NFL

It's the offseason, but you still love the gridiron.

Second Helping

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"I'm gonna enjoy this two-back system thing."

By Merrill Hoge

After this year's draft, it's clear that most NFL execs think the two-back system is here to stay. Almost every team will feature backs splitting time. That includes the Raiders, who will have Darren McFadden share carries with 1,000-yard rusher Justin Fargas.

But the biggest winners are the Steelers and the Cowboys. Pittsburgh lacked a smashmouth, between-the-tackles runner to spell 5'10'', 209-pound Willie Parker. Last season he had more than 300 carries and 1,316 yards, but on his first carry in Week 16, he broke his right fibula. Drafting Rashard Mendenhall will extend Parker's career because the rookie will replace Parker for close to 20 snaps per game. That's 320 plays a season, saving Parker a lot of wear and tear. Mendenhall also adds a powerful, downhill back to the NFL's third-best rushing offense (135.5 ypg). Plus, Mike Tomlin can work him into the offense slowly until he fully grasps the system.

More important, cycling in two backs exhausts defenses both physically and mentally. Dallas will start with Marion Barber running over defenders, so linebackers and safeties get programmed to plant their feet and brace to be hit in the face. Then offensive coordinator Jason Garrett will insert Felix Jones, who thrived as McFadden's sidekick at Arkansas. Defenses will have to quickly adjust to Jones' 4.4 speed to the perimeter. By the time defenders get used to containing a boar, they'll have to chase down a rabbit.

Parker and Barber won't be happy at first, but once they figure out they'll have fresher legs and won't break down as often, they'll be grateful.

Plan of Attack

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"I might make Haslett a head coach again someday."

The Draft is over. What are some of the main after-effects?
By Jason Langendorf, Scouts Inc.

CHRIS LONG, RAMS
THE PLAYER Technique and energy are Long's calling cards, but somehow he's been pegged as a ho-hum athlete. That's just wrong. In fact, he can play DT, DE or LB in a 3-4 scheme. For a middling pass rush and the league's 20th-ranked run D, Long is a 275-pound shot of Red Bull.

TEAM EFFECT D-coordinator Jim Haslett will deploy Long in a number of roles to confuse blocking schemes. He'll free up DE Leonard Little from constant double-teams and allow Haslett to use three DEs (including James Hall) in nickel packages.

JAKE LONG, DOLPHINS
THE PLAYER The 6'7'', 315-pound Long occasionally buckled vs. speedy DEs (see Jets LB Vernon Gholston) in college. But he's a punishing run-blocker, and his freakishly long arms (35.6 inches) and strength (37 bench reps of 225 pounds at the combine, T1) will help him upgrade a suspect line.

TEAM EFFECT Long's arrival allows coach Tony Sparano to flip Vernon Carey to RT, where he is most effective. More important, Sparano avoids having to move newly signed LG Justin Smiley, another plodder, to tackle. Now RB Ronnie Brown can gain steam before initial contact with defenders.

DEVIN THOMAS, REDSKINS
THE PLAYER Thomas, who's 6'2'', 215 pounds and runs a 4.4 in the 40, is the ideal target in new coach Jim Zorn's West Coast O. Last season Thomas caught a Michigan State-record 79 passes, besting Charles Rogers' mark.

TEAM EFFECT The 2008 offense will look nothing like the '07 version. More four- and five-receiver sets replace the two-TE lineups that Joe Gibbs favored. With Thomas split wide, pint-size receivers Santana Moss (5'10'') and Antwaan Randle El (5'10'') can work out of the slot (read: cleaner releases, better matchups), giving QB Jason Campbell a larger passing window.

DOMINIQUE RODGERS-CROMARTIE, CARDINALS
THE PLAYER The 6'2'', 182-pound Rodgers-Cromartie has speed (4.33 in the 40), fluidity and length on the perimeter. That means D-coordinator Clancy Pendergast won't have to hedge his bets by rolling zone coverage behind pressure schemes as often as he did last year.

TEAM EFFECT Arizona allowed 47 completions of 20-plus yards in 2007, but if Rodgers-Cromartie holds up in man coverage, the Cards' secondary will be virtually airtight. Arizona's 2005 first-round pick, Antrel Rolle, is a liability at corner, but at safety he can cover slower slot receivers.

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