Dear Fantasy Doctor X.

Prescriptions to NFL teams: Part I

By Fantasy Doc & Derek Lofland. With the fantastic 2007 NFL season now in the books, we will try to analyze each team's glaring needs that need to be addressed in the draft or free agency this off-season. We will start out with the teams that archived their season in the league's cellar and continue up from there. We have been accused to be,...Scratch that...We have been labeled ( a more appropriate word) to use a creative writing style in our articles. Therefore, Derek and I decided to live up to our billing and creative we were! 

We will have four weekly installments that will cover eight teams each. This is what the Maniaxs' doctor office orders:

Miami Dolphins 1-15

When you only win a game in a 16-game period and you almost do it accidentally, an OT big play vs. an equally weak Baltimore team, you had better start the rebuilding process by shaking up the entire old system. Apparently, the Dolphins are building a new foundation starting from the top with the hiring of GM Bill Parcells who figures to construct the structure of the team thru a power style running game. He has hired some of his old acquaintances already (Sparano), and more are sure to come.

It wasn’t entirely bad last season. Ronnie Brown and the offense had some bright spots in the first eight games of the season, but the defense couldn’t stop anyone. By the time the defense got into gear, Ronnie Brown was gone and the defense couldn’t carry the load. This dismantled team needs to get stable at QB and with a huge salary that Trent Green is to earn, his injures and poor performances when healthy, the 38-year old signal caller has a one-way ticket out of Miami all but warranted. Cleo Lemon and John Beck may not provide the immediate help this team needs, but again, Parcells will emphasize on creating a run first mentality that won’t need many big plays out of the QB position in the immediate future.

The Defensive Line is an area of concern like it is the Line Backing one as their poor defense against the run in 2007 indicated. Seeing Parcells and Sparano both have a history of being with teams that use 3-4 defenses, it will be interesting to see if they try to switch to that type of defense or continue with the 4-3.  Wide Receiver is another position they should look to address via free agency while developing the talents of Ted Ginn Jr. and third-year player Derek Hagan.
Defensive Backs, especially safeties, needs some refurbishing as well. Even tough this unit ranked in the top-10 last season, it was thanks to teams electing not to pass on them as they could punish Miami more efficiently with the running game and controlling the clock in the process. The few teams that choose to employ their aerial weapons vs. the Dolphins secondary, like the Patriots and Browns, came away with impressive results exposing their weakness in the department.
The only decent spots that Miami sported last year were in the OL, running backs and Kicker positions.
A major haul on defense is what this team needs to have by carefully drafting and some instant veteran help thru FA at QB and WR is what the Maniaxs Doctor’s office prescribes. The good news for the Dolphins is that the Panthers went 1-15 in 2001 and were in the Super Bowl by 2003.  It doesn’t need to take that long. That plan, if followed, should warrant them at least three more wins in 2008, although it shouldn’t take much to improve on a 1-win season.

St. Louis Rams 3-13

It is true that football games are won or lost at the offensive line, and it is also true that a hurt individual is not able to perform at a high level in any job, much less the one of a NFL O-Lineman. This team never gotten untracked last year to show its real potential because of the lack of continuity at the line. Starting the projected starters only 22% of the time made sure that the personnel wouldn’t have a chance to jell or grow together. That in turn, caused a chain reaction that affected the overall team play, namely Bulger, McMichael and Jackson. While Bulger and Jackson were nagging injures most of the season, newly acquired TE Randy McMichael found himself relegated to blocking duties for the most part and his offensive production showed a considerable regress from his previously set standards.

The Rams’ Defensive Backs system was also a liability enticing teams to pick them apart with big plays. On a positive note, it is interesting to report that when the regular starters took the field at the same time in six games, the team was able to post a 3-3 record. To further illustrate the importance of depth and continuity, the Rams weren’t able to win a single game when the DB core was not intact going 0-10 in their remaining games. The D-Line played decently in spurts. Line Backers were able to produce some stats because opponents ran on them at will. The WR duo of Holt and Bruce is not getting any younger and the Rams should seriously consider investing on an impact WR thru the draft. Even kicker Jeff Wilkins endured an unusually sub-par year, but no major worries there. The key for the Rams will be getting the ball near the end zone first, and then converting field goals.

Overall, St. Louis needs to fine-tune a tad in every department. While injuries were to blame in '07, this team was 8-8 just a year ago.  It isn’t as if they were 12-4 anytime in the recent past. They need use the favorable draft positioning to add talent that normally wouldn’t have been available to a roster with their talents.This fundamentally solid team might have contended in the division and even make the playoffs as they were predicted to last pre-season, had their team not been decimated by injuries.

The cure here is very simple: A good health insurance plan!

Atlanta Falcons 4-12

Let’s ponder for a minute how ironic is that a non-typical NFL QB like Michael Vick could be sorely missed from the Falcons lineup. Prior to his scandal and consequent arrest, Vick was often subject of criticism for his run mentality and Atlanta receivers were usually earning their paycheck with minimal effort on the field. The consequences of his absence were catastrophic at best, as the team’s running game reversed from a league’s best in 2006 to a 26th ranked one this past season. Warrick Dunn showed his age and then Coach Petrino was absurdly obstinate in not inserting the young and talented Jerious Norwood in the lineup during his brief tenure with the team. The O-Line was one of the worst in the league along with the D-Line. The Line Backing position produced mixed results and actually ended up the season as one of the top ones. When Petrino decided to leave the team before the end of the season, herd behavior swiftly triumphed.

If they are going to go with a young quarterback on the roster, the clear and logical choice at QB for 2008 should be Chris Redman whom didn’t disappoint at all when given a chance towards the end of the season. Otherwise, they can use their first round pick to land a top prospect. Roddy White was probably the brightest spot on an otherwise dismal team posting career numbers in his “Magical” third season. He would need some more help next season as teams will start preparing for him. A solid young free agent acquisition there should do the trick. Alge Crumpler didn’t belong in Petrino’s game plan obviously and voiced his discontent a few times. His injures didn’t help his cause much either. There is hope next year at TE. At the kicker position, the Falcons won’t need any help for another 18 years since Morten Andersen is ONLY 48-years old and not eligible to receive social security until 2026.

To resume, a lot of help on the lines, a little trust in Norwood and Redman, and a new receiver should bring the Falcons back to respectability in a couple of years.  They probably need to bring in a quarterback to compete with Redman either through free agency or through the draft.  You don’t want to pin all your hopes on a guy that looked respectable in the last few games of the season.  This is a team that just needs to start over and add as many talented pieces as they can find.  Three more wins in 2008 is not a far-fetched prediction for the Falcons.

Oakland Raiders 4-12

Do you feel like testing your NFL knowledge? Don’t worry; this will be easy. When a team ranks 31st in rushing defense out of 32 teams having allowed 2,234 rushing yards and 24 rushing TDs (League’s worst) during the season, what do you fix?
If you answered Defensive Line and Line Backers, congratulations, you know your NFL!

The QB carousel of Culpepper and McCown was OK at times last season but with the team giving Russell a shot next year, the next section they need to work on would be the WRs one. Porter and Curry are average players and last year’s acquisition of Lions’ reject Mike Williams just didn’t cut the mustard for this 4-12 team.  Perhaps Randy Moss can resign with them during free agency? 

Another area of concern, although not immediate, is the RB one where Justin Fargas emerged as the most efficient option out of the old and log jammed backfield. Fargas will be 28 at season’s start and fellow runners Jordan and Rhodes are also nearing the 30-year old RB barrier and dealing with injures.
Similar to many of these teams it is about adding more talented players. However, in the Raiders case they need to get younger as well. The problem is that Al Davis is holding this franchise back. While he is an icon in the NFL going back to the 1960s and was in the Super Bowl as recently as 2002, he has been playing musical chairs at coach too much in recent years. He needs to keep his hands out of the football area and do what he did with Jon Gruden; allow a young coach to develop this team slowly. No more quick fixes or signing over the hill players for quick relief. The use of Alka Seltzer is to be discontinued here as it hasn't worked. Visit a specialist!. Considering that this is not the perfect landscape for a speedy rebuilding process, I can envision this team being able to gather up two more wins next season. Although with Al Davis’s recent history the team may go backwards too.

Kansas City Chiefs 4-12

On defense, the Chiefs could use some depth at Line Backer. Other than that, they have a solid defense. Now, the offense is where it needs some significant help just about everywhere except at RB where Larry Johnson and young Kolby Smith can split the load effectively next season.
The QB position is the weakest one where a leader hasn’t emerged out of Croyle and Huard. This is not an easy problem to fix. Do you use another high draft pick on a QB that might not help you, or do you go the free agency route and try to bring in another veteran.

As far as WRs go, second year (Sophomore Jinx) Dwayne Bowe was the lone bright spot in that category. Eddie Kennison is too old and too fragile to endure the rigors of a long season anymore. They could use some more playmakers.The OL needs some retooling as well hoping that the team doesn’t lose a third Pro-Bowler there in as many years. This offensive line got old and slow and the front office did a bad job of having replacements in the waiting. Drafting some young players and develop them, is a long-term project. Until this line gets back to the level of 2003 and 2004, this team is going to continue to have problems on offense.

A stout defense can only take you so far in this league; therefore, I don’t forecast much improvement for the Chiefs next season. While keeping Larry Johnson healthy the entire season may help, he wasn’t exactly setting the world on fire before he left. I think the team is a ways from respectability. 

New York Jets 4-12

This team is one of the more difficult teams to come up with a fix. Seeing they were 10-6 and made the playoffs just a season ago many people thought the talent was in place to make another playoff run, especially with the signing of Thomas Jones. This once “Pesky” team needs a good dose of patience just like any team with a young core of players that needs time to jell. They need to address both the Offensive and Defensive line a bit, the OLBs and the secondary as they were constantly subject to big plays in ’07.

However, this team also needs a difference maker, particularly on offense. That sounds obvious as everyone can use those types of players. The problem is that the Jets don’t have even one. Jones, Coles, Cotchery are all solid players that could make almost any NFL roster. However, Coles is starting to show his true advanced age and Jones is not exactly a youngster. Clemens looked good at times and has shown signs of being able to play in this league. Who is their difference maker? Who is the player that keeps defensive coordinators up at night? Darren McFadden has the potential to be that player. The Jets have a high draft pick and should do whatever they can to acquire that type of player. Adding someone like that will really benefit these other players. The Jets' key in free agency is to add some veteran players that are going to help the young players grow. The key to the draft is to not only acquire more good young talent, but also try to hit a home run and bring in a difference maker that can contribute this season similar to the Vikings acquiring Adrian Peterson in 2007. 

Baltimore Ravens 5-11

When the few games you win have to come thanks to your reliable kicker, it means that it’s time for an offensive restructure.  Running back is probably the only position they don’t need to fix. It has to start with the OL, then with a new and better QB (McNair needs to go and Boller is not the answer either) and ultimately with some more receivers. They don’t have anyone that can stretch the field. It's time to stop trying short-term solutions on offense and try to get younger on that side of the ball. 

Their once dominant defense that kept them in games and actually won many by taking on the scoring task themselves, has regressed somewhat because of injures and aging veterans especially at the DL and LB positions.  They are going to have to make some tough decisions in the next few years starting with Ray Lewis as his era has almost come to an end. This is a veteran team that was looking for a last stand after a 13-3 season in 2006 and instead bottomed out in 2007. Baltimore needs to get younger on both sides of the ball. While they could use improvement on both sides of the ball, offense is the priority. You cannot overhaul a team in one year. They need to emphasize their draft and free agency efforts on offense first. There is enough talent on defense yet that they can still compete with what they have in 2008 and instead do fine tuning this off-season on that side of the ball. 

San Francisco 49ers 5-11

Don’t let their five wins record fool you into believing that this team is actually better than what their records indicate. In fact, they are worse. All of their five victories were against worse or equally bad teams starting with the season sweep of the Arizona Cardinals started in week 1. They continued their good start with a week 2 win vs. a pathetic Rams squad, a week 15 win against the tail spinning Bengals and the last one, a 21-19 win at the expense of a Buccaneers’ team that rested their starters in preparation of their playoffs. This team was statistically one of the worst in the league in 2007.

This is a prime example of why people like Ted Thompson want to stay out of the dangerous waters of free agency.  For as much money as this team spent in free agency, their best acquisition happened in the draft when they selected their middle linebacker and Defensive Rookie of the Year in Willis. Their defense did not produce enough given the money they spent in free agency and where the finished in the standings. Their offense was the most anemic in the NFL being good for a league’s worst 273.3 total yards a game, 219 total points scored on the season (32nd) 27:08 time of possession (Also 32nd) and 36 fumbles (31st, second only to Oakland’s’ 42). The problem is that other than Frank Gore they don’t have enough difference makers on this team. Gore was hurt most of last year and that made a bad situation worse. Overall, when a team cannot control the clock, fails to score the few times it has a chance, fumbles the ball incredibly too many times and often stalls on third downs….you do the math, it means 5 wins.

Not all hope is lost. If Frank Gore can stay relatively healthy next season, Smith or Hill can emerge as a quality NFL QB, and Mike Martz can revive their offense they should be able to improve in a division that lacks a dominant team at the top. The defense has enough talent to make a playoff appearance in 2008 a remote possibility if their offense will cooperate. While not having a first round pick will make fixing that a lot harder, they should be able to do enough in the other rounds and in free agency to improve this team.

This concludes this first prescriptions' installment. Derek will write about the next eight team's next week in the second segment.

Let us know your thoughts and own ideas on how your favorite team should improve. 

Visit us at Fantasy Football Maniaxs for more!