ESPN insider All the right moves?

[KansasBronco]

Can someone post this story that has ESPN insider?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/index?...lid=gn_NFL_NFL

I use to have this, but mine ran out after the draft. Looks like a good story.

[DelBronco]

Here you go Kansas...

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/insid...ary&id=2448583

Not too bad of a read.

[Rascal]

check out NPR's daily Bronco report (today's). The complete version is located there.

[Lev Vyvanse]

Originally Posted by DelBronco

Here you go Kansas...

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/insid...ary&id=2448583

Not too bad of a read.

I think he means the whole thing.

[DelBronco]

Originally Posted by TheTrueOne

I think he means the whole thing.

Lol, sorry. The effort was there...

[eddie mac]

As another NFL offseason comes to a conclusion and coaches prepare for a well-deserved vacation before training camp, it seems like the right time to look at last season's 12 playoff teams.

Who has improved and perhaps moved to the precipice of something big? Who has likely taken a step back? Who should expect about the same results they achieved in 2005?


Pittsburgh Steelers: The Super Bowl champions face more challenges in 2006 than you might think. First of all, they have to solidify their offensive identity, which is a ball-control running game. Right now they do not have a back who can give them 25-30 carries a game, and a run game by committee is not overly desirable.

The Steelers also must replace solid veteran contributors such as Antwaan Randle El, Kimo von Oelhoffen and Chris Hope -- all underrated players who were critical parts of their success. The Steelers always seem to prepare for defections and have young guys waiting in the wings, but their depth will be severely tested in 2006. They will look like the 2005 Steelers, but their margin for error will be less than it was in 2005.

Seattle Seahawks: This is a veteran group brimming with optimism and confidence. The Seahawks seem to be over their Super Bowl loss and actually might be better than they were a year ago. Although they lost a great offensive lineman in guard Steve Hutchinson, they re-signed their biggest offensive weapon (running back Shaun Alexander) and added a quality pass rusher (outside linebacker Julian Peterson) and an exciting young receiver (Nate Burleson).

In today's NFL, continuity is a huge advantage, and Seattle has it not only in its locker room but also on its coaching staff. This is a team with few weaknesses that expects to be back in the Super Bowl and win it this time.

Denver Broncos: Although they did not retain some aging veterans on defense and some key contributors on offense, the Broncos can overcome all of those losses. Their biggest move was acquiring former Green Bay wide receiver Javon Walker, who should give them the big-play flair that they have been missing.

This is close to a complete football team that simply needs a consistent year from quarterback Jake Plummer to be a serious Super Bowl contender. With rookie Jay Cutler on board, Plummer should be motivated to play well.

Carolina Panthers: This is usually an understated organization that goes about its offseason business quietly. This year was no different. An outstanding interior defensive line got better with the acquisitions of defensive tackles Maake Kemoeatu and Damione Lewis, and a thin secondary was upgraded with veteran safeties Shaun Williams and Kevin McCadam and corner Reggie Howard.

However, the new player who will make the biggest impact is wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, who will not only make the tough catches over the middle but also will take some attention away from fellow wide receiver Steve Smith. It's also important to remember that Johnson is an outstanding blocker downfield, which will be a great asset in this run-oriented offense. If Carolina's running game functions well in 2006, the Panthers will be a Super Bowl contender.

New England Patriots: This usually astute front office has had a very uneven offseason. The Patriots' personnel losses easily outweigh their acquisitions. This team has always been able to fill holes with veteran role players, but that may no longer be the case. Wide receiver David Givens is a big loss, kicker Adam Vinatieri is nearly irreplaceable and the leadership of Willie McGinest will be sorely missed.

There are virtually no new players to fill these spots, and the team appears to be in serious jeopardy of falling behind the Dolphins in the AFC East. However, we've learned never to underestimate Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.

Washington Redskins: If spending money on high-profile veteran free agents is a successful formula for winning, we should put the Redskins in the Super Bowl right now. Safety Adam Archuleta, defensive end Andre Carter, wide receiver Antwaan Randle El and tight end Christian Fauria are all upgrades at their respective positions if they can jell in a new system.

Randle El is a huge acquisition because he gives the Redskins a legitimate three-wide receiver, one-back offensive set, which is their scheme of choice. Not only will it give them a chance for more big plays, but it also will open up great running lanes for Clinton Portis. If they can get consistency from the quarterback position, whether it is Mark Brunell or Jason Campbell, the Redskins are poised for a deep playoff run.

Indianapolis Colts: After a disastrous finish to the 2005 regular season and a shocking playoff loss to Pittsburgh at home, the Colts parted ways with superstar running back Edgerrin James, who now resides in Arizona. This team has to retool its running game and find a way to become more physical in crunch time.

Not everything is negative, however. Vinatieri is the best clutch kicker of all time and his addition could be the difference in two or three games, which could be the difference between winning the Super Bowl and losing early in the playoffs. If the Colts can manufacture a consistent run game in 2006, they will be right in the thick of the Super Bowl race.

Chicago Bears: Confident their roster is good enough to put them in the Super Bowl hunt, the Bears were very conservative in free agency. Their most dramatic acquisition is Brian Griese, who is a lot closer to the field than most people realize. He is an excellent caretaker quarterback, and if Rex Grossman falters, the Bears finally have an excellent alternate plan.

With the core of their great defense intact, the Bears will win games by running the ball and controlling the clock. The big question is whether Cedric Benson can step up in Year 2 and become a franchise back. If that happens, success will continue.

Jacksonville Jaguars: It's been a slightly uneasy offseason for this usually rock-solid organization. Not only did the Jags lose their best offensive weapon to retirement (wide receiver Jimmy Smith), their "biggest fish" in free agency, linebacker LaVar Arrington, wound up with the Giants.

They still have a good defense, an exciting young quarterback and a group of big and physical wide receivers. For the Jags to become Super Bowl contenders, everything has to fall into place perfectly. You have to wonder whether they have enough clutch playmakers on both sides of the ball.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Although the Bucs did not have what would be considered a "sexy" offseason, they quietly did a masterful job of retooling this roster and getting their salary cap under control. GM Bruce Allen is a master capologist; he renegotiated some deals and removed some dead weight while keeping the core of this team together.

The Bucs are quietly rebuilding their offensive line, which was their Achilles' heel a year ago. If young quarterback Chris Simms takes his game to the next level, they will be solid on offense. The Bucs have age concerns on defense, but Allen and Jon Gruden have a knack for tinkering with this roster rather than starting over with a rebuilding job. This team was 11-5 in 2005 and there is no reason to believe it won't repeat that success.



AP/Tom Uhlman
The Bengals' hopes in 2006 hinge on the health of starting quarterback Carson Palmer.
Cincinnati Bengals: The rise of this much-maligned franchise revolves around the health of one key player: quarterback Carson Palmer. If he can bounce back from a devastating knee injury, this will once again be a potent offense. The Bengals have not been major players in free agency, but they are doing a nice job of keeping their key players under contract.

We will continue to see continuity on this roster, which is unusual in today's NFL, and especially in Cincinnati, where in the past players could not wait to leave in free agency. Scoring points will not be the problem for the Bengals, but their playoff hopes will likely revolve around how much they improve their 28th-rated defense from last season.

New York Giants: The Giants lost some big-name defensive players, but they were mostly aging guys with declining skills. The Giants' offense is already in good shape, and rookie wide receiver Sinorice Moss will give them a chance for more explosive, big plays.

The Giants' biggest acquisition was Arrington, who can give them a big-play element they have been missing for years. A secondary bolstered by the addition of corners Jason Bell, Sam Madison and R.W. McQuarters, along with safeties Will Demps and Quentin Harris, should dramatically improve a pass defense that ranked 27th in 2005. This is a veteran team that expects to win now, and if quarterback Eli Manning shows more consistency, the Giants will be in the hunt.

[Rascal]

Everybody seems to overlooking our biggest issues IMO...pass rush at DE and DT depth.

[ludo21]

Originally Posted by Rascal

Everybody seems to overlooking our biggest issues IMO...pass rush at DE and DT depth.

as usual.

Who knows, maybe the "dogs" will be let loose? Altho I dont believe a word of that "dog" crap anyway, but maybe Lang and Dumervill make an impact on 3rd down.

[Requiem]

Haha, someone on the official board b****ed at me for not giving it to them. .

[DarkHorse30]

Indy losing James is huge.....I can't believe nobody seems to notice this. How is adding Vinatieri supposed to be "the difference", when their old kicker was the most accurate kicker in football?.....except of course for that wonderfully terrible kick against Pittsburgh.

Plummer is always "the question" in Denver...while Peyton is a complete choke artist nearly every year with nearly twice the talent on offense. Brilliant.

[KansasBronco]

Thanks guys! I agree we have the pieces in place, now we have to stay healthy and have some luck on our sides. I think Heimerdinger is going to take our offense to the next level.

[sirhcyennek81]

I like that. Broncos being a complete team. Pretty excited about this season. Especially a Smith-Walker duo. Thats magic. If Lelie gets his head out of his ass...be one hell of a 3 wide set. Heimer is not Kubes, who the hell knows what our base offense will be.