Here are five National Football League teams that had sub-par seasons a year ago but could very well turn some heads in 2009.
5. Cincinnati Bengals
Numerous media outlets felt the Bengals had a strong showing at the draft in April. The Bengals were able to draft highly touted offensive tackle Andre Smith from Alabama. Smith's stock dropped just before the draft due to a disappearance at the combine. The Bengals feel Smith could be a dominant left tackle, blocking Palmer's blind side for years to come.
Add to that a motivated Chad Ochocinco, a wide receiver who seems to be displaying an urgency to return to his previous form where he had over 1400 receiving yards in 2007 and you may have a team that could make a run for a playoff spot this season.
4. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks were a team riddled with injury in 2008. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was one of many casualties who had a season to forget.
Hasselbeck has a new target in T. J. Houshmanzadeh, a free agent wide receiver who was signed this offseason. Adding 'Housh' to a stable that includes Deion Branch and Nate Burleson along with up and coming tight end John Carlson means Hasselbeck has a plethora of options he can throw to.
The Seahawks have too much talent not to win at least eight games. Last season was a wash so don't expect the same result this time around.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jags are a riddle wrapped in a mystery. This is a team that looked utterly unstoppable during stretches of the 2007 season. The team finished 11-5 and wound up defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in a tough hard nosed wild card matchup.
Fast forward to 2008 and disaster struck. The team finished 5-11 for the year, a complete reversal of fortune.
Now injuries did play a factor as the offensive line did look like a mash unit at times and quarterback David Garrard didn't play overly well.
But 2009 is a new year, the offensive line looks healthy (as of July 18) and Garrard has a new weapon. Former Rams wideout Torry Holt.
2. Kansas City Chiefs
It's hard to deny the fact the Chiefs look to be on the rise. You have to commend management for being able to acquire quarterback Matt Cassel from the New England Patriots this off-season.
The Chiefs are one of, if not, the youngest team in the entire NFL but talent is spread throughout the entire roster.
The team had difficulty getting to the quarterback last season after trading sack leader Jared Allen to the Minnesota Vikings before the 2008 season began. But the Chiefs have drafted defensive linemen Glenn Dorsey (LSU) last year and Tyson Jackson (LSU) this season to help in that area.
1. San Francisco 49'ers
The defence continues to improve under head coach Mike Singletary and middle linebacker Patrick Willis is widely considered to be one of the very best at his position. He also looks to have uncanny leadership ability that should help a defense that is young and hungry to improve on last year's statistics.
Add to that the draft pick of Michael Crabtree, who was the highest rated wideout at the draft and could very well make defenses pay if they focus too much of their time on the running game and Frank Gore.
A full year under the tutelage of head coach Mike Singletary should help things as well. Even though the team is 7-9, at least two more wins shouldn't be out of the question.
Lanny Stewart - While this is my first freelance writing job, it doesn't mean I'm not prepared for it. After getting a post-secondary communications ...
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