Culpepper’s Adjustment
By Zack Cimini

The mark an athlete leaves in the record books is always distinguished with rave reviews and classic playbacks. Combinations of greats though are even rarer, and when they come along it adds another level of mystique. Jerry Rice and Joe Montana was the number one combo during their years, and today’s football world only one that comes to mind. That belongs to Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison. They’ve had non-stop chemistry like a continuing assembly line that just keeps retuning and staying strong.

There was another budding combination brewing to be great, involving Daunte Culpepper and Randy Moss. Since Culpepper entered the league in 1999, the duo had a soaring fifty plus connections for touchdowns. They both fed off each other, and sometimes let their emotions get the best of each other. Still, the Moss ratio remained the Vikings game plan and there was nothing opposing defenses could do.

In the past, Culpepper was struggling with fumbling problems and making poor decisions at pivotal times. It looked like it would plague his career forever, until he finally grew up when his lifeline wasn’t there. When Moss went down mid way through last season, it looked bleak for Culpepper and the Vikings offense. Lets not forget, the Vikings were using a trio of running backs just to try to generate a rushing attack, and Marcus Robinson was now going to have to be a main option. Marcus Robinson hadn’t been heard from since his career year with Chicago.

The Vikings did lose a lot of close games, but it wasn’t Culpepper’s fault. He played brilliantly, and showed off his arm even more than Peyton Manning. He led the entire NFL with almost 4,800 yards passing. That was close enough to almost knock Dan Marino’s yardage totals out of the book. His vision just became clearer, and he reached that level where the pace of the game finally slows down in a quarterback’s head. He started seeing things that are only open for a split second, which only great quarterbacks see. The bonus of an above average offensive line, and his threat to scramble also helped tremendously.

Moss and Culpepper’s feuding in the off-season is nothing but bitter sentiment for each other. They both realize they’re great players, and could have had something special. There is no doubt that they both have eight to ten years left in them, and that would have put them in a stat book of their own. Now, it’s just a wishful thought, as we’ll never know what could have happened. The scary thing is that Culpepper’s skills are just starting to peak, and Moss will come into this year fully healthy. 2005 could have been a trademark year for both athletes, and in a different realm.

Change is always going to happen as things happen for a reason. Both athletes are going to miss each other, like a couple split that still has deep feelings for each other. Moss is going to have to adjust to a different scheme and quarterback for the first time in over five years. Any receiver and quarterback will tell you a bond isn’t there initially. Timing is off, and the sequential steps have to be taken again like a rookie. So in a sense, it may be harder for Moss to adjust than Culpepper.

A statistical dip for both athletes is likely to happen this season, and is a big risk for any fantasy owner to take with a first round pick. Becoming accustomed in a new setting doesn’t happen over night, and grasping a favorite go to guy doesn’t as well. Both will endure struggles that will have a hot and cold pattern all next season.

The key to any successful fantasy football team is landing late gems. With all the extensive research done by owners, it has become tougher and tougher for secrets to be hidden. There is a team full of players that has the potential to grow exponentially, as they just seem to be poised to develop.

The Detroit Lions hung around the majority of last season, due to the struggles of the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers. This season though, they believe they have what it takes and are built for take off.

Last season could have been an early start for success, if Joey Harrington didn’t falter with inconsistencies and face hurting performances. Matt Millen and the Lions organization have put the pressure on Harrington, and any disappointment will result in him being benched. Jeff Garcia has struggled himself the past few seasons, but he is a former Pro Bowl quarterback that was in a bad situation in Cleveland. With Mariucci and the preprogrammed west coast offense set, Garcia could be the immediate answer.

With the insecurity and prevalent prior offensive woes, it’ll make fantasy owners skeptical on where and when to draft a Lions player. Kevin Jones has so much upside, but is still not fully considered a number one fantasy back. If you’re an owner that goes with the simple strategy of stocking up on running backs with your first two picks, than you can start doing your weekly appraisal to Mr. Jones. He will commonly be a second running back and fantasy leagues, and is a lock to be the most successful on that tier. It might be worth the gamble to draft a sure fire quarterback (Manning) or receiver (Moss, Harrison, Chad Johnson, etc) in the first round and snatch up Jones in the second.

After struggling through the first half of last season, Jones quietly finished the season with a rapport of monster games. His staggering numbers were so ridiculous that in his last eight games he totaled 906 yards rushing. Of course any back in a west coast offense has to be versatile, and Jones will get you an extra two to four points with receiving yards. He did all of this, with a quarterback that’s efficiency was below a high school quarterback at times.

If Charles Rogers can stay healthy, it’d be hard to argue that the Lions don’t have the best group of receivers in the NFL. The only downside is that the cast is young, and egos could become a problem. Everyone wants the football, and when that doesn’t happen consistently the ranting and raving on the sideline begins. It shouldn’t be a problem this year because both Mike Williams and Charles Rogers are set out to prove themselves and doubters. Mike Williams has to answer critics after he didn’t play any college football last season, and Rogers has to show he can stay away from being prone to injury. Roy Williams is going to get his, as last year when the Lions receivers were riddled with injuries, he made perennial poster book catches while being double and even triple teamed.

Of course, you can have all the talent on the field, but if the right quarterback isn’t behind center that is all for naught. The Redskins learned a great deal of that last year, but it shouldn’t be a problem for the Lions. Harrington has had his ups and downs, but has shown promise before. Hopefully during the off-season he was able to clear his head, and get ready for a fresh start. Green Bay and Minnesota have always been the beasts in the North, but the Lions and Bears creep has begun. The Lions defense is even improving as they’re aggressively pursuing signing R.W. McQuarters or Ty Law.