Week 4
9/29/06
- Let's play matchmaker this week and introduce a group of
players to a concept they've clearly never met - New York Giants
players and accountability. After getting blown out by the Panthers
in last year's wildcard round, Tiki
Barber sounded off on the team's coaching staff, commenting
it seemed like the Panthers were "in our huddle - a little bit".
Barber was conveniently forgetting he had his worst game of
the year with only 41 yards rushing and that quarterback Eli
Manning tossed three interceptions. After getting smoked this
week by the Seahawks, tight end Jeremy Shockey did his best
Tiki impression, letting the world know the Giants were "outcoached".
Interestingly enough, Shockey, Barber or any other Giant player
has ever decided to credit the coaching staff with coming up
with a game plan that guaranteed a win over their opponents.
Seems like when the team wins, it's because of the players and
when they lose, it's because of the coaching.
- The Bills were roundly criticized for selecting Ohio State
free safety Donte Whitner with the 8th selection in this year's
draft. However, the rookie has apparently used the criticism
to help motivate him as he has overcome numerous obstacles to
become the league's defensive rookie of the month for the first
month of the season. Whitner missed time in the spring because
his class had not graduated, making him ineligible to attend
June practices with the Bills. He then missed more time as a
result of not being signed when the team opened training camp.
Despite this, Whitner has 18 tackles and an interception in
three games and looks to have the cutting ability, speed and
savvy to be a Pro Bowl quality player within the first two or
three years of his career.
- Mario Williams update - six tackles, two assists. No pressure,
big fella. Exactly what opposing QBs feel when you're lined
up on the other side of the ball.
- A lot of commentators are hyping up the small backs this
week given the performances of the Jaguars Maurice
Drew and the Jets Leon
Washington this week but it might be a good idea not too
read too much into the hype machine. Granted, the two rookies
looked good this week but neither are the prototypical NFL running
back let alone the type of back their coach's want in the starting
line-up on a weekly basis. Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio clearly
prefers backs in the 230-plus range given that the team's top
two backs in recent seasons have been Fred Taylor and Greg Jones.
Jets rookie coach Eric Mangini doesn't have the history to tell
what he prefers in his running backs, however given his clear
intention to try to win with ball control and good defense,
it's highly unlikely the 200-pound Washington has much chance
of emerging as the team's starting running back over the next
few years. Granted, each player has a chance to emerge as a
decent contributor this season given their respective circumstances.
Just don't expect to see them in the starting line-up much over
the course of their careers.
- If there's one thing we know about Matt Millen, it's that
he knows nothing about football personnel, college or pro. Given
the team's 21-62 record since Millen took over, it's now time
to figure out which position he knows the least about it. Sure
enough, Millen let us know this week with the release of free
agent signee Corey Bradford. A curious signing to begin with
given, at the time, the team had three former 1st round picks
at the position on their roster as well as a number of decent
journeyman. What made the signing more curious was that it wasn't
a stopgap type of contract, rather it was for four years and
$7.6-million with a $2-million signing bonus. So, when it came
time to sign an offensive lineman to help offset injuries to
Rex Tucker, Barry Stokes and Ross Verba, Bradford got the axe.
The return on the team's more than $2-million investment (we
forgot to mention that as a vested veteran his entire 2006 salary
was guaranteed when he was on the roster on opening day) was
a meager three receptions for 36 yards.
- Don't believe all the scuttlebutt about the Seahawks jettisoning
wide receiver Darrell
Jackson before the trade deadline. This team is ready to
challenge for the Super Bowl and the recent acquisition of Deion
Branch from the Patriots isn't going to result in the team dumping
Jackson. With the team's tight ends banged up and not contributing
in the passing game, Branch is simply one more toy for head
coach Mike Holmgren to scheme with from week to week and that
doesn't bode well for the fantasy prospects for any of Jackson,
Branch, Nate Burleson or Bobby Engram. The player likely to
suffer the most will be Burleson. He's clearly not as talented
as Jackson or Branch and is unlikely to supplant Engram as the
team's third wideout, a role he excels in.
- Strange stat of the week - St. Louis Rams second in the league
in turnover margin at plus seven. You certainly wouldn't have
read that during the Mike Martz regime.
- Keeping with the Rams, what a bizarre finish last week against
the Cardinals. Rams quarterback Marc
Bulger fumbles the snap with a little more than two minutes
remaining as the team is trying to run out the clock with a
two point lead. The Cardinals get the ball at the Rams 30 and
move to the 18-yard line in two plays and are simply trying
to eat up the clock when quarterback Kurt
Warner loses a bad snap. This, of course, can only happen
to current or former Rams quarterbacks. Then the Rams have to
punt with five seconds remaining and the Cardinals fair catch
it at their own 35-yard line with no time remaining, which allows
them the opportunity to attempt a free kick from that spot for
the win. Except safety Robert Griffith was offside, a call Rams
coach Scott Linehan doesn't accept on the premise the game is
over if he doesn't accept the penalty (because the game can't
end on a defensive penalty). Cardinals coach Dennis Green then
trots out kicker Neil Rackers to attempt the 75-yard free kick
and Linehan asks the referee what's going on. Amazingly, the
referee lets Linehan reverse his decision to not accept the
penalty, which gives the Rams the ball back on fourth down and
no time on the clock so they don't have to punt. Bulger kneels
down and time expires. Why was Linehan allowed to reverse his
decision on the penalty? Should he be rewarded for not knowing
the rules? Should Green be punished for being the veteran coach
who knows all the tricks of the trade? Ridiculous. Cardinals
fans should be furious. Plus, it would have been fun to watch
Rackers try one from 75.
- Don't get too excited Chad Pennington lovers. Once the cold
weather hits and the Jets start suffering from their lack of
a running game and Pennington's arm strength, the interceptions
and zero touchdown performances will return. Sell high on this
guy. Same advice applies to Laveraneus Coles. Coles has played
well over the first three weeks of the season but he averaged
10.6 and 11.6 yards per reception over the past two seasons
and seems to have lost some of his playmaking ability.
- Do you think Danny Snyder regrets his decision to acquire
Brandon
Lloyd from the 49ers for a 3rd round pick in the 2006 draft
and a 4th round pick in next year's draft and then sign him
to a lucrative contract extension (seven years, $27.2-million
with a $10-million signing bonus)? Lloyd looks the part of backup
receiver with three receptions for 26 yards, which is exactly
what he looked like when they acquired him. His career best
season during his first three years in the league with the 49ers
was 48 receptions for 733 yards. Throw in the fact the team
already had Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle El, David Patten and
James Thrash and this signing looks even more questionable,
as does the Randle El signing (7.6 yards per reception this
season, not sure that spells playmaker) although at least they
didn't have to give up draft picks to get him.
- So much for the hype that Saints quarterback Drew
Brees loves to throw to his tight ends. Perhaps the hype
should have been he loves to throw to Antonio Gates. Saints
tight ends have contributed one reception for 33 yards over
the team's first three games. Starter Ernie Conwell has been
held without a reception and Brees has looked his way only once
while backup Mark Campbell caught the only pass that has come
his way.
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