UPS & DOWNS by Jeffrey Stoltzfus

Once is an occurrence, twice is a coincidence, but three times is a pattern. Now that the dust
has settled on week 3, we can finally take a look around and see what we’ve learned from the
first 3 weeks of football.
Todd Haley, you sir are no Andy Reid.
I have mixed feelings about the Kevin Kolb era being delayed in Philly, but Andy Reid made
the smart move by sticking with the resurgent Michael Vick. Vick has thrown for 750 yards and 6
touchdowns, with ZERO interceptions. He’s even rushed for over 170 yards. Reid stuck with the
player who gives him the best chance to win now. So what’s my beef with Haley? Oh, I think
owners of Jamaal Charles have some idea. Thomas freaking Jones? Are you kidding me?
Haley, for some reason, refuses to give Charles the bulk of the work load. Jones has had more
touches in every game thus far: 52 compared to Charles’s 34. And yet Charles has had more
yards per carry and per game. What is the reason for this? Does Haley have Jones on his
fantasy team or something? It’s not like Charles’s big play potential is a secret after last season.
But Charles owners are going to have to endure because the Chiefs are now 3-0. Until they
start losing, Haley might never take the handcuffs off his most valuable offensive weapon and
Charles’s weekly contribution to your roster will remain a big question mark.
Mark Sanchez. I believe now.
In week 1, Sanchez looked exactly like what I thought he was: mediocre and over hyped. While
the media blew smoke up his butt I watched him implode on the battlefield, as the Ravens
tossed his salad. In week 2, I watched him earn respectable numbers versus the Patriots. More
smoke up Sanchez’s butt. But I saw the open receivers he failed to notice as he forced the ball
to Braylon Edwards for a lucky touchdown. And let’s be honest, the New England secondary
ain’t that great. I still did not believe. I foresaw bad things in week 3 as he faced what appeared
to be a solid Miami defense. Instead of humiliation, Sanchez threw for a second straight week of
over 200 yards and 3 touchdowns. And more importantly, he has yet to be intercepted. While
I don’t plan on adding to the Sanchez hype, it’s hard to turn a blind eye to those numbers. He
appears to be coming into his own. At least for now, I believe.

Arian Foster is the real deal.
I don’t know where the Steve Slaton from 2 years ago went, but he’s not coming back any time
soon. In the mean time, everyone behold the awesome ability of Arian Foster - the one-cut
wonder. We saw it in preseason. We damn sure saw it in week one. Not only does he have
speed, he has the power to finish off big runs by fighting for extra yardage. He even catches passes into the flat pretty well. He is a must play, week in and week out.

The Steelers don’t need Ben Roethlisberger.
Steelers defense is back! 5 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles, and one touchdown. Of course
they haven’t really played anyone good yet. But look at the their upcoming schedule: Baltimore, Cleveland, Miami. It will be week 8 before they face an offense of any particular significance.
Until then, Steelers defense rules.

Cleveland hates Jerome Harrison.
Maybe you were optimistic about Jerome after the way he finished last year. It certainly seemed
like the job was his. Then Cleveland goes out and drafts Montario Hardesty. The rookie looks
good. Jerome’s stock dips. Hardesty is injured. Jerome’s stock goes back up. Right? I mean
the guy behind him is Peyton Hillis. It’s not like Hillis is going to get the bulk of the carries and
the goal line looks. Right? Jerome at this point look like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football
only to have Lucy rip out from under him at the last second. And what’s worse, is that after a few
costly fumbles, he doesn’t even deserve the start anymore.
Okay, so that all seemed pretty obvious. You’re looking for some insight into the coming
week. I got that too.

Looking for a running back? Pickens might be slim in week 4. Undoubtedly everyone has
already jumped on the Hillis, Jackson, Snelling, and Tolbert bandwagons. Not to fear. Here’s
three more worth a look. They might not be studs, but with injuries abound you never know when
someone might find a way to be relevent.

Laurence Maroney might not be spectacular, but neither is Correll Buckhalter, and if Kno-play
Moreno misses another game somebody’s going to get opportunities. Maroney has been on the
mend and while he’ll certainly split time with Buckhalter, Maroney can still pound it. Both looked
bad against Indy, but Maroney saw more touches, which leaves me with temporary optimism.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis.  Kevin Faulk is on IR, Fred Taylor is questionable, and that only leaves him and Sammy Morris. Green-Ellis has failed us before but he did get the bulk of the carries after Taylor’s week 3 toe injury. He’d be my pick.

Chris Ivory has been recuperating from a knee injury. With Reggie Bush out for a few weeks,
Ivory was worked in the rotation versus Atlanta. That didn’t go so well. But Ivory is going to have
more opportunities to spell Pierre Thomas in the coming weeks - especially near the goal line.
His value is low right now, but could sky rocket at any point.