MajorVirus Posted July 26, 2005 Report Share Posted July 26, 2005 [b]Team Report[/b] 7/24/2005 Print it By Chick Ludwig Dayton Daily News By moving to RDT, John Thornton should be fresher for the start of the season because he won't get beat up by double-teams from the massive duo of RG Bobbie Williams and RT Willie Anderson. That honor falls to LDT Bryan Robinson, who is built to take a pounding as the strongside tackle. The undersized Thornton was physically drained after training camp last year, but that won't be the case this year. He expects to have a solid season because he'll face more single blocks, which should lead to more sacks, quarterback hurries and productivity against the run. . . . Backup T Stacy Andrews will get plenty of snaps early in camp while Anderson continues his recovery from arthroscopic surgery that repaired torn right knee cartilage. Anderson's rehab is going smoothly, but he still needs to strengthen the muscles around the knee, and that could take up most of the club's three-week camp. He plans to be in the starting lineup for the opener at Cleveland, extending his team-high streak of consecutive starts to 81. . . . LB Caleb Miller, slowed by an ankle injury from 2004 that lingered the entire offseason, has to prove he can stay healthy in order to become MLB Odell Thurman's top backup. If Miller can excel on special teams, he'll earn more time in the base defense. [b]SCOUTING REPORT:[/b] Pro Bowl WR Chad Johnson is already an elite player, but there's plenty of room for improvement as a receiver, ball carrier and blocker in the running game. By studying film of teammate Peter Warrick, Johnson hopes he can mirror some of Warrick's quick moves and fakes so that he can become even more explosive both in traffic and in the open field. Johnson is known primarily as a deep threat because of his blazing speed. He strikes fear in opponents on post patterns, corner routes and skinny posts. With his ability to defeat man coverage, turn quickly and accelerate downfield, Johnson wants to become a more dangerous weapon on quick-slant patterns, where he can turn a 5-yard route into a 50-yard TD. [b]INSIDE DISH:[/b] Individually, WR Chad Johnson has reached the NFL's summit with three straight 1,000-yard seasons and two straight Pro Bowl trips. Now his sights are set on the Mount Everest of daytime television -- The Oprah Winfrey Show. Landing a guest appearance on the show has become Johnson's passion. He says he wants to help the less fortunate and improve himself as a person, and he figures the best role model to turn to for guidance is the rich and famous TV celebrity, philanthropist and humanitarian. "It might sound unusual for a man looking up to a woman, but she's just someone I would need to sit down with and talk to on how to better myself, all around, as a person," Johnson says. "She's one of the only people I think about. There's Oprah, Bill Cosby and Magic Johnson. Bill, he's completely out of the way. Magic is somewhat reachable because he's a sports figure. But Oprah would just be the best. She's nice. I've been watching her all my life. My mom watches her. My grandma watches her. What she's accomplished, there aren't even words for it. That's what I'm trying to do, but in my own way. She networks real well. I don't have that network ability, so I need that networking person who can help me out in whatever way possible because I don't get that here. All I get here is football. So Oprah, call me." [b]QUARTERBACKS ANALYSIS:[/b] Grade: B. Carson Palmer has Pro Bowl potential and is expected to deliver a breakout season, and Jon Kitna is a solid veteran backup who knows the offense better than anyone. The battle to watch is for No. 3 between Casey Bramlet and Craig Krenzel. This position is a clear-cut strength. WHO DEY!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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