Browns Limp Into Baltimore as Two-TD Underdog: Looking to Avoid Deadly Attack

First off, my apologies for the delay in posting this week’s Browns preview. I could blame it on a lack of time from the recent site redesign, or the fact that I’ve been a little under weather this week, or that there were other more interesting stories to write about; but, the real reason why I’m not writing and posting this until just a few hours before kickoff is that I’ve specifically wanted to avoid writing about today’s Browns-Ravens game.

Because, regardless, I am going to the Browns Backers with my parents to watch the game, and I have pretty much no hope whatsoever that the Browns have even a prayer to win today.

That lack of hope was made even more severe yesterday when it was announced that Jamal Lewis and Phil Dawson will not play in today’s game.

Quickly, here is the pertinent viewing info for this afternoon from the Week 3 TV schedule and point spreads guide:

 

 

Cleveland Browns (0-2) at Baltimore Ravens (2-0)

 

• Browns-Ravens Date: Sunday, Sept. 27
• Browns-Ravens Time: 1:00 ET
• Browns-Ravens TV Network: CBS
• Browns-Ravens Announcers: GUS JOHNSON and Steve Tasker (Yes!!! A reason to watch the Browns! Gus Johnson!)
• Browns-Ravens Point Spread: Ravens -13.5
• Browns-Ravens Over-Under: 38.5

Here is the best way that I can illustrate my pessimism heading into today’s game: while surfing a few news headlines this morning on my iPhone, I stumbled across the following at FoxNews: “Horrified Zoo Goers Witness Deadly Bear Attack.” My immediate first thought—and I am not making this up—was how appropriate a similar headline will probably be later this afternoon: “Horrified Browns Backers Witness Deadly Raven Attack.”

Such is life in 2009 (as it was in 2008…and 2006…and 2005…and…) as a Browns fan.

(Side note: and remember, at least one Baltimore Raven, pictured left, has previously been involved in a deadly attack…)

Is a Browns win possible? Oh..sure it is, I suppose.

This is the NFL after all, where the phrase “any given Sunday” is a truly relevant cliche. These Ravens aren’t the 2007 Patriots or the 1972 Dolphins, and these Browns very likely (at least we hope) are not the 2008 Lions.

But after watching eight quarters of Browns football so far this season, and seeing the highlights of Baltimore’s well-oiled offensive machine, any Browns fan who truly believes Cleveland will win today is a quintessential example of a person with faith. Believing in the Browns’ chances to win at Baltimore truly would require believing without seeing.

So, here is the Browns-Ravens prediction that I’ve dreaded giving all week long: Baltimore will win, and they’ll win big, and I think they’ll cover.

Forgive me, but I just can’t shake the mental images of our putrid offense from the last two weeks. With Baltimore’s offense looking so strong, I think we have to hold them to 17 points or less to have even a prayer, and I just don’t see that happening.

However, there is hope.

What, there is?

Yes, and there is hope based soundly in historical precedent not only for this week but for the rest of the season.

This may admittedly be a wild stretch, but here goes:

Last year, the Miami Dolphins started of the season 0-2. In week 3 the Dolphins limped into Foxboro to face the New England Patriots and were a prohibitive underdog and expected to get pummeled. In that game, however, the Dolphins shocked the Patriots and the world by racking up 461 yards of Wildcat-powered offense en route to a 38-13 victory.

The Dolphins would thereafter proceed to win 10 of their next 14 games and make the playoffs…and it all started with a road win when no one gave them a chance.

Let’s see: 

• Team left for dead after only two weeks? Check.
• Tough Week Three matchup against divisional opponent on the road? Check.
• No one, not even the most optimistic of fans, giving team a chance to win? Check.
• Putrid offense looking for a spark? Check.

That last one is the key to today’s game.

The Dolphins introduced the Wildcat offense in that Week Three matchup, which totally caught the Patriots by surprise and proved to have staying power as a viable solution for moving the ball. The Dolphins, and many other NFL teams, are still running the Wildcat this season.

What do the Browns have in their arsenal that could have similar effect today?

I’m not exactly sure. 

Perhaps we will see Josh Cribbs line up more behind center in the Wildcat today?

Honestly, I’m not sure why this hasn’t happened more already. Cribbs can run and throw, and he has not made a smooth transition to wideout. Maybe the Browns should let Mike Furrey, Mohammed Massaquoi, and Brian Robiskie work opposite Braylon Edwards and find easier ways—a la the Wildcat—to get Cribbs the ball.

Hmm…or perhaps we will see the long-awaited coming out party of Jerome Harrison?

The Browns’ backup running back—he of the 5.7 yard per carry average for his career—will get an extended look today with Jamal Lewis out. Exciting but unproven rookie James Davis should also get a look. Maybe the fresh legs of these two runners can spark the Browns?

Or maybe, just maybe, Brady Quinn will quiet his naysayers can play like a first round pick today?

If I had to rank the above three scenarios in order of their probability of occurring:

1. Harrison, Davis spark Browns’ ground attack
2. Josh Cribbs sparks Browns’ offense with dual-threat Wildcat
3. God takes a break from his busy schedule to divinely intervene on the behalf of long-suffering Browns fans to orchestrate a stunning upset.
4. Brady Quinn plays like a first round pick and leads the Browns to victory.

I guess we’ll see. But barring some sort of crazy, flukish afternoon, one of those things will have to happen for the Browns’ offense to get in sync. The defense can play as well as it is capable of playing and it won’t mean squat if Cleveland can’t challenge Baltimore on the other side of the ball.

I sure hope it happens, and I sure hope that my prediction proves wrong. I shouldn’t already be bored with—and afraid of—these weekly Browns previews after only two weeks.

So let’s defy the odds and make it a game today boys. 

At the very least, please don’t force us all to shuffle out of the bar today feeling like we just witnessed a deadly bear attack.

**********

* – Ray Lewis photo credit: Stephanie Krell via Flickr

* – Derek Anderson getting sacked photo credit: Nick Wass / AP Photo via Dawgs by Nature

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Falcons @ Patriots: The Confidence Factor

It seems that everywhere you read, there’s a story of some player, some team that has this pig flu.

Yesterday’s college scene saw Tim Tebow go down from a hit but then… almost as an afterthought, it was mentioned that he had some otherwise undefined “respiratory issues.” And while I am no fawning follower of the Gators or Mr. Quarterback, it just struck me as an insult to him and his team that someone thought it necessary to make excuses for the situation.

The reason we are beginning this Falcons rant with a story from the college ranks is indirectly related to an old Vince Lombardi quote: “Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence.”

To be sure, the H1N1 virus was not the only contagion making an appearance. Even as Florida continued to roll and prove itself again as the team to beat in both the SEC and the BCS, someone, somewhere in Gatorland didn’t have enough confidence in the proven to dispense with the apologies.

Well, today’s Falcons @ Patriots game may involve some of this same illness and the moment it begins to show itself, you’ll want to cover your nose and mouth.

 

 

For the Patriots, it’s already been a long season

At 1-1 and with only 34 points to show for a strangled win over a thoroughly mediocre Buffalo team and then, the solid loss to the NY Jets, it is now clear that these are not your daddy’s New England Patriots. At least, not the team that practically owned the league through the first half of this decade.

And as far as that old confidence bug goes? There’s this story title from the Boston Herald: “Tom Brady’s human”

No way! Say it ain’t so, Tom! ((Ah-choo!))

Bless you. Now, let’s have a look at a headline from Atlanta’s Journal-Constitution: “Matt Ryan: The absolute right man at the absolute right time”

At this moment in 2009/10 NFL season, the Atlanta Falcons will march into Foxboro’s Gillette Stadium fully inoculated from that old virus. And, while the question of whether confidence alone is enough to win games, is arguable, there’s just absolutely no doubt that you’ll never, ever win without it.

As Mr. Lombardi noted, it is indeed quite contagious. This kind of disease needs to be cornered and quarantined quickly, before it spreads. The Pats simply can’t afford a whole team that is…well, just human.

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NFL Week Three Power Poll and Predictions

First, how I rank all 32 teams:

1. New York Giants—my preseason pick to win the Super Bowl has finally gotten to the top of the power poll, thanks to the losses of the Steelers and Patriots.
2. Atlanta Falcons—their defense looks better than expected so far.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers—despite the one loss, they are the best team on paper.
4. New Orleans Saints—I am regretting wimping out on picking them to win the NFC South.
5. Baltimore Ravens—unbeaten, but have not played anyone of consequence.
6. Minnesota Vikings—have even sorrier strength-of-victories than the Ravens.
7. New York Jets—could Sanchez already be a quality NFL starter?
8. Indianapolis Colts—barely got either win over mediocre-at-best opposition.
9. San Francisco Forty-Niners—actually played the toughest schedule of the unbeaten teams.
10. New England Patriots—look to have more problems on both sides of the ball than it appeared in preseason.
11. Chicago Bears—one bad Jay Cutler performance from being a top-tier team.
12. San Diego Chargers—still a dangerous team with balance, they have started off badly both years under Norv Turner before finishing strong.
13. Dallas Cowboys—lost a tough opener in their new stadium, but played well against the league’s top team.
14. Tennessee Titans—how does an 0-2 team make the top half of the league? Tough losses, a great team on paper, and an experienced coach.
15. Arizona Cardinals—still have the most dangerous passing attack, and it may be getting on track.
16. Philadelphia Eagles—suffer in the poll from the uncertain health of Donovan McNabb.
17. Washington Offensively Named Ones—how does a team with an offensive name have no offense?
18. Buffalo Bills—a surprise this high, but were one boneheaded play from being 2-0.
19. Seattle Seahawks—may be getting bitten by last year’s injury bug.
20. Houston Texans—still have not won when the pressure was on.
21. Miami Dolphins—they have been in both losses and against pretty good competition.
22. Green Bay Packers—see Seahawks, plus add a horrible offensive line.
23. Denver Broncos—better than expected, but just lack the pieces.
24. Oakland Raiders—two competitive games, with the loss coming against a very good Chargers squad. But can JaMarcus Russell throw on target?
25. Cincinnati Bengals—until they put some consistency together, one must assume last week was a fluke.
26. Carolina Panthers—they are good on paper, but in the games played on the field they have been horrible.
27. Jacksonville Jaguars—more competitive in their losses than one might expect, but still a bottom-tier team until they win one.
28. Kansas City Chiefs—Matt Cassell is not so great without Randy Moss and Wes Welker to throw to, but he’s played two good defenses.
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers—how soon do they turn the reigns over to Josh Freeman?
30. Detroit Lions—look like they have more offense than last season.
31. Cleveland Browns—two seasons ago obviously was a fluke now.
32. St. Louis Rams—no pass rush, no pass blocking, and not one Pro Bowl calibre player.

Now for my picks for the week (home team in CAPS), with the lowest being the least sure to win and the highest being the most:

1. SEAHAWKS over Bears
2. CARDINALS over Colts
3. Titans over JETS
4. PATRIOTS over Falcons
5. CHARGERS over Dolphins
6. RAIDERS over Broncos
7. COWBOYS over Panthers
8. Saints over BILLS
9. Offensively Named Ones over LIONS
10. VIKINGS over Forty-Niners
11. TEXANS over Jaguars
12. EAGLES over Chiefs
13. Steelers over BENGALS
14. Packers over RAMS
15. Giants over BUCCANEERS
16. RAVENS over Browns

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2009 NFC West Featured Columnist Competition: Week Three Picks

Time for round three of this year’s NFC West featured columnist competition!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this competition, please click here for a brief outline of the rules as well as a small bio of each contestant.

In short, this is a pick ’em competition. Contestants are in teams of two, each representing the team they write for on Bleacher Report.

Each week, I will publish an article which announces the picks, such as this. Additionally, I will publish a results article once the games are completed, which will include weekly and yearly standings.

 

Observations from Week Three Picks

• Unanimous Consent Weekend! Everybody likes the Ravens, Eagles, Packers, Texans, Giants, Saints, Dolphins, and Cowboys—Some of these selections are based on how hot a team is (Saints), while some are made based on how bad the opposition is (Green Bay v. St. Louis). Regardless of motive, this week features an unprecedented eight unanimous selections. My apologies to the Cleveland Browns; no-one has faith in you.
• Split Decision Weekend!—Week three certainly features some boring matchups (Baltimore v. Cleveland, to name one), but there are also some intriguing games. While the eight contestants split votes on only one matchup in week one and one matchup in week two, they are at odds four times in week three. San Francisco v. Minnesota, Pittsburgh v. Cincinnati, Washington v. Detroit, and Denver v. Oakland are apparently too close to call. 
• Couples Retreat—Speaking of split decisions, what happens when representatives pair up against each other? In the Denver v. Oakland matchup, notice that the decision is split, yet every contestant agrees with his partner. The San Francisco and Seattle representatives have chosen Denver, while Arizona and St. Louis opted for Oakland. This game could create some separation…
• Patriot Games—Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons are vying for the title of the best team in the NFC, while Tom Brady and the Patriots are coming off a subpar loss to the New York Jets. How did the contestants respond? By picking against the Falcons seven times out of eight. Rob Staton was the only contestant who showed faith in the Falcons.
• Dogging the Underdog—Speaking of Rob Staton picking the Falcons, let it be noted that this selection is the only pick of the week which qualifies for the Underdog Bonus. Maybe it’s because the picks were too easy, or maybe it’s because the probability of landing an Underdog win are so small. Either way, there were few stray picks in week three.
• Andrew and Dray: The Even Couple—Andrew and Dray’s stint as the even couple propelled them into first place in week two. What did they do follow that up? Simple; they spent another week in agreement! In week three, these two agreed on a competition-high thirteen picks.
• Homer Alert—Excluding the Rams, whose representatives have accepted the impossibility of favoring their team, all other teams were split decisions. Chris, Dray, and Scotty all stuck with their teams, despite the fact that none were favorites per this contest’s selections. Conversely, Andrew, Rob, and Steven sold their teams down river for a chance of glory. 
• Quick note—Except for the Rams, who were unanimously chosen against, the NFC West teams found themselves in tight games this week. Arizona and San Francisco are both split decisions, while Chicago is slightly favored against Seattle five to three.

 

Without further ado, here are the picks. Please comment below with your thoughts.

 

	Rob	Scotty	Ron	Seth	Andrew	Dray	Chris	Steven
CLE@BAL	BAL	BAL	BAL	BAL	BAL	BAL	BAL	BAL
KC@PHI	PHI	PHI	PHI	PHI	PHI	PHI	PHI	PHI
ATL@NE	ATL	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE
TEN@NYJ	NYJ	TEN	TEN	NYJ	NYJ	TEN	TEN	TEN
GB@STL	GB	GB	GB	GB	GB	GB	GB	GB
SF@MIN	MIN	MIN	SF	SF	MIN	SF	SF	MIN
JAX@HOU	HOU	HOU	HOU	HOU	HOU	HOU	HOU	HOU
WAS@DET	WAS	WAS	WAS	DET	WAS	DET	DET	DET
NYG@TB	NYG	NYG	NYG	NYG	NYG	NYG	NYG	NYG
CHI@SEA	CHI	SEA	SEA	CHI	CHI	CHI	SEA	CHI
NO@BUF	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO
PIT@CIN	CIN	CIN	PIT	CIN	PIT	PIT	CIN	PIT
MIA@SD	SD	SD	SD	SD	SD	SD	SD	SD
DEN@OAK	DEN	DEN	OAK	OAK	DEN	DEN	OAK	OAK
IND@ARI	ARI	IND	ARI	IND	IND	IND	ARI	IND
CAR@DAL	DAL	DAL	DAL	DAL	DAL	DAL	DAL	DAL

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The Real Detroit Lions QB Controversy

You know, when I hear that Daunte Culpepper should be starting, it boggles my mind more and more each time. I mean, call me crazy, but the last time I checked, at the end of this season, Daunte Culpepper’s contract ends.

Now, on the other hand, the current starting quarterback, Matthew Stafford is under a very large contract until the end of the 2014 season. Then there is Drew Stanton, who is signed to the Lions until the end of the 2010 season. Where am I going with all of this?

It’s quite simple, really. Not only do I think Culpepper shouldn’t replace Matthew Stafford, even if Stafford sets the record for interceptions in a game. I don’t think Culpepper should get the start if anything were to happen to Matthew Stafford.

What exactly would be the point? The only good that can come out of Culpepper starting is the possibility that he plays well enough to earn himself a few extra dollars from whoever he signs with next year. What could the Lions possibly get out of it, two more wins than they could get by starting Stafford, if that?

As soon as Drew Stanton fully recovers from his injury, Daunte Culpepper should be demoted to third stringer or traded. The worst possible scenario is that we trade Culpepper for some defensive help and then something happens to Stafford.

That means Stanton gets his shot, and if Stanton doesn’t play well, so what? The real question is, what if he does? If it were Culpepper going in and playing well or playing horrible, so what? He’s gone after this year anyway, but as I said, we have Stanton until the end of 2010.

If Stanton were to play well, then we would now have a young capable backup just in case. We could also dangle him in front of other teams as trade bait. Come on, he was a second-round draft pick and in my scenario would have proven that hes a gamer. His first couple of years were plagued by Mike Martz craziness and injuries and he still hasn’t gotten a real shot.

Also, let’s not forget that he out shined both Stafford and Culpepper in the preseason.

Mark my words, next season’s depth chart at quarterback is going to be Stafford as starter and Stanton as second string anyway. The only thing Culpepper is really doing for this team is taking practice reps away from our eventual backup.

That is besides giving some Lions fans and the media something to complain about when a rookie plays like a rookie. The Lions would be better off if they just traded Culpepper sooner rather than later.

Oh, and just for the record, Brian Billick, NFL Network: “I think coach Schwartz, taking into account the emotional stability of Stafford and his ability to handle the pressure of starting for the Lions, most QBs will tell you that you learn nothing from the bench, and the only way to learn is to play. I agree with that. It depends on the young QB, but Peyton Manning and Troy Aikman had very rough starts, but will tell you specifically they valued playing from the get-go.”

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NFL: Green Bay Packers-St. Louis Rams Preview

Aaron Rodgers has spent much of the regular season running for his life. In the two games so far, the left defensive end—the primary responsibility of right tackle Allen Barbre—has recorded seven sacks (three by other linemen).

Overall, the team has yielded ten—three fewer than the entire 2007 season when the Packers went to the NFC Championship Game.

Things could get worse before they get better: Chad Clifton, the offensive line’s only solid starter, is out with an ankle injury. Fortunately for the Packers, they face one of the few teams that may not be able to take advantage of this weakness—St. Louis only have one sack in two games, tied for second-worst in the league.

This has been a source of anguish for the many people who picked the Packers to go deep into the playoffs, including a significant number of national pundits (Mike Ditka, Howie Long, and Michael Strahan to name a few) picking them to make the Super Bowl. It is making even those of us picking them to win the division look shaky, and has been a source of pride for Vikings fans.

Ted Thompson must get help for this offensive line (and soon) or he should be fired. This is too promising a season and the Packers have too much salary cap room because of this penny-pincher to let it go awry while risking the safety of the franchise quarterback.

But enough of my soapbox—let’s look at this week’s game according to the matchups:

 

Packers’ passing attack vs. Rams’ pass defense: big advantage, Packers

The one weakness the Packers have cannot be exploited by the Rams. Because of the ten allowed sacks, the Packers have gained just 376 yards in the air so far. However, the Rams have yielded 516 despite playing a poor passing team last week in Washington and being blown out against Seattle (i.e. a team looking to grind out clock).

We know that Green Bay have a good passing game from its top-ten finish last year. They have too good a quarterback and too deep receiving corps not to take advantage when Rodgers actually has time against this anemic pass rush.

 

Packers’ rushing attack vs. Rams’ rushing defense: slight advantage, Packers

Green Bay have gained just 164 yards on the ground, and that is not because they have had to scrap the running game early. However, the Rams have given up 292 yards, and while those numbers are inflated because of playing from behind, they gave up almost five yards per carry against a very mediocre Seattle running game when they knew what was coming.

 

Rams’ passing attack vs. Packers’ pass defense: advantage, Packers

The Rams have gained just 289 yards through the air despite playing from behind. However, it should be noted they faced an above average and very good defense, and we know they have a good quarterback.

Green Bay, meanwhile, have allowed a mediocre 434 yards through the air against a poor and pretty good attack. This has been disappointing considering they fielded three Pro Bowlers in the secondary, but they are still forcing turnovers—six interceptions through two games.

 

Rams’ rushing attack vs. Packers’ rush defense: too close to call

This sort of depends on which Packers defense shows up—the one that held second-year standout Matt Forte to 55 yards on 25 carries, or the one that allowed Bears castoff Cedric Benson to run through arm tackles. In all, they have allowed 237 rushing yards.

The Rams have not run the ball much because they have been playing from behind, and have not run it especially well when they did. In two games, they have just 203 yards on the ground, but they do have Stephen Jackson, who is still a formidable weapon in the backfield.

 

Special Teams: slight advantage, Rams

Neither kicker has been that impressive, with Mason Crosby missing two kicks (one in the 40-49 yard range, the other in the 50-plus) and Josh Brown missing his only kick (in the 20-29 yard range). However, that is too small a sample for Brown and both long misses for Crosby.

The Rams have a definite edge in punting, with a better punter and better coverage units, as well as a slightly better return game. The Packers have an edge in kicking, with better coverage and a significantly better return game.

 

Injuries/intangibles: advantage, Rams

St. Louis face no pressure as nothing is expected of them, although they do not need it as badly as the Packers, either. Green Bay’s season is hanging by a thread despite the calendar saying September.

With the big matchup next week in Minnesota against their chief rival and traitor, the team needs this one badly. They also could get caught looking ahead, although the loss to the Bengals lessens the likelihood of that.

The Rams only have rookie tackle Jason Smith that is likely to miss the game. Meanwhile, the Packers will be without Atari Bigby and starting new safety Derrick Martin, plus Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins will be playing through a chest injury. The aforementioned Clifton injury is not the only one on offense, either—backup running back Brandon Jackson is out, as well.

The Packers are out-performing the Rams in third-down conversions on both sides of the ball, time of possession, and have a whopping plus-14.5 edge in points scored by/against. Both teams are virtually equal in penalties, with the Packers having 17 for 121 yards and the Rams 16 for 130.

 

Prediction: 31-20 Packers

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Guaranteed NFL Week Three Locks

I went 9-7 in the NFL last week, which puts me at 20-12 for the year. I think I have a good feel for today and Monday’s games, so lets get off the ball like Steve Hutchinson and hit these picks, which are in bold and based on the Bodog spread.

Note: Due to an upcoming investments midterm, I do not have time to explain these picks, so please trust me that I have done my research for every game. Thanks.

Log onto VincentManning.com for guaranteed college football and NFL locks from now until February, and follow me on Twitter @PeterCady.

NFL Record as of 9/26/09: 20-12

NFL Week Three Locks:

Tennessee (+3) at New York Jets
Jacksonville at Houston (-4, MY SOUTH BEACH LOCK)
Kansas City at Philadelphia (-8)
Cleveland (+14) at Baltimore
New York Giants at Tampa Bay (+7)
Washington (-6.5) at Detroit
Green Bay (-7) at St. Louis
San Francisco (+7) at Minnesota
Atlanta at New England (-5)
Chicago (-3) at Seattle
New Orleans (-6.5) at Buffalo
Miami at San Diego (-6)
Pittsburgh (-4) at Cincinnati
Denver at Oakland (+2)
Indianapolis at Arizona (-2.5)
Carolina at Dallas (-9)

DISCLAIMER: THESE PICKS ARE INTENDED FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. THERE IS NO WAY TO ACCURATELY PREDICT WHO WILL COVER IN A FOOTBALL GAME, AND SPORTS GAMBLING IS ILLEGAL IN EVERY U.S. JURISDICTION EXCEPT LAS VEGAS AND DELAWARE.

BET WITH YOUR HEAD, AND THEREFORE ONLY BET WHAT YOU ARE WILLING TO LOSE. VINCENTMANNING.COM IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYBODY WHO GETS INTO LEGAL OR FINANCIAL TROUBLE AS A RESULT OF THESE PICKS OR THIS SITE.

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Desean Jackson, Brian Westbrook Injury Update and Week Three Status

From a fantasy perspective, no team is more mind-achingly, frustratingly intriguing than the Philadelphia Eagles heading into Week Three. Not only do the Eagles have what looks to be a pretty sweet matchup against the hapless Kansas City Chiefs, but Philadelphia’s most recent injury report would make for half of a pretty good fantasy starting lineup:

Quarterback: Donovan McNabb—doubtful with rib injury;

Running back: Brian Westbrook—questionable with ankle injury;

Wide receiver: Desean Jackson—questionable with groin injury;

Wide receiver: Kevin Curtis—doubtful with knee injury.

Most McNabb owners are probably not counting on him playing this weekend. Certainly they should not be. McNabb is reportedly progressing well, but there is no reason for the Eagles to play him this week and risk further injury when they have a bye week coming up next week.

As for Desean Jackson, he participated fully in Friday’s practice and should be good to go on Sunday. With Kevin Curtis likely out, and rookie Jeremy Maclin lining up opposite Jackson, I expect Desean and Brent Celek to get most of the targets from probable starting Quarterback Kevin Kolb. The reports were pretty solid about Jackson, so he should be ready to contribute normally.

With all that said, the most compelling and influential injury issue in Philadelphia for Week Three is Brian Westbrook.

Westbrook has not practiced all week while dealing with swelling in his injured ankle. It’s the same ankle that Westbrook had surgery on this past offseason, and this fact has caused some extra concern. However, as any Westbrook fantasy owner knows, he often plays on Sunday despite not practicing throughout the week.

I’ve done you the service of reading pretty much every injury update and fantasy article written about Westbrook over the 48 hours. Here is the consensus: most tentatively expect him to play, but do expect LeSean McCoy to get increased touches.

So here is my advice:

If you own Westbrook: Pencil him into your starting lineup, but be ready to make a last-minute switch once the list of inactive players comes out late tomorrow morning.

If you own LeSean McCoy: Play him at your flex position if you have no obvious choices, and also track the inactives list. If Westbrook is a no-go, McCoy immediately becomes a must-start RB No. 2 at a minimum.

I’ll update this post as soon as I find out anything more about this situation. I own Desean Jackson and LeSean McCoy in numerous leagues, so I will be playing close attention to the Eagles tomorrow morning.

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Oakland Raiders Week 3: Pressures, Hurries and Knockdowns

This is the first in what will be a weekly column about the Raiders regarding pressure situations, quick hit thoughts, and myths that have been disproven or are on shaky ground. I am also doing a weekly Pressures, Hurries, and Knockdowns article for the entire league.

Thanks for reading, and if you have any comments or suggestions to make the column better please send me a message.

PRESSURES

The Offense

I’ve already written about JaMarcus’ accuracy issues, so I won’t go into them here. I feel that the entire offense is under pressure to succeed, if only to keep the defense off the field and fresh.

The defense played great against the Chargers on opening night, but after a string of ineffective offensive possessions in the 3rd quarter, they were wearing down toward the end of the game.

They still stood strong until the very end, and that was more scheme than fatigue, but they were a step slower at times, and a noticeably tired defensive line failed to generate any pass rush on Rivers after being in his face the entire night. This can be attributed to being on the field too much in the second half.

Last weekend, Russell was struggling, so it afforded Kansas City the opportunity to load up the box and mostly neutralize the running game. The defense, as a result of multiple three-and-outs by the offense, were on the field for nearly 40 minutes.

They still held up strong and helped lead the team to a 13-10 victory, very impressive coming off a highly emotional game on a short week on the road. Russell and the offense got it going when it counted, as he shook off earlier struggles to complete 4/7 passes for 68 yards, and proving for the second week in a row he can bring his ‘A’ game come crunch time.

But the offense simply has to be better earlier in the game. The struggles cannot all be put on Russell, as the entire offense has stagnated at times. This offense is very young, and as such will struggle to be on the same page and read the field the same way.

Darrius Heyward-Bey and Louis Murphy are both rookie wideouts, and as such have not yet developed a full cohesion with Russell. They still telegraph and run improper routes at times, which contributes to the overall struggles of the passing game. They can only get better from here as they continue to learn and grow.

It’s a work in progress with this much inexperience, and it’ll definitely pay dividends as time goes on. We should see improvement every week, and it’s hopeful last weekend’s first three quarters were the top of our struggles.

This offense has the talent to win now, if they can simply get a few more completions from Russell. This is easily attainable, as it is most likely the worst was over after the 3rd quarter of the Chiefs game. It’s hard to believe, with the flashes of playmaking he’s shown, that Russell could play that poorly ever again.

The playcalling of Tom Cable also needs to focus more on the run, and not abandon it when we aren’t tearing the ground up. Both Darren McFadden and Michael Bush have shown consistent ability to pick up big yardage, and both can go the distance. Cable must be patient, because if you give them enough carries, one or both will make at least one big play a game. He also needs to get McFadden outside with the ball more often.

It’s important to stick to the run, improve the pass, and get some screens in play to improve Russell’s confidence and give our backs the chance to make a big play. A wide receiver screen to DHB or Murphy wouldn’t be a bad idea either. There are many weapons on this offense, but without more efficiency with the pass, a full-on commitment to the run may be difficult, putting the team in a major conundrum.

I feel Russell bounces back and plays well, and the running game gets on track this weekend.

 

Erik Pears

When Robert Gallery, the Raiders talented left guard who was playing at a high level this season, broke his fibula in the Chiefs game, it was a harsh blow to an offensive line that had been playing rather well to that point.

The left side of the line had been instrumental in paving the way for effective running against the Chargers, and protecting Russell’s backside in both games this season. Gallery and left tackle Mario Henderson have developed an excellent cohesion on the left side and many of the Raiders more effective runs have gone behind Gallery this season.

Replacing him will be Erik Pears. There is pressure on Pears to continue success in place of Gallery, as Gallery is a great player who continually gets to the second level to clearout space for longer runs by the talented backfield of Bush and McFadden, and Fargas (if he ever sees the field again).

Pears is an ex-Bronco, so this game has that much more significance for him. He will be putting a lot of pressure on himself, and the storyline of him replacing a team captain and essential piece of the running game against the team that tossed him aside after an injury (granted, they replaced him with Ryan Clady, who is a wall) will only add to the scrutiny he would already be under.

He better be prepared to bring it, but players usually get amped up for their former teams, especially if they’ve been cast aside. Pears started 10 of 16 games at Right Tackle for Denver in the his rookie year in 2006, and played well enough to earn the starting job for all 16 games in the 2007 season.

He got Wally Pip’ed by rookie Ryan Clady last year when he was shelved with appendicitis, and Clady played so well that Pears never got back into the rotation.He was picked up in the offseason by the Raiders on the strength of the fact that he played for the Broncos and therefore has experience in the zone-blocking scheme employed by his new team.

His experience with the ZBS and Denver as a whole, coupled with his size at 6’8, 308, as well as positive reports from practice indicate that he is capable of filling in for Gallery. This also allows Chris Morris to stay at center, where he has played quite well this season and is responsible for calling blocking schemes. With the offense under pressure to perform, it’s essential Pears plays well to ensure the improvement I expect to see Sunday. 

HURRIES

• It’s great news to have JLH back returning punts this weekend. You may remember the last time Johnnie played the Brocos: an 89-yard punt return and wonderfully soulful celebration. Wanna see him dance this weekend
• Rich Gannon provided some very astute analysis regarding Russell’s inaccuracy issues, and feels that all of them can be corrected, which is good news. Ted Tollner agrees
• Josh McDaniels has respect for JaMarcus Russell even if Broncos fans don’t. McDaniels noted in an interview that Russell has the highest yards-per-completion in the league at 16.6, as well as his success against the Broncos last season
• Chaz Schilens will be back, but not until next week at the earliest. Though Schilens said he wants to be out there now, he conceded the medical staff is right in holding him back to ensure no longer-term damage
• I fully expect the Black Hole to wreak havoc on Denver this weekend, and I ask my brethren in the Raider Nation to make it as miserable as possible for the hated Broncos and their new QB Kyle Orton
• Michael Huff will start at free safety in place of an injured Hiram Eugene this Sunday. Huff leads the league with 3 interceptions and has been all around the ball this entire season. More on him below

 

KNOCKDOWNS

JaMarcus Russell Lacks Leadership

First off, let me get this out of the way. I think all of us in the Nation have questioned Russell’s work ethic and commitment at some time during his career. We would all like him to study film more and practice take more initiative like he did in the summer with his passing camp.

But his leadership, though maybe not found in his preparation just yet as he matures and grows, has shone through on the field thus far this season.

His struggles have been well-documented, but what is not quite so well documented is his impressive ability to bounce back from early struggles to play strongly in the final minutes and put his team in a position to win. He’s done it both games this season thus far.

For a young man who held out and missed training camp his rookie season, has had three different play callers and two different coaches, one of whom held him back intentionally and sabatoged his development, and more criticism, drama, and turmoil than many players experience in their whole career, Russell has shown a remarkable ability to shrug it off and go out and play.

His on-field leadership has come far, as proven in the fourth quarter of the San Diego game. After his shin was crushed by a pile of falling bodies, he limped out of the game and appeared done.

Bruce Gradkowski came in and made a couple nice throws, and then Russell returned. He then proceeded to throw a cold-blooded, 47 yard touchdown pass to Louis Murphy on 4th and 15 to put the Raiders ahead.

I don’t think Russell would’ve been able to do that last season. He has shown his teammates that although he may struggle, and even struggle mightily at times, when it comes time to lead a big drive in the final minutes they can hop on his broad back and trust him to get the job done. That is huge for locker room morale and usually the last quality a young quarterback develops.

Michael Huff is Done

This one is an absolute pleasure to write. Loved in the locker room, professional on and off the field, and a favourite of the coaching staff for his personality and work ethic, Michael Huff nonetheless was very close to being cut before this season began.

Drafted #7 overall in 2006, Huff was considered a top safety prospect and expected to have an immediate NFL impact. Instead, despite some decent numbers in the tackle department, Huff lacked any big play acumen heading into this season.

He always seemed a step late to the ball, despite having good coverage often. He missed many tackles that led to big gains for the other team, and generally didn’t perform well. In fact, he probably would’ve been benched earlier had he not been drafted so high.

It seemed a real possibility that with Mike Mitchell being drafted in the 2nd round and Tyvon Branch being healthy, Huff could be the odd man out in the safety battle and demoted even further on the depth chart. But Mitchell has struggled with hamstring issues, and hasn’t seen enough field action to be trustworthy on many snaps until he gets more comfortable.

That has opened the door for Huff, and he has responded in spades this season. Whereas he was never around the ball before, he has a league-leading 3 INT’s, and has recovered a fumble as well. He also had four passes defensed last Sunday against the Chiefs, almost half of the 11 he collected starting or playing heavily in all 16 games last season.

The Huff have seen thus far in 2009 is the Huff we’ve expected all along, but even better. Nnamdi Asomugha has always been a huge advocate of Huff’s, and he’s stated that he believes Huff’s recent play will be the rule going forward rather than the exception.

Huff is a very hard working player and has committed himself to justifying his draft status by watching extra film with Asomugha and staying after practice to work on catching and route reads. So far, so good, and with him getting the start this Sunday, we’ll see if he can continue to create havoc for opposing offenses.

 

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Terrell Owens’ Blame Game Continues

Not everyone gets the USA Today so you might not know what I’m talking about it. In fact, were I not in route across the country, the story would’ve passed quietly under my radar.

On the front page of the Saturday Sports Section, the paper devotes several inches of print to Terrell Owens, the mouthy wide receiver with a nasty habit of dropping big passes.

Right out of the gates, we learn Terrible O wears earrings on game day. Not just any earrings, mind you—the diamond studs bling-bling to the tune of $137,000. Owens proudly and grinningly announces, “people call them my signature earrings.”

Woe be to the world when modern-day gladiators proudly boast of “signature” earrings. Especially such expensive ones in today’s climate of economic strife and corporate strafe.

Worse, haven’t a few NFL players been robbed lately? Some with horribly tragic results? Why broadcast that you invest a small fortune (possibly large) in easily yanked merchandise?

But forget that TO so blithely trumpets his trinkets worth more than most automobiles and even some homes (median price of home in the United States of America—$210,000). You can even overlook that wearing jewelry worth while playing a sport that features many violent collisions creates a reasonable inference the wide-out isn’t too concerned about losing over $65,000 per stud should they become dislodged.

The revelation is merely the intro, the tippety-top of the never-ending iceberg that’s taking its sweet freakin’ time to sink Owens’ career.

The real absurdity doesn’t start until you get into the body of the article.

That’s because its aim is to exculpate the man who would be king of the prima donna me-first-ers.

Owens goes to lengths to explain he’s actually just misunderstood. According to the man himself, “I think it’s very unfortunate…I kind of felt I left those teams [Philadelphia and Dallas] prematurely. Only because of how the media spins it…they misinterpreted something I said.”

Are you paying attention football fans?

Both teams, desperate to successfully pass through the Promised Land, ditched one of the most talented athletes in the National Football League because of the big, bad media. You’d think his employers might have had a firm handle on the truth, but apparently said handle became mushy with ESPN screaming in their ears.

In another bit of stunning contortion, Owens claims to have put a “modified gag order” on himself. Apparently, the modification allows room for full-page interviews with national newspapers. The day before the game…when nobody’s thinking about football.

Other highlights include:

1.  Preemptively striking at any decline in his production, pointing out any such ebb on the field won’t be because of his age. Nope, Owens pre-blames that on the weather—too cold in Buffalo. Or at least it will be…or could be (if his performance does, in fact, drop).

2.  Announcing the Bills should be playing in a dome. Although, in fairness to Owens, he was careful to say he was just “thinking out loud” after less than a year in town. That is every individual’s right and TO isn’t out campaigning for a roof. I just wonder why he ALWAYS has to think aloud. Has the man no internal dialog?

3.  Linking his garrulous tendencies that detonate teams to his grandmother, who taught him to be honest at all times. If he has anything for which to apologize, it’s being too honest—in the wake of being curbed by three elite NFL franchise, it’s his only regret and the only share of the blame he’ll accept.

 

Of course, Team Obliterator also shines a light into his darker corners or, rather, lack thereof.

In truth, Owens does deserve some sincere gratitude and praise.

As he articulates, the underachieving All-Pro hasn’t had any truly disturbing or despicable acts of human indecency. He’s never turned up on the police blotter for torturing defenseless animals or shooting himself or beating women or running rails.

What’s more, No. 81 appears to be quite active in charitable organizations aimed at helping those families who are currently suffering the same plights as he did growing up. He’s the face of a local food bank in part because he was all too familiar with food stamps growing up.

Likewise, Owens is a national spokesman for the Alzheimer’s Association—sadly, his grandmother is afflicted with the horrible disease.

None of this philanthropy should be casually dismissed—love him or loathe him (and I fall decidedly in the latter’s camp) Terrell Owens deserves all the credit in the world for putting his best foot forward in those endeavors.

The problem, as usually is the case with Mr. Bodysuit, it’s one foot forward and then several miles in reverse.

The undeniable impression left by his efforts is that of a 35-year-old child. After all those years, Terrell Owens’ conceit still prevents him from seeing the self-destruction HE has wrought.

Noticeably absent from his defensive self-posturing is any mention of his travails with the San Francisco 49ers. See, that doesn’t fit nicely into his narrative because even Owens can’t claim the media twisted him out of the City.

If you go back and revisit how this ongoing charade started, there is only Terrell Owens.

Nobody else to share the blame. Furthermore, each stint with a new team is a perfect microcosm of his entire career—there is the exciting honeymoon where everyone involved drools over the potential.

Then the grumbling starts. Then it gets louder. THEN the media starts flogging away and doesn’t stop until, admittedly, there isn’t much left of the horse. I don’t think you’ll find anyone who would argue the 24-hour sports news cycles are totally innocent.

And don’t forget all that flirtin’ with the cameras TO does when times are good.

But those are just details to Terrell Owens—he doesn’t want to look at the whole picture because then he’ll see what everyone else does.

That a splendid career will still look like a waste when it’s all over if he doesn’t grow up in a hurry. Perhaps it is already too late.

If it is, he has only one person to blame.

Himself.

**www.pva.org**

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