Each week, John Hansen and Adam Caplan break down all the games in the matchup podcast with our NFL Analyst, Greg Cosell. You can listen to the podcasts here, but also read below for an overview of Cosell’s thoughts.

Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens

Ravens:

The Ravens will go back to ground control in this game. Browns have a good game plan for long-yardage situations, so the Ravens will probably run the ball vs. the base defense of the Browns.
There are times where QB Joe Flacco doesn’t get a feel for the middle of the field, and there are certain kinds of games where he will still struggle but will still be a good QB.

Browns:

Not really sure why the Browns are using RB Peyton Hillis as much as they are since RB Jerome Harrison is a more dynamic explosive runner.
Browns are trying to win games with their defense.

Cincinnati Bengals at Carolina Panthers

Bengals:

QB Carson Palmer did not play well last week, and it doesn’t look like the ball is coming out like it was before his injury a few years ago.
The Panther defense can cause some problems for Palmer, which could lead to RB Cedric [...]

When it comes to Greg Cosell’s weekly coaching tape notes, we know most of our subscribers feel that they’re among the most invaluable content we provide, and with good reason. It’s something that literally no other site out there can provide, and we’re proud of that fact and we thank Greg for it.

That’s why we’ve decided to make a change: Greg’s coaching tape articles no longer will be posted in the Staff Blog — instead, they’ll now play a prominent role in the subscriber homepage section of the site. You can check out the Week Two roundup here. The article, titled “Cosell’s Film Room,” can be found under the General Articles tab and also in the weekly content schedule. We’ll create a new page for every week, and then we’ll update the file when Greg sends in his daily musings.

Since this is such a unique part of what we offer, we wanted to make everyone aware of the switch.

Each week, John Hansen and Adam Caplan break down all the games in the matchup podcast with our NFL Analyst, Greg Cosell. You can listen to the podcasts here, but also read below for an overview of Cosell’s thoughts on Week Two’s matchups.

Buffalo Bills at Green Bay Packers:

Bills:

Green Bay has a great run defense, so the Bills will have to throw the ball, but the Bills have no receivers so that could be an issue.
The Bills are in the process of figuring out their offensive identity.
Bills have to run the ball to be successful.

Packers:

RB Ryan Grant fit what the Packers did very well, and it doesn’t look like RB Brandon Jackson is the kind of runner that will fit for the Packers. Jackson is more of a methodical, measured runner, and it should be interesting to see what Green Bay’s run game looks like.

Miami Dolphins at Minnesota Vikings:

Dolphins:

The Dolphins’ offense is a work in progress and they are trying to figure out what they have in their passing game.
Although QB Chad Henne’s skill set is good, we still need to remember that he doesn’t have much experience under his belt and it shows.

Vikings:

The Vikings [...]

Greg Cosell is back with more from Week One, and this time his raw, unedited notes focus on some individual players who had noteworthy performances in the season opener. Is Darren McFadden improving? Find out now:

DARREN MCFADDEN V. TITANS

Very stiff and upright, Tight hips with little flexibility
Ran hard with consistent effort
Much more decisive and efficient running “power” and “counter” than running zone, Does not have great vision or short area acceleration
More of a methodical and measured runner than an explosive runner
10 yd run in the 4th quarter was McFadden’s best run in the NFL: Lateral quickness and agility, Created space in a confined – An NFL run
McFadden had three 13 yd runs, 2 were delay draws (one out of the shotgun) and on the third he came from the outside of bunch on a reverse concept
Overall McFadden looked quicker and more decisive as a runner, He ran hard but not with power

DONOVAN McNABB V. COWBOYS

First 3rd + long Redskins had McNabb in the shotgun flanked by 2 blockers (Cooley and [...]

Our own Greg Cosell watches more coaches’ tape than any non-coach in the NFL, and he’s generous enough to give us his raw notes from the action he’s seen on a weekly basis. These tidbits are unique, insightful, and incredibly useful to fans of both fantasy but NFL football in general. These notes will come in multiple installments every week, so stay tuned for more.

COACHING TAPE – WEEK 1

VIKINGS OFFENSE V. SAINTS DEFENSE

Jenkins FS in place of injured Sharper
Saints 3-4 featured Mitchell as the 4th LB
Saints played 3-4 to Vikings “12” personnel, Ellis the NT – Game planned: Overall 15 snaps of 3-4 versus “12”
Gay Saints nickel corner inside over the slot
Saints DL and front seven more physical and quicker than Vikings OL in the run game
Saints predominant 2 shell on passing down and distances in the first half
Saints nickel package: 3-3-5 personnel
Berrian struggled to separate versus man coverage, A poor route runner
Harvin aligned both outside and in the slot, Not a very polished route runner, More of an [...]

Each week, John Hansen and Adam Caplan break down all the games in the matchup podcast with our NFL Analyst, Greg Cosell. You can listen to the podcasts here, but also read below for an overview of Cosell’s thoughts.

Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints

Vikings:

With WR Sidney Rice out, Percy Harvin needs to become the top receiving threat. We don’t know if he’ll be able to do that right away tonight.
QB Brett Favre was able to be effective against the Saints last year because he is a veteran who recognizes late movement and can get rid of the ball quickly. However, Favre may be less mobile this year because of his ankle, and even though he got rid of the ball last year, he still was hit a lot.
RB Adrian Peterson is a confrontational runner who has too many negative and short runs because he sometimes doesn’t allow things to develop. Titan RB Chris Johnson picks and chooses better with patience [...]

SAINTS OFFENSE V. BUCS DEFENSE

McCoy started at WLB for the Bucs
Mack was the Bucs nickel corner, He played on the outside with Barber inside over the slot – Ruud and Heyward were the nickel LBs
Bucs showed a lot of 3-4 looks out of their base personnel with White standing up at OLB
Bucs also at times played 3-3-5 personnel as their nickel package
LT Bushrod a significant liability in pass protection, The Saints and Brees have compensated for him all season but it’s becoming more and more of a problem down the stretch
Thomas a more physical runner than his size would indicate, Strong legs and thighs, Consistently shows the ability to run through tackles
LG Nicks a great job on Thomas 8 yd TD, blocking DT Hovan at the LOS and then getting up to the second level to get LB Ruud – Nicks had an excellent year, He was a better player this season than the Vikings’ Hutchinson
Meachem 30 yd TD came [...]

BEARS OFFENSE V. VIKINGS DEFENSE

Kennedy started at DT in place of the inactive P. Williams
Sapp was again the Vikings nickel corner
Vikings at times utilized a 3-3-5 package against Bears 3 WR personnel, That kept Brinkley on the field
Clark 26 yds on 3rd + 3 came with both Clark and Olsen on the field, Vikings stayed with base 4-3 personnel
Olsen utilized as a “Joker”, aligned all over the formation; He dictates matchups based on personnel package and formation – Olsen’s ability to align as a WR allowed the Bears to utilize “22” personnel as a major part of their offense
Forte no juice to his movement, Methodical but with one speed, No burst or acceleration
One tendency I’ve noticed is that defenses drop DL into coverage against Cutler inside the 10 yard line given Cutler’s propensity to throw the ball inside with little definition
Brinkley a tendency to play laterally, At times seemed tentative and hesitant in his reactions to run – [...]

TITANS OFFENSE V. CHARGERS DEFENSE

Cromartie no interest in run support, No physicality to his game at all
Chargers matched up to Titans “22” personnel with Gregory replacing Cromartie, Jammer the only true corner on the field
Oliver continued to replace Ellison at safety in the Chargers nickel package, He’s a better pass defender – Ellison is a glorified LB much more effective in run support
Young did not account for back side LB Siler on Siler interception, An inexperienced mistake; Plus the throw was inaccurate
Young had receivers open on his 3rd + 5 fumble, There was no need for him to leave the pocket and run
Overall Young did not look comfortable in this game, He played a little fast with a lack of poise at times
Young much more comfortable and more effective throwing the ball to the outside than between the numbers
Young took a step back in this game, He abandoned the pocket too early on several plays; There [...]

BENGALS OFFENSE V. CHARGERS DEFENSE

Gregory was again the nickel corner for the Chargers, aligned inside over the slot; Cooper and Dobbins were the nickel LBs, and Oliver replaced Ellison at S
Merriman, Phillips and English rotated at OLB in the base 3-4, and DE in the nickel package
Ellison an effective box safety; The closer to the line of scrimmage he is, the more valuable is – In some ways, he’s a glorified LB
Bengals continued to utilize 6 OL and unbalanced OL concepts
Ochocinco 49 yd TD came out of 6 OL personnel versus Chargers 8 in the box, single high safety; Ochocinco out-and-up versus Cromartie
If you can dictate 8 in the box, single high safety looks with personnel and formation, you can attack and break down Jammer on the perimeter
Rookie Smith played snaps at RT, predominantly in the 6 OL personnel package
Bengals pass game more proactive in this game, They threw the ball more although there were a number of snaps in which [...]