My 2009 Power Rankings OTA Edition: Steelers on Top

Now that the off-season is mainly over, it’s getting close to the time that teams are holding a lot more OTAs, and not just for rookies.

So with all of the teams making off-season additions and subtractions, here is where all 32 teams stand.

 

1) Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4 in 2008)

The Steelers, coming off their sixth Super Bowl win, first under head coach Mike Tomlin, still stand atop the power rankings.

The Steelers didn’t go out and spend the big time bucks to get the big name players but they did enough to keep the top spot, also considering what they already have they didn’t need to add much.

They Franchised OT Max Starks, drafted center A.Q. Shipley. Also, having 20 of their 22 starters from their Super Bowl-winning team will definitely help.

2) New England Patriots (11-5)

The Pats will get back QB Tom Brady, which alone can get you to the playoffs. We will see if his knee holds up but by the looks of it, it will.

Not only do they get Brady back, but they bring in RB Fred Taylor who can catch out of the backfield and WR Joey Galloway.

Plus the great one came through again in the draft, picking up S Patrick Chung, DT Ron Brace and CB Darious Butler, who can all have a huge impact this season, with his first three picks. And they were all in the second round.

 

3) Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1)

Yes, I do have the Eagles ahead of the Giants. The reason is because they did a better job in the off-season. McNabb had been asking for a top WR like Boldin or Plax. Well he didn’t get either, but he’s now a happy camper because of who they got in the draft.

They selected speedy WR Jeremy Maclin, RB LeSean McCoy and TE Cornelius Ingram who’s one of the most overlooked player in the draft but will be a good pro.

Also after letting LT William Thomas walk to free agency, they decided to upgrade the LT position in a huge way by trading for Jason Peters. Now McNabb has everything he needs. Now to put it together on the field.

 

4) New York Giants (12-4)

The Giants don’t have any holes, except the one left by Plaxico Burress. The Giants cut Burress this off-season. They drafted WR Hakeem Nicks, who looks to be his replacement.

But the G-Men are really going to need their young WR’s like Manningham, Nixon and Hicks to step it up. I see their defense really leading this team, though.

5) Arizona Cardinals (9-7)

I don’t believe the Cards are the fifth-best team in the NFL, but looking at what they did in the off-season and they still have Boldin, plus you can’t ignore what they did last season.

They are really going to have to show the league that they wont fall to the curse of losing the Super Bowl and not making the playoffs the next year.

Plus, if they trade Boldin they fall out of the top 10. The only team who has returned to the playoffs was Seattle. But did they lose the Super Bowl…however, the Steelers did not return to the playoffs, so that’s an interesting concept.

6) Indianapolis Colts (12-4)

The Colts no longer have head coach Tony Dungy,their OC and OL coach Howard Mudd are in limbo, and Manning is really getting mad.

However Jim Caldwell has been in the Colts organization for a long time, so it should be a very easy transition. And the Colts cut WR Marvin Harrison but still have Reggie Wayne and young WR Anthony Gonzalez. They drafted a great RB in Donald Moore in the 2009 draft, which should help.

7) Baltimore Ravens (11-5)

The Ravens haven’t changed that much, but they made a great selection in the draft by taking OT Michael Oher to protect their great young QB Joe Flacco.

Flacco can only get better next season.

 

8) Seattle Seahawks (4-12)

Now this one I know a lot of people are going to question, but you have to look at what they did over the off season and look at who they are getting back healthy.

They added DT/DE Cory Redding, LB Aaron Curry, WR T.J Houshmandzadeh, CB Ken Lucas, LG Max Unger, WR Deon Butler and DT Colin Cole.

They also are getting back QB Matt Hasselbeck, WR’s Deion Branch and Nate Burleson, their entire starting offensive line, DE Patrick Kerney and Lofa Tatupu.

Now you have to sit back and look at this team. They’ve won the NFC West the last four years. They have an elite QB when healthy in Hasselbeck, a great HC in Jim Mora and a great DC in Gus Bradley.

They have the best LB corps in the NFL, and they have a great CB tandem of Trufant and Lucas. They just have to put it together.

 

9) Atlanta Falcons (11-5)

Matt Ryan and Michael Turner, that’s all you really have to know. Ryan will be entering his second season and he will be getting a lot better, which is scary to think about.

They added future HOF TE Tony Gonzalez and a top young DT in Peria Jerry. The combination of Turner and Ryan is great. Now Ryan has some great weapons to throw to.

 

10) New York Jets (9-7)

Mark Sanchez is in, Brett Farve is out. Rex Ryan is in, Eric Mangini is out. Right there they just got better. Now the hard part is they don’t have really any WR options, which is why they are trying to sign Plaxico Burress. They do have Dustin Keller but he’s only a TE.

Lucky for Sanchez, the Jets will have a good defense and a great running game with Jones and Greene.

 

Next up will be 11-20.

Kansas City Chiefs: Father Time Is Undefeated

The Kansas City Chiefs have added many new faces to the roster for the 2009 season.

Matt Cassel was acquired in a trade with the New England Patriots to be the quarterback of the future.

Four others added and projected as starters for the Chiefs in ’09 have had great careers, but the rigors of the NFL grind may have started to take its tole on these accomplished players.

They are linebackers Zach Thomas and Mike Vrabel, guard Mike Goff, and wide receiver Bobby Engram.

Zach Thomas 

He has more tackles than any linebacker in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is forth all-time.  At 36 years old, it’s expected that his stats will start to decline.  He had a good season in Dallas with over 90 total tackles in 2008, but he’s also one more concussion away from his career being over.

Mike Vrabel

Not quite the age of Thomas, but at 33 he’s got quite a few miles on his body.  His tackle total has declined in each year following his total of 108 in 2005 for the Patriots. 

Bobby Engram

Engram has had a decent career and had a monster year in 2007.  Last season he was nagged by injuries and didn’t produce half of his totals from the year before.  At 36, it may be too much to ask Engram to start, but the Chiefs apparently will.

Mike Goff 

Goff will be entering his 11th season in the NFL and, after 162 games played, getting 16 out of him him might be pushing the envelope.

AFC West Preview 2009: Scouting the Oakland Raiders’ Opponents

In the wild, wild AFC West, the good was bad and the bad was ugly.

San Diego earned a playoff birth, but won the division at 8-8 by winning its final four games.

The Denver Broncos’ late season implosion, losing three straight games, was a large reason for the Chargers’ third straight AFC West crown.

On their way to a dismal 2-14 mark, the bottom-dwelling Kansas City Chiefs lost their first 11 games before a road victory over…the Oakland Raiders.

The Silver and Black’s own 5-11 mark increased the franchise’s playoff drought to six years.

It’s been a whole off-season, so let’s take a look at Oakland stacks up against divisional opposition.

Interview With Chiefs’ Quarterback Matt Cassel (Fictional)

As a rookie reporter now following the Kansas Chiefs for NPPR radio, I was lucky enough to get a few minutes to pick the brain of quarterback Matt Cassel.

NPPR: Welcome to Kansas City, Mr. Cassell and first of all, I would like to wish you a productive and healthy season this year.

Cassel: Thanks for the kind words, and you can call me Matt, my man.

NPPR: Cool, I got a few quick questions for you and thanks for your time.

Cassel:  No problem, fire away, I’m just waiting for D-Bowe and Bobby-E to get their tape jobs done.

NPPR:   So how do you like Kansas City, and what’s your early impression of the franchise?

Cassel:  Kansas City seems like a very nice city, although I really haven’t had much time to get out and see everything. 

I think that the franchise is loaded with talented players, and knowing the tenacity of Coach Haley and Mr. Pioli, we will be playing at a high level sooner than some may realize.

NPPR:  It sure sounds like you have adjusted to your new teammates rather well.  After throwing to Randy Moss and Wes Welker last season in New England, what do you think about the receivers on your new team? 

Cassel:  So far in limited work, they look great!  D-Bowe is going to be a beast and E is a veteran who will complement him well.  Bradley and Charles will produce and we’ve got an oak tree for a tight end.

NPPR:  Are you talking about Brad Cottam?

Cassel:  Yeah.  He’s going to surprise you. 

NPPR:  Tyler Thigpen played pretty well last season and is said to be in competition with you for the starting position.  What is your relationship like with him?

Cassel: Ty has been awesome.  We get along well and drive each other to be better.  Our relationship is great and we help each other as much as possible.  He’s a very talented quarterback.

NPPR:  I think it’s safe to assume you will be the starter against the Ravens in Baltimore for the season opener week one due to your rather sizable contract.

You’ve been called the future of the Chiefs’ franchise, how does the pressure of that statement make you feel?

Cassel:  I just play football and let the rest of that work itself out. 

NPPR:  Good point.  Speaking of that, you’ve had a patient road to stardom and played behind some of the most well-known QB’s around. 

Everyone knows about your years as a backup to Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then legend Tom Brady in New England.   If you had three words to describe the key to those players’ successes, what would they be?

Cassel:  Never thought about it that way, but I like your style so I’ll answer the question. 

Leinart: Hollywood Good.  Does that count.

NPPR:  Sure, I’ll take that.

Cassel:  It’s fitting and when Kurt’s time is over Arizona, Matt will be ready to get it done.

Palmer: Poised Rocket Arm

and Brady, hmmmm.  Best There Is.

NPPR:  That’s high praise.  Do you hold any ill feelings towards the Patriots?

Cassel:  Absolutely not.  They gave me a chance by drafting me and allowing me to learn from a Hall of Fame coach and quarterback.  Now they’ve given me a chance to be a starter and I wish Tom all the best.  

NPPR:   I assumed I would get a classy response to that question.  Have you tried the bar-b-que yet?

Cassel:  Oh yeah.  I love it already.

NPPR:  Which do you prefer, clam chowder or a short end of ribs?

Cassel:  Ah, the ribs and it’s not even close.

NPPR:  You got a favorite restaurant to get your BBQ from yet?

Cassel:  There are a lot of them here but Gates and this little place on Merriam Lane in Kansas City, Kansas named Woodyard BBQ is the bomb.  One of the guys took me down there.  Have you been there?

NPPR:  I thought I had been to them all, but look at you.  Here just a few months and already telling locals where to go for their food.   You must adapt quickly?

Cassel:  Yes I do.

NPPR:  Alright, thanks for the interview Matt.

Cassel:  Anytime. 

New Coaching Staff Key to Oakland Raiders’ Success in ’09

Besides Head Coach Tom Cable, there are very few returning coaches on Oakland’s coaching staff. Just seven of 19 coaches return from the beginning of 2008 and only strength coach Brad Roll and Willie Brown return to coach the same position.

Both Sanjay Lal and John Fassel take large promotions going into the 2009 season. Lal will have a difficult job coaching the receivers and Fassel has the biggest shoes to fill after the departure of special teams coordinator Brian Schneider to USC.

Then there is former USC Head Coach Paul Hackett, who takes over as quarterbacks coach after assisting the team with special projects last season. He spent last season keeping a close eye on the development of JaMarcus Russell and now will have a chance to mold him.

The Raiders also added Ted Tollner as passing game coordinator. Tollner seems to be taking the lead on coaching the receivers, with Lal more in the background. Tollner will act as an overqualified receivers coach. He will assist Cable calling plays which is why he has the odd title.

Cable plans to call the offensive plays. Hackett and Tollner figure to influence the process heavily. This three-headed monster will act like an offensive coordinator and will be vitally important for the Raiders success this season.

Hopefully Cable has the guts to continue to call plays as he did down the stretch in 2008. Both Hackett and Tollner could potentially seek to make the play calling more conservative.

The defense can be playoff caliber if the offense can score consistently enough to cover up the biggest weakness. Dwaine Board will try to elevate the play of the defensive line in 2009, but scoring more points will certainly help this unit more than anything else.

The change to Jim Michalczik as offensive line coach should be a relatively seamless transition from Cable. He brings a lot of experience and he still has Cable to lean on if needed.

John Marshall probably should be mentioned. The new defensive coordinator probably will continue to be under the constraints placed on the defense by owner Al Davis. He may be in the most precarious position on the staff.

Anytime Marshall goes against the wishes of Davis he must be successful. Going against the Raider way and having success is one thing, doing it and not having success is another.

 

This coaching staff appears to balance the experience and age of Art Shell’s coaching staff with the youthfulness and perspective of Lane Kiffin’s staff. Hopefully this will prove to a winning combo for the Raiders.

Hackett’s performance as quarterbacks coach will be the most important. If Russell develops into a solid quarterback the other offensive coaches will have an easier job. If the offense does better, so too will the defense.

That said, the offensive staff will be under the most pressure because of the youth at the skill positions. Fans will want to see improvement from these young players and wont refrain from criticism of the coaches should key players go underutilized.

What Should 49er Fans Expect From Coach Singletary in 2009?

Mike Singletary mania is sweeping across the Bay Area. 

This guy’s got a higher public approval rating than Santa Claus, and everybody loves a fat guy in a red suit.

So, is Coach Singletary for real?  Or is he another false prophet, stirring the hopes and dreams of 49er fans who fantasize about a return to glory?

I admit, I’ve been impressed by Singletary’s performance so far.  He took a team that was underachieving and unmotivated under Coach Nolan, and guided them to a winning record for the second half of last season.  He seems to connect with his players.  They appear to be inspired by his fire-and-brimstone approach.

But before I buy my ticket to board the Coach Singletary bandwagon, I need a little perspective.  Sure, all the news coming out of the 49er camp is positive.  Everybody loves Coach Sing.  But didn’t everybody love Coach Nolan?  Didn’t they love Coach Erickson too? 

To believe or not to believe; that is the question. 

To help me on this pilgrimage, I decided to seek the wisdom of those who’ve witnessed it all.  The ones who saw the glory years.  The people who witnessed the slow decline.  Those who saw each new coach parade into town with all the hope in the world, and then limp away as failures. 

The people close enough to see the truth, yet far enough away to tell it.

I decided to ask the writers who cover the 49ers. 

I interviewed three prominent sports writers who cover the 49ers at the local level; Ray Ratto of the San Francisco Chronicle, Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, and Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury News. 

I was curious to see what their impressions of the new coach were.

All three writers cautioned against making premature judgments about Singletary’s coaching ability. 

Dan Brown offered the most positive assessment, crediting Singletary for his ability to reach his players: “Singletary certainly has some building blocks for being a terrific head coach; he’s charismatic, he’s respected, and he’s diligent.  Players would run through a wall for him.”

When asked about Singletary’s choices for assistant coaches, the response was less than enthusiastic.  Ray Ratto called them “uninspiring.”  Dan Brown’s criticism was more direct: “I think the Jimmy Raye hire was a stretch and it could undermine Singletary’s entire season.”

I asked if Coach Singletary struck them as someone who could lead the 49ers to the prominence they enjoyed under Bill Walsh.  Could Coach Sing restore the dynasty the 49ers enjoyed during the 80s and 90s?

The answer was unanimous; No. 

Ray Ratto summed it up best: ”The 80s and 90s 49ers operated with a salary cap, and with Bill Walsh running the football operations; Singletary is not Bill Walsh.”

Finally, I asked about the aura surrounding Coach Singletary.  I wanted to know how the current atmosphere at 49ers headquarters compares to previous years, under previous coaches.  I asked if Coach Singletary will retain his players’ respect long enough to turn this franchise around.

All three agreed that winning has the greatest influence on any coach’s aura.  Ratto said the aura around the team has been poor for several years, as they’ve struggled to win games. 

Maiocco said that the aura has been good for every new coach who’s taken the reins in San Francisco. 

Dan Brown said he “bought in” to the excitement surrounding Erickson and Nolan, only to be disappointed. 

The most interesting responses addressed Coach Singletary’s prospects for retaining his team’s attention as time goes on.  Matt Maiocco thinks Singletary shows a lot of promise, but expressed his concern about whether the team will eventually tune-out from their passionate head coach.

“I wonder about Singletary’s affinity for giving long talks after practice and games and whether he needs to be more judicious about picking his spots through the course of the season.”

Dan Brown had similar concerns: “The thing I wonder about with Singletary is whether his fire-and-brimstone approach might get old over a 16 game season.”

After consulting with these insightful scribes, the truth about Singletary remains unknown.  In the NFL, a cozy feeling around the locker room doesn’t mean much if the team’s not winning.  Popular coaches don’t keep their jobs; winning coaches do. 

Overall, it seems that Singletary’s direct and sincere nature has got him off to a good start in San Francisco.  His back-to-basics approach seems popular with players, while his unrehearsed demeanor is pleasantly refreshing to all. 

But, as his honeymoon phase with the team draws to an end, will Coach Sing’s charms wear off?  Will his passionate pleas to the team begin to fall upon deaf ears?

The answer to these questions will depend on how the 49ers fare in the win-loss column.  If the team is winning games, players will continue to listen, and Singletary’s sermons will inspire his trusting congregation. 

However, if San Francisco sputters, coach Singletary’s disciples will stray, and he will take his place in the growing line of former head coaches who left their hearts in San Francisco.

Breaking Down the Seattle Seahawks Position-by-Position: Linebacker

The Seahawks on paper have one of if not the best trio of linebackers in the NFL with Leroy Hill, Lofa Tatupu and rookie Aaron Curry. Tatupu is the most proven, followed by Hill and rounding out the three is rookie LB Aaron Curry who was the best complete player in the 2009 NFL draft. So lets get started

Strong side LB: Aaron Curry, Backup: Will Herring

Examination: Aaron Curry, who was a strong side linebacker in college at Wake Forest will also be a strong side linebacker for the Seahawks.

Curry’s stats at Wake Forest are as follows. 320 total tackles, five forced fumbles, six interceptions, and nine total sacks in four seasons at Wake Forest.

I see Curry having the same rookie season as Patrick Willis did in San Fransisco. Willis had 135 solo tackles and 174 total tackles in his rookie season. Now maybe Curry wont be that well but both Curry and Willis are tackling machines.

Middle LB: Lofa Tatupu, Backup: David Hawthorne

Examination: Lofa Tatupu, ever since being selected in the second round of the 2005 draft he’s been completely worth it. Tatupu made the pro bowl the first three seasons, this was the only season when he didn’t make the pro bowl. Lofa was also a 2007 all-pro.

Last off season Tatupu and the Seahawks came to an agreement on a six year, 42 million dollar contract that will make a ” Seahawk for life.” So as long as No. 51 is in the middle of the defense no one will take it from him. I expect Tatupu to get back to his pro bowl form this season.

Weak side LB: Leroy Hill, Backup: D.D Lewis

Examination: Leroy Hill, who was drafted in the third round in the same draft as Tatupu still has to make that leap from a solid LB to a great/outstanding LB. This off season the Seahawks franchise tagged Hill, but he refused to sign the tender. After the Seahawks drafted Aaron Curry they rescinded the tag from Hill making him a free agent.

About a week later the Seahawks and Leroy Hill came to an agreement on a six year 38 million dollar contract. Now this season Hill has to prove he’s worth the money. This is going to have be the season where he takes that leap.

So looking at this trio of linebackers its hard to disagree that they have the best LB corps in the NFL. But really they can be the best if Curry has a rookie season like Patrick Willis and become a tackling machine and if Leroy Hill can make that leap then this will be the best LB corps in the entire NFL.

Seattle Seahawks Position Breakdown: Safety

The Starters:

Deon Grant, SS

Grant came to Seattle during the 2007 off-season when they signed him to a massive six-year, $31.6 million dollar deal. At the time he was the third highest paid S in the league.

During his two years in Seattle he has been a solid, averaging 78 tackles, and 2.5 INT’s per season. He has great athletic ability and possesses the leadership the Seahawks secondary sorely lacked before his arrival.

In addition to his leadership qualities he is also a great cover man who hits extremely hard. His tackles sometimes draw comparisons to hard-hitting Bengal’s S Roy Williams.

He played the majority of 2008 with a torn hamstring insisted on toughing it. The result was posting a career high 79 tackles, along with eight pass deflections and two INT’s. He has contributed to a bi-polar Seahawks secondary that relinquished the fewest passing TD’s in 2007 (15), but also finished 2008 dead last in passing defense (259.3 YPG).

If healthy Grant can play at a Pro Bowl, stepping up his play would go a ways to revitalizing the leagues worse pass defense from 2008.

So far he has done what the Seahawks have asked of him, and earns his  big pay-check (FA’s are overpaid, but still…).

 

Brian Russell, FS

Russell was also brought in along with Grant in 2007 to help stabilize the Seahawks secondary. He now serves as the scapegoat of the Seahawks porous 2008 output.

I tend to think criticizing one player for a units failure is unfair, and find it puzzling it is even Russell. The entire secondary suffered from mediocrity in 2008, and lets not forget this was the exact same unit that gave up the leagues fewest TD’s in 2007.

Russell was just “one of” the contributors to 2008’s horrible pass defense. Despite his scapegoat status, he only finished with six less tackles then fellow S Deon Grant (72).

His responsibility on the field is to be the field general, and that has brought about mixed results. He is not the fastest S and is often burned by faster WR’s. He is a solid tackler, and makes up for his lack of speed by keeping plays in front of him with the great angles he takes in pursuit of the ball carrier.

With the heaps of criticism flung in Russell’s direction he should be out to prove he can still play at a high level. A player with something to prove always performs better, Russell should be no different.

 

The Best Of The Rest

Jordan Babineaux, S

He warrants the nickname “Big Play Babs” with his knack for making game changing plays. A prime example is in the 2006 Wild Card game when he made a shoestring tackle of Tony Romo when  the QB botched a field goal snap and was on his way to instead scoring a TD.

Bab’s is a as good a backup as you can find, he could be a starter on several teams if he was to ever test the market. He recorded 60 tackles in 2008 despite only starting one game.

He has a good blend of size, speed, hard hitting, and pass coverage abilities. He could edge out Brian Russell for the starting job with a good training camp.

 

CJ Wallace, S

Wallace has tremendous upside and made the roster as an undrafted rookie FA prior to the 2007 season. With Deon Grant locked in, and Russell/Bab’s battling it out for the other starting spot, it does appear Wallace will crack the starting lineup.

He is still a young, raw player who needs some seasoning before he steps into a starting capacity. For now he is a solid Special Teams player who contributed to a much-improved unit in 2008. Look for him to be a sponge and absorb everything he can from veterans like Grant, and Pro Bowl CB Marcus Trufant. The future is bright for this emerging prospect.

Breaking Down the AFC West: Lightning Strikes Again in 2009

The AFC West has seen some major changes in 2009. 

Gone are some of the most recognizable faces in the conference.  Jay Cutler, Tony Gonzalez, and Mike Shanahan have moved on.  

They are replaced by Matt Cassel, Josh McDaniels, and Todd Haley to name a few.

The AFC West draws the NFC East and AFC North on the schedule in the upcoming season. 

That means each AFC West team not named the San Diego has at least six games against teams that made it to the playoffs last the season, including the past two Super Bowl Champions. 

The Chargers don’t have to play against themselves, but the Bolts still get the Steelers, Giants, Ravens and Eagles like the rest of the teams. 

Here’s an early and brief prediction of the conference and how the changes might influence it. 

 

SAN DIEGO CHARGES 

Record in 2008: 8-8

Projected 2009:  12-4

Top Player:  Philip Rivers

Head Coach:  Norv Turner

 

Offense:  The Chargers should romp through the AFC West in ’09.  Philip Rivers, Darren Sproles and Vincent Jackson are coming off their best seasons of their careers and if LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates could stay healthy they will be a contender to win it all.

Defense:  Antonio Cromartie is one of the best play-makers in the league and the return of Shawne Merriman will help get the pressure they lacked without him.  Talent on the other side of the ball allows the defense to take more chances.

Overall:  The defense has seemed to have slipped quite a bit from a few years ago, but the offense is on the rise and should light up the scoreboard.  The rest of the conference is rebuilding so they should be pretty easy pickings.  Not a big Norv Turner fan, but he has won some big games recently.

 

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Record in 2008: 2-14

Projected 2009:  7-9

Top Player:  Matt Cassel

Head Coach:  Todd Haley

 

Offense:  The addition of Cassell gives the Chiefs a quarterback for years to come and Dwayne Bowe should blossom with him.  The loss of “Tony G” is huge from many angles.  It’s a stretch to think that Larry Johnson will return to form, so other than Bowe there’s not much to write home about.

Defense:  The 2008 version was historically bad producing only nine sacks as a team for the season. New defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast will play a 3-4 defense and the franchise drafted defensive end Tyson Jackson to anchor the line.

Free agent additions Zach Thomas and Mike Vrabel’s best years are far behind them, but they are still a slight upgrade from last year. Safeties Bernard Pollard and Jarrad Page will get torched again if they remain the starters.

Overall:  Everything has changed at Arrowhead and although the results are pending, it appears the franchise is on the right track.  7-9 may be a stretch, but even 6-10 would be a vast improvement from the past two seasons.  The future of the franchise may be reflected through the play of Cassel. 

 

DENVER BRONCOS

Record in 2008: 8-8

Projected 2009: 6-10

Top Player:  Champ Bailey

Head Coach: Josh McDaniels

Offense:  New head coach McDaniels has made a lot of noise with his arrival at Mile High.  No longer with the team is pro bowler Jay Cutler who despite his attitude, is one of the better QB’s in the league.  Kyle Orton gets the nod and has one of the elite wide receiver tandems in the league in Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal. 

Orton has no where near the talent of Cutler and the changes in philosophy could slow the offense to a crawl. 

Defense:  Safety Brian Dawkins is a major upgrade at the position, but not much else has changed from a defense that was down right putrid in ’08.  Seems like every defensive player Shanahan drafted north of Trevor Pryce underachieved so a major rebuilding effort is needed. 

On the positive side, Champ Bailey is still a joy to watch and Mike Nolan is the biggest name at defensive coordinator since Wade Phillips.

Overall:  At first blush I thought it was a powerful message sent by McDaniels as he called Cutler’s bluff and traded him to the Chicago Bears.  Now, I think it was a terrible decision and drafting Knowshon Moreno in the first round at a position that the team actually had some depth at made me question his judgement even further. 

McDaniels might have Moreno pinned for a Kevin Faulk type role going forward which has been highly effective for the New England.  The schedule is brutal and includes games against the Chargers (twice), Colts, Eagles, Giants, Cowboys, Steelers, Ravens, and Patriots.

 

OAKLAND RAIDERS

Record in 2008: 5-11

Projected 2009:  4-12

Best Player: Nnamdi Asomugha

Head Coach: Tom Cable

 

Offense:  If JaMarcus Russell struggles, look for Al Davis, I mean Cable to go to free agent addition Jeff Garcia early.  Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden pack a heck of a one-two punch, but they will need help on the outside to open things up for the them. 

Defense:  Asomugha is one of the best players in the NFL and the defense played well at times last season.  Michael Huff’s struggles have been a major setback for the franchise.  The squad could be a surprise in ’09, but don’t bank on it.

Overall:  Garcia’s grit and a break-out type season from McFadden might give the Raiders enough to sneak up on some teams in ’09.  Team owner Davis made some noise with his draft this season confusing both experts and fans alike.

Explanation for Peyton Manning’s Frustrations: You’ve Got to Understand No. 18

As many of you are aware, Peyton Manning has recently voiced his frustrations regarding the Colts’ coaching situation. In the wake of the departures of former offensive coordinator Tom Moore and former offensive-line coach Howard Mudd, Manning doesn’t appear too pleased with how the Colts’ coaching staff is growing into their new roles.

“They’re not offering a lot of coaching out there, I can assure you of that.”

That is the line I hear repeated over and over again and it was those words that have shaken the faith of many Colts fans. While his displeasure can never be a good sign, I don’t feel that the world is about to crumble in Indianapolis.

To understand the situation, you first have to understand Peyton Manning.

As much as the media blows things out of proportion when star players do not participate in OTAs (Official Team Practices), the most important aspect to note is the fact that these activities are voluntary.

Many people are aware of that but even while knowing that is the case, media sources have a way of blasting certain players for not being there, which in turn creates a greater aura of importance over these activities.

Even Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne hasn’t attended these activities, and Reggie is far from a player who lacks character or passion. Those who do decide to attend should be entitled to proper recognition.

Any time you sacrifice your own personal time (and what really is an NFL player’s only vacation) to better hone your skills, you are showing a solid degree of dedication. I could tell you that these OTAs are not as important as you might think, but I guarantee you that Peyton Manning would disagree with me.

That’s the point.

No. 18 is No. 18.

Peyton Manning is not your normal football player. He’s not even remotely similar to your abnormally obsessive football player. Peyton Manning was born, hatched out of a Wilson football, and knows of nothing else in life.

His dedication to the sport of football boarders on the insane and it is that level of dedication that has separated him from ever other player at the position.

With the exception of the physical tools required (which we know he has), what else do you think it takes to become the most productive player in NFL history?

So, while I’m certain that Peyton is correct in his negative coaching observations, it’s obviously bound to disturb more than it would other players at the position.

While there are players who run through OTA drills as if they’re playing in the backyard, I assure you that No. 18 trains as if he’s preparing for the Super Bowl.

You haven’t heard any other Colts players voice their displeasure, have you?

The rest of the team might not think the situations is as big a deal as Peyton Manning obviously does. Then again, I don’t know how many players have reached a status where it can become acceptable to publicly criticize your coaching staff in the fashion that Manning has.

Not to justify his actions, but Manning knows better than anyone how to handle the media.

I’m sure that this voice of displeasure didn’t come out to the media before it was vocalized elsewhere. If the rest of the team hasn’t taken the issue as seriously as Manning, perhaps he had to resort to something I’m sure wasn’t his first option.

I’m not trying to justify actions which many might consider to be unprofessional, I just trust Manning’s judgement and feel that his personality better be understood before over-analyzing the situation to a degree that creates panic.

Fear not Indianapolis faithful, the situation is in the hands of someone more than capable of handling it.

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