London Fog (7-3)
It’s not really clear how the Fog are doing it: they are middling to bottom of the league in offense, have the 2nd worst pass defense in the league, and are only okay against the run. Yet they sit in 2nd place in the Division.
A lot of it comes back to a +10 TO differential, and timely performances by Russell Wilson.
#Bottom Line
Draft Needs. OL/C, RB.
Week Four Draftee Update: Jessie Armstead, who, after a good 1st game, hasn’t played very much.
#QB
Wilson has 5 games with a QBR over 100: all wins for London. He hasn’t been bad in the other games either, amassing 18 TDs to only 1 interception with an overall QBR over 98. He’s also gained just under 300 yards running, with 4 rushing TDs, making him one of the more valuable QBs in the league.
#RB
Emmitt Smith has been unable to stay on the field, playing in only 5 games (and out for another month or so) and running fairly ineffectively in that time (83 carries for 310 yards).
London turned to Marshawn Lynch in Smith’s offense, but he hasn’t been very good: over 500 yards is fine, but a rush per carry average of 3.2 isn’t. DeMarco Murray has been even worse, although Walt Garrison has shown some promise, but in under 10 carries.
#WR & TE
The 3 Amigos ride again, but not as equally as last season. This year, it’s really all about Steve Largent, whose 64 catches, 883 yards, and 8 TDs lead the team. Dez Bryant and Michael Irvin have combined for another 67 catches, 10 TDs, and over 800 yards.
Percy Harvin and Butch Johnson have been alright, but haven’t seen the field much.
The Fog just don’t use their TEs very much: Jason Witten looks good, but only has 3 catches on the season.
#OL
This group hasn’t been as strong as they were in Year I. Rayfield Wright has been fantastic, Mackenzy Bernadeau solid, but both Walter Jones and Zack Martin have been fairly meh, and the less said about Bobby Maples at C, the better.
#DL
The defensive line has combined for 14 sacks, which is phenomenal, in a real team effort. Cliff Avril leads the way with 5, Cortez Kennedy has 3, Ted Lilly and Too Tall Jones have 2, and Greg Spires and Kevin Williams, 1 each. Overall, Jones, Jacob Green, and Avril have been the best performers.
The run defense really needs to be better: for all the QB pressure, the Fog have only managed 7 stuffs.
#LB
Bobby Wagner was doing his usual tackling thing, but he has been hurt for over a month, and has a few weeks to go before he returns. In his absence, Dat Nguyen has played very well in the middle. DeMarcus Ware has been great coming off the edge, with 5 sacks and 3 forced fumble, but the other LB spot has been uneven, with Hollywood Henderson and L.P. Ladouceur both struggling to really nail down a claim on the position.
#DB
The secondary has been very strong, led by Richard Sherman and Mel Renfro, who have combined for over 110 tackles, 25 deflections, and 5 interceptions. Sherman has 4, tying him for the team lead with Earl Thomas.
Renfro, Sterling Moore, and Thomas have been great in coverage.
#P & K
Dan Bailey has been quite good, missing only 4 FGs and 1 XP all year.
Jon Ryan has been adequate.
#Returns
Harvin is averaging over 30 yards per kickoff return; in his absences through injury, Paul Skansi has done well; Markus Wheaton less so.
Skansi struggles returning punts, but Glenn Presnell has done quite well.
#Awards
Defensive Player of the Week: Green, Sherman, Ware.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Harvin.
Teams of the Week: Avril (1), Bailey (1), Green (1), Harvin (1), Henderson (1), Largent (3), Nguyen (1), Sherman (4), Smith (1), Ware (2), Wilson (1).