Key Rookies

Packers: OT Derek Sherrod

Lions: DT Nick Fairley

Bears: OT Gabe Carimi

Vikings: TE Kyle Rudolph

Team Previews

Green Bay

Everything went right for the Packers last year.  They had no running game.  There were key injuries at tight end and many positions on defense.  Yet it all came together going into the playoffs.  The scary thing going into this year is that they have stayed relatively intact.  With those injured players returning and the depth they have at almost every position.  This Packers team is set for a repeat no matter what obstacles may come their way.

You couldn’t ask for a better scenario.  Head coach Mike McCarthy is replacing QB Brett Favre with QB Aaron Rodgers after the 2007 season.  Rodgers has been sitting and waiting for a long time. Now that Rodgers was given a chance, he has become one of the elite quarterbacks in the league after his first full season in 2008. He hasn’t always had the best pass protection around him, but Green Bay has put enough weapons around Rodgers to help him succeed.  Rodgers has developed great chemistry with all his receivers.  WR Greg Jennings is a Pro-Bowl caliber receiver and one of the best deep threats in the game. WR Donald Driver might not be a Hall of Fame player in Canton, but will be in Green Bay once his career is over.  The future looks good with WR Jordy Nelson and WR James Jones getting a lot of looks the last two seasons.  The tight end position is incredibly deep with the return of Jermichael Finley.  He was Rodgers favorite redzone target before he was lost last season.  Green Bay still has good backups in TE Andrew Quarless and rookie TE D.J. Williams.  The Packers deepest position was their weakest last season.  If RB Ryan Grant can return to his former 1,000 yard self, the Packers will be fine using last years hero RB James Starks for 10-15 touches a game. They would love to keep them both fresh.  Bringing back FB John Kuhn doesn’t seem to be that important, but he’s a big help for their redzone offense.

Even though Green Bay allowed DE Cullen Jenkins to leave, they are confident in their depth that they can overcome that loss.  Both DE Mike Neal and DE Jarius Wynn will be counted on to step in and fill the void.  Both aren’t elite pass rushers, but are mobile enough to cause havoc in the backfield.  DT B.J. Raji was all over the place last year in the playoffs and will be given a bigger role going into this season.  Look for Raji to pick up the pass rush on the line.  LB Clay Matthews was a big difference maker for so many games on defense.  No one seemed to have any answers on how to stop him.  The over/under on his sack total should be 15 from here on out.  LB Nick Barnett is gone, but LB Desmond Bishop did a great job filling in for the injured Barnett last year. Bishop should do even better as a full time starter.  Playing alongside Bishop will be LB A.J. Hawk.  Hawk is among the best cover linebackers in the league.  Green Bay can’t afford to lose him for an extended period of time.  The Packers will look to LB Brad Jones, LB Frank Zombo or LB Erik Walden to provide a pass rush opposite Matthews.  CB Charles Woodson was a gamer last year. He thought about playing the second half of the Super Bowl with a broken collarbone.  That toughness was shown all year and it inspired the Packers.  He is among the best cover corners in the game.  CB Tramon Williams and CB Sam Shields both feed off Woodson.  Both Williams and Shields are ready to carry the torch once Woodson hangs up the cleats.

Detroit

There have been so many disappointing seasons in Detroit that this must be the year that they finally break through and have a winning record.  It’s been over a decade since the Lions have finished the season with a winning record.  That’s a realistic expectation.  Clinching a spot in the playoffs isn’t far fetched, but in the past high expectations have led to massive disappointment. Head coach Jim Schwartz has Detroit going in the right direction and he believes this is the year they make that leap towards being a consistent contender.

The biggest key to the Lions success, as with every team is at quarterback.  QB Matthew Stafford must stay healthy for an entire season.  He has shown that he can compete in this league, but Detroit has struggled to keep him upright.  Stafford has the talent around him to get the Lions on the right track offensively.  With the trouble at quarterback since he was drafted, WR Calvin Johnson is among the best at getting the football no matter where it’s thrown. His talent is unlimited.  Him and Stafford have a good repertoire going forward.  Detroit has a legitimate pass catching tight end in Brandon Pettigrew.  He was second only to Johnson in catches and yards last season.  WR Nate Burleson has to be a bigger presence to help take pressure off Johnson.  RB Jahvid Best figured his workload wouldn’t be a lot since Detroit drafted RB Mikel Leshoure in the 2nd round.  Unfortunately that will have to be the case since Leshoure tore his achilles in training camp.  The Lions will have a two back system in place since Best’s size doesn’t say he can carry the ball 20+ times a game.  Best will be best utilized in passing situations and be given plenty of room to roam.

The defense’s strength starts with their defensive line.  DT Ndamukong Suh made his presence felt throughout the league last year with his 10 sack performance in his rookie season.  It was a no brainer to take him after the Rams took QB Sam Bradford with the 1st pick last year.  Suh has made everyone else around him better as a result.  DE Cliff Avril recorded 8.5 sacks and DE Lawrence Jackson recorded 6 sacks.  Those were career highs for Avril and Jackson.  Expect those sack totals to remain the same. Drafting high motor DT Nick Fairley this year just makes the Lions defensive line that much better for the future.  Detroit brought in LB Stephen Tulloch to take control of the middle of the field.  He’s familiar with the scheme from Schwartz’s days in Tennessee.  This bodes well for the run defense which must improve going forward. The Lions haven’t had a perennial corner in some time.  CB Chris Houston has done an admirable job since being acquired last season.  They hope free agent CB Eric Wright can solidify the other side of the field.  S Louis Delmas has been a force in the running game, but his coverage skills are suspect.  Detroit hopes free agent S Erik Coleman can resolve that issue playing alongside Delmas.

Chicago

It will be difficult for the Bears to get over the loss of last years NFC Championship game to Green Bay.  For one, they play Green Bay two times during the season and two there will be constant doubts about Jay Cutler’s leadership the entire season.  Chicago was right to defend their quarterback after the game, but going forward Cutler will not be able to avoid that discussion until he wins a Super Bowl.  There is no doubt the Bears and head coach Lovie Smith need an elite performance from Cutler this season to have another shot at the Super Bowl.

Not all the blame can be put squarely on Jay Cutler’s shoulders last season.  The offensive line in front of him was horrible.  They allowed a league high 56 sacks.  It was amazing that Cutler took that kind of a beating the entire year.  Cutler did improve his decision making last season even under the constant pressure. Going forward that is the one good thing about Cutler’s game. Who will be his favorite target is another thing.  WR Johnny Knox is the best deep threat, but isn’t a big yard after the catch kind of receiver.  The Bears will be banking on an improved season from free agent WR Roy Williams.  He had his best seasons under offensive coordinator Mike Martz when he was in Detroit.  WR Devin Hester is the secret weapon.  If he can be a constant threat as the slot receiver, the Bears will have a nice safety net for Cutler when he’s in distress.  RB Matt Forte is in a contract year and is among the best all around running backs in the game.  He should be kept fresh with the addition of RB Marion Barber.  He had rough season last year, but should have bounce back season.

Chicago’s bread and butter is with their defense.  LB Brian Urlacher is still among the best linebackers in the league.  He is slowly losing a step every now and then, but is a force in the middle of the field.  LB Lance Briggs since getting his big contract has been inconsistent far too often.  He will need to find that spark again if the Bears are to improve their standing against the pass which ranked near the bottom.  Chicago’s pass defense won’t be as prolific with the loss of S Danieal Manning.  He was their safety net down the field.  S Chris Harris will try to fill that void, but is better against the run.  CB Charles Tillman is still a good cover corner, but he’s better equipped at stopping the run.  CB Tim Jennings did a good job playing opposite Tillman last year.  Jennings played bigger than his size indicates.  DE Julius Peppers made an instant change on defense.  His pass rushing prowess made everyone better and the Bears defense returned to the top of the league.  DE Israel Idonije matched Peppers 8 sacks last season.  He greatly benefited from having a single blocker on him.  The Bears interior figures to have a constant rotation that might hurt them against the run this season.

Minnesota

We all knew it was going to be a matter of time when the Brett Favre experiment was going to ruin Minnesota.  Sure enough it happened before the season even ended last year.  Brad Childress was fired as the head coach.  Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier was hired as the interim head coach.  He brought the Vikings back to respectability and finished the season 3-3.  Now that Frazier is the full time head coach Minnesota wants to move on and go in a new direction.

The Vikings wasted no time in starting their new regime by drafting QB Christian Ponder with their 1st round pick.  Ponder has the tools to be a good quarterback, but probably won’t see much playing time with the acquisition of QB Donovan McNabb. Minnesota is putting all their chips in with McNabb hoping that he can have a bounce back season.  His tenure in Washington was a disaster leaving some to question McNabb’s work ethic.  Either way the Vikings need him to keep them afloat in a competitive division.  Minnesota lost their best wide receiver in Sidney Rice, but still have WR Percy Harvin and WR Bernard Berrian.  Harvin is becoming a reliable target in the passing game.  Berrian however is injury prone and must be healthy to be the deep threat.  TE Visanthe Shiancoe is still a reliable target, but the Vikings drafted TE Kyle Rudolph in the 2nd round.  They will bring Rudolph along to eventually replace Shiancoe.  The Vikings still have an elite running back in Adrian Peterson.  He’s still a bruiser with deceptive speed, but the Vikings figure to lessen his workload by using RB Toby Gerhart more often this year.

Minnesota’s defense will suffer on the defensive line with the departure of DE Ray Edwards.  He was the perfect complement to DE Jared Allen.  Now the Vikings will have to find a replacement to help keep Allen from having to fight off constant double teams.  DT Kevin Williams is still an elite tackle, but he is losing a step in his pass rush.  LB Chad Greenway is becoming one of the best linebackers in the league.  He’s not used as a pass rusher very often, but his coverage skills are what makes him a dangerous defender against tight ends and running backs in the flat.  CB Antoine Winfield is approaching the end of his career.  This must be the year that either CB Cedric Griffin or CB Chris Cook begin to step up and take command as the top cornerback.  A lot is riding on the Vikings defense to carry them with the uncertainty of the offense.

Team Previews

Atlanta

What is being built in Atlanta should last for a while.  The Falcons have made the playoffs two of the last three seasons.  Last year saw them finish with a 13-3 record.  Their best since 1998 when they made it to their only Super Bowl appearance.  Unfortunately they were eliminated by the eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round last year.  The Falcons were exposed as weak defensively and short on offensive weapons. That should be different this year.

Atlanta’s head coach Mike Smith has been fortunate to have a franchise quarterback in Matt Ryan play so well at the beginning of his career.  Without that the Falcons would be an average team. Ryan has the good fortune of having one of the best wide receivers in Roddy White to throw to.  White’s career year last season has put him among the best pass catchers in the game. To go along with White, the Falcons acquired TE Tony Gonzalez back in 2009. He had a bit of down year last year, but they still consider him an elite pass catcher and safety net for Ryan. Drafting WR Julio Jones was seen by some as a risk.  Not because of Jones, but because of how much they gave to move up and draft him.  Five draft picks is what the Falcons gave to acquire Jones.  But after what happened last year against Green Bay, Atlanta had to get more talent for QB Matt Ryan.  Expect Ryan’s numbers to be even better this season.  Even with all the success at quarterback, Atlanta is still a run first team.  RB Michael Turner is a workhorse. He had a nice return from an injury plagued 2009 last year.  Turner should continue to be the top back, but expect rookie RB Jacquizz Rodgers to see some time in passing situations.

The Falcons solved a major problem on the defense last year by signing CB Dunta Robinson.  They were among the top teams in interceptions last year.  It also saw the emergence of CB Brent Grimes as a perfect complement to Robinson.  Another problem arose last year and that was the lack of a pass rush.  DE John Abraham had 13 sacks last year, but the next player had only 4. Atlanta hopes they solved this problem by signing DE Ray Edwards.  He was a major force for Minnesota’s pass rush playing opposite DE Jared Allen.  The Falcons hope the same will happen with Edwards playing opposite Abraham.  At linebacker the Falcons need LB Curtis Lofton and LB Sean Weatherspoon to be consistent performers in the middle of the field.  Both have high motors and are excellent in coverage.

New Orleans

They play in the toughest division in football and that’s a good thing for the Saints.  It helps that you play against top competition within your own division.  The Saints fought hard to get by Tampa Bay to clinch a playoff spot last year behind Atlanta who won the NFC South.  New Orleans knows that this year won’t be any easier with Atlanta making adjustments and Tampa Bay staying intact.  But when you have Sean Payton as your head coach and Drew Brees as your quarterback, New Orleans knows they will always have a chance.

QB Drew Brees was turnover prone last year.  His 22 interceptions last year were the highest of his career.  He knows he needs to improve in that area.  And it should help that the Saints are improving the running game.  They ranked near the bottom last year.  That was due to injuries and inconsistent play.  RB Pierre Thomas should be fully healthy now.  RB Reggie Bush was traded. And New Orleans drafted Heisman trophy winning RB Mark Ingram. Signing RB Darren Sproles should prove to be one of if not the best free agent acquisition of the season.  Sproles is a better fit in this offense than Reggie Bush was.  Brees still has WR Marques Colston to throw to.  He’s a big target and when healthy is among the best receivers in the game.  WR Robert Meachem is becoming more comfortable in the offense, but he needs to step up and become a reliable second receiver.  WR Lance Moore is a good slot receiver and a favorite target of Brees.  TE Jimmy Graham will have a big season.  He became Brees’ security blanket late last season as injuries mounted for TE Jeremy Shockey.

The elite part of the Saints defense is their secondary.  S Malcolm Jenkins is becoming one of the best in the NFL.  He’s made the transition from corner to safety look easy, but it’s not.  His coverage skills are among the best and is getting better in run support.  CB Jabari Greer and CB Tracy Porter are still improving. They are great cover corners and aren’t intimidated by bigger receivers.  LB Jonathan Vilma is the leader of this defense.  He’s an excellent run stuffer and very deceptive in coverage.  The lack of a consistent push on the line didn’t stop him from having another stellar season.  Expect the Saints to be much better against the run this year now that they’ve signed DT Shaun Rogers and NT Aubrayo Franklin.  Both are excellent run stuffers and will help keep blockers off Vilma.  DE Will Smith and DT Sedrick Ellis will benefit also as the best pass rushers on defense.

Tampa Bay

It’s amazing to think that after firing Jon Gruden in 2009 that current head coach Raheem Morris would have the Bucs back as contenders just two years later.  One thing Morris does have that Gruden didn’t is a franchise quarterback.  Morris has handed the reins to QB Josh Freeman on offense and Morris himself has turned around a flat defense.  Tampa Bay is primed to make some noise this season, but with New Orleans and Atlanta making moves, the Bucs stood back and kept some of their own instead of going after big name players.  It could come back to haunt them.

All the confidence of the organization was given to QB Josh Freeman last season.  His career year was no fluke as he had a good running game to take pressure off him in the middle of games.  His late game heroics instantly took him to the top of his draft class which included QB Matthew Stafford and QB Mark Sanchez.  The only thing left is to see what Freeman can do in the playoffs.  Tampa Bay will be without former 1st round pick RB Cadillac Williams.  Instead they will hand the job to RB LeGarrette Blount who was an unstoppable force for three quarters of the season.  If Blount can repeat that production, the Bucs can expect a 1,500 yard rushing season from him.  Freeman developed a great repertoire with WR Mike Williams and WR Arrelious Benn. Both were rookies last year, but didn’t play like rookies at times. Especially Williams who is the top receiver going into this season. TE Kellen Winslow showed why he is to be considered one of the best tight ends in football.  Part of Freeman’s heroics last year came when Winslow was making drive saving catches at crucial times.

Morris knows that he needed the defense to play well if the Bucs were to be playoff contenders last year.  They were until a late season defeat to the Lions ended that opportunity.  Tampa Bay’s major flaw was the lack of a pass rush last year.  That will change with the additions of rookie DE Adrian Clayborn and DE Da’Quan Bowers.  The Bucs were fortunate to have Bowers fall where he did.  He’s a first round talent that fell to the 2nd round due to injury concerns.  They won’t be using him often, but he will certainly play on passing downs.  Clayborn is a high motor defensive end that can be a good run stuffer off the edge.  DT Gerald McCoy struggled at times last year, but looked much more comfortable as the season progressed.  Expect a big year from him.  CB Ronde Barber and CB Aqib Talib are a good duo, but it’s hard to believe that Barber can continue to produce at such a high level for much longer.  Talib’s off field issues might affect him this year, but he’s still a reliable corner.  Especially against taller receivers.  Tampa Bay could see a drop off at linebacker.  They figure to start rookie LB Mason Foster who is reminding some of LB Hardy Nickerson. LB Quincy Black is becoming a Pro-Bowl caliber player.  Each year he’s showing major improvements from the previous season.

Carolina

Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong for the Panthers last year.  Their head coach John Fox had suddenly lost his fire.  They had no reliable quarterback.  The injuries were piling up.  There was a lot of talk about big name players leaving as free agents.  The lockout was probably a good thing for Carolina.  It gave everyone time to step back and take a deep breath.  New head coach Ron Rivera is getting his first chance to show what he can do at the helm.  He has established a new gameplan and will have a new quarterback to lead the way.  Even better news was most of their high profile free agents returned to right this ship.

It will be tough to gauge just how the quarterback situation will play out in Carolina.  QB Jimmy Clausen was considered to be the most ready of last years quarterback class to play.  However, he looked lost and had almost no protection as Panthers quarterbacks were sacked 50 times.  This year he sees competition coming from the 1st overall pick QB Cam Newton.  The Heisman trophy winning quarterback from Auburn had a tremendous season for the Tigers last year, but the NFL is a whole other ball game.  Clausen should be the starter, but Newton might see some time late in the season. Whoever the quarterback is, he will have some weapons to throw to.  Carolina acquired TE Jeremy Shockey and TE Greg Olsen in separate deals.  Both are great pass catching tight ends who will provide a great check down option in the passing game.  WR Steve Smith has decided to give this new coaching staff a shot and returned as a model citizen after a tumultuous end to last year. His presence will help fellow WR Brandon LaFell and WR David Gettis develop.  RB DeAngelo Williams was re-signed and with RB Jonathan Stewart the Panthers should still have one of the best running back duos in the NFL.

Rivera’s speciality is on defense.  He was a big part of what the Bears built on defense under head coach Lovie Smith and was instrumental in turning around the Chargers defense.  John Fox was becoming predictable defensively.  Didn’t take too many chances.  That’s the total opposite with Rivera.  He will expect DE Charles Johnson to repeat his 11.5 sack performance last year. Johnson was given a hefty pay raise and will be counted on to meet those expectations.  On the interior the Panthers did draft DT Terrell McClain and DT Sione Fua with their 3rd round picks.  Both aren’t expected to start right away, but they will help in the rotation which was abysmal last year.  All three starting linebackers were re-signed to long term contracts.  LB Jon Beason is the leader in the middle.  Rivera wants his linebackers to be active not just in coverage, but rushing the passer.  That will play to Beason and LB Thomas Davis strengths.  Both are quick off the line.  LB James Anderson isn’t the best pass rusher, but can cover some of the best receivers in the league.  The focus for next year will probably be getting a shut down corner.  CB Chris Gamble has struggled to be that guy.  He’s still their best cover corner, but hasn’t been able to play very often.  S Charles Godfrey is becoming the leader of the secondary.  He’s excellent in coverage and isn’t afraid to make a tackle in run support.

Team Previews

St. Louis

Now that the Rams are two years removed from their 1-15 season. The only place to go is up.  St. Louis has a new owner in Stan Kroenke and he’s a winner.  He currently owns the Denver Nuggets and was the owner of the Colorado Avalanche during their Stanley Cup seasons.  Stan won’t stand idly by if the Rams falter after being just one win short of returning to the playoffs.

One major change this year will be the new offensive playbook from Josh McDaniels.  He replaces Pat Shurmur who left to coach the Cleveland Browns.  Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo knows that he has a winner in QB Sam Bradford.  His tremendous rookie season was better than most first year quarterbacks.  What will help Bradford’s progress this year is if he has a constant threat at wide receiver.  Last year there was promise with WR Mark Clayton until he went down after five games.  A healthy Donnie Avery will help too.  WR Danny Amendola was the new Wes Welker last year for the Rams.  He should have a similar season with more help. WR Mike Sims-Walker is the new addition.  Whether he can live up to his talent is the question.  RB Steven Jackson might be on his last legs.  The Rams are confident that he can continue his consistent production.  In the meantime RB Cadillac Williams is the perfect change of pace back the Rams haven’t had since Marshall Faulk retired.

The Rams had one thing in mind last year on defense.  Pressure the quarterback.  They were among the top 10 in sacks last year. Among the Rams top pass rushers was DE Chris Long who is starting to live up to his billing as the 2nd overall pick in 2008.  DE James Hall recorded 10.5 sacks last year, but it’s hard to think he can repeat that production this late in his career.  Their 1st round pick DE Robert Quinn didn’t play his senior year at North Carolina due to suspension.  But he is a top notch pass rusher that should complement what the Rams already have in place.  LB James Laurinaitis is the leader of the defense.  Since being drafted in 2009 he hasn’t let up for a second.  The secondary has been a weak spot for the Rams.  They hope S Quintin Mikell can help.  He has plenty of experience in Spagnuolo’s defensive attack.  CB Bradley Fletcher could become a top notch corner if he continues to play beyond expectations for the Rams.

San Francisco

The once proud franchise in San Francisco has been one of the most disappointing in the last decade.  One problem has been the head coach.  The other is the lack of a quality quarterback.  The 49ers changed their philosophy and brought in an offensive minded head coach in Jim Harbaugh to run the team.  He made Stanford into a winner in the Pac-10 and will look to do the same in San Francisco.  The 49ers are banking on Harbaugh to bring some new life in an underachieving team.

It will start and end at quarterback for the Niners.  In a perfect world Harbaugh would’ve liked to have brought Andrew Luck from Stanford with him, but Luck decided to stay.  Plus the Niners weren’t guaranteed to draft him either.  So Harbaugh will give QB Alex Smith his last chance to do something in San Francisco. Smith has some competition with 2nd round pick QB Colin Kaepernick, but he probably won’t see much time this year.  The Niners still have one of the best running backs in Frank Gore, but health has always been a concern with Gore.  He was on his way to a career year until a fractured hip shortened his season.  If the Niners can get more out of RB Anthony Dixon maybe Gore won’t miss an entire year.  With TE Vernon Davis the Niners have a consistent threat in the passing game.  He and newcomer WR Braylon Edwards will be counted on to provide the touchdowns through the air.  This will be a make or break year for WR Michael Crabtree.  If Harbaugh can’t get the most out of him no one will.

A good thing for Harbaugh is that he has inherited one of the best defense in the NFL.  Led by LB Patrick Willis the Niners are among the best at stopping the run.  He’s deceptively fast and has a nose for the ball.  San Francisco suffered a setback when they lost NT Aubrayo Franklin to free agency.  Without him it will be tougher to clog the middle of the defensive line.  DE Justin Smith had a career year rushing the passer with 8.5 sacks to lead the team. Don’t expect a repeat of that, but Smith should continue to be a force against the run.  The Niners struggled to get a consistent pass rush last year.  They hope LB Aldon Smith will help solve that problem.  How San Francisco does against the pass will determine their success on defense.  CB Carlos Rogers is a better option than the departed CB Nate Clements.  S Donte Whitner is a solid tackler and adequate in coverage.  Both of those additions should bring life in the struggling secondary.

Arizona

For the first time in three seasons the Arizona Cardinals finished the season with a losing record last year. That’s because a perfect storm came that saw the Cardinals have one of the worst offenses and defenses in the league.  Due to the lockout the Cardinals lost valuable time to search for a new quarterback.  Head coach Ken Whisenhunt is not about to give up on this team which has become one of the best offenses since he arrived.  His hope is that with a reliable quarterback the Cardinals can compete for the division title once again.

It was a woeful time trying to find a competent quarterback last year in Arizona.  The Cardinals hope that Kevin Kolb is that guy. He’s shown glimpses of being a good quarterback when given the chance in Philadelphia.  Arizona signed him long term and are putting all their cards on the table hoping he can lead Arizona to a championship.  He shouldn’t have a difficult time with WR Larry Fitzgerald as his go to guy.  Even with all the quarterback troubles last year Fitzgerald still caught 90 passes for 1,137 yards and 6 scores.  Bringing in TE Todd Heap will help as well.  Injuries have caught up with him, but he’s still a reliable target down the middle of the field.  The one key to the success of the passing game will be the resurrection of the dormant running game.  The Cardinals are counting on a bounce back season from RB Beanie Wells.  If he can bring respectability back on the ground the Cardinals will be a dangerous offensive team.

Arizona has plenty of talent on defense.  It starts with their defensive front in DE Darnell Dockett and DE Calais Campbell. Both are premiere pass rushers and excellent run stuffers that must see a lot of time on the field for Arizona to be successful defensively.  The Cardinals age showed in their linebackers last season.  LB Joey Porter will be strictly a pass rusher at this point in his career.  LB O’Brien Schofield will be given many opportunities to play opposite Porter in passing downs.  Second year LB Daryl Washington grew more comfortable late last season. Expect a big season from him.  Arizona had to give up something in order to get something they desperately needed.  They parted ways with CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to acquire QB Kevin Kolb.  It’s a good thing they drafted CB Patrick Peterson with their 1st pick.  Peterson is a beast in the making, but Arizona wants to bring him along slowly.  They still have S Adrian Wilson who plays more like a linebacker for the Cardinals and S Kerry Rhodes who is an excellent cover safety.

Seattle

Last year Seattle shocked everyone by being the only team in NFL history to make the playoffs with a losing record.  Even more shocking was that they won a playoff game.  Make no mistake. This rebuilding project by head coach Pete Carroll isn’t over.  He was eventually going to find a replacement for QB Matt Hasselbeck.  But there isn’t a clear cut star at running back or wide receiver.  The defense still doesn’t have an identity.  The only thing going for the Seahawks is that they still play in a winnable division.

The free agency period got off to an interesting start for Seattle. They signed QB Tarvaris Jackson and WR Sidney Rice.  Both were former starters in Minnesota under new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.  Jackson was immediately named the starter even though the Seahawks have a potential replacement in QB Charlie Whitehurst.  Jackson has the inside track, but his career has gotten off to a rocky start.  Bringing in Rice helps immediately in the passing game.  WR Mike Williams suffered through nagging injuries towards the end of last season and if Rice can match his 2009 totals the Seahawks will be just fine at wide receiver.  TE Zach Miller was a nice addition, but Seattle already had a tight end in John Carlson.  Expect both to have subpar seasons.  Just because RB Marshawn Lynch went on that epic run against the New Orleans Saints in the playoffs last year didn’t mean the Seahawks had an elite running game.  They were the second worst team at rushing the football last year.  There still isn’t a clear cut favorite, so the Seahawks will see what Lynch can do for them this season.  Expect RB Leon Washington to see time when he’s not returning kicks.

There wasn’t a lot to be happy about last year on defense.  They were able to rush the passer consistently thanks to DE Chris Clemons and DE Raheem Brock.  Both are in a large rotation that includes run stuffers DE Kentwan Balmer and DE Red Bryant.  The secondary was very inconsistent last year.  CB Marcus Trufant and CB Kelly Jennings are better than they have shown in the last couple seasons in Seattle.  S Earl Thomas is a potential star thanks to his ball-hawking instincts and run stuffing capabilities. It’s time to see what LB Aaron Curry can do.  He was billed as a great all around linebacker out of Wake Forest.  With the departure of LB Lofa Tatupu it’s time for Curry to get a bigger role in the defense.  Look for LB David Hawthorne to explode now that he will be starting in the middle due to the departure of Tatupu.

Chargers: S Bob Sanders, LB Takeo Spikes, WR Vincent Jackson (re-signed)

Chiefs: WR Steve Breaston, FB Le’Ron McClain, LB Tamba Hali (re-signed)

Raiders: TE Kevin Boss

Broncos: RB Willis McGahee, DT Brodrick Bunkley, TE Daniel Fells

Key Rookies

Chargers: DE Corey Liuget

Chiefs: WR Jon Baldwin

Raiders: C Stefen Wisniewski

Broncos: LB Von Miller

Team Previews

San Diego

Usually when a team ranks 1st in offense and defense, they make the playoffs.  That wasn’t the case last year for the Chargers. Their 2-5 start last season was too much for them to overcome and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2005.  Head coach Norv Turner has had a lot of success with the Chargers since being hired in 2007.  It will be interesting to see how he manages to get San Diego back into contention with a more competitive AFC West.

The Chargers had the best offense in the NFL thanks in large part to their QB Philip Rivers.  He deserves to be in the conversation as one of the elite passers in the game.  So much was said about his ability to throw the ball down the field and his fiery personality. However his teammates have responded well to his leadership and he can throw the ball down the field with tremendous accuracy. San Diego should benefit greatly from having WR Vincent Jackson playing right away this year.  Rivers and the offense missed his big play ability for half the 2010 season.  If TE Antonio Gates can return fully healthy from plantar fasciitis the Chargers passing attack will be among the best in the league.  The running game was inconsistent at times, but a better year from last years 1st round pick RB Ryan Matthews will help a lot.  RB Mike Tolbert was a big lift during the second half of last season.  Norv Turner will miss RB Darren Sproles, but they feel Matthews will be ready to have a bigger role this year.

San Diego was the best team against the pass last year.  Thanks in part to their pass rush.  Their secondary is among the most cohesive units in the NFL.  CB Quentin Jammer and CB Antoine Cason have become one of the best duos in the league.  S Eric Weddle being re-signed keeps the Chargers secondary intact and with the addition of S Bob Sanders they should be even better against the run.  They ranked 29th against the run last year.  Not only with Sanders, but the addition of LB Takeo Spikes should improve that stat.  LB Shaun Phillips and LB Larry English will be the primary pass rushers off the edge.  Both have tremendous burst off the line and aren’t bad in pass coverage either.  DE Luis Castillo and 1st round pick DE Corey Liuget will be counted on to wreak havoc on the line this year.  Castillo has struggled to stay healthy for a full season, but he and Liuget are ferocious lineman who have a nose for the football.

Kansas City

Success came earlier than many expected for Kansas City last year.  They took advantage of their schedule and were able to hold off a late charge by rival San Diego to win the AFC West.  It became painfully apparent though entering the playoffs that the Chiefs were still a long way from competing for a Super Bowl. Head coach Todd Haley was able to fix many flaws with the Chiefs, but they still don’t have a reliable passing game to win games when the opponent stops their rushing attack.  They have a tougher schedule this year, but still play in a winnable division.

On paper it was easy to see that QB Matt Cassel had a good year. He threw for over 3,000 yards and his TD to INT ratio was impressive (27-7).  However when they needed him to deliver at crucial times there wasn’t much of a rhythm.  It was clear during their playoff loss to Baltimore.  The Ravens stacked the line taking away RB Jamaal Charles and RB Thomas Jones.  Forcing the Chiefs to rely more on Cassel to win the game.  This year the Chiefs hope another year of development with TE Tony Moeaki will improve the passing game.  He reminded so many of TE Tony Gonzalez last year.  WR Dwayne Bowe should have another stellar year with the additions of WR Steve Breaston and 1st round pick WR Jon Baldwin.  Breaston especially since he knows the system from Haley’s coaching days in Arizona.  Remember the Chiefs still have Charles and Jones to run the ball on a consistent basis as well.  They ranked first in the league last year.

Not much has changed defensively for Kansas City.  Keeping LB Tamba Hali long term was the right move for the Chiefs.  He became a prolific pass rusher playing in the new scheme under defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel.  The same goes for DE Wallace Gilberry.  Both Gilberry and Hali will be the main rushers off the edge.  On the inside the Chiefs need more from two 1st round picks, DT Glenn Dorsey and DE Tyson Jackson.  Both haven’t lived up to their potential yet, but another year in this scheme should help them.  Kansas City is hoping for a repeat of last season from LB Andy Studebaker.  He was a breath of fresh air making plays all over the field.  The secondary has a legitimate playmaker in S Eric Berry.  Last years 1st round pick is definitely worth every penny the Chiefs have invested in him.  He will be the best all around safety in the league shortly.  At the corners Brandon Carr and Brandon Flowers are developing into a good duo. And with CB Javier Arenas backing them up the Chiefs have a good young secondary that will only get better.

Oakland

There was actually something to be excited about in Oakland last year.  The Raiders were in first place at one point during the 2010 season.  They finished the season 8-8.  Not since 2002 had the Raiders finished with a winning record.  Then it was all gone when owner Al Davis fired Tom Cable as the head coach.  Cable wasn’t the best man for the job, but he was doing a good job.  Davis’ high expectations seem to be getting in the way again.  But new head coach Hue Jackson, who was the offensive coordinator last year still believes this team can compete not just for the division, but for a title.  Hard to see it with a meddlesome owner.

Oakland had a lot to be happy about last year.  The running game took off and was ranked second behind their rival Kansas City.  RB Darren McFadden was given the reigns full time and didn’t disappoint.  The Raiders have a good complement in RB Michael Bush and together this duo should still be a productive unit.  QB Jason Campbell isn’t the ideal quarterback for Oakland, but he’s a lot better than if they still had JaMarcus Russell.  Campbell will miss TE Zach Miller who left via free agency.  Miller was their best receiver and was an adequate blocker too.  TE Kevin Boss will try to replace that production, but Oakland would have been wiser to keep Miller.  The Raiders need to figure out who is their top wide receiver.  WR Darrius Heyward-Bey so far isn’t living up to the billing.  WR Louis Murphy looks good at times, but is far too inconsistent.  WR Jacoby Ford has become the best deep threat overnight.  How many more looks he’ll see this year will determine the Raiders success on offense.

The Raiders lost their best defensive player in CB Nnamdi Asomugha to free agency.  Oakland will rely heavily on CB Stanford Routt to take the helm vacated by Asomugha.  Also 3rd round pick CB DeMarcus Van Dyke figures to get a chance to play this year.  S Michael Huff was re-signed.  Him and fellow S Tyvon Branch aren’t a bad combination in the secondary, but Branch has been left alone far too many times on deep completions.  LB Rolando McClain will have to be better than advertised when he was drafted in the 1st round last year.  His tackling ability is the best among the linebackers, but he has to get a better grasp of the play calling more this year.  The defensive line is among the deepest in the league.  DT Richard Seymour and DT Tommy Kelly were forces in the middle last year.  Although they weren’t very good stopping the run.  DE Kamerion Wimbley and DE Matt Shaughnessy were Oakland’s best pass rushers.  Look for both to be near double digit sack totals again this year.

Denver

It has gotten so bad in Denver that they asked John Elway to come out of retirement.  Not to be the starting quarterback, but rather the Executive VP of Football Operations for the Broncos. His main goal is to try and get the Broncos back to respectability. It became apparent very quickly that former head coach Josh McDaniels was in over his head as far coaching and personnel decisions.  Denver hired former Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox to bring back some of what was lost on the field.  Mainly the absence of a running game, which Fox knows a lot about from his glory days in Carolina.

Whether the Broncos go with Kyle Orton or Tim Tebow at quarterback, neither seems to be the long term solution.  The Broncos explored trading Orton, but couldn’t find the right deal. Tebow is the fan favorite to win the job, but he isn’t ready for the pressure.  One thing is for sure.  If Orton struggles right out of the gate, Tebow will get his opportunity.  Denver is trying to create a capable running game with the signing of RB Willis McGahee to pair with the faster RB Knowshon Moreno.  This should bode well for Moreno and McGahee as both have struggled with various injuries throughout their careers.  The clear cut number one receiver is WR Brandon Lloyd.  His career year last year showed just how good he can be if given the chance.  He and Orton developed good chemistry last year which favors Orton starting right away this year.  The other problem is who will start on the other side from Lloyd?  Denver would like to see WR Eddie Royal return to his 2008 rookie season, but that might be asking a lot.

The biggest reason the Broncos went with John Fox was because of his defensive prowess.  Fox has had some great defenses in the past with Carolina and New York when he was the defensive coordinator for the Giants.  They should be greatly improved rushing the passer now that DE Elvis Dumervil is healthy and playing as a defensive end rather than a linebacker.  Putting former 1st round pick DE Robert Ayers on the defensive line should help his performance as well.  Acquiring DT Brodrick Bunkley from Philadelphia was a good move that will help both in the run and pass defense.  Denver went to the draft to improve their defense as well.  LB Von Miller and LB Nate Irving figure to be a big part of the rebuilt defense.  Along with veteran LB D.J. Williams this trio should resemble what was built in Carolina under Fox.  Re-signing CB Champ Bailey insures that he retires in Denver and will still be a part of the plans on defense.  Second round pick, S Rahim Moore is good in coverage, but will need to improve in his run support.

Team Previews

Indianapolis

It seemed as though the Colts were going to be passing the baton to the Houston Texans after their Week 1 loss.  However, the Colts only lost one more game within their division and finished the season strong to win their 7th division title in the last 9 seasons.  If head coach Jim Caldwell wants to win another division title and possibly contend for a Super Bowl.  The Colts will need to fix two flaws from last year.  The 29th ranked rushing attack and the defense which ranked 20th in the NFL.  The run defense especially which ranked 25th.

One of the most amazing things to watch in football is how Peyton Manning can adjust to losing his best tight end, his best slot receiver, have no running game and still be the best quarterback in the NFL.  This year TE Dallas Clark is healthy as is WR Austin Collie.  Both were expected to have big seasons, but Clark’s wrist was broken early in the year and Collie was concussed for the last half.  The Colts had viable replacements in TE Jacob Tamme and WR Blair White.  Both should be able to contribute again this year. There’s still WR Reggie Wayne who is among the best in the game. WR Pierre Garcon had a down year, but expect him to bounce back.  Indianapolis brought back RB Joseph Addai whom they need to stay healthy for an entire year. RB Donald Brown had a disappointing year, but he did look more comfortable towards the end of the season with the offense.

Even though the Colts didn’t have the best overall defense, they were still adequate at rushing the passer.  That’s thanks in part to the duo of DE Robert Mathis and DE Dwight Freeney.  Both should be given more rest this year with the addition of DE Jamaal Anderson and an improved season from last years 1st round pick DE Jerry Hughes.  Adding DT Tommie Harris will help as well with the rotation of the rest of the tackles.  Namely Eric Foster who is the best pass rusher on the interior.  The Colts defense was greatly improved against the pass.  CB Jerraud Powers and CB Jacob Lacey have developed well in the Cover 2 scheme.  If S Antoine Bethea can stay healthy for an entire year both the pass and run defense will be improved.  Although the Colts will miss S Bob Sanders who left via free agency.  Look for LB Gary Brackett to have another stellar year and newcomer LB Ernie Sims to fit in perfectly with the scheme.

Houston

They had so many high expectations going into the 2010 season. Their only major flaw was the lack of a running game.  That problem was solved after their first game.  Unfortunately another flaw creeped up and that was their defense.  Specifically their pass defense which was the worst in the NFL.  Head coach Gary Kubiak hired defensive guru Wade Phillips to help fix the problem.  Phillips brings the 3-4 defense to Houston as well, but if it doesn’t translate to success on the field.  Kubiak might be on his way out.

Once again QB Matt Schaub put up tremendous numbers for the Texans.  Expect more of the same now that Houston has a great rushing attack to go with Schaub.  RB Arian Foster averaged nearly 5 yards a carry last year and had 16 rushing touchdowns. Defenses this year figure to stack against the run, but Foster is quick enough to find the hole and speed right on through it. Schaub still has probably the best wide receiver in football in Andre Johnson.  He has struggled to stay healthy for an entire season, but he still manages to play through most injuries.  If TE Owen Daniels can return to his full playing potential, the Texans will be able to score with the best in the NFL.

With a change in personnel on the defensive side, the Texans figure to be a more agressive defense this year switching to the 3-4.  It will be interesting to see how the change will affect LB Mario Williams.  He has played on the line his whole career, but Wade Phillips sees him as a DeMarcus Ware type in Dallas.  Williams will struggle in coverage, but Houston will find a way to maximize his pass rushing skills.  If LB DeMeco Ryans can return from an ACL injury the Texans defense will benefit greatly both in the run and pass.  Houston missed out on getting CB Nnamdi Asomugha, but they still signed a good corner in Johnathan Joseph.  He will immediately improve their pass defense and with S Danieal Manning the Texans defense will matchup better with the elite passing teams.

Jacksonville

Head coach Jack Del Rio is slowly turning the Jaguars fortunes around.  After a 5-11 season in 2008 the Jaguars have gone 7-9 and 8-8 in 2009 and 2010 respectively.  Last year saw the Jaguars competing with the rival Colts for the division title until they were defeated 35-24 by Indianapolis in Week 15.  Jacksonville lost their next two games, thus knocking them out of the playoffs for the 3rd consecutive year.  The Jaguars were an active team in the offseason, but it will have to translate into a playoff appearance this year for the current coaching staff.

QB David Garrard had a nice bounce back season last year. Health will be a concern this year with him though.  Even though the Jaguars used their 1st round pick on QB Blaine Gabbert, the Jaguars are counting on Garrard to keep them in the hunt for the playoffs.  He will have one of the best running backs in the game with Maurice Jones-Drew.  Jacksonville will be using RB Rashad Jennings more often this season to lessen the load on Jones-Drew. Jennings was a pleasant surprise in spurts late last year. Garrard’s favorite target, TE Marcedes Lewis was a touchdown machine last season.  His production should continue to rise with his improved technique off the line of scrimmage.  WR Mike Thomas figures to be the top receiver.  He’s in the mold of a Steve Smith in Carolina.

Jacksonville revamped their linebackers in a big way this offseason.  They signed Paul Posluszny and Clint Session to long term deals.  The Jaguars hope they can help to bring back the Jaguars defense to prominence under Jack Del Rio.  Up front the Jaguars were disappointed with DE Aaron Kampman.  He struggled to stay healthy, but wasn’t as aggressive as in years past with Green Bay.  DT Tyson Alualu was exactly what the Jaguars hoped he would be in his rookie year.  Expect more of the same from him this year.  Jacksonville is going to stay the same in the secondary with CB Derek Cox and CB Rashean Mathis.  However, they brought in S Dawan Landry to help bring a new attitude and improve the pass defense.

Tennessee

There was one word to describe last years season; dysfunctional. Then head coach Jeff Fisher was at his wits end with QB Vince Young.  An ultimatum was made at the end of the season.  It was either Fisher or Young that would stay.  Both ended up going and Tennessee has to start from scratch.  Enter Mike Munchak.  The first time head coach will most likely play it conservatively on offense.  Choosing to rely on the teams proven rushing attack. However the defense will be in a transition period with some key members leaving to play elsewhere.  Patience will have to be taken in Nashville this year.

All the talk was whether the Titans would go with their 1st round pick, QB Jake Locker as the starting quarterback or sign a veteran. They signed a veteran, Matt Hasselbeck to man the helm until they feel Locker is ready to take over.  Hasselbeck is a proven winner and will greatly benefit the Titans offense.  If they can keep him on the field rather than in the training room.  If Tennessee can keep RB Chris Johnson happy by giving him a contract extension, then the Titans will have one of the best running games in the NFL. Johnson still had a great year considering the year before he rushed for over 2,000 yards.  WR Kenny Britt and TE Jared Cook will be counted on to have big seasons for the Titans.  If Britt’s off field troubles don’t affect him on the field Tennessee will finally be able to see why they used a 1st round pick on him back in 2009.

The Titans one strength on defense last year was their pass rush. With the departure of DE Jason Babin the Titans will have to count on DE Dave Ball to duplicate his production from a year ago.  Also last years 1st round pick DE Derrick Morgan will have a bigger role and must become an active pass rusher.  Tennessee lost their defensive captain LB Stephen Tulloch to free agency too.  Barrett Ruud will get a chance to fill that role, but it’s a different scheme than the Cover 2 one in Tampa Bay.  Look for rookie LB Akeem Ayers to have a good season.  He might even line up on the defensive line to take advantage of his pass rushing skills.  CB Cortland Finnegan is one of the best corners in football, but had a down 2010 season.  Whether he can return to his Pro Bowl form will determine their success in their pass defense.