2015 Season Win Total - 8.5
Year In Review: The Pittsburgh Steelers finished with 11 wins last year. They also made the postseason, but came up short in the wildcard round of the playoffs. Steelers finished off the season on a strong note winning 4 straight games. Big Ben had a big passing year again and LeVeon Bell looks to be in the best form in years..Will Pittsburgh make another push at the playoffs in 2015?
--- 2015 Key Additions:
RB - DeAngelo Williams
QB - Tajh Boyd
CB - Doran Grant
WR - Sammie Coates
(Overview) --- The Steelers got help this year in a few spots they needed to fill..I'm very worried about the talent that has left and the players they have brought in. I can't see any of the players they picked up being a big part of this team having success this year.
--- 2015 Key Departures:
D-Cord - **** LeBeau
WR - Lance Moore
LB - Jason Worilds
S - Troy Polamalu
CB - Ike Taylor
CB - Brice McCain
DE - Brett Keisel
(Overview) --- It's going to be tough to replace the losses on and off the field..I can see these departures really hurting the locker room this year...The caliber of veteran losses is scary..The defense for Pitt will be a real liability this year. I can't see anyone stepping in right now for Lebeau and having success with the unit they have for this year.
__________________________________________________________________
2015 Pitssburgh Steelers - Schedule
Home:
-
REGULAR
-
1 SEP 10 8:30PMEDT ' AT
PATRIOTS
-
2 SEP 20 1:00PMEDT )
49ERS
-
3 SEP 27 1:00PMEDT * AT
RAMS
-
4 OCT 1 8:25PMEDT * ,
RAVENS
-
5 OCT 12 8:30PMEDT + AT
CHARGERS
-
6 OCT 18 1:00PMEDT )
CARDINALS
-
7 OCT 25 1:00PMEDT * AT
CHIEFS
-
8 NOV 1 1:00PMEST *
BENGALS
-
9 NOV 8 1:00PMEST *
RAIDERS
-
10 NOV 15 1:00PMEST *
BROWNS
-
12 NOV 29 4:25PMEST * AT
SEAHAWKS
-
13 DEC 6 8:30PMEST '
COLTS
-
14 DEC 13 1:00PMEST * AT
BENGALS
-
15 DEC 20 4:25PMEST *
BRONCOS
-
16 DEC 27 8:30PMEST ' AT
RAVENS
-
17 JAN 3 1:00PMEST * AT
BROWNS
(Overview)
The schedule looks to be a bit tough this year...It's hard to say the Steelers have more than 2 wins on the road that are guaranteed...They easiest road game they have all year is in fact week 17 @ Cleveland...The home schedule is a bit more favorable, but not by much...Having teams like SF, Indy, Den, AZ looks to be tough as well..They get Oakland going into the bye which helps them. The first visit with Cinn is in fact the Bengals coming out of the bye week in Pitt. They might get the benefit of opening the season without having to face Tom Brady. Other than a few miracles, this looks tough.
_________________________________________________________
The Offense :
--- Big Ben had a monster year in 2014..He finished T-1st for yards overall with 4,952...He also had 33 Td's and only 9 Int's..His rating was 103.3, and his avg ypg was 310. Stat wise i just don't see a duplicate of last season..Big Ben has the talent, but another year and i still see no major improvements on offense has me worried again. A few key injuires to this Pitt offense and it could be big trouble for the Steelers.
--- Brown had a monster year as well..he was Big Bens goto target and he racked up 1600+ yards. With the Addition of DeAngelo Willimas to this roster gives some depth, but also will spell LeVeon Bell. Heath Miller is a durable TE, but i worry about how much Miller has left in the tank entering his 11th season. Weaton is a nice, but i'm not sold on his hands one bit. I hate when a QB and WR get so in tune with each other and become one dimensional to each other..This will be the case this year with Big Ben and Brown with Bell sitting out for 3 games to run the ball.
(Area Of Concern) --- Defense
This may in fact be the worst Steelers unit on defense in a very very long time..Way to many veterans leaving this team with no real solid backups. I can see this Steelers defense being at the bottom of the league this year without a doubt. LeBeau leaving will hurt this team and i think they stand a chance of finishing in the bottom 5 in defense.
Draft: --- I like what the Steelers did in the draft actually..They do have some spots that needed attention that they filled..Problem is it's with young talent that's undeveloped at this level..It may be a few years before this draft class pans out for the Steelers..My gut says it won't for many reasons..Most in part because i doubt this Steelers defense can keep players around after the next two years are over.
2015 Season Wins (Prediction)
I hate to say it, but the rebuilding light is on for the Steelers. The sell sign is on for the Steelers as well..I'm not buying this team winning 9 games this year. In fact i believe they will struggle to get to 7 wins. Big Ben is a great QB and Brown is great on the outside..LeVeon Bell will be out for the first three games and that is no help at all. The veteran losses will hurt them for sure and Worilds leaving leaves a big gap to fill. I see no true leader for this Steelers defense right now. Shazier and Timmons are good players, but i'm just not sold..The schedule looks to be a bit tougher than it looks..Most may think 9 wins is going to happen just because it's Pittsburgh..I'm not convinced at all, and i think the Steelers finish at the bottom of the league this year. They will be looking to rebuild in the near future..5 or 6 wins is not out of the question. I think i'm being generous giving them 7 wins total for the year. I'm sure i'll catch some flack for this prediction, but all i got say now so i don't hafta say it later on is...I told ya so.
(Pittsburgh Steelers) Total 8.5 = UNDER
___________________________________________________________
2015 Season Win Total - 9
Year In Review: The Philadelphia Eagles had a pretty good 2014. The Eagles came up short of the playoffs, but still looked good overall for the year. Finshing the year with a winning record is something for the Eagles to build on with Coach Chip Kelly. Eagles looked a little better on defense, but the loss of Nick Foles hurt this team in some games. How will the Eagles adjust to all the new players coming and going with this roster this year?
--- 2015 Key Additions:
QB - Tim Tebow
QB - Sam Bradford
CB - Walter Thurmond III
WR - Miles Austin
RB - DeMarco Murray
RB - Ryan Mathews
LB - Brad Jones
LB - Kiko Alonso
CB - Byron Maxwell
(Overview) --- The Eagles looked much better on defense last year from what i saw..They really stepped up in the run defense dept. Keeping the core of the defensive from last year with Kendricks, Logan, Thornton and Cox should be a big help to that unit..With new additions of CB Thurmond and Maxwell, the Eagles should be much better with pass defense...The Eagles really haven't had a great linebacking core and now with Kiko Alonso that may prove to help them in the middle..The loss of Trent Cole may show up at some point, but i believe the Ealges defense will be much better this year.
--- 2015 Key Departures:
LB - Trent Cole
DB - Carey Williams
WR - Jeremy Maclin
RB - Lesaun McCoy
QB - Nick Foles
OG - Todd Herremans
(Overview) --- I really believe the loss of Jeremy Maclin will hurt the passing game..Miles Austin is rather old and his production will not come close to what Maclin did last year..Riley Cooper was really a flash in the pan from what i have seen from him the last two years. The loss of McCoy really hurts the Eagles from having a flashy playmaker. On the flip side of that McCoy would often dance around in the backfield and the defense more often then not would get a hold of him for a loss of yards behind the line...Still, it was Lesaun McCoy and he is one of the leagues best running backs..I have mixed emotions for McCoy. The loss of Herramans might not be all to bad, but the Eagles are a injury or two away on the O-Line for that to really show up. Getting a OG in the draft must be a high priority here for Philly..Swapping Foles for Bradford really didn't do much for an upgrade at that position.The departure of Carey Williams should help the defense. The losses here won't be to noticeable, but Maclin being off the team will show up...Demarco Murray may get the ball way to much this year, and i have some concerns after how much Dallas used him last year. The loss of Trent Cole may show up more in the locker room than on the field..Wait and see approach here.
__________________________________________________________________
2015 Philadelphia Eagles - Schedule
Home:
-
REGULAR
-
1 SEP 14 7:10PMEDT + AT
FALCONS
-
2 SEP 20 4:25PMEDT )
COWBOYS
-
3 SEP 27 1:00PMEDT ) AT
JETS
-
4 OCT 4 1:00PMEDT ) AT
REDSKINS
-
5 OCT 11 1:00PMEDT )
SAINTS
-
6 OCT 19 8:30PMEDT +
GIANTS
-
7 OCT 25 8:30PMEDT ' AT
PANTHERS
**(BYE WEEK) Week 8
-
9 NOV 8 8:30PMEST ' AT
COWBOYS
-
10 NOV 15 1:00PMEST *
DOLPHINS
-
11 NOV 22 1:00PMEST )
BUCCANEERS
-
12 NOV 26 12:30PMEST ) AT
LIONS
-
13 DEC 6 4:25PMEST ) AT
PATRIOTS
-
14 DEC 13 1:00PMEST *
BILLS
-
15 DEC 20 1:00PMEST )
CARDINALS
-
16 DEC 26 8:25PMEST ,
REDSKINS
-
17 JAN 3 1:00PMEST ) AT
GIANTS
(Overview)
With 5 of the first 8 games being on the road i have some serious concerns. Coming back home after the road games is going to be a real challenge for the Eagles all year. The lack of warm weather teams or indoor teams on the Eagles schedule is a bad thing for the second half of the year. The schedule looks to be 50/50 with strong teams and weak teams overall. I see nothing to favor the Eagles with this schedule for this year. They do however get some of the leagues better teams at home.
_________________________________________________________
The Offense : 2014 - Pass 6th / Rush 9th
--- Newly acquired QB Sam Bradford is the "starter" for 2015. Not much of an updrage in my eyes..He has been injury prone and i'm not sold that Chip Kelly will keep Bradford as the starter..Mark Sanchez has been re-signed and with how Chip Kelly wants to run this offense a reach in the draft for Mariota wouldn't be very surprising to me. The signing of Tim Tebow will do nothing for this team from the QB position. Demarco Murray should be a nice back to have on this team as he is more of a north and south type of runner..I still think the WR core is going to suffer this year unless they get a quality WR out of the draft..I really like Jordan Mathews and i can see him becoming the Eagles #1 target this year. The Offensive line should be fine even with the departue of Herramans. Overall it's a work in progress here for Philly...I guess we will wait and see what other tricks Chip Kelly has up his sleeve before we make a solid determination on this Philly offense..At first look it looks to be down from last year.
--- Big key additions with RB Demarco Murray, Miles Austin remains to be seen. Murray ran for a career high last year and with how much the Eagles run the ball he may in fact have another monster year. If Philly is going to use up Murray, now would be the time over the next few years. Tim Tebow should bring a little bit of a circus to this Eagles organization, but i'm not sold on how he will be used for the Eagles Surely a distraction if one of the Eagles QB's go down. Eagles may in fact target a WR in the draft and i think that may help this team out big time if they can get a high profile WR. Overall the Eagles offense will be a work in progress.
--- Not a probowl cast of WR's, but the Eagles have some young talent here to work with. I really like Zack Ertz and Jordan Mathews..Both guys shined at times last year and they will be a big focus for this Eagles offense..With a decling TE Brent Celek i expect Ertz to become a big part of the Eagles offense this year . Ertz caught 58 passes and had 3 td's last year. I think he will eclipse those numbers here in 2015. Riley Cooper slid down from his big year in 2013. Last year he caught 55 passes for only 570yds. I think we see less and less of Cooper this year. Mathews (pictured middle) should be able to fill the hole here with Maclin departing for Kansas City. Mathews looked good last year, but my only concern is who will be throwing Mathews the ball..It's plain as day to see that Mathews is going to be a huge asset to this Eagles team..Is a 1,000 yard season out of the question here for Mathews?....I think not, he should build off his 2014 season of 8td's and almost 900yds..Ceiling is very high for Mathews and he will be needed.
(Area Of Concern) --- Quarterback
I'll be the first to admit this..I have no idea what in the hell Chip Kelly is trying to do here. He took his starting QB out last year because of injury..Nick Foles looked good in a ton of games and really limited his mistakes..Still Foles was injury prone over the last few seasons and it may not have been what Chip Kelly wanted for the future of the franchise..The Signing of Sam Bradford may just blow up in the faces of the Eagles..Bradford has been a injury magnet for years now. I'm not sold one bit that Bradford is the answer here for the Ealges. Matt Barkley may find himself out of an Eagles uniform come roster cut. Tim Tebow may find himself on the outside looking in. How he will be used is still a big question mark if at all..I'm not ruling out hope that Chip Kelly isn't going after Marcus Mariota..No matter what has been said, Chip Kelly is a maniac for offense and would love nothing more than to get Mariota to run this offense.
____________________________________________________________
Key Stats --- (Offense)
Demarco Murray ran for 1,845 yards last year and 13 td's...He had a alarming amount of carries at 392 attempts...Murray only in his 5th season should be in the prime of his career and it's starting to show. I have high hopes for Murray in this offense this year. Murray can also be a good threat out of the backfield in the passing game..Last year he had 57 receptions and 416yds for the Cowboys. I see Murray as a slight upgrade here for the Eagles at the RB position.
The best 3rd down conversion team in the league last year was the Eagles. Recording 103 first downs on 3rd down was a big help to the Eagles success. I think the only direction for them to go is down in this dept, but the Ealges should be able to maintain a quality 3rd down offense again this year.
We all know how many points the Eagles can put up on offense. They ranked 3rd in the league last year at 29.5ppg...This is something Chip Kelly wants and needs to succeed with this team again this year. Eagles on avg had 400ypg on offense.
___________________________________________________________
The Defense : 2014 - Pass 28th / Rush 15th
--- The Eagles look to be all in now on defense. This unit is rather scary if you know the Eagles in a good sense. The Eagles up front are young and athletic. Kendricks is a borderline probowl players and with the new additon of Alonso, Maxwell and Thurmond this defense should be much improved. Alonso is coming off a injury, but reports are he is 100% and ready to roll for 2015. The Eagles pass defense was just down right horrible last year.. After the Eagles got rid of Asante Sameul it really fell on hard times. Now the Eagles backend looks to be one of the leagues better units. High hopes for this Eagles defense this year.
--- I keep hearing chatter about the Eagles moving Kenricks. I can say this may be the worst move of all this offseason. The Eagles would really need to get a high profile player if they even moved him. He has been so high on my radar ever since he left college. He has really stepped up in this league and this may in fact be the year that he really breaks out with this Eagles defense. Fletcher Cox also had a big year last year. I expect him to really cause a ton of havoc here for the Eagles up front again. Thornton (not pictured) has been resigned and he showed he is worth the price tag..This Eagles defensive front will be much improved if Kendricks stays put with this defense.
--- With Cary Williams moving along with his NFL career away from this Eagles defense i see this as a huge help..Williams more often then not was a big liability for the Eagles backend..Sure at times he looked ok, but for the most part Williams got burned for the big play..Earl Wolff (pictured right) will now step in and the Eagles had high hopes for Wollf..This is his 3rd year in the league and coming out of NC St i was happy the Eagles picked him up.Eagles may look to a new safety in the draft though..We will see how this all shakes out for the Eagles in that position... With Maxwell, and Thurmond now in the backend for the Eagles defense Wolff or a new draft prospect should fit right in and become a solid contributor for this eagles defense.
(Area Of Concern) --- Right & Left Outside Linebacker
Connor Barwin will have to show me how good he is this year. I'm not sold on him for the most part. At times in 2014 he really stepped up..His sack total was very impressive with 14.5 sacks. Barwin made some big plays and key stops, but was often out of possition when the Eagles needed him most. Barwin is a high energy type of guy and can really help the outside if he can duplicate last years performance. I just worry it was a flash in the pan. Brandon Graham is a nice player, but i believe the Eagles can upgrade here in this spot. I'm not taking anything away from Graham at all. He was a nice player for the Eagles, but i really think the Eagles can use a high profile OLB in this years draft.
___________________________________________________________
Key Stats 2014 --- (Defense)
The Eagles 3rd down defense was avg at best..They seemed to fold up in the biggest of spots last year..They ranked 17th overall with 3rd down defense. They will improve here for sure this year.
The Eagles had the 2nd ranked defense when it came to sacks..They really got after the Qb last year and i expect the same out of this unit again this year. No team in the league forced more fumbles than the Eagles..A big help last year and if they can match that number of 26 Forced Fumbles the Eagles will be a tough game in and game out.
Giveaway/Takeaway - This was a big area the Eagles feel short in. The offense did this team no favors last year..21 Int's and 15 fumbles really hurt the Eagles on offense. Some of those turnovers really hurt them from getting a few extra wins. I'm not so sure they will improve in the Interception dept, but the fumbles with Murray should be a little better. Eagles finshed -8 last year in this dept.
___________________________________________________________
2015 Draft Positions
Round 1 - (20)
Round 2 - (52)
Round 3 - (84)
Round 4 - (113)
Round 5 - (145)
Round 5 - (156)
Round 6 - (195)
Round 7 - (237)
The Eagles last year in the draft did nothing exciting overall. The lack of starters they got out of lasts year draft is a concern. I believe this year the draft will produce guys ready step in to fill the holes on this Eagles team. WR USC Nelson Agholor is a player the Eagles are really looking strong at..Agholor is a great route runner and he has some great hands..If they Eagles can land Agholor opposite of Mathews, this Eagles passing offense can be dealdy at times this year. Area of concern for the defense can be addressed by picking up another OLB.. Last year the Eagles made a reach with Marcus Smith..Smith played in 8 games last year, but injuries really hurt his stock over all..I think the Eagles may take a look at Alabama Safety Landon Collins.. Even though Wolff is tabbed the starter, Collins if drafted may start for this team this year. OG would be a solid pickup here for the Eagles as well..It's still up in the air of how the Eagles will attack the draft. Chip Kelly rules out all thoughts when it comes to anything with this Eagles franchise right now..I think the Eagles work some magic here and go for a big splash in this years draft.
Mock - USC WR Nelson Agholor
___________________________________________________________
2015 Season Wins (Prediction)
The Eagles defense will be much improved this year. That really was the big problem for the Eagles last year. I think this Eagles defense will be in the top 10 in almost all defensive categories this year. The offense for me is the real issue here. The QB play is going to be the deciding factor for 2015. NFL is now geared for a passing league and you need a bigtime qb. I still feel the Eagles will struggle in the Qb dept this year overall. Eagles made a bunch of coaching changes all over this team for this year. I'm not so sure how that will help or hurt the Eagles. I'm very skeptical right now of the Eagles for 2015. On one hand the draft can help this team. On the other hand the new acquistions will need to help this team. The defense should be much better, but the jury is still out if this Eagles offense can pick up from were it left off. A bunch of question marks surrounding this Eagles team right now.
The WR talent is average right now. Even with Mathews and Cooper the Eagles still lack a big target on offense on the outside. The Eagles will look for a WR in the draft, and they need to get a guy who can step in for Maclin. I still believe they lack some fire power after they let Desaun Jackson go. They need a deep threat speedster who can change a game..I'm not sure they can find that type of guy in this draft with the placement of picks.
The Eagles defense is loaded up with depth. They have plenty of options if they end up with a few injuries this year. The backend for sure needs to stay healthy. The Eagles are deep with guys who can play LB and DE as well. The competition for jobs this training camp should be interesting.
Special Teams for the Eagles overall was ok last year. At times they really shined last year and gave a big boost to the Eagles on offense and defense. Most of the successes came at home for this Eagles special teams unit..Kickoff returns could use some help and i think this year they will be much better.
--- The bottom line is Chip Kelly is a winner. He has been know for his focus on offense and his lack of focus for a defense. It looks like he has changed his mind and understands you need a defense to have success in the NFL. I have no doubt his offense will be exciting this year. I do however question some of the calls he made last year in games. He is still learning how this league works, but overall i like Chip Kelly and this team can surprise this year. i would not rule rule out a struggling year for Philly either.
It's still early for this year's Eagles team. Chip Kelly has looked like a mad scientist at work thus far in Philadelphia. The defense has my hopes high for 2015. The offense i'm not sold on thus far. The schedule looks to be avg, and the Eagles can flourish or struggle. I hate the fact they play 5 of 8 on the road to open up the season. They have no indoor or warm weather teams visiting the linc in late Nov, Dec, or Jan. Arizona will visit late , but that's about it. They do get some of the leagues bests teams at home..The Eagles played very well at home last year. Special teams was a big factor last year and another year of solid special teams is a must. QB position is my most concerned area and i think this is the spot the Eagles will have trouble all year. Trying to find 10 wins on the schedule is tough for me right now. Finding 8 losses is tough as well. I think the Eagles will finsh with a 9 win season this year.
(Philadelphia Eagles) - 9 WINS = PUSH
___________________________________________________________
2015 Season Win Total - 5.5
Year In Review: Last year was a year the Jacksonville Jaguars would like to forget. They finished with a dismal record of 3-13. They gave up 412 total points on defense and scored a league low 249 points on offense. It was a year in which the Jaguars looked to improve, but they fell short in many areas. One can blame some of the hardships with youth and injuries, but overall the Jaguars failed to execute week in and week out. How will the Jaguars fair in 2015 ?
--- 2015 Key Additions:
TE - Julius Thomas
Asst HC - Doug Marrone
OT - Jermey Parnell
CB - Davon House
LB - Dan Skuta
RB - Bernard Pierce
OC - Greg Olson
DT - Jared Odrick
CB - Sergio Brown
C - Stefen Wisniewski
(Overview) --- The Jaguars picked up some much needed help here for 2015. They really filled some big holes they had on the line and added some depth as well..The key pickup was TE Julius Thomas...Now you add in TE Mercedes Lewis & OC Greg Olson...It looks to be a team that may in fact be hard to stop in the passing game. The WR core has stayed intact and the addition of RB Bernard Pierce will help this team as well...The 2015 draft will produce a RB for this team for sure. The Jaguars filled up on defense as well...Adding two CB's, LB Dan Skuta and DE Jared Odrick...Will the Jaguars look to make a splash in the 2015 draft and draft a high profile defenseive player like USC DE Leonard Williams remains to be seen. (NFL Draft April 30th)
--- 2015 Key Departures:
WR - Will Blackmon
DB - Alan Ball
WR - Cecil Shorts III
LB - J.T. Thomas
RB - Jordan Todman
DB - Teddy Williams
(Overview) --- The departures for the Jaguars is actually an upgrade. Aside from Cecil Shorts III and Jordan Todman, I really don't see a big loss for the Jaguars for 2015. They replaced all these players with guys who can step in and help this team. It's hard to imagine with these departures, that the Jaguars could be worse off this year.
__________________________________________________________________
2015 Jacksonville Jaguars - Schedule
Home:
REGULAR
-
1 SEP 13 1:00PM EDT
PANTHERS
-
2 SEP 20 4:05PM EDT *
DOLPHINS
-
3 SEP 27 1:00PMEDT * @
PATRIOTS
-
4 OCT 4 1:00PMEDT * @
COLTS
-
5 OCT 11 1:00PMEDT * @
BUCCANEERS
-
6 OCT 18 1:00PMEDT *
TEXANS
-
7 OCT 25 09:30AMEDT
BILLS
-
(BYE WEEK) 8
9 NOV 8 1:00PMEST * @
JETS
-
10 NOV 15 1:00PMEST * @
RAVENS
-
11 NOV 19 8:25PMEST ,
TITANS
-
12 NOV 29 1:00PMEST *
CHARGERS
-
13 DEC 6 1:00PMEST * @
TITANS
-
14 DEC 13 1:00PMEST *
COLTS
-
15 DEC 20 1:00PMEST )
FALCONS
-
16 DEC 27 1:00PMEST * @
SAINTS
-
17 JAN 3 1:00PMEST * @
TEXANS
(Overview)
I like the lack of cold weather games this team is going to have to play this year. The second half of the season looks favorable for a Florida team. I like the fact that the Jaguars come out of the bye and face the Jets as well. A long trip from SD can also be help to this club... 6 of the 16 games are Vs. 2014 Playoff teams. That is a nice help as well. Taking to the road to visit N.O, Balt, N.E. is a bit tough though. Overall the schedule is fair at best. I see no real advantage this early on in the offseason.. Key positive is the Jaguars will play 3 games with teams going into the bye week.
_________________________________________________________
The Offense : 2014 - Pass 29th / Rush 21st
--- It all starts with QB Blake Bortles. This offseason Bortles called upon his WR's for early workouts to devote time to routes, timing, footwork and comfortability. Rumor has it that Bortles and the WR's have been getting together all offseason as much as possible for workouts. Not only have they been working out together, but Bortles is the one who called for the workouts. OC Greg Olson released his new playbook to Bortles on April 20th. Bortles had just 11 TD's and 17 Int's last last year on 2,900 yards passing. Big issue here for the Jaguars is the protection they give to Bortles. I believe the Jaguars have helped out this offensive line in a big way. Those offseason workouts should help this team on offense.
--- Big key additions with TE Julius Thomas, Bernard Pierce, and the fact that Doug Marrone will be in charge of the offensive line will have some great dividends this year. Last year Bortles actually had the support of his teammates. He took charge of his team and became a vocal leader on and off the field. It's something he said he is just used to doing. His teammates are 100% behind him this year. The big targets of Thomas and Robinson will help out big time.
--- Also the WR core of Robinson, Hurns and Lee will help out tremendously. These guys all caught over 40 balls last year and all tasted the endzone. Bortles spread the ball between them all. I find that very helpful as they move into 2015. The offensive line is a big improvement as well. The Jaguars led the league in sacks allowed last year. How much better would this offense and Bortles have been with protection?..I believe much better and that will showcase itself this year.
(Area Of Concern) --- Running Back
Workouts of USC RB Buck Allen, Georgia RB Todd Gurley, Alabama RB TJ Yeldon, Wisconsin RB Mevin Gordon. The workouts have all concluded and 1 of these 4 guys is almost a sure fire 2nd rd pick here by the Jaguars. Health issues surround Gurley, but he may still be left on the board for the Jaguars. Melvin Gordon would fit right in here with the Jaguars. I would not rule out Buck Allen or TJ Yeldon, but i believe the Jaguars will go for Gurley or Gordon.
____________________________________________________________
Key Stats --- (Offense)
Blake Bortles QBR was just horrendous. He finished dead last in the league among the starters and most in part because he was running for his life. He also spent a large amount of time scraping himself up off the ground after being sacked for a league high last year.
Jaguars finished 21st in the league for rushing yards last year. They used up all of the candidates they had in the back field last year. Running was a good option for Bortles as he was under attack more often then not. RB will be a key concern here in the draft. RB Bernard Pierce should give this team a lift in the rushing department this year.
Jaguars finshed 29th in passing offense. It's hard to imagine how they finished in front of San Fransico and Kansas City..New OC Greg Olson has taken some young talent and made them much better QB's..Take last year for example with Oakland's Carr..This year Olson has high hopes for his QB Bortles. Dropping any lower or a slight upgrade would be a huge dissapointment to this Jaguars teams in regards to the passing yards per game.
___________________________________________________________
The Defense : 2014 - Pass 22nd / Rush 27th
--- With Chris Clemons on one end and Jared Odrick on the other, this will be a tough team to avoid in the QB pressure department. In the middle Sen' Derrick Marks (not pictured) had a good season last year. Marks had 8.5 sacks.
--- With Paul Posluszny and Dan Skuta in the middle, this defense should be able to perform much better. Posluszny had issues with his knees for years and just signed a 1 year contract. He will be the signal caller here on defense. Skuta was limited last year, but still had some quality games. He will help the outside area of this defense for sure.
--- New CB addition Devon House will be a upgrade as well. Johnathan Cyprien was a beast last year and had 114 tackles. Josh Evans (not pictured) was just behind Cyprien with 90 tackles and will start for the jaguars this year again.
(Area Of Concern) --- Defensive End & Saftey/CB
The question remains what big time DE the Jaguars are going to select. They might just throw a wrench into the entire thinking here by most. Still i believe they will go for USC - Leonard Williams, Florida - Dexter Fowler, Clemson - Vic Beasley. All defense ends...Alabama Safety Landon Collins may get a look, but i think it will be in the later rounds if he is available. One way or the other help is needed and they can get the help they need on the defensive line by drafting 1 of those 3 noted above.
___________________________________________________________
Key Stats 2014 --- (Defense)
The Jaguars ranked T6th with 45 sacks last year. It's something to build on, but don't be fooled. The offense didn't spend to much time on the field and defense really got overworked last year leading to extra opportunities to sack the QB. I do however believe the Jaguars will improve in both departments this year.
Giveaway/Takeaway was rather bad last year. The Jaguars finished -6 for the year. With some new defensive players to make some noise i expect them to be just above or below the even mark.
3rd down Conv % for the Jaguars was just down right bad. They finished dead last in the league and this year the only way to go is up. They also finished in the bottom half for overall 1st downs against, ranking 24th in the league. Again, it's hard to imagine the Jaguars slipping further down the totem pole here on defense with all the new acquisitions.
___________________________________________________________
2015 Draft Positions
Round 1 - Pick 3 (3)
Round 2 - Pick 4 (36)
Round 3 - Pick 3 (67)
Round 4 - Pick 4 (103)
Round 5 - Pick 3 (139)
Round 6 - Pick 4 (180)
Round 7 - Pick 3 (220)
The question remains if the Jaguars will stay put with the #3 pick...They can move back and a swap with Cleveland or maybe even the Rams is not out of the question..The Jaguars seem to be locked in on Blake Bortles for the foreseeable future. This is a deep draft and getting a few extra picks will not hurt the Jaguars by dropping down in the draft..They have holes to fill for sure. Maybe the Jaguars look for depth as well..I think this draft is rather deep with tons of talent..Perhaps a late push at a WR would not be out of the question as well..FSU Greene or USC Agholor would be a nice addition to the WR core as well...Notable RB's that can be looked at here Nebraska Ameer Abdullah or Miami RB Duke Johnson..OSU CB Doran Grant would be a nice fit who can play CB or S...We will see how the draft shakes out, but my gut feeling is the Jaguars fill all the holes on this team this year with some young athletic talent.
Mock - Florida DE Dante Fowler / Jags may pass on Fowler
___________________________________________________________
2015 Season Wins (Prediction)
How in the world do the Jacksonville Jaguars have a season as bad as last year?...I think we can rule out a 3-13 or even worse, but the key here is the season total of 5.5..On the surface the Jaguars look to be better in almost every area..The offensive line was a major issue and with new additons to the line i believe they will be much better as a offensive unit in regards to the O-Line...C Stefen Wisniewski is slated for 2nd on the depth chart to play center..He has been quoted "I have started every year since i came into this league, i intend to start again this year"...That's a great statement to hear from a guy who is new to the team..I believe the competition to start this year will be at a all time high at almost every position. Jaguars have some depth with OT Austin Pasztor and OG Jacques McClendon..McClendon can play either guard position and even Center. Jermey Parnell will anchor the right side and Luke Joekel will take care of the left side..Joekel and Linder have put on some weight as well..Both guys have added 15 lbs each and Linder is hitting the mark of 320...Look for the Jaguars to be much beefier this year.
--- In order for Blake Bortles to have success it all starts with his line..I believe he will be much more comfortable in the pocket. As i stated above he has been working on a number of offseason issues with his WR's...Allen Robinson (pictured) will have a breakout season i believe..Let's not forget about Pierce and a new RB via NFL Draft 2015. This will be a big relief for the QB as well. Bortles ceiling is much higher now that he has a year under his belt. I expect him to have a pretty good season for a second year starter in this league.
The WR talent is above average IMO. At times last year it really shined and at times it was non-existent. Most in part to Bortles getting killed in the pocket. One or two of these guys will flourish this year. TE Julius Thomas will create a big target for Bortles and a nice security blanket if Bortles gets in trouble..he is just a mismatch for most guys on defense.
On defense we can look at some depth with DT Ziggy Hood and DE Tyson Alualu..These guys will see action, but the word is these guys are ready to step up for a complete season. Devon House is a nice addition and i believe we will see a big season out of Jahnathon Cyprien and Paul Posluszny. The draft will be interesting if they get a young stud pass rusher for this team..Sen'Derrick Marks, Chris Clemons, Jared Odrick, Dan Skuta can really make this team on defense much better.
--- Special teams is a bit of an issue. The Jaguars had the worst kickoff return yards last year. Denard Robinson (pictured) was moved to RB last year and rumors are he might even return kicks this year. Jaguars signed WR-KR Bryan Walters as well. This is a big area the Jaguars need to improve..I just can't see them getting worse in YPG in this area. The kicking and punting game should be just fine this year. Jaguars finshed in the top 15 in FG and Punting.
--- I like some of the moves the coaching staff has made overall...Gus Bradley (pictured) has his work cut out for him, but he seems to be taking the bull by the horns..His hire of Doug Marrone should be a help and the jury is still out on Greg Olson all together. I like the fact that the Jaguars organization is locking in some key figure heads as well..It tells me they are in it for the longhaul and they are liking what they are seeing as a whole going into 2015.
It's still very early and many things can happen this offseason.The schedule is fair at best, but i believe the Jaguars can hit 6 or 7 wins this year. The Jaguars ranking last in many areas should be much improved this year. I believe that will translate into a few more wins this year. Jaguars only played in 4 close games last year aside from the 3 wins they had..Those 4 close losses came by 8,8,2 and 7 points. They should be able to close the gap this year and over the next few seasons.
(Jacksonville Jaguars) - OVER 5.5 WINS
___________________________________________________________
2015 Season Win Total - 8.5
Year In Review: The Detroit Lions finished the year at 11-5 last year..Most may have thought the Lions would miss the playoffs once again. In fact the Lions had a great chance to win a playoff game, but came up short Vs Dallas on the road...Detroit went 7-1 last year at home and the defense really stepped up for this team. How will the Lions fair in 2015?
--- 2015 Key Additions:
DT - Haloti Ngata
LB - Brandon Copeland
DB - Josh Wilson
DT - Tyrunn Walker
(Overview) --- Filling in the pieces for the Lions on defense has been interesting. The departure of Suh and Fairley will be noticed for sure this year..Fairley wasn't a game changer like Suh, but he was a big body in the middle and that will be hard to replace with his youth alone. That brings us to Haloti Ngata who is now taking up the middle in place of Fairley. Ngata now brings some baggage though. After fighting off a few injuries and his recent 4 game suspension due to using PED's, Ngata will have to prove his worth to the Lions..I believe he can step up and make some key contribuations for this defense. Tyrunn Walker will also get the start this year opposite of Ngata. This is a area the Lions will need to have success to come close to the Lions defensive front of last year.
--- 2015 Key Departures:
RB - Reggie Bush
DE - Ndamukong Suh
DT - Nick Fairley
(Overview) --- With only a few key moves this offseason the Lions replaced the defesive guys in Suh and Fairley. This will hurt the defensive front for sure. It might help the Lions in the pocketbook so to speak. As far as Reggie Bush moving along in his pro career, the Lions will need to find a RB. Sure Joique Bell is a nice running back, but the Lions need some young talent that can stay healthy for the course of the season. The departure of Bush might not be that bad for the Lions this year. One way or another, this move should be an upgrade for the Lions on offense.
__________________________________________________________________
2015 Detroit Lions - Schedule
REGULAR
-
1 SEP 13 4:05PMEDT ) AT
CHARGERS
-
2 SEP 20 1:00PMEDT ) AT
VIKINGS
-
3 SEP 27 8:30PMEDT '
BRONCOS
-
4 OCT 5 8:30PMEDT + AT
SEAHAWKS
-
5 OCT 11 4:05PMEDT )
CARDINALS
-
6 OCT 18 1:00PMEDT )
BEARS
-
7 OCT 25 1:00PMEDT )
VIKINGS
-
8 NOV 1 09:30AMEST ) AT
CHIEFS
-
10 NOV 15 1:00PMEST ) AT
PACKERS
-
11 NOV 22 1:00PMEST *
RAIDERS
-
12 NOV 26 12:30PMEST )
EAGLES
-
13 DEC 3 8:25PMEST * ,
PACKERS
-
14 DEC 13 1:00PMEST ) AT
RAMS
-
15 DEC 21 8:30PMEST + AT
SAINTS
-
16 DEC 27 1:00PMEST )
49ERS
-
17 JAN 3 1:00PMEST ) AT
BEARS
(Overview) --- This schedule for the Lions looks rather tough for the this year. They start out with two road games with quality teams in the Chargers and the Vikings..Then come home to face Denver. Take to the road in Seattle after that. Not exactly the easiest way to start the season with your first four games. Going into the bye week on the road in KC won't help at all. Then coming out on the road to face GB. The second half is just as bad if not worse for the Lions. They get 1 home game Vs. the Raiders and the rest of the second half is tough all around..Playing the NFC west this year will pose a great challenge. 49ers will visit in Detroit, but 3 out of 4 games on the road to close out the season looks to be tough. They close with Rams, Saints, Bears on the road the final 3 of 4 games. This is one of the toughest schedules in the entire league.
_________________________________________________________
The Offense : 2014 - Pass 12th / Rush 28th
--- Mathew Stafford is going to have to find himself a great NFL season this year. With teams doubling up on Calvin Johnson, it's getting harder for a guy like Stafford to find quality options. The running game needs a huge boost and i believe they can get that in the draft. It may take some time for the running game to get going though. One of the leagues worst rushing offenses will need to produce yards on the ground for sure. Yes, it's a passing league but the Lions can't go one dimensional and expect to have success on offense. Stafford only finshed 2014 with 22 td's last year. He did a much better job of not throwing the ball to the other team as we have seen him do in the past. I never liked the mobility of Stafford and at times it showed last year. Without Stafford this team could be in serious trouble. Stafford had some very poor games last year as well. Finishing games with a QBR at 63,49,53, and 61 %...most in part due to the lack of quality targets to Calvin Johnson and some good defensive play on the other side. Stafford did limit his mistakes last year and that in itself is a big positive for the QB.
--- The Lions offense of the last few years will need to resurface again. Golden Tate (Not pictured) had a great NFL season last year..He caught 99 passes for 1,300 yards. Calvin Johnson had a few games he missed last year due to injury, but still Johnson only with 71 catches last year is way down from the norm here for the Lions passing attack. Last year was his second lowest total of targets in his career. He should have a much better year this year i believe. As far as the rest of the team in the passing game, it really isn't all that scary. Eric Ebron (pictured middle) had only 25 catches last year. Brandon Pettigrew had only 10 catches all of last season. That needs to change and Stafford needs to get these guys involved much more in the offense. The lack of using the Tight End caused the Lions to struggle on 3rd down..Lions finished ranked 18th in the league with moving the chains on 3rd down. It was pretty clear that doubling up Calvin Johnson was a killer for this team..They need to use the players they have. Joique Bell (pictured right) had a productive season last year.. He averaged 3.9 ypc and ended the year with 860 yards. Not a bad back catching passes out of the backfield either. Worry for Bell is if he can be the back to carry this team on his back. I think we have seen enough to say that's not the case. He lacks that explosive play for the most part. His speed is ok, but it's not groundbreaking by any means. He is a great back to have on the field, but i'm not sold on Bell as being the bellcow for this Lions rushing attack in 2015.
(Area Of Concern) --- OG, RB, DT
What the Lions lack is depth. Quality depth for the most part. The Lions are a good team with almost zero game changing players. Exclude Calvin Johnson from that statement. The Offensive Guard position is shaky at best. It's a big toss up of who will even start at the guard position when the season starts. They also lack depth and inexperience at this spot. A few key injuries and it could be big trouble in Detroit. The draft will be sure to fill some holes, but i worry about who the Lions draft to fill in these holes. Lions haven't been the greatest team on draft day. They have improved in the draft for sure over the last two years. DT will be a tough call for this year. You won't replace the talent of Suh with a draft prospect this year unless the Lions move up in the draft. That may take a few years to even develop if it all. We spoke about Bell, but the Lions need a game changer on this team along side Calvin Johnson. The lack of running the ball in 2014 really made this Lions offense predictable. The Lions may need to move up if they want a quality back in Gordon or Gurley. The 2nd round may prove to be the spot the Lions in fact take a RB. My gut says Duke Johnson ends up here in Detroit...This may sound crazy, but i can see the headlines Monday morning reading Johnson & Johnson.
____________________________________________________________
Key Stats --- (Offense)
The Lions finished with 310 first downs last year. Ranking them 20th in the league behind teams like Atlanta, Giants, Wash and Chicago. This is a eye sore for this team right now when they look at the season stats. This area needs to improve or the Lions will struggle this year.
The rushing game last year was down for the most part. They finished ranked 28th in the league with total yards on the ground. They also finshed ranked 17th with only 11 rushing td's all year.
___________________________________________________________
The Defense : 2014 - Pass 13th / Rush 1st
--- If the Lions had 11 DeAndre Levy's (beard) on the field it would be rather scary. Levy is just a tackling machine. He had 151 tackles last year. That's insane how much he is around the ball. Ngata coming in now will be a big question mark. I'm not sold on how he will perform after testing postive for PED's. He may just be down a touch and he is also coming into his 10th season. That's a ton of wear and tear for a 340 lb NT...Rashean Mathis has really stepped up for this defense on the backend. Mathis had 51 tackles last year and was very solid on the right side for the Lions.
--- Glover Quinn (pictured left) also know to the team as "GQ" is a ball hocking FS. He led the team last year with 7 INT's. The combination of Darius Slay (pictured right) and Quinn makes this Lions backend rather scary. Throw in James Ihedigbo as well and you have one of the better defensive backfields in the league. I really like the Lions in the backend and i think we will see a great season from them this year.
(Area Of Concern) --- Linebacker & Defensive Tackle
I'm not sold that the Lions really need help at the LB position. Some others may disagree, but i feel the Lions are ok at that position. I can see an upgrade sooner or later for the Lions in that spot. Maybe some depth can be added at the LB spot..DT is the area of concern here for the Lions. With Suh and Fairley moving along to other teams, that will leave a significant gap on the defensive front. I still think the Lions DT position is ok for the msot part this year. I can see a decline in rush defense and sacks. I doubt it will be so drastic that the Lions are scrambling for playmakers here though. The NFL draft may give them a bright spot with the LB position if they can land a Vic Beasley, Eric Kendricks, or Bud Dupree.
___________________________________________________________
Key Stats 2014 --- (Defense)
Detroit did very well with sacks last year. Ranked 8th in the league with 42 sacks on the year. I worry again with a regression in this department.
Detroit was great last year in the Giveaway/Takeaway area. They finished +7 on the year. More often then not teams will regress after having such a good year in that dept. Another worry for the Lions. Not to mention they lose Suh off the defensive front.
Lions gave offenses fits last year with the passing defense. This is a very strong area for the Lions. They Lions had 20 Int's last year and ranked 3rd. They will need this type of play again this year to contend in the NFC North.
___________________________________________________________
2015 Draft Positions
Round 1 - (23)
Round 2 - (54)
Round 3 - (88)
Round 4 - None - Traded to Baltimore
Round 5 - None - Traded to Baltimore
Round 6 - (200)
Round 7 - (231)
Round 7 - (240)
The Lions moved up last year to get a hold of Kyle Van Noy. I actually like this kid a ton. I watched him in college when he played for BYU and he was just all over the place. I think he will have a strong 2nd year here for the Lions. This year they need more depth in almost every position. Maybe taking a LB is a bit of a stetch and they might in fact just look to a pure pass rusher this year on defense. They first need to address the situation at OG and OT more than anything. Andrus Peat from Stanford is a huge body and would start open day IMO..He rolls in at 6'7 315..That is some serious quality for the Lions. He played in a pro style offense and can really help the run game on the inside. RB is also a area the Lions may look in the draft. With limited picks this year moving up to draft Gordon or Gurley seems like a real stretch. Duke Johnson i believe will get a look in the second round if he is available.
Mock - Stanford OG - Andrus Peat
___________________________________________________________
2015 Season Wins (Prediction)
The Lions offense is one key injury to Calvin Johnson or Golden Tate from being in serious trouble.. They need some depth and they need to stay healthy this year. The lack of a run game this year may just come into effect. The key for this team is the O-Line and the quality of players they have right now. They can gamble and hope none of the playmakers get hurt this year. My gut says the offense struggles this year all aorund. No matter who they get in the draft.
The WR talent is above avg IMO..Calvin Johnson can win you a game if you just throw it in his general direction. He has been getting double teamed, and that has opened the door for Golden Tate. The TE's need to step up and contribute to this offense this year. With Bell and maybe a new young star VIA NFL draft, the run game can rebound from a down year.
I have no issues with this Lions defense at all. I think they are stacked up enough with the starters. They can use some depth and maybe another solid player in certain defensive packages. The departure of Suh will be felt for sure, but the Lions will be above avg on defense again this year.
Special Teams for the Lions is a concern.. The kicking last year was pretty bad. Jeremy Ross at times last year helped the Lions out bigtime. I expect him to have another solid year of returning kicks and punts. Overall the Lions special teams needs some attention in the kickoff coverage area.
--- I like HC Jim Caldwell for the most part. I think he lacks raw emotions more than anything. He is a cool and calm kinda of coach. He demands respect and execution from his players. His offensive mind is very good and i liked the hire when the Lions picked him up. He is a good fit for this Lions team overall.
Defense can only do so much for you in a NFL season. I expect some regression from the defense and the +/- Giveaway/Takeway might just be seen this year. With Suh off the team now, the Lions will struggle in the pass rush area and rushing game. The defense overall is very solid though. The offense is my key concern. The O-line needs to get better for the most part. I have serious concerns for the playmakers on this team. Johnson is a beast and Tate has become very good. After that you get next to nothing from the rest of the offensive starters. It's just filling in blank spots for the most part. They need a big time player to step up or draft a guy who can be a game changer this year. I'm not so sure anyone can do that on this roster. The schedule is my biggest concern. This is no picnic here for the Lions. The beginning and the entire 2nd half of the season looks very tough. Aside from a three game home stetch in the weeks of 5-8, the Lions have a tall order in front of them. I just don't believe they have the horses on offense to contend on the road with this schedule. The home schedule isn't all that easy and some of the situations just don't favor the Lions...One key injury on offense and this team will finish below .500..I can see a 7, 8 or 9 at best for the Lions. I'll stick with my under 8.5 here.
(Detroit Lions) - 8.5 WINS = UNDER
________________________________________________________
2015 Team Total / 8.5
____________________________________________________________
In 2014 the Miami Dolphins finished with a record of 8-8..Missing the playoffs in 2014 this team has made some big adjustments to this ball club in the offseason. Some for the good, and a some for the bad. Does Miami have what it takes to make a playoff push in 2015 ?
Offense:
Ryan Tannehill, QB
Ryan Tannehill is now going into his 4th season in the NFL...In his first three seasons we noticed a few things about Tannehill. He has played in all 16 games since he took the starting job. He also has increased his passing yards each season. His first season total passing yards total was 3,294. Last year his passing yards in total was 4,045. His touchdowns are also up every year and he finished last year with 27 touchdowns. Last year was also his lowest number of combined turnovers as well. His QBR has gone from a 76.1 in his first year to a 92.8 last year..Tannehill has progressed as the years have gone by. Miami has found themselves a starting quarterback who has improved, and now has a chance to make some noise this year.
Lamar Miller, RB ---- Jay Agayi, RB
Miller like Tannehill is entering his 4th season with the Dolphins..Miller just like Tannehill has also improved every season as a Dolphin as well..Last year Miller rushed for 1,099 yards and had 8 touchdowns. Miller has also been a big part of the passing attack and in his 4th year, and i think we can peg Miller as a good fantasy choice at a minimum. Miami will look to use Miller as much as possible, but i also believe they will look to limit him from being over used as well..Miami went out in the 5th rd of the draft and grabbed Jay Ajayi RB, from Boise St...I really think Ajayi will become this teams #2 back in a short time because of his strength. I feel the Dolphins will have a great rushing attack to compliment the passing attack that will be on display in 2015.
Jarvis Landry . WR ---- Kenny Stills, WR
Landry became the go to guy for Tannehill last year..Landry finished with 758 yards and 5 TD's..Landry will be in the slot and the middle option for the Dolphins this year may be a handful for defenses. On the outside you have Kenny Stills who is coming from the Saints who has a ton of talent as well. Stills had 931 yards last year and 3 TD's..Stills will improve this passing attack on the outside with his speed.
Cameron Jordan, TE --- DeVante Parker, WR
Now you add in a real deep threat with great hands and speed with Parker on the outside and that's why the middle is going to be a handful..Dolphins have two tight ends sets and they will be running TE Jordan and TE Dion Sims. This Miami passing attack has improved and this year if they can put the pieces together they will be a tough out for any defense. Youth may hurt them, but they have a few vets on this team as well to get this unit operating at full force.
Overall Offensive Outlook:
This very well may be one of the more talented groups on offense that the Dolphins have put on the field in recent years. They now have players improving and not declining. The youth can be an issue and injuries can hurt this team. This is a work in progress with the offense , but they have the talent to score points this year. The O-Line is my one concern here for the Dolphins..They have a battle going on for starting jobs. They are not the greatest line in the league and they gave up 46 sacks last year. That needs to improve. If this O-Line unit comes together, and they can avoid injury, the progress in the areas they struggled with this Miami offense will be a top 10 offense in the league.
____________________________________________________________________
Defense:
Ndamukong Suh, DT
Make no mistake about it on defense now for the Dolphins, they will be much better with Suh taking over in the middle of this defense..The Dolphins struggled with stopping the run and this is a huge improvement for them. Suh can disrupt the run and the pass and he brings a type of attitude this Dolphins team defense has been missing.
Cameron Wake, DE --- Oliver Vernon, DE
This should be interesting just how much Suh helps these two guys out..The Dolphins at times found themselves out of position on the defensive side of the ball. Now with Suh taking care of the middle, Wake and Cameron can focus on what they need too. These two combined last year for a total of 19 sacks and had combined tackles of 82. Now the edge should be fine and with pressure from these two and Suh in the middle it will be a tough task for any QB in the league to find time to make this defensive unit pay...The run game defense should improve from 24th last year to maybe a top 15 defensive rushing defense. They have the pieces now can they make them work.
The Dolphins added some much needed depth to this defensive unit as well..WIth a late addition Of CJ Mosley and they also picked up a few nice players in the draft that will look to compete and fill in as well..The Dolphins across the board don't have that pro bowl player besides Suh..They are more or less not househould names but the talent on this Dolphins defense is very good..CB Grimes and Jelani Jenkins are tough to get a beat on and with Reshad Jones and Louis Delmas(pictured above) running free, this Dolphins defense just may be a little more recognized this year.
Overall Defensive Outlook :
The addition of one player can't make a decent defense great. The Dolphins defense will now be good and on the verge of very good with the addition to Suh...He makes this defensive unit so much better this year..He is one of very few players that can impact a defense all around..The Dolphins players can now limit themselves to doing the job they have assigned..The outside for this Dolphins team with Suh in the middle will be tough to deal with..The backend is my concern, but overall with the pressure the Qb will recieve, may in fact help them out as well..I'm not very high on the LB core aside from Jenkins. I think this defense can and will improve, but this unit needs to come together rather quick. They are still one or two guys short of being a top 5 defense, but Suh can make them good enough to compete game in and game out.
______________________________________________________________
The Schedule :
REGULAR
-
1 SEP 13 1:00PMEDT * AT
REDSKINS
-
2 SEP 20 4:05PMEDT * AT
JAGUARS
-
3 SEP 27 4:25PMEDT *
BILLS
-
4 OCT 4 09:30AMEDT *
JETS
-
6 OCT 18 1:00PMEDT * AT
TITANS
-
7 OCT 25 1:00PMEDT *
TEXANS
-
8 OCT 29 8:25PMEDT * , AT
PATRIOTS
-
9 NOV 8 1:00PMEST * AT
BILLS
-
10 NOV 15 1:00PMEST * AT
EAGLES
-
11 NOV 22 1:00PMEST )
COWBOYS
-
12 NOV 29 1:00PMEST * AT
JETS
-
13 DEC 6 1:00PMEST *
RAVENS
-
14 DEC 14 8:30PMEST +
GIANTS
-
15 DEC 20 4:25PMEST * AT
CHARGERS
-
16 DEC 27 1:00PMEST *
COLTS
-
17 JAN 3 1:00PMEST *
PATRIOTS
**First look one has to notice the lack of strong teams they play to start the year. This team can go 4-2 at worst case IMO..They also have the benefit of coming out of the bye in week 5 and they go to Tennessee...The tough part of the schedule will be weeks 6 thru 10 with 3 games in a row on the road. They are lucky enough to have some break time playing a Thursday night game Vs. the Patriots before heading to Buffalo in week 9...The real strength comes at the end of the schedule..The Dolphins will play 5 of the last 7 games at home...You can't find a true cold weather game for this club all year..The coldest game this team will play will be Nov 29th @ Jets..They will have 4 of the last 5 games at home and that is huge for this Dolphins team..They will host 3 cold weather teams and an indoor team in Indy. Now granted it's not so bad in Miami late Dec, but the avg temp in Miami is much warmer than what you will get in New York or Foxboro...The lone road game in the last 5 weeks is a long trip to SD..Again not a bad spot weather wise for this bunch....Looking at this schedule of tough games this year i can find maybe 5 at best..Patriots, Philly, Indy, Ravens, Dallas...They will host 3 of them at home and they have 2 games with the Pats...The begining of the schedule is great and the last 7 weeks are great..I see a 4 week trouble spot and that's about it
___________________________________________________________
Overall Prediction:
10 or 11 wins for the Dolphins....The offense and defense will be even better this year..Miami has had some bad luck in recent years and they haven't won over 8 games in a good number of years..With Suh stepping in on this defense it should provide a big boost in the areas that really lacked. The offense again is young, but the talent they have is bigtime..This Dolphins passing game is going to spread teams out and make them defend every inch of the field..The got the TE's, WR's they need..With Miller in the backfield they will be able to use the entire playbook..Rumors have it this team is very focused in OTA's and the rest of the offseason should be a success..They have talent and it will be seen this year. The schedule is a gift IMO and it really favors the Dolphins in 2015..I think Miami will make the playoffs and they will be the biggest surprise in 2015 if they can stay healthy..I have the Dolphins goin 11-5...This line is at 8.5o(-145)...I find great value in only needing 9 wins to cash this ticket.
Miami Dolphins - OVER 8.5 (-145)
____________________________________________________
It's no secret the Patriots are going to be shorthanded in some type of way at the QB position with Tom Brady being suspended. RJ talked about the chance that Brady may in fact reduce his suspension on the Colin Cowherd show yesterday. We can take a deep look at what we can take advantage of before the markets get hit even harder as we get closer to the NFL season...Keeping your eyes open and ready to fire at the first confirmation can make you some profits.
Patriots first 4 games may be the games to look strong at. Not the Regular season, but in factpreseason.
What will the depth chart look like in the preseason for the Patriots at the QB position? Will we get a less minutes now from the 2nd string QB and a potential 3rd and 4th string backup battle? It's a good ways away before the preseason kicks off, but trying to find out this information as we get close can be a big advantage to the bettor.
Let's take a look at the regular season team totals as well.
First 3 games for NE are / Pitt, Buff, Jack.
Situation wise one would think that all 3 teams are live to win the game straight up.
The needle has move on the TT for all 3 of these teams.
Pitt (was) 8.5o15 - (now) 8.5o30 / Only a little added extra juice has been added. Steelers being a heavy bet team one would think this number continues to climb near 9 or hits the 9 mark before opening regular season kickoff.
Buff (was) 8.5o10 - (now) 8.5ev / This will be no picnic for the Pats coming off a opening game Vs the Steelers. Now with a division game on deck @ Buffalo, maybe we look to the Bills over as well. Maybe we will wait and see.
Jack (was) 5.5o10 - (now) 5.5o50 / This may not be the team to look to fire OVER on. The Pats run the risk of losing the first two game and getting a return trip back home for a chance to pick up the seasons first win. Also they can finish off before entering the bye week with a potential 2-1 record with Brady waiting on deck if his suspension is in fact reduced.
Patriots TT - (was) 10.5o35 - (now) 10o30 / If the Brady suspension holds up for the first 4 games, the Pats have a live chance to go 1-3...With 12 games remaing the Patriots would have to win 10 out of 12 to cash the OVER ticket..Not to mention they have 6 road games after Brady would be able to come back..Notable games @ Indy, @Denver @ Hous @ Miami and they also would get a visit in week 13 from the Eagles. Also Pats have the Skins at home with the Skins coming out of the bye. These are all after Brady would return...This seems like a great wager for an UNDER selection. At worst i can see a push on this ticket if Brady is in fact suspeded for the full 4 games. (Bovada) has this line currently up (now)
Sure it's a ways away, but it's never to early to get the best of the numbers in the NFL....TT can be great bankroll builders if the price is right.
__________________________________________________________
The Carolina Panthers found themselves in the playoffs last year with a record of 7-8. It was clear the NFC South was a dumpster fire and the Panthers recorded tie game vaulted them into the playoffs. They beat a Cardinals team in the first round, but faultered in the 2nd Rd. Can the Panthers make another run at the playoffs in 2015?
Offense:
Cam Newton is one of the better QB's in the league..The talent he has been given over his stay in Carolina has been rather dull. Newton is now entering his 5th NFL season. One can easlity see that the production of Newton has slipped every year since he came into the league..Injuries have hurt him as the years have gone by..Last year he passed for the least amount of yards in his career. Only throwing for 3,127 yards. He was almost 1,000 over that total in his rookie season. Still, Newton is very good and if the fantasy guys are dumping the stock in Newton, this may be the year to take a look at picking him back up. i don't believe Newton playing a full 16 games can have the type of numbers he posted in 2014. His numbers should improve.
Kelvin Benjamin is beast on the outside. His talent level is tops in the league without a doubt..Last year he grabbed a total of 73 passes in 1 full season of 16 games. He was targeted 146 times last year and had 9 TD's to his credit. he is a big guy a 6'5 and is a pro bowl type of reciever. He is only in his 2nd year and his upside is scary for years to come. One of my favorites in the league right now. I see no reason Benjamin's numbers slip this year. This very well may be his biggest year in his career. Teams will try to slow him down as the year progresses and that can be an issue for the Panthers. Until then, Kelvin should be on every fantasy list.
Jonathan Stewart will be the primary this year for sure. With the depature of DeAngelo Williams, Stewart will ge the bulk of the carries this year. My issue with Stewart is his health..Even with split reps over the last few years, Stewart has missed a total of nearly 25 games in 5 seasons..He has been unable to complete a full season in his last 3 years. I still think he is a lower level type of back in the NFL. I can see Stewart getting a ton of touches this year though..This should be the prime years of his career, but i just don't see it right now. The Panthers backfield has major issues and i still believe this will be a tough spot for the Panthers to improve on in 2015.
The Rest :
Olson is a quality guy and a great security blanket for Newton. He has remained a solid player over his last 4 years with Carolina...He had a total of 84 catches last year and gained over a 1,000 yards. You can't complain one bit about Olson. The addition of Devin Funchess will improve this Carolina passing attack now..Funchess is fresh VIA the NFL draft and will make an immediate impact to this Panthers offense. Another big target for Newton and this guy had 733 yards last year in a Michigan offense that was rather bad. 62 catches in his last year with the Wolverines netted him a total of 733 yards, 4TD's.
Offensive Outlook :
It's rather tough to really put a quality opinion here on this group..The O-line should be a little better this year first off. I think we will see limited Newton runs this year as well..That will improve the chance of Newton getting banged up..With 3 targets now that are big bodies, i really like the chances for Newton passing this year. These are guys that are geared for the way Newton tends to throw the ball. I still think they are short a quality slot guy, but these guys will do just fine numbers wise. The running game i'm not sold on and being one dimensional in the NFL is a bad thing. If the Panthers can't find a running game it will be more of the same from this bunch. If they can find that Stewart is serviceable, maybe they can make a run at the playoffs. Jury is still out on this bunch entering a new year.
_____________________________________________________________
Defense :
Not sold on this defense at all. They had a nice run at the end of the season to close out 4 wins in a row, but overall i still think this defense can get torched. They gave up 30+ points in 4 games last year in a row. Not to mention they allowed 45 points the Eagles. They played some rather bad offensive teams and that really helped out the numbers. If Kuechly (pictured) can be the man in the middle again i can see this unit improving, but i don;t think it will be much. Kuechly led the league in tackles at 153 and that needs to change. The guy can't keep up that kind of pace right now without some type of help. They are a mid grade bunch at best and with the schedule they have i can see some issues here. I'm not sold on the backend for this group one bit. i like the pickup of Shaq Thompson and that should improve the the middle for sure.
The Schedule :
-
1 SEP 13 1:00PMEDT ) AT
JAGUARS
-
2 SEP 20 1:00PMEDT *
TEXANS
-
3 SEP 27 1:00PMEDT )
SAINTS
-
4 OCT 4 1:00PMEDT ) AT
BUCCANEERS
-
6 OCT 18 4:05PMEDT ) AT
SEAHAWKS
-
7 OCT 25 8:30PMEDT '
EAGLES
-
8 NOV 2 8:30PMEST +
COLTS
-
9 NOV 8 1:00PMEST )
PACKERS
-
10 NOV 15 1:00PMEST ) AT
TITANS
-
11 NOV 22 1:00PMEST )
REDSKINS
-
12 NOV 26 4:30PMEST * AT
COWBOYS
-
13 DEC 6 1:00PMEST ) AT
SAINTS
-
14 DEC 13 1:00PMEST )
FALCONS
-
15 DEC 20 1:00PMEST ) AT
GIANTS
-
16 DEC 27 1:00PMEST ) AT
FALCONS
-
17 JAN 3 1:00PMEST )
BUCCANEERS
This is a problem spot for the Panthers. I think this schedule works against them in many ways. They start out the year on the road overlooking a Jaguars team who will be much improved. Then back to back home games Vs two teams looking to rebound from bad years in the Saints and Texans. They take on a new life in Tampa before the bye on the road and come out of the bye on the road in Seattle..Not a very good spot here for the Panthers early in the season..Coming out of the bye and heading on the road to face the Seahawks is just bad. After the Seahawks they will face the Eagles, Indy, Packers...They get all three games at home, but the home schedule is no picnic at all. This very well might be the toughest home schedule of any team..When looking at a team total to back an over this is the worst possible thing you can go against. They will finish the year after Green Bay with 5 road games in the final 8. They also have 4 division games in that stretch as well. I see very few teams that can be worse than last year on this schedule..This is one tough schedule IMO...I can find only a few ins for this team. I don't see any guaranteed games for this team and that's scary.
Overall Predication :
The Panthers haven't made enough changes to this team. It will be more of the same and the schedule will not be to inviting. Sure the Panthers can rip off a 3-0 start, but after the bye week it gets really intense..I'm not a fan of the Head Coach and the backend of the defense is an issue..The home schedule is brutal this year for the Panthers. I like the Passing game all around and that will be a bright spot. If injuries come into play this year on the offensive end the Panthers can be in big trouble. They only won 7 games last year and they didn't make any offseason splashes. One can only think that this division will improve with the Saints, Falcons, Bucs. So the 7-8 record to make the playoffs won't happen again..They can win this division, but at best i can see them winning it with 8 wins. They will need a ton of things to go right to hit 8 wins this year. I can find almost 9 losses for this team, so no way can i find a total of 9 wins. I just don't see it.
Prediction:
Under 8.5 (-140)
______________________________________________________________
In 2014 the Cincinnati Bengals found themselves in the wild-card round with 10 wins on the season. It was a quick playoff run in 2014 as they went down to the Colts in Indianapolis. Injuries hurt this team and inconsistent quarterback play. Can the Bengals make a return run to the playoffs and finally get over the hump in 2015?
___________________________________________________________________
Offense:
Andy Dalton QB
It all starts with the quarterback in this league. Dalton has been a servicable guy over his stay here in Cincinnati. This will be the 5th year now for Dalton and he has started ever since he was named the starter back in 2011..Now we have AJ McCarron on this staff backing up Dalton and that might make for a bit of a quarterback challenge. Bengals have remained steady with Dalton being the starter and they awarded him with a very nice contract. Dalton was hampered with the injuires around him more than anything..Three key injuries to key playmakers really hurt his chances at becoming a much more productive quarterback. Dalton in 2014 threw the ball for 3,398 yards. That was his lowest output since his rookie season. In 2013 Dalton had his best year as a pro with a total of 33 TD's and 4,293 yards. Turnovers has been a big issue for Dalton, but now in his 5th year, he will look to make a serious impact with a much cleaner and productive season.
AJ Green WR
AJ Green is one of the most dynamic wide receivers in the league. He was hurt at the end of the year last year and that really hurt this Bengals team coming down the stretch. Still, the Bengals showed some heart without Green, but the team just wasn't the same. QB Andy Dalton really relies on Green play after play. Green often times can draw double coverage and Dalton can use his other options to move this Bengals offense. When Dalton goes to Green however, the homerun chance is always there. Green finished again with 1,000 plus yards on only 69 catches last year. He avg's 15.1 yards per catch. Green missed the final three games of the season and will be looking to have a huge year in 2015. Green 6'4 - 207lbs has the frame and athletic ability to rival the best WR's in the game. Green should be right back on top this year as the Bengals come in healthy for the 2015 season. I expect big things from Green this year with a healthy Bengals offense on tap early.
Let's not forget about the supporting cast for this Bengals offense. If healthy, this Bengals offense can go as far as Dalton can take them. Tyler Eifert (pictured left) went down last year after just 1 game. His leg injury really hurt the security blanket for Dalton. With the departure of Jermain Gresham, the Bengals will look to use Eifert in a big way this year. Giovani Bernard had his breakout season here in Cincinnati in 2013. Bernard had almost identical numbers the last two years. Bernard (pictured middle) will now split time with young emerging RB Jeremy Hill (pictured left). Hill came into the league as the 55th pick in the draft. This is a very young and talented backfield right now in Cincinnati. Bernard went down last year late in the season and that was when Hill really showed how good he is..Hill had 5 games in which he rushed for 100+ yards. The final three games of the season Hill ran for 100+ yards. Combined with Hill and Bernard they ground up a total of almost 1,800 yards. This ground attack should be rather impressive this year all around.
How about the role players on this team on offense ? You have a Rutgers Scarlet Knights trio now in Cincinnati with Sanu, Brock, and newly acquired VIA NFL Draft TE Tyler Kroft. You also have to factor in Brandon Tate as well. Bengals went out and had a nice draft on the offensive endl. They added (2) TE's , (2) OT, and a nice WR from West Virginia in Mario Alford. Alford will contribute to this team one way or the other. His skill set is rather good and he may just be a big impact on the special teams unit or on offense.
Mohamed Sanu WR
Sanu is perhaps the biggest role player on this Bengals team. Sanu will get plenty of looks this year once again. His production has gone up with how he handles himself on the field. Sanu finished up last year with a total of 56 catches last year for 5TD's and 790 yards. Now with a healthy offense and Eifert to clog up the middle, i look for Sanu to get his chances again this year. Let's not forget about Marvin Jones who was out all last year with a leg injury as well. He will be on the field and his quickness can create issues for any defense.
Offensive Outlook:
The offensive line and injuries will dictate just how far this group can go. If the Bengals stay healthy and Dalton can be who we think he can be, the Bengals just may impress beyond expectations in 2015. Now with a duel threat backfield and a healthy and deep WR core, the Bengals on offense looks rather impressive. Dalton although has had his issues in years past, he will enjoy not being sacked again this year. Dalton was only sacked a total of 21 times last year. That's a big credit to the offensive line and Dalton not wanting to be hit. I like the fact that Eifert comes back and that Gresham has moved on from this team. Gresham in my eyes was rather dull in his last few seasons and Dalton really needed some new blood. You can never count out Green or Jones making a big play no matter what the situation is. Sanu will contribute as well and this really looks like a 5 or 6 headed monster when you look at this offense. I expect the Bengals to have one of the best offensive teams in the league. Even with Dalton at QB, we often worry about his talent level. I think the talent that surrounds him will make Dalton perform at a much higher level this year. Dalton should be very calm and he will let the offense work around him. I see big things for this offense if they stay healthy.
_____________________________________________________________
Defense:
This Bengals defense went through it all last year. With the talent on this defense it was rather surprising to look back on some of the season stats. Cincinnati finished with the 22nd ranked defense in the league. If you take a deep look at this roster, this very well can be a top 5 defense. With big injuries to Vontaz Burfict (pictured above) and a down year for Geno Atkins (pictured above) this Bengals team really struggled. Burfect only saw about 5 games last year and that was a big problem for the middle of this defense. Burfict was a tackling machine the year before and he was missed big time last year. Atkins was coming off a big injury and i felt he was rushed back onto the field and was never 100% healthy. Now with the offseason, and time to rebuild both of these guys, this Bengals defense has a chance to flourish once again.
With Rey Maualuga, Adam "Pacman" Jones and Reggie Nelson on the defensive side of the ball you have some extreme talent. Adam Jones (pictured middle) has to think it's now or never for this Bengals defense. Jones one of the most storied defensive players in the league, and has really turned the corner in his life and on the field. One can only root for a guy like "Pacman" to have a chance to win a superbowl. Reggie Nelson (pictured right) and Jones combined, can cause a quarterback to struggle or to have a real successful day. Combined they had 7 ints and 157 tackles in 2014. I think these two can cause issues this year with a healthy defense as well. Rey Maualuga (pictured left) will take care of his business in the middle this year, and i think he will have a better year. He won't have to worry about guarding the entire field now with Burfict back in the lineup. Maualuga was again another body that was banged up on this Bengals defense. He missed around 5 or 6 games, but was limited in some of his playing time on the field as well due to the injuries he suffered from. This trio really makes this Bengals defense a top tier defensive unit.
Denfensive Outlook:
This Bengals defense will be one of the better units in the NFL. Some may disagree, but i can see a talent gap with this group and the 2nd half of the league. They had way to many injuries and the Bengals defense pressed all the wrong buttons in 2014. They rushed guys onto the field and the injury bug killed them overall. Burfict will anchor this team in the middle. The guy is as solid as they come and with a healthy Atkins the defensive line will be stable again this year. The speed on this defense isn't the greatest, but they maintain sound assignments all the time. Last year was just a bad year stat wise when you really look at the Bengals production. I believe this team has a chance to be in top 5-7 area this year. I can see them only giving up 20ppg this year. That will vault them from a 22nd ranked defense to a top 10 defense for sure. Injuries can hurt a team and that was really evident in 2014 with the Benagls defense. This is a superbowl type of defense if they stay healthy and perform like we have seen them in the past. I would not put much stock into the numbers from this group from last year. They just didn't have the playmakes on the defensive side of the ball healthy. It's really that simple. They have 3 or 4 pro bowl guys on this defensive roster, and this year i think it will show once again how good this team is on defense.
___________________________________________________________
The Schedule:
REGULAR
-
1 SEP 13 4:25PMEDT *
AT RAIDERS
-
2 SEP 20 1:00PMEDT *
CHARGERS
-
3 SEP 27 1:00PMEDT *
AT RAVENS
-
4 OCT 4 1:00PMEDT *
CHIEFS
-
5 OCT 11 1:00PMEDT )
SEAHAWKS
-
6 OCT 18 1:00PMEDT *
AT BILLS
-
8 NOV 1 1:00PMEST *
AT STEELERS
-
9 NOV 5 8:25PMEST ,
BROWNS
-
10 NOV 16 8:30PMEST +
TEXANS
-
11 NOV 22 4:05PMEST *
AT CARDINALS
-
12 NOV 29 1:00PMEST )
RAMS
-
13 DEC 6 1:00PMEST *
AT BROWNS
-
14 DEC 13 1:00PMEST *
STEELERS
-
15 DEC 20 8:30PMEST '
AT 49ERS
-
16 DEC 28 8:30PMEST +
AT BRONCOS
-
17 JAN 3 1:00PMEST *
RAVENS
______________________________________________________________
Schedule Outlook:
The schedule lines up pretty good here for the Bengals. The last 4 weeks can be a test for them, but they also can get a break with how it sets up in the final 4 weeks..The beginning really looks nice as they will visit Oakland to open up the year. Then they come back home to face a team in San Diego who always struggles in early games on the east coast. They will see Baltimore after that and KC next. I can see a split here for those two games. Week 5 is a real measuring stick here for the Bengals. Seahawks come to town, and most will look right past the Bengals here. Be careful..The Seahawks will be coming off 3 straight games Vs. the NFC north teams. They close up those 3 games with a MNF game against the Lions. They will have to make a trip east with a missed day of rest and that travel spot. Don't be shocked if the Bengals steal this game. The line value in this spot should be great for the bettors as well. I like to look at teams who get a bye week around week 7. It's a perfect time for team to catch a break and heal up. This is the case hear for the Bengals. After the bye week they have a real chance to rattle off 6+ wins.The caliber of teams is rather low during that stretch. Bengals do have two trips out west and that can always be an issue. I think they can be rolling going into those games however with the games prior. The final two games they have the Broncos who very well may be resting if everything lines up well for them, and then to close w/ Baltimore. The Ravens i feel will have a decent year, but i think they might be in a battle to make the playoffs. The home schedule here for the Bengals should produce 6 wins. The road schedule should produce them 4 or 5 wins. I think i'm being very fair here with the losses for the Bengals. Not a bad schedule at all.
_______________________________________________________________
Overall Season Outlook:
It's now or never for the Cincinnati Bengals. This team has now been together long enough to know if they don't perform this year, this team very well may break apart after this season. The second longest tenure of any head coach behind Belichick is Marv Lewis. Lewis is coming into 12th season now with the Bengals. If the Bengals don't make a serious push this year, Lewis will be gone at the end of the year.
If you really look deep at this roster, this team can get to the next level. They have always had the talent, but the talent was young. Most bettors overlook that area. Dalton, Green, Gio, Burfict, Hill...I can go on and on with the youth this team had on the field..Last year was the year most expected them to make a real push and the year prior. Still this team is making the playoffs and now that youth is getting into the prime. The offense is loaded with talent from the RB position to the entire receiver core. Both backs are duel threats out of the backfield and Dalton should have a stable of targets. The Bengals will be able to mix it up with a healthy bunch this year on offense. The defense will be back in top form in 2015. The injuries to this team on both sides of the ball killed this team last year...With the youth in years past and injuries last year, it is hard to tell just how talented of a team this is. I can tell you this team is very good. I also believe that with Lewis being on the hot seat in recent seasons, he will be a little more firm with this group. It's now or never for this entire team. I think most will just overlook this Bengals team and it will be a serious mistake. This team is going to make a serious push this year at a superbowl. Is Dalton capable of getting them there?..I don't believe he needs to be a superstar to get that done. If he can just do his job and limit mistakes, the offense will get it done for him with the talent they possess. The schedule looks to be very fair and i see a few spots the Bengals can take advantage of in 2015. I expect a serious regression from the Steelers and the Ravens won't be far behind them either..I'm going out on a limb here and i will predict the Bengals notch 10,11 or even 12 wins in 2015 !!
______________________________________________________________
Prediction - Cincinnati Bengals - Over 8.5 (-125) Bovada
_______________________________________________________________
2015 Season Win Total - 8.5
Year In Review: The Kansas City Chiefs fell short of a playoff bid in 2014. The Chiefs did finish with a decent record of 9-7. Kansas City played well at home, but the road games gave them issues last year. Alex Smith started every game in 2014 and will be the teams QB this year again. RB Jamaal Charles had a productive year and this year he should be high on the fantasy draft list once again. Do the Chiefs have enough talent on this roster to make the playoffs or beyond is the big question.
-- 2015 Key Additions:
WR - Jeremy Maclin
CB - Marcus Peters
S - Tyvon Branch
RG - Paul Fanaika
LG - Ben Grubbs
WR - Jason Avant
(Overview) --- Some of the additions i like. Some i don't think will help this team much. Jeremy Maclin will be perfect for a guy like Alex Smith. Maclin has no fear doing what his QB needs or wants him to do..Smith will get very comfortable looking for Maclin on a regular basis...Peters was a big need with the CB position, KC was hurting for young talent after a few key injuries to the KC backend. The O-Line got a updrage with Ben Grubbs, the Pro-Bowl LG should be a big help and the line will see some improvement in that area.
-- 2015 Key Departures:
TE - Anthony Fasano
WR - Donnie Avery
WR - Dwayne Bowe
LB - Joe Mays
DT - Vance Walker
(Overview) --- Losing 3 starters from the offense who produced for this team may hurt. Bowe is a great player, but he had plenty of issues in past years. Avery will be missed for sure. Same goes for Fasano. Not top tear talent by any regards with that trio, but i wonder how much of an upgrade the Chiefs actually made in the passing area with additions Vs. departures.
_________________________________________________________________
OFFENSE:
--- Alex Smith will be under center for another year. We all know and love Alex Smith and what he brings to the table. Smith is that guy who won't give you a ton of offense production, but you can always count on Smith to never hurt the team with turnovers or bone headed plays. Smith only threw a total of 6 Int's last year. That's very good. The downside to Smith is the yards he can gain with his arm. Only throwing for 3,265 yards in this league isn't going to cut in in 2015. Smith had a total of 6 games under 200 yards. Only once did Smith throw for over 300 yards. This area needs to be improved. I think Smith can, but i also think he may struggle with a whole new cast of characters on the outside. Smith is the key to how far the Chiefs go.
--- With these two running backs on the roster the Chiefs are a legit threat with the run game. Jamaal Charles(pictured left) has been one of the better talents at the running back positon in recent years. The big question is what Jamaal Charles shows up in 2015. Charles had a much better year last year as he rushed for 1,033 yards and 9td's...His recieving was a big help as well, and that might carry over as an added threat once again this year. Charles has the talent to have that big year again. Knile Davis (pictured right) is another quick hitter. He filled in nice with the Chiefs backfield. Chiefs also have some depth here at this spot with Cyrus Grey and D'Anthony Thomas. I do expect Thomas to be used in both the RB and WR position this year. This is by far the strength of this Chiefs offense.
--- This can be a problem area for the Chiefs in 2015. It very well may not be a problem area if this offense can find some type of offseason cohesion. Out with the old and in with the new. Concerns here for this tandom of players who will be catching the ball overall..Jeremy Maclin(pictured left) comes into a rather comfortable situation. Maclin played for Andy Reid and was a well liked guy by Reid. Maclin will get the bulk of the catches this year for sure. I'm not 100% sure of the rest of the guys production wise. Albert Wilson (pictured middle) will fill in another empty spot as well. Wilson coming into his second year will need to step up in a big way. he was very limited last year. He picked up the slack when needed as the Chiefs season was coming to an end. Travis Kelce (pictured right) is a nice fit i think overall..He stepped up bigtime last year and should give that security blanket Alex Smith needs..Kelce had 67 catches for 862 yards last year. One of the better years for all of the TE in the league. Can these guys mesh is the big question with Smith and everything being new to this entire offense?
(Area of Concern) --- I guess i can sum it up by saying the entire offense. Charles hasn't been 100% steady. I do think he is in for a big year however. The RB position is the least of my worries. The O-Line needed some attention and it got it. How will it work is another question. The only real spot that has been untouched is the center postion. Everyone else is mixing and matching spots. With this type of offense with all the new players the Chiefs will need to get this group solid up front and knowing what is going to take place this year. I have concerns with the O-line depth. QB spot is a concern. Smith is "ok" overall, but how will he react to seeing new faces this year. WR core is scary IMO. I'm not sold on the overall talent base. They don't have a true home run hitter in this group. A decent group, but Maclin will have to carry them a long way.
________________________________________________________
DEFENSE:
Dontari Poe will anchor the middle of this defense. I like Poe overall and i can see hime having another productive year. Poe is a big body and running on this KC defense at times can be tough if Poe has the motor running...Along side Poe will be Allen Bailey and Mike Devito...Between Poe and Bailey they had 11 sacks last year. Now with DeVito coming back from being out last year, this group should be on point for 2015.
Tamba Hali should have a much better year. The Chiefs had a few big injuries and Hali struggled to get into his groove all year. His numbers in 2014 fell short of season expectations. Hali will be causing havoc with a fresh season here. The LB core is rather solid with Justin Houston and Derrick Johnson...The real grinder in the LB core is Josh Mauga. I really think he will have a big year once again. He had a total of 103 tackles last year and will keep this group going all year in the middle. Teams that choose to run on this defense may have trouble having succesful run game yardage.
Sean Smith(pictured left) and Ron Parker (pictured right) will have to step up this year. They have a new rookie CB taking a spot on this defense and this is my one area of concern for the Chiefs on defense. I don't think they are a top 10 defense with this backend. Parker is high on my radar and i think another big year for the Chiefs FS is on tap. Kansas City really needs to step up creating turnovers and getting to the ball. They finished tied for worst in the league in 2014 in the interception department with a total of only 6 picks. That won't cut it this year. They have all the talent to get after the QB and create issues with the D-Line. They need to get better in this spot without a doubt and get themselves some interceptions this year.
(Area Of Concern) --- Well i guess saying the entire defense would be unfair. So i will say 80% of the defense draws concerns. They can quickly shut me up with some solid efforts this year though. As i stated the backend is my big worry spot. Once that becomes a issue, so does the rest of the defense. Injuries can really hurt this defense. Depth "was" an issue last year. It still may be as the young talent they have may not be NFL ready to just step into huge roll on this defense. Only time will tell how good this group will be. If the backend really steps up, this defense can become tough to move the ball on. That's a big "if" in my eyes. Still, i think they have talent, just not superstar talent. They really need that IMO.
__________________________________________________________________
The 2015 Schedule:
REGULAR
-
1 SEP 13 12:00PMCDT * AT
TEXANS
-
2 SEP 17 7:25PMCDT * ,
BRONCOS
-
3 SEP 28 7:30PMCDT + AT
PACKERS
-
4 OCT 4 12:00PMCDT * AT
BENGALS
-
5 OCT 11 12:00PMCDT )
BEARS
-
6 OCT 18 12:00PMCDT * AT
VIKINGS
-
7 OCT 25 12:00PMCDT *
STEELERS
-
8 NOV 1 08:30AMCST )
LIONS
-
10 NOV 15 3:25PMCST * AT
BRONCOS
-
11 NOV 22 7:30PMCST ' AT
CHARGERS
-
12 NOV 29 12:00PMCST *
BILLS
-
13 DEC 6 3:05PMCST * AT
RAIDERS
-
14 DEC 13 12:00PMCST *
CHARGERS
-
15 DEC 20 12:00PMCST * AT
RAVENS
-
16 DEC 27 12:00PMCST *
BROWNS
16 JAN 3 12:00PMCST * RAIDERS
(Overview)
I'm worried about the Chiefs before the bye week. They will get a bye week in week 9..A little late for my liking. They split 4 home and road games. Problem for the Chiefs is the road games are rather tough when you look at the home games in between. Back to back trips to GB then to Cincy after a week 2 showdown Vs. Denver looks to be a tough stretch. Chiefs will get the NFC North and every team in that division will be tough to beat. I think the Chiefs will need to get the job done at home early in the season. Going anything less then 3-1 at home before the bye may be a concern as the year moves ahead. After the bye they head back out on the road for back to back road games Vs. Denver then SD. Play a tough Bills team at home after that. Week 15 won't be a picnic either with travels to Baltimore. Pushover games on this schedule are rather ok. Oak (2), Clev, Bears, Texans, Bills...They get 3 of those at home and 3 on the road. I really think the Chiefs at best go 4-4 on the road. The Chiefs at home are a tough bunch. The place is loud and that crowd always provides a boost. They will need to do so again this year. Home look right now is a best 6-3..Will they get that done?..Maybe...
______________________________________________________________
Andy Reid isn't the flashy kinda guy coach. He is rather dull and with the roaster he has on deck, i don't expect anything exciting from this team. Maybe we get Charles home with our fantasy drafts, but that's about it. Maclin is a nice piece and the defense should be rather stout. My overall concern is the lack of superstar players on either side of the ball. The Chiefs lack in this spot..How will the O-Line and Defensive backend be this year. We have a ton of questions with this team. Being rather confident is rather tough. It starts with Reid and trickles down from the QB and so on and so on.....The schedule is "fair". Most teams who have talent can do damage to a schedule of this type. I'm just not sold the Chiefs are that type of team. Alex Smith will need to find some type of passing game he hasn't had in years past. Charles will have to be the Charles of old and build on last year. This team needs to stay healthy and they need to do that for the entire season. Any little hiccup on either side can be a disaster. The depth they have is young right now. The Chiefs at home are always a tough out, but taking them on the road has been a real challenge with Reid and Smith. Something needs to change for this team to make a big leap. Again in my eyes it's the same old KC Chiefs. You might get 10 wins or ya might get 4...I think 10 wins is the max for this bunch. I do believe the basement has a realistic chance as well. Total is set at 8.5. If i had to put my hard earned cash on the line i would place it on the under. I very well can lose this wager. I very well can be counting my money with this ticket as early as week 9. The jury is out, but for right now i like the under play.
Season Prediction : Under 8.5