Jene Bramel
Footballguy
Arizona
The Cardinals used some dime against Pittsburgh last week, with Daryl Washington sitting and Paris Lenon the lone linebacker. Lenon and Washington both sat for extended periods during the fourth quarter. The Ravens don’t have four receivers to spread the field like Pittsburgh, but Washington carries a little more risk this week. Stewart Bradley was used extensively as a pass rusher against Pittsburgh, sometimes as a DE, and also saw time in the base D as an ILB. Richard Marshall remains the nickel corner but saw some safety like snaps in that dime package. Kerry Rhodes remains out.
Baltimore
Tom Zbikowski is probable to play this week, but is likely to return in a rotational role only. There were hints from Bernard Pollard that he was signed with the expectation to play full time once he learned the run fits and coverage calls and he’s played well enough that he should now be the every down SS. Jameel McClain played most downs last week with Dannell Ellerbee injured and that could continue this week if the game stays close.
Cincinnati
Dan Skuta replaces Rey Maualuga at MLB again. Thomas Howard is questionable at WLB, but did practice limited Thursday and Friday. Ordinarily, that’d suggest that he’s likely to play, but we’ve seen curveballs from the Bengals before. If Howard can’t go, Brandon Johnson likely becomes an every-down WLB. At minimum, Johnson likely plays with Howard in subpackages. If Howard can’t go, it’s a tossup between Manny Lawson and Dan Skuta as the second nickel linebacker. If you’re desperate, Skuta is a reasonable upside bet.
Seattle
Kam Chancellor looks ready to play. Leroy Hill again lost nickel snaps to Malcolm Smith last week and is becoming a riskier play.
Cleveland
Scott Fujita is expected to return this week. Joe Haden was back last week and made it through without a setback, though he didn’t look like himself.
San Francisco
Parys Haralson is listed probable and practiced fully on Thursday and Friday, but his presence on the injury list coming out of the bye week with a hamstring injury might be enough to get Aldon Smith some base defensive snaps. Definitely worth watching after Smith held up well despite the nickel defense playing nearly every down against Detroit in Week 6.
Denver
Elvis Dumervil is questionable and a GTD with an ankle injury that knocked him out of last week’s game. Jason Hunter would replace him if he’s inactive and he’s likely to rotate in on base defensive downs regardless. Quinton Carter has begun to see time at free safety over Rahim Moore. Carter may not have much value in the short term, but could in 2012 when he takes over at his more natural SS position.
Indianapolis
Pat Angerer was limited this week with a knee injury. He’s listed questionable but is expected to play.
Tennessee
William Hayes practiced fully on Friday. He’s listed questionable but seemingly likely to play today. Will Witherspoon continues to play every down, but didn’t look as good last week as in previous weeks.
Jacksonville
Aaron Kampman looked a little better last week, but he’s not close to making an impact and Jeremy Mincey continues to make plays and earn the bulk of rotational snaps. Daryl Smith had a big statistical week against Baltimore, but continues to rotate out in dime packages.
Houston
Danieal Manning is out with a broken leg. Troy Nolan will replace him. The Texans continued to use the dime package primarily, with Shiloh Keo seeing more snaps after Manning went down. That seems likely to continue.
Miami
Reshad Jones is questionable, but able to practice in limited fashion this week. Tyrone Culver replaced him last week, but Chris Clemons is listed probable and practiced fully all week.
NY Giants
Michael Boley was limited with a knee problem this week but is probable and will play. There was a note without much context two weeks ago that the Giants wanted Greg Jones more involved in the defense. Whether that means that the Giants are planning to change how they defend certain offensive personnel packages or that Jones may rotate into some subpackages is unclear. Jacquian Williams has looked a little slower over the past two weeks. His nickel snaps are likely to decrease if Justin Tuck returns to full time duty and Mathias Kiwanuka can take some nickel snaps as an OLB. Tuck was limited this week but all signs suggest he is healthier than he’s been all year. Hopefully, that’s the case.
Minnesota
Erin Henderson was back as a full time linebacker over his brother EJ last week against GB. Whether that was a game plan issue or evidence that EJ didn’t come out of his every-down W6 effort as well as hoped isn’t clear. Antoine Winfield was apparently cleared to play and expected to start today.
Carolina
Omar Gaither will start at WLB in the 4-3 today. Thomas Williams is still a strong threat to play nickel in the 4-2-5 however. The Panthers are mixing in more 3-4 on base downs and some 3-3-5 in passing situations, putting Antwan Applewhite on the field as a DE and OLB more often.
New England
Jerod Mayo is a GTD today. He was limited in practice all week and though he traveled with the team there’s no strong feeling on whether he’ll be ready to go full time or not. I could make a good argument for either side here. If he goes full time, I expect that Gary Guyton sits and the Pats continue their current mix of packages and keep Brandon Spikes on the field most downs, with only a spare handful of snaps for Guyton. If he goes part time, the rotation could go in just about any direction. It’s probably a situation to avoid unless you’re stuck. In order of safety, I’d say Spikes, Mayo (if active), Guyton.
Pittsburgh
James Farrior was limited this week and questionable.
New Orleans
Jonathan Vilma did not practice this week but is listed probable with his ongoing knee issue. Jo-Lonn Dunbar played every down when Vilma missed his last game if you need a hedge against a surprise inactive.
Washington
London Fletcher is questionable and a GTD with his hamstring injury but made it through drills on Thursday and Friday and has a chance to play. If he doesn’t go, Keyaron Fox will start and (very likely) play every down. OJ Atogwe is again questionable and was limited in practice all week. Shanahan said he expects Fletcher to play, Atogwe said he hopes to play.
Buffalo
Reports suggest Kyle Williams could miss the rest of the season with his foot injury. Chris Kelsay practiced fully all week and is expected to return. That might mean more 4-3 snaps for Buffalo this week, who had shifted back toward a 3-4 look over the past 2-3 weeks.
Philadelphia
Not sure what to make of the reports that Trent Cole’s calf is still swollen. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t like that at all with a severe muscle strain. But the Eagles seemed to have rehabbed this one to the far end of the timetable and Cole has made it through multiple full practices without setback. Expect him to rotate more than usual (60% of the snaps instead of his usual 80-85%) this week with Tapp and Parker likely to be much more healthy with two additional weeks to heal.
San Diego
Shaun Phillips is out with a foot injury. With Larry English out – I’ll bet the Chargers want Antwan Applewhite back now – Antwan Barnes should see the bulk of the playing time opposite Travis Laboy but there are suggestions that rookie Darryl Gamble will get playing time, too. Marcus Gilchrist replaces Antoine Cason in the lineup at CB.
The Cardinals used some dime against Pittsburgh last week, with Daryl Washington sitting and Paris Lenon the lone linebacker. Lenon and Washington both sat for extended periods during the fourth quarter. The Ravens don’t have four receivers to spread the field like Pittsburgh, but Washington carries a little more risk this week. Stewart Bradley was used extensively as a pass rusher against Pittsburgh, sometimes as a DE, and also saw time in the base D as an ILB. Richard Marshall remains the nickel corner but saw some safety like snaps in that dime package. Kerry Rhodes remains out.
Baltimore
Tom Zbikowski is probable to play this week, but is likely to return in a rotational role only. There were hints from Bernard Pollard that he was signed with the expectation to play full time once he learned the run fits and coverage calls and he’s played well enough that he should now be the every down SS. Jameel McClain played most downs last week with Dannell Ellerbee injured and that could continue this week if the game stays close.
Cincinnati
Dan Skuta replaces Rey Maualuga at MLB again. Thomas Howard is questionable at WLB, but did practice limited Thursday and Friday. Ordinarily, that’d suggest that he’s likely to play, but we’ve seen curveballs from the Bengals before. If Howard can’t go, Brandon Johnson likely becomes an every-down WLB. At minimum, Johnson likely plays with Howard in subpackages. If Howard can’t go, it’s a tossup between Manny Lawson and Dan Skuta as the second nickel linebacker. If you’re desperate, Skuta is a reasonable upside bet.
Seattle
Kam Chancellor looks ready to play. Leroy Hill again lost nickel snaps to Malcolm Smith last week and is becoming a riskier play.
Cleveland
Scott Fujita is expected to return this week. Joe Haden was back last week and made it through without a setback, though he didn’t look like himself.
San Francisco
Parys Haralson is listed probable and practiced fully on Thursday and Friday, but his presence on the injury list coming out of the bye week with a hamstring injury might be enough to get Aldon Smith some base defensive snaps. Definitely worth watching after Smith held up well despite the nickel defense playing nearly every down against Detroit in Week 6.
Denver
Elvis Dumervil is questionable and a GTD with an ankle injury that knocked him out of last week’s game. Jason Hunter would replace him if he’s inactive and he’s likely to rotate in on base defensive downs regardless. Quinton Carter has begun to see time at free safety over Rahim Moore. Carter may not have much value in the short term, but could in 2012 when he takes over at his more natural SS position.
Indianapolis
Pat Angerer was limited this week with a knee injury. He’s listed questionable but is expected to play.
Tennessee
William Hayes practiced fully on Friday. He’s listed questionable but seemingly likely to play today. Will Witherspoon continues to play every down, but didn’t look as good last week as in previous weeks.
Jacksonville
Aaron Kampman looked a little better last week, but he’s not close to making an impact and Jeremy Mincey continues to make plays and earn the bulk of rotational snaps. Daryl Smith had a big statistical week against Baltimore, but continues to rotate out in dime packages.
Houston
Danieal Manning is out with a broken leg. Troy Nolan will replace him. The Texans continued to use the dime package primarily, with Shiloh Keo seeing more snaps after Manning went down. That seems likely to continue.
Miami
Reshad Jones is questionable, but able to practice in limited fashion this week. Tyrone Culver replaced him last week, but Chris Clemons is listed probable and practiced fully all week.
NY Giants
Michael Boley was limited with a knee problem this week but is probable and will play. There was a note without much context two weeks ago that the Giants wanted Greg Jones more involved in the defense. Whether that means that the Giants are planning to change how they defend certain offensive personnel packages or that Jones may rotate into some subpackages is unclear. Jacquian Williams has looked a little slower over the past two weeks. His nickel snaps are likely to decrease if Justin Tuck returns to full time duty and Mathias Kiwanuka can take some nickel snaps as an OLB. Tuck was limited this week but all signs suggest he is healthier than he’s been all year. Hopefully, that’s the case.
Minnesota
Erin Henderson was back as a full time linebacker over his brother EJ last week against GB. Whether that was a game plan issue or evidence that EJ didn’t come out of his every-down W6 effort as well as hoped isn’t clear. Antoine Winfield was apparently cleared to play and expected to start today.
Carolina
Omar Gaither will start at WLB in the 4-3 today. Thomas Williams is still a strong threat to play nickel in the 4-2-5 however. The Panthers are mixing in more 3-4 on base downs and some 3-3-5 in passing situations, putting Antwan Applewhite on the field as a DE and OLB more often.
New England
Jerod Mayo is a GTD today. He was limited in practice all week and though he traveled with the team there’s no strong feeling on whether he’ll be ready to go full time or not. I could make a good argument for either side here. If he goes full time, I expect that Gary Guyton sits and the Pats continue their current mix of packages and keep Brandon Spikes on the field most downs, with only a spare handful of snaps for Guyton. If he goes part time, the rotation could go in just about any direction. It’s probably a situation to avoid unless you’re stuck. In order of safety, I’d say Spikes, Mayo (if active), Guyton.
Pittsburgh
James Farrior was limited this week and questionable.
New Orleans
Jonathan Vilma did not practice this week but is listed probable with his ongoing knee issue. Jo-Lonn Dunbar played every down when Vilma missed his last game if you need a hedge against a surprise inactive.
Washington
London Fletcher is questionable and a GTD with his hamstring injury but made it through drills on Thursday and Friday and has a chance to play. If he doesn’t go, Keyaron Fox will start and (very likely) play every down. OJ Atogwe is again questionable and was limited in practice all week. Shanahan said he expects Fletcher to play, Atogwe said he hopes to play.
Buffalo
Reports suggest Kyle Williams could miss the rest of the season with his foot injury. Chris Kelsay practiced fully all week and is expected to return. That might mean more 4-3 snaps for Buffalo this week, who had shifted back toward a 3-4 look over the past 2-3 weeks.
Philadelphia
Not sure what to make of the reports that Trent Cole’s calf is still swollen. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t like that at all with a severe muscle strain. But the Eagles seemed to have rehabbed this one to the far end of the timetable and Cole has made it through multiple full practices without setback. Expect him to rotate more than usual (60% of the snaps instead of his usual 80-85%) this week with Tapp and Parker likely to be much more healthy with two additional weeks to heal.
San Diego
Shaun Phillips is out with a foot injury. With Larry English out – I’ll bet the Chargers want Antwan Applewhite back now – Antwan Barnes should see the bulk of the playing time opposite Travis Laboy but there are suggestions that rookie Darryl Gamble will get playing time, too. Marcus Gilchrist replaces Antoine Cason in the lineup at CB.
Last edited by a moderator:
