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A good lineman is hard to find
Updated: Tuesday August 14, 2001 11:23 PM
Injuries to running backs -- like Baltimore's Jamal Lewis -- make headlines. But at least there are options in searching for replacements. The Ravens brought in veteran Terry Allen to replace Lewis, and if he fails other experienced ball carriers will follow. The Packers and Dolphins had little trouble finding 1,000-yard backs last year in Ahman Green and Lamar Smith, and the Broncos have 1,000-yard backs Olandis Gary and Mike Anderson potentially for sale. But when teams lose a starter on the defensive line, there aren't as many viable backup plans. When the Redskins lost both their defensive ends, Bruce Smith and Marco Coleman, to injuries the other day, the backups became instant starters. Derrick Ham was only active for one game last year and Michael Bankston is a journeyman. So the team quickly signed Dorian Boose, who only had 17 tackles in his 34 games with the Jets. That's quite a dropoff from two players who combined for 22 sacks last year.
The Packers picked up former Bears starter Jim Flanigan for insurance and depth. They've already cashed in with this move: starters Santana Dotson and Russell Maryland didn't even suit up for the game with the Browns last Saturday. Meanwhile, Chicago's two new defensive tackles, Keith Traylor and Ted Washington, are all beat up. Why the Bears got rid of Flanigan is beyond me -- he probably would have played 50 percent of Chicago's snaps this season. Right now backup Mike Wells is as valuable as any player on the Bears roster right now. The Lions grabbed Alonzo Spellman off the unemployment line when tackle Luther Ellis went down with an elbow injury. But given Spellman's personal history, he's not exactly the kind of guy you want to build your defense around. But at least he had five sacks last season with the Cowboys and won't get blown off the line of scrimmage. At this point beggars can't be choosers. In fact, as I look at the evaporating supply of available defensive line talent, I'm starting to think that tackle Cortez Kennedy and retired end Mike Mamula are looking pretty good right now to a lot of needy teams. Pat Kirwan who spent 12 years as a pro football coach, scout and personnel administrator is an NFL analyst for CNN/Sports Illustrated and a regular contributor to CNNSI.com.
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