Totally_Red
Air Raid Warning!
This article is a couple days old, but since Rich Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News is one of the best NFL writers and commentators out there IMO, I thought I'd still post it.......
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/rgosselin/stories/082805dnspogosselin.23f724e.html
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5 players who might be 'the one'
[size=-1]07:15 PM CDT on Saturday, August 27, 2005 [/size]
The Philadelphia Eagles believed they were one player away from the Super Bowl in 2004, so they traded for Pro Bowl wide receiver Terrell Owens.
Bingo. Owens led the team with 77 catches for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Eagles jumped from 20th in the NFL in passing without Owens to seventh with him – and advanced to their first Super Bowl in 24 years.
One player can make a difference in a season. The 49ers signed Pro Bowl cornerback Deion Sanders in free agency in 1994 and went on to win their only Super Bowl of the decade. The Cowboys then signed Sanders in 1995 and went on to win their final championship of the decade.
The St. Louis Rams won their first Super Bowl the season they acquired Pro Bowl halfback Marshall Faulk, and the Baltimore Ravens won their first Super Bowl the season they acquired Pro Bowl tight end Shannon Sharpe.
Each off-season, teams study their salary cap and needs, then examine the players available in search of a championship fit. Here are the five off-season moves that stand out in 2005:
1. Lamont Jordan, HB, Oakland. What? Jordan a better addition for the Raiders than Randy Moss? Remember, Norv Turner is a coach who loves to run the ball. He called the plays for Emmitt Smith in Dallas, Stephen Davis in Washington, LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego and Ricky Williams in Miami. Smith and Williams won NFL rushing titles, Davis an NFC crown. The Raiders ranked last in the NFL in rushing last season and weren't competitive at 5-11. A ground game will make Turner a better coach, the Raiders a better team and Moss a more effective receiver.
2. Plaxico Burress, WR, NY Giants. Starting wide receivers Ike Hilliard and Amani Toomer failed to catch a touchdown pass for the Giants last season. That's never happened in the NFL in a 16-game season. If Eli Manning is to take the next step as a quarterback, he needed a wideout or two with big-play ability. Enter Burress, who averaged 19.9 yards per catch last season. He also has 22 touchdown receptions in his four seasons. He gives Manning a big (6-5) target near the goal line.
3. Samari Rolle, CB, Baltimore. The Ravens, more than any other NFL team, realize that defense wins championships. Adding a Pro Bowl coverman such as Rolle should help the Ravens climb back into the league's top five in defense. Offenses can't continue throwing away from Pro Bowler Chris McAlister with Rolle standing on the other side.
4. Fred Smoot, CB, Minnesota. The Vikings were a defense away from Super Bowl contention in 2004. Smoot's arrival should trigger a quantum leap in pass defense from 29th a year ago. The Vikings intercepted only 11 passes in 2004. Smoot has 16 in his four NFL seasons. He gives the Vikings a talent to line up against Javon Walker, Roy Williams and Muhsin Muhammad in the NFC North.
5. Kurt Warner, QB, Arizona. This off-season, the Cardinals installed the Dick Vermeil offense that the Rams used in winning their only Super Bowl. Who better to run it than the guy who quarterbacked the Rams to that championship?
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/rgosselin/stories/082805dnspogosselin.23f724e.html
==================================================================
5 players who might be 'the one'
[size=-1]07:15 PM CDT on Saturday, August 27, 2005 [/size]
The Philadelphia Eagles believed they were one player away from the Super Bowl in 2004, so they traded for Pro Bowl wide receiver Terrell Owens.
Bingo. Owens led the team with 77 catches for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Eagles jumped from 20th in the NFL in passing without Owens to seventh with him – and advanced to their first Super Bowl in 24 years.
One player can make a difference in a season. The 49ers signed Pro Bowl cornerback Deion Sanders in free agency in 1994 and went on to win their only Super Bowl of the decade. The Cowboys then signed Sanders in 1995 and went on to win their final championship of the decade.
The St. Louis Rams won their first Super Bowl the season they acquired Pro Bowl halfback Marshall Faulk, and the Baltimore Ravens won their first Super Bowl the season they acquired Pro Bowl tight end Shannon Sharpe.
Each off-season, teams study their salary cap and needs, then examine the players available in search of a championship fit. Here are the five off-season moves that stand out in 2005:
1. Lamont Jordan, HB, Oakland. What? Jordan a better addition for the Raiders than Randy Moss? Remember, Norv Turner is a coach who loves to run the ball. He called the plays for Emmitt Smith in Dallas, Stephen Davis in Washington, LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego and Ricky Williams in Miami. Smith and Williams won NFL rushing titles, Davis an NFC crown. The Raiders ranked last in the NFL in rushing last season and weren't competitive at 5-11. A ground game will make Turner a better coach, the Raiders a better team and Moss a more effective receiver.
2. Plaxico Burress, WR, NY Giants. Starting wide receivers Ike Hilliard and Amani Toomer failed to catch a touchdown pass for the Giants last season. That's never happened in the NFL in a 16-game season. If Eli Manning is to take the next step as a quarterback, he needed a wideout or two with big-play ability. Enter Burress, who averaged 19.9 yards per catch last season. He also has 22 touchdown receptions in his four seasons. He gives Manning a big (6-5) target near the goal line.
3. Samari Rolle, CB, Baltimore. The Ravens, more than any other NFL team, realize that defense wins championships. Adding a Pro Bowl coverman such as Rolle should help the Ravens climb back into the league's top five in defense. Offenses can't continue throwing away from Pro Bowler Chris McAlister with Rolle standing on the other side.
4. Fred Smoot, CB, Minnesota. The Vikings were a defense away from Super Bowl contention in 2004. Smoot's arrival should trigger a quantum leap in pass defense from 29th a year ago. The Vikings intercepted only 11 passes in 2004. Smoot has 16 in his four NFL seasons. He gives the Vikings a talent to line up against Javon Walker, Roy Williams and Muhsin Muhammad in the NFC North.
5. Kurt Warner, QB, Arizona. This off-season, the Cardinals installed the Dick Vermeil offense that the Rams used in winning their only Super Bowl. Who better to run it than the guy who quarterbacked the Rams to that championship?
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