NFL Teams Primed To Disappoint in 2009

The NFL season is about to embark upon the start of the 2009 season, with training camps starting this week. The NFL draft, mini-camps, and OTA’s are behind us and teams are ready for the seven month journey in to February, at least for the Superbowl contenders.

This time is filled with anticipation and excitement, with nearly every team at least on paper, hoping they have improved themselves from last season. Afterall, if a team is entering the season expecting to fare worse, someone’s head is sure to roll in a hurry.

The premise of this article is to identify teams, who for whatever reason, have managed to rank highly among writers, analysts, and fans, but in my opinion, may be poised to disappoint in 2009.

I hope you enjoy the list and the challenges each team will face heading in to the season, and more importantly, I hope you find your team is not on the list.

Enjoy!

Have no fear Mitch Mustain, you may have a career yet…

5 NFL Teams That Need To Prove They’re The Real Deal

For my first article on B/R, I decided to make an article discussing the top 5 NFL squads that I feel have the most to prove this upcoming season in terms of how great their fans and the media expect them to be.

My case in point: The 2008 Cleveland Browns. I understand a lot of people didn’t expect them to have a season as surprisingly great as they did, but most people didn’t expect them to slide to 4-12 from a 10-6 record the previous year. I did, however. I saw that Derek Anderson had himself a gunslinging, – outlier-type campaign, that Braylon Edwards showed unusually solid hands, and that the struggles of the Baltimore Ravens helped them rise to the top of an easy division that year, aside from the ever-present Pittsburgh Steelers.

In order for a team to make this list, they first have to somewhat widely be considered a “legitimate contender” to make the playoffs; if they aren’t, then they wouldn’t have to prove to me, or to anybody else, that they mean business come playoff time because they aren’t “good” in the first place. Make sense?

Alright… and so, without further ado, “5 NFL Teams That Need To Prove They’re The Real Deal.”

2009 Redskins Season Preview: Offensive Line

Call a priest.

It’s confirmed: The 2009 Washington Redskins have a “holey” offensive line.

It’s not that they’ve been blessed. The Redskins have as many holes on their offensive line as a good piece of Swiss cheese.

Looking left to right, the starters look pretty good. Anchoring the line for the entire decade is the always steady LT Chris Samuels. In nine season, he has been to the Pro Bowl nearly as many times (six) as he has missed a regular season game (eight), and has more than lived up to his status as a number three overall pick.

Samuels’ has been reunited with his former left-side running-mate Derrick Dockery after the latter was brought back from the Buffalo Bills this offseason. While Dockery has yet to make a Pro Bowl, he also has yet to miss a regular season game or even a start since being named Washington’s starter early in the 2003 season.

Casey Rabach mans the center position for the fifth consecutive season. Rabach, who signed with the team after becoming Baltimore’s starter during the 2004 season. Like Dockery and Samuels to his left, he has been another incredibly steady force on the offensive line, missing only one game in his entire Redskins tenure.

In a recurring theme, RG Randy Thomas enters his seventh season with the team and, aside from a stint on injured reserve in 2007, has only missed three starts in six seasons.

The fearsome foursome of Samuels, Dockery, Rabach and Thomas have paved the way for a 1,000 yard rusher each and every season they have taken the field together. In fact, the team has had a 1,000 yard rusher every season since 2004, with Pete Kendall holding Dockery’s spot during his two year absence.

If only the NFL had four offensive line spots.

The right tackle spot has been a constant source of trouble for the team since 2004, when stalwart Jon Jansen tore his Achilles tendon in a preseason game. Since then, the tackle spot has been a revolving door of journeymen and the off-injured Jansen himself, who was released earlier this offseason after failing to regain his former Pro Bowl form during the last five seasons.

The coaching staff loves presumed starter Stephon Heyer. Heyer signed with the team as a rookie free agent from Maryland three seasons ago and immediately made an impression, starting a couple of preseason games along the way.

Despite the feel-good, rags-to-riches story, Heyer has been mediocre at best. He is slow off the line, stiff out of his stance and has a hard time holding his own one on one against even the NFL’s average pass rushers. He’s been given many chances to hold the starting spot, but has lost it each time, most recently to Jansen last year.

Challenging Heyer for the spot is former fourth overall draft choice Mike Williams. Williams spent the last two seasons out of football after battling weight problems during his first professional stint.

He was signed after being recommended to the team by former college teammate Dockery, with whom Williams has been working out this offseason. Williams had the talent, but let his weight balloon and was rumored to be well over 400 pounds at times, significantly limiting his athleticism.

It’s been reported that he now weighs closer to 350, and on his 6-6 frame, that’s probably where he ought to be.

Depth on the offensive line is also a problem. While the team has a number of contenders for significant time in the rotation, most are retreads and other team’s throwaways. (In point of fact, four of these eight challengers are castaways from the Carolina Panthers).

With an aging starting core (only Dockery is under 30) and little depth, it’s surprising that Vinny Cerato and company have failed to address this position in the draft. In fact, the team has only spent two picks in five seasons addressing the offensive line, and only 2008 3rd round pick Chad Rinehart remains with the team, and he has yet to take a regular season snap.

The team is counting on Jason Campbell to lead the team back to the playoffs, and as we all know, everything starts up front. Four of the five spots are solid and, while they’ve been steady, injuries do happen. With no fifth starter and no legitimate depth, the team is truly living on a wing and a prayer.

Maybe we should ask a priest to bless this line after all.

NFL Draft Analysis: Bustology 101

The first round of the NFL draft is an exciting but dangerous place for both players and fans. The question on most people’s minds is the same:

Will [insert name here] actually play like a first-rounder or will he bust?

Well, I decided to dig deeper into the dismal world of NFL Draft busts to help you, the fans, have a better idea of whether a player picked in the first round is going to bust or not, based on what part of the round they are picked in and what position they play.

My formula is this:

General consensus is that any player taken in the first round is expected to be a full-time starter within their first three years in the league, and to hold that position for the better part of a decade.

So, looking at the past five drafts (up to 2006, due to the aforementioned three-year grace period), I decided to figure out where in the first round each position’s biggest and smallest bust rate is, based on that consensus.

How I determined which players could be labeled as “busts” is simple: if a player picked in the first round of those five drafts is not currently starting, they are considered a bust. And if they are not currently a starter due to injury, they will STILL be counted as a bust, since there are plenty of risky, injury-prone players picked every year. Sean Taylor will be counted as a starter, due to his tragic non-football related death.

*Note: If a running back picked is currently a part of their team’s increasingly popular “running back by committee,” they will be counted as a starter.*

I broke down the “areas” of the draft into quarters; picks 1-8, picks 9-16, picks 17-24 and picks 25-32, and took a look at each position’s “bust rate” in each to determine where the most dangerous spot is, as well as where the safest spot is.

So, after reading this article, you should be able to either justify your skepticism of your favorite team’s pick, or take comfort in knowing that there is a good chance whoever they choose will turn out fine.

These were my results:

Quarterbacks:

Most Dangerous Spot: picks 17-24 (75% Bust Rate)

Of the four quarterbacks picked in this range over the five-year period examined, only one (Aaron Rodgers) is currently a starter, while two are not even on an NFL roster.

The three busts consist of:

• Kyle Boller – Picked No. 19 overall by Baltimore in 2003, currently a backup in St. Louis.
• Rex Grossman – Picked just three selections after Boller in 2003, currently a free agent.
• J.P. Losman – Picked No. 22 overall by Buffalo in 2004, currently on the roster for UFL Las Vegas of the newly formed United Football League.

If your team decides to take a chance on a QB in the mid-to-late portion of the first round, beware.

Safest Spot: picks 9-16 (33% Bust Rate)

Statistically, this spot is the safest to pick quarterbacks in, as only one of the three chosen in that spot, Matt Leinart, is not currently starting. And even he still looks to be the quarterback of the future in Arizona.

The two picked in this spot that are currently starting both turned out pretty well, as they have combined for two Super Bowl rings and two Pro Bowl berths between them. They are:

• Ben Roethlisberger – Picked No. 11 overall in a 2004 draft littered with current Pro Bowl quarterbacks (Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, Roethlisberger), starting QB for the reigning Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
• Jay Cutler – also Picked No. 11 two years after Roethlisberger, Cutler was actually taken immediately after Matt Leinart, the only current non-starter from this spot in the draft. Currently the starting QB for the Chicago Bears after being traded from the Denver Broncos earlier this offseason.

If your team is looking for a quarterback of the future, hope that they show just a little bit of patience in the first round.

Running Backs:

Most Dangerous Spot: picks 9-16 (100% Bust Rate)

Only one team over the five-year span which I examined decided to take a running back in this spot of the draft.

That team happened to be the Cleveland Browns, infamous for their horrendous draft history (i.e. Tim Couch, Courtney Brown, Gerard Warren). They lived up to that reputation by selecting Boston College product William Green with the No. 16 overall pick in 2002.

Not only is Green currently not a starter, he has not been in the league since 2005. Green may have been the only running back picked in this spot of the draft, but he certainly didn’t help make the spot look more attractive.

Safest Spot: picks 1-8, 17-24 (25% Bust Rate)

There was a tie here as far as the safest pick spot goes for running backs, as both spots listed produced only one bust out of the four taken in their respective spots. Both of these spots have produced some true stud runners, such as:

• Willis McGahee – Picked No. 23 overall in 2003 by the Buffalo Bills, currently part of a “running back by committee” for the Baltimore Ravens.
• Steven Jackson – Picked No. 24 overall by the St. Louis Rams in 2004, Jackson has notched 1,000-yard rushing seasons in four of his five years in the league.
• Ronnie Brown – Picked No. 2 overall in 2005 by the Miami Dolphins, Brown thrived in Miami’s hybrid wildcat last season, averaging 4.3 yards-per-carry and racking up 10 touchdowns.

These two spots are a safe place to dip into if your team is looking to grab a solid tailback.

Wide Receivers:

Most Dangerous Spot: picks 9-24 (60% Bust Rate)

First-round receivers in general have a fairly high bust rate, but once again there were two sections tied, only this time for the most dangerous spot rather than the safest. Anywhere between picks No. 9 and No. 24 is a bad place to expect a stud receiver, as is evidenced by the pickings of:

• Donte’ Stallworth – Picked No. 13 overall in 2002 by the New Orleans Saints, has been injury-plagued his whole career and is currently facing what could be an indefinite suspension after pleading guilty to DUI Manslaughter earlier this summer. He is not on any team’s roster.
• Reggie Williams – Picked No. 9 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2004, Williams always had talent but has been plagued by character issues and was sentenced to two years probation in May after pleading guilty to possession of half a gram of cocaine. He is also not currently on a team’s roster.
• Mike Williams – Picked No. 10 overall by the Detroit Lions in 2005, Williams was simply another one of Matt Millen’s mishaps with the Lions. Mike, much like Reggie, always had talent but was plagued by character issues and a lack of work ethic. Williams weighed 271 pounds during his 2007 season with the Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans, and was released after OTA’s the following offseason.

These spots in the draft are usually where teams take a chance on players who have issues either with their character or durability. Those tend to backfire, as is evidenced by these picks.

Safest Spot: picks 1-8 (33% Bust Rate)

If your team is looking to find a good receiver in the first round, earlier seems to be better based on these five years. The supreme talents taken in this spot of these drafts rival any, featuring:

• Andre Johnson – The NFL’s leader in receiving yards this past season, Johnson has been nothing short of spectacular since being drafted No. 3 overall in the 2003 draft, garnering Pro Bowl honors three times and All-Pro honors twice over his young career.
• Larry Fitzgerald – The No. 3 pick one year after Johnson, Fitzgerald is arguably the best receiver on planet Earth right now. He shattered NFL postseason records this year by posting 30 catches for 546 yard and seven touchdowns, including a stellar Super Bowl performance of seven catches, 127 yards and a pair of touchdowns. It was not enough to give his Cardinals a victory, but was still extremely impressive.

If you want your team to get a top-notch receiver, having a top pick in the draft certainly doesn’t hurt.

Tight Ends:

Most Dangerous Spot: picks 25-32 (25% Bust Rate)

Tight ends usually aren’t picked in the first round, but when they are, they usually pan out just fine. This is evidenced by the fact that, of the nine tight ends picked in the first round over the five drafts examined here, only one busted. Nonetheless, I need to post a most dangerous spot here, and so it happens to be the spot where the only bust fell.

Jerramy Stevens is most known for his trash-talking exchange with Joey Porter prior to Super Bowl XL. In that game, Stevens caught what still is the Seattle Seahawks’ only Super Bowl touchdown in franchise history.

However, Stevens also dropped as many passes as he caught (three) that game, and the Seahawks lost to the Steelers 21-10.

His legal troubles have been well-documented as well, as he has three arrests and multiple citations on his record. In 2008, Stevens was suspended for two games and was fined three game checks for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

Stevens is currently a backup in Tampa Bay behind Kellen Winslow.

Safest Spot: picks 1-24 (0% Bust Rate)

As I stated earlier in the article, the first round in general is a pretty safe spot to pick a tight end, but if your team takes one in the first 24 picks, well, you can sleep like a baby knowing that whoever they took is going to be a starter soon and should be just fine.

The most notable tight ends picked in this range are Tampa Bay’s Kellen Winslow (ironically being backed up right now by the only bust on the list) and Indianapolis’ Dallas Clark.

Winslow has had some injury issues, but received a very well-earned Pro Bowl selection following a 2007 season in which he recorded 82 receptions for 1,106 yards and five touchdowns. He is undoubtedly one of the top talents in the game at the tight end position.

Clark, on the other hand, was inexplicably snubbed from the Pro Bowl in 2007 even after hauling in 11 touchdowns, good for seventh in the league and tops among tight ends.

Regardless, if a team thinks that a tight end is a first-round talent or not, they should not hesitate to pull the trigger. It generally turns out well.

Offensive Linemen:

Most Dangerous Spot: picks 9-16 (33% Bust Rate)

Offensive linemen selected in the first round, typically speaking, have a fairly good shot at meeting their team’s expectations. However, there are always some that don’t.

Of the three offensive linemen picked between selections No. 9 and 17 over the five years I looked at, two have made Pro Bowls during their careers, and one is currently not on an NFL roster.

Shawn Andrews and Jammal Brown are the two Pro-Bowlers, while Levi Jones is currently looking for work.

Jones was a solid player early in his career, but injuries have plagued him over the past three seasons, as he only started 28 of a possible 48 games during that span. Those injury concerns led to his being released from the team this offseason, and Jones has yet to find a landing spot thus far.

Safest Spot: picks 1-8, 17-24 (20% Bust Rate)

There was a tie in here which actually made quite a bit of sense to me, and explained the reasoning behind picks 9-16 being the most dangerous. Allow me to explain why:

The top picks (1-8) are where the cream of the crop get picked. These are the guys with high enough talent to be able to handle playing right away for what is usually a very bad team with a very bad offensive line.

Which leaves the “second-tier” talents to be picked over picks 9-16 and, while they certainly have good talent, they may not have the amount of talent necessary to overcome playing along a bad line for a bad team.

For example:

• Jordan Gross – Picked No. 8 overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2003 draft, Gross performed extremely well right off the bat, even being named to Sports Illustrated‘s All-Pro team as a rookie. Gross was voted to the Pro Bowl and was a first-team All-Pro selection this past year.

The middle picks (17-24) are usually teams on the verge of a playoff berth that have three or four solid players on their line, and so are able to throw a “lesser talent” from the first round into the starting lineup right away, knowing that the solid veterans on the line will take care of them and help them be successful.

For example:

• Alex Barron – Picked No. 19 overall by the St. Louis Rams in the 2005 draft, Barron was an immediate starter at right tackle as a rookie, and was lucky enough to be playing across from arguably the best left tackle in the game at the time, Orlando Pace as well as playing next to a couple 10-year vets in right guard Adam Timmerman and center Andy McCollum. Playing with experienced guys like them helped make Barron’s transition to the league a smooth one.

Those two greatly help to support my theory.

Defensive Linemen:

Most Dangerous Spot: picks 1-8 (40% Bust Rate)

Defensive linemen are sometimes viewed as “safe picks,” like when the Houston Texans took Mario Williams No. 1 overall in 2006 despite most—including myself—viewing Reggie Bush as a lock for the top spot.

However, not all defensive linemen picked that early turn out to be like Super Mario. The one super-bust in this spot was Johnathan Sullivan.

Sullivan was selected No. 6 overall by the New Orleans Saints in 2003, and was out of the league by 2006. After three unproductive years with the Saints, Sullivan was traded to the New England Patriots for Bethel Johnson following the 2005 season, and was then released by the Pats that October after seeing the field in zero games.

So if your team takes a defensive linemen early, be a little afraid. You could have landed the next Mario Williams, but you also could have landed the next Johnathan Sullivan.

Safest Spot: picks 9-16 (33% Bust Rate)

This section of the draft proved to be the most prosperous for defensive linemen, as of the 12 that were picked, only four turned into busts.

And the successes? Well, they’re not just low-end starters. They’re full of full-blown superstars. Just take a look for yourself:

• Dwight Freeney – Picked No. 11 overall by the Indianapolis Colts in 2002, Freeney has been a mainstay on the defensive line since day one, as he recorded a mind-boggling 13.0 sacks as rookie, while setting an NFL rookie record with nine forced fumbles. Freeney led the league in sacks in 2004 with 16.0, and has recorded single-digit sacks in only two of his seven seasons.
• Albert Haynesworth – I shouldn’t even have to say anything about this one. Selected No. 15 overall by the Tennessee Titans in 2002, Haynesworth is a downright nasty player and the top defensive tackle in the game today. Haynesworth recently notched himself a seven-year, $100 million contract with the Washington Redskins, an unprecedented amount for a defensive linemen, let alone a defensive tackle. That probably made this next player, who may be the only defensive tackle better than Haynesworth, grin from ear to ear thinking about his next deal.
• Kevin Williams – Picked No. 9 overall in the 2003 draft by the Minnesota Vikings, Kevin currently teams up with teammate Pat Williams to form the dreaded “Williams Wall” in Minnesota, anchoring what has been the top-ranked rush defense in the NFL the past three seasons.

If your team takes a defensive lineman during this chunk of the draft, set your drink down and jump for joy. Odds are, your team just landed one hell of a player.

Linebackers:

Most Dangerous Spot: picks 25-32 (50% Bust Rate)

Linebacker is another position usually not addressed in the first round. And while only one player picked between picks No. 25-32 busted, only two players were picked in that spot, giving it the highest bust percentage.

Robert Thomas was picked No. 31 overall in the 2002 draft by the St. Louis Rams. Thomas has always been injury-prone and has played in 16 games only twice in his career, with one being strictly on special teams with the Oakland Raiders in 2006.

Thomas sat on the bench that season behind the likes of Sam Williams, a starter who notched only 38 tackles over 12 games started. So clearly it was not just the injury issues holding Thomas back. There was also a severe lack of talent.

While there is a very small sample to examine here, it would appear that late-pick fliers on linebackers in round one is not necessarily a risk worth taking.

Safest Spot: picks 1-16 (0% Bust Rate)

Linebackers picked high in the draft generally seem to do pretty well for themselves, seeing as all nine who were picked between No. 1-16 over the five-year span which was considered for this article are all current starters for their respective teams, with four becoming Pro Bowlers.

The Highlights of this group include:

• Terrell Suggs – Picked No. 10 overall by the Baltimore Ravens in 2003, Suggs has become a true stud as a rush linebacker in Baltimore’s 3-4 scheme, garnering three Pro Bowl berths in his six seasons and receiving a six-year, $63 million extension this offseason.
• DeMarcus Ware – Picked No. 11 overall in 2005, the NFL’s sack leader in 2008 notched an unbelievable 20.0 sacks despite facing double-teams every week. Ware has turned into arguably the most dominant pass-rusher in the league, posting double-digit sacks in three of his four seasons and earning Pro Bowl selections in all but his rookie year.
• Shawne Merriman – Before missing last season with an ACL injury, Merriman was the picture of pass-rushing perfection after being picked right after Ware in 2005, posting double-digit sacks all three of his years in the league and earning Pro Bowl berths each time.

That list does not even include Jonathan Vilma, one of the top inside linebackers in the game today. So if your favorite NFL team is looking for a linebacker, this is the area of the draft to do it.

Defensive Backs:

Most Dangerous Spot: picks 25-32 (56% Bust Rate)

Late-pick fliers are not the place to be looking for help in the defensive backfield.

Examples of these failed experiments include:

• Mike Rumph – Rumph was picked No. 27 overall by the San Francisco 49ers in 2002, and retired after playing five injury-riddled seasons, during which he started 19 of a possible 80 games.
• Sammy Davis – Picked No. 30 overall by the San Diego Chargers in 2003, Davis started as a rookie, but was benched after two seasons for his poor play. Davis was out of football last year and last played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2007.

Oddly enough, the league’s current top corner was also picked in this spot (Nnamdi Asomugha, No. 31 overall, 2003), proving that there is an exception to every rule.

Safest Spot: picks 17-24 (0% Bust Rate)

Of the five defensive backs picked in this area between 2002 and 2006, all five are still current starters, the cream of the crop being none other than Ed Reed, picked No. 24 overall in 2002 by the Baltimore Ravens. Reed is the definition of a ball-hawk, and is without a doubt the top free safety playing the game today.

If your team is looking for defensive back help and has a pick in this range, be happy. Recent history suggests that they will come away with a good player.

 

That completes my analysis of NFL Draft Bustology 101. Keep in mind that this is just one theory that I decided to look into, and is in no way guaranteed.

I hope that you enjoyed reading my article, and that you can take away some knowledge and have a better understanding of what to expect from players drafted by your favorite team.

 

Do Da Dirty Bird: Projecting the Falcons’ Projects

This is not a slideshow for NFL headline-skimmers. If you’re on the edge of your seat regarding Favre or Vick’s destinations, click away from this page.

However, if you’re a true Falcons fan or the sort who celebrates Christmas in July with the arrival of training camps, you may want to read on. With GM Thomas Dimitroff looking like he absorbed everything in his time with the Patriots organization and Mike Smith a proven developer of late-round and undrafted talent (see Adalius Thomas, Bart Scott, and Bobby McCray), Atlanta’s projects warrant monitoring.

The fellas you’ll see on the following slides are those I feel have good chance or good reason to break out in 2009. Obviously, not all of them will; but with veteran free agent acquisitions kept to a minimum this summer (“just” Tony Gonzalez and Mike Peterson), it’s practically unavoidable that one of these guys will burst forth from their humble pro beginnings.

Summer at St. John Fisher: Buffalo Bills 2009 Camp Questions Answered

The Bills’ season officially starts under the ominous skies of Gillette Stadium on Monday Night Football, Sept. 14. But if you ask me, the season began Saturday morning.

Saying that I’ve been anxious for training camp to kickoff is a colossal understatement.

Along with the launch of the highly anticipated summer session come many questions, and Terrell Owens is at the forefront of everyone’s uncertainty.

Can he form a bond with third year quarterback Trent Edwards? How will the added publicity brought by Owens affect the rest of the Bills? Will he and Lee Evans coexist as two true number one’s on the same team?

All those questions are legitimate and will be beat into our brains for the coming weeks by the national sports media. So get used to ’em.

Some of the more “Bills-specific” writers, namely Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com, Brian Galliford of BuffaloRumblings.com, and Tim Graham, who maintains the AFC East blog on ESPN.com, have produced lists of the story lines worth following, in order to gauge the Bills’ progress in Rochester. (Outside of the T.O. circus that will certainly ensue.)

Here’s what we’ve heard heading into camp.

2009 Dallas Cowboys: Five Things to Watch

The Cowboys were supposed to be “America’s Team” again.

They were fresh off of an impressive 13-3 record and 2007 division title. They were Super Bowl contenders, and at the very least, playoff guarantees.

Well, one broken pinkie later, and all that 2007 created in Dallas was ruined.

Fast forward to the off-season, and the team has lost several starters from last year, including star receiver Terrell Owens, pass-rush specialist Greg Ellis, and safety Roy Williams.

The Cowboys have a lot of ground to make up, despite having a smart offensive plan and a slew of weapons.

Read on to see the top five issues facing the Cowboys as they prepare for August’s pre-season action.

Let There Be Hope: How To Gauge the Browns Success For 2009

2007’s miraculous run gave way to 2008’s ridiculous disaster and disappointment for Browns fans.

Now with the entire Savage-Crennel era over and done with, the Cleveland Browns hope the fourth time’s the charm with Eric Mangini at the helm.

Free agency gave the organization an opportunity to add depth at important positions such as the OL, LB corps, and the secondary. Players such as Floyd Womack, Eric Barton, and Roderick Hood have come on board to help right the ship that has been wronged almost annually since 1999.

But how are we supposed to measure success for a team that has been the only team in the AFC North not to once win the division since its inception in 2002?

People say that the expectations of a decent season are doomed by a terrible roster and a rebuilding year. But a good portion of the players still here were on that 10-6 team, including the left side of the O-line in Joe Thomas and Eric Steinbach.

I personally feel that 8-8 is completely feasible. Often times the roster lacked fire and focus in the game, things Mangini will not tolerate on the sidelines.

However, everyone seems to be torn on what expectations this team should have if any at all exist.

With that said, here are my opinions for what would make 2009 a successful season for the Cleveland Browns:

1. The defense actually looks like a defense.

For years, the Browns have lacked a true defensive aggressiveness and fire that the top defenses in the NFL have.

New defensive coordinator Rob Ryan should fix that by implementing an aggressive scheme and the 46 into this system.

He does have some pieces to build around in DT Shaun Rogers, LB D’Qwell Jackson, and two promising DBs in Eric Wright and Brodney Pool. And if he is able to take advantage of LB Kamerion Wimbley’s pass rushing abilities, the Browns could be fearsome soon.

The Browns defense has alot to live up to, namely matching the Steelers and Ravens in defensive ability and intensity. They won’t do it this year, but hopefully within two years it will be at that caliber.

2. Whoever starts at QB has a great, productive season.

Now I have proclaimed that Brady Quinn has better potential as a franchise QB than Derek Anderson. But as long as they find a way to be productive under center, regardless who it is, Browns fans might be satisfied for the time being.

Mangini has done his best to ensure that training camp would be an open competition between the two and he would test them in pressure situations such as two-minute drills and long drives.

Whoever performs better is expected to be named the starter by Mangini, unlikely to be named until later in the preseason.

But with Braylon Edwards and a very talented offensive line protecting his blindside, and an assortment of receivers fighting for playing time, whoever starts should have a chance to lead a unit with such untapped potential to another good year like 2008.

3. The Browns don’t play for field goals.

Anyone that has watched the Browns in the past four seasons knows exactly what I mean.

It’s time for the offensive to play for the six-pointer instead of settling for three. Sure Phil Dawson is as automatic as most kickers in the NFL, but he probably would rather kick six extra points than six field goals any day.

The difference in 2007 was that the Browns scored TDs. They were able to punch it in or get the amazing catches from Edwards and others.

2008 saw very little of that, as the offense continually stalled and tried field goals in situations where touchdowns would be more beneficial such as in a tie game. Hopefully 2009 is different in that aspect.

4. The Browns finally beat Pittsburgh, just once.

This is the major point of emphasis for most Browns fans. In my opinion, if the Browns beat Pittsburgh, many fans will be satisfied for at least a little while.

The Browns never beat the Steelers in the Romeo Crennel era, and have lost the lead in the head-to-head matchup in recent years. Twice they were blown out at home by the Steelers, and only three were games decided by less than four points.

Eleven straight losses to your archrival would demoralize anyone, let alone a team that had trouble establishing a solid franchise in 10 years.

The problem seemed to be that the previous regime just never grasped the concept of the rivalry, that Browns-Steelers is supposed to be more than just a game. It’s one of the five biggest rivalries in all of football, and it’s been so one-sided over the past five years.

Just one win over the Steelers would reignite the rivalry and maybe give the franchise some life and keep them going forward to 2010 and beyond.

 

However you judge it, 2009 is crucial to the direction of the franchise, and a breakout season would be welcome with open arms.

But since that can’t be counted on, Browns fans will have to at least see signs of a drastically-improved group and at least .500 football in 2009. They are capable, don’t forget it.

They just have to believe again, and bring hope back to Brownstown once again.

 

2009 San Diego Chargers: Five Things to Watch For

After finishing off a late season run with a whipping of the Broncos, the Chargers eeked into the 2008 AFC Playoffs with an 8-8 record and a division title, despite battling injuries and inconsistency for much of the season.

While they couldn’t get past the eventual Super Bowl champions Steelers, they did have an impressive victory over the Colts, and showed true grit, despite missing several key players.

Still the Chargers remain a mix-bag of possibility and inconsistency. And while they’re immensely talented, their window for a Super Bowl run is beginning to close.

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