| Opinion Man takes a look at running backs:  Expect nothing less
than more of the same from Colts RB Edgerrin James. He is the real deal and is well on his
way to becoming a complete back. With Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison around to take
the pressure off of him, it is going to be a long time before James returns to the pack.
I will be very
surprised if Broncos RB Terrell Davis is just a shell of his old self. He strikes me as
the sort of competitor who will will himself to a great comeback.
While I am not
picking them to make the playoffs, I think that the Falcons will be much improved with
Jamal Anderson back in action.
I hope I am
wrong, but I have a bad feeling about Garrison Hearst’s future in the NFL.
I expect
Marshall Faulk to continue to thrive this season in the Rams’ fast-break offense.
Faulk is the perfect back for this offense.
I really hope
Jaguars RB Fred Taylor can stay healthy for the entire 16-game regular season. With James
Stewart out of the picture, I think it will be very exciting to see what kind of numbers
the explosive Taylor can post if he can stay out of the trainer’s room. The explosion
that Taylor runs with makes you want to jump out of your seat at times.
This is the
year we find out if Jets RB Curtis Martin is a truly elite back or just a very good back.
Until last season, I thought Martin was a bit overrated. I was very pleasantly surprised
at how well Martin stepped up his play with QB Vinny Testaverde out of action. If Martin
can do it again with WR Keyshawn Johnson gone, he will have proved that he belongs in the
top tier of the NFL’s running backs. A year ago I would have said no way Martin could
come through, but now I think he just might show he’s a prime-time star.
As impressed
as I was by RB Stephen Davis’ play last season, I want to see him do it again before
I completely jump on the bandwagon. If you push me for an answer I’ll say that
he’ll come through, but I’m teetering on the fence on this one.
I think Dorsey
Levens has plenty left in his tank for the 2000 season.
Ditto for
Emmitt Smith. Sooner or later Smith has to run out of gas — every running back does
— but I don’t see it happening this season. When you consider how much of a
wrecking crew Smith was during the Cowboys’ glory years and couple that with how
amazingly productive he has been at the end of his career after some people were ready to
write him off, I think he will rank very high on the all-time list of running backs once
he retires.
Note to the
Bengals on Corey Dillon … Pay the man!
I will be
shocked if Vikings RB Robert Smith plays in all 16 regular-season games. Factor in how
injury-prone he has been in his career with the fact that the Vikings’ offensive line
has taken some offseason hits and I see a running back who figures to spend some time on
the sideline nursing a variety of health problems.
Eagles RB Duce
Staley has turned out to be way more productive than I ever would have imagined.
I have the
feeling that "the Bus" is running out of gas and has tires that are wearing
thin. Quite simply, this might be the season that Jerome Bettis really slips. His only
hope is for QB Kordell Stewart to improve so dramatically that opposing defenses have to
pay less attention to the running game. I’ve been one of Stewart’s biggest
supporters over the years, and even I don’t see a huge improvement coming from him in
2000. If it happens for Stewart, I think it is going to take some time. Problem is, Bettis
doesn’t have a lot of time to wait. Keep an eye on Steelers RB Richard Huntley.
I think
Buccanners RB Warrick Dunn is going to be much more effective this season than he was a
year ago.
Even though I
don’t think Ricky Williams will show all that much more maturity this season, I do
think he will be greatly improved in the productivity department.
If I were the
Patriots, I would try to make a trade with the Broncos to get Olandis Gary.
I know the
following prediction will make you roll your eyes and say, ‘I’ve heard that
before,’ but keep in mind that I’m the guy who said WR Michael Westbrook would
finally have a breakthrough season last year. I think Tshimanga Biakabutuka will have a
big season for the Panthers in 2000.
I also think
that Bears RB Curtis Enis finally starts to live up to the hype in 2000. If he
doesn’t, the Bears should give up on him and find a running back who can complement
their exciting running game. It’s make-or-break time for Enis.
I don’t
see Charlie Garner being able to hold up for the entire 2000 season for the 49ers.
Time is
running out on Seahawks RB Ricky Watters. I’ll be interested to see how he handles
Shaun Alexander cutting into his playing time. Somehow I don’t think he will be as
accepting as Thurman Thomas was in Buffalo when Antowain Smith started to take over.
While I think
it is admirable that Barry Sanders doesn’t care much about stats, I also find it kind
of weird that he’s not the least bit interested in breaking the all-time record for
rushing yards in a career. I know that sounds like I’m talking out of both sides of
my mouth, but I just can’t shake that feeling. Also, it was certainly his right to
retire, but I’m still bothered by the manner in which he left his teammates in the
lurch last season. Until this whole episode, I had always had the highest respect for
Sanders, which is why I’ve found it hard to decide where to weigh in on him regarding
this direction he has chosen to take. Maybe the best way to put it is this is a guy who
handled himself with class, dignity and perhaps the most exciting playing style
you’ll ever see throughout the bulk of his career only to act extremely poorly at the
very end. I just don’t like the last-second nature of what he did to his teammates in
1999.
Click here for Opinion Man's views on QBs
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