MrPeepers
09-01-2005, 08:49 PM
AFC West preview: Moss puts silver and black ahead of the pack
Aug. 30, 2005
By Pete Prisco
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Tell Pete your opinion!
The AFC West might be the most competitive division in the league.
It certainly will be the most fun.
PHOTOS: « PREV | NEXT »
Randy Moss gives Oakland a big vertical threat. (Getty Images)
All four teams will have offenses that can put up big numbers. The best of those offenses will be in Oakland, but do the Raiders have enough on defense to win the division?
There's a bias against offensive teams, which will make it tough for most to pick the Raiders to win the West.
That bias doesn't exist here.
With Randy Moss joining Jerry Porter to catch long passes from Kerry Collins, the offense will be as much fun to watch as any of them. In addition, LaMont Jordan will give the Raiders a pounding running back to eat up the clock in the fourth quarter.
We realize the defense struggled last season, but there is talent on that side of the ball, enough to show improvement. And with that offense, only a slight improvement will give the Raiders the title in a tough, competitive division.
It won't be easy, as any of the four teams can win the division. All can score 30 or more any Sunday, which is why the AFC West will remind us of the old AFL days.
For that, we are to be thankful.
So get Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis ready. The AFC West is going to be a heck of a wild ride -- offensive style.
Oakland Raiders
Significant additions: WR Randy Moss, RB LaMont Jordan, DE Derrick Burgess, DL Kenny Smith, FB Rob Konrad.
Significant subtractions: CB Phillip Buchanon, TE Doug Jolley.
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Raiders 2004: 5-11 Rank
Pt. Scored: 320
Pt. Allowed: 442
Offense: 322.1
Defense: 371.0
18
31
17
30
2. Broncos 2004: 10-6 Rank
Pt. Scored: 381
Pt. Allowed: 304
Offense: 395.8
Defense: 278.7
9
T-9
5
4
3. Chiefs 2004: 7-9 Rank
Pt. Scored: 483
Pt. Allowed: 435
Offense: 418.4
Defense: 377.3
2
29
1
31
4. Chargers 2004: 12-4 Rank
Pt. Scored: 446
Pt. Allowed: 313
Offense: 346.4
Defense: 335.0
3
11
10
18
Biggest offseason move: Adding Moss. He is the best receiver in football. Moss can do things for an offense that no other receiver can. This is going to be a huge year for him.
Will go to the playoffs if ... the defense makes some improvement. There is talent there, but some of it is aging and some of it is inexperienced.
Won't go to the playoffs if ... the defense gives up 30 points in too many games and the Raiders play too many shootouts.
Rookie to watch: LB Kirk Morrison.
Overview: With Collins throwing to Moss and Porter and Jordan running behind a good line, the Raiders will have a dynamic offense, one that will be fun to watch. But will the defense improve? Look for the Raiders to play a lot of 35-31 games, which is just fine with us.
Denver Broncos
Significant additions: DT Gerard Warren, DE Ebenezer Ekuban, DT Michael Myers, DE Courtney Brown, TE Stephen Alexander, LB Ian Gold.
Significant subtractions: DE Reggie Hayward, S Kenoy Kennedy, LB Donnie Spragan.
Biggest offseason move: Getting the four defensive lineman from the Cleveland Browns. Those four didn't do much for a bad Cleveland defense, but word is some of them have showed well this summer. One question, though -- where's the pass rush coming from?
Will go to the playoffs if ... the defense can show improvement behind all the new faces.
Won't go to the playoffs if ... the defense is getting gashed, forcing too much pressure on Jake Plummer.
Rookie to watch: The Broncos drafted three corners with their first three picks, and Dominique Foxworth, the last of the three to be picked, has played the best in the preseason. He could be the team's nickel back.
Overview: Coach Mike Shanahan has not won a playoff game since John Elway retired. Is this the year? The Broncos will again run the ball well with Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell, and Plummer will make his share of plays in the passing game. But the defense has a lot of holes to plug. The Broncos will push for wild-card spot this year and maybe the division title.
Kansas City Chiefs
Significant additions: CB Patrick Surtain, LB Kendrell Bell, S Sammy Knight, DE Carlos Hall, LB Derrick Johnson.
Significant subtractions: DE Vonnie Holliday, RB Derrick Blaylock.
Biggest offseason move: Adding Surtain. The Chiefs were so-so at best on the corner, but Surtain gives them a guy who has man coverage skills. He might not be the player he was three years ago, but he is still a significant upgrade over what the Chiefs played with last season.
Will go to the playoffs if ... Gunther Cunningham gets the defense to play better. There is more talent, but how well will it come together?
Won't go to the playoffs if ... they're giving up way too many points again. The offense will score a lot, but will it have to because of the defense?
Rookie to watch: Johnson is a run-and-chase linebacker whose speed will show up in a big way. The one knock on him is that he runs around blocks.
Overview: The Chiefs will continue to put up loads of points. With Trent Green throwing and Priest Holmes running and a good offensive line in front of them, the offense will again be among the league's best. The key will be the defense. Did they do enough to improve a bad unit from a year ago? The one concern is they still do not have an explosive down rusher in their 4-3 package. That's not a good thing in the wild AFC West. They'll push for a wild-card berth, but no more.
San Diego Chargers
Significant additions: DE Shawne Merriman, DE Luis Castillo, S Bhawoh Jue.
Significant subtractions: WR Tim Dwight, DT Jason Fisk.
Biggest offseason move: They return all 22 starters, so there wasn't a lot done in the offseason. The biggest move might be the drafting of Merriman.
Will go to the playoffs if ... they weren't one-year wonders. There are still some doubts about this group.
Won't go to the playoffs if ... Drew Brees has his bubble burst. That isn't likely, but let's wait and see.
Rookie to watch: Merriman. He should help improve the outside pass rush, which could mean more single blocks for Steve Foley. Merriman fits in perfectly in the Chargers' 3-4 system.
Overview: This young team is coming off a special 12-win season. But in the past coach Marty Schottenheimer has had teams get to that level and never make a Super Bowl. Are the Chargers in that same mold? If Brees plays like he did last season and some young defensive players step up, the Chargers could win 10 games. If not, they might be back to seven-win team and Brees might be headed elsewhere as Philip Rivers takes over.
Aug. 30, 2005
By Pete Prisco
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Tell Pete your opinion!
The AFC West might be the most competitive division in the league.
It certainly will be the most fun.
PHOTOS: « PREV | NEXT »
Randy Moss gives Oakland a big vertical threat. (Getty Images)
All four teams will have offenses that can put up big numbers. The best of those offenses will be in Oakland, but do the Raiders have enough on defense to win the division?
There's a bias against offensive teams, which will make it tough for most to pick the Raiders to win the West.
That bias doesn't exist here.
With Randy Moss joining Jerry Porter to catch long passes from Kerry Collins, the offense will be as much fun to watch as any of them. In addition, LaMont Jordan will give the Raiders a pounding running back to eat up the clock in the fourth quarter.
We realize the defense struggled last season, but there is talent on that side of the ball, enough to show improvement. And with that offense, only a slight improvement will give the Raiders the title in a tough, competitive division.
It won't be easy, as any of the four teams can win the division. All can score 30 or more any Sunday, which is why the AFC West will remind us of the old AFL days.
For that, we are to be thankful.
So get Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis ready. The AFC West is going to be a heck of a wild ride -- offensive style.
Oakland Raiders
Significant additions: WR Randy Moss, RB LaMont Jordan, DE Derrick Burgess, DL Kenny Smith, FB Rob Konrad.
Significant subtractions: CB Phillip Buchanon, TE Doug Jolley.
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Raiders 2004: 5-11 Rank
Pt. Scored: 320
Pt. Allowed: 442
Offense: 322.1
Defense: 371.0
18
31
17
30
2. Broncos 2004: 10-6 Rank
Pt. Scored: 381
Pt. Allowed: 304
Offense: 395.8
Defense: 278.7
9
T-9
5
4
3. Chiefs 2004: 7-9 Rank
Pt. Scored: 483
Pt. Allowed: 435
Offense: 418.4
Defense: 377.3
2
29
1
31
4. Chargers 2004: 12-4 Rank
Pt. Scored: 446
Pt. Allowed: 313
Offense: 346.4
Defense: 335.0
3
11
10
18
Biggest offseason move: Adding Moss. He is the best receiver in football. Moss can do things for an offense that no other receiver can. This is going to be a huge year for him.
Will go to the playoffs if ... the defense makes some improvement. There is talent there, but some of it is aging and some of it is inexperienced.
Won't go to the playoffs if ... the defense gives up 30 points in too many games and the Raiders play too many shootouts.
Rookie to watch: LB Kirk Morrison.
Overview: With Collins throwing to Moss and Porter and Jordan running behind a good line, the Raiders will have a dynamic offense, one that will be fun to watch. But will the defense improve? Look for the Raiders to play a lot of 35-31 games, which is just fine with us.
Denver Broncos
Significant additions: DT Gerard Warren, DE Ebenezer Ekuban, DT Michael Myers, DE Courtney Brown, TE Stephen Alexander, LB Ian Gold.
Significant subtractions: DE Reggie Hayward, S Kenoy Kennedy, LB Donnie Spragan.
Biggest offseason move: Getting the four defensive lineman from the Cleveland Browns. Those four didn't do much for a bad Cleveland defense, but word is some of them have showed well this summer. One question, though -- where's the pass rush coming from?
Will go to the playoffs if ... the defense can show improvement behind all the new faces.
Won't go to the playoffs if ... the defense is getting gashed, forcing too much pressure on Jake Plummer.
Rookie to watch: The Broncos drafted three corners with their first three picks, and Dominique Foxworth, the last of the three to be picked, has played the best in the preseason. He could be the team's nickel back.
Overview: Coach Mike Shanahan has not won a playoff game since John Elway retired. Is this the year? The Broncos will again run the ball well with Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell, and Plummer will make his share of plays in the passing game. But the defense has a lot of holes to plug. The Broncos will push for wild-card spot this year and maybe the division title.
Kansas City Chiefs
Significant additions: CB Patrick Surtain, LB Kendrell Bell, S Sammy Knight, DE Carlos Hall, LB Derrick Johnson.
Significant subtractions: DE Vonnie Holliday, RB Derrick Blaylock.
Biggest offseason move: Adding Surtain. The Chiefs were so-so at best on the corner, but Surtain gives them a guy who has man coverage skills. He might not be the player he was three years ago, but he is still a significant upgrade over what the Chiefs played with last season.
Will go to the playoffs if ... Gunther Cunningham gets the defense to play better. There is more talent, but how well will it come together?
Won't go to the playoffs if ... they're giving up way too many points again. The offense will score a lot, but will it have to because of the defense?
Rookie to watch: Johnson is a run-and-chase linebacker whose speed will show up in a big way. The one knock on him is that he runs around blocks.
Overview: The Chiefs will continue to put up loads of points. With Trent Green throwing and Priest Holmes running and a good offensive line in front of them, the offense will again be among the league's best. The key will be the defense. Did they do enough to improve a bad unit from a year ago? The one concern is they still do not have an explosive down rusher in their 4-3 package. That's not a good thing in the wild AFC West. They'll push for a wild-card berth, but no more.
San Diego Chargers
Significant additions: DE Shawne Merriman, DE Luis Castillo, S Bhawoh Jue.
Significant subtractions: WR Tim Dwight, DT Jason Fisk.
Biggest offseason move: They return all 22 starters, so there wasn't a lot done in the offseason. The biggest move might be the drafting of Merriman.
Will go to the playoffs if ... they weren't one-year wonders. There are still some doubts about this group.
Won't go to the playoffs if ... Drew Brees has his bubble burst. That isn't likely, but let's wait and see.
Rookie to watch: Merriman. He should help improve the outside pass rush, which could mean more single blocks for Steve Foley. Merriman fits in perfectly in the Chargers' 3-4 system.
Overview: This young team is coming off a special 12-win season. But in the past coach Marty Schottenheimer has had teams get to that level and never make a Super Bowl. Are the Chargers in that same mold? If Brees plays like he did last season and some young defensive players step up, the Chargers could win 10 games. If not, they might be back to seven-win team and Brees might be headed elsewhere as Philip Rivers takes over.