| | | | | | | |  Thursday, October 11, 2001
Melissa Stark talks back
By Melissa Stark
Special to ABC Sports Online
A lot of people want to talk to Monday Night Football's Melissa Stark. Ten of you got the chance, courtesy of ABC Sports Online.
The MNF sideline reporter recently answered user questions about the Rams' new and improved defense and Jamal Anderson's season-ending injury, among other topics. Below are Stark's responses to users who e-mailed their questions.
Click here to send your questions to Melissa. Her answers are posted every Thursday.
|  | | Lovie Smith has brought a new attitude and a new defense to St. Louis. |
Last year the Rams defense was really bad. This year, at least through the first three games, it appears significantly better. Do you think it's thanks to Lovie Smith, the new guys on defense or both?
Daniel -- New York
Melissa Stark: The personnel is definitely better. They have eight new starters, and Lovie Smith brought the fly-to-the-ball approach that made Tampa Bay such a tough defense. It's clear they've improved. They sacked Donovan McNabb five times in the opener at Philadelphia and have held two of their opponents to 17 points or less. In fact, the Rams have cut their points allowed nearly in half from a year ago (17.3 ppg from 31.3 ppg).
Do you think the Lions can turn their horrendous start around? And how long do you think it will take before the Lions offensive unit jells with the West Coast Offense system?
Chad Brown -- North Muskegon, Mich.
Melissa Stark: I have found the Lions' start worrisome. Of course, it's a new offense, which is always troublesome, but the quarterback change from Charlie Batch to Ty Detmer compounds the situation further.
It's commonplace to say that each quarterback has his own playing and leadership style, and that other offensive players learn to adjust and respond to that particular style, and I'm sure that contributed to Detmer's seven interceptions (one shy of an NFL record) at Cleveland. I expect this offense will take a long time to jell. It doesn't bode well for the Lions, especially with Tampa Bay, Green Bay and Minnesota in the division. And Chicago is playing well also.
What are your thoughts on the continued lack of production from Tampa Bay's offense? Was bringing in Brad Johnson the right move or should they have stayed with Shaun King, who seemed to motivate the offense?
Brad Madlem -- New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Melissa Stark: I agree that the lack of production is puzzling, and I thought that Brad Johnson would have helped the offense. It's possible that it's taking more time to jell. I do think they're better off with Johnson, though. He is a better passer and has more experience. It can be argued that King's mobility gives them an added dimension, but his limitations, particularly his arm, hindered that offense.
Being so close to the field, have you noticed a change in the players level of aggression or a change in how they relate to the other team following the (9/11) tragedies?
Andrew Williams -- San Francisco
|  | | Patriotism has spread through the NFL in the wake of the Sept. 11 tragedies. |
Melissa Stark: There's definitely a change, both before and after games. The players definitely pay attention during the pre-game ceremonies, and some get very emotional. Vinny Testaverde was affected by everything, growing up in New York, and his father helped build the World Trade Center, so it hit close to home for him. You saw Terrell Owens with a tear running down his cheek when the 49ers played the Rams two weeks ago.
Fans are different as well. There's less booing and ragging on players. You get the feeling that people realize how petty those actions were.
During the games, there's no difference, but certainly there's a different tone since everything happened. You can see the patriotic mood in the stadiums. Most of all, players realize that we're all human -- that we're all in this together -- and that it is just a game.
Do you think that Jamal Anderson's career is over now that he tore the ACL in his other knee?
Todd DeWitt -- Dacula, Ga.
Melissa Stark: Sadly, I have to say yes. The crazy thing is, like his first injury, he hurt it without contact with another player. So there's a serious vulnerability in his knees. That makes me question whether he can play in the NFL for an extended period of time.
Add to this that he’ll have to rehab from a second serious knee injury, and that both those knees will never be as good as new. Given his age, 29, it’s unlikely that he’ll ever get back to the level where he was, or if he returns at all. Anderson has been outspoken in his plans to come back at full strength and make a difference with the Falcons. However, the odds aren’t in his favor. Baltimore’s Terry Allen is the only running back to successfully come back after major surgery to both of his knees.
As a long-time Raiders fan, I am quite concerned about the season-ending injuries to Barret Robbins and Trace Armstrong. They lose outstanding talents and irreplaceable locker room guys. The Raiders have a very strong team which many picked to go to the Super Bowl. What do you think of the Raiders chances now? Can they overcome these two losses?
Andy Berger -- Mokena, Ill.
Melissa Stark: No question those are big losses. Pro Bowl defensive linemen like Armstrong are hard to replace, as are veteran centers like Robbins. Of the two, Armstrong is a bigger loss. The Raiders can overcome these losses. They are a well-balanced, well-coached team, and I still think they'll make the playoffs. I don't know about the Super Bowl, though.
If you had to start a team today who would be the first person you would pick?
Brian -- Wood River, Ill.
Melissa Stark: Tough question. Marshall Faulk, Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James and Ray Lewis all come to mind. But if had to pick one, I'd say Lewis. In my opinion, he's the most dominant player in the league, and sets the tone for the NFL's best defense. If I'm building a team, I want a strong defense first and then build the offense from there.
The Packers have looked exceptional so far this year on both sides of the ball, but they have yet to play against a playoff-caliber team. Do you think that they can keep up their level of play when they get to the tougher parts of their schedule?
Sean Lehman -- Whitewater, Wisc.
Melissa Stark: Yes I do. Brett Favre is one of the best QBs in the league. He knows how to win big games. And he's healthy for the first time in two years, which is scary. Antonio Freeman and Bill Schroeder are an excellent tandem of receivers, and Ahman Green and Dorsey Levens give them a solid backfield.
Their defense is tough and physical, and teams hate to come to Green Bay, play in the cold and play in front of those fans. At this point, they are the favorite to win the NFC Central.
Based on the way the Chargers are playing compared to the Bills this year, do you feel the Bills made a fatal mistake in deciding to go with Rob Johnson instead of Doug Flutie?
Nick Davis -- Jackson, Miss.
|  | | Rob Johnson being sacked has become a common sight for Buffalo Bills fans. |
Melissa Stark: The Bills have made a lot of mistakes, and have lost some key players to injury, like Sam Cowart. The organization let the head coach and its staff go, as well as key players like Marcellus Wiley and Ted Washington.
There's been a great deal of change, and that would be tough on any quarterback. I don't know if Flutie would generate different results. Flutie has a mobility that Johnson doesn't, and he's more fun to watch, but Johnson is the better passer. It all starts with the offensive line, and through three games, Johnson has been sacked 13 times. Only Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck has been sacked more (18).
So it's easy to say letting Flutie go was a fatal mistake, because when a team's not doing well, everyone blames the quarterback. But it's one of several changes that proved fatal to the Bills season.
What is your personal opinion on the possibility of having the Super Bowl in New York?
Logan Young Cho -- Milpitas, Calif.
Melissa Stark: This is a moot point now, since the NFL announced Wednesday that the Super Bowl will be played on Feb. 3 in New Orleans.
It would have been great for the city, though. Security would have been fine. It would show that despite the attack, New York is alive and kicking. But logistically, it would have been very difficult.
Plus, it would be freezing. One of the greatest things about going to the Super Bowl, as a fan is that you almost feel like you're going on vacation because it's usually held in a warm-weather city. More important, making it happen on such short notice, booking the hotel rooms and everything else planning a Super Bowl entails would have been impossible.
Ask Melissa Stark:
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