One Thing We've Learned About Each NFL Team During Training Camp
The 32 teams in the NFL have been going at it hard in training camp for nearly a month. And now each of the clubs has at least one preseason game under its belt.
So where do we stand?
Using the news of the last few weeks as well as what we have briefly seen on the field in the first week of the preseason, we will tell you what has stood out most about each team. It could be a player or a coach or an attitude adjustment.
We hope it will not only give you a gauge of where each team stands but also something to watch in Week 2 of the preseason and perhaps into September.
After a summer full of a lot of hot air about hot air, this is the good stuff.
Arizona Cardinals: RB Andre Ellington Back in Form
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You could have sworn at times last year that the Arizona Cardinals featured a 35-man roster instead of the standard 53.
A rash of injuries, most notably at quarterback and running back, plagued the team all season. Bruce Arians certainly had to earn his NFL Coach of the Year award, as the Cardinals finished 11-5 and reached the playoffs.
While things did not go well in the postseason, the squad now has veteran quarterback Carson Palmer and emerging running back Andre Ellington back in the fold. The latter made his presence felt on a 57-yard catch and run in Saturday night's preseason tilt with the Kansas City Chiefs. Ellington also scored on a two-yard run.
Last season, only the Oakland Raiders totaled fewer yards on the ground than the Cardinals. A healthy Ellington, who gained 1,055 yards from scrimmage and scored five touchdowns in 12 games in 2014, could change that.
Atlanta Falcons: Defense Stressing Aggressive Play
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Were you expecting anything less?
Watching the Atlanta Falcons play the Tennessee Titans on Friday evening at the Georgia Dome, you couldn't help but notice a defensive unit that was flying around the field instead of sitting back on its heels.
It must be the influence of new head coach Dan Quinn, who in his first NFL head-coaching gig simply has to improve the league's worst-ranked defense.
Quinn certainly has the credentials: He was the defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks, who gave up the fewest points and fewest yards in the league in each of his two years on the job.
Add in first-round pass-rusher Vic Beasley and free-agent pickups such as outside linebackers Justin Durant and Brooks Reed and defensive end Adrian Clayborn, and you can see where the Falcons defensive unit is already headed.
Baltimore Ravens: TE Maxx Williams Will Contribute Immediately
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It's safe to say that Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco would certainly like to have a capable tight end at his disposal.
During the team's successful Super Bowl XLVII run, Dennis Pitta emerged as one of the Ravens' top pass-catchers and was especially effective in the postseason, as Flacco played pitch and catch with both him and veteran wideout Anquan Boldin.
However, injuries have taken their toll ever since, and Pitta remains on the team's physically unable to perform list. This offseason, 2014 free-agent addition Owen Daniels joined Gary Kubiak (Baltimore's offensive coordinator last season) in Denver.
But never fear, because general manager Ozzie Newsome is here. With a second-round pick this spring, Newsome added University of Minnesota tight end Maxx Williams to the fold. Don't be shocked if Williams not only outshines fellow rookie Breshad Perriman but also leads the Ravens in receptions in 2015.
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Buffalo Bills: Offensive Line Has Made Steady Strides
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Last season, the Buffalo Bills ranked a disappointing 25th in the NFL in rushing yards per game. It was a major fall from grace for a club that in 2013 ranked second in the league in that same category.
For many, the biggest culprit was the play of an offensive front that simply didn't get the job done. But things, they are a-changin' in the land of chicken wings.
According to Pro Football Focus, only the San Diego Chargers were more inept when it came to blocking for the run in 2014. That would explain a lot of the issues this team had a year ago. For not-so-good measure, the Bills also surrendered 39 sacks.
However, the addition of veteran left guard Richie Incognito and rookie right guard John Miller are just two reasons for optimism when it comes to this unit this season.
Carolina Panthers: Healthy Cam Newton Makes Huge Difference
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It sounds like we are stating the obvious, and there's a degree of truth to that.
But consider where Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was a year ago at this time. The now-well-paid four-year veteran was recovering from offseason ankle surgery. During the preseason, he suffered a rib injury that eventually kept him out of the team's regular-season opener. And even as late as December, Newton was involved in a car accident that caused him to miss a game.
But the strong-armed signal-caller has looked solid to date, and when you consider that the Panthers may have found a potential star at wide receiver in rookie Devin Funchess, the offense is starting to look quite interesting.
After a season in which then-rookie wideout Kelvin Benjamin totaled 73 catches for 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns and tight end Greg Olsen was named to his first Pro Bowl, there is plenty of potential in Newton and the Carolina offense.
Chicago Bears: Defense Still Trying to Find Itself
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The offseason additions were numerous and significant. And without question, the biggest pickups for the Chicago Bears were new head coach John Fox and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
The newcomers on the defensive side of the football include outside linebackers Pernell McPhee and Sam Acho, inside linebacker Mason Foster and strong safety Antrel Rolle.
But the biggest obstacle for a club that has allowed 93 offensive touchdowns in its last 32 games may be players lining up at new positions. How will defensive ends-turned-outside linebackers Jared Allen, Willie Young and Lamarr Houston fare in new roles? Former first-round pick Shea McClellin is making the move to inside linebacker, and via Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com, he passed his first test in the team's preseason win over Miami.
How long it takes to get comfortable in Fangio's 3-4 could be the key to the season.
Cincinnati Bengals: Defensive Line Looks Deep Again
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While the Cincinnati Bengals did manage to make a fourth consecutive playoff appearance in 2014, head coach Marvin Lewis' talented team experienced some unexpected issues.
While injuries took their toll on the receiving corps, the absences of linebackers Vontaze Burfict and Rey Maualuga were felt as well.
A team that had allowed the third-fewest total yards in the NFL, ranked fifth in the league in rushing defense and racked up 43 sacks in 2013 sank to 22nd in total defense, finished 20th in the NFL against the run and managed a league-low 20 sacks.
This offseason, the Bengals welcomed back defensive end Michael Johnson and defensive tackle Pat Sims, recent free-agent departures from the club. And while one-time defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer isn't walking back through the door anytime soon, the return of a few experienced defenders should help the team's cause.
Cleveland Browns: QB Johnny Manziel on Right Track
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Roughly a year ago in a preseason tilt against the Redskins, then-rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel indicated to the Washington sideline that he was the Cleveland Browns' No. 1 quarterback.
These days, while it may be difficult to put a finger on why, this is a Johnny more interested in playing football than being Johnny Football.
While the 2014 first-round pick did run for a touchdown in this year's preseason tilt against the Redskins, it's obvious that the talented performer has worked on his desire to remain in the pocket.
It's expected that free-agent pickup Josh McCown will become the Browns' 23rd different starting quarterback since 1999 in Week 1. But could an improving Manziel find himself in the starting lineup sooner than later?
Dallas Cowboys: Still in Search of a Running Back
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After the Dallas Cowboys lost 2014 NFL Offensive Player of the Year DeMarco Murray to the rival Philadelphia Eagles, a perception emerged that anyone can run behind Dallas' Pro Bowl-laden offensive front.
Anyone? Anyone?
Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram has the latest on the search for a workhorse in the Cowboys backfield. Injuries have been a factor when it comes to all three key players: Joseph Randle, Lance Dunbar and free-agent pickup Darren McFadden; the latter appears healthy and ready to go.
So arguably the biggest offseason question about the defending NFC East champions still has yet to be answered. What we have learned is that Murray, who led the NFL in 2014 with 1,845 yards on the ground, may be missed far more than some believe.
Denver Broncos: Defense Ahead of the Offense
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Here is a question you don't hear too often, if at all: When was the last time a team quarterbacked by Peyton Manning appeared to be in better shape on the defensive side of the football than the offensive side?
A show of hands? These days in the Mile High City, there is far more certainty regarding the 39-year-old signal-caller and NFL's all-time leader in touchdown passes than the five guys who will be in charge of protecting him.
On the other hand, new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips inherits a unit that was third in the NFL in yards allowed and second in the league when it came to stopping the run. With pass-rushing threats such as outside linebackers Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware and rookie Shane Ray, it could be a big year for the Denver defense. We saw a little of that on display in the team's preseason opener in Seattle.
Might the Broncos defensive unit have to carry the load a bit until the offense settles in? That would not necessarily be a bad thing.
Detroit Lions: WR Golden Tate No One-Hit Wonder
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Last offseason, many questioned why the Detroit Lions anted up when it came to free-agent wide receiver Golden Tate.
The former Seattle Seahawks standout and Super Bowl XLVIII champion was coming off a season in which he set career highs for catches (64) and receiving yards (898). Nobody expected the now-five-year pro to finish sixth in the league in receptions (99) and seventh in the NFL in receiving yards (1,331).
So far this summer, Tate is looking like he's ready to pick up where he left off. That would be good news for the Lions, especially if Calvin Johnson can stay healthy in his ninth NFL season.
With Detroit's defense a bit of a question mark entering 2015, it may be imperative for quarterback Matthew Stafford to rely on Johnson and Tate even more this year.
Green Bay Packers: Questions Still Surround Run Defense
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On Thursday night at Foxborough, the Green Bay Packers came away with a 22-11 win over the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.
But there was the matter of that 55-yard touchdown run by the Patriots' Jonas Gray, which gave New England a brief lead in the second quarter. The Packers allowed only 94 total rushing yards, though, and tallied seven sacks of New England quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo—but getting to the other team's quarterback hasn't been the issue in recent years. Green Bay ranked 25th in the NFL in rushing defense in 2013 and was just 23rd in that same category last season.
While defensive coordinator Dom Capers hones this unit, there are a few things to keep in mind come September.
Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reported in July that defensive lineman Letroy Guion will miss the first three games of the season (pending appeal) due to a league suspension. That came roughly three weeks after the Packers learned defensive end Datone Jones would serve a one-game suspension, as reported by Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The return of former Pro Bowler B.J. Raji to nose tackle after he missed all of 2014 should help. But the proof will be in the pudding as soon as Week 2, when the Seattle Seahawks and Marshawn Lynch come to Lambeau Field.
Houston Texans: Team Has Depth at Wide Receiver
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When you read the title of this slide, you may have thought it was a typo.
How could the Houston Texans be in better shape at wide receiver after cutting loose the ninth-leading pass-catcher in NFL history?
This offseason, the franchise released 12-year wideout Andre Johnson, who took his 1,012 career receptions to Indianapolis. But the Texans got busy during free agency and the draft, adding the likes of Cecil Shorts (formerly of the Jacksonville Jaguars) and Nate Washington (Tennessee Titans) and using a third-round selection on Jaelen Strong (Arizona State). Along with big-play performer DeAndre Hopkins, who totaled 76 catches for 1,210 yards and six touchdowns in 2014, this may be the franchise's best group of wideouts in its brief history.
There is still the matter of who will be throwing the ball to this corps, as Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett continue to fight for the starting job at quarterback. But there is a lot of room here for optimism when it comes to a talented group of wideouts.
Indianapolis Colts: Defense Remains Chief Concern
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A look at this year's offseason additions for the Indianapolis Colts shows that general manager Ryan Grigson added the likes of running back Frank Gore, wide receiver Andre Johnson and guard Todd Herremans on offense. He also used a first-round pick on wide receiver Phillip Dorsett.
On defense, the new starters include defensive tackle Kendall Langford, right outside linebacker Trent Cole and free safety Dwight Lowery.
Cole brings 10 years of experience and 85.5 career sacks to Indianapolis, and he could help form a potent pass-rushing duo by teaming with Robert Mathis. But is the former Philadelphia Eagles standout another piece for defensive coordinator Greg Manusky or simply a replacement for the veteran who missed all of 2014 with an Achilles injury?
Kevin Bowen of Colts.com provided an update on the five-time Pro Bowler courtesy of team owner Jim Irsay, who was recently asked when we would see Mathis.
"It's hard to say. We want to make sure that the doctors feel he's ready and that re-injuring and that sort of thing is not going to be a problem. We've talked about October, roughly. Can he come back quicker than that? Knowing Robert, anything is possible. ... Again, I would guess early October, late September right now.
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The Colts have a lot of good pieces on this defense in the form of Pro Bowlers such as cornerback Vontae Davis and strong safety Mike Adams. But do they have enough to take another step forward and reach the Super Bowl? That's a question that still has an uncertain answer.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Running Game Has Plenty of Depth
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Last season, the Jacksonville Jaguars ranked 21st in the league in rushing yards per game. But their performance in this area was a bit deceptive considering one of their prized free-agent pickups in 2014 did not make the expected impact.
Now, running back Toby Gerhart, who finished third on the team with 326 yards on the ground last year, finds himself on a squad that has bolstered its rushing attack. While we didn't see second-round pick T.J Yeldon in Friday's preseason tilt against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the former University of Alabama standout is the expected starter. He will be joined by not only Gerhart but also Denard Robinson (team-high 582 yards in 2014), former Baltimore Ravens runner Bernard Pierce and second-year pro Storm Johnson.
This is a ground attack that could surprise many opponents in 2015.
Kansas City Chiefs: Offensive Line Dealing with Growing Pains
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In Week 17 of the 2014 season, the Kansas City Chiefs started an offensive line that featured tackles Eric Fisher and Ryan Harris, guards Jeff Linkenbach and Zach Fulton and center Rodney Hudson.
That won't be the case this season with Harris in Denver, Linkenbach in Miami and Hudson snapping the ball to Derek Carr in Oakland. Former starter Donald Stephenson returns at right tackle, but there's a battle at center between Eric Kush and rookie Mitch Morse, who is moving to a new position.
We all know about this team's lack of production at wide receiver in 2014. But head coach Andy Reid's offensive front has some work to do as well.
Miami Dolphins: DT Ndamukong Suh Has Brought Attitude
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For too many years, the Miami Dolphins have been pushed around on defense late in the season.
That was evident in 2014, as head coach Joe Philbin's club dropped four of its final six contests following a 6-4 start. During that stretch, the Dolphins gave up 165.3 yards per game on the ground and a disappointing 193 points (32.2 points per contest).
Enter defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, whose Detroit Lions ranked first in the NFL in rushing defense while surrendering only 282 points last season. He's joined in South Florida by former Lions teammate C.J. Mosley. The duo hopes to lead its new employer to the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
The feisty Suh promises to bring a lot more than just standout play to the Dolphins, who are in dire need of an intimidating persona.
Minnesota Vikings: CB Trae Waynes Has Lots to Learn
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Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman has done exceptional work in the draft, especially when it comes to the first round.
And eventually, 2015 first-rounder Trae Waynes figures to make his mark on the league. So far—and it's still early—the former Michigan State standout has taken his lumps in the preseason. The Vikings are set in terms of starting cornerbacks with Xavier Rhodes and free-agent addition Terence Newman, and there's proven depth with Josh Robinson and Captain Munnerlyn.
While Waynes has gotten off to a shaky start, he's in a great position to learn from not only head coach Mike Zimmer but Newman as well.
New England Patriots: DT Vince Wilfork Will Be Missed
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The New England Patriots always seem to make the right personnel decisions, but it still raised eyebrows this offseason when they declined to pick up options on cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner.
Could the team's choice not to bring back defensive tackle Vince Wilfork prove just as costly? New England ranked ninth in the league in rushing defense in 2014 with the 11-year pro starting all 16 regular-season games. The previous season, Wilfork played just four games, and only two clubs in the league wound up allowing more rushing yards than the Patriots.
Don't count out a team that has posted 14 straight winning seasons, 12 consecutive years of 10 or more victories and six straight AFC East titles. But banking on the New England defense to duplicate last season's performance minus Wilfork and others seems like an iffy proposition at best.
New Orleans Saints: TE Benjamin Watson Must Step Up
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In 11 seasons with the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints, tight end Ben Watson has totaled a respectable 360 catches—32 for touchdowns.
In five seasons with the Saints, tight end Jimmy Graham amassed 386 receptions, with 51 of those grabs going for scores.
So head coach Sean Payton's team is trying to replace one of the most unique talents at the position in the league. As of now, Watson appears to have taken the initiative on a roster that includes the promising talent of Josh Hill (14 receptions, five for touchdowns in 2014). Whether he becomes the same kind of threat that Graham was in recent years remains to be seen.
Watson's biggest season in terms of catches came in 2010 with the Browns (68). His career high for touchdown receptions came in 2007 with the Pats (six). Those numbers would probably work just fine for quarterback Drew Brees and Co.
New York Giants: Defense Still Has Work to Do
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While New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning rebounded well this past season following a problem-plagued 2013, the same can't be said for the team's defense.
It's now up to new/old defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to turn things around. That hasn't been easy with former Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul recovering from his July 4 misadventures.
Now the Giants may have even more work to do at safety. Michael Eisen of Giants.com reports that the team has added safety Brandon Meriweather, as the team has lost fifth-round pick Mykkele Thompson for the season, and second-round selection Landon Collins is on the shelf for now.
This was a team that gave up the fourth-most total yards per game and ranked 30th in the NFL in rushing defense last year. So far, we haven't seen a lot from this unit. Then again, the Giants offense struggled throughout the 2014 preseason and woke up in a big way during the regular schedule.
New York Jets: Too Many off-Field Headlines
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When it came to winning the 2015 offseason, the New York Jets were certainly in the running and may still be thanks to the free-agent additions of cornerbacks Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine, the trade that brought wide receiver Brandon Marshall and the drafting of defensive lineman Leonard Williams.
Still, the recent four-game suspension of Pro Bowl defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson certainly left a bad taste in new head coach Todd Bowles' mouth. And the incident that sent quarterback Geno Smith to the sidelines for the next few months has certainly cast a negative shadow on the club.
Still, this is a club that has upgraded its talent significantly in many areas. And a little winning early in the season could make the events of recent weeks disappear in a hurry.
Oakland Raiders: Offense Finally Has Numerous Playmakers
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When you finish dead last in the NFL in both total offense and rushing, you're in dire need of help just about everywhere on that side of the ball.
But it appears that the Silver and Black may have found the real deal in wide receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree as new head coach Jack Del Rio and new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave look to upgrade the league's 26th-ranked passing game in 2014.
Add versatile running back Roy Helu to that mix, as well, as the free-agent pickup should be an ideal complement to explosive running back Latavius Murray.
Even with a respectable showing by quarterback Derek Carr, Oakland's offensive unit totaled just 26 touchdowns this past season. That should change dramatically, and there should be a little flair attached, as well.
Philadelphia Eagles: Chip Kelly Does Have a Plan
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The quarterback situation for the Philadelphia Eagles this year has been well-documented.
So, was it really that big of a surprise that the team's front-runner for the starting job, former St. Louis Rams signal-caller Sam Bradford, sat on Sunday afternoon as Mark Sanchez got the nod for head coach Chip Kelly's team?
The only quarterback on the Philadelphia roster who started a game in 2014 eventually gave way to both Matt Barkley and Tim Tebow in what proved to be a 36-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
So what did we learn? Kelly is making sure that Bradford is at peak health before he puts him on the field. It also gave Barkley a chance to show what he can do, should the Eagles still be in trading mode.
You have to figure we will see Bradford in this week's tilt with the Baltimore Ravens.
Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Martavis Bryant Ready for Starter's Role
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We didn't get to see wide receiver Martavis Bryant for an entire season in 2014. And, no doubt, opponents of the Pittsburgh Steelers had to be grateful for that little fact.
Out for the first six weeks of his rookie campaign, the speedster from Clemson made his presence felt once he hit the field. In 10 games, he totaled just 26 catches for a whopping 549 yards (21.1 average) and eight touchdowns, including a 94-yard scoring strike in the team's Week 14 win at Cincinnati.
It seems like only a matter of time before last year's fourth-round pick supplants Markus Wheaton as the starter. That won't be easy, considering the two-year pro totaled 53 catches for 644 yards and two scores in 2014. But it is awfully hard to ignore Bryant's big-play talents.
San Diego Chargers: Ground Attack Poised for Big Comeback
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In 2014, only the Oakland Raiders and Arizona Cardinals gained fewer yards on the ground than the San Diego Chargers.
And when the team moved up a few spots in this year's draft to grab University of Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon, it was hardly a surprise.
Suddenly, head coach Mike McCoy's team has an embarrassment of riches in the backfield. Branden Oliver led the team with 582 yards rushing and filled in well when Ryan Mathews (now with the Philadelphia Eagles) went down. Danny Woodhead is healthy again after missing nearly all of 2014, and Donald Brown remains after finishing third on the team with 223 yards on the ground.
It all adds up to good news for veteran quarterback Philip Rivers, who has millions of reasons to smile these days.
San Francisco 49ers: Too Many Question Marks on Defense
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With a roster that included the likes of linebackers Patrick Willis, Chris Borland and Aldon Smith as well as defensive tackle Justin Smith and cornerbacks Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox, the San Francisco 49ers had been one of the better defensive teams in the league in recent years.
But all are now retired or elsewhere. So are head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the former at the University of Michigan and the latter with the Chicago Bears.
That leaves Eric Mangini in charge of the Niners defense, and the well-traveled coach has his work cut out for him. When you lose the amount of talent that this club has and are still hoping that perennial Pro Bowl inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman, who missed all of 2014, takes the field soon, there is a lot of room for concern.
As for Bowman, we did not see him in the preseason opener against the Houston Texans, and the star defender knows he's not quite himself as of now. "Not yet, but I'm satisfied with how much work I've put in and how far I've come," said Bowman to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.
This is a San Francisco defensive unit that will need all the help it can get this season.
Seattle Seahawks: Question Marks on the Offensive Line
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The back-to-back NFC champion Seattle Seahawks seek to become the first team since the 1990-93 Buffalo Bills to make at least three consecutive Super Bowl appearances.
They will also attempt to become the first club since the 1972 Miami Dolphins to lose the Super Bowl and then win an NFL title the following year.
But they won't go very far if their offensive line isn't sound. This offseason, left guard James Carpenter left for the New York Jets and former Pro Bowl center Max Unger was part of the trade that brought three-time Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham to the Pacific Northwest.
Still, none of this works if the offensive front is not set. And while the Seattle defense speaks for itself, head coach Pete Carroll and Co. better make sure they are secure when it comes to protecting Russell Wilson and blocking for Marshawn Lynch.
St. Louis Rams: Offensive Line Will Need Time to Grow
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On Friday night against the Oakland Raiders, head coach Jeff Fisher's St. Louis Rams opened with an offensive line that featured left tackle Greg Robinson, left guard Rodger Saffold, center Tim Barnes, right guard Jamon Brown and right tackle Rob Havenstein.
You will notice that the right side of this unit features a pair of rookies in Brown and Havenstein, who were taken in the third and second rounds this year, respectively. All told, the Rams selected four offensive linemen in this year's draft and then added University of Clemson tackle Isaiah Battle in this summer's supplemental draft.
Fisher has a new quarterback in Nick Foles and a new running threat in rookie Todd Gurley. But an offense that ranked 28th in the NFL in total yards per game last season needs some time to get in sync.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Jameis Winston Looks Familiar
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"I thought it was a typical Jameis Winston day."
Those were the words of Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith in evaluating the performance of rookie quarterback Jameis Winston, who played the first half in the team's 26-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings
"He threw some good balls at the end," said Smith to Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com. "Pretty good decisions. We'd like to have that one interception back, but I thought he threw some pretty good balls. That's what you judge your quarterback on, decision-making. For the most part, I think it was pretty good."
As we know, typical for Winston in his final year at Florida State were shaky first halves followed by second-half brilliance. On Saturday night, the first overall pick in 2015 hit on just nine of his 19 pass attempts for 131 yards, was sacked twice, fumbled once and threw an interception. But with 3:44 to play in the first half, he drove the team 76 yards in nine plays, hitting on 5 of 6 passes, and culminated the march with an eight-yard touchdown run.
So what have the Bucs learned about Winston? That they have the same player whom they saw with the Seminoles this past season.
Tennessee Titans: Rookie QB Marcus Mariota Is Human
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It's funny because this piece asks what we learned about each team during training camp.
When it comes to Tennessee Titans rookie signal-caller Marcus Mariota, it became a case of hoping that what they saw the last few weeks on the practice field would translate to game day. As has been well-documented, the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner had not thrown an interception in camp.
That changed on Friday night at the Georgia Dome when on the Titans' first series, Mariota fumbled, connected on a four-yard completion, went down on a sack and then threw an interception.
That was the bad news. The rookie signal-caller ultimately hit on seven passes for 94 yards and, not surprisingly, appeared to get more comfortable as the game wore on.
Washington Redskins: Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry Has Made a Difference
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We are not going to go overboard when it comes to one preseason game. But you have to like what you have seen early on this summer and on Thursday night when it comes to the Washington Redskins' new-look defense.
This offseason, new general manager Scot McCloughan beefed up the team's defensive front with the additions of Stephen Paea, Terrance Knighton, Ricky Jean-Francois and Jerrell Powe. He used a second-round pick on outside linebacker Preston Smith, signed highly-regarded cornerback Chris Culliver and traded for free safety Dashon Goldson.
More importantly, the team made a change at defensive coordinator with the hiring of Joe Barry, who looks to resurrect a unit that has allowed 102 offensive touchdowns the past two seasons, including 55 in 2013.
For what it's worth, the Redskins gave up a mere 170 total yards in Thursday's win at Cleveland. Given the defense's recent performances over the last few years, there is no doubt Barry will look at this year's performance as a much-needed positive.
All free-agent information and player signings/transactions are courtesy of Spotrac. Depth-chart information comes via Ourlads. Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com.
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