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woodbuck27
05-09-2007, 07:39 PM
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/powerrankings

Power Rankings: Champs start '07 right where they left off

By Pete Prisco
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer

Updated May 8

Did you ever think Peyton Manning could win a Super Bowl and not be much of a story the following spring?

Manning led the Indianapolis Colts to their first Super Bowl victory, getting the giant monkey off his back, and yet nobody is talking much about the Colts.

It's the New England Patriots and all their moves.

It's the San Diego Chargers and their coaching changeover.

It's the Baltimore Ravens and their new runner, Willis McGahee.

It's the Denver Broncos and their offseason moves.

Oh, by the way, the Colts are the defending champions.

Yet all you hear about the Colts is how much they've lost this offseason. The skeptics say they've suffered too many hits.

The reality is they are a better team than they were a year ago, which is why they are atop the latest CBS SportsLine.com Power Rankings.

Is that lunacy?

Not really. The two corners, Jason David and Nick Harper, were just OK players who were covered up in their Cover-2 scheme. They will be easily replaced by Marlin Jackson and Tim Jennings or Kelvin Hayden, the player who had the fumble return for a touchdown in the Super Bowl.

No loss.

Weakside linebacker Cato June was a solid player, but if he was so good why didn't he get a multiyear deal from another team when he hit the market? Here's why? He's just OK.

That can be replaced.

As for the loss of backup running back Dominic Rhodes, that might be felt some but it should mean more carries for Joseph Addai, who is clearly a better runner. The Colts are considering bringing in a veteran backup, but as long as Addai is healthy they will be even better running the ball in 2007 than they were in 2006.

Then there's the addition of first-round pick Anthony Gonzalez. The Colts lacked a slot receiver last year when Brandon Stokley went down with an injury, which is why Gonzalez made sense. He will come in and immediately give Manning a speed threat inside.

In the playoff run they used Dallas Clark flexed wide in a lot of sets, but that won't be a necessity as much with Gonzalez.

So the offense should be better.

The defense might start off slow, but once the young corners get up to snuff that side will be fine, too.

That's why the Colts stay in the top spot in these Power Rankings. I considered moving the Patriots into the top spot, like everybody else has -- including Vegas linemakers -- but the thing that stopped me was I can't get the vision of 32 Colts second-half points in the title game out of my head.

Yes, the Patriots have added some nice offensive pieces and a couple of defensive additions that will help, but I still think there are flaws on that defense.

For that reason, the Colts come out of the draft as the team to beat.

After all, they are the Super Bowl champions.

Have you heard?


2007 Packers Schedule

Date Opponent Time

Sep 9 Philadelphia 1:00pm

Sep 16 @N.Y. Giants 1:00pm

Sep 23 San Diego 1:00pm

Sep 30 @Minnesota 1:00pm

Oct 7 Chicago 8:15pm

Oct 14 Washington 1:00pm

Week 7 BYE

Oct 29 @Denver 8:30pm

Nov 4 @Kansas City 1:00pm

Nov 11 Minnesota 1:00pm

Nov 18 Carolina 1:00pm

Nov 22 @Detroit 12:30pm

Nov 29 @Dallas 8:15pm

Dec 9 Oakland 1:00pm

Dec 16 @St. Louis 1:00pm

Dec 23 @Chicago 1:00pm

Dec 30 Detroit 1:00pm


POWER RANKINGS

Comment woodbuck27:

** designates the teams we play in 2007

Current Team Previous

1 Colts · Trends 1
As long as Manning is throwing to those receivers, they are still the team to beat. The losses they've suffered are overrated.

2 Patriots · Trends 2
I love all the moves on offense, but have they really helped the defense all that much? That was the trouble spot in the loss to the Colts.

** 3 Chargers · Trends 3
This is a strong team that will be there in the end. But the big changes on the coaching staff could be felt. Chemistry is an issue.

** 4 Broncos · Trends 8
The big issue for the Broncos is what kind of jump Jay Cutler makes in his second season. If he makes a big one, they could be a deep playoff team.

** 5 Bears · Trends 5
When you play the style of football they do, the margin for error is small. Everything will have to go right for the Bears to be back in the Super Bowl. That rarely happens.

6 Ravens · Trends 4
We know the defense will be good, and McGahee will help the offense, but how much does Steve McNair have left?

7 Saints · Trends 6
They will again be explosive on offense, but for this team to get to the Super Bowl the defense has to be better. They've made some decent additions, but are they enough?

** 8 Eagles · Trends 7
If Donovan McNabb returns healthy with no problems, they are the team to beat in the NFC East. If not, they could be in for a long season.

** 9 Cowboys · Trends 13
Will the real Tony Romo step up? Is he the Romo who played lights out after taking over as starter or is he the Romo who struggled down the stretch?

10 Bengals · Trends 9
Have they done enough to improve their defense? With Carson Palmer another year removed from knee surgery, the offense should be even better.

11 Steelers · Trends 10
New coach Mike Tomlin inherits a good team, and you know they will play a tough brand of football, but can they shake off the 2006 Super hangover?

12 Jaguars · Trends 11
It's all on quarterback Byron Leftwich. If he's good, they can be a deep playoff team. If not, they'll struggle. The defense will be suffocating.

13 Cardinals · Trends 17
They've added a lot of good football players to a team that had talent to begin with. They just might be the best team in the NFC West.

** 14 Giants · Trends 14
It's all on Eli Manning. Either he goes to the next level or the Giants won't be in the playoffs again. Brandon Jacobs has to be good, too.

15 Seahawks · Trends 12
Their division is much tougher now, which will make it a lot tougher to get to the playoffs. They must have a healthy Matt Hasselbeck. It doesn't help that Shaun Alexander's foot is still problem.

16 Jets · Trends 15
They added two nice defensive pieces (Darrelle Revis and David Harris) in the draft and Thomas Jones will help the running game. This team might still be a year away from really being playoff-ready.

** 17 Rams · Trends 20
The key will be whether the defense improves. The addition of Adam Carriker will help. They have to stop the run better.

18 Falcons · Trends 21
New coach Bob Petrino has to make Mike Vick a better passer. If he does, and that's a huge if, they could be back in the playoffs.

19 49ers · Trends 25
They've made some nice moves in the offseason and could be a 9-7 team. I think this is a team that will really take off in 2008.

20 Bills · Trends 22
They made some strange moves this offseason, getting rid of some key players. But if J.P. Losman improves, they will improve as well.

** 21 Panthers · Trends 16
This seems like a team going in the wrong direction. If Jake Delhomme struggles early, David Carr will be in the lineup quickly.

Comment woodbuck27:

** Nine (9) games against the teams ranked above us to date.


22 Packers · Trends 23
There is some good, young talent on this team. But are they ready to take the next step as Brett Favre holds on for dear life?


Comment woodbuck27:

seven (7) games against these teams ranked below us to date:


** 23 Vikings · Trends 26
It's all about the quarterback here. Is Tarvaris Jackson ready to take over as the starter like Brad Childress think he is?

24 Dolphins · Trends 24
The million-dollar question remains who will be the quarterback. Until that is settled, this team has the look of a six-victory group.

25 Buccaneers · Trends 28
They've added some good football players, but now comes the tough part: Do the old guys hold on? Plus, they have to settle on a quarterback, and it should be Chris Simms.

** 26 Chiefs · Trends 18
Yet another team that has quarterback issues. Who will it be? Not only that, but the defense isn't exactly capable of carrying the team until the quarterback is settled.

** 27 Lions · Trends 30
Can Jon Kitna have another big year throwing the football? If he does, they will surprise a lot of teams and could be a .500 team. If not, Drew Stanton is waiting.

** 28 Redskins · Trends 29
They haven't done a lot to make this team better -- surprise, surprise, they didn't spend much -- and that will put a lot of pressure on Jason Campbell, now the full-time starter. Bill Cowher in 2008?

29 Titans · Trends 19
Vince Young played well, but not nearly as well as the hype. He may be forced to do even more, however, because this team hasn't made a lot of improvements and lost some key people.

30 Texans · Trends 27
Matt Schaub takes over as quarterback and now he will find out what David Carr learned: It's hard to win without more than one weapon.

**31 Raiders · Trends 32
The defense could be suffocating, which means if JaMarcus Russell is what everyone thinks he can be, this can possibly be a .500 team.

32 Browns · Trends 31
There is some young talent on the team, but they are still a long ways away from competing for a playoff spot. Throw Brady Quinn in there and chalk it up as a learning year.

GO PACK GO !!

MJZiggy
05-09-2007, 07:43 PM
How on earth can they possibly be doing power rankings when there hasn't even been an official mini-camp yet???

woodbuck27
05-09-2007, 07:45 PM
Prisco's gung ho ! :)

BooHoo
05-09-2007, 07:57 PM
yes, way to early for power rankings.

woodbuck27
05-09-2007, 08:13 PM
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10172491

Five who thrived: Picking the offseason winners

May 8, 2007

By Clark Judge
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer


Free-agency is down to a trickle. The draft is long gone. Mini-camps are underway. And the police blotter is void of Cincinnati Bengals.

Meaning? Meaning it's a new year, and the perfect time to assess who took the biggest steps while football was away. So let's get going.

Here are five of my favorites:

New England Patriots

I'll make this one simple: No one had a better offseason than the Patriots.

Wes Welker will take over return duties for the Pats. (Getty Images)
There. That was easy.

The club that last year was one minute from another Super Bowl added linebacker Adalius Thomas, wide receivers Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Kelley Washington and Donte' Stallworth, tight end Kyle Brady and safety Brandon Meriweather. Put them together and, yeah, I'd say the Patriots are better now than they were four months ago.

Sure, there are guys with issues on that list, but there's a lot of talent, too, and coach Bill Belichick is confident the talent will outweigh the baggage that accompanies it. And maybe it will. All I know is that the Patriots are loaded, addressing so many needs in the offseason they are at or near the top of everyone's Super Bowl XLII guest list.

Here's why: Thomas was one of the league's top two unrestricted free agents ... but only if he went to the right defense. Well, he did.

Then there was that hole at wide receiver. The Pats plugged it with Moss, Stallworth, Welker and Washington, and that's a huge fix -- if, that is, Moss and Stallworth stay healthy and Moss can stay interested. He didn't in Oakland, but that happens when you play for the '62 Mets.

Welker might be the best pickup of all. He's a sure-handed receiver who led Miami with 67 catches. Plus, he's a terrific return specialist who can step in on kickoffs for Laurence Maroney now that he's the No. 1 back.

Kyle Brady makes sense because he's one of the best blocking tight ends in the business. Plus, I just like the idea of another Brady in the huddle.

Lastly, there's Meriweather, and I don't want to debate the guy's ability. He's a first-round talent, which is why the Patriots took him with the 24th choice. But he's such a character risk several clubs removed his name from their boards.

"There are only a handful of coaches who could get away with a pick like that," one scout said, "and Bill Belichick is one of them."

Meriweather is Rodney Harrison waiting to happen ... if he can stay out of trouble.

Bottom line: This club has more talent than it did a year ago, and it still has Tom Brady. That's how you return to the Super Bowl.

San Francisco 49ers

Once the Ebenezer Scrooges of the NFL, the Niners suddenly and inexplicably became the George Steinbrenners of pro football, spending big bucks on free-agent veterans and high draft picks in a frantic effort to make themselves better.

Well, this just in: The plan worked. They are better.

They added free-agent cornerback Nate Clements, one of the best at his position. They traded for wide receiver Darrell Jackson, the Seahawks' top receiver, and drafted Washington State burner Jason Hill. They picked up underrated linebacker and special-teams ace Tully Banta-Cain from New England and strong safety Michael Lewis from Philadelphia. They drafted linebacker Patrick Willis and tackle Joe Staley and ... voila, just like that the 49ers look like a team that -- dare I say it? -- has a chance in the NFC West.

I said a chance. Remember, the 49ers haven't had a winning season since 2002, producing an underwhelming record of 20-44 the last four years. But they knocked off division champ Seattle twice last season, and that has to count for something.

Of course, that was when Norv Turner ran the offense, and if there's one offseason loss that'll be tough to overcome it's the departure of Alex Smith's mentor. But look what the 49ers gained in return: Receivers where there were none; the best linebacker in the draft; and one of the top two unrestricted free agents. Now, add a healthy Vernon Davis and a more experienced Manny Lawson and, yeah, the 49ers are making plans to move.

Only this time it's not to Santa Clara.

Denver Broncos

So you're not all that thrilled with Travis Henry. OK, I understand. But look what's going on here: All he did was run for 1,200 yards with Tennessee, and he did it despite missing two games. Now he joins a team that cranks out 1,000-yard backs like McDonald's spits out cheeseburgers.


Travis Henry should be the Broncos' latest 1,000-yard back. (Getty Images)
Quick, tell me the last time someone in a Broncos uniform didn't rush for 1,000 yards. I'll spare you the trouble. It was 2001, and it was only because Terrell Davis played on one leg. It marked the only time in coach Mike Shanahan's 11 years with Denver that he hasn't had a 1,000-yard back.

Which means I don't worry about Travis Henry. He fills a hole at the position.

The acquisition of cornerback Dre' Bly was another wise decision. The guy's a playmaker and the perfect complement to All-Pro Champ Bailey. Opponents who try to avoid Bailey now must deal with Bly, and that could be trouble –- especially with the Broncos adding rookies Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder to their pass rush.

I love the addition of Moss, mostly because I love speed off the edge and partly because I watched last year's Florida-South Carolina game.

OK, so something has to be done at wide receiver. But maybe something has. Tight end Daniel Graham has outstanding hands and can make the tough catch in traffic. Plus, he once produced seven TDs for New England, meaning he could serve as Denver's version of Tony Gonzalez.

Newcomer Brandon Stokley reminds some people of Ed McCaffrey, but I'd like to see him stay off the injury report before making that comparison. The guy was a solid slot receiver for Indianapolis when he was healthy. But that's the problem -- he often wasn't.

I don't know what happens to Stokley, but I do know what happens to the punting: It gets better. A year ago Paul Ernster was buried near the bottom of the AFC with a 41.6-yard average and a 36.6-yard net -- and that's with eight games in thin air. So the Broncos added Todd Sauerbrun, who averaged 43.8 yards a kick and 38 yards net in his 2005 stay with Denver.

Forget the math. The guy's an improvement, which means Denver just gained field position.

Of all the moves the Broncos made, the one I like most is the addition of defensive coordinator Jim Bates. His units are aggressive and solid, neither of which Denver was down the stretch last season. Denver scored 47 points in two games against San Diego, yet it lost both. That's why the Broncos hired Bates. It's why they hired Bly, Moss and Crowder, too.

Carolina Panthers

A year ago the Panthers were a trendy Super Bowl pick and they not only didn't make it, they didn't make it to the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. Something has to be done, and something has been.


Maybe John Fox's Panthers will earn the Super Bowl hype this year. (Getty Images)
First, the Panthers picked up quarterback David Carr -- a shrewd insurance policy against a Jake Delhomme flop. There is nothing wrong with Delhomme that a good offensive line can't correct, only the Panthers didn't have a good offensive line a year ago.

They had a crippled one.

Nevertheless, Carolina will take no chances. If Delhomme flounders, the Panthers have talent sitting behind him. I don't know how good Carr is because he spent the last five seasons acting more like a piñata than a quarterback. What I do know is I'd like to find out, and Carolina will.

But this is why I like this team to bounce back: the 2007 draft. The Panthers had direct hits in nearly every round, picking up the best outside linebacker (Jon Beason) in the first and the best center (Ryan Kalil) in the second. In between, they found wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett, who looks like a younger, better version of Keyshawn Johnson.

Two others I like are defensive end Charles Johnson, a steal in the third round, and Penn State's Tim Shaw -- a versatile linebacker who becomes a special teams contributor immediately. And let's not forget the return boost they should get from Miami of Ohio's Ryne Robinson.

I know there's a hole at safety, but trust me, coach John Fox will find a way to cover that position. The Panthers suffered last season because they lacked depth in key areas and because they never found a way to stem second-half meltdowns.

Well, now they have the depth.

Cleveland Browns

It doesn't get any better than this, Cleveland: Your football team finally has an offensive line and may, just may, have a franchise quarterback, too.

Look, I wasn't all that thrilled about the club passing on running back Adrian Peterson, either, especially when it ranked 31st in rushing. But if you're going in another direction, you go in the direction of tackle Joe Thomas, and that's what the Browns did.

In Thomas, they have a franchise left tackle for the next decade and the perfect partner for Pro Bowl-caliber guard Eric Steinbach. But they have more than that. They have a legitimate offensive line for the first time since the club returned to the NFL in 1999, and that's huge.

The Browns understand that if they're to improve their running game, they can go one of two directions: 1) Invest in linemen or 2) Invest in a premier back. Arizona took the second option a year ago with Edgerrin James, and look what it did for them. That's why the Cardinals exercised their first pick in this year's draft on tackle Levi Brown.

OK, so I'm not sold on veteran running back Jamal Lewis, but maybe Cleveland can squeeze one year out of the guy. If they can, they can look for a back in next year's draft or stand in line for free-agent-to-be Michael Turner, it doesn't matter. What does matter is they have one piece of the puzzle solved.

Correction: Make that two, after stealing quarterback Brady Quinn with the 22nd pick.

Quinn was a four-year starter, and those guys are rare -- especially when they produce the numbers Quinn did his last two years at Notre Dame. Maybe he doesn't evolve into a great quarterback, but I'll take my chances that he becomes a good one.

And that's what Cleveland needs: Stability at that position.

Sure, the Browns made other moves, like the additions of Seth McKinney, Robaire Smith, Antwan Peek and rookie Eric Wright, but it's their determination to improve two critical elements of the league's 31st-ranked offense that make them better.

Cleveland is not going to win its division -- not yet -- but finally, it's taking the necessary steps to get there.

The Leaper
05-09-2007, 09:23 PM
I'm sorry...but the Lions scare the hell out of me. Their defense may stink...but they may be able to give up 30 points a game and still win consistently now that Martz has incredible talent at WR.

woodbuck27
05-09-2007, 09:33 PM
I'm sorry...but the Lions scare the hell out of me. Their defense may stink...but they may be able to give up 30 points a game and still win consistently now that Martz has incredible talent at WR.

They are 'the Lions'.

The Barry Sanders curse. :)

Bretsky
05-09-2007, 09:54 PM
A lot of good info in here; I may have ranked the Packers two to four slots higher.

RashanGary
05-09-2007, 10:17 PM
There are 9 NFC teams ranked ahead of us. All we need to do is jump 4 of them and we'll be in the playoffs.

I think the Giants are overrated. The Cardinals could suck again. Falcons, 49ers, Cowboys....

these aren't exactly world beaters. I hate to sip the spring koolaid, but I think the playoffs are a legit possiblity.

woodbuck27
05-09-2007, 10:19 PM
A lot of good info in here; I may have ranked the Packers two to four slots higher.

Ahead of the Bills and 49ers?

RashanGary
05-09-2007, 10:24 PM
I think the Packers are right in the same league after the top 8. I see no reason why we can't compete.

With Hawk and Barnett playing behind the beefed up line, I see no reason why we can't see the rise of a new probolwer on defense.

Kamp, Hawk, Woodson, Driver, Favre, Barnett, Jennings


I see no reason why that firepower can't get us in the playoff hunt.

Bretsky
05-09-2007, 11:11 PM
There are 9 NFC teams ranked ahead of us. All we need to do is jump 4 of them and we'll be in the playoffs.

I think the Giants are overrated. The Cardinals could suck again. Falcons, 49ers, Cowboys....

these aren't exactly world beaters. I hate to sip the spring koolaid, but I think the playoffs are a legit possiblity.


The Beer will taste good

Bretsky
05-09-2007, 11:12 PM
A lot of good info in here; I may have ranked the Packers two to four slots higher.

Ahead of the Bills and 49ers?


I'd put the Bills lower than us, even thought they beat us last year.
I might also put the Rams below us.

I'd put the 49ers about equal to us

Lurker64
05-10-2007, 09:23 AM
Anybody have last year's Power Rankings at about this time? I'm curious about something.

wist43
05-10-2007, 01:40 PM
22nd sounds about right...

The Packers are going to struggle mightily to score pts... if Brett gets frustrated and starts heaving the ball all over the field, the Packers will fall short of .500.

If Favre remains composed and is content to dump the ball off or throw it away, then they may have a shot at .500.

BallHawk
05-10-2007, 01:44 PM
A lot of good info in here; I may have ranked the Packers two to four slots higher.

Ahead of the Bills and 49ers?


I'd put the Bills lower than us, even thought they beat us last year.

Don't even remind me of that game. Ugh.

BallHawk
05-10-2007, 01:47 PM
The Cardinals at 13?

Do we have to go through this "The Cardinals are primed for a breakout year because they have young talent and big Free Agent names on their team" shtick every year?

It gets tedious after a while.

K-town
05-10-2007, 02:12 PM
The Cardinals at 13?

Do we have to go through this "The Cardinals are primed for a breakout year because they have young talent and big Free Agent names on their team" shtick every year?

It gets tedious after a while.

No more tedious than the pundits picking the Lions (Hah!) as a sleeper team every year. Though lately the talking and writing heads have acknowledged the incompetency of Millen.

See also: The Vikings picked to go to the Super Bowl prior to the 2005 season. If I've got the wrong year, I'm sure Rastak will correct me.

oregonpackfan
05-10-2007, 04:54 PM
The Cardinals at 13?

Do we have to go through this "The Cardinals are primed for a breakout year because they have young talent and big Free Agent names on their team" shtick every year?

It gets tedious after a while.

I agree, BallHawk.

The Cardinals are a team destined for inferiority.

woodbuck27
05-11-2007, 10:40 AM
A lot of good info in here; I may have ranked the Packers two to four slots higher.

Ahead of the Bills and 49ers?


I'd put the Bills lower than us, even thought they beat us last year.
I might also put the Rams below us.

I'd put the 49ers about equal to us

Yup.

I study that schedule, and even given the way we play in December. We're in for a very tough season.

There will be alot on McCarthy to call the right plays and reel in Brett Favre. To not allow him to try and do too much. If MM can't do as well there as he seemed to last season I fear that Favre and 'the pick' will get alot of ink. :)

Brett Favre will give, often too much, to try for the win. If our running game stutters as I sense it may, then he'll have to be called to air it too often. The teams 'D's we face this season will just sit back and wait for the turnover.

The pressure on MM and Favre this season will be intense.

Funny thing is. We can be just horridly bad or very decent. It appears to me to be one or the other, before entering our camps. We may have a better off season fr. here till the Eagles on opening day?

I'm still excited about our season.

Just to see if we can be somewhat competitive after losing our RB and the way Bubba Franks (and other TE's) didn't perform in 2006. Actually Bubba hasn't been too good, since he signed his last contract.

The way we sucked in the Red Zone and all those drops. Can it be as bad this season in respect to those concerns?

Lots of question marks. . . :)