[The late afternoon Edition]
Monday Morning Huddle
Week 8 in the NFL
Two Minute blitz
One Team to Beat...
The Tennessee Titans remain the last of the unbeatens as the NFL plows through Week 7 of its’ schedule. On Sunday the Titans took their perfect 5-0 record into Kansas City and found little resistance from their hosts as they improved to six wins with no defeats.
The Titans have not been flamboyant or glamorous this season dispatching their 2008 scheduled opponents week to week, by simply playing the old fashion game. The saying is “a running game and defense wins you championships.” One could hardly argue this theory when sizing up the 2008 Titans. While they do not appear on paper overly impressive, when you examine these boys a little more closely on game film, it’s a little easier to see why they are so successful.
Through seven weeks of the NFL season, the Titans have merely done the obvious, ran the ball with extreme success and played at times some great defense. When you look at their offense nothing really scares you; an aged veteran quarterback, a bunch of no-name receivers, an overweight halfback/fullback, and a rookie running back. So what’s the secret of their success? Well for starters, while there receiving core lacks the flash and pizzazz of today’s prima-donna, they are steady pass catchers when healthy and their tight ends could be some of the league best run blocking and pass catching at the position (barring the few exceptional ones, i.e., Witten, Gates, etc). And while he may appear on the heavy side, LenDale White’s 80 yard scamper yesterday should answer any questions about his speed. Now some athletes are born with speed, some with great balance and vision, but very few have that combination that sets them apart from the rest. It would be hard to say that rookie Chris Johnson is one of those few, but through 7 week, the kid is building a case. Let’s not forget those unheralded men up front that make all of the offense possible. Possibly one of the most under-rated offensive lines, the Titans front five (Kevin Mawae, David Stewart, Jake Scott, Michale Ross, Eugene Amano) are only leading a ground game that averages 154.5 yards rushing/game and 4.5 yards per carry this season!
When you get to the defense, this may be where it all should end. A strong line-backing core with the likes of David Thorton 19 solo tackles) and Keith Bulluck (23 solo tackles) are a good indication of the kind of talent this unit has. When you look up front, it’s these boys in the trenches that put the scare in opposing offenses. Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is like a runaway freight train on the line and he hits like one too! In the team’s first six games Haynesworth has led the charge with 6 quarterback sacks of his own to go with 18 solo tackles. The team has 18 sacks on the year and the defense is ranked 3rd overall this season. The team is doing it on the defensive side with pressure and big plays. Perhaps one of the league most under-rated secondarys has recorded 10 picks this season (4 by Courtland Finnegan and Michael Griffin each). The defense is not a lineup filled wiht houshold names, but these boys come to play and will bring the house down every Sunday!
Will the 2008 Tennessee Titans go undefeated? Can this team be beat? Don't ask the six opponents the team has faced so far this season, apparently they don't have the answers!
MONSTERS OF THE GRIDIRON
Once again sports fans it was another week filled with tremendous performances by some outstanding fantasy studs, duds, and sleepers! While these boys offer opposing defenses little sleep when preparing for their encounter, they undoubtedly make it much easier for fantasy owners to sleep at night having them in their line.
Hopefully, you too did infact have these gentlemen in your lineups on Sunday, because these fantasy studs were anything but gentlemen, they played like Monsters of the Gridiron!
Monster QB
Matt Schaub (Hou)....the Texans quarterback has been one of the hottest passers the last couple of weeks. As a matter of fact, in Schab's last thee starts he has been as good anyone in the league. Over his last three start, Schaub has passed for over 950 yards, more than Favre, more than Romo, and more than Brees. On Sunday the former Falcon's back-up quarterback led the Texans to their second straight win passing for 267 yards and throwing 2 touchdowns. Perhaps the most impressive part of Schaub's game on Sunday was not the touchdowns, but his accurracy and efficiency. Schabu completed 26 of 31 passes (almost 84% completion) and finished the day with a passer rating of 124.1. It was a monster performance for the Texan's QB.
Monster rb
LenDale White (Ten)....the Titans running back has been characterized at times as being a bit heavy, but the former Trojan dispelled any thoughts of his lack of speed on Sunday, when the 235 pound runner scampered 80 yards for his third touchdown in the team's blowout win over the Chiefs. White has been a bit of a touchdown vulture, being the team's primary short-yardage and goal line back. This role has led him to 7 ruhsing touchdowns this season, but against the Chiefs, White showed he can still run in the big leagues like a featured back. The Titans running back finished the day with 17 carries for 149 yards (8.8 yds/carry) and three scores! A huge fantasy output for this week's running back Monster of the Gridiron!
Monster wr/te
Andre Johnson (Hou)....can anyone stop the unstoppable? Is there an answer on defense for Andre “the Giant.” His spectacular play has made him a gigantor amongst the feeble defenses set opposed to him each week. For the second consecutive week, Johnson has been huge on the Gridiron on Sunday afternoon. Against a weaker opponent the Texans big-time receiver pulled in another 11 passes for 141 receiving yards. This was the third straight game for Johnson with no fewer than 9 receptions. His 45 catches for 575 yards and two scores this season make him one of our Monster of the Gridiron!
IN THE MIX
It took Week 7 of the 2008 schedule for McGahee to finally get healthy and when he is, good things can happen for the Ravens. So far this season the Raven’s running back has hardly been on the field and leading up to week 7, he’d hardly finished a game. All that changed on Sunday when McGahee saw his first extended action and actually finished the game in good health. McGahee ran well, looked spry and was elusive running through the Dolphin's defense on his way to a big day. McGahee carried the ball 19 times for 105 yards on the ground and scored on a 5 yard touchdown run. The Raven's back also added a couple of catches for another 47 yards receiving adding another dynamic to his repitoire. Fantasy owners should now take note, the Ravens offense can go as far as their run game will take them and with McGahee in the mix, he will undoubtedly be a big part of that success.
In Packerland, things seem to be finally falling into place for Ryan Grant and the Packer's running game. Although we did see a few signs of that last week when Grant carried the ball 33 times, but it was his 90 yards on the ground that concerned some fantasy folks. Against the Seahawks last week Grant only averaged 2.7 yards per carry, but in Week 7 that was not quite the case. Facing a Colts defense that has had its' troubles with the run game, Grant carried the ball 31 times for 105 yards and while his yards per carry did not increase much his continued production tells owners that he is definitely back in the mix. Grant will continue to see many looks, week in and week out, so fantasy owners can bank on the Packer's runners getting them numbers each week!
All of a sudden it seems the that Soldier field is quickly becoming a hot-bed for pass receiving options for the Bear's offense. A few weeks ago, the Bear's receiver Brandon Lloyd had emerged as a reliable pass catcher for gunslinging Kyle Orton and now in Week 7 it seems he has another. The Bear's tight end Greg Olson, out of the University of Miami has suddenly become a pass catching threat in Chicago's high-powered arsenal. Olsen caught 6 passes on Sunday for 74 yards with a touchdown and appears to having his number called quite often. In the his last four starts Olsen has been targeted 26 times (average of 6 targets/game) and caught 16 passes. With Orton continuing his steady ways every week, expect the Bears tight end to conitue to be in the mix!
4TH QUARTER TIMEOUT
fantasy notes from the past week....
Action Jackson: A man or machine on a mission. The Rams running back Steven Jackson has been a running madman the last couple of weeks and has been a one man wrecking machine at times. On Sunday Jackson scored three times and ran for 160 yards on the ground to lead the Rams to a huge win over the Cowboys. In his last three games, the Rams runner has totaled 475 yards (158.3 yards/game), carried the ball 71 times, caught 10 passes and scored 4 times. Jackson has been impressive and could be leading the Rams to a complete turn around (okay we won't get carried away).With two impressive back to back win, the Rams and Jackson could be looking at more good things to come, but first Action will have to get healthy. A late injury to his thigh sent Steven to the locker room in yesterday's game. No details to the extent of the injury, but word is he could miss next Sunday. Fantasy owners will have to watch carefully!
Life without Bush, what no man should ever face, but one the Saints will have to work past. The Saint’s running back Reggie Bush has been Mr. Fantastic, heavily involved with the team’s passing game as well as the run. Probably his often overlooked contribution to the teams’ success is his play on the special teams. Bush is averaging 21.9 yards per return and has already scored 3 times this season. What the Saint’s offense will miss in his absence is one of the leagues leading receivers and one of the most dynamic playmakers on the field. In six games this season, Bush had caught 42 passes for 366 yards and has run for another 294 yards and has also scored 5 times. In his absence on Sunday the Saints offense looked very average scoring a mere 7 points and totaling just 343 nets yards from scrimmage (about 70 yards less than normal). With all the weapons the Saints do posses, Bush was hardly one they could afford to lose for a sustained period of time. While the former Trojan is sidelined, running backs Aaron Stecker and Peirre Thomas figure to log some time on the field.
"Optimus Prime" versus "Megatron": So who is this kid "Prime?" That would be the phenom from Denver, or at least Brandon Marshall who has played that way at times. In Detroit the Lions 6'5" receiver, Calvin Johnson was dubbed witht he nick-name "Megatron" by his former team-mate wide receiver Roy Williams. While Johnson is an impressive site on the field, prior to his play in Week 7 he had not quite lived up to with his name. On the other hand, Marshall, since his return from his one game suspension has been nothing less than spectacular and a receiving force in the fantasy world. On Sunday Johnson posted some big fantasy numbers witih 2 catches for 154 yards and a score, but we'll have to wait to see what Marshall does tonight. So when you look at "Prime" (Marshall) and "Megatron" (Johnson), which receiver is most impressive? To answer that question, we know who won in the movie!
Check back every Monday for more Monday Morning Huddle!
