The Real Training Camp Battles To Look For: 2020
It’s the 2nd week of this year’s abbreviated training camp.
The walk-throughs are done. No more easing in. The pads are on.
A lot of the hyperbole from national pundits is starting to die down a bit. Reality is setting in.
There’s real competition happening.
The term "training camp battle" has often been used to describe the fight for placement on the depth chart at any given position. But it’s usually pitting players of the same position against each other. I've never been a fan of that usage of the term.
Instead, here I'm going to look at some intriguing matchups between players on the opposite sides of the ball. These potential matchups during camp will go a long way in determining just what to expect in about 3 weeks when the score is actually kept.
Mike Evans
vs
Carlton Davis
Right off the top, this matchup is one of the most exciting in all of training camp.
Going into his 7th season, Mike Evans has established himself as one of the League’s top receivers. He's shown growth in every weakness he had coming out of Texas A&M.
Evans has put up over 1,000 yards receiving in each of his 6 seasons in the League. And he’s done so with some of the most unstable QBs in the NFL. This year, that won’t be the case. And honestly, it’s kinda scary.
At 6'5", 230lbs, he's usually a physical mismatch for CBs. He routinely boxes out smaller opposition to make contested passes in and out of traffic. He's made a reputation for himself by being able to high point balls that go over the heads of defenders.
And over the next few weeks, he's likely to find himself across from one of the most physical defenders he'll face during any offseason program or regular season game.
Carlton Davis, the 2nd Round draft pick out of Auburn and 3rd year starter, stands 6'1" and weighs in around 206lbs. He’s slightly bigger than Marshon Lattimore, the CB that was credited for keeping Evans in check in two matchups last season. Both Lattimore and Davis have been noted for tough press man coverage and being a nuisance to receivers on the outside.
Carlton Davis says he’s ready to take on a leadership role in the young secondary and that means taking a step up in production.
With 14 pass break-ups and 58 targets allowed on 103 targets(56%), Davis is well on his way to being a solid NFL starter.
He’s already the CB1 on the Team and looking to make his way into being a top CB in the League. Coach Arians feels he’s a Top 10 CB already.
Justin Watson/ Scotty Miller
vs
Sean Murphy-Bunting
Both Watson and Miller have a chance to step up this year. If either or both make the Team, they’ll likely be in the slot more often than not. And with Evans and Godwin on the outside and Gronkowski/Howard/Brate at TE, there could be big opportunities for the two receivers to go under the radar and still make big contributions primarily in 1-on-1 matchups.
Justin Watson has been praised by Bruce Arians for his physical improvements during the offseason. He’s shed some weight and allegedly clocked in at a running speed of 21mph in practice.
Scotty Miller was immediately pegged as the "Julian Edelman/Wes Welker/Name-Another-Short-White-WR-That-Played-In New-England” just as soon as Tom Brady was signed. That’s a thing.
Regardless of the talk and the buzz, they’ll need to prove themselves against starter level talent in the secondary.
On the opposite side of the ball is one of the more impressive defensive backs on the roster as of last season. In his rookie season, Murphy-Bunting came away with 3 INTs and 6 passes defensed last year. There’s still plenty of work to be done and SMB knows it. Of the 74 passes targeted his way, he allowed 45 catches. He’s looking to improve and show that he’s no one yer wonder. He’s also in competition to play the slot and on the outside so both Watson and Miller get to see where they stand in both areas.
Tristan Wirfs
vs
William Gholston/Anthony Nelson
The Right Tackle spot will have a new face for the first time in a long while. Tristan Wirfs is expected to solidify that spot immediately. Being a 1st Round selection, he’s expected to be NFL-ready even though there’s an uptick in competition. The 6’5, 320 uber athlete should be able to handle the physical side of competition relatively easily. But he should have his first real challenges sooner than later.
We should see Wirfs lined up against the likes of 2nd year OLB/DE fellow Iowa alumni Anthony Nelson as well as 7r veteran William Gholston at DE.
Nelson is trying to make a name for himself after a limited rookie season. He’s a pretty solid pass rusher in the mold of Carl Nassib, who left the Team for Oakland in free agency. Nelson offers a level of speed that Wirfs is gonna see routinely throughout his NFL career. The matchups we see against these two should definitely be a barometer for where the Team is as far as future potential.
Against Gholston, Wirfs should will be tested by one the best edge setting DEs in the NFC South. Gholston’s contribution to the BUCS #1 run stopping unit has been criminally undervalued and mostly completely ignored as the interior presence of Vita Vea and Ndamakung Suh is often cited. But William Gholston is a HUGE part of that success. And he’s gonna be a good challenge for Wirfs.
While Gholston isn’t widely known for his pass rushing abilities, he’s capable of penetrating the OL. He rarely wins with speed as he’s mostly just a workhorse that maneuvers his way past OTs with force and bit of technique. And he’s had to work on that technique since Day 1 in Tampa. Entering the League, he told then teammate, Gerald McCoy, that he never had to rush the passer. Well, Gholston’s worked and worked and worked and it earned him a second contract in Tampa. His veteran savviness against the the rookie Right Tackle should be something to look out for.
That damN Florida Heat/Humidity
vs
Errrrbody
No contest.
I almost passed out just thinking about it.
Seriously though…Like always, the acclimation to the weather in Florida will be a challenge to many of the newcomers as well as the older vets.
Alex Cappa
vs
Ndamakung Suh
This is Cappa’s 3rd year of the League. And the window to prove himself is closing sooner than later.
This isn’t exclusive to Cappa whatsoever.
It’s the life of any player in the League. But with his rookie season being set in a confusing rotation at RG alongside Caleb Bennonoch, it was seen as a redshirt season. He only got 104 snaps(3.2% of the total offensive snaps) in his first year and he was judged by many as though he was a full-time player. A bit unjust for my liking.
However, last season Cappa emerged as a starter before fracturing his arm in the Week 5 matchup against that team in New Orleans. And the Team saw in subsequent weeks what life without Cappa looked like. It was reminiscent of J.R. Sweezy and his efforts while recovering from a broken back and the aforementioned human turnstile known as Caleb Bennenoch.
No bueno.
This year, Cappa needs to show both his toughness and his experience in training camp to prove he’s worthy of his roster spot.
To do that, he’ll be pitted against 11yr DT Ndamukong Suh.
At 33yrs old, Suh is still a formidable challenge for most offensive linemen. But he’s no longer the monster he once was. And that’s understandable. Yet, the HC and GM brought him back on another 1yr deal to hopefully repeat the overall effort of the defensive line from last season. I’ve questioned/criticized the decision as Bruce Arians moved on from former DT Gerald McCoy after openly questioning his effort/willingness to play, his age, and whether his production justified his contract all before ever seeing him practice.
Despite the overall success of the defensive line, I still found points where I questioned Suh’s importance to its success.
Is his age not a factor as well?
Did I not see him getting washed out on plays? Was that an effort issue??
Is his $8M/1yr contract still justifiable.
Can he be anywhere near dominant 1-on-1 against a starter-level offensive lineman??
We’re about to find out.
