50 Most Important Things We Learned This NFL Preseason

The 2011 NFL preseason is all but over, and teams are now preparing and gearing up for the kickoff of the regular season in just 10 short days.

This preseason has been an interesting one, considering the lockout and shortened training camps, which has made this preseason one for the ages.

In that spirit, here are the 50 most important things we learned from this year's preseason.

Michael Vick Reverting to His Atlanta Falcon Days

This is a trend that's been ongoing ever since the last few weeks of the 2010 season and is picking up again right where it's left off—Michael Vick is slowly turning back into his older self, when he was an Atlanta Falcon.

Vick did a phenomenal job last season, as he turned into a pocket passer and only ran if he had to. Now, Vick seems to be checking his first option, and if it's not there, he's simply tucking the ball and running.

That is not going to work for the Eagles.

Chad Ochocinco Is Very Behind

So far for Chad Ochocinco and the New England Patriots, it has not been a happy marriage—Ochocinco has been a major disappointment. Granted, I will give Ochocinco that this is the preseason, but he's been a non-factor.

Ochocinco has been dropping passes left and right and simply hasn't been able to get involved. Perhaps he is having a hard time understanding New England's offense, or maybe he's just past his prime.

Joe Flacco Has Thrown the Ball Well

Joe Flacco's numbers may not have been very impressive, but he's been throwing the ball well and has been racking up the yardage.

Flacco will have Anquan Boldin and Lee Evans as his top two wide receivers in 2011 and should have a breakout season.

Roy Williams Has Been a Huge Disappointment

There's a good chance that Roy Williams may not even make the Chicago Bears roster—he's been that much of a non-factor.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Williams isn't even one of the team's top three wide receivers. That is definitely a problem.

The Cincinnati Bengals Look to Be the League's Worst Team

The Cincinnati Bengals are going to have a very difficult ride in 2011—there's no doubt about it.

The Bengals went 1-3 in the exhibition season and have struggled to score points with rookie quarterback Andy Dalton.

As the Browns, Steelers and Ravens all look to have gotten better, the Bengals have gotten significantly worse.

Matthew Stafford Should Have a Breakout Year

If Matthew Stafford can stay healthy, he'll have a breakout season and lead the Detroit Lions to a solid and respectable record.

Stafford has thrown for five touchdowns while completing an amazing 77.4 percent of his passes.

The Lions coaching staff better be praying they can protect Stafford and that he can play a full NFL season.

Colt McCoy Looks Like a Winner

Colt McCoy may not be the best quarterback out there, but he's one of the gutsiest and has played like a winner.

McCoy has completed 60.9 percent of his passes while throwing four touchdowns and just one interception for the Cleveland Browns this preseason. It's rather impressive seeing McCoy do what he's doing, as the Browns lack a true No. 1 wide receiver.

Ryan Grant Looks Healthy and Ready to Go in 2011

After suffering a season-ending ankle injury last season, Ryan Grant looks healthy and is ready to make a run at 1,000 yards for the Green Bay Packers this season.

Grant has run for 83 yards on 18 carries and has been very effective for the Packers this preseason.

Pittsburgh's Offense Has Looked Unstoppable

Despite only scoring seven points in the preseason opener against Washington, the Steelers have been able to score points, as they scored 24 or more points in their last three games.

Ben Roethlisberger has looked sharp, and so has the team's receiving corps.

Pittsburgh is set up nicely to make another run for the Super Bowl in 2011.

Donovan McNabb Has Been Coming Along Nicely for the Vikings

Donovan McNabb was brought in to be the Minnesota Vikings' short-term answer at quarterback, and he's played relatively well.

McNabb has thrown for 285 yards while scoring one touchdown and being intercepted just one time, and he has completed 64.9 percent of his passes.

McNabb will look to have a rebound year after his awful performance with the Washington Redskins last season.

The Houston Texans Are Ready to Win Now

Despite Houston's 28-0 loss against the Minnesota Vikings, the team looks like it's ready to make a run at the AFC South division title.

Houston's offense has been impressive as always, and their defense, under Wade Phillips, looks much improved.

Watch out, Indy—the Texans are for real.

Matt Ryan Has so Many Weapons in Atlanta

The Atlanta Falcons may have lost all four of their preseason games, but on paper, their offense looks to be one of the best entering 2011.

Matt Ryan should have an amazing season this year, as he welcomes rookie Julio Jones to his weaponry of Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, Michael Turner and Harry Douglas.

Fantasy owners take note: Draft Matt Ryan. He will have a breakout year.

Peyton Manning's Injury May Prevent Him from Starting Week 1

Despite being activated from the PUP list this past week, there's a strong possibility that Peyton Manning will be unable to go for the first game of the regular season.

With Manning's neck injury looming, the Colts went out and signed Kerry Collins to be the team's emergency quarterback behind backup Curtis Painter.

Cam Newton Has Been Far Too Inconsistent

Entering Thursday's preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cam Newton's preseason had been a rough one, as he had completed only 40.4 percent of his passes.

However, Newton played strong in his final test before the regular season, as he went 3-of-5 for 25 yards while throwing one touchdown.

Newton has had signs of brilliance, but at other times he's looked purely awful.

Blaine Gabbert Is Not Ready to Play in 2011

Thankfully the Jacksonville Jaguars have David Garrard on their roster, as their future quarterback, Blaine Gabbert, has shown no signs of being able to play his rookie season.

Gabbert finishes his preseason completing a mediocre 50 percent of his passes while throwing only one touchdown and one interception.

It's going to take time for Gabbert, but he should develop into a solid NFL quarterback for the Jags moving forward.

Mark Ingram Is a Touchdown Machine

Mark Ingram could be the steal of the draft, as the Saints managed to grab him at 28th overall when he was the best running back in the 2011 draft class.

Ingram has been a beast for the Saints, as he's run for 55 yards on 19 attempts while punching in three touchdowns.

2011 could be a huge year for New Orleans, as it'll have Ingram, who could potentially balance its offensive attack.

The Titans Have Found Their Quarterback of the Future

Jake Locker could very well end up having the best career out of all the rookie quarterbacks coming out of the 2011 draft class.

Locker has thrown two touchdowns for the Titans this preseason while accumulating 316 yards.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Look Most Affected by the Lockout

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one of the youngest, if not the youngest, teams in the NFL and look to be the team that was most affected by the lockout.

The Bucs have looked very sluggish this preseason despite their solid showing against Kansas City in their preseason opener.

Tampa Bay has a lot of talent—it's young talent, and it'll need a lot of maturing to happen if it wants to make a run at the playoffs in 2011.

Marcell Dareus Has Fit Perfectly in Buffalo's 3-4 Defense

Marcell Dareus looks like a stud, as he's fitting perfectly in Buffalo's 3-4 defensive attack.

Granted, the stats may not be there for Dareus, as he's a defensive tackle in the 3-4 alignment, but his presence has been known for the Bills.

Felix Jones Should Have a Breakout Year in 2011

Felix Jones has been incredible for the Dallas Cowboys, as he'll be entering 2011 as the team's No. 1 running back.

Jones ran for 99 yards on just 15 carries this preseason, as he scored one touchdown.

Chad Henne Has Been Far Too Inconsistent for Miami

At times, Chad Henne looks like the best quarterback in the league. With his skill set, there's no reason why he shouldn't be a Pro Bowl-caliber passer.

However, Henne has been far too inconsistent for the Miami Dolphins. Henne has completed 64.4 percent of his passes while throwing two touchdowns and being intercepted twice. He needs to take better care of the ball if he wants to stay a starter.

The Giants Offense Has Had Its Times, Both Good and Bad

I am completely disregarding New York's final preseason game against New England, as their starters did not play a single snap.

With that being said, the Giants offense has been far too inconsistent and needs to find ways to score points on a regular basis.

In two of New York's games, their team managed to only squirt out 10 or less points—that's not going to cut it.

New England Has Major Depth Issues on Its Offensive Line

In New England's last two preseason games, its offensive line allowed an awful 10 sacks.

That is going to have to change in a big way if New England wants to make a legitimate run at a fourth Super Bowl title.

Vince Young Looks to Be a Quality Backup to Michael Vick

Vince Young shined throughout the entire preseason and played his best game this past Thursday night against the New York Jets.

Young went 15-of-23 for 193 yards while throwing one touchdown.

If Michael Vick were to go down in 2011, Young looks to be a serviceable backup for Andy Reid.

John Beck and Rex Grossman Both Have Played Fairly Well

Rex Grossman may be the starter, but the two quarterbacks have played surprisingly well for the Redskins in the preseason.

Granted, both Grossman and Beck are not even close to being in the better half of the NFL's 32 starting quarterbacks, but both have shown they can get the job done in Washington.

Tim Tebow Has No Future as a Denver Bronco

Despite all the potential and upside that Tim Tebow possesses, the Denver Broncos appear to have decided to go with Kyle Orton as their starting quarterback and Brady Quinn as their backup.

Tebow has no future in Denver and will likely be traded away at some point this season or next offseason.

Kevin Kolb Is the Answer in Arizona

The Arizona Cardinals gave up a lot to acquire Kevin Kolb from the Philadelphia Eagles, and so far it's been a nice marriage between the two.

Kolb finishes his preseason throwing one touchdown while accumulating 356 passing yards for the Cardinals.

All that matters in Arizona is if Kolb can get the ball to Larry Fitzgerald on a regular basis, and it looks like he's more than capable of doing so.

The Chiefs Have Struggled Without Charlie Weis

Now that former offensive coordinator Charlie Weis has come and gone, the Kansas City Chiefs offense looks to have left with him.

The Chiefs failed to score more than 19 points in any game in their exhibition season.

The San Francisco 49ers Have Huge Quarterback Issues

Whether it's Alex Smith or Colin Kaepernick, both quarterbacks have struggled in the preseason for the 49ers.

Let's put it this way: San Francisco has major issues at the quarterback position—and that is an understatement.

Terrelle Pryor Will Play as a Quarterback for the Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders have yet to conclude their preseason, but it appears that Terrelle Pyror will be a quarterback in year one of his NFL career.

Pryor could see some time on the field Friday against the Seahawks.

Tarvaris Jackson Has Been a Bust so Far

Keep in mind, the Seattle Seahawks still have one game left in the preseason, but quarterback Tarvaris Jackson has been a huge disappointment.

Jackson has only completed 56.3 percent of his passes while tossing one touchdown and being picked off once.

It will be interesting to see if he is the opening-day starter.

Ryan Mathews Should Rebound Nicely in His Second Year with the Chargers

Ryan Mathews looks to be the answer in San Diego's rushing attack for many years to come.

The second-year player out of Fresno State has averaged 5.7 yards per carry entering his final preseason game against the 49ers, and so far in that game, he's run for 78 yards on just five carries.

If I'm a fantasy owner, I'm doing whatever it takes to acquire Mathews.

Robert Quinn Has Struggled for the Rams

It's going to take some time for Robert Quinn to develop, as he's only racked up one sack and four tackles for the St. Louis Rams.

Quinn has so much talent and potential but missed all of last season with UNC due to a suspension.

If Peyton Manning Is Unable to Play, the Colts Are in Big Trouble

Let's face it—the entire Indianapolis Colts team revolves around Peyton Manning. If he's unable to play, they're going to lose a lot of games.

Curtis Painter and Kerry Collins may be decent quarterbacks, but they are by no means anywhere close to the talent and production level of Manning.

If I'm a Colts fan, I am praying that Peyton will be ready to go in Week 1.

Mark Sanchez Has Accuracy Problems

Despite throwing for three touchdowns, Mark Sanchez has been far too inconsistent—just like the majority of his NFL career.

Sanchez has only completed 60.5 percent of his passes this preseason and will have to do much better if he wants to lead his Jets to the Super Bowl.

Arian Foster's Injury May Be Serious

ESPN Insider John Clayton spoke on SportsCenter earlier this week and said that Arian Foster's hamstring injury could sideline him up to a month.

Good thing the Houston Texans have such a strong passing attack and running back Ben Tate coming off the bench.

Reggie Bush Has Been Terrible for the Dolphins

Reggie Bush should not be playing running back for the Miami Dolphins—he is better off lining up as a wide receiver.

Bush has averaged only 3.6 yards per carry in the preseason for the Dolphins.

Frank Gore Looks Healthy and Is Ready to Go This Season

After receiving a much-wanted three-year contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers worth about $21 million, according to ProFootballTalk, Frank Gore should have a solid season for the 49ers.

Gore appears healthy and is ready to help out the team's lackluster passing attack.

Ronnie Brown Is Fitting in Nicely in Philly's Offense

Ronnie Brown should flourish in Philadelphia's offense, as it's meant for him.

Brown is a phenomenal threat coming out of the backfield and should keep his legs fresh, as he's the second running back behind LeSean McCoy.

Tim Hightower Could Make a Run at 1,000 Yards

Tim Hightower has been a man among boys for the Washington Redskins this preseason, as he accumulated 170 yards on just 25 touches.

There is a strong possibility that Hightower will run for at least 1,000 yards this season, as the 'Skins will likely rely heavily on their ground game.

Plaxico Burress Is in NFL Shape

Plaxico Burress has been a huge signing for the Jets so far, as he's reeled in three passes for an incredible 66 yards and one touchdown.

Burress is coming off serving nearly two years in jail and looks to be in great shape entering the regular season.

Julio Jones Is a Playmaker

Julio Jones looks to be a first-year impact player for the Atlanta Falcons.

The playmaking rookie wide receiver caught 10 passes for 156 yards in his first ever preseason with the Falcons.

Greg Little Is Colt McCoy's Go-To Receiver

Greg Little has been phenomenal for the Cleveland Browns so far, as the rookie has developed nicely into the team's projected No. 1 wide receiver.

Little has caught seven passes for 68 yards and one touchdown.

It appears that Little and Colt McCoy have developed a nice relationship moving forward into the regular season.

Ben Tate Is Ready to Contribute in 2011

With the injury to Arian Foster, Ben Tate has seen the field a whole lot more, and he's been very productive.

Tate has averaged 7.4 yards per carry while scoring one touchdown for the Texans.

Tate and Foster should team up to create one of the league's best running back duos along with Houston's incredible passing attack.

Albert Haynesworth Should Be Ready to Go for the Patriots

Despite missing the first three games of the preseason, Albert Haynesworth played a little in New England's matchup with the Giants and was very productive.

Haynesworth recorded two tackles for the Patriots.

The Arizona Cardinals Have Issues at Running Back

After trading away Tim Hightower to the Redskins, Arizona figured to have a solid running attack with rookie Ryan Williams and Beanie Wells.

However, Williams suffered a torn PCL and is now out for the entire season, so it appears that Wells is the team's only legitimate running back.

Larry Johnson's Career May Not Be Done Quite Yet

After disappearing for a few seasons, Larry Johnson signed with the Miami Dolphins this August and played very well for Miami in the team's preseason finale.

Johnson scored on a 22-yard touchdown run and averaged 3.9 yards per carry.

Charlie Whitehurst Could Be the Starter in Seattle

Six-year veteran quarterback Charlie Whitehurst has played very well for the Seattle Seahawks throughout his first three games and has even outplayed projected starter Tarvaris Jackson.

Whitehurst has completed 33 of his 47 passes for 265 yards and one touchdown.

Cam Newton Will Be Carolina's Starting Quarterback in 2011

It's official: The Cam Newton era has now started in Carolina.

Following Carolina's 33-17 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ron Rivera named Newton the starter entering Week 1 of the 2011 regular season, according to Yahoo! Sports.

Newton has all the talent in the world, and it's simply up to him to develop and mature as an NFL quarterback.

No Team Has Any Interest in Brett Favre...Quite Yet

Let's be honest here: Is there anyone out there who wants to see Brett Favre play again? I know I don't.

I am so sick and tired of hearing about Favre that I've almost lost all respect for the guy.

There has been no official and concrete interest in the "retired" 41-year-old quarterback, but there have been some rumors...let's just hope they stay rumors.