cheesner
09-05-2007, 10:51 PM
Okay it is from some guy I never heard of, but he works for Fox Sports and I think he just may be a genius. He has the Packers ranked 12th - by far the highest I have seen. His schtick is that he visited almost all of the training camps, so he is basing this on more than just what he has heard on ESPN.
LINK (http://community.foxsports.com/blogs/Curt_Menefee/2007/09/03/From_Worst_To_First_Ranking_All_32_Teams)
The preseason's all wrapped up. The cuts have been made. Now nothing left to do but play some football. FINALLY!
This time of year everyone always wants to know what everyone else thinks of their team. Well, since my "27 camps in 29 days" tour (turned out to be 25 camps due to weather and horrible service by the airline industry) allowed me to see the majority of teams, first hand, I thought that I'd give you my opinion on how the entire league stacks up.
It's just my opinion, and that's it.
So here we go with my ranking of teams from No. 1 (the best) to No. 32 (the worst). As you read this, keep in mind that last year, I predicted a Miami/Carolina Super Bowl. We'll see if I can do any better this time around.
1. San Diego Chargers
Reason to believe: Hands down, the best talent in the NFL.
Reason to worry: New head coach and new coordinators working together for the first time.
2. New England Patriots
Reason to believe: Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, enough said.
Reason to worry: Randy Moss, enough said.
3. Chicago Bears
Reason to believe: Weapons on offense may finally equal those on defense.
Reason to worry: Offensive line beginning to age.
4. Baltimore Ravens
Reason to believe: Willis McGahee looks like he's got something to prove.
Reason to worry: Steve McNair starting to show his age and physical pounding he's taken.
5. New Orleans Saints
Reason to believe: Drew Brees has been near perfect in camp.
Reason to worry: Still unsure how they're getting it done at linebacker, but they are...for now.
6. Seattle Seahawks
Reason to believe: Healthy Matt Hasselbeck, Shaun Alexander, a much improved defense.
Reason to worry: Left guard Rob SIms and center Chris Spencer new starters from day one.
7. Indianapolis Colts
Reason to believe: Two words: Peyton Manning.
Reason to worry: Lost far too many players from Super Bowl team.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers
Reason to believe: Roethlisberger out to show it wasn't all Cowher and Whisenhunt.
Reason to worry: Was Big Ben's success all Cowher and Whisenhunt?
9. Philadelphia Eagles
Reason to believe: Donovan McNabb is back.
Reason to worry: Fair or not, Andy Reid's family troubles will continue to be a topic in Philly.
10. Denver Broncos
Reason to believe: Jay Cutler in year two with Mike Shanahan.
Reason to worry: Outside of Elvis Dumervil, defensive line is a huge question mark.
11. Dallas Cowboys
Reason to believe: The way Tony Romo played in his first five starts in '06.
Reason to worry: The way Tony Romo played in his final five starts in '06.
12. Green Bay Packers
Reason to believe: Defense has the potential to be dominant.
Reason to worry: Offensive scheme built on RB and TE and right now team has neither.
13. Cincinnati Bengals
Reason to believe: Offensive starters are as solid a group as there is in NFL.
Reason to worry: Three 8-8 finishes in four years under Marvin Lewis.
14. Carolina Panthers
Reason to believe: Running game should be better under new coordinator Jeff Davidson.
Reason to worry: Dan Morgan is difference maker on defense, but can he ever stay healthy?
15. Tennessee Titans
Reason to believe: Vince Young makes everybody around him better.
Reason to worry: Haven't replaced Pacman Jones at corner, nor as a returner.
16. San Francisco 49ers
Reason to believe: Rookies Patrick Willis and Joe Staley are the real deals.
Reason to worry: Realistically, one more draft class and free agent year away.
17. St. Louis Rams
Reason to believe: As long as this coaching staff has Steven Jackson, they have a chance.
Reason to worry: Secondary will miss best player, Fakhir Brown, for 4-game suspension.
18. New York Jets
Reason to believe: Eric Mangini worked magic in 2006.
Reason to worry: It's not 2006 anymore.
19. Jacksonville Jaguars
Reason to believe: Defense too good not to believe.
Reason to worry: Cutting your starting QB a week before the season starts is not good.
20. Washington Redskins
Reason to believe: Defensive talent is back to 2004-2005 level.
Reason to worry: QB Jason Campbell missed a lot of preseason work with an injured knee.
21. Arizona Cardinals
Reason to believe: Team will be more disciplined under Ken Whisenhunt.
Reason to worry: Essentially the same defensive group that was ranked 30th last year.
22. Detroit Lions
Reason to believe: Passing game should be electric.
Reason to worry: Running game could be shockingly bad.
23. New York Giants
Reason to believe: May be deepest receiver group in team history.
Reason to worry: Anything other than a fast start and the wolves will be out in NYC.
24. Miami Dolphins
Reason to believe: Offensive-minded head coach Cam Cameron just what team needed.
Reason to worry: Could have also used some younger players on defense.
25. Cleveland Browns
Reason to believe: Talent has really been upgraded.
Reason to worry: Weeks 1-5: Pittsburgh, Cincy, at Oakland, Baltimore and at New England.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Reason to believe: Jon Gruden is desperate, and desperate coaches can be dangerous.
Reason to worry: Jeff Garcia hasn't played 16 games since 2002.
27. Buffalo Bills
Reason to believe: Should be able to run the ball and keep games close.
Reason to worry: Must have offense keep games close, because defense will struggle.
28. Oakland Raiders
Reason to believe: Daunte Culpepper beginning to look like his old self.
Reason to worry: Lamont Jordan's inconsistent and Dominic Rhodes is out first four games.
29. Minnesota Vikings
Reason to believe: Offense should be better by the end of season.
Reason to worry: First-year starter Tarvaris Jackson will struggle. How does he handle it?
30. Atlanta Falcons
Reason to believe: Bobby Petrino seems to have done a good job of keeping team focused.
Reason to worry: It was going to be a long year with Michael Vick's talent. Without him...
31. Houston Texans
Reason to believe: Change at quarterback brings in fresh air.
Reason to worry: Don't you just feel like they'll always be the "Arizona of the AFC"?
32. Kansas City Chiefs
Reason to believe: Wait, wait...I'm still thinking.
Reason to worry: Damon Huard was a backup for 11 years for a reason.
NFC division winners: Chicago, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Seattle.
NFC wild cards: Dallas and Green Bay.
AFC division winners: Baltimore, Indianapolis, New England, San Diego.
AFC wild cards: Denver and Pittsburgh.
Super Bowl matchup: Chicago Bears vs San Diego Chargers.
Since Super Bowl XLII is on FOX in February, I'll be there in person to see if my predictions are right. They probably won't be. :-)
LINK (http://community.foxsports.com/blogs/Curt_Menefee/2007/09/03/From_Worst_To_First_Ranking_All_32_Teams)
The preseason's all wrapped up. The cuts have been made. Now nothing left to do but play some football. FINALLY!
This time of year everyone always wants to know what everyone else thinks of their team. Well, since my "27 camps in 29 days" tour (turned out to be 25 camps due to weather and horrible service by the airline industry) allowed me to see the majority of teams, first hand, I thought that I'd give you my opinion on how the entire league stacks up.
It's just my opinion, and that's it.
So here we go with my ranking of teams from No. 1 (the best) to No. 32 (the worst). As you read this, keep in mind that last year, I predicted a Miami/Carolina Super Bowl. We'll see if I can do any better this time around.
1. San Diego Chargers
Reason to believe: Hands down, the best talent in the NFL.
Reason to worry: New head coach and new coordinators working together for the first time.
2. New England Patriots
Reason to believe: Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, enough said.
Reason to worry: Randy Moss, enough said.
3. Chicago Bears
Reason to believe: Weapons on offense may finally equal those on defense.
Reason to worry: Offensive line beginning to age.
4. Baltimore Ravens
Reason to believe: Willis McGahee looks like he's got something to prove.
Reason to worry: Steve McNair starting to show his age and physical pounding he's taken.
5. New Orleans Saints
Reason to believe: Drew Brees has been near perfect in camp.
Reason to worry: Still unsure how they're getting it done at linebacker, but they are...for now.
6. Seattle Seahawks
Reason to believe: Healthy Matt Hasselbeck, Shaun Alexander, a much improved defense.
Reason to worry: Left guard Rob SIms and center Chris Spencer new starters from day one.
7. Indianapolis Colts
Reason to believe: Two words: Peyton Manning.
Reason to worry: Lost far too many players from Super Bowl team.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers
Reason to believe: Roethlisberger out to show it wasn't all Cowher and Whisenhunt.
Reason to worry: Was Big Ben's success all Cowher and Whisenhunt?
9. Philadelphia Eagles
Reason to believe: Donovan McNabb is back.
Reason to worry: Fair or not, Andy Reid's family troubles will continue to be a topic in Philly.
10. Denver Broncos
Reason to believe: Jay Cutler in year two with Mike Shanahan.
Reason to worry: Outside of Elvis Dumervil, defensive line is a huge question mark.
11. Dallas Cowboys
Reason to believe: The way Tony Romo played in his first five starts in '06.
Reason to worry: The way Tony Romo played in his final five starts in '06.
12. Green Bay Packers
Reason to believe: Defense has the potential to be dominant.
Reason to worry: Offensive scheme built on RB and TE and right now team has neither.
13. Cincinnati Bengals
Reason to believe: Offensive starters are as solid a group as there is in NFL.
Reason to worry: Three 8-8 finishes in four years under Marvin Lewis.
14. Carolina Panthers
Reason to believe: Running game should be better under new coordinator Jeff Davidson.
Reason to worry: Dan Morgan is difference maker on defense, but can he ever stay healthy?
15. Tennessee Titans
Reason to believe: Vince Young makes everybody around him better.
Reason to worry: Haven't replaced Pacman Jones at corner, nor as a returner.
16. San Francisco 49ers
Reason to believe: Rookies Patrick Willis and Joe Staley are the real deals.
Reason to worry: Realistically, one more draft class and free agent year away.
17. St. Louis Rams
Reason to believe: As long as this coaching staff has Steven Jackson, they have a chance.
Reason to worry: Secondary will miss best player, Fakhir Brown, for 4-game suspension.
18. New York Jets
Reason to believe: Eric Mangini worked magic in 2006.
Reason to worry: It's not 2006 anymore.
19. Jacksonville Jaguars
Reason to believe: Defense too good not to believe.
Reason to worry: Cutting your starting QB a week before the season starts is not good.
20. Washington Redskins
Reason to believe: Defensive talent is back to 2004-2005 level.
Reason to worry: QB Jason Campbell missed a lot of preseason work with an injured knee.
21. Arizona Cardinals
Reason to believe: Team will be more disciplined under Ken Whisenhunt.
Reason to worry: Essentially the same defensive group that was ranked 30th last year.
22. Detroit Lions
Reason to believe: Passing game should be electric.
Reason to worry: Running game could be shockingly bad.
23. New York Giants
Reason to believe: May be deepest receiver group in team history.
Reason to worry: Anything other than a fast start and the wolves will be out in NYC.
24. Miami Dolphins
Reason to believe: Offensive-minded head coach Cam Cameron just what team needed.
Reason to worry: Could have also used some younger players on defense.
25. Cleveland Browns
Reason to believe: Talent has really been upgraded.
Reason to worry: Weeks 1-5: Pittsburgh, Cincy, at Oakland, Baltimore and at New England.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Reason to believe: Jon Gruden is desperate, and desperate coaches can be dangerous.
Reason to worry: Jeff Garcia hasn't played 16 games since 2002.
27. Buffalo Bills
Reason to believe: Should be able to run the ball and keep games close.
Reason to worry: Must have offense keep games close, because defense will struggle.
28. Oakland Raiders
Reason to believe: Daunte Culpepper beginning to look like his old self.
Reason to worry: Lamont Jordan's inconsistent and Dominic Rhodes is out first four games.
29. Minnesota Vikings
Reason to believe: Offense should be better by the end of season.
Reason to worry: First-year starter Tarvaris Jackson will struggle. How does he handle it?
30. Atlanta Falcons
Reason to believe: Bobby Petrino seems to have done a good job of keeping team focused.
Reason to worry: It was going to be a long year with Michael Vick's talent. Without him...
31. Houston Texans
Reason to believe: Change at quarterback brings in fresh air.
Reason to worry: Don't you just feel like they'll always be the "Arizona of the AFC"?
32. Kansas City Chiefs
Reason to believe: Wait, wait...I'm still thinking.
Reason to worry: Damon Huard was a backup for 11 years for a reason.
NFC division winners: Chicago, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Seattle.
NFC wild cards: Dallas and Green Bay.
AFC division winners: Baltimore, Indianapolis, New England, San Diego.
AFC wild cards: Denver and Pittsburgh.
Super Bowl matchup: Chicago Bears vs San Diego Chargers.
Since Super Bowl XLII is on FOX in February, I'll be there in person to see if my predictions are right. They probably won't be. :-)