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Iupati

INDIANAPOLIS — The breakout player from Senior Bowl week was none other than Idaho guard Mike Iupati (U-pot-ee). And on Thursday, the enormous player (330) made an appearance at Lucas Oil Field to talk with reporters. I’m told that Iupati’s weigh-in at the Senior Bowl caused a huge buzz in the room. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and son Stephen were seen craning their necks for a closer look at Iupati, according to eyewitnesses.



When Iupati’s appearance was announced Thursday, reporters literally jogged over to the podium, which is saying something for this out-of-shape crowd. Iupati told the story of how his parents gave up good jobs in American Samoa when he was 14 in order to move to the United States. He said his family lived in his aunt’s garage at one point because money was so tight. Now, Iupati stands to become a very wealthy young man.



The one negative thing that happened in Mobile, Ala., is that Iupati was caught holding several times during the actual game. He was asked about that Thursday.



“That’s not me,” he said. “I’m good at using a short punch and for some reason, I changed my game that day. I didn’t want to get beat. But I have a very physical punch, so I’m not worried about repeating that mistake.”



I believe the guy. We talked to a lot of offensive linemen today, but Iupati may have had the most impressive presence. He pretty much took over the entire podium, which explains why Jones and son were so interested in that weigh-in.

Iupati

INDIANAPOLIS — The breakout player from Senior Bowl week was none other than Idaho guard Mike Iupati (U-pot-ee). And on Thursday, the enormous player (330) made an appearance at Lucas Oil Field to talk with reporters. I’m told that Iupati’s weigh-in at the Senior Bowl caused a huge buzz in the room. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and son Stephen were seen craning their necks for a closer look at Iupati, according to eyewitnesses.



When Iupati’s appearance was announced Thursday, reporters literally jogged over to the podium, which is saying something for this out-of-shape crowd. Iupati told the story of how his parents gave up good jobs in American Samoa when he was 14 in order to move to the United States. He said his family lived in his aunt’s garage at one point because money was so tight. Now, Iupati stands to become a very wealthy young man.



The one negative thing that happened in Mobile, Ala., is that Iupati was caught holding several times during the actual game. He was asked about that Thursday.



“That’s not me,” he said. “I’m good at using a short punch and for some reason, I changed my game that day. I didn’t want to get beat. But I have a very physical punch, so I’m not worried about repeating that mistake.”



I believe the guy. We talked to a lot of offensive linemen today, but Iupati may have had the most impressive presence. He pretty much took over the entire podium, which explains why Jones and son were so interested in that weigh-in.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith spent about 1 hour, 40 minutes working on a new collective bargaining agreement Thursday, then left without saying a word.

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AFC East nose tackles Jason Ferguson, Vince Wilfork and Kris Jenkins are vital to their team’s 3-4 defenses.

INDIANAPOLIS — Teams that intend to run a 3-4 defensive scheme have an elephantine problem when they’re missing the keystone.



Without a nose, the face of the defense disappears.



“If you don’t have a good nose guard, you don’t have a 3-4 defense,” two-time Pro Bowl center LeCharles Bentley said at the NFL scouting combine in Lucas Oil Stadium.



“You can build everything else around it. You can have a great pass-rusher. You can have a great safety like Troy Polamalu. But if you don’t have a solid nose guard? You can’t run a 3-4. That’s the whole basis of the defense.”



Nose guards, nose tackles, those mammoth ogres in the middle — whatever you want to call them — never have been a more valuable NFL commodity than they’ve been this offseason.



For proof, look no further than the AFC East, the only division where all four teams will operate out of a 3-4 design and have concerns at nose tackle.



The Buffalo Bills simply need one. They’re switching from a 4-3. Miami Dolphins nose tackle Jason Ferguson is a free agent recovering from a torn quadriceps muscle. The New England Patriots placed the franchise tag on Vince Wilfork and are trying to negotiate a long-term deal. New York Jets stud Kris Jenkins is coming off a knee injury.



As more teams convert to the 3-4, the need for nose tackles increases. Fewer of them are available.



“There are only so many big guys walking on this earth,” Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland said. “It’s a big priority in any defense. When you find them, you’ve got to keep them.”



How rare are athletic humans who weigh 350 pounds? Rob Rang, the senior analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, considers this year’s class of nose tackles to be “pretty strong compared to past years” with only three top prospects: Tennessee’s Dan Williams, Alabama’s Terrence Cody and North Carolina’s Cam Thomas.



“There aren’t a lot of guys with that kind of size and any speck of athletic ability,” Rang said.



Bills head coach Chan Gailey said his criteria in identifying a nose tackle includes “huge, big, fast, nasty.” But he might have to settle for whatever he can find.



“Everybody’s looking for a certain type of guy,” said Gailey, who doesn’t seem to have a decent candidate on his roster but owns the ninth pick in April’s draft. “There’s not a lot of them, to be perfectly honest. You either have to take people that you have and adapt, or you don’t have to play the same type of 3-4.



“While we’re all looking for that prototypical nose guy, there’s a lot of good football players out there that don’t fit that prototype, but at the same time can be productive players for you on the field. If you can’t get it, you adjust.”



To look at their stats, nothing suggests a nose tackle’s significance to a defense. They don’t register many sacks. They’re not among their team’s tackle leaders or turnover creators.



Wilfork, for instance, is considered an elite nose tackle. Last season, he had no sacks or quarterback hits and was fifth in tackles for the Patriots. He forced one fumble and didn’t recover any.



But what a quality nose tackle does is absorb linemen and disrupt lanes for a defense that’s susceptible to the run merely by nature of its design. Before every snap, there are large bubbles over both guard positions to run through. Nose tackles plug those holes.



“A 3-4 defense allows you to create more mismatches,” said Bentley, who is covering the combine for his Web site, O-lineWorld.com. “You can be as exotic as you want to be. Defensive coordinators can become mad scientists. Bill Belichick and Rex Ryan are prime examples of that. Those blitz packages they can throw at you are unbelievable.



“The nose guard is a one-man show. He makes you play honest football.”



No wonder three teams used the franchise tag to keep a free-agent nose tackle from hitting the open market: Wilfork, Aubrayo Franklin of the San Francisco 49ers and Ryan Pickett of the Green Bay Packers.



Unless a long-term deal can be negotiated, the franchise tag guarantees a one-year deal for the average of the five highest-paid players at his position. This year’s franchise figure for defensive tackles is a shade above $7 million.



“The tag’s not outrageous, price-wise,” 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan said. “It makes good business sense not only from the standpoint of financials, but also because of the importance of the position.”



By using the franchise tag to keep nose tackles from hitting unrestricted free agency, front offices essentially are price-fixing. It’s not collusion, per se, but general managers realize the price tag for nose tackles would skyrocket if they went to the auction block.



Teams know a good nose tackle is worth more than $7 million a year even though they don’t sell tickets or jerseys.



“They don’t want to pay those guys the salaries of the most important guy on the defense,” Bentley said. “It’s going to be very hard to justify and a very difficult pill to swallow when you’re paying your nose guard $9 million a year. People think, ‘You don’t pay those guys. All they do is take up space.’



“But if you don’t have them, you don’t have a defense.”

INDIANAPOLIS — The Cardinals’ new contract agreements with general manager Rod Graves and coach Ken Whisenhunt make sense for all parties.



Both are signed through 2013, the Cardinals announced. The team has an option on Whisenhunt’s deal for 2014.



Graves and Whisenhunt get some security heading into the challenges that await after the Kurt Warner era. They also get what seems like just reward for overseeing the team’s recent success. Ownership buys stability.



Graves and Whisenhunt seem to work well together. Their comfort with one another seems pretty obvious. I thought it was telling when both appeared on Phoenix radio station KTAR 620 last week. They sounded like old pals.



The Cardinals have taken positive steps this offseason by re-signing popular strength and conditioning coach John Lott, an asset Whisenhunt values highly. Getting deals done with Graves and Whisenhunt stands as significant progress.



The team still faces difficult challenges this offseason as key players such as Karlos Dansby and Antrel Rolle appear likely to hit the market. This team will certainly suffer from turnover this offseason.



Extending Whisenhunt means the Cardinals will have the right coach in place, improving their chances for success. This is a good day for Cardinals fans.

INDIANAPOLIS — The offensive line could be a focus of the early rounds for all four AFC West teams.



Kansas City, which has the No. 5 pick, and Oakland, which drafts No. 8, could use a first-round pick on a tackle. Denver could look for guards and centers early in the draft and San Diego could look for tackle help early.



Two players stood out to me Thursday as offensive linemen were escorted into the media room: Oklahoma State tackle Russell Okung and Idaho guard Mike Iupati. Okung is expected to be a sure top-10 pick and Iupati is skyrocketing up draft boards. He may be taken late in the first round.



Okung would fit in at either Kansas City or Oakland. If the Chiefs bypass Okung, Oakland could get him.



Okung is a tall, lean 307-pounder. He is soft spoken and answers question, with “Yes, sir” and “No, sir.” Yet, he is still mighty confident. Asked about his 2009 campaign, Okung said: “I don’t recall any bad plays, if you catch my drift.”



Kansas City and Oakland both would be lucky to get this player.



Iupati would fit anywhere in the AFC West. Still, AFC West teams may not get the chance to take him unless he falls into the second round. If he does, Kansas City, Oakland and Denver are all in play. Oakland is an interesting possibility because Raiders coach Tom Cable played at coached at Idaho and he is an offensive line specialist. It is doubtful San Diego, which drafts No. 28 in the first round, would take a guard with major issues at running back and nose tackle.

INDIANAPOLIS — While a weird rumor about the Buffalo Bills being interested in Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell is floating around, Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland seemed to shoot down another bit of speculation that has refused to die.

White

Thigpen

Since the Bills hired head coach Chan Gailey, readers have been asking me if there’s any truth to gossip that claimed the Bills were targeting Dolphins backup quarterback Tyler Thigpen.



I have no idea where those whispers came from aside from the link Gailey and Thigpen had with the Kansas City Chiefs.



It made no sense to me the moment I heard it. The Dolphins liked Thigpen enough to trade for him last year. To turn around and deal him a half-year later — within the division, no less — is implausible.



At the NFL scouting combine on Thursday, Ireland said Thigpen and sophomore Pat White will vie for the No. 2 job behind Chad Henne.



“They’re going to be fighting for the No. 2, No. 3 position,” Ireland said. “I think Tyler’s going to go into it thinking ‘I can win this job,’ and Pat’s got to do the same thing. We feel like we’ve got three young, good quarterbacks on this roster that can contribute to this team.”



Ireland also commented on Chad Pennington‘s potential future with the team. Pennington is an unrestricted free agent coming off a third reconstructive surgery on his throwing shoulder.



With Henne the unquestioned starter — Ireland called him “our quarterback and the future of our organization right now” — Pennington wouldn’t be brought in to compete for the job.



“We’ve talked to Chad on a number of different avenues,” Ireland said. “Obviously, that’s a decision that would show you my cards on where we’re going in our offseason plan. I like Chad a lot. I think he’s tremendous for the team, a tremendous leader. But those decisions will be coming later.”



As for the Bills’ quarterback situation, Gailey was vague and mentioned neither Trent Edwards nor Ryan Fitzpatrick by name.



“You know, every team in the league that doesn’t have an All-Pro quarterback or somebody that got votes for All-Pro is looking to improve their position,” Gailey said. “So I think that if you look at every position on the field, you are always trying to upgrade your football team.



“We’ll evaluate what’s available and if we can improve our situation, we’ll try to improve it. Everybody is trying to do that at every position — not just quarterback, but every position.”

INDIANAPOLIS — Most NFL general managers and head coaches try to be in and out of the Lucas Oil Field media room as quickly as possible, but Browns president Mike Holmgren is the exception. The former Packers and Seahawks coach appeared out of nowhere earlier this afternoon, wearing the largest Browns parka I’ve seen since Sam Rutigliano prowled the sidelines at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.



Holmgren isn’t scheduled to address reporters until Friday, so no one really knows why he was working the room. But knowing that he’s one of the most interesting — and patient — guys in the NFL, I decided to pepper him with a few Donovan McNabb questions. Holmgren recently hired former Eagles general manager Tom Heckert to take over the same role in Cleveland. There’s been speculation that the Browns might try to make a play for McNabb or even his backup, Kevin Kolb.



Of course, Holmgren can’t field that type of question because it could be viewed as tampering. But I did ask him what he thought about the fact that a lot of Eagles fans are ready to see McNabb go.



“I’m astounded by that,” Holmgren told me. “I’m like most of the folks around the league. With all that he’s done for that team over the long haul…I guess part of it’s that he hasn’t been able to get over the hump [and win a Super Bowl].”



I asked Holmgren whether he thinks McNabb could play as long as Brett Favre or Kurt Warner, and he sort of hesitated.



“It’s looking like, physically, he could play a long time,” said Holmgren. “But he’s a guy that when he loses the ability to move around, it’ll probably be near the end.”



I asked Holmgren whether Heckert was trying to convince him to start signing Eagles players.



“Heckert’s driving me crazy,” joked Holmgren.



It was obvious that Holmgren has a huge appreciation for McNabb’s body of work. Does that mean he’s willing to trade the No. 7 pick overall for McNabb? That seems pretty far-fetched to me. Heckert is a big fan of Kolb’s but it’s unlikely the Eagles would trade him at this point. Even if the Browns were willing to give up a second-round pick for Kolb, I still don’t think the Eagles do it.

The most unbalanced offensive line in the AFC South belongs to the Indianapolis Colts.



But it’s a group whose superiority in pass protection fits with the AFC champion’s design, which is first and foremost “do no harm to Peyton Manning.”



Following similar logic, Jacksonville’s offensive line could understandably be very good run-blockers and below average pass-protectors, considering that Maurice Jones-Drew is the Jaguars’ centerpiece.



But as the Jaguars broke in two rookie tackles in 2009, the melding of the group wasn’t always smooth and the line’s play sometimes felt disjointed.



Yes, Jones-Drew had an excellent season with 1,391 rushing yards and 16 total touchdowns. But the Jaguars still had six games in which their run game averaged less than the league average of 4.2 yards per carry. And David Garrard was sacked 42 times, more than any quarterback in the league besides Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, Jason Campbell and Matt Cassel.



For a team that craves a physical identity, it wasn’t good enough.



Offensive line coach Andy Heck has installed his offseason theme, and it’s “finishing.”



“All the guys in our line are tough guys. I think we can all work to finish better,” Heck told me this week. “Play to the whistle. Our run game is something we’ve taken a lot of pride in down here, and while our blocking has been good, we can’t just assume because it’s been good it’s going to continue to be good.”



And the pass protection must be significantly better.



All offensive linemen would like to be equally good in both departments. Heck estimated 70 to 80 percent of starting linemen in the league can say they are, with young players or players in an offense that overemphasizes the run or pass accounting for the others who are not as balanced.



His left guard, Vince Manuwai, said he thinks 70 percent of NFL linemen are better run-blockers than pass-protectors.



At Farrington (Hawaii) High School, Manuwai was in a run-heavy scheme. At the University of Hawaii, he was part of a pass-happy team. So he felt like he came into the league well-versed in both and ready to be versatile. He still rates himself as a better run-blocker.



“Run blocking is a lot easier,” he said. “With run blocking, a lot of the time you just have to move the guy maybe a couple inches, a couple feet and if you have a good running back, he makes you look good. You can miss a block and a lot of times he will break arm tackles from the guy you’re blocking. Pass blocking is a lot tougher. …You’ve got to be so patient, you’ve got to be prepared for so many moves. You can’t really be aggressive trying to dominate on the line. Run block, you can be aggressive and go full speed and come out looking good.”



Manuwai said the finishing theme is often a matter of “football awareness,” starting with quicker adjustments as things unfold.



Said Heck: “Being a good pass-blocker you’ve got to have some God-given talents, some agility, some foot quickness and athleticism. To be a good run-blocker, it’s good to have all those things, but really all you need is the right mindset. And to be a really good run-blocker, you need strength and leverage and all that. But you can be a decent run-blocker if you’ve got the right mindset, in other words the drive to finish.”



For the Jaguars to make a jump next season, they need to keep Garrard far cleaner. Coach Jack Del Rio talked about how the team needs to be good around Garrard for him to be good. That starts with him having better protection more often.



The one change could come at center, where 32-year old Brad Meester slipped and the team can use a talent upgrade at the cost of leadership and experience.



Here is our look at Jacksonville’s starting five. Heck, Scouts Inc.’s Matt Williamson and ProFootballFocus.com, a site that grades a player on a scale of minus-2 to plus-2 on every play and offers totals based on his cumulative play over the season, provide assessments.



Left tackle Eugene Monroe



Heck: “I see him doing some things athletically and in terms of balance that few people in this world can do. He had unbelievable God-given talent to be a great pass-protector. Things that will help him as a young player will be more awareness of defenses and situations, which comes with experience. Especially as a tackle it’s a process. In pass protection, he’s off to a great start. In run blocking, I know that’s an area he’s looking to improve, and I think I can help him with some leverage things and always working to finish.”



Williamson: Far better run-blocker.



ProFootballFocus.com: Minus-12.4 in pass blocking, plus 7.1 in run blocking.



Left guard Vince Manuwai



Heck: “This year he came off a knee injury. Just before his injury, I think it would have been hard to find many guards who run blocked as well as he did. He’s got so much leverage and strength. I look forward to getting a healthy Vince back, not that he wasn’t healthy last year, but he was working his way back. I think he can be a dominant run-blocker. Vince can be a very capable pass-protector. He’s got one of the strongest punches that you’ll find anywhere.”



Williamson: Better run-blocker.



ProFootballFocus.com: Minus-3.1 in pass blocking, plus-7.1 in run blocking.



Center Brad Meester



Heck: “We got strong veteran leadership from him. I’ve never been around a player that was more dedicated to his craft than he is. He’s really outstanding at communicating and getting us all going in the right direction and is the leader of our group. I’d say Brad is a very well-balanced player. The thing that he has that the young tackles don’t have is the benefit of a lot of experience. There is not a lot that he hasn’t seen. He’s able to sort out difficult looks and play smart football.”



Williamson: Better pass-protector, “but he was a liability in all regards this past season.”



ProFootballFocus.com: Minus-3.0 in pass blocking, minus-13.7 in run blocking.



Right guard Uche Nwaneri



Heck: “He’s shown some steady improvement in all areas of his game. I think that he can be a very good run-blocker and is athletic enough and smart enough that he can be good as a pass-protector as well. At times he’s looked very good at both, and at times you can see where he needs to improve.”



Williamson: Slightly better pass-protector.



ProFootballFocus.com: Plus-4.0 in pass blocking, minus-2.6 in run blocking.



Right tackle Eben Britton



Heck: “He’s a guy that’s got great heart and desire. He’s similar to Eugene as a young player. He’s going to look to improve his awareness. Every one of those games from the personnel to the looks he’s going to see, all those things will help him kind of sort out some gray areas. I think that will help him in his pass protection as well, an area I think he can improve and will improve.”



Williamson: Far better run-blocker.



ProFootballFocus.com: Minus-14 in pass blocking, plus-3.0 in pass blocking.

INDIANAPOLIS — Scott Pioli is excited about his first key additions to his 2010 Kansas City Chiefs.



While here for the NFL combine, Pioli spoke to the media Thursday. In his typical close-to-the-vest approach, the Chiefs general manager had little to say about the team’s draft or free-agency plans.



Yet, Pioli was effusive in his praise of his new coordinators, Charlie Weis (offense) and Romeo Crennel (defense). The three men were together during the New England dynasty days of the early 2000s.



Pioli believes the presence of Crennel and Weis — who were both head coaches after leaving New England following the 2004 season — will only help young head coach Todd Haley. All four men worked together with the New York Jets in the late 1990s.



“It’s a good dynamic,” Pioli said.



Pioli said he and Haley will benefit from Crennel and Weis because the two coordinators won’t be afraid to tell the truth and tell the head men what they believe.



“It’s a good sounding board,” Pioli said.



Pioli also addressed several topics Thursday. Here are some of the highlights:



Pioli said the team will be active in free agency. The Chiefs weren’t overly active last year, but Pioli indicated that the team tried but didn’t finalize deals with some players.



“We’re to try to be active and improve and supplement our team through free agency,” said Pioli, who added he believes the draft is the best way of building a team.



He said the team has been in touch with all of the Chiefs’ pending free agents and talks will continue.



Pioli said he’d consider entering restricted free agency buying market if there was a deal that made sense.



Asked if he thought Weis could have the same impact on Matt Cassel that he had on Tom Brady, Pioli said, “they are different people. I want Matt Cassel to be the best Matt Cassel he can be.”



Pioli said Haley is getting better at delegating responsibilities as he enters his second season as an NFL head coach.



Pioli said the team will look at adding some offense linemen.



“We have some good offensive linemen and we need some more good offensive linemen,” he said.



Pioli admitted that when healthy players choose not to work out at the combine that it does affect their draft status in his eyes.



“I want to see them compete,” he said.