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Updated: 3/22/01 |
by Ric Agostini
Writer for Toughguy.com
3/22/01
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Those of us who have been going through "Fantasy Football Withdrawal"
are starting to see the dawn across the horizon. Even if the horizon
is still months away - important fantasy news is now developing
almost weekly. As we look forward to the 2001 season it's time to
start researching and focusing on developments that have changed
the landscape of our favorite NFL teams. Researching this information
not only helps to bridge the gap between seasons but is also crucial
in assessing the value of our fantasy stars, all in an effort to
gain an edge over fellow team owners during our 2001 Fantasy Drafts.
With the end of each season come the ambitions of the next by both
teams and fans. Teams that have underachieved often resort to coaching
changes in an effort to spearhead the next campaign. Let's take
the opportunity to look at the new coaches and coordinators who
will be bringing their personalized schemes and philosophy to your
favorite fantasy teams.
Arizona Cardinals
Arizona is one of the more intriguing teams to watch throughout
the off-season and into the pre-season. New head coach Dave McGinnis
has come on strong and has taken control of the Cardinals from day
one. He cut eight players and fired four coaches in the first month
after the end of the Cardinals' 3-13 season, the team's worst showing
since 1959. New coaches chosen by McGinnis are Geep Chryst as QB
coach, Jerry Sullivan as WR coach, Rich Olson to coordinate the
offense, and Peter Hoener as tight ends coach.
Olson plans to do away with Marc Trestman's West Coast offense and
implement a low-risk, high-percentage passing system, featuring
a power running game. McGinnis and Olson believe that this will
be a far better system for the Cardinals and star quarterback Jake
Plummer to work under. Over the past two seasons, the Cardinals
went a combined 9-23 while Plummer threw 45 interceptions and only
22 touchdown passes.
Impact Analysis
Dave McGinnis and his staff can't wait to get this team, which is
stacked with impact players in the skilled positions, on the field
to implement the new system. The return of star wide receiver Rob
Moore from a serious leg injury that kept him away during the 2000
season, combined with the equally talented Frank Sanders and David
Boston, make the Cardinals receiving trio as dangerous as any in
the league. Plummer's draft rating can go in no other direction
but up.
The important question still to be answered is which, if either,
of the two running backs is worthy of a high pick? Michael Pittman
definitely out-performed rookie Thomas Jones last season, but Jones
is being paid too much money to sit around all season. Best to wait
well into training camp to see whom McGinnis favors.
Buffalo Bills
Another very interesting team to watch over the next six months
will be the Buffalo Bills. Owner Ralph Wilson has completely dismantled
the coaching staff due to a lack of on field success and numerous
controversies including the much-publicized quarterback controversy
over the past two years between Doug Flutie and Rob Johnson. As
a result, general manager John Butler, along with head coach Wade
Philips and his staff were fired. This paved the way for Wilson
to name former Steelers' Director of Football Operations Tom Donahoe
as the Bills' new President/General Manager.
Donahoe's first order of business was to hire a head coach. Many
believed that Donahoe, who waited until after the Super Bowl to
make his choice, would have hired the Ravens' defensive coordinator
Marvin Lewis. Instead, Donahoe chose to hire Gregg Williams from
Tennessee, who orchestrated the league's leading Titans defense
for the last four years. Williams has hired former Seattle Seahawks
quarterbacks coach Mike Sheppard as offensive coordinator. Sheppard
plans on implementing a West Coast offense, which utilizes a three-step
drop and should help the quarterback avoid sacks. On the other side
of the ball, Jerry Gray follows Williams from Tennessee, where he
was the defensive backs coach, and is the new defensive coordinator
for the Bills. Gray will do away with the Bills 3-4 scheme and implement
the popular 4-3 scheme.
The biggest news coming out of salary cap-strapped Buffalo is that
the team has put an end to the quarterback controversy between Flutie
and Johnson. The often injured (but much younger) Johnson has his
chance to quiet all the Doug Flutie-backers around the league because
Flutie has been cut and has subsequently signed with San Diego.
My only advice here is to make sure you're watching when the Bills
square off against the Chargers this season - it's going to be ugly!
Impact Analysis
For those of you who draft a Defense in your league, we have every
reason to believe that the Bills will be involved in their share
of low-scoring games with plenty of turnovers, especially in those
late season games in Buffalo. On the other side of the ball, you
can expect a balanced attack from Williams and the Bills in 2001.
Having a sound coaching staff and some tough player personnel decisions
yet to be made, we're looking for an overall improvement in point
production from last year. Buffalo averaged just fewer than 20 points
per game last year and only scored over 27 points once when they
beat the Seahawks 42 - 23 in week 17.
Since the Bills have re-signed Eric Moulds, they should have a solid
season on the offensive side of the ball in 2001. Look for Johnson
and Moulds to hookup often as Moulds once again leads his team in
receptions, while he should double his paltry five receiving touchdowns.
At tight end, Jay Riemersma will once again be a decent option in
your draft. He too, should see more balls, as Williams will opt
for high-percentage passing plays.
We're looking for a big season out of Buffalo's ground game next
year, mostly because Wade Philips and his crew had a difficult time
deciding on which back to use. As a result, Shawn Bryson, Antowain
Smith, and Sammy Morris each had considerable carries. They combined
for a total of 1,286 yards and 9 TD's - not bad once the Bills decide
to feature only one back.
Chicago Bears
The only news out of Chicago these days is that interim offensive
coordinator John Shoop is now officially hired for the position.
Shoop replaced Gary Crowton, who left to coach BYU with three games
left in Chicago's disappointing season last year. Three other coaching
changes were made by the Bears this off-season with the hiring of
tight ends coach Pat Flaherty and wide receivers coach Todd Haley
and the promotion of Eric Studesville to offensive assistant.
Impact Analysis
The Bears ranked 27th in scoring last year, a far cry from what
was expected of the "high-powered" offense. Don't trust
anything you hear about next season's starting QB until you see
it for yourself. The one thing that you can be certain about is
that Shoop will use running back James Allen to lessen the burden
placed on his quarterback's shoulders. Look for a balanced attack
out of Chicago next year, which, along with a much easier schedule
should ensure that the Bears' improve on their 5 - 11 season from
last year.
Cincinnati Bengals
Like the Bears, the Bengals also have a new offensive coordinator,
Bob Bratkowski, formally the wide receivers coach for the Pittsburgh
Steelers for the past two seasons. Prior to joining the Steelers,
Bratkowski spent seven years on the Seattle Seahawks' staff. He
was the Seahawks' wide receivers coach from 1992-94 and their offensive
coordinator from 1994-98.
Impact Analysis
Bratkowski will have his work cut out in Cincinnati, as the Bengals
ranked last in the NFL in passing and 29th in total offense in 2000.
In one of his first official statements, Bratkowski is quoted as
saying that Akili Smith will have to compete to win the team's starting
quarterbacking job next season. In addition to the quarterbacking
worries, there is the little matter of Corey Dillon. As an unrestricted
free agent this year, Dillon is commanding top dollars. Contract
talks between the Bengals and Dillon are moving too slowly for Dillon's
comfort. In a protective measure, the Bengals have designated Dillon
a "Transition Player" which means that the club has the
right to match any other offers. Regardless of what happens to Dillon,
he is a worthy fantasy starter each week.
Cleveland Browns
Last year's bottom feeders are another team who have cleaned house
following the end of the regular season. The new regime consists
of head coach Butch Davis, who abruptly left his post as head coach
of the Miami Hurricanes. Davis quickly took care of both sides of
the ball, hiring Bruce Arians as his offensive coordinator and placing
Foge Fazio in charge of defense.
Davis made a name for himself after leading the struggling Hurricanes,
who were dealing with NCAA scholarship sanctions, back to national
prominence. The Hurricanes were 51 - 20 under Davis over the last
six years.
Arians has spent the past three seasons as the quarterbacks coach
with the Indianapolis Colts. Fazio, who has 12 years of NFL coaching
experience, coached Washington's linebackers last season.
Impact Analysis
Butch Davis and his staff will have their hands full next year.
They will be dealing with a Browns team who finished the season
at 3 - 13 and boasted the league's worst point production. This
team is a few years away from supplying us with any fantasy studs.
If you're in a keeper league, you should consider drafting Tim Couch
- he is the only member of the Browns that looks as through he will
be a constant contributor to the offense. The Browns have some decent
young receivers in Kevin Johnson, Dennis Northcutt, David Patten
and Darrin Chiaverini, but it's too tough to figure out if any of
these receivers will turn into the team's clear number one receiving
option.
Detroit Lions
William Clay Ford has also taken a top down approach in restructuring
his Lions. Matt Millen is the new president and chief executive
officer of the club. Millen, a former NFL standout and broadcast
analyst, received a five-year contract. First on his agenda was
to replace existing head coach Gary Moeller with his pal Marty Mornhinweg
of the San Francisco 49ers. Mornhinweg, who also signed a five-year
deal, was the offensive coordinator of the 49ers where he produced
fantasy super-studs like Terrell Owens, Jeff Garcia and Charlie
Garner.
Mornhinweg will try to work his magic with Loins' quarterback Charlie
Batch and the rest of the offensive unit in an effort to implement
the West Coast offense.
Impact Analysis
We are very high on Detroit and Mornhinweg's West Cost scheme -
who wouldn't be? The receiving trio of Germane Crowell, Johnnie
Morton and veteran Herman Moore will command the respect from every
defensive coordinator in the league, especially on the speedy carpet
of Detroit's Ford Field. Mornhinweg will be working with running
back James Stewart, who does not have the hands or quickness that
Garner of the 49ers has, but Stewart's straight ahead pounding style
should assure him of plenty of carries near the goal line. Move
Stewart up your draft sheet if you are in a scoring only league.
The biggest risk when drafting Loins is that of the quarterback.
Batch, who hasn't played a full season in three years as a pro,
threw 13 touchdowns and 15 interceptions last season. Batch took
a pounding all year, getting sacked once out of every 10 pass attempts
and had been playing with broken ribs since Thanksgiving. Since
the West Coast offense features a 3-step drop, look for Batch to
have a healthy and very productive year in 2001.
Kansas City Chiefs
Who would of thought that Dick Vermeil would come out of retirement
after he left on top of the NFL world at the end of the 1999 season?
Vermeil accepted a three-year contract making him the ninth head
coach in Chiefs history. With him, Vermeil brings Al Saunders, who
worked with Vermeil in St. Louis, as the new offensive coordinator,
and Greg Robinson from Denver as the team's defensive coordinator.
Vermeil is just one of four coaches in NFL history to lead two different
teams to the Super Bowl, joining Bill Parcells, Dan Reeves and Don
Shula as the only other individuals ever to accomplish that feat.
He guided St. Louis to a win in Super Bowl XXXIV following the '99
season and guided Philadelphia to an appearance in Super Bowl XV
at the conclusion of the '80 season.
Last season, the Chiefs aerial attack was impressive. They ranked
5th in both passing attempts with 583 and pass touchdowns with 29.
It's hard to expect much more from a team but Vermeil is determined
to replicate the same attack offense that he built in St. Louis,
when rookie quarterback Kurt Warner passed for 4353 yards and 41
touchdowns! And just as he did when Vermeil coached the Rams, he
has acquired quarterback Trent Green to lead his offense. To compliment
Green and the exiting weapons on Kansas City, the team has also
brought in Tony Horne who is a wide receiver/kick return specialist
from St. Louis as well as the talented running back Priest Holmes
whose small but quick frame may remind you of Marshall Faulk. Here's
a direct quote from Al Saunders regarding the 2001 season: "We are
going to be an attacking-mentality football team. If you're afraid,
don't show up, because it's going to be fun. It's going to be fun
to play, and it's going to be fun to watch. We're going to throw
the ball long, we're going to throw it short, we're going to throw
it sideways, we're going to throw it up the field."
Impact Analysis
You have got to love a team who is committed to the pass! All the
offensive weapons and coaches are in place to make a serious run
at the AFC West title. Whether or not they get there is debatable,
but it's obvious that the Chiefs are going to be a fantasy friendly
team.
New York Jets
The turmoil and transition continue with the Jets coaching staff
yet again this off-season. Herman Edwards, who has been the Buccaneers
assistant head coach and defensive backs coach the last five seasons,
is the fourth Jets head coach in the last three years (we're counting
the Patriots' Bill Belichick as one of those four). This decision
was made by Terry Bradway, who was hired to serve as the Jets new
general manager, after Bill Parcells resigned as director of football
operations.
Edwards quickly hired his top two coordinators, naming Paul Hackett
as offensive coordinator, and Ted Cottrell as assistant head coach-defensive
coordinator. Edwards and Hackett will bring a wide-open, West Coast
style, which should help Vinny Testaverde's numbers in what could
be his final season as the team's starter.
Impact Analysis
Vinny Testaverde has shown that he has overcome his leg injury that
kept him out of the 1999 season and should be a solid quarterback
in the 2001 season. The wide-open offensive style that this new
coaching staff is aiming to implement may not help out the Jets
receiving group as much as you might think. Last year, the Jets
ranked number one in passing attempts with 636! Instead, look for
second year tight end Anthony Becht as he becomes more involved
in the offense and should greatly improve on his 16 reception, 2-touchdown
season. If your league awards points for running back receptions,
Curtis Martin's value skyrockets!
Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers Head Coach Bill Cowher shook up the offensive coaching
staff following their 9 - 7 season. Cowher's first step was to promote
former tight ends coach, Mike Mularkey to offensive coordinator.
He replaces the deposed Kevin Gilbride. Russ Grimm joined the staff
as the offensive line coach, Tom Clements, a CFL standout, became
the Steelers' first quarterback coach since 1973, Ken Whisenhunt
was hired to coach tight ends, and Kenny Jackson became wide receivers
coach.
Impact Analysis
Pittsburgh was - and will remain a run-oriented team. New coordinator
Mike Mularkey does not bring a new offensive scheme to his new position.
We will however, look for Kordell Stewart to solidify his role as
the team's number one quarterback. Last season, the Steelers' showed
significant improvement after their 0 - 3 start and actually improved
their scoring average from the first half to the second half of
the season by almost seven points.
Stewart and second year wide receiver Plaxico Burress are worthy
of late round draft picks, but the only fantasy starter on the Steelers
is Jerome Bettis.
San Diego Chargers
I think everyone knows at least one suffering "Bolts"
fan. It's a good thing too because it gives you a good perspective
when your team goes through a losing spell. Once again the Chargers
have something to be optimistic about. They have hired long time
Buffalo Bill General Manager John Butler. In no time flat Norv Turner
was brought in as Offensive Coordinator and out was the 1998 draft
disaster quarterback Ryan Leaf.
Impact Analysis
John Butler is a fine GM and is credited in leading Buffalo at the
draft table where the Bills have produced extremely well. With him
from Buffalo comes quarterback Doug Flutie and defensive end Marcellus
Wiley. Nice players who fill immediate holes for the Bolts, but
their success rests squarely on the success of this year's draft.
The Chargers are in rebuilding mode and do not have much fantasy
value as they go though this years transition. One note of familiarity
is that Flutie loved passing to tight end Jay Riemersma. Look for
a lot of the same this year Between Flutie and Freddie Jones.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans, who lost their defensive coordinator Gregg Williams
to Buffalo, quickly filled the void by promoting linebackers coach
Jim Schwartz.
Impact Analysis
Expect the same old stingy defense out of Tennessee. The only question
in the fantasy world is whether to rank Tennessee ahead of Baltimore
next season?
Washington Redskins
The last team that we look at with significant coaching coaches
was one of last season's favorites to win it all. Instead, the Redskins
finished not only out of the playoffs, but with an mediocre 8 -
8 season. With this kind of disappointment, it was no surprise that
the Skins' aggressive owner Dan Snyder would make major changes.
Gone is Norv Turner and his staff. Replacing Turner as head coach
is Marty Schottenheimer. Schottenheimer, who retired following the
1998 season with Kansas City, said he decided to return to coaching
"because it's in my blood. It's who I am."
Schottenheimer was quick to hire a couple of familiar faces as coordinators.
His son, Kurt Schottenheimer, former defensive coordinator for the
Kansas City Chiefs, joins the Skins in the same position. Jimmy
Raye, who spent nine seasons with the Chiefs, the last three as
offensive coordinator, will be in charge of Washington's offense.
It is important to note that under Raye's guidance, the Chiefs offensive
attack gained over 5,600 yards in the 2000 season, second most in
team history. Look for more of the same philosophy this year in
Washington.
Impact Analysis
Look for the Skins to score more often in 2001. Last season, they
averaged just 17.5 points per game and scored more than 21 points
only twice all season. If Jimmy Raye comes anywhere close to replicating
his old offense from Kansas City, underachieving Stephen Alexander
has the most to gain. The 6'4", 246-pound tight end caught
a mediocre 47 balls with only 2 touchdowns, his lowest TD total
since entering the league.
Steven Davis will still be a workhorse as the Redskins are light
in receiving talent after losing both Albert Connell (Saints) and
James Thrash (Eagles) to free agency. Look for the 'Skins to help
themselves via free agency. Regardless of whose running routes this
year, watch Washington closely in the pre-season, they will have
to establish some sort of passing game and it's yet to be seen who
Jeff George is going to favor when it's third and long.
Well, there you have it. Everything you need to know about the major
coaching changes in the NFL and which fantasy players should benefit
most. The fantasy edge is yours - draft wisely!
Ric
Agostini
is a Staff Writer for Toughguy.com.
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