Kurt Warner leads
the PFL in interceptions
thrown.
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Back In Stride
Again?
Gresham's 50-18 drubbing of Kevin Fox was just what
the doctor order. The win propels the Rams to 4-2,
sitting pretty in the AFC West, with the Raiders
and Vikes up next. If anyone would have asked
Gresham if he would take 4-2 after six weeks, based
on when he got his PS2 unit, he would have jumped
on it. The Creator has passed his first test, and
that was to be able to win against the teams he
should win against. Now he must upset the balance
of the league by topping the likes of Minnesota or
Jacksonville, the only above .500 teams he has
remaining on the schedule.
Flash From The
Past
The Creator has
been dominating the PFL the past three seasons.
Even in his first season he was a force to be
reckoned with, going 10-6 that year. But this year,
he has not shown the dominance of the '99 or 2000
season. Gresham's first major run in the playoffs
was in 1998, when he backed in with a 7-9 record.
His infamous words still rang from May of 1998 when
he predicted, "a sleeping giant has been awakened.
I will not lose another game this season." Those
words became reality when Gresham ripped through
the playoffs on to his first ever PFL title. As
long as Gresham keeps a long memory, he will always
have confidence that as long as he gets into the
playoffs, anything can happen.
Achilles
Heel
The Rams biggest
problem this season has been turnovers. Kurt Warner
is throwing nearly 4 picks a game. Just last week
he threw 10 in two games. These types of mistakes
will cost Gresham when he plays ballers of the
caliber of Brooks or Hilton. Gresham's philosophy
of "never mind how
many points the opposition scores, we'll score
more," may not be
suitable for this edition of the John Madden
series. The Ram
defense is not strong enough to have the offense
put that type of enormous pressure on them after
making crucial mistakes.
Both of the Ram's
games are important this week. He needs a win over
Oakland to stay in command in the division. And a
win over Brooks may prove that he still has what it
takes to go all the way this season. Although The
Creator finished 11-5, it was only good enough for
a wildcard berth. After defeating Darren Taylor in
the PFL wildcard round, the Rams were eliminated by
Brooks, ending Gresham's two year superbowl
run.
This week will
tell how far Gresham is from regaining his elite
status in the PFL.
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