http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=3375024 An interesting trend was crystallized during last weekend's draft. Teams are trying to go retro, reaching back to pattern themselves after championship teams of the 1970s or the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. They are emphasizing the running game. As it turned out, the 2008 draft enabled those thoughts to grow. It was a draft that featured offensive tackles and running backs, not wide receivers capable of taking an offense to the next level. Ten receivers went in the second round; none were selected in the first. The Falcons, Lions, Panthers and Dolphins lead the charge of teams going retro. Panthers coach John Fox clearly is going back to the philosophical roots that took Carolina to the Super Bowl after the 2003 season. He drafted RB Jonathan Stewart and used next year's first-round pick to trade up for 322-pound tackle Jeff Otah, one of five 300-pound offensive linemen added to the team this offseason. Where the theory breaks down is with the other three teams. Bill Parcells is rebuilding the Dolphins around physical left tackle Jake Long and whoever emerges among quarterbacks Josh McCown, John Beck and Chad Henne. And until one of these three emerges as a legitimate franchise quarterback, it's going to be a tough road for Miami.
Indeed. These days high octane offenses with multiple threats dominate. New England (Moss/Welker/Brady/Maroney), Indianapolis (Harrison/Wayne/Manning/Addai), Dallas (Owens/Witten/Romo/Barber), New York (Burress/Shockey/Manning/Jacobs), San Diego (Chambers/Gates/Rivers/Tomlinson), and Pittsburgh (Ward/Holmes/Roesthlisberger/Parker). The key is balance between good RB's and good QB/WR/TE's. We may have good RB's, but our QB/WR/TE's are nothing to boast about.
Yep, what happens when you get behind? Jax is a perfect example looking back at their lost to the Pats last year in the playoffs.
