AFC Preview
I will go through my AFC thoughts, but be sure to check back later today or tomorrow morning before your college football day for “The Wisdoms” On Campus segment giving you picks, games to keep an eye on, and players to look out for.
AFC EAST
Speaking of bandwagons, I am on the New York Jets wagon like Dwight Gooden to a rehab clinic (okay bad example). I think this is the Jets year; I am a big believer in Herman Edwards as a coach and Chad Pennington as a leader. They bring back their skill position players and add Lavernues Coles with a solid offensive line. On defense they have the next great middle linebacker in Jonathan Vilma, and have 10 starters back. I liked their second round draft picks, kicker Mike Nugent and nickleback/returner Justin Miller can both have an immediate impact. I look for 12 wins and a surprise upset of New England for the division title.
I am by no means off of the New England Patriots bandwagon. If I had to put money on one team to win it all it would still be the Pats. What is not to love? They still have Tom Brady and a solid corps of receiver’s right? They lose some linebackers but add veterans Chad Brown and Monte Beisel. Tim Dwight pays immediate dividends catching a TD pass in his first game; they add rookie lineman Logan Mankens and he looks excellent in helping dominate the Raiders front line. Again another 12 win season and still the odds on favorite to win it all
I think Mike Mularkey’s Buffalo Bills will have a solid season. I love the swagger of JP Losman, he exudes self confidence, and in this league you need it. They have what could be the next trio, Losman, Willis McGahee, and Lee Evans, and the best offensive coaching staff with Mularkey, OC Tom Clements, and QB Coach Sam Wyche. Their defense is a solid veteran group we should be able to stop teams from scoring, especially in big spots with guys like Troy Vincent, Lawyer Malloy and Takeo Spikes. I see 9 wins and challenging for but missing the playoffs.
Oh those tricky Miami Dolphins, they have you all fooled with Gus “The Human Head Butt” Frerotte. Indeed Frerotte is their starter with a rookie tailback and perhaps one of the worst receiving corps in the league, led by Chris Chambers. On defense they have a veteran group, which is a nice way of saying old and slow. Hopefully Kevin Carter, Vonnie Holliday and the Junior Seau’s of the world still have something left in their tanks. For if not, I see a 5 win season coming out of South Beach, I’m afraid the Canes are still #1 in town.
AFC SOUTH
The Indianapolis Colts are obviously the class of this division. Nothing much can be said about their offense. They picked up Corey Simon late in training camp to help them defend against the run better. It is the same old story, can they beat the Patriots? They will get a good feel for how good they are with road games at Baltimore and New England. There is no reason they should not win 12 games.
I am a believer in the Houston Texans as well. Maybe I have a blind stupid faith in Dom Capers. I think David Carr is going to have a breakout yeas throwing to Corey Bradford and Andre Johnson, and Dominick Davis will be running behind the same solid line he did last year. Defensively they may struggle against the pass, but that will be mostly because they cannot put pressure on the opposing QB. But I still feel that they can win 9-10 games and challenge for a wild card spot.
Nobody loves Jack Del Rio more than me, but his Jacksonville Jaguars have 8-8 written all over them. Byron Leftwich is beginning to emerge behind a very experienced line, but I put Fred Taylor in that Shaun Alexander category. What has he ever done when the chips are down? Defensively they have some holes, mainly on the corners with their DB’s and LB’s. I think they will show some flashes of brilliance, but those flames will burn out.
The Tennessee Titans are not awful, but in the AFC they really don’t have a shot. Yes Steve McNair is still there and Chris Brown is a good young back, but there offensive line has 2 new starter and Tyrone Calico and Drew Bennett do not scare any opposing Defensive coordinators. On defense they have a very week line and secondary. Linebackers Keith Bulluck and Brad Kassell are the only redeemable players they have on defense, so it will be a long year for the Titans. I see 5-6 wins, but it would not be bad idea to get Billy Volek some more snaps.
AFC NORTH
The Baltimore Ravens are a serious football team. Now I have been critical of Brian Billick in the past, but even he can’t really ruin this team. They have a great defense, adding Samari Rolle to an already sick array of defensive players. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are the two biggest difference makers on the defensive side of the ball. On offense Kyle Boller has some more weapons to look to with the additions of Derrick Mason and rookie wideout Mark Clayton. The Ravens will be the class of this division looking at a 12 win season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will have some trouble repeating last year’s success. Ben Rothlisberger had an outstanding first season; his second may prove to be a little tougher. With injuries to their top 2 backs, the loss of Plaxico Burress to free agency, and a Hines Ward holdout Rothlisberger may have a sophomore slump. However, Bill Cowher will continue to run the ball behind his big physical offensive line and play solid defense. Defensively they have some big play makers like James Farrior and Troy Polamalu. It is time for Antwan Randel-El to step up and be a consistent play maker on offense, if he can than the Steelers could win 10-11 games and get a wild card berth.
The Cincinnati Bengals will continue to show improvement this year. If a lucky bounce goes their way here and there they could have a huge year. Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson are becoming a formidable duo, and Rudi Johnson at RB and TJ Houshmandzadeh are nice complimentary players. Defensively they need to get more consistent play from the secondary if they want to challenge for a playoff spot. I have them at about 9 wins.
Well at least the Cleveland Browns will get to play 16 games this season. This team is bad; on offense they have more castaways than Gilligan’s Island (HIIIII-YYYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO). Trent Dilfer, Antonio Bryant, and Reuben Droughns; to quote John McEnroe “YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!!!” I cannot see them winning more than 4 games.
AFC WEST
This is the toughest division to pick. All these teams suck, but all can be pretty good, so here goes.
I think the Oakland Raiders will go “Straight Cash, Homey” on this division. I know they are already 0-1 but it was the Patriots. This division, like the NL West in baseball, will take about a .500 record to win. If the Raider line can get a little more protection for Kerry Collins he will pick apart people with Randy Moss, Jerry Porter and Ronald Curry. Defensively Norv has to get his team to stop the run more constantly. If they can do these things they can win 9-10 games.
The Kansas City Chiefs seem to very vogue to be good again this year. I think Priest Holmes will have a good year and so will Trent Greene, but we know this team needs some defense to help them out. They are hoping the free agent additions of Kedrell Bell and Patrick Surtain and the drafting of Derrick Johnson will sure up a terrible tackling/playmaking defensive backfield. I can see them around 9 wins also competing with the Raiders for the Division.
Marty Ball is back with a vengeance with the San Diego Chargers, and that is taking a good thing and turning it bad. There is no way to avoid the QB controversy once Drew Brees gets in trouble this season. With Antonio Gates missing training camp and a weak group of wideouts Brees will invariably be in trouble, and the boo birds will cal for Phillip Rivers (especially if Eli is doing well in NY). On defense they have some good veterans but Quentin Jammer needs to step up and be the playmaker they drafted, but I do not see them winning more than 6-7 games.
The Denver Broncos are still experimenting with Jake Plummer at QB huh? Yeah, well that is why they will suck again this year. I do not think they will run the ball as well as they have in the past, and Plummer will make a ton of mistakes. Defensively they can keep themselves in games with Jon Lynch, Champ Bialy, and Al Wilson healthy. I see them right around 7 wins also, this division will be competitive but bad.
AFC EAST- New York Jets
AFC SOUTH- Indianapolis Colts
AFC NORTH- Baltimore Ravens
AFC WEST- Oakland Raiders
WILD CARD- New England Patriots
I got the Panthers over the Colts!!
AFC EAST
Speaking of bandwagons, I am on the New York Jets wagon like Dwight Gooden to a rehab clinic (okay bad example). I think this is the Jets year; I am a big believer in Herman Edwards as a coach and Chad Pennington as a leader. They bring back their skill position players and add Lavernues Coles with a solid offensive line. On defense they have the next great middle linebacker in Jonathan Vilma, and have 10 starters back. I liked their second round draft picks, kicker Mike Nugent and nickleback/returner Justin Miller can both have an immediate impact. I look for 12 wins and a surprise upset of New England for the division title.
I am by no means off of the New England Patriots bandwagon. If I had to put money on one team to win it all it would still be the Pats. What is not to love? They still have Tom Brady and a solid corps of receiver’s right? They lose some linebackers but add veterans Chad Brown and Monte Beisel. Tim Dwight pays immediate dividends catching a TD pass in his first game; they add rookie lineman Logan Mankens and he looks excellent in helping dominate the Raiders front line. Again another 12 win season and still the odds on favorite to win it all
I think Mike Mularkey’s Buffalo Bills will have a solid season. I love the swagger of JP Losman, he exudes self confidence, and in this league you need it. They have what could be the next trio, Losman, Willis McGahee, and Lee Evans, and the best offensive coaching staff with Mularkey, OC Tom Clements, and QB Coach Sam Wyche. Their defense is a solid veteran group we should be able to stop teams from scoring, especially in big spots with guys like Troy Vincent, Lawyer Malloy and Takeo Spikes. I see 9 wins and challenging for but missing the playoffs.
Oh those tricky Miami Dolphins, they have you all fooled with Gus “The Human Head Butt” Frerotte. Indeed Frerotte is their starter with a rookie tailback and perhaps one of the worst receiving corps in the league, led by Chris Chambers. On defense they have a veteran group, which is a nice way of saying old and slow. Hopefully Kevin Carter, Vonnie Holliday and the Junior Seau’s of the world still have something left in their tanks. For if not, I see a 5 win season coming out of South Beach, I’m afraid the Canes are still #1 in town.
AFC SOUTH
The Indianapolis Colts are obviously the class of this division. Nothing much can be said about their offense. They picked up Corey Simon late in training camp to help them defend against the run better. It is the same old story, can they beat the Patriots? They will get a good feel for how good they are with road games at Baltimore and New England. There is no reason they should not win 12 games.
I am a believer in the Houston Texans as well. Maybe I have a blind stupid faith in Dom Capers. I think David Carr is going to have a breakout yeas throwing to Corey Bradford and Andre Johnson, and Dominick Davis will be running behind the same solid line he did last year. Defensively they may struggle against the pass, but that will be mostly because they cannot put pressure on the opposing QB. But I still feel that they can win 9-10 games and challenge for a wild card spot.
Nobody loves Jack Del Rio more than me, but his Jacksonville Jaguars have 8-8 written all over them. Byron Leftwich is beginning to emerge behind a very experienced line, but I put Fred Taylor in that Shaun Alexander category. What has he ever done when the chips are down? Defensively they have some holes, mainly on the corners with their DB’s and LB’s. I think they will show some flashes of brilliance, but those flames will burn out.
The Tennessee Titans are not awful, but in the AFC they really don’t have a shot. Yes Steve McNair is still there and Chris Brown is a good young back, but there offensive line has 2 new starter and Tyrone Calico and Drew Bennett do not scare any opposing Defensive coordinators. On defense they have a very week line and secondary. Linebackers Keith Bulluck and Brad Kassell are the only redeemable players they have on defense, so it will be a long year for the Titans. I see 5-6 wins, but it would not be bad idea to get Billy Volek some more snaps.
AFC NORTH
The Baltimore Ravens are a serious football team. Now I have been critical of Brian Billick in the past, but even he can’t really ruin this team. They have a great defense, adding Samari Rolle to an already sick array of defensive players. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are the two biggest difference makers on the defensive side of the ball. On offense Kyle Boller has some more weapons to look to with the additions of Derrick Mason and rookie wideout Mark Clayton. The Ravens will be the class of this division looking at a 12 win season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will have some trouble repeating last year’s success. Ben Rothlisberger had an outstanding first season; his second may prove to be a little tougher. With injuries to their top 2 backs, the loss of Plaxico Burress to free agency, and a Hines Ward holdout Rothlisberger may have a sophomore slump. However, Bill Cowher will continue to run the ball behind his big physical offensive line and play solid defense. Defensively they have some big play makers like James Farrior and Troy Polamalu. It is time for Antwan Randel-El to step up and be a consistent play maker on offense, if he can than the Steelers could win 10-11 games and get a wild card berth.
The Cincinnati Bengals will continue to show improvement this year. If a lucky bounce goes their way here and there they could have a huge year. Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson are becoming a formidable duo, and Rudi Johnson at RB and TJ Houshmandzadeh are nice complimentary players. Defensively they need to get more consistent play from the secondary if they want to challenge for a playoff spot. I have them at about 9 wins.
Well at least the Cleveland Browns will get to play 16 games this season. This team is bad; on offense they have more castaways than Gilligan’s Island (HIIIII-YYYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO). Trent Dilfer, Antonio Bryant, and Reuben Droughns; to quote John McEnroe “YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!!!” I cannot see them winning more than 4 games.
AFC WEST
This is the toughest division to pick. All these teams suck, but all can be pretty good, so here goes.
I think the Oakland Raiders will go “Straight Cash, Homey” on this division. I know they are already 0-1 but it was the Patriots. This division, like the NL West in baseball, will take about a .500 record to win. If the Raider line can get a little more protection for Kerry Collins he will pick apart people with Randy Moss, Jerry Porter and Ronald Curry. Defensively Norv has to get his team to stop the run more constantly. If they can do these things they can win 9-10 games.
The Kansas City Chiefs seem to very vogue to be good again this year. I think Priest Holmes will have a good year and so will Trent Greene, but we know this team needs some defense to help them out. They are hoping the free agent additions of Kedrell Bell and Patrick Surtain and the drafting of Derrick Johnson will sure up a terrible tackling/playmaking defensive backfield. I can see them around 9 wins also competing with the Raiders for the Division.
Marty Ball is back with a vengeance with the San Diego Chargers, and that is taking a good thing and turning it bad. There is no way to avoid the QB controversy once Drew Brees gets in trouble this season. With Antonio Gates missing training camp and a weak group of wideouts Brees will invariably be in trouble, and the boo birds will cal for Phillip Rivers (especially if Eli is doing well in NY). On defense they have some good veterans but Quentin Jammer needs to step up and be the playmaker they drafted, but I do not see them winning more than 6-7 games.
The Denver Broncos are still experimenting with Jake Plummer at QB huh? Yeah, well that is why they will suck again this year. I do not think they will run the ball as well as they have in the past, and Plummer will make a ton of mistakes. Defensively they can keep themselves in games with Jon Lynch, Champ Bialy, and Al Wilson healthy. I see them right around 7 wins also, this division will be competitive but bad.
AFC EAST- New York Jets
AFC SOUTH- Indianapolis Colts
AFC NORTH- Baltimore Ravens
AFC WEST- Oakland Raiders
WILD CARD- New England Patriots
I got the Panthers over the Colts!!
3 Comments:
The Jets are going to be a huge disappointment this year. They will be good but underachieve and I'll tell you why. their D will be solid and so will the run game but they will struggle to score through the passing game...
Chad Pennington is a very good QB and a very good leader. he has great accuracy and his forte is short precise routes that he can thread the needle on. Here is the problem, Lav Coles is a big time receiver. He likes to spread the D and use his speed over the top. That is where he is at his best. Chad's got a very weak arm, made weaker over the off season with the surgery. Watching him try to beat teams over the top will cripple the team. Coles does not thrive in short a pattern offense. Last year Brunell couldn't throw the ball over 25 yards and Coles had to become an over the middle receiver. he hated it and although got a bunch of catches (his career high 90) he was under 1000 yards and had 1 TD. he will experience similar problems with the Jets, and that could severely crush their offensive scheme.
I look for the Jets to win about 9 games and challenge for a WC but that will not meet Jet's fan's expectations....
It was Warrick and Marvin "Snoop" Minnis. Minnis was the lesser of the two as a receiver and was kicked off the team.
Zoltan....weaker arm...only legit receiver on the team.....this will not fly like last time!
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