Keys to Success: NFC Central
Posted: Saturday July 25, 1998 02:19 PM
The War Room offers up five keys
to success in the 1998 season for all 30 teams. Here's a look at the NFC
Central: Chicago Bears  - 1. A lot of pressure on coaches and
players -- don't "press" -- open-up attack on both sides of the ball.
- 2. Need good start in September as Bears' fans and media will bail out
early with poor performance.
- 3. WR Conway is only offensive deep
threat. Bears must develop more weapons and firepower.
- 4. Chicago must
establish more potent pass rush and get to QB more often than in 1997.
- 5. RB spot must stabilize -- lots of bodies but questionable talent;
rookie Enis needs to play early.
Detroit Lions  - 1. This is a no-brainer -- Barry Sanders
must stay healthy to key great run game.
- 2. QB Mitchell must improve
consistency & leadership and start to win big games.
- 3. Defense that
has little depth and only marginal talent must jell and play error-free
football.
- 4. Lion coaches must find right tackle to stabilize
underrated OL behind the incomparable Sanders.
- 5. Two new starters at
OLB must learn system quickly and solidify defensive front seven.
Green Bay Packers  - 1. Aging team of stars must stay
healthy and marquee players must have career years.
- 2. Inexperienced &
reshuffled defensive line must find right combo and produce taking pressure
off the back seven.
- 3. Pack must find new left guard and maintain
cohesiveness in veteran OL that QB Brett Favre loves.
- 4. Distractions of Holmgren possibly leaving Green Bay need to be
eliminated during the season.
- 5. Pack must be focused every Sunday ...
this squad does not have enough talent to cruise to victory.
Minnesota Vikings  - 1. First-round pick Moss must stay
healthy and out of trouble to give the Vikes a great scoring offense.
- 2. Undermanned secondary must jell, tackle well and play
"bend-but-don't-break" defense.
- 3. QB Johnson must regain arm strength
and ball velocity and be healthy by opening day.
- 4. Defense must get
back to making big plays and creating turnovers like they did two years
ago.
- 5. Outside distractions, such as new ownership, franchise
stability, etc. must not affect players' focus.
Tampa Bay
Buccaneers  - 1. Talented young Bucs must get off to
a quick start and keep team confidence level high.
- 2. The productive
defensive front seven must attack QB in 1998 to take pressure off the
secondary.
- 3. Young QB Dilfer must play within himself and put offense
in position to win games.
- 4. Secondary must solidify and young
cornerbacks (Barber & Kelly) must become contributors.
- 5. Bucs must
develop more offensive weapons and spread field with big playmakers.
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