If you expect your team to stand out in the NFL in three to five years, it's a given you need at least three of the following ingredients beyond a young, stud quarterback:
•Star young players just coming into their prime on offense.
•Star young players -- especially a pass-rusher -- just coming into their prime on defense.
•Great coaching....ummm duh!!!
•A top-flight personnel department that knows what it takes to build through the draft and doesn't rely on free agency.
A solid to above-average running game is nice, but in today's passing-dominated league, it's like parsley. It's nice decoration, but it's not a requirement.
If you have all of these key ingredients -- and you're also coming off a Super Bowl title --- you have a good chance to be very good, maybe even dominant, in three to five years.
Now ESPN.com's panel voted for Green Bay Packers....but that is just disgusting to me.... the only thing the Packers have going for is that my dog actually looks cute in a cheese-head!
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| This is why I have an EX-boyfriend...he did THIS to my DOG! |
"It's rare that a defending Super Bowl champion is considered an up-and-coming team, but that's exactly what the Packers are," ESPN.com AFC West blogger Bill Williamson said.
Very true my fellow blooger. :)
But Dominant team? The NFL’s era of dominant teams has been over for a while. We see worst-to-first stories all the time.
The AFC South has had a dominant team since realignment in 2002, with the Colts winning seven of nine division titles and going to the playoffs every season.
By 2014 the Jaguars, Texans and Titans are hoping Peyton Manning's powers will have weakened and that the path to the top will be less difficult to climb. My guess is it will be as key pieces such as Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis get older, too.
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| For my BDAY... I will have my dream bedroom. :) |
Matt Schaub could be working under a different coach in a different system but it’s possible he’s playing his best football on his best team. I expect either Blaine Gabbert or Jake Locker will be really starting to get the NFL game and having success. (History suggests the other first-round quarterback could be well on his way to petering out.)
It will be about more than quarterbacks, of course.
It’s difficult to project how the three teams other than the Colts will be doing. Will the Jaguars rise behind their duo of defensive tackles? Will Chris Johnson continue to run away from people? Will the Texans be a tough-to-figure 3-4 defense?
Gary Kubiak and Jack Del Rio could be long gone, and it’s no lock Jim Caldwell will still be in place. Will Mike Munchak have come and gone or be somewhat established as the Titans’ coach?
A dominant team?
I think it’s more likely we see three teams win division titles in the AFC South in 2014, 2015 and 2016 than one team win it all three times.
