some love for al wilson

[Cleo McDowell]

Some love for big Al..


http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/4936368

Adam Schein / Special to FOXSports.com
Three up
Al Wilson
If Dwight Freeney currently is the NFL's best defensive player through the first four weeks of the 2005 season, then the Broncos linebacker would be ranked second. Wilson's game against Jacksonville was amazing: Six tackles, two fumbles, consistent pressure on Byron Leftwich, and he led the Broncos' charge in totally taking Fred Taylor out of the game. Leftwich told me this week it was as if there were six Al Wilsons on the field. Wilson should be one of the differences why the Broncos beat the Redskins this weekend in Denver.

Sheldon Brown
He was the only member of the Eagles defensive backfield not to make the Pro Bowl last year. And scouts will tell you he was worthy of going. That will change in 2005. When I talked to Brown before the Eagles game in Kansas City, he told me the Eagles confidence against the high powered Kansas City attack was sky high. Brown backed up the words with a couple of enormous interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, helping to propel the Eagles to an amazing comeback on the road. You have to love the matchup for Brown and the Eagles DBs this weekend going against Dallas and Drew Bledsoe.

Anquan Boldin
The Cardinals' wide receiver deservedly had a great game on national television Sunday night against the 49ers. When Boldin threatened to hold out this summer, Cardinals' coach Dennis Green told him that the organization would take care of him if he came in and busted his tail and built chemistry with his teammates. Boldin, who is represented by Drew Rosenhaus, did just that. Boldin's eight catches for 116 yards against San Francisco are a harbinger of things to come. The passing attack should be more fluid for Arizona with the athletic and hungry Josh McCown. Look for even bigger things from Boldin as the year rolls along.


Three down
LaVar Arrington
The former poster child of the Washington Redskins is now rightly tucked away in Joe Gibbs' and Greg Williams' dog house. Arrington's been all about hype, not performance with the Redskins. There are rumblings coming out of our nation's capital that Arrington has informed the staff he has no interest in playing on special teams. Hey Lavar! That's what backup linebackers do! Coach Williams has that defense playing great football, and there's no reason to disrupt the rotation based upon where Arrington was drafted or how much money he's making. On that note, Arrington's cap number for 2006 is just over 12 million dollars. He's due a $6.5 million roster bonus in the middle of July that he will never see. After the year, it's time for the Redskins to cut the cord on this draft bust.


Jamal Lewis has been going nowhere this season. (Chris Gardner / Associated Press)

Jamal Lewis
Here's a suggestion for the Ravens running back: Stop complaining about not getting a contract extension from Baltimore. You spent your summer vacation in jail, while rehabbing a serious injury. That's not exactly the mix that screams out more money and more years. And forget what the Ravens told you a long time ago. Your current situation says you can't get a new deal now. Just run the football better, play hard, don't whine to the press, and you'll get your money from the Ravens. Lewis has totaled a lowly 138 rushing yards this season. Remember when that used to be a game for Jamal? His 2.5 average per carry is the worst in the NFL amongst running backs with significant carries. Lewis better improve if he wants money from anyone this offseason. You would think Lewis should break through this weekend in Detroit. At least you would think.

Corey Dillon
So now the Patriots' running back won't talk to the press? Because it's the media's fault he's averaging 56 yards a game? Dillon is irate that some, after watching him seemingly navigate the gridiron looking as if he's moving through quick sand, believe he's lost a step as he gets older.

The running back even quipped, "I'm too old to talk."

Dillon shouldn't take it out on the Boston media, and consequently the fans, a base that did nothing but praise him for his play on the Patriots' Super Bowl team last year. Curtis Martin is asked the same questions. He still talks to the media. Dillon needs to take responsibility and not let his teammates answer the media's questions about him. This will be another tough task for Dillon this weekend going against the Falcons defense. I do expect better things from Dillon as the season rolls along.

[2KBack]

it was like there were 6 al wilsons out there, ha

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Amazing - I thought the national press thought the only linebacker in the league way dirty bird Ray

[Bronx33]

http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?t=31521

[Kaylore]

It's amazing what a good front four will do for your linebackers. I'm not taking anything away from Al Wilson, either. Basically you need to give your linebackers opportunities and that's what a good D-line does. Just like our offense, the line creates the opportunities and then its the back's/Linebackers responsiblity to take advantage of it.

[westcliffe]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

It's amazing what a good front four will do for your linebackers. I'm not taking anything away from Al Wilson, either. Basically you need to give your linebackers opportunities and that's what a good D-line does. Just like our offense, the line creates the opportunities and then its the back's/Linebackers responsiblity to take advantage of it.

Solid take. Having Warren playing so well in front of him has helped Al to be even better. About time the national media notices him.

[Broncoman13]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

It's amazing what a good front four will do for your linebackers. I'm not taking anything away from Al Wilson, either. Basically you need to give your linebackers opportunities and that's what a good D-line does. Just like our offense, the line creates the opportunities and then its the back's/Linebackers responsiblity to take advantage of it.

You know last year I was sick of him disappearing in games, and I took into account the fact that the DL wasn't taking pressure off of him. I felt that he should be able to shed blockers and make the play. Perhaps he just isn't that type of LB though, the way he's been playing the last few weeks is awesome though. He's truly showing that he's worth the big money we paid him two or three years ago!