By Totals 4 U
Tampa Bay (9-4) The Buccaneers simply run over all night long by the Panthers Monday night by the Panthers, yielding 299 yards on the ground at 8.1 yards per carry with 4 rushing touchdowns, in a 23-38 loss that dropped them 1 game back in the NFC South. This from a team that had allowed a grand total of 1145 rush yards and only a single rush TD through their first 12 contests! Part of the debacle can be written off to injury with 6’2” 296 LDT Jovan Haye (27 T) sidelined for the game and fellow starter 6’2” 285 RDT Chris Hovan (36 T, S) not able to complete the game due to a bum knee but the truth is that sometimes when you face good teams in this league, you get knocked on your ass and we fully expect Defensive Coordinator Monte Kiffin’s squad to respond well. Age late in the season is a factor for the Tampa stoppers but the experience here may also help them regroup quickly. Star players LDE Kevin Carter (34 T, 4 S), WLB Derrick Brooks (56 T, INT), and RCB Rhode Barber (58 T, 2 S, 3 INT) have nearly 40 combined years in the pro pads and will have all three ranks breathing fire again come Sunday. Getting more pressure on the pocket this week (just 1 sack against Carolina) will be critical – not easy against the Falcons – and may require more creativity in Kiffin’s part. Typically, this unit doesn’t blitz that much with ends Carter and RDE Gaines Adams (31 T, 6 S, 2 INT) plus backups Greg White (25 T, 5 S) and Jimmy Wilkerson (17 T, 4 S) accounting for 19 of the team’s 26 total sacks. 6’2” 241 MLB Barrett Ruud (103 T, 3 S, 2 INT) has three but with good defensive backfield experience in guys like Barber, SS Jermaine Phillips (47 T, 3 INT), and LCB Phillip Buchanon (42 T, 2 INT) to back some risk we would like to see them send a guy like 6’1” 206 rookie nickel back Aquib Talib (18 T, 3 INT) who’s athletic ability could produce some havoc. Even after Monday night’s performance, the stats are pretty decent at 18.3 points and 293.7 yards per game allowed.
By Computer Sports
Sundays’ NFC showdown of 3-2 teams could go along way toward a possible playoff birth for the winner. Chicago without 4th quarter collapses against Carolina and Tampa should be 5-0. Led by do-it-all rookie Rb Matt Forte (383 yds rush, 172 yds rec) the Bears have found a balanced offense to help their aging yet still talented defense. In last weeks dismantling of the Lions, Detroit stacked the line to stop Forte and Qb Kyle Orton stepped up throwing for over 300yds.
By #1 Sports
Atlanta (2-1) stuffed the hapless Chiefs for 6 consecutive three-and-outs to open the game and added 3 picks of 2nd-year QB Tyler Thigpen to secure a 38-14 victory last week at the Georgia Dome. Veteran safeties Erik Coleman (21 T, FR, INT) and Lawyer Milloy (22 T, INT) can certainly hold their own but this was a breakout game for Emmitt Thomas’s young cornerbacks. 5’10” 185 1st-year LCB Brent Grimes (11 T, INT) and 5’11” 175 2nd-year RCB Chris Houston (7 T, INT) each recorded their first career interceptions against Kansas City while 5’11” 185 rookie nickel back Chevis Jackson (5 T) is catching on for a unit that has allowed just 170.0 yards passing per game at a stingy 5.5 yards per attempt. The numbers are good so far but these kids will still likely take their lumps this season. Up front, defensive linemen Anderson (9 T), Babineaux (10 T, S), and Jackson (6 T) have not been great against the rush at 136.7 yards per game at 5.0 yards per carry but 6’4” 266 John “The Predator” Abraham (8 T, 2 FR) has been terrorizing the pocket, registering his 5th and NFL-best 6th sacks last week. Behind Abraham, WLB Coy Wire (6 T) has been decent in heavy substitution for Michael Boley (15 T), who has been battling a knee injury. Keep your eye on this situation. 6’0” 248 rookie MLB Curtis Lofton (18 T) has been up to stuffing the run in front of him but the key to success here will be the health of Boley and 11th-year SLB Keith Brooking (20 T) in space. The offense of 1st-year Coordinator Mike Mularkey has averaged 27.0 points per game but 34 and 38 at home against the defenses of Detroit and Kansas City don’t get us too excited. 6’4” 220 rookie QB Matt Ryan (34 of 64 for 511 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT) has done a surprisingly good job at getting the ball downfield effectively (8.0 yards per pass attempt) including a 70-yard TD strike to underrated WR Roddy White (11 for 232 and TD) but the emphasis for first year Head Coach Mike Smith will wisely be the run. The Falcons lead the league with 203.0 yards rushing per game at 5.7 yards per carry and 6 scores on the ground led by the Human Hammer that is 5’10” 244 Michael Turner (59 for 366 and 5 TD). Turner wears on defenses by refusing to go down without giving at least as good as he gets and is paired with a superb all around back in 5’11” 202 RB Jerious Norwood (31 for 186 and TD), who has added 4 grabs for 44 yards and is averaging 24.1 yards per kickoff return. All this behind a young offensive line that includes 6’5” 312 rookie LT Sam Baker is impressive but we just can’t help but come back to the level of competition so far. In their lone road game, the Falcons were schooled 24-9 by Tampa Bay.
2008 NFL Sneak Peek - NFC South
By TD at Totals 4 You
Welcome to week five of your 8-week series taking an off-season look at the National Football League. This week we head down to the nation’s southeast where the battle for attention from our country’s most rabid college football fans can be a bigger task than the foes they face on Sunday. Proud locals and snowbirds alike, let’s check out what’s shaking in the NFC South.