Cincinnati Bengals: Five Factors To Help Reach the Playoffs in ’09

The 2008 season was one of those years that the fans and players of the Cincinnati Bengals would like to pretend never happened. Everything that could have gone wrong seemed to go wrong for Carson Palmer and company.

Despite finishing the 2008 season on a three-game winning streak, the Bengals started 1-8-1, causing them to finish with a disappointing 4-11-1 record.

Believe it or not, the city of Cincinnati has high expectations entering the 2009 regular season.They may play in a tough AFC North division, but there is no reason to not believe that this team has what it takes to make the playoffs in January.

Of course, nothing in life comes easy. There are five important factors that will determine whether or not the Bengals will find themselves playing in January or watching from their living room.

 

1. The Return of a Healthy Carson Palmer

Last season, Bengals starting quarterback Carson Palmer was limited to four games due to an elbow injury. In the four games he played in, he threw for 731 yards, 3 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.

It’s obvious Palmer’s absence was one of the reasons behind the Bengals’ disappointing campaign last season. In three seasons prior to 2008, Palmer led the team to a 26-22 record, throwing for 12,002 yards and 86 touchdowns. In 2005, he led the organization to their  first playoff appearance in 15 years after claiming the AFC North title. 

If Palmer remains healthy, he should help the Bengals improve their record from last season. One fact we learned about the team last season is that Ryan Fitzpatrick is not nearly the same type of quarterback as Palmer is. It’s difficult to replace a former Heisman Trophy winner with a former Ivy League standout.

Once again, the Bengals appear to have one of the best offenses in the league on paper. The team may have gone their separate ways with T.J. Houshmandzadeh (who signed with the Seattle Seahawks in the offseason), but they found his replacement by signing Laveranues Coles.

Not to mention many analysts are predicting a break-out season from Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry.

We learned last season how heavily this team relies on Palmer. Last season, the team finished last in the league as far as total offense per game (12.2 points). The previous year, they finished 10th in the league with Palmer at quarterback by averaging 23.8 points per game.

If Palmer can stay healthy, this team has the potential to make a strong case for a playoff position by having one of the best offenses in the league. With all of the weapons they have on offense, it’s hard to see them struggle like they did last season.

 

2. Second-Half and Fourth Quarter Performance

There is a popular phrase in sports about how a game is never over until it’s over. Each game in the NFL lasts 60 minutes, meaning no team is determined a winner until that 60 minutes comes to a close (unless overtime is needed of course).

Looking back at the Bengals 2008 season, they appeared to be one of the worst second-half performers in the league. Take a look at the facts:

• In 16 games last season, the Bengals scored 58 total points in the second half of games.
• In six games, the Bengals were scoreless the entire second half.
• In 10  games, the Bengals failed to score a single point in the fourth quarter.

The Bengals may have finished 4-11-1 on the year. However, there were numerous occasions where the Bengals’ second-half performance could have won them the game.

In Week Three against the New York Giants, Carson Palmer threw a late touchdown to T.J. Houshmandzadeh with 4:39 left in the game to give the Bengals a 20-16 lead.

Unfortunately, the Bengals appeared to be wearing down on defense as Eli Manning led the Giants down the field before tossing a four-yard strike to tight end Kevin Boss in the end zone with 1:50 left to give the Giants a 23-20 lead.

All of a sudden, a sure upset seemed to turn into another disappointment for the Bengals squad. Even though the Bengals managed to tie the game as time expired after a questionable last couple of play calls by Marvin Lewis, they ended up losing in overtime after John Carney kicked a 22-yard field goal to win the game.

This was only one of many disappointing second-half performances for the Bengals in 2008. In a Week Four game against the Cleveland Browns, the Bengals were winning the entire game before giving up the lead in the fourth quarter and losing 20-12.

They even had a chance to defeat the Eagles during Week 11 when Shayne Graham failed to make a field goal as time expired in overtime, resulting in a 13-13 tie.

The Bengals have what it takes to be a playoff contender in 2009. However, they will have no shot at making the playoffs if they fail to perform well in the second-half and fourth quarter of each game. They need to play strong for an entire 60 minutes if they plan on succeeding.

 

3. Chad Ochocinco and the Rest of the Wide Receivers

It’s not surprise that Chad Ochocinco continues to make headlines on a weekly basis. Last week, Carson Palmer took a shot at Ochocinco during an interview on “Movin’ The Chains” for missing out on voluntary workouts for the Bengals.

Palmer discussed how he was excited about the group of receivers competing for the spots that were once occupied by Houshmandzadeh and Ochocinco.

Ochocinco may still be on the Bengals’ roster, but there is no telling what will happen with him in the future. For the last two seasons, his request to be traded has been declined over and over again by owner Mike Brown.

According to Palmer, he hasn’t spoken to Ochocinco lately not has any other of the Bengals players. Whether or not he is going to be a factor for the Bengals this season is still up in the air, but statistics show he could be a major factor.

For the first time since his rookie season, Ochocinco failed to record 1,000 receiving yards in a season. In the four seasons prior to 2008, he had over 5,000 yards receiving and 31 touchdowns. Last season, he had 53 receptions for 540 yards and four touchdowns.

Whether or not Ochocinco and Palmer can rekindle their chemistry will be a debatable topic until the season starts in September. However, let’s not forget about the rest of the wide receivers that can make an impact for the Bengals this season.

No player has benefited more from Ochocinco than former Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Over the last four seasons, he has a total of 4,084 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns. Some say he was a No. 1 wide receiver playing at the No. 2 spot and succeeded since defenders focused mainly on Ochocinco.

After Houshmandzadeh signed with the Seattle Seahawks, they signed free agent wide receiver Laveranues Coles from the New York Jets. His numbers may not match Houshmanzadah’s, but he has the potential to benefit off of defenders focusing most of their time on Ochocinco.

Another player that has the potential for a break-out season is fifth-year wide receiver Chris Henry. According to Palmer’s interview on “Movin’ The Chains”, Henry has had an amazing offseason and is looking for a fresh start after his incidents with the law over the last couple of years.

As mentioned before, the Bengals have one of the best offenses in the NFL on paper. Not only do they have a former Pro Bowl quarterback in Palmer, but they have two wide receivers with experience as a No. 1 go-to guy. If everything goes according to plan in Cincinnati, the Bengals may see Palmer having another career year.

 

4. Offseason Acquisitions

Over the last couple of years, the Bengals have been known to be quiet in the offseason. This year, they took advantage of the players available to them through free agency and the draft that should have an impact on making improvements from last season.

With the No. 6 pick in the 2009 Draft, the Bengals selected offensive tackle Andre Smith from Alabama to help protect Carson Palmer. Smith should have an immediate impact improving an offensive line that ranked third in the NFL last season allowing opposing defenses to record 51 sacks.

The addition of Smith should allow not only more time for Palmer, but for running back Cedric Benson to find more holes.

The Bengals also lucked out in the draft when University of Southern California linebacker Rey Maualuga fell into their hands at No. 38. The former Trojan recorded 194 tackles in three seasons while earning All-American and All-Pac 10 honors each season.

With him in the starting lineup playing alongside second-year linebacker Keith Rivers, the Bengals defense could cause headaches for opposing teams.

Laveranues Coles was one of the biggest headlines as far as the Bengals’ free agent signings this offseason. However, it was the reuniting of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and former Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams that got the city of Cincinnati excited.

The ex-Cowboy Williams signed a one-year deal with the Bengals after he was released back in March. Williams was a perfect fit for Zimmer’s 4-3 defense in Dallas and hopes to regain his reputation as one of the hardest hitters in the league.

Last season, the Bengals finished 12th in the league by allowing 325.5 yards per game. On top of that, they only allowed 22.8 points per game, ranking them 14th in the league.

The Bengals defense has been decent over the last couple of seasons. The offseason acquisitions on should improve the defense from the 2008 season. If they can get the job done to help Palmer and the rest of the offense, this team could be making a push for a playoff spot in January.

 

5. Discipline, Discipline, Discipline!

Let’s do a word association. What comes to mind when I say professional football team and law enforcement?

If the answer that came to mind was the Cincinnati Bengals, make sure you pickup your prize on the way out.

The Bengals have established a reputation in the NFL over the last couple of seasons. Unfortunately, the reputation is one of the ones people wish not to be known by.

There have been over a dozen Bengals players arrested this decade, including cornerback Leon Hall who was arrested at the beginning of April for drunk-driving.

In fact, the Bengals have had so many issues over the last couple of years, they recently agreed to a deal with HBO to be the featured team in the series Hard Knocks.

What’s even more frustrating for Cincinnati is their lack of discipline from head coach Marvin Lewis. Entering his seventh year with the Bengals, Lewis has been criticized by the media for the lack of discipline on his players.

After the organization released Chris Henry in March 2008 because of his most recent arrest, they ended up re-signing him in August before the start of the regular season.

There are some fans around the league who like to make jokes about how no matter how much trouble a player gets in with the law, they can always sign with the Bengals. Henry did. Cedric Benson did.

However, these players may have had their run in with the law but they are trying to clean up their act. Benson played well enough towards the end of last season to be rewarded another contract for this season. Henry wouldn’t be back again if Lewis and the rest of the organization didn’t think he could have an impact on offense.

Still, the matter of fact is that the Bengals will never achieve their desire of a playoff birth if their guys can’t stay out of trouble. When a player gets in trouble with the law, it not only affects them on an individual level but the entire team.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how to stay out of trouble with the law. All the players have to do is be smart about the decisions they make so they can continue to play football. 

The last thing a player wants to do is perform a stupid act that impacts how a team finishes their regular season.

 

“Dan Parzych covers the Eagles for NFLTouchdown.com. You can view his work here“

“For questions or comments, email him at djp746@gmail.com“

Steelers will Enter Training Camp with Some Positions Still Unsettled

Heading into training camp, there are some unanswered questions surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers. Who will replace Bryant McFadden at cornerback? Who will fill Nate Washington’s role as the deep threat? and can Lawrence Timmons be an impact player as a full-time starter? just to name a few.

The loss of Bryant McFadden is a significant one. While Ike Taylor is undoubtedly the team’s number one cornerback, many people, including myself believe that it was McFadden, not Taylor who was the team’s most valuable corner last season.

McFadden was a very physical corner, who had surprising quickness, and was able to break on the ball and knock down a lot of passes. It was not for a early season shoulder injury last season, he probably would have received more than the two year, $10 million offer that he received from the Arizona Cardinals.

While some people are still shocked and upset at the loss of McFadden, they have to be encouraged by his potential replacement William Gay. He filled in nicely for McFadden last season making four starts, and finished the season with 41 tackles, 1 interception, and 7 passes defensed.

Gay is the favorite to start heading into training camp, but don’t be surprised if he faces some stiff competition from Rookie Keenan Lewis, who will be given every opportunity to compete for the starting job.

Lewis is built almost identically to Bryant McFadden at 6 ft. 208 lbs, and has a nearly identical 40 time as McFadden (both were clocked in the low 4.5’s).

However, the similarities don’t stop there. Like McFadden, Lewis is also known for his coverage abilities. While at Oregon State, he routinely covered the opponent’s best receiver, and shut him down, and was All-Pac 10 honorable mention.

It’s William Gay’s job to lose, and I expect him to come out as the victor in this training camp battle. He has two years experience under his belt, and has shown that he is just as good of cover corner as Lewis, if not better.

The Steelers front office is extremely high on William Gay, and his development is one of the reasons that they felt comfortable letting Bryant McFadden leave in free agency.

The battle for the third  receiver position is a little more trickier. Limas Sweed has the slight upper hand going into training camp, but do to his lackluster 2008 showing, he is hanging on to that spot by a small thread.

The Steelers went out and drafted wide receiver Mike Wallace out of Ole Miss in the 3rd round of this year’s draft to compete with Sweed for the third receiver spot.

Wallace is a flat out burner who was clocked at 4.33 seconds in the 40 at the NFL combine. A lot of people want to compare him to Nate Washington as a deep threat, but there is absolutely no comparison there. Wallace is much faster than Nate, and it’s not even close.

Washington was clocked in the 4.5’s coming out of college and has always had questionable hands. Look for Wallace to help immediately in the return game, and possibly take the No. 3 receiver spot from Sweed by mid-season if he falters early on. Dallas Baker and Shaun McDonald will be in the mix too.

Now that Larry Foote has left for the not so greener pastures in Detroit, it is time for the Lawrence Timmons show to began.

Timmons will not have to face any real competition for the other starting inside linebacker position opposite James Farrior, and he won’t have to worry about splitting playing time with anyone else.

Timmons is a very exciting player to watch, and he reminds many Steelers fans of Kendrell Bell (Pre-Kansas City Chiefs) with his explosiveness.

It’s not just his explosiveness that makes him so special though. It is his ability to cover a lot of ground and also his ability to cover fast tight ends and even some receivers (Think Adalius Thomas, but faster).

Lawrence Timmons will be an upgrade over Larry Foote, who was very solid in his own right, and will add more athleticism to an already established, talented group.

There are a couple of more battles/changes to look out for in training camp. The most obvious will probably be what to do with Deshea Townsend.

Right now, Deshea Townsend is a nickel corner at best for the Steelers. His days of being a starting corner are gone.

Look for the Steelers to move Deshea to Free Safety as a back up to Ryan Clark, who has had some injury problems in the past.

This move makes a lot of sense on both sides. It gives the Steelers a solid back up free safety to replace Anthony Smith, who wore out his welcome, and it gives some of the younger corners like Keenan Lewis and Joe Burnett a chance to make an immediate impact as a nickel or dime corner.

Don’t forget that Fernando Bryant and Keiwan Ratliff are still in the mix for the nickel and dime positions too. I expect Keenan Lewis and Fernando Bryant to come out on top as the nickel and dime corner’s respectively.

Rookie Kraig Urbik, out of Iowa, will push incumbent starter Darnell Stapleton for the starting right guard position.

Stapleton, who many people consider to be the weak link on the offensive line, is in no way guaranteed the starting right guard position, and will be pushed by Urbik from day one of training camp.

In a slightly surprising upset, I expect Urbik to be the starting right guard for week 1. He is a little bigger than Stapleton at 6’5″, 323 lbs, compared to 6’3″, 305 lbs for Stapleton, and comes from a school (Wisconsin) that is known for running the football and running the football successfully.

Urbik tallied a whopping 176 pancake blocks in his final 2 seasons at Wisconsin, and should make a smooth transition to the Steelers smash-mouth style of football.

The final position battle of importance is the battle to back up Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers do not have the luxury of having Byron Leftwich as a back up quarterback this season, so this battle will be between long time veteran Charlie Batch, and up and comer Dennis Dixon.

Batch is the hometown favorite, but is coming off of an injury, and I’m not sure how much he has left physically. Dixon, on the other hand, has played sparingly his first two seasons, and I’m not sure what he can do in a game situation.

With that being said, I see this as Dixon’s job to lose. The Steelers drafted him for a reason, and that is to play quarterback, not be a slash type player.

With two years in the system under his belt, we will finally see Dixon turn the corner, and become the unquestioned back up quarterback of this team.

The Steelers only like to keep two quarterbacks during the season, so Charlie Batch very well could be cut, unless the Steelers decide to keep three quarterbacks.

With start of training camp only two months away, many questions will be answered, and few more will probably arise. One thing is for certain though; the Steelers are re-loaded and ready to compete again at a high level.

Eagles ’09: Old Game Plan Dog Needs New Wrinkles, Not Tricks

On paper, this year’s Philadelphia Eagles have improved and many are calling them the NFC favorites. That and a dollar will buy you a double cheeseburger at McDonald’s.

How the Eagles handle their new personnel and how that will affect their playbook is another story. Even May mini-camp doesn’t provide much insight.

Sure, it’s good to see the players on the field in helmets (and shorts) but it’s hard to gather much from a spring practice session with less contact than a Memorial Day sale at Old Navy.

Even Lorenzo Booker’s impressive mini-camp to NFC Championship game deactivation in 2008 won’t stop anyone from envisioning what those changes might look like in September. Here’s how the 2009 Eagles could differ from last year’s version:

On Offense: More (Effective) Running

“We’re striving to lead the league in rushing this year,” said head coach Andy Reid when asked about the 2009 running game earlier this year.

He was joking.

Although the offseason additions to the offensive line (Stacy Andrews and Jason Peters), at fullback (Leonard Weaver) and in the draft (LeSean McCoy) sure make them look serious about improving the running game. A healthy Brian Westbrook and Shawn Andrews won’t hurt either.

With the additions, it’s possible the Eagles will be more effective running the ball but it doesn’t guarantee the team will run more often. This is Andy Reid’s offense even if Marty Mornhinweg is the offensive coordinator, let’s not forget.

The Eagles should find a reason to use new fullback Weaver, though. And that might be the key to resurrecting some pretty abysmal offensive numbers wrapped around an impressive 416-point season:

·         Red Zone Effectiveness: 31 TDs in 63 trips

·         Goal-to-Go Effectiveness: 68% TDs

·         Third/Fourth-and-One Conversions: 50%

In 2008, the Eagles got little from their fullbacks. The position delivered 28 carries for 88 yards (3.1 yards per carry) and 12 receptions for 78 yards (6.5 yards per carry).

While Weaver’s numbers in Seattle were not amazing, they were enough to give hope for improvement. With 30 carries for 130 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and 20 receptions for 222 yards (11.1 yards per reception) in 14 games, Weaver delivered 3.6 touches per game and 25.1 yards per game.

It’s not that the Eagles have a weapon here in Weaver, who was sold by his agent as a fullback with running ability, but he gives them something the opposition has to at least think about.

The Eagles need to spend a considerable amount of time addressing their lack of success in the Red Zone and on third-and-short. Adding plays designed to utilize their larger offensive line and the 250 lbs Weaver seems like a no-brainer, doesn’t it?

Maybe the confidence that Weaver should bring to the position will get him utilized more. Philadelphia didn’t use a fullback on third-and-one until Week 13. That was Kyle Eckel who ended up being four for four on third-and-one the rest of the year.

Expecting the Eagles to become a running, smash-mouth team over the course of one offseason is silly. Expecting them to utilize the new pieces available to them to improve their effectiveness the 40-45% of the time they do run, is a different story.

On Defense: Rotation, Rotation, Rotation

Take the worst case scenario with the Eagles defense; say there is a big drop-off from Brian Dawkins to his ’09 replacement and Jim Johnson misses considerable time as defensive coordinator. The team still has a deep secondary, 10 returning starters, and an interim coordinator who knows Johnson’s game plans almost as well as Johnson himself.

With acting defensive coordinator Sean McDermott at the helm, to tinker with the playbook heavily might also impact the confidence the defense and the head coach has about McDermott’s ability if the team starts off slowly.

Instead of attacking the playbook (with the exception of introducing a few looks utilizing three safeties), the Eagles should focus on the rotation of their deep defense, especially in the secondary.

While the offense looks to be improved and last year’s version was ranked 13^th in the NFL in time of possession, there’s no guarantee that will improve.

Consider the fact that Philadelphia was outscored 61-24 in the fourth quarter of their seven losses (including the NFC Championship) and one has to wonder if the ’08 defense had a habit of wearing down late in games.

To fix that, the playbook isn’t the issue. However, since this offseason’s mantra has been depth, depth, and more depth on the defense, a healthy mix of the defense’s personnel should keep them fresh.

Not only will this keep the defense fresh for the fourth quarter, it allows it to continue to be aggressive without concern of wearing down.

The defense has always been known for being attacking and aggressive. A successful rotation of the talent on defense can do nothing but bolster the long-term success of the team.

Overall: Old Dogs Might Not Learn New Tricks But They Can Develop New Wrinkles

No matter what anyone thinks, the game plans might not change all that much. Let’s face it; Reid is entering his 11^th year as head coach, with Mornhinweg at his side for seven of them. Heck, even if Johnson misses the entire year, McDermott has been here as long as Andy.

That being said, there’s plenty of wrinkles that can be introduced. Changing two pass plays per game to runs last year would have basically put the team in line with the rest of the league’s run-to-pass ratio. That’s not a major alteration in game planning but it’s enough to make opponents focus on both aspects of the offense.

On defense, veering from the Johnson strategy would be the perfect way for the acting defensive coordinator to lose favor with the coach, the personnel, and the fans should it not work. Talk about high-risk, low-reward.

Where McDermott can really put his mark is in managing personnel. Who starts, how much time each player sees, and where they fit in the game plan. For me, it’s too early to make calls there. There’s an entire training camp and four meaningless preseason games before those decisions need to be finalized.

Absence of Brian Dawkins and Jim Johnson Gives McDermott New Voice of Eagles D

PHILADELPHIA—Imagine if your basement flooded one day and your roof collapsed the next, or if Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Office were both cancelled at the same time…

 

Now, you have an idea of the successive gut shots the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense has taken this offseason.

 

First, salary cap calamity hit when safety Brian Dawkins signed a $17 million dollar (including $7.2 million in guaranteed money) contract with Denver that Andy Reid insists the Eagles could not even approach for a 36-year-old player.

 

Now, real life tragedy is rearing its head with defensive coordinator/blitz wizard Jim Johnson, who is taking an indefinite leave of absence to fight cancer in his lower spine.

 

Suddenly, the two loudest and most respected voices on the Eagles’ defense are no longer around the team.

 

That’s the Grand Canyon of leadership voids.

 

Now, nothing is certain—except that things are going to sound very different everywhere from the defensive meeting rooms to the sidelines to the locker room.

 

Into this sea of uncertainty steps secondary coach Sean McDermott—who is actually a year younger than Dawkins. McDermott is the acting defensive coordinator charged with providing a steady voice to a unit that has six starters under the age of 26.

 

The hope is that Johnson will be able to return this season and keep making the daring calls that have stood as the hallmark of his Philly defenses. Reports have Johnson looking gaunt though, and he currently needs a wheelchair to get around.

 

Sadly, it’s anything but a given that Johnson will be able to coach this season.

 

While no one wants to get their chance this way, this clearly could be McDermott’s opportunity to prove that he has what it takes to be a coordinator in the NFL.

 

The local La Salle High School alum was highly thought enough to be considered for defensive coordinator openings in Green Bay, New Orleans, and Denver this offseason. But, he didn’t land any of those jobs…meaning there are still some doubts about him.

 

Doubts that could be exacerbated by the absence of Dawkins the way a lack of common sense is exacerbated by an appearance on a reality show. Dawkins may have lost some speed, but he never let a coach lose a locker room.

 

Whatever Reid or Johnson suggested, they knew that Dawkins would get any questioning teammates to buy in.

 

“Obviously, what Dawk had you can’t replace,” Quintin Mikell, the man who will fill the seven-time Pro Bowler’s spot in the lineup, told The News Journal.

 

As long as Johnson is away from the team, the youth and relative inexperience of the Eagles’ defensive coaches carries the potential of making Dawkins’ missing presence even more noticeable.

 

Linebackers coach Bill Shuey, assistant secondary coach Otis Smith, and defensive quality control coach (film man) Mike Caldwell are all only in their second seasons at those positions, and defensive line coach Rory Segrest is entering his first season on the defensive staff, coming over from special teams.      

 

McDermott has worked with Johnson since 1998, and even if his mentor cannot make it into the office, Johnson is known for always being eager to talk defensive schemes on the phone.

 

For now, The Voice on defense is McDermott’s—and that’s anything but a sure thing for a team thinking Super Bowl.          

 

 

What To Expect From This Year’s Detroit Lions

I’m not going to start off by trashing the Lions for what they did in the draft.  In fact, I’m going to commend the Lions for what they’ve done since completing the historical, yet forgettable 0-16 season.

In all honesty, this has been the best offseason in recent memory for the Detroit Lions. 

Regardless of what people may say, the Lions are in the midst of a multi-year rebuilding program.  In no way was this draft or this free agent class going to restore the roar in Detroit.  

Those who pick at the Lions’ draft choices need to understand that the Lions managed to select players that most thought would be taken in the next draft.  They’ll address other needs as they see fit in next year’s draft and free agency.  

Lions fans are going to have to be patient with this team, because if they are, the dividends may be paid.

As controversial as it seems, the Lions could have drafted one of the best quarterbacks that the league will see in the next two decades or they may have chosen the next Ryan Leaf.  Yet, the Lions are off to the right start in terms of Matthew Stafford’s development.

In the perfect scenario, Stafford won’t touch the field this year.  He’ll spend the year learning Scott Linehan’s offense, which was ranked first or second in most offensive categories when paired with Daunte Culpepper from 2003-2004.

Some compare Stafford to previous Lions’ quarterback Joey Harrington.  However, they don’t recall that Harrington was rushed onto the field due to Mike McMahon’s injury.  Yet, that wasn’t the only issue with Harrington during his time with the Lions.

Harrington was plagued with an abnormal heart rhythm in 2002, which ultimately required surgery.  He was never the same quarterback following the procedure, until he played the Lions when he was a member of the Miami Dolphins.  

Nevertheless, Harrington’s career went right down the toilet after his reign in Miami.

With the Lions’ second pick in the first round, they selected Brandon Pettigrew, which turned many heads.  Some praised the pick, while most have yet to stop criticizing it.

However, Lions fans have to realize that Pettigrew is an offensive lineman.  He was the best blocking tight end in this year’s draft and will give Daunte Culpepper another weapon in his receiving corps.  

Teams who face Detroit focus most of their secondary’s attention on Calvin Johnson, the best wide receiver in the National Football League.  Yes, that’s right.  I firmly believe that on any other team, Johnson would have outperformed Larry Fitzgerald and Andre Johnson.

Now, with Pettigrew, teams will now have to focus on stopping the short passing game as well as the running game with an improved offensive line.

While some claim that the Lions did not address the defense, which needed all or most of the attention in the offseason, they did just the opposite.

The Lions now boast one of the top linebacker corps in the league.  The defense has vastly improved with the additions of Julian Peterson and Larry Foote.

Even though the Lions have made significant advances in rebuilding such a troubled organization, fans will need to be patient with this year’s team.  You’re not going to see a .500 team, so don’t set the standards too high.

With that said, I wouldn’t expect another 0-16 season or even a 1-15 season.  You’re going to get around three to five wins, which is huge improvement from last year.  If you see any football team increase their previous win total by three or more games, they’re doing something right.

Lions fans, I beg of you—please, just be patient.

Minnesota Vikings: Nominees for the Biggest Offseason Villian of 2009

The offseason in Minnesota has been unusually quiet for once. Yet, the noise can’t seem to get any louder. After an offseason in 2008 where the Vikings front office splurged on the likes of Jared Allen, Madieu Williams and Bernard Berrian, 2009 free agency seems strangely quiet as trainging camp approaches.

With that silence, fans are understandably irritated that the purple have no moves or even worse, saying they’d pursue a big name QB and acquiring… Sage Rosenfels?

Now, with just under two months until training camp breaks, the Brett Favre saga, Michael Vick rumors and the Williamses case has been the talk of Minnesota nation through the first week of Organized Team Activites.

So, who is responsible for disturbing the offseason natural order? Let’s take a look at our candidates for the Minnesota Vikings 2009 Offseason Villain of the Year…

The Miami Dolphins’ Almost Un-Perfect Season

I still remember that terrifying thought running through my mind that season. A thought that I hoped I would never have to face the reality of. My beloved Miami Dolphins, whom I have shared difficult and great times throughout my years, were on the verge of going the unprecedented 0-16 with only two games remaining.

With injuries piling up and IR moves on the rise as the season progressed, could this team muster up the energy and will power to finally win a game?

To understand this terrible ending of a season that was supposed to be great, you have to look back at the 2006 off season moves that set the stage for the following year.

The Miami Dolphins owner at the time, Wayne Huizenga, changes up his coaching staff for the better…or so he thought. Not only did he feel some staff needed to be changed, but his brand new head football coach resigned to coach at the college level..again.

Now in the market for another new Head Coach, Huizenga called upon an experienced offensive coordinator with the San Diego Chargers. His hopes of improving on a 6-10 season laid in the hands if Cam Cameron. He spent five years with the Chargers and almost all of those years his team was atop the league in offensive production.

Cam Cameron had a terrible first draft in my opinion, hell in ALL Dolphins fans opinions, which slated the Dolphins for the 1-15 2007 season. With Brady Quinn on the board it was a no brainer. Grab your franchise quarterback and don’t look back.

“With the ninth pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select: Ted Ginn Jr, out of Ohio State.” Wow. Did this just happen? A Wide Receiver. This helps the offense of the Mighty Phins out very nicely! A huge up-roar ensued by Dolphins fans all over, but everyone still had hope for this Offensive genius. He has to know what he is doing, right?

In the second Round he went ahead and picked John Beck. A long armed QB who no one really heard of really. He did excellent at BYU, but scouts didn’t know how he’d pan out.

After a couple of trades/signings/retirements blah blah blah…the season was upon us. To 2007…A fresh new year with a fresh new coach and a fresh new started Quarterba…wait I mean a fresh new Wide Recie…wait he didn’t even start. What the hell is going on here? Oh and who is the Quarterback of this team you may ask. Well that would be John Beck, Trent Green, Cleo Lemon, and Casey Bramlet. The rookie John Beck did not get the nod for starting QB.

Instead, the old man Trent Green held those reigns. Green was knocked out with a knee in game five and was subsequently put on the IR list and was declared out for season. Cleo Lemon and John Beck battled vigorously all season long trying to pull this doomed team out of the pit. Neither never showed any good, above average or even average performances. Sure the injuries did not help matters, or even the defense. But they kept fighting and fighting. Alas, it was all for nothing..

With 0-16 hanging over my head I gotta tell you, I don’t think I could do it. That many people rooting for you to fail has got to kill a man. The rookie will be a man and step it up right? Wrong. The nobody, Cleo Lemon, stood up and took on the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens were already having a tough season, but a win over the Dolphins looked immanent. That was until the game went to overtime with the score of 16-16.

As the OT started up the Dolphins were just looking to get down the field and try to get in field goal range. A tough feat for anyone to do in the NFL. With an abysmal offense all season long (and some flat out stupid games. Six losses in 2007 with the margin of three points or less), that’s got to be down right impossible.

As Cleo Lemon took the first snap he looked inside to Greg Camarillo who shed a tackled and ran all the way down to for a touchdown sealing their first and only win of the 2007 season.

Now it is 2009 and I can not be more happy with this team. With the hirings of Tony Sporano and Bill Parcells on staff, I’m looking forward to hopefully some more 11-5, AFC East Champions, seasons. Two years later…I won’t say that terrible season still hurts, but I will say it is damn sure going away. I love the Miami Dolphins and hope for the best in this upcoming 2009 NFL season.

Do us proud Phins.

 

Rylo, VSN Writer

Philadelphia Eagles’ Coaching Staff Profile

Over the past decade, no coach has been as successful in the NFC than Andy Reid and his Philadelphia Eagles. Throughout the years, Reid has put together a staff of tremendous assistants, three of whom have gone on to become NFL Head Coaches.

Another has become one of the NFL’s elite defensive coordinators. But what of the staff of today? Reid’s coaching staff is regarded throughout the NFL as one of the best. Here is a profile of Reid’s top assistants and they key members of the Eagles coaching staff.

We begin at the top.

 

Andy Reid: Head Coach (1999-???)

Who?!? That was the reaction that reverberated around the city of Philadelphia when the news broke that the Eagles had hired little known assistant coach Andy Reid to be the new leader of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Reid’s road to Philadelphia began at his alma mater, Bringham Young University. Reid was hired as a graduate assistant to LaVell Edwards. He then spent the 1983-’85 seasons at San Francisco State as the team’s offensive line coach and helped them lead the nation in passing each year.

Following his successful stint at SFSU, Reid floated around as the offensive line coach for: Northern Arizona (1986), University of Texas El-Paso (1987-’88) and Missouri (1989-’91).

In 1992, Reid was hired by a former colleague from BYU and then head coach of the Green Bay Packers, Mike Holmgren. Holmgren hired Reid as the teams Tight End/Offensive Line Assistant.

Thanks to some urging from Holmgren early on, Reid became more familiar with the Packers offense, “It was his curiosity, the questions he asked, his note taking,” said Holmgren, “He was just a sponge.”

In 1997, Reid began a two-year stint as the Packers quarterbacks coach. In that first year, the Packers won their second consecutive Conference Championship, and Brett Favre had been crowned as the league’s Most Valuable Player for the third consecutive season.

Following an early exit from the 1998-’99 playoffs, Reid was contacted by a team in turmoil. A team in a seemingly endless downward spiral towards futility, the Philadelphia Eagles.

Andy holds the Eagles highest winning percentage among coaches (.607) and is the club leader in wins with 107. He has won NFL Coach of the Year twice (2000 and 2002).

Reid has also led the Eagles to five NFC East division titles (2001-04 and 2006) and five appearances in the NFC Championship(2002-2005 and 2009)

Now we move on to the men behind the scenes, the assistants.

 

Jim Johnson: Defensive Coordinator (1999-???)

Jim Johnson was hired as the Eagles defensive coordinator on Jan. 22, 1999. Since then, he has built a defense that is routinely among the leagues elite.

Johnson’s coaching time line began at Missouri Southern, where he was head coach from 1967-68. From there, Johnson bounced around the college scene as a defensive coach. He was the defensive coordinator at Drake University from 1969-72.

He then spent the 1973-76 seasons as the linebackers coach at Indiana University before moving on to Notre Dame as the team’s defensive coordinator from 1977-83.

Johnson then spent 1984-85 as a defensive coordinator for Jacksonville and Oklahoma from the since defunct USFL.

From 1986-93, Johnson coached the defensive line and defensive backs for the St.Louis/Arizona Cardinals. Johnson really excelled as their secondary coach. He helped future Hall of Famer, Aeneas Williams become the first rookie cornerback to lead the league in interceptions since 1981.

From 1994-97, Johnson spent two years with the Colts as the linebackers coach and two as the team’s defensive coordinator.

Following his brief stint in Indianapolis, he coached the linebackers for the Seattle Seahawks. There, he helped the Seahawks register 10 defensive scores, eight coming on interceptions before coming to Philadelphia in ’99.

Almost from the outset, Johnson built this once maligned unit into one of the leagues most feared. In 1999, the Eagles led the NFL in forced turnovers with 46, including five interceptions returned for touchdowns.

In 2001, Johnson’s unit became the fourth in league history to go all 16 regular season games without giving up more than 21 points.

JJ’s philosophy of: attack, attack, attack has made game planning for Sunday a nightmare for coaches throughout the league.

While in the City of Brotherly Love, Johnson’s system has produced 26 Pro Bowl selections: Brian Dawkins (7), Troy Vincent (5), Jeremiah Trotter (4), Hugh Douglas (3), Lito Sheppard (2), Trent Cole (1), Asante Samuel (1), Michael Lewis (1), Corey Simon (1), and Bobby Taylor (1).

In January, Johnson was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer, and has left the team for an indefinite period of time for a second round of Chemotherapy. He has been temporarily replaced by our next coach.

 

Sean McDermott: Secondary/Interim DC (2000-???)

Following a successful playing career at William and Mary from 1994-97, Sean spent the 1998 season as a graduate assistant. Also in 1998, the Eagles came calling, offering a job as a scouting administrative coordinator.

In 1999, McDermott was promoted to assistant to the head coach. Following his one-year stint as an assistant to Reid, McDermott was given the role of defensive assistant/quality control coach, where he handled the linebackers.

McDermott would receive another promotion in 2003 where he was given the job as assistant secondary coach, a job he held for a single season before being given complete control of the secondary and the safeties in 2004.

In 2004, both of McDermotts starting safeties (Brian Dawkins and Michael Lewis) garnered Pro Bowl honors for the first time in club history. Dawkins went on to earn two more Pro Bowl selections under McDermott in 2005 and 2006.

Not only did Dawkins flourish under McDermott, the Eagles credit McDermott with the development of starting strong safety, Quinten Mikell, who has become a Pro Bowl contender. McDermott would hold the secondary/safeties coach position until 2007, when he was moved to the linebackers coach.

Under McDermott’s tutelage, two stars emerged at linebacker in 2007. Omar Gaither led the team with 170 tackles and 14 quarterback hurries. And strong side linebacker Chris Gocong emerged from the practice squad in 2006 to register 92 tackles and seven for loss in 2007.

McDermott moved back to the secondary in 2008, where he engineered one of the NFL’s top units. Two of his players made the Pro Bowl (Dawkins and Asante Samuel).

As I said, this guy is highly regarded by his peers, “I don’t think there are a lot of secondary coaches that are as good as Sean McDermott,” Eagles head coach Andy Reid said. “He was a phenomenal linebackers coach and, really, his versatility I just think is second to none.”

If the hype on McDermott proves right, he could very well be the next disciple of the Andy Reid era to earn a job as a head coach in the NFL.

 

Marty Mornhinweg: Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator (2003-???)

Marty Mornhinweg’s roller coaster ride up and down the coaching ladder began at his alma mater, The University of Montana.

In 1985, Marty managed the wide receivers at the school, before leaving for Texas El-Paso in 1986. He spent two years at UTEP as a graduate assistant before leaving to play quarterback for the Denver Dynamite of the USFL. Following one year in Denver, Mornhinweg began a seven-year journey in college football.

That journey began at Northern Arizona in 1988, where he coached the running backs for a season before leaving for Southeast Missouri State to take over the offensive coordinator position, along with the quarterbacks coach position.

After a two-year stint at Southeast Missouri, Marty moved to The University of Missouri in 1991 where he would manage the tight ends and the offensive line for three seasons. In 1994, Mornhinweg made his final collegiate stop as he returned to Northern Arizona as the team’s offensive coordinator.

Following that one-year stint in Arizona, the Green Bay Packers tabbed Mornhinweg as their offensive assistant and quality control coach on offense. There, he was reunited with a former collegue, Andy Reid. The two had previously coached together at Missouri and UTEP.

In 1996, Marty took over the quarterbacks coaching position, and helped Brett Favre win his first of three consecutive MVP awards. In addition with Favre’s tutelage, Mornhinweg helped the Packers win their third Super Bowl.

Mornhinweg would leave the Packers in 1997 to join Steve Marriucci’s staff in San Francisco as the team’s offensive coordinator for four years. There, he sent another quarterback to the Pro Bowl: Jeff Garcia. Following the 2000 season, the Detroit Lions came calling, offering a job as the team’s head coach.

Mornhinweg’s time as head coach in Detroit was certainly forgettable, as his teams won a combined five games in two seasons. Following the 2002 season, Lions GM Matt Millen fired Mornhinweg. Then in 2003 Andy Reid and Mornhinweg were together coaching again, when Reid hired him as the team’s Senior Assistant.

In 2004 Mornhinweg was promoted to the Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator position, and has been there since. Under Mornhinweg, the Eagles offense has evolved into one of the leagues more explosive attacks.

In 2006, the Eagles led the NFL in plays over 20-yards with 74. To go along with the big plays in ’06, the Eagles offense scored 398 points, the second highest total in team history.

One group that has been consistent in Mornhinweg’s time, has been the offensive line, which leads us to our next coach.

 

Juan Castillo: Offensive Line (1995-???)

Castillo, the longest tenured coach on Andy Reid’s staff is highly regarded as one of the league’s best offensive line guru’s. A former linebacker, Castillo’s coaching career began in 1982 at Texas A&M-Kingsville. At TAMK, Juan coached the offensive line for four years before leaving to coach high school football in Texas in 1986.

Castillo returned to TAMK in 1990 to again coach the offensive line. He gained recognition from then Eagles head coach, Ray Rhodes for aiding in the development of five division II All American offensive linemen. Four of those linemen went on to play in the NFL: Jermaine Mayberry, Jorge Diaz, Kevin Dogins, and Earl Dotson.

In his five-year stint at TAMK, he spent three summers as a coaching intern for Tampa Bay, Buffalo and Seattle. In 1995, Rhodes hired Castillo an offensive assistant, a position he held until 1997 when he was assigned to coach the tight ends.

In 1998, Castillo was assigned to coach the Eagles offensive line, and from there, the story goes on.

Under Castillo, four Eagles linemen earned their first trips to the Pro Bowl: William Thomas, Shawn Andrews, Jermane Mayberry, and Jon Runyan. Castillo’s units are known for being dominant pass blockers, and yielding very little sacks.

In fact, in 2008 the Eagles offensive line set a club record for fewest sacks per pass attempt (one every 27.3).

Castillo also developed a knack for developing undrafted rookies into starting NFL linemen. That list includes: Jamaal Jackson, Hank Fraley, Artis Hicks, Bubba Miller and Steve Edwards. Castillo will almost certainly return another dominant offensive line thanks to the offseason additions the Eagles made.

San Diego Chargers: Positional Weaknesses Going into 2009

With the kickoff to the 2009 NFL Season still more than three months away but most of the important off-season dates past us, initial assessments regarding a team’s potential performance will slowly snowball towards full-blown previews and predictions by the end of August.

In the case of the three-time defending AFC West champion San Diego Chargers, it would seem at first glance that any preview would focus on the positive aspects of this talent-loaded team.

However, some definite cracks in the facade can be seen, as evidenced by their 8-8 record last season. Staying away for the most part from the free agent market, the Chargers looked to get stronger through the draft, and thus drafted mainly out of need.

But did they cover all their needs completely? Here are the most pressing needs that San Diego will need to monitor closely in this upcoming season if they are to be successful:

 

Safety

San Diego’s underachieving safeties were part of the reason teams lit them up through the air. FS Eric Weddle’s inability to put a hand on the ball in the last play of Week One against the Panthers cost San Diego a win, for example.

SS Clinton Hart wasn’t scaring many wide receivers last season, as teams went to the middle of the field routinely against the Chargers. For next season, at least one of those two players figures to be a full-time starter next season with only one real threat to their jobs added to the team.

That threat is USC product Kevin Ellison, who was drafted in the sixth round by the team in this year’s draft.

Despite being described as a chiseled athlete who devours film and is a frequent visitor to the weight room, Ellison has struggled mightily with injuries. Surgeries for a torn ACL and knee injuries were performed on him in college, and he also fractured his left leg.

These injuries could severely limit his shelf life in the brutal NFL.

 

Defensive End

RE Igor Olshansky left the team via free agency to Dallas in the off-season. Despite a weak 2008 season, Olshansky was the only proven starter for the team in that position.

With a depth chart that includes Jacques Cesaire and Ryon Bingham, the Chargers decided to add another player to that mix, drafting Vaughn Martin with the 113th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Martin, a physical freak who is versatile enough to play defensive end and defensive tackle, will face a steep learning curve in the league after facing off with far inferior competition at Canada’s University of Western Ontario.

He might be a year or two away from reaching his potential, but, with no established replacement signed as of yet, the job might be his to lose.

 

Defensive Tackle

Despite relying on stud NT Jamal Williams in San Diego’s 3-4 defensive scheme for years now, the three time Pro Bowler will be 33 going into this season with only the aforementioned Vaughn Martin being groomed as a potential successor.

An injury to Williams would be devastating, as the 3-4 requires a solid nose tackle in order to counter an opponent’s inside running game and allow pass rushers to use their speed to get to the quarterback.

Ron Rivera, San Diego’s defensive coordinator, used a 4-3 formation with great success at Chicago.

Should he decide to switch the Chargers’ defense over to that strategy, will have slim pickings for that second spot, having to choose between a who’s who of no names that include Rashaad Jackson, Bingham, Ian Scott, Ogemdi Nwagbuo and Martin.

 

Lesser Areas of Concern

Guard: With the dependable Mike Goff gone thanks to free agency, it’ll be up to nine-year vet Kynan Forney and two rookies, Louis Vazquez and Tyrone Green to replace him.

Inside Linebacker: Last season, a revolving door of players including Derek Smith, Matt Wilhelm and Tim Dobbins paraded next to the solid Stephen Cooper in search of locking down the other spot. Dobbins prevailed, but former Cowboy Kevin Burnett was brought in to provide more depth should he falter.

Fullback: Jacob Hester improved towards the end of the season, but will he be the dominant blocker that LaDainian Tomlinson, Darren Sproles and Gartrell Johnson needs? If he can’t, Mike Tolbert will get a crack at the job.

 

From Neckbeard To Jay Cutsizzle, Transitioning Away From Mediocrity

To categorize past Chicago Bears quarterbacks as mediocre would be a severe understatement. Since Jim McMahon walked off into the sunset, establishing the quarterback position has proven difficult for Chicago.

Watching Jay Cutler in favor of Kyle “Neckbeard” Orton this upcoming season has put my nerves at ease. Acquiring Jay Cutler from Denver in a trade this offseason is Chicago’s first step in transitioning away from mediocrity

After the planets aligned, the Bears were able to trade for Pro-Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler. In exchange, Chicago had to give up a couple of draft picks and a homeless guy who occasionally stepped in to hand the ball off to Matt Forte.

Jay Cutler will be the first true QB the Bears have had on their roster since Jim McMahon. I will give Bear fans a spoiler alert, I am going to list some former Bear quarterbacks, if you wish to look away from the screen, please do so now.

Rick Mirer. Jim Kramer. Steve Stenstrom. Moses Moreno. Shane Mathews. Cade McNown. Chris Chandler. Henry Burris. Kordell Stewart. Rex Grossman. Johnathon Quinn. Craig Krenzel. Chad Hutchinson. Brian Griese. Kyle Orton. Oh dear lord… Rex Grossman again.

A strong negative stigma has been attached to the quarterback position in Chicago for many years. Many less than stellar performances, bobbled snaps, errant passes, and interceptions have long frustrated Bear fans. After a brief flash of success in 1995 which included a trip to the Pro Bowl, Eric Kramer’s talent seemed to fizzle out.

Fast forward to September 2006, Rex Grossman is named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month. For the first time in many years, we had some hope. Rex Grossman seemed to be coming into his own, however, down the stretch his play would become highly questionable.

The Bears defense led them to the Super Bowl against the Indianapolis Colts. Rex Grossman decided that he would hand over the game to the Colts as if it were a plate of cookies to a new neighbor.

In his defense, Grossman boasts one very important statistic for Bear fans to remember. He was the first quarterback for Chicago to start all 16 games. The last quarterback to do that was Eric Kramer in 2006.

Inconsistency seemed to be Rex’s middle name. Actually, upon further research it is Daniel. Thank Google for that seemingly unimportant piece of information.

I am not going to lie, I became a fan of Kyle “Neckbeard” Orton this past season. He showed me more than any recent Chicago quarterback has.

For once we had a quarterback competent enough to actually make reads and throw the intermediate pass. He put up good stats that included nearly 3,000 yards passing, 58% completion percentage, 18 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.

Orton led them to a 9-7 record and just missed out on the playoffs. He was starting to show glimpses of becoming a leader but was a couple of steps away still. I was content with Orton.

I was only content because I knew Jerry Angelo and the front office wouldn’t bring anybody good in. After signings in the past that included Chad Hutchinson, Jonathan Quinn, and Brian Griese, I had to be a Neckbeard fan.

It was very uncharacteristic of the Bears to make a big move in the offseason. Acquiring Jay Cutler, makes me smile ear to ear to this very day. He threw for 4,500+ yards and 25 touchdowns, and he is going to be playing for my Bears?

I know he had a rough finish to last year with Denver down the stretch. However, he had no defense, and Denver had to pull guys off the street to carry the ball. I am not sure what list would be longer, the Broncos’ injured reserve list, or the swine flu scares at your local hospital.

Signing offensive linemen Orlando Pace, Kevin Schaffer, and Frank Omiyale definitely makes Cutler’s signing that much more sweet. Improving our offense line has been a very important task for us this offseason. First round pick last year, Chris Williams from Vanderbilt, should be healthy and ready to take the field.

Another area for improvement that wasn’t properly addressed was wide receiver. Chicago’s WR corps includes Devin Hester, Rashied Davis, Jauqin Iglesias, and Earl Bennett. Cutler doesn’t have a plethora of options to throw to.

Tight ends Desmond Clark and Greg Olson will more then likely be his security blanket. Forte will be reliable coming out of the backfield since he led the team in receptions last season with 63. He can credit captain check down, aka Kyle Orton for those catches.

I am just one of many Chicago fans expecting Jay Cutler to be the next Dan Marino. Maybe our expectations are a little high. Maybe he will just be another name on the long list of atrocious Bear quarterbacks.

Cutler isn’t going to have Brandon Marshall in Denver anymore, so he’ll have to make the best of his options. In workouts, the Bears wide receivers noticed how hard he throws the ball and have needed some time getting used to just how much velocity he throws with. Once they get the timing and chemistry going, this could be the start of something very nice in the windy city.

I am very optimistic about this upcoming season. Jay Cutsizzle will be coming to a highlight reel near you!

For any Denver fans that made it past the injured reserve joke, enjoy Kyle Orton in Denver. Make sure to keep a half-full bottle of Jack Daniels in the locker room at all times or things may get ugly!

Rush – VSN Writer

www.virtualsportsnetwork.com

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