This is the third Titans game I've watched this year, and there is no doubt in my mind that Albert Haynesworth is the best defensive player I've seen all year. He has absolutely dominated the games against Jacksonville and tonight against the Saints. He made his share of plays when matched up against Jeff Saturday of the Colts.
Haynesworth, who is in a contract year, will be a good test of how important "character" really is to front offices. He's had problems throughout his career, but might be the premier free agent available if he hits the market this offseason. My guess is he'll get paid monster dollars, baggage and all.
I doubt Devery Henderson owners had the guts to play him this week, but they will be interested to see if Henderson's benching last week had a lasting impact.
Henderson didn't start, but Marques Colston was the only wide receiver on the field on the first play. Henderson was back out there the next two plays, so it looks like he'll get a chance to redeem himself. As a Saints semi-fan, I've never been a fan of Henderson's play. But he has enough fantasy upside to hang on to for a few more weeks.
I couldn't catch who started at wideout, but I know that four wide receivers all played within the first four snaps: Brandon Jones, Eric Moulds, Justin Gage, and Roydell Williams.
Jones and Williams, both draft picks in 2005, clearly have the most potential. It's going to be hard for both of them to have consistent fantasy value if the snaps are cut up four ways. Jones is the only one worth owning in most leagues.
Maybe the 89 carries in three weeks Steven Jackson had to finish last season is taking its toll. The Associated Press reports that Jackson suffered a partial tear in his left groin Sunday, meaning Brian Leonard should get the start against the Cowboys in Week 4. Leonard becomes a solid flex play, while Travis Minor will also be in the mix.
St. Louis doesn't have their bye until Week 9 and it's uncertain how long Jackson will be out. Those who drafted Jackson without a handcuff will have their depth tested. But this is why you draft depth.
It's another reminder that very little of what we think is "safe" in the preseason comes to pass. Owners who didn't take Jackson with the number two pick this offseason were usually made fun of. Right now, Jackson owners could name roughly ten guys they'd rather have.
Jackson owners can only remain patient and hope for the best. Risk-taking owners could try to take advantage of the sweeping panic and test the waters to see how much a banged-up Jackson costs.
J.P. Losman's knee injury couldn't have come at a worse time for the fourth-year QB. Coming off two of the worst starts of his career (which is saying a lot), Losman's status as the future of the Bills franchise was already being called into question. His play on the field was poor, but throwing his coaches under the bus was worse. Losman accepted very little blame for his play, and the pressers brought back memories of his immature days at Tulane University when "his" offense was divided into warring factions.
Losman now has to watch third-round pick Trent Edwards get an extended audition as the next Bills quarterback of the future. Edwards struggled against the Patriots like any rookie would, but perhaps he can show something against some questionable defenses the next two weeks (Jets, Cowboys). A few decent outings would go a long way towards helping the front office to decide late in the season that getting Edwards experience is the best way to move forward. And if Edwards doesn't work out, some message board posters are already asking the inevitable question in Buffalo: Who will be the first pick in the draft?.
As I suspected, a lot of the "minor" injuries endured Sunday by skill players are going to have uncertain recovery timelines.
So far, Brian Westbrook, Jake Delhomme, Brandon Jackson, Deshawn Wynn, Calvin Johnson, Carnell Williams, and Hines Ward have all received notice that their injuries won't require surgery.
Westbrook doesn't have any broken ribs, and Ward appears to have avoided a serious injury. Delhomme and Johnson will probably be among a large group of players whose status won't be decided until late in the week. It's annoying, but there is a bright side. My boss Rick says injuries are good for traffic.
Rudi Johnson's disastrous day against Seattle was among the most surprising efforts I've seen in a long time. After Edgerrin James ran all over the lightweigh Seahawks, the Bengals couldn't get anything going despite facing only seven men in the box all day.
"Yeah, that was surprising," Johnson said. "I've got no clue why."
Johnson is averaging 3.1 yards-per-carry, a ridiculously low number that is typical around the league. Four yards-per-carry is roughly average, and anything under 3.5 is very poor.
Eight teams are averaging under 3.5 YPC; there are usually only 2-4 teams that finish that poorly. Here are just some of the noteworthy strugglers...
Continue reading "Why are so many runners struggling?" »
September 23, 2007
The Bears lost more than a game tonight.
They may have lost the remaining shreds of Rex Grossman's confidence.
They lost Lance Briggs, Nathan Vasher, and Ruben Brown to injury. Tommie Harris left after taking a shot to the groin, a feeling that the entire city of Chicago can empathize with.
As Rotoworld cohort Patrick Dahl points out, this game was very similar to the Chargers loss. Chicago was dominated in time of possession. Both San Diego and Dallas have physical 3-4 defenses, and big-bodied offensive lines that can tire out a speed-oriented defense.
The Bears are now two games behind Green Bay, with a Week 5 game against the Packers looming large.
Thanks to everyone for stopping by tonight. Be back tomorrow with The Morning After.
Last year, when Rex Grossman was his lowest, the Bears went into St. Louis on Monday Night Football in Week 13 with Grossman's job very much on the line. Facing one of the worst defenses in the league, Grossman had a fine game and all was well again. He held on to the job for the rest of the year.
After this performance, Grossman probably only has one game left to save his job. And he gets the ultimate gift on the schedule next week: The Lions. If the Bears truly want a change, they will make it now. If they still believe Rex can recover, they will let him rack up stats against the worst secondary in the league and pretend everything is fine.
So Bears fans still out there ... Do you want to see Griese? Kyle Orton, anyone?
Expect a lot of Cedric Benson talk this week if the Bears don't pull this game out. He's not usually a fumbler, but that's two costly ones early this season.
More importantly, he's averaging 3.2 yards-per-carry as of this writing. I'm surprised to see Dallas contain the Bears so much, and a lot of blame can be assigned to the aging Bears O-line.
Of course Benson's average is still about a yard higher than LaDainian Tomlinson and those fightin' Chargers.
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