NFC reports

Sporting News, The, May 24, 2004

ARIZONA CARDINALS Kenny King, Wendell Bryant and rookie Darnell Dockett will battle for the under tackle position, a feature role in coach Dennis Green's defense. The position requires speed and pass-rushing ability. King has excellent instincts. Bryant, a disappointment his first two years, appears to be responding to this system. Dockett probably is the quickest of the three.... DE Kyle Vanden Bosch is coming off his second knee injury, so the coaches probably will take it easy on him in camp, but Vanden Bosch will fight that. He's a hard worker who won't easily accept a lighter load. LINEBACKERS ANALYSIS: WLB Raynoch Thompson, because of his athletic ability, is an ideal fit. He will roam free and make plays. Thompson is tough and has become a better student of the game. Steady MLB Ronald McKinnon is a relentless worker and a good leader. He has chafed at being removed in nickel situations in past years, and he might get to play on some passing downs. On the strong side, incumbent Levar Fisher had surgery on both knees and hopes to be ready for camp. He's a good athlete and hard hitter but has been injured too much. He'll be pushed by rookie Karlos Dansby, a good athlete with enough size to take on some linemen.--Kent Somers

POSITION GRADE C

ATLANTA FALCONS WR Michael Jenkins was a first-round pick, but he'll have to beat out Brian Finneran, the team's best route runner. Jenkins, who's 6-4, is faster than Finneran, who's 6-5, but Jenkins needs to learn the nuances of the position, such as staying low through breaks and using his height to his advantage. Finneran excels at those things.... C Todd McClure might become an elite player under new line coach Alex Gibbs, who is teaching cut-block techniques that get ends and linebackers on the ground quickly. McClure (6-1, 286) doesn't match up well against massive tackles, but the threat of the cut block could give him an advantage. LINEBACKERS ANALYSIS: WLB Keith Brooking has been moved from the middle, and that should help the coverage. The pass defense was atrocious last season; linebackers often were confused, shifting furiously before a snap. Brooking, the team's fastest linebacker, should be able to disrupt short routes. Incumbent MLB Chris Draft will be pushed by Jamie Duncan, though Duncan has suffered a drop-off in speed. SLB Matt Stewart is skilled at forcing fumbles and wrapping up ballcarriers. He needs to improve in coverage. Rookie Demorrio Williams likely will replace Stewart in 2005.--George Henry

POSITION GRADE B

CAROLINA PANTHERS The move of Jordan Gross from right to left tackle shouldn't be much of an adjustment because he played on that side in college. Gross surpassed expectations as a run blocker last season and should continue to improve. His biggest strength is pass blocking. Gross has excellent quickness and footwork, and not many defensive linemen are fast enough to get around him.... TE Mike Seidman had his rookie year cut short by a knee injury, but he should be ready for camp. Seidman is expected to play plenty in two-tight end sets. He has shown promise as a blocker, and though he caught only five passes in '03, Seidman's 6-4 frame is a nice target. LINEBACKERS ANALYSIS: SLB Mark Fields should be able to play after battling Hodgkin's disease. Before the illness, Fields had exceptional quickness and was a force as a pass rusher. He also could go sideline to sideline against the run. Brandon Short will be the first option if Fields isn't ready, and Jessie Armstead is another possibility. But the team would like to use Armstead on the weak side as a backup to emerging Will Witherspoon, whose skills are similar to Fields'. MLB Dan Morgan can drop into coverage and rush the quarterback, but injuries have been a problem for him.--Pat Yasinskas

POSITION GRADE B

CHICAGO BEARS The offensive line has gone back to using an old teaching tool, blocking sleds. The new staff is using them to encourage linemen to fire off the ball simultaneously and drive defenders off the line of scrimmage.... Rabih Abdullah has moved from running back to fullback, where he will battle Jason McKie for the backup job behind Bryan Johnson. Releasing FB Stanley Pritchett means Ahdullah is a favorite to make the roster. His versatility is an asset, and he also is a special teams cover ace.... SS Mike Green wraps up well as a tackler and excels at playing the ball in the air. He can play nickel back with his good coverage skills. The Bears love his versatility, which is why he's favored in a position battle with Bobby Gray. LINEBACKERS ANALYSIS: MLB Brian Urlacher is the star of the defense. But he wasn't involved in one turnover last year and had only 2 1/2 sacks. In the new scheme, coach Lovie Smith expects five interceptions and five sacks from him. Urlacher and Lance Briggs, who is moving from the strong to weak side, will make the majority of plays. Briggs plays fast and is a relentless heavy hitter. He must improve his coverage ability, though. The strongside spot comes down to Joe Odom and Bryan Knight, with Odom the favorite thanks to better athletic ability. Reserve MLB Hunter Hillenmeyer and rookie WLB Leon Joe can run, but they can't be counted on for much beyond special teams.--Mike Milligan