OT: 2007 sleeper teams

[PonyExpress]

My sleeper teams at this early stage are St Louis and Washington.

The St. Louis offense is formidable, with Orlando Pace returning healthy, the maturation of A. Barron, the addition of McMichael, D. Bennett and Brian Leonard to spell S. Jackson. The LB corps is an underrated group. Witherspoon is a borderline probowl talent, Tinoisamoa was on the verge of stardom before an injury plagued year, Chillar is a solid, durable vet. The secondary has the emerging Tye Hill and the very underrated S Atogwe, who quietly made as many impact plays as any safety in the NFL last season. Corey Chavous is a steady, heady player. The problem is the D-Line. L.Little is still a fearsome pass rusher. Carriker, L. Glover and C. Wroten will play DT. The defense has the makings of an above average squad if Haslett can get his head out of his @$$. An above average D is enough to propel the Rams into the playoffs IMO.

The Redskins hopes depend on the progression of J. Campbell. I have been a big fan of Campbell since his senior year at Auburn. He has great pocket presence, poise, leadership ability, a plus arm. After another off-season absorbing Al Saunders' scheme, IMO this offense could flourish, similar to the way the KC offense exploded in Vermeil's 2nd year, going from the #16 scoring offense to #1. I doubt the Skins will explode like that, but an uptick is likely. One indication of that could be the team scoring 59 points combined in its last 2 games. The receiving corps is talented, the TE Cooley is capable, and the two headed rb tandem is top notch. As for the D... I have never been a fan of Greg Williams' since his Buffalo days. Last year's record setting ineptitude by the Skins' D proved skeptics correct. Still, I expect Williams to at least coach this D back to respectability with the additions of L. Fletcher, L. Landry, F. Smoot, the return of C. Griffin, and the return to form of S. Taylor. I like the Redskins to surprise and finish 10-6 in the playoff picture.

 

[zippo59]

The biggest variable for the Redskins is Jason Campbell like you said. The second biggest is their defensive line. They were terrible. They couldn't get any pressure and were useless against the run. I think Gaines Adams would have been a great pick if he fell that far.

 

[JackPMiller]

I'm a Rams fan, and God forbid, I will say the 9ers are the surprise pick for me. They improved that D alot. picking up Banta-Cain, Clements, and Franklin. They had a strong draft as well as well.

 

[unoriginal]

I'm a Rams fan, and God forbid, I will say the 9ers are the surprise pick for me. They improved that D alot. picking up Banta-Cain, Clements, and Franklin. They had a strong draft as well as well.

That is an unwelcome view on this board sir.

I agree with Pony's first pick, the Rams are looking very good this year. Essentially they look like the Denver Broncos, except they draft their sucky D-linemen instead of signing them in free agency. However, they have a better quarterback and they play in the weaker conference.

 

[PATRIOT64]

In the AFC I think the sleeper is ...

HOUSTON (Yes Carr was the cancer there-Schaub turns 'em around,almost Brady-like)

The NFC may have several,SF is the trendy pick by many so even though I agree I will pass on them and pick...

WASHINGTON (Joe Gibbs still is a good coach who only needs his players to overacheive a bit and they will be tough in the east)

ARIZONA (Yes,By the end of the year Leinart will have passed for over 3,700 yards and will be the best QB out of the 2006 draft and Whisenhunt may end up as coach of the year in his first as HC - expect a division title within reach,SB maybe in a few years)

 

[PATRIOT64]

That is an unwelcome view on this board sir.

Who died and made you boss? or who said we don't welcome any opinion that may not be in the best interest of the Patriots but is yet not disrespectful in general?

If this board were for Patriots fans only we would have gotten rid of many NFL fans of other teams a long time ago,We welcome other fans who are not trolls and are respectful,His opinion was not disrespectful.

 

[mgcolby]

In the AFC I think the sleeper is ...

HOUSTON (Yes Carr was the cancer there-Schaub turns 'em around,almost Brady-like)

Huh??

Please, tell me how a guy who gets sacked 76 times in a season and never once complains about the worst line in football is a cancer?

And how did Houston improve their line? Schaub is going to be fed to the wolves just like Carr.

 

[zippo59]

Who died and made you boss? or who said we don't welcome any opinion that may not be in the best interest of the Patriots but is yet not disrespectful in general?

If this board were for Patriots fans only we would have gotten rid of many NFL fans of other teams a long time ago,We welcome other fans who are not trolls and are respectful,His opinion was not disrespectful.

Chill I don't think that was meant to be an attack I think the poster was simply saying that the 49ers being a sleeper team was something we would be happy to heear because it would directly work against the Patriots.

 

[zarakotas5]

Who died and made you boss? or who said we don't welcome any opinion that may not be in the best interest of the Patriots but is yet not disrespectful in general?

If this board were for Patriots fans only we would have gotten rid of many NFL fans of other teams a long time ago,We welcome other fans who are not trolls and are respectful,His opinion was not disrespectful.

You got him all wrong, man. Remember? We have the SF's 1st rounder. This is debate everywhere about where the hell the 49ers actually stand as a franchise. Things are looking up for sure, but will it be delayed for at least one more year so that we get at least a top 13 pick rather than a 20+?

Basically: "We" want the Niners to be bad. To admit they just might not be anymore is to be kept as hush-hush as an usher letting us in for a fin through the back. It was a joke. A light-hearted one, too.

I advise you to take up jump-roping. More reward-per-damage than jogging.

 

[zarakotas5]

Essentially they look like the Denver Broncos, except they draft their sucky D-linemen instead of signing them in free agency. However, they have a better quarterback and they play in the weaker conference.

PS: u: Again, I think your comedy is top notch. You never fail to make me laugh while simultaneously remind me of snit I forgot.

 

[rabthepat]

I am going with the Denver Broncos. Everyone had coroneted the Chargers as the automatic winners of the AFC West. Yet, it has been awhile since a team has won the AFC West back to back in years.

 

[zarakotas5]

I am going with the Denver Broncos. Everyone had coroneted the Chargers as the automatic winners of the AFC West. Yet, it has been awhile since a team has won the AFC West back to back in years.

Man, I have a hard time considering the Broncos as a sleeper. I consider them more as a contender, even more so than they have been.

Of course, the undertone of dissention and the trend towards late-season failure does preclude that assumption.

Denver is a perennial threat that plays particularly well against the Pats.

 

[unoriginal]

who said we don't welcome any opinion that may not be in the best interest of the Patriots but is yet not disrespectful in general?

I apologize for the miscommunication. As zippo and zarakotas successfully sussed, I was not posting confrontationally. I already went through the ups and downs following the Seahawks tlast year. Or, to put it into pictographs...

I meant it like this:

Not this:

 

[PATRIOT64]

Huh??

Please, tell me how a guy who gets sacked 76 times in a season and never once complains about the worst line in football is a cancer?

And how did Houston improve their line? Schaub is going to be fed to the wolves just like Carr.

Thank you for your prognostication on my pick swami - and while you are at it,who is going to be our president in 2091? - you seem to see ahead so well to criticize other picks

 

[PATRIOT64]

I apologize for the miscommunication. As zippo and zarakotas successfully sussed, I was not posting confrontationally. I already went through the ups and downs following the Seahawks tlast year. Or, to put it into pictographs...

I meant it like this:

Not this:

Thats cool,thanks for explaining- Just did not understand the tone regarding your comment to the other poster.

 

[PATRIOT64]

Huh??

Please, tell me how a guy who gets sacked 76 times in a season and never once complains about the worst line in football is a cancer?

And how did Houston improve their line? Schaub is going to be fed to the wolves just like Carr.

I guess you also predicted New Orleans was going to be in the NFC Championship game last year too,right?

Give me a freakin break,you know about as much as I do to who the surprise team will be this year.

 

[Kontradiction]

Arizona. I think Leinart is going to come out firing next year and that offense has many, many weapons at his disposal. The only question mark will be the defense.

That, and I think San Francisco is going to be pretty god damn good next year (keep in mind that they play in the NFC).

 

[Pats726]

Every year I keep thinking the Cards will rise up and be respectable...hasn'r happened yet..I DO think it is possible and probable...BUT not this year. I also felt that way early about Houston..the first years in the league...but then...they went the other way...rebuilding again...(Sort of funny when the team has never be really BUILT). Maybe the Rams...but the really bad teams..Det, Cleve, Oak will take years...NOT immediately go in the other direction (like the Jets). San Fran could be in that category..for a jump up to 10 games..but on the other hand...progress up might take a few years and they might level off...(like the Jets..who I think could have a hard time getting to where they did last year.)

 

[italian pat patriot]

ARZ Cardinals and, i hope to be wrong of course, SF 49ers in the Nfc

in the AFC i agree with DEN choice (but they are, i agree, usual contenders)

what about BUF ?

 

[dryheat44]

I don't think they're in danger of winning the division, but I think the Raiders could be pretty good. Their defense borders on excellent, and has for the last two years. Their QB and WR, and coaching situations have been upgraded, and Lamont Jordan is healthy again. As always, it will come down to OL.

As far as playoff teams, Kitna, Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson, and Mike Furrey running a Mike Martz offense could be fantastic, especially if Kevin Jones comes back healthy. Figure in the Packers and Vikings twice on the schedule, and they could make the playoffs.

And yes, those are the teams that drafted 1 and 2 last year. Which means I don't know nothing.

I would go with Cleveland, Buffalo, or Tampa Bay to have the #1 pick next year.