motife
12-10-2007, 04:44 PM
Overlooked Grant has been a key to Packers’ success
After a disappointing 37-27 loss to the Cowboys last week, the Packers bounced back to clinch the NFC North with a 38-7 trouncing of the Raiders. Somewhat overshadowed by QB Brett Favre’s return to the playoffs is the play RB Ryan Grant. Only after 2007 draft picks Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn, and free-agent acquisition Vernand Morency succumbed to injury was Grant even given an opportunity. But since taking the reins in Week Eight, the former undrafted free agent has amassed four 100-yard performances in his last seven starts and jumpstarted a once-beleaguered running attack. The 6-1, 225-pound slasher has taken to the Packers’ zone-blocking scheme like a duck to water, and has provided much-needed balance. However, in addition to forcing defenses to honor the run, Grant has relieved the 38-year-old Favre from taking hits in the pocket. After a small hiccup last week, the Packers’ offense, thanks in large part to the league’s next great back, is primed for a serious playoff push.
— Billy Wellner
In Baltimore, a stout defense has nothing left to give
When the Ravens’ defense suffered that agonizing defeat at the hands of the Patriots on Monday night, you had to wonder what type of effort this tough group could put together on six days rest against Indianapolis. The answer: Not much of one at all. CBs Samari Rolle and Chris McAlister, old lions who have suffered through injury-plagued seasons but played gutsy, tremendous games vs. the Patriots, couldn’t go vs. the Colts. The Ravens were left to march out Corey Ivy and the utterly overmatched David Pittman at cornerback. The result wasn’t surprising: Colts QB Peyton Manning picked on Ivy and Pittman, Indianapolis built a 37-point lead early in the third quarter, and the Colts cruised to a 44-20 victory. The rest of Baltimore’s defense wasn’t much better. ILB Ray Lewis looked a shell of his former self. The pass rush couldn’t get to Manning. Young-legged Colts RB Joseph Addai scored three touchdowns. The Ravens’ defense looked old and tired on Sunday night, but can you blame it? First Brady, now Manning — and you better keep that score down, because the offense isn’t built to do anything … but to be carried by that proud defense with the broad shoulders.
— Mike Wilkening
Unheralded safeties step up in Giants’ strong defensive outing
The Giants played terrific pass defense today with two rookies who barely made the team coming out of Albany — Michael Johnson and Craig Dahl — starting at safety. You have to credit both the Giants’ pass rush and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s game-planning. The rush made Eagles QB Donovan McNabb uneasy all game, but the coverage was good downfield. McNabb didn’t complete a 20-yard pass all game. Johnson had two starts under his belt coming in, but Dahl last started a game at North Dakota State more than a year ago. He didn’t get into a game until last week on special teams, but he stood up quite well on Sunday, collecting five tackles on defense (he just missed getting a sack on McNabb) and one more on special teams. Johnson chipped in with five tackles of his own and one pass defensed.
— Eric Edholm
Pressure to win a game stunting Beck’s evaluation process
I know what Cam Cameron was thinking. It made sense. But it was still wrong. With John Beck struggling mightily and the offense going nowhere, the Dolphins’ first-year head coach made a rookie mistake by replacing his rookie quarterback with backup Cleo Lemon. And even though Lemon brought a little bit life to a listless team, this wasn’t the time to mess around with the most important position on the field. Let’s face it — the Dolphins’ season is done. While I appreciate their desperation to win a game, it’s now more important for them to lay a foundation for their future. Lemon is clearly not their future under center. Beck? Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t. But the second-rounder needs to be given all the time he can to show what he can do, and, just as importantly, to be evaluated. Not to mention, Beck needs to believe that he’s the quarterback of the team, without fear of getting benched. All coaches preach that a quarterback’s confidence is key to his development, and Cameron’s decision to yank Beck did everything but inspire confidence.
— Matt Sohn
Chargers show it’s all about the way you finish
The Chargers’ woes continued offensively, as they only picked up one first down in the first quarter of their game against Tennessee. Granted the Titans’ defense is extraordinary, but when you watch San Diego play, it’s hard not to blame QB Philip Rivers. He’s missing receivers underneath, he skips passes to receivers on the deep out, and he is one-dimensional when the pocket starts to collapse. But he is resilient. Despite Chargers quarterbacks accounting for three turnovers, San Diego managed to come back and tie the game when Rivers connected with Antonio Gates for a two-yard TD pass with nine seconds left in regulation. Rivers gutted it out on a bum left knee all afternoon, and showed all the intangibles you look for in a quarterback while leading San Diego to the overtime win. For all of San Diego’s inconsistencies this year, Rivers showed that it’s not fair to blame just the QB.
— Matt Duffy
Garcia’s welcome-back party scheduled for next week
Luke McCown is no Jeff Garcia. That’s what the Bucs are finding out, as Garcia has sat out the past two games with a lower back injury. McCown has had a costly turnover in each of his starts — Tampa Bay was able to overcome only one of them. Last week, a McCown interception was returned for a touchdown by Saints CB Mike McKenzie, but the Bucs came from behind to win after recovering a fumble on a botched reverse play. On Sunday, McCown fumbled in Bucs territory and the Texans recovered , scored, and put the game away, 28-14. Jon Gruden said Garcia will be back next week to face Atlanta and his return comes with Tampa Bay one win away from clinching the NFC South title.
Week 14 PFW Players of the Week
Dec. 10, 2007
Offense
TE Jason Witten
Dallas Cowboys
Only the second tight end to win the award this season, Witten almost didn’t appear on the list. He fumbled at the Lions’ one-yard line, nearly costing his team a win. But on his 15th reception — a record for a tight end — Witten caught the game-winning score in Dallas’ comeback.
Defense
CB Marcus Trufant
Seattle Seahawks
Trufant recorded three of Seattle’s five interceptions of Cardinals QB Kurt Warner, including one that Trufant returned 84 yards for a touchdown. His seven interceptions rank him second in the NFL, behind only Chargers CB Antonio Cromartie’s nine picks.
Special teams
DB Will Blackmon
Green Bay Packers
Blackmon staked a claim to earn the Packers’ PR job with a 57-yard TD return in the second quarter of the win over the Raiders. But Blackmon wasn’t done on special teams, recovering a Tim Dwight fumble in the endzone for his second touchdown on the day.
After a disappointing 37-27 loss to the Cowboys last week, the Packers bounced back to clinch the NFC North with a 38-7 trouncing of the Raiders. Somewhat overshadowed by QB Brett Favre’s return to the playoffs is the play RB Ryan Grant. Only after 2007 draft picks Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn, and free-agent acquisition Vernand Morency succumbed to injury was Grant even given an opportunity. But since taking the reins in Week Eight, the former undrafted free agent has amassed four 100-yard performances in his last seven starts and jumpstarted a once-beleaguered running attack. The 6-1, 225-pound slasher has taken to the Packers’ zone-blocking scheme like a duck to water, and has provided much-needed balance. However, in addition to forcing defenses to honor the run, Grant has relieved the 38-year-old Favre from taking hits in the pocket. After a small hiccup last week, the Packers’ offense, thanks in large part to the league’s next great back, is primed for a serious playoff push.
— Billy Wellner
In Baltimore, a stout defense has nothing left to give
When the Ravens’ defense suffered that agonizing defeat at the hands of the Patriots on Monday night, you had to wonder what type of effort this tough group could put together on six days rest against Indianapolis. The answer: Not much of one at all. CBs Samari Rolle and Chris McAlister, old lions who have suffered through injury-plagued seasons but played gutsy, tremendous games vs. the Patriots, couldn’t go vs. the Colts. The Ravens were left to march out Corey Ivy and the utterly overmatched David Pittman at cornerback. The result wasn’t surprising: Colts QB Peyton Manning picked on Ivy and Pittman, Indianapolis built a 37-point lead early in the third quarter, and the Colts cruised to a 44-20 victory. The rest of Baltimore’s defense wasn’t much better. ILB Ray Lewis looked a shell of his former self. The pass rush couldn’t get to Manning. Young-legged Colts RB Joseph Addai scored three touchdowns. The Ravens’ defense looked old and tired on Sunday night, but can you blame it? First Brady, now Manning — and you better keep that score down, because the offense isn’t built to do anything … but to be carried by that proud defense with the broad shoulders.
— Mike Wilkening
Unheralded safeties step up in Giants’ strong defensive outing
The Giants played terrific pass defense today with two rookies who barely made the team coming out of Albany — Michael Johnson and Craig Dahl — starting at safety. You have to credit both the Giants’ pass rush and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s game-planning. The rush made Eagles QB Donovan McNabb uneasy all game, but the coverage was good downfield. McNabb didn’t complete a 20-yard pass all game. Johnson had two starts under his belt coming in, but Dahl last started a game at North Dakota State more than a year ago. He didn’t get into a game until last week on special teams, but he stood up quite well on Sunday, collecting five tackles on defense (he just missed getting a sack on McNabb) and one more on special teams. Johnson chipped in with five tackles of his own and one pass defensed.
— Eric Edholm
Pressure to win a game stunting Beck’s evaluation process
I know what Cam Cameron was thinking. It made sense. But it was still wrong. With John Beck struggling mightily and the offense going nowhere, the Dolphins’ first-year head coach made a rookie mistake by replacing his rookie quarterback with backup Cleo Lemon. And even though Lemon brought a little bit life to a listless team, this wasn’t the time to mess around with the most important position on the field. Let’s face it — the Dolphins’ season is done. While I appreciate their desperation to win a game, it’s now more important for them to lay a foundation for their future. Lemon is clearly not their future under center. Beck? Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t. But the second-rounder needs to be given all the time he can to show what he can do, and, just as importantly, to be evaluated. Not to mention, Beck needs to believe that he’s the quarterback of the team, without fear of getting benched. All coaches preach that a quarterback’s confidence is key to his development, and Cameron’s decision to yank Beck did everything but inspire confidence.
— Matt Sohn
Chargers show it’s all about the way you finish
The Chargers’ woes continued offensively, as they only picked up one first down in the first quarter of their game against Tennessee. Granted the Titans’ defense is extraordinary, but when you watch San Diego play, it’s hard not to blame QB Philip Rivers. He’s missing receivers underneath, he skips passes to receivers on the deep out, and he is one-dimensional when the pocket starts to collapse. But he is resilient. Despite Chargers quarterbacks accounting for three turnovers, San Diego managed to come back and tie the game when Rivers connected with Antonio Gates for a two-yard TD pass with nine seconds left in regulation. Rivers gutted it out on a bum left knee all afternoon, and showed all the intangibles you look for in a quarterback while leading San Diego to the overtime win. For all of San Diego’s inconsistencies this year, Rivers showed that it’s not fair to blame just the QB.
— Matt Duffy
Garcia’s welcome-back party scheduled for next week
Luke McCown is no Jeff Garcia. That’s what the Bucs are finding out, as Garcia has sat out the past two games with a lower back injury. McCown has had a costly turnover in each of his starts — Tampa Bay was able to overcome only one of them. Last week, a McCown interception was returned for a touchdown by Saints CB Mike McKenzie, but the Bucs came from behind to win after recovering a fumble on a botched reverse play. On Sunday, McCown fumbled in Bucs territory and the Texans recovered , scored, and put the game away, 28-14. Jon Gruden said Garcia will be back next week to face Atlanta and his return comes with Tampa Bay one win away from clinching the NFC South title.
Week 14 PFW Players of the Week
Dec. 10, 2007
Offense
TE Jason Witten
Dallas Cowboys
Only the second tight end to win the award this season, Witten almost didn’t appear on the list. He fumbled at the Lions’ one-yard line, nearly costing his team a win. But on his 15th reception — a record for a tight end — Witten caught the game-winning score in Dallas’ comeback.
Defense
CB Marcus Trufant
Seattle Seahawks
Trufant recorded three of Seattle’s five interceptions of Cardinals QB Kurt Warner, including one that Trufant returned 84 yards for a touchdown. His seven interceptions rank him second in the NFL, behind only Chargers CB Antonio Cromartie’s nine picks.
Special teams
DB Will Blackmon
Green Bay Packers
Blackmon staked a claim to earn the Packers’ PR job with a 57-yard TD return in the second quarter of the win over the Raiders. But Blackmon wasn’t done on special teams, recovering a Tim Dwight fumble in the endzone for his second touchdown on the day.