AFC West Outlook | The Honolulu Advertiser

AFC West Outlook | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper

Posted on: Sunday, August 24, 2003

AFC West Outlook

Denver Broncos

Kansas City Chiefs

Oakland Raiders

San Diego Chargers

Outlook

RAIDERS

LAST YEAR: Led by QB Rich Gannon and revamped defense, reached Super Bowl for first time in 19 years. Lost 48-21 to former coach Jon Gruden and Buccaneers.
STRENGTHS: The old guys. League MVP Gannon is back and still has Jerry Rice and Tim Brown as top targets. WR Jerry Porter and RB Charlie Garner also emerged as premier players. Defensive leaders Rod Woodson, Trace Armstrong and Bill Romanowski also return.
WEAKNESSES: The old guys. Can the six players 35 or older continue at same level?
Top additions: DT Dana Stubblefield, FB Cecil Martin, TE O.J. Santiago.
Rookies to watch: CB Nnamdi Asomugha, DE Tyler Brayton.
Key losses: DT Sam Adams, DE Regan Upshaw, CB Tory James, S Anthony Dorsett, RB Terry Kirby, WR James Jett, FB Jon Ritchie.
Goals: Making sure Super Bowl no-show center Barret Robbins earns way back into good graces of teammates. Revamping defensive line. Does ex-Bear Armstrong still have a year left?

BRONCOS

LAST YEAR: Won six of first eight games, but stumbled and missed the playoffs for the third time in four years.
STRENGTHS: Offense, including RB Clinton Portis, last year's rookie of the year. Quick, hard-hitting LBs.
WEAKNESSES: Inexperience in the secondary; aging OL. Questions at QB, where Jake Plummer, above, takes over for the released Brian Griese.
Top additions: DT Daryl Gardner, QB Jake Plummer, S Lee Flowers, G Heath Irwin.
Rookies to watch: OT George Foster, LB Terry Pierce.
Key losses: CB Denard Walker, Griese, RB Olandis Gary, DE Kavika Pittman, G Lennie Friedman.
Goals: Plummer hopes to give coach Mike Shanahan more big plays than Griese did. New defensive coordinator Larry Coyer is replacing Ray Rhodes.

CHARGERS

LAST YEAR: Chargers began 6-1 in Marty Schottenheimer's first year, then lost seven of nine to miss playoffs for seventh straight season.
STRENGTHS: Offense now that WR David Boston has been signed to complement Pro Bowl RB LaDainian Tomlinson.
WEAKNESSES: NFL's worst pass defense will have new starters at every secondary position and will miss leadership and work ethic of LB Junior Seau and SS Rodney Harrison.
Top additions: FB Lorenzo Neal, WR David Boston, OT Solomon Page, S Kwame Lassiter.
Rookies to watch: CB Sammy Davis, S Terrance Kiel.
Key losses: WR Curtis Conway, LB Orlando Ruff, RB Terrell Fletcher, Harrison, CB Alex Molden, Seau, FB Fred McCrary, S Rogers Beckett.
Goals: Get Boston assimilated into offense immediately. Young secondary (maybe two rookie starters and second-year corner Quentin Jammer) must improve 32nd-ranked pass defense.

CHIEFS

LAST YEAR: Great offense built around RB Priest Holmes. Chiefs missed playoffs because of league's worst defense.
STRENGTHS: Offense. TE Tony Gonzalez also figures to play more prominent role after training camp holdout last year.
WEAKNESSES: DL, which needs breakthrough by second-year tackle Ryan Sims and big year from newcomer Vonnie Holliday; secondary, although return from injury by safety Jerome Woods could help.
Top additions: CB Dexter McCleon, LB Shawn Barber, DE Vonnie Holliday.
Rookie to watch: RB Larry Johnson.
Key losses: DE Duane Clemons, P Dan Stryzinski, CB Derek Combs, CB Ray Crockett.
Goals: If Holmes has not recovered from hip injury, rookie Johnson will have to step up to push Tony Richardson. Worst defense in league needs help from newcomers.