| | ESPN.com
As training camp is now underway for every NFL team, ESPN.com continues its series of burning questions with the experts at Bristol University.
Of the playoff contenders, who has the most work to do in camp?
Chris Mortensen |
Packers
New head coach Mike Sherman is such a little-known entity. Even though the Packers will run the same system, they are changing the defense and its philosophy. And the Packers must find a way to get Brett Favre to be the superstar quarterback everyone expects him to be. It takes a lot of work, even with a player like Favre.
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John Clayton |
Seahawks
The Seahawks have changed nine starters and only replaced one of them. They almost have to groom a new right side of the offensive line, along with trying to fix half of their defensive line. They need to make sure they are covered at linebacker and develop more strength in the secondary around Shawn Springs.
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Mark Malone |
Redskins
A team can buy great stars and talent, but getting them to play and have chemistry is difficult to do. From that standpoint, the Redskins may have more work than anybody. Meanwhile, the Titans need work on the offensive side of the ball to make their passing game more consistent. That would put them over the top. Jacksonville has some new faces on defense, so that's something to watch. Tampa Bay doesn't have far to go defensively, but offensively they have light years to go. Shaun King is entering his first full year as a starting quarterback. The Bucs have to decide how they want to use Keyshawn Johnson. Their defense will keep them in games. If they can improve their offense, the Bucs will be difficult to beat.
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Andrea Kremer |
Vikings
I pick the Vikings mostly because of their quarterback, Daunte Culpepper. He's an untested quarterback with a ton of pressure on him. They also have players reaching the twilight of their careers, like Cris Carter and Robert Smith, who want to win now and don't have time to endure Culpepper's growing pains. Their defense needs to come together. They have a relatively new coaching staff with new coordinators on both sides of the ball.
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Mike Golic |
Titans
Their defense has taken some hits. They lost two starting linebackers, Barron Wortham and Joe Bowden. They are counting on rookie Keith Bulluck to fill in and start right away. I don't think we can expect Bulluck to make the sort of impact that Jevon Kearse did last year as a rookie, but Bulluck will have the pressure to perform immediately. They also lost some depth in the secondary when Anthony Dorsett signed with Oakland.
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Merril Hoge |
Buccaneers
As great as their defense played last year, the Bucs have to sustain that. Their offense, however, will be even more critical. They still basically have a rookie quarterback in Shaun King. He only played half a season last year and now has a new offensive coordinator, Les Steckel. They have to work Keyshawn Johnson into the offense and keep him happy. They need their passing game to take pressure off the running game, which is good but not great.
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Sean Salisbury |
Vikings
Two years ago, they were a step away from being in the Super Bowl. Then they lost their starting quarterback, their backup quarterback, and their starting center and left guard. They have a ton of work to do to get Daunte Culpepper ready and to make sure Culpepper and the receivers are on the same page. | |
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