Mike Martz, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Charlie Frye, Pacman Jones, Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, Curtis Martin, Oakland Raiders

2006 NFL Preview: teams 21-32

By: Anthony Stalter (astalter@bullz-eye.com)

09/03/2006

NFL Home / Sports Channel / Bullz-Eye Home

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Teams 21-32

Teams 1-10 >>>

21. Detroit Lions

Key Additions:
The Lions needed to remake their quarterback position and did so by acquiring a veteran in Jon Kitna and a youngster with promise in former Cardinals QB Josh McCown. Kitna will be the starter this season, but McCown will certainly be called upon if Kitna struggles. Corey Bradford was signed to be a leader for a receiving unit that desperately needs veteran leadership. Arlen Harris will get a chance to backup RB Kevin Jones. Rex Tucker, the former Bears and Rams guard, and Barry Stokes will provide depth on the offensive line.

Key Losses:
Linebacker Earl Holmes was a key member of the Lions defense last year until a knee injury cost him five of the last seven games. Holmes won’t return and neither will former starting quarterback Joey Harrington. Harrington never prospered and eventually was eaten alive in Detroit. Kyle Kosier left for Dallas, while cornerbacks Andre’ Goodman and R.W. McQuarters both left via free agency as well. Defensive players Nate Wayne and Dan Wilkinson were released and QB Jeff Garcia left to backup Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia.

Player on the Hot Seat: Charles Rogers, WR.
There are many voices outside of Lions camp that feel Charles Rogers won’t even be a member of the team this year. His past injury problems not withstanding, Rogers’ work ethic and demeanor on and off the field have raised questions on whether or not he’ll ever cash in on his considerable talent. Throw a drug suspension on top of the heap and this makes a do-or-die year for Rogers. He won’t last in the current coaching regime if he keeps displaying a lackluster work ethic and attitude. Although he’ll get a chance elsewhere if he’s released, why not try to make it work where you played your college ball and where the Lions believed you were worth a top-five draft pick?

Question Mark facing the ‘06 Season: What impact will all the new coaches bring?
A big one is the answer. New head coach Rod Marinelli is a tough, military-like enforcer who demands respect, a hard work ethic and a ‘never say die’ attitude from his players. Mike Martz will help give structure and bring a game plan back to an offense that has lacked both over the past couple of years. The only issue is, do these coaches have enough to work with? Martz has plenty of talent on offense in Kevin Jones and Roy Williams, but do Rogers and Mike Williams have the desire to play? Right now, Bradford, Scottie Vines and perhaps several others are ahead of Mike Williams on the depth chart, which doesn’t bode well for the former first-round pick. Someone has to turn a light bulb on for these guys and if Marinelli and Martz can’t do it, then maybe it’s time for the Lions organization to retool their roster and regroup.

‘06 Outlook:
Just when the Lions start to breathe excitement and life into Detroit, they sizzle by midseason. Once again, the Lions should be better, but understandably, nobody in Motown is holding their breath. Watch out for this underachieving wide receiver unit if they ever decide to live up to their potentially, because every single one of the former first-round picks has talent coming out of their ears. KJ will get a chance to carry the ball effectively in Martz’s system and hopefully one of the quarterbacks will be able to take charge. The offensive line is pretty weak, however, so that could put a damper on how far Martz can take this offense. On defense, the linebackers are all fast, but Boss Bailey and Teddy Lehman both have to bounce back from injury and first-round pick Ernie Sims must make a splash right away. The Lions have talent up front and in their secondary too, with Dre’ Bly, Kenoy Kennedy, Shaun Rogers and James Hall leading their respective position units. Rogers and Bly are both Pro Bowlers and given coordinator Donnie Henderson’s aggressive style of play calling and Marinelli’s experience with the Tampa-2, and the defense should be an upgrade as a whole. So where does this group rank, a promising second in the division or a slippery slope back down to third? Let’s try second for now, but check back at midseason.

Find a team schedule, depth chart and ’05 results at: DetroitLions.com

22. St. Louis Rams

Key Additions:
The Rams sought former Carolina Panther linebacker Will Witherspoon heavily when free agency started and got their man for the middle of their defense. The secondary added some help with safety Corey Chavous coming over from Minnesota and Fakhir Brown migrating from New Orleans. La’Roi Glover was another former Saint to join St. Louis and will be instrumental in providing leadership in the locker room. Gus Frerotte was added from Miami and is one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league, while Todd Steussie will provide depth on the offensive line.

Key Losses:
Ryan Pickett did a nice job of tying up blockers, but the Rams thought that his price tag was a little too steep and lost him to Green Bay. Safety Adam Archuleta was a heavy hitter, but wasn’t a dominant presence while defending the pass. CB Corey Ivy signed with Baltimore and DT Damione Lewis inked a deal with Carolina. Other defensive losses included CB Terry Fair and LB Tyoka Jackson. Rex Tucker signed with Detroit and tight end Brandon Manumaleuna was traded to San Diego.

Player on the Hot Seat: Steven Jackson, RB.
The Rams are awfully thin at running back and failed to acquire Michael Bennett from the Saints in the offseason. One injury to Steven Jackson could spell major trouble for the Rams offense. Jackson is looking forward to being a workhouse back for new head coach Scott Linehan, and Linehan will certainly give Jackson every opportunity to be an every-down back. The Rams acquired Tony Fisher in the offseason, but while he produced in Green Bay, the Rams nevertheless need a huge year from Jackson. Jackson rushed for 1,046 yards last year, but the main concern was that he was stuffed on a lot of short-yardage carries and that cannot continue for the Rams to compete in the division.

Question Mark facing the ’06 Season: How will all the new additions on defense affect the team?
Former head coach Jim Haslett had as much of a trying season as any coach in the league last year while in New Orleans. With the Saints mess behind him, he can get out of the limelight for a season or two and concentrate on having fun again. The Rams gave him new additions to upgrade the defense this year in Witherspoon, Glover and Chavous. Haslett knows the defense as a whole might be a little light, so he’ll try and combat those deficiencies with a lot of blitzing and an overall aggressive style of play. The defense probably won’t set the league on fire, but they’ll be, without a doubt, an improved unit.

’06 Outlook:
The toughest part for the Rams this year and something that may hold them back in the division is that quarterback Marc Bulger is learning a new system while recovering from injuries to his throwing shoulder the past two seasons. Bulger knew the insides-outs of former head coach Mike Martz’s offense and now has to learn a whole knew system under Linehan. The offensive line is good at its tackle position with Orlando Pace and Alex Barron returning, but one injury to the interior of the line and the whole offense could be set back. Besides the names already mentioned, the defense houses a good line with Leonard Little and Jimmy Kennedy, but the cornerback position is up in the air with Jerametrius Butler and Oshiomogho Atogwe both suffering from injuries last year. The Rams are neither spectacular nor terrible in any one area. They probably won’t top out at more than seven or eight wins, but a complete meltdown is probably out of the picture too.

Find a team schedule, depth chart and ’05 results at: StLouisRams.com

23. Minnesota Vikings

Key Additions:
The Vikings added plenty of quality players through free agency this offseason and will benefit greatly from the signing of OG Steve Hutchinson from Seattle. Hutchinson is one of the best interior linemen in the NFL and although he came at a steep price ($16 million in guaranteed money), he should open plenty of holes for new running back Chester Taylor. Taylor came over from Baltimore after years of being Jamal Lewis’ backup and will have the pleasure of following the lead of new fullback Tony Richardson. Ben Leber was signed to be one of the two new starters in the Vikings’ revamped linebacker core and Artis Hicks will be the guard opposite Hutchinson. Hicks came over in the offseason with new head coach Brad Childress from Philadelphia.

Key Losses:
Although Minnesota did its fair share of rebuilding through free agency, they also lost a bunch of help. Quarterback Daunte Culpepper didn’t make a good first impression with the new coaching staff and reports out of the Vikings organization stated that he was turning extremely selfish with contract demands. Cornerback Brian Williams played very well in place of the injured Fred Smoot last year and will be missed in nickel packages. Offensive contributors Michael Bennett, Toniu Fonoti and Nate Burleson all changed zip codes as well. LB Sam Cowart, S Corey Chavous and DE Lance Johnstone were all former starters or role players on defense last year. Place kicker Paul Edinger wasn’t resigned. And, finally, WR Koren Robinson, who was supposed to be the team’s No.1 wide receiver this year, was jailed for drunk driving and other felony charges in the preseason. He likely faces a year-long suspension and was recently cut by the Vikes.

Player on the Hot Seat: Brad Childress, head coach.
Obviously not a player, but someone who is definitely on the hot seat this year is Brad Childress. Childress stepped into a raging storm created by all the off-field problems that Minnesota had last year. From their infamous Love Boat incident to Culpepper’s contract and trade demands, Childress has already had a lot to digest. Childress is a tough competitor who has won in the league before. He won’t stand for the lack of discipline that permeated the roster while former head coach Mike Tice was running the show. When Culpepper threw a fit because Childress didn’t want him to rehab his injured knee anywhere but in Minnesota, Childress had no problem making sure Culpepper was not his quarterback for the 2006 season. More than any other new head coach, however, Childress is going to have to not only produce victories, but also answer for the personnel moves he has already made (including firing top personnel man Fran Foley a day after April’s draft). The list goes on, however,

Question Mark facing the ‘06 Season: Can Taylor be a starter in the league?
At one point not too long ago, the Vikings felt pretty good about their depth at running back. Michael Bennett, Moe Williams and Mewelde Moore combined to form a pretty decent trio of backs in Minnesota. However, Bennett is currently out of the NFL, Williams is now in St. Louis and Moore has battled injuries in his first two seasons. In steps Taylor, a product of the University of Toledo and former backup in Baltimore. Taylor doesn’t have much wear and tear on his tires and has averaged 4.3 yards per carry in his first four seasons in the NFL. He is a nice option out of the backfield in the receiving game and may make a name for himself in Childress’ West Coast offensive scheme. Taylor will have plenty of chances to prove himself after signing a deal similar to the one former Jets backup LaMont Jordan received from Oakland. Much like all new starting running backs, however, no one knows if Taylor can successfully handle 20 to 25 carries a game. The outlook from Minnesota coaches in training camp thus far has been excellent for Taylor, but only time will tell.

‘06 Outlook:
The Vikings are a sneaky team who looked abysmal at the start of last year, only to finish 9-7 and contend for a Wild Card spot. Brad Johnson is the lowest-paid starting quarterback in the league and is also the oldest. But Johnson is extremely smart, has had invaluable experience as a starter, and is excellent at the dink and dunk formalities of the West Coast offensive scheme. Both Johnson and Taylor will benefit greatly from having tackle Bryant McKinnie and Hutchinson blocking on the left side of the line. The two form one of the best left-side tandems in the league. The receiver position is in flux, however, with Robinson now out of the picture and last year’s number-one draft pick, Troy Williamson, still developing. Defensively, Leber will join new middle linebacker E.J. Henderson, who moved from the weak-side spot, but first-round selection Chad Greenway was lost for the season with a knee injury suffered in preseason. The Vikings have a quick, young defensive line that should balance the run and pass pressure just fine, while veteran members Darren Sharper, Antoine Winfield, Fred Smoot and newly acquired Dwight Smith form a very solid secondary. This team could play a sleeper role this season, but is the offense really capable in Johnson’s hands or was last year just an illusion?

Find a team schedule, depth chart and ’05 results at: Vikings.com

24. Buffalo Bills

Key Additions:
Defensive tackle Larry Tripplett was a machine for the Colts last year and gets to show off his quickness in a starting role with the Bills this season. Center Melvin Fowler will get a chance to prove that he’s an upgrade over Trey Teague and ex-Packer backup, QB Craig Nall, looks to have secured the backup role behind J.P. Losman and ahead of Kelly Holcomb. The Bills asked Peerless Price to come back to the place that drafted him and may push Josh Reed for the spot opposite Lee Evans in Buffalo’s receiving corps.

Key Losses:
Eric Moulds’ defection to Houston left the Bills without a true No. 1 receiver. Evans has never been asked to be the number-one guy, so there is some concern that Moulds will create an even bigger void than initially thought. Defensive tackle Sam Adams was released and signed with Cincinnati, and safety Lawyer Milloy flew south to Atlanta.

Player on the Hot Seat: Perry Fewell, defensive coordinator
No member of the personnel department is on the hot seat as much as new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell. Is his job safe? Of course, he just got there. However, the Bills were dreadful defensively last year, finishing in the bottom five against the run and 29th in total defense. Adding Tripplett, getting defensive leader Takeo Spikes back from season-ending injury and having a pair of very good corners will help. Nate Clements, who was hit with the franchise tag in the offseason, and Terrence McGee are very talented, but Fewell will have his hands full teaching youngsters Donte’ Whitner and Ko Simpson at safety. Simpson probably won’t start right away, but former corner Troy Vincent is aging and has lost a step over the past couple of seasons so watch for the rookie to get on the field at some point this year. Fewell will bring a version of the Tampa-2 defense to Buffalo and his biggest task will be an ongoing process in trying to get this mix of veterans and youngsters on the same page.

Question Mark facing the ‘06 Season: Is Losman ready to be a starter again?
J.P. Losman was handed the starting job last year and eventually played himself out of the role with poor decisions and an inability to take care of the football. Losman had to earn his job back in preseason, because the savvy veteran, Holcomb, was hot on his tail again. The problem with Holcomb is that he’s 32 years old and isn’t a long-term answer. Losman was named the starter after the third preseason game, but Holcomb and Nall will be waiting in the wings if Losman decides to choke another opportunity away. Can he be a leader and justify why the Bills traded into the first round a few years ago to get him?

‘06 Outlook:
There are things to love about the Bills and there are things to hate about this team. They haven’t settled on a quarterback and the offensive line is one of the worst in the league heading into the season. Running back Willis McGahee can be a difference maker, but behind that offense line and given the fact he wasn’t much of a factor at the end of last season, even he can’t save this offense. The defense shows promise, however, and with London Fletcher joining Spikes and Jeff Posey, the strength of this unit is in its linebackers. Aaron Schobel recorded double-digit sacks last season and the addition of Tripplett will only help on the line. Bottom line is that the Bills have too many holes to challenge for AFC supremacy and might not even make it out of the depths of the AFC East basement, although the Jets may give them a cushion to sit on for another season.

Find a team schedule, depth chart and ’05 results at: BuffaloBills.com

25. Cleveland Browns

Key Additions:
It’s a shame that newly acquired center LeCharles Bentley ruptured a patellar tendon in his very first Browns’ practice. He was arguably the best offseason acquisition in the league and is a two-time Pro Bowler that will be missed for the entire season. In another effort to stabilize the offensive line, the Browns inked former Falcons left guard Kevin Shaffer. Wide receiver Joe Jurevicius will give quarterback Charlie Frye a nice red-zone weapon and his leadership will go a long way in the locker room, while Ken Dorsey will likely serve as Frye’s backup. Speaking of leadership, on the defensive side of the ball, three-time Super Bowl winner Willie McGinest will start again in head coach Romeo Crennel’s 3-4 defense and DT Ted Washington still has plenty left in his tank to give Cleveland a wide body on the d-line.

Key Losses:
Antonio Bryant has been known to carry some baggage with him over his career, so the Browns decided not to re-sign him. The wide out signed with the 49ers this offseason. Chris Crocker was traded to the Falcons and C Jeff Faine was dealt to New Orleans when the team signed Bentley. Kenard Lang and Orlando Ruff are two defenders that won’t be returning to Cleveland, and backup quarterback Trent Dilfer was traded to San Francisco for Dorsey.

Player on the Hot Seat: Kellen Winslow Jr., TE
Since being selected No. 4 overall in the 2004 NFL Draft, Kellen Winslow has only played in two regular-season games. He has suffered two season-ending injuries, including one when he decided to take a header off a curb last year while riding a motorcycle before the season even started. Criticized by fans and Browns’ officials for not appreciating the opportunity he’s been given in the NFL, everybody in the Cleveland area would love for this kid to just grow up. Well, the time for maturation might have just knocked on Winslow’s door. According to public comments from coaches and players, Winslow has been excellent at camp while working hard, keeping his thoughts more low-key and trying to get back on track after two dismal seasons. Much like Jurevicius, Winslow could give Frye an excellent red zone target with his form of athleticism and ball-catching ability. He also has tenacity for the game and runs extremely well after the catch. If the reports are true and Winslow has grown up a bit, he could without a doubt still deliver on his high draft value and give the Browns a top-10 tight end for years to come.

Question Mark facing the ‘06 Season: What else could possibly go wrong on the offensive line?
As noted before, the Browns had possibly the best signing in all of free agency with the deal that brought Bentley from New Orleans. Bentley is done for the year, however, and his replacement at center was going to be Bob Hallen…until he decided that his back pain was too much and retired altogether. Next in line at center was Alonzo Ephraim, who recently learned that he would have to serve a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. What more could go wrong for just one position? Ross Tucker was acquired from New England to be the starter, but he only has 24 career starts. The rest of the line is hit or miss at the current time. The tackles are pretty good with Shaffer and Ryan Tucker, but Tucker is coming off knee surgery this past offseason and both guards, Joe Andruzzi and Cosey Coleman, have injury concerns themselves. A once promising situation for the Browns has turned into what could be a complete disaster in no time at all.

‘06 Outlook:
Just when Romeo Crennel and GM Phil Savage are moving this franchise in the right direction, something comes up and dashes hopes. The loss of Bentley is huge and the offensive line is going to have a tough time giving Charlie Frye and running back Reuben Droughns enough to work with this season. Frye has a lot of talent and displays the leadership qualities you want in your young starting quarterback, but Cleveland better hope he stays upright because there is nothing behind him. If Braylon Edwards can return from a late-season knee injury in ’05, watch out because he has great athletic ability and ball awareness that would team up nicely with Winslow and Jurevicius in the passing game. Crennel has more to work with this season on defense than last year, but will still probably have to drum up a pass rush. The linebackers and corners are the strength of the defense and the Browns have a pair of rookie ‘backers with high potential. Second-round pick D’Qwell Jackson is listed as a starter in the middle and it won’t be long before Kamerion Wimbley unseats Matt Stewart on the outside to generate more pass rush. Leigh Bodden has loads of talent and could be a star in the league while Gary Baxter and Daylon McCutcheon form a nice trio of corners in Cleveland. The safeties are a bit inexperienced and without a decent pass rush, they may be victimized a bit this season. Once again, this team is moving in the right direction, but without a solid offensive line, the Browns’ improvements probably won’t translate much in the win column this season.

Find a team schedule, depth chart and ’05 results at: ClevelandBrowns.com

26. Tennessee Titans

Key Additions:
The Titans very quietly had a nice offseason with the additions of former Colts’ starter David Thornton. David Givens brings his three Super Bowl rings to Tennessee and will be a nice option opposite Drew Bennett in the passing game. Chris Hope was overlooked in the Pittsburgh secondary last year and is more versatile than former starter Tank Williams. Kevin Mawae has lost a step in his career, but is very established and will anchor the center of the offensive line. Just recently, the Titans added QB Kerry Collins, who reports say will unseat Billy Volek for the starting role.

Key Losses:
Brad Hopkins was a quality veteran for 13 years, but the Titans finally decided that they needed to move on at their left tackle position. Justin Hartwig was a solid center, but he left to go be a part of Carolina’s offensive line, and linebacker Brad Kassell signed with the Jets. Tank Williams left via free agency to Minnesota.

Player on the Hot Seat: The Titans starting running back
Chris Brown had more carries last year than he did in 2004, but his numbers dropped a bit thanks to his inferior yards/carry average. Rookie LenDale White was a heavy favorite of head coach Jeff Fisher during the draft and will get a chance to show what he can do. Travis Henry is the wild card in this three-headed monster and although it’s highly unlikely that he’ll start, Henry will see the field at some point during the season. Regardless of who it is, the starter will have to carry this offense, because Tennessee was a bit unbalanced last year and it showed. If Fisher and offensive coordinator Norm Chow have a reliable ground game, the Titans can open up the offense more than they did last year and really use Chow’s scheme that was so successful at USC.

Question Mark facing the ‘06 Season: When do fans get to see Vince Young?
Probably sooner rather than later, but that depends on how fast Vince Young grasps the offensive system that Norm Chow has in place. He still has a long way to go and since Billy Volek and Collins are loaded with experience, Young may sit the entire year. However, fans shouldn’t be surprised if Young is rolled out onto the field in certain situations during games like Michael Vick was during his rookie season. Young is without a doubt the future of the Titans, but McNair was developed slowly and that worked in Tennessee’s favor, so don’t expect Young to be asked to do too much too soon. Thus far in preseason, coaches have made comments about how mature and savvy Young has been and that only bodes well for the former national champ.

‘06 Outlook:
Don’t be surprised if the Titans provide a tougher challenge to opponents this year, because they have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. The additions of Thornton and Hope stabilize an already solid defense. Albert Haynesworth is tough and far and away Tennessee’s best all-around defensive lineman, while Kyle Vanden Bosch is the unit’s best pass rusher. Keith Bulluck is the unquestioned leader of the defense and if second-year player Pacman Jones has his head screwed on right this season, he has a chance to go to Hawaii. The success of the offense depends on its running back situation. Brown is supposedly in the best shape of his life and will only be pushed harder by White. The offensive line has some weak points, but it will give Collins or Volek enough to work with while trying to get the ball to receivers Bennett and the newly acquired Givens. The AFC is too strong for this team to make a playoff push a reality, and third is probably their best bet in a division with the Colts and Jaguars, but Tennessee is slowly building momentum for the future.

Find a team schedule, depth chart and ’05 results at: TitansOnline.com

27. Green Bay Packers

Key Additions:
Defensive tackle Ryan Pickett was added to replace former starter Grady Jackson and keep blockers off of number-one draft pick, rookie linebacker A.J. Hawk. Two big additions for the Packers came in their secondary when they acquired safety Marquand Manuel from the Super Bowl runner-up Seahawks and Charles Woodson from Oakland. Woodson is a true playmaker and former Heisman Trophy winner that will pair up with solid cover-corner Al Harris. LB Ben Taylor may start if he can beat out Roy Manning and Abdul Hodge.

Key Losses:
After nine seasons in Green Bay, kicker Ryan Longwell will be suiting up for division rival Minnesota in ’06. Wide receiver Javon Walker was traded on draft day and although he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 1 last year, his production in ’04 was outstanding. Big space-eating defensive tackle Grady Jackson took his wide body to Atlanta.

Player on the Hot Seat: Ahman Green, RB
No Packer had a tougher year than Ahman Green in 2005. First, he had a public divorce, and then failed to rush for more than 58 yards in any of his first five games, which added to an 11-game streak that dates back to 2004. Then he tore his quadriceps tendon, which placed him on IR for the rest of the season and forced him to take a one-year, incentive-laden contract with the Packers. Green is far removed from the 5.3 yards/career average and 1,883 rushing yards he put up in 2003. The Packers, however, are just hoping to get a healthy season from him.

Question Mark facing the ‘06 Season: What can the Packers expect out of Brett Favre this season?
In his worst season as a pro, Brett Favre threw 29 interceptions and led the Packers to a 4-12 record. In his defense, though, he wasn’t alone in the Packers’ demise last year. The offensive line was horrible, Favre didn’t have many weapons in the passing game, and a bevy of running backs were sidelined with injuries for most of the season. Favre can rebound, however, and he does still have what it takes to lead this team back from the depths of the NFC North. He wouldn’t have come back if he didn’t think that he could compete, but he must get on the same page with new head coach Mike McCarthy and has to lean on other players like he never has before.

‘06 Outlook:
The Packers won’t be as bad as they were in 2005, but this is a team that will probably top out at six wins or so. Green Bay’s defense is more than capable of making big plays with Woodson, Al Harris and Manuel prowling the secondary. Hawk is going to be a stud in time, but must be able to shed blocks properly in order to be successful. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila failed to get double-digit sacks for the first time since his rookie year, but will bounce back on a pretty good Packers’ front four. The offense is where the problems will or could lie, however, and if Favre and Green don’t bounce back from ’05, this team is in for another long year. The interior of the offensive line is still pretty weak and the receivers are slow and injury prone. Rookie WR Greg Jennings has a promising career ahead of him, but Robert Ferguson has been a major disappointment and Donald Driver is more of a No. 2 receiver than the top option. For a team that lost a total of 10 games last year by 14 or fewer points, not having a reliable kicker is risky and could prove to be a disaster this year.

Find a team schedule, depth chart and ’05 results at: Packers.com

28. New York Jets

Key Additions:
Defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen took his Super Bowl experience to the Jets this season and joins yet another 3-4 defensive scheme. Former Redskins’ outcast Patrick Ramsey will join the Jets this year to compete with Chad Pennington while recently added Kevan Barlow will most likely be the starting running back, depending on the health of Curtis Martin. Brad Kassell is a versatile, intelligent linebacker who should also fit well in the 3-4 scheme on while wide receiver speedster Tim Dwight comes over from division rival New England.

Key Losses:
The Jets never could produce a long-term contract for defensive end John Abraham, so finally they did get something for him in a first-round pick from Atlanta. Abraham had 53.5 sacks as a member of the Jets and that production will certainly be missed. OT Jason Fabini is now in Dallas and Ty Law, who led the NFL in interceptions last season, left to be with former head coach Herm Edwards in Kansas City. Kevin Mawae is also gone, after being the anchor for the offensive line for so many seasons. New York also lost o-linemen Jonathan Goodwin and Scott Gragg.

Player on the Hot Seat: Chad Pennington, QB
This might be it for Chad Pennington in New York and might be it for him period as a starter. Pennington is coming off two shoulder surgeries in an eight-month span and wisely restructured his contract, so that the Jets didn’t have to cut him. His best chance to succeed is right there in New York, because quite frankly, that might be the only team willing to take another shot on him. Is Pennington fully healed? Who knows? He certainly wasn’t last year. What’s different this year, though, is that Ramsey was acquired in the offseason. Instead of relying on aging veterans Jay Fiedler and Vinny Testaverde, the latter of which was sitting on his couch in New Jersey when Edwards called him to play last year, Ramsey at least has shown promise before and is still young. Pennington doesn’t have to produce a Super Bowl ring, but he does have to show he can withstand a full NFL season and display something relating to arm strength.

Question Mark facing the ‘06 Season: Is this the end of the line for Curtis Martin?
Curtis Martin has had a Hall-of-Fame NFL career with the New England Patriots and Jets. He’s getting older, however, and had an injury marred ’05. He has talked frequently about both rebounding from last year’s woes as well as retiring. There were reports circulating that Martin urged the Jets to take a running back in April’s draft. Throw on top of that the fact that the Jets went out and traded for Barlow and the end is certainly fast approaching for Martin, if it’s not here already.

‘06 Outlook:
There aren’t a lot of great things about the Jets’ 2006 outlook except maybe their offensive line. First-round pick D’Brickashaw Ferguson is a giant and extremely strong. Teague will join other solid veterans Pete Kendall, Adrian Jones and Brandon Moore, but if there isn’t anyone to run or pass the ball, what good is a solid offensive line? Ramsey doesn’t quell Pennington’s question marks, because even Ramsey is a big question mark, but for different reasons. Either way, someone's got to figure out a way to get the ball into the hands of playmaker Laveranues Coles. The defense isn’t that bad, but the new system being installed by rookie head coach Eric Mangini will create some early hiccups. Shaun Ellis might suffer now that Abraham is gone, but von Oelhoffen has been in a 3-4 defense with the Steelers and certainly can be a veteran leader. Jonathan Vilma makes tons of tackles and Eric Barton, Kassell and Victor Hobson should all fit well in the new scheme. The secondary could be above average, depending on the game. The unit is young as a whole, but every single player showed promise last year and now that Dyson is joining the likes of Justin Miller and Erik Coleman, the Jets have guys to build a future on. With an offense that looks like it has every reason to struggle, the Jets won’t be fighting for much come November and December.

Find a team schedule, depth chart and ’05 results at: NewYorkJets.com

29. San Francisco 49ers

Key Additions:
The biggest name added to the 49ers this offseason was OG Larry Allen. Allen is a future Hall of Fame candidate and not only brings great run blocking technique to San Fran but also a mean streak to help the youngsters on the o-line. Wide receiver Antonio Bryant signed from Cleveland and will immediately be the starter opposite Arnaz Battle. Trent Dilfer was acquired in a trade with the Browns and could start sometime this season if former No. 1 overall selection Alex Smith struggles picking up the game like he did last year.

Key Losses:
Reportedly fully recovered from an Achilles injury, LB Julian Peterson will probably terrorize the 49ers twice a year now that he’s in Seattle. The team recently traded RB Kevan Barlow to make room for Frank Gore and fullback Fred Beasley signed with Miami in the offseason. LB Andre Carter is now in Washington CB Ahmed Plummer was not re-signed. The 49ers lost wide receivers Brandon Lloyd and Johnnie Morton as well as Rashaun Woods.

Player on the Hot Seat: Alex Smith, QB
Last year Alex Smith looked lost, battered and nothing at all like a player who was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in 2005. Most of that was to be expected of Smith, however, considering he was a rookie and didn’t have much in the way of offensive skill players around him. This season, expectations will be higher and with head coach Mike Nolen saying that the 49ers will try to get him on the move more in ’06, Smith should come through on some of those lofty expectations. Armed with a hard runner in Gore, a number-one target in Bryant and an unbelievable marvel of a talent in rookie tight end Vernon Davis, Smith will be better equipped to face opponents this season.

Question Mark facing the ’06 Season: Just how good can Davis be?
At 6-3, 255-pounds, Vernon Davis is a big target, but runs with the speed of a wide receiver and has the strength of an offensive lineman. The club plans on using Davis as a pass-catching threat much like Kansas City does with Tony Gonzalez and the Chargers do with Antonio Gates. Although there are a lot of great tight ends in the NFC, Davis has the potential to be a Pro Bowler even as a rookie. If Smith uses him as his number-one target in the red zone, Davis can utilize his size and speed to outmuscle or outrun a lot of linebackers in the league.

’06 Outlook:
The 49ers won’t compete for the division title or a playoff spot this year, but they have playmakers on offense now to scare some opposing teams. The team is just too young and too inexperienced to be a constant threat game-in and game-out, but the team boasts future stars in Smith, Frank Gore, Davis and rookie Manny Lawson on defense. Allen will help the offensive line learn and Jonas Jennings and Jeremy Newberry should both be healthy again. Defensively, Derek Smith is arguably the team’s best linebacker and Bryant Young returns for his 14th NFL season. The secondary is a bit weak, but the good news is that Tony Parrish returns from a broken leg and Shawntae Spencer continues to have a bright future. If Smith can continue to learn and improve while Gore shows he can carry a team as a featured back, San Fran will eventually climb in the standings. For now, improvements will have to be marginal and likely won’t often show up on the scoreboard.

Find a team schedule, depth chart and ’05 results at: SF49ers.com

30. New Orleans Saints

Key Additions:
No acquisition was bigger to the Saints than adding quarterback Drew Brees from the San Diego Chargers. Brees has enjoyed some success the past couple of seasons and should only continue to prosper in new head coach Sean Payton’s version of the West Coast offense. The only question remaining is how Brees’ shoulder will hold up after having surgery on it in January. New Orleans did a nice of job of adding some key veterans as well. C Jeff Faine and LB Scott Fujita will start this season, while S Omar Stoutmire and DT Hollis Thomas will add depth to their positions. New Orleans also acquired LB Mark Simoneau from the Eagles, but lost WR Donte’ Stallworth.

Key Losses:
The Saints lost a couple of key players, most notably C LeCharles Bentley, who anchored the middle of the offensive line for years and now takes his services to Cleveland. Another hit to the o-line was losing Wayne Gandy to the Falcons in a trade for safety Bryan Scott. After applying the franchise tag to defensive end Darren Howard the past couple of years, the Saints lost one of their top d-ends to the Eagles this past offseason as well as losing Donte’ Stallworth, who was coming off a career year. WR Az-Zahir Hakim showed flashes of playmaking ability for the first time in a few years in ’05, but the Saints decided not to re-sign the veteran. QB Aaron Brooks finally saw his time run out in New Orleans after not being able to cash in on his early career success with the Saints.

Player on the Hot Seat: Deuce McAllister, RB
When the Houston Texans decided not to select Reggie Bush first overall in April’s draft, the Saints were ecstatic to take the Heisman Trophy winner with the very next pick. The move should have signaled a red flag for Deuce McAllister, who has been a solid back for the Saints since receiving the starting roll in 2002. An ACL tear to his right knee, however, sidelined McAllister for most of the ’05 season. With Bush on board, it will only be a matter of time before the city of New Orleans is calling for the electric Bush to take the bulk of the carries. Although McAllister will retain his starting duties for at least the start of this season, he must be feeling the pressure that Ricky Williams felt when McAllister was drafted in 2001.

Question Mark facing the ‘06 Season: How much trouble is the offensive line in?
There is no telling how the Saints offensive line will look at the start of the season. Jammal Brown will switch tackle positions now that Gandy is gone and Faine will take over at center. Montrae Holland has had injury problems and Jermane Mayberry had a very disappointing first season for New Orleans last year. The other tackle position is in flux with the Saints holding an open competition for the spot between Jon Stinchcomb and Jamar Nesbit. Stinchcomb spent 2005 on injured reserve after tearing his patellar tendon during training camp, so there is no telling how well he’ll recover, and Nesbit is a better fit as a backup. If the offensive line is a complete disaster this year, it won’t matter who the starting running back is or if Brees’ shoulder will hold up. Plus, facing Julius Peppers, John Abraham and Simeon Rice twice a year doesn’t help.

‘06 Outlook:
After a tragic 2005 year for the Saints and the city of New Orleans, the franchise is in need of something, anything, to lift spirits. The drafting of Bush certainly helped and Brees was welcomed with open arms just as much as Bush. Joe Horn should rebound from an injury plagued ’05 campaign and so should McAllister. The reality of the situation, however, is that there is no telling how decent or terrible the offensive line will play and if Brees will even be the player he was in San Diego without a tight end like Antonio Gates and while trying to rebound from a shoulder injury. Defensively, there is promise, however, as starting defensive end Will Smith looks ready for a Pro Bowl season. Fujita was a nice addition this offseason, but the team didn’t expect newly signed Anthony Simmons to abruptly retire in training camp. The unit is in a bit of a shake up now, and former Rams and Ravens linebacker Tommy Polley is expected to start. The secondary could be solid with corners Fred Thomas, Jason Craft and Mike McKenzie as well as safety Josh Bullocks returning after a nice rookie season. The run defense is the weak link and the NFC South is filled with excellent running teams in Carolina, Atlanta and Tampa Bay. Bottom line is that New Orleans just does not have enough firepower to keep up in a hostile division and will probably sink to the bottom of the NFC South once again this year.

Find a team schedule, depth chart and ’05 results at: NewOrleansSaints.com

31. Oakland Raiders

Key Additions:
The Raiders added several key veterans to their secondary in Tyrone Poole and Duane Starks. Aaron Brooks comes over from New Orleans and should open the season as the starter in Art Shell’s offense. Marcellus Rivers could be a solid backup tight end and DE Lance Johnstone returns to the team that drafted him after a five-year stint with Minnesota.

Key Losses:
Ted Washington will prove to be the biggest loss suffered by the Raiders in the offseason. In a division that features running backs LaDainian Tomlinson, Larry Johnson and whichever productive running back Denver decides to use, Oakland loses possibly its biggest run stuffer. The team decided not to franchise Charles Woodson again this year, allowing the cornerback to flee to Green Bay. The Raiders also lost secondary help in Renaldo Hill, Denard Walker and Reggie Tongue. Former starting quarterback Kerry Collins was not re-signed. Finally, the Raiders very recently dealt WR Doug Gabriel to the Patriots for a fifth-round draft pick.

Player on the Hot Seat: Aaron Brooks, QB
This is probably Brooks’ last chance to prove he has the talent to start for an NFL team. While with the Saints, he had the arm strength, mobility and all the physical tools needed to win. His accuracy and decision-making skills were what drove him out of New Orleans, however. Now he must survive stiff competition from a young gun in Andrew Walter, who most in Oakland’s brass feel will be the Raiders’ future quarterback. Brooks is still young enough to turn around a once promising career and may prosper in Oakland’s vertical passing attack. He’s got a plethora of weapons at wide receiver; now he just needs to settle in and cut down on all of the mental mistakes.

Question Mark facing the ‘06 Season: Can Shell turn the Raiders back into competitors in the AFC West?
Since winning three straight division titles from 2000 to 2002, the Raiders have posted a 2-16 record in the division and were 0-6 in ’05. Oakland has served as a punching bag for the AFC West for three-straight seasons now and owner Al Davis wanted to restore the once dominate franchise after the 2005 season. Davis’ first move was to re-hire Art Shell, the longtime Hall of Fame offensive lineman and NFL coach who now is in his second stint with the Raiders. Jackie Slater and Irv Eatman were also hired to restructure a young offensive line while Rob Ryan has the defense heading back in the right direction. Oakland might not get out of the cellar of the AFC West, but they certainly won’t serve as perennial doughboys in the division under Shell either.

‘06 Outlook:
The Raiders seem to be getting back on the right track after three abysmal seasons. Shell is trying to refocus this franchise and get it back to the rough and tough team he used to play for and coach. A youth movement is apparent on both sides of the ball and although there are many question marks, the Raiders should at least be better than their 4-12 record in ‘05. However, there was a reason why Brooks was finally let go in New Orleans and will be challenged heading into the season. LaMont Jordan was solid, but certainly didn’t wow anybody last year. Of course, he should do well in Shell’s system and would benefit greatly from an improved offense around him. The wide receiver group is deep with talent, but Randy Moss is coming off and injury-plagued season and Jerry Porter has said that he wants to be traded (though that now seems highly unlikely following the Gabriel trade). The o-line is young, but if they can gel, they could be a solid group for years to come. The defense has speed to burn, but had trouble stopping the run last season. With the big run-eating defensive tackle Washington now in Cleveland, Oakland could be in trouble again this year if Warren Sapp and Tommy Kelly don’t step up. Derrick Burgess led the NFL in sacks last year and first round pick Michael Huff joins a secondary that is extremely talented, but also very inexperienced. All in all, the Raiders are too raw right now to compete for a division title.

Find a team schedule, depth chart and ’05 results at: Raiders.com

32. Houston Texans

Key Additions:
The Texans made a concrete move in signing veteran wide receiver Eric Moulds, formally of the Buffalo Bills. Moulds is a perfect No. 2 complement to an already good performer in Andre Johnson. Linebacker Sam Cowart will start in the middle of Houston’s defense and will be counted on heavily as Kailee Wong is still rehabbing from knee surgery. Center Mike Flanagan is a quality veteran who is happy to find a new home and defensive end Anthony Weaver might have been the Texans’ best offseason acquisition. DE N.D. Kalu and LB Wali Rainer will provide depth at their respective positions.

Key Losses:
Wide receiver Jabar Gaffney had a career-high in catches last season, but signed with the Eagles in the offseason. QB Tony Banks and DE Gary Walker were released while safety Marcus Coleman and wide receiver Corey Bradford left via free agency. None of these are as significant as the loss of RB Domanick Davis, though. Davis is still with the team but was recently placed on IR with a balky knee, thus ending his season before it even started. Gee, too bad they didn't take Reggie Bush, huh?

Player on the Hot Seat: Mario Williams, DE
Flip a coin to determine who will face the pressure cooker more this season, quarterback David Carr or number-one overall pick Mario Williams. The pick is Williams, however, for the pure fact that the Texans committed financially to Carr in the offseason, putting any more undue pressure on him to rest. Houston fans pleaded, begged and wished upon a star for Reggie Bush in this year’s draft, but the Texans’ brass turned a deaf ear and selected Williams. Now it will have to be Williams who must turn a deaf ear to fans calling Bush’s name when the young defensive end doesn’t produce 25 sacks this year. Williams is a fine player and makes Houston’s defense better, but that unfortunately isn’t the point. Even though Williams may have a great season, he’ll probably never live down the disappointment Texans’ fans had when they first heard that Bush wouldn’t be in their team’s backfield on Sundays. Williams is just going to have to work hard and be aggressive and let the other stuff take care of itself.

Question Mark facing the ‘06 Season: How big of an impact is new head coach Gary Kubiak going to have in his first year?
The answer is a resounding “big one.” Gary Kubiak will implement the more quarterback friendly, running-back dream of an offense that he used while serving as the offensive coordinator with the Denver Broncos. He has been waiting a long time for this chance and there have been reports already stating that the team is working harder and doing more of the little things in order to prepare for the upcoming season. Running backs Wali Lundy and/or Vernand Morency, Domanick Davis' likely replacements, should love the zone-blocking scheme that Kubiak uses for his backs and offensive linemen, while Carr will certainly find the quarterback’s responsibility to be less daunting than in the past. Take a look at what Denver has done with its running backs and how successful Jake Plummer was last year even though he wasn’t asked to do too much in Kubiak’s system. Kubiak may not take Houston to a division title this year, but he’ll certainly turn some heads.

‘06 Outlook:
The Texans are ready to get out of the AFC South basement, but they’ll still have a rocky road ahead of them this year. This team faces the Colts and Jaguars twice a year and although they’re starting to add more playmakers to the roster, they are still a season or two away from being true competitors. Davis is still recovering from offseason knee surgery and some rumors have him spending the year on the IR, which would indeed be a big blow to this team despite the promising performances by Morency and the rookie Lundy this preseason. Still, Carr, Andre Johnson and the rest of the roster holdovers will find life in Houston to be more enjoyable this season, but the reality is that the offensive line is still in trouble and Kubiak’s offensive system revolves around a smart line. The face of Houston’s defense is its line. Williams joins Robaire Smith, Weaver and Seth Payne to form a good mix of young and seasoned veterans. Corner Dunta Robinson slipped a little last year compared to an outstanding rookie campaign, but he’s still solid. There is going to be a toss up between rookie Demarcus Faggins and Phillip Buchanon to see who starts opposite Robinson. The defense has playmakers, just not enough consistency, depth or experience to say that this is an elite bunch.

Find a team schedule, depth chart and ’05 results at: HoustonTexans.com

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