By Pat Kirwan
NFL.com Senior Analyst
(May 25, 2006) -- Sure, it's deep into the offseason, but there are
still a number of very interesting football topics floating out there
that will have an impact on your favorite team. And there are few
reminders that the NFL never let the "tail wag the dog."
KYLE TURLEY
As long as Kyle Turley has the hands, his smaller frame won't be a
problem.
The Kansas City Chiefs have every reason in the football world to secure
Kyle Turley's talent at this point in the offseason. Turley was once a
295-pound offensive tackle that had plenty to say on and off the field.
Today, he's a 262-pound guy looking for work, and the Chiefs are on to
the possibilities he presents.
As long as Kyle Turley has the hands, his smaller frame won't be a
problem.
I say forget asking him to "beef" back up to close to 300 pounds. There
are a lot of ways to use the former star in the modern game. Turley can
be the blocking tight end opposite Tony Gonzalez, and that produces an
extra gap for the running game to exploit. Turley can be the third
offensive tackle, and not too many teams have a backup tackle with his
credentials. The Chiefs can use some of that "U-71" personnel grouping
like Green Bay did when Kevin Barry came in as an extra tackle at the
tight-end slot. Short-yardage and goal-line offense is an excellent
place to use Turley.
One of my favorite concepts that has never taken hold in the NFL is
situational substitution for offensive linemen. Turley could easily come
in with the third and fourth wide receivers on passing downs as the
"dime tackle." At 262 pounds, he's plenty big enough to block an outside
linebacker or pick up a blitzing safety or corner. Not too many of the
third-down pass rushers are going to maul Turley with bulk and power.
The NFL game on third downs has turned into a situation of which team
has the best speed athletes on the field. I say sign Turley, don't ask
him to put on any more weight, and expect to use him 20 snaps a game.
RICKY WILLIAMS
Many people seem to have forgotten that Ricky Williams came back to the
NFL after a year of wandering around in search of himself and figured
out he can still play this game at a very high level. Keep in mind that
last season while splitting time with Ronnie Brown, Williams was still
able to rush for more yards than Curtis Martin, Corey Dillon, Brian
Westbrook and Jerome Bettis, to name a few of the more respected ball
carriers in the league.
There's no telling what he can do in the Canadian Football League, and
it could only enhance his trade value. Of course, if Brown were to be
seriously injured in 2006, then Williams becomes even a more valuable
player to the Dolphins in 2007. The big "if" is whether the CFL will
relinquish its rights to the option year in 2007. Under a standard
Canadian contract, the club retains the rights to a player in his second
year. They should relinquish those contractual demands to get the big
workhorse in uniform for this season. In 2007, if he's healthy and after
a productive Canadian League season, Williams could be worth a
third-round pick on draft day.
Last year, he had his best yards-per-carry average since 2002 at 4.4,
and he has carried the ball only 168 times in two years. If Williams
does what he is capable of and if he comes back as a dominant
29-year-old rusher, the Dolphins will get calls about moving him.
REGGIE BUSH
It's no secret that I know Reggie Bush very well and I have great
admiration for his talent on the field. He is a game changer, a matchup
nightmare, and it doesn't matter what number is on his jersey. The guy
will make plays, move the chains and score touchdowns. As an old coach
once said to me, and I passed it on to Bush, "Go make another number
famous."
Don't expect to see Reggie Bush wearing this number in a bit, but expect
a lot of yards.
I remember when Keyshawn Johnson was the first pick in the draft and
didn't waste a lot of time trying to securing his college number No. 3
jersey. He went out and made No. 19 pretty famous, and he's not alone. A
lot of former college stars change their number in the pros.
Finally, it's too bad the jersey numbers became a subject discussed
around an individual named Bush. I don't believe the rules about numbers
will change any time soon, but some food for thought might be all
ineligible players wear a number between 50 and 79, and all eligible
players get the remaining numbers. Twenty-nine linemen numbers will
never be used by any club. Figure close to 18-20 of the ineligible
numbers will be issued by a club at any given time.
STEVE MCNAIR
Is he a Titan? Will he be a Raven? Could he return to the Titans? Lots
of questions about one of the few remaining superstars in the league
still available on the market. Steve McNair already has structured a
deal with Baltimore if he should be traded or released.
I don't believe he is the player he once was, but I do think he can win
games and earn the Ravens an 11-5 season and a playoff run. The Titans
could use the salary-cap space cleared if McNair is traded.
The NFL/NFLPA arbitrator is getting closer to what the deal is going to
be, and if I were to guess, the Ravens will pull the trigger on a trade
rather than wait and see how things work out in the courts. If I were
with Baltimore, I would be more afraid of McNair deciding to finish up
in Tennessee than the judge's decision.
Do you think this defense could stop NFL teams?
DT: Three-man rotation -- Dan Wilkinson, Grady Jackson, Brentson
Buckner. All three played over 50 percent of the defensive snaps for
their teams last year and give a defense incredible bulk inside.
DE: Brady Smith, Duane Clemons, Gary Walker. This group isn't as
interesting as the tackles, but they have a lot of playing experience
and could still be effective.
OLB: Tommy Polley, Peter Boulware. They can still play, especially
Polley, who was in on 80 percent of the plays last season.
ILB: Jamie Sharper, Chris Claiborne, Earl Holmes, Junior Seau. Older
guys, but splitting time could work.
CB: Ty Law, Ahmed Plummer, Dexter McCleon, Denard Walker.
S: Lance Schulters, Brent Alexander, Keion Carpenter. This secondary had
over 20 interceptions last season.
They all need a home. Maybe they should form a club and play a few
preseason scrimmages against actual NFL teams.
NFL.com Senior Analyst
(May 25, 2006) -- Sure, it's deep into the offseason, but there are
still a number of very interesting football topics floating out there
that will have an impact on your favorite team. And there are few
reminders that the NFL never let the "tail wag the dog."
KYLE TURLEY
As long as Kyle Turley has the hands, his smaller frame won't be a
problem.
The Kansas City Chiefs have every reason in the football world to secure
Kyle Turley's talent at this point in the offseason. Turley was once a
295-pound offensive tackle that had plenty to say on and off the field.
Today, he's a 262-pound guy looking for work, and the Chiefs are on to
the possibilities he presents.
As long as Kyle Turley has the hands, his smaller frame won't be a
problem.
I say forget asking him to "beef" back up to close to 300 pounds. There
are a lot of ways to use the former star in the modern game. Turley can
be the blocking tight end opposite Tony Gonzalez, and that produces an
extra gap for the running game to exploit. Turley can be the third
offensive tackle, and not too many teams have a backup tackle with his
credentials. The Chiefs can use some of that "U-71" personnel grouping
like Green Bay did when Kevin Barry came in as an extra tackle at the
tight-end slot. Short-yardage and goal-line offense is an excellent
place to use Turley.
One of my favorite concepts that has never taken hold in the NFL is
situational substitution for offensive linemen. Turley could easily come
in with the third and fourth wide receivers on passing downs as the
"dime tackle." At 262 pounds, he's plenty big enough to block an outside
linebacker or pick up a blitzing safety or corner. Not too many of the
third-down pass rushers are going to maul Turley with bulk and power.
The NFL game on third downs has turned into a situation of which team
has the best speed athletes on the field. I say sign Turley, don't ask
him to put on any more weight, and expect to use him 20 snaps a game.
RICKY WILLIAMS
Many people seem to have forgotten that Ricky Williams came back to the
NFL after a year of wandering around in search of himself and figured
out he can still play this game at a very high level. Keep in mind that
last season while splitting time with Ronnie Brown, Williams was still
able to rush for more yards than Curtis Martin, Corey Dillon, Brian
Westbrook and Jerome Bettis, to name a few of the more respected ball
carriers in the league.
There's no telling what he can do in the Canadian Football League, and
it could only enhance his trade value. Of course, if Brown were to be
seriously injured in 2006, then Williams becomes even a more valuable
player to the Dolphins in 2007. The big "if" is whether the CFL will
relinquish its rights to the option year in 2007. Under a standard
Canadian contract, the club retains the rights to a player in his second
year. They should relinquish those contractual demands to get the big
workhorse in uniform for this season. In 2007, if he's healthy and after
a productive Canadian League season, Williams could be worth a
third-round pick on draft day.
Last year, he had his best yards-per-carry average since 2002 at 4.4,
and he has carried the ball only 168 times in two years. If Williams
does what he is capable of and if he comes back as a dominant
29-year-old rusher, the Dolphins will get calls about moving him.
REGGIE BUSH
It's no secret that I know Reggie Bush very well and I have great
admiration for his talent on the field. He is a game changer, a matchup
nightmare, and it doesn't matter what number is on his jersey. The guy
will make plays, move the chains and score touchdowns. As an old coach
once said to me, and I passed it on to Bush, "Go make another number
famous."
Don't expect to see Reggie Bush wearing this number in a bit, but expect
a lot of yards.
I remember when Keyshawn Johnson was the first pick in the draft and
didn't waste a lot of time trying to securing his college number No. 3
jersey. He went out and made No. 19 pretty famous, and he's not alone. A
lot of former college stars change their number in the pros.
Finally, it's too bad the jersey numbers became a subject discussed
around an individual named Bush. I don't believe the rules about numbers
will change any time soon, but some food for thought might be all
ineligible players wear a number between 50 and 79, and all eligible
players get the remaining numbers. Twenty-nine linemen numbers will
never be used by any club. Figure close to 18-20 of the ineligible
numbers will be issued by a club at any given time.
STEVE MCNAIR
Is he a Titan? Will he be a Raven? Could he return to the Titans? Lots
of questions about one of the few remaining superstars in the league
still available on the market. Steve McNair already has structured a
deal with Baltimore if he should be traded or released.
I don't believe he is the player he once was, but I do think he can win
games and earn the Ravens an 11-5 season and a playoff run. The Titans
could use the salary-cap space cleared if McNair is traded.
The NFL/NFLPA arbitrator is getting closer to what the deal is going to
be, and if I were to guess, the Ravens will pull the trigger on a trade
rather than wait and see how things work out in the courts. If I were
with Baltimore, I would be more afraid of McNair deciding to finish up
in Tennessee than the judge's decision.
Do you think this defense could stop NFL teams?
DT: Three-man rotation -- Dan Wilkinson, Grady Jackson, Brentson
Buckner. All three played over 50 percent of the defensive snaps for
their teams last year and give a defense incredible bulk inside.
DE: Brady Smith, Duane Clemons, Gary Walker. This group isn't as
interesting as the tackles, but they have a lot of playing experience
and could still be effective.
OLB: Tommy Polley, Peter Boulware. They can still play, especially
Polley, who was in on 80 percent of the plays last season.
ILB: Jamie Sharper, Chris Claiborne, Earl Holmes, Junior Seau. Older
guys, but splitting time could work.
CB: Ty Law, Ahmed Plummer, Dexter McCleon, Denard Walker.
S: Lance Schulters, Brent Alexander, Keion Carpenter. This secondary had
over 20 interceptions last season.
They all need a home. Maybe they should form a club and play a few
preseason scrimmages against actual NFL teams.