Stillers vs. Doncos Pregame Analysis (Game #5, @ Denver)
The 2-3 Stillers, coming off two consecutive brutal beatings,
travel to the mile high city to face the 4-1 Denver Doncos.� The Doncos aren't in much of a pleasant good
mood, either, after blowing a close game to KC by allowing a late 93-yard KO
return for the winning TD.�
* When the Doncos have the ball, they'll be led
by the emerging Jake Plummer.� The Snake
started out slowly in their opener, but has really caught fire the past few
weeks.� Bummer has good feet and pocket
presence, so he's a threat to scramble for big yardage, as well as scoot from
pressure and buy some time, and then hit an open receiver.� He's nagged with a sore shoulder, and is
questionable for the game.� If he can't
go, ageless Steve Beuerlein will do the chores.�
There's no dearth of ability at RB for the Doncos.� Clinton Portis is the primary RB, but when
he needs a spell, FB Mike Anderson is more than capable of moving to RB and toting
the ball with rugged success.� Portis is
shiftier and quicker than Andy, and a better weapon in the passing game.�
The O-line is as good as it gets.� Ex-BC'er Tom Nalen anchors the middle at center.� Ben Hamilton and Dan Neil are adequate
guards.� Ephraim Salaam and Matt Lepsis
work the tackles.� Individually, this
may not be that great of a unit, but synergy is in motion for this gang, and as
a collective unit they run block and pass block as well as any other unit in
the league.� The Donco line zone-blocks
extremely well, and they can block up the gut as well as around end.�
Future HOFer Shannon Sharpe works at TE.� He's a bit long in the tooth now, but he's
still a very useful weapon.� Dwayne
Carswell is a mauling TE -- easily as good a blocker as The God of TE Blocking,
Mark Bruener -- and he's also an adequate pass-catcher as well.� Rod Smith and Eddie McAffrey form one of the
best WR combos in the NFL.� Speed
merchant Ashley Lelie, Denver's #1 pick last year, will see quite a bit of work
at WR as well.�
The key matchup will be the Bronco O-line against
the Stiller front 7.� The Stiller front
7 faltered last week, getting no pressure at all on Tim Slouch and allowing William
Green to garner for decent yardage behind a very poor O-line.� Denver's line is strong, experienced, and
smart, and the Stiller front 7 will have to play 3 times better than it did in
the Cleveland game for the team to have any chance at stealing a win.�
* When the Stillers have the ball, Tommy
Maddox will try to rebound from 2 abysmal games in which he handed dozens of
points over to the opponent with foolish, costly turnovers.� With the O-line in complete shambles, the
Stiller ground game has sputtered, and teams are content to sit back with their
safeties.� �
The Donco D-line is solid up and down the line.� Ex-Colt and Ram "Clay" Bertrand
Berry has found a new life in Denver, and has had a very strong start this
season at RDE.� Opposite him his Trevor
Price, who has had a fine career and is playing well this year.� In the middle of the 4-3 are DTs Monsanto
Pope and Darius Holland, who are both quite capable.� The Doncos can also bring former Skin Daryl Gardner in at
tackle.� Their LB corps is nothing short
of excellent.� John Mobley and Ian Gold
comprise an outstanding duo of OLBs, while Al Wilson combines good toughness,
hitting, and footspeed in the middle.�
The Donco secondary isn't shabby.� Leading the way is CB Deltha O'Neal, who puts to shame either of
the Stiller starting CBs.� Kenoy Kennedy
is a brutal hitter at SS.� Ex-BC'er
Lenny Walls works the other CB, and at 6'4", he's probably the tallest CB
in the league.� Walls uses his height
quite well and will probably get most of the chores covering Plex Burress.� Sammy Brandon starts at FS.�
The key matchup will be the Stiller O-line against
the Denver front 7.� I hate to sound neanderthal
by stating both key matchups will be in the trenches, but given what's
transpired thus far this season, I've got to go with that.� The Cleveland front 7, complete with
greenhorns at all 3 LB spots, isn't anywhere close to this Donco front 7.� If the O-line doesn't block worth a tinker's
dam on running plays, the Stillers will be placed in predictable passing downs,
and the Donco front 7 will pin their ears back and harass Maddox.� This could be very, very ugly.�
* Special Teams: �Jason Elam might be the best FG kicker in the league.� Unlike some teams, the Doncos don't
believe in lavishing a punter with a 7-figure contract, so Micah Knorr does the
punting chores.� O'Neal and Cole are the
primary returners.�
Key Individual Matchups:
* Rod Smith and Ed McAffrey or Ashley Lelie, vs. Chad Scott
and DeWayne Washington.�� For the safety
of all spectators, the Doncos really should have the Denver fire department on
hand down on the sidelines.� The
scorchings and burnings from this matchup could erupt into a blazing inferno.
* Center Tom Nalen against NT Casey Hampton.� One of the best centers vs. one of the best,
albeit few, NTs.�� This should be a real
treat to watch.�
* TE Shannon Sharpe vs. OLB Jason GilDong.� Sharpe is incredibly underrated as a
blocker, and will have an easy time bullying Jason around.� On pass plays, look for Jason to AVOID
jamming or chucking Sharpe at every opportunity.
* Mike Shanahan vs. Billy Cowher.� Shanahan long ago proved his superiority over Little Billy.� Shanahan must still laugh himself silly
every time he thinks about the January 1998 playoff game in Pittsburgh, when
his team was getting thrashed and whipped, and then Billy Ball allowed the
Doncos to come back and steal the win.�
* Synopsis: Billy Cowher has long allowed his
teams to play down to the level of a weak opponent, only to then play up
to the level of a much better opponent.�
Often enough, that would be reason enough to predict a Stiller win after
such horrible efforts the past 2 weeks.�
Problem is, this Donco team is a very solid, sound football team,
playing at home in altitude after a very irritating loss to the Chefs last
week.� The Stillers will play much
better than the slop and lethargy displayed the past 2 weeks, but will succumb
to the Doncos, 27-22.�
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