Yesterday was the AFC preview, today is the NFC preview.
Jerry Jones even travels with an eye glass watcher! That’s a “job creator” for ya!
In honor of both political party conventions being over, each team will face these questions: Are you better off this year? Is your team full of “Super Bowl hope” or is your team “in need of change”? and the final question, Who is the player to watch?
NFC East
1st Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys should be better this year. They improved a severe weakness in the secondary by adding not one but two starting corner backs in Brandon Carr in a free agent signing and drafting Morris Claiborne in the first round FROM LSU. Left Tackle Tyron Smith and Middle Linebacker Sean Lee should both improve this year. They should improve so much that both should be elite players at their positions by the end of the season.
This team has been a “Super Bowl Pretender” for the past 5 years and have nothing as of now to show for it. The New York Giants do have 2 Super Bowls in the past 5 years so the time for Dallas is now. Finally, I think this is the Cowboys best roster in years with QB Tony Romo and best sacker in the NFL, Linebacker DeMarcus Ware are both back and ready to lead Dallas deep into the playoffs.
Dez Bryant Wide Receiver is Dallas’s player to watch this season. Bryant is blessed with elite skills and elite talent but Head Coach Jason Garrett is tried of Dez’s act of multiple run-in’s with the law and wants him to play well or else. Owner Jerry Jones even banned him from bars and clubs and he has a 24 hour bodyguard that follows him everywhere he goes.
2nd New York Giants
The New York Football Giants on paper did not get better this season. They lost Wide Receiver and Super Bowl hero Mario Manningham to the 49ers and replaced him with Domenik Hixon who has tore his acl twice in his career. They also lost Running Back and emotional leader Brandon Jacobs to the 49ers too. He was replaced with 1st round pick David Wilson who is an electrifying runner but he has penchant for fumbling. The Giants went on a miracle run last year from a 7-7 team to a Super Bowl Championship team. 9-7 is not going to cut it this year in the NFC and I think the Giants can improve because of the confidence that will carryover from last season.
Teams that have won 2 Super Bowls in 5 years are not ready for change. Head Coach Tom Coughlin was on the hot seat during the season but now the League’s oldest coach got his contract extended. Elite QB Eli Manning, WR duo Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruuuuuuuuzzzzz return. The defense should be better this season with the addition of Linebacker Keith Rivers and the with the best damm defensive line in the NFL featuring pass rushers Jason Pierre Paul, JPP for short, Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and Mathias Kiwanuka.
Player to Watch: Corey Webster the team’s starting Corner Back is this year’s player to watch. CB is a huge concern for this Giants team again this season. CB Terrell Thomas is hurt again and so is last year’s 1st round pick Prince Amukamara. Michael Coe and Justin Tryon are the Giants other options at Corner and that keeps me up at night.Webster needs to play like a shutdown CB for the Giants, otherwise it could be a long season for the Giants’ secondary.
3rd Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles should be better this season because the pressure of being the “Dream Team” is over. Pundits from all over the globe picked the Eagles to be the Super Bowl champs but they did not even make the playoffs and a team from their own division in the Giants won it all to the chagrin of Eagles fans. Linebacker DeMeco Ryans is a perfect fit for this “Wide-9” defense and will help improve a terrible LB core.
The talent is there for the Eagles, they have great players at the skill positions such as Running Back LeSean McCoy and Wide Receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. They also have stars on the defensive side of the ball with Defensive Ends Jason Babin and Trent Cole, and feature a comeback season for Nnamdi Asomugha. Time is running out for the Eagles in a difficult and much improved NFC East. If they do not go deep into the playoffs the Eagles will be looking for a change at Head Coach (bye bye Andy Reid?) and at QB (bye bye Vick?)
The player to watch for the Eagles is QB Michael Vick. He has not been able to stay healthy and a healthy Vick equals a great season; an injured Vick equals Nick Foles the rookie FROM Arizona.
4th Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins should be the most improved team in the NFC East making this the most difficult division in the NFL. All four teams will beat up on each other and all four teams should be separated by two games or less. The Redskins traded up to get their franchise QB in Robert Griffin III in the first round and I believe that he is as good as advertised. My only concern for him is his health. Cam Newton is a similar runner to him but killa Cam is 6’5 245 and RGIII is 6’1 210. Like Vick, if he can stay healthy watch out. RGIII has options in WR’s Pierre Garcon and Leonard Hankerson. Tight End Fred Davis is also a key guy for Griffin.
Owner Dan Snyder does not believe in rebuilding even though his team has been cellar dwelling for the most part of the decade. Washington is rebuilding the right way with RGIII and they are now in a great direction moving forward.
A player to watch for the Redskins is London Fletcher starting Middle Linebacker for the Skins’. This ageless vet will need to take this defense to a higher level to help out the offense who will be going through some growing pains this season.
NFC North
1st Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers almost ran the table and went 16-0. They even lost their first playoff game to the Giants. This team is not satisfied with a 15-1 performance and has improved during the off-season. They have a new running back in Cedric Benson and a new Outside Linebacker in 1st round pick Nick Perry FROM USC. The Packers had the worst ranked defense and they must improve if they want to go deep into the playoffs.
Green Bay won 15 games last year so they do not need to change their ways. It would not shock me if they win 15 games again but they could go 16-0 and still lose in the playoffs; the season would be a failure. Last year’s NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers is back and so are Jermichael Finley, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, and Randall Cobb. The Packers pass rush needs to improve and Outside Linebacker Clay Matthews will also need to improve. Charles Woodson was moved from Corner to Strong Safety to help solidify a terrible secondary
Tramon Williams a starting Corner for the Green Bay Packers must play better for the secondary. The Giants exploited an achilles heel in the Packers defense during last year’s playoffs and for a team so talented offensively with such awesome Super Bowl aspirations; this team needs Tramon Williams and company to be elite.
2nd Chicago Bears
DA Bears have always been known for having great defenses year after year. This year should be no different with Defensive Stars Julius Peppers, Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, and Charles Tillman all returning. QB Jay Cutler should have no excuses this year with his buddy from Denver WR Brandon Marshall joining the team. Joining da bears, will be back up running back Michael Bush and rookie WR Alshon Jeffery.
The Chicago Bears are a win-now, Super-Bowl or bust team. Lovie Smith is one of many Head Coaches who have been with their teams for more than 5 years and have no Super Bowls rings to show for it. If DA Bears do not make it to the Super Bowl this season look for their Head Coach to be gone.
The player to watch for the Bears is Marshall. Prima-donna Wide Receivers such as Terrel Owens, Chad Johnson and Plaxico currently are all free agents. Does their personality have something to do with it? You bet. If Brandon Marshall doesn’t put up and shut up he could also find himself in the free agent pool too.
3rd Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions return Calvin “Mega-tron” Johnson and his Fantasy football Superstar QB Matthew Stafford. Can they be stopped? No they cannot barring injuries.
Lions made a huge step forward last year and should continue to make strides this year. Detroit Lions fans suffered through terrible 0-16 season a few years back but now is game time for this Detroit team. With Stafford, Mega-tron, and former 1st round pick Ndamukong Suh this team will continue to be fun to watch.
This year’s player to watch for the Lions is Kyle Vanden Bosch Defensive End. He will need to led this team defensively for the Lions to compete for a playoff spot. The question is: The talent on the defense is there but will it show up?
4th Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings return a similar team this season. The growing pains of 2nd year QB Christian Ponder should continue but he should also improve more this season. Running Back Adrian Peterson returns from a torn acl in December and has had a rapid recovery. I hope he did not rush himself back.
The Vikings like the Lions in years past, are in rebuilding mode. Someday in the near future they will be a good team but it will not be this year or the next year. They are set up for the future with Ponder as QB, Peterson as RB and Percy Harvin as the Wide Receiver. They also added a bookend Left Tackle through the draft in Matt Kalil.
Jared Allen the starting Defensive End for the Vikings returns after posting wait for it………. 22 sacks last season. He is a top-tier defensive player and should continue to put up monster numbers along with this young defense.
NFC South
1st New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints had a rough off-season to say the least. The Bounty Scandal changed the NFL in ways that will be felt forever. 4 players were suspended and then a court changed the ruling meaning all 4 players were no longer suspended. Head Coach Sean Payton will still be suspended for the season so will Assistant Coach Joe Vitt for 6 games and General Manager Mickey Loomis will miss half the season. The Saints still have Single Season Passing Yards holder in Drew Brees and the usual suspects in the passing game will still be there minus Robert Meachem.
The Saints are a Super Bowl contender even without their Head Coach. New defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is arguably the best defensive mind in the business. He led the Giants defense for two years resulting in one Super Bowl. He then became Head Coach of the Rams and developed Chris Long and James Laurinaitis. Look for the Saints to have a great year on defense with the additions of Linebackers David Hawthorne and Curtis Lofton. I believe that this defense can bring the Saints over the Falcons in the NFC South and possibly into the Super Bowl that will be played at their home stadium.
Player to watch: Devery Henderson Wide Receiver. Gone is Meachem and the inconsistent Henderson must play better to be able to step into the 2nd WR spot.
2nd Atlanta Falcons
Falcons have improved their defense with the addition of interception machine Asante Samuel but they lost Middle Linebacker Curtis Lofton to the rival Saints. The rest of the team is the same featuring QB “Matty Ice” Ryan RB Michael Turner and the best friggin WR duo in the game in Roddy White and Julio Jones.
Atlanta is a team stuck in the crossroads because they are always mentioned as a contender during the season and then fail in the postseason. Matt Ryan has failed to lead the Falcons to a single postseason win since he has joined the NFL. He needs to lead his team to victory for them to take the next step.
Jacquizz Rodgers a running back for the Atlanta Falcons will get more carries this season to give the starter Turner some much needed rest. Rodgers can be Atlanta’s version of Darren Sproles he has the size, speed and built. Now that he has the opportunity, he should be able to cash in on it.
3rd Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are back and so is Cam Newton! Cam Newton proved all the doubters wrong last year with 4,000 yards of passing and over 700 yards of rushing. He is the ultimate human highlight reel. All-Pro Center Ryan Kalil predicts this team to win the Super Bowl this year. I say hold your horses, the Panthers time will come but it won’t be this year. They will shock a team or two but don’t expect playoffs.
Carolina is in a state of rebuilding but Head Coach Ron Rivera’s team has a bright future with two young stars in Cam and 1st round pick “Laid-back” Luke Kuechly.
Player to Watch: Brandon LaFell Wide Receiver. In order for Newton to improve, he needs better production from his wide receivers. LaFell needs to be that guy and should have every opportunity to be that guy.
4th Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This team has a new head coach FROM Rutgers in Greg Schiano. Coaches from college has a tough transition into the NFL (see Saban, Nick or Spurrier, Steve) but it is not impossible for Schiano to do well. Quarterback Josh Freeman is back from his Sophomore Slump and looking forward to his third season. Coach Schiano favors the running game and look for rookie Doug Martin and LeGarrette Blout to run the ball alot.
The Bucs are rebuilding but they currently have a great combo of young and older vets. If Freeman plays well circa 2010 this team could make the NFC South very intriguing. During the off-season, Tampa Bay needed to spend some dough so they doled out that dough on Wide Receiver Vincent Jackson, Left Guard Carl Nicks, Tight End Dallas Clark, and Corner Eric Wright. This team is still young tho, they are starting three rookies this year in Martin at RB, Lavonte David at Linebacker and Mark Barron at Strong Safety.
Ronde Barber Corner Back is the Bucs player to watch because this might be his final season in the NFL. Ronde, brother to Tiki, has had a great career and if this is his last hurrah, then he should be congratulated on a really special career.
NFC West
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have improved their offense, which was dreadful last season minus Frank Gore. San Fran added Wide Receivers Randy Moss and Mario Manningham. They also added running backs Brandon Jacobs and rookie LaMichael James. This offense should improve and needs to improve if its wants to make it to the Super Bowl. San Francisco should have this division wrapped up by Thanksgiving due to another down year in the NFC West.
49ers went from struggled for the better part of the decade to quickly becoming the NFC front-runners for the Super Bowl. Head Coach Jim Harbaugh has installed a “swagger” to this team and especially to the NFL’s best defense. Linebackers Aldon Smith, Patrick Willis and Navorro Bowman FROM Penn State are back and better than ever.
Player to Watch: Alex Smith Quarterback. If there ever was a weak spot on the 49ers it would be at QB. Alex Smith simply needs to be Elite and make better throws.
2nd Seattle Seahawks
The shocker of preseason was Head Coach Pete Carroll naming Russell Wilson, the third-round pick, its starting QB for the season opener. They had last year’s starter Tarvaris Jackson on the roster to start training camp (traded to Buffalo) and give 20 million guaranteed to former Packers QB Matt Flynn. Carroll continued the strange and weird moves by drafting Bruce Irwin in the first round a guy who was a 2-3rd talent.
Seattle is a team that obviously wants to win but they have a confusing way of showing it. Wilson is a good qb but I feel he is being rushed. The Seahawks could be dangerous if their secondary featuring Marcus Trufant, 6’4 Corner Brandon Browner, and Safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor play even better this season.
3rd St. Louis Rams
In is new Head Coach Jeff Fisher who is looking to make a dramatic improvement to a team that has not be relevant since Kurt Warner was running the “Greatest Show on Turf.” Fisher’s teams never disappoint and they are always disciplined. This team has talent at skill position such as Sam Bradford at QB and Steven Jackson at RB. Harvey Dahl, Scott Wells and Barry Richardson give this offensive line teeth.
The severe rebuilding job is currently a work in progress with a defense with 6 new starters such as Rookies Michael Brockers and Janoris Jenkins. Cortland Finnegan follows Fisher from the Titans to the Rams.
Player to watch: Danny Amendola Wide Receiver. Amendola was supposed to be a fantasy football sleeper last season but got hurt. He needs to stay healthy and be the slot receiver Bradford needs to grow into a great QB.
4th Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals probably had one of the worst off-seasons this year and it carried into training camp. They desperately wanted Peyton Manning but lost the sweepstakes. The good news is that they were able to re-sign Larry Fitzgerald and they still have defensive stars in Darnell Dockett and 2nd year Corner Patrick Peterson.
The Cardinals will take a deep dive this season because of their terrible QB situation they gave Kevin Kolb a huge contract last year and he has not panned out. Starting the season will be John Skelton FROM the Fordham Rams. Both Quarterbacks have seemed rattled and inconsistent during the preseason.
Player to Watch: Beanie Wells Running Back. The Quarterback situation is murky but the running back situation is clearly focused on Wells if healthy; he should be out there running hard.
Wildcards: Chicago Bears and New York Giants
Rookie of the Year: Andrew Luck QB from the Colts
Defensive Player of the Year: Patrick Willis from the 49ers
Offensive Player of the Year: Aaron Rodgers from the Packers
MVP: Drew Brees from the Saints
NFC Championship game: 49ers over Packers
Super Bowl: Broncos over 49ers
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