Tokyo Swallows (7-3)
The defending champions are in the mix again, and again it is somewhat confounding: Tokyo has the league’s best offense–by far–but it is massively imbalanced, as they have the 2nd weakest running game in the league, and then they have George Blanda.
The defense is poor, surrendering over 400 yards per game. Some of that is a product of how quickly their offense scores, but most of it is just poor play, most glaringly in no player having more than a single sack, and the team having only 3 all season.
#Bottom Line
Draft Needs. DT, LB/rush, S.
Week Four Draftee Update: Phil Hansen. Hasn’t really been given a chance to play.
#QB
George Blanda is putting together an MVP level season, having thrown for over 3700 yards and 45 TDs through 10 games. There are some issues: 20 interceptions is a lot, and his games tend to bounce between the spectacular and the below average, in sometimes bewildering ways (he has 2 games with over 400 yards and QBRs below 75).
#RB
Earl Campbell was hurt in the opening game of the year, which disrupted Tokyo’s plans. Leon Washington–solid last year as a fill in–was miserable this year, averaging under 2 yards per carry.
That forced the team’s hand, and C.J. Anderson was given a chance to feature in week 6. He responded with 170 yards, and while he hasn’t broken 100 since that game, he’s been quite good, rushing for over 500 yards and averaging just under 5 yards per carry.
Juwan Thompson deserves more carries when he returns from injury. Perhaps most impactful, Kimble Anders has moved into the rotation, and has been devastating as a receiver out of the backfield.
So … a lot of parts here, but for the 1st time, perhaps some optimism about the possibilities of the running game.
#WR & TE
Lionel Taylor was out for 6 games, and in his absence, Demaryius Thomas has emerged as the most dangerous receiver in the league. Thomas has 50 catches for over 1200 yards and 12 TDs. He’s actually 2nd on the team in scores, as Rod Smith has had a breakout year with 14 TDs and nearly 800 yards. Taylor looks strong in his return, and Ernest Givens and Kendall Wright have both done well to round out the group.
And don’t forget Shannon Sharpe at TE: 31 catches, 571 yards, and 7 TDs from that slot is huge.
The most productive group in the league, for sure.
#OL
Mike Munchak has been his usual dependable self, as has Ryan Clady and both Bruce Matthews and Evan Dietrich-Smith have been perfectly fine. Probably the most interesting development has been the emergence of Jim Tyrer, whose performance will keep him in the lineup even after Michael Roos returns from injury.
#DL
Losing Bud McFadin, Mitch Unrein, and Terrance Knighton to long term injuries has hurt, but it’s no excuse, really. Ziggy Hood and Sean Jones have been strong against the run, but have only 1 sack between them, and Karl Klug‘s production has dropped compared to Year I.
#LB
Here, the injuries have been even more devastating: Jack Ham, having a very solid year, is out for the rest of the year, as is Von Miller. Randy Gradishar–their best performer so far this season–has missed 3 games, and while Karl Mecklenberg has been healthy, he has merely played well, instead of at the stellar level he reached in Year I.
#DB
This is where the impact of Tokyo’s offense is felt most: no secondary is as busy as the Swallows, so they tend to accumulate a lot of tackles, with both Chris Harris, Jr. and Champ Bailey having over 50. But the group has only managed a single interception (by Harris, Jr.), and only Harris, Jr. and T.J. Ward have at least 10 deflections.
Only seldom used S Steve Atwater is holding receivers under 50%, and he deserves more time, given how ineffective Michael Griffin and Bernard Pollard have been in front of him.
#P & K
Matt Prater is barely holding onto his job, as he’s only completed 10 of 17 FGs. He has only missed 1 of 45 XPs, though.
Craig Hentrich has been mediocre on punts.
#Returns
Washington has not let his struggles running the ball impact his return game, as he’s averaging 23 yards on KOs and over 12 on punts.
#Awards
Offensive Player of the Week: Blanda (1)
Team of the Week: Blanda (3), Gradishar (1), Ham (1), Munchak (1), Prater (1), Sharpe (1), Taylor (1), Thomas (2).