NFL Insider...Sep 27: Week 3 afterthoughts; Mel Kiper's Top 25 and Top 5 by position
Martz's moves continue to befuddle
Scouts, Inc.
Editor's note: Our scouts roll back the tape on the third weekend of the 2004 NFL season, breaking down the the Rams' woes, the Jags' stellar D and much more:
The crazy St. Louis Rams are at it again. Questionable coaching decisions by Mike Martz and a complete disregard for the running game were big factors in an embarrassing home loss to the Saints.
Martz elected to "squib" kick the kickoff after the Rams had taken a three-point lead with 28 seconds remaining in regulation. This came after Jeff Wilkins had put most of his kickoffs into the end zone during the game. It took the Saints only three plays to get into field goal range for veteran John Carney, who tied the game with a 38-yarder. The Rams could have kicked it deep and still avoided explosive returner Michael Lewis.
The Rams' game plan featured 49 passes and only 15 rushing plays, including a measly 12 handoffs to Marshall Faulk. All this passing was done behind a revamped offensive line that struggles in pass protection and gave up five sacks.
The Saints came into the game with one of the worst run defenses in the league after surrendering an average of 175 yards rushing in the first two weeks. The Rams rushed for only 78 yards, and 19 of those were on QB Marc Bulger's scramble for the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
The Rams are a talented team that has no flow or rhythm, and they are in danger of letting the Seahawks run away with the division.
Defense carrying Jags
The Jaguars' early season success is a direct result of the play by their interior defense. It all starts with DTs Marcus Stroud and John Henderson. They are controlling the line of scrimmage, as well as collapsing the pocket and harassing the quarterback.
When the Jags switch to two-gap, read-and-react schemes, Stroud and Henderson "occupy" multiple blockers and allow the linebackers to flow to the ball and make plays. Overall, the Jags' D is doing an excellent job of forcing opponents to run wide.
Afterthoughts
--Despite an 0-3 record, the Cardinals are playing hard under Dennis Green, especially on defense, where they have been very creative in their schemes. They did an excellent job against Falcons QB Michael Vick by utilizing five defensive linemen. However, instead of rushing all five, they used a "spy" technique and played contain. They also changed up their coverage schemes by playing aggressive man-to-man, instead of their usual soft cover-2 look.
--Nobody is better at exploiting a team's defensive weakness than Peyton Manning. The Packers' banged up secondary is not a good matchup group, and versus the Colts they stayed in their nickel package for the majority of the game. The Packers were trying to get the Colts to abandon the pass and run the ball, but Manning did not "bite" and kept throwing it.
The Packers were unable to generate much of a pass rush as the Colts threw 22 passes in a row to start the game before finally running the ball for the first time in the second quarter. Manning's 393 yards and five touchdowns were a thing of beauty to watch.
--The Eagles' coaches were legitimately worried about a short work week and a road game versus a young and talented Lions team. However, the Eagles came out quickly, scoring 21 points and letting the Lions know they were in over their heads in this game. It was a very professional approach by a good football team.
--The same can be said for the Seahawks, who took care of business early against the 49ers and avoided any kind of a letdown. Good teams win all the games they are supposed to win.
Top 5 by position: Several positions shuffled
By Mel Kiper Jr.
TOP FIVE DRAFT-ELIGIBLE PROSPECTS AT EACH POSITION | Sept. 22
OFFENSE
Quarterback
1. Charlie Frye, Akron
2. Kyle Orton, Purdue
3. Dan Orlovsky, Connecticut
4. Andrew Walter, Arizona State
5. Jason White, Oklahoma
Running Back
3. Ronnie Brown, Auburn
2. Cedric Benson, Texas
1. Carnell Williams, Auburn
4. Kay-Jay Harris, West Virginia
5. Walter Reyes, Syracuse
Fullbacks
1. Paul Jefferson, Penn State
2. Branden Joe, Ohio State
3. Keith Joseph, Texas A&M
4. Will Matthews, Texas
5. Issa Banna, Northwestern St. (La.)
Wide receiver
1. Mike Williams, USC
2. Mark Clayton, Oklahoma
3. Charles Frederick, Washington
4. Braylon Edwards, Michigan
5. Craphonso Thorpe, Florida State
Tight End
2. Alex Smith, Stanford
2. Kevin Everett, Miami
3. Garrett Cross, California
4. Victor Sesay, Missouri
5. Adam Bergen, Lehigh
Tackle
1. Alex Barron, Florida State
2. Logan Mankins, Fresno State
3. Jammal Brown, Oklahoma
4. Wesley Britt, Alabama
5. Khalif Barnes, Washington
5a. Trai Essex, Northwestern
Guard
1. Elton Brown, Virginia
2. C.J. Brooks, Maryland
3. Chris Kemoeatu, Utah
4. David Baas, Michigan
5. Marcus Johnson, Ole Miss
Center
1. Ben Wilkerson, LSU
2. Vince Carter, Oklahoma
3. Scott Mruczkowski, Bowling Green
4. Junius Coston, North Carolina A&T
5. Drew Hodgdon, Arizona State (3)
Kickers
1. Mike Nugent, Ohio State
2. Rhys Lloyd, Minnesota
3. Nick Novak, Maryland
4. Matt Payne, BYU
5. Dave Rayner, Michigan State
DEFENSE
Defensive end
1. David Pollack, Georgia
2. Chris Canty, Virginia
3. Erasmus James, Wisconsin
4. Dan Cody, Oklahoma
5. Marcus Spears, LSU
5a. George Gause, South Carolina
Tackle
1. Anttaj Hawthorne, Wisconsin
2. Jonathan Babineaux, Iowa
3. Shaun Cody, USC
4. Dusty Dvoracek, Oklahoma
5. Mike Patterson, USC
5a. Travis Johnson, Florida State
Inside linebacker
1. Lance Mitchell, Oklahoma
2. Barrett Ruud, Nebraska
3. Robert McCune, Louisville
4. Kirk Morrison, San Diego State
5. Martin Patterson, TCU
Outside linebacker
1. Derrick Johnson, Texas
2. Kevin Burnett, Tennessee
3. Marcus Lawrence, South Carolina
4. Derek Curry, Notre Dame
5. Jared Newberry, Stanford
Cornerback
1. Antrel Rolle, Miami
2. Corey Webster, LSU
3. Marlin Jackson, Michigan
4. Darrent Williams, Oklahoma State
5. Travis Daniels, LSU
5a. Bryant McFadden, Florida State
Safety
1. James Butler, Georgia Tech
2. Oshiomogho Atogwe, Stanford
3. Donte Nicholson, Oklahoma
4. Vincent Fuller, Virginia Tech
5. Marviel Underwood, San Diego State
Punters
1. Dustin Colquitt, Tennessee
2. Gary Cook, UNLV
3. Cole Farden, Oklahoma State
4. Bryce Benekos, UTEP
5. Adam Anderson, Western Michigan
