draft. The best interior defensive linemen, USC's Leonard Williams and Washington's Danny Shelton, will also likely be gone before the Saints select.
That leaves Clemson's Vic Beasley and Kentucky defensive end/outside linebacker Alvin "Bud" Dupree as the next best on the board possible picks. If the Saints use that pick on either of the two, New Orleans needs to select an offensive lineman in Round 2.
I am a big advocate of signing Kansas City Chiefs center Rodney Hudson, if he is available via the free agency route. One other player that would be a great fit for the Saints, if available in Round 2, would be Florida State offensive tackle/center Cameron Erving.
The 6-5, 310 pound Erving started out his college career at defensive tackle before winning the starting left tackle spot and in 2014 he was put in at the critical center spot for the Seminoles during the season. That is not the easiest transition in the world to make, but Erving did a very good job manning the center spot. I still feel as though his best spot in the pros is either at left guard or right tackle, but the quick footed Erving is impressive with his foot work, his body balance skills and his ability to mirror defenders well in one-on-one pass protection sets. He has really upgraded his skills as a pass protector and he comes off the board with some good power as a run blocker.
As Round 1 comes to a close watch out for and keep in mind the name Cameron Erving.
The Value at the Center Position
I had a chance to speak to former New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Rick Venturi and the former 25-year veteran defensive coach-now retired, says that the center spot today is more important than ever in the NFL.
"The center position has never been more important than it is today," Venturi said. "The center is the alternative quarterback in terms of directing and redirecting protections versus the high volume of third down schemes being employed today. Centers today must be strong enough to handle a big nose tackle as the 3-4 defense re-evolves and yet athletic enough pull on the sweep plays."
Quickly Becoming the WR State
LSU lost a top coach in wide receiver mentor Adam Henry to the San Francisco 49ers. Henry was underrated as a coach and he got the very most out of the talents of Odell Beckham, Jr., Jarvis Landry and James Wright during his time at LSU and he quickly developed the skills of speedster Travin Dural in 2014.
Henry will be missed, but the Tigers made an excellent hire in bringing in Georgia wide receiver coach Tony Ball to take his place. Ball was an excellent running back and kickoff return man at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga before entering coaching. He has coached the running backs and wide receivers-including A.J. Green at Georgia, and now he has won the coaching "Powerball" by leaving the Bulldogs to come to Baton Rouge.
LSU still has a huge question mark at the quarterback position, but Ball coaches wide receivers and he has a roster with Travin Dural, Malachi Dupre (who I have compared favorably to A.J. Green), Trey Quinn, John Diarse, Tony Upchurch and the speedy D.J. Chark returning in 2015. Add to that three top freshman from the state of Louisiana in Tyron Johnson, Jazz Ferguson and Derrick Dillon signed on with LSU for 2015.
Louisiana is quickly becoming known in recruiting circles as the state for wide receivers. In recent years, and it holds true today, Louisiana produces more defensive backs for the NFL than any other state and LSU has gained that moniker of DB-U, but with the changes in the prep game it will not be long before Louisiana is also known as "The Wide Receiver State”.
The Top Ole Miss Prospects
Each week I will have a profile of the top prospects entering the SEC in 2015. This week’s feature is Ole Miss and Evelyn VanPelt the managing editor of “The Rebel Walk” gives her opinion on the top new prospects for the Rebels in 2015.
Best Offensive Signee, Offensive Guard, Javon Patterson
Five-star offensive guard Javon Patterson may be the best offensive player signed by the Rebels in 2015, and many expect him to start his first game in Oxford in the fall. The 6-3, 315 pound Patterson has a freakish blend of size and speed. Very strong player at the point of attack and he moves very well in space. Ole Miss coaches feel as though he can contribute immediately.
Best Defensive Signee, Defensive Tackle, D.J. Jones
D.J. is the nation’s top JUCO defensive tackle. The 6-2, 310 pound Jones is a big, very strong interior player who should help plug up holes in the run gap area for the Rebels. He has great body balance and quickness off the snap. His JUCO coach at East Mississippi Community College, Buddy Stephens, compares Jones to former LSU and Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle standout Booger McFarland. Jones can play either on the nose or the three-technique.
Quickest Impact Player, Quarterback, Chad Kelly
If JUCO transfer Chad Kelly can stay out of trouble and take the field for Ole Miss in the fall, he may have the quickest impact of any in the class of 2015. The 6-2 ½, 220 pound Kelly has excellent footwork in the pocket, is an outstanding scrambler when necessary and has excellent touch on his throws. He has top level arm strength and can make all the throws in the book. With Bo Wallace graduating there is a big hole at the quarterback position for the Rebels.
Follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeDetillier