I love the new generation of football video games, and the Madden series is currently my favorite. Year in and year out, this high quality product gets me through the spring and summer football-less doldrums. However, I think that this year at least, it is not the best football game out there. That honor goes to another EA product, 2004 NCAA football. The dynasty mode in that game totally blows away its counterpart in Madden. I had a lot more fun playing the coach and recruiting high school players, then playing the season, than I ever did in 2004 Madden. Even though I got sacked from my job as HC of the Illini after three years. Hey, at least I revived Ole Miss' program on the way to 3-peating as national champs. If you haven't yet, go rent it, try it out, and you'll see what I mean.

If what I say still isn't helpful to solve your dilemma between your #2 and #3 LB or #2 LB and #2 DB, I highly recommend that you go and read our Rushing and Passing matchups. When in doubt, start your LBs/SSs/DBs that are playing against RBs we say that have good or great matchups, and DBs that are playing against WRs that have good or great matchups. They will be on the field a long time, increasing your odds for high tackle/PD/INT numbers. Questions? Email [email protected].

Rookie watch

• DL Calvin Pace ARI
  Pace has just 7-2-0 for the year. However, if you have the room to get him and stash him on your roster, he's worth a look. The Cards are a bad team with their D on the field a lot, and there is a chance he could pay off if you hit on him. He's very talented, and if you need a long shot on a deep sleeper, he's worth a look.



• DL Dewayne Robertson NYJ
  He's another guy (like Pace) with a lot of talent that currently isn't performing. Another high risk/high upside player.



• MLB Nick Barnett, GB
  That's two great performances out of three for him, with two of those consecutive (12-2-0, 9-0-0). If you had any doubts, stop them now.



• SLB Pisa Tinoisamoa, SD
  He has settled down and seems to be staying at an average of 5 tackles per game. He's a #3-4 LB for now with those numbers.



• CB/DB Marcus Trufant SEA
  He's filling in for the oft-injured veteran Shawn Springs. And he's a CB. He's doing well now, and could conceivably keep Springs on the bench. However, he's a CB, and they have a strong tendency to be very streaky.



• SS/DB Mike Doss IND
  Doss posted 5-1-0 this week, and seems to be coming along. For now assume that that 7-9 tackles per week is his performance range. That makes him a #3-4 DB in my book. Use those stats with your system and get him accordingly.

TOP Watch

The Bears and Lions feature two of the more extreme imbalances in TOP this week. The clock favors Green Bay over Chicago by seven minutes, and Denver over Detroit by four.

Blitz Packages week 4

Teams on bye: Bucs, Dolphins, Giants, Seahawks

One note - whenever I mention that some team has a favorable sack matchup, that also means that their DBs have a significantly improved INT chance as well.

Top INT matches
The DBs for Denver, Carolina, Oakland and Chicago have the best interception chances this week since they face the QBs that have thrown the most of them.

• Browns IDPs
  With RB Dillon's groin tweaked, he could go out after a couple series. Brandon Bennett will not get your Brown IDPs the kind of tackles you hope for in that situation.



• Eagle IDPs
  The injury ravaged Eagle D should be easy pickins for Bledsoe, even if RB Henry sits. 5-9 takles and 2-4 pds are about right for the DBs, and 7-10 tackles for the LBs.



• Patriot DL/OLBs
  The Patriots have a great matchup this week against a porous Redskin OL. The skins have surrendered 13 sacks this season, worst in the league.

Defensive Lineman

• DL Calvin Pace ARI
  I already mentioned him in the long term in the rookie watch. But in the short term he has a great chance to blow up this week. The Cards are facing the Rams, and the Rams have over three sacks per game per week to this point. The Cards D lineman have one of the best sack potential matchups of their season this week.



• DT Gerard Warren/ DE Courtney Brown/WLB Ben Taylor CLE
  These three have favorable sack matches against a Cleveland line that is also allowing a lot of pressure on the QB.

Line Backers

• LB Suggs/LB Hartwell BAL
  Suggs is going to be counted on to provide the pass rush this week against the Chiefs. Ray Lewis should be a monster, but Suggs should be decent as well - 6-9 tackles and a sack. LBs that have faced Priest Holmes have gotten at least 6 tackles, and usually 6-8.



• LB Rodgers/LB Knight NO
  I feel that with their commitment to the run, no matter who the starting RB is, the Colts will be able to make these two Saint LBs solid starts this week - 7-9 tackles.

Defensive Backs

• CB Mike McKenzie/FS Darren Sharper/CB Al Harris GB
  One of them should get at least one pick this week against QB Kordell Stewart and the Bears. Otherwise, their tackle totals will probably be low.



• SS/DB Matt Stevens HOU
  Stevens should again post solid tackle totals this week against the Jaguars and Fred Taylor.- 6-8 tackles and 1-2 PDs.