Teams With Old QBs That They Still Like
Arizona Cardinals
While guys like Aaron Rodgers and JJ Watt play great football and vie for the MVP award if you put any emphasis on the “Valuable” part of the award Carson Palmer should have won it in a landslide. The Cardinals were beating teams left and right until he went down and then their season did a 180. Palmer is the perfect fit in Bruce Arians vertical passing attack and while the team likes Drew Stanton he’s no Palmer. WRs Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and John Brown make a nice trio if they can stay healthy (Floyd is out right now). RB Andre Ellington is a threat to score every time he touches the ball but he spends far too much time on the sidelines and he isn’t built to handle a heavy workload. David Johnson was drafted and Chris Johnson was signed as a free agent to take the pressure off of Ellington and hopefully free him to just make plays. The team has made some moves over the last couple of seasons to revamp their offensive line to hopefully keep Palmer healthy and upright. LT Jared Veldheer was signed last year, OG Jonathan Cooper was drafted, C A.Q. Shipley was signed this off season and RT DJ Humphries was drafted and the hope is all of these guys step up and become a legit starting group (they haven’t looked stellar this preseason).
The loss of DE Darnell Dockett could be seen as the biggest one of the off season but it’s actually losing DC Todd Bowles who became head coach of the Jets. Bowles did an excellent job of getting the best out of his players and scheming his way to the best defensive results. The team needs big years out of DE Calais Campbell, OLBs LaMarr Woodley and Alex Okafor, CB Jerraud Powers and a return to health by free agent signee LB Sean Wetherspoon. CB Patrick Peterson and the team’s safety group of Tyrann Mathieu, Tony Jefferson, Deone Bucannon and Rashad Johnson makes for a very good secondary if Powers can replace Antonio Cromartie but this defense might take a step back.
Biggest Off Season Move: Getting QB Carson Palmer back from injury
No team’s season was affected as much by an injury as the Cardinals losing Palmer. They were rolling along and leading the very tough NFC West when he went down and while they were able to hold on for a while and get a playoff spot they folded like a cheap suit when the pressure was on. Palmer makes the offense go because his skills fit Arian’s offense like a glove.
Player to Watch: RB David Johnson
Ellington doesn’t have the size to be an every down back and Chris Johnson is past his prime. David Johnson has a complete skill set and he’s big enough to hold up to the rigors of the NFL. He may come from a small school but he can play with the big boys and while Ellington will still have his place eventually Johnson (David not Chris) will get the bulk of the carries.
Sleeper of the Season: WR John Brown
Last year’s small school rookie played pretty well as the third WR and this year with Floyd coming in to the season with an injury and Fitzgerald not really a deep threat anymore Palmer is going to have to go deep to someone and that’s Brown. He has excellent speed and while he did some damage in the slot last year he’s primed for some more outside playing time and Palmer will look for him.
New York Giants
Eli Manning has two Super Bowl rings and he’s been a consistent for the Giants his entire career. He is under the mistaken impression that he deserves to be the highest paid QB in the league and while the Giants may give in just to keep him happy he owes his Super Bowl rings as much to the great defenses he’s played with as he does to himself. WR Odell Beckham took the league by storm last year once he was healthy and now the Giants hope he can team with Victor Cruz and Rueben Randle and give Eli the best WR corps he’s had in years. The running game will be divided between Rashad Jennings and Andre Williams on the ground and free agent signee Shane Vereen will do some damage through the air. The offensive line has been a problem lately as it has aged so the Giants tried to address it in the draft by taking OT Erick Flowers. The plan was for Flowers to take over at RT and move Justin Pugh inside to OG but then starting LT Will Beatty was lost to a pectoral tear so now Flowers moves to LT and newly signed Marshall Newhouse gets first crack at RT. Flowers is going to have some growing pains at LT especially with speed rushers but he’s the best option they have, really the only option they have.
The defense has some major questions going into the season and first and foremost is the status of DE Jason Pierre-Paul. Pierre-Paul is the biggest difference maker on the defense but his Fourth of July fireworks accident that cost him a finger has complicated his future because he was a free agent that the Giants designated with their franchise tag. Things are messy and it’s probably going to be a situation for a while. The team needs youngster Damontre Moore and rookie Owamagbe Odighizuwa to step up at DE. The LB corps never seems to be a priority for the Giants so they will go with MLB Jon Beason flanked by underwhelming Devon Kennard and Jameel McClain. CBs Dominique Rogers-Cromartie and Prince Amukamara are a solid due but injuries have ravaged the safety position and a lot will be asked of rookie Landon Collins.
Biggest Off Season Move: DE Jason Pierre-Paul losing a finger
The Giants didn’t make any grand personnel moves and the one thing they did do was designate their own free agent Pierre-Paul as their franchise player but they didn’t cut a deal before he blew his own finger off. Pierre-Paul is a devastating pass rusher when he wants to be (he hasn’t been quite as effective lately) and it’s not inconceivable that losing a finger won’t actually hurt his effectiveness. It’s more about the time it takes to heal and how he and the team approach a contract after he did something dangerous and stupid and was injured.
Player to Watch: WR Odell Beckham
At this point the hype surrounding Beckham has reached a point that anything less than 150 receptions and 2000 yards receiving will seem like a letdown. That isn’t Beckham’s fault he just played so well after finally getting healthy and made some amazing catches almost weekly that he’s a victim of his own success. The truth is with the return of Victor Cruz the Giants won’t have to rely completely on Beckham and that will help their offense but maybe slow Beckham down to 100 catches or so. He is still a human highlight reel so he’s the guy to watch.
Sleeper of the Season: RB Andre Williams
I’ve never thought Rashad Jennings was a top notch RB and while Williams has his limitations (watching him try to catch a ball is painful) he’s a better back on 1st and 2nd down. The best news for Williams is that the Giants signed the ultimate 3rd down back to alleviate the need for him to play on that down. RB Shane Vereen is fantastic out of the backfield and that’s what they signed him to do. If Williams takes over as the primary RB he’s a 1200-1400 yard back.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints have Drew Brees and Drew Brees wants to play forever but that seems unlikely. Brees is one of the best in the league but his job got a little bit harder when they traded TE Jimmy Graham but his life got a little bit safer because they got back C Max Unger. Unlike some of the teams that have old QBs they like the Saints took a chance in the 2015 draft on Colorado St. QB Garrett Grayson and with some time they may have an eventual replacement for Brees. The Saints are hoping TE Josh Hill can be solid but he’s no Graham so the passing game will fall on the shoulders of veteran WR Marques Colston and second year man Brandin Cooks who’s returning from injury. The team will also lean on RB Mark Ingram and newly signed CJ Spiller in the backfield. The hope is that Spiller can fill the role once played by Reggie Bush and Darren Sproles in the Sean Payton offense. C Max Unger was a big upgrade in the middle of the line and while LT Terron Armstead has great potential the rest of the line needs to play better.
The defense took a massive hit when OLB Junior Galette was cut due to his off the field issues so now the hope is that other players step up and that the new additions in the secondary can help the pass defense. DE Cameron Jordan can be a star but he needs a pass rushing partner and the best bet right now is rookie OLB Hau’oli Kikaha. They are counting on the resurrection of Dannell Ellerbe’s career after he tanked in Miami and rookie MLB Stephone Anthony has looked good in the preseason. CBs Brandon Browner and Kyle Wilson were signed and PJ Williams was drafted to give depth and talent to a secondary that needed it. Browner will start opposite holdover Keenan Lewis while they hope either Wilson or Williams step in as the nickel back. The healthy return of Jairus Byrd could really help over the middle too.
Biggest Off Season Move: Trading TE Jimmy Graham for C Max Unger and a draft pick
While the Saints will miss the mismatch Graham created for the offense Max Unger is a terrific center and he fills a major need. The second part of the trade was Seattle’s pick towards the end of the 1st round and the Saints took MLB Stephone Anthony. While Anthony wasn’t my favorite ILB he has played well in the preseason and he’s likely going to start in week 1. The Saints traded a TE for a starting center and a starting middle linebacker, that’s a very good move.
Player to Watch: WR Brandin Cooks
With Jimmy Graham off to Seattle and Marques Colston not getting any younger Drew Brees is going to need to find another threat in the passing game. Cooks was off to a great start last year before his thumb injury ended his season prematurely and he could step in and actually exceed what he was doing last year. He is the type of WR that beats his opponents with great route running and quickness, he won’t overwhelm an opponent physically but his change of direction is stellar.
Sleeper of the Season: OLB Hau’oli Kikaha
Rookie MLB Stephone Anthony is going to put up some numbers this year but people are starting to expect that but fellow rookie Kikaha is stepping in for Junior Galette and those are some big shoes to fill. Kikaha has his limitations but he can bend the edge and get to the QB and DE Cameron Jordan needs some help doing that and DC Rob Ryan will figure out a way to get Kikaha in a position to succeed.
Denver Broncos
Peyton Manning is closing in on the end of a fantastic career and the Broncos might even have his successor in backup Brock Osweiler. It will not be an easy task being the one to replace Manning but new coach Gary Kubiak is more likely to rely on the run game this year and beyond to help his QB out. RB CJ Anderson stepped up big last year when Montee Ball wasn’t able to handle the job but Ball still has potential and he and Anderson should excel in Kubiak’s offense. WRs Damaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders make a good duo (when Sanders is healthy) and Cody Latimer looks like he is ready for a bigger role. The offensive line took a major hit when LT Ryan Clady went down for the year with an ACL tear and the ensuing shuffling of the line could determine how the season goes. Losing TE Julius Thomas hurts but veteran Owen Daniels is a Kubiak favorite.
The strength of the defense is its OLB’s DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller and its CBs Aqib Talib and the underrated Chris Harris. The rest of defense isn’t spectacular but they get the job done. Losing NT Terrence Knighton might hurt the run defense but getting back some healthy bodies at LB should help. The team will likely use a variable front and they can do that because of the versatility of both Ware and Miller as pass rushers. Rookie OLB Shane Ray should also help bring some extra pressure on passing downs. The loss of safety Rahim Moore may not seem big but the team will feel it more than they realize.
Biggest Off Season Move: Hiring Gary Kubiak as head coach
John Fox’s tenure was a success in almost every way except the one that counts, they never won a Super Bowl. When John Elway decided to make a change he went with someone he was extremely comfortable with in Gary Kubiak. Kubiak was Elway’s long time backup at QB on the Broncos and then was the offensive coordinator under Mike Shanahan before he took the Texans job. Kubiak isn’t a perfect fit with what Peyton Manning does but Elway took the long view at the coach’s job because he knows Manning isn’t going to be around much longer. The new offense will be designed to take some pressure off of Manning by making the running game more important.
Player to Watch: LT Ty Sambrailo
Ryan Clady’s injury was a major blow and now the important job of protecting Manning’s blindside falls to a rookie the team intended to play at RT (the Manning brothers have something in common this year). Sambrailo is the type of athletic tackle Kubiak wants but it’s a lot to ask of a rookie to take over such an important position on a team that hopes to compete for a Super Bowl. I think Sambrailo will excel and surprise people because he does have the right skill set for Kubiak’s zone blocking scheme.
Sleeper of the Season: RB Montee Ball
Ball hasn’t lived up to his college reputation so far in the NFL but I think that’s about to change. CJ Anderson has the starting job for now and even Ronnie Hillman is playing better but Ball fits what Kubiak wants in a running back. Ball racked up his yardage and touchdowns at Wisconsin running behind a big offensive line and being a one-cut-and-go runner and that’s what the zone blocking scheme needs. Perhaps Ball is overmatched on the NFL field but I think he could break through this year and be a major player.
San Diego Chargers
The Chargers have Phillip Rivers and after some unnecessary back and forth he signed a contract extension that should keep him in a Chargers uniform for the rest of his career whether it’s in San Diego or Los Angeles. The team’s offense goes as Rivers goes but the team made some moves to help him out. Rookie RB Melvin Gordon is a game changer and after years of hoping Ryan Mathews would break out they let him walk and its Gordon’s show now. The team signed offensive guard Orlando Franklin from division rival Denver and brought in RT Joe Barksdale too. Even though Barksdale is still listed as backing up RT DJ Fluker he gives the team the option of moving or replacing Fluker if he struggles like he did last year. WR Keenan Allen didn’t have huge numbers last year but he’s still a #1 caliber WR and hopefully having Stevie Johnson along with Malcolm Floyd will take some pressure off. Starting the year with all-time great TE Antonio Gates suspended for the first four games hurts but it’s time for Ladarius Green to produce or the team needs a new plan for their post Gates days.
The Chargers defense is long on potential and short on production. The defensive line is not well known but they can hold their own. The ILB duo of Donald Butler and Manti Te’o is productive and will be pushed by rookie Denzel Perryman. The outside duo of Jeremiah Attaochu and Melvin Ingram need to play big. Ingram has fought injuries throughout his career and Attaochu wasn’t a big name but both have the potential to wreak havoc. CBs Brandon Flowers and Jason Verrett aren’t big but they can both cover and they aren’t afraid of contact.
Biggest Off Season Move: Drafting RB Melvin Gordon
After years of waiting for Ryan Mathews to seize control of the running game and having to settle for guys like Donald Brown and Branden Oliver covering for him the Chargers spent a 1st round draft pick on the incredible Wisconsin back. Gordon is a threat to score every time he touches the ball and he can carry the load in the backfield. His overall skills are impressive and his on the field speed is deceptive. Gordon is in a prime position to be the Offensive Rookie of the Year because of his talent and his opportunity.
Player to Watch: WR Keenan Allen
Allen has all the tools to be a top WR in the NFL he just needs to put it all together. With what is hopefully an improved offensive line and an actual running game the pressure should be off a bit and Allen can relax. At times he was pressing too hard to be a playmaker and he needs to just trust Phillip Rivers to get him the ball and then make plays. He’s a supreme talent that shouldn’t go to waste.
Sleeper of the Season: OLB Jeremiah Attaochu
Everyone is waiting for Melvin Ingram to have his break out season as a pass rusher and while that is certainly possible I think Attaochu could really surprise with more playing time. Ingram struggles to stay healthy but the Chargers’ defense would be much better if both these guys got it together and helped each other reach their potential. I think Attaochu could be a double digit sack guy if given the opportunity.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger had an incredible season last year and he’s found quite the partner in WR Antonio Brown. He seems to be on the same page now as OC Todd Haley and the offense should be clicking of course that would be easier with all of its parts. RB Le’Veon Bell is suspended for the first three games and now word comes down that promising second year WR Martavis Bryant is suspended for the first four games. Add in C Maurkice Pouncey missing the first half of the season with a broken leg and things aren’t going to be easy for this offense. The offensive line was finally solidified after Kelvin Beachum and Marcus Gilbert had locked down the tackle positions. It will be up to RB DeAngelo Williams and WR Markus Wheaton to fill in the first few weeks of the season for Bell and Bryant.
The Steelers defense has always been built around the strength of their LB corps and this year there are more questions than answers. James Harrison was brought back last year but he’s 37 years old, Arthur Moats is the other starter outside but he’s just a guy, Jarvis Jones hasn’t lived up to his 1st round pick status and is running out of time and Bud Dupree is a rookie who might be the best bet to make a difference. Inside Lawrence Timmons returns but is in year nine and second year man Ryan Shazier missed most of his rookie year with an injury. The defensive line is solid but the secondary needs to play a lot better. Newly acquired CB Brandon Boykin is going to be called on to help out presumed starters Cortez Allen and William Gay, two guys that have to play better because they can’t play much worse. Shamarko Thomas gets the unenviable task of replacing Troy Polamalu.
Biggest Off Season Move: Replacing long time DC Dick LeBeau with LB coach Kevin Butler
Butler was poised to get a promotion to DC somewhere so the Steelers decided to move on from LeBeau and promote him. Butler has been in Pittsburgh awhile and has learned from LeBeau but this change may give the defense a little jolt and perhaps get some of the underachieving veterans to step up.
Player to Watch: OLB Jarvis Jones
This is Jones’ last chance to prove he’s the future of the position for the Steelers. If Jones can’t hold off the 37 year old James Harrison the team will have to look for a long term replacement. Jones was a skilled pass rusher in college and he has fought injury in his first two years but he has to become effective getting pressure at some point.
Sleeper of the Season: WR Sammie Coates
The suspension of WR Martavis Bryant means someone has to step up outside opposite Antonio Brown and with Markus Wheaton looking to establish himself full-time in the slot Sammie Coates should get some playing time and could be huge for the Steelers. Coates isn’t polished and he drops too many passes but with some consistent playing time his big play ability might shine through.
Dallas Cowboys
Tony Romo is 35 years old and coming off one of his best seasons and a pretty good year for the Cowboys too. They don’t have an heir apparent but with the best offensive line in the league protecting him they don’t have to worry as much about his health. Losing RB Demarco Murray to the Eagles in free agency hurts and they hope the combination of Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden can give them enough of a running game to keep their offense moving. WRs Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley along with the ageless one TE Jason Witten give Tony Romo plenty of weapons in the passing game. The best offensive line in the league got even better with the addition of undrafted free agent La’el Collins. Collins’ unfortunate pre-draft situation turned out great for the Cowboys and it could be great for Collins’ future.
The Cowboys defense was better than anyone thought they would be even with some injuries to key players. With an offense as good as the one they have the defense doesn’t have to be great it just has to be average. They hope that getting a healthy season out of second year DE Demarcus Lawrence, adding DE Greg Hardy after his suspension and the addition of rookie Randy Gregory will seriously improve the pass rush. The return of LB Sean Lee will help and moving him outside should lessen the physical strain. CB Brandon Carr has been a disappointment since he signed as a free agent a few years and former first rounder Morris Claiborne has been a bust but with Orlando Scandrick going down with an ACL tear they need Carr, Claiborne and rookie Byron Jones to step up.
Biggest Off Season Moves: Signing DE Greg Hardy and drafting DE Randy Gregory
The Cowboys weren’t exactly sack machines last season so the team decided to roll the dice, twice. Hardy was signed after a domestic violence incident and he was initially suspended 10 games but upon appeal that was lowered to 4. Gregory dropped down the draft board because of drug related issues while in college and at the scouting combine but the Cowboys pulled the trigger hoping he can straighten his life out. Hardy and Gregory could team with second year man Demarcus Lawrence and turn the Cowboys weakness into a strength or Hardy and Gregory could fail to overcome their issues and it blows up on the team.
Player to Watch: CB Byron Jones
Orlando Scandrick just tore his ACL, Brandon Carr has never lived up to his big free agent contract and Morris Claiborne is a first round bust, enter Byron Jones. Jones is one of the most physically gifted athletes you’ll ever see and he could shoot up the depth chart very quickly on this defense. After missing most of last season in college Jones dominated the combine and the Cowboys took him in the first round. He very well could end up being the Cowboys best CB this year.
Sleeper of the Season: RB Joseph Randle
The plan seems to be for Randle and Darren McFadden to split carries and even to get Lance Dunbar involved in the offense. McFadden hasn’t been able to stay healthy in his career and I won’t believe it until I see it and while Randle hasn’t looked all that good in the preseason he’s a better bet than McFadden. If Randle can get the bulk of the carries behind the Cowboys’ impressive offensive line I think he’ll put up big rushing totals. Randle is a talented running back and while he isn’t Demarco Murray he can be a legitimate NFL starter.
New England Patriots
The deflated football controversy (I’m not using the stupid “gate” word) is a ridiculous story that Commission Goodell has taken too far and I hope the judge in the case smacks the league upside the head over their complete mishandling of the whole thing. Regardless of the outcome I believe the only overall effect it will have on the Patriots season is that it might give them a chance to see QB Jimmy Garoppolo if Brady’s suspension holds and it will certainly place a very large chip on Brady’s shoulder. I’m not sure the other teams in the league are all that enthused about having to play a very pissed off Tom Brady at any point. The defending Super Bowl Champions (remember they beat Seattle with fully inflated footballs) aren’t stacked with great offensive playmakers but that has never stopped Brady before. WR Julian Edelman will catch over 100 fully inflated footballs this season (once he’s healthy) and TE Rob Gronkowski will continue to be the unstoppable force. RB LaGarrette Blount is terrible but I think Bill Belichick will put together a run game between Jonas Gray, Brandon Bolden, James White and newcomer Travaris Cadet. I love the last minute signing of WR Reggie Wayne, he may not be the guy that once dominated playing with Peyton Manning but he’s still got something left in the tank.
The Patriots defense has a large hole to fill both literally and figuratively as they let stalwart DT Vince Wilfork go this off season but first round draft pick Malcolm Brown was an absolute steal and he should fit in nicely. DEs Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich should team well with free agent pickup Jabaal Sheard to bring the pass rush. The return of MLB Jerod Mayo can only help and OLB Jamie Collins blossomed during last season’s playoffs and he should only continue his rise. The secondary took major losses with the departures of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner and the team decided to throw everything they have at it with Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler and free agents Bradley Fletcher, Tarell Brown and Robert McClain joining Logan Ryan on the CB depth chart. Even Devin McCourty is seeing time at CB although that seems to be a bad idea considering how good he has become at safety.
Biggest Off Season Move: Suing the NFL and Roger Goodell
Hopefully the outcome of the suit is decided before the season starts but whether Brady misses 4 games, 2 games, 1 game or no games he is going to go into the season with something to prove and that is bad news for everyone else. Brady has won 4 Super Bowls and he could certainly add a fifth. As long as Brady and Belichick are together the Patriots are Super Bowl contenders.
Player to Watch: QB Jimmy Garoppolo
Until Brady’s status is cleared up Garoppolo is the apparent Week 1 starter and he needs to be ready. He looked good in some mop up duty last year but he hasn’t looked as sharp this preseason. It would help if WR Julian Edelman was healthy as he always seems to get open and that isn’t true of the rest of the WR corps. WR Brandon LaFell who had a good year last year also has been missing in action. RB LaGarrette Blount hasn’t helped either. Brady is a guy that raises the level of play of the guys around him; Garoppolo seems to need his teammates to help him out a bit more.
Sleeper of the Season: DE Jabaal Sheard
The Browns never seemed to get the best out of Sheard and that won’t be a problem in New England. While Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich are set as the starting DEs Sheard will be used in pass rushing situations and Belichick will rotate him in regularly to keep his starters fresh. Sheard has good pass rushing skills and in New England’s defense where he will get some one-on-one opportunities he should shine.
*****Obviously I wrote this before my new favorite judge Judge Berman nullified Roger Goodell’s suspension of Tom Brady and of course I published it about 15 minutes before the decision was announced. My Player to Watch: Jimmy Garoppolo segment is null and void now that Brady is no longer suspended. The reports are that the NFL will go to the Second Circuit Court and appeal but I think they lose again and someone from the ownership group should tell Roger to take this defeat and shut up. Brady certainly has to feel vindicated but my guess is that his personality will still allow him to feel like he’s got something to prove and that is bad news for the rest of the league.*****
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