| It is the time of year, the spring, when the
editors of Pro Football Weekly are busy making predictions about the upcoming NFL season.
While it may be the middle of spring, our minds are on late summer, when the football
season officially kicks off. Over the past several weeks, we have been predicting which
teams will win their respective divisions and which two teams will advance to the Super
Bowl. We have been predicting who will be each team’s offensive and defensive MVPs.
We have even gone so far as to predict the final record for every NFL team.
If you wait a few more weeks, you can learn the outcome of such prognostications. In
early July, PFW's Preview 2001 magazine will hit newsstands around the nation. In the
pages of that magazine, all of our guesswork will be on display for you to pore over.
But until then, I would like to tease you a bit with some of my own predictions
regarding the upcoming NFL season. Mind you, these are not officially sanctioned Pro
Football Weekly predictions. These are my own humble, educated guesses, which did not find
their way into any of our offseason publications.
So, without further ado, here are my pre-training-camp predictions.
Who will win the Rookie of the Year award?
My prediction here is Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson, the fifth overall pick in the
draft. The four picks ahead of him — Michael Vick, Leonard Davis, Gerard Warren and
Justin Smith — are obviously very talented, but none is in a position to
radically change his team’s fortunes in Year One. Vick likely will only see spot duty
as a rookie. Davis will be a big help to the Cardinals’ offensive line, but men who
play his position rarely are considered MVPs. Warren will help the Browns stop the run,
but that won’t be enough for him to earn consideration for Rookie of the Year. As for
Smith, well, he plays for the Bengals. Nuff said.
Tomlinson, on the other hand, is in a position to have the greatest impact on his team
immediately of any rookie drafted this year. The Chargers finished dead last in rushing
offense in 2000, mainly because they didn’t have a No. 1 back to hand off to. With
the rookie in the backfield and Norv Turner calling the plays, look for Tomlinson to
easily top 1,200 rushing yards.
Who will win Coach of the Year honors?
My best guess is Denver’s Mike Shanahan. He has done a masterful job of luring
quality talent to what was already a potentially explosive team. This club has the best
depth in the NFL, and it’s because of Shanahan’s reputation of being a good
coach to play for. If the Broncos win the AFC West, as I believe they will, Shanahan
should pick up the award.
Who will win Assistant Coach of the Year honors?
Many people would give the nod to Ray Rhodes, who is in the first year as the
Broncos’ defensive coordinator. Denver had its share of problems on defense last
season, finishing 24th overall in the league. But if Rhodes — along
with free-agent additions like Denard Walker, Leon Lett, Chester McGlockton and Tyrone
Poole, among others — is able to get this defense into the top 10, he will deserve
kudos.
However, I believe you will see the most marked improvement in San Diego’s
offense, which means offensive coordinator Norv Turner will be in the running. If he is
able to coach QB Doug Flutie into transforming the Chargers into an effective offense, the
Chargers could see their win total go from one in 2000 to eight in 2001. The Chargers
already have a very solid defense, so my predicted improvement has to be attributed to the
offense. For that, Turner gets the nod for Assistant Coach of the Year.
Who will be the first head coach fired during the season?
A couple of coaches who sit squarely on the hot seat are Mike Riley in San Diego and
Dick LeBeau in Cincinnati. There is a fair assumption that if the Chargers don’t get
out of the gate quickly, Riley could be dumped and Norv Turner could be named interim head
coach. I don’t foresee that happening. As for LeBeau, even if the Bengals get off to
a rocky start, I’m not convinced that the front office wants to go through changing
head coaches in the middle of the season for the second year in a row. LeBeau should be
safe.
So, who will be fired in season? No one. Owners will remember that the fortunes of the
Cardinals and Redskins didn’t improve last year when Vince Tobin and Norv Turner were
dismissed during the season, and they will be patient enough to wait until after the
season to make a move.
And finally, the biggest prediction of them all:
Who will be playing for the Vince Lombardi Trophy next January?
I like the Broncos to emerge in the AFC. They’ve had Super Bowl talent for years
but have been derailed by injuries the past couple of seasons. Even if the injury bug
bites this season, Shanahan has added a vast amount of veteran depth to his roster. In the
NFC, this is the year the Buccaneers finally get their offense to get over the hump. Tampa
Bay’s defense has been carrying this team for several years, but with a proven
quarterback in Brad Johnson and the realization that Warrick Dunn is capable of handling
the rushing chores without Mike Alstott, the Bucs are ready to reach their first Super
Bowl.
Who wins?
I like Denver at this point. But remember, it’s only June, and I am free to change
my mind about 50 times between now and Week One. |
