The following is an article written by Real Football Services. They are a frequent contributor on newyorkjets.com.
Who's Hota
Quarterback
Rex Grossman, Chicago Bears: Grossman is showing that he has the skills to be a very good pro when he is healthy, and he is coming off a 4-TD game a week ago. He has a big target in WR Muhsin Muhammad and has gotten the TE's involved in the passing attack. With Thomas Jones providing a solid rushing threat, Grossman has been able to make plays and bring balance to the Bears offense. Expect him to continue to go to Muhammad, and the TE's will expose the Vikings Cover Two the way they did against Detroit last week. If Grossman isn't already your starter, you certainly have to consider him here in the bye week.
Running Back
Running Back
Edgerrin James, Arizona Cardinals: The running game hasn't gotten going yet in the desert, but that's been due in large part to injuries on the O-line. With Oliver Ross returning to OT and other linemen moving back to their natural positions, James should be able to move the ball by attacking the edges of the St. Louis defense and using his speed and cutback ability to get into open space. James didn't have many carries in the preseason and is just now rounding into form. It couldn't come at a better time as the Cardinals will need a strong rushing attack to counter the Rams pressure up front.
Wide Receiver
Chad Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals: Johnson averaged nearly 17 yards per catch last season in two regular season games against the Steelers. Look for him to take DeShea Townsend deep early in this one, but once he does, he'll work the off coverage into the middle of the field. Twelve of Johnson's 18 regular season receptions against the Steelers in the last two years have gone for 1st downs.
Jerricho Cotchery, New York Jets: Cotchery, like Laveranues Coles, is another guy who will work the underneath routes in the Jets new ball control passing game, but he also has the speed, as he showed last week, to run the vertical seam down the middle like a TE. The Jets will send as many receivers at the safeties in the middle of the field as they can and then hope for busted coverage and a big play.
Tight End
LJ Smith, Philadelphia Eagles: Smith isone of the top two TE's playing this week. The Niners will bracket him with a LB and a safety, and the Niners athletic LB's will have the ability to run with him a bit, but they will have blitz responsibilities in this game. Smith may not be another 100-yard performer this week, but he'll have 5-6 catches and 80 yards. He's a go.
Defense
Baltimore Ravens (vs. Cleveland): The new Purple People Eaters have recorded 9 sacks, 6 INT, and 3 FR while allowing just 6 points over the first two games. It's our humble opinion that they have eclipsed the Bears as the best defense in football.
Who's Not
Quarterback
Chris Simms, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Simms will throw off play action after the Bucs establish the run. In an effort to build his confidence and get him off to a good start, look for short crossing routes and high percentage passes that will neutralize the vaunted Carolina pass rush of Peppers and Rucker. In his 12 career regular season starts, Simms has a 6-6 record. In the six wins he's been sacked just five times. In the six losses, he's been sacked 25 times, including a six-sack game against Carolina last year. He's not a starter until he gets out of this funk.
Running Back
Reuben Droughns, Cleveland Browns: Droughns has been hurt by an O-line that has already been decimated by injuries. The Browns don't match up well in the trenches this week against the Ravens either. Droughns likes to run between the tackles, but that won't be an option this week, and Ray Lewis has the speed to keep him from bouncing the run outside for big gains. He's only a marginal backup against a defense that just doesn't allow yards on the ground.
Wide Receiver
Antonio Bryant, San Francisco 49ers: Last week, Bryant was the beneficiary of a blitzing Rams defense that left its corners on an island. The result was his best day as a pro. This week, the Eagles will have the ability to blitz often and still leave their corners in single coverage. Former Pro Bowler Sheldon Brown will draw Bryant and can run with him. QB Alex Smith has begun to show some ability to handle the blitz, but his receivers will be covered this week.
Tight End
Jeremy Shockey, New York Giants: Shockey will draw bracket coverage from LB Julian Peterson and S Michael Boulware, roll coverage to Plaxico Burress and leave Amani Toomer with Marcus Trufant in man coverage. Look for Boulware and Peterson to be as physical as possible with Shockey to get him off his game. Playing on a bad ankle, Shockey may have a tough time on Sunday. He's still a starter, but won't deliver the goods as well as usual this week.
Defense
Minnesota Vikings (vs. Chicago): The Bears will be a challenge for this group. They will mix blitzes and coverages in an effort to get to Grossman with their athleticism and speed up front. They have athletic LB's, but their Cover Two scheme in the secondary will be susceptible to the short and intermediate passes that help drive the Bears offense. They aren't starting material this week.
Sleeper of the Week
David Carr, QB, Houston Texans: Carr has a 123.7 passer rating and has developed chemistry with WR's Andre Johnson and Eric Moulds in the short to intermediate passing game. Look for more of the same this week as the Texans combat the Skins varied blitzes with quick drops and short routes that will get the ball out of Carr's hands. Once they roll the safety up to the line, Carr's receivers are better than CB's Shawn Springs and Carlos Rogers and will have the advantage in single coverage. Look for him to put up strong numbers if he can beat the blitz.
The following is an article written by Real Football Services. They are a frequent contributor on newyorkjets.com.
Who's Hot
Quarterback
Rex Grossman, Chicago Bears: Grossman is showing that he has the skills to be a very good pro when he is healthy, and he is coming off a 4-TD game a week ago. He has a big target in WR Muhsin Muhammad and has gotten the TE's involved in the passing attack. With Thomas Jones providing a solid rushing threat, Grossman has been able to make plays and bring balance to the Bears offense. Expect him to continue to go to Muhammad, and the TE's will expose the Vikings Cover Two the way they did against Detroit last week. If Grossman isn't already your starter, you certainly have to consider him here in the bye week.
Running Back
Edgerrin James, Arizona Cardinals: The running game hasn't gotten going yet in the desert, but that's been due in large part to injuries on the O-line. With Oliver Ross returning to OT and other linemen moving back to their natural positions, James should be able to move the ball by attacking the edges of the St. Louis defense and using his speed and cutback ability to get into open space. James didn't have many carries in the preseason and is just now rounding into form. It couldn't come at a better time as the Cardinals will need a strong rushing attack to counter the Rams pressure up front.
Wide Receiver
Chad Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals: Johnson averaged nearly 17 yards per catch last season in two regular season games against the Steelers. Look for him to take DeShea Townsend deep early in this one, but once he does, he'll work the off coverage into the middle of the field. Twelve of Johnson's 18 regular season receptions against the Steelers in the last two years have gone for 1st downs.
Jerricho Cotchery, New York Jets: Cotchery, like Laveranues Coles, is another guy who will work the underneath routes in the Jets new ball control passing game, but he also has the speed, as he showed last week, to run the vertical seam down the middle like a TE. The Jets will send as many receivers at the safeties in the middle of the field as they can and then hope for busted coverage and a big play.
Tight End
LJ Smith, Philadelphia Eagles: Smith isone of the top two TE's playing this week. The Niners will bracket him with a LB and a safety, and the Niners athletic LB's will have the ability to run with him a bit, but they will have blitz responsibilities in this game. Smith may not be another 100-yard performer this week, but he'll have 5-6 catches and 80 yards. He's a go.
Defense
Baltimore Ravens (vs. Cleveland): The new Purple People Eaters have recorded 9 sacks, 6 INT, and 3 FR while allowing just 6 points over the first two games. It's our humble opinion that they have eclipsed the Bears as the best defense in football.
Who's Not
Quarterback
Chris Simms, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Simms will throw off play action after the Bucs establish the run. In an effort to build his confidence and get him off to a good start, look for short crossing routes and high percentage passes that will neutralize the vaunted Carolina pass rush of Peppers and Rucker. In his 12 career regular season starts, Simms has a 6-6 record. In the six wins he's been sacked just five times. In the six losses, he's been sacked 25 times, including a six-sack game against Carolina last year. He's not a starter until he gets out of this funk.
Running Back
Reuben Droughns, Cleveland Browns: Droughns has been hurt by an O-line that has already been decimated by injuries. The Browns don't match up well in the trenches this week against the Ravens either. Droughns likes to run between the tackles, but that won't be an option this week, and Ray Lewis has the speed to keep him from bouncing the run outside for big gains. He's only a marginal backup against a defense that just doesn't allow yards on the ground.
Wide Receiver
Antonio Bryant, San Francisco 49ers: Last week, Bryant was the beneficiary of a blitzing Rams defense that left its corners on an island. The result was his best day as a pro. This week, the Eagles will have the ability to blitz often and still leave their corners in single coverage. Former Pro Bowler Sheldon Brown will draw Bryant and can run with him. QB Alex Smith has begun to show some ability to handle the blitz, but his receivers will be covered this week.
Tight End
Jeremy Shockey, New York Giants: Shockey will draw bracket coverage from LB Julian Peterson and S Michael Boulware, roll coverage to Plaxico Burress and leave Amani Toomer with Marcus Trufant in man coverage. Look for Boulware and Peterson to be as physical as possible with Shockey to get him off his game. Playing on a bad ankle, Shockey may have a tough time on Sunday. He's still a starter, but won't deliver the goods as well as usual this week.
Defense
Minnesota Vikings (vs. Chicago): The Bears will be a challenge for this group. They will mix blitzes and coverages in an effort to get to Grossman with their athleticism and speed up front. They have athletic LB's, but their Cover Two scheme in the secondary will be susceptible to the short and intermediate passes that help drive the Bears offense. They aren't starting material this week.
Sleeper of the Week
David Carr, QB, Houston Texans: Carr has a 123.7 passer rating and has developed chemistry with WR's Andre Johnson and Eric Moulds in the short to intermediate passing game. Look for more of the same this week as the Texans combat the Skins varied blitzes with quick drops and short routes that will get the ball out of Carr's hands. Once they roll the safety up to the line, Carr's receivers are better than CB's Shawn Springs and Carlos Rogers and will have the advantage in single coverage. Look for him to put up strong numbers if he can beat the blitz.
