- Messages
- 79,281
- Reaction score
- 45,652
Dallas
Oct. 19, 2007
Witten, not Owens, has been Cowboys’ go-to guy lately
Terrell Owens says he’s trying to be a good teammate, but he clearly has been frustrated by his limited involvement in the offense the past three games — 11 receptions for 124 yards. And it’s a good thing that Owens has been quiet because it’s becoming more clear that TE Jason Witten holds the key to the Cowboys’ passing game as much as Owens does. The Cowboys failed to gain a first down in the first three possessions against the Patriots, and QB Tony Romo didn’t throw in Witten’s direction once. But on their fifth drive of the game, Romo hit Witten three straight times for 47 yards on a drive that ended with an Owens TD. After that, the Patriots made sure not to let Witten get free, often doubling him. The Patriots mixed their coverages on Witten, going at times with three safeties, with S Rodney Harrison often covering him with help over the top, and Harrison came away impressed. “He’s able to run anything he wants to run — in and out,” Harrison said. “It’s tough (to cover him). We haven’t seen anybody able to stop him. He’s (effective), especially when he has so much field to work with. You are just trying to contain him. That’s all you hope to do.”
View all WWHI for Dallas
NY Giants
Oct. 19, 2007
Practice? Giants’ Burress does just fine without midweek preparation
It might not be the most amazing achievement in some folks’ eyes, but NFL coaches — namely Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride — are pretty amazed at WR Plaxico Burress’ routine since badly spraining his ankle: rest six days, play one. Burress runs only on game days, which still goes against the total-rest recommendation of foot-and-ankle specialist Dr. Robert Anderson, who suggested that Burress rest completely after examining his ankle at the beginning of the month. Burress has caught a TD pass in every game and has 11 receptions for 221 yards against the Jets and Falcons the past two weeks. Clearly, Tom Coughlin isn't sticking with a “no practice, no play” rule this season with Burress, which he typically has adhered to for every other player since taking over the Giants. And that might be another example of the usually rigid Coughlin softening up a bit this season, knowing that he likely would have to win to keep his job. It also shows just how crucial Burress is to the team’s offensive success. With QB Eli Manning and Burress maintaining their terrific chemistry despite the lack of midweek work together, Coughlin’s position is looking stronger by the day.
View all WWHI for NY Giants
Philadelphia
Oct. 19, 2007
Red-zone production making Eagles blue in the face
The past few seasons, the Eagles have been one of the NFL’s better teams in the red zone. From 2003 through 2006, the team scored an impressive 110 touchdowns in 185 possessions inside the 20, for a 59.5 percent success rate. Coaches generally are satisfied with 50 percent. But so far this season, the Eagles have scored touchdowns a miserable 5-of-16 possessions in the red zone. Part of the blame, naturally, goes to the fact that RB Brian Westbrook missed parts of two games. He’s a crucial option inside the 20, where teams must treat him as both a receiver and a runner. QB Donovan McNabb, of course, has been a big reason for the Eagles’ past red-zone success, but because he’s not running much this season (only 15 times for 38 yards and no TDs), teams can sit back in coverage, especially if Westbrook isn’t on the field. A third crucial reason: TE L.J. Smith has been limited all season with five catches in three games played. He’s the big receiver McNabb trusts down there, and no other Eagles receiver has shown the ability to win one-on-one matchups this season in tight spaces with press coverage. Of Smith’s 14 career TDs (2003-07), all of them have come from inside the red zone.
View all WWHI for Philadelphia
Washington
Oct. 19, 2007
Washington’s absence prevents Commanders from unleashing entire defensive package
How valuable is SLB Marcus Washington? Never mind that he has been one of the best free-agent acquisitions the team has made the past five years — the Commanders are 0-3 when he has missed games. Last week against the Packers, the drop-off from Washington (hamstring) to Randall Godfrey wasn’t massive in most phases of the game, but it appeared that, without Washington, the Commanders played more basic schemes that didn’t ask Godfrey to do anything too special. He’s not nearly the blitzer that Washington is, nor does Godfrey have his range. If the Commanders have to go only this week without Washington, it won’t be the end of the world, but you can be sure that Gregg Williams will want his full array of defensive talent in order to change up defensive schemes against Patriots QB Tom Brady in Week Eight.
View all WWHI for Washington
Oct. 19, 2007
Witten, not Owens, has been Cowboys’ go-to guy lately
Terrell Owens says he’s trying to be a good teammate, but he clearly has been frustrated by his limited involvement in the offense the past three games — 11 receptions for 124 yards. And it’s a good thing that Owens has been quiet because it’s becoming more clear that TE Jason Witten holds the key to the Cowboys’ passing game as much as Owens does. The Cowboys failed to gain a first down in the first three possessions against the Patriots, and QB Tony Romo didn’t throw in Witten’s direction once. But on their fifth drive of the game, Romo hit Witten three straight times for 47 yards on a drive that ended with an Owens TD. After that, the Patriots made sure not to let Witten get free, often doubling him. The Patriots mixed their coverages on Witten, going at times with three safeties, with S Rodney Harrison often covering him with help over the top, and Harrison came away impressed. “He’s able to run anything he wants to run — in and out,” Harrison said. “It’s tough (to cover him). We haven’t seen anybody able to stop him. He’s (effective), especially when he has so much field to work with. You are just trying to contain him. That’s all you hope to do.”
View all WWHI for Dallas
NY Giants
Oct. 19, 2007
Practice? Giants’ Burress does just fine without midweek preparation
It might not be the most amazing achievement in some folks’ eyes, but NFL coaches — namely Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride — are pretty amazed at WR Plaxico Burress’ routine since badly spraining his ankle: rest six days, play one. Burress runs only on game days, which still goes against the total-rest recommendation of foot-and-ankle specialist Dr. Robert Anderson, who suggested that Burress rest completely after examining his ankle at the beginning of the month. Burress has caught a TD pass in every game and has 11 receptions for 221 yards against the Jets and Falcons the past two weeks. Clearly, Tom Coughlin isn't sticking with a “no practice, no play” rule this season with Burress, which he typically has adhered to for every other player since taking over the Giants. And that might be another example of the usually rigid Coughlin softening up a bit this season, knowing that he likely would have to win to keep his job. It also shows just how crucial Burress is to the team’s offensive success. With QB Eli Manning and Burress maintaining their terrific chemistry despite the lack of midweek work together, Coughlin’s position is looking stronger by the day.
View all WWHI for NY Giants
Philadelphia
Oct. 19, 2007
Red-zone production making Eagles blue in the face
The past few seasons, the Eagles have been one of the NFL’s better teams in the red zone. From 2003 through 2006, the team scored an impressive 110 touchdowns in 185 possessions inside the 20, for a 59.5 percent success rate. Coaches generally are satisfied with 50 percent. But so far this season, the Eagles have scored touchdowns a miserable 5-of-16 possessions in the red zone. Part of the blame, naturally, goes to the fact that RB Brian Westbrook missed parts of two games. He’s a crucial option inside the 20, where teams must treat him as both a receiver and a runner. QB Donovan McNabb, of course, has been a big reason for the Eagles’ past red-zone success, but because he’s not running much this season (only 15 times for 38 yards and no TDs), teams can sit back in coverage, especially if Westbrook isn’t on the field. A third crucial reason: TE L.J. Smith has been limited all season with five catches in three games played. He’s the big receiver McNabb trusts down there, and no other Eagles receiver has shown the ability to win one-on-one matchups this season in tight spaces with press coverage. Of Smith’s 14 career TDs (2003-07), all of them have come from inside the red zone.
View all WWHI for Philadelphia
Washington
Oct. 19, 2007
Washington’s absence prevents Commanders from unleashing entire defensive package
How valuable is SLB Marcus Washington? Never mind that he has been one of the best free-agent acquisitions the team has made the past five years — the Commanders are 0-3 when he has missed games. Last week against the Packers, the drop-off from Washington (hamstring) to Randall Godfrey wasn’t massive in most phases of the game, but it appeared that, without Washington, the Commanders played more basic schemes that didn’t ask Godfrey to do anything too special. He’s not nearly the blitzer that Washington is, nor does Godfrey have his range. If the Commanders have to go only this week without Washington, it won’t be the end of the world, but you can be sure that Gregg Williams will want his full array of defensive talent in order to change up defensive schemes against Patriots QB Tom Brady in Week Eight.
View all WWHI for Washington
