Inside the NFC

Sporting News, The, March 25, 2005

The LIONS' addition of QB Jeff Garcia, who blossomed under coach Steve Mariucci with San Francisco, puts tremendous pressure on starter Joey Harrington. The team is financially committed to opening the season with Harrington as the starter, but that could change quickly if he doesn't win. Garcia doesn't have a great arm, but he's accurate and makes good decisions, qualities Mariucci values. ... FALCONS LB Demorrio Williams had trouble maintaining his weight in December and January; he was 15 pounds lighter than his listed 232. Though he certainly meets the speed criteria G.M. Rich McKay set for the defense, Williams, the projected starter on the strong side, needs to add about 10 pounds of muscle, particularly now that newly acquired OLB Ike Reese was promised a legitimate chance at the starting job. ... Ryan Nece is expected to be the BUCCANEERS' starting strongside linebacker. Nece (6-3,224) doesn't have ideal size but has good speed and pass coverage skills. The team hopes his instincts have improved to the point where he now can make sound decisions without hesitation. ... Lithe cover corner Fred Smoot has joined hard-hitting CB Antoine Winfield, giving the VIKINGS one of the better sets of corners in the league. Smoot is more reliable in coverage than former starter Brian Williams and is a more consistent playmaker. Williams faded badly last season, but his toughness and experience should make him a good nickel back. New FS Darren Sharper has stellar instincts and will provide more consistency than Brian Russell did. ... PACKERS coaches want to see how S Mark Roman fits in the new defense before writing him off. Last year, his limitations in coverage were exposed regularly. With Sharper, Bhawoh Jue and Michael Hawthorne gone, Roman is the club's only roster option at safety, but G.M. Ted Thompson seems willing to fill the void with rookies. ... CARDINALS LE Chike Okeafor fits perfectly into coordinator Clancy Pendergast's philosophy. Okeafor plays hard all the time and is very fast. With OLB Karlos Dansby behind him, the team has great speed on that side of the field. Teaming with RE Bertrand Berry, Okeafor also gives the Cardinals a pass-rushing threat at each end spot. ... The PANTHERS need to look for depth at linebacker; WLB Mark Fields' status will be uncertain until after the draft. Brandon Short doesn't have Fields' pass-rushing or coverage skills, but he's a better run defender. If Short has to start, the team will need to add a quick linebacker who can play both outside positions. ... WRs Arnaz Battle and Rashaun Woods are the leading candidates to start at flanker for the 49ERS. But the dark horse in the competition is Derrick Hamilton, a fast, athletic receiver who caused fits for cornerbacks in practice last season. ... The COWBOYS seem resigned to finding a free safety in the draft or perhaps among players released at the start of training camps. Coach Bill Parcells likes Keith Davis' physical play and knack for being around the ball but thinks Davis gambles too much and makes too many mistakes to be a starter. ... BEARS reserve S Bobby Gray is a physical player who's solid in run support, though he sometimes fails to wrap up because he's looking for the big hit. His inability to play the ball in the air has kept him behind Mike Green on the depth chart. ... There's little doubt new DB Michael Stone, a speedy tackling ace, will help the RAMS' special teams. But whether Stone can help in the secondary, either as a backup safety or covering slot receivers, remains to be seen. He barely played defense in four seasons with Arizona. ... Keep an eye on SEAHAWKS OL Sean Locklear in the coming months. He has displayed quick feet, good body control and the ability to recover when beaten by a first move in pass protection. ... The signing of Jay Feely gives the GIANTS a strong-legged kicker who could stick around for several years. Feely's field-goal numbers aren't spectacular, but his deep kickoffs and high touchback totals will further boost the team's vastly improved coverage units. ... The SAINTS' staff thinks CB Jason Craft, a versatile, experienced reserve, is talented enough to fill in as a spot starter. His re-signing improves the team's depth on the perimeter. ... The EAGLES' kickoff returner last season, J.R. Reed, could miss the season after suffering a leg injury. PR Dexter Wynn is the likely replacement, though CB Rod Hood showed he could do the job last season. RB Correll Buckhalter is another possibility, as is help from the draft. ... DT Joe Salave'a is the type of hard-working player REDSKINS coach Joe Gibbs appreciates. He's an excellent backup with a good burst off the ball and the ability to push the pocket.

Not the time to move

49ers coach Mike Nolan is considering moving CB Mike Rumph to free safety, a position some in the organization feel Rumph is better suited to play, given his 6-2,205-pound frame and hard-hitting ability. But Nolan also is determined to stockpile as many cornerbacks as he can, and considering last years lack of depth at the position, it's unlikely he'd move Rumph out of a starting position opposite CB Ahmed Plummer. Rumph's ability to blitz from the slot is an asset that shouldn't be overlooked.