DMN: Players, Teams to Watch

National Football Post

QUOTE: “When you begin to get good, you’ll arouse the haters of life.”—Theodore Roethke

Starting tonight, we’ll have 13 games to review over the weekend, and these games will be very important to many players. Last night, there were two games. Bengals-win.html" target="_blank">The Bengals looked impressive on defense, and the Colts’ first-team offense started to look more like its old self.

Things are now starting to take shape in the NFL. Here are a few players/teams (not the obvious ones) I’ll be watching to see if they can improve their stock with solid games.

 

Flozell Adams, Dallas Cowboys

Based on his first game against the Raiders, the big man did not look very effective. He looked slow-footed, and I kept saying to myself that there’s no way he can last 16 games. How is he going to block Osi Umenyiora or Trent Cole twice a year?

I bet teammate DeMarcus Ware is probably pissed he doesn’t get a chance at Flo twice a year to pad his sack count. Adams turned 34 last May and must prove that his skills aren’t slipping and that he can handle the left tackle spot the whole season. The Cowboys have not been able to produce an alternative player. At one time, I thought it would be Doug Free, but now I’m not so certain.

Brian Brohm, Green Bay

The Packers invested a second-round pick in Brohm and couldn’t have imagined that seventh-round pick Matt Flynn would eventually prove to be the better player. But so far, based on the games I’ve seen, this year and last, this seems to be the case. Below are stats from the ‘08 preseason. Based on numbers, Flynn is the easy winner in year one. 

                                  Att     Cmp    Yds    Cmp%    Yds/Att    TD    Int     Rating
M.Flynn                     42       27      209     64.3%       5.0          3      0       100.2
B.Brohm                    42       19      155     45.2%       3.7          0      1        45.2

Based on the first game of this preseason, Flynn is again well ahead of Brohm. Now, I don’t see the practices, and maybe Brohm looks sensational in practice but has tough luck in the games. But at some point, he has to play well in the games, and it better start tonight against Buffalo.

 

The Redskin Offense

Last week, the ‘Skins didn’t score a point and had only 11 first downs against the Ravens. This week, they face another tough assignment against the Steelers. Last week, they averaged 5.2 yards per passing attempt, and that’s not going to be good enough to avoid last place in the NFC East.

I know it’s the preseason, but this offense has to show some progress. Jim Zorn was hired for his ability as an offensive guru—well, tonight might be the time to start guru-ing.

This offense must make a few big passing plays down the field and show the NFL that it’s not just about going sideways but rather going vertically down the field.

 

Jamal Lewis and the Cleveland Offense

If I were a Browns fan, I would be worried—worried about not having a runner, worried about not scoring a point in the first preseason game, worried about my team’s offense and, most of all, worried about my team wearing those horrendous brown pants ever again.

As bad as the ‘Skins looked on offense, the Browns one-upped them with their outing at Green Bay. They had the ball 20 minutes, made only 11 first downs and threw four interceptions. This week, the Browns have to show something, anything, on offense. They must demonstrate they have the ability to move the football forward with their offense.

As for Lewis, he has to prove that he can still be an effective back the whole season. Veterans who make the opening-day roster are guaranteed their salary for the season, so the Browns are going to need to see if Lewis still has the skills to warrant that kind of commitment.

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