Week Six Preview - Combines at Money

The Inland Empire Fightin' Combines (2-3) take on Money (3-2) this weekend. FightinCombines.blogspot.com takes a look at the matchups...

Quarterback: Aaron Brooks (Money) vs. Michael Vick (Inland Empire) - Brooks and Vick both face very weak passing defenses this week and both should improve on their numbers. Brooks faces the Vikings who are dead last giving up 294 yards of passing per game so far. Vick still hasn't thrown for over 200 yards in a game but faces the 30th ranked San Diego passing defense. The bad news for Vick and the Combines is that San Diego is ranked 3rd in rushing defense. Advantage: Money

Running back 1: Dominick Davis (M) vs. Rudi Johnson (IE) - Davis is the featured back on an up-and-coming team. However an ankle injury may still be slowing him a bit and the success of Jonathan Wells when Davis was out may mean more carries for Wells. Johnson is coming off a 123 yard, one touchdown effort in week four. He is facing the Browns defense who has given up an AFC worst eight touchdowns in five games. Advantage: Combines

Running back 2: Thomas Jones (M) vs. Kevan Barlow (IE) - Which Thomas Jones will show up this week? The Jones who dominated the first three weeks or the guy who only ran for 32 yards in week four. Consider that Jones best season he only had 627 yards rushing. Could the first three weeks be a fluke and week four was the real Jones? Barlow has been a huge disappointment for a third round pick. He plays for the worst team in the league (except maybe Arizona) and has failed to put up consistent numbers. He can be explosive like his 23 point outing in week two but faces a pretty good Jets rush defense this week. Advantage: Money

Running back 3: Fred Taylor (M) vs. Michael Pittman (IE) - Taylor hasn't rushed for 100 yards in a game yet this season and has rushed for less than 70 in two straight games. At only 28 years old it's hard to imagine this once great back being washed up, but running backs do lose it quickly. Will have TE Kyle Brady back and Brady is a great blocker. Pittman continues to make people scratch their head. How can a back be this good at running and catching the ball but only have 14 total touchdowns in six seasons? Should get some good yards against a weak St. Louis rush defense, but will he finally score? Advantage: Even

Wide Receiver 1: Hines Ward (M) vs. Andre Johnson (IE) - Is Plaxico Burress becoming QB Ben Roethlisberger's favorite target? Money sure hopes not. But in the last two games Ward has been held to only a combined 109 yards and he has only score one touchdown this season. Johnson on the other hand is quickly rising to superstardom with 12 catches for 170 yards and two touchdowns last week. With QB David Carr continuing to improve look for Johnson to get even better and better. Advantage: Combines

Wide Receiver 2: Peerless Price (M) vs. Jerry Porter (IE) - Much to the chagrin of the Combines, if Michael Vick can put up some big passing numbers this week against San Diego, most likely Price and Money will be the beneficiary. Price is the number one option for Vick but only has 202 yards on the season. While WR Ronald Curry is having a breakthrough season for the Raiders, Porter has fallen by the wayside. He only has 248 yards and has yet to score a touchdown. QB Kerry Collins actually throws his way, but has yet to figure out how to get it to him. Advantage: Even

Tight End: Alge Crumpler (M) vs Eric Johnson (IE) - Another beneficiary if Vick can get of the snide is Crumpler. The way that Vick scrambles though means that linebackers come off their coverage of Crumpler leaving him wide open. Unfortunately for Money, they have yet to really take advantage. Johnson suddenly has become the best tight end in the game this year. Johnson's 462 yards are already a career best. He is however questionable with a rib injury but should play. He missed all of last season with an injury and durability is a major question. Advantage: Combines

Kicker: Sebastian Janikowski (M) vs. Kris Brown (IE) - The Raiders struggles on offense have limited Janikowski's effectiveness but he can easily hit from 50+ if given a chance. Brown only had four points last week due to the effectiveness of Houston's offense. He is 9-for-10 in field goals on the season. Advantage: Combines

Defense: Broncos (M) vs. Steelers (IE) - The Broncos are ranked first in total defense so far this season and play a pathetic Raiders offense this weekend. The Steelers are fifth in total defense but struggled against a weak Browns offense in week five. They face a much better than expected Dallas offense. Advantage: Money

Overall: At first glance this game looked like it would be a slam dunk for Money. But after breaking down all of the matchups and crunching the numbers, it actually looks pretty even. Michael Vick is the key in this game. If he manages to break out and pass for more than 200 yards and even maybe a touchdown, who will he throw it to. Money is hoping it's to either Crumpler or Price while the Combines are praying for an Andre Rison resurrection.