2005 Ad

Sporting News, The, Feb 4, 2005

The Cowboys' primary offseason objective is to prepare QB Drew Henson to be a starter. Part of the reason the team isn't sending him to NFL Europe is because it wants him to spend the offseason working with WRs Keyshawn Johnson, Quincy Morgan and Terry Glenn and TE Jason Witten. The team also wants Henson to work on his mechanics and continue to study the nuances of the offense....

Saints DT Johnathan Sullivan will be the personal offseason project of line coach John Pease. Sullivan irked team officials with his poor conditioning and indifferent attitude this season. As a result, he has been ordered to lose about 30 pounds and spend the offseason in New Orleans, where he can be monitored daily. Sullivan must prove to the team that he's committed to getting better. ... Beginning in late March, Falcons offensive coordinator Grog Knapp and wide receivers coach George Stewart will work closely with WR Michael Jenkins on route running and getting separation. Although Jenkins became adept at downfield blocking, a big responsibility in the team's offense, he caught just seven passes during the regular season and will be counted on more heavily in his second year.... Packers coach Mike Sherman needs to find a defensive line coach who can motivate DT Donnell Washington, a 2004 third-round pick, and mold him into a player. A tremendous physical specimen with phenomenal upper-body strength, Washington spent the year on injured reserve with a foot sprain but lacked fire on the field before he was injured. Washington (6-6, 323) must develop better ball awareness and learn what it takes to play in the NFL.... Despite his speed and agility, Lions DE Kalimba Edwards hasn't come close to winning a starting job because he isn't strong against the run and lacks good pass-rushing countermoves. Edwards is a good outside speed rusher, so the team will work with him on his inside moves in the offseason. Because of the way the Lions rotate linemen, winning a starting job next season isn't nearly as important for Edwards as becoming a dominating force on passing downs.... The Buccaneers are hoping G Jeb Terry will push Matt Stinchcomb and Matt O'Dwyer for the starting Left guard spot next season. But Terry needs to improve dramatically as a pass protector to do so and will receive plenty of special attention during the offseason. He has good lateral movement in short areas but has a tendency to get beaten badly off the snap and lose his balance and leverage in pass protection.