NFC

Sporting News, The, June 25, 2001

Pittsburgh

WHO'S NO. 3? QB John Turman, a rookie free agent, was a bust at minicamp. As soon as the team determined that, it released Turman and signed Tommy Maddox as the fourth quarterback. His only chance to make the team rests with Tee Martin, the No. 3 quarterback last season. If Martin has progressed enough to be No. 2 behind starter Kordell Stewart, the team will not keep Kent Graham as the third quarterback because he makes too much money. In that scenario, the team prefers a veteran quarterback who doesn't cost much money, Maddox, as the third guy. But if Graham holds on to the No. 2 position, Martin will stick with the team as No. 3, and Maddox will be gone.

CORNERBACKS ANALYSIS: This is one of the deepest positions on the team. But after this season, the top four corners become free agents. So starters Chad Scott and Dewayne Washington might be playing for big contracts. Washington has great cover skills and is a solid tackler in run support. Scott never has blossomed into the top corner the team thought he could be. He is a strong run supporter who covers the short and medium routes well. Because Scott gets too aggressive at times, teams have run double moves against him and beat him deep. The third corner, Deshea Townsend, is one of the cover corners in the dime defense. Townsend is fast and has good coverage skills, but he is a little undersized (5-10, 175). Jason Simmons, the fourth cornerback, has a good burst of speed and is a good tackler but doesn't cover well. --Gory Dulac

San Diego

LOOKING GOOD: The team has concluded its summer school/pretraining camp drills, which were well-attended by veterans and rookies. All of the draft choices performed to the level expected. Some, such as QB Drew Brees, did even better. Although no one has worked in pads yet, there's no denying that Brees is ahead of the curve. "The knock on Drew before the draft was his (lack of) arm strength," coach Mike Riley says, "but we've seen none of that." ... Probably the most impressive undrafted rookie has been WR Nate Turner, who has made some terrific plays in drills and at 6-2, 210, is extremely strong and physical. Riley says Turner could be a great special teams player

CORNERBACKS ANALYSIS: The team allowed an NFL-leading 33 touchdown passes, and although it didn't have the greatest pass rush in the league, the corners didn't perform well. To change things, Butler spent a lot of money to bring in a pair of free-agent corners, Ryan McNeil from Dallas and Alex Molden from New Orleans. Both are experienced performers and the type of cover men the team was looking for. The team believes Molden is ready to blossom, and McNeil has received glowing reviews from even the harshest Cowboys critics. The nickel position will be up for grabs. Third-round draft choice Tay Cody isn't very big (5-9, 180) but has been impressive in cover drills. Former starter Fakhir Brown, who dropped off in his second season as he rebounded from a shoulder injury, probably will be a nickel back. --Nick Canepa

Seattle

FAST FORWARD: Coach Mike Holmgren has big plans for the team's first-round draft choices, WR Koren Robinson and G Steve Hutchinson. Robinson is expected to start opposite Darrell Jackson, who was the NFL's leading rookie receiver last season; Hutchinson is expected to start at left guard. Plans might change if both aren't signed and in camp July 29. The past two years, first-round picks RT Chris McIntosh and DE Lamar King missed all or most of camp and, as a result, developed slowly.... With Robinson (hamstring), Jackson (knee) and WR James Williams (foot) sidelined, WR Todd Floyd got a chance and made the most of it in a recent camp. Floyd ran crisp routes, accelerated out of his breaks, adjusted to balls while they were in the air and made several nice catches.

CORNERBACKS ANALYSIS: At left corner is Shawn Springs, one of the best cover men in the business. At right corner is a trio of players who, at times, look like they have no business playing. Springs is talented and athletic but can be his worst enemy. Springs sometimes peeks back at the passer while in coverage, becomes bored when teams throw away from him or tries too hard to make a play when the defense is struggling. Because the team would like a bigger, faster corner than Willie Williams (5-9, 180) on the right side, Ike Charlton (5-11, 204) and Ken Lucas (6-0, 203) will try to take his job. One must prove he is better than Williams. If so, Williams will be used in the nickel package. Veteran Paul Miranda, first-year player Chris Rogers and rookie Harold Blackmon have a chance if the club keeps five corners. --Clare Farnsworth

Tennessee

STAYING PUT: During the last two training camps, there was talk of moving Bruce Matthews, who will be 40 when the season begins, from left guard back to center. Some with the team think the move would save some wear and tear on him. Expect Matthews to stay at left guard and Kevin Long at center. Zach Piller has not shown enough consistency at left guard for the team to consider moving Matthews.... QB Steve McNair participated in all drills during the June minicamps. He made all of the throws, including several well-placed deep balls, and didn't experience any trouble in his shoulder beyond some natural soreness. It was the first time McNair cut loose with the starting offense since surgery to clear up an infection in his throwing shoulder.