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**wayne1218** · 09-18-2004, 02:32 PM

Our scouts take a second look at this week's matchup between the Redskins and Giants.

As if the Giants don't have enough problems to deal with on defense
already, now injuries are starting to add up much like they did for this
unit a season ago. Starting FS Omar Stoutmire tore his ACL and has been
placed on the injured reserve list. Starting SLB Carlos Emmons missed the
first two practices of the week and is questionable with a groin strain.
If he can't go, the Giants will use a rotation of Wesly Mallard and rookie
Reggie Torbor, who has shown flashes as a situational edge rusher but is
very raw at linebacker after playing defensive end at Auburn. Finally,
dime cornerback Frank Walker will miss four-to-six weeks with a foot
injury, which thins out the Giants' depth in the secondary.

LewisThe Redskins are always going to be a run-first football team under
new head coach Joe Gibbs, but their dedication to the run could be taken
to an entirely new level on Sunday against the battered Giants' defense.
Giants MLB Keith Lewis shouldn't be a starter in the NFL but the Giants
were left no choice after Mike Barrow was not re-signed and Nick Greisen,
supposedly Barrow's replacement, struggled through an injury-plagued
preseason.
Not only does Lewis lack good instincts and recognition skills in
coverage, but he also is a finesse linebacker who lacks great size and
runs around too many blocks. Barrett Green is a terrific athlete at WLB,
but he's also undersized and is a target to run at. If Emmons is unable to
play on top of it all, the Giants will be small, inexperienced and
overmatched in the running game, which spells trouble against RB Clinton
Portis.
The one mismatch that the Giants' defense has in its favor is ROT Kenyatta
Jones versus LDE Michael Strahan. Jones, who took over as a starter
following Jon Jansen's injury, has good size and can be a powerful run
blocker when he locks on, but getting in position will be the difficult
part, as he lacks the athleticism and feet to keep up with Strahan.
While this is certainly a plus for the Giants, it might not play as big of
a role in the game's outcome as some may think. Redskins LOT Chris Samuels
will handle RDE Keith Washington with little trouble, as is the case for
ROG Randy Thomas against LDT Norman Hand. LOG Derrick Dockery could need
occasional help against RDT Fred Robbins, but not all the time -- even
when he does, the Redskins can account for Strahan with their H-back or
tight end. The point is that on every play the Redskins can -- and more
than likely will -- give Strahan double-team attention, which should help
to significantly diminish his impact.

ColesEvery defensive coordinator who game plans for the Redskins must pay
attention to Laveranues Coles' speed. When we watch how quickly he can get
over the top of defenders as a route runner and explode upfield after the
catch on quick-slant routes, it's easy to understand why opposing
coordinators are timid to over-extend their safeties in run support.
While Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis would like to make Shaun
Williams a permanent fixture in "the box" in order to help his undersized
front seven against Portis, it's not as easy as it sounds. By doing so,
he'd have to roll new starting FS Brent Alexander to Coles' side, which
means he not only opens up room in the middle of the field for the
Redskins to attack with their tight ends and H-backs, but he also leaves
William Peterson all alone in a lot of pasture against Rod Gardner, who
doesn't have the speed to run past Peterson but does have the size,
route-running skills and hands to capitalize in the short-to-intermediate
zones.
Despite Lewis using a lot of pre-snap shifts, exotic alignments and more
blitzes last week, the Giants continued to struggle to generate a
consistent enough pass rush. This week, if the front four is still unable
to get to QB Mark Brunell, it will lead to a lot of the same problems that
it created last week when Donovan McNabb threw for 330 yards and four
touchdowns.
The Redskins won't be as liberal throwing the ball as the Eagles were and
they don't have Terrell Owens, but Coles is a huge weapon in his own right
and the Redskins also have a variety of weapons in WRs Gardner and James
Thrash, Portis and TE Chris Cooley. CBs Allen and Peterson have been
inconsistent since coming back from injury-plagued 2003 seasons and the
depth in the secondary is not good following injuries to Stoutmire and
Walker.
The Giants will stick with Kurt Warner as their starter and, in all
reality, they should. While Warner is obviously only a stop-gap solution
while Eli Manning gets his bearings, the Giants as an organization are
better off letting Warner take the punishment that is being dished out
behind an offensive line that underwent yet another facelift in the
offseason.
Furthermore, Warner played well enough last week to keep the starting job.
He finished 16-for-28 passing for 203 yards. He was sacked four times and
didn't throw a touchdown, but he also avoided throwing an interception.
After breaking down the film of last week's loss, Warner's receivers are
the ones who failed the offense with dropped passes. If his receivers just
catch the passes they should this week, the Giants' offense will be much
more effective.

ShockeySpeaking of dropped passes, Giants TE Jeremy Shockey dropped two of
his own last week and really played one of the poorer games of his short
career. He didn't set a tone for the offense as a blocker like he has done
for this unit in the past, and instead of coming up with big plays in
clutch situations to help move the chains, Shockey disappeared in critical
spots and, as mentioned, dropped two very "catchable" passes.
The Redskins play an aggressive, blitzing style of defense under Gregg
Williams and they'll only turn up the heat against Warner, who has become
notorious for holding onto the ball too long and taking too many hits.
With that in mind, Warner needs Shockey to be on the same page with him on
"hot reads" and to help take a lot of the pressure off by working those
underneath zones that are vacated by the blitzing linebackers. If Shockey
can bounce back with a strong performance on Sunday he could make a huge
difference in the way Williams has to defend against the Giants.
The Giants will continue to use the one-two punch of Tiki Barber and Ron
Dayne in the backfield. Barber is obviously the starter and will be in on
a good majority of the Giants' offensive plays, but he will get spelled
more often than a season ago -- particularly on short-yardage and
goal-line situations where coach Tom Coughlin is extremely comfortable
with Dayne.
While the strategy makes sense because Dayne is such a bigger back and
Barber needs to rest to hold up late in games and late into the season, we
still don't think Dayne is effective enough to be on the field -- even in
those short-yardage situations. Yes, Dayne is a big back, but he doesn't
run like a big back. He lacks burst to the line of scrimmage, he doesn't
do a good job of finding and hitting cutback lanes, he doesn't run with
authority, and he fails to push the pile or run over enough defenders to
be considered a good short-yardage specialist.
Redskins MLB Mike Barrow did not play in the opener because of tendinitis
in his left knee, but he practiced on Thursday and is likely to return.
The team was, however, pleasantly surprised by the play of Antonio Pierce,
who was active versus the run and also had an interception in the win over
Tampa Bay.

PierceEven if Barrow returns on Sunday, look for the Redskins to continue
to get Pierce involved. He is more athletic than Barrow and, despite his
lack of game experience; he is an intelligent and instinctive player who
does a good job of getting around blocks and making plays. He could see
time in certain sub-packages on possible passing downs to upgrade the
athleticism at the position and to give Barrow a breather. If nothing
else, he gives the Redskins better depth than they thought at the
position.
The Redskin defense held the Bucs to 30 yards rushing last week. While
fans shouldn't get used to that type of dominance on a weekly basis, it
wasn't a fluke that this unit was so tough to run against. For starters,
because Williams is so aggressive with the blitz and eight-man fronts, it
dares opposing quarterbacks to check to a passing play at the line of
scrimmage. And, when they do stick with the run, the aggressive scheme
makes it very difficult for backs to find running lanes. Furthermore,
while the front four isn't much improved in terms of rushing the passer,
it is a lot stouter against the run than it was a season ago. DE Renaldo
Wynn has always been tough against the run, and the additions of DT
Cornelius Griffin and DE Phillip Daniels have also greatly improved this
unit in that area.
On the downside, the Redskins still don't have the athletic ability and
speed up front that they need to improve their front-four pass rush. As a
result, Williams plans to overcompensate with the blitz. It's a risky
approach that will cause the unit to give up several big plays throughout
the season, but it should be extremely effective against the Giants this
week, especially when loading up on the right side of their offensive line
against rookie OG Snee and David Diehl, who will be playing in just his
second pro game at ROT after playing ROG last season. If last week's film
was any indication, OLBs LaVar Arrington and Marcus Washington and SS Matt
Bowen will be the primary suspects on the blitz.
Quick note: The Redskins fumbled two center-quarterback exchanges last
week, so that certainly will be something to monitor between OC Lennie
Friedman and Brunell.

Special Teams

The Redskins have an advantage in almost every facet of the special teams'
breakdown. PK John Hall is a proven clutch performer with a strong leg. He
did miss from 50 yards out last week be he had the distance on that kick
and nailed his other three attempts. Steve Christie was a late pickup by
the Giants that could work out to be a good move for the team. Christie is
an accurate veteran with concerns about his leg strength, but he silenced
a lot of critics by nailing a 53-yard attempt last week. All things
considered, however, Hall has the edge over Christie.
At punter, the advantage also goes to the Redskins, as Tom Tupa continues
to defy his age. The 38-year-old not only averaged 49.6 yards on seven
punts last week, but he landed two of those attempts inside the Buccaneer
20-yard line. Jeff Feagles is adequate for the Giants, but he's not Tupa.
Finally, Chad Morton also gives the Redskins the edge in the return game
over the Giants, who are stuck with an inconsistent Willie Ponder
returning kickoffs and a rookie in Mark Jones returning punts.

Matchups

Washington ROT Kenyatta Jones vs. N.Y. Giants LDE Michael Strahan

Washington WR Laveranues Coles vs. N.Y. Giants LDC Will Allen

Washington RB Clinton Portis vs. N.Y. Giants MLB Keith Lewis

N.Y. Giants TE Jeremy Shockey vs. Washington DSs Matt Bowen and Sean
Taylor

N.Y. Giants ROG Chris Snee vs. Washington LDT Cornelius Griffin

Prediction: Redskins 23, Giants 17

**wayne1218** · 09-18-2004, 02:34 PM

Our scouts take a second look at this week's matchup between the Broncos and Jaguars

The fact that Denver RB Quentin Griffin is shorter than most backs
actually helps him because the Broncos' running game is predicated on zone
blocking principals. Denver's system puts a higher premium on the
offensive linemen sustaining their blocks than it does on offensive
linemen driving defenders off the ball. The reason is staying engaged with
defenders allows the back to read his blocks and explode through any hole
that opens.
Griffin excels at hiding behind his offensive linemen, reading the play
and getting through the hole quickly, which will make it difficult for
Jacksonville to find him at times. The Jaguars have not given up a
100-yard rusher since the 20003 season opener, but Griffin should put that
streak in jeopardy.

PlummerJacksonville doesn't have a dominant pass rusher along the
defensive line and it will have to blitz at times. Most defenses will want
to attack a quarterback's blind side so he doesn't see the pressure coming
in time to release the ball. However, defensive coordinator Mike Smith
should attack the right side of the protection or QB Jake Plummer's
non-blindside early and often. The Broncos like to run play-action to the
left side of the field and then roll Plummer out to the right. With the
play fake causing Plummer to hesitate, a blitzing linebacker, corner or
safety should be in his face by the time he wheels around.
The Jaguars' DBs must play with great discipline and keep Denver's
receiver in front of them. Jacksonville must also make sure to wrap the
Broncos' receivers up immediately after the catch. There is no question
that Plummer can create big plays with his feet as well as his arm, but he
is inconsistent. Taking away the vertical passing game and limiting
receivers' production after the catch forces him to complete a high
percentage of his passes.
There is some speculation that Jaguars QB Byron Leftwich's right thumb
injury is affecting his release and the velocity he is getting on his
passes. Leftwich could have some problems throwing downfield and into
tight spaces as a result. If Denver notices Leftwich throwing primarily
underneath, expect the Broncos' corners to be very aggressive and start
jumping short-to-intermediate routes.
Any receiver who is matched up against Broncos CB Champ Bailey must keep
working until he hears the whistle. Bailey does an excellent job of
reading opposing quarterbacks' eyes and will come off his man to make a
play on the ball when it's thrown in his area given the opportunity. If
the receiver he's covering keeps moving, even if it's back toward
Leftwich, Bailey will have a harder time breaking the coverage off in time
to get to the ball.

LynchDon't expect Denver SS John Lynch so be any less aggressive after the
league fined him for what it deemed an illegal hit last week against
Kansas City. Lynch is appealing the fine and is confident that the hit was
legal. In addition, he has been one of the league's hardest hitters for
several years and the 12-year veteran isn't going to change his style of
play at this point of his career.
WLB D.J. Williams and WR Darius Watts are two Bronco rookies who could
affect the outcome. Williams has the range to prevent Jacksonville RB Fred
Taylor from turning the corner and has the speed to run with Taylor in
coverage. Watts should also play a big role. While Watts has dropped some
passes that he should have caught, he possesses rare speed and Plummer
should look for him when he throws downfield. Both need to step up in this
game.
Nickel back Lenny Walls could miss up to four weeks with a shoulder
injury. While Walls' replacement, Roc Alexander, has excellent speed, he
is a rookie who signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent and is
raw. No. 3 WR Troy Edwards should have some success getting open
underneath working against Alexander and the Jaguars look for him whenever
possible.
While Denver's Trevor Pryce is expected to move back to end with DT Luther
Elliss likely returning from a pectoral injury, he will still slide inside
and play some tackle on obvious passing downs. Pryce doesn't have great
speed coming off the edge but he explodes off the ball and his initial
quickness could cause some problems for Jacksonville's interior offensive
line.
With the Jaguars' talent at defensive tackle, Griffin should have his most
success attacking the perimeter of Jacksonville's run defense. Broncos WR
Rod Smith plays with a mean streak and never stops working as a blocker.
Don't be surprised to see Griffin break some of his longest runs when
running to Smith's side of the field.

Special Teams

Denver P Micah Knorr handles the Broncos' kickoffs and he recorded six
touchbacks against Kansas City last week. Knorr also averaged 56.5 yards a
punt. While the wind played a role in some of Knorr's kicks, he clearly
has a strong leg and will make it difficult for Jaguars RS Jermaine Lewis
to get anything going in this game.
It's so far so good with Jacksonville PK Josh Scobee, as he connected on
both of field goal attempts last week. However, Denver still has the edge
at place-kicker. Jason Elam is a three-time Pro Bowler and a seasoned
veteran who has proved he can be clutch in critical situations.

Matchups

Denver RB Quentin Griffin vs. Jacksonville MLB Mike Peterson

Jacksonville QB Byron Leftwich vs. Denver CB Champ Bailey

Denver ROG Dan Neil vs. Jacksonville LDT Marcus Stroud

Jacksonville OC Brad Meester vs. Denver MLB Al Wilson

Denver No. 3 WR Darius Watts vs. Jacksonville nickel back Juran Bolden

Prediction: Broncos 24, Jaguars 17

**wayne1218** · 09-18-2004, 02:36 PM

Our scouts take a second look at this week's matchup between the Steelers and Ravens.

It appears that Baltimore only used about 20 percent of its play book in
its loss to Cleveland last week. With QB Kyle Boller struggling, the
Ravens are running primarily one-read passing plays like slants. If
Boller's first option isn't there, he is either throwing the ball away or
scrambling. Although this approach simplifies Boller's reads, it must be
frustrating for head coach Brian Billick and senior consultant Jim Fassel,
who has worked with Boller extensively. Both Billick and Fassel are
well-known for their creative offensive minds.
Boller is locking onto his receivers, and Pittsburgh's secondary will look
to take advantage by reading his eyes. Steelers FS Chris Hope is somewhat
raw, but he has excellent range and is capable of making some big plays if
Boller doesn't look him off.
Boller's inability to lead the Ravens on long scoring drives has put that
much more pressure on the defense and special teams. Baltimore must win
the battle of field position and give Boller a short field to work with or
the Ravens will continue to have problems putting points on the board this
week.

MaddoxLast week Pittsburgh lined up in the shotgun formation and kept two
backs in to block at times. The Steelers should continue to use this set
on obvious passing downs, as it plays to the strengths of QB Tommy Maddox.
Maddox doesn't have great arm strength or mobility, but he reads defenses
well and is extremely accurate. Operating out of the shotgun gives him a
better view of Baltimore's defense, and keeping two backs in to help out
in pass protection should insure he gets enough time to find the open man.

Baltimore LOT Jonathan Ogden remains questionable for this game because of
a knee injury, and his backup, Ethan Brooks, is expected to miss up to
four weeks with a knee injury of his own. The Ravens don't want to start
off the season with consecutive losses within the division, so expect
Ogden to play if it's at all possible. If he's unable to play, Damion Cook
will likely replace him and there would be a significant drop-off in
talent.
Pittsburgh frequently bit on play-action, pump fakes, draws and screens
last week. While the Baltimore will use all four to keep the Steelers off
balance, the Ravens should focus on running screens early on. Completing
some passes to his backs in the flat could help Boller get into a rhythm
and boost his confidence.
WR Travis Taylor is expected to miss the next four games with a groin
injury and Randy Hymes will replace him in the starting lineup. Without
Taylor, Baltimore is extremely thin at receiver, and nickel back Deion
Sanders could see some time on offense. Ravens fans shouldn't get too
excited, though. It remains to be seen how effective the 37-year-old
Sanders can be in this role.

Randle ElSanders will be working against No. 3 WR Antwaan Randle El when
he lines up on defense. If playing offense wears him down, the explosive
Randle El could make some big plays this week.
Don't be surprised if Pittsburgh doesn't go to its nickel package when
Baltimore spreads the field with three- and four-receiver sets, even if
Sanders plays some receiver. The Ravens don't have great depth in their
receiving corps when Taylor is healthy. As a result, the Steelers
shouldn't have to weaken the run defense by replacing a linebacker with a
corner. If Pittsburgh gives up a few big plays, then it should start using
its nickel personnel more often.
Keep an eye on the matchup between Steelers FB Dan Kreider and Baltimore
RILB Ray Lewis. Few people question that Lewis is the best player at his
position, but Kreider is a powerful lead blocker who fears no one and has
had some success working against Lewis in the past. If Kreider can
consistently get into position working against Lewis, Pittsburgh should
have success picking up the tough yards in short-yardage and goal-line
situations.
Expect the Steelers to take some chances downfield early. With Sanders
signing with the team late and CB Chris McAlister holding out during the
preseason, the Ravens' secondary hasn't had a lot of time to play
together. There were some breakdowns in communication last week that
resulted in Baltimore giving up some big plays. If Pittsburgh can stretch
the field early, that should open up the running game for RBs Duce Staley
and Jerome Bettis.

Special Teams

Most fans will want to see if PR Sanders still has the big-play ability he
showed earlier in his career. However, he shouldn't be the most dangerous
return man in this game. Steelers RS Randle-El is extremely elusive in the
open field and should be able to take advantage of any mistakes
Baltimore's cover units make this week.
Pittsburgh PK Jeff Reed connected on a game-wining, 42-yard field goal
with just seven seconds left in last week's game and it should help his
confidence, but he is inconsistent. The Ravens still have the edge at
place-kicker, as Matt Stover is more accurate and also connected on a
42-yard field goal attempt last week.

Matchups

Pittsburgh No. 3 WR Antwaan Randle El vs. Baltimore nickel back Deion
Sanders

Baltimore TE Todd Heap vs. Pittsburgh SS Troy Polamalu

Pittsburgh FB Dan Kreider vs. Baltimore RILB Ray Lewis

Baltimore OC Casey Rabach vs. Pittsburgh NT Casey Hampton

Baltimore WR Kevin Johnson vs. Pittsburgh DC Chad Scott

Prediction: Steelers 24, Ravens 14

**wayne1218** · 09-18-2004, 02:37 PM

Our scouts take a second look at this week's matchup between the Rams and Falcons.

GarzaThe left side of the Falcons' offensive line is a mess, as LOG
Michael Moore tore his rotator cuff and LOT Kevin Shaffer sprained his
knee last week. It appears Shaffer will be ready to play, but he will be
less than 100 percent. Moore, on the other hand, has been lost for the
year and will be replaced by Roberto Garza.
The Falcons will need Garza to pick up where Moore left off, as they'll
need to have success running the ball in order to control the clock and
keep the Rams' potentially explosive offense off the field. In addition,
the front five will have to keep an eye out for blitzes from the Rams'
back seven, particularly SS Adam Archuleta, who will be used occasionally
as an edge rusher to get pressure on Michael Vick, as well as a "spy" on
Vick from time-to-time.
Vick wasn't exactly outstanding in his first performance as a West-Coast
quarterback and will need to improve if Atlanta is to contend. However,
it's important to note he only took a handful of snaps through the
preseason and will need some time to adjust to the offense at full game
speed.

CrumplerIt will be interesting to see how the Rams defend TE Alge
Crumpler. Because Crumpler is such a good athlete and weapon in the
passing game, it really puts a lot of strain on the cover-2 scheme. His
ability to get downfield quicker than most tight ends will force the Rams'
safeties to honor him, which in turn will prevent SS Archuleta and FS
Aeneas Williams from cheating toward the sideline to better position
themselves to cover a vertical route on the perimeter.
In order to prevent Crumpler from wreaking havoc against their cover-2,
the Rams could play more cover-3 or man-under coverage, with Archuleta
cheated up within five yards of the line of scrimmage to lock on Crumpler
one-on-one. Their other option is to match SLB Pisa Tinoisamoa against
Crumpler. Originally it looked as if Tinoisamoa would miss Sunday's game
because of a dislocated shoulder suffered last week, but he practiced all
week and is listed as probable.
With two athletes that match up well against Crumpler, the Rams have a lot
more options than most opponents. The key, however, will be to find ways
to get Archuleta or Tinoisamoa matched up on Crumpler without having to
adjust their typical defensive scheme too much.

TinoisamoaThe other area Tinoisamoa will be a great help in is defending
against Vick's running ability. Without Tinoisamoa, the Rams would not be
nearly as athletic. While few defenses have been able to completely bottle
up a healthy Vick, the Rams' defense is in as good shape as any unit
because of its overall speed and scheme. With so much speed, particularly
at linebacker and defensive end, Vick won't be able to run away from the
Rams as easily as he does other defenses.
Secondly, the cover-2 zone is the best scheme possible to defend against
an athletic quarterback, because it allows its linebackers and defensive
backs to face the quarterback in zone coverage rather than turning their
backs on to the quarterback when running downfield with receivers in
man-to-man coverage.
DE Leonard Little is as dangerous as they come as an undersized edge
rusher and perimeter penetrating run defender. When the Falcons drop back
to pass, they have a couple of options in how they may go about blocking
him. The first involves "chipping" him with a tight end or back and is a
good compromise between protection and route design, as it will help to
keep Little off-balance without having to keep a potential receiver in to
block.
Another option would be to keep a tight end to his side and eliminate the
short-corner, but that would keep Crumpler from getting involved
downfield, which isn't much of an option for Atlanta. A third option
involves sliding the entire protection to the left-side in an attempt to
give ROT Todd Weiner a better angle to handle Little's speed. Look for the
Falcons to utilize all three of these techniques, but for a West Coast
offense, the best protection against an edge-rusher like Little is a
three-step drop and a quick release.

BulgerThe Rams' offense amassed 448 yards last week, but a number of
costly mistakes in the red zone limited them to just 17 points. QB Marc
Bulger threw an interception and twice missed open receivers as a result
of pressure. This week, Bulger will have to be more efficient when his
team gets into scoring position, as the Rams cannot afford to throw away
opportunities on the road. In turn, look for St. Louis to incorporate more
two-tight end sets in the red zone, as Brandon Manumaleuna and Cam
Cleeland are safe and reliable options.
The secondary is one of the Falcons' biggest question marks after losing
first-round choice DeAngelo Hall for approximately five weeks with a hip
injury. Jason Webster and Kevin Mathis will start at CB, and Bryan Scott
and Cory Hall are the safeties. Webster has speed but is too small to be a
shut-down corner, and Mathis, who also lacks size and has just decent
speed, is nothing more than a sub-package corner who has been forced into
the starting spot.

Webster
MathisWithout a top-shelf cover guy in this group, the Falcons lack the
ability to stay with the Rams' receivers downfield. As a result, expect
Atlanta to be even more aggressive in an attempt to disrupt St. Louis'
timing. Webster and Mathis will have to be physical against WRs Torry Holt
and Isaac Bruce if the front-seven is to have time to get to Bulger. The
Falcons also will need to play their safeties in a conservative, two-deep
role to protect against the big play in case Holt and Bruce beat the press
at the line.
If they're successful, the Falcons could force a couple of costly
mistakes. Bulger has struggled against pressure in the past and has been
known to get careless with the football. If Bulger makes quick hot reads
and is on the same page with his receivers, however, it could be a long
afternoon for the Falcons' defense.
The other thing to look for in the passing game is the Rams' use of
multi-receiver sets. Getting Holt, Bruce, Shaun McDonald and Dane Looker
all on the field at the same time should be a priority against the
Falcons' secondary. It not only presents potential mismatches against FS
Cory Hall and nickel CB Aaron Beasley, but it also will help to provide
Holt and Bruce with more one-on-one matchups or more room to operate
against zone coverage.

FaulkMarshall Faulk is the starter, but with the emergence of rookie
Steven Jackson, the Rams suddenly have an enviable one-two punch at
running back. With two sets of fresh legs in the backfield, St. Louis will
test a Falcons' run defense that was susceptible to big plays last season
and during this preseason. Look for the Rams to attack the perimeter with
Faulk's speed, then counter with Jackson's power between the tackles.
Both players are excellent receivers as well, so look for the Rams to get
Faulk and Jackson heavily involved in the passing game in order to get the
ball in their hands in space. Expect coach Mike Martz to get Faulk and
Jackson on routes to the side opposite of WLB Keith Brooking, creating a
more favorable matchup against MLB Chris Draft.

Special Teams
Neither team has a huge advantage on special teams, but if we had to give
an overall edge it would go to the Rams. The Falcons have a slight edge in
the punting game with Chris Mohr, but while Rams' P Sean Landeta lacks leg
strength at 42 years old, he's still extremely reliable and accurate.
These teams essentially cancel one another out in the return game, as
well. The Falcons were hoping to get more out of the punt return
department with Hall, but that will have to wait because of his injury.
Allen Rossum is reliable both as the kickoff and punt return specialist
for the Falcons. The Rams aren't overly proven with Stephen Jackson and
Arlen Harris returning kickoffs and Shaun McDonald returning punts, but
they do have good potential in both areas.
However, the biggest difference between these units is at placekicker,
where Jeff Wilkins completely out-classes Jay Feely. Feely struggled badly
inside the Georgia Dome last season and, as a result, could be on a short
leash in 2004. Wilkins, on the other hand, continued to perform up to
elite standards in the opener, connecting on all three of his field goal
attempts (50, 28, 22) in the Rams' 17-10 win over the Cardinals. He is a
proven kicker in the clutch with great overall accuracy and range.

Matchups

St. Louis WR Isaac Bruce vs. Atlanta LDC Kevin Mathis

St. Louis ROT Grant Wistrom vs. Atlanta LDE Patrick Kerney

St. Louis RB Marshall Faulk vs. Atlanta WLB Keith Brooking

Atlanta TE Alge Crumpler vs. St. Louis SS Adam Archuleta

Atlanta ROT Todd Weiner vs. St. Louis LDE Leonard Little

Prediction: Rams 26, Falcons 24

**wayne1218** · 09-18-2004, 02:38 PM

Our scouts take a second look at this week's matchup between the Texans and Lions.

Although Houston is an expansion team unlike Detroit, these two franchises
seem to mirror each other at this point. The most glaring similarities
come on offense. Texans QB David Carr and Lions QB Joey Harrington were
both selected in the 2002 draft. Houston WR Andre Johnson and Detroit WR
Roy Williams are both explosive big-play threats. Both teams have young
backs with loads of potential, as the Texans have Domanick Davis and the
Lions have Kevin Jones. With similar levels of talent, the team that can
get its younger players to execute its game plan most efficiently should
walk away with the victory.

ColemanThe Texans moved Marcus Coleman from corner to safety during the
offseason, but it looks as though he'll need some time to adjust to his
new position. Houston gave up a couple of big plays in the passing game
when Coleman was caught out of position last week. While he is the team's
best athlete and should be a natural playing deep, this pass defense will
be vulnerable until he gets comfortable.
The Lions are concerned about the health of their secondary. CB Dre' Bly
likely won't play because of a knee injury. FS Brock Marion (knee), CB
Fernando Bryant (concussion), and CB Andre' Goodman (thigh) are listed as
probable, but they will be hampered. As a result, expect the Texans to
spread the field with three- and four-receiver sets in an effort to take
advantage of Detroit's lack of depth in the secondary.
With OLB Boss Bailey out with an injury, expect the Texans to attack the
perimeter of the Lions' defense. Bailey's replacement, Donte' Curry, lacks
great range and has some problems defending sweeps as well as
stretch-plays that get RB Domanick Davis to the corner.

PinnerDetroit head coach Steve Mariucci will get backup RBs Artose Pinner
and Shawn Bryson more carries this week in an effort to lighten the load
for Jones. Jones is the most talented of Detroit's runners but his
inexperience is a concern, as he looked hesitant in the season opener.
The Texans were atrocious on third downs last week, allowing the Chargers
to convert 60 percent of the time. If that mark is to improve, Houston's
pass rush must have more success getting to the quarterback. The defensive
line has struggled, but rookie OLB Jason Babin gives defensive coordinator
Vic Fangio an explosive option as a blitzer off the edge. Expect a more
aggressive philosophy from Fangio this week, as Houston can't afford to
let Detroit sustain a number of long drives.
Babin was credited with nine tackles and four quarterback pressures
against the Chargers. He is a hybrid 3-4 linebacker with a huge upside as
a pass rusher. However, his up-field style of play makes him susceptible
to screens and draws, which could become a factor considering the
explosiveness of Jones.
Look for the Lions to run more screens and dump-off passes this week.
Mariucci may try to replace the big plays Detroit lost when WR Charles
Rogers sustained a season-ending injury by getting Jones out in space.
One of the reasons teams are having a hard time mounting a productive pass
rush working against the Lions has been the play of Harrington. Although
Harrington is not a threat to run, he is mobile in the sense that he
understands the pass rush and can avoid it. Over his first 1,000 attempts,
Harrington has been sacked just 18 times.
A player to keep an eye on for the Texans is second-year OLB Antwan Peek.
He is perhaps the most athletic of Houston's linebackers and is developing
into a nice situational pass rusher for this defense.
Carr needs to make better decisions if the Texans are to compete this
year. Last week he tossed two interceptions against the Chargers. The
picks negated an otherwise solid offensive day for Houston. If he can play
more efficiently and avoid turning the ball over, this offense will be
tough to stop.

StreetsWR Tai Streets will need to step up now that Charles Rogers has
been placed on injured reserve with a broken collarbone. Streets isn't as
explosive as Rogers, but he does have experience working in Mariucci's
system and should develop a rapport with Harrington rather quickly as a
result.

Special Teams

The Texans won the battle for field position last week by outplaying the
Chargers on special teams. PT Chad Stanley and RS J.J. Moses had strong
games and helped give the Texans an average of a nine-yard drive start
advantage over San Diego.
PK Kris Brown suffered a concussion against the Chargers and may not be
ready for Sunday's game. Brown will be monitored through the week but at
this point his status remains uncertain.

Matchups

Detroit WR Roy Williams vs. Houston CB Dunta Robinson

Detroit OC Dominic Raiola vs. Houston NT Seth Payne

Houston WR Andre Johnson vs. Detroit CB Andre' Goodman

Detroit FB Cory Schlesinger vs. Houston ILB Jamie Sharper

Houston RB Domanick Davis vs. Detroit OLB Donte' Curry

Prediction: Texans 27, Lions 21

**wayne1218** · 09-18-2004, 02:39 PM

Our scouts take a second look at this week's matchup between the Bears and Packers.

RB Thomas Jones had just 67 yards rushing on 21 carries in the Bears'
season-opening loss to the Lions, but from the looks of it on film he will
continue to improve as the season progresses as his offensive line jells
in front of him. Jones is the right fit in this offense, and he could
become a versatile weapon. But Jones could be limited this week, mostly
because of MLB Nick Barnett's presence. Barnett has quickly developed into
one of the NFL's elite middle linebackers. He is big, strong and
instinctive against the inside run, and he's also quick and active against
the outside run. His ability to track Jones down from sideline-to-sideline
will limit Jones' home-run potential. Furthermore, Barnett has become a
force in the passing game -- not only in coverage but also on the blitz.
When he's not hurrying Bears' QB Rex Grossman, he'll likely be limiting
Jones' production as a receiver out of the backfield.
If there's one thing the Packers have to be concerned about in their front
seven, it's the absence of NT Grady Jackson. Jackson is a load in the
middle, and he did a fine job of protecting Bennett. James Lee has done a
good job as a "wave" player in the past, but the Packers won't get the
same presence in the middle with Lee at the nose tackle position that they
had with Jackson. Depth will also be an issue, as the unit can no longer
rotate as many big bodies in and out at the NT and DT positions. While
Jackson is known more for his run-stopping ability, the Packers were
counting on Jackson to provide more pass-rushing production this season in
a 35-play per game role. With Jackson out, the Packers' interior pass rush
will suffer.
It will be interesting to see how much the Packers use newly signed pass
rushing specialist R-Kal Truluck and CB Mike McKenzie, who finally ended
his holdout this week. From everything we've been told, but will play but
in limited roles. For starters, McKenzie's presence would be a huge
addition to the Packer secondary, even if he's used only in sub-package
situations on obvious passing downs. McKenzie is reportedly in shape and
his size and ability to muscle receivers at the line of scrimmage could
give the Packer pass rush extra time to get to Grossman. McKenzie also
matches up well against WR David Terrell because he has the strength to
impede Terrell's release. As far as Truluck is concerned, he is a terrific
athlete for his size and he shows a lot of upside as a pass rusher. But he
couldn't make it in Kansas City because he didn't show improvement against
the run. As a situational pass rusher opposite Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila,
Truluck could make an impact because he'll often be working against right
tackles one-on-one; he has the speed to take advantage of those
mismatches. Don't be surprised to see Truluck on about 10 plays, working
against ROT John Tait.
Terrell's breakout performance with 125 yards on five receptions was a
huge boost for the Bears' offense, it gives them a lot of confidence for
the future. But don't expect similar results on Sunday. For starters, the
Packers' cornerbacks are a lot more physical than the Lions', and they'll
be able to frustrate Terrell at the line of scrimmage more this week.
Secondly, after watching his breakout performance on film during the week,
the Packers will be much more prepared to defend him and likely will play
some "bracket" coverage with CBs Al Harris, Michael Hawthorne and possibly
McKenzie pressing him at the line and funneling him inside, where they
will have support from one of their safeties -- either FS Darren Sharper
or SS Mark Roman.
Few teams in the NFL are as balanced offensively as the Packers. The
Packers are using a great mixture of two-tight end, two-receiver, one-back
sets; three tight end, one-receiver, one-back sets; and three-receiver,
one-tight end and one-back sets. Against the Panthers' vaunted defensive
front they used a lot of three-tight end sets with OT Kevin Barry as one
of the tight ends. The idea was to give them better blocking matchups in
the running game as well as in pass protection. Look for the Packers to
use a lot more three-receiver sets this week against the Bears for a
couple of reasons. First, they match up a lot better in pass protection
and should be able to handle the Bears' front-four pass rush without
having to keep extra blockers in -- thanks largely to ROT Mark Tauscher's
potential to handle Adewale Ogunleye on his own. Second, the Packers
simply are much deeper and talented at wide receiver than the Bears are at
cornerback. The Bears are so thin at cornerback after the loss of Jerry
Azumah that they've been forced to use SS Mike Brown as a nickel
cornerback. With three gifted receivers in Donald Driver, Robert Ferguson
and Javon Walker, the Packers are certain to try to create some mismatches
with one of their receivers against Green in the slot.
Bears' MLB Brian Urlacher could be in for a rough afternoon against the
Packers. Because the Packers' offensive line matches up so well across the
board against the Bears' defensive front-four, it will typically allow OC
Mike Flanagan a free release in pursuit of Urlacher in the running game.
Flanagan has developed into one of the better second-level blockers in the
NFL at the center position and, as we all know, if Urlacher has a weakness
it is his inability to take on blocks. By running at him with a lot of
counters, traps and isolations, the Packers could really neutralize his
range and limit his tackling production.

Special Teams

As is the case on offense and defense, the Packers have the edge on
special teams. The Bears miss Azumah on defense but not as much as they do
in the return game. Without him, the team has used R.W. McQuarters on punt
returns and Daryl Jones and McQuarters on kickoff returns. Neither was
impressive last week. Making matters worse, the Bears had a field goal
blocked in last week's loss to Detroit.
The Packers aren't great on special teams, but they certainly have a more
veteran and consistent group. Bryan Barker only averaged 31.4 yards on
five punts last week, but he landed two of those punts inside the Carolina
20-yard line. He doesn't have a great leg, but he's reliable, accurate and
consistent. The Packers also have an advantage in terms of experience and
consistency at place kicker with Ryan Longwell, who hit on his only
attempt last week of 41 yards.

Matchups

Chicago RB Thomas Jones vs. Green Bay MLB Nick Barnett.

Chicago LOT Qasim Mitchell vs. Green Bay RDE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.

Chicago WR David Terrell vs. Green Bay RDC Al Harris.

Green Bay RB Ahman Green vs. Chicago MLB Brian Urlacher.

Green Bay ROT Mark Tauscher vs. Chicago LDE Adewale Ogunleye.

Prediction: Packers 26, Bears 13

**wayne1218** · 09-18-2004, 02:40 PM

Our scouts take a second look at this week's matchup between the Colts and Titans.

The Titans know they're going to have to put a good deal of points on the
board in order to keep up with the Colts. But they also know that their
best defense might be a time-consuming offense. That's why we should
expect to see a good deal of RB Chris Brown. Brown is a powerful runner
with good burst, vision and decisiveness. He's the type of back that can
really wear down a defense, especially an undersized group like the Colts
on what should be a hot afternoon in Nashville, Tenn.

Piller
While the Titans should be productive on offense, they're not going to be
as productive as they would have been if they were completely healthy. For
starters, veteran LOG Zach Piller will not play because of a biceps injury
that he suffered in last week's opener. His replacement is rookie Jacob
Bell, who played 15 plays when Piller went down last week. Bell has very
good size and above-average feet for such a big guard. He eventually could
develop into a fine starter in the NFL, but he might struggle in his first
start. Not only will there be concerns about communication, but Bell also
draws a tough matchup against an underrated DT Josh Williams, who can be
very quick and explosive when he's giving a great effort. This matchup
needs to be monitored throughout the game, and it could be a situation
where the Titans are forced to give Bell double-team help from OC Justin
Hartwig from time-to-time, which could limit their downfield blocking in
the running game and the amount of receivers turned loose on routes in the
passing game.
The other missing ingredient is WR Tyrone Calico, who is still out with
two sprained knees. The Titans would love to open up their offense like
the Patriots did a week ago in order to test the depth of the Colts'
mediocre secondary. With Calico out, however, the Titans really don't have
a legitimate No. 3 receiver behind Derrick Mason and Drew Bennett.
The one player the Titans don't need to worry about is QB Steve McNair.
Despite losing both meetings to the Colts in 2003, McNair played extremely
well, completing 60 percent of his passing attempts with three TDs and
zero interceptions. Because the Colts use primarily cover-2 in their back
seven, don't expect much from McNair in terms of his running ability.
Assuming the Titans can "chip" DE Dwight Freeney to alter his rush and
also keep Williams in check against the rookie OG Bell, McNair will have
the time he needs in the pocket to be successful. While he doesn't have
the depth he'd like at receiver to spread the Colts out, he does have
enough weapons between his two starting wide receivers (Mason and Bennett)
and TE Erron Kinney to pick apart the Colts "soft" zone coverage. McNair
can't overcome all the other problems that the Titans have in this matchup
against the Colts, but he will do enough to keep his team in this game and
to give it a chance to win late in the fourth quarter
Tennessee's secondary is one of the most underrated units in the NFL and
they match up better against the Colts receivers than most other units
around the league. The Titans will have to give Andre Dyson some help
against Harrison, but Samari Rolle is more than capable of holding up
one-on-one versus Reggie Wayne and nickel DC Andre Woolfolk is big and
athletic enough to keep No. 3 WR Brandon Stokley quiet from the slot
position. Furthermore, when the Titans go to their dime package on obvious
passing downs they substitute Lamont Thompson to give them more range and
playmaking skills.

Pollard

Clark
With this in mind, Colts offensive coordinator Tom Moore has to think that
his best personnel grouping is going to be the two-tight end set, which he
favors anyway. Because of the athleticism and playmaking skills of TEs
Dallas Clark and Marcus Pollard, the Colts are most versatile with both of
them in the game along with Harrison, Wayne and James at the skill
positions. Not only does the two-tight set give the Colts better size and
blocking ability in the running game, but also it allows them to create
better mismatches against a defense that is deep and talented in the
secondary but hobbled and inexperienced at linebacker. With Bulluck having
to account for James on most occasions, the Titans will be stuck matching
fill-in OLB Rocky Boiman up on Clark or Pollard. SS Tank Williams will
have to cover the other tight end and FS Lance Schulters will have to
cheat over to help against Harrison, which means the Colts have a big
mismatch against Boiman and a one-on-one match up with Wayne versus Rolle
in a lot of space. As we've seen several times in the past, look for the
Colts to move to a no-huddle offense if they catch the Titans in a
defensive personnel grouping that Manning thinks he can really exploit
because of the versatility of the Colts' two-tight end set.
The problem the Titans are going to have in this game is that their front
seven simply doesn't match up well against the Colts -- against the run or
the pass. The Titans held up well in the opener, but that was against one
of the NFL's most suspect offensive lines (Dolphins). Against a much more
talented and efficient group, the losses of DT Robaire Smith in the
offseason will begin to show. DT Albert Haynesworth is still inconsistent
but he's loaded with talent and can be considered a solid starter. The
Titans are extremely quick inside with Kevin Carter moving to tackle from
end, but the Colts can wear the interior of this group down because Carter
lacks size, Haynesworth has below-average stamina and there's a lack of
depth behind them. RDE Carlos Hall is a solid starter, but the Colts can
afford to give ROT Ryan Diem help against Hall because they certainly
won't have to on the opposite side, where Tarik Glenn should manhandle
rookie LDE Antwan Odom. Because the Titans have so many matchups to worry
about in coverage, they can't afford to take a lot of chances with
blitzing linebackers. That means the Titans' defense could be in for a
long afternoon if its front-four doesn't get to Manning on a consistent
basis.
When you consider the Colts' woes on defense combined with their potential
to put up some big numbers on offense, it looks like they could be in for
a high-scoring affair. But if the Colts are going to upset the Titans on
the road and avoid a 0-2 start, Manning and James must be more efficient
in the red zone. Manning made two uncharacteristically poor reads on the
goal line last week, one of which led to an interception. James, who has
fumbled five times in the red zone since 2000, fumbled twice in that area
last week.

Special Teams

The facet of this matchup that could put the Colts over the edge is
special teams. Mike Vanderjagt obviously missed a game-tying 48-yard
attempt against the Patriots last week, but that's a rarity. He's arguably
the best kicker in the NFL, and he certainly gives the Colts an edge over
last minute fill-in Aaron Elling. The Colts also have the edge in the
punting game, with Hunter Goodwin handling their attempts compared to
Tennessee's Craig Hentrich, who is questionable with back spasms that
forced him to miss the season opener. If Hentrich can't punt, Elling will
also have to handle that role.

Matchups

Indianapolis TE Dallas Clark vs. Tennessee OLB Rocky Boiman.

Indianapolis WR Marvin Harrison vs. Tennessee LDC Andre Dyson.

Indianapolis RB Edgerrin James vs. Tennessee OLB Keith Bulluck.

Tennessee LOG Jacob Bell vs. Indianapolis RDT Josh Williams.

Tennessee LOT Brad Hopkins vs. Indianapolis RDE Dwight Freeney.

Prediction: Colts 29, Titans 27

**wayne1218** · 09-18-2004, 02:41 PM

Our scouts take a second look at this week's matchup between the Panthers and Chiefs.

Losing nickel CB William Bartee will be a problem for the Chiefs' defense
down the road, but it won't play a big factor in Sunday's matchup against
the Panthers. Second-year pro Julian Battle has a very good combination of
size and speed, but his inexperience will make him a target for opposing
offenses.
As much as the Panthers would like to go after Battle, they simply lack
the depth at receiver. With Steve Smith out, Muhsin Muhammad becomes the
primary target and Ricky Proehl and rookie Keary Colbert will split time
opposite him. Proehl lacks the speed and Colbert lacks the experience for
the Panthers to create a mismatch against Battle.

Davis
FosterThe Panthers have to be more committed to the ground game after
rushing the ball just 12 times in Week 1. As mentioned, Carolina's
offensive line is nowhere near the run-blocking or pass-protecting unit
that it was a year ago. It also doesn't help that RB Stephen Davis is now
expected to miss 2-5 weeks with a knee injury.
However, the bottom line is that the Panthers are a team that is designed
to win games with a time-consuming offense that puts its defense and
special teams units in the best position to win games. That doesn't change
because of poor play up front in Week 1 or Davis being out of the lineup,
especially since DeShaun Foster is a more than capable backup. Unless
offensive coordinator Dan Henning gets back to that formula for success,
Carolina will continue to struggle. The good news is that if the Panthers
do decide to emphasize the run again on Sunday, they should be much more
successful against the Chiefs' defense than they were a week ago.
Both sacks came on blitzes, as the line showed its lack of athletic
ability and inexperience playing together.It would be a real surprise if
Chiefs' defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, who is aggressive by
nature, doesn't go after the Panthers with multiple blitz packages
throughout Sunday's game.
The Panthers have to be more committed to the run after rushing the ball
just 12 times in Week 1. As mentioned, their offensive line is nowhere
near the run-blocking unit it was a year ago, but the bottom line is the
Panthers are a team designed to win games with a time-consuming offense.
Unless offensive coordinator Dan Henning gets back to that formula,
Carolina will struggle. If the Panthers do decide to emphasize the run on
Sunday, they should be much more successful against the Chiefs' defense.

HollidayChiefs' DE Vonnie Holliday will only play a limited role on Sunday
because of a groin injury. Assuming Holliday is limited to pass rushing
situations, the Chiefs will likely move DT John Browning to defensive end
on first and second down. Lional Dalton and rookie Junior Siavii will
rotate at the DT spot next to Ryan Sims.
While the injury is certain to slow Holliday as a pass rusher, it might
wind up being a blessing in disguise. Because Browning is bigger and
stronger at the point of attack, the Chiefs might be better off playing
him at the end spot on first and second downs and using Holliday on
obvious passing downs. It will be intriguing to watch how the situation
plays out on Sunday.
One of the biggest problems for the Chiefs' offense last week was their
inability to convert on third down. A major contributing factor was the
outstanding play of CB Champ Bailey against TE Tony Gonzalez. Without
Gonzelez as a consistent weapon in the passing game, QB Trent Green looked
frustrated. That shouldn't be the case this week, as the Panthers'
secondary simply lacks a shutdown cornerback.
WRs Eddie Kennison, Johnnie Morton and Dante' Hall should have more
success against the trio of CBs Ricky Manning, rookie Chris Gamble and
Artrell Hawkins than they did last week. Gonzalez has a more manageable
matchup against SS Mike Minter, who is strong enough to defend Gonzalez
physically, but gives up too much speed and athleticism.
If the Chiefs are to exploit those matchups, they must do a good job of
protecting Green against the NFL's fiercest defensive line. Because
Gonzalez and RB Priest Holmes are such critical factors in the Chiefs'
passing attack, they can't afford to use many max-protection schemes
against the Panthers. Look for the Chiefs to use a lot of "chipping" on
the perimeter with Gonzalez and Holmes getting a shove at the line of
scrimmage against DEs Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker before releasing down
the field.
With all three interior linemen freed up, it will allow the Chiefs to
double team DT Kris Jenkins with OC Casey Wiegmann and Brian Waters. ROG
Will Shields handles his business as usual against LDT Brentson Buckner.
The one matchup that could present the most problem, is John Welbourn
against Peppers. Welbourn simply lacks the athleticism and power to keep
Peppers out of Green's face. The Chiefs might need to scrap some of their
three-receiver sets in favor of two back sets in order to give Welbourn
double-team help from Tony Richardson. If the Chiefs are able to protect
Green, they should have a very productive day throwing the football.

Special Teams

With more of a role on offense, Hall will likely be a little bit less
explosive as a return specialist. But he is still a huge threat. Hall had
just one kickoff return for 17 yards but did return a punt for 26 yards in
last week's game. If the Panthers can avoid giving up a big return, they
should have a real edge on special teams.
Steve Cheek averaged 45.4 yards per punt last week and Lawrence Tynes was
1 for 2 on 50-plus yard field goal attempts. While Cheeks and Tynes
performed well in the opener, neither is a solid starter in the NFL. With
reliable veterans such as PT Todd Sauerbrun and PK John Kasay, the
Panthers should win the special teams battle in this game.

Matchups

Kansas City ROT John Welbourn vs. Carolina LDE Julius Peppers.
Kansas City RB Priest Holmes vs. Carolina MLB Dan Morgan.
Kansas City TE Tony Gonzalez vs. Carolina SS Mike Minter.
Carolina WR Muhsin Muhammad vs. Kansas City RDC Dexter McLeon.
Carolina ROG Tutan Reyes vs. Kansas City LDT Ryan Sims.

Prediction: Chiefs 24, Panthers 20

**wayne1218** · 09-18-2004, 02:42 PM

Our scouts take a second look at this week's matchup between the Seahawks and Buccaneers.

Look for QB Matt Hasselbeck to spread the ball around, as the Buccaneers'
cover-2 defense will not allow Seattle to dictate matchups in the passing
game. WRs Koren Robinson and Darrell Jackson will have to do a good job
recognizing where the holes are in Tampa Bay's coverage and settle down.
They'll also have to be satisfied working the underneath because the
cover-2 won't allow Seattle's receivers to stretch the field. Hasselbeck
is one of the most accurate passers in the league, so he should be able to
dink and dunk the Seahawks into scoring position.
Bucs QB Brad Johnson completed 24 of 37 passes against the Redskins but
averaged just seven yards per completion and 4.5 yards per attempt. Those
stats illustrate Tampa Bay's lack of speed at receiver, and that presents
a serious challenge for the offense. Head coach Jon Gruden's scheme is
based on horizontal passing. Without the ability to stretch the Seahawks'
defense vertically, DCs Marcus Trufant and Bobby Taylor will be able to
get physical with Tampa Bay on the perimeter. Look for plenty of press
coverage from Seattle, as Trufant and Taylor have the size to win the
battle at the line of scrimmage.
If the Buccaneers' receivers struggle, don't be surprised to see Tampa Bay
use some two-tight end sets, with Ken Dilger and Rickey Dudley getting
more playing time. Dilger will provide some stability for an otherwise
inconsistent attack and Dudley is always a threat to make the big play
down the seam.

McCardell
The injury to WR Joey Galloway (groin) doesn't leave Tampa Bay with many
options in the passing game. Keenan McCardell is still holding out and Joe
Jurevicius is recovering from back surgery. Making matters worse is the
team's nonexistent running game, which managed just 30 yards on 15 carries
last week. If the Bucs are to win, they'll need a strong effort from the
defense and a couple of big plays on special teams.
Seahawks LOT Walter Jones and LOG Steve Hutchinson will have their hands
full this week as they'll square off against Tampa's RDE Simeon Rice and
RDT Anthony McFarland. The biggest advantage for Seattle in this matchup
will come in the running game. Rice is extremely quick off the ball, and
he is one of the league's best pass rushers. But he lacks the size to
anchor against Jones, and he will struggle to hold his ground. Although
the right side of the Buccaneers' defensive line is explosive, it can be
exposed as a weakness if Seattle makes a point to attack it in the running
game.
The Buccaneers started a new running back, two new receivers and three new
offensive linemen last weekend, which may explain why Tampa Bay's offense
looked so bad in the opener. This group will likely need a couple of weeks
to feel each other out and may not be hitting on all cylinders until
midseason. Expect the Seattle defense to be more aggressive.
Seattle OLB Anthony Simmons has picked his game up a notch and was named
the team's defensive captain last week for the first time in his
seven-year career. Simmons hasn't always shown the greatest work ethic,
but he put together a solid offseason and has emerged as the Seahawks'
best defender. He must continue to play at a high-level. The linebacker
corps isn't in great shape with Orlando Huff in the middle and Isaiah
Kacyvenski filling in for the injured Chad Brown on the weakside.
Considering the state of Tampa Bay's receivers and Seattle's linebackers,
expect to see Johnson work the middle of the field by getting the ball to
RB Charlie Garner.
With the Buccaneers' problems along the offensive line and their lack of
speed on the perimeter, look for the Seahawks to blitz a lot in this game.
Simmons may be the team's best blitzer from the linebacker position, but
defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes also has options in the secondary. Taylor
comes from an aggressive scheme in Philadelphia, and he has experience
coming off the edge. FS Ken Hamlin also does a great job attacking from
depth.

Special Teams

PK Martin Gramatica used to show great leg strength on kickoffs but leg
problems in recent years have affected his performance. After posting 27
touchbacks through his first three years, Gramatica has kicked for 11
since. The Buccaneers have been at a disadvantage in terms of field
position, and opposing teams have regularly started their drives from the
30-yard line or better.
Backup WR Alex Bannister is regarded as one of the best "gunners" in the
league, and he is a major reason why the Seahawks led the league in punt
coverage last season. Bannister and Co. should have an easy time keeping
the Buccaneers' Bill Schroeder in check. Schroeder averaged just 4.2 yards
per return last week.

Matchups

Seattle LOT Walter Jones vs. Tampa Bay RDE Simeon Rice.

Seattle WR Darrell Jackson vs. Tampa Bay DC Ronde Barber.

Tampa Bay RB Charlie Garner vs. Seattle OLB Anthony Simmons.

Tampa Bay WR Tim Brown vs. Seattle DC Bobby Taylor.

Seattle RB Shaun Alexander/Maurice Morris vs. Tampa Bay OLB Derrick
Brooks.

Prediction: Seahawks 26, Buccaneers 20

**wayne1218** · 09-18-2004, 02:43 PM

Our scouts take a second look at this week's matchup between the Browns and Cowboys.

GarmonDallas' La'Roi Glover generally lines up at right defensive tackle,
but don't be surprised to see him get some time at left defensive tackle
as well this week. Although Cleveland ROG Kelvin Garmon shows impressive
power at the point of attack and can drive massive defenders off the ball,
he lacks initial quickness.
He struggles to keep explosive one-gap defenders such as Glover out of the
backfield, so the Browns' coaching staff is concerned the Cowboys will
slide Glover over to exploit this weakness. If Garmon struggles early,
Cleveland offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie should run some max-protect
schemes that keep a tight end or back in to help out in pass protection.
The Browns' offensive line had some problems picking up the blitz when
Baltimore brought pressure from the inside last week. Dallas defensive
coordinator Mike Zimmer will blitz one or two linebackers up the middle at
times during this game. If Cleveland fails to adjust, the Cowboys should
have some success getting to QB Jeff Garcia. However, Dallas gave up a
63-yard touchdown pass to Minnesota RB Onterrio Smith last week because
the linebacker who dropped into coverage got caught out of position. It's
critical that the Cowboys' coverage play with better discipline when
Zimmer blitzes or Dallas could give up some more big plays.
When the Cowboys do bring additional pressure, TE Kellen Winslow and
Garcia must stay on the same page. If Garcia can get the ball to Winslow
behind a blitzing linebacker or safety, Winslow is capable of going the
distance. However, Winslow's 12-day contract holdout is a concern because
talent doesn't always mask inexperience. If Winslow doesn't adjust his
route when Dallas comes after Garcia, Garcia could end up throwing into
coverage.
Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper ran for three first downs against the Cowboys
last week, so Garcia should have success scrambling when he reads man
coverage on third down. With the Cowboys' defenders running with receivers
and vacating areas of the field, Garcia should have plenty of room to run
once he's gone through his reads. As a result, look for Cleveland to roll
Garcia out of the pocket and give him the option to either run or pass on
third and less than seven.
Garcia needs his receivers to keep working until they hear the whistle for
two reasons. The first is that he has the elusiveness to consistently
avoid the rush. He will avoid sacks that most quarterbacks would take, so
the receiver cannot give up on the play even when it looks like Garcia is
going down. Second, Cleveland's receivers must be willing to block once
Garcia crosses the line of scrimmage. Garcia could break some long runs
this week as long as his receivers are able to throw some blocks for him
downfield.
The Browns cannot let Dallas QB Vinny Testaverde get comfortable in the
pocket because he can pick apart any secondary given enough time.
Cleveland will run a number of different stunts and blitz at times in an
effort to keep the Dallas offensive line and Testaverde off balance. It's
also important to note that Cleveland doesn't always have to get to
Testaverde. Testaverde no longer has the mobility to be effective throwing
on the run, and forcing him to move around the pocket could cause some
errant throws that turn into interceptions.
The Cowboys like to use their offensive linemen as lead blockers at times
and they will pull a tackle, center or guard around the corner. With the
size advantage Dallas' offensive line has over the Browns' outside
linebackers, the Cowboys offensive linemen should dominate at the point of
attack. The problem is they'll have problems getting into position.
Cleveland's linebackers have the quickness to beat the lead blockers to
the spot and the agility to consistently slip blocks in space.
While it's still unclear whether Browns RB Lee Suggs will start this game,
one thing is certain. Dallas' rangy but undersized linebackers had better
wrap up when RB William Green is in the game. Green ran with great
determination last week, as he carried some would-be-tacklers two to
three-yards at times and refused to get knocked out of bounds at other
times.

HenryCleveland CB Anthony Henry did an excellent job of getting his head
around when recording his first interception of the year last week. He
read the receivers' eyes, recognized when the receiver had slowed a step
and turned around just in time to make a play on the ball. Testaverde and
his receivers can prevent Henry from doing the same thing with precision
and timing. Henry shouldn't be able to get his head around in time if the
receiver doesn't have to break stride to adjust to the ball. That said, no
one is perfect and the Cowboy receivers must be ready to play some defense
and knock the ball way when Henry does get into position.
Browns RDT Orpheus Roye did an excellent job of controlling his gap rather
than just flying upfield last week and it made it difficult for Baltimore
to run inside. He needs to have a repeat performance and force Dallas RB
Eddie George to bounce his runs outside. George no longer has the burst to
be effective when forced to move laterally.

Special Teams

Dallas P Mat McBriar placed two of his three punts inside the 20-yard line
last week, but he mishandled a snap on a field goal attempt. In what
should be a close game, McBriar and LS Jeff Robinson must be on the same
page so the Cowboys' don't lose any opportunities to put points on the
board.
Cleveland P Derrick Frost is coming off an excellent game, placing three
of his seven punts inside the 20-yard line and averaging 45.1 yards a
punt. He'll play a pivotal role in the battle for field position.

Matchups

Cleveland ROG Kelvin Garmon vs. Dallas DT La'Roi Glover

Cleveland TE Kellen Winslow vs. Dallas FS Roy Williams

Dallas WR Terry Glenn vs. Cleveland DC Anthony Henry

Dallas TE Jason Witten vs. Cleveland SS Robert Griffith

Cleveland WR Quincy Morgan vs. Dallas DC Pete Hunter

Prediction: Browns 20, Cowboys 17

**wayne1218** · 09-18-2004, 02:44 PM

Our scouts take a second look at this week's matchup between the Bills and Raiders.

Motion should mean nothing to Buffalo's defense this week. Oakland head
coach Norv Turner and offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye almost always put a
back, receiver or tight end in motion. It usually gives nothing away. If
the Bills' back seven reads too much into the motion and doesn't play with
discipline, it will get caught out of position.
Buffalo head coach Mike Mularkey and offensive coordinator Tom Clements
will look to keep Oakland guessing by using misdirection. At times, the
Bills will fake a reverse or a screen pass before handing the ball to the
back. If the Raiders don't react to the initial action of the play,
Buffalo can just run the draw or screen later in the game.
QB Drew Bledsoe must be careful. Last week, he threw a screen pass to WR
Eric Moulds. Moulds was immediately hit causing the ball to pop out. It
was ruled a lateral because the ball didn't go forward and the result was
a fumble. The Raiders' corners are aggressive, so Bledsoe needs to either
throw the ball forward or make sure the receiver has enough room to catch
the ball.

FletcherBuffalo MLB London Fletcher got caught trying to run with
Jacksonville WR Ernest Wilford in man coverage last week and the result
was a 38-yard pass interference call. If the Bills ask Fletcher to cover
either No. 3 WR Doug Gabriel or No. 4 WR Alvis Whitted, expect Buffalo to
give up some big plays. QB Rich Gannon excels at exploiting mismatches.
First-round pick Robert Gallery will replace Langston Walker as Oakland's
starting right tackle. While it will be his first start, Gallery saw
extensive action at both guard and tackle last week. He played well and
should actually improve the pass protection since Walker has some problems
holding up on island. Don't expect Bills LDE Ryan Denney to have a big day
rushing the passer.
In an effort to improve the pass rush, look for Buffalo defensive
coordinator Jerry Gray to overload the right side of the defensive line on
obvious passing downs. Committing three defenders to the right side makes
it much harder for the Raiders to double team RDE Aaron Schobel, who is
clearly the Bills' best pass rusher.
Oakland was far too hesitant on blitzes last week. The defensive backs,
linebackers and safeties must take the shortest path to the quarterback
and keep fighting if their first move doesn't get them there. If they run
into a blocker, they may be able to push that blocker into Bledsoe's lap
affecting his release and the velocity he gets on his passes.
It appeared as if the Raiders' linebackers were indecisive when Pittsburgh
RB Jerome Bettis got close to the goal line. The linebackers need to
attack upfield as soon as they read run. They can't hesitate against this
week because Buffalo RB Travis Henry hits the hole with authority.
Expect Gannon to do a much-better job of protecting the football. One of
Gannon's two interceptions last week came when was trying to throw ball
away and ended up throwing right to a Pittsburgh defender. He won't make
the same mistake working against the Bills' talented corners.

SappOakland can line up both Walker and LDE Warren Sapp at tight end near
the goal line and in short-yardage situations. Their size and physical
approach make them effective run blockers, but Buffalo's defense must be
aware of the possibility that Gannon throws to one of them. Although
neither one should be considered much of a receiving threat, both are
capable of catching passes when left wide open.
The Raiders will walk two linebackers up to the line of scrimmage, blitz
one of them and drop the other one into coverage at times. Buffalo's
offensive line will need to communicate to avoid any breakdowns in
protection. With this game at Network Associates Coliseum, communication
could be difficult. If the protection falters early, Clements should use
some max-protect schemes with a tight end or back staying in.

Special Teams

In what should be a very close game, the deciding factor could be place
kicking. That's not good news for the Bills. PK Rian Lindell missed a
42-yard field goal attempt last week and was inconsistent last year.
Oakland PK Sebastian Janikowski has connected on both of his field goal
attempts and has the leg strength to consistently connect from long range.

Raiders' PR Phillip Buchanon could change the complexion of this game.
Buchanon has returned three punts for touchdowns over since entering the
league in 2002. He is capable of giving Oakland quality field position and
possibly points, if Buffalo doesn't wrap him up quickly.

Matchups

Buffalo No. 3 WR Lee Evans vs. Oakland Nickel back Denard Walker.
Oakland LOT Barry Sims vs. Buffalo RDE Aaron Schobel
Oakland RB Tyrone Wheatley vs. Buffalo WLB Takeo Spikes
Buffalo OC Trey Teague vs. Oakland NT Ted Washington
Oakland WR Jerry Rice vs. Buffalo CB Troy Vincent

Prediction: Raiders 20, Bills 10

**wayne1218** · 09-18-2004, 02:45 PM

Our scouts take a second look at this week's matchup between the Patriots and Cardinals.

Arizona QB Josh McCown needs to get more velocity on his passes and show
better accuracy when throwing downfield. One of the reasons McCown
struggled in this area last week is that he threw flat-footed at times. He
must step into his throws so he gets more zip on the ball. New England's
defense will counter by blitzing up the middle. The hope is that the
blitzing linebacker or safety doesn't give McCown enough space to step up
in the pocket resulting in some errant throws.
Although Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crenell will blitz at times,
look for New England to rush three or four men and drop seven to eight men
back into coverage at other times. Arizona's offensive line struggled with
the quickness of St. Louis' front four last week. If the Patriots can
apply consistent pressure with their defensive line and drop seven men
into coverage, McCown will have to throw into tight spaces while under
pressure. Switching coverages and blitzing inconsistently will also help
prevent McCown from getting comfortable with his reads.
The Cardinals' corners often played off the ball last week, giving St.
Louis' receivers a healthy cushion in an effort to prevent the big play.
The strategy worked for the most part, but Arizona's corners will have to
be more aggressive working against QB Tom Brady. Unlike Rams QB Marc
Bulger, Brady will stay patient, take what the defense gives him and
spread the ball around to his receivers. He also excels in the red zone,
so Arizona shouldn't look to play bend-but-don't-break defense with the
hopes that it can tighten up inside the 20-yardline. In addition, New
England's receivers are at their best catching the ball underneath and
turning the short gain into the big play.

Dillon
The Cardinals' defensive ends have to do a better job of maintaining their
gap responsibilities. Rams RB Marshall Faulk had success starting his runs
inside and then bouncing them outside last week. Arizona's defensive ends
often read the initial action of the play and crashed inside, allowing the
St. Louis tackles to ride them into the middle of the line. Patriots RB
Corey Dillon runs with good power, but he also has the lateral mobility to
cutback or bounce outside if he sees Arizona's ends take the same approach
this week.
Several teams are starting to use a tight end rather than a tackle when
they want to pull a lead blocker around the corner, and the Cardinals are
one of them. The reason is tight ends are generally far more athletic, and
they do a better job of sustaining their blocks at the second level.
Arizona will motion TE Lorenzo Diamond in one direction and then pull him
around the corner in the opposite direction. While OLBs Rosevelt Colvin
and Mike Vrabel should shed Diamond fairly quickly, they'll also have to
make the play three to four yards downfield rather than at the line of
scrimmage.
Don't be shocked to see New England continue to run the no-huddle offense
during this game despite the heat. The Cardinals' defense doesn't have
great depth, and not allowing them to make personnel changes or huddle up
between plays will help wear it down over the course of the game. In
addition, the versatility of TEs Dan Graham and Ben Watson gives the
Patriots a lot of freedom in their play calling. Brady can call for almost
any alignment he wants because Watson and Graham can line up at tight end,
fullback or receiver. It shouldn't hurt the Patriots that they left for
Arizona on Thursday, two days earlier than usual to adjust to the climate.

New England's backs and tight ends do a great job of helping their
offensive linemen by chipping the defensive lineman before releasing out
on their route. Arizona will counter and try to free up its best pass
rusher, RDE Bert Berry, by moving Berry all along the defensive line. If
the offensive line doesn't know where Berry is going to be on the next
snap, it's much harder to adjust the protection to account for him.
he fact that New England opened its season on a Thursday night gave
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick a few extra days to study the
Cardinals. It will be interesting to see what kind of wrinkles the
creative minds of Belichick and his staff will throw at Arizona.

Special Teams

Arizona's offense should struggle to move the ball by consistently working
against the Patriots' defense, making quality starting field-position
pivotal to the Cardinals' success. KOR Josh Scobey is explosive, but the
Cardinals were flagged for holding on the opening kickoff of last week's
game; they must eliminate those costly mistakes.
New England fans were happy to see P Josh Miller on the field last week.
Poor punting was a big problem for the Patriots last year, and Miller
played relatively well in his first game in a New England uniform.

Matchups

New England RB Corey Dillon vs. Arizona MLB Ronald McKinnon.

Arizona TE Freddie Jones vs. New England SS Rodney Harrison.

Arizona QB Josh McCown vs. New England FS Eugene Wilson.

Arizona LOT Leonard Davis vs. New England RDE Richard Seymour.

New England WR Deion Branch vs. Arizona DC Duane Starks.

Prediction: Patriots 31, Cardinals 10

**wayne1218** · 09-18-2004, 02:46 PM

Our scouts take a second look at this week's matchup between the Jets and Chargers.

Jets RB Curtis Martin seems to have turned back the clock, as he rushed
for 196 yards rushing on 29 carries in a 31-24 win over the Bengals last
week. It took him four games to reach 196 yards last year. Martin said he
was healthier than he has been in years throughout the preseason, and he
certainly looked well last week. He broke tackles, showed a quicker burst
to the hole and looked a step faster in the open-field. San Diego's
linebackers had better take notice and make sure they take the correct
pursuit angles.
Another big game from TE Antonio Gates, who put up excellent numbers last
week, should help open up San Diego's passing game. Gates playing well
takes pressure off of QB Drew Brees and creates more single-coverage
matchups for WRs Reche Caldwell and Eric Parker to exploit on the outside.
While Gates has a great combination of size and speed, he'll have to prove
he can produce with the Jets figuring to key on him.

Vilma
With the aging duo of Mo Lewis and Marvin Jones gone, the Jets' linebacker
corps appears much faster this year. The new starting trio of Victor
Hobson, Sam Cowart and Eric Barton has improved this defense's ability to
defend the perimeter. Rookie Jonathan Vilma is the best athlete of the
group. Vilma has sideline-to-sideline range, but he'll have to be careful
not to overpursue working against Chargers' RB LaDainian Tomlinson. If the
inexperienced Vilma is overaggressive and gets caught out of position,
Tomlinson has the vision to recognize his mistake and the speed to exploit
it.
The Jets' defensive line features four former first-round picks, but they
have been inconsistent as individuals and underachieving as a group.
However, the front four may have started tapping into their explosive
potential in the opener against Cincinnati. DEs John Abraham and Shaun
Ellis, along with DT Dewayne Robertson, terrorized QB Carson Palmer
throughout the game. The results didn't show up in the stat book, but
Abraham, Ellis and Robertson did a great job creating penetration and not
allowing Palmer to get comfortable.
Defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson likes to play games with his front
four and will run multiple stunts throughout the course of a game. Last
week against Cincinnati, the Jets had tremendous success running what's
known as a "Double-Tex", or double tackle/end twist. "Double" indicates
that both sides of the defensive line were involved in the stunt while
"Tex" is an abbreviation for tackle/end twist. It points out that the
tackles and ends have crossed paths and which one of the two linemen moved
first. In this particular stunt, the letter T comes before E indicating
that the tackles "slanted" first, while the ends "looped" around. The
Bengals' offensive line failed to adjust to New York's Double-Tex stunt.
As a result, Abraham and Ellis wreaked havoc.
Expect the Jets to run even more stunts in an attempt to confuse a San
Diego offensive line that returns just one starter from a year ago.
However, Henderson will exercise good judgment when making his defensive
calls, as those same stunts could allow Tomlinson to hit the second-level
at full speed when the Chargers run.
The Chargers' secondary will have to be careful working against Jets QB
Chad Pennington, one of the best ball handlers in the NFL. If the safeties
start biting on his play fakes when the Jets run play action, expect
Pennington to strike deep.
The Jets were planning on running more man schemes this season. But
without much speed at cornerback, it doesn't seem to make sense. DC Ray
Mickens was the team's best cover corner before he landed on injured
reserve. The Jets don't have the personnel to matchup on the perimeter
without him in the lineup. Henderson will still mix in some man coverages,
but this defense won't be nearly as aggressive as some thought it would be
heading into the season.

Special Teams

San Diego PK Nate Kaeding and PT Mike Scifres performed adequately in
their first NFL action last week. Kaeding connected on both of his
field-goal attempts, including a long of 48 yards. Scifres was
serviceable, finishing the day with a 39.8-yard average. Their performance
will be critical, as the Chargers aren't good enough on either side of the
ball to make up for mistakes made by the special teams.

Matchups

New York WR Santana Moss vs. San Diego CB Quentin Jammer.

San Diego RB LaDainian Tomlinson vs. New York ILB Jonathan Vilma.

New York RB Curtis Martin vs. San Diego ILB Donnie Edwards.

San Diego TE Antonio Gates vs. New York SS Reggie Tongue.

San Diego ROT Courtney Van Buren vs. New York LDE Shaun Ellis.

Prediction: Jets 28, Chargers 17

**wayne1218** · 09-18-2004, 02:47 PM

Our scouts take a second look at this week's matchup between the Dolphins and Bengals.

The Dolphins' loss last week had a very familiar ring to it. They play
well enough on defense to stay in the game, but they can't get any
consistency on offense, they can't put a long drive together and they
commit drive-killing penalties in key situations. As a result, the defense
stays on the field too long and wears down, especially versus power run
offenses. The theme could continue this week for a team that is just not
good enough to overcome its mistakes.

JohnsonThe combination of the Dolphins' strength in the secondary and
their inability to score points on offense may lead the Bengals to run the
ball more with RB Rudi Johnson. The Bengals know they do not have to get
into a high-scoring affair, so they can be more conservative than usual
and keep the pressure off of QB Carson Palmer.
The Bengals are vulnerable at corner, especially with rookie Madieu
Williams, who could move to safety versus the Dolphins. The Bengals may
use some combo and bracket coverage, along with more safety help, to
protect their corners. The Bengals have little respect for the Dolphins'
run game and they will not commit any safeties to help in run support,
making it more difficult for QB A.J. Feeley to find good one-on-one
matchups on the perimeter.
The Bengals' defense struggled to defend the perimeter running game of the
Jets, who have one of the most athletic and mobile offensive lines in the
NFL. This may not be a concern against the Dolphins, whose OL does not
possess those skills. The Dolphins will run the stretch with Lamar Gordon,
who is a one-cut downhill runner, but you will not see their OL get to the
perimeter on the move.
The Dolphins blitz almost exclusively out of their nickel package --
rarely do they blitz out of base. They are fairly predictable in their
fronts and coverage based on down and distance. They are an execution
defense, not a scheme-based defense.
The Bengals' staple running plays are "Power" and "Lead". They want to
establish "Power" to the TE side of the offensive formation to dictate an
eighth defender in the box on the strong side. They are looking to create
one-on-one matchups on the outside with Chad Johnson versus single safety
coverage.
The Dolphins have virtually no chemistry on their offensive line. With
four new starters, a new starting back and a new quarterback, this looks
like a preseason offense more than it does a polished Week 2 NFL offense.
People criticized the "quick hook" by Dave Wannstedt last week, but Jay
Fiedler's statistics in the second half of games are dismal at best. When
he starts off completing only 5 of 13 passes with two interceptions, there
is not going to be a lot of confidence from the coaching staff that he can
turn it around in the second half.
The Dolphins' basic philosophy is a "matchup zone" concept: They don't
read the QB, especially the underneath defenders. The principle is you
cover who the offense gives you.
The Bengals' biggest weakness is their run defense. They gave up over 200
yards to Curtis Martin and the Jets, and the reasons seem very simple.
They are not getting any penetration with their one-gap scheme and they
are not doing a good enough job of occupying blockers and protecting the
linebackers. Additionally, their tackling, especially by MLB Nate Webster,
has not been very good and opposing backs are getting yards after contact.

The Dolphins' offense needs to stay out of third-and-long situations.
Feeley is young, anxious and at times he tries to hard to make the big
play. If he is forced to make big plays on third down, defenses will try
to confuse him with blitzes and different coverage, forcing into making
mistakes. Third-and-short situations give the Dolphins the chance to show
offensive balance and it will keep the defense from "teeing up" on Feeley.

ChambersThe Dolphins need to make an effort to get WR Chris Chambers
involved in the passing game. He had six receptions for 33 yards last week
and had only two touches in the first three quarters. He is their only
receiver who can stretch the defense and open things up for the run game.
Look for him to move around in formations, sometimes working out of the
slot and utilizing reverses and screen passes. The Dolphins need to get
the ball in his hands between 10 and 15 times this week.
RB Rudi Johnson looked tentative at times last week, which is surprising
since the strength of his game is attacking the hole in a north/south
style. The offensive line is plagued by injuries and Johnson did not hit
the hole with much conviction. If that continues this week, the Dolphins'
one-gap penetrating style and the speed of their linebackers will fill the
holes quickly and not allow a square-up back like Johnson much room to
run.
Carson Palmer is not thought of as a scrambling quarterback, but he has
good speed and could have some opportunities to scramble when the Dolphins
corners turn and run with the receivers, leaving their backs to Palmer.
The Bengals need to utilize a lot of movement by their defensive front
before the snap to try and confuse the Dolphins' offensive linemen, who
struggled last week versus the Titans in their pre-snap blocking reads.
The movement by the Bengals could lead to some false start penalties.

McMichaelThe Dolphins may go after SLB Kevin Hardy in the passing game by
running a vertical route with a wide receiver on his side to clear things
out. Then they will come back underneath with TE Randy McMichael, who is
an athletic mismatch for Hardy in coverage.
With the trade of LDE Adewale Ogunleye to the Chicago Bears, RDE Jason
Taylor is the only legitimate pass rusher the Dolphins have without
blitzing. Taylor will move over to LDE at times to try and find the best
one-on-one matchup and also try to confuse pass protection schemes that
like to roll towards him. Bengals OTs Levi Jones and Willie Anderson have
their work cut out for them, but they can handle him unless they are
trying to handle him alone on an island.
The Bengals have a big decision to make on how they will attack the
Dolphins' offense. They do not apply a lot of pressure unless they blitz,
but they do not want to put their corners on an island. Attacking a new
quarterback and a struggling offensive line is certainly tempting, but if
the pressure does not get there, Feeley will be able to take advantage of
matchups he likes on the perimeter with his strong arm.
The Dolphins are becoming much too predictable when they find themselves
in third-and-long situations. They always seem to look for TE Randy
McMichael when they need a conversion and the Bengals will see this on
film and begin devising a scheme to eliminate McMichael or jump his
routes.
Early success in the run game will lead to play-action opportunities for
Carson Palmer. The Dolphins' corners are aggressive and will bite on play
fakes and try to jump routes, giving receivers the extra step they need.
Both of Palmer's touchdown passes in Week 1 came off play-action.
Both teams were obviously disappointed after losing last week, but the
Bengals are much closer to solving their problems than the Dolphins. Miami
may be better in a month but September looks like it may be nothing more
than preseason for it. The Bengals and Palmer improve with every snap and
this offense should be good enough to compensate for an average defense.
The combination of the new illegal contact rules and physical Dolphins
corners may come in to play in the form of the Bengals' receivers pushing
off, engaging the corners, while Palmer throws the ball in their area
trying to "draw" a flag. The Bengals' receivers saw "off" coverage from
the Jets last week, but they have to adjust to "press" and aggressive
man-to-man coverage this week.

Special Teams
None

Matchups

Cincinnati WR Chad Johnson vs. Miami DC Patrick Surtain

Miami TE Randy McMichael vs. Cincinnati safeties Kim Herring and Rogers
Beckett

Cincinnati LOT Levi Jones vs. Miami RDE Jason Taylor

Miami RBs Lamar Gordon vs. Cincinnati SLB Kevin Hardy

Cincinnati RB Rudi Johnson vs. Miami MLB Zach Thomas

Prediction: Bengals 21, Dolphins 13

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