Last weekend, four teams were eliminated from the playoffs. Let's take a look at those four teams, how their seasons went and their prospects for next year.
Washington
The Redskins had to win their final four games to get into the playoffs, including some impressive victories against Minnesota, New York and Dallas. Washington played everybody tough during the year. They lost close road games to Green Bay and Dallas, the top two seeds in the NFC.
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| Redskins coach Joe Gibbs (Getty Images) |
The offensive line took a hit when starting right tackle Jon Jansen went down for the season with an injury but the Redskins might have found a player in undrafted rookie free agent Stephon Heyer, who filled in for Todd Wade, who was Jansen's replacement when he got hurt.
The Redskins have a good tight end in Chris Cooley and a couple of good receivers in Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El, but I think they could use a true No. 1 receiver who is young and will be injury free and can practice all the time, which Moss has not been able to do.
On defense they need to get cornerback Carlos Rogers and linebacker Rocky McIntosh back from injuries and they should. The defense played well this year, but still could use a young defensive end to spell Philip Daniels. A young player to watch is Chris Wilson, who showed some promise as a pass rusher at the end of the season.
Clearly the biggest question facing the Redskins will be who is the head coach to replace Joe Gibbs next year, but he will be taking over a team that has a good nucleus to work with going forward.
Tampa Bay
In a disappointing 2006 season, the Bucs were done in by quarterback problems. That became a priority last offseason and resulted in the signing of Jeff Garcia. The main question on Garcia was going to be durability and for the most part he was able to stay healthy this season. That same question looms for next season. If Garcia gets injured the Bucs face the same problems. The good news is at least entering the offseason they have a proven starting quarterback.
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| Buccaneers QB Jeff Garcia (Getty Images) |
On offense, when veteran Luke Petitgout went out the Bucs were forced to play Donald Penn at left tackle and found out they have their left tackle of the future. The young offensive line continued to improve as a group, too.
At running back when Cadillac Williams got hurt the Bucs found out they could still win with Earnest Graham and this should give them a good one-two punch for next year.
The two main areas I would be concerned about for next year for the Bucs would be quarterback depth and getting another speed receiver to line up opposite of Joey Galloway who, next to Garcia, is the most valuable player on the Bucs' offense.
Tennessee
The Titans' 10-6 record came as a surprise to me. Once again it was a testimony to Jeff Fisher's coaching and the coaching staff he has. When I was visiting Tennessee in the summer they stressed to me the strength of their team was in their offensive and defensive lines and that proved the case. Tennessee likes to run the ball on offense and this starts with an offensive line that can control the line of scrimmage.
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| Titans DT Haynesworth (Getty Images) |
The wide receiver position will need some work. The Titans liked their group of young receivers and were hoping that one of them could emerge like Derrick Mason did a number of years ago for them, but this did not happen. This team needs a No. 1 receiver who can help take pressure of the running game and help Vince Young.
I felt what teams were going to do was study Young, take away the run and make him beat you as a passer. Teams did that and Young's production went down. Next season Young must take another step in his development as well as get help with a legit playmaker at wide receiver to force the defense to open up and give the Titans some big plays.
The defense's strength is the line, which played terrific this year. It is led by tackle Albert Haynesworth, who had a season worth mentioning his name for Defensive Player of the Year. He was in the final year of his contract, as was defensive ends Travis LaBoy and Antwan Odom. Normally when players are in the last year of their contracts they have their best seasons and that was the case with these three players. This can raise a concern for a club in negotiations wondering what it will get going forward.
The Titans will certainly make Haynesworth their franchise player, but with Odom and LaBoy they will have to deal with them as free agents. I am sure they would want one of them back, and cannot afford to lose both.
The other two starters, Kyle Vanden Bosch and Tony Brown, are signed for next season so the Titans know they will have at least three of the four starters back in their defensive line.
This team could use a legit shutdown corner. With that being said what will they do with Pacman Jones? Will they bring him back or let him go?
Pittsburgh
Some might say it was disappointing for the Steelers to get knocked out of the playoffs in the first round, but Pittsburgh will point to the fact it returned to the playoffs as a point to build on for next year.
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| Steelers OL Alan Faneca (Getty Images) |
The Steelers will be fine at the skill positions with tight end Heath Miller, and wide receivers Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes.
On defense the loss of Aaron Smith hurt them late in the season, but he will be back next season. This is a team that could use a true No. 1 corner.
The Steelers will still be a team that will be in playoff contention next year, but you have to believe that division rivals Baltimore, Cleveland and Cincinnati will all be better next year too.
