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KC Joyner

  (4:01 PM)

Good afternoon! Quick TFS news. The latest CB Corner (with some high-profile/low production WR start suggestions), Draft Lab (on UNC DT Marvin Austin) and Countdown Daily videos can be found by searching KC Joyner on the search tab. Let's talk some football!

Phil (Pittsburgh)

Two questions coming into the season were if Gay and Timmons could adequately fill in for McFadden and Foote. Have they been acceptable replacements or have they been part of the reason why the defense has taken a step back this year?

KC Joyner

  (4:02 PM)

I've only been able to look at Timmons in passing but Gay is more than holding his own just like he did last year. In fact, over the past two games, I have him giving up only 29 yards on seven passes directed at him.

Quentin (Green Bay)

How can the Packers defeat the Vikings?

KC Joyner

  (4:04 PM)

Play into Favre's weakness. Favre will chuck the ball into coverage, so GB should play deep and force him to dink and dunk. He's never had the patience to do that and if that recurs, he'll once again force passes into coverage that the Packers ballhawks can pick off.

Joe (LA)

Do you have any plans for Halloween? Donning a costume?

KC Joyner

  (4:05 PM)

My kids are going out as army men, but I'm skipping the costume bit this year. The lab coat only comes out for certain football related occasions!

Jeff Feagles (Coffin Corner)

KC, do you think it's worth trading a RB like Ricky Williams in exchange for an upper-tier TE or should I continue playing roulette with guys like Kevin Boss, Marcedes Lewis, Benjamin Watson, etc. etc. etc...

KC Joyner

  (4:06 PM)

I'd only consider it if it were for one of the truly elite TEs. Otherwise, you'd be better off keeping a rare top level RB on a team that is going to keep running the ball.

Brian (de)

Doesn't it seem like a gliche in the system that the Saints get a free play at the end of the first half bc the officials make the wrong call on the field and stop the clock for them when they had no timeouts and the half was over with the correct call?

KC Joyner

  (4:08 PM)

Excellent point, but what are the officials to do? It was a close call and they did do the right thing by stopping the game to look at it. That's the best we can hope for.

Joe (St. Louis)

What are your thoughts on the Cards D for the rest of the year? They seem to have a pretty favorable schedule except for the Minnesota game.

KC Joyner

  (4:09 PM)

The Cards D calling card in 2008 was a high forced bad decision percentage and they are doing fairly well in that category this year. That trend should certainly continue against Delhomme and Cutler the next two weeks and most of the rest of their games have a similar look. Arizona could be on pace to make another playoff run.

Angelo (Cleveland)

What,s it going to take for Brady Quinn to start again for my Browns is injury to DA the only way

KC Joyner

  (4:11 PM)

That's pretty much it. Quinn had his shot and is now in the Mangini doghouse. Once a player gets in there, it is next to impossible to get out, so he should find a way to get out of town ASAP when the season ends. He's got the ability to be a pro QB but he won't be doing that in Cleveland.

Quentin (Green Bay)

What are the Broncos doing that's helped them be so dominant?

KC Joyner

  (4:13 PM)

Moving Elvis Dumervil to OLB was a great start. Dumervil is an All-Pro caliber pass rusher who got wore down when he played DE full-time. Now that he can focus on rushing the passer, he is giving Denver a new element to their pass defense.

Brian (de)

How long before Ted Ginn is out in Miami? I can't see him on the team next year but what can they get in return? A 4th rounder? I guess the choice between Ginn and Quinn should have been Patrick Willis.

KC Joyner

  (4:14 PM)

Ginn had good metrics in 2008 and I still think in the right situation he'd be a starting caliber wideout. The Fins should do what they can to highlight his strengths to try to increase his trade value. I'd hope they could get more than a 4th.

Mike (Akron)

Fantasy question: I know its never a good idea to have two TE's but I do. Celek and Shaincoe. Which one do I trade and what value should i look to get? Or do I wait until Shiancoe's Bye to make my decision? Thanks Scientist...hope the Mrs has something delicious for dinner.

KC Joyner

  (4:16 PM)

Unless you can get something really valuable this week, stick with both of them through the week 9 bye. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to find a player who can help you avoid a goose egg and if you let Celek go, that's the spot you'll be in next week.

Brandon (Columbus)

Should the Chargers replace Chris Chambers with Malcom Floyd as their #2 WR?

KC Joyner

  (4:17 PM)

Maybe, but let's see how Chambers does this Sunday before making that decision. He's got the struggling Chris Johnson on his radar and given how poorly Johnson has been playing, Chambers could very well find his way to a good showing this week.

Shane (Los Angeles, CA)

KCJ: Your metrics graded Rosenfels favorably. Your thoughts on why none of the QB needy teams (Carolina, Cleve, and Oak come to mind) didnt even inquire about him? He probably could have been gotten for around a 4th round pick.

KC Joyner

  (4:19 PM)

Let's look at each situation. Carolina still thought Delhomme had it and bringing in SR would have said they don't have faith in JD. Cleveland already had two QBs fighting for the starting spot, so they wouldn't want to add a 3rd. Oakland had Russell and in the last six games of 2008, he had a passer rating higher than either Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco. They all thought they had what they needed at QB.

Josh (Knoxville, TN)

Does Mrs. Scientist wear a lab coat in lieu of an apron when cooking the meals you're always talking about?

KC Joyner

  (4:20 PM)

Using a lab coat in the kitchen? You blaspheme! Lab coats are for the football lab only.

Jack (Athens, OH)

How do you think your boy Lee Evans is going to do against Houston's secondary?

KC Joyner

  (4:21 PM)

He'll do what he has done in each of the past two weeks - post double digit fantasy points.

jordan (minneapolis)

Is there anyway that Chicago fires Lovie Smith and reunites Cutler with Mike Shannahan?

KC Joyner

  (4:23 PM)

Jordan, ask yourself this question - if you were Mike Shanahan, would you want to be reunited with Cutler? And I have a question for all those Bears fans who knocked me for knocking Cutler this offseason - what do you think of him now?

Josh (Knoxville, TN)

My apologies. Although, I think my Chemistry professors might disagree with your limitations on lab coat usage.

KC Joyner

  (4:24 PM)

No apologies necessary, I was just playing along! In all seriousness, I can't get her to don the coat for the life of me. My kids get a kick out of putting them on every so often, even if the coats are twice their size.

Chad (Las Vegas)

MVP Brees or Manning?

KC Joyner

  (4:25 PM)

Manning. No offense to Brees but Manning is carrying the Indy offense in a way that Brees isn't carrying the NO offense.

Mike (Chicago)

KC, which side of this trade do you like... I give R Brown and Bowe (on bye), I get Benson (bye) and Jennings.... with Brown gone I have to roll with S Greene for a week.

KC Joyner

  (4:26 PM)

If you can get Benson and Jennings for Brown and Bowe, go for it. Benson is the real deal and Bowe will start struggling soon enough (his YPA is low and his matchups get tougher).

Bob (Claremont,NH)

Riddle me this boy wonder-Which bye week fill-in TE? Lewis,Lee,McMichael,Scheffler,Pettigrew or Zack Miller?

KC Joyner

  (4:27 PM)

Does that mean we should call you Batman Bob? I'd go for Miller in that one (assuming you mean the Oakland Miller).

Kevin (Memphis)

We all know to avoid WRs facing Asomugha and Revis. Who are the other elite lockdown corners?

KC Joyner

  (4:28 PM)

Jabari Greer is fast hitting that list. I write about him more in today's CB Corner but suffice it to say that he is playing at an All-Pro caliber level.

Rick (irvine)

KC... The only football analyst I really trust, I have a FF question... Start 2RB, 2WR, 1Flex, I currently have Andre Johnson and Vjax at WR and Chris Johnson and Ray Rice at RB, then I have Kevin Smith at Flex, but I have DJax on my bench, should I change it up at all, I hate sitting DJax and his potential, but can't see a place for him?

KC Joyner

  (4:29 PM)

I might be inclined to agree with your assessment, although you can certainly make a case for Jackson over Smith if you want to go for upside.

Steve (ND)

Whats the trickle down effect on the Titans receivers with Vince Young back behind center?

KC Joyner

  (4:31 PM)

I would hope the trickle down would be that they decide to start catching passes. I don't have the leaguewide numbers but I know that Nate Washington has missed his share of catchable passes, and some of those were vertical in nature.

Dan (Louisiana)

What is it about Gregg William's system that allowed Greer to blossom and Sharper to play like he is 10 years younger?

KC Joyner

  (4:32 PM)

Williams system has always been safety-centric, so a guy like Sharper fits it perfectly. Greer has always been good at man coverage and the Saints use a lot of that.

Ben (Baton Rouge, LA)

KC, despite your crticism of Cutler do you think that the Bears will be ok with him at QB? Can he ever make it back to the pro bowl with Chicago or lead them to a Super Bowl with more support brought in? Bears fans need hope! Thanks!

KC Joyner

  (4:33 PM)

I'll say what I said this offseason. Cutler will remind Bears fans of Rex Grossman in many ways. He'll make a ton of risky passes but he'll also lead them to wins. I think Chicago can still make a playoff run this year as long as they don't throw in on their coach.

Kev (NYC)

I ask every week, I'll try again. Why do you waste your knowledge with dumb fantasy analysis? Don't you think it destroys your prowess? Meanwhile, there's 9 fantasy chats a day for these people.

KC Joyner

  (4:35 PM)

Kev, I try to keep a balance here between fantasy and reality. Please note that I do write two fantasy articles a week for the Insider section, so there is a readership that wants to utilize this information in that way. Having said that, what I try to do is answer standard football questions that can also help fantasy coaches.

Craig G. (Fairfield, California)

Hey K.C., your insight and statistics go unmatched. Am I wrong to be hesitating about starting the better defenses against Miami? It seems like everyone has problems game planning against them.

KC Joyner

  (4:36 PM)

I'd avoid playing a D against the Fins if only because their defense all but assures that their offense is going to have to air it out at some point. Their secondary leaves a lot to be desired and it now doesn't have Will Allen to partially bail them out.

Zuriel (Seattle)

Best reciever in the 2010 draft?

KC Joyner

  (4:38 PM)

I haven't looked at 2010 WR draft prospects just yet. It may be a couple of weeks before I can do that, as I am in the midst of reviewing some DTs - Marvin Austin this week, Terrence Cody next week, and probably the Nebraska DT after that (just can't remember how to spell his name).

Eric (Chicago)

Thanks KC, you reiterated my point to a ton of Bears fan just by asking the question of how do you like Cutler now. I never liked him in Denver and I now like him less as a Bear. Worst Trade Ever!

KC Joyner

  (4:39 PM)

I don't know that I'd go so far as to say worst trade ever, but if Orton keeps doing what he is doing out in Denver, more Bears fans are going to be of this mindset soon.

JayBaller10 (Minnesota)

Hey! do you think the Vikings have a chance of going to the Super Bowl this year??

KC Joyner

  (4:41 PM)

It will all depend on Favre's durability. If he can find a way to keep his energy level up for another 12 weeks (which is how long it would take to get to the Super Bowl), Minnesota has a great chance. If he starts to falter, some team like Philly or the Giants will overtake them.

Lane (Kukuihaele, HI)

It must ne Halloween. Vince Young and Josh Freeman dressing up as starting QBs this weekend. Jake Delhome wears it year round though.

KC Joyner

  (4:42 PM)

Very funny! Let's not knock Delhomme too much, however. His wideouts have been letting him down all season long and they cost him at least one of his picks this past week. He has only one guy to throw to and even Smith isn't having his usual top of the line year.

Josh (Knoxville, TN)

Lab coats: fun for (almost) the whole family!But for an actual football question: was last week a sign of good things to come for Dallas? Offense was clicking and the Defense was stout almost the entire game. Thanks.

KC Joyner

  (4:43 PM)

Not to rain on the Dallas parade, but that's a typical Wade Phillips team - they peak during the middle of the season. It's impressive but I'll be more impressed if they play like this in December.

Steve (ND)

Most improved "team" over the past ten years? It's the Monday Night Football booth with the addition of Gruden. Sounds like he's enjoying himself, and I hope he stays off the sidelines for awhile. Thanks for letting me say so.

KC Joyner

  (4:45 PM)

Steve, I'm with you on the Gruden front. I usually cringe when a new announcer starts in any broadcast booth but Gruden is a pleasure to listen to. He really enjoys the game for its own sake and he when enjoys football this much, it makes the viewers enjoy the game in the same manner.

Zuriel (Seattle)

Alright, how about the best 5 technique defensive end

KC Joyner

  (4:45 PM)

The best DE I've seen thus far is George Selvie. Check out my Draft Lab article on him for more specifics.

James (Tampa)

With VY taking over QB in Ten do see the Titans using running Wild Cat leaving Vince on the field at QB? To me this an opportunity for Wild Cat believers to see if it really works with a runner that can pass at the QB spot.

KC Joyner

  (4:47 PM)

If history is any indicator, Jeff Fisher will react to the team's bad start by pulling out all of the stops. A Vince Young-led Wildcat would fit that description so it would not be a surprise to see it happen.

Rich (Philadelphia)

KC did your metrics see Sidney Rice's breakout year coming?

KC Joyner

  (4:47 PM)

Yes and no. Rice had times where he posted quality YPA totals but he also had times where he posted lousy ones. This season has been more of a matter of him being consistent.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

You could always dress as Jim Zorn and have someone else handle the trick or treating for you.

KC Joyner

  (4:48 PM)

That may be the best line of the year!

Karl (California)

We Bears fans think a lot of Orton, but Orton would have been sacked so many times behind this O-line the Bears have - perhaps even injured by this point. Cutler has pressed too hard sometimes, but there's been a lot of positives as well. Now for a question: in a pass play, if the safety is late to the play, but the corner is in the right coverage for safety help and a pass completion occurs, are they both credited against it in your metrics?

KC Joyner

  (4:50 PM)

Great point about the Bears O line. Cutler is taking too many risks but most QBs would do that if they had an O line like Chicago's. Regarding the metrics, safeties are always tough to grade because of situations just like the one you mentioned. If it was obvious that the safety should have gotten over (say he bit on a play action fake), then he does get debited for an attempt.

Ben (Baton Rouge, LA)

KC, what about a 2010 2nd rounder for Gaines Adams? Another boneheaded move by the Bears in your view?

KC Joyner

  (4:51 PM)

I'm on board with that move as long as Rod Marinelli is the D line coach. Marinelli knows how to motivate D linemen and that's all Adams needs. When he had his motor going in Tampa, he was a monster and I'm betting Marinelli gets that out of him in Chicago.

Mike (Houston)

Care to recant your slanderous remarks about Eric Winston last summer. The rest of the Texans line is horrible, but he is top notch. Both of his sacks were coverage sacks and he has been consistently opening running lanes.

KC Joyner

  (4:53 PM)

Slander is when someone intentionally lies about something. My comments on Winston last summer were based on a metric review. I also didn't say he was a terrible OT (I saved that comment for Duane Brown) but rather that I didn't think he was playing at the elite level a lot of commentators said he was. From what I've seen this year, he's closer to that elite level so I'll give him kudos pending a more detailed tape review.

Brett (Houston, TX)

Been trying to get this fantasy question answered in those nine chats to no avail, so I'll give Mr. Joyner a shot: I have Andre Johnson, Wes Welker, Santonio Holmes, DeSean Jackson, and Miles Austin. Which are sell high guys, and which should I keep for the duration? I do enjoy having the ability to play the matchup game.

KC Joyner

  (4:55 PM)

Brett, your question is a tough one. They are all top line wideouts. I might sell Austin in the sense that his perceived value could be off the charts given his recent performances.

5...5 dollar ($5 footlong)

Who wins this week's Toilet Bowl between the Lions and Rams and why?

KC Joyner

  (4:57 PM)

It's way too early to call a game a Toilet Bowl - that is usually reserved for December games when the teams are playing out the string. I like Detroit here in that there has been a lot more to like on tape for them. Plus, I don't think Stl has the passing attack to take advantage of the still abysmal Lions secondary.

Larry (Pasco, WA)

Who's to blame for the Charger's rushing woes? Declining LT, terrible offensive line, or Norv Turner's play calling?

KC Joyner

  (4:58 PM)

I'd lean on the first two, but let's be clear that the O line has been injured and that is a large part of why they are off of their game. LT did a terrible job last year of gaining yards when he was given good blocking, so it is no surprise to see him doing poorly when his blocking isn't there.

Mike (Twin Cities)

Rodgers has an aweful O-line in Green Bay and he's putting up wonderful numbers. No excuses for Cutler.

KC Joyner

  (4:59 PM)

Great point by Mike. Now that I think about it, Peyton had great numbers last year when his O line was being manned by rookies and backups. Cutler does need to step his game up to offset the lousy play of the O line.

Rob (Green Bay)

Scott Wells is Green Bay's starter again after manhandling Pat Williams and Shuan Rogers once again and providing Grant with the first running holes he's seen all season.

KC Joyner

  (5:00 PM)

Wells had great metrics in 2008 so it really isn't a surprise to see him do well. I just wish GB were able to stick with one group of linemen. Injuries are keeping them from that but when they do get some PT together, they play a lot better.

Mike (Chicago)

How can you possibly be on board with Gaines Adams trade. Pro-bowlers like Shaun Rogers and Kris Jenkins go for only a 3rd and 5th. Will Witherspoon for only a 5th and you're OK trading a premium 2nd rounder for an underachiever who probably would have been cut in the offseason anyway.

KC Joyner

  (5:03 PM)

Mike, Adams has Tommie Harris-like skills. When he is on, he is a dominant player. Maybe Chicago could have held out for a lower price or maybe hoped they could get him in the offseason, but why not make the trade now and try to turn your defense around this year? The cost is a bit higher but the upside potential for saving a season is something I would hope most Bears fans would be on board about. Well, it looks like dinner is just about ready to start, so I've got to run. Don't forget that you can follow my work on Twitter at kcjoynertfs. Hope to see you all next week!