Despite making the playoffs last season, the San Diego Chargers were 31st in the NFL in rushing.
Exit LaDainian Tomlinson. Enter Ryan Mathews.
Mathews will be a player of intrigue in training camp — a rookie running back replacing a San Diego icon. The Chargers have Super Bowl aspirations, but they lacked balance last season.
"I think people will be surprised how much Norv Turner may run the football this year," Hall of Fame QB and CBS analyst Dan Fouts said. "Philip Rivers really has a handle on Norv’s system now, and he’s a super quarterback. But if Mathews gives their running game the boost they expect him to, their offense could be even better."
Jay Cutler and Mike Martz will combine to try to get the Bears offense clicking.
A look at three other teams taking a different offensive look into training camp:
Chicago Bears
What’s new: Mike Martz as offensive coordinator.
Under Martz’s guidance, the Bears hope QB Jay Cutler will cut down on his league-high 26 interceptions. However, coach Lovie Smith loves to run the ball and Martz has a history of forgetting to call run plays. Can Martz and Smith coexist?
"Lovie Smith is a great coach," former Ravens coach and NFL Network analyst Brian Billick said. "Mike Martz is a great coach. But Lovie and Mike have vastly different perspectives on what it takes to win. I’m going to be very interested to see how their vision fits together."
Philadelphia Eagles
What’s new: Kevin Kolb as the QB.
For the first time since coach Andy Reid arrived in Philadelphia in ’99, he will begin a training camp without Donovan McNabb.
But keep this in mind: Of the 12 starting quarterbacks in the playoffs last season, only rookie Mark Sanchez had a lower regular-season completion percentage (53.8) than McNabb (60.3). The Eagles hope Kolb is more accurate and makes the passing attack more consistent. But is Kolb ready to lead?
"Andy Reid is an outstanding coach—no one can question that," Billick said. "But Andy’s had Donovan from Day 1. As a coach who never had much quarterback continuity, I look at that with great envy. They’ve been attached at the hip. Now, we’ll finally see Andy with somebody different."
Buffalo Bills
What’s new: Chan Gailey as head coach.
The Bills ranked 30th in total offense last year, one reason the team took running back C.J. Spiller with the ninth overall pick in April. But Gailey has many problems. First, he must choose a starting quarterback among Brian Brohm, Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Then, Gailey must hope that his choice is good enough to win games.
Gailey has made it clear that heading into training camp, the quarterback job is up for grabs.
"We’ll have a pecking order, but nothing is in concrete," Gailey told reporters. "Everybody still is going to have a chance to win the job. It’s close."
Not only are the quarterback options unproven, but the Bills’ offensive line is young.
"If they can play, it doesn’t bother me," Gailey said. "If they can’t play, it bothers me. Age doesn’t bother me. We’ll play the best guys."
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
Despite making the playoffs last season, the San Diego Chargers were 31st in the NFL in rushing.
Exit LaDainian Tomlinson. Enter Ryan Mathews.
Mathews will be a player of intrigue in training camp — a rookie running back replacing a San Diego icon. The Chargers have Super Bowl aspirations, but they lacked balance last season.
"I think people will be surprised how much Norv Turner may run the football this year," Hall of Fame QB and CBS analyst Dan Fouts said. "Philip Rivers really has a handle on Norv’s system now, and he’s a super quarterback. But if Mathews gives their running game the boost they expect him to, their offense could be even better."
Jay Cutler and Mike Martz will combine to try to get the Bears offense clicking.
A look at three other teams taking a different offensive look into training camp:
Chicago Bears
What’s new: Mike Martz as offensive coordinator.
Under Martz’s guidance, the Bears hope QB Jay Cutler will cut down on his league-high 26 interceptions. However, coach Lovie Smith loves to run the ball and Martz has a history of forgetting to call run plays. Can Martz and Smith coexist?
"Lovie Smith is a great coach," former Ravens coach and NFL Network analyst Brian Billick said. "Mike Martz is a great coach. But Lovie and Mike have vastly different perspectives on what it takes to win. I’m going to be very interested to see how their vision fits together."
Philadelphia Eagles
What’s new: Kevin Kolb as the QB.
For the first time since coach Andy Reid arrived in Philadelphia in ’99, he will begin a training camp without Donovan McNabb.
But keep this in mind: Of the 12 starting quarterbacks in the playoffs last season, only rookie Mark Sanchez had a lower regular-season completion percentage (53.8) than McNabb (60.3). The Eagles hope Kolb is more accurate and makes the passing attack more consistent. But is Kolb ready to lead?
"Andy Reid is an outstanding coach—no one can question that," Billick said. "But Andy’s had Donovan from Day 1. As a coach who never had much quarterback continuity, I look at that with great envy. They’ve been attached at the hip. Now, we’ll finally see Andy with somebody different."
Buffalo Bills
What’s new: Chan Gailey as head coach.
The Bills ranked 30th in total offense last year, one reason the team took running back C.J. Spiller with the ninth overall pick in April. But Gailey has many problems. First, he must choose a starting quarterback among Brian Brohm, Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Then, Gailey must hope that his choice is good enough to win games.
Gailey has made it clear that heading into training camp, the quarterback job is up for grabs.
"We’ll have a pecking order, but nothing is in concrete," Gailey told reporters. "Everybody still is going to have a chance to win the job. It’s close."
Not only are the quarterback options unproven, but the Bills’ offensive line is young.
"If they can play, it doesn’t bother me," Gailey said. "If they can’t play, it bothers me. Age doesn’t bother me. We’ll play the best guys."
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
PHILADELPHIA — After winning a Super Bowl with the Saints last season, Mike Bell signed with the Eagles in March as a restricted free agent. Bell gained 654 yards and five touchdowns with the Saints in 2009, sharing time in the backfield with Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush. Bell envisions a larger role with the Eagles in 2010 as the primary backup to LeSean McCoy.
Sporting News’ Clifton Brown recently spoke with Bell to discuss his quest to win back-to-back Super Bowls with two different teams.
SN: Did you anticipate leaving the Saints so quickly after winning a Super Bowl with them?
Mike Bell: Not in a million years. It’s been a blessing in disguise. [Philadephia’s] an ideal offense for me, the kind I’ve always wanted to play in. My whole career, everybody has had an idea of what I can do. I’ve been stereotyped as being a guy who can only run the ball in short yardage. That’s not what type of back I was in college or even in my first year at Denver. Being here gives me an opportunity to catch some balls and open up my game. In New Orleans, having guys like Reggie and Pierre, they definitely didn’t need me running any routes.
SN: Are you surprised Eagles coach Andy Reid showed interest in you?
MB: I didn’t think the Eagles would be looking at a guy like me. I thought they wanted a guy more like Reggie Bush, a real shifty type guy. I take it as a compliment that they thought I can have a role.
SN: Some people expect the Eagles to take a step back this season. Do you still view them as Super Bowl contenders?
MB: It’s definitely achievable. Winning a Super Bowl makes you realize that it’s not about you. I always went into training camp worried about getting the starting job, and that kind of thinking makes you selfish. But in New Orleans, coach (Sean) Payton used everybody. It almost made me lose self or at least stopped me from thinking about myself. Just do what’s best for the team. Being here, I can see they’re already on that page.
SN: Age always is a concern with running backs and you turned 27 in April. How much do your legs have left?
MB: I’m fresh. I’ve had no major injuries, no surgeries. I’m back to my college weight, a little under 220 pounds. I’m ready to go.
SN: How similar is the Eagles’ offense to the Saints’ system?
MB: I have been with five different teams (including college), so I’ve had to learn five different offenses. But this offense is fun. It’s similar to New Orleans in the fact they like to throw the ball vertically. But it’s also a little different. The coaches here do a great job of explaining it.
SN: The Eagles made a major offseason change, trading Donovan McNabb to the Redskins, and elevating Kevin Kolb to starting quarterback. What did you see from Kolb during spring practices?
MB: He’s got a big arm and a great release. I don’t know much about quarterback (mechanics), but that release is up there with the best of them.
SN: Are you concerned about the personnel changes, with the Eagles losing long-time fixtures like McNabb and Brian Westbrook?
MB: In the NFL, you have to look at change as a positive. We lost a lot of good players, but you have to move on, continue to try and get a better. That’s not to take away from any of those players. But this is a business. Coaches want new things and new attitudes, and you have to respect the decisions they make, especially when they’re in the playoffs year after year.
SN: The Eagles’ roster is considerably younger than last season. Is that a good thing?
MB: It reminds me of when I was in high school. A really young team with a lot of excitement. A lot of guys talking, running their mouths.
SN: How difficult was it to leave New Orleans so soon after winning the Super Bowl?
MB: It was tough. I didn’t even get to enjoy my time with my teammates fully, to experience all of the things they did after winning the Super Bowl this offseason. But the fact I’m still in the NFL is a blessing, especially with a contending team. Having an opportunity to get another ring makes me excited.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
PHILADELPHIA — After winning a Super Bowl with the Saints last season, Mike Bell signed with the Eagles in March as a restricted free agent. Bell gained 654 yards and five touchdowns with the Saints in 2009, sharing time in the backfield with Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush. Bell envisions a larger role with the Eagles in 2010 as the primary backup to LeSean McCoy.
Sporting News’ Clifton Brown recently spoke with Bell to discuss his quest to win back-to-back Super Bowls with two different teams.
SN: Did you anticipate leaving the Saints so quickly after winning a Super Bowl with them?
Mike Bell: Not in a million years. It’s been a blessing in disguise. [Philadephia’s] an ideal offense for me, the kind I’ve always wanted to play in. My whole career, everybody has had an idea of what I can do. I’ve been stereotyped as being a guy who can only run the ball in short yardage. That’s not what type of back I was in college or even in my first year at Denver. Being here gives me an opportunity to catch some balls and open up my game. In New Orleans, having guys like Reggie and Pierre, they definitely didn’t need me running any routes.
SN: Are you surprised Eagles coach Andy Reid showed interest in you?
MB: I didn’t think the Eagles would be looking at a guy like me. I thought they wanted a guy more like Reggie Bush, a real shifty type guy. I take it as a compliment that they thought I can have a role.
SN: Some people expect the Eagles to take a step back this season. Do you still view them as Super Bowl contenders?
MB: It’s definitely achievable. Winning a Super Bowl makes you realize that it’s not about you. I always went into training camp worried about getting the starting job, and that kind of thinking makes you selfish. But in New Orleans, coach (Sean) Payton used everybody. It almost made me lose self or at least stopped me from thinking about myself. Just do what’s best for the team. Being here, I can see they’re already on that page.
SN: Age always is a concern with running backs and you turned 27 in April. How much do your legs have left?
MB: I’m fresh. I’ve had no major injuries, no surgeries. I’m back to my college weight, a little under 220 pounds. I’m ready to go.
SN: How similar is the Eagles’ offense to the Saints’ system?
MB: I have been with five different teams (including college), so I’ve had to learn five different offenses. But this offense is fun. It’s similar to New Orleans in the fact they like to throw the ball vertically. But it’s also a little different. The coaches here do a great job of explaining it.
SN: The Eagles made a major offseason change, trading Donovan McNabb to the Redskins, and elevating Kevin Kolb to starting quarterback. What did you see from Kolb during spring practices?
MB: He’s got a big arm and a great release. I don’t know much about quarterback (mechanics), but that release is up there with the best of them.
SN: Are you concerned about the personnel changes, with the Eagles losing long-time fixtures like McNabb and Brian Westbrook?
MB: In the NFL, you have to look at change as a positive. We lost a lot of good players, but you have to move on, continue to try and get a better. That’s not to take away from any of those players. But this is a business. Coaches want new things and new attitudes, and you have to respect the decisions they make, especially when they’re in the playoffs year after year.
SN: The Eagles’ roster is considerably younger than last season. Is that a good thing?
MB: It reminds me of when I was in high school. A really young team with a lot of excitement. A lot of guys talking, running their mouths.
SN: How difficult was it to leave New Orleans so soon after winning the Super Bowl?
MB: It was tough. I didn’t even get to enjoy my time with my teammates fully, to experience all of the things they did after winning the Super Bowl this offseason. But the fact I’m still in the NFL is a blessing, especially with a contending team. Having an opportunity to get another ring makes me excited.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
Great quarterback–receiver combinations just sound good together, like Manning to Harrison, or Montana to Rice.
A busy NFL offseason has created some new QB–WR combos that could put up prolific numbers. Here are five to watch:
Anquan Boldin should take the heat off Derrick Mason in Baltimore’s offense.
Joe Flacco to Anquan Boldin
Why they will click: Boldin is a physical receiver willing to run routes in traffic. Flacco has the arm to throw into tight spaces. The Ravens should throw more, and with more success.
"This is the one that really jumps out at me," NFL analyst and former quarterback Joe Theismann said. "Boldin gives them a presence. I’ve felt the wide receiver position was holding them back, because they’ve never had a complement to Derrick Mason. Now they do."
After making the playoffs as a wild card the past two seasons, the Ravens think Boldin can help them win the AFC North and go farther in the postseason.
"I think Flacco is a due for a breakout year," NFL analyst Mike Mayock said. "To me, the Baltimore Ravens are a team that can win the Super Bowl next year, as long as they can hold up on the corners defensively. The thing I love about Boldin is that he fits the Ravens both on and off the field. He’s so tough, he’s so physical, he brings that veteran presence. You can’t roll everybody at Mason now."
Chad Henne to Brandon Marshall
Why they will click: With a new contract and a new home, Marshall should be poised for his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season. And Marshall is just 26 years old, while Henne turns 25 in July. They could have some seasons together.
"Davonne Bess is a good wide receiver, Greg Camarillo is a good wide receiver, Brian Hartline is a good wide receiver," Mayock said. "But they had nobody who could make a play. That’s why they had so many snaps out of the Wildcat, because they were trying to manufacture plays. Now that you have a Brandon Marshall, that changes their whole team, that guy on the edge who can make plays."
Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts believes Marshall will be a huge asset for Henne in the red zone.
"I’ve always liked tall receivers," said Fouts, an analyst for CBS. "You get near that goal line, and you can just throw it up into the corner, or at the crossbar near the back of the end zone, and he can go get it. Marshall is a gifted player, and Henne has a strong arm. Can’t see how they won’t work well together."
Donovan McNabb to Chris Cooley
Why they will click: McNabb loves throwing to tight ends. He made L.J. Smith look better than he was, and Brent Celek enjoyed a breakout year with the Eagles catching passes from McNabb. Cooley had rapport with Jason Campbell, but McNabb is better. Fred Davis gives McNabb another viable tight end target, but Cooley should be a go-to guy.
Tony Romo to Dez Bryant
Why they will click: Joining a loaded offensive team will make it easier for Bryant to have instant impact as a rookie. Plus, Bryant was considered the draft’s best receiver, and only fell to the Cowboys at No. 24 due to concerns about some off-field issues.
"I think Dez is in a perfect situation," Mayock said. "He’s on a veteran team, surrounded by good players. Teams can’t roll coverage to him. I really believe the next two years, he’s going to have highly productive years.
"I look at Aaron Rodgers a few years back. People thought he was a top-five pick, went late first round, ends up playing behind Brett Favre, ends up on a really good football team where he doesn’t have to produce early. I look at DeSean Jackson a couple of years ago with the Eagles. He slipped for similar reasons that Dez did, off-the-field concerns. What kind of work ethic does he have? Is he going to be manageable, show up on time? He slid into the second round and became the most productive rookie receiver in the NFL. A lot of times when kids fall, it ends up working out for the better."
Mark Sanchez to Santonio Holmes
Why they will click: Holmes has been a Super Bowl MVP and is motivated to prove the Steelers made a mistake by trading him away. After serving a four-game suspension to start the season, Holmes will become Sanchez’s favorite target.
"Holmes has got a little bit of that diva personality, but there’s no question he’ll help that team," Mayock said. "For that team to take another step, they’ve got to get a little more balance. They run the ball and they play great defense. Mark Sanchez has to take another step, and they’ve got to get a little bit better throwing the football. Now you’ve got a guy who can stretch the field a little bit, and along with (Jerricho) Cotchery and (Braylon) Edwards, that’s a pretty good group of guys."
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
Great quarterback–receiver combinations just sound good together, like Manning to Harrison, or Montana to Rice.
A busy NFL offseason has created some new QB–WR combos that could put up prolific numbers. Here are five to watch:
Anquan Boldin should take the heat off Derrick Mason in Baltimore’s offense.
Joe Flacco to Anquan Boldin
Why they will click: Boldin is a physical receiver willing to run routes in traffic. Flacco has the arm to throw into tight spaces. The Ravens should throw more, and with more success.
"This is the one that really jumps out at me," NFL analyst and former quarterback Joe Theismann said. "Boldin gives them a presence. I’ve felt the wide receiver position was holding them back, because they’ve never had a complement to Derrick Mason. Now they do."
After making the playoffs as a wild card the past two seasons, the Ravens think Boldin can help them win the AFC North and go farther in the postseason.
"I think Flacco is a due for a breakout year," NFL analyst Mike Mayock said. "To me, the Baltimore Ravens are a team that can win the Super Bowl next year, as long as they can hold up on the corners defensively. The thing I love about Boldin is that he fits the Ravens both on and off the field. He’s so tough, he’s so physical, he brings that veteran presence. You can’t roll everybody at Mason now."
Chad Henne to Brandon Marshall
Why they will click: With a new contract and a new home, Marshall should be poised for his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season. And Marshall is just 26 years old, while Henne turns 25 in July. They could have some seasons together.
"Davonne Bess is a good wide receiver, Greg Camarillo is a good wide receiver, Brian Hartline is a good wide receiver," Mayock said. "But they had nobody who could make a play. That’s why they had so many snaps out of the Wildcat, because they were trying to manufacture plays. Now that you have a Brandon Marshall, that changes their whole team, that guy on the edge who can make plays."
Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts believes Marshall will be a huge asset for Henne in the red zone.
"I’ve always liked tall receivers," said Fouts, an analyst for CBS. "You get near that goal line, and you can just throw it up into the corner, or at the crossbar near the back of the end zone, and he can go get it. Marshall is a gifted player, and Henne has a strong arm. Can’t see how they won’t work well together."
Donovan McNabb to Chris Cooley
Why they will click: McNabb loves throwing to tight ends. He made L.J. Smith look better than he was, and Brent Celek enjoyed a breakout year with the Eagles catching passes from McNabb. Cooley had rapport with Jason Campbell, but McNabb is better. Fred Davis gives McNabb another viable tight end target, but Cooley should be a go-to guy.
Tony Romo to Dez Bryant
Why they will click: Joining a loaded offensive team will make it easier for Bryant to have instant impact as a rookie. Plus, Bryant was considered the draft’s best receiver, and only fell to the Cowboys at No. 24 due to concerns about some off-field issues.
"I think Dez is in a perfect situation," Mayock said. "He’s on a veteran team, surrounded by good players. Teams can’t roll coverage to him. I really believe the next two years, he’s going to have highly productive years.
"I look at Aaron Rodgers a few years back. People thought he was a top-five pick, went late first round, ends up playing behind Brett Favre, ends up on a really good football team where he doesn’t have to produce early. I look at DeSean Jackson a couple of years ago with the Eagles. He slipped for similar reasons that Dez did, off-the-field concerns. What kind of work ethic does he have? Is he going to be manageable, show up on time? He slid into the second round and became the most productive rookie receiver in the NFL. A lot of times when kids fall, it ends up working out for the better."
Mark Sanchez to Santonio Holmes
Why they will click: Holmes has been a Super Bowl MVP and is motivated to prove the Steelers made a mistake by trading him away. After serving a four-game suspension to start the season, Holmes will become Sanchez’s favorite target.
"Holmes has got a little bit of that diva personality, but there’s no question he’ll help that team," Mayock said. "For that team to take another step, they’ve got to get a little more balance. They run the ball and they play great defense. Mark Sanchez has to take another step, and they’ve got to get a little bit better throwing the football. Now you’ve got a guy who can stretch the field a little bit, and along with (Jerricho) Cotchery and (Braylon) Edwards, that’s a pretty good group of guys."
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
Summer arrived Monday, and some prominent NFL players are in sticky situations.
Start with Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart, who has the difficult task of succeeding Kurt Warner. This has been a tumultuous offseason for the Cardinals, who have lost four big-name players— Warner, wide receiver Anquan Boldin, linebacker Karlos Dansby and safety Antrel Rolle—through free agency, trade or retirement. No wonder the 49ers have become a trendy pick to win the NFC West.
While Warner was one of the best quarterbacks of his generation, Leinart remains an enigma heading into his fifth NFL season.
Matt Leinart has no excuses left if he doesn’t succeed for the Cardinals this year.
"The questions I have about him are the same ones I had when he was drafted," said former NFL quarterback Steve Beuerlein, now an analyst for CBS. "Does he have the arm strength and the overall ability? There’s really no excuse you can make if he doesn’t produce this year. He’s gotten a little playing time, and he’s had time to learn and watch somebody who has been successful, in a positive situation where he hasn’t been under pressure to perform.
"The table is set, but the jury is out. I’m not convinced that he’s the guy, but I’m very intrigued to see what he does with the opportunity."
Leinart needs a strong training camp and preseason to build on what reportedly has been a solid offseason. The Cardinals are in transition but hope to keep winning. Steve Breaston and Early Doucet seem poised to fill the void created when Boldin was traded to Baltimore.
Expect the Cardinals to run more this season, using Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower to take pressure off Leinart.
However, this is the season Leinart must show he is ready to be "the guy," a quarterback the Cardinals can win with for the next four or five seasons. If 2010 is not a solid season for Leinart, it might be his last season in Arizona.
Albert Haynesworth, Redskins DL
Haynesworth has become their most unpopular player by skipping spring workouts, then asking to be traded after accepting a $21 million bonus in April. Teammates have ripped him. Ex-Redskins have ripped him. Yet after all the rhetoric, the important question remains: How will Haynesworth and the Redskins resolve their dispute?
"I’m more disappointed than most," former Redskins QB Joe Theismann said Monday night, "because I do the Redskins’ preseason games. I sat down with him face-to-face and said, ‘Now that you’ve got your $100 million, people are saying you’re going to slack off.’ He told me he wanted to be the best player on the field. That was a crock of baloney.
"In the best interest of the Washington Redskins, he should not be with them next year. I think somebody’s going to need a big body for 20 plays. They may be able to get something for him. But there’s really no incentive for him to play hard, because he’s already got the money in the bank."
It’s a major issue that threatens to cast a huge shadow over coach Mike Shanahan’s and quarterback Donovan McNabb’s first training camp with the Redskins. If the Redskins don’t trade Haynesworth before camp, his mere presence will be a distraction. Meanwhile, trading Haynesworth will not be easy, not with his $100 million contract and his baggage.
Hard to believe it has reached this point, just one season after he signed his mega contract. So between now and the start of training camp July 29, Shanahan and Haynesworth should meet face to face.
Chris Johnson was the NFL’s top back in 2009 and would like to be paid as such.
Say what you want about Haynesworth, but he is a talented player who can help any defensive scheme if motivated. Haynesworth had to be stung by some of the criticism coming from teammates, coaches and Redskins legends.
"Albert did a great con job," Theismann said. "He sold a lot of people a bill of goods, that he cares about football. All he cares about is what he really wants to do. … He has no respect for authority. He has no respect for a coaching staff. He has no respect for Daniel Snyder. He has no respect for the Washington Redskins."
Maybe a truce still can be brokered? If not, this could be one ugly divorce.
Chris Johnson, Titans RB
He was the best running back in the NFL last season, but he also has become the best bargain with a contract due to pay him $550,000 this season.
Johnson told The Tennessean that he is willing to hold out, but he risks losing a year of credit toward free agency if he does not report to camp by Aug. 10.
The Titans have a playoff-caliber team, but Johnson is the centerpiece of the offense and clearly has outperformed his rookie contract.
Running backs can age quickly, so it is hard to blame Johnson for wanting a new contract. But the Titans have the leverage—Johnson is signed for another three seasons—and a potential lockout looming after the 2010 season. Stay tuned. This is another dispute that could get worse before it gets better.
Terrell Owens, Free-agent WR
No team has signed him, and no general manager seems in a rush to dial Owens’ phone.
"I’d be surprised if he doesn’t play this season," Beuerlein said. "But I won’t be surprised if he has to wait until late into training camp, or even into the season. I don’t think a lot of teams are willing to take a chance on him.
"There will have to be an injury. Or a coach looking at his team as the season gets close and admitting to himself that his team doesn’t have enough playmakers."
We likely have not seen the last of Owens in an NFL uniform, but his long history of clashes with teammates, coaches and management are costing him in the present.
Rex Ryan, Jets coach
With Darrelle Revis, Nick Mangold, David Harris and D’Brickashaw Ferguson all upset with their contracts, Ryan has the task of keeping a team with Super Bowl talent and aspirations focused and unified. That will not be easy if Revis does not get a new deal before training camp. He is their best player, and it will not sit well in the locker room if Revis does not get paid.
Sometimes, a coach’s first year in New York is his toughest. For Ryan, it could be his second year.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
Summer arrived Monday, and some prominent NFL players are in sticky situations.
Start with Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart, who has the difficult task of succeeding Kurt Warner. This has been a tumultuous offseason for the Cardinals, who have lost four big-name players— Warner, wide receiver Anquan Boldin, linebacker Karlos Dansby and safety Antrel Rolle—through free agency, trade or retirement. No wonder the 49ers have become a trendy pick to win the NFC West.
While Warner was one of the best quarterbacks of his generation, Leinart remains an enigma heading into his fifth NFL season.
Matt Leinart has no excuses left if he doesn’t succeed for the Cardinals this year.
"The questions I have about him are the same ones I had when he was drafted," said former NFL quarterback Steve Beuerlein, now an analyst for CBS. "Does he have the arm strength and the overall ability? There’s really no excuse you can make if he doesn’t produce this year. He’s gotten a little playing time, and he’s had time to learn and watch somebody who has been successful, in a positive situation where he hasn’t been under pressure to perform.
"The table is set, but the jury is out. I’m not convinced that he’s the guy, but I’m very intrigued to see what he does with the opportunity."
Leinart needs a strong training camp and preseason to build on what reportedly has been a solid offseason. The Cardinals are in transition but hope to keep winning. Steve Breaston and Early Doucet seem poised to fill the void created when Boldin was traded to Baltimore.
Expect the Cardinals to run more this season, using Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower to take pressure off Leinart.
However, this is the season Leinart must show he is ready to be "the guy," a quarterback the Cardinals can win with for the next four or five seasons. If 2010 is not a solid season for Leinart, it might be his last season in Arizona.
Albert Haynesworth, Redskins DL
Haynesworth has become their most unpopular player by skipping spring workouts, then asking to be traded after accepting a $21 million bonus in April. Teammates have ripped him. Ex-Redskins have ripped him. Yet after all the rhetoric, the important question remains: How will Haynesworth and the Redskins resolve their dispute?
"I’m more disappointed than most," former Redskins QB Joe Theismann said Monday night, "because I do the Redskins’ preseason games. I sat down with him face-to-face and said, ‘Now that you’ve got your $100 million, people are saying you’re going to slack off.’ He told me he wanted to be the best player on the field. That was a crock of baloney.
"In the best interest of the Washington Redskins, he should not be with them next year. I think somebody’s going to need a big body for 20 plays. They may be able to get something for him. But there’s really no incentive for him to play hard, because he’s already got the money in the bank."
It’s a major issue that threatens to cast a huge shadow over coach Mike Shanahan’s and quarterback Donovan McNabb’s first training camp with the Redskins. If the Redskins don’t trade Haynesworth before camp, his mere presence will be a distraction. Meanwhile, trading Haynesworth will not be easy, not with his $100 million contract and his baggage.
Hard to believe it has reached this point, just one season after he signed his mega contract. So between now and the start of training camp July 29, Shanahan and Haynesworth should meet face to face.
Chris Johnson was the NFL’s top back in 2009 and would like to be paid as such.
Say what you want about Haynesworth, but he is a talented player who can help any defensive scheme if motivated. Haynesworth had to be stung by some of the criticism coming from teammates, coaches and Redskins legends.
"Albert did a great con job," Theismann said. "He sold a lot of people a bill of goods, that he cares about football. All he cares about is what he really wants to do. … He has no respect for authority. He has no respect for a coaching staff. He has no respect for Daniel Snyder. He has no respect for the Washington Redskins."
Maybe a truce still can be brokered? If not, this could be one ugly divorce.
Chris Johnson, Titans RB
He was the best running back in the NFL last season, but he also has become the best bargain with a contract due to pay him $550,000 this season.
Johnson told The Tennessean that he is willing to hold out, but he risks losing a year of credit toward free agency if he does not report to camp by Aug. 10.
The Titans have a playoff-caliber team, but Johnson is the centerpiece of the offense and clearly has outperformed his rookie contract.
Running backs can age quickly, so it is hard to blame Johnson for wanting a new contract. But the Titans have the leverage—Johnson is signed for another three seasons—and a potential lockout looming after the 2010 season. Stay tuned. This is another dispute that could get worse before it gets better.
Terrell Owens, Free-agent WR
No team has signed him, and no general manager seems in a rush to dial Owens’ phone.
"I’d be surprised if he doesn’t play this season," Beuerlein said. "But I won’t be surprised if he has to wait until late into training camp, or even into the season. I don’t think a lot of teams are willing to take a chance on him.
"There will have to be an injury. Or a coach looking at his team as the season gets close and admitting to himself that his team doesn’t have enough playmakers."
We likely have not seen the last of Owens in an NFL uniform, but his long history of clashes with teammates, coaches and management are costing him in the present.
Rex Ryan, Jets coach
With Darrelle Revis, Nick Mangold, David Harris and D’Brickashaw Ferguson all upset with their contracts, Ryan has the task of keeping a team with Super Bowl talent and aspirations focused and unified. That will not be easy if Revis does not get a new deal before training camp. He is their best player, and it will not sit well in the locker room if Revis does not get paid.
Sometimes, a coach’s first year in New York is his toughest. For Ryan, it could be his second year.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—When the Giants’ defense collapsed, so did their 2009 season.
After starting 5-0, the Giants finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs. Their defensive demise was the most surprising part of their fall. Only the Lions and Rams surrendered more points than the Giants, who gave up at least 40 points on five different occasions last season.
"I was really shocked," defensive tackle Rocky Bernard said. "We had a high expectation level, and this group is so talented. For us not to go out and perform the way we can was really strange. I couldn’t believe it."
If the Giants’ defense is a nightmare again this season, they can only dream of making the playoffs. Has enough been done for this unit to make a major improvement?
A look at five key questions the Giants’ defense must answer:
1. Will changing coordinators make a dramatic difference?
Chris Canty says the Giants players must put in the work if they want to have a better season than 2009.
Defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan was fired and replaced by Perry Fewell. Giants coach Tom Coughlin really had no choice but to make a switch. The players lost confidence in Sheridan, who also clashed with star defensive end Osi Umenyiora.
Changing coordinators can make a difference. We saw it last season, when Gregg Williams helped the Saints win a Super Bowl in his first season as defensive coordinator. However, Fewell must prove he can get more from the Giants’ personnel than Sheridan did. At least Fewell has a captive audience. After last year’s embarrassment, all egos have been put in check.
"I can only speak on my behalf, but there might have been a little complacency not doing the due diligence, the work that it takes to be successful in this league," defensive tackle Chris Canty said. "One thing Bill Parcells told me a long time ago: ‘You’ve got to earn your victories in the NFL.’
"We only earned eight wins last year. That’s not good enough for his organization."
2. Will the pass rush be a force again?
The Giants’ sack total dropped for the second consecutive season, falling to 32, tied for 18th best in the NFL. That was a far cry from ’07, when the Giants led the league with 53 sacks and won the Super Bowl.
Defensive end Justin Tuck was hampered last year, playing with a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder and getting just six sacks. Tuck, 27, is a star in his prime who figures to be more of a force going forward.
The greater concerns are Umenyiora, Mathias Kiwanuka and rookie Jason Pierre-Paul. Umenyiora played poorly last year, lost his starting job and complained when his role was reduced. The Giants hope the competition between Umenyiora and Kiwanuka raises their level of play. If Umenyiora does not start, his unhappiness could hurt his performance again.
Meanwhile drafting Pierre-Paul with the 15th-overall pick was a risk for general manger Jerry Reese. Pierre-Paul has talent but is raw. It might take Pierre-Paul two or three years to become a consistent NFL pass rusher, if it happens at all.
The Giants, however, need help now. And if their pass rush does not improve, it is unlikely their defense will either.
3. Is the linebacker corps a weakness?
It could be. A serious neck injury has ended Antonio Pierce’s successful run at middle linebacker, and no viable replacement has emerged. Jonathan Goff, Chase Blackburn, Gerris Wilkinson and rookie Phillip Dillard will compete for the starting job in training camp.
All of those players could struggle when isolated one-on-one in pass coverage. However, a player to watch is second-year strongside linebacker Clint Sintim, who is expected to start and play well.
"I’m not a rookie anymore," Sintim said. "I don’t think people realize how much of a weight that is off your shoulders. People expect me to do things, expect me to be a player, and that’s fine. I look at this as an opportunity."
4. Can safety Kenny Phillips make it back?
If Phillips can recover all his quickness after a major knee injury, he and free-agent pickup Antrel Rolle could give the Giants the best safety tandem in the NFC East.
If Phillips struggles, the Giants could once again be susceptible to big plays. Nobody will know for sure about Phillips until training camp, because the Giants plan to proceed cautiously with him until then.
5. Will the defense generate more turnovers?
The Giants forced 24 turnovers in ’09 and committed 31. Teams that commit more turnovers than they cause usually find themselves outside of the playoff picture. Of the 12 playoff teams last season, only the Cardinals had a negative turnover ratio.
An improved pass rush and better secondary play would go a long way toward making the Giants’ defense more opportunistic.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—When the Giants’ defense collapsed, so did their 2009 season.
After starting 5-0, the Giants finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs. Their defensive demise was the most surprising part of their fall. Only the Lions and Rams surrendered more points than the Giants, who gave up at least 40 points on five different occasions last season.
"I was really shocked," defensive tackle Rocky Bernard said. "We had a high expectation level, and this group is so talented. For us not to go out and perform the way we can was really strange. I couldn’t believe it."
If the Giants’ defense is a nightmare again this season, they can only dream of making the playoffs. Has enough been done for this unit to make a major improvement?
A look at five key questions the Giants’ defense must answer:
1. Will changing coordinators make a dramatic difference?
Chris Canty says the Giants players must put in the work if they want to have a better season than 2009.
Defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan was fired and replaced by Perry Fewell. Giants coach Tom Coughlin really had no choice but to make a switch. The players lost confidence in Sheridan, who also clashed with star defensive end Osi Umenyiora.
Changing coordinators can make a difference. We saw it last season, when Gregg Williams helped the Saints win a Super Bowl in his first season as defensive coordinator. However, Fewell must prove he can get more from the Giants’ personnel than Sheridan did. At least Fewell has a captive audience. After last year’s embarrassment, all egos have been put in check.
"I can only speak on my behalf, but there might have been a little complacency not doing the due diligence, the work that it takes to be successful in this league," defensive tackle Chris Canty said. "One thing Bill Parcells told me a long time ago: ‘You’ve got to earn your victories in the NFL.’
"We only earned eight wins last year. That’s not good enough for his organization."
2. Will the pass rush be a force again?
The Giants’ sack total dropped for the second consecutive season, falling to 32, tied for 18th best in the NFL. That was a far cry from ’07, when the Giants led the league with 53 sacks and won the Super Bowl.
Defensive end Justin Tuck was hampered last year, playing with a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder and getting just six sacks. Tuck, 27, is a star in his prime who figures to be more of a force going forward.
The greater concerns are Umenyiora, Mathias Kiwanuka and rookie Jason Pierre-Paul. Umenyiora played poorly last year, lost his starting job and complained when his role was reduced. The Giants hope the competition between Umenyiora and Kiwanuka raises their level of play. If Umenyiora does not start, his unhappiness could hurt his performance again.
Meanwhile drafting Pierre-Paul with the 15th-overall pick was a risk for general manger Jerry Reese. Pierre-Paul has talent but is raw. It might take Pierre-Paul two or three years to become a consistent NFL pass rusher, if it happens at all.
The Giants, however, need help now. And if their pass rush does not improve, it is unlikely their defense will either.
3. Is the linebacker corps a weakness?
It could be. A serious neck injury has ended Antonio Pierce’s successful run at middle linebacker, and no viable replacement has emerged. Jonathan Goff, Chase Blackburn, Gerris Wilkinson and rookie Phillip Dillard will compete for the starting job in training camp.
All of those players could struggle when isolated one-on-one in pass coverage. However, a player to watch is second-year strongside linebacker Clint Sintim, who is expected to start and play well.
"I’m not a rookie anymore," Sintim said. "I don’t think people realize how much of a weight that is off your shoulders. People expect me to do things, expect me to be a player, and that’s fine. I look at this as an opportunity."
4. Can safety Kenny Phillips make it back?
If Phillips can recover all his quickness after a major knee injury, he and free-agent pickup Antrel Rolle could give the Giants the best safety tandem in the NFC East.
If Phillips struggles, the Giants could once again be susceptible to big plays. Nobody will know for sure about Phillips until training camp, because the Giants plan to proceed cautiously with him until then.
5. Will the defense generate more turnovers?
The Giants forced 24 turnovers in ’09 and committed 31. Teams that commit more turnovers than they cause usually find themselves outside of the playoff picture. Of the 12 playoff teams last season, only the Cardinals had a negative turnover ratio.
An improved pass rush and better secondary play would go a long way toward making the Giants’ defense more opportunistic.
LeSean McCoy made a name for himself as a rookie last season.
PHILADELPHIA—For the past two seasons, the Eagles’ running attack has been more a weakness than a weapon.
The Eagles continued to feature a pass-reliant offense under Andy Reid, ranking 22nd in rushing in 2008 and ’09. They averaged 24 rushing attempts per game last season—and only the Cardinals (22.8), Colts (22.9), 49ers (23.2) and Bears (23.3) averaged fewer.
LeSean McCoy led the Eagles in rushing with just 637 yards. Former Eagle Correll Buckhalter actually had more yards with the Broncos (642) despite sharing Denver’s running duties with Knowshon Moreno.
The good news is the Eagles have been a perennial winner under Reid. The bad news is the Eagles’ running game has often struggled in three key areas: Short-yardage situations, the red zone and chewing clock while attempting to protect fourth-quarter leads.
The lack of a consistent running game also hurt the Eagles against quality opponents last season. In three losses to the Cowboys, the Eagles were badly outrushed (453 yards to 181 yards) and dominated in time of possession.
The Eagles have changed quarterbacks for ’10, trading Donovan McNabb to the Redskins and elevating backup Kevin Kolb. Will the Eagles’ running game make Kolb’s transition easier or tougher? Here are five questions that will help determine whether the Eagles run the ball more effectively this season:
Is McCoy ready for prime time?
McCoy had a nice rookie season, showing shifty moves and reliable hands as a receiver. His emergence made it easier for the Eagles to say goodbye to Brian Westbrook. However, McCoy will be asked to do more as the feature back from Week 1. His teammates say he is ready.
"He’s young, but he’s a pro," new Eagles back Mike Bell said. "You can expect a lot of big things out of him. I’d like to steal a couple of his moves. I like watching him run. He’s a like a basketball player playing football.
"He’s not going to shake you and run out of bounds. He’s going to shake you and lower his shoulder. That’s why I respect him."
If McCoy emerges as a 1,000-yard back, Eagles opponents will be forced to honor the run for the first time in a while. If McCoy doesn’t produce consistently from week to week, the running game figures to struggle.
Can the line open holes?
This unit has serious question marks. Center Jamaal Jackson still is recovering from a torn ACL sustained late last year—and the line was much better with him than without him. Left guard Todd Herremans has a nagging foot injury, but Reid says he’ll be ready for training camp on July 29.
Guard Stacy Andrews was inconsistent coming off a ’08 knee injury and struggled in his first year in the Eagles’ system. Even talented left tackle Jason Peters, acquired from Buffalo last spring, did not play up to expectations. For the Eagles to run better, this unit must play better.
Will Reid call enough running plays?
One school of thought says the Eagles will try to run more this season, hoping to take pressure off Kolb. However, if Kolb throws more accurately than McNabb, the Eagles actually might run less.
Picture the Eagles moving the ball more methodically downfield, relying on the short passing game and Kolb’s ability to hit receivers in stride. The better Kolb plays, the more difficult it might be for Reid to resist putting the ball in the air—especially with weapons like DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Brent Celek. Don’t expect Reid to stick with a running game that doesn’t get results.
Is McCoy the only option?
Fullback Leonard Weaver averaged 4.6 yards per carry last season and probably deserved more than 70 carries.
"I’ve always been a guy that whatever the coach says, I do," Weaver said. "Of course, I would love to have a bigger role. But my job is to be ready when the coach asks."
Bell, signed as a free agent, led the Saints in carries last season (172) and will get the first shot to spell McCoy. Rookie back Charles Scott also will be given a chance to earn playing time.
McCoy was the only Eagles back to rush for more than 350 yards or two touchdowns last season. That must change.
Will the defense improve?
The Eagles slipped on defense last season, surrendering 337 points—the most the team had allowed since 2005. A host of new players could play key roles, including rookie safety Nate Allen, rookie end Brandon Graham, end Darryl Tapp (acquired from the Seahawks) and linebacker Ernie Sims (acquired from the Lions).
An improved defense will mean more opportunities for the offense as a whole, including the running game.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
LeSean McCoy made a name for himself as a rookie last season.
PHILADELPHIA—For the past two seasons, the Eagles’ running attack has been more a weakness than a weapon.
The Eagles continued to feature a pass-reliant offense under Andy Reid, ranking 22nd in rushing in 2008 and ’09. They averaged 24 rushing attempts per game last season—and only the Cardinals (22.8), Colts (22.9), 49ers (23.2) and Bears (23.3) averaged fewer.
LeSean McCoy led the Eagles in rushing with just 637 yards. Former Eagle Correll Buckhalter actually had more yards with the Broncos (642) despite sharing Denver’s running duties with Knowshon Moreno.
The good news is the Eagles have been a perennial winner under Reid. The bad news is the Eagles’ running game has often struggled in three key areas: Short-yardage situations, the red zone and chewing clock while attempting to protect fourth-quarter leads.
The lack of a consistent running game also hurt the Eagles against quality opponents last season. In three losses to the Cowboys, the Eagles were badly outrushed (453 yards to 181 yards) and dominated in time of possession.
The Eagles have changed quarterbacks for ’10, trading Donovan McNabb to the Redskins and elevating backup Kevin Kolb. Will the Eagles’ running game make Kolb’s transition easier or tougher? Here are five questions that will help determine whether the Eagles run the ball more effectively this season:
Is McCoy ready for prime time?
McCoy had a nice rookie season, showing shifty moves and reliable hands as a receiver. His emergence made it easier for the Eagles to say goodbye to Brian Westbrook. However, McCoy will be asked to do more as the feature back from Week 1. His teammates say he is ready.
"He’s young, but he’s a pro," new Eagles back Mike Bell said. "You can expect a lot of big things out of him. I’d like to steal a couple of his moves. I like watching him run. He’s a like a basketball player playing football.
"He’s not going to shake you and run out of bounds. He’s going to shake you and lower his shoulder. That’s why I respect him."
If McCoy emerges as a 1,000-yard back, Eagles opponents will be forced to honor the run for the first time in a while. If McCoy doesn’t produce consistently from week to week, the running game figures to struggle.
Can the line open holes?
This unit has serious question marks. Center Jamaal Jackson still is recovering from a torn ACL sustained late last year—and the line was much better with him than without him. Left guard Todd Herremans has a nagging foot injury, but Reid says he’ll be ready for training camp on July 29.
Guard Stacy Andrews was inconsistent coming off a ’08 knee injury and struggled in his first year in the Eagles’ system. Even talented left tackle Jason Peters, acquired from Buffalo last spring, did not play up to expectations. For the Eagles to run better, this unit must play better.
Will Reid call enough running plays?
One school of thought says the Eagles will try to run more this season, hoping to take pressure off Kolb. However, if Kolb throws more accurately than McNabb, the Eagles actually might run less.
Picture the Eagles moving the ball more methodically downfield, relying on the short passing game and Kolb’s ability to hit receivers in stride. The better Kolb plays, the more difficult it might be for Reid to resist putting the ball in the air—especially with weapons like DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Brent Celek. Don’t expect Reid to stick with a running game that doesn’t get results.
Is McCoy the only option?
Fullback Leonard Weaver averaged 4.6 yards per carry last season and probably deserved more than 70 carries.
"I’ve always been a guy that whatever the coach says, I do," Weaver said. "Of course, I would love to have a bigger role. But my job is to be ready when the coach asks."
Bell, signed as a free agent, led the Saints in carries last season (172) and will get the first shot to spell McCoy. Rookie back Charles Scott also will be given a chance to earn playing time.
McCoy was the only Eagles back to rush for more than 350 yards or two touchdowns last season. That must change.
Will the defense improve?
The Eagles slipped on defense last season, surrendering 337 points—the most the team had allowed since 2005. A host of new players could play key roles, including rookie safety Nate Allen, rookie end Brandon Graham, end Darryl Tapp (acquired from the Seahawks) and linebacker Ernie Sims (acquired from the Lions).
An improved defense will mean more opportunities for the offense as a whole, including the running game.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
After picking the brains of NFL scouts, coaches and players, Sporting News’ panel of experts debated the merits of the contenders and demerits of the pretenders. Our Super Bowl 45 pick: Jets over Cowboys.
Coach Rex Ryan enters his second year as the Jets coach.
Why the Jets will win the AFC
1. Talent talks. Some see potential locker room problems with the additions of Santonio Holmes, LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Cromartie and Jason Taylor. We see a team with a more diverse offense, a better pass rush and an improved secondary. QB Mark Sanchez will improve, too. And coach Rex Ryan is strong enough to handle all distractions.
"I came here to win," Ryan said. "I didn’t come here to be average. I’m going to be held to those standards. Did you deliver a championship? I’m man enough to go for it, where a lot of guys aren’t."
2. Dynamic defense. The Jets had the NFL’s top-ranked defense last season, and it should be better in ’10. Darrelle Revis is the league’s best corner, Taylor will enhance the pass rush and Cromartie and Kyle Wilson give Ryan even more freedom to blitz.
3. Hunger helps. They lost to Miami twice last year, finished second to New England in the division and fell just short of the Super Bowl. It’s payback time.
Wade Phillips has been the Cowboys’ head coach since the 2007 season.
Why the Cowboys will win the NFC
1. Championship continuity. In a league where change is constant, the Cowboys have kept their nucleus — Tony Romo, DeMarcus Ware, Jay Ratliff, Miles Austin, Jason Witten, Leonard Davis, Anthony Spencer and Terence Newman — intact. Dallas has an abundance of stars in their prime.
2. Romo rising. He cut down on turnovers last year and then won a playoff game, and now he has another weapon in Dez Bryant. Drew Brees was the QB who made a statement last season; Romo is next.
3. Date with destiny. No team has played a Super Bowl on its home field. This will change Feb. 6 at Jerry Jones’ palace, Cowboys Stadium.
Super Bowl edge
With two weeks to prepare for Romo & Co., Ryan’s defense will make enough big plays to prevail.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
After picking the brains of NFL scouts, coaches and players, Sporting News’ panel of experts debated the merits of the contenders and demerits of the pretenders. Our Super Bowl 45 pick: Jets over Cowboys.
Coach Rex Ryan enters his second year as the Jets coach.
Why the Jets will win the AFC
1. Talent talks. Some see potential locker room problems with the additions of Santonio Holmes, LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Cromartie and Jason Taylor. We see a team with a more diverse offense, a better pass rush and an improved secondary. QB Mark Sanchez will improve, too. And coach Rex Ryan is strong enough to handle all distractions.
"I came here to win," Ryan said. "I didn’t come here to be average. I’m going to be held to those standards. Did you deliver a championship? I’m man enough to go for it, where a lot of guys aren’t."
2. Dynamic defense. The Jets had the NFL’s top-ranked defense last season, and it should be better in ’10. Darrelle Revis is the league’s best corner, Taylor will enhance the pass rush and Cromartie and Kyle Wilson give Ryan even more freedom to blitz.
3. Hunger helps. They lost to Miami twice last year, finished second to New England in the division and fell just short of the Super Bowl. It’s payback time.
Wade Phillips has been the Cowboys’ head coach since the 2007 season.
Why the Cowboys will win the NFC
1. Championship continuity. In a league where change is constant, the Cowboys have kept their nucleus — Tony Romo, DeMarcus Ware, Jay Ratliff, Miles Austin, Jason Witten, Leonard Davis, Anthony Spencer and Terence Newman — intact. Dallas has an abundance of stars in their prime.
2. Romo rising. He cut down on turnovers last year and then won a playoff game, and now he has another weapon in Dez Bryant. Drew Brees was the QB who made a statement last season; Romo is next.
3. Date with destiny. No team has played a Super Bowl on its home field. This will change Feb. 6 at Jerry Jones’ palace, Cowboys Stadium.
Super Bowl edge
With two weeks to prepare for Romo & Co., Ryan’s defense will make enough big plays to prevail.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
When the Redskins spent big money on Albert Haynesworth, they expected big things. Instead, Haynesworth has been a huge disappointment.
He was nowhere close to being a dominant defensive tackle last season, and the Redskins finished 4-12. Now Haynesworth has miffed management, coaches and teammates by staying away from offseason workouts and refusing to embrace the Redskins’ switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense.
"I don’t think Albert understands, or cares to understand, the role he could play in the Redskins’ scheme," former Redskins quarterback and longtime TV analyst Joe Theismann said. "He gets a ton of money to play football. I don’t know where in his contract it says, ‘I will only play in a 4-3 defense.’ I think everybody is questioning his commitment to the football team, and rightfully so."
Albert Haynesworth needs to start living up to his large contract.
With a mandatory minicamp (June 16-18) approaching, it’s unclear whether Haynesworth will buy in or try to force his way out of Washington. But as offseason workouts continue, here’s a look at Haynesworth and four other players who need to play more like stars than they did in 2009:
Albert Haynesworth, DT, Redksins. No matter where Haynesworth lines up in the 3-4, the Redskins would be foolish not to give him freedom to use his rare combination of power and agility. That is another reason Haynesworth should have attended minicamps. If he had, he may have found a comfort zone in the new defense by now.
"I think you should buy in and see how it works before you reject something," ESPN analyst and former NFL defensive end Marcellus Wiley said. "That’s why you have OTAs and offseason workouts—to get a feel for changes. I think that’s why you’re hearing comments from some of his teammates, wishing he was working out with them. They just want him to give it a shot."
Haynesworth has the talent to play well in any system, but he must also have the right mindset. Re-establishing himself as a dominant defensive player is the best way for Haynesworth to silence critics questioning his desire.
Antonio Cromartie, CB, Jets. In 2007 with the Chargers, Cromartie had 10 interceptions and was one of the league’s top corners. But his play hasn’t approached that level since, and he can’t hide in New York playing opposite Jets star Darrelle Revis.
Nobody picks on Revis, so Cromartie could be busier than a Manhattan traffic cop this season. If he is still an elite corner, Cromartie will have plenty of opportunities to make plays. If he isn’t, he will be picked on.
Jay Cutler, QB, Bears. In 2008 with the Broncos, he led the AFC in passing yards. In 2009 with the Bears, Cutler led the NFL in interceptions. Much of the Bears’ immediate future hinges on Cutler playing like a franchise quarterback.
"If there’s one guy that I’m curious about, he’s the guy," Theismann said. "Of all the 32 starting quarterbacks, this is the year Jay Cutler needs to move into an elite category, a consistent level of play, not the erratic level that we’ve seen."
Cutler has become the project of new Bears coordinator Mike Martz. Though I remain skeptical about the Martz-Cutler marriage, Theismann believes it will work.
Brandon Jacobs might be on the downside of his career after years of punishing running.
"I expect him (Cutler) to have a terrific year," Theismann said. "Mike Martz is very demanding, but he’s also a dynamic play-caller. I think the Bears will be a team that can challenge for the division title."
Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants. After averaging 5 yards per carry in ’07 and ’08, Jacobs fell to just 3.7 yards per carry and 835 yards in 2009. Jacobs underwent offseason knee surgery and has vowed to be a 1,000-yard back again. The Giants need him to be. After leading the league in rushing in 2008, when they won the NFC East, they fell to 17th last season and failed to make the playoffs.
Because Jacobs turns 28 in July and has absorbed and delivered a lot of punishing hits, it’s fair to wonder if his best days are already past. The Giants had myriad problems on both sides of the ball in 2009, but a return to star form by Jacobs would improve their chances of returning to the playoffs.
Carson Palmer, QB, Bengals. From 2005 through 2007, Palmer was one of the league’s most prolific quarterbacks, completing at least 320 passes and throwing for at least 3,800 yards and 26 touchdowns each season.
Palmer may never reach those numbers again because the Bengals are no longer a pass-happy team. But they need Palmer to play better than he did during last season’s playoff loss to the Jets, when he missed open receivers several times.
Not that Palmer was solely at fault. With Revis all but making Chad Ochocinco disappear, the Jets made it painfully clear that the Bengals needed more weapons.
"If you’re going to throw the football—and you have to at this level—you need receivers," Theismann said. "Have they done enough to help Carson Palmer? I don’t know. When you’re a quarterback who feels he has to make up for inadequacies, you force yourself to do things that create problems."
The Bengals drafted tight end Jermaine Gresham and acquired veteran wide receiver Antonio Bryant, hoping they can take some defensive attention away from Ochocinco. We know Palmer is good. But for the Bengals to win the AFC North again and advance in the playoffs, Palmer will have to be special.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
When the Redskins spent big money on Albert Haynesworth, they expected big things. Instead, Haynesworth has been a huge disappointment.
He was nowhere close to being a dominant defensive tackle last season, and the Redskins finished 4-12. Now Haynesworth has miffed management, coaches and teammates by staying away from offseason workouts and refusing to embrace the Redskins’ switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense.
"I don’t think Albert understands, or cares to understand, the role he could play in the Redskins’ scheme," former Redskins quarterback and longtime TV analyst Joe Theismann said. "He gets a ton of money to play football. I don’t know where in his contract it says, ‘I will only play in a 4-3 defense.’ I think everybody is questioning his commitment to the football team, and rightfully so."
Albert Haynesworth needs to start living up to his large contract.
With a mandatory minicamp (June 16-18) approaching, it’s unclear whether Haynesworth will buy in or try to force his way out of Washington. But as offseason workouts continue, here’s a look at Haynesworth and four other players who need to play more like stars than they did in 2009:
Albert Haynesworth, DT, Redksins. No matter where Haynesworth lines up in the 3-4, the Redskins would be foolish not to give him freedom to use his rare combination of power and agility. That is another reason Haynesworth should have attended minicamps. If he had, he may have found a comfort zone in the new defense by now.
"I think you should buy in and see how it works before you reject something," ESPN analyst and former NFL defensive end Marcellus Wiley said. "That’s why you have OTAs and offseason workouts—to get a feel for changes. I think that’s why you’re hearing comments from some of his teammates, wishing he was working out with them. They just want him to give it a shot."
Haynesworth has the talent to play well in any system, but he must also have the right mindset. Re-establishing himself as a dominant defensive player is the best way for Haynesworth to silence critics questioning his desire.
Antonio Cromartie, CB, Jets. In 2007 with the Chargers, Cromartie had 10 interceptions and was one of the league’s top corners. But his play hasn’t approached that level since, and he can’t hide in New York playing opposite Jets star Darrelle Revis.
Nobody picks on Revis, so Cromartie could be busier than a Manhattan traffic cop this season. If he is still an elite corner, Cromartie will have plenty of opportunities to make plays. If he isn’t, he will be picked on.
Jay Cutler, QB, Bears. In 2008 with the Broncos, he led the AFC in passing yards. In 2009 with the Bears, Cutler led the NFL in interceptions. Much of the Bears’ immediate future hinges on Cutler playing like a franchise quarterback.
"If there’s one guy that I’m curious about, he’s the guy," Theismann said. "Of all the 32 starting quarterbacks, this is the year Jay Cutler needs to move into an elite category, a consistent level of play, not the erratic level that we’ve seen."
Cutler has become the project of new Bears coordinator Mike Martz. Though I remain skeptical about the Martz-Cutler marriage, Theismann believes it will work.
Brandon Jacobs might be on the downside of his career after years of punishing running.
"I expect him (Cutler) to have a terrific year," Theismann said. "Mike Martz is very demanding, but he’s also a dynamic play-caller. I think the Bears will be a team that can challenge for the division title."
Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants. After averaging 5 yards per carry in ’07 and ’08, Jacobs fell to just 3.7 yards per carry and 835 yards in 2009. Jacobs underwent offseason knee surgery and has vowed to be a 1,000-yard back again. The Giants need him to be. After leading the league in rushing in 2008, when they won the NFC East, they fell to 17th last season and failed to make the playoffs.
Because Jacobs turns 28 in July and has absorbed and delivered a lot of punishing hits, it’s fair to wonder if his best days are already past. The Giants had myriad problems on both sides of the ball in 2009, but a return to star form by Jacobs would improve their chances of returning to the playoffs.
Carson Palmer, QB, Bengals. From 2005 through 2007, Palmer was one of the league’s most prolific quarterbacks, completing at least 320 passes and throwing for at least 3,800 yards and 26 touchdowns each season.
Palmer may never reach those numbers again because the Bengals are no longer a pass-happy team. But they need Palmer to play better than he did during last season’s playoff loss to the Jets, when he missed open receivers several times.
Not that Palmer was solely at fault. With Revis all but making Chad Ochocinco disappear, the Jets made it painfully clear that the Bengals needed more weapons.
"If you’re going to throw the football—and you have to at this level—you need receivers," Theismann said. "Have they done enough to help Carson Palmer? I don’t know. When you’re a quarterback who feels he has to make up for inadequacies, you force yourself to do things that create problems."
The Bengals drafted tight end Jermaine Gresham and acquired veteran wide receiver Antonio Bryant, hoping they can take some defensive attention away from Ochocinco. We know Palmer is good. But for the Bengals to win the AFC North again and advance in the playoffs, Palmer will have to be special.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
Nate Allen could start as a rookie, but he’ll have to earn it. The Eagles took the former South Florida standout with the 37th overall selection, one of the picks they received from Washington in the Donovan McNabb trade. Allen will battle Marlin Jackson for a starting spot during OTAs, training camp and the preseason.
The biggest question is whether Allen can be a viable long-term replacement for Brian Dawkins, who was sorely missed last season after he left the Eagles to sign with the Broncos. Sporting News’ Clifton Brown caught up with Allen recently to talk about what lies ahead.
Clifton Brown: Do you think you’re where you need to be at this stage of OTAs?
Nate Allen: I’ve got a lot more to learn. I’m still getting a feel for the basic stuff, just trying to get with the coaches and learn.
SN: Because the Eagles blitz frequently, do you feel this will be a fun system for you?
NA: Definitely. It gives you the opportunity to play fast once you learn it. You should be able to make a lot of plays. You can be aggressive. You don’t have to be conservative and sit back.
Nate Allen has a shot at a starting spot as a rookie with the Eagles.
SN: How do you feel about coming to a place where you could start immediately?
NA: I’m excited. Whatever role that might be, I’m ready to do whatever they need me to do. Come in and try to make plays, help the team win. I have to come in and compete. I’m not going to say I’m going to start. I have no idea. Whatever happens will happen. (I’ll) try to let my performance handle all that.
SN: You were a high school quarterback. Does that help you at all playing safety?
NA: It helps a little bit. But the jump from being a high school quarterback to college is big. It helps a little bit because you have a feel for what the quarterback might be thinking, what their progressions are. But it’s a whole new level now.
SN: You’ve been labeled as a safety with good ball skills, but not the best tackler. Is that a fair assessment?
NA: It doesn’t matter. I’ll just let my play do the talking.
SN: Did it bother you to hear that you were not a good tackler during the draft process?
NA: I really didn’t watch all that draft stuff, the mock and whatnot. That’s what people say? Try to prove them wrong. Don’t worry about it and just play. Being a safety, you’ve got to come up and tackle, and I definitely feel I don’t have a problem. I’m not afraid to get down in the box and tackle.
SN: You were not able to run at the Combine due to a quadriceps injury. How is that progressing?
NA: It feels 100 percent now.
SN: How different is this defense than the one you played in at South Florida?
NA: It’s a lot more diverse. We played a cover 3, zone. I never played nickel. This has a lot more checks and audibles.
SN: Playing in a defense that blitzes frequently could leave you in one-on-one coverage. Are you comfortable with that?
NA: Yeah. That’s part of being in the secondary, especially nowadays in the NFL. Safeties are cover guys. It’s something you have to be able to do.
SN: You are part of a new era for the Eagles, trying to replace Dawkins and being part of the McNabb trade. How do you feel about that?
NA: Everyone keeps talking about Donovan, but I’m going to come in and be myself, play my game.
SN: How do you feel about coming to a team that has usually made the playoffs over the past 10 years?
NA: I’m excited. My goal, and I’m sure all the rest of the guys, the coaches, and the fans, is to win a Super Bowl. I know we have a good chance of doing that this year.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
Nate Allen could start as a rookie, but he’ll have to earn it. The Eagles took the former South Florida standout with the 37th overall selection, one of the picks they received from Washington in the Donovan McNabb trade. Allen will battle Marlin Jackson for a starting spot during OTAs, training camp and the preseason.
The biggest question is whether Allen can be a viable long-term replacement for Brian Dawkins, who was sorely missed last season after he left the Eagles to sign with the Broncos. Sporting News’ Clifton Brown caught up with Allen recently to talk about what lies ahead.
Clifton Brown: Do you think you’re where you need to be at this stage of OTAs?
Nate Allen: I’ve got a lot more to learn. I’m still getting a feel for the basic stuff, just trying to get with the coaches and learn.
SN: Because the Eagles blitz frequently, do you feel this will be a fun system for you?
NA: Definitely. It gives you the opportunity to play fast once you learn it. You should be able to make a lot of plays. You can be aggressive. You don’t have to be conservative and sit back.
Nate Allen has a shot at a starting spot as a rookie with the Eagles.
SN: How do you feel about coming to a place where you could start immediately?
NA: I’m excited. Whatever role that might be, I’m ready to do whatever they need me to do. Come in and try to make plays, help the team win. I have to come in and compete. I’m not going to say I’m going to start. I have no idea. Whatever happens will happen. (I’ll) try to let my performance handle all that.
SN: You were a high school quarterback. Does that help you at all playing safety?
NA: It helps a little bit. But the jump from being a high school quarterback to college is big. It helps a little bit because you have a feel for what the quarterback might be thinking, what their progressions are. But it’s a whole new level now.
SN: You’ve been labeled as a safety with good ball skills, but not the best tackler. Is that a fair assessment?
NA: It doesn’t matter. I’ll just let my play do the talking.
SN: Did it bother you to hear that you were not a good tackler during the draft process?
NA: I really didn’t watch all that draft stuff, the mock and whatnot. That’s what people say? Try to prove them wrong. Don’t worry about it and just play. Being a safety, you’ve got to come up and tackle, and I definitely feel I don’t have a problem. I’m not afraid to get down in the box and tackle.
SN: You were not able to run at the Combine due to a quadriceps injury. How is that progressing?
NA: It feels 100 percent now.
SN: How different is this defense than the one you played in at South Florida?
NA: It’s a lot more diverse. We played a cover 3, zone. I never played nickel. This has a lot more checks and audibles.
SN: Playing in a defense that blitzes frequently could leave you in one-on-one coverage. Are you comfortable with that?
NA: Yeah. That’s part of being in the secondary, especially nowadays in the NFL. Safeties are cover guys. It’s something you have to be able to do.
SN: You are part of a new era for the Eagles, trying to replace Dawkins and being part of the McNabb trade. How do you feel about that?
NA: Everyone keeps talking about Donovan, but I’m going to come in and be myself, play my game.
SN: How do you feel about coming to a team that has usually made the playoffs over the past 10 years?
NA: I’m excited. My goal, and I’m sure all the rest of the guys, the coaches, and the fans, is to win a Super Bowl. I know we have a good chance of doing that this year.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
A sluggish start to an NFL season can seriously damage any team’s playoff hopes. As spring practices continue this week, here is a look at five teams that look destined to start faster than they did in 2009:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2009: Started 0-7, finished 3-13.
Josh Freeman should be more comfortable in his second season with the Bucs.
Why they will start faster: Four of their first six are at home, including games against the Browns, Steelers without Ben Roethlisberger and Rams. With a year under his belt, quarterback Josh Freeman will be better. And the front office gave Freeman more help at wide receiver, drafting Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams, trading for Reggie Brown and signing Mark Bradley. At least one starter should emerge from that bunch, and maybe the competition will inspire Michael Clayton to play up to his capability.
On defense, the Buccaneers expect immediate impact from rookie defense tackles Gerald McCoy and Brian Price and free-agent safety Sean Jones should help the secondary.
Second-year coach Raheem Morris is better prepared to handle the job than last season, when he fired his offensive coordinator in preseason and then his defensive coordinator during the season. The defense improved after Morris took over as the coordinator, and he will maintain that role in ’10.
Are the Bucs a playoff team? No. But starting 0-7 is out of the question. If that happens, Morris soon would be out of a job.
Kansas City Chiefs
2009: Started 0-5, finished 4-12
Why they will start faster: Check their difficult early schedule, and you might want to argue. Four of their first five games are against teams that finished at least .500 last season. However, the Chiefs have upgraded their talent and the coaching staff also improved with the additions of Charlie Weis (offensive coordinator) and Romeo Crennel (defensive coordinator). During a recent telephone interview, quarterback Matt Cassel talked about the different feeling in the locker room during offseason workouts.
"Coming into Year 2 of coach (Todd) Haley’s tenure, I think people are a lot more comfortable and understand their roles," Cassel said. "When you look at the offensive side of the ball, with established guys like Thomas Jones (RB), Ryan Lilja (G) and Casey Wiegmann (C), we’ve added talent. And everyone in our locker room respects Charlie Weis."
The Chiefs have two backs coming off 1,000-yard seasons in Jamaal Charles and Jones. They drafted a safety, Eric Berry, with obvious star potential and a speed back with big-play ability, Dexter McCluster. Taking McCluster with the 36th pick means the Chiefs plan to incorporate him quickly.
The Chargers remain the class of the AFC West, but the Chiefs are headed in the right direction and will not start 0-5 again.
Miami Dolphins
2009: Started 0-3, finished 7-9.
Matt Moore will help the Panthers run their power offense more efficiently.
Why they will start faster: Trading for one of the league’s best wide receivers, Brandon Marshall, takes their offense to a different level. And nobody can accuse the Dolphins of sugar-coating last year’s defensive problems. They hired a proven defensive coordinator in Mike Nolan, signed star linebacker Karlos Dansby in free agency and said adios to aging veterans Joey Porter and Jason Taylor. And seven of their eight draft picks last month were defensive players, including defensive ends Jared Odrick and outside linebacker Koa Misi.
Battling the Jets and Patriots in the AFC East, the Dolphins cannot afford another slow start. They open the regular season on the road against the Bills and Vikings and then return home to face the Jets and Patriots. The Dolphins defeated both the Jets and Patriots in South Florida last season, and unlike last season expect the Dolphins to start no worse than 2-2.
Carolina Panthers
2009: Started 0-3, finished 8-8
Why they will start faster: Matt Moore figures to hold off Jimmy Clausen as the starting quarterback as long as the Panthers stay in the playoff hunt. With Moore taking care of the ball far better than predecessor Jake Delhomme, the Panthers again can be a ball-control, power-running team featuring DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.
The Panthers were 3-1 with Moore as their starter late last season and by season’s end were playing like one of the NFC’s better teams. Losing Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers will hurt the pass rush, but the Panthers play four of their first six games at home, making the kind of start they had last season unlikely.
Tennessee Titans
2009: Started 0-6, finished 8-8.
Why they will start faster: During a recent telephone interview, safety Michael Griffin said the Titans were determined not to relive another nightmare start.
"We learned the hard way," Griffin said. "We play in one of the toughest divisions, and we have to come out ready from Week 1. Yes, guys who’ve been here a long time are not here this offseason—guys like Kyle Vanden Bosch, Keith Bulluck and Kevin Mawae. But you can also see a lot of young guys stepping up, taking on bigger roles.
"We still have plenty of talent, just like two years ago, when we were 13-3."
All-Pro running back Chris Johnson is unhappy with his contract, but having a bad season will not help him get paid. When it matters, Johnson figures to play and play well. Ditto for quarterback Vince Young, who has reclaimed the starting job and rejuvenated his career.
Three of the Titans’ first four are at home—Week 1 vs. the Raiders, Week 2 vs. the Steelers minus Roethlisberger and Week 4 vs. the Broncos. Do you see the Titans losing all of those games? Me either.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
A sluggish start to an NFL season can seriously damage any team’s playoff hopes. As spring practices continue this week, here is a look at five teams that look destined to start faster than they did in 2009:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2009: Started 0-7, finished 3-13.
Josh Freeman should be more comfortable in his second season with the Bucs.
Why they will start faster: Four of their first six are at home, including games against the Browns, Steelers without Ben Roethlisberger and Rams. With a year under his belt, quarterback Josh Freeman will be better. And the front office gave Freeman more help at wide receiver, drafting Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams, trading for Reggie Brown and signing Mark Bradley. At least one starter should emerge from that bunch, and maybe the competition will inspire Michael Clayton to play up to his capability.
On defense, the Buccaneers expect immediate impact from rookie defense tackles Gerald McCoy and Brian Price and free-agent safety Sean Jones should help the secondary.
Second-year coach Raheem Morris is better prepared to handle the job than last season, when he fired his offensive coordinator in preseason and then his defensive coordinator during the season. The defense improved after Morris took over as the coordinator, and he will maintain that role in ’10.
Are the Bucs a playoff team? No. But starting 0-7 is out of the question. If that happens, Morris soon would be out of a job.
Kansas City Chiefs
2009: Started 0-5, finished 4-12
Why they will start faster: Check their difficult early schedule, and you might want to argue. Four of their first five games are against teams that finished at least .500 last season. However, the Chiefs have upgraded their talent and the coaching staff also improved with the additions of Charlie Weis (offensive coordinator) and Romeo Crennel (defensive coordinator). During a recent telephone interview, quarterback Matt Cassel talked about the different feeling in the locker room during offseason workouts.
"Coming into Year 2 of coach (Todd) Haley’s tenure, I think people are a lot more comfortable and understand their roles," Cassel said. "When you look at the offensive side of the ball, with established guys like Thomas Jones (RB), Ryan Lilja (G) and Casey Wiegmann (C), we’ve added talent. And everyone in our locker room respects Charlie Weis."
The Chiefs have two backs coming off 1,000-yard seasons in Jamaal Charles and Jones. They drafted a safety, Eric Berry, with obvious star potential and a speed back with big-play ability, Dexter McCluster. Taking McCluster with the 36th pick means the Chiefs plan to incorporate him quickly.
The Chargers remain the class of the AFC West, but the Chiefs are headed in the right direction and will not start 0-5 again.
Miami Dolphins
2009: Started 0-3, finished 7-9.
Matt Moore will help the Panthers run their power offense more efficiently.
Why they will start faster: Trading for one of the league’s best wide receivers, Brandon Marshall, takes their offense to a different level. And nobody can accuse the Dolphins of sugar-coating last year’s defensive problems. They hired a proven defensive coordinator in Mike Nolan, signed star linebacker Karlos Dansby in free agency and said adios to aging veterans Joey Porter and Jason Taylor. And seven of their eight draft picks last month were defensive players, including defensive ends Jared Odrick and outside linebacker Koa Misi.
Battling the Jets and Patriots in the AFC East, the Dolphins cannot afford another slow start. They open the regular season on the road against the Bills and Vikings and then return home to face the Jets and Patriots. The Dolphins defeated both the Jets and Patriots in South Florida last season, and unlike last season expect the Dolphins to start no worse than 2-2.
Carolina Panthers
2009: Started 0-3, finished 8-8
Why they will start faster: Matt Moore figures to hold off Jimmy Clausen as the starting quarterback as long as the Panthers stay in the playoff hunt. With Moore taking care of the ball far better than predecessor Jake Delhomme, the Panthers again can be a ball-control, power-running team featuring DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.
The Panthers were 3-1 with Moore as their starter late last season and by season’s end were playing like one of the NFC’s better teams. Losing Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers will hurt the pass rush, but the Panthers play four of their first six games at home, making the kind of start they had last season unlikely.
Tennessee Titans
2009: Started 0-6, finished 8-8.
Why they will start faster: During a recent telephone interview, safety Michael Griffin said the Titans were determined not to relive another nightmare start.
"We learned the hard way," Griffin said. "We play in one of the toughest divisions, and we have to come out ready from Week 1. Yes, guys who’ve been here a long time are not here this offseason—guys like Kyle Vanden Bosch, Keith Bulluck and Kevin Mawae. But you can also see a lot of young guys stepping up, taking on bigger roles.
"We still have plenty of talent, just like two years ago, when we were 13-3."
All-Pro running back Chris Johnson is unhappy with his contract, but having a bad season will not help him get paid. When it matters, Johnson figures to play and play well. Ditto for quarterback Vince Young, who has reclaimed the starting job and rejuvenated his career.
Three of the Titans’ first four are at home—Week 1 vs. the Raiders, Week 2 vs. the Steelers minus Roethlisberger and Week 4 vs. the Broncos. Do you see the Titans losing all of those games? Me either.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
