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Baltimore can get the road win Ravens' quest for a sixth victory hinges on play of Banks
CNNSI.com's B. Duane Cross talked with former NFL head coach and current NFL Preview analyst Ron Meyer about several issues and storylines as teams prepare for Week 7: Duane Cross: Baltimore plays at Washington and features a Redskins team that has seemingly gotten righted -- in the win column -- but faces a stiff challenge against the stingy Ravens defense. Ron Meyer: The Ravens have really caught my eye. Their defense might be the best in the league. And Brian Billick has done a great job. The game will depend on how well quarterback Tony Banks fares against the Washington defense. He simply cannot turn the ball over with fumbles, which he has a tendency to do. If Baltimore can keep Bruce Smith and Marco Coleman -- who is having a career year so far -- off Banks, I think the Ravens can win. Again, it all falls on Banks. He has to play a solid game. Cross: Oakland-Kansas City is an age-old rivalry with first place in the AFC West on the line. The Chiefs got off to a shaky start but turned things around, while Raiders have been up and down. Meyer: For the Raiders, going into Arrowhead Stadium has traditionally been a nightmare. The Chiefs just seem to have their number. I really think quarterback Elvis Grbac has come into his own for the Chiefs, and wide receiver Sylvester Morris is playing like the rookie of the year. Oakland was exposed by San Francisco last week, and I believe Kansas City's ability to keep it balanced with running and passing will be problems for the Raiders. For Kansas City, they have to contain Rich Gannon, not let him beat them with his feet. Cross: Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski has been a big disappointment. Is he a bust at this point, or merely typical rookie who has a bright spotlight magnifying every mistake? Meyer: I liked the pick, I won't go back on that. Unfortunately, he has not delivered. Kicking a football is a pretty simple procedure; it's not trying to teach on offensive tackle. A lot of rookie kickers do well, but Janikowski has been a bust and it has to affect him mentally. Cross: After some early season success, NFL running backs seem to be coming back to the pack. Is this a case of defenses getting their feet underneath them? Meyer: As we approach the midpoint of the season, anything over 100 yards is a good day for a running back. I think teams have a better handle on the opponent, through scouting and film. Teams get a better feel for the opponent's tendencies and strong suits, then lock in on them in order to stop their offense. And running back is the one position where they are left unprotected, meaning they get nicked up after pounding the ball down after down. The physical pounding takes its toll, and the [rushing yards] drop. Cross: There are a few quarterback controversies brewing around the league. Is the position's talent diluted, or is the league in a period of flux while the youngsters mature? Meyer: Personally, I think the talent is diluted. Quarterback is the one position where it is difficult to find the Peyton Manning, and when you do, hold on for dear life. I do believe the class of '99 quarterbacks -- Daunte Culpepper, Donovan McNabb especially -- will come around. They are gifted athletes who can make plays on their own by running with the ball, much like Gannon. It's not the class of '83, but I think given time they will eventually produce and be good quarterbacks. Cross: San Diego head coach Mike Riley will rotate QBs this week. How hard is to get into a rhythm on offense with two quarterbacks? Meyer: I did it in an all-star game once, because it was a way to get both guys into the game, plus it was how I shuttled in plays. But in the NFL, it just isn't a way of life. You need an established on-field leader, especially on offense. And that's generally the quarterback; the game is geared around that. Without a true No. 1 quarterback, the team is like the Headless Horseman, but this also goes back to a diluted talent pool. Cross: The trading deadline passed Tuesday without anyone noticing. Would the league be better served bumping the date back a few weeks? Meyer: The biggest thing with trading is the salary cap. The date is not that big a deal with the NFL front-office people. Trading has become kind of a dinosaur. The salary-cap hits that teams would have to take are the overriding factor. It makes it virtually impossible to move a player. I think that is the one thing the league has to address -- the salary cap implications -- in dealing with trades. They have to make it more advantageous for teams to make a deal, instead of tying their hands. Cross: St. Louis' Trent Green is a player a few teams have been linked with. Any chance the Rams let him get out of town? Meyer: Again, this is a guy with a big salary-cap number. The Rams, like the Redskins, are in a tremendous position with their backup quarterbacks. You have to keep in mind, one play can make the difference, as Green knows. If Kurt Warner gets hurt, the Rams are in the ideal situation with Green as the backup. Ron Meyer, a former NFL head coach, is a pro football analyst with CNN/Sports Illustrated and appears weekly on CNN's NFL Preview. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.
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