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Updated: 10/15/02 |
Drew Bledsoe at HOU
Brett Favre at NE
Tom Brady vs GB
Rich Gannon at STL
Patrick Ramsey vs New Orleans
Well, after four weeks of Spurrier-ball, we're starting to see a pattern. If the opponent has a weak pass defense, as Arizona (242 yds against per game) and Tennessee (272 yds against) clearly do, the spread formations and throw-em-where-they-ain't strategy pays off handsomely, and the team moves the ball. While Stephen Davis is a key to keeping the defenses honest, both the Cardinals and Titans are among the stingier rush defenses in the league, if only because they're so easy to pass against. Philadelphia and San Francisco, the two teams the Skins have lost to, also have decent run defenses...but once they force the pass, they can also cover it. Both are top ten against the pass by yardage allowed, and their overall numbers certainly reflect severe beatdowns of the Redskins pass offense (just 302 yds and 1 TD given up between them).
You savvy savvy-having people surely know where this is leading. The Saints are 4-1, but their defense is barely keeping pace with the offense's ability to score points. The secondary has given up 10 TDs in 5 games, and only Brett Favre could be considered a savvy-having QB opponent. Jim Miller, Brad Johnson, Tommy Maddox and Joey Harrington sound like a summer Superstars team, not a group of Pro Bowl QBs. So it's not like Patrick Ramsey is doomed to fail for lack of a pedigree. And his debut performance was efficient and promising. He faced several instances of pressure, and handled nearly all of them well with good poise, keeping his feet solidly under him as he threw, and putting firm touch and accuracy on the throws. The Saints have nine sacks, but they're a gambling sort of defense, and if Ramsey handles the pressure again New Orleans will be exposed. Whether the Skins D is up to the challenge of Brooks and McAllister is uncertain, but the offense should have plenty of chances to keep up.
Ramsey Recap:
(21-43, 320 yds, 1 TD, 4 INTs; 1 carry, 1 yd, 1 TD)
One word describes this performance... Ouch! Ramsey took a
beating from the Saints defense and quite frankly, was lucky
to survive the first quarter. The Rookie looked and played
like one, throwing three interceptions in his first four attempts.
When it was all said and done, the Saints had seven sacks,
four interceptions, two more potential INTs that were dropped,
and two more INTs that were called back by penalties. Welcome
to the NFL, Patrick.
Still, you have to admire his courage. The interior of the
Saints defensive line (Darren Howard) was pressuring him all-day
but Ramsey hung in there and delivered a couple of well-timed
screen passes that bailed out his stat-line. Throughtout it
all, Spurrier didn't panic or look to the bench, which was
probably a good thing. What was he going to do, pull Ramsey
for Shane Matthews? No, that ship has sailed. Coach let the
rookie absorb his lump and absorb he did. Mistakes were aplenty
but I'll take 320 yds and 2 TDs from my fantasy QB every week.
I'll downgrade the pick slightly due to the high number of
INTs, but still... this was good pick... from a fantasy point
of view.
Grade: A -
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Aaron Brooks at Washington
Well, the Skins pass defense ain't so hot, either. And the Saints are
piling on the points. This one smells like a shootout.
Peyton Manning vs Baltimore
They surprised Denver and handled a weakening Browns offense, but
the Colts always treat the Ravens like a grudge match, and if Ray Lewis
is out, Baltimore will be at Manning's mercy.
Drew Brees vs Kansas City
Look for the Bolts to bounce back. The Chiefs are hurting badly
in the secondary, and Brees to Conway will be a popular refrain.
Tommy Maddox at Cincinnati
Yeah, I'm pretty shocked too...the same Tommy Maddox who made Dan Reeves
look ashamed to BE a coach in New York. And the Bengals, bless 'em, are still the Bengals.
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