NFL SEASON STARTS NEXT THURSDAY!
The NFL Season kicks off about a week from now with a stellar game right out of the gate. The defending champion Indianapolis Colts will take on last years biggest surprise, the New Orleans Saints. The Colts are once again looking like a playoff contending team, but it is their defense that is a major problem. Last year they made up for their lack of run defense, last in the league, by a high powered offense led by super quarterback Peyton Manning. In their playoff run last year they were able to muscle up and were motivated by the return of Bob Sanders who had missed a large portion of the regular season due to injuries. However, this year they lost three players from last years defense, including Cato June, Nick Harper, and oft-injured Corey Simon. Also, on the offensive side of the ball they lost running back Dominic Rhodes. To many, this seems like an opportunity for career back-up Joseph Addai. For others, the loss of that one-two tandum may just add more fuel to the fire suggesting the Colts will not be repeating in the 2007-2008 season.
Their appearance in the NFC Championship game was just the tip of the iceberg according to the New Orleans Saints. When you look at their three headed monster they provide on offense, you begin to see why. Quarterback Drew Brees, and the running back tandem of Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush led the Saints to the fifth best offense in the league. On a stat level McAllister had a slightly better season than Bush, but with Bush entering his second season, he is expected to take over. Bush has already established himself as one of the best running back receivers in the league, and will probably get even more touches this year. But, McAllister, a surefire starter on just about any other team in the league, is one heck of a second option. Brees has one of the best TD’s to interception ratios in the league over the last three seasons, making him probably the most valuable tool on this high powered offense. One of the only concerns coming out of Saints camp is about who he will throw the ball to. With the departure of Joe Horn to the Falcons, there aren’t really any established receivers on the team. Last year, Marques Colston came out of nowhere and became the leading receiver. Will he have a case of a sophomore slump, or will he be able to once again produce at a high level?
One team that saw their fantastic season end in just one playoff game is the San Diego Chargers. The Chargers went 14-2 and broke a ton of offensive records with much of that thanks going to NFL MVP LaDanian Tomlinson. But, the biggest loss of this team from a year ago may not be any of the players, but of former head coach Marty Schottenheimer. Schottenheimer was replaced because of the first round playoff loss, but it was who he was replaced by that was the shocker. Norv Turner has a career coaching record of 58-82-1. On top of that the Chargers also lost assistant coaches Cam Cameron, and Wade Phillips. So, basically the entire staff that put together this great talent has been replaced. However, the talent is still there, and despite Turner’s woes as a head coach, he is still highly respected as one of the best when it comes to putting together an offense. The Chargers had 11 Pro Bowlers last year, and all of them have returned in an attempt to jump over the hurdle and become Super Bowl Champions.
One team that always seems to be in the mix of things at the end of the season is the New England Patriots. A major difference between this team and past year’s team is that the Patriots have a superstar player for the first time in years in Randy Moss. While their success has proved that having a star player is hardly a must, the addition of Moss gives Tom Brady his first ever superstar wide receiver. There is a debate among NFL insiders arguing if Moss has already shown signs of slowing down, or if he just played unmotivated because of how poor his team was in Oakland. Moss also has the reputation of being a handful in the locker room, but the core of players already established in New England is expected to keep Moss in check. Their defense is still expected to remain one of the top units in the league, and the addition of linebacker AD Thomas should solidify that. There are some concerns that the defense is getting a little old, but you can’t really say there is a problem with the defense until they start showing signs of slipping.
One of the great things about the NFL is that it seems to change yearly. There is a very good chance that none of the teams I just previewed will even win the Super Bowl. But, heading into the fresh season this batch of teams seem like the best teams. But, for all we know, come Super Bowl time, I could be previewing the Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans match up. Have a great season!!
NFL BETTING ODDS NFL BETTING BONUS
2007-2008 REGULAR NFL SEASON
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So Lorena Ochoa won her third consecutive tournament and the young talent of Wie once again fails to be around for the weekened! The 17 year old whom at one time was thought of as the future of the game of golf. She does draw the biggest crowds at every tournament that she shows up for. She has now missed three cuts this season and has pulled out of two events. Personally I am getting tired of her stealing the Spot light from Ochoa and the other players that are actually performing well and winning tournaments not just that players that can actually make the cut.
(2 votes, average: 4.5 out of 5)
