NFL PLAYER NEWS

AFC Camp Battles: Real issues beyond Manziel

The Sports Xchange

August 06, 2014 at 11:12 am.

Ronnie Hillman is competing for a role in Denver's high-powered offense. (Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports)

Although it is hard to believe based on the narrow and intense focus of media coverage, there are important battles in NFL training camps that do not involve Johnny Manziel.

Reporters embedded in camp for The Sports Xchange were asked to pick the Battle of the Week that is a key to success even if it does not involve usual headliners.

In this report on AFC team battles, Manziel isn’t even mentioned, except here. His battle is one for the season, not the week — though his debut at Detroit will be one to watch this weekend.

An important battle in that Cleveland camp, based on reports from the field, is between Garrett Gilkey and John Greco at right guard.

Here is a closer look at the AFC team Battles of the Week from TSX correspondents at each training camp (teams listed by division, alphabetically):

BUFFALO BILLS

BATTLE OF THE WEEK: Kraig Urbik vs. Chris Hairston at right guard.

Hairston missed all of the 2013 season with an undisclosed illness, and he was considered a long shot to make the team this year after the Bills signed left guard Chris Williams in free agency, and drafted three offensive linemen.

However, coach Doug Marrone made the decision to give Hairston reps at the guard positions – he’s never played inside before at any level in his career – to see if he could handle it, and though it’s a learning process, the 320-pounder has made strides.

So much so that he’s getting some first-team reps at right guard along with incumbent starter Urbik. Urbik was considered a lock to start, but Hairston is giving him a push, and it will be interesting to see how things play out in the preseason games. If Hairston can handle his own, he becomes a valuable player because of his versatility.

Hairston, however, already is has missed some practice due to a back problem. It was a bad back that initially sidelined him in the 2013 training camp before his medical condition arose.

MIAMI DOLPHINS

BATTLE OF THE WEEK: Right guard.

The offensive line is close to finding its five starters. Left tackle Branden Albert and right tackle Ja’Wuan James are set. And it appears Daryn Colledge will start at left guard and newly-signed center Samson Satele is expected to go with the first team.

The big question is right guard, where Dallas Thomas, a third-round pick from last year, veteran Shelley Smith and rookie third-round pick Billy Turner are battling for the job.

And even after the starters are set, pass protection remains a huge concern. The Dolphins gave up a franchise-record 58 sacks last season and now they will have five new starters to open the season.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

BATTLE OF THE WEEK: Duron Harmon vs. Patrick Chung vs. Tavon Wilson vs. Nate Ebner for the starting strong safety job.

Heading into camp the perception was that the starting safety job next to captain Devin McCourty was Harmon’s to lose in his second season. But through two weeks of camp action there has been an almost limitless daily rotation of players next to McCourty, and Harmon doesn’t seem to have separation between himself and the rest of the pack. Wilson is a third-year former second-round pick who’s played primarily special teams.

Ebner is a former rugby player at Ohio State who played special teams for the Buckeye and to open his career in New England. Chung returns to New England after leaving via free agency to start for a year in Philadelphia. Harmon may still end up the best option for Bill Belichick in the back end, but right now the competition is wide open and a seemingly heated battle.

NEW YORK JETS

BATTLE OF THE WEEK: Wide receiver.

Consider this one position in which John Idzik’s competition mantra has yielded the desired result. Three spots are all but locked up: Jeremy Kerley and Eric Decker will surely make the final roster while David Nelson is a valuable red-zone target and locker room leader, but the Jets, a year after fielding one of the worst wide receiver corps in recent NFL history, have several legitimate contenders vying for the final couple spots on the depth chart.

Stephen Hill, a perennial summer tease, is in the midst of another good training camp, which he desperately needs as a draft bust selected by the previous regime. Jacoby Ford offers game-breaking skills in the return game but had just 13 catches last year for Oakland.

The most impressive wideout in camp has been Greg Salas, who has the benefit of having played with both Geno Smith (last season) and Michael Vick (in Philadelphia). The veteran depth means rookies Shaq Evans and Jalen Saunders are candidates for redshirt seasons (Evans is expected to be placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury).

BALTIMORE RAVENS

BATTLE OF THE WEEK: Strong safety.

Matt Elam was in and out of practice Sunday. His reps with the first-team defense were shared with Jeromy Miles. Elam has had a quiet training camp with few big plays, so it could be the team is sending him a message by reducing his practice snaps.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

BATTLE OF THE WEEK: Wide receiver.

Cobi Hamilton and James Wright figure to be the two players vying for the final wide receiver spot among a deep and talented group.

A.J. Green, Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu are locks, while Dane Sanzenbacher and Brandon Tate are good bets given their ability to return kickoffs and punts.

Assuming the Bengals keep six, that leaves Hamilton, a second-year player who spent the 2013 season on the practice squad after being drafted in the sixth round, and Wright, a rookie seventh-round pick, in a tight battle.

Hamilton, at 6-foot-2, 197 pounds, has ideal size and speed but lacks the tools often required of bubble players – the ability to excel on special teams. It’s something he never did at Arkansas or last year as a rookie, but he has worked his way into the rotation during camp this summer.

Wright, on the other hand, was drafted primarily for his special teams abilities after not catching a single pass during his college career at LSU.

But he has looked impressive catching the ball in camp, and special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons likes what Wright has showed as a gunner on teams.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

BATTLE OF THE WEEK: Garrett Gilkey vs. John Greco at right guard.

Greco missed the first four days of practice with an undisclosed injury, but he eased his way back into practice on Friday and alternated with Gilkey when the first offense was on the field in the scrimmage Monday. Gilkey and Greco will continue to compete and both will also get time at left guard where rookie Joel Bitonio has been playing with the starters since the beginning of camp.

Gilkey is in his second season and Greco in his seventh. Greco started 13 games at left guard last year and has a definite edge in experience, but offensive line coach Andy Moeller is high on Gilkey and Bitonio, Moeller said nothing has been decided at either guard spot.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

BATTLE OF THE WEEK: Slot receiver.

Veteran wide receiver Lance Moore (Saints) was signed as a free agent to fill the slot role that became vacant when Jerricho Cotchery left to join the Carolina Panthers in free agency.

He is getting some stiff competition for that job, though, from Justin Brown, who spent all last season on the practice squad after the Steelers drafted him in the sixth round.

In Monday’s practice, Brown ran as the No. 1 slot and Moore was No. 2. Moore caught 346 passes in his first nine seasons in the league, all with New Orleans. He is 30 and stands 5-9. The Steelers are in somewhat of a youth movement and Brown is 23 and stands 6-3. That competition is ongoing and one of the best in camp on offense.

HOUSTON TEXANS

BATTLE OF THE WEEK: Backup running back.

This is a colorful battle, Blue vs. Brown.

Rookie running back Alfred Blue (6-2, 223), a sixth-round pick from LSU, is pushing veteran Andre Brown (6-0, 227) for playing time behind Arian Foster, who’s nicked up and won’t play against Arizona. Blue has shown toughness between the tackles, speed to get around the corner and soft hands.

Brown, who had two 100-yard rushing performances for the New York Giants last season, has five years of playing experience but has to stay healthy. Blue had injury issues in college. Brown has had problems staying healthy in the NFL. They’ll get to prove themselves during preseason games, but right now, the competition between them has been fierce.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

BATTLE OF THE WEEK: Fourth wide receiver.

In the depths behind receiver spot behind Reggie Wayne. T.Y. Hilton and Hakeem Nicks, there is a spot to be had.

As things stand now, rookie Donte Moncrief has moved past Da’Rick Rogers for the primary backup spot behind Hilton. Nicks is the top sub for Wayne when the Colts are in a two-receiver set. Moncrief had a strong OTA and spring mini-camp. And he has carried that over to training camp, where the third-round draft pick is also on the verge of earning a job as Indianapolis’ first-team kickoff returner.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

BATTLE OF THE WEEK: Otto.

Can it be deemed a “battle” if only one of the combatants is practicing? That’s the case at the “Otto” position, a newly created tag by Jaguars coach Gus Bradley after the team signed free agent Dekoda Watson during the offseason.

The battle lines were drawn right then when the Jaguars inferred that Watson was brought in to take advantage of his pass-rushing skills at linebacker along with his ability to cover would-be pass receivers. But then Watson missed the team’s spring workouts following groin surgery and he’s still recovering from it.

The fifth-year pro out of Florida State has now lost his starting position as LaRoy Reynolds was listed as the starter at the Otto spot when the team released its first depth chart before its initial preseason game with the Tampa Bay Bucs. And Reynolds is making the most of his opportunity.

TENNESSEE TITANS

BATTLE OF THE WEEK: Kicker. Maikon Bonani vs. Travis Coons.

When the Titans jettisoned Rob Bironas, they decided to place the kicking job – at least for now – in the hands (foot?) of an untested player.

Bonani was in camp last year and showed a strong leg, but had issues with accuracy. Coons comes as an undrafted rookie from the University of Washington. Thus far, neither has kicked well enough to have clinched the job, and it’s too early for that given that the preseason will be the deciding factor. But early on, Coons has been more accurate than Bonani, who has had a couple of bad misses among his kicks in camp.

DENVER BRONCOS

BATTLE OF THE WEEK: Running back.

With Montee Ball sidelined for at least the next two weeks following an appendectomy, Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson will rotate in with the first team to determine who will be the primary relief option at running back in the regular season.

Hillman is listed ahead of Anderson on the depth chart, and is the Broncos’ most experienced runner, heading into his third season. He is the fastest of the team’s seven running backs, and has added weight to reach 200 pounds. But Hillman was inactive for the 2013 postseason after struggling with fumbles and concentration; he admits that he relaxed in 2013 after being named the No. 1 running back on the preseason depth chart; that led to a tumble to the fourth string.

Anderson has a more stout build, carrying 215 pounds on a 5-foot-8 frame. He is a quick study, the better blocker of the two and worked ahead of Hillman in the postseason, playing in all three playoff games.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

BATTLE OF THE WEEK: Right Guard.

Last season, Jon Asamoah and Geoff Schwartz split the starts at the position; Asamoah held the job early in the schedule, with Schwartz finishing out the season. Both departed in free agency with Asamoah to Atlanta and Schwartz joining the New York Giants.

In the Chiefs’ offseason practices Rishaw Johnson got the bulk of the snaps with the first team. Eventually, he was displaced by sixth-round draft choice Zach Fulton, and in the second week of camp journeyman blocker Ricky Henry was getting a chance to work with the No. 1 group. Johnson, Fulton and Henry have a combined total of five games and one start of NFL game experience.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

BATTLE OF THE WEEK: Khalif Barnes vs. Gabe Jackson at left guard.

Barnes, who started 11 games at left tackle before moving inside and playing the last five at left guard, continues to hold down the inside spot and runs with the first-team offense.

Barnes seems to have found a “fountain of youth” because his legs remain young. Still, it’s considered only a matter of time before Jackson, a 6-foot-3, 336-pound power house, gets the position with Barnes then available for backup duty at both tackle spots and both guard spots. Jackson’s performance in preseason games will either accelerate or slow down his ascension.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

BATTLE OF THE WEEK: Right Guard — Chris Watt vs. Johnnie Troutman

For the second straight year a Norte Dame rookie is trying to win a starting spot out of training camp. Last year it was linebacker Manti Te’o before a foot injury got in the way.

This year it’s Watt, and to date, nothing has slowed him down.

With starter Jeromey Clary landing on PUP after two offseason surgeries, most thought Troutman would be the next man up after starting nine games last year, although at left guard.

And maybe Troutman was the logical choice before Watt was impressive in the rookie minicamp and OTAs as his stock continued to rise.

When Troutman, a second-year pro, struggled with the physical demands of some early camp practices, which only gave Watt more chances to prove his worth. He took advantage of that opportunity and now it is Watt, and not Troutman, getting most of the reps with the first unit.

It’s possible neither Watt nor Troutman will be the starter when Clary returns. But he’s yet to get in pads and even if he does return, how effective he’ll be won’t be known until he’s put in live action.

For now, one of the more lively position battles is going on at right guard. For now, Watt has the edge.

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