Teams That Wish They Had a Better QB (but are glad they don’t need a better QB)

Chicago Bears

There is no QB in the league that is loathed by his own fan base more than Jay Cutler. The problem is that he has tantalizing physical ability but rubs people the wrong way. He has one of the best arms in the league but an attitude that turns off fans and some coaches and players don’t like him either. The new offensive coaching staff led by former Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase has its work cut out for them but they may be the best suited to get the most out of Cutler. RB Matt Forte, WR Alshon Jeffery and TE Martellus Bennett give Cutler some nice weapons and even though it looks like first round WR Kevin White might miss the season the offense has plenty of potential.

The defense on the other hand looks like a mess. New head coach John Fox brought in former 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio so the entire defense is changing from a base 4-3 to a base 3-4 and they don’t have the personnel to do it. Rookie NT Eddie Goldman will be a key piece up front and they are hoping Jared Allen and Lamarr Houston can make the conversion to OLB. Free agent OLB Pernell McPhee will be counted on to play a lot more than he ever was in Baltimore. CB Kyle Fuller is the best defender on the team and he needs to stay healthy.

Biggest Off Season Move: Hiring head coach John Fox, DC Vic Fangio and OC Adam Gase

McPhee was the biggest personnel move the Bears made on the field but bringing in John Fox gives them a proven head coach, Fangio ran one the best defenses in the league the last few years in San Francisco and Gase spent the last few years running an offense with Peyton Manning. The Bears are lacking on the defense and some would say their offense needs reinforcements too but they have a fantastic new coaching staff.

Player to Watch: QB Jay Cutler

There may not be a team in the league that needs a bounce back season from their QB more than the Bears. Cutler didn’t mesh with the previous coaching staff but Adam Gase learned under Mike Martz and it was a Martz system that allowed Cutler to have his best years back in Denver. Cutler needs to take the coaching because Gase has worked with the smartest QB in the league the last few years and Cutler just needs to do what Gase tells him to do. He needs to have a better attitude and show some leadership or the Bears are going to be picking high in the draft and looking for his replacement.

Sleeper of the Season: WR Marquess Wilson

The Bears don’t have a bevy of players that look like they might break out this season. With first round WR Kevin White looking like he might miss the season the door is open for someone to step up opposite Alshon Jeffery. Veteran Eddie Royal was brought in but he is what he is and they need a more dynamic playmaker. Wilson is a third year guy out of Washington State with good height but isn’t as physical as Jeffery or Brandon Marshall was before. This is Wilson’s chance and it might be his last chance.

San Francisco 49ers

Colin Kaepernick has led his team to a Super Bowl appearance before but he has a new coaching staff and a lot of new faces around him. The confidence that the franchise and the fan base have had in the past was shaken by a rough season last year. Frank Gore is gone but RB Carlos Hyde is ready to step in as the bell cow and the offense needs him to be effective. WR Torrey Smith was signed to be the deep threat and compliment the ageless Anquan Boldin and the hope is he allows Kaepernick to throw it deep and create some room for Hyde. TE Vernon Davis is coming off a disappointing season and they need him to bounce back. The offensive line had been a strength but the early retirement of RT Anthony Davis leaves a big hole to fill.

The defense has been decimated by retirements, suspensions leading to dismissals and some free agent defections. New defensive coordinator Eric Mangini is left with a tough job of replacing all those players. The defense is going to have to count on DE Darnell Dockett, OLB’s Aaron Lynch and Ahmad Brooks and on their secondary led by safeties Antoine Bethea and Eric Reid. Those players are a far cry from the heyday of Justin Smith, Patrick Willis and Aldon Smith.

Biggest Off Season Moves: Losing DE Justin Smith, ILB Patrick Willis, ILB Chris Borland and RT Anthony Davis to retirement, OLB Aldon Smith being released for off the field issues, losing Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree and Mike Iupati to free agency. Oh and firing Jim Harbaugh and replacing him with Jim Tomsula

To call it a time of transition for the 49ers organization would be a massive understatement. No one knows if Tomsula is ready to be a head coach in the NFL but we do know that with the exception of last season Jim Harbaugh set the bar pretty high for his replacement.

Player to Watch: RB Carlos Hyde

Hyde could be an absolute beast out the backfield and the 49ers are going to ride him as far as he’ll take them. Frank Gore held down the 49ers RB spot for many years but he began to pass the torch last season and Hyde is the big, powerful back teams are going with these days. The offensive line won’t be as strong in the run game without Anthony Davis or Mike Iupati but Hyde can make yards.

Sleeper of the Season: Rookie OLB Eli Harold or OLB Corey Lemonier

Starting OLBs Aaron Lynch and Ahmad Brooks are fine but the two backups need to step up and bring some pass rush and I think one of them will. Lemonier is another year removed from injury and that might make him more effective. Harold is a solid rookie that needs some work but he can get after the QB.

Houston Texans

The Texans just settled on Brian Hoyer as their starting QB so you could say they need to upgrade and apparently they don’t think Ryan Mallet is that guy or they would have gone with him instead. The injury to Arian Foster could keep him out until midseason and that’s tough for a team that was planning on winning with defense and a running game. RB Alfred Blue is a nice backup but expecting him to be as good as Foster would be foolish. The line is solid and DeAndre Hopkins broke out last year but without Foster and the departed Andre Johnson that’s a lot of reliability missing and Hoyer needs playmakers he can rely on.

JJ Watt is one of the rare defenders in the NFL that changes a game so much he legitimately deserves MVP consideration. He has redefined what a 3-4 DE should be and he’s a one man wrecking crew. The Texans wish he didn’t have to be a one man wrecking crew and they are hoping Jadeveon Clowney can come back from his knee surgery and be the player they thought he could be when he was drafted #1 overall. There is a lot of potential on this defense with free agents NT Vince Wilfork and FS Rahim Moore brought in to fill key holes and rookie Benardrick McKinney hopefully lining up at ILB next to a healthy Brian Cushing. Rookie CB Kevin Johnson was added to starters Kareem Jackson and Jonathan Joseph so they should be good there. The Texans have a lot of ifs and plenty of potential but they have to play up to it.

Biggest Off Season Move: Letting WR Andre Johnson leave and watching him sign with Indianapolis

Johnson has been a mainstay with the franchise for a long time and while DeAndre Hopkins surpassed him last year as the top WR he was still a very good player. The other issue is that he went and signed with division rival and champion Indianapolis. Andrew Luck is in the driver’s seat of the division and he just got a very good veteran complement to youngster TY Hilton.

Player to Watch: QB Brian Hoyer (for now)

Hoyer is a pro but he’s never been able to seize the starting job anywhere and hold on to it. He has knowledge of Bill O’Brien’s offense from his time with the Patriots but so does Ryan Mallet and while Hoyer may be the steady choice if he doesn’t make a few plays he could be out the door, again. Hoyer is a placeholder and the only advantage he has in Houston that he didn’t have in Cleveland last season is that the Texans actually have some good offensive skill players.

Sleeper of the Season: Rookie WR Jaelen Strong

From what I’ve heard about Strong in training camp he is coming along slowly. Hopkins is the sure thing of the WR group and free agents Nate Washington and Cecil Shorts are solid veteran guys but Strong can be something more. He has size, strength and speed and with the right playing time and good QB play he can break out. He was one of my favorite WRs in the draft and I hope he gets a chance to show why.

Kansas City Chiefs

It isn’t completely Alex Smith’s fault that the team didn’t have a TD completion to a WR for the entire 2014 season but he deserves plenty of the blame. Dwayne Bowe and Donnie Avery weren’t exactly lighting up the place but you would have thought eventually the law of averages would have caught up and one of them would get in the end zone. WR Jeremy Maclin was signed to add some playmaking to the team but he’s a deep threat and that has never been Smith’s forte. RB Jamaal Charles and his backup Knile Davis might be the best tandem in the league and Davis would start for a lot of teams but the offensive line is still suspect so the offense needs some balance. If TE Travis Kelce could have a fully healthy year he would be a nice weapon for Smith. Alex Smith is just good enough to keep this team from drafting high enough to pick his replacement but if the draft pool is deep enough this next season the Chiefs shouldn’t hesitate to grab his eventual replacement.

OLB Justin Houston got paid this off season and when you register 22 sacks on the year and nearly break the league record the money is well worth it. Houston is the playmaker on defense but he has plenty of help around him. OLB Tamba Hali is the grizzled veteran that keeps chugging along and while he isn’t as dynamic as he once was and isn’t as dynamic as Houston he’s the heart and soul of the unit. CB Sean Smith played well last year as the #1 corner and while he has to sit the first three games due to suspension he should come back strong. The last player to mention is safety Eric Berry who is making an awesome comeback from cancer and if he can make it back at all it’s a victory but he was once a very bright future star for the team and I hope he recaptures that magic.

Biggest Off Season Moves: Resigning OLB Justin Houston and signing WR Jeremy Maclin

Keeping Houston was expensive and it was a no-brainer. He’s the best player on the team and he’s still young and extremely effective. Andy Reid reached back to his Philadelphia Eagles days and grabbed Maclin who had a pretty good year coming back from a knee injury and fills a gigantic hole on the offense. Dwayne Bowe had ceased to be effective and it was time for him to go now the Chiefs just have to hope Alex Smith can find a way to get Maclin the ball.

Player to Watch: LT Eric Fisher

The Chiefs offensive line is in a state of flux with Ben Grubbs coming over from New Orleans, Eric Kush and Mitch Morse fighting to take over the center spot from the departed Rodney Hudson and the right side being less than stellar. Fisher was the #1 overall pick a few years ago in a less than impressive draft but his transition hasn’t been smooth. Fisher needs to solidify the left side of the line so the offense can move the ball. He has the talent he just needs to put it all together.

Sleeper of the Season: Rookie CB Marcus Peters

With CB Sean Smith suspended for the first three games rookie CB Marcus Peters is going to have to step in next to Phillip Gaines and my guess is when Smith returns in game 4 it will be Gaines that loses playing time. Peters had his issues in college but he seems to have matured and he’s an incredible talent. He has great natural coverage instincts and ability.

Cincinnati Bengals

Andy Dalton has been a pretty good QB in the regular season during his career but when it comes to the playoffs he turns into a pumpkin. The Bengals are a loaded team both offensively and defensively so Dalton usually carries the weight of the franchise and determines their destiny. Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard form an excellent duo in the backfield and AJ Green is a dynamic WR. The offensive line is aging but it is still a very good unit. TE Tyler Eifert needs to step up and become more of a threat but that is certainly possible if he stays healthy.

Last year the defense dealt with many injuries at LB and the return from injury of its most important player DT Geno Atkins. All reports this preseason say Atkins looks like he’s back to his pre-injury form and that is a scary thing for opposing offenses. Atkins is a destructive force when healthy and he makes this a better defense. The team needed a better outside pass rush than it got last year so they re-signed former DE Michael Johnson and he could be key. The health of OLB Vontaze Burfict is also key as he’s a playmaker they count on heavily and they don’t have a strong replacement for him. The secondary needs either Dre Kirkpatrick or Darqueze Dennard to step up opposite Leon Hall and it would be helpful if both of them play well because every team needs as many good CBs as they can find.

Biggest Off Season Move: Re-signing DE Michael Johnson

A year ago the Bengals let Michael Johnson walk when the Bucs offered him a huge free agent deal and it didn’t work out for either party. Johnson had a less than stellar year in Tampa Bay and was cut after only one season and the Bengals pass rush just wasn’t the same. Both sides are hoping that you can go home again and that Johnson can be the type of pass rusher he was that earned that huge free agent deal a year ago.

Player to Watch: RB Jeremy Hill

Something tells me that the Bengals are going to do everything they can to make sure that their season doesn’t hinge on the play of QB Andy Dalton and the best way to do that is to rely on the strength of the running game. Hill is the big, physical back that can carry the load and he gets better the more carries he gets. Giovani Bernard is a great complement as he’s a faster and more elusive player but it’s Hill’s downhill pounding style that wears out a defense and that is what the Bengals need to help Dalton be effective.

Sleeper of the Season: Rex Burkhead

I didn’t list a position for Burkhead because every report this preseason has him playing all over the offense. With Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard clearly ahead of him in the RB pecking order Burkhead has used his versatility to find a way to help the Bengals’ offense. He has lined up as a slot receiver quite a bit and while they have Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones after AJ Green both of those players are more possession type receivers while Burkhead brings a more dynamic element. He gives them versatility not only on the field but with possible roster flexibility too.

These next two teams are linked together

Philadelphia Eagles

Chip Kelly’s bold off season move was to trade Nick Foles for Sam Bradford and hitch his wagon to a player that has missed the lion’s share of the last two seasons because his ACL is made of tissue paper. Bradford has talent coming out of his ears but it doesn’t really help when he spends most of his time with the training staff rehabbing a knee injury. He is a nice fit in the up tempo style of offense that Kelly likes but the Eagles have to hope they get more snaps from Bradford than Mark Sanchez because they aren’t really a contender otherwise. In the last two years Kelly has lost or sent packing DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin meaning he’s replaced a number of playmakers. Bradford will rely on Kelly’s guys like Jordan Matthews, Riley Cooper and rookie Nelson Agholor but mostly on RB DeMarco Murray who brings a different style than McCoy did.

The Eagles defense wasn’t very good and they are mostly hoping for improvement from within up front but they did an almost complete rebuild in the secondary. Free agent CB Byron Maxwell was the big move, drafting CB Eric Rowe was a smart move and hoping Walter Thurmond III can be the free safety is a questionable move. Trading for ILB Kiko Alonso should really help the run defense if he’s healthy and they need all the help they can get.

Biggest Off Season Moves: Trading LeSean McCoy for Kiko Alonso, trading Nick Foles for Sam Bradford and signing DeMarco Murray.

Chip Kelly took over as the personnel decision maker this year and he wasted no time making major moves. He decided Nick Foles wasn’t his QB of the future and he rolled the dice on Bradford’s questionable knees. He didn’t think McCoy was his type of RB so he shipped him to Buffalo for a guy he knows is his kind of LB. Then when it looked like he was ridding his team of all playmakers he went out and signed the league’s leading rusher DeMarco Murray, his kind of RB.

Player to Watch: QB Sam Bradford

As much as the team is going to rely on DeMarco Murray’s running ability Chip Kelly’s offense is still QB centric. There is no denying Bradford’s talent and he played in an up tempo, spread type of offense at Oklahoma where he won the Heisman and was the #1 overall pick in the draft. Anyone that thinks he doesn’t fit is mistaken but his career has been defined by the time he has missed due to injury and not by his talent. If he stays healthy he could be the future for the club but if he goes down again with a season ending injury, any season ending injury, Kelly won’t hesitate to replace him for good.

Sleeper of the Season: WR Jordan Matthews

Matthews was one of my favorite receivers in last year’s draft and he had a pretty solid rookie year. He did that without much consistency at QB as they started with Nick Foles and then went to Sanchez and he never had a chance to establish a connection. If Bradford stays on the field he’s an upgrade and he’ll love the way Matthews can get open. He doesn’t “wow” you but he’s effective and he’ll catch a lot of passes from Bradford and keep the offense moving.

St. Louis Rams

The Rams and Eagles are linked together because of the QB trade they pulled off in the spring. It’s pretty rare to see two teams trade their starting QBs for each other and this one could work out for both teams or it could blow up in their faces. Nick Foles was dynamite two years ago in Chip Kelly’s offense but last year was rough and he missed time with an injury. The Rams see Foles as a better bet to stay healthy after two lost years of Sam Bradford and they need some consistency at the position. Jeff Fisher wants to build his offense around first round RB Todd Gurley and a remade offensive line but Foles quick throwing ability might just make WR Tavon Austin a worthwhile player too.

The Rams defense is excellent and it’s built around one of the league’s finest defensive lines. DEs Chris Long and Robert Quinn are fantastic and Quinn is a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate and could win it if JJ Watt were human. DTs Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers are great complements to each other. LBs James Laurinaitis and Alec Ogletree are playmakers and the secondary has added some good talent over the past few years.

Biggest Off Season Move: Trading for Nick Foles and drafting Todd Gurley

After two lost years of Sam Bradford Jeff Fisher decided it was time for change and Nick Foles was a pretty nice get for a QB coming off back-to-back torn ACL seasons. No one is quite sure if Foles is the guy from last year or the player from two years ago but he’s worth the risk. Fisher drafted Gurley with visions of his Tennessee heyday with Eddie George carrying the load and Gurley is a special talent. It looks like he’ll be ready to open the season and while the Rams can afford to ease him in with last year’s RB Tre Mason still around eventually it’s Gurley’s job and it’s his offense.

Player to Watch: RB Todd Gurley

I’m not sure how much more I can say about Gurley but I’ll try. In college his running style was most often compared to Marshawn Lynch as he had a tendency to look like he was going into his own version of “Beastmode”. When Jeff Fisher drafted him the comparison became to Eddie George as Gurley has a similar build and upright running style and was headed to George’s former coach. Now that he’s made a quick recovery from his ACL tear and is such an amazing physical specimen he could be compared to Adrian Peterson, in a good way. Lynch, George and Peterson are three incredible talents to be compared to and Gurley has the ability to live up to those three.

Sleeper of the Season: WR Stedman Bailey

Everyone has been waiting for former first round pick Tavon Austin to break out but I still think he is limited and while he can be a weapon I don’t see him being a top WR. Bailey isn’t a #1 WR either but he’s a very good #2 and I think with a more consistent QB he could really blossom. He has the size to play outside and he’s a solid all-around talent. He may not by the dynamic athlete Austin is but I think he’s a better football player and he knows how to be effective.

Teams With Young QBs They Like (they just got these guys so they are going with them for the foreseeable future)

Tennessee Titans

The Titans are filled with hope and everything is just rosy because they have a shiny new franchise QB and that makes everything better. Okay so maybe not everything but it certainly helps the optimism around training camp. Marcus Mariota is the type of person you want to succeed and to build your team around. Whether or not he can be a true franchise QB is still up in the air but he’s doing and saying all the right things. They Titans are working on getting their offensive line squared away (LT Taylor Lewan is a nice building block to start with) and they just need a few playmakers to emerge at WR. TE Delanie Walker is an underrated player that should make Mariota’s life a lot easier.

The defense added a few free agents they hope can make a difference. OLB Brian Orakpo is the big name and they need him to stay healthy and provide a pass rush. CB Perrish Cox and safety Da’Norris Searcy were added to improve a poor secondary. They have some steady veterans like OLB Derrick Morgan, CB Jason McCourty and safety Michel Griffin but they need the playmaking of Orakpo because steady really means “we couldn’t find anyone better”. DE Jurrell Casey looked like a potential star after 2013 but he took a step back in 2014 and they hope the attention Orakpo gets will take some pressure off of him so he can return to his 2013 form.

Biggest Off Season Move: Signing OLB Brian Orakpo

A few years ago the Titans brought in Kamerion Wimbley hoping to boost their pass rush and it didn’t really work out but Orakpo is younger and has more potential. He doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to staying healthy but if he can stay on the field it’s possible Dick LeBeau and Ray Horton can get the best out of him.

Player to Watch: RB Bishop Sankey

Someone needs to emerge from the WR corps to help out Mariota but what would be most helpful would be if second year RB Bishop Sankey would become the playmaker they need out of the back field. Sankey’s rookie year was disappointing but he’s still a talented back that could provide a nice security blanket for Mariota.

Sleeper of the Season: RB David Cobb

If Sankey fails to impress again the team has a nice backup plan and I’m guessing they would go to it pretty quickly. Cobb is a talented back that won’t wilt under the pressure of a lot of carries because he was used to carrying the load at Minnesota. He might be a better every down back than Sankey and he knows how to get the tough yards.

Oakland Raiders

After years upon years of questions at QB it finally looks like Derek Carr might actually be the answer. Carr had a pretty good rookie year especially given the lack of talent surrounding him on offense. Now that he has some help the Raiders may be on to something. They are still a little lacking overall on offense but adding players like WR Amari Cooper, WR Michael Crabtree and C Rodney Hudson means they have legitimate NFL caliber players around a good QB.

The defense is still suspect and counting on a few older players at key positions; DE Justin Tuck, S Charles Woodson, DT Dan Williams and MLB Curtis Lofton. However, the defense is built around one budding superstar OLB Khalil Mack and has some nice young pieces in DT Justin Ellis, OLB Sio Moore and they hope young CBs DJ Hayden and TJ Carrie. They still have a ways to go but it finally looks like the Raiders are heading in the right direction.

Biggest Off Season Moves: Signing C Rodney Hudson and WR Michael Crabtree

The Raiders have a history (including very recent history) of signing over-the-hill free agents but this time they actually signed a couple of guys with something left in the tank. Rodney Hudson is a major upgrade to the line and he should help Derek Carr feel more comfortable in the pocket. Michael Crabtree has had health issues in the past but he was pretty solid last year when healthy and he’s a major upgrade to the WR corps and should shine playing next to Amari Cooper.

Player to Watch: WR Amari Cooper

Carr to Cooper is going to become a major part of the Raiders’ offense and Amari Cooper will be a breakout star. He is a #1 WR that the Raiders haven’t had since Tim Brown’s heyday. Cooper will make Carr’s development much easier and he’ll give Raiders fans hope for the future.

Sleeper of the Season: OLB Sio Moore

I’m going to sing his praises one more time and hope that Moore can stay healthy long enough to live up to his potential. Playing opposite Mack should make Moore’s life easy but he can’t seem to stay healthy long enough to take advantage. He is a talented player and he could be a major difference maker if he makes it through the year.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

If you think the Titans are happy and optimistic about Mariota the Bucs are even more so because they took Jameis Winston #1 overall. The Buccaneers have never had a franchise QB and they think Winston can legitimately be that kind of player. He has a better group of skill position players to work with than Mariota with WRs Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson, TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins and even rejuvenated RB Doug Martin. The one thing that could slow Winston’s development is the offensive line that may start two rookies. OG Ali Marpet is taking a major step up in competition but he looks like he can actually handle it. New LT Donovan Smith should be able to handle his assignment but he’s unlikely to excel because he’d be better suited on the right side.

The Tampa defense has some serious talent in DT Gerald McCoy, LB Lavonte David and even CB Alterraun Verner but they need some players to really step up. MLB Bruce Carter looks like an upgrade and they hope DE George Johnson can bring some pressure off the edge. It’s still a work in progress but they invested more draft picks on the offensive side so the defense hasn’t seen the influx of talent it needs.

Biggest Off Season Move: Drafting QB Jameis Winston

Winston still has plenty of doubters and they exist because of his off the field and maturity issues but it’s hard not to see him as a huge upgrade over last year’s opening day starter Josh McCown. Like I said the Bucs have never had a franchise QB and Winston certainly looks the part. They have given him enough talent to work with that he shouldn’t struggle finding playmakers. If Winton stays out of trouble he can be the type of QB that stabilizes a franchise for years.

Player to Watch: RB Doug Martin

As much as Winston will drive the offensive success his job will be a whole lot easier if Martin can reclaim his rookie year form. After his fantastic rookie year Martin has had a few unspectacular seasons and is down to his last chance but he has stepped up this training camp. He is a talented RB that can do so many things well that he would make Winston’s transition to the NFL much easier.

Sleeper of the Season: TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins

Seferian-Jenkins is a big, physical and athletic TE that was underutilized last season and could breakout under the right circumstances. Winston liked to rely on his TE (Nick O’Leary) at Florida St. and he’ll find Seferian-Jenkins to be a very nice security blanket. Evans and Jackson are two big, physical targets on the outside and they demand a lot of attention meaning Winston should find Seferian-Jenkins in plenty of one-on-one matchups.

Jacksonville Jaguars

There were times last season where Blake Bortles looked pretty rough but it wasn’t always his fault and he had plenty of moments where he flashed his true potential. He was asked to do a lot because the offense was very green and he didn’t get much help. The running game was pretty bad with the exception of a few games where Denard Robinson looked good, then he got beat up. Three rookie WRs, draft picks Allen Robinson, Marqise Lee and undrafted Allen Hurns, and a suspect offensive line made the passing game inconsistent. The Jaguars addressed the offensive line with free agents C Stefen Wisniewski and RT Jermey Parnell and even drafted OG AJ Cann. The running game welcomes back a healthy Denard Robinson but the team drafted a more likely every down back in Alabama’s TJ Yeldon. Yeldon and Robinson could make a nice backfield combination and free agent TE Julius Thomas should help Bortles progression. Thomas is a major upgrade at TE for the passing game and a good pass catching TE can be a QBs best friend.

The Jaguars defense was far better than it should have been last year and somehow Gus Bradley got more out of this unit than the sum of its parts. It is a defense made up of no names and if the offense had been a little better and the defense had had to play a little less this team may have made some noise. Guys like Chris Clemens, Telvin Smith and Dwayne Gratz are not household names but they played pretty well last year. The Jaguars were hoping to add a major playmaker when they drafted Florida defender Dante Fowler Jr. in the first round but as the Jaguars luck would have it Fowler tore his ACL within minutes of putting on his practice jersey for the first time. Bradley will have to work some magic again with this unit but he can hope the offense takes a little pressure off. The addition of DL Jared Odrick from Miami was a solid one that should help the defensive front as Odrick can play all along the line.

Biggest Off Season Move: Signing C Stefen Wisniewski and RT Jermey Parnell

The Jags offensive line was a sieve last year and center and right tackle were the two biggest holes. Wisniewski has never been great but he’s a major upgrade in the middle and Parnell filled in at RT for the Cowboys last season and looks to have a big upside. LT Luke Joeckel has to play better and guard Brandon Lindor and Zane Beadles can hold their own and if they don’t rookie AJ Cann can step in. Fixing the offensive line was a major priority because the best way for Blake Bortles to be effective is to be protected.

Player to Watch: RB TJ Yeldon

While the offensive line upgrade will certainly help Bortles the best thing the team can do for him is find a running game to balance out the offensive attack and Yeldon can do that. Denard Robinson had a few good games last season but he can’t carry the ball 20-25 times a game because he won’t hold up. Yeldon has the size, the power and the speed to be a top back and he has a complete skill set that will make Bortles and the Jaguars very happy.

Sleeper of the Season: WR Allen Robinson

The Jaguars need a go-to WR and Robinson has the skills to be that guy. Last year the passing game was inconsistent for all the reasons I’ve mentioned above but now that the offensive line is better, the running game gets a boost and Julius Thomas adds an actual threat at TE Blake Bortles can find his #1 WR. Allen Hurns was a revelation last year as an undrafted free agent and hopefully someday Marqise Lee can get healthy but Robinson has legitimate #1 WR ability and this year he steps up.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings found their QB of the future in Teddy Bridgewater and he had an excellent final month of the season last year to show just what he can do. He also played last season without Adrian Peterson and the offense can only be better with Peterson lining up behind Bridgewater and taking the pressure off of him. They replaced the aging Greg Jennings with Mike Wallace and found a nice second WR in Charles Johnson. They need LT Matt Kalil to play better and RT Phil Loadholt was just lost for the season with an Achilles tendon tear so rookie TJ Clemmings needs to step up. If TE Kyle Rudolph can stay healthy he would be a very nice weapon over the middle for Bridgewater and if Cordarrelle Patterson can regain his rookie year form the offense could actually be good.

The Vikings defense looks like it could be strong if a couple of guys step up at key spots. The defensive line looks very good with Everson Griffin, Sharrif Floyd, Linval Joseph and Brian Robison. Anthony Barr is a rising star at OLB and Chad Greenway is the savvy veteran now. Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes have a chance to be a fantastic CB pair and if Harrison Smith can stay healthy at safety that would really help. MLB Audie Cole has to step up or rookie LB Eric Kendricks needs to step in and SS Robert Blanton must play well to help up the middle.

Biggest Off Season Move: Return of RB Adrian Peterson

Peterson’s suspension/roster designation was the storyline that dominated everything last year for the Vikings but the thing is they did okay without him. Now he returns and while it has taken awhile for things to settle back down it looks like Peterson is ready to get after it and he makes this team’s offense very dangerous.

Player to Watch: LT Matt Kalil

I could have gone with Peterson or Bridgewater or even Mike Wallace but Kalil will be crucial to all of those guys living up to their potential. Kalil had a horrible year last year and he’s more talented than the way he played. If he can play his absolute best it would go a long way in getting Peterson back on track, helping Bridgewater succeed and giving Wallace time to run deep and open up the offense the way he should.

Sleeper of the Season: WR Stefon Diggs

Diggs has been a bit of a star during camp and early in the preseason with his ability to return punts but he’s more than just a returner. The Vikings want former 1^st round pick Cordarrelle Patterson to step back up but Diggs may not let that happen. Diggs is a blur on the field with incredible change of direction ability and he would excel as a slot receiver with Wallace and Johnson on the outside and Rudolph going down the seam. Jarius Wright is in the way as a slot receiver too but Diggs is game breaker.

Every year I try to figure out how best to break down my NFL preview and in the past I’ve done it by division and I’ve done it as power rankings but I’ve decided to try something different this year. The NFL has obviously become a passing league and that means the QB position becomes more and more important every year. In the NFL the belief is that you either have a franchise QB or you’re looking for a franchise QB and while that’s generally true it’s a little more complicated than that. I’ve broken the league down to five categories of QB and they range all over the spectrum. I’m not simply going to preview each teams QB situation I’m just using it to group them together. Not every team relies on its QB to be successful but if you look at the teams that made the playoffs last season and the teams that did well in the playoffs the common theme is a pretty good QB (the Cardinals making the playoffs after Carson Palmer went down was the exception and their disastrous playoff exit told the real story).

Teams That Need a New QB (these teams are hoping that Connor Cook, Christian Hackenberg, Cardale Jones, Trevone Boykin and Jared Goff all have fantastic college football seasons and are available in next year’s draft)

New York Jets

Geno Smith had his jaw broken by a now former teammate and it might be a blessing in disguise. The Jets defense might be good enough to win 6 or 7 games with Smith at QB and might provide the team with hope for the future but I’m not sure the defense can do that with Ryan Fitzpatrick at the controls of the offense. The team needs to fail miserably on offense and get a high draft pick it can use on a new QB so they can start over at the position. Smith will be out several weeks and that will put them in a bit of a hole. Even with the addition of WR Brandon Marshall giving the Jets a legitimate WR corps and perhaps a solid passing game the rest of the offense is suspect. The offensive line is just okay and the running game is lacking a playmaker. Chris Ivory, Stevan Ridley, Bilal Powell and Zac Stacy are a hodgepodge of average RBs that isn’t scaring anyone.

The Jets defense is immensely talented and with new head coach Todd Bowles running things they should be pretty good. They have started the year off a little rough with DL Sheldon Richardson getting a suspension and Muhammed Wilkerson unhappy with his contract situation but Bowles did more with less in Arizona as defensive coordinator so the defense should be fine. The revamped secondary led by Darrelle Revis should be a massive upgrade while Bowles will get the most out of the LB corps.

Biggest Off Season Moves: Signing WR Brandon Marshall, CBs Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie, Buster Skrine and S Marcus Gilchrist

Last season the Jets WR corps had a lot of nice complementary parts but no real #1 receiver, enter Brandon Marshall. He’s getting a bit older and he usually wears out his welcome but for now he’s a fantastic addition. Revis is the big name they added on defense but it was just a small part of their overall remodeling of the secondary. The brought back Cromartie to pair with Revis and signed Buster Skrine to be their new nickel corner. They also hope Marcus Gilchrist can pair with second year safety Calvin Pryor to improve their play over the middle.

Player to Watch: Rookie DL Leonard Williams

When the Jets drafted Williams in the first round it looked like they were just grabbing the best available player even though it wasn’t at a position of need, now with the suspension of Richardson and the contract issues with Wilkerson the pick looks pretty brilliant. Williams is an impressive player and Richardson’s immaturity might make it easy for the Jets to satisfy Wilkerson’s contract demands and let Richardson go if Williams fills the role.

Sleeper for the Season: Rookie OLB Lorenzo Mauldin

He’s having a good camp and they need his pass rushing speed off the edge. Todd Bowles could turn this kid into a star. Calvin Pace is 34 and has lost a step pass rushing and Quinton Coples has never been a big sack guy. Mauldin has looked good and behind a good defensive line he could create a lot of havoc.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills have the pu pu platter of Matt Cassel, Tyrod Taylor and EJ Manuel at QB so as soon as they can get better at that position they will take that opportunity. It’s unfortunate because with guys like RB LeSean McCoy, WR Sammy Watkins, WR Percy Harvin, TE Charles Clay, WR Marquise Goodwin and WR Robert Woods the Bills actually have some skill position talent that could be dangerous if they had a decent QB. Rex Ryan took over as coach this off season and he’ll have the same issue he had with the Jets, bad QBs. RB LeSean McCoy was brought in from Philadelphia and while he’s a supremely talented RB he may not be able to hold up under the ground and pound style Ryan prefers to use. This team will go as far as their QB position takes them and right now it’s a two man race between Cassel (he shouldn’t hurt you) and Tyrod Taylor (he’s never really played so we don’t know if he sucks or not). Manuel has basically played his way out of the job and may be playing his way off the roster (that’s a dramatic fall in two years).

*Last minute update: Even though EJ Manuel played well in the latest preseason game the Bills announced Tyrod Taylor their Week 1 starter.

The Bills defense was very good last year and they shouldn’t lose a step under Ryan. DEs Mario Williams and Jerry Hughes both registered double digit sacks and no one should expect less. The LB corps lost Kiko Alonso in the McCoy trade but he missed last season with an injury and they were fine without him. The secondary should be tough if Leodis McKelvin and Stephon Gilmore can stay healthy.

Biggest Off Season Move: Trading for RB LeSean McCoy

The Bills let CJ Spiller walk in free agency and they traded LB Kiko Alonso to Philadelphia to get one of the most talented RBs in the league. McCoy has a vast array of skills but he didn’t fit what Chip Kelly wanted to do with the Eagles. Ryan likes to run the ball but he would be wise to find ways to get McCoy the ball in space and not just run him into the ground.

Player to Watch: RB LeSean McCoy

McCoy is a true talent and does so many things well but if Ryan runs him over and over again between the tackles he’ll break down physically and it won’t do them any good.

One Last Chance: WR Percy Harvin

Harvin is a mirage, it’s the glimmer of hope you see once in a great while that makes teams think he’s a playmaker. This is his last chance, he wore out his welcome in Minnesota, then in Seattle and he never really settled in with the Jets. Rex Ryan is taking another shot but this team would be wise to lean on real playmakers like McCoy, Sammy Watkins and even try to use Marquise Goodwin’s potential instead of counting on Harvin.

Sleeper of the Season: RB Karlos Williams

Williams dropped down the draft board but he’s the player on the roster that has the physical stature and running style that would fit Ryan’s preferred running game. He’s big, strong and powerful and he could handle pounding on a defense. If McCoy needs some help it could be Williams who steps in to lend a hand.

Washington Redskins

New GM Scot McCloughan brings a completely different philosophy to team building than Daniel Snyder has had in the past, McCloughan prefers good players not just expensive ones. The problem for the Redskins is that their entire season hinges on Robert Griffin III and how he plays. RGIII had a nice rookie season and has been an unmitigated disaster since. Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy proved last year that they aren’t the answers either. Washington’s opening preseason game was a debacle and Griffin barely made it out alive. The offensive line is a work in progress with rookie Brandon Scherff trying to figure out playing right guard while Morgan Moses tries to settle in at right tackle. It’s going to take some time for the new offensive line to get it together.

*Last minute update: RGIII is dividing the ownership from the coaching staff and front office.  According to reports the coaches and front office are ready to move on from Griffin and Snyder isn’t (surprise, surprise).  Jay Gruden has named Kirk Cousins the opening day starter (that should not inspire confidence).

The replaced departed free agent OLB Brian Orakpo with recently released former Saint Junior Galette and he promptly tore his Achilles. Galette is a talent and he could have been a great addition but he was available because of his off-the-field issues and he was a gamble anyway. They needed his pass rush to complement Ryan Kerrigan and his injury is a pretty big blow. Taking chances on guys like Galette and reclamation projects like safety Dashon Goldson often backfire and they ‘Skins can’t afford to have that happen.

Biggest Off Season Move: Hiring GM Scot McCloughan

I had Galette here until he was lost for the season but McCloughan was a big move too. The Redskins have been a front office wreck since Dan Snyder bought the franchise. The last few years were even worse when Mike Shanahan was trying to make moves and Snyder was overpaying players for no reason. McCloughan is a smart personnel man and if Snyder gets out of his way and he can find a legitimate QB (and he won’t spend three 1^st round picks to do it) he could turn this team around. Jay Gruden might be on thin ice but it is probably more because McCloughan didn’t hire him and he might want his own coach.

Player to Watch: QB Robert Griffin III

This team goes as RGIII goes and I don’t think that’s going to be a good thing. The odds makers have Jay Gruden as the most likely head coach to be fired first and I would have to agree. I think the Redskins might be the worst team in the league this season and that’s in large part because I don’t think Griffin will hold up and they won’t be very good when he fails.

Sleeper of the Season: Rookie OLB Preston Smith

With Galette going down for the year someone is going to have to step in opposite Kerrigan. Washington didn’t draft Smith by accident and his versatility will come in handy. He can play all over and move around on the defense and be utilized in so many ways he’ll make a big impact.

Cleveland Browns

By all accounts Johnny Manziel is having a very good training camp and has gotten his life straightened out. However, he is still the backup to Josh McCown, the same McCown who is a career backup and flamed out last year in Tampa Bay. Maybe Manziel has a future as the starting QB in Cleveland but if the Browns have a chance to grab a franchise QB in next year’s draft they won’t pass on it. QB is obviously an issue but even if they had Peyton Manning in his prime I’m not sure he could do much when his WR corps is made up of Dwayne Bowe, Brian Hartline and Andrew Hawkins, his TE is Gary Barnidge and his RBs are Isaiah Crowell and Terrence West. At least they have the best LT in football Joe Thomas.

The Browns run defense put up about as much resistance as a matador last year and while it’s hard to say one player can fix an entire run defense new NT Danny Shelton is a nice start. The defense needs better play out of OLB Barkevious Mingo to complement Paul Kruger but if Mingo continues to disappoint rookie LB Nate Orchard could bring some pass rush off the edge. Free agent addition CB Tramon Williams should work well opposite Joe Haden but they still need second year man Justin Gilbert to shake off his terrible rookie year and lend a hand.

Biggest Off Season Move: Drafting NT Danny Shelton

Literally and figuratively Shelton was a big addition. A man that is 340 lbs. should not be as agile and athletic as Shelton but he is and he will make a major difference on this defense. Simply having to run around him will improve the run defense and he’ll occupy blockers making it easier on the linebackers. He is also a scary sight chasing a RB down the line of scrimmage but he will make plenty of plays that way too.

Player to Watch: QB Johnny Manziel

I debated putting RB Isaiah Crowell or OLB Barkevious Mingo here but it’s really all about Manziel. McCown is a stopgap and not a very good one at that. With an offense seriously lacking in playmakers they need Manziel to step up if they want a chance at winning games. The defense should be better but the offense scares no one except Browns fans.

Sleeper of the Season: Rookie OLB Nate Orchard

Orchard would probably be better suited to be a DE in a 4-3 defense but head coach Mike Pettine is a pretty smart defensive guy and he’ll find a way to use Orchard’s natural pass rushing skills. Barkevious Mingo is a terrific athlete that just lacks the natural instincts as a pass rusher so I think the Browns will turn to Orchard sooner rather than later.

I’m far more optimistic about the potential for a good season out of the Hawkeye defense than I am the offense.  The defensive line has some very good players led by DEs Drew Ott and Nate Meier.  While replacing starting DTs Carl Davis and Louis Trinca-Pasat won’t be easy Jaleel Johnson and Nathan Bazata bring a lot of talent and drive inside.  The secondary is led by three returning starters; CBs Desmond King and Greg Mabin and FS Jordan Lomax and an upgrade at SS with Miles Taylor taking over.  The performance of the defense will hinge on the play of the linebackers.  Last season the inexperience of the LB corps was evident again and again but there is talent there.  Three sophomores will start and they will need to play considerably better than they did last year.  Defensive Coordinator Phil Parker needs to be more creative like he was two years ago and less like he was last year with his play calling.  It will be easier given the playing experience this defense now has under its belt and he shouldn’t have to be so worried about inexperienced mistakes.

Defensive Line

The defensive line is interesting as last year’s line was built around DTs Davis and Trinca-Pasat while this year’s will be built around the strength of DEs Ott and Meier.  The depth behind Ott and Meier is suspect at this point because it’s made up of two redshirt freshmen Matt Nelson and Parker Hesse.  Much like Iowa’s offensive tackle position the Hawkeyes had some very lean years in recruiting at DE.  Having two seniors backed up by two redshirt freshmen means you have too many years in between where you’re devoid of talent.

Defensive End

Starters:  Drew Ott   Senior                                        Nate Meier   Senior

Backups:  Matt Nelson   Redshirt Freshman              Parker Hesse   Redshirt Freshman

Ott is a beast and has been an All-Big Ten selection so there are a lot of expectations for him in his senior year.  He’s big and powerful but he needs to refine his pass rushing technique and while he’s been solid against the run he could pick it up a bit there too.  Ott will be a marked man on this defense but he’s been in the lineup since his freshman year so there isn’t anything he hasn’t seen.  He could be a top notch NFL prospect if he lives up to his ability and shows improved pass rushing skills.

Meier has always been an undersized DE but he makes up for his lack of size with heart and a motor that never quits.  He was supposed to be a situational pass rusher last year but he was good enough to win the starting job outright and he proved very capable.  He loses battles when he gets overwhelmed by size but he never quits on a play and he’s usually in position.  Both Ott and Meier struggled at times last year against the outside running game and they need to do a good job of setting the edge and keeping the linebackers clean to make plays against the run.

Matt Nelson was a top flight prospect coming into Iowa last season and if he had been a bit bigger he may have seen playing time.  At 6’8 it has taken a lot of hard work and time for his body to catch up to his height so he didn’t look like he could be broken in half.  He is up to 270 lbs. and there is a good chance he is going to be a terror off the edge once he gets some experience.  Parker Hesse came to Iowa as a LB but made the move to DE last year after he grew out of the position and other LBs took over.  He is raw and undersized and the fact that he’s in the two-deeps doesn’t say much for the classes above him.

Hope for Health:  If the reports that Terrance Harris has moved inside to DT are true and he doesn’t end up at DE than the DE depth after the top 4 is made up of a senior that has never played a meaningful snap and three true freshmen.  Senior Melvin Spears isn’t going to do anything more than give someone a quick breather and even that’s a stretch.  True freshmen Anthony Nelson, Brady Reiff and Michael Slater are all undersized and need a redshirt year but if there are injuries at the position the Hawkeyes may have no choice but to call on one of them whether they are ready or not.

Defensive Tackle

Starters:  Jaleel Johnson   Junior                     Nathan Bazata   Sophomore

Backups:  Faith Ekakitie   Junior                    Kyle Terlouw   Junior

Johnson got playing time last season backing up Carl Davis and while he did plenty to show his ability he has very large shoes to fill.  Davis was an athletic big man that made plays all over the line while Johnson seems to be a bit more of an anchor.  That could be good news given Iowa’s poor run defense last season and perhaps Johnson’s less attacking style will keep him in position to stop the run.

Bazata fits the mold of Trinca-Pasat and also former Hawkeyes like Karl Klug, Mitch King and Matt Kroul.  Those are lofty standards to live up to and it’s a lot to ask for a guy that has never started before, he won’t be as productive as those guys eventually were, however, Bazata is that type of player, an undersized penetrating tackle that never quits and creates havoc on the interior.

Ekakitie is not as big as Johnson and he’s moved back and forth between DT and DE but he seems to have finally found a home on the interior.  He has good size and strength and he should help keep Johnson fresh.  Terlouw transferred to Iowa as a walk-on last year from Iowa Central Community College, he redshirted and then earned a spot in the two-deeps in the spring.  Iowa isn’t exactly teeming with talent inside but he did overtake Brant Gressel and apparently Terrence Harris for the spot.

The Future:  Luckily the Hawkeyes only have one senior DT and that is Darian Cooper who is still recovering from two micro-fracture knee surgeries and may never play again.  I say it’s lucky because they only recruited one true DT in Grady Jansen so restocking the position will have to wait for the 2016 recruiting class.

Linebackers

This position was a major issue last year as players shuffled around and the youth movement took over by the end of the season.  Josey Jewell and Bo Bower are two young and talented players that forced their way onto the field last year but both needed time to mature both mentally and physically.  Jewell was hampered early with an injury and Bower was moved here and there trying to find the best combination of players.  Ben Niemann was a true freshman that eventually started to get some time late in the year after only playing special teams early.  The coaches seem to have settled on who is going to play where and that is a big help.

Middle Linebacker

Starter:  Josey Jewell   Sophomore

Backup:  Travis Perry   Senior

Jewell can play all three LB positions but the coaches have finally decided he’s the best choice in the middle and I think they are right.  He’s a good athlete who is smart and he has a little more size than Bower so he should hold up better inside.  Quentin Alston was supposed to be the guy to replace James Morris last year but he struggled and even though Jewell moved all around and never really settled into a position he’ll be an upgrade over Alston’s play last year.

Travis Perry was a walk-on that earned a scholarship and he’s played multiple LB positions too but he’s never been great at any one in particular.  He’s a very good special team’s player that can hold his own if called upon.

Strongside (Outside) Linebacker

Starter:  Ben Niemann   Sophomore

Backup:  Cole Fisher   Senior

Niemann is new to the starting lineup but he brings length and athleticism to a position that needs it.  The Hawkeyes were abysmal at pass coverage by the linebackers last season and Niemann takes over the spot where he’ll have to cover TEs and some RBs out of the backfield.  He is a little taller and lankier then Bower or Jewell and he certainly can’t be any worse in coverage than they were last season.  Niemann played WR in high school so his understanding of the passing game should help him in coverage.

Fisher is another senior that has seen very little playing time on defense but has played on special teams.  He has plenty of practice time at LB and can fill in in a moment’s notice so he’s a valuable sub to have.

Weakside Linebacker

Starter:  Bo Bower   Sophomore

Backup:  Aaron Mends   Redshirt Freshman

Bower is the fast athletic type that Iowa really likes on the weakside.  He plays better in space and he has the speed and athleticism to chase a play down from behind.  He was moved around a bit last year like Jewell but his best position is on the weakside.  Bower was a walk-on his redshirt year but he earned a scholarship before last season and he’ll prove to be a very good linebacker in time and that time could come this year.

Mends redshirted last year and it took some conviction on the coaches’ part to not play him when he may have helped at LB and certainly would have helped on special teams.  Mends is a bit undersized which is why he is playing on the weakside where he will have room to roam.

The Future:  The Hawkeyes brought in four true freshmen LBs in this class; Jack Hockaday, Angelo Garbutt, Justin Jinning and Nick Wilson.  Much like Niemann last season it’s certainly a possibility that at least one of these players will play on special teams this year.  If I were a betting man I’d say Hockaday is the most likely and Garbutt is a close second.

*Redshirt freshman Jameer Outsey has moved to TE this year.  It’s likely he saw the glut of underclassmen at the position and the need for more depth at TE and made the switch. 

Defensive Backs

There is a very real chance Iowa has an embarrassment of riches at CB this year led by arguably the best CB in the Big Ten Desmond King.  King and Greg Mabin return as starters and are backed up by Reese Fleming and Sean Draper two very capable players.  Jalen Embry may have played last year as a true freshman if academic issues hadn’t kept him sidelined and now it looks like those are cleared up and he’s ready to get back on the field.  Omar Truitt is another talented redshirt freshman that may play CB or safety.  Miles Taylor thankfully takes over SS from John Lowdermilk while Jordan Lomax returns at FS.

Cornerback

Starters:  Desmond King   Junior                    Greg Mabin   Junior

Backups:  Reese Fleming   Sophomore           Sean Draper   Senior

I can certainly argue that Desmond King is the best CB in the Big Ten this year and it’s not a tough case to make.  He is powerful and physical and he has incredible instincts and coverage skills at his position.  He supports the run as well as any CB and the only down side to this upcoming season is that he is draft eligible after it’s over.  He locks down one side of the field and makes things easier on the entire defense.

Mabin won a three man race for the starting spot last year over Fleming and Draper even though he had less time at the position than either of them.  He played pretty well last season minus a few bumps in the road but they were almost all because he lacked experience.  He has fantastic athletic ability and he’s only going to get better.

Mabin has to continue to get better because the two guys backing up the position aren’t slouches either.  Reese Fleming and Sean Draper have starting caliber talent and if Mabin regresses at all either of them could step in and play in his place.  Fleming is a superior athlete that has been held back at times by injury and Draper has had some rough moments when he’s played but he can hold his own.

Jalen Embry is one of the most intriguing players on the roster because the coaches were ready to give him a chance to play last year until some academic issues made him ineligible.  The kid stuck around got his academics in order and now we may actually get to see him play.  That isn’t something you see a lot and it’s far more common for a guy to just give up and leave in a situation like that but Embry stuck around and that shows some solid character.  Omar Truitt is another interesting athlete that just needs to find where he fits best.

Strong Safety

Starter:  Miles Taylor   Sophomore

Backup:  Anthony Gair   Junior

Free Safety

Starter:  Jordan Lomax   Senior

Backup:  Brandon Snyder

The second biggest issue with last year’s defense (after the rough LB play) was the inability of John Lowdermilk to cover anyone.  The strong safety is usually one to attack the line of scrimmage but in today’s college game of spread offenses and multiple receiver sets the strong safety has to cover too.  Welcome Miles Taylor.  Taylor can come up and hit with the best of them but it’s his ability to cover just a little that will improve this defense.  He was in a dog fight with Brandon Snyder for this spot but he seems to have won it at this point.

Anthony Gair has been a backup in the two-deeps for several years now and he’s played a little and held his own.  The truth is he’s the fourth safety for now and he’s fine being that and playing some coverage teams.

Jordan Lomax is the leader of the secondary and has taken very well to his switch from CB to safety.  He should be even better paired with Taylor as they can both cover and tackle.  Lomax surprised me last season with his willingness to come up and hit people and he’s really taken to his leadership position as the senior of the group.

Brandon Snyder fought Taylor for the starting spot at SS but the truth is that he’s the backup at both positions, Phil Parker basically uses a third safety when he needs one and that will be Snyder.  He has the versatility to play both spots but he’ll get practice time at FS because the expectation is that he’ll take over for Lomax next year so getting him reps there now is good for the future.  Snyder is still a walk-on but if someone leaves the team during camp or if DT Darian Cooper can’t make it back from his injury issues my expectation is the first open scholarship will go to Snyder.

The Future:  Most of the future is going to have to come from the 2016 recruiting class because the Hawkeyes only brought in one safety in the 2015 class and that was Michael Ojemudia.  He is almost assuredly going to redshirt this season.

Punter

Connor Kornbrath is still on scholarship but he won’t be with the team, that’s addition by subtraction.  Dillon Kidd was just as inconsistent as Kornbrath last year but he’s still around and the hope is he can handle the job.  Placekicker Marshall Koehn has taken up punting and according to reports he’s looked pretty good so he very well could handle all kicking and punting duties if Kidd can’t get it together.

I am usually known as the optimist when it comes to the Iowa Hawkeyes especially when they have just started fall camp but when it comes to the Hawkeye offense Kirk Ferentz did the one thing that could remove my usual sunny outlook, he kept Greg Davis as his offensive coordinator.  I don’t completely fault Davis for Iowa’s inept offense last season I only blame him for about 95% of the problems.  The injuries the struck the running backs last year (Mark Weisman and Jordan Canzeri were always seemingly banged up and LeShun Daniels went down), the lack of production at TE (a little bit Davis’s fault for not using them but they didn’t really give him a reason to) and the offensive line somehow being less than the sum of its parts were the 5% that wasn’t Davis’s doing.  The terrible game-planning, the awful play-calling, the complete inability to use the playmakers available to him and the total predictability of the offense are all on Davis and somehow I don’t believe making Brian Ferentz the run-game coordinator is going to fix all of that.  Kirk Ferentz somehow found a way to convince Gary Barta that he didn’t need to fire Davis and replace him with someone competent which means Ferentz probably bought himself another year because when this team finishes .500 or below he can blame the assistants and fire some of them and then he gets to keep his job.  Barta should have insisted on the change this off season but he had no leverage because Ferentz knew he wasn’t going to write that buyout check yet but that decision is going to get easier every year as the price drops…unless of course Barta gives Ferentz another ridiculous extension.

Quarterbacks

Starter:  CJ Beathard   Junior

Backup:  Tyler Wiegers   Redshirt Freshman

There are a lot of Hawkeye fans that blame Jake Rudock for Iowa’s inept offense and many of them are in love with the idea of CJ Beathard unleashing the full force of Iowa’s offense on the world.  I’m here to tell those people they are setting themselves up for disappointment.  Rudock certainly played the game a certain way (very quick to take the underneath throw and play a conservative game) but the idea that Beathard’s gun slinging way is going to open up Greg Davis’s offense is insane.  The offense is designed to play horizontally not vertically with the idea that you throw short and let the receivers make plays; it’s an antiquated philosophy that makes playing defense against your passing game easy.  You don’t have to cover much down field and it brings the defense closer to the line and stifles your run game too.  Any QB running this offense is going to struggle and while Beathard had his moments last year I don’t think he can overcome the schematic disadvantage he’ll have with this team.  Anyone that watches college football and asks why this short quick passing game works for other teams it’s because those teams spread the defense out.  A short range passing game works when you use 5 WR sets and take advantage of the mismatches it creates, Davis’ offense uses 3 WR and maybe a TE which doesn’t create mismatches at all.

As skeptical as I am about Beathard the Hawkeyes better hope the offensive line can keep him healthy because he’s the only QB on the roster that has ever taken a live snap in a college football game.  The rest of the QB depth chart includes his backup Tyler Wiegers, a redshirt freshman, Ryan Boyle and Drew Cook, two true freshmen along with a true freshman walk-on Ryan Schmidt.  I may not be Beathard’s biggest supporter but he’s the best chance Iowa has unless Wiegers takes a gigantic step.

Running Backs

Starter:  LeShun Daniels   Junior

Backup:  Jordan Canzeri   Senior

Fullbacks

Starter:  Adam Cox   Senior

Backup:  Macon Plewa   Senior

The Hawkeye offense needs the running game to carry the load because playmakers are few and far between in the passing game.  LeShun Daniels showed the coaches enough during spring practice and in workouts over the summer to take the starting spot from Jordan Canzeri and it’s about time he gets his chance.  Daniels was used sparingly two years ago and again last season before an injury took him out at midseason.  He has a combination of size and speed that is lacking elsewhere on the roster but he’s the type of back that needs carries to get into a rhythm and stay there.  He can handle the workload far better than Canzeri or Akrum Wadley and the Hawkeyes must trust him.

Canzeri is a very nice back to have and against certain defenses his style works very well but he just hasn’t been able to stay healthy and he’s not built to carry the ball 20-25 times a game.  He should make for a very nice complement to Daniels and used correctly they should keep each other healthy, fresh and effective.  Hopefully putting Brian Ferentz in charge of the running game will help the Hawkeyes find the right combination in the backfield.

Adam Cox was a walk-on that earned a scholarship last year and promptly blew out his knee and missed the season.  Macon Plewa stepped in and was fine until he was injured and missed some time also.  Having both of these experienced blockers back at fullback should help the running game overall and provide some solid protection in the passing game.

The Rest of the Depth Chart:  Akrum Wadley is certainly the third RB simply because he has actual experience but he had fumbling issues last season and while he could be a playmaker if he can’t hold onto the ball he won’t play much for Kirk Ferentz.  Derrick Mitchell is a sophomore that switched to RB from WR in the spring and did some very nice things and could give Wadley a run for money.  Marcel Joly was a defensive back until he made the switch to RB in the spring also but the jury is still out on him.  CJ Hilliard redshirted last year and hasn’t had a chance to make a move yet and he could get passed up pretty quickly.  True freshman Eric Graham was an 11^th hour signee out of Alabama that certainly looks like a redshirt this season but stranger things have happened at RB for the Hawkeyes.

Wide Receivers

Starters:  Tevaun Smith   Senior         Matt VandeBerg   Junior

Backups:  Jacob Hillyer   Senior         Jay Scheel   Redshirt Freshman

Tevaun Smith is the best NFL prospect at WR I’ve seen at Iowa in Ferentz’s entire tenure and it won’t matter a bit if someone doesn’t take some of the pressure off of him.  Iowa’s offense isn’t designed to get Smith into a mismatch meaning one of the other WRs is going to have to step up so teams can’t just double cover him on every play.  Matt VandeBerg is a nice slot receiver but if he is lining up outside in two receiver sets opposite Smith he scares no one.  Smith is a playmaker and it would be nice if Iowa would find a way to get him into single coverage with motion but that seems like a longshot.  He should catch at least 80 passes this season but he probably won’t and Iowa’s offense will suffer because of it.

Jacob Hillyer brings a different dimension to the position because he’s 6’4 and he knows how to use his height.  He should be a dynamic red zone weapon but so far he hasn’t been.  He doesn’t possess the speed to beat defenders regularly but it would be nice if he steps up on the outside and plays well enough to allow VandeBerg to play mostly in the slot.  The best news I’ve seen in the two-deeps so far is Jay Scheel listed at WR.  Scheel is a complete unknown because he missed his redshirt season last year recovering from a knee injury and he played QB in high school not WR.  The reason this is good news is because his potential as a playmaker is much higher than that of Andrew Stone or Riley McCarron the other possible players that could have been in the two-deeps.

The X-Factor:  Jonathan Parker has made the move to WR from RB and even though he made one of the most boneheaded plays I’ve ever seen in a football game in Iowa’s bowl game last year he is the type of playmaker the Hawkeyes need.  Parker has game breaking speed and Iowa must figure out ways to get him the ball in space and it needs to be more than running the jet sweep.  Speed is a completely useless trait if the defense knows exactly where you’re going.

Now or Never guys:  There are three players currently on the roster that have been around long enough to earn playing time but just haven’t made the leap yet.  Andrew Stone is a senior walk-on that has made the depth chart here and there but just isn’t likely to get real playing time.  Riley McCarron was the talk of spring practice a couple of years ago but he just hasn’t stayed healthy and he’s been passed by other players.  Andre Harris is a third year sophomore that has ability but just hasn’t put it together.  He needs to make the leap to legitimate helpful WR or he’ll get passed by younger players.

The Future:  It’s fairly obvious that Tevaun Smith is the only upperclassman WR I feel good about but I think Iowa may have some young talent that just needs a chance to shine.  Joshua Jackson redshirted last year as a defensive back but moved to WR in the spring.  He was a very good WR in high school and he could blossom if given the chance.  Sophomore Ronald Nash just walked on to the Hawkeye team this year after spending last season at Iowa Western Community College and while he’s not a highly regarded recruit he could be a very solid possession receiver rather quickly.  Then there are Iowa’s three true freshmen.  Adrian Falconer from Florida and Emmanuel Ogwo and Jerminic Smith, both from Texas, could add the dynamic playmaking the offense needs if they can convince the coaches to accept some freshman mistakes along with the big plays.  All three bring a speed dimension the offense is sorely lacking and after watching some film on all three I really like the way Smith plays.  I’m hoping for a possible Smith (Tevaun) and Smith (Jerminic) duo on the outside putting pressure on opposing defenses.

Tight End

Starter:  Henry Krieger-Coble   Senior

Backup:  George Kittle   Junior

Coming back from injury:  Jake Duzey   Senior

Henry Krieger-Coble will start the year in the starting lineup but that’s because Jake Duzey was injured in the spring and is still working his way back.  Krieger-Coble is a good blocker and he’s been underused in the passing game because guys like Duzey, Kittle and Ray Hamilton have been bigger threats in that area.  He’s a capable pass catcher but he doesn’t put the defense back on its heels.

George Kittle is still more of a big WR that lines up at TE than he is a pure TE.  He’s a threat down the seam because he has excellent speed and good hands.  The offense has to find a way to get Kittle lined up against either slower defenders so he can use his speed or smaller defenders to take advantage of his size.

The loss of Duzey hurts because he’s a matchup nightmare at TE.  At 6’4 250 lbs. he has good size, excellent speed and he’s dangerous in the open field.  The Hawkeyes need as many playmakers as they can get and Duzey would be a big one.  All is not lost as they hope to have him back by Big Ten play but the opening four games would be a little easier with one of the best pass catchers on the team playing.

Will We Finally See Him:  Third year sophomore Jon Wisnieski hasn’t seen action after redshirting his first year and then suffering an injury that kept him out last season.  He was a pretty good prospect coming out of high school and he has the right size and athleticism to be a very good TE.  He has some rust to knock off but with Duzey out and no real depth behind Krieger-Coble and Kittle it’s time for Wisniewski to step up and earn some playing time.

*Redshirt Freshman Jameer Outsey made the move from LB to TE at the outset of fall camp and while he’s a good athlete that played TE in high school he’ll have to make major strides to get meaningful playing time this season.

Offensive Line

The offensive line wasn’t great last year and replacing LT Brandon Scherff and RT Andrew Donnal with two guys that have very little experience doesn’t bolster my confidence.  The interior of the line struggled last season until Tommy Gaul was inserted at center and Austin Blythe moved over to guard and stabilized a troublesome spot.  Blythe moves back to center where he’s very good but that means the guard spots are back in the hands of Jordan Walsh, Eric Simmons and Sean Welsh.  Walsh needs a Matt Tobin-like senior season leap and Welsh sat out the spring for personal reasons so the jury is out on him.  Iowa is always at its best when its offensive line is dominant but 4 out of the 5 spots are questionable so confidence is low.

Left Tackle

Starter:  Boone Myers   Sophomore

Backup:  Cole Croston   Junior

Myers is in the unenviable position of replacing a Hawkeye legend in Outland Trophy winner Brandon Scherff.  It doesn’t help that he’s a former walk-on who is virtually unknown to anyone except the most diehard fans.  He hasn’t played much at all and he wasn’t expected to take over the position but he won the job in spring practice.  Myers is plenty big and he’s a pretty good athlete but he can’t possibly play up to the level of Scherff so the Hawkeyes need to hope he can just hold his own.

Croston is actually still a walk-on but he’s played well enough that he seems to be the third tackle.  If either Myers or RT Ike Boettger go down with an injury it’s likely Croston steps in.

Left Guard

Starter:  Eric Simmons   Senior

Backup:  Sean Welsh   Sophomore

Welsh was the starter at the beginning of last season as a redshirt freshman and he struggled quite a bit.  He didn’t participate in spring practice as he dealt with some personal issues and senior Eric Simmons stepped up and took over the position.  Simmons has been a backup at all three interior line spots since he joined the Hawkeyes from IWCC as a sophomore.

Welsh could work his way back into the starting lineup if he is ready and focused on football.  He has plenty of talent and the coaches recognized that last year but he needs to put those struggles behind him and concentrate on being more consistent.

Center

Starter:  Austin Blythe   Senior

Backup:  Eric Simmons   Senior

Blythe is the one offensive lineman the Hawkeyes know they can count on and he’s been named to a few preseason award watch lists including the Rimington Award list for best center.  Unlike most of the recent centers for Iowa Blythe isn’t an undersized player that relies on his technique.  He is a powerful athlete with good size and plenty of experience and he’s an NFL caliber player in the pivot.

Simmons is the listed backup at center and if Blythe goes down (God forbid) Simmons would slide over to center and the Hawks would insert Welsh or someone else at left guard.

Right Guard

Starter:  Jordan Walsh   Senior

Backup:  Mitch Keppy   Junior

Walsh has a lot of experience as he’s been either the starter or shared the starting spot at RG for the past two years.  Unfortunately not all of that experience has been good.  He has struggled time and time again but the Hawkeyes have yet to come up with a better solution.  The Hawkeyes have had players in the past that took major steps their senior year and everyone is hoping Walsh’s talent finally shines through.

Mitch Keppy is a junior that hasn’t played yet and while he’s found himself in the two-deeps now he has a whole host of players coming up behind him and while the hope is he can push Walsh and possibly help out at the position he will have to hold off some underclassmen.

Right Tackle

Starter:  Ike Boettger   Sophomore

Backup:  Keegan Render   Redshirt Freshman

Boettger is a third year player that has only played offensive line for one season as he came to Iowa as a TE.  He has great size and athleticism and last year he stepped in at LT when Brandon Scherff went down for a short time.  Many believed he would succeed Scherff at that spot but the coaches believe Myers is better suited to the left side and expect Boettger to excel at RT.

The Hawkeyes have struggled recruiting true offensive tackles for a number of year which is why Render is listed here.  He would only play tackle if two injuries occur as Cole Croston would step in to replace Myers or Boettger if either has to come out of the game.  Render might be an eventual guard if he proves to be one of the best five linemen.

The Forgotten Man:  Ryan Ward came to Iowa as a four-star offensive tackle but he has never lived up to the billing.  He has rarely cracked the two-deeps in his career and the only playing time he has managed is as a jumbo blocking TE in power run formations last season.  Ward is a fourth year junior that is unlikely to see a fifth year.

The Interior Depth:  Keegan Render is joined by three other redshirt freshmen that I think could push for playing time at the guard positions if Welsh and Walsh falter.  Ross Reynolds, Lucas LeGrand and walk-on Dalton Ferguson are all similarly built guys that are young and just need some time to learn what they are doing and they could provide nice depth inside.

The Future:  The Iowa Hawkeyes signed a class of five true freshmen that could someday be the starting lineup.  Levi and Landan Paulsen are twins from northwest Iowa and could eventually form the left side of the line with Levi at tackle and Landan at guard.  Levi sustained an arm injury during the summer but he was always going to redshirt anyway so he’ll use this season to rehab.  Jake Newborg out of West Lyon will start his career as a guard even though he could eventually move to DT.  Brett Waechter was an early enrollee back in the spring but he didn’t participate in spring ball as he was rehabbing a shoulder injury, he could be a future offensive tackle.  The most heralded member of the class was also an early enrollee center James Daniels.  RB LeShun Daniels younger brother is the future starter in the middle and the future is likely next season.  Daniels could be a star.

Kicker

Marshall Koehn is the kicker and he’s got a big leg and became far more consistent at the end of last season than he has ever been before.  Oh and he might win the punting job too.