Hashmarks Power Rankings With Comments
August 8, 2007 6:54 PM
1. New England- I keep hearing good things about this team. Sure, that secondary could be a little suspect without Asante Samuel, but the Patriots always find a way to patch things together back there. And Tom Brady has too many weapons for this team to not reach the Super Bowl.
2. San Diego- There are some subtle moves the Chargers have made to make tight end Antonio Gates even more of a weapon. The rookie Scott Chandler will help in that regard. You can poke holes in most rosters if you try hard enough, but I have a hard time doing that with the Chargers.
3. Indianapolis- I kept telling myself that all those defensive losses weren't going to hurt even though linebacker Cato June is one of the most underrated players in the league. Then they lose defensive tackle Booger McFarland, and I had to bump them down a spot.
4. Chicago- Still the best defense in the NFC by far, although I really like what the Eagles have done to shore up their run defense. If Rex Grossman can simply be adequate, this defense will win a lot of games.
5. Denver- Some will say that I gave into an angry Broncos fandom, but they'll only be half right. The truth is I realized my concern about Jay Cutler was a little over the top. The Broncos have way too many weapons on both sides of the ball not to be in my Top 10.
6. New Orleans- Reggie Bush will be much more of a consistent threat in the running game this season, and I think the Saints have improved their receiving corps. I also think defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs does a great job working with that defense, and he knows how to get those no-name linebackers to perform.
7. Baltimore- Yes, Adalius Thomas was a solid player, but I really like this Jarret Johnson kid. He was a two-time captain at Alabama, something that rarely happens. Overall, I still think the Ravens are the best defense in football. Throw in the addition of Willis McGahee on offense, and there's no reason this team can't challenge for AFC supremacy.
8. Philadelphia- I believe in the whole change-of-scenery thing, and Takeo Spikes appears to be a new man under Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. Andy Reid is known for being patient with young players, and I think that will pay off this season when former third-round draft choice Chris Gocong steps into the starting lineup. Of course, all of this hinges on Donovan McNabb's health.
9. Pittsburgh- Bill Cowher had a great run, but I think the change at the top will be good for this team. Look for running back Willie Parker to put up huge numbers this season, which will take some of the pressure off Ben Roethlisberger.
10. Seattle- I'm just not ready to write this team off, although I concede that running back Shaun Alexander does seem to be slowing down quite a bit. The Seahawks enter the season feeling much better about their secondary, and new special teams coach Bruce DeHaven will do an excellent job.
11. New York Jets- I may have been a little too high on the Jets, but I think Chad Pennington is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the league and that Thomas Jones will be a really nice addition. Still can't believe the relatively huge payday they gave defensive end Kenyon Coleman, though.
12. Dallas- It should come as no shock that I think Tony Romo is going to live up to all the hype. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and assistant head coach/offensive line Tony Sparano are doing a great job getting Terrell Owens more involved. He was dominant at times during training camp, and the Cowboys need him to be that type of player. I also think new head coach Wade Phillips will have a dramatic impact on linebacker DeMarcus Ware and safety Roy Williams.
13. Carolina- Am I the only one who thinks Jake Delhomme might still have something? Steve Smith is one of the most explosive players in the game, and I think Dwayne Jarrett will complement him really well.
14. Cincinnati- It has been a rough offseason for the Bengals, but there's still plenty of talent on this roster. I think Carson Palmer is poised to have a season like he had two years ago. Rookie Leon Hall will help this team immediately in the secondary, but it's not like the Bengals made wholesale changes from a team that was pretty average last season.
15. San Francisco- I had to talk myself out of putting the 49ers a few spots higher. I think rookie Joe Staley is going to be a solid offensive tackle in this league for a long time and rookie linebacker Patrick Willis has tremendous upside. Running back Frank Gore has become an elite back, but I still think the Seahawks will be able to hold off the 'Niners for one more season.
16. Tennessee- I've talked about this team's nondescript group of running backs and receivers, but quarterback Vince Young's the type of player who can still find a way to win. Former Colts cornerback Nick Harper will help, but he's not Pacman Jones. It will also be interesting to see who fills in for Jones in the return game. He made a huge impact there last season.
17. St. Louis- I'm struggling to get a solid feel for this team. Still capable of putting up huge numbers on offense, but that defensive line doesn't do much for me. Just not enough experience for my taste.
18. Detroit- Not quite ready to jump on the bandwagon. Yes, Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson could end up being one of the best tandems in the league, but the defense still has to stop someone. Roy Williams thinks this offense could average 40 points per game, and the Lions may need that type of production to make the playoffs. I do think Rod Marinelli has brought a new attitude to that team, and I like how the Lions played for him when they were out of contention last season.
19. New York Giants- The more I think about it, this team might be better off without Michael Strahan this season. I know that Mathias Kiwanuka has moved from defensive end to linebacker, but he could move back. I also like Justin Tuck. Of course, the biggest thing will be finding out if Eli Manning is ready to play with some consistency and confidence. It bothers me that the club had to talk to him about having better body language on the field. That's not a great sign.
20. Jacksonville- What's that saying about having three quarterbacks? Means you don't have any. Byron Leftwich has never been embraced in this town, and he doesn't have any great targets at receiver. I do like the Jags situation at running back a lot.
21. Buffalo- Starting to come around on this team a little bit. From what I can tell, the Bills may end up with a really talented offensive line, something that hasn't been the case for years. And I think J.P. Losman is showing signs of taking the next step.
22. Miami- Cam Cameron is doing a nice job of winning his team over after the club made a questionable first-round draft choice with receiver Ted Ginn Jr. The Dolphins still have a solid defense, so the offense doesn't have to do all that much for the team to stay in games.
23. Washington- Some of us have been a little too hard on this team. I think Jason Campbell has the chance to do some nice things, and you have to like their situation at running back. I also think Sean Taylor and LaRon Landry have an opportunity to be the best safety tandem in the league soon. Taylor has been destroying people in training camp, so the Commanders are ready to see some opponents.
24. Atlanta- You have to feel bad for the situation that Bobby Petrino has walked into. He felf like he was going to finally get some consistency out of Michael Vick, and he ends up with Joey Harrington. I just don't see any way this team makes a run at the playoffs.
25. Kansas City- This team's stock keeps falling. The Chiefs just lost their starting left tackle, and still no sign of running back Larry Johnson. I think he'll end up playing, but if Herm Edwards is really going to start Brodie Croyle he deserves what's coming to him. I just don't think this kid is ready to be a starter in the league, and for some reason, the Chiefs are forcing him to be.
26. Green Bay- I think the Packers could be relatively solid on defense, but a soon-to-be 38-year-old Brett Favre will be surrounded by a rookie running back and a questionable group of receivers. I'd love to see him go out with a bang, but I don't think Ted Thompson has put him in position to do that.
27. Tampa Bay- I've read where a couple of people think the Bucs could be a sleeper. I don't see it. Maybe it's because they're schedule doesn't look too bad, but this team just doesn't have much at receiver beyond the aging Joey Galloway, and its offensive line will continue to be suspect. It scares me to think of Jeff Garcia running around back there behind that line.
28. Houston- I'm trying to be a lot nicer to Texans fans these days because they deserve better. Matt Schaub will be a serious upgrade at quarterback, but I still don't like that offensive line very much. And do we seriously think that Ahman Green is the answer at running back?
29. Arizona- I think the Cardinals are finally heading in the right direction, but haven't we said that in the past? New head coach Ken Whisenhunt and offensive line coach Russ Grimm are certainly a breath of fresh air, but as long as the Bidwills are running the show, I'll always have my doubts. Look for Al Johnson to have a strong season anchoring that offensive line.
30. Minnesota- Two words: Tarvaris Jackson. OK, that's not totally fair. I think the Vikings could have a solid running game if Adrian Peterson can stay healthy.
31. Cleveland- We spent so much time praising the Browns for their draft-day moves, but some of that good will was cast aside during Brady Quinn's holdout. I'm hard-pressed to find more than six wins on the Browns' schedule, so it's probably curtains for Romeo Crennel.
32. Oakland- The Raiders have too good of a defense to remain down for much longer, but that offense is going to struggle mightily. I keep reading that this will be a much better offensive line, but I need to see it with my own eyes. Tough, tough year with a rookie quarterback. But look for them to make a nice move in 2008.
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