Red Sox finally making moves

I think Red Sox nation can breath a little easier with the signing of John Lackey. He's always a consistent pitcher. Even when he gets hurt, Lackey bounces back to pitch well. Mike Cameron was also signed. Which is intriguing because he is an excellent centerfielder. This could be another piece to a trade. Now Ellsbury is a chip that can be thrown into the mix. Adrian Gonzalez has been a name that has been talked about. I'm not sure if San Diego is going to part with him. If they do they will certainly want a major league ready player in return plus a lot more. Gonzalez hit 40 home runs and drove in 99 runs with no protection in the line up. He is famous for having a bad July. But that is his only bad month. With the addition of Cameron you can play him in center and put Gonzalez at first. I like Ellsbury but Perdoia can hit first in the order. Ellsbury and Gonzalez are a year apart in age. Not to mention the Sox probably wont have to give up Bard if Jacoby is dealt. He will most likely be the closer in a few years when they let Pap walk. Papelbon was a rollercoaster ride last season. He also wants to be paid as the top closer. It's looking more and more like Bay is not coming back. the Red Sox told his agent they are not budging from the 4 years 15 million they offered. They need to make a move to get some more power in the line up. I like the idea of Pedroia, Youk, Martinez and Gonzalez.

Trouble in paradise

Yesterday Adalius Thomas had some colorful comments for reporters at Gillette. He went on for ten minutes about being sent home. Never taking responsibility for being late. He also angrily commented on if he had gotten any motivation from being sent home. Saying it was for school children. His neighbor Ty Warren had no problem making it to work on time. This is the second time he has been sent home this season. Thomas is having a terrible career with the Patriots. He was the first of the Patriots bad player evaluation. He will be gone after this season. Belichick has a way of getting rid of people when the go against the grain. They need to bring in a couple of pass rushers and defensive linemen who can rush the pass. the cap hit is 4.4 million for two seasons. Bye Bye! He could end up on the jets with Rex Ryan next season.

Tiger on the prowl

Another woman has been alleged as having an affair with Tiger Woods. Joslyn James an adult movie star is now being reported as having an affair with Woods. AJ Daulerio from deadspin.com said this should be the next name to come out. A.J. Broke the story on the Toucher and Rich show on 985 the sports hub today. This story just keeps spinning out of control. Especially with the 911 call to his home at 2:30am this morning A blond woman was ruched to the hospital this morning. This is a story line only Hollywood could make up!

Who's the man?

There are a lot of unfamiliar names being looked at for the Heisman trophy. Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow were the names a year ago and figured to be this year again. But the guys in the running are runningbacks Toby Gerhart from Stanford and Mark Ingram from Alabama. Quarterback Case Keenan from Houston had a monster year throwing the ball. Gerhart seems to me like he will be the winner. He rushed for 1736 yards on the ground and scored 26 touchdowns. He averaged 144.7 yards per game and 5.6 per carry. Gerhart ran against Pac-10 competition. Ingram may be the best runner in college football. His stats aren't what Gerhart's are. Keenan threw for 4922 yards and 38 touchdowns. He only threw 6 interceptions. Keenan didn't face the competition that the other two did. That's why I think Toby Gerhart will win it. The Pac-10 is a good conference. Maybe not as good defensively as the SEC. But very impressive.

Sox get their short stop

Well I guess the fantasy of getting Hanley Ramirez back is over. The Sox signed 34 year old short stop Marco Scutaro. He had a career year last season with Toronto. Scutaro is a very good fielder. Marco should be a bottom of the order guy who can steal a base or two. I think this signing makes acquiring Miguel Cabrera a must at this point. If the Red Sox can land Cabrera, it makes the Scutaro deal better. It gives them an Alex Gonzalez type signing at short. Thankfully it is only a two year deal. Julio Lugo was a disaster and still on the books. The Sox now need to go make a blockbuster deal. Get Miguel Cabrera in here to play third. They also need to get a left fielder. It's looking more and more like Matt Holliday could be an option. I would much rather have Jason Bay for less money. I guess Matsui could be an option but he is not a great fielder. He is much more of a DH at this point. That would seem like a panic move. There isn't much else out there. The winter meetings start next week in Indianapolis.

Saints march over Patriots

Drew Brees was electric last night in a dominating win over New England. The Saints could not be stopped. Brees spread the ball around hitting multiple receivers with pin point accuracy. The Pats D was absolutely pathetic. They must have not got the memo that they weren't playing against Mark Sanchez this week. They couldn't get a pass rush at all. The defensive backs got burned all game long. It was an all around disaster. The Saints defensive backs stepped up and played well. They were able to limit Wes Welker and Randy Moss. Laurence Maroney ran pretty well despite fumbling which the Patriots got back on the first drive of the third quarter. Brady continues to over throw his receivers. There were a couple of throws that could have been big completions but Brady threw it 5 yards over the receivers head. New England is having a hard time winning games on the road. This is not a good thing considering they only have one home game left. Bill Belichick better stick his foot up the ass's of multiple players. If they want to make any noise at all in the playoffs something better change. I thought this team was championship caliber, but they didn't look like it last night. This defense can't beat a top offense. They are just not good enough. The Saints will make a run at the Lombardi trophy. They will need to take out the Vikings which look like they may be the best team in football. The Patriots have always been a good team down the stretch. We will see what they are made of in week 13 when they travel to Miami in a short week. Miami is always a tough place to play. This could be a one and done year in the playoffs.

Hot Stove

The Major league baseball stove is heating up with trade rumors involving the Boston Red Sox. Left Fielder Jason Bay is still a free agent and should remain a top priority. The Sox have spoken with several players including Matt Holiday(LF), John Lackey(SP) and Adrian Beltre(3B). Trade rumors have started with possible acquisitions of pitcher Roy Halladay and first baseman/ Left fielder/third baseman Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers. I'd love to see Roy Halladay come to town. They would have to trade Clay Buchholz and SS/SP Casey Kelly who is the organizations top prospect. A rotation of Halladay, Beckett, Lester, Matsuzaka and Wakefield would be unreal. They would have to extend his contract. It is up at the end of this coming season. I don't think there is anyway to get both of them. Cabrera would be a huge addition to the line up if they got him. He is a young slugger who consistently drives in over 100 runs and hits 30+ home runs. I'm not that interested in Matt Holliday. I think they can get Bay a little cheaper and he has a nice body of work already laid down in Boston. Holliday struggled in his only season In the American League before being traded to St. Louis. I think signing Bay is a must either way they go. Halladay or Cabrera is a win win situation. If you sign Bay and trade for one of the players it makes your team better not matter what. The next couple weeks should be fun. If they get Halladay I don't think they are done. I think you'll see them try to get a first or third baseman. It doesn't have to be a blockbuster. But it is time to move on from Mike Lowell. He is getting old.

Pats wet the bed in Indy

Before we get to the obvious. Sabastian Vollmer had an excellent game. I hope he is the left tackle from now on. for years I have been driven crazy by Matt Light and his offsides penalties and inadequate play. I'd really like to see him move to the right side. Laurence Maroney's fumble was the nail in the coffin. If he scores they win. Plain and simple. He has shown flashes of brilliance in his few years here. But those have been over shadowed by injuries and a hesitant running style. He is not the answer at running back and never will be. Tom Brady looked great under pressure. He threw some pin point passes including a 62 yard touch down to Moss. The defense looked good but was on the field to much in the first half and wore down. Leading to a bad decision by coach Belichick in the forth quarter. You have to punt the ball on your own 28 yard line. it's not a question. It was a stupid uncharacteristic move. This doesn't mean they cant win the superbowl. Hopefully this is a loss to build on. something to fuel the fire even more. They need to come out the next couple weeks storming and play with a chip on their shoulder. there is a lot being said that is negative. I still think this team is championship calibar.

Second season

After the bye week the Patriots stood at 5-2. New England beat a tough Miami team at home improving to 6-2. This week they travel to AFC rival Indianapolis. Peyton Manning and the Colts are unbeaten with an 8-0 record. Both Patriots losses have been on the road. I'd like to see the Patriots come out with their first 8-10 plays scripted. It will help with the crowd noise, which should be rocking on Sunday night. The running game will be a must. They need to keep the clock moving and Manning off the field. Maroney ran hard last week. He will need to run like that again, especially with Bob Sanders out who is a game changer against the rush. The Colts are good against the pass ranking 9th overall. With a banged up secondary, Matt Schaub was 32-43 for 311 yards in week 9. Tom Brady should be able to torch the Colts. He is a far better QB with a better core of receivers. This is the first big test for both teams. If Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark can be contained the Patriots have a chance to win. This will shut the offense down. The Colts running game hasn't been very good this season ranking 29th overall. surprisingly the Patriots are in the middle of the pack. The Patriots are a better team who is on the rise. Each week the young players are contributing more and more and getting better. They should hand the Colts their first loss of the season. I see a 31-24 for the New England Patriots.

New deal for Rondo

After a dramatic week of will they wont they. Rajon Rondo and the Celtics are coming to terms on a new contract. Rondo was going to be a restricted free agent at the end of this season. The deal is reportedly worth around 55 million dollars. This was a smart move for the Celtics. Rondo is still developing into one of the better guards in the NBA. We have seen him take over games when needed. He is excellent driving to the hoop and dishing the ball out. I was afraid this was going to be another Chauncey Billups move if we lost him. It took a long time to get another guy in here after that for a period of time. He is a piece that can be built off for years. As the older stars fade he will still be running the ball up court. I like this deal and this should make a happier Rondo.

Celtics to start run for title

After losing to the Magic in the playoffs, the Celtics retooled. They brought in vets like Rasheed Wallace, Marquis Daniels and Sheldon Williams. I asked Doc Rivers on media day what these players bring to his roster. He told me they bring experience and great depth. Giving the big 3 a chance to rest. Glen Davis broke his thumb and will be on the shelf for a while. It could be up until the new year. Supposedly he was defending himself from a friend. Davis took up MMA in the offseason. I wonder if this is from an altercation with a friend messing around. It's too bad he was in great shape and looked like he could have a good year off the bench. I don't know at this point if it is his shooting hand. Rajon Rondo will be playing for a max contract. He will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season with dollar signs on his mind. Look for another big year from him. This team should be ready to make a title run. As long as the starting 5, Wallace and Daniels can stay healthy they wont just beat some teams, they will destroy them. I don't think the addition of Shaq makes Cleveland more of a threat. He is old, gets hurt a lot and his skills have diminished. The Magic added Vince Carter who makes them deeper. Atlanta should be a solid team again. They should battle Detroit and Miami for fourth overall in the east. The loss of Ben Gordon hurts the Bulls who looked like a legit up and coming team. Tyson Chandler's health could make Charlotte a playoff team if he can recover and play well. I don't see anyone even coming close to challenging the Lakers in the west. The addition of Artest makes them tougher and better.

England Patriots

The New England Patriots head to London England to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa is the second winless team the Pats have played in a row. This should be another one sided battle. Tampa Bay is giving up an average of 28 points a game. They are 31st against the run and 11th against the pass. The Patriots should be able to take advantage of Josh Johnson who is only in his 6th game as a starter and prone to throwing interceptions. Johnson did not play last season as a rookie. Carnell Willliams is running well as of late. so shutting down the running game should be priority number one. Especially with Josh Johnson being a mobile quarterback. The Tampa Offensive line is a good unit. Brady and the offense should be able to put up 35 points this week. I see a 38-14 game with the Patriots causing turnovers on defense. Brady should have 4 touchdowns. Aqib Talib will not shutdown Randy Moss. A rushing combo of BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Laurence Maroney should gain over 100 yards on the ground. With Kevin Faulk doing his part on third downs. Only Buffalo is worse at stopping the run. The passing attack should open up the run game. These two games should give the Patriots the swagger and confidence to start playing at the top of there game coming into the bye week. Setting up for a tougher run against Miami, Indianapolis, New York Jets, New Orleans and in Miami which is usually a tough place for Brady. But a much easier December awaits after that stretch of games.

Pats release Banta Cain

The New England Patriots released Outside linebacker Tully Banta Cain today. The move is a head scratcher. But after the two young corners Wilhite and Butler got the start yesterday and Adailias Thomas not even coming to the stadium. It seems the Patriots are sending a message to the defense. Get on board or get off. Banta Cain though i thought has done well this season. He is a situational player and a proven special teams player. he has 3 sacks this season which isn't a jaw dropper but is tied with Mike Wright for the team lead. I'm not sure why they did this. I don't think it makes the team better unless there are some plans we don't know of yet. Tully Banta Cain will never be an effective starter in the NFL but adds depth and can make plays at the right time.

Home field advantage

Sunday's game between the Patriots and the Titans was the text book example of home field advantage. Tennessee was clearly disrupted by the weather and New England was not. Tennessee looked like they were playing with roller skates on. It started early for the Patriots after Sammy Morris went down with a leg injury. Moroney came in and ran well. His usual stuttering and stopping was replaced by moving laterally and keeping his feet moving. Tom Brady torched a hapless Titans secondary. This is hopefully the confidence booster that sends him back to the old Brady. Things changed dramatically when McGowen laid a hit on Chris Johnson sending him out for the play. Len Dale White came in and fumbled the next play setting up the drive with the flea flicker and multiple other scores. Sabastian Vollmer was a beast. Is this the guy who can take the reins at left tackle. It looked like it yesterday. I think if when Light comes back, it's time for Vollmer to take over at right tackle. The defense looked great again. Mike Wright has been playing very well this season. We didn't see Adalias Thomas yesterday. He was listed out with an elbow injury. A.K.A. he's in the dog house. The secondary is shaping up to be a very solid unit. The addition of Seau will add a lot of depth to the linebacking core. The line play has been pretty strong. Things are looking good for the Patriots. Another blow out in London coming up before the bye week.

Patriots back home after loss

The Patriots are back home after an overtime loss to the Denver Broncos. Tennessee comes to town with an 0-5 record. Vince Young took over late last week for Kerry Collins who hasn't played well this season. Chris Johnson is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. The defense has been good and bad. They are in the top of the NFL against the rush and the bottom against the pass. This is good for the Patriots who are a pass heavy offense. They will have trouble containing Johnson on defense. I don't think this will be as easy as it should be against an 0-5 team. They key to the game for the Pats is forcing turnovers and containing Johnson. This is a team that went 13-3 a year ago with virtually the same team. At some point they are going to start winning games. I do not think it will be this week. They could give the Pats a good game, but in the long run I think the Pats will end up with some passing TD's and pulling away in the second half. I see a 27-14 win. Is this the week Brady finally breaks out? The Titans stats against the pass would say yes. We'll see on Sunday. I think Junior Seau will See some time this week. Not a ton but enough to get his feet wet.

Denver still perfect

New England lost an overtime battle in Denver today. Brady seemed very comfortable in the pocket. He was able to move around and avoid multiple sacks. He is still off with the long ball but that should come in time. The offensive line looked good until late in the game giving Brady sometime to throw. Sammy Morris ran hard, but dodged a bullet when the Pats recovered his fumble. I'd really like to see more Edelman. Moss is constantly double covered. Eyes are on Welker. Why not have him out there more running short and intermediate routes. They let the Broncos hang around to long and it came back to bite them. But I have to hand it to Denver. They played well. They reminded me of a Pats team from early in the dynasty. They bent but never broke and took advantage when they had to. They are a well coached team with quality players. I really thought they were a fraud but watching them play really opened up my eyes. They will be a playoff team. Orton and his receivers seem to be on the same page and the whole team looks like they are having fun. I'm not worried about the Pats. I just hope this game doesn't effect the playoffs and have New England travel back to Invesco were they have a hard time. Up coming games with Tennessee and Tampa should put them at 5-2 when the bye week approaches.

1,000 hits!

Thank you for all the followers of my blog. Since putting the counter up in March the site has reached 1,000 hits!

2009 Fall Classic

The playoffs are here. here are my predictions...

American League:

Yankees sweep the Twins. Minnesota is coming off an emotional ride that ends quickly to a much better team all around. Even if Justin Morneau was healthy this would be a quick one. They just don't match up.

Red Sox beat the Angels in 5 games. This is going to be another classic late innings dramatic series. I think Boston edges them in the fifth game. I like Boston's line up and pitching slightly better than LAA. Especially late innings with Wagner, Bard and Pap. Look for JD Drew to be a big factor as he was last post season.

Red Sox in 7 over the Yankees. Call me a homer, but i think this will be a grind it out up and down series. Sabathia has never pitched well in the playoffs against the Sox. ARod still hasn't performed in the post season. We've seen Jon Lester go into the old Yankee stadium and almost throw a no hitter. I like the Sox to take this one.

National League:

Phillies sweep Rockies. Philly is stacked. They have a line up like an American league team. Far better starting pitching.

Cardinals win in 5 games over Dodgers. I have liked the red birds all season. Carpenter and Wainwright may be the best 1-2 punch in the game. Albert Pujols is the best hitter in baseball and adding Matt Holliday has been a great pick up. Manny Ramirez has not been the same guy since his suspension for failing the league's substance abuse policy for PED's.

Cardinals in 7 over the Phillies. This series could go anyway. The fact that the Phillies have home field actually is good for the Cardinals. They have hit much better at Citizens bank Ballpark than at Busch Stadium against Philly. This will be a series to remember.

World Series:

Red Sox win in 6 games over the Cardinals. The Sox have a deeper line up than the the cardinals do. They match up well in starting pitching. I think the key to this run is going to be Daisuke Matsuzaka. If he can pitch like he has, Beckett can get into playoff form and Buchholz can be serviceable. The Sox have a great chance to go all the way. This post season is going to be the final page turned for Jon Lester. He becomes the dominant starter for the rest of his career starting in the 2009 playoffs at some point.

Ravens flying high into Foxborough

The 3-0 Ravens come to town this week in what is supposed to be another wet day at Gillette. Last week we saw the Patriots beat the then undefeated Atlanta Falcons. Brady didn't look sharp again and New England left points on the field. There is much less room for error this week as the Ravens boast one of the top defenses in the league. Two big factors for the Pats will be the availability of Wes Welker and Vince Wilfork. Brady needs Welker as an outlet. He was a big part of the win against Baltimore a couple years ago when the Patriots squeaked out a win on there way to an undefeated season. Wilfork is a big factor against the run. With the excellent vet Matt Birk towing the line for the run heavy Ravens he could be dominant with the missing Vince in the middle. The forecast is rain all weekend and the focus will be on the run which is Baltimore's forte anyway. If Vince and Wes are missing I think the Ravens will pound the ball and take time off the clock. Leaving zero room for error for Brady and the passing attack. The line looked good against an inferior defense last week. But the Ravens have an excellent line and linebackers. Not to mention a very good defensive backfield. I see a low scoring game with the Ravens taking this one 17-10. If Welker and Wilfork play and the Patriots can establish a decent running attack to stay on the field things could work in their favor. This is a real test for New England. If they do lose, it's not the end of the world. The next 3 games are winnable heading into the bye week. The week after the bye Miami comes to town. Miami is not the same team they were a year ago. So the patriots should go into the Indy game at 6 - 2 with Jerod Mayo that much closer to returning and Brady that much sharper. The Patriots are in good position with Mayo back for a tougher stretch against Indy, New york Jets and New Orleans. They should end up 12-4 or 11-5. I think this team should really hit it's stride in mid November. just in time for a playoff run to a Championship.

Week 3 Pats need to win

After not looking good against the Jets last week. The Patriots need to get a win against a 2 and 0 Atlanta team. Atlanta has an explosive offense that has been retooled by former Patriots director of college scouting Thomas Dimitroff. Second year pro Matt Ryan has been excellent in developing into an NFL quarterback. Tony Gonzalez will be a tough opponent for the Patriots linebackers. If they can limit his production and take Roddy White out of the team with double coverage the Patriots have a chance to win this one. I think Tom Brady will have a break out game this week. The Atlanta secondary isn't very good. Randy Moss should have two td's and if Welker can play he should get a ton of receptions. If Brady has a break out game this will limit the monstrous Michael Turner's carries. They need to make sure John Abraham doesn't put a lot of pressure on Brady. Matt Light needs to step his game up. I'd like to see New England establish a running game if they can get a lead. It will not be a blow out. Atlanta will put points on the board. I see a 35 to 24 win with a late score and a couple of sacks on Matt Ryan to end this one. They need to take this one with Baltimore coming to town.

Off the field highlight

In sports, especially in the NFL. Off the field incidents are often negetive. But Wednesday Vince Young took deceased Steve McNairs kids out for a father son breakfast. The school has an annual father son breakfast and McNairs two kids were left fatherless when he was murdered in July. Young and McNair had grown close years before Young entered the NFL. Young had promised the two boys he would remain in their lives. He ended up paying for all the families that came out to the breakfast. With all the domestic altercations, DUI's and other criminal activity surrounding the league it is a breath of fresh air to see someone doing something positive.

Holes in the defense

Jerod Mayo is out six to eight weeks with an MCL injury. This causes a major hole for the defense. Mayo's loss highlights some poor drafting by the Patriots the past few years. They left themselves vulnerable by not addressing this problem the past few years. Jerod mayo was a great pick last year. Tyrone McKenzie was taken this past April in the draft and went out with a season ending injury in rookie camp. I thought in 2006 they should have grabbed Houston middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans instead of Moroney. You could see the linebacking core getting older every year and they weren't addressing it aggressively enough. The signing of Adalius Thomas hasn't worked out as planned. He has been ok. The Colvin signing in 2004 backfired when he was injured with a broken hip. He wasn't the same after that although he had some decent moments. But injuries happen, there is nothing you can do about that. Trading Vrabel backfired because now you basically traded him and Cassel for Patrick Chung who at this point isn't ready to contribute on a full time basis. Derrick Brook's name is being tossed around to come play here. But how much of a difference would he make? Not enough. Junior Seau is another name being tossed out there. He may be a better fit for the pats. He can play inside and add to pass coverage. But he is old too. The pats have a tough three game stretch coming up with the Jets, Falcons and Ravens. All three teams can run the ball. Gary Guyton needs to step up for this defense. I'm looking for him to make a solid impact. I don't think a trade would make sense. The Pats value their picks and the season is under way. It takes time to learn a play book. The offense better start putting up 35 points a game. A running game will be needed also to take time off the clock. What do you think the Patriots should do?

Say good bye Seymour

The Pats traded Richard Seymour yesterday for a first round pick in the 2011 draft. Seymour goes from an NFL dynasty to a joke of a franchise. The Raiders have no stability through the coaching ranks. Al Davis is making all the shots on players and has o clue what he is doing. Look at this years draft. The Patriots must see something dwindling in Seymour's play. They got a future first round pick instead of letting him walk at the end of the season. With the new 4-3 alignment, Derrick Burgess and Jarvis Green will be needed to add pressure on the quarterback. Myron Pryor and Mike Wright are more effective against the run. I don't love or hate the deal. I'm glad they got something instead of nothing. Seymour has been frequently hurt and in my opinion overrated. He had a good year in 2008 with a team leading 8 sacks. But 8 sacks doesn't exactly wow me. Coach Belichick must think he is less valuable to the team in the new defensive scheme. This defense has plenty of question marks. At some point this season they are going to need to find an identity to go all the way.

Super Bowl Pick

A preseason Superbowl pick is more fun than anything. A lot can happen between now and February. So here it goes...

AFC Championship

New England
Baltimore

NFC Championship

Philadelphia
Atlanta

Superbowl

New England
Philadelphia

New England over Philadelphia

Who do you think has what it takes to go all the way?

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals - ( 10-6 ) - Kurt Warner is back after an excellent season. He still has all three targets in Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston. All had over 1,000 yards last year. Leonard Pope seems to have stepped up is receiving game a bit as well. Pope is not a huge threat but another target is great to have. Tim Hightower and Chris Wells will do the running. Hightower was valuable in short yardage situations last year scoring 10 touchdowns. He also had 34 receptions making him a threat in the passing game. Chris Wells will probably be broken in slowly. He has a history of getting injured. He will be a nice change of pace. Hightower is be the starter. The offensive line finally came together last year. It had been a major problem. All five starters are back. Starting end Antonio Smith is gone so Calias Campbell will get his chance to start in his second season. He has had a solid preseason. The rest of the starters on the line are back including stand out Darnell Dockett. The linebackers are a good unit led by Karlos Dansby. Rookie Cody Brown will try to make an impact rushing the passer but Victor Hobson has made the most of his opportunity this preseason and should start at the other outside linebacker spot. The secondary looks great. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie played well as a rookie. Bryant McFadden who played great against the Cards in the Superbowl will get the other corner sport. Left void by the departure of Rod Hood. Antrel Rolle and Adrian Wilson are excellent safeties. Back to the post season for the Cardinals in this terrible division.

Seattle Seahawks - (7-9) - The success of this teams will be keeping Matt Hasselbeck up right and healthy. T.J. Houshmandzadeh is the dominant number one wide receiver they have been looking for. Hasselbeck and Houshmandzadeh have been hooking up for TD's all preseason. John Carlson should take another step forward after an impressive rookie season. Finding guys to fill in the blanks around them will be the big key. Nate Burleson needs to stay healthy. Deion Branch could be a cap casualty and is always hurt. Look for rookie Deon Butler out of Penn State to make an impact this year. Julius Jones will be the feature back. Even with the signing of Edgerin James, who seems to understand the team concept of using multiple backs from what he has been saying to the press. The line is not very impressive. Rookie Max Unger could be a breath of fresh air. They need to find stability at the tackle positions. The defense has some holes. Especially in the secondary. Ken Lucas was brought in to give this team 2 good corners. But Marcas Trufant but he has been pup on the P.U.P list (Physically unable to perform). They are not sure when his back will get better. Deon Grant and Brian Russell are average and below average safeties. The good news is Aaron Curry has been everything they expected in the preseason. Combing with Tatupu and Hill will make this a strong linebacking core. The line looks pretty good. The additions of Cory Redding and Colin Cole will bolster this group. I think if they can find some guys to step up on the offensive line and Josh Wilson and Kelly Jennings can fill in well while Trufant is out, the Seahawks could be a surprise team coming out of the west. I don't think they have enough of a total package to make the playoffs however.

San Francisco 49ers - (7-9) - Shaun Hill is the starting QB. He has a 7-3 record as a starter and is efficient in short yardage passing plays. Michael Crabtree still hasn't signed a contract leaving Issac Bruce, Josh Morgan and Jason Hill as the starters. None of which are dominant players. Can Vernon Davis finally play to his potential is the big question? Frank gore is a tough runner who will need to carry a heavy load for the offense. The line is led by center Eric Heitmann and Left tackle Joe Staley. The rest of the line is a question mark. Marvel Smith needs to stay healthy and play consistent football. Chilo Rachal and Tony Wragge will battle for starting spots. The defense is led by Patrick Willis. Arguably the best linebacker in the NFL. Justin Smith was amazing last season in his first year with he team. Rookie Kentwan Balmer will push for time at the other end. Issaac Sopoaga will probably move to nose. Nate Clements has been a good player for the 49ers after signing a huge contract. Safety Michael Lewis is great in run support. This is a team on the rise. They could make a push for the playoffs with solid offensive line play. a weak division helps.

St. Louis Rams - (5-11) - QB Marc Bulger is starting the season with a fractured pinkie finger in his throwing hand. He also has nobody to throw to. Donny Avery is the top wide reciever on the team and suffered a broken foot during camp. He will be ready to play but at what speed. Steven Jackson could have a monster year. He will need to catch a lot of passes and run the ball. The team has been trying to better the offensive line for a couple years. They signed center Jason Brown and drafted Tackle Jason Smith 2nd overall in April. The defense is switching to a 4-3 from 3-4. Chris Long should benefit from the change at end. James Laurinaitis was selected 34th overall. He isn't the fastest guy on the field but is a sure tackler. The secondary is okay. Led by safety Oshiomogho. He is one of those guys you don't here much about. But he is a star. There are holes all over this team. They will be better than last year. But that's not saying much.

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons - (10-6) - Matt Ryan showed why he was the second overall pick of the 2008 draft. He will develop into an elite QB sooner than later. Top Wide out Roddy White has a new contract and acquiring future hall of famer Tony Gonzalez is a huge boost for the offense. Michael Jenkins is developing into a nice complement to White. Michael Turner was a beast running the ball last year, rushing for 1699 yards and 17 scores. After a disastrous 2007 season. The offensive line gelled to become a solid unit. They added some depth to the defense in the draft. Selecting tackle Peria Jerry out of Mississippi in the first round. Lawrence Sidbury is another interesting rookie who played at Richmond. He could be a major boost in pass rushing situations. Curtis Lofton is back for another big year at middle linebacker. He was a force as a rookie in 2008. Outside linebackers Stephan Nichols and Mike Peterson will make this a strong trio. Tony Gilbert will aslo get some time after missing all 16 games last season. Coy Wire also adds some run stopping ability as a hybrid linebacker/safety. The defensive backs are young. Erik Coleman has the most experience at safety. Chris Houston hasn't been the player they hoped for. He will get his shot to start in year three. Rookie Chris Owens out of San Jose State has a shot to start as the other corner. Von Hutchins will be in the mix at corner too. William Moore is a big player at safety. the rookie from Missouri is 6'o 221lbs and plays with every bit of that size to knock out opposing runners and receivers. I think if this defense can put it together Atlanta could make a Superbowl run.

Carolina Panthers - (9-7) - Jake Delhomme was signed to a contract extension through 2014. He is 34 and not an elite QB. DeAngelo Williams finally stayed healthy and made opposing defenses look foolish. Jonathon Stewart is a bigger back who compliments Williams. Stewart has had injury issues this preseason and has yet to play. Steve Smith had a shoulder injury. He should be fine for he start of the season and be the usual top receiver that he is. The offensive line is very good. Jordan Gross was resigned to protect Delholmme's blind side. Ryan Kalil is turning into a top center. The defense is good. Julius Peppers is back after an off season of drama. he was franchised and will make about a million a game. Everette Brown was taken in the first round to add another pass rusher. He could also be filling Peppers shoes in 2010 if the team decides not to sign him to a contract. Jon Beason has been nothing but a tackling machine since being drafted in 2007. He has been banged up so far and needs to be healthy. Chris Gamble is the top player in the secondary. Safety Charles Godfrey learned on the job as a rookie in 2008. they need him to take a step forward. although he played well for a rookie. Early injuries are a concern for Carolina. They will make a playoff push but will have to battle Atlanta and New Orleans for it.

New Orleans Saints - (8-8) - Drew Brees has been lighting up the scoreboard since his arrival from San Diego. Sean Payton's pass heavy offense has been in good hands with Brees. Marques Colston should return to his top form after battling injuries all season. Lance Moore and Devery Henderson stepped up in the passing game. Robert Meacham has been great this preseason and could have a break out year. Meacham is a big wide out who can fly. Shockey could be a factor this year after being hurt a lot of last season. The offensive line is a good unit. All five starters are back. Less Reggie Bush and more Pierre Thomas, Mike Bell or rookie P.J. Hill seems like the way the offense is heading at runningback. The defense was terrible last season and will be again in 2009. They resigned Jonathon Vilma who had 151 tackles. Sedrick Ellis had a decent rookie year at tackle. They desperately need him to take another step forward. Malcome Jenkins was drafted to bolster an atrocious secondary. He could end up at safety. Jabari Greer is an good player at corner. Tracy porter was having a good rookie season until it was ended by injury. Look for the same old huge offense and no defense from New Orleans. They will make a playoff push but wont have the defense do go anywhere if they do make it.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - ( 3 - 13 ) Tampa Bay's roster has been gutted like the home of a first time buyer. Three games into the preseason they don't have an answer at quarterback. Although new offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski wants a run heavy offense. Derek Ward was brought in from New York and should get the bulk of the carries. Ernest Graham will get plenty of chances also. Carnell Williams is going to get a chance to resurrect a once hopeful career which has been shattered by injury. Antonio Bryant finally showed his potential. But the major issue at quarterback could seriously hinder his numbers. Kellen Winslow is a great tight end when healthy but faces the same problems as Bryant. The line has the potential to turn into a solid group. They are very young. Headlined by Davin Joseph and oldest member Jeff Faine who is only 28. The defensive line is bad. Adam Gaines hasn't developed into a good pass rusher. Chris Hovan has a lot of heart but that will only get him so far. especially entering year ten. Barrett Rudd is the heart of the defense in the middle. Angelo Crowell could be a nice addition to the outside if he can come back from a knee injury. Aqib Talib was just arrested and could face a suspension for punching a man. Safety Tanard Jackson was suspended for the first four games for violating the leagues substance abuse policy. Will Allen will have to step in for Jackson. It's going to be a long year in Tampa Bay. No playoffs this year or for the next few.

NFC North

Minnesota Vikings - (11-5) - He's baaaack, yup Favre is back. Surprised, yes, no, maybe? Either way he will be taking snaps for the Vikes. He doesn't have to carry this team. Adrian Peterson is a workhorse. Chester Taylor is a great back up. Favre doesn't have great weapons to throw to. Rookie Percy Harvin can line up in multiple spots. Bernard Berrian could have a nice year with the addition of Favre. Tight End Visanthe Shiancoe had a solid season with 7 touchdowns. The offensive line is back except for a major piece. Matt Birk left via free agency. John Sullivan will get the start in his third pro season. The defense is good. Maybe a little overrated. The defensive line is great. Pat and Kevin Williams are giants beasts clogging the middle. Jared Allen provides a tough pass rusher at end. Linebacker isn't a deep unit. Chad Greenway played up to expectations last year. Look for him to get even better in his fourth year. E.J. Henderson is back from injury. He is the leader of the defense at middle linebacker. Ben Leber is a solid player on the outside. The defensive backs are led by Antoine Winfield. He is entering his tenth season and still laying out hits at corner. Cedric Griffin has the other corner spot. He needs to step up in his coverage abilities. Mediau Williams is a good safety but got injured early last year. He came back late and played well. Tyrell Johnson will take over for long time Viking Darren Sharper. He needs to help solidify that spot. If Griffin and Johnson can play well, This defense can be top notch. If not it could lead to some holes.

Chicago Bears - (9-7) - The Bears and Vikings remind me alot of each other. New QB Jay Cutler will need to be the answer Chicago has been looking for. Matt Forte is a workhorse much like Peterson. He has excellent hands as well. Tight ends Desmond Clark and Greg Olson will need to make alot of catches. The wide receivers are poor. Jauquin Iglesias is a rookie out of Oklahoma. He could be a great short yardage receiver in the slot. Orlando Pace was brought in to strengthen the line. A change of scenery could wake Pace up for a season. But his best days are far behind. Olin Kreutz is still a tough gritty player but he is getting older as well. The defense is tough. Tommy Harris is one of the top linemen in the NFL. Lance Briggs is a tremendous outside linebacker. Brian Urlacher is still a solid player. Nick Roach, Hunter Hillenmeyer and rookie Marcus Freeman will battle for the other outside spot. Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher are a top duo at corner. But they have had alot of injuries the past few years. D.J. Moore was drafted in the fourth round this April. He is a tough player who will play through injury. He could be a stand out at some point in his career for the Bears. Kevin Payne is a good all around player at strong safety. This team could challenge the Vikings for the division title. Especially if someone steps up at wide receiver.

Green Bay Packers - (8-8) - Aaron Rodgers played well in his first year as a starter. He has a ton of weapons. Greg Jennings highlights the receiver group. Veteran Donald driver, James Jones and second year player Jordy Nelson round out a very solid 1- 4 on the depth chart. Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson are serviceable at runningback. The O-Line is good. Chad Clifton had surgery on both knees and is entering his tenth year. Other than that they are set on the line. The defense will be interesting due to the switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4. The grabbed a key piece in the draft selecting B.J. Raji to play nose. Finding ends to fit the scheme may be tough with they're current players. They may have great players at linebacker. Aaron Kampman will move to outside linebacker. The top end needs to make a smooth transition. A.J. Hawk will move inside next to Nick Barnett. The Packers also selected the very athletic Clay Matthews out of USC in the first round as well. He will get every chance to start at the other OLD spot. Charles Woodson is still playing at a high level at corner. Safety Anthony smith could find himself starting after coming from Pittsburgh where they play a 3-4. If the new defensive scheme works well, Green bay could make a playoff push. If not it could be another 6-10 year.

Detroit Loins - (2-14) - Daunte Culpepper and Mathew Stafford will battle for the top spot. They would be smart to let Stafford sit and learn for the first five or six games depending on Culpepper's play. If he plays well than letting him sit the entire year could be smart. But smart has never been associated with he Detroit Loins. Calvin Johnson is a top wide out. Brandon Pettigrew was added at tight end in the draft. He can catch and block. Kevin Smith stepped in and run well as a rookie in 2008. The offensive line isn't very good. Dominic Roiola is a solid center. Jeff Backus has been the starting left tackle for 9 years and is okay. Gosder Cherilus needs to improve in his second season at right tackle. The defense is still not good. Adding free agent Grady Jackson gives them a plug in the middle. They have upgraded at linebacker which was a priority. Larry Foote will play in the middle and Julian Peterson was brought in from a trade with Seattle. They will help take pressure off Ernie Sims who was the Lions defense last year. The defensive backfield is not good. Louis Delmas was selected with the number 33 pick in the draft. He could be a future building block for the team at safety. The rest of the group is underwhelming with no stars. This organization is still a long way from being good. It will take alot to reverse what Matt Millen did.

NFC East

Philadelphia Eagles - (12-4) - The Eagles look to be ready to make a Superbowl run. They need Quarterback Donovan McNabb to be the player he was in the second half of last season after being benched. The Eagles added Runningback LeSean McCoy in the draft to take some carries from the aging often injured Brian Westbrook. Westbrook is still a star when healthy. But the game is starting to wear on him physically. McCoy was a star in college when he played 3 seasons at Pittsburgh. Philadelphia also added Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin in the first round in the draft. Maclin is a speedster who can stretch the field. DeSean Jackson led the team in receptions in 2008 as a rookie. Kevin Curtis should also be back after getting injured last year. Brent Celek and Cornelius Ingram will battle for the Tight End spot to replace L.J. Smith. The offensive line is massive. They aquired Jason Peters in a trade with Buffalo. Peters is one of the top left tackles in the league. He is back with former college teammate/roommate Shawn Andrews. Shawn's Brother Stacey is also joining the team and will play right guard. Jamaal Jackson could lose his starting spot at center. He has had a few down seasons. The defense is very solid. The line is anchored by tackles Mike Patterson and Broderick Bunkley. Stewart Bradley is a strong middle linebacker entering his fourth season. Outside linebackers Chris Gocong and Akeem Jordan are tough against the run and pass. The secondary is very deep with talented players. Asante Samuels is in his second year with the team. He added the excellent pass coverage the defense needed. Sheldon Brown has the other corner spot. he is excellent against the run. Ellis Hobbs will try to make his case for a starting spot at corner. He will return kicks and be a top player in nickel and dime packages. Quintin Demps will have to fill the shoes of longtime Eagle Brain Dawkins. Quintin Mikell was an all-pro at strong safety. This team is strong and should go deep into the playoffs.

New York Giants - (11-5) - The Giants look strong again this season. Bruising back Brandon Jacobs punishes defenses but gets nicked up doing it. Andre Brown was drafted to give the Giants another runner who can also catch. Brown was a steal in the fourth round this past April. Ahmad Bradshaw adds alot of speed off the bench also. Somebody needs to emerge as the top target for Eli Manning. Steve Smith made strides last year and should see more catches with Amoni Toomer gone. Dominik Hixon, Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Burden will all get shots to play. Kevin Boss has been adequate at tight end. Travis Beckum was taken in the third round and was a dynamic receiving end at Wisconson. Pro Bowler Chris Snee headlines a tough gritty offensive line. The defense will be better this season. Justin Tuck has worked hard to become one of the better defensive ends in football. Osi Umenyiora is a great pass rusher on the other side. Rookie Clint Sintim will push for a starting spot at outside linebacker. Antonio Pierce holds down the inside as he has since being signed in 2005. Aaron Ross and Corey Webster are both solid corners. Michael Johnson and Kenny Phillips are young talented players who will start at safety.

Dallas Cowboys - (10-6) - Tony Romo and the Cowboys will be happy to move on from the T.O. years. Roy Williams was acquired in a mid-season trade in 08' but never hit his stride. He will have every chance to this season and I believe he will. Jason Witten is the best tight end in football. If not a close second to Tony Gonzalez in Atlanta. Runningbacks Marion Barber and Felix Jones need to stay healthy. Jones was a game breaker last year scoring a 33 and 60 yard touchdowns. The offensive line is good. They Need Doug Free to step up and Push Flozell Adams for the staring left tackle spot. Center Andre Gourode and Leonard Davis are both pro bowlers. The defense is good, however the secondary has some issues. They need to find a starter opposite Terence Newman at corner. Mike Mickens could step in as a rookie and fill the shoes that Mike Jenkins could not. DeMarcus Ware is one of the top linebackers in football. He and James Brady make this an above average unit. Jay Ratliff Made the pro bowl last year at nose tackle. he is the star of the line.

Washington Redskins - (7-9) - The Redskins have enough talent to win other NFL divisions. But not the NFC East. Quarterback Jason Campbell is on the hot seat. They need him to come up big in this contract year to show he is the long term answer. Clinton Portis had a monster first half. But got banged up in the second and his productivity went down. The Offensive line was once a strength. But age is taking it's toll. Tight end Chris Cooley had another exceptional year. He only had one touchdown though. The rest of the receiving core is a mess. The two rookies from a year ago Reggie Kelly and Devin Thomas did nothing. Santana Moss exploded in the first few weeks but didn't do much down the stretch. They added Albert Haynesworth and Brian Orakpo to bolster the defensive line. London Fletcher is a rock at middle linebacker. But he is getting older. Corners DeAngelo Hall and Carlos Rogers played well last season. After being released by the Raiders Hall got a much needed reality check and played to potential. LeRon Landry has not played to potential at safety. This team doesn't have what it takes to win this division. It is still a solid team.

AFC West

San Diego Chargers - (10-6) - San Diego is the most talented team in a weak division. Unfortunately they have to play the NFC East this season. Philip Rivers is coming off a career season. He threw 34 touchdowns in 2008 which is a franchise best. LaDanian Tomlinson had a down year after getting nicked up early. Darren Sproles filled in nicely when called apon. Giving the chargers two good backs. Vincent Jackson stepped up and had his best season at wide receiver. He surpassed 1,000 yards. Antonio Gates is still one of the premier tight ends in the game. He is back at full strength this season. A usually good offensive line struggled. They should be back at 100 percent. The defensive line lost end Igor Olshansky in free agency. They hope Ryon Bingham can fill in against the run. Rookie Larry English may come in in passing situations. He will also see time at outside linebacker. Losing Shawne Merriman for the season with a torn ACL was devastating. Shaun Phillips took advantage and led the team in sacks. If Antonio Cromartie can relive his 2007 season, the defensive backs are an excellent unit. Quintin Jammer is a very good corner on the other side. Eric Weddle has done nothing but make tackles all over the field since being drafted in 2007. The Chargers would really have to fall apart to not make the playoffs. The West is very weak.

Kansas City Chiefs - (8-8) - Scott Pioli has done a nice job building this team. He acquired former Patriot Quarterback Matt Cassel in a trade. The jury is still out on Cassel, but I think he has the tools to succeed. He should throw for 3,000 yards. Matt may also get the green light to run a little more. Dwayne Bowe is a talented young player at wide receiver. He is entering his third season and gotten better each year. Losing future hall of famer Tony Gonzalez is tough. His production will be a tall task to replace. Brad Cottam is going to get the shot. He showed good skills catching and blocking last season. Veteran Bobby Engram was brought in to play the slot. If Larry Johnson can get his emotions in check and play football. It will be a major boost for the offense. They hope second year player Jamaal Charles can take a step forward this year to help the rushing attack. Brandan Albert showed why he was the top choice for the Chiefs a year ago. He made a smooth transition from guard to left tackle in his rookie season. The line is above average. The defense is making the switch to a 3-4 alignment. They started by drafting End Tyson Jackson third overall in april. Glenn Dorsey will go from tackle to end. Finding a suitable nose may not be easy. They added a couple of vets to the linebacking core with 3-4 experience. Mike Vrabel was also acquired in the Cassel trade. Zack Thomas was also signed via free agency. Derrick johnson may play in the middle next to Thomas. Tamba Hali may move from end to outside linebacker. The defensive backfield is underrated. Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr both played solid in their rookie seasons. Bernard pollard and Jarred Page are both solid safeties. KC may have some trouble in a couple areas in switch to the 3-4. But adding vets with experience will help. They could surprise with a playoff push late. Maybe a year away from playoff contention.

Denver Broncos - (6-10) - Josh McDaniels takes over a rebuilding Broncos team. Jay Cutler was traded to Chicago after a tumultuous offseason. Denver acquired Kyle Orton in the trade. Orton has had unspectacular success in the NFL. But if he can play efficient football he will win the job. Denver signed a slew of runningbacks as well as drafting the out of this world athletic Knowshon Moreno. Correll Buckhalter will also get some touches. Eddie Royal emerged as a reliable receiver last year as a rookie. The troubled Brandon Marshall is talented but wants a trade and is always in legal trouble. Jabar Gaffney came over from New England will will add depth. The offensive line is a good unit. Top choice in 2008 Ryan Clady gave up only a half a sack in his rookie year. The defense doesn't look good. They selected Robert Ayers with their second pick in the first round. He can play end or outside linebacker and could be a bright spot. DJ Williams is the best player on the defense. He has little help out there. The Defensive backs are the strongest part of the D. Perennial Pro bowler Brian Dawkins was signed as a free agent. They hope he can bring experience to the defense. Champ Bailey is still a top corner and hopes to stay healthy. The Broncos are a year or two away from competing for the playoffs. Josh McDaniels takes over a tough situation.

Oakland Raiders - (5-11) - Entering year three, Big things are expected from Quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Jeff garcia was brought in and could see time if Russell struggles. Rookie Darrius Harward-Bey was drafted in the top ten. He has blazing speed but questions surround his hands. Zack Miller has been a steady player at tight end. Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden will split the duties at runningback. they have two different running styles which has become a trend in the NFL. The offensive line is bad. Robert Gallery has resurrected his career at guard after being taken second overall in the 2004 draft. But he is the only solid player. Kirk Morrison is a beast at middle linebacker. Thomas Howard is also an underrated player. But the defensive line struggled last year. The line has the potential to be okay. But they need to stay healthy. The defensive secondary is a strong unit. Asomugha Nnamdi is could be the best corner in the league. Young Tyvon branch looked good before getting injured last year at safety. Chris Johnson has the other corner spot and looks very good. The defense can be good if they stay healthy and play up to potential. They defense could win them a couple mores games if this happens. No playoffs for Oakland.

AFC South

Tennessee Titans - (11-5) - Tennessee finally toppled the Colts for the top spot in the South. Kerry Collins saved the day after Vince Young had an emotional episode. Chris Johnson showed why their made him the top selection of the 2008 NFL draft. He ran for 1228 yards and 9 touchdowns. His counter part Lendale White added 15 touchdowns. Johnson looks to improve from a breakout rookie season. White had dropped 30 pounds and is i a contract year. Look for big things out of this duo again. The wide receiving core has gotten better. Nate Washington comes over from the Steelers and has big play ability and Kenney Britt was drafted in the first round out of Rutgers. Bo Scaife led the offense with 58 receptions last season. The offensive line is a top NFL unit. They gave up only 8 sacks all season and allowed the runningbacks to run wild. All five starters are back. Losing Albert Haynesworth hurts. But if they can find someone to fill in and do a solid job that will help. Jason Jones and Rookie Sen'Derrick Marks will battle to for that spot. This is still a very good defense with out Haynesworth. Keith Bullock is still a beast at weakside linebacker. He is also in a contract year. Courtland Finnegan went from 7th round selection to all-pro. He leads a strong defensive backfield. Tennessee should be a sure thing for the playoffs. They could make a Superbowl push but i see them falling just short.

Indianapolis Colts - (9-7) - Payton Manning lost his favorite weapon in Marvin Harrison. He still has a pretty potent arsenal. Reggie Wayne is an elite receiver. Anthony Gonzalez will move from the slot to Harrison's spot. Dallas Clark will be seen all over the field as usual. The tight end will line up at slot, on the line and out wide. Joseph Addai hasn't been the same guy as the one we saw his rookie season. The Colts added Donald Brown II to deepen the runningback position. Brown is a workhorse who ran for over 2,000 yards at UConn. Brown was in a offense that virtually never threw the football and still had a ton of success. The O-Line is getting older. They Need Ryan Lilja to bounce back from a major knee injury. Jeff Saturday is in his eleventh season. This is still a good unit and got alot deeper after injuries forced players into the lineup. The defensive line is a solid unit. Eric Foster was a nice surprise in 2008. He won a starting job at tackle as an undrafted free agent. The Linebackers are an average unit. Not alot of depth if someone should go down either. Bob Sanders is a game changer at safety. He gets hurt often and the Colts go from having a top run defense to nothing special depending if he plays or not. Sanders, Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden all had injuries last year and need to stay healthy. Questions surround the Colts this season. Can they stay healthy? Can They adapt to a new coach. All these things will come into play in order to make the playoffs in this tough division.

Houston Texans - (9-7) - Can this finally be the the year quarterback Matt Schaub stays healthy for a whole season? If he does I think Houston will make the playoffs. Steve Slaton emerged as the top runningback after critics deemed him to small for success. Andre johnson and Kevin Walter are a fantastic duo at wide receiver. Owen Daniels is a great pass catching tight end an is coming off his first Pro bowl. The Texans have finally put together a solid offensive line. A five starters are back. Guard checter pitts has never missed a start in the franchise history. Middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans has been dominant since his first day in Houston. Former first pick overall in 2006 has become the dominant end they thought he would be. He had 12 sacks in 08'. The defensive backfield is the weakest spot on the team. Jacques Reeves came over from Dallas and played well last year. If this team can stay healthy I see them making a playoff push. But only if they can stay healthy!

Jacksonville Jaguars - (7-9) - David Garrard looks to rebound from a down year. The Jags added veteran wideout Torry Holt. They hope he can be what he was a few years ago. Jarrett Dillard and Tiquan Underwood are two rookies trying to make an impact. Maurice Jones-Drew will be the feature back. I think he is a bit overrated but he has some big play ability. Eugene Monroe was the Jags top draft choice. He will be the left tackle for the foreseeable future. The defense has weakened over recent years. Jacksonville had virtually no pass rush. Linebacker Daryl Smith is a force, but the rest of the group is subpar. Rashean Mathis has pro bowl ability. He needs to regain that form. This is a tough division. Each week will be a playoff factor for every team. I think Jacksonville falls short of the playoffs.