Code:
Kilmer, Billy 11 QB 11 28 28 2 yrs
Stabler, Ken 10 QB 4 57 66 2 yrs
Hunter, Scott 2 QB 1 4 25 3 yrs
Stabler-Kilmer-Hunter right down the row, obviously, though if Ken goes down, our season is done.
Code:
Hill, Calvin 38 RB 3 49 55 2 yrs
Pittman, Charlie 41 RB 2 24 41 2 yrs
Burns, Leon 35 RB 1 20 28 4 yrs
Csonka, Larry 48 FB 4 60 60 5 yrs
Hill and Csonka start, with Pittman the second string halfback. Burns could well be worth a move to FB. It says his ratings could improve if he makes the switch and it's the direction I'm leaning in, as I don't see anything that says he'll be able to get past Pittman.
Code:
Cannon, Billy 86 TE 12 43 43 2 yrs
Kramer, Kent 87 TE 6 38 38 2 yrs
Frazier, Charlie 88 FL 10 45 45 1 yr.
Warfield, Paul 85 FL 8 65 65 3 yrs
Stowe, Otto 82 FL 1 10 15 1 yr.
Wright, Elmo 84 FL 1 7 20 3 yrs
Ballman, Gary 89 SE 10 38 38 3 yrs
Jefferson, Roy 81 SE 7 62 62 3 yrs
Cannon will begin the year as the starter, but he's going downhill fast and Kramer stands a good chance of taking over the TE spot by midseason. Warfield and Jefferson the flanker and split end respectively, with Frazier and Ballman the reserves. Stowe and Wright will fight it out in preseason for the 5th receiver spot, though my hunch has Stowe down.
This is actually turning into an area of concern, strange as it sounds for the top receiving corps in the league. They're starting to get old and we need some new blood here that's actually talented.
Code:
Schmitt, John 56 C 8 56 56 2 yrs
Marchlewski, Frank 55 C 7 44 44 1 yr.
Fest, Howard 71 LG 4 47 47 2 yrs
Moorman, Mo 79 LG 4 59 59 1 yr.
Upshaw, Gene 77 RG 5 90 90 3 yrs
George, Ed 65 LT 2 30 45 4 yrs
Vogel, Bob 76 RT 9 49 49 2 yrs
Taffoni, Joe 68 RT 5 44 44 3 yrs
George-Moorman-Schmitt-Upshaw-Vogel as the starting five. George is starting to not look as good as he did originally in my opinion, so we may be looking to upgrade there next offseason.
Code:
Maguire, Paul 9 P 12 73 73 1 yr.
Webster, Tim 16 K 1 34 61 3 yrs
Maguire great, Webster raw. I think Webster does have the potential to become a pretty good all-around kicker, however.
Code:
Greenwood, L.C. 96 LDE 3 53 53 1 yr.
Brown, Aaron 74 RDE 6 49 49 1 yr.
Grant, Wes 78 RDE 2 34 52 2 yrs
Antwine, Houston 75 LDT 11 33 33 1 yr.
Brown, Robert 92 LDT 8 40 40 1 yr.
Appleton, Scott 72 RDT 8 34 34 1 yr.
We're dangerously soft up the middle, though Greenwood and A. Brown will provide pressure. Grant has horrible endurance, so he's really suited for nothing more than a supersub role. R. Brown and Appleton are the likely DT starters, though Antwine will try to knock off Appleton.
Greenwood's looking for a big contract after his sensational season last year. We'll see how he performs this season before spending the cash on him. In any case, this unit is going to undergo an overhaul next offseason.
Code:
Harding, Dave 51 MLB 12 28 28 1 yr.
Lanier, Willie 58 MLB 5 76 76 4 yrs
Barber, Rudy 90 MLB 4 23 23 1 yr.
Meggyesy, Dave 59 SLB 9 36 36 1 yr.
Lewis, Jess 94 SLB 2 12 24 2 yrs
Walker, Cleo 91 SLB 2 21 37 3 yrs
Hermann, Dick 53 WLB 7 37 37 1 yr.
Coleman, Dennis 57 WLB 1 21 45 4 yrs
The only surefire starter is Lanier. Meggyesy has the inside track on keeping his starting SLB spot, but Walker will challenge him for it. Hermann had a great season in Dallas last year, but Coleman's potential intrigues. Without Lanier, this is one of the weakest position groups on the team. Thank God we got him.
Code:
Wilson, Nemiah 45 LCB 7 50 50 1 yr.
Lavan, Al 27 LCB 3 22 36 1 yr.
Hayes, Billie 36 LCB 2 24 39 2 yrs
Ford, Charlie 34 LCB 1 22 46 3 yrs
Baird, Billy 25 RCB 9 33 33 1 yr.
Duncan, Jim 29 RCB 4 39 39 3 yrs
Wilson and Duncan will be the starters, though the nickel corner is really going to be anyone's guess. A lot of young players here, but none of them very good. Ford's potential just may be enough to win him the nickel slot over Lavan, who currently has the inside track.
Code:
Bird, Rodger 46 SS 6 32 32 1 yr.
Flowers, Richmond 30 SS 3 22 32 2 yrs
Edwards, Glen 20 SS 1 35 60 4 yrs
Fleming, Don 24 FS 13 35 35 1 yr.
Clarke, Hagood 21 FS 8 60 60 4 yrs
Clarke and Edwards are the clear-cut starters. Flowers will be the reserve SS, as Bird's numbers are inflated by his incredible PR ability. That'll also allow Rodger to focus exclusively on returning punts. Fleming, obviously, is the backup FS.
Overall, the team's being hailed as a Super Bowl contender by a lot of preseason press, but that's because of the additions of Lanier, Edwards and Clarke. I keep getting the feeling that we're looking like a bit of a paper tiger, though. One injury would be enough to blow this team apart.
While the papers are saying Super Bowl, I'm saying a division title and a playoff run to the divisional round or AFC Championship is much more likely. I'd love another Super Bowl title though, obviously.
