| While all of these are
valid questions and need to be discussed, dissected, analyzed and reported on, they are
not what is uppermost in my mind these days. I know that adding or retaining your skill
position players is important. But what I want to know are how the changes in the trenches, on defenses and on coaching
staffs will affect the skill position players we will all be drafting in a few short
months. You see what most casual
fantasy football leaguers fail to consider is what is probably most important to the
success of your skill position players. The supporting cast.
Let's look at some of the bigger moves
thus far in each of these areas.
The Line
Adam Timmerman, OG, Saint Louis Rams. Timmerman will start at left guard, the position
that he first played for the Packers as a rookie starter during the 1995 playoffs. He
started at right guard the last three seasons, playing every game and participating in
just about every practice. There's a lot to be said for consistency.
Wally Williams, OG, New Orleans Saints.
Williams was allowed to search the Free Agent market after a sub-par 1998 in Baltimore.
This explosive lineman should help improve a decent line in 1999. New Orleans still has
holes to fill, but they are moving in a positive direction.
Blake Brockermeyer, OT, Chicago Bears.
This Free Agent from the Panthers will go a long way toward improving a sad Bears
offensive line. The 6-foot-4, 305-pounder from Texas was the youngest starting left tackle
his rookie year in 1995, playing in all 16 games for the Panthers. He did miss two games
last season to a sprained knee, but he is a rising star that the Panthers could ill afford
to lose.
Kyle Brady, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars.
Though technically a skill position, I am including Brady here because he is considered by
many to be the best blocking TE in the game. That can only spell good things for RBs Fred
Taylor and (possibly) James Stewart.
Cleveland Browns. The Browns started
their splash in the Expansion draft by taking out of position Center Jim Pyne from the
Detroit Lions. Pyne, an all-pro at Guard in Tampa was converted to Center and floundered
there. The Browns plan to play him at his more natural Guard position. They continued with
Free Agents Dave Wohlabaugh (Center, New England) and Tackle Orlando "Zuess"
Brown (Tackle, Baltimore). These are all outstanding building blocks and should allow the
Browns to compete in most of their games.
Defenses
Carolina Panthers. The Panthers lost one of the top defensive minds in the game when they
fired Head Coach Dom Capers. Fortunately they hired one of the top defensive minds in the
game when they hired new head coach George Seifert. Many will see Seifert's hiring as an
instant boon to the offense due to his familiarity with the West Coast Offense. While this
is true, the more informed fanatic will realize that Seifert is a defensive specialist
that took over from an offensive genius (Walsh). Expect immediate and impressive
improvements from the Panthers on the defensive side of the ball.
Denver Broncos. The rich do indeed get
richer. The Broncos drop Darrien Gordon, a decent cornerback, and pick up Dale Carter, one
of the best big man to man coverage corners in the league. Carter also brings a bit of an
attitude that is coveted on defense. With this offense already clicking on all cylinders,
look for the Broncos to go defensive in the draft.
Detroit Lions. Okay, so they had nowhere
to go but up. Still Detroit has done what was needed by re-signing their own Free
Agents (LB Stephen Boyd and S Ron Rice), but they also made an unusual (for them) foray
into the Free Agent market to nab DT James Jones. Jones is not only an effective run
stopper, he was unusually effective at rushing the passer last season. If he can fit into
Detroit's scheme, he will add some much needed beef to a small defensive front.
Jacksonville Jaguars. You may not agree,
but I believe Dom Capers to be one of the modern games most innovative defensive coaches.
I believe his creation of the zone blitz has revolutionized the way offenses have to
prepare for his teams. All last year proved is that no scheme, no matter how good, will
work if you have sub-par players. Or players that have quit on you. Jacksonville not only
has players with heart, but they have added two quality starters in DT Gary Walker and
S/CB Carnell Lake.
Coaching Staffs
Chicago Bears. The Bears? Absolutely! Dave Wannstedt is gone, and though I think he
did a credible job of coaching last year, his personnel decisions have truly hurt this
franchise. Will Dick Jauron be better? One can hope. He does know defense and should
improve the Bears there, and he did hire a very innovative OC in Gary Crowton who comes
from a Louisiana Tech program that averaged 542 yards per game last season, leading the
nation with 429.8 yards passing against such opponents as Nebraska, Auburn, Tulane,
Wyoming and Texas A&M. He promises four and five receiver sets in a "fan
friendly" offense. This team is still several players away from contending and could
be playing catch-up a lot. A perfect formula for Fantasy Football.
Baltimore Ravens. Marhibroda is out and
Billick is in. Reports are that he isn't sure that Marvin Lewis is the guy he really
wanted for DC, but Lewis does offer some stability to a young and improving defense.
Billick should do wonders for an offense that seemed reluctant to take advantage of it's
strengths. Don't count on Jim Harbaugh or Eric Zeier to lead Billick's offense though. He
is currently courting Scott Mitchell and may opt for Jeff George if Detroit's asking price
is too high. Either way, look for the Ravens QB to be airing it out down the field in
1999. Jermaine Lewis just had his stock rise to a top ten WR in my list.
Minnesota Vikings. This is an offense I
would stay away from. Yes I do know what they did last year and yes I do think that Cris
Carter and Randy Moss are excellent receivers. I am not sold on Robert Smith or on Randall
Cunningham. Too many times I saw receivers, especially Moss, running open only to have the
ball underthrown. Defenses also seemed to adjust to the Vikings late in the season.
Cunningham had a career year in 1998. I don't think he will repeat it against a first
place schedule in 1999.
Seattle Seahawks. What is not to like
about Mike Holmgren going to a team like Seattle that seems to underperform every year?
Holmgren will have to find a reliable second receiver, but if he can make do with the
likes of Bill Shroeder and Tyrone Davis (a converted TE), he should be able to find somebody
to complement Joey Galloway. And, oh-by-the-way, I think Galloway is a better, no make
that much better receiver than Freeman is. Kitna doesn't match up with Favre, but I
think Holmgren will make do. And Kitna is not a terrible QB. And the combination of
Watters and Green should compare favorably to the Green Bay running backs. So I look for
an explosive offensive outburst from Seattle this season. I will be watching preseason
closely to see if Green gets more looks, but be forewarned that Holmgren hates fumblers.
This month I just wanted to put forward a
couple of thoughts that I have not seen bandied about for your consideration!
I hope it sparks your interest and, just maybe, some discussion in the News Group. |
