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Pasch's Opponent Capsules
by: Dave Pasch
Detroit Lions
Assuming Detroit drafts Michigan State’s wide receiver Charles Rogers with the 2nd pick, the Lions could be an interesting offensive team. Az-zahir Hakim must stay healthy, and Bill Schroeder needs to prove he's a legitimate starter so Joey Harrington doesn't have to throw passes to backup quarterback Mike McMahon. With Steve Mariucci at the helm, that probably wouldn't happen anyway. Mariucci brings experience, and success with him to the Motor City, and his addition could make the difference between another 2-4 win season, and playoff contention.
The Lions defense could be a problem again, but they are younger in the secondary with the addition of cornerback Dre' Bly, even though many feel he was overpaid. Middle linebacker Chris Claiborne is in Minnesota, and undrafted free agent Josh Thornhill is listed as his replacement. The defensive line could be good if Luther Elliss stays healthy. The Lions also have defensive end Robert Porcher, defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, and defensive end Kalimba Edwards.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks are quickly becoming a favorite to contend for a playoff spot. The offense will go as far as quarterback Matt Hasselbeck takes it. Hasselbeck's numbers in the second half of the season were tremendous, as Seattle finished 7th in the NFL in total offense. Wide receiver's Koren Robinson, Darrell Jackson, and Bobby Engram are all viable targets.Robinson is a future pro bowler. There are still questions about whether running back Shaun Alexander can carry the load, but if he can't, backup Maurice Morris is ready to take some carries away from Alexander. Left guard Steve Hutchinson should be healthy, which will improve the offensive line. Left tackle Walter Jones may hold out again.
Seattle's 28th ranked defense was the problem last season, but strongside linebacker Anthony Simmons was hurt for much of the year. The Seahawks made it a priority to resign him in the off-season. Defensive tackle Rocky Bernard is an up and comer, and weakside linebacker Chad Brown is still an effective player. The secondary is still suspect, but the Seahawks did address a need at safety, signing free safety Damien Robinson (Jets). The Seahawks also hired the well respected Ray Rhodes to coordinate the defense.
Green Bay Packers
Injuries decimated the Packers offensive line last season. If they remain healthy, anything is possible in Green Bay with Brett Favre at quarterback. Donald Driver proved himself last season, and Javon Walker is on the rise. Ahman Green is still a very good running back.
With the re-signing of Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, the Packers should still be a decent defensive team. Question marks include defensive end Joe Johnson, who had a disappointing first season in Green Bay, and the secondary, which lost Tyrone Williams (Atlanta), Matt Bowen (Washington), and Tod McBride (Atlanta) in free agency. The Packers made a good move acquiring cornerback Al Harris from Philadelphia. Middle linebacker Hardy Nickerson did virtually nothing for Green Bay last season, and will be replaced by free agent Hannibal Navies (Carolina). Green Bay led the NFL last season in turnover margin (+17).
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams have addressed their problem on offense. The offensive line has been revamped, and they may not be done, depending on what they do with unhappy left tackle Orlando Pace. The Rams were prudent in signing center Dave Wohlabaugh (Cleveland), and trading for offensive tackle Kyle Turley (New Orleans). Quarterback Kurt Warner will be in the spotlight, as questions remain about his poor performances when healthy last season. Running back Marshall Faulk is still the most deadly player in the game. They did lose fullback James Hodgins to the Cardinals, and he acted as the springboard for many of Faulk's impressive runs. Despite a league high 45 turnovers, the Rams finished 2nd in the NFL in pass offense.
The Rams want to upgrade their linebackers, and may do that through the draft. They lost two cornerback's (Dre' Bly-Detroit, Dexter McCleon-KC), but Travis Fisher played well in his rookie season. Strong safety Adam Archuleta proved to be an excellent draft pick last season.
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys will have a much different look in 2003. No Emmitt Smith. Bill Parcells as head coach. Chad Hutchinson is the starting quarterback right now, but don't be surprised if Dallas drafts a quarterback, and/or signs Brian Griese when he is released by Denver in June. Running back Troy Hambrick finally gets his shot to be the primary ball carrier. The Cowboys added wide receiver Terry Glenn via a trade with Green Bay, signed fullback Richie Anderson (Jets), tight end Dan Campbell (Giants), and right tackle Ryan Young (Houston). They finished 30th in total offense in 2002.
The Dallas defense was good, not great in 2001, and ranked 4th in the league in total defense. It dropped to 18th last season, but should rank somewhere in-between this year. Defensive returnees include safety Roy Williams, safety Darren Woodson, middle linebacker Dat Nguyen, defensive end Greg Ellis, and defensive tackle La'Roi Glover. The Cowboys also signed linebacker Al Singleton (Tampa Bay). They will likely draft a pass rusher in the early rounds, as they only had 24 sacks last season.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens will again be one of the youngest teams in the NFL. Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan did a great job replacing Marvin Lewis, and a healthy Ray Lewis should make the defense even better in 2003. Strong safety Ed Reed is a play maker, and right cornerback Gary Baxter is also impressive. The offense has many question marks after a #27 ranking last season, and the loss of quarterback Jeff Blake. Quarterback Chris Redman has a bad back, and his status is up in the air. Baltimore will likely draft a quarterback in the first round, and Cal's Kyle Boller could be there when the Ravens use the 10th overall pick. Tight end Todd Heap is a good player, and the Ravens have an underrated offensive line, which should get more publicity this coming season with the addition of right tackle Orlando Brown.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers look virtually the same as they did last year, as they have been quiet in free agency. Will San Francisco draft an eventual successor to QB Jeff Garcia? Or will they look to improve the pass rush, depending on what happens with free agent Chike Okeafor? San Francisco's linebacking corps is pretty good, and strong safety Tony Parrish was an excellent pickup last season. The Niners cut defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield, and returning defensive tackle Bryant Young isn't getting any younger. They may look to the draft at that position, because there are plenty of quality defensive tackles available.
The offense will again revolve around the best receiver in the NFL, Terrell Owens. Tai Streets (if he stays in San Fran) has come on, and running back Kevan Barlow may push Garrison Hearst for even more carries this season. The biggest question mark is how will the team react to new head coach Dennis Erickson?
Cincinnati Bengals
Marvin Lewis is the man in charge in Cincinnati. Or is he? Lewis ostensibly has control, but one never knows for sure with the Bengals. Cinci has been proactive in the off-season, signing middle linebacker Kevin Hardy (Dallas), right cornerback Tory James (Oakland), and defensive lineman John Thornton (Tennessee). Defensive end Justin Smith is improving, and linebacker Brian Simmons remains a steady player. The Bengals will have to make up for the loss of Takeo Spikes (Buffalo).
Running back Corey Dillon remains the centerpiece of the offense, and even though the drafting of LT Levi Jones was somewhat of a head scratcher, he still had a good season. Jon Kitna didn't have a bad year, so the Bengals may opt to let him be in the quarterback in '03. Even if Cincinnati drafts a signal caller with the first overall pick in the draft, Kitna could still be the starter the entire season. The Bengals could use their second round pick to draft a quarterback, as many feel franchise type quarterbacks will still be available.
Pittsburgh Steelers
If Tommy Maddox picks up where he left off last season, and Jerome Bettis stays healthy, sky is the limit for the Steelers offense. Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress might be the best 1-2 punch at wide receiver in the AFC. The Steelers signed right tackle Todd Fordham (Jacksonville), but lost Wayne Gandy (New Orleans).
The defense should again be very productive, but the secondary is a concern. Pittsburgh could draft a defensive back with its first round pick. The Steelers were ranked #1 against the run last season.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns have a quarterback conundrum of their own. Tim Couch and Kelly Holcomb will battle it out in training camp for the starting job. Just a guess, but I like Holcomb to win the job. Running back William Green is a dynamic player, and really came on at the end of last season. The wide receiving corps is a solid four players deep with Kevin Johnson, Quincy Morgan, Dennis Northcutt, and Andre Davis.
The success of the defense depends on the play of young defensive linemen Gerard Warren and Courtney Brown. Barry Gardner didn't get the chance to start at middle linebacker in Philadelphia, but apparently will in Cleveland. The Browns may still draft a linebacker in the early rounds.
Chicago Bears
Everyone is still trying to figure out if a combination of playing 16 "road" games, and injuries did in the Bears last season. Chicago had a great 2001, but had a miserable turn around a year ago. The Bears were the worst rushing team in the NFL last season. Anthony Thomas has to prove he's an every down back, and Kordell Stewart (Pittsburgh) must prove he's an every down quarterback, so to speak. The offensive line could be good, and the wide receiving corps also has potential.
A healthy defensive tackle Ted Washington will make things a lot easier for middle linebacker Brian Urlacher, but the Bears must make up for the loss of strongside linebacker Roosevelt Colvin. The Bears will probably draft a defensive player with the fourth overall pick. Terrell Suggs unimpressive workout may sour Chicago, but after losing Colvin, they could use a pure pass rusher.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers had one of the best front four's in the NFL last season, leading to 52 sacks, good for 2nd in the NFL. Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker are a terrific defensive end tandem, and Kris Jenkins is one of the more underrated tackles in the league. MLB Dan Morgan has a chance to be very good, if he can stay healthy. The secondary may be a little suspect, but with Carolina's defensive line, it probably doesn't matter. Carolina finished 2nd in the NFL in total defense a year ago.
Carolina's offense should be better than it was last season, when it finished 31st in the NFL. The additions of running back Stephen Davis, wide receiver Kevin Dyson (Tennessee), wide receiver Ricky Proehl (St. Louis), guard Doug Brzezinski (Philadelphia), and quarterback Jake Delhomme (New Orleans) could make Carolina one of the most improved offensive teams in the NFL. The NFC South might be the best division in football, and Carolina could be a contender.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings feel that they have upgraded their defense by signing free agents Chris Claiborne (Detroit), and cornerback’s Denard Walker (Denver) and Ken Irvin (New Orleans). The pass rush accounted for only 27 sacks last season.
The offense could be among the most potent in the NFL in 2003, if Daunte Culpepper cuts down on his mistakes, and Randy Moss cuts down on the distractions. The Vikings were the top rushing team in the NFL in 2002, and could even be better in that area this year. Offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie will be playing his first full season, and the Vikings picked up right tackle Mike Rosenthal (Giants). Running back Michael Bennett will be coming off an injury, but has a chance to be a terrific player.
Pasch's Opponent Capsules
by: Dave Pasch
Detroit Lions
Assuming Detroit drafts Michigan State’s wide receiver Charles Rogers with the 2nd pick, the Lions could be an interesting offensive team. Az-zahir Hakim must stay healthy, and Bill Schroeder needs to prove he's a legitimate starter so Joey Harrington doesn't have to throw passes to backup quarterback Mike McMahon. With Steve Mariucci at the helm, that probably wouldn't happen anyway. Mariucci brings experience, and success with him to the Motor City, and his addition could make the difference between another 2-4 win season, and playoff contention.
The Lions defense could be a problem again, but they are younger in the secondary with the addition of cornerback Dre' Bly, even though many feel he was overpaid. Middle linebacker Chris Claiborne is in Minnesota, and undrafted free agent Josh Thornhill is listed as his replacement. The defensive line could be good if Luther Elliss stays healthy. The Lions also have defensive end Robert Porcher, defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, and defensive end Kalimba Edwards.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks are quickly becoming a favorite to contend for a playoff spot. The offense will go as far as quarterback Matt Hasselbeck takes it. Hasselbeck's numbers in the second half of the season were tremendous, as Seattle finished 7th in the NFL in total offense. Wide receiver's Koren Robinson, Darrell Jackson, and Bobby Engram are all viable targets.Robinson is a future pro bowler. There are still questions about whether running back Shaun Alexander can carry the load, but if he can't, backup Maurice Morris is ready to take some carries away from Alexander. Left guard Steve Hutchinson should be healthy, which will improve the offensive line. Left tackle Walter Jones may hold out again.
Seattle's 28th ranked defense was the problem last season, but strongside linebacker Anthony Simmons was hurt for much of the year. The Seahawks made it a priority to resign him in the off-season. Defensive tackle Rocky Bernard is an up and comer, and weakside linebacker Chad Brown is still an effective player. The secondary is still suspect, but the Seahawks did address a need at safety, signing free safety Damien Robinson (Jets). The Seahawks also hired the well respected Ray Rhodes to coordinate the defense.
Green Bay Packers
Injuries decimated the Packers offensive line last season. If they remain healthy, anything is possible in Green Bay with Brett Favre at quarterback. Donald Driver proved himself last season, and Javon Walker is on the rise. Ahman Green is still a very good running back.
With the re-signing of Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, the Packers should still be a decent defensive team. Question marks include defensive end Joe Johnson, who had a disappointing first season in Green Bay, and the secondary, which lost Tyrone Williams (Atlanta), Matt Bowen (Washington), and Tod McBride (Atlanta) in free agency. The Packers made a good move acquiring cornerback Al Harris from Philadelphia. Middle linebacker Hardy Nickerson did virtually nothing for Green Bay last season, and will be replaced by free agent Hannibal Navies (Carolina). Green Bay led the NFL last season in turnover margin (+17).
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams have addressed their problem on offense. The offensive line has been revamped, and they may not be done, depending on what they do with unhappy left tackle Orlando Pace. The Rams were prudent in signing center Dave Wohlabaugh (Cleveland), and trading for offensive tackle Kyle Turley (New Orleans). Quarterback Kurt Warner will be in the spotlight, as questions remain about his poor performances when healthy last season. Running back Marshall Faulk is still the most deadly player in the game. They did lose fullback James Hodgins to the Cardinals, and he acted as the springboard for many of Faulk's impressive runs. Despite a league high 45 turnovers, the Rams finished 2nd in the NFL in pass offense.
The Rams want to upgrade their linebackers, and may do that through the draft. They lost two cornerback's (Dre' Bly-Detroit, Dexter McCleon-KC), but Travis Fisher played well in his rookie season. Strong safety Adam Archuleta proved to be an excellent draft pick last season.
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys will have a much different look in 2003. No Emmitt Smith. Bill Parcells as head coach. Chad Hutchinson is the starting quarterback right now, but don't be surprised if Dallas drafts a quarterback, and/or signs Brian Griese when he is released by Denver in June. Running back Troy Hambrick finally gets his shot to be the primary ball carrier. The Cowboys added wide receiver Terry Glenn via a trade with Green Bay, signed fullback Richie Anderson (Jets), tight end Dan Campbell (Giants), and right tackle Ryan Young (Houston). They finished 30th in total offense in 2002.
The Dallas defense was good, not great in 2001, and ranked 4th in the league in total defense. It dropped to 18th last season, but should rank somewhere in-between this year. Defensive returnees include safety Roy Williams, safety Darren Woodson, middle linebacker Dat Nguyen, defensive end Greg Ellis, and defensive tackle La'Roi Glover. The Cowboys also signed linebacker Al Singleton (Tampa Bay). They will likely draft a pass rusher in the early rounds, as they only had 24 sacks last season.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens will again be one of the youngest teams in the NFL. Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan did a great job replacing Marvin Lewis, and a healthy Ray Lewis should make the defense even better in 2003. Strong safety Ed Reed is a play maker, and right cornerback Gary Baxter is also impressive. The offense has many question marks after a #27 ranking last season, and the loss of quarterback Jeff Blake. Quarterback Chris Redman has a bad back, and his status is up in the air. Baltimore will likely draft a quarterback in the first round, and Cal's Kyle Boller could be there when the Ravens use the 10th overall pick. Tight end Todd Heap is a good player, and the Ravens have an underrated offensive line, which should get more publicity this coming season with the addition of right tackle Orlando Brown.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers look virtually the same as they did last year, as they have been quiet in free agency. Will San Francisco draft an eventual successor to QB Jeff Garcia? Or will they look to improve the pass rush, depending on what happens with free agent Chike Okeafor? San Francisco's linebacking corps is pretty good, and strong safety Tony Parrish was an excellent pickup last season. The Niners cut defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield, and returning defensive tackle Bryant Young isn't getting any younger. They may look to the draft at that position, because there are plenty of quality defensive tackles available.
The offense will again revolve around the best receiver in the NFL, Terrell Owens. Tai Streets (if he stays in San Fran) has come on, and running back Kevan Barlow may push Garrison Hearst for even more carries this season. The biggest question mark is how will the team react to new head coach Dennis Erickson?
Cincinnati Bengals
Marvin Lewis is the man in charge in Cincinnati. Or is he? Lewis ostensibly has control, but one never knows for sure with the Bengals. Cinci has been proactive in the off-season, signing middle linebacker Kevin Hardy (Dallas), right cornerback Tory James (Oakland), and defensive lineman John Thornton (Tennessee). Defensive end Justin Smith is improving, and linebacker Brian Simmons remains a steady player. The Bengals will have to make up for the loss of Takeo Spikes (Buffalo).
Running back Corey Dillon remains the centerpiece of the offense, and even though the drafting of LT Levi Jones was somewhat of a head scratcher, he still had a good season. Jon Kitna didn't have a bad year, so the Bengals may opt to let him be in the quarterback in '03. Even if Cincinnati drafts a signal caller with the first overall pick in the draft, Kitna could still be the starter the entire season. The Bengals could use their second round pick to draft a quarterback, as many feel franchise type quarterbacks will still be available.
Pittsburgh Steelers
If Tommy Maddox picks up where he left off last season, and Jerome Bettis stays healthy, sky is the limit for the Steelers offense. Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress might be the best 1-2 punch at wide receiver in the AFC. The Steelers signed right tackle Todd Fordham (Jacksonville), but lost Wayne Gandy (New Orleans).
The defense should again be very productive, but the secondary is a concern. Pittsburgh could draft a defensive back with its first round pick. The Steelers were ranked #1 against the run last season.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns have a quarterback conundrum of their own. Tim Couch and Kelly Holcomb will battle it out in training camp for the starting job. Just a guess, but I like Holcomb to win the job. Running back William Green is a dynamic player, and really came on at the end of last season. The wide receiving corps is a solid four players deep with Kevin Johnson, Quincy Morgan, Dennis Northcutt, and Andre Davis.
The success of the defense depends on the play of young defensive linemen Gerard Warren and Courtney Brown. Barry Gardner didn't get the chance to start at middle linebacker in Philadelphia, but apparently will in Cleveland. The Browns may still draft a linebacker in the early rounds.
Chicago Bears
Everyone is still trying to figure out if a combination of playing 16 "road" games, and injuries did in the Bears last season. Chicago had a great 2001, but had a miserable turn around a year ago. The Bears were the worst rushing team in the NFL last season. Anthony Thomas has to prove he's an every down back, and Kordell Stewart (Pittsburgh) must prove he's an every down quarterback, so to speak. The offensive line could be good, and the wide receiving corps also has potential.
A healthy defensive tackle Ted Washington will make things a lot easier for middle linebacker Brian Urlacher, but the Bears must make up for the loss of strongside linebacker Roosevelt Colvin. The Bears will probably draft a defensive player with the fourth overall pick. Terrell Suggs unimpressive workout may sour Chicago, but after losing Colvin, they could use a pure pass rusher.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers had one of the best front four's in the NFL last season, leading to 52 sacks, good for 2nd in the NFL. Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker are a terrific defensive end tandem, and Kris Jenkins is one of the more underrated tackles in the league. MLB Dan Morgan has a chance to be very good, if he can stay healthy. The secondary may be a little suspect, but with Carolina's defensive line, it probably doesn't matter. Carolina finished 2nd in the NFL in total defense a year ago.
Carolina's offense should be better than it was last season, when it finished 31st in the NFL. The additions of running back Stephen Davis, wide receiver Kevin Dyson (Tennessee), wide receiver Ricky Proehl (St. Louis), guard Doug Brzezinski (Philadelphia), and quarterback Jake Delhomme (New Orleans) could make Carolina one of the most improved offensive teams in the NFL. The NFC South might be the best division in football, and Carolina could be a contender.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings feel that they have upgraded their defense by signing free agents Chris Claiborne (Detroit), and cornerback’s Denard Walker (Denver) and Ken Irvin (New Orleans). The pass rush accounted for only 27 sacks last season.
The offense could be among the most potent in the NFL in 2003, if Daunte Culpepper cuts down on his mistakes, and Randy Moss cuts down on the distractions. The Vikings were the top rushing team in the NFL in 2002, and could even be better in that area this year. Offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie will be playing his first full season, and the Vikings picked up right tackle Mike Rosenthal (Giants). Running back Michael Bennett will be coming off an injury, but has a chance to be a terrific player.
