They put a damper on the offseason, I wouldn't say ruin. I find it unfortuanate that for all the Jets did for Coles (drafting him in the 2nd round after being suspended his senior year and sticking with him when he sucked his first 2 years), he basically wanted nothing to do with them after his rookie contract ran out (not negotiating at all with NY, and pleading with them to not match the offer sheet). I don't think Conway will dissapoint though, he no longer has the speed of Coles, but I'm confident he can pick up most of the slack. Plus this will be the first time he'll be playing with a good QB.
The idiot skins offered Morton almost $2 mil a year for a guy that will never start on a regular offense.
Randy Thomas hurts a bit, I really liked the guy, but Nutten is a good lineman in his own right (although I'd prefer Thomas). The Jets seem to have a good track record of raising 2-4th round linemen, I wonder who will step up this year?
Hall is the type of guy you love to see try a 55 yarder, and hate to see going for a 34-yard chip shot. Over his career he actually has a better % from 40-49 yards out than he does from 30-39 yards. He usually put the ball deep in enemy territory on kickoffs, and contributed on the tackling (I remember him once getting called for a 15 yard late hit on a return!) Sad to see another guy the Jets raised from a rookie to go, but I won't sweat nearly as much if the games on the line.
I'll go ahead and do my Miami Dolphins
Offense
QB
Jay Fiedler has the position sewn up. The mobile and fearless leader is on fire right now and is performing better than at any point in his career. Fiedler seems to have elevated his game this offseason and is visibly comfortable and in command of Norv Turner's offense, which is good news for the Dolphins. Fiedler also reported to camp in the best shape of his life. The Phins upgraded the backup position by adding former Broncos starter Brian Griese to the mix. While he is a major upgrade over Ray Lucas, Griese is still not comfortable in the offense as of yet. And it has shown to this point. But make no mistake, when Griese does become familiar with the offense......he will still pose no threat to Fiedler, as Fiedler has shown better arm strength, mobility, toughness, and decision-making. Manning the 3rd spot is Sage Rosenfels, who was aquired via trade from Washington last season. He has preformed well and is creating a buzz. Do not be suprised if he supplants Griese for the #2 spot if given the opportunity.
RB
It's all about Pro Bowl MVP Ricky Williams. Last season, Ricky surpassed all expectations.....getting in shape and rushing for an NFL-best 1,853 yards (8th best all time) and 16 TDs to go with 47 receptions. He has reported in even better shape and should be strong again. Behind him, Travis Minor is deceptive and provides a nice change of pace. But he is smaller and likely cannot take the every-down pounding. Still, he is a lock to make the team. After that, you have the Robert Edwards and Leonard Henry in a dogfight. Edwards amazingly came back from a near amputation of his leg 3.5 years earlier and played a major role in keeping Williams strong down the stretch. The Phins have high hopes for Henry, as he is starting to flash the power, speed, and quicks that helped him average 7 ypc at East Carolina. The winner of this battle would likely step in for Williams if he goes down. The ?4th RB? spot has been given to KR Charlie Rogers.
At FB, Rob Konrad is among the league?s best and is a 2-dimensional FB. He suffered a nasty broken finger against Tampa Thursday and will likely miss the rest of preseason.
WR
This position is largely dependant on Chris Chambers. While he is immensely talented and has shown flashes of brilliance, he has yet to become the dominant #1 WR he can be. As he goes, the passing game goes. Opposite him is Derrius Thompson. At 6-2 220 lbs., he is plenty big. And he has become the MVP of camp. The Phins snagged a good player here from Washington. Behind them is James McKnight, who was the team?s best receiver last season. Oronde Gadsden returned in July, but suffered a severe ankle injury (torn ligaments) and will likely be forced into retirement. He was facing an uphill battle anyway against young guns Sam Simmons and J.R. Tolver. Simmons has looked great and is making a push for the McKnight?s #3 spot. Tolver caught 128 passes last year at San Diego State and is solidifying his spot on the team. If Chambers can step up, this is a very deep and talented group.
TE
4th Round steal Randy McMichael returns for his second season. And he will be featured heavily in the offense. Promising rookie Donald Lee and veteran Marco Battaglia will back him up. Long Snapper Ed Perry was the ?4th TE? on the roster. But he suffered a severe knee injury Friday night and could be lost for the season. Big blow to the special teams unit.
OL
After spending 2001 out of football because he weighted 400 lbs, road-grader Jamie Nails got down to 335 had a solid year at LG. But fate dealt a cruel blow in the form of a torn Achilles tendon at the end of Week 15. Still, Nails battled, kept his weight down, and is amazingly back in the starting lineup today. Steady veterans Tim Ruddy and Todd Perry will again man the C and RG positions respectively. After unsuccessfully pursuing Wayne Gandy and trading into the first round for Eric Steinbach, the Dolphins settled with 3rd round pick Wade Smith and will once again go with converted guard Mark Dixon at LT. While a solid guard, Dixon is small and only an average tackle. Fortunately, the LT does not have to be spectacular in Norv Turner?s offense. 3rd year pro Todd Wade returns at RT. Depth has improved mightily. This is a very good run blocking line that struggles in pass protection, which must improve if the deep passing game is to succeed.
Defense
DL
DE Jason Taylor returns after leading the league with 18.5 sacks. Taylor is also a force against the run is arguably the best DE in the league. Opposite him is Adewale ?Wally? Ogunleye. After ripping apart his knee at Indiana in 2000, Wally rewarded the Dolphins patience in the form of solid run defense and 9.5 sacks in ?02. Inside, the Dolphins have beef in the form of Tim Bowens and Larry Chester (who has a 680 lb bench press). These players keep the LBs clean and allow them to make plays. Former Ram Jeff Zgonina is the 3rd DT in the mix. Jay Williams and Rob Burnett proved depth at DE and also move inside on 3rd downs. David Bowens plays a similar role, but is lost until at least November after tearing his ACL while changing a lightbulb.
LB
Zach Thomas returns once again after recording 195 tackles last season. The Phins upgraded the weakside by trading away Derrick Rodgers and trading for Junior Seau, who is providing much needed fire. At SLB, Morlon Greenwood is the current starter. Rookie Eddie Moore was drafted in the 2nd round and was competing with Greewood for the starting job. But Moore has suffered a foot injury and is out at least a month. Corey Jenkins is another rookie who is making the switch from quarterback. And so far, it appears that the Dolphins gambled correctly, as Jenkins is wowing them with the instincts and hitting ability to play the position. Inside, special teams ace Tommy Hendricks backs up Thomas.
CB
Patrick Surtain and Sam Madison combine to form the best CB tandem in the league. Surtain joined the NFL?s elite last season and earned a Pro Bowl berth. Although he recently re-injured his knee, Pat should be ready by Week 1. Returning to Miami to play nickelback will be playmaker Terrell Buckley. Former #1 pick Jamar Fletcher has proven ready for the challenge and has enjoyed an excellent offseason. Miami is truly four deep here.
S
The Dolphins field two ballhawking hitters here. At FS, Brock Marion returns. In the past three season, Marion has grabbed 15 INTs for 398 yards and 2 TDs. At SS, the Dolphins upgraded with the addition of Sammy Knight. In his 6 seasons, Knight has banged out 28 INTs, 4 TDs, 5 sacks, 10 fumbles recovered, and 63 passes defended. He has also averaged 104 tackles/year. To accommodate Knight, rangy Arturo Freeman moves to the bench and backs up both safety spots. Freeman is the heir apparent to Marion?s FS spot.
Special Teams
K Olindo Mare had an off year by his standards in 2002. But he still remains the league?s 2nd most accurate kicker of all time. At punter, a competition is growing between veteran Mark Royals and NFL Europe rookie Kevin Stemke. Shifty Charlie Rogers has been brought in to be the new return man. As mentioned above, the team has lost Ed Perry to a torn ACL and young Chip Mattingly will be signed.
Offense
QB
Jay Fiedler has the position sewn up. The mobile and fearless leader is on fire right now and is performing better than at any point in his career. Fiedler seems to have elevated his game this offseason and is visibly comfortable and in command of Norv Turner's offense, which is good news for the Dolphins. Fiedler also reported to camp in the best shape of his life. The Phins upgraded the backup position by adding former Broncos starter Brian Griese to the mix. While he is a major upgrade over Ray Lucas, Griese is still not comfortable in the offense as of yet. And it has shown to this point. But make no mistake, when Griese does become familiar with the offense......he will still pose no threat to Fiedler, as Fiedler has shown better arm strength, mobility, toughness, and decision-making. Manning the 3rd spot is Sage Rosenfels, who was aquired via trade from Washington last season. He has preformed well and is creating a buzz. Do not be suprised if he supplants Griese for the #2 spot if given the opportunity.
RB
It's all about Pro Bowl MVP Ricky Williams. Last season, Ricky surpassed all expectations.....getting in shape and rushing for an NFL-best 1,853 yards (8th best all time) and 16 TDs to go with 47 receptions. He has reported in even better shape and should be strong again. Behind him, Travis Minor is deceptive and provides a nice change of pace. But he is smaller and likely cannot take the every-down pounding. Still, he is a lock to make the team. After that, you have the Robert Edwards and Leonard Henry in a dogfight. Edwards amazingly came back from a near amputation of his leg 3.5 years earlier and played a major role in keeping Williams strong down the stretch. The Phins have high hopes for Henry, as he is starting to flash the power, speed, and quicks that helped him average 7 ypc at East Carolina. The winner of this battle would likely step in for Williams if he goes down. The ?4th RB? spot has been given to KR Charlie Rogers.
At FB, Rob Konrad is among the league?s best and is a 2-dimensional FB. He suffered a nasty broken finger against Tampa Thursday and will likely miss the rest of preseason.
WR
This position is largely dependant on Chris Chambers. While he is immensely talented and has shown flashes of brilliance, he has yet to become the dominant #1 WR he can be. As he goes, the passing game goes. Opposite him is Derrius Thompson. At 6-2 220 lbs., he is plenty big. And he has become the MVP of camp. The Phins snagged a good player here from Washington. Behind them is James McKnight, who was the team?s best receiver last season. Oronde Gadsden returned in July, but suffered a severe ankle injury (torn ligaments) and will likely be forced into retirement. He was facing an uphill battle anyway against young guns Sam Simmons and J.R. Tolver. Simmons has looked great and is making a push for the McKnight?s #3 spot. Tolver caught 128 passes last year at San Diego State and is solidifying his spot on the team. If Chambers can step up, this is a very deep and talented group.
TE
4th Round steal Randy McMichael returns for his second season. And he will be featured heavily in the offense. Promising rookie Donald Lee and veteran Marco Battaglia will back him up. Long Snapper Ed Perry was the ?4th TE? on the roster. But he suffered a severe knee injury Friday night and could be lost for the season. Big blow to the special teams unit.
OL
After spending 2001 out of football because he weighted 400 lbs, road-grader Jamie Nails got down to 335 had a solid year at LG. But fate dealt a cruel blow in the form of a torn Achilles tendon at the end of Week 15. Still, Nails battled, kept his weight down, and is amazingly back in the starting lineup today. Steady veterans Tim Ruddy and Todd Perry will again man the C and RG positions respectively. After unsuccessfully pursuing Wayne Gandy and trading into the first round for Eric Steinbach, the Dolphins settled with 3rd round pick Wade Smith and will once again go with converted guard Mark Dixon at LT. While a solid guard, Dixon is small and only an average tackle. Fortunately, the LT does not have to be spectacular in Norv Turner?s offense. 3rd year pro Todd Wade returns at RT. Depth has improved mightily. This is a very good run blocking line that struggles in pass protection, which must improve if the deep passing game is to succeed.
Defense
DL
DE Jason Taylor returns after leading the league with 18.5 sacks. Taylor is also a force against the run is arguably the best DE in the league. Opposite him is Adewale ?Wally? Ogunleye. After ripping apart his knee at Indiana in 2000, Wally rewarded the Dolphins patience in the form of solid run defense and 9.5 sacks in ?02. Inside, the Dolphins have beef in the form of Tim Bowens and Larry Chester (who has a 680 lb bench press). These players keep the LBs clean and allow them to make plays. Former Ram Jeff Zgonina is the 3rd DT in the mix. Jay Williams and Rob Burnett proved depth at DE and also move inside on 3rd downs. David Bowens plays a similar role, but is lost until at least November after tearing his ACL while changing a lightbulb.
LB
Zach Thomas returns once again after recording 195 tackles last season. The Phins upgraded the weakside by trading away Derrick Rodgers and trading for Junior Seau, who is providing much needed fire. At SLB, Morlon Greenwood is the current starter. Rookie Eddie Moore was drafted in the 2nd round and was competing with Greewood for the starting job. But Moore has suffered a foot injury and is out at least a month. Corey Jenkins is another rookie who is making the switch from quarterback. And so far, it appears that the Dolphins gambled correctly, as Jenkins is wowing them with the instincts and hitting ability to play the position. Inside, special teams ace Tommy Hendricks backs up Thomas.
CB
Patrick Surtain and Sam Madison combine to form the best CB tandem in the league. Surtain joined the NFL?s elite last season and earned a Pro Bowl berth. Although he recently re-injured his knee, Pat should be ready by Week 1. Returning to Miami to play nickelback will be playmaker Terrell Buckley. Former #1 pick Jamar Fletcher has proven ready for the challenge and has enjoyed an excellent offseason. Miami is truly four deep here.
S
The Dolphins field two ballhawking hitters here. At FS, Brock Marion returns. In the past three season, Marion has grabbed 15 INTs for 398 yards and 2 TDs. At SS, the Dolphins upgraded with the addition of Sammy Knight. In his 6 seasons, Knight has banged out 28 INTs, 4 TDs, 5 sacks, 10 fumbles recovered, and 63 passes defended. He has also averaged 104 tackles/year. To accommodate Knight, rangy Arturo Freeman moves to the bench and backs up both safety spots. Freeman is the heir apparent to Marion?s FS spot.
Special Teams
K Olindo Mare had an off year by his standards in 2002. But he still remains the league?s 2nd most accurate kicker of all time. At punter, a competition is growing between veteran Mark Royals and NFL Europe rookie Kevin Stemke. Shifty Charlie Rogers has been brought in to be the new return man. As mentioned above, the team has lost Ed Perry to a torn ACL and young Chip Mattingly will be signed.
And the home..of the..CHIEFS!!!
Offense
QB
Trent Green is coming off a great season, probably the best season of his career. 92.6 passer rating, 3rd best AFC, 4th best NFL. Has had some problems with his anke, and knees, but he has started 32 regular games in a row for the Chiefs, and isn't looking to quit now. I feel our depth at this position is weak, so hopefully Trent will hold up and have a year like last year.
RB
All eyes are on Priest Holmes. Is he healthy? I believe so. I've seen him take about 12 snaps this preseason, and he hasn't flinched once. Many people who don't know much about the situation might compare the injury to Bo Jacksons, but Bo dislocated his hip. Priest just had some loose bodies in his hip, and had surgery to remove them. I am confident that he will be as productive, if not more, as last year. Backups situation is a bit cloudy at this point. Derrick Blaylock has great speed, but not much power, and he is pretty small. Jarmar Julien is basically the same, and Larry Johnson needs quite a bit more work as he doesn't seem polished enough to get any real playing time.
WR
Eddie Kennison had the 2nd highest average yards per catch in the NFL, he was good at making big plays. Johnnie Morton on the other side, had very limited production last year, but we are looking to see alot more out of him this year. He switched to the "Z" slot, a place where he is more comfortable at, and so far it seems he has become quicker and has had more stamina. The receiving corps is rounded out by Dante Hall (pro-bowl kick returner), Marc Boerigter, and a soon to be named 5th WR. I am guessing it will be Marvin "Snoop" Minnis. He has shown quite a bit of progress after his injury last year. Except alot more out of these receivers than last year, as they didn't get much production out of any of them last year.
TE
Tony Gonzalez. That should be enough right? Most see him as the best tight end in the game, and share that view. His production was down from last year, but I attribute that to him sitting out of training camp last summer, and more offensive weapons this year. He still had the most TD's out of all the tight ends in the league, and 2nd most receptions (behind Todd Heap). He is also a decent blocker, and can make some very impressive catches. Backups include Jason Dunn, Billy Baber, and veteran long-snapper Kendall Gammon.
OL
One of the best O-Lines in the game. Pro-bowler Tackle Willie Roaf, Pro-bowler Guard Will Shields. John Tait has made tons of progress after being moved to right tackle, and Brian Waters is a very impressive young guard. Casey Weigman in the middle. They provide great protection for Trent (8th in the NFL for sacks allowed), but they excel as a run-blocking unit, allowing Priest to run wild.
Defense
DL
A re-vamped D-Line gives this sad sad defense new hope for 2003. Gone is Duane Clemons, who only had 2 sacks all of last year. In his Vonnie Holliday, who is known more as a run stopper, but Drew Bledsoe will never forget the day when he was sacked by Holliday 5 times. R-Kal Truluck has shown tremendous speed as a pass-rush specialist, and he will be used as just that at left end. Right end Eric Hicks had a decent season last year, but we still need more production out of him. Our first round draft pick of 2002, Ryan Sims, is now healthy, and we are counting on him and veteran John Browning to anchor the unit up front.
LB
Probably the biggest addition on defense was the signing of Shawn Barber from Philly, at weak-side linebacker. Mike Maslowski lead the team in tackles last year, and he will be now moved to middle linebacker, where he is most comfortable at. Strong-side linebacker is 2nd year veteran Scott Fujita, who won the teams honor of defense rookie of the year. Overall this linebacking corps has amazing speed, and should take some pressure off the secondary in passing situations, and have the ability to blitz as well. 13 year vet Marvcus Patton retired, and we terminated the contract of the aging Lew Bush.
CB
Our corners caught a lot of heat last year for allowing the big play, some of which was deserved, but most of which was not. Corners have a hard time playing man to man situations when there is a significant lack of pressure on the QB. I believe the situation will improve this year, so we won't have to rely on them as much. Eric Warfield made some big plays, and some critical interceptions last season. William Bartee had 0 interceptions, and he got burnt ALOT (including saturday night). He doesn't turn around to see the ball, and he doesn't react to the receiver putting up his hands to catch the ball. This will all have to change very quickly, or he will be replaced by our new veteran CB, Dextor McCleon from the St. Louis Rams. I think that would be the best, as we could have Bartee be the nickelback in those types of situations. No more Ray Crockett (thank god)
S
We lost Jerome Woods in a pre-season game last year, which hurt us all season, and made us rely much more on Greg Wesley, who played very well, but still missed a few games due to injury. Greg Wesley had 6 picks last year (lead the team, tied 3rd NFL). He also looked like a MONSTER out there saturday night. He was there on every tackle, and played some very good coverage downs. Shaunard Harts is one of our reliable backups, who got quite a bit of playing time last year due to injuries.
Special Teams
Morten Anderson appears to be healthy, but im not sure if we are going to use him for kickoffs or not yet. The punter I believe we are going to sign, Jason Baker, has experience with kickoffs, so it will just boil down to who can do it better. Morten is automatic under 40 yards, and he has the ability to kick the long field goal too, as long as his leg is in good shape. Jason Baker impressed me with 3 50+ yard punts on saturday night, so I look for him to be our long term solution at punter. Kick/Punt returner Dante Hall, we are always on the edge of our seats when he returns one. Last season he had back to back games where he returned a punt for a touchdown, and had one game where he returned a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown. Don't expect any long-snapping mishaps, as Kendall Gammon is one of the best.
Overall
I expect the 2003 Kansas City Chiefs to win the AFC West division, and make a run at the superbowl. This may sound like nonsense to those non-believers out there, but Vermeil has done it twice in his 3rd year with 2 other teams. Remember the 98 rams? 4-12. 99, they took the Superbowl. Expect the same here from the 8-8 KC Chiefs, who have all of the components in place for a Championship season.
Offense
QB
Trent Green is coming off a great season, probably the best season of his career. 92.6 passer rating, 3rd best AFC, 4th best NFL. Has had some problems with his anke, and knees, but he has started 32 regular games in a row for the Chiefs, and isn't looking to quit now. I feel our depth at this position is weak, so hopefully Trent will hold up and have a year like last year.
RB
All eyes are on Priest Holmes. Is he healthy? I believe so. I've seen him take about 12 snaps this preseason, and he hasn't flinched once. Many people who don't know much about the situation might compare the injury to Bo Jacksons, but Bo dislocated his hip. Priest just had some loose bodies in his hip, and had surgery to remove them. I am confident that he will be as productive, if not more, as last year. Backups situation is a bit cloudy at this point. Derrick Blaylock has great speed, but not much power, and he is pretty small. Jarmar Julien is basically the same, and Larry Johnson needs quite a bit more work as he doesn't seem polished enough to get any real playing time.
WR
Eddie Kennison had the 2nd highest average yards per catch in the NFL, he was good at making big plays. Johnnie Morton on the other side, had very limited production last year, but we are looking to see alot more out of him this year. He switched to the "Z" slot, a place where he is more comfortable at, and so far it seems he has become quicker and has had more stamina. The receiving corps is rounded out by Dante Hall (pro-bowl kick returner), Marc Boerigter, and a soon to be named 5th WR. I am guessing it will be Marvin "Snoop" Minnis. He has shown quite a bit of progress after his injury last year. Except alot more out of these receivers than last year, as they didn't get much production out of any of them last year.
TE
Tony Gonzalez. That should be enough right? Most see him as the best tight end in the game, and share that view. His production was down from last year, but I attribute that to him sitting out of training camp last summer, and more offensive weapons this year. He still had the most TD's out of all the tight ends in the league, and 2nd most receptions (behind Todd Heap). He is also a decent blocker, and can make some very impressive catches. Backups include Jason Dunn, Billy Baber, and veteran long-snapper Kendall Gammon.
OL
One of the best O-Lines in the game. Pro-bowler Tackle Willie Roaf, Pro-bowler Guard Will Shields. John Tait has made tons of progress after being moved to right tackle, and Brian Waters is a very impressive young guard. Casey Weigman in the middle. They provide great protection for Trent (8th in the NFL for sacks allowed), but they excel as a run-blocking unit, allowing Priest to run wild.
Defense
DL
A re-vamped D-Line gives this sad sad defense new hope for 2003. Gone is Duane Clemons, who only had 2 sacks all of last year. In his Vonnie Holliday, who is known more as a run stopper, but Drew Bledsoe will never forget the day when he was sacked by Holliday 5 times. R-Kal Truluck has shown tremendous speed as a pass-rush specialist, and he will be used as just that at left end. Right end Eric Hicks had a decent season last year, but we still need more production out of him. Our first round draft pick of 2002, Ryan Sims, is now healthy, and we are counting on him and veteran John Browning to anchor the unit up front.
LB
Probably the biggest addition on defense was the signing of Shawn Barber from Philly, at weak-side linebacker. Mike Maslowski lead the team in tackles last year, and he will be now moved to middle linebacker, where he is most comfortable at. Strong-side linebacker is 2nd year veteran Scott Fujita, who won the teams honor of defense rookie of the year. Overall this linebacking corps has amazing speed, and should take some pressure off the secondary in passing situations, and have the ability to blitz as well. 13 year vet Marvcus Patton retired, and we terminated the contract of the aging Lew Bush.
CB
Our corners caught a lot of heat last year for allowing the big play, some of which was deserved, but most of which was not. Corners have a hard time playing man to man situations when there is a significant lack of pressure on the QB. I believe the situation will improve this year, so we won't have to rely on them as much. Eric Warfield made some big plays, and some critical interceptions last season. William Bartee had 0 interceptions, and he got burnt ALOT (including saturday night). He doesn't turn around to see the ball, and he doesn't react to the receiver putting up his hands to catch the ball. This will all have to change very quickly, or he will be replaced by our new veteran CB, Dextor McCleon from the St. Louis Rams. I think that would be the best, as we could have Bartee be the nickelback in those types of situations. No more Ray Crockett (thank god)
S
We lost Jerome Woods in a pre-season game last year, which hurt us all season, and made us rely much more on Greg Wesley, who played very well, but still missed a few games due to injury. Greg Wesley had 6 picks last year (lead the team, tied 3rd NFL). He also looked like a MONSTER out there saturday night. He was there on every tackle, and played some very good coverage downs. Shaunard Harts is one of our reliable backups, who got quite a bit of playing time last year due to injuries.
Special Teams
Morten Anderson appears to be healthy, but im not sure if we are going to use him for kickoffs or not yet. The punter I believe we are going to sign, Jason Baker, has experience with kickoffs, so it will just boil down to who can do it better. Morten is automatic under 40 yards, and he has the ability to kick the long field goal too, as long as his leg is in good shape. Jason Baker impressed me with 3 50+ yard punts on saturday night, so I look for him to be our long term solution at punter. Kick/Punt returner Dante Hall, we are always on the edge of our seats when he returns one. Last season he had back to back games where he returned a punt for a touchdown, and had one game where he returned a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown. Don't expect any long-snapping mishaps, as Kendall Gammon is one of the best.
Overall
I expect the 2003 Kansas City Chiefs to win the AFC West division, and make a run at the superbowl. This may sound like nonsense to those non-believers out there, but Vermeil has done it twice in his 3rd year with 2 other teams. Remember the 98 rams? 4-12. 99, they took the Superbowl. Expect the same here from the 8-8 KC Chiefs, who have all of the components in place for a Championship season.
ok i guess i get to do the Bengals...
a lot of these are short because too much Bengals talk always makes me depressed
Offense
Quarterback
Well for this year its gonna be Kitna all the way. Palmer had a bad first preseason game, but everyone is confident he will be strong in the future. Kitna goes on streaks and as long as he doesnt start slumping early he should be ok. The one thing he needs to learn how to do is hold onto the ball, he fumbles more then any other QB in the league. Also once he fumbles or throws a TD he tries to overcompensate a lot causing more problems.
Wide reciever
This is Peter Warrick's final time to try and proove that he can play NFL football, so far he has been a major dissappointment. If he does not improve drastically this year I think his time in the NFL will be very limited. On the other hand, watch out for CHAD JOHNSON, keyshawns cousin, he has become the Bengals #1 threat in the WR position and we be extremelly improved this year. Look for big things from him. Also hopefully T.J. Houshmandzadeh will do better this year.
Tight End
Nothing really to brag about here. Brad St. Loius is decent and hopefully the Tight End will have a bigger role this year
Running Back
Dillon still maintains to be one of best RB's in football. He is our #1 offensive threat and will continue to do so this year and the future. One major difference this year is his attitude, previously known for such comments as "I'd rather be flipping burgers then playing for the Bengals" has turned into "We are going to win the division this year"
Full Back
Lost our only pro bowl player from last year but to quote Dillon- I got my yards before he was here and I will get them after he is gone.
Offensive Line
Always a concern with the Bengals, but every year it seems a little better.
Now for the fun part :
Defense
Linebackers
Lost one of the leagues best linebackers Takeo Spikes and have replaced him with older not as talented players- not good. Did keep Brian Simmons which has been a very good linebacker and should continue to do so
Cornerbacks
This has always been a problem for the bengals, but this year with the addition of Dennis Weathersby they should be better, assuming he has gotten back into top ability after being shot right before the draft.
Safety
We Suck
Special Teams
Hopefully better then last year
Premature Prediction
Well this is hard...I want to say we will do better then last year and maybe even contend, but i have said that for the last 10 years...
a lot of these are short because too much Bengals talk always makes me depressed
Offense
Quarterback
Well for this year its gonna be Kitna all the way. Palmer had a bad first preseason game, but everyone is confident he will be strong in the future. Kitna goes on streaks and as long as he doesnt start slumping early he should be ok. The one thing he needs to learn how to do is hold onto the ball, he fumbles more then any other QB in the league. Also once he fumbles or throws a TD he tries to overcompensate a lot causing more problems.
Wide reciever
This is Peter Warrick's final time to try and proove that he can play NFL football, so far he has been a major dissappointment. If he does not improve drastically this year I think his time in the NFL will be very limited. On the other hand, watch out for CHAD JOHNSON, keyshawns cousin, he has become the Bengals #1 threat in the WR position and we be extremelly improved this year. Look for big things from him. Also hopefully T.J. Houshmandzadeh will do better this year.
Tight End
Nothing really to brag about here. Brad St. Loius is decent and hopefully the Tight End will have a bigger role this year
Running Back
Dillon still maintains to be one of best RB's in football. He is our #1 offensive threat and will continue to do so this year and the future. One major difference this year is his attitude, previously known for such comments as "I'd rather be flipping burgers then playing for the Bengals" has turned into "We are going to win the division this year"
Full Back
Lost our only pro bowl player from last year but to quote Dillon- I got my yards before he was here and I will get them after he is gone.
Offensive Line
Always a concern with the Bengals, but every year it seems a little better.
Now for the fun part :
Defense
Linebackers
Lost one of the leagues best linebackers Takeo Spikes and have replaced him with older not as talented players- not good. Did keep Brian Simmons which has been a very good linebacker and should continue to do so
Cornerbacks
This has always been a problem for the bengals, but this year with the addition of Dennis Weathersby they should be better, assuming he has gotten back into top ability after being shot right before the draft.
Safety
We Suck
Special Teams
Hopefully better then last year
Premature Prediction
Well this is hard...I want to say we will do better then last year and maybe even contend, but i have said that for the last 10 years...
Being from LA... I don't really have an obvious pick... I'm excited to see what the Falcons do this year.
I no football expert, I'm sure everyone can look up various breakdowns at ESPN.com, or maybe someone can give ME some insight on my team, but here's what I'll be looking out for...
QB - Mike Vick
I don't know about consistency or accuracy or any of that. I know he had only 8 INTs last season, and I think that's good for a 2nd year QB, right? Maybe it's cause where I'm from we like things flashy, but no one can deny that Vick is a freakin' human highlight reel. He makes football exciting to watch, and at the same time, appears to have none of that superstar-ego that drive fans away.
I joined the Vick bandwagon from back in his days playing for Virgina Tech. Of course, he'll need some help from the rest of the offense.
I pray that the chemistry between him and Peerless Price. Also, Warrick Dunn semed out of place last season, hopefully he'll get more productive numbers.
Even though I love it when Vick slices and dices on the scramble, I look forward to cheering over better passing this season.
I wish I could break down the defense, but like I said, I'm no expert.
I no football expert, I'm sure everyone can look up various breakdowns at ESPN.com, or maybe someone can give ME some insight on my team, but here's what I'll be looking out for...
QB - Mike Vick
I don't know about consistency or accuracy or any of that. I know he had only 8 INTs last season, and I think that's good for a 2nd year QB, right? Maybe it's cause where I'm from we like things flashy, but no one can deny that Vick is a freakin' human highlight reel. He makes football exciting to watch, and at the same time, appears to have none of that superstar-ego that drive fans away.
I joined the Vick bandwagon from back in his days playing for Virgina Tech. Of course, he'll need some help from the rest of the offense.
I pray that the chemistry between him and Peerless Price. Also, Warrick Dunn semed out of place last season, hopefully he'll get more productive numbers.
Even though I love it when Vick slices and dices on the scramble, I look forward to cheering over better passing this season.
I wish I could break down the defense, but like I said, I'm no expert.
As for insight on the Falcons, i'd say you are right on target. They had a good defense last year, with Keith Brooking (IMO) leading the way. This was Vicks 2nd year in the NFL, and 1st year as a starter..and they made it 2 deep into the playoffs, embarassing the Pack at home. Pretty darn good if you ask me. If he can stay healthy, which means he needs to stop taking so many hits, the Falcons have a good chance at the NFC North. Problem being its such a tough division. Also, they need more production out of Warrick Dunn AND/OR TJ Duckett. McCord and Price will make a great recieving tandem. Vick makes the team one of the most exciting teams to watch!
Lets get some predictions. Here are my premature preseason predictions. I know mathematically this may be impossible due to divisional losses/wins..but these are my approx. predictions. Of course im a bit KC biased!
* wild card
AFC North
1. Baltimore 11-5
2. Pittsburgh 9-7
3. Cleveland 9-7
4. Cincinatti 4-12
AFC East
1. Miami 12-4
2. New York* 11-5
3. Buffalo 9-7
4. New England 6-10
AFC South
1. Indianapolis 13-3
2. Tennessee 10-6
3. Houston 6-10
4. Jacksonville 3-13
AFC West
1. Kansas City 12-4
2. Denver 11-5 *
3. Oakland 9-7
4. San Diego 5-11
NFC North
1. Green Bay 10-6
2. Minnesota 9-7
3. Chicago 8-8
4. Detroit 4-12
NFC East
1. New York 12-4
2. Philadelphia 10-6
3. Washington 9-7
4. Dallas 3-13
NFC South
1. Tampa Bay 13-3
2. Atlanta 11-5 *
3. New Orleans 11-5 *
4. Carolina 9-7
NFC West
1. St Louis 11-5
2. Seattle 10-6
3. San Fransisco 6-10
4. Arizona 5-11
AFC Champions : Kansas City
NFC Champions: St. Louis
Super Bowl: Kansas City
* wild card
AFC North
1. Baltimore 11-5
2. Pittsburgh 9-7
3. Cleveland 9-7
4. Cincinatti 4-12
AFC East
1. Miami 12-4
2. New York* 11-5
3. Buffalo 9-7
4. New England 6-10
AFC South
1. Indianapolis 13-3
2. Tennessee 10-6
3. Houston 6-10
4. Jacksonville 3-13
AFC West
1. Kansas City 12-4
2. Denver 11-5 *
3. Oakland 9-7
4. San Diego 5-11
NFC North
1. Green Bay 10-6
2. Minnesota 9-7
3. Chicago 8-8
4. Detroit 4-12
NFC East
1. New York 12-4
2. Philadelphia 10-6
3. Washington 9-7
4. Dallas 3-13
NFC South
1. Tampa Bay 13-3
2. Atlanta 11-5 *
3. New Orleans 11-5 *
4. Carolina 9-7
NFC West
1. St Louis 11-5
2. Seattle 10-6
3. San Fransisco 6-10
4. Arizona 5-11
AFC Champions : Kansas City
NFC Champions: St. Louis
Super Bowl: Kansas City
I have to fight you on this one, saulbadguy. How do you place NE at only 6 wins? They are a better team this year than last, with one of the smartest coaching staffs in the NFL. I hate Oakland, but they are a better team than 9-7.
Lastly, I know you're a Chiefs fan, but I can't believe that they will win the Super Bowl. Then again, before last year, the previous 3 teams come out of absolutely nowhere to win, so it is possible.
Feel free to rub this post in my face if your Chiefs do win, though.
Lastly, I know you're a Chiefs fan, but I can't believe that they will win the Super Bowl. Then again, before last year, the previous 3 teams come out of absolutely nowhere to win, so it is possible.
Feel free to rub this post in my face if your Chiefs do win, though.
Originally posted by: ClueLis
I have to fight you on this one, saulbadguy. How do you place NE at only 6 wins? They are a better team this year than last, with one of the smartest coaching staffs in the NFL. I hate Oakland, but they are a better team than 9-7.
Lastly, I know you're a Chiefs fan, but I can't believe that they will win the Super Bowl. Then again, before last year, the previous 3 teams come out of absolutely nowhere to win, so it is possible.
Feel free to rub this post in my face if your Chiefs do win, though.
Hehe..Oakland has lost alot on defense, and I know this has been said before...but how many of the 35 year+ guys can keep going? Tim Brown, Jerry Rice, Rich Gannon, Romo...? I mean..come on..give me an injury or two!
New England, my theory on them is they are playing in a much better division this year, where EVERYONE got stronger, and they have no running game. People have been waiting for Faulk or Smith to come around...nope, not gonna happen. And signing Mike Cloud was a joke. Adding Colvin was a positive, but I don't think their D will hold up well. We've seen 2 years of Brady...I still dont feel he is an established "winner".
As for the Chiefs..I gotta believe! Although..I believe this year is the best chance they have had in quite awhile.
How on Earth are you putting the Niners at 6-10? If I had time, I'd do a detailed breakdown, but there's no way they're not winning the NFC West this year.
Don't see that Brady's a "winner"? He led the NFL in TDs last year, threw for over 3700 yards at a 62% completion rate to a halfway decent recieving corps. I agree that the running game is still lacking, but the defense is MUCH stronger than last year IMO, even with the loss of Jones.
I agree that all the teams in the AFC East (except possibly the Jets) have improved themselves, but 6-10? My guess is that the division will be like last year, with all of the teams at .500 and above, with only a small margin of separation.
I agree that all the teams in the AFC East (except possibly the Jets) have improved themselves, but 6-10? My guess is that the division will be like last year, with all of the teams at .500 and above, with only a small margin of separation.
Dennis Erickson. He is cursed. Various other components missing throughout the defense. Garcia, injury problems. I have no faith in Barlow, and Hearst is getting pretty long in the tooth. Just an opinion though.
Who knows. Im not saying I will be right, its just a prediction. I haven't even looked at schedules. I've seen weirder things happen. Like the Rams starting 0-5 last year...
- I am unsure about Erickson, so I'll give you that one. I thought getting rid of Marriucci was a good move (not that he did horribly, just seemed a bit stagnant), but thought they could have had a better replacement. I hope I'm wrong.
- Yes, Garcia has back problems, but quarterback issues have never been a problem for the niners. If Garcia gets hurt, Rattay has had a good offseason, and if they get in real trouble... Walsh will work his magic. This is time-tested truth.
- Running back??? They have this position COVERED. With Hearst, Barlow, Beasley, and Smith all great to above average backs, they have the depth to keep their ground game alive. (they've had excellent stats for the past 3 years)
- Owens is the best receiver in the league, hands down. and with the drama of marriucci out of the wya, maybe it'll make his game even better
- Picked up Chandler as their kicker, which hopefully will work out, since this is a position they have been burned on numerous times
- Defense could go either way. Lots of young guys, but Peterson and Smith are nasty linebackers, while PLummer and Webster are pretty good corners
11-5. My prediction.
Haha..didnt see that. Personally im a fan of QB Eagles. He can run, pass..do anything! GOLIC on the D-Line..we will win it all baby.
Haha..didnt see that. Personally im a fan of QB Eagles. He can run, pass..do anything! GOLIC on the D-Line..we will win it all baby.
Peterson is a dirty player
:disgust:
Rattay did decent, but I was more impressed by Dorsey in his first outing. I also noticed the 1st string line not giving much protection...maybe this is why I believe the RB's dont do well. Owens is definately the most athletic out of all the receivers..I don't know about the best, but damned near. I thought getting rid of mooch was ALL politics..it upset me, and I think it will come back on them.
As for overall, I won't put exact records for each team, but in the AFC I expect the EAST and the WEST completely embarass the NORTH and SOUTH. It is real difficult picking out just 4 teams out of those divisions making the playoffs, but I expect 3 from the East.
Everyone's down on the Jets, but as I said earlier, I don't expect a down year. They lost a little, but they're also gaining health, and a monster on the D-Line. If htey had played all year like they did the last 1/2 the season, they would have been 12-4/13-3, so even if they slipped slightly (which I don't think they have), then they're still an excellent team.
Everyone's down on the Jets, but as I said earlier, I don't expect a down year. They lost a little, but they're also gaining health, and a monster on the D-Line. If htey had played all year like they did the last 1/2 the season, they would have been 12-4/13-3, so even if they slipped slightly (which I don't think they have), then they're still an excellent team.
Oakland didn't lose anything on defense, Sam Adams is gone to the bills, Regan Upshaw is gone, and Tory James is gone. They added Dana Stubblefield who more than takes the place of Sam Adams, Regan Upshaw was hurt last season so he didn't contribute to them getting to the super bowl and will not be missed, Tory James will be replaced by Phillip Buchanon and Terrance Shaw. They added rookie Tyler Brayton who has played outstanding so far in preseason. Napolean Harris and Phillip Buchanon were both rookies last year they will be much more comfortable and play better this year. Sorry to rain on your parade there but if anything the defense has been upgraded from last season.
It may just be pre season but the Cowboys kicked the crap out of the Texans last night. Still no starting QB. Will be interesting to see how Romo the undrafted rookie will do at starting QB next week, he made some mistakes lastnight, but hes going to be a good QB, IMHO he has more long term potential than Hutchison or Carter.
Yep Texans got beat by Cowboys for the second time this preseason, it's a trend. I hate to say this but Romo is going to be on the practice squad this year, which means another team could sign him. He has talent but is NFL raw and the Cowboys want someone who can come in and start while cold, like Stoerner. I think Romo probably makes the team as the 3rd QB next year after he has a year to adjust to the pro game.
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