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Phillips becomes liability for 49ers
Posted: Tuesday October 26, 1999 04:45 PM
As if things weren't bad enough for the 49ers, running back Lawrence Phillips has become a liability. Phillips has just 144 yards rushing this season, and it was Phillips who missed a block that led to quarterback Steve Young's career-threatening concussion on Sept. 27. In the third quarter on Sunday, Phillips again failed to pick up the blitz, giving cornerback Jimmy Hitchcock a clear shot at quarterback Jeff Garcia who fumbled on the play. Running back platoons in vogueThis season coaches are platooning their running backs more than ever. Oakland, Baltimore and Carolina are just a few of the teams that are trying to complement a power running game with a quick, elusive scatback to keep defenses on their toes. Baltimore coach Brian Billick told me thatinjuries, like those of Terrell Davis and Jamal Anderson, prove that using one back exclusively takes a severe toll on players. Bengals ready to implodeThe Bengals locker room is once again ready to implode. After Sunday's loss to the Colts, right tackle Willie Anderson hinted some of the team's positions were not filled by NFL caliber players. And after gaining just seven yards on six carries, running back Corey Dillon said that the Bengals offense is so predictable the Colts were calling out their plays before the ball was even snapped. Panthers' goal-line offense lackingThe Panthers ran 12 plays inside the Lions' 5-yard line Sunday and came away with a negative 30 yards and two turnovers. In what may be the worst display of goal-line offense this decade, the Panthers ran four times for a negative six yards, threw five incomplete passes, gave up two sacks and threw one interception. Banks says he's the manThe Ravens have named quarterback Tony Banks their starter for Week 8 and that's the way it should be, according to Banks. "I have always felt from day one like I should be out there," Banks told me. "I have always felt like I am the guy here, so this has been a very humbling experience." At least this will give the former Rams QB something to do during practices. In the last few weeks, to keep from getting bored as backups, Banks and fellow demoted passer Scott Mitchell have been competing to see who could have the highest completion percentage in practice. Is Gannon becoming Favre-like?On Sunday, quarterback Rich Gannon led the Raiders on a stunning 90-yard drive to beat the Jets, despite the fact that on the last play of the game he broke a bone in his left wrist. If that toughness reminds you a bit of Green Bay's Brett Favre, it's not an accident. Oakland coach Jon Gruden told me that in training camp he had his quarterbacks study tapes of Favre's touchdown passes in 1998. Gruden wanted to show them how Favre makes a difference on every play no matter how many breakdowns occur. Sunday's win was the seventh straight game for Oakland decided by seven points or less, and the nail-biters seem to be taking their toll on owner Al Davis. "That sure was fun, wasn't it?" Gruden said to Davis after the game. "No Jon," said a stern Davis. "That game was not fun at all." Sports Illustrated staff writer David Fleming covers the NFL and appears regularly on CNN/Sports Illustrated .
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