Bledsoe to see Jags come up the middle
12:43 AM CDT on Wednesday, September 6, 2006
Rick Gosselin writes about pro football for The Dallas Morning News.
The book on Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe is to rush him up the gut. Let him see the pressure coming. Force Bledsoe to concentrate on what's coming at him – not what's developing down the field in the pass routes.
That's why the Cowboys were willing to dole out $38.8 million in free-agent contracts the last two off-seasons for guards Marco Rivera and Kyle Kosier, including $13 million in signing bonuses. Protection must be at a premium inside for Bledsoe and the Cowboys to function on offense.
The Cowboys will find out Sunday if they are getting their money's worth. The Jacksonville Jaguars have arguably the best defensive-tackle tandem in the NFL in Marcus Stroud and John Henderson.
Backing them up at middle linebacker is Mike Peterson (6-1, 235). He has led the Jaguars in tackles, including a career-best 190 in 2005, all three of his seasons there since coming from Indianapolis through free agency.
Stroud was a first-round draft pick in 2001 who developed quickly into a Pro Bowler. He's goes 6-6, 306 pounds and has been voted to start each of the last three Pro Bowls. He'll be Rivera's responsibility at right guard.
Henderson was a first-round draft pick in 2002, and he's also been to a Pro Bowl, making the trip to Hawaii in 2004. He goes 6-7, 325 pounds and ranks fifth in franchise history with 18 ½ sacks. He'll be Kosier's responsibility at left guard.
That leaves center Andre Gurode responsible for Peterson.
The more time Bledsoe spends watching Henderson, Peterson and Stroud, the less time he'll spend looking for Terrell Owens.
Rick Gosselin writes about pro football for The Dallas Morning News.
The book on Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe is to rush him up the gut. Let him see the pressure coming. Force Bledsoe to concentrate on what's coming at him – not what's developing down the field in the pass routes.
That's why the Cowboys were willing to dole out $38.8 million in free-agent contracts the last two off-seasons for guards Marco Rivera and Kyle Kosier, including $13 million in signing bonuses. Protection must be at a premium inside for Bledsoe and the Cowboys to function on offense.
The Cowboys will find out Sunday if they are getting their money's worth. The Jacksonville Jaguars have arguably the best defensive-tackle tandem in the NFL in Marcus Stroud and John Henderson.
Backing them up at middle linebacker is Mike Peterson (6-1, 235). He has led the Jaguars in tackles, including a career-best 190 in 2005, all three of his seasons there since coming from Indianapolis through free agency.
Stroud was a first-round draft pick in 2001 who developed quickly into a Pro Bowler. He's goes 6-6, 306 pounds and has been voted to start each of the last three Pro Bowls. He'll be Rivera's responsibility at right guard.
Henderson was a first-round draft pick in 2002, and he's also been to a Pro Bowl, making the trip to Hawaii in 2004. He goes 6-7, 325 pounds and ranks fifth in franchise history with 18 ½ sacks. He'll be Kosier's responsibility at left guard.
That leaves center Andre Gurode responsible for Peterson.
The more time Bledsoe spends watching Henderson, Peterson and Stroud, the less time he'll spend looking for Terrell Owens.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:32 PM
<< Home