NFL SWOT Analysis: NFC East

By: Armin Mohajeri

Dallas Cowboys

Owens (Photo Courtesy of sportstunner.com)

Strengths: The Cowboys have a talent-laden team that, on paper, looks like they could be right there with the Bears as the class of the NFC. Quarterback Tony Romo looks better than last year, and running back Marion Barber picked up right where he left off last season, scoring TDs as Julius Jones’s backup. Terrell Owens has had a great camp and preseason, and even managed stayed out of trouble. He seems poised for a huge season. Terry Glenn starts across from Owens and tight end Jason Witten will work as Romo’s safety valve receiver. If they can stay healthy, they are a dangerous trio who all could draw double-coverage. Problem for opposing defenses is, there are not enough defenders to go around. Someone will have single coverage. The defensive front seven is about as nasty as you can get. DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer will be the most fearsome tandem of OLBs in the league behind San Diego’s amazing duo. The team finally added a competent free safety in Ken Hamelin. Both Hamelin and Roy Williams will have fun taking turns seeing who dishes the bigger hit.

Weaknesses: The Cornerbacks will be tested. Top corner Terrance Newman was recently diagnosed with a torn plantar fascia in his right heel. Anyone who has had this knows the degree of pain that Newman will play through. Losing a step for Newman is music to WR ears, as Newman’s speed is his top asset. They do not have another corner on the roster with that type of deep speed. Unfortunately, a hurt Terrence Newman is still the best CB on the roster.

Opportunities: Defensive Ends Marcus Spears and Chris Canty will have a special opportunity with Wade Phillips around. In Parcells’s 3-4, the defensive linemen stayed put and tried to clog holes. In Phillips’s 3-4, the DEs have more of an attacking role. Spears has already expressed his pleasure with the new system. Wide receiver Patrick Crayton could show the team that he’s capable of being a starter. He’ll fill in for Terry Glenn early in the year as Glenn recovers from knee surgery.

Threats: Can Wade Phillips prove that he is not the Norv Turner of defensive coaches? Phillips is a great defensive coordinator, however, as a head coach, has had more than his fair share of bumps. If Phillips proves to be a leader, this team could be Super Bowl bound.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: Tony Romo, from nobody, as the leader of the offense. Since the retirement of Troy Aikman, the Cowboys have lacked a true leader on offense. Romo has the door wide open to claim that role. It is his to lose.

Position Battle: The RB battle may last all season long. Julius Jones and Marion Barber are the perfect back, if only they were one person combined. Both want to be the starter, however neither has stepped up enough to the point where they can fully claim the job. Jones’s vast potential (if healthy) gives him the slight upper hand.

Rookie Contributor: OLB Anthony Spencer is a scary one. Going back to my mock drafts here on PHSports, I pegged him as the most-likely Defensive Rookie of the Year award winner. Don’t be surprised if he puts up a 12-sack performance this season.

New York Giants

Manning (Photo Courtesy of Worldmag.com)

Strengths: The New York Football Giants can be a surprise team this year. Eli Manning can only get better. If he avoids having months like November last season, he could be poised for a big season. Once his receiving corps are healthy, he’s got several trusty targets. Most importantly, he has one of the best tight ends in the league in Jeremy Shockey. With Shockey and WR Plaxico Burress, Manning has two of the biggest targets in the league. The red-zone offense could be in good shape. Running Brandon Jacobs behind the right side of the offensive line will be hard for defenses to stop.

Weaknesses: The defensive backfield is in shambles regardless of if Sam Madison is available or not. R.W. McQuarters should in no way be a team’s #1 corner. Corey Webster is still developing at the other corner. Rookie Aaron Ross looks like he might be thrust into the nickel spot. James Butler played special teams for the majority of his career. He is the team’s new starting strong safety. Without Strahan, the defensive front seven looks much weaker. They desperately need him in uniform.

Opportunities: Brandon Jacobs is the new starting RB on the team. At 6’4” and over 260 pounds, Jacobs has impressive speed, running in the low 4.4s. If he played defense, his physical gifts would be on par with San Diego LB Shawne Merriman.

Threats: How much will this team miss Tiki Barber? Barber was a dependable receiving option out of the backfield, whereas Jacobs and Droughns are not. Left Tackle David Diehl is more of a natural guard. The Giants tried him at both tackles before. His pass-blocking skills are already in question.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: Wide receiver Amani Toomer to Sinorice Moss. Moss must step up this year and claim the flanker position from the aging Toomer. Unlike Toomer, Moss can stretch the field, creating more opportunities for Burress and Shockey.

Position Battle: When Madison returns from his hamstring injury, look for some debate over who should assume the #2 CB spot. McQuarters and Webster will spend their time starting as an exhibition over who the starter will be once Madison recovers.

Rookie Contributor: CB Aaron Ross is the most likely contributor, but keep an eye on 2nd round WR Steve Smith and 7th round FS Michael Johnson. Smith will get opportunities in 4 WR sets to stretch the field. Johnson may get an opportunity to play at safety from time to time. If James Butler falters, Gibril Wilson will probably move to his natural SS position and Johnson will fill in at FS.

Philadelphia Eagles

McNabb (Photo Courtesy of sparedollar.com)

Strengths: While Dallas is my pick to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, if I had to pick a surprise team, it would be the Eagles. If McNabb can get off to a start like last season and sustain it, opponents are in trouble. Wide receiver Kevin Curtis steps in for the departed Donte Stallworth. They are essentially the same field stretching player, except Curtis might have better hands. The running game will once again be solid behind Brian Westbrook. Between rushing and receiving, Westbrook could put up 2000 all-purpose yards. The defensive line is built on speed all the way across. Mike Patterson and Broderick Bunkley have two of the most impressive first steps in the NFL at the DT position. Jevon Kearse, Darren Howard and Trent Cole will man the DE spots. Offenses can expect attacks from all four spots on most plays. Brian Dawkins returns as the QB of the defense. He was the glue that kept this unit from being a total loss last season.

Weaknesses: The Eagles do not have a lot to pick on when it comes to weaknesses. The Wide receivers are weak on paper. While pure talent is not abundant, chemistry might be the card under their sleeve. Reggie Brown, Kevin Curtis, Jason Avant and Greg Lewis must stretch the field so that McNabb and Westbrook can do their damage. If the WRs play down to their level, the rest of the offense is shorthanded and non-productive. They also have three new starters at Linebacker. Omar Gaither played on the outside last season, and a little inside to spell Trotter. Takeo Spikes looks like he could be on the downside of his career. Chris Gocong is a converted DE who needs to prove that he has coverage skills to go with his rushing skills.

Opportunities: Cornerbacks Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown need to play back up to the level they did two years ago. Brown struggled at times, and Sheppard was hurt for a large chunk of the season. The team moved several of their DTs, and elevated 2006 first rounder, Broderick Bunkley as a starter. Bunkley spent much of his time on the bench last season, but has come on strong this offseason. He ranks near the top of the DTs in the league when it comes to the Strength/Speed combination. He could potentially be another Tommie Harris.

Threats: How will the trouble with Andy Reid’s sons effect his coaching? Many speculate that he will not bring those issues onto the sidelines. However, something must be said for possible exhaustion. He already took time off this offseason to deal with his sons’ issues. The recent arrest only compounds the aggravation that Reid has as a father. If Reid falters from this, expect this to be his last season as the Eagles head coach. Another threat could be McNabb, choosing to hear rookie QB Kevin Kolb’s footsteps. The McNabb Camp was already openly upset about the pick. Hopefully the effects are not seen during the season.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: As the leader of the defense, Brian Dawkins (34 in a little over a month) has his hand slowly stretching out, ready to pass the torch. Yet nobody is reaching out to take it. The team is in need of a new leader. A career Eagle who will do as Dawkins does, and get going when the going gets tough.

Position Battle: There is a battle for the #3 WR. Hank Baskett, Greg Lewis and Jason Avant have been battling all training camp and preseason. As of now, Jason Avant looks to be in the lead, however one cannot overlook Lewis’s speed and Baskett’s possession receiver skills.

Rookie Contributor: Rookies are not likely to contribute much here. However, if injuries strike at LB, Stewart Bradley can play any LB position, but probably fits best on the strong side. RB Tony Hunt could get a few carries, but has been somewhat unimpressive this preseason.

Washington Redskins

Campbell (Photo Courtesy of typepad.com)

Strengths: The running game should be the bread and butter of this offense. Clinton Portis claims to be back from his injury, however the team was able to keep backup RB Ladell Betts who came out of nowhere last year to rush for over 1000 yards. Leading the way for the running game is an offensive line geared towards the run and an underrated fullback, Mike Sellers. On defense, London Fletcher leads a solid LB corps that has looked great this preseason. Fletcher has the ability to attack the line like a bowling ball as well as patrol the line in a read/react function. Tight End Chris Cooley looks like QB Jason Campbell’s favorite target. He could be in for a big year.

Weaknesses: The defensive line is about as weak a defensive line as there is in the NFL. A power rushing team can have their way with this defense. Last offseason’s big acquisitions, Brandon Lloyd, Antwaan Randle-El and Andre Carter, gave coaches fits last year. Only problem was, it was their own coaches. Randle-El and Carter did not play up to their contracts. Lloyd was almost cut from the team after clashing with coaches.

Opportunities: Cornerback Carlos Rogers showed flashes toward the end of the season, securing his status as a starter on this defense. He could be in for a big year. Rogers is a physical corner and in the hybrid cover-1 defense that Greg Williams will run this season, Rogers will be around the line of scrimmage supporting the run defense more often. QB Jason Campbell was a winner from high school through college. Could he be the QB that helps turn this franchise back around?

Threats: The team is getting old with major contributors getting into their 30s. London Fletcher, Shawn Springs, Phillip Daniels, Renaldo Wynn, Cornelius Griffin, Pierson Prioleau, Chris Samuals, Jon Jansen, Randy Thomas and Mike Sellers are all 30+ years of age. If this were a Super Bowl contending team, this might be ok. However, this is a team constantly on the rebuild, and trading draft picks and settling on filling the roster with older players is not the best way to rebuild a team.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: LB Rocky McIntosh from Marcus Washington as the up-and-coming linebacker on the team. McIntosh was an afterthought last season, however the only player on the Skins to study more film than McIntosh this offseason was Jason Campbell. The preparation shows, as McIntosh has been all over the field this preseason. If this continues into the season, the Skins could look good for trading up in the second round in 2006 to seize the physically gifted LB.

Position Battle: Strong Sefety, Pierson Prioleau is fighting off a strong challenge from phenomenal rookie LaRon Landry. The coaches love Prioleau. In fact, when Prioleau went down in the opening play of last season with a season-ending injury, you could almost immediately see the effect on the defense. Landry, on the other hand, is one of the most physically gifted safeties to enter the league. The thought of having him line up nest to Sean Taylor has Redskins coaches thrilled, and opposing receivers shaking in their cleats.

Rookie Contributor: Landry could be the lone contributor in this year’s draft class. This is very common for the Redskins who love mortgaging their future and trading their draft picks away, only to end up in the basement of the league anyway. Keep an eye on H.B. Blades if there are injuries among the linebackers. He looked good this preseason.

Hope or Hype???

Check out an NFL practice field and you’ll see dozens of guys sporting dozens of different attitudes.

"Training camp couldn’t be a bigger waste of time. When is practice over?”
“Just don’t get hurt.”
“I think I’ll pull a quad tomorrow and miss a week of practice.”
“When exactly are we going to revisit my pathetic contract?”
“I need this day to be perfect, or I’m gone.”
“I’ll be cut any moment now.”
“I hope I can at least make the practice squad this season.”
“Hello, new contract!”

You could go on. However, often we forget what talent evaluators - and no, I don’t mean what coaches, scouts, GMs, and player personnel directors are wondering.

I’ll step out of my lazy work polo shirt and into a variety of team gear and bad slacks.

Each team is targeting all sorts of players. However, each one is targeting only a handful of guys to turn it up, turn it around, or hopefully not turn it down as the season approaches.

Let’s take a gander…

Arizona Cardinals
Radar: Leonard Pope [Tight End]
Can we develop an underneath target for Leinart that will bolster an already studly wideout corps?

Atlanta Falcons
Radar: Jamaal Anderson [Defensive End]
Will we silently regret trading away Matt Schaub for the next ten years?

Baltimore Ravens
Radar: Bart Scott [Linebacker]
Was it a mistake not to throw money at Adalius Thomas and worry about the salary cap after a potential Super Bowl season?

Buffalo Bills
Radar: Entire defense
With so many defensive veterans gone, who will become the leader of this defense?

Carolina Panthers
Radar: Dan Morgan [Linebacker]
Can our defensive leader every stay healthy for an entire season?

Chicago Bears
Radar: Devin Hester [Punt Returner, Kick Returner & Wide Receiver]
Can he be that good again?

Cincinnati Bengals
Radar: Leon Hall [Cornerback]
Did we get an absolute steal of a shutdown corner in the middle of the 1^st round of the draft?

Cleveland Browns
Radar: Romeo Crennel [Head Coach]
Is this the right man to lead our team into the future? Especially when he’s flipping coins to choose a starting quarterback!

Dallas Cowboys
Radar: Ken Hamlin [Safety]
Can we support a talented guy, named Roy, with him and Roy the consistent elite playmaker he has the potential to be?

Denver Broncos
Radar: The TE position
We’ve spent the time and the money, now when does a guy emerge from Shannon’s shadow?

Detroit Lions
Radar: John Kitna [Quarterback]
Can this guy help turn around a culture of losing? Can he hold onto the ball in the 4^th quarter?

Green Bay Packers
Radar: Charles Woodson [Cornerback]
Can he remain one of the NFL’s best recently kept comeback secrets still?

Houston Texans
Radar: Owen Daniels [Tight End]
Where on Earth are we going to find a proper compliment to Andre Johnson on this roster? (Perhaps...Jacoby Jones?)

Indianapolis Colts
Radar: Bob Sanders [Safety]
Can our defensive MVP stay healthy when we need him the most?

Jacksonville Jaguars
Radar: Maurice Jones-Drew [Running Back]
Have we been harboring an absolute gem who’s on the verge of becoming one of the NFL’s best game-breaking backs?

Kansas City Chiefs
Radar: Brodie Croyle [Quarterback]
How do we tell if this guy is our QB of the future?

Miami Dolphins
Radar: Ted Ginn [Wide Receiver]
Was this the guy who we were supposed to take with the 9^th overall pick in an NFL Draft?

Minnesota Vikings
Radar: Pass-rushing DEs
Can a dominant defensive line make our defense entirely suffocating?

New England Patriots
Radar: Laurence Maroney [Running Back]
We’ve done it before without a stud back, but can we do it with this guy, stud or not?

New Orleans Saints
Radar: Deuce McAllister [Running Back]
Can we get a repeat performance out of Deuce in ’07 and further allow Reggie Bush time to develop and prosper?

New York Giants
Radar: Amani Toomer [Wide Receiver]
Can Eli’s security blanket remain healthy and potentially emerge as our veteran leader or will Steve Smith put him on the fringe?

New York Jets
Radar: Darrelle Revis [Cornerback]
After missing so much camp, can Revis turn into the shutdown corner our defense desperately needs?

Oakland Raiders
Radar: Jerry Porter [Wide Receiver]
Is this guy a malcontent or simply misunderstood? Or both? Should we even bother to find out much longer?

Philadelphia Eagles
Radar: Jevon Kearse [Defensive End]
When, if ever, will he attempt to justify that mega-contract from a few years back?

Pittsburgh Steelers
Radar: Santonio Holmes [Wide Receiver]
Is this his breakout season opposite of Hines Ward?

St. Louis Rams
Radar: Adam Carriker [Defensive End/Linebacker]
Can he rejuvenate our defensive front and aid our emerging secondary with a consistent run-stopping threat? (Then again, when was this defense “juvenated” to be rejuvenated?)

San Diego Chargers
Radar: Nate Kaeding [Kicker]
When the big kick arrives, will it even be close?

San Francisco 49ers
Radar: Darrell Jackson [Wide Receiver]
Is he the downfield threat Alex Smith needs to take it to the next level?

Seattle Seahawks
Radar: Nate Burleson [Wide Receiver]
Was he a complete waste of Steve Hutchinson’s potential contract?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Radar: Carnell Williams [Running Back]
Which year was a more telling tale for the Cadillac: ’05 or ’06?

Tennessee Titans
Radar: Nick Harper [Cornerback]
With the Pacman out for the season (at the very least in Tennessee); is Harper the true CB of our future?

Washington Redskins
Radar: Carlos Rogers [Cornerback]
Can this guy avoid becoming the NFL’s most picked-on CB by opposing WRs?

…and I’m spent.

That is unless you have a few guys on your collective radars, of whom you’ve like to comment a bit about.

Until next time…

NFL SWOT Analysis: AFC North

By: Armin Mohajeri

Baltimore Ravens

Lewis (Photo Courtesy of CNN.com)

Strengths: On paper, the Ravens defense looks as good as, if not better than, their Super Bowl XXXV winning team. Although, Marvin Lewis is not at the helm of this defense, do not count out Rex Ryan (son of Buddy) who should land a head-coaching job next off-season. The talented defensive line is led by DE Trevor Pryce who does nothing short of dominate when he’s on the field. Underrated NT, Kelly Gregg and up-and-coming DE Haloti Ngata man the other spots. All are capable of tying up a couple of offensive linemen, freeing up their linebackers. Inside backers Ray Lewis and Bart Scott, one of the top tandems in the NFL, will take turns attacking the line of scrimmage, while Terrell Suggs and Jarrett Johnson put pressure from the outside. The starting defensive backfield could possibly be the best in the league. Corners Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle are still atop their game while safeties Ed Reed and Dawan Landry are coming off a great season together. On the offensive side, QB Steve McNair is in his second year with the team, and looks more comfortable. Running backs Willis McGahee and Mike Anderson will lead the charge as a 1-2 punch. TE Todd Heap continues to be one of the best in the league.

Weaknesses: The offense has been a difficult place for this team to build momentum. On paper, the offense has either remained the same, or decreased in talent, except arguably at running back. However, there is some potential. Depth becomes a concern in the defensive backfield. If McAlister or Rolle go down for any significant period, the team will be in dire straits.

Opportunities: Wide Receiver Mark Clayton could put the “3rd Year WR” rule in effect. If he can step up and be a go-to receiver for Steve McNair, the Ravens may not need to lean on the defense so much this season. Another WR ready to do big things is Demetrius Williams, who has looked impressive during camp and the preseason.

Threats: The offensive line has had a major overhaul in the last two years. Guards Jason Brown and Chris Chester have about one season worth of starting experience between the two of them. Right Tackle Adam Terry has two starts under his belt. Mike Flynn and Jonathan Ogden are the only starters with significant starting experience. Hopefully, Ogden is back soon. As good as supplemental draftee Jared Gaither has looked at Left Tackle, he does not have NFL regular season game experience.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: Bart Scott from Ray Lewis, tackling machine. Bart Scott is emerging as the do-it-all linebacker. While this may not happen right away, it is definitely in the cards. Scott has slimmed down and looks like he’s on the verge of making a name for himself.

Position Battle: At this point, there aren’t any major battles, as the starters are nearly set. If WR Demetrius Williams keeps up his strong play, he could challenge Mark Clayton. If Clayton also does well, they could cut into Derrick Mason’s time. When Dan Cody comes back from his injury, he could push Jarret Johnson at the OLB spot opposite Terrell Suggs.

Rookie Contributor: Left Tackle Jared Gaither will hold down the fort until Ogden is back, but keep an eye on LB Antwan Barnes. Barnes is a speedy LB who converted from a pass rushing DE. If Jason Brown or Chris Chester either falter, or one has to move to center, look for 1st rounder Ben Grubbs to make his debut. He is a road-grading run blocker.

Cincinnati Bengals

Palmer (Image Courtesy of NFLFreaks.com)

Strengths: The offense is loaded with talent at the skill positions. Once again, All-Pro QB Carson Palmer has his talented duo at WR, Chad Johnson and T.J. Hoozyadaddy *ahem* Houshmandzadeh, to throw the ball to. Behind him, he has the dependable Rudi Johnson, who has averaged 1400 yards per year for the last three seasons. The team also boasts a talented defensive backfield, loaded with young starts. First round picks in back to back years, Johnathan Joseph and Leon Joe, look like the next great tandem of corners in the league. They join the team’s #1 corner, Deltha O’Neal. At safety, Dexter Jackson joins 25 year-old Madieu Williams. Together, this unit could buy the defensive line that extra second or two to get to opposing QBs.

Weaknesses: Inside the offensive tackles, who are currently on the mend, the offensive line seriously lacks talent. They have players they can get by with, but they must gel as a unit if they plan to keep strong defensive lines off Palmer and Johnson. Not making things easier is the fact that Palmer has always lacked that safety-valve receiver. Rudi Johnson is not what you would consider a pass catcher. Reggie Kelly definitely is not one either. The team continues to leave this situation unaddressed. Third downs are much easier to convert when you have a dependable safety valve or two.

Opportunities: Ahmad Brooks has an excellent opportunity to make up for his name being sullied when he was dismissed from the University of Virginia. He has the middle all to himself, and has the talent to be one of the better MLBs in the game. He can also make this team forget about a once-promising Odell Thurman.

Threats: The front seven on defense will not scare anyone. The last thing a team needs is to face an offense that is confident that they will run all over you. On the defensive line, the Bengals have a mix of overachievers. While overachievers are nice to have, the nature of an overachiever is that occasionally they will play down to their level. Domata Peko was a nice surprise last year at DT, but if he comes back to earth, the remaining options are not good.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: Deltha O’Neal to Johnathan Joseph, as the #1 CB, eventually. Joseph had a strong year last season, starting nine games as a rookie. He broke up 20 passes in the process, which is no small feat. With a prototypical size/speed combination, Joseph will spend many years covering opposing teams’ top receivers.

Position Battle: A common place for position battles is the third WR position. This is very true of the Bengals. Right now, Tab Perry, Reggie McNeal and Antonio Chatman are the front-runners in the battle. Perry has been given every chance, but to come up with two catches after being targeted nine times in a preseason game is not going to sit well with coaches. The team is high on converted QB McNeal, but he is still working on the transition to wide receiver. Chatman could end up with another crack at the job that should have been his last season, but was lost due to injury.

Rookie Contributor: Unfortunately, the rookie who would have been the biggest contributor was lost for the season. Running Back Kenny Irons would have backed up Rudi Johnson and gotten most of the backup carries during the season. Cornerback Leon Hall will probably have the largest impact out of the rookies. He could end up being a starter by 2008. Keep an eye on Marvin White. He will be the first safety off the bench and has a lot of upside.

Cleveland Browns

Quinn (Photo Courtesy of bodogbeat.com)

Strengths: Keep a close eye on this defense. We could be witness to Crennel building another Patriots defense. We see familiar faces like Ted Washington and Willie McGinest, and we see some relative unknowns that could have an impact. Two second-year players, OLB Kamerion Wimbley and ILB D’Qwell Jackson, lead a solid set of linebackers. Both were pleasant surprises last season. DEs Robaire Smith and Shaun Smith would be DTs anywhere else, which is perfect for Crennel’s 3-4 alignment. Safeties Sean Jones and Brodney Pool are coming into their own, and could allow Crennel to run more of a Cover-2 style in the defensive backfield. If Jamal Lewis and the line can stay healthy, this offense could have the surprise running game of the division. The team is also hoping that TE Kellen Winslow ramps up his progress and ends up in more highlight reels than motorcycle accidents (Note: PHSports does not condone mockery of motorized vehicle accidents)

Weaknesses: While the defense looks good overall, the CBs leave a lot to be desired. Leigh Bodden and Kenny Wright started nine games apiece last season due to injuries on the squad. Both are the starters now. At Wide Receiver, the team would like to move Joe Jurevicious to the slot position, where he has had success before. However, nobody is stepping up to replace him on the split side. Someone needs to stup up behind Jamal Lewis and be effective when giving him breaks.

Opportunities: Like Mark Clayton of the Ravens, WR Braylon Edwards is also subject to that “3rd Year WR” rule. He was decent, despite the QB issues the team had last year. If the QB position is solid throughout the year, Edwards could have a breakout season. He has all of the physical gifts necessary for him to catch everything thrown in his vicinity.

Threats: The offensive line definitely needs LG Eric Steinbach to have a full recovery from his knee ligament injury. He is the heart of that offensive line. A power passing team like the Colts could have their way with this defense. A healthy McGinnest will be needed to pull pressure away from Wimbley so he can rush the passer. Current starter, Antwan Peek will not be able to provide that for Wimbley.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: Brady Quinn is the future of this franchise, and the team must get him in there. At this point, he is the best QB on the roster. Charlie Frye is a decent option as a #2 QB, but he seems to have reached the limit of his potential. Derek Anderson and Ken Dorsey could fetch the team a late round draft pick for 2008 if they choose to trade one of them.

Position Battle: The battle of the Wright’s could easily go wrong. Do you take a relatively big and slow corner with experience and replace him with a slightly faster, slightly smaller inexperienced corner? The fact is that Eric Wright has much more upside than Kenny Wright has, but is probably more prone to making a mistake. If the team has bad record early, it would be wise to put the younger Wright in place and let him learn on the fly.

Rookie Contributor: Obviously, Brady Quinn will be a huge rookie contributor if he is starting. However, one cannot forget Offensive Left Tackle Joe Thomas is the highest rated offensive lineman to come out of the draft since Jordan Gross. He is the prototypical offensive lineman. He is huge and agile, and has great footwork. A strong pass blocker and a monster run blocker, he learned his trade on a Wisconsin team that likes to run. He will spearhead the running game with his partner in crime on the left side, Eric Steinbach.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Parker (Photo Courtesy of flickr.com)

Strengths: The Steelers can come at you with a power and finesse running game. Three power runners compliment the lightning that is Willie Parker. His near 1500 yards and 13 touchdowns brought him to the elite level of RBs in the league. Behind him are the crushing trio of Najeh Davenport and Verron Haynes. Together they will wear out defenses behind an offensive line that has the scariest duo of guards in the league, Alan Faneca and Kendall Simmons. Feeding off that running game will be Ben Roethlisburger, who took his bumps last year after a horrific motorcycle accident (see note from Cleveland SWOT Analysis). Big Ben still has the trusty WR Hines Ward and TE Heath Miller. Defensive Linemen Aaron Smith and Casey Hampton will clog off offenses, while allowing ILBs James Farrior and Larry Foote do their damage attacking the line. Troy Polamalu will do his usual patrolling of the defensive backfield, while taking on new responsibilities in coverage, as the safeties cover more in the Cover-2 defense.

Weaknesses: Gone are the days of the Kevin Greene and Greg Lloyd, and the days of Jason Gildon and Joey Porter. Now it is Clark Haggans and James Harrison. Somehow, that does not strike fear in the hearts of offensive coordinators. The team drafted LBs Lawrence Timmons and Lamarr Woodley, but they probably will not win the starting jobs this year. As of now, Woodley will replace Clark Haggans on third downs.

Opportunities: Verron Haynes could see a lot of time on the field if he beats out Dan Kreider for the fullback job. Haynes also doubles as a ball carrier, which makes him more valuable than Kreider. If he wins the job, he could end up getting his fair share of goaline carries.

Threats: Many will have to remember that though this is a team, one Super Bowl removed from being the defending champions, they have many different cogs in place. At the top of all of that is new Head Coach Mike Tomlin. Tomlin could end up doing wonders for this team. However, will the change be too much? The team could have a tough transition from the traditional 3-4 defense to Cover-2

Passing/Receiving the Torch: Mike Tomlin will be at the forefront of the Pittsburgh media as he replaces a legend who replaced a legend. Many are looking for Tomlin to continue that trend and be a great coach for a long time. This torch passing carries a heavier load than any player position on the team.

Position Battle: Cornerback Deshea Townsend is fighting for his starting job against Bryant McFadden. McFadden fits the mold of a Cover-2 corner that Tomlin likes. Like Ike Taylor, McFadden has no problem coming up to the line and helping with the run. Townsend is more of a cover corner. Another battle will be at WR opposite Hines Ward, where Santonio Holmes holds off Cedrick Wilson, who has looked good during training camp and the preseason.

Rookie Contributor: OLB Lamarr Woodley will see the field as a 3rd down rusher, and hopes to be this year’s Mark Anderson (Bears). Lawrence Timmons may see the field more down the stretch of the season as injuries have slowed his progress this training camp and preseason. Keep an eye on DE Ryan McBean, as he reminds me a lot of current Steeler, Aaron Smith.

PHSports’ 5 Sleepers and 5 Busts for the 2007 NFL Fantasy Season

Each year dozens of sports websites offer their lists of busts and sleepers for the fantasy football season. These lists are entirely speculative and based on mostly nothing but gut feelings. Having now degraded the uncertain nature of predicting sleepers and busts, the staff at PHSports has decided to jump aboard the ship and offer what its own crystal ball revealed for the 2007 fantasy football season.

SLEEPERS

1. LaMont Jordan (RB, Oakland Raiders)

Yes, I can sense the double take followed by the rubbing of the eyes you all just experienced. A Raider? As a sleeper? Well, after last season this team, and Jordan, has nowhere to go but up. Jordan’s sub-par 2006 lays the groundwork for an improved season. Furthermore, Dominic Rhodes’ 4-game suspension to start the season is the ultimate early Christmas present for Jordan, who has two years under his belt with his Oakland teammates. That camaraderie, along with Lane Kiffin’s new system, will propel Jordan to be a solid #3 back.

2. Greg Jennings (WR, Green Bay Packers)

This second-year wide-out from the frozen tundra goes against the traditional notion that wide receivers don’t usually pan out until their third season in the league. Now, we aren’t saying that Jennings will provide Ocho-Cinco type stats to your depleted fantasy roster, but he did have 45 receptions for 632 yards last season. Since then, the Packers have dropped veteran WR Robert Ferguson, and Jennings has claimed the 2^nd starting WR spot opposite Donald Driver. With Brett Favre’s arm likely being the key to the Packers’ offensive scheme again this season, look for Jennings to get at least 90-100 looks from the aging QB. NOTE: since the drafting of this article, Packers' #1 WR Donald Driver was carted off the field with an undisclosed injury. Keep an eye out on this situation since it could boost Jennings’ status as a sleeper.

3. Vincent Jackson (WR, San Diego Chargers)

Now, here is a WR entering that supposedly grand third season, and one who PHSports thinks will put up the numbers in 2007. Admittedly, Jackson had a statistically forgettable 2006 season. His 27 catches for 453 yards aren’t noteworthy, but the 6 touchdown catches are nothing to sneeze at. 2007 should see Jackson’s totals rise, even though he is still competing with the arguably the league’s best TE in Antonio Gates. The key to Jackson’s stats this season is the arrival of Norv Turner. Though he’s never amounted to much of anything as a head coach, Turner has played a key part in improving the passing offense of his past teams, and will do the same for the Chargers.

4. Brandon Jackson (RB, Green Bay Packers)

Green Bay fans must be loving us right now. (There’d better be a rise in hits from Wisconsinafter this article). The second Jackson of this list has a great opportunity ahead of him at the side of Brett Favre. Thanks to the injury to Vernand Morency, who still claims the #1 spot on the Packers’ depth chart, Brandon Jackson has seen and will continue to see most of the touches with the first string offense. Jackson has shown promise in the preseason, so the job appears to be his to keep. Though we don’t expect magical numbers from the rookie out of Nebraska, he will produce good numbers. This is probably the biggest “reach” of our sleeper picks.

5. Alex Smith (QB, San Francisco 49ers)

The lone quarterback on our sleeper list could very well have the breakout season of 2007. Although he no longer has QB guru Norv Turner to guide him, Alex Smith is working with a very solid team that experienced some quality success last season. Furthermore, Frank Gore will help to alleviate the pressure from the young quarterback. The 49ers have also added some depth to the receiving core, adding Ashley Lelie and Darrell Jackson in the off-season, not to mention the help he’ll get from a healthy Vernon Davis. Don’t be surprised if Alex Smith is a top 10 fantasy QB by the end of the season.

BUSTS

1. Shaun Alexander (RB, Seattle Seahawks)

It pains us to put this former TD and rushing champion at the top of this list, but there are far too many questions surrounding his injured foot and his ability to bounce back. Alexander only played in 10 games last season, and only managed 3.6 yards per carry (ypc), a far cry from the 4.8 ypc in 2004 and and 5.1 ypc in 2005. He’s also no spring chicken, turning 30 before the regular season starts, so we have to wonder whether he has enough youthful energy left in him to return to his glory years or if he’s on course to become the next Marshall Faulk.

2. Randy Moss (WR, New England Patriots)

So much hype and so many expectations can only lead to disappointment, especially considering that Randy hasn’t even practiced with the team since early August. People tend to overreact when a quality wide receiver switches teams, assuming that the mere pairing of a quality wideout with a team’s quarterback will lead to sheer magic. Unfortunately, those people are forgetting Peerless Price to Atlanta, Muhsin Muhammad to Chicago, oh and Randy Moss himself to Oakland. Sure, Randy could pull a Donté Stallworth and provide immediate help to his new team, but given his lack of practice time with Tom Brady, we wouldn’t be shocked if he didn’t finish in the top 2 on his team in receptions.

3. Tom Brady (QB, New England Patriots)

When a team has basically been crowned the Super Bowl champion by a solid portion of the media during the off-season, it’s usually been a bad sign of things to come (see Washington Redskins under Daniel Snyder). The Patriots went out and signed about 400 new wide receivers for their GQ QB after the AFC Championship loss to the Colts last year. Unfortunately for Papa Brady, this has fans expecting a 5,000 yard season with 30+ TD passes (finishing second only to Jon Kitna’s self-projection of 50 TD tosses). Given those over-reaching expectations, Brady’s got fantasy bust written all over him. He may still have an okay fantasy season, especially if he and his new wideouts can get on the same page despite injuries. However, he won’t be worth the 2^nd or 3^rd round selection that will be used on him in most leagues.

4. Marc Bulger (QB, St. Louis Rams)

What a difference a signature makes. Before Bulger signed his new contract extension a few weeks ago, some of the staff here at PHSports had him pegged for a sure-fire sleeper pick. Bulger was poised to have a “contract year” to guarantee himself the big bucks from the Rams or some other team after the 2007 season. But then, it happened. The Rams caved and gave him a 6-year, $65 million extension … so now he’s settled financially and ready to underachieve.

5. Clinton Portis (RB, Washington Redskins)

The man of many disguises has become way too injury prone very early in his career. The injuries coupled with a 1,000-yard backup RB in Ladell Betts who proved his worth last season, make Portis a very risky selection in any fantasy draft. He’s only played a full season once in his three years as a Redskin and he’s seen zero action this preseason. Even if he is fully healthy by the start of the season, Portis will only be getting about 60-65% of the touches after Betts’ solid 2006 campaign, thus limiting his fantasy production.

10 Points on How To Draft and Maintain Your Fantasy Team

Earlier in the week, I offered a few points on how to create the ultimate fantasy league. Today, it’s all about winning the championship from start to finish. Draft day is the most important day of the season, so the majority of points focus on it. Maintaining and upgrading the team you drafted can also help you establish fantasy football ascendancy and plenty of street credibility amongst your league mates.

In this article, I will not be including the wisdom imparted to you by the talking heads at ESPN, such as stating that it’s okay to draft running backs who are members of two-back systems. I’ll also not be telling you that such two-back systems only work with road-grading offensive lines, but neither did ESPN.

Nevertheless, these points serve as a blueprint for success in all leagues and a guide for the utterly lost.

1) Prepare for Your Championship
In competitive leagues, research is the name of the game. Last season, if you did not land one of the top three picks in the 1^st round, then you were not likely to be in the regular season championship conversation. This is not common.

Here are my suggestions to a relatively new or struggling player.

1) Make an initial list of 150-200 players depending on how many are being drafted overall and participate in at least one draft in a league which you will treat like a mock. This will give you an idea of who is drafted where and this allows owners to view biases in action.

2) Adjust your big board accordingly and always consider the big board a large suggestion. Also, develop a plan of attack by allotting bench position numbers and think of various draft position scenarios. Never be rigid or static in your approach because this will only limit you in pursuit of the grand prize.

3) Listen keenly to conversations between yourself and other members of the league in the days heading into the draft. You’ll be sure to grab a few nuggets along the way.

4) Focus and execute. The draft is all about making quick decisions and trusting your instincts in the heat of the moment.

2) Target > Reach
All of these points emphasize the need to actively and creatively pursue the title. Knowing where players normally land and targeting players by offering trades to move up a few spots to pick up that player who will round out your starting core is a good adjustment in avoiding the infamous reach. If you see your league mates dashing for a specific position all at once, know that there’s a whole lot of value hiding somewhere.

3) Get at Least 1 RB in First 2 Picks
It either takes a very confident or arrogant owner in a 10-12 team league to pass on a running back in the first two rounds. While many fantasy gurus preach that you must draft a running back in each of the first two rounds, high-quality quarterbacks (yes, that Peyton guy) and the elite wide receivers are more potent options once you pass the sure-fire studs..

4) Draft to Develop a Team, not for Trade Bait
Every year, you hear stories about fantasy footballers drafting players such as a 3^rd running back or a 2^nd quarterback (in a 1QB league) as trade bait. On draft night, they are not trade bait, but estimated quantities. As bench players produce, they will become bona fide trade bait. It’s not the other way around. If you know your team strengths, then you will draft in the later rounds to provide depth in your weak areas.

5) Draft for Dominance at Positions
If you are in the 6^th or 7^th round and you’re trying to decide on whether to take a 2^nd receiver, 3^rd running back, or a dominant defense (e.g. Chicago, Baltimore), then draft the beast defense. This reasoning places the likes of Antonio Gates, the NFL’s top tight end, above a WR1 ranked between 10 and 15 such as Donald Driver despite the latter having stronger fantasy numbers. Of course, one should not go overboard and ignore the high-yield positions such as quarterback and running back, especially in two-quarterback leagues.

6) Avoid Drafting a Kicker
Kickers are important. They score points regularly and are somewhat consistent. However, they are usually dime-a-dozen and do not need to be drafted, especially in keeper leagues. Kickers can be had in free agency. Every year, there’s a kicker who no one drafted that will finish top five in scoring.

7) Scour Free Agency to Pluck Sleeping Giants
Free agency has made bad teams good. If your team picked up Tony Romo, Marques Colston or Maurice Jones-Drew at some point during the season, then your team likely filled some major voids and won some games it would have lost had it not been for the pearls found deep in the ocean.

8) Good WRs Available in Early Season FA Market
Here’s my fair warning to everyone who goes buck wild on wide receivers in rounds 3-7 of the fantasy draft. Don’t do it just because the rest of the crowd is. Eventually, the value wanes and some higher value player at another position falls precipitously down the draft board. Good wideouts can always be acquired via free agency early in the season. Keep your eyes peeled for the depth charts.

9) Investigate Free Agency Moves to Seek Trade Targets
Free agency also demonstrates which players are fickle and easily agitated, and this is done simply by knowing the number of roster moves they make. These are your trade targets because they may give up on a slow starting stud by the 3^rd game of the season.

10) Know NFL Player Trends
If you are a serious fantasy player or a stats geek (guilty on both accounts), you are aware of certain players that perform early and struggle to sustain that level of production. The opposite holds true in some cases. Be wary of this.

10 Points on How To Run A Fantasy League

With two preseason games in the bag, the fantasy football buzz is dominating the sporting undercurrent. For those new to the process of creating a league or feel your league needs a revitalization of sorts, then you should internalize these pointers on how to run a fantasy football league. Even if you're a seasoned commissioner who runs the perfect league, these ten major points may still be of great benefit.

To provide context on our experience, all four contributors have been commissioners of competitive and fair fantasy leagues. All have had good and forgettable stories to tell while at the fantasy helm. These ten points represent the best practices gained through over 30 years of combined fantasy football experience.

1) Find Dedicated League Members
A league is only as good as its members, regardless of how structured the league is. Moreso, you should steer clear of members who are in more than two, maybe three competitive leagues for the simple fact that they have overextended themselves.

Good members who are dedicated will fortify the league through quality suggestions for best practices and regular league-wide banter. Commissioners can enable league members to provide suggestions through an annual review at season's end, which can allow certain recommendations to be subject to a league vote. This reinforces the value of the league member and increases their dedication to the league. (Side note: This sounds eerily familiar to a Communication Theory course I took in my undergraduate studies.)

2) Keeper Leagues a Plus
Once you find those dedicated members, make it a keeper league. However, when you do the keeper league, make sure of two things. First, make absolutely certain that the first three rounds worth of players are off-limits. No one likes a league where they know they have no shot of selecting a perennial top 5 pick ( e.g. LT). Second, institute a three-round deduction for every year in which you keep a player. For example, if Joseph Addai was selected in the 9th round of last season's draft, he can be kept this season for a 6th rounder and next year for a 3rd round pick on the condition that he is kept on the roster when able to perform ( i.e. not on injured reserve).

3) 2QB League Is The New Paradigm
Like many things as they seemingly progress, fantasy football has evolved. The days of the one starting quarterback league are numbered. You can totally miss on your top quarterback and still win the championship. In 2003, I selected Kurt Warner who turned out to be a bust, but I picked up emerging backup Marc Bulger in free agency and proceeded to win the regular season. A top 5 backup, as Bulger was entering the 2003 season, would never be available in free agency. You cannot bomb on both of your quarterback picks and win the title in a two starting QB league without shenanigans taking place in the trade market.

4) A Defined Trade Policy
Where there are trades, vetoes are not far behind. In some leagues, players (you know who you are) veto for the sake of vetoing and this drives commissioners wild. Have a defined trade policy saying exactly how many vetoes effectively nix a trade and utilize your power as commissioner to throw out shady votes which may have little to do with the value of the players being traded. Also, have a deputy commissioner with an independent mind on hand in the case that you (the commissioner) are involved in a trade. This will undoubtedly enhance the legitimacy of the commissioner and the league as a whole.

5) Free Agent Draft Is The Wave Of Today
At this point, free agent drafts are only a part of the more advanced fantasy football leagues. Yes, free agent drafts are time-consuming for the commissioner who must lock teams from picking up free agents five minutes before kickoff of the first game. Yes, commissioners must update the waiver priority based on overall record every week and this can be a laboring task. But, while some may think it's a disabler ( i.e. from picking up free agents during games), the free agent draft enables league members to enjoy football viewing in its purest form - be it at an NFL stadium or at a bar with friends and not with your laptop in front of you as myself and many others have grown accustomed to. It also enables the older folks with families to take care of adult duties and not worry about other league members dashing to the free agent page to pick up Anquan Boldin in a memorable first half performance [of his first career game] against the Lions.

6) Make Draft A Full-Day Event
Draft day is the single-most important day of the fantasy football calendar. Depending on how much disposable time league members may have, the commissioner can organize activities such as a cookout that will allow junior members to build rapport that may aid them later in the season when they need to pull off a trade.

7) Offline Draft The Only Way To Go
Much like house music, the offline draft is the only way to go in a competitive fantasy football league. If you live within one hour of the draft site, you must be at the draft, no questions asked. Being a local who misses out on the draft is tantamount to heresy and a means for permanent expulsion. If your members are spread out all over the country, find a conference line to use for a few hours and enforce time limits on picks. Another added bonus of offline drafts is the ability to target players through the use of trade propositions on draft day.

8) Interaction, Interaction, Interaction
Talking smack is an essential in fantasy sports. If you're only drafting and setting your lineups on Sunday morning, then you're doing a disservice to yourself and the league. Interaction is absolutely key to any league staying afloat and talking smack about your opponents is quite fun.

In my simple mind, three rules exist for talking smack: Keep it funny. Keep it fresh. Avoid making it personal. If the last of the unspoken rules are breached, don't be afraid to step in and rectify the situation, because lingering resentment can suck the life out of a league faster than you can say Houshmandzadeh.

9) Fractional Points Are ... A Good Thing
Fractional points are messy to say the least, but ties are even messier. Some leagues prefer to break ties with bench points, but members should not be rewarded for leaving Player X on the bench who scored 30 points when his starter only got 10. Awarding fractional points may result in thinking you've won on Tuesday to losing on Wednesday due to a scoring change, but the team who started the most productive players win every time.

10) Payout Structure Needs To Favor The 14-Game Championship
For years, the null hypothesis in fantasy football payout structures has been to reward the playoff champion handsomely and leave the scraps to those who were successful in the regular season. This needs to change. Winning the 14-game title is a much more impressive feat for a manager than winning what is usually a three-game title. The payout structure needs to manifest this truth, while also awarding weekly high scores in the regular season.

One more note about fantasy playoffs. They should reflect the real playoffs, however, players on good teams are rested regularly, often putting the best teams during the regular season at a major disadvantage.

NFL SWOT Analysis: NFC North

By: Armin Mohajeri

Chicago Bears

Urlacher (Photo Courtesy of Dallasnews.com)

Strengths: Many things went right for the NFC Champs, except winning the Super Bowl. On paper, the team may have actually gotten better. The defense is still solid and deep. Team captain Brian Urlacher leads the charge on a monster defense that has more in its arsenal than last year. DE Mark Anderson begins his second year as the starter, moving former Pro Bowler Alex Brown to a backup role. He joins the pocket-collapsing DT Tommie Harris and speedy rush end Adewale Ogunleye on the line. Free Safety Mike Brown joins a talented trio of CBs, Charles Tillman, Nathan Vasher and Ricky Manning. Top to bottom, this defense is top-notch. On the offensive side, the line returns intact with All-Pro Olin Kruetz making the blocking calls from the center position.

Weaknesses: The weaknesses on this team are mostly on the offensive side of the ball. The questions start at the QB position. Grossman must get over his inconsistency. He was great early in the season, and began to sink to levels that should have had him on the bench. The receivers are equally to blame. Berrian was a big play threat one week, and an afterthought the next.

Opportunities: Adam Archuleta steps in Strong Safety. This is the same defense where Archuleta did his damage in St. Louis. Expect different results here than in the Redskins defense last year. He is back with his former coach, and ready to prove the Redskins wrong. Another player looking to redeem himself from a sullied name is DT Dusty Dvoracek. Dvoracek had issues at Oklahoma that kept him from being a higher draft pick. If he shows maturity he could wind up paying large dividends starting alongside Tommie Harris

Threats: Age on the offensive line is probably the biggest concern for this team. Roberto Garza is the only lineman under the age of 30. The team must have a plan for the future for both tackle positions. A QB controversy could be exactly what the doctor ordered – for offensive euthanasia.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: Cedric Benson from former Bears RB Thomas Jones. Benson has been running his mouth since his rookie year. It is time for him to put up or shut up. If he is all talk, this team will miss Thomas Jones.

Camp Battle: The battle will be for the third WR spot. Rashied Davis and Mark Bradley battle, while newly converted Devin Hester tries to convert to WR. The fact is Hester played some WR in college, so the transition may not be long. He could be a home run threat, if Grossman can get the ball deep that fast.

Rookie Contributor: Tight End Greg Olsen will most likely split time with Desmond Clark. Olsen projects as the TD scorer of the two. It would be wise for Grossman to get comfortable with Olsen early. Another rookie to keep an eye on is seventh rounder Trumaine McBride who the coaches love as their fourth CB. Miniature scat-back, Garrett Wolfe could win hearts by breaking a couple of 50-yarders.

Detroit Lions

Johnson (Photo Courtesy of Foxsports.com)

Strengths: If the Lions perform as well as QB Jon Kitna predicts, we could see a record-breaking offense at play. However, it is not likely that he will throw 50 TDs. It remains to be seen whether the passing game will be prolific, but the team looks like it has finally turned the corner. The likely third WR, Mike Furrey, on the team led the NFC in receptions last year. Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson have the potential to be one of the top tandems in the NFL. Once Shaun Rodgers is back in game shape, the DT rotation is very strong. The key is for them to force things outside and allow speedy LBs Boss Bailey and Ernie Sims to pursue along the line.

Weaknesses: So why not 50 TDs for Kitna? The running game is a weakness right now. Tatum Bell has a lot to prove. Shanahan gave up on him because of a mild case of fumblitis. Bell has to hold onto the ball until Kevin Jones is back and in condition to carry the load. For the most part, the offensive line has underachieved. Hopefully new faces Edwin Mulitalo and George Foster can help solidify that line.

Opportunities: CB Stanley Wilson takes over for Dre Bly as the team’s speed corner. Teams would be wise not to shrug Wilson off. Those that watched him at Stanford know that he has that playmaker’s mentality and has the speed to make up for minor mistakes.

Threats: Speed on defense is nice but when your two most sure tacklers are your CB (Fernando Bryant) and SS (Kenoy Kennedy), there is potential for problems. The team could cause many turnovers, but could have trouble with power running teams.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: Larry Fitzgerald to Calvin Johnson, The Amazing Receiver Who is Actually a Good Guy. Gone are the Michael Irvins, Andre Risons and the Keyshawn Johnsons. Receivers like Fitz and Calvin Johnson are a tribute to Art Monk-like receivers who are secure enough to let their performance do the talking.

Camp Battle: Dewayne White, Kalimba Edwards and Ikaika Alama-Francis, Defensive End. In Dewayne White, you have Simeon Rice’s understudy who the team paid a large sum to lure in free agency. In Kalimba Edwards, you have a physically gifted player who never lived up to his potential. In Alama-Francis, you have a Julius Peppers Clone whose potential is through the roof. Regardless of who wins the starting jobs, this team sorely needs help from the DE positions.

Rookie Contributor: Calvin Johnson should earn the starting role opposite Roy Williams, and his impact could be felt very early on. Johnson has the potential to re-write the rookie record books.

Green Bay Packers

Favre (Photo Courtesy of CNN.net)

Strengths: The strength of this team has shifted over to defense. The strength of the defense lies in some non-household names. Defensive End Aaron Kampman was a relative nobody until he put up 15.5 sacks last year. He leads the charge along a defensive line full of non-household names. The linebacking corps, led in the middle by Nick Barnett and flanked by last year’s monster rookie AJ Hawk look great. Corners Charles Woodson and Al Harris lead the Defensive Backfield. While the overall names sound somewhat unimpressive, Defensive Coordinator Bob Sanders has a great unit as a whole. On offense there is little to talk about other than a decent WR situation with Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and James Jones, and the bookends on the offensive line, Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher. If your name is John Madden, then of course, there is future Hall of Famer, Brett Favre.

Weaknesses: Running back is a major weakness. The team seems high on Brandon Jackson, however, this team cannot depend on their running game. Brett Favre will have to throw the ball a lot, and succeed at doing that for this team to do well. Without a decent running game in place, opposing defenses will be able to drop an extra man into coverage, or send an extra man after Favre. Ok, I’ve said Favre too much, where’s Frank Caliendo when you need him. “That’s T-R-B-L, Terrible!!!”

Opportunities: Nick Collins needs to show that he can be the QB of the defense. He followed up a promising rookie season with a bit of a sophomore slump. This year should be his coming out party. If given the chance, Aaron Rodgers will have to show whether he will “Pan Out” in the NFL.

Threats: The team has many young starters, which could lead to inconsistency. The cornerbacks are getting up there in years and they don’t have strong backups. Someone among the young set of backup corners needs to step up. Jarrett Bush has looked good in the preseason.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: Dan Marino to Brett Favre as, statistically, the most prolific passer in NFL history. Favre should break the TD record this year (6 to tie Marino). If he can throw for over 4000 yards, he will also pass Marino for most passing yards in NFL history (3861 yards to tie Marino).

Camp Battle: Wide Receivers Greg Jennings and James Jones. The team seems content with keeping Greg Jennings as the starter, even though he is having a slow preseason. On the other hand, third rounder James Jones has been something short of spectacular. If Jones keeps up his performance, he could be in line to start next to Driver.

Rookie Contributor: James Jones looks like he will be a contributor. DT Justin Harrell will start alongside Ryan Pickett. He could be a pocket collapsing DT who will spend time in offensive backfields with his inside push. Also, keep an eye on safety Aaron Rouse, who will challenge Marquand Manual and Atari Bigby. Rouse is a huge safety, built similar to Sean Taylor.

Minnesota Vikings

Peterson (Photo Courtesy of Foxsports.com)

Strengths: This team must feed off the running game. The offensive line is built to pound away at the opposing defense, and between Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson, defenses could wear down to the 1-2 punch. Between LT Bryant McKinnie, LG Steve Hutchinson and Center Matt Birk, the team can run up the left side all day. Productive DTs Kevin and Pat Williams return to lead the defense, along with CB Antoine Winfield and safety Darren Sharper.

Weaknesses: The team needs production from the DEs. Erasmus James cannot stay healthy and Kenechi Udeze is unproductive (zero sacks in 16 starts). On paper, the WR corps look weak. Two rookies are in the top four spots. Starters, Bobby Wade and Troy Williamson, do anything but strike fear in the hearts of opposing defenders. Tarvaris Jackson could end up leading the NFL in interceptions.

Opportunities: Chad Greenway is back from a season ending injury last year. He is looking good this preseason and could fill a huge hole on a historically underachieving linebacking corps. Troy Williamson has the opportunity to keep the third year WR rule intact. Historically, many wide receivers came into their own, during their third season. Williamson, with newly corrected vision, could be the next in line. We all know what corrected vision did for Herman Moore’s career.

Threats: Anytime you have a QB controversy, it is a threat. Travaris Jackson is the young fiery QB with the cannon for an arm, while Brooks Bollinger is the somewhat steady QB with an accurate ball. Both have their pros and cons, however this team cannot have a split locker room on this decision.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: The Vikings could take the torch from the Oakland Raiders, as the worst franchise in the NFL. Could the team be on the move? Could they land in Los Angeles? Who knows?

Camp Battle: Marcus McCauley and Devonte Edwards for the third CB spot. McCauley is a little raw, but carries a lot of potential, Edwards knows the defense and got plenty of playing time last year. Who plays more this season will depend on how the team does early on.

Rookie Contributor: Wide Receiver Sidney Rice has been getting a lot of looks early. He probably could have stayed in college another year and possibly been a top 10 pick in the 2008 draft. Adrian Peterson has looked great in camp and the preseason. He could easily monopolize the carries from Chester Taylor if the team tanks early. He will most likely get the goal line carries, as Taylor has a tendency to fumble there.

NFL SWOT Analysis: AFC South

By: Armin Mohajeri

Houston Texans

Ryans (Photo Courtesy of Pobladores.com)

Strengths: Last year, WR Andre Johnson came into his own with 103 receptions. One of the most physically gifted receivers in the league, Johnson could even improve on last season (especially his yards per catch). He leads an underrated/unknown set of receivers who have a new QB at their helm. Depending on some key elements, the Houston Texans offense could turn some heads. Gary Kubiak’s Zone-Blocking scheme could be in better effect this season. The Offensive line is deep, along with Mark Breuner working as a sixth offensive lineman. If they can grasp Kubiak’s scheme, Ahman Green could be in for a surprise year. Reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year award winner DeMeco Ryans mans the middle linebacker spot as captain of the defense. He joins cornerback Dunta Robinson and defensive end Mario Williams as the young talented core of the defense.

Weaknesses: Management has left this team with a major lack of star power, especially on offense. This team is in dire need of a face for the franchise. Passing on Vince Young and Reggie Bush could haunt this team for the next 12 years. Bringing in Gary Kubiak as the coach last year was a step in the right direction. However if management continues to riddle this team with ineffective players, even a proven offensive genius like Kubiak cannot overcome the challenge.

Opportunities: Many view Matt Schaub as an upgrade over David Carr (myself included). However, one cannot forget that Schaub has yet to be a true starting QB in this league. While Schaub does not boast the arm-strength Carr exhibited, he can definitely put the ball on a spot, delivering with better accuracy. Owen Daniels could reap benefits from Schaub’s addition. Schaub comes over from a team that relied heavily on its tight end in the passing game. Defensive End Mario Williams must step up and show why the team chose him over Young and Bush as the #1 pick last year (besides his relatively simple contract situation).

Threats: As talented as they are, this is still a young defense that has not come of age. No starter is over the age of 30, with Marlon Greenwood being the elder statesman at 29. A young defense is a breeding ground for mental errors.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: While it is easy to focus on Schaub here, one must take notice of the new starting Defensive Tackles, Anthony Maddox and Amobi Okoye. While Maddox has taken lead over a former 1st rounder (Travis Johnson), Okoye is this year’s 1st rounder coming in with expectations all over the board as he is only 20 years old.

Camp Battle: Andre Davis, David Anderson, Keenan McCardell, Jerome Mathis and Jacoby Jones, for the third Wide Receiver spot. Right now the competition is in the above order, with Davis in the lead. Jones started out in the lead, but dropped passes in training camp are hurting him. David Anderson has done the opposite and held onto the ball. Keenan McCardell was signed late this offseason, and brings plenty of experience to the table. Coaches love Mathis’s speed and want him on the field. Davis, however, who came into camp on the fifth team offense, has been the most impressive. He could regain some of that luster that made him a deep receiving threat that showed flashes with the Browns.

Rookie Contributor: Okoye is obvious, but keep an eye on fourth round CB Fred Bennett. He is a tall lanky corner who is in competition with Jamar Fletcher for the third corner. If successful, he could be giving Demarcus Faggins a run for the starting spot by season’s end.

Indianapolis Colts

Manning (Photo Courtesy of Encarta.msn.com)

Strengths: The defending Super Bowl Champs return with their elite passing/receiving trio of QB Peyton Manning and WRs Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. In the draft, the Colts used their first rounder on a home run threat, Anthony Gonzalez. He should team with Harrison to help stretch the field, as Wayne, RB Joseph Addai and TEs Dallas Clark and Bryan Fletcher get open underneath. Though Tarik Glenn’s departure cuts deep, the other four starters on the offensive line return. On defense, DEs Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are arguably the top DE tandem in the league.

Weaknesses: After getting mauled in free agency, the defense has questions from top to bottom. With Booger McFarland’s season-ending injury, a decent DT rotation is now in shambles. Raheem Brock will get the most time while Ed Johnson, rookie Quinn Pitcock and Darrell Reid try to fill the other hole. Cato June’s loss will be felt. Freddy Keiaho has big shoes to fill, taking over June’s vacated weak side spot. Gary Brackett will have to shoulder some of the load in the June loss. Losing both CBs Nick Harper and Jason David hurts. A very young crew takes on the task of covering opposing receivers. Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden get the starting nod.

Opportunities: Many opportunities available on defense, but the biggest will be at corner behind the starters. The diminutive Tim Jennings looks to be the 3rd CB for now. Return man, T.J. Rushing is penciled in at the 4th spot. Rookies Daymeion Hughes and Michael Coe bring some much needed size and talent to the table. Hughes might be better suited for safety, but has enough coverage skill to be a corner. In college he was a ballhawk. Coe, a big corner, made a late name for himself with his individual workouts. He is build a lot like Marlin Jackson, but probably has a step on him.

Threats: The Colts will have every team gunning for them. The amount of rookies that could potentially contribute is unbecoming of a defending champ. This will be a true test of the coaching staff. Can the offense be good enough to keep the defense off the field.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: Too many to list. Most significant will be offensive left tackle Tony Ugoh, from the retired Tarik Glenn, protecting Manning’s blindside (unless, of course, Manning decides to become a lefty).

Camp Battle: Ed Johnson, Quinn Pitcock and Darrell Reid, Defensive Tackle. Ed Johnson seems to have the early advantage, getting the start in the first preseason game. However, Pitcock is the longer term solution. Reid is the dark horse who seems to be getting some looks.

Rookie Contributor: The Colts have a strong draft class, which could have several contributors. However, keep WR Roy Hall in your periphery. He is a big WR (6’1” 240) who did great in camp, and could also be in line for time as an H-Back.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Jones-Drew (Photo Courtesy of Bodogbeat.com)

Strengths: If the offense can click, they have many puzzle pieces that will fit together well. They have a nice 1-2 punch at running back, with Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. Both compliment each other well. If Taylor can stay healthy all season, they can do some damage together. The defense is solid from top to bottom. They have arguably the best tandem of DTs in the league with John Henderson and Marcus Stroud. They might even have the best trio, with Rob Meier.

Weaknesses: The offensive line must step up and do a better job than last season. Left Tackle Khalif Barnes had a sophomore slump. Brad Meester will be lost for most of the season, leaving center to be manned by Dennis Norman. The corners need to step up and perform better.

Opportunities: Byron Leftwich has been the most impressive Jaguar this training camp. That is either a horrible thing, or a great thing. When Leftwich is playing at his peak, the Jags offense is hard to stop. Northcutt and Jones can stretch the field, complimenting Leftwich’s strong arm. The team could have a nice pass rush tandem on its hands. Reggie Hayward is probably their biggest threat, though he is coming off a season ending injury last year, during the first game of the season. Bobby McCray stepped in and registered 10 sacks last year. Paul Spicer will back them both up, mostly in a run stopping capacity.

Threats: While Rashean Mathis and Brian Williams did a great job manning the corners, the safeties left a lot to be desired last season. This season there will be first time starters at both safety spots. At the top of the depth chart are Gerald Sensabaugh and Nick Sorenesen. First round pick, Reggie Nelson, will most likely be in the free safety spot in the near future. Sensebaugh will fight fifth rounder Josh Gaddis and newly signed Sammy Knight. Knight has starting experience, but that should not be the case here. If the safeties don’t make the right calls, and produce weak results. This defense could be in for a long season.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: MLB Mike Peterson to Justin Durant, eventually. Durant is underrated, coming out of a small school called Hampton. However, coaches and scouts know the value of a player like Durant. He has that squatty stature, but also boasts terrific speed and agility. What sets him apart from the other great athletes coming out of college is that Durant is a student of the game. He shows great presence, and has the makings of an eventual defensive captain.

Camp Battle: Wide Receiver resembles a war, not a battle. Ernest Wilford, Dennis Northcutt, Matt Jones and Reggie Williams are all vying for starting jobs. Williams was just recently moved to the third team, which could indicate the possible release of the former 1st round pick. Matt Jones mans the slot position for now. Wilford and Northcutt are penciled in as starters.

Rookie Contributor: Free Safety Reggie Nelson will most likely be thrown into the fire early. He could play cornerback if he had to. However, Nelson brings his athleticism over to free safety. He has that combination of coverage ability and ball-hawking skills.

Tennessee Titans

Young (Photo Courtesy of Footblog.com)

Strengths: The Titans are a team that could surprise some people. Vince Young is a weapon that only one team could match (until a little dog fighting incident). Putting Young behind an offensive line stocked with young bookends and a nasty trio on the inside. Offensive Tackles Michael Roos and David Stewart could be a strong tandem for years. The towering Stewart quieted many critics who did not think he could be a starter in the NFL. Inside, one of the top centers in NFL history, Kevin Mawae, is flanked by guards Benji Olson and Jacob Bell. They will give Young plenty of time to decide who he’s passing to or whether he will take off running the ball himself. Vince Young could put his name up there with the elite before we know it.

Weaknesses: The receiving game is weak. Brandon Jones is the top WR of the bunch. But, between Roydell Williams, Courtney Roby and Eric Moulds, it’s hard to say what they have at the other WR position. Tight End Ben Troupe has yet to live up to expectations tied to his size, speed and athletic ability that makes physically makes him an Antonio Gates clone. Luckily, Young has incredible wheels. If he was a pocket passer, he might be in trouble. Vanden Bosch disappointed last year with 6.5 sacks to follow up 12.5 from the previous year. Haynesworth was off to his best season before being suspended for mistaking Andre Gurode’s face for a welcome mat. Overall, the defensive line underachieved last season. Defensive tackle Randy Starks is running out of chances. There is a lot of unrealized potential across that line.

Opportunities: The defensive backs on this team have an opportunity to be a solid unit on this defense, and prove that they do not need a cancerous teammate like Pacman Jones. CBs Nick Harper and Reynaldo Hill team up with safeties Chris Hope and Lamount Thompson. Michael Griffin plays the wild card. Either he will be the third cornerback, or he will challenge Lamount Thompson for the starting free safety spot. If Chris Hope progresses from last year, he will be a top 10 safety.

Threats: For some reason, this team is where many great prospects come to realize they are not that great. Don’t get me wrong. This team has had its share of players that have achieved at or beyond expectation, but there seem to be a lot of underachievers, and this year’s team is full of them. This list includes Troupe, DEs Antwan Odom and Travis LaBoy, DT Randy Starks, CB Andre Woolfolk. You could even put Pacman Jones on that list for his off-field behavior. LenDale White could be on his way there. If Courtney Roby and Roydell Williams do not pan out, they are right along with the rest. Let us hope Vince Young is never part of this conversation, except to show that they have players that can be great too.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: Steve McNair to Vince Young, the Key to the Hearts of Titans fans. Drafting Vince Young is the reason why teams like the Houston Texans suffer from year to year, and teams like the Titans have hope. Titans fans have their hero. Now the question is…can he take this franchise to the playoffs more often than McNair did?

Camp Battle: LenDale White and Chris Henry, Running Back. Don’t be fooled by Chris Brown starting last game, and being atop the depth chart. Tennessee might just be marketing him to teams to trade him. It is common practice in the preseason. This could have been White’s job without trouble. However, his laziness and lackadaisical approach forced the team’s hand and they drafted competition in Chris Henry. Henry has not put it together on the field, however physically, he’s a phenomenal prospect. Henry is reminiscent of Jerrious Norwood. Regardless of who wins, they will make a strong 1-2 punch.

Rookie Contributor: Defensive back Michael Griffin could help this team forget about Pacman Jones. While he doesn’t exactly have Jones’s explosiveness (though he’s not far), Griffin brings plenty to the table in his coverage skills and versatility. He will also keep clean off the field, keeping him on the field more often. Running back Chris Henry will be another contributor. Keep an eye on WR Paul Williams. Once he gets the offense, he could produce numbers.

Pre-Season Prognosticating: NFL-Style

Sure, it’s just the pre-season. Even more than that fact alone standing as enough evidence to erase anything relevant from what I’m about to say, there’s still plenty you can learn from the pre-season.

Stick with me now, there really is.

True, you shouldn’t worry about Tom Brady and the Patriots going 0-2 on both of their offensive series. Then again, it’s not like it’s the worst news I heard last night. Nevermind the fact that guys like Maroney, Moss, and Stallworth wore track suits instead of uniforms last night, perhaps Tom Brady has officially lost it.
Okay, I won’t start that rumor.

I’ll instead relent and remind myself, and everyone else, that it was still the first game of the pre-season.

Yet, despite this unmistakable fact, I’ve decided to go a little deeper, within this post at least, and try and find something relevant from a selection of the NFL’s opening weekend set of pre-season games. In fact, I’m going to try and tackle a mini-issue from each game. For the sake of continuity, I’m going to target one guy on each roster. I’ll take a brief look at his performance, or lack thereof, and try and carve out some meaningful analysis.

[I’ll concede that this series of analysis of offensive-dominant. However, I’ll more than make it up for it in the next post, coming next weekend.]

Apparently this guy is more than ready for some football.

Credit: MSNBC.com

Enjoy the ride…

~~Hall of Fame Game~~
Pittsburgh 20
New Orleans 7

Steelers: Kevan Barlow [7 rushes, 13 yards]
-Is there really room on the Steeler roster for Barlow? While last season wasn’t a complete meltdown in New York for Barlow, he wasn’t welcomed back for a sophomore campaign. With a roster filled already with Pro Bowler Willie Parker and two talented backups (Verron Haynes & Najeh Davenport), could Barlow potentially supplant Davenport as a short yardage back? The answer is probably NO.

Saints: Antonio Pittman [7 rushes, 20 yards]
-The rookie out of the Ohio State University will have a tough enough time when he glances up at the depth chart and spots Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush ahead of him. Adding to that problem is a rather talented #3-system-back named Aaron Stecker. While Pittman has a sick speed burst and youth on his side, Stecker is a seasoned veteran who catches the ball extremely well and knows the Saint system even better. Pittman obviously has a roster spot guaranteed and if an injury befalls Deuce, Antonio could easily see quite a few carries most games (if he passes Stecker on the depth chart, that is).

Detroit 27
Cincinnati 26

Lions: Dan Orlovsky [15-23, 220 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT]
-Passing on Brady Quinn for Calvin Johnson, the Lions decided to wait until the second-round to tab their potential QB of the future. Unfortunately for them, Drew Stanton is on the IR for the season. While journeymen JT O’Sullivan is also on the roster, Orlovsky may merit a peak or two (especially if the Lions revert to their typical losing ways early on this season) before the season concludes.

Bengals: Chris Henry [6 receptions, 86 yards, 1 TD]
-Even surprising me a bit, Henry is apparently allowed to play in the pre-season. His suspension, eight games, may even be shortened to four with good behavior. While that remains to be seen (anyone else surprised Henry and Pacman are products of the loose-morals of WVU football?), Henry is as dynamic a number 3 wideout the NFL, and fantasy footballers, has seen in recent years. In fact, he may merit sitting on someone’s bench for a few weeks, as all Bengal QBs still seem more than willing to throw the ball his way still.

Indianapolis 10
Dallas 23

Colts: DeDe Dorsey [6 rushes, 15 yards]
-Raise your hand if you knew some guy named DeDe was the potential #2 back in the Colts depth chart this season. With Dominique Rhodes now lost in the plethora of the Raider running back depth chart, Joseph Addai is now number 1 (and not 1a or 1b) in the Colt rushing attack. Right behind him, at least for now, appears to be the second year product out of Lindenwood. Nope, that’s not a country club or a community you’re likely to see on an episode of the Hills. Instead, it’s found in St. Charles, Missouri. As for Dorsey, he’s a guy liked by Tony Dungy. Even more prominently, he’s a guy whom Peyton Manning, for better or worse, may soon have to rely a lot more on that he might’ve planned.

Cowboys: Matt Moore [7-9, 88 yards]
-When Brad Johnson is your backup plan, you can’t be too upset. Yet, you also have to remember that Brad Johnson is going to be 79 by the end of this season. While Tony Romo is young and talented, the #3 QB on a roster matters more in situations such as these than in years past. While there is a bit of a competition, according to Wade Phillips, for this spot, don’t think that Moore, a product of Oregon State, isn’t working his hardest to secure the #3 job before the conclusion of the pre-season.

Atlanta 16
New York Jets 31

Falcons: Dwayne Blakley [1 reception, 37 yards]
-The easy target for any talk about currently active Falcons is Joey Harrington. In fact, it’s almost too easy to target Joey Heisman. Almost as interesting might be the backup situation, with Vick assumingly gone for the year, between second-year Georgia product DJ Shockley and former Raven starter Chris Redman (okay, he started about a dozen years ago for them). However, I’m trying to dig a little deeper. While Joe Horn brings veteran leadership to the receiving corps, I’m looking at Blakley to become a second tight end target, alongside regular Pro Bowler Alge Crumpler, for Harrington to develop alongside in the Falcon system. Between their run happy offense, and Harrington’s less than stellar accuracy downfield, a second tight end, one with the talent to work the middle of the field, could be just what new incoming Head Coach Bobby Petrino needs.

Jets: Kellen Clemens [16-22, 174 yards, 3 TDs]
-Just a season ago, before Chad Pennington’s Comeback Player of the Year award-winning year, Clemens might’ve wondered if he’d be able to seriously compete for the starting gig this season. While that appears to be on hold for the near future, Clemens definitely did his best to stake claim to the backup job. Early reports from camp had Clemens lost and confused; however, his three TD strikes were more than enough toe excite Jet fans…for now.

New England 10
Tampa Bay 13

Patriots: Sammy Morris [9 rushes, 27 yards, 1 TD]
-With Corey Dillon riding the free agency wires, Laurence Maroney is officially the man in Foxboro. While I have more than a few questions regarding the second-year man’s durability, the Patriots have always been wise to keep Kevin Faulk around as a do-everything running back. However, they still need a more solidified number 2 back. Enter the former Dolphin sorta-starter, at least during injury-happy times, “Skit-Skat” Sammy Morris. (You can thank my friend Goings for that nickname). If Maroney goes down, don’t expect the Pats to scour the waiver wires or look to bring Dillon back; especially with Morris more than willing to carry the load and catch a few passes out of the backfield.

Buccaneers: Jeramy Stevens [2 receptions, 11 yards]
-Sometimes, you just can’t fit in on a team. Despite a talented pedigree and plenty of passes coming his way, Stevens clearly wore out his welcome in Seattle. So what is the best place for an underachieving tight end to go (and typically waste away a few seasons)? The answer is Tampa Bay. Names like Rickey Dudley and Anthony Becht ring gigantic bells to me instantly on that account. While Stevens is more talented than both of those former first-round selections, it remains to be seen if he can step up his attitude, his intensity, and lose his affinity for dropping key passes when it matters the most.

St. Louis 13
Minnesota 10

Rams: Brian Leonard [9 rushes, 36 yards, 5 receptions, 30 yards]
-While you might’ve been scratching your heads at his second-round selection, Ram fans shouldn’t have been. Despite Stephen “Action” Jackson being an all-world rushing and receiving threat, Leonard will really help in further opening up the Ram offense. He can line up at running back, full back, h-back, or just as a straight pass-catching back. He has solid speed, impressive strength, and the attitude coaches like Scott Linehan love. Watch out for this kid. He may win a game or two for the Rams this season.

Vikings: Bobby Wade [2 receptions, 42 yards]
-Enter another journeyman wideout to the Viking receiving corps. Since Troy Williamson has done nothing but fizzle in his short stint in Minnesota, the Vikings may just give Wade enough routes and enough looks to merit him worthy of a fantasy peak. As for the NFL side of things, Wade has shown enough flashes – not of brilliance, but of starting ability – to make you wonder if he can become Tavaris Jackson’s favorite new target. While the answer is completely unknown; stranger things have happened.

Buffalo 13
New Orleans 10

Bills: Trent Edwards [10-11, 49 yards]
-Some of us just hate JP Losman…and the Bills. Okay, I give in. I do. Both of them. So much. Yet, Edwards (who was regarded as being potentially worthy of going first in the 2nd round to Oakland during draft time) is one of those tremendous upside-QBs everyone seems to fall in love with this time of the year. While Losman seems to have the starting gig on lockdown, an injury or serious regression (such as a 2-4 start) may merit a serious look for Edwards to see some snaps. Gee, I wonder how many times I’ve said “merit” in this post? Either way, Edwards will be an interesting guy to watch this pre-season.

Saints: Robert Meacham [2 receptions, 20 yards, TD]
-Joe Horn missed the majority of the meaningful 2006/07 campaign and allowed guys like Colston/Henderson/Copper to fill-in more than admirably. Enter into the mix now a 1st-rounder out of Tennessee with a pedigree for tremendous size and skill. While he hasn’t had the crispest start in New Orleans (health issues abound early on), Meacham snagged a late TD from soon-to-be-#3 Tyler Palko in the late stretches of his opening game, allowing Saint fans at least a taste of his potential.

Fourteen guys and more than fourteen stories.

The real question is: which story this pre-season interests you the most?

Hopefully we’ll peg one or two of them before the season kicks off…

Until next time.

-Clement

NFL SWOT Analysis: NFC South

By: Armin Mohajeri

Atlanta Falcons:

Hall (Photo courtesy of raisport.com)

Strengths: The Falcons will rely heavily on a talented front seven built on speed and athleticism. On the defensive line, DT Rod Coleman and DE John Abraham will use their gifts of rare speed and agility at their positions to get into the backfield, while Grady Jackson plugs the middle. Top pick Jamaal Anderson rounds out the foursome. A speedy linebacker corps, led by Keith Brooking, should compliment both the line and the secondary with strong safety Lawyer Milloy occasionally moving up into the box. DeAngelo Hall is slowly becoming one of the feared CBs in the league.

Weaknesses: Obviously, QB is a major weakness without a weapon like Michael Vick at the helm. Many have seen Joey Harrington and his ineptitude in the NFL. Anyone holding out hope needs to look no further than his former college coach, Jeff Tedford. The man is a genius at making QBs look good. Look at his list of first round draft picks that never panned out in the NFL: Trent Dilfer, Akili Smith, Harrington, Kyle Boller and Aaron Rodgers. If Vick misses significant time, this will be a long year for the Falcons. The Matt Schaub trade, to Houston, will come back to haunt this franchise, at least for this season.

Opportunities: The acquisition of WR Joe Horn and the continued big play from Alge Crumpler takes some of the pressure off Michael Jenkins and Roddy White. One of these two needs to step up and be the future of this franchise at WR (if not both). Converted CB Jimmy Williams could be a big boost at safety, if he can put his game together and be a defensive QB. He is as athletically gifted as they come.

Threats: The running game has been atop the NFL for some time. Easily forgotten is the fact that Vick’s numbers contribute to the overall numbers in the running game. If Vick misses time, we will see just how strong the running game is. Add to that the fact that Dunn will miss some time early on.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: Jerrious Norwood from Warrick Dunn, Running Back. Dunn is 32, and at 5’9” and 180 pounds, he cannot be expected to be the feature back for long. While Dunn should not be counted out completely (even with the injury to start the season), Norwood could take the lead role for good this season. One of my pre-draft sleepers from 2006, Norwood proved to be a potential home run threat, making several big plays last season.

Camp Battle: Michael Vick and the Long Arm of the Law. Not exactly a camp battle, but the significance holds the prospects of this season in its hands. As inconsistent as Vick has been as a QB, without a fallback plan like Matt Schaub, the team is at a major disadvantage. Love him or hate him, Vick is a weapon that opposing defenses have to plan around.

Rookie Contributor: Defensive End, Jamaal Anderson. Anderson has a supporting cast that should take a lot of pressure off him. His phenomenal size and his athleticism at the position should give him a leg up. Also keep an eye on Chris Houston who may be the team’s third CB going into the season.

Carolina Panthers:

Smith (Photo courtesy of footblog.com)

Strengths: The defensive line should be dominant. Forget offseason trade talk surrounding Kris Jenkins. He slimmed down from his minicamp weight and showed up to training camp ready to rumble. In fact, he teamed up with the massive Ma’ake Kemoeatu to break a blocking sled. Anyone who’s ever pushed a blocking sled knows what kind of feat that is. Familiar bookends, Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker return. Arguably coming off his best season, Peppers should continue to be a threat to offenses. The offensive line has a couple of new starters, however Jordan Gross and Mike Wahle should do a decent job anchoring the line.

Weaknesses: Mike Minter’s abrupt retirement, due to knee injuries, leaves the defense without its QB. Untested second-year safety Nate Salley will move over to Minter’s vaccated spot, making the calls in the secondary. Chris Harris, who was lost in a logjam at safety in Chicago, could help ease the loss, if he can regain his rookie form.

Opportunities: Delhomme has some potential options on hand. Steve Smith is the top target, but there could be a fair share of #2 types on the roster. Drew Carter and Keary Colbert are in a battle for the spot alongside Smith. However, Dwayne Jarrett could eclipse them before the season is over. Another receiver to keep an eye on is second-year TE Jeff King. King gives Delhomme a nice large target to look for underneath and in the end zone.

Threats: Left Tackle Travelle Wharton is coming off a torn ACL that wiped out last season. He is expected to be the starter this season. Mike Rucker seems to be on the decline and unless rookie DE Charles Johnson can step up early to rotate, the right side could have a hole. MLB Dan Morgon is one concussion away from retirement.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: Justin Hartwig to Ryan Kalil, Center. Hartwig is not old, and he is a serviceable player, however he holds great value as a swing backup who can play just about every position on the offensive line. Kalil may not crack the starting lineup this year, but the Panthers need to get him comfortable. If injuries strike and Hartwig is needed elsewhere, Kalil can step right in.

Camp Battle: DeAngelo Williams and DeShaun Foster, DeRunning Back. Look for Williams to edge out Foster for carries, however word is that Williams hasn’t been impressive at the goaline. Foster will probably get the lion’s share of those duties. Nick Goings may factor at the goaline as well.

Rookie Contributor: Linebacker, Jon Beason should have no problem passing Na’il Diggs on the depth chart for the starting spot. Beason has playmaker potential. He rocketed up the draft charts as draft day drew closer. He is in the D.J. Williams/Jon Vilma mold, and would not surprise if he produces as they did early in their careers.

New Orleans Saints:

Bush (Photo courtesy of CNN.net)

Strengths: Between WR Marques Colston, TE Eric Johnson and RB Reggie Bush, Drew Brees has a pass-receiving trio at all three levels of the offense. Bush will be all over the field. His running mate Deuce McAllister will handle most of the running duties with Bush chipping in here and there. Bush will also line up at WR at times. Despite a lack of big names to point out, depth at linebacker and in the defensive backfield will allow decent rotations keeping players fresh.

Weaknesses: While depth on defense is a strength for this team, the defense lacks a player that strikes fear in opposing hearts. There is no superstar for other teams to plan their game around. This will be a priority next offseason. Offensive line depth is a concern that was in the spotlight when Jammal Brown recently went down with a knee injury and was carted off the field. The team was caught with its proverbial pants down. Zach Streif, a 7th rounder last season, is the primary backup. The team has Rob Pettiti and Jon Stinchcomb at right tackle, but neither is a true left tackle. The team was very lucky that MRIs came back negative. Look for the team to keep former Saint Willie Roaf on the speed dial. Rookie guard Andy Alleman is the only other backup worth mentioning, and he is buried on the depth chart.

Opportunities: The young duo at safety offers a lot of upside. Josh Bullocks and Roman Harper look like they could patrol the secondary for years in New Orleans. They would have started alongside each other last season, as Harper won the starting job as a rookie, but was lost for the season early on.

Threats: The biggest threat, by far, for this team is the threat of high expectations. These are probably the highest expectations this franchise has ever had. The pressure is on in the Big Easy.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: Dominique Wilkins to Reggie Bush, “The Human Highlight Film” nickname. It’s hard to see Reggie Bush having a sophomore slump. Look for him to lead the league in sick moves.

Camp Battle: As mentioned in the strengths, Brees has 3 solid options to pass to, however he needs a #2 WR to step up. Robert Meachem is raw. Devery Henderson is a home run threat, but take away his nine reception game against the Bengals, and he was largely inconsistent with only 23 receptions in the remaining games. Behind them are Terrence Copper and David Patten.

Rookie Contributor: Unless Robert Meachem steps up, there could be zero (barring injury). Usama Young is buried behind four other corners. Andy Alleman is listed as the fifth guard on the depth chart. Antonio Pittman is the fourth RB at best.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

Brooks (Photo courtesy of NewFootball.com)

Strengths: The defense will once again have to lead this team. The defensive line, led by a no-name cast and a rookie, has a decent seven-man rotation. They are a mix of over and under-achievers who are built to get after the QB. The linebackers are deep as well. The addition of Cato June bolsters a spot where the team had a revolving door last year, opposite Derrick Brooks. Ronde Barber and Brian Kelly return as the starting corners. Their ability to get up to the line and play physical compliments the Tampa-2 defense, and their counterparts at safety, Will Allen and Jermaine Phillips. Both played well last season and only have room to grow.

Weaknesses: The offense is full of question marks. The offensive line is not where they would like it to be. Petitgout is already dealing with injuries. Trueblood is untested. Anthony Davis was a failed experiment at left tackle. The Bucs need young interior linemen Davin Joseph, Dan Buenning and Arron Sears to step up and take over the line. However, the bookends leave much to be desired. Carnell Williams and Michael Pittman are coming off a horrible year where Williams averaged 3.5 yards per carry and Pittman was nearly invisible.

Opportunities: Defensive Tackle Ryan Sims could shed his “Bust” label. If Sims takes a page from linemate Chris Hovan’s book, he will come in with a chip on his shoulder, ready to prove that he is worth his draft status. If he succeeds, Tampa could have a nice DT tandem on their hands. Barrett Ruud has a chance to prove that he was worthy of all the hype in the 2005 draft. He is a throwback player who plays nasty, and could easily become a fan favorite.

Threats: There could be a major QB controversy in Tampa. Jeff Garcia cannot falter, or else it’s a toss up between him, Chris Simms, Bruce Gradkowski and dark-horse Luke McCown.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: Weakside Linebacker, Derrick Brooks to Cato June. One of the best players in Tampa history could be gone. Cato June has looked great and has made Brooks expendable. Unfortunately, in the Cap Era, moves like this (releasing Brooks) happen far too often. It hasn’t happened yet, but don’t be surprised if it does.

Camp Battle: Michael Clayton and Maurice Stovall, Wide Receiver. Did Clayton fall this far, or is Stovall that good? It might be a little of both. Clayton has the opportunity to lose the “lazy” label that many Bucs faithful find easy to call him. Stovall, on the other hand, is coming into his own and looking good in camp. While Stovall did not get any attention last year, and was almost moved to tight end, he’s looking good in camp, and was recently listed as the starter on the team’s website. There is a wild card here though. Gruden has been quietly praising David Boston. This could be an opportune time for Boston to make a name for himself again.

Rookie Contributor: Defensive End Gaines Adams takes over for recently released Simeon Rice. Adams, the best pure pass rusher in the draft, has enormous shoes to fill. Time will tell, but hopefully this isn’t too much pressure for the talented end. Sabby Piscitelli is a mammoth safety who packs a hard hit. He could end up getting some playing time early in goaline situations.

Call Outs: Clement-Style

I’m calling out more than a few people. Why? Partially because the sporting landscape is finally starting to heat up (especially since the post NBA Draft hangover).

Some of it won’t be nice, some it may be too nice…but the point is: it’s time to take a stand. In fact, it’s time to take a definitive one. In fact, it’s time to throw out some opinions, some love, some hate, and some SAT-laden words.

Who’s up first?

LaDainian Tomlinson. You’re a fantasy monster. You’re the top running back in the NFL. You are becoming, more and more, a juggernaut with endorsements. You’re the guy who everyone wants to play with in Madden, hand the ball to in the redzone, and are currently on a talented, young team with plenty of firepower. Yet, you’re 0-2 in the playoffs. True, you lost to New England last year. Then again, it was at home. You also had a bye week that was supposed to aid you. It’s all true that your first loss was to an underappreciated Jets team a few years back. Then again, you were at home then too. Now it’s true your numbers were pretty solid both games, but you were far from dominant. Now while there is a lot more to winning playoff games, especially against Bill Bellichick, than a great running back…it also reminds me that LT isn’t unstoppable. He isn’t immortal. With Norv Turner in tow now, many are wondering if the Chargers are a legit Super Bowl contending team. Sure, we all think they can win 12 to 13 games. Then again, why should anyone think it a lock that LT can lead the Chargers to a playoff victory, whether home or away? In fact, might Phillip Rivers and their defense, who folded like a card table in the 4^th quarter against the Pats, be more important to a victory? Call me an LT-hater, but I’m more than speculative as of now of LT and the Chargers being a Super Bowl team. Plenty of backs never really had playoff success (Barry Sanders comes to mind first) for countless reasons. Yet, I’m still waiting for LT, the sure shot pre-season MVP, to prove something to me…especially when it matters the most.

Rory Sabitini’s harasser. In case you didn’t know, Sabatini called out Tiger Woods several months ago as being “as beatable as ever”. The media went nuts, Tiger could’ve cared less, and Rory achieved mini-stardom (even if only for fifteen minutes here or there). Enter this weekend at Bridgestone, one of Tiger’s favorite stomping grounds, and Tiger blew up on Sunday (for the better) as Sabatini did (for the worst). The better story is this: Sabatini, on the 9^th hole and now countless shots behind a white-hot Tiger, was heckled from a fan who supposedly said to him: “How beatable does Tiger seem now, Rory?” Now while there isn’t a clear-cut confirmation if that’s all was said, Sabatini decided in response to have the man removed. Way to handle the hecklers Rory. Further proof why trash talk in golf is useless. And why Sabatini is nothing more than pond scum in Tiger’s world.

ESPN’s Skip Bayliss. You’re the worst media personality who was ever graced any sport’s programming. You became rich, and I suppose well known, by trashing on the trashy Cowboys of the 1990s. Fortunately for most, your TV time is typically early in the morning – during ESPN’s waste of space known as Cold Pizza. It’s a shame this guy is ever on the television, in print, or even on the radio. A shame.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame. I don’t need to plug in numbers or compare him with the other greats. Michael Irvin was a deserved Hall of Famer. Yet, what the Hall of Fame did so brilliantly – even without planning it – was further humble Irvin. His speech was downright heartbreaking at times and always moving. In fact, you should do yourself a favor, a fan or Irvin or not, and check out his speech on replays from the NFL Network or online. It gave me goosebumps; especially, even as a Jet fan, I was enthralled by Irvin’s physicality and his somewhat bizarre on and off the field antics. A man stood up at the podium, accepting and admitting to all of his flaws, for better or worse. Kudos to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, for enshrining him in the nature you did. Whether you planned it or not.

ESPN Radio Executives. With Dan Patrick exiting, there have been countless guest hosts and plenty of silent auditions. Some advice for you all. Avoid Stephen A. Smith at all costs. Ditto with Scott Van Pelt and Mike Tirico. Doug Gotlieb, believe it or not, is a viable risk. Don’t move the Herd into a spot it can’t hope to maintain any sort of ratings in. You want an oddball selection? Patrick McEnroe. I’m sure most will doubt you. In fact, everyone will. That is until they listen to him for more than 20 minutes at a time. He’d be my selection, without losing a wink of sleep to fill the shoes of another Patrick on the radio.

Bud Selig. You’re a joke. A complete joke. You’ve looked worse than Barry Bonds during the past few weeks of the home run chase. Do us a favor. A) Applaud Bonds and remind everyone he hasn’t been found guilty of anything yet. B) Don’t show your face and say you think he cheated. If you can’t do either of those, there’s one more option. C) Quit immediately.

Steve Spurrier. I understand you’ve never been under probation, are following the letter of the law of the NCAA academic minimums, and were promised by South Carolina to be supported in recruiting. Yet, there’s a better way to call out your admissions office. Not to mention, it’s clear you’re not trying to get your kids an education; instead, you want them to play football. Instead, you want to win football games in the SEC. While that is his job, academics have to matter for something in school. Even in South Carolina and the SEC.

Mike Golic. The Yankees are dead, huh? Even if they don’t make the playoffs, you can’t be the only idiot on the four letter network who thinks he has cahonies to call the Yankees done. You just can’t be that guy.

The Seattle Moose. If he injured Coco Crisp, I wouldn’t have minded if Big Papi pulled a Vitamin Water (check out the commercial) on him. Sadly, if I was Crisp, he would’ve gotten a punch to the face and I would’ve gotten a suspension. Fire the Moose! Ban the Moose! He can remain a VP candidate with Griffey though. (Who remembers that reference? Anyone?)

Tom Glavine. You won’t be the last 300-game winner. That’s a ridiculous statement. However, it might be quite some time until anyone joins you in that rather exclusive club. Even if the Big Unit gets healthy, I doubt he has 16 wins in him. Congratulations on an amazing achievement Tommy.

The Chicago Curse. Leave us alone for just one season, please! Soriano’s quad will, of course, be a worst-case quad-injury scenario. I only worry about the Big Z, as I am dreaming of him in Yankee pinstripes next season.

JaMarcus Russell. Sign your contract. Get over the extra $2 or $3-million guaranteed you want and all of the ridiculous incentives. Take your gigantic pile of money, get into camp, and learn everything you can, as soon as you can. Your mobility isn’t as masterful as many claim it is. All you will be, without preparation, is one gigantic target practice QB. Sign the contract.

I could say more. I could whine more. I could praise more.

But then you’d start calling me out.

If you aren’t already.

Until next time…

Fantasy Football: Position Battles Emerge

This article has more bite than Mike Vick-sanctioned dog fight.
Ouch. Is it too soon for that joke?
TheSportsGuys.com

Just as training camp starts to heat up to its boiling point, plenty of news has begun flooding the wires of the National Football League.

Don’t worry, we’re not talking about dog fighting or making it rain either.

Whether its Vince Young throwing punches in practice, Pete Kendall heading a possible offensive guard revolt in New York, Joey Harrington assuming the reigns in Hotlanta, or the hamstring of TO and Randy “flaring up” as training camp officially kicks off…there’s plenty to talk about.

And yes, that includes debate emanating in the realm of fantasy football.

Front and center are several position battles. As Sports Illustrated pointed out last season, there’s battles at nearly every position on every team. Whether it’s the 2nd/3rd QB, 4th/5th wideout, or the last CB to make the team…the majority of these battles, no matter what the scope, affect the fantasy football market.

While some of these competitions/battles are more obvious than others, here are a few that have sparked my interest more than a little…

1) New York Giants
Situation: Starting RB position
Brandon Jacobs vs. Reuben Droughns
-With Tiki gone, the Giants appear, at least to me, as the clear-cut weakest team in the NFC East. Even New Yorkers would have to admit they have more questions to answer than even last year’s squad faced. Fortunately for the G-Men, as many as 9 wins might win that division this season. While Eli might be getting the most press as of late (not to mention the recent ongoing Strahan-contract debacle), replacing Barber will be downright brutal this season for Tom Coughlin and company. Bruising back Brandon Jacobs showed signs of life last year, although his goal line prowess is heavily overrated (just ask any former Tiki-fantasy owner). Outside of an impressive performance against the Jets last season, Droughns floundered in his sophomore campaign with the Browns. While both are big backs with nice footwork, neither seems to be an adequate replacement. Honestly, neither seems a sure-fire starter in the NFL as of now. While both will be intriguing to take a look at as a #3 back, there’s no reason either of these guys should be starting every week for you. Not early on in the season, at least.

2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Situation: Starting QB position
Jeff Garcia vs. Chris Simms
-While Garcia may be 37, his spleen is a lot more intact than Simms’. Yet, it’s hard for me to believe that Phil’s son is not going to have multiple chances to wrestle the job back from the wily vet Garcia. Unless the Bucs can resurrect themselves into a playoff contender within the first few weeks of the season, this QB situation could be downright sticky from beginning to end. Then again, QBs like John Kitna have proven they can maintain their job even if their team can’t stop losing them (in all fairness, Kitna’s Lions didn’t lose because of him most weeks). While both of them may find some friendly matchups here and there, each of these guys could end up splitting eight starts a piece. That is a fantasy no-no.

3) Minnesota Vikings
Situation: Starting RB position
Chester Taylor vs. Adrian Peterson
-While I love Peterson’s upside, I still questioned the draft selection by the Vikins. Taylor is still a young running back, especially since last year was his first full-year as a starter, and the Vikings already had an established running attack. Then again, with 2nd-year man Tavaris Jackson at the helm, a two-headed RB system may be the best-case scenario compliment to a highly inexperienced and unproven signal caller. While Peterson will have plenty of flash to offer, Taylor should still see enough touches to merit being a consistent fantasy starter. What will be vital to track, at least early on in the season, is the involvement of either guy on passing-downs and specific situations. Don’t reach on Peterson though. Only an injury to Taylor, a situation more accustomed to Peterson, should merit Peterson being considered a top 2/3 back on your squad.

4) Oakland Raiders
Situation: Starting QB position
Daunte Culpepper vs. Josh McCown vs. JaMarcus Russell
-JaMarcus might not be pulling a Phillip Rivers by holding out (and losing his chance to win the starting job Day One); he certainly isn’t helping his case for starting early-on in his first season. Then again, considering its Oakland, maybe that’s the best thing for him. On another note, kudos to the Raiders for taking a flier on both Culpepper and McCown. While Daunte may, in fact, be done, the contract he signed was relatively cheap and there may still be some talent in his legs and arm. The porous Raider-line and the inability of Jerry Porter to be stable may be too much to overcome though. While Russell may easily step in by Week 7 or 8, assuming a contract is eventually worked out in the coming weeks, don’t feel like you can’t take a peak at Daunte or even McCown on your draft board. If either happens to slip enough, they might be a viable last-second risk worth taking…assuming you already have the position locked up with at least one reliable starter.

5) Carolina Panthers
Situation: Starting RB position
DeShaun Foster vs. DeAngelo Williams
-Remember this situation last year? I thought so. DeShaun struggles with consistency and DeAngelo didn’t do his best job staying on the field, mainly due to poor health. Not surprisingly, you could switch each of the runner’s names in the previous statement. Not much should change this season either. While Williams has much more upside, Foster should be the safer pick. However, you might be better off completely avoiding this potential platoon as much as you can. At least it won’t be as painful week in and week out as Denver’s though.

6) Green Bay Packers
Situation: Starting RB position
Vernand Morency vs. Brandon Jackson
-Just when the whispers of LJ to Lambeau started to ignite once again, it seemed the Packers really aren’t prepared to bring in any sort of marquee, or even over-the-hill, free agent this off-season. Morency had plenty of chances last year, and apparently did just enough to come into camp as the #1 guy. Then again, who else was going to take the reigns from him? Jackson, a relatively unknown rookie, has the speed and zip that a lot of coaches enjoy. But is he really a starting running back in the NFL? Unlikely. While the two of them should split carries, even combined the two don’t make 1 viable fantasy option.

7) Tennessee Titans
Situation: Starting RB position
Chris Henry vs. LenDale White
-LenDale has been given every opportunity to succeed in Tennessee. Unfortunately, his attitude and his waistline seem to always hold him back from doing that. While some speculated that the Titans reached for Henry when they did in the draft, he may be one of the late fantasy fliers who pays off in the later stretches of the season. While he may not excel, at least according to scouts, at any one thing, Henry, at least to me, appears worthy of a late round flier and plenty of patience on your bench early on in the season. As for White, just hope he can put down the cheeseburgers and maybe build up some football muscle.

8) New England Patriots
Situation: #4 wideout
Troy Brown vs. Rece Caldwell vs. Jabar Gaffney
-Sometimes, especially during the thralls of bye weeks, you have to make brutally tough decisions. With Moss/Stallworth/Welker the likely top three in New England, don’t ever fall into the trap of believe Moss can be on his best behavior or that Stallworth could get injured in colder weather. [Okay, maybe that’s just optimistic thinking from a Jet fan.] With that being said, it does seem a little tough to try and start a potential #4 wideout most weeks. Yet, is it so preposterous when you consider it’s the Pats and a potential pass-happy offense (are we all officially sold on Maroney that much?) and plenty of talent still lingers on the Pats bench? In a TD-friendly league scoring system, check out Caldwell well before his other two counterparts to be a last-second free agent fill-in. Then again, if INTs help, Brown is always a wild-card.

9) Jacksonville Jaguars
Situation: #1 & #2 wideout
Ernest Wilford vs. Reggie Williams vs. Matt Jones
-I’m not going to ramble here, for once. Avoid this situation completely. Don’t be the guy who believes this is the season you can start Matt Jones, or his two fellow Jag wideouts, week in and week out. Please, don’t be that guy.

10) Kansas City Chiefs
Situation: Starting QB
Damon Huard vs. Brodie Croyle
-Huard seemed to lead the Chiefs into the playoffs, until Trent Green bunked everything up. Then again, were the Chiefs all that sold on Huard? While Croyle is far from the carved-in-granite future franchise quarterback in KC, the Chiefs very well might struggle, with either guy in at QB early on, this season in the AFC West. If they stumble out of the gates at all, I believe the Chief front office will want to lose with Croyle more than with Huard as their starting QB.

While there are plenty more position battles to debate, I’ll leave those for another time.

Although, I must mention, at least briefly, a few key names to keep a sharp eye on: David Carr, Tatum Bell, Leon Washington, Jerious Norwood, Vincent Jackson, and DJ Hackett.

I’m sure you all are hard at work, magazines in hand likely, trying your best to decipher issues like Stephen Jackson vs. LJ at #2, TO vs. Ocho Cinco, Gonzo vs. Gates, and plenty more. However, don’t forget how much decisions rooted in battles just as these often decide fantasy championships.

That and owning LT, of course.

Until next time…

NFL SWOT Analysis: AFC West

By: Armin Mohajeri

Denver Broncos

Bailey (Image courtesy of the Denver Broncos)

Strengths: On defense, the Broncos have strength in numbers. At every line of defense, they are two-deep at nearly every position with decent players as backups. While their defense (outside of Champ Bailey) may not strike fear in opponents, a fresh defense in the 4th quarter has the potential to cause fits for the opposing offense. A healthy rotation at defensive line will pay the largest dividends. Offenses will not be able to do their usual plan against Champ Bailey by throwing away from him. With Dre' Bly manning the other corner position, offenses may have to second guess their strategy. Bly is a proven playmaker with 33 interceptions over his 8-year career.

Weaknesses: Shanahan could have his patience tested all season. Travis Henry has issues with holding onto the ball. By his averages, Henry fumbles about 8 times every 16 starts. Bell has shown that problem in the past as well. If those problems persist, this could be a long season. While every coach hates turnovers, Shanahan has shown that he’ll make a knee-jerk reaction and pull a player who is having issues protecting the ball.

Opportunities: Middle Linebacker, D.J. Williams could fulfill some of that promise that made him a rookie sensation in 2004. Built a lot like college teammate Jon Vilma, Williams is somewhat stalky yet has that speed that takes him sideline to sideline (and then some). He will have to show that he can attack the line of scrimmage from the middle, and that he is adept at the read/react game. Tight End, Daniel Graham gives Cutler a big target to work with in the red zone. Graham has an opportunity to get a share of the TD passes.

Threats: Three members of the offensive line are 33 years or older. While they have projects in place to replace Nalen and Meadows, they do not have an option at the most important spot on the line, at left tackle where Lepsis has been a mainstay. Cutler did great last year in five starts. However, he still has a lot to prove. Look no further than his backup, Patrick Ramsey, and the last four games he started in his rookie year. We all see how he panned out.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: While it would be easy to put Cutler here, one cannot overlook Brandon Marshall. Rumors out of camp are that veteran wide receiver Rod Smith may not even make the roster, let alone start. Marshall, dubbed "Baby T.O." due to his size, athletic ability and physical style of play at the wide receiver position, would be in line to take that starting position. If he excels, look for him to be a fixture at WR in Denver for some time.

Camp Battle: Travis Henry and Mike Bell, Starting Running Back. As mentioned before, fumbles will be a big deal with these two. It could come down to who shows that they are better at protecting the ball. While they are built differently, and can serve different purposes, one of the two will get the majority of the carries in any given game.

Rookie Contributor: In this case, it could be one of two. Rookie Defensive Ends, Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder (1st and 2nd rounders respectively) have a shot at contributing a lot this season. Kenard Lang and John Engleberger will see their fair share on running downs, leaving Ekuban, Dumervil, Moss and Crowder opportunities to attack on pass downs.

Kansas City Chiefs

Johnson (Image courtesy of CNN)

Strengths: This team lives and dies by running back Larry Johnson. Behind Tomlinson, he is the most feared back in the league. He has that rare combination of power and finesse. He’ll run over a defender and he is a weapon in the passing game. Look for Johnson to carry the load again,. Between Johnson and tight end Tony Gonzalez, the QB can find some comfort in the passing game. An aging offensive line will be on the hook to perform at a high level again, while a defense full of veterans looks to keep the defense on track.

Weaknesses: By far, the biggest weakness on the team is a quarterback. Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard are not an impressive combo at QB. Why the team was so eager to trade Trent Green for a low draft pick was a little strange, unless the team is ready to rebuild. Problem is, the team has enough talent in place to make a playoff run.

Opportunities: Wide receiver, Samie Parker can display his speed and stretch the field. He failed miserably last year, only scoring one touchdown, but luckily has another opportunity. Defensive End, Tamba Hali can feed off the attention offenses will give to Jared Allen and chase down opposing quarterbacks.

Threats: While the offensive line is a strength on this team and has been for years, all starters and two key backups are 30+ years of age. The team shows a lack of effort to bring in some young faces. While this doesn’t mean that the offensive line will be under par, the threat of old age and the complications that come from that exist.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: Rookie wide receiver, Dwayne Bowe, from Eddie Kennison. Though Kennison is more of a speedy wideout, for the most part, he has been playing more of a possession role. Bowe, however, is built for the possession role. His impressive size gives Chief quarterbacks another large target to go with Tony Gonzalez.

Camp Battle: Croyle and Huard for the starting quarterback position. Huard looked good last season, however Croyle has the upside.

Rookie Contributor: Look for defensive tackles Turk McBride and Tank Tyler to get some time in the rotation. While McBride was the higher pick, many have their eyes on Tyler, who was one of the strongest players in the draft, however he fell down the draft and could prove to be a steal by the Chiefs.

Oakland Raiders

Russell (Image courtesy of FoxSports)

Strengths: The Raiders don’t have much to be proud of. They have a young, deep offensive line that comes back intact. Barry Sims will once again anchor the line, while Robert Gallery continues his attempt to realize his potential. Both guards started as rookies and come into their second year with some valuable experience. Grove will QB the line as all line calls will start at the center. They have a deep set of wide receivers, however they have a lot to prove after Moss’s departure. Once Domenic Rhodes is back from his suspension, the Raiders backfield is deep. LaMont Jordan needs to regain his form though.

Weaknesses: The defensive tackle position is very limited. Warren Sapp is way past his prime. Terdell Sands was okay last season. However, the depth is almost literally non-existent. The Raiders will have to keep their eyes open during cuts. Maybe they’ll get lucky and land a serviceable player.

Opportunities: Cornerback, Fabian Washington comes off a decent year (his first as a starter). He has the opportunity to take his game to the next level. Where he is lacking, he can be coached, but you can’t teach that kind of speed.

Threats: Implosion. The Raiders are a team that have historically hurt themselves more than anyone. Wide Receiver, Jerry Porter cannot pull the same antics as last year, or else the team will be back where it was, with too many distractions. For their sake, Daunte Culpepper had better not become a headache as well.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: Fullback Justin Griffith, from Zach Crockett. At 34, Crockett has little left in the tank. He was productive as a part time blocker and a part time runner. In steps Griffith, who will be missed in Atlanta. Griffith brings a similar style as Crockett, yet he is more of a blocker.

Camp Battle: With four Quarterbacks on the roster who all “know” they are starting material, this could get interesting. JaMarcus Russell is the team’s future (and present, as he is penciled in as the starter). Josh McCown, Daunte Culpepper and Andrew Walter could all make a half-decent case for themselves.

Rookie Contributor: Quarterback, JaMarcus Russell, for obvious reasons. However, keep an eye on Tight End, Zach Miller. He is currently in the starting lineup. Some scouts had him listed as a low first rounder. Defensive End Quentin Moses could get some time and show off his pass rushing skills.

San Diego Chargers

Tomlinson (Image courtesy of the San Diego Chargers)

Strengths: One of the most talented offenses in the NFL, from LaDainian Tomlinson to Phillip Rivers to Antonio Gates. Lorenzo Neal returns for his 15th NFL season as one of the top blocking backs in the game. The offensive did wonders last season. Every starter on that line could start on most teams in the NFL. Coming off the year he just had, Tomlinson could very easily claim back-to-back MVPs. On defense, Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips will wreak havoc on opposing offenses.

Weaknesses: The defense lost two of its leaders in Donnie Edwards and Randall Godfrey. Filling in for them will be the barely tested Stephen Cooper and the untested Matt Wilhelm. Over the years, the Chargers have not been able to get the defensive backfield right. This year is no different. Adding Paul Oliver in the supplemental draft will not be enough.

Opportunities: Wide Receiver Vincent Jackson has the opportunity to fulfill the promise that made him a 2nd round draft pick. He is a huge target who goes about 6’5”, 240 pounds. Last season, he started showing signs of greatness. The third wide receiver spot is wide open. Kassim Osgood seems to be penciled in there for now, but look out for the rookie, Craig Davis. If Shawne Merriman can play a full season, we could see a 20-sack season out of him.

Threats: The defense needs to mature quickly in all the spots where starters moved on. Both Inside Linebacker spots, Strong Safety and Nickel Back have new faces.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: Inside Linebacker Stephen Cooper, from former Charger, Donnie Edwards. Cooper has few starts under his belt, however he scratched and clawed his way into the league as a rookie free agent in 2003. He sat behind Edwards and Godfrey, soaking up knowledge, preparing for his turn. He could prove to be a diamond in the rough.

Camp Battle: Antonio Cromartie and Paul Oliver, Nickel Back and next in line to start after the departure of Drayton Florence. Cromartie has the edge, being the former first rounder. However, Oliver has a lot of upside. If neither produces, and the free agent mix is thin at cornerback, Florence could end up back in San Diego next offseason.

Rookie Contributor: Wide Receiver, Craig “Buster” Davis has an opportunity staring him square in the face. The Chargers lack deep speed, and Davis brings that dimension to the table. If he clicks with Rivers, he could be in decent shape for a bid at the Offensive Rookie of the Year.