Z - From The Sidelines...

Locker Room Buzz - Week 5

October 5, 2007
17:33:10

Week 5 is here, and man is there news out there! Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason (knee) does not practice Wednesday, Thursday or Friday and guarantees he'll play. Let's hope so. Denver Broncos running back Travis Henry fails another drug test, but it appears as if something fishy has been going on. Look for Henry and the NFL to get into a legal tiff. However, when you are behind on child support payments and have already been popped by the NFL for drugs, one would think Henry would have been smarter. For those wondering, it's not like he only has a couple of kids. He has nine kids he has to provide support to! One word for Henry, and that is selfish! Don't get me wrong, I believe professional football players should get everything they can - except first-round rookies that steal millions every year simply by where they're drafted. However, they should also be smart and do what they can to be leaders, role models and good citizens. Just our opinion, but isn't it better to root for a good guy instead of an idiot?

AFC East

Buffalo Bills

Rookie quarterback Trent Edwards led this club to its first win. If he beats the Dallas Cowboys, or even if he plays well against them, there's a VERY good chance he could unseat incumbent passer J.P. Losman (knee). Edwards spreads the ball around, and he has been effective in his limited time. This week will be a big test.

How do the Bills attack Dallas, though? The Bills probably can't afford to get into a shootout, because they don't have the ammo. They'll probably try to remain balanced, but it's hard to see running back Marshawn Lynch hitting the century mark. If Buffalo has to throw a lot, look for running back Anthony Thomas to be in there - he's very good in pass protection.

Wide receiver Peerless Price (neck) is out for the season, so look for wideouts Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish to rotate at No. 2. Parrish is more of a fantasy option than Reed because Parrish is a game-breaker. He's still not an option, except in deep leagues, though. If one of them doesn't step up, receiver Lee Evans may have to bear the burden. He's probably capable of it, but fantasy owners haven't seen it that way yet.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins are 0-4, but don't look for a youth movement any time soon. Head coach Cam Cameron wants to get a gauge of what his players can and can't do - not just for this season, but for 2008. That doesn't mean the young players: They're in no rush to use receiver Ted Ginn Jr., and don't be surprised if you don't see him all year.

Cameron wants to see what quarterback Trent Green has left. The first-year Dolphins coach force-fed it to wideout Chris Chambers in the first two games and running back Ronnie Brown in the second two. Word is that it's on Cameron's agenda to get it to the tight ends now. Does that mean a breakout week for David Martin? The Dolphins may be looking to air it out a lot this week.

The offense is actually encouraged by what they've been able to do. The defense is falling apart, though. The injuries have hurt, and there has been a lot of second-guessing among the players. Miami has been experimenting with going back to the 4-3; they've already been forced to use it a lot, and injuries have hurt their depth.

The key to Brown's success in the last couple of weeks? He wasn't dancing in the backfield. His overall body of work doesn't say so, but if he keeps hitting the holes and catching passes, he could be one of the top producers in the league.

If running back Ricky Williams is reinstated, don't look for the Fins to bring him back unless they suffer a catastrophic loss at the position. At best, he's trade bait.

New England Patriots

It appears to be the same situation with running back Laurence Maroney (groin) this week as it was last week. It's hard to push a groin injury; a setback could keep him out much longer. New England might play it safe with him again this week, especially considering the opponent.

Fantasy owners are still waiting for wideout Donte' Stallworth to get involved. Last week gave them hope. Most of his production came with the game in hand, though. He's struggling to pick up the offense, and receiver Randy Moss' standout play has hurt Stallworth the most.

Most can see that tight end Benjamin Watson is a third-down and red zone option for quarterback Tom Brady. Watson was so productive in the couple of weeks because there was so much focus on the other receivers, though.

Strong safety Rodney Harrison is back from his four-game suspension for performance enhancers, but he may not start right away. Strong safety James Sanders has done such a good job in Harrison's absence (this year and last). Look for Harrison to be used in certain situations, if he plays, for a game or two, before returning to the starting lineup. Harrison had a great camp, and he has unparalleled intensity, so it's hard to keep him out.

There's a chance this team could go undefeated. As with any championship-caliber team, an injury to a significant player may be all that can stop them. Who are those players? As long as Brady, Moss and linebacker Adalius Thomas remain healthy, the Pats are tough to beat.

New York Jets

With a good matchup last week, running back Thomas Jones seemed a lock for a big day after two sub-par efforts against tough defenses. It didn't happen; the Jets claimed Buffalo was stacking the line. They have to keep the pass rush off quarterback Chad Pennington, though, so look for more TJ. Running back Leon Washington saw some more touches last week, but Jones should remain the focus more than two-thirds of the time.

For the Jets to turn things around, they have to be more aggressive. Last season, they were willing to take chances; this year, the game plans seem really bland. Pennington doesn't have a deep arm, and his ankle may still be bothering him. They acquired Jones for a reason, though; they need to use him.

Part of the struggles in the running game can be attributed to a falloff along the offensive line. Perhaps they miss offensive guard Pete Kendall more than they thought they would. The chemistry isn't there.
After a rough start (say, more than a year) in the 3-4 defense, inside linebacker Jonathan Vilma is playing much better. He's still more suited for the 4-3, though.
Rookie inside linebacker David Harris doesn't seem close to joining the starting lineup, although one might argue that he's ready to step in for Eric Barton.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens

Wide receiver Derrick Mason (knee) hasn't practiced for the past two days, but he says he will play for sure this week. We're not quite as optimistic.

Wide receiver Mark Clayton is healthy but remains the No. 3 guy right now in the passing game, while Demetrius Williams is holding down the No. 2 wideout duties.

Tight ends Todd Heap (hamstring) and Daniel Wilcox (foot) are both game-time decisions. Tight end Quinn Sypniewski is expected to see a larger role in the offense, but his fantasy value is limited due to the uncertainties surrounding the situation.

Cleveland Browns

As long as quarterback Derek Anderson doesn't throw several interceptions early in a game, because he tends to throw picks in groups, we probably won't see quarterback Brady Quinn just yet. Anderson has played well so far, throwing 10 touchdowns, but he probably doesn't have much trade value at this time and is not viewed as a franchise quarterback yet.

If the Browns can get their defense in check, they could be a dangerous team. They have a fairly soft schedule coming up, and there is a chance for nine wins this year. It's doubtful that nine wins would land them a playoff spot in the AFC, but it would be a marked improvement over recent years.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Despite being banged up entering the season, running back Willie Parker is 100 percent healthy. He didn't receive much work last week, but that should change in coming weeks.

Wide receiver Santonio Holmes exploded last week with two scores after a few games of anonymity. Holmes isn't much of a possession receiver since he has so much speed to burn, but he does have good enough hands to fit the role if necessary. Look for the Seattle Seahawks to focus on him more than usual.

Strong safety Troy Polamalu (abdominal) is not expected to play this week, so the team won't blitz as much as usual. They are going to be without nickel back Bryant McFadden (ankle), too, so look for the Seahawks to have a big day passing the ball.

The Steelers need to improve their run blocking to take this team to the next level. Center Sean Mahan is a big drop-off from last year's starting center, Jeff Hartings, who retired during the offseason. Offensive tackle Willie Colon has been shaky, too.

Wide receiver Nate Washington is expected to replace wideout Hines Ward (knee), who is out this week. Washington miscued several times last week by running sloppy routes and rounding off the patterns that he did run correctly.

AFC South

Houston Texans

Look for wide receiver Andre' Davis to be at least the slot receiver upon the healthy return of fellow wideouts Andre Johnson (knee) and Jacoby Jones (shoulder). Davis has played well enough that one more solid day - say, 70 yards or so - probably will give him a chance to start ahead of wide receiver Kevin Walter as the No. 2.

Wide receiver/special teams ace Jerome Mathis (leg) has been dealing with an unknown leg injury. The team was not able to come up with a concrete diagnosis as to what is wrong with their burner of a returner. At last, the team has learned Mathis is suffering from a "hot spot" that is due to stress. The injury is basically as close as you can get to a stress fracture. Mathis may wind up on Injured Reserve, but the team could take a wait-and-see approach with his recovery in the short term.

Keeping running back Ahman Green (knee) healthy has been a chore during this young season. He has not finished a game yet this season and missed last week's contest. Green's health is the key to the success of this offense and their pursuit of a playoff spot. He's questionable again this week, but we think he may play. If he does, he'll split carries with Ron Dayne.

Indianapolis Colts

Fantasy leaguers should look for running back Kenton Keith to gain extra reps in the offense this week, seeing running back Joseph Addai isn't quite 100 percent yet. Don't expect anything too crazy from Keith, but he has gained the trust of the team after last week's admirable performance.

With wide receiver Marvin Harrison (knee) potentially out this week, look for tight ends Dallas Clark and Bryan Fletcher to see the ball come their way more than usual. Fletcher, a converted wide receiver, has the speed to beat most linebackers. He gained confidence from quarterback Peyton Manning during last year's AFC Championship Game after pointing out an exploit in the New England Patriots defense that helped the team in a critical situation.

Manning and Clark roomed together during training camp, which provided extra time to build a rapport.
Expect the team to bring along safety Bob Sanders (ribs) slowly, especially if fellow safety Matt Giordano plays well in his place.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Quarterback David Garrard has played above-average over the past month, but that is largely due to his lack of turnovers. He has only one, which was a fumble from a blindside hit. Handing over the football was a big problem for Garrard last season.

The Jaguars' running situation has been a mess this year. The offensive line has played poorly, center Brad Meester (ankle) has been out and the loss of tight end Kyle Brady (Patriots) during the offseason didn't help. Brady is one of the league's best blocking tight ends. Last year, running back Maurice Jones-Drew started slowly, which he is doing again this year, but tailback Fred Taylor is coming off his best game of the season in Week 3.

Place kicker Josh Scobee (quadriceps) is still out, and his replacement, veteran booter John Carney has kicked well in his place. Will Scobee be given the heave-ho? Probably not. Carney is long-in-the-tooth, and the team probably won't jettison Scobee just yet.

Tennessee Titans

Running back LenDale White has watched his carries increase each week in number, but the team isn't quite ready to make him the exclusive runner in the backfield. Fellow tailback Chris Brown has played well this year and will slowly be phased down to about 30 percent of the workload, barring a collapse by the "Eggo-matic" White.

Wide receiver Brandon Jones enjoyed a decent game in Week 3 against the New Orleans Saints, snagging a touchdown grab, but he still wasn't pleased with his play after dropping a pass. Jones gets down on himself quickly and reportedly even lost sleep over the dropped pass. (Can you imagine if that happened to Dallas Cowboys wideout Terrell Owens?!?!)

Don't count out tight end Bo Scaife just yet. He finally scored in Week 3 but doesn't have any noteworthy yardage as of yet. There is still a chance that he can rebound, but this is predicated on the team passing more than they have through three games. Plus, the running game has been going at a decent clip, so the team hasn't needed to pass much.

Wideout Eric Moulds is still learning the playbook, so it may be a few more weeks before he is a viable fantasy option. He has been working hard, though.

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos

Running back Travis Henry (knee, ankle) doesn't just have off-the-field issues to worry about as he has taken a pounding over the first month of the season. An MRI and X-rays taken were negative, and he practiced for the first time all week Friday, Oct. 5, which means he could play this week. However, he is also in the midst of suing the NFL to prevent them from releasing a result of a drug test that would lead to him being suspended for at least a year. Henry, if healthy, could be making his final start for the Broncos this Sunday depending on the speed of the court system. However, there is a report that Henry's lawsuit may have some merit over the league's handling of the issue.

The bad news is that wide receiver Javon Walker (knee) missed Week 4, and he has already been ruled out for Week 5. The good news is that the injury is unrelated to the anterior cruciate ligament tear that ended his 2005 season after just one game. The team does not feel the injury will be a lingering one.

While the team can't be too happy with a 2-2 record after four games, the truth of the matter is they are lucky not to be 0-4. Denver edged the Buffalo Bills on a last-second field goal to open the season and then watched as the Oakland Raiders had their game-winning field goal attempt bounce off the upright in overtime of Week 2. The team clearly has issues, primarily run defense, special teams coverage and red zone offense. If they can shore up those items they could be in position to make a playoff run.

Kansas City Chiefs

Veteran quarterback Damon Huard earned himself a stay of execution with the Chiefs victory over the San Diego Chargers last week. Had the team lost and fallen to 0-3 there almost certainly would have been a switch to quarterback Brodie Croyle. That could still happen in the near future, but the team likely won't make a change if they continue to win.

Speaking of Huard, his play in 2007 is in many ways mimicking his performance from last season when he began slowly and then got hot. Huard posted a 5-3 record as a starter last season.

Wide receiver Eddie Kennison (hamstring) is set to return to the lineup this week, but don't expect him to outperform rookie wide receiver Dwayne Bowe over the rest of the season. Kennison has always been a shaky No. 1 receiver, and now he looks to be sliding into a supporting role with Bowe and tight end Tony Gonzalez as the focal points of the passing game. For fantasy purposes think of Kennison as being in the same vein as New York Giants wide receiver Amani Toomer.

Kansas City has to feel pretty good about their 2-2 start considering they have fallen behind by at least 10 points in every game thus far. The Chiefs are not constructed to overcome deficits and would be doing themselves a great service by being competitive from the opening kickoff. Their defense is already playing at a playoff level, now it is up to the offense to improve and do a better job of getting running back Larry Johnson going.

San Diego Chargers

Could the absence of wide receiver Eric Parker be derailing San Diego's passing game? Don't laugh as there could be some truth to it. Parker is the lone veteran in a receiving corps littered with young players like wide receivers Vincent Jackson and Craig Davis. Quarterback Philip Rivers may be downplaying Parker's value to keep the younger receivers in a positive frame of mind, but there seems little doubt that he is missed.

The departure of linebacker Donnie Edwards (Chiefs) combined with the injury to linebacker Matt Wilhelm has clearly reduced the effectiveness of the Chargers' linebacking group, particularly in defending the pass where Edwards excelled.

Despite a 1-3 start there appears to be no pressure on general manager A.J. Smith, who chose to hire Norv Turner as the team's head coach. Turner was the only person interviewed with previous head coaching experience in the NFL, and they felt bringing back the architect of their offense would be the best move for continuity. The team believed any deficiencies Turner had as a head coach would be offset by the talent on their roster. However, while Smith may be safe, don't rule out a one and done for Turner in San Diego.

It's tough to say if the team would be better off with Marty Schottenheimer, but the belief is that Marty was a better motivator, and perhaps his ability to rally the troops at halftime could've helped avoid the 1-3 start.

Even if San Diego loses this Sunday at Denver to fall to 1-4 don't count them out. They obviously still have the personnel that won 14 games a season ago, and no one within the division seems to be able to distance themselves. The concern would be their overall frustration level. If the team begins questioning each other and the coaches it could be a long season for the Chargers.

It would certainly help the team achieve their second win if they could figure out how to stop the pass. It is one thing to have future Hall of Famers like New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre light you up, but when it's Chiefs quarterback Damon Huard there is clearly something amiss. Offensively the team needs to cut down on their turnovers and get their once-dominant running game back on track.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

After a poor showing in Week 1, this defense seems to be gaining a dominant form. The Boys still seem vulnerable to the pass, especially with injuries in the secondary. They're mounting a daunting pass rush, though, and that's the goal. Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware has three sacks in his last two games. Linebacker Greg Ellis (Achilles') is slowly getting healthy. The staff has re-evaluated, and they think they'll get better as injured players return.

We may be seeing the development of Tony Romo into an elite quarterback. The defenses that he has faced haven't been on top of their games, but perhaps some of that is Romo's doing.
Wideout Patrick Crayton finally had a big day - or any day at all. It was largely the result of the defense's focus on receiver Terrell Owens and a lack of safety help. That means it could keep coming, though.
Running back Julius Jones hit paydirt last week - the start of a trend? Marion Barber should remain the main threat in the red zone, but look for Jones to get more touches there than he had last season.

New York Giants

Running back Brandon Jacobs (knee) is ready to return to action. He'll probably split carries with running back Derrick Ward (ankle), who's also banged up but has played well in Jacobs' absence. Ward could even start and get more carries. This week, the Giants want to see how much of a load Jacobs can handle. Next week, look for Jacobs to take the lead role.

Everybody on the team appears to be onboard with head coach Tom Coughlin. Players have adjusted, but Coughlin has changed his approach, too. The 10-player leadership council he instituted appears to be working. Coughlin always used to claim that he had an open door, but players rarely approached him. Now, if a player has a gripe, he goes to one of the vets, who have little problem addressing the coach. Plus, people forget that Coughlin runs some of the shortest, tightest practices in the league. He also seems to have let up on some of his over-the-top rules, along with the fines that followed. Either that, or players are showing up early now.

The Giants are having place kicker issues. Lawrence Tynes has been erratic. The club brought in a couple of free agents Tuesday, Oct. 2, but they'll stick with Tynes - for now. Coughlin and Tynes looked at some tape, felt they fixed some things and thought that Tynes had a good week of practice. Of course, if Tynes shanks a kick or two again.
Expect New York to use a four-man front featuring defensive ends Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck, along with linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka, in obvious passing situations more often. That combo has been effective - all four of those guys can just pin their ears back and get after it. However, Umenyiora (knees) is questionable for this week.
After a rough start, the Giants could hit the midway point with a very good record. A cake schedule, for the most part, awaits them, and even if they stumble, they should still be 4-4. In the NFC, that could be enough to make the playoffs. The key, though, is the continued stellar play of the defense.

Washington Redskins

Quarterback Jason Campbell is playing about as well as anyone could have expected. The media were all over his jock after a magnificent Monday night performance against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2. His game wasn't as pretty against the Giants in Week 3, but he made some great throws. He just needs to work on those clock-management skills.

Folks can tell that wideout Antwaan Randle El is a different player from the one he was last year. Campbell is really comfortable with him. Randle El hasn't surpassed wideout Santana Moss or tight end Chris Cooley in the pecking order, but Campbell is equally confident while going to all three of them.

Running back Clinton Portis (knee) might not be 100 percent, but he keeps plugging away. Coming off the bye, he should be pretty close. Against the Giants, he was on pace for at least 20 carries before Washington fell apart.
Speaking of, why did the Skins go to running back Ladell Betts on both third- and fourth-and-goal at the end of that contest? That's a great mystery in the D.C. area. Head coach Joe Gibbs maintains that he's just as confident in Betts as he is in Portis, but come on.
If Moss (groin) can't play this week, look for the recently signed Keenan McCardell to be active. Head coach Joe Gibbs has raved about McCardell's professionalism since he has joined them.
At 2-1, the Redskins are off to a good start, but they can't afford anymore injuries to key players. The right side of the offensive line has lost two major pieces, but they patched those holes. If they lose a stud on defense or a key offensive piece for a long period of time, they could be up the creek.

NFC North

Chicago Bears

Quarterback Brian Griese was obviously rusty after not starting in two years, and backups don't get much work during a week. He has played well though. A lot of people rip him, but you could do a lot worse than his play. If the running game gets better, he should be fine. If Griese comes out and tanks again, he'll be the starter next week no matter what because head coach Lovie Smith is so hesitant to change quarterbacks. Griese has at least a couple of more games before the team considers making a change.

Running back Cedric Benson is on thin ice. If he fumbles twice in Week 5, we could see running back Adrian N. Peterson as the starter.
The team hasn't gotten kick returner Devin Hester involved on offense because they haven't been able to sustain drives to get him in there. The speculation is Hester doesn't have the mental capacity to play on offense.
Wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad had by far his best week in Week 4. His numbers could continue to improve, but they want to get receiver Bernard Berrian involved, too.
Tight end Greg Olsen should be more involved this week as well.
The defense isn't showing signs of decline - they have just been hurt. At full health, they are still a good unit.

Detroit Lions

The Lions lead the league with 22 sacks allowed. Some of them are inevitable because the team uses long routes with five- and seven-step drops. They need to run the ball better to keep the pass rush at bay. The way the Lions pass block, they use one-on-one situations, and they have to win those better.

Quarterback Jon Kitna could be the quarterback to lead this team to a Super Bowl in offensive coordinator Mike Martz's system. They just need to cut down on turnovers. Kitna has been much better in the fourth quarter, which was something he was horrendous at last year.
The Detroit running back situation is undergoing some changes with Kevin Jones set to take over as the lead back. Tailback Tatum Bell will now serve as the No. 2, and we should see running back T.J. Duckett in there at times. Duckett was brought in to be the goal line back, but Jones has played well in that role.
Expect Jones to get 15 to 20 touches this week, and look for Bell to get five to 10. Jones' looks should increase as he gets healthier.
The team will always pass first, but look for them to start running more now that Jones is back. Jones is a great pass-catching back, and you can expect him to be used there too.
Wide receiver Calvin Johnson (back) is expected to play this week. Don't look for them to do much different with him. He doesn't run over the middle much, and if he's going to play, he'll do what he normally does.

This team may be as good as their record indicates. The team that beat them was a team with a great quarterback. How many teams can say that? If they face great quarterbacks, they will be torched. They are 3-1, and they haven't even played their best yet. They left 17 points on the board against Chicago with turnovers deep in the opponent's zone. In the NFC, anything can happen.

Defensive lineman Jared DeVries had three sacks last week, but don't expect a big breakthrough from him. He's a good role player, and a couple of the sacks were in the last two minutes.

Green Bay Packers

Running back DeShawn Wynn will start in Week 5 with Brandon Jackson (shin) out. Expect running back Vernand Morency to get more carries, and Ryan Grant will be the No. 3. Morency has the best chance to stand out, but he has missed so much time, it'll be hard to do that.

Quarterback Brett Favre has been electric this season, even without a successful running game. However that doesn’t figure to continue much longer as the weather gets worse. Favre is playing well in practice, but he needs to get some help on the ground.

There's a chance the team could go 11-0 before they lose a game. It probably won't happen, but their schedule is very good. They would have to collapse in order to lose the division.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

Quarterback Joey Harrington has put together two big games in a row, but he hasn't bought himself any time to be the team's starter. Quarterback Byron Leftwich is slated to be the starter after the Week 8 Bye at the latest. Harrington has played well enough to potentially catch on with another team to be their starter down the road. He has shown he can be effective when given time to throw.

The team has created specific plays for running back Jerious Norwood and will look to get him involved more this week than they have all season. He was involved in seven, 12, 14 and 14 plays, respectively each week. This includes rushes, passes and returns. Look for that number to increase to around 18 to 20 this week. He learns by repetition, and he has a better understanding of the pass protection now.

Wide receiver Laurent Robinson caught four passes last week because the opposing defense was double-teaming receiver Roddy White. This enabled receiver Michael Jenkins to go off for two scores. Look for Robinson to get involved more to keep teams from doubling White or Jenkins.
Wide receiver Joe Horn is unable to get open. He has basically been resigned to a mentoring role with the team and has no fantasy value.
Place kicker Morten Andersen has locked up the kicker job for the rest of the season as the coaches are comfortable with him.
Cornerback DeAngelo Hall (heel) hobbled off the practice field Friday, Oct. 5, with an apparent heel injury. He will be a game-time decision and could miss the Week 5 game.
Linebacker Keith Brooking's numbers have tailed off, but he hasn't suffered a major dropoff as far as talent goes. He's more of a side-to-side player, and the team is asking him to do different things.
Defensive end John Abraham has played well, and after all the injuries he still has the talent to be a dominant pass rusher. The team just has to use him smartly and rest him during practices.

In order for this team to compete for a playoff spot, they have to develop more of a running game. Their run defense is extremely weak as well, and they have to be able to stop the run.

Carolina Panthers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers really smothered the Panthers last week. Quarterback David Carr didn't get much help from the running game. When you're a backup, and you're down 14-0, trouble is going to loom. He played poorly though, and he may have been trying to do too much. Carr looked good in practice this week and could be respectable.

Running back DeShaun Foster fumbled twice, losing one, last week while running back DeAngelo Williams caught a touchdown. However, head coach John Fox loves the veterans, and he should stick with Foster. Williams could get a few more carries, and Foster could be close to fumbling his way out of the lineup.

The Bucs did a really good job of covering receiver Steve Smith last week. Teams are loading up on him with linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties. Until another wide receiver does something, opposing defenses are going to keep doing it.
Tight end Jeff King was basically absent last week, but he is still pretty sure-handed and a good red zone threat. He should get some touchdowns sooner or later.
Linebacker Jon Beason has played extremely well two weeks in a row. He has the potential to be great and has the personality to take charge on the field and be the leader of the defense in time. Middle linebacker Dan Morgan is probably done with the team after this season due to a myriad of injuries. This would move Beason to the middle. He's not an every-down linebacker yet, but he's getting there.

The team is dysfunctional right now. They have to be able to run the football and need to be able to get the ball to someone other than Smith. Defensively, they need a pass rush, and defensive ends Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker don't have a sack. Maybe they'll start blitzing linebackers to improve that.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints have a lot to correct. Quarterback Drew Brees has thrown seven interceptions, and they have no running game. The team has the same people, and defenses know what they have and what needs to be controlled. So the Saints aren’t surprising anyone. We've seen no evidence that they will change anything.

Running back Reggie Bush will be their guy. Running back Aaron Stecker will play, but it's uncertain how much, and you may not see running back Pierre Thomas except on the sideline. Basically the team wants to find out if Bush can carry the load. Fullback Mike Karney could also see some action, but it's Bush's show now.
Running back Deuce McAllister (knee) isn't done in New Orleans as some have speculated. He should be able to rehab his torn anterior cruciate ligament and be given a shot next year.
For those that had receiver Robert Meachem as a sleeper this year, write him off. He likely won't be a factor all season.
Receiver Lance Moore will be involved, but his usage depends on whether wideout Devery Henderson continues to drop passes.

Tight end Eric Johnson hasn't been involved much since a big Week 1 game. The team has been behind every game, and they have to throw downfield. Johnson isn't ready to be that kind of threat, and he's important to their running game. The team really misses tight end Mark Campbell because he was a far superior blocker. Offensive tackle Jamaal Brown is struggling as well.

The Saints need to stop playing teams with elite wide receivers. They play Panthers receiver Steve Smith, who has killed them in the past. Smith could have a big game.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers plan to split carries between running backs Michael Pittman and Earnest Graham. Pittman should get more work than Graham, and Graham should be used a little less on special teams.

The team reached out to running back Corey Dillon (New England Patriots) to see if he would be interested in filling in for running back Cadillac Williams (knee). They called his agent, who text messaged Dillon, and Dillon said he was retired. The team has talked about other trades, such as for Minnesota Vikings running back Mewelde Moore, but it's hard to tell how serious the talks were. At this point, the plan is to go with Pittman and Graham.

Wide receiver Joey Galloway has had two quiet weeks in a row. Last week it was more because receiver Ike Hilliard was open. Quarterback Jeff Garcia has good chemistry with everyone.

The defense has played very well, but they haven't played many good teams. They are still playing as well as they have in two years and are flying to the ball. Defensive end Gaines Adams is picking things up slowly, though. The team is a little disappointed by that because they figured he would be starting by now. The older players are showing no signs of slowing down.

Considering the weakness of the NFC South, the Bucs have a great chance at making the playoffs. We should find out in the next couple of weeks if they are for real.

NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals

Given his appearance in the last two games it seems logical to expect quarterback Kurt Warner to see the field again in Week 5, especially with a trip to St. Louis, to face the Rams, on the agenda. However, the team is looking to keep opposing teams guessing, and if they feel they can control the game with quarterback Matt Leinart at the helm, he may play the entire game. The team plans to continue using Warner in no-huddle situations indefinitely, though, unless Leinart proves he has a better grasp of the offense.

In regards to the locker room there has been no dissent or favoritism towards who is under center in a given week. The team is playing well and head coach Ken Whisenhunt has done a nice job getting them to buy into what he's doing.

Don't look for either quarterback to be playing favorites with the receiving corps when they're out there, either. Warner has also done a good job of finding the open man, and Leinart is not in a position to zone in on one receiver.

Wide receiver Bryant Johnson has traditionally done a nice job filling in when the team finds itself short in the receiving department, but last week he was outperformed by wideout Jerheme Urban. Don't read a lot into that, as Johnson dropped a long pass, and Urban found more room to operate lining up in the slot.

Arizona has been a surprisingly stout defensive team, and much of the credit for that goes to the excellent play of their defensive line. Nose tackle Gabe Watson is holding up at the point of attack and defensive ends Darnell Dockett and Antonio D. Smith are excelling in the 3-4 alignment.
The Cardinals believe things are lining up nicely for a run at a playoff spot, particularly a soft home schedule that features only one remaining team currently with a winning record (Detroit Lions). Don't be shocked to see them end the season with a 7-1 or even 8-0 home mark if they continue to play at their current level.

San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco's offense has been struggling this season, but don't look for the insertion of quarterback Trent Dilfer into the lineup to be the answer. Quarterback Alex D. Smith (shoulder) was hardly the lone reason for their offensive woes and it remains to be seen if Dilfer has anything left. Look for the team to try and revive the Baltimore Ravens' old formula for success by asking Dilfer to manage the game while trying to win low-scoring affairs.

Running back Frank Gore has underperformed this season, though much of that has to do with teams consistently bringing an eighth man into the box. It's something Gore experienced last season, but he simply hasn't been as effective in making the first man miss.

The release of wide receiver Taylor Jacobs does not necessarily mean offseason acquisition wideout Ashley Lelie is any closer to getting serious playing time. The team doesn't like the way the former first-round pick runs his routes. Lelie should get his shot eventually, but he is still competing with wide receivers Bryan Gilmore and Jason Hill for the No. 3 spot. The 49ers seem to want Hill (hamstring) to take that job, once he's healthy.

In many ways San Francisco has been a disappointment this year, as they are a very shaky 2-2 at this point. The way things have gone has served as a reality check, and it certainly appears they are simply not as good as the media thought they were. If they are to improve and make a push for the playoffs, then their offense needs to get appreciably better in a hurry.
Defensively the 49ers were a trendy pick in fantasy drafts, but they have failed to deliver in that regard as well. The problem is their front seven isn't doing enough to pressure the quarterback, and they're not getting sacks or forcing poor throws that could be converted to interceptions. Add that to their offensive struggles, and it doesn't look like things will be changing on that front any time soon.

Seattle Seahawks

Running back Shaun Alexander (wrist) has not looked like his usual self this season, taking numerous losses and running soft. Part of this can be attributed to poor run blocking and part of it could be fear of fumbling the ball with the cast on his wrist. Alexander has done a better job in the second half of games, but that seems to be a result of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck softening up the defense. Alexander is picking his spots right now and doesn't look like the same back. Despite Alexander's struggles, don't look for running back Maurice Morris to assume a bigger role in the offense.

The team has done a great job this season in the passing game, and they have done it without wide receiver D.J. Hackett (ankle). Hackett began the season as the starter opposite wideout Deion Branch but was injured in Week 1. Wide receiver Nate Burleson has done a decent job in his place but it doesn't appear to have done enough at this point to keep Hackett out of the starting lineup when he returns. Burleson needs to have another big game or two to stake a legitimate long-term claim on the starting job.

Speaking of receivers, the team is not interested in transitioning quarterback Seneca Wallace into a full-time receiver. If he's on the field, it is just as part of a package to keep defenses off-guard.
Seattle looks strong through three weeks, but they still need to get Alexander rolling like he was two years ago if they are going to make a deep run in the NFC.

St. Louis Rams

While the Rams said they are only shutting down quarterback Marc Bulger (ribs) for one to two weeks, don't be surprised that his recovery suddenly takes longer if backup quarterback Gus Frerotte performs well. Frerotte looked good in the preseason and has a stronger arm than Bulger. The return of offensive lineman Richie Incognito (ankle) should help the team's shoddy line play as well, and that would benefit Frerotte.

One player to keep an eye on this week is wide receiver Marques Hagans. He and Frerotte showed good chemistry during the preseason. One more name to watch is tight end Randy McMichael, who was with the Miami Dolphins the year Frerotte was a starter. Hagans could be the No. 4 receiver this week with wide receivers Isaac Bruce (hamstring) and Dane Looker (thigh) inactive.

Look for running backs Brian Leonard, Travis Minor and Antonio Pittman to all see action this Sunday as they try to buy time until running back Steven Jackson (groin) returns. Look for Leonard on first and second downs, with Minor coming in on third. Pittman should also see limited snaps on first and second downs. The team is not interested in acquiring a veteran to help shore up the position at this time.

The Rams' hopes of turning their season around hinge on their ability to start putting points on the board. They have been one of the worst offenses in the NFL, and even when they reach the red zone they are not converting. The defense has done a decent job, but they get worn out because the offense can't stay on the field.