WitP: RGM, Bess, Colt, Veikune, Hunter, Ingram

Ryan Grice-Mullen gets some praise for his kickoff and punt returns in yesterday's game.

From Mike Beamish of the Vancouver Sun:

Ryan Grice-Mullen, he of the slippery fingers and slipping confidence, was a threat waiting to explode upfield on every punt and kickoff return.

From Cam Cole of the Vancouver Sun:

Special teams that had perfected the knack of wiping out the best efforts of kick returner Ryan Grice-Mullen finally keeping their hands off the opposition, and -- presto -- the little dreadlocked burner was the best player in the game.

From BCLions.com:

The Lions started most of their drives with great field position after blistering punt returns by Ryan Grice-Mullen.

You can watch of a replay of the game on TSN.ca. Skip to RGM's returns using this gamelog as a guide.

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The Miami Herald has a great quote and a funny note about Davone Bess:

Receiver Davone Bess is much stronger and more muscular, which he said will help him get off press coverage. ``Quickest receiver I've ever faced,'' cornerback Eric Green said.

Bess has an amusing habit of ``wiggling'' his body and pretending he's ``eluding defenders'' in public places such as supermarkets. Recently, he did that with a stranger in a movie theater. ``People look at me funny,'' he said. ``My wife said, `You can't do that. People will think something is wrong with you.' ''

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Colt Brennan did some good things in today's Redskins scrimmage. Here are some notes from Redskins.com:

On two series, Brennan completed 4-of-6 passes..

It’s Colt Brennan’s turn under center. Ball placed at 35-yard line.

Brennan throws a slant pass to Marko Mitchell, who catches the ball and cuts across the field. DeAngelo Hall shoves him down to the ground.

Third down again, Brennan drops back to pass and he is quickly pressured by Brian Orakpo. He throws across the middle of the field, but no one is open. The series comes to an end.
The ball is brought back to the 35-yard line and a new series for Colt Brennan begins.

Brennan fires a short pass to Marko Mitchell, Kareem Moore is there to trip him up.
Brennan throws another quick pass, this time to Trent Shelton, but the ball slips away from Shelton’s grasp.
Third down, Brennan throws a sideline pass to Mitchell for a first down. Kevin Barnes comes up and levels a hard tackle on him.

Brennan drops back, but Lorenzo Alexander speeds around the end and bats the ball from his hand. Fumble. Play called dead.
Brennan throws a quick pass downfield to Robbie Agnone, but he is stopped short of the first down. Series comes to an end.

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Here's a good review of David Veikune from the "Cleveland Browns Dawg Scooper" blog.

When the Browns drafted Veikune in the second round of the NFL Draft, many experts were confused as to why Mangini decided to draft him so high. So far in camp he has shown why Mangini had to have him in the second round.

Initially thought to play as an outside linebacker, Veikune has been spending most of his time as a inside linebacker with the second-team defensive unit. He was advertised as having a strong motor and loves to make contact.

In practice, not only has Veikune been near or part of almost every play that comes his way, but he has also shown the ability to get pressure on the quarterback, and he has recorded a few sacks along the way.

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Looks like former UH offensive lineman Wayne Hunter will be playing more tight end for the Jets this season. He sometimes lined up as a blocking tight end last season.

The Jets are experimenting with OT Wayne Hunter as an extra tight end, and he made a great catch early in the after practice, on a 20-yard out that he had to extend to grab. The Hawaii native is a very good athlete for a 6-5, 310 pounder, and will be used as an #2 tight end at times this season.

Here's a quote about Hunter from Jets coach Rex Ryan, via HolyJoeNamath.com:

We were working the big guy, Wayne Hunter, at tight end some today. That was fun to watch him run down the field a few times. I think we’re going to put him in there and run some crack sweep with him coming in motion (laughing). We’ll probably save that for an opponent. But, it does open up some possibilities and just the flexibility. Sometimes in games you can’t get everybody up that you want and you’ll have an injury or what have you and somebody’s got to step in and play. And he’s doing a good job. He’s smart. He’s an excellent tackle, maybe a starting-type caliber tackle. He just happens to be our number one backup there.

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Andy Vogt of Gatehouse News Service profiles the two long snappers vying for a spot on the New England Patriots, Nathan Hodel and Jake Ingram. Here's a few excerpts:

Only one will make the team, and with 112 consecutive games under his belt, Hodel certainly had the upper hand before even one football was snapped in camp. Patriots coach Bill Belichick said last week that “the competition between Jake and Nate is good,” and the pressure doesn’t seem to be getting to either. Hodel jokingly harassed Ingram during an interview after practice, while Ingram said that Hodel has been right there to offer a helping hand, even with job security on the line.

“He helps me out a lot, as far as game situations, how to mentally get myself ready,” Ingram said. “I’m a rookie, and have got a lot to learn, so it’s kind of nice to teach me some of those things even though we’re competing.”
“You want to have your pride and dignity when you leave the game,” Hodel said. “And I don’t want to get a job just because you’re being rude to someone else or trying to pull the wool over their eyes.”

Only one of them will survive training camp, although that doesn’t mean they won’t be rooting for each other.

“Hopefully we go out and do well,” Hodel said. “And one of us will get the job here, and the other will get a job somewhere else.”