As always the training camp battles during preseason make for some of the best debate between fantasy footballers. Walk in on a fantasy conversation and you will hear things like; “Jane, you ignorant slut, there is no way that Ahmad Bradshaw becomes the Giants leading rusher this season’, or “I can bet you that seventh round pick WR Dallas Baker becomes the top scoring WR on Pittsburgh this year, just like Marques Colston last year”.
To follow along in that vein, I have put together Volume 1 of this year’s IDP Training Camp Battles. These are 4 of the hottest IDP battles in the league and will be fought right into the season in some cases. I will provide updates on these as they occur.
Now on to the Battles;
Jermaine Phillips vs. Sabby Piscatelli ® – Strong Safety Tampa Bay
Phillips is coming off his best season as a pro, where he amassed over 100 total tackles, 2 interceptions and 5 forced fumbles, but even with that, the Bucs defense had it’s worst season in the last 10 years. Ranked 30th in the league in takeaways, and 31st in sacks, these are the things that defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin is working on improving during camp.
Enter rookie Sabby Piscatelli, a hard hitting player with a nose for the ball. He has had 15 interceptions during his time at Oregon State, second most in team history, and is known for both his coverage skills and his fearless run stuffing. He is a very quick defender who will also be used to blitz the QB. Piscatelli did not play in last week’s preseason game because he was nursing a sore hammy, but is expected to play this week against Jacksonville.
WINNER: Phillips is still considered the starter and should be come week 1. BUT, if he falters at all, or if the team cannot produce enough turnovers or sacks, then look for Gruden to make a quick change and give the rookie a chance to be the playmaker everyone thinks he can be.
John DiGiorgio vs. Paul Posluszny ® - MLB Buffalo Bills
DiGiorgio is a second year player who didn’t make much of an impact in year 1, but in the off season he studied very hard and made sure that he knew this defense backwards and forwards. Once the team got to OTA’s it showed. He is currently listed as the #1 MLB, and has been working very hard to keep the position with very good play in camp. He is smart enough to be the defensive signal caller, while also being quick enough to play sideline to sideline.
Enter the second pick of the second round of this year’s draft, former Penn State standout Paul Posluszny. Posluszny starred at OLB for the Nittany Lions, and Hall of Famer, and former Nittany Lion Jack Ham, called Pos, possibly the greatest linebacker ever to play at Penn State, and that is saying something considering the talent that team has turned into All-Pro linebackers. He holds the schools career tackle record at 372, and won the Dick Butkus award for the nation’s top linebacker after his junior season and has twice won the Bednarik award for the nations top defensive player.
WINNER: Posluszny will come out of this as the winner, as the team cannot afford to leave this playmaker off the field. He gives them too much flexibility, and his knowledge of the defense will only improve as he gets more reps. Oh and if stats are your thing, in the team’s first preseason game, he recorded 9 tackles and a sack in one half of play.
Sam Madison vs. Aaron Ross ® - CB New York Giants
Madison is going into his 11th year in the NFL, and has been to the Pro Bowl 3 times in that span. In his first season with the Giants in 2006 though, he only managed 39 total tackles and 2 interceptions, while getting burned too often to suit the Giants coaches. A lot of people feel that the biggest problem for him last year was the scheme that former Defensive Coordinator Tim Lewis used, hence the term former. New DC Steve Spagnuolo may allow him to return to the form that made him a pro bowler before. Keep in mind that Madison is not the ball hawk he once was, as he only has 4 interceptions in the last 3 seasons.
Enter 1st round draft pick, Aaron Ross from Texas. Ross was a backup in both his sophomore and junior seasons at Texas and played well. In 2006 he became the full time starter and blossomed into the nations top defensive back and won the Thorpe award for same. His stat line in his senior season read like this; 80 tackles, 1 sack, 19 pass deflections, forced 3 fumbles and recovered 2 of those, and intercepted 6 passes. Ross has a nose for the ball, but will sometimes take too many chances.
WINNER: Madison wins this contest FOR NOW. If the Giants start to struggle, then look for the team to go to the future and insert Ross. They are looking for Ross to be their future shut down corner, but he still has a lot to learn about the NFL before he can start.
Clinton Hart vs. Eric Weddle ® - SS San Diego Chargers
Hart is listed on the current depth chart as the #1 SS, mostly because former starter Terrance Kiel was released this offseason after it was learned that he was a big gambler and then was arrested at Chargers headquarters for transporting and possession for sale of a controlled substance, that turned out to be a codeine based cough syrup. Hart is a former college centerfielder is considered the best ball hawk on the team, and has had an impressive camp. Just note that he has only started 6 games in 4 years, so he doesn’t come with a ton of starting experience either.
Enter Utah’s Eric Weddle, who the Chargers traded up in the second round to get. They gave up their second, third and fifth picks this year and an additional third next year to get him. Sounds like an awful lot to give up for a backup player. Weddle has been step for step with Hart in this battle and didn’t hurt his case any by grabbing an interception in the team’s first preseason game Sunday night. Weddle also offers the team flexibility, having played both cornerback and safety in college. In 2005, Weddle came up against Calvin Johnson in the Emerald Bowl and held him to 2 receptions for 19 yards.
WINNER: Weddle wins this job if not by week 1, then by week 4 at least. The Chargers want to move up from their 18th ranking in interceptions, and Weddle should be able to provide some help there.
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