| NFL team rankings in offense, defense, coaching and intangibles |
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| Written by Admin |
| Thursday, 30 August 2007 09:45 |
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How the 32 NFL teams rank in four categories, based on a scale of 1-4, with 5 the optimum ranking: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS Offense: 4. Tom Brady has some quality receivers now, and a young runner in Laurence Maroney. Defense: 5. Playmakers galore, including new LB Adalius Thomas to go with holdovers DE Richard Seymour and CB Asante Samuel. Coaching: 5. Bill Belichick might not know how to dress, but he sure can coach. Intangibles: 5. Pats are angry and hungry after two non-title seasons. Total: 19 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS Offense: 5. Peyton, Marvin, Reggie, Dallas - who needs last names? Defense: 3. It showed in postseason what it can do if S Bob Sanders plays. Coaching: 5. Players love Dungy, management and fans now love his results. Dungy has perfect demeanor for this team. Intangibles: 5. Staying on top is the ultimate challenge. But they have the confidence of champions. Total: 18 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS Offense: 5. RB LaDainian Tomlinson is NFL's biggest threat, TE Antonio Gates is a beast, line is first-rate. Defense: 4. LBs Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips could be unstoppable, and DT Jamal Williams is All-Pro material. Coaching: 3. Norv Turner, a superb offensive coordinator, has been a mediocre head coach. Intangibles: 5. After early playoff flop last season, they are driven. Total: 17 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS Offense: 4. If the line is solid, this easily could be a 5. RB Reggie Bush might have breakout season. Defense: 3. Excellent pass rush, overachieving LBs. But secondary is big question mark. Coaching: 5. Sean Payton got team through rough period and all the way to NFC title game. Intangibles: 5. Saints have done everything anyone could ask back home, and applied that success to the field. Total: 17 PITTSBURGH STEELERS Offense: 4. Steelers simply need to put all the elements together. RB Willie Parker is a budding star. Defense: 4. Depth will be tested, but S Troy Polamalu is a difference maker. Coaching: 3. Mike Tomlin is an unknown and he replaces a great coach, Bill Cowher. Intangibles: 5. Showing that last year's flop was an aberration is driving team, as is proving Steelers can win for another coach. Total: 16 BALTIMORE RAVENS Offense: 3. RB Willis McGahee provides some versatility and TE Todd Heap is a star. Defense: 5. Even without departed LB Adalius Thomas, this is a top-notch unit still led by LB Ray Lewis. Coaching: 4. Brian Billick's offensive acumen still hasn't come to forefront. Intangibles: 3. Could be a letdown after 13-3 season, but Lewis and QB Steve McNair won't let them slip far. Total: 15 CHICAGO BEARS Offense: 3. QB Rex Grossman and RB Cedric Benson have so much to prove. Defense: 5. Even with unhappy LB Lance Briggs (contract) and less depth than last year, it's terrific, anchored by MLB Brian Urlacher. Coaching: 4. Lovie Smith proved himself in last two years. Only blemish was allegiance to Tank Johnson. Intangibles: 3. Losing Super Bowl often has deleterious effect on teams. Total: 15 DENVER BRONCOS Offense: 4. We're presuming QB Jay Cutler progresses and RB Travis Henry is healthy. Defense: 3. Champ Bailey is a shutdown cornerback and watch for LB D.J. Williams. But line is in flux. Coaching: 4. Mike Shanahan's offense will always be a threat. Intangibles: 3. Tragic offseason, with deaths of Darrent Williams and Damien Nash, could have lasting impact. Total: 14 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES Offense: 4. QB Donovan McNabb was having All-Pro year when he got hurt in '06, and Brian Westbrook is dynamic as runner and receiver. Defense: 3. Would become a 4 if linebackers come through. Coaching: 5. Andy Reid is one of the best and handles tough situations well. Intangibles: 2. Release of defensive leader Jeremiah Trotter and problems in Reid's family could be problematic. Total: 14 DALLAS COWBOYS Offense: 4. So much depends on continued development of QB Tony Romo and behavior of WR Terrell Owens. Defense: 4. Concerns in secondary could drop this mark severely, especially if CB Terence Newman stays hobbled. Coaching: 3. Wade Phillips has been good coordinator, so-so head coach. Intangibles: 3. The T.O. factor always is in play. Total: 14 NEW YORK JETS Offense: 3. But only if RB Thomas Jones and QB Chad Pennington stay healthy. Defense: 3. Watch for S Kerry Rhodes and rookie CB Darrelle Revis. Coaching: 4. ``Mr. Personality,'' Eric Mangini, is Belichick clone. He's been labeled ``Man-genius'' in New York. Intangibles: 4. Jets want to prove 10-6 last year was no fluke. Total: 14 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS Offense: 4. Watch what a difference a healthy RB Shaun Alexander and QB Matt Hasselbeck make. Defense: 3. Linebacking, with Lofa Tatupu and Julian Peterson, is the strength. Coaching: 4. Mike Holmgren is among the league's best and players respect him. Intangibles: 3. Seahawks felt they should have beaten Chicago in January and played Saints for another Super Bowl trip. Total: 14 CAROLINA PANTHERS Offense: 3. Carolina needs more playmakers to complement brilliant WR Steve Smith. Defense: 3. Could slip lower if LB Dan Morgan gets hurt again and pass rush isn't powerful. Coaching: 4. John Fox knows how to get his team to rebound from poor season. Intangibles: 4. Panthers believe they are better than injury-ravaged results of 2006. Total: 14 ST. LOUIS RAMS Offense: 4. If the line holds up, RB Steven Jackson, WR Torry Holt and company will revive memories of Greatest Show on Turf. Defense: 2. Rookie DL Adam Carriker and young DBs must make immediate contributions. Coaching: 4. Scott Linehan is developing something in St. Loo. Intangibles: 3. Rams love their draft and think Jackson will be an All-Pro for years. Total: 13 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Offense: 3. Jags will sink or roll with RBs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. Who can catch the ball? Defense: 4. Would become a 5 if DBs excel. Coaching: 3. Jack Del Rio's teams have faded late in the season. Intangibles: 3. Too much uncertainty about quarterbacking and receiving. Total: 13 GREEN BAY PACKERS Offense: 2. QB Brett Favre needs to have some magic left. Defense: 4. Vastly improved recently, with DE Aaron Kampman and LB A.J. Hawk the leaders. Coaching: 3. Mike McCarthy got 8-8 season out of mediocre roster last year. Intangibles: 4. Pack badly wants to do something special for Favre. Total: 13 TENNESSEE TITANS Offense: 3. Only this high because they have Vince Young's creativity. Defense: 3. LBs, led by Keith Bulluck, could be special. Coaching: 5. Jeff Fisher gets everything he can from everyone. Intangibles: 2. Pacman Jones situation, loss of key free agents hurt. Total: 13 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS Offense: 2. Larry Johnson and Tony Gonzalez equals a 2. Defense: 3. LB Derrick Johnson and DE Tamba Hali must come into their own. Veteran CB Ty Law still makes big plays. Coaching: 4. Herm Edwards gets his team to playoffs most of the time. Intangibles: 3. A few too many distractions, including LJ's preseason holdout. Total: 12 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS Offense: 3. If the wideouts come through, it could go higher because RB Frank Gore is superb. Defense: 3. Players believe in coach Mike Nolan's system, and new CB Nate Clements could solidify secondary. Coaching: 4. Nolan has made huge strides in two seasons, could make more this year. Intangibles: 2. Loss of offensive coordinator Norv Turner could hurt QB Alex Smith's development. Total: 12 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS Offense: 3. QB Jeff Garcia adds some oomph, and RB Carnell Williams is a stud when healthy. Defense: 3. Not nearly as dynamic as in recent years, but LB Derrick Brooks and CB Ronde Barber remain standouts. Coaching: 3. Jon Gruden's teams have been too inconsistent in past few seasons. Intangibles: 3. Plenty of leaders here, but how much talent? Total: 12 ARIZONA CARDINALS Offense: 4. QB Matt Leinart throwing to WRs Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, and versatile RB Edgerrin James form excellent foundation. Defense: 2. Other than S Adrian Wilson and CB Antrel Rolle, not much proven talent. Coaching: 3. New head man Ken Whisenhunt was highly sought and has strong leadership skills. Intangibles: 3. Whisenhunt's staff brings a breath of fresh air to the desert. Total: 12 CINCINNATI BENGALS Offense: 5. Carson Palmer throwing to Chad Johnson is worth price of admission. Defense: 1. Watch for lots of shootouts, with Bengals on wrong end of a few. Coaching: 3. Marvin Lewis has lost some of his luster with player arrests mounting. Intangibles: 2. Lots of talent, but too many miscreants. Total: 11 MIAMI DOLPHINS Offense: 2. Could be higher if OL improves and QB Trent Green stays healthy. Defense: 4. DE Jason Taylor is among NFL's elite players. So is LB Zach Thomas. Coaching: 2. Cam Cameron has a lot to prove in head coaching debut. Intangibles: 3. Departure of Nick Saban as coach was popular in South Florida, inside Dolphins and outside. Total: 11 DETROIT LIONS Offense: 4. Lions should be explosive with coordinator Mike Martz's schemes and several playmakers. Defense: 1. Except for LB Ernie Sims and DT Cory Redding, this could be ugly. Coaching: 3. Rod Marinelli is trying, and the talent level has risen a bit. Intangibles: 3. Detroit is desperate to show it's no longer abysmal - mediocre will do. Total: 11 NEW YORK GIANTS Offense: 3. Things could go haywire if RB Brandon Jacobs doesn't effectively replace Tiki Barber and wideouts aren't healthy. Defense: 2. Michael Strahan, where are you? Coaching: 3. Tom Coughlin is coaching for his job, but do players want him back? Intangibles: 2. Barber's sniping from afar, Strahan's holdout, injuries also plaguing Giants. Total: 10 WASHINGTON REDSKINS Offense: 2. Young QB Jason Campbell must develop to complement good runners and receivers. Defense: 3. Lots of potential, but secondary that hits a ton can't cover. Coaching: 3. Joe Gibbs' second regime has not been what he or owner Dan Snyder envisioned. Intangibles: 2. Players have to wonder if Gibbs will stick around beyond this year. Total: 10 HOUSTON TEXANS Offense: 2. WR Andre Johnson is only standout, unless RB Ahman Green has revival. Defense: 2. LB DeMeco Ryans earns some points. What will DE Mario Williams do in second season? Coaching: 3. Gary Kubiak is gathering players he wants, which takes time. Intangibles: 3. New QB Matt Schaub, other promising additions. Total: 10 BUFFALO BILLS Offense: 3. WR Lee Evans is a gamebreaker. Defense: 2. Losses at LB (Takeo Spikes, London Fletcher) and in leadership will hurt. Coaching: 3. Dick Jauron is solid, but doesn't have the horses. Intangibles: 2. A retooling year in Western New York. Total: 10 CLEVELAND BROWNS Offense: 2. RB Jamal Lewis might boost run game, but who can pass the ball effectively? Defense: 2. Romeo Crennel has not made expected mark on this unit. Coaching: 2. Crennel needs team to show progress now. Intangibles: 2. Players like Crennel, but division and schedule could be killers. Total: 8 OAKLAND RAIDERS Offense: 1. Only because nobody deserves a 0. Defense: 3. Could be a 4, but they will be too overworked and might break down. Coaching: 2. Lane Kiffin, at 32 the league's youngest head man, is an unknown quantity but has to be an improvement over Art Shell's tenure. Intangibles: 2. Inability to sign top overall draft pick JaMarcus Russell says it all. Total: 8 ATLANTA FALCONS Offense: 2. If Falcons don't have a running game with Jerious Norwood and Warrick Dunn, they are done. Defense: 2. Unless DE John Abraham becomes a pass-rushing fiend again, Atlanta will yield many points. Coaching: 3. Bobby Petrino was a major success story at Louisville, but he will struggle early in his NFL career. Intangibles: 1. The Michael Vick fiasco figures to have a lasting negative effect. Total: 8 MINNESOTA VIKINGS Offense: 2. Strong blockers in Steve Hutchinson and Matt Birk, good runners. Nothing else. Defense: 3. Opponents can't run on Vikes, but certainly can pass on them. Coaching: 2. Brad Childress has some serious challenges ahead of him. Intangibles: 1. It's obvious to almost everyone that this is rebuilding year. Total: 8 |
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