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AFC West Capsules
Compiled by David Larimer
Coach: Mike Shanahan, 64-32 in six seasons with Broncos (72-44 in eight seasons overall; lost to Baltimore in first round of playoffs in 2000). Key acquisitions: CB Denard Walker (Titans), DT Chester McGlockton (Chiefs), DT Leon Lett (Cowboys), LB Lee Woodall (Panthers), LB Henri Crockett (Falcons), QB Steve Beuerlein (Panthers), WR Eddie Kennison (Bears), CB Willie Middlebrooks (first-round draft pick, Minnesota). Key losses: DE Lester Archambeau (free agency), CB Terrell Buckley (Patriots), LB Glenn Cadrez (Chiefs), CB Ray Crockett (Chiefs), T Tony Jones (retired), G Mark Schlereth (retired). Outlook: The Broncos (24th in total defense in ’00) hope new defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes transforms their overhauled unit. The offense has an embarrassment of riches with the NFL’s top-rated quarterback, Brian Griese; a deep receiving corps led by Ed McCaffrey and Rod Smith; and three 1,000-yard rushers, Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson and Olandis Gary. Mile High Stadium gives way to a stadium that’s so nice they named it twice: Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium. One to watch: Tests indicate that Davis, who rushed for 2,008 yards in 1998, has a degenerative knee condition, putting his career in jeopardy at 28.
Coach: Dick Vermeil, first season with Chiefs (76-73 in 10 seasons overall). Key acquisitions: S Jason Belser (Colts), LB Glenn Cadrez (Broncos), CB Ray Crockett (Broncos), QB Trent Green (Rams), RB Priest Holmes (Ravens), DE Rich Owens (Dolphins), QB Joe Germaine (Rams). Key losses: RB Kimble Anders (free agency), RB Donnell Bennett (Redskins), QB Elvis Grbac (Ravens), CB James Hasty (retired), C Tim Grunhard (retired), WR Kevin Lockett (Redskins), DT Chester McGlockton (Broncos), WR Sylvester Morris (injured reserve), QB Bubby Brister (released). Outlook: The Chiefs, after five straight seasons out of the playoffs, needed a makeover, and they got one. Vermeil has scrapped the Chiefs’ power running game, featuring a back-by-committee system, for a speed game similar to the one he presided over in St. Louis two seasons ago. But can Holmes be an adequate facsimile of Marshall Faulk? Tony Gonzalez, already the best tight end in the NFL, could be an even bigger threat in a pass-happy offense, as could WR Derrick Alexander. One to watch: The Chiefs wanted Green badly enough to trade a No. 1 draft pick to get him, something President Carl Peterson previously had done only for Joe Montana.
Coach: Jon Gruden, 28-20 in three seasons with Raiders. (Won division in 2000, lost to Baltimore in AFC championship game.) Key acquisitions: DE Trace Armstrong (Dolphins), RB Charlie Garner (49ers), G Frank Middleton (Buccaneers), WR Jerry Rice (49ers), TE Roland Williams (Rams). Key losses: RB Napoleon Kaufman (retired), TE Rickey Dudley (Browns), DE Lance Johnstone (Vikings), WR Andre Rison (free agency). Outlook: The Raiders have made solid replacements for every offseason departure. With Garner replacing Kaufman as Mr. Outside to RB Tyrone Wheatley’s Mr. Inside in the Raiders’ No. 1-ranked ground game, plus a Hall of Fame wideout tandem in Rice and Tim Brown, the offense should be every bit as good as last season’s as long as QB Rich Gannon holds up. On defense, DT Darrell Russell is suspended for the first four games for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. One to watch: DT Grady Jackson has improved in each of his four seasons, leading the team with eight sacks last year. He will draw more attention this season, especially with Russell’s absence in the early part of the season.
Coach: Mike Riley, 9-23 in two seasons with Chargers. Key acquisitions: QB Drew Brees (second-round draft pick, Purdue), WR-KR Tim Dwight (Falcons), QB Doug Flutie (Bills), LB John Holecek (Bills), LB Sam Rogers (Bills), RB LaDainian Tomlinson (first-round draft pick, Texas Christian), DE Marcellus Wiley (Bills). Key losses: S Michael Dumas (Bears), G Kevin Gogan (free agent), QB Jim Harbaugh (Lions), CB DeRon Jenkins (Titans), QB Ryan Leaf (Buccaneers). Outlook: Courtesy of the draft and the Buffalo Bills, the Chargers are a much different team than the one that staggered through last season. New General Manager John Butler, who spent the past eight seasons in Buffalo, brought along four players, all of whom could start, and got rid of all of last season’s quarterbacks. Plus, San Diego drafted two of college football’s most prolific offensive players, Tomlinson and Brees, though both held out until well into training camp. After last season, change is good. One to watch: The Chargers have to be disappointed in Tomlinson’s long holdout because they need a talented running back immediately. San Diego has not had a 400-yard rusher since 1998.
Coach: Mike Holmgren, 15-17 in two seasons with Seahawks (90-54 in nine seasons overall). Key acquisitions: QB Trent Dilfer (Ravens), DT Chad Eaton (Patriots), WR Bobby Engram (Bears), QB Matt Hasselbeck (Packers), G Steve Hutchinson (first-round draft pick, Michigan), LB Levon Kirkland (Steelers), DT John Randle (Vikings), S Marcus Robertson (Titans), WR Koren Robinson (first-round draft pick, N.C. State). Key losses: S Jay Bellamy (Saints), WR Sean Dawkins (Jaguars), G Pete Kendall (Cardinals), DT Cortez Kennedy (retired), QB Jon Kitna (Bengals), WR Derrick Mayes (free agency). Outlook: Holmgren brought in a slew of veterans on defense in 1999, only to dump many of them after they underachieved that season. But his similar moves this year will improve the defense. The offense, meantime, hinges on youth. Believe it or not, WR Darrell Jackson led all rookies in receptions (53), receiving yards (713) and touchdown catches (6) last year. Engram’s late-August signing shores up what was a desperately thin receiving group. One to watch: Starting QB Hasselbeck has attempted only 29 passes in the NFL and has never started a regular season game. Holmgren hedged his gamble by signing Dilfer as a backup. |
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