<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Offseason focus: Directions for every teamThe NFL's coaches are huddled together these days all over the league, often with their scouts, trying to work on a plan for the offseason.What's the focus? How do we go about it? Can we get better? At what price?All 32 teams, including the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, have issues as we move to the 2006 season. What those teams do in the next six months will go a long way in deciding whether they will improve or fall back next season.So to help prepare for the offseason, now's a good time to take a look at what should be each team's focus.Arizona Cardinals Now that they've re-signed Kurt Warner, they have to get him help up front. The offensive line was terrible in 2005. They couldn't run the ball, and that has to improve in 2006. They need better players up front.Atlanta FalconsThey have to fix their passing game. That means Mike Vick has to be more committed to his craft. His reputation is that he gets off easily in Atlanta. Hiring Bill Musgrave as quarterback coach is a move in the right direction. The Falcons have to improve their throwing game down the field.Baltimore RavensBring peace to this disgruntled group. We hear talk Ray Lewis isn't happy. Jamal Lewis is likely gone. Ed Reed wants a new deal. Brian Billick has to win. So how in the heck can anything good come out of this? It's up to Billick to bring this group together. It won't be easy.Buffalo BillsThey have to decide on a quarterback. New coach Dick Jauron stated that there will be an open competition this spring between J.P. Losman and Kelly Holcomb. That's wise. But he has to be able to settle on one before training camp. You don't want your starter looking over his shoulder.Carolina Panthers They need to decide on a feature back. That may be DeShaun Foster coming off a broken ankle or it could be a high-profile free agent like Edgerrin James or Shaun Alexander. They did not run the ball well enough in 2005.Advertisement Chicago BearsPick a quarterback and stick with him. If it's Rex Grossman, then tell him he's the guy. If it's Kyle Orton, the same goes. They can't have the starter looking over his shoulder all season. Settling on a guy should help improve the passing game.Cincinnati BengalsThey have to pray a lot. Why? They have to hope like heck that Carson Palmer's injury won't keep him out for much of the 2006 season. That knee injury was devastating, but Palmer could be back early. If it's longer than that, the Bengals are in trouble. They also have to shore up the defense.Cleveland BrownsThe Browns had only 23 sacks last season, the fewest of any team in the league. They have to find a way to improve the pass rush, whether that means signing a key free agent or drafting a big-play rusher. That's simply not enough pressure on the quarterback.Dallas CowboysThey have to get better along the offensive line, especially at tackle, for this to be a playoff team. When Flozell Adams went down last year, the Cowboys started two so-so players at their tackle spots. That led to pressure on Drew Bledsoe in big games. The return of Adams will help, but he has to play better, too.Detroit LionsNew coach Rod Marinelli has to decide if Joey Harrington is his starting quarterback. If not, the Lions have to let him walk. Having Mike Martz around will help make that decision a little easier because Martz is a heck of an offensive coach.Denver BroncosThey have to find a big-play threat down the field. Whether that's Terrell Owens -- and it should be -- or another player, they have to get somebody who can stretch a defense. They also need to find a pass rusher. They had just 28 sacks last season, despite being a blitz-happy team.Green Bay PackersThey have to get a quick resolution to the Brett Favre situation. Favre has to be fair to the team and make a decision soon: Retire or play another season? New coach Mike McCarthy deserves to know as soon as possible.Houston TexansThe biggest decision facing this team will be who to take with the first overall pick. The early leader is USC running back Reggie Bush. That would be the wise thing to do. They also have to get the team acclimated to new coach Gary Kubiak's way of doing things.Indianapolis ColtsThe Colts have to find a replacement for Edgerrin James, who they will not bring back. They will likely use a high draft pick on a back because that would be the fiscally wise thing to do. They are expected to franchise Reggie Wayne, which alleviates one worry. They also have to do some cap trimming.Jacksonville JaguarsThis is a team that has to improve the offensive line. They didn't blow anybody off the ball last season, so look for the line to be a priority in free-agency. They might make a strong run at New Orleans center LeCharles Bentley. This is a team that has cap room, so it can be aggressive. Getting Jack Del Rio an extension should also be a priority. Kansas City Chiefs New coach Herman Edwards inherits a team with major cap issues. General manager Carl Peterson has his work cut out for him in trimming away the cap fat. One casualty could be running back Priest Holmes, if he doesn't retire.Miami DolphinsThe Dolphins need to find a quarterback -- or at least settle on one. If it's Gus Frerotte, that's fine. If it's not, they have to find a quality replacement. Maybe make a trade for somebody like David Garrard. They can't go into the 2006 season without picking a quarterback.Minnesota VikingsThis is another team that has to figure out what's happening at quarterback. New coach Brad Childress has met with Daunte Culpepper to try to forge a relationship, but the QB is coming off major knee surgery. Even if they decide he's the guy, when will he be ready?New England PatriotsThey have to improve their running game. The Patriots averaged 3.4 yards per rush, which is not what you would expect from a Bill Belichick-coached team. They simply didn't run the ball enough or well enough last season. That has to change to take some of the pressure off Tom Brady.New Orleans SaintsYet another team that has to figure out the quarterback position. New coach Sean Payton is considered an offensive coach, so you know he is focusing on that. Aaron Brooks is all but gone, so that will likely mean a rookie -- Matt Leinart? -- will start. That would make for a long first year.New York GiantsThey have to get better on defense against the pass. You would think a team with Pro Bowl ends in Mike Strahan and Osi Uminoyra would be good that way. But the Giants finished 27th in large part because their corner play wasn't very good. They have to improve that area before the start of the 2006 season.New York JetsTheir cap is a mess. New general manager Mike Tannenbaum has his work cut out for him in trimming the cap fat. They will start by trying to get Chad Pennington to re-work his deal. But there's a lot more work to do than that. It's not going to be a pleasant offseason for this team's front office.Oakland RaidersFind a quarterback. If they don't think it's Kerry Collins, then maybe it's second-year player Andrew Walter. Or maybe it's somebody on another roster (Daunte Culpepper?). We know Al Davis loves the deep passing game, so this has to be a priority for new coach Art Shell.Philadelphia EaglesThey have to get Donovan McNabb more weapons outside. With Terrell Owens gone, they have to get somebody who scares a defense down the field. Second-year player Reggie Brown has promise, but they need more than that.Pittsburgh SteelersThey are the champs, but they need to improve their pass offense. The gimmicks worked in the postseason, and Ben Roethlisberger had some good playoff games throwing the ball, but that has to be more consistent. Hines Ward is still a quality receiver, but they don't have a deep threat and Antwaan Randle El is a free agent. That's a concern.St. Louis Rams Fixing the defense has to be the main focus for new coach Scott Linehan. He's an offensive-minded coach, and there are still some darn good skill people to work with on that side of the ball. But new defensive coordinator Jim Haslett has his hands full trying to turn around the 29th-ranked defense from a year ago.San Diego ChargersDrew Brees is this team's top focus right now. Do they bring him back? Do they give him a big deal? Do they franchise him or put the transition tag on him? Since he's coming off major shoulder surgery, it's a tricky situation. What makes it even more interesting is Philip Rivers is waiting in the wings.San Francisco 49ersTheir goal for this offseason: Improve. There are so many holes on this team that it's hard to pinpoint one area. But when your coach has a defensive background and you finish last in the league in total defense, that's a good place to start. They have to get better on the corners and the pass rush has to improve.Seattle SeahawksWill they bring Shaun Alexander back? They would love to re-sign the MVP, but at what price? They have to be careful not to go wild with a huge contract for a back who will be 29 this year. That could lead to tricky negotiations. What to do with Alexander is their top priority.Tampa Bay BuccaneersThey have to improve the offensive line. Chris Simms took too many shots last year against good defensive teams. It's time for this team to invest in a premium tackle, whether in free agency or through the draft. Enough of patching together a line and hoping it works.Tennessee TitansThey have to find a way to re-sign defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch. He had 12? sacks last season after signing a one-year deal. The Titans have had cap woes the past couple of seasons, but somehow they have to find a way to keep this guy.Washington RedskinsThis is a team in desperate need of cap maintenance. It will fight a battle to get under, which will test the front office. If they can get under, they have to try to find an impact player on offense to go with Santana Moss. They became far too predictable offensively last season.</div>http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9237863/1
