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Show SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 1996 Sports Diral Notes: Off icia MFL preview This The line picked up Will Wolford. Damage control will make or the Steelers this year as break New York Jets I call myself brave for picking they lost Neil ODonnell, tackle the Jets third in this division. Leon Searcy, guard Tom But before you bum me at the Newberry, and linebacker Kevin stake, let me explain: The Jets Greene. Last year the Steelers defense really wasnt that bad were criticized for dumping Eric last year. They finished sixth in Green and Barry Foster and they the league in total defense. The went to the Super Bowl. Last offense was all but year: 11-- This year: 13-- AFC But, thats why they dumped Central Champions. Houston Oilers Boomer Esiason and picked up came out of noOilers The Super Bowl quarterback Neil where last year to almost finish This ODonnell. Last year: .500 last year. This year: the year: New England Patriots playoffs. Chris Chandler is an The Pats were Super Bowl adequate QB wholl have to do bound last year until the season until Steve McNair is ready. The started. They would have been key here is ifrookie Eddie George season had it can run for 1,000 yards behind bound for a not been for Curtis Martins AFC the Oilers line, which is full of leading 1,487 yards on the studs. I say George is the next ground. Now they have to prove Emmitt Smith. Last year: AFC Wildcard. again that Drew Bledsoe is the This year: Cincinatti Bengals next Dan Marino. New England The tarreliable a Bengals also managed to finally picked up their Glenn. in Bledsoe for fight way to 9 last seaget Terry be easy to be just would son. It BarFourth round steal Kantroy ber could start at fullback. The like everybody else and pick pathetic defense is still the de- Cincinatti. But you all know Im not going to do that. The offenciding factor. Last year: sive line is still a sieve. They lost This year: safety Darryl Williams to free Indianapolis Colts I claim to be the the first to say agency. The David Shula era that the Colts were a fluke last will come to an end, after five year and are going to suck this years and 24 wins. Last year: This year. year. The Colts solid defense had no movement in the offseason, Baltimore Ravens The former Browns looked like save for comer Dedric Mathis to replace Ashley Ambrose, the they might be in the Super Bowl postseason hero. The offense just last year after five games. You made some changes in the line, think the Ravens would have headed by the key pickup of had an active, rebuilding Fox back. Last year: year: 9-- 7. 8-- 8. 3, 5. non-existe- 3-1- 3. 8-- 8. 1-- 15 they picked up DB Matt Stevens By Jeremy Brunner The 1996 season is going to be a wild one for the NFL. In the NFC, familiar faces will be dominant, but the best teams will be the ones with offseason troubles. The AFC will finally break their Super Bowl drought thanks to a guy named Jim Miller. Whos that, you say? Ah, read on and you shall see. in the fourth round, wholl be the steal of the draft if his knee holds up. The Bills gave up the aging Cornelius Bennett. Last AFC year: 10-- This year: East Champions. Miami Dolphins It would be just too easy to jump on the Jimmy Johnson bandwagon and pick the Dolphins to go far. But Im just not going to do that. The only key 9-- 7, 6. AFC East Buffalo Bills Most publications Ive read have picked the Bills to finally win the Super Bowl this year. I dont think their offense is nearly as explosive as it was five years ago. But their defense is better than ever. Buffalo acquired linebacker Chris Spielman, who has more heart than anyone in the league. Plus offseason move was signing solid linebacker Jack Del Rio. Miami dumped end Marco Coleman and outspoken linebacker Bryan Cox. Even Johnson didnt win in Dallas until the coming of Emmitt Smith, so until they get a real horse in the backfield, the only way Jimmy can get into the 7-- 9. 9-- 7, 7-- 6-1- 6-1- 0. 0. 7-- 9. 6-1- Super Bowl is to get his job with guard Jay Leeunwenburg (Who?). The line lost Will Wolford. The new coach is Lindy Infante, who used to coach Pro-Bowl- my Packers. Last Year: year: AFC Central 5-1- 10 er This 9-- 7. 1. 0. often if they try to run him to the. right where the line has proved weak. If Means gets his act together, the Jags could win eight games, but not likely. Last year: 4-1- 2. This year: AFC West 4-1- 2. Seattle Seahawks My pick in the AFC West is the Seahawks. Last year, Chris Warren ran for 1,000 yards yet again, plus the Hawks had two 1,000 yard receivers in Joey Galloway and Brian Blades. Seattle picked up tackle Glenn Montgomery to beef up a mediocre defense. This will be the year Rick Mirer develops like he was supposed to last year. Last year: This year: 11-- AFC West Champions. 8-- 8. 5, Kansas City Chiefs The Chiefs were the biggest surprise last year, then were the biggest disappointment in the playoffs. They lost no starters from last year, so look for more of the same. Kansas City dumped kicker Lin Elliott, who missed three potential game-tyin- g field goals in the loss to Indianapolis, and wideout Willie Davis. The Chiefs drafted two corners for the future in Jerome Woods and Reggie This Tongue.. Last year: 13-11-AFC Wildcard. year: 3. 5, Denver Broncos This really is the Broncos last chance, and I mean it this time. Thanks to Terrell Davis, the lowest drafted rookie ever to rush for 1,000 yards in his rookie year. Denver got rid ofMike Pritchard offseason, wrong. Baltimore fig- and picked up Mike Sherrard. ures to have three new starters In the draft, the Broncs got this year, all through the draft. Detron Smith, wholl start imGuard Jonathan Ogden will play mediately at fullback. They several games in Honolulu be- signed several free agents on fore he is finished. Linebacker defense, which will squeeze them Ray Lewis figures to be an im- into the playoffs. Last year: 8-mediate stalwart, as does cor- This year: AFC Wildcard. ner DeRon Jenkins. The Ravens Oakland Raiders The Raiders lost their last six jettisoned backs Tommy Vardell and Lorenzo White. Last year: games to miss the playoffs. They This year: had an active offseason. First 8. Pittsburgh Steelers I am picking the Steelers to win the Super Bowl. They must ride the arm of Jim Miller though, and have you honestly ever heard ofhim. Thats alright, five years ago, Id never heard of now MVP Brett Favre. If new running back Jerome Bettis is churning like he once did, Pittsburgh wont lose many games. 9-- 7, 5-1- 5-1- 1. 1. Jacksonville Jaguars The Jaguars spent a lot of money in the offseason on free agents. But it wont help. The key addition, Natrone Means, is often injured and will be more ai Bkamu they ditched tackle Greg Skrepenak, then they revamped their offensive line by signing Charles McRae, Lincoln Kennedy and Pat Harlowe. The big pickup was tight end Rickey Dudley, the 10 pick in the draft and a future star. Last year: This year: San Diego Chargers The Chargers lost many players to free agency, the most im-- . portant being end Leslie ONeal. San Diego picked up a steady backup in Sean Salisbury. They also picked up receivers Bryan Still, Brian Roche and Charlie Jones. The Chargers biggest problem is they let too much talent slip away, and they have too many needs to win this tough division. Last year. This year; 8-- 8. 9-- 7. Donald A. Wollheim. M.D. Lorin Tonks 310 S 100 E Kanab, Utah 644-268- 3 Board Certified General Surgeon Home: Fax: STATI FAtM INSUIANCI a good neighbor.. 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