Football
enthusiasts prepare for explosive 2005
season
By
Jesse Munoz
Daily Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
After seven months of tracking roster changes, interpreting draft day maneuvers,
and counting down the days until the pre-season ends, the start of the 2005
NFL season is finally upon us.
To non-fans, this news amounts to nothing more than a shuffling of the Sun.
morning TV schedule. But to football enthusiasts across the country it symbolizes
the start of an ultra intense and passionate-17 week struggle for glory, and
I’m not just talking about your fantasy football league.
First off, the Patriots look vulnerable. I think they will still win their
division and march into the playoffs behind the seemingly flawless play of
Tom Brady, but losing both your offensive and defensive coordinator in the
same offseason has to take a toll at some point.
The entire nation-the Raider Nation that is-can’t wait to see Randy Moss
streaking past defenders while wearing the famed silver and black.
Moss raised some eyebrows this summer by admitting he had smoked marijuana
during his NFL career, but Al Davis shouldn’t care too much as long as
the Raiders “Just win baby!”
This season features a number of rookies looking to make a name for themselves.
The learning process could be slow and painful for No.1 pick Alex Smith, but
watch the less heralded rookie QB out of Purdue, Kyle Orton, to make a splash
with the Bears.
Rookie running backs Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams should compete for
rookie of the year honors all year long, but I wouldn’t count out Lions
receiver and former USC standout Mike Williams. Although he might have to fight
for his share of balls with Roy Williams and Charles Rogers, Mike Williams
makes a huge target and was the all time leading receiver at USC.
Of course no preseason would be complete without some picks. In the AFC East,
the Patriots should take the division, but not the Super Bowl.
In the North, Pittsburgh is always tough but Ben Roethlisberger hasn’t
looked strong in preseason and both Jerome Bettis and Duce Staley are hurt.
Meanwhile Baltimore added a lot of firepower with Derrick Mason and Samari
Rolle, so I’m going with the Ravens.
The Colts should have no problem taking the South, and with the addition of
DT Corey Simon, they could finally make some noise in the playoffs. In the
West, I would love to be able to pick the Raiders, but the defense just isn’t
there yet so I must concede to LaDainian Tomlinson and the Chargers.
The NFC should see the Eagles cruise to another title in the East, and most
likely another NFC championship game. In the North, I look for Minnesota to
find success post Randy Moss with the additions of Napoleon Harris and Darren
Sharper on defense.
Sadly, the NFC South will be reduced to a three-team division after Hurricane
Katrina has left the Saints with no home stadium to play in and a devastated
fan base.
The chaos in and around New Orleans will be too much to overcome this year,
making it that much easier for Michael Vick and the Falcons to clinch the division.
In the West I see the Cardinals making vast improvements on both sides of the
ball, but coming up short behind Seattle.
For the wild card, the playoffs should boil down to a Super Bowl battle between
the Colts and the Eagles.
The 2005 NFL kickoff begins Sept. 8 when the defending Super Bowl champions,
the Patriots, host the Raiders. |
