Tuesday, November 24, 2009

2009 Scouting Matchups: Week 10

Scouts Inc.

After watching the film and studying personnel packages, players' strengths and weaknesses, team tendencies and schemes, Scouts Inc. breaks down every game each week.


Scouts Takes
Thursday, November 12, 2009
chiBears at 49ers
8:20 PM ET

After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Bears-49ers matchup.


1. Get RB Matt Forte going: The Bears have been awful on the ground. Some blame goes to Forte, but more deserves to be placed on Chicago's offensive line, which is a major problem area. The Bears barely even tried to run the ball in their loss to the Cardinals in Week 9. Forte carried the ball just five times for 33 yards. That won't do.


Complete advance scouting report
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Sunday, November 15, 2009
bufBills at Titans
1:00 PM ET

After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Bills-Titans matchup.


1. Focus on the peripheral weapons: Vince Young has shown little ability to push the ball deep downfield to wide receivers. He prefers short throws -- often to the flats, to tight ends or running backs. Buffalo might attempt to leave its corners in some one-on-one situations while crowding the line of scrimmage. Buffalo's defense is often thought of as just a Cover-2 group, but it can be aggressive and go man at times. The Titans' wide receivers as a unit have been quite disappointing.


Complete advance scouting report
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norSaints at Rams
1:00 PM ET

After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Saints-Rams matchup.


1. New Orleans needs to score early: The Saints do most of their damage offensively in the second and fourth quarters. While they have yet to lose a game, the Saints have not been quick starters and would love to jump on the Rams early in this game in an attempt to eliminate any questions how it will turn out as soon as possible.


Complete advance scouting report
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tamBuccaneers at Dolphins
1:00 PM ET

After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Buccaneers-Dolphins matchup.


1. Make QB Chad Henne beat you: Henne remains very much a work in progress and the Bucs need to do everything possible to put the game on this young quarterback's shoulders. He isn't comfortable processing information or getting the ball out in a timely manner. Look for the Dolphins to minimize Henne's role as much as possible, and to use their screen game a lot, which is something they execute very well.


Complete advance scouting report
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detLions at Vikings
1:00 PM ET

After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Lions-Vikings matchup.


1. Detroit needs to give their rookie quarterback high percentage passes. Matt Stafford threw five interceptions in last week's loss and has a dismal 55.9 passer rating. The Vikings are excellent at rushing the passer and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan may call more three-step drops, screens and short dump-off patterns early in the contest to get Stafford on track.


Complete advance scouting report
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jacJaguars at Jets
1:00 PM ET

After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Jaguars-Jets matchup.


1. Jacksonville needs to set the tone in the trenches offensively: The Jaguars' passing attack has been just above average thus far and their ground attack has carried the offense. Look for head coach Jack Del Rio to challenge his team and pound the ball with Maurice Jones-Drew (averages over five yards per attempt) against a Jets front seven that is missing run-stopper Kris Jenkins.


Complete advance scouting report
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cinBengals at Steelers
1:00 PM ET

After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Bengals-Steelers matchup.


1. Cincinnati needs to challenge the Steelers in the trenches: This will clearly be a physical test of wills with first place in the division at stake. The Steelers are coming off an impressive road victory and will want to avenge an early season loss to the Bengals. Look for Bengals coach Marvin Lewis to take a "man up" approach to this contest with a challenge to his linemen on both sides of the ball.


Complete advance scouting report
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denBroncos at Redskins
1:00 PM ET

After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Broncos-Redskins matchup.


1. Beware of Albert Haynesworth: Haynesworth is playing very well and can be unblockable at times. He has a tremendous size and strength advantage over the interior of the Broncos' offensive line and is capable of disrupting everything that Denver is looking to do on offense. He's that good. Because of the Redskins' woes, many tend to forget just how disruptive Haynesworth can be.


Complete advance scouting report
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atlFalcons at Panthers
1:00 PM ET

After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Falcons-Panthers matchup.


1. Atlanta needs to ride the Michael Turner train again: The Falcons have become one of the more potent passing teams in the NFL but they still rely on a strong ground game to open up the back end for their passing attack. Turner had been stymied for much of the first half of this season -- but over the past two games he has averaged slightly less than 160 yards and over eight yards-per-carry. With that kind of production, defenses need to consider crowding the box with an eighth defender, which opens things up on the back end.


Complete advance scouting report
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kanChiefs at Raiders
4:05 PM ET

After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Chiefs-Raiders matchup.


1. Kansas City needs to be physical: In the Raiders' two victories this season, they have brought a very physical game with them. The Chiefs want to beat the Raiders at their own game. Expect defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast to give the Raiders a lot of looks and to bring a heavy blitz package as he tries to keep QB JaMarcus Russell and the Raiders off balance.


Complete advance scouting report
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dalCowboys at Packers
4:15 PM ET

After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Cowboys-Packers matchup.


1. Dallas needs to limit Green Bay's explosive plays: The Cowboys have done a great job of forcing opponents to take the quick check-down pass thanks to their explosive pass rush along with a strong blitz package. They are willing to let opponents complete short passes as long as they manage to get there quickly and prevent many yards after the catch. With the likes of receivers Donald Driver and Greg Jennings, the Packers have the ability to score quickly.


Complete advance scouting report
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seaSeahawks at Cardinals
4:15 PM ET

After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Seahawks-Cardinals matchup.


1. Seattle needs to control the clock. The last thing that the Seahawks can afford to do is to get into a track meet with Arizona's offense. Seattle lacks the explosive playmakers that Arizona QB Kurt Warner has to work with, so the Seahawks need to chip away at the Cardinals' defense with a strong ground game and short, high-percentage passes.


Complete advance scouting report
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phiEagles at Chargers
4:15 PM ET

After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Eagles-Chargers matchup.


1. The Eagles need to be more balanced offensively: Head coach Andy Reid will want to attack all levels of the Chargers' defense with both the run and pass. Establishing an effective ground attack along with distributing the ball through the air to several targets will keep this inconsistent San Diego defense off balance.


Complete advance scouting report
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nwePatriots at Colts
8:20 PM ET

After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Patriots-Colts matchup.


1. Keep Tom Brady upright: New England has been excellent at protecting its future Hall of Fame signal-caller, but that will be a challenge this week. The Colts' bookend defenders coming off the edge will be a tough task for a banged-up Patriots line. Look for more maximum protection schemes if the line doesn't hold up well early.


Complete advance scouting report
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Monday, November 16, 2009
balRavens at Browns
8:30 PM ET

After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Ravens-Browns matchup.


1. Ravens need to jump out to an early lead: Cleveland has the most inept offense in the NFL and has shown no ability to get into a high-scoring shootout. The Browns would like to slow this game down with the run and keep Joe Flacco and Co. on the sidelines. If the Ravens get out to a quick lead, they can force Cleveland to become a one-dimensional pass offense, which will lead to Browns mistakes and turnovers and that adds up to an easy day for Baltimore.


Complete advance scouting report
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