Here is a look at key questions (and maybe an answer or two) facing each team in the AFC East midway through training camp.
BUFFALO
Questions: How far can QB JP Losman lead the Bills? What sort of impact will the additions of RB Marshawn Lynch and several new offensive lineman have? Can they overcome massive free-agency defections on defense?
Answers: Losman is improving, but I question whether he will become an elite QB. Solid starter, yes. Expect Lynch to have a big season. He'll play a lot and should be an asset in the running and passing game. ... The losses of LBs London Fletcher and Takeo Spikes and particularly CB Nate Clements in free agency will hurt. The defense has talent, but it's a lot younger.
MIAMI
Questions: Can QB Trent Green direct the offense to enough points to keep up with what again should be a very good defense? Is this the year age catches up with key defenders?
Answers: Green manages a game well and does not make many mistakes. His arrival is good news for WR Chris Chambers. LB Joey Porter has a knee injury and MLB Zach Thomas has shown signs of wearing down, still, the defense should have enough for this season to stay in the top 10.
NEW ENGLAND
Questions: How will the offseason change in philosophy (sign/trade for big-name players such as WRs Donte' Stallworth and Randy Moss and LB Adalius Thomas) affect a team that has been a textbook example of chemistry? Can RB Lawrence Maroney handle an every-down load?
Answers: There are enough strong leaders on this team - particularly QB Tom Brady, LB Teddy Bruschi and S Rodney Harrison, that even bad apples such as Moss and rookie safety Brandon Meriweather, shouldn't rock the boat too much. The real problem will be contract jealousy among veterans, particularly CB Asante Samuel. Kevin Faulk will replace Maroney on third downs, but Maroney is out any length of time because of an injury, the Pats are in trouble.
NEW YORK
Questions: How much of an impact will RB Thomas Jones have? Can the run defense improve at all?
Answers: Jones will find himself sharing time with the much more explosive Leon Washington, but Jones will help the offense. The defensive personnel seems better suited to a 4-3 than the 3-4 coach Eric Mangini insists on playing, so much improvement seems unlikely.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Camping in the AFC Central
Here's a look at key questions (and maybe an answer or two) facing each team in the AFC Central midway through training camp.
BALTIMORE
Questions: Do QB Steve McNair and an aging, yet effective defense have enough left to contend for a championship? Will RB Willis McGahee be able to seemlessly integrate into the Ravens' offense.
Answers: Yes, but given contract statuses of players such as Terrell Suggs and the ages of McNair, T Jon Ogden, WR Derrick Mason, MLB Ray Lewis and CB Samari Rolle, their window of opportunity is closing. ... McGahee is far more versatile than Jamal Lewis, particularly in the passing game, so he will give the Ravens more options.
CINCINNATI
Questions: Will the Bengals' defense be even remotely competitive? How much will the team's off-the-field problems affect the on-field product?
Answers: No. The line is small and old, and the back seven, though getting more athletic, lack experience. The off-the-field problems really hurt, no question about it. WR Chris Henry is out half the season and LB Odell Thurman might miss another full season, if he ever returns to the league.
CLEVELAND
Questions: How much will rookie QB Brady Quinn and free-agent acquisition RB Jamal Lewis help the Browns' offense? Is there any hope of this team even reaching .500?
Answers: The real question might be how will a vastly upgraded line, which includes rookie T Joe Thomas, free-agent G Eric Steinback and C LaCharles Bentley (injury), helps the offense. Quinn will play at some point, and Lewis offers a big upgrade. The Browns have more playmakers on both sides of the ball than they're given credit for (TE Kellen Winslow, WR Braylon Edwards, LBs Kamerion Wimbley and D'Qwell Jackson and S Sean Jones), and they will surprise some teams. 8-8 seems like a stretch, but it's not impossible.
PITTSBURGH
Questions: Which are the real Steelers, the Super Bowl champs from 2005 or last season's 8-8 disappointments? How much will they miss Coach Bill Cowher, and LB Joey Porter for that matter?
Answers: It all depends on QB Ben Roethlisberger. If he's healthy and poised, the Steelers will have a balanced offense and be a postseason threat. If he regresses, they're in big trouble because RB Willie Parker can't carry them. They will miss Cowher's experience plenty. Porter is on the downside of his career and clearly was becoming a distraction, albeit a talented one. The Steelers always find a way to plug holes in their D.
BALTIMORE
Questions: Do QB Steve McNair and an aging, yet effective defense have enough left to contend for a championship? Will RB Willis McGahee be able to seemlessly integrate into the Ravens' offense.
Answers: Yes, but given contract statuses of players such as Terrell Suggs and the ages of McNair, T Jon Ogden, WR Derrick Mason, MLB Ray Lewis and CB Samari Rolle, their window of opportunity is closing. ... McGahee is far more versatile than Jamal Lewis, particularly in the passing game, so he will give the Ravens more options.
CINCINNATI
Questions: Will the Bengals' defense be even remotely competitive? How much will the team's off-the-field problems affect the on-field product?
Answers: No. The line is small and old, and the back seven, though getting more athletic, lack experience. The off-the-field problems really hurt, no question about it. WR Chris Henry is out half the season and LB Odell Thurman might miss another full season, if he ever returns to the league.
CLEVELAND
Questions: How much will rookie QB Brady Quinn and free-agent acquisition RB Jamal Lewis help the Browns' offense? Is there any hope of this team even reaching .500?
Answers: The real question might be how will a vastly upgraded line, which includes rookie T Joe Thomas, free-agent G Eric Steinback and C LaCharles Bentley (injury), helps the offense. Quinn will play at some point, and Lewis offers a big upgrade. The Browns have more playmakers on both sides of the ball than they're given credit for (TE Kellen Winslow, WR Braylon Edwards, LBs Kamerion Wimbley and D'Qwell Jackson and S Sean Jones), and they will surprise some teams. 8-8 seems like a stretch, but it's not impossible.
PITTSBURGH
Questions: Which are the real Steelers, the Super Bowl champs from 2005 or last season's 8-8 disappointments? How much will they miss Coach Bill Cowher, and LB Joey Porter for that matter?
Answers: It all depends on QB Ben Roethlisberger. If he's healthy and poised, the Steelers will have a balanced offense and be a postseason threat. If he regresses, they're in big trouble because RB Willie Parker can't carry them. They will miss Cowher's experience plenty. Porter is on the downside of his career and clearly was becoming a distraction, albeit a talented one. The Steelers always find a way to plug holes in their D.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Summer Vacation is Over!
I needed a break. How about you?
Football is back and hockey is not far behind, so it's time to rev this back up. Before I dig into NFL training camps, and trust me, I will do that, I want to weigh in on several topics in sports.
Michael Vick Dog Show: Yup, dog fighting sounds deplorable. Seems like Vick enjoys it. I don't agree with cruelty to animals, but I also don't like the character assassination of him on a daily basis by the same people (ESPN, NFL "sources") who helped him become as popular as he is. Let the courts find him guilty or innocent. ... Wonder how much Falcons owner Arthur Blank regrets paying him megabucks a few years back now.
NBA Ref Fixing Games? Yet another reason for me to ignore that league in this space. If ref Tim Donaghy really conspired with organized crimesters to profit off games he called, Commissioner David Stern has a real problem on his hands. A big problem. The bottom line here is the hardcore NBA fans probably don't care. But advertisers will notice when the NBA's ratings fall further.
Barry Bonds: Forgive me for going on a roid rage, but ... I am hard-pressed to think of a more personally or professionally dishonest human than this guy. I will not acknowledge him as a "home run king" because it's clear he has cheated and all of his records are tainted. Sports are about competitiveness, but I still like to think the rules of society apply within them. It will be a good day when hits homer No. 756 so we can all stop having to hear/read about him.
Special mention: ESPN, sports talk radio, unaccountable sports web sites. Let me know when you can differentiate between fact and fiction, fellas.
Football is back and hockey is not far behind, so it's time to rev this back up. Before I dig into NFL training camps, and trust me, I will do that, I want to weigh in on several topics in sports.
Michael Vick Dog Show: Yup, dog fighting sounds deplorable. Seems like Vick enjoys it. I don't agree with cruelty to animals, but I also don't like the character assassination of him on a daily basis by the same people (ESPN, NFL "sources") who helped him become as popular as he is. Let the courts find him guilty or innocent. ... Wonder how much Falcons owner Arthur Blank regrets paying him megabucks a few years back now.
NBA Ref Fixing Games? Yet another reason for me to ignore that league in this space. If ref Tim Donaghy really conspired with organized crimesters to profit off games he called, Commissioner David Stern has a real problem on his hands. A big problem. The bottom line here is the hardcore NBA fans probably don't care. But advertisers will notice when the NBA's ratings fall further.
Barry Bonds: Forgive me for going on a roid rage, but ... I am hard-pressed to think of a more personally or professionally dishonest human than this guy. I will not acknowledge him as a "home run king" because it's clear he has cheated and all of his records are tainted. Sports are about competitiveness, but I still like to think the rules of society apply within them. It will be a good day when hits homer No. 756 so we can all stop having to hear/read about him.
Special mention: ESPN, sports talk radio, unaccountable sports web sites. Let me know when you can differentiate between fact and fiction, fellas.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
It's just around the corner
Late June and early July is typically the "dead" time in the NFL. The draft and minicamps are over, and training camps don't begin for another month.
So what's a football fan to do?
Read.
The preview publications are beginning to appear, and two of the best year-in, year-out are produced by The Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly.
I like the Sporting News' annual because they utilize beat writers in each city to write the previews. There is no substitute for being there day-in, day-out.
Pro Football Weekly does football, and football only - every week of the season - and their annual is as thorough as you'll find in terms of player rankings.
I'll give special mention to Sports Illustrated, whose online coverage continues to improve, and whose NFL preview has the advantage of coming out at the end of training camp.
So get reading.
So what's a football fan to do?
Read.
The preview publications are beginning to appear, and two of the best year-in, year-out are produced by The Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly.
I like the Sporting News' annual because they utilize beat writers in each city to write the previews. There is no substitute for being there day-in, day-out.
Pro Football Weekly does football, and football only - every week of the season - and their annual is as thorough as you'll find in terms of player rankings.
I'll give special mention to Sports Illustrated, whose online coverage continues to improve, and whose NFL preview has the advantage of coming out at the end of training camp.
So get reading.
Stanley Cup Finals thoughts
It's been a week and a half, and I'm not sure it's sunk in yet - the Anaheim Ducks are Stanley Cup Champions!
This should not come as a shock given their acquisition of defenseman Chris Pronger and the scoring balance and good goaltending they had all season. The Ducks also proved they have much better depth than given credit for.
Make no mistake about it, those who vote for the Conn Smythe Trophy for the playoffs' most valuable player got it right. As good as Pronger, goalie J-S Giguere and centers Andy McDonald, Samuel Pahlsson and Ryan Getzlaf were, Niedermayer was the rudder that steered Anaheim's championship ship. The Ducks' captain consistently settled things down when needed and pushed the tempo when the situation required. Keep in mind, Anaheim won Game 5 in Detroit without Pronger and Game 4 in Ottawa in the Finals without Pronger. A big part of the reason was Niedermayer.
The temptation is bash Ottawa for a poor Finals performance, however, the ineffectiveness of players such as Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley was due in large part to the line of Pahlsson, Rob Niedermayer and Travis Moen. Frankly, the Senators had a lot of others who didn't show up, including defenseman Wade Redden and forward Mike Comrie. In the face of Anaheim's persistent physical play, many Ottawa players grew disinterested in a hurry.
The Finals also should serve to show Senators fans two things: captain Daniel Alfredsson isn't deserving of much of the blame heaped on him, and Mike Fisher is their best two-way player. Had the series gone to six or seven games, a strong case could have been made for Fisher being the Conn Smythe winner. He and Alfredsson and goalie Ray Emery kept the Senators in all but Game 5 of the Finals.
This should not come as a shock given their acquisition of defenseman Chris Pronger and the scoring balance and good goaltending they had all season. The Ducks also proved they have much better depth than given credit for.
Make no mistake about it, those who vote for the Conn Smythe Trophy for the playoffs' most valuable player got it right. As good as Pronger, goalie J-S Giguere and centers Andy McDonald, Samuel Pahlsson and Ryan Getzlaf were, Niedermayer was the rudder that steered Anaheim's championship ship. The Ducks' captain consistently settled things down when needed and pushed the tempo when the situation required. Keep in mind, Anaheim won Game 5 in Detroit without Pronger and Game 4 in Ottawa in the Finals without Pronger. A big part of the reason was Niedermayer.
The temptation is bash Ottawa for a poor Finals performance, however, the ineffectiveness of players such as Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley was due in large part to the line of Pahlsson, Rob Niedermayer and Travis Moen. Frankly, the Senators had a lot of others who didn't show up, including defenseman Wade Redden and forward Mike Comrie. In the face of Anaheim's persistent physical play, many Ottawa players grew disinterested in a hurry.
The Finals also should serve to show Senators fans two things: captain Daniel Alfredsson isn't deserving of much of the blame heaped on him, and Mike Fisher is their best two-way player. Had the series gone to six or seven games, a strong case could have been made for Fisher being the Conn Smythe winner. He and Alfredsson and goalie Ray Emery kept the Senators in all but Game 5 of the Finals.
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