In the weeks leading up to the kickoff the 2008 NFL Season, I’ll take a look at position groups that could potentially lift teams to new heights, or bury them and their postseason hopes. Today I break down the Buffalo Bills and their promising linebacker corps.

When the Buffalo Bills drafted Paul Posluszny in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft, they had hoped they found their middle linebacker of the future. After averaging over 8.5 tackles in his first three games as a rookie, Posluszny was making the Bills’ hopes turn into reality.

But in late September, Posluszny went down with a broken forearm and missed the rest of the 2007 season. Fellow ‘backer Angelo Crowell suffered a similar fate last year, tearing a triceps muscle in the final game of the season.

With both Posluszny and Crowell on the mend, as well as adding productive free agent Kawika Mitchell formerly of the defending Super Bowl champion Giants, the Bills’ linebacker corps appears to be the strength of their defense heading into 2008.

Even though he only played in three games as a rookie, many believe that Posluszny is on the cusp of a breakout season. He’s not the most athletic linebacker in the league, but he’s physical at the point of attack and plays with a mean streak.

The same can be said for Crowell, who is perhaps the most underrated linebacker in the AFC. Even though his main responsibilities are to stop the run, Crowell has also shown a knack for getting pressure on the quarterback and has shown above-average skills in pass coverage. In 2007, Crowell led Buffalo in tackles with 126 total stops.

Even though Mitchell might be a more natural fit at strong-side linebacker given his size (6’1”, 253 pounds), he should fit Buffalo’s defensive scheme well. Mitchell is fast, athletic and can be a sideline-to-sideline player.

While there is plenty to like about the Bills’ linebacker corps heading into 2008, obviously both Posluszny and Crowell have to stay healthy. Given that neither suffered an injury that would take a long recovery time (i.e. a knee injury), both should bounce back in ’08. While the Bills’ young offense will be a focal point in whether or not this team can make the playoffs this year, the defense is slowly starting to come together. And at the core of the unit is a talented trio at linebacker.

The 2008 NFL Season is ready to kick off Thursday night in New York as the defending champion Giants take on division rival Washington at 7:00pm on NBC. With another year of football upon us, Bullz-Eye.com has released their 2008 NFL Season Preview.

All 32 teams have been placed into five tiers: Super Bowl Contenders, Playoff Bound, Heading Forward (teams that should improve in ’08), Heading Backward (teams that will take a step back in ’08) and Spinning Their Wheels (teams that will roughly stay the same). For each team, BE also takes a look at one key offseason addition and loss while also throwing out a question mark that may keep each team from reaching their ultimate goal. A record projection and team outlook is also provided.

To view Bullz-Eye.com’s 2008 NFL Season Preview, click here.

In the weeks leading up to the kickoff the 2008 NFL Season, I’ll take a look at position groups that could potentially lift teams to new heights, or bury them and their postseason hopes. Today I take a look at the Miami Dolphins’ quarterback situation after the team added Chad Pennington.

To say the Miami Dolphins had quarterback issues in 2007 would be putting it lightly. Whether it was Trent Green, Cleo Lemon or rookie John Beck, the results were the same and losses piled up in the standings.

Heading into 2008, the depth chart has changed but will the results? Gone are Green and Lemon; in are former New York Jets’ starting quarterback Chad Pennington and rookie Chad Henne.

When Bill Parcells took over the football operations for the Dolphins this summer, one of the areas he knew he had to upgrade was quarterback. And after watching Henne and Beck struggle in camp over the summer, Parcells reached out to the recently released Pennington – the quarterback he drafted when he was the Jets’ head coach.

The book is already out on Pennington: weak arm, severely limited, can’t throw downfield, etc. But he’s also a fundamentally sound veteran and a solid leader that can hopefully help tutor Beck and Henne for the future. Pennington is also familiar with the division and new offensive coordinator Dan Henning used to be his QB coach in New York so he knows the offense.

Eventually the Dolphins have to see what they have in Beck and Henne. It’s wise to allow young quarterbacks develop slowly, but sooner or later they have to sink or swim on the field. And while Parcells has a tendency to prefer players that he had a hand in drafting, Miami did spend a second round pick on Beck last year, so it would be unfair to give up on him too soon.

But at the very least, Pennington buys Miami more time to see what they have at the position. It’s also fair to say that Pennington gives the Dolphins the best chance to win this season and Parcells did him a solid by drafting massive left tackle Jake Long with the first overall pick in last April’s draft. Long will be counted on to protect Pennington’s blind side and hopefully give the Dolphins a cornerstone tackle for years to come.

While it’s unlikely he’ll lead the Dolphins to the playoffs this year, Pennington at least gives the team a respected veteran presence in the huddle and on the field. Time will tell if Henne or Beck can develop behind him.

In the weeks leading up to the kickoff the 2008 NFL Season, I’ll take a look at position groups that could potentially lift teams to new heights, or bury them and their postseason hopes. Today I take a look at how the Oakland Raiders have built one of the better defensive backfields in the NFL.

He takes too many chances going for interceptions, is cocky and can sometimes be viewed as a selfish player.

He’s also one of the few shutdown cornerbacks in the NFL. He’s DeAngelo Hall, one of the Oakland Raiders’ newest additions in their secondary.

The Raiders acquired Hall from the Atlanta Falcons this offseason for multiple draft picks and immediately signed him to a seven-year, $66.28 million contract. While he’ll occasionally get burnt trying to jump a route for an interception, Hall has been one of the best defensive playmakers in the league. He’s also coming off his best season as a pro, hauling in five interceptions and amassing 63 tackles for the Falcons in 2007.

Playing opposite of Hall in Oakland’s secondary is the incredibly underrated Nnamdi Asomugha. Even though his interception total dropped from eight picks in 2006 to just one last year, stats don’t tell the whole story. Opposing teams often stayed away from Asomugha’s side, fearing his playmaking ability. But teams won’t be able to do that this year with the equally dangerous Hall on the other side.

The Raiders also signed Gibril Wilson this offseason, a talented safety who helped the New York Giants win a Super Bowl last year. Like Hall, Wilson is arguably coming off his best season as a pro, recording 92 tackles and four interceptions. Joining him at safety will be Michael Huff, the former top 10 pick who has come into his own despite having to play multiple positions in his first two seasons.

Even though there are some concerns about Hall having to play with a cast after breaking bones in one of his hands in preseason, Oakland has built one of the better defensive backfields in the league. It’s amazing to think that Hall will see plenty of action this season playing opposite from Asomugha, because Hall is incredibly skilled in coverage himself. And with Wilson now in the mix, Huff can concentrate on playing just one position and further developing his game.

The Raiders will rely on their secondary to set the tone for them on defense this year, but the front seven must get pressure on the quarterback. No secondary can be expected to hold up in coverage for long periods of time, so it’ll be up to Derrick Burgess, Gerard Warren and Tommy Kelly to get a good push off the line. Still, it’ll be fun to watch Oakland defend the pass this year with so many talented players in the secondary.

In the weeks leading up to the kickoff the 2008 NFL Season, I’ll take a look at position groups that could potentially lift teams to new heights, or bury them and their postseason hopes. Today I take a look at how the New York Giants expect to cope without having Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan on their defensive line.

When the New York Giants selected defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka with the 32nd pick in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, many eyebrows were raised at the pick. Why would the Giants take another defensive end when they already had Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck on the roster?

After Strahan retired following the Giants’ Super Bowl victory in January and Umenyiora was lost for the 2008 season because of a knee injury, nobody is questioning New York’s decision to draft Kiwanuka now.

Kiwanuka not only has the daunting task of having to transition from outside linebacker back to defensive end, but he also will attempt to fill the shoes of Umenyiora, a highly productive player who registered 52 tackles and five sacks last season.

Playing opposite of Kiwanuka on the line will be Tuck, a promising fourth-year player who compiled 10 sacks last year as part of a rotation. While he’s shown plenty of upside, this will be the first time in Tuck’s career that he’ll be counted on as a full-time starter.

Barry Cofield and Fred Robbins will man the interior of New York’s defensive line. Neither stands out as impact players, although Cofield did show promise in his rookie season when he compiled 44 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

There’s no denying that losing both Strahan and Umenyiora was devastating. The Giants demonstrated what a heavy pass-rush could do for an entire defense in the Super Bowl when they completely flustered Tom Brady and his offensive line. While young corner Aaron Ross is developing into a nice player, the rest of the secondary is average at best – especially after safety Gibril Wilson signed with Oakland this offseason – and will need the front seven to put pressure on opposing teams’ quarterbacks so they’re not vulnerable in coverage.

New York is going to need Kiwanuka and Tuck to provide the type of rush that Strahan and Umenyiora got last year in order for the defense to not be exposed in certain areas. Both ends have a ton of talent, but how will they do as full-time starters? Can they be as effective as every-down players as they were in a rotation last year? Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was outstanding in devising game plans last year to frustrate opposing teams, but a lot of what he does depends on his ends getting pressure.

Time will tell if the Giants will sink or swim without the two ends that helped them when a Super Bowl last season.

In the weeks leading up to the kickoff the 2008 NFL Season, I’ll take a look at position groups that could potentially lift teams to new heights, or bury them and their postseason hopes. Today I break down the San Francisco 49ers’ receiving corps.

It would be an understatement to say that San Francisco 49ers fans long for the days when Jerry Rice, John Taylor and Terrell Owens lined up at wide receiver. Ever since the 49ers traded Owens after the 2003 season, they’ve had a void at wide out. Actually, a Grand Cannon-sized hole might be a better description.

After signing longtime St. Louis Rams’ great Isaac Bruce and veteran Bryant Johnson (Cardinals) this offseason, as well as selecting Jason Hill and Josh Morgan in the past two drafts, the 49ers hope they’ve finally solved their issues at wide receiver.

But have they?

Bruce is still adding to an already fantastic career, but one has to wonder how much he has left in the tank. Still, he’s a viable starter, knows new offensive coordinator Mike Martz’s offense and will provide veteran leadership in the locker room. As of now, he’s penciled in as one of the two starters.

But the other two positions appear to be wide open with Hill, Morgan, Johnson, Arnaz Battle and Ashley Lelie all vying for playing time. Johnson and Battle have battled injuries this preseason, which have given youngsters Morgan and Hill opportunities to turn some heads.

Morgan hauled in five passes for 114 yards and a touchdown in the Niners’ second preseason game, so the spot opposite Bruce looks like his to lose. Hill might have the inside track for the No. 3 receiver role after catching four passes for 94 yards and a touchdown in San Fran’s third preseason game. A former third round pick in 2007, Hill has outstanding speed and excellent height. Both he and Morgan have more upside than Lelie, who might not even make the roster.

A trio of Bruce, Morgan and Hill won’t keep defensive coordinators up at night, but the x-factor is Martz’s offense. It made Kevin Curtis and Mike Furrey into playmakers and might do the same for Morgan and Hill. Martz likes to confuse opponents by making defenders jump underneath routes and then throwing over top of them. The goal is for receivers to find open space, make the catch and get up field. The system doesn’t require superstars at the receiver position, which is a plus for the Niners because they don’t have any.

If quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan can step up and play well in Martz’s system, it shouldn’t matter who the receivers are as long as they’re not dropping passes. Time will tell if the 49ers have finally solved their issues at receiver, or if fans will spend yet another offseason begging for more help at the position.

In the weeks leading up to the kickoff the 2008 NFL Season, I’ll take a look at position groups that could potentially lift teams to new heights, or bury them and their postseason hopes. Today I take a look at how the Jacksonville Jaguars will once again rely on their running backs to carry them in 2008.

It’s no secret how the Jacksonville Jaguars plan on winning games this season: Running the football. Thanks to one of the best 1-2 punches in the league at running back in Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, the Jags are legitimate Super Bowl contenders this season.

It’s amazing how a running back can compile 10,715 rushing yards and a 4.7-yard per carry average and yet only make one Pro Bowl. Fresh off his first (and only) Pro Bowl appearance, Taylor is set to once again carry the rock 200-plus times in Jacksonville’s offense.

When most running backs reach the dreaded age of 30, they usually start to break down. But Taylor hasn’t lost much over the years and has gained at least 1,000 yards in five of his last six seasons. Last year, Taylor rushed for 1,202 yards in 15 games (a 5.4 YPC average) and added five touchdowns.

Once again complementing Taylor in the backfield will be the third-year back Jones-Drew. In terms of production, Jones-Drew took a step back in his second year, rushing for 768 yards and nine touchdowns compared to the 941 yards and 13 scores he amassed his rookie year in 2006. But that doesn’t mean he was any less effective and once again gave the Jags a great change-of-pace back to go along with Taylor’s grinding style.

Taylor will once again carry the load in 2008, a role he’s relished since 2000. Appreciate him now, because the underrated and often under appreciated Taylor is expected to retire at the end of the season. Jones-Drew will once again serve as Jacksonville’s change-of-pace back and home run threat, as well as an effective weapon in the passing game.

There’s no doubt both of these backs benefit greatly from an offense that relies on the run, as well as a solid line and a quarterback that rarely makes mistakes. Expect the Jags to once again be one of the top-ranked rushing teams in ‘08.

In the weeks leading up to the kickoff the 2008 NFL Season, I’ll take a look at position groups that could potentially lift teams to new heights, or bury them and their postseason hopes. Today I take a look at how the San Diego Chargers have successfully built their secondary through the draft.

Like any good team and successful franchise, the San Diego Chargers took their time building their secondary. Instead of signing big name free agents to overpriced contracts every offseason, the Chargers built their defensive backfield through the draft and last year finished in the top 15 against the pass, as well as owned the NFL’s interception leader in Antonio Cromartie.

The only defensive back with more than three years of starting experience is corner Quentin Jammer, a former top five pick from the 2002 NFL Draft. While he’s never lived up to his lofty draft status (he’s never recorded more than four interceptions in a single season), Jammer certainly hasn’t been a bust either. He’s given the Chargers a steady starter and now a veteran presence in their secondary.

Opposite Jammer is Cromartie, a former 2006 first round pick who finished the 2007 season with 10 interceptions and a highlight-reel worth of amazing plays. When San Diego drafted the former FSU product in 2006, it was viewed as an incredible risk considering he had not played in an entire year after tearing his ACL in July of 2005. But Cromartie showed off his amazing talent and play making ability last year and now is a future star in the league.

The safeties are second year player Eric Weddle and former undrafted free agent Clinton Hart. Weddle doesn’t excel at one facet of the game, but he’s technically sound and the Chargers valued his versatility so much that they traded back into the second round to acquire him in 2007. Hart paid his dues on special teams before becoming a starter last year and he made the most of the opportunity, recording 85 tackles and five interceptions.

This unit isn’t going to stand out when discussing the best defensive backfields in the league, but the Chargers have certainly built a solid secondary over the years. Each player understands his role and the unit plays well together as a whole. It certainly helps that the front seven has done a great job of getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks, too.

In the weeks leading up to the kickoff the 2008 NFL Season, I’ll take a look at position groups that could potentially lift teams to new heights, or bury them and their postseason hopes. Today I take a look at the Houston Texans’ potential issues at running back.

Will it be Ahman Green, Chris Brown, Steve Slaton or Chris Taylor? In other words, which running back will start for the Houston Texas this year?

Just one year ago, Green signed a four-year, $23 million contract to join the Texans from Green Bay. But in just six games last season, Green rushed for only 260 yards and two touchdowns on 70 carries because he was limited by injuries. So far this preseason, he’s battled with a groin injury and might not even make Houston’s roster.

The thought is that Green is battling Chris Brown for a roster spot. Brown, a 27-year old who has shown flashes of potential throughout his career but can’t seem to catch on with one team, has been limited this preseason due to a lingering back injury.

The rookie Slaton seems to have the most promise out of any of Houston’s current backs. The former West Virginia product fell to the third round of the 2008 draft because of his small size (5’9”, 201 pounds), but Slaton is incredibly quick and gives the team a homerun threat out of its backfield.

Taylor has the size (5’11”, 220 pounds) Houston covets, but is inexperienced. In the Texans’ third preseason game, Taylor started and rushed 11 times for 47 yards. Last season, the team tried him at fullback but it appears that he has successfully made the transition to half back.

If the season were to start today, it Taylor would probably be the Texans’ starter, with Slaton as the change-of-pace back coming off the bench. It makes no sense for Houston to keep both Green and Brown, so the roster spot might come down to which player is healthier.

Either way, does a Taylor/Slaton tandem give the Texans the best chance to win? Taylor certainly has good size and will be utilized in short yardage situations, but he doesn’t have a ton of speed and has never carried a full rushing load before. Slaton, on the other hand, has plenty of speed, but the concern is whether or not he can take a beating running between the tackles. It appears that the Texans have what they want in a running back, just not in one running back.

In the weeks leading up to the kickoff the 2008 NFL Season, I’ll take a look at position groups that could potentially lift teams to new heights, or bury them and their postseason hopes. Today I take a look at how the Cincinnati Bengals have re-built their secondary through the draft, although the safety position still looks like a potential weakness.

It’s no secret the strength of the Cincinnati Bengals resides on offense. With Carson Palmer, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson running the show offensively, the Bengals haven’t had an issue lighting up the scoreboard over the past three seasons. It’s keeping opponents from light up the scoreboard that’s been the problem in Cincinnati.

The Bengals have made a collective effort to improve their defense in the past three drafts, using their last three first round picks on that side of the ball. In 2006, Cincy selected South Carolina corner Jonathan Joseph with their first round pick and in 2007 the Bengals took another defensive back with their first pick in Michigan’s Leon Hall. This past draft, the team tabbed USC outside linebacker Keith Rivers in the first round.

But back to the secondary.

Outside of being suspended one game for violating the league’s substance abuse policy in October, Joseph took considerable steps in his development in only his second year. After recording 58 tackles and no interceptions as a rookie in 2006, Joseph totaled 62 stops and four picks last year.

Hall proved many draft pundits wrong after snagging five interceptions, a forced fumble and 69 tackles as a rookie last season. Several so-called experts made claims that Hall was overrated and would get exposed by NFL receivers, but he more than held his own and was one of the best first round picks in 2007.

While Joseph and Hall are developing into a nice tandem at corerback, the Bengals’ safety position is a weakness. The team lost veteran safety Madieu Williams to free agency in the offseason and while he under performed last year, he was still a productive player and a solid starter. Set to replace Williams is Marvin White, a 2007 fourth round pick who lacks experience and top end speed. But he made plenty of plays collegially at TCU and the team hopes that playmaking ability will transfer to the NFL.

Youngster Chinedum Ndukwe was giving veteran Dexter Jackson all he could handle for the Bengals’ starter at strong safety, but a knee injury has sidelined Ndukwe and it appears Jackson’s job is safe for now. While Jackson has starting experience, he’s limited in coverage, which could spell trouble with White still trying to learn the free safety position.

Depending on how the safeties perform this year, the Bengals could have one of the better young defensive backfields in the league. But another potential issue is that the front seven isn’t expected to produce much of a pass rush. And it won’t matter how good this young secondary is if the quarterback has all day to throw.