PFW Notes wk 14

[motife]

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.

[HarveyWallbangers]

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.

Well, that might be going a little too far, but I don't see any reason to be skeptical on him at this point.

[b bulldog]

What he is doing is simply proving all the doubtersw wrong up till this point.

[motife]

Monday, Dec. 10, 2007

After getting poked in the eye by Jeremy Newberry, Packers MLB Nick Barnett is enraged by the Raiders center’s on-field antics, as quoted in the Green Bay Press-Gazette: “I was on the ground; he ran by and kneed me in my head. So, I get up and try to find out what’s going on. A little talk, this and that, next thing you know, he lines it up like the Three Stooges and pokes me in the eye. It’s just garbage. … I was very angry at that, because when somebody pokes you in the eye, you want to take it out to the parking lot. … I’m not going to talk to him after the game. I don’t accept an apology, nothing like that. He tried to apologize. We were just playing football, and you should just play football instead of trying to poke somebody in the eye.”

Lions QB Jon Kitna is devastated by a 28-27 last-second loss to the Cowboys, as quoted in the Detroit Free Press: “You frickin’ lay your life on the line out there, play your heart out. When you lose, especially in that manner, it’s like you got your heart ripped out of your chest. Of course guys are down, and we’ll probably be down for a few days. We’ve just got to get back on it Wednesday.”

Eagles LB Takeo Spikes, quoted in the Philadelphia Inquirer, finds similarities between a missed David Akers field goal and the team’s disappointing 5-8 season. Akers’ 57-yard attempt would have sent the game into overtime, but hit the right upright, and the Eagles dropped a 16-13 decision to the Giants: “I thought it was good. That play kind of sums up how this season has gone for us up until this point: Close, but yet so far away.”

Titans DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, quoted by The Associated Press, credits Chargers QB Philip Rivers for leading his team to a 23-17 overtime victory: “He kept getting up. He stayed after it. Especially after the fourth quarter. We knocked him down a couple times. I had him wrapped up once and he was able to get the pass off. He showed a lot of resolve at the end of the game.”

[motife]

Burnt toast
Patriots silence Steelers' Smith in quest for perfection
By Nolan Nawrocki
Dec. 10, 2007

As if the two best teams in football needed any more motivation, Steelers second-year safety Anthony Smith and Detroit QB Jon Kitna supplied more, chirping too much during the week — Smith guaranteeing a victory over New England and Kitna calling out Cowboys CB Terence Newman, one of the top cornerbacks in the league.

The veteran Kitna came close to backing up his words, holding a lead on the Cowboys until the final seconds of the game and seeing Calvin Johnson come free from Newman on some double moves, but Tony Romo rallied Dallas to an impressive come-from-behind victory.

Smith, on the other hand, awoke a sleeping bear. The Patriots, who barely escaped past Philadelphia and Baltimore in prime-time slots the previous two weeks and seemed to be showing signs of weakness offensively, came out firing, set on attacking the overaggressive, overconfident Smith and Tyrone Carter, who was filling in for the injured Troy Polamalu.

Twice, the Patriots were able to suck the safeties up into the line on play-action and capitalize on Smith’s mistakes, as Randy Moss ran right by him and came wide open on a post route for a 63-yard TD in the second quarter, opening up a 14-3 lead. The second time, with the Patriots holding only a four-point lead after the half, the Patriots attacked again. Tom Brady and Moss executed a double lateral pass to perfection, drawing Smith upfield just enough for Jabar Gaffney to streak past him and catch a 56-yard bomb from Brady.

For Smith, it should serve as a lesson in humility. For anyone who thinks the Patriots did not feel slighted by his words, all that was needed to see was Brady after the Patriots’ first TD of the night, when he began jawing back at Smith and Steelers OLB James Harrison, no doubt letting Smith hear how foolish he was.

Note to the Steelers — confidence is letting your performance do the talking on the field.

Packers RB Ryan Grant and Broncos RB Selvin Young both entered the league as undrafted free agents but have found success in the zone-blocking scheme employed by both teams, culminating with career-high 156-yard efforts in Week 14 to lead all rushers. Grant has given the Packers' offense the balance it needs as it heads into the playoffs. He has nice vision, is becoming more decisive reading blocks and runs with good body lean and strength to wear down defenses, as he did to the Raiders. He is competitive — the single most important trait in a back — and has been running like a warrior. With the running game humming against the Raiders, the Packers looked as good as they have all season.

It doesn’t matter if this is Cam Cameron’s first year in Miami. It’s Randy Mueller’s third, and it’s simply time to clean house. The real problem, after the Dolphins made an average Buffalo offense look like world-beaters, sure looks like a void in leadership. Nick Saban got off to a very slow start himself a year ago, falling behind 1-6 to start the season, but Saban was able to rally the team behind its veteran leaders, especially Jason Taylor, and win four in a row, including impressive wins over the eventual NFC-champion Bears and powerful Patriots. This Dolphins team shows little sign of life.

Miami's plans to address the QB position, acquiring injury-prone Trent Green and drafting John Beck, have produced poor results. Joey Porter had nearly as many sacks the one year in which he did not start as a rookie (two) as he has had this year, (2½) and he was drastically overpaid. And the passing game has sputtered without traded WRs Wes Welker — who is having his finest year as a pro for New England — and Chris Chambers, who was critical in the Chargers’ come-from-behind victory over the Titans. Since Mueller and Cameron have been placed in power, the talent level has watered down and the wins have vanished. It’s time to restore pride to South Florida, and with the first overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft on the way, owner Wayne Huizenga cannot afford to screw it up. Keeping the status quo will wind up costing his franchise more than cutting his losses now and buying out the contracts of poor decision-makers.

If I’m an NFL club looking for a running back, I’m perusing the depth-chart rungs of San Diego, Tampa Bay or the New York Giants. A lot of credit belongs to the offensive lines of each group. San Diego recognizes the importance of toughness in the trenches and has a group of guys that will play nasty. Tampa Bay’s line, after drafting a number of linemen in recent years, is as good as it has been in at least the past three years. And the Giants have an agile group that may be the best in the league working downfield in space. That said, whether it’s Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward or Reuben Droughns, they get the job done — and just think, they had Ryan Grant on the roster earlier in the season. San Diego has arguably the league’s top back —LaDainian Tomlinson — and top backup — Michael Turner. And Tampa Bay has been winning with undrafted free agent Earnest Graham. There is nothing special about him, but he is competive, a trait that seems to be easy for Jon Gruden to identify.

In three of the past four games, Seahawks DE Patrick Kerney has notched three sacks and now leads the league in the category with 13½. There may be no one better at taking advantage of opponents’ injuries, especially late in the game, when he has been at his best. He abused an injured Fred Miller vs. Chicago, feasted on a depleted Rams O-line and was able to run by Arizona's Levi Brown, who did not appear to be at full form.

Vikings second-year QB Tavaris Jackson has looked improved down the stretch. With Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson in the backfield and opponents forced to stack eight men in the box, as the Niners often did, the passing game should open up with more single coverage. Nonetheless, Jackson was firing BBs on a laser, has begun to look more in control of the game and is avoiding turnovers. As long as he continues to manage games like he did vs. the struggling Niners, the Vikings could be a surprise wild-card contender, especially with how opportunistic their defense has been.

Typically, backs wear down with age, but at 32, Jaguars RB Fred Taylor appears to be getting better. Maurice Drew-Jones initially appeared to be a replacement, but instead, he has given Taylor’s legs new life, handling a lot of the tough, between-the-tackles carries and lightening Taylor’s load. In turn, Taylor has been peaking late in the season, showing off his combination of strength and explosiveness as he bounced off Panthers tacklers and accelerated in the open field.

Buccaneers QB Luke McCown was a combined 17-of-18 for 243 yards in the first quarter the past two weeks — impressive even with a high-percentage, low-risk selection of play-calling that was well-designed to build his confidence.

Colts OLT Tony Ugoh struggled before he took a five-game hiatus with an injured groin, but since he returned, he has looked worse. Jaguars DE Paul Spicer ragdolled him last week, and the Ravens’ defensive line had its way with him again this week, as Terrell Suggs and Dwan Edwards forced Peyton Manning to roll to his right more than usual after they ran by and over Ugoh. If Manning did not have one of the league’s quickest triggers, the Colts would be in trouble.

Before the 2006 NFL draft, many questioned how any team could draft a cornerback in the first round who had only started four career games and was coming off a serious leg injury. Antonio Cromartie is now showing evaluators how the Chargers could, leading the league in interceptions with nine after picking off Vince Young in Week 14. Cromartie's combination of size, athleticism and ball skills is rare.

Vince Young is not a polished passer, but before anyone heaps too much criticism for his early career struggles, consider what he has to work with. Justin Gage would have a difficult time cracking the roster of many teams around the league, let alone the starting lineup, but he is Young’s top target. It is unfair to expect Young to get much better, like any quarterback in the league, until he has some playmakers around him. As it stands, he has zero. Put Young in Cleveland and the Browns would be undefeated, and his numbers would be eye-popping.

Lions ORT Damien Woody, in his second start at his new position, held up remarkably well vs. one of the most talented defensive lines in football. Losing his job at guard might have been the best thing that happened to him. It's rare that a lineman in the NFL can be effective playing center, guard and tackle, but with Woody's recent efforts outside, he has shown he could. The Lions' offensive line did a fine job matching up against the Cowboys most of the game, but Cowboys DT Jay Ratliff gave Lions C Dominic Raiola a lot of trouble knifing into the backfield.

The Lions got the ball back, leading the Cowboys 27-21 with barely four minutes to play, and the clock was the biggest enemy. Why would the genius of Mike Martz come out throwing the football, continually stopping the clock?

Cleveland and Buffalo will be battling for the final wild-card seed in the AFC next week. On paper, the Browns should win handily. But my gut tells me Dick Jauron, as he has all his life, will continue overachieving and just might squeeze out a victory in the final seconds. He has done a lot with a little.

Chargers C Nick Hardwick tried holding Titans DT Albert Haynesworth after getting beat off the ball, but even a firm grasp could not stop Haynesworth from circling around him and tripping up RB Michael Turner in the backfield. When the Titans' line is on, it is dominant, and the Titans were on for most of Sunday's game, beating up a Chargers line that had only allowed eight sacks in the past nine games to the tune of five on Sunday. DE Kyle Vanden Bosch showed an extra bounce in his step as he handily ran by Chargers OLT Marcus McNeill.