Fantasy Football Challenge - Football Fanatics Articles Archive

Enclosed in this archive is every bit of the action and updates that occurred in October 2003 within the world of fantasy football. You may want to read these articles for research on players in the coming year, or just check to see if we were way off base with our reporting. Whatever the reason, it's all here for your enjoyment.

Fantasy Football Challenge - October 2003 Fantasy Football Articles

Fantasy Football Challenge - October 2003 Articles Archives

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the most part, up front, too," running backs coach Tim Lappano said. "There''s enough evidence on film that we''ve blocked the blitz pretty good and even made some nice yardage off it.

"With that being said, (the Cardinals) are going to have to be careful. It all goes back to them, how good they feel about their corners covering our wideouts. We can pick it up. We can block their blitz."

Lappano said that although most defenses normally blitz on 15 percent of the plays, the Cardinals are doing so between 35 and 38 percent of the time. They pressured a lot more than that in their 2000 meeting with the 49ers, blitzing on 57 of 69 plays.

"When you do those things, you''re taking chances as a defense, and it''s going to be important for us to take advantage of those situations when those blitzes occur," Garcia said. "They''re going to bring many different looks. We''re going to have some soft coverages and hopefully take advantage of it."

If the Cardinals send in additional defenders on blitzes, the 49ers might see more chances to throw deep, as long as Garcia gets the protection he needs.

Said Garrison Hearst: "They''re going to put their outside ''backers on the edge coming fast. We''ll be patient, pick it up and find our checkoffs."

Barlow''s patience against a Tampa Bay blitz Sunday earned him rave reviews from Lappano.

"The way they brought it, the guy Kevan was supposed to pick up actually ran right to the tackle, so the tackle had to pick him up and [Barlow] had to pick up [linebacker Shelton Quarles]," Lappano said. "So you can tell he''s come a ways, because a year or two ago, he would have never done that."

Garcia expressed cautious optimism that Barlow''s blocking has improved as much.

"Let''s judge it one game at a time," Garcia said. "Let''s just say he did a much better job this past Sunday than he''s done in prior games. He''s learning all the time."

For the record. ...

Garcia isn''t the only Niner bothered by a nagging injury. Terrell Owens was held out of Wednesday

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