Rupert
The Long Wind
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2005
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Okay, ladies and gentlemen, now that we all "know" how every team is doing. Let's see what we have learned from week 1. More importantly, we'll have to see what they have learned from week 1.
Oakland went tumbling down the power rankings from a crappy 25th to a near-celler dwelling 31st. I'm guessing Green Bay snuck under Oakland through a less convincing defensive effort. Well regardless, without going into the numbers, Oakland was punchless on offense, even though they eventually wound up with a decent rushing effort bolstered by the backups in garbage-time. The question is which offense will show up for Oakland against an arguably better defense in Baltimore? The 1st half offense that put together 1 drive and 0 points, or the 2nd half offense that put together 1 drive and 0 points? Or is there any reason to expect something more?
Defensively, Oakland pulled their collective heads out after giving up three successive scoring drives to start the game, but wound up giving up two 4th quarter TD's on short fields after continued offensive futility, including a 3 play 9 yard TD drive after a lost fumble. Ranking 16th in defense is something to build on, but this week's opposing QB isn't a 1st-year starter, it's a grizzled veteran in Steve McNair.
Baltimore's power ranking lept up 12 position to 6th from 18th before week 1. Was it their unexpected 20 point offensive outburst adding to the 7 points coming from their defense? It certainly couldn't be their 20th ranked offense. And while it's not likely they'll improve that ranking much against Oakland's defense, they look to get many chances to break through considering how long Oakland's offense stays on the field.
On defense Baltimore ranked 2nd in yards allowed, only behind San Diego, and allowed the same 0 points that San Diego yielded. It's fairly safe to assume they won't be able to do the same thing to Oakland that San Diego did, if only because they run a 4-3 defense instead of San Diego's "3-4" (is Shawne Merriman really an OLB? I don't think so). Baltimore will be playing a week 1 game again since they can count on Oakland making changes to an offensive gameplan that needs a complete rethink.
So where do you stand? Which these teams makes the most of their week 2 adjustments? It will be difficult for Baltimore to improve and equally tough for Oakland to get worse. All things remaining equal, where do you put your vCash?
Oakland went tumbling down the power rankings from a crappy 25th to a near-celler dwelling 31st. I'm guessing Green Bay snuck under Oakland through a less convincing defensive effort. Well regardless, without going into the numbers, Oakland was punchless on offense, even though they eventually wound up with a decent rushing effort bolstered by the backups in garbage-time. The question is which offense will show up for Oakland against an arguably better defense in Baltimore? The 1st half offense that put together 1 drive and 0 points, or the 2nd half offense that put together 1 drive and 0 points? Or is there any reason to expect something more?
Defensively, Oakland pulled their collective heads out after giving up three successive scoring drives to start the game, but wound up giving up two 4th quarter TD's on short fields after continued offensive futility, including a 3 play 9 yard TD drive after a lost fumble. Ranking 16th in defense is something to build on, but this week's opposing QB isn't a 1st-year starter, it's a grizzled veteran in Steve McNair.
Baltimore's power ranking lept up 12 position to 6th from 18th before week 1. Was it their unexpected 20 point offensive outburst adding to the 7 points coming from their defense? It certainly couldn't be their 20th ranked offense. And while it's not likely they'll improve that ranking much against Oakland's defense, they look to get many chances to break through considering how long Oakland's offense stays on the field.
On defense Baltimore ranked 2nd in yards allowed, only behind San Diego, and allowed the same 0 points that San Diego yielded. It's fairly safe to assume they won't be able to do the same thing to Oakland that San Diego did, if only because they run a 4-3 defense instead of San Diego's "3-4" (is Shawne Merriman really an OLB? I don't think so). Baltimore will be playing a week 1 game again since they can count on Oakland making changes to an offensive gameplan that needs a complete rethink.
So where do you stand? Which these teams makes the most of their week 2 adjustments? It will be difficult for Baltimore to improve and equally tough for Oakland to get worse. All things remaining equal, where do you put your vCash?
