Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Alerts | Electronic edition | Advertise | Subscribe to the paper | Today's Extras
Subscribe

Fantasy football: Week 12 rewind

By Michael Salfino, Special to the Rocky

Published November 24, 2008 at 9:25 a.m.
Updated November 24, 2008 at 9:25 a.m.

Text size  
San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson, spinning away from the Colts' Freddy Keiaho on Sunday night, says he's having "career mortality issues."

Photo by Denis Poroy/Associated Press

San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson, spinning away from the Colts' Freddy Keiaho on Sunday night, says he's having "career mortality issues."

Related Links

More Denver Broncos

More stories »

You don't normally see an undefeated team in late November get thoroughly annihilated at home like the Titans by the Jets. But the standings sometimes lie, or at least exaggerate. Only the Giants are truly dominant as we exit NFL Week 12. Here are other things underlined and bolded in my Scouting Notebook:

LaDainian Tomlinson said he's "having career mortality issues." This admission is startling only to those who don't pay attention to NFL history -- just 16 guys in league history have more touches. How much better would the Chargers be if they traded Tomlinson and kept low-mileage Michael Turner? Remember, Bill Polian and the Colts did something similar to two great backs -- first Marshall Faulk and then Edgerrin James. Turner now has 1,088 rushing yards and 13 rushing TDs for the surging Falcons.

The Jets have scored on their first drive in five straight games -- four touchdowns. I wonder if points are the best way to measure the opening sequence of plays. Coaches also can use a wide variety of calls early to see how defenses are likely to react for the balance of the game. So maybe it's not how much you score but how much you learn early that matters most.

The Eagles have had terrible trouble of late moving the ball early. Typically, Donovan McNabb wastes a quarter finding some kind of passing rhythm. But that extended to a half in Baltimore on Sunday, and Andy Reid decided to show the five-time Pro Bowler the bench. Unfortunately for Reid, backup Kevin Kolb looked like the waterboy out there (10-for-23 for 73 yards and two picks). There's no turning back now, as that benching bell can't be unrung. Either way, the Eagles are just about cooked like a Thanksgiving turkey.

Another heralded QB who is having a real tough time getting on track early in games is Jake Delhomme of the Panthers. Carolina, though, can fall back on its running game. DeAngelo Williams is the unquestioned feature back now: four straight 100-yard games and 87 carries the last five games compared to 53 for rookie Jonathan Stewart.

Peyton Manning is an all-time great. But he is far from a picture-perfect passer. A lot of ducks fly out of his hand, though most do find their intended target.

The epidemic of passes getting knocked down at the line continues, mostly when QBs use the three-step drop. Defenders don't bother trying to get penetration, but now have figured out exactly when to throw up their arms because that ball is coming out with very predictable timing.

Terrell Owens sure looked vintage -- seven catches for 216 yards. The 75-yard TD alone should idle any chatter about how he has lost a step or any of his otherworldly athleticism.

Randy Moss made a monkey out of me for putting a sell on him last week. But how was I to know the Dolphins would decide to single-cover him? (As if the Dolphins can cover anyone.) Moss' TD catches of 25 and 29 yards added to his relatively paltry total of 25-plus yard plays. But he still has little downfield chemistry with Matt Cassel, who continues to show everything else you'd want in a young QB.

Cassel is such a revelation -- another QB who basically came out of nowhere. He didn't even start a game in college. Now he's in line to get about $8 to 10 million a year as a free agent come February. The Pats, of course, can't afford to franchise him (about $14 million for one year) with Tom Brady due back. It would be pretty funny if Favre retires and the Jets sign Cassel.

The Ravens' Le'Ron McClain (88 rushing yards and a TD) usually impresses me, but you never know how and when Baltimore will use him. Usually game situations dictate it; it never seems to be the plan heading into the contest. He can be a one back in the mold of the late Craig "Ironhead" Heyward if given an extended chance.

The Cardinals offensive line can't man-up at the point of attack in the running game but does a really good job of fanning out the defensive line in pass protection so that Kurt Warner has clear vision and passing lanes in front of him as he sets in the pocket.

Andre Johnson looks like a stud receiver. But the Texan has just 28 TDs on 428 career receptions. He's turning into Art Monk, not exactly an insult considering Monk is in the Hall of Fame. But Monk was never a true playmaker. He also never had anything close to Johnson's speed. But if Johnson played as fast as he looks at times, wouldn't he score more?

You don't want to play the Raiders defense in fantasy or in reality. I foolishly assumed they'd have given up by now considering the general hopelessness of the offense. Nnamdi Asomugha is in the Lester Hayes/Michael Haynes mold and can stake a claim as the one, true shutdown corner in the sport.

Post your comment

Registration is required. Click here to create your free user account, or login below.

Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.




(Forgotten your password?)




News Tip

Know about something we should be reporting? Tell us about it.

Sponsored links



Reprints