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Scouts' views: observations and opinions from two NFL pro scouts, one from each conference

Sporting News, The, Oct 25, 2004

Defensively, I don't think the Patriots are going to be able to shut people down like they have in recent years. They have a good defense, but teams have been able to move the ball on them. They miss Ted Washington in the middle, although the young guy (rookie Vince Wilfork) is playing well. But they're real strong in the red zone.

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They bend, but they don't break.... If the West Coast offense was good enough for guys like Steve Young, it's good enough for Michael Vick, who brings the same sort of dimensions. But it's all about having patience and learning the system. Brett Favre took about three years to learn it. When Matt Hasselbeck went to Seattle, it took him about 2 1/2 years to figure it out. There's a learning curve. But once Vick figures it out, it will add another dimension to his game.... The Ravens' Ed Reed stacks right up there with the elite safeties in the league. He's got good range and excellent ball skills and is tough on run support. He's got everything you want.... Blocking by most running backs, particularly on passing plays, is an absolutely forgotten skill. You don't see them getting in position to block a guy or take a shot at a guy, particularly in blitz situations. There are a couple of guys who still have sound technique, but for the most part running backs show no interest in it.... I think Marc Bulger is one of the most mentally tough quarterbacks I've ever seen. In the Rams' offense, the quarterback is going to take some shots as long as people can put pressure on him. He took all those shots against Seattle, and then in the waning moments of the game, he stood in there--believing that his linemen were going to pick him up--and made the throws he had to make to win the game.... There are a lot of advantages to the expanded practice squad. The obvious thing is there's more players to practice with. And now you have more opportunity to develop some of those guys. Before, some of those guys would have been cut and would have ended up on the street. Now you have the opportunity to keep them and upgrade your roster as need be.... The Jets really struggled at the guard position last year, but they've shored that up with Pete Kendall and Brandon Moore. They're athletic linemen who can get out and pull in the perimeter run game.... Sebastian Janikowski is a brute. He's got a tremendously strong leg, and he's one of the better kickoff guys. But I don't think he has endeared himself to anyone outside of Oakland because of his off-field issues.

Scouts' views: observations and opinions from two NFL pro scouts, one from each conference

Sporting News, The, Oct 25, 2004

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