Unsung Heroes

Titans' Heimerdinger, 49ers' Mora brought 'A' game

Every Tuesday during the NFL season, CNNSI.com's Pat Kirwan will recognize the players and coaches who don't see much of the spotlight but get the job done. At the end of the season Pat will present his Unsung Coach of the Year award in the memory of former NFL player and coach Chip Myers. In January 1999, after having served as an NFL assistant for 15 years, Myers was named Vikings offensive coordinator. Just a month later Myers suffered a fatal heart attack.

Two coordinators -- one on offense, one on defense -- head the list of men behind the scenes who made a big impact on the excellent performance of their teams this week. Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger got his unit to score 31 points on the road in Cleveland. That's no easy task, given an improved Browns defense that had only given up 150 points in its previous 10 games. Steve McNair passed for 244 yards and three touchdowns, didn't throw an interception and wasn't sacked. The most outstanding stat about Tennessee's offense was its 14.3 yards per pass average on the day.

Meanwhile, the 49ers' defense -- headed by coordinator Jim Mora -- shut out the Bills Sunday night. Shutouts are very difficult to come by in the NFL, and when you consider all the young players that San Francisco plays on defense, it is an even more impressive feat.

As for players who stepped up this past weekend, I must start with Baltimore backup defensive end Adalius Thomas. As usual, the Ravens' defense carried the team against the Colts. With all-pro Michael McCrary out with an injury, Thomas came through with five tackles, two assists, and 1 1/2 sacks. A 2000 sixth-round pick out of Southern Mississippi, Thomas saw limited action last season, recording no tackles or sacks. On Sunday, he looked like a guy who could be a big player in the Ravens' long-term defensive plans.

Staying on the defensive side of the ball, the Cowboys beat the Redskins in Washington and got another excellent effort from rookie linebacker Markus Steele, a fourth-round selection this spring out of USC. Steele was credited for four tackles, but when I watched tape of this game, I saw his hustle and athletic ability. In the past few weeks he has played more like a first-round pick than a fourth.

As this season moves on, it looks as if one of the best undrafted free agent rookie signings last spring was the Cardinals' pickup of defensive tackle Fred Wakefield. At 6-foot-7, 290 pounds, I can't even begin to wonder why no one took a chance on a defensive lineman with his of size. Against the Raiders, Wakefield was in on six tackles -- he hit Rich Gannon so hard one time I didn't think the quarterback would get up. There have to be a number of college scouts kicking themselves for passing on this big guy from Illinois.

The Cardinals are probably the least-known team around the country and, for that reason, Kwame Lassiter is not a household name. But the defensive back racked up eight tackles and his eighth interception of the year Sunday. He has ideal size (6-1, 200) and can play at either safety or corner. Lassiter is in the middle of a career season and is a big reason Arizona has won three consecutive.

The Ravens have struggled on offense since they lost their top running back, Jamal Lewis. They were getting some mileage out of Jason Brookins and Terry Allen, but they too got hurt. Enter Moe Williams, who in the five previous seasons had rushed for a combined 195 yards in 69 attempts and had caught just 10 passes. Against the Colts, Williams had a career day with 111 yards on 24 carries, plus he had three receptions for another 27 yards. If he keeps that up for the next month, he will triple his career totals in every category.

Pat Kirwan, who spent 12 years as a pro football coach, scout and personnel administrator, is an NFL analyst for CNN/Sports Illustrated. Unsung Heroes appears every Tuesday at CNNSI.com.

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