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Here's an article discussing what this guy thinks are the 5 most improved teams in the NFL an have a shot at the Super Bowl. I'm curious if everyone agrees with these choices. I'm not sure I agree with his Panthers pick, though. Maybe sub the Saints in there instead.click me


Five teams that have made Super improvements
by John Czarnecki


Two of these five teams — Carolina, Cleveland, Dallas, Jacksonville and Minnesota — will be in the Super Bowl semifinals next January.

Panthers
There is tremendous motivation in Carolina because fans expect that Coach John Fox and GM Marty Hurney are fighting for their respective jobs this season. I'm not totally convinced of that, but the NFC South remains a weak sister and all Fox really needs is a healthy Jake Delhomme. By early indications, Delhomme's arm has recovered from Tommy John surgery stronger than ever; he threw for three consecutive days last weekend after missing 13 games last season. Carolina's passing offense ranked fourth from the bottom last season.

By trading a future first-round pick in order to draft Pitt right tackle Jeff Otah, the Panthers are gearing up to win now. Old reliable Moose Muhammad returns to the receiving corps to provide some guidance for youngster Dwayne Jarrett while ex-Seahawk D.J. Hackett is a solid reserve to go with the untouchable Steve Smith. The Panthers should have a much improved offensive line and teaming rookie runner Jonathan Stewart with DeAngelo Williams should be an improvement over last season. But the most important experiment this training camp will be whether or not former all-world player Julius Peppers responds (he had a mere 2.5 sacks last season) after being switched from left end to the right defensive end spot previously manned by the now-retired Mike Rucker. The offense looks set if Jake is fine. With Jeff Garcia pouting in Tampa Bay, Carolina is ready to take the South. The Panthers' only tough games are the opener against San Diego and at the Giants late in the season.


Browns
The Cleveland Browns, the best 10-win team not to make the playoffs a year ago, wisely spent their money and attention on defense in the off-season. If Romeo Crennel can motivate Shaun Rogers, the ex-Lion defensive tackle, to become a force for 16 games instead of eight, Cleveland can win the AFC North. Ex-Packer Corey Williams provides pass-rush muscle at defensive tackle, too. There is too much upheaval in Baltimore and Cincinnati for those teams to be factors in 2008, plus Cleveland has the best quarterback situation in the division because Brady Quinn is ready to play if Derek Anderson struggles.

Anderson was horrible in the late-season loss to the Bengals, but so was offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski's play-calling. With a season of experience, both should improve this year. Receivers Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow are Pro Bowl stars and left tackle Joe Thomas is already one of the game's best pass blockers. Jamal Lewis was a pleasant surprise and if his legs keep churning, the Browns should score over 400 points once again. We should know early with the season-opening game against the Cowboys how far Cleveland will go.



Cowboys
Dallas simply ran out of gas and defensive backs last season when the Giants upset them in the playoffs. That shouldn't happen this year because the Cowboys are loaded at cornerback if Pacman Jones is reinstated (and continues to behave himself), plus if rookies Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick continue to improve. Scandrick, a fifth-round pick from Boise State, out-played Jenkins in a recent mini-camp. Starters Anthony Henry and Terence Newman return. Granted, the Cowboys have to figure out how to handle safety Roy Williams, who remains a major liability in pass coverage. If Wade Phillips can figure out how to use Williams properly, the defense should be prepared for all those three and four receiver sets that worked so successfully against it last season.

The Cowboys remain solid on offense as long as Tony Romo keeps improving. Jason Garrett knows how to keep Terrell Owens motivated and tight end Jason Witten is a rising star. And don't worry about the loss of Julius Jones in free agency because rookies Felix Jones and Tashard Choice, who rushed for over 2,800 yards at Georgia Tech, give Garrett two options next to bruiser Marion Barber. Granted, the NFC East could be football's toughest division this season, but the Cowboys caught a schedule break by catching the NFC West and the AFC North this season.


Jaguars
It's impossible not to like the decisions that Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio has made in the last year. He pulled the plug on Byron Leftwich and opted for quarterback David Garrard to lead the Jaguars. Garrard delivered a playoff win over Pittsburgh even if the NFL said in March a pivotal holding penalty wasn't called on Garrard's game-winning scramble. Regardless, the Jaguars now have a leader in Garrard who makes plays and is very smart with the football (only three interceptions in 12 starts).

The Jaguars are definitely getting closer to both Indianapolis and New England in the AFC and their pass rush might actually rattle Peyton Manning and Tom Brady this season. Yes, they lost two talented veterans in Marcus Stroud and receiver Ernest Wilford, but maybe Oakland receiver Jerry Porter and Minnesota bust Troy Williamson will prove to be solid acquisitions for Garrard. Believe me, the Jaguars have the potential to be scary at defensive end, especially if Reggie Hayward recaptures his 2005 form when he had 8.5 sacks. This is a very well-coached team with two quality running backs and a happy quarterback with a new contract.


Vikings
By spending more than $70 million on new talent, Vikings owner Zygi Wilf is telling Coach Brad Childress that his third season better include a playoff berth. Unless Tavaris Jackson doesn't improve a lick, the Vikings have the team to beat in the NFC North. If Jackson continues to make strides along with runner Adrian Peterson, Minnesota will be better equipped to control every game's tempo because their defensive pass rush should be the NFL's best. Yes, ex-Chief Jared Allen is that good, plus he's being teamed with Kevin and Pat Williams, already the game's best duo at defensive tackle.

The quarterback position has been upgraded with the arrival of veteran Gus Frerotte, who can win in a reserve role, and with USC rookie John David Booty who played on college's biggest stage with the Trojans. Ex-Bear Bernard Berrian gives Childress a bonafide deep threat opposite Sidney Rice. The defense is a lot more than Allen, too, because E.J. Henderson and Chad Greenway are above-average linebackers and ex-Bengal safety Madieu Williams is a lot better player and more reliable than the departed Dwight Smith. With the retirement of Brett Favre, the Packers won't be favored to repeat as division champions. The Vikings have two big tests this season — home to Peyton Manning and the Colts and at Jacksonville in late November. If they win one of those, watch out!

Yeah, I can think of a handful of teams that belong on that list instead of Carolina. And um, Jacksonville and Dallas were pretty darn good last year, so I hardly think he's going out on a limb with those two picks. I don't know. One guy's opinion. Until the season starts, it means nothing.

Jags are tough and got tougher... that stood out the most to me after the draft. I rank them #3 overall with a close shot at being #2 or #1.

I thought this was interesting:

Quote:

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Anderson was horrible in the late-season loss to the Bengals, but so was offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski's play-calling.

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Anderson has taken a lot of flack for his play in this game and let's face it, it was sub-par and the loss cost us the playoffs. But IMHO Chud, though I love the guy, called a crap game, often incorrectly utilizing his talent and their abilities.

I agree with you. Sure DA threw some bad passes. But should we really have been passing at that point. I know were were behind, but given the weather conditions and what Jamal did to them the first time we faced them... I think Chud had just as bad a game as DA did. Hopefully they both learned from it and will make up for it this year

Anderson was horrible in the late-season loss to the Bengals, but so was offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski's play-calling.

That was also my thoughts as I spoke them last year...there was no reson to keep trying to air it out..but the OC and DA were too geared to his arm strength cutting throught the wind..of course they didn't account for the brain laspe that occured either...

I don't know how telling week 1 will be, but I think we will win 10-12 games this year.

I can understand Minnesota on the list with Adrian Peterson playing like a wild fire, I can understand Dallas on the list with Romo, Owens, and their much improved defense, I can understand Jacksonville on the list, hey they beat Pitt in the playoffs that's good enough for me I certainly understand the Browns on the list, in fact, we should be MOST improved team, however, I cannot make any sense as to why the Panthers....Carolina.....the Carolina Panthers should even be close to this list.

They didn't improve, regression is the word that comes to mind. They actually got worse after Delhomme went down. David Carr was horrible, I know, I picked him up for one week in fantasy football, LOL. My mistake. They didn't seem to have much of a rushing attack and even Mr. Reliable, Steve Smith was off his game. Also, their defense was horrifying.

Now their offense could show some improvement this season, can't do much worse than last year, lol. I don't really think their D will improve much, I'm sure Peppers will get back to his old self but aside from that...? Not that I really care if they improve or not, lol.

Other teams that I think would have been better for this list:

The Giants-10-6 and won it all.

Green Bay-13-3 went to NFC title game.

Washington-9-7

Houston-8-8 my vote for 5th most improved team tied with Arizona. IMO

Bills-7-9

Arizona 8-8 should have been 7-9

Tampa 10-6 not expected to do as well as they did

Tennessee 10-6 scrappy team

Detroit 7-9 could have finished better but still not bad considering where they were in recent past seasons. lol

Not sure the Packers could be considered an improved team the first year after losing Favre

i think the point of the article is how much they improved between the end of last season and now, ie, in the offseason.