Core 4 Reunion Show

NFL Week 4 Power Rankings

As we head into week 4 of the NFL season, the top two teams in the league still remain relatively clear. The Broncos and Seahawks each dominated sub-par teams at home this week and hold down the top two spots yet again. Jumping into the top 10 for the first time this season are the Chiefs and Colts, who each moved up four spots to be ranked at seventh and ninth, respectively. The week’s biggest drop goes to the New York Giants, who continue their slide all the way down to 28th overall in the league after an embarrassing 38-0 shutout loss at the Panthers last week.

1. Denver Broncos (3-0)       No Change

Another week, another three touchdown passes for Peyton Manning. He’s thrown 12 touchdowns in just three games this season, an NFL record, and shows no sign of slowing down.

2. Seattle Seahawks (3-0)       No Change

I don’t quite know how, but the Seahawks somehow managed to make a home victory over Jacksonville look very impressive. They literally gave the Jaguars no hope in this one and were able to rest their starters for much of the second half.

3. New Orleans Saints (3-0)       +2

After a strikingly unimpressive victory in Tampa Bay last week, the Saints looked like they were back on track this Sunday. The defense played great but I’d like to see them play that way against a quality opponent on the road before I make any further judgments.

4. Chicago Bears (3-0)       +3

After two close wins at home in the season’s first two weeks, the Bears got ahead of the lowly Steelers very early on Sunday night and never looked back. This was the impressive win many were looking for.

5. New England Patriots (3-0)       +1

Yet another ho-hum victory for the Patriots. Based on the teams they’ve played this season they should be 3-0 anyways, so we’ll learn a great deal about them next week after a trip to Atlanta.

6. Green Bay Packers (1-2)       -1

They looked terrible for the first few minutes in Cincinnati, but then scored 30 unanswered and appeared to have the game in hand before giving up 20 straight to lose 30-14. Tough loss but it doesn’t greatly concern me right now.

7. Kansas City Chiefs (3-0)       +4

The Kansas City Chiefs just keep on moving up in these rankings, now sitting at number seven. As many predicted, Alex Smith will really be the key for them this season, and so far he has answered the call.

8. San Francisco 49ers (1-2)       -4

The 49ers have already dropped four spots to number eight in the rankings after two straight despicable performances, and that may even be generous. They better get their act together very soon or else this could be a lost season in San Francisco.

9. Indianapolis Colts (2-1)       +4

The Colts followed up a disappointing home loss last week in the best way possible. They really went into San Francisco and dominated the 49ers, showing the potential that this team has.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (2-1)       No Change

A nice win at home against a very strong, playoff-caliber team, but you still can’t be overly happy about any game in which you gave up 30 straight unanswered points.

11. Baltimore Ravens (2-1)       +1

They haven’t given up a passing touchdown since allowing Peyton Manning to throw seven against them in week one. Maybe we all overreacted just a bit about this defense’s “struggles”.

12. Miami Dolphins (3-0)       +3

With each victory so far the Dolphins have been able to impress me more and more. I’m not fully sold on them being a top-10 team just yet, but a victory Monday night over the undefeated Saints could change all of that.

13. Atlanta Falcons (1-2)       -5

After not losing their second game until Week 14 last season, the Falcons are now under .500 at 1-2. A matchup with the undefeated Patriots looms large next week on prime-time in what might be a must-win for them.

14. Detroit Lions (2-1)       No Change

After being able to sneak out of Washington with a 27-20 victory without the explosive Reggie Bush, the Lions have passed another test in my book. Can they dethrone the Bears for the top spot in the NFC North next week?

15. Houston Texans (2-1)       -6

Down six spots this week after scoring just nine points in a rough loss to the Ravens. They have the weapons, where does the offense go sometimes with this team?

16. Dallas Cowboys (2-1)       No Change

There is no way to describe this team other than simply saying “Jekyll and Hyde.” One week they look dominant, the next they can’t produce anything. There’s no sense in moving them up after an impressive victory because they’ll likely take two steps back next week.

17. Tennessee Titans (2-1)       +2

A last second victory over the Chargers gives Tennessee a surprising 2-1 start and 17th overall ranking this week. This offense has still yet to turn the ball over under Jake Locker’s command.

18. San Diego Chargers (1-2)       -1

Another mediocre team that likes to take one step forward followed by two steps back. A matchup with the equally inconsistent Dallas Cowboys next week will reveal to us a lot about them.

19. Philadelphia Eagles (1-2)       -1

Only the Packers and Broncos have more offensive touchdowns than Philadelphia right now, but for some reason the Eagles offense has been looking less and less impressive in their last two losses. We’ll see how they play in Denver next week.

20. Carolina Panthers (1-2)       +7

The Panthers offense finally decided to show up this week as they toyed with an abysmal Giants team on their way to a 38-0 shutout victory. That was much-needed heading into a bye week.

21. New York Jets (2-1)       +7

Who would’ve thought that the Jets would be 2-1 at this point? Geno Smith rebounded from a rough outing in New England to throw for 331 yards, something that has to greatly encourage Jets fans.

22. St. Louis Rams (1-2)       -1

This offense was just downright bad in Dallas on Sunday, highlighted by an unimpressive offensive line showing. They have talent, but it clearly hasn’t fully come to fruition just yet.

23. Cleveland Browns (1-2)       +8

Trade your top, young, talented running back Trent Richardson, bench your starter in favor of lifetime backup Brian Hoyer, and get a win on the road over a 2012 playoff team. I just don’t get this league sometimes.

24. Buffalo Bills (1-2)       No Change

They certainly had their chances to make a nice comeback in the Meadowlands on Sunday, as the Jets continually shot themselves in the foot with penalties. They have talent but there is still development which is needed in Buffalo.

25. Washington Redskins (0-3)       -3

This offense has become strikingly one-dimensional, and now players are questioning whether or nor RG III was brought back too soon. Things just keep getting worse in Washington.

26. Arizona Cardinals (1-2)       No Change

The problems are still the same with this offense even with a new quarterback. Larry Fitzgerald is just simply not getting the ball enough right now.

27. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-3)       -2

Nine turnovers for this offense and a rushing attack that is still incredibly sup-par. Now they’ll have to take an unwanted trip across the pond to hopefully avoid an 0-4 start.

28. New York Giants (0-3)       -8

Seven sacks allowed and two more interceptions for Eli Manning. Not to mention a defense which has given up 30-plus points in every game this year. I know it’s early but we could be looking at a lost cause already this season for the Giants.

29. Minnesota Vikings (0-3)       -5

Brian Hoyer threw for 321 yards for them last week. Brian Hoyer. What is going on with this pass defense? In fact, what is going on with this team overall?

30. Oakland Raiders (1-2)       -1

I really can’t fault them for losing on the road to Denver, that’s definitely not something to be ashamed of. In fact, Terrelle Pryor has actually played well so far and may be cementing himself as a legitimate starter in this league.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3)       -1

In my opinion, Josh Freeman really isn’t the problem with this team right now. He’s making plays that should at least keep his team in games. Nonetheless, he’ll likely be replaced before this season is over.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3)       No Change

They went into Seattle and got blown out just as pretty much everyone expected. An 0-16 season is really looking like it might be on the horizon for this team.

Biggest Jump: +8 (Browns), +7 (Panthers, Jets)

Biggest Drop: -8 (Giants), -6 (Texans)

NFL Week 3 Power Rankings

A few dramatic jumps and slides highlight the power rankings this week as two new up-and-comers, the Dolphins and Chiefs, each jumped up six spots after 2-0 starts, while the unexpectedly lowly  Redskins fell six spots all the way to 22nd after a winless first two games. The Denver Broncos still sit at number one after their impressive victory over the Giants in Manning-Bowl III this Sunday, and the Seahawks jumped up a spot to second after their blowout win over the rival 49ers. Finishing at the bottom once again are the Jaguars, who already have TV stations apologizing for airing their games on Sundays. The rest of the season definitely looks bright in Jacksonville.

1. Denver Broncos (2-0)           No Change

Another impressive victory for the Broncos last week in the Meadowlands. Right now it’s gonna take a whole lot to dethrone them from the top spot in these rankings.

2. Seattle Seahawks (2-0)        +1

Talk about impressive victories, the Seahawks absolutely shut down the San Francisco offense in prime-time Sunday night. It looks like we could be seeing another year of domination for the ‘Hawks at Quest Field.

3. Green Bay Packers (1-1)     +3

So many things went right for the Packers and their offense on Sunday, with the exception of losing their rookie running-back Eddie Lacy. He should miss at least a week with a concussion, but nonetheless it appears that this offense is back in full swing.

4. San Francisco 49ers (1-1)    -2

I wouldn’t put too much emphasis on the poor performance by the 49ers Sunday night, as they have really struggled in Seattle for the past few years. But if this carries over into coming weeks then we could have a problem.

5. New Orleans Saints (2-0)    -1

Wow did the Saints play down to their opponent or what on Sunday? They absolutely did not deserve that victory in Tampa Bay but a win is a win. New Orleans is 2-0 and that’s all they should care about.

6. New England Patriots (2-0)     -1

Continuing with the trend of teams not deserving of their 2-0 starts, the New England Patriots have certainly not looked like a contender in the AFC through two weeks, yet they’re undefeated. This has to be a good sign right?

7. Chicago Bears (2-0)               +2

Are the Bears for real or not? So far they’ve played two sloppy games yet have pulled out two sloppy wins late. The Marc Trestman era is off to a great start in Chicago, yet we’ll still have to wait and see if anything has actually changed with this team.

8. Atlanta Falcons (1-1)             No Change

Typical Falcons home game against a below average opponent: get out to a big lead, nearly squander it away, ultimately go on a scoring drive and put the game away late. At least they got the win and improved to 1-1.

9. Houston Texans (2-0)          -2

Well the Texans squeaked out yet another close win last week at home against the Titans in overtime, but they lost their top receiver Andre Johnson to a concussion. Look for rookie DeAndre Hopkins to be featured this week in Baltimore.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (1-1)     +1

With an ugly 20-10 victory on Monday night over Pittsburgh, the Bengals got their first victory of the season. Obviously no game in this division is going to look great, so they should certainly be proud that they did what was needed to get the victory.

11. Kansas City Chiefs (2-0)     +6

Our biggest jumpers of the week moved up six spots after their victory over the Cowboys in their home opener. The offense didn’t look great, but the defense was again impressive. Let’s see if they can continue this play in Philadelphia on Thursday.

12. Baltimore Ravens (1-1)      +1

Well the defense played light-years better than they did in the season’s first week, but that could’ve been due to them lining up against the inept Cleveland offense. This offense again looked sub-par so that should certainly be a concern going forward.

13. Indianapolis Colts (1-1)      -3

It seems like these were the type of games that the Andre Luck-era Colts had continually pulled out over and over again last year. For once their luck ran out in defeat. Now how will they rebound next week?

14. Detroit Lions (1-1)               -2

A defeat in Arizona definitely hurt, but more painful for this team could be the losses of Nick Fairley and Reggie Bush on both sides of the ball. Their health will be paramount for this team moving forward.

15. Miami Dolphins (2-0)          +6

Moving up five spots in this week’s rankings, the Dolphins took a huge step forward with an impressive road victory in Indianapolis. Now an even bigger test will come in their home opener next week against the Falcons.

16. Dallas Cowboys (1-1)          -2

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: the Cowboys lost a definitely winnable game in Kansas City last week due to mental errors and despicable play-calling. When will this terrible trend finally end in Dallas?

17. San Diego Chargers (1-1)  +2

Despite still sneaking out a win in Philadelphia, the Chargers really should be 2-0 right now. Their collapse in week one is still inexcusable for me. If this pass-defense could improve then San Diego could possibly be a legitimate threat for a playoff spot this season.

18. Philadelphia Eagles (1-1)   No Change

Well the fast-paced offense was again out in their home-opener, but it proved to more of vice for them as San Diego held the ball for over 40 minutes. Their are definitely flaws with this system and a sub-par defense definitely won’t help.

19. Tennessee Titans (1-1)      +3

Well they were able to drive the Texans into overtime in Houston on Sunday, so that is definitely a positive, and this defense appears to be vastly improved over last years. Maybe the Titans have turned the corner this season and can contend for a playoff spot.

20. New York Giants (0-2)       -4

Four more interceptions for Eli Manning this season has led for the bi-yearly callings for Tom Coughlin’s job to come out early this year. Although the terrible NFC East might just keep them in contention this year after a rough start.

21. St. Louis Rams (1-1)            +2

Tavon Austin had his first breakout game as a pro, and the Rams really made a nice comeback on the road despite ultimately being defeated. I’m not sure that they should expect a playoff spot, but the future does look bright in St. Louis.

22. Washington Redskins (0-2) -6

After being handed a 38-20 shellacking by Green Bay on Sunday (it wasn’t even that close), the 0-2 Redskins now have to question their judgement on bringing RGIII back for the start of this season. Is healthy backup Kirk Cousins a better option at this point?

23. Minnesota Vikings (0-2)    -3

The defense couldn’t stop Jay Cutler and the Bears from going down the field and scoring a game-winning touchdown last week, giving the Vikes an 0-2 start. The season could already be in jeopardy for Minnesota.

24. Buffalo Bills (1-1)                  +5

EJ Manuel played well for the second straight week, inspiring even more confidence for Bills fans this season and beyond. Discipline still has to be an issue for them as they head into New Jersey to take on the Jets next Sunday.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-2)  -1

This was feared rushing game is now almost literally nonexistent. Alex Smith alone has more rushing yards than the Steelers do so far this season. Unless that changes Pittsburgh could be headed for a long 2013 season.

26. Arizona Cardinals (1-1)      +2

Palmer is already looking like an improvement over their inept quarterbacks of the past as he led Bruce Arians to his first win in Arizona. Once this defense gets Daryl Washington back the Cardinals could become a very formidable squad.

27. Carolina Panthers (0-2)     -2

Their defense has now blown 10 fourth quarter leads in the Ron Rivera era, and the offense has been incredibly unimpressive in the season’s first two weeks. Things better change fast in Carolina if much of this staff wants to keep their jobs.

28. New York Jets (1-1)            -2

Geno Smith really showed his inexperience in New England on prime-time as he looked completely over-matched after throwing three interceptions in defeat. Although the defense did look very impressive in holding off the hobbled Patriots.

29. Oakland Raiders (1-1)        +1

Well they beat the Jaguars at home, which is an achievement I guess. Darren McFadden played very well and made this offense look very impressive, but again, they played the Jaguars. We’ll see how they look next week against Denver.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2) -3

How did they lose this game? The Tampa Bay Bucs literally should be 2-0 and about 15 spots higher on this list. Instead they’re ranked 30th and have to deal with a QB controversy very early in the season.

31. Cleveland Browns (0-2)     No Change

Weeden is more and more beginning to look like he’s definitely not the answer for the Browns at quarterback. The defensive line played well again but you simply can’t win games if you can’t score.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) No Change

Hey, at least their offense scored more points than their defense this week. Could Tim Tebow actually be the “answer” for the Jaguars this season until Teddy Bridgewater arrives?

Biggest Jump: +6 (Chiefs, Dolphins)

Biggest Drop: -6 (Redskins)

NFL Week 2 Power Rankings

First of all, my apologies to fans of the teams in the NFC West. Due to time constraints (college) I was unable to complete the previews for those four teams. Hopefully I can make it up to you guys somehow. No guarantees. But never mind all of that, because the season is finally upon us. Rejoice my fellow NFL super-fans, grab some chips and a drink, sit down in your favorite chair, and let the NFL take care of your concerns for the next 17-plus Sundays. Now onto the rankings.

The Broncos hold down the top spot in the rankings right now, and barring some miraculous collapse, they should remain in the top five for most of this season. Rounding out the top three will be the NFC West-rivals 49ers and Seahawks, each of whom squeaked out close victories last week. They’ll meet in prime-time this Sunday night in a very anticipated matchup. Bringing up the rear will be the Jacksonville Jaguars, who somehow have less hope for a successful year in 2013 than they did a week ago.

1. Denver Broncos (1-0)- Seven touchdowns. Seven nonchalant touchdowns for Peyton Manning on what was presumed to be one of the league’s better defenses. They are easily the league’s best team right now.

2. San Francisco 49ers (1-0)- An impressive win over the Packers in week 1 was highlighted by Colin Kaepernick’s 412 passing yards. This team will coast through the rest of the NFC if he keeps that level of play up.

3. Seattle Seahawks (1-0)-They really dominated the Panthers this week but only came out with a mediocre-looking 12-7 victory. Their first real test will come next Sunday night.

4. New Orleans Saints (1-0)- Part two of the Sean Payton era has gotten off to a great start after a victory over the hated Falcons. I really like this team as a contender in the NFC South.

5. New England Patriots (1-0)- A come-from-behind win in Buffalo keeps the Patriots in the top five for now, but injuries in that game to a few key offensive players could spell doom for them in the coming weeks.

6. Green Bay Packers (0-1)- Sure they took a loss in week one on the road in San Francisco, but can you really punish them all that much for it? This team will be fine again in 2013.

7. Houston Texans (1-0)- Houston certainly avoided early-season disaster at the hands of the Chargers late Monday night/Tuesday morning. There are questions (Arian Foster), but for now they’re still a top-10 team.

8. Atlanta Falcons (0-1)- Even after the week one loss in New Orleans I still don’t have many major concerns about this team. Although if they could score a touchdown inside the redzone with the game on-the-line late that would be nice.

9. Chicago Bears (1-0)- A nice home win over the talented Bengals last week gives Chicago a top ten spot for now. They look like early contenders for the NFC North crown.

10. Indianapolis Colts (1-0)- A very unimpressive win over the Raiders at home is certainly nothing to brag about, but they appear to still have that knack for pulling out close games late. The AFC South should be very fun at the top this season.

11. Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)- Don’t let the loss in Chicago discourage you, this is still a very potent offense which can and will do big things this season.

12. Detroit Lions (1-0)- Is Reggie Bush the perfect fit at running back for this offense or what? A career-high 104 yards after the catch for Bush gives Lions fans a ton of hope for the remainder of this season.

13. Baltimore Ravens (0-1)- Well, the defense finally looked vulnerable and, dare I say, mediocre after surrendering 49 points to the poignant Broncos last week. The super bowl champs better get going quickly.

14. Dallas Cowboys (1-0)- A bit of good fortune certainly fell upon the Cowboys in Jerryworld on Sunday night, but a win is a win, especially when it’s a win over the Giants in that stadium.

15. Washington Redskins (0-1)- Alfred Morris looked incredibly average, while RG III took quite a while to get going on Monday night. It’s not time for major concern just yet, but with a trip to Lambeau Field looming, things don’t look so great right now in Washington.

16. New York Giants (0-1)- Despite the interceptions, Eli Manning played well. Despite the 36 points allowed (23 actually), the defense played well. It’s the running game that should be a huge concern in New York.

17. Kansas City Chiefs (1-0)- Not sure what to take out of the Chiefs victory in Jacksonville last week. Sure they looked dominant, but at this point the Jaguars are the NFL’s equivalent of the Washington Generals. We’ll no more about them after this week.

18. Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)- The first half of the first game of the Chip Kelly era in Philadelphia could’ve have gone any better. The second half? Not so great. Nonetheless, the Eagles still should feel good about where they’re at right now.

19. San Diego Chargers (0-1)- It seems like only the Chargers could lose a game like that. Insanely stupid penalties, costly turnovers, and three-and-outs on your final five possessions are not the way to hold on to a second half lead. It’s like Norv Turner never left San Diego.

20. Minnesota Vikings (0-1)- This will be the story-line all year in Minnesota, who can produce besides number 28? Peterson didn’t play that great either but until Christian Ponder improves, things won’t be getting any easier for this offense.

21. Miami Dolphins (1-0)- They handled the Browns offense last week, but I’m not sure how much we can really take out of that. Enjoy it while you can Dolphins fans, Andrew Luck and the Colts come to town next week.

22. Tennessee Titans (1-0)- Well someone had to win that game in Pittsburgh last week. The unexpected victory will go a long way for the Titans, and now a win over the Texans next week would make things even better. Trust me, don’t count on it.

23. St. Louis Rams (1-0)- Led by Sam Bradford and tight end Jared Cook the Rams offense actually didn’t look too bad in the first game of the post-Steven Jackson era. We’ll see how this unit fares as the season goes along.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1)- A home loss to the Titans coupled with the losses of center Maurkice Pouncey and running back LaRod Stevens-Howling is how the season got underway for Pittsburgh. Ouch.

25. Carolina Panthers (0-1)- The defense actually looked pretty good, holding the potent Seahawks to just 12 points. The offense on the other hand did not. Understandable for now, but the Panthers better hope this trend doesn’t continue.

26. New York Jets (1-0)- For once fortune favored the Jets one Sunday. A terribly stupid late hit on Geno Smith propelled New York to a miraculous victory in week one. Hurrah for now, have fun in New England this Thursday.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1)- Too many mistakes for a team who simply cannot afford to make them. Is it possible that Greg Schiano could be on the hot seat already? I certainly think so.

28. Arizona Cardinals (0-1)- The new-look offense led by Carson Palmer was somewhat of a bright spot on Sunday, but overall this team will be a work-in-progress this season.

29. Buffalo Bills (0-1)- Rookie quarterback EJ Manuel looked and played well in his first NFL start. The future is looking somewhat bright, but for now the Bills are not a very good team.

30. Oakland Raiders (0-1)- What a pleasant surprise Terrelle Pryor was in Indianapolis this past Sunday. Not only did he play well but he nearly led them to an impressive road victory. Hey, that’s better than what the past 25 quarterbacks in Oakland have been able to do.

31. Cleveland Browns (0-1)- This front office was already reasonably skeptical about Brandon Weeden as the signal-caller for this team going into the season. After last week that skepticism certainly looks valid.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1)- I’ve ripped on the poor Jaguars enough in this post, I won’t pile it on here.

San Diego Chargers 2013 Preview

photo credit: bleacherreport.com

2012 Record: 7-9 (2^nd in AFC West)

2012 Season Review: Going into 2012 it seemed like fans of the San Diego Chargers had been calling for the metaphorical heads of General Manager AJ Smith and head coach Norv Turner for years. Well after yet another disappointing season which featured just seven wins, those fans finally got their wish on the NFL’s black Monday, with both Smith and Turner being shown the door. Lost in the shuffle from all of this has been the substandard recent play of quarterback Philip Rivers, who has certainly taken a step back from his elite play just a few seasons ago. New GM Tom Telesco and head coach Mike McCoy will be tasked with trying to return Rivers to his once-influential self this season.

Offseason Review: Key Additions- DE Dwight Freeney, CB Derek Cox, RB Danny Woodhead, OL DJ Fluker (draft), LB Manti Te’o (draft), WR Keenan Allen (draft)….Departures- OL Louis Vasquez, LB Shaun Phillips, OL Tyronne Green, WR Michael Spurlock….Final Analysis- Much of Philip Rivers’ recent struggles can be attributed to the fact that he’s had one of the league’s worst offensive lines protecting him over that period. Improving this putrid offensive line had to be among the Chargers top priorities this offseason and thankfully it was. Although when it came time to actually make moves I’m not so sure that San Diego did such a great job. They lost easily the best player on this offensive line, guard Louis Vasquez, to division rival Denver as well as seeing his fellow guard Tyronne Green walk to New England. Replacing them will be Chad Rinehart, who was very solid in 2011 before being out for most of last season with injury, along with Jeromey Clary. Moving over from right tackle, Clary has struggled as a blocker for some time now so it may be hard for him to be any worse this season. To replace Clary and Jared Gaither at the tackle positions, San Diego signed King Dunlap and drafted DJ Fluker with their first selection. Dunlap has really just been a middle-of-the-road type guy for a while now, while Fluker was one of the top linemen in the draft yet still should take some time to develop into an NFL talent. So while the Chargers did make a ton of moves as an attempt to improve their abysmal offensive line from a year ago, I’m not so sure how much better they actually made it. This looks like it’ll be a reoccurring problem for them again in 2013. Expanding upon their draft, the Chargers used their next to picks after Fluker on linebacker Manti Te’o and wide receiver Keenan Allen. We’ve seen the talent and promise that Te’o has shown in college, but we’ve also seen him go through a messy off-the-field situation along with getting absolutely manhandled by a pro-style Alabama offense in the national championship. The jury’s definitely still out on this guy, but he’ll have his chance to prove doubters wrong as a starting middle linebacker this season. Allen was considered a first-round prospect by many heading into the draft, but off-the-field issues also played a role in his draft stock falling. He’s an extremely talented receiver that will have an even greater impact on this San Diego passing attack now that Danario Alexander is out for the year.

Strengths: It’s hard to pinpoint an area of strength for this Chargers offense in 2013. They appear to have the potential to be a solid unit, but it always seems like they leave you dissatisfied by the end of the season. That’ll likely be the case in 2013 yet again. Is it possible that Rivers regains his form that has seemingly been lost since somewhere in 2010? Sure, but it’s unlikely. Is it possible that classic underachievers like Malcom Floyd and Robert Meachem combine with the rookie Allen and a rejuvenated Antonio Gates to form a solid passing attack? Sure, but it’s unlikely. Is it possible that Ryan Matthews finally stays healthy for a season and isn’t a total bust? Sure, but it’s unlikely. This unit has so much potential to be at least ranked among the league’s top half this season (they were 31^st in total offense a year ago), but until they prove to the football world that they can actually play to that potential, I just can’t say that they’ll be very strong. But for a defense that was rarely talked about last season yet was among some of the league’s best, the bright spot has to be a stout defensive line unit. San Diego actually ranked sixth in the league last season against the run, and much of that can be attributed to their stellar pair of ends, Kendall Reyes and Corey Liuget. These two were easily among the league’s better and more underrated pairs of ends last season, obviously stopping the run as well as combining for 12.5 sacks. I look for each of these still-developing 24 year-olds to improve this season as the Chargers pass-rush gets better as a whole with the additions of Dwight Freeney and Manti Te’o. Sandwiched in between Reyes and Liuget on the defensive line will be the 6’4” 330-pound mammoth of a man Cam Thomas. He’ll get his first crack as a starter this season and should play an integral part in defending against the run.

Weaknesses: I said in the last section how the Chargers offense really isn’t incredibly strong in any single aspect or position, but the exact opposite thing can also be validly stated. This offensive line shouldn’t be terrible this season (or should at least improve upon last year’s debacle), but I still somewhat look at them as a weakness. The interior guys shouldn’t play terrible together this season, but I still have some major concerns about their pair of tackles. As talented as he may be Fluker will still take some time to develop and adapt to the NFL game, while Dunlap is really not very good at all. To make matters worse, Dunlap will be protecting Rivers’ blind-side in 2013 so that should be fun. If (when) Dunlap struggles this season the Chargers won’t even have a serviceable replacement to call upon. Backup Max Starks isn’t scaring any pass-rushers while Fluker is incapable of playing the position. This ragtag offensive line shouldn’t make things any easier for a San Diego rushing attack which ranked 27^th in the league last season. Ryan Matthews was expected to transcend into the upper-echelon of NFL running backs last season after a stellar 2011. Instead he played in just 12 games, running for only 707 yards and a single touchdown. Now there are major concerns as to whether or not he can prove to be a consistent and reliable NFL running back. This will really be a make-or-break season for Matthews, and running behind a slightly below-average offensive line at best certainly won’t help his chances. Backing up the injury-prone Matthews will be the well-traveled Ronny Brown and the recently-acquired Danny Woodhead. Each of those two guys can be solid in short spurts, but if they are needed to produce as a full-time starter if Matthews was to go down then I wouldn’t feel so confident in them. I expect this rushing attack to again rank in the league’s bottom ten for this season.

Fantasy Breakout Player: With the injury to Danario Alexander depleting this already weak receiving corps, I look for Malcom Floyd to finally have a legitimate breakout season in 2013. For the second half of his eight year career Floyd has been right around a 40-50 reception guy for around 700 yards and a few touchdowns. This will probably be his final chance to propel himself into that second-tier of NFL receivers, as he turns 32 this September. He’ll see a ton of targets from Rivers who, although turnover-prone, is still capable to deliver him the ball. I like him as a solid late-round receiver in most league’s this season.

Best Case/Worst Case: Best Case- Behind a new head coach, Rivers is able to revert back to his stellar form of old. Matthews stays healthy and produces for an entire season, providing a huge boost for the NFL’s 31^st overall offense last season. The defense just as well as it did last season, and San Diego surprisingly contends for a playoff spot. Worst Case- Rivers regresses even further, leading to even more questions about his suddenly shaky future. The defensive pass-rush is sub-par, making things very tough on a lackluster secondary. The Chargers are among the league’s worst team and pick in the top five during next year’s draft.

One Word to Describe This Preview for the Lazy: Delusion? The question mark there was not a typo, as I believe this is a serious question. For years Chargers fans have been obsessed with getting rid of Norv Turner and AJ Smith, with good reason of course. But over that time period their team has gotten worse and worse, something which has seemingly gone unnoticed by most. Now in 2013 Chargers fans will finally get a taste of their team with a new head coach, but will they come to the harrowing realization that the old one wasn’t totally the only guy to blame for their struggles all along?

Prediction: 6-10

Oakland Raiders 2013 Preview

photo credit: justblogbaby.com

2012 Record: 4-12 (3^rd in AFC West)

2012 Season Review: After back-to-back 8-8 seasons in 2010 and 2011 it appeared that the Raiders may have been headed in the right direction and could maybe even contend for a playoff spot in the near future. But last season those good feelings all went down the drain as Oakland limped to a 4-12 record, their eighth season with double-digit losses in the last 10 years. Quarterback Carson Palmer didn’t play terrible, but nonetheless he was traded to Arizona in the offseason after just 25 games as a Raider. Speaking of quick exits, head coach Dennis Allen could be on a very short leash this year in only his second season at the helm, but it’s not like that’s anything new for this franchise. They’ve gone through seven head coaches in the last nine years and their current one really has no hope of being successful this season.

Offseason Review: Key Additions- QB Matt Flynn, LB Kevin Burnett, S Charles Woodson, KR Josh Cribbs, CB DJ Hayden (draft), OL Menelik Watson (draft)….Departures- QB Carson Palmer, LB Philip Wheeler, TE Brandon Myers, LB Rolando McClain….Final Analysis- The Raiders main weakness last season was their defense. No team aside from the Jaguars had fewer sacks than Oakland last season, so they definitely needed to revamp their front seven, while their secondary was average at best and could definitely use some help. Well they certainly tried to improve upon those positions in the offseason but I’m not so sure that any of their additions will be very effective in 2013. They’ll basically have an entirely new front seven this season after adding two new defensive tackles (Pat Sims and Vance Walker) along with three new linebackers (Sio Moore, Nick Roach, Kevin Burnett). It’ll be hard for this group to be any worse than last year’s, but still I’m not sure how much of an improvement these guys are. The four of them that played in the NFL last season (Moore is a rookie) totaled seven sacks combined last season, so they won’t exactly be giving opposing quarterbacks nightmares on Saturday nights. The secondary also needed help, and again that help was received, but I’m unsure how effective it will be. At cornerback Tracy Porter, Mike Jenkins, and DJ Hayden were all added in the offseason, while Charles Woodson and Usama Young were added at safety. All of these guys will be welcome additions and certain upgrades over the players at their positions last year, but I still don’t see them being all that productive for a variety of reasons. As for this putrid passing offense of a year ago, the front office traded signal-caller Carson Palmer for a seventh round pick in next year’s draft and replaced him perpetual backup Matt Flynn. The one-game wonder Flynn is coming off a season in which he was beat out by third round pick Russell Wilson for the starting job in training camp. Once Wilson proved what he could do in the regular season, Flynn was rendered expendable. He will not have a very large impact on their team this season, positive or negative. Grade: C-

Strengths: There honestly isn’t one unit on this team that I look at and think is in any way a legitimate strength over the competition. I’d say that running back Darren McFadden is explosive and could have a big impact this year if he stays healthy, but that’s the key phrase, if he stays healthy. How many people following the NFL have any faith in McFadden playing out a full season in Oakland? He’s going into his sixth season now, yet he’s only played in 57 NFL games, never playing in more than 13 for a season. McFadden is extremely fragile and injury-prone, and I expect none of that to change running behind this putrid offensive line. If I had to pick one unit on this team to categorize as a “strength” this season though, I guess I’d pick their best one which is the secondary. Mike Jenkins was decent in his short-time in Dallas, but he was frequently making bone-headed blunders and surrendering big game-altering passing plays. Other projected starting corner Tracy Porter will likely be out for a while after suffering a groin injury in a recent preseason game, leaving the other starting spot open to rookie DJ Hayden or Chimdi Chekwa. Both guys are obviously unproven, but Hayden played well last season in college at Houston and can be somewhat productive if he stays healthy. At safety Charles Woodson will be reunited with his old team this season, but the former All-Pro is simply over-the-hill at 37 and will struggle to keep up with receivers down the field in coverage this season. Despite that he will still be important as a mentor for the younger guys in this secondary down the road. Woodson will not have to play extremely well this season though as he’ll be lining up next to one of the league’s better strong safeties in Tyvon Branch. The stud five-year veteran Branch should anchor a unit that will be improved from 2012 and should at least be serviceable going into this season.

Weaknesses: Trust me when I say that the 2013 Oakland Raiders will have quite a few things to be concerned about this year. First let’s start with the one that’s the most obvious, the quarterback. Right now it’s looking like Terrelle Pryor will be the opening day starter just based on the fact that he’s been slightly less terrible than Matt Flynn in the preseason. Pryor’s been in the league for two seasons now although he really only saw game-action last year, playing in six games while completing less than 50 percent of his passes and throwing for a measly 155 yards. I wouldn’t feel too confident in him under center this season but I guess he’s a better option than Flynn right now. Although it’s not like it’ll really matter who will be under center for Oakland this season because they’ll probably have no one to throw to. The Raiders top three receivers right now are Denarius Moore, Rod Streater, and Jacoby Ford. Those three combined for 90 receptions with 1,325 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. That’s less than what most of the league’s top receivers recorded by themselves. Simply put, Moore is the only receiver on this unit that I have any confidence in this season, and he’s just an average NFL talent at best right now. On defense this front seven is an absolute mess. On the defensive line Lamar Houston is a very talented end who led the team in sacks last season with four while playing very solid defense against the run. But he likely won’t be getting any help this season from his fellow lineman. The other three guys on the line, end Jason Hunter and tackles Pat Sims and Vance Walker, are all just mediocre. They’ll probably be an improvement over the old unit, but I highly doubt they’ll have any sort of positive impact this season. Their linebacking corps is pretty much the same story. Outside linebacker Kevin Burnett is one of the better players on this defense overall as he really has no major weaknesses, but he’s surrounded by little talent. Nick Roach is just a mediocre talent while the rookie Sio Moore has yet to prove himself. Similar to recent years, don’t expect much pressure to be supplied by this front seven this season.

Fantasy Breakout Player: By default their top receiver Denarius Moore will be getting a ton of targets this season. Whether Flynn or Pryor ends up taking the reins for most of the year under center, their inexperience will cause them to be looking for a solid target to count on. Moore isn’t a great NFL receiver, but on this team he’s a number one type guy. He’s probably a solid late-round draft pick in deeper leagues as a third option at receiver.

Best Case/Worst Case: Best Case- Pryor starts the season under center as the number one guy, and he’s surprisingly able to hang on to the job. McFadden stays healthy for the first time in his career, giving this offense a dimension which it previously lacked. The defense is average yet still better than last year, and the Raiders astoundingly finish around .500. Worst Case- The two quarterbacks play hot potato with the starting job as neither one of them plays well enough to hold it down for any extended period of time. The new additions on the defense prove mostly to be busts, leaving a unit that is among the league’s worst. With putrid units on both sides of the ball the Raiders flop to a 14-15 loss season, giving them the first pick in next year’s draft.

One Word to Describe This Preview for the Lazy: Hopeless. We previewed the Jaguars a few days ago and I used “debacle” for them. That’s because I was saving “hopeless” especially for the Raiders. Somehow, someway this Oakland team has even less hope than the hapless Jacksonville Jaguars, and let’s be honest, they know it too. There is just no chance in the world that this team wins any more than six or seven games this season at the very most. I just see no way of anything better than that happening. They might be best off tanking the season and hoping that one of the top quarterbacks of next year’s draft class falls into their lap.

Prediction: 3-13

Kansas City Chiefs 2013 Preview

photo credit: kcchiefs.com

2012 Record: 2-14 (4^th in AFC West)

2012 Season Review: There was really nothing positive that came out of 2012 season in Kansas City. Things looked promising for the Chiefs going in as some had them challenging the Broncos for the division title, but a barrage of injuries, terrible quarterback play, and lackluster coaching stopped that train right in its tracks. None of this mattered in comparison to the terrible murder-suicide that occurred at the team’s practice facilities on December 1^st. Going into 2013 the Chiefs needed to revamp both their mindsets and their personnel. That was accomplished when they traded for quarterback Alex Smith and signed Andy Reid to become their new head coach.

Offseason Review: Key Additions: QB Alex Smith, CB Sean Smith, CB Daunta Robinson, TE Anthony Fasano. OL Eric Fisher (draft), TE Travis Kelce (draft)….Departures- DT Glenn Dorsey, DE Ropati Pitoitua, QB Matt Cassel, QB Brady Quinn….Final Analysis- The Chiefs definitely picked a bad offseason to desperately need a quarterback. Their situation last year was grim, with neither Matt Cassel nor Brady Quinn being able to even play average football under center. As a result both of them no longer are with the team, leaving the Chiefs in need of a replacement. Now in any other offseason this wouldn’t have been much of a problem, Kansas City had the first overall pick in the draft and with it they could select the best overall quarterback. Except this year’s class included unimposing guys like Geno Smith, EJ Manuel, and Mike Glennon at the top of the list. So that wasn’t an option. OK, plan B then, they could trade for a decent quarterback, surely some team will be looking to unload a signal-caller for cheap they thought. Well this year their best options were Alex Smith and Nick Foles. They went with the former and will be heading into 2013 with Smith under center. Now Smith is not a terrible quarterback, in fact the last two season’s he’s actually been pretty decent in San Francisco. But when you consider that if the Chiefs had the first pick in the draft a year earlier or later they’d be looking at Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Teddy Bridgewater, or Johnny Manziel as their quarterback of the future that really has to bum some people in Kansas City out. I can’t necessarily penalize them for this as they really had no other options and at least addressed the need. What I can penalize them for though is selecting offensive tackle Eric Fisher over Luke Joeckel with the first overall pick. The Chiefs made it clear they’d be going with an offensive lineman at number one and in my opinion Joeckel was the better overall talent. Aside from that the Chiefs didn’t have that bad of an offseason, revamping their secondary with corners Sean Smith and Daunta Robinson while holding on to key free agents like receiver Dwayne Bowe, offensive lineman Branden Albert, Dustin Coquitt. Despite missing out on a franchise-altering quarterback this offseason could’ve been a lot worse in Kansas City. Grade: C-

Strengths: The strong-suit of this Kansas City offense in 2013 will undoubtedly be their potent rushing attack. Their lead back will be the lightning-quick Jamaal Charles, who was able to rush for over 1,500 yards and five touchdowns last season despite coming off a season-ending ACL tear that required surgery the year before. Charles is a playmaker that thrives in the open field and can burst out a long, game-breaking run at any moment. He is coming off a foot injury that has hampered him through most of training camp and the preseason, but assuming he’s recovered from that by week 1 he should be one of the league’s better and more explosive backs this year. Making things easier for Charles to come back and produce after his injury will be this stellar offensive line, which after the addition of Eric Fisher in the draft now includes four first and second rounds picks. Fisher will soon spend his time as the blind-side protector for years to come, but for this season he’ll be on the right side while fellow first round selection Brandon Albert anchors the left. The line looks even stouter when you see Rodney Hudson and Jon Asamoah on the interior as center and right guard, respectively. If the injury-prone Albert can stay healthy then the only question mark on this line will be the left guard position. Charles should feel very confident running behind them in 2013. As for the defense, I’m really impressed with both of their outside linebackers, Tamba Hali and Justin Houston, who combined for 19 sacks last season and only figure to get better as this defense improves overall as well. That should make things even easier for this already talented secondary which features big-name guys like Brandon Flowers, Sean Smith, and Eric Berry. Those three, along with fourth-year safety Kendrick Lewis, form a very talented secondary on paper that I am looking forward to watching play this season.

Weaknesses: Similar to most teams in the NFL today, the Chiefs offense just can’t have it both ways. They’ve got an electrifying-when-healthy running back behind a solid offensive line, giving them a very potent rushing attack. But they’ve got a very weak passing game to compliment it. Their quarterback, the newly-acquired Alex Smith, has really never been more than a serviceable NFL talent for the 49ers since being the first overall pick in the 2005 draft. He’s never thrown for more than 3,144 yards, 18 touchdowns, and a completion percentage over 61% in a full-season, yet he also hasn’t thrown more than 10 interceptions in a season since 2009. Smith is mediocre to say it in short. Some may call him a bust, some may say they saw it coming, but all can agree that he’s not really anything that special. Maybe that’s all Kansas City needs from him this season, nothing special, just to be smart with the ball, make the easy throws, and manage a game, who knows? But from looking at Smith’s talents and the receivers that he’ll be throwing the ball to this season, nothing special is really all the Chiefs are going to get. This crop of receivers is pretty pedestrian to say the least, with their lead-man Dwyane Bowe not even playing all that impressive last season. Nonetheless, Bowe got a new contract in the offseason and it’s up to him to anchor this group. Jonathan Baldwin was traded in the offseason, so there’s a spot open for grabs behind Bowe at the number two. It’ll probably go to Donnie Avery, who had a very nice season last year and can probably be counted on for steady production. Although the versatile Dexter McCluster definitely could break into the role if he plays well enough. McCluster is probably one of the best all-around athletes on this team and even though his numbers aren’t great, he’s still an important member of this offense. The Chiefs don’t have a terrible group of top three guys, in fact couple them with tight end Anthony Fasano and this group isn’t half bad. But how effective Smith can be getting them the ball is the main thing that concerns me.

Fantasy Breakout Player: The explosive Jamaal Charles should have a career year in Kansas City behind a rock-solid offensive line this season. When healthy, Charles is one of the more explosive and versatile backs in the league, capable of breaking off a 50-plus yard run at almost any moment. Now, his carries should go down this season under pass-happy head coach Andy Reid, but he should make up for that with a great season catching passes out of the backfield. Look for him to approach 50-60 receptions and upwards of five receiving touchdowns this year if he plays a full 16 games. He’s a top 10 fantasy running back and should be a first or second round pick in pretty much draft this season.

Best Case/Worst Case: Best Case- Smith proves to be an effective game-manager in his first season in Kansas City, as the Chiefs offense plays well throughout the year. The defense, which had four Pro Bowlers last season, comes together as a unit to be among the league’s best. The Chiefs steal an AFC wild card spot and make the playoffs just a year after their 2-14 debacle. Worst Case- Smith struggles mightily in a new situation as the Kansas City passing attack is among the league’s worst. Jamaal Charles battles injuries for most of the season, rendering him basically ineffective and unimportant. The defense plays well but it can’t make up for the struggles of the offense, and the Chiefs are again picking in the top five of next year’s draft.

One Word to Describe This Preview for the Lazy: Surprise. With the additions of Smith and head coach Andy Reid it’s not crazy to think that the Chiefs could make a surprise playoff appearance this season. For that to happen, a bevy of things will have to go their way. It’s a long-shot, but who knows?

Prediction: 7-9

Denver Broncos 2013 Preview

photo credit: gazette.com

2012 Record: 13-3 (1^st in AFC West)

2012 Season Review: Heading into last season not many people expected the Denver Broncos to be the AFC’s number one overall seed, in fact some even had them missing the playoffs altogether. Coming off an injury and playing in a new situation for the first time in his career, there were just too many question marks surrounding quarterback Peyton Manning. And through the first five and a half games of 2012, those question marks seemed completely validated. The Broncos were sitting at 2-3 and were down 24-0 on Monday Night Football in San Diego. But after rattling 35 straight unanswered points for a victory in that game, Denver would win 10 more in a row for a 13-3 record and the AFC’s number one overall seed. They did bow out of the playoffs early with a disappointing defeat at the hands of the Ravens in the divisional round, but nonetheless they’ll head into this season as the favorite to represent the conference in the super bowl come February.

Offseason Review: Key Additions- OL Lewis Vasquez, WR Wes Welker, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, LB Shaun Phillips, DT Sylvester Williams (draft), RB Montee Ball (draft)….Departures- DE Elvis Dumervil, LB DJ Williams, CB Tracy Porter, S Jim Leonhard….Final Analysis- It’s clear that the biggest move of the Broncos offseason was acquiring former Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker in free agency. In his time in New England Welker was consistently among the league-leaders in receptions, providing Tom Brady with an always viable intermediate target. He should come to Denver and fit right in with his fellow top receivers Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas, both of whom had stellar seasons in 2012 as well and should only improve this year as their chemistry with Manning further develops. Welker was not the only major acquisition that this team made to their offense this offseason though, as in March they signed right guard Louis Vasquez to a four-year deal. Vasquez, formerly of San Diego, is one of the league’s top guards and will be very influential to this offensive line in both pass-protection and in run-blocking. Speaking of the Broncos running game, it was actually pretty weak last season. Willis McGahee struggled last season with injuries and was cut, Knowshon Moreno is always on-and-off the injury report, and Ronnie Hillman did little to impress in his time on the field last season. Denver hopes that they’ve remedied this by drafting running back Montee Ball with their second pick. Hillman and Ball should provide a serviceable platoon that will be a nice compliment to their dominant passing attack. On the defensive side of the ball the Broncos main priority should have been to sure up the middle of their defense. They had some minor holes at defensive tackle, middle linebacker, and safety. I like what they did at defensive tackle, picking up Terrance Knighton and drafting Sylvester Williams, but they really did little to improve the other two positions. They’ll be going into 2013 with the unproven Nate Irving at middle linebacker. Also killing this defense going into 2013 will be the loss of their best two overall players, one for the season’s first six weeks and the other for good. A few weeks ago Von Miller was handed a six game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, while Dumervil was lost to Baltimore after a bizarre series of events led to his release. Suddenly this stout defense of a year ago has a few question marks. Grade: C+

Strengths: A few days ago I stated that the New Orleans Saints have the best quarterback and arguably the best passing attack in the league as well. Well if there’s one team that can give the Saints a run for their money in that category it’s the Broncos. First let’s start with their six-time first-team All Pro quarterback Peyton Manning. Peyton will go into this season even more comfortable with his surroundings in Denver, with no injury concerns, and with a drive to win a title that is possibly at the highest of his career after last season’s playoff disappointment. Last year Peyton was absolutely stellar, silencing all of his critics by posting new-or-near-career-highs in completion percentage (68.6), passing yards (4,659), yards per game (291.2), all while throwing just 11 interceptions. I expect all of those stats to improve soundly after the new weapons that Peyton has been given in this offseason on top of the arsenal that he already had. Speaking of that arsenal, the Broncos have arguably the league’s best receiving trio going into the season. Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas, and Eric Decker are all top-rate guys that could probably be number ones on many teams in this league. Just think about that, they’ll have three number one type guys lining up on the field this season at the same time. Now yes I know that some may be questioning Decker as a number one guy, but the stats just don’t lie. Last year he had 85 receptions for 1,064 yards and 13 touchdowns. Does that sound like a number one receiver to you? Because it sure does to me. In fact let’s combine the stats of these three top receivers last year just for fun. You get 297 receptions for 3,852 yards and 29 touchdowns. Some teams didn’t get that from their entire receiving corps last year, the Broncos got it from three guys! Now obviously when they’re all on the same team the individual stats of each guy will likely go down (or at least that’s what the rest of the NFL is praying). But I still would put this receiving trio up against any other in the league.

Weaknesses: The Broncos obviously will have an incredibly potent passing attack this season so they won’t need much production out of the backfield, but even knowing that I’d be a little concerned about it. Starter Ronnie Hillman was unimpressive in his time on the field last season, while Willis McGahee was released in the offseason, and Knowshon Moreno is constantly injured. Obviously their second-round draft pick Montee Ball should definitely remedy this issue as he was among the NCAA’s best running backs in his time at Wisconsin, but he’ll still take some time to develop just like any other rookie running back. Either way this shouldn’t be a huge concern for this offense when you look at the production that they’ll be getting through the air this season. Running behind a talented offensive line should make things even easier for this group of unproven running backs. On defense you obviously have to be concerned with this once-stellar pass-rush going into the season. After the losses of Dumervil for the season and Miller until week seven, this pass-rush which used to be dominant now looks just so-so. They still have some very talented guys who played well last season in linebackers Wesley Woodyard and Shaun Phillips along with defensive end Derek Wolfe, but those guys will have to step up even more in Miller’s absence. I trust that this front seven will at least be effective this season, but without Miller and Dumervil I highly doubt that they’ll be able to retain their dominance.

Fantasy Breakout Player: Obviously you’d be satisfied with having Peyton Manning or any of the Denver top three receivers on your fantasy roster this season, but as I sleeper pick I really like running back Montee Ball. His pass-blocking and receiving skills will allow him to stay on the field for more downs, leading to even more opportunities for production. Although he was released in the offseason, just look at the numbers that the over-the-hill Willis McGahee was able to put up behind this offensive line (731 yards and four touchdowns in just 10 games). The talented Ball has the potential to be a 1,000-yard, double-digit touchdown type guy this season, and he’ll be a valuable option at a team’s second running back or even the flex spot.

Best Case/Worst Case: Best Case- The Broncos stellar offense once again dominates defenses across the league, rolling to 30-plus points per game. The defense is still stout despite the big losses, playing well especially in crunch time. Denver rolls through a cakewalk schedule into the AFC’s number one overall seed again, except this year they finish the job and take home the Lombardi Trophy. Worst Case- Manning still plays well although he’s not at last season’s MVP-caliber. The offense is surprisingly not dominant, if that’s possible, with the receivers struggling to gel. The lack of a pass-rush early hurts them, as they get off to a slow start and barely squeak out a division title, bowing out prematurely in the postseason again after a tough road loss in the divisional round.

One Word to Describe This Preview for the Lazy: Replicate. The Broncos were easily the best team in the league after week 5 last season. Anyone who didn’t expect them to make a super bowl run going into the postseason was pretty much crazy. But that’s just what happened as their title quest was extinguished extremely early. Now this season they have the same very-reachable goal, win the super bowl. But first they must replicate their outstanding regular season of a year ago. With the pieces that they have in place right now, they’re more than capable of doing so.

Prediction: 13-3

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2013 Preview

photo credit: nfl.si.com

2012 Record: 7-9 (2^nd in NFC South)

2012 Season Review: The Buccaneers 2012 season looked so promising after 10 games, as they were sitting at 6-4 and were right in the thick of the NFC playoff hunt. But what followed next were five straight losses including an embarrassing 41 point defeat at the hands of the Saints in week 15. After losing 10 straight to close out the 2011 season, this is becoming a trend that fans in Tampa Bay would rather not be seeing. Quarterback Josh Freeman played well to start off the season, but just like his team he faltered and completely unwound down the stretch. In a contract season this may be his final chance to show the Tampa Bay front office that he’s worth trusting under center for years to come.

Offseason Review: Key Additions- CB Darrelle Revis, S Dashon Goldson, DT Derek Landri, WR Kevin Ogletree, CB Johnthan Banks (draft), QB Mike Glennon (draft)….Departures- DE Michael Bennett, CB EJ Biggers, S Ronde Barber, DT Roy Miller….Final Analysis- Do you think that the Buccaneers were unhappy with the production that they got from their cornerbacks last year or what? Not only did they make the biggest trade of the offseason by acquiring stud corner Darrelle Revis from the Jets, but they also used their first pick in the draft at 46^th overall on underrated cornerback Johnthan Banks. Revis will vastly improve a secondary which was last in the league last season against the pass almost right away. He brings not only talent but intimidation to this squad as very few teams will feel comfortable throwing his way. Obviously he’s coming off a season-ending injury in 2012 and that should be of some concern, but he definitely expects to be ready for their week 1 matchup against you guessed it, the New York Jets in MetLife Stadium. Banks was a steal in the second round and only dropped that far because of an unimpressive combine. He likely won’t start right away but figures to have a big impact on this secondary as the season gets going. Further strengthening the secondary will be former San Francisco safety Dashon Goldson. The 2012- pro-bowler played very well last season and will be a nice fit next to the developing Mark Barron. Staying on the defensive side of the ball, the Bucs lost two guys who were integral parts of their number one rush defense in the league this offseason. Both defensive end Michael Bennett and defensive tackle Roy Miller were among the league’s premier run-stoppers at their positions, and each of them will be missed. Replacing those two will be two later-round draft selections, defensive end William Gholston and defensive tackle Akeem Spence. Each of them could have an impact in the future but for now it will take time for them to develop. So while this secondary gained an immense amount of strength this offseason the dominant run-defense got substantially weaker. Still any offseason when you add a guy like Darrelle Revis can’t be a total loss. Grade: C+

Strengths: Tampa Bay’s best weapon on offense in 2013 will easily be talented running back Doug Martin. The explosive Martin burst onto the scene in his rookie season this past year, running for 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns. There’s no reason to believe that was just a flash in the pan in fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he even improves upon his stellar 2012 this season. Word out of Buccaneers camp is that Martin is learning to be a much more patient runner, which should only make him even more explosive this season. With the unproductive LeGarrette Blount now gone it’s clear that Martin will be getting a vast majority of the carries out of the backfield this season, which should only help his production. He’ll be relied on to carry this Tampa Bay offense on the ground, but that task doesn’t sound so daunting when you consider the offensive line that he’ll be running behind. The $48 million dollar man Carl Nicks played well last season in just eight games before suffering a season-ending surgery, but he should be back and healthy again this year. Even more encouraging was the fact that center Jeremy Zuttah proved how versatile he can be by switching over to left tackle and playing well in Nicks’ absence. Meanwhile, to round out the interior the Bucs will go with Davin Joseph at right guard. Joseph is coming off a serious injury that he suffered last August, but he is still a two-time Pro Bowler than can certainly still play.  The outside of the line is a bit shakier with Donald Penn and Demar Dotson at the tackles, each of whom has struggled in the past. But both of these guys have immense potential that they haven’t even begun to tap into, and maybe 2013 is the year that they do. Even if those two guys struggle, Tampa Bay should have a very impressive running game nonetheless this season.

Weaknesses: The main weakness for this offense will undoubtedly be the uncertainty of quarterback Josh Freeman. At times Freeman has looked like one of the better quarterbacks in the league, making smart throws and pulling out wins for his team in close games. But then other times he’s looked like he just can’t get out of his own way, throwing dumb passes leading to a ton of turnovers. Freeman is not a bad quarterback by any means either, he’s proven that he can make plays and win games in this league. But the fact that he threw for more yards in a season this past year than any other quarterback in Bucs history and still didn’t receive a long-term contract extension really concerns me. To make things worse, Tampa Bay wasted an early draft pick on NC State quarterback Mike Glennon, who will be expected to light a fire under Freeman this season. This front office clearly doesn’t have any trust in their quarterback, so why should we? This will undoubtedly be a make-or-break contract year for Josh Freeman. A stellar statistical season and possible playoff berth could make him a very rich man come this time next year. But a season that turns out like his past two have gone will lead to Tampa Bay likely looking elsewhere for a franchise quarterback. Either way the ball is in his hands, but whenever a team goes into a season with their front office showing visibly very little trust in their starting quarterback it’s never a good thing. Another thing that concerns me with this team is their very pedestrian linebacking corps. The only player that produced at all in this group last season was outside linebacker Lavonte David. The other two starters, Mason David and Dekoda Watson, are each very pedestrian linebackers who may not keep their jobs for very long unless they are able to vastly improve their production.

Fantasy Breakout Player: There are plenty of questions surrounding Josh Freeman right now, but none of that will affect his favorite target Vincent Jackson. Last season Jackson received 20 more targets than any other receiver on the team, and his stats reflected it. He caught an impressive 72 passes for 1,384 yards and 8 touchdowns last year, and with the loss of top tight end Dallas Clark that may even improve. Jackson and fellow receiver Mike Williams received almost all of the team’s targets last year, and that should very well continue into this season. You’d really be fine with either one of these guys on your team but Jackson is probably more of a number one type guy in my opinion.

Best Case/Worst Case: Best Case- In his contract year Freeman proves to this front office that he’s worth big money, as he performs splendidly and even outplays some of his NFC South counterparts in head-to-head games. The vastly improved secondary makes up for the losses in the front seven, giving them a top 10 defense overall. The Buccaneers surprise some with a wild card berth and make a run deep into the postseason. Worst Case- Freeman’s terrible ending to 2012 carries over into this season, as he’s terrible and even is almost benched in favor of the rookie backup Mike Glennon. Lingering injuries to guys like Revis on the defensive side of the ball prevent the unit as a whole from having any impact at all. Tampa Bay finishes last in the division and changes are made across the board by this front office.

One Word to Describe This Preview for the Lazy: Haziness. The future of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks incredibly hazy right now. It appears that they’re going for it all this season after picking up guys like Revis on the defense, but then they refuse to put any trust in the guy that will have to play great for that to happen. What if Freeman plays terrible this season? Then they’ve just wasted a ridiculous amount of money on guys like Nicks, Jackson, and Revis just to rebuild with them. As I said before the Buccaneers future looks very hazy right now, and only seeing how this season turns out will clear it up.

Prediction: 6-10

New Orleans Saints 2013 Preview

photo credit: neworleanssaints.com

2012 Record: 7-9 (3^rd in NFC South)

2012 Season Review: The New Orleans Saints 2012 season was doomed from the start when Commissioner Rodger Goodell slapped down an entire season suspension on head coach Sean Payton. What followed was a disappointing 0-4 start out of the gate, two interim head coaches (due to other suspensions), and a third place finish in the NFC South. Even as quarterback Drew Brees led the league with over 5,000 yards passing yet again, the Saints missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008. The good news has to be that they will get their beloved leader back from suspension in 2013 and will certainly be looking for revenge.

Offseason Review: Key Additions- CB Keenan Lewis, TE Ben Watson, S Jim Leonhard, S Kenny Vaccaro (draft), OL Terron Armstead, DT John Jenkins (draft)….Departures- DT Sedrick Ellis, OT Jermon Bushrod, RB Chris Ivory, WR Devery Henderson….Final Analysis- The Saints top priority this offseason had to be somehow improving this historically bad defense, which ranked 31^st against the pass and 32^nd against the run last year. They absolutely had to focus on this secondary first and foremost, and I do think that they did a decent job of that. To strengthen the safety position they drafted Texas product Kenny Vaccaro with their first pick in the draft, along with signing Jim Leonhard. Their 2012 safeties, Malcom Jenkins and Roman Harper, were each just terrible last season to say the least, and change was definitely needed. I think that Vaccaro was a great pick at 15, and I fully expect either him or Leonhard to unseat Harper at the strong safety position very early in the season. Sticking with the secondary and the need for its improvement, New Orleans desperately needed another cornerback to play alongside Jabari Greer, who was inconsistent at times but overall, not very bad for them in 2012. They did a great job filling this void by adding the talented former-Steeler Keenan Lewis. In his first year as a starter in Pittsburgh Lewis played fantastic, and he should be a welcome addition to this secondary. The one area of concern that the Saints attempted to address but were hit with a great deal of bad luck came in the form of a rush linebacker. They re-signed the surprising Junior Galette and added former-Cowboy Victor Butler. But in training camp Butler suffered a season-ending injury thus leaving a major void at the position. With Will Smith also going down for the year recently it looks like the Saints could be stuck with the average Martez Wilson again starting this season alongside Galette. Finally, the Saints greatest concern on offense this offseason had to be patching up this below-average offensive line. They did a nice job achieving this by drafting a decent offensive tackle in Terron Armstead. He won’t start right away but he does provide depth to a position that was lacking talent. Overall the Saints made a nice effort trying to patch up their weaknesses from a year ago, but there are still a few issues on this defense that have me thoroughly concerned. Grade: C

Strengths: Despite missing their head coach and leader last season, the Saints still had the league’s best passing offense in my opinion. Quarterback Drew Brees had another ridiculous season as he threw for 5,177 yards, 43 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions. Obviously the interception total is a bit higher than you’d like to see, but the rest of the stats speak for themselves. His 5,177 yards were over 200 more than any other quarterback in the league, and his 43 touchdowns easily led the league as well. But Brees’ dominance and importance to the Saints extends way beyond the stat sheet as he’s an outstanding game manager and unquestioned vocal leader for them as well. Seriously, how many other quarterbacks in the league will you see in the center of a pregame circle screaming his lungs out to get his teammates pumped up? Brees can honestly do it all and is, in my opinion along with many others, the league’s best quarterback. But don’t think that he’s been able to rack up all of these impressive stats all by himself. Brees is surrounded by talented receiving options at every skill position, highlighted by his fourth-year tight end Jimmy Graham. In the past two seasons, statistically speaking, Graham has been among the best tight ends in the league, totaling 184 catches for 2,292 yards and 20 touchdowns in that period. Last year he was slightly hampered by wrist injury that required surgery in the offseason, but now that he’s healthy and in a contract year I fully expect him to be the league’s best tight end in 2013. The New Orleans weapons at receiver aren’t just any average Joes either. Both Marques Colston and Lance Moore are each consistent, reliable, and gifted wideouts who can each be penciled in for 1,000-plus yard seasons if they remain healthy. Finally, Brees’ best weapon in the passing game may come out of the backfield in the form of running back Darren Sproles. The play-making running back has been electrifying in this offense for the past two seasons, recording 161 receptions and 14 receiving touchdowns in that time frame. He isn’t much of a running back due to his small stature and the weakness of this offensive line, but he’s probably the best pass-catcher in the league out of the backfield. Just another weapon for this already unfairly talented passing offense.

Weaknesses: As good as this offense was in 2012 and figures to be this season, the Saints defensive unit has and will be equally just as terrible. They’ll be switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4 under new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan because why not? It’s not like things can get any worse for them. Many of the same problems for this unit still remain, including the lack of a pass-rushing linebacker. A few months ago, New Orleans had four guys, Will Smith, Victor Butler, Junior Galette, and Martez Wilson, who could have formed a very nice outside linebacker platoon. But with Smith and Butler falling victim to season-ending injuries in that time, the Saints are left with the inexperienced Galette and Wilson to hold down the fort once again. Galette actually isn’t too bad and has played well in his time on the field for them, but I can’t trust Wilson to be an every-down player again for them this season. This unit will again struggle in 2013. I can’t say that I’ll be much more confident in this secondary going into the season either. Both safety Kenny Vaccaro and cornerback Keenan Lewis should be very productive and consistent for them throughout the year, but besides those two there are a ton of question marks. The other two safeties that will see major playing time this season are Malcom Jenkins and Roman Harper. Neither one of them was very impressive a year ago nor would I expect anything better than mediocrity from them again this year. The other cornerback will be the inconsistent Jabari Greer who may see some improvement after the addition of Lewis takes some of the burden off of him. Time will tell whether or not he’s capable of holding down the starting job and playing well this season.

Fantasy Breakout Player: With stud New England tight end Rob Gronkowksi currently battling an injury that will hold him out until who-knows how long, Jimmy Graham now becomes the NFL’s top tight end in both reality and fantasy. I’ve already extolled the dominance of Graham’s first three seasons in the league so I won’t go too much into detail on this but remember, Graham put up 85 catches for almost 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns last season while battling a lingering injury. Just imagine how dominant he can be this season while healthy and in a contract year. There’s concern as to who will be throwing him the ball this year so I believe that Graham should be the first tight end taken in every fantasy draft.

Best Case/Worst Case: Best Case- The Saints offense has their typical type of season, with maybe a little more production out of their running game. The defense is surprisingly average led by new acquisitions Keenan Lewis and Kenny Vaccaro in the secondary. The Saints win the division and make another super bowl appearance. Worst Case- The offense is still dominant and able to keep them in games, but the defense is somehow worse than expected. The front seven is unable to get any sort of pressure on the quarterback which doesn’t make things any easier for an average secondary. The Saints finish last in a talented NFC South and miss the playoffs for back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2008.

One Word to Describe This Preview for the Lazy: Revamped. The old crew is back together again for New Orleans this season, and they’re revamped and ready to wreak havoc on the rest of the NFL. Drew Brees and Sean Payton do not like losing and I expect each of them to come out guns blazing in 2013. Whether or not this team can take the next step to super bowl champion though remains to be seen. That will all rest on the production that they get from their mediocre defense this season.

Prediction: 10-6