VandySports.com - Commodores in the pros update

August 26, 2012

Jesse W. Johnson
VandySports.com Publisher

The college football season may be just days away, but the current group of Vanderbilt Commodores aren't the only 'Dores looking forward to a new football season.

Ten former Vanderbilt standouts are currently with NFL teams, and some are seeking redemption for a disappointing campaign in 2011, while others are looking to climb the depth chart. A few others are looking for roster spots in 2012.

VandySports.com updates the progress of each former Commodore as the NFL preseason winds down.

Brandon Barden
Team: Tennessee Titans
Experience: Rookie

Update: Barden's spot on the Titans roster seems precarious at this time. One of the most productive tight ends in Vanderbilt history, Barden made a good first impression with the Titans during rookie camp and conditioning workouts, but he suffered a hamstring injury first week into training camp. The Georgia native recently returned to full participation over a week ago, but the time away has seemed to open the door for other young tight ends on the Titans roster. Barden has yet to play in a preseason game, but he may get his shot this Thursday when the Titans host the New Orleans Saints. A good performance this week could improve his standing, but making the 53-man roster seems like a long shot as things stand now. Should Barden get cut, he could be a candidate for the Titans practice squad.

Earl Bennett
Team: Chicago Bears
Experience: 4 years.

Update: The SEC's all-time leader in receptions has become one of the Bears most reliable pass-catchers. He enters his fifth season with the Bears as the team's No. 3 target behind speedster Devin Hester and newly acquired No. 1 Brandon Marshall. Bennett has caught 124 passes for 1,659 yards during his young career and has spent this preseason as another one of Jay Cutler's primary targets. Playing mostly just the first few series of games, Bennett has caught two passes for 31 yards. He will likely spend most of his time this season as the Bears top slot receiver. The Bears will face Cleveland on Thursday for its preseason finale.

Jay Cutler
Team: Chicago Bears
Experience: 6 years

Update: Cutler is entering his fourth year in Chicago and the former All-SEC quarterback is looking to lead the Bears back to the playoffs. The last two years have been somewhat of a roller coaster for Cutler as the Indiana native led the Bears to the NFC title game in 2010, only to suffer a injury in the game and be criticized nationally for not returning. In 2011, the Bears were off to a 7-3 start and appeared to be a contender for the NFC championship once again but Cutler suffered a broken thumb and was forced the miss the rest of the season. This preseason, Cutler has worked with new offensive coordinator Mike Tice and quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates to bring Chicago back to a more balanced offense. Cutler has completed 16-of-34 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown in two preseason games, and scrambled for 13 yards on four carries. Chicago will play its final preseason game on Thursday at Cleveland.

Tim Fugger
Team: Indianapolis Colts
Experience: Rookie

Update: Fugger is another former Commodore that has struggled this preseason with injuries. The 2011 All-SEC selection has missed most of training camp due to a hernia injury that required surgery. He was recently activated from the team's physically unable to perform (PUP) list a few weeks ago, but has been slow to practice. Some reports out of Indianapolis suggest the converted linebacker may be cut as the roster dwindles down to 75 and then to 53. It's undetermined at this time if he will play in the Colts preseason finale against the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday, but if he does play, it could help improve his standing. The injury setback may cost him a roster spot but if he can show something on special teams and as a situational pass rusher, Fugger may land an opportunity with the Colts practice squad and make a run towards a full roster spot in 2013.

Casey Hayward
Team: Green Bay Packers
Experience: Rookie

Update: Hayward has been one of the Packers most talked about rookies this preseason as the former All-American cornerback has shown sound instincts and ball skill to quickly pick up the Packers defensive scheme. The second round draft pick has made a couple of starts for Green Bay during the preseason and may be in line to grab a starting role as the regular season opens. Hayward has accounted for nine tackles and a fumble recovery during the Packers first three games and shown the ability to play tight coverage while playing right corner, opposite of left corner Tramon Williams. Some believe Hayward has outplayed projected starter Jarrett Bush at this point. Green Bay will finish the preseason on Thursday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Reshard Langford
Team: Detroit Lions
Experience: 3 years

Update: After spending three years with the Kansas City Chiefs, including 11 games and two starts in 2011, Langford was signed by the Detroit Lions on August 11th as a free agent. Despite spending no time in a NFL training camp prior to the signing, Langford has made a impact on the Lions special teams in the last two weeks and may be positioning himself for a job in 2012. The Alabama native has registered three solo tackles in his first two preseason games with Detroit, including a bonecrushing tackle on Oakland's Bryan McCann on Saturday. With the Lions thin in the secondary and needing help on special teams, it would appear as though Langford has made a strong early case to not only survive the initial cut down, but land a spot on the final 53. The Lions will end the preseason on Thursday when the Buffalo Bills visit Detroit.

Myron Lewis
Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Experience: 2 years

Update: Lewis enters his third season at Tampa with the possibility of considerably more playing time than the first two. The former All-SEC cornerback was one of the top performers during the early portion of training camp, and that has led him to start all three of the Buccaneers preseason games, giving him a better opportunity to prove himself in live action. The Florida native has registered a pair of tackles and two pass breakups, and had an uncredited quarterback hurry on Tom Brady during the Buccs 30-28 win over New England on Friday. Lewis has been singled out for his improved play in coverage, though he still seems to draw the ire from fans who seem to want more interceptions from it's secondary. Nonetheless, Lewis appears to be in the rotation at defensive back once again. Tampa will end the preseason on Wednesday when it travels to Washington D.C. to play the Redskins.

D.J. Moore
Team: Chicago Bears
Experience: 3 years

Update: Moore has seemed to carve a niche in Chicago as the team's primary nickel back and this season should be no different. Entering his fourth year with the Bears, the former All-American defensive back has registered eight tackles and a pass breakup that led to an interception this preseason. Always a play-maker, Moore has become more of a steady tackler and will be employed on special blitzes from time-to-time within the Bears defense. The South Carolina native has registered 86 tackles, eight interceptions, 16 pass breakups and two defensive touchdowns during his NFL career. Chicago will close out the preseason in Cleveland this Thursday.

Sean Richardson
Team: Green Bay Packers
Experience: Rookie

Update: Richardson signed with Green Bay as an undrafted free agent shortly after the draft in April and has seemed to make the most of his time with the Packers. The Alabama native has become a regular on Green Bay's kickoff coverage unit and other special teams. He's also made plays while playing as a reserve safety during the second half of games. In fact, Richardson has been one of the leading tacklers for the Pack this preseason, accounting for 10 total stops. He's also done well in team practices, making several plays against the Packers first team. Spots appear to be low for Green Bay, and Richardson seems to be one of the bubble guys for a roster spot when the team needs to cut down to 53. His play on special teams could be the determining factor. Even if he doesn't pass through cuts, he may be a player that Green Bay invites back as a practice squad player. The Packers will play its final preseason game on Thursday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Thomas Welch
Team: Free agent
Experience: 2 years

Update: Welch spent the majority of this preseason with the Philadelphia Eagles after being claimed off waivers from St. Louis in May of this year. The big middle Tennessee native appeared in a pair of Eagles preseason games as a reserve offensive tackle but was released by the team on Friday. Now a free agent, he appears to be on the radar of a few teams including the aforementioned Rams and the team that drafted him in 2010, the New England Patriots. He has played in 8 career games in the NFL and has also spent time as a practice squad player for the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills. He may not be a free agent for too long.

Chris Williams
Team: Chicago Bears
Experience: 4 years

Update: Williams is entering his fifth and perhaps most important year with Chicago. The former All-SEC standout has started over 40 games with the Bears after being the franchise first round draft pick in 2008. He's played both right and left tackle as well as left guard while battling both injury and some inconsistent play. This preseason, Williams has played both left guard and left tackle during portions of the Bears games, with perhaps his best performance coming a week ago at Washington. The athletic Louisiana native received a good blocking grade as the Bears converted a pair of series into scoring opportunities. His strength is in the run game, but pass blocking on the edge continues to be his shortcoming against high-level pass rushers as his struggles popped up once again earlier this week while playing left tackle against the New York Giants and former All-Pro Osi Umenyiora. He appears to be a "tweener" in terms of a possible starting assignment, and this could be his last year in Chicago if he doesn't produce more positive results against the pass rush. The Bears will close out the preseason on Thursday with a trip to Cleveland.

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