FanHouse Preview

Welcome to the NHL FanHouse 2008-09 season preview. While other sites are previewing "30 teams in 30 days," we decided to take advantage of the extra time off before the start of the season to bring you all 30 previews over the next three weeks. We're counting down in reverse order of finish from last season in each conference every weekday from now until October 3. Look for an Eastern Conference preview every morning and a Western Conference preview every afternoon. Click here to read them all.

Who's In: Brian Rolston, Bobby Holik

Who's Out: Vitaly Vishnevski, Sergei Brylin, Arron Asham, New York's Sean Avery signed in Dallas (probably worth mentioning)

What's Changed: Not a whole lot has changed in New Jersey, although it was interesting to see Lou Lamoriello open up the wallet during the off-season. The Devils brought back both Brian Rolston and Bobby Holik this summer in an effort to turn the clock back to 2000 (can Ken Daneyko and Scott Stevens be far behind?). Sources tell me that later this week Lou will unveil his plans to build a time machine in the basement of the Prudential Center. Actually the reasoning behind the signings was more than likely to, you know, improve the team but it's fun to imagine what schemes Lou is thinking up.

The team had a heck of a season last year, when most people were picking them to take a step back. Despite being in a tough division, the Devils managed 99 points and the third most points in the conference. They also managed to lose to the Islanders and Rangers a total of 13 times last year, which doesn't make any sense at all considering they only lost to the rest of the NHL 16 times. Obviously, they're going to have to focus a bit more on their tri-state area rivalry games.

The Devils are going into this season about the same they went in last year, except this time no one is sleeping on them. Despite a defense that leaves a bit to be desired, they still have Marty Brodeur and as long as they have him and he isn't aging horribly, you can't leave the Devils out. I apologize, because you're going to hear that line about a million times this year, and you've probably heard it a million times already. But it's true. He's still the best player on the team and posted a 2.17 GAA and .920 SPCT last season. Pretty sick numbers, to be sure. Oh and he's 36, which in goaltender years is almost unheard of. A few more years and the shelter is going to have to put him down for his own good.

Welcome to the NHL FanHouse 2008-09 season preview. While other sites are previewing "30 teams in 30 days," we decided to take advantage of the extra time off before the start of the season to bring you all 30 previews over the next three weeks. We're counting down in reverse order of finish from last season in each conference every weekday from now until October 3. Look for an Eastern Conference preview every morning and a Western Conference preview every afternoon. Click here to read them all.

Who's In: A pair of ex-Islanders and no one else who is very exciting; Arron Asham, Bryan Berard, Ossi Vaananen, Glen Metropolit. Unlike last year, the Flyers did not make a big splash this summer, mainly due to cap concerns.

Who's Out: Salary dumps galore; RJ Umberger, Vaclav Prospal (who was a rental), Jim Dowd, Jaroslav Modry, Jason Smith.

What's Changed: Not a whole lot. The Flyers are basically returning the same team that finished sixth in the conference with 95 points a year ago minus RJ Umberger and his 50 points. Jeff Carter, Joffrey Lupul and Randy Jones all received contract extensions to push this team closer to the cap than any other in the NHL, according to NHLNumbers.com. But hey, at least Derian Hatcher's $3.5 mil will only count for one more year!

This team is basically going to stay the way it is for this season unless they unload some money. When they locked up $37 million on six players, you could could kind of see all this coming. Not that they're a bad team -- not at all -- the Flyers just happen to be locked into their current roster for the time being.

The Chiefs' offense is a shadow of what they once were, which is why the Chiefs can't be too excited about facing arguably the best defense in the NFL.

When the Chiefs run the ball:
You'll recall that the last time the Chiefs played the Ravens on Monday Night Football, the Chiefs won that game by frustrating the living daylights out of Ray Lewis. They did so by throwing lots of blockers in his direction. Most of the game, they had two or three blockers on him.

The equation should probably stay the same today: how many blockers can the Chiefs get to the second level? Granted, one of the major parts to that old equation was good ole' trusty Tony Richardson, who was about as good as it gets plowing into defenders on the second level. But most of the interior blockers that drove this power running game are still there, so I don't expect the Chiefs to stray too much from this strategy.

Expect a very, very heavy dosage of Larry Johnson.

This preview is a lot tougher than past previews. Why? Well, on previous occasions, I knew which quarterback would start. I don't exactly have that luxury now, not with Damon Huard being questionable. I don't even have a track record to go on with the potential starter, Brodie Croyle. So let's start with the easier one:

When the Chiefs run the ball

Even this section isn't too easy. We all know that Larry Johnson will run the ball a lot, even if Huard is able to play. The main question is, will the Chiefs merely run the ball a lot, or all the time? If the Chiefs call upon Croyle, expect the Chiefs to run the ball closer to 40 than 30 times. Michael Bennett is no longer listed on the injury report, so expect to see him get several touches as well.

The most encouraging part about the Chiefs' run game last week was not that Johnson garnered over 130 yards, but rather that several times he was asked to run to the outside. That was an element sorely missing in the Chiefs' attack before last week, and it allowed defenses to attack the middle. Even if Mike Solari has little faith in the tackles, he needs to call for outside rushes in order to spread the defense a little. He did last week, and Johnson saw a lot more daylight than he's seen in weeks. The Seahawks' run defense is solid, but Solari showed last week against a great run-defense team that, with the right calls, Johnson can slice up any defense.

When the Chiefs pass the ball

Okay, now the difficult part. Or is it? We all know about Huard's abilities by now, and we know that Solari has opened up his playbook a little more, now that the Chiefs are comfortable with Huard. But what about Croyle? He had what can only be described as a debut he would like to forget, throwing 2 interceptions in 7 pass attempts. The positive side is that he completed 60 percent of passes that didn't end up in the opponent's hands.

If Croyle gets the start, expect the playbook to be similar to what it was in Denver-- short dropbacks, safe passes, and lots of running plays. Croyle may actually have more opportunities than Huard had in Denver, because Seattle's pass defense has been very suspect of late, but expect the Chiefs to temper those opportunities somewhat. If Huard is able to go, you may see a lot more deep passes because they will want to attack the safeties, who are not exactly oozing with confidence. One thing, however, is clear: Tony Gonzalez has shown he can still dominate a game, so either quarterback needs to look his way.

Prediction: Chiefs 24, Seahawks 13 (with Huard); Chiefs 16, Seahawks 9 (with Croyle)

A classic AFC West showdown takes place this Sunday as the Chiefs take on the Chargers (come to think of it, is there an AFC West matchup that wouldn't be considered classic?). The Chargers are considered a great team not because Philip Rivers is emerging, but because of their defense, which has talent galore. The Chiefs face a tough challenge against one of the finest front sevens in the league.

When the Chiefs Rush

Amazingly, this has been the weak point for the Chiefs. Larry Johnson, a guaranteed 2,000-yard rusher before the season, now looks like he will struggle to get even 1,200 yards. Unfortunately, offensive production starts here. If LJ cannot get untracked, then Herm Edwards' offense looks all the more predictable and unexciting. LJ's ability to break a big run, which has faired to rear its pretty head this year, creates so many opportunities for the passing game. This week, look for the Chiefs to try a wider variety of run plays. You may see more draws and counter runs, just to try something different. This offense leans on LJ, and if he cannot break free against the uber-talented Chargers' line, the offense could be in for another long day.

When the Chiefs Pass

Damon Huard proved that he actually is human. While the playcalling was unimaginative, Huard also failed to execute many plays properly. He has shown a propensity for having passes batted down. And, of course, he's not Trent Green.

At least the wide receivers showed a little light last week. Not much, but Rod Gardner saw a fair amount of time on the field, and Samie Parker made some tough catches. The Chiefs also looked to get Tony Gonzalez involved early, though it almost appeared as if they were abandoning him after halftime. The key on Sunday is that the Chiefs absolutely cannot let Shawne Merriman get near Huard. If they can protect Huard, the Chiefs' receivers are good enough to get open against the Charger secondary. Of course, easier said than done, but as I stated above, it can all be done if the Chiefs can run the football.

My Prediction: Chargers 20, Chiefs 17

All sports bloggers are required to write a preview and make a prediction about the upcoming game involving their team. It's probably in the contract somewhere, though I've never bothered to read any of the print, fine or not. Anyway, since Jon tells me it's what needs to be done, here's my preview.

Chiefs' Offense vs 49ers' Defense

Mike Nolan's a fine coach, and he's doing some great things with the 49ers. But let's be frank. The 49ers have little defensive talent. They're not the most disciplined of defensive teams, nor do they have Junior Seau-like talent to overcome that lack of discipline. Their defense relies on the element of surprise-- if they call it right, they can stuff the opposing offense. However, if they guess wrong, then they're more susceptible to the big play than probably any other team in the NFL.

The Chiefs' offense isn't without its question marks. Herm Edwards has said he wants to open up the offense. To do that, Larry Johnson needs to get off to a fast start. Even if he starts off slowly, though, he is enough of a threat that he should be able to keep the 49ers' weak secondary off-guard. Whatever trickery Mike Solari has in his playbook, he should utilize this week.

Key 49er: Manny Lawson. It's imperative that he wreak some havoc on both the running game and the passing game.

Key Chief(s): Larry Johnson and Rod Gardner. Simply the threat of Johnson running wild will keep the 49ers' blitzing scheme in check. Gardner needs to take advantage of the secondary and prove first that he belongs, and second that he gives the Chiefs the over-the-middle threat they're lacking from the wide receivers.

49ers' Offense vs. Chiefs' Defense

The 49ers are much improved offensively, but they have some huge question marks this week. Vernon Davis is out, and though he has been inconsistent, he gave the 49ers a deep, over-the-middle threat. Eric Johnson is a fine and dependable tight end, but he doesn't scare teams. The other issue is Frank Gore. Even when healthy, he has been fumble prone this year. This week, even his health is in question. Though his goal-line carries might be limited from now on, he provides that crucial ability to gain yards between the red zones. Alex Smith has been extremely impressive, especially when compared to last year, but he will be tested this week as he sees a wide variety of different coverages.

The Chiefs need to use this game to prove that they can generate a pass rush. The 49ers' offensive line is improved from last year, but still has some question marks. Although the Chiefs' defense has been solid, they're not forcing the issue. This game could be a statement game for them. They need to start forcing more turnovers and cause Alex Smith to make some hurried throws. Get the ball to the offense as quickly as possible, because the more practice the offense can get, the better.

Special Teams

Both kickers look pretty solid and could be in for busy days. Dustin Colquitt was an absolute weapon last game, and if he continues to pin the opponent deep in their territory, the 49ers will have a long day. Dante Hall could benefit from Rod Gardner's presence because he'll be asked to do less as a WR. If Hall breaks one loose, that would be just the spark that Chiefs fans need to get Arrowhead rocking.

Final Prediction: Chiefs 30, 49ers 13. Arrowhead will be a whole new world for Alex Smith, and I think the defense gets that needed turnover and defensive score, while Larry Johnson has the kind of game his fantasy owners have been waiting for.

The preseason is finally over! Without even playing one game that counts and already it's hard work being a Redskins fans. No matter how you explain it, defend it, view it, ignore it -- how do you explain what happened to our offense and defense and special teams and high-priced newcomers and expensive coaching staff and, well, the Redskins aren't looking so championship-like right now.

Fear none! So far we've only seen a preview of the preview. Kind of like a 30 second clip of a two minute movie trailer. Just enough to say it looks interesting, but not enough to give anything away. Ok, maybe so far there's nothing interesting about what the Redskins have been doing so far, this year is going to be blockbuster.

Next weekend Gibbs & Company begin their journey to Miami, begin playing with their new toys for real and begin silencing all the critics who have given the Redskins a thumbs down so far. The team that got outscored a whole bunch to very little this preseason will finish the season atop the NFC East and go deeper in the playoffs than last year's surprise team.

ESPN.com has released their 2006 NFL predictions. The list includes twelve "expert predictions". At the top of the list stands your favorite team. That's right...the Indianapolis Colts. Seven of the twelve writers picked the Colts to win the Super Bowl. Nine of them felt as if the Colts would win the AFC.

Here are the totals...

AFC Champions
Colts - 9
Patriots, Bengals, Broncos - 1

Super Bowl Champions
Colts - 7
Panthers - 2
Seahawks - 2
Bengals - 1

OK, "so what" right? Anyone can make a prediction. This is true. In fact, only 1 person on ESPN.com picked the Steelers to win the Super Bowl last year.

Take it for what it's worth, but it's still a nice boost of confidence.