Pre-Season GM 1 bubble/backup player positives

After watching the game a couple more times (DVR baby) I wanted to mention some positive player shots. Since I am so pleased with watching football last night, I will stay away from the negative player moments for now.

Darryl Tapp: I am of the belief that he has talent, but is one of our "high motor" guys (ha). Last year was a dissapointment for him, IMO, but last night he seemed like a brand new defensive player. I have to attribute this, which has a lot to do with the whole deffensive line, to Jim Washburn. Last year he tried to be the speed guy, cutting off the edge and using just his speed. Last night I saw him use various moves and low leverage to hold his position to get after the qb and rb. I was very impressed with his performance last night. I just think he is buying into it.

Dion Lewis: I am not saying his is the second coming of Bwest of McCoy, but he had a very decent night. Someone posted that he didn't break any tackles, I have no idea what you were watching. No, he's not gonna be a guy who bulls you over, but when he eludes a defender, thats a broken tackle. He was very good on stretch plays and off tackle rushes. I liked what I saw from him last night. I did not like his spin move on 3rd and 1 when he had an easy first down. Rookie mistake.

Ronnie Brown: what pissed me off last night was the fact that he got zero blocking. The O-Line would give him a hole, but could not sustain their blocks to break out the big running gain. One good thing about that was his ability to juke and move that big frame of his. And he ended each and every run by putting his head down and gaining 1-2 more yards. He will be big this year. No more Vick on 3rd and 1 and rushing from shotgun.

Chad Hall: I am not a big Chad Hall advocate, I do like his playing style and always want to see a little guy make it big, so I am positive about the guy, and I am not saying he should start or be the 3rd receiver, but you can't deny he had a great game last night. One thing to say about him he has hands, moderate speed and smarts that enable him to find the whole in zones. It didn't matter what QB was out there, he had chemistry with all of them. Now he may only make the practice squad because we have such depth now at the WR position, but he has talent. One place where he cannot be used is in the red zone. One play in question, I forgot who was the QB, VY maybe, threw a seam route into the back of the endzone, overthrew him. The only reason it was not a TD, he's 5' 8." Thats a tough sell.

Mike Kafka: Forget the pick on an awful throw that had way to much air under it, I was impressed with him. He has a quick release with fundamentally sound overhand action. He threw one duck all night and was pinpoint with his accuracy. His medium distance throws were also excellent. And my favorite part, he never panicked. He moved well in the pocket, stepped up in the pocket and threw strikes even when he knew he was gonna get blasted. When getting out of the pocket, he kept the play going, and didn't just take off down the field, his eyes were upfield. Finally he showed command of the offense. Hard counts, audibles at the line, making sure players were in the right formation, he seemed like a veteran. Now he's no Vick or do I want him taking the reins of the offense, but I have to be honest, Young looked dazed and I am not sold on him for the long haul if Vick, knock on wood, goes down.

These are just my quick hits of last night. I am not saying that any of these players are great and should be taking snaps from starters, but I just liked what I saw.