Michael Vick is Atlanta’s great
hope of returning the franchise to the Super Bowl. Dan Reeve though has
said he’ll sit for a few seasons behind Chris Chandler, but if don’t be
surprised if he does start a few games this season, he’ll fill the Geogia
Dome with hopeful Falcon’s fans wanting to view ‘the next big thing’. Not
much other than Jamal Anderson on offence. Their starting wide outs combined
have 23 years between them (Shawn Jefferson and Terance Mathis), so expect
2002 draft pick (top ten probably) to be a wide receiver, to give Vick
a target. In defence Jesse Tuggle has been told to retire or be released,
leaving them with a week LB line. The secondary is still the major strength
of the Falcons with Ashley Ambrose and Ray Buchanan leading the charge.
Basically the Falcons will be picking up high draft picks until Vick starts
and they have a WR threat and something on defence.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Carolina are beginning their re-building
period. They controversially let go veteran Steve Beuerlein, to leave three
QBs with a grand total of zero starts between them, and chances are the
Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke will start making him the first rookie
QB to start of 2001, ahead of Michael Vick, Drew Brees and Quincy Carter.
Their rushing game wont help them gain yards, Tshimanga Biakabutuka is
a constant reminder to the Panthers about their massive mistake of passing
up Eddie George. There receivers Patrick Jeffers, Mushin Muhammad and Wesley
Walls should help Weinke to take over from Beuerlein. The defence will
be strengthened with the addition of Brentson Buckner and Dan Morgan. The
young DBs will start to hit home in a few years. Carolina have something
to look forward to in the future, but they have to keep the ball rolling.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Shocked everyone last season. They
have remarkable depth everywhere on offence. At QB they have two starters
in Aaron Brooks and Jeff Blake. HB has
Ricky Williams and Deuce McAllister.
WR have Albert Connell, Joe Horn and veteran Willie Jackson. The OL is
full of future starters such as Tom Ackerman, Daryl Terrell and Tutan Reyes.
They have one of the best defensive lines in the league, but need improvement
from the LBs and DBs, with no real standouts after losing Mark Feilds and
Alex Molden. But with a line with La’Roi Glover, Norman Hand, Darren Howard
and Joe Johnson, you don’t need anyone else on D.
ST.LOUIS RAMS
The best offensive team in the league,
point out a weakness. There is none. They have Pro-Bowl calibre starters,
and quality backups all over the place. Defence is a well published weakness,
but they’ve brought in a load of youngsters to help. Damione Lewis, Ryan
Pickett and Adam Archuleta will
start, but other rookies pushing
for a spot include Brian Allen, Tommy Polley and Jerametrius Butler. With
the inclusion of Aeneas Williams and Cedrick Jones, this is a much improved
Rams side, and will again be in the running for a Super Bowl Title, but
a much better chance than last year.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
QB: Jeff Garcia name may
one day be in the same breath as Joe Montana and Steve Young, all he needs
is a ring. Backups Rick Mirer and Tim Rattay provide good depth and QB
is now a strength of the niners, unlike two seasons ago.
RB: Only one back is proven
in a bunch of three, maybe four, backs fighting
for the starting position. Kevin
Barlow is something special. When Mike Shanahan rings you up and tells
you that you’ve taken the best back in the draft, believe him, he know
what he’s talking about (Terell Davis and Mike Anderson taken in Round
6, Orlandis Gray in Round 4, all 1000 yard rushers). Garrison Hearst is
every fans favourite to take the spot, he’s put so much work into it and
so much patience, he deserves it. Fred Beasley is a solid FB, makes good
blocks, and chances are he’ll carry the ball more often.
WR: Terrell Owens would have
to be considered the best WR in the league.
After him it’s a big question mark.
JJ Stokes, can he live up to his potential, or is he a bust? Tai Streets,
can he stop being injured and make an impact? Cedrick Wilson, if the two
above him fail, is he good enough, and big enough to fill in? If all those
questions end up having an answer of yes, this will be one heck of a bunch.
If the answers no, expect more balls to be thrown to TE Greg Clark, and
a high pick on a WR in 2002.
OL: If it aint broke don’t
fix it. And for the first time in a decade it ain’t being fixed. Ray Brown
continues to get better with age. Scott Gragg was kept, and the rest of
the starters, Dave Fiore, Jeremy Newberry and Derrick Deese make this one
hell of a line, though looking around, it’s still underestimated by everyone.
DL: Dana Stubblefeild and
Bryant Yound reunite to make this line a monster. Add Andre Carter and
either John Engelburger or Chike Okeafor, this is going to be a line of
the future. You are you going to double team? Young, and let Stubbie and
Carter loose, the rookie and let the to veterans go at your QB. Add to
the rotation Reggie McGrew and John Milem, this will give NFC West O-lines
something to think about.
LB: Unproven is the word that
sums up the LBs. Julian Peterson had an
injury-plagued year last season
and couldn’t show the damage he’s capable of doing. Derek Smith is with
a new team. Jeff Ulbrich only played in four games last season. Jamie Winborn
is a rookie. All up, this looks to be something special in a few years
time when the youngsters have settled in.
DB: The niners have the best
S situation in the league. Lance Shulters, Zack Bronson, John Keith and
Ronnie Heard are all young, and all impressive. The corners have a big
question mark. Ahmed Plummer and Jason Webster need to play as well as
they did near the end of the season. Webster would be a
Pro-Bowler if we has 6’0” and Plummer
has what it takes to succeed in this
league.
ST: This is now the overwhelming
weakness of the niners. No K that’s played a game or been drafted, and
a P with potential, but doesn’t show it. A KR also hasn’t put their hand
up yet in preseason games.
FINAL STANDINGS
NFC WEST
1. St.Louis Rams
2. New Orleans Saints
3. San Francisco 49ers
4. Atlanta Falcons
5. Carolina Panthers
NFC EAST
1. Philadelphia Eagles - Only if
Duce Staley stays fit
2. NY Giants - Trying to prove that
they aren’t the ‘worst team to make the
Super Bowl’
3. Arizona Cardinals - Close to
the worst D in the NFL will hold them back
4. Washington Redskins - Don’t put
your money on Jeff George starting all
year
5. Dallas Cowboys - Expect them
to be this years easy-beats
NFC CENTRAL
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - The addition
of Brad Johnson to their already
strong team will do wonders
2. Green Bay Packers - Brett Favre
will again make this team better than on
paper
3. Minnesota Vikings - The tragic
loss of Korey Stringer will effect them
all season
4. Chicago Bears - Need a QB to
challenge the above teams
5. Detroit Lions - Marty Mornhinweg
will have a tough first year, but I wish
him all the best
AFC EAST
1. Indianapolis Colts - Still need
an improved D, but who’ll stop their
offence?
2. Miami Dolphins - Have the D the
Colts need
3. NY Jets - The team to watch in
a few years time
4. Buffalo Bills - Rob Johnson can
stop looking over his shoulder, just need
to stay conscience after being KO’d
8 of 19 starts with the Bills
5. New England Patriots - Drew Bledsoe
is their only decent player after
suspending troubled Terry Glenn
AFC CENTRAL
1. Tennessee Titans - Have been
threatening to take home the Super Bowl for a long time, will it be their
time now?
2. Baltimore Ravens - Would have
gone back to back, but the loss of Jamal
Lewis will cost them another ring.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers - Expect
Kordell Stewart to fire and give the
Steelers a chance of making the
play-offs
4. Cleveland Browns - Cleveland
will be this years biggest improvers
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Salary
Cap has killed there chances of a Super
Bowl title
6. Cincinatti Bengals - Who else
would round off the AFC Central?
AFC WEST
1. Denver Broncos - Three 1000 yard
RBs, and a new defense will give them a sniff at another Super Bowl
2. Oakland Raiders - Even Jerry
won’t help them knock of Denver
3. Seattle Seahawks - Seattle are
close to finishing their makeover
4. San Deigo Chargers - Will be
a much improved team
5. Kansas City Chiefs - Dick Vermeil
hasn’t got too much to work with