NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 7 New Articles Added 11/6/06

Hache Man · Sep 23, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Updated: Sep. 23, 2006, 7:13 PM ET
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Falcons admit kicking mistake

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Archive

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It is the weakness of a lot of NFL teams: They rarely acknowledge a mistake.
That's why the Atlanta Falcons deserve credit this week, sort of, for folding their cards and conceding that the experiment to allow second-year veteran Michael Koenen to handle all three kicking chores this season was an abysmal failure.
Actually, the Atlanta brass never really said that it botched the place-kicking component of the game with the inexperienced Koenen, but actions speak louder than words. And when the Falcons reacted to Koenen's four missed field goals in last Sunday's victory over Tampa Bay by signing ageless wonder Morten Andersen on Tuesday evening, it was the equivalent of a concession speech.
And the end of a really, really big blunder.
How could it be viewed any other way? The Falcons' brass opted not to re-sign veteran kicker and unrestricted free agent Todd Peterson this spring, even though he converted 23 of 25 field goal tries in 2005. They said they wanted to get younger at the position, to develop a kicker for the long-term. Last time we checked, Andersen, 46, is 10 years older than Peterson, and will become on Monday night the second-oldest player to appear in an NFL game.
So come 2007, assuming Andersen isn't around, the Falcons will be back to Square One in terms of finding a young kicker for the future.
Maybe, as the team suggested this week, that kicker still will be Koenen. Part of the reason for pulling the plug on the Koenen experiment, coach Jim Mora said, was because the team didn't want to destroy the confidence of the youngster. But once a kicker develops the NFL equivalent of golf's "yips," reversing the course of what is going on inside his head becomes a difficult task.
Atlanta hired kicking guru Steve Hoffman this year, the guy who had unearthed seven low-rent field goal specialists for the Dallas Cowboys over the past 14 years, because he had a track record for finding guys on the street who could kick the ball through the posts and do it for the minimum wage. Hoffman's magic ran out, though, with Koenen. Let's be honest, how much is Hoffman going to help Andersen, a guy who all but invented the clutch field goal?
In their hearts, even some Atlanta officials must have felt the Koenen experiment might fail, since there had been continuing dialogue between Andersen and Mora much of the offseason. Make no mistake, Andersen, who first worked out for Falcons coaches in June, was the fallback guy all along. He lives just 15 minutes from the team complex, has a long relationship with Mora, and wanted back in the league so that he could pursue the all-time scoring record.
Getting Andersen, assuming he can still kick -- and he knocked a 55-yarder high off the right upright in his Tuesday audition for Falcons coaches and general manager Rich McKay, his lone miss in eight attempts -- is a tremendous move on and off the field. He is a class act, a funny guy in the locker room, and the man who authored the biggest kick in franchise history, the overtime field goal in the 1998 NFC championship game that propelled the Falcons into Super Bowl XXXIII.
That field goal, by the way, earned Andersen a $300,000 bonus check, since then-agent Greg Campbell cleverly had written such a Super Bowl incentive into his client's contract.
Andersen hopes again to put some playoff money into the pockets of a Falcons team that certainly seems, two games into the season, like it can make a Super Bowl run. The question is why the Falcons so badly misjudged Koenen's mental mettle. The answer: Kicking coaches like Hoffman or Atlanta special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis can work on mechanics and technique, but there is no coaching up a guy when the stuff between his ears turns to mush.
The only other lingering point in the botched field goal experiment was why Falcons management was so disingenuous with Peterson, a good guy who served the team well in 2005. As late as Tuesday morning, at about the time Andersen was arriving for his eight-kick audition, an Atlanta personnel staffer was telling Peterson's agent that his client was still on the team's radar screen.
Truth be told, there was never a chance that the Falcons were going to turn to Peterson to solve their self-made problem, because the politics just weren't right. It's one thing to correct a mistake. It's another to have to turn to the guy you snubbed to help you correct it. There is someone, or a group of someones in the Atlanta organization, that seems to hold Peterson personally responsible for the field goal attempt he had blocked in the penultimate game of the '05 season.
The blocked kick contributed to the Falcons extending their dubious streak of never having posted consecutive winning seasons.
The coaching staff has gone out of its way to whisper to anyone who will listen that Peterson's average field goal conversion in 2005 was just 31 yards. The counter to that: You can only make the kicks, folks, they allow you to take. Koenen's average miss through two games this year was 32.2 yards. Those are the kinds of kicks the Falcons hope Andersen will be able to convert for them. If he can, the failed Koenen experiment won't look nearly so bad come playoff time.

Around the league

<TABLE class=tableheadFixWidth cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=200 align=right><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD class=whitelink colSpan=2>Chris Simms</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>

Quarterback
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Profile</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD align=middle><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=1 width=190 bgColor=#ffffff border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead align=middle><TD align=middle colSpan=6>2006 SEASON STATISTICS</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND: #bcbcb4" align=right><TD width="17%">Att</TD><TD width="17%">Comp</TD><TD width="17%">Yds</TD><TD width="17%">TD</TD><TD width="17%">Int</TD><TD width="17%">Rat</TD></TR><TR align=right bgColor=#999999><TD>82</TD><TD>45</TD><TD>424</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>40.0</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>? Good friend and ESPN colleague Chris Mortensen did a thorough and insightful job this week in dissecting the struggles of Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms in a column on ESPN.com. Mortensen spoke to a lot of NFL observers close to the Simms situation, and with insight into coach Jon Gruden, and came up with a lot of terrific points in detailing the mental and physical slump that Simms is battling through right now.
But here's one mechanical item to add to the inventory, gleaned from a pretty highly-placed person who has watched Simms in practices and games, that might help explain why the Bucs' quarterback, despite being 6-feet-4, has had so many passes swatted down at the line of scrimmage: Apparently, Simms' grip is a bit unusual, and he essentially "cups" the ball in his hand. That contributes to the ball coming off his hand lower than it should and, thus, creates the opportunity for lineman to bat away passes. It's not so much a matter of release point, said the observer, as it is grip. Of course, the points made by Mortensen, particularly about the Bucs' inside blocking scheme on three-step drops, are excellent ones, and all play a part in Simms' slump. The other insight made by the observer, on a more general basis, was that Simms simply doesn't look comfortable or confident in the pocket, playing behind a line that has not performed particularly well in two outings.

? That was a pretty unusual step taken by Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher this week in firing back at Billy Volek, the day after the Titans had traded the veteran quarterback to San Diego. Upset at Volek's parting comments about having been "thrown under the bus" by Tennessee management and coaches, Fisher, who is typically not given to such public anger, suggested it was the quarterback who had betrayed the Titans. Fisher alluded, rather obtusely, to Volek having lied to him, but then declined to elaborate.
Apparently, the transgression to which Fisher was referring occurred on the day that Tennessee, certainly the first team in a long time to have traded both its top two quarterbacks from the previous season, dealt former starter Steve McNair to the Baltimore Ravens this spring. The Titans phoned Volek and requested that he come to the complex. Volek responded that he was out of town and couldn't appear at the complex and Tennessee officials, so the story goes, subsequently discovered the quarterback was actually in Nashville at the time. Seems like pretty harmless stuff -- geez, NFL coaches have never lied to players, right? -- except that Fisher magnified it once Volek took his parting shot.
The other thing that apparently irked Fisher was what he perceived as a lack of gumption on Volek's part, a reluctance to compete for the starting job, once the Titans finally decided to sign free agent Kerry Collins less than two weeks before the start of the season. But Volek wasn't the only Tennessee player (although he was, obviously, the most affected) who questioned the wisdom of bringing in a challenger for the starting job so close to the start of the year. The move raised some eyebrows even among Titans' defensive players. The bottom line on the Volek situation, frankly, is that Titans coaches essentially had decided in the spring that he wasn't their guy. When that occurred, Tennessee management should have made a move to bolster the quarterback position, rather than allow the ill will to fester.

? As unsettled as Tennessee is right now, with the Titans seemingly poised to suffer through a third straight season out of the playoffs, it hasn't kept one prominent current college coach from a perennial top 20 program, who certainly doesn't want to be outted at this point, from monitoring the situation. Fisher is working on an option year in his contract and Titans owner Bud Adams holds another option for the 2007 season. But one has to wonder, if the Titans continue to spiral, if ownership will want Fisher back, even though he is regarded as one of the best coaches in the league. And truth be told, while he has publicly proclaimed that he embraces the challenge of rebuilding the talent base, the last couple seasons and the deconstruction of a once-annual playoff contender, in part because of salary cap excesses, has worn on Fisher, too.
There's also this: General manager Floyd Reese, who has been forced to confront the cap problems every spring, is in the final year of his contract. The college coach in question sees, perhaps, the potential for taking over a franchise where he could have full control of the football operation.

<TABLE class=tableheadFixWidth cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=200 align=right><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD class=whitelink colSpan=2>Kellen Winslow</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>

Tight End
Cleveland Browns

Profile</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD align=middle><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=1 width=190 bgColor=#ffffff border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead align=middle><TD align=middle colSpan=6>2006 SEASON STATISTICS</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND: #bcbcb4" align=right><TD width="17%">Rec</TD><TD width="17%">Yds</TD><TD width="17%">TD</TD><TD width="17%">Avg</TD><TD width="17%">Long</TD><TD width="17%">YAC</TD></TR><TR align=right bgColor=#999999><TD>12</TD><TD>105</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>8.8</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>56</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>? Romeo Crennel is a good man who could be facing a bad situation, and a test of loyalty, in his second season as Cleveland Browns' head coach. When tight end Kellen Winslow suggested this week that there were some coaches on the Cleveland staff who were holding the offense back, there is little doubt that one of his targets was coordinator Maurice Carthon, who has been under fire since last season. Players feel that Carthon's play-calling is predictable and that he doesn't make optimal use of the weapons at his disposal. Of course, the messenger in this case, Winslow, had so little political capital that the criticism became hollow. Of course, Crennel reminded Winslow, both privately and publicly, about who's in charge, and Winslow suddenly went mute.
But even if no one else speaks out, players are going to continue to question Carthon until the Cleveland offense begins producing. And with a young quarterback in Charlie Frye who's got just seven starts on his r?sum? , a line that didn't get much work together in camp, and a receiving corps marked by a bunch of guys coming off injuries, it's tough to say when improvement will come. The Cleveland offense statistically rated No. 26 in the league in 2005. Through two games this season, it is 29th. Crennel is loyal to Carthon, but he's savvy enough to understand that a lot of players are looking cross-eyed right now at his offensive coordinator and long-time friend. Unless the Browns' offense makes some strides this year, Crennel could have a tough decision about Carthon's future at the end of the season.

? It hasn't yet developed into a case of all-out buyer's remorse but, when it comes to defensive tackle Corey Simon, some doubts are beginning to creep in about the Indianapolis Colts' decision in the summer of 2005 to sign him to a five-year, $30 million contract shortly after the Philadelphia Eagles cut him free.
The thinking at the time was that Simon, who had missed all of training camp, would provide the undersized Colts the kind of wide-bodied run-stuffer the club did not have on its roster. Simon reported overweight and out of shape, however, and, while he played well in spurts, collected just 41 tackles, didn't have a single sack, and clearly wasn't the difference-maker many anticipated he might be in the Indianapolis one-gap scheme. This year, after quietly undergoing arthroscopic left knee surgery in August, the six-year veteran hasn't returned to practice yet, much less played in a game, and he will sit out Sunday's key matchup against Jacksonville.
Simon is said to have dealt, at least somewhat, with the weight issues he brought with him to Indianapolis in 2005, but one has to wonder now if his conditioning is suffering again from inactivity. The Colts gave Simon $13 million in guarantees and, by the end of this season, will have invested about $16 million in him. His base salary for 2006 is $2.5 million, but then it escalates to $3.55 million in 2007 and $5 million each in 2008 and 2009. That's nearly $14 million in those years and, if Simon doesn't get back on the field soon and produce, the Colts might want to reconsider whether he is worth that kind of money. ESPN.com was among those that lauded the addition of Simon in 2005. Now we're beginning to wonder about it and, more important, so are a few people in the Colts' organization.

? The early prognosis for David Pollack, the Cincinnati Bengals' second-year strongside linebacker who suffered a fractured C-6 vertebra last Sunday, is relatively good. But the operative term, quite frankly, is early, because no one really knows for certain that Pollack will be able to return in 2007. Or, just as important, how the former University of Georgia star and 2005 first-round draft choice will react the first time he has to throw himself into a ball carrier.
Dr. Anthony Guanciale, the director of orthopedic spine surgery at University Hospital, told the Cincinnati Enquirer that the fracture was "mild to moderate" and that Pollack's neurological status is normal. But he also cautioned the Pollack family that the linebacker might still require surgery sometime in the future. For now, Pollack will wear a "halo" device for about three months for stabilization and healing purposes. He will have frequent evaluations and X-rays as the orthopedists closely monitor his condition. Guanciale acknowledged that, had Pollack required surgery on Sunday, his football career would be over.
Still, the sobering reality is that some players don't return from such a fracture, many of them because they develop a natural reluctance to contact. Pollack is a tough kid, a player who hadn't yet fulfilled the team's expectations, and who was playing behind an undrafted free agent, Rashad Jeanty, who the Bengals had signed from the CFL. The early optimism aside, Pollack is going to have to call on all the toughness he can summon to get back on the field next spring.

? For the first time ever, a person had to be a billionaire to qualify for a spot on the Forbes Magazine annual list of the 400 wealthiest Americans. In fact, one actually had to possess a net worth of $1.1 billion to snag a spot. Of course, the NFL, as usual was pretty well represented, with 11 owners or part-owners ranked among the richest people in the country. Most of them have diverse holdings, and for many the business of football is just an expensive pastime, but, hey, it apparently helps pay the bills.
The owners on the list: Paul Allen, Seattle (No. 5, $16.0 billion); Wayne Huizenga, Miami (No. 153-tie, $2.1 billion); Stan Kroenke, St. Louis (No. 153-tie, $2.1 billion); Malcolm Glazer, Tampa Bay (No. 160, $2.0 billion); Randy Lerner, Cleveland (No. 242-tie, $1.5 billion); Bob McNair, Houston (No. 242-tie, $1.5 billion); Arthur Blank, Atlanta (No. 297-tie, $1.3 billion); Jerry Jones, Dallas (No. 297-tie, $1.3 billion); Bob Kraft, New England (No. 297-tie, $1.3 billion); Steve Bisciotti, Baltimore (No. 354-tie, $1.1 billion); and Alex Spanos, San Diego (No. 354-tie, $1.1 billion).

? A few months before the 2005 draft, most scouts had offensive tackle Khalif Barnes pegged as a first-round prospect, but that was before team orthopedic specialists began poking around the broken right wrist that limited the former University of Washington standout to just five games in his senior season. And before Barnes had a few subpar workouts for scouts. So Barnes dropped into the second round, where the Jacksonville Jaguars stopped his plummet by snatching him with the 52nd overall selection, a move that is now paying off handsomely for the team.
Barnes, who moved into the starting lineup after the first month of his rookie campaign, and ended up starting a dozen contests, now looks like one of the real heists of the 2005 draft. The 24-year-old Barnes is big and has quick feet and long arms, and is one of the emerging left tackles in the league, a guy who might someday earn a Pro Bowl invitation. In the Monday night victory over Pittsburgh, he essentially eliminated Steelers' star Joey Porter, holding the loquacious linebacker to no solo tackles and one assist. Porter never really applied any pressure to quarterback Byron Leftwich. Such performances are becoming the norm, it seems, for Barnes. "You can see his confidence growing in every game," Leftwich said after the emotional victory. "He's good and he's starting to realize just how good, you know?"

? If Barnes is an up-and-comer at left tackle, a right tackle to keep watching is Buffalo Bills' third-year pro Jason Peters, a former Arkansas tight end who made the roster as an undrafted college free agent in 2004, and who has made a terrific transition to tackle. Peters had a mind-boggling combine workout in 2004, still went undrafted, then became a standout on the kicking game for Bills special teams guru Bobby April.
Last season, the Buffalo coaches moved Peters to tackle and he not only started in 10 games, but played well enough for the Bills to reward him with a contract extension through 2010. Peters won't hit seven-figures in base salary until next season, when he will earn $1.5 million, and by then he will be an absolute bargain. Even if the final three years of the deal, with base salaries of $2.2 million (2008), $2.95 million (2009), and $3.4 million (2010), Peters eventually might be regarded as underpaid. The guy is a mauler and, for a right tackle, has really good feet and exceptional speed.

<TABLE class=tableheadFixWidth cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=200 align=right><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD class=whitelink colSpan=2>Tom Brady</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>

Quarterback
New England Patriots

Profile</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD align=middle><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=1 width=190 bgColor=#ffffff border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead align=middle><TD align=middle colSpan=6>2006 SEASON STATISTICS</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND: #bcbcb4" align=right><TD width="17%">Att</TD><TD width="17%">Comp</TD><TD width="17%">Yds</TD><TD width="17%">TD</TD><TD width="17%">Int</TD><TD width="17%">Rat</TD></TR><TR align=right bgColor=#999999><TD>52</TD><TD>26</TD><TD>347</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>77.6</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>? New England quarterback Tom Brady always has been regarded as one of the most "together" guys in the league, but the Patriots' star might be suffering through a stretch in which he just can't let go of things. A usually imperturbable Brady acknowledged after a pretty average performance in the Pats' opener that he might have allowed his emotions regarding the situation with wide receiver Deion Branch get the better of him. This week, Brady seems to be agonizing over the interception that he threw in last year's divisional- round loss at Denver, a pickoff that Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey returned 100 yards in the signature, backbreaking moment of the game.
"That's going to sit with me for a long time," Brady said of the play. "I continue to be reminded of it. It's on the NFL Network, and every time I watch, it's Champ running down the sideline. It was a tough way to end the year. I think we were playing at a much higher level at that point than we were earlier in the season. We were a very confident team. We just laid an egg out there and I was a huge part of that." The good news for Brady is that he gets a chance, on Sunday night, for redemption. The bad news is that Brady is just 1-4 as a starter against the Broncos.

? There is no denying that coach Marvin Lewis has produced an incredible remaking of the Cincinnati franchise in just a little more than three seasons, and that he has the Bengals poised to challenge in 2006 for a Super Bowl berth. But for a guy who has been around the league so long as an assistant, and who knows the ropes, Lewis keeps inserting his foot in his mouth. And keeps getting caught. This week, when the local media asked Lewis how he felt about the locker room reaction of counterpart Bill Cowher following the Steelers' playoff win at Cincinnati last year, he claimed he hadn't seen the mocking "Who Dey" chants that Cowher initiated. Of course, that morning, Lewis had not only seen the "Who Dey" tape, but had played it for his team as a motivational ploy for this Sunday's matchup at Heinz Field. The take around much of the league is that, if a coach needs such stuff to motivate his team, then that team must not comprehend the importance of the game.
The Bengals did a lot of woofin' when they defeated the Steelers in Pittsburgh last December 4 to secure essentially the AFC North title. At the time, Pittsburgh was reeling at 7-5, and on the brink of playoff extinction. But the Steelers rebounded to win eight straight games, including Super Bowl XL, and Bengals players, principally quarterback Carson Palmer, had a difficult time reconciling that, since they felt they were the better team. Fact is, the Bengals probably are the better team and they'll get a chance to prove it again on Sunday afternoon. But for the Bengals to grow up, they've got to stop fretting over petty matters. And Lewis, who has emerged as one of the league's top coaches, has to stop worrying, as well, about things outside the game.
? For a veteran who has averaged only six starts per year during his eight seasons in the league, the return to the Arizona Cardinals' lineup of right offensive tackle Oliver Ross for Sunday's home game against the St. Louis Rams is being hailed as a potential boon. And why not? Signed as an unrestricted free agent in the spring of 2005, after starting 27 games the previous two seasons in Pittsburgh, the late-blooming Ross was supposed to be the strongside tackle the Cardinals sorely needed to stabilize their shaky offensive line. But Ross missed four games last season with a broken left hand, then underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in early August, to repair damaged cartilage. The original prognosis suggested that Ross might miss the first month of the season, and perhaps more, so his ahead-of-schedule return is a big plus.
Ross isn't a special player, but he is a good cut above average, according to most scouts. And, let's face it, if the potentially high-octane Arizona offense is ever going to reach its potential, and become more than simply an aerial-skewed attack for Green, the offensive line has to develop some continuity. That's a commodity the Cardinals have definitely lacked in Green's tenure. In the 34 regular-season games the club has played since hiring Green in 2004, the Cardinals have employed 15 different starting line combinations. That's a new, or reshuffled, starting quintet every 2.3 outings. Over that stretch, the Cardinals never fielded the same starting unit more than seven games in a row. And in that period, Arizona has had three different left tackles, five left guards, three centers, six right guard and seven right tackles.
Green is hopeful that he can keep together the group that will start Sunday versus the Rams -- Leonard Davis at left tackle, Reggie Wells at left guard, center Alex Stepanovich, right guard Milford Brown, and Ross at right tackle -- for the rest of the season. Given the track record, however, he'd better not count on it.

With the San Francisco 49ers having completed contract extensions this week for cornerback Shawntae Spencer and offensive lineman Adam Snyder, look for the team to invest some more of its newfound cap room in add-ons for guard Justin Smiley and tailback Frank Gore. The 49ers, who have been up against the cap limit since, well, forever, it seemed, entered the week as one of five franchises with more than $10 million in wiggle room. The aim is to secure deals with young, "core" players considered critical to the long-term future of the franchise.
As noted Sunday evening on ESPN.com, Gore has really emerged as a top-shelf back, now that he is out of the shadow of Kevan Barlow, who was traded to the New York Jets, and has the tailback job to himself.

The list: The Arizona Cardinals have used seven different right offensive tackles in the 34 games in which Dennis Green has been the club's head coach. Here's a list of the not-so-magnificent seven: Oliver Ross (10 starts); L.J. Shelton (nine), Anthony Clement (seven), Fred Wakefield (five), Adam Bergen (one, in which the tight end aligned at tackle in an unbalanced line), Chris Liwienski (one), Reggie Wells (one).

Stat of the week: Chicago tailback Thomas Jones is the only player in NFL history to increase his rushing yards total for five straight years after his rookie season. Jones ran for 373 yards as a first-round draft pick in Arizona in 2000. He then rushed for 380 yards (2001, Arizona), 511 yards (2002, Arizona), 627 yards (2003, Tampa Bay), 948 yards (2004, Chicago) and 1,335 yards (2005, Chicago). Jones, who missed much of camp with a hamstring injury, is going to have to pile up some big yardage soon to extend his streak to six seasons. In two games, despite a Bears offense that has suddenly snapped out of a longtime hibernation, Jones has just 127 yards on 42 carries.

Punts: Who will fill the vacancy in the NFL office's No. 2 spot, created by the elevation of Roger Goodell to commissioner? No one. Goodell essentially has decided he won't replace himself. The responsibilities he held will be split among several staffers already on-hand. ? Although they aren't in the same division, the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots will meet on Sunday night for the 12th time in 12 years. ? Jay Fiedler underwent exploratory surgery on his right shoulder this week to try to find the source of lingering discomfort in the joint, and that probably means the veteran quarterback won't be back in the league for the 2006 season. Were he healthy, the Tampa Bay Bucs, who had Fiedler in camp and released him because his rehabilitation was taking so long, probably would be considering signing him. ... When the Oakland Raiders return to the field on Oct. 1, after this weekend's bye look, for one rookie to replace another at the starting right guard spot. Sixth-rounder Kevin Boothe of Cornell seems set to supplant Paul McQuistan, who had started in the Raiders' first two contests. ? The Steelers plan to provide some relief for tailback Willie Parker by getting recently-signed Najeh Davenport more into the mix. ? The two Metrodome tenants, the Vikings and baseball's Twins, might have a scheduling conflict on Oct. 8. The Vikings are set to play host to the Detroit Lions that day. But that's also the day the Twins could play host to the fifth game of the division series if they qualify for the playoffs. The easiest solution, if there is, indeed, a conflict, would be for the Vikings to flip the dates of their home-and-home divisional series with the Lions. ? Although some in Carolina feel it's only a matter of time before first-round tailback DeAngelo Williams supplants DeShaun Foster as the starter, it should be recalled that offensive coordinator Dan Henning is not fond of putting rookies into such key roles. ? With 175 yards in two games, Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick has rushed for more yards than 11 franchises. Vick is on pace to finish with 1,400 rushing yards. The single-season record for most rushing yards for a quarterback is 969, established by Chicago's Bobby Douglass in 1972.
The last word: "I was just talking to my old roommate, Y.A. Tittle, this morning. We were reminiscing about the times we were taking stagecoaches to the games. It was a good time." -- self-deprecating Atlanta kicker Morten Andersen, at 46 the second-oldest player in NFL history, the day after he signed a one-year contract with the Falcons
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Hache Man · Sep 23, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 9/22/06)

A mess in Tennessee

posted: September 23, 2006 | Print Entry
filed under: Tennessee Titans

Obviously, Billy Volek pushed a wrong button with Jeff Fisher, who has always traveled the high road when it comes to outing a player that has fallen out of favor with the Tennessee Titans.

This is a bigger story with subplots that could lead to Fisher's ouster, despite any denials we may hear the rest of the year.
Volek's relationship with Fisher began to unravel late last season when the quarterback apparently began telling enough people that he wanted out of Tennessee. He continued the mantra through the offseason when the Titans drafted Vince Young.
Then when the Ravens traded veteran Steve McNair to the Baltimore Ravens -- a move that Fisher philosophically opposed -- the coach alluded to Volek being untruthful without going into detail.
The detail, as I was told in June, is that the Titans wanted to see Volek at their facility and he allegedly told the team that he was out of town. They found out he was in town. Or so the story goes.
Then when Volek was traded to the Chargers on Tuesday, he and Fisher had a good meeting and basically agreed to take the high road with the media. Volek was barely out the door before he criticized the Titans to a reporter. Thus, Fisher jumped to the low road, too.
Regardless, under offensive coordinator Norm Chow, Volek never recaptured some of those finer moments he experienced when he became only the second quarterback in NFL history to have back-to-back 400-yard passing games in 2003.
He struggled in training camp. He struggled in preseason. One pro personnel man who attended a Titans game said Volek's decision-making was poor, that he wasn't seeing the open receiver.
Internally, Chow has come under question by members of the organization, despite his sterling reputation at the collegiate level.
Some opponents on the Titans' list would disagree with that criticism of Chow.
"That offense has a very good design," said one very reputable head coach with a defensive background. "They're not that far way. They just have to get their quarterback comfortable."
That brings us to the most puzzling part of this deal. The Titans have made their organizational dysfunction transparent enough for all to see.
First, they gave McNair a contract that forced their hand this offseason. He was scheduled to make $10 million (including a bonus) but his salary cap number was almost $24 million.
Titans owner Bud Adams and his primary legal counsel, team VP Steve Underwood, made the decision to lock McNair out of the facility, apparently fearing that an injury in the offseason workouts would make them liable for McNair's salary cap numbers. The odds of that were long.
The Titans then drafted Vince Young as their quarterback of the future when common sense said it should have been Matt Leinart, who ran Chow's offense at USC like a pro. Nevertheless, drafting Young was a justifiable move. But rather than work out a new deal with McNair that would buy Young time he badly needs, the ugly stalemate resulted in his trade to the Ravens.
General manager Floyd Reese wouldn't give the coaching staff what they wanted at that point -- another veteran quarterback like Collins because they had lost respect and faith for Volek.
Fisher was able to push the issue when Young got a scare by hurting his hand in practice. Finally, Collins was brought on board and forced into action like a sacrificial lamb with a brutal schedule in the first seven weeks of the season.
Fisher says he's sticking with Collins, a pretty good guy by the way despite his unpopularity. Young will play in spots.
Barring a miracle for Collins, the cries for Young will get louder. Adams, who all but forced the team to draft Young over Leinart, will scream louder than anyone.
Without even having direct knowledge, I can clearly hear Adams trying to give Fisher a drop-dead date to get Young into the starting lineup: Oct. 29.
The Titans play the Houston Texans that day. Adams lives in Houston, where Vince Young is a local legend with that fervor very much a catalyst for the owner's demands that the team select him. He wants to rub it in the face of a city that he believes forced him to move his Houston Oilers franchise to Nashville.
It is no way to run an NFL team. That much is clear. You wonder when this whole thing blows up for Fisher and Reese.
And it just may need to be blown up.

More no-huddle for Giants?
It will be interesting to see how much no-huddle the Giants use against the Seahawks on Sunday. Eli Manning likes it after the no-huddle helped pull the Giants out of a hole against the Eagles, but he surprisingly isn't ready to become the reincarnation of his brother Peyton.
"It's a good change of pace, which we needed (against the Eagles)," Eli told me. "If we're struggling again, if we need to get jump-started, I can see us doing it. But I think we're good in our base offense, a tight end and two backs. . .the run game, the play-action, different personnel groups that I think you need throughout a course of the game.
"(The no-huddle) is something we practice every day, I'd say about 15-to-20 plays per practice. We're running it better. We can change the tempo but I don't see us doing it full-time and I'm not sure I want to do it. If you get stuck with some three-and-outs using the no huddle, the defense isn't getting much rest, you hurt yourself with time of possession - that's the negative side of it."
It has served Peyton well, it was noted.
"They're at a different level, they've been doing it so long," said Eli.
Tom Coughlin agreed with his quarterback's assessment but admitted, "Eli pretty much has command out there. He understands protections, everything. We're very happy with where he's at."

Nolan has something going
Yes, 49ers coach Mike Nolan is getting positive reviews from others around the league. The 49ers are physically and mentally tougher, they are more disciplined and they look, well, like a team with a plan.
They also have a fairly good young QB-RB-WR trio with Alex Smith, Frank Gore and Antonio Bryant.
"Gore is healthy and if he stays healthy, he will be a big-time player&he looks like a big-timer right now," said one personnel man.
The same scout praised 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner's work with Smith, the No. 1 pick of the draft who had a miserable experience as a rookie, to say the least.
"Smith looks better. He's still not real accurate, not like you'd want, and his arm is not real strong. But Norv has them running the ball, that's allowed the kid to make some plays with play-action and they've done some max protections to make him more comfortable. The thing about Smith is that he is smart, he is athletic, he's 6-4 and he's young so he has plenty of room to grow."

What's up with Hargrove?
AWOL Rams defensive end Anthony Hargrove missed his second practice Friday and will be inactive when St. Louis travels to Arizona.
What's the deal? Sources say Hargrove may have been despondent over a girlfriend problem and sought an escape. Of course, that doesn't fly well in the NFL.
Hargrove is a pretty good rush end but he had some character red flags. This incident is alarming and the Rams may have to make a bigger decision on Hargrove's permanent status with the team. They have a promising rookie defensive tackle, Claude Wroten, who dropped mightily in the draft because he has his own demons and the Rams have given him a "big brother" in veteran LaRoi Glover. But trouble has a way of finding trouble.

Random thoughts for this weekend, starting with the Colts-Jaguars:
? The Colts once again won't have defensive tackle Corey Simon, who was given the big bucks last year to give them a big-body presence to slow down opposing teams' run games. Even though Simon is a good guy, some people are beginning to wonder whether he loves football.

? The Colts are putting their trust in Adam Vinatieri's honesty. If he tells them his groin isn't good enough to kick Sunday, they'll sign Martin Gramatica no later than Saturday. If the Jaguars beat the Colts on the road, it is fair declare them worthy of elite status. Teams that play a physical and emotional game on Monday night, as the Jaguars did when they shut out the Steelers 9-0, and then hit the road usually struggle the following Sunday. A victory in Indy will get everyone's attention after Jacksonville's opening wins over Dallas and Pittsburgh.
? Don't make a mistake by thinking Jacksonville is simply a team led by its physical, dominating defense. Quarterback Byron Leftwich has taken his game up a notch, running back Fred Taylor is healthy, the offensive line has improved and young receivers Matt Jones, Reggie Williams and Ernest Wilford are a handful. In fact, the Colts are hoping Jones' groin injury keeps on the sidelines.
? Diminutive Jags rookie RB Maurice Jones-Drew from UCLA showed me something Monday when he stepped up and "stoned" Steelers safety Troy Polamalu on a blitz, allowing Leftwich to complete that fourth-quarter pass to Williams, who turned it into a 48-yard gain that set up the clinching field goal.
? Speaking of Polamalu, someone close to him told me the day after the game that his shoulder was hurting pretty good against the Jaguars. Those things don't heal right away, especially when collisions are your bread and butter.
? On Ben Roethlisberger, many inside the Steelers organization rolled their eyes when it was reported he had a 104 fever before Monday night's game. OK, it was 100.4. But they all knew the source of the report was Big Ben himself. "We have learned our lesson around here," said one organizational member. "You never ask Ben how he's feeling."
? One defensive coordinator affirms that the Carolina Panthers "are a totally different team without Steve Smith." Duly noted by this coordinator is the fact that Smith had 735 yards after first contact in 2005, by far the most in the NFL.
? Give Shaun Alexander more time to overcome his lukewarm start. Chris Spencer should be an upgrade over Floyd Womack at left guard and the passing game should improve with Deion Branch, which in theory will keep defenses honest. Now if Alexander isn't untracked in a month or so, his new $62 million contract will become a focal point of speculation. Why do you think the Seahawks dragged their feet for so long? ? The Dolphins expect Daunte Culpepper to get better each week. Part of this is mental, they believe, with Culpepper mistakenly thinking he's the same guy physically that he was prior to his major knee surgery. He's always had a tendency to hold the ball a little longer than most quarterbacks because he can make plays downfield, or simply use his mobility to extend the play. That's part of the problem, especially with a very sketchy offensive line.

Hache Man · Sep 23, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Saturday, September 23, 2006
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</TD><TD vAlign=top>

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Jags will come after Manning

By Scouts, Inc.





<TABLE class=text11 cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=0 width=552 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width="100%">Why To Watch
The Colts started to show some improvement running the ball against the Texans and will need to run the ball with some kind of success against the Jaguars. The passing game will produce for the Colts, but if all they can do is pass, the defensive ends for Jacksonville (Paul Spicer and Rob Meier) will just pin their ears back and come after Manning. As we saw on Monday night, Jacksonville is a very physical football team, and Indianapolis' receivers are apt to be looking over their shoulders as the ball arrives.

When the Jaguars have the ball
Rushing: Jacksonville is not an offensive juggernaut when it comes to running the ball. However, as it showed Monday night, it has become a physical team. Head coach Jack Del Rio brought in Mike Tice to improve the Jaguars' running game and Tice seems to have instilled an attitude with their offensive line. Running back Fred Taylor showed some of his old elusiveness, but there are times when he needs to just lower his head and run with authority. Against the Steelers, the power running game seemed to wear the defense down in the second half.
The Colts' run defense is still a work in progress. They improved this past weekend, only giving up 108 yards to the Texans. However the Jaguars are a much better running team than Houston. Until they get Corey Simon back, the Colts are going to be susceptible to the run, especially inside. Their front line and second level (defensive line and linebackers) are fine athletes who run very well, but they don't have any big, powerful thudders who can force teams to try and run to the outside all the time.

Passing: Byron Leftwich appears to be on the cusp of becoming a top NFL quarterback. He did a very good job of spreading his passes around to all three of his receivers and TE George Wrighster. With Marcedes Lewis getting some playing time, the TE position might become a major strength by midseason. Wrighster showed a new part of his game, avoiding tacklers in space after the catch.
Offensive coordinator Carl Smith is doing a good job of mixing in quick hitches and slants, as well as the occasional deep out or post pattern, which keeps the secondary off guard. Allowing just one sack in each of the first two games, the offensive line is becoming a strength as well. The Colts' pass defense is dependant on the ability of the front seven to rush the passer.
They struggled agains the Giants, but had more success this weekend against Houston. The secondary struggles against big wide receivers and Jacksonville has three big wideouts (Matt Jones, Ernest Williams and Reggie Williams). The corners need to get up close to the line of scrimmage and press these receivers, which will cause them to take longer to run their routes.

When the Colts have the ball
Rushing: Against Houston, Indianapolis was able to run the ball with some success (125 yards on 35 carries). Houston does not have Marcus Stroud or John Henderson playing defensive tackle for them. These two DTs disrupt things in the middle, and force teams to run to the outside where their fleet LBs -- Nick Greisen, Mike Peterson and Daryl Smith -- can come up and make plays. Strong safety Donovin Darius is also a major force on run support. Between their secondary and their LB corps, the Jaguars may have the best tackling team in the NFL. The Colts don't need to have a lot of success running the ball. They just need to make teams respect the run, so the play action pass will be more effective. Joseph Addai showed some of the reasons the Colts made him their No.1 this past spring. He used his speed and vision to gain 82 yards on 16 carries. His role is to force teams to at least respect the Colts' ground game. Look for the Colts to try to run sweeps and off tackle plays, rather than try to force the ball up the middle.

Passing: The Colts have probably the most feared passing attack in the NFL. Getting Brandon Stokley back last weekend was big. He does a lot of the dirty work, going across the middle and running into traffic to make the tough catches, while Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne do most of their work on the outside. Tight end Dallas Clark is becoming one of Peyton Manning's favorite targets when the tough catch is needed for a first down. The Jaguars are going to be forced to use their nickel package a lot against the Colts, as Indy likes to use its three receivers set a lot of the time. Corner Terry Cousin fits the bill as a nickel back and makes for good matchups. Free safety Deon Grant will be matching wits against Manning. The extremely physical secondary of the Jags will try to force their will on the Colts, jamming and rerouting them at the line of scrimmage. When the Indianapolis receivers catch the ball, they will have to be worried about the big hits.

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Hache Man · Sep 23, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Saturday, September 23, 2006
Take 2: Jaguars vs. Colts

By Scouts, Inc.





<TABLE class=text11 cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD><TABLE id=inlinetable cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TH style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000" colSpan=9>Jacksonville at Indianapolis Matchups</TH><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" align=middle width=62>QB</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" align=middle width=62>RB</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" align=middle width=62>WR</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" align=middle width=62>OL</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" align=middle width=62>DL</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" align=middle width=62>LB</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" align=middle width=62>DB</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" align=middle width=62>ST</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" align=middle width=62>Coach</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" align=middle width=62>Overall</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD align=middle width=62>

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Earlier this week, our scouts filed their advance scouting report on this week's matchup between the Jaguars and Colts. Now they're back with a second look.

? The biggest question is will Jacksonville's defense prevail, or will the Colts' offense take charge? The Colts, as always, will be hard to stop. Slowing them down may be the key word. The Jaguars are third in the AFC (also third in the NFL) in total defense (yards). However, unlike the two teams ahead of them (Baltimore and San Diego), they played Dallas and Pittsburgh (not the likes of Oakland, Tennessee and Tampa Bay). It should be a classic matchup of wills as the teams are playing for a one-game lead in the division.
? Getting Indianapolis into third-down situations is not necessarily the answer. One of the most shocking statistics on the Colts is their 71.4 percent efficiency rating on third down. The next best is Philadelphia with a 51.9 percent rating. There is no team in football that is more dangerous on third down than Indianapolis. When the Colts get into third-and-short, defenses tend to crowd the line of scrimmage. When that happens, Peyton Manning, who has the option to audible out of run plays, often goes to a pass play that catches the defense off guard.
? When Jacksonville lost Reggie Hayward to a ruptured Achilles tendon, it lost a major part of its pass rush. They Jags, who have only four sacks so far this season, need to find a way to pressure Manning. Look for defensive coordinator Mike Smith to send his linebackers on blitzes more often, using the Steelers' philosophy from last year's playoff game when they sacked Manning five times.
? One thing Jaguars offensive coordinator Carl Smith did Monday night was stay with the run. It would have been easy to give up running the ball when they did not have much early success. By the second half Jacksonville's offensive line seemed to have worn out the Steelers some. Of the Jaguars' 110 yards rushing, 84 came in the second half. They will want to run the ball a lot against Indianapolis, partly because the Colts have not defended the run great so far, but also to keep the ball out of Manning's hands.
? The Colts need to have some kind of success running the ball as well. In order for their patented play-action passing game to work as well as it does, they need at least the threat of a run game. This will be difficult as the Jaguars are giving up only 57 yards a game. The two defensive tackles for Jacksonville (John Henderson and Marcus Stroud) are perhaps the best in the league. They are massive and know how to plug things up.

Grant

? Look for the Jaguars to use corner Terry Cousin a lot in their nickel package. The Jags feel like they finally have the secondary to match up with the Colts and their high-powered passing game. With strong safety Donovin Darius coming up to defend the run so aggressively, free safety Deon Grant will play an important role as the quarterback of the secondary. He needs to help disguise the coverages to try and confuse Manning.
? The average height of the Colts' defensive backs is 5-foot-9 (including the safeties), while the first three receivers from Jacksonville average almost 6-4, and that's not including 6-6 TE Marcedes Lewis, who is just starting to fit in and get adjusted to this offense. With that kind of height advantage, look for QB Byron Leftwich to find mismatches in coverage, especially in the red zone. ? With the size disadvantage in the secondary, the Colts are going to have to play a lot of man coverage. They will need to come up and press the receivers at the line of scrimmage in order to throw them off their routes and disrupt the timing between the receivers and Leftwich. Due to their unusual height, Jacksonville's receivers are not the quickest on their releases and are susceptible to the press. Once they have the ball in their hands, the receivers are extremely dangerous. They are all good runners, after the catch, and are strong enough to break tackles.

Special Teams
Jacksonville's special teams did, indeed, look special on Monday night. Punter Chris Hanson did a great job of killing the ball inside the 20. The coverage teams did a great job of downing the ball inside the 20 on punts and making plays near the 20 on kickoff coverage. They lost something when punt returner Chad Owens got hurt, but Alvin Pearman did a good job of fielding the ball and gaining some kind of positive yards. Kicker Josh Scobee was reliable on field goals and did a good job of getting distance as well as hang time on his kickoffs. Indianapolis has always had one of the better special teams units and this year is no different. Special teams coach Russ Purnell is detail-oriented and has his unit doing a great job of covering both punts and kickoffs. The biggest question is going to be the health of kicker Adam Vinatieri, who was unable to finish the game in Week 3. Vinatieri will be questionable for this game. This could become important if a medium- or long-range field goal is needed to win the game.

Matchups
? Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning vs. Jacksonville FS Deon Grant
? Jacksonville WR Matt Jones vs. Indianapolis DC Nick Harper
? Indianapolis WR Marvin Harrison vs. Jacksonville DC Brian Williams
? Jacksonville LOT Khalif Barnes vs. Indianapolis RDE Dwight Freeney
? Indianapolis RB Joseph Addai vs. Jacksonville MLB Mike Peterson

Scouts' Edge
Jacksonville, playing on a short week after beating the Steelers on Monday, will have to find a way to avoid a letdown. The win over Pittsburgh was extremely physical and left the Jaguars emotionally and physically spent. If the Jags are able to pressure Manning with their normal pass rush and disrupt the Colts' wide receivers, they have a chance to keep this a relatively low-scoring game. The lower the score, the better chance Jacksonville has. The Jags should not have much trouble shutting down Indianapolis' running game. The Colts, on the other hand, want to turn this into a track meet. Look for the Jacksonville to prevail, due to its strong defense.

Prediction: Jaguars 24, Colts 21

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Hache Man · Sep 23, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Saturday, September 23, 2006
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Scouting Matchups: Week 3

By Scouts, Inc.




<TABLE class=text11 cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=0 width=552 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width="100%"><TABLE id=inlinetable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=162 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TH style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" colSpan=2>

</TH><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width=3> </TD><TD width=156>Only Insiders get access to all of Scouts Inc.'s, in-depth NFL coverage, as well as insight from ESPN's stable of football analysts.
? Take the Insider tour
? Become an Insider
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>NFL advance scouts watch games in person, studying everything from personnel packages to play-calling signals, and on film, looking at individual players, as well as a team's various schemes and recent trends. The goal? Provide their coaching staff with the best possible means of preparation during the week of practice. Scouts Inc. does the same thing, compiling the best advance scouting reports available and delivering them to you by Tuesday afternoon on ESPN.com Insider. On Friday, after breaking down more game film, Scouts Inc. files an updated report with a deeper look at each game, spotlighting key individual matchups and trends and predicting the final score.

<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD width=100>Matchup</TD><TD>Scouting</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD colSpan=2>SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2006</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Tennessee
at
Miami
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Titans at Dolphins
These are two struggling teams that don't want to start the season 0-3. Tennessee has looked poor on both sides of the ball, while Miami has shown some signs of solid play both offensively and defensively. The quarterback controversy in Tennessee may come to a head this week. Titans fans may see first-round pick Vince Young get a start or at least more snaps. QB Daunte Culpepper will have to play better for Miami to get a win at home.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Culpepper must overcome struggles

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Chicago
at
Minnesota
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Bears at Vikings
The Bears are playing well in all phases of the game. They have a dominant defense, an explosive offense that is averaging 30 points a game and an impressive special teams unit that has returned a punt for a touchdown.

Minnesota has done a great job of being disciplined, sticking with and executing its game plans while grinding out two tough victories. This matchup puts an elite NFC team (Bears) facing a talented, mature team (Vikings). One of these teams will finish Sunday undefeated and in the NFC North driver's seat.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Fierce defenses on display

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Carolina
at
Tampa Bay
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Panthers at Buccaneers
Although both teams entered the season with high expectations, they now find themselves in a must-win situation in this weekend's NFC South showdown. Bucs head coach Jon Gruden must find a way to improve the decision making and production of QB Chris Simms and his offensive system. Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin's vaunted defense is playing more on reputation than production at this point in the regular season.

Panthers head coach John Fox has made a habit in recent years of digging his teams out of early season holes. They were 1-2 last year and still made it to the NFC title game. Look for the Panthers to incorporate a combination of RB DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams in their power running game to set up the play-action pass against a Buccaneers defense that is allowing 326.5 yards per game.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Simms under pressure to improve

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Washington
at
Houston
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Redskins at Texans
This is a game between two teams that badly need a win. The Redskins lost a heartbreaker in Week 1 to the Vikings and a divisional game at Dallas in Week 2. The Texans, meanwhile, lost to two very talented teams, the Eagles and Colts. If the Redskins don't win on Sunday, they will be digging themselves a deep grave in the NFC East. Houston, meanwhile, will continue to try and improve on all aspects of their game, especially trying to establish the run. If RB Clinton Portis is able to return it will be a major lift for the Redskins.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Skins can't afford to falter

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NY Jets
at
Buffalo
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Jets at Bills
The winner of this divisional matchup can stay close to New England. Both teams lost to the Pats but had a chance to win in the fourth quarter. The Jets have been productive with an affective air attack, while taking advantage of a plus three turnover margin. The Bills played solid for seven quarters in the first two games. A meltdown in the fourth quarter at New England was the only poor football they have played thus far.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Bills to loosen reins on Losman

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Cincinnati
at
Pittsburgh
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Bengals at Steelers
Even though the Steelers are not undefeated, this is the first of two battles for AFC North supremacy, with the rematch coming in Cincinnati on the last week of the season. In their three meetings last season, the road team won each game. The Steelers face a short week after their loss to Jacksonville, but they should be ready for this one and now need a win to keep pace in the division.

These teams didn't like each other even before their Wild Card game last season when Carson Palmer's knee was shredded early in the game. Now, they really don't like each other. The Pittsburgh crowd will be very loud. This game features two very good coaches, outstanding young quarterbacks and plenty of talent up and down both rosters. This has all the makings of a great football game.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Steelers must pressure Palmer

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Green Bay
at
Detroit
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Packers at Lions
The Detroit Lions were nearly victorious in their opener at home over Seattle before traveling to Chicago and getting dominated. Green Bay has lost two games Lambeau Field, getting blown out by the Bears and losing in a shootout to the Saints. The Packers obviously need a road trip to try to get their struggling team over the hump.

With both teams needing to get a win badly look for this divisional rivalry to be a serious battle of wills. The victor will have a chance to turn around their season while the loser will be winless and and in a big hole in the NFC North.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Lions should get home win

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Jacksonville
at
Indianapolis
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Jaguars at Colts
The Colts started to show some improvement running the ball against the Texans and will need to run the ball with some kind of success against the Jaguars. The passing game will produce for the Colts, but if all they can do is pass, the defensive ends for Jacksonville (Paul Spicer and Rob Meier) will just pin their ears back and come after Manning. As we saw on Monday night, Jacksonville is a very physical football team, and Indianapolis' receivers are apt to be looking over their shoulders as the ball arrives.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Jags' D will take charge

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Baltimore
at
Cleveland
Sun 4:05 PM ET</TD><TD>Ravens at Browns
Every divisional game is important, but this one is particularly important to the Ravens, who are looking to go perfect through three weeks and entrench themselves as a serious competitor in the top-heavy AFC North. The Ravens abused the Raiders in Week 2, but had a hard time finishing drives with touchdowns, while the Browns were dominated at Cincinnati. There will not be a lack of hitting in this game and the team that controls the line of scrimmage and plays a more physical brand of football should walk away with the victory.

The winless Browns need this game very badly and there is no quit in this team, but they need to bring their "A game" at home to get the victory against the more talented and experienced Ravens. An 0-3 start would entrench the Browns as the AFC North cellar dweller, a hole that would be extremely difficult to climb out from.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Ravens aiming for 3-0

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Philadelphia
at
San Francisco
Sun 4:15 PM ET</TD><TD>Eagles at 49ers
After a disappointing loss to the Giants in overtime, the Eagles travel to the West Coast to face a confident 49ers team fresh off a win over the Rams. It will be interesting to see if the Eagles can bounce back. The Eagles were 2-6 on the road last season and need to find a way to beat the 49ers.

The 49ers beat the Rams with big plays from receivers Antonio Bryant and Arnaz Battle, as well as with the running of Frank Gore (127 yards on 29 carries). The 49ers' defense shut down St. Louis' offense and looks to do the same this week.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Eagles must bounce back

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NY Giants
at
Seattle
Sun 4:15 PM ET</TD><TD>Giants at Seahawks
The Giants came from behind to beat the Eagles in overtime. Has Eli Manning arrived as a quarterback? The Giants will have their hands full this week against the third-ranked Seahawks' defense. Matt Hasselbeck could put up some big numbers against a weak Giants' secondary. This game should see the debut of WR Deion Branch, who could have a breakout game against the Giants.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Giants' secondary faces tough test

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St. Louis
at
Arizona
Sun 4:15 PM ET</TD><TD>Rams at Cardinals
Rams head coach Scott Linehan prefers a ball-control approach with an emphasis on the run game. The Cardinals, on the other hand, like to use the pass to help set up the run. With outstanding wide receivers in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, the Cardinals are always a threat to put up points. The conflicting styles on offense make this an intriguing NFC West matchup.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Cards must get run game started

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Denver
at
New England
Sun 8:15 PM ET</TD><TD>Broncos at Patriots
Even though the Broncos and Patriots have not played as well as they would have liked to this point, they are two of the premier teams in the AFC. When these teams hook up, it usually ends up being a shootout.

New England will look to exact some revenge for the two road loses at Denver last season. Broncos QB Jake Plummer struggled again last week, but look for him behind center again this week as he tries to get the ship righted. Playing on the road might actually help Plummer, who at least won't have to listen to the boos that rained down on him last week.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Broncos better off being aggressive

</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD colSpan=2>MONDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2006</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Atlanta
at
New Orleans
Mon 8:30 PM ET</TD><TD>Falcons at Saints
Monday night football returns to New Orleans with first place on the line in the NFC South. The resilient Saints face the Michael Vick-led Falcons. Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp's offensive schemes have looked unstoppable in the first two weeks of the regular season, while Saints' head coach Sean Payton continues to do a great job of exploiting weakness and creating mismatches. Look for Payton to emphasize controlling the ball this week to keep Vick off the field.

Saints' defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs will have his hands full in containing the Falcons explosive offense with his multiple attacking schemes. Falcons' coordinator Ed Donatell will rely on his front seven to shut down the Saints' rushing attack, while creating pressure on QB Drew Brees in third-down situations.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Ground game gives Falcons edge </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Sep 23, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Why Arrington isn't making plays

posted: September 23, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: New York Giants

There has been a lot of talk about Giants linebacker LaVar Arrington and his lack of production so far this season. Arrington was a top free agent acquisition by the Giants, who gave him a contract worth $49 million. Arrington was limited in preseason due to a knee injury and through two games has not lived up to billing.

However, there's more to it than meets the eye.

Arrington

The position Arrington plays, the Sam, or strong-side outside linebacker position, is not known as a playmaking spot. The middle and weak-side linebackers usually make more big plays than the Sam 'backer. It's the nature of the scheme Arrington is in and the team he plays on. It's not that Arrington will not make plays; but it is harder for him in that position to make big plays.

Why is the Sam linebacker not a playmaking position? First, if the defensive front calls for Arrington to be on the line of scrimmage on the tight end side, his responsibility is to contain any run play his way and to be in a position for any cut back, reverse or bootleg pass. He has to maintain that outside leverage until the ball crosses the line of scrimmage, then he can chase it down. He can try to shed the tight end or any blocker, but he has to make sure the ball does not break contain and get outside him. The middle and weak-side linebackers only have to worry about their run gaps. If run shows, they can attack their gaps to make tackles for a loss and possibly force a fumble. Big plays.
Against the pass, the Sam drops to the flat (the area just inside the numbers) in a three-deep zone coverage. Unless an offense floods the zone, Arrington is not going to see much action. The middle and weak-side linebackers, meanwhile, usually drop in the middle of the field around the hash marks and have the opportunity to read the quarterback eyes and break left or right on routes. If the linebacker comes from the quarterback's blind side, the quarterback will not see him. Bingo. Interception.
Arrington has been known for his ability to rush the passer (22.5 career sacks). One of the ways to get him into the pass rush is to dog him from the outside. Arrington was used this way while at Washington. The Redskins allowed him to freelance, which at times hurt the defense as a whole. The Giants have not used Arrington on zone dogs much this season, though. It's tough to call those plays, because it means one of the Giants defensive ends, Michael Strahan or Osi Umenyiora, must drop into coverage. The type of defensive scheme that suits Arrington best would be a 3-4, where he could use his best attribute, his ability to rush the passer. The outside linebackers in a 3-4 scheme are called on by teams to rush the passer, essentially creating a four-man front. Arrington would have been called upon to rush more than he would in the 4-3 scheme the Giants run and been in position to potentially make more big plays (sacks).

Hache Man · Sep 25, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 10 New Articles Added 9/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 10 New Articles Added 9/23/06)

Broncos defense among the elite

posted: Monday, September 25, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders

Lost in the midst of the Denver Broncos' offensive struggles has been the play of Denver's defense. When I hear people talk about great defenses this season, the teams mentioned are Baltimore, San Diego, Chicago and Jacksonville. Like those teams, the Denver Broncos are now in the elite class.

The Broncos went 11 quarters this season without giving up a touchdown, and the one they gave up Monday night came against what essentially was a prevent defense.
Usually when you talk about building a great defense, it starts with building from the inside out. Denver has taken the opposite approach, building from the outside in, and that has paid huge dividends.

Bailey

Williams

In cornerbacks Champ Bailey and Darrent Williams, the Broncos have two excellent shut-down corners. Their ability to play man coverage on the outside allows the Broncos to do a lot of different things with their front seven and defensive safeties. Bailey has pretty much been taking away half the field and forcing teams to become one-dimensional in the passing game.

Because the Broncos have two shut-down corners, they regularly can put eight men in the box to shut down the opponent's run game. The Patriots found this out Monday night, when they gained just 50 yards rushing in 21 attempts.
Having solid corners on the outside also allows the Broncos to blitz their safeties and linebackers and force the quarterback to get rid of the ball sooner than he wants. That is only going to give Bailey and Williams more opportunities to get their hands on the ball as the season progresses.
Don't get me wrong -- it's not just the corners. Denver has solid depth in the defensive line and three outstanding linebackers in Ian Gold, Al Wilson and D.J. Williams, all of whom can chase sideline to sideline and make plays all over the field. But it is the corners who are making the difference right now. It just goes to show there are many ways to build an elite defense. The Broncos are a shining example of that point.

Hache Man · Sep 25, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 10 New Articles Added 9/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 10 New Articles Added 9/23/06)

Big plays often trump big stats

posted: Monday, September 25, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans

Many of us who study football will check the final statistics to see the reason for a team's success. Much of the time the best stats will equate to a victory, but turnovers, costly penalties, fourth-down stops and impact plays (usually those of more than 20 yards) can trump big numbers.

Lets look at some examples that were glaring in AFC East games this weekend:
Buffalo Bills

The Bills dominated the stat book but lost on the scoreboard. The New York Jets were the first road team to win when allowing a quarterback to throw for 300 yards and a running back to gain 150 yards.

Buffalo's Willis McGahee gashed the Jets defense, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. QB J.P. Losman had 22 completions for 328 yards in the air. The Bills also won the time of possession battle, with more than 33 minutes of possession. The New York Jets, meanwhile, had a total of 256 yards of total offense and averaged 3.1 yards per rushing attempt.
Despite all that, the Jets won be making more impact-type plays. Buffalo had one big play -- a short pass over the middle to Roscoe Parrish that turned into a 51-yard touchdown play. But the Jets got a 47-yard catch and run on a similar type play by RB Leon Washington to set up a score. New York also got three turnovers -- an interception that stopped a nice Buffalo drive and two fumble recoveries. Jets LB Victor Hobson scooped up one of the fumbles and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown. The Jets also had two fourth-down stops in the first half that ended up being a big part of the game.
Miami Dolphins

Miami's victory over the winless Tennessee Titans was ugly. The stats weren't as lopsided as in the Bills-Jets contest, but if one only looked at the basic numbers, one might have thought the Titans won this matchup.

Tennessee had more total yards but had three costly turnovers and had a punt return for a touchdown called back due to a penalty. The penalty shows up in the stat books, but the seven points it cost them do not. Miami 13, Tennessee 10.
Jacksonville Jaguars

Outside the AFC East, there was another textbook example of how the stats don't tell the whole story. The basic numbers would indicate a win on the road for Jacksonville, which controlled the ball for almost 40 minutes, had nearly 200 yards rushing, held Peyton Manning to less than 50 percent completions and allowed the Colts just 65 yards on the ground. But two Byron Leftwich interceptions, two missed field goals and an 82-yard punt return for a Colts touchdown tipped the score for the Colts.
There are many examples throughout all levels of football where a particular team will out-stat another but still lose. More times than not, big plays that impact a game will trump the more impressive numbers posted in the books.

Hache Man · Sep 25, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 10 New Articles Added 9/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 10 New Articles Added 9/23/06)

Alexander's out

posted: Monday, September 25, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Fantasy NFL, Seattle Seahawks

Fantasy football owners hoping to cash in on Shaun Alexander's record-breaking performance from last season are not going to like this news. Alexander is not only off to a slow start, ranking 18th in the league in rushing after three weeks, but now the Seahawks and fantasy owners will be without Alexander for an indefinite period of time after the star running back broke a bone in his foot.

(Hopefully Alexander didn't break that foot filming the Mobile ESPN commercial, in which he slips in his kitchen and John Clayton reports Alexander is questionable for the next game after slipping on a lemon and a weiner dog. OK, back to reality, because if you own Alexander, well, you're not laughing.)
What should a fantasy owner do? Obviously, if your league allows free agent moves on a Monday or Tuesday, you want to get Maurice Morris as fast as you can. But should we really expect good things from Morris if Alexander wasn't having success?
Alexander's slow start this season, with only two touchdowns and a total of 187 rushing yards in three games, was initially blamed on the Seahawks losing left guard Steve Hutchinson, who bolted for the big money in Minnesota. On Sunday Alexander did score a touchdown in the opening minutes of play, but after that was largely ineffective, totaling a mere 47 yards on 20 carries. Matt Hasselbeck had no such worries, throwing five touchdown passes. Is Seattle more of a passing team now? Sans Hutchinson, Seattle gave that big money to franchise back Alexander, who rambled for 1,880 yards and an NFL record 27 touchdowns last season.
Still, those lofty figures didn't guarantee Alexander top status in fantasy football. In probably three out of every four leagues the first overall draft pick was likely the Chiefs' Larry Johnson, who was more productive than Alexander on a per game basis. Big deal. You get Alexander at No. 2, or even a spot later with LaDainian Tomlinson moving up, you felt safe. Alexander was picked second in most ESPN live drafts.
Alexander has been one of fantasy's safest running back options this decade and one of the most durable as well, not missing a game in his career. Basically, if you drafted Alexander, don't blame yourself. It's bad luck, like drafting Derrek Lee or Hideki Matsui this baseball season, others who had never been hurt over a long period of time. You couldn't have known Alexander would get hurt. Don't complain about it. There's a reason fantasy football drafts are generally 15 rounds or more -- it's so you can build up proper depth.
So how long will Alexander be out? Impossible to tell at this point, but if it is less than a month, fantasy owners actually catch something of a break, pardon the pun. This week the Seahawks face the Bears, a team that is generally recognized as having the league's top defense. The Bears did allow Ahman Green to top 100 yards rushing in Week 1, but don't read much into that. It was a blowout and the Packers were safer running the ball than forcing Brett Favre to throw. The last two weeks Chicago had been better against the run. So chances are Alexander wouldn't have had a great day anyway. Then, in Week 5, the Seahawks have a bye. Will Alexander be ready for the Week 6 game against the Rams, a team he normally torches?
Morris is recognized as a change of pace back, a guy who entered this season averaging 200 yards per year in his four year career. Has he ever been the guy? Nope, and while everyone in fantasy will flock to him, remember that the Bears are this week's opponent. Pick Morris up anyway. Just about any starting running back is worth owning in a fantasy league, but there are certainly some you don't want to activate. Morris is likely in that class, though the Week 6 game vs. the Rams will be enticing. In the next few days I expect to receive plenty of mail from Alexander owners whining about their plight. It does no good. I have him as well, and all you can do is move on. He's not out for the season, and the way he was playing, this gives you an opportunity to use someone else since, as we all know, nobody in their right mind would have actually benched the guy. I had the first pick in one draft, and I selected Alexander. Then in round two the injured Steve Smith slipped down to 24. You know what? I'm 1-2, but I'll figure things out. So will you.

Hache Man · Sep 25, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 10 New Articles Added 9/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 10 New Articles Added 9/23/06)

Week 3 wrap

posted: Monday, September 25, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Fantasy NFL

First of all, before we begin, let's separate fantasy from reality for a minute and wish a speedy recovery for Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms. Nothing said or written about Simms in the past few weeks in this space or anywhere in fantasy is at all relevant today, the day after Simms had emergency surgery on a ruptured spleen. How he managed to play at all on Sunday after he suffered the injury is amazing.

Anyway, I'll wait a day or two to discuss potential new starting quarterback Bruce Gradkowski and Carnell Williams and well, how it affects the team. Luckily, the Bucs get a bye this week.
***
Honestly, I had no idea Donte' Stallworth was going to be rendered inactive on Sunday. Hadn't a clue. We spent all week talking about the myriad injured, questionable fellas, and then about an hour before the Eagles and 49ers are ready to play, it's announced Stallworth is out. Who knew? I had read the Philadelphia Inquirer Sunday morning, watched the requisite Eagles pregame shows, there was no sign of this. He was listed as probable. Ninety minutes before the Panthers played we thought Steve Smith was out. He played!
Anyway for all the good from Sunday, the surprise but good-play quarterbacks going off in the Packers-Lions game, a pair of Redskins running backs loving life and John Kasay nailing one long field goal after another, I checked out some message boards and saw Stallworth owners venting angry words.
Just can't make fantasy football owners happy, no matter what!
What a great Sunday it was in fantasy football. We saw Rex Grossman shut down for much of the game, then lead the Bears back for the win. Now do we believe? Well, kind of. Carson Palmer was great, Byron Leftwich bad and Mark Brunell nearly perfect. Ahman Green scored. Kevan Barlow scored! Two Lions running backs scored!! Oh my!
Let's go game by game:
Jets 28, Bills 20: Impressed by Chad Pennington? He didn't have great stats, but he led his team to the win, despite the fact the Bills had more than 200 more total yards than New York. Really, Jets fans, the win is more important. But I'd stick with Pennington as a fantasy backup, not a clear cut starter. Laveranues Coles delivered a 10-catch performance, impressive since he wasn't a definite to play. Jerricho Cotchery only caught three passes.
Barlow managed to find the end zone, but not much else. Late in the game Cedric Houston got the chance from the five yard line, and scored. Is this a timeshare? Probably not. Barlow was banged up, which he'll probably always be. The Jets just aren't much of a rushing team. Barlow remains not worth the trouble in fantasy, though he must be owned.
J.P. Losman topped 300 yards passing, but he was playing from behind the entire second half, so it's hard to get too caught up in it. Losman did find Roscoe Parrish on a long touchdown pass, and he ran in another score late in the game, but Buffalo's problem remains scoring actual points, not moving the ball. Willis McGahee had a monster rushing game, but those 150 yards on the ground are hollow without a score. I recommended Lee Evans as a play, and he did top 100 yards receiving. This team could get dangerous for fantasy if they could finish drives. As it is, McGahee is on his way to a solid yards season.
Packers 31, Lions 24: This game went pretty much as expected, with defense not much of a priority, and both quarterbacks piling up the numbers. I picked the Packers to win 30-20 and Brett Favre to get three touchdowns, which he did. Not bad at all!
But who could have expected both Ahman Green and Kevin Jones to play well? Other than Green's out-of-place 100-yard effort against the Bears in Week 1, these guys collectively had done little. But Green scored on a reception and made his mark that way, while Jones was very active, topping 120 total yards and scoring a rushing touchdown. What does that mean for future weeks? I wouldn't make Green nor Jones definite plays too often.
Good to see Roy Williams back up his bravado with a big game. Greg Jennings is a guy we've been talking about for weeks, and his 75-yard score will make him owned in a lot more leagues this week, but it will not diminish Donald Driver. Big game next week for Favre and the crew in Philly on Monday night. Important game to gauge this offense.
Colts 21, Jaguars 14: Last year's matchup in Indy went kind of like this, with neither team able to move the ball much. It was the game in Florida that the touchdowns were scored. Peyton Manning did score twice Sunday, though one was on a run. Peyton Manning running the ball? Years ago he used to, fantasy owners counted on it. Manning scored four rushing touchdowns in 2001, and had nine in his first five seasons, but none in the last three. Maybe he's bringing this part of his game back. He might need to, because the Colts running game remains a disappointment. I had this game 24-21 Colts.
Two stories from the Jacksonville side, if you will. One, Byron Leftwich didn't do much, though he did manage to score a rushing touchdown. Very odd. Through the air, however, he was not impressive a bit. Second, the Jags run game looked good, thanks to rookie Maurice Jones-Drew breaking off a few big ones and topping 100 yards. Even Fred Taylor had a presentable game. Don't be shocked if Taylor shares the carries going forward. At the least the Jags can use the excuse they want to keep Taylor healthy, knowing full well they have two weapons.
Dolphins 13, Titans 10: You can officially leave Daunte Culpepper on your bench now until further notice. Well, except for next week when he gets to play an even worse defense.
I didn't expect a tremendous game, but 168 yards is pathetic. But like a number of other passers, he wasn't a total bust because he ran for a touchdown. Don't get the idea Culpepper ran well, though. He did not. Long term this season his value isn't good.
What else here? Chris Brown didn't play, giving Travis Henry a chance to show his stuff. He got plenty of carries, but delivered little. Meanwhile, Kerry Collins probably earned another start next week against Dallas, not that it matters much in fantasy. The Titans stayed in this game, probably because Miami is way overrated, but offer little to fantasy owners.
Just like Culpepper.
Bears 19, Vikings 16: Yes, I was impressed by both teams, really. I watched much of this one closely, and the Vikings could've had this one. I felt better about my pick of Vikings 16, Bears 13. Thought it would end 16-12 until late, when Grossman showed something. Don't blame Brad Johnson or Chester Taylor. Both did fine, though they couldn't score. Ultimately it was Grossman who gave up the go-ahead touchdown, Minnesota's only one, on a horrible interception, but he led them back with a two key fourth quarter drives. I still wouldn't assume he's a must fantasy start, but he's in the top half of quarterbacks. Well, he's right around the midpoint.
No carries for Cedric Benson? What do Bears fans care, they're 3-0. Thomas Jones now has three average games. I think he'll take it. We won't.
Bengals 28, Steelers 20: I pegged this one for Carson Palmer as well, but four touchdowns is a lot to ask for. My point was that Palmer is a weekly play no matter the opponent. In fact, I named five quarterbacks as automatic plays: Both Mannings (um, more on Eli later), Palmer, Donovan McNabb and Tom Brady. This does answer the question about Cincy being able to score on the Steelers, as if it wasn't answered last season when Palmer scored 38 on them in their house.
Anyway, this also answers the question about Willie Parker. Last Monday against Jacksonville was just one of those nights.
Chris Henry and T.J. Houshmandzadeh? Sure, why can't three Bengals receivers be like Peyton's Colts trio was two seasons ago? The question is, is Chad Johnson the team's Brandon Stokley? Both Housh and Henry scored twice this game. More to come for this duo.
Panthers 26, Buccaneers 24: Each team showed how badly it needed the game, to avoid falling to 0-3. But who should we praise for fantasy football? I would never have given up on Jake Delhomme. He looked fine now that he's got Steve Smith back. Keyshawn Johnson was a bigger beneficiary, scoring twice, including the second rushing touchdown of his career.
Did you play Smith? On Sunday morning Chris Mortensen said that Smith was unlikely to play, and I wrote that avoiding Smith was a good idea in fantasy, assuming you had reasonable options. But as the 1 o'clock game time approached, I even changed my mind and went back to activate Smith over Rod Smith in one league. Steve Smith topped 100 yards and while he didn't score, it was impressive nonetheless and showed how much better it makes his teammates. Who expected 112 yards? I just didn't want my second round pick on the bench in case he did something, especially when reports changed that Smith would start.
Well, look what it did for Delhomme and Keyshawn. DeShaun Foster ran hard for 82 yards as well. DeAngelo Williams again looked great on returns, but he didn't get the carries. I named him as a sit based on what coach John Fox said, that he would stick with Foster.
Carnell Williams really didn't run well, and I don't know if it was because of his back problem or the Carolina defense. But those who played him did get a touchdown. I'd still aim to avoid playing him until we see a big rushing game. And the three-game stretch for Joey Galloway is a bit hard to believe. Zero catches, then nine for 161, and one catch here. At least it was a touchdown. Even with this new situation in Tampa, he remains a worthy play.
Redskins 31, Texans 15: Did I underestimate the Redskins, or overestimate the Texans? I think it's Houston's defense. How else does one explain Mark Brunell breaking the NFL record for consecutive completions? Brunell looked terrible the last few weeks. Mark Brunell is now the all-time record holder for consecutive completions! Say it again! Yeah, he was a decent play here, but let's not get too excited for the rest of the schedule.
No, I still won't make Brunell a top 10 fantasy quarterback next week. If Daunte Culpepper has a big day against the dreadful Texans next Sunday then it will tell us just how bad bad Houston is defensively. I still take Grossman and Pennington over Brunell in normal matchups.
Clinton Portis told us early in the week he'd play, which he did. And I was all over this matchup, though I have the guy in only one league. I thought he'd have a big day, start fast and Washington would get a lead and likely sit him. All of it happened. Early on Portis was even better than expected, as he caught a 74-yarder and he got his two touchdowns on the ground. He looked great. Terrific. Glad you stuck with him? Don't be concerned about Ladell Betts running for more yards. It was 31-7, 10 seconds into the final period. Why use Portis up by that much?
Again David Carr has an impressive day statistically, and again I say it's simply because his team was trailing by so much, he got to throw against nickel defenses. But fantasy owners can also take advantage of this. The Texans might have 10 more games like this! Without a running game, and a defense to keep games close, Carr will have problems winning, but not necessarily putting up numbers. Ron Dayne got nearly all the carries. Sam Gado got one. Not sure it matters much who gets the carries next week.
Rams 16, Cardinals 14: I expected each team to score much more than this, so why didn't it happen? Well, these teams just aren't very good, and the six turnovers help prove it. It's why neither of these teams is likely to win half its games, and Seattle will be sitting Shaun Alexander the final two weeks with the division clinched.
Torry Holt, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald all did their thing. Marc Bulger and Kurt Warner didn't throw nearly as much as I figured. Ultimately, Bulger didn't throw a pick, and Warner's last-minute fumble cost Arizona the game.
Final thought is about the running backs. Steven Jackson should have done better. It was a nice matchup for him. And Edgerrin James nearly reached 100 yards, and scored. Is he going to catch the ball more this season? Tough to tell which direction his statistical season is going to do, but I'd still say if he finishes in the top 10 of running backs, it's barely.
Eagles 38, 49ers 24: Impressive offensive performance in the first half by Philly, which aired it out on the first play with a flea flicker. Even without Stallworth, Donovan McNabb was terrific, using seven different receivers. Backup tight end Matt Schobel was uncovered on a fourth quarter play and broke a 60-yarder. Reggie Brown finally got some love, topping 100 yards. And Brian Westbrook is a very, very underrated player.
Why didn't I rank Westbrook in my top 12 overall? Can't see him playing more than 13 or 14 games. He's going to dial it back in practice each week, as Philly aims to keep him healthy. If I thought he wouldn't get hurt, he'd be close to a top five back. His 117 yards rushing is a bit of an aberration, thanks to the 71-yard rumble. But look, how can any Westbrook owner complain. He easily could have missed the game.
Alex Smith impressed me. I watched as Philly's pass rush made things hard for him in the second half, and he not only got up, but made decent decisions. He wasn't picked off. The fumbles would have happened to anyone, the way he was trounced.
Seahawks 42, Giants 30: Deceiving game statistically. Face it, Eli Manning looked awful early on, worse than he did in the Philly game a week before. And this time Eli's big comeback effort wasn't enough. Eli was just that bad, falling behind 42-3. Ugh. Was I wrong about Eli? Giants fans sure think so. While he ended up with decent stats, they are misleading, and we all know it. Hey, just like the Philly game was just one game, so was this. Manning must learn consistency. Even after the Philly comeback I knew that, but figured he'd stop with these miserable performances. Guess not. Still, I'm playing him. You want to say I misread Eli, go ahead, but you know he could easily turn into a top five statistical fantasy quarterback. Is he there yet? Put it this way, after three weeks, Eli has numbers. It's just disconcerting to Giants fans how he's gotten them.
What I take from this game, other than how bad Eli and the Giants were, allowing Matt Hasselbeck to throw five touchdown passes, is that Shaun Alexander just doesn't look the same. He scored his touchdown just a few minutes into the game, then sleepwalked through the rest, getting two yards per carry. Is he hurt? Is it the line? Teams keying on the run and letting Hasselbeck and talented receivers beat them? I don't know, but Alexander has plenty of time to earn top three status.
Deion Branch played, but really, what can one learn in a game like this?
Ravens 15, Browns 14: This proves that the Ravens offense isn't nearly as good as it looked the first two weeks. Maybe it never was that good. Steve McNair has weapons, so I'm not sure I understand this. Jamal Lewis had another favorable result, with 86 yards. Derrick Mason isn't aging. Mark Clayton played the possession receiver role well. And Todd Heap, suddenly questionable over the weekend with an ankle sprain, scored Baltimore's touchdown. So why couldn't the Ravens score more against Cleveland? And really, how did Cleveland score two touchdowns, especially without a running game. Reuben Droughns surprisingly didn't play, leaving behind a mess. Charlie Frye didn't get the win, but performed well. Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow remain interesting fantasy options. If they can get more than 200 receiving yards against the Ravens, they'll have better days.

Hache Man · Sep 25, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 10 New Articles Added 9/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 10 New Articles Added 9/23/06)

New season, same ol' Cardinals

posted: Monday, September 25, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Arizona Cardinals

As the seasons change, the Cardinals stay the same.

The coaches have changed, the players have changed, the uniforms have changed, even the seasons have changed, but one thing has remained constant for the Arizona Cardinals; finding a way to lose. The Cardinals began their season with their best record since 1999, 1-0! They had a great win at home to what many felt may was a subpar [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=sfo"]San Francisco 49ers[/URL] team to start the season. But the following week, on the road in Seattle, the old Cardinals began to resurface as they looked sloppy and poor in play and again lost on the road. This past weekend against the Rams was no different, as it seemed the Cardinals were back to their same old ways. Let's make sure to give credit to the Rams' head coach Scott Linehan's philosophy. He has remained steady and consistent in his coaching style yet open to ideas which let the St. Louis fans see a glimpse of the old [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5197"]Marc Bulger[/URL] to Torry Holt, deep connection. Interesting choice of words, "steady and consistent." While the Cardinals have remained consistent in their up and down play, they have not been steady in any one direction. Let's explore this a little further.

What will it take for the Cardinals to reach a level of simple respectability in the NFL? They have invested millions of dollars trying to put a fresh new image on the team, but it still seems as though what lies underneath these new makeovers is the same core of mediocrity. The longest tenure of any coach with the Cardinals is six years, making it hard to establish any kind of continuity. The longest tenure of any of the past four head coaches with the Cardinals is 3.5 years. Few people know this interesting stat, but the average number of wins for any of the last four head coaches (Joe Bugel 1990-1993, Buddy Ryan 1994-1995, Vince Tobin1996-2000, David McGinnis 2001-2003) is a very disappointing 5.53 wins per year. Ouch! Current head coach Dennis Green is averaging just over 5 wins per year after his two full seasons at the helm, but if past history is an indicator of future performance, it does not look good for Green and company.

Many coaches such as Green have, for some reason, found it difficult to win with this organization. Many of these coaches have left the Cardinals and gone on to become successful position coaches or coordinators elsewhere in the NFL (McGinnis, Linebacker Coach [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=ten"]Tennessee Titans[/URL]; Bugel, Assistant Head Coach - Offense [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=was"]Washington Redskins[/URL]), although none of them has yet to return to the sidelines in the impressive head coaching capacity. The same is not necessarily true for the success rate of many players who began their careers as Cardinals. Let us take a look at a few prominent players who have gone on to be successful with other clubs. QB [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=3895"]Jake Plummer[/URL] was paid $30 million on a contract extension, but only led the Cardinals to one playoff appearance during his tenure. Plummer has now lead the [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=den"]Denver Broncos[/URL] to the playoffs every year since joining the club in 2003. RB [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5036"]Thomas Jones[/URL] a former first round pick in 2001, is now the starting running back for the [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=chi"]Chicago Bears[/URL], after the Cardinals traded him to the [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=tam"]Tampa Bay Buccaneers[/URL] in 2003 for WR Marques Walker, who did not make the final roster and has been out of football since 2003. Defensive back [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4294"]Corey Chavous[/URL] left Arizona as a free agent after failed attempts for him to play cornerback, but signed with the [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=min"]Minnesota Vikings[/URL] in 2002 and made it to the Pro Bowl at safety in his first year. Defensive end [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=3549"]Simeon Rice[/URL] has been a proven sack master since entering the league in 1996. He left Arizona in 2002 and signed a less lucrative deal with the Buccaneers that has since been renegotiated, but Rice is still amongst the NFL's best when it comes to sack totals at the end of the season, logging no less than 11 sacks per season since leaving Arizona. These are just a few of the many examples that can be noted as players who seemingly become successful, once leaving the desert. The point to be made hear is that talaent has always been present within the Cardinals organization and but has for some reason, never been uncovered until players or coaches leave the organization.

In spring of 2004, Dennis Green stood atop a stage and used visual aides to show his record and how he could help to reshape and rebuild the losing image that has plagued this franchise for so many decades. As I wrote in an earlier blog, there were questions from Edgerring James as to if he was having second thoughts on his decision to land in Arizona, and now maybe the same can be said for coach Green and his staff. Everyone loves the underdog, which is s staple that drives the American dream and spirit of opportunity, but the Cardinals have found a way to even turn that theory against them in a way that has caused a lot of fun and excitement to be taken out of the sails of the players, staff and local community.

I know it sounds like a broken record, because I have said this before, but broken records and the Cardinals seem to go hand-in-hand. The season is still early, but the team has done nothing to give a sense of hope to its fan support, who ever so dearly, want to have something to hold onto and give them hope for a solid product in the future. It is not that they lose games, but how they have play in these losing contests that have Cardinals' fans headed for an abrupt nose dive. The clock is ticking, and the time is continuing to change as it the world around the Cardinals. They have given every excuse as to why they have not been able to compete, but now that a stadium is in place, marquee players are present, and revenue streams are in place, the Cardinals have seemingly run out of excuses to not field a quality product and at a minimum be competitive.

As the leaders of the team now call out for changes to be made, it will be a monumental task for the Cardinals, coach Green, and the players to find a way to give their fans something to cheer about and put a positive spin on this disappointing start to the 2006 season.

Hache Man · Sep 25, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 10 New Articles Added 9/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 10 New Articles Added 9/23/06)

Plummer excels in the pocket

posted: Monday, September 25, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Denver Broncos, New England Patriots

Jake Plummer came into Sunday night's game with 29 completions in 56 attempts for 311 yards. He'd thrown four picks and no touchdowns. He was playing a proud Pats team in its park, and New England had extra motivation after Denver kicked the Pats from the playoffs last year. So I wondered: How would Mike Shanahan get his QB back on track?

We know from TV commentators, newspaper writers and KC Joyner's work that Shanahan loves getting Plummer out of the pocket, so much so that it's almost absurd how often the Broncos get big plays from the bootleg considering everyone knows it's coming. But against the Pats, to get Plummer's season turned around, Shanahan called for Plummer to drop straight back and make reads, not only Plummer's supposed weakness but also the Broncos' O-line's supposed weakness.
From my own figures - and I counted plays that had penalties because I wanted to get a sense for how Denver was calling the game - Plummer dropped straight back 27 times, completing 14 passes for two touchdowns. He scrambled once for a first down from a straight drop. He bootlegged, rolled out or threw from slide protections only five times. That helped him up his record to 3-0 as a Bronco against the Pats.
It's bizarre to watch Shanahan and his quarterback consistently beat Bill Belichick and his quarterback. Denver has beaten New England five of six times since 2001, and remember that one loss was a Monday Night Football match in which Belichick either made the most brilliant call ever - or the luckiest - and won on an intentional safety-turned-Tom Brady touchdown pass. Despite the Pats itching to whip Denver after last season's playoff loss, you never really got the sense that Denver wasn't going to win Sunday night's game. Even if the Broncos relied on Plummer throwing 32 times, 84 percent of those from the pocket.
Random stuff

? I find it odd that for the postgame handshake, Belichick put his arm around Shanahan and said a few kind words in a loss, and last week in a win over a former staffer he gave Eric Mangini the Bob Knight-Coach K treatment.

? Two unfortunate events last night: Chris Simms' emergency spleen surgery and the more overlooked death of Reggie Wayne's brother, Rashad. Thoughts are with both families.

? Jeremy Shockey on the Giants' 42-30 loss to Seattle, which wasn't as close as the score would indicate: "We got outplayed and outcoached."
Shockey also complained about having to block so much of the time, which undercuts the one element of the game the Giants did well before the game got out of reach: running the ball. Tiki Barber had some great room to run in the first quarter, but as soon as the Giants went to the air it was a mess. And by the way, Seattle is looking very much like the Super Bowl team that many of us picked

Hache Man · Sep 25, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 10 New Articles Added 9/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 10 New Articles Added 9/23/06)

Monday, September 25, 2006
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By Scouts, Inc.





<TABLE class=text11 cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=0 width=552 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width="100%">Why To Watch
Monday night football returns to New Orleans with first place on the line in the NFC South. The resilient Saints face the Michael Vick-led Falcons. Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp's offensive schemes have looked unstoppable in the first two weeks of the regular season, while Saints' head coach Sean Payton continues to do a great job of exploiting weakness and creating mismatches. Look for Payton to emphasize controlling the ball this week to keep Vick off the field.

Saints' defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs will have his hands full in containing the Falcons explosive offense with his multiple attacking schemes. Falcons' coordinator Ed Donatell will rely on his front seven to shut down the Saints' rushing attack, while creating pressure on QB Drew Brees in third-down situations.

When the Falcons have the ball
Rushing: Last week, RB Warrick Dunn ran for 134 yards against his former team, while Vick added set an NFL record with 127 yards rushing. The Falcons also set a franchise record with 306 yards on the ground. Vick has added a whole new dimension to the Falcons' rushing attack, while keeping defenses off balance. Defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs will have his hands full finding ways to contain both Vick and Dunn, while being sound on the backend in coverage.
The Saints will utilize an attacking 43 scheme that can be disruptive when penetrating into gaps. The Falcons' offensive line has been very effective in their zone blocking schemes that focus on area rather than a defender. They have been very effective creating running lanes when sealing off the backside on their frontside zone plays, allowing Dunn to be a one-cut runner and get downhill inside the tackle box.
The key to Saints' attacking schemes will be the proper run fits from their linebackers from an inside/out position. Although they are not an overly talented group, the Saints have gotten solid production against the run out of SLB Scott Fujita, MLB Mark Simoneau and WLB Scott Shanle. SS Roman Harper will be heavily involved this week in the run defense. The key for the Saints will be the ability of RDE Will Smith and LDE Charles Grants to contain Vick within the pocket when reacting to the Falcons' blocking patterns.

Passing: Vick's ability to improvise allows him to put a lot of pressure on defenses, as he has the option of either running or passing depending on coverage. The Falcons rely heavily on their running game and Dunn, who has average 25 carries in the first two games. Vick is a very dangerous player when he attacks outside the pocket through the air. Prior to the season, newly acquired WR Ashley Lelie has given the Falcons another unique dimension to go along with WR Michael Jenkins and TE Alge Crumpler.
Look for the Falcons to continue to spread the field with Vick and attack the outside edges of the Saints' defense, allow their receivers to work to open areas in the passing game. The Falcons will also utilize their quick game to get Vick into a rhythm, which should open up the deep vertical game and expose the vulnerable Saints' secondary. Defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs will continue to pressure Vick with the Saints' four-man rush, while working inside games to create space for blitzing linebackers in passing situations.
The Saints' main objective will be to keep Vick in the pocket and try to confuse him by disguising coverages on the backend. Look for the Saints to make Vick move to his right rather than his left when forcing him outside the pocket. Another key area for the Saints will be the play of their young safety tandem. SS Roman Harper and FS Josh Bullocks must be disciplined in their run/pass reads and not react up the field off play action, allowing explosive plays to happen behind them in the passing game.

When the Saints have the ball
Rushing: The Saints will put a heavy emphasis this week on starting fast, keeping the ball and controlling the time of possession. The one thing the Saints will look to avoid is getting into a shootout with the high-powered Falcons' offense, by allowing their defense to stay on the field. Look for head coach Sean Payton to rely more on Deuce McAlister and Reggie Bush this week in the running game, as the Saints will try to shorten the game and keep the Falcons' offense off the field. Both McAlister and Bush combined for 18 carries last week, so look for that number to increase this week. The Saints offensive line averages 313 pounds and will have its hands full against a fast and aggressive Falcons' front seven. The key individual matchup will consist of the Saints' interior of LG Jamar Nesbit, OC Jeff Faine and rookie RG Jahri Evans against the Falcons' interior of NT Rod Coleman and NT Grady Jackson. However, the Saints interior will have its hand full when creating a new line of scrimmage. So, look for the Saints to attack the edges of the Falcons' defense by attacking downhill with a combination of McAlister and Bush. With the injury status of MLB Ed Hartwell, look for the Falcons to continue to utilize Keith Brookings in the middle. Brookings has been a highly productive player in the middle and leads the Falcons in tackles at this point in the season.

Passing: Saints quarterback Drew Brees overcame a lot early adversity against the Packers last week, before settling down and completing 26 of 41 passes for 353 yards and two touchdowns. Expect the Saints to continue to utilize different personnel groupings while shifting and motioning, in order to exploit and attack the Falcons' defense based on matchups. The Saints love to attack the short and intermediate areas of the passing game to off-set their deficiencies along the offensive line. Brees will look to take advantage of this by attacking away from LC DeAngelo Hall. Hall is on the fast track to becoming an elite corner in the NFL. Defensive coordinator Ed Donatell will utilize the strengths of Hall by matching him up with WR Joe Horn in passing situations, while rotating the coverage the other way and allowing a SS Lawyer Milloy to play up close to the line of scrimmage. This could cause the Falcons to play a lot of single safety coverage in the middle of the field with FS Chris Crocker, who the Saints could exploit off play action vertically down the field. Also, look for the Falcons to put a lot of pressure on Brees with some overload blitzes and single zone fires. Brees is a smart, instinctive player who can burn the Falcons' defense based on his ability to react to hot reads and throw to vacated spots left in underneath zones that could result in big plays on the backend. The key for the Saints will be their ability to give Brees time in the pocket, which will allow him to make plays in passing situations
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Hache Man · Sep 25, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 10 New Articles Added 9/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 10 New Articles Added 9/23/06)

Monday, September 25, 2006
Take 2: Falcons vs. Saints

By Scouts, Inc.





<TABLE class=text11 cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD><TABLE id=inlinetable cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TH style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000" colSpan=9>Atlanta at New Orleans Matchups</TH><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" align=middle width=62>QB</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" align=middle width=62>RB</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" align=middle width=62>WR</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" align=middle width=62>OL</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" align=middle width=62>DL</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" align=middle width=62>LB</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" align=middle width=62>DB</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" align=middle width=62>ST</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" align=middle width=62>Coach</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" align=middle width=62>Overall</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD align=middle width=62>

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Earlier this week, our scouts filed their advance scouting report on this week's matchup between the Falcons and Saints. Now they're back with a second look.

? Saints defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs has the ultimate task of finding different ways to contain QB Michael Vick and the Falcons running game. Vick is an explosive playmaker with a very strong arm and has the ability to make game-changing plays with his legs. He has caused major problems for opponents with his ability to improvise out of shotgun with the spread option attack by either running or passing depending on a pre-snap read of weakside defensive end. The play consists of RB Warrick Dunn and a delayed handoff which freezes defenders and puts a lot of pressure on the defense to defend. Gibbs must find a way to counter this by helping the weakside defensive end with another defender to off-set his responsibility. Another option is to utilize some zone blitz pressures from the weakside.
? The Saints plan this week will be to try and shorten the game with RBs Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush, setting up a quick, controlled passing game. The duo of McAllister and Bush has played a large part in the success of the Saints offense. Bush has made his presence felt rushing, receiving and returning, while McAllister has returned to form with 137 yards rushing and two touchdowns in two games. Falcons defensive coordinator Ed Donatell will unleash his attacking up-field schemes to create a new line of scrimmage, which will allow his linebackers to play fast and aggressively downhill. Also, look for SS Lawyer Milloy to align up near the box on downs with heavy run tendencies. The Saints can ill afford to be a one-dimensional team against a fast and aggressive Falcons front seven.
? The Saints will continue to spread the field and try to create individual mismatches that they can exploit. By doing this on early downs they can force Milloy out of the box and isolate him on either Bush or Marques Colston and create a mismatch. Milloy is a better player vs. the run than the pass. Also, look for the Falcons to isolate CB DeAngelo Hall on WR Joe Horn and rotate the coverage towards CB Jason Webster to give him help. Again, the key for the Saints will be the ability of either Colston or Devery Henderson to win their individual matchup against either Webster in the slot or Kevin Mathis on the outside.
? One of the major points of emphasis this week for Falcons offensive coordinator Greg Knapp will be red zone efficiency. The Falcons have scored a touchdown on just three of nine trips inside the red zone. Look for the Falcons to be a little bit more aggressive this week in their play calling inside the red zone.
? Head coach Sean Payton's quarterback friendly offense allows Drew Brees to manage the game effectively and take what the defense is giving him. That philosophy plays to the strengths of Brees. Last week, after starting the game with some adversity, Brees settled down and hit on 26 of 41 passes for 353 yards and two touchdowns. Brees has a strong supporting cast around him, which allows his to make a lot plays in the passing game. The key for this week's game will be the ability of the offensive line to create enough space to get the running game going against a good Falcons front seven. Also, they need to allow Brees enough time in the pocket to try and exploit the Falcons secondary through the air.
? Even with the possible return of MLB Ed Hartwell this week, look for the Falcons to continue to utilize Keith Brooking at MLB, along with WLB Demorrio Williams and SLB Michael Boley. This unit has played well over the first two games and Brooking is on pace to have a career year playing behind NT Grady Jackson. Jackson is a huge space eater inside and has been very effective tying up blockers and keeping his linebackers clean to get free downhill hits on ball carriers.
? There are some intriguing young receivers in this game that have made plays early in the season. Falcons WR Michael Jenkins continues to show that he could develop into a frontline starting receiver. He looks a lot stronger than a year ago and has the ability to align in multiple spots in the Falcons spread offense. He leads the team in receptions with only five for 91 yards and one touchdown. Both Saints wide receivers Colston and Henderson have combined for 14 catches for 202 yards and three touchdowns.

Special Teams
The Falcons signed PK Morten Anderson this week to replace Michael Koenen on field goals and extra points. Koenen will still handle the punting duties, kickoffs and long field goals. Koenen struggled last week missing three field goals and having a fourth one blocked. The Falcons coverage units have been strong in the first two weeks of the regular season. RS Allen Rossum hasn't had many chances to return kickoffs. The Saints' special teams did a much better job last week against the Packers, especially their coverage units. They contained both Charles Woodson and Koren Robinson. Punter Steve Weatherford averaged 46.5 yards and a net of 39.0 on four punts and PK John Carney made field goals of 45 and 47 yards. The Saints also were productive in their punt returns, getting 10.7 yards a return from Reggie Bush and Lance Moore. Both units will have their hands full on Monday night.

Matchups
? New Orleans RBs Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush vs. Atlanta LB Keith Brooking and SS Lawyer Milloy
? New Orleans WR Joe Horn vs. Atlanta LC DeAngelo Hall
? Atlanta QB Michael Vick vs. Saints Secondary
? Atlanta LT Wayne Gandy vs. New Orleans RDE Will Smith
? New Orleans OC Jeff Faine vs. Atlanta NT Grady Jackson

Scouts' Edge
There will be a lot of excitement in the air as the Saints return to the Superdome with first place on the line in the NFC South. The Falcons league-leading rushing attack enters the game running on all cylinders, while the Saints run defense is a currently sixth the league, allowing 74 yards a game. The Saints must find a way to score points and keep this game close heading into the fourth quarter if they are going to have a chance to win this game. However, QB Michael Vick, with the help of RB Warrick Dunn will cause too many problems for the Saints to overcome defensively, as the Falcons will leave the Superdome with a commanding lead in the NFC South.

Prediction: Falcons 28, Saints 17

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Hache Man · Sep 25, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 10 New Articles Added 9/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 10 New Articles Added 9/23/06)

Updated: Sep. 25, 2006, 5:00 PM ET
Atlanta rushing attack will be key

By Gary Horton
Scouts Inc.
Archive

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After watching a lot of film on both the Falcons and Saints, talking to coaches and scouts and following preseason practices, here are some key things to watch in their Monday night game (ESPN 8:30 p.m. ET).
Atlanta Falcons

? Atlanta's rushing numbers in their first two games -- 558 net yards on 91 rushes -- are simply mind boggling, considering they don't have a marquee offensive lineman. They do have a good fullback in Justin Griffith, but they have an undersized back in Warrick Dunn and don't have great blocking downfield.
A big reason for their success is quarterback Michael Vick, who is still a threat every time he touches the ball. He is also doing a much better job of using the threat of the run to set up the pass. Dunn is a perfect fit in the Falcons' zone blocking schemes that require only one cut. As long as they keep running the ball, it will keep their defense off the field and Vick from forcing the ball in the passing game.
? The new stretch option play with Vick worked well against a veteran Tampa Bay defense. While it is a fairly basic play, it is lethal because of Vick's and Dunn's speed and running ability. Vick simply takes the snap and has the option to give it to Dunn or keep it himself. What makes it tough on defenses is that the two guys run in opposite directions. This is a play that Vince Young ran well at Texas, but how long will it take for NFL defenses to adjust to it?
? An individual matchup that may fly under the radar this week is Atlanta left offensive tackle Wayne Gandy versus New Orleans right defensive end Will Smith. Although Gandy is an aging veteran, he has played really well in pass protection in the first two weeks and has been a stabilizing influence for this unit. The NFC South has quality pass rushers at RDE and the LOT position is very important.
? When you watch the Falcons' run game on film, it is easy to be impressed with their zone blocking schemes, especially on inside runs. On almost every run play between the tackles, the Falcons get double team blocks on both defensive tackles and get a great push, making it tough for the LBs to scrape and get off those blocks.
? A big challenge for the Saints' defense is defending Vick when he is on the run. They are an aggressive defense that likes to pursue, but the best way to play against Vick is to stay in a contain mode and guard against the cutback run. They must also be prepared to flow fast if he doesn't cut back against the grain. It is a tough assignment for any defense.
? Another big factor in Vick's early success is the fact that he is running the option offense out of the shotgun formation. It gives him a lot of room to see the defense and make decisions. Even though Vick may run this offense only 20 snaps a game, it is so unusual that defensive coordinators spend an inordinate amount of time preparing for those 20 plays, which takes away from preparation for the other 40 to 50 snaps.
? The Falcons are starting to incorporate RB Jerious Norwood into the running game as a nice changeup to Dunn. Norwood gives them some physical, inside running, which sets up Dunn for outside runs.
The Saints are very active on defense, but they are not very big and physical. They depend on one-gap quickness and penetration to have success, and the Falcons' offensive line should be able to get a big body on defenders and move them out of the hole. An underrated player in this run game is Griffith, who does a nice job as a lead blocker and is also excellent in pass protection and blitz pickup. He also catches the ball well out of the backfield.
? A fun individual matchup to watch is Atlanta cornerback DeAngelo Hall versus New Orleans wide receiver Joe Horn. Hall is developing into a shutdown corner. While he can outrun the veteran Horn, he is not big and physical. Horn will look to push off to get separation on quick crossing routes and hitches. Drew Brees will have to be smart in this matchup and not force the ball to Horn, who will want the ball often in this national spotlight. Hall can jump routes and take chances because he has the ability to recover if he makes a mistake. This may be a frustrating night for Horn and I think Brees may have to look elsewhere for success in the passing game.
? Reggie Bush could have a significant role in this game as a receiver out of the backfield. If Horn is neutralized by Hall, he may become a little bit of a decoy by running vertical routes and clearing out some zones for Bush. If he lines up in the backfield, Bush will likely be covered by a linebacker and that is a matchup he will win every time. We know that New Orleans likes to put Bush in motion or play him in the perimeter, but when he is in the backfield he has a much better chance to get the individual matchup he likes. The Falcons might counter with Hall covering Bush at times, which is a great athletic matchup.
? This Atlanta defense may be for real. We know that ends John Abraham (who won't play) and Patrick Kerney are excellent edge rushers, and Hall is becoming a true shutdown corner, but where they get my attention is up the middle. They have two physical tackles in Grady Jackson and Rod Coleman, which allows middle linebacker Keith Brooking to fly to the ball without a lot of contact. Behind Brooking they have two physical safeties -- Lawyer Milloy and Chris Crocker. It is tough for offenses to attack the inside of this improving defense.
New Orleans Saints

? When you break down Brees on film, the first thing you examine is his arm strength and the velocity of his passes because of his shoulder surgery. He looked good against Green Bay a week ago. He threw an excellent deep ball with a lot of air, and his intermediate passes had decent zip and excellent accuracy. He is also taking hits and responding well. He has a good command of this offense and is the face of this team.
? Speaking of Brees, a big play in the second quarter typifies the intelligence and grittiness that makes him such a good leader. He threw a 26-yard TD to WR Devery Henderson, set up by a great double pump that froze corner Ahmad Carroll, allowing Henderson to get behind him. Brees also made a perfect throw. However, what most fans didn't realize is the play before the TD, Carroll went to the ground with leg cramps and muscle spasms. Brees saw it and knew he had a good one-on-one match on the outside. He went right after Carroll one play later for the touchdown.
? The right side of the Saints' defensive line -- tackle Bryant Young and end Will Smith -- has combined for five sacks in the first two weeks of the season, and the Saints are playing solid overall run defense. They have given up only 74.0 yards per game on the ground in the first two weeks, but they have not seen a run offense like the Falcons. This is a defense that is overachieving and playing smart football (only two penalties versus Green Bay)
? The Saints are opening up the passing game to stretch defenses and set up the run game. Brees is doing a great job of recognizing positive individual matchups. Against Green Bay, the Saints had six receivers catch a pass for 20 yards or longer. We think of Brees as a QB who excels in a short passing game, but his ability to go vertical with good touch makes this offense much less predictable.
? One reason the Saints may be playing so well on defense so far is they put a premium on conditioning in training camp and this is a unit that is in good physical shape. The other reason is they are using a rotation, not only in their defensive line, but also in their back seven. They are playing a lot of different defensive packages and appear to be fresher in the fourth quarter than opposing offenses.
? It is imperative for the Saints to run the ball well this week against an aggressive and athletic Atlanta defensive front seven. Last week, they only ran the ball 22 times against Green Bay. They must control the clock on offense and keep the Falcons' offense off the field. They cannot afford a lot of three-and-outs or they will let this game get out of control early.

? The Saints will play some Cover 2 schemes versus the Falcons. On paper, this is a good defense against Vick, as there are seven defenders sitting in coverage facing Vick, in position to come up and contain him. However, because the Atlanta running game is so good right now, the Saints will be tempted (and possibly forced) to bring at least one safety in the box in run support, creating a huge matchup problem versus tight end Alge Crumpler. He can beat most safeties or linebackers in coverage, and can exploit the middle of the field, especially if Vick freezes the Saints' defense with his option reads. The Saints love to play downhill on defense, but Atlanta has so many offensive options with Vick, the Saints may be forced to be less aggressive.
? Brees is doing an excellent job of spreading the ball around and managing the game. He gets the ball to his best playmaker in Horn, but also knows how to incorporate rookie Bush into the offense. He is also not afraid to get the ball to his other receivers such as Marques Colston and Henderson. Brees takes what the defense gives him and his best feature may be his composure under pressure. He is the perfect guy right now to lead this team.
? Brees will face a Falcons defense that may try to blitz him and force him throw on the move, which is not his strength. However, he does process information very quickly and has a quick release. The key will be to get the ball out faster than usual and the passing game on Monday night may consist of more short passes, quick slants and hitches. ? A very tough matchup for the Saints is Atlanta DT Rod Coleman versus the interior of New Orleans' offensive line. Coleman is one of the most dominating inside penetrators in the NFL and is an excellent pass rusher for a big man. If he gets a good inside push, it will negate Brees' ability to step up in the pocket, forcing him to move sideways. Controlling Coleman is critical, because he can totally take over a game at the line of scrimmage.
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Hache Man · Sep 25, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 10 New Articles Added 9/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 10 New Articles Added 9/23/06)

Steelers in unfamiliar position

posted: Monday, September 25, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns

A few notes about the division after this weekend.

First off, I am not going out of much a limb here, but this is the best division in the league and is going to be an extremely competitive division amongst its three top teams.

Pittsburgh

Bill Cowher and company find themselves in an unfamiliar spot at 1-2 and two games behind the AFC North leaders after just three weeks of play. The bye week could not come at a better time. It isn't time to go back to the drawing board by any stretch, but the team, especially the offense and special teams, needs to get some valuable practice reps and develop more continuity with one another as the team gets healthier. Ben Roethlisberger has been pressing too hard to make plays and still isn't 100 percent. He looks a bit shaken and isn't showing the same physical strength he had last season. What rarely gets mentioned is Roethlisberger and his top target, Hines Ward, really haven't played together much at all this season. Ward missed the entire preseason with a hamstring, while Roethlisberger missed time with his appendectomy. The rest will do both players a lot of good and could go a long way to get them back on the same page.

Ricardo Colclough's crucial muffed punt that directly led to a Bengals' touchdown is disturbing and the returners have been a problem the entire season for Pittsburgh. First round pick Santonio Holmes hasn't caught the ball cleanly either and third rounder Willie Reid, who was drafted for his return abilities, has been inactive in each of the three games. The Steelers haven't generated big plays from their return game and haven't done well in covering punts and kicks. This area needs to be addressed over the bye week and it might be time to give Reid a shot as the top returner.

The most indispensable player on Steelers' team is Troy Polamalu and with his shoulder injury, he is playing as a shell of what he is capable. Polamalu is the type of player who jumps off the screen, flies around the football and is used in a ton of different ways. With his injury, he has been reduced to an ordinary player who misses tackles and can't make plays on the ball over his head. If he heals over the next two weeks, a good Steelers defense will be back amongst the top handful of defenses in the league.

Cowher and the organization will not rattle because of their 1-2 start. This team stays the course as well as any team, but they now have their work cut out for them to emerge as the AFC North Champion and the schedule doesn't get any easier the rest of the way.

Baltimore

Steve McNair hasn't been flashy, but he is efficient and most importantly, he doesn't turn the ball over. He has great poise and is in control in pressure situations, as evidenced by his game winning drive late in the game in Cleveland Sunday. He understands what it takes to win and that simply is something the Ravens have not had at this position of late. Expect him to get even better with more experience in this offense and his timing with his receivers should improve as well. McNair already has a fine rapport with Derrick Mason. Mark Clayton has shown more signs of coming to life as well.

I have been skeptical of the Ravens up to this point in the season because I simply do not trust their depth once injuries set in as the season goes along. This is an older team with a lot of key players with some durability issues. Baltimore's schedule to this point also has been less-than-challenging. With all of that being said, I will not detract from what they have accomplished to this point and they are a legitimate contender in the AFC for now. Their Week 4 game hosting San Diego will be a true test.

Cincinnati

The Bengals didn't play their best game Sunday. They had a rash of turnovers, allowed far too much pressure on Carson Palmer, were understaffed due to injury and were beaten by the Steelers at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. However, they left Heinz Field with a win against their biggest rival. This is a great sign for the Bengals. This is a young, talented team and this shows maturity and mental toughness that is required to excel in this league. Their schedule doesn't let up as they host the Patriots next week. Beating these two organizations two weeks in a row should be a statement to the rest of the league that Cincinnati should truly be feared.

Cleveland

There were some bright spots for the Browns Sunday against the Ravens. QB Charlie Frye continued to make good decisions, play efficient football and is progressing in his development. Of course he threw an awful interception very late in the game that allowed Baltimore to march down the field, kick a field goal and go home with a victory. But overall, Frye played a fine football game. The other promising aspect of the passing game is the rapport Frye now has with Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow Jr.. These two are outstanding young prospects and if they continue to mature with Frye, this passing game will be quite formidable before too long.

While there bright spots, the Browns still found a way to lose. They continue to make youthful mistakes at crucial times of the game. Without question, the largest obstacle that head coach Romeo Crennel and his coaching staff face is transforming the losing attitude of this franchise. Strides have been made without question, but the results on the field are not showing it.

Pittsburgh

Bill Cowher and company find themselves in an unfamiliar spot at 1-2 and two games behind the AFC North leaders after just three weeks of play. The bye week could not come at a better time. It isn't time to go back to the drawing board by any stretch, but the team, especially the offense and special teams, needs to get some valuable practice reps and develop more continuity with one another as the team gets healthier. Ben Roethlisberger has been pressing too hard to make plays and still isn't 100 percent. He looks a bit shaken and isn't showing the same physical strength he had last season. What rarely gets mentioned is Roethlisberger and his top target, Hines Ward, really haven't played together much at all this season. Ward missed the entire preseason with a hamstring, while Roethlisberger missed time with his appendectomy. The rest will do both players a lot of good and could go a long way to get them back on the same page.

Ricardo Colclough's crucial muffed punt that directly led to a Bengals' touchdown is disturbing and the returners have been a problem the entire season for Pittsburgh. First round pick Santonio Holmes hasn't caught the ball cleanly either and third rounder Willie Reid, who was drafted for his return abilities, has been inactive in each of the three games. The Steelers haven't generated big plays from their return game and haven't done well in covering punts and kicks. This area needs to be addressed over the bye week and it might be time to give Reid a shot as the top returner.

The most indispensable player on Steelers' team is Troy Polamalu and with his shoulder injury, he is playing as a shell of what he is capable. Polamalu is the type of player who jumps off the screen, flies around the football and is used in a ton of different ways. With his injury, he has been reduced to an ordinary player who misses tackles and can't make plays on the ball over his head. If he heals over the next two weeks, a good Steelers defense will be back amongst the top handful of defenses in the league.

Cowher and the organization will not rattle because of their 1-2 start. This team stays the course as well as any team, but they now have their work cut out for them to emerge as the AFC North Champion and the schedule doesn't get a whole easier the rest of the way.

Hache Man · Sep 25, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 10 New Articles Added 9/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 10 New Articles Added 9/23/06)

Big plays often trump big stats

posted: Monday, September 25, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans

Many of us who study football will check the final statistics to see the reason for a team's success. Much of the time the best stats will equate to a victory, but turnovers, costly penalties, fourth-down stops and impact plays (usually those of more than 20 yards) can trump big numbers.

Lets look at some examples that were glaring in AFC East games this weekend:
Buffalo Bills

The Bills dominated the stat book but lost on the scoreboard. The New York Jets were the first road team to win when allowing a quarterback to throw for 300 yards and a running back to gain 150 yards.

Buffalo's Willis McGahee gashed the Jets defense, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. QB J.P. Losman had 22 completions for 328 yards in the air. The Bills also won the time of possession battle, with more than 33 minutes of possession. The New York Jets, meanwhile, had a total of 256 yards of total offense and averaged 3.1 yards per rushing attempt.
Despite all that, the Jets won be making more impact-type plays. Buffalo had one big play -- a short pass over the middle to Roscoe Parrish that turned into a 51-yard touchdown play. But the Jets got a 47-yard catch and run on a similar type play by RB Leon Washington to set up a score. New York also got three turnovers -- an interception that stopped a nice Buffalo drive and two fumble recoveries. Jets LB Victor Hobson scooped up one of the fumbles and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown. The Jets also had two fourth-down stops in the first half that ended up being a big part of the game.
Miami Dolphins

Miami's victory over the winless Tennessee Titans was ugly. The stats weren't as lopsided as in the Bills-Jets contest, but if one only looked at the basic numbers, one might have thought the Titans won this matchup.

Tennessee had more total yards but had three costly turnovers and had a punt return for a touchdown called back due to a penalty. The penalty shows up in the stat books, but the seven points it cost them do not. Miami 13, Tennessee 10.
Jacksonville Jaguars

Outside the AFC East, there was another textbook example of how the stats don't tell the whole story. The basic numbers would indicate a win on the road for Jacksonville, which controlled the ball for almost 40 minutes, had nearly 200 yards rushing, held Peyton Manning to less than 50 percent completions and allowed the Colts just 65 yards on the ground. But two Byron Leftwich interceptions, two missed field goals and an 82-yard punt return for a Colts touchdown tipped the score for the Colts.
There are many examples throughout all levels of football where a particular team will out-stat another but still lose. More times than not, big plays that impact a game will trump the more impressive numbers posted in the books

Hache Man · Sep 26, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 11 New Articles Added 9/25/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 11 New Articles Added 9/25/06)

<TABLE width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>NFL Rumor Central: Bucs auditioning QBs
</TD><TD align=right width="30%">Other Rumors: MLB | NBA | NHL
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<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD colSpan=3>Tuesday, September 26</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD width=65>WHO</TD><TD>WHAT</TD><TD>THE SKINNY</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD noWrap align=middle>

Tampa Bay
</TD><TD>QB search
</TD><TD>Bucs auditioning QBs
<Sep. 26> The first wave of possible replacements for Bucs QB Chris Simms will arrive in Tampa Tuesday, reports ESPN.com's John Clayton. Veteran Tommy Maddox the will visit the Bucs along with Kliff Kingsbury and maybe three others. Another option for the Bucs might be a trade for Oakland third-stringer Marques Tuiasosopo, whom Jon Gruden drafted when he was with the Raiders. Simms hasn't been ruled out for the season after having his spleen replaced, but the Bucs need to make a move to get them through the next couple of weeks. It wouldn't be a surprise if the Bucs look at former Cowboys quarterback Drew Henson.

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Hache Man · Sep 27, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 1 New Article Added 9/26/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 1 New Article Added 9/26/06)

Wednesday, September 27, 2006
<TABLE style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>

</TD><TD vAlign=top>

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Scouting Matchups: Week 4

By Scouts, Inc.




<TABLE class=text11 cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=0 width=552 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width="100%"><TABLE id=inlinetable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=162 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TH style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" colSpan=2>

</TH><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width=3> </TD><TD width=156>Only Insiders get access to all of Scouts Inc.'s, in-depth NFL coverage, as well as insight from ESPN's stable of football analysts.
? Take the Insider tour
? Become an Insider
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>NFL advance scouts watch games in person, studying everything from personnel packages to play-calling signals, and on film, looking at individual players, as well as a team's various schemes and recent trends. The goal? Provide their coaching staff with the best possible means of preparation during the week of practice. Scouts Inc. does the same thing, compiling the best advance scouting reports available and delivering them to you by Tuesday afternoon on ESPN.com Insider. On Friday, after breaking down more game film, Scouts Inc. files an updated report with a deeper look at each game, spotlighting key individual matchups and trends and predicting the final score.

<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD width=100>Matchup</TD><TD>Scouting</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD colSpan=2>SUNDAY OCTOBER 1, 2006</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Indianapolis
at
NY Jets
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Colts at Jets
The surprising Jets have two wins on the road and put a scare into the Patriots in Week 2. The Colts are undefeated and coming off a tough divisional win over the Jaguars. Jets head coach Eric Mangini and his staff have done a nice job of game-planning early in the season. Last week against in Buffalo, the Jets' no-huddle offense was key to their victory. This looks like a statistical mismatch on paper, but as we've seen early this season, anything can happen, especially on the road.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

New Orleans
at
Carolina
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Saints at Panthers
Even though the Panthers may have saved their season last week, they now face another tough divisional foe in the Saints. The return of Pro Bowl receiver Steve Smith elevated the Panthers' offense last week. Look for Saints defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs to focus on stopping the Panthers' power running game and RB DeShaun Foster. However, the Panthers will try and expose the Saints' secondary with quick, underneath crossing routes to wide receivers Keyshawn Johnson and Drew Carter, while attacking vertically down the field to Smith.

Saints head coach Sean Payton will rely on his passing attack to set up the run with RB Deuce McAllister. The Saints love to spread the field with RB Reggie Bush to create individual mismatches they can attack and exploit in certain situations. The key for Carolina defensively will be geared on stopping the Saints' running game with its front seven and attacking the Saints' protections schemes with pressures packages in third down-situations.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

San Diego
at
Baltimore
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Chargers at Ravens
This should be an extremely physical, hard-hitting game that features two of the elite defenses in the game right now. Running room will be extremely difficult to come by and both quarterbacks should take a beating against nasty pass rushes. If you like defensive football, you can't miss this one.

Although the Ravens struggled quite a bit with the Browns last week, both teams have had their way with less-than-stellar opponents; this will be a true test of where both teams truly are. San Diego does not have any major injury concerns and will be very well rested coming off its bye.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Miami
at
Houston
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Dolphins at Texans
The Miami Dolphins won a squeaker on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. The Houston Texans, meanwhile were dominated by the Washington Redskins at home. This game is going to pit two struggling offenses. But the Texans have a weak defense while the Dolphins still have a good defense. Miami started the recovery process (after two disastrous defeats against Pittsburgh and Buffalo) with a win over the struggling Titans and has a chance to continue the process against the even worse Texans. The Texans, meanwhile, look at this game as a chance to get their first win of the season.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Arizona
at
Atlanta
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Cardinals at Falcons
There will be a lot of offensive firepower on the field as the Falcons return home to face the Cardinals. QB Kurt Warner has played poorly in recent weeks, but the Cardinals are resisting the urge to insert rookie Matt Leinart into the starting lineup. The Falcons' offense is built around its explosive rushing attack led by QB Michael Vick and RB Warrick Dunn. Cardinals defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast will try and design a creative game plan that forces the Falcons to attack through the air, while containing Atlanta's ground game.

Even though the Cardinals have upgraded the running back position with Edgerrin James, they continue to struggle. Falcons defensive coordinator Ed Donatell will continue to run his multiple attacking up-field schemes to disrupt the Cardinals' blocking patterns, while relying on his four-man rush to create pressure in passing situations.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Minnesota
at
Buffalo
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Vikings at Bills
The Minnesota Vikings have proven their defense. They have been stout stopping the run and aggressive defending opponents passing attacks. The Vikings haven't scored an offensive touchdown in the last two games, but Buffalo has been inconsistent defensively. While Buffalo is still learning how to win, Minnesota has learned how to win games as a team. Two conservative coaches clashing -- Brad Childress and Dick Jauron -- can sometimes bring surprisingly exciting football.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Dallas
at
Tennessee
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Cowboys at Titans
The Cowboys are coming off a bye and should be fresh. Will Terrell Owens be able to play after having a plate put in his broken hand? The Cowboys need a win against the Titans to keep up with the division leading Eagles. The Titans are 0-3 and struggling on offense. Will this be the game we see rookie quarterback Vince Young or will the Titans stick with Kerry Collins? This could be a breakout game for the Cowboys against a poor Titans' defense. It would be great to see Young and what he could do on the field.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

San Francisco
at
Kansas City
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>49ers at Chiefs
The 49ers are playing hard right now and even though it is not showing up in the box score every week, they are getting better. Second-year QB Alex Smith has taken a giant leap forward, and he is starting to make a lot of plays.

The Chiefs are coming off a bye and have a chance this week to get their season going in the right direction. Newly acquired Rod Gardner will dress this week and could potentially provide a spark for a Chiefs' anemic passing attack facing a 49ers secondary that is giving up way too many plays.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Detroit
at
St. Louis
Sun 4:05 PM ET</TD><TD>Lions at Rams
Lions head coach Rod Marinelli is looking for something to get his team to rally around, and a win on the road could help ignite the Lions and give them some momentum. Mike Martz returns to the city in which he coached the "Greatest Show On Turf" for six years, but as offensive coordinator instead of head coach. Martz was successful with his quick-strike offense in St. Louis, but he's struggled to get the offense going in Detroit. A win for St. Louis would help Rams players start believing in the system that head coach Scott Linehan is trying to install.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Jacksonville
at
Washington
Sun 4:15 PM ET</TD><TD>Jaguars at Redskins
It looks like the Redskins found their offense against the Texans. To prove it is no fluke, they need to have the same type of game against a good Jaguars' defense. The Jaguars are playing solid defense, and the offense is moving the ball behind quarterback Byron Leftwich and the running of back Maurice Jones-Drew. The Jaguars' receivers could all have break out games against a porous Redskins' secondary. Both teams need a win to keep them close to the division leaders in their respected conferences.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Cleveland
at
Oakland
Sun 4:15 PM ET</TD><TD>Browns at Raiders
The Raiders are coming off their bye week, so it will be interesting to find out if they have been able to make some adjustments on offense. One change for them will be the first NFL start for second-year QB Andrew Walter. Walter had a solid preseason and did some decent things in Week 2 when he can of the bench in relief of Aaron Brooks.

The Browns are still playing hard, but after another disappointing setback this will be a long road trip to the West Coast. Young QB Charlie Frye continues to be up and down, but he and receiver Braylon Edwards will look for some more explosive plays this week. Kellen Winslow got another taunting penalty after a catch last week and it should be fun watching him jaw with the Raiders fans.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

New England
at
Cincinnati
Sun 4:15 PM ET</TD><TD>Patriots at Bengals
This should be a very competitive game between the Patriots, who have been an elite organization over the past several years, and the Bengals, who are an up-and-coming franchise that is dripping with talented players and upside. Both teams feature outstanding quarterbacks and opportunistic defenses that thrive on creating turnovers.

The Bengals won an ugly game that was littered with mistakes, turnovers and sacks against the Steelers last week, but walking away with the win under those circumstances is commendable and demonstrates their improving maturity. New England's passing attack has lost some swagger, but it did finally show signs of life once the Patriots were behind against Denver and went exclusively to their hurry-up attack.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Seattle
at
Chicago
Sun 8:15 PM ET</TD><TD>Seahawks at Bears
The Seahawks and Bears lead their respective divisions and have been getting their wins with outstanding defensive play. Both teams are talented at all three levels on defense (defensive line, linebacker, secondary), and enter the game undefeated. The Seahawks have added more depth and talent to their defensive front. This game should be an exciting test of wills to see which defense folds first.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD colSpan=2>MONDAY OCTOBER 2, 2006</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Green Bay
at
Philadelphia
Mon 8:30 PM ET</TD><TD>Packers at Eagles
Brett Favre and Donovan McNabb are both having fun playing football again. Favre isn't spending all his energy escaping defensive linemen, forcing his throws or climbing up from the turf, and McNabb isn't having to deal with the harassment of the media or Terrell Owens. Both quarterbacks are on a serious roll at the moment. Favre has passed for 340 yards and three touchdowns in each of the Packers' last two games. He is fourth in the NFL with 850 yards passing.

McNabb is currently the leading passer in the NFL with 960 yards and seven touchdowns. He is completing 61.1 percent of his passes. If football fans want to watch two great quarterbacks, they will tune in Monday night.
? Complete advance scouting report
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Sep 27, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 1 New Article Added 9/26/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 1 New Article Added 9/26/06)

Raiders' pain not all self-inflicted

posted: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, St. Louis Rams, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills

So everyone knows the Raiders have a lot of problems, most of which are of their own doing: hiring coaches who have been out of the league so long; switching offensive schemes so often that their linemen are constantly reshuffled; allowing Jerry Porter to be a distraction by permitting him to be on the sidelines - all the stuff I addressed in my article on the Raiders that comes out this week in ESPN The Magazine.

But a few things - yes, a few - are actually out of Oakland's control. For one, the schedule. They opened against two of the AFC's toughest teams, maybe the two best defenses in the league: San Diego and Baltimore. If they'd opened against the Texans and Lions, things might be different. For another, the Raiders are struggling at a time when the AFC is not only by far the dominant conference but the AFC West is extremely tough. Think back to when Jon Gruden coached Oakland. Gruden's tenure in Oakland was important because, according to sources, Al Davis thought he could control him. He couldn't. Since Gruden was traded to Tampa Bay, the Raiders have had a credibility problem in hiring coaches. No respectable coach wants to be there. That's why they were passed over so many times this past offseason before hiring Art Shell.

While everyone remembers Gruden as Oakland's best head coach since Shell's first tenure, he was also lucky. San Diego was being rebuilt under Mike Riley and Marty Schottenheimer; Denver was in its post-Elway funk; Gunther Cunningham was "leading" Kansas City. The time was ripe for the Raiders, and Gruden was able to build a team so strong that it faced him in the Super Bowl in January 2003.

Oakland may now be the laughing stock of the league, but if it were in the NFC West it could count on four or five division wins this year. Not so in the AFC West. So while the Raiders deserve some heat for the way they've opened the season and the mess they're in, not every element of it is their fault. (But feel free to blame Davis anyway.)
Random Stuff & Mailbag
? There's a semi-intriguing battle going on between Jacksonville head coach Jack Del Rio and Colts punter Hunter Smith. The Jaguars are "like the stand-up comic who can only use vulgarity and curse words because he lacks intelligence and lacks class," Smith told the Indianapolis Star. "A team that gets personal fouls the way they do, the roughing penalties, they just don't have any material."

Del Rio went back, saying: "It must be something with the kickers over there. If [Smith] starts talking about Peyton, let me know."
? My friend Steve brought up an interesting point while we were talking football the other night: No one is going to remember Kurt Warner as anything other than a journeyman who seems to fumble eight times a month. People forget that he played quarterback better than almost anyone did for a three-year stretch. Find another QB who ran the most prolific offense in NFL history, became the NFL's all-time leader in passer rating and completion rate, won two MVPs, and a Super Bowl MVP.
? The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's review of the Steelers' first few games calls for a few lineup changes.
? The Packers are using reporters as a way to demonstrate how to not fumble.
? Dick Vermeil thinks his old squad will be fine. (I wish he were saying it from the TV booth and not his winery.)
Deke (Akron, Ohio):
Is it fair to say the Bengals have the best WRs in the game? They can go five-deep with guys like Chad, TJ, C. Henry, Tab Perry and Kelley Washington.
Seth: I'm totally on board with the Bengals having the best WRs in the NFL, even though the careers of Washington and Henry aren't anywhere close what they expected them to be, obviously for different reasons. After the Bengals, my top 10 teams as far as receivers go: Cardinals, Cowboys, Colts, Rams, Broncos, Giants, Redskins, Seahawks and Bills.
Steve (Toronto, Ontario):
Why are the Titans continuing to start Kerry Collins? Heck, throw in Vince Young and let him play. It's not like the Titans are going to be contenders.
Seth: I don't think they want Vince Young's confidence shot with games against the Cowboys and at Washington and Indy. Remember, the offense Vince Young ran at Texas wasn't as advanced as USC's. He's learning a lot this year. Better to wait until after the Colts game and prepare him for the Texans after a bye. It's a long career and two or three games as a rookie won't matter.
Andrew Hendershott, (Missouri):
To get away from pro football, and into NCAA, how do you feel about the season our Mizzou Tigers are having?
Seth: I feel good, even though I don't really root for Mizzou football. It's not a journalist objectivity thing, it's more that I went from Alaska to Missouri for the major it offered, not for the sports. I barely knew who Norm Stewart was upon arrival. So there's no kinship. That said, the Tigers have set themselves up nicely as the favorite in the Big 12 North. It comes down to beating Nebraska on Nov. 4 and not drop any easy North games along the way.
Mike (San Diego):
Nice to read about the rally for the S.F. Chronicle reporters facing jail time for not testifying about BALCO. Did you also attend a rally for Greg Anderson? How many people attended that one?
Seth: No. There's a big difference between a steroid dealer covering for his friend and two reporters fishing out the truth. Unfortunately, the law doesn't agree with me. We were in S.F. to support the two reporters but also voice the absurdity of the law as it stands. But, given that, the two S.F. reporters clearly broke the law. That's what needs to be fixed.
Brad (Ellensburg, Wash.):
This morning you wrote about Jeremy Shockey's outburst; you noticed that the Seahawks are looking like the Super Bowl contenders that many of "us" thought they were. Are you included in that "us"? Because you picked them to lose the past two weeks; are you experiencing some cognitive dissonance or what? Seth: Nah, look in the archives. Seattle has been my Super Bowl pick all along. Doesn't mean I didn't think they'd lose a few games on the way, even if I was way wrong on the Giants game.

Hache Man · Sep 27, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 1 New Article Added 9/26/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 1 New Article Added 9/26/06)

'Boys must work through T.O. news

posted: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Dallas Cowboys

What a morning. I was enjoying a cup of coffee and listening to "Mike & Mike in the Morning" when it was reported that Terrell Owens apparently tried to commit suicide. I say apparent, because all the facts are not in at this writing, and there is a lot of speculation going on.

Owens

Whether it was or was not a suicide attempt, it nevertheless is going to have an effect on the Dallas Cowboys and will be a distraction as they prepare for this week's game versus the Tennessee Titans.

Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells and his coaching staff need to stay focused through all the media attention that is coming their way. This incident is going to be a big distraction, and if not handled properly could cause the team to lose focus on the task at hand -- beating the 0-3 Titans.
First off, Parcells and his staff have to be concerned for Owens, but they cannot let that concern stray them from preparing the team. The staff needs to take the lead in getting the players to concentrate on the game plan while in the building and on the practice field. Obviously there is a strong likelihood Owens will not play this Sunday, which means the coaches once again need to get Owens' backups ready to play.
The veteran team leaders need to have a players-only meeting to discuss the situation and to talk about how they should handle it as a group. The players need to come together and have empathy for Owens. Then they should put the blinders on and concentrate on beating the Titans. If asked about T.O., the players need to be supportive but stop at commenting on his behavior or his state of mind before Tuesday night. There is going to be a lot of media attention on Owens, rather than the Tennessee Titans this week. The players and coaches need to keep the conversation on how they are going to beat Tennessee and let T.O. and his people discuss what happened.

Hache Man · Sep 27, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 1 New Article Added 9/26/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 1 New Article Added 9/26/06)

Cardinals sticking with Warner

posted: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks

Arizona

The Cardinals almost turned to rookie quarterback Matt Leinart, but did an about face and decided to stick with QB Kurt Warner as they head to Atlanta to face the 2-1 Falcons, a team that is coming off of a horrible showing on Monday night against the Saints. I agree with this move for the Cardinals, because you do not want to mess up the small amount of chemistry you have in the locker room, despite Warner's most recent performances. If the team replaces Warner at this juncture of the season, it says to the players the organization has already given up on this year and are looking forward to next year. Although the players have much confidence in the future abilities Leinart, most honestly do not want to see the change right now. Later in the year the Cardinals can turn to Leinart if Warner continues to struggle, but right now Warner gives them the best chance to win on the road and the near future. My over-under for Warner is being replaced was three weeks, but maybe I can get a reprieve since the Cardinals actually did make the change before hitting the recall button.

Seattle
Over the past few weeks many have wondered as to the running ability and physical play of running back Shaun Alexander. I guess the questions can be answered. It's the Madden Box Cover Curse! I am not one for curses and spells, but I might have to rethink this one. We now see that Alexander has been struggling with a foot injury that has been more serious than club officials have led us to believe. I do not see this as a major concern for the Seahawks while Alexander is out. Since they are now without the services of Alexander for some time, the Seahawks will look to split his services between RB Maurice Morris and fullback Mack Strong. Morris will be primarily used as the runner in running situations and Strong will be used to help in pass protection. Not to mention the fact the Seahawks looked good last week in the spread sets with four and five wide receivers, so this will also help to fill the void left by the absence of Alexander, now that they have at least five quality receivers including playmaker WR Deion Branch acquired from New England Patriots. I still see the Seahawks as a team to be in the NFC Wast and this is only a minor setback which they will be able to get through due to their depth on the roster.

Hache Man · Sep 27, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 1 New Article Added 9/26/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 1 New Article Added 9/26/06)

Results differ for comeback QBs

posted: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Miami Dolphins, New York Jets

Several quarterbacks came into the 2006 season with big question marks, including two big ones in the AFC East. Three weeks in, there is a glaring contrast in how those two are performing.

Pennington

Chad Pennington of the New York Jets has come off two shoulder surgeries and been a bright spot for first-year head coach Eric Mangini. Daunte Culpepper of the Miami Dolphins, meanwhile, has been something of a disappointment coming off major knee surgery.

How these two players perform the rest of the way most likely will determine how the AFC East unfolds.
Pennington has New York at 2-1 with proficient passing and excellent decision-making. He average yards per completion is greater early this season (8.2 yards) than it was before his shoulder injury season (6.4), although he is just 4 of 7 with an interception on passes thrown more than 21 yards downfield. Nevertheless, Jets fans can feel good about their quarterback. He's healthy, and that means the Jets could muddy the water in the division if other less productive areas can improve.

Culpepper

Everyone has picked apart Culpepper and his sub-par performances this season. He has been less than impressive moving his team and getting into the end zone. His numbers are marginal, but his play has been poor at times. He still is not comfortable with the timing and rhythm of this Dolphins offense, and his mobility is not close to that of his pro bowl seasons. Of course, quarterback play isn't the only thing wrong with the Dolphins -- offensive line play, defensive coverage and special teams all have struggled thus far -- but if the team doesn't see marked improvement in those areas, Miami fans will have a long season.
It should be noted that the kind of major knee injury Culpepper suffered is by far the toughest injury to come back from in such a short period of time. The simple fact he made it back to the field by opening day has to be considered an accomplishment.

Hache Man · Sep 27, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 1 New Article Added 9/26/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 1 New Article Added 9/26/06)

<TABLE cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD>Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Scouting Mismatches: Week 4

By Scouts, Inc.



</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD>The NFL game is all about individual matchups. They're what send coaches to the film room for hours on end, looking for any advantage. Sometimes the mismatches are obvious; other times, not so much. Our scouts have identified the one matchup in each of this week's games in which one team has a clear edge.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD>Indianapolis at NY Jets</TD></TR><TR class=colhead vAlign=top><TD>N.J. Jets OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson vs. Indianapolis DE Dwight Freeney
</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD>Since Freeney has been in the league (2002), he has been a dominant force as a pass rusher, averaging just under 13 sacks per year. Most offenses have had to scheme for what was called the "Freeney Factor." Even though Freeney has been hampered with a strained buttock muscle, look for him to challenge Ferguson. If Freeney is healthy, veteran pass-rush specialist may take the rookie Ferguson to school.</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>Click here for full scouting report </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD>New Orleans at Carolina</TD></TR><TR class=colhead vAlign=top><TD>Carolina LDE Julius Peppers vs. New Orleans RT Jon Stinchcomb
</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD>The Saints will need to do a good job shoring up their protection schemes out on the edges in passing situations. Peppers is a gifted athlete with unparalleled size and speed for the position. He is an explosive up-field rusher who can shorten the edge and close on the quarterback. He is a scheme-changer who must be accounted for on every snap. The Saints are high on Stinchcomb and his performance in the early stages of the regular season. However, he is still a work in progress who will have his hands full in containing Peppers.</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>Click here for full scouting report </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

</TD></TR></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD>San Diego at Baltimore</TD></TR><TR class=colhead vAlign=top><TD>San Diego OLB Shawne Merriman vs. Baltimore LT Jonathan Ogden
</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD>Ogden is still a fine player and borderline Pro Bowl-caliber left tackle, but he isn't the dominator he once was and Merriman might be the most disruptive defensive player in the NFL today. Ogden now has problems against elite speed rushers; not only is Merriman an outstanding speed rusher, but he's also an extremely powerful force who plays low and can get under Ogden's pads and drive him back to the quarterback. Merriman is also very stout at the point of attack in the run game and will brace up and thump Ogden when these two bang heads. With the wealth of pass rushers on the Chargers' defense and some serious questions with the other members of the Ravens' offensive line, Ogden will probably be forced to battle Merriman one on one. It might not be pretty for Baltimore. Ogden's knee has also been bothering him this season.
</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>Click here for full scouting report </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

</TD></TR></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD>Miami at Houston</TD></TR><TR class=colhead vAlign=top><TD>Miami OC Rex Hadnot vs. Houston DT Seth Payne
</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD>Houston had a hard time stopping the Redskins from running the ball up the gut and this trend should continue in this game. Miami is very large at center and both guards, and should be able to run the ball very successfully against Houston's interior defensive line. Both Payne and DT Travis Johnson need to do a better job of keeping blockers off the linebackers behind them, so they can make tackles closer to the line of scrimmage. If Ronnie Brown can get through the line of scrimmage and to the second level, he can make some big plays. </TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>Click here for full scouting report </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

</TD></TR></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD>Arizona at Atlanta</TD></TR><TR class=colhead vAlign=top><TD>Arizona WR Anquan Boldin vs. Atlanta DC Jason Webster
</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD>There isn't a better receiving duo in the NFL than Larry Fitzgerald and Boldin, who last season became the only teammates ever top 100 catches and 1,400 yards receiving in the same season. Boldin is an emotional player who has the ability to be productive on all three levels in the passing game. He is a big, strong receiver with very good hands and run-after-catch ability in open space. Webster is a short corner who will have a hard time matching up with Boldin out on the perimeter playing opposite DeAngelo Hall. The Cardinals will look to exploit this matchup in a big way.</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>Click here for full scouting report </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

</TD></TR></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD>Minnesota at Buffalo</TD></TR><TR class=colhead vAlign=top><TD>Buffalo OC Melvin Fowler vs. Minnesota DT Pat Williams
</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD>The intelligent, yet undersized offensive center Melvin Fowler will line up against a huge, powerful and extremely quick Pat Williams all afternoon in Buffalo. His only chance for success is to get his quick hands on Williams, while moving the launch point of the quarterback so the Vikings' defensive line cannot pin their ears back and attack. Williams has played at a tremendously high level the past two seasons and will be too much for Fowler to handle all day long. Look for Williams to tackles McGahee behind the line of scrimmage and pressure Losman. </TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>Click here for full scouting report </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

</TD></TR></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD>Dallas at Tennessee</TD></TR><TR class=colhead vAlign=top><TD>Dallas TE Jason Witten vs. Tennessee SS Chris Hope
</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD>Witten is a solid receiving tight end who could see more balls from Bledsoe, if the Titans play more of a man free coverage. Witten is quick off the ball and has good body control to sell his routes. Hope has had trouble covering tight ends in the past and will have his hands full with Witten. </TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>Click here for full scouting report </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

</TD></TR></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD>San Francisco at Kansas City</TD></TR><TR class=colhead vAlign=top><TD>Kansas City RDE Jared Allen vs. San Francisco LOT Jonas Jennings
</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD>Jennings has been a pretty big disappointment for the 49ers. He has been hobbled quite often by injuries but even when healthy he has struggled. This week he will face a player who has one of the best motors in the NFL. Allen also possesses enough speed and AA to put a lot of pressure on the outside shoulder of Jennings. Allen also has very good COD ability so look for him to work him both outside in and inside out. Allen will look to explode off the snap vs. Jennings who does not possess very good first step quickness, a fact that will be magnified in Arrowhead because it is one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL. Look for Allen to be in the backfield all day long harassing young QB Alex Smith.</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>Click here for full scouting report </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

</TD></TR></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD>Detroit at St. Louis</TD></TR><TR class=colhead vAlign=top><TD>St. Louis WR Torry Holt vs. Detroit CB Fernando Bryant
</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD>Holt, who stands at 6-feet, 195 pounds, has a distinct advantage over most CBs. With this size and outstanding hands, Holt can obtain position and come up with big plays in the passing game. With Holt matched up against Bryant (5-10, 175), the Lions could be in big trouble. Bryant will have to have help over the top from safeties or the Lions will be able to play throw and catch all day long.</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>Click here for full scouting report </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

</TD></TR></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD>Jacksonville at Washington</TD></TR><TR class=colhead vAlign=top><TD>Washington WR Santana Moss vs. Jacksonville DB Terry Cousin
</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD>Moss is a very quick and elusive receiver. He can use his athleticism to get open. The Redskins need to put Moss in the slot so he can work on Jaguars' nickel back Terry Cousins. Cousins is an older player who has lost a step and is not as quick or fast as he use to be. Cousins will have trouble covering Moss in the slot without help. If the Redskins can get Moss singled up inside on Cousins and give Brunell time, this match up could get ugly. </TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>Click here for full scouting report </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

</TD></TR></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD>Cleveland at Oakland</TD></TR><TR class=colhead vAlign=top><TD>Oakland WR Randy Moss vs. Cleveland DC Ralph Brown
</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD>Although Moss will see some of Browns No. 1 DC Leigh Bodden, the Browns won't flip Bodden to get him matched up with Moss. The Raiders will definitely try to exploit the matchup with Brown. Moss has a huge height advantage on the 5-foot-10 Brown, so the Raiders will take some shots vertically where he can go up and over Brown to make a play. With solid protection vs. Cleveland's suspect pass rush, the Raiders should finally be able to make some plays vertically. They will get Moss the ball early, which could spell a long day for this average Browns secondary.</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>Click here for full scouting report </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

</TD></TR></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD>New England at Cincinnati</TD></TR><TR class=colhead vAlign=top><TD>New England TE Benjamin Watson vs. Cincinnati SS Kevin Kaesviharn
</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD>Watson is a versatile, dynamic tight end and probably the Patriots' most dangerous receiver. New England does a fine job of moving him all over the field to create mismatches. He will line up in his traditional Y position, in the slot, out wide, and as an H-back. A player whom New England wants matched up on Watson is new starting SS Kaesviharn, who got his first start of the season last week against the Steelers. Cincinnati signed Dexter Jackson in the offseason to upgrade over Kaesviharn because it felt he wasn't true starting material due to his moderate athleticism. Now with Jackson's injury, he is forced into action. The Patriots can exploit a weakness as well as any team in the league. With SLB David Pollack out for the season, the Patriots will also try to isolate Watson on new starter Rashad Jeanty. This could be a big day for Watson.
</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>Click here for full scouting report </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

</TD></TR></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD>Seattle at Chicago</TD></TR><TR class=colhead vAlign=top><TD>Chicago TE Jason McKie vs. Seattle LB Lofa Tatupu
</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD>McKie will have his hands full this week against middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu. Tatupu, has outstanding size and speed for his position. He is very aware, shows good football instincts and can move from sideline to sideline with ease. Mckie is a stout pass blocker and will have to make sure he can account for Tatupu when the Seahawks bring their lives packages throughout the game. Mckie is not any valuable contributor in rushing or passing categories, so his blocking skills will be key to keeping Tatupu in check. Look for Tatupu to win most of these battles on pure athletic ability, which will cause Grossman to be rattled throughout the day.
</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>Click here for full scouting report </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

</TD></TR></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD>Green Bay at Philadelphia</TD></TR><TR class=colhead vAlign=top><TD>Philadelphia defensive coodinator Jim Johnson vs. Green Bay offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodinski
</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD>Veteran defensive guru Jim Johnson has stymied, confused and dominated many of his offensive counterparts and on Monday night he will face a first-year coordinator who is forced to start a pair of rookies on the interior. Look for Johnson's creative and aggressive blitz and pressure packages to take advantage of the inexperience of the Packers' linemen. Johnson will bring linebackers and safeties, as well as mix up defensive line stunts. This is the type of pressure that has led Favre to force some passes</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Sep 28, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Article Added 9/27/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Article Added 9/27/06)

Thursday, September 28, 2006
<TABLE style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>