The Draft and Free-Agency have ended, and mini-camps have begun, It's time for some football. There are a lot of interesting things that are going this year to follow. Here are some bold predictions for the year.
1. Patriots will NOT win the AFC East.
I know, I will take some flack for this. I know the Patriots are supposed to be worshiped, but lets step back a look at this. There are four reasons why the Pats will not win the division again.
a.) Teams started at the end of last year to figure out the Patriots.
After their trouncing of the Bills last year, they never really dominated. Teams started getting more pressure on Brady and actually defending Randy Moss. In the first ten games, they averaged 41 points a game. Over the remaining of the season and the play-offs, they managed 24.4 points a game as teams began to play defense on them.
b.) They lost some key guys on defense.
I have always felt the Asante Samuels had been overrated, but he was still the best corner that the Patriots had. He is with the Eagles now. Other solid guys on defense including Randel Gay and Eugine Wilson are also gone.
c.) The linebacking core got another year older.
Teddy Bruschi, Junior Seau, and Mike Vrabel, their ages are 34, 39, and 32, respectively. That core is old. In the first 10 games of the year, they gave up only 13.7 points a game, over the rest of the year, gave up more than a field goal more. Their run defense had a lot of trouble stopping anybody near the end of the year, and the defense, with Samuels, Gay, and Wilson, got dominated by A.J. Feeley and Kyle Boller.
d.) The the Jets and Bills are vastly improved.
I'll start with the Jets. The acquired Alan Faneca, one of the top guards in the league, Calvin Pace, Bubba Franks, and Chris Jenkins. Plus, Kelen Clemens has another year under his belt, but I wouldn't count on an Oregon quarterback. The Bills are also solid, they were close last year to the play-offs, Trent Edwards has a year under his belt, Kawika Mitchell was a good pick-up, and Marcus Stroud was a good pick-up.
2. Seahawks will win the NFC.
I know, call me a homer, but Seattle has the makeup of a champion. The fixed their running game. Julius Jones and TJ Ducket were big additions, as well as Mike Wahle and the new O-line coach. The defense was great last year and it was young, so it will only get better, especially with the drafting of Lawrence Jackson. They also solved their tight end problem, and look for the players to be extra motivated because it is Homegren's last year
Pre-Season Power Rankings
1. Giants (10-6)
Biggest Acquisition-David Carr (QB)
Biggest Loss-Kawika Mitchell (LB), Michael Strahan (DL)*
2. Indianapolis (13-3)
Biggest Acquisitions-Dwight Freeny (DL)**, Marvin Harrison (WR)**
Biggest loss-Ben Utech (FB/TE)
3. New England (16-0)
Biggest acquisition-Jerod Mayo LB
Biggest loss-Asaunte Samuel (CB), Dante Stallworth (WR), Rosavelt Colvin (LB)
4. Seattle (10-6)
Biggest acquisition-Julius Jones RB, TJ Ducket RB
Biggest loss-DJ Hackett (WR), Shaun Alexander (RB), Josh Brown (K)
5. Dallas (13-3)
Biggest acquisition-Aden "Pacman" Jones (CB)
Biggest loss-Julius Jones (RB)
6. San Diego (11-5)
Biggest acquisition-
biggest loss-Michael Turner (RB)
7. Jacksonville (11-5)
Biggest acquisition-Jerry Porter (WR)
Biggest loss-Marcus Stroud (DL)
8. Cleveland (10-6)
Biggest acquisition-Dante Stallworth (WR), Shaun Rogers (DL)
Biggest loss-Ricardo Colclough (CB)
9. Pittsburgh (10-6)
Biggest acquisition-Rashard Mendenhall (RB)***
Biggest loss-Alan Fanaca (OL)
10. Denver (7-9)
Biggest acquisition-Boss Baily (LB), Niko Koutavides (LB), Darrel Jackson (WR)
Biggest loss-Javon Walker (WR)
11. Jets (4-12)
Biggest acquisition-Alan Faneca (OL), Kris Jenkins (DT), Vernon Gholsten (LB)
Biggest loss-Johnathan Vilma (LB)
12. Philadelphia (8-8)
Biggest acquisition-Asaunte Samuel (CB),
Biggest loss-Takeo Spike (LB)
13. Green Bay (13-3)
Biggest acquisition-none
Biggest loss-Brett Favre (QB),
14. Minnesota (9-7)
Biggest acquisition-Jarred Alen (DL), Benard Barrium (WR)
Biggest loss-none
15. New Orleans (7-9)
Biggest acquisition-Sedrick Ellis (DL)***, Johnathan Vilma (LB)
Biggest loss-none
16. Tennessee (10-6)
Biggest acquisition-Jevan Kearse (DL), Alge Crumpler (TE)
Biggest loss-none
17. Buffalo (7-9)
Biggest acquisiton-Marcus Stroud
Biggest loss-none
18. Washington (7-9)
Biggest acquisiton-Fred Davis (TE)***
Biggest loss-none
19. Tampa Bay (9-7)
Biggest acquisiton-Warrick Dunn (RB), Brian Greise (QB)
Biggest loss-Warrick Dunn
20. Chiefs (4-12)
Biggest acquisiton-Glenn Dorsey (DL)***, David Greene (QB)
Biggest loss-none
21. Arizona (8-8)
Biggest acquisiton-none
Biggest loss-none
22. Baltimore (5-11)
Biggest acquistion-Joe Flacco (QB)
Biggest loss-none
23. Detroit (7-9)
Biggest acquisition-none
Biggest loss-TJ Ducket (RB)
24. Chicago (7-9)
Biggest acquisition-none
Biggest loss-Benard Barrium (WR) fd
25. Carolina (7-9)
Biggest acquistion-DJ Hackett (WR), Jonathan Stewart (RB)***
Biggest loss Kris Jenkins (DT)
26. St. Louis (7-9)
Biggest acquisiton-Josh Brown (K), Jake Long (DL)***
Biggest loss-Isaac Bruce (WR)
27. Houston (8-8)
Biggest acquasition-Nick Ferguson (S)
Biggest loss-none
28. San Fransic0 (5-11)
Biggest acquistion-Isaac Bruce (WR)
Biggest loss-Larry Alan (OL)
29. Cincinnati (7-9)
Biggest acquisition-Ben Utecht (FB/TE)
Biggest loss-Justin Smith (DL)
30. Oakland (4-12)
Biggest acquisiton-Darren McFadden (RB)***, Jevon Walker (WR), Gibril Wilson (S), Deangalo Hall (CB)
Biggest loss-Jerry Porter (WR)
31. Miami (1-15)
Biggest acquistion-Ronnie Brown (RB)**, Jake Long (OL)***
Biggest loss-Zack Thomas (LB)
32. Atlanta (4-12)
Biggest acquisition-Matt Ryan (QB)***, Michael Turner (RB)
Biggest loss-Deangalo Hall (CB), Alge Crumpler (TE)
NFC:
West-Seattle Seahawks
North-Minnesota Vikings
East-Cowboys
South-Saints
W.C.-Giants
W.C.-Eagles
AFC:
West-Chargers
North-Browns
East-Jets
South-Colts
W.C.-Steelers
W.C.-Broncos
Super Bowl-Seahawks over Colts
MVP-Peyton Manning (IND)
DPY-Champ Baily (DEN)
OROY-Rashard Mendanhall (PIT)
DROY-Lawrence Jackson (SEA)
Comeback-Marvin Harrison (IND)
COY-Erik Mangini (NYJ)
*-maybe with team next year, or maybe not
**-returning from injury
***-rookie
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