Post by TheShadow on Jul 6, 2006 22:58:12 GMT -5
www.sportsnetwork.com
By Tony Moss, NFL Editor
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Roughly two weeks remain until the Philadelphia Eagles become the first of the NFL's 32 teams to report to training camp. By the end of July, each of the league's clubs will be toiling in the mid-summer heat, preparing for a run toward Super Bowl XLI and the equally mild climate of Miami on February 4th.
Before the real fun starts, let's take a look at a handful of teams for which optimism should abound, as well as a few of those who should be concerned as they get set to report:
ON THE RISE
Philadelphia
It's not as if the Eagles are trying to pull themselves out of the ashes, though you wouldn't know it to hear some of the pessimism emanating throughout Philadelphia at this very moment. Yes, the Birds come off a last-place finish. Yes, the Cowboys, Giants, and Redskins all appear to have improved within Philly's division. And yes, in the absence of Terrell Owens, Andy Reid's team once again lacks a bona fide No. 1 receiver. But here's why none of that matters. Donovan McNabb is back and healthy, and let's not forget those three straight NFC Championship appearances that he engineered before Owens disgraced the City of Brotherly Love with his presence. The draft, which netted potential immediate starters in defensive lineman Brodrick Bunkley (Florida State) and offensive tackle Winston Justice (USC), was a boon. In free agency, the team picked up former Saint Darren Howard, a top-of-the-line pass rusher still very much in his prime. And perhaps most significantly, the chemistry on this team will be immeasurably better in Owens' absence, as the players will be more relaxed and Reid won't have to worry about contending with the constant soap opera that was the T.O. saga. Worst to first in the NFC East? It's a distinct possibility.
Cleveland
The Browns' 2006 roster bears little resemblance to the one that Romeo Crennel inherited from Butch Davis prior to last season, when talent-thin Cleveland did well to find a way to win six games. The defensive side of the ball, Crennel's specialty, now has enough quality players to fit the scheme. First- round draft pick Kamerion Wimbley (Florida State) and free agent pickup Willie McGinest will prop up the league's worst pass rush from a year ago. Though a bit long in the tooth, veteran Ted Washington offers the Browns a much-needed d-line presence in the middle of the 3-4. Second-round draft choice and inside linebacker D'Qwell Jackson (Maryland) has a chance to make a million tackles in Crennel's system. Offense is still a concern, in that inexperienced Charlie Frye and Ken Dorsey are currently 1-2 on the depth chart at quarterback, but there is a great deal of promise here as well. Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow both have star potential, and free agent wideout Joe Jurevicius proved last year in Seattle that he can carry the load as a No. 1 receiver if necessary. The offensive line made major strides last season and now has former Saint LeCharles Bentley to anchor the group. Reuben Droughns' off-the- field problems are troubling, but he comes off a 1,000-yard season and can at least keep defenses honest. The AFC North will probably be about the Bengals and Steelers again this year, but the Browns figure to be mighty dangerous as well.
Oakland
Just when you were ready to write the Silver and Black off as a laughingstock, they go out and have their best offseason in recent memory. The Art Shell hiring may have lacked imagination, and the exhumation of Tom Walsh to reclaim offensive coordinator duties after nearly a decade away from the game may have been disconcerting, but a look at the talent on the roster should offer a tremendous amount of hope in Oakland. The defense was the major problem area last year, and the Raiders should be much better in that department. Rookie safeties Michael Huff (Texas) and Darnell Bing (USC) are both talented enough to start, and if free agent corners Tyrone Poole and Duane Starks can remain healthy (a big "if" given their injury history), the secondary should be in fine shape. Former Viking Lance Johnstone gives Oakland the pass rusher it has lacked, and his presence should also free up Warren Sapp to live up to the potential he has yet to realize in a Raider uniform. At quarterback, Aaron Brooks is an upgrade over Kerry Collins, and if Randy Moss and Jerry Porter are both healthy, it is hard to imagine him failing. LaMont Jordan showed glimpses of greatness at running back last season, and the young offensive line appears ready to arrive as well. If the Raiders can have a little better luck with injuries and Shell can help improve the locker room chemistry, a renaissance could be imminent for one of the league's most storied franchises.
Detroit
If you're a Lions fan, and you've seen your team win exactly one playoff game since 1957, you are no doubt chuckling at the mention of this star-crossed franchise in this section. Unless your last name is "Ford," you no doubt think Lions GM Matt Millen is an utter buffoon, and when the organization hired former Tampa Bay d-line coach Rod Marinelli as its latest head coach, you weren't scouting out a spot in Motor City's downtown for when the Super Bowl parade rolls through. But here's why you can allow yourself to believe. The two new coordinators - Mike Martz on offense and Donnie Henderson on defense - are two of the best in the business. Though neither Jon Kitna nor Josh McCown is much of an upgrade over Joey Harrington at the quarterback position, both are tough, likeable guys who won't divide the locker room as did Harrington. McCown, who has the better arm, figures to finish the year as the starter, and he does have some talent (remember Roy Williams, Charles Rogers, and Mike Williams?) with which to work. But the defensive side of the ball is where this team should undergo its greatest transformation. Marinelli added a couple of key pieces like linebacker Ernie Sims (Florida State) and safety Daniel Bullocks (Nebraska) via the draft, and should be able to get more out of talented holdovers like Dre' Bly, Kalimba Edwards, and Shaun Rogers than Steve Mariucci ever could. Plus, the NFC North is still basically up for grabs, meaning this team has a realistic shot to enter December with something to play for.
New Orleans
Well of course the Saints are on the rise, since there's nowhere else to go after a 3-13 season, right? True, but the franchise could be looking at something of a drastic turnaround, rather than just a modest one. The offense was a strong point before Drew Brees and Reggie Bush (USC) were added to the equation, and those two players, along with holdovers Joe Horn, Deuce McAllister, and Donte' Stallworth, will help this team score a lot of points. The defensive front seven will be the biggest concern for first-year head coach Sean Payton's squad, since former starters in end Darren Howard and linebackers Courtney Watson and Sedrick Hodge have all relocated, but there is enough talent within the pass rush (Will Smith, Charles Grant) and in the secondary (Dwight Smith, Mike McKenzie, Josh Bullocks) to ensure that the defense won't be a disaster. And let's not underestimate the fact that the Saints will once again have a home field at which to play and a home city behind the team for an entire year. It's not going to be easy for Payton and company to emerge from a division that includes recent playoff entries in the Panthers, Buccaneers, and Falcons, but the talent is there for the team to at least make an impression in the NFC South.
Honorable Mention: Cardinals, Falcons, Dolphins, Texans, Packers
ON THE DECLINE
Pittsburgh
In the interest of full disclosure, it should be noted that the Steelers were listed in this space last year, when they declined all the way to the Super Bowl title. So I doubt any Pittsburgh fans will be pulling their hair out over the team's presence here. And it's not that I believe the Steelers are on a collision course (sorry, Big Ben, bad choice of words) with 4-12, it's just that I don't think a return trip to the postseason is a foregone conclusion. Jerome Bettis and Antwaan Randle El were both keys to the team's success last year, and I'm skeptical that guys like Duce Staley, Verron Haynes, and Santonio Holmes (Ohio State) can properly replace them. I'm not concerned that Ben Roethlisberger's motorcycle accident will affect either his conditioning or his talents, but I do wonder if there will be a negative impact on his state of mind. The secondary was the defense's weak spot last season, and I don't see a heck of a lot more talent there this year than was present in 2005. Plus, I'm a believer in the Super Bowl hangover, and I think the AFC North (particularly its constituents in the state of Ohio) has only gotten stronger in the offseason. Call me crazy, but I see a lot more indicators pointing to at least a minor fall from grace than to repeat Super Bowl success.
Jacksonville
Everyone seems to be waiting for the Jaguars to rise up and give the Colts some serious competition in the AFC South, but there is a school of thought stating that that window is about to shut. Byron Leftwich has shown only flashes of greatness, and has yet to remain healthy enough to stay on the field for an entire season. His offensive line got better following the acquisition of ex-Bill Mike Williams and veteran Stockar McDougle via free agency, but his weapons at the skill positions are fewer. Jimmy Smith retired and Fred Taylor looks just about done, meaning young talent like wideouts Reggie Williams, Ernest Wilford, and Matt Jones, along with running back Maurice Drew (UCLA) and tight end Marcedes Lewis (UCLA), have the unenviable task of stepping into the void immediately. On defense, the linebacking corps is weaker following the defection of Akin Ayodele to the Cowboys, and offseason acquisition Brian Williams struggled to remain in the starting lineup in Minnesota last season. What's more, Houston and Tennessee don't project as sacrificial lambs again, meaning a top-half finish in the division is in no way conceded to Jack Del Rio's club, as it was last season.
Tampa Bay
Did any head coach in the league do a better job than Jon Gruden last season? The Bucs were picked to do little in the deep NFC South yet went out and won the division, riding a bunch of rookies and spare parts on offense to the franchise's best season since claiming the Super Bowl crown in 2002. But repeating that success is going to be mighty difficult, and not just because the Panthers, Falcons, and Saints have all improved themselves in the offseason. For the '06 Bucs, there appear to be more questions that answers. Can Chris Simms handle a full-time starting role at quarterback? Can the team develop another receiving threat besides the fragile Joey Galloway? Is Cadillac Williams durable enough to carry the rushing load for an entire year? Can the offensive line overachieve again? When will aging defensive leaders like Derrick Brooks and Simeon Rice begin showing their age? If Gruden can work his magic again and answer those questions in a positive way, Tampa Bay has a shot at finding the postseason for a second straight year. But don't count on it.
New England
How dare I bet against the genius of Bill Belichick and the robotic efficiency of Tom Brady? Well actually, I don't dare. The Patriots should still win the AFC East, thanks in large part to the fact that the Dolphins remain in the tinkering phase and the Bills and Jets would have trouble winning NFL Europe in 2006. I do believe, however, that the Pats are not one of the AFC's top two or three Super Bowl contenders, and that signals a decline for the NFL's top franchise of the 00's. The offense is bound to have some growing pains as it tries to find roles for new additions like running back Laurence Maroney and wideouts Chad Jackson and Reche Caldwell. But the defense is where the major trouble looms. The linebacking corps, which lost Willie McGinest to free agency, is aging and failed to locate a potential starter via ether the free agent market or the draft. The secondary is as piecemeal heading into training camp as it was at the end of both 2004 and 2005, with failed veterans like Eric Warfield and Tebucky Jones expected to vie for starting jobs. Belichick and Brady are good enough that the Pats should find their way into the postseason again, but at least for 2006, New England can hardly be ranked among the NFL elite.
Denver
It's not who the Broncos subtracted in the offseason that indicates an imminent decline, it's who they added. The selection of Jay Cutler with the 11th pick of the 2006 Draft means that Jake Plummer is operating on borrowed time, and no matter how the team spins it, there's no way that the presence of both on the roster will be good for morale. As soon as Plummer throws a left- handed interception or flips a fan off from the sideline, Broncos fans are going to start calling for the youngster to play. The much-ballyhooed running game is now in the hands of Tatum Bell and Ron Dayne, and though history suggests that one or both will succeed behind Denver's terrific line, depth at the position looks to be a concern. The addition of Javon Walker helps the receiving corps, but expectations of him should be modest given the fact that he is coming off a major knee injury and will be learning a new scheme. Defensively, there's still no attention-grabbing pass-rusher, and the secondary, with youngsters like Domonique Foxworth and Darrent Williams as well as veterans in Champ Bailey and John Lynch, is still something of a work in progress.
Dishonorable Mention: Bills, Ravens, Bears, Chargers, Vikings
By Tony Moss, NFL Editor
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Roughly two weeks remain until the Philadelphia Eagles become the first of the NFL's 32 teams to report to training camp. By the end of July, each of the league's clubs will be toiling in the mid-summer heat, preparing for a run toward Super Bowl XLI and the equally mild climate of Miami on February 4th.
Before the real fun starts, let's take a look at a handful of teams for which optimism should abound, as well as a few of those who should be concerned as they get set to report:
ON THE RISE
Philadelphia
It's not as if the Eagles are trying to pull themselves out of the ashes, though you wouldn't know it to hear some of the pessimism emanating throughout Philadelphia at this very moment. Yes, the Birds come off a last-place finish. Yes, the Cowboys, Giants, and Redskins all appear to have improved within Philly's division. And yes, in the absence of Terrell Owens, Andy Reid's team once again lacks a bona fide No. 1 receiver. But here's why none of that matters. Donovan McNabb is back and healthy, and let's not forget those three straight NFC Championship appearances that he engineered before Owens disgraced the City of Brotherly Love with his presence. The draft, which netted potential immediate starters in defensive lineman Brodrick Bunkley (Florida State) and offensive tackle Winston Justice (USC), was a boon. In free agency, the team picked up former Saint Darren Howard, a top-of-the-line pass rusher still very much in his prime. And perhaps most significantly, the chemistry on this team will be immeasurably better in Owens' absence, as the players will be more relaxed and Reid won't have to worry about contending with the constant soap opera that was the T.O. saga. Worst to first in the NFC East? It's a distinct possibility.
Cleveland
The Browns' 2006 roster bears little resemblance to the one that Romeo Crennel inherited from Butch Davis prior to last season, when talent-thin Cleveland did well to find a way to win six games. The defensive side of the ball, Crennel's specialty, now has enough quality players to fit the scheme. First- round draft pick Kamerion Wimbley (Florida State) and free agent pickup Willie McGinest will prop up the league's worst pass rush from a year ago. Though a bit long in the tooth, veteran Ted Washington offers the Browns a much-needed d-line presence in the middle of the 3-4. Second-round draft choice and inside linebacker D'Qwell Jackson (Maryland) has a chance to make a million tackles in Crennel's system. Offense is still a concern, in that inexperienced Charlie Frye and Ken Dorsey are currently 1-2 on the depth chart at quarterback, but there is a great deal of promise here as well. Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow both have star potential, and free agent wideout Joe Jurevicius proved last year in Seattle that he can carry the load as a No. 1 receiver if necessary. The offensive line made major strides last season and now has former Saint LeCharles Bentley to anchor the group. Reuben Droughns' off-the- field problems are troubling, but he comes off a 1,000-yard season and can at least keep defenses honest. The AFC North will probably be about the Bengals and Steelers again this year, but the Browns figure to be mighty dangerous as well.
Oakland
Just when you were ready to write the Silver and Black off as a laughingstock, they go out and have their best offseason in recent memory. The Art Shell hiring may have lacked imagination, and the exhumation of Tom Walsh to reclaim offensive coordinator duties after nearly a decade away from the game may have been disconcerting, but a look at the talent on the roster should offer a tremendous amount of hope in Oakland. The defense was the major problem area last year, and the Raiders should be much better in that department. Rookie safeties Michael Huff (Texas) and Darnell Bing (USC) are both talented enough to start, and if free agent corners Tyrone Poole and Duane Starks can remain healthy (a big "if" given their injury history), the secondary should be in fine shape. Former Viking Lance Johnstone gives Oakland the pass rusher it has lacked, and his presence should also free up Warren Sapp to live up to the potential he has yet to realize in a Raider uniform. At quarterback, Aaron Brooks is an upgrade over Kerry Collins, and if Randy Moss and Jerry Porter are both healthy, it is hard to imagine him failing. LaMont Jordan showed glimpses of greatness at running back last season, and the young offensive line appears ready to arrive as well. If the Raiders can have a little better luck with injuries and Shell can help improve the locker room chemistry, a renaissance could be imminent for one of the league's most storied franchises.
Detroit
If you're a Lions fan, and you've seen your team win exactly one playoff game since 1957, you are no doubt chuckling at the mention of this star-crossed franchise in this section. Unless your last name is "Ford," you no doubt think Lions GM Matt Millen is an utter buffoon, and when the organization hired former Tampa Bay d-line coach Rod Marinelli as its latest head coach, you weren't scouting out a spot in Motor City's downtown for when the Super Bowl parade rolls through. But here's why you can allow yourself to believe. The two new coordinators - Mike Martz on offense and Donnie Henderson on defense - are two of the best in the business. Though neither Jon Kitna nor Josh McCown is much of an upgrade over Joey Harrington at the quarterback position, both are tough, likeable guys who won't divide the locker room as did Harrington. McCown, who has the better arm, figures to finish the year as the starter, and he does have some talent (remember Roy Williams, Charles Rogers, and Mike Williams?) with which to work. But the defensive side of the ball is where this team should undergo its greatest transformation. Marinelli added a couple of key pieces like linebacker Ernie Sims (Florida State) and safety Daniel Bullocks (Nebraska) via the draft, and should be able to get more out of talented holdovers like Dre' Bly, Kalimba Edwards, and Shaun Rogers than Steve Mariucci ever could. Plus, the NFC North is still basically up for grabs, meaning this team has a realistic shot to enter December with something to play for.
New Orleans
Well of course the Saints are on the rise, since there's nowhere else to go after a 3-13 season, right? True, but the franchise could be looking at something of a drastic turnaround, rather than just a modest one. The offense was a strong point before Drew Brees and Reggie Bush (USC) were added to the equation, and those two players, along with holdovers Joe Horn, Deuce McAllister, and Donte' Stallworth, will help this team score a lot of points. The defensive front seven will be the biggest concern for first-year head coach Sean Payton's squad, since former starters in end Darren Howard and linebackers Courtney Watson and Sedrick Hodge have all relocated, but there is enough talent within the pass rush (Will Smith, Charles Grant) and in the secondary (Dwight Smith, Mike McKenzie, Josh Bullocks) to ensure that the defense won't be a disaster. And let's not underestimate the fact that the Saints will once again have a home field at which to play and a home city behind the team for an entire year. It's not going to be easy for Payton and company to emerge from a division that includes recent playoff entries in the Panthers, Buccaneers, and Falcons, but the talent is there for the team to at least make an impression in the NFC South.
Honorable Mention: Cardinals, Falcons, Dolphins, Texans, Packers
ON THE DECLINE
Pittsburgh
In the interest of full disclosure, it should be noted that the Steelers were listed in this space last year, when they declined all the way to the Super Bowl title. So I doubt any Pittsburgh fans will be pulling their hair out over the team's presence here. And it's not that I believe the Steelers are on a collision course (sorry, Big Ben, bad choice of words) with 4-12, it's just that I don't think a return trip to the postseason is a foregone conclusion. Jerome Bettis and Antwaan Randle El were both keys to the team's success last year, and I'm skeptical that guys like Duce Staley, Verron Haynes, and Santonio Holmes (Ohio State) can properly replace them. I'm not concerned that Ben Roethlisberger's motorcycle accident will affect either his conditioning or his talents, but I do wonder if there will be a negative impact on his state of mind. The secondary was the defense's weak spot last season, and I don't see a heck of a lot more talent there this year than was present in 2005. Plus, I'm a believer in the Super Bowl hangover, and I think the AFC North (particularly its constituents in the state of Ohio) has only gotten stronger in the offseason. Call me crazy, but I see a lot more indicators pointing to at least a minor fall from grace than to repeat Super Bowl success.
Jacksonville
Everyone seems to be waiting for the Jaguars to rise up and give the Colts some serious competition in the AFC South, but there is a school of thought stating that that window is about to shut. Byron Leftwich has shown only flashes of greatness, and has yet to remain healthy enough to stay on the field for an entire season. His offensive line got better following the acquisition of ex-Bill Mike Williams and veteran Stockar McDougle via free agency, but his weapons at the skill positions are fewer. Jimmy Smith retired and Fred Taylor looks just about done, meaning young talent like wideouts Reggie Williams, Ernest Wilford, and Matt Jones, along with running back Maurice Drew (UCLA) and tight end Marcedes Lewis (UCLA), have the unenviable task of stepping into the void immediately. On defense, the linebacking corps is weaker following the defection of Akin Ayodele to the Cowboys, and offseason acquisition Brian Williams struggled to remain in the starting lineup in Minnesota last season. What's more, Houston and Tennessee don't project as sacrificial lambs again, meaning a top-half finish in the division is in no way conceded to Jack Del Rio's club, as it was last season.
Tampa Bay
Did any head coach in the league do a better job than Jon Gruden last season? The Bucs were picked to do little in the deep NFC South yet went out and won the division, riding a bunch of rookies and spare parts on offense to the franchise's best season since claiming the Super Bowl crown in 2002. But repeating that success is going to be mighty difficult, and not just because the Panthers, Falcons, and Saints have all improved themselves in the offseason. For the '06 Bucs, there appear to be more questions that answers. Can Chris Simms handle a full-time starting role at quarterback? Can the team develop another receiving threat besides the fragile Joey Galloway? Is Cadillac Williams durable enough to carry the rushing load for an entire year? Can the offensive line overachieve again? When will aging defensive leaders like Derrick Brooks and Simeon Rice begin showing their age? If Gruden can work his magic again and answer those questions in a positive way, Tampa Bay has a shot at finding the postseason for a second straight year. But don't count on it.
New England
How dare I bet against the genius of Bill Belichick and the robotic efficiency of Tom Brady? Well actually, I don't dare. The Patriots should still win the AFC East, thanks in large part to the fact that the Dolphins remain in the tinkering phase and the Bills and Jets would have trouble winning NFL Europe in 2006. I do believe, however, that the Pats are not one of the AFC's top two or three Super Bowl contenders, and that signals a decline for the NFL's top franchise of the 00's. The offense is bound to have some growing pains as it tries to find roles for new additions like running back Laurence Maroney and wideouts Chad Jackson and Reche Caldwell. But the defense is where the major trouble looms. The linebacking corps, which lost Willie McGinest to free agency, is aging and failed to locate a potential starter via ether the free agent market or the draft. The secondary is as piecemeal heading into training camp as it was at the end of both 2004 and 2005, with failed veterans like Eric Warfield and Tebucky Jones expected to vie for starting jobs. Belichick and Brady are good enough that the Pats should find their way into the postseason again, but at least for 2006, New England can hardly be ranked among the NFL elite.
Denver
It's not who the Broncos subtracted in the offseason that indicates an imminent decline, it's who they added. The selection of Jay Cutler with the 11th pick of the 2006 Draft means that Jake Plummer is operating on borrowed time, and no matter how the team spins it, there's no way that the presence of both on the roster will be good for morale. As soon as Plummer throws a left- handed interception or flips a fan off from the sideline, Broncos fans are going to start calling for the youngster to play. The much-ballyhooed running game is now in the hands of Tatum Bell and Ron Dayne, and though history suggests that one or both will succeed behind Denver's terrific line, depth at the position looks to be a concern. The addition of Javon Walker helps the receiving corps, but expectations of him should be modest given the fact that he is coming off a major knee injury and will be learning a new scheme. Defensively, there's still no attention-grabbing pass-rusher, and the secondary, with youngsters like Domonique Foxworth and Darrent Williams as well as veterans in Champ Bailey and John Lynch, is still something of a work in progress.
Dishonorable Mention: Bills, Ravens, Bears, Chargers, Vikings