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Bad 2006 NFL Teams
While many publications are beginning
to look at the best teams in the NFL, there is just as much
money to be made betting AGAINST teams with weaknesses.
Here's a look at some NFL teams that appear to be moving in
the wrong direction to help you with
football picks.
Raiders: Art who? Art Shell is back to coach the Raiders, a
curious move as he has not been involved in coaching since
the Raiders fired him after the 1994 season. That was a long
time ago, and the NFL has changed. Just ask Joe Gibbs, who
struggled in his first year back admitting that the game had
changed a lot. For instance, when Gibbs was winning Super
Bowls in the 1980s and 90s, one of his mantras was maximum
quarterback protection. He tried that in 2004, but with so
few receiving targets, no one could get open against today's
Cover-2 defense. The Redskins were 29th in passing that
season.
And Shell didn't light the NFL world on fire when he was
coach the first time. His offense coordinator will be Tom
Walsh, who was fired by the Raiders along with Shell
following the 1994 season. Walsh was an assistant with the
Raiders from 1982-94, coaching quarterbacks and receivers
before becoming offensive coordinator under Shell. Talk
about a potentially throwback attack! Will they come out in
the Single Wing or the T-Formation?
Just as curious have been the personnel moves, getting rid
of mistaken prone QB Kerry Collins for mistake prone Aaron
Brooks. Age has been a problem with a weak defense the last
few years, signing guys like Ted Washington, DE Bobby
Hamilton and Warren Sapp. So who do they add this offseason?
11-year CB Tyrone Poole and CB Duane Starks, the latter who
was a bust with New England's poor secondary last season.
Since losing the 2003 Super Bowl to Tampa Bay, the Raiders
are 14-33-1 against the spread!
Vikings: Brad Childress is the new Minnesota head coach, a
former offensive coordinator with the Eagles. I hope he
knows what he's getting into. Trading star WR Randy Moss and
shipping out star QB Daunte Culpepper in each of the last
two offseasons while getting little in return makes it very
tough on the new coach. Capable QBs are rare in this league,
and to dump Culpepper without at least seeing if he is
healthy for a potential bounce-back season makes little
sense. After all, he is only 29-years old and in 2004
Culpepper had an incredible season with 39 TDs and 11 picks.
They also let WR Nate Burleson walk. He was off a poor
season, but in 2004 Burleson had 1,006 yards receiving and
nine touchdowns. Minnesota's offense was 25th in the NFL in
2005, a poor 27th rushing the football, and will be again
run by 38-year old Brad Johnson. The Vikings defense wasn't
much better than the offense, ranked 21st overall. Many
eyebrows were raised on draft day when the Vikings TRADED UP
into the second round to take Tarvaris Jackson of Alabama
State. Who? Don't worry, you're not alone. A lot of folks
are wondering what the Vikings are doing.
Bills: The late push to nearly make the playoffs in 2004 was
a mirage, folks. The Bills have gone 31-49 since 2001, tied
with Cleveland for the third worst record in the NFL over
that span. And they looked lost for 2006. New coach Dick
Jauron steps in after a less than remarkable run with the
Bears a few years ago. There is no QB, with J.P. Losman and
Kelly Holcomb battling for the job.
And the organization decided to let go of a lot of quality
talent this offseason, losing WR Eric Moulds, S Lawyer
Milloy and NT Sam Adams (cap casualties). One of the biggest
surprises of the 2006 draft was when the Bills selected Ohio
State safety Donte Whitner with the No. 8 pick. Buffalo
surprised again by taking N.C. State defensive tackle John
McCargo, who wasn't expected to go that high. The secondary
also adds rookies Ohio State cornerback Ashton Youboty and
South Carolina safety Ko Simpson. This secondary will be
very young, and the defense couldn't stop the run last
season (29th) and doesn't look any better.
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