Blitz Package - Week 2
September 14th, 2002

Lions @ Panthers
The Lions lost the time of posession battle last week to the Dolphins by a whopping nine minutes. That won't happen this week since the Panthers have significant offensive troubles. The game will be more even, and so the tackle totals probably will be very similar. Dan Morgan should have another big day, as long as James Stewart starts. Start Panther LB Morgan, DB Grant, Lion DL Porcher, LB Claiborne and DB Walker.

Bears @ Falcons
Michael Vick will find the going tougher this week against the tough Bears D. I don't expect the Falcons running game to get untracked since the Bears will be able to exploit the weak Falcon secondary and then grind it out with Thomas. Urlacher remains a no-brain start, as do Brooking and McBurroughs. John Holecek should post 6-9 tackles as well.

Buccaneers @ Ravens
An angry Buccaneers squad gets to meet a feisty but overmatched Ravens team. The Bucs will get ahead, and then run Pittman like a grindstone. The Bucs defense will probably get two interceptions, with Ronde Barber a likely recipient of one of them. Ray Lewis will have a harder time making plays this week with good blocking on him, but remains a good start as a second LB. Ed Hartwell and Peter Boulware also deserve starting since their should be plenty of tackles to go around.

Patriots @ Jets
Both linebacking teams are in for a busy night since both teams' running games will be on display. Expect both teams' LBs to get 8+ tackles, and for the DBs to get 6-8.

Bengals @ Browns
It's too bad that LB Rudd will be remembered more for throwing his helmet than for the respectable eight tackle performance he turned in until that point.The Browns will be looking to avenge their humiliating defeat at the hands of the Chiefs but will be trying to do so against a Bengal team trying to do the same thing. With the amount of running the Bengals should be expected to do, Earl Holmes should have a good game with 8-10 tackles. If he doesn't, he gets closer to bust territory. LB Rudd and DB Robert Griffith are also a good plays here and should be expected to get 6-8 tackles. Takeo Spikes is an automatic start, and might even get a sack. Brian Simmons is a good play as a #2 LB.

Titans @ Cowboys
With MLB Dat Nguyen out, the Cowboys are going to have to juggle their LB corps. Most likely that means Dexter Coakley moves inside to MLB and Keith Adams replaces him. Cowboy Quincy Carter will be under pressure from this team all day, and Carlos Hall proved last week he has the speed to track him down. But even if he does struggle, Kevin Carter will be there to take up the slack. Start LB Coakley, LB Hardy and DB Roy Williams. Carlos Hall and Kevin Carter are good starts if you have no other proven vets to start, as are DBs Lance Schulters and Tank Williams.

Texans @ Chargers
In hindsight, I guess we should have expected the Texans to be well prepared and amped up for their first game and to get the victory. But they are facing a much better Charger team, who will not be inclined to be overconfident. Tomlinson will get your Texan IDPs some nice tackle totals. For the Chargers start DL Johnson, LB Edwards and DB Vernon Fox (Replacing DB Harrison). For Houston, put in LBs Sharper, Foreman and Wong; and DB Brown. Charger LB Seau and DB Beckett make good sub ins, as do Texan DB Kevin Williams and DL Gary Walker.

Tom Nadratowski
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