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Our man Ron Jaworski has studied some tape of Chip Kelly's Oregon teams and has some concerns about Kelly's ability to bring the concepts he used in college with him to the NFL. Per Sheil Kapadia:

“It’s going to be interesting to see if this style of offense projects to the NFL,” Jaws said during an interview with Harry Mayes and Nick Kayal on 97.5 The Fanatic earlier this week. “I’m going to say no.”

“I just don’t see NFL passing concepts in this offense. It’s a movement offense by the quarterback, off the run-action, off the read-action. A lot of short, quick passes, dart routes, bubble screens. Very few plays down the field with NFL passing concepts.”

Jaws added that he’s had several conversations with Kelly and hopes he’s wrong. But he offered an honest assessment of what he’s seen on tape.

Sure, and look. It's entirely possible that Kelly is a college-to-pro flop in the tradition of Steve Spurrier or Nick Saban. But it's also possible that he's a smart guy who understands that what worked in the Pac 12 isn't going to work if he tries to transplant it whole-hog into the NFL. It's possible that the NFL version of Kelly's offense has downfield NFL passing concepts. Certainly, if Michael Vick is the quarterback, Kelly will have a stronger-armed passer than he ever had at Oregon and would be foolish not to find a way to take advantage of that.

I think it's understandable for analysts to be asked and to offer their opinions on what the Eagles will be with Kelly running them. I understand the excitement over new things and the eagerness to know as much as possible about them as soon as possible. But I really think it's important to remember that none of us -- Kelly likely included -- yet knows what Kelly's offense is going to look like in Philadelphia. It is May 22. The first games are still nearly four months away. And any reasonable judgment on whether Kelly can or can't succeed as an NFL coach is much further away than that.

ESPN's Ron Jaworski and Merril Hoge are taking opposite sides in picking the Baltimore-San Francisco winner in the Super Bowl.

As they spoke, my mind turned to the few players on each team with the raw athletic ability, notably speed, to make game-breaking plays.

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick, tight end Vernon Davis and possibly running back LaMichael James are three such players for San Francisco. Receiver Torrey Smith is one such player for Baltimore.

Jaworski is picking the Ravens based on how well Joe Flacco is playing. He'll be covered either way, however. Before Flacco got on a hot streak against Denver and New England, Jaworski cited Kaepernick as the reason he thought the 49ers would win it all.

ESPN's Ron Jaworski is back with his latest rankings of NFL quarterbacks. He puts Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck just ahead of Russell Wilson among rookies. He's got Sam Bradford quite a bit lower, with a chance to go higher with a stronger supporting cast.

Jaworski offers analysis for each quarterback. What he said about the San Francisco 49ers' Colin Kaepernick was what stood out to me from an NFC West standpoint.

"Kaepernick is the reason I like the San Francisco 49ers to win it all," Jaworski wrote. "Between his arm strength and his foot speed, there is nothing the Niners' offense can't do. They've got the smashmouth ground game, and the quick-strike deep ball. He has shown good feel in the pocket and, like Griffin, looks to make the pass first and doesn't default to his legs at the first sign of pressure."

Jaworski is expecting the 49ers' coaching staff to have big plans for Kaepernick in the playoffs.

When it comes to completion percentage, the Ravens' Joe Flacco ranks 21st in the NFL at 60.4 percent. Flacco's 250 yards passing per game ranks 15th in the league. His 13 touchdowns are 17th and his 56.4 QBR is 16th (and third-best in the AFC North).

So where does he rank with ESPN's Ron Jaworski?

"[C]learly I think Joe Flacco is a top-10 quarterback," Jaworski said in a conference call with reporters. "For some reason, just doesn't seem to get the recognition that I believe he richly deserved."

Flacco is a top-10 quarterback -- perhaps even a top-five one -- when playing at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium. His 85.1 QBR at home leads all qualifying quarterbacks.

The problem is how Flacco struggles on the road. His 25.0 QBR is the third-worst in the league, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Asked about the disparity, Jaworski acknowledged he didn't have a great explanation for it.

"Here's what I like about what they do, and maybe this is maybe the difference between being great at home and not so great on the road," he said. "They're a deep-ball passing team. They want to throw it down the field. In fact, I got done doing a breakdown which shows passes of 20 yards or more, and he's 25 of 61, 767 yards and seven touchdowns. Now the completion percentage is only 41 percent. But remember you're throwing the ball more than 20 yards down the field, and it's produced seven touchdowns. Because they're such hit-or-miss plays, maybe they've tried more of these on the road than they have at home. That's about the only thing that would pop into my mind right now."'

Jaworski also addressed another quarterback in the AFC North, the Browns' Brandon Weeden.

“With a young quarterback, it’s all about becoming more consistent, and I’m seeing as the season progresses, he has gotten better,” Jaworski said. “So I think Weeden does have a future in Cleveland.”

Jaworski's opinion of Weeden has changed since the preseason when he thought the Browns were rushing Weeden.

"I did not think he was ready to become a starting quarterback in the NFL," Jaworski said. "Now he has gotten better every week. He still needs to improve, but I think he will improve.”

With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers winning and the offense putting up big numbers, a lot of people are jumping back on the Josh Freeman bandwagon. Count ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Ron Jaworski as one of them.

Jaworksi spent a lot of time singing the praises of the Tampa Bay quarterback in a recent conference call with the national media.

"Josh Freeman is playing phenomenal football," Jaworski said. "I thought last year he really struggled with his accuracy. As their season wore on and their record got worse, disinterest might be the wrong word, but there just didn't seem to be a fire in that Bucs offense. That usually reflects upon the quarterback, and I thought Josh really struggled last season. Two years ago I thought he was really coming on and had the potential to be a superstar. I'm seeing that superstar potential now come to the forefront.

"I think clearly Freeman is on his way to becoming a superstar in this league. He's got all the attributes you would want in a quarterback. Clearly those are being refined."

Jaworski cited the new offensive scheme of coordinator Mike Sullivan for much of Freeman’s improvement. Jaworski proudly pointed out that Sullivan worked at his alma mater (Youngstown State) as an assistant and went on to coach receivers and quarterbacks with the New York Giants.

"Here's what I like, and it is crystal clear what this offense is about,’’ Jaworski said. "It's about discipline. We know (coach) Greg (Schiano) has brought that to the Buccaneers in general. But when you watch this offense, and the first thing that stood out to me, it's much like the Giants' offense. It's not complex; it's not sophisticated. We're not going to beat you at shifts, motions and gimmicks and gadgets. We're going to play football first. That template has worked for Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants. Mike Sullivan is cut from that same cloth."

Jaworski also praised how the Bucs have dealt with a rash of injuries on their offensive line.

"I'm here in Philadelphia, and people are complaining about all the losses in the offensive line," Jaworski said. "Well, Tampa's lost four of their starters in the offensive line. No one's whining, no one's complaining. Go out and do your job. They've developed that nextmanup philosophy that's been heard of around the league. People say it, but you actually have to go on the field and perform."

BUFORD, Ga. -- It’s time to start looking ahead to the "Monday Night Football" game between the Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos.

Let’s take a look at some of the preview stuff from the pages of our site:

Here’s my advance column on the game. It’s about how Matt Ryan and the Falcons have played a lot of prime-time games in recent years, but the major storyline always has featured the opponent. The Falcons have a chance to start changing that against Denver.

Take a look at this Insider piece that examines how Denver’s Peyton Manning and Ryan have fared historically when getting pressured by the pass rush. I don’t think you’ll be surprised by what the numbers have to say.

In this Insider piece , Ron Jaworski writes that Atlanta’s offense is becoming elite. That’s based on the season-opening performance against Kansas City, but I agree with Jaworski. I think Ryan will blossom because he’s surrounded by so much talent at the skill positions. The only thing that could throw the Atlanta offense off track is if the offensive line has problems.

Here’s our Monday Night HQ page, which features just about everything you could want to know about the game.

Also, we’ll be doing Countdown Live throughout the game. Just check this blog this evening and you’ll be able to get in. Please stop by and chat with us as we watch the Falcons and Broncos.

Tampa Bay coach Greg Schiano is getting some pretty strong support from high places for the way he handled the end of Sunday’s loss to the New York Giants.

Although the Giants were lining up in the victory formation to run out the clock at the end of the game, Schiano still had his defense going hard and going after the ball. New York coach Tom Coughlin was critical of Schiano’s tactics immediately after the game.

But, as the story comes under closer scrutiny Monday, others are saying there’s nothing wrong with Schiano’s approach.

“There’s no doubt Tom Coughlin owes Greg Schiano an apology for how he reacted after the game,’’ ESPN and former NFL analyst Ron Jaworski said in this radio interview .

Jaworski went on to say, “You play to the end of the game."

Former NFL player and coach Mike Ditka also said there was nothing wrong with what Schiano did in this radio interview .

“You’ve got pads and a helmet on," Ditka said. “The game’s not over. Play."

I’m with Jaworski and Ditka on this one. If the Giants had been ahead by two scores or more, then Schiano might have been breaking some unwritten rules. But his team was down by only a touchdown. It was a long shot that the Giants would botch a snap or a handoff. But when you're only down a touchdown, you have to do everything you can with that hope in mind.

Coughlin might not have liked the way the Bucs played. But it’s not Schiano’s job to make Coughlin happy. His job is to try to win. He tried to do his job and he did it legally.

You’re welcome to agree or disagree in the comments section below. Also, please head over to SportsNation, where you can cast a vote on whether you think Schiano or Coughlin is right on this one. Last I looked, the majority of fans were backing Schiano.

Sunday NFL Countdown airs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET on ESPN. Here are some of the features you can see this week:

Giants’ finish line: Before the Giants’ Super Bowl XLVI victory, as part of an inspirational speech, coach Tom Coughlin showed his underdog team a video that helped motivate his players. Coughlin’s message all season was to finish, and that’s what the Giants did against New England. A look at how Coughlin’s speech and team video motivated New York to cap its season hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.

RG3 quotables: Coming off a spectacular debut in New Orleans, Robert Griffin III gets set for his second career NFL regular-season game. Even though he’s the first quarterback born in the 1990s to start a game, Griffin has become a leader in Washington -- posting quotes in the locker room. Hear Redskins veterans talk about Griffin, and the impact his quotes have had on the team in such a short time.

Kirby Wilson: Just two days before Pittsburgh was set to face Denver in the 2011 playoffs, Steelers running backs coach Kirby Wilson’s house caught fire. Wilson survived, but suffered second- and third-degree burns on more than half his body. It has been a long road to recovery, but after months of rehabilitation, Wilson is back on the sidelines, an inspiration to his family, his team and the community.

Hangin’ with Jaws: Ron Jaworski welcomes two high-profile quarterbacks into his film room as he dissects game film with Joe Flacco and Michael Vick, who square off Sunday afternoon.

Selling DeMarco Murray: What made the Cowboys decide to draft Murray in the third round of the 2011 draft? A call from former Cowboys and Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer to sell Jerry Jones on the explosive running back.

ESPN NFL analyst and quarterback guru Ron Jaworksi wrote his debut column Thursday. It featured his thoughts on several quarterbacks, including Miami Dolphins rookie Ryan Tannehill.

Here is Jaworski’s analysis:

"Ryan Tannehill had a good preseason, though he doesn't have much around him. Physically, he showed good, high ball carriage and a quick, powerful throwing motion (a little Dan Marino like at the top of his drop). That allowed him to fit the ball into some tight windows even when his timing was a little late. He also showed a good clock in his head and knew when to get rid of the ball. However, he struggled with his progression reading and sometimes showed a tendency to lock on to one half of the field and stare down WRs at times. Some rushed decision-making also prevented Tannehill from letting the play develop, causing him to leave plays on the field, especially down the field."

I agree with this overall assessment of Tannehill. Jaworski hit on many of the same things I saw from Tannehill in training camp practices and the preseason.

The thing that stands out most is his ability to make all the throws. Tannehill has the arm and athleticism to do everything asked of a quarterback in the West Coast offense. However, sometimes it's hard to tell because of his limited wide receivers. Tannehill also needs to do a better job of getting to his second and third progressions. As Jaworski mentioned, Tannehill does have the tendency to stare down his No. 1 option. Opponents will pick up on that quickly in the NFL.

We have not mentioned Ron Jaworski's quarterback countdown on this blog yet, because until today it had yet to affect the NFC East. Jaws is counting down his top 30 NFL quarterbacks on SportsCenter, one day at a time, in reverse order. Washington Redskins rookie Robert Griffin III and Colts rookie Andrew Luck are not included in the countdown, so only three from our division are. And it turns out all three are in the top 12.

No. 12 was revealed Friday morning on SportsCenter (you might be able to catch it still on one of the afternoon reruns), and it was Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick.

Jaws professes his belief that there's no other quarterback in the league with Vick's combination of passing ability and running ability, which is true. His problem with Vick, as he puts it, is "his willingness to run -- to play the position outside the pocket, outside the structure of the offense." He shows a play from the game in Buffalo in which Vick faced no pressure and never set his feet to throw, clearly indicating that he'd already decided, pre-snap, to run the ball. On the play in question, Vick fails to see a wide-open Jason Avant.

Now, I've mentioned a few times that it doesn't look, when you watch from the press box, that Vick is especially good at reading the field and finding open receivers. Perhaps this idea of Jaworski's is part of that -- perhaps he just makes up his mind too quickly.

All of that said, Jaws points out that this is the first full offseason since 2006 that Vick has worked as a starting quarterback, and he believes Vick can become a more disciplined player. "A more disciplined player will result in fewer turnovers," he says. "I would not be surprised if we're getting ready to see the best year of Vick's 10-year career."

I can agree with that. I don't know what kind of year Vick has, or the extent to which he'll be a more disciplined player. But I certainly wouldn't be surprised by anything we see from Vick. We know he's capable of doing things no one else can -- of giving the Eagles a huge matchup advantage at the quarterback position in any given week. The Eagles just need him to do it every week.

And yeah, this means Tony Romo and Eli Manning are in the top 11. And yes, I know their rankings and when their segments roll out. But no, I'm not telling you.

We have our first AFC West quarterback Ron Jaworski’s top 30 NFL quarterback rankings. He is counting down from 30.

Tuesday, Jaworski revealed that Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel is the 22nd best quarterback in the league. It is not a surprise that he is the lowest rated quarterback in the division. I agree with that assessment.

I do think the Chiefs can win with Cassel, and so does Jaworski. Despite the fairly low ranking, Jaworski was complimentary of Cassel. He thinks he can be successful (like he was in 2010) with a strong running game, and by taking advantage of play-action situations. With Jamaal Charles healthy and Peyton Hillis on the roster, I think we can see another successful season by Cassel.

Here are some thoughts from Jaworski on Cassel: “My 22nd-rated quarterback is Matt Cassel. Remember, two years ago, Cassel led the Chiefs to the AFC West title. He was outstanding that year, with 27 touchdowns and only seven picks. His 2011 season was cut short by injury, but his passing profile remain the same.

“Cassel is at his best in a managed offense that features run personnel, run formations and the play-action pass game. Play-action primarily gives the quarterback 'either-or' defined reads. Cassel is very good in that scenario. ... Cassel throws the ball better to the inside -- digs, hooks and throws like that -- than he does to the outside. That’s the way it is with quarterbacks with limited arm strength.

“In addition, the deep throws often come on first down. Play-action is almost always featured. As is six- or seven-man pass-protection schemes. ... You give Matt Cassel a solid run game, a good offensive line, room in the pocket to deliver the football comfortably, and he can be a very efficient NFL starter. That’s what he is. He’s a function of the team around him. And he needs those pieces in place working effectively.”

Some of you have noticed that ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski is conducting a 30-part review of the NFL's top quarterbacks, a production that should generate considerable interest in this division as we approach the top 10. The NFC North portion kicked off, however, with the Minnesota Vikings' Christian Ponder checking in at No. 28.

(Tim Tebow was No. 30 and Blaine Gabbert was No. 29, for those interested.)

We discussed Ponder's goals and challenges for improvement last month. Jaworski said he expects Ponder "to improve significantly this season" and pointed out some positives and negatives in his assessment. Here are some excerpts:

"Ponder has many of the attributes I look for when I evaluate quarterbacks. I saw pocket movement, the ability to move within the pocket, maintain downfield focus and deliver the football with accuracy. I also saw the added dimension of getting outside the pocket in response to pressure with the speed to create an explosive gain. And how about this for a rookie quarterback: Ponder’s rating was 114, the NFL’s best inside the 20. His movement was also a big factor, as was his willingness to make stick throws into those small windows, a necessity in the tight red zone area. …

As he begins his second season, Ponder needs work as a progression reader. He had a tendency to predetermine some throws, and, in addition, there were too many times he did not recognize the coverage."

Jaworski specifically noted the first of Ponder's three interceptions in a Week 11 loss to the Oakland Raiders. (Video here via NFL.com.) On the play, Ponder forced a pass to his first read -- slot receiver Percy Harvin -- even though safety Matt Giordano had the play read perfectly from the outset.

Jaworski: "His primary read was Percy Harvin on a corner route from the slot. The half-field safety was sitting right there, settled, looking back at Ponder. As a quarterback, you have to be aware of that. That’s part of the learning curve for Ponder."

That example fits perfectly with something Ponder acknowledged was an important part of his progression last month. As part of an effort to be more efficient on first down, Ponder said he wants to be more aware of checkdown possibilities.

"Just [need to make] smarter decisions, I think," he said. "Not trying to force the ball down the field. I think if we have go routes called, if it's not open, have the patience to be able to check it down. It all comes down to patience and knowing your reads and finding the open guy. Football is not a hard game. You've just got to find the open guy and get the ball to him."

We'll keep you updated on where Jaworski ranks Aaron Rodgers, Jay Cutler and Matthew Stafford. He is reporting on one player per day, so I'm guessing it will be a few weeks before we circle back on this project from a division perspective.

(Hat tip to ESPN communications guru Bill Hofheimer for passing along the transcript of Jaworski's analysis.)

ESPN NFL analyst Ron Jaworski knows who he likes in the Peyton Manning sweepstakes. "Jaws" told radio station 97.5 in Philadelphia that the New York Jets would be the best fit for the future Hall of Fame quarterback.

"I think it's best for Peyton to go and play on a team that can compete for a Super Bowl," Jaworski explained. "A team that might be a quarterback away from elevating that team to Super Bowl status, and I think that would be a win-win situation."

When asked to pick a team, Jaworski said, “The New York Jets. I love [Jets quarterback] Mark Sanchez, and there are 25 other quarterbacks in this league that I would take Peyton Manning over. There's a turf war in New York. The Giants just won the Super Bowl. The Jets are fighting for every inch of space they can get in the newspaper. How do you get that inch? How do you get the headlines? You sign Peyton Manning."

This sounds decent in theory, but Jaworski has overlooked several key factors.

For starters, New York currently has little cap room to make an acquisition like Manning. The Jets would have to cut a lot of veterans to make enough space to fit the perennial Pro Bowler on the roster. Second, the Jets have said publicly that Sanchez is their quarterback next season. If New York goes after Manning, that would look very disingenuous towards Sanchez.

Probably two-thirds of the league would like to have a healthy Peyton Manning at quarterback. But there's only a few teams -- the Dolphins, Cardinals, Redskins, Seahawks -- with a legitimate shot to pull it off.

The Jets are not one of those teams.

One of the things we'll be looking for Sunday at The Linc is what kind of reception quarterback Donovan McNabb receives when he takes the field with the Washington Redskins. ESPN.com's Jemele Hill joined the parade of folks writing about this topic Wednesday, and she was pretty harsh toward Eagles fans.

"The team traded him to a hated division rival," writes Hill. "That sent a crisp message about the franchise's sentiment. And considering that some meathead fans had the nerve to burn McNabb's jersey when he was traded -- as if he had asked to be dealt -- why wouldn't this same, often hateful fan base take one more chance to kick McNabb in the figurative shin?"

First of all, I don't think a couple of idiots burning a jersey represents how most of the fan base feels about McNabb. I'm convinced that McNabb will receive a standing ovation when he's introduced before the game. He's unquestionably the best quarterback in the history of the franchise and I think fans will appreciate him more and more as the years go by.

More than anything, fans were simply tired of all the near misses. McNabb had been brilliant at times during his 11 seasons, but his performances in those four NFC title-game losses and in the Super Bowl have to be considered. And as I wrote Wednesday, it always seemed like fans thought McNabb was too flippant after mistakes or losses.

I think McNabb has a lot better shot at being beloved in Philly after he's been retired for a few years. It's not like Eagles fans lavished Ron Jaworski with unconditional support during his tenure. But the fact that he lives there and is very accessible has made him one of the most popular former players in franchise history.

Eagles fans simply got a case of McNabb fatigue after 11 years. But I think they'll show their appreciation Sunday afternoon. And by the way, I've been tipped off that an Eagles fan named Charles Barkley will be wearing a McNabb Redskins jersey to show his support.

Jimmy Clausen looked very good at times in his NFL debut. Matt Moore looked mediocre at times.

Does that add up to a sudden quarterback controversy for the Carolina Panthers? Not just yet. I’ll explain why as we run through seven observations from Thursday night’s preseason game between the Panthers and Baltimore Ravens. By the way, for those who actually track preseason results, the final was Baltimore 17, Carolina 12.

1. Clausen looked very NFL ready, at least until the rain started. He made some nice throws and seemed to have a good sense of awareness. But let’s remember a few things. Clausen was playing against Baltimore’s backups and the Panthers pretty much decided Moore’s performance at the end of last season earned him the right to open this regular season as the starter. Clausen landed some jabs, but nothing close to a knockout punch.

2. Moore was far from horrible. He wasn’t spectacular, but he did some nice things. Something else to keep this in perspective -- Moore was playing against a very good Baltimore first-team defense. He also was doing it without receiver Steve Smith, right tackle Jeff Otah and running back Jonathan Stewart. All three are expected to be ready for the start of the regular season and they will make Moore a much better quarterback. Moore would have to absolutely bomb to lose the job now and he didn't do that.

3. What was the deal with Jordan Gross? The left tackle got called for three penalties in the first 12 minutes and that didn’t help Moore. I wouldn’t be too concerned with this and I doubt the Panthers are. Gross is one of the best left tackles in the league. He’s not going to have games like that in the regular season.

4. The pass rush is very much a work in progress. When it mattered with the first and second teams, the Panthers had stretches when they didn’t generate any pressure on Joe Flacco and Marc Bulger. But they also had a few flash plays where they did. The good news is veteran Tyler Brayton had two sacks on Flacco. The bad news is Brayton suffered some sort of ankle injury on his second sack. We don’t know the extent of that injury yet. The most encouraging news is rookies Greg Hardy and Eric Norwood showed some real flashes. If I’m John Fox, I let Brayton sit for most (or all) of the rest of the preseason. The Panthers know what they can get out of Brayton. They need to find out more about what they can get from Hardy, Norwood, Charles Johnson and Everette Brown.

5. Whoov? Like a lot of Carolina fans, I was more than a little concerned when the Panthers let fullback Brad Hoover go after last season. It was hard to find a fullback more dependable than Hoover. But I liked what I saw of replacement Anthony Fiammetta. He blocked well and looked good as a receiver out of the backfield.

6. Backup running back Tyrell Sutton had a few nice plays. But I wouldn’t go drafting him for your fantasy team. As long as DeAngelo Williams and Stewart are healthy, they’re going to get almost all of the carries. Besides, Sutton fumbled at the goal line and Fox isn’t big on giving the ball to guys who fumble.

7. Rookie Armanti Edwards will be a factor on offense, but not immediately. Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski both talked about how the former college quarterback is adjusting to playing wide receiver and implied it might take until about midseason for him to have much of a role in the offense. That’s the exact word I got from the Carolina brass when I visited training camp. But don’t be surprised if Edwards is handling punt returns sooner than that. That’s a new task for Edwards, too. But he showed he can catch punts, even in the rain, and the guy has the dynamics to make things happen in the open field.