PFW: Whispers Around the NFL

[joecrisp]

Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon

No one seems to recall Rock's abyssmal pass blocking last year. On more than one occasion, he threw his body and hit nothing but air and grass. TV announcers were calling for replays of his "technique" just to wonder how it could be so bad.

If he did not learn to pass block during the off-season, he should be gonzo.

BTW, I can remember more than a couple of third and one and fourth and one situations where Rock got stoned and did not move the chains. One was in the Philly game that the Skins only lost due to a missed two point conversion.

Betts is no superstar; I'm not trying to make him out to be one. And Betts has been injury prone. But Cartwright was only marginally impressve last year.

I wasn't impressed with Rock as a short-yardage back or a pass-blocker, either. I remember those same situations you mentioned, SC. I thought he was somewhat effective as a runner, but if I had a choice, I'd probably take Betts, because he seems like more of a prototypical back-- minus the damn injury problems, of course!

But I don't think Betts is going to have too much trouble making the team, and he'll more than likely be Portis' primary backup. What we're really talking about is a choice between Rock and Sultan McCullough. I'm hoping we'll get to see a lot of Sultan in the preseason, because if that guy gets an opportunity to carry the ball, he can go the distance. Either way, where these guys really have to prove themselves is on special teams. Whichever of them impresses special teams coach Danny Smith the most-- and he's not an easy guy to impress-- is likely the one who will stick.