Direckshun
09-06-2007, 09:01 PM
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/peter_king/09/06/10things.week1/index.html
LJ could be in for a tough opening weekend
BY PETER KING
1. So you're all excited about stealing the Baltimore defense in the 10th round of your draft? Good pick, no question. But maybe not this week, on the road, in The Jungle, against a team that regularly puts 20-plus on the Ravens. If I'm you, I'm picking up the Jags defense and playing it against Tennessee, then putting Baltimore back in your lineup against the Jets, Cards, Browns and Niners the next four weeks.
2. This sounds loony, I understand. But if you've got a really good third back -- say, Marshawn Lynch -- I'd consider using him this week against Denver instead of Larry Johnson against Houston.
3. Speaking of Denver, Jay Cutler could struggle on the road in a very loud environment at Buffalo with a couple of cut-loose blitzers in Donte Whitner and Coy Wire.
4. Don't fear Jon Kitna in Oakland this week. The Black Hole will not intimidate him, nor will it cause him to throw for 97 yards.
5. Put Cedric Benson on your bench. He will not conquer Mount Jamal Williams on Sunday in San Diego.
6. Take a chance, though, and play Bernard Berrian. The one offensive thing the Bears should be able to do is get the ball downfield on the Chargers, because San Diego won't trust Rex Grossman to win this game. Berrian's fast, really fast. And Grossman and he had a good summer together.
7. Want an unexpected tight end hit in week one? Visanthe Shiancoe in Minnesota. Brad Childress is determined to make him an integral part of his offense, and there's no way Tarvaris Jackson is consistently going to have enough time (not to mention confidence) to throw deep.
8. From the looks of that bad thigh Drew Bennett is toting around the practice field this week, you'll want to sit him in his first game as a Ram.
9. From the looks of all the various maladies Plaxico Burress seems to be getting over -- plus the woes of the Dallas secondary, with Terence Newman a shell of himself -- he'd be a certain starter in my lineup this weekend.
10. And bench the Dallas D,' by the way. Even though Wade Phillips will have them coming at Eli Manning from everywhere, Manning will do some strafing against the Dallas backups.
LJ could be in for a tough opening weekend
BY PETER KING
1. So you're all excited about stealing the Baltimore defense in the 10th round of your draft? Good pick, no question. But maybe not this week, on the road, in The Jungle, against a team that regularly puts 20-plus on the Ravens. If I'm you, I'm picking up the Jags defense and playing it against Tennessee, then putting Baltimore back in your lineup against the Jets, Cards, Browns and Niners the next four weeks.
2. This sounds loony, I understand. But if you've got a really good third back -- say, Marshawn Lynch -- I'd consider using him this week against Denver instead of Larry Johnson against Houston.
3. Speaking of Denver, Jay Cutler could struggle on the road in a very loud environment at Buffalo with a couple of cut-loose blitzers in Donte Whitner and Coy Wire.
4. Don't fear Jon Kitna in Oakland this week. The Black Hole will not intimidate him, nor will it cause him to throw for 97 yards.
5. Put Cedric Benson on your bench. He will not conquer Mount Jamal Williams on Sunday in San Diego.
6. Take a chance, though, and play Bernard Berrian. The one offensive thing the Bears should be able to do is get the ball downfield on the Chargers, because San Diego won't trust Rex Grossman to win this game. Berrian's fast, really fast. And Grossman and he had a good summer together.
7. Want an unexpected tight end hit in week one? Visanthe Shiancoe in Minnesota. Brad Childress is determined to make him an integral part of his offense, and there's no way Tarvaris Jackson is consistently going to have enough time (not to mention confidence) to throw deep.
8. From the looks of that bad thigh Drew Bennett is toting around the practice field this week, you'll want to sit him in his first game as a Ram.
9. From the looks of all the various maladies Plaxico Burress seems to be getting over -- plus the woes of the Dallas secondary, with Terence Newman a shell of himself -- he'd be a certain starter in my lineup this weekend.
10. And bench the Dallas D,' by the way. Even though Wade Phillips will have them coming at Eli Manning from everywhere, Manning will do some strafing against the Dallas backups.