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A needed boost Getting Warner back will help the Rams' offense
CNNSI.com's B. Duane Cross talked with former NFL head coach and current CNN NFL Preview analyst Ron Meyer about several issues and storylines as teams prepare for Week 14: Cross: Kurt Warner returns at quarterback for St. Louis on Sunday against Carolina. In his absence, the Rams' offense didn't put up the eye-popping numbers, though they were consistent under backup Trent Green. What effect will this have on St. Louis' mentality? Meyer: I believe it will be a mental lift for the Rams. But the reason they have been struggling is not the offense. They have been struggling on defense; opponents have been exploiting the Rams' Achilles' heel. Warner brings a quicker release and he can throw the ball into tighter spots, between two defenders. I think that relates back to his Arena League days Carolina, though, is one of the unknown "hot" teams right now. They whipped Green Bay on Monday night, and in Week 10 they beat St. Louis. One reason is wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad. He's as talented a receiver as you will find. And quarterback Steve Beuerlein is a classy guy. Wherever he's been, Steve has accepted his role, and it's good to see him enjoying the success. Cross: Speaking of great wide receivers, Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey have been overshadowed by the first-year success of running back Mike Anderson and Gus Frerotte subbing at quarterback for Brian Griese. Meyer: True, Smith and McCaffrey have gone unnoticed, but they are one of the great receiver tandems in the league. They certainly have produced the numbers. McCaffrey will take a licking and keep on ticking. He catches the ball in traffic, takes the shots. He's a big, mobile guy. And Smith, he's a rushing threat now [laughs] ... which I think gave the Broncos a spark last week when they needed it against Seattle. This week, Denver goes to New Orleans, where the Who Dat's will be out in force. The new kid on the block, Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks, is this year's Warner. Two weeks ago, people had never heard of this kid. Cross: Oakland and Pittsburgh renew their rivalry Sunday. As the NFL is looking to realign, is this the type game that should be tweaked into the schedule more often -- not necessarily a geographical rivalry, but a historic rivalry. Meyer: I think we should see that more. Dallas-Washington is a series that isn't drawn up on geographical lines, but they are in the same division. These games transcend geography. But I believe economics will play a bigger role in realignment. You'll have Baltimore playing Washington and Philadelphia, games where the teams can take a train to the city. It'll bring more of a collegiate atmosphere to the games, being in the same region. West Coast teams hate playing East Coast games, and vice versa, because of all the wear and tear on the body, but I do think these rivalries should be included into the realignment game formula. Cross: University of Miami head coach Butch Davis turned down the expansion Houston Texans this week. Is there anything new on the Texans' front? Meyer: Nothing more than what everyone else is talking about. I think Davis realized what a lot of former college coaches who have gone to the NFL realized: College coaching isn't the end of the world. You can trace a line: Ron Meyer, Rich Brooks, Dennis Erickson, Mike Riley, John Robinson, John McKay, all successful college coaches who got their hat handed to them in the NFL, for the most part. Then there are Joe Paterno, Darrell Royal, Bear Bryant, Woody Hayes, all coaches who chose to stay in the collegiate ranks and were successful. I think Davis has paid the price, getting the Hurricanes back on top after their NCAA sanctions, and he's enjoying life right now. And no matter what the BCS rankings say, Miami should be playing for the national championship. In college, you have to worry about three, four rivalry games a year. In the NFL, it's a war every Sunday. In college, success perpetuates success. In the NFL, success equals the last pick in the draft. Cross: Miami has a two-game lead in the AFC East heading into the final four weeks of the season. No one thought the Dolphins would be in this position. What's been the key to their success? Meyer: No question, this is a Dave Wannstedt team. He wants to keep the game close into the fourth quarter, force a turnover and try to win the game. It goes back to General Bob Neyland at the University of Tennessee in the 1940s. I don't think Miami is a "sleeper" pick, though. It is a very good football team. As the playoffs approach, it's going to pay dividends to have two quarterbacks, Jay Fiedler and Damon Huard, who have game experience this season. Huard didn't do anything spectacular last week against Indianapolis, but he didn't hurt the Dolphins, kept the game close and won it at the end. That said, going to Buffalo this week -- watch out. This will be the test. It'll be a hostile environment and the weather could be a factor. Cross: Philadelphia is another team that was flying below radar for most of the season, but head coach Andy Reid has the Eagles atop the NFC East. Meyer: It all starts with Philadelphia's defensive secondary. The Eagles have two very solid cornerbacks, Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor, and their safety, Brian Dawkins, is excellent. Throw in defensive end Hugh Douglas and that's a pretty stiff defense. Historically, the Eagles have played good, tough defense. They will knock the crap out of you. I think they get it from their fans, that nasty attitude. Then you add quarterback Donovan McNabb, who can beat you all kinds of ways. If you blink, he's out of the pocket, running for a first down. He is playing very well right now. Reid has done an excellent job with this team. They are not half-stepping, trying to protect McNabb. Sunday against Tennessee, it will be a good game, a physical game. The trainer's room will be full after this one. Cross: You're on record saying Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher is your defensive rookie of the year. Anyone on offense you'd like to hang your hat on? Meyer: Jamal Lewis. He was the best running back coming out of the draft, and he's a real load. He fits into Baltimore's scheme very well. And even more than Urlacher, Lewis is surrounded by a great supporting cast. 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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