 TAMPA AND WASHINGTON WILL BE TOUGH, BY JACK
YBLOOD(March 5) |
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Tampa will be very similar
next season to what they were this year. While they lost Nickerson, they will have Anthony
McFarland in his second season, so there should not be a significant drop off on the
defense, even with the loss of Barber. On the offense, Shawn King will be in his second
year, and that alone should make them a little better. But on the whole, they'll pretty
much be the same strong team. As for Washington, I think they will be much improved this year. We already know that they have a very good offense and, because they've all been together for a year now, should be even better. But their defense, already loaded with a lot of talent, has been upgraded and will be even stronger after the draft. Look at some of the guys they have on that defense---Stubblefield, Wilkinson, Coleman, Green, and Bailey, among others. And now they add Bruce Smith and Carrier; and they will improve through the draft (Arrington?). But IMO the real key is that their defense underachieved *wildly* last season. With that much talent, I have to believe that they were not being utilized properly. If their new defensive coach, Ray Rhodes, does well, that defense will be markedly improved. Factor in the momentum they are gaining throughout the offseason (similar to ours last year) and the fact that they have made a real "splash" this offseason, and it's easy to see why the pundits view them as the favorite. No matter how you slice it, they will be improved----and they damn near made it to the NFC Championship game as it was last year. The homefield advantage will be crucial next year. |
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