Rex Ryan is in agreement with John Idzik that the New York Jets should start Geno Smith at quarterback instead of Mark Sanchez.
Sources say the Jets don't trust Sanchez and are particularly tired of his mistakes in the red zone.
Marty Mornhinweg is confident that the Jets can create a gameplan to minimize Smith's inexperience.
The most intriguing Round of 16 matchup in our 'Be The GM' series is undoubtedly between Andrew Luck and J.J. Watt.
No quarterback has come into the NFL in which there was as much certainty that he would become elite as Luck since Peyton Manning in 1998, while Watt has become a transcendent talent as a 3-4 defensive end at the age of 24 after just two seasons.
Luck’s individual statistics were fairly pedestrian in 2012, but he helped take a flawed Indianapolis Colts' team back to the playoffs with an 11-5 record.
Luck had a passer rating of jut 76.5 while completing 339 of his 627 attempts with 23 touchdowns against 18 interceptions. The Colts’ offensive line was a big liability for Luck and they allowed him to be hit more than any other quarterback in the NFL. The Colts improved their offensive line in the offseason and it is conceivable that Luck’s passer rating jumps nearly 20 points in his second season as Manning’s did in 1999 (71.2 to 90.7).
Bruce Arians had a huge impact in Luck’s rookie season and with his departure to become head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, the Colts hired Pep Hamilton of Stanford. Luck expects the Colts’ offense to be a hybrid of Arians’ offense and the West Coast that Hamilton ran at Stanford. Luck’s low completion percentage will almost certainly improve moving away from Arians’ system.
Another issue for Luck in his rookie season was the absence of an effective running game. With the threat of the run established, Luck will see defenses not able to cheat as often as they were in 2012.
Luck, similar to Aaron Rodgers, is effective as a runner on occasion. Luck finished his rookie season with 255 yards and five touchdowns on 62 attempts.
The team success came sooner than expected for Luck and the statistics will almost certainly catch up with his physical and mental profile.
Watt had a promising rookie season with 5.5 sacks and 58 tackles, along with a breakout game in the playoffs. But his 20.5 sacks and 16 pass deflections turned Watt into one of the most dominant defensive players in the entire NFL. In 2012, Watt become the first player to ever have more than 100 grading points from Pro Football Focus. Watt had 83 total pressures on 687 pass rushing snaps while also recording 52 of his 55 tackles against the run.
Watt also achieved numbers that he may never match again while playing the entire season with an injured elbow.
Watt’s pass rushing ability makes life extremely difficult for opposing offenses and the Texans ranked 10th in passer rating against at 80.0.
The New England Patriots will keep Rob Gronkowski on their active roster to begin the season.
Gronkowski was a candidate for the physically unable to perform list, which would have meant he'd miss at least six games.
There is still uncertainty as to Gronkowski's timetable to return to game action.
Von Miller dominated Jamaal Charles in their first round matchup, while Eric Weddle narrowly got past Jared Veldheer in our 'Be The GM' series.
Miller looks like an easy choice to move into the quarterfinals, though his six-game suspension suggests some underlying issues beyond the outstanding pass rushing production that may make some think twice for a split second.
Miller was the second overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft after Cam Newton and has instantly become one of the NFL’s most invaluable defensive players. Miller had 11.5 sacks as a rookie and then followed it up with 18.5 sacks in 2012 at just 23. Miller is an every down linebacker, but is almost single-mindedly focused on pressuring the quarterback and not ever dropping in coverage.
Miller is able to get to the quarterback as well as anyone in the NFL on the outside as well as the inside, making him incredibly difficult to contain.
Weddle couldn't be spotted in a lineup, according to Warren Sapp, and that is true but he also was graded as having the best season at safety since Pro Football Focus was launched. Many questioned the Chargers' logic in making Weddle the highest paid safety in the NFL, but he has gone on to earn that contract.
In 2012, Weddle had 83 tackles, three interceptions and two forced fumbles. During the previous season, Weddle intercepted seven balls.
Weddle is still just 28 and is incredibly durable and should be among the NFL's most reliably elite secondary players for many years to come.
Robert Griffin III has been medically cleared to start for the Washington Redskins in Week 1.
Griffin is returning from major surgery to repair his knee.
Dr. James Andrews is less concerned about Griffin’s knee and “much more on how the team plans to use him,” according to a source.
Andrews had previously told the media that Mike Shanahan had Griffin reenter a game against the Baltimore Ravens following an injury without examining him.
“He didn’t even let us look at him,” Andrews said. “He came off the field, walked through the sidelines, circled back through the players, and took off back to the field. It wasn’t our opinion.
“We didn’t even get to touch him or talk to him. Scared the hell out of me.”
The New England Patrios have released a pair of tight ends in Daniel Fells and Jake Ballard.
The move suggests that the Patriots will keep Rob Gronkowski off the PUP list.
Zach Sudfeld and Michael Hoomanawanui are behind Gronkowski on the depth chart at tight end.
The Oakland Raiders have yet to name a starting quarterback following a disappointing performance on Thursday from Terrelle Pryor.
Matt Flynn sat out with a sore arm.
Pryor had previously looked like he might grab control of the job ahead of Week 1.
"I didn't have some of my guys, guys I was working with all week," Pryor said. "I'll get better. It's crunch time now."
Robert Griffin III takes on Jason Pierre-Paul in the final second round NFC matchup of our 'Be The GM' series. Griffin defeated Dez Bryant in the first round with 85 percent of the vote, while Pierre-Paul narrowly got past LeSean McCoy with 57 percent.
Griffin exceeded the most bullish expectations during his rookie season, completing 258 of 393 pass attempts for a passer rating of 102.4 with 20 touchdowns coming against just five interceptions. Griffin also carried the ball 120 times for 815 yards and seven touchdowns, becoming the type of dual-threat quarterback that makes it seem like you're watching a video game.
Griffin had a 9-6 record as a starter as he led the Redskins back into the playoffs.
The only issue with Griffin, who won't turn 24 until February, is his long-term health. Griffin tore his ACL and LCL last season and we will need to see if he regains his prior form physically and whether he can make adjustments to his style of play to avoid injuries without compromising the aspects of his game that make him great.
Pierre-Paul is entering his fourth NFL season, but he won't run 25 until the end of February. Pierre-Paul immediately showed promise at getting to the quarterback in his rookie season and then completely broke out in 2011 with 16.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
Pierre-Paul's production trailed off considerably last season as he battled persistent back issues that eventually led to surgery in June.
Assuming he returns healthy, Pierre-Paul can return to overwhelming offensive linemen with his combination of size, strength and quickness.
CLICK HERE to vote for Robert Griffin III or Jason Pierre-Paul.
Nnamdi Asomugha has secured the San Francisco 49ers' No. 3 cornerback job, overtaking Tramaine Brock.
"He's done well in his reps that he's had in the game and in practice," Fangio said, via the San Francisco Chronicle. "Particularly the last two or three weeks, he's played much better."
Asomugha has struggled as a slot corner, so it remains to be seen how the 49ers will work him into the defense in passing packages.
The Detroit Lions have averaged just 1.2 yards per rushing attempt in preseason, but Reggie Bush believes that part of the offense will get going.
"We're getting there," Bush said. "It's a work in progress, but I definitely feel like we're making steps in the right direction. The offensive line has done a great job of blocking. They're getting better, and we're getting better too.
"We just have to continue to work at it and obviously the more games you can play the better you'll get and the chemistry we'll get. It's taken a little time, no doubt, but we'll figure it out."
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