Mewelde Moore’s Style Should Not Be Overlooked by the Steelers

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has a strong sense of style. It is evident in the way he presents himself, in his manner of speech, and in his approach to the game.

Constantly stating that “style points do not count” does not eliminate the fact that his Steelers also have developed according to his style, and that style translates directly into our ability to score points, which certainly do count.

After watching the Steelers lose to the Chicago Bears last Sunday, I saw some elements of their style that inspired me, yet I am left with nagging reminders of other consistencies in the ways in which they have managed to lose.

Chalking up a loss while fighting to the last gasp is both comforting and disheartening. How many times did last year’s Detroit Lions let a lead slip away as the game wound to a close?

I would never place the Steelers in the same category as the Lions; however, I am simply stating the obvious fact that a close loss counts the same as a blowout.

This year, the Week One victory over the Titans showed again that the Steelers are a team whose offense has a style that mirrors that of their quarterback: Fight to the end no matter how grim things appear.  

Fighting to the end not only won them the Super Bowl, it also worked against several teams last year, most notably the Ravens.

I watched plenty of Steelers games in the late 1990s when the team would be sitting on a sure win, only to strut along the sidelines as their opponent dug in to snatch the victory. The late ’90s Steelers teams lacked the urge to fight to the end, and that attitude is critical to any great team.

Conversely, the painful struggle at the end of their Week Two loss to the Bears reminded me a little of the style that was seen in the 2007 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the wild card round of the playoffs.

On that cold slushy Sunday, the Steeler offense was slow to get on track against the Jaguars, but they found their heart and dragged the team to a fragile one-point lead in the fourth quarter.

With our proud defense deflated, we were the ones left to take a beating at the end of the game. In both games, our opponents were the ones kicking the game-winning field goal.

That scenario will always be out of style in Pittsburgh.

I feel that when Tomlin uses the word style, he attaches to it a connotation of beauty or elegance.  

I would guess that is why he does not want the team to get caught up on the concept of “style.”

Yet “The Drive” and “The Catch” did not occur at the end of blowout games; they emphatically punctuated wins in very close games that could have gone either way.  

The countless times those plays have run on highlight reels underscore the height of their value to football. Those plays define style.

This Sunday, the Steelers travel to Cincinnati to take on their hated rivals, the Bengals.

In 2008, the Steelers bucked the trend that was to define them later in the season and soundly punished the Bengals in both matchups.

Though the Bengals were without their quarterback Carson Palmer last year, the Steelers’ story line was the disadvantage they may have had with literally no running game following the injuries to Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall.

Mewelde Moore was called upon to step in, and he very much rose to the occasion, rushing for 120 yards on 20 carries, scoring two touchdowns.

Conversely, his Bengal counterpart Cedric Benson, who has received much praise of late, was held to a meager 52 yards on 14 attempts, averaging 3.7 yards per carry. 

The passing game employed by the Steelers last year in Cincinnati fits squarely into the style of play that Coach Tomlin referred to in his press conference this week when he spoke of the Bears using the short pass as a “run game alternative.”

Last year, our run game alternative had brilliant results against the Bengals. Cincinnati had no chance against the Steelers because we had more than alternatives to lean on—we had a running game.

Another big difference last year in Cincinnati was the performance of our linebackers. The glaring statistic of a whopping seven sacks on Ryan Fitzpatrick that day contributed to the Steelers making a statement with their victory over the Bengals.

Our linebackers, LaMarr Woodley, James Harrison, and Lawrence Timmons, who have yet to chalk up their first sack of ’09, each had two. James Farrior added yet another sack to the heaping total. Five of those seven sacks came in the second half, which can definitely deflate a team’s hopes of mounting a comeback.

Both the lack of running game and the lack of sacks by our linebackers have been discussed in the media this week, so you can be sure that the Steelers are well aware of the areas in which they need to improve.

Hearing Coach Tomlin focus on Chicago’s “run game alternatives” in his last press conference, it felt like he was establishing a permanent plan-B mode for the Steelers’ running game.  

Last year, our running game was officially on the shelf by Week Four.

Yet the mettle and resolution that we have seen displayed by the team in close situations was there.

Moore’s effort on the field, coupled with the havoc wreaked by our linebackers, ensured that the game was never close.

I know that Moore’s role is not that of a starting back, but he gave it his all when we had no choice but to use him.

Maybe this Sunday, we put the ball in his hands a little more.  

I don’t believe that there are any fans in the league who feel there is no style more beautiful than the grind of the run as it eats up the clock and allows our stout defense to remain fresh enough to punish our opponents.

Style points always count.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Seneca Wallace Should Have a Starting Job Somewhere

Matt Hasselbeck gets hurt and again and the Seattle Seahawks will call on Seneca Wallace to save the day.

The team has tried to make him a receiver for years, but he has resisted this idea. Some people might say that’s selfish, but I think he’s right.

Wallace is the best backup quarterback in the league.

Now, there are some other solid back up quarterbacks that have done a good job—Billy Volek, Sage Rosenfels, even Todd Collins. But Seneca is better than any of these guys. Let’s take a look at some stats:

    Comp%/Yds/TD/INT/RTG

Wallace            58.8/2974/23/13/83.0

Volek                59.7/3515/26/14/84.9

Rosenfels         62.5/4156/30/29/81.2

Collins              56.7/4355/22/19/76.2

 

Now, someone might look at Volek and say he is arguably better. But, again, I will beg to differ.

A) Volek hasn’t taken a snap since 2007.

He had one good year in 2004, when he started 10 games for the Titans. Volek posted 2,486 yards, 18 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and a QB rating of 87.1 that year.

But that was five years ago, can anyone really expect him to be the same?

B) Wallace has taken snaps in each of the past five years.

Last year, with a terrible offense, he posted 1,532 yards, 11 touchdowns, and three interceptions in 10 games.

When he gets reps, he doesn’t make mistakes.

Also, he has the ability to scramble and improvise—something most teams lack at the quarterback position. Because of this, Wallace is clearly the best backup in the game.

 

Now, on to a more interesting argument.

I believe Wallace could start for more than 50 percent of teams in the NFL.

Obviously there are the untouchables—Brees, Brady, P. Manning, E. Manning, Warner, Rivers, Palmer, Cutler, Roethlisberger, and Rogers.

Let’s look at the rest of the teams, however.

 

Atlanta—Matt Ryan: He wouldn’t start here.

Ryan is a fabulous player and had a QB rating of 87.1 last year. This year, it looks like it’s going to be higher with the addition of Tony Gonzalez.

Baltimore—Joe Flacco: Now, I will get some grief here, but Wallace is BETTER than Flacco.

He has a career rating of 80.3, throws way too many interceptions, and doesn’t play well against good defenses. He is off to a decent start this year, but I would take Wallace over Flacco, despite Flacco’s upside.

Buffalo—Trent Edwards: He has a career 81.2 QB rating, but just 22 touchdowns compared to 19 interceptions.

Wallace makes less mistakes despite a lower completion percentage. His ability to scramble is also huge. I take Wallace over Edwards.

Carolina—Jake Delhomme: This really shouldn’t be an argument, but Delhomme actually does have good numbers.

In big games, he is truly awful though. Delhomme has thrown way too many interceptions of late and is 34 years old. Wallace would run that offense well. I take Wallace over Delhomme.

Cleveland—Brady Quinn: Both Quinn and Derek Anderson lack consistency and have terrible completion percentages. They throw too many interceptions despite some good numbers.

I would need more time for Quinn to make a fair judgment, but as of now, I take Wallace over either Quinn or Anderson.

Dallas—Tony Romo: After Sunday night’s game, I would think Cowboys’ fans would take Wallace over Romo despite his career 94.2 passer rating and 80 touchdowns to 49 interceptions.

Despite his failure in big games, I take Romo over Wallace.

Denver—Kyle Orton: Orton knows how to win, but lacks a big arm and throws too many interceptions.

He has yet to move the Broncos offense effectively and has a career 72.4 passer rating and 32 touchdowns to 27 interceptions. I take Wallace over Orton.

Detroit—Matthew Stafford: Now, I know nobody would fair well with the Lions, but the Seahawks were pretty bad on offense last year and Wallace did just fine.

Stafford needs more time in the NFL, but right now, I would take Wallace over Stafford.

Houston—Matt Schaub: He is a career 86.9 passer rating with 34 touchdowns and 26 interceptions. Despite his good rating, he is far too inconsistent, but does have flashes of brilliance (see the Titans game).

But consistency is the name of the game and so this is a coin flip. I would take Wallace, but I couldn’t blame people for going the other way.

Jacksonville—David Garrard: Garrard has a career 84.8 rating with 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He makes good decisions, but is very inaccurate sometimes with only a 52 percent completion percentage.

In my eyes, Wallace is a better, more mobile version of Garrard. Thus, I take Wallace.

Kansas City—Matt Cassel: Moved from probably the best backup into a very tough situation in Kansas City. Last year, Cassel wowed everyone with his 89.4 passer rating and 21 touchdowns to only 11 interceptions.

This might be the system, but I think Cassel is a legit quarterback, and has a good coordinator to help him develop. I take Cassel over Wallace.

Miami—Chad Pennington: Could you imagine Wallace in the Wildcat Offense, considering he has played some receiver? How deadly!

This alone gives him an edge over Pennington. Wallace is a more athletic version of Pennington and brings much of his good decision-making, poise, and savvy. I take Wallace over Pennington.

Minnesota—Brett Favre: Because of Favre’s bad decision-making, I have to put him here and not as a lock. Despite that, he is a future Hall-of-Famer and brings lots of experience and wisdom to the Vikings.

If he continues managing the game like he has done, then I take Favre over Wallace. But if he ends up like the Favre of the second half of last year, I might have to change my mind.

NY Jets—Mark Sanchez: It looks like Rex Ryan picked the right man for the job—Sanchez has a 91.3 rating in his first two games

However, it is much too early to tell whether or not this can be sustained. Let this be an undecided based on inconclusive evidence.

Oakland—JaMarcus Russell: Now, this makes too much sense. Russell has a career 70.8 passer rating and has started off this year terribly.

He has 16 touchdowns to 14 interceptions, a terrible completion percentage, and is not accurate enough on his deep balls. Wallace would be perfect for this West Coast Offense.

San Francisco—Shaun Hill: Hill is 9-3 as a starter, doesn’t make mistakes, and is crafty.

Wallace is much of the same, but is better and more mobile. They have almost identical stats, but the mobility factor puts Wallace over the top. He is perfect for the West Coast.

Seattle—Matt Hasselbeck: He has all the accolades, experience, and a great stat line: 84.2 rating, 150 touchdowns to 96 interceptions.

But Hasselbeck is going to be 34 soon, he can’t stay healthy, and doesn’t have a strong arm. In my opinion, the Seahawks are better when Wallace plays. Last year, and apparently this year, will help prove my point.

St. Louis—Mark Bulger: Bulger has a career 85.2 rating, but is having a rough year. Who can blame him? The Rams are terrible.

He hasn’t had a passer rating above 71 in his last two years, though, and I think his prime years are done. Wallace has proven his numbers and is still in the prime of his career, not even 30, and hasn’t taken many hits. I would take Wallace over Bulger.

Tampa Bay—Byron Leftwich: I am a big Leftwich fan, and he hasn’t gotten his fair share most of the time. He has a career 80.3 passer rating and has played well this year.

His career stats of 58 touchdowns to 40 interceptions is also pretty good. I think this one is a wash—Leftwich brings more of an arm, Wallace is more accurate. Depending on what they are looking for either could start.

Washington—Jason Campbell: Now this one makes the MOST sense out of any team.

Wallace is literally the version of Campbell that they want him to become.

He doesn’t have as good of an arm, but is more mobile and is just flat-out better than Campbell. Get owner Daniel Snyder to trade for Wallace right now. A 9-7 win over the Rams is embarrassing. I take Wallace.

 

Tallying it up, I have Wallace starting for 14 teams. Pretty close to my prediction.

How does someone so good get stuck as a backup and people like Tarvaris Jackson, Chris Simms, Quincy Carter, Josh McCown, Tim Rattay, Kyle Boller, Brody Croyle, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Drew Hensen, etc., get chances to start?

It has always boggled my mind.

Regardless, someone should take a chance on Wallace. He could turn your season around, as he is a very good starter in my mind.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Marketing: Please STOP Showing Animal Cruelty Ads During Games

Okay, let’s get this out of the way. Yes, Michael Vick participated in the murdering of dogs and is now reinstated. And the league does have to do some public relations for this sensitive subject. 

 

And yes, I realize that from a marketing standpoint, a company must advertise its product during a program that will have a significant amount of viewers to at least be informed of it. 

 

And of course, saving animals is definitely an important issue.

 

But when we watch football, we want to forget about all the horrible things in the world.

 

It’s not just the issue of animal cruelty; it’s the way it is presented. Right as we begin seeing animals with only one eye open we hear the most depressing music from Sarah McLachlan as more and more abused animals are showcased.

 

The only bigger guilt trip they can give us is actually watching an animal get beaten.

 

Now there are children watching these games, and of course, children will be the ones most affected seeing anything with an animal. Is the object of it to make the children cry enough that it forces their parents to make a donation?

 

Again, my problem is not the cause, but the ad itself. It’s one thing to spread your message; it’s another to beat it into the ground. 

 

The ad is so long you have to wonder if during a TV timeout, if the referees on the field have to tell the players to wait a little longer just so the commercial can finish. Now when people watch games, in addition to beer and food, they’ll have to bring tissues. 

 

I know some programs have ratings of TV-PG, TV-14, etc., but with this ad it seems that even commercials should now have ratings or at least a warning that we’re going to be subjected to it.

 

The ASPCA is a good cause and this is an important issue. But there are better ways of getting your message across. You shouldn’t have to resort to shock value to make awareness, especially when advertising during a sporting event.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Dallas Cowboys: Felix Jones Is Who We Thought Reggie Bush Would Be

Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys had a decision to make. 

It was the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft, and they were looking for a playmaker at the running back position to replace Julius “2nd-and-11” Jones.

The choice was between University of Illinois’ Rashard Mendenhall, and University of Arkansas’ Felix Jones.

At first you would think this wasn’t even a choice. Jerry would go with his alma mater.  

But it wasn’t entirely up to Jerry, as offensive coordinator Jason Garrett made it clear who he wanted.

“The one guy is an everydown back,” Garrett said, referring to Mendenhall while the No. 22 pick was approaching. “The other guy is a special complementary back. We’ve got to remember that we’ve got an everydown back here.”

I’m sure there wasn’t much arm twisting, and the Razorbacks “backup” was selected 22nd overall, one spot ahead of Mendenhall.

As it turns out, Felix might turn out to be a better pro prospect than his much more glorified Razorback teammate, Darren McFadden, the fourth overall selection.

In 2008, he carried the ball 30 times, and averaged a unheard of 8.9 yards per carry, and scored three touchdowns. 

He had three runs over 20 yards, and one over 40, with a long of 60.

In 2009, it hasn’t been much different, as Felix is averaging 9.1 yards per carry. 

On 13 attempts, he has two carries over 20, and one over 40, with a long of 56.   He also had the go-ahead touchdown against the Giants in the Sunday night game of week two.

But it hasn’t all been perfect. If he only got 30 carries in 2008, what happened?

Injuries. And Felix has been nicked up already in 2009 as well, during the Tampa Bay game in week one.

But one cannot say he is injury prone yet. That will bear out over time.

You can say that Felix Jones is the most electric player on the Cowboys, and possibly only second in “wow factor” to Adrian Peterson in the NFC.   

Felix is what everyone thought Reggie Bush would be—a tremendous running back who can make directional cuts without losing speed, with vision that allows him to set up his moves two and three blocks ahead, an uncanny ability to break multiple tackles, and the speed to break away from everyone on the field.

So why hasn’t Jason Garrett found more opportunities for the most exciting player on his team?

Maybe Garrett still doesn’t believe Felix is an every down back, and still wants to lean on Marion Barber III.  Maybe it’s his other tendency to be like the real Reggie Bush—always nicked up.

But if Barber is limited this Monday night against the Carolina Panthers due to his strained quad, expect to see a heavy dosage of Felix Jones.  

That’s when I believe a star will be born, and Felix will show the world that his name should be talked about with the best in the League.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

A Cleveland Browns Gameplan to Exploit the Baltimore Ravens’ Weaknesses

With many questions surrounding the Browns gameplan (or lack thereof) in their first two games, the coaching staff had better spend extra hours putting together a solid one for this Sunday’s contest versus the Ravens.

I am not a football coach of any type, but I do know enough about football to try and put together a brief gameplan of my own that I believe may help the Browns this week against the Ravens.

I would like to focus on three of the main weaknesses that the Ravens have right now after they have played two games.

Ravens Weaknesses:

Defensive backfield is struggling

Wide receivers can be shut down

Rookie starting at right tackle

The Browns have that chance to exploit all three of these glaring weaknesses as long as a good gameplan can be put in place.

Throw at the DBs not named Reed

First, the gameplan will look at the Ravens defensive backfield, and with the exception of Ed Reed the Browns need to throw at these guys.

Brady Quinn must line up and identify where Reed is and adjust the play at the line to change the receiver who is the “hot route,” so that his pattern is adapted to move away from Reed’s position.

Also, the Browns would be smart to have two backs in the backfield for most of the offensive formations to help protect Quinn from the Ravens pass rush.

With players like Ray Lewis, Haloti Ngata, and Terrell Suggs, Quinn will feel their presence at the line before he even snaps the ball.

Protecting the quarterback at all costs is a priority, even if it means using fullback Lawrence Vickers and a tight end in the backfield on passing downs. The right side of the offensive line needs help and extra protection from players in the backfield will help.

With Braylon Edwards newly focused and getting back on track last week, there is no reason why he cannot dictate defensive coverages toward him to free up the other receivers on the field.

Even though Edwards may get special attention, there is no reason that Quinn cannot throw the ball up high so Edwards can go up and get it since the Ravens defensive backs range in height from 5’10” to 6′.

Remember, Edwards is 6’3″ and with his height advantage he can easily out-jump the Ravens defenders.

Lock-down coverage on the Ravens WRs forcing Joe Flacco to throw into tight coverage.

Cornerbacks Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright are showing signs of being two of the better young corners in the league, especially Wright who has almost completely shut down opposing teams receivers in the first two games.

Ravens receiver Derrick Mason is a veteran and he knows how to get into an open spot on the field and Wright will most likely be glued to him most of the game while McDonald should be shadowing the other receivers.

Both Browns CBs have shown a nose for the ball in the past, and with Flacco only in his second year, he is still learning on the job.

Look for Flacco to force a pass or two into tight spaces and hopefully the Browns can jump routes and come up with an interception or two.

Ravens rookie Michael Oher should be the point of attack.

Defensive Coordinator, Rob Ryan, needs to focus his blitzes toward Oher to see if the rookie can handle consistent pressure from a defense.

All the linebackers should get a chance at Oher on the first possession the Ravens get in the first quarter, so that Ryan can see which player is the most effective in beating Oher to get to Flacco.

Look for Kamerion Wimbley, Alex Hall, and perhaps David Veikune to get chances to pressure the quarterback early and often.

As long as the Browns can get some pressure on Flacco, he may be forcing the ball into tight spaces (as stated earlier) so that Wright and/or McDonald can get a chance for a pick.

Not a Ravens weakness but a weakness of the Browns…the defense must stop the run and the Ravens have three good runners in Willis McGahee, Ray Rice, and LeRon McClain.

In conclusion, these are just a few of the key areas that I think the Browns have the best chance at finding success during Sunday’s game, and maybe the Browns coaching staff are on the same page with these.

Regardless of what happens Sunday in the first half, the most important gameplan should be the one that is constructed via adjustments during halftime because if the Browns fail in the second half for a third straight week, then look for Browns fans to get restless for some positives to start occurring in 2009.

 

(Article originally posted on Dawg Scooper)

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Steelers-Bengals: A Look Ahead

After two weeks of their hunt for back to back championships, the Pittsburgh Steelers are 1-1. What originally looked like an easy contest against the Cincinnati Bengals has gradually emerged as a possible can’t-miss matchup.

Here’s a look inside the Steelers’ Week Three game with division rival Cincinnati:

 

Five Questions To Answer

1. Can the Steelers find their running game?

2. Will Antwaan Odom penetrate the Steelers’ offensive line?

3. How will Jeff Reed react after two heartbreaking misses in Week Two?

4. Can Cedric Benson run against the Steelers?

5. Which offensive line will show up for Pittsburgh?

 

Four Fantasy Tips

1. Reconsider Starting Carson Palmer

Palmer threw three touchdown passes last week against Green Bay, but he also threw for only 185 yards and tossed two picks. Be careful starting him against a Steelers’ defense that is much better than Green Bay.

2. Start Heath Miller

Santonio Holmes has emerged as Ben Roethlisberger’s top receiver, but tight end Heath Miller is his favorite target in key situations. Miller is a tough player who gets yards in the middle and always seems to be near the ball. Against a relatively weak Bengals’ secondary, expect Miller to find space in the middle of the field.

3. Don’t Dump Jeff Reed

Make no mistake, Reed’s game in Chicago is the exception, not the rule. Reed has consistently been one of the most under-appreciated (outside of Pittsburgh) and underrated kickers in the NFL. He is clutch, particularly in difficult winds at Heinz Field.  He will rebound just fine after his rough game. This guy doesn’t usually miss.

4. Sleeper: Willie Parker

Parker has struggled so far, but it usually is only a matter of time. With the offensive line showing better blocking and Parker showing more speed and cutting ability during Week Two, he should be back on track against a so-so Cincinnati rush defense that he has gashed many times in the past.

 

Three Key Matchups

1. Max Starks and/or Chris Kemoeatu vs. Antwaan Odom

Odom has seven sacks through the season’s first two weeks, which leads the NFL. He has proven a beast on the pass rush and this week he will be attacking what can only be labeled the weakest part of the Steeler offensive line.

Starks has not played up to the expectations that come hand in hand with being tagged a franchise player and then being lavished with a large contract. He has gotten pushed back and off his blocks and has been beaten, particularly toward the inside of the line.

Kemoeatu is having a poor season thus far. He is the weakest link on what is right now a mediocre offensive line. He has become a turnstile for opposing rushers and often needs help with his blocks from either Starks or center Justin Hartwig.

How this matchup plays out may just determine who wins the game.

2. Steelers’ Pass Defense vs. Cincinnati Pass Offense

OK, it’s very general matchup, but this will be interesting. Last week, Chicago, with a receiving corps staffed with virtual unknowns, passed for 236 yards and two scores against a Pittsburgh unit that ranked No.1 in the NFL last year.

Pittsburgh’s secondary has certainly suffered from the loss of Troy Polamalu. With Tryone Carter also nursing an injury (he’s expected to play), this unit could be in trouble. 

Carson Palmer is healthy and Chad Ochocinco has seemingly returned to form. Palmer shredded the Packers’ weak pass defense Sunday. The Bengals look revived on offense.

Ike Taylor and William Gay must step up to cover the Bengals’ receivers and Ryan Clark needs to cover the middle with Carter while providing big hits on receivers who attempt to find a soft spot.

3. Pittsburgh Rush Offense vs. Cincinnati Rush Defense

The most maligned cog in the usually well-oiled Pittsburgh machine has been the rushing attack. In two weeks, the Steelers have barely gained 100 rushing yards combined and have failed to execute in critical 3rd-and-1 situations.

This has forced the Steelers to rely much too heavily on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and has made the Steelers a one dimensional offensive unit.

The Bengals’ rush defense held Green Bay to 89 yards (43 by quarterback Aaron Rodgers) on 18 carries. The Bengals employ a bend but don’t break philosophy and it has helped them vastly improve their leaky rush defense.

Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall must step up this week. Against a stout Chicago defense, the offensive line proved its blocking ability and Parker and Mendenhall proved that they could find open holes and gain positive yardage. Now they must also show the consistency that has long been a hallmark of Steelers football.

 

Two Players in the Spotlight

Pittsburgh Steelers: Willie Parker

Parker has not been the same since a broken fibula ended his 2007 season.  He has been injury prone and has looked indecisive.

For Parker to be successful again, he has to hit the hole with more authority and speed and rediscover his missing cutback skills. He also needs to be kept out of runs up the middle, where he is not bulky enough to gain yards, and utilized on runs to the outside, where his speed becomes dangerous.

The offensive line has proven its ability to block after holding off a vicious Bears attack in Week Two. Now Parker must prove he can still be a consistent, quality back in the NFL.

Cincinnati Bengals: Cedric Benson

Benson has experienced a career revival since arriving in Cincinnati and had a stellar game last week (141 yards on 29 carries).

This week, however, Benson will have to navigate a Steelers’ rush defense that hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in over a season. Benson’s bruising style is similar to what the Steelers saw in Week One from LenDale White, who the Steelers held to 28 yards on eight carries.

Benson likely won’t gain 141 yards again this week, but he will be one of the x-factors in the game. If he can penetrate the Steelers’ defense and allow the Bengals to establish a ground attack, the Steelers will not be able to key on Carson Palmer and the Bengal receivers. If Benson struggles, then the Bengals will be forced to play a very obvious pass-happy game.

 

One Bold Prediction

Steelers 24, Bengals 13

Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall turn in a combined 100-yard performance and allow Ben Roethlisberger to set up a balanced attack. Cedric Benson struggles against the Steelers’ defense and the Bengals fall into a pass-happy style that leads to an interception. Chad Ochocinco is held scoreless and below 100 yards.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Head Coaches Power Rankings For Week Two

Week two of the coaches ranking brought us some surprises, a new number one, a new man at the bottom and some small changes in between.

Remember, just because a coach has one or two good weeks, it does not mean that he gets catapulted to the top. This is a marathon not a sprint. Although, for some coaches in 2009, the season is getting away much faster than they thought.

 

ALREADY OWN KEYS TO THE CITY

1. Tom Coughlin—GIANTS (Last Week: 2)

Tom Coughlin’s players not only make plays, but they make smart plays. Kenny Phillips instinctively knowing that the ball that hit Jason Witten’s foot was a live football was the kind of thing that you can teach, but you do not always see it come to fruition.

How many times do you fail to see that play made?

The run defense was abysmal as the Cowboys had 251 rushing yards good for an average of 8.7 yards per carry. The Giants secondary was playing short, but you would have never known that. The Giants intercepted Tony Romo three times, but did not record a sack.

The way Eli Manning is finding receivers this year all of that, “Where have you gone Plaxico Burress?” talk will vanish.

 

2. Bill Belichick—PATRIOTS (Last Week: 1)

The offense looked stale. The Jets defense was giving the Patriots a million different looks, yet the Patriots seemed to be giving the same shotgun formation on a majority of the plays on offense.

While not having Wes Welker and Jerod Mayo hurt, there are no excuses. The Patriots had ample opportunities to win this game. Three trips to the red zone in the first half only got them three field goals.

You do that you normally do not win.

 

3. Mike Tomlin—STEELERS (Last Week: 3)

The usually reliable Jeff Reed could not make anything in the fourth quarter. His misses were as bad as can be.

While the Steelers defense was good, it was not great on Sunday in Chicago. The run defense did not allow much, but the pass defense made the day a little too easy for Jay Cutler.

Cutler was only sacked once and did not turn the ball over. The Steelers will need to do better than that as they head to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals, who are also 1-1.

 

4. Jeff Fisher—TITANS (Last Week: 4)

An 0-2 start was not in the plans for Fisher and the Titans. His normally solid defensive unit was torched for 357 passing yards and four touchdowns.

The key stats in this game were that the Titans could not get a sack against a normally porous offensive line, and that while Andre Johnson had 149 yards, the Texans other receivers complied 208 more yards.

Fisher and his Titans will have their hands full on Sunday at the Jets against the defensive coordinator whose old team ended their season last year.

OWNERS, NOT RENTERS

5. Mike Smith—FALCONS (Last Week: 6)

They should wear buttons in Atlanta that says, “Everybody Likes Mike.” His Falcons just keep winning and Matt Ryan looks better each week.

Their defense struggled against the pass as they gave up 308 yards passing to Jake Delhomme and the Panthers. The Falcons are 2-0 and both wins have come at the Georgia Dome.

The Falcons struggled on the road, going 4-5 in 2008. While they travel to New England on Sunday, some would have written this one off as a probable loss before the season started, but I think this team has a very good opportunity to be 3-0.

 

6. Andy Reid—EAGLES (Last Week: 5)

After last week’s pounding by the Saints, it seems that maybe this team has a little bit more than a quarterback issue. Quintin Mikell led the team with 11 tackles on Sunday.

When your safety is making the most tackles on defense that usually means players are moving down the field and your defense is usually getting shredded. The Eagles have the Chiefs at home on Sunday, and if they can do a better a job on defense they should be 2-1 no matter who starts at quarterback.

 

7. John Harbaugh—RAVENS (Last Week: 7)

The Ravens escaped from San Diego with a last second defensive stand. It also helped that they were playing against a coach who let the game get away (see Turner, Norv way down below).

The Ravens have allowed 50 points in two weeks. Last season, the Ravens gave up 50 points in four weeks. Was it all Rex Ryan or is this defense getting older?

The defense should look better on Sunday against the Browns at home. Barring a huge upset they should be 3-0 heading into New England in week four.

 

8. Ken Whisenhunt—CARDINALS (Last Week: 8)

The Cardinals must have thought it was a throwback game as they played in a half-empty stadium in Jacksonville and not Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe.

Usually, teams from the west coast do not fair well during 1 p.m. kickoffs on the east coast, but the Cardinals blew that theory away by putting up a 24-3 halftime lead.

Kurt Warner was as close to perfect as you get, and the Cardinals looked good on defense and special teams as well. They have the Colts at home who will be coming off of short rest and have to travel to the desert.

ON THE ELEVATOR UP WITH GEORGE AND WEEZY

9. Sean Payton—SAINTS (Last Week: 12)

The talk of the league right now is Payton’s Saints. The offense is firing on all cylinders.

The defense did snag four turnovers on Sunday, but still gave up 391 passing yards to an inexperienced quarterback. I am not sure why Payton kept Brees in the game with the Saints up by 21 and just five minutes to play.

The Saints will be seeing plenty of New York as they travel to Buffalo on Sunday, followed by home games with the Jets and Giants.

 

10. Brad Childress—VIKINGS (Last Week: 10)

This week did not start off well for Minnesota as they fell behind 10-0 to the Lions. But, the Vikings regrouped and went on a 27-3 run to close out the game.

It is kind of funny that with all the media attention that Brett Favre gets, no one really reported that he went 23-for-27 with no interceptions. Three fewer incompletions and he would have had the record that Kurt Warner set against Jacksonville on Sunday.

The Vikings better not be looking past the 49ers at home this Sunday before their showdown with the Packers on Monday, October 5.

SOMEONE JUST HIT DOWN ON THE ELEVATOR

11. Tony Sparano—DOLPHINS (Last Week: 11)

Usually on the television show the Sopranos, when Tony Soprano gave an order for a hit, the hit got delivered. Last night, Tony Sparano’s orders to tackle went unnoticed.

It appeared that Arena Football made a comeback in Miami on Monday as the Colts had drives of 12 and 26 seconds. The Dolphins had the football for over 45 minutes and lost.

Sometimes too much time of possession means your defense is not doing a very good job. One thing will be for certain, the Dolphins defense will be pretty well rested as they travel to San Diego and look to avoid starting 0-3.

 

12. Mike McCarthy—PACKERS (Last Week: 9)

Gulp. This was not a bad loss. It was a brutal loss.

Was this a classic trap game or are the Packers really this mediocre? At what point do you say, hey, we might want to block Antwan Odom before he breaks the NFL sack record.

The sacks were bad enough, but the defense did not do its part either. The Bengals were 9-for-14 on third down.

The Packers travel to St. Louis where they will try not to kill the other half of the Survivor Leagues that they busted up last week.

 

THAT NEW COACH SMELL HAS A PLEASANT AROMA

13. Rex Ryan—JETS (Last Week: 14)

The Jets look more like the Ravens than the Ravens. Baltimore used to make their living on scores of 16-9. The defense has not allowed one touchdown in eight quarters.

It is easy to be pumped up when you are playing your most hated rival. Can the Jets bring that intensity back on Sunday at home against the Titans?

Last Sunday made Rex Ryan a star in New York, but this Sunday will determine how bright it shines.

 

14. Jim Caldwell—COLTS (Last Week: 13)

When the plane home from Miami landed in Indianapolis on Tuesday morning, I am going to wager that many of the Colts defenders were still asleep. The defense was on the field for just over 45 minutes and 84 Dolphin snaps.

The offense just made scoring too easy as the Peyton Manning show averaged 10.2 yards per play on Monday night in South Florida.

Caldwell’s 2-0 Colts travel to Arizona on Sunday Night against another offense that will be difficult to remove from the field.

 

15. Mike Singletary—49ERS (Last Week: 15)

This is becoming one of the NFL’s premier defensive units. Patrick Willis has 15 solo tackles in two weeks.

Frank Gore had two massive touchdown runs. But, if you take out those two large runs, he is only averaging two yards per carry on the season. That will have to improve if the 49ers want to be a contending team.

The 49ers tackle the Vikings in Minnesota on Sunday, and you do not want that defense to be on the field for that long against one of the NFC’s better offensive units.

 

16. Josh McDaniels—BRONCOS (Last Week: 19)

Your leaders in the AFC West are the Denver Broncos. Yes, they played Cincinnati and Cleveland, so curb your enthusiasm for now. The win over the Bengals was a fluke, but last Sunday’s win over the Browns was dominant.

It is tough to judge where this team really stands until it faces a bigger opponent, but 2-0 sure sounds nice in the Mile High City.

Can McDaniels’ Broncos beat the Raiders on Sunday and possibly grab a two game lead in the division (if San Diego loses vs Miami)?

Their schedule will get dicey after that.

THEY ARE STILL HANGING ON TO THAT NEW COACH SMELL

17. Jim Schwartz—LIONS (Last Week: 21)

I think the decision to have Stafford play from the start will pay off eventually for the Lions. It sure started well with Stafford throwing his first NFL touchdown pass to Calvin Johnson in the second quarter giving the Lions a 10-0 lead.

Rookie tight end Brandon Pettigrew had four catches. If this team can cut down on their turnovers then four wins may not be out of the question. The Lions have a winnable game at home against the Redskins on Sunday.

 

18. Steve Spagnuolo—RAMS (Last Week: 20)

The defense showed some improvement and kept the Redskins out of the end zone the entire game. The offense found the end zone for the first time this season. That was the good news.

The bad news is that the Rams have scored a grand total of seven points in two games and that one of the best players for the Rams on offense, Donnie Avery, has fumbled in both games.

I was disappointed in Spagnuolo at the end of the first half. The Rams had the ball on their own 35 with 1:12 on the clock and all three timeouts. They chose a running play that picked up five yards, but then a holding penalty negated the run and ended the half.

When you are coaching a team that is having trouble scoring you need to stay aggressive and try not to waste any possessions.

 

19. Jim Mora, Jr.—SEAHAWKS (Last Week: 16)

The Seahawks stacked the box to try to stop Frank Gore. Gore ignored the stop sign and went plowing through.

One thing that most kids learn while playing high school football is that while the majority of teams will run the ball either with the option or some other version, you better hope those last two in the backfield can make the saving tackles.

They could not, and Frank Gore ran like he was being filmed for a re-make of Forrest Gump. One run of over 70 yards is embarrassing, but two?

It is unknown as to the state of Matt Hasselbeck for Sunday against the Bears, but Seneca Wallace did start eight games last year, so the cupboard is not bare.

 

20. Todd Haley—CHIEFS (Last Week: 17)

Do not look at the statistics from this game. Oh, ok, let’s take a peek. The Chiefs had 409 yards of total offense. That was 243 yards more than the Raiders gained.

The Chiefs had the ball for over 38 minutes and held JaMarcus Russell to three completions late in the fourth quarter. You would have thought the Chiefs won by 21. Instead, they lost 13-10.

Haley said after the game, “When we had the personal foul penalty we kind of were in a position to put them in a bit of a difficult position, and we let them off the hook.”

We let them off the hook? Oh my goodness, those are Denny Green’s words!

Somehow the schedule makers have the Chiefs playing all four of the teams in the NFC East in a row. It starts in Philly on Sunday.

If the Chiefs could somehow split the four games, their season could still have hope. But I can totally see this team winning one or none of those games and starting 1-5 or 0-6, which makes the loss to the Raiders even more painful.

 

21. Raheem Morris—BUCCANEERS (Last Week: 18)

Last week, the Bucs had their problems stopping the long pass. This week it was their run defense that was their Achilles heel.

The Bills ran for over 200 yards as a team and averaged 6.2 yards per carry. It will get no easier for the Bucs in week three as they host the Giants, a team that runs and passes the ball very well.

HE TOOK HIS RESUME OFF OF MONSTER

22. Tom Cable—RAIDERS (Last Week: 25)

The Raiders produced a grand total of 166 yards of offense. JaMarcus Russell completed seven total passes for the game, and four of those completions came on the final drive.

The Raider defense is good enough to win games, but if the offense cannot produce, it will be a wasted effort.

This is a make-or-break week for the Oakland Raiders as they host the Denver Broncos. A win would put them tied for first in the AFC West, a loss puts them two games behind with two of those losses coming within the division.

 

I THINK I SAW HIS RESUME ON MONSTER

23. Jim Zorn—REDSKINS (Last Week: 27)

I am all for aggressive play calling, and I did not mind that the Redskins went for it on fourth-and-one from the Rams two-yard line. At the worst, if you fail to make it the other team has to go 60 yards to win the game with a field goal.

But, the play that was called was a bust. I cannot understand why on fourth down and short you would try a run to the far left, where your running back (in this case Clinton Portis) has to run six or seven yards to get one.

This offense tries to be too creative at times, when I think it would be better off playing more a smashmouth style of football. This team heads to Detroit on Sunday, and I think there is a good chance that they might not walk out of Ford Field victorious.

 

24. Wade Phillips—COWBOYS (Last Week: 23)

We all know that Tony Romo was T.O.’s quarterback and teammate. But, is he still Wade Phillips’?

Romo once again could not deliver in a big game. This time he threw three costly interceptions and ended up with a QB rating of an anemic 29.6. It was a shame for Dallas, because the Cowboys ran the ball for an amazing 251 yards against one of the better defenses in the league.

The Cowboys seemed to be able to keep the Giants rushing game in check, but the Cowboy pass defense made Steve Smith and Mario Manningham look like the second coming of Lynn Swann and John Stallworth.

 

25. John Fox—PANTHERS (Last Week: 26)

Fox was right to trust his gut and start Jake Delhomme. Delhomme only had one interception.

He and Steve Smith hooked up like it was old times as Smith had eight catches for 135 yards.

The Panther defense does not look like its old self. Matt Ryan had a field day throwing the ball against them.

Julius Peppers had just two tackles and Ryan was not sacked. The Panthers head to Dallas where this team will be in S.O.S. mode as they try not to fall to 0-3.

THAT NEW COACH SMELL NOW SMELLS LIKE LAKE ERIE

26. Eric Mangini—BROWNS (Last Week: 22)

Are there any Fan-gini’s left in the world? Here is one thing the Browns cannot do for you: Tackle. My goodness, in two weeks the Browns had more whiffs than the Indians.

If there has been one positive it’s that Braylon Edwards had six catches for 92 yards. And if there is any sign that the Browns could be turned around that is a start. The Browns are 0-2, and it will not get any easier as they travel to Baltimore in week three.

 

FOR AT LEAST ONE WEEK THEY ARE OFF THE HOT SEAT

27. Lovie Smith—BEARS (Last Week: 28)

Jay Cutler played much better and did not give the ball away this week. But, the player that Smith has the most confidence in on the Bears is Robbie Gould.

After watching Pittsburgh’s kicker Jeff Reed badly miss two field goals earlier in the fourth quarter from shorter distances, Smith’s Bears team got to the Steelers 34 with 1:16 to play, and Gould hit from 44 yards to win the game.

It would have been interesting to see what would have happened had Gould missed the kick and the Bears lost the game in overtime. But, a win against the defending champions is still a very good win that takes you out of the doghouse, for at least one week.

 

28. Gary Kubiak—TEXANS (Last Week: 30)

What a nice surprise this was for Houston. The Texans unleashed the beast that is Andre Johnson, they had no turnovers, went two-for-two on fourth down conversions, and most importantly did not give up when down 21-7 early in the second quarter.

All were great signs, but seeing Steve Slaton average just two yards per carry, while the Titans averaged a massive 9.2 yards per carry is a sure sign of where the Texans need improvement.

This team can still make the playoffs. They have a very favorable schedule that begins at home on Sunday against Jacksonville.

 

29. Dick Jauron—BILLS (Last Week: 31)

In another good job of recovering from a bad loss the Bills opened up a 17-0 lead after the first quarter and did not really look back.

The defense controlled a good Buccaneer run attack. The Bills get Marshawn Lynch back from suspension after week three, but how can you sit Fred Jackson after the two weeks he has played.

Jackson has run for 220 yards and has 108 receiving yards. The Bills have a two-headed monster in the backfield.

Trent Edwards does need to do a better job of getting the ball to his wide receivers. Lee Evans only had one catch.

 

30. Marvin Lewis—BENGALS (Last Week: 32)

We were all wondering how the Bengals would respond after such a devastating loss in week one. Turns out, it was a lot better than most would have thought.

Thirteen penalties for 100 yards and not falling on the onside kick still does not make me feel that this team is very disciplined. But, for one Sunday, let’s give Marvin his props as his team pulled off the upset of the week.

The Bengals defense was a menace to Aaron Rodgers all day, and Antwan Odom had five sacks on the day. Odom had only 17-and-a-half career sacks in 117 prior games.

On the offense, Cedric Benson carried the way with 29 carries for 141 yards and Chad Ochocinco scored the game-winning touchdown.

Enjoy your week off the hot seat, Marvin. You have the Steelers at home this Sunday.

 

DO YOU HAVE THAT REAL ESTATE AGENT’S NUMBER HANDY?

31. Norv Turner—CHARGERS (Last Week: 24)

Easily, the worst coaching I saw over the weekend. Late in the first half, the Chargers complete a pass that goes down to the Ravens one-yard line. There is a penalty against Baltimore than pins the football at the one-foot line.

The video replay booth challenges the ruling and proves that it was a catch, and the referee whistles the ball ready for play.

Turner is blaming the officials for not resetting the play clock back to 25. They had two minutes thanks to the review to get to the line and call a play! The Chargers still had at least 12 seconds to get the play off, and they did not. The five-yard penalty moved the ball back to the six-yard line.

If the team was not ready to get a play in they could have spiked the ball and went back to the huddle, it was only first down. The Chargers settled for an incomplete pass and a field goal to end the half.

That indecision probably cost the Chargers four points. Had they had those four points, they would only have needed a field goal instead of a touchdown at the end.

The Chargers hopes ended as a fourth-and-2 play from the Ravens 15-yard line was stuffed as no one on the Charger offensive line remembered to account for Ray Lewis.

I probably couldn’t block Ray Lewis either, but at least I would have laid a finger on him before letting him tackle my running back.

 

HIS SEAT FELL INTO A BURNING RING OF FIRE

32. Jack Del Rio – JAGUARS (Last week: 29)

In 2007, the Jaguars played the Patriots in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Tom Brady went 26-of-28 and set the NFL record for completion percentage in a playoff game. On Sunday, Kurt Warner went 24-of-26 and set the regular-season completion percentage record.

It is quite possible that Warner could have broken Brady’s record, except for one small issue. The Cardinals were winning 31-3 and his services were no longer needed in the contest.

The Jaguars looked like the team from the west coast playing a 1 p.m. game, not the Cardinals. Del Rio has his work cut out for him if he wants to stay with this team. A half-empty stadium does not help his cause.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Power Rankings: Week Two

So another exciting week of NFL football is over. There were some big upsets this week as well as some scares for some teams.

And after all of that, my power rankings have shifted a lot again. The top 5 look completely different as the Giants took over the number one spot.

The Steelers took a little drop, but nothing that should keep them out long. The Houston Texans and the New Orleans Saints both make huge jumps up the ladder while the Carolina Panthers drop down the ladder.

So where does your team fit? Let me know how you feel.

Begin Slideshow

The Fantasy Futures Report

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Football Out on a Limb 2009: Volume 3

Time for another edition of Fantasy Football Out on a Limb. I scour the rosters to select a player who I feel will outperform a higher profile player in that given week. I base my decisions on matchups, how the players are trending, and the ever-important hunch. To mix things up I’ll occasionally do some two-on-one matchups or even pit RB or WR duos against each other. Sometimes I’ll spot a player some points.

Scoring
6 points for rushing or receiving TD
4 points for a passing TD
0.1 points per yard for rushing or receiving
0.05 points per passing yard.

 

Last Week:
Big Ben vs. Romo – Winner, Ben 21.65, Romo 16.65
AP vs. Forte/K.Smith – Winner – AP 17.6, Duo 15.5 (Forte – 9.3, Smith 6.2)
Ryan Grant vs. Michael Turner – Loser, Turner 17, Grant 12.8
B. Marshall vs. Andre Johnson – Loser, AJ 26.9, B. Marshall 4.8
P. Harvin vs. Ocho – Loser, Ocho 15.1, Percy 11.5
SS: L. McCoy +2 vs. S-Jax – Loser S.Jax 11.9, McCoy 7.5 (5.5 actual +2)

Regular Picks: 2-3
Super Stretch Picks:  0-1
Overall:  2-4

 

Season Record
Regular Picks: 3-7
Super Stretch Picks:  0-2
Overall: 3-9

 

Week 3 Picks

QB

Trent Edwards over Matt Ryan
The Bills take on the high-powered Saints this week so Trent Edwards is going to have to take to the air to stay in the game. He has the weapons on the outside in Lee Evans and T.O. to pile up the yardage.  Besides, Kevin Kolb threw for nearly 400 yards last week against the Saints.  Matt Ryan faces a New England team on the road coming off a divisional loss.  Bill Belichick will make sure they are extra focused this week.

 

RBs

Fred Jackson over Frank Gore
Fred has one more week to show his stuff before Marshawn Lynch comes back.  He should be heavily involved in both the runnning and passing game for the Bills.  Gore is dealing with a sore ankle and facing the Vikings stout defense.  Not a good combo.

Willis McGahee over Cedric Benson
McGahee is behind Ray Rice on the depth chart, but he’s had his number called plenty in the first two weeks.  In fact, he has 4 TDs already.  Baltimore takes on Cleveland this week so he should get plenty of looks in mop-up duty.  Meanwhile Benson faces an angry Steelers D coming off a loss to his former team, the Bears.

 

WRs

Roy Williams over Dwayne Bowe
Romo will be playing on a smaller stage this week so look for him to deliver.  Roy Williams should be one of his top recipients.  Carolina is in danger of falling to 0-3, which should make them hungry, but I think Dallas will be too tough this week.  If they drop the first two games in their palace, things will get ugly in Big D.  Bowe gets to face an Eagles team that was embarrassed by the Saints.  They too aren’t going to drop consecutive home games.

Eddie Royal over Jerricho Cotchery
Royal has been dreadful so far this year, but I think he breaks out this week against Oakland.  Even though he’s shown nothing to suggest he capable of that this year, I think he has too much talent to continue to be held down.  Cotchery faces a Tennessee team that was torched by Andre Johnson last week.  Cortland Finnegan and Co. will do their best to keep Cotchery under wraps.

 

SUPER STRETCH

Anthony Fasano +2 over Owen Daniels
San Diego has allowed Zach Miller and Todd Heap to have big games at tight end in the first two weeks.  Fasano has struggled, but this looks like his chance to break out.  Jacksonville held Dallas Clark in check in Week 1 with just 39 yards.  They didn’t face a pass-catching tight end last week against Arizona, but if they can shut down Clark, Daniels could be in trouble.

Originally published at LestersLegends.com.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

« Previous Page — Next Page »

NFL Sport Channel Latest

• Just How Far Would You Go?
• Sorry Rex, But It Isn’t Happening
• Super Bowl Predictions: Five Stat-Free Reasons Why the Eagles Will Reach The Super Bowl
• Seahawks Attempt to Turn Corner With Heavy Pursuit of Pete Carroll
• Bill Cowher Unlikely to Coach in 2010