| Editor’s note: This is the
17th 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:
If you were a defensive coordinator facing the Vikings and could double-team only one of
their wide receivers all game long, would you choose to double-team Cris Carter or Randy
Moss?
Buchsbaum: Moss, because he’s more of a long-distance threat.
Q: Why did the Colts have so much trouble in their game against Cleveland?
Buchsbaum: I don’t think the Colts were really ready to play until the end of the
game. I think they took the Browns too lightly.
Q: How much should be read into the Rams’ blowout win over the Bears in a game
that had no meaning to St. Louis in terms of playoff positioning?
Buchsbaum: Every game has meaning because you’re a competitor and you want to win.
That’s something good coaches try to instill in their teams.
Q: What did you learn about the Super Bowl hopes of Tennessee and Jacksonville from
their game last week?
Buchsbaum: Jacksonville is more vulnerable, whereas Tennessee, if Steve McNair can play
at the level he played at in that game, can beat anyone. The real question is: Was that
game the exception to the rule for McNair, or was the rest of the year the exception? The
X factor is his health, because going into that game, the Titans said McNair was far and
away the healthiest he had been all year. Remember, he had back surgery before the season.
Q: What is Jacksonville’s biggest vulnerability?
Buchsbaum: If you can make yardage on first down, you take the Jaguars out of the
defense they want to play. So, if you can win first down against them, it changes the
complexion of the entire game.
Q: What is your analysis of the season Buffalo QB Doug Flutie has had?
Buchsbaum: He’s been inconsistent, but he has come up big in the clutch. He finds
ways to win when you need him to win the game for you. He’s not a thing of beauty,
and teams have done a better job of defensing him, but in the end, he finds ways to win.
Q: What are the biggest positives Baltimore can take out away from its late-season
surge?
Buchsbaum: The Ravens’ defense has come together, and the coach (Brian Billick)
finally seems to realize that he can play the little receivers as well, and they can make
plays for him. They also may have found some help on the offensive line. I’m afraid,
though, that QB Tony Banks is fool’s gold for them. I don’t think he can sustain
this level of play for a complete season, and I think circumstances have made him look a
lot better than he really is. Plus, they have been playing the weakest part of their
schedule late in the year. Teams have a tendency to read way too much into the finish of
one year. Very rarely is there a carryover. How many years did the Bengals start out, say,
2-7 and finish 7-9 and said they were turning it around? The next year it’s the same
story all over again.
Q: What is the scouting report on Carolina WR Patrick Jeffers, who has been so
productive lately?
Buchsbaum: He’s big, with deceptive speed, a deceptive stride, excellent hands and
an excellent feel for the passing game. He’s at his best when you put him in the slot
so that he’s hard to jam. He’s not quick, so he has trouble getting away from
tight bump-and-run coverage. He’ll surprise you with his downfield speed. He’s a
little bit like Denver’s Ed McCaffrey.
Q: Can you analyze what makes Marshall Faulk such a good pass-catching running back?
Buchsbaum: He’s a natural receiver who adjusts to the ball extremely well.
He’s got great field vision and great feet and quickness.
Q: Was 1999 more of a positive or a negative season for Bears RB Curtis Enis in
terms of progress?
Buchsbaum: It was a mixed bag. He showed that he would try, he gave effort, but the
explosiveness wasn’t there. Now, if that explosiveness is going to come back after a
year of rehab, then you may have something. But otherwise, basically you have a journeyman
running back who is three yards and a cloud of dust. He was basically a back who ran hard
and got what was there, but that was it. You didn’t see any special qualities.
Q: How much of the credit for Denver RB Olandis Gary’s 1,000-yard season goes
to him and how much goes to the offensive line and the coaching staff?
Buchsbaum: You’ve got to give a lot of the credit to the offensive linemen. They
do a very good job with the type of run blocking they do. Still, you’ve got to give
Gary a lot of credit too. He saw the holes, he read them correctly and he ran very hard
with good balance and body lean.
Q: What factors have been responsible for the Dolphins’ late-season collapse?
Buchsbaum: I think it’s a combination of factors. They had some guys playing over
their heads early in the season who came down to earth. A lot of injuries caught up to
them. Teams figured out better ways to attack them. The offense once again became way too
predictable, and not having the quarterbacks audibilize has hurt them. If you’re
running the ball with that offense, things can work. When you stop running the ball,
it’s a bad offense to pass out of. It seems as though whenever they get in trouble,
it’s back to "let Dan (Marino) do it all." I don’t think they’ve
had nearly enough patience with the running game lately. The way that offense is designed,
they have to run the ball at least 30 times a game.
Q: Can the Dolphins successfully run the ball that often with the personnel they
have?
Buchsbaum: I really don’t know because they haven’t tried. I would take
(Kevin) Gogan out of the lineup and put (Kevin) Donnalley in full time (at right guard)
with (OLG Mark) Dixon, and I’d sure try to run the ball. |
