ARTHUR'S HALL NFL/NFC PREVIEW

NFC EAST

• Dallas 10-6
• NY Giants 10-6
• Washington 9-7
• Philadelphia 8-8

DALLAS 10-6
Offense - The big story of course is Terrell Owens, the antithesis of an Arthur's Hall Viking. A complete pussy who whines about everything. Fuck that guy. I do have to say that he is a madman and true bad ass football player. They also have Drew Bledsoe who is still a good quarterback but he is prone to mistakes at bad times. They have two solid running backs but Dallas's hopes will ride on the back of Terrell Owens. If he behaves himself this team will be very good, if not, and I am betting that he doesn't they will struggle in a tough division.

Defense - As with any Bill Parcells coached team, this defense will be physical and aggressive. Second year player, DeMarcus Ware will take a step forward into the Pro Bowl this year. Safety Roy Williams is one of the most overrated players in the league, he is a glorified linebacker who struggles in coverage. This defense is questionable in the defensive backfield, if the front seven does not apply pressure to the passer, they can be beat deep. This division will be a war, any one of these teams can win the division but I am going with the team that has the best offensive/defensive balance in Dallas.

NEW YORK 10-6
Offense - A typical New York team, overhyped and overrated. They do have one of the best offenses in the NFC with a good, but not great yet, Eli Manning and Tiki Barber. Jeremy Shockey is a damn good tight end and Burress is a good receiver when he tries. They do lack depth at WR and also their offensive line is quite average. Against bad teams the Giants will light it up, but against the elite they will have trouble moving the ball.

Defense - Subtraction by addition. When you add a player of the talent of Lavar Arrington your defense should improve, but it won't. Why? Because he is undisciplined player who refuses to stick to assignments which in today's NFL is more important than pure athletic prowess. They have a horrible secondary but a dominant pass rush. I would say that their defensive line is the best in football. This team is a real mixed bag, some great parts, some big holes...that is why they will be pretty mediocre but could catch fire and go deep in the playoffs or implode and be last in the division.

WASHINGTON 9-7
Offense - They have a new coach, a couple new receivers, blah, blah, blah. This offense is Junior Varsity. Clinton Portis is the only thing worth talking about on this offense. Mark Brunell is a caretaker quarterback, at this point of his career he is incapable of winning games with his arm. One of the most vanilla offenses in the league.

Defense - This may be the most underrated unit in football. They are led by one of the all time athletic freaks, Sean Taylor. I predict that he will be defensive player of the year in the league in the next three years. As a Hawk fan this is the one defense that scares me. If this team had a decent offense they would be a Super Bowl contender, as it is, they are a good team who could sneak out a playoff win.

PHILADELPHIA 8-8
Offense - This offensive unit is hard to figure out. The throw more than anyone in the NFL and yet they have a terrifically inaccurate quarterback in McNabb. They have a hard time running the ball and their running back Brian Westbrook is much more of a scatback than a traditional running back. They can be explosive and I do think that the addition of Donte Stallworth will help, at least until he has his semi-annual hamstring pull. This offense will look good at times but once again if you can't run the ball and you have an average QB you only go so far especially in this division.

Defense - Warning, Warning...another overrated unit! This team once had a proud defense that could overwhelm opponents with its blitzes and physical play but time has eroded this unit significantly. The worst move they made was to overpay for the one-dimensional Jevon Kearse. He does not play the run and makes one play per game and somehow the ESPN hype machine has made him into a star. He is not. Their linebackers do not run well and are a liability in coverage. Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson seems to have lost his touch on blitzes and schemes, the league has caught up to him.

NFC NORTH

• Chicago 10-6
• Minnesota 8-8
• Detroit 6-10
• Green Bay 4-12

CHICAGO 10-6
Offense - This unit is the prototypical "don't lose us the game" unit. This offense is merely capable of holding field position and possessing the ball. Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson are a good one-two punch at RB. Rex Grossman has talent but he is injury-prone and very inexperienced. I predict that Brian Griese will be the starting QB at some point, Grossman is on a short leash and this team mistakingly thinks it is a NFC contender. They have CFL level wide recievers and will have a hard time scoring more than 20 points per game.

Defense - The NFL's premier defensive unit in 2005. They are young, fast, aggressive and nasty. Led by a true Viking, Brian Urlacher they are just as likely to score as the offense. It does not hurt that they play in the most offensively challenged division in football. These guys are a joy to watch..they play football the way it is supposed to be played, physical with a touch of nastiness that is essential on the defensive side of the ball, it is too bad they play with such a pathetic offense or you would be hearing about this defense in the same breath with the Bears of 80s, Eagles of the early 90s and Ravens and Bucs of the early 2000s.

MINNESOTA 8-8
Offense - Just like every team in this division this offense is quite average. They are led by aging but intelligent Brad Johnson and have a top shelf offensive line led by Bryant McKinnie and traitor Steve Hutchinson. They have unproven skill position players and this will be their limiting factor on offense.

Defense - Could be a scary unit if all the pieces come together. They have a dominant defensive line led by two very different monsters. Kevin Williams is an agile monster who disrupts by penetrating gaps and swallowing up quarterbacks and running back alike. He will flourish playing next to all time beast Pat Williams, a sumo wrestler disguised as a football player. He merely holds his ground and does not allow his opponent to gain any advantage thus letting the other defenders run free. The secondary has a ton of talent and will be able to guard opposing receivers considering the defensive line will get pressure on the quarterback. The linebacking corps are weak and are the Achilles heel of this unit. An above average defense to be sure.

DETROIT 6-10
Offense - Mad Mike is back. That's right, the most insane coach in the NFL is back as the offensive coordinator of the Lions. I am not sure that he has the talent to install the St. Louis "Greatest Show on Turf" offense but he will get this team to move the ball. Jon Kitna is not the QB for this system, he is too inaccurate throwing the ball down the field. No system relies more on deep routes than Martz's and for that you need an accurate QB and a offensive line who can protect for a long time. This line is decent so they are half way there, I think that Josh McCown is a better fit for this offense and I do think he will see time soon. No real standouts individually on this unit but in time that won't matter. Martz is the premier offensive mind in the game today and he will get them going....next year.

Defense - This is an underrated unit. Shaun Rogers is a beast at defensive tackle. New Head Coach Rod Marinelli is enthusiastic and defensive minded so this unit will fly around and hit people. Rookie Ernie Sims will be a stalwart in the Pro Bowl as soon as this year. This defense will get Detroit into the playoffs next year. A team on the rise after a decade of insignificance.

GREEN BAY 4-12
Offense - Brett Favre, Brett Favre, Brett Favre...that is all you need to know about this offense and this team really. They will rise or fall on his arm and at this point in his career will not be able to deliver. He could still be a good QB in the league but this team lacks the talent around him for him to get it done. Could contend the #1 pick overall. Aging and not getting better....

Defense - Just like every other team in this division, the defense is better than the offense. This is a young and improving unit. Led by linebackers Nick Barnett and rookie AJ Hawk, this defense will not roll over for anyone. Their offense will give away field position but overall this will be a slightly above average defense at the end of the year.

NFC SOUTH

• Carolina 10-6
• Atlanta 10-6
• Tampa Bay 8-8
• New Orleans 7-9

CAROLINA 10-6
Offense - Easily the most overrated team in football. The offense is merely average with one standout player in Steve Smith. He can be bottled up easily as proven by the dominant performance by the Seahawks in the NFC Championship game. Their running attack is average at best despite everything you hear. They averaged under four yards per carry (3.4) which is laughable in this league for a supposedly elite team. That placed them right next to San Francisco and Green Bay, two of the worst team in recent NFL history. So they signed Keyshawn Johnson..so fucking what. He would not start on at least half of NFL teams at this point in his career, he was decent when he was younger but now he is a high priced version of Muhsin Muhammed. If he had not played in New York none of you would have ever heard of him...take a look at his numbers, average at best. Jake Delhomme is a good, not great, quarterback but it is unfortunate for Carolina that he is the second best player on this offense.

Defense - A strong unit, not as good as advertised, but good nonetheless. They have a great secondary with Kenny Lucas and Chris Gamble at corner. The linebackers are good but the continued absence of Dan Morgan will hurt them, he is one of the premier run stuffing middle linebackers in the league. The defensive line could be incredible but we have been hearing that for years, Kris Jenkins has been hurt most of the last three years and Julius Peppers is a highlight film player meaning he makes one or two spectacular plays per game but other than that is not a factor in the game.

ATLANTA 10-6
Offense - Run, Run, Run, and Run some more. This unit has led the NFL in rushing three years running and will do it again this year. Led by running back masquerading as a quarterback Michael Vick and all-time good guy Warrick Dunn this team will run the ball better than anyone. The true question is whether or not Vick can complete passes when he needs to. I bet not...if he could this team would win it all but because he is incapable of basic throws this team will never win a Super Bowl with him at QB. He is also injury and turnover prone. There are numerous experts around the league who think they would be a better team with backup Matt Schaub at QB and I agree wholeheartedly.

Defense - A star studded lineup. If healthy, this is a scary defense. They are clearly built for the indoor stadium where they play, they are fast and small. They can physically dominated by a bigger, stronger team (see Seattle) but overall they are one of the best units in the league. They will need John Abraham to stay healthy, if he does the sky is the limit, if not they will be above average but not dominating.

TAMPA BAY 8-8
Offense - A strange offense, Jon Gruden likes to use short throws and mulit-dimensional running backs to move the ball down the field. But he has a down the field thrower in Chris Simms and a lackluster wide receiver corps and no tight end. I do like Cadillac Williams but I do think he is a bit small to be an every down running back for more than a couple of years. He is a carbon copy of Charlie Garner, a player Jon Gruden rode to the Super Bowl with the Raiders a few years back. Joey Galloway is still one of the fastest men in football and enjoyed a comeback campaign last year. The offensive line is very suspect and that is why this team is just not playoff worthy.

Defense - Experience can be a great servant but a horrible master. This unit is getting old quickly. Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks is still effective but he is not the legend that he used to be, the same can be said about Ronde Barber and Simeon Rice. They simply have not replenished the talent that has been lost to age over the past four years and are becoming more average with every game.

NEW ORLEANS 7-9
Offense - There is only one reason to talk about the Saints...his name is Reggie Bush. Get used to hearing his name, he will be the standard bearer of the NFL for the next decade. He is simply amazing, I have never seen a player with his package of athleticism, toughness and skill level....EVER. He is as good as 90% of wide receivers out of the backfield and more explosive at running back than anyone else. He will be the Rookie of the Year without question. He will have 1000 yds rushing, 800-1000 receiving and 10-15 touchdowns. He is without peer, he will be Marshall Faulk this year and his prime will leave us in awe. He and he alone will be the reason this unit is dynamic. Without him they would be much below average.

Defense - Nothing to talk about here...vanilla, and substandard. They must start building this unit so that they can compete for a Super Bowl when Bush comes of age.

NFC WEST

• Seattle 13-3
• St. Louis 9-7
• Arizona 8-8
• San Francisco 3-13

SEATTLE 13-3
Offense - The most balanced unit in the NFL. They run the ball better than anyone besides Denver and Atlanta and throw better than anyone but Indianapolis. Led by future Hall of Famers Walter Jones and Shaun Alexander and the premier QB in the NFC, Matt Hasselbeck, they led the NFL in scoring last year and will be right there again this year. Matt Hasselbeck is my pick for NFL MVP this year succeeding teammate Alexander as MVP of the league. The only question mark is at wide receiver but at press time the team was in negotiation for Deion Branch. If they get him, that question mark will become a strength and no team will have four WR' s that are better. All of the key players are in their prime and have played together for five years now. Can be bothered by physical 3-4 teams such as Washington and Dallas. A standard defense has no chance. They will have a sizable target on their backs as the clear favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl once again, but they will get it done.

Defense - A young and dynamic squad. These are not your father's Seahawks. This defense will hurt you and led the NFL in sacks last year. The front seven is the deepest in the league and the addition of freak Julian Peterson along with the continued maturation of Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill will make this the best linebacking corps in the league. The secondary is a bit above average but nowhere near as strong as the front seven. Marcus Trufant is a shut down corner but does not intercept the ball well. They will need rookie Kelly Jennings to grow up quickly because they lack depth at the cornerback position. Safeties Michael Boulware and Kenny "The Hammer" Hamlin are athletic and aggressive. They can be beat with playaction and are still young. Hamlin is returning from a cracked skull and it remains to be seen whether or not he can remain the head hunting madman he was...he did look to be back against Detroit so the team will need to keep its fingers crossed about him, there is little depth at his position. This team will win the NFC again and will go undefeated at home again due to the insanity of the home crowd in Seattle. They will get homefield advantage again and will ride that to the Super Bowl.

ST. LOUIS 9-7
Offense - A big transition year for the Rams. They are moving from being a wide open fling the ball all over the place offense to a close to the vest running offense. This will serve them well long term but there will be growing pains this year. I do think that the world will see how overrated Marc Bulger is this year. Martz made him a Pro Bowler and now he will look quite average. Stephen Jackson is monster at RB and will have a huge season. Torry Holt is still a premier receiver but he does not have a reliable number two receiver to take the pressure off of him anymore. The offensive line is average and the tight ends are very young. A middle of the pack offense.

Defense - A sad sack unit. They will be better this year with defensive coordinator Jim Haslett calling the shots but they lack talent. A average unit at best.

ARIZONA 8-8
Offense - The hype machine is in full effect once again. Kurt Warner is no longer a viable NFL quarterback, he holds the ball too long and will get injured soon. Matt Leinart will be forced into action and while he will eventually be very good, he will not be ready to lead this team to wins. They do have the best receiver duo in the league in Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. They signed Edgerrin James in the offseason, dramatically overpaying in the process. They still have a piss poor offensive line and that will be their undoing. This year will prove once and for all that Edgerrin James was merely a product of the Indy system. They will not be able to run the ball and will have to throw a ton to win which will led to sacks and interceptions and eventually to Kurt Warner being injured.

Defense - A pretty decent and aggressive unit. Safety Adrian Wilson is the best defensive player you have never heard of. The linebackers are young and fast but the secondary other than Wilson is a big concern. They will have a hard time guarding anyone and if this team does not find a way to mount a pass rush they will get shredded by the upper echelon teams.

SAN FRANCISCO 3-13
Offense - The worst unit in football last year and I do not see them improving much this year. The offensive line is average, their running back is unproven and their QB Alex Smith leaves a lot to be desired. On the bright side they did draft TE Vernon Davis who will change the way that position is played, unfortunately he will not a QB capable of getting him the ball this year.

Defense - The worst unit in football last year and I do not see them improving much this year. That's right the 49ers were last in offense and defense last year, a dubious feat that has not been accomplished in decades. Their best player Julian Peterson signed with Seattle and nothing substantial was done to improve this unit... all that translates to another long year for a once proud franchise.

- arthur@arthurshall.com