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thoughts and observations |
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WEEK THREE REVIEW
Well, what have we learned? For starters, who's the best team in the NFC, and possibly the NFL? That's right, the Rams. If anyone doubts that at this point, they don't know football. The defense keeps getting better, and the offense is still "The Greatest Show On Earth." It's almost scary to think of how good this team will be when the defense reaches its peak.
The dismantling of the Dolphins was truly unbelievable. This team has it all. But it needs a name. I know, the offense is "The Greatest Show On Earth" and the defense has been called "The New Name Defense", but that just doesn't do it for me. Why don't we all just call the team "La Machine." It slices, it dices, it makes mounds and mounds of julienne opponents. It's La Machine. Unbelievable.
Dick Vermeil cracks me up. He stuck up for Marty Schottenheimer, saying that the veterans on the Redskins should shut up and play. He pretty much went off about it. Then again, he should. He helped talk Schottenheimer into taking the job.
Don't expect anything from the Bills. Oh, it's not really Rob Johnson's fault, even though many are blaming him. The offensive line is in shambles with injuries. It's so bad I'm expecting a call for a tryout. It's just going to be a truly tough year. Then again, it not like the Steelers killed them.
Check out the injury front, and all the running backs that went down. Jamal Anderson out for the year. Warrick Dunn out for several weeks. James Jackson went down along with Tiki Barber. Even Ricky Watters left the game with a shoulder injury. It's mind boggling. What's really bad is that I had some of these guys on fantasy teams. Consider this. In one league, which places more importance on the quarterback I have Fred Taylor, Lamar Smith, Jamal Anderson, Travis Henry, James Jackson and Jamel White. I'm 1-2, and wondering who to start next to Smith next week. Needless to say, I'm not happy.
A look around...
Who is Maurice Smith?
The next Jamal Anderson. The undrafted free agent of a year ago not only picked up the slack running when Jamal Anderson went down, but tore it up enough passing that one person in a league wanted to pick him up and thought he was a receiver. The team has liked him since he has been there. It's probably his team now.
The Bucs Offense
I have this strange feeling that you could put Mike Martz and the Rams offense in Bucs uniforms, and they wouldn't go anywhere. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why they are not any better than this. If the league goes with the plan allowing only one wild card team per conference, the Bucs will not make the playoffs.
Holmgren's Gaffe
We know the coach can run an offense. And we know he's a pretty good developer of talent. But is he really a good personnel guy? Think about it. In the 2000 draft and before, Holmgren shipped away Ahman Green to take Shaun Alexander. Green was a fumbler. Oops, so it Alexander. Did he need to do that? Of course, he still had Ricky Watters, too. He could have gone a different route. He could have gone to more receivers, and be in much better shape now. He knew then that Derrick Mayes and Sean Dawkins were not his guys. Now, when you look, what you really have to wonder is if he lays in bed at night wishing he hadn't left Green Bay. Where he would have had the personnel power if he had been patient.
Redskins On The Clock
How long before things really start blowing up in Washington? Everyone acts like their being calm, cool and collect, but you just know that Danny "The Garden Gnome" Snyder is seething. And Schottenheimer? I don't even want to think about it. The Redskins will have so much wasted cap space after the impending veteran purge, Washington will look like a swimming pool that you can't fill up!
Pick A Pack of Pickled Opponents
How much do you wish the Rams and Packers were playing each other this year? Me, too. Favre has been dynamite, and even though Antonio Freeman is still not what he was, there are plenty of options. What is really surprising is the defense. This team looks a lot like it did in '96, which was a Super year.
Fouts, Brooks, Winslow, Joiner...
Okay, maybe the Chargers don't look like those glory days, but they have a enough going for them on that side of the ball. What could make them better over time is that the defense is way better than the Air Coryell years. Fouts used to call his defense "The First And Five Defense," because they were always jumping offsides. The current Chargers could surprise, even in the tough AFC West.
MIKE LIKES
Since some things have changed in my game previews, getting it more in sync with the NFL, I started feeling guilty about not giving game picks anymore, so here you go.
Week Four (Bye: Indianapolis):
Arizona at Philadelphia (-14)
The Cards look like their moving in the right direction, but they aren't on the same train as the Eagles.
Pick: Eagles easily.
Chicago at Atlanta (-3.5)
Should be a good game, but Atlanta has momentum over the recently byed Bears.
Pick: Falcons in a squeaker.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (-6)
The Bengals were too high before the Chargers, but the Steelers are not the Chargers.
Pick: Steelers, but not by the spread.
Green Bay at Tampa Bay (-2.5)
Let's see...a hot Favre and Company against a now Dunn-less offense. Hmmm...
Pick: Packers to win.
Jacksonville at Seattle (No Line Yet)
A beat-up Jags team against a weird Hawks team. Gotta go with past performances.
Pick: Jaguars in a low scorer.
Kansas City at Denver (-10)
The Chiefs are better, but not good enough. Teams always play tough on each other.
Pick: Denver, but inside the spread.
Minnesota at New Orleans (-3.5)
Saints off the loss should put the Vikings back to bickering ways.
Pick: Saints by it all.
New England at Miami (-9.5)
If you bet, bet against the Patriots in every way. History says so. And the Dolphins were just embarrased.
Pick: Dolphins will win and cover.
N.Y. Jets at Buffalo (No Line Yet)
The Bills are too beat up already, even though the Jets are bipolar.
Pick: Jets, but no blowout.
Dallas at Oakland (-19)
This will look as bad live as it does on paper. Think of the Dallas-Philly game all over again. Deja vu.
Pick: Oakland...are you kidding me?
San Diego (-3) at Cleveland
It won't be so easy, and really could be an upset, but I don't see the Browns quite there yet.
Pick: Chargers spread on 4-0.
Tennessee at Baltimore (-4)
The Titans have to prove something, but the Ravens already did.
Pick: Ravens, but narrowly.
Washington at N.Y. Giants (-14)
This just isn't even fair. I don't know what else to say, but the Skins will probably give up thirty again.
Pick: Duh, Giants.
Carolina at San Francisco (No Line Yet)
This should be a good game, although the Niners are farther enough along that they should be there.
Pick: 49ers, but not going away.
St. Louis (-11) at Detroit
Rams offense will cruise, but the defense could score a few and make it a sixty point game.
Pick: Rams by a mile.
SPECIAL NOTE: Dallas and Oakland do NOT have a bye this week. They have changed their schedule for the baseball playoffs, and will have a bye when they are supposed to play in Week Six.
Moving on...
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THINGS I KNOW:
The Rams are good enough to go undefeated if they stay healthy. A big if.
The MVP of the season will likely end up real tight between Warner, Faulk and Favre.
It's plain unfortunate that the Redskins and Cowboys have to suck up air time against each other twice.
I've seen Randy Moss play, and that's not Randy Moss. Or maybe it's Ben Franklin. Cha-ching!
It doesn't matter if the Broncos play good or bad, Mike Shanahan always looks like he has a headache.
THINGS I CAN PREDICT:
Jamal Anderson will never start for the Falcons again.
Danny Snider will return to his role as a Lollypopkin in Munchkinland after the season.
Cincinnati and Cleveland will be two games worth watching.
When the Rams and Lions match-up next Monday, we'll all be thankful that ABC hired Dennis Miller.
It will be a long time still before Peyton Manning can win a big game.
Mike owns and publishes SkillPositions.Com, along with a big, expensive, and talented staff. Don't use this work without permission in writing. Mike has been known as the world's only living heart donor. He also thinks morals are paintings on walls, and scruples are money in Russia.
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