College Football Preview!

I lied to myself.

There is no escaping the magic of college football. The sight of 85,000 fans storming the field after a big upset, the sound of the bands playing the fight songs, and the articles on the latest Miami player to get suspended. I guess I always will be enamored with it. I'll always cheer Ohio State and Pitt, boo Penn State and Notre Dame, and for at least another year, I'm gonna write a preview. Here's my take on a few local teams, and to shut up Kamo, Notre Dame.

Pitt Panthers: After a disastrous 5-6 campaign, Dave "Wann-stache" Wannstedt put together maybe the best recruiting class Pitt has had since the Marino era. A couple more offseasons like that, and we could see a return to glory for the blue and gold. As for this year, it's a toss-up. The team is very young and will rely on several freshmen to play important roles. However, there is great leadership on the team. Tyler Palko will hopefully return to his 2004 form after an average '05, and help out the incredibly young receiving corps. On defense, CB Darrelle Revis and LB H.B. Blades will get All-American consideration, and hopefully they will have a decent line in front of them (and even if they don't these two will put up good numbers). While an 8 or 9 win season isn't impossible considering their home schedule, a more realistic figure would be 7-5 with a shitty bowl appearance.

Penn State: Last year's astounding 11-1 campaign has all the blue and white homos chanting "We Are Penn State!" (yes, we know. It's on that stupid shirt you always wear) and proclaiming that JoePa hasn't lost it. Sorry, folks. Not only has Paterno lost it, but the team has lost most of it's big players from last year. They have taken a step back, and in a conference where several teams have taken a step forward, don't expect another BCS berth. Sure, Derrick Williams and Paul Posluszsns...whatever, could have big years, but not many others on the team will. That includes Anthony Morelli, who I hope experiences unconscionable pain in Columbus on September 23. Look for Penn State, like Pitt, to go 7-5, and to get creamed by Notre Dame in a couple weeks.

West Virginia: WVU might make it to the BCS title game without breaking a sweat. They are talented, they are young, and they play in what is easily the weakest BCS conference. Their only challenges should be at Louisville and at Pitt (and based on what they did to Pitt last year, that won't be much of a challenge). Barring some unforeseen disaster, look for the Mountaineers to go at least 11-1 and possibly make it to the big game.

(sigh) Notre Dame: Alright, I admit...they're good. Very good. On offense, at least. But their defense allowed over 400 yards a game last year, and in the Fiesta Bowl Ohio State ran all over them en route to an ugly 34-20 victory. This year the Irish return QB and Heisman frontrunner Brady Quinn and 8 foot tall receiver Jeff Samardjsjzfi...what the fuck is up with all these consonants in people's names? Anyway, their offense is more than good enough to take them to Arizona, but their defense is very shaky, and with games at USC and at home against that team up north (Michigan), this may be another year that those overzealous fans are disappointed.

The Ohio State University: Last year the Buckeyes came ten points away from playing for the national title, and they proved their worth in that Fiesta Bowl rout. This year, it seems as though most if not all the pieces are in place for another championship. They have Michigan and Penn State at home, and they are returning just about everyone on offense. And my God, what an offense that can be. Troy Smith, Tedd Ginn, Anthony Gonzalez, Antonio Pittman, and freshman phenom Chris Wells, not to mention a beastly line. This offense could remind OSU fans of the mid-90s John Cooper juggernauts that scored at will until the Michigan game. The defense is another story. They lost 9 starters, including all the linebackers and defensive backs. I'm not too worried about it though, because Jim Tressel is a defensive genius. Much like Bill Cowher, he can take just about anyone and turn them into a defensive star. And even if the D struggles, there aren't many teams that will be able to keep up with the offense. I want to say the Bucks will run the table and win it all, but there are some brutal games on there, including a week 2 road trip to #2 Texas, and a September 30 meeting with Iowa in...wherever in Iowa they play. I expect them to go at least 11-1, and definitely play in at least the Rose Bowl.

More Observations and Predictions

• September 9: Notre Dame 41 - Penn State 10
• The Heisman winner won't be Brady Quinn or Troy Smith, but rather someone that comes out of nowhere and has a mind-blowing season.
• Charlie Weis will lose two games in a row (USC being one of them), and fans will begin to question whether or not he is a good coach.
• While we're on the subject, Notre Dame will once again lose a bowl game. With at least three losses, Notre Dame fans will start registering "fireweis.com" and similar web addresses.
• Speaking of fans that are too self-righteous. After a 2-2 start, the "JoePa must retire" movement will start again. After three straight wins, he'll be back and better than ever. After another loss, they'll doubt him again, and after two more...you get the point. Guys, learn about football and how the college game has evolved, and realize that indeed it is time for a change. Or you could just sit there and still revel in your 1986 championship and expect people to still give a damn about that or you guys. You might wanna do that to distract yourselves on the 23rd.
• The BCS title game will not feature anyone from the SEC or Big Ten. Those conferences are too good at the top, and the teams will cancel each other out.
• USC will be back in the title game for the third straight year. They may have lost Bush and Leinart, but they can reload, and the rest of the Pac 10 still has not caught up to them.
• Jan. 8. Glendale, AZ. USC 31 - WVU 17.

NEXT WEEK: NFL PREVIEW?

The NFL

Well the computer's finally fixed, and I finally have the motivation to finish this project. What was originally expected to take a month has taken over three, but it was worth the wait, right? Um, yeah let's just get on with my analysis of the NFL.

WHAT'S RIGHT:

1. Fair and Balanced. The reason the NFL is now far and away the biggest sports league in the country is the fact that it's economic system is built around equality. The salary cap prevents even the wealthiest franchises from being like the Yankees and Red Sox and outspending the other teams for the top players. This also means that any franchise is theoretically never more than a year or two away from becoming a Super Bowl team. I say theoretically because you still need to make good front office moves (see the Bengals of the 90s).

2. Limited Chances to See Your Team. A classic example of supply and demand. You only get to see your team play 16 times all year, including only 8 at home. So naturally ratings are high, and fans will be willing to pay a lot to see their teams play. That's why even the crappiest teams can still draw about 50,000 a game.

3. Marketing Genius. I don't know if the Super Bowl was integrated into popular culture, or the other way around, but the game has now become both the sports and entertainment event of the year. It's almost gotten to the point that the game is secondary to the 11 hours of pregame shows and the halftime extravaganza (on a little aside, watching the Stones perform at a Super Bowl which the Steelers won was pretty damn cool). Regardless, the marriage of the game and the media orgy has done nothing but good for the NFL.

4. Harsh Steroid Punishments. Okay, maybe the league isn't perfectly clean, but at least the ones that do get caught face stiff penalties. A fourth of the season for the first offense, the whole year for a second, and I think a lifetime ban for a third. But what really makes this good is the fact that it has been around for a long time, unlike the joke of a drug policy that baseball has only recently enacted.

5. Have I mentioned that the Steelers won the Super Bowl last year?


WHAT'S WRONG:

1. Steroids. Despite the testing and the penalties, it seems as though most of these players are still on something. It is just not natural for a 6'6", 360 lb. lineman to be running a 4.5 40.

2. Players Getting Too Big. In recent years, several players on every level have died, and in most cases those players were freakin huge (Korey Stringer). It's not just unnatural for such large players to be doing such strenuous physical activity; it's unhealthy. When you look at how the number of players over 300 lbs. has exploded over the past 15 years, it's no wonder some of these players' hearts are exploding during training camp. Some teams do penalize their players for being overweight and out of shape, but it's not enough, and the league needs to step in and find a way to prevent these tragedies.

3. Legal Issues. The recent arrests of several young players (Chris Henry, Santonio Holmes, "Pacman" Jones, Henry again, Holmes again, Henry AGAIN, Jones again, the rest of the Bengals) has become an alarming trend. The NFL seems to have replaced the NBA as the league with all the criminals (of course, OJ didn't help matters), and in time that could seriously harm the league's image it could fall from the top of the sports world.

4. Terrell Owens. No matter what a player may get arrested for, he will never be hated more than T.O. The man has already destroyed two successful teams, and is embarking on a new one, the Dallas Cowboys. His big mouth, his asshole agent, and ESPN's constant coverage of both has made him one of the faces of the NFL, and like the arrests above, that's not a good thing for the league's image.

5. The New Commish. Roger Goodell may be a fine pick for commissioner, but he has some really big shoes to fill. The past two commissioners have brought us the Super Bowl, the AFL-NFL merger, the salary cap, some ridiculously lucrative TV deals, and unparalleled success and stability for the league. Now, it is up to Goodell to maintain that and maybe even create a new revolution in pro football. Can he pull this off, or will he crack under the pressure? I hope for the former.

Hopefully, you enjoyed this (actually I don't care if you were miserable reading this. It's your dumbass fault for wasting the time), and if I have the time/energy before I leave for the beach on Thursday, I'll do a college football preview.

NFL Training Camp Preview - NFC North

by Kamo

The first round of preseason games has come and gone with some rookies making a big splash and a certain quarterback in Pittsburgh looking surprisingly sharp in his first appearance. Speaking of looking sharp, how about those new jerseys in Minnesota- they make the color purple look even worse. We move to the NFC North and if last season taught us anything it is that this is no longer the rough and tumble division it used to be. This division from top to bottom might be the weakest in the NFC and it would surprise me to see more than one team challenge for a playoff berth. It is a sad truth considering this division is home to one of the best quarterbacks to ever play in Brett Farve, who will likely be playing his last season. In addition, the Detroit Lions on paper have one of the most talented receiving corps in the NFL but will do nothing in the way of being very competitive. What you have here is an overabundance of wasted talent and poor personel decisions that have caught up to a few teams...

... which is why we will begin in Detroit where the aformentioned group of receivers will no doubt be under fire considering Mike Martz has brought his circus offense to MoTown. I have sympathy for the fans in Detroit because Matt Millen is the NFL's equivalent of Dave Littlefield and it is difficult to comprehend some of his personel moves. Exhibit A: He took receivers in his first pick for 3 consecutive drafts while all but ignoring his glaring holes at many defensive positions. That said, Roy Williams is very good and I do think that Mike Williams will be vastly improved this season and that basically gives them two monsters at receiver. Charles Rogers is the wild card here though because you have to think he will be given more than ample opportunity to succeed in what should be a pass happy offense. The problem is that he is lazy and is in the Plaxico Burress mode except without a guy like Hines Ward to chirp at him and keep him in line so stay tuned to see how that one plays out. They also have Corey Bradford available after they signed him away from Houston in the off-season and speedster Eddie Drummond who could be used like Az Zahir-Hakim was in St. Louis. In the backfield, I really like Kevin Jones and what he brings to the table because he runs so hard. Jones had over 1100 yards rushing last year with Joey Harrington as the main threat at QB, and with Martz as the OC I look for him to approach those numbers again and to really be a threat in the passing game. In addition, it never hurts to have a guy like Cory Schlesinger as your blocking back as he is a perennial Pro-Bowler. At QB, it appears that Jon Kitna will be the starter with another marginal guy in Josh McKown as the backup. To me anything is an uprgrade over Harrington because he was among the worst in the entire NFL at making the right decision on any given play. Kitna played well when he was given the chance in Cincinnatti, but it has been awhile since he has been the full-time starter on a team which makes me wonder if he can do the job.

On defense the name of the game is depth and the Lions have very little of it in the quality department. Up front Shaun Cody and Shawn Rogers are two solid interior d-lineman who are somewhat of an odd couple. Rogers tips the scales at around 345 pounds while Cody is a bit small by today's standards at 293, but together they are able to make some plays. On the outside Cory Redding is versatile as he can probably play any line position and James Hall is quietly becoming a dominant pass rusher off the right end. From what I can see Kalimba Edwards is the only reserve along the line who I would be comfortable stepping in a not seeing a dramatic drop-off in production. At linebacker, if Boss Bailey can avoid injuries he has the makings of a breakout season written all over him but after Bailey there isn't much else. Alex Lewis is probably just keeping a spot warm for Ernie Sims, a player that I think was among the most overrated in the draft, and Paris Lenon was a free-agent pickup from Green Bay but he doesn't give off the impression that he will be anything more than adequate. In the secondary, Fernando Bryant and Kenoy Kennedy are solid veterans as is Dre' Bly, who is entering his 8th season and in my opinion gets better with age. Terrence Holt will play free safety by default because the secondary might be the most thin of any unit on that defense.

Detroit Lions
Offense - B-: This one is a tough one because for some reason I believe Mike Martz will get a lot of production out of those receivers and if he does there might not be a better group top to bottom in the NFL. Kevin Jones should be licking his chops in this offense and if Kitna makes a few plays and limits the mistakes they might not be bad.

Defense - C+: This grade might be a bit generous considering their lack of depth and quality playmakers among the linebacking group but having an athlete like Boss Bailey nudges them up a bit. The bottom line with the defense is that in any one area they are a pulled hamstring away from having someone who is just plain not very good in there.

Overall Outlook: I like Jon Kitna... as a backup. I just don't think this team has enough players to be consistent from week to week and the depth to me should be a major concern. Kevin Jones, Roy Williams, Bailey, and possibly Mike Williams will all have good years, but they have a lot of holes to fill at some important places. The verdict: They need a better QB for this offense and going much better than 5-11 or 6-10 would be outstanding.


We continue our look at the NFC North with a trip to Minnesota and a look at how new Head Coach Brad Childress is working with less in Vikings camp. In the spring Childress essentially sent this message when trading franchise QB Duante Culpepper to the Dolphins: Do things my way or find a new place to do things. This approach is something that I have a lot of respect for but unfortunately for Childress and the Vikings he left the offense in the hands of Brad Johnson, a player who has been in the league since the Oilers were still the Oilers and Jerry Glanville was coaching in Atlanta. To make matters slightly better for the passing game, Troy Williamson will be entering his second season after ending up 3rd among rookies in receiving and Koren Robinson is coming off a trip to the Pro Bowl- albeit as a kick returner. Throw in a couple veterans in Travis Taylor and Marcus Robinson and this group at least has some potential. The Vikings hopes on offense however rest on the broad shoulders of two big free agents brought in this past offseason: Steve "The 49 Million Dollar Man" Hutchinson and Chester "Thank God I am out of Baltimore" Taylor. Now I am not one to talk offensive lines, but Hutchinson is damn good and if you doubt that ask Stephen Alexander how things are going this season without him. Sprinkle in Taylor, a player many think is on the brink of stardom, and the Vikings have reason to think that Childress was on to something when he sent Culpepper packing.

On defense, I love what the Vikings have done through the draft in getting solid defensive lineman like Kenechi Udeze, Darrion Scott, Erasmus James, and Kevin Williams. If Udeze can bounce back from injury and James doesn't stunt his own growth this season, those two will be absolute studs. Scott is one of the better young backups to have and even DeQuincy Scott provides a solid backup off the end. Inside there is Kevin Williams and veteran Pat Williams, who looks much bigger than his listed weight of 317 suggests. The depth along the interior is a cause for concern because those big guys can only play in spurts- something that should and probably will hold this defense back a bit. At linebacker Ben Leber starts at one outside spot while E.J. Henderson will be manning the position opposite him. Henderson has been getting some good reviews in camp but the player that excites me is rookie Chad Greenway out of Iowa. This kid is Big Ten tested and he is as tough as anyone and if I was Ben Leber I wouldn't get too comfortable... except for the fact that Greenway was lost for the season Monday night against the Raiders which is no doubt a tough break for Minnesota. In the middle, Napolean Harris was the player they got for Randy Moss and while he was limited by injuries in '05 he seems to have tremendous potential. I like what the Vikings have done in the secondary with Darren Sharper obviously leading the way with his 9 interceptions from last season coming with him. Fred Smoot can at least talk smack if he doesn't cover the guy and Antoine Winfield has really established himself as one of the better tackling corners in the NFL. Veteran Dwight Smith will play free safety and he is more than adequate but the safety I look to watch for is Greg Blue out of Georgia. A lot of people say he is a little slow, but believe me- this guy can play as he is always around the ball and was a steal in the 5th round.

Minnesota Vikings
Offense - B-: This offense isn't anything really special and the consistency won't be there because I honestly don't see Brad Johnson getting it going. With that said, Chester Taylor should-emphasis on should- have a big year but unless defenses respect the pass that won't automatically happen. I think he'll get 1,000 yards but I'm not sure how much more.

Defense - A-: I am feeling a little generous but I really like this defense and what they have in the way of a solid mix of young guys and veterans. Udeze and Erasmus James are going to be very good players and E.J. Henderson is going to be a good one. Sharper is one of the NFL's best and there aren't many holes in the secondary. The problem is they are going to have to give up less than 14 to keep them in it.

Overall Outlook: I think Brad Childress will get this thing going, but not this season. He needs a slightly better quarterback to run this offense and without a legitimate threat there I would load up against the run and make Johnson beat me. Childress is in a good position here because they have a good defense and Culpepper's image with his connection to the sex party was tarnished anyway. The verdict: They are a player or two away, but equaling last years 9-7 wouldn't be too bad. I think 8-8 and look out next season.


We head over to Chicago next where the Bears make me laugh outloud at their running back situation. Thomas Jones, former #1 pick Cedric Benson, and Adrian Peterson (relax idiots, its not THAT Adrian Peterson) are in the mix for playing time. However, a look at the Bears' depth chart suggests otherwise. Now I know there has been a few injuries but c'mon people, at least stick them on the depth chart where they belong. On the serious side, the injuries are a cause for major concern because this team won last year on defense- period. Chicago finished ahead of only San Francisco in total offense, an ill that needs to be cured if this team thinks it is going anywhere come playoff time. Enter Brian Griese. Wait, Brian Griese? Yes, Brian Griese and for one reason: He will make Rex Grossman better. Grossman is a good quarterback without a lot of experience on the field and with a lot of experience in the trainer's room as injuries have cost him time the past 3 years. I think having an entire training camp with Mushin Muhammad is going to do a lot for him because that guy is an animal. He is so physical when going after the football and he runs excellent routes. The issue is that there is not an established #2 receiver and so he can expect a lot of double coverage. How to fix that? Get Desmond Clark the football and make sure that, when healthy, Benson and Jones hammer it inside. The Bears are going to have to get physical in order to win- something Lovie Smith understands.

Speaking of being physical, is there a better defense in the NFC (and possibly the league outside of Pittsburgh) than in Chicago? The answer: A resounding no. When talking about the Bears defense there is only one place to start- Brian Urlacher. This guy is one of the top 5 defensive players in the NFL and there are few who can run and hit like him. He is a freak of nature and lining next to him is fellow Pro-Bowler Lance Briggs, a player who is often overshadowed by the fact he plays beside a guy like Urlacher. Toss in Hunter Hillenmeyer (don't let the Vanderbilt education and the prep school name fool you, this guy hits) and the linebackers leave little to be desired. The men up front who are responsible for allowing those 'backers to roam are pretty good as Alex Brown and Tommie Harris are young guys they got in the draft who are coming into their own. Add in Adewale Ogunleye, whom they stole from the Dolphins, and Alfonso Boone and then try to figure out how to run the ball. Oh, and they have a little depth too with Dusty Dvoracek and Jamaal Green being quality backups. In the secondary, Mike Brown is a hitter who plays centerfield well against the pass while Nathan Vasher and Charles Tillman are underrated as corners. Throw in Ricky Manning Jr. and the newly drafted Devin Hester and this defense is absolutely stacked.

Chicago Bears
Offense - B: The Bears offense doesn't need to be pretty, just effective. The formula for success is simple: Run it a lot, pass when needed, don't turn it over. This makes Grossman's job crucial because he can't be a cowboy and just throw it into places that the ball doesn't need to be thrown. He would be wise to study some tape of Ben Roethlisberger. One word for the offense: Physical.

Defense - A+: Not a better defense in the NFC and not a defense that is going to give up a lot against the run. Your best hope is to pick on the secondary, but Nathan Vasher and Charles Tillman are pretty good in their own regard. They fly to the ball and play well as a unit.

Overall Outlook: This team is undoubtedly the class of the division but where they go from there hinges on the offense's ability to score points. The defense will keep them in it most games and so they just need to come up with enough. Plus, they play in a division that is favorable in that it isn't very good so that will help. The verdict: 11-5 or 10-6 with a shot at winning 12 games but the November schedule is brutal. Playoff bound but how far remains to be seen.


And finally in the NFC North we head to Packertown as the fans in Green Bay get ready for what will likely be Brett Farve's last season. As far as Farve goes, I have always admired the way the man plays the game because there are few who can rival him in both intensity and a will to win. With that said, in order for the Packers to have any chance of winning he is going to have to be vastly improved from his 2005 campaign. While I am willing to cut him some slack because of the loss of Ahman Green in week 7 of last year, Farve is no doubt the leader of the offense and as he goes, so do the Packers and 29 INTs will not go very far. Speaking of Green, his return should put a smile on the face of every cheesehead because as good of a story as Samkon Gado was, he will never be Ahman Green. So what do the Packers have on offense besides their two stars? Well, they have a pretty good TE in Bubba Franks and two receivers who are more than capable in Donald Driver and Robert Ferguson. I think Farve has plenty of weapons to make it work, but can new coach Mike McCarthy gel with Farve enough to make allow this to happen? I really don't know the answer to that question but this much is clear: In their first preseason game the Packers did not anything but show that they are far from where they need to be.

On the defensive side of things they got some help from Charles Woodson, who signed as a free agent in May. Pair him up with Al Harris and the Packers have one of the better cornerback combinations in the NFC. This secondary actually shapes up better than I thought with Nick Collins (All-Rookie Team) and free agent pickup Marquand Manuel (started in the Super Bowl) playing at the two safety spots and so I think their pass defense won't be too bad. The problem in the secondary is that outside of Ahmad Carroll, there is nothing in the way of experienced depth which will undoubtedly pose a problem with Woodson having recent health concerns. At linebacker they have a beast in Nick Barnett, who in 2005 had 194 tackles, a franchise record. They drafted A.J. Hawk with the 5th pick in the draft and, much in the same mold as Chad Greenway, his style should fit in well in the Green Bay cold. The wild card here is Ben Taylor who comes over from the Browns and can play all three linebacker spots although he is probably best suited for the outside. Taylor is another tackling machine as he had 139 last season in starting every game for Cleveland and if this unit comes together, they will be very quick and athletic. The biggest questions for the Packers defense comes up front as Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila is their best, and possibly only, playmaker and is a good pass-rusher who is just 10.5 sacks away from Reggie White's club record. Ryan Pickett and Aaron Kampman ranked 1-2 in the NFL in tackles among defensive lineman, but I am uncertain that either is able to rush the passer or simply stuff the run. In addition, DT Colin Cole has be waived twice in his career and so you can understand why the interior line is a big question mark.

Green Bay Packers
Offense - B: I desperately want Farve to have a good year so the man can just ride off into the Louisiana sunset and retire but it will all depend on how Robert Ferguson decides to play and how well Ahman Green runs. Green is as important to Farve as any other player on the team and I look for him to get plenty of touches as he will come close to 1500 total yards this season.

Defense - B: The depth, or lack thereof, is a major cause of concern for me because Woodson has shown he is a little frail and they have a lot of no-names on their two-deep. Gabeer-Biamila has got to have a good season and Pickett is going to have to do a lot in the middle of the line because Colin Cole is not the answer there. The linebackers will be the strength with Hawk being dominant.

Overall Outlook: I think this entire organization knows that Brett Farve is done after this season and that it will be a rallying point. On the flip side, if they falter, his pending retirement could turn into a circus causing this team to tailspin and not finish much better than last year. With a new coach, a Hall of Fame QB, and a lot of questions a fast start to this season is a must. If they are worse than 2-2 after their first 4 they are in trouble. The Verdict: If they start out well, they will challenge but I don't think emotion can take them far. 9-7 and a possible Wild Card berth with some luck.

This division is interesting from the standpoint of how much has changed from last year. Their are new coaches and some new players which will make for some excitement in the season's opening weeks, but the bottom line is the Bears are still the class of the NFC North. Minnesota and Green Bay will challenge and Detroit will be excited about the Tigers until the Yankees beat them to get into the World Series. So, stay tuned where next time we will look at the NFC South: Is this the Panthers year? Will Michael Vick finally get the Falcons over the hump? Are the Buccaneers ready for primtime? And will Reggie Bush be Rookie of the Year? Until then, enjoy the Little League World Series.

NFL Training Camp Preview - NFC East

by Kamo

Ahhhhhhhh... I promised myself I would give it until August to write about football and thank God that August is here. Between watching a very bad Pirates team and the World Series of Darts I feel like I could rip my eyes out and my ears off and not miss much in the way of sporting events right now. With that said, NFL training camps have opened everywhere and there may not be a more improved division from top to bottom than the NFC East. With Terrell Owens heading to Dallas, Lavar Arrington heading to the Giants, and the Redskins adding just about every marginal wide receiver on the market during their annual brainless spending spree, this division has the makings of being solid if not spectacular.

We'll start out in Washington where Antwaan Randle El and Brandon Lloyd (those of the aformentioned marginal variety) join the offense as well as Al Saunders, the team's new offensive coordinator who came over from the Chiefs. After seeing what the Chiefs offense did under Saunders' direction it is no wonder that the fans of Redskin Nation are frothing over what could potentially be brewing. With Patrick Ramsey being traded to the Jets, Mark Brunell returns as the incumbent at quarterback with 2nd year man Jason Campbell not far behind. The receving corps will be deep and is full of small, quick receivers like Santana Moss (5'10) and Randle El (5'10), as well as David Patten, Taylor Jacobs, and Lloyd, who was the 49ers leading receiver last season. There is not a single receiver in the group over 6'0 which makes me wonder who will go over the middle. At tight end they are solid with free agent pickup Christian Fauria as well as Chris Cooley, who had 71 receptions last year. The player that really gets the offense going however is Clinton Portis and he returns with his franchise-record 1,516 yards from last year in tow. A perenial Pro-Bowler and one of the top-5 backs in the NFL, Portis will be the difference between a division title and the 'Skins sitting at home come January. Look for him to have a big season in the Redskins new scheme and to possibly eclipse his totals from last year.

On defense for the Redskins, the loss of Arrington will not be felt as much as his presence in New York will be and they picked up Adam Archuleta to replace the departed Ryan Clark at safety. Sean Taylor will continue his meteoric rise to the NFL's elite safeties and by the end of this season he should be getting mentioned in the same breath as Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed. The Redskins signed Andre Carter away from the 49ers in a deal that may turn out to be one of their best because it seems that he is finally coming into his own as a pass-rusher off the edge. Throw in Renaldo Wynn and big Joe Salave'a up front and you have the makings of a very solid d-line. Which brings me to the loss of Arrington and I don't think it will be a major loss if for no other reason than he missed most of last season. If Marcus Washington and Warrick Holdman can be slightly better than average the linebackers shouldn't be that big of a question mark. In addition, their first draft pick was Roger McIntosh out of Miami who could be looked upon to come in and make an immediate impact.

Washington Redskins
Offense - B: Under the eye of Al Saunders, Portis should be stellar and the receivers might prove me wrong and be better than average. If Brunell can put together a good season and keep the interceptions under 15, this offense could be scary.

Defense - B-: The secondary is tough with Shawn Springs being very underrated in my book and the safeties should complement each other well. The obvious question mark is the linebacking group, but if they play well they might be ok. Besides, if the offense scores like the Chiefs did they won't have to make too many plays.

Overall Outlook: The Redskins will challenge for the "Top Dog" status in the NFC East and if the defense can make some plays they just might get there. I think they are a solid team, the problem is so are the other 3 in this division. The verdict: Will challenge for the Wild Card at 10-6.


Next we head up north a little ways to Philadelphia where you-know-who is no longer wearing an Eagles uniform and Donovan McNabb swears he is ready to put that whole soap opera behind him. Of the four teams in this division, the Eagles probably have more question marks than any of them- especially in the receiving corps because this group is below average and quite possibly among the worst in the NFL. There is not a single playmaker among them and outside of Todd Pinkston and, maybe on a good day, Jabar Gaffney, there is not really much of a proven threat. On the bright side, L.J. Smith is probably one of the top 10 tight ends in the league and Bryant Westbrook is a multi-threat playmaker who is going to get 25-30 touches per game and should have a great year. Of course, having McNabb back and without the distraction of someone questioning his manhood gives the Eagles the best QB in the division. I don't know if he is going to be enough because Andy Reid says that he is dedicated to the run and if Westbrook can't handle the load I'm not so sure if Ryan Moats can do much to help.

If the offense has question marks, the defense might have some answers as the front-7 should rebound from a horrendous 2005 campaign. Jevon Kearse, Jerome McDougal, Dhani Jones, Jeremiah Trotter, and Mark Simoneau will be the anchors of that group and if Kearse can pressure the QB that would allow an up and coming secondary to make some plays. The leader of that secondary will once again be Brian Dawkins who will hit you like a train and then run an interception back 70 yards for a touchdown on the next play. Lito Sheppard, Roderick Hood, and Micheal Lewis are all 6th year guys who have been playing together for quite some time and have discovered good chemistry for their work. They are pretty deep too with Shawn Barber at LB and J.R. Reed and Sheldon Brown providing depth in the secondary. This defense is pretty good and it is going to have to be because the offense may not be there.

Philadelphia Eagles
Offense - C+: McNabb is one of the best and Westbrook is talented, but the WRs are borderline terrible. They just don't have too many playmakers in that group and unless L.J. Smith makes a huge splash I am not sure where those 3rd and 6 or 3rd and 5 conversions are going to come from.

Defense - B+: I like what the Eagles have here and I think there is a lot of potential for good things here. Kearse is still and elite player to me and I think that Trotter and Simoneau both play about as hard as you can. The secondary is pretty good but with that offense I don't think any other this matters.

Overall Outlook: Not this year Philly. Making it to 8-8 would be a tremendous accomplishment in this division and I am not sure they will do better than last year's 6-10 record. If they are going to, McNabb is going to have to play out of his mind. Final Verdict: 6-10, or maybe 7-9 with a bounce going their way.


Continuing up the East Coast to the New York Giants, we find a new face on defense and a quarterback on the cusp of becoming a star. Eli Manning enters his 3rd year in New York after leading them to the playoffs last season. Manning will have plenty of weapons around him and there is no reason to believe that he won't make the Pro Bowl this year. Speaking of Pro Bowl, RB Freaki Tiki Barber might be the most complete back in the NFL and after last year's monster season he will be largely responsible for helping to complete Manning's rise into the elite QBs of the NFL as it never hurts to have a solid running game to complement a young QB. Manning will also have the services of Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer coming back at receiver with the addition of 2nd round pick Sinorice Moss out of Miami. Add in loudmouth badass Jeremy Shockey at TE and you have a plethora of weapons surrounding one of the games top young QBs. In a sentence, this offense is scary.

On defense, the addition of Lavar Arrington will prove to be huge as it never hurts to add an athlete like him. By putting Arrington in the defense, the linebackers suddenly go from solid to stellar. Carlos Emmons is a tough veteran and Brandon Short, Arrington's teammate from Penn State, is turning into a very good football player. The backbone of the defense however is veteran Micheal Strahan and the defensive line, which is deep and effective. Strahan is still a superb pass rusher and Osi Umenyiora had a breakout 2005 season when he lead the NFC with 14.5 sacks. Justin Tuck and number one pick Mathias Kiwanuka provide quality backups and the Giants appear to have an embarassment of riches at DE. Finally, 4th year man William Joseph anchors the middle making the Giants front-7 a very tough unit to run on. The only thing holding this defense back is a questionable secondary as the addition of Sam Madison and R.W. McQuarters doesn't inspire the word greatness. Both are veterans, but McQuarters has played for almost every team in the NFC and Madison has lost a step. At safety, I am thinking Quentin Harris will man one postion, but looking over their roster I cannot acurately say who should take over at the other. That says it all as far as the secondary goes.

New York Giants
Offense - A-: With Manning running the show and Freaki Tiki running the ball, the sky is the limit for this offense as long as either Toomer or Moss proves to be a quality option in the passing game. Plex and Shockey are gonna have good years and I look for big things from this team in terms of putting points on the board.

Defense - B+: If we were going strictly on the front-7, I would say "A" but unfortunately 11 people play and the secondary is shaky at best. The good news is that Strahan and Osi will put enough pressure on the quarterback to overcome most of those shaky moments, that bad news is most is not all.

Overall Outlook: This is the team to beat in the NFC East and with last year's playoff debacle under their belt, this team has the potential to make a run deep into the playoffs. I think the Giants win the NFC East and will flirt with a first round bye. The Verdict: This is a good football team- they should win at least 11 games and take the division.


Finally, we head to the Lonestar State and the Dallas Cowboys, which if nothing else should provide the most interesting story line this year. My biggest question in this division is whether or not Terrell Owens and Bill Parcells can make it through a season without choking each other. Parcells is old school. T.O. is anything but. Parcells doesn't put up with much in the way of problems. T.O. has been a problem since the day he left San Francisco. Parcells thinks he can control Owens. I think he is crazy like a fox for trying. Nevertheless, Dallas got the premier wide receiver in the game when they picked up Owens and he immediately gives this offense a shot in the arm because before they picked him up their best receiving threat was Terry Glenn (Jason Witten notwithstanding). Drew Bledsoe was undoubtedly smiling from ear-to-ear when he found out that Owens was coming to Dallas as he now has someone that he can consistently uncork his monster arm on. In addition to Witten, who is quietly becoming one of the best in the game, the Cowboys picked up Weis' Guy Anthony Fasano from Notre Dame so expect a lot of 2 tight end sets this season. The running backs are a decent group with Julius Jones and Marion Barber returning to give the Cowboys a solid 1-2 punch in their backfield. The running back I think you should watch though is Demetris Summers, the rookie who was kicked off the South Carolina team but not before he was their leading rusher.

On defense the Cowboys are led by safety Roy Williams who may be one of the best athletes on the team. He can blitz, play the run, or cover the pass which makes him a hybrid of sorts in the secondary and a poor man's Polamalu. Former #1 pick Terrance Newman is at one cornerback slot while veteran Aaron Glenn and Anthony Henry will compete for the other. Greg Ellis returns to anchor the d-line in the 3-4 along with Marcus Spears, a player who is really starting to come into his own and I think they should expect a big season from him. Jason Ferguson takes control of the DT spot vacated by La'Roi Glover through free agency and look for rookie Montavious Stanley to possibly see time there as well. The linebackers will be lead by phenom DeMarcus Ware who tied for the team lead in sacks and was an all-NFL rookie last season. Ware has a freakish combination of speed and size and is a terror off the end in the 3-4 defense. Also, rookie #1 pick Bobby Carpenter out of Ohio State should make an immediate impact as well as free agent acquisition Rocky Boiman.

Dallas Cowboys
Offense - B+: Adding a guy with the talent of Terrell Owens should always be a positive, but dealing with T.O. is never an easy task. If Parcells can get him to see the big picture and he decides to play with a passion, look out because 1500 yards and 15 TDs is not out of the question. Barber and Jones will be more than adequate in the backfield with Jason Witten and Anthony Fasano being big parts of the passing game for Bledsoe.

Defense - B+: This is not a defense on paper that might look really scary, but Parcells will make this unit tough. Ware is a nightmare coming off the edge and Roy Williams is only going to get better. If the secondary makes some plays and linebackers step up, they have the makings of a good unit.

Overall Outlook: In another division the Cowboys might be the favorite, but this is going to be a dogfight from Week 1. There are a few "ifs" within this team, this biggest obviously being T.O., but I think Parcells might get it done with him. The Wild Card is going to come down to Dallas and Washington and T.O. might be the difference. The Verdict: Dallas will challenge for the Wild Card and be either 10-6 or 9-7. The scary thing is that if T.O. keeps his head out of his hind end they could challenge for the division.


Well, that the NFC East and that is it for tonight. This is a good division that reminds me of the early 90's whenever these four teams used to beat each other down and the November Monday Night Games were among the best ever. If I were a fan of any of these teams I would be excited because they are all so close (except maybe Philly, which could scare some people) and this division should be a good race. Next Up: The NFC North- Can the Bears repeat? Does Farve have one more in him? What is going on in Minnesota? Is Detroit ever going to be good? Find out next time!