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By Michael Salfino
NFL Week 3 featured more high scores and fantastic finishes, along with probably the best gadget package of plays in NFL history. Let's review some highlights in our latest Scouting Notebook.
The Pittsburgh-Philly game should have carried a parental advisory, that's how savagely Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was beaten by Eagles blitzes. In the first half, he was creamed five times in six straight dropbacks, and it didn't get any better from there.
But the bigger surprise attack was unleashed by the Dolphins against Bill Belichick and the Patriots in their own backyard. Five TDs by Ronnie Brown later, including one TD pass - all with QB Chad Pennington flanked wide as a receiver - and the Dolphins had not only an upset but a total undressing of a Patriots team that had won 21 consecutive regular-season games.
Miami kept going back to the well and the Patriots actually looked more confused the more they saw that look. You rarely see a team try a trick play like that more than a couple of times. And when they do, it usually yields diminishing returns.
The Patriots knew what was coming (except for the one time Brown threw), but looked like they were stuck in drying cement. And who could possibly have known that Brown was a lefty thrower when running left on the play? Not me. And obviously not the Patriots.
Interestingly, a more traditional outcome occurred when the Falcons tried a similar look, sans the QB being flanked wide, with RB Jerious Norwood taking the shotgun snaps. A short gain the first time was quickly followed by an eight-yard loss.
While you can chalk the Patriots' defensive ineptitude to chicanery, the Pats suddenly pop-gun offense averaged less than seven yards per completion with Matt Cassel at QB. The training wheels are rightfully affixed, considering how Cassel overlooked a wide open TE David Thomas for an easy long TD on a Dolphin blitz and instead showed skittishness in the pocket by scrambling before fumbling.
Cassel has to learn to just throw it up to No. 84 at times like Tom Brady did.
Game ball to Matt Hassselbeck, who played with efficiency and poise despite losing his top six receivers to injury. Hasselbeck still has some upside once he begins getting starters back after the Week 4 bye.
Giants TE Kevin Boss had been a monster in the running game, mauling various linebackers and even defensive ends. Nice to see him rewarded with a game-saving TD catch against a surprisingly feisty Bengals defense that took Plaxico Burress out of the contest prior to overtime.
Burress seemed to have a TD via a miraculous piece of contortion in the back of the end zone, but the Giants refused to throw the challenge flag with more than three minutes left in the first half. Last year, 37 percent of plays were overturned, a record high. The Giants were 4 for 11; so you think they'd be more aggressive.
Michael Turner has impressed the Falcons with his ability to break and slip tackles and showed he can bowl over defenders, too, on his three-TD runs. But it's still baby steps for Matt Ryan, who did show an NFL arm on a bomb to Roddy White that traveled about 60 air yards.
Always keep an eye on rookies like the Cardinals' Tim Hightower, who are entrusted as third-down backs, proving his coaches think he's smart and tough enough to pick up blitzers.
Earnest Graham was running efficiently until the 12-carry, 16-yard nightmare versus Chicago, which accounts for every gap with eight men in the box. The Bears dared Brian Griese to throw and he did, 67 times for 407 yards in the comeback win.
JaMarcus Russell showed unbelievable arm strength on the skinny post to Johnnie Lee Higgins that should have won the game in Buffalo. Any other QB but Jay Cutler and that ball is knocked down before it touched the receiver's hands.
There's a great setup in Denver for Cutler. He's got an uncoverable receiver in Brandon Marshall, no reliable running back, a master offensive architect (Mike Shanahan) and a defense atrocious versus the pass in two straight home games - a harbinger of more shootouts.
The Saints showed teams can complete a long pass and get everyone set for the clock-killing spike in nine seconds. I remember a few years ago, the expectation was about 14 to 18 seconds. It's like watching a pit stop in auto racing.
Lance Moore (7 catches, 78 yards) found the holes in the zone repeatedly for Drew Brees and the Saints, looking as crafty on third downs as former Jet Wayne Chrebet, who was similarly short and athletically challenged.
That Fox shot behind the kicker from field level makes every 40-yard-plus field goal seem like a million miles away. You expect a miss from that perspective.
Terrell Owens showed unbelievable hustle as a defender on a pick and as a blocker on Felix Jones' long TD run Sunday night. Note how he not only caught but appeared ready to pass Jones, reported to be the NFL's fastest back.
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I would like to take a moment and quote a statement that Michael Salfino made on the week 3 NFL scouting notebook and I quote.
"The Patriots look to be without RB LaMont Jordan (foot); he's listed as doubtful after not practicing all week. Even worse, RB Laurence Maroney (shoulder) was held out of practice most of the week and only practiced on a limited basis Friday, making him questionable for Sunday. There is a very good chance he won't even touch the ball, making Sammy Morris a very attractive play against a terrible Miami defense."
WOW that last sentence hurts, hurts a lot. Lets remember any team can beat any other team on any giving Sunday. How true!!!
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