NORWOOD OR MCFADDEN COULD BE FALCONS LEAD BACK

As this year's coaching carousel continues to spin, one thing is for certain, the Atlanta Falcons just switched offensive philosophies. Gone is the Bobby Petrino spread offense, short circuited by Joey Harrington over throws and Michael Jenkins drops. Replacing it will be a return of the power rushing attack. Where's T.J. Duckett when you need him?

New Falcons coach Mike Smith comes from the Jacksonville Jaguars system, where the offense sports two smash mouth backs and a game-managing quarterback. His offensive cooridinator is Mike Mularkey, who was the offensive cooridinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the early 2000s. Everywhere he's been, that team has been able to to run the football effectively. This is good news for those eye-balling Jerious Norwood or Warrick Dunn. If the staff believes that Dunn still has gas in the tank like Fred Taylor did in 2007, he could still be worthy of an occasional fantasy start or an every week third-back starter in extremely deep leagues (10-12 plus team leagues).

Needless to say, the Falcons will not lean heavy on Dunn, which means another Falcons running back could make a fantasy impact similar to Deangelo Williams or Maurice Jones-Drew did in the most recent season. Smart money is that it will be third year man Jerious Norwood. He's got game-breaking speed and might be suited best in a 10-12 touch role, but Mularkey is known for creating inventive plays for role or part time players. The only major drawback for Norwood is his inability to stay healthy. The rigors of the regular season seem to take it's toll on him in each of his first two seasons.

There is no question that the Atlanta Falcons will be looking to bring a new quarterback to camp for '08, but something tells me that Mike Smith might already be on a short lease by virtue of having to work for an antsy owner like Arthur Blank. Mularkey has a history of having moderate offensive success with quarterbacks of the pedigree of Joey Harrington at the helm, so it wouldn't surprise me if the Falcons draft a legit franchise back like Darren McFadden instead of Matt Ryan.

In the NFL, rookie runners generally make bigger impacts than rookie quarterbacks. The most recent example, Adrian Peterson, proves a young stud can win several more games for you, which is exactly what Mike Smith is hoping for for his first season.

Baltimore Blah

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti set his franchise back by hiring an inexperienced coach, John Harbaugh. I could be completely wrong here, but this roster is a veteran laiden team. One that won 13-games in 2006. In fact, I felt the Ravens were a good free agent QB away from making an impact in 2008. Now the Ravens could set themselves up to a pre-mature rebuilding. One more subpar year and this team will start to dismantle it's current core of players. The firing of Brian Billick wasn't completely unreasonable, but the subsequent hiring of the new coach was.

Dolphin Running Backs Have Value

Whoever ends up carrying the load in Miami, will be a guy you can comfortably put on your fantasty roster. If all goes well, Ronnie Brown could finish with what he started in '07. He added power to his game after the '06 season, showing that the guy is willing to work. Then there is the extention of Ricky Williams contract. With a young Lorenzo Booker averaging 4.5 yards a pop and catching 28 passes, the fins have depth.

Additionally Bill Parcells and new coach Tony Sparano prefer running attacks versus the flash of a passing game. Parcells and company might give the current depth chart of quarterbacks a chance to win the job in '08. If either John Beck or Cleo Lemon wins the starting job, look for the Dolphins to lean on two Miami running backs.

TIME TO LAY OFF MANNING AND RIVERS

I knew Eli Manning and Phillip Rivers were no Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, but it doesn't mean that they are as bad as the press made them out to be around the midpoint of the regular season. Everyone was piling on, including c-rate journalists. It's funny that these guys are going to be linked together because of the draft day trade that brought them to their teams. The dividends are beginning to payoff for both young quarterbacks and the teams that gambled to get them.

Phillip Rivers threw some picks against the Patriots in the 21-12 loss in the AFC championship, but showed enough guts and moxie on one healthy knee to keep his team in the game. A play here or there could have made a difference and remember the Patriots went back to their clock killing days with Laurence Maroney playing the role of Corey Dillon to burn out most of the fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, Eli Manning made more than a handful of great throws to upset the Green Bay Packers. The Packers, Patriots, and Cowboys played like the 1998 Minnesota Vikings offense; unbelievable aerial games - complimented with a solid rushing attack. The Giants have now beaten two of those three teams and now are set to rematch the Patriots, the team they nearly beat in the regular season finale.

I doubt the Giants will win, but it's not impossible. The Patriots will benefit playing in a warm weather environment and with two weeks to prepare, Bill Belicheck and that staff will probably ground Eli Manning more than they did in that last game. I've got the Pats winning another Super Bowl in historic fashion, 38-27.

That being said Manning proves he can bring a team to the Super Bowl and maybe bigger things are to come for him both from a team concept and individual statistics. Manning has upgraded his fantasy draft position in my book and if they got the salary cap money - they will add another good receiver like this year's free agent prize, Bernard Berrian. Manning could have a breakout season next year.

I like Phillip Rivers too. If you decide to draft a quarterback in the mid to late rounds, with the strategy to stockpile the other skill positions first, draft Rivers. The kid is like a villainous WWE wrestler that you hate to root for but can come up on top. These guys truly proved their critics wrong and I really like what they can bring to the table in 2008.

Maroney Evolution

When Sammy Morris was carrying the load well early in the season, it looked like he was going to be the short term heir to Corey Dillon's spot in New England's offense. However, his season ending chest injury brought Laurence Maroney out of Bellicheck's dog house and he has been steadily improving since. His second straight 120 plus rushing playoff game solidifies his chance to be the lead dog for next season.

I traded Fred Taylor and Lee Evans for Maroney at my league's trading deadline. When Taylor was emerging in the second half of the season, I was really regretting that trade, since I intended Maroney to be my solid third back in my "three back offense" to compliment LT and Clinton Portis. Maroney was marvelous in the final two fantasy playoff games. After the San Diego game, he is no longer a gamble pick for next year's draft. That being said, Maroney is still a low-end number two back, unless New England doesn't sign Randy Moss.

LT Hurting

LaDainian Tomlinson's knee injury shouldn't be an issue for next season. He should be healed up by then, but one wonders if this is a sign of things to come. He has been durable the last two seasons and a fantastic performer, but isn't getting any younger. He is still a guy you should consider in the top five of the draft, but with so many wonderful young backs emerging, he is no longer the slam dunk number one pick. Heading into next year, I don't know if I wouldn't consider taking Joseph Addai or Adrian Peterson ahead of him. I'm hoping he bounces back, because he is a wonderful athlete and from all accounts a real class act. Good luck LT.

Burress Shows Heart

Plaxico Burress had a monster game against the Green Bay Packers. The game breaker recorded 11 catches for 154 yards. Playing mostly on a hobbled ankle, he was probably the wide receiver equivalent to Carson Palmer, amassing a lot of statistics when he had the big games. However, unlike Palmer, he never completely fell off. Ideally, you would like him to be a talented number two receiver, but you can do worse if he is your number one receiver. The guy is quietly putting together a very good career.

Favre and Dungy to come back

My gut is telling me this. I think Dungy will give it one more year to see if he can win the big one again, if not he'll walk away with a great track record and a lot of respect from those who worked with him and those who played against him. The same could be said with Brett Favre. Favre had a bad day against the Giants, and his gunslinger mentality reared ugly in the loss. But with the receiver depth they have in Green Bay, he can't walk away. He plays one more season too and if he plays just a little bit better in next year's playoffs, his team might just win the Super Bowl. Too early to predict this, but what a possible story line, Dungy versus Favre in what will be dubbed "The Retirement Bowl".

I leave you with a tribute to Terrell Owens. As I stated in one of my earlier blogs, the guy is truly bizarre, and truly, truly outrageous. Here's to you TO, always giving me and football fans around the country a nice chuckle. Look for the Cowboys to drop off next year thanks to the bigger knucklehead, Jerry Jones, who continues to alienate every head coach he hires.