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Here are five teams that can go from zero to hero
Feb. 17, 2009
By Clark Judge
CBSSports.com Senior Writer
Tell Clark your opinion!



Two years ago it was the New York Giants that emerged out of nowhere. A year later it was Miami, Atlanta and Arizona that made improbable runs to the playoffs -- with the Cards overcoming gargantuan odds to reach the Super Bowl.


Don't blame the Packers' subpar '08 on quarterback Aaron Rodgers. (US Presswire)
So who's next? Pay attention, class, because you're about to find out. I'll give you five possibilities, with one caveat: To qualify you must have had a losing record in 2008.

That means Denver and New Orleans and Houston -- clubs that should be dangerous -- just checked out, and the field narrowed. Still, it's not wide enough to include Detroit. Not yet, anyway. Jim Schwartz can coach; he just can't produce miracles. Sorry, Detroit, but if you're looking for rebounds I suggest you start here first:

Green Bay
There are three reasons to embrace this team: 1) It lost seven games by four points or fewer; 2) It has a franchise quarterback in place; and 3) It plays in the NFC North, where anything is possible. The Packers are only one year removed from the club that reached the NFC Championship Game and it looks as if they have a reliable quarterback in Aaron Rodgers.

He wasn't the reason the club swooned last season; the league's 20th-ranked defense was, with a 24-21 loss to Houston Exhibit A. Texans' quarterback Matt Schaub threw for 414 yards, and running back Steve Slaton ran for 120. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that you can't win while hemorrhaging over 500 yards to an opponent. That's why the Packers jumped at the chance to hire Dom Capers as defensive coordinator. Of course, having Capers means switching to a 3-4 alignment, and that may take some adjusting.

The Packers could use another pass rusher. They could use a defensive tackle. They could use a cornerback. Maybe two. They need help, which is why the NFL invented free agency and the draft and why the club reached out to Capers. This team is not far away, and with Minnesota and Chicago in front of them moving to the front of the class is not out of the question.

Kansas City
The Chiefs lost 23 of their last 25 games under Herm Edwards and a slew of quarterbacks in between. Nevertheless, I think they have a chance, and it's not based on Scott Pioli as the new GM. Nope, I like them because they have a passel of young and talented players who gained experience a year ago; because they had five oh-so-close calls, losing four by a total of nine points (including two to San Diego by two points); and because they play in the AFC West, where a .500 record can get you to the top.

First, of course, the Chiefs must find a quarterback, and they might be close with Tyler Thigpen. All I know is that his wide-open play should suit new coach Todd Haley. They must settle things with running back Larry Johnson, too, especially after he made it clear he wants to play somewhere else. I don't care what Johnson wants; I care what this team needs, and it needs a running back that is productive, unselfish and trustworthy.

One out of three won't cut it for Johnson, but there's Jamaal Charles, Kolby Smith and whoever Pioli finds in this year's draft. Then, of course, they must rediscover a pass rush. Former Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas once had seven sacks in a game. He had six in another. The Chiefs had 10 all of last season. Disgraceful. Fix that, and you start moving up in the standings.

Cleveland

Eric Mangini had instant success at his last job. (Getty Images)
Eric Mangini inherits a club that is better than the Jets outfit he took over in 2006, but there's one problem that can't be ignored: The AFC North. Not only does the best team in football play there; the best two teams in the AFC do.

That's a concern, especially with a young quarterback and an offense that didn't produce a touchdown in the last six games. Brady Quinn should be OK, and I like Kellen Winslow in a new offense and Braylon Edwards if someone dips his hands in glue. I don't worry about the offensive line. But running back? Not so fast.

Jamal Lewis isn't the answer. A younger version is. So find him. The defense stunk, but you would, too, if you spent three-quarters of the game on a short field. Still, the Browns must be better against the run -- especially in this division -- and produce more than 17 sacks. All I know is that this club has the talent to make a move; the biggest problem is that it must budge Pittsburgh and Baltimore. But Mangini had to contend with the Patriots in 2006, and he beat them at their stadium en route to a 10-6 finish. He could pull the upset again, but he will need help in all the right places.

San Francisco
I can't believe I'm making this pitch either, not with a club that hasn't had a winning season since 2002. But the 49ers were a different unit under coach Mike Singletary, winning four of their last five and resembling, yes, a professional football team for the first time in years.

They should've beaten Arizona in Arizona. They came this close to Miami in Miami. OK, I admit it, one thing that bothers me is their record against playoff opponents: They were 0-5. There's another thing, too: I'm not sure how far they go with Shaun Hill at quarterback. I love his passion. I love his tenacity. I just don't know that he has the ability to lift this team.

The 49ers have productive, young players in a lot of positions, and they should. They've been collecting top 10 draft picks for years. Still, they need a franchise wide receiver, and they need tight end Vernon Davis to do something other than show up every third weekend. Most of all, they need a refresher course in turnovers, and I mean how not to commit them.

So they had 18 takeaways. I know that stinks, but this is what concerns me more: 35 turnovers, including 16 lost fumbles. This is a team that fumbled 36 times, so the good news is it recovered more than it lost. The bad? If that doesn't stop and stop now, the only thing going up in San Francisco is Hayes Street.

Seattle
The Seahawks can't be as bad as they were a year ago, and they were dreadful. But they lost a zillion receivers and played most of the year without Matt Hasselbeck. I don't see that happening again. I also don't see the defense playing as miserably as it did in 2008, when it ranked 30th overall and was shredded for 25 touchdown passes. Only Arizona was worse in the NFC.

The Seahawks have a lot of work ahead of them, beginning with the offensive line and working outside to wide receiver where it's time they gave Hasselbeck a go-to guy. It would be nice to settle on an every-down back, too, though I thought Julius Jones was that man. Apparently not. That's not a deal breaker. Arizona made it to the top with the league's worst rushing attack.

Hasselbeck's bad back concerns me, but if he plays there's no reason this club can't be in the middle of things. Remember, the last time Jim Mora took over a club he had it in the conference championship game his first season. I like Mora, but I don't like his chances of pulling an encore. I do, however, believe the Seahawks should be a factor in a division they once owned.

Eric Mangini could help renew the Browns - Steelers rivalry...

From the sounds of it, he gets it.

Quote:

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The defense stunk, but you would, too, if you spent three-quarters of the game on a short field.

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B . S .
What a complete load of crap that is!

Our defense stunk because it was flat out BAD to the point of being PATHETIC, it had nothing at all to do with how much time it spent on the field!!!!!
Besides that, it is your JOB to get yourself OFF the field and put the offense back on it!

"Our defense stunk because it was flat out BAD to the point of being PATHETIC, it had nothing at all to do with how much time it spent on the field!"

relax PPE...I think you actually misread what he said. Here it is again.

The defense stunk, but you would, too, if you spent three-quarters of the game on a short field.

I think he was trying to say that 75% of the time our D was on the short end of the stick in a Field Position battle. Where a couple of first downs would give the Opponents a shot at a FG and they were constantly in the Red Zone. Whether that makes it any better or not.???

As for the D...primarily you fix the pass rush and you fix a heck of a lot what is wrong with it. Regardless of stats the Run D was so much better last season. We had to be probably the worst or one of the worst teams in regards to 3rd down stopping pct. I could swear almost every drive was 3rd down, 3rd down, 3rd down....every now and then a team would get a 10-15 yard run or pass off on first down. But mostly is was a ton of 3rd down. The run D can improve but it did enough to get us off the field.

What I like about this article...all the teams except us, their primary reason on being on his list was because of the Division they played in.

With us we were on the his list despite the division we play in.

GB though is a not in the class of the other two he mentioned. They are the front runners of their division I think. The only thing is that a transition into a 3-4 Defense is a tough one. But their division will make that a bit easier.

Bears... No offense
Vikings...One dimensional offense.
Lions...Who knows, they are going with Culpepper???

JMHO

but, we didn't spend that much time like that.. or not at least that the offense created.
The VAST majority of any short fields that there were, were a direct result of either poor kick/punt coverage (a problem last year) or the defense simply letting them walk down the field on us.

The defense created it's own problems.

Quote:

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We had to be probably the worst or one of the worst teams in regards to 3rd down stopping pct.

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Understandably so. All the other teams had to do was see who #25 was covering.

Our defense was 30th in getting off the field after 3rd down, giving up 46% of 3rd down opportunities...

Our offense was equally horrible, finishing 28th in staying on the field and converting 3rd downs at 34%....


But where the rubber meets the road.. our defense was 16th in points allowed, our offense 29th in points scored...

Neither unit has a heck of a lot to brag about, but the edge has to go to the defense...

And just think, if it weren't for Shaun Rogers, it would have been alot worse. He is such a beast, I just hope they can find a way to build around that guy. I would say we have about 3 good years left in him, so that isn't much time. Aaron Curry will help, but we need a few more pieces....I would like to see what they could do if everyone stays healty this year....

I think Mangini is one happy camper right now. This team is loaded in talent and he knows it. The potential is there to shock the world.

I would start by addition by subtraction.

Stallworthless see ya dont let the door hit ya.

Jamal Lewis hey you release old injury prone running backs you dont extend them.

Andra Davis thank you for the effort here's a pat on the back see ya

Sean Jones like the dude but his mind isnt on the game good luck in FA

Sean Smith you mouth has done the talking let your feet do the walking buh bye.

Robaire if he doesnt look like he is going to be 100% recover and quickly part ways big guys and achilles injuries is a nasty combo. This holding onto guys that are useless is well useless

Same with JJ great guy but its buisness first if he isnt going to be 100% before training camp cut your losses.

Ryan Tucker guess what buh bye

All those guys are easily replaced since they werent doing anything anyway. Now for DA good luck in New York.

I'd rethink your stance on Sean Jones and Ryan Tucker but other than that I see no problems with your list.

Quote:

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I would start by addition by subtraction.

Stallworthless see ya dont let the door hit ya.

Jamal Lewis hey you release old injury prone running backs you dont extend them.

Andra Davis thank you for the effort here's a pat on the back see ya

Sean Jones like the dude but his mind isnt on the game good luck in FA

Sean Smith you mouth has done the talking let your feet do the walking buh bye.

Robaire if he doesnt look like he is going to be 100% recover and quickly part ways big guys and achilles injuries is a nasty combo. This holding onto guys that are useless is well useless

Same with JJ great guy but its buisness first if he isnt going to be 100% before training camp cut your losses.

Ryan Tucker guess what buh bye

All those guys are easily replaced since they werent doing anything anyway. Now for DA good luck in New York.

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I have no emotional attachment to any of those guys and would have no problem if they were gone.... provided the replacement is better. And I just don't see us making that many moves to upgrade that many positions, in one offseason... sorry, don't see it happening..

I'm with you, Purp! Lack of aggressiveness on sidelines from coaches for 3 years on BOTH SIDES of the ball. We didn't go after them deep often enough, insisting on a sidewinder game which was almost entirely non-productive. And we were awful on defense, standing up and leaning on blockers, giving double digit cushions away and far too little and mostly ineffective blitzing. Look at SB champs, and others who WILL live or die with pressure.
I really feel that RAC helped give away wins in the division with pathetic passive game "plan" that changed little throughout the time here. So I assume he must have poached or changed calls, especially near the end.
I pray Mangini will let us, nay, MAKE us compete so we get competitive. Our crappy tackling and basement stats are decidedly not a product of short field. And hey, haven't you seen us give games away with RAC's vaunted prevent defense. 99 yds is nothing; we will surrender big bloody gobs and often gave up a score.
If we are to lose, I want to feel we emptied the gun. If we get outmanned fine; but I think in many games, we could competed better than we were allowed. JMO

Stallworth??? probably no long term but until we got surplus he stays and I say this without knowledge of his Cap Hit implications. I know his agent usually has a history of making contracts that just are too back loaded and will not be achieved.

Robaire... a lot better then you are giving him credit for. Not quite sure about the injury though...for some reason I'm thinking Achilles Tendon??? if that is the case then probably gone. But if that is the case I don't see Shaun Smith gone pending on attitude.

JJ...we should keep him here as long as possible good leader is important in these beginning stages of a new regime.

Sean Jones...can see gone cause he will test FAgency we are not going to make him an offer he can sink his teeth into and forgo FA...he might come back later if the market is not what he thought it was???

Tucker. As long as he is healthy he stays...Outside of Joe T he is the best OLman we got. If there is a chance he plays he stays

JMHO - In the long run probably as you say....all at one time??? I doubt it.

Before anyone gets excited keep in mind that by the authors own criteria there were only ten teams to choose from. Here they are:

Buffalo Bills AFC ACE 7 9
San Francisco 49ers NFC NCW 7 9
Green Bay Packers NFC NCN 6 10
Jacksonville Jaguars AFC ACS 5 11
Oakland Raiders AFC ACW 5 11
Cincinnati Bengals AFC ACN 4 11
Cleveland Browns AFC ACN 4 12
Seattle Seahawks NFC NCW 4 12
Kansas City Chiefs AFC ACW 2 14
St. Louis Rams NFC NCW 2 14

with the Lions ruled out
Detroit Lions NFC NCN 0 16

Dang it, I thought this meant we were a lock..

http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/clubhouse_contracts.aspx?sport=NFL&majteam=CLE


Salary cap numbers for Donte

3/1/2008: Signed a seven-year, $35 million contract. The deal includes $10 million guaranteed. 2009: $745,000 (+ $4.75 million roster bonus due in March) , 2010: $1.5 million, 2011: $2.775 million, 2012: $4.55 million, 2013: $5.65 million, 2014: $5.95 million, 2015: Free Agent. Cap charge: $6.4 million (2009).