Note: This is a team-by-team look previewing the 2007 season. These are my official thoughts on how I think things will play out.
Last year: 7-9 (third in AFC East)
Best addition: Derrick Dockery (G, Redskins)
Key personnel losses: Willis McGahee (RB, Ravens), Nate Clements (CB, 49ers)
2007 outlook: When 3 of 4 key, non-drafted additions to your roster are linemen, you'd better hope your running game gets better. The problem in Buffalo though is that they got rid of their stud running back (McGahee) and plan to replace him with Anthony Thomas and Marshawn Lynch. Not exactly what I would call threatening. And with Lee Evans showing he can and will take on any and all challengers and JP Losman finally heading in the right direction, the lack of a running game could really set the Bills back.
It also didn't help that Buffalo let Clements and LB London Fletcher go in free agency but the drafting of Penn State LB Paul Posluszny should soften the loss of Fletcher. Now the defense just needs to see how it can get along without Clements.
Key to success: Obviously it rests in two places: the Thomas/Lynch RB tandem and the secondary. If the Bills can't run or the secondary gets torched regularly, fans in Buffalo will be longing for last year, which really wasn't that great. There are a lot of unknowns for Buffalo heading into this season and if I were a Bills fan I would be worried.
Against Washington: The Bills will come to Washington to take on the Redskins on Dec. 2, the 12th game of the season. It could be a critical one for the Skins as they will have just finished up a two-game road trip against Dallas and Tampa Bay and the following week the defending NFC champion Bears come to town.
Fantasy sleeper: Anthony Thomas. As much as I just criticized him and his production, Thomas will probably be the goal line back in this offense - and as any fantasy owner knows, yards per carry don't count but touchdowns sure will. With Lynch being more of a slasher, look for the Bills to call on Thomas in short-yardage situations. He may not be the answer for Buffalo at RB but he could be your answer as a TD scorer. Look at picking him in the late rounds as a guy who will be starting for his team early and scoring often.
Showing posts with label Willis McGahee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Willis McGahee. Show all posts
Friday, July 13, 2007
2007 Previews: Baltimore Ravens
Note: This is a team-by-team look previewing the 2007 season. These are my official thoughts on how I think things will play out.
Last year: 13-3 (AFC North champs, lost to Colts in AFC Divisional round)
Best addition: Willis McGahee (RB, Bills)
Key personnel loss: Adalius Thomas (LB, Patriots)
2007 outlook: The lone addition in the offseason took a rapidly aging offense and injected it with a fresh set of legs in McGahee. And unlike in Buffalo, McGahee will have a solid offensive line to run behind in Baltimore (which got even better with the pickup of former Maryland tackle Jared Gaither in the Supplemental Draft on Thursday) and should be able to consistently show the league why he was a first-round pick despite a bad knee injury five years ago.
With Steve McNair at the helm once again, expect this offense to keep its mistakes down and win a lot of low scoring contests the defense will keep them in. This may be the best Ravens squad in team history.
Key to success: Can Derrick Mason remain a No. 1 for one more year? Mark Clayton has the Ravens looking like draft day genius's with all of the contributing players that have excelled from the last three or four draft classes and Clayton is entering his third season, meaning breakout year for him. But in order to have that success, Mason needs to command enough attention for one more year so the passing game doesn't stall out like it has a tendency to.
Against Washington: The "Battle of the Beltway" is once again relegated to preseason play. Baltimore won the last meeting between the geographic rivals 17-10 at Washington in 2004.
Fantasy sleeper: The defense. I realize that may come across as a cop out but it doesn't seem to matter what player the Ravens have to replace, they continue to be one of the top five in the league. Now I don't condone drafting a defense early by any means, but Baltimore bailed my bacon out a couple of times last year and they should do the same this season. Definitely use a late round pick on them once you have filled a majority of your roster.
Last year: 13-3 (AFC North champs, lost to Colts in AFC Divisional round)
Best addition: Willis McGahee (RB, Bills)
Key personnel loss: Adalius Thomas (LB, Patriots)
2007 outlook: The lone addition in the offseason took a rapidly aging offense and injected it with a fresh set of legs in McGahee. And unlike in Buffalo, McGahee will have a solid offensive line to run behind in Baltimore (which got even better with the pickup of former Maryland tackle Jared Gaither in the Supplemental Draft on Thursday) and should be able to consistently show the league why he was a first-round pick despite a bad knee injury five years ago.
With Steve McNair at the helm once again, expect this offense to keep its mistakes down and win a lot of low scoring contests the defense will keep them in. This may be the best Ravens squad in team history.
Key to success: Can Derrick Mason remain a No. 1 for one more year? Mark Clayton has the Ravens looking like draft day genius's with all of the contributing players that have excelled from the last three or four draft classes and Clayton is entering his third season, meaning breakout year for him. But in order to have that success, Mason needs to command enough attention for one more year so the passing game doesn't stall out like it has a tendency to.
Against Washington: The "Battle of the Beltway" is once again relegated to preseason play. Baltimore won the last meeting between the geographic rivals 17-10 at Washington in 2004.
Fantasy sleeper: The defense. I realize that may come across as a cop out but it doesn't seem to matter what player the Ravens have to replace, they continue to be one of the top five in the league. Now I don't condone drafting a defense early by any means, but Baltimore bailed my bacon out a couple of times last year and they should do the same this season. Definitely use a late round pick on them once you have filled a majority of your roster.
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