Statesman Journal from Salem, Oregon • Page 29

Statesman Journal no SECTION 1 i AUGUST 23, 1999 preview: I lu The gap has closed on the Broncos The league's newest team probably won't be the worst thanks to a generous talent-stocking plan and soft schedule. Making the playoffs this season would cost the Browns an extra batch of picks in the 2000 college draft. Offense: The top priority was a strong OL to protect QBs Ty Detmer and particularly No. 1 The bottom line: The Jets are a team with no glaring weaknesses and enough confidence to go all the way. Predicted record: 11-5.

3. BUFFALO BILLS Coach Wade Phillips; 10-6 record, lost to Miami in AFC wild-card game. Major additions: WR Peerless Price, DB Antoine Winfield. Key losses: WR Quinn Early, I 1 I Vp' it i if -W- 1:0 The Associated Press HOPING FOR THREE: Terrell Davis will be carrying more weight for the Broncos this season, as they attempt a third Super Bowl victory without John Elway. BY BOB MATTHEWS Gannett News Service AFC17EST The major theme of the season in the AFC West will be new quarterbacks.

The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos will try to threepeat with Buddy Blister replacing John Elway. Seattle figures to improve with coach Mike Holmgren, but he'll need a big year from inexperienced QB Jon Kitna. Kansas City is a better overall team but QB Elvis Grbac might not be. Oakland hopes QB Rich Gannon can provide leadership. San Diego figures veteran QBs Erik Kramer and Jim Harbaugh have to be an improvement over rookie disaster Ryan Leaf.

Teams are listed in orderr of predicted season record. 1. DENVER BRONCOS Coach Mike Shanahan; 14-2 last season, defeated Atlanta 34-19 In Super Bowl XXXIII. Major additions: OT Tony Berti, CB Dale Carter, OT Matt Elliott, OL Leo Goeas, QB Chris Miller, DE Carl Reeves, LB Al Wilson. Key losses: LB Keith Burns, QB John Elway, KR-CB Darrien Gordon, WR Willie Green, LB Seth Joyn-er, OT Harry Swayne, DE Marvin Wash ington.

The Broncos will be going for a third straight Super Bowl minus retired QB John Elway and against a rugged schedule. But most of the toughest games are at Mile High Stadium, where Denver rarely loses. Offense: Bubby Blister was 4-0 as a starter last season against weak competition but is coming off arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Shanahan has confidence in backup QB Brian Griese. WRs Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey and TE Shannon Sharps combined for 214 catches for 3,043 yards last season.

WR Marcus Nash is expected to be used more. Terrell Davis is the NFL's best running back. Tom Nalen, LT Tony Jones and LG Mark Schlereth all made the Pro Bowl. PK Jason Elam was 23 for 27 on FGs, including an NFL record-tying 63-yarder. Defense: Denver isn't particularly quick or muscular, but it is loaded with versatile players.

Top players include Aldred Williams, RT Trevor Pryce, and OLBs Bill Romanowski and John Mobley. The addition of free-agent CB Dale Carter is a big boost. The bottom line: Complacency shouldn't be a problem under Shanahan, who yearns to become the first to coach a team to three straight Super Bowl victories. Still, a third straight championship seems unlikely minus Elway. Predicted record: 12-4.

2. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS Coach Mike Holmgren; 8-8 last year. Major additions: WR Mario Bailey, WR Sean Dawkins, QB Glenn Foley. Key losses: WR Brian Blades, RB Steve Broussard, TE Car-lester Crumpler, QB John Friesz, WR James McKnight, QB Warren Moon, DT Dan Saleaumua, Eric Stokes. The Seahawks haven't been to the playoffs since 1988, the longest drought in the NFL.

Owner Paul Allen is paying Holmgren $4 million a year to call all the shots and end that streak. Offense: QB Joe Kitna is the big hope despite only six career starts. He has attractive targets in WRs Joey Galloway, Sean Dawkins and Mike Pritchard. RB Ricky Watters is primed for a big year. The line returns Intact.

Kevin Glover and RT Howard Ballard are veterans. Defense: The line is loaded with RT Cortez Kennedy, LT Sam Adams and LE Michael Sinclair. Chad Brown might be the NFL's best OLB, and DeShone Myles is a promising MLB. LCB Shawn Springs is the key man in the secondary. The bottom line: The Sea-hawks are loaded with talent and could win the division if Kitna comes through.

Predicted record: 10-6. 3. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS Coach Gunther Cunningham; 7-9 record last year. Major additions: CB Cris Dishman, WR-KR Kirby Dar Dar, CB Carlton Gray, QB Brock Huard, TE Lonnie Johnson, DE Lamar King, QB Warren Moon, LB Marvcus Patton, OT John Tait, DE Dan Williams. Key losses: CB Dale Carter, RB Mike Cloud, OT Jeff Criswell, LB Anthony Davis, Sean Fleming, QB Rich Gannon, WR Danan Hughes, CB Mark McMillian.

Cunningham is going with Elvis Grbac as the QB and a defense switch from the 3-4 to 4-3. Offense: Grbac is coming off a poor 1998 season but Cun ningham likes his arm and plans to throw deep more often. There are plenty of targets in Derrick Alexander, Andre Rison, Kevin Lockett, blazer Joe Horn and TEs Tony Gonzalez and Lonnie Johnson. Bam Morris could be the heavy-duty RB the Chiefs have been lacking. The middle of the OL is one of the NFL's best with Tim Grunhard, RG Will Shields and LG Dave Szott.

Defense: The switch to 4-3 is designed to improve the rush defense and should especially help LT Chester McGlockton. RT Dan Williams (10.5 sacks in 1997) returns after sitting out last season in a contract dispute. Derrick Thomas, Marvcus Patton and Donnie Edwards are a solid trio of LBs. SS Reggie Tongue, FS Jerome Woods, CB James Hasty and imported CB Cris Dishman should make the secondary survive the departure of star CB Dale Carter. The bottom line: The Chiefs had the AFC's best record in two of the past four seasons and have the talent to bounce back quickly if they play with more poise.

Predicted record: 9-7. 4. OAKLAND RAIDERS Coach Jon Gruden; 8-8 record. Major additions: DE Tony Bryant, FB Zack Crockett, Isaac Davis, QB Rich Gannon, CB-KR Darrien Gordon, PK Michael Husted, WR Chris T. Jones, Charles Mincy, RB Rashaan Salaam, Greg Skrepenak, OT Matt Stinch-comb, RB Tyrone Wheatley, FB Ray Zellars.

Key losses: PK Greg Davis, QB Jeff George, KR Desmond Howard, Albert Lewis, James Trapp, RB Harvey Williams, LB Terry Wooden. Owner Al Davis's infatuation with the vertical passing game frustrated many of his former coaches. Gruden at least has been allowed to use a version of the West Coast offense. Offense: There are plenty of quick-strike offensive weapons in WRs Tim Brown, Terry Mickens and James Jett, TE Rickey Dudley and RB Napoleon Kaufman. Rashaan Salaam and Tyrone Wheatley are the latest candidates in the search for a more physical back than Kaufman.

Defense: The line is in good shape with tackles Darrell Russell and Russell Maryland and pass-rushing RE Lance Johnstone. Greg Biekert was a major upgrade at MLB, but the Raiders need more big plays from the OLBs. Second-year CB Charles Woodson already is a star. The bottom line: The Raiders pride themselves in being the only team to reach the Super Bowl in every decade, but that streak will likely end this year. Predicted record: 7-9.

5. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS Coach Mike Riley; 5-11 record last year. Major additions: DE Al Fontenot, WR Jeff Graham, QB Jim Harbaugh, LB Eric Hill, Greg Jackson, QB Erik Kramer, LB Tracy Simien. Key losses: TE John Burke, DE Marco Coleman, DE William Fuller, LB Kurt Gouveia, FS Greg Jackson, Raleigh McKenzie, LB Steve Tovar. GM Bobby Beathard continued his controversial moves, hiring Riley as coach coming off a 5-6 season at Oregon State (albeit the Beavers' best record in 27 years).

Offense: Veterans Erik Kramer and Jim Harbaugh can't help but be big improvements over Ryan Leaf. Receivers include Mikhael Ricks, Charlie Jones, Jeff Graham and underrated TE Freddie Jones. PK John Carney is second in all-time FG accuracy Free agents LT John Jackson, LG Aaron Taylor and Roman Fortin upgraded the line last season. They opened plenty of holes for RB Natrone Means. Defense: The ends must contribute more, and Michael Dumas is the hope to replace retired FS Darren Perry.

Import LB Eric Hill is a plus. The bottom line: The Chargers will have trouble approaching last season's glittering defensive statistics, but improved play at QB should improve the team. Predicted record: 6-10. pick Tim -JRl Cmirh Mis sion accomplished with LT Lomas Brown, LG Jim Pyne, Dave Wohlabaugh, RG Ben Cavil and RT Orlando Brown. Other than Couch and rookie WR Kevin Johnson, there isn't much big-play talent.

Defense: Seven projected defensive starters were starters on playoff teams last season. DEs Roy Barker and Derrick Alexander combined for 19.5 sacks. Tackles Jerry Ball and John Jurkovich are proven run stuffers. Jamir Miller, Chris Spiel-man and John Thierry are an experienced trio of LBs. The secondary has plenty of experience.

The bottom line: The goal is to reach the Super Bowl in five years. One doesn't have to remind any Cleveland fans that the Browns never made the Super Bowl for Art Modell. Predicted record: 4-12. AFC EAST The AFC East might not supply this season's Super Bowl champion but it appears to be the NFL's deepest group. Four division teams made the playoffs last season, and the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets and Buffalo Bills should be in the hunt again this year.

New England appears to be slipping but still is dangerous. QB Peyton Manning gives Indianapolis a chance every game. I.MIAMI DOLPHINS Coach Jimmy Johnson; 10-6 record last season, lost to Denver in AFC semifinals. Major additions: LB Sammy Burroughs, RB Cecil Collins, Kevin Gogan, WR Willie Green, CB Greg Jeffries, RB J.J. Johnson, FB Rob Konrad, WR Tony Martin, DE Rich Owens, FB Roosevelt Potts.

Key losses: LB Dixon Edwards, WR Charles Jordan, Klaus Wilmsmeyer, TE Frank Wainright. Johnson and the Dolphins appear to have the goods to deliver on his three-year Super Bowl plan only one year behind schedule. Offense: The top priority is upgrading the rushing attack, and rookies J.J. Johnson, Rob Konrad and Cecil Collins have the young legs to get it done. QB Dan Marino has targets in O.J.

McDuffie, who led the NFL with 90 catches, and Tony Martin, who could be the deep threat if he isn't sidelined by legal problems. Troy Drayton is a talented pass-catching TE. Defense: Johnson has turned the Dolphins from old and slow to young and fast. Zach Thomas and Robert Jones are solid LBs. CBs Sam Madison and Terrell Buckley each had eight of the team's NFL-high 29 interceptions.

The bottom line: Johnson and Marino have the ingredients to make a strong run this season. Predicted record: 12-4. 2. NEW YORK JETS Coach Bill Parcells; 12-4 record, lost to Denver in AFC championship game. Major additions: FS Steve Atwater, OG Ian Beckles, TE John Burke, DE Mike Frederick, TE Eric Green, LB Roman Phifer, WR-KR Dwight Stone, Tom Tupa, QB Scott Zolak.

Key losses: TE Kyle Brady, Todd Burger, QB Glenn Foley, LB Pepper Johnson, Matt O'Dwyer, WR Alex Van Dyke. Parcells has no long-range plan for the Jets. The team was built to win now. Offense: QB Vinny Tes-taverde has to prove he's capable of strong back-to-back seasons. He has a nice batch of receivers in Keyshawn Johnson, Wayne Chre-bet, Dedric Ward and TE Eric Green.

Curtis Martin is a solid heavy- duty RB. Kevin Mawae was an exceptional free-agent pickup and anchors the line. Jumbo Elliott remains a solid LT. Defense: Linebacking is so strong and deep with Mo Lewis, Marvin Jones, Bryan Cox and import Roman Phifer that defensive coordinator Bill Belichick will shift to a 3-4 alignment. Denver import FS Steve Atwater will help against the run.

WR Ray Jackson, TE Lonnie Johnson, CB Marlon Kerner, ST Mark Pike. Buffalo has won 1 0 or more games seven times in the 1990s. Offense: QBs Doug Flutie and Rob Johnson provide depth at the position. They have plenty of quality receivers in Eric Moulds, Andre Reed, Peerless Price and TE Jay Riemersma. The line is above average, and the running game could be if heavy-duty back Antowain Smith plays to his potential.

Thurman Thomas remains a valuable backup, and FB Sam Gash is a top blocker. Steve Christie is an accurate kicker. Defense: Sam Cowart and John Holecek are one of the NFL's best young MLB duos, but the team needs some big plays from the OLBs. SS Henry Jones and FS Kurt Schulz are solid. The bottom line: Buffalo isn't among the NFL's elite teams, but few squads have fewer weaknesses.

The Bills should be competitive every week, beating most of the bad teams and some of the really good ones. Predicted record: 10-6. 4. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS Coach Pete Carroll; 9-7 record, lost to Jacksonville in AFC wild-card game. Major additions: RB Kevin Faulk, QB John Friesz, Lee Johnson, LB Andy Katzenmoy-er, RB Lamont Warren, Damien Woody.

Key losses: CB Chris Canty, FS Willie Clay, LB Todd Collins, RB Robert Edwards, TE Lovett Pumell, RB Sedrick Shaw, Tom Tupa, DT Mark Wheeler, Dave Wohlabaugh, QB Scott Zolak. Not much has gone right for the Patriots since losing Super Bowl XXXI to Green Bay. Coach Bill Parcells jumped to the Jets, and the team hasn't responded well for suc cessor Carroll. Sixteen different starters missed a combined 58 regu- lar-season games last season. Offense: The injury jinx continued in the offseason as RB Robert Edwards suffered a career-threatening knee injury.

The Patriots have searched for a quality replacement to no avail. Bledsoe showed his courage by gutting out two crucial wins with his broken passing finger late last season. Top WR Terry Glenn has been injury prone, Shawn Jefferson, Troy Brown and speedy Tony Simmons supply WR depth. TE Ben Coates has slipped but remains effective. Defense: CB Ty Law (NFL-most nine interceptions) and SS Lawyer Milloy give the Patriots a solid secondary.

A weak pass rush was a big factor in the team's 25th ranking on pass defense last season. Rookie Andy Katzenmoyer will try to replace Ted Johnson (out for the season) at MLB. The bottom line: The Patriots didn't add any significant talent while the rest of the AFC East did. Predicted record: 6-10. 5.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS Coach Jim Mora; 3-13 last year. Major additions: LB Cornelius Bennett, DE Chad Bratzke, Chad Cota, RB Edgerrin James, DE Shawn King, RB Darick Holmes, QB Steve Walsh, Tito Wooten. Key losses: WR Aaron Bailey, Robert Blackmon, RB Marshall Faulk, DE Al Fontenot, Chris Gardocki, WR Torrance Small, RB Lamont Warren. In 15 seasons in Indianapolis, the Colts have made the playoffs three times. They're improving.

Peyton Manning could be the league's best young QB. Offense: Manning has a few quality Kins til iviaivin 17 Harrison, wHjjl Jerome Pathon and E.G. Green and TE Ken Dilger. Departed RB Marshall Faulk will be difficult to replace, but the Colts think rookie Edgerrin James will get the job done. PK Mike Vanderjagt had an impressive rookie year.

Defense: Free-agent imports RDE Chad Bratzke, LDE Shawn King, SLB Cornelius Bennett and SS Chad Cota should be improvements. The bottom line: The Colts had five players on last year's NFL All-Rookie Team. That's an indication that GM Bill Polian has them headed in the right direction. Predicted record: 5-11. Coniing tomorrow NFC: The Vikings, Buccaneers Packers make the central division tough.

SPORTS EXTRA Cook, WR Willie Davis, LB Lonnie Marts, Mark Stepnoski, DT Gary Walker. The Titans hope to end three-year run of 8-8 records with a new name, new uniforms and new stadium in Nashville. Offense: QB Steve McNair is an excellent runner with a strong arm. McNair has talented receivers including Yancey Thig-pen, Kevin Dyson, Chris Sanders and TEFB Frank Wycheck. A more aggressive passing attack will take some pressure off heavy-duty RB Eddie George.

Bruce Matthews shifts to center, and the tackle spots are in good hands with Brad Hopkins and Jon Runyan. PK Al Del Greco is among the best. Defense: None of the team's top seven tacklers were linemen last season, so there is room for improvement. Imported DE Mike Jones and DT Jason Fisk and rookie DE Jevon Kearse should help. OLBs Eddie Robinson and Joe Bowden are good run stuffers.

The secondary is solid. The bottom line: The Titans have the potential to make a run for a wild-card berth. Predicted record: 10-6. 3. PITTSBURGH STEELERS Coach Bill Cowher; 7-9 last year.

Major additions: WR Troy Edwards, OT Anthony Brown, Travis Davis, Wayne Gandy, DB Scott Shields, WR Alex Van Dyke. Key losses: NT Oliver Gibson, WR Charles Johnson, DB Camell Lake, FB Tim Lester, Darren Perry, OT Jamain Stephens, OT Will Wolford. No team has suffered more from free agency than the Steel-ers, who have lost 13 starters to the system since 1996. The exodus of talent is starting to show. Offense: QB Kordell Stewart was awful last season, but nearly everyone expects him to bounce back this year.

Jerome Bettis remains a top heavy-duty RB. Rookie Troy Edwards is important because free agency has taken a heavy toll on the WR corps. Dermontti Dawson anchors a line that struggled last year. Defense: Linebacking is the strength of the defense with Levon Kirkland, Jason Gilden and Earl Holmes. Joel Steed is a solid NT but the rest of the line must show more.

RCB Dewayne Washington is solid. The bottom line: The Steelers still have a solid defense. A comeback by Stewart would help the offense. Predicted record: 9-7. 4.

BALTIMORE RAVENS Coach Brian Billick; 6-10 record. Major additions: QB Tony Banks, RB Steve Broussard, TE Greg DeLong, FB Charles Evans, DB Chris McAlister, KR-WR Terry Metcalf, QB Scott Mitchell, TE Aaron Pierce, DE Fernando Smith, Harry Swayne. Key losses: LT Orlando Brown, DE Mike Frederick, TE Eric Green, QB Jim Harbaugh, DT James Jones, TE Brian Kinchen, FB Roosevelt Potts, Wally Williams, QB Eric Zeier. Billick looked like a genius as offensive coordinator in Minnesota, and it will be interesting to see how he does here. The major projects are QBs Scott Mitchell and Tony Banks.

Offense: Billick will be switching to a West Coast short-passing attack. Mitchell and Banks have a few speedy WRs in Jermaine Lewis and Patrick Johnson. Priest Holmes is a smallish heavy-duty RB. LT Jonathan Ogden, RG Jeff Blackshear and former Denver RT Harry Swayne are the mainstays of what should be a decent line. Defense: LBs Peter Boulware, Ray Lewis and Jamie Sharper are the heart of the unit.

RDE Michael McCrary has 35 sacks in his last 38 games. The secondary should be respectable. The bottom line: The Ravens should be fun to watch but a major turnaround is unlikely with Mitchell or Banks at the helm. Predicted record: 7-9. 5.

CINCINNATI BENGALS Coach Bruce Coslet; 3-13 last year. Major additions: WR Tommie Boyd, OL Brian DeMarco, NT Oliver Gibson, QB Akili Smith, OT Jamain Stephens. Key losses: DB Ashley Ambrose, OL Anthony Brown, QB Paul Justin, QB Neil O'Donnell, DB Sam Shade, DE Clyde Simmons. The Bengals are scheduled to move Into their new Paul Brown Stadium next season, and Coslet probably won't be going with them if the team has its ninth straight losing season. Offense: Rookie Akili Smith is the big hope for the future (if he signs).

Jeff Blake is still the starting QB. Star WR Carl Pickens is a holdout and vows never to play for Cincinnati. WR Dar-nay Scott and TE Tony McGee are established targets. Corey Dillon is a solid RB, and there is hope for Ki-Jana Carter if he can stay healthy. Defense: Quicker and better linemen are needed to make Dick LeBeau's 3-4 scheme effective, and Cincinnati probably doesn't have them.

The bottom line: The Bengals have stockpiled top draft picks and might be a mild surprise against a last-place schedule. Predicted record: 5-11. 6. CLEVELAND BROWNS Coach Chris Palmer. Expansion team.

AFC CENTRAL The Jacksonville Jaguars have the most overall talent in the AFC Central and could be the best team in the conference with a slight upgrade on defense to complement a potentially awesome attack. The Tennessee Titans could surprise the Jaguars if quarterback Steve McNair has a breakthrough season. Pittsburgh expects QB Kordell Stewart to bounce back. Baltimore has plenty of speed on defense but needs more offense. Cincinnati and the expansion Cleveland Browns should have a spirited battle for fifth place in the league's only six-team division.

I.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Coach Tom Coughlin; 11-5 record last season, lost to the New York Jets in AFC semifinals. Major additions: TE Kyle Brady, DB Fernando Bryant, Camell Lake, FB Tim Lester, LB Lonnie Marts, DT Gary Walker, Zach Wiegert. Key losses: DT John Jurk-ovic, DE Jeff Lageman, TE Pete Mitchell, DT Kelvin Pritchett. The fifth-year Jaguars have a Super Bowl-caliber offense and should score at least 400 points if QB Mark Brunner stays healthy. The problem is defense.

New defensive coordinator Dom Capers and free agents DT Gary Walker and FS Camell Lake are the big hopes for improvement. Offense: Brunell has an abundance of quality targets in WRs Jimmy Smith, Keenan McCardell and Reggie Barlow, and TE Kyle Brady. Fred Taylor, James Stewart and Tavian Banks supply excellent depth at RB. The line is huge and one of the best in the business. There is no better pair of tackles than Tony Boselli and Leon Searcy.

Defense: Capers is aggressive. With mproved play from Tony Brackens, LB Bryce Paup, rookie CB Fernando Bryant and the free agents, the unit could be good. The bottom line: Jacksonville has reached the playoffs in each of the past three seasons and should continue that streak. Predicted record: 11-5. 2.

TENNESSEE TITANS Coach Jeff Fisher; 8-8 last year. Major additions: DT Jason Fisk, DT Mike Jones, LB Jevon Kearse, FB Lorenzo Neal, QB Neil O'Donnell. losses: DE Anthony Key 1.