Atlas
09-06-2005, 04:56 AM
SoCals link: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/09/06/SPGKAEFR9O1.DTL&feed=rss.sports
NFL 2005
AFC PREVIEW
AFC WEST
In predicted order of finish
Ira Miller
Tuesday, September 6, 2005
BRONCOS
Overview: The Broncos have not won a playoff game in the six seasons since John Elway retired following their back-to-back Super Bowl victories. The last two years, Denver was beaten by Indianapolis in wild-card games by a combined score of 90-34. Most of the problems are on defense, and that is where attention was focused again during the offseason.
What's changed: Denver is trying to revive careers of a bunch of failed veterans including four defensive linemen who were signed from Cleveland, even though only four teams made fewer sacks than the Browns did last year. And, after churning out another surprise 1,000-yard rusher, Reuben Droughns, the Broncos traded him and are counting on Mike Anderson as the starter, backed up by Tatum Bell and Ron Dayne, a failed first-round pick of the Giants. This will be QB Jake Plummer's third season in Denver; his first two were, statistically, the best two years of his career, although he threw 20 interceptions in 2004, tied for most in the league. He looked superb this summer.
Transition: Among Denver's new defensive linemen are former first-round picks Courtney Brown, Ebenezer Ekuban and Gerard Warren and former second-rounder John Engelberger. They also signed Dayne. Kind of ironic, actually, that Mike Shanahan now is following an old Al Davis script of trying to salvage other teams' draft mistakes. Eight of the 19 newcomers on the 53-man roster were veteran free agents.
Biggest acquisition: It could be a former Bronco, LB Ian Gold, who went to Tampa Bay and then came back home to a starting job.
Biggest loss: Defensive end Reggie Hayward, whose 101/2 sacks led the team last year, signed with Jacksonville. It was the second year in a row the Broncos lost their sack leader in free agency.
Forecast: If the summer was any indication, it could be that Plummer finally gets it, and, in any case, Shanahan is too good a coach to go much longer without a playoff victory.
RAIDERS
Overview: The last vestiges of the Jon Gruden era as the Raiders' coach officially ended with Rich Gannon's retirement this summer. With Kerry Collins at quarterback and Randy Moss at wide receiver, the Raiders have the players to revert to the roots of an Al Davis-style offense: A deep ball game built around strong running. No more West Coast Offense for this team.
What's changed: Collins, who has taken two teams to conference championship games and one to the Super Bowl in his up-and-down career, is the full-time starter after taking over when Gannon was hurt last season. Moss and Jerry Porter are the wide receivers and LaMont Jordan, who backed up Curtis Martin with the Jets, should provide the running game. The offensive line is solid. Not so the defense, although it is quicker than the dismal bunch that failed miserably in a 3-4 last year and is expected to play mostly a 4-3 this year.
Transition: Moss came in a low-cost trade from Minnesota after a sub-par year caused in part by injury. He fell off to 767 yards receiving after averaging 1,396 yards for the first six years of his career. Ex-Philly defensive end Derrick Burgess should help a defense sorely in need of help. And Warren Sapp, who had only 21/2 sacks last year, lowest total of a 10-year career, will get to move back inside to defensive tackle in the 4-3 and has a chance to show whether the system was at fault last year or he's simply near the end.
Biggest acquisition: Moss gets the most headlines, but it's Jordan, a solid citizen, who could provide the biggest boost. In four years with the Jets, he averaged 4.9 yards a carry. Last season, the Raiders were last in the league in rushing yardage.
Biggest loss: None.
Forecast: The Raiders are likely to be involved in a lot of high-scoring games and they should win more than they lose.
CHARGERS
Overview: The Chargers matched their club record for victories in a surprising 12-4 season last year, their first winning record since 1995. They are well-positioned, too, with breakout quarterback Drew Brees around at least another year, and Philip Rivers, last year's first-round pick, waiting in the wings. Further, they did not lose a starter from last year's team. They do, however, face a tough schedule and have lost the element of surprise.
What's changed: Brees, once thought a failed draft pick, now is looked upon as a potential franchise quarterback who is playing for a big contract this year. The Chargers' record last season, their salary-cap management and another good draft that included two first-round picks has changed the image of the organization, despite a training camp holdout by tight end Antonio Gates, who will miss the first regular-season game.
Transition: San Diego's biggest loss could turn out to be offensive-line coach Hudson Houck, who joined Nick Saban in Miami. Houck took five new starters a year ago, four of them new to the Chargers including two rookies, and put together a line that protected Brees and made holes for running back LaDainian Tomlinson. But his replacement, Carl Mauck, a long-time NFL lineman, also comes with a good reputation.
Biggest acquisition: The only significant free-agent pickup was nickel back Bhawoh Jue from Green Bay.
Biggest loss: Kickoff returner Tim Dwight, one of the fastest players in the league, is now with New England, as is backup QB Doug Flutie.
Forecast: Logically, the Chargers should be as good as they were last year, but higher expectations and a tough schedule are problems.
CHIEFS
Overview: A year ago, the Chiefs thought they could repair a horrendous defense simply by changing coordinators, bringing in Gunther Cunningham. Since that didn't work, they came to their senses and imported some new players. There is a legitimate chance now for improvement, and the Chiefs would not have to be that much better to become a playoff team because the offense is so strong.
What's changed: Kansas City actually allowed more than 100 points more in 2004 than it did in 2003, a pretty clear sign that the standstill approach on player personnel was not a good idea. So significant moves were made for talented players who still appear to be in their good years: 27-year-old linebacker Kendrell Bell (injury problems, however), 29-year-old cornerback Patrick Surtain and safety Sammy Knight, who turns 30 in a few days. All three are former Pro Bowl players.
Transition: The Chiefs got another potential defensive stud, outside linebacker Derrick Johnson, with their first-round draft pick. Johnson brings some athleticism the Chiefs have been missing on defense. Kansas City also traded with Tennessee for defensive end Carlos Hall, a starter with the Titans. The Chiefs realize their window of opportunity may be closing, because quarterback Trent Green is 35 and Priest Holmes will be 32 next month and has shown signs of slowing down. They also hope that Marc Boerigter, who missed the entire 2004 season due to a knee injury, can be the go-to wideout they sorely need to reduce the load on tight end Tony Gonzalez.
Biggest acquisition: For immediate impact, Surtain. For the long haul, Derrick Johnson.
Biggest loss: Linebacker Monty Beisel, who signed with the Patriots. He'll look better in New England than he did in Kansas City simply because of better talent around him.
Forecast: Could be back in the playoff race.
NFL 2005
AFC PREVIEW
AFC WEST
In predicted order of finish
Ira Miller
Tuesday, September 6, 2005
BRONCOS
Overview: The Broncos have not won a playoff game in the six seasons since John Elway retired following their back-to-back Super Bowl victories. The last two years, Denver was beaten by Indianapolis in wild-card games by a combined score of 90-34. Most of the problems are on defense, and that is where attention was focused again during the offseason.
What's changed: Denver is trying to revive careers of a bunch of failed veterans including four defensive linemen who were signed from Cleveland, even though only four teams made fewer sacks than the Browns did last year. And, after churning out another surprise 1,000-yard rusher, Reuben Droughns, the Broncos traded him and are counting on Mike Anderson as the starter, backed up by Tatum Bell and Ron Dayne, a failed first-round pick of the Giants. This will be QB Jake Plummer's third season in Denver; his first two were, statistically, the best two years of his career, although he threw 20 interceptions in 2004, tied for most in the league. He looked superb this summer.
Transition: Among Denver's new defensive linemen are former first-round picks Courtney Brown, Ebenezer Ekuban and Gerard Warren and former second-rounder John Engelberger. They also signed Dayne. Kind of ironic, actually, that Mike Shanahan now is following an old Al Davis script of trying to salvage other teams' draft mistakes. Eight of the 19 newcomers on the 53-man roster were veteran free agents.
Biggest acquisition: It could be a former Bronco, LB Ian Gold, who went to Tampa Bay and then came back home to a starting job.
Biggest loss: Defensive end Reggie Hayward, whose 101/2 sacks led the team last year, signed with Jacksonville. It was the second year in a row the Broncos lost their sack leader in free agency.
Forecast: If the summer was any indication, it could be that Plummer finally gets it, and, in any case, Shanahan is too good a coach to go much longer without a playoff victory.
RAIDERS
Overview: The last vestiges of the Jon Gruden era as the Raiders' coach officially ended with Rich Gannon's retirement this summer. With Kerry Collins at quarterback and Randy Moss at wide receiver, the Raiders have the players to revert to the roots of an Al Davis-style offense: A deep ball game built around strong running. No more West Coast Offense for this team.
What's changed: Collins, who has taken two teams to conference championship games and one to the Super Bowl in his up-and-down career, is the full-time starter after taking over when Gannon was hurt last season. Moss and Jerry Porter are the wide receivers and LaMont Jordan, who backed up Curtis Martin with the Jets, should provide the running game. The offensive line is solid. Not so the defense, although it is quicker than the dismal bunch that failed miserably in a 3-4 last year and is expected to play mostly a 4-3 this year.
Transition: Moss came in a low-cost trade from Minnesota after a sub-par year caused in part by injury. He fell off to 767 yards receiving after averaging 1,396 yards for the first six years of his career. Ex-Philly defensive end Derrick Burgess should help a defense sorely in need of help. And Warren Sapp, who had only 21/2 sacks last year, lowest total of a 10-year career, will get to move back inside to defensive tackle in the 4-3 and has a chance to show whether the system was at fault last year or he's simply near the end.
Biggest acquisition: Moss gets the most headlines, but it's Jordan, a solid citizen, who could provide the biggest boost. In four years with the Jets, he averaged 4.9 yards a carry. Last season, the Raiders were last in the league in rushing yardage.
Biggest loss: None.
Forecast: The Raiders are likely to be involved in a lot of high-scoring games and they should win more than they lose.
CHARGERS
Overview: The Chargers matched their club record for victories in a surprising 12-4 season last year, their first winning record since 1995. They are well-positioned, too, with breakout quarterback Drew Brees around at least another year, and Philip Rivers, last year's first-round pick, waiting in the wings. Further, they did not lose a starter from last year's team. They do, however, face a tough schedule and have lost the element of surprise.
What's changed: Brees, once thought a failed draft pick, now is looked upon as a potential franchise quarterback who is playing for a big contract this year. The Chargers' record last season, their salary-cap management and another good draft that included two first-round picks has changed the image of the organization, despite a training camp holdout by tight end Antonio Gates, who will miss the first regular-season game.
Transition: San Diego's biggest loss could turn out to be offensive-line coach Hudson Houck, who joined Nick Saban in Miami. Houck took five new starters a year ago, four of them new to the Chargers including two rookies, and put together a line that protected Brees and made holes for running back LaDainian Tomlinson. But his replacement, Carl Mauck, a long-time NFL lineman, also comes with a good reputation.
Biggest acquisition: The only significant free-agent pickup was nickel back Bhawoh Jue from Green Bay.
Biggest loss: Kickoff returner Tim Dwight, one of the fastest players in the league, is now with New England, as is backup QB Doug Flutie.
Forecast: Logically, the Chargers should be as good as they were last year, but higher expectations and a tough schedule are problems.
CHIEFS
Overview: A year ago, the Chiefs thought they could repair a horrendous defense simply by changing coordinators, bringing in Gunther Cunningham. Since that didn't work, they came to their senses and imported some new players. There is a legitimate chance now for improvement, and the Chiefs would not have to be that much better to become a playoff team because the offense is so strong.
What's changed: Kansas City actually allowed more than 100 points more in 2004 than it did in 2003, a pretty clear sign that the standstill approach on player personnel was not a good idea. So significant moves were made for talented players who still appear to be in their good years: 27-year-old linebacker Kendrell Bell (injury problems, however), 29-year-old cornerback Patrick Surtain and safety Sammy Knight, who turns 30 in a few days. All three are former Pro Bowl players.
Transition: The Chiefs got another potential defensive stud, outside linebacker Derrick Johnson, with their first-round draft pick. Johnson brings some athleticism the Chiefs have been missing on defense. Kansas City also traded with Tennessee for defensive end Carlos Hall, a starter with the Titans. The Chiefs realize their window of opportunity may be closing, because quarterback Trent Green is 35 and Priest Holmes will be 32 next month and has shown signs of slowing down. They also hope that Marc Boerigter, who missed the entire 2004 season due to a knee injury, can be the go-to wideout they sorely need to reduce the load on tight end Tony Gonzalez.
Biggest acquisition: For immediate impact, Surtain. For the long haul, Derrick Johnson.
Biggest loss: Linebacker Monty Beisel, who signed with the Patriots. He'll look better in New England than he did in Kansas City simply because of better talent around him.
Forecast: Could be back in the playoff race.