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WoodysGirl said:NFL off-season rankings: Cowboys in NFL's bottom half
[size=-1]04:00 PM CDT on Saturday, June 4, 2005 [/size]
Rick Gosselin
Inside The NFL
The Philadelphia Eagles are due. Overdue, in fact. Way overdue.
If you subtract three Sundays from this decade – the three Sundays that the New England Patriots have won Super Bowls – the Eagles would be the NFL's best team of the 2000s.
Philadelphia has 59 victories this decade, six more than any other NFL team. The Eagles are on pace to win 118 games, which would be an NFL record for any decade. Philadelphia is the only team to qualify for the playoffs all five seasons of the decade and the only team to win four division titles. But the Eagles have yet to win a Super Bowl – and it took them every bit of five seasons just to reach one last February.
The New England team that defeated Philadelphia, 24-21, that day has lost its offensive and defensive coordinators, two Pro Bowl defenders (linebacker Tedy Bruschi and cornerback Ty Law) and two other starters (guard Joe Andruzzi and defensive tackle Keith Traylor).
The Eagles lost two starters in free agency – guard Jermane Mayberry and defensive end Derrick Burgess – but replaced them with recent first-round draft picks Shawn Andrews and Jerome McDougle. A league-high nine Pro Bowlers also return. So put Philadelphia atop the annual off-season rankings by The Dallas Morning News.
1. Philadelphia
The off-season crisis for the Eagles is the renegotiation demand of WR Terrell Owens.
AP Donovan McNabb
Even if Owens sits, which is unlikely, the Eagles won't be crippled by his absence. Philadelphia lost incumbent Pro Bowl players each of the previous three off-seasons – LB Jeremiah Trotter in 2002, DE Hugh Douglas in 2003 and CB Troy Vincent in 2004 – and still advanced to the NFC title game each season. No. 2 draft pick Reggie Brown is a superb insurance policy at wide receiver. He caught 141 passes at Georgia and has 4.38-second speed in the 40.
Final '04 rank: 2
2. Pittsburgh
The NFL's best defense returns intact with an upgrade at nose tackle. Pro Bowler Casey Hampton is back after missing the final 10 games of 2004 with a knee injury.
AP Ben Roethlisberger
G Kendall Simmons also is back after missing the season with a knee injury. So the two lines should be improved. NFL Rookie of the Year QB Ben Roethlisberger also will be a year older and a year better. He looks to have a greater impact with his arm. Pittsburgh protected him a year ago, and the Steelers ranked only 28th in passing. If they turn him loose, he could become a 4,000-yard passer.
Final '04 rank: 3
3. New England
The Patriots have built the first dynasty of the salary-cap era but will have to overcome some titanic losses to win a fourth Super Bowl this decade. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis left to become head coach at Notre Dame, defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel left to become head coach of the Cleveland Browns and LB Tedy Bruschi, the traffic cop of a top-10 defense, suffered a stroke that figures to sideline him in 2005. But coach Bill Belichick and QB Tom Brady still form a daunting combination.
Final '04 rank: 1
4. Indianapolis
Peyton Manning did everything last season except win a Super Bowl. He captured NFL MVP honors, won a passing title and broke league records that were decades old. But if he is ever to win a championship, the Colts must start playing some defense. They ranked 29th in the NFL in 2004 – the worst finish in Tony Dungy's nine-year head coaching career. Any improvement must come from within. The Colts didn't sign any veteran free agents but did draft defenders with five of their first six picks.
Final '04 rank: 4
5. Carolina
The Panthers don't need better players to become Super Bowl contenders, just healthier ones. With a healthy roster, Carolina was the best team in the NFC in 2003. But its two best offensive weapons (WR Steve Smith and RB Stephen Davis) and best defender (DT Kris Jenkins) combined to miss 41 games in 2004. Only four of the 22 primary starters managed to play entire 16-game seasons. A healthy roster – plus the additions of G Mike Wahle, CB Ken Lucas and FS Idrees Bashir – makes the Panthers contenders again.
Final '04 rank: 11
6. San Diego
The Chargers were one of the youngest teams in the NFL in 2004, and one of the most successful with 12 victories and an AFC West title. All 22 starters are back, a rarity in a salary-cap world, and the Chargers used the draft to patch some holes. First-round LB Shawne Merriman bolsters a weak pass rush, and second-round WR Vincent Jackson brings speed to the passing game. RB LaDainian Tomlinson may be the most complete player in the NFL.
Final '04 rank: 6
7. Jacksonville
An inability to beat Houston cost the Jaguars a playoff spot in 2004. They went 0-2 against the Texans and 9-5 against everyone else, including victories at Indianapolis and Green Bay. QB Byron Leftwich is an emerging star on offense, and the defensive tackle combo of Marcus Stroud and John Henderson is the best in the business. The Jaguars also have built an offensive line with high draft picks. Jacksonville could be the breakthrough team of 2005.
Final '04 rank: 12
8. Minnesota
Can the subtraction from the roster of the most talented player in the game (Randy Moss) make the Vikings a better team?
AP Daunte Culpepper
If Mike Tice is successful with his defensive overhaul – five new veteran starters have arrived – the answer is yes. The Vikings ranked 28th in defense a year ago and allowed almost as many points (395) as their high-flying offense could score (405). QB Daunte Culpepper will generate points and yards with or without Moss.
Final '04 rank: 15
9. Buffalo
The Bills have the NFL's best special teams, the second-best defense and elite offensive playmakers in Willis McGahee, Lee Evans and Eric Moulds. Buffalo will try to duplicate the feat of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2004 – win a division title with an inexperienced quarterback. The cast is strong enough to carry QB J.P. Losman if he can avoid making mistakes that cost his team games. Ben Roethlisberger did it last season, and the Steelers went 15-1.
Final '04 rank: 8
10. Atlanta
The Falcons found Mike Vick a lead receiver in the off-season, drafting Roddy White in the first round. But will Vick throw him the football? Vick is still more comfortable running the ball than throwing it. He needs to figure out what Steve Young figured out in the early 1990s – he can win more games with his left arm than with his legs. Four starters are gone from a defense that played surprisingly well in Jim Mora's first season as head coach.
Final '04 rank: 5
11. Cincinnati
Coach Marvin Lewis gambled last year when he put inexperienced QB Carson Palmer in the lineup of a playoff contender. Palmer struggled early but was an NFL-caliber passer by the end of the season. The Bengals will benefit in 2005. No. 1 draft pick David Pollack brings energy and a pass rush to a defense that could use a little of both.
Final '04 rank: 16
12. Baltimore
The Ravens have the same formula in 2005 that captured a Super Bowl in 2000 – the power running of Jamal Lewis and suffocating defense. But Trent Dilfer made an occasional play for the 2000 Ravens at quarterback. Baltimore is still waiting for a contribution from QB Kyle Boller. Free-agent WR Derrick Mason could accelerate Boller's development.
Final '04 rank: 13
13. New York Jets
Curtis Martin carried the Jets into the postseason in 2004, running for 1,697 yards and becoming the oldest player (31) to win an NFL rushing title. He's going to need some help in 2005, and a healthy Chad Pennington could provide it. The Jets plan to open up the attack with new offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger.
Final '04 rank: 7
14. Oakland
Has there been a team that has more dramatically changed its profile this off-season than the Raiders? Adding WR Randy Moss gives the Raiders the chance for big plays on offense, and adding RB Lamont Jordan gives them a chance for little plays. Coach Norv Turner is hoping younger means better on defense. An aging cast ranked 30th last season.
Final '04 rank: 28
15. Green Bay
Brett Favre flirted with retirement in the off-season. That would have been a disaster. The Packers have since protected themselves by drafting Cal's Aaron Rodgers in the first round. Like Oakland, the offense is fine – but the defense needs work. The Pack finished 25th last year and will be without cap-casualty SS Darren Sharper in 2005.
Final '04 rank: 9
16. Kansas City
The Chiefs had the only offense that gained more yards than the Colts last season.
AP Tony Gonzalez
But here's another team with defensive woes. The Chiefs finished 31st in 2004 and gave up a whopping 435 points. Veterans CB Patrick Surtain, FS Sammy Knight, LB Kendrell Bell and DE Carlos Hall were summoned to provide the defense a backbone.
Final '04 rank: 17
17. New York Giants
Eli Manning struggled as a rookie starter in 2004, losing six of his seven starts. But his development was slowed by starting receivers (Amani Toomer and Ike Hilliard) who failed to catch a TD pass. Big, physical free-agent WR Plaxico Burress addresses that deficiency. Eli's brother Peyton went from 3-13 to 13-3 in his second season.
Final '04 rank: 27
18. New Orleans
The Saints lead the league in under-achievement. They are under .500 at home in Jim Haslett's five seasons (21-27) as head coach. If you can't win at home, you can't compete for playoff spots. Free-agent ballhawk Dwight Smith was recruited to help prop up the NFL's 32nd-ranked defense. But QB Aaron Brooks remains an enigma.
Final '04 rank: 19
19. Denver
The signing of WR Jerry Rice, drafting of RB Maurice Clarett and trade acquisition of P Todd Sauerbrun all smack of desperation on the part of coach Mike Shanahan, who has not won a playoff game since John Elway retired after the 1999 Super Bowl. Jake Plummer must cut his interceptions in half (from 20) for the Broncos to be serious contenders.
Final '04 rank: 10
20. DALLAS
The Cowboys won a Super Bowl in 1992 with one of the youngest teams in the NFL.
Michael Mulvey / DMN Drew Bledsoe
They are attempting to win in 2005 with one of the league's oldest lineups. Drew Bledsoe, Marco Rivera, Keyshawn Johnson, Terry Glenn, Larry Allen and La'Roi Glover are all key contributors in their 30s. A new 3-4 defensive scheme could slow the rebuilding process.
Final '04 rank: 23
21. Houston
Expansion teams Carolina and Jacksonville went to the playoffs in their second seasons and Cleveland went in its fourth. Entering their fourth season, the Texans feel a sense of urgency. They hope to fix the 24nd-ranked pass defense with the acquisition of CB Philip Buchanon.
Final '04 rank: 18
22. Arizona
If you want a sleeper team, it's the Cardinals. The sad-sack NFC West is inviting Arizona to assert itself. The Cardinals' three-wide receiver set of Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and Bryant Johnson will remind new quarterback Kurt Warner of his MVP days in St. Louis.
Final '04 rank: 26
23. Detroit
If the Cardinals don't have the best three-receiver set in the NFL, the Lions might in Roy Williams, Charles Rogers and Mike Williams. Detroit also has a 1,100-yard rusher in Kevin Jones. If QB Joey Harrington can't succeed with all this talent around him, Jeff Garcia will get the chance.
Final '04 rank: 21
24. Seattle
With a new president (Tim Ruskell) in the building, Mike Holmgren may be running out of time in Seattle. He has won two division titles but no playoff games in his six seasons as coach. The Seahawks signed LB Jamie Sharper and CBs Andre Dyson and Kelly Herndon to bolster the defense.
Final '04 rank: 14
25. St. Louis
It appears Mike Martz has finally figured out he needs defense and special teams as much as he does offense to compete for Super Bowls. But it may be too late. One of the best offenses ever assembled has gotten old with Pro Bowl playmakers Marshall Faulk and Isaac Bruce now in their 30s.
Final '04 rank: 20
26. Tampa Bay
The hiring of Jon Gruden in 2002 was supposed to mean instant offense in the makeover of the Bucs. It hasn't happened. Gruden isn't fond of his two quarterbacks, Brian Griese and Chris Simms, and the Bucs still rely on defense to win games. RB Carnell Williams should help in 2005.
Final '04 rank: 26
27. Washington
Another season like the last one and Canton may evict Joe Gibbs from the Hall of Fame.
AP Joe Gibbs
Like Gruden, Gibbs carries the tag offensive guru. But the Commanders finished 30th in the NFL in offense and won just six games. Gibbs misses Mark Rypien. Maybe rookie QB Jason Campbell can bail Gibbs out.
Final '04 rank: 24
28. Chicago
The worst offense in the NFL has been overhauled with the arrival of RB Cedric Benson in the draft and WR Muhsin Muhammad in free agency and the return of QB Rex Grossman from injury. But the NFL's 21st-ranked defense returns virtually intact. That's certainly not a plus.
Final '04 rank: 30
29. Tennessee
The salary cap continues to pummel the Titans. They had to release five starters last February, including veteran Pro Bowlers WR Derrick Mason and CB Samari Rolle. Steve McNair is the lone reminder that this was once a Super Bowl team.
Final '04 rank: 29
30. Miami
Nick Saban wants to make the Dolphins bigger in his first season and has succeeded with the additions of OT Stockar McDougle, DT Kevin Carter, DE Vonnie Holliday and SS Tebucky Jones. But how much better are the Dolphins?
Final '04 rank: 25
31. Cleveland
The Browns have been one of the great rushing franchises in NFL history. With Lee Suggs, Reuben Droughns and William Green, the Browns should be able to run the ball again in 2005. But that may be their only strength.
Final '04 rank: 31
32.San Francisco
Eli Manning went 1-6 as a rookie starter with the New York Giants in 2004. He was more ready to play in the NFL than Alex Smith and had a better supporting cast in New York than Smith has in San Francisco.
Final '04 rank: 32
E-mail rgosselin@***BANNED-URL***
http://www.cowboysplus.com/topstorync/stories/0605cpfreeranks.2e08570c7.html
Hey, its the off-season.
Its always interesting to me to see how the media looks at things during the off-season. Especially comparing the results of the previous year.
Seems to me that a few of the bottom half teams faired pretty well last season.
