Watching every Week 2 preseason game over the past few days, here are a few meaningful observations for each team. Colts Trouble with the QB headset left Peyton Manning and the Colts offense looking surprisingly sloppy in their opening drive. That being said it couldn?t explain how sloppy the played for the rest of the game. What?s funny about that is although they played terrible, they still scored touchdowns on two out of three drives. This offense is set for another huge season statistically and should rank in the top 5 in the NFL in 2010? RB Joseph Addai, who had two explosive plays (one of them was a TD), started once again. RB Donald Brown came in and had one nice run for over ten yards. This is a legit timeshare and would expect both Addai and Brown to split 60-40% respectively unless there?s an injury. Addai has had injury issues in the past and Brown got hurt last year missing a few games as well)? All-Pro TE Dallas Clark sat out once again due to a minor leg injury? WR Anthony Gonzalez got the start for a dinged up WR Pierre Garcon, but his performance wouldn?t raise ANY question as to who will start along side WR Reggie Wayne. On one play Gonzalez tipped a pass that lead to a pick six? The fact that the Bills drove for two touchdowns is a raise for concern but then again, when has the Colts defense NOT been a concern going into any season lately?? Bills QB Trent Edwards got the start but the play calling ultimately kept the ball OUT of his hands (which is probably why they were so successful!) for the most part. The times he did throw over 8 yards, the passes resembled a wounded duck that?s been shot by a game hunter (minus ONE throw where WR Lee Evans was as wide open as you can possibly get on a deep 70 y TD pass)?. Although he finished with a nice stat line (5/8 80+ yds 1 TD), quite a few passes were dangerously close to being intercepted? Forgotten WR Roscoe Parish (in the ?dog house? last year) started in the 3 WR sets that the Bills seem to be going with and was featured often. The word out of training camp is that Head coach Chan Gailey is impressed with Parish and will try and feature the speedster this season? WR Steve Johnson started in this game but wasn?t targeted much at all? with the injuries to the once-muddled backfield situation, rookie RB CJ Spiller started and dazzled. He juked and dodged his way to a pretty 21 yard TD run on the Bills opening drive to go with multiple solid runs. This rookie will be a special player that much is evident? For what it?s worth, QB Brian Brohm got the 2nd string snaps and played well?The Bills defense played pretty well given their opponent but I?d chalk that up to the Colts offense being out of synch. Still, an interception by DB Terrence Mcgee was run back for a touchdown (in my opinion the most exciting play in football). Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez was a prime target of QB Matt Ryan and they hooked up often. However, Gonzalez was not Ryan?s favorite target in this game. TE Justin Peele lead the first team with 3 receptions. I highly doubt that this trend will continue given that Peele only had 12 receptions all of last year but stay tuned to see if passing on the two tight end sets continue? WR Roddy White was featured on the Falcons? third series and is also where the team unleashed their no-huddle offense. RB Michael Turner looked great running the ball and appears to be fully recovered from his ankle injury. He is one of the few ?superbacks? left in the NFL and was used often? RB Jason Snelling did not play. Patriots RB Fred Taylor got the start and looked good as the starting tailback, especially on his 28 yd TD scamper. RB Sammy Morris backed up Taylor and had only a few runs for little yardage. According to game commentators Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, RB Laurence Maroney is officially at the top of the Patriots RB depth chart and was sitting out due to injury. However, given the committee system head coach Bill Belicek used last year, it?s impossible to determine if this will hold true throughout the regular season. Probably the only guarantee at the RB position is that RB Kevin Faulk plays 3rd down as he did in this game and played well? WR Wes Welker started and, although he was targeted often, looks a hair slower than last year. That being said, he did play well but was only in for the first two series before he was pulled out of the game. WR Julian Edelman took over and looked just as good as Welker. Hard to say what New England will do here but they literally have a ?reception machine? in Welker and have also found his clone. Stay tuned? TE Aaron Hernandez caught a couple passes including a touchdown pass in the back of the end zone. TE Alge Crumpler did an excellent job of blocking but I?d reckon that the TE job is Hernandez?s from this point forward? The Defense gave up large chunks of yardage against the run which isn?t good but they did well to slow down a pretty good Falcons offense. DB Devin Mccourty looked very good for a rookie after going against Pro Bowl WR Roddy White. Giants QB Eli Manning didn?t start after pie-facing into Jets S Jim Leanhord?s facemask a week ago. Thus, with backup QB Jim Sorgi also injured, QB Rhett Bomar started in his place and played for the entire game. I?d give the nod to Bomar for the backup position over QB Jim Sorgi after this performance? RB Danny ?DJ? Ware started and took most of the first team carries and looked average before getting knocked out of the game (literally) with a minor head injury. However, RB Ahmad Bradshaw very well has leaped RB Brandon Jacobs to the top spot on the depth chart after his performance in this game. Simply put, Bradshaw gives the Giants a better chance to win. In a very competitive NFC East, that?s what matters. Jacobs may still be ?Frankenstein? but now for different reasons? Jacobs runs as awkward and as slow as the monster, he also seems to be without his brain, and he just isn?t scary anymore? WR Mario Manningham got the start over WR Hakeem Nicks (who was ejected on the 2nd play of the game for trading punches with Steelers CB Ike Taylor- although he received more than he gave) in this game but did little to seize the opportunity. Hakeem Nicks? ?Glass Joe? impersonation also opened the door for preseason star Victor Cruz and Derek Hagan to get priceless reps in a contested WR battle. WR Steve Smith, Jerry Rice?s prot?g?, looked the role of a team?s top wideout being targeted often and in go-to situations? The Giants defense looked pretty good given that they were going against the Steelers best, holding them to just a field goal on 3 drives in the first half. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger started with the regular starters until halfway through the 2nd quarter. This team looks more explosive with Roethlisberger at the helm than with Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon. However, explosive doesn?t necessarily mean good as they kept finding themselves in 3rd & long situations. In the Steelers? search to find their ?September QB?, QB Byron Leftwich came in after Roethlisberger and actually looked better than Ben did. Leftwich connected with WR Mike Wallace for a 68-yd TD bomb against half of the 1st team Giants defense. Dixon looked explosive against the Giants 2nd stringers and lead his offense on a touchdown drive to open the 2nd half. I?d look for the Steelers to try Dixon with the 1st team next preseason game to determine where he is developmentally ? Neither starting RB Rashard Mendenhall or Isaac Redmen were able to get any running lanes and/or had a Giants lineman in the backfield before they could even get a step. Given the suspension of Roethlisberger, this isn?t good to see for the Steelers and it needs to be addressed somehow? I think Father Time may have caught up with WR Hines Ward as he looked slow and was unable to get open. The Steelers defense did what was expected and shut down a Manning-less Giants offense. That being said I?m not sure Eli would?ve made any difference. Seahawks Watching the 2010 Seattle Seahawks reminds me of the old Oakland Raiders philosophy: build a team with re-treads, renegades, has-beens, and unwanted players in desperation to win. That being said, QB Matt Hasselbeck and the Seattle offense looked very good, albeit against a Green Bay defense missing their four best defensive players ? RB Justin Forsett FINALLY started with the 1st team but wasn?t given any running lanes and therefore didn?t look very good. On the other hand, RB Leon Washington made his Seahawks debut and looked great scoring a touchdown run as well as showing that his leg is fully healed. Stay tuned to see how this battle breaks down? Former USC Trojan WR Mike Williams continued to impress and showed the talent that made him a 1st round pick by the Lions a few years ago. I have a strong feeling that he will not only make this team but will be a major contributor as well? WR Deion Branch caught a touchdown pass when coverage broke down due to QB Matt Hasselback?s scramble. WR TJ Houshmandzadeh was targeted a few times and reminded me of when he ran alongside a current dancing and dating show reality star? TE John Carlson caught a couple passes, but I highly doubt he will be mentioned with the top tight ends in the league after this season? A quick note here, QB Charlie Whitehurst, for the second week in a row, looked every bit as good as QB Matt Hasselbeck but I don?t know if that?s a compliment. Look, I don?t think Hasselbeck has played poorly enough in the preseason to lose his job but I?m pretty sure that if he gets hurt or doesn?t play well at sometime this year, he will NOT get his job back. Packers My pick to go to the Super Bowl this year, the Packers looked in mid-season form with WR Greg Jennings catching a 56 yard bomb from QB Aaron Rodgers on their first offensive play of the game. Like last week, Jennings looks poised to bounce back after a poor 2009 as he was targeted often. James Jones started for Donald Driver but failed to do anything worth noting? TE Jermichael Finley caught a few passes (one for a TD) and simply looks like he can?t be covered one on one? RB Ryan Grant ran strong and looked good. More importantly the offensive line was opening holes for Grant and pass blocked as well. If the offensive line does even a mediocre job, I don?t see any defense in the NFL capable of slowing this offense down? The Packers defense was missing 4 starters thus gave up two touchdown drives to a rebuilt Seattle 1st team offense. Raiders With QB Jason Campbell as the starting quarterback, the Raiders are noticeably better, opening the game with a nice touchdown drive. That being said, the rest of the game you couldn?t tell if it was Campbell or Russell behind center? One of the two bright spots on this offense, RB Michael Bush looked great and is the clear cut starter here and should be Week 1 barring injury? There are more questions for Oakland at wide receiver than a game of ?Jeopardy!?. With both WR?s Darius Heywerd-Bey and Chaz Schilens sitting out with injuries, Johnnie Lee Higgins and Louis Murphy started with each catching passes. Murphy looks as close to an NFL wide receiver as you?ll find on this squad? TE Zach Miller appears to be the #1 or #1A option for QB Jason Campbell (the other being Louis Murphy)? The Raiders defense sacked Cutler twice in their first defensive series without their two best players (DE Richard Seymour, DB Nnamdi Asomugha). However, Safety Michael Huff got caught with some poor fundamentals allowing Chicago?s RB Matt Forte to score on a 89 TD run. BEARS The Bears long snapping sums up how they looked in this game (two botched snaps on FG attempts due to their starting long snapper sitting out with a shoulder injury). Matt Forte started and looked fabulous behind the restructured offensive line? The key to a Mike Martz offense is a quick release and accuracy but QB Jay Cutler had neither in this game? WR Devin Hester had a couple big plays (one reception & one reverse)?WR Johnny Knox?s lone reception was for a TD on a broken coverage due to Cutler?s scramble?TE Greg Olsen was lined up off the line as well as in the slot quite a bit leading to a few targets however unsuccessful? If you?re the defensive coordinator for any NFL team, you might want to look for work if the Raiders are driving for an opening touchdown on your defense? Vikings The Vikings were graced with two, future Hall of Famers: QB Brett Favre as well as Favre?s ego. For the opening series we were blessed by Favre?s presence but certainly not his play? WR?s Percy Harvin and Sidney Rice sat out again with injuries and now it?s not clear as to who their WR?s will be? RB Adrian Peterson looked great running against a top 3 run defense in SF? I?d be very concerned allowing a TD to SF on the opening drive ? especially considering they benched their three best players (WR Michael Crabtree, TE Vernon Davis, RB Frank Gore)? 49ers QB Alex Smith looked poised and did well given his new offensive line and being without his top three playmakers (see Minnesota above)? San Francisco?s defense looked great being able to slow down RB Adrian Peterson and generating pressure on the opposing quarterback? WR Ted Ginn dropped a few tough passes that could have been caught. WR Josh Morgan was quiet and was not targeted? LIONS RB Jahvid Best has assumed the starting role and for good reason- he looked explosive, fast, and elusive in this game. I?d expect a good season from this guy as he looks to be the focus in this offense? QB Matthew Stafford played well but the run game was the focus? WR Calvin Johnson once again demonstrated why he?s considered one of the best WR?s in the NFL today? WR Nate Burleson got the start along side him catching a couple passes? TE Brandon Pettigrew dropped an easy TD pass, whereas Tony Scheffler played well. Still hard to say who the starter is here but I?d go with Scheffler as of now ? K Stephen Hauschka took over for an injured Jason Hanson? The defense played solid and looks much improved. Broncos The Broncos started this game as ugly as their neon orange jerseys but eventually got into rhythm? QB Kyle Orton, who played very well, once again targeted WR Eddie Royal early and often. However, I would have to say Jabar Gaffney is the #1 target followed, by Eddie Royal and Brandon Lloyd. All started and they appear to have those jobs locked up. ?RB?s Lance Ball and Justin Fargas played for the injured Knowshown Moreno in a fight for the backup spot. RB Lance Ball muffed a pass leading to an interception but also scored a nice touchdown in the red zone. Tough call at this point as to who?s got the backup spot but, like the Arena Football League, does anyone really care?... The Broncos defense gave up too many drives to the Lions 1st team and don?t look very imposing. I can?t see them slowing down many NFL teams this year based on this performance. Saints The Saints and Drew Brees look every part the Super Bowl champions driving for a touchdown on their opening drive? WR Devery Henderson got the start along side WR Marques Colston? In a legit timeshare, RB?s Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas split carries throughout the game. Due to Thomas getting his bell rung, Bush got a few more reps than normal and looked fabulous running between the tackles and in space. Then again, Thomas looked great as well. This offense should be potent once again, so long as they avoid the ?Madden Curse?. Who better to bust a curse than a team from New Orleans. Texans RB Arian Foster got the start again and played very well ? until he fumbled. RB Steve Slaton had a fumbling problem last year that cost him his job. Foster did come back in and played decently thereafter? WR Kevin Walter started alongside Andre Johnson and played well thereby ensuring his status? TE Joel Dreesen started in place of Owen Daniels and played very well. If that?s any indication as to how Daniels will look in this offense, he?s going to have a breakout year ? so long as he stays healthy? I don?t normally talk about kickers but K Neil Rackers barely made a 52 yard field goal in a contest with incumbent Kris Brown. The point here is that he made it and with Brown missing so many attempts last season, that doesn?t bode well for him? Houston?s defense got torched by New Orleans, but I wouldn?t put that much salt into it given that there were starters missing and the fact that EVERYBODY gets torched by New Orleans. Chiefs QB Matt Cassel has a long way to go to be considered even a good quarterback in the NFL? RB Thomas Jones got the start over Jamaal Charles, but fumbled his first carry. He did come back in for the next series and continued to play solid football as he normally does. Charles seems to be the ?change of pace? back and his carries will be limited. Charles looked great on screens and sweeps but didn?t run well between the tackles in this game? WR?s Chris Chambers and Dwayne Bowe are cemented as the starting receiving corp, but I don?t think that?s saying much. Bowe had some opportunities but still lacks the ?big game? ability normally reserved for a first round draft choice (2007). Buccaneers RB Cadillac Williams started again and played well for the handful of plays he was in. No question that Caddy is the starter here. RB Derrick Ward once again stunk up the stadium with a poor effort. RB Kareem Huggins played with the 2nd team and looked great. As mentioned in my notes last week, I wouldn?t be surprised if Ward is not on this team to start the season? In a heated contest for the starting jobs, WR?s Reggie Brown and Mike Williams started. Rookie and 4th round pick Mike Williams cemented himself as not only the starter in this game, but the #1 option as well. WR Sammie Stroughter will probably be the 3rd WR and start in the slot. WR Michael Spurlock had a nice touchdown catch in this game as well. Next week?s game will tell quite a bit as to who will take the other starting job along side Williams? TE Jerramy Stevens started for the oft injured & overrated TE Kellen Winslow? QB Josh Freeman injured his thumb and will be out the rest of the preseason and could effect him in the regular season as well. This quickly downgrades the Tampa offense which is a shame seeing as they looked like they might be somewhat respectable this year. Although, it?s worth noting that Josh Johnson didn?t look terrible but I would look good at QB against the Chiefs defense. Browns Five fumbles in the first quarter in a rainy game QB Jake Delhomme fumbled TWICE managed to play worse than the rookie Bradford. Trust me, that?s saying quite a bit? WR Mohammed Massaquoi did not play in this game, but has locked down one of the two starting WR spots on this team. WR Josh Cribbs got the start along with Brian Robiskie in this game at wideout. Cribbs fumbled the ball on a punt return whereas WR Chansi Stuckey had a couple nice plays in the slot? RB Jerome Harrison fumbled the ball TWICE on the first two plays of the game! There was some wet weather but that can?t happen if he wants to keep the starting job. RB Peyton Hillis came in for a few snaps and had a great, tough run that may have bought him some reps and playing time moving forward? The Browns run dual tight end sets with TE?s Ben Watson and Evan Moore but Watson was the better of the two in this game. Rams WR?s Laurent Robinson and Donnie Avery got the start, if anyone actually cares. Even the most devoted of football fans fight off Mr. Sandman watching the Rams play?. QB AJ Feeley got the start and lead the Rams on an opening touchdown drive working the middle of the field targeting TE?s Billy Bajema and UC Davis? own, Daniel Fells. Feeley sped up the inevitable when he got injured in this game thereby forcing rookie QB Sam Bradford into the starting role moving forward. Bradford definitely still looked the part of a rookie and will probably continue to do so this season. Bradford stared down receivers, kept the same snap count, & was late on throws against the Cleveland 1st team defense? The lone bright spot on this team is RB Steven Jackson who still looks like a beast. Is it just me or does this team resemble the ?89 Cowboys?? Jackson= Herschel Walker? Bradford = Troy Aikman? Ok it?s a bit of a stretch but if the Rams trade Jackson, I?m sold. Chargers QB Phillip Rivers and the Chargers offense didn?t appear to have lost a thing without their two ?best? players holding out. Rivers? accuracy appeared to be ?off? after taking a sack but the offense was still able to move the ball with ease against a pretty good Dallas defense? WR?s Malcom Floyd and Legadu Naanee both looked great starting? RB Ryan Matthews is the real deal running the ball and will be THE workhorse for this offense. His pass blocking could use some work though? The San Diego defense did a decent job against a high powered Dallas offense. Cowboys QB Tony Romo and the Cowboys offense looked out of sync. A lot of people have them picked to be one of the top offenses but I have yet to see it? RB Marion Barber got the start but once again didn?t run the ball very effectively. RB Felix Jones took the second series, but didn?t run much better than Barber? WR Miles Austin looked great and was the obvious primary target for Romo. Especially considering WR Roy Williams kept dropping the ball or falling down when running routes? TE Martellus Bennett got the start to give Jason Witten some rest and looked pretty good. Last year, Bennett cut into some of Witten?s receptions in two tight end sets and I?d expect to see the same again this year given how talented Bennett is? The Dallas defense wasn?t truly able to slow down San Diego although they did get two turnovers but that was more to do with mistakes by San Diego. Jaguars QB David Garrard looked pretty good early on- for Garrard anyways. The starters were pulled after three series? ?Pocket Hercules? aka MJD wasn?t able to get many running lanes. Even more interesting, FB Greg Jones got the ball twice in goal-to-go situations? WR?s Mike Sims-Walker and Mike Thomas started and played well. Sims-Walker is the clear cut primary target here and the rookie Thomas caught a touchdown pass. Dolphins QB Chad Henne got off to a slow start but eventually got it together? WR Brandon Marshall caught a few passes but it took a while for Henne to get him the ball. Dolphin fans better hope that their coaching staff is holding out until the regular season to unleash Marshall. WR?s Brian Hartline (starter) and Davonne Bess caught a few passes and looked decent? RB Ronnie Brown started, but Ricky Williams came in for the majority of the plays. It was a rainy, muddy game (summer time??!) so running the ball was ugly but the tandem of Brown and Williams did a decent job?. TE Anthony Fasano caught a 55 yd touchdown pass as well as a 10 yd touchdown pass. Redskins RB Larry Johnson got the start at tailback but from this game, he?s lost his burst and it doesn?t look like he has it anymore. Unfairly, Johnson had to face the Ravens TOUGH run defense, but RB Clinton Portis was able to break off good runs each time he had the ball. I think this job belongs to Portis, but with HC Mike Shanahan, who knows? WR Joey Galloway started at receiver alongside Santana Moss. Anthony Armstrong started last game and looked good (as he did in this game), whereas Galloway was forgettable. I can?t see Shanahan starting Galloway here. Moss had a GREAT game and was targeted heavily by Donovan McNabb? TE Chris Cooley is a favorite target for McNabb and played well. Contrarily, TE Fred Davis dropped a sure touchdown pass in the opening drive. Davis certainly has the size and talent to be an NFL tight end but with Cooley on the same team, every rep is crucial for him to see playing time. Ravens WR?s Anquan Boldin and Derrick Mason started, but Donte Stallworth and Mark Clayton were also involved lining up in the slot. Stallworth had a terrible game fumbling once and running reverse plays like he was wearing clown shoes. Mason and Boldin didn?t see many targets as the offense focused on short passes to the backs? Thus, RB Ray Rice looked great in this game? TE Todd Heap is back starting and looked decent but he?s far away from the superstar he once was? The Ravens defense simply can not be run on. However, without S Ed Reed, a good QB can pick them apart? K Billy Cundiff has won the starting job. Jets RB LaDainian Tomlinson looked good running behind this offensive line as he did for the majority of the snaps in this game. Dare I say it, he looked even better than RB Shonn Greene has? QB Mark Sanchez is looking to take the next step as a quarterback, but I?d say he?s taken a half step based on his performance in this game. Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams was the workhorse in this game, especially given that Jonathan Stewart sat out once again. This team?s success is entirely based on their running game and their defense? QB Matt Moore did his best Jake Delhomme impersonation and played miserably, albeit against a tough defense? WR?s Brandon Lafell had a good game and should have bested WR Dwayne Jarrett for the starting 2nd WR spot? I don?t know how good the Panthers will be considering the Jets 2nd team defense stopped them on a drive in the second quarter. Maybe they should be tuning up against UFL teams?