NFC West

Sporting News, The, Nov 16, 1998

Teams are listed alphabetically

The Book On ...

Cam Cleeland

Saints TE 6-4/272 1st year

As the first tight end inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saints coach Mike Ditka obviously knows something about the position. So when Ditka says he likes everything there is about prized rookie Cam Cleeland, it carries significant weight.

"Sometimes you get burned when you get caught on people, but I got caught on Cam when I met him," Ditka says. "I looked at the films on him and I really liked what I saw.

"You look at the guy and say maybe he's 240 pounds. But he's 270-plus and can move. When he understands the strength and power he has, he's going to get better."

There's a scary thought for opposing defensive coordinators. Cleeland already has emerged as the most consistent skill player on the Saints' offense. He entered last weekend leading all NFC tight ends in receiving with team-leading totals of 28 receptions for 400 yards and three touchdowns.

Before being shut out for the first time this season by the Vikings on Sunday, Cleeland had caught at least three passes in every game but three while averaging 14.3 yards a reception.

His 53-yard reception against Carolina on November 1 is the fourth longest play from scrimmage for the Saints this year.

All this has come after Cleeland missed much of training camp and the preseason with ankle and eye injuries.

"When we drafted Cam, I drafted him to play regardless of who was here," Ditka says. "I want him to become a more dominant blocker. I want him to become more aggressive in certain areas, but there's no question that he can do things at his size that very few people can do."

Mike Strom

Atlanta

7-2: T 1st

49ers' visit to set stage for NFC West, playoffs

On pace to match the best season in franchise history and coming off one of their most impressive wins, the Falcons have a huge home game Sunday against the 49ers. At stake is first place in the NFC West, positioning for a first-round bye in the playoffs and a six-game home winning streak. The Falcons began the season eyeing a wildcard berth, but they showed with last week's 41-10 thrashing of New England on the road they are good enough to aim for their first division title since 1980. The key against the 49ers will be to continue the hard-nosed, fundamentally sound game they played in dominating the Rams and Patriots the past two weeks. In the first meeting between the teams, won 31-20 by the 49ers on September 27 in San Francisco, the Falcons started poorly and gave up 387 yards passing to Steve Young. To win the rematch, they have to pressure Young and play much better against the spread sets.

FULL-TIME FLOW: The Falcons miss the big-play threat of No. 2 TB Byron Hanspard, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in preseason, but Jamal Anderson is benefiting from his absence. Anderson didn't like coach Dan Reeves' tailback rotation last year, and he is thriving as the full-time back. He has eclipsed 100 yards in six of his last seven games, and he appears to be getting stronger and more decisive. The fifth-year pro out of Utah also is staying on the field in third-down situations rather than giving way to Harold Green....After a poor performance in a 28-3 loss to the Jets on October 25, the offensive line is playing much better. Veteran LT Bob Whitfield is coming off the ball with more purpose, and rookie RT Ephraim Salaam is responding to competition from Jose Portilla....Starting CB Ronnie Bradford and return man lira Dwight are rehabbing knee sprains, and neither is expected back for another few weeks.

GOAL-LINE STAND: There is a misconception about why the team is so much better with QB Chris Chandler. Chandler rarely puts up big numbers or wins games on his own. What he does is execute Reeves' system so efficiently that all elements of the offense work. Chandler makes defenses pay when they cheat to stop the run, so Anderson is getting plenty of running room. Chandler wins games by doing several aspects of the lob well including play-action, finding the hot receiver, pulling defenses offsides with his cadence and converting third downs.--Tony Fabrizio

GRADING OUT
vs. New England

OFFENSE B 

Anderson gets 100 yards
again; Chandler offsets two
picks with two TDs.

DEFENSE A 

Five takeaways, including a
TD return by Smith, and six
sacks. Dominating.

SPECIAL TEAMS C 

Good coverage, but
Andersen has FG blocked
for second straight game.

STRATEGY A 

Blowout win on the road
against respected opponent
reflects well.
FALCONS

PASSING         Att.    Comp.    Pct.    Yds.    Long

Chandler        201      107     53.2    1778     62
DeBerg           34       18     52.9     195     29

PASSING         TD    Int.    Rate    Sacks

Chandler        14     9      87.9     25
DeBerg           1     1      67.6      5

RUSHING         Att.    Yds.    Avg.    TD

J. Anderson     219      966     4.4     8
Chandler         16       47     2.9     1
Green            14       31     2.2     0

RECEIVING       No.     Yds.    Avg.    TD

Mathis           40      611    15.3     4
Martin           32      610    19.1     4
J. Anderson      17      223    13.1     1

SCORING         XPM    XPA    FGM    FGA    Pts.

Andersen         29     30     14     17     71

PUNTING         No.     Yds.    Avg.    Blk.

Stryzinski       43     1691    39.3     0

KO RETURNS      No.     Yds.    Avg.    TD

Dwight           24      635    26.5     1

PUNT RETURNS    No.     Yds.    Avg.    TD

Dwight           16      132     8.3     0