1. Roethlisberger's radar
Quarterbacks aren't supposed to drop their eyes from the coverage. Most quarterbacks have difficulty relocating the receiver and defender they were tracking before pressure forced them to focus on the line of scrimmage.
Gifted quarterbacks are often the exception. Ben Roethlisberger is one of them. The fact that he can look behind him, reset his feet, look away from the coverage gain to avoid defenders, and still find the open receiver ad deliver an accurate throw is exceptional.
Even this small look off to his right and flip to LeVeon Bell is far more difficult than it appears. Many starting quarterbacks miss this target below if forced to drop the eyes and flash back as fast as Roethlisberger does.
Dan Marino once said that if he ever scouted or auditioned quarterbacks for a team, he'd make them throw 100 passes from off-balanced positions while under pressure rather than the scripted work that's done on Pro Days. I get it.
Teams need quarterbacks that can go off script. They also need quarterbacks with the judgment to know their limitations.
2. whose your daddy?
If you go to Wikipedia this morning, the site apparently has Cowboys defensive end David Irving as Jameis Winston's...
If you watched last night's game, you'd understand. The Buccaneers offensive line could not stop Irving, who is doing strong work. His get-off, hand placement, strength, leverage, and bend were all impressive facets of his one-man demolition of Winston.
Rod Marinelli is renown as a teacher and Irving is making excellent progress as a student.
With Randy Gregory practicing this week and possibly returning from suspension, the Cowboys' front could be an underrated rotation in January—especially with the Dallas offense controlling the ball and keeping the defense fresh.
3. eric the great
My favorite player to watch this weekend was by far Eric Berry. Although the Chiefs lost to the Titans on a final drive, Berry was a huge reason the Kansas City took an early lead.
The Chiefs defense is an opportunistic unit that gives up big plays and while the Titans had good gains on the ground early, Berry's work in the box was sensational.
It's one thing to fly through the line of scrimmage. Linebacker Ryan Shazier does it several times a game. It's completely another to fly through opponents and use their bodies as a weapon against their ball-carrying teammate.
Many of the plays below occurred during the first half, if not the same drive.
Berry is also a fine defender in the passing game. Although he neither causes this fumble nor recovers it, his position and effort influence the outcome of this play.
The Chiefs defense had moments of excellence against the Titans during the first half. With Derrick Johnson out, Berry is its best player on the field.
With Dee Ford developing into a smarter player in his own right, my optimism about Kansas City as the playoff team you don't want to face in the AFC is growing.
4. checking in on Kenyan drake
One of the common trains of thoughts from fantasy owners is to inquire about the backup when the starter struggles in the box score. Jay Ajayi has been struggling statistically, but there is nothing wrong with his individual performance.
The offensive line is healthier but its center is missing. Although not as athletically rare as a left tackle, the center is arguably the most important player along the line—especially for the ground game.
The center makes the line calls, pre-snap adjustments, and is often the starting point for runs between the tackles. Mike Pouncey's absence has made it easier for opposing defenses to hit Ajayi in the backfield or force the runner to break multiple tackles just to earn modest gains.
Ajayi is a fine athlete with great balance and agility. His backup Kenyan Drake is an even more gifted athlete. But Drake is not a gifted runner between the tackles.
Drake has much to learn: The strategy for each blocking schemes; when to take what the defense gives him; and how to refine his footwork so that his eyes, mind, and feet are integrated with each attempt. When people say a talent has "it" I define "it" as "integrated technique."
Drake doesn't have "it" yet. He may learn it over time, but if the Dolphins start Drake over Ajayi this year for any reason other than injury, missing the playoffs, or a disciplinary action against Ajayi, Adam Gase should be fired for knowing nothing about the ground game.
In case you're wondering, I have no reason to think Gase has lost his mind. This is just a dose of information to those of you asking me about Drake because Ajayi isn't earning strong fantasy production.
5. zone stretcher: Eli rogers
Advanced route running is often associated with man-to-man coverage, but some of the best routes occur against zone coverage. There's more to getting open against zone coverage than finding an open space and sitting in it.
Some zone routes require the receiver to manipulate multiple defenders. Pittsburgh's Eli Rogers did this twice against the Bengals zone en route to a good fantasy outing in PPR leagues.
Rogers was a player I recommended against the Bengals on Sunday morning's Audible Podcast. If you're seeing a flex play next week, Rogers skill in zone coverage is worth your attention.
6. don't be afraid to start your chiefs in week 16
Even against Denver. The Chiefs can run the football and they're multiple with how they use the ground game.
Spencer Ware is the best all-around runner and Charcandrick West is a solid complement. But the Kansas City staff has developed an extra dimension to the ground game opposing defenses cannot ignore.
It begins with Tyreek Hill. Brandon Howard, a beat writer covering the Dolphins, is a former track athlete and running back at West Virginia. Howard always thought that Hill, who played running back as a freshman at Oklahoma State, was at his best in the offensive backfield.
On Sunday, the Chiefs used Spencer Ware as a lead blocker (Ware begin his NFL career as a fullback-halfback hybrid for Seattle) for Hill on this counter draw play for a 68-yard score.
Fans have seen Hill and Ware in the same backfield for at least a month, although most of those looks were Wildcat looks with Ware as the quarterback. The Chiefs have gradually installed an entire series of plays that work with Hill or another Hill-like player in the backfield as a potential danger.
That player is De'Anthony Thomas. The Chiefs gave Thomas the ball around end from the backfield after Hill motioned across the formation to force the Titans to consider a run to the opposite end of the field. Thomas is a terrific open field speedster in his own right and it's a great strategy to use both players to pull the opponent in opposite directions.
Moreover, the Chiefs are throwing the ball to Thomas and Hill on the perimeter. It's a change-up to running plays from the backfield and it forces defenses to account for the entire width of the field, leading to greater success between the tackles.
With Jeremy Maclin back, the Chiefs aren't a one-dimensional short passing game with Travis Kelce as its sole reliable intermediate threat. Maclin has developed into a perimeter route runner that gives Alex Smith the ability to drop three steps, hitch and throw.
Although Chris Conley and Albert Wilson can get deep, Maclin is more reliable. Once again, Smith found Maclin on a go route up the right side during the first quarter.
It was the second game that Maclin caught this target and the third that Smith targeted a nine-route to a receiver up the right sideline during the first quarter of a game. My only concern is that the Chiefs have been predictable about when they throw this pass and to whom, but the rest of the unit has enough playmakers and versatility to make Kansas City's offense an unpredictable unit that can catch defenses off-guard.
Weather permitting, expect Kelce, Hill, and Ware to have fantasy starter performances next week and don't sleep on Smith, either.
7. the odd couple: i-formation back, shotgun QB
Isaiah Crowell and Robert Griffin are an odd pairing right now. Crowell is at his best from an I-formation. So is the Browns offensive line.
But Griffin is better from the shotgun. Opposing defenses know it and it creates difficulties for the Browns to deliver unpredictable plays—especially in the red zone.
Here's an example of a creative play that worked out: Crowell around right end with two pulling linemen working to the opposite side. It was the best run of the day for Crowell, who beat linebacker Preston Brown to the edge and got Cleveland into the red zone.
In fact, Crowell has the physical skills to thrive from the gun, but it's neither utilizing him nor his teammates to their potential. The timing also puts more pressure on offensive linemen to reach their assignments and penalties can develop into a common problem.
Give Crowell consistent line play and a good quarterback that can put the team into good run situations at the line of scrimmage, and the Browns runner has a future as a consistent fantasy RB1. It's unlikely the Browns do enough next year during the draft and free agency to make this happen, but there is a possibility for progress in 2017 that makes Crowell a consistent RB2.
8. Now and later: Matt Moore and Dion sims
The Dolphins back knows this offense and he's a gamer. He's confident with his decisions on the field and he's always had the skills to make plays from the pocket under pressure. As he's aged, he's only grown with his technical proficiency.
Check out Moore's corner route to Marqueis Gray after climbing the pocket.
His footwork is fluid, well-timed, and confident and it leads to good placement and touch with the throw above. I also like his aggressiveness as a passer.
Moore reads this corner blitz, finds the one-on-one with the safety and hits Stills on the deep post for the touchdown on 3rd and 9.
He's also good at squeezing the ball into tight spots while on the move. This is where Dion Sims fits into the equation. The tight end has been getting it down for weeks and this catch is the latest example of his value as a go-to option.
I'd feel good about both of these players against Buffalo in Week 16 if you're in desperation mode on Championship Weekend. If not, don't be surprised if Ryan Tannehill is sent packing, the Dolphins draft a quarterback, and Moore earns the placeholder starting role in 2017.
Miami would be wise to keep Sims. He's developing into a good starter with playmaking upside.
9. Carson Wentz: Old Habits die hard
Two weeks ago, Yahoo's! Charles Robinson Tweeted about Carson Wentz's arm motion. Robinson is a fine reporter and I think he has a solid grasp of football. Even so, I though his tweet was alarmist about Wentz.
Robinson told his audience that the issue was bad enough that the coaching staff tried to address Wentz's release this summer. The context of the Tweet appeared to be in conjunction with Wentz's recent struggles and it included reference to multiple NFL executives noting Wentz's issue before the draft.
While I agree with Robinson that Wentz can tighten his release and create a more efficient motion that can make his delivery efficient and prevent opponents from earning an extra step to Wentz in the pocket or to breaking on Wentz's throws in the secondary, I thought the tone of the information came across as a potentially fatal flaw for the young quarterback.
My take: Most quarterbacks—even top prospects—enter the league with mechanical-technical flaws. When it comes to quarterbacks, these flaws require a lot of time and repetition to initially fix and then subsequently maintain and refine so there is no regression to the old methods.
When the Eagles opted to trade Sam Bradford, I doubt that the organization would have signed off on the move if Wentz's mechanical flaws were so bad that it would inhibit his performance in a major way. The Eagles would have gone with Chase Daniel if the concerns were this significant.
Most coaches will try to address technical concerns with a quarterback but if they aren't fatal errors and the quarterback can produce, they'll focus on the conceptual side of the game as the top priority until the end of the season. They will leave the technical side to the quarterback and his developers during the winter and spring.
That's what's happening here. Another old, bad habit that Wentz still exhibits to his detriment is the one I describe below:
Although the play resulted in a turnover and you might even argue that Wentz's release pattern resulted in the tipped pass during the two-point conversion attempt to win the game, the fact that Wentz helped the Eagles get within a two-point conversion of winning this game should tell you that there shouldn't be a huge concern about the quarterback's mechanics.
After all, if the staff didn't believe Wentz could produce, it wouldn't have gone for two with a pass when it could have gone for the game-tying extra point and overtime where the team could run the ball (something it did well against a tough Ravens unit). I find the increasing technical savvy of football fans and writers a positive thing, but I'd like to see the context and perspective of the information improve as well.
10. FRESH FISH
Fantasy football is a cruel place. We're always searching for that weakest link. While we don't want anyone facing the wrath of Hadley, we'd love nothing more than having our players face an opponent whose game has come unglued on the field.
In the spirit of "The Shawshank Redemption," here is my short list of players and/or units that could have you chanting "fresh fish" when your roster draws the match-up (Links are Instagram vids of each play I'm referring to):
Dolphins Safety Bacarri Rambo: The former Washington safety is still learning how to play with his teammates and doing so under fire. It's not easy. and it resulted in a Robby Anderson touchdown.
Darrelle Revis: I try to be kind to the future Hall of Famer because he was such a great player. This year, he's struggling and he's even admitting that he's not that good at off coverage, which is what he needs to play if the Jets even want a chance at defending Revis' side of the field.
San Francisco's defensive front: Devonta Freeman average seven yards per carry on Sunday afternoon in another blow-out. Tevin Coleman average four. Even Terron Ward broke off a long run during the fourth quarter.
Raiders Sean Smith: The Oakland cornerback was beaten multiple times on Sunday. He overthought a TraviBenjaminin route and turned himself around on this touchdown.
Smith also gave a touchdown on a rub route to Hunter Henry and got confused on a deep cross to Dontrelle Inman.
Kansas City Defense: The Chiefs gave up the game-winning drive to Marcus Mariota and the Titans with two passes over the middle and a long field goal after controlling this game for most of the afternoon.
D.J. Swearinger Sr: The Cardinals safety got turned around on a post route by Brandin Cooks and like Smith, overreacted to a small look by the receiver.
Bears Defense: Make Aaron Rodgers dink and dump, don't let those receivers get behind the secondary...
Those of you heading to your league championships, best of luck!
