10/29/04
- With Pro Bowl nose tackle Casey Hampton out for the season after
tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament , look for the
Steelers to struggle defending the run. Hampton's back-up is
undersized Chris Hoke and the team re-signed Kendrick Clancy.
Hoke hasn't recorded a tackle in four years (he didn't dress
for a game in his first three years) while Clancy has 15 tackles
over his 44-game career.
- Look for the Giants to jettison troublesome linebacker Barrett
Green after the season. Green has repeatedly clashed with coach
Tom Coughlin and it's clear this wasn't a match made in heaven.
Signed as a free agent during the off-season, Green has been
fined on several occasions this season and lost his starting
job last week to Nick Griesen for being two hours late to a
meeting during the team's bye week. Although Green is going
back in the starting line-up this week, he will only play in
the base defense. If Green is cut before June 1 of next year,
the team will take a $2.2-million cap cut, the unamortized portion
of his $2.75-million signing bonus.
- Dolphins defensive tackle Tim Bowens was placed on injured
reserve with a herniated disk in his back and it appears the
frequently injured player might retire. If that doesn't transpire,
there is no guarantee the team will retain him for 2005 at his
scheduled salary of $2-million.
- Current Patriot and former Steelers punter Josh Miller reflecting
on his relationship with Bill Cowher during his eight-year stay
in Pittsburgh: "It was blown way out of proportion. The first
year there I was his fifth punter in five years, so right away
I knew something was up. But I was there for eight years, and
you don't stay in a bad marriage for eight years. Well, maybe
you do. Scratch that example. But it wasn't as bad as people
thought."
- Jets quarterback Chad Pennington has been criticized for
his inability to get the ball to the team's wide receivers and
the stats back up the criticism. During 2003, Jerald Sowell,
Curtis Martin and Lamont Jordan combined for 100 receptions.
Six games into 2004, the trio has 53 receptions and is on pace
for 141 on the season.
- Keeping with the Jets, look for Jon McGraw to take over as
the team's starting free safety from the ineffective Reggie
Tongue in the near future. A 2nd round pick in the 2002 draft,
McGraw has impressed the team when he's been on the field but
his inability to stay healthy has held him back. However, the
team has come to the realization that Tongue no longer possesses
the speed to make plays in the secondary. If McGraw moves into
the starting line-up, one concern for the team will be their
lack of experience at safety because the team's other starter,
Erik Coleman, is a rookie 5th round pick.
- The Rams rank near the bottom of the league in every return
category - 31st in punt returns, 29th in kick-off returns, 26th
in punt coverage and 30th in kick-off coverage. One of the main
problems is that coach Mike Martz won't allow special teams
coach Mike Stock (the team's third special teams coach over
the past five years) to use starters in the return game.
- Bills coach Mike Mularkey has shown a tremendous lack of
leadership in dealing with the Travis Henry-Willis McGahee situation
at running back. Granted, Mularkey does need to tiptoe around
the hypersensitive Henry and has done so reasonably well. However,
he reportedly informed McGahee that he would start this week
against the Cardinals and didn't inform Henry he was heading
to the bench.
- Keeping with the Bills, the team's decision to sign defensive
coordinator Jerry Gray to a contract extension is a sound one.
After lacklustre play during Gray's first two seasons, the unit
came around in 2003 with the emergence of defensive end Aaron
Schobel and the strong play has continued into 2004. One area
of concern remains the team's inability to force turnovers,
a key statistic where the team finished last in 2003 and remains
near the bottom of the league in 2004.
- With Tony Williams expected to miss the remainder of the
season due to a dislocated and fractured left ankle thanks to
a cut block courtesy of Broncos right tackle George Foster,
look for the Bengals to insert Langston Moore into the starting
line-up. A 6th round pick in 2003, Moore has impressed the coaching
staff this season in a back-up role. Don't expect much of a
drop off from Moore in terms of run defense, however the team
may have trouble replacing Williams pass rushing ability.
- Browns coaches have been pleased with the play of three-fifths
of their offensive line with tackles Ross Verba and Ryan Tucker
along with guard Kelvin Garmon receiving praise. However, 2002
1st round pick Jeff Faine has been less than spectacular while
left guard Enoch DeMar is in danger of losing his starting position
to Paul Zukauskas.
- Keeping with the Browns, look for 2003 3rd round pick Chris
Crocker to be inserted into the starting line-up in place of
Earl Little after the team's bye week. Despite averaging five
interceptions a year over the past three seasons, Little is
being demoted for his inability to make big plays this season
(no sacks or interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery
and one pass defensed).
- The Bills haven't had a rushing touchdown since the 12th game of last season.
- The Colts Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison will attempt
to break the league record for completions between a quarterback
and a wide receiver this weekend in Kansas City. The league
record of 663 was set by Buffalo's Jim Kelly and Andre Reed
while Manning and Harrison have hooked up 655 times.
- This week against the Bears the 49ers will have six former
1st round picks on their roster but not one will start in the
game. Cornerbacks Ahmed Plummer (2000) and Mike Rumph (2002),
defensive end Andre Carter (2001) and linebacker Julian Peterson
(2000) are injured. Left tackle Kwame Harris (2003) has been
benched while Rashaun Woods (2004) is currently fifth on the
depth chart at wide receiver.
- With Quentin Griffin going on injured reserve with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and Tatum Bell out with a hamstring injury. Garrison Hearst will dress for the first time this season as Reuben Droughn's back-up.
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