DFWJC
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 59,981
- Reaction score
- 48,728
Comments?
-------------------------
13 new things I can’t wait to see in NFL ‘08
By Vinnie Iyer - SportingNews May 25, 12:36 pm EDT
Welcome to sports’ annual summer lull, or the homestretch to end the long NFL offseason. With some teams installing revamped schemes and other teams welcoming key new players, this is where every coach, player and fan can bank on high hopes for the upcoming season.
That includes us fans turned writers. I’m naturally enthusiastic about all things NFL, but for the sake of time and the convenience here is a quick look at 13 exciting new developments I’m looking forward to seeing in 2008:
1. Jared Allen flying off the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive line. Minnesota is just about on every radar as the breakout team in the NFC, and it starts with the strength on both lines. The team already was dominant in run blocking and run stopping, but it needed a devastating pass rusher.
With the Williamses, Kevin and Pat, providing the push inside and often eating up three or four blockers, Allen can shoot upfield and wreak havoc on quarterbacks. Although the Vikings’ secondary isn’t a shutdown unit, it is aggressive in coming up with takeaways and Allen’s pressure should lead to even more quarterback mistakes.
2. Frank Gore starring as Mike Martz’s main cog. You might remember that Martz once operated an offense with another versatile, explosive running back as its centerpiece—Marshall Faulk and the “Greatest Show on Turf” St. Louis Rams.
Everyone is wondering what Martz, now the offensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers, will get out of quarterbacks Alex Smith and Shaun Hill, but there’s no question the thing Martz does best is get the most out of his most athletically gifted players. Martz can get Gore back to being the all-purpose machine he was just two years ago.
3. Steven Jackson starring as Al Saunders’ main cog. Similar good news for Jackson: Saunders is to Priest Holmes as Martz is to Faulk. Saunders, now the offensive coordinator for the Rams, plans to produce a prolific offense in the mold of the one he directed in KC. Jackson’s skilled teammates are more used to putting up big numbers off complicated playbooks, most notably Marc Bulger and Torry Holt, who worked under Martz.
Forget the variety of plays Saunders has—it still comes down to a great back and great rhythm in moving the ball downfield. A healthy Jackson will be fun to watch.
4. LaMarr Woodley becoming the next great edge pass rusher. If Penn State is Linebacker U., then the Pittsburgh Steelers provide Outside Linebacker Graduate School. The staple of the Steelers’ four-linebacker blitz-leaning look is having two men who consistently can turn the corner and get after quarterbacks. Just a year after letting Joey Porter go in free agency, the Steelers are back at it again.
Last season, it was formerly undrafted fourth-year man James Harrison exploding on the scene as edge playmaker. After spending one year as a rookie backup, it’s Woodley turn to shine on the opposite side of the 3-4 scheme, giving the Steelers’ nice-looking bookends at their most critical defensive position.
5. Asante Samuel sparking the Philadelphia Eagles’ entire defense. Philadelphia just saw the Giants win the Super Bowl with a defensive mindset similar to its own, orchestrated by no less than former Eagles defensive assistant Steve Spagnuolo. Now, it’s time for Spagnuolo’s mentor, Jim Johnson, to deliver an improved, attacking unit.
The Eagles already have a good pass rush with end Trent Cole leading the way; they just needed more playmaking oomph to back it up. As solid as Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard have been, the Eagles needed someone to turn their aggressiveness into game-changing plays. Samuel has the acumen and swagger to reenergize the whole defense.
6. Alan Faneca raising the play of the New York Jets’ young offensive linemen. It’s a not a coincidence that the perennial Pro Bowler’s position is left guard, and that the Jets’ talented third-year linemen, left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick Mangold, now will have Faneca between them. Faneca could provide the glue with his savvy, and he certainly will provide a needed nasty streak.
If the Jets are to challenge the New England Patriots, they must develop an attitude and that comes with pounding defenders and playing grind-it-out football. The Jets will learn that paying Faneca a great deal for his dirty job will pay off.
7. Chris Johnson providing another matchup nightmare out of the Tennessee Titans’ backfield. Having the mobility and improvisation of Vince Young in the pocket already keeps opposing defenses on their toes, and there won’t be many answers for the pure speed of Johnson, the Titans’ rookie running back. The return of offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger means putting special talents in the right positions to succeed, and expect him to allow Johnson to dazzle with his open-field potential.
8. JaMarcus Russell being let loose to fire away in the Oakland Raiders’ offense. Russell stepped into a pretty good position in what essentially is his rookie year after he saw only limited action last season. Coach Lane Kiffin got Oakland to produce as a strong running team last season, and it will get only stronger with the legs of Darren McFadden.
That should take plenty of pressure off Russell, where he can succeed if he just plays off the run and takes favorable shots downfield to tight end Zach Miller and the team’s new go-to wideout, former Bronco Javon Walker. If Russell is kept from being a chucker, expect a surprisingly efficient year in his first one as a full-time starter.
9. Steve Smith getting help in the Carolina Panthers’ offense. Jake Delhomme looks on track to return from his elbow injury, and Carolina welcomed back a familiar friend opposite Smith in Muhsin Muhammad.
The Panthers reached the Super Bowl with the chemistry of the Delhomme-Smith-Muhammad trio sparking the passing game, and this time they also have another promising target in ex-Seahawk D.J. Hackett. Additions to the offensive line and backfield will help deflect attention from Smith.
Smith is the mightiest of mites at wide receiver, and it will be nice to see him make more plays while being swarmed less.
10. Paul Posluszny emerging as a star in the Buffalo Bills’ promising young defense. As we know from Dick Jauron’s best days with the Bears, a strong, rangy middle linebacker (see Brian Urlacher) is vital to making the whole defense click. Posluszny was off to a good start as a rookie, until he broke his forearm in Week 3 and was lost for the final 13 games.
This year, he steps back in with more help, in the form of ex-Giant Kawika Mitchell at weakside linebacker and ex-Jaguar Marcus Stroud at defensive tackle. Let’s hope Posluszny stays healthy because he is a tackling machine.
11. Donte’ Stallworth streaking downfield in the Cleveland Browns’ dynamic passing game. QB Derek Anderson took advantage of Cleveland’s Brobdingnagian receiving corps (6-3 Braylon Edwards, 6-4 Kellen Winslow, 6-5 Joe Jurevicius) to enjoy a breakout season.
Missing was a complementary, blinding speedster to take advantage of man-to-man coverage either outside or in the slot, punishing opponents who focus on Edwards and Winslow.
Stallworth will make his share of big plays running after catches, and his ability to stretch the field will open more intermediate routes for Edwards and Winslow. Expect Cleveland’s offense to rock at a higher level in 2008.
12. John Harbaugh lighting a fire under the Baltimore Ravens. Ever since Brian Billick guided Baltimore to victory in Super Bowl 35, the team just kind of tried to hold status quo in an attempt to duplicate that championship formula. The offense never improved despite Billick’s expertise in that area, and in 2000 the defense had set an impossibly high standard, something switches between 4-3 and 3-4 schemes never could match.
The Ravens needed a jolt, and they were smart to go get it for the sidelines. Here come the true Hard Knocks as Harbaugh’s hardnosed, old-school style is perfect for a team in transition.
13. Aaron Rodgers taking over for a legend as the Green Bay Packers’ quarterback. Packers fans have known this time eventually would come and could glean some hope from what Rodgers did against Dallas last season. That said, Packers fans still are nervous about Rodgers replacing Brett Favre. That’s understandable, considering the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins have spent years searching for someone to carry the torch from their all-time greats, John Elway and Dan Marino, respectively.
The best bet on what we’ll see from Rodgers is fewer jaw-dropping plays but fewer head-shaking mistakes. As a young, still developing quarterback, Rodgers is more likely to be reined in—living off the run and high-percentage routes and not taking as many chances as Favre with gunning the ball deep.
The coaching staff should instill in Rodgers that he has several talented teammates on both sides of the ball and that protecting the ball and executing simple throws will be enough to win plenty of games.
-------------------------
13 new things I can’t wait to see in NFL ‘08
By Vinnie Iyer - SportingNews May 25, 12:36 pm EDT
Welcome to sports’ annual summer lull, or the homestretch to end the long NFL offseason. With some teams installing revamped schemes and other teams welcoming key new players, this is where every coach, player and fan can bank on high hopes for the upcoming season.
That includes us fans turned writers. I’m naturally enthusiastic about all things NFL, but for the sake of time and the convenience here is a quick look at 13 exciting new developments I’m looking forward to seeing in 2008:
1. Jared Allen flying off the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive line. Minnesota is just about on every radar as the breakout team in the NFC, and it starts with the strength on both lines. The team already was dominant in run blocking and run stopping, but it needed a devastating pass rusher.
With the Williamses, Kevin and Pat, providing the push inside and often eating up three or four blockers, Allen can shoot upfield and wreak havoc on quarterbacks. Although the Vikings’ secondary isn’t a shutdown unit, it is aggressive in coming up with takeaways and Allen’s pressure should lead to even more quarterback mistakes.
2. Frank Gore starring as Mike Martz’s main cog. You might remember that Martz once operated an offense with another versatile, explosive running back as its centerpiece—Marshall Faulk and the “Greatest Show on Turf” St. Louis Rams.
Everyone is wondering what Martz, now the offensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers, will get out of quarterbacks Alex Smith and Shaun Hill, but there’s no question the thing Martz does best is get the most out of his most athletically gifted players. Martz can get Gore back to being the all-purpose machine he was just two years ago.
3. Steven Jackson starring as Al Saunders’ main cog. Similar good news for Jackson: Saunders is to Priest Holmes as Martz is to Faulk. Saunders, now the offensive coordinator for the Rams, plans to produce a prolific offense in the mold of the one he directed in KC. Jackson’s skilled teammates are more used to putting up big numbers off complicated playbooks, most notably Marc Bulger and Torry Holt, who worked under Martz.
Forget the variety of plays Saunders has—it still comes down to a great back and great rhythm in moving the ball downfield. A healthy Jackson will be fun to watch.
4. LaMarr Woodley becoming the next great edge pass rusher. If Penn State is Linebacker U., then the Pittsburgh Steelers provide Outside Linebacker Graduate School. The staple of the Steelers’ four-linebacker blitz-leaning look is having two men who consistently can turn the corner and get after quarterbacks. Just a year after letting Joey Porter go in free agency, the Steelers are back at it again.
Last season, it was formerly undrafted fourth-year man James Harrison exploding on the scene as edge playmaker. After spending one year as a rookie backup, it’s Woodley turn to shine on the opposite side of the 3-4 scheme, giving the Steelers’ nice-looking bookends at their most critical defensive position.
5. Asante Samuel sparking the Philadelphia Eagles’ entire defense. Philadelphia just saw the Giants win the Super Bowl with a defensive mindset similar to its own, orchestrated by no less than former Eagles defensive assistant Steve Spagnuolo. Now, it’s time for Spagnuolo’s mentor, Jim Johnson, to deliver an improved, attacking unit.
The Eagles already have a good pass rush with end Trent Cole leading the way; they just needed more playmaking oomph to back it up. As solid as Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard have been, the Eagles needed someone to turn their aggressiveness into game-changing plays. Samuel has the acumen and swagger to reenergize the whole defense.
6. Alan Faneca raising the play of the New York Jets’ young offensive linemen. It’s a not a coincidence that the perennial Pro Bowler’s position is left guard, and that the Jets’ talented third-year linemen, left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick Mangold, now will have Faneca between them. Faneca could provide the glue with his savvy, and he certainly will provide a needed nasty streak.
If the Jets are to challenge the New England Patriots, they must develop an attitude and that comes with pounding defenders and playing grind-it-out football. The Jets will learn that paying Faneca a great deal for his dirty job will pay off.
7. Chris Johnson providing another matchup nightmare out of the Tennessee Titans’ backfield. Having the mobility and improvisation of Vince Young in the pocket already keeps opposing defenses on their toes, and there won’t be many answers for the pure speed of Johnson, the Titans’ rookie running back. The return of offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger means putting special talents in the right positions to succeed, and expect him to allow Johnson to dazzle with his open-field potential.
8. JaMarcus Russell being let loose to fire away in the Oakland Raiders’ offense. Russell stepped into a pretty good position in what essentially is his rookie year after he saw only limited action last season. Coach Lane Kiffin got Oakland to produce as a strong running team last season, and it will get only stronger with the legs of Darren McFadden.
That should take plenty of pressure off Russell, where he can succeed if he just plays off the run and takes favorable shots downfield to tight end Zach Miller and the team’s new go-to wideout, former Bronco Javon Walker. If Russell is kept from being a chucker, expect a surprisingly efficient year in his first one as a full-time starter.
9. Steve Smith getting help in the Carolina Panthers’ offense. Jake Delhomme looks on track to return from his elbow injury, and Carolina welcomed back a familiar friend opposite Smith in Muhsin Muhammad.
The Panthers reached the Super Bowl with the chemistry of the Delhomme-Smith-Muhammad trio sparking the passing game, and this time they also have another promising target in ex-Seahawk D.J. Hackett. Additions to the offensive line and backfield will help deflect attention from Smith.
Smith is the mightiest of mites at wide receiver, and it will be nice to see him make more plays while being swarmed less.
10. Paul Posluszny emerging as a star in the Buffalo Bills’ promising young defense. As we know from Dick Jauron’s best days with the Bears, a strong, rangy middle linebacker (see Brian Urlacher) is vital to making the whole defense click. Posluszny was off to a good start as a rookie, until he broke his forearm in Week 3 and was lost for the final 13 games.
This year, he steps back in with more help, in the form of ex-Giant Kawika Mitchell at weakside linebacker and ex-Jaguar Marcus Stroud at defensive tackle. Let’s hope Posluszny stays healthy because he is a tackling machine.
11. Donte’ Stallworth streaking downfield in the Cleveland Browns’ dynamic passing game. QB Derek Anderson took advantage of Cleveland’s Brobdingnagian receiving corps (6-3 Braylon Edwards, 6-4 Kellen Winslow, 6-5 Joe Jurevicius) to enjoy a breakout season.
Missing was a complementary, blinding speedster to take advantage of man-to-man coverage either outside or in the slot, punishing opponents who focus on Edwards and Winslow.
Stallworth will make his share of big plays running after catches, and his ability to stretch the field will open more intermediate routes for Edwards and Winslow. Expect Cleveland’s offense to rock at a higher level in 2008.
12. John Harbaugh lighting a fire under the Baltimore Ravens. Ever since Brian Billick guided Baltimore to victory in Super Bowl 35, the team just kind of tried to hold status quo in an attempt to duplicate that championship formula. The offense never improved despite Billick’s expertise in that area, and in 2000 the defense had set an impossibly high standard, something switches between 4-3 and 3-4 schemes never could match.
The Ravens needed a jolt, and they were smart to go get it for the sidelines. Here come the true Hard Knocks as Harbaugh’s hardnosed, old-school style is perfect for a team in transition.
13. Aaron Rodgers taking over for a legend as the Green Bay Packers’ quarterback. Packers fans have known this time eventually would come and could glean some hope from what Rodgers did against Dallas last season. That said, Packers fans still are nervous about Rodgers replacing Brett Favre. That’s understandable, considering the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins have spent years searching for someone to carry the torch from their all-time greats, John Elway and Dan Marino, respectively.
The best bet on what we’ll see from Rodgers is fewer jaw-dropping plays but fewer head-shaking mistakes. As a young, still developing quarterback, Rodgers is more likely to be reined in—living off the run and high-percentage routes and not taking as many chances as Favre with gunning the ball deep.
The coaching staff should instill in Rodgers that he has several talented teammates on both sides of the ball and that protecting the ball and executing simple throws will be enough to win plenty of games.
