Rain Man
12-08-2005, 03:23 PM
QB – Green vs. Drew Bledsoe – It’s easy to make fun of the Statue of Drewberty, but the truth is that he’s an effective quarterback if he’s got protection. He’s completed 62 percent of his passes for 2,700 yards, compared to Trent’s 63 percent for 2,900 yards. Slight advantage to Trent. 6/4
HB – Johnson vs. Julius Jones – Jones shares time with Marion Barber. Neither is dominating as a runner. Jones is averaging 3.5 ypc compared to Barber’s 3.8. If unleashed on them, Johnson would rip out their lungs and beat them to death with them. 8/2
FB – Richardson vs. Lousaka Polite – Polite is in the mold of Tony. He very, very seldom carries the ball, and is a leaner, more agile fullback. Tony is a pro bowl veteran and Polite is a rookie. 7/3
WR – Kennison vs. Terry Glenn – Similar types of receivers with similar stats this year. The only difference is that Kennison is male. Glenn is averaging a high 17.5 yards per catch. Call it even. 5/5
WR – Parker vs. Keyshawn Johnson – Johnson is a wily veteran possession receiver with lots of catches and a low average of 10.9 ypr. Advantage to the veteran over the rookie, even if he’s a jerk. 3/7
TE – Gonzalez vs. Jason Witten. Witten is a wide receiver at tight end, but he’s also big at 261 pounds. He’s one of many being anointed as “the next Tony Gonzalez.” Meanwhile, Tony still has more receptions. Even so, Witten is good. 6/4
LT – Roaf vs. Torrin Tucker. Roaf is a god who walks among men, and Tucker is a third-year former undrafted free agent guard who is out of his element and has only started half the season. 10/0
LG – Waters vs. Larry Allen. Allen is another offensive line god with nine pro bowls, and Waters is The Next Larry Allen. The old guard still gets credit, though we all know that Waters is better at this point in time. Just FYI, the Cowboys’ web site offers this tidbit: With a career-best bench press of 700 pounds and a squat lift of 900 pounds, Allen is also considered to be the strongest man to ever play professional football. 5/5
C – Wiegman vs. Al Johnson – Johnson is a recent second-round pick who blew out a knee his rookie year and is now in his second full year as a starter. Solid, but not Wiegman. 7/3
RG – Shields vs. Marco Rivera – Two strong veterans. Rivera has been in the last two pro bowls with Green Bay, and is in his first year with Dallas. Call it even. 5/5
RT – Welbourn vs. Rob Petitti. Petitti is an enormous 347-lb. rookie. He was a sixth-round pick who has been pushed into action early and is having learning pains. Welbourn wins this one. 7/3
Since our opponents are a bunch of cowboys this week, our weekly talent comparison art features American artist Albert Bierstadt's 1867 painting, "Emigrants Crossing the Plains."
http://crh.choate.edu/english/salot/Emigrants%20Crossing%20the%20Plai.jpg
K – Tynes vs. Billy Cundiff – Cundiff is coming back after a long injury and contract oddity, so he doesn’t have enough stats to judge yet. Tynes is having a legitimate pro bowl season, leading all AFC kickers in points, field goals, and is 3rd in FG percentage. 7/3
P – Colquitt vs. Mat McBriar – McBriar is ahead of Colquitt by about three yards in gross and net, but of course lacks Colquitt’s twisty punts. Even so, yards is the bottom line. 4/6
KR/PR – Hall vs. Tyson Thompson (KR)/Patrick Crayton (PR). Statswise, the production of these two units is similar. Give Hall a point for his proven threatedness. 6/4
FS – Wesley vs. Keith Davis – Davis is a four-year veteran in his first year as a starter. He has 50 tackles and no turnovers, compared to Wesley’s 69 tackles and 7 turnovers. Wesley wins. 7/3
SS – Knight vs. Roy Williams – We all know about Williams’ rep. He’s a horse-collaring LB playing safety. Interestingly, his stats are nearly identical to Knight’s this year, and Knight historically produces more turnovers. (Williams with 20 in the past 3+ seasons and Knight with 21). Give Williams a couple of points for reputation, but they’re identical in production. 3/7
LCB – Surtain vs. Terence Newman. Similar stats this year, but Newman historically produces more tackles. Newman was a pro bowl alternate as a rookie, but Surtain’s a multiple pro bowler. Slight advantage for Surtain. 6/4
RCB – Warfield vs. Anthony Henry. Henry, a longtime Brown, is having a decent year (statistically) in his first season at Dallas, but is questionable with a groin injury. Warfield has matched Henry’s tackle total in half the number of games. Warfield wins easily while Henry is hurt. 7/3
LLB – Johnson vs. Demarcus Ware – The rookie we wanted vs. the rookie we were leery of. How are they doing? Johnson – 73 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles. Ware – 42 tackles, 4 sacks. Ware is doing fine, but we made the right decision. 7/3
RLB – Bell vs. Scott Fujita – The veteran we wanted vs. the veteran we discarded. How are they doing? Bell – 28 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble. Fujita – 31 tackles, 1 sacks, 1 forced fumble. Looks like we got a 50 percent upgrade in pass rush. Call it even. 5/5
MLB – Mitchell vs. RILB Bradie James. 4th round pick in his third year, James is in his first year starting. Similar stats to Mitchell, slightly smaller. Call it even. 5/5
LDE – Hicks vs. Marcus Spears – Spears has been getting a lot of hype, and he’s huge, but he’s produced only 22 tackles this year and half a sack. I’m not sure of the hype Hicks has 38 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Call it even unless someone has information to the contrary, and that may be the case. 5/5
RDE – Allen vs. Greg Ellis. Ellis is a former high first-round pick who’s good for 7 to 9 sacks per year. He’s having a good year this year, with 8 sacks already, but only 22 tackles, compared to Allen’s 8 sacks and 39 tackles. However, Ellis gets an advantage doing it out of a 3-4. 4/6
LDT – Browning (Sims?) vs. LILB Scott Shanle. Shanle is the LILB in the Cowboys’ 3-4. He took over a couple of weeks ago due to injury. Average backup ILB. Browning is an average backup DT who may give up the starting spot to Sims this week. Shanle looks like their version of Boomer Grigsby, but is an off the street free agent. Call it even. 5/5
RDT – Dalton vs. NT LaRoi Glover. It surprises me that Glover is a nose tackle, because he only runs about 290. He’s got better stats than Dalton, produces half a dozen sacks per year, and went to the Pro Bowl last year. Advantage Dallas. 2/8
Totals
Offense: Chiefs 69, Cowboys 41
Special Teams: Chiefs 17, Cowboys 13
Defense: Chiefs 56, Cowboys 54 (Okay, okay, something's not right. The Cowboys are ranked high in the league. Tell me where to make the changes.)
HB – Johnson vs. Julius Jones – Jones shares time with Marion Barber. Neither is dominating as a runner. Jones is averaging 3.5 ypc compared to Barber’s 3.8. If unleashed on them, Johnson would rip out their lungs and beat them to death with them. 8/2
FB – Richardson vs. Lousaka Polite – Polite is in the mold of Tony. He very, very seldom carries the ball, and is a leaner, more agile fullback. Tony is a pro bowl veteran and Polite is a rookie. 7/3
WR – Kennison vs. Terry Glenn – Similar types of receivers with similar stats this year. The only difference is that Kennison is male. Glenn is averaging a high 17.5 yards per catch. Call it even. 5/5
WR – Parker vs. Keyshawn Johnson – Johnson is a wily veteran possession receiver with lots of catches and a low average of 10.9 ypr. Advantage to the veteran over the rookie, even if he’s a jerk. 3/7
TE – Gonzalez vs. Jason Witten. Witten is a wide receiver at tight end, but he’s also big at 261 pounds. He’s one of many being anointed as “the next Tony Gonzalez.” Meanwhile, Tony still has more receptions. Even so, Witten is good. 6/4
LT – Roaf vs. Torrin Tucker. Roaf is a god who walks among men, and Tucker is a third-year former undrafted free agent guard who is out of his element and has only started half the season. 10/0
LG – Waters vs. Larry Allen. Allen is another offensive line god with nine pro bowls, and Waters is The Next Larry Allen. The old guard still gets credit, though we all know that Waters is better at this point in time. Just FYI, the Cowboys’ web site offers this tidbit: With a career-best bench press of 700 pounds and a squat lift of 900 pounds, Allen is also considered to be the strongest man to ever play professional football. 5/5
C – Wiegman vs. Al Johnson – Johnson is a recent second-round pick who blew out a knee his rookie year and is now in his second full year as a starter. Solid, but not Wiegman. 7/3
RG – Shields vs. Marco Rivera – Two strong veterans. Rivera has been in the last two pro bowls with Green Bay, and is in his first year with Dallas. Call it even. 5/5
RT – Welbourn vs. Rob Petitti. Petitti is an enormous 347-lb. rookie. He was a sixth-round pick who has been pushed into action early and is having learning pains. Welbourn wins this one. 7/3
Since our opponents are a bunch of cowboys this week, our weekly talent comparison art features American artist Albert Bierstadt's 1867 painting, "Emigrants Crossing the Plains."
http://crh.choate.edu/english/salot/Emigrants%20Crossing%20the%20Plai.jpg
K – Tynes vs. Billy Cundiff – Cundiff is coming back after a long injury and contract oddity, so he doesn’t have enough stats to judge yet. Tynes is having a legitimate pro bowl season, leading all AFC kickers in points, field goals, and is 3rd in FG percentage. 7/3
P – Colquitt vs. Mat McBriar – McBriar is ahead of Colquitt by about three yards in gross and net, but of course lacks Colquitt’s twisty punts. Even so, yards is the bottom line. 4/6
KR/PR – Hall vs. Tyson Thompson (KR)/Patrick Crayton (PR). Statswise, the production of these two units is similar. Give Hall a point for his proven threatedness. 6/4
FS – Wesley vs. Keith Davis – Davis is a four-year veteran in his first year as a starter. He has 50 tackles and no turnovers, compared to Wesley’s 69 tackles and 7 turnovers. Wesley wins. 7/3
SS – Knight vs. Roy Williams – We all know about Williams’ rep. He’s a horse-collaring LB playing safety. Interestingly, his stats are nearly identical to Knight’s this year, and Knight historically produces more turnovers. (Williams with 20 in the past 3+ seasons and Knight with 21). Give Williams a couple of points for reputation, but they’re identical in production. 3/7
LCB – Surtain vs. Terence Newman. Similar stats this year, but Newman historically produces more tackles. Newman was a pro bowl alternate as a rookie, but Surtain’s a multiple pro bowler. Slight advantage for Surtain. 6/4
RCB – Warfield vs. Anthony Henry. Henry, a longtime Brown, is having a decent year (statistically) in his first season at Dallas, but is questionable with a groin injury. Warfield has matched Henry’s tackle total in half the number of games. Warfield wins easily while Henry is hurt. 7/3
LLB – Johnson vs. Demarcus Ware – The rookie we wanted vs. the rookie we were leery of. How are they doing? Johnson – 73 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles. Ware – 42 tackles, 4 sacks. Ware is doing fine, but we made the right decision. 7/3
RLB – Bell vs. Scott Fujita – The veteran we wanted vs. the veteran we discarded. How are they doing? Bell – 28 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble. Fujita – 31 tackles, 1 sacks, 1 forced fumble. Looks like we got a 50 percent upgrade in pass rush. Call it even. 5/5
MLB – Mitchell vs. RILB Bradie James. 4th round pick in his third year, James is in his first year starting. Similar stats to Mitchell, slightly smaller. Call it even. 5/5
LDE – Hicks vs. Marcus Spears – Spears has been getting a lot of hype, and he’s huge, but he’s produced only 22 tackles this year and half a sack. I’m not sure of the hype Hicks has 38 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Call it even unless someone has information to the contrary, and that may be the case. 5/5
RDE – Allen vs. Greg Ellis. Ellis is a former high first-round pick who’s good for 7 to 9 sacks per year. He’s having a good year this year, with 8 sacks already, but only 22 tackles, compared to Allen’s 8 sacks and 39 tackles. However, Ellis gets an advantage doing it out of a 3-4. 4/6
LDT – Browning (Sims?) vs. LILB Scott Shanle. Shanle is the LILB in the Cowboys’ 3-4. He took over a couple of weeks ago due to injury. Average backup ILB. Browning is an average backup DT who may give up the starting spot to Sims this week. Shanle looks like their version of Boomer Grigsby, but is an off the street free agent. Call it even. 5/5
RDT – Dalton vs. NT LaRoi Glover. It surprises me that Glover is a nose tackle, because he only runs about 290. He’s got better stats than Dalton, produces half a dozen sacks per year, and went to the Pro Bowl last year. Advantage Dallas. 2/8
Totals
Offense: Chiefs 69, Cowboys 41
Special Teams: Chiefs 17, Cowboys 13
Defense: Chiefs 56, Cowboys 54 (Okay, okay, something's not right. The Cowboys are ranked high in the league. Tell me where to make the changes.)