The players
Atlanta added two big weapons to their offense through the draft in the form of Julio Jones and Jacquizz Rodgers. Jones, who won a National Championship during his successful three years at Alabama, will be a terrific complement to Roddy White. The receiver has the skills to make an impact from day one and boost the Falcons already impressive passing game. Rodgers was a star at Oregon State who lost value in the draft after a rough final season. That made him a bargain in the fifth round and he should offer a solid alternative to Michael Turner.
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When making Super Bowl predictions, people tend to focus on either the powerhouse teams from the previous year (i.e. the defending conference champions) or, more likely, teams that were a cut below powerhouse level (i.e. the teams that lost in the conference championship round). We’ll call these the powercondo teams. Occasionally, you’ll come across a brave soul who is too smart for his own good. With thoughts of the ’99 Rams and the ’01 Patriots dancing in his head, this person predicts a bottom-feeder club – sticking with the housing theme, we’ll call it a powershack team – to come out of nowhere and win it all.
Recent history suggests these people have it all wrong. Look at the record of the past three Super Bowl champions the year before their Lombardi Trophy. The Saints were 8-8 in ’08. The Steelers were 10-6 in ’07. The Giants were 8-8 in ’06. Lately, Super Bowl champions haven’t emerged from the powerhouse or powercondo (or certainly powershack) ranks; they’ve emerged from something like the power-upper-floor-level-apartment ranks.
Last year’s first-round defensive tackle, Peria Jerry, arrives after missing his rookie year with a knee injury. First-round rookie Sean Weatherspoon is expected to be an instant three-down presence at outside linebacker. Free-agent cornerback Dunta Robinson gives the Falcons an elite stopper who should help curtail the big plays that gouged this team a year ago (the Falcons allowed 55 passes of 20 yards or more in ’09, just one behind the Rams for most in the N.F.C). And hard-hitting second-round safety William Moore has a chance to compete for a starting job after hamstring and knee problems sidelined him for all but two games a year ago.
Does this sound like the makings of a Super Bowl contender? Well…..let’s see: modest success the previous year; no burden of high expectations; distinct offensive and defensive identity; star quarterback; and improvements in most key areas of weakness. Sounds pretty good. And we haven’t even mentioned the stability at the top (another trait the Saints, Steelers and Giants all shared, by the way). Owner Arthur Blank and G.M. Thomas Dimitroff run their program with great chemistry. Perhaps even Super Bowl caliber chemistry.
Atlanta added two big weapons to their offense through the draft in the form of Julio Jones and Jacquizz Rodgers. Jones, who won a National Championship during his successful three years at Alabama, will be a terrific complement to Roddy White. The receiver has the skills to make an impact from day one and boost the Falcons already impressive passing game. Rodgers was a star at Oregon State who lost value in the draft after a rough final season. That made him a bargain in the fifth round and he should offer a solid alternative to Michael Turner.
Cincinnati Bengals, Cincinnati Bengals live, Cincinnati Bengals live nfl , Cincinnati Bengals live nfl tv coverage, watch nfl Cincinnati Bengals, Cincinnati live tv, Bengals live tv
When making Super Bowl predictions, people tend to focus on either the powerhouse teams from the previous year (i.e. the defending conference champions) or, more likely, teams that were a cut below powerhouse level (i.e. the teams that lost in the conference championship round). We’ll call these the powercondo teams. Occasionally, you’ll come across a brave soul who is too smart for his own good. With thoughts of the ’99 Rams and the ’01 Patriots dancing in his head, this person predicts a bottom-feeder club – sticking with the housing theme, we’ll call it a powershack team – to come out of nowhere and win it all.
Recent history suggests these people have it all wrong. Look at the record of the past three Super Bowl champions the year before their Lombardi Trophy. The Saints were 8-8 in ’08. The Steelers were 10-6 in ’07. The Giants were 8-8 in ’06. Lately, Super Bowl champions haven’t emerged from the powerhouse or powercondo (or certainly powershack) ranks; they’ve emerged from something like the power-upper-floor-level-apartment ranks.
Last year’s first-round defensive tackle, Peria Jerry, arrives after missing his rookie year with a knee injury. First-round rookie Sean Weatherspoon is expected to be an instant three-down presence at outside linebacker. Free-agent cornerback Dunta Robinson gives the Falcons an elite stopper who should help curtail the big plays that gouged this team a year ago (the Falcons allowed 55 passes of 20 yards or more in ’09, just one behind the Rams for most in the N.F.C). And hard-hitting second-round safety William Moore has a chance to compete for a starting job after hamstring and knee problems sidelined him for all but two games a year ago.
Does this sound like the makings of a Super Bowl contender? Well…..let’s see: modest success the previous year; no burden of high expectations; distinct offensive and defensive identity; star quarterback; and improvements in most key areas of weakness. Sounds pretty good. And we haven’t even mentioned the stability at the top (another trait the Saints, Steelers and Giants all shared, by the way). Owner Arthur Blank and G.M. Thomas Dimitroff run their program with great chemistry. Perhaps even Super Bowl caliber chemistry.
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