Tom:
Finally, Brooks Bollinger is getting his chance. And for the Jets' passing offense, he can't be any worse than last week's output.
Seriously, I know Chad Pennington played part of last game badly injured, but "The Toast of the Town" combined with backup Jay Fiedler, who also got hurt, to throw for exactly 95 yards and two interceptions. I don't care who you are playing against (and granted, Jacksonville does have a pretty solid defense) — that is just plain pathetic. There's no way Bollinger can stoop to that level of craptasticness. Herman Edwards should have put the former Badger signal caller in rather than Pennington, the one-armed man.
If Jim Sorgi can perform the way he did last season (17-for-29, 175 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in four games), Bollinger has to be due for something decent. And working in a Jets' attack that features plenty of dump-offs to Jerald Sowell, Chris Baker and Curtis Martin would seem to fit his strengths. And by the way, I defy you to find another fullback in the NFL with a high school grade-point average of over 4.00. Jerald Sowell is practically a modern day Plato. Just imagine what Bollinger can do with a guy like that behind him in the backfield.
But, in all seriousness, even while going against a Ravens defense that is pretty scary (and not just on the field — see Atlanta in 2000), Bollinger is a surefire bet to outperform Ron Dayne. Dayne is currently third on the Denver Broncos' depth chart at tailback, and, save for one drive in week two, has done nothing to warrant extended playing time. Dayne's lone accomplishment this year was beating out Maurice Clarett for a roster spot.
So here's how it will go down. "The Dayne Train" won't see more than four carries in Jacksonville and Bollinger will have a respectable game, earning him 100 percent point-counterpoint glory.
Eric:
Ron Dayne will undoubtedly have the better Week Four, mostly because he could never even get a hand on the football, and his zero yards on zero carries would be better than Brooks Bollinger's stat line.
I'm thinking 3-of-14 for 49 yards and two interceptions before Bollinger is pulled for the ageless wonder Vinny Testeverde. And something tells me that "Brooks Bollinger on the keeper," doesn't work quite as well in the NFL.
But let's be honest, as much as Bollinger is mediocre, no quarterback should have to make the first start of their career against the Baltimore Ravens.
Ed Reed, the league's Defensive Player of the Year last year, has yet to grab his first interception this year and will be hungry. And perennially DPY award finalist Ray Lewis hasn't killed anyone in what, almost five years, so Bollinger better watch his back.
And if things could get any worse for ol' Brooksy, the Ravens had a bye last week and will be running in seventh gear instead of their usual fifth.
As for Dayne, we've all seen how things work in Denver. Bollinger could probably play halfback and run for 50 yards there.
Although Mike Anderson had a good game Monday night, he is still a little dinged up and the Dayne Train will probably have to spell the 32-year-old a few times.
Mike Shanahan is the first head coach to actually have some confidence in No. 33 and he hasn't disappointed so far. Dayne has 11 rushes for 50 yards in three games, including some late-game heroics when he made his debut in Week Two.
The former Heisman Trophy winner rushed seven times for 43 yards, including an 11-yard scamper on fourth-and-1, which ended with a game-winning field goal for the Broncos.
I'm not even sure how Bollinger still has a job, but his NFL highlight reel consists of actually tossing nine passes in 2004 and, according to the Jets' website, "was the second-string quarterback in games one through six of his rookie season."
The Dayne Train will be rolling through Jacksonville.
Chugga-chugga choo choo!