NFC West

Sporting News, The, Nov 22, 1999

Teams are listed alphabetically

Muhsin Muhammad Panthers WR, 6-2/217, 4th year

There may be better wide receivers than Muhammad in the NFL this season, but not many. He leads the NFC in receiving yardage, finally doing the types of things he always believed he could.

Although Muhammad suffered a possibly serious rib injury in last weekend's game in St. Louis, he already had tied the Panthers' team record with nine receptions (for 125 yards) in a 35-10 loss to the Rams.

It was the first serious injury in two years for Muhammad, whose first two seasons were filled with them. Panthers QB Steve Beuerlein said he could see "an awful lot" of Michael Irvin (a former Dallas teammate) in Muhammad, except he thought Muhammad was faster and had even more big-play potential because of his ability to break tackles after making the catch.

Muhammad is adept at using his size to gain favorable position on smaller corners--and he's usually faster than the league's bigger cornerbacks. His emergence began last year, when he Finally was healthy for an entire season. He has become even more of a go-to guy this season because of Rocket Ismail's departure to Dallas as a free agent and injuries to Rae Carruth.

Muhammad frequently studies film of his favorite receivers--Cris Carter, Marvin Harrison, Isaac Bruce--and tries to incorporate some of what they do into his game, particularly the way they separate themselves from defenders. Muhammad has learned that you can't always run routes exactly the same way. So he makes subtle changes to confuse defenders who try to read his tendencies on tape. His goal is to make sure they never can be certain where he's headed or what he's planning to do.--Joe Menzer

Atlanta

2-7: T 4th

Expect the secondary to get face lift for 2000

Look for the Falcons to replace two of their top five defensive backs in the offseason. FS Eugene Robinson, 36, in the final year of his contract, is showing his age and probably won't be back. Nickel CB Michael Booker, who has never fulfilled his promise, also could leave. Robinson played in the Pro Bowl after last season, but he has been beaten numerous times on deep routes and his tackling has been inconsistent. The team wanted Booker to push Ronnie Bradford at right corner this year, but Booker suffered a tom thigh muscle in camp and never emerged. Receivers consistently get separation on Booker, who has never displayed the coverage skills necessary to be a starting comer. Despite his size (6-2, 200), Booker doesn't do a good job of jamming receivers. In '97, the Falcons traded down in the first round with the goal of taking Booker. As a result, the team missed a chance to draft Shawn Springs, who has developed into one of the top corners in the league. The team isn't thrilled with Bradford at corner, but he is a possible replacement for Robinson at safety. ... The Falcons need RG Gene Williams and LG Greg Bishop to return from injuries this week at Tampa Bay. Young guards Bob Hallen and Calvin Collins would have a tough lime containing Warren Sapp. ... Look for No. 3 QB Danny Kanell, who has struggled to learn the offense, to return in 2000. But No. 2 Tony Graziani probably won't.

SCOUTING REPORT: SS Marry Carter has been the team's only free-agent signee to pay off. Carter plays with abandon, hits hard in run support and isn't a liability in coverage. Carter has the size (6-1, 210) to battle physical tight ends and has enough speed to keep up with quick tight ends. He averaged more than 160 tackles in four years with Chicago, but some suggested the statistics were inflated. The Falcons have learned that they weren't--Carter just finds the football.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The team's offensive line was intact throughout '98, and the result was a high level of cohesiveness. But when the team opened camp, line coach Art Shell began tinkering with his lineup. Dan Reeves and Shell wanted Collins to push Williams, and they thought it was time for Hallen to play. But Hallen eventually lost his starting job to Bishop, and Collins wasn't able to dislodge Williams, though he did start two weeks ago because of Williams' knee injury. The tinkering and injuries have undermined the cohesion in the unit, which has been plagued by mental mistakes and penalties all season. --Mark Schlabach

GRADING OUT season to date

OFFENSE D

Without running game, play-action attack has failed and Chandler has been pounded.

DEFENSE C-

Has been plagued by the big play all season; run defense has been spotty at best.

SPECIAL TEAMS C-

Dwight remains a threat, but penalties have hampered return game.

COACHING C

Team has showed little emotion; Reeves' personnel decisions are under fire.

FALCONS

PASSING        Att.   Comp.   Pct.    Yds.   Long   TD
Chandler       137     80     58.4    1051    46    6
Graziani        95     55     57.9     675    62    2

PASSING        Int.   Rate    Sacks
Chandler        5     82.1     23
Graziani        3     73.8      9

RUSHING        Att.   Yds.    Avg.     TD
Hanspard        90     251     2.8     0
Oxendine        78     27      2.9     1
Anderson        19     59      3.1     0

RECEIVING      No.    Yds.    Avg.     TD
Mathis          50     619    12.4     2
Christian       24     188     7.8     1
Calloway        19     259    13.6     1

SCORING        XPM     XPA     FGM    FGA    Pts.
Andersen        13     13       8      13     37

PUNTING        No.    Yds.    Avg.    Blk.
Stryzinski      48    1904    39.7     0

KO RETURNS     No.    Yds.    Avg.     TD
Dwight          30     646    21.5     0

PUNT RETURNS   No.    Yds.    Avg.     TD
Dwight          9      69      7.7     0