NFC South: Derrick Mason
Darren Sproles has shot at history
December, 29, 2011
12/29/11
12:46
PM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
He’s contributed heavily as a runner, receiver and returner and Sproles’ total body of work is turning out to be one of the best all-around seasons in NFL history. Sproles already has become the first player in NFL history to have 1,200 yards from scrimmage and 1,200 kick/punt returns in a single season, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
But Sproles also has a chance to break the NFL record for all-purpose yards in a season. He currently has 2,528, which ranks fourth in history. Sproles needs 163 yards against Carolina on Sunday to break the record (2,690) set by Derrick Mason in 2000. The only other players with more all-purpose yards in a season were Michael Lewis (2,647) in 2002 and Lionel James (2,535) in 1985.
The Atlanta Falcons are next in our series of team-by-team mailbags.
ATLJBO in Atlanta writes: I see you are hinting towards Brian Williams starting on the other island opposite of Dunta Robinson. In one of Thomas Dmitroff recent interviews, he said Brian Williams will be in the competition for the inside position. Inside meaning a nickel back. I personally think Brian Williams is depth.
Pat Yasinskas: You very well could end up being right on that and nobody would be happier than the Falcons if it plays out that way. I’m simply saying Williams is the leader for a starting job right now because he’s experienced and played well in a starting role before his injury. But the Falcons are going to let Chris Owens, Brent Grimes and Chevis Jackson compete for the second cornerback spot. They have high hopes for all of those young guys. If one of them really steps up, the Falcons would be happy to use Williams as their nickelback. If they end up having to start Williams, he is at least reliable.
Joe in Perrysburg, Ohio, writes: I am a die-hard Atlanta Falcons fan and I am curious to know whether or not they will pursue a wide receiver via free agency or the NFL Draft? As of now, the Falcons have two solid receivers in Michael Jenkins and Roddy White. However, Harry Douglas will be a mystery going into the 2010 season because of his ACL injury and Brian Finneran didn’t accomplish much this past season. I feel they need just one slot receiver, possibly like a Derrick Mason, Antonio Bryant or whoever to bolster the offense. What are the chances that Dimitroff will sign a wide or slot receiver?
Pat Yasinskas: First off, I think Bryant and Mason come with higher price tags than the Falcons are willing to pay. Second, and more importantly, they truly are counting on Douglas being a big factor this year. The one positive is that it happened so early in the preseason that he’s had plenty of time in the recovery progress and the knee shouldn’t be an issue by training camp. The Falcons loved what Douglas showed as a rookie. They think he can be the slot guy this year and, maybe, eventually challenge Jenkins for a starting job.
Tyler in Calgary, Alberta, writes: Most people thought the Falcons would address their secondary with the first pick, but with the signing of Dunta Robinson that won't happen. Do you see them going DE or OLB with that pick?
Pat Yasinskas: I suspect they’ll go with one of those positions in the first round because those are the biggest needs and Dimitroff likes to target needs. But it’s hard to choose between the two spots right now. Drafting in the latter half of the first round means the Falcons are at the mercy of the teams in front of them. In general terms, I’d say you have a better chance of hitting on a linebacker in their spot than you do of getting a sure-thing at defensive end. Atlanta’s recent history (Jamaal Anderson) shows there are no guarantees at defensive end, even if you have a top-10 pick.
Jim in Chino Hills, Calif., writes: Pat, I think all rational Falcon fans realize that Dunta Robinson is not a Revis shutdown-type of corner, and that we undoubtedly overpaid a bit to get him. However, he will be a definite upgrade to what we had last year. However, since the signing I've seen a lot of 'experts' talking about how horrible Robinson has been the last several years....Just sour grapes ? Whats' the real take?
Pat Yasinskas: From the people I’ve talked to, the consensus is Robinson didn’t have a good year last year, but that may be largely because he was coming off ACL surgery. A lot of people will tell you that it’s not until the second year after surgery that a player really gets back to full strength. I’m sure the Falcons did their medical homework and their share of scouting on Robinson. Yes, they might have overpaid to some degree. But Robinson is an upgrade over what they had last year. He also was the best corner on the market that wasn’t already getting near the end of his career, and he was better than any corner the Falcons could have taken in the second half of the first round.
ATLJBO in Atlanta writes: I see you are hinting towards Brian Williams starting on the other island opposite of Dunta Robinson. In one of Thomas Dmitroff recent interviews, he said Brian Williams will be in the competition for the inside position. Inside meaning a nickel back. I personally think Brian Williams is depth.
Pat Yasinskas: You very well could end up being right on that and nobody would be happier than the Falcons if it plays out that way. I’m simply saying Williams is the leader for a starting job right now because he’s experienced and played well in a starting role before his injury. But the Falcons are going to let Chris Owens, Brent Grimes and Chevis Jackson compete for the second cornerback spot. They have high hopes for all of those young guys. If one of them really steps up, the Falcons would be happy to use Williams as their nickelback. If they end up having to start Williams, he is at least reliable.
Joe in Perrysburg, Ohio, writes: I am a die-hard Atlanta Falcons fan and I am curious to know whether or not they will pursue a wide receiver via free agency or the NFL Draft? As of now, the Falcons have two solid receivers in Michael Jenkins and Roddy White. However, Harry Douglas will be a mystery going into the 2010 season because of his ACL injury and Brian Finneran didn’t accomplish much this past season. I feel they need just one slot receiver, possibly like a Derrick Mason, Antonio Bryant or whoever to bolster the offense. What are the chances that Dimitroff will sign a wide or slot receiver?
Pat Yasinskas: First off, I think Bryant and Mason come with higher price tags than the Falcons are willing to pay. Second, and more importantly, they truly are counting on Douglas being a big factor this year. The one positive is that it happened so early in the preseason that he’s had plenty of time in the recovery progress and the knee shouldn’t be an issue by training camp. The Falcons loved what Douglas showed as a rookie. They think he can be the slot guy this year and, maybe, eventually challenge Jenkins for a starting job.
Tyler in Calgary, Alberta, writes: Most people thought the Falcons would address their secondary with the first pick, but with the signing of Dunta Robinson that won't happen. Do you see them going DE or OLB with that pick?
Pat Yasinskas: I suspect they’ll go with one of those positions in the first round because those are the biggest needs and Dimitroff likes to target needs. But it’s hard to choose between the two spots right now. Drafting in the latter half of the first round means the Falcons are at the mercy of the teams in front of them. In general terms, I’d say you have a better chance of hitting on a linebacker in their spot than you do of getting a sure-thing at defensive end. Atlanta’s recent history (Jamaal Anderson) shows there are no guarantees at defensive end, even if you have a top-10 pick.
Jim in Chino Hills, Calif., writes: Pat, I think all rational Falcon fans realize that Dunta Robinson is not a Revis shutdown-type of corner, and that we undoubtedly overpaid a bit to get him. However, he will be a definite upgrade to what we had last year. However, since the signing I've seen a lot of 'experts' talking about how horrible Robinson has been the last several years....Just sour grapes ? Whats' the real take?
Pat Yasinskas: From the people I’ve talked to, the consensus is Robinson didn’t have a good year last year, but that may be largely because he was coming off ACL surgery. A lot of people will tell you that it’s not until the second year after surgery that a player really gets back to full strength. I’m sure the Falcons did their medical homework and their share of scouting on Robinson. Yes, they might have overpaid to some degree. But Robinson is an upgrade over what they had last year. He also was the best corner on the market that wasn’t already getting near the end of his career, and he was better than any corner the Falcons could have taken in the second half of the first round.
Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas
TAMPA, Fla. -- There could be even another element to the quarterback situation for the Buccaneers.
The team could be looking to trade one of its quarterbacks for a draft pick. Coach Raheem Morris wouldn't confirm an NFL.com report that the Bucs are shopping three of their quarterbacks for a trade, but he didn't deny it either.
"Oh, man, they're Nostradamus," Morris said when asked about the report. "Everybody in this league, all 32 teams around this time start calling front offices. I can't control who calls us. Everybody's interested in everybody's roster and everybody's looking to nit-pick off everybody's roster. Everybody has talent and you're trying to accumulate the best talent on your football team. That's just all that talk is what that is."
But it makes total sense for the Bucs to at least try to find out what the market value might be for Byron Leftwich, Luke McCown or Josh Johnson. They're not about to let go of rookie Josh Freeman, who they call their franchise quarterback.
But that's likely in the future. For now, it appears the Bucs will open the season with either Leftwich or McCown as their starter. They're about even at this point and a potential trade could play into Morris' decision, although the Bucs likely would be able to get only a late-round pick (at best) for any of their quarterbacks.
Leftwich, a former starter in Jacksonville, probably has more trade value because of his experience. McCown has only seven starts. Johnson, a second-year pro, has yet to play in an NFL game and probably wouldn't bring much in a trade.
TAMPA, Fla. -- There could be even another element to the quarterback situation for the Buccaneers.
The team could be looking to trade one of its quarterbacks for a draft pick. Coach Raheem Morris wouldn't confirm an NFL.com report that the Bucs are shopping three of their quarterbacks for a trade, but he didn't deny it either.
"Oh, man, they're Nostradamus," Morris said when asked about the report. "Everybody in this league, all 32 teams around this time start calling front offices. I can't control who calls us. Everybody's interested in everybody's roster and everybody's looking to nit-pick off everybody's roster. Everybody has talent and you're trying to accumulate the best talent on your football team. That's just all that talk is what that is."
But it makes total sense for the Bucs to at least try to find out what the market value might be for Byron Leftwich, Luke McCown or Josh Johnson. They're not about to let go of rookie Josh Freeman, who they call their franchise quarterback.
But that's likely in the future. For now, it appears the Bucs will open the season with either Leftwich or McCown as their starter. They're about even at this point and a potential trade could play into Morris' decision, although the Bucs likely would be able to get only a late-round pick (at best) for any of their quarterbacks.
Leftwich, a former starter in Jacksonville, probably has more trade value because of his experience. McCown has only seven starts. Johnson, a second-year pro, has yet to play in an NFL game and probably wouldn't bring much in a trade.
Supporting the case for Roddy White
November, 19, 2008
11/19/08
3:30
PM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas
 |
| White |
Just got an e-mail from ESPN Stats & Analysis that adds some credence to selecting Atlanta's Roddy White and Michael Jenkins as the best receiving tandem in the NFC South.
White is at the top of the league when it comes to a crucial receiving category. On third downs where the offense needs seven or more yards, White has come through with more catches than any receiver in the league this season with 12. (We're not going to get into Sunday's fourth-quarter non-catch against Denver right now because that's been addressed already). Baltimore's Derrick Mason and Pittsburgh's Hines Ward have 10 each, and Cincinnati's T.J. Houshmandzadeh has nine.
BACK TO TOP
Page: 1
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Pat Yasinskas
Yasinskas joined ESPN.com in January 2008 after covering the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer for nine seasons. He began his journalism career with The Tampa Tribune in 1990.
