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Aug 23, 2003 The NFL preseason has passed the halfway mark and it appears that there will be some interesting battles for division titles this year. Several questions loom large over the 2003 campaign. Will the San Francisco 49ers coaching change benefit or hurt their chances at a title? Which version of the Bears will show up? Will the Tuna rise to the top, or will Dallas remain a cellar dweller? Are the Cardinals for real, having posted an undefeated preseason so far? How about Emmitt Smith – did Dallas make a huge mistake in letting him leave? A critical question in Atlanta is whether or not Michael Vick can return to top form after a very unfortunate injury. The New England Patriots have been looking very hot in the preseason with a reinforced defense really standing out. Can Tom Brady take them back to the big game with an improved push in the passing game? Will the Patriots have a running game this year? How well will Mooch do in Detroit – can the Lions hit or pass the .500 mark? Can Farve take the Packers very far? The 2003 season will be an exciting one. Some of the teams who have had real talent in the recent past are on the edge of drifting back toward mediocrity. In fact any group that doesn’t make the Super Bowl generally feels the season is wasted and indeed they faded into dim memory. The Philadelphia Eagles are one team that is in just such a position. The Eagles have come close to the big dance a couple of years in a row but fallen short in the last battle. If the Eagles fail again to make the Super Bowl, they will most likely fade into oblivion. Donovan McNabb is one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL but his supporting cast is being lost to free agency and age. As some football analysts have noted, the window of opportunity for the Eagles seems to be closing with this particular group and this season is a huge one for the Eagles and head coach Andy Reid. Pittsburgh is another team that is on the edge of dropping back into the pack of mid-level teams who didn’t quite turn the corner to the ultimate championship. Another team that falls into this group with a limited window of opportunity has to be the San Franciso 49ers, with Jeff Garcia showing some signs of aging and injury, and wide receiver Terrell Owens looking to get out next year. From questionable to dominating? The St. Louis Ram’s offensive line was indeed offensive last year, at least to Kurt Warner and Marc Bulger, who were both chased around and injured by opponents who overran the front five. The Rams scrambled to fill holes all year, mixing and matching different players without much success. This year the line was a continuing concern so the Rams brought in All-Pro Kyle Turley to anchor the right tackle position. Then things took a turn for the worse when All- Pro left tackle Orlando Pace decided to extend his holdout indefinitely. The news for the Rams is starting to sound better, however, as there are rumblings that Pace will report to the team soon. His reporting will turn the Ram line into the best in the NFL. The bookends are All- Pros Pace and Turley, and in the middle is All- Pro Adam Timmerman. The Rams have a couple of interesting options at center – the veteran Dave Wohlabaugh, acquired in the off-season, or big John St. Clair. Although St. Clair struggled at right tackle last year, his play this year has been superb, and the center position is his natural spot from college days. His size (similar to Pace) will give the Rams a huge front for passing or running action. He is also very quick and strong. Add to the mix a tight end with tremendous size, strength, and blocking ability (Brandon Manumaleuna) and you have a blocking unit unparallel with anyone else. With the return of Pace, the powerful Ram line makes the St. Louis team instantly a top contender for the Super Bowl. The pick for the Super Bowl participants this coming season? It looks like it will be a return to the Super Bowl of a couple of years ago, with the Rams meeting the Patriots for another classic showdown. The Bucs and Raiders don’t appear strong enough to make it back to the final football weekend of the year this year. ------------ About the author: Dwayne Hines currently has 12 books selling in major bookstores and writes for major magazines such as Physical and FitnessRX. Email Dwayne Hines: dhines@3dinet.com Comment on this column in the forum. Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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