In The Trenches: Second Quarter Review - AFC
November 9th, 2002
The first 9 weeks of the season have flown by, and that means it's time to take another look at the performance of the NFC's many offensive and defensive fronts. Which teams are improving, which are regressing at the half-way point of the season? Who's suffering a rash of injuries, and who's avoiding that pitfall? After the review is said and done, I'll run down the most improved and the most degraded offensive lines and defensive fronts in the NFC during the second quarter of the season.
Dallas Cowboys
Not much has changed for the Cowboy's offensive line and running backs in the second quarter of the season - except, of course, for the starting quarterback! - and they continue to be mired in mediocrity. Over the first half, they have averaged 113.4 yards per game (a gain of only 2 yards per game over their first quarter average), ranking 16th in the NFL. They are also 16th ranked in yards per carry, at 4.2 per attempt, down .1 from their � mark. One area in which the 'Boys O-line has really tailed off is in pass protection - they have allowed 16 more sacks over the second quarter of the season, for a total of 27, which ranks 30th in the NFL. Larry Allen continues to struggle with his bad ankle, and Marques McFadden is on IR for the offensive unit.
The defensive front just keeps on keeping on, holding the line firm at 105 yards allowed per game (no change from the first quarter), 12th in the NFL. They allow only 3.6 yards per carry, (a drop of .3 from the early going), which is 2nd in the NFL so far. Sacks really tailed off in the second quarter of the season, the 'Boys only added 3 to their total (18) and now rank 19th in the league.
New York Giants
The Giants' rushing attack has come alive in the second quarter of the season. The boys in blue added 18 yards to their per game average (moving from 82.2 to 100.5 per game) in the second quarter, good for 21st in the league. They improved their yards per carry average from a league-worst 2.9 to a more respectable 3.6 yards per carry (.7 yards per carry improvement in the average), which ranks 25th in the NFL. Also, the line kept defenders off of Kerry Collins, allowing only 7 more sacks for a total of 18 (13th in the NFL). Offensive linemen Jeff Hatch (back) and Sean Guthrie (knee) are out for the season.
Their defensive front went in the opposite direction in the second half, now averaging 116 yards allowed per game (+28 yards per game to the season average), which ranks 19th in the league. Their yards allowed per carry jumped a whole yard per tote, to 4.6, 24th in the NFL. Their anemic sack total continued to be weak, increasing by only 6 to 12 on the season, 28th in the league. Defensive tackle Keith Hamilton is gone for the season with a ruptured Achilles, a huge loss on the defensive front.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagle's offensive line and backs continued their stellar play in the second quarter of the season. Philly ranks 2nd in the league with 159 yards per game rushing (a gain of 19 yards on the average), and is 1st averaging 5.2 yards per carry. The line also improved their pass protection, allowing only 6 more sacks after starting poorly (19 in the first quarter) - the total of 25 ranks 29th in the NFL.
The defensive front, in spite of numerous nagging injuries, remains stout. They rank 3rd allowing only 87 yards per game (no change from the first quarter of the season), 4th allowing 3.7 yards per carry (+.1 in the second quarter) and are 3rd in the league with 26 sacks (+10). The Eagles are one of the premier units over the first half of the season, in spite of losing lineman Derrick Burgess to a broken foot bone for an extended period of time.
Washington Redskins
The 'Skins line continues to play credibly, blocking well for Stephen Davis and Kenny Watson. The team averages 116.9 yards per game (+10 gain from first quarter), 15th in the NFL. Their 4.4 yards per rush average held steady (12th in the NFL). One problem area is the pass blocking, the 'Skins allowed 15 more sacks in the second quarter, to total 24 (28th in the league).
The Washington defensive front really improved in the second quarter of the season, moving from 27th in the league to 16th in yards allowed per game (113 - a drop of 24 yards per game in the average). They lowered their yards per carry average to 4.4, a drop of almost a whole yard (.9), to rank 21st in the NFL, and added 10 more sacks to total 19 (14th in the league).
Chicago Bears
Chicago's offensive unit actually got worse in the second quarter, quite a feat considering how poor it was to begin with. They are 32nd of 32 teams averaging 3.1 yards per carry (-.1), 31st in yards per game (76.9; - 5 yards change on the average) and are 13th in the league allowing 18 sacks (+12 over the second quarter). That's what I call pathetic.
The defensive front remained mediocre-to-poor, depending on the game, despite getting Philip Daniels back into the lineup. They allow 127 yards per game (+15 yards to the average during the second quarter), ranking 24th in the league and are 7th in yards per carry at 3.9 (-.1 over the second quarter). The defense also slowed in terms of sacks generated, adding only 5 to total 16 (25th in the NFL). Ted Washington remains sidelined indefinitely for the unit.
Detroit Lions
The Lions don't stink anymore - they've become mediocre over the second quarter of the season! The improvements were modest but noticeable - the Lions added 9 yards per game to their average (now 85.5 per, 29th in the NFL), and .2 yards per carry during the second quarter (to 3.5 yards per carry, 28th in the league). They allowed only 4 more sacks, to total 14 on the season, 5th in the NFL.
The defensive front also got better, dropping their yards allowed per game to 101 (9th in the NFL) from 116; dropped .3 yards per carry on average (to 3.6 - 2nd in the NFL), and added 13 sacks in the second quarter - a very hefty jump in production - to total 17 (22nd in the NFL). Linebacker Brian Williams is out for the season with a broken leg.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers are playing steady, solid football on offense. They rank as the 13th attack in the NFL with 121.8 yards per game (a slight drop of 3 yards to the average over the second half), gain 4.3 yards per carry on average (a slight decline of .1 yards per carry). They have protected Favre well in the second quarter of the season, allowing 5more sacks for a total of 16 (11th in the NFL). Offensive tackle Mark Tauscher is out for the season with a knee injury.
The defensive line remains in the cellar of the NFL - Vonnie Holliday is out for 2-5 weeks with a knee injury, Joe Johnson is out with a ruptured triceps. The injuries have hampered the Pack - they are 25th in the league allowing 127 yards per game (+6 to the average in the second quarter), 27th in the league allowing 4.7 yards per carry (no change). One area of strength remains sack production - the Packers added 13 more sacks to total 26 for the first half, 3rd in the NFL.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings continue to field a powerful rushing attack. The team ranks 6th in the league at 144.1 yards per game (6th in the NFL), a decrease of 11 yards from first quarter. They are 3rd in the league averaging 4.9 yards per carry (a negligible .1 decrease over the quarter). In addition, the Vikes allowed only 5 more sacks in the second quarter, to total 19 on the season (21st ranked).
The defense really surged in the second quarter, shedding 13 yards per game from it's yards allowed average (to 94 per game, an improvement of 13 yards, now ranking 6th in the league). Their 3.9 yards per carry average is 7th in the league (.3 improvement), and the D added 9 sacks in the second quarter to total 16 (25th in the NFL). All this despite the loss of linebacker Raonall Smith, defensive tackles Talance Sawyer and Winfield Garnett and defensive end Willie Howard for the season.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons took a good thing and made it better in the second quarter of the season. The team averages 144.4 yards per game now (and improvement of 16 yards per game to the average), and a robust 4.6 yards per carry (.2 gain, ranks 9th in the NFL). The team has allowed a lot of sacks, 9 more in the second quarter to total 22, 26th in the NFL. Guard Roberto Garza is out for a long time with his broken left foot.
The defensive front slipped quite a bit in the second quarter, and now allows 123 yards per game (21st in the NFL, +9 to the average in the second quarter). Their yards per carry average leaped to 4.7 (+ .7 yards per attempt), 27th in the NFL. One thing the Falcons are doing better is generating sacks - they have 13 more over the second quarter, for 20 (8th in the NFL). Defensive tackles Shane Dronett (shoulder) and Jerry Togiai (shoulder) and linebackers Will Overstreet (shoulder) and Fred Perry (neck) have landed on IR so far this season.
Carolina Panthers
Carolina surprised everyone with a strong start out of the gate, but has faded in the second quarter. Their offensive unit ranks as the 17th rushing attack in the NFL, at 112.6 yards per game on average (17th), down 4 yards per game on average from first quarter. They are 23rd at 3.7 yards per carry (no change) and have allowed 7 more sacks in the second quarter to total 18 allowed (16th in the NFL).
The defensive front tailed off in the second quarter, the yards per game average increased to 101 per game (+18), which ranks 11th in the NFL, and they are 14th in yards per carry at 4.0 (+ .2). The Panthers still lead the league in sacks, with 31 (+13). DE Fernando Smith is on IR for the unit with a neck injury, DT Sean Gilbert is out for the season with a broken hip, and Brentson Buckner won't play in November due to a violation of the league's steroid abuse policy.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints took a good thing and made it better in the second quarter of the season on offense. The team averages 128.1 yards rushing per game (+15 yards to the average), ranking 10th in the NFL. They gain 4.8 yards per rush, 4th in the league (almost � a yard gain in the average, + .4). The team allowed only 5 more sacks in the second quarter, for a total of 14 (5th in the NFL).
The defensive front slipped big-time, adding 20 yards per game to the yards allowed average (119 per, 20th in the league), and over � a yard per carry to that average (to 4.6, a gain of .7 yards allowed per carry, 24th in the NFL). The team is 14th in the league with 19 sacks, (+10 in the second quarter). Linebackers Travis Carroll and Curtis Holden are out for the rest of 2002.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa's offensive line and backs improved in the second quarter, to attain mediocrity in the rushing phase of the game. They are the 24th ranked attack at 95 yards per game (+17 to the average), 25th in yards per carry at 3.6 (+ .4) and 24th in sacks allowed, with 21 this season (12 more in the second quarter).
The defensive front continued it's tough play, but slid from it's ultra-dominant start to be merely excellent in the second half - the D ranks 10th in the NFL allowing 101 yards per game (+20 over the quarter), 7th at 3.9 yards per rush (+ .7 over the quarter), and 2nd with 27 sacks (+10). Linebacker Ryan Nece (torn left ACL) and defensive end Marcus Jones are on IR for this unit.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have a consistently good rushing attack in 2002. They are the 12th ranked unit averaging 122 yards per game (no change over the quarter), and 4.3 yards per carry puts them at 14th in the league (no change in the average). They allowed only 7more sacks for a total of 15 this year, 9th in the NFL.
The defensive front plummeted in the second quarter, adding 21 yards per game to their yards allowed average (to 112, 15th in the NFL), and .5 yards per carry to their yards per carry allowed average (to 3.8, 5th in the NFL). The team managed an anemic 5 additional sacks, to total 12 this year (28th in the league). DE's Alton Moore and Andy Bowers are on IR for the defensive front.
St. Louis Rams
The Rams went from zeroes to fantasy heroes in the second quarter of the season, and their statistics show just how dramatic the turnaround has been. The team averages 42 rushing yards per game more now than they did at the end of the first quarter (to 120.3, 14th in the NFL), and .6 yards per carry more (to 4.7, 7th in the NFL). They have allowed only 6 more sacks, to total 17 (13th in the NFL). Offensive tackle Grant Williams is now on IR for the line, as is guard Travis Scott.
The defense also improved dramatically, shaving 20 yards per game from their yards allowed average (to 94 per game, 5th in the NFL), and dropped .3 yards per carry (to 4.0, 13th in the league). They added 10 sacks to their season total, to 20 (8th in the league).
San Francisco 49'ers
The Niners offensive team continued its fine season in the second quarter, ranking 4th in the league with 147 yards per game on average this season (-7 over the quarter), 4th in the league with a 4.8 yards per carry average (-.6) and allowing only 3 more sacks to rank 1st in the NFL with 8 allowed in 2002. This despite the loss of guard Dave Fiore for the season to a knee injury.
The defense slid a lot, though. They increased their average yards per game allowed by 18 over the second quarter (to 115 per game, 18th in the NFL), added over � a yard per carry (to 4.6, 24th in the league) and generated only 8 more sacks (to 19, 14th in the NFL). Linebacker Jamie Winborn's absence contributes to the drop, and Frank Strong is done for the season with a shoulder injury.
Seattle Seahawks
Seattle is fighting Chicago for the coveted "worst rushing attack in the NFL" moniker. They are 30th in the league with an 84.6 yards per game average (+4 improvement over the second quarter), 31st averaging 3.4 yards per carry (no change) and have allowed 9 more sacks in the recent going (to 15, 9th in the NFL). Offensive tackle Chris McIntosh is out for the season with a neck injury.
Seattle already owns the coveted "worst rushing defense in the NFL" tag. They allow 173 yards per game (worst in the NFL), 5.1 yards per carry (worst in the NFL) and have only 17 sacks (7 more in the second quarter), 22nd in the NFL. You won't see them listed as a big loser below - they were already this wretched in the first quarter of the season, too.
Gainers and Losers
Three teams stand out as most improved with their offensive line play and rushing attack - St. Louis, New Orleans, and the New York Giants. Only 2 big "loser" teams in this phase over the second quarter - the Bears and the Seahawks (Seattle isn't a big loser in the sense that they got worse -they're just losers in the way that they failed to do any better - MW). On the other side of the ball, St. Louis, Minnesota and Washington all made big gains on defense, and four teams slid in a big way - San Francisco, Arizona, New Orleans and the New York Giants.
-- See y'all again at the � mark! MW.
Mark Wimer
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