John McClain has been covering the NFL for the Chronicle for 27 years and can be heard on sports talk shows in Houston, Nashville and St. Louis. Hope you guys dont mind.
Williams vs. James just one subplot in Dolphins-Colts
By JOHN MCCLAIN
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle
The most attractive game of the weekend takes place at Miami's Pro Player Stadium, where the Dolphins host the Colts in a confrontation of former AFC East rivals with a combined record of 11-3.
Split up last season because of realignment, the Colts are 6-1 and one-half game ahead of the Titans in the AFC South, and the Dolphins are 5-2 and one game behind the Patriots in the AFC East.
Several factors contribute to make this game even more interesting. This is the only game Sunday that features two teams with winning records, which is indicative of the NFL having so many mediocre teams.
The starting running backs are Edgerrin James and Ricky Williams, former high No. 1 picks in 1999 whose careers will always be entwined because of the draft-day drama involving them. And, perhaps the most intriguing story line is that the starting quarterbacks are the sons of former NFL quarterbacks Archie Manning and Bob Griese.
Before we analyze Manning-Griese, let's look back to the 1999 draft when just about every draftnik predicted Indianapolis would use the fourth pick in the first round on Williams, the Heisman Trophy winner from Texas.
But Colts general manager Bill Polian crossed up everyone by taking James, the underclassman from Miami.
Then New Orleans coach Mike Ditka traded his entire draft -- six picks in 1999 as well as two in 2000 -- to Washington to move up to the fifth spot to take Williams.
"We were always compared," James said this week. "Things are happening real nice for him right now. There was a time when he was on the down side and things weren't happening. He had the injuries. But he's bounced back. He's got a nice situation, and he's doing his thing.
"As far as comparing me and him, it's two totally different situations. We're going to do what we do. They're going to do what they do. You really can't compare it. But if you want to `big up' the ratings and everything, that's one thing that's been done in the past."
And with good reason, too.
In their first two seasons, James was much more productive than Williams. James led the NFL in rushing with 1,553 yards as a rookie and 1,709 in 2000. He scored 35 touchdowns (nine on receptions). James helped the Colts compile a 23-9 regular-season record in his first two seasons, and they made the playoffs both times.
Williams was bothered by nagging injuries in his first two seasons. He was dogged by off-the-field controversy in which he acted like a nincompoop too often and was portrayed as troubled and ornery.
Williams played in only 22 games, rushing for 884 yards as a rookie and reaching 1,000 as a sophomore before going down with an injury. Ditka was fired and Jim Haslett was hired, and the Saints began mapping plans to trade their controversial running back.
In 2000, Haslett's first season, Williams helped the Saints make the playoffs, even though he missed the last six games.
In 2001, their careers went in different directions. James blew out his knee in the sixth game and was lost for the season. Williams was healthy for the first time and responded with 1,245 yards rushing and 60 catches in his last season in New Orleans.
After the 2001 season, the Saints traded Williams to the Dolphins for a No. 1 pick and a conditional draft choice that turned out to be another first-round selection because of Williams' exceptional performance. In 2002, Williams eclipsed James' best season by leading the league with 1,853 yards rushing, catching 47 passes and scoring 17 touchdowns that equaled his first three seasons combined.
Williams became a breakaway runner with the Dolphins. He lost weight and got quicker and stronger and averaged a career-best 4.8 yards per carry.
As dominant as Williams was last season, he still couldn't carry Miami to the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Colts returned to the playoffs in Tony Dungy's first season as their coach. James returned from knee surgery but wasn't the same runner. He finished with 989 yards rushing, 61 catches and three touchdowns.
James has been bothered by a back injury that cost him three games this season. He returned against the Texans on Sunday and produced 104 yards. In four games, he has 367 yards rushing and one touchdown.
Williams has started every game for Miami, generating 624 yards and scoring five touchdowns. Because of Miami's problems at quarterback, defenses have put eight players around the line of scrimmage on running downs to contain Williams.
Now that Brian Griese has replaced the injured Jay Fiedler -- expect Griese to remain in the lineup as long as he's healthy and effective -- an efficient passing game should take pressure off Williams and provide room to run.
South Florida fans and media are particularly excited about Sunday's game because Griese will be starting his first game in Miami, where his father helped the Dolphins win two Super Bowls that led to him being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Brian Griese replaced Fiedler in Monday's 26-10 victory over San Diego. He completed 20 of 29 attempts, including three touchdown passes.
Dan Marino, the greatest Dolphins quarterback, endorsed Griese over Fiedler on this week's edition of HBO's Inside the NFL. Although he never won a Super Bowl, Marino's opinion carries a lot of weight in South Florida.
"They know what they have with Jay," Marino said. "I think Griese gives them a little bit of a spark in the passing game which they have lacked. Jay Fiedler is a little bit more mobile. He gets out of the pocket and makes some plays here and there, but they don't make those key throws to end the games when you need to win. Griese can make that and give them a little bit more of a spark."
Fiedler's knee injury provided Griese with the starting opportunity. Many wonder why the Dolphins expect him to be successful under offensive coordinator Norv Turner after he failed with Denver coach Mike Shanahan and offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, two of the league's best offensive coaches.
Griese's former teammate with the Broncos, tight end Shannon Sharpe, thinks he knows why.
"In the West Coast offense (which Denver uses), you have to be able to make plays with your feet," Sharpe said. "If you can't get outside the pocket or make plays and scare defenses with your feet, you're not going to be successful in this offense."
Griese is a pocket passer who needs good protection because he doesn't throw well on the run.
"That system is for him," Sharpe said. "In boxing, they say that styles make fights. In the NFL, systems make players."
Perhaps Miami's system will do for Griese what it did for Williams -- help turn him into a premier player, the kind the Dolphins used to have when their Holy Grail was the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
John McClain covers the NFL for the Chronicle. His column appears Fridays.
McClain's picks
America's Line McClain's pick
Carolina (6-1) minus-6 1/2 at Houston (2-5) Panthers 23-20
Washington (3-4) plus-4 at Dallas (5-2) Cowboys 24-23
NY Giants (3-4) minus-2 1/2 at NY Jets (2-5) Giants 20-13
Jacksonville (1-6) plus-7 at Baltimore (4-3) Ravens 19-16
Oakland (2-5) minus-3 at Detroit (1-6) Raiders 24-17
San Diego (1-6) plus-2 1/2 at Chicago (2-5) Bears 20-19
Indianapolis (6-1) plus-3 at Miami (5-2) Dolphins 24-23
New Orleans (3-5) plus-8 1/2 at Tampa Bay (4-3) Bucs 23-20
Cincinnati (3-4) minus-3 at Arizona (2-5) Bengals 19-17
Pittsburgh (2-5) plus-4 1/2 at Seattle (5-2) Seahawks 23-17
Philadelphia (4-3) minus-4 1/2 at Atlanta (1-6) Eagles 27-13
St. Louis (5-2) minus-3 at San Francisco (3-5) Rams 21-20
Green Bay (3-4) plus-4 1/2 at Minnesota (6-1) Vikings 24-17
New England (6-2) plus-2 at Denver (5-3) Broncos 21-20
Open: Buffalo, Kansas City, Tennessee, Cleveland
·Last week: 9-5 straight up, 7-6-1 against spread.
·Season: 73-43 straight up, 59-52-5 against spread.
Williams vs. James just one subplot in Dolphins-Colts
By JOHN MCCLAIN
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle
The most attractive game of the weekend takes place at Miami's Pro Player Stadium, where the Dolphins host the Colts in a confrontation of former AFC East rivals with a combined record of 11-3.
Split up last season because of realignment, the Colts are 6-1 and one-half game ahead of the Titans in the AFC South, and the Dolphins are 5-2 and one game behind the Patriots in the AFC East.
Several factors contribute to make this game even more interesting. This is the only game Sunday that features two teams with winning records, which is indicative of the NFL having so many mediocre teams.
The starting running backs are Edgerrin James and Ricky Williams, former high No. 1 picks in 1999 whose careers will always be entwined because of the draft-day drama involving them. And, perhaps the most intriguing story line is that the starting quarterbacks are the sons of former NFL quarterbacks Archie Manning and Bob Griese.
Before we analyze Manning-Griese, let's look back to the 1999 draft when just about every draftnik predicted Indianapolis would use the fourth pick in the first round on Williams, the Heisman Trophy winner from Texas.
But Colts general manager Bill Polian crossed up everyone by taking James, the underclassman from Miami.
Then New Orleans coach Mike Ditka traded his entire draft -- six picks in 1999 as well as two in 2000 -- to Washington to move up to the fifth spot to take Williams.
"We were always compared," James said this week. "Things are happening real nice for him right now. There was a time when he was on the down side and things weren't happening. He had the injuries. But he's bounced back. He's got a nice situation, and he's doing his thing.
"As far as comparing me and him, it's two totally different situations. We're going to do what we do. They're going to do what they do. You really can't compare it. But if you want to `big up' the ratings and everything, that's one thing that's been done in the past."
And with good reason, too.
In their first two seasons, James was much more productive than Williams. James led the NFL in rushing with 1,553 yards as a rookie and 1,709 in 2000. He scored 35 touchdowns (nine on receptions). James helped the Colts compile a 23-9 regular-season record in his first two seasons, and they made the playoffs both times.
Williams was bothered by nagging injuries in his first two seasons. He was dogged by off-the-field controversy in which he acted like a nincompoop too often and was portrayed as troubled and ornery.
Williams played in only 22 games, rushing for 884 yards as a rookie and reaching 1,000 as a sophomore before going down with an injury. Ditka was fired and Jim Haslett was hired, and the Saints began mapping plans to trade their controversial running back.
In 2000, Haslett's first season, Williams helped the Saints make the playoffs, even though he missed the last six games.
In 2001, their careers went in different directions. James blew out his knee in the sixth game and was lost for the season. Williams was healthy for the first time and responded with 1,245 yards rushing and 60 catches in his last season in New Orleans.
After the 2001 season, the Saints traded Williams to the Dolphins for a No. 1 pick and a conditional draft choice that turned out to be another first-round selection because of Williams' exceptional performance. In 2002, Williams eclipsed James' best season by leading the league with 1,853 yards rushing, catching 47 passes and scoring 17 touchdowns that equaled his first three seasons combined.
Williams became a breakaway runner with the Dolphins. He lost weight and got quicker and stronger and averaged a career-best 4.8 yards per carry.
As dominant as Williams was last season, he still couldn't carry Miami to the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Colts returned to the playoffs in Tony Dungy's first season as their coach. James returned from knee surgery but wasn't the same runner. He finished with 989 yards rushing, 61 catches and three touchdowns.
James has been bothered by a back injury that cost him three games this season. He returned against the Texans on Sunday and produced 104 yards. In four games, he has 367 yards rushing and one touchdown.
Williams has started every game for Miami, generating 624 yards and scoring five touchdowns. Because of Miami's problems at quarterback, defenses have put eight players around the line of scrimmage on running downs to contain Williams.
Now that Brian Griese has replaced the injured Jay Fiedler -- expect Griese to remain in the lineup as long as he's healthy and effective -- an efficient passing game should take pressure off Williams and provide room to run.
South Florida fans and media are particularly excited about Sunday's game because Griese will be starting his first game in Miami, where his father helped the Dolphins win two Super Bowls that led to him being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Brian Griese replaced Fiedler in Monday's 26-10 victory over San Diego. He completed 20 of 29 attempts, including three touchdown passes.
Dan Marino, the greatest Dolphins quarterback, endorsed Griese over Fiedler on this week's edition of HBO's Inside the NFL. Although he never won a Super Bowl, Marino's opinion carries a lot of weight in South Florida.
"They know what they have with Jay," Marino said. "I think Griese gives them a little bit of a spark in the passing game which they have lacked. Jay Fiedler is a little bit more mobile. He gets out of the pocket and makes some plays here and there, but they don't make those key throws to end the games when you need to win. Griese can make that and give them a little bit more of a spark."
Fiedler's knee injury provided Griese with the starting opportunity. Many wonder why the Dolphins expect him to be successful under offensive coordinator Norv Turner after he failed with Denver coach Mike Shanahan and offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, two of the league's best offensive coaches.
Griese's former teammate with the Broncos, tight end Shannon Sharpe, thinks he knows why.
"In the West Coast offense (which Denver uses), you have to be able to make plays with your feet," Sharpe said. "If you can't get outside the pocket or make plays and scare defenses with your feet, you're not going to be successful in this offense."
Griese is a pocket passer who needs good protection because he doesn't throw well on the run.
"That system is for him," Sharpe said. "In boxing, they say that styles make fights. In the NFL, systems make players."
Perhaps Miami's system will do for Griese what it did for Williams -- help turn him into a premier player, the kind the Dolphins used to have when their Holy Grail was the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
John McClain covers the NFL for the Chronicle. His column appears Fridays.
McClain's picks
America's Line McClain's pick
Carolina (6-1) minus-6 1/2 at Houston (2-5) Panthers 23-20
Washington (3-4) plus-4 at Dallas (5-2) Cowboys 24-23
NY Giants (3-4) minus-2 1/2 at NY Jets (2-5) Giants 20-13
Jacksonville (1-6) plus-7 at Baltimore (4-3) Ravens 19-16
Oakland (2-5) minus-3 at Detroit (1-6) Raiders 24-17
San Diego (1-6) plus-2 1/2 at Chicago (2-5) Bears 20-19
Indianapolis (6-1) plus-3 at Miami (5-2) Dolphins 24-23
New Orleans (3-5) plus-8 1/2 at Tampa Bay (4-3) Bucs 23-20
Cincinnati (3-4) minus-3 at Arizona (2-5) Bengals 19-17
Pittsburgh (2-5) plus-4 1/2 at Seattle (5-2) Seahawks 23-17
Philadelphia (4-3) minus-4 1/2 at Atlanta (1-6) Eagles 27-13
St. Louis (5-2) minus-3 at San Francisco (3-5) Rams 21-20
Green Bay (3-4) plus-4 1/2 at Minnesota (6-1) Vikings 24-17
New England (6-2) plus-2 at Denver (5-3) Broncos 21-20
Open: Buffalo, Kansas City, Tennessee, Cleveland
·Last week: 9-5 straight up, 7-6-1 against spread.
·Season: 73-43 straight up, 59-52-5 against spread.
