| Two potential Super Bowl contenders currently
have two potential problems that need fixing. In a bold move, the Packers have said
goodbye to their top three wide receivers of a year ago and have decided to go with an
infusion of youth. The Raiders will have two new starting defensive tackles this season as
well as a new defensive end. Both teams are talented enough to make a legitimate run at
the Super Bowl, and yet both may face significant growing pains with all the new faces in
key places.
When Antonio Freeman declined to take a pay cut, he was released by Green Bay in early
June, joining Bill Schroeder and Corey Bradford, who departed as unrestricted free agents,
on one-way flights out of Cheeseland. The three receivers accounted for about 90 percent
of the receptions, yardage and touchdowns recorded by the Green Bay WR corps in 2001.
Now how much they’ll really miss these three remains to be seen. Freeman’s
level of production had declined in each of the past three seasons. Schroeder’s
demeanor often bordered on surly, he didn’t run crisp routes with regularity and he
was not believed to be a favorite in the locker room. Bradford, meanwhile, never lived up
to his enormous potential despite the big-play ability he occasionally displayed.
Enter Terry Glenn, who must improve his behavior in an effort to recapture the magic he
showed early in his career. He had only 14 receptions last season and seemed to be in a
constant battle with the Patriots during the past few years of a rocky relationship in New
England. The Packers are banking on second-year WR Robert Ferguson and 2002 first-rounder
Javon Walker progressing quickly. Donald Driver and Charles Lee round out the top five for
now. The group caught a total of 30 NFL passes in 2001, and it will be interesting to see
how QB Brett Favre, the league’s ultimate leader, responds to such a young and
inexperienced group when the rest of the roster appears to be solid in all areas.
The Raiders’ growing pains could be along the defensive line, where the team took
another hit over the weekend. DE Regan Upshaw tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his
right knee when his cleats got caught in the turf during a drill. Besides losing their top
sack producer (seven), the loss of Upshaw for the upcoming season resonates even louder
considering the already shaky status of the Raiders’ line.
Gone are last year’s two starting tackles, Grady Jackson and Darrell Russell.
Jackson departed for New Orleans via free agency, and Russell was slapped with a one-year
suspension for a repeat violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy. John
Parrella, an underrated, run-stuffing veteran, came over from San Diego during the
offseason, as did backup Mike Mohring. Joining them in the middle will be Roderick
Coleman, who probably isn’t stout enough at the point of attack to be an every-down
player, and Chris Cooper, last year’s sixth-round pick who made a contribution as
rookie with his pass-rush skills.
Expecting Trace Armstrong to play on run downs at the age of 36 and coming off an
Achilles injury that cost him the 2001 season is simply asking too much. He proved he
could be effective as a pass-rushing specialist in Miami, and that is where the Raiders
should draw the line, especially since he figures to be limited during training camp.
Otherwise, they could have their best pass rusher left without much in the tank during the
stretch run.
With the free-agent pool pretty much drained of outside talent, the Raiders may have to
rely on players such as second-year DE DeLawrence Grant or rookie Kenyon Coleman to make
their presence felt up front. Rookie LB Napoleon Harris, the team’s second of two
first-round picks, could be used as a situational pass rusher, a role he filled in his
final season at Northwestern.
With the Raiders forced to face the music as far as absorbing Upshaw’s salary-cap
hit, they could be limited as far as signing a free agent for depth purposes.
Depending on how things shake out in training-camp battles, MLB Greg Biekert and DE
Tony Bryant could be the only two returning starters among the Raiders’ front seven
— not a good sign for an aging team with a decreasing window of Super Bowl
opportunity. |
