Which Teams Are Playoff-Worthy?<1>

Dallas Cowboys: This year's NFC has some of the best offensive teams in recent memory, and the Cowboys are one of them (along with Green Bay, New Orleans, and Minnesota). Tony Romo could easily have one of the best seasons of any NFL quarterback, with plenty of playmakers around him on offense. It also seems that he's rid himself of the "not clutch" label, as he has finally been able to win some playoff games. Roy Williams has looked like a pretty big disappointment since his acquisition from the Lions, but he's still not a bad option. Miles Austin seems to be a bit overrated, but he's the Cowboys' best option. Rookie Dez Bryant takes the field as well as a receiver, and while rookie receivers don't often make huge impacts, Dez Bryant could be one who does. Their excellent tight end Jason Witten, along with third receiver Patrick Crayton and promising tight end Martellus Bennett, round out the Cowboys' receiving corps, giving Romo plenty of options to throw to. The running game could be even better than the passing game, as three talented backs take the backfield for the Cowboys: explosive Felix Jones (the starter) bruising Marion Barber, and third option Tashard Choice. The offensive line is solid as well, as Romo should have enough time to throw and the backs will have enough holes to run through as well. Defensively, the Cowboys aren't quite as excellent, as their pass defense got torched on a few occasions last year, most notably for close to 600 yards in two games by Eli Manning. Their front seven, which led the cheap  Cowboys jersey to the 4^th-best run defense last year, holds a good group of players overall, led by pass-rushing terror DeMarcus Ware, along with solid linebackers Bradie James and veteran leader Keith Brooking. PREDICTION: 11-5, division champs- The 'Boys should have a solid season due to their top-tier offense, but their average defense will probably keep them from truly being one of the best teams in the league. They are a pretty sure bet for a playoff appearance though, and they could make a Super Bowl run if the pass defense can pull things together at the right time.

New York Giants: The Giants are a solid team offensively now, with cheap Eli Manning jerseyshowing good growth so far in his career. He should definitely be fine for the start of the season, with that nasty cut on his forehead healing by then (He will likely play in the Giants' next game against the Ravens). However, Brandon Jacobs isn't really the same back he was a couple of years ago, and he'll back up Ahmad Bradshaw. Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks, and Ramses Barden provide Manning with an excellent group of young receivers, and if they can all develop nicely and produce, the Giants' passing offense could do some real damage. Kevin Boss provides Manning with an underrated option at tight end, also. The offensive line is still an above-average group as well, and the Giants' offense could be a top-10 unit again this year, especially with their passing game. The Giants' D is middle-of-the-pack in both pass and run defense, with a mediocre secondary and linebacking corps, but their defensive line is still one of the deepest units of its kind in all of football, with a great rotation going at both the tackle and end positions: Mathias Kiwanuka, Osi Umenyiora, and Justin Tuck at end, and Barry Cofield, Chris Canty, Jay Alford, and Rocky Bernard at tackle. Jason Pierre-Paul could also turn out to be tremendous at defensive end, as he is raw but the Giants have a knack for developing linemen. However, the linebackers aren't great, as there isn't too much depth behind a decent starting group of Clint Sintim, Keith Bulluck, and Michael Boley. PREDICTION: 9-7, no playoffs- they have a solid offense, and a good enough defense to keep them in the playoff hunt, but the Giants are still in a very tough division and that will hold them back.

Philadelphia Eagles jersey : If Kevin Kolb can step up and replace Donovan McNabb, then the Eagles will be dangerous. Now it's quite a big "if" as to whether Kolb can be just as good as McNabb was, but he might be able to come close, as he's looked solid this preseason (going 11 for 17 with 126 yards in his last game). He has a solid amount of playmaking weaponry at his disposal, with Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin both providing threats to score on any given play, with Brent Celek being a solid pass-catcher as well (the Eagles always tend to use their tight ends a lot). Lesean McCoy has looked promising as well at running back. The offense as a whole is one of the better units in a conference full of excellent offensive groups. Defensively, the line is solid (even more so now with rookie end Brandon Graham thrown into the mix), as are corners Asante Samuel and Ellis Hobbs. However, there isn't a ton of depth in the secondary, and the linebackers aren't spectacular, with the exception of a solid player in Ernie Sims. A decent year defensively can be expected, with the run defense being most likely a top 10 group and the pass defense being a little weaker (maybe league average). PREDICTION: 10-6, wild card- Kolb should be decent, and there's plenty of help from their solid receiving corps, but McCoy might not be great this year as the only real option. There are also some questions defensively, with a lack of true impact players. There's enough young talent to make this team a threat in the future, though, and they could certainly be a wild card team this year as the NFC East is actually a bit weaker than usual.

Washington Redskins jersey : Perennially overrated with playoffs hopes aplenty each year, the Redskins do always have a talented bunch of players… however, they just can't seem to ever execute. Owner Dan Snyder loves to bring in big names, and the 'Skins consistently sign the top free agents, but they don't seem to produce. This year, they've brought in another experienced head coach in a LONG line of Washington head coaches, Mike Shanahan, who is clearly going to take no nonsense from the players (see Haynesworth, Albert), and may just whip them into shape. Donovan McNabb won't turn this 5-11 team around, but Shanahan could. Meanwhile, Snyder has brought in high profile players (as always) at the running back position, with Larry Johnson and Willie Parker being added in the offseason, replacing Ladell Betts and joining similarly aging Clinton Portis. Really, the talent is there at receiver as well, with former second round picks Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas sharing the position with Santana Moss and Joey Galloway, but they've both been busts to this point. They both could be solid receivers, but haven't shown much thus far. Tight end is filled by solid Chris Cooley, who could stand out this year with McNabb tending to throw to tight ends often, with another second round flop in Fred Davis backing him up. The offensive line was a total mess last year, but Trent Williams should help to shore it up. Defensively, if Haynesworth can actually show up to play this year, the aging defense may at least be able to stop the run, with plenty of talented players like Andre Carter, London Fletcher, and Brian Orakpo in the front seven. The pass defense likely won't be brilliant, but should be above average with players like Carlos Rogers, DeAngelo Hall, and LaRon Landry handling starting jobs in a pass defense that finished 8^th last year, and their secondary is a deep unit as well. PREDICTION: 7-9, no playoffs- The Redskins disappoint almost each year, and the first year of the Shanahan Era is no exception. The talent is there though, as they have loads of solid veteran players. The NFC East is just too strong, but the 'Skins could win a division like the NFC West if they were in it.

About Brett Favre

Brett Favre spent yet another summer giving SportsCenter an extra 10 minutes of material every day as he decided whether or not to trade in his cleats for a pair of Wranglers this season. Ultimately, the emperor of indecisiveness chose to strap on the shoulder pads in 2010.

Roll your eyes if you must, but there is no denying that NFL fans across the country still have a fascination with the old fart in the No. 4 jersey. After he landed in Minnesota, ESPN showed footage of Favre's car speeding down the interstate like it was a white Ford Bronco.

The fact is, Favre's (in)decision does have a significant impact on the NFC playoff picture. Anybody who disputes this statement should try to envision cheap Vikings jerseys fans punching their Super Bowl tickets while donning Sage Rosenfels jerseys.

At the tender age of 39, Favre had arguably his best statistical season last year, throwing for over 4,000 yards and 33 touchdowns. Perhaps most importantly, he had his lowest interception total (seven) since becoming an NFL starting quarterback.

Not only did Favre enjoy several personal accolades, he also made his teammates better. Receiver Sidney Rice and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe experienced career years with their new quarterback, while Adrian Peterson had his best season as a receiver out of the backfield.

By returning for 2010, Favre instantly gives Minnesota the ability to stretch opposing defenses. That threat also means wider running lanes for Peterson to plow through and less stress on the offensive line.

The importance of having a veteran presence who has won a Super Bowl cannot be overstated. Minnesota's roster is chock-full of talent but lacks players who have performed on the championship stage. Favre gives them that with a bullet.    

Minnesota instantly goes from a fringe playoff contender to Super Bowl hopeful with the future Hall of Famer under center. The only question is whether or not the NFL's iron man has another full season left in the tank.

Now 40, Favre, as well as wholesale Vikings jerseys fans, should be concerned that all of the nagging injuries will catch up with him. If that happens, his decision on whether or not to return in 2011 may be made for him.

The lure of playing in another Super Bowl brought Brett Favre back to the NFL - again.
Favre joined his wholesale Minnesota Vikings jerseys teammates at practice Wednesday. The three-time MVP wore a helmet, shoulder pads and red quarterback's jersey as he worked out with Minnesota for the first time since getting battered by New Orleans as the Vikings lost the NFC championship game in January.

"As we were driving on that last drive it seemed like it was destiny - for us," said Favre, whose interception in the final minute ended that march and the wholesale Vikings jerseys never got the ball in overtime. "I was so close, so close to getting these guys to the Super Bowl.

"I owe it to this organization to give it one more try."

Not that coming back for a 20th season was a simple decision.

"I could make a case for both playing, not playing," Favre said. "This is a very good football team, the chances here are much greater than other places. From that standpoint, it was always going to be easier (to return).

"Part of me said it was such a great year, it would be easy to say, 'Hey can't play any better, why even try?' Then the other part is, 'Guys are playing on a high level. Why don't I go back out?' The expectations are high here, as they should be."

The expectations always are high for Favre, even at 40.

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart

We've heard a number of positive reports about Stewart's rehab during the spring and summer, but it's about time he made it back to the practice field. Draft him as you would. Even though he's not a starter, he's probably the best non-starting back in the NFL and should still be considered a pretty good No. 2 RB in 12-team leagues. While the starting job remains in the hands of Stewart's running mate, DeAngelo Williams, it will be interesting to see if Stewart's monster finish to 2009 -- 589 rushing yards and five total scores in the final five games -- earned him a few more carries in 2010.

After missing all of OTAs and the first two weeks of training camp, Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart re-joined his teammates Saturday for his first practice since the 2009 season ended. Stewart underwent surgery in January to remove a bone spur pressing up against his Achilles' tendon and has been rehabbing ever since. "We started him a little slow in some walk-through and individual drills, and we'll build that back up as he's medically capable," head coach John Fox said about Stewart. "(He will go) one-a-day for sure, maybe even two-a-days very little." Stewart admitted that he is not 100 percent. He still feels some pain in the ankle from time to time, but he's expected to make a full recovery before the season begins. Stewart said he would like to take part in one exhibition game just to get back into the flow of playing football.

Running back DeAngelo Williams was excused from practice because of personal matters, which meant running back Tyrell Sutton ran with the first team.
   Jonathan Stewart did a little more in practice, but hasn't been cleared to work in team drills. The Panthers want to ease him back into the mix slowly, which is probably a smart move. There's no hurry at this point. He did do a little work in 7-on-7 drills.
   Otherwise, the injury list is dwindling a little. Unable to practice were wide receiver Steve Smith, running back Mike Goodson, offensive tackle Jeff Otah, defensive end Tyler Brayton,linebackers  Thomas Davis, Jamar Williams and Quinton Culberson, and safety Aaron Francisco. Defensive tackle Louis Leonard left practice early because of heat-related issues.
   Linebacker Jordan Senn and wide receiver Trent Guy returned to work Sunday, while cornerback Chris Gamble practiced for the second straight day after returning Saturday night.

At the end of a long and steamy afternoon practice, the Panthers worked "live" goal line drills from the 3-yard line.
   The first-team offense dominated, getting into the end zone on the first two plays with running back Josh Vaughan beating linebacker Jon Beason to the outside and quarterback Kenneth Moore fooling the defense on a bootleg, punctuating that score by spiking the ball between his legs. It would have been 3-for-3 had tight end Gary Barnidge not dropped an easy pass in the back of the end zone on the next play…
   During one-on-one pass blocking drills offensive guard Duke Robinson got underneath the helmet of defensive tackle Corvey Irvin and popped it right off like a champagne cork. Irvin was a little shaken up, but did return a few minutes later… Running back Dantrell Savage had a big-time run around left end late in practice, drawing hoots from the guys on the offensive side of the field… Tolbert, by the way, was sporting a loud pair of purple and gold Crocs before practice. He played at LSU before getting into coaching.

 Rookie Armanti Edwards isn't in that list of potential starters because he still has a long way to go in his transition from college quarterback to NFL receiver.
   "It's interesting because everything he's doing he's doing for the first time," Tolbert said. "We did a cut-blocking drill and I was like, 'Wow Armanti, is this you're first time doing this?' And he was like, 'Yeah.' So everything he's doing I have to keep reminding myself this is his first time.
   "But he's getting better. It's a process, but he asks smart questions in the meeting. He doesn't ask them just to ask them. He asks legitimate questions for him because he's never done it before. And we're pretty much teaching him what to do and how to do it, and he grasps it pretty good. I'm pleased with his progress up until this point because of the fact he's never played the position on this level.
   "I see athleticism, and as a matter of fact, I mentioned to him he played a lot faster yesterday morning. I think he's getting more comfortable and not thinking anymore. He's going out and playing like the guy we drafted."

DeMarcus Ware continues to be surprised at the interest level

There are more replays this year in Madden 11 which is a departure from having to play on "Advanced" play calling style in Madden 10 in order to see a replay. There is a cool swipe that goes back and forth across the screen. There are still stat banners and Gatorade 3 Impact players of the game. The problem is that while it is cool to see the stats, there is no direction or definitive style in what Madden 11 does. There is no ESPN presentation like NCAA 11 or NFL 2K5, nor is there anything that makes it feel uniform. There are cut scenes aplenty...problem is quite often they are out of place. I threw 3INTs with Donovan McNabb in the Super Bowl and he and his offensive linemen chest bumped and slapped each other high fives as if he had just thrown a TD. This is a problem that was around in Madden 10 as well.

The Extra Point in Franchise mode is the same as last year....literally.Jason Witten is shown in the banners, as they should since they are the new sponsor, but the analysts say the Extra Point is brought to you by SPRINT! Cris Collinsworth, who is an excellent announcer in real life, quite a few times will say Tom, as in Tom Hammond, instead of Gus Johnson. And Speaking of Gus Johnson, he brings the much needed excitement to Madden commentary. Gus tends to scream out on big plays and crucial moments in the game, however, he and Chris Collinsworth don't sound like a commentating duo and what makes it difficult to understand is why Collinsworth uses about 97% of his same lines from last year. Not to mention the commentary is about behind the action on the field.

A crowd of 21,539 watched the Cowboys go through a light workout at Cowboys Stadium. How light? A lot of the players were in tennis shoes for the workout.

Even entering his sixth season, DeMarcus Ware continues to be surprised at the interest level.

"A lot of guys that come here, like Jon Kitna, say, 'Let me tell you something, I've been to practices and it's been probably 100 people,'" Ware said. "To have 21,000 at practice, with all the jerseys on, that shows you how committed Cowboys fans are and how ready they are for the season."

No this is not a new feature...at least not one that was intended to make the game. Sliding is a rampant problem in Madden 11 that will cause you to miss tackles, catches (WR and DBs) and watch in wonder. The first game I fired up, featured a sliding Devin Thomas on the kick off return. He did not jog over to receive the ball, he slid over. And if that was not enough there was nothing more baffling than to watch my Special Teams let the defenders run past them leaving me to take on 9-11 members of the other team ready to annihilate me. On punt returns, unless you send the house at the kicking team, your players will run all the way back towards you (some run into you) rather than working their blocking assignments. AI on Special Teams needs to be tuned up. Most kickoff returns will not advance past the 20yd line. Punt returns are wild cards due to the poor blocking.

Gameplay as a whole feels pretty solid despite the hiccups that occur throughout the game. With the exception of special teams there is nothing that is a game killer in Madden 11.

The AI in Madden 11 is a mixture of good, bad and just flat out ugly. The AI is at it's best when presenting a mismatch between good and bad offensive lines taking on good and bad defensive ones. You must use strategy when choosing your blocking scheme.

The run blocking is MUCH improved and it opens up a running experience not Felix Jones felt since last gen. However, there is nothing worse than watching your offensive linemen stand up and dance in place while Demarcus Ware and three other defensive linemen end up in the backfield untouched. Repeatedly. Another head scratching moment is when your Defensive lineman has the chance to sack the QB, yet he stands there like he is blocked out by an invisible force field.

QBs consistently throw INTs or just toss the ball away in situations where they should have taken a sack. This can be frustrating to the user experience, as is the number of dropped balls. They are in the NFL for a reason and it should be noted that Randy Moss catching a ball, taking two steps and dropping it w/o contact is Maddening. There are certain bugs and issues that have no business still plaguing Madden 11 after six years on next-gen.

Injuries are pretty realistic this year. There are a number of injuries just as there are in an actual NFL Season. So be prepared to make changes to your team!

Throwing the ball downfield feels and looks great! As does defending these passes. QBs throw for realistic percentages in Madden 11 and will also miss receivers. This is helps make Madden more realistic in a way that refutes the old Robo-QB. Even Peyton Manning will miss a receiver time to time. For the first time in a long time, it feels realistic to play as a Cornerback on defense against elite receivers or scrubs. You always have a chance to make a play, which is a departure from previous iterations of Madden. Gamers should have fun playing pitch and catch on the gridiron this year!

Pro Bowl free safety Ed Reed still unable to practice after undergoing hip surgery in the offseason

Wide receiver Justin Harper pulled in a long pass from Marc Bulger despite coverage by cornerback Chris Hawkins and safety Ken Hamlin. Second place goes to running back Ray Rice, who leaped over linebacker Ray Lewis to haul in a pass that would have been long enough for a first down.

With six-time Pro Bowl free safety Ed Reed still unable to practice after undergoing hip surgery in the offseason, Dawan Landry has become the veteran of the Ravens' defensive backfield.

But the strong safety is quick to point out that teammates like Tom Zbikowski, Haruki Nakamura and Ken Hamlin are just as well-versed in the defense's schemes and calls.

"All of us are veteran guys," Landry said. "Zib and Haruk have a couple years under their belts, and Ken has been around for a long time, and he's making a lot of plays, too."

As critical as Landry is and has been to the defense, he has yet to earn an invitation to the Pro Bowl and is often left out of the conversation that includes Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Bob Sanders of the Indianapolis Colts.

Asked whether Landry is overlooked, secondary coach Chuck Pagano said, "Absolutely. Everybody's got a role. Not everybody's going to be Ray [Lewis], and not everybody's going to be Ed. Dawan understands his role, and he plays it better than anybody else."

Zibkowski said Landry doesn't get the credit he deserves because Ed Reed  he doesn't have the panache that the media craves.

"He's a media person's worst nightmare," Zbikowski said. "He's sturdy, consistent and accountable. There's nothing good you can write about a guy like that. I mean, who wants to read about somebody who does his job well every single time?"

For his part, Landry said he is not concerned about getting recognized.

"That doesn't bother me at all," he said. "I don't think about it at all. I'm just playing my game and whatever I'm doing to help this team win and contribute in any kind of way, I'm fine with that."

Wide receiver Derrick Mason and cornerback Chris Carr each suffered hamstring injuries during practice and did not return. Cornerback Fabian Washington (unspecified) was suited, but did not participate. Offensive tackles Jared Gaither (back and shoulder spasms), Tony Moll (concussion) and Stefan Rodgers (leg), center David Hale (unspecified), cornerback K.J. Gerard (hamstring) and safety Marcus Paschal (right leg) did not practice. Running back Willis McGahee (swelling in left knee) returned to practice after sitting out Friday's sessions. Players who remain on the PUP list are Ed Reed  (hip), cornerback Lardarius Webb (knee), linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo (quad) and running back Matt Lawrence (knee).

Pro Bowl veteran Jeff Saturday

Several players were held out of Tuesday's full-squad workout for undisclosed reasons. That group included safety Bob Sanders, defensive ends Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis and Ervin Baldwin, running back Joseph Addai, linebacker Clint Session, defensive lineman Keyunta Dawson, cornerback Ray Fisher and offensive linemen Tony Ugoh and Adam Terry.
McClendon moving

The Colts drafted Jacques McClendon to beef up their guard position. Now, they Joseph Addai have decided to move their fourth-round draft pick to center, where he's working behind

The lifts are nice, but Garcon has enjoyed the enthusiasm of the crowd even more.

Fans lined up on either side of the entrance way to Machholz Stadium before the special teams practice and greeted the players with loud ovations each time they were carted in, even though the practice amounted to little more than a walkthrough.

"The fans are amazing," Garcon said. "They come out when we have Joseph Addai  walkthroughs. It's real nice around here. We enjoy it here."

Attendance still strong

Despite morning weather problems and a largely starless afternoon special teams session, an estimated 2,000 fans attended Tuesday's practices at AU.

Saturday shies away from record talk

Jeff Saturday is tied with Kevin Mawae for the NFL record for wins by a center. He's been a cornerstone during the Colts' run of unprecedented success that includes a league-record seven consecutive seasons with 12 or more wins. And Mawae is currently a free agent. So the next Indianapolis victory will give Saturday the record alone.

But he quickly shifted credit for that run to others.

"You could not spell out a better career for where you wanted to play and the time in history that I got to play," Saturday said. "Obviously, playing with Peyton (Manning) goes a long way. Edgerrin (James), Reggie (Wayne), Marvin (Harrison), I mean all these guys who have just done phenomenal things. To be able to play like that for that long has gone a long way to making me wins. I don't know if I deserve all those."

High-class

training table

The facilities aren't the only thing the Colts are enjoying at Anderson University.

The team reportedly dined on fare catered by Indianapolis' highly respected St. Elmo's Steakhouse following Monday's first day of practice.

Hughes welcomed with open arms

Rookie defensive end Jerry Hughes practiced for second straight day after signing his contract Monday afternoon.

Defensive captain Gary Brackett said the former high school running back is a sight for sore eyes.

"Glad that he's here," Brackett said. "I think he's going to add a lot. Having that third rusher, we didn't have that complement to Dwight (Freeney) and Robert (Mathis) for awhile now. So having that third guy to come in, put some pressure on the quarterback, make it harder for the other guys, I think that's going to be helpful for our defense."

Head coach Jim Caldwell agrees, but he said Hughes has a lot of work ahead of him.

"He's learning," Caldwell said. "There's a lot to learn. It's a very difficult position to play and play well, but he's got a couple of guys in front of him who set a good example."

Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs

Impressed at what I saw from Walt Harris  today. For someone his age, Harris looks strong and still has some speed left in him. During change of direction drills, Harris was one of the quickest at making the 180 degree body turn.

Safety Tom Zbikowski is looking as good as ever during practice today. His athleticism is up there with some of the best on this team and is really starting to look like a full time starter out there. Zbi was extremely vocal today during drills where he was encouraging the younger guys to make plays.

Above, Terrell Suggs  works on pass rushing drills with the rest of the OLB. Suggs had a great practice today where I counted 3-4 times where Suggs caused a sack or early throw in 11 on 11 drills. He lined up all over the place and during one play beat Gaither on the edge and would have had a clean shot on Flacco if he was able to hit the QB. Suggs is looking in great shape out there and you can tell he really worked on his conditioning this offseason.

There seemed to be quite a bit of singing going on today between the OLB. Many times throughout the early parts of practice you could hear Antwan Barnes singing with Suggs and JJ chiming in on their own. A few dance offs as well from Suggs.

A year ago, Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs tipped the scales at 283 pounds.

It was too heavy and the three-time Pro Bowl defender had a career-worst season with four sacks.

Now, he's 20 pounds lighter.

Terrell Suggs has been cutting out junk food, including fried chicken and an old bad habit of eating entire boxes of cookies in one sitting and chowing down on a large pizza.

Suggs changed his diet with the help of team nutritionist Sue James.

"It wasn't just Popeye's, it was also Kentucky Fried Chicken," Suggs said. "It was also the cookies. You know, I did like the cookies. It was kind of a reward. When I started getting the weight down and I reached a certain goal it was like, 'OK, you can have a cookie.' She did a good job helping me, especially down the stretch."

Suggs is noticeably quicker and leaner this year, playing at roughly 263 pounds. Last year, he dealt with a heel injury and sprained his knee during the season on an illegal block from quarterback Brady Quinn.

Signed to a six-year, $62.5 million contract last  year, he would like even lose a few more pounds to get back his NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year form.

Oakland Raiders' Darren McFadden

The Raiders defense is set to probably crack the top 10 this year. Jason Campbell is a legitimate quarterback brought in to replace Jamarcus Russell.

The Raiders have all kinds of talent at every other offensive skill Nnamdi Asomugha position as well. So the offensive line is the one unit that could hold the Raiders back from major contention this year.

Therefore, Cable has his work more than cut out for him. His job may very well depend on it.

In previous articles I made suggestions of trades that could make a big difference. But now, it's time to focus on what we have.

I realize Darren McFadden seems to be a hot-button topic among many Raiders fans as well as other fans throughout the league who most believe he's been a bust so far with Oakland.

However, most people fail to realize how to use his talents most effectively.

McFadden has the hands, speed and, ability to hit home runs but Oakland has really failed at giving him the opportunities to make those type of plays.

If it wasn't JaMarcus Russell throwing screens that didn't allow McFadden to catch the ball in stride, it was the offensive line giving up pressure in pass coverage and stopping him in his tracks.

Now that the Raiders have brought in an offensive coordinator who believes in the running game and understands screens and dump-off passes to his running backs are important.

McFadden has every opportunity to break out.

In this article, I'm going to use Ray Rice as a perfect example Darrius Heyward  of a player with the abilities to really impact the Baltimore offense.

Looking at his rookie stats and his second year stats we see a similar type of growth we should expect to see with McFadden this year with Hue Jackson coaching him up.

Ray Rice had 78 receptions last season with the Ravens.

McFadden has 50 in two seasons.

Rice "only" had 700 yards receiving for an average of nine yards per catch with his longest 63 yards with his 4.4 40-yard dash speed. Rice was also able to run for over 1,300 yards.

If McFadden has 78 receptions and catch the ball in stride, he's going to have several opportunities for huge gains with his 4.33 40-yard dash speed.

Last season, there were plenty of screens and dump-offs in which Louis Murphy McFadden had to completely adjust his body and come to a near complete stop to catch a pass, thus limiting his opportunity for  30-plus yard gains.

If McFadden can account for more than 1,500 yards this season, he could be a major breakout candidate.

If he goes over 2,000 combined yards like Rice, then his impact on this offense is going to be tremendous.

McFadden's a running back/wide receiver not a pure running back.

If Hue Jackson makes McFadden his Ray Rice, then McFadden will finally start earning his pay and will become the 2010 Breakout player of the Year.

Let's just hope he's finally used correctly and the offensive line provides enough protection for him to get free.

Haloti Ngata continues to get bouquets thrown his way

 Both starting defensive tackles -- Haloti Ngata and Kelly Gregg -- appear to be in great shape. Keep an eye on defensive tackle Lamar Divens, in his third season out of Tennessee State. He is a load, and brings it.

While defensive end Paul Kruger has added 25 pounds from a year ago, he still needs to work on staying low and using better technique.

As for rookie tackle Terrence Cody, he needs a lot of work. It's apparent that at Alabama he could just push offensive linemen around because of his size, but that hasn't worked so far in training camp.

Cody needs to improve his body control and technique. Once he starts Todd Heap moving forward, Cody can't slow down. Cody has athleticism, but so does every other player in the NFL. He has to improve on technique to progress and take the next step.

Fresh from a 2009 season capped by his first Pro Bowl appearance, Haloti Ngata continues to get bouquets thrown his way.

Last week, the 6-foot-4, 350-pound defensive tackle was cited by the NFL Network's Brian Baldinger, who compiled his list of the five best players in the NFL.

"My fifth-best player in the league is Haloti Ngata, the immovable object that anchors the Baltimore Ravens' defensive line," Baldinger said. "He's allowed [linebacker] Ray Lewis to still play at a very high level. You talk to centers around the league, they don't want any part of Haloti Ngata."

Ngata, who spoke on Tuesday, downplayed the recognition.

"It's definitely great, but I'm trying to get myself better year after year," he said. "Right now, I feel a little bit behind because of my surgery, but hopefully, I'll get my strength back up, and I hope I can prove him right."