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5 Most Improved Teams

Dajesus

Dajesus

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Vic Carucci from NFL.com said this:

"Washington Redskins

Best moves: Hiring Mike Shanahan as coach and Bruce Allen as general manager, and owner Daniel Snyder stepping out of the way and letting them do their jobs. ... Trading with the Philadelphia Eagles for quarterback Donovan McNabb, who instantly transformed them from an also-ran to a contender. ... Adding defensive coordinator Jim Haslett to oversee the conversion from the 4-3 to the 3-4. ... Upgrading the offensive line with a pair of tackles: First-round draft pick Trent Williams and Jammal Brown, whom they picked up in a trade with New Orleans.

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Where it will likely lead: A wild-card playoff spot. The Redskins could be held back by a subpar running game and an offensive line that still has some jelling to do. And there's always the constant distraction of disgruntled defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. Still, with McNabb, they should have the firepower to hold their own with the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants.

Detroit Lions

Best moves: Using the second overall pick of the draft on former Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who should be a difference-making force as a rookie. Couple that with the 30th overall choice of former Cal running back Jahvid Best, who should do plenty to give the Lions more offensive balance, while also helping as a returner. ... Trading for former Denver Broncos tight end Tony Scheffler, who should provide second-year quarterback Matthew Stafford a reliable receiving alternative to his big-play targets. ... Signing former Tennessee Titans defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, who should put some teeth into the Lions' pass-rush.

Where it will likely lead: Not very far this season. Although the Lions should show noticeable improvement, they aren't likely to escape the basement of a division that also is home to two of the best teams in the league (Green Bay and Minnesota) and the improved Chicago Bears. Look for this team to be in the playoff hunt in 2011.

Oakland Raiders

Best moves: Saying goodbye to colossal quarterbacking bust JaMarcus Russell and trading with the Redskins for Jason Campbell, who has a chance to benefit from a change of scenery, and the arrival of new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson. ... Retaining defensive end Richard Seymour. ... Taking a surprisingly sound approach to the draft with the first-round selection of former Alabama inside linebacker Rolando McClain, a tremendous tackler with considerable range, and the second-round choice of former Texas defensive lineman Lamarr Houston, who should be a disruptive force inside.

Where it will likely lead: Short of the postseason, but they should show significant progress and could very well finish second in a fairly soft division. Depending on how Campbell performs, the Raiders just might be a contender next year.

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Cleveland Browns

Best moves: Turning complete control of the franchise over to new team president Mike Holmgren. ... Sticking with Eric Mangini as coach after last season's strong finish, and keeping a solid defensive scheme intact. ... Dumping unproductive quarterbacks Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn, and picking up Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace. … Drafting Colt McCoy to be their quarterback of the future.

Where it will likely lead: Not to the playoffs this year or even next. But the Browns could very well be postseason contenders in 2012.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Best moves: Using the third overall pick in the draft on former Oklahoma star defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who should make an immediate impact on a unit that finished last in the NFL against the run and failed to consistently generate heat on the passer. ... Selecting another dynamic defensive tackle, former UCLA standout Brian Price, in the second round."

Every team he picked is far from the playoffs. The Bucs got put in because they drafted two good players. The Browns the list by getting 1 washed up QB, and one never will be QB. The Dolphins got the one of the 5 best WRs and one of the 5 best ILB this off season., and they signed Incognito who most likely start. Last but not least they drafted 7 defensive players to help boost their weakest part of the team. The only teams I put ahead of the Dolphins or close are the Redskins and Ravens, and the Ravens are not on the list.
 
I think the Browns have gotten MUCH better and will be fighting to be a .500 team in December.
 
grushcow said:
How do you come to that conclusion? I'm curious, they have a look of a 2-4 win team.
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They ended 2009 strong winning 4 straight.

I think Delhomme is going to have a bounce back year

Jerome harrison emerged last year and I think he and Montario Hardesty will be a nice 1-2 punch

I like Massaquoi

Josh Cribbs is a major weapon

They have probably the best LT in the game and an improving OL

Defensively they really played well late and I expect they'll be better.

There's always a team or teams that come out of nowhere and I think Cleveland has a chance to be one of those teams. I don't expect postseason but I think they will be near .500 which will be a huge step forward for them.
 
X-Pacolypse said:
Only team that shouldn't be on there is Cleveland. Jake Delhomme has become a turnover machine.
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I agree, they'll be lucky to be a 3-5 win team this season. With Delhomme as their quarterback the offense won't get much better. The only thing they have going for them is they have a decent defenses at times. I don't expect much from the Browns this year.
 
I feel like Cleveland may be a little better this year, but long term, I don't think they helped themselves. I don't think Colt McCoy is the answer, and I feel like they gave up on Brady Quinn way too early. They did ok last year, at the end, but you have to remember that alot of teams play better once there is less pressure, just like Derek Anderson played so well when there was little to no pressure.
 
vagrantprodigy said:
I feel like Cleveland may be a little better this year, but long term, I don't think they helped themselves. I don't think Colt McCoy is the answer, and I feel like they gave up on Brady Quinn way too early. They did ok last year, at the end, but you have to remember that alot of teams play better once there is less pressure, just like Derek Anderson played so well when there was little to no pressure.
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Alot of times in situations like that teams give up and just want the season to end. It was an impressive ending to the season for Cleveland.
 
I forgot to list Nolan in the reasons we should have been on this list. Mike Lombardi has us as one of the 3 best teams headed in to the season. A draft and a washed up QB does not trump 2 perenial pro-bowlers in Dansby and Marshal, and one of the best DCs in the NFL. The biggest point is the majority of this list are still non factors in this coming season. The Dolphins have a serious chance of not only making the playoffs, but winning the division this year due to their off-season. The Ravens and Redskin are the only team that had as productive off-seasons. The Jets could be on that list, but since the majority of their moves are players past their prime it is more of crap shoot for them.
 
Dajesus said:
I forgot to list Nolan in the reasons we should have been on this list. Mike Lombardi has us as one of the 3 best teams headed in to the season. A draft and a washed up QB does not trump 2 perenial pro-bowlers in Dansby and Marshal, and one of the best DCs in the NFL. The biggest point is the majority of this list are still non factors in this coming season. The Dolphins have a serious chance of not only making the playoffs, but winning the division this year due to their off-season. The Ravens and Redskin are the only team that had as productive off-seasons. The Jets could be on that list, but since the majority of their moves are players past their prime it is more of crap shoot for them.
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Dansby has never made a pro bowl and Marshall has been there twice in 4 years.

Nolan is a GOOD DC, people on here are acting like you got Bill Belichick.

Mike Nolan as a DC:

1993-1996 NYG: 1 playoff app, 1-1 record, D allowed 44 pts loss in div rd. Avg. ranking in PA 9, YA 12
1997-1999 Washington: 1 playoff app, 1-1 record, PA 20, YA 23
2000 NYJ: missed playoffs, PA 13, YA 10
2002-2004 Bal: 1 playoff app, 0-1 record, PA 10, YA 10
2009 Den: missed playoffs, PA 12, YA 7

11 seasons as DC, 3 playoff apps, 2 playoff wins, never got as far as title game
avg rankings as DC: PA: 14 YA: 15


The majority if the players we acquired this offseason are past their prime?

We acquired:

LT
Taylor
Cromartie
holmes
Folk

2 of those 5 are past their prime and are only expected to be here for one seasom in part time roles.
 
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