Saturday, September 08, 2007
NFC North preview
The Clarion has decided to write this year’s NFL preview from the easiest to predict division to the toughest, thus we are starting with the NFC North.
1st Place
The Bears should be a shoe-in, they have won this division with Kyle Orton playing the majority of the games at QB. Yes, Rex Grossman is atrocious, but in the worst division in the inferior conference, it won’t matter until at least the playoffs. The Bears will miss last year’s starting running back Thomas Jones, now with the Jets, more than they think. Replacement Cedric Benson will make highlight reel plays, but is less than durable and a fumbler. On defense, releasing defensive tackle Tank Johnson, will put the pressure on the other DT Tommy Harris, who while once terrific, is fresh off a serious injury. Brian Urlacher is still a star, as should be, less well known strong safety, Mike Brown. In this division it is no matter, it is all nitpicking. The USC Trojans could win ten in the NFC North.
2nd Place
The Detroit Lions. Yes, the Lions, they have a few weapons. John Kitna isn’t terrible, he might be the best starting QB in the division this year. Slot wide receiver Mike Furrey had a breakout year last year. Roy Williams the only one of their three consecutive first round wideout draft picks still with the team is getting legit help this year, in the form of the best player in the draft, Calvin Johnson. Who despite inferior quarterback play all four years he was at Georgia Tech still managed to dominate. The Lions agressive play calling leads to lots of turnovers, the defense is harly good enough to handle that, eight wins will probably be about the most they can muster. But for Detroit, in the Matt Millen era, that is a positively rejuvenating season.
3rd Place
The Green Bay Packers will be lucky to win seven games. Running back is a gaping hole, with the aging Ahman Green having absconded to the Houston Texans. They are replacing him with the illustrious Vernon Morency who has amassed 600 career yards rushing. The other skill players are average at best. The defense is full of holes. Brett Favre is heading towards ending his career as the most overrated offensive player of all time. In his last 64 games, Favre has exactly 5 more interceptions than touchdowns. He has been hanging on for more than four years too long, when he finally does hang’em up, Green Bay fans will have to decide was one Super Bowl win worth 15 years of mediocrity. Tough call.
4th Place
The Minnesota Vikings would surely trade one Super Bowl win for fifteen years of mediocrity. Having never been able to win the elusive title, this does not figure to be the Vikings year. There is some talent, but they are still recovering from losing Randy Moss and Dante Culepepper for essentially nothing. This year they are starting perhaps the most ill-prepared quarterback in the league in Tavaris Jackson. His coach Brad Childress might have confidence in him, but there is no apparent reason why. In fact, as yet, there is no reason why anyone should have confidence in Childress. The season can’t be much worse for the Vikings than the tabloid scandal plagued last couple of years for the Vikings. Rookie running back Adrian Peterson is the real deal, but they already had a serviceable running back in Chester Taylor. The Vikes will win at most 5 or 6 games.
1st Place
The Bears should be a shoe-in, they have won this division with Kyle Orton playing the majority of the games at QB. Yes, Rex Grossman is atrocious, but in the worst division in the inferior conference, it won’t matter until at least the playoffs. The Bears will miss last year’s starting running back Thomas Jones, now with the Jets, more than they think. Replacement Cedric Benson will make highlight reel plays, but is less than durable and a fumbler. On defense, releasing defensive tackle Tank Johnson, will put the pressure on the other DT Tommy Harris, who while once terrific, is fresh off a serious injury. Brian Urlacher is still a star, as should be, less well known strong safety, Mike Brown. In this division it is no matter, it is all nitpicking. The USC Trojans could win ten in the NFC North.
2nd Place
The Detroit Lions. Yes, the Lions, they have a few weapons. John Kitna isn’t terrible, he might be the best starting QB in the division this year. Slot wide receiver Mike Furrey had a breakout year last year. Roy Williams the only one of their three consecutive first round wideout draft picks still with the team is getting legit help this year, in the form of the best player in the draft, Calvin Johnson. Who despite inferior quarterback play all four years he was at Georgia Tech still managed to dominate. The Lions agressive play calling leads to lots of turnovers, the defense is harly good enough to handle that, eight wins will probably be about the most they can muster. But for Detroit, in the Matt Millen era, that is a positively rejuvenating season.
3rd Place
The Green Bay Packers will be lucky to win seven games. Running back is a gaping hole, with the aging Ahman Green having absconded to the Houston Texans. They are replacing him with the illustrious Vernon Morency who has amassed 600 career yards rushing. The other skill players are average at best. The defense is full of holes. Brett Favre is heading towards ending his career as the most overrated offensive player of all time. In his last 64 games, Favre has exactly 5 more interceptions than touchdowns. He has been hanging on for more than four years too long, when he finally does hang’em up, Green Bay fans will have to decide was one Super Bowl win worth 15 years of mediocrity. Tough call.
4th Place
The Minnesota Vikings would surely trade one Super Bowl win for fifteen years of mediocrity. Having never been able to win the elusive title, this does not figure to be the Vikings year. There is some talent, but they are still recovering from losing Randy Moss and Dante Culepepper for essentially nothing. This year they are starting perhaps the most ill-prepared quarterback in the league in Tavaris Jackson. His coach Brad Childress might have confidence in him, but there is no apparent reason why. In fact, as yet, there is no reason why anyone should have confidence in Childress. The season can’t be much worse for the Vikings than the tabloid scandal plagued last couple of years for the Vikings. Rookie running back Adrian Peterson is the real deal, but they already had a serviceable running back in Chester Taylor. The Vikes will win at most 5 or 6 games.
Labels: NFL, Predictions, sports
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