European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 10, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday september 10. 1989 the stars and stripes Page 23 a i he Thimi  As division fades Silver and Black stages comeback nil 89 by Dave Goldberg a i football writer the Seattle so Hawks saved the nil considerable embarrassment in Decem Ber when they outlasted the los Angeles raiders 43-37 to win their first pfc West title in 13 years of existence. Mad they lost the raiders would have won in a tiebreaker at 8-8. Thus have the mighty fallen the division that was the nil s Best in 1985 and 1986 has become a bastion of mediocrity. It s not Likely to change this year. In fact it s not inconceivable that the Kansas City chiefs who finished last in 1988, could win this year even though they will begin the season with either 35 year old Steve Dyberg or 38-year-old Ron Jaworski at quarterback. The raiders should also be contenders with Denver sinking toward the Bottom and san Diego moving up a bit now that they have a quarterback in Jim Mcmahon. 1. Los Angeles raiders the raiders decline has paralleled Al Davis off the Field Battles he s now flirting again with Oakland and Sacra mento spending More time in business meetings than on the Field. But in Between he s managed to pick up a lot of flashy Talent that could win a mediocre division. The key is Jay Schroeder the Quarter Back picked up from the redskins last year. Last year he struggled after being traded Early in the season and never got comfortable with coach Mike Shana Han s offence. I think this team can be very Good Schroeder says. There s no question we have As much Talent As anybody in the league. Now we have to  if Schroeder reverts to his 1986 form the offence could be explosive although Marcus Allen a training Camp holdout has lost some of his zing at running Back leaving the raiders to Hope to Jackson can step right in by mid october. Tim Brown and Willie Gault provide deep Speed. The problem is an offensive line that lacks depth Schroeder has a history of throwing interceptions under pres sure. Defensively the raiders need a healthy Howie Long. If they get him their pass Rush could be monstrous Greg Townsend has become a Force and Bill picket is a top nose tackle.  cry Toran in an Auto Accident hurts the secondary where Terry Mcdaniel injured As a Rookie must come through at com crack. Townsend acc West review 2. Seattle sea Hawks the so Hawks 9-7 last season have some pop on offence even with c Urt Warner s knee injury. Dave Kring at quarterback is danger Ous if not consistent and his Young Back up Kelly Stouffer showed Promise last year. To catch the Ball Brian Blades and Tommy Kane both second year men. Have the Speed to complement Steve Lar gent who is Back for what is probably his final season. But the offensive line is shaky Cen Ter Blair Bush was allowed to go to Green by under plan b free Agency leaving Grant pc Asch and no depth. And c Urt Warner s knee is running Down leaving fullback John l. Williams to carry the Load int a Mhz the Backfield unless Rookie Derrick Fen Ner comes through. The defense is also a problem Jeff Bryant Jacob Green and Joe Nash have been starting together on the defensive line Largent for seven years and Brian Bosworth hampered by an injured shoulder for two years has yet to fulfil his $11 million potential. So coach Chuck Knox will change his style. We want to go for a More attacking blitzing dogging style Knox says. We want to put some pressure on our oppo nent s quarterback. We want to do a bet Ter Job of cutting Down the run. Which we did not do very Well last  3. San Diego chargers san Diego won t be in the running but the chargers could improve. Dan Henning takes Over a team that did Well to go 6-10 under Al Saunders. Who nonetheless was fired by Alex Span of one of the league s More impulsive owners lie improved his quarterback situation by getting Jim Mcmahon to stand in while Rookie Billy Joe Tollivor develops but Mcmahon s health Al ways a problem will Only stand up if the somewhat suspect offensive line does. One plus is the apparent return to form of Leslie o Neal the 1986 defensive Rookie of the year who appears to have recovered from reconstructive knee surgery. He and Lee Williams arc an impressive pass Rushing duo and Billy Ray Smith an under rated linebacker. On offence run Ning Back receiver Gary Anderson and receiver Anthony Williams Miller remain deep threats. But without someone to get them the Ball consistently they will languish. The Iris Angeles raiders non t run Over any Cidy until to Jackson shows in october. 4. Denver Broncos Denver May be a measure of How far the division has fallen. A super bowl team in 1986 and 1987. The Broncos May need All of John Elway s heroics to stay out of the cellar the weaknesses that showed up when they were routed in the two title games have been magnified by retirement and injuries. , sub Par last season still has his Rucci cars Ricky Nattiel Vance John son and Mark Jackson. But the running game remains a major question even with Bobby Humphrey picked in the supplemental draft. Center Bill Bryan is lost for the year with a knee injury As is Tony Dorsell and while Humphrey May eventually help the Backfield now is old reliable Sammy Winder and free agent Jeff. Alexander. Moreover. The defense remains Fletcher undersized More suited to the Speed games of Joe Collier the old coordinator than the brute Force of his replacement. Wade Phillips. One stick out is Simon Fletcher a former defensive end now at linebacker and Karl Mecklenburg remains a Force at his col lege like Rover position. 5. Kansas City chiefs Kansas City 4-11-1 last year could be the Surprise particularly with the Benefit of a last place schedule. The chiefs have the league s Best secondary led by safely Deron Cherby and cornerback Albert Lewis an outstanding nose tackle in Bill Maas a an outstanding line Backer in Dino Hackett and Poten tial help there in first round pick Derrick Thomas. But Thomas and Maas Lewis were training Camp holdouts and the chiefs looked dismal in Early exhibition games. Marty  the new coach Hopes he can re create the Job he did in Cleveland last year when he used such ancients As Gary Danielson and Don Strock to help him make the playoffs after Bernic Kosar was Hurt Dyberg and Jaworski Are in the same class. I Don t feel old says Jaworski who spent the past couple of years holding a clipboard for Dan Marino in Miami. Even at my age i still feel like i can get better every time i go on the  the offensive line loaded with High draft picks could gel but fullback Chris Tian Okoye has to stay healthy and run Ning Back Paul Palmer turn into More than just a kick returner. If All that Hap pens the chiefs could be a Factor