Plus, Chris Johnson vs. Jets, B.J. Raji and more Matt Bowen
Brett Favre has been sacked seven times already this season, and as our own Michael Lombardi pointed out this week, this stat has been somewhat swept under the rug by the Vikings’ 2-0 start. However, let’s look at who those seven sacks came against: a Cleveland defense that has some major issues and a Detroit defense that is still learning a new system under head coach Jim Schwartz.
APCan Favre stay off his back and lead the Vikings to a 3-0 start?
Tomorrow, Favre and the Vikings will face a much more talented San Francisco defense up front, and all they have to do is watch the tape from the Niners’ Week 1 win over Arizona on the road—because they got after Arizona QB Kurt Warner and basically eliminated the big play. They will bring pressure, and with the way cornerback Nate Clements is playing in the secondary, Favre will have to be able to step up in the pocket and make some plays down the field—where he isn’t afraid to challenge defensive backs.
In a game like this where both teams feature franchise running backs, the quarterback play is essential to winning the game in the fourth quarter. Expect both teams to resort to bringing an eighth defender down into the box to combat the running game. But what that does is allow for one-on-one matchups on the outside, where either Favre or Shaun Hill will have to make a play. Both have been delegated to “game managers” through the first two weeks of the season, but that won’t win tomorrow.
I was impressed with Colts rookie Donald Brown on Monday night in Indy’s fourth quarter win over the Dolphins. Compared with his Week 1 performance—when he looked rushed with the ball in his hands—he showed me more patience, and he runs the ball with a lot of power in his legs. Time to get him more involved in the game plan? I think so. This guy can play.
APChris Johnson was lethal in Week 2 against the Texans
Don’t jump off the Titans’ bandwagon just yet, because despite their 0-2 record, I still like this team heading into the Meadowlands to take on Mark Sanchez and Rex Ryan’s Jets defense. If I am the Titans, I go back and study the Pittsburgh tape because although Dick LeBeau’s scheme in Pittsburgh is predicated on a different type of pressure system when compared to Ryan’s, both the Steelers and the Jets play a similar front—and the blocking schemes for the Titans should be the same for the run game.
We all saw what Tennessee RB Chris Johnson can do against a defense that doesn’t tackle well, ripping off huge numbers last week against Houston. But to beat the Jets defense on the ground, Johnson will have to get to the edge of the defense and turn up field—something that was limited for him in Week 1 against the Steelers. If Tennessee can run the ball, I like them to get the upset win on the road.
The Bears will prepare the same for the Seahawks without QB Matt Hasselbeck in the lineup, but the west coast system in Seattle will suffer with backup QB Seneca Wallace under center. Although Wallace can offer more in terms of athletic ability in the pocket—and make some plays with his feet—this Seattle team will not move the ball effectively against a good Bears defense without Hasselbeck.
APRookie first-round pick B.J. Raji
The addition of B.J. Raji to the Packers’ game day roster will help a defense that was carved up by Bengals RB Cedric Benson last week at Lambeau. Raji is still listed as questionable on the injury report, but it is time for the 9th overall pick to get on the field and play what might be the most important position in Dom Capers’ 3-4 scheme—the nose.
Yes, the Packers are a better football team than the St. Louis Rams, but after last week’s performance, I expect Green Bay to see a heavy does of RB Steven Jackson until they show their ability to stop the running game. I fully understand that the Packers have issues along the offensive line right now, but their defense will keep them in games all season long if they can win the battle up front. Tomorrow, we might see if Raji can be part of the solution.
If you are Eric Mangini, how much longer do you stick with Brady Quinn at quarterback? The Browns are putting up woeful numbers on offense, and their lack of ability to produce big plays has Quinn working overtime to try and work the ball down the field with the short to intermediate passing game. Cleveland (0-2) travels to Baltimore, and I don’t expect this Browns offense to be able to move the ball on the ground, once again putting the ball in Quinn’s hands.
From my perspective, an 0-3 start is the worst place you can be in the National Football League, and if Cleveland struggles again on offense this week, it could be time to turn the keys to the offense over to QB Derek Anderson. Yes, he will throw interceptions, but he does give Cleveland more opportunities to score—and the deep ball will be back in play.
I’m not buying the Lions upset talk as they get ready to host Jim Zorn and the Washington Redskins tomorrow at Ford Field. Despite the talk around the league that the ‘Skins are a team is flux right now due to their lack of ability to score points on offense, I will still take Washington’s defense under coordinator Greg Blache over a rookie QB any day of the week.
Lost in the discussion about Zorn’s play calling is a defense that is keeping the ‘Skins alive for four quarters despite their offensive shortcomings. They are holding opponents to under 300 yards per game, and Lions rookie QB Matthew Stafford is sitting at a QB rating of 40.5 after two weeks—and has already thrown five picks. It might not be pretty, but Blache’s defense will get it done against the Lions.
APHow long until L.T. comes back?
Is it time to worry about LaDainian Tomlinson’s ankle injury in San Diego? He will miss his second straight game this Sunday when the Bolts host the Dolphins, and this Chargers team employs a different offense without him. Despite the fact that Darren Sproles in electric with the football in his hands, he isn’t the type of runner who can pile up carries and yards by running the football out of the I-formation downhill. That is L.T.’s job, and right now that leaves a big hole in the San Diego game plan.
Is anyone thinking Iowa upset tonight in Happy Valley? I have a good bet going with NFP Fantasy Expert Joe Fortenbaugh (tailgating supplies for Bear-Eagle on Nov 22nd) for this one, and I might be the only person outside of Iowa City who is counting on a Hawkeye winner tonight.
Who is with me?
Follow me on Twitter: MattBowen41
Dan I have to agree with the team plays as an extension of the coach. Not only does it seem that a good portion of our players are soft, with part of it just maybe being the people we draft, like Collins being missing atleast 3 plays a game it seems, and I do believe the coach doesn't have the drive to push them, along with that drive hes lacking discipline, we have had WAY too many penalties, we have a positive play pick up a first, and we get set back with a false start or holding. Hopefully MM prove us wrong and that we can be 3-1 going into the bye week, but we first and foremost need to have a great showing tommorow for me to believe in the coach, if not Packer fans are going to be in for a long season.
I'm anxious to see Raji out there, but he tweaked that ankle in practice yesterday, and McCarthy has been reluctant to activate him because he can't run. I hope he's able to go, because they could use him against Steven Jackson and especially against Adrian Peterson in 2 weeks. But I'm expecting he'll be inactive again.
Obviously Cleveland is going nowhere this year, so they might as well let Quinn play through the growing pains and try to add more weapons for him in the coming years. If he doens't show anything then they'll have to look at a QB (Sam Bradford?) in the draft. I doubt that Derek Anderson is considered the future at that position in Cleveland.
Last year's Titan's go 13-3 maybe once out of 25 seasons. They were closer to a 9-7 team. You have an aging game manager QB who had to be literally salvaged from the scrap heap before having a miraculous year, you've got no real upgrade at WR (rookie WR's rarely are ready to upgrade anything), and you have the loss of the NFL's most dominant DT coming off a career year. On a good day, that offense threatens to put a meth addled insomniac into a deep slumber (There is only so much Chris Johnson can do), and the defense has been downgraded. Outside the usual big media market suspects, there is no team more overhyped in the NFL this year.
The Jets will hammer them (I puked a little into my mouth writing that), and Tennessee will be picking Top 10 next year.
Donald Brown's destined to be a star, and outside of Austin Collie I can't imagine a professional temperament more complementary to Manning. But Joe Addai does some special things too (excellent pass protector, strong receiver, nose for the end zone). Do you see the Colts working out a long-term situation similar to what the Jags had with Fred Taylor and MJD or what the Ravens have now with McGahee and Rice? Or does the fact that the Colts aren't a run-first team leave too few carries to go around for the cost?
"In a game like this where both teams feature franchise running backs, the quarterback play is essential to winning the game in the fourth quarter. Expect both teams to resort to bringing an eighth defender down into the box to combat the running game."
This is where Michael Lewis is in his element and such a value. It is fitting that he played through to a second contract there where the coach personifies effort and results. He was great conversation in his Eagles days for fans of the sport, chatting from his own website during those times, once a week.
The player who took his roster spot on his former team has already been purged from another team past that? It's great to see a player appreciated for what he is to the team, instead of miscast on what he isn't. Singletary is the perfect kind of coach for someone whose motor and physicality more than makes him a presence as part of the team plan.
aight i agree that brady quinn & the browns offense stinks but lets look at the big picture. you got a qb with what 6 starts, a RB that's ineffective on a good day, a WR corps with an inconsistent #1, the best special teams player in the NFL being forced into WR duties which will burn him out ala dante hall and 2 rookie WR's. how about the fact aikman went 1-15, peyton sucked as a rookie, eli stunk it up when warner was benched and countless other qb's that werent very good as a young player. the talent isnt there and its being rebuilt (i hope).
i'm not a fan of mangini but give the guy a chance. the fantasy football really ruined the NFL fanbase as they expect results instantly & people dont look at the big picture. flacco, ryan and from the early looks of it sanchez all walked into good teams that had a bad year and then rebounded (roethlisberger also!).
seriously just give the players a chance to develop.
Let's get Forte going today on the ground Lovie...
Congrats on the Iowa win Matt.
Favre won't be able to make plays against the Niners secondary. I like the upset in the Twinkie Dome.
Raji? Time to grow a pair and get on the field son. That is what you are being paid to do.
Bye, bye Joe Pa!
Favre, made the plays...time to start giving him a little respect...how do all of you Packer fans feel about coming into the Dome next Monday?
Prior Lake Penny Pincher,
I'm very confident about the Packers chances Monday night. The Packers will be ready to play in that game; Mike McCarthy's teams have always played well against Minnesota. Favre will make some big plays but our DBs can make him pay big-time for any mistakes too. It all boils down to the Packers not letting Peterson dominate the game (easier said than done, I know), and our offensive line giving Rodgers time to throw. I expect it will be a very close and exciting game, like it usually is when these 2 teams get together.
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Sep 26, 2009
03:12 PM
Couldn't care less about college football.
Good call on Raji. He's claimed for weeks that he's been ready, but the coaches have been holding him out. With all the talk about accountability and "pulling scholarships" that's been going on in GB this week, though, it's time.
Gotta' say, I'm starting to wonder about Mike McCarthy. They say that teams take on the personality of their coaches (see "Mike, Samurai"). Well, McCarthy's teams have been pretty consistently soft. Talented, but without the determination to get it done in a tough spot. Is it because they practically never hit in training camps and practices? Because players are held out of practices and games for minor injuries? Because he brings them inside for practice if there's two clouds in the sky?
Or will they start a long winning streak this week and shut up the idiots like me? I hope so, but I'm just sayin'...