SUNDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK
Rick Serritella
It appears that David Carr will get the start at quarterback Sunday for Carolina when they head into Tennessee. Recently acquired Vinny Testaverde is still nursing a sore right achilles’ tendon.
In Miami, head coach Cam Cameron has begun splitting first-team reps between quarterbacks Cleo Lemon and John Beck. The move indicates that Cameron is considering starting the rookie Beck after this week’s bye.
Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell said he made adjustments in practice this week to fix his fumbling problem. Campbell has eight fumbles this season, four of which were lost.
San Francisco running back Frank Gore is listed as questionable due to a lingering ankle sprain. Although his playing status against the Falcons will be a game-time decision, neither coach Mike Nolan nor the player sounded optimistic about Gore's chances. Backup Maurice Hicks is expected to handle first and second down duties, while Michael Robinson will serve as the third down back.
The appeal of a year-long suspension for Travis Henry isn't expected to be heard until after Thanksgiving. The Broncos feels internally that they may not learn the running back’s fate until early December. A suspension likely wouldn't come for a week or two after the appeal is heard. This is great news for fantasy owners of Henry, but be smart and try to pickup Selvin Young as insurance if you haven’t done so already.
Bengals running back Rudi Johnson is expected to return to action in a limited role this week. Kenny Watson, who is coming off a minor concussion, will handle the bulk of carries Sunday in Buffalo.
Titans running back Chris Henry reportedly received official notification of his suspension Saturday. He has five days to appeal. Henry, 22, reportedly took a prescription medication that contained a component included on the NFL's list of banned substances. Chris Brown missed another week of practice and is not expected to play. That leaves LenDale White as the featured back. White is nursing a toe injury. This may possibly be the messiest running back situation currently in the NFL.
The Jaguars Adimchinobe Echemandu will play through his sore hamstring on Sunday. He will have a reserve role as Ahman Green is expected to return from his sore knee to start. With both backs dinged up, Ron Dayne may also suit up.
Free agent running back Corey Dillon would be willing to return to the New England Patriots, according to his agent Steven Feldman. "He would absolutely, positively be interested in coming back to play for the Patriots," Feldman said. "When Sammy Morris got injured, he kind of got an inkling, he got the idea something may happen down the road. So he started working out a couple weeks ago to get in shape so that if an opportunity presented itself, he'd be ready to take advantage of it. Free agent Kevan Barlow is the other candidate to fill the void left by Morris' season ending placement on injured reserve.
Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison remains out and will miss the most hyped regular season contest in the history of the NFL Sunday at 4pm EST, when Indianapolis hosts New England.
The Vikings will play Sunday without Troy Williamson. He's going to be away from the team to plan and attend his grandmother's funeral. Williamson is also dealing with his comatose older brother, Carlton.
The Broncos ruled Rod Smith out for the rest of the season and his career could possibly be over.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher told Fox Sports Radio that he would like to take a look at former USC star Mike Williams who was released by the Raiders: "We'll probably in the near future bring him in and try to find out [what happened to him.] He was very productive in Coach [Norm] Chow's offense. So I think Norm wants to find out as well. He appeared to me to almost look like a tight end rather than a wide receiver. He looks like he's gained a lot of weight.
Patriots tight end Ben Watson is expected to play after being limited during practice this week.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
NFL DAILY DOSE
FANTASY ALERT: MAURICE HICKS
Frank Gore was listed as questionable on Friday's injury report because of a lingering ankle sprain. Although his playing status against the Falcons will be a game-time decision, neither coach Mike Nolan nor the player sounded optimistic about Gore's chances.
SHAUN ALEXANDER UPDATE
Shaun Alexander will wear a cast over his broken wrist again this weekend. "Everybody has injuries, and mine is just a bummer," Alexander said, according to the Seattle Times.
RUDI JOHNSON TO BE LIMITED
Rudi Johnson is expected to return to action on Sunday, though it's not clear if he or Kenny Watson will start, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
TEXANS RB UPDATE
Ahman Green is expected to be active Sunday after missing last week's game with a knee injury. "Ahman has had a good week of practice," coach Gary Kubiak said, according to the Houston Chronicle. "He's ready to go." Adimchinobe Echemandu should be able to play through his sore hamstring on Sunday. "Adimchinobi looks fine, has looked fine," coach Gary Kubiak told the Houston Chronicle.
ANDRE JOHNSON UPDATE
The Texans have decided against bringing Andre Johnson back for this weekend's game against the Raiders. Instead, the club expects him to return after their Week 10 bye, according to the Houston Chronicle.
TROY WILLIAMSON TO ATTEND FUNERAL
The Vikings will play Sunday without Troy Williamson in the mix. He's going to be away from the team to plan and attend his grandmother's funeral, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
ROD SMITH CAREER OVER?
The Broncos ruled Rod Smith out for the rest of the season on Wednesday, according to the Denver Post.
Frank Gore was listed as questionable on Friday's injury report because of a lingering ankle sprain. Although his playing status against the Falcons will be a game-time decision, neither coach Mike Nolan nor the player sounded optimistic about Gore's chances.
SHAUN ALEXANDER UPDATE
Shaun Alexander will wear a cast over his broken wrist again this weekend. "Everybody has injuries, and mine is just a bummer," Alexander said, according to the Seattle Times.
RUDI JOHNSON TO BE LIMITED
Rudi Johnson is expected to return to action on Sunday, though it's not clear if he or Kenny Watson will start, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
TEXANS RB UPDATE
Ahman Green is expected to be active Sunday after missing last week's game with a knee injury. "Ahman has had a good week of practice," coach Gary Kubiak said, according to the Houston Chronicle. "He's ready to go." Adimchinobe Echemandu should be able to play through his sore hamstring on Sunday. "Adimchinobi looks fine, has looked fine," coach Gary Kubiak told the Houston Chronicle.
ANDRE JOHNSON UPDATE
The Texans have decided against bringing Andre Johnson back for this weekend's game against the Raiders. Instead, the club expects him to return after their Week 10 bye, according to the Houston Chronicle.
TROY WILLIAMSON TO ATTEND FUNERAL
The Vikings will play Sunday without Troy Williamson in the mix. He's going to be away from the team to plan and attend his grandmother's funeral, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
ROD SMITH CAREER OVER?
The Broncos ruled Rod Smith out for the rest of the season on Wednesday, according to the Denver Post.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
FFI: FIRE & ICE REPORT
FIRE & ICE Report - Week 9
Thursday, November 1st, 2007
This week’s update of players who are hot (on “Fire”) and their value or “stock is rising” and those who are not (“Ice” cold) and have their value or “stock falling.”
FIRE
No other player in the history of the NFL has ever had a start to their season like the season that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is enjoying.
Brady is Mr. En Fuego!
Through his first eight games of the 2007 season Brady has thrown 30 touchdowns (his career high) and passed for over 300 yards in a game four times this season. Brady has passed for a total of 2,431 yards (303.8-yds/gm) while completing 198 of 267 passes (74%). Brady is on pace to pass for over 4800 yards and 60 touchdowns this season. He has thrown at least 3 touchdowns in every game this season and his current passer rating of 136.2 leads the NFL and is at a record setting mark.
Quarterbacks on the rise…..
Quietly over the past several weeks the Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been playing much like he did a year ago, when he led the Saints to the top of the NFC South and just one game away from the Superbowl. In his last three starts Brees has passed for 781 yards (260.3-yds/gm) and thrown a total of 8 touchdowns. Brees is also completing over 70 percent of his passes (78-109, 71.5%) during that span.
Take:
This week may present a tough match-up for the Saints and Brees, when they meet the Jaguars 19th ranked pass defense. Expect Brees to continue his strong run when he faces Jacksonville’s secondary that has allowed 23 pass plays of 20 yards or more.
The Steelers are rolling along this season and the recent play of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been a big part. In his last two games Big Ben has passed for 520 yards (260-yds/gm) and tossed a total of 6 touchdowns while completing 70 percent of his passes (43 of 61).
Take:
The Steelers have a Big Monday Night Showdown match up when they meet the Ravens. The Ravens have the 9th ranked pass defense, but they have surrendered 22 pass plays of 20 yards or more including 6 plays of over 40 yards (most in the league). Expect to see Big Ben look downfield often and try to hit the big plays.
Running backs on the rise…..
The Giants running back Brandon Jacobs has been running hard of late with great success. In his last four games Jacobs has rushed for 424 yards (106-yds/gm) on 74 carries. Jacobs is averaging 57 yards per carry over his last four games and has scored twice to lead the Giants running attack.
Take:
With the bye week ahead, Jacobs will have a chance to further heal and be ready to continue his tear into the second half of the season.
The Tennessee Titans have seemed to have found their feature back in running back LenDale White. In his past three games White has carried the ball 77 times for a total of 301 yards rushing (100-yds/gm). White has scored twice over his last three games and is averaging 3.9 yards per carry.
Take:
White is averaging 25 plus carries per game and will get plenty of chances on Sunday against the Panthers 19th ranked run defense. White could top the century mark on Sunday as well as reach pay dirt against a defense that has surrendered 7 rushing touchdowns (tied for 7th most) this season.
Players on the “Hot Watch” list….
· QB Tony Romo heads into week 9 with 16 touchdowns this season.
· QB Derek Anderson has thrown 17 touchdowns this year.
· QB Peyton Manning has passed for 767 yards in his last three games.
· RB Willie Parker has topped 100 yards in two of his last three starts.
· RB Selvin Young totaled 120 yards on Monday Night
· RB Brian Westbrook scored twice last week.
· WR Randy Moss has scored 11 times this season.
· WR TJ Houshmandzadeh has 9 touchdowns this season.
· WR Wes Welker has caught 29 passes in his last three games.
· WR Hines Ward scored two times last week.
ICE
Quarterbacks with their stock falling….
The Titans continue to win, despite the mediocre passing numbers from quarterback Vince Young. In his last three games, Young has only totaled 319 yards (106.3-yds/gm) and thrown 4 interceptions.
Take:
The Titans are doing it with defense and their running game, as long the formula continues to work, don’t expect Head Coach Jeff Fischer to make any changes to his game plan or ask Young to carry the brunt.
Time for a change in New York as the Jets will bench quarterback Chad Pennington and try their hand at the youth movement. Pennington did little over the last couple of weeks to make his case as the starter. Over the last five weeks, Pennington has thrown 7 interceptions to only 5 touchdowns.
Take:
The Jets have mustered only one win this season and need to now look to the future. With Clemens now the starter, Mangini is likely to give the young QB more slack and room for error, leaving Pennington on the sideline holding a clip-board.
Running backs with their stocks falling….
The Atlanta Falcons running back Warrick Dunn has seen his workload drop off over the past several weeks. Over his last three games Dunn is averaging only 12 touches per game for an average of 28 yards.
Take:
The Falcons other back Jerious Norwood is not fairing any better. It appears the teams struggling passing game is allowing opposing defenses to jam the line and put extra defenders in the box to stop the run. With Harrington at the helm, this trend is likely to continue until Joey can show he’s capable of making plays with his arm.
The Cowboys running back Julius Jones has been non-existent throughout most of this season. In his last three games, Jones has carried the ball only 27 times for a total of 120 rushing yards.
Take:
The Cowboys have another star grabbing the Rushing headlines and keeping up the ground game production. Marion Barber’s success will continue to tear into Jones’s time on the field.
Players on the “Possible-Drop” list….
· QB Tavaris Jackson passed for only 72 yards in his last game.
· QB Dante Culpepper passed for only 167 yards last week and will sit this week.
· RB Jamal Lewis has only rushed for more than 65 yards once this year.
· RB Tatum Bell has not played in his last two games.
· RB Chris Brown has missed the team’s last two games.
· WR Vincent Jackson had only one reception in his last two games.
· WR Donald Driver has only 117 receiving yards in his last three games.
Check back next week for more from the FFI Fire & Ice Report!
By David G. Ortega
Thursday, November 1, 2007
WEEK NINE FANTASY PREVIEW
Dan Lewis, Fantasy Football Insiders
San Diego @ Minnesota
San Diego’s blowout over the Texans last week didn’t really tell me much about the Chargers. Chris Chambers owners were glad to see he got 5 of 6 targets to WRs in the game, and that he caught a TD. Chambers maintained his high-target, low-reception ratio that he’s used to from the Dolphins, so he seems at home in San Diego. Minny’s Adrian Peterson came back to reality and was held in check by the Eagles. Bad matchup for him and Chester Taylor this week: the Chargers have allowed only 2 rushing TDs to date. Tarvaris Jackson will be back in this week after Kelly Holcomb was injured. Who cares?
Arizona @ Tampa Bay
Kurt Warner will be starting again for the Cardinals, so keep an eye on what sort of kooky injury he will suffer in this one. The Cardinals have a pretty bad defense, so start Earnest Graham, who is clearly still favored by Gruden over Michael Bennett. Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard are both strong plays in this one.
Carolina @ Tennessee
If anyone is still starting Vince Young, you need to stop. Now. LenDale White is making a strong move to become the featured back in Tennessee, but rookie Chris Henry is keeping up with him. White gets the bulk of the carries, and gets goal line carries, so he remains the stronger option. Carolina’s pointless offense remains pointless. It says something about David Carr when you read that he is forced back into the lineup because Vinny Testaverde is injured. David Carr is bad… DeShaun Foster is a sit against the Titans.
Green Bay @ Kansas City
Ryan Grant did what no other Packer runner could: gain 100 yards rushing. Granted, it was against the porous Broncos, but this was the first time this season that the Packers really committed to the run game. Kansas City is decent against the run, but isn’t great. Coach Mike McCarthy was apparently beaming when talking about Grant after the game, so I’d start him as a flex if you need him. The Packers’ defense is good, but not good enough to bench your Chiefs. Despite an iffy matchup, get Dwayne Bowe in there.
Washington @ New York Jets
Here’s a matchup between two teams that looked kinda pathetic last week. Kellen Clemens is finally replacing my beloved Penningnoodlearm at QB, but his matchup is bad this week, so look elsewhere for your desperate QB needs. Thomas Jones also has a poor matchup against this tough D. Laveranues Coles may not play this week, and if he sits, Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith will see more looks, though the Skins are tough. Leon Washington will have chances to bust a big run, and his kick returns are a bonus. Start all your Redskins, including Santana Moss, who unbenched himself last week and caught 6 passes.
Denver @ Detroit
I see a lot of points scored in this game. Denver has Champ Bailey and Dre’ Bly at CB, but the Lions are deep at receiver and have put up good points in all but one game this season. I see another good game for Kevin Jones here: if the Packers could run for over 100 on the Broncos, then anyone can. Detroit can’t stop anyone. The only question will be Travis Henry’s health, and Mike Shanahan’s dastardliness and cunning. This may be a game-time decision, so have Selvin Young ready to insert if need be.
San Francisco @ Atlanta
Frank Gore was ineffective last week, and hurt his ankle. If he plays this week, though, he’ll have a great matchup against Atlanta. If he can’t go, Michael Robinson is likely to start in his place, making him a sneaky sleeper play. Vernon Davis had maybe his best game last week, so his talent and high draft position make him alluring again. If he continues to play well he could become a solid play the rest of the year. The 49ers allow over 100 on the ground, although I cringe even thinking about starting a RB on the Falcons. Jerious Norwood is explosive, but I can’t recommend starting him or Warrick Dunn. Roddy White has been a nice surprise, but he’ll have Nate Clements on him most likely, which is tough.
Cincinnati @ Buffalo
The Bengals have been frustrating lately. Carson Palmer’s production is way down, and they’ve been pounding Kenny Watson. Rudi Johnson looks like he’ll be back this week, just in time for Watson to be out with a concussion. Watson may still play, though, but Buffalo usually allows plenty of yards for 2 backs to share. Monitor the injuries, but both are solid if they play. Ugh. J.P. Losman back at QB. I don’t know what it is, but I just hate this guy. He looks like a dummy in every headshot I’ve seen of him, and he never appears in control on the field. He just throws it as far as he can to Lee Evans. These two have done a nice job of using each other to convince an unsuspecting public of their talents. Unfortunately for us fantasy players, we have to use these idiots. Use Evans, but not Losman.
Jacksonville @ New Orleans
The scientist in me loves watching Quinn Gray out there for the Jaguars: he is so bad at passing that he creates a situation in which everyone on the field knows that they are going to run, and that if they don’t, the Visor** will throw the ball 5 yards wide of his target. We don’t see many controlled experiments like these in the NFL. Even though the Saints have been pretty good against the run lately, don’t expect Visor to be throwing much, cuz he can’t. If the Saints stop Fred Taylor and MJD, then the Jags lose. Marques Colston finally broke out last week, and David Patten had another productive game. The Jags are a tough defense, but the Saints seem to have figured things out again.
**The Visor refers to Quinn Gray. Did anyone else notice that when he first came into the game against the Colts he had a dark, LaDainian-style visor on his helmet, which he later removed? Why was it on there in the first place if he wasn’t going to play with it? I like to think he didn’t know he was a quarterback until he went into the game…
Seattle @ Cleveland
Cleveland has been surprisingly prolific this year, putting up points against almost everyone they’ve played (Pittsburgh held them to 7 in Week 1). Seattle will present a challenge for them, but Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow have been very explosive lately, and are unsittable. Shaun Alexander has a great matchup against Cleveland, but he has been stopping himself lately. I’ve always gotten a weird impression from him, like he isn’t committed and doesn’t care. He’s running hesitantly this season, and has lost all explosiveness. If he can’t do anything against the Browns, I’m pronouncing him dead.
Houston @ Oakland
It looks like the Sage Rosenfels show this weekend for the Texans. Kevin Walter is his favorite target, so get him in there. The question going into the game will be which Texan RB will start. Joe Echemandu looked good last week, but left with a hammy. Ahman is dinged, and Ron Dayne is a little dinged and hasn’t been effective. You’re going to need to monitor this all week and see what they say on Sunday, but whoever starts should run very well against the Raiders. Justin Fargas has been outperforming LaMont Jordan for Oakland, and he is a decent play this week. I don’t trust the Raider receivers much because Daunte Culpepper spreads the ball and runs it himself a lot; the Texans stop opposing WRs fairly well anyway.
New England @ Indianapolis
What can I say here? You never sit anyone on either of these teams, so don’t sit anyone on either of these teams. Except Laurence Maroney, who couldn’t even score with the Patriots up 38-0. There are a few possible explanations for the Patriots’ play calling this season. Maybe Bill Belichick is a degenerate gambler who thinks he gets extra when he doubles the point spread. Maybe he has Tom Brady on his fantasy team. Maybe his opponent every week has Laurence Maroney. Maybe he’s just a big fat arrogant smug meanie. Whatever the reason, they’re unstoppable, he knows it, and he’s making sure everyone else knows it. The Kenton Keith story didn’t last too long, as he got far fewer carries last week. Joseph Addai is back to his stud fantasy form.
Dallas @ Philadelphia
Forgotten this week will be this classic divisional battle. Reggie Brown may finally be forgetting that he’s a mediocre, inconsistent receiver, which bodes well for his owners. He outperformed Kevin Curtis across the board last week, and is becoming McNabb’s favorite target. He’s got a good matchup against Dallas, too. I’d sit Julius Jones against Philly’s stout run D, but start Marion Barber, who gets all the goal line carries.
Baltimore @ Pittsburgh
The Ravens are getting McNair and Heap back this week, just in time to face Pittsburgh, who will crush them. If you have McGahee, Heap, or Derrick Mason, you’re probably starting them, but none has a good matchup here. Baltimore has been great against the run this year, but just average against the pass. Look for Roethlisberger, Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes to be active in this one. Ward’s return has hurt Heath Miller’s red zone production, but he’s still a solid play.
San Diego @ Minnesota
San Diego’s blowout over the Texans last week didn’t really tell me much about the Chargers. Chris Chambers owners were glad to see he got 5 of 6 targets to WRs in the game, and that he caught a TD. Chambers maintained his high-target, low-reception ratio that he’s used to from the Dolphins, so he seems at home in San Diego. Minny’s Adrian Peterson came back to reality and was held in check by the Eagles. Bad matchup for him and Chester Taylor this week: the Chargers have allowed only 2 rushing TDs to date. Tarvaris Jackson will be back in this week after Kelly Holcomb was injured. Who cares?
Arizona @ Tampa Bay
Kurt Warner will be starting again for the Cardinals, so keep an eye on what sort of kooky injury he will suffer in this one. The Cardinals have a pretty bad defense, so start Earnest Graham, who is clearly still favored by Gruden over Michael Bennett. Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard are both strong plays in this one.
Carolina @ Tennessee
If anyone is still starting Vince Young, you need to stop. Now. LenDale White is making a strong move to become the featured back in Tennessee, but rookie Chris Henry is keeping up with him. White gets the bulk of the carries, and gets goal line carries, so he remains the stronger option. Carolina’s pointless offense remains pointless. It says something about David Carr when you read that he is forced back into the lineup because Vinny Testaverde is injured. David Carr is bad… DeShaun Foster is a sit against the Titans.
Green Bay @ Kansas City
Ryan Grant did what no other Packer runner could: gain 100 yards rushing. Granted, it was against the porous Broncos, but this was the first time this season that the Packers really committed to the run game. Kansas City is decent against the run, but isn’t great. Coach Mike McCarthy was apparently beaming when talking about Grant after the game, so I’d start him as a flex if you need him. The Packers’ defense is good, but not good enough to bench your Chiefs. Despite an iffy matchup, get Dwayne Bowe in there.
Washington @ New York Jets
Here’s a matchup between two teams that looked kinda pathetic last week. Kellen Clemens is finally replacing my beloved Penningnoodlearm at QB, but his matchup is bad this week, so look elsewhere for your desperate QB needs. Thomas Jones also has a poor matchup against this tough D. Laveranues Coles may not play this week, and if he sits, Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith will see more looks, though the Skins are tough. Leon Washington will have chances to bust a big run, and his kick returns are a bonus. Start all your Redskins, including Santana Moss, who unbenched himself last week and caught 6 passes.
Denver @ Detroit
I see a lot of points scored in this game. Denver has Champ Bailey and Dre’ Bly at CB, but the Lions are deep at receiver and have put up good points in all but one game this season. I see another good game for Kevin Jones here: if the Packers could run for over 100 on the Broncos, then anyone can. Detroit can’t stop anyone. The only question will be Travis Henry’s health, and Mike Shanahan’s dastardliness and cunning. This may be a game-time decision, so have Selvin Young ready to insert if need be.
San Francisco @ Atlanta
Frank Gore was ineffective last week, and hurt his ankle. If he plays this week, though, he’ll have a great matchup against Atlanta. If he can’t go, Michael Robinson is likely to start in his place, making him a sneaky sleeper play. Vernon Davis had maybe his best game last week, so his talent and high draft position make him alluring again. If he continues to play well he could become a solid play the rest of the year. The 49ers allow over 100 on the ground, although I cringe even thinking about starting a RB on the Falcons. Jerious Norwood is explosive, but I can’t recommend starting him or Warrick Dunn. Roddy White has been a nice surprise, but he’ll have Nate Clements on him most likely, which is tough.
Cincinnati @ Buffalo
The Bengals have been frustrating lately. Carson Palmer’s production is way down, and they’ve been pounding Kenny Watson. Rudi Johnson looks like he’ll be back this week, just in time for Watson to be out with a concussion. Watson may still play, though, but Buffalo usually allows plenty of yards for 2 backs to share. Monitor the injuries, but both are solid if they play. Ugh. J.P. Losman back at QB. I don’t know what it is, but I just hate this guy. He looks like a dummy in every headshot I’ve seen of him, and he never appears in control on the field. He just throws it as far as he can to Lee Evans. These two have done a nice job of using each other to convince an unsuspecting public of their talents. Unfortunately for us fantasy players, we have to use these idiots. Use Evans, but not Losman.
Jacksonville @ New Orleans
The scientist in me loves watching Quinn Gray out there for the Jaguars: he is so bad at passing that he creates a situation in which everyone on the field knows that they are going to run, and that if they don’t, the Visor** will throw the ball 5 yards wide of his target. We don’t see many controlled experiments like these in the NFL. Even though the Saints have been pretty good against the run lately, don’t expect Visor to be throwing much, cuz he can’t. If the Saints stop Fred Taylor and MJD, then the Jags lose. Marques Colston finally broke out last week, and David Patten had another productive game. The Jags are a tough defense, but the Saints seem to have figured things out again.
**The Visor refers to Quinn Gray. Did anyone else notice that when he first came into the game against the Colts he had a dark, LaDainian-style visor on his helmet, which he later removed? Why was it on there in the first place if he wasn’t going to play with it? I like to think he didn’t know he was a quarterback until he went into the game…
Seattle @ Cleveland
Cleveland has been surprisingly prolific this year, putting up points against almost everyone they’ve played (Pittsburgh held them to 7 in Week 1). Seattle will present a challenge for them, but Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow have been very explosive lately, and are unsittable. Shaun Alexander has a great matchup against Cleveland, but he has been stopping himself lately. I’ve always gotten a weird impression from him, like he isn’t committed and doesn’t care. He’s running hesitantly this season, and has lost all explosiveness. If he can’t do anything against the Browns, I’m pronouncing him dead.
Houston @ Oakland
It looks like the Sage Rosenfels show this weekend for the Texans. Kevin Walter is his favorite target, so get him in there. The question going into the game will be which Texan RB will start. Joe Echemandu looked good last week, but left with a hammy. Ahman is dinged, and Ron Dayne is a little dinged and hasn’t been effective. You’re going to need to monitor this all week and see what they say on Sunday, but whoever starts should run very well against the Raiders. Justin Fargas has been outperforming LaMont Jordan for Oakland, and he is a decent play this week. I don’t trust the Raider receivers much because Daunte Culpepper spreads the ball and runs it himself a lot; the Texans stop opposing WRs fairly well anyway.
New England @ Indianapolis
What can I say here? You never sit anyone on either of these teams, so don’t sit anyone on either of these teams. Except Laurence Maroney, who couldn’t even score with the Patriots up 38-0. There are a few possible explanations for the Patriots’ play calling this season. Maybe Bill Belichick is a degenerate gambler who thinks he gets extra when he doubles the point spread. Maybe he has Tom Brady on his fantasy team. Maybe his opponent every week has Laurence Maroney. Maybe he’s just a big fat arrogant smug meanie. Whatever the reason, they’re unstoppable, he knows it, and he’s making sure everyone else knows it. The Kenton Keith story didn’t last too long, as he got far fewer carries last week. Joseph Addai is back to his stud fantasy form.
Dallas @ Philadelphia
Forgotten this week will be this classic divisional battle. Reggie Brown may finally be forgetting that he’s a mediocre, inconsistent receiver, which bodes well for his owners. He outperformed Kevin Curtis across the board last week, and is becoming McNabb’s favorite target. He’s got a good matchup against Dallas, too. I’d sit Julius Jones against Philly’s stout run D, but start Marion Barber, who gets all the goal line carries.
Baltimore @ Pittsburgh
The Ravens are getting McNair and Heap back this week, just in time to face Pittsburgh, who will crush them. If you have McGahee, Heap, or Derrick Mason, you’re probably starting them, but none has a good matchup here. Baltimore has been great against the run this year, but just average against the pass. Look for Roethlisberger, Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes to be active in this one. Ward’s return has hurt Heath Miller’s red zone production, but he’s still a solid play.
Monday, October 29, 2007
WEEK 9 WAIVER WIRE HELP
By Ralph Mancini, FFi Senior Writer
SEARCHING THE SCRAP HEAP
BROOKS BOLLINGER (MIN-QB)- The former Jet performed quite admirably versus the Eagles by completing 7 of 10 pass attempts for 94 yards in relief of Kelly Holcomb, who was forced to exit the game with a neck injury. Backed by a strong running game, Bollinger could do a serviceable job against a San Diego team that can be thrown on next week.
MICHAEL BENNETT (TB-RB)- Larry Johnson’s former caddy has a new lease on life as a major component in Tampa Bay’s running attack. Despite being being slowly worked into the rotation, Bennett has showcased his trademark speed with an 18-yard carry versus Detroit in week seven and a 19-yard score this week against a formidable Jacksonville defense. Bennett could serve as a useful flex back in most leagues, but don’t confuse him for a workhorse back.
MAURICE STOVALL (TB-WR)- The 6’5” Stovall was thrown to more than normal thanks to a high ankle sprain suffered by third receiver Michael Clayton, which should keep him out for at least the next couple of weeks. Stovall’s size could fill a need on fade routes near the goal line. Versus the Jaguars, the former Golden Domer had four receptions for 38 yards.
MIKE FURREY (DET-WR)- With bye weeks still in full swing, Mike Furrey can be the ideal fill-in starter. Always a Mike Martz favorite since his days with the Rams, Furrey was on the receiving end of 3 passes for 44 yards in week 8. Look for the former defensive back to possibly double this week’s output as top receivers Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson will be locked up with shutdown corners Champ Bailey and Dre’ Bly in their upcoming contest against the Broncos. Furrey is a good possession receiver who knows how to get open.
JEFF KING (CAR-TE)- One of the few bright spots on the Panther end in Carolina’s 31-7 shellacking at the hands of Indianapolis was tight end Jeff King, who led the team with 10 receptions for 81 yards. The second-year professional has made a name for himself as a dependable target that started off the season with 13 receptions in his first three games. His services might be called upon again next week, as Carolina faces off against a stingy Tennessee defense that specializes in shutting down the running game.
JUSTIN PEELLE (MIA-TE)- Stepping in for an injured David Martin, Peelle (6 receptions, 42 yards) stepped up as quarterback Cleo Lemon’s primary target in a low-scoring slugfest versus the Giants at Wembley Stadium. The former Oregon Duck is an exceptional receiver who can line up in a variety of positions.
ONES TO WATCH
SHAUN HILL (QB-SF)- Starting quarterback Alex Smith was no savior this week as San Francisco lost their fifth-straight to the New Orleans Saints. The former number one overall pick in the 2005 draft has been very disappointing and one or two more sub par performances may lead coach Mike Nolan to start the recently acquired Shaun Hill. The 6’3” 225-pound signal caller is best known for his successful 2003 campaign in NFL Europe with the Amsterdam Admirals. During that season, Hill completed a league-record 225 passes for 2,256 yards with 13 touchdowns and only five interceptions. His above-average mobility may serve as a spark to Nolan’s club later in the season.
ADICHINOBE ECHEMANDU (HOU-RB)- The former practice squad player has been signed to take over the role of the recently-released Samkon Gado in the Houston’s offense. The seldom-used Echemandu got off to a flying start in his first game versus San Diego by gaining 62 yards on 10 carries. With Ahman Green’s health status in question, the fortunes of the Texan running attack may be in the hands of Echemandu and Ron Dayne. The Nigerian native is a versatile back who also played wide out during his collegiate years at the University Of California.
ANDRE’ HALL (DEN-RB)- With a number of fantasy owners having already prepared themselves for the possible suspension of Travis Henry by enlisting the services of running back Selvin Young, it might be interesting to note that should Young be elevated to lead back, his immediate backup would be second-year player Andre’ Hall. Similar in stature to Henry at 5’ 10” 212 pounds, Hall has been described as having “better long-speed” than Young. In his two-year stay at the University of South Florida, Hall became the program’s all-time leading rusher 2,731 yards on 480 carries and 24 rushing touchdowns.
LORENZO BOOKER (MIA-RB)- The 5’ 10” 191-pound rookie has generally been a spectator during his first go-around in the NFL. Playing behind Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman, Booker hasn’t had an opportunity to showcase his considerable talent, but that day may soon be coming on a winless Miami team that will probably be focused on playing for next season after their week nine bye. The Florida State product is an extraordinarily fast player with sharp, stutter-step moves in the open field. During Miami’s May mini-camp, some compared Booker to Reggie Bush.
TED GINN JR. (MIA-WR)- Miami’s 2007 first-round pick is gradually rounding into the playmaker front-office management envisioned when selecting him. In addition to averaging a healthy 24.3 yards per kickoff return, the speedy Ginn has also been the author of some big plays in recent weeks, including catches of 32 and 36-yards, not to mention his 21-yard touchdown reception he recorded this week versus the Giants. The potential is there for Ginn to develop into a weekly dynamic presence.
SEARCHING THE SCRAP HEAP
BROOKS BOLLINGER (MIN-QB)- The former Jet performed quite admirably versus the Eagles by completing 7 of 10 pass attempts for 94 yards in relief of Kelly Holcomb, who was forced to exit the game with a neck injury. Backed by a strong running game, Bollinger could do a serviceable job against a San Diego team that can be thrown on next week.
MICHAEL BENNETT (TB-RB)- Larry Johnson’s former caddy has a new lease on life as a major component in Tampa Bay’s running attack. Despite being being slowly worked into the rotation, Bennett has showcased his trademark speed with an 18-yard carry versus Detroit in week seven and a 19-yard score this week against a formidable Jacksonville defense. Bennett could serve as a useful flex back in most leagues, but don’t confuse him for a workhorse back.
MAURICE STOVALL (TB-WR)- The 6’5” Stovall was thrown to more than normal thanks to a high ankle sprain suffered by third receiver Michael Clayton, which should keep him out for at least the next couple of weeks. Stovall’s size could fill a need on fade routes near the goal line. Versus the Jaguars, the former Golden Domer had four receptions for 38 yards.
MIKE FURREY (DET-WR)- With bye weeks still in full swing, Mike Furrey can be the ideal fill-in starter. Always a Mike Martz favorite since his days with the Rams, Furrey was on the receiving end of 3 passes for 44 yards in week 8. Look for the former defensive back to possibly double this week’s output as top receivers Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson will be locked up with shutdown corners Champ Bailey and Dre’ Bly in their upcoming contest against the Broncos. Furrey is a good possession receiver who knows how to get open.
JEFF KING (CAR-TE)- One of the few bright spots on the Panther end in Carolina’s 31-7 shellacking at the hands of Indianapolis was tight end Jeff King, who led the team with 10 receptions for 81 yards. The second-year professional has made a name for himself as a dependable target that started off the season with 13 receptions in his first three games. His services might be called upon again next week, as Carolina faces off against a stingy Tennessee defense that specializes in shutting down the running game.
JUSTIN PEELLE (MIA-TE)- Stepping in for an injured David Martin, Peelle (6 receptions, 42 yards) stepped up as quarterback Cleo Lemon’s primary target in a low-scoring slugfest versus the Giants at Wembley Stadium. The former Oregon Duck is an exceptional receiver who can line up in a variety of positions.
ONES TO WATCH
SHAUN HILL (QB-SF)- Starting quarterback Alex Smith was no savior this week as San Francisco lost their fifth-straight to the New Orleans Saints. The former number one overall pick in the 2005 draft has been very disappointing and one or two more sub par performances may lead coach Mike Nolan to start the recently acquired Shaun Hill. The 6’3” 225-pound signal caller is best known for his successful 2003 campaign in NFL Europe with the Amsterdam Admirals. During that season, Hill completed a league-record 225 passes for 2,256 yards with 13 touchdowns and only five interceptions. His above-average mobility may serve as a spark to Nolan’s club later in the season.
ADICHINOBE ECHEMANDU (HOU-RB)- The former practice squad player has been signed to take over the role of the recently-released Samkon Gado in the Houston’s offense. The seldom-used Echemandu got off to a flying start in his first game versus San Diego by gaining 62 yards on 10 carries. With Ahman Green’s health status in question, the fortunes of the Texan running attack may be in the hands of Echemandu and Ron Dayne. The Nigerian native is a versatile back who also played wide out during his collegiate years at the University Of California.
ANDRE’ HALL (DEN-RB)- With a number of fantasy owners having already prepared themselves for the possible suspension of Travis Henry by enlisting the services of running back Selvin Young, it might be interesting to note that should Young be elevated to lead back, his immediate backup would be second-year player Andre’ Hall. Similar in stature to Henry at 5’ 10” 212 pounds, Hall has been described as having “better long-speed” than Young. In his two-year stay at the University of South Florida, Hall became the program’s all-time leading rusher 2,731 yards on 480 carries and 24 rushing touchdowns.
LORENZO BOOKER (MIA-RB)- The 5’ 10” 191-pound rookie has generally been a spectator during his first go-around in the NFL. Playing behind Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman, Booker hasn’t had an opportunity to showcase his considerable talent, but that day may soon be coming on a winless Miami team that will probably be focused on playing for next season after their week nine bye. The Florida State product is an extraordinarily fast player with sharp, stutter-step moves in the open field. During Miami’s May mini-camp, some compared Booker to Reggie Bush.
TED GINN JR. (MIA-WR)- Miami’s 2007 first-round pick is gradually rounding into the playmaker front-office management envisioned when selecting him. In addition to averaging a healthy 24.3 yards per kickoff return, the speedy Ginn has also been the author of some big plays in recent weeks, including catches of 32 and 36-yards, not to mention his 21-yard touchdown reception he recorded this week versus the Giants. The potential is there for Ginn to develop into a weekly dynamic presence.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
SUNDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK
-Rick Serritella
While Oakland quarterback Josh McCown has declared himself ready to play, he did report some soreness in his fractured big toe this past week. The Raiders have announced Daunte Culpepper will get the start at Tennessee.
There was some talk that David Carr could possibly start against the Colts, but his back injury has not yet healed 100%. The ageless wonder, Vinny Testaverde will once again get the call and another solid performance would definitely stir some quarterback controversy.
The Texans Matt Schaub is not expected to start at San Diego Sunday. Sage Rosenfals will be the man and is considered a solid fill-in fantasy starter.
Don’t be surprised if David Garrard is out longer than expected with a severe ankle sprain, forcing the Jaguars to go with Quinn Gray. Unless there are zero starting quarterbacks sitting your league’s free agent pool, Gray has very little fantasy value.
A poor performance by Cleo Lemon in London could mean rookie quarterback John Beck makes his debut after the week nine bye.
Jim Sorgi will remain Peyton Manning's backup at least through the 2010 season. The Colts number two quarterback signed a three-year contract extension Saturday that will keep him off of the free agent market at the end of the season. He has made a career out of backing up Manning the past four seasons, totaling all off 90 pass attempts. Nice gig.
It looks as if Travis Henry will attempt to give it a go on Monday Night Football. He is considered a game-time decision. Whether Henry starts or not, you can expect to see a lot of Selvin Young. If Henry doesn’t play at all, you can begin to gauge who will get the carries behind Young when Henry begins serving his suspension. The candidates are Cecil Sapp, Andre Hall and we can’t forget Mike Bell if he ever gets healthy.
The Jaguars Maurice Jones-Drew will play in a limited capacity, meaning Fred Taylor may see extended work and/or Gregg Jones could see the goal-line carries. Try to avoid the Jacksonville running back situation if possible.
Cleveland running back Jamal Lewis will need at least one more week to heal his sprain foot. Jason Wright and Jerome Harrison will continue to split carries in his absence.
Packers running back DeShawn Wynn returned to practice this week after sitting out the past few games with a neck injury. He is expected to assume the starting role with Vernand Morency backing him up. Brandon Jackson remains hobbled by shin splints.
Tennessee has been quiet thus far on whether or not running back Chris Brown will play on Sunday. Brown said he expects to play, while head coach Jeff Fisher said he would take a wait and see approach. Either way, don’t expect Brown to do too much as LenDale White has gotten the majority of rushing touchdowns for the Titans this season.
Keep an eye on Buccaneers backup Michael Bennett this week. With Earnest Graham proving to be quite serviceable, it will be interesting to see how many touches Bennett receives as he continues to learn the Jon Gruden playbook.
With Ahman Green nursing a knee injury, Samkon Gado released (now with Dolphins) and Ron Dayne once again underachieving, look for Adimchinobe Echemandu to get a looksy Sunday, as the Texans continue to search for answers with their woeful running attack.
The Colts will be without wide out Marvin Harrison once again as he has been ruled out.
Bubba Franks has been declared out Sunday for the Packers game against the Broncos with a knee injury. Look for Donald Lee to be a viable fantasy option in his place.
Former Seahawks and Bengals wide out Peter Warrick is among the players trying out for the new All American Football League. Also trying out are notables Eric Crouch, Jackie Battle, Chance Mock, and Woodrow Dantzler. The AAFL will begin playing its 10-game schedule next April and features initial franchises in Alabama, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, Michigan, and Tennessee. Its championship will be played on July 3, 2008.
Be sure to sign up for our Email List on the NFL Draft Bible homepage!
While Oakland quarterback Josh McCown has declared himself ready to play, he did report some soreness in his fractured big toe this past week. The Raiders have announced Daunte Culpepper will get the start at Tennessee.
There was some talk that David Carr could possibly start against the Colts, but his back injury has not yet healed 100%. The ageless wonder, Vinny Testaverde will once again get the call and another solid performance would definitely stir some quarterback controversy.
The Texans Matt Schaub is not expected to start at San Diego Sunday. Sage Rosenfals will be the man and is considered a solid fill-in fantasy starter.
Don’t be surprised if David Garrard is out longer than expected with a severe ankle sprain, forcing the Jaguars to go with Quinn Gray. Unless there are zero starting quarterbacks sitting your league’s free agent pool, Gray has very little fantasy value.
A poor performance by Cleo Lemon in London could mean rookie quarterback John Beck makes his debut after the week nine bye.
Jim Sorgi will remain Peyton Manning's backup at least through the 2010 season. The Colts number two quarterback signed a three-year contract extension Saturday that will keep him off of the free agent market at the end of the season. He has made a career out of backing up Manning the past four seasons, totaling all off 90 pass attempts. Nice gig.
It looks as if Travis Henry will attempt to give it a go on Monday Night Football. He is considered a game-time decision. Whether Henry starts or not, you can expect to see a lot of Selvin Young. If Henry doesn’t play at all, you can begin to gauge who will get the carries behind Young when Henry begins serving his suspension. The candidates are Cecil Sapp, Andre Hall and we can’t forget Mike Bell if he ever gets healthy.
The Jaguars Maurice Jones-Drew will play in a limited capacity, meaning Fred Taylor may see extended work and/or Gregg Jones could see the goal-line carries. Try to avoid the Jacksonville running back situation if possible.
Cleveland running back Jamal Lewis will need at least one more week to heal his sprain foot. Jason Wright and Jerome Harrison will continue to split carries in his absence.
Packers running back DeShawn Wynn returned to practice this week after sitting out the past few games with a neck injury. He is expected to assume the starting role with Vernand Morency backing him up. Brandon Jackson remains hobbled by shin splints.
Tennessee has been quiet thus far on whether or not running back Chris Brown will play on Sunday. Brown said he expects to play, while head coach Jeff Fisher said he would take a wait and see approach. Either way, don’t expect Brown to do too much as LenDale White has gotten the majority of rushing touchdowns for the Titans this season.
Keep an eye on Buccaneers backup Michael Bennett this week. With Earnest Graham proving to be quite serviceable, it will be interesting to see how many touches Bennett receives as he continues to learn the Jon Gruden playbook.
With Ahman Green nursing a knee injury, Samkon Gado released (now with Dolphins) and Ron Dayne once again underachieving, look for Adimchinobe Echemandu to get a looksy Sunday, as the Texans continue to search for answers with their woeful running attack.
The Colts will be without wide out Marvin Harrison once again as he has been ruled out.
Bubba Franks has been declared out Sunday for the Packers game against the Broncos with a knee injury. Look for Donald Lee to be a viable fantasy option in his place.
Former Seahawks and Bengals wide out Peter Warrick is among the players trying out for the new All American Football League. Also trying out are notables Eric Crouch, Jackie Battle, Chance Mock, and Woodrow Dantzler. The AAFL will begin playing its 10-game schedule next April and features initial franchises in Alabama, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, Michigan, and Tennessee. Its championship will be played on July 3, 2008.
Be sure to sign up for our Email List on the NFL Draft Bible homepage!
Friday, October 26, 2007
THE BLACK & BLUE REPORT #2
Coming Soon-Black & Blue Report Presented By Brad Kurtzberg
Chicago Bears—Brian Griese really solidified his hold on the starting QB position by leading a 97-yard game winning drive in the final 1:57 of the game last week. Griese threw for 322 yards and didn’t throw any interceptions, but the Bears still had problems getting into the end zone. Part of that is due to a stagnant rushing attack which still only barely averaged three yards per carry…The defense managed three sacks including two by Tommie Harris. Harris now has six sacks on the season. He ran down Donovan McNabb despite playing with a hamstring injury…The run defense is still a problem. Last week, Chicago allowed 123 yards but the Eagles averaged 4.9 yards per rush which won’t get the job done against better teams. Remember, the Eagles are a pass-first offense and usually have trouble moving the ball on the ground…The Bears are 1-2 in the NFC North which makes Sunday’s game against the Lions a must-win. If Chicago loses, the Lions would win all tiebreakers with the Bears and would be 2 ½ games ahead of them in the standings…A win would get the Bears back to .500 at the bye week and give some of their injured players like Nathan Vasher and Darwin Walker a chance to heal…Chicago’s defense allowed the Eagles a lot of yards last week but managed to keep the Eagles out of the end zone most of the time. The defense has not been dominant so bend but don’t break will have to do…
Detroit Lions—A look at the stats from last week’s win over the Bucs makes it seem as though Detroit was badly outplayed. The truth is, the Lions never trailed in this game. The Detroit defense allowed the Bucs to march up and down the field but the defense and special teams came up with big plays when they were needed like fumble recoveries in the red zone and a blocked field goal…Offensively, the return of RB Kevin Jones made a big impact on the offense last week. Detroit’s rushing attack does not have to be dominant but the threat of the run has to exist and Jones gave it to the Lions this past week in his first extended duty. Jones averaged 5.1 yards on 15 carries, scored a TD and made six receptions. He is elusive and powerful and adds an element to the offense that Tatum Bell does not…T.J. Duckett also played well in his season debut. Duckett only had four carries but he picked up 30 yards. The 254 pound Duckett is an inside the tackles type of runner who can pound the ball in short yardage situations and in the red zone. He is a perfect style compliment to Jones which leaves Bell as the number three RB…Jon Kitna is still holding on to the ball too long and taking too many sacks. The offensive line has struggled to pass protect at times, but Kitna isn’t helping. Detroit has allowed 31 sacks in six games, which would put them on pace for 83 over a 16 game season. No quarterback will survive that kind of pounding…Rookie Calvin Johnson had a bit of a coming out party against the Bucs, rushing for one TD and making a clutch, diving catch. The more involved in the offense Johnson gets, the more dangerous they become. Johnson’s eventual emergence (and a steady running game) will take pressure off of Roy Williams.
Green Bay Packers—Green Bay’s running back situation is still unsettled. Even after the bye week, DeShawn Wynn is still not 100 percent healthy. He is expected to start Monday night against Denver and Wynn has produced more than any other Green Bay RB when healthy. Veteran Vernand Morency has only five carries in two games since returning from the injured list and rookie Brandon Jackson has just returned to practice but averaged only 2.6 yards per rush and hasn’t shown coaches enough to secure the starting spot…The Pack lost veteran TE Bubba Franks for a couple of weeks with a knee injury. Donald Lee is still the starter but the Pack had to sign Ryan Krause from the practice squad for depth purposes…LB Brady Poppinga has been very tough against the run but he lacks the speed to cover TEs and gets burned often in space. The Packers’ safeties haven’t helped out much and opposing TEs are really hurting the Pack…The defense will have to make adjustments to correct the problem…Center Scott Wells will return to the Green Bay lineup after missing a game due to a fractured orbital bone. The bye week came at the right time for Wells…Former Packer WR Javon Walker will miss this week’s game against the Pack due to a knee injury. Walker was traded by Green Bay after a contract dispute.
Minnesota Vikings—In order for the Vikings to win with Tarvaris Jackson at QB, the defense and running game have to make several big plays during the course of a game and that’s tough to do week in and week out. Jackson is hurting the team right now. You can’t win in the NFL these days when your QB is completing only 45.9 percent of his passes…Defenses are gearing up to stop the Minnesota rushing attack and almost inviting Jackson to throw the ball against them. He just can’t get it done at this point in his career. Jackson broke a finger on his throwing hand last week and may not start against the Eagles this Sunday. Kelly Holcomb would get the call if Jackson in unable to go…Head coach Brad Childress continues to insist on splitting carries between Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor. Since Taylor’s return to the lineup, Peterson has had 12, 20 and 12 carries. Childress is wary of overusing his rookie standout and feels he needs to get Taylor some reps as well…Rookie CB Marcus McCauley has served as the Vikings’ nickel back. He has been picked on regularly by opposing QBs and has been inconsistent in coverage. The third-round pick is still learning the Vikings’ system and adjusting to the NFL game…S Dwight Smith will likely sit out Sunday’s game against the Eagles due to a hamstring injury…Brad Childress and Eagles coach Andy Reid are old friends who worked together in Philadelphia.
Chicago Bears—Brian Griese really solidified his hold on the starting QB position by leading a 97-yard game winning drive in the final 1:57 of the game last week. Griese threw for 322 yards and didn’t throw any interceptions, but the Bears still had problems getting into the end zone. Part of that is due to a stagnant rushing attack which still only barely averaged three yards per carry…The defense managed three sacks including two by Tommie Harris. Harris now has six sacks on the season. He ran down Donovan McNabb despite playing with a hamstring injury…The run defense is still a problem. Last week, Chicago allowed 123 yards but the Eagles averaged 4.9 yards per rush which won’t get the job done against better teams. Remember, the Eagles are a pass-first offense and usually have trouble moving the ball on the ground…The Bears are 1-2 in the NFC North which makes Sunday’s game against the Lions a must-win. If Chicago loses, the Lions would win all tiebreakers with the Bears and would be 2 ½ games ahead of them in the standings…A win would get the Bears back to .500 at the bye week and give some of their injured players like Nathan Vasher and Darwin Walker a chance to heal…Chicago’s defense allowed the Eagles a lot of yards last week but managed to keep the Eagles out of the end zone most of the time. The defense has not been dominant so bend but don’t break will have to do…
Detroit Lions—A look at the stats from last week’s win over the Bucs makes it seem as though Detroit was badly outplayed. The truth is, the Lions never trailed in this game. The Detroit defense allowed the Bucs to march up and down the field but the defense and special teams came up with big plays when they were needed like fumble recoveries in the red zone and a blocked field goal…Offensively, the return of RB Kevin Jones made a big impact on the offense last week. Detroit’s rushing attack does not have to be dominant but the threat of the run has to exist and Jones gave it to the Lions this past week in his first extended duty. Jones averaged 5.1 yards on 15 carries, scored a TD and made six receptions. He is elusive and powerful and adds an element to the offense that Tatum Bell does not…T.J. Duckett also played well in his season debut. Duckett only had four carries but he picked up 30 yards. The 254 pound Duckett is an inside the tackles type of runner who can pound the ball in short yardage situations and in the red zone. He is a perfect style compliment to Jones which leaves Bell as the number three RB…Jon Kitna is still holding on to the ball too long and taking too many sacks. The offensive line has struggled to pass protect at times, but Kitna isn’t helping. Detroit has allowed 31 sacks in six games, which would put them on pace for 83 over a 16 game season. No quarterback will survive that kind of pounding…Rookie Calvin Johnson had a bit of a coming out party against the Bucs, rushing for one TD and making a clutch, diving catch. The more involved in the offense Johnson gets, the more dangerous they become. Johnson’s eventual emergence (and a steady running game) will take pressure off of Roy Williams.
Green Bay Packers—Green Bay’s running back situation is still unsettled. Even after the bye week, DeShawn Wynn is still not 100 percent healthy. He is expected to start Monday night against Denver and Wynn has produced more than any other Green Bay RB when healthy. Veteran Vernand Morency has only five carries in two games since returning from the injured list and rookie Brandon Jackson has just returned to practice but averaged only 2.6 yards per rush and hasn’t shown coaches enough to secure the starting spot…The Pack lost veteran TE Bubba Franks for a couple of weeks with a knee injury. Donald Lee is still the starter but the Pack had to sign Ryan Krause from the practice squad for depth purposes…LB Brady Poppinga has been very tough against the run but he lacks the speed to cover TEs and gets burned often in space. The Packers’ safeties haven’t helped out much and opposing TEs are really hurting the Pack…The defense will have to make adjustments to correct the problem…Center Scott Wells will return to the Green Bay lineup after missing a game due to a fractured orbital bone. The bye week came at the right time for Wells…Former Packer WR Javon Walker will miss this week’s game against the Pack due to a knee injury. Walker was traded by Green Bay after a contract dispute.
Minnesota Vikings—In order for the Vikings to win with Tarvaris Jackson at QB, the defense and running game have to make several big plays during the course of a game and that’s tough to do week in and week out. Jackson is hurting the team right now. You can’t win in the NFL these days when your QB is completing only 45.9 percent of his passes…Defenses are gearing up to stop the Minnesota rushing attack and almost inviting Jackson to throw the ball against them. He just can’t get it done at this point in his career. Jackson broke a finger on his throwing hand last week and may not start against the Eagles this Sunday. Kelly Holcomb would get the call if Jackson in unable to go…Head coach Brad Childress continues to insist on splitting carries between Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor. Since Taylor’s return to the lineup, Peterson has had 12, 20 and 12 carries. Childress is wary of overusing his rookie standout and feels he needs to get Taylor some reps as well…Rookie CB Marcus McCauley has served as the Vikings’ nickel back. He has been picked on regularly by opposing QBs and has been inconsistent in coverage. The third-round pick is still learning the Vikings’ system and adjusting to the NFL game…S Dwight Smith will likely sit out Sunday’s game against the Eagles due to a hamstring injury…Brad Childress and Eagles coach Andy Reid are old friends who worked together in Philadelphia.
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