New faces in new places: Bailey tops our rankings
Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 1:08 am
New faces in new places: Bailey tops our rankings
Aug. 24, 2004
By Pete Prisco
SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Tell Pete your opinion!
Over the course of an entire season, you would think 10 interceptions would all but fall into a team's hands. Just 10. Not for a player -- an entire team.
The Denver Broncos had nine all of last season, which was good enough to tie them with Minnesota's Brian Russell and San Francisco's Tony Parrish for the league lead.
Yeah, that's sarcastic, but isn't nine interceptions for a playoff team embarrassing? Plus, who could forget Peyton Manning playing a game of two-touch with that secondary in the playoffs, carving it apart as if it was Jimmy and Bobby from the house down the street playing a game in his backyard.
And we wonder why Champ Bailey came to the Broncos in a trade?
Bailey has better cover skills than a stripper in a police raid.
Using the phrase shutdown corner has become commonplace around the NFL, especially in these pass-happy days, but Bailey earns it. He is that good, excelling at one of the four most-important positions on any team's roster, trailing only quarterback, defensive end and left tackle.
That made it easy for the Broncos to send running back Clinton Portis to the Redskins for Bailey in a blockbuster trade last spring -- and give him a seven-year, $63-million contract.
Portis is a great back, but corners with Bailey's ability are worth more than a back in the pecking order of player importance.
For that reason, Bailey is our top new face in a new place.
"I expect to have a major impact on our defense," Bailey said this summer. "Turn on the film, you have a player who can cover any receiver on the field at any time. They may say there are no shutdown corners, but I consider myself one."
So do we.
Bailey will allow the Broncos to do so many more things on defense. Give him a side of the field, and let him take it away, allowing zone coverage on the other side. That's a luxury that few defenses have. We'll call it the Deion Sanders cushion.
"I hope that's what they do with me," Bailey said. "I know I can make it easier for everybody else that way."
Bailey has 18 interceptions in his five-year career, but had just two last year. That's in part because teams don't throw at him. His skeptics, though, will say he didn't play well in 2003, a notion Bailey dismisses.
"The tape never lies," he said. "I know how I played."
He also knows he will play better. If he does, and teams challenge him, which they will do if they want to get the ball to their best receiver, then look for the Denver interception number to go up.
The passing yards given up also will go down, which is why Bailey's impact will be more than any other new face in a new place this year.
Now for the rest of the top 10 new faces:
2. Terrell Owens, WR, Eagles -- The thinking the past few years has been: Quarterback Donovan McNabb would really be something if he had a go-to receiver. He does now. Owens is a star player, no matter what comes out of his mouth. Owens will give McNabb his big-play receiver, a guy who can't be bullied by opposing defensive backs. Owens isn't a burner, but he's plenty fast enough to get down the field, and he will prove to be a heck of an addition for the Eagles, and especially for McNabb. No more excuses for Donovan and the Eagles.
3. Jevon Kearse, DE, Eagles -- If he's healthy, he's one of the best edge rushers in the game. That's a big if. Kearse has a foot problem that has limited his impact the past year, an injury that scared off some teams' quest to fortify their defensive line with him. So far, he has shown no lingering effects from it, but there is concern about whether he will hold up for the season. Word has it, he was moved from the right side to the left side in part because of the foot giving him some trouble. The Eagles need a guy who can come off the corner and get to the passer, which is what Kearse can do. He can give them 15 sacks, and he's also good chasing down plays from behind. He can be trouble in run defense when the play comes right at him, which is of real importance playing the left-end spot.
4. Clinton Portis, RB, Redskins -- We love the way this guy runs. In fact, there might be no better pure runner; not back -- runner. He glides through holes and has a great feel for the cutback. In Joe Gibbs' offense, he is the perfect fit. The counter play, a Gibbs' staple, was made for him. Portis will also get his share of receptions out of the backfield. A very good back isn't as valuable as a great corner, so the trade is best for Denver. But Portis is a heck of a player and will prove to be a favorite in D.C.
5. Antoine Winfield, CB, Vikings -- The Vikings have had trouble against the pass the past few seasons (see Arizona loss in the final game last year). Their corners have been a joke. Winfield isn't. He is a quality player who is good in coverage and can also tackle. The one knock on him is he doesn't play the ball well, which is why he doesn't have a lot of interceptions (six in his career). But he will help limit the big plays against the Minnesota defense, something that has hurt them in a big way the past few years.
6. Mark Brunell, QB, Redskins -- Gibbs wanted him, so he got him, even though he had a first-round pick on his roster in Patrick Ramsey. Brunell still has some good football left, and a slow start in camp should not be an indication of how he'll play in the season. He has never been a great practice player, but watch out in the regular season. With the weapons he has on offense, plus a mastermind in Gibbs, he will have a big year. Brunell still has three or four quality starting years left. Wait and see.
7. Corey Dillon, RB, Patriots -- Is Dillon the same back he was a few years ago? No way. Age takes a toll on backs, and Dillon will be 30 in October. He has a lot of hits on that body. He averaged 4.6 per carry in 2000, but has dropped to 3.9, 4.2 and 3.9 the past three years. He is still a major upgrade over Antowain Smith, last year's starter for the Super Bowl champs. Dillon is strong and has the speed to rip off a 30-yard run. Plus, he can handle a pounding as well as any back in the league. Just don't expect the Dillon of two years ago.
8. Adewale Ogunleye, DE, Bears -- The Bears badly needed help with their outside pass rush, and Ogunleye provides that. By trading receiver Marty Booker to Miami to get him, coach Lovie Smith now has a premier end to build his defense around. He is a quality pass rusher who also can play the run. The Bears stole him. Is Ogunleye another Richard Dent? In his dreams.
9. Ted Washington, DT, Raiders -- This huge man will anchor the nose position in the Raiders' new 3-4 scheme. Washington was a big (huge, actually) reason why the Patriots won the Super Bowl. The Raiders were gashed by the run last year, which won't happen with Washington's 350-plus pounds anchoring the middle. Any center that tries to move him without guard help will be asking for trouble. And guard help will free up the linebackers to make plays. The only concern with him is stamina, but that's the story for all big men.
10. Shawn Springs, CB, Redskins -- The Redskins traded Bailey, but by getting Springs via free agency they have a quality replacement. Springs is a former top-5 pick who was held back by injuries the past few years in Seattle. When he's healthy, which he is now, he has top cover ability. This might prove to be one of the better moves made by the Redskins on their defense in a long time.
Honorable mention: Jeff Garcia, QB, Browns; Robaire Smith, DE, Texans; Booker, WR, Dolphins; Warren Sapp, DT, Raiders; Keyshawn Johnson, WR, Cowboys; Ian Gold, LB, Bucs; Kurt Warner, QB, Giants; Grant Wistrom, DE, Seahawks.
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/7610760/1
