Neil Cornrich & NC Sports, LLC

Ted Ginn Jr. wins "Pigskin of the Year"

2012-02-10T15:29:00.001-05:00

February 10, 2012

By Matt49ers

Welcome to a very special edition of Hamm’s Pigskins of the Week. This week, I’m awarding the Pigskins of the Year from a very special 2011 season (even if Kyle Williams did ruin it!). It was especially hard naming the Pigskins of the year with so many big time performers coming up big for the 49ers this season. It was a truly magical season, 14-4 and one of the most memorable playoff wins in history. I can still feel my hear race whenever I think of that final drive capped off by Alex Smith throwing a perfect dart to Vernon Davis for the game winning touchdown against the Saints. But enough with the introductions, It’s time to hand out Hamm’s Pigskins of the Year Awards!

Offensive Pigskin of the Year: Alex Smith QB: Many 49er fans including yours truly cringed when new head coach Jim Harbaugh annotated Smith his starter. I remember dreaming of Colin Kaepernick tearing it up in the preseason just so Smith could be benched before I had to go through Alex 7.0. But what Alex and Harbaugh did together was nothing short of a miracle. The 49ers offense seemed perfectly suited to Smith’s talents and Alex got better as the season went on. Gone was the turnover, bone headed play machine of the past. And born was a new, smart player who refused to turn the ball over and always kept his team in position to win. Alex proved to us he could lead the 49ers on a game winning drive against a good team. The throws he made to Delaine Walker in Detroit and to Vernon Davis against the Saints were the type of throws you expect the Manning’s, Brees’ and the Brady’s of the world to make. Alex, you made us proud this season, you became our QB, now come get your Pigskin, you earned it.

Defensive Pigskin of the Year: I always thought I could write this column anytime I want to and insert Patrick Willis into this award and be right every year. While Willis and fellow inside linebacker Navarro Bowman had great, all pro seasons. Justin Smith was not only the best defensive player, he was probably the teams MVP this season. Smith is as unrelenting a player as I’ve ever seen in any sport. Smith was voted a starter in the pro bowl and first team all pro over some very big names. He was one of the finalists for Defensive Player of the Year but fell short to the bigger named Terrell Suggs of the Ravens. With two game winning plays for Smith, a forced fumble in Philadelphia and a batted pass in the regular season match up with the Giants make Smith an easy pick.

Special Teams Pigskin of the Year: This one was tough, the 49ers have one of the best special teams units in football. Ted Ginn Jr was one of the best and most consistent kick returners in the league this season. While Blake Costanzo and CJ Spillman made huge impacts on the coverage units. The Pigskin goes to Ginn for two reasons. He was the sole reason for the win against Seattle week 1. And all you have to do is watch those two boneheaded fumbles by Kyle Williams in the NFC Championship game that costs the 49ers a Superbowl appearance (and probably a championship) to see how valuable Ginn Jr really is.

Dawson is Special

2012-02-08T11:36:00.000-05:00

Phil Dawson has been the Browns kicker, other than when injured since the team's rebirth in the 1999 season. Dawson has been the model of consistency, not just in Cleveland, but throughout the league. A potential free agent, the Browns shouldn't take Dawson's production and efficiency for granted.

By Fred Greetham

February 8, 2012

It wasn’t too long ago the Browns special teams were considered the strength of the team. Phil Dawson was one of the most consistent kickers in the NFL, while Reggie Hodges had such a strong season in 2010 the Browns opted to let Dave Zastudil go during last season. Long snapper Ryan Pontbriand made the Pro Bowl after the 2007 and 2008 seasons. Besides those three positions, Josh Cribbs made the Pro Bowl as a special team performer.

After the 2010 season, Dawson was slated to become an unrestricted free agent. Dawson moved his family back to Texas and prepared to continue playing elsewhere. The Browns, in a mild surprise, used the franchise tag for the first time since 1999 and retained Dawson in 2011 as the team’s franchise player.

The Browns enter the 2012 league year in a similar situation as Dawson is once-again due to become a free agent unless the Browns sign him to a long-term contract or franchise him again. Dawson had another good season as he hit 24-of-29 field goals and all 20 of his extra point attempts for a team-leading 92 points. Dawson hit 7-of-8 attempts from 50 or more yards out to tie for the NFL lead in that category. Two of his misses were on bad snaps, including a potential game-winner against the Rams in the waning seconds.

Dawson has been the team’s MVP over the 13 seasons since the Browns returned in 1999. He has accomplished much in his career and stands as the second all-time leading scorer in team history with 1,155 points. He passed Don Cockroft during the 2011 season. Only Lou Groza has scored more points (1,349) than Dawson and Groza did so in 17 seasons. If Dawson were to return to the Browns, at his current pace, he could pass Groza in two or three more seasons.

After the Browns decided to let Zastudil go during the 2010 season, the Browns signed Hodges to a long-term contract. However, during one of the first practices of training camp, Hodges was lost for the season with a torn Achilles tendon. Hodges spoke after the season and said he was on schedule in his recovery and expects to be full go for the 2012 season. He feels he will be ready for the Browns off-season program which begins in April. Hodges averaged 43.9 yards per punt in 2010 with 29 punts inside the 20.

Brad Maynard came to the rescue after Reggie Hodges and Richmond McGee went down with injuries. Maynard punted 81 times for a 40.5 average. Maynard had 32 punts inside the 20 with a long of 63 yards. Maynard did a great job as a holder as he was able to take several bad snaps and get the ball down to give Dawson a chance to kick the ball. Maynard, who will turn 38 on Feb. 9, just finished his 15th NFL season.

McGee was signed after Hodges was injured and played in just one game. In the season opener, he punted eight times for a net average of just 31.6. He complained of a sore back and he was placed on injured reserve the following week.

At long snapper, Pontbriand was a steady performer for the Browns for nine seasons, but lost his touch during the 2011 season. He cost the Browns a win against the Rams when he bounced a snap back to Maynard as Dawson lined up for a chip shot field goal to win the game. Unfortunately, the long snapper is never noticed until he messes up and that’s what happened to Pontbriand this past year.

Christian Yount was signed to replace Pontbriand on Nov. 29 and played in the final five games with the Browns. Yount was the Buccaneer’s long snapper for the first seven games of the season. The biggest news with Yount playing for the Browns is that there were no costly bad snaps during that time.

Bottom Line: Dawson is one of the biggest questions facing the Browns, whether to extend him, franchise him or head in another direction. Dawson just turned 37, but said he was “just getting started”. Pat Shurmur called Dawson a “stud” during the season and his record-setting season with seven field goals from 50 plus yards out proved he’s still got the leg.

The Browns should sign Dawson to a multi-year contract so he can finish his career with the Browns and pass Groza as the all-time leading scorer. If not, one of the priorities would be to find a new kicker who can do so in the wind and cold of Northern Ohio.

Hodges appears to be ready to resume his career after missing the season. Yount appeared to do a good job snapping the ball in his time and will most likely return for those duties.

Mike Vrabel named Big Ten Recruiter of the Year

2012-02-07T15:59:00.000-05:00

Honoring the top recruiters

By RecruitingNation

February 7, 2012

Recruiting is a team effort. While one coach might be the lead recruiter and develop the best relationship with a player, in the end it takes the whole team to make a prospect feel comfortable.

Still, there are some who separate themselves from the pack each year and that's why we named a top recruiter for each conference. These coaches were the key in helping their programs land some of the nation's best players.

Of course, ask anyone on this list and they'd remind you it was a team effort. And that's probably part of what makes them successful to begin with.

Football Recruiters Of The Year

ACC
Odell Haggins, Florida State
The Seminoles' defensive line coach edged out his fellow staff member Dameyune Craig and Miami recruiting coordinator Brennan Carroll with the signing day signatures of ESPN 150 prospects Eddie Goldman(Washington, D.C./Friendship Collegiate), the nation's top DT, and Ronald Darby(Oxon Hill, Md./Potomac), a DB with world-class speed. In both cases FSU had to fend off major challenges from Auburn and the Goldman signing was primarily due to the five-star prospect's relationship with Haggins. The 19-year veteran assistant was also responsible for four-star linebacker Reggie Northrup's (Jacksonville, Fla./First Coast) flip from Miami to FSU.
Honorable mention: Brennan Carroll, Miami; Dameyune Craig, FSU; Shane Beamer, Virginia Tech; Jeff Scott, Clemson.

Big East
Clint Hurtt, Louisville
If the Cardinals are going to challenge for a Big East title in 2012 it will be behind much of the talent Hurtt has pulled from South Florida over the past two seasons. Hurtt was credited with eight commitments, seven of which are Miami-Dade county prospects. Four-star linebackers Keith Brown (Miami, Fla./Norland) and James Burgess Jr. (Homestead, Fla./Homestead) were both former Miami verbals he flipped to Louisville. Hurtt also fought off some tough competition for three-star defensive end Pedro Sibiea (Homestead, Fla./Homestead) and running back Brandon Radcliff (Miami, Fla./Columbus).
Honorable mention: Kyle Flood, Rutgers; Robert Gillespie, West Virginia; Phil McGeoghan, South Florida; Kerry Coombs, Cincinnati.

Big Ten
Mike Vrabel, Ohio State
Vrabel moved from linebackers coach to defensive line coach with the hire of Urban Meyer. And in the process the two-year assistant helped secure one of the nation's best defensive line classes. Five-star prospect Noah Spence (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) was the biggest signing in the class, but four-star prospects Adolphus Washington (Cincinnati, Ohio/Taft), Se'Von Pittman(Canton, Ohio/McKinley) and Jamal Marcus (Durham, N.C./Hillside) give the Buckeyes four of the nation's top 16 players at the defensive end position. Vrabel deserves much of the credit for that.
Honorable mention: John Garrison, Nebraska; Randy Bates, Northwestern; Jeff Hecklinski, Michigan; Mark Staten, Michigan State.

Big 12
Bo Davis, Texas
Bo Davis settled right in for the Longhorns and did very well in his first season as a recruiter for Mack Brown and Texas. His impact was immediate as ESPNU 150 defensive end Torshiro Davis (Shreveport, La./Woodlawn) signed with Texas on signing day instead of LSU, where he had been a longtime commit. These are battles LSU doesn't normally lose to Texas. Davis was also responsible for landing junior college standout Brandon Moore (Scooba, Miss./East Mississippi C.C.), who originally signed with Alabama out of high school two years ago. Davis also had a key hand in the Longhorns getting defensive end Caleb Bluiett (Beaumont, Texas/West Brook) and defensive tackle Paul Boyette Jr. (Humble, Texas/Humble) on signing day. Davis, who is from Louisiana, is a big reason Texas, which normally isn't very active late in the process, made some big, late moves.
Honorable mention: Stacy Searels, Texas; Joe Wickline, Oklahoma State; Terrell Williams, Texas A&M; David Yost, Missouri.

Conference USA
Steve Buckley, Southern Miss
The headliner of the Southern Miss recruiting class is ESPNU 150 athleteAnthony Alford (Petal, Miss./Petal) and Buckley helped Southern Miss beat several SEC schools and Nebraska for his signature. Anthony is a two-sport star who will more than likely be a high draft pick in June's Major League Baseball draft. Buckley, who didn't follow coach Larry Fedora to UNC, helped keep the Southern Miss class intact. Other key recruits for Buckley were linebacker Leland Ducksworth (Hattiesburg, Miss./North Forest), defensive end Anthony Wilson (Ellisville, Miss./Jones CC) and wide receiver D.J. Thompson (Pearl, Miss./Pearl).

Independents
Mike Elston, Notre Dame
Elston was essential in the Fighting Irish landing ESPNU 150 DTs Jarron Jones (Rochester, N.Y./Aquinas Institute) and Sheldon Day (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central). Jones and Day are both top 15 D tackles and will be a big keys in building the defensive line roster in South Bend. Elston also played a key role in the additions of four-star OT Mark Harrell (Charlotte, N.C./Catholic), wide receiver Chris Brown (Hanahan, S.C.) and defensive end Romeo Okwara(Charlotte, N.C./Audrey Kell).

MAC
Jason Candle, Toledo
Though former coach and savvy recruiter Tim Beckman left for Illinois, Toledo was still among the top teams in the MAC in the recruiting rankings. A key to that was naming Matt Campbell, arguably the Rockets' strongest recruiter to coach, and keeping Candle on staff. Candle recruited a number of the Rockets' top recruits, including the Pittsburgh trio ofJaylen Coleman (Pittsburgh, Pa./University Prep), Corey Jones (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Hills) andChaz Whittaker (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Hills). Coleman and Jones are the Rockets' top two prospects, and Candle helped secure them late. Coleman was a Cincinnati lean originally, and Jones and Whittaker were committed to Pitt and West Virginia, respectively, at one time. Candle also helped haul in Damion Jones-Moore (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic), Danny Larkins(Madison Heights, Mich./Madison Heights) and Armani Miller (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne).

Mountain West
Pete Kwiatkowski, Boise State
"Coach K" is one of final original staffers under Chris Petersen. Despite turnover in much of Boise's staff, Kwiatkowski continued to impress on the recruiting trail. When three-star offensive lineman Mario Yakoo (Spring Valley, Calif./Steele Canyon) split with UCLA, Kwiatkowski was able to convince him to join his best friend and teammate, three-star defensive back Chanceller James, on the blue turf. Kwiatkowski also secured commitments from three-star prospectsTravis Averill (Anaheim, Calif./Servite) and Donte Deayon (Fontana, Calif./Summit).

Pac-12
Mike Bloomgren, Stanford
It's a tough call in the Pac-12 because there are so many deserving coaches, but Bloomgren and Stanford closed big. Literally. Stanford landed ESPNU 150 offensive tackles Kyle Murphy (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) and Andrus Peat (Scottsdale, Ariz./Corona Del Sol) on signing day to give the Cardinal the nation's top O-line class. A nod also goes to former Stanford coach Brian Polian (now with Texas A&M), who started the recruiting, but it was Bloomgren who closed the deal. He fought off USC and Nebraska for Peat, and the Trojans again for Murphy. Bloomgren is a recruiter on the rise out west.
Honorable mention: Adrian Klemm, UCLA; Tosh Lupoi, Washington; Demetrice Martin, UCLA; Ed Orgeron, USC.

SEC
Jeremy Pruitt, Alabama
Sure, it's easier when you are selling the University of Alabama, but you still have to beat out the rest of the SEC. Pruitt had a banner year, helping the Crimson Tide reel in ESPNU running back T.J. Yeldon(Daphne, Ala./Daphne), who was a longtime Auburn commitment before Pruitt flipped him to Alabama. He also landed Yeldon's teammate, ESPNU linebacker Ryan Anderson. Pruitt also turned Florida State commitment Alphonse Taylor (Mobile, Ala./Davidson) at the last minute. He also landed two of the very best prospects from the Sunshine State in five-star athlete Eddie Williams (Panama City, Fla./Arnold) and explosive ESPNU 150 wide receiver Chris Black (Jacksonville, Fla./First Coast). Pruitt also spearheaded the recruitment of junior college star cornerback Travell Dickson (Thatcher, Ariz./Eastern Arizona College).
Honorable mention: D.J. Dirken, Florida; Todd Grantham, Georgia; Sean Spencer, Vanderbilt; Lorenzo Ward, South Carolina.

Sun Belt
Raymond Woodie, Western Kentucky
This wasn't Western Kentucky's biggest class but it is a quality group helped greatly by Woodie's ties to the west coast of Florida. Woodie was instrumental in getting three-star linebacker DaQual Randall (Palmetto, Fla./Palmetto) to flip from Louisville and also secured the signatures of running back Leon Allen (Bradenton, Fla./Manatee) and wide receiver Austin Aikens (Tampa, Fla./Plant), both major contributors to state championship teams in 2011.

WAC
Pierre Ingram, Louisiana Tech
Ingram was responsible for three of the top 10 prospects to sign with WAC teams in three-star athlete Lloyd Grogan (Morgan City, La./Central Catholic), three-star wide receiver Jaydrick Declouet (Patterson, La./Patterson) and three-star running back Kenneth Dixon (Strong, Ark./Strong).

Football journey: Brian Ferentz

2012-02-07T14:03:00.002-05:00

Brian Ferentz enjoyed playing for his father, Kirk, at Iowa.

February, 4, 2012

By Mike Reiss

INDIANAPOLIS – Now in his fourth season with the Patriots, Brian Ferentz has been rising up the coaching ranks.

As many young coaches often do in New England, Ferentz got his start in scouting (2008). He joined the coaching staff the following year as an assistant. He took on more responsibility in 2010 before being named tight ends coach in 2011.

Ferentz’s work was praised by head coach Bill Belichick.

"Brian is very mature for his age, and he has a lot of football experience,” Belichick said of the 28-year-old Ferentz, who is the son of Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. “I think that the whole life experience of growing up in a coaching family, growing up with a coach and having football in your blood almost from the day you were born, you pick up some things by osmosis and being around it. Kirk is a great friend of mine and a tremendous coach. I have so much respect for Kirk for what he did for me in Cleveland in his coaching career, and Brian has learned from probably the best.

“I don't think that anyone does it any better than Kirk does, and Brian brings that overall awareness, instinctiveness and that aptitude for the game. I think the game comes easy to him in terms of techniques, Xs and Os and schemes because of his experience with it. He's done a great job in all of the responsibilities that he has, particularly in the development of our young tight ends. Even though he is young in age, he's much more experienced in terms of overall football knowledge."

During Super Bowl week, Ferentz shared his football journey with ESPNBoston.com:

When he first started playing football: “I was in fifth grade when I played my first organized football. We were living in Ohio at the time (1994).”

What positions he played: “I wanted to catch the football and didn’t want to put my hand on the ground, but I think that took like two days until I was playing on the offensive line. There was a weight limit and I had an ‘X’ on my helmet. I didn’t make weight to play the skill positions. “

Top memories of high school football: “I was very fortunate to be on some very good teams, in two different states. In Baltimore, I played for the Gilman School my freshman and sophomore year. My sophomore year we went undefeated. I remember my dad telling to me to cherish that because it was so rare. I remember thinking to myself, ‘Here is an NFL coach – he was with the Ravens at the time – telling me to cherish a high school season.’ He was right, which I found out 15 years later. It’s so rare, so hard to do things like that. Then I went to Iowa City High School and we had some good teams. We went to the semifinals of the state playoffs my second year, my senior year of high school. We didn’t win.”

Remembering his one catch: “In eighth grade, I played tight end and caught one ball for 4 yards on a checkdown. That was my only competitive catch ever. In high school, I played on the offensive line, I played linebacker and defensive line. I was a smaller player.”

Why he decided to attend University of Iowa: “No one else was recruiting me. I was a tweener, about 240 pounds my senior year of high school, 6-foot-2 1/2. I was not really big enough in most people’s eyes to play on the offensive line. I would have had to walk on at other schools and was fortunate to get a scholarship at Iowa. I was able to go in there and work with their strength and conditioning program, which in my opinion is one of the best in the country. Anything I ever accomplished as a player – and I accomplished a lot more than I ever thought I would – was because of the coaches I had there.”

Top memories at Iowa: “There are a lot of good ones. It was a great five years for me. What stands out most is the first time we won the Big 10 championship when I was there, which was 2002. We went up to Minnesota and beat them. I actually was not playing. I had torn my ACL and was rehabbing that. In 2003, my first start, that’s obviously a good memory for a kid who spent most of his younger years in Iowa. Wherever we moved, I always wanted to be a Hawkeye and play for the University of Iowa. To be able to start my first game there was a pretty special experience.”

What it was like playing for his dad at Iowa: “It was a lot of fun. When you grow up in a household where your dad’s in coaching, you don’t see your dad as much as if he worked a 9-to-5 job. Growing up, my father was very involved in my life, but were we close physically every day? Not always. So to be able to go play with him for five years was a great experience. You get to know your father as more than just a football coach. You get to know him as a man, as a professional, how he does things on a day to day basis. You see him do his job, it’s like take-your-son-to-work day.”

Entering the NFL as a free agent with the Falcons in 2006: “I basically had one of these [pointing to a cup of coffee on the table]. It was an experience I will cherish forever, and I say that with a little self-depreciation, only because I’m around the most elite football players in the world. That, in and of itself, is fun. I look at some of our guys and wonder how I was even close, to be honest with you. It was a great experience. It’s every kid’s dream to play in the NFL. I never got to play in a real NFL game. It was preseason, and the first game I ever played was against the New England Patriots.”

Describing the two seasons he hoped to make a roster: Coach Petrino and his staff came in and they started moving in a little different direction, especially up front. I was a smaller guy, more of a West Coast zone scheme type guy. They liked to man block and pull people. I didn’t fit that scheme very well. You don’t want guys like me spending a lot of time single-blocking Vince Wilfork. That will end very badly for your football team. That ends badly for good players, so imagine a very mediocre player. I bounced around a little bit, had some workouts and didn’t get picked up until [2007] training camp with the Saints. I had a chance to compete for a roster spot and didn’t make their team. That was the last moment for me.

Transitioning to the scouting/coaching ranks with the Patriots in 2008: Scott Pioli called me. He’s a family friend and we always talked about perhaps ending up with the organization in some capacity. He called and offered – ‘Would you like to come up here?’ and it wasn’t as a player. I figured if a guy of that stature makes that call and evaluation was telling me it wasn’t going to work, I should probably get out of it. I ended up going into the organization in April, upstairs with Scott. Then at the end of that season, I moved on [to coaching full-time]. I was actually working with the defense at that time."

Life as a coach under Bill Belichick: “I think it’s a pretty good life. We’re so fortunate to work for a guy with his experience, knowledge, and expertise. His motivational skills. Go down the list of coaching attributes and here is a guy who has all of them. We get to come in, talk to him, and what more could you ask for? Is it difficult at times? Sure. But it’s hard to work anyways. When you work for Coach Belichick, you always have a chance to win. You can’t ever take that for granted in this business.”

Favorite teams and players growing up: “Wherever my dad coached. When we were in Iowa, I obviously loved the Hawkeyes. My NFL team would have been the Steelers, originally, only because my whole family is from Pittsburgh. My dad grew up In Pittsburgh, of the late 60s, early 70s, the beginning of the Chuck Noll era. When my father went to Cleveland, that changed pretty quickly and I developed a pretty healthy dislike for that team. Same thing when we went to Baltimore. When we went back to Iowa City, the NFL fell by the wayside for me, because I was too busy doing my own thing. The one team that will always be my favorite is the University of Iowa.”

Summing up his football journey: “It’s been fun at every turn. It’s the reason I’m still in it. I love this game, this business, everything this game is about. When it’s done the right way, I think it’s the best game we play in this country because it teaches you all the things you need to be successful in life. It’s different for us [in the NFL], it’s a business, it’s all about football, 24 hours a day, it’s all about winning. With college kids, it’s an educational experience, and I don’t know if you can get a better education than playing this game. It’s the greatest game in the world and that’s why I’m still in it.”

Aaron Kampman is Packers all-time best in QB pressures

2012-02-01T15:18:00.002-05:00

From Bob McGinn's "Packers' 2011 season by the numbers"

January 25, 2012

NOT FEELING THE PRESSURE

Counting playoffs, Clay Matthews led the team in sacks with six. Others players with two or more were Desmond Bishop (five), B.J. Raji (three), Erik Walden (three), Brad Jones (two) and Charles Woodson (two).

For the third straight year Matthews led the team in "pressures" with 53½. Besides the six sacks, he had 27 knockdowns and 20½ hurries. Matthews had 55 in 2010 and 45½ in '09. Since the Journal Sentinel began recording the statistic in 1998, the leader has been Aaron Kampman with 58½ in 2007. Kampman also had 55 in '06.

Following Matthews in pressures (defined as the total of sacks, knockdowns and hurries) were Walden (26½), Bishop (20), Raji (19½), A.J. Hawk (15½), Jarius Wynn (10), Woodson (seven), Jarrett Bush (five), Jones (4½), D.J. Smith (four), C.J. Wilson (3½), Vic So'oto (three), Frank Zombo (three), Morgan Burnett (two), Mike Neal (two), Charlie Peprah (two), Ryan Pickett (1½), Tramon Williams (one) and Howard Green (one-half).

As an entire unit, the D-line had a mere 37 pressures in 17 games. In two previous seasons under Dom Capers, the unit had 62½ in 17 games in 2009 and 101½ in 20 games in '10.

As a whole, the linebackers had 130 pressures in 17 games compared to 117 in 20 games last year. Meanwhile, the secondary had 17 pressures in 17 games compared to 21½ in 20 last year.

Wynn led the D-line in pressures per snap. Playing 467 snaps, he registered a pressure every 46.7 snaps. Last season, Cullen Jenkins led the unit with one every 16.1 snaps.

Following Wynn at the position were Raji, one every 47.49 snaps; Neal, one every 79; Wilson, one every 113.43; Pickett, one every 330; and Green, one every 460.

Capers blitzed five or more on 42.2% of drop-backs, an increase from 33% a year ago and 27% in '09. It was the highest five-man rate since the Journal Sentinel began tracking rush numbers in 1998.

Capers blitzed six or more on 6.7%, up from 3.7% in 2010 and 4.5% in '09.

In all, Capers blitzed inside linebackers 348 times, cornerbacks 154 times and safeties 28 times.

The most effective rusher among inside linebackers and defensive backs with 15 or more blitzes was Bishop for the second straight year. He had 20 pressures in 137 rushes, or one every 6.85 snaps. He was followed by Burnett, one every 8.5; Bush, one every 8.6; Hawk, one every 9.23; Smith, one every 11.25; Woodson, one every 12.86; and Rob Francois, who didn't have one in 23 attempts.

Clearly, Capers' blitzes from the secondary have dropped off in effectiveness. The unit had one pressure every 6.8 snaps in 2009 followed by one every 9.4 snaps in '10 and one every 10.7 this season.

Matthews led the club in batted-down passes with three, followed by four players with two (Hawk, Pickett, Raji, Woodson) and two players with one (Burnett, Walden). Among the players with none were Wynn, Wilson, Green, Neal and Bishop.

The Packers batted down 13 passes. DE Johnny Jolly batted down 11 of the team's 15 in 2009.

Phil Dawson earns an A+

2012-02-01T15:00:00.000-05:00

January 18, 2012

By Marty Gitlin

PK Phil Dawson: A-plus. The only reason this veteran never makes the Pro Bowl is the offense doesn’t allow him to score enough points. He missed just one FG this season that wasn’t blocked or the snap wasn’t botched. He also hit seven from 50-plus yards.

Pro Bowl will have to wait for Yanda

2012-01-11T15:43:00.000-05:00

Ravens offensive guard Marshal Yanda (#73) in action against the Browns in the fourth quarter.

First up for the former Anamosa standout is a home playoff game Jan. 15 with the Baltimore Ravens

By David Driver

January 9, 2012

OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Cedar Rapids native Marshal Yanda was sitting at home in Maryland when he got a telephone call late last month from John Harbaugh, the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.

“I thought he was checking on my ribs,” said Yanda, the right guard for the playoff-bound Ravens.

That would seem logical since Yanda, 27, a former standout for Anamosa High and with the Iowa Hawkeyes, has been playing through pain the past few days.

But Harbaugh was calling to let Yanda know he had been named to the first Pro Bowl of his NFL career. He joined running back Ray Rice and fullback Vonta Leach as offensive Pro Bowlers with the Ravens, who ranked No. 3 in rushing yards (1,105) in the last seven games of the season.

“That was an awesome accomplishment, to be part of that group,” said the 6-foot-3, 315-pound Yanda, standing by his locker following a morning practice in suburban Maryland. “I felt honored.”

Yanda, in his fifth pro season, was quick to point out that the success of a team helps players get individual honors. “You don’t see too many Pro Bowl players from teams that are 5-11,” he said.

The Ravens are far from that type of team. Baltimore was 12-4 in regular-season play this season to win the AFC North title, which gave the Ravens a first-round bye and a home game against Houston on Sunday at noon. Baltimore is 8-0 at home this season.

“It is huge. You get that extra week of recovery to be ready and play,” he said of the bye. “That is big for us.”

This will be the fourth straight year the Ravens have made the playoffs.

“It makes you realize that is not common. To be in the playoffs every year … you don’t take that for granted,” Yanda said.

So what changes in the playoffs? “Ball security is obviously huge and running the football is huge in the playoffs,” he said. “The playoffs come down to one or two plays, usually.”

What if the Ravens end up playing the Steelers again? “I would expect another normal Pittsburgh-Baltimore game. It will be two good teams coming at it. I don’t expect anything less,” he said.

Yanda, a right guard, started all 16 games this season for the Ravens. Last year he started at right tackle in both playoff games as Baltimore totaled 516 total yards, including a team playoff record of 390 yards against the Chiefs in a wild card game Jan. 9, 2011.

Yanda was named to the Sports Illustrated (Peter King) All-Pro team in 2010. Now this year the accolades came with his first selection to the Pro Bowl, which will be held Jan. 29 in Hawaii.

Due to thigh and rib contusions it did not look like Yanda would play in Week 17 in the regular-season finale at Cincinnati. The Ravens had clinched a playoff berth but had not locked down a first-round bye going into the finale, which was a 24-16 win against the Bengals.

“It was tough. Once I got the blood flowing I felt pretty decent out there,” Yanda said. “I could play at a high level, so that was the important thing. I wanted to be part of that win. I knew they needed me. Two days after the Cleveland game (Dec. 24) I felt there was no way I could play. I progressed as the week went on.”

He had a big block on the fourth play of the game against the Bengals that allowed Rice to go 70 yards for a touchdown.

“During the game I felt pretty decent out there,” Yanda said. “At other times I did not feel as good. But overall I felt pretty decent.”

“I fell on my rib late in the fourth quarter. I was in a lot of pain. Everyone wanted to give me a hug (after the game). I told them to get away,” he said, with a big laugh.

What did he learn about himself by playing in the regular-season finale? “You want to play through pain. I am a quick healer and I was able to get back out there. I was able to play at high level and that was the important thing. I did not want to hurt the team in anyway.”

Yanda’s grit has made him a team leader. “There is no tougher than Marshal,” Harbaugh told reporters Jan. 2. “That is a reflection of our whole team. He optimizes that, certainly. He won’t tell you much about it, but for him to say he could barely breathe and play the way he did, obviously it was huge for us. He is an anchor of our offensive line, and when he is in there, we’re a lot better.”

A very special unit: San Francisco 49ers loaded with key specialists

2012-01-10T16:30:00.000-05:00

By Cam Inman
January 9, 2012

David Akers' four field goals and Andy Lee's five soaring punts were mere appetizers in the 49ers' season-opening victory. The best was yet to come, both in terms of a playoff-bound season and that game.

Ted Ginn Jr. blazed two trails to the end zone in the fourth quarter, returning a kickoff 102 yards and a punt 55 yards for touchdowns to seal a 33-17 win over the Seattle Seahawks.

With that Sept. 11 opener, the 49ers served notice that defense wouldn't be this team's only trademark unit. Special teams -- what coordinator Brad Seely terms the "dirty work" -- would also be a dominant force en route to the NFC West title and a No. 2 seed for the NFC playoffs.

"We give it the importance that it deserves," coach Jim Harbaugh said the day after the victorious debut.

All that practice made for the perfect demise of several records: Akers set league marks by a kicker with 44 field goals and 166 points, and Lee had the best net average ever at 44.0 yards per punt.

Surrounding those two specialists is a remarkably cohesive and effective unit, likely the 49ers' best ever. The secret to their success? Here is a closer look at their six catalysts:

Brad Seely, assistant head coach/special teams coordinator

When Jim Harbaugh joined the Indianapolis Colts as their quarterback in 1994, he heard positive reviews of their former special teams coordinator, Seely, who had assumed the same role with the New York Jets.

Seely went on to win three Super Bowl titles as the New England Patriots' special teams coordinator from 1999-2008, and now he's helped put the 49ers three wins shy of the Lombardi Trophy.

Nicknamed "The Professor" by long snapper Brian Jennings for his installation of detail-oriented schemes, Seely is in his 23rd NFL season. His consistent, straightforward approach has won over players.

"You have to subvert your singular wants for the good of the team. That's what special teams are," Seely said in October, in his only interview this season with 49ers beat writers.

Brian Jennings, long snapper

Since his arrival in 2000 as a seventh-round draft pick, Jennings has forged a fabulous career thanks to his steady snapping skills. He wants every field-goal snap to look like a replay, and he's mastered that craft so well that Harbaugh called Jennings "a Jedi Knight of snapping the football."

The longest-tenured 49er, Jennings' expertise is balanced with a sense of humor and clever wit. Not many NFL long snappers have their own radio show, nor have many shaved their eyebrows during the season. No one other than Jennings has snapped a ball to a 49ers punter or holder since the turn of the century, and that includes the otherwise meaningless fourth quarters of exhibition finales.

Perhaps no other player has a better bond with Harbaugh, who said: "We've had discussions on Genghis Khan to Patton. I try to take time out of my day to make sure I get a little piece of Brian Jennings as much as possible."

Blake Costanzo, special teams ace

If anyone can define the all-out mentality of the special teams unit, it's Costanzo, a fifth-year player whose underdog career has relied upon his fiery style after kickoffs and punts.
"We fight to the ball every time to make a play," Costanzo said. "We have a lot of guys who take it seriously. Guys are willing to give every inch of their soul for the team."

Guys such as C.J. Spillman, Tavares Gooden, Larry Grant, Anthony Dixon, Bruce Miller and Colin Jones. But Costanzo is the special teams' leading tackler, and his hustle is as evident as the colorful, NBA socks he wears daily.

A New Jersey native, he went undrafted out of Lafayette College in 2006. But he latched onto the New York Jets, headed to NFL Europe's Rhein Fire and then the Buffalo Bills. He blossomed the previous two seasons with the Browns under Seely, who's otherwise called "Blake's dad," as Spillman quipped.

"If I was a fan of football, I'd be a fan of Blake Costanzo," Seely said.

Andy Lee, punter

By setting an NFL record with a net average of 44.0 yards per punt, Lee earned a Pro Bowl invitation and first-team Associated Press All-Pro honors. His right leg has been a bona fide weapon as the 49ers have ruled the field-position battle.

But don't forget about his hands. Since 2007, no 49er other than Lee has attempted a punt or served as holder on a field-goal attempt or point-after kick. That amounts to the football hitting his hands 756 times.

"Andy's so much fun to work with because he has great hands and is an athletic guy," Jennings said.

Lee also was a superstitious guy until this season. While he's opted to rely more on his religious faith, he also has welcomed astute guidance from Seely and a growing familiarity with Jennings, who knows exactly what side of Lee's body to deliver a snap when the 49ers opt for directional punting.

David Akers, kicker

A year ago on the playoff stage, Akers inadvertently began his cross-country journey from Philadelphia to San Francisco. Akers missed two field goals in the Eagles' 21-16 wild-card loss to the Green Bay Packers, spelling the end of his 12-year tenure in Philly.

The 49ers needed a replacement for retiring kicker Joe Nedney, and Akers wrestled with the decision to move his family from South Jersey to a rental house in Pleasanton. But Akers liked the 49ers' alluring presence of Harbaugh, Seely, Jennings, Lee and even Alex Smith, whose uncle, John L. Smith, coached at Akers' alma mater, the University of Louisville.

His finances ruined by a Ponzi scheme -- Akers testified about that to a Texas grand jury during training camp -- he signed a three-year contract and became the 49ers' biggest offseason acquisition. Their offense sputtered enough times for Akers to set NFL records by a kicker with 166 points and 44 field goals in 52 attempts.

"We wanted the best guy," Harbaugh said of courting Akers last summer. "That was our first guy that we wanted to talk to, and I know he had other options."

Ted Ginn Jr., returner/wide receiver

Before the season, Ginn took a pay cut. His salary reportedly got slashed from $2.2 million to $1 million. He responded in valiant fashion, clinching the season-opening win over Seattle with two fourth-quarter returns for touchdowns.

No one before in 49ers history had returned a kickoff and punt for touchdowns in the same game, much less in the same minute. Ginn pulled off that feat with a 102-kickoff return and 55-yard punt return. Not bad for a guy who hadn't won the kickoff-return job over rookie Kendall Hunter until the eve of the opener.

Ginn didn't take back any of his other 28 kickoff returns for a touchdown this regular season. But his average of 27.6 yards per return ranked third in the NFL behind the New York Jets' Joe McKnight (31.6 yards) and the Green Bay Packers' Randall Cobb (27.7).

Aside from kickoffs, Ginn also proved clutch on punt returns, but not only because of the league's fourth-best average of 12.3 yards per return. Ginn has not fumbled this season, not on any kickoff returns, punt returns or his 19 receptions.

Mark Tauscher thanks fans

2012-01-10T13:47:00.000-05:00

Marshal Yanda named to SI's All-Pro team

2012-01-09T15:48:00.000-05:00

My All-Pro team. As promised, here's the All-Pro team I filed to the Associated Press last Monday, the day after the regular season ended:

Offense:
Receivers: Calvin Johnson, Detroit; Victor Cruz, New York Giants. Very tough to leave off Wes Welker, who won the receptions crown by 22 catches, but Cruz was just so dominant late in the year.

Offensive line: LT, Joe Thomas, Cleveland. LG, Carl Nicks, New Orleans. C, Scott Wells, Green Bay. RG, Marshal Yanda, Baltimore. RT, Eric Winston, Houston. Brian Waters of New England was close at guard, but I love the year Yanda had, and how he played so well in pain late.

Tight end: Rob Gronkowski, New England. As great as Jimmy Graham was this year, Gronkowski's one of the best all-around tight ends to come into the league in decades.

Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay. Stunning that Rodgers got 47.5 of the 50 votes, as good as Drew Brees has been.

Running back: Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville. When your foes know you're the only even remote offensive threat on the team, and you win the rushing title by 242 yards, that's impressive. (I'm supposed to name two backs, which I never do. The AP wants two, and I've explained for years if you have two backs and two receivers, how fair is that?

Fullback: Vonta Leach, Baltimore. A human anvil.

Defense:
Defensive line: Jared Allen, Minnesota, and Justin Smith, San Francisco (ends); Haloti Ngata, Baltimore, and Sione Pouha, Jets (tackles). Smith played outside, or end, on four-fifths of the snaps he played this year, so I can't figure out why he'd be listed as a tackle.

Linebackers: Tamba Hali, Kansas City, and DeMarcus Ware, Dallas (outside); Derrick Johnson, Kansas City, and NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco (inside). So many good players here, and I feel terrible for not including Terrell Suggs, who could have placed at either end or OLB. He's ferocious. Hali and Ware were special too, especially the day Hali terrorized Rodgers in Green Bay's only loss of the year.

Secondary: Darrelle Revis, New York Jets, and Johnathan Joseph, Houston (corners); Eric Weddle, San Diego (free safety) and Kam Chancellor, Seattle (strong safety). Joseph was a big reason the Texans improved drastically, and Weddle became a premier roaming safety this season.

Specialists
K: David Akers, San Francisco ... P: Andy Lee, San Francisco ... Return: Patrick Peterson, Arizona. Akers set the field-goal record. Lee had the highest gross plus net averages. Peterson had four return TDs.

Awards
MVP: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay. See last week's column for reason.

Off. player: Drew Brees, New Orleans. Not a copout. The best stat season ever by a quarterback deserves this.

Def. player: Justin Smith, San Francisco. Tape-watchers marvel how he never takes a play off. Watch how he caught Jeremy Maclin from 15 yards behind to clinch the Philly game in Week 3.
Off. rookie: Cam Newton, Carolina. Best season a rookie's ever had, I'd say.

Def. rookie: Von Miller, Denver. Slowed by bum thumb late. Edges Aldon Smith.

Coach: Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco. Great candidates this year. Only one premier one.

Assistant coach: Wade Phillips, Houston. Took the 30th-ranked defense of 2010, lost Mario Williams early, and turned it into second-ranked D.

Comeback: D'Qwell Jackson, LB, Cleveland. Missed the last 26 games with two separate pectoral tears. This year, led the AFC in tackles.

Executive: Mike Brown, Cincinnati. Good draft netted long-term weaponry. Good trade raked Raiders over coals for Carson Palmer.

Marshal Yanda and the brutal, beautiful, violent game of football

2012-01-05T15:23:00.000-05:00

By Kevin Van Valkenburg

January 5, 2012

We've spend a lot of time this year talking about how the NFL seems to be trying to tone down the brutality in football. For the most part, it their efforts seem less sincere and more like public relations, because the rules -- which Roger Goodell appears to make up as he goes along -- are enforced in such an arbitrary way, no one seems to know why some hits are deemed illegal while others are celebrated.

The truth is, football is brutality. It's stylized violence, and it's always been, whether it was Night Train Lane doing the hitting or James Harrison. And if you take that away, it stops being football, and it becomes something else. On many levels, that's OK. It's good for the game to continue to evolve, and maybe the things you love the most about football are exactly what Goodell, the NFL owners, and the major television networks, love promoting about the game: star quarterbacks and lots of scoring.

But what I love most about football is the way it tests some men. The way it asks them to mentally block out their pain -- pain that is usually a byproduct of all that brutality and stylized violence -- and continue on, typically out of loyalty or honor.

You were dazzled by Ray Rice's long touchdown runs against the Bengals? So was I. But deep down, there was someone on the field that day I admired even more. It was Marshal Yanda, who threw bulldozing blocks for Rice in that game, even though his ribs were so badly bruised it looked, and according to him felt, like he'd been kicked by a mule. Yanda, who injured his ribs the week before in a win over the Browns, was in so much pain during the week leading up to the Bengals game, he couldn't even bend to put on socks and shoes.

"I just wore sandals," Yanda said. "That way I could just slip them on and go."

Everyone outside the Ravens organization assumed there was no chance he was going to play. And if they had talked to Yanda on Wednesday or Thursday, they would have been correct. "Early in the week, I was in so much pain I was like 'There is no way I'm playing,' " Yanda said. "I was on some pretty heavy prescription drugs just to calm my ribs and legs down so I could sleep."

But having gotten to know Yanda a little bit over the last few years, I had my doubts he was going to be in street clothes when Sunday rolled around. Deciding you're not tough enough for the task at hand, and that you can't tolerate how much it hurts, just isn't in his blood. It's the same thing that drove Terrell Suggs to play in the AFC Championship game three years ago with a dislocated shoulder, which to this day is one of the most impressive displays of guts and toughness I've ever witnessed. (He sacked Ben Roethlisberger twice with one arm.) Yanda and Suggs could scarcely be more different. But they have remarkably similar philosophies when it comes to football. It's a game of toughness, of honor, and of loyalty. Everything else is secondary.

For the most part, we've become a society of caution, of prudence, and of rationality. If you're employed by someone -- and most of us are, because as Bob Dylan said, you gotta serve somebody -- you might love your job. But it would still be extremely rare for you to feel so loyal to your coworkers, you'd come into work with broken ribs. Even your coworkers would consider that irrational behavior. Your job would have to be at stake.

Football is different though. Football is not part of the rational world. Yanda was going to be paid whether he played or not against the Bengals, but he did not wish to look his teammates in the eye and acknowledge he could not contribute when they needed him the most. As foolish as it may sound, that's what I love about the game. Not beautiful touchdown catches, or breath-taking runs. The moment when a man puts himself through hell because he cannot let his teammates down, or let the pain win.

Every time Yanda grimaced, or struggled to stand last week, he thought about what was at stake for the Ravens against the Bengals. A win meant a first round bye and a home playoff game. It meant a much more realistic path to the Super Bowl.

He didn't want to think about what a loss might mean.

"I wanted to be able to play, and be a part of that win," Yanda said. "I knew they needed me to win. So I just sucked it up and played."

On the fourth play of the game, his pain dulled by adrenaline, he locked up with Bengals linebacker Ray Maualuga on handoff to Rice. He bulldozed Maualuga backward with remarkable ease, and Rice dashed though the hole. He didn't stop running until he reached the end zone, 70 yards later.

"Malaluga ran right into me and I just mounted him up," Yanda said. "I could almost feel Ray behind me, and went I saw his legs going, I knew he was gone."

It was a beautiful block and a beautiful run, exactly what the Ravens envisioned when they signed Yanda to a big free agent contract during the off-season. But there was still a ton of football to be played. Yanda grimaced and growled his way through the rest of the game, and on Rice's second long touchdown run, he got slammed to the ground and landed on his side. He was in so much agony, he asked Matt Birk to fill in for him on the extra point. But he was back in the next series, helping close out the game.

"After the game, everybody was celebrating and wanting to give me a hug," Yanda said. "I was like 'Get away! I'm dying here.' "

There are little moments in every special season that loom large once they're in the rear view mirror. Maybe Marshal Yanda's decision to grit his teeth and stand with this teammates for one more fight in the regular season will seem irrelevant a few weeks from now. But maybe not. Maybe it was evidence this team cares enough about one another to fight like hell, block out the pain, and extend the journey for as long as possible.

"There’s not a tougher player I’ve been around in 27 years of coaching”

2012-01-04T14:25:00.000-05:00

January 1, 2012

From Aaron Wilson's "Suggs' big play helps Ravens hold on for win"

YANDA RETURNS: Pro Bowl offensive guard Marshal Yanda played through a lot of pain, starting and playing the entire game despite bruised ribs that prevented him from practicing most of the week.

Yanda delivered the key block on running back Ray Rice’s 70-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, bashing into middle linebacker Rey Maualuga.

“I’m hurting right now, but it’s all good because we won,” Yanda said. “That was the goal. That was the objective to play because they needed me. I played and we won and it don’t get no better than that.”

Yanda had trouble breathing normally as late as Friday and was listed as doubtful on the injury report.

Yanda indicated that his ribs aren’t cracked, but said, “My cartilage is loose from my rib bones. I fell on it again and hurt it again at the end. At that point, I was just going to fight through it.”

Yanda’s grit didn’t go unnoticed.

“It was a huge boost,” coach John Harbaugh said. “We thought there was a chance he would play, but wasn’t totally sure. There’s not a tougher player I’ve been around in 27 years of coaching.”

The first-round playoff bye is especially meaningful for injured players like Yanda to recuperate.

“That was the plan: to play and get the bye,” Yanda said. “It’s huge. Things are good in Baltimore right now.”

Tom Dienhart mentions Neil Cornrich

2012-01-04T09:26:00.000-05:00

Dawson Does it Again

2012-01-03T16:54:00.000-05:00

January 1, 2012

From Don Delco's "Browns can't capitalize on Steelers' mistakes"

DAWSON DOES IT AGAIN: For the fourth time this season, all the points in one game were off the right foot of Phil Dawson.

Dawson kicked a 26-, 45- and 49-yarder in the swirling winds at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

"Today was a really tough day," Dawson said. "The wind, the temperature, the wet and the field, it was the perfect storm. You have to either use (the weather) to your advantage or let it sink you. I had to make a decision several years ago to figure out how to make it my advantage and kick well here."

Dawson finished the season 24-for-29 on field goals, 20-for-20 on extra points and, most notably, 7-for-8 from more than 50 yards.

"I gave my heart and soul to this team this year," Dawson said. "I feel pretty good about it."

Entering this season, Dawson was given the Browns' franchise tag and he signed a one-year tender for about $3.25 million. He will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Eagles' Henery most accurate rookie kicker

2012-01-03T16:25:00.000-05:00

January 2, 2012

By Reuben Frank

Five hours after his season ended, Alex Henery became the most accurate rookie placekicker in NFL history.

Henery, the Eagles’ rookie fourth-round pick, made two more field goals Sunday in the Eagles’ season-ending 34-10 win over the Redskins at the Linc.

After missing three of his first 11 kicks, Henery made his last 16 and finished the season with 24 field goals in 27 attempts (88.9 percent), which at the moment the Eagles’ season ended, tied Cowboys rookie Dan Bailey for the most accurate season ever by a rookie.

Because the Cowboys were scheduled to play Sunday night, all it would take for Bailey to lock up the all-time NFL rookie kicking accuracy record was one field goal against the Giants without a miss.

But Bailey missed his only attempt of the night -- a 51-yarder as the first half ended -- which dropped Bailey below Henery and gave Henery the title of most accurate rookie kicker in NFL history.

Bailey finished 32 for 37 (86.5 percent).

Henery, the all-time NCAA career accuracy record holder at 90 percent, also broke David Akers’ franchise record for field goal accuracy in a season. Akers held the record at 88.2 percent, set in 2002 (30 for 34).

“Dan’s a good friend of mine and Dave’s a great guy, and they’re both great kickers, so just being mentioned in the same breath as those guys is a great compliment,” Henery said. “Dave was here so long and was such a great kicker for so many years here, to break a record that he held, it’s just a cool feeling to finish off the season on a positive.”

Two of Henery’s misses came from inside 40 yards in a one-point loss to the 49ers. The other was a longshot 63-yarder against the Falcons. Without that Falcons attempt, Henery would have been in the 92-percent neighborhood and be finishing one of the 20 most-accurate seasons in NFL history.

After the 49ers game, Henery was perfect, going 16 for 16. If he makes his first field goal attempt of 2012, he’ll tie Akers’ franchise record for most consecutive field goals made.

“Definitely happy with how the season ended,” Henery said. “Getting over those first few misses was huge. It was just a matter of working on some technique things, and after the first few games, everything just slowed down for me, and I was able to get into a rhythm and get back to kicking the way I usually do.”

Phil Dawson "is more than the team's MVP"

2012-01-03T15:30:00.000-05:00

Terry Pluto's postgame scribbles from Pittsburgh Steelers-Cleveland Browns

January 2, 2012

By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer

After the game, Phil Dawson mentioned he wasn't sure if he'd be back. There are a lot of Browns who should wonder about their futures here, but not Dawson. As he said, "I really missed only one kick all year." So true, as the others were victimized by bad snaps or blocking breakdowns. He is more than the team's MVP, he has been the one good thing about the Browns since the day they returned in 1999. Others came and went, but Dawson kept kicking field goals through the swirling wind on the lakefront.

Rookie of the Year: Karl Klug

2012-01-03T10:12:00.001-05:00

By Terry McCormack

January 3, 2012

There is still one game left on the Titans schedule, but since we are at the end of 2011 it’s not too early to go ahead and hand out team superlatives for this season.

As the Titans head into the New Year with at least some gasp of playoff life remaining, Mike Munchak’s first season as a head coach has to be deemed a success. Yes, there have been disappointments – losses to Jacksonville and Indianapolis, as well as coughing up a 10-point lead at home against Cincinnati.

If the Titans had won those three games they would have a one-game lead over the Texans headed into this week’s finale in Houston. A playoff spot would already have been secured.

As it is, the playoff scenarios will all be sorted out this weekend. Still, there is enough of a body of work to hand out various honors, as well as a few prizes for less-than-stellar work.

Most Valuable Player: Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Yes, Hasselbeck’s play has been erratic, but his demeanor has not. Hasselbeck has solidified the quarterback position in a way that was desperately needed.

A quarterback has to be a leader, and Hasselbeck is one. Vince Young never was, and Kerry Collins wasn’t vocal enough as a part-time starter to really lead. Not only is Hasselbeck showing leadership, he is mentoring Jake Locker to eventually be the team leader as well. Runner-up: Receiver Nate Washington.

Offensive Player of the Year: Washington. No player has improved his game more than Washington this season. He has shattered his previous career high for receptions, becoming the first Titans player to catch 70 passes in a season since Derrick Mason and Drew Bennett both did it in 2004.
Washington also has a chance to become Tennessee’s first 1,000-yard receiver since that year as well, if he can pick up 69 more receiving yards in the finale at Houston. Runner-up: Receiver Kenny Britt. Britt was hurt three games in but, before that, was on his way to being dynamic as the go-to receiver.

Defensive Player of the Year: Cornerback Jason McCourty. He leads the team with 93 tackles, second on the team behind Jordan Babineaux, and is tied with Michael Griffin for the team lead in interceptions.. In fact, on Griffin’s interception Saturday against Jacksonville, came on a McCourty deflection. Runner-up: Linebacker Colin McCarthy. The fourth-round pick made an immediate impact and even earned Defensive Player of the Week in the AFC for his two forced fumbles and fumble recovery against Buffalo. Had he started all year, he would have won this award.

Rookie of the Year: DT Karl Klug. This is a tough call because of so many rookie contributions.
The Titans thought Klug would be part of their defensive end rotation. He instead he ended up being one of their best defensive tackles with a team-high seven sacks. Not bad for a fifth-round draft choice. Runner-up: McCarthy. As stated earlier, McCarthy did extremely well after getting his shot, and looks to have solidified the middle linebacker spot for several years to come.

Special Teams Award: Kicker Rob Bironas, who was solid again this season, hitting 26 of 29 attempts thus far, including six of seven from beyond 50 yards. It’s somewhat hard to understand why he didn’t make the Pro Bowl. Runner-up: Cornerback Tommie Campbell. Yes, Campbell has had some bouts with immaturity and penalties, but other than the penalties in Indianapolis he has been solid as a gunner on special teams. His kickoff return against Tampa Bay was amazing.

Most Improved: Wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins. Coming in, “Hawk” had a whopping 19 catches over three seasons. He frustrated quarterbacks and offensive coordinators with his inability to run precise routes. But when Britt went down, Hawkins stepped in with 44 receptions as the third receiver. Runner-up: Tight end Jared Cook. Cook might have gotten the nod for this award if not for the fact that there were games where he completely disappeared, including Buffalo and New Orleans (no receptions).

Biggest Disappointment: Running back Chris Johnson. This should come as no surprise, given the expectations that came following a holdout and a $53 million extension. Johnson still needs 14 more yards to reach 1,000, quite a fall given that he had 2,006 just two years ago. Runner-up: Safety Michael Griffin. With Jerry Gray coming on board as defensive coordinator, and Griffin in a contract year, big things were expected from the free safety who has shown enough flashes to be a Pro Bowler three years ago. But it hasn’t happened. Griffin has been run over on tackles by Michael Turner and failed to break up a pass play for a big gain that cost the Titans in the opener against the Jaguars.

Calm customer Henery on verge of records

2011-12-29T14:09:00.000-05:00

Alex Henery has made his last 14 field goal attempts. (US Presswire)

By Reuben Frank

December 29, 2011

It’s not that he’s comatose, it’s just that nothing affects him. Nothing bothers him. Nothing ever gets to him.

OK, maybe he is comatose.

“My wife will always say, ‘How do you not stress out about anything?’” Alex Henery said. “And I just say, ‘There’s no reason to stress out about anything, it’s not going to make something better or worse.’

“I don’t really stress on myself, whether it’s football or life. It’s just how I approach things. If something big is coming up, my wife will say, ‘How are you not nervous?’ I don’t really know. I just don’t get nervous. Stressing out never helped. It’s just how I approach things I guess. It works out.”

So far, it’s worked out very well.

The Eagles cut ties with one of the greatest kickers in NFL history, six-time Pro Bowl pick David Akers, and replaced him with a rookie fourth-round draft pick. And if that’s not pressure, what is?

“Coming here to fill Dave’s shoes, I never really stressed myself about that,” Henery said. “I just wanted to come here, show what I can do, do my job the best I can, and it’ll all work out how it works out.”

Whatever his approach, it’s working. Since missing two field goals in the Eagles’ loss to the 49ers, Henery has been perfect.

He’s made 14 consecutive field goals, the fifth-longest streak in franchise history and just three shy of Akers’ club record of 17, set in 2001 and matched in 2009. And he’s within range of both the NFL single-season rookie accuracy record and Akers’ single-season Eagles accuracy record.

Overall, Henery is 22 for 25 on field goal attempts this year (88 percent), including a miss from 63 yards against the Falcons.

With one or more field goals without a miss in the Eagles’ finale against the Redskins on Sunday, he’ll break Akers’ franchise record of 88.2 percent accuracy, set in 2002.

Henery is also working on the second-most accurate rookie placekicking season in NFL history. No. 1 is current Cowboys rookie Dan Bailey, who has made 32 of 36 attempts (88.9 percent) this year. So any combination of one Bailey miss and no Henery misses will leave Henery as the most accurate rookie kicker ever.

All of this, by the way, is of zero interest to Henery.

“It doesn’t really mean too much,” he said. “Just like in college, the records I got, I couldn’t even tell you what they were.”

One of them happens to be the NCAA record for most accurate kicker in college football history at 90 percent.

Take away the 63-yard attempt just before halftime in Atlanta and Henery is right in that 90 percent range again ... 92 percent, actually.

Rarified territory for any kicker.

“He’s continued to work at it,” special teams coach Bobby April said. “Certainly, working with the same two guys (long snapper Jon Dorenbos and holder Chas Henry) has helped him. And I think even adjusting to the NFL has helped him.

“Even though it’s easier to kick on the Pro hash than the college hash, he was in a habit of a different approach to the ball for so long kicking it off the wider hashes that even though it was easier ... it took a while for us to get the right approach.

“He’s doing a good job. I think he’s just going to keep getting better and stronger.”

Most importantly, Henery has rebounded from that disappointing day against the 49ers. Since missing wide right from 33 and 39 yards in a game the Eagles lost by one point, he’s made all 14 attempts he’s taken in the Eagles’ last 11 games.

Henery said the 49ers game didn’t shake his confidence – after all, Akers missed two field goals in that game as well. Instead, he used it as a learning experience, studying the two misses and making sure not to make the same mistakes again.

“I guess that’s how I approach everything,” he said. “Whether you do good or bad, just move on from the next one. Don’t let it affect you too much, just move on to the next kick.”

Overall this year, Henery ranks eighth in the NFL among kickers with 20 or more attempts at 88.0 percent.

For the record, Akers (three times) and Gary Anderson (in 1996) are the only Eagles kickers in history to make 85 percent of their kicks in a season.

“I guess it shows the hard work I’ve put into it and myself wanting to be perfect every attempt,” he said. “That’s really the big thing – just being happy with how I hit the ball. That’s more important than the records. I really don’t pay attention to the records. If I focus on each kick, those things will come with it. That’s kind of how I look at it.

“As long as I’m doing my job, those numbers will come how I want them to be. You can’t think like, ‘Oh, if I miss this one my percentage will go down to this or that.’ Just prepare for each kick the best you can.”

Most of Henery’s field goals were mid-range this season, but he bombed a 47-yarder against the Bears in November and easily made a career-long 51-yarder Sunday in the Eagles’ win over the Cowboys. He’s a perfect 5 for 5 this year on attempts in the 40s and 50s.

“I think he’s getting stronger as the season goes on,” head coach Andy Reid said. “It looks like he’s doing a good job. Looks like his kickoffs are maintaining their depth, and even a couple extra yards on to it where he’s booting a few of them out of the end zone, and that’s a good thing.”

Henery said what looks like him getting stronger is actually just him becoming a better kicker.

“I don’t know if I’ve gotten stronger,” he said. “I’m not trying to get stronger during the season, just trying to maintain. I think it’s really more just hitting the ball where I want to hit the ball.

“A lot of kickers will over-kick and then they’ll decline as the year goes on. I just feel like I’m a good rhythm, hitting the ball well, and it’s been going in.”

Ex-Husker kicker Henery happy in Philadelphia

2011-12-28T10:51:00.000-05:00

By KEN HAMBLETON

December 23, 2011

Alex Henery pondered the question as though his cell phone reception was breaking up.

"What? Could I be playing indoor soccer in an adult league in Omaha right now? Sure. I guess. But this gig is working out pretty well right now," he said.

Henery, easily one of the all-time Husker greats, capped a record-setting college career and was the fourth-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles last April.

Although the much-mocked "Dream Team" Eagles have not performed up to expectations, Henery has lived up to his prospects.

The rookie from Nebraska by way of Omaha Burke is 11th in the NFL in field-goal accuracy (20-of-23) and he's hit all 40 of his extra-point kicks. The 6-foot-1, 177-pound kicker even has two tackles this year.

Comparatively speaking, Henery, the 120th player taken in the draft last spring, is worth every bit of his reported salary of $375,000 this year and $2.7 million over four years.

"I came in and had to re-establish myself as a kicker -- new team, new ball, bigger, faster opponents," Henery said this week from his home near downtown Philadelphia. "Kicking is kicking. I've made the technical adjustments week by week and the game has slowed down again for me.
"When you're a freshman, like when you're a rookie, the game and everything seems so fast you can't think straight," he said.

His two missed field goals in an exhibition game had Eagles fans mumbling about the team getting rid of longtime kicker David Akers.

Then Henery missed a couple more field goals, including a 63-yard attempt just before halftime of the Atlanta game, but he's hit 18 straight -- the seventh-longest streak in the NFL.

Henery came to the Eagles along with rookie punter and kick holder Chaz Henry. The two worked extensively on their timing with veteran long snapper Jon Dorenbos.

"They help me get over the bad kicks and onto the next one," Henery said.

Henery and Henry also trade off punting and kicking for a brief time in practice -- "Just in case," Henery said.

According to Eagles Insider, Philadelphia special-teams coach Bobby April said the group of Henery, Henry and Dorenbos has worked out well.

"I think he's (Alex) just getting very consistent in his daily routine and all of them have worked hard at that," April said.

The Eagles have a long-shot chance to reach the playoffs. They could win the NFL East ... if they beat Dallas on Saturday and the New York Giants lose to the New York Jets, then Philadelphia would have to win on New Year's Day against Washington.

"Things have to fall into place and we have to win our last two, but it's good to know we have a chance," Henery said. "I don't find a lot of guys talking about it in the locker room, but as a kicker, you're kind of out of it anyway. You kick. You make the kick and that's about it."

In the meantime, Henery holds his own when somebody brings up what school produces the best kickers.

"We've got Josh Brown at the Rams, had Kris Brown for all those years with Houston, Adi Kunalic just signed with Carolina and Sam Koch is still punting for the Ravens -- Nebraska is kind of a Kicker U. these days. And I'm sure Brett Maher, the way he's kicking for the Huskers, he'll be kicking in this league some day, too."

Yanda First Ravens Pro Bowl Guard; Seven Make AFC Team

2011-12-28T10:04:00.001-05:00

By Joe Platania

December 28, 2011

The Ravens have always prided themselves on being tough guys. In football, the toughest guys are in the trenches.

Yet, no offensive guard wearing a purple uniform had ever been named to the Pro Bowl ... until now.

Starting right guard Marshal Yanda may be nursing bruised ribs and a bruised thigh, but he accomplished what stalwart Edwin Mulitalo surprisingly never did; he is one of seven Ravens players named to the AFC Pro Bowl squad on Tuesday night.

The seven-player haul -- which could increase, depending on players from other teams that choose not to go to Hawaii -- marks the second-largest in Ravens history; eight Baltimore players were named to the league's annual all-star game after the 2003 and 2006 seasons. In 2003, they shared the league lead with Kansas City.

The others were fullback Vonta Leach (during his first season as a Raven), running back Ray Rice and the team's four defensive headliners: defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, linebackers Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis, and free safety Ed Reed.

There were seven Ravens that won the fan balloting at their positions, but tackle Michael Oher (a fourth alternate) did not get enough player and coach support and fell off the roster while Rice, who lost the fan vote at his spot to Houston's Arian Foster, graduated to the team.

Yanda's first selection is especially newsworthy, given the Ravens' Pro Bowl drought at the position and the productivity of players like Yanda in the team's offense.

Yanda, the second of two third-round picks in the 2007 draft (86th overall), has not committed a penalty all year and has helped pace running back Ray Rice to an NFL-high 1,869 scrimmage yards and 1,173 rushing yards, fifth in the league.

"I am ecstatic," Yanda said. "That is really the only thing I can say. This is such a great honor, something that I never really expected. When I made it to the NFL, I was so happy to be on a team and playing in the league, and now, to be a part of a Pro Bowl team is something very special.

"You don't get there alone; you have to be on a good team and playing well as a unit. I am thankful for my teammates and coaches who helped me get to where I am."

One of those was certainly Rice, named to his second Pro Bowl during a three-year span.

If he gets a mere 4 receiving yards in Cincinnati this Sunday, he will become the second player in NFL history to have multiple seasons of 1,000 yards rushing and 700 yards receiving; Marshall Faulk was the first.

"This is a great honor, and I really want to thank my offensive line and coaches for helping me to become the player I am," Rice said. "This is a team award, and I hope that everyone on our team can take pride in the fact that they helped seven of their teammates attain this honor.

"Also, thanks to my peers, coaches and fans that voted me in. But, I will celebrate after the season. We have unfinished business to take care of over the next few weeks.”

Leach can certainly say the same, as he was allowed to leave the Houston Texans as a free agent, signing with Baltimore during the post-lockout-shortened offseason. Along with Yanda and the line, Leach was just as responsible as anyone for Rice's 2011 outburst.

"This means a lot to me, especially with it being my first year on a new team," Leach said. "With changing teams, the lockout and trying to learn a new playbook, I am so proud and happy to be going with my backfield mate [Ray Rice]. This is a great thing and something to celebrate.

"But, that will have to wait until after the season. Right now we are getting ready for Cincinnati and a strong playoff run."

When Leach took the lead at his position at the last minute, he became the seventh Raven who ended the Pro Bowl fan voting period in first place before the coaches and players tallied their ballots earlier this week.

Each voting bloc (fans, coaches, players) counts one-third toward the final total. A record number of votes were cast by fans this year, with more than 100,000,000 casting ballots on NFL.com and through their mobile phones.

The NFL is the only major professional sports league to combine those three elements into its all-star game voting and was the first league to offer online input, in 1995. Major League Baseball has had All-Star Game ballots cast by fans for starting position players in each league since 1969, and occasionally even before then.

The overall leading vote-getter in this year's Pro Bowl tally was Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, with nearly 1.6 million votes. New England quarterback Tom Brady led the AFC fan vote with 1.4 million votes.

Each roster will have 43 players, two fewer than the normal regular-season game-day total.

For a third straight year, the Pro Bowl is taking place on the idle Sunday between the conference title games and the Super Bowl.

The game will be played at 7 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Jan. 29 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu and will be seen on NBC (WBAL-TV, Channel 11), the same network carrying the Super Bowl the following Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Two years ago, an experiment during which the game took place at the Super Bowl site -- in that case, Miami's Sun Life Stadium -- was a ratings hit, if only for the curiosity factor. But the game has returned to Hawaii, the venue from 1980-2009, the subsequent two years.

Since the Pro Bowl took on its current post-merger AFC-vs.-NFC format in 1971, the AFC holds a slim 21-20 advantage. The NFC has won three of the last four games and four of the last six.

In order to provide an incentive for players to participate, the per-man bonus money has increased dramatically from 1971 levels, which doled out $2,000 per player to the winning team and $1,500 to the losing side.

For the last three years, the winning team has received $45,000 per player, with the defeated squad getting $22,500 per man. There has not yet been any indication whether those figures will be going up again this year.

The honored Ravens, for the most part, already have lengthy Pro Bowl resumes.

Leach was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2008, his first full season with the Houston Texans after three years in Green Bay and a stop in New Orleans; he graduated to starter's status last year.

Ray Rice's lead blocker is also no stranger to all-star play, having taken part in the 2003 Blue-Gray All-Star classic after his senior year at East Carolina, winning offensive MVP honors during that game.

For Lewis, this year's Pro Bowl is his eighth straight and 13th of his career. Reed was named to his sixth straight Pro Bowl team and eighth of his tenure. Suggs made his fifth Pro Bowl team and, strangely enough, first in an odd-numbered year. Ngata's Pro Bowl is his third straight.

"First off, I definitely want to give a tremendous amount of credit to my coaches, especially Clarence Brooks and Ted Monachino," Suggs said. "Without them, I wouldn't be where I am now. I felt like a kid when I got the call; I was excited and honored.

"This wouldn't be possible without my teammates. Without the secondary making the QBs hold the ball, or the linebackers plugging up those holes, I wouldn't have the chance to do what I do, and I am thankful for them. I also want to thank the fans who voted for me.

"But to be clear, I have no intentions of playing in the Pro Bowl. I plan on being in practice with my teammates that week, getting ready for the Super Bowl.”

All told, 78 Ravens have been awarded Pro Bowl berths in team history, an average of almost five per year.

Besides Oher's fourth-alternate status, quarterback Joe Flacco and safety Bernard Pollard were third alternates, special teamer Brendan Ayanbadejo was tabbed as a second alternate and, for the third time, left guard Ben Grubbs is a first alternate.

For purposes of clarification, the above Pro Bowl totals merely indicate how many teams to which each player has been named, not how many in which he has played.

For example, Reed has played in just six of the eight Pro Bowls to which he has been formally invited, missing the last two years because of hip and ankle injuries, as well as a death in the family.

In 2006, tackle Jonathan Ogden, fighting a toe injury that would eventually force him to retire, made the trip to Hawaii, but did not play.

That same year, linebacker Bart Scott filled in for Lewis (hand) and quarterback Steve McNair's place was taken by then-Tennessee Titans starter Vince Young.

Chris Rucker one of NFL's top rookies of the week

2011-12-22T15:15:00.000-05:00

Colts vs. Texans: Five pivotal factors

Can Colts' defense rise again?

By Reggie Hayes

December 22, 2011

Rucker & Lacey
No, it's not a sequel to the old cop series, “Cagney & Lacey.” It's the Colts' cornerback combination of rookie Chris Rucker and revived third-year player Jacob Lacey. Rucker played so well in the Colts' win over the Titans he was a candidate in an NFL promotion for top rookie of the week. Lacey was playing so poorly earlier in the season, he was inactivated while healthy. He had an interception return touchdown against Tennessee. Both players need another strong game against an offense hurt by quarterback injuries.

The Freeney/Mathis Express
It's been a while since the defense had as satisfying a day as they did against Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker. They were able to play with a lead for once and force the kind of pressure that led to hurried throws and three-and-outs. Mathis wants to close the season strong in this contract season. Freeney's finish is important, too, considering this has been an overall productive season. They'll be trying to rattle Houston quarterback T.J. Yates.

No running allowed
A huge factor in the Colts' win over the Titans last Sunday was the defense's ability to stop running back Chris Johnson. He managed only 20 yards on 14 carries before one big 35-yard gain. Texans backs Arian Foster and Ben Tate will present similar problems. Indianapolis' renewed vigor against the run could be attributed to an overall boost in morale with Mike Murphy taking over as defensive coordinator. Credit, too, should be given to the strong tackling of linebackers Pat Angerer and Ernie Sims. Sims looked unleashed for the first time this season.

Orlovsky control
The success of quarterback Dan Orlovsky against the Titans can be attributed to offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen's decision to keep Orlovsky from trying riskier plays. The Colts relied on the running game to set up the pass, and Orlovsky got rid of the ball quickly most of the time when he did go to the air. Given time, and the offensive line did a decent job Sunday, he can find sure-handed targets in Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie and Jacob Tamme.

Offensive line drive
The Texans will bring the heat on Orlovsky, so it's critical for the offensive line to have a strong showing. Joe Reitz's return to left guard was a nice boost against Tennessee, and left tackle Anthony Castonzo rebounded after a rough game against the Ravens. If the Colts can keep this current line healthy, these last two games could result in some positive building blocks for the future.

The pick: Colts 23, Texans 20

The Tennessee Stud: Karl Klug makes an impact as a rookie with NFL's Titans

2011-12-20T09:50:00.000-05:00

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) is sacked by Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Karl Klug (97) for a 7-yard loss in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011, in Nashville, Tenn. The Saints won 22-17. (AP Photo/Frederick Breedon)

December 18, 2011

By JOEL BADZINSKI

Karl Klug is starting to feel the pressure.

Even some folks back home in Caledonia are making requests.

Klug doesn’t see it happening.

“No one wants to see me dance,” Klug said.

Klug, a Caledonia native in his rookie season for the Tennessee Titans, is happy to deliver sacks. Heading into today’s game at Indianapolis he has six, which leads the team and is fourth among NFL defensive tackles.

However, don’t expect him to flex his biceps, do the Charleston or prance for the cameras after his quarterback hits. It’s simply not in his football DNA.

“Be humble and work your (butt) off,” Klug said. “Make sure you’re coming to work every day and don’t be a distraction.”

That attitude helped Klug go from a 207-pound freshman at the University of Iowa to a two-time All-Big Ten defensive lineman and NFL prospect. The Titans selected him in the fifth round of the draft his past April.

Klug, at 6-feet-3, 275 pounds, still has the “undersized” label in the NFL. His 19 tackles, six sacks and four passes knocked down help tell the story of his physical ability and mental determination to overcome any negative stereotype.

“No. 1 is his work habits,” Titans defensive line coach Tracy Rocker said. “No. 2 is he understands the leverage of playing inside and the leverage of holding up big guys and having hand-to-hand combat in there.”

Klug spent the summer in Iowa City working out and worrying about the NFL lockout.

When that got resolved, he began worrying about making the team.

“What if I got cut the first day?” he said.

Klug didn’t, of course, and got to live his dream of playing in the NFL. The Titans hosted the Minnesota Vikings in their first preseason game on Aug. 13, which only added to the big dose of adrenaline rushing through Klug’s body, since he grew up a Vikings fan.

There hasn’t been a particular “welcome to the NFL, rookie”-type moment.

“I’ve gotten put on the ground plenty of times,” Klug said.

And he’s taken his share of opponents down. Klug had four tackles in his first NFL regular-season game on Sept. 11 at Jacksonville. His first sack came a week later against Baltimore and quarterback Joe Flacco.

Klug has played in all 13 games with one start and is working behind Jurrell Casey, a rookie from USC. The Titans have recently been using Klug as a rusher in nickel formations, which yielded two sacks Dec. 12 against New Orleans.

“The talent here is pretty insane,” Klug said. “But it’s the same feeling from high school to college and from college to here. I thought these guys were gods and they never make mistakes. They are talented, but at the end of the day they still are human.”

Klug has single-handedly converted Caledonia into a Titans town, not to mention making the bar at Ma Cal Grove Country Club the local hotspot on Sundays.

“A lot of people are going out there, family and friends,” said former Caledonia football coach Carl Fruechte. “They’ve got the Titans on NFL Ticket and we have a couple of Gatorades and watch Karl.

“His jersey is on every kid in town. There’s a lot of excitement and as a coach I’m really proud of his work ethic. I just can’t say enough.”

Karl and his twin brother, Kevin, played for Fruechte as Caledonia became a small-school powerhouse in the mid-2000s. The Warriors lost to Eden-Valley-Watkins 21-7 in the 2005 MSHSL Class AA state title game when the Klugs were seniors.

“It’s funny, because (former teammate) Sam Gerardy called about a week ago and we brought that up,” Klug said. “It’s frustrating looking back at it, but that was a long time ago and you’ve got to move on.”

Fruechte said he knew he had a special player on his hands during Klug’s junior season. Klug had a badly sprained left ankle and was cleared to play with permission from his parents.

“The Kasson-Mantorville coaches talk about it to this day,”Fruechte said. “He was playing on one leg and getting double-teamed the whole game and it didn’t matter. We still had a chance to win it. You thought, ‘OK, this dude is special.’”

Productive Klug a find for Tennessee

2011-12-16T14:45:00.000-05:00

Karl Klug reacts after sacking Saints quarterback Drew Brees in the Titans' Week 14 game.
December 15, 2011

By Paul Kuharsky

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Karl Klug is shockingly modest, which is refreshing from a defensive lineman who’s made a good share of plays.

Instead of choreographing sack dances, he’s minimizing his work in a rookie season that already includes six sacks, the fourth-most for any defensive tackle in the NFL and fifth-most for any rookie. It’s the most sacks for a rookie defensive tackle in franchise history.

He’s got three in his last two games as a nickel rusher, including two in last week’s loss to the Saints.

But to hear him tell it, it wasn’t a very good effort.

“The thing is, that’s only two plays out of the entire game,” he said. “That’s all I made. I don’t really feel like I had a good game. Yeah it looks nice on the stat sheet, but I’d like to make more plays.”

He also said that half his sacks this season have been a result of great coverage that’s made the quarterback hold the ball too long.

Jason Jones’ locker is next to Klug’s, and he overheard these comments.

He said the fifth-round draft pick out of Iowa is being too modest.

“In this league, when you get a sack, you’ve got to take it how you can get it, man,” Jones said. “I’d like six sacks right now, I’ll tell you that. … You’ve got to be humble, that’s good, and he’s coming in and doing his job.”

Coach Mike Munchak said Klug’s got great hands and is doing things that go far beyond his six sacks, 26 tackles and four passes defensed.

Klug had a four-game stretch without a quarterback takedown before the production against Tampa Bay and New Orleans, but it didn’t represent a lull.

“Sometimes you play some teams where even though you’re doing well it doesn’t show up in the box score, you don’t see the tackles or the sacks, but he’s actually doing a lot of good things out there,” Munchak said.

“He creates a lot of problems out there. He’s gotten a lot of pressures, he’s forced quarterbacks out of the pocket quite a bit, he’s beaten his guy when the ball gets out. He wins one-on-one quite a bit.”

That’s a pretty good review.

The Titans’ 2011 draft class looks great so far, and so far Klug qualifies as an excellent find.

SI praises Titans' Karl Klug for playing like 'the Tasmanian Devil'

2011-12-13T15:23:00.001-05:00

Quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints is sacked by Karl Klug #97 of the Tennessee Titans at LP Field on December 11, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Saints defeated the Titans 22-17.

December 12, 2011

Fine Fifteen

1. Green Bay (13-0). I'm not trying to minimize the loss of Greg Jennings, if he is lost for the rest of the regular season. But the Packers' next game of consequence is either 33 or 34 days from now, in their first playoff game. If they win one of their final three games, they clinch homefield throughout the NFC playoffs and would have time for Jennings to rehab even an injury of medium severity, like a torn MCL.

2. Baltimore (10-3). Terrell Suggs: three sacks, three forced fumbles. The only questions about Suggs and the All-Pro team is wondering if he'll be classified as an outside linebacker or defensive end. Either way, he's an All-Pro.

3. New England (10-3). I bet Tom Brady really wasn't all giddy and happy with Bill O'Brien, the way it appeared in the postgame presser, for biting his head off when he threw the bad interception late in Washington . But I also bet Brady appreciates a normally placid coach going freakazoid too, because a throw like Brady's shouldn't be acceptable.

4. New Orleans (10-3). I don't know how you throw a better ball than Drew Brees' second TD pass to Marques Colston Sunday in Nashville . So perfectly thrown that if Colston had been sleepwalking, it would have nestled softly into his hands in the end zone and he never would have felt it.

5. Pittsburgh (10-3). In Ben's Rehab They Trust.

6. San Francisco (10-3). Blew a 12-point lead in the second half. To John Skelton. Not good.

7. Houston (10-3). Pinch yourself, Houstonians. You're going to see NFL playoff football in your town for the first time since 1993.

8. New York Jets (8-5). These Jets remind me of last year's Jets. Stumbled late, then built up enough steam to be a factor in the playoffs. Here comes momentum.

9. Denver (8-5). At some point you just have to go along for the ride, sit back, enjoy it and realize you're witnessing one of the greatest stories we've seen in the NFL in a long, long time.

10. Atlanta (8-5). Amazing. For a team that has played so inconsistently all season, these Falcons are on the way to 10-6, at least ( Jacksonville , at New Orleans , Tampa Bay ), with a good shot at the fifth seed in the playoffs.

11. New York Giants (7-6). Any team with a quarterback as good and as clutch as Eli Manning is going to be one heck of a tough out in the playoffs. Now the Giants just have to get there.

12. Tennessee (7-6). The most impressive loser of them all Sunday. My Lord, where did this Karl Klug come from? (From Iowa . Fifth-round rookie. Another great and underrated product from the Kirk Ferentz School of NFL Development.) Plays like the Tasmanian devil. Six sacks bounding inside and outside.

13. Detroit (8-5). The mystery team of the next three weeks. Could see them go 0-3, 3-0 or anything in between (at Oakland , San Diego , at Green Bay ). I mean, predict that.

14. San Diego (6-7). Not saying I believe, but the Chargers have won two in a row by a 75-24 composite score, and Philip Rivers has completed 76 percent with six touchdowns and no picks. Here come the wacky Chargers again.

15. Chicago (7-6). The Bears have a path to the playoffs, but it would be best if Caleb Hanie drove the bus there instead of playing quarterback.

Quiet Yanda lowers boom for Ravens

2011-12-12T15:54:00.001-05:00

Even with new deal, physical guard takes nothing for granted

By Kevin Van Valkenburg

December 10, 2011

If you really want to appreciate the violence of football when the Ravens take on the Indianapolis Colts at M&T Bank Stadium Sunday, take your eyes off Ray Rice and Joe Flacco for a second and focus on right guard Marshal Yanda.

Watch him from the moment the Ravens break the huddle, the way he sizes up the defense as he walks to the line of scrimmage, then bends his knees and coils into a stance. It's like watching someone load a cannon. When Flacco begins barking his cadence, it's like lighting Yanda's fuse. The explosion is seconds away.

"He is always going to be the aggressor out there," said Ravens center Matt Birk, who has seen and heard the ferocity of Yanda's collisions up close for three seasons. "It really doesn't matter if it's a run or a pass. He loves to initiate contact. He loves to go after guys. And good is never good enough. He plays like he's competing for his job on every single play."

Yanda has been doing some of his best work of late, especially as the Ravens began focusing on their running game as they make a push to secure a playoff berth and home-field advantage. Yanda was particularly menacing in the Ravens' 24-10 win over the Cleveland Browns last week, a game in which Baltimore set a franchise record with 55 rushing attempts. Rice had a career day, running for 204 yards, and if you watch the replays on several of his big runs, you can see Yanda bullying a defensive tackle or a linebacker, moving him aside like a human snowplow.

"It was fun to maul guys and get after 'em," Yanda said. "When you pound the football like that, it's a lot of fun."

Such performances are what the Ravens envisioned during the offseason when they signed Yanda to a five-year, $32 million contract and returned him to his natural position at right guard. Baltimore's running game has struggled at times this season -- it's 14th in the NFL at 114.8 yards a game and 18th in yards per rushing attempt at 4.1 -- but it appears to be rounding into form.

This is the longest stretch of Yanda's career that he's been injury-free -- he missed most of the 2008 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament -- and able to focus on playing guard. He spent most of 2010 at right tackle because the team needed him to solidify the position after Jared Gaither was lost for the season with a back injury, and Yanda looked good for the most part. Sports Illustrated's Peter King named Yanda the best right tackle in the league in his year-end awards. But the Ravens wanted him back at guard, knowing that's where he has a chance to consistently be an elite player.

"It's been really good to feel settled in and stick at a position I really like," Yanda said. "I think I'm playing at a high level because I'm comfortable. I know I'm probably not going to have to bump to tackle, and I'm between two really good players in Matt [Birk] and Mike [Oher]. That's nice. You really can't ask for anything more than that."

It wasn't a secret that getting Yanda re-signed was the Ravens' biggest priority when the NFL lockout ended. Within hours, the team released veterans Todd Heap, Derrick Mason, Kelly Gregg and Willis McGahee to create salary cap space, knowing that several teams planned to woo Yanda. The attention was flattering, but it also made Yanda a little uncomfortable. A lot of free agents love to be wined and dined and convinced they're a team's missing piece. Yanda quietly went home to Iowa, stopped answering his cellphone, helped his father run the family farm in Anamosa and left it to his agent to deal with the details.

"I just needed to get away from everything," Yanda said. "I decided to work out in Iowa and not worry about it. We talked to some teams, but the goal was always to stay [in Baltimore]."

If there was trepidation about making Yanda one of the highest-paid guards in football even though he has never made the Pro Bowl, Ravens coach John Harbaugh didn't share it. People frequently bring up Yanda's strength and toughness when they praise him as a player, but Harbaugh believes his technique and his competitiveness are unmatched.

"He's fundamentally as good as any [guard]," Harbaugh said. "I can't think of one thing that he's not good at. He executes every technique very well. He's really strong, really strong, [he has] great feet [and is] a good bender. But that's not what makes him the player he is. I think it's just his personality, who he is as a person. Nobody works harder than Marshal. Nobody cares more."

Legend of the stun gun

Yanda's toughness and ability to tolerate pain can't be overstated. During Yanda's rookie season, Ravens cornerbacks Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle were goofing around in the locker room, playing with a stun gun someone had given them. One put $600 on the floor and McAlister made an announcement: Anyone man enough to voluntarily get shocked with the stun gun could keep the money.

"I was a rookie, and $600 was a lot of money," Yanda said. "I said, 'Hell, I'll do it right now.'"

The entire team gathered in a circle, many convinced Yanda would chicken out.

"I grew up on a farm," Yanda said. "I've been shocked a lot by electric fences for cattle. And we had an outlet in our shop that would shock you all the time. I've been shocked plenty of times before."

Over the years, the legend of what happened that day has grown. Players who weren't there talk about it as though Yanda got hit with 50,000 volts by a police-grade Taser. But he just rolls his eyes when he hears that.

"They really hyped it up like I got Tasered," Yanda said. "It was a stun gun, and I don't even know if the batteries were fully charged. It wouldn't have stopped a 10-year-old worked up into a rage."

McAlister zapped Yanda once and the locker room went nuts. Convinced he should make them feel they got their money's worth, Yanda told McAlister and Rolle to zap him again. They did, and he barely blinked. He scooped up the cash and uttered a quote that left everyone in awe.

"That's the easiest 600 bucks I've ever made in my life."

Lucky man

Yanda doesn't need to indulge in such youthful foolishness these days. Not only has his bank account grown, but he has been blessed in other ways, too. He married Shannon Hunt in Iowa this summer, and they had a big celebration with friends and family. Yanda said former Raven Chris Chester, a close friend who now plays for the Washington Redskins, tore it up on the dance floor.

"He was dancing his butt off," Yanda said. "It was hysterical, to say the least. Some of the guys got after it. I paid a pretty big bar bill."

Three weeks later, Yanda signed his contract with the Ravens and decided to pack his belongings into a U-Haul and drive 14 hours through the night to get back to Baltimore. It might seem like an unusual trek for a newly minted millionaire, especially when he could hire someone to do it for him, but it was typical Yanda. As he navigated the road back to Maryland, he couldn't help but feel like a lucky man.

"I definitely don't have any complaints," Yanda said. "You work your butt off in college just to get to the point where you're going to get drafted. The next big thing is to make it. Then you're trying to play well enough that you can get a really nice contract and be really well off.

"I was really scared after my knee surgery. I didn't know if I'd be able to come back and play at a high level. That really kind of showed me that this could be over tomorrow. It could be done. That's why I don't take any day for granted. Now it's all about playing confident and playing well. I want to get to the Super Bowl and do great things. I want to play dominant football."