Well, two preseason games left, tonight's game features our starters and the #2 players...very little from the third unit guys, because most of them won't be in Miami whne the season begins, so let's take a look at who has the most to gain or lose: 1. Brian Hartline already running with the Starters, Hartline needs a good game to cement his role. 2.Randy Starks with Phil Merling stumbling, Starks can also cement his role as a starting DE. 3. Sean Smith Eric Green is out of the way, Sean Smith can cement his role as either a starting Cb, or the nickel Cb. 4. Vontae Davis Davis is more of a boundary Cb, a good showing with no mental errors could land him the Starting Cb job as well 5. Jason Allen with Nate Jones being scorched last week, Allen has yet another opportunity to step up and claim the Dime or Nickel Cb role. 6. Greg Camarillo Hartline's emergence has pushed Greg C back to the twos, Greg C has to have a good showing in case Hartline stumbles under the light of being a starter. 7. Nate Jones a good all around player, he has to show he can cover consistently. 8. Joey Thomas Jason Allen's competition, Thomas has to show he is a much more solid cover corner than JA. 9. Q Moses he has to keep flashing his game, a good bullrush, and easily setting the edge, Q has to continue his surprising turnaround. The best of the rest: Charlie Anderson...he has to continue his high level of Special Teams play. Sam Kershaw...a surprisingly good ILB prospect, he is a long shot to stick. Cameron Wake...a role playing passrusher at this point in time, Wake has to maximize his opportunities to rush the passer. Lex Hilliard...he more than likely will play in the 4th qtr, he must continue to force Sparano to make a decision in his favor. Lou Polite...he rebounded in Game #2, Fb's are not difficult to find so he has to show that he is an extra guard in running situations and put a hat on a defender each time. Thoughts?
I think its obvious that his knee is still bothering him, which would explain the demotion. Hartline is physically similar to Camarillo, maybe he's a little quicker, so that would explain why he would be out there.
I agree with this. When given the chance J. Allen has played well, and seems to find his way to the ball often. Granted, he got torched by Moss a few times, but at the end of the day, it is Moss afterall, and every corner gets beat sometime. I really like J. Allen, and kind of feel sorry for all the defenses and positions he had to learn over the course of his career. If given ample playing time, I am confident he will prove his worth. He will never be that #1 pick we wanted because even as it stands now he won't be on the field much, not even as a nickel cb, but he HAS TO BE THE BEST DIME BACK in the league. Again, still not worthy as a #1 pick, but I do feel he brings value to this team. Especially considering his special teams prowess.
I'd say they are, both said they are fine, so unless Sparano has some reason not to play them like JA may be up for trade or they don't want to risk getting Sean Smith injured.
I don't understand why everyone is jumping to conclusions. Sparano said he was just getting the young guys in there to see what they could bring to the table. He said he already knows what Camarillo can do. It sounds more like Camarillo is gonna be the starter to me barring a set-back.
Fair to say Hartline stepped up with two long receptions as well as forcing Tampa Db's into 3 pass interference calls. Invisible, he is a sort of default starter at this point in time. A good statistical game, but the Bucs Qb's missed open Wr on two occasions and Wr Campbell dropped a Td catch. Vontae had some nice plays in run support, but played a bit wild later in the game includind a face guarding that was not called. As far as I could tell, Allen did not play in the secondary, only on special teams. Greg C had a nice game, never a burner he did break free for a nice 40yd run after a catch, his knee is not 100% but speed was never his game. Jones is the most effective blitzing Qb I've ever watched, he got another one last night twisting under Cam Wake's speed rush. Joey T did "okay" probably not enough to save a roster spot for himself, but imho he is an NFL quality Cb, if he is released he will play in the NFL this season. Next to Hartline, Q stepped up the most he chased down an athletic Luke McCown on a naked bootleg and it was not even close, Q's speed and agility for such a large, lanky player is impressive. Imho Q Moses moved off of the bubble and into the SOLB back up job and maybe a situational pass rushing role. Had one fugly play on a punt that P Cobbs blocked. Had a nice stick on a running back, Kershaw is a large, athletic ILB who is a darkhorse to make the roster, he is worth keeping around, but I suspect if he hits the open market, a GM will snatch him up. Wake had a mixed game, he effectively created pressure on numerous occasions against the Bucs starting Tackles, including a hit to cause an errant pass, he also drew a neutral zone infraction against himself and looked mediocre on at least one play in pass coverage. I think if Wake has proven one thing this offseason, his physical talent is enough to play on Sundays at least in a passrushing/situational role but his all around game is "okay', no doubt he has Traning Camp legs at this point in time so when the Atlanta game rolls around he will be a player to watch on 3rd and longs. Lexirella's glass slipper fell off a bit with a fumble and generally ineffective play. Lou had a decent game, but he really shined on a 3rd and 1, he was stoned in the backfield, the Buc's player had him dead to rights but Polite just powered through the hit and dragged the defender into the pile and picked up the first down, that was vintage Lou Polite and one of the differences between him and Hilliard, Polite has the power and savvy to pick up those tough, short yds that keep drives alive. To me, Lousaka Polite justified his roster spot against Tampa Bay. [/QUOTE] Erik Walden also had a nice sack right in front of HC Sparano, all of the bubble guys made plays even McD, and I do not envy HC Sparano and GM Ireland's cut down decisions because it is fairly clear we have NFL quality players on the 2nd and 3rd string, especially on defense, who simply cannot be kept. Thoughts?