July 20, 2008

Marcus Spears

 Expect Cowboys DL coach Todd Grantham to make Marcus Spears one of his pet projects this summer and fall. The team has yet to get full return on its big investment in Spears, a 2005 first-round draft choice who has started for three seasons but hasn’t shown consistency or fire in his play. Grantham is considered a good motivator and coach who might be able to make a difference in Spears’ progression.

 It’s looking more and more as if Giants WR David Tyree, the Super Bowl hero who had knee surgery in March, will be a strong candidate for the physically-unable-to-perform list, which either could limit his chances of getting on the field or even making the club altogether. The Giants’ WR situation is very crowded now with the emergence of Steve Smith and the drafting of Mario Manningham.

 It’s not terribly sexy, but the Redskins should have a very good battle at punter. They drafted Durant Brooks in Round Five, the first punter the team has drafted in 15 years, and they think his strong leg could give him the edge over Derrick Frost. Special-teams coordinator Danny Smith, however, requires his punters to be good directional and pooch punters, too, so Brooks will have to show touch.