Will the Line Depth Please Stand Up

by: Michael Steffes

We spent all offseason talking about how championship teams are built from the lines out. Now we are watching a training camp where a Superbowl contender is disintegrating from the inside out.

With the big news of the morning being that Red Bryant will be sitting for awhile, you would expect names like Larry Tripplett and Chris Cooper to be mentioned. Well, Hughes and Jose Romero both mention that they have become the latest casualties as we get into the second week of camp. Everyone is still waiting to hear the actual diagnosis.

The other news is that the centers are causing problems. In many ways, what do you expect? But still, the offense needs to be able to snap the ball for everyone to get their work in. Spencer and Gray will be back next week. Probably on Monday if more of these shenanigans take place on Saturday.

Clare gives John Carlson his player of the day status, but not for the great catches he continues to make. He mentions that he flattened Matt Castelo with a vicious block. Carlson is going to have to be solid in blocking if he wants a legit chance to show his receiving skill. This is a good start. This is something Julian Peterson mentioned on the radio this morning, saying Carlson just needs "grown man strength" and he will be ok.

Usually the upcoming scrimmage helps turn the team into a mash unit. Hopefully for the Hawks sake, they have suffered their bumps and bruises ahead of time. I am not sure if there is an afternoon practice today, but if there is I am sure it will be light. For those of you who get to watch tomorrow, keep some mental notes and email me. I will report what the Addicts see at Qwest. ~END~