In a super competitive division, where the last place team, if moved to the other division , would be in first place. With one game separating all comers, standing flip flop weekly. Ante Up and the Dirty Birds sit surprisingly at one and two in the division but that hold could be very tenous. Here's a look at the Inscrutable Drama Kings.Ante Up
Last year's bottom dwelling team is now back on top. The reason? Once again, it's the Buccaneers. When your defense is outscoring everybody but your quarterbacks, that means you're getting free production week in and week out. The Bucs have put up 134 points, which is more than all the top receivers in the land. Behind this awesome defense is a steady running attack of Fred Taylor, Edgerrin James and Warrick Dunn. Taylor might be due for an injury but if he can stay healthy, he has produced, if somewhat erratically. The Edge is no longer the player he once was but he is more than serviceable as the second back.
The WRs look weak on paper but have done very well. Derrick Mason, Laveranues Coles, Jerome Pathon and Ike Hilliard (now injured) have done just enough to give Ante Up a boost when they needed it. Combine all this with explosive Jeff Garcia and it's no wonder how Ante Up is winning games. Can it continue? We'll just have to wait and see. Note that Ante Up has actually been outscored by opponents and isn't facing a wimpy schedule. Ante Up has been winning against the third hardest schedule in the league.
DIRTeByRDeeZThe Birds are sitting pretty at second place in the division and have gotten off to a surprising 5-3 start, with a league high four game win streak. A weak WR corps has suddenly blossomed into one of the strongest in the league. Marvin Harrison is still Marvin Harrison and the venerable Jerry Rice has emerged as the number one target in Raiderland. The big surprise here is that Plaxico Burress has suddenly become the hottest receiver in the league. After a terrible start to the season, Plax is on fire and is helping the Birds to unprecedented success.
The strong running of Ahman Green and Corey Dillon is still a constant and neither show signs of slowing down. The biggest story of the year is the emergence of the scintillating Michael Vick, who is injury prone but also a terror on the scoreboard when healthy. At it's current pace, the Birds have quality players at every position and could very well challenge for the division title. The big worry however is that the Birds aren't a very consistently high scoring team. With a 1-3 division record, it remains to be seen if the Birds can continue it's success when facing tougher divisional foes.
Tiiite End Jammers
The super running duo of Priest holmes and Ricky Williams is still doing it. Chugging out big numbers game after game, the Jammers are killing people on the ground. However, the Jammers are having some problems in the air. With Kurt Warner out for another few weeks, the backup quarterback, Griese, has been pretty good but inconsistent. However, Griese plays for an explosive offense and is a top quarterback in his own right. The WRs are where the problem is at for the Jammers. Ed McCaffrey, Jerry Porter, Amani Toomer, Terry Glenn, Brian Finneran.....which of these names scare you? None of them. And that's the problem
With no clear number one receiver, the Jammers have had to make do with a number of number two and number three receivers. If new addition Cris Carter can become a consistent threat, that would alleviate the Jammers air problems. The stiff running game will still allow this team to remain on top however. And when Warner returns, watch out. The Jammers are also undefeated (4-0) in the division, an awesome feat that could bear watching.
BuffyHow the mighty have fallen. After a dominating year in which losses were few and far between Buffy is a mere .500 team. This has been a hard season (second hardest schedule in the league) for Buffy, as the star receiving triumverate (David Boston, T Holt, R Smith) has been less than super. Third back Lamar Smith has put up more points than all the WRs this year. Does this mean Buffy is a team on the decline? Hardly. Rich Gannon is still a premier fantasy player and with Marshall Faulk on board, Buffy can still explode at any time. Witness Marshall's 50-point explosion carried over because of the bye. Second back Charlie Garner has been the steal of the draft, never failing to put up less than 11 points in eight weeks.
The run-and-gun offense of last year seems like a distant memory as Buffy struggles to align it's receivers. Quincy Morgan, Az-Zahir Hakim and Keenan McCardell are all on this roster but cracking the roster against the top WRs will be difficult. On paper, Buffy is as strong as ever but until those superstar WRs produce, Buffy may have some consistency issues.
Chunky Monkeys
Another pre-season favorite tripped up by expectations. With a roster of P Manning, L Tomlinson, S Alexander, J Horn and J Smith, this team was destined for greatness. However, they have hit upon some rough times. Peyton is not his normal dominant self. Although still a top player, he has taken a step back. Shaun Alexander was benched once this season (on his 54 point explosion no less) and that shouldn't happen to a top back. Jimmy Smith has been less than stellar, being outscored by Donald Driver and the Chargers D. But there are many bright lights on this talented team.
LaDainian Tomlison is no less than the best young back in football. He has caried this team on his shoulders and continues to pound away at defenses. Joe Horn and Curtis Conway are having great seasons. Actually, if you include Donald Driver with those two, the Monkeys have three top ten WRs, not a bad group. Even as the beginning of the season has been rocky, huge things lie in wait for the Monkeys. Shaun Alexander is showing signs of picking up his game and if that happens, the Monkeys are solid all the way across the board. Look for them to make their move to the top of the division in coming weeks.
Posts
