Q: Can Shaun Alexander still be an elite running back?
— Drew, Redmond, Wash.

A: I doubt it. If he could, he still would be a Seahawk. And the entire NFL shares the Seahawks' opinion that Alexander has seen better days.

No team attempted to trade for Alexander, and no team beat down his door when he became a free agent. Alexander probably can run like an elite running back in spots, but not for 16 games. At 30, he is at the age when most running backs aren't what they used to be. It's true some of his problems last season were because of injury.

But he also appears to have changed his running style a bit. He probably has lost some of his burst. And durability also may be a problem moving forward.

Q: Since Eli [Manning]'s game has improved, evidenced by his performance in Super Bowl, in this season can we expect him to make pre-snap adjustments to the same extent his elder brother is famous for doing?
— Kris, Indiana

A: No quarterback in the NFL makes as many pre-snap adjustments as Peyton Manning. Part of the reason for that is no team runs the exact kind of offense Tom Moore does in Indianapolis. The Giants don't, so I would not expect Eli to start to look like Peyton before the snap this year.

However, I would expect for the Giants coaching staff to expand their trust in Eli and to continue to allow him to take more ownership of the team's offense.

Q: How do think the New Orleans Saints will fare this year with their off season moves and the draft?
— Tim McNeil, Tulsa, Okla.

A: I didn't think they did anything remarkable in free agency.

The trade for Jonathan Vilma could be huge if Vilma is healthy. In the right scheme, Vilma can be one of the NFC's better linebackers. I loved the draft day maneuvering to get Sedrick Ellis, who I think may have been as good a player as anyone in the draft. He will definitely upgrade the defense.

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But another key for the Saints will be reestablishing the run game and restoring balance to the offense. For that, they will probably need a healthy Deuce McAllister. If everything goes right for the Saints, they are a playoff contender.

Q: I've noticed that most defenses now feature rotating defensive linemen. How did this come about? Are defenses now able to put more pressure as compared to the defenses in the 90's and prior decades? Why don't offensive linemen do a rotation as well or is it easier for them?
— Lewis, Torrance, Calif.

A: Rotating defensive linemen have been around awhile, but the concept really gained steam when Jimmy Johnson and Dave Wannstedt started doing it with their Dallas D-line in the early 90s.

Their idea was to keep the undersized pass rushers fresh to give them an edge over their blocking counterparts. It takes more energy to rush the passer than it does to block, especially when there is a significant size disparity. 

It is rare for teams to rotate offensive linemen, though some teams do tinker with it occasionally. The biggest argument against rotating offensive linemen is blockers benefit from continuity and are able to communicate better when the same players are side by side snap after snap.