PatsWin2002
05-31-2005, 11:44 AM
Quite a few Broncos...plus Shanny.
http://profootballweekly.com/PFW/Commentary/Columns/2005/arkush053005.htm
2005 All-Intrigue Team
One man's breakdown of the 2005 season's most interesting players
By Dan Arkush (darkush@pfwmedia.com)
May 31, 2005
All is quiet on the NFL front — for the moment. With more minicamps fast approaching, it won’t be long before the pads start popping again and a lot of intriguing individual storylines begin to unfold.
Frustrated by way too many three-putts lately, I decided to give the local golf courses a temporary break and turn my attention to Dan Arkush’s 2005 All-Intrigue Team — a breakdown, position by position (including two wideouts and a pair of running backs), of the NFL players with the storylines that I look most forward to covering this coming season. Some of the storylines are more obvious than others. But all of them are guaranteed to sustain our interest, on a lot of different levels.
Offense
QUARTERBACK: Brett Favre / Packers — After looking like his fire might have burned out following the loss to Minnesota in the first round of the 2004 playoffs, Favre, who will turn 36 in October, suddenly seems feisty again. For the first time in a while, the Packers aren’t being widely tabbed as the favorites in the NFC North, but as long as Favre is under center, they will remain more than worth the price of admission. How much will the departure of OGs Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle hurt the future Hall of Famer? Will he get along with Javon Walker both on and off the field after he ripped the team’s top receiver for holding out of camp due to contract concerns? In a division chock full of intrigue at the QB position — with Minnesota’s Daunte Culpepper preparing for life without Randy Moss, Detroit’s Joey Harrington ranked No. 1 on many experts’ “Now or Never” lists and Chicago’s Rex Grossman hoping to stay healthy long enough to revitalize the Bears’ lifeless offense — Favre still remains the league’s most compelling QB.
RUNNING BACK: Jamal Lewis / Ravens — With the newest version of “The Longest Yard” proving to be a hot box-office attraction, Lewis offers us a real-life story about a quality football player trying to regain his peak form after doing hard time — his punishment for his part in setting up a cocaine deal in 2000. This Thursday, Lewis is scheduled to report to a halfway house in Atlanta for the next two months. The Ravens had hoped he could stay in a halfway house in Baltimore, where they could keep a closer eye on their top running back. From all reports, Lewis has gone out of his way to stay in shape while in prison. Perhaps more importantly, he is said to be in superior shape mentally and is intent on having a monster season. If that happens, the Ravens will be a heavyweight contender for the Super Bowl.
RUNNING BACK: Shaun Alexander / Seahawks — Finding himself in the same position as teammate Walter Jones heading into the last three seasons, Alexander feels hamstrung at the moment by the Seahawks’ franchise tag. As was the case with Jones, however, it’s likely Alexander will eventually report to the team — probably just in time for the real show. Aside from his sticky contract situation — and the fact he bad-mouthed his head coach, Mike Holmgren, after falling one yard short of the league rushing title — is there any real reason to believe Alexander won’t be great again this season? After all, with Jones and OG Steve Hutchinson in front of him, Alexander gets to run behind the best left side in the NFL. But will Alexander’s big mouth result in more harm than good? On a team that has gone through great pains to shore up its character this offseason, that’s a very good question.
WIDE RECEIVER: Terrell Owens / Eagles — A no-brainer. Love him or hate him, it will be fascinating to see if T.O. can get back in the notoriously testy Eagles fans’ good graces after demanding a new contract and ruffling the feathers of QB Donovan McNabb. Can the Eagles make it to the Super Bowl again without Owens? Ex-Eagle Ike Reese recently was quoted as saying there’s no way, and I tend to agree with him. Although there are some who are saying Owens is as good as gone in Philly, I see him patching up his differences with the Eagles and being in the starting lineup on Day One. It remains to be seen, however, whether he will be more disruptive than productive.
WIDE RECEIVER: Randy Moss / Raiders — Think Moss will be a hit in “The Black Hole”? You better believe it. Moss has single-handedly recaptured the Raiders’ renegade mystique before playing a single down in an Oakland uniform, and that’s a good thing. The Raiders’ offense figures to be very, very dangerous — as long as Moss keeps his head on straight. Will he concentrate on catching bombs from Kerry Collins and keep the moon shots to a minimum? And if he concentrates on the latter, will Raiders owner Al Davis snarl or smile? Stay tuned.
TIGHT END: Antonio Gates / Chargers — How seriously should we take the Chargers, a team that orchestrated one of the all-time great turnarounds in one season? A key factor in the team’s success last season was the development of Gates, a former hoopster at Kent State who set a league record with 13 touchdowns at the TE position while becoming one of the NFL’s most feared receivers inside the red zone. Is Gates the real deal or just another flash in the pan? He has lost his TE coach, Tim Brewster, and he must adjust to being a marked man in film rooms by opposing defensive coordinators this offseason.
CENTER: Jeremy Newberry / 49ers — For the Alex Smith era to get started on the right foot, it’s imperative that the Niners’ offensive line, which was abysmal last season, takes huge strides this season. A key to that happening is the availability of Newberry, a seasoned warrior when healthy. But Newberry’s right knee continues to give him major problems, and he is far from being a lock to be able to play this season. He’s as tough as they come, and he can be expected to make every effort possible to give it a go.
OFFENSIVE GUARD: Marco Rivera / Cowboys — As is the case with Newberry, Rivera is being counted on to provide leadership on a line that needs it badly. But a herniated disc, suffered while running on a treadmill one week after signing a five-year, $20 million contract, will keep Rivera under wraps for a while. Will the three-time Pro Bowler produce the desired effect in Big D, where Cowboys owner Jerry Jones spent more money in the free-agent market than most of his cohorts? Drew Bledsoe certainly hopes so.
OFFENSIVE GUARD: (tie) Will Shields, Brian Waters / Chiefs — Dick Vermeil would love nothing more than a “last hurrah” for the ages, but will K.C.’s aging but effective offensive line continue to rank among the league’s best? The 33-year-old Shields is a 10-time Pro Bowler whose arthritic knees have made him seriously think about calling it quits. Can he keep the fire burning and make life easier on RB Priest Holmes, who missed the final eight games last year with a strained knee ligament? Meanwhile, Waters has been hiding out this offseason and is said to be unhappy over his contract. Will there be a changing in the K.C. guards’ play in ’05?
OFFENSIVE TACKLE: John Tait / Bears — A key to keeping injury-prone QB Rex Grossman upright next season will be Tait, who moves from right tackle to the left side, where he started as a rookie with the Chiefs. Although he’s far from ideal for the OLT spot, Tait provides a major upgrade from Qasim Mitchell. And that means Chicago’s offense could be a lot more bearable in ’05.
OFFENSIVE TACKLE: Jon Jansen / Redskins — Few injuries were as devastating as the ruptured left Achilles tendon that sidelined Jansen for the entire 2004 campaign. When healthy, he is considered one of the league’s best run blockers, and his complete recovery could make life a lot easier on beleaguered head coach Joe Gibbs, who struggled mightily to find a suitable replacement for Jansen last season.
Defense
DEFENSIVE END: Leonard Little / Rams — Coming off a season in which his sack total was his lowest since 2000, Little figures to benefit from not having serious legal problems hanging over his head after being found innocent of a felony drunken-driving charge that could have resulted in a maximum jail sentence of four years. Little should consider himself extremely lucky that he avoided the pen. Don’t be surprised if he provides a double-digit sack total for a defense that must make a quantum leap in order to be considered a bona fide contender.
DEFENSIVE END: Courtney Brown / Broncos — Of all the well-documented gambles Denver head coach Mike Shanahan is taking on this season, none is more intriguing than rolling the dice on this former first-round pick of the Browns whose career has been tarnished by one injury after another. Can Brown lead Shanahan’s “Cleveland West” D-line deep into the playoffs? Or will Brown continue to be one of the league’s biggest busts?
DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Kris Jenkins / Panthers — Jenkins was one of 14 Panthers who ended the ’05 season on injured reserve. Still, Carolina kept on trucking and almost managed to overcome the league’s longest injury list. A completely healthy Jenkins gives the Panthers’ defense a major boost as it tries to keep pace with Jim Mora’s Falcons in the NFC South.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Kevin Williams / Vikings — The Vikes would get lots of votes as the league’s most intriguing team after making wholesale moves this offseason in addition to being sold to new majority owner Zygmunt Wilf. With 22½ sacks in his first two seasons, Williams could be increasingly dangerous alongside ex-Bill Pat Williams, who is expected to occupy more than one blocker on most plays. Minnesota still is best known for its explosive offense. But the Vikes’ defense looks like it’s coming on strong.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER: Julian Peterson / 49ers — New head coach Mike Nolan has switched to a 3-4 scheme that needs Peterson to be at peak effectiveness in order to be successful. After missing most of last season with a torn left Achilles tendon, Peterson hopes to regain the Pro Bowl form he displayed in 2003, when he made 94 tackles and posted a team-leading seven sacks. Equally adept at blitzing the passer and providing blanket pass coverage, he’s a treat to watch when healthy.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER: Ian Gold / Broncos — Mike Shanahan sure went out of his way to bring Gold back to Denver after a year spent in Tampa Bay. Defensive coordinator Larry Coyer believes Gold’s versatility in pass and run situations will make a big difference this coming season. We’ll see.
INSIDE LINEBACKER: Brian Urlacher / Bears — He’s in danger of becoming the Bears’ answer to Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood, a brilliant pure talent whose career has been tarnished by untimely injuries. A healthy Urlacher is a unanimous Pro Bowler waiting to happen. A hobbled Urlacher is just another guy.
CORNERBACK: Patrick Surtain / Chiefs — We already mentioned K.C’s offensive line, but the real key to success for Dick Vermeil’s Chiefs is big-time improvement on defense, where Surtain certainly figures to make a difference. The Chiefs unsuccessfully tried to sign free agents Ken Lucas and Samari Rolle, but Surtain, at his best, is better than either of them.
CORNERBACK: Ty Law / free agent — Law is a proven commodity who will make a big difference for whichever team signs him. At the moment, however, his status remains an intriguing mystery.
SAFETY: Sean Taylor / Redskins — If it weren’t for Cleveland’s Kellen Winslow, would there be any doubt over which 2004 first-round rookie has been the biggest disappointment? Taylor is a brilliant pure talent, but his excess baggage could be more trouble than he’s worth to Joe Gibbs. The Skins’ head coach continues to do a slow burn while Taylor chooses to avoid offseason contact with the team — a situation tailor-made for trouble.
SAFETY: Roy Williams / Cowboys — Damn the league’s ban on horse-collar tackles. Williams will continue to be a full-speed terror of major proportions despite being connected with the horse-collar tactics that sidelined more than a few players last season, most notably WR Terrell Owens. Plans call for Williams to take over Darren Woodson’s former SS position. Operating closer to the line of scrimmage, he should make more plays and solidify his status as the league’s best safety, bar none.
Special teams
PLACEKICKER: Mike Nugent / Jets — I can hardly wait to see if the Jets’ second-round pick can overcome the huge pressure of kicking in the Big Apple, where his mistakes will be magnified to no end. Good luck, rookie.
PUNTER: Todd Sauerbrun / Broncos — The good news is that Sauerbrun has a cannon for a leg, and the high altitude in Denver could make his punts even more imposing than they already are. The bad news is that Sauerbrun is a 100 percent certified loose cannon off the field who seems to get less mature the older he gets. He’s the ultimate boom-or-bust candidate for 2006.
RETURN SPECIALIST: Dante Hall / Chiefs — In 2003, Hall was the league’s most dynamic kick returner since Deion Sanders in his prime, scoring four touchdowns and leading the league in punt-return average. In 2004, Hall came down to earth big-time. Will he return to his superstar form in 2005 and give us all a special treat? Let’s hope so.
And finally:
HEAD COACH: Mike Shanahan / Broncos — Courtney Brown … Ian Gold … Todd Sauerbrun … Gerard Warren … Maurice Clarett … Jerry Rice … Need we say more? Look for lots of high drama in Denver.
http://profootballweekly.com/PFW/Commentary/Columns/2005/arkush053005.htm
2005 All-Intrigue Team
One man's breakdown of the 2005 season's most interesting players
By Dan Arkush (darkush@pfwmedia.com)
May 31, 2005
All is quiet on the NFL front — for the moment. With more minicamps fast approaching, it won’t be long before the pads start popping again and a lot of intriguing individual storylines begin to unfold.
Frustrated by way too many three-putts lately, I decided to give the local golf courses a temporary break and turn my attention to Dan Arkush’s 2005 All-Intrigue Team — a breakdown, position by position (including two wideouts and a pair of running backs), of the NFL players with the storylines that I look most forward to covering this coming season. Some of the storylines are more obvious than others. But all of them are guaranteed to sustain our interest, on a lot of different levels.
Offense
QUARTERBACK: Brett Favre / Packers — After looking like his fire might have burned out following the loss to Minnesota in the first round of the 2004 playoffs, Favre, who will turn 36 in October, suddenly seems feisty again. For the first time in a while, the Packers aren’t being widely tabbed as the favorites in the NFC North, but as long as Favre is under center, they will remain more than worth the price of admission. How much will the departure of OGs Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle hurt the future Hall of Famer? Will he get along with Javon Walker both on and off the field after he ripped the team’s top receiver for holding out of camp due to contract concerns? In a division chock full of intrigue at the QB position — with Minnesota’s Daunte Culpepper preparing for life without Randy Moss, Detroit’s Joey Harrington ranked No. 1 on many experts’ “Now or Never” lists and Chicago’s Rex Grossman hoping to stay healthy long enough to revitalize the Bears’ lifeless offense — Favre still remains the league’s most compelling QB.
RUNNING BACK: Jamal Lewis / Ravens — With the newest version of “The Longest Yard” proving to be a hot box-office attraction, Lewis offers us a real-life story about a quality football player trying to regain his peak form after doing hard time — his punishment for his part in setting up a cocaine deal in 2000. This Thursday, Lewis is scheduled to report to a halfway house in Atlanta for the next two months. The Ravens had hoped he could stay in a halfway house in Baltimore, where they could keep a closer eye on their top running back. From all reports, Lewis has gone out of his way to stay in shape while in prison. Perhaps more importantly, he is said to be in superior shape mentally and is intent on having a monster season. If that happens, the Ravens will be a heavyweight contender for the Super Bowl.
RUNNING BACK: Shaun Alexander / Seahawks — Finding himself in the same position as teammate Walter Jones heading into the last three seasons, Alexander feels hamstrung at the moment by the Seahawks’ franchise tag. As was the case with Jones, however, it’s likely Alexander will eventually report to the team — probably just in time for the real show. Aside from his sticky contract situation — and the fact he bad-mouthed his head coach, Mike Holmgren, after falling one yard short of the league rushing title — is there any real reason to believe Alexander won’t be great again this season? After all, with Jones and OG Steve Hutchinson in front of him, Alexander gets to run behind the best left side in the NFL. But will Alexander’s big mouth result in more harm than good? On a team that has gone through great pains to shore up its character this offseason, that’s a very good question.
WIDE RECEIVER: Terrell Owens / Eagles — A no-brainer. Love him or hate him, it will be fascinating to see if T.O. can get back in the notoriously testy Eagles fans’ good graces after demanding a new contract and ruffling the feathers of QB Donovan McNabb. Can the Eagles make it to the Super Bowl again without Owens? Ex-Eagle Ike Reese recently was quoted as saying there’s no way, and I tend to agree with him. Although there are some who are saying Owens is as good as gone in Philly, I see him patching up his differences with the Eagles and being in the starting lineup on Day One. It remains to be seen, however, whether he will be more disruptive than productive.
WIDE RECEIVER: Randy Moss / Raiders — Think Moss will be a hit in “The Black Hole”? You better believe it. Moss has single-handedly recaptured the Raiders’ renegade mystique before playing a single down in an Oakland uniform, and that’s a good thing. The Raiders’ offense figures to be very, very dangerous — as long as Moss keeps his head on straight. Will he concentrate on catching bombs from Kerry Collins and keep the moon shots to a minimum? And if he concentrates on the latter, will Raiders owner Al Davis snarl or smile? Stay tuned.
TIGHT END: Antonio Gates / Chargers — How seriously should we take the Chargers, a team that orchestrated one of the all-time great turnarounds in one season? A key factor in the team’s success last season was the development of Gates, a former hoopster at Kent State who set a league record with 13 touchdowns at the TE position while becoming one of the NFL’s most feared receivers inside the red zone. Is Gates the real deal or just another flash in the pan? He has lost his TE coach, Tim Brewster, and he must adjust to being a marked man in film rooms by opposing defensive coordinators this offseason.
CENTER: Jeremy Newberry / 49ers — For the Alex Smith era to get started on the right foot, it’s imperative that the Niners’ offensive line, which was abysmal last season, takes huge strides this season. A key to that happening is the availability of Newberry, a seasoned warrior when healthy. But Newberry’s right knee continues to give him major problems, and he is far from being a lock to be able to play this season. He’s as tough as they come, and he can be expected to make every effort possible to give it a go.
OFFENSIVE GUARD: Marco Rivera / Cowboys — As is the case with Newberry, Rivera is being counted on to provide leadership on a line that needs it badly. But a herniated disc, suffered while running on a treadmill one week after signing a five-year, $20 million contract, will keep Rivera under wraps for a while. Will the three-time Pro Bowler produce the desired effect in Big D, where Cowboys owner Jerry Jones spent more money in the free-agent market than most of his cohorts? Drew Bledsoe certainly hopes so.
OFFENSIVE GUARD: (tie) Will Shields, Brian Waters / Chiefs — Dick Vermeil would love nothing more than a “last hurrah” for the ages, but will K.C.’s aging but effective offensive line continue to rank among the league’s best? The 33-year-old Shields is a 10-time Pro Bowler whose arthritic knees have made him seriously think about calling it quits. Can he keep the fire burning and make life easier on RB Priest Holmes, who missed the final eight games last year with a strained knee ligament? Meanwhile, Waters has been hiding out this offseason and is said to be unhappy over his contract. Will there be a changing in the K.C. guards’ play in ’05?
OFFENSIVE TACKLE: John Tait / Bears — A key to keeping injury-prone QB Rex Grossman upright next season will be Tait, who moves from right tackle to the left side, where he started as a rookie with the Chiefs. Although he’s far from ideal for the OLT spot, Tait provides a major upgrade from Qasim Mitchell. And that means Chicago’s offense could be a lot more bearable in ’05.
OFFENSIVE TACKLE: Jon Jansen / Redskins — Few injuries were as devastating as the ruptured left Achilles tendon that sidelined Jansen for the entire 2004 campaign. When healthy, he is considered one of the league’s best run blockers, and his complete recovery could make life a lot easier on beleaguered head coach Joe Gibbs, who struggled mightily to find a suitable replacement for Jansen last season.
Defense
DEFENSIVE END: Leonard Little / Rams — Coming off a season in which his sack total was his lowest since 2000, Little figures to benefit from not having serious legal problems hanging over his head after being found innocent of a felony drunken-driving charge that could have resulted in a maximum jail sentence of four years. Little should consider himself extremely lucky that he avoided the pen. Don’t be surprised if he provides a double-digit sack total for a defense that must make a quantum leap in order to be considered a bona fide contender.
DEFENSIVE END: Courtney Brown / Broncos — Of all the well-documented gambles Denver head coach Mike Shanahan is taking on this season, none is more intriguing than rolling the dice on this former first-round pick of the Browns whose career has been tarnished by one injury after another. Can Brown lead Shanahan’s “Cleveland West” D-line deep into the playoffs? Or will Brown continue to be one of the league’s biggest busts?
DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Kris Jenkins / Panthers — Jenkins was one of 14 Panthers who ended the ’05 season on injured reserve. Still, Carolina kept on trucking and almost managed to overcome the league’s longest injury list. A completely healthy Jenkins gives the Panthers’ defense a major boost as it tries to keep pace with Jim Mora’s Falcons in the NFC South.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Kevin Williams / Vikings — The Vikes would get lots of votes as the league’s most intriguing team after making wholesale moves this offseason in addition to being sold to new majority owner Zygmunt Wilf. With 22½ sacks in his first two seasons, Williams could be increasingly dangerous alongside ex-Bill Pat Williams, who is expected to occupy more than one blocker on most plays. Minnesota still is best known for its explosive offense. But the Vikes’ defense looks like it’s coming on strong.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER: Julian Peterson / 49ers — New head coach Mike Nolan has switched to a 3-4 scheme that needs Peterson to be at peak effectiveness in order to be successful. After missing most of last season with a torn left Achilles tendon, Peterson hopes to regain the Pro Bowl form he displayed in 2003, when he made 94 tackles and posted a team-leading seven sacks. Equally adept at blitzing the passer and providing blanket pass coverage, he’s a treat to watch when healthy.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER: Ian Gold / Broncos — Mike Shanahan sure went out of his way to bring Gold back to Denver after a year spent in Tampa Bay. Defensive coordinator Larry Coyer believes Gold’s versatility in pass and run situations will make a big difference this coming season. We’ll see.
INSIDE LINEBACKER: Brian Urlacher / Bears — He’s in danger of becoming the Bears’ answer to Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood, a brilliant pure talent whose career has been tarnished by untimely injuries. A healthy Urlacher is a unanimous Pro Bowler waiting to happen. A hobbled Urlacher is just another guy.
CORNERBACK: Patrick Surtain / Chiefs — We already mentioned K.C’s offensive line, but the real key to success for Dick Vermeil’s Chiefs is big-time improvement on defense, where Surtain certainly figures to make a difference. The Chiefs unsuccessfully tried to sign free agents Ken Lucas and Samari Rolle, but Surtain, at his best, is better than either of them.
CORNERBACK: Ty Law / free agent — Law is a proven commodity who will make a big difference for whichever team signs him. At the moment, however, his status remains an intriguing mystery.
SAFETY: Sean Taylor / Redskins — If it weren’t for Cleveland’s Kellen Winslow, would there be any doubt over which 2004 first-round rookie has been the biggest disappointment? Taylor is a brilliant pure talent, but his excess baggage could be more trouble than he’s worth to Joe Gibbs. The Skins’ head coach continues to do a slow burn while Taylor chooses to avoid offseason contact with the team — a situation tailor-made for trouble.
SAFETY: Roy Williams / Cowboys — Damn the league’s ban on horse-collar tackles. Williams will continue to be a full-speed terror of major proportions despite being connected with the horse-collar tactics that sidelined more than a few players last season, most notably WR Terrell Owens. Plans call for Williams to take over Darren Woodson’s former SS position. Operating closer to the line of scrimmage, he should make more plays and solidify his status as the league’s best safety, bar none.
Special teams
PLACEKICKER: Mike Nugent / Jets — I can hardly wait to see if the Jets’ second-round pick can overcome the huge pressure of kicking in the Big Apple, where his mistakes will be magnified to no end. Good luck, rookie.
PUNTER: Todd Sauerbrun / Broncos — The good news is that Sauerbrun has a cannon for a leg, and the high altitude in Denver could make his punts even more imposing than they already are. The bad news is that Sauerbrun is a 100 percent certified loose cannon off the field who seems to get less mature the older he gets. He’s the ultimate boom-or-bust candidate for 2006.
RETURN SPECIALIST: Dante Hall / Chiefs — In 2003, Hall was the league’s most dynamic kick returner since Deion Sanders in his prime, scoring four touchdowns and leading the league in punt-return average. In 2004, Hall came down to earth big-time. Will he return to his superstar form in 2005 and give us all a special treat? Let’s hope so.
And finally:
HEAD COACH: Mike Shanahan / Broncos — Courtney Brown … Ian Gold … Todd Sauerbrun … Gerard Warren … Maurice Clarett … Jerry Rice … Need we say more? Look for lots of high drama in Denver.