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Z - From The Sidelines...Locker Room Buzz - Week 10November 9, 2007
By KFFL Staff It has been a crazy week in football. Between O.J. Simpson and Larry Johnson (foot), there have been some odd things said. This coming off the heels of a phenomenal game that saw New England claim the crown of best team in the NFL. There's quite a bit of fantasy news this week, but first, we love polling our network, and this go-round we decided to ask them the following question: The Dallas Cowboys are viewed by most or at least many as the team to beat in the NFC. Who do you think can challenge them and are they good enough to beat the AFC representative in the Super Bowl (all things equal)? Some of the answers were interesting.
In the end, it broke down the following way:
Our take is probably like everyone else's. However, it's surprising to see 14 percent of the votes to the Saints, and 2 percent still believe in the Seahawks. No issue whether it's the Pack or the Giants, and it's nice to see the Lions considered and to see them at 6-2. Inching towards the 10-game win quarterback Jon Kitna talked about during the preseason. We'll see if this holds true, or if the Cowboys, Giants and Packers find themselves fighting it out at the end, unless someone else emerges. AFC EastA three-game win streak has helped to slightly thaw the normally bitter, cold hearts at Orchard Park, especially since the Bills currently fit into the bottom half of the AFC playoff race. At first glance their last two victories against the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals don't elicit big-win status, but the Bills are making opposing teams compete with relatively mistake-free football. Despite their recent run, the Bills haven't generated playoff hype in upstate New York. Quarterback J.P. Losman gets another start in this week's AFC East matchup against the Miami Dolphins with quarterback Trent Edwards (wrist) still patrolling the sidelines. Edwards is listed as questionable with a mild sprain in his wrist, but he should be available as the No. 2 quarterback this Sunday. The starting quarterback question reportedly remains a week-by-week decision as Edwards works toward hitting the field. Losman is expected to attack Miami deep this Sunday versus the Dolphins, and wide receiver Lee Evans could frequently hear his number called once again. The Bills will get their second taste of primetime this year after the NFL made its first 2007 flex scheduling move. The "resurgent" Bills - that title branded courtesy of the NFL's television marketing department - will square off against the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football in Week 11. As the Patriots come off their Week 10 Bye, the switch gives Al Michaels and John Madden their second opportunity of the season to verbally bow at the New England altar. The game also gives the Bills a true litmus test to determine their place in the AFC. Word is that the locker room hasn't immediately bought into any big-time emotion. They're still the Bills, and they technically don't have the right to look past anyone yet, not even the winless Dolphins.
The 0-8 Dolphins match up against the Bills this week and if the favored Bills don't falter, their home clash with the Jets in Week 13 may present Miami their best hope for an elusive victory, with other possibilities in the tumbling Philadelphia Eagles next week and the Bengals in Week 17. The Dolphins apparently lack a sense of urgency at this point, and an opposing team may have to play terribly for them to win. Miami's bigwigs have not outwardly commented on former head coach Don Shula's comments that questioned the legitimacy of a possible Patriots' undefeated season. A source feels that exemplifies the old-school 1972 Dolphins' attitude towards the new regime, suggesting that, "half of [the new brass] probably don't know who Don Shula is." Perhaps Shula should worry about the state of his former team and check out their Week 16 matchup before he even reaches for the bottles of Dom. There is some speculation that the Dolphins might switch quarterbacks after their first win. Organizational speak says quarterback Cleo Lemon gives them a better chance to win, and no one in the locker room is reportedly pushing for quarterback John Beck. That fuel is most likely coming from owner H. Wayne Huizenga, general manager Randy Mueller and the fans. Lemon has made a few bad decisions, but he has not been terrible in his tenure. Fans might rebel, however, if Beck isn't starting by their 10th game. Even if running back Ricky Williams is reinstated this season, don't expect him to become a prominent factor in the Dolphins running game. Running back Jesse Chatman has filled in well for injured tailback Ronnie Brown (knee), and Williams hasn't played football at the NFL level since 2005. If local interest dwindles, however, they could make a splash by tossing him into the mix. They would probably need to bring him along slowly, but Williams could come back with six games left to play. The Dolphins seem poised to give wide receiver Ted Ginn, Jr. a large portion of the offense since they invested heavily in him, and he now knows the system. They expect him to move the chains as a frequently used speed threat.
AFC NorthOn the heels of a sloppy performance in the Ravens' 38-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football, quarterback Steve McNair is running out of air as the starter. He is on a short leash for their upcoming matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals, and a poor first-half performance could prompt the entrance of backup quarterback Kyle Boller. McNair's promise to the media that he still has something left in the tank don't seem that convincing anymore, but he is helping his cause by showing some fire while trying to protect his job. Locker room support has not dwindled for McNair, but indications show that the team would understand if a quarterback switch needed to be made for the sake of the offense. Head coach Brian Billick is calling the plays in Baltimore, but not many critics are calling him effective. He will obviously be keeping his power if only for stability at the top, but many feel that a large share of the blame lies with his strategy. Although they might revisit the situation in 2008, don't expect to see any discussion of offensive coordinator Rick Neuheisel to assume play calling duties this season. Not even Neuheisel would bet on that. Expect tight end Todd Heap (hamstring) to jump right back into the Ravens passing game as he is projected to return this Sunday. Buffalo Bills tight end Robert Royal was able to hit the end zone against the Bengals last week, so Heap might be able to have similar success. Heap's return might hinder the wide receiver pecking order, which currently stands as Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams in that order. The Ravens aren't expected to use many four-receiver sets, especially with Heap stepping back on the field. The secondary plague continues to hit the Ravens as the effectiveness of free safety Ed Reed (head, neck) might be a concern. The Bengals have taken advantage of Baltimore when their defense was more revered, so a lack of impact players against the revamped Bengals offense could scare Baltimore. They might have to adjust with more quarterback pressure or drop into zone defense. It might be a patchwork effort on defense for such a key game.
Cincinnati Bengals For their Week 10 matchup against the Ravens, the main core of the Bengals offense will reunite for the first time since last season with the return of wide receiver Chris Henry. However, he came back in unwelcome fashion with a reported verbal altercation with a valet attendant. The Bengals aren't expected to discipline him for the alleged incident, and they feel no action needs to be taken. As for his role on the field, expect Henry to become quickly reacquainted with the Bengals offense. Ravens head coach Brian Billick has been quoted as saying that Henry's presence adds another dimension to the Bengals offense that gives defenses matchup problems. Running back Rudi Johnson is set to start ahead of fellow back Kenny Watson, who should resume his role as the third-down and change-of-pace back. If Johnson proves ineffective, however, the club won't hesitate to give Watson more chances. The initial plan in general dictates Johnson carrying and Watson catching. When wide receiver Chad Johnson (neck) was taken to a nearby hospital after suffering a neck injury against the Buffalo Bills last week, fellow wideout T.J. Houshmandzadeh jumped into the ambulance to accompany him. The two became close friends while torching defensive backs at Oregon State University. The mood quickly changed during the trip, however, as Johnson was reportedly cracking jokes on the way to the hospital.
Serving as the battle for first place in the AFC North, the Browns-Steelers matchup prompts legitimate excitement for the first time in what seems like eons. The Browns locker room sounds confident this week; they should be, since their Week 1 starter against Pittsburgh was current Seattle Seahawks quarterback Charlie Frye. Quarterback Derek Anderson has jolted the Browns since then, left tackle Joe Thomas has matured and left guard Eric Steinbach has several games under his belt. Quarterback Brady Quinn seems to be responding well to his role as clipboard caddy. The rookie talks about the situation every few weeks and has said that he knows the playbook. Running back Jamal Lewis was a minimalist last Sunday, scoring four touchdowns on just 37 yards rushing against the Seahawks. He added four catches and 67 yards to his repertoire, and he looked like a natural in goal-line situations. He had been previously chastised in Baltimore as a failure in those situations, but Seattle let him slip through holes in coverage.
Following quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's career-high five touchdown passes against the Ravens last Monday night the Steelers have a rematch with the surprising Browns. Roethlisberger has openly displayed an ability to throw from outside the pocket. That is not wholly an indicator of his talent, however; he does it partly out of necessity because of unsuccessful pass blocking. Tight end Heath Miller continues to pilfer any chance of a steady workload for No. 3 wide receiver Nate Washington, who scored two touchdowns against the Ravens. Miller remains as the third option in the pecking order behind wideouts Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes, and even backup tight end Matt Spaeth has been more consistent than Washington. That pair of touchdowns seems to be an anomaly to their system, however, and he can't be counted on for repeating that performance.
AFC SouthThe Colts were pretty laid back after being defeated by the New England Patriots in Week 9. The team feels it's not the end of the world - that's confidence! Let's face it - the Colts blew it. They let the Patriots back in it and eventually win. The Colts had the ball twice late and didn't do anything with it. Running back Kenton Keith has lost the trust of the offense after a shaky game against the Carolina Panthers. He didn't see much action against New England, and when he ran it was predictable. He has lost a bit of confidence as well. The team will likely give starting running back Joseph Addai as much as they can. Keith should only get more carries if Addai gets hurt. It was surprising not to see gamer wide receiver Marvin Harrison (knee) on the field last week. People are saying the injury is more serious, but the team is trying to downplay it. Sources tell us, if the team is smart, they will rest him. Wide receiver Reggie Wayne had a couple of costly drops last week, which is uncharacteristic. He has incredible hands, but without Harrison, the focus was more on him. Receiver Aaron Moorehead dropped some balls as well and can't be counted on. You can probably expect to see more of tight ends Dallas Clark and Bryan Fletcher with the issues at receiver. Receiver Anthony Gonzalez (thumb) showed he was more than capable of handling the slot role, but he's possibly out a couple of weeks with a dislocated thumb. The Colts have a game-and-a-half lead over the Tennessee Titans, and they feel the Titans' presence. They have very little room for error. The Colts still have the Titans in Indy at the end of the year, so they aren't too worried.
Quarterback David Garrard (ankle) is able to return this week, but the team wants to be cautious because they direly need him. Quarterback Quinn Gray will probably start again, but if he gets off to a poor start, look for Garrard to come in. Gray has improved each week, and if he can get the job done we won't see Garrard. Gray just isn't in a comfort zone yet. The aerial attack tore up the New Orleans Saints last week, but this was largely due to the fact that the Jags were playing catch-up. The Saints played really soft coverage, and Gray was able to move the ball. Don't expect that again this season. The running backs have struggled until recently, and this was largely due to poor line play. Center Brad Meester was out until October with an injury, and that was a huge loss. He makes all the line calls, and the team has been better since he returned. Now they have lost guard Chris Naeole (quadriceps) for the season, and he was their most consistent performer. On a good note, maybe, head coach Jack Del Rio is not on the hot seat and would likely need a 1-7 finish to reach that status.
Quarterback Vince Young (quadriceps) is still bothered by his quadriceps injury. He is handing the ball off a lot and isn't throwing. The team hasn't asked him to do much the last several weeks. He needs work on his technique and the short-passing game, but he is slowly developing. Defenses are stacking the box, mostly to stop running back LenDale White. Young needs to complete more balls downfield, and that should loosen things up near the line of scrimmage. The Titans should continue to run the ball if things remain close.
AFC WestQuarterback Patrick Ramsey has the confidence and trust of both his coaches and teammates if he were asked to fill in for quarterback Jay Cutler (leg) this week. The team believes he is a smart player, and they would not alter anything in the playbook to accommodate him. The other shoe still hasn't fallen in regards to running back Travis Henry's long-rumored suspension. The team's position is to support their player and withhold judgment. If he does get suspended it clearly means he did test positive, which could lead to some disappointed people within the Broncos organization. Henry (knee) appears to be a game-time decision to play this week due to a knee injury. The team is hopeful wide receiver Javon Walker (knee) can return to the lineup for their Week 11 game. He seems to be on track for that return date and is anxious to get back on the field. On the downside, the injury could require microfracture surgery down the road. Despite a disappointing 2007 campaign, head coach Mike Shanahan is by no means on the hot seat. Shanahan is signed through 2011 and has a staunch supporter in owner Pat Bowlen. The two of them have a great working relationship, and there is a lot of mutual trust. As for the fans, they seem to be placing most of the blame on injuries rather than at the feet of the head coach.
There has been a buzz all season around if and when quarterback Damon Huard would start toting a clipboard again while quarterback Brodie Croyle is given the reins to the offense. The buzz is still there, but it doesn't appear any more imminent now than it did in Week 1. However, the feeling is still that it is merely a question of not if, but when. A report came out this week that running back Larry Johnson (foot) would miss the remainder of the season, but it appeared to never have any backing. With Johnson sidelined look for running backs Priest Holmes and Kolby Smith to split the touches this week. Holmes' lengthy absence makes it unlikely he will get the ball more than around 15 times. Smith has some quickness and is a solid receiver. He should get some work this Sunday. The injury to Johnson may have the team rethinking their decision to trade running back Michael Bennett to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Chiefs do feel that Holmes and Smith can do what Bennett did, but had they known the injury was coming they likely would not have made the move. But then again, hindsight is always 20/20. Don't look for a change in offensive philosophy without Johnson in the lineup this week. The team still hopes to establish the run, which could lead to some play action to help a suspect passing attack.
The switch from quarterback Daunte Culpepper to quarterback Josh McCown didn't result in a victory, which raises the question as to what is wrong at the position. The quarterbacks themselves shoulder much of the blame for poor decision-making and missing open receivers. Another major factor is the number of penalties their offensive line has incurred. Quarterback JaMarcus Russell could be in line to serve as the team's No. 2 signal caller this week after head coach Lane Kiffin refused to announce Culpepper as the backup for Sunday. The team may be looking to get Russell a series here and there, which could begin as early as this weekend. Don't expect the team to cut Culpepper even if he is demoted to No. 3 despite the presence of quarterback Andrew Walter on their roster. Running back Justin Fargas has seen a meteoric rise from journeyman to effective starter this season, and he has at least temporarily dislodged running back LaMont Jordan from the starting role. The team loves his guts and the reckless abandon with which he plays the game. He does a nice job of being patient, which is a necessity in zone blocking, and he has developed an excellent rapport with running backs coach Tom Rathman. Kiffin wants to instill in his club the message that it doesn't matter what your reputation is, it is all about what you do on the field. That philosophy is being personified by Fargas. On the flipside of the coin is running back Dominic Rhodes, who appears to have taken up a permanent residence in the team's doghouse. The issue is apparently unrelated to his suspension, but Rhodes will almost certainly not be in a Raiders uniform in 2008. Don't be shocked if Jordan is gone as well. While Jordan and Rhodes are quite possibly on the way out, running back Michael Bush (leg) is expected to come off the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list next week. Look for Oakland to work him into the mix quickly, but after such a long time away from live hitting don't expect them to throw him to the wolves. Instead look for Bush to be worked in similarly to their current plan for Russell. After releasing wide receiver Mike Williams, the team signed veteran wideout Tim Dwight and played him as the No. 3 last Sunday. Dwight had some success and could play more this week as he gives the offense a different dimension. Part of the problem with the Oakland receivers may have been that Williams and receivers Ronald Curry and Jerry Porter were all too similar. Dwight gives them deep speed.
Quarterback Philip Rivers folded under pressure from the Minnesota Vikings last week. He said the team wasn't surprised by what Minnesota did, but he looked completely unprepared and did not play well. He had open receivers but was unable to get them the ball. Running back LaDainian Tomlinson was vocal about the team's poor play earlier this season, and it could be interesting to see how he reacts if the team continues to struggle. As for last week, Tomlinson couldn't have been happy with the play calling that had him repeatedly attacking the interior of the Vikings defensive line. The team chose to forego running or throwing short passes to the outside, which seemed counter-intuitive and clearly did not work. From the fantasy files it looks as though owners might want to go ahead and cut loose preseason sleeper wide receiver Vincent Jackson. He looked terrible last Sunday and has only one reception since the team acquired wide receiver Chris Chambers. Despite finishing with only one catch, tight end Antonio Gates was a part of the game plan heading into Week 9. He got open, but Rivers didn't have enough time to get him the ball. Nonetheless, it made little sense when throwing as often as they did not to make it a point of emphasis to try and get Gates going even with a couple short passes. Inconsistency has been San Diego's biggest problem this season, playing well in stretches and then awful in others. They have yet to beat a team with a winning record this year, and if they continue to be so inconsistent they will likely continue to struggle. The play calling has certainly been an issue at times, but those plays come directly from head coach Norv Turner, and according to our source Turner would never give up that duty. Even though the season has been a disappointment thus far, general manager A.J. Smith appears safe. The team likes the way he has built the club, and he has clearly shown an eye for finding and developing talent. Also, despite the venom of the fans it looks as though Turner is safe for at least another season. If things continue to degrade at that juncture, though, both Turner and Smith could be on the chopping block.
NFC EastAfter going on the road and toppling the slumping Philadelphia Eagles, the Cowboys go into another heated divisional battle against the rival New York Giants in what is arguably the game of the week. They looked confident in the locker room this week. A win against the Giants would sweep the season series and with their lead over the Washington Redskins and Eagles would put them well on their way to locking up the NFC East. Everyone's listening to praise for MB3 (running back Marion Barber III) this season, but fellow running back Julius Jones' versatility has been a cog for their running game. Against the Giants' highly-rated pass rush from their front four, Jones could play a part as an effective screen receiver. In 2005, Jones had nine catches for 88 yards at the Meadowlands, so the history is there. Wide receiver Terry Glenn (quadriceps) has not started running yet and is still trying to build strength. He is not expected to return before their Thanksgiving clash with the New York Jets. The Cowboys might be looking at Glenn's return as a bonus this season since they have already produced well without him in the lineup. Tight end Jason Witten has also performed well this year when lining up as both a wide receiver and as a fullback or H-back from the backfield. Setting up behind the offensive line creates mismatches, and there is a possibility he could see more reps there after fullback Deon Anderson (rotator cuff) was placed on Injured Reserve this past Monday. Although defensive tackle Tank Johnson will be a welcome sight (you certainly can't miss him out there), don't expect him to play more than 12 snaps this Sunday. In his first on-field action since the Chicago Bears lost in Super Bowl XLI, Johnson has reportedly embraced his expected backup role. He should still be in the mix with fellow defensive tackle Jay Ratliff, and the Cowboys could use this as a test for Johnson to possibly return next season.
The locker room has seemed hush all week despite the importance of the upcoming game with the division-leading Cowboys. However, doubters of quarterback Eli Manning have some new verbal ammunition as the half-prodigy-half-pariah has thrown for less than 200 yards in four of his last five games. The Giants' Week 9 contest against the Miami Dolphins was quite ugly, however, and the players displayed sloppiness that equaled the wet climate at Wembley Stadium. Coaches hope to see his play and statistics elevate with the big games. With running back Derrick Ward (ankle, groin) expected to miss Sunday's grudge match with Dallas, running back Brandon Jacobs is expected to have 80 percent of the carries and halfback Reuben Droughns should see approximately 20 percent. If Ward were healthy, he would be getting more time as the No. 2 back because of his ability to catch passes. Either way, a 50-50 split does not appear to be on the horizon.
Quarterback Donovan McNabb hasn't been targeted with batteries just yet, but he hasn't helped himself too much especially coming off a poor performance against the Cowboys last week. McNabb's status is still up in the air for the near future. The amortization of his contract after 2008 could warrant the Eagles turning to quarterback Kevin Kolb or some other option, but if McNabb displays improvement and has some success over the final eight games of the season he could hang around a bit longer. With the Eagles' playoff chances dwindling, the team might settle for an improved individual performance from McNabb as a goal for the second half. Whether or not he is "soft" might not be the issue; his repeated mistakes in decision-making have been his real hindrance. A drastic slump would most likely be the only case in which a quarterback change would be made.
There was a sighting of running back Clinton Portis last week as he ran for 196 yards on 36 carries with a touchdown. It seemed like the performance was a combination of the Jets run defense, Portis' recent health upgrade and the Redskins' ability to stretch the field. Portis is normally at his best when he's running to the outside, and the offensive line seems to be regaining a rhythm. The 36 carries might be a bit more than what he will get for the rest of the season, but 22-25 carries sounds like a ballpark figure. If wide receiver Santana Moss (heel) misses Sunday's game, Washington should continue to feed tight end Chris Cooley and seek receivers Antwaan Randle-El and James Thrash. Fullback Mike Sellers could slide over to tight end for pass protection and motion out as a receiver a few times. However, don't expect much of backup running back Ladell Betts in these situations.
NFC NorthQuarterback Brian Griese has had some productive games this season, just not against the Detroit Lions. In Week 8 he threw four interceptions against them and now has thrown seven in two games against them this season. Why is he having such a hard time? Part of it is due to the Tampa 2 style of defense the Lions play, and the other is due to him making some really bad throws. All seven of the interceptions thrown came inside the Lions 40-yard line. The chances that the Bears will give up on running back Cedric Benson don't look to good. It is possible that the team will give running back Adrian N. Peterson more carries this week, but they have so much money invested in Benson that there is no way he gets benched without upsetting a lot of people. Tight end Greg Olsen hasn't exactly been hidden, but the 2007 first-round draft pick could be looking at having a better second half to this season. He missed essentially three games in the first half and has made 21 receptions to this point. A source tells us that he can see him catching 50 balls on the year. Unfortunately, he won't start this season due to tight end Desmond Clark. Clark is fine health-wise and is a better blocker than Olsen. The loss of guard Ruben Brown (shoulder) shouldn't be a catastrophic loss for the Bears, considering he was already playing hurt. Right guard Terrence Metcalf knows the system and the offensive line shouldn't see a huge difference.
Quarterback Jon Kitna (undisclosed) missed a few days of practice, but it was just to give him a rest. He had some bumps and bruises but nothing major. Expect running back Kevin Jones to get 15 to 20 carries this week. T.J. Duckett will back him up and take some goal line work while Tatum Bell is likely to be inactive again. The problem with Bell is that he doesn't help out on special teams, which makes him an inactive come Sunday. The Lions never really regretted drafting wide receiver Calvin Johnson instead of running back Adrian Peterson, who went to the Minnesota Vikings. Johnson has only been healthy and in the game plan for three games. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz said that he can fully integrate him into the offense now that he's fully healthy. Expect to see more of Johnson this week. Wide receiver Roy Williams hasn't been a big factor in a few weeks. Compared to last season at this time, he has one fewer reception (43), but his yards-per-catch average is way down. He didn't have a lot of touchdowns last season because defenses targeted him. Teams are taking away the deep passes, and Martz is calling different plays for him. If they can keep running, it should open up. However, you could expect a better second half from him. The Lions defense has been great thus far, and after eight games you have to call that a trend and not a fluke. They have been steady in the red zone and have excelled at forcing turnovers. Only New England and Indianapolis have been better with takeaways. Their opponents have made just five field goals all season, and the last five games all opposing kickers missed their first field goal. They block kicks and intimidate kickers.
The Packers offense has seen defenses try to shut down their explosive passing game, but the team continues to adjust well taking what the defense is giving them. Over the last few games teams have been playing inside leverage with their cornerbacks, taking away the slants. That is when Green Bay started throwing deep and making teams pay for cheating on the shorter routes. Any questions as to whether running back Ryan Grant (concussion) has a grip on the starting job should and need to stop. He practiced this week in pads, and a source tells us that we shouldn't see either running backs Brandon Jackson and Vernand Morency much. Jackson will see the most carries from the two while Morency continues to get the third-down carries. Quarterback Brett Favre and wide receiver Greg Jennings have built up such a rapport that it is getting close to what Favre and wide receiver Donald Driver have. They are struck by how quickly Jennings has picked up the offense and is able to play both the X and Z.
Quarterback Brooks Bollinger will lead the team this week, and a source lets us know that despite looking good in two relief appearances, he doesn't know how effective he will be. He seems to over think when he knows when he is going to play. Bollinger and wide receiver Sidney Rice have developed chemistry together. Rice caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from Bollinger last week after he came in to replace the injured Tarvaris Jackson (concussion). The two seemed to develop a chemistry beginning in the preseason and could be the target he looks to in the passing game. Running back Chester Taylor shouldn't expect to get many carries again this week after the performance of running back Adrian Peterson last week. His role is expected to be limited to just third-down carries and in blocking situations.
NFC SouthQuarterback Joey Harrington continues as the starting quarterback, but there's no question that quarterback Byron Leftwich (ankle) is the starter when he returns. Harrington could be gone after the season if he wants to be in a better situation. The team has him signed to a two-year deal, so he could be around in '08. Then again, there's no guarantee Leftwich will be in town either, because they didn't pay much to get him.
The team said they are going to try to run the ball a lot this week. They had their best passing game of the year against the Carolina Panthers, though. White had a career-high 127 yards receiving, and the team threw for 361 yards. When quarterback Michael Vick was playing, he was kind of like Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre early in his career when he had tunnel vision for receiver Sterling Sharpe. Vick was unable to read defenses and relied heavily on Crumpler. So it's possible that Crumpler made Vick's career, not the other way around.
Quarterback David Carr (concussion) is out this week, and quarterback Vinny Testaverde (Achilles') didn't practice Friday. This means the Panthers could be stuck with young Matt Moore at quarterback. The team brought in rookie quarterback Drew Olson, but as one source put it: "He's a joke. They will give the ball to (running back) DeAngelo Williams before they rely on Olson." Olson was signed to get the team through practice and isn't on the roster anymore.
Wide receiver Steve Smith's production has been severely lacking due to the absence of quarterback Jake Delhomme (elbow). He doesn't seem frustrated with his production as much as the team's losing. He wants the ball but is also bright enough to realize they have a dire quarterback situation.
The Saints are off and running after a tumultuous start on offense. The biggest difference is they are throwing a lot of short passes that are taking the place of the running game. It's a combination of better decisions from quarterback Drew Brees, better play-calling and better play from the receivers.
NFC WestQuarterback Kurt Warner (elbow) had an off day in Week 9, but don't attribute that to his injury. Warner has always struggled against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout his career, and he received no help from a running game that never got going even though Tampa Bay didn't stack the box. The team as a whole came out flat last week. The Cardinals running the ball 12 times was not their strategy heading into last week, but rather it was the result of a first half that saw them play terrible offensive football with a ton of three-and-outs. Then when the Buccaneers scored on a time-consuming drive to start the second half the team found themselves two touchdowns behind and needing to throw to catch up. Running back Edgerrin James should be expecting more carries against the Detroit Lions this week. The team desperately wants to establish the run to control the time of possession, but Detroit has been lit up a couple of times on the road this season. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt may need to restrain himself from turning loose his two talented receivers on them. That is an easy, and at times ineffective, trap to fall into it. Of course if that is what the Detroit defense is giving them, the Cardinals may not be in a position to dictate otherwise. Despite a lot of mileage on his body, don't look for the team to lighten the load on James, who hasn't carried the ball nearly as much as he feels he could to this point in the season. Linebacker Karlos Dansby (knee) should return to the lineup this week. His height at the second level could help Arizona slow down Detroit's passing attack this Sunday. First-round pick defensive lineman Alan Branch continues to make slow progress, and he is rotating in about every third play. The team doesn't use a nose tackle all the time but are fairly happy with what he's shown thus far.
Quarterback Alex D. Smith hasn't played well since returning from injury, showing questionable strength and accuracy on his passes. Perhaps some high-percentage throws early in the game could help him get into a rhythm. With running back Frank Gore (ankle) expected back this Monday; look for him to shoulder about 75 percent of the load out of the backfield with running backs Michael Robinson and Michael Hicks divvying up the remaining 25 percent. The team liked what they saw from Robinson last week, and with Hicks set for free agency after the season it was advantageous for them to get a better read on what they have in Robinson.
Despite a distinct lack of big plays the team is not experiencing any buyer's remorse based on their offseason signing of cornerback Nate Clements. He has done a good job overall and has elevated the play of the defense. His lack of interceptions is more an indictment of a defense that can't pressure opposing quarterbacks into making risky or off-balance throws. This could be a make-or-break game for the 49ers for this season. If they beat the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football they would be just a game out with seven to play. If they lose they would effectively fall four games back due to tie-breakers and be completely out of the picture. Head coach Mike Nolan's seat continues to gain degrees with each passing week where the team looks abysmal offensively. It still appears unlikely he'll be let go at the end of the season, but if his team doesn't show some improvement there could be changes made on his coaching staff.
With another ailment for running back Shaun Alexander (wrist, knee) to deal with the team may be heading in another direction offensively. Head coach Mike Holmgren has indicated the team could start throwing more, which would almost certainly mean more of running back Maurice Morris because of Alexander's cast. In addition to more playing time for Morris, running back Leonard Weaver could be another beneficiary of an increased focus on the passing game. Look for Morris to see around a dozen touches this Monday while Weaver's role will likely be more dependent on the type of sets they run. If Alexander doesn't play then obviously Morris' number of touches should go up. From a fantasy perspective obviously more passing should mean a higher value for quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, but as to which receiver stands to benefit the most it should be whoever is manning the flanker position. Last week it was receiver Bobby Engram, who hauled in 14 passes. However, when healthy, that role will likely go to wideout Deion Branch (foot), who has a chance to return this week. If he does play, look for Branch to be an immediate factor in the offense as opposed to being eased back in. The Seahawks don't have much fear defensively heading into Week 10 against the 49ers. They respect Gore's ability based on some big games he has had against them, but beyond that the only thing their worried about is D-Jax having a big game in his return to the Emerald City. Look for them to bounce back this week after a sub-par game against the Cleveland Browns in Week 9. Head coach Mike Holmgren isn't really on the hot seat, but the fact remains he is not general manager Tim Ruskell's guy. Former Atlanta Falcons head coach Jim Mora Jr. is looming though Holmgren has one year left on his contract after this season.
Quarterback Marc Bulger (thumb) seems to have overcome his rib injury, but he hurt his thumb against the Browns. If he were to aggravate the injury he could end up watching from the sidelines. Running back Steven Jackson (groin, back) is pretty close to being 100 percent, but the team is set to play it cautiously and not ask him to carry a full load against the New Orleans Saints this week. Running back Travis Minor will likely spell Jackson on third downs with running back Brian Leonard possibly seeing a few touches as well. Speaking of Leonard, he struggled for the most part in the role of feature back, but the team is not disappointed in him at all. They know he's not the caliber of talent that Jackson is, and yet they have similar numbers. Leonard wasn't ready to be the guy just three games into his pro career, but that was exactly what was asked of him. One thing he could stand to improve on is to accelerate through the hole a bit quicker, but that is something that should come in time. There's no clear cut No. 2 fantasy option behind wide receiver Torry Holt in the Rams' passing game. Both wide receivers Isaac Bruce and Drew Bennett could take advantage of a suspect New Orleans secondary this week. Tight end Randy McMichael hasn't posted big numbers this season, but the team likes his blocking, and they realize that offensive numbers are down across the board. He has dropped some passes at times, but don't expect him to be one and done with St. Louis. Head coach Scott Linehan may well be coaching for his job over the final eight weeks of the season. The winless Rams face off against three teams sporting 2-6 records so there should be some potential wins on the schedule. Team president John Shaw has said nothing will be done during the season, but if the Rams stumble to the finish line then all bets are off during the offseason. Injuries may be the primary culprit to a 0-8 start for a team some thought could be a sleeper this season, but they have let at least two or three potential victories get away from them.
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