| Editor’s note: This is the
18th in a series of Q&A’s with PFW contributing editor and personnel analyst Joel
Buchsbaum that will appear exclusively on the Pro Football Weekly Internet Edition. Q:
What are the keys to the Buffalo-Tennessee playoff game?
Buchsbaum: Eddie George’s ability to run the ball, and Bills QB Rob Johnson’s
decisiveness in reading the coverage and getting rid of the ball so that he doesn’t
get sacked a lot.
Q: What are the keys to the Detroit-Washington game?
Buchsbaum: Basically, Detroit has to disrupt the timing of Washington’s passing
game and contain RB Stephen Davis. The Lions need to make Washington one-dimensional on
offense and take away the big play down the field. Offensively, the Lions need a big game
from Gus Frerotte. Conversely, the Redskins need to prevent Frerotte from having a big
game and not get sloppy with the ball on offense.
Q: What are the keys to the Dallas-Minnesota game?
Buchsbaum: Dallas’ ability to control the ball and score touchdowns on offense.
Q: What are the keys to the Miami-Seattle game?
Buchsbaum: How well the two quarterbacks, Dan Marino and Jon Kitna, play. They’ve
both gone through slumps and had a hard time getting their respective teams into the
endzone.
Q: Which college players impressed scouts the most in the bowl games?
Buchsbaum: They had to be very impressed with Florida State WR Peter Warrick. And,
although he’s just a freshman, Michael Vick’s athleticism was just phenomenal.
Although he’s not a top prospect, Michigan QB Tom Brady stepped it up a notch. Shaun
Alexander looked very impressive running the ball for Alabama.
Q: What percentage of Rams QB Kurt Warner’s success is due to him and what
percentage is due to the Rams’ offensive system and supporting cast?
Buchsbaum: I’d say 50-50. You have to give Warner credit for the poise and the
accuracy with which he’s thrown the ball. However, the system puts him in a position
to succeed, and his receivers are so good that they make him look better than he really
is.
Q: Can you give a scouting report on Warner and injured Rams QB Trent Green?
Buchsbaum: Warner is a tough kid with above-average size, good arm strength, pinpoint
control and guts. Green doesn’t have quite as much arm strength but may be a little
bit more mobile than Warner.
Q: What is the best NFL team not playing in the postseason?
Buchsbaum: The New York Jets, after the way they finished the year.
Q: Is Carolina close to stepping up and becoming a solid playoff team next season?
Buchsbaum: I don’t think so. I think they overachieved tremendously this year, and
I cannot see QB Steve Beuerlein playing at this level again.
Q: How much is Emmitt Smith helping his place in history among the all-time great
running backs by playing so well so late in his career?
Buchsbaum: Obviously, he’s helping it a lot, and he’s ensuring his induction
into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Q: What about in relation to the other truly elite running backs?
Buchsbaum: I don’t think he’s someone you’d put in the Jim Brown-Walter
Payton class, but he isn’t that far behind either.
Q: Jermaine Fazande rushed for 183 yards in the Chargers’ season finale against
Denver. Can he be a go-to running back in the NFL, and what is the scouting report on him?
Buchsbaum: He’s a big, strong, powerful runner with good vision and quick feet.
He’s not as fast as you’d like, but he has tremendous power and, in the right
type of offense, he can be effective.
Q: How much does OLT Paul Gruber’s injury hurt Tampa Bay?
Buchsbaum: A lot, because the Bucs had already lost their right tackle, Jason Odom, who
also had been the backup at left tackle. So, now they have to go with Pete Pierson, who is
a tough journeyman-type guy with very limited ability, at left tackle, and Jerry Wunsch,
who at times has problems pass-blocking, at right tackle. |
