2009 NFL Preview Part 1

The terrible towel, the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, the results of another botched draft by the Oakland Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals stepping on the field, all of the above are signs that the NFL season is starting up.

In order to get you prepped for the season we’ll preview the divisions and specifically the African players in the NFL as well as their teams.

AFC EAST

New England Patriots

The team of the decade saw their championship hopes wiped out in the first game last season when Quarterback Tom Brady tore his ACL. Despite the best efforts of backup QB Matt Cassel, the Pats failed to make the playoffs. This season Brady is back, healthy and ready to link up with wide receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker and the Pats defence looks to be as fierce as ever with Defensive Tackle Vince Wilfork and Linebacker Jerrod Mayo. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out the Pats will end up winning the division.

Coach: Bill Belichick;

Main players: QB Tom Brady, WR Randy Moss, DT Vince Wilfork, LB Jerrod Mayo.

Buffalo Bills

The arrival of WR Terrell Owens to Orchard Park has the media and fans of Buffalo buzzing and although a wildcard spot could be a possibility for the team, fans in Owens old stops will remind Bills fans to enjoy the highs of the season as subsequent seasons with Owens usually turn divisive. The Bills hope that injuries to their secondary won’t be an issue again but if so they should still be able to overcome it enough to push for a playoff spot.

Coach:Dick Jauron;

Main players:QB Trent Edwards, RB Marshawn Lynch,WR Terrell Owens,

 WR Lee Evans, DE Aaron Schobel.

Miami Dolphins

The wildcat team are back after winning the division last season. This season, Coach  Tony Sparano has brought back Dolphins defensive legend Jason Taylor to provide veteran leadership and the team drafted a Quarterback capable of running the wildcat formation in Pat White. Look for Tight End Anthony Fasano to improve on his performances from last season and to put up Pro-Bowl numbers but a playoff appearance will be out of the equation at then end of the season.

Coach: Tony Sparano;

Main players: RB Ronnie Brown, TE Anthony Fasano, FS Gibril Wilson, LB Joey Porter.

NY Jets

The New York Jets of New Jersey go into the 2009 NFL season with defensive (guru) Rex Ryan now at the helm and a rookie QB, Mark Sanchez from USC now running the show. The team still lacks a Pro-Bowl caliber WR and will turn to Running backs Thomas Jones and Leon Washington to take the heat off Sanchez. Look for Cornerback JAMES IHEDIGBO to impress when given the chance in the Jets secondary. Expect growing pains under Ryan and Sanchez and a winning season is not likely.

Coach: Rex Ryan;

Main players: QB Mark Sanchez, RB Thomas Jones, RB Leon Washington, DT Kris Jenkins, LB Vernon Gholston.

AFC NORTH

Pittsburgh Steelers

The NFL champs are back with minimal player losses and a returning core of players. The Steelers are the definition of consistency and there’s no reason to believe the defending champs won’t be in the AFC Conference Finals playing for another Super Bowl appearance in January. One thing to watch for is the play of 2^nd year RB Rashad Mendenhall who will be out to show the Steelers faithful what he’s capable of after missing just about all of his rookie season.

Coach: Mike Tomlin;

Main players: QB Ben Roethlisberger, RB Willie Parker, WR Hines Ward, (SS) Troy Polamalu, LB James Harrison.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens are back after a surprise playoff run last season and have one of last years successful rookie Quarterbacks, Joe Flacco under center. The  team lost (Defensive coordinator) Rex Ryan and LB Bart Scott to the Jets but still have the scariest player in the league, Ray Lewis, captaining their stingy defence.  Look for Nose Tackle Haloti Ngata to build on his impressive season last year and set the tone for the defensive front while Fullback and special teams ace BRENDAN AYANBADEJO will look to make things easier for Flacco on offense and change the game on special teams. As long as the Ravens still play stingy defence they’ll always have a punters chance of making the playoffs.

Coach:John Harbaugh;

 Main players: QB Joe Flacco, NT Haloti Ngata, LB Ray Lewis, LB Terrell Suggs, FS Ed Reed.

Cincinnati Bengals

The perpetual disaster that is the Cincinnati Bengals are back after another bad season. This year will more than likely be Coach Marvin Lewis’ last go if a winning record is not the result after Week 16. The health and return of QB Carson Palmer is the first step to success along with a focused Chad Ochocinco at WR. The loss of his receiving counterpart, TJ Houshmandzadeh to Seattle might be countered by Chris Henry if Henry can continue walking the right path on and off the field. Mike Zimmer was brought in to rebuild the defense and Strong Safety CHINEDUM NDUKWE will be hoping to assist Zimmer in providing the Bengals with great Secondary play. A winning season will be enough for Bengals fans to call the season a success.

Coach: Marvin Lewis;

Main players: QB Carson Palmer, WR Chad Ochocinco, WR Chris Henry, LB Dhani Jones, NT Tank Johnson, SS CHINEDUM NDUKWE.

Cleveland Browns

New coach Eric Mangini and newly named starting Quarterback Brady Quinn will have a difficult task on their hands this season. The Browns will be another team to experience growing pains this season as Quinn and the Mangenius fight to stay relevant in the tough AFC North.

Coach:Eric Mangini;

Main players: QB Brady Quinn, WR Braylon Edwards, WR  Joshua Cribbs.

AFC SOUTH

Tennessee Titans

The defending AFC South champs lost DT Albert Haynesworth in free

agency but Coach Jeff Fishers’team always plays hard nosed defence and this season will be no exception. Another AFC south title won’t  happen but the Titans will still pull their weight in their division.

Coach: Jeff Fisher;

Main players: RB Chris Johnson, RB Lendale White,

 CB Cortland Finnegan.

Indianapolis Colts

It’s very unwise to count out Peyton Manning and despite the retirement of Coach Tony Dungy, the Colts will still be in the mix for the AFC South championship and another playoff appearance. A lot will hinge on the play of the Houston born and bred Ghanaian RB JOSEPH ADDAI who has dealt with his fair share of injuries over the past couple of seasons. Left tackle TONY UGOH is another important player whose duties in protecting Manning will be a key to the Colts success. UGOH will need to become more consistent and show new coach Jim Caldwell that he deserves to regain his starting position back.  If health is a

non-issue for the Colts look for them to end up with the AFC South title.

Coach: Jim Caldwell;

Main players: QB Peyton Manning, RB Joseph Addai,

WR Reggie Wayne, TE Dallas Clark, DE Dwight Freeney, K. Adam Vinatieri.

Houston Texans

The Texans are the trendy pick amongst NFL prognosticators and fans alike due to the additions made to the team since Rick Smith became General Manager in 2006.  The Texans now have a solid core of QB Matt Schaub, Pro Bowl WR Andre Johnson, Pro Bowl DE Mario Williams, DT AMOBI OKOYE and a legit star RB in Steve Slaton.

Quality players abound on the Texans and a playoff appearance is not far fetched but the team still has some glaring weaknesses that makes it difficult to see them making the playoffs. The Texans defense needs to perform better against the run and the secondary with the exception of CB Dunta Robinson is always suspect.  Look for DT FRANK OKAM and LB XAVIER ADIBI to contribute alongside rookie LB Brian Cushing in shoring up the defense while the secondary will hope young Domanique Barber can make a good partner for FS Eugene Wilson.

Coach:Gary Kubiak;

 Main players: QB Matt Schaub, WR Andre Johnson, RB Steve Slaton, DE Mario Williams, DT AMOBI OKOYE, LB DeMeco Ryans.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jags are coming off a disappointing season following their playoff appearance in 2007. Unfortunately there appear to be few bright spots for the Jags in the upcoming season with the exception of the new partnership between QB David Garrard and former St.Louis Rams WR Torry Holt.  The Jags still have talented RB Maurice Jones-Drew in the backfield and one of the best Kickers in the league in Josh Scobee but the defense will need to step up to help the Jags in the difficult AFC South.  Look for OT UCHE NWANERI to play his part in protecting Garrard from the hard-nosed Defensive Ends in the division.

Coach:Jack Del Rio;

Main players: QB David Garrard, RB Maurice Jones-Drew, WR Torry Holt, K Josh Scobee, CB Rashean Mathis.

AFC WEST

San Diego Chargers

The Chargers are once again the best of the worst in the weakest AFC division. Expect the Chargers to end up with the AFC West title again and hope for RB LaDainian Tomlinson to prove to those who think he’s on the decline that he is still one of the best in the game. The Chargers have two players with Nigerian roots on their roster in WR LEGEDU NAANEE and rookie DE/DT OGEMDI NWAGBUO. Expect both of them to play a part in leading the Chargers to another AFC West title.

Coach: Norv Turner;

Main players: QB Phillip Rivers, RB LaDainian Tomlinson,  RB/KR Darren Sproles,  TE Antonio Gates, K Nate Kaeding,  LB Shawne Merriman, CB Antonio Cromartie.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs are under a new regime as former Patriots executive Scott Pioli is now in as GM and former Arizona Cardinals Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley is the new coach. Last years surprise Quarterback, the Patriots Matt Cassel  is the new guy under center and will have the pressure of his $28 million guaranteed contract weighing on him. OT IKECHUKWU (IKE) NDUKWE will have his work cut out for him in protecting Cassel and also look to see how Liberian born DE TAMBA HALI plays as he’ll be asked to play both LB and DE depending on the defensive formation the Chiefs use. A playoff appearance is unlikely but the Chiefs will make big strides under Pioli and Haley and set the groundwork for playoff appearances in the next few seasons.

Coach: Todd Haley;

 Main players: QB Matt Cassel, RB Larry Johnson, WR Dwayne Bowe, DE/LB TAMBA HALI, LB Derrick Johnson.

Denver Broncos

New coach, new and less effective Quarterback, an acrimonious player and coaching staff relationship are never the recipe for success and the Broncos will be in for a long and difficult season as it stands. The team and fans will hope the defensive frailties of the past season have been rectified and that rookie RB Knowshon Moreno will provide some excitement to counter the unimpressive Kyle Orton at QB. Thankfully for Broncos fans, they have the Oakland Raiders to prevent them from finishing the season at the bottom of the division.

Coach: Josh Mcdaniel;

 Main players: QB Kyle Orton, RB Knowshon Moreno, RB Peyton Hillis,  WR Brandon Marshall, LB D.J. Williams, CB Champ Bailey, FS Brian Dawkins.

Oakland Raiders

There’s really not much to be said about the Raiders that hasn’t been said already . This season will require QB Jamarcus Russell to show he’s not a bust, for Darren McFadden to show why he was regarded as the best Running Back prior to the 2008 draft and for rookie WR Darrius Heyward-Bey to show why he deserved to be drafted ahead of San Francisco 49ers WR Michael Crabtree. Expect CB NNAMDI ASOMUGHA to continue showing fans why he’s the best Corner back in the league and earns every penny of his $28.5 million guaranteed contract. Look for LB ISAIAH EKEJIUBA to get more time on the field this season and impress on defense but unfortunately when it’s all said and done, the Raiders will still end up propping the division in last place and with a top 10 pick in next years draft.

Coach: Tom Cable;

Main players: QB Jamarcus Russell, RB Darren McFadden, WR Johnnie Lee Higgins, LB Thomas Howard, CB NNAMDI ASOMUGHA, K Sebastian Janikowski.