Harbaugh expresses confidence in new kicker Hauschka

Ravens Notebook:
By Aaron Wilson

September 8, 2009

OWINGS MILLS -- Steve Hauschka won the Baltimore Ravens' kicking job over Graham Gano because of his range, accuracy and fundamentals as he takes over for veteran kicker Matt Stover.

In Ravens coach John Harbaugh's estimation, Hauschka has the best mechanics of any young kicker he has watched in a long time. And he accompanied that compliment by referencing Philadelpha Eagles kicker David Akers and Cleveland Browns kicker Phil Dawson.

Hauschka converted 5 of 6 field goals during the preseason, including a 46-yarder against the Atlanta Falcons to wrap up the preseason.

"Obviously we're confident in him or he wouldn't be our kicker," Harbaugh said. "Let's understand this: he's going to miss some kicks. Now if he goes 100 percent and makes them all, we'll all look like geniuses, but that's not going to happen.

"He's going to miss a couple of kicks. The thing we're looking for is how he handles missing a kick just like how does Joe [Flacco] handle throwing a bad pass or Ray [Lewis] missing a tackle. We have to give him that kind of leeway. He's really talented."

Kampman leads resurgent Packers' defense

Packers defense back on track
Adding 3-4 scheme, guru Capers pays off

By Jim Corbett

September 1, 2009

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers have long gone green.

With rare exception, they've preferred to grow teams organically through the draft from general manager Ron Wolf's 1992-2000 tenure to former coach/GM Mike Sherman to current GM Ted Thompson.

Wolf signed late Hall of Fame defensive end Reggie White in a 1993 free-agent coup that helped vault the Packers to a Super Bowl XXXI title.

Thompson took his big free-agent plunge with the 2006 signing of former Oakland Raider cornerback Charles Woodson to a seven-year, $52 million deal justified by Woodson's 19 interceptions since.

But after a 6-10 flop followed Green Bay's 13-3 run to the 2007 NFC Championship Game, Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy signed another potential impact defensive free agent — 3-4 defensive guru Dom Capers.

Though the 59-year-old coordinator doesn't cast White's intimidating shadow, the 24-year NFL coaching veteran brings a similar disruptive dynamic — harassing quarterbacks.

Green Bay is 3-0 this preseason thanks to quarterback Aaron Rodgers' 71.1% completion percentage, a revamped run game and a quick transition to Capers' attacking, 3-4 scheme. The first unit has 13 turnovers, 11 sacks and 10 points allowed.

"The Packers have been very impressive," said CBS analyst Bill Cowher, the former Pittsburgh Steelers coach who had Capers as his defensive coordinator (1992-94). "Two years ago they were one play from the Super Bowl. And they lost a lot of close games last season.

"With Dom there, they'll … be able to create more pressure on the quarterback."
McCarthy fired former coordinator Bob Sanders and staff after a franchise-record seven losses by four points or fewer.

"Dom's knowledge and experience was something we felt would be extremely valuable going forward," Thompson said. "We felt we had the versatility among our players to do this.

"It was Mike's call. As an offensive coordinator he understands some of the difficulties the different (3-4) looks can cause. The whole idea is to create more doubt on the part of the opposing quarterback."

Capers grins.

"I've never met a defensive player who didn't like to be aggressive," says the former Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans head coach. "In this defense, the outside linebackers have to be productive. Aaron Kampman has been a real good pass rusher from the end position.

"I think he'll carry that over to the outside 'backer position. And we liked what we saw in Clay Matthews."

Thompson traded the 41st overall selection and two third-round picks in the April draft to the New England Patriots for the 26th overall selection exercised on Matthews. The son of 19-year NFL linebacker Clay Matthews Sr., the former Southern California standout will test his injured hamstring for the first time in Thursday's preseason finale.

Kampman has 37 sacks since 2006.

After seeming apprehensive in May about switching from a three-point stance to standing up, the two-time Pro Bowler returned a fumble forced by a blitzing Woodson for a 24-yard touchdown in Green Bay's 44-37 preseason win Friday against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Iowa native scored his first touchdown since high school the same night his late Aplington-Parkersburg High coach Ed Thomas was honored at his alma mater's season opener. A former player is accused of fatally shooting Thomas on June 24.

"Going back for his funeral was one of the more inspirational things I've been a part of," Kampman said.

"In my locker, I have a saying from a book of quotations he called, 'The Champion.'

"The essence is consistency is the mark of a champion. And whatever you do, work at it with all your heart and never give up."

Kampman has committed heart and soul to Capers' scheme to honor a late mentor's spirit.

"His influence is having ripple effects," Kampman says. "I'm a ripple."

Oklahoma's Wilson leads Offensive Coordinator list

August 30, 2009

From Rivals.com staff's "Preseason offensive coordinator power rankings"

We continue our preseason power rankings at each position with offensive coordinators.

One thing to note about offensive coordinators: There are numerous head coaches who oversee their offenses, and we do not rank those guys on this list.

You can check out our post-spring practice power rankings here. We will update the power rankings each week during the regular season and release the final rankings for the season after the BCS title game.

The rating of a player and coach can fluctuate each week during the season depending on how they fared the previous week, but the power rankings measure overall career performances as well as their most recent results.

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR POWER RANKINGS

1. Kevin Wilson, Oklahoma
BUZZ: He oversaw an offense that scored a record number of points last season, and he has his quarterback, two 1,000-yard running backs and the best tight end in the nation returning this season.

2. Galen Hall, Penn State
BUZZ: Hall is a veteran assistant who has seen it all. He deserves kudos for helping Joe Paterno ? his college coach, by the way ? see the light and upgrading the Nittany Lions' offense the past few seasons.

3. Gary Crowton, LSU
BUZZ: He has a long track record of success, and it was his offense that led the way when the Tigers won the national title in 2007.

4. Norm Chow, UCLA
BUZZ: Here's another guy with a long track record. Don't hold last season's inept Bruins offense against him. An offensive staff of Bill Walsh, Sid Gillman and Don Coryell couldn't have done anything with what Chow had to work with.

5. Shawn Watson, Nebraska
BUZZ: He's underrated nationally and has overseen some potent units of late. It wasn't bad offenses that got Bill Callahan run out of Lincoln.

6. Andy Ludwig, California
BUZZ: Ludwig is in his first season with the Golden Bears. He had the magic touch last season with unbeaten Utah, pushing all the right buttons for the Utes.

7. Greg Davis, Texas
BUZZ: This guy has been a frequent target of derision, but he deserves credit for the work he has done of late. The Longhorns had no running back to rely on last season, but Davis still put a potent unit on the field every week. He works well with QB Colt McCoy.

8. Sonny Dykes, Arizona
BUZZ: His dad, Spike, was an offensive innovator when he was coach at Texas Tech. Sonny also is a former assistant to Mike Leach at Texas Tech. He will have his work cut out for him this season with an untested quarterback.

9. Dana Holgorsen, Houston
BUZZ: He's a rising star and a guy to keep an eye on. Houston was magnificent offensively last season and should be so again. Art Briles oversaw a powerful offense when he was Houston's coach, and after he left, Holgorsen made some tweaks and revved it up even more.

10. Mike Bobo, Georgia
BUZZ: Bobo has guided some strong units in his time in Athens. He's good at matching his season philosophies with the talent he has on hand. Last season, he had Matthew Stafford and Knowshown Moreno. This season, it's Joe Cox and Richard Samuel. Watch the numbers end up being close to the same.