motife
10-19-2006, 06:12 PM
(note from me, this is long, but shows the tremendous in depth coverage PFW gives the NFL.)
The Bills have played better than expected this year, but not because of their offensive line. Third-year QB J.P. Losman was on the run most of the game vs. the Lions with the left side of the line unable to handle speed. OLT Mike Gandy was repeatedly beaten for 3½ sacks vs. Lions speedy DE James Hall, and Cory Redding gave OLG Tutan Reyes just as much trouble.
Gandy, who played guard for the Bears prior to joining the Bills, really struggled to hold his blocks and even with Willis McGahee providing chip help, too often overextended, bending at the waist and lunging instead of sitting and shadowing Hall. His lack of foot quickness was exposed, as he was forced to turn his shoulders and wound up on the ground too much. Reyes endured his struggles as well, giving up the edge too often and forcing the Bills to call a lot of rollouts and keep Losman rolling to his right, where both of his TD passes came, in order to have more than a few seconds to read the field and let his receivers uncover.
Gandy would be best playing inside. He struggled a lot a year ago, but with left tackles not easy to find in the draft or free agency, the Bills did not address the position. GM Marv Levy’s next order of business will be finding a left tackle, which could allow Gandy to kick back inside where he is better-suited to play, and give the Bills more depth inside. Until then, the Bills may have to max-protect more than they would like, forcing backs and tight ends to help their struggling line with blocking assignments.
At lower levels of competition, the best athletes often play closest to the ball, with many beginning their careers at quarterback. As players advance to high levels, they are often moved to positions more suited for their talents. But even in college, it is not uncommon for the best athletes to remain out of position. It is one of the most common reasons that players are misevaluated, along with injuries, even when a player is simply playing the wrong safety position, as scouts suggest Ravens SS Dawan Landry was at Georgia Tech. He lined up at free safety for the Yellow Jackets and did not have great range off the hash, but he has more than enough athletic ability to play in the box. Players typically slip in the draft when they are projected, but that was not necessarily the case with Landry, whose brother, LaRon, is expected to be a top-10 pick in next April's draft. Dawan did not perform well at the Scouting Combine, and it hurt his draft value. However, for the Ravens, he has emerged as a solid complement to Ed Reed.
There’s not a team playing better football in the AFC right now than the Chargers. Their defense is stocked with big, fast, physical talent at every level. The offense features the league’s most talented runner and most dangerous tight end. And with first-time starting QB Philip Rivers gradually being given more responsibilities and the passing game opening up, they can dominate on both sides of the ball and are as balanced as any team in football with exception of the Bears. The Chargers were able to drive down the field at will vs. the Niners. With Chicago being next up for San Francisco after both teams enjoy a bye week, it will be interesting to see how the NFC's best matches up against the same team.
So much for the Chiefs' defense being improved. Pittsburgh dominated in the trenches and gave Ben Roethlisberger all the time he needed to let his receivers get open. After running ahead with a big lead, up 31-0 at halftime, the Steelers essentially forced Damon Huard to win with his arm, and he showed he could not get the job done. Very few backups are more than game managers, and they often drastically affect the way a game can be called. The Chiefs could only do so much with Huard, and the Steelers effectively were able to stack the box and keep Larry Johnson grounded.
Bills WLB Angelo Crowell needs to do a better job tackling. On the Lions' first run of the game, Crowell was in perfect position to make the tackle, and it was his responsibility to fill the hole. But he did not get his hat across his body and fell to the ground, letting Kevin Jones run right through the tackle for a 52-yard gain. A few series later, Crowell came underneath Jones again, this time on the goal line, and Jones ran right through his arms again as Crowell hit the dirt. Arm tackling does not get the job done in the NFL and opens the door to big plays that change the outcome of a game. Crowell whiffed too many times and needs to play with more authority.
Saints head coach Sean Payton has done a great job blending Reggie Bush into the offense with Deuce McAllister. Together, they combine to keep defenses on their heels, as the Eagles seemed to be blitz only once in the first half. With the threat of pounding the ball inside or stretching the field with Bush, the Saints' backfield possesses big-strike capabilities that must be respected. And if defenses key too much on the backfield, Drew Brees has shown he can beat defenses downfield.
With injuries plaguing the Rams’ secondary, rookie CB Tye Hill has been pressed into action early on. And in his first two games, he has become a target for opponents, allowing two TDs in the endzone vs. Seattle last week and struggling vs. the Saints the week before. He tried pleading for a flag to be thrown after getting beat the first time by Deion Branch for a touchdown, but no call was made. Branch simply came back to the ball, slowing down and stepping right in front of Hill to make the grab. There were two other Rams defenders in the endzone when Hill was blanketing Darrell Jackson the next time. Hill can run like the wind, but many teams were skeptical of his ball skills and concerned about his size, and the lack of both allowed him to get beat this week.
Panthers WR Steve Smith finally looked like he was at full health vs. the Ravens, popping off the ground after taking a big hit from Ed Reed and showing more crispness in his route running. His 8-189-1 performance keyed the Panthers’ victory, as the running game struggled to get going.
There is not a more dominant defensive end in football right now than Julius Peppers, who for the second consecutive week, made plays all over the field and consistently hurried or hit the quarterback, accounting for two sacks. More impressive is the way he chases down ballcarriers from the backside and forces turnovers, stripping Musa Smith of the ball.
It has taken some prodding from head coach Gary Kubiak, but Mario Williams' intensity level picked up last week, as he made a number of plays chasing in pursuit from the back side. For as much as the Texans were criticized for selecting Williams, Bill Parcells gave the Texans a strong endorsement by saying he would have selected the pass rusher first had he possessed the pick. From our research prior to the draft, Parcells was far from alone.
Looking at the stat sheet, Kyle Boller’s numbers could be deceiving. He looked rattled and too often forced the ball, throwing right into coverage. Moreover, two of his three TD passes were the result of the heady reactions of WR Mark Clayton, who ran under two deflected passes.
The Dolphins’ offense continues to sputter even with Joey Harrington at the helm instead of Daunte Culpepper. Saban made two solid additions to his staff by hiring ex-head coaches Dom Capers and Mike Mularkey, but there is a lot to be said for continuity at the coordinator position, and losing Scott Linehan to the Rams and basically running Will Muschamp off with Capers’ hiring appear to have set the Dolphins back more than Saban expected. It is worth noting that Auburn’s defense, now coordinated by Muschamp, was very sound in the Tigers’ 27-17 upset victory over Florida last week.
San Diego likes to use an extra tackle in an unbalanced line attack to play power football, and Carolina has installed some of the same plays in its power running attack. The Giants were the latest to join the fun, lining up OG Rich Seubert as a tight end last week vs. Atlanta and helping spring Tiki Barber for big gains. Barber is not as fast as he once was, but his vision and balance continue to age like a fine wine.
A key factor to the Giants’ 27-14 victory over the Falcons was their ability to apply more pressure than they have early in the season. Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis did a fine job of containing Michael Vick with pressure, as the Saints so effectively did on Monday night in Week Three. When Vick has little time to think, it may open the door for some big plays, but he is far less effective.
With two rookie quarterbacks earning upset victories this week, could it have any meaning for Matt Leinart on Monday night when he faces the Bears? Leinart was very good in a 23-16 win over the Bears in the preseason, when he looked like a veteran dissecting the Bears’ defense. However, there was very little game-planning involved on the part of the Bears, and Leinart will not see the same vanilla coverages. Instead, he will likely be running for his life, as arguably the top defensive line in football tees off on what could be the league’s worst offensive line.
The mobility of Tampa Bay rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski has helped an average offensive line, as the young passer was sacked only twice in 44 attempts in an upset 14-13 win over Cincinnati. Chris Simms’ job cannot be considered safe when he returns, especially if Gruden’s latest pet project continues to improve like he has.
Eagles TE L.J. Smith is emerging as one of the game’s top pass-catching tight ends, making a very difficult grab off his shoelaces, turning upfield and showing some niftiness in the open field. He has the potential to do for the Eagles’ offense what Tony Gonzalez has long done for the Chiefs, and more opportunities are in order.
How did the winless Titans knock off the Redskins? Two words  no depth. When a team spends as madly as owner Daniel Snyder has in free agency and devalues the draft the way the Redskins have, the end result is that the bottom half of the roster is very underdeveloped and cannot sustain the success of the team if injuries become an issue. Injuries have arrived, as the Redskins were forced to start two rookie defensive tackles  Kedric Golston and Anthony Montgomery. The end result was that the Redskins could not stop the run. Entering the game allowing only 95 rushing yards per game, the Redskins were gouged for more than twice as many, with Travis Henry churning out 178 alone, as Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow wisely attacked the front and Henry continually broke free to the secondary.
AFC South heavyweights Indianapolis and Jacksonville are carrying heavy defensive burdens
The NFL has often been referred to as the ultimate war of attrition, and that certainly could be the case this season in the rugged AFC South, where front-runners Indianapolis and Jacksonville must somehow find a way to overcome some major defensive deficiencies if either of them is to have any legitimate chance of doing damage in the playoffs.
The Colts, who surrendered an eye-popping 214 rushing yards to the lowly Titans in their last game, have proven to be particularly vulnerable right up the gut so far this season, allowing 166.8 yards rushing per game. The injury-plagued Jaguars, meanwhile, will be forced to overcome the loss for the remainder of the season of underrated MLB Mike Peterson, the defense’s leading tackler, who suffered a torn left pectoral muscle in Jacksonville’s 41-0 shutout of the Jets in Week Five.
In the case of the Colts, the loss of DT Corey Simon, whose absence without pay for the remainder of the season has become a growing mystery  the Philadelphia Inquirer reported late last week that the decision to place Simon on the non-football illness-injury list was actually triggered by the team’s belief that Simon was no longer really interested in playing football  has no doubt adversely affected the team’s D-line. Close observers also believe that the prolonged absence of S Bob Sanders, one of the league’s premier run-stuffing defensive backs, who has missed the last three games with a knee injury, has also really hurt the defense, as has the inconsistent play of OLB Gilbert Gardner, who has been beaten badly on occasion while replacing the departed David Thornton in the starting lineup.
The Colts managed to make a major move just before the trade deadline to bolster their D-line, acquiring DT Anthony McFarland from the Buccaneers in exchange for a 2007 second-round draft pick. Considered one of the league's more able run-stuffers, McFarland started all five games this season for Tampa Bay, recording six tackles and two assists.
Beyond banking on McFarland to beef up their defensive interior, we hear the Colts are hoping that the return to action of Sanders and, more importantly, an amped-up focus on technique and better tackling by the troops on hand will result in a lot better play against the run in the weeks to come.
As for the Jaguars, Peterson is the team’s third starter to be shelved for the season. FB Greg Jones suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the preseason, and DE Reggie Hayward, the team’s top pass rusher, ruptured his Achilles tendon in Week One.
Those are just the season-ending injuries.
Pro Bowl DT Marcus Stroud has been slowed by an ankle injury since the opener, and WR Matt Jones and backup DE Marcellus Wiley have missed time with groin injuries.
We hear the Jaguars plan to move Daryl Smith, a starter the past two years on the outside, into Peterson’s MLB spot and bring rookie Clint Ingram, a third-round pick, into the starting lineup. But we’re told teams have already begun to attack the Jaguars’ defense on the edge, where young players are being forced into the starting lineup ahead of schedule. While Stroud is playing through the pain, he hasn’t been displaying his normal Pro Bowl-caliber form, which has also weakened the interior line.
Dolphins’ Culpepper may be shut down for rest of season
Miami
We hear that QB Daunte Culpepper could be sidelined for an extended period of time  perhaps even for the rest of the season  as he resumes rehabilitating his surgically repaired right knee. Word is he halted rehab once the regular season began, and the condition of his knee leveled off after showing steady progress throughout the preseason. Culpepper will likely sit until the team’s bye week (Week Eight) and then have his condition evaluated regarding a comeback later this season. Factoring into coach Nick Saban’s decision to shut Culpepper down is a desire to prevent his signalcaller, who was sacked 21 times in the first four games, from facing five rugged defenses  Chicago, Kansas City, Minnesota, Jacksonville and New England  in the six weeks following the bye. Despite Culpepper’s subpar play, Miami still considers him its quarterback of the future  after giving him $7 million in bonus money, along with a long-term contract that has him locked up through 2013  and wants him to be fully healthy in ’07.
Buffalo
We hear that the Bills have been disappointed in the play of their starting cornerbacks, Nate Clements and Terrence McGee, thus far this season. What was considered to be a strength coming into the season has instead been a weakness, with the Bills creating only five interceptions in the first six games  none from their corners. Both players have too often been guilty of giving receivers too much cushion, missing tackles and failing to defend passes thrown their way. As one observer remarked about Clements, whom the Bills franchised this past offseason and are paying $7.226 million in salary, “He’s playing his way out of Buffalo.†Clements’ struggles haven’t been confined to this season, as the one-time playmaker (he had 18 interceptions in his first four seasons, returning four for touchdowns) has only two interceptions in his last 22 games. As for McGee, the Bills are concerned that his defensive struggles are affecting his special-teams play. One of the NFL’s most feared kickoff-return men has seen his kickoff-return average drop drastically after gaining more than 30 yards per kickoff last season. McGee did, however, rip off his longest return of the season last week  a 72-yarder in a loss to the Lions.
New England
While he has publicly condemned the poor condition of the Gillette Stadium field, we hear that head coach Bill Belichick privately desires having an “off†track and believes it gives the Patriots a formidable home-field advantage. Look no further than Week Five’s game against the Dolphins, when Miami PK Olindo Mare missed two FG attempts  one of which was blocked when he slipped as he kicked the ball  and Patriots PK Stephen Gostkowski connected on both of his FG attempts. Despite exceptionally mild fall weather conditions, with little precipitation, the natural-turf field at Gillette Stadium has been in disrepair since Week One, with green-painted sand filling the area between the hash marks from endzone to endzone. The Patriots have blamed the situation on the fact that the field has multiple uses, including home games for the New England Revolution soccer team and rock concerts. Reports out of Foxborough on Tuesday indicate that the NFL league office has told the Patriots to improve the field condition and that they are exploring ways to do that with the existing field. Word is the franchise is exploring the option of installing a FieldTurf artificial surface for next season since NFL rules don't allow changing a field's surface during a season.
NY Jets
Word from Long Island is that RB Curtis Martin is back running and the team could begin evaluating him during the three-week window between Weeks Six and Nine for players on the physically-unable-to-perform list. We hear that while head coach Eric Mangini wants to see where Martin is at physically, no one in Jets camp expects the future Hall of Famer to be in good enough condition to play this season. If Martin is placed on injured reserve, ending his 2006 season, he could retire  most likely following the season  and would have a job waiting for him in the Jets’ organization. However, we hear that the 33-year-old would like to play until he’s 35, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he were to keep rehabbing and training with the plan to attempt another comeback in ’07.
Ravens’ Suggs called a ‘complete’ player by coordinator
Baltimore
It’s easy to forget that Ravens DE Terrell Suggs is just 24, as he’s been getting after NFL quarterbacks for the past four seasons. And there’s a sense in Baltimore that Suggs is really starting to pick up his play. A source close to the club notes Suggs is playing better than he did a season ago, and also points out that Suggs is far and away the Ravens’ pass rusher who puts the most fear in opponents. When Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan looks at Suggs, he sees a well-rounded, skilled defender. “He’s a complete guy,†Ryan told PFW. “I don’t care if you want to count him as a defensive end, outside linebacker, whatever. He’s a hell of a football player. He plays with great leverage; he’s a lot stronger than you think and a lot bigger than you think. He’s 265 pounds. Sometimes he’s an outside linebacker, and that’s tough for those tight ends to handle. He is a complete player, though. He’s not just a one-trick pony. He can do a lot of things.â€Â
Cincinnati
The Bengals have missed SS Dexter Jackson, who has missed the last three games with an ankle injury. The 6-foot, 210-pound veteran safety is integral to the Bengals’ run-stuffing efforts. Jackson started Cincinnati’s first two games, and the Bengals held opponents to a total of 170 rushing yards. In the next three games, with Kevin Kaesviharn taking Jackson’s place, the Bengals surrendered 532 rushing yards. Jackson isn’t the only injured Bengals defender  the team misses big, athletic SLB David Pollack, who’s out for the season with a broken neck  but there is no doubt that Jackson has helped set the tone for the defense when he’s been in the lineup. However, staying healthy has been a problem for Jackson the last three seasons. Jackson missed 10 games in 2004 and five games in ’05.
Cleveland
The Browns took the bye week to contemplate what’s gone wrong with an offense that’s again ranked among the league’s worst. The calls for the Browns to strip offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon of his duties get louder and louder, and there’s a possibility that head coach Romeo Crennel will revisit Carthon’s responsibilities  specifically the play-calling  in the near future. “We haven’t talked about that, and we have the rest of the week to evaluate things,†Crennel said before the bye. Crennel has been reluctant to place blame for the offensive woes on Carthon, formerly the offensive coordinator in Detroit and Dallas. Said Crennel: “It’s a team thing. We are all in it together. We are 1-4, and it’s a bottom-line business. We all deserve criticism, and it’s been given. We are going to work and try to get it straightened out.†If Carthon loses his play-calling duties, there’s speculation that assistant head coach/OL coach Jeff Davidson could take control of the offense. Davidson was given the assistant head coach title in the offseason as his name came up as a potential candidate for offensive-coordinator openings around the league.
Pittsburgh
WRs Cedrick Wilson and Santonio Holmes are rotating at split end, a move that comes as little surprise. Wilson caught only six passes in his first four starts, and Holmes is a No. 1 pick whom the Steelers traded up to draft. Despite not starting, and despite his lack of experience, Holmes caught seven passes in those first four games. The feeling is that the Steelers are desperate to find a playmaker, and Wilson has not fit that bill as a starter. To be fair, Wilson fared well in a complementary role in 2005, averaging an impressive 17.3 yards per catch. Wilson had three receptions in a Week Six win over Kansas City, and Holmes had two, including a 50-yard gain. For now, Wilson will play two series to every one that Holmes plays. Holmes will also return punts for the Steelers.
Titans’ Young must continue to mature on and off the field
Tennessee
The learning curve for QB Vince Young was expected to be steep, considering his transition to the NFL from a college offense where he was asked to make few pro throws and could make up for mistakes with his scrambling ability. But it’s another adjustment  that of maturity and accountability  that has not been as impressive as expected. Despite the natural leadership skills Young possesses, team sources say that his gag rule with reporters following the team’s Week Five loss is proof positive that the rookie must mature. Clearly, he’s not used to losing; at Texas, Young won 94 percent of his games, losing only twice as a starter. Already, he has lost as many games (two) as the Titans’ starting quarterback, although he notched his first win as a pro last week in Washington. Young also refused to talk to the media the week before his first start, and head coach Jeff Fisher said he has spoken to his player about facing up to his responsibilities.
Houston
The way we hear it, the Texans are impressed with young WR coach Kyle Shanahan. A source close to the club says the team likes Shanahan’s work ethic, coaching ability and knack for relating to players. There is also a respect for Shanahan’s desire to make a name for himself in the coaching ranks. He is the son of Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan, and it’s well known that he would like to work for his father one day. For now, he’s landed in an ideal spot, working under former Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, now Houston’s head coach. It reflects well on Shanahan that WR Andre Johnson could be on his way to a career year in his first season in the Kubiak-influenced offense. League evaluators have come away impressed with Johnson’s route-running and ability to read coverages. In short, he’s become a complete receiver.
On the same day the Jaguars announced they had placed a second starting defensive player on the injured-reserve list, the team added a low-risk, potentially high-reward prospect to its injury-free secondary. With MLB Mike Peterson (torn pectoral) joining DE Reggie Hayward (ruptured Achilles tendon) on I.R., the Jaguars filled the open roster spot with ex-Packers CB Ahmad Carroll. A first-round pick in 2004, Carroll was released earlier this season by Green Bay after getting shredded by the Eagles on “Monday Night Football.†We hear Carroll is a raw talent with tremendous speed and athleticism that was too enticing for the Jaguars to pass up signing to a league-minimum contract. According to WR Matt Jones, Carroll could be the fastest player on the roster. Jones and Carroll were college teammates at Arkansas. We’re told the Jaguars are hoping Carroll can use his blazing speed to contribute as a cover guy on special teams. If Carroll plays well enough to earn a spot in the nickel or dime packages, that would be gravy, according to sources in Jacksonville.
Broncos’ Tatum Bell still short on respect around the league
Denver
Tatum Bell has looked sharp in his expanded role as the featured option in the Broncos’ running game, but more than one source PFW spoke with last week indicated Bell is going to have to prove himself in terms of durability over time, not just in a couple of weeks. One AFC defensive coach acknowledged Bell is a “home run-type hitter†who has “outstanding speed,†but he also has some reservations. “I don’t think he’s that tough yet,†the coach told PFW. “I really don’t. I wouldn’t put him in an elite class. I think he’s going to gain a ton of yards in the Denver system. He’ll probably be a 1,300-yard back. I could see that happening. But I still don’t have the respect that I have for some of these other backs in the league. The real tough, competitive guys that are going to hit it up in there no matter what you do (as a defense). And not just get the (big yards) on third down, but be able to pound you with it on 1st-and-10 and be able to get yards when everybody in the ballpark knows you’re running. Those are the guys that impress me.â€Â
Kansas City
As reported in PFW following Trent Green’s concussion in the season opener, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Pro Bowl quarterback miss the entire month of October while recovering. As of this writing, Green had rejoined the team but was still expected to be a week or so away from being able to participate in practice. So, any game action before Week Eight, at the earliest, would be pushing it, from what we hear. In his place, Damon Huard, who had barely played since 2000 prior to Green going down, has displayed a calm demeanor on the field, patience in the pocket and timing of his throws, although he was less than impressive in a 45-7 loss at Pittsburgh in Week Six.
Oakland
All the patience he has shown while sitting behind the likes of Charlie Garner, Amos Zereoue and LaMont Jordan may have finally paid off for RB Justin Fargas, who has provided a real spark off the bench of late for a relatively stagnant Oakland offense. Heading into Week Six, Fargas had 17 carries for 153 yards (9.0-yard average) while spelling Jordan. However, Fargas suffered an arm injury in a Raiders defeat in Week Six. Injuries, a lack of focus and poor showings as a blocker and receiver labeled him as an underachiever for his first three years in the league. But Fargas, who has impressive athletic ability and straight-line speed, has matured and put in the extra effort during the offseason to improve on his weaknesses. While his durability remains in question, Fargas is a good fit for the one-cut-and-go blocking scheme employed by the new staff, and he has been dishing out as much punishment as he absorbs with his hard running style.
San Diego
An interesting dilemma awaiting the Chargers’ coaching staff is what to do with veteran OLT Roman Oben when he is deemed healthy enough to play in the next week or two. Oben, an anchor on the left side since his arrival in San Diego in 2004, has been on the physically-unable-to-perform list with a broken bone in his foot, but according to league rules, he is allowed to return to practice this week. Sources say he is moving much better than he was in training camp and has been doing more intense individual workouts in recent weeks. But second-round pick Marcus McNeill, who beat out Leander Jordan in the preseason, has played better each week while holding his own at Oben’s OLT spot vs. stellar pass rushers like Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs and Pittsburgh’s Joey Porter. McNeill (6-7, 336) has never looked overwhelmed by anything and is a quick learner. Because of that comfort level, the thinking is that it would be very difficult for the Chargers to make any changes to a lineup that is working so well together.
Bledsoe gives Cowboys more security than Romo
Dallas
Amid the rants of disgruntled WR Terrell Owens was speculation last week about whether inconsistent QB Drew Bledsoe might play out the string as the starter. It was a legitimate question, considering how poorly Bledsoe had played in the team’s two losses, to Jacksonville and Philadelphia. But Bill Parcells put the notion of benching Bledsoe against the Texans to rest, and the veteran passer responded with a good game, completing 17-of-28 passes for 168 yards with no interceptions and two touchdowns  both to Owens  in the win over Houston. Bledsoe’s problems have stemmed from dealing with pressure and throwing off target, but he also at times has failed to connect with or develop a rapport with Owens because of the limited work the two have had together. But there’s also another, more subtle factor, according to a team source: Owens himself. There’s a thought that Parcells would be hesitant to turn the offense over to intriguing backup Tony Romo, all things being equal, because of what Owens’ effect on the young quarterback might be. If Owens jawed at Romo in the huddle, would the inexperienced QB handle himself well? We know how Bledsoe would handle it; so far, our spies report no tangible tension between him and Owens to speak of. Interestingly, Romo did see some mop-up action in Week Six, completing 2-of-2 passes for 35 yards with one touchdown  which went to Owens, for his third score of the day.
NY Giants
One of the major reasons that QB Eli Manning has improved his completion percentage by such a dramatic margin  from 52.1 percent, among the lowest of starting quarterbacks in ’05, to 65.3 percent so far this season  has been his ability to recognize where blitzes are coming from, identify the best matchups in single coverage and hit his targets accurately  and often for big gains. The prime example of this was Manning’s lob TD pass to WR Plaxico Burress in overtime in Week Two to beat the Eagles, who were in cover-0 (no deep safety help). But more recently, Manning hit Burress and Amani Toomer for 40-yard-plus plays against the Redskins in Week Five when Washington sent five or six rushers at Manning. Toomer also has been a big reason for Manning’s improvement, a season after which it appeared he was being phased out of the offense, or at least would be playing a lesser role than Burress and TE Jeremy Shockey, and perhaps even RB Tiki Barber, who has seen more passes thrown his way this season. With Shockey playing hurt on a bad foot and ankle, Toomer has become Manning’s most consistent third-down target  although Shockey gutted it out last week, converting a pair of third-down attempts for a first downs and another for a touchdown.
Philadelphia
Though the team’s pass-defense numbers aren’t all that impressive in terms of yardage allowed to the naked eye, there’s more to the picture. First, injuries to starting CB Lito Sheppard and nickel back Rod Hood have limited the unit, forcing Joselio Hanson and Dexter Wynn (cut in training camp before being re-signed) into more prominent roles than coordinator Jim Johnson was expecting them to have. Second, each of the team’s first five opponents could be called strong passing teams, forcing Johnson to keep safeties Michael Lewis and Brian Dawkins staying back in coverage more. Against the Saints, they were able to move up into the box, in pseudo-LB roles, to defend against RBs Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush. Their versatility, along with Johnson’s confidence to use three safeties at one time (Sean Considine comes in when the team goes to a 4-1-6 defense on passing downs), has provided a balanced attack. Considering Hanson’s improvement, Hood’s likely return next week and the pressure provided by the front four, look for the Eagles’ pass defense to play well through the middle part of the season.
Washington
So far, the investments in WR Antwaan Randle El and especially Brandon Lloyd have fallen way short of expectations. Lloyd has been nearly invisible, catching only seven passes for 127 yards in six games after averaging 45.5 receptions the past two seasons in San Francisco. One of the big problems has been the offense’s inability to throw downfield  Lloyd’s calling card. The Redskins face a lot of cover-2, and QB Mark Brunell isn’t going to take chances against two-deep zones. Lloyd needs to see more man coverage in order to have a chance. Lloyd did catch a 52-yarder last week vs. the Titans, but it was his only reception of the game. Randle El and Santana Moss are more accustomed to catching short passes and weaving through traffic, whereas Lloyd is more of a straight-line route runner. Another factor, team sources tell us, is that Brunell and Lloyd have yet to develop any kind of chemistry or rapport, on or off the field. Randle El, meanwhile, has been more productive with 15 receptions, but his 8.3 yards per catch is second-lowest on the team. He also has made little impact as a runner (eight rushes, 30 yards), thrower (zero attempts) or returner (6.5-yard average on 17 punts)  three dimensions that made him one of the more attractive receivers on the open market. Still, if the offense becomes less lateral and more vertical, expect more opportunities to open up for Lloyd, which would also benefit Randle El.
Front five a fiasco as Lions lose Woody for rest of season
Detroit
The Lions have been banged up all season along the offensive line, but bad turned to worse this week when Detroit was forced to place ORG Damien Woody, their best offensive lineman, on injured reserve with a foot injury. Woody, their prized free-agent score in the 2004 offseason, was injured on the first series in Week Five and was looking at a recovery time of 6-8 weeks at a minimum. The Lions have also gotten very little out of offseason acquisitions Ross Verba and Rex Tucker, who were expected to start for a bolstered front five. Verba has missed all but a handful of snaps with a season-long hamstring injury, and Tucker has logged only one start due to knee ailments. Neither is expected back until after the Lions’ Week Eight bye. In the wake of these injuries, we hear the Lions are handling their backups in very curious fashion. They have three options at right guard and right tackle: a hobbled Barry Stokes, who can play either spot; rookie Jonathan Scott, who has filled in ably at tackle for two weeks; and OG Blaine Saipaia, who was signed just two weeks ago. Despite Stokes’ injuries and Saipaia’s whiff on Vikings NT Pat Williams that led to a game-turning TD last week, Detroit has benched Scott, citing experience as the determining factor. Stokes is a nine-year veteran, and Saipaia played for offensive coordinator Mike Martzin St. Louis. We’re told it won’t be surprising to see more of the four-turnover, abandon-the-run outings we saw from Martz & Co. in Week Five, although the Lions struck a decent balance in Week Six, posting their first win.
Chicago
Explosive WR Bernard Berrian consistently mentions veteran teammate Muhsin Muhammad as a critical aid in his breakout season. “There’s a lot of things I struggle with, and Moose has been around,†Berrian told PFW. “You’re always gonna lean on the shoulders of someone who’s been around like that.†Among other things, Berrian credits Muhammad for preaching patience through a disappointing 2005 season, for teaching him to dismiss frustrations beyond his control, and for aiding in his development of better route-running. The mentor suggests the biggest lesson his pupil has learned is consistency. “I always talk about roles and understanding what part you play on the team in the big scheme of things,†Muhammad told PFW. “I think he understands what his role is. Fit in your role and don’t try to do too much and be consistent. Be the same guy every single day. … He’s done a good job of that, just being a consistent player. He’s coming along real good.â€Â
Green Bay
With WR Robert Ferguson expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a mid-foot sprain and WR Koren Robinson on the brink of a one-year suspension for another violation of the NFL substance-abuse policy, the Packers may come out of their Week Six bye with a perilously thin receiving corps. If Robinson’s appeal for a stay of the suspension is not granted, Green Bay will be down to veteran Donald Driver (also nursing rib injuries), rookie Greg Jennings and first-year player Ruvell Martin out wide. The Packers do have two rookie options on their practice squad. We’re told Chris Francies is a quick possession type, while Calvin Russell is a raw, speedy deep threat. However, we hear that the team would likely look outside the organization for a wideout if indeed it got down to three active receivers. The need is less dire for Green Bay since it carries four tight ends on the roster and rarely lines up in four-WR sets.
Minnesota
With only three TDs in 12 red-zone trips, the Vikings are among the league’s worst in converting their prime scoring opportunities. While there’s little question that the new-look roster lacks a dynamic playmaker on offense, the way we hear it, there’s also a clear lack of aggressiveness in the team’s red-zone play-calling. Rather than throwing it into the endzone, head coach Brad Childress has elected to check down underneath. It’s not that the Vikings don’t recognize that they lack the kind of weapon who can break those tackles and cross the stripe; it’s that they’re unwilling to take unnecessary chances with their defense playing so well. With two of the team’s four offensive TDs, WR Marcus Robinson is being double-teamed in the red zone, and yet WR Troy Williamson has not been targeted in tight. We’re told the second-year speedster has had his number called primarily on deep balls and on screens at the line of scrimmage and rarely on intermediate crossing routes.
Panthers lose Pro Bowl LB Morgan for rest of 2006
Carolina
Dan Morgan kept a dubious streak alive when it was announced prior to the Panthers’ Week Six trip to Baltimore that Morgan, who hasn’t played since suffering a concussion in Week One, would be sidelined for the rest of the season. Morgan has not played a entire 16-game regular season since being drafted in the first round in 2001. The latest injury was the fourth documented concussion of Morgan’s career, and his second head trauma in less than a month. Morgan incurred a blow to his head in the second preseason game on Aug. 19, which the team did not label a “concussion,†but most observers believe it was, at the very least, a mild concussion. We hear Morgan decided to sit out the remainder of the season after visiting Dr. Michael Collins, a sports concussion specialist in Pittsburgh, earlier in the week. Morgan expressed a strong desire to return to the field in 2007, but with his extensive injury history, our sources believe the Panthers need to address the MLB position in free agency or in the early rounds of the draft. We’re told veteran Chris Draft, who will serve as Morgan’s replacement for the rest of the campaign, is just a temporary solution, and second-year MLB Adam Seward isn’t ready to start.
Atlanta
In Week Two, Atlanta’s first game without injured DRE John Abraham (two sacks in the opener), the Falcons had trouble generating a pass rush. In Week Three, the Falcons moved starting BLB Michael Boley to rush end in obvious passing situations to bolster their pass rush. The experiment worked, and we hear the Falcons will continue using Boley as a rush end at times, even with Abraham (groin) returning to the lineup. Sources in Atlanta tell us head coach Jim Mora wants to use Boley like he did Julian Peterson when Mora was the defensive coordinator with the 49ers. Mora lined up Peterson as a rush end, a traditional outside linebacker and dropped back in coverage in San Francisco. We hear that Boley, in his second NFL season, is clearly emerging as a player with the right mix of athleticism, skill set and intelligence to become a star.
New Orleans
Leading up to the Saints’ Week Five tilt with the Buccaneers, rookie RB Reggie Bush admitted he was pressing to score his first NFL touchdown. Bush scored a touchdown an average of every 14.4 times he touched the ball in his final season at USC. On his 100th touch as a pro, Bush made his maiden voyage to the endzone. And it couldn’t have come at a better time, as Bush’s 65-yard punt return late in the fourth quarter was the winning score. While Bush has been held out of the endzone on offense, he continues to have a profound impact on the Saints’ offense. We hear defenses have really focused on Bush, which the Saints have used to their advantage, deploying Bush as a decoy to open up huge running lanes for RB Deuce McAllister. Our sources tell us Bush does his least damage when taking handoffs directly from QB Drew Brees and that he is most effective when used as a receiver  he led the NFL in receptions after five games  because he is usually matched up one-on-one with a defender and able to use his plethora of moves to dance by the defender.
Tampa Bay
While rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski’s first career start didn’t produce a victory for the Buccaneers, it did restore a glimmer of hope that Jon Gruden’s club has a solid foundation of young players on offense to build around for the future  and maybe even this season. Gradkowski’s multiple-touchdown and interception-less debut  something QB Chris Simms couldn’t accomplish in his three starts  ignited an offense that had been dormant for the first month of the season. Our sources tell us Gruden was able to put in plays for Gradkowski that the team could never run with Simms because of Gradkowski’s mobility. We hear Gradkowski’s movement skills also allowed him to buy time behind a struggling offensive line, and it also prevented the Saints from packing defenders near the line of scrimmage, which opened up running lanes for RB Cadillac Williams. The reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year had his first 100-yard outing of the season against the Saints after running for barely 100 yards in three games combined with Simms as the starter. Williams followed that up with a 94-yard rushing effort in Week Six. Second-year TE Alex Smith had a touchdown catch in Gradkowski’s debut, and rookies OG Davin Joseph and OT Jeremy Trueblood manned the right side of the offensive line. Smith also scored a touchdown in Week Six as Gradkowski and the Bucs won their first game, knocking off the Bengals 14-13.
Rams reward grinder Tinoisamoa with rare contract extension
St. Louis
When PFW asked Scott Linehan in his first public appearance before the national media at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine which players on the Rams’ roster he considered to be core guys, one of the first players the rookie head coach mentioned was Pisa Tinoisamoa. Linehan said he couldn’t have been more impressed with the fourth-year outside linebacker’s intense work ethic after meeting him last January. The Rams rewarded Tinoisamoa’s passionate approach to the game last week with a five-year contract extension carrying an overall value of just under $25 million. (Team sources tell us he will receive $10 million in bonuses and guarantees.) Since the Rams moved to St. Louis, only a few pending free agents have been re-signed during the season, but the way we hear it, the Rams are enamored with the prospect of Tinoisamoa playing alongside another player they really love, free-agent addition Will Witherspoon, for years to come. We’re told Tinoisamoa, who led the Rams in tackles his first three seasons despite injuries that would have sidelined many of his peers, had begun to think as though he had to do it all, prior to this season. But with Witherspoon, who has a similar style, now in the mix, Tinoisamoa is the Rams’ fourth-leading tackler through the first six games and appears to be quite content sharing the load while busting his tail from sideline to sideline. Tinoisamoa will probably be playing the rest of the season with a brace to protect a painful elbow injury originally suffered in Week Two. His ability to play through the injury is setting a great example of the kind of toughness that new Rams defensive coordinator Jim Haslett has made a priority.
Arizona
Bryant Johnson has always much preferred to let his actions speak louder than his words. So far this season, the former first-round pick has definitely made his presence felt on the field, averaging 22.7 yards per catch through five games. Johnson is expected to be in the starting lineup for as long as Larry Fitzgerald remains out with a hamstring injury. It’s a role he thinks he’ll have no problem handling. “Not much really changes with Larry out,†Johnson told PFW last week. “I am pretty comfortable in any role I’m asked to play. All of our receivers feel we can make plays every time we get the ball.†Johnson had nothing but good things to say about rookie QB Matt Leinart, who had a mostly impressive pro debut vs. Kansas City in Week Five. “Matt is doing a wonderful job,†said Johnson, who had a team-leading six catches for 82 yards against the Chiefs. “He sure doesn’t seem like a rookie out there. He’s very poised and pumped up to make big plays.â€Â
San Francisco
While he has yet to play a down this season, we hear veteran backup QB Trent Dilfer has made significant contributions off the field, more than ably filling the role of team psychologist for any Niners player who has a problem. Dilfer was credited with helping Frank Gore with his early-season fumble problems; after Dilfer built up the starting running back’s confidence, Gore had his first fumble-free game of the season in the Week Five victory over Oakland. Dilfer has also provided valuable guidance to volatile WR Antonio Bryant, his former teammate with the Browns, and second-year starting QB Alex Smith, among others. Team insiders tell us the fact that Dilfer still has plenty of game, which he showed off in training camp and the preseason, has only served to boost the great respect he commands from everybody connected with the organization.
Seattle
The sudden thyroid condition that prevented veteran WR Bobby Engram from playing against the Rams wasn’t the only noteworthy news last week regarding Seattle’s receiving corps. The Seahawks also announced that newly acquired Deion Branch would be entering the starting lineup, which would likely take away opportunities from free-agent addition Nate Burleson. We hear Burleson, who has had his share of dropped passes, might not only be relinquishing playing time to Branch but also to third-year pro D.J. Hackett, who had made the most of his limited opportunities in Seattle’s first four games and, at 6-foot-2, is easily the biggest wide receiver on Seattle’s roster. In Week Six’s win over the Rams, Branch led the Seahawks in receptions with six for 76 yards and two touchdowns. Darrell Jackson contributed four catches for 94 yards and a score, and Hackett was good for 66 yards on three receptions. Burleson, despite starting the game in a three-WR set, did not catch a pass in St. Louis. While shaky play from QB Matt Hasselbeck has been most often cited for Seattle’s early-season offensive struggles, an inordinate number of dropped passes  a big problem in the two seasons previous to last year’s Super Bowl run  have also been a handicap worth mentioning.
Although he still gives up a few too many completions, CB Quentin Jammer is playing the best football of his career for the Chargers. His confidence, a return to a more physical approach and San Diego’s improved pass rush are key reasons why he’s playing so well.
We’ve likely seen the last of Ahman Green as the Packers’ exclusive workhorse. Green saw 25 touches per week through three games and promptly landed on the inactive list for two straight weeks with hamstring injuries to both legs. With backups Vernand Morency and Noah Herron running well in his stead in Weeks Four and Five, the Packers are looking to decrease Green’s workload and will mix the two substitutes in regularly.
We’re hearing that not only is Broncos DE Courtney Brown done for the season after being placed on injured reserve last week, but he faces an uphill battle to even return to football after another serious knee surgery.
The Eagles might make a move soon with DT Sam Rayburn, who has been buried on the bench this season after showing flashes in the past. They could either trade him before the Oct. 17 deadline or release him. D-tackles are hard to find, so there most certainly would be a job for the hardworking Rayburn.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told the media that FS Marcus Coleman would be released following his four-game suspension, but sources think Coleman might be back at some point considering rookie Pat Watkins’ recent struggles as a starter.
When the Cowboys released WR Skyler Green before the season, it appeared the fourth-rounder could be written off as a bust. However, re-signed to the practice squad and turned into a running back, Green has earned recent praise from Bill Parcells as a do-everything guy who could help the team.
The clock is ticking on Eagles DE Jerome McDougle. Though he’ll hold on to his job as Darren Howard’s backup this season, McDougle must show something soon to avoid sealing his fate for 2007. He has shown little of the pass-rushing ability he was regarded to have coming out of college.
Keep an eye on Redskins P Derrick Frost. He has been limited somewhat by a calf injury and has been inconsistent. Though the team worked out Sean Landeta last week, team sources say that was more of a favor to a local (Baltimore) resident. More likely, the team might look at someone like Todd Sauerbrun, who was recently released by the Broncos.
Thought to be a temporary replacement until rookie Rocky McIntosh was ready, Redskins LB Warrick Holdman actually has been one of the team’s more consistent defenders after a subpar ’05 season. McIntosh might not get a chance to start until next season.
If RB Curtis Martin miraculously is able to prove to the Jets that he still can carry the ball, we hear the team would look to move a runner from their crowded backfield  most likely Derrick Blaylock, who has fallen out of favor with the coaching staff.
Word is the main reason why the Jets cut DB Derrick Strait, just two weeks after he served as a starting safety, is that they didn’t trust his ability to play cornerback and needed a corner with David Barrett dinged up. That’s why the Jets immediately put in a claim for veteran CB Hank Poteat as soon as he was released by the Patriots.
Word is pressure is beginning to mount on head coach Nick Saban with each successive defeat by the disappointing Dolphins. The lack of contributions from this year’s draft class is leading critics to point out that Saban has yet to develop any of his draft picks into Pro Bowl-caliber players. While his first draft class (in ’05) has netted some starters, Saban’s Dolphins have yet to have a breakout player.
Sources in Tampa tell us SS Jermaine Phillips was pulled from the Saints’ game in Week Five because he was playing so poorly. While Phillips still may hold on to his starting job, we hear backup Kalvin Pearson can expect to see more playing time. We’re told Pearson is a sound tackler and heavy hitter  something the Bucs’ defense has lacked this season. Our sources also indicated Jon Gruden could implement a rotation system at safety between Phillips, Pearson and starting FS Will Allen like the Bucs had last year with Phillips, Allen and ex-Buc Dexter Jackson.
We’re told Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden has become so frustrated with his underperforming defense that he uncharacteristically called out four players  DTs Anthony McFarland and Ellis Wyms and DEs Dewayne White and Simeon Rice  at a press conference the day after the Bucs’ 24-21 loss to the Saints. Gruden, who normally doesn’t name individual players when they perform poorly, was frustrated with his D-linemen because they weren’t getting enough pressure on the quarterback.
Though CB Ken Lucas has reclaimed his starting spot for now, we hear the Panthers are still impressed with rookie CB Richard Marshall, who returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown in Week Five.
Rookie RB DeAngelo Williams sat out the Panthers’ Week Six tilt in Baltimore with a sprained ankle, but our sources in Charlotte tell us Williams could be more seriously hurt than the team has indicated and that he could miss another game or two.
We hear the Falcons, who ranked dead last in red-zone touchdown percentage entering Week Six, will try to remedy their drought by incorporating more fade routes in their passing game like QB Michael Vick used to throw to WR Brian Finneran, who’s out for the season with a knee injury. WRs Michael Jenkins (6-foot-4) and Ashley Lelie (6-foot-3) have long frames similar to Finneran’s, which are ideal for a fade route or jump ball in the endzone.
Sources in New Orleans tell us that while the season-ending knee injury to starting SS Roman Harper will hurt the rookie’s development, it shouldn’t slow down the Saints’ overachieving defense. Veteran Omar Stoutmire, who lost his starting spot to Harper in training camp, will replace Harper. And the Saints signed free agent Jay Bellamy to serve as Stoutmire’s backup. We hear Bellamy, who started 67 straight games for New Orleans from 2001 until injuring his shoulder last season, was the team’s final cut as it whittled its roster down to 53 before the season started. We’re told head coach Sean Payton is very comfortable with Bellamy’s knowledge of the defense and ability to step in and contribute right away.
After bringing in a number of wide receivers for workouts, the Vikings signed Bethel Johnson with the hope that he can provide a change of pace with his shifty quickness. We’re told he will likely cost Billy McMullen playing time on offense and should replace a disappointing Artose Pinner on kick returns.
The Packers’ offensive line has taken to its zone run-blocking scheme much better in recent weeks, behind improved play from their rookie guards. While that may open up some play-action opportunities downfield, we’re told the team still can’t afford to let Brett Favre take seven-step drops because of their protection problems.
We hear that Greg Jennings’ even-keeled temperament and professional approach to the game have enabled him to make a consistent and immediate impact. His decent speed and average size didn’t attract first-round attention, but he has great hands and no fear across the middle, offering a skill set that is not unlike the one veteran teammate Donald Driver brings to the table.
The last thing the Lions needed was another wide receiver on their active roster, but when ORG Damien Woody was placed on injured reserve, they signed WR Devale Ellis from the practice squad. The team lauds Ellis’ speed and his play in practice, which contrasts starkly, on both fronts, with what they’ve gotten out of 2005 first-rounder Mike Williams.
As if injuries to their offensive line, secondary and LB corps weren’t enough, the bug caught the Lions’ defensive line this week with the loss of NT Shaun Cody (dislocated toe) for 4-6 weeks. The Lions will miss Cody’s speed and ability to make teams pay for doubling UT Shaun Rogers. Don’t be surprised to see them shift DLE Cory Redding inside and bring backup DE
Kalimba Edwards in to line up on the edge.
While the Texans were intrigued with TE Bennie Joppru’s potential, they needed a fullback, and that drove the decision to cut the oft-injured but athletic Michigan product. Vonta Leach replaced Joppru on the roster.
A source close to the Bengals says RB Chris Perry (knee, ankle) is expected to be activated from the physically-unable-to-perform list in Week Seven when the Bengals host Carolina. Perry is said to be eager to return to action.
Browns S Brodney Pool, pressed into service at cornerback in Week Five, generally held his own vs. Panthers WR Keyshawn Johnson. Though Pool’s long-term future still appears to be at safety, we hear he has at least proven to the coaches that he can hold up against bigger receivers.
There’s talk that the Browns could look at making some moves at offensive guard if the running game does not improve. If that happens, Lennie Friedman could get a chance at one of the OG spots. The way we hear it, OLG Joe Andruzzi and ORG Cosey Coleman have disappointed this year.
RB Jamal Lewis’ struggles have led to speculation about how long he’ll keep the starting job in Baltimore. Head coach Brian Billick is loyal to veterans, but if Lewis doesn’t pick up his play, we’re told the Ravens could revisit the RB situation. The way we hear it, veteran Mike Anderson would likely get first crack at Lewis’ job, as the team likes what Musa Smith has done on passing downs. Anderson’s play has steadily improved after a so-so training camp.
Steelers RB Najeh Davenport will have a bigger role in the offense in the weeks to come as the team looks for someone to spell Willie Parker.
Browns WR Joshua Cribbs could get more snaps on offense in the next few weeks, especially if WR Dennis Northcutt misses any time with his rib injury. However, head coach Romeo Crennel has indicated he views Cribbs as a special-teamer first and a receiver second.
As good as Broncos Pro Bowl CB Champ Bailey is at shadowing receivers, those in Denver seem to appreciate his run support and tackling ability just as much. Entering Week Six, Bailey trailed only LBs Al Wilson and Ian Gold in tackles for the Broncos. And it’s not as if those tackles are coming from completions made in front of him, because opposing passers have made a habit of avoiding his side of the field most of the year. Sources indicate Bailey takes great pride in “getting in the game when the opposition is trying to take him out.â€Â
Word out of Denver is that the Broncos made the decision to cut P Todd Sauerbrun last week based 60 percent on how disappointed they were in his suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy and 40 percent on how well his replacement, Paul Ernster, played in his absence during the four-week suspension. Ernster also was a better kickoff specialist than Sauerbrun, who seemed to waste his best punts in practice.
Entering Week Six, 14 of the Chargers’ Nate Kaeding’s 24 kickoffs were handled inside the opponent’s five-yard line. Only 17 went beyond the five-yard line last season, when he suffered from a bad back.
Communication in a young secondary has been an issue for the Raiders, and so has stopping the run. Poor tackling is partly to blame, but they are not getting the push from the defensive line like they had hoped for, and overpursuing has also been a problem in terms of the opponent exploiting cutback lanes.
Putting too much air under the ball has been a real problem for Raiders young QB Andrew Walter, who has been sought out by Randy Moss on the sideline on more than one occasion just to “get on the same page,†according to Walter.
Don’t be surprised to see the Raiders pull the plug on the “Langston Walker is a right tackle†experiment. Walker, who played at left guard last season before being moved back outside upon Art Shell’s arrival as coach, has been beaten pretty regularly on the edge. Rookie Paul McQuistan, a natural tackle who lost his ORG job to Kevin Boothe in Week Three, would likely be first in line to replace him if a move is made.
Word is Rams defensive coordinator Jim Haslett is very pleased with the adjustment being made by former first-round pick Jimmy Kennedy, who has moved from the “three-technique†DT position to nose tackle this season. Kennedy had one of the best games of his career in the Week Five win over Green Bay (six tackles and a forced fumble) despite playing with a broken right hand. Kennedy broke his hand two plays into the season.
We hear Rams special-teams ace Paul Smith, who had surgery early last week to repair damage around his left eye, will probably be out of action for three weeks. Smith had the surgery after being involved in a bone-crushing collision on kickoff coverage against the Lions in Week Four.
We hear WR Larry Fitzgerald, who was initially expected to be out 2-5 weeks with a hamstring injury, was walking around with no signs of a limp last week and will probably do everything in his power to return for the Cardinals’ next two games vs. the Raiders and Packers, a pair of weak opponents against whom he figures to put up big numbers if he’s able to play.
Is Cardinals QB Kurt Warner really ready to retire at the age of 35? We hear that, while he has come to grips with the reality that his days are indeed numbered at this stage in his career, the $3 million remaining on his contract with the Cardinals after this season could be hard to resist after all is said and done.
It was hardly a surprise to our sources in the desert that the Cardinals used a nice chunk of their considerable cap money last week to extend the contract of DT Darnell Dockett, who was re-signed through 2011 and will reportedly receive $7 million in bonuses in a deal that could potentially earn him almost $22.5 million. Dockett has played at a high level so far this season and remains a committed soldier under Dennis Green. Another Cardinal player who we hear will definitely not be re-signed is disappointing OLT Leonard Davis, who appears to have finally worn out his welcome and is expected to be free to test the free-agent market next offseason.
Don’t be surprised if Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander sits out another game due to his injured foot. The reigning league MVP was initially expected to miss 4-6 weeks with the injury, and we hear he didn’t practice at all last week, even though he told the local media that he could have
The Bills have played better than expected this year, but not because of their offensive line. Third-year QB J.P. Losman was on the run most of the game vs. the Lions with the left side of the line unable to handle speed. OLT Mike Gandy was repeatedly beaten for 3½ sacks vs. Lions speedy DE James Hall, and Cory Redding gave OLG Tutan Reyes just as much trouble.
Gandy, who played guard for the Bears prior to joining the Bills, really struggled to hold his blocks and even with Willis McGahee providing chip help, too often overextended, bending at the waist and lunging instead of sitting and shadowing Hall. His lack of foot quickness was exposed, as he was forced to turn his shoulders and wound up on the ground too much. Reyes endured his struggles as well, giving up the edge too often and forcing the Bills to call a lot of rollouts and keep Losman rolling to his right, where both of his TD passes came, in order to have more than a few seconds to read the field and let his receivers uncover.
Gandy would be best playing inside. He struggled a lot a year ago, but with left tackles not easy to find in the draft or free agency, the Bills did not address the position. GM Marv Levy’s next order of business will be finding a left tackle, which could allow Gandy to kick back inside where he is better-suited to play, and give the Bills more depth inside. Until then, the Bills may have to max-protect more than they would like, forcing backs and tight ends to help their struggling line with blocking assignments.
At lower levels of competition, the best athletes often play closest to the ball, with many beginning their careers at quarterback. As players advance to high levels, they are often moved to positions more suited for their talents. But even in college, it is not uncommon for the best athletes to remain out of position. It is one of the most common reasons that players are misevaluated, along with injuries, even when a player is simply playing the wrong safety position, as scouts suggest Ravens SS Dawan Landry was at Georgia Tech. He lined up at free safety for the Yellow Jackets and did not have great range off the hash, but he has more than enough athletic ability to play in the box. Players typically slip in the draft when they are projected, but that was not necessarily the case with Landry, whose brother, LaRon, is expected to be a top-10 pick in next April's draft. Dawan did not perform well at the Scouting Combine, and it hurt his draft value. However, for the Ravens, he has emerged as a solid complement to Ed Reed.
There’s not a team playing better football in the AFC right now than the Chargers. Their defense is stocked with big, fast, physical talent at every level. The offense features the league’s most talented runner and most dangerous tight end. And with first-time starting QB Philip Rivers gradually being given more responsibilities and the passing game opening up, they can dominate on both sides of the ball and are as balanced as any team in football with exception of the Bears. The Chargers were able to drive down the field at will vs. the Niners. With Chicago being next up for San Francisco after both teams enjoy a bye week, it will be interesting to see how the NFC's best matches up against the same team.
So much for the Chiefs' defense being improved. Pittsburgh dominated in the trenches and gave Ben Roethlisberger all the time he needed to let his receivers get open. After running ahead with a big lead, up 31-0 at halftime, the Steelers essentially forced Damon Huard to win with his arm, and he showed he could not get the job done. Very few backups are more than game managers, and they often drastically affect the way a game can be called. The Chiefs could only do so much with Huard, and the Steelers effectively were able to stack the box and keep Larry Johnson grounded.
Bills WLB Angelo Crowell needs to do a better job tackling. On the Lions' first run of the game, Crowell was in perfect position to make the tackle, and it was his responsibility to fill the hole. But he did not get his hat across his body and fell to the ground, letting Kevin Jones run right through the tackle for a 52-yard gain. A few series later, Crowell came underneath Jones again, this time on the goal line, and Jones ran right through his arms again as Crowell hit the dirt. Arm tackling does not get the job done in the NFL and opens the door to big plays that change the outcome of a game. Crowell whiffed too many times and needs to play with more authority.
Saints head coach Sean Payton has done a great job blending Reggie Bush into the offense with Deuce McAllister. Together, they combine to keep defenses on their heels, as the Eagles seemed to be blitz only once in the first half. With the threat of pounding the ball inside or stretching the field with Bush, the Saints' backfield possesses big-strike capabilities that must be respected. And if defenses key too much on the backfield, Drew Brees has shown he can beat defenses downfield.
With injuries plaguing the Rams’ secondary, rookie CB Tye Hill has been pressed into action early on. And in his first two games, he has become a target for opponents, allowing two TDs in the endzone vs. Seattle last week and struggling vs. the Saints the week before. He tried pleading for a flag to be thrown after getting beat the first time by Deion Branch for a touchdown, but no call was made. Branch simply came back to the ball, slowing down and stepping right in front of Hill to make the grab. There were two other Rams defenders in the endzone when Hill was blanketing Darrell Jackson the next time. Hill can run like the wind, but many teams were skeptical of his ball skills and concerned about his size, and the lack of both allowed him to get beat this week.
Panthers WR Steve Smith finally looked like he was at full health vs. the Ravens, popping off the ground after taking a big hit from Ed Reed and showing more crispness in his route running. His 8-189-1 performance keyed the Panthers’ victory, as the running game struggled to get going.
There is not a more dominant defensive end in football right now than Julius Peppers, who for the second consecutive week, made plays all over the field and consistently hurried or hit the quarterback, accounting for two sacks. More impressive is the way he chases down ballcarriers from the backside and forces turnovers, stripping Musa Smith of the ball.
It has taken some prodding from head coach Gary Kubiak, but Mario Williams' intensity level picked up last week, as he made a number of plays chasing in pursuit from the back side. For as much as the Texans were criticized for selecting Williams, Bill Parcells gave the Texans a strong endorsement by saying he would have selected the pass rusher first had he possessed the pick. From our research prior to the draft, Parcells was far from alone.
Looking at the stat sheet, Kyle Boller’s numbers could be deceiving. He looked rattled and too often forced the ball, throwing right into coverage. Moreover, two of his three TD passes were the result of the heady reactions of WR Mark Clayton, who ran under two deflected passes.
The Dolphins’ offense continues to sputter even with Joey Harrington at the helm instead of Daunte Culpepper. Saban made two solid additions to his staff by hiring ex-head coaches Dom Capers and Mike Mularkey, but there is a lot to be said for continuity at the coordinator position, and losing Scott Linehan to the Rams and basically running Will Muschamp off with Capers’ hiring appear to have set the Dolphins back more than Saban expected. It is worth noting that Auburn’s defense, now coordinated by Muschamp, was very sound in the Tigers’ 27-17 upset victory over Florida last week.
San Diego likes to use an extra tackle in an unbalanced line attack to play power football, and Carolina has installed some of the same plays in its power running attack. The Giants were the latest to join the fun, lining up OG Rich Seubert as a tight end last week vs. Atlanta and helping spring Tiki Barber for big gains. Barber is not as fast as he once was, but his vision and balance continue to age like a fine wine.
A key factor to the Giants’ 27-14 victory over the Falcons was their ability to apply more pressure than they have early in the season. Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis did a fine job of containing Michael Vick with pressure, as the Saints so effectively did on Monday night in Week Three. When Vick has little time to think, it may open the door for some big plays, but he is far less effective.
With two rookie quarterbacks earning upset victories this week, could it have any meaning for Matt Leinart on Monday night when he faces the Bears? Leinart was very good in a 23-16 win over the Bears in the preseason, when he looked like a veteran dissecting the Bears’ defense. However, there was very little game-planning involved on the part of the Bears, and Leinart will not see the same vanilla coverages. Instead, he will likely be running for his life, as arguably the top defensive line in football tees off on what could be the league’s worst offensive line.
The mobility of Tampa Bay rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski has helped an average offensive line, as the young passer was sacked only twice in 44 attempts in an upset 14-13 win over Cincinnati. Chris Simms’ job cannot be considered safe when he returns, especially if Gruden’s latest pet project continues to improve like he has.
Eagles TE L.J. Smith is emerging as one of the game’s top pass-catching tight ends, making a very difficult grab off his shoelaces, turning upfield and showing some niftiness in the open field. He has the potential to do for the Eagles’ offense what Tony Gonzalez has long done for the Chiefs, and more opportunities are in order.
How did the winless Titans knock off the Redskins? Two words  no depth. When a team spends as madly as owner Daniel Snyder has in free agency and devalues the draft the way the Redskins have, the end result is that the bottom half of the roster is very underdeveloped and cannot sustain the success of the team if injuries become an issue. Injuries have arrived, as the Redskins were forced to start two rookie defensive tackles  Kedric Golston and Anthony Montgomery. The end result was that the Redskins could not stop the run. Entering the game allowing only 95 rushing yards per game, the Redskins were gouged for more than twice as many, with Travis Henry churning out 178 alone, as Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow wisely attacked the front and Henry continually broke free to the secondary.
AFC South heavyweights Indianapolis and Jacksonville are carrying heavy defensive burdens
The NFL has often been referred to as the ultimate war of attrition, and that certainly could be the case this season in the rugged AFC South, where front-runners Indianapolis and Jacksonville must somehow find a way to overcome some major defensive deficiencies if either of them is to have any legitimate chance of doing damage in the playoffs.
The Colts, who surrendered an eye-popping 214 rushing yards to the lowly Titans in their last game, have proven to be particularly vulnerable right up the gut so far this season, allowing 166.8 yards rushing per game. The injury-plagued Jaguars, meanwhile, will be forced to overcome the loss for the remainder of the season of underrated MLB Mike Peterson, the defense’s leading tackler, who suffered a torn left pectoral muscle in Jacksonville’s 41-0 shutout of the Jets in Week Five.
In the case of the Colts, the loss of DT Corey Simon, whose absence without pay for the remainder of the season has become a growing mystery  the Philadelphia Inquirer reported late last week that the decision to place Simon on the non-football illness-injury list was actually triggered by the team’s belief that Simon was no longer really interested in playing football  has no doubt adversely affected the team’s D-line. Close observers also believe that the prolonged absence of S Bob Sanders, one of the league’s premier run-stuffing defensive backs, who has missed the last three games with a knee injury, has also really hurt the defense, as has the inconsistent play of OLB Gilbert Gardner, who has been beaten badly on occasion while replacing the departed David Thornton in the starting lineup.
The Colts managed to make a major move just before the trade deadline to bolster their D-line, acquiring DT Anthony McFarland from the Buccaneers in exchange for a 2007 second-round draft pick. Considered one of the league's more able run-stuffers, McFarland started all five games this season for Tampa Bay, recording six tackles and two assists.
Beyond banking on McFarland to beef up their defensive interior, we hear the Colts are hoping that the return to action of Sanders and, more importantly, an amped-up focus on technique and better tackling by the troops on hand will result in a lot better play against the run in the weeks to come.
As for the Jaguars, Peterson is the team’s third starter to be shelved for the season. FB Greg Jones suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the preseason, and DE Reggie Hayward, the team’s top pass rusher, ruptured his Achilles tendon in Week One.
Those are just the season-ending injuries.
Pro Bowl DT Marcus Stroud has been slowed by an ankle injury since the opener, and WR Matt Jones and backup DE Marcellus Wiley have missed time with groin injuries.
We hear the Jaguars plan to move Daryl Smith, a starter the past two years on the outside, into Peterson’s MLB spot and bring rookie Clint Ingram, a third-round pick, into the starting lineup. But we’re told teams have already begun to attack the Jaguars’ defense on the edge, where young players are being forced into the starting lineup ahead of schedule. While Stroud is playing through the pain, he hasn’t been displaying his normal Pro Bowl-caliber form, which has also weakened the interior line.
Dolphins’ Culpepper may be shut down for rest of season
Miami
We hear that QB Daunte Culpepper could be sidelined for an extended period of time  perhaps even for the rest of the season  as he resumes rehabilitating his surgically repaired right knee. Word is he halted rehab once the regular season began, and the condition of his knee leveled off after showing steady progress throughout the preseason. Culpepper will likely sit until the team’s bye week (Week Eight) and then have his condition evaluated regarding a comeback later this season. Factoring into coach Nick Saban’s decision to shut Culpepper down is a desire to prevent his signalcaller, who was sacked 21 times in the first four games, from facing five rugged defenses  Chicago, Kansas City, Minnesota, Jacksonville and New England  in the six weeks following the bye. Despite Culpepper’s subpar play, Miami still considers him its quarterback of the future  after giving him $7 million in bonus money, along with a long-term contract that has him locked up through 2013  and wants him to be fully healthy in ’07.
Buffalo
We hear that the Bills have been disappointed in the play of their starting cornerbacks, Nate Clements and Terrence McGee, thus far this season. What was considered to be a strength coming into the season has instead been a weakness, with the Bills creating only five interceptions in the first six games  none from their corners. Both players have too often been guilty of giving receivers too much cushion, missing tackles and failing to defend passes thrown their way. As one observer remarked about Clements, whom the Bills franchised this past offseason and are paying $7.226 million in salary, “He’s playing his way out of Buffalo.†Clements’ struggles haven’t been confined to this season, as the one-time playmaker (he had 18 interceptions in his first four seasons, returning four for touchdowns) has only two interceptions in his last 22 games. As for McGee, the Bills are concerned that his defensive struggles are affecting his special-teams play. One of the NFL’s most feared kickoff-return men has seen his kickoff-return average drop drastically after gaining more than 30 yards per kickoff last season. McGee did, however, rip off his longest return of the season last week  a 72-yarder in a loss to the Lions.
New England
While he has publicly condemned the poor condition of the Gillette Stadium field, we hear that head coach Bill Belichick privately desires having an “off†track and believes it gives the Patriots a formidable home-field advantage. Look no further than Week Five’s game against the Dolphins, when Miami PK Olindo Mare missed two FG attempts  one of which was blocked when he slipped as he kicked the ball  and Patriots PK Stephen Gostkowski connected on both of his FG attempts. Despite exceptionally mild fall weather conditions, with little precipitation, the natural-turf field at Gillette Stadium has been in disrepair since Week One, with green-painted sand filling the area between the hash marks from endzone to endzone. The Patriots have blamed the situation on the fact that the field has multiple uses, including home games for the New England Revolution soccer team and rock concerts. Reports out of Foxborough on Tuesday indicate that the NFL league office has told the Patriots to improve the field condition and that they are exploring ways to do that with the existing field. Word is the franchise is exploring the option of installing a FieldTurf artificial surface for next season since NFL rules don't allow changing a field's surface during a season.
NY Jets
Word from Long Island is that RB Curtis Martin is back running and the team could begin evaluating him during the three-week window between Weeks Six and Nine for players on the physically-unable-to-perform list. We hear that while head coach Eric Mangini wants to see where Martin is at physically, no one in Jets camp expects the future Hall of Famer to be in good enough condition to play this season. If Martin is placed on injured reserve, ending his 2006 season, he could retire  most likely following the season  and would have a job waiting for him in the Jets’ organization. However, we hear that the 33-year-old would like to play until he’s 35, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he were to keep rehabbing and training with the plan to attempt another comeback in ’07.
Ravens’ Suggs called a ‘complete’ player by coordinator
Baltimore
It’s easy to forget that Ravens DE Terrell Suggs is just 24, as he’s been getting after NFL quarterbacks for the past four seasons. And there’s a sense in Baltimore that Suggs is really starting to pick up his play. A source close to the club notes Suggs is playing better than he did a season ago, and also points out that Suggs is far and away the Ravens’ pass rusher who puts the most fear in opponents. When Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan looks at Suggs, he sees a well-rounded, skilled defender. “He’s a complete guy,†Ryan told PFW. “I don’t care if you want to count him as a defensive end, outside linebacker, whatever. He’s a hell of a football player. He plays with great leverage; he’s a lot stronger than you think and a lot bigger than you think. He’s 265 pounds. Sometimes he’s an outside linebacker, and that’s tough for those tight ends to handle. He is a complete player, though. He’s not just a one-trick pony. He can do a lot of things.â€Â
Cincinnati
The Bengals have missed SS Dexter Jackson, who has missed the last three games with an ankle injury. The 6-foot, 210-pound veteran safety is integral to the Bengals’ run-stuffing efforts. Jackson started Cincinnati’s first two games, and the Bengals held opponents to a total of 170 rushing yards. In the next three games, with Kevin Kaesviharn taking Jackson’s place, the Bengals surrendered 532 rushing yards. Jackson isn’t the only injured Bengals defender  the team misses big, athletic SLB David Pollack, who’s out for the season with a broken neck  but there is no doubt that Jackson has helped set the tone for the defense when he’s been in the lineup. However, staying healthy has been a problem for Jackson the last three seasons. Jackson missed 10 games in 2004 and five games in ’05.
Cleveland
The Browns took the bye week to contemplate what’s gone wrong with an offense that’s again ranked among the league’s worst. The calls for the Browns to strip offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon of his duties get louder and louder, and there’s a possibility that head coach Romeo Crennel will revisit Carthon’s responsibilities  specifically the play-calling  in the near future. “We haven’t talked about that, and we have the rest of the week to evaluate things,†Crennel said before the bye. Crennel has been reluctant to place blame for the offensive woes on Carthon, formerly the offensive coordinator in Detroit and Dallas. Said Crennel: “It’s a team thing. We are all in it together. We are 1-4, and it’s a bottom-line business. We all deserve criticism, and it’s been given. We are going to work and try to get it straightened out.†If Carthon loses his play-calling duties, there’s speculation that assistant head coach/OL coach Jeff Davidson could take control of the offense. Davidson was given the assistant head coach title in the offseason as his name came up as a potential candidate for offensive-coordinator openings around the league.
Pittsburgh
WRs Cedrick Wilson and Santonio Holmes are rotating at split end, a move that comes as little surprise. Wilson caught only six passes in his first four starts, and Holmes is a No. 1 pick whom the Steelers traded up to draft. Despite not starting, and despite his lack of experience, Holmes caught seven passes in those first four games. The feeling is that the Steelers are desperate to find a playmaker, and Wilson has not fit that bill as a starter. To be fair, Wilson fared well in a complementary role in 2005, averaging an impressive 17.3 yards per catch. Wilson had three receptions in a Week Six win over Kansas City, and Holmes had two, including a 50-yard gain. For now, Wilson will play two series to every one that Holmes plays. Holmes will also return punts for the Steelers.
Titans’ Young must continue to mature on and off the field
Tennessee
The learning curve for QB Vince Young was expected to be steep, considering his transition to the NFL from a college offense where he was asked to make few pro throws and could make up for mistakes with his scrambling ability. But it’s another adjustment  that of maturity and accountability  that has not been as impressive as expected. Despite the natural leadership skills Young possesses, team sources say that his gag rule with reporters following the team’s Week Five loss is proof positive that the rookie must mature. Clearly, he’s not used to losing; at Texas, Young won 94 percent of his games, losing only twice as a starter. Already, he has lost as many games (two) as the Titans’ starting quarterback, although he notched his first win as a pro last week in Washington. Young also refused to talk to the media the week before his first start, and head coach Jeff Fisher said he has spoken to his player about facing up to his responsibilities.
Houston
The way we hear it, the Texans are impressed with young WR coach Kyle Shanahan. A source close to the club says the team likes Shanahan’s work ethic, coaching ability and knack for relating to players. There is also a respect for Shanahan’s desire to make a name for himself in the coaching ranks. He is the son of Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan, and it’s well known that he would like to work for his father one day. For now, he’s landed in an ideal spot, working under former Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, now Houston’s head coach. It reflects well on Shanahan that WR Andre Johnson could be on his way to a career year in his first season in the Kubiak-influenced offense. League evaluators have come away impressed with Johnson’s route-running and ability to read coverages. In short, he’s become a complete receiver.
On the same day the Jaguars announced they had placed a second starting defensive player on the injured-reserve list, the team added a low-risk, potentially high-reward prospect to its injury-free secondary. With MLB Mike Peterson (torn pectoral) joining DE Reggie Hayward (ruptured Achilles tendon) on I.R., the Jaguars filled the open roster spot with ex-Packers CB Ahmad Carroll. A first-round pick in 2004, Carroll was released earlier this season by Green Bay after getting shredded by the Eagles on “Monday Night Football.†We hear Carroll is a raw talent with tremendous speed and athleticism that was too enticing for the Jaguars to pass up signing to a league-minimum contract. According to WR Matt Jones, Carroll could be the fastest player on the roster. Jones and Carroll were college teammates at Arkansas. We’re told the Jaguars are hoping Carroll can use his blazing speed to contribute as a cover guy on special teams. If Carroll plays well enough to earn a spot in the nickel or dime packages, that would be gravy, according to sources in Jacksonville.
Broncos’ Tatum Bell still short on respect around the league
Denver
Tatum Bell has looked sharp in his expanded role as the featured option in the Broncos’ running game, but more than one source PFW spoke with last week indicated Bell is going to have to prove himself in terms of durability over time, not just in a couple of weeks. One AFC defensive coach acknowledged Bell is a “home run-type hitter†who has “outstanding speed,†but he also has some reservations. “I don’t think he’s that tough yet,†the coach told PFW. “I really don’t. I wouldn’t put him in an elite class. I think he’s going to gain a ton of yards in the Denver system. He’ll probably be a 1,300-yard back. I could see that happening. But I still don’t have the respect that I have for some of these other backs in the league. The real tough, competitive guys that are going to hit it up in there no matter what you do (as a defense). And not just get the (big yards) on third down, but be able to pound you with it on 1st-and-10 and be able to get yards when everybody in the ballpark knows you’re running. Those are the guys that impress me.â€Â
Kansas City
As reported in PFW following Trent Green’s concussion in the season opener, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Pro Bowl quarterback miss the entire month of October while recovering. As of this writing, Green had rejoined the team but was still expected to be a week or so away from being able to participate in practice. So, any game action before Week Eight, at the earliest, would be pushing it, from what we hear. In his place, Damon Huard, who had barely played since 2000 prior to Green going down, has displayed a calm demeanor on the field, patience in the pocket and timing of his throws, although he was less than impressive in a 45-7 loss at Pittsburgh in Week Six.
Oakland
All the patience he has shown while sitting behind the likes of Charlie Garner, Amos Zereoue and LaMont Jordan may have finally paid off for RB Justin Fargas, who has provided a real spark off the bench of late for a relatively stagnant Oakland offense. Heading into Week Six, Fargas had 17 carries for 153 yards (9.0-yard average) while spelling Jordan. However, Fargas suffered an arm injury in a Raiders defeat in Week Six. Injuries, a lack of focus and poor showings as a blocker and receiver labeled him as an underachiever for his first three years in the league. But Fargas, who has impressive athletic ability and straight-line speed, has matured and put in the extra effort during the offseason to improve on his weaknesses. While his durability remains in question, Fargas is a good fit for the one-cut-and-go blocking scheme employed by the new staff, and he has been dishing out as much punishment as he absorbs with his hard running style.
San Diego
An interesting dilemma awaiting the Chargers’ coaching staff is what to do with veteran OLT Roman Oben when he is deemed healthy enough to play in the next week or two. Oben, an anchor on the left side since his arrival in San Diego in 2004, has been on the physically-unable-to-perform list with a broken bone in his foot, but according to league rules, he is allowed to return to practice this week. Sources say he is moving much better than he was in training camp and has been doing more intense individual workouts in recent weeks. But second-round pick Marcus McNeill, who beat out Leander Jordan in the preseason, has played better each week while holding his own at Oben’s OLT spot vs. stellar pass rushers like Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs and Pittsburgh’s Joey Porter. McNeill (6-7, 336) has never looked overwhelmed by anything and is a quick learner. Because of that comfort level, the thinking is that it would be very difficult for the Chargers to make any changes to a lineup that is working so well together.
Bledsoe gives Cowboys more security than Romo
Dallas
Amid the rants of disgruntled WR Terrell Owens was speculation last week about whether inconsistent QB Drew Bledsoe might play out the string as the starter. It was a legitimate question, considering how poorly Bledsoe had played in the team’s two losses, to Jacksonville and Philadelphia. But Bill Parcells put the notion of benching Bledsoe against the Texans to rest, and the veteran passer responded with a good game, completing 17-of-28 passes for 168 yards with no interceptions and two touchdowns  both to Owens  in the win over Houston. Bledsoe’s problems have stemmed from dealing with pressure and throwing off target, but he also at times has failed to connect with or develop a rapport with Owens because of the limited work the two have had together. But there’s also another, more subtle factor, according to a team source: Owens himself. There’s a thought that Parcells would be hesitant to turn the offense over to intriguing backup Tony Romo, all things being equal, because of what Owens’ effect on the young quarterback might be. If Owens jawed at Romo in the huddle, would the inexperienced QB handle himself well? We know how Bledsoe would handle it; so far, our spies report no tangible tension between him and Owens to speak of. Interestingly, Romo did see some mop-up action in Week Six, completing 2-of-2 passes for 35 yards with one touchdown  which went to Owens, for his third score of the day.
NY Giants
One of the major reasons that QB Eli Manning has improved his completion percentage by such a dramatic margin  from 52.1 percent, among the lowest of starting quarterbacks in ’05, to 65.3 percent so far this season  has been his ability to recognize where blitzes are coming from, identify the best matchups in single coverage and hit his targets accurately  and often for big gains. The prime example of this was Manning’s lob TD pass to WR Plaxico Burress in overtime in Week Two to beat the Eagles, who were in cover-0 (no deep safety help). But more recently, Manning hit Burress and Amani Toomer for 40-yard-plus plays against the Redskins in Week Five when Washington sent five or six rushers at Manning. Toomer also has been a big reason for Manning’s improvement, a season after which it appeared he was being phased out of the offense, or at least would be playing a lesser role than Burress and TE Jeremy Shockey, and perhaps even RB Tiki Barber, who has seen more passes thrown his way this season. With Shockey playing hurt on a bad foot and ankle, Toomer has become Manning’s most consistent third-down target  although Shockey gutted it out last week, converting a pair of third-down attempts for a first downs and another for a touchdown.
Philadelphia
Though the team’s pass-defense numbers aren’t all that impressive in terms of yardage allowed to the naked eye, there’s more to the picture. First, injuries to starting CB Lito Sheppard and nickel back Rod Hood have limited the unit, forcing Joselio Hanson and Dexter Wynn (cut in training camp before being re-signed) into more prominent roles than coordinator Jim Johnson was expecting them to have. Second, each of the team’s first five opponents could be called strong passing teams, forcing Johnson to keep safeties Michael Lewis and Brian Dawkins staying back in coverage more. Against the Saints, they were able to move up into the box, in pseudo-LB roles, to defend against RBs Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush. Their versatility, along with Johnson’s confidence to use three safeties at one time (Sean Considine comes in when the team goes to a 4-1-6 defense on passing downs), has provided a balanced attack. Considering Hanson’s improvement, Hood’s likely return next week and the pressure provided by the front four, look for the Eagles’ pass defense to play well through the middle part of the season.
Washington
So far, the investments in WR Antwaan Randle El and especially Brandon Lloyd have fallen way short of expectations. Lloyd has been nearly invisible, catching only seven passes for 127 yards in six games after averaging 45.5 receptions the past two seasons in San Francisco. One of the big problems has been the offense’s inability to throw downfield  Lloyd’s calling card. The Redskins face a lot of cover-2, and QB Mark Brunell isn’t going to take chances against two-deep zones. Lloyd needs to see more man coverage in order to have a chance. Lloyd did catch a 52-yarder last week vs. the Titans, but it was his only reception of the game. Randle El and Santana Moss are more accustomed to catching short passes and weaving through traffic, whereas Lloyd is more of a straight-line route runner. Another factor, team sources tell us, is that Brunell and Lloyd have yet to develop any kind of chemistry or rapport, on or off the field. Randle El, meanwhile, has been more productive with 15 receptions, but his 8.3 yards per catch is second-lowest on the team. He also has made little impact as a runner (eight rushes, 30 yards), thrower (zero attempts) or returner (6.5-yard average on 17 punts)  three dimensions that made him one of the more attractive receivers on the open market. Still, if the offense becomes less lateral and more vertical, expect more opportunities to open up for Lloyd, which would also benefit Randle El.
Front five a fiasco as Lions lose Woody for rest of season
Detroit
The Lions have been banged up all season along the offensive line, but bad turned to worse this week when Detroit was forced to place ORG Damien Woody, their best offensive lineman, on injured reserve with a foot injury. Woody, their prized free-agent score in the 2004 offseason, was injured on the first series in Week Five and was looking at a recovery time of 6-8 weeks at a minimum. The Lions have also gotten very little out of offseason acquisitions Ross Verba and Rex Tucker, who were expected to start for a bolstered front five. Verba has missed all but a handful of snaps with a season-long hamstring injury, and Tucker has logged only one start due to knee ailments. Neither is expected back until after the Lions’ Week Eight bye. In the wake of these injuries, we hear the Lions are handling their backups in very curious fashion. They have three options at right guard and right tackle: a hobbled Barry Stokes, who can play either spot; rookie Jonathan Scott, who has filled in ably at tackle for two weeks; and OG Blaine Saipaia, who was signed just two weeks ago. Despite Stokes’ injuries and Saipaia’s whiff on Vikings NT Pat Williams that led to a game-turning TD last week, Detroit has benched Scott, citing experience as the determining factor. Stokes is a nine-year veteran, and Saipaia played for offensive coordinator Mike Martzin St. Louis. We’re told it won’t be surprising to see more of the four-turnover, abandon-the-run outings we saw from Martz & Co. in Week Five, although the Lions struck a decent balance in Week Six, posting their first win.
Chicago
Explosive WR Bernard Berrian consistently mentions veteran teammate Muhsin Muhammad as a critical aid in his breakout season. “There’s a lot of things I struggle with, and Moose has been around,†Berrian told PFW. “You’re always gonna lean on the shoulders of someone who’s been around like that.†Among other things, Berrian credits Muhammad for preaching patience through a disappointing 2005 season, for teaching him to dismiss frustrations beyond his control, and for aiding in his development of better route-running. The mentor suggests the biggest lesson his pupil has learned is consistency. “I always talk about roles and understanding what part you play on the team in the big scheme of things,†Muhammad told PFW. “I think he understands what his role is. Fit in your role and don’t try to do too much and be consistent. Be the same guy every single day. … He’s done a good job of that, just being a consistent player. He’s coming along real good.â€Â
Green Bay
With WR Robert Ferguson expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a mid-foot sprain and WR Koren Robinson on the brink of a one-year suspension for another violation of the NFL substance-abuse policy, the Packers may come out of their Week Six bye with a perilously thin receiving corps. If Robinson’s appeal for a stay of the suspension is not granted, Green Bay will be down to veteran Donald Driver (also nursing rib injuries), rookie Greg Jennings and first-year player Ruvell Martin out wide. The Packers do have two rookie options on their practice squad. We’re told Chris Francies is a quick possession type, while Calvin Russell is a raw, speedy deep threat. However, we hear that the team would likely look outside the organization for a wideout if indeed it got down to three active receivers. The need is less dire for Green Bay since it carries four tight ends on the roster and rarely lines up in four-WR sets.
Minnesota
With only three TDs in 12 red-zone trips, the Vikings are among the league’s worst in converting their prime scoring opportunities. While there’s little question that the new-look roster lacks a dynamic playmaker on offense, the way we hear it, there’s also a clear lack of aggressiveness in the team’s red-zone play-calling. Rather than throwing it into the endzone, head coach Brad Childress has elected to check down underneath. It’s not that the Vikings don’t recognize that they lack the kind of weapon who can break those tackles and cross the stripe; it’s that they’re unwilling to take unnecessary chances with their defense playing so well. With two of the team’s four offensive TDs, WR Marcus Robinson is being double-teamed in the red zone, and yet WR Troy Williamson has not been targeted in tight. We’re told the second-year speedster has had his number called primarily on deep balls and on screens at the line of scrimmage and rarely on intermediate crossing routes.
Panthers lose Pro Bowl LB Morgan for rest of 2006
Carolina
Dan Morgan kept a dubious streak alive when it was announced prior to the Panthers’ Week Six trip to Baltimore that Morgan, who hasn’t played since suffering a concussion in Week One, would be sidelined for the rest of the season. Morgan has not played a entire 16-game regular season since being drafted in the first round in 2001. The latest injury was the fourth documented concussion of Morgan’s career, and his second head trauma in less than a month. Morgan incurred a blow to his head in the second preseason game on Aug. 19, which the team did not label a “concussion,†but most observers believe it was, at the very least, a mild concussion. We hear Morgan decided to sit out the remainder of the season after visiting Dr. Michael Collins, a sports concussion specialist in Pittsburgh, earlier in the week. Morgan expressed a strong desire to return to the field in 2007, but with his extensive injury history, our sources believe the Panthers need to address the MLB position in free agency or in the early rounds of the draft. We’re told veteran Chris Draft, who will serve as Morgan’s replacement for the rest of the campaign, is just a temporary solution, and second-year MLB Adam Seward isn’t ready to start.
Atlanta
In Week Two, Atlanta’s first game without injured DRE John Abraham (two sacks in the opener), the Falcons had trouble generating a pass rush. In Week Three, the Falcons moved starting BLB Michael Boley to rush end in obvious passing situations to bolster their pass rush. The experiment worked, and we hear the Falcons will continue using Boley as a rush end at times, even with Abraham (groin) returning to the lineup. Sources in Atlanta tell us head coach Jim Mora wants to use Boley like he did Julian Peterson when Mora was the defensive coordinator with the 49ers. Mora lined up Peterson as a rush end, a traditional outside linebacker and dropped back in coverage in San Francisco. We hear that Boley, in his second NFL season, is clearly emerging as a player with the right mix of athleticism, skill set and intelligence to become a star.
New Orleans
Leading up to the Saints’ Week Five tilt with the Buccaneers, rookie RB Reggie Bush admitted he was pressing to score his first NFL touchdown. Bush scored a touchdown an average of every 14.4 times he touched the ball in his final season at USC. On his 100th touch as a pro, Bush made his maiden voyage to the endzone. And it couldn’t have come at a better time, as Bush’s 65-yard punt return late in the fourth quarter was the winning score. While Bush has been held out of the endzone on offense, he continues to have a profound impact on the Saints’ offense. We hear defenses have really focused on Bush, which the Saints have used to their advantage, deploying Bush as a decoy to open up huge running lanes for RB Deuce McAllister. Our sources tell us Bush does his least damage when taking handoffs directly from QB Drew Brees and that he is most effective when used as a receiver  he led the NFL in receptions after five games  because he is usually matched up one-on-one with a defender and able to use his plethora of moves to dance by the defender.
Tampa Bay
While rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski’s first career start didn’t produce a victory for the Buccaneers, it did restore a glimmer of hope that Jon Gruden’s club has a solid foundation of young players on offense to build around for the future  and maybe even this season. Gradkowski’s multiple-touchdown and interception-less debut  something QB Chris Simms couldn’t accomplish in his three starts  ignited an offense that had been dormant for the first month of the season. Our sources tell us Gruden was able to put in plays for Gradkowski that the team could never run with Simms because of Gradkowski’s mobility. We hear Gradkowski’s movement skills also allowed him to buy time behind a struggling offensive line, and it also prevented the Saints from packing defenders near the line of scrimmage, which opened up running lanes for RB Cadillac Williams. The reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year had his first 100-yard outing of the season against the Saints after running for barely 100 yards in three games combined with Simms as the starter. Williams followed that up with a 94-yard rushing effort in Week Six. Second-year TE Alex Smith had a touchdown catch in Gradkowski’s debut, and rookies OG Davin Joseph and OT Jeremy Trueblood manned the right side of the offensive line. Smith also scored a touchdown in Week Six as Gradkowski and the Bucs won their first game, knocking off the Bengals 14-13.
Rams reward grinder Tinoisamoa with rare contract extension
St. Louis
When PFW asked Scott Linehan in his first public appearance before the national media at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine which players on the Rams’ roster he considered to be core guys, one of the first players the rookie head coach mentioned was Pisa Tinoisamoa. Linehan said he couldn’t have been more impressed with the fourth-year outside linebacker’s intense work ethic after meeting him last January. The Rams rewarded Tinoisamoa’s passionate approach to the game last week with a five-year contract extension carrying an overall value of just under $25 million. (Team sources tell us he will receive $10 million in bonuses and guarantees.) Since the Rams moved to St. Louis, only a few pending free agents have been re-signed during the season, but the way we hear it, the Rams are enamored with the prospect of Tinoisamoa playing alongside another player they really love, free-agent addition Will Witherspoon, for years to come. We’re told Tinoisamoa, who led the Rams in tackles his first three seasons despite injuries that would have sidelined many of his peers, had begun to think as though he had to do it all, prior to this season. But with Witherspoon, who has a similar style, now in the mix, Tinoisamoa is the Rams’ fourth-leading tackler through the first six games and appears to be quite content sharing the load while busting his tail from sideline to sideline. Tinoisamoa will probably be playing the rest of the season with a brace to protect a painful elbow injury originally suffered in Week Two. His ability to play through the injury is setting a great example of the kind of toughness that new Rams defensive coordinator Jim Haslett has made a priority.
Arizona
Bryant Johnson has always much preferred to let his actions speak louder than his words. So far this season, the former first-round pick has definitely made his presence felt on the field, averaging 22.7 yards per catch through five games. Johnson is expected to be in the starting lineup for as long as Larry Fitzgerald remains out with a hamstring injury. It’s a role he thinks he’ll have no problem handling. “Not much really changes with Larry out,†Johnson told PFW last week. “I am pretty comfortable in any role I’m asked to play. All of our receivers feel we can make plays every time we get the ball.†Johnson had nothing but good things to say about rookie QB Matt Leinart, who had a mostly impressive pro debut vs. Kansas City in Week Five. “Matt is doing a wonderful job,†said Johnson, who had a team-leading six catches for 82 yards against the Chiefs. “He sure doesn’t seem like a rookie out there. He’s very poised and pumped up to make big plays.â€Â
San Francisco
While he has yet to play a down this season, we hear veteran backup QB Trent Dilfer has made significant contributions off the field, more than ably filling the role of team psychologist for any Niners player who has a problem. Dilfer was credited with helping Frank Gore with his early-season fumble problems; after Dilfer built up the starting running back’s confidence, Gore had his first fumble-free game of the season in the Week Five victory over Oakland. Dilfer has also provided valuable guidance to volatile WR Antonio Bryant, his former teammate with the Browns, and second-year starting QB Alex Smith, among others. Team insiders tell us the fact that Dilfer still has plenty of game, which he showed off in training camp and the preseason, has only served to boost the great respect he commands from everybody connected with the organization.
Seattle
The sudden thyroid condition that prevented veteran WR Bobby Engram from playing against the Rams wasn’t the only noteworthy news last week regarding Seattle’s receiving corps. The Seahawks also announced that newly acquired Deion Branch would be entering the starting lineup, which would likely take away opportunities from free-agent addition Nate Burleson. We hear Burleson, who has had his share of dropped passes, might not only be relinquishing playing time to Branch but also to third-year pro D.J. Hackett, who had made the most of his limited opportunities in Seattle’s first four games and, at 6-foot-2, is easily the biggest wide receiver on Seattle’s roster. In Week Six’s win over the Rams, Branch led the Seahawks in receptions with six for 76 yards and two touchdowns. Darrell Jackson contributed four catches for 94 yards and a score, and Hackett was good for 66 yards on three receptions. Burleson, despite starting the game in a three-WR set, did not catch a pass in St. Louis. While shaky play from QB Matt Hasselbeck has been most often cited for Seattle’s early-season offensive struggles, an inordinate number of dropped passes  a big problem in the two seasons previous to last year’s Super Bowl run  have also been a handicap worth mentioning.
Although he still gives up a few too many completions, CB Quentin Jammer is playing the best football of his career for the Chargers. His confidence, a return to a more physical approach and San Diego’s improved pass rush are key reasons why he’s playing so well.
We’ve likely seen the last of Ahman Green as the Packers’ exclusive workhorse. Green saw 25 touches per week through three games and promptly landed on the inactive list for two straight weeks with hamstring injuries to both legs. With backups Vernand Morency and Noah Herron running well in his stead in Weeks Four and Five, the Packers are looking to decrease Green’s workload and will mix the two substitutes in regularly.
We’re hearing that not only is Broncos DE Courtney Brown done for the season after being placed on injured reserve last week, but he faces an uphill battle to even return to football after another serious knee surgery.
The Eagles might make a move soon with DT Sam Rayburn, who has been buried on the bench this season after showing flashes in the past. They could either trade him before the Oct. 17 deadline or release him. D-tackles are hard to find, so there most certainly would be a job for the hardworking Rayburn.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told the media that FS Marcus Coleman would be released following his four-game suspension, but sources think Coleman might be back at some point considering rookie Pat Watkins’ recent struggles as a starter.
When the Cowboys released WR Skyler Green before the season, it appeared the fourth-rounder could be written off as a bust. However, re-signed to the practice squad and turned into a running back, Green has earned recent praise from Bill Parcells as a do-everything guy who could help the team.
The clock is ticking on Eagles DE Jerome McDougle. Though he’ll hold on to his job as Darren Howard’s backup this season, McDougle must show something soon to avoid sealing his fate for 2007. He has shown little of the pass-rushing ability he was regarded to have coming out of college.
Keep an eye on Redskins P Derrick Frost. He has been limited somewhat by a calf injury and has been inconsistent. Though the team worked out Sean Landeta last week, team sources say that was more of a favor to a local (Baltimore) resident. More likely, the team might look at someone like Todd Sauerbrun, who was recently released by the Broncos.
Thought to be a temporary replacement until rookie Rocky McIntosh was ready, Redskins LB Warrick Holdman actually has been one of the team’s more consistent defenders after a subpar ’05 season. McIntosh might not get a chance to start until next season.
If RB Curtis Martin miraculously is able to prove to the Jets that he still can carry the ball, we hear the team would look to move a runner from their crowded backfield  most likely Derrick Blaylock, who has fallen out of favor with the coaching staff.
Word is the main reason why the Jets cut DB Derrick Strait, just two weeks after he served as a starting safety, is that they didn’t trust his ability to play cornerback and needed a corner with David Barrett dinged up. That’s why the Jets immediately put in a claim for veteran CB Hank Poteat as soon as he was released by the Patriots.
Word is pressure is beginning to mount on head coach Nick Saban with each successive defeat by the disappointing Dolphins. The lack of contributions from this year’s draft class is leading critics to point out that Saban has yet to develop any of his draft picks into Pro Bowl-caliber players. While his first draft class (in ’05) has netted some starters, Saban’s Dolphins have yet to have a breakout player.
Sources in Tampa tell us SS Jermaine Phillips was pulled from the Saints’ game in Week Five because he was playing so poorly. While Phillips still may hold on to his starting job, we hear backup Kalvin Pearson can expect to see more playing time. We’re told Pearson is a sound tackler and heavy hitter  something the Bucs’ defense has lacked this season. Our sources also indicated Jon Gruden could implement a rotation system at safety between Phillips, Pearson and starting FS Will Allen like the Bucs had last year with Phillips, Allen and ex-Buc Dexter Jackson.
We’re told Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden has become so frustrated with his underperforming defense that he uncharacteristically called out four players  DTs Anthony McFarland and Ellis Wyms and DEs Dewayne White and Simeon Rice  at a press conference the day after the Bucs’ 24-21 loss to the Saints. Gruden, who normally doesn’t name individual players when they perform poorly, was frustrated with his D-linemen because they weren’t getting enough pressure on the quarterback.
Though CB Ken Lucas has reclaimed his starting spot for now, we hear the Panthers are still impressed with rookie CB Richard Marshall, who returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown in Week Five.
Rookie RB DeAngelo Williams sat out the Panthers’ Week Six tilt in Baltimore with a sprained ankle, but our sources in Charlotte tell us Williams could be more seriously hurt than the team has indicated and that he could miss another game or two.
We hear the Falcons, who ranked dead last in red-zone touchdown percentage entering Week Six, will try to remedy their drought by incorporating more fade routes in their passing game like QB Michael Vick used to throw to WR Brian Finneran, who’s out for the season with a knee injury. WRs Michael Jenkins (6-foot-4) and Ashley Lelie (6-foot-3) have long frames similar to Finneran’s, which are ideal for a fade route or jump ball in the endzone.
Sources in New Orleans tell us that while the season-ending knee injury to starting SS Roman Harper will hurt the rookie’s development, it shouldn’t slow down the Saints’ overachieving defense. Veteran Omar Stoutmire, who lost his starting spot to Harper in training camp, will replace Harper. And the Saints signed free agent Jay Bellamy to serve as Stoutmire’s backup. We hear Bellamy, who started 67 straight games for New Orleans from 2001 until injuring his shoulder last season, was the team’s final cut as it whittled its roster down to 53 before the season started. We’re told head coach Sean Payton is very comfortable with Bellamy’s knowledge of the defense and ability to step in and contribute right away.
After bringing in a number of wide receivers for workouts, the Vikings signed Bethel Johnson with the hope that he can provide a change of pace with his shifty quickness. We’re told he will likely cost Billy McMullen playing time on offense and should replace a disappointing Artose Pinner on kick returns.
The Packers’ offensive line has taken to its zone run-blocking scheme much better in recent weeks, behind improved play from their rookie guards. While that may open up some play-action opportunities downfield, we’re told the team still can’t afford to let Brett Favre take seven-step drops because of their protection problems.
We hear that Greg Jennings’ even-keeled temperament and professional approach to the game have enabled him to make a consistent and immediate impact. His decent speed and average size didn’t attract first-round attention, but he has great hands and no fear across the middle, offering a skill set that is not unlike the one veteran teammate Donald Driver brings to the table.
The last thing the Lions needed was another wide receiver on their active roster, but when ORG Damien Woody was placed on injured reserve, they signed WR Devale Ellis from the practice squad. The team lauds Ellis’ speed and his play in practice, which contrasts starkly, on both fronts, with what they’ve gotten out of 2005 first-rounder Mike Williams.
As if injuries to their offensive line, secondary and LB corps weren’t enough, the bug caught the Lions’ defensive line this week with the loss of NT Shaun Cody (dislocated toe) for 4-6 weeks. The Lions will miss Cody’s speed and ability to make teams pay for doubling UT Shaun Rogers. Don’t be surprised to see them shift DLE Cory Redding inside and bring backup DE
Kalimba Edwards in to line up on the edge.
While the Texans were intrigued with TE Bennie Joppru’s potential, they needed a fullback, and that drove the decision to cut the oft-injured but athletic Michigan product. Vonta Leach replaced Joppru on the roster.
A source close to the Bengals says RB Chris Perry (knee, ankle) is expected to be activated from the physically-unable-to-perform list in Week Seven when the Bengals host Carolina. Perry is said to be eager to return to action.
Browns S Brodney Pool, pressed into service at cornerback in Week Five, generally held his own vs. Panthers WR Keyshawn Johnson. Though Pool’s long-term future still appears to be at safety, we hear he has at least proven to the coaches that he can hold up against bigger receivers.
There’s talk that the Browns could look at making some moves at offensive guard if the running game does not improve. If that happens, Lennie Friedman could get a chance at one of the OG spots. The way we hear it, OLG Joe Andruzzi and ORG Cosey Coleman have disappointed this year.
RB Jamal Lewis’ struggles have led to speculation about how long he’ll keep the starting job in Baltimore. Head coach Brian Billick is loyal to veterans, but if Lewis doesn’t pick up his play, we’re told the Ravens could revisit the RB situation. The way we hear it, veteran Mike Anderson would likely get first crack at Lewis’ job, as the team likes what Musa Smith has done on passing downs. Anderson’s play has steadily improved after a so-so training camp.
Steelers RB Najeh Davenport will have a bigger role in the offense in the weeks to come as the team looks for someone to spell Willie Parker.
Browns WR Joshua Cribbs could get more snaps on offense in the next few weeks, especially if WR Dennis Northcutt misses any time with his rib injury. However, head coach Romeo Crennel has indicated he views Cribbs as a special-teamer first and a receiver second.
As good as Broncos Pro Bowl CB Champ Bailey is at shadowing receivers, those in Denver seem to appreciate his run support and tackling ability just as much. Entering Week Six, Bailey trailed only LBs Al Wilson and Ian Gold in tackles for the Broncos. And it’s not as if those tackles are coming from completions made in front of him, because opposing passers have made a habit of avoiding his side of the field most of the year. Sources indicate Bailey takes great pride in “getting in the game when the opposition is trying to take him out.â€Â
Word out of Denver is that the Broncos made the decision to cut P Todd Sauerbrun last week based 60 percent on how disappointed they were in his suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy and 40 percent on how well his replacement, Paul Ernster, played in his absence during the four-week suspension. Ernster also was a better kickoff specialist than Sauerbrun, who seemed to waste his best punts in practice.
Entering Week Six, 14 of the Chargers’ Nate Kaeding’s 24 kickoffs were handled inside the opponent’s five-yard line. Only 17 went beyond the five-yard line last season, when he suffered from a bad back.
Communication in a young secondary has been an issue for the Raiders, and so has stopping the run. Poor tackling is partly to blame, but they are not getting the push from the defensive line like they had hoped for, and overpursuing has also been a problem in terms of the opponent exploiting cutback lanes.
Putting too much air under the ball has been a real problem for Raiders young QB Andrew Walter, who has been sought out by Randy Moss on the sideline on more than one occasion just to “get on the same page,†according to Walter.
Don’t be surprised to see the Raiders pull the plug on the “Langston Walker is a right tackle†experiment. Walker, who played at left guard last season before being moved back outside upon Art Shell’s arrival as coach, has been beaten pretty regularly on the edge. Rookie Paul McQuistan, a natural tackle who lost his ORG job to Kevin Boothe in Week Three, would likely be first in line to replace him if a move is made.
Word is Rams defensive coordinator Jim Haslett is very pleased with the adjustment being made by former first-round pick Jimmy Kennedy, who has moved from the “three-technique†DT position to nose tackle this season. Kennedy had one of the best games of his career in the Week Five win over Green Bay (six tackles and a forced fumble) despite playing with a broken right hand. Kennedy broke his hand two plays into the season.
We hear Rams special-teams ace Paul Smith, who had surgery early last week to repair damage around his left eye, will probably be out of action for three weeks. Smith had the surgery after being involved in a bone-crushing collision on kickoff coverage against the Lions in Week Four.
We hear WR Larry Fitzgerald, who was initially expected to be out 2-5 weeks with a hamstring injury, was walking around with no signs of a limp last week and will probably do everything in his power to return for the Cardinals’ next two games vs. the Raiders and Packers, a pair of weak opponents against whom he figures to put up big numbers if he’s able to play.
Is Cardinals QB Kurt Warner really ready to retire at the age of 35? We hear that, while he has come to grips with the reality that his days are indeed numbered at this stage in his career, the $3 million remaining on his contract with the Cardinals after this season could be hard to resist after all is said and done.
It was hardly a surprise to our sources in the desert that the Cardinals used a nice chunk of their considerable cap money last week to extend the contract of DT Darnell Dockett, who was re-signed through 2011 and will reportedly receive $7 million in bonuses in a deal that could potentially earn him almost $22.5 million. Dockett has played at a high level so far this season and remains a committed soldier under Dennis Green. Another Cardinal player who we hear will definitely not be re-signed is disappointing OLT Leonard Davis, who appears to have finally worn out his welcome and is expected to be free to test the free-agent market next offseason.
Don’t be surprised if Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander sits out another game due to his injured foot. The reigning league MVP was initially expected to miss 4-6 weeks with the injury, and we hear he didn’t practice at all last week, even though he told the local media that he could have