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 lack of weapons the Tennessee Titans have in their receiving corps.

While Vince Young deserves praise for turning the Tennessee Titans’ fortunes around since being selected with the third overall pick in the 2006 draft, it’s no secret that the team would like him to develop more as a passer.

But does he have enough weapons to throw to?

The Titans signed longtime Atlanta Falcons’ tight end Alge Crumpler in the offseason and while Crump has struggled with chronic knee problems the past two seasons, he’s still a viable option in the passing game. Crumpler has excellent hands, runs smooth routes and looks healthier this season than he has the past two years.

But receiver looks like a weakness as Tennessee prepares for the 2008 season. The starters, Justin Gage and Justin McCareins, are both capable, but are also limited. Roydell Williams, Brandon Jones, Biren Early and Chris Davis have all been given the opportunity to make plays this preseason, but outside of maybe Early, none has stood out.

Even though the receivers are marginal at best, it won’t matter how good the wide outs are if Young doesn’t develop as a passer. Outside of a couple of drives, Young hasn’t looked good this preseason and continues to show a lack of sound fundamentals.

One issue he continues to have is that he won’t square his body to his target while throwing to the sidelines. Young tends to “get out on his front foot” and use his arm to make throws instead of a combination of his arm, hips and legs. Young will continue to keep the Titans competitive with his legs, but if he doesn’t develop as a passer, defensive coordinators are implementing ways to stop him in obviously passing situations.

Many pundits were shocked Tennessee drafted another running back (Chris Johnson) in the first round of the draft instead of targeting a wide receiver. But Johnson will get looks in the slot and short passing game, which will help Young in the short term. The Titans had the same idea when they signed Crumpler – strengthen the short to mediate passing game until Young gets more comfortable going down field, then the team can add a quality receiver maybe next year. But as of right now, Gage and McCareins will have to do.

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 Panthers have built a young, athletic linebacker corps through the draft.

Julius Peppers is the face of the Carolina Panthers’ defense – and deservedly so with his 56 quarterback takedowns in his six seasons at defensive end. But while Peppers often steals the spotlight, the strength of Carolina’s defense resides in its young linebacker corps.

Anchoring the middle of the Panthers’ defense is second-year player Jon Beason, the team’s first round pick in 2007. As a rookie last year, Beason recorded 140 tackles, one interception, and one fumble recovery. He was held out of the Panthers’ minicamps in May because of a wrist injury, but Beason is completely healed and expected to record another 100-plus tackles in 2008.

Playing alongside Beason will be another former first round pick in Thomas Davis, a converted safety from the University of Georgia. After playing at the strong-side position for his first three years in the league, Davis will move to the weak-side where he’ll line up behind Peppers on the right side of Carolina’s defense. With Peppers often commanding double teams, the athletic Davis will be free to roam sideline-to-sideline and thus make him a more dangerous playmaker.

Finally, veteran Na’il Diggs is battling former Bengals’ linebacker Landon Johnson for the strong-side spot. Diggs is expected to start, but Johnson could see the field in a rotation. Neither player is as athletic or versatile as Beason or Davis, but both are solid against the run and certainly won’t be a weakness.

Expect defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac to use all his linebackers in a variety of ways and even if opposing offenses try to spread the field, Beason and Davis have the closing speed necessary to excel in coverage. With both Beason and Davis, the Panthers should have one of the best linebacker corps for years to come.

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 play of the offensive line can affect the New York Jets playoff hopes.

Obviously Brett Favre is going to dominate the headlines in New York this fall, but the Jets’ playoff aspirations are going to rest more on their offensive line than Favre’s cannon right arm.

In the 2006 NFL Draft, much to the dismay of some of their fans, the Jets selected monster offensive tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson instead of a potential franchise quarterback in Matt Leinart. With their second pick in the first round (acquired from Denver via Atlanta), New York took former Ohio State center Nick Mangold.

Head coach Eric Mangini was making a point. He knew that without a solid offensive line, it wouldn’t matter who he lined up under center.

Ferguson and Mangold went on to have productive rookie seasons, but the entire line under performed in 2007 and the Jets sunk to a 4-12 record. Quarterbacks Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens struggled, while running back Thomas Jones (acquired from Chicago during the offseason) was largely ineffective.

This offseason, the Jets doled out $40 million, with $21 million in guaranteed money to sign former Steelers’ guard Alan Faneca. New York hopes the former Pro Bowler Faneca will get the underachieving Ferguson and Mangold to play to their high expectations again in 2008.

Also this offseason, the Jets signed free agent right tackle Damien Woody, formerly of the Lions. While Woody was largely a bust in Detroit because of weight issues and is coming off shoulder surgery, he’s a small upgrade over 2007 starter Anthony Clement. Joining Woody on the right side is Brandon Moore, who returns as the Jets’ starting right guard.

If the Jets can get better production out of their offensive line in 2008, it’s hard to imagine a productive runner like Jones will struggle again like he did last season. And it’s no secret that if Favre has time, he’ll pick a defense apart with his incredible release and accuracy. Despite their poor 2007 season, the Jets have enough talent to win this year. But the play of the offensive line is going to be the key in whether or not this team can battle for a Wild Card spot in a tough AFC.

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 St. Louis Rams have rebuilt their defensive line through the past two drafts.

The St. Louis Rams were faced with a major decision heading into the 2008 NFL Draft. The team was desperate to add a pass-rushing force to their defensive line, but should they take defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey of LSU or Virginia defensive end Chris Long?

Either way, the Rams were going to wind up with a highly touted prospect, but they arguably made the decision that made the most sense by taking Long with the second overall pick.

One year before, St. Louis selected former Nebraska defensive end Adam Carriker with the 13th overall pick in the 2007 draft. Enamored with his size, the team moved Carriker to defensive tackle so that he could help in run support.

Had the Rams chosen Dorsey, they might have been forced to move Carriker back to end, the position he played in college. Obviously some players are used to changing positions, but asking a second year player to learn an entirely new position in the NFL is tough. Thus the selection of Long made sense because Carriker could stay inside and play a position he’s been learning for over a year.

Teamed with explosive edge rusher Leonard Little, Long now gives the Rams a viable pass rush. One of the reasons Long was high on many team’s draft boards was because of his high intensity and relentless style of play. Even as a rookie he should make an impact in pass-rushing situations and now opposing offenses have to be aware of both end positions on St. Louis’s d-line.

With Little and Long expected to give the Rams a fierce pass rush from the outside, Carriker and veteran La’Roi Glover can concentrate on stopping the run and keep linemen off of Will Witherspoon, a versatile linebacker that can play sideline to sideline. And even though he’s lost a step, end James Hall is a decent backup in pass-rushing situations.

There’s no doubt the Rams’ success depends on Steven Jackson’s contract situation and the health of Marc Bulger, but the team has dramatically upgraded their defensive line in the past two drafts. And now that he has help, Little should be even more effective assuming age and injuries don’t wear him down.

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 potential offensive line issues for the Chicago Bears.

When previewing the Chicago Bears in 2008, many football pundits will focus on whether or not Kyle Orton can lead this team back to the playoffs or ask if Devin Hester can be an effective No. 1 receiver. But are they concentrating on the wrong position group in Chicago?

A once dominant unit just a few years ago, age and ineffective play has slowly made Chicago’s offensive line a potential weakness. There’s no question Olin Kreutz is a rock at the center of the Bears’ o-line, but what’s around him?

Chicago decided not to address their offensive line via free agency and instead concentrated on the draft. The team selected former Vanderbilt offensive tackle Chris Williams with the 14th overall pick in the first round, even though prospects Branden Albert and Jeff Otah were rated higher by scouts.

Projected as a potential starter at left tackle, Williams had to undergo back surgery in early August and now might miss the entire 2008 season. His potential replacement will be John St. Clair, a veteran who has struggled mightily when given the opportunity to start.

Joining Williams on the walking wounded list is Terrence Metcalf, who will miss a couple of weeks after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in early August. His main competition at left guard is Josh Beekman, who offers more potential and versatility than Metcalf, but has never started an NFL game after being selected in the fourth round of the 2007 draft.

Roberto Garza is projected as the starter at right guard and at right tackle is John Tait. Garza isn’t a spectacular player by any means, but he’s a solid run blocker. Same goes for Tait, who can handle his own in the running game, but often struggles against speedy end rushers.

While offensive line isn’t as big of a weakness as wide receiver for the Bears (and any line that has Kreutz at center could be far worse off), the position has to be a concern entering the season. St. Clair will be counted on to keep Orton upright, while Beekman is incredibly inexperienced and Tait often struggles in pass blocking. Chicago struggled mightily moving the ball in 2007, even with Hester often giving the team tremendous field position.

The Bears might have miscalculated their need to upgrade the offensive line in the offseason and the injury to Williams was a tough setback. Will not addressing the o-line more this offseason come back to haunt the Bears 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 Atlanta Falcons built their receiving corps through the draft.

Before Michael Vick traded in his football uniform for penitentiary garb, pundits loved to state on a yearly basis how the Atlanta Falcons needed better weapons for Vick to throw to.

Those pundits don’t have to worry about the Falcons not supplying No. 3 overall pick Matt Ryan with enough weapons, because the receiving corps is now arguably the strength of Atlanta’s offense. (Although a running game that now features Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood isn’t too shabby either.)

In his first two years with the Falcons, Roddy White was developing into surefire first round bust with every pass he let drop through his fingertips. But after hauling in 83 receptions for 1,202 yards and six touchdowns in 2007, White proved that he could be a capable No. 1 receiver in the NFL. He not only has the size and quickness to create separation from defenders, but he also attacks the ball in the air and has demonstrated supreme confidence (two things he lacked in his first two seasons). Even with the rookie Ryan or Chris Redman starting, many expect White to at least match his production from last season.

Joining White is former 2007 third round pick Laurent Robinson. Even though an injury has sidetracked his progress, the former Iowa State star has received rave reviews this summer and flashed potential in the final games of the 2007 season. Like White, Robinson has excellent speed and quickness, and can create plays in space. He’s expected to start once he’s healthy and playing opposite White might net him plenty of opportunities to make plays.

While he’s been a bit of a disappointment thus far in his career, former first rounder Michael Jenkins gives the Falcons a nice, big target in the red zone. Rookie third round pick Harry Douglas has also been incredibly impressive in camp and thus far in preseason, while Brian Finneran gives Atlanta a sure handed veteran if he can bounce back from having two knee surgeries the past two years. (The Falcons also have Joe Horn on their roster, although he’s likely to be traded or cut given how he’s expressed that he wants out of Atlanta.)

Granted, the Falcons offense is expected to struggle behind a rookie starter in Ryan and a suspect offensive line. And while there are high expectations for Robinson and Douglas, it might take a season or two for them to fully develop. Still, no longer is wide receiver a pressing issue in Atlanta.

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 what the Seattle Seahawks’ backfield situation will be like this year without Shaun Alexander.

For the past eight seasons, Shaun Alexander has carried the Seattle Seahawks’ running game. But after years of being the Hawks’ rock in the backfield, Alexander succumbed to injuries in 2006 and 2007, which ultimately led to his release in April of this year. Free agents Julius Jones (Cowboys) and T.J. Duckett (Lions) were signed this offseason to compete with Maurice Morris to be Alexander’s replacement.

In four seasons with Dallas, Jones rushed for 3,484 yards on 885 carries (65.7 yards per game) and 18 touchdowns. Over the last two seasons, he split carries with Marion Barber, who often stole Jones’ touchdown opportunities when the Cowboys reached the goal line.

Duckett spent the last two years in Washington and Detroit after sharing a backfield with Warrick Dunn in Atlanta from 2002 to 2005. He was hobbled by nagging injuries most of last year, but he did rush for 102 yards on 15 carries in the Lions’ Week 16 victory over the Chiefs, flashing the kind of speed and power that made him a first round draft pick in 2002.

While splitting time with Alexander last year, Morris finished with 628 yards on 140 carries and four touchdowns in 2007. Until Jones and Duckett were signed, Morris was the favorite to start for Seattle, and still might be.

A potential sleeper candidate that could emerge is 2008 sixth round pick Justin Forsett, who rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown in the Seahawks’ second preseason game against the Bears. Forsett showed decent power running between the tackles and excellent quickness when he saw daylight. He was also effective on kick returns as well, and while one preseason game doesn’t make or break a player, Duckett might be on the outs if Forsett continues to flash this kind of potential.

Can Jones, Morris or Duckett/Forsett carry the Seahawks’ running game this year? All indications out of Seattle this summer have been that the Seahawks will go with a running back-by-committee in 2008. All three of these backs can be effective in doses, but none has shown the capabilities to carry a rushing load on their own. (Although in fairness to Jones, he did rush for 1,084 yards on 267 carries in 2006, which was good for a 4.1 YPC average.)

Seattle was so effective when Alexander was carrying the ball 300-plus times a year, so it’ll be interesting to see how head coach Mike Holmgren uses his backfield this season. There’s no question that quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has mastered Holmgren’s West Coast Offense, but will the running back-by-committee work or will one back have to emerge for the Seahawks to make a Super Bowl run this year? The results have been mixed so far in preseason and although the NFC West once again appears to be Seattle’s for the taking, one has to wonder if their backfield situation will cost the Seahawks a chance to make a deep run in 2008.

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 additions the Cleveland Browns made in the offseason to bolster their defensive line.

When a team averages over 350 yards and 25 points a game on offense and doesn’t make the playoffs, usually there’s a glaring weakness somewhere on the roster. Besides having the unfortunate draw of playing in a stacked AFC, the Cleveland Browns can point to their defense as one of the main reasons why they missed the postseason in 2007, despite finishing with 10 wins.

One of the main issues the Browns had last year was their defensive line and more specifically, not being able to get to the quarterback. So the team gambled in the offseason by trading away multiple draft picks to acquire former Packers’ defensive tackle Corey Williams and former Lions’ DT Shaun Rogers.

Had it not been for the amount of depth along their defensive line, there’s no way the Packers would have dealt the underrated Williams in the offseason. Despite playing in a rotation and coming off the bench last year, Williams still matched a career high with seven sacks and was also solid against the run. Even though he’ll play an unfamiliar position in the Browns’ 3-4 front, he’s got the size and athleticism to play end in Romeo Crennel’s defense.

Acquiring Rogers was a bit of a risk, but a risk worth taking. Rogers was often criticized for being lazy and unmotivated in Detroit, but reports out of Browns’ camp have been glowing thus far. In fact, one of Cleveland’s personal members called Rogers, “the best defensive tackle in the division,” after observing him in camp this summer. If he can keep his focus, there’s no question Rogers is one of the best interior linemen in the league. It’s a rare occurrence when he’s not double-teamed and even so, he still makes opposing teams pay with his surprising quickness off the snap. When his head is right, Rogers is an absolute force to deal with.

Last offseason, the Browns signed former Texan Robaire Smith to a four-year, $12 million contract. He and Shaun Smith (a promising player who can play at nose, too) form a solid rotation at the end spot opposite Williams.

There’s no doubt Cleveland vastly upgraded its d-line the past two offseasons, but questions still remain. The biggest ones surround Rogers, who not only must stay motivated, but also learn nose in a 3-4 front. He certainly has the size to play the position, but will he get frustrated if he can’t shoot the gaps as easy as he did in Detroit? Plus, Williams has played tackle in a 4-3 scheme his entire career, so will there be a learning curve?

Regardless, with the firepower they have on offense, the Browns are built to win now. One of their biggest weaknesses last year was their d-line and hauling in a two athletic and talented players in Rogers and Williams was huge. Just look at how improved the Browns were last year when they upgraded their offensive line. With a solid d-line now in place, they can win the crucial battle in the trenches and make a postseason run 2008.

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 Orleans Saints can now consider their linebacker corps a strength.

It would be a mistake to say that the New Orleans Saints’ linebacker corps has been a weakness over the past two years. A “limitation” might be a more appropriate description.

The trio of Scott Shanle, Scott Fujita and Mark Simoneau wasn’t the flashiest linebacker corps in the league, but they certainly got the job done in 2006 when the Saints fell one win shy of reaching the Super Bowl. And given his 95 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles from a year ago, Fujita is arguably one of the more underrated outside linebackers in the league.

Still, the Saints have lacked bulk and overall athleticism in their linebacker corps, so this past offseason they parted with a 2008 fourth round pick and a 2009 conditional pick to acquire former Jets’ MLB Jonathan Vilma. They also retained Simoneau to help on special teams and provide depth behind all three linebacker positions.

Although he underwent season-ending surgery on his right knee last year, Vilma was out of place in Eric Mangini’s 3-4 defensive scheme in New York. Vilma will return to a 4-3 front, where he once amassed 173 total tackles and a sack as the Jets’ middle linebacker in 2005. If he stays healthy, Vilma might turn out to be the best bargain of the 2008 offseason.

Fujita and Shanle will likely be the opening day starters at outside linebacker and with the addition of Vilma, they now have a strong, experienced and athletic trio in the middle of their defense. If first round pick Sedrick Ellis and veteran Brian Young can keep defenders off Vilma, he’ll be a force against the run and the Saints will have one of the better front sevens in the NFC. Not too mention Fujita, Ellis, Will Smith and Charles Grant (assuming the league doesn’t suspend him for legal issues) can all provide a heavy pass rush.

Questions will remain about Vilma’s health until he proves otherwise and the secondary will need Randall Gay (free agent/Patriots) to step up to complement Mike McKenzie in coverage, but there’s no doubt the Saints’ defense has been vastly upgraded. And that’s a scary thought for the NFC considering the real strength for New Orleans is its dangerous offense.

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. Thursday I take a look at the New England Patriots and their potential issues in the secondary.

It would be naïve to think that the New England Patriots won’t contend for another AFC East crown, the postseason or a Super Bowl appearance. They’re still the franchise all other teams gun for and certainly should be the favorites to win Super Bowl XLII.

But has anyone taken a look at the Pats’ secondary this year?

When cornerback Asante Samuel signed a multi-million dollar deal with the Eagles in the offseason, there was virtually no panic in New England. And why should there have been? Bill Belichick’s defensive scheme allows any player – first rounder or street free agent – to be plugged into the starting lineup and succeed. The system is set up to win as a team, instead of relying on a couple of individual players to dominate. And as the results have shown over the years, the system works.

But the Patriots haven’t had a good start to 2008. Not only is the former Pro Bowler Samuel in Philly, but projected starters Rodney Harrison and James Sanders have also missed significant camp time this summer. The team recently signed former Buc and Bronco veteran John Lynch to help fix the leak at safety. Granted Lynch is a tremendous leader who brings loads of experience to the field, but due to his limitations in coverage he puts a lot of pressure on either Sanders or second year player Brandon Merriweather to cover more ground from the free safety position.

The news isn’t entirely bleak for the Pats’ secondary. Several publications have noted how comfortable Merriweather looks in his second year and corner Ellis Hobbs is vastly underrated (although he was abused by Plaxico Burress in the Super Bowl and is also coming off two early-offseason surgeries). But who will play opposite Hobbs? Veteran Jason Webster is on his last legs and Fernando Bryant is arguably best suited to play nickel at this point in his career. Maybe they’ll find a gem in rookies Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite, but regardless, there’s a ton of uncertainty in the Pats secondary at this point in preseason.

Tom Brady is back. Randy Moss is back. Bill Belichick is back. Make no mistake – the Patriots are once again the team to beat in the NFL. But just like Brady and the offensive line were exposed by the Giants in last January’s Super Bowl, watch for opposing teams to try and attack New England’s secondary in 2008. And if injuries continue to mount in the defensive backfield, we could be looking at a very vulnerable Patriots’ defense this season.