Not too hot a start last week (1-2), as the San Diego and Cleveland offenses played way beneath what I thought they would. Life goes on.
Two plays today, so far at least.
P.S. Broken, you know me too well.
Seattle (-5) @ Arizona
Seattle's everyone's favorite "sleeper", while the Cards are "the worst" team in football.
It doesn't any more cut and dried than this... right?
I, for one, don't think so.
Seattle looked good last week, but N.O, IMO, is very overrated. The loss of Turley was the worst thing that could have happened to the Saints as Aaron Brooks has proven time and again that if you can get pressure with the front four and drop seven into coverage, he can't beat you.
Arizona has a few advantages here. 1) the offensive line is much more solid, particularly because RG Leonard Davis will play with an improving ankle, and the 'Hawks will have to get pressure with more than four guys. Which leads us to 2) Jeff Blake, while no superstar, has great confidence from his team. He's been much maligned for his turnovers, but his turnover per snap ratios are well ahead of Plummer's. 3) the Cards should be able to run the ball behind the aforementioned offensive line and FB Hodgins. Seattle held the Saints to 103 yards rushing, but in a game the Saints trailed throughout. Throw in the heat factor, and the Cards could potentially tire them out.
To me, this D still has something to prove. With Emmitt and Blake's leadership, behind a solid line, these raw but talented receivers will only benefit.
I'll admit, the D is a little worrisome, but Holmgren got very conservative last week and I can foresee some bleedover this week. Hasselbeck I'm sure will have a good game, but Zona should be able to control Alexander with the big defensive line taking up blockers, in turn, allowng a solid LB corps to make plays. If Hasselbeck's forced to do it with his arm, I'm very confident we take the dough here.
My pick: Arizona +5
Buffalo (-3) @ Jacksonville
Who'da thunk that a pass from Jake Delhomme to Ricky Proehl would make this a play for me. But lo and behold, the Jags lose, the Bills are installed as faves, and the line sticks at three. God Bless America!
Brunell shined last week. This week it's Fred Taylor's turn. What Carolina lacked in the secondary, Buffalo lacks up front. (Please no Sam Adams comments. I'll tap you on the shoulder when he's huffing wind in the middle of the second quarter). Brunell looked like the Brunell of old escaping the rush, but he shouldn't have to this week.
The corners for Buffalo are good, but even they can't cover forever. For the Bills it's a case of pick your poison, and the veteran Brunell should pick his spots well enough to free Freddie for a quietly successful day.
Travis Henry averaged less than 3.5 YPC last week against a Pats team that theoretically should struggle against the run. The Jags gave up huge chunks of yardage on toss sweeps to Stephen Davis last week. Del Rio was visibly embarrased by the run D, and with his reputation, I see the Jags improving greatly in that area this week. If so, look out, because if Brackens, Hugh Douglas, and Akin Ayodele can pin their ears back and attack the mobilly-challenged Bledsoe, this one could get ugly.
As it is, I don't foresee Jax having a problem here.
My pick: Jacksonville +3
Good Luck,
Space.
Two plays today, so far at least.
P.S. Broken, you know me too well.
Seattle (-5) @ Arizona
Seattle's everyone's favorite "sleeper", while the Cards are "the worst" team in football.
It doesn't any more cut and dried than this... right?
I, for one, don't think so.
Seattle looked good last week, but N.O, IMO, is very overrated. The loss of Turley was the worst thing that could have happened to the Saints as Aaron Brooks has proven time and again that if you can get pressure with the front four and drop seven into coverage, he can't beat you.
Arizona has a few advantages here. 1) the offensive line is much more solid, particularly because RG Leonard Davis will play with an improving ankle, and the 'Hawks will have to get pressure with more than four guys. Which leads us to 2) Jeff Blake, while no superstar, has great confidence from his team. He's been much maligned for his turnovers, but his turnover per snap ratios are well ahead of Plummer's. 3) the Cards should be able to run the ball behind the aforementioned offensive line and FB Hodgins. Seattle held the Saints to 103 yards rushing, but in a game the Saints trailed throughout. Throw in the heat factor, and the Cards could potentially tire them out.
To me, this D still has something to prove. With Emmitt and Blake's leadership, behind a solid line, these raw but talented receivers will only benefit.
I'll admit, the D is a little worrisome, but Holmgren got very conservative last week and I can foresee some bleedover this week. Hasselbeck I'm sure will have a good game, but Zona should be able to control Alexander with the big defensive line taking up blockers, in turn, allowng a solid LB corps to make plays. If Hasselbeck's forced to do it with his arm, I'm very confident we take the dough here.
My pick: Arizona +5
Buffalo (-3) @ Jacksonville
Who'da thunk that a pass from Jake Delhomme to Ricky Proehl would make this a play for me. But lo and behold, the Jags lose, the Bills are installed as faves, and the line sticks at three. God Bless America!
Brunell shined last week. This week it's Fred Taylor's turn. What Carolina lacked in the secondary, Buffalo lacks up front. (Please no Sam Adams comments. I'll tap you on the shoulder when he's huffing wind in the middle of the second quarter). Brunell looked like the Brunell of old escaping the rush, but he shouldn't have to this week.
The corners for Buffalo are good, but even they can't cover forever. For the Bills it's a case of pick your poison, and the veteran Brunell should pick his spots well enough to free Freddie for a quietly successful day.
Travis Henry averaged less than 3.5 YPC last week against a Pats team that theoretically should struggle against the run. The Jags gave up huge chunks of yardage on toss sweeps to Stephen Davis last week. Del Rio was visibly embarrased by the run D, and with his reputation, I see the Jags improving greatly in that area this week. If so, look out, because if Brackens, Hugh Douglas, and Akin Ayodele can pin their ears back and attack the mobilly-challenged Bledsoe, this one could get ugly.
As it is, I don't foresee Jax having a problem here.
My pick: Jacksonville +3
Good Luck,
Space.
