Who do you guys think will be the most improved players in 2006, or the ones from the upcoming draft that may outperform low expectation / live up to high ones? Conversely, who are the players who will have a drop off year, fail to live up draft expectations, or have Old Father Time finally catch up on their ageing bodies....? Here's my list. 

The Good.

1). Michael Vick - QB,  Atlanta Falcons.

Vick's statistical numbers have been, to be nice, average in the first 2 years of the Jim Mora / Greg Knapp era in Atlanta. While Vick has been able to win games with clutch 3rd down plays and a terrific running game led by Warrick Dunn, Vick's distinct lack of mastery of the WCO has been all to obvious.... until now. Why? Because of Vick's outrageous athletic ability, he grew up playing football based on his talent and lack of understanding of an inticate offense. Evn his early days in the NFL under Dan Reeves, it was obvious Vick was "winging it" running simple pass plays and scrambling for big plays. They say it takes 3 years to master the type of offense Vick is being asked to run in Atlanta, and its time for Vick to show whether he can opening up the passing game to complement a terrific running game. Having continuity at WR whith White, Jenkins and Finneran will help along with Crumpler at TE and a fine pass catching FB in Justin Griffith. Along with what should be a much improved Atlanta defense (still could use a run stuffing DT), the Falcons can soar in 2006 if Vick can stay healthy and live up to expectations. I think he will.

2). Phillip Rivers - QB, San Diego Chargers

Is it me or are a lot of people already writing this guy off? Let me see, he was thought highly enough of to be drafted no. 4 and swapped with essentially Shawn Merriman for Eli Manning (always make that trade by the way) and was set to take over outright before Drew Brees became the comback player of the year in 2004. The reason why i think Rivers will succeed in San Diego is for the same reasons Brees improved so dramatically in '04, namely he has LT to hand off to, and has Antonio Gates to throw to. Brees wasn't a good NFL QB until Gates showed up and changed the dimensions of the Bolts offense, and was a probowler as soon as he turned up , coincidence? I don't think so. Rivers will exceed all expectation in SD this yeat and lead the Bolts to the playoffs.

3). Jason Witten - TE, Dallas Cowboys

We all know Witten is a fine tight end all ready, but watch him take off in the Cowboys offense with the arrival of Terrell Owens. Owens will draw heavy coverage on every snap and Witten will be the biggest beneficiary woorking against soft zones and single man coverage, his stats could be huge.

4). Chester Taylor - RB, Minnesota Vikings

One of the bigger surprises of the offseason was the Ravens electing to keep Jamal Lewis and sign Mike Anderson rather than give Taylor a shot as the starting RB. This guy could be huge this year, as the Vikings could and should resort to a heavy balanced running attack as Brad Johnson isn't going to go balistic in the air like Culpepper could. The Vikes look likely to go with an LB in R1 instead of drafting a RB talent such as Laurence Maroney.  Taylor is fast and strong and could have the impact similar to that of Larry Johnson in KC last year. Also, they didn't sign Hutchinson for nothing....

5). Matt Leinhart - QB, Tennessee Titans (Probably)

It looks more and more likely Leinhart ends up in Nashville, and with Steve McNair likely to be headed elsewhere, Leinhart will be able to beat out Billy Volek and take the starters role. Leinhart's numbers in college were greatly enhanced by the fact most of the best players on the field were on his team, but there is no denying the guy can play. In Tennessee he'll have a solid set of receivers (Givens, Bennett, Calico, Jones) and TE's (Troupe and Kinney) and a good group of backs (Brown and Henry). It would be no surprise if Leinhart was an instant success in a young Titan team who may rise again.

The Bad.

1). Curtis Martin - RB, New York Jets

Been a great player for a long, long time in the NFL. But last year showed Martin had hit the 30yr old wall, albeit 2 years too late, suffering from injuries and not hitting the hole like he used to. In  what will be a different offense, no certainty surrounding the QB position (Pennington, Ramsey, Leinhart, Young?), and no game breaking WR's to help soften the load on his shoulders, Martin will become a grinding 2-3 yard/carry back and will be forced to hand over the reigns to either Blaylock or Houston. Sad, but true...

2). LenDale White - RB, Denver Broncos or Carolina Panthers (Probably)

I've been on about White before, but he's still realy bothering me. He's a talent, but with many questioning his maturity and dedication to football, White will be an overweight bust this year in the NFL. Its easy to see why teams would be high on the only bruising back in the draft with good speed, vision and experience of an NFL style offense. White has had an embarrassing last couple of months with a terrible combine and practical no-show at USC's pro day, all culminating in a torn hamstring diagnosed by a chiropractor of all people (FYI running backs and bad hamstrings don't mix well together...). Many now think this is in part due to an "understanding" with a team that will take him in R1 already in place, who most believe to be his home town Broncos. Look for White to not live to live up expectations next year, or any year until he realises whats at stake in his career.

3). Michael Strahan - DE, New York Giants

The two most important players for NYG last year are in the latter stages of their career and i feel their age may catch up with them soon. Barber was terrific last year and i think he has a little gas left in the tank, but i do wonder about Strahan. One of the great DE's of the his generation Strahan had a re-birth last year after a divorce (nothing quite as motivating as having to give her half , eh MIke?) and lining up opposite rising star Osi Umenyiora. I just wonder if Strahan may lose that extra step this year and not be able to beat the double teams that opponents will throw at him, purely out of respect for him. By the end of the year, Strahan could be reduced to a situational pass rusher, now go and watch him get 15 sacks...

4). Willie McGinest - DE/OLB, Cleveland Browns

Another great player, who has moved teams to reunite with Romeo Crennel and get more $. But McGinest is old and in my opinion had slowed last year before a big performance against JAX in the playoffs. The main reason for his decline i believe however, will no longer be playing alonside fellow terrific defensive players such as Seymour, Bruschi, Colvin, Harrison etc.

5). Brad Johnson - QB, Minnesota Vikings

Did a great job last year rescuing the Vikes season (with a little help from the defense and special teams) after Culpepper's injury and the love boat fiasco. But Johnson will know entering the season its on his shoulders and the team will enter the season with high hopes in a poor division. Johnson will have an improved running game through the Hutchinson / Taylor combination and he has some recieiving talent. I think Johnson will struggle this year, again age (38) will be a contributing factor.