bubba9497
June-30th-2005, 01:41 PM
Jaguars ready to make move
Scouts Inc.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2096242
One of the most exciting things about each NFL season is the element of surprise. It seems that every year there are a couple of teams that emerge out of nowhere to be contenders. Let's look at four teams who could have that Cinderella season in 2005.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars won three of their last four games in 2004 and finished with a 9-7 record. This is a young team with the potential for greatness. There are some question marks offensively, but none that can't be answered.
Running back Fred Taylor is coming off a serious knee injury, and must be healthy and durable to give this offense balance. There are concerns in pass protection for pocket QB Byron Leftwich. Speaking of Leftwich, he has a new offensive coordinator this year, Carl Smith, and there will be an emphasis on a more vertical passing attack featuring Leftwich's throwing more from the pocket.
In 2004, the Jaguars used a West Coast offense with a lot of rollout and short passes, and it just didn't play to Leftwich's strengths. In the new system, he should put up big numbers and show drastic improvement in the red zone. The Jaguars were a dismal 31st in the red zone last year, converting for only 19 touchdowns in 45 red-zone possessions. Adding five or six TDs to that number in 2005 could be the difference between an average team and a playoff team.
Defensively, the Jaguars are loaded, especially up the middle. New England head coach Bill Belichick preaches that you build defense from the inside out, and that's exactly what Jacksonville has done. The Jags have two stud DTs (John Henderson and Marcus Stroud), active MLB Mike Peterson and dominating safety Donovin Darius. Needless to say, it's tough to attack this defense inside.
The Jaguars also drastically upgraded their perimeter pass rush in the offseason by acquiring former Denver Broncos DE Reggie Hayward (10 sacks in 2004). They are also solid in the secondary and very sound on special teams. If the offense can answer its questions, this is a playoff team.
Jacksonville could be in a great division race with Indianapolis, and it did pick up a split with the Colts last year, dropping a tough loss at home before winning at the RCA Dome. The Jags' last seven games in 2005 are all winnable, and three of their last four games are at home. This is a team on the rise.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals always seem to get off to a slow start, play themselves just out of playoff contention, and then heat up in December and become the team no one wants to play. In 2004, they started 1-4 and finished 8-8. If they are to emerge as a serious playoff contender in 2005, they must be better in September and early October.
Offensively, they have the potential to be both high scoring and balanced. They have a terrific three-WR package with Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Peter Warrick, and a power run game that can eat up the clock with RB Rudi Johnson. Plus, Cincinnati possesses arguably the most underrated offensive line in the NFL. However, offensive success really comes down to the maturation of QB Carson Palmer.
After a slow start in 2004, Palmer suddenly emerged in the second half of the season. The game seemed to slow down for him, and he made great strides in improving his reads and decision making. If that carries over to this season, look out, because this will be a very dangerous offense.
Defensively, the outlook isn't quite as bright, but there is hope. The Bengals did a poor job of stopping the run a year ago, and they weren't physical enough inside. They also did a poor job of tackling on the perimeter. However, they selected linebackers in the first and second rounds of this year's draft – OLB David Pollock and MLB Odell Thurman. Both are athletic playmakers who will bolster the defensive front seven.
The strength of the defense is the secondary. The Bengals have a good group of man-to-man cover guys who make plays. The DBs recorded 16 of Cincinnati's 20 interceptions a year ago. The special teams are also in good shape, thanks to solid recent drafts that have produced good, young athletes who do well as cover guys in the kicking game.
There is a swagger and confidence in the organization right now that has been missing for several years. The Bengals know that they have talent and that teams no longer can pencil in a win when Cincinnati is on the schedule. If Palmer continues his improvement, and if the run defense tightens up, the Bengals are a serious playoff contender. All this being said, though, they will be in a difficult three-team race in the ultra-tough NFC North, a division returning the 15-1 Steelers and the much-improved Ravens.
Detroit Lions
This organization has quietly done a great job of compiling explosive talent on the offensive side of the ball, and if the Lions can get decent production out of the QB position, then they can score a lot of points in 2004.
The three-WR package of Charles Rogers, Roy Williams and Mike Williams; newly acquired pass-catching TE Marcus Pollard; and RB Kevin Jones give the Lions plenty of firepower. That puts the pressure squarely on the shoulders of QB Joey Harrington.
Time is running out on him, and veteran QB Jeff Garcia, who led coach Steve Mariucci's 49ers to the playoffs, is waiting in the wings. Whoever emerges as the starting QB will be key to Detroit's playoff hopes.
Defensively, the Lions are big and strong up the middle. DT Shaun Rogers, MLB Earl Holmes and recent acquisition SS Kenoy Kennedy are all physical run stoppers and the key to Detroit's defensive success. The rest of the defense is just adequate, though those guys don't give up a lot of big plays.
The Lions also have excellent special teams and the most explosive return specialist in the NFL – Eddie Drummond. That translates into consistently good field position.
The problem for the young Lions is that they struggle to win the close ones. They lost six games last year by seven points or less, and until they learn how to finish a game, their record will not improve. With Minnesota drastically better on defense, the Lions likely will have to be satisfied with fighting for a wild-card spot. Even if Detroit comes up short in the playoff race, this is a young team with a lot of confidence – but the QB position must produce.
Chicago Bears
The young Bears look like a team that needs a couple more offseasons and drafts to be a playoff contender, but there is something about this team that makes you think it could surprise a lot of people.
The defense is far and away the strength of this football team. Head coach Lovie Smith is a defensive guru and has put his stamp on this unit with a quick, speedy, one-gap penetrating philosophy. If MLB Brian Urlacher can stay healthy, this can be a defense that keeps the Bears in a lot of games.
On the offensive side of the ball, there is a lot of work to be done. First and foremost, QB Rex Grossman must stay healthy and efficiently run an offense that has little experience. Those around Grossman love his competitiveness, and he seems to be one of those guys who will just get the job done without a lot of flash.
The other big pressure spot is at running back. Rookie (and still unsigned) Cedric Benson will be asked not only to start but also to carry this offense. Benson must not only take pressure off the passing game but also eat up some clock.
Chicago's defense was on the field way too much last season. The Bears finished 28th in the NFL in time of possession and were dead last in 2004 in red-zone offense, scoring only 16 touchdowns in 38 red-zone possessions.
New offensive coordinator Ron Turner is a creative play caller, and will be given the task of designing a better red-zone scoring package. The defense will be fine if Grossman and Benson have good production. Those two players will determine whether the Bears have a shot at fighting for a wild-card spot in the NFC.
Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN Insider.
Scouts Inc.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2096242
One of the most exciting things about each NFL season is the element of surprise. It seems that every year there are a couple of teams that emerge out of nowhere to be contenders. Let's look at four teams who could have that Cinderella season in 2005.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars won three of their last four games in 2004 and finished with a 9-7 record. This is a young team with the potential for greatness. There are some question marks offensively, but none that can't be answered.
Running back Fred Taylor is coming off a serious knee injury, and must be healthy and durable to give this offense balance. There are concerns in pass protection for pocket QB Byron Leftwich. Speaking of Leftwich, he has a new offensive coordinator this year, Carl Smith, and there will be an emphasis on a more vertical passing attack featuring Leftwich's throwing more from the pocket.
In 2004, the Jaguars used a West Coast offense with a lot of rollout and short passes, and it just didn't play to Leftwich's strengths. In the new system, he should put up big numbers and show drastic improvement in the red zone. The Jaguars were a dismal 31st in the red zone last year, converting for only 19 touchdowns in 45 red-zone possessions. Adding five or six TDs to that number in 2005 could be the difference between an average team and a playoff team.
Defensively, the Jaguars are loaded, especially up the middle. New England head coach Bill Belichick preaches that you build defense from the inside out, and that's exactly what Jacksonville has done. The Jags have two stud DTs (John Henderson and Marcus Stroud), active MLB Mike Peterson and dominating safety Donovin Darius. Needless to say, it's tough to attack this defense inside.
The Jaguars also drastically upgraded their perimeter pass rush in the offseason by acquiring former Denver Broncos DE Reggie Hayward (10 sacks in 2004). They are also solid in the secondary and very sound on special teams. If the offense can answer its questions, this is a playoff team.
Jacksonville could be in a great division race with Indianapolis, and it did pick up a split with the Colts last year, dropping a tough loss at home before winning at the RCA Dome. The Jags' last seven games in 2005 are all winnable, and three of their last four games are at home. This is a team on the rise.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals always seem to get off to a slow start, play themselves just out of playoff contention, and then heat up in December and become the team no one wants to play. In 2004, they started 1-4 and finished 8-8. If they are to emerge as a serious playoff contender in 2005, they must be better in September and early October.
Offensively, they have the potential to be both high scoring and balanced. They have a terrific three-WR package with Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Peter Warrick, and a power run game that can eat up the clock with RB Rudi Johnson. Plus, Cincinnati possesses arguably the most underrated offensive line in the NFL. However, offensive success really comes down to the maturation of QB Carson Palmer.
After a slow start in 2004, Palmer suddenly emerged in the second half of the season. The game seemed to slow down for him, and he made great strides in improving his reads and decision making. If that carries over to this season, look out, because this will be a very dangerous offense.
Defensively, the outlook isn't quite as bright, but there is hope. The Bengals did a poor job of stopping the run a year ago, and they weren't physical enough inside. They also did a poor job of tackling on the perimeter. However, they selected linebackers in the first and second rounds of this year's draft – OLB David Pollock and MLB Odell Thurman. Both are athletic playmakers who will bolster the defensive front seven.
The strength of the defense is the secondary. The Bengals have a good group of man-to-man cover guys who make plays. The DBs recorded 16 of Cincinnati's 20 interceptions a year ago. The special teams are also in good shape, thanks to solid recent drafts that have produced good, young athletes who do well as cover guys in the kicking game.
There is a swagger and confidence in the organization right now that has been missing for several years. The Bengals know that they have talent and that teams no longer can pencil in a win when Cincinnati is on the schedule. If Palmer continues his improvement, and if the run defense tightens up, the Bengals are a serious playoff contender. All this being said, though, they will be in a difficult three-team race in the ultra-tough NFC North, a division returning the 15-1 Steelers and the much-improved Ravens.
Detroit Lions
This organization has quietly done a great job of compiling explosive talent on the offensive side of the ball, and if the Lions can get decent production out of the QB position, then they can score a lot of points in 2004.
The three-WR package of Charles Rogers, Roy Williams and Mike Williams; newly acquired pass-catching TE Marcus Pollard; and RB Kevin Jones give the Lions plenty of firepower. That puts the pressure squarely on the shoulders of QB Joey Harrington.
Time is running out on him, and veteran QB Jeff Garcia, who led coach Steve Mariucci's 49ers to the playoffs, is waiting in the wings. Whoever emerges as the starting QB will be key to Detroit's playoff hopes.
Defensively, the Lions are big and strong up the middle. DT Shaun Rogers, MLB Earl Holmes and recent acquisition SS Kenoy Kennedy are all physical run stoppers and the key to Detroit's defensive success. The rest of the defense is just adequate, though those guys don't give up a lot of big plays.
The Lions also have excellent special teams and the most explosive return specialist in the NFL – Eddie Drummond. That translates into consistently good field position.
The problem for the young Lions is that they struggle to win the close ones. They lost six games last year by seven points or less, and until they learn how to finish a game, their record will not improve. With Minnesota drastically better on defense, the Lions likely will have to be satisfied with fighting for a wild-card spot. Even if Detroit comes up short in the playoff race, this is a young team with a lot of confidence – but the QB position must produce.
Chicago Bears
The young Bears look like a team that needs a couple more offseasons and drafts to be a playoff contender, but there is something about this team that makes you think it could surprise a lot of people.
The defense is far and away the strength of this football team. Head coach Lovie Smith is a defensive guru and has put his stamp on this unit with a quick, speedy, one-gap penetrating philosophy. If MLB Brian Urlacher can stay healthy, this can be a defense that keeps the Bears in a lot of games.
On the offensive side of the ball, there is a lot of work to be done. First and foremost, QB Rex Grossman must stay healthy and efficiently run an offense that has little experience. Those around Grossman love his competitiveness, and he seems to be one of those guys who will just get the job done without a lot of flash.
The other big pressure spot is at running back. Rookie (and still unsigned) Cedric Benson will be asked not only to start but also to carry this offense. Benson must not only take pressure off the passing game but also eat up some clock.
Chicago's defense was on the field way too much last season. The Bears finished 28th in the NFL in time of possession and were dead last in 2004 in red-zone offense, scoring only 16 touchdowns in 38 red-zone possessions.
New offensive coordinator Ron Turner is a creative play caller, and will be given the task of designing a better red-zone scoring package. The defense will be fine if Grossman and Benson have good production. Those two players will determine whether the Bears have a shot at fighting for a wild-card spot in the NFC.
Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN Insider.