OrangeShadow
09-05-2007, 11:01 AM
didnt see dragondawg post this yet ROFL!
AFC West preview
By Jerry McDonald | Special to NFL.com
First and foremost, the AFC West is about running the ball.
The team that most consistently moves the chains and punches in touchdowns on the ground has the best opportunity to be the first from the division to make a Super Bowl since the Raiders in 2002.
The San Diego Chargers were second in the NFL in rushing last season at 161.1 yards per game and not coincidentally were the division champs.
Denver, which ranked eighth at 134.5 yards, was in the playoff hunt until the final game of the season, with ninth-ranked Kansas City (133.9) sneaking in as a wild card.
Meanwhile, the run-deficient Raiders have failed to average 100 yards per game rushing over the past three seasons, finishing 29th, 29th and 32nd in the NFL. Oakland has won 11 of 48 games during that span and is 1-17 in division games.
San Diego still has the NFL's premier back in LaDainian Tomlinson, coming off an NFL record 31 touchdowns and 1,815 yards rushing.
Denver signed Travis Henry to run in its prolific zone blocking offense and Kansas City workhorse running back Larry Johnson carried the ball 416 times for 1,789 yards.
In Oakland, the Raiders imported offensive coordinator Greg Knapp and line coach Tom Cable to institute a zone blocking scheme similar to the one in Denver. Knapp and Cable were in Atlanta last season, where the Falcons led the NFL in rushing.
Gil Brandt's top five unsung players
Gil Brandt
Shaun Phillips, LB, San Diego: Fourth-year player with 18.5 sacks over last two years - including 11.5 sacks in 14 games last season. He's too fast for most blockers when coming off the edge, and he can move well as opposed to being purely a straight-ahead rusher… Good coverage ability as well.
David Binn, LS, San Diego: How can a 14-year veteran be underrated? When you're a long snapper, I suppose. His deep snaps are very accurate, described as frozen ropes but also easy to handle. After the snap, he does a solid job in punt coverage, one of the reasons he earned a Pro Bowl nod last season… He's missed only one game in 14 years, holding the Chargers record for most games played (207).
D.J. Williams, LB, Denver: Moved to inside linebacker after starting 43 games on the outside… A former standout running back in high school, Williams is an every-down 'backer - strong enough to play the run and fast enough to play the pass. He's a bigger, stronger version of Tampa Bay's Derrick Brooks.
Thomas Howard, LB, Oakland: Started 15 games as a rookie in 2006.. A gifted player with rare speed for the position. He has good strength, can cover receivers all over the field. He has a lot of natural ability and will get better with each game he plays.
Tamba Hali, DE, Kansas City: The Liberian-born Hali started all 16 games as a rookie last year and led the Chiefs with 8 sacks. He possesses a very quick first step in the pass rush but also is very good against the run. A very instinctive player, and has the mentality of an offensive tackle in that he never lets up.
AFC West preview
By Jerry McDonald | Special to NFL.com
First and foremost, the AFC West is about running the ball.
The team that most consistently moves the chains and punches in touchdowns on the ground has the best opportunity to be the first from the division to make a Super Bowl since the Raiders in 2002.
The San Diego Chargers were second in the NFL in rushing last season at 161.1 yards per game and not coincidentally were the division champs.
Denver, which ranked eighth at 134.5 yards, was in the playoff hunt until the final game of the season, with ninth-ranked Kansas City (133.9) sneaking in as a wild card.
Meanwhile, the run-deficient Raiders have failed to average 100 yards per game rushing over the past three seasons, finishing 29th, 29th and 32nd in the NFL. Oakland has won 11 of 48 games during that span and is 1-17 in division games.
San Diego still has the NFL's premier back in LaDainian Tomlinson, coming off an NFL record 31 touchdowns and 1,815 yards rushing.
Denver signed Travis Henry to run in its prolific zone blocking offense and Kansas City workhorse running back Larry Johnson carried the ball 416 times for 1,789 yards.
In Oakland, the Raiders imported offensive coordinator Greg Knapp and line coach Tom Cable to institute a zone blocking scheme similar to the one in Denver. Knapp and Cable were in Atlanta last season, where the Falcons led the NFL in rushing.
Gil Brandt's top five unsung players
Gil Brandt
Shaun Phillips, LB, San Diego: Fourth-year player with 18.5 sacks over last two years - including 11.5 sacks in 14 games last season. He's too fast for most blockers when coming off the edge, and he can move well as opposed to being purely a straight-ahead rusher… Good coverage ability as well.
David Binn, LS, San Diego: How can a 14-year veteran be underrated? When you're a long snapper, I suppose. His deep snaps are very accurate, described as frozen ropes but also easy to handle. After the snap, he does a solid job in punt coverage, one of the reasons he earned a Pro Bowl nod last season… He's missed only one game in 14 years, holding the Chargers record for most games played (207).
D.J. Williams, LB, Denver: Moved to inside linebacker after starting 43 games on the outside… A former standout running back in high school, Williams is an every-down 'backer - strong enough to play the run and fast enough to play the pass. He's a bigger, stronger version of Tampa Bay's Derrick Brooks.
Thomas Howard, LB, Oakland: Started 15 games as a rookie in 2006.. A gifted player with rare speed for the position. He has good strength, can cover receivers all over the field. He has a lot of natural ability and will get better with each game he plays.
Tamba Hali, DE, Kansas City: The Liberian-born Hali started all 16 games as a rookie last year and led the Chiefs with 8 sacks. He possesses a very quick first step in the pass rush but also is very good against the run. A very instinctive player, and has the mentality of an offensive tackle in that he never lets up.