NFL Offseason Roadmap is a series focused on the needs of NFL teams as they begin the offseason.
The offseason roadmap for the Dallas Cowboys isn't as much as "what we need to do to get this team to the top" as much as it is getting over that little playoff hurdle and into a Super Bowl. When you look at it, the resources are all there. The question is getting the Ts crossed and dotting the lowercase Js.
1.Lame Duck – Let's see. How many times during the next year will we hear about Jason Garrett possibly replacing Wade Phillips as head coach? Not as much as you'll hear it if the Boys start struggling. Dallas has wanted Garrett to be in training for the head coaching job ... eventually. But like any other position on the field, the question will be when to let the young guy take the reigns. We all know that if Phillips has a problem with it, Garrett ain't the one who will be shown the door.
NFL Offseason Roadmap is a series focused on the needs of NFL teams as they begin the offseason.
After the Chicago Bears lost in the Super Bowl to the Indianapolis Colts, they made several decisions before trying to defend their NFC crown. They gave Cedric Benson the starting tailback job, kept the quarterback position intact, signed Adam Archuleta to play safety and fired defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. It's hard to imagine any of them could have gone worse and each played a big part of the trip to a 7-9 record. The early word out of Chicago is that there won't be any big moves this time around but it's hard to see how such an approach would make for a markedly better 2008.
1. Quarterback – GM Jerry Angelo has been talking up a competition for the starting job in 2008 and that's certainly a good idea. None of the three quarterbacks who started for the Bears this season deserve an unfettered move to the top of the chain but the team won't do well to stand pat with the players they have. Rex Grossman is a free agent but unlikely to find big money offers and guaranteed starting jobs flooding his inbox.
NFL Offseason Roadmap is a series focused on the needs of NFL teams as they begin the offseason.
How far do the Denver Broncos have to go to return to the playoffs? Their team was ravaged by injuries en route to a 7-9 record this season. A healthy team could have easily won another couple of games and found itself battling for a wild card. A more pessimistic view might point out that they got old in several spots because they haven't built well through the draft. That would indicate there's a longer road back to success. Either way, the good news is that, in Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall and Elvis Dumervil, they've got building blocks for 2008 and beyond. Here's where they need the most immediate help.
1. Defensive Stability – Jim Bates was hired as defensive coordinator and immediately installed a scheme predicated on big defensive tackles. It was a total flop. Sam Adams and Amon Gordon couldn't occupy blockers, leaving the middle of the field open to all comers. They overhauled the line during the season, but found no better results and that led to Bates's firing. New coordinator Bob Slowik must establish a strategy and stick to it if the team is to improve defensively. Be they big DTs or athletic ones, the team can't afford to veer wildly in such a short amount of time.
NFL Offseason Roadmap is a series focused on the needs of NFL teams as they begin the offseason.
The Miami Dolphins are coming off their worst season in franchise history. You don't go 1-15 and expect a quick turnaround. But it can happen. The early 1990s Cowboys and mid-2000s Panthers each reached that low and went on to reach Super Bowls. Adding Bill Parcells to the mix of running things and this isn't a lost cause. There is a lot that needs to be addressed (sorry secondary and Ricky Williams), so, what are they looking to do?
1.Coaching Staff – Well, hiring Tony Sparano is the main jumping off point. Now, it is just bringing in the rest of his staff ... including an offensive coordinator. From there, the Dolphins can try to figure out what kind of roster they want.
2.Quarterback – This has been a sore spot for the last few seasons. The plan last year was to have Trent Green (who they acquired in an offseason trade) run things with rookie John Beck (a second round pick) slated for the future. Green suffered a season-ending concussion and former coach Cam Cameron mucked everything else up. There needs to be some sort of definitive plan here. Cleo Lemon is a free agent so Miami needs to add here from somewhere, most likely an experienced player. Beck will most likely get the starting job and must have the organization's full support.
NFL Offseason Roadmap is a series focused on the needs of NFL teams as they begin the offseason.
The Washington Redskins just completed one of the most emotional seasons in their 75-year history. 2007 will always be remembered. Life, as they say, does go on ... so looking to 2008 is imperative.
1.Head Coach – Duh. Once Joe Gibbs retired, it has thrown up in the air what this team will look like in 2008. Gibbs wanted things one way -- his replacement may want them totally different. If Gregg Williams gets the gig, you'd expect the team to stay on the same track that Gibbs put them on. If they go outside the organization, who knows?
Also, if it is Williams then the Redskins need to find out a new defensive coordinator. Oh, and Al Saunders (if he sticks) won't have Gibbs to deal with when calling the game.
2. Salary Cap -- As we all know, the Redskins mess with the cap as much as any team. That being said, it is rumored that Washington is waaaay over the salary cap and will need to shave off the payroll. That means (a) cutting players and (b) reworking deals. Good thing Daniel Snyder is wealthy and likes to rework the deals. Guys like Clinton Portis, Chris Samuels, Jon Jansen and Marcus Washington may be willing to do this. Guys like Brandon Lloyd and Mark Brunell may be cut. Obviously, where these cuts come from will help determine what holes need to be addressed.
NFL Offseason Roadmap is a series focused on the needs of NFL teams as they begin the offseason.
The Baltimore Ravens have already taken their first step toward 2008. John Harbaugh is the new coach and brings with him the expectation of a more disciplined team that takes better advantage of its resources. Some have argued that this team is close to playoff position but, truthfully, change is needed to restore this team to the level of a contender. As it has for years, the major obstacle for the Ravens to overcome is at football's marquee position. 1. Quarterback – Elvis Grbac. Randall Cunningham. Jeff Blake. Chris Redman. Kyle Boller. Anthony Wright. Steve McNair. Those are the men who have started at quarterback for the Ravens since Trent Dilfer won Super Bowl XXXV in 2001. Other than McNair in 2006, not a one of them has done anything to earn a second season on the job, and McNair went down in flames in year two. Boller didn't embarrass himself at the end of this season but he didn't do anything to warm the cockles of your heart either.
Billick was Boller's biggest champion and we don't know who will be running the offense in 2008, so it's anybody's guess as to who will be under center.
NFL Offseason Roadmap is a series focused on the needs of NFL teams as they begin the offseason.
The offseason roadmap for the New York Jets isn't hard to follow. They need to get better, pretty much everywhere. Some areas have more urgent needs than others. A failure to upgrade them would doom the team to a 2008 as dark as 2007 while others require more modest improvements that will make the team a more potent one.
1.Offensive Line – The problems with this unit started in training camp when the team failed to settle a squabble with Pete Kendall and traded him to the Redskins. The loss of their most experienced blocker threw the line into disarray. Adrian Clarke, his replacement, was awful and offered no help to the running game or the pass blocking. Anthony Clement, the right tackle, was almost as poor and the Jets need to upgrade the talent at each position.
NFL Offseason Roadmap is a series focused on the needs of NFL teams as they begin the offseason.
Needless to say, the 2007 season for the Cincinnati Bengals was a major disappointment. That being said, Cincy finished 7-9 and has plenty of talent to make a U-turn and get back to the elite status they feel they should be at. The Bengals notoriously doesn't try to build via free agency but they need to fill in some cracks this way for a turnaround to be successful.
1.Defensive Line – The first major move was firing Chuck Bresnahan as defensive coordinator and hiring Mike Zimmer. The next big moves cannot be made until the team decides if it is going to switch to a 3-4 defense or not. If they decide to do that, there will be a ton of work to do.
It is widly speculated that the Bengals will be looking to go after a rush end in the draft. Defensive end Justin Smith may be as good as gone. Smith is a decent player but isn't worth being the second highest paid player on the team. Letting him walk would free up all kinds of money to rebuild this unit. However, re-signing him for a paycut would be beneficial, too. John Thornton could be a salary cap casulty, though the team seems to want him back.
NFL Offseason Roadmap is a series focused on the needs of NFL teams as they begin the offseason. 
NFL Offseason Roadmap
NFL Offseason Roadmap
NFL Offseason Roadmap
NFL Offseason Roadmap is a series focused on the needs of NFL teams as they begin the offseason. 
NFL Offseason Roadmap
NFL Offseason Roadmap
