NFC West

Sporting News, The, Sept 20, 1999

Teams are listed alphabetically

Ankle injury makes Williams questionable

Although the Saints head to 3Com Park Sunday with a 1-0 record and a share of the NFC West lead, one game ahead of the 49ers, Ricky Williams' injured left ankle continues to haunt the team, hovering like a dark cloud.

It appeared Williams had recovered from the high sprain that forced him to miss all but one quarter of exhibition play.

Then lightning smack for the second time in four weeks. On his eighth carry against Carolina, Williams darted through the fight side of the line and looked like he might break loose for his first NFL touchdown, but Panthers cornerback Eric Davis made an ankle tackle near midfield.

Williams then limped toward the sideline. He returned for two more carries before leaving the game.

Coach Mike Ditka says Williams likely will be listed as questionable Sunday but left all other explanation of the injury to the medical staff.

Team officials put a positive spin on the situation, pointing out the injury was in a different location.

"I didn't think about my ankle at all," Williams says. "In pregame, I was concerned about how it would feel on (artificial) turf. But I got out there and I felt really good running the ball. And I wasn't worried about it at all."

Neither Williams nor any team official seemed overly concerned about the injury afterward, although one has to wonder how long the injury will keep Williams out.

"He wants to play so bad," says Saints left tackle Willie Roaf. "But you have to make sure that ankle is 100 percent.

"We need him out there bad. But I'd rather him miss a couple of games than have him limping around out there." --Mike Strom

Atlanta

0-1: T 3rd

Falcons' main concern is Chandler's status

It took less than 60 minutes for the Falcons to get their latest scare from oft-injured QB Chris Chandler. Chandler, who never has played a full 16-game season in his 12-year NFL career, left late in the fourth quarter after being sacked by Vikings DE Duane Clemons. Chandler aggravated a right hamstring pull. The Falcons desperately want Chandler to be ready for their Monday night game at Dallas after both backups struggled throughout the preseason. With Chandler probably sidelined for most of the week, Danny Kanell, who had a 44.1 quarterback rating in the preseason, was expected to get most of the practice snaps. Tony Grazlani is listed as the backup, but coach Dan Reeves wants Kanell to step up.... The Falcons also were in need of a wide receiver this week. After cutting rookie WRs Eugene Baker of Kent and Rondel Menendez of Eastern Kentucky, as well as second-year player Jammi German of Miami (Fla.), the team carried only four receivers into the opener. The receiving corps dropped to three when second-year player Tim Dwight aggravated a hamstring injury in pregame warmups. The Falcons were forced to split out RB Jamal Anderson and TE O.J. Santiago in four- and five-receiver sets.

SCOUTING REPORT: When the Falcons drafted G Bob Hallen, they knew they were getting a versatile lineman. A four-year starter at Kent, Hallen played in 12 games as a rookie last season. In training camp, Hallen unseated Calvin Collins as the starter at left guard. The Falcons' line straggled somewhat against the Vikings' front seven. Chandler was sacked twice and knocked down on several plays. Although Collins is more experienced and physically stronger, Hallen has been a quick learner, and offensive line coach Art Shell is willing to live with his mistakes.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: Anderson was shut down by Minnesota, which was very effective with run blitzes. Speedy reserve RB Byron Hanspard, who is coming off reconstructive knee surgery, had three rushes. Hanspard might have been more effective with more carries because the Vikings' outside linebackers were cheating inside, essentially daring the Falcons to run outside. By "half splitting," the linebackers were opening up space on the edge. Hanspard's breakaway speed might have allowed him to run past the cornerbacks, who also would have to fend off wide receivers' blocks. --Mark Schlabach

GRADING OUT vs. New Orleans

OFFENSE C

Passing game bounced backafter shaky start. Running game never got on track.

DEFENSE B

Held Vikings' high-octane offense scoreless in the second half.

SPECIAL TEAMS F

Two missed field-goal attempts that would have led to OT.

COACHING C

It was a well-devised planbut one that wasn't executed efficiently.

FALCONS

PASSING         Att.    Comp.     Pct.     Yds.   Long
Chandler          30       17     56.7      258     46
Graziani           1        1    100.0       32     32

PASSING           TD     Int.     Rate    Sacks
Chandler            1       0     96.3        2
Graziani            0       0    118.8        0

RUSHING          Att.    Yds.     Avg.       TD
Anderson           16      50      3.1        0
Chandler            3      21      7.0        0
HansPard            3       9      3.0        0

RECEIVING         No.    Yds.     Avg.       TD
Calloway            5      84     16.8        1
Mathis              4      40     10.0        0
Harris              3      63     21.0        0

SCORING           XPM     XPA      FGM      FGA   Pts.
Andersen            2       2        0        2      2

PUNTING           No.     Yds.     Avg.     Blk.
Stryzinski          2       88     44.0        0

KO RETURNS        No.     Yds.     Avg.       TD
Dwight              3       67     22.3        0