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New York state of mind Grass field at Giants Stadium could give Rams problems
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 11: Cross: Coach, running back Marshall Faulk's injury is proving to be the biggest concern for St. Louis, even more than the loss of quarterback Kurt Warner. How will Faulk's absence affect the Rams' attack this week against the Giants? Meyer: Last week [against Carolina], I think the Rams should have used the rookie, Trung Canidate, more, but he has been hobbled by a sprained foot. He has great speed, and I don't think they really gave him the chance. I believe if [head coach] Mike Martz's feet were held to the fire that he'd use Canidate more. This week, at the Meadowlands, I think they'll have a bit of trouble on a grass field; it'll slow their offense down some. On defense, the Rams have to wake up and smell the coffee. I think we're seeing more stunting along the defensive front, which is [defensive assistant] Bud Carson's influence. Still, I think the Rams will be strong enough to beat the Giants, but St. Louis will have to stop the run. Cross: The Colts and the Jets enter Sunday's game with winning records for the first time since Super Bowl III. Both are one game behind Miami in the AFC East. What's the key for Indianapolis and New York? Meyer: Well, Miami certainly has been the surprise of the East this season. I believe that's a complement to [head coach] Dave Wannstedt and his staff. The Jets have to keep the ball away from the Colts' trio of Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James and Marvin Harrison. New York has to pound, pound, pound the ball with Curtis Martin. I think the Achilles' heel of the Colts is their defense. As for Indianapolis, they cannot fall behind like they did last week against Chicago. They cracked at the end of the first half, then gave up an interception return for a touchdown before the rally fell short. I look for the Colts -- playing at home -- to take the Jets out of the game early. Cross: On Monday night, Oakland plays at Denver, the latest game in arguably the AFC's best rivalry. Can the Raiders maintain their momentum and increase their lead in the West? Meyer: At Mile High Stadium, I think the Broncos will derail the Raiders express. Denver has one of the game's best young quarterbacks in Brian Griese, and with a healthy Terrell Davis and receivers Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey, they are working well on offense. I think the California lads will have their hands full; Denver is playing well. And ABC has been dialing up some great Monday night games -- and that's not because of Dennis Miller, either. Cross: Pittsburgh is giving up about 10 points per game, but their offense cannot take advantage. Against Philadelphia, will either team score enough to win? Meyer: The Steelers are playing to their defense. Pittsburgh is running a ball-control offense, primarily utilizing Jerome Bettis to pound the ball. I believe they will continue running the ball, not letting their quarterbacks ( Kordell Stewart or Kent Graham ) get into a situation to lose the game. Philadelphia, I don't think, will smell the end zone Sunday. Quarterback Donovan McNabb is struggling, and though he ran for 59 yards in the fourth quarter last week against Dallas, he won't do that this week. The Eagles are not explosive on offense; they struggled against a mediocre Dallas team. Pittsburgh will capitalize on that. I believe it will be a low-scoring, 10-3 game. Cross: Bobby Ross resigned this week as head coach of the Lions. Is burnout that big a factor in the NFL? Meyer: I really feel for Bobby; he's a good coach. I think he was thoroughly disgusted after losing to Miami last week, saw a lackluster performance from the Lions and saw the team going nowhere. But I don't think "burnout" is a plausible excuse. Yes, you're under pressure in the NFL, but real pressure is being unemployed and not being able to feed your family. Coaches create this image that they are under so much pressure. Well, so are doctors, bakers and candle makers, you just don't read about it on Monday mornings. Cross: What does the Lions' new head coach, Gary Moeller, face this week? Meyer: I think Gary will rally the troops, much like Dave McGinnis did in Arizona. It's a fresh start for the Lions. I believe he'll delete a few things from the offense, simplify the process so they do not beat themselves. The Lions play Atlanta at home with a good chance to win. The NFL is a seven-day life cycle; you lay the egg on Monday, the butterfly flies on Sunday. Ron Meyer, a former NFL head coach, is a pro football analyst with CNN/Sports Illustrated and appears weekly on CNN's NFL Preview.
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