cracKer
Shawn Culcasi
Roman Harper, SS-NO: 11 solo tackles and a sack in two games. Harper gets the Atlanta Falcons this week who, according to Clayton's FP Scored/Allowed, present the second best matchup for defensive backs. Through two weeks the opposing strong safeties v. Atlanta have been Shaun Williams of Carolina (10 tackles, 8 solo) and the Buccaneers' Jermaine Phillips (13 tackles, 12 solo, 2 FF, FR).
Other defensive backs to look for are Charles Tillman and Ed Reed. In his last three games against the Vikings Tillman has posted 23 solo tackles 2 interceptions, 5 passes defended and a forced fumble. Reed, looking for his first interception of the year (outside of his week one pick, of course ), has picked off five balls in eight career games versus Cleveland.
Will Witherspoon, MLB-STL: Witherspoon has gotten off to a great start with 18 solo tackles and 2 FF in two games (a perfectly balanced 9 and 1 in each). Arizona presents the second best matchup of the week for opposing linebackers (behind Miami) and W² has a history against the Cardinals, picking up a career 12 solo tackles with a sack during an '04 contest. Middle linebackers against Arizona this year have been Derek Smith (9 tackles, 8 solo) and Lofa Tatupu (12 tackles, 6 solo).
In regards to Miami, the top LB matchup, look for Keith Bulluck to have a big play of some sort. The Dolphins have allowed four sacks and two interceptions in two weeks to opposing linebackers.
If the New York Giants had a quality under tackle, they'd be the prime candidate here for defensive line. The Seahawks have been burned in each of the first two weeks by an opposing defensive tackle, Shaun Rogers in the opener with 5 solo tackles and two sacks, Darnell Dockett last week with 12 tackles (8 solo) and one sack. Good news for Fred Robbins, who has six solos and a sack on the year.
The best DL matchup for this is shared by Minnesota (v. Chicago) and Washington (@ Houston). I'll take the grudge match.
Kevin Williams, DT-MIN: After getting blanked in the opener Kevin Williams came back with four solo tackles and a sack last week. In his last five games versus the Bears, Williams has picked up 20 solo tackles, 6.5 sacks and two recovered fumbles. Chicago has done a good job of limiting sacks to opposing defensive linemen, giving up just one over the first two games, but those eight total linemen have combined for 27 solo tackles. Expect much of the same from Williams with 5 solos and a sack.
Andre Carter in Washington has a good chance to pick up his first sack of the year against a Texans team which has allowed four sacks by opposing defensive linemen in each game thus far (Trent Cole and Robert Mathis with 2 a piece, Raheem Brock with 1.5, JeVon Kearse and Juqua Thomas with one each, Bo Schobel with 1/2).
Other defensive backs to look for are Charles Tillman and Ed Reed. In his last three games against the Vikings Tillman has posted 23 solo tackles 2 interceptions, 5 passes defended and a forced fumble. Reed, looking for his first interception of the year (outside of his week one pick, of course ), has picked off five balls in eight career games versus Cleveland.
Will Witherspoon, MLB-STL: Witherspoon has gotten off to a great start with 18 solo tackles and 2 FF in two games (a perfectly balanced 9 and 1 in each). Arizona presents the second best matchup of the week for opposing linebackers (behind Miami) and W² has a history against the Cardinals, picking up a career 12 solo tackles with a sack during an '04 contest. Middle linebackers against Arizona this year have been Derek Smith (9 tackles, 8 solo) and Lofa Tatupu (12 tackles, 6 solo).
In regards to Miami, the top LB matchup, look for Keith Bulluck to have a big play of some sort. The Dolphins have allowed four sacks and two interceptions in two weeks to opposing linebackers.
If the New York Giants had a quality under tackle, they'd be the prime candidate here for defensive line. The Seahawks have been burned in each of the first two weeks by an opposing defensive tackle, Shaun Rogers in the opener with 5 solo tackles and two sacks, Darnell Dockett last week with 12 tackles (8 solo) and one sack. Good news for Fred Robbins, who has six solos and a sack on the year.
The best DL matchup for this is shared by Minnesota (v. Chicago) and Washington (@ Houston). I'll take the grudge match.
Kevin Williams, DT-MIN: After getting blanked in the opener Kevin Williams came back with four solo tackles and a sack last week. In his last five games versus the Bears, Williams has picked up 20 solo tackles, 6.5 sacks and two recovered fumbles. Chicago has done a good job of limiting sacks to opposing defensive linemen, giving up just one over the first two games, but those eight total linemen have combined for 27 solo tackles. Expect much of the same from Williams with 5 solos and a sack.
Andre Carter in Washington has a good chance to pick up his first sack of the year against a Texans team which has allowed four sacks by opposing defensive linemen in each game thus far (Trent Cole and Robert Mathis with 2 a piece, Raheem Brock with 1.5, JeVon Kearse and Juqua Thomas with one each, Bo Schobel with 1/2).
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