After an embarrassingly easy victory in week 3, it might be easy for me to get cocky and think I don't need to make any changes. Sitting at 3-0 and with a big lead in points over the rest of the league, it is important to realize it is a long season and there is still a lot of football to be played. My roster now will probably be much different from what it looks like in week 16 because of injuries. Even though I appear to be deep in every position, I need to constantly be monitoring the waiver wire, and grabbing players I can plug in just in case any of my players go down.
I recently grabbed Marques Colton as an insurance policy. In three games he already has 15 catches for 202 yards and two touchdowns. His eligibility as both a TE and a WR should be very beneficial, because a TE that catches a lot of balls every week is hard to come by. Since L.J. Smith can't go a week without being on the injury list, I will likely have to use him at TE at least a couple of times.
.....Quarterbacks...
Donovan McNabb continues to silence critics as he is on his way to another great season, and this time without TO. He hasn't really faced any great defenses yet, but considering how many times the Eagles will ask him to put the ball in the air, there is no way you can put him on the bench this year, no matter who the Eagles play. Not that you need to worry about the Packers defense this week, because they haven't exactly been a defensive juggernaut. Michael Vick should bounce back this week against the Cardinals after a miserable performance against the Saints. Hopefully Vick doesn't mail it in after one quarter, but I really think he will be itching to have a big game, and the Cardinals don't have the defense to stop him. As Atlanta's bye week approaches, it also important for me to be aware of how my backup Jon Kitna is performing. He's not exactly lighting it up, but he is not turning the ball over and has thrown for 800 yards and touchdowns. So I should be able to get "bye" for one week with those kind of numbers.
....Running Backs...
Not a whole lot for me to contemplate this week with Ladanian Tomlinson returning from bye week and Reggie Bush still performing at a high level (well at least for PPR leagues anyway). Bush has already caught 19 balls on the season, which is better than a lot of receivers. HE still hasn't found the endzone yet, which is disappointing, but Deuce McAlister gets all the goal-line carries, so I didn't have any big expectations for TDs anyways. Willie Parker is on bye this week so I don't have to face the tough decision of who to play in the swing position this week. So for RBs I got Bush and Tomlinson in and Lamont Jordan, the biggest bust of 2006, out. Nothing else you can really say about how bnad the Raiderss offensive line and team are this year.
...Wide Receivers...
T.J. Houshmandzadah had a huge season debut against the Steelers catching touchdowns on two consecutive possessions for the Bengals, and finished with with 9 catches for 94 yards. He is listed on the injury report as probable this week, but he has been practicing, and there is no way he won't be on the field against the Patriots. With Chad Jonhson getting all the attention, he should have another big day against that horrible Patriots' secondary. Darrell Jackson is continuing to perform at a high level, and his knee injury hasn't been a problem. With Deion Branch being phased into the offense gradually, Jackson is still going ot be picking up big numbers every week, especially now that Shaun Alexander is out and the Seahawks will be be more passing-oriented. Chris Chambers has been a big disappointment, but I think the problem rests more with Daunte Culpepper. Culpepper has been playing porrly, and he it looks like he won't be at 100% for much of this season. Tearing all three knee ligaments is a very tough injury to come back from, especially for a QB that has always relied on his mobility to get out of trouble. Donald Driver is putting up great yardage, but his touchdown productoin has not been ideal, but I think it will pick up, because Greg Jennings is establishing himself as a major scoring threat, and defenses will have to respect him as well. So Chambers, Driver, and Jackson in at receiver with Housh in the swing for this week.
....The rest...
My opponent this week is employing a strange strategy, playing both Joseph Addai and Dominick Rhodes. Although he is insuring himself at least a touchdown or two, and decent yardage, he is severly limiting his potential for points playing two backs on the same team, putting all eggs in one basket. He boasts great receivers in Santana Moss, Chad Jonhson, and Marvin Harrison, but with weak QBs in Philip Rivers and Chad Pennington, it will allow me to pick up another victory and move to 4-0, though it may be somewhat close, well Yahoo! has me projected for a 220 to 161 victory...
Friday, September 29, 2006
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
View from the Stands and other Week 3 Thoughts
I made the pilgrimage to Monster Park in San Francisco for the "showdown" between the 49ers and the Eagles. On paper the game was a total mismatch, but the 49ers had showed their improvement on defense and offense in the first two weeks against the Cardinals and in a win over the Rams(it should be noted that the 49ers finished last in the league in both offense and defense, so an improvement from these numbers is not necessarily indicative of success).
Regardless, the 49ers did have a small chance to win the game, they were playing at home after all, and the "Faithful" as the fans are now referred to, were all out in force....
But when the 49ers kicked the opening kickoff out of bounds, it was a sign of things to come. The Eagles ran a flea-flicker on their first play, and Donovan McNabb connected with Reggie Brown for a 50-yard gain. A couple plays later Bryan Westbrook scored on a shovel pass, and the Eagles would continue their dominance for the rest of the game(except for the third quarter, but they were already up by 4 touchdowns at that point).
How the Eagles were able to dominate is no real mystery. Their play-calling was far superior to the 49ers, well that and they have a veteran quarterback who knows the offense in and out, and Alex Smith is still learning how to take snaps from under center(he ran the spread option in college). Anyway the main difference in play-calling was that the Eagles made a concerted effort to get the ball to their playmakers in open space on high-percentage/low-risk pass plays, often on first down. The Eagles also mixed in creative play-calls near the goal line and on the first offensive play of the game, an Andy Reid trademark.
The 49ers on the other hand predictably ran the ball on early downs and attempted intermediate passes on third down. The Eagles were ready for this elementary approach, and they stuffed the run, and brought pressure on third downs. The result was zero first downs in the first quarter and falling behind 24-3 at halftime.
The Eagles are often criticized for passing too much, because in a simple examination of the box score, they pass anywhere from 55 to 70 percent of the time. But, what the box score doesn't show is how quickly many of the passes are thrown. The Eagles run several designed quick screens to running backs, tight ends, and wideouts that are often short gains, like most running plays, but have a better chance of breaking for a big gain. The reason is the rush is keyed on getting to the quarterback, and the receiver has much more space to maneuver.
Once a player like Westbrook gets in open space, he's tough to tackle. This is why the Eagles signed him to a big contract last year, because he is such a perfect fit for their offense. They don't need him to run the ball 25 times. They want to maximize his speed and agility in the open field as a receiver. They want him to carry the ball 10-15 times and catch 6-7 passes per game. Here are his stats so far:
15 receptions for 164 yards(10.9 ypc) and 44 carries for 256 yards (5.8) and five total touchdowns. If he continues to put up numbers liek this,
The 49ers have a similar talent in Frank Gore, an explosive runner able to make defenders miss, but they haven't learned to how to best use his talents. Perhaps they picked up a few tricks in their dismantling against the Eagles.....
Other thoughts on week 3....
It was a strange game in Pittsburgh with the Bengals holding on late for a 28-20 victory when Ben Roethlisburger threw his third interception of the game. The game turned on a sequence in the fourth quarter when the Steelers fumbled twice on two consecutive series. T.J. Houshmanzadah scored touchdowns on the ensuing play both times for the Bengals, which proved to be the difference. Pittsburgh(and Rothlisburger especially) has looked pretty sloppy. Roethlisburger has already thrown 5 picks and is not playing with the confidence that he showed last year leading the Steelers to the Super Bowl. Most of his troubles can be attributed to his motorcycle accident and his appendectomy, because he at times appears afraid to take hits. His arm strength is also lacking, as evidenced by one throw against Cincy where he strided so hard throwing a deep ball that he fell down(the ball was intercepted, and not coincidentally was 10 yards shy of its intended target). He should be back to his old self in a couple weeks after the scars are fully healed, but he better step it up if Pittsburgh (1-2) is going to keep pace with Cincy and Baltimore, who are both 3-0.
There's nothing else I can really add to the beatdown that the Saints put on the Falcons, as there is already been so much written and said already. I figured the Saints might make it competitive, but that ultimately they wouldn't be able to stop Michael Vick. I couldn't have been more wrong. Vick seemed to be trying to prove his growth as a pocket passer, passing up open running lanes, and instead trying to move the ball with his arm. It didn't help that New Orleans' defense totally shutdown Warrick Dunn, who had been leading the league in rushing going into the game, but finished with only 44 yards on 13 carries. If the Saints can maintain this kind of defensive effort, they will definitely make the playoffs, but that is a very big IF..
The NFL Replay on the NFL network has to be one of the greatest ideas ever. The package compacts a full game into an hour and half, cutting out most inconsequential plays, and also includes quotes from players and coaches that accompany the action. It's a great way to get caught up on the best games of the week that you missed because you don't live in a given area. I don't work for the NFL network or anything, I guess I have seen the commercial advertising the NFL replay so many times, I have been brainwashed into promoting it...
The NFC looks to be catching up the AFC so far this season. So far the NFC is 4-3, although 2 of those wins are against the hapless Texans. Nonetheless the number of good NFC teams is increasing, with the Vikings, Bears, Cowboys, Eagles, Saints, and Falcons all looking impressive. Also, the three worst teams in the league are all in the AFC, the Titans, Texans, and Raiders. These teams are already locked in a battle to see who gets the first pick in the 2007 draft. The Raiders look to have the edge, as they haven't bothered to show up yet this year. An argument could be made to include the Lions in this group, and I definitely see the merit, but I think they are slighly above these three for now. I see some potential in their offense, and the defense did shutdown Seattle in that first game....
Regardless, the 49ers did have a small chance to win the game, they were playing at home after all, and the "Faithful" as the fans are now referred to, were all out in force....
But when the 49ers kicked the opening kickoff out of bounds, it was a sign of things to come. The Eagles ran a flea-flicker on their first play, and Donovan McNabb connected with Reggie Brown for a 50-yard gain. A couple plays later Bryan Westbrook scored on a shovel pass, and the Eagles would continue their dominance for the rest of the game(except for the third quarter, but they were already up by 4 touchdowns at that point).
How the Eagles were able to dominate is no real mystery. Their play-calling was far superior to the 49ers, well that and they have a veteran quarterback who knows the offense in and out, and Alex Smith is still learning how to take snaps from under center(he ran the spread option in college). Anyway the main difference in play-calling was that the Eagles made a concerted effort to get the ball to their playmakers in open space on high-percentage/low-risk pass plays, often on first down. The Eagles also mixed in creative play-calls near the goal line and on the first offensive play of the game, an Andy Reid trademark.
The 49ers on the other hand predictably ran the ball on early downs and attempted intermediate passes on third down. The Eagles were ready for this elementary approach, and they stuffed the run, and brought pressure on third downs. The result was zero first downs in the first quarter and falling behind 24-3 at halftime.
The Eagles are often criticized for passing too much, because in a simple examination of the box score, they pass anywhere from 55 to 70 percent of the time. But, what the box score doesn't show is how quickly many of the passes are thrown. The Eagles run several designed quick screens to running backs, tight ends, and wideouts that are often short gains, like most running plays, but have a better chance of breaking for a big gain. The reason is the rush is keyed on getting to the quarterback, and the receiver has much more space to maneuver.
Once a player like Westbrook gets in open space, he's tough to tackle. This is why the Eagles signed him to a big contract last year, because he is such a perfect fit for their offense. They don't need him to run the ball 25 times. They want to maximize his speed and agility in the open field as a receiver. They want him to carry the ball 10-15 times and catch 6-7 passes per game. Here are his stats so far:
15 receptions for 164 yards(10.9 ypc) and 44 carries for 256 yards (5.8) and five total touchdowns. If he continues to put up numbers liek this,
The 49ers have a similar talent in Frank Gore, an explosive runner able to make defenders miss, but they haven't learned to how to best use his talents. Perhaps they picked up a few tricks in their dismantling against the Eagles.....
Other thoughts on week 3....
It was a strange game in Pittsburgh with the Bengals holding on late for a 28-20 victory when Ben Roethlisburger threw his third interception of the game. The game turned on a sequence in the fourth quarter when the Steelers fumbled twice on two consecutive series. T.J. Houshmanzadah scored touchdowns on the ensuing play both times for the Bengals, which proved to be the difference. Pittsburgh(and Rothlisburger especially) has looked pretty sloppy. Roethlisburger has already thrown 5 picks and is not playing with the confidence that he showed last year leading the Steelers to the Super Bowl. Most of his troubles can be attributed to his motorcycle accident and his appendectomy, because he at times appears afraid to take hits. His arm strength is also lacking, as evidenced by one throw against Cincy where he strided so hard throwing a deep ball that he fell down(the ball was intercepted, and not coincidentally was 10 yards shy of its intended target). He should be back to his old self in a couple weeks after the scars are fully healed, but he better step it up if Pittsburgh (1-2) is going to keep pace with Cincy and Baltimore, who are both 3-0.
There's nothing else I can really add to the beatdown that the Saints put on the Falcons, as there is already been so much written and said already. I figured the Saints might make it competitive, but that ultimately they wouldn't be able to stop Michael Vick. I couldn't have been more wrong. Vick seemed to be trying to prove his growth as a pocket passer, passing up open running lanes, and instead trying to move the ball with his arm. It didn't help that New Orleans' defense totally shutdown Warrick Dunn, who had been leading the league in rushing going into the game, but finished with only 44 yards on 13 carries. If the Saints can maintain this kind of defensive effort, they will definitely make the playoffs, but that is a very big IF..
The NFL Replay on the NFL network has to be one of the greatest ideas ever. The package compacts a full game into an hour and half, cutting out most inconsequential plays, and also includes quotes from players and coaches that accompany the action. It's a great way to get caught up on the best games of the week that you missed because you don't live in a given area. I don't work for the NFL network or anything, I guess I have seen the commercial advertising the NFL replay so many times, I have been brainwashed into promoting it...
The NFC looks to be catching up the AFC so far this season. So far the NFC is 4-3, although 2 of those wins are against the hapless Texans. Nonetheless the number of good NFC teams is increasing, with the Vikings, Bears, Cowboys, Eagles, Saints, and Falcons all looking impressive. Also, the three worst teams in the league are all in the AFC, the Titans, Texans, and Raiders. These teams are already locked in a battle to see who gets the first pick in the 2007 draft. The Raiders look to have the edge, as they haven't bothered to show up yet this year. An argument could be made to include the Lions in this group, and I definitely see the merit, but I think they are slighly above these three for now. I see some potential in their offense, and the defense did shutdown Seattle in that first game....
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