Team news: Chicago Bears | Page 60

Jaguars beat writer Michael DiRocco on the potential impact of WRs Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson: They'll be significant parts of the rotation early in the season, but it's hard for rookie receivers to make a big impact. It has happened -- look at San Diego's Keenan Allen last season -- and the Jaguars do need help at receiver, but it's more realistic to believe Lee and Robinson will finish their first seasons with somewhere around 40 catches.

Both rookies missed OTAs with injuries, but Lee was running as the “Z” receiver opposite starter Cecil Shorts prior to turning his ankle, so I think he has the inside track to start. The Jaguars don’t have a great passing game, but I’m betting Lee (or Robinson, if he wins the job) will be fantasy relevant (top 60) in 2014.

Tennessee's players and coaches are won over, with receivers aide Shawn Jefferson talking up Justin Hunter as the one who could carry the Titans into the playoffs, while fellow wideout Michael Preston turned heads this offseason by calling Hunter a young Randy Moss -- a claim he didn't back away from Monday.

"I know how great a player Randy Moss was, and in my mind, there's no reason Justin can't be the next greatest player," Preston told Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. "... I just want to be there to support him. I know he's going to grow, make a great leap this year, and impress the city and fans with his talent."

With Kenny Britt out of the way, Hunter owns a legitimate chance to make an impact come September. NFL Films guru Greg Cosell called him "the most intriguing" and "physically talented" wideout in last year's draft -- and his game tape is speckled with flashes of brilliance -- but comparisons to a rock-solid future Hall of Famer are wildly premature.

As a rookie, Hunter checked in with the #18 FP/T (1.41), which is encouraging, especially if he’s able to beat out Nate Washington and get on the field as more than a just a passing-down specialist. He only played 36% of the team’s snaps, while Washington played 82%. The good news is that under then-OC Ken Whisenhunt, Keenan Allen, Vincent Brown and Eddie Royal all played at least 67% of the Chargers’ snaps. So with Whiz calling the plays in Tennessee, there may be room for both Washington and Hunter in the lineup.

Tom Krasovic of U-T San Diego labeled the 32-year-old wide receiver the MVP of the team's spring sessions after Floyd was the "most-targeted" pass-catcher on the roster.

Floyd was "tested repeatedly" in the passing game and "won more than he lost" against San Diego's rash of defensive backs, according to Krasovic.

"I don't have any doubts in my mind right now," Floyd said last month of his status for this month's training camp.

From 2010 to 2012, Floyd finished #36, #32 and #36 as the second or third option in San Diego. He returns from a neck injury at the age of 32 (turning 33 in September) and will compete with Vincent Brown to be the team’s WR2 opposite Keenan Allen. Brown flopped in a starting role (scoring just 0.06 FP per snap) last year, so the job is Floyd’s for the taking. If he’s starting and can stay healthy (a rather big “if”), he should be fantasy-relevant once again in 2014, making him a nice value in the final rounds.

The Chargers tested WR Malcom Floyd, even though they've employed him since 2004. In all five practices open to the media, the first pass from Philip Rivers went to Floyd. He was typically the most-targeted pass-catcher, and won more than he lost.

No one tackled him, but Chargers defenders went hard at the 6-foot-5 receiver, who was practicing for the first time since the neck injury suffered last September in Philadelphia.

Floyd can't wait for the season to start to make catches that count. He's ranked 55th, but he's climbing our charts and will battle with Vincent Brown for the WR2 spot across from Keenan Allen. Brown wasn't impressive last year so we think Floyd has a chance to win this job.

One of the more impressive things during offseason workouts for the San Diego Chargers was watching how efficient quarterback Philip Rivers ran the offense.

Rivers seemed to pick up where he left off last season. Few balls hit the ground during two-minute drills, as Ladarius Green, Keenan Allen, Malcom Floyd, Vincent Brown and Eddie Royal made catches all over the field.

Add to that a diverse group of running backs in Ryan Mathews, Danny Woodhead and Donald Brown playing behind an experienced offensive line, and the Chargers should have one of the best offenses in the NFL for a second straight season.

“I think they did a nice job,” San Diego coach Mike McCoy said. “For a majority of the guys it’s their second year in the system, so that’s going to come with time. The more you’re in a system, the more comfortable you are. And if you have a quarterback like Philip Rivers, good things are going to happen.

The Chargers lost OC Ken Whisenhunt to Tennessee but will enjoy the return of WR Malcom Floyd. Rivers looks like a good value given his current ADP.

Jaguars beat writer John Oehser: "Quarterback Chad Henne has drawn a lot of praise, as have wide receiver Cecil Shorts III and tight end Marcedes Lewis."

Titans WR Justin Hunter let us in on a little secret the other day.

Asked about the difference between the Titans' new offense and the one they ran last year, Hunter said: "We're throwing it downfield a little more."

A couple of thoughts:

Maybe the Titans plan to throw the ball downfield with greater regularity because that's HC Ken Whisenhunt's philosophy.

Or maybe they'll throw downfield more because Hunter, now a second-year pro, gives them another serious playmaking option in the passing game.

Most likely, it's a combination of the two. The offense is evolving. Hunter is developing. It's a good match.

Whisenhunt's preference for three-wide receiver formations (that was the primary alignment in San Diego last season when Whisenhunt was offensive coordinator), Hunter should be on the field with Wright and Nate Washington a majority of the time.

As a rookie, Hunter checked in with the #18 FP/T (1.41), which is encouraging. He only played 36% of the team’s snaps, while Washington played 82%. The good news is that under then-OC Ken Whisenhunt, Keenan Allen, Vincent Brown and Eddie Royal all played at least 67% of the Chargers’ snaps. So with Whiz calling the plays in Tennessee, there may be room for both Washington and Hunter in the lineup.

On the hype surrounding Eagles WR Jordan Matthews...

In the past decade, four rookie wide receivers - Michael Clayton, A.J. Green, Keenan Allen and Marques Colston - have had 1,000-yard seasons. Five - Eddie Royal, Clayton, Allen, Dwayne Bowe and Colston - have had 70+ catches.

And there's this one from Brent Cohen of Eagles Rewind: 49 receivers have been taken in the second round since 2000 and played at least 10 games as rookies. Average receiving yards for that group has been 437.

All of those numbers are meant for context, and players buck trends all the time. But a really good season for Matthews would be replicating what Riley Cooper did last season, not DeSean Jackson.

Matthews will likely see snaps in the slot (at least) this season. Jeremy Maclin is working his way back from an ACL injury and Riley Cooper is solid, but unspectacular. There is opportunity in this offense if Matthews has a great summer, and by most accounts he has.

One of the primary beneficiaries of the Chargers' no-huddle attack will be Ladarius Green, who was limited to a deep threat role as the No. 2 tight end last season.

Bucky Brooks believes Green is ready to outproduce Antonio Gates as long as OC Frank Reich uses more two-tight end sets this season. The Bolts need Green's speed and playmaking ability down the seam to complement Keenan Allen on the outside.

This sounds good, but there's no guarantee that the team will run more two-TE sets. This sounds more like conjecture than a solid prediction at this point. Stay tuned.

When asked who will start opposite Keenan Allen, Chargers beat writer Michael Gehlken replied, "Tough to match Malcom Floyd when healthy. He's been real impressive during OTAs."

From 2010 to 2012, Floyd finished #36, #32 and #36 as the second or third option in San Diego. He returns from a neck injury at the age of 32 (turning 33 in September) and will compete with Vincent Brown to be the team’s WR2 opposite Keenan Allen. Brown flopped in a starting role (scoring just 0.06 FP per snap) last year, so the job is Floyd’s for the taking. If he’s starting and can stays healthy (a rather big “if”), he should be fantasy relevant once again in 2014.