With Training Camp on the horizon here is how we viewed the offseason.
- Team that improved the most this offseason?
Mark- When you look at it Miami has really put the extra time and work to make them a favorite in AFC east this year. With the additions of Hill and Cedric Wilson along with Waddle are going to have very big stat seasons as long as these 3 are healthy.
Bill – I am going to say the Los Angeles Chargers with Khalil Mack trade and beefing up their Defensive line with Sebastian Joseph Day and Austin Johnson. .
Mike: The Los Angeles Chargers had a -1 turnover differential last season and had 35 sacks. How did they fix that they added JC Jackson and Khalil Mack to an already stacked defense in what will be a very competitive AFC West.
Jeff – The Jets greatly improved. During free agency they added a big hoss upfront with Laken Tomlinson, who only gave up 2 sacks and committed 5 penalties while playing about 1,100 snaps. They also added DB help with the addition of DJ Reed, who was near the top of the list in tackles for a DB. During the draft, they filled much needed holes, with a shutdown DB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, a burner at WR in Garrett Wilson and ACC Defensive Player of the year, DE Jermaine Johnson II
Patch-Man You have to give credit to Miami They went out and got Tyreek Hill on a 4 year deal along with getting Teddy Bridgewater who will back up Tua Tagovailoa and added other players such as OG Connor Williams OT Terron Armstead, WR cedrick Wilson Jr and RB Chase Edmonds. All of this with expression of Bridgewater will help Tua in the end cause it help improve the team on offense and with new head coach Mike Mcdaniel at helm Miami can definitely be a wildcard contender not saying a division frontrunner yet until the season gets started.
Ross- the New York Jets. Especially during the draft with getting a great supporting cast for Wilson.
- Quarterback under the most pressure this season?
Mark- The Quarterback who has to perform is Daniel Jones if he has a poor season he will be on the outside looking in. Even though my expectation is he only lasts 3 -4 games before being replaced
Mike : Tua Tagovailoa. Yes this is a bit of a homer pick but the Dolphins went out and added Tyreek Hill, Terron Armstead, Raheem Mostert, and Chase Edmonds to what was a inconsistent offense last season if Tua doesn’t improve the Dolphins have the ammo to upgrade the quarterback position in the offseason.
Bill- Daniel Jones after they declined his fifth year option , this is a total prove it year for him. Going into his fourth season he has not had a winning season. Maybe with a new offense minded coach with Brian Daboll he can be molded into an NFL Quarterback
Jeff – Daniel Jones has the most amount of pressure on him. A high first round pick that has regressed in every category each year, who was sacks half the number of times as Joe Burrow and put up a fraction of his numbers. He is in the last year of his contract, since the Giants declined his 5th year option making him a free agent after the season, but now has to contend with journeyman veteran QB Tyrod Taylor, who was playing pretty well in Houston before losing his job to injury.
Patch-Man- Daniel Jones it’s simple his numbers are not bad I mean 45-29 TD-INT ratio in 4 years is not great and it’s not terrible this stents from that he is in New York and that old NY mentaly comes in if you are not great off the bat we don’t want you anymore. Also with it being the last year of his contract, maybe the NY Giants not picking up the last year of his contract is going to be lighting the fire under him to see if he can prove that he is worth a contract extension. Put it this way, if Jones and the Giants are not over .500 by the halfway point of the season the Daniel Jones Experiment will be over in NY and Tyrod Taylor will be in and the Giants will be getting a new QB at the 2023 NFL Draft. Where Jones goes after that if that happens who knows we will half to wait and see.
Ross- Zach Wilson has to improve this year. The organization made it a priority to surround the former second overall pick with talent.
- Which first year head coach will win the most games?
Mark- Darrell Bevel of the Jags has the best shot of a 9 game win season. With a revamped team and some good signings this team is packed with talent and 9 wins will not get them into the playoffs but they will be contenders. You also have to give the Accountants/Lawyers on that team some credit with how contracts are worked and making sure the money is there with no violations.
Mike: Dennis Allen: Sean Payton’s former DC will get Michael Thomas back healthy and with the additions of Chris Olave and Jarvis Landry with Alvin Kamara the Saints offense should do damage. Defense should continue to be very good the Saints are a sleeper team to get to the Super Bowl.
Jeff- Although the Raiders and the Broncos have improved, they are in a tough division alongside the Chiefs, I will also have to say the New Orleans Saints’s Dennis Allen. Not only will they get a returning Jameis Winston and a healthy Michael Thomas, but they also added Jarvis Landry, and although they are going against the Bucs, who might sweep them both times, they have surefire wins against the Panthers, Falcons and Browns.
Bill – I am going with Nathaniel Hackett , I think we are going to have see how he works with Russell Wilson after seeing his work with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. This is a Bronco team that is ready to win games.
Patch-Man Nathaniel Hackett with Denver trading for Russel Wilson this gives Denver the best shot minus the 2021 season Wilson has had a winning season since he entered the league in 2012. With this also being a fresh start for Wilson Wilson will be out to prove that he can work with a new head coach. Yes the AFC West is tough when you have quarterbacks such as Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert in it but i think Nathaniel Hackett and Wilson can get the job done and split division play and get a 10 game win season
- What offseason addition will have the biggest impact?
Mark- I think that the addition of Tyreek Hill The dolphins are trying to win it this year. He will make Waddle better. I expect with the addition of Hill, Waddle is going to be even better than last season. With the addition of Mostert they now have a running game which they were seriously lacking last yr.
Mike: Von Miller. The one thing the Bills defense needed was a legit pass rusher. Miller was really good for the Rams on their way to the Super Bowl. He should do big things in Buffalo.
Jeff – The Broncos addition of Russell Wilson. Adding a franchise QB and possible future hall of famer will be what the Broncos need to challenge the rest of the teams in a strong AFC West
Bill- Davante Adams , I believe him reuniting with Derek Carr who he played with at Fresno State will be a beautiful thing. Adding Adams to an offense with Darren Waller, Hunter Renfrow and Josh Jacobs the Raiders offense should be able to score.
Patch-Man – Denver getting Russel Wilson this will bring some life to the Broncos as they have been struggling since they Peyton Manning era where they last one the Super bowl at SB 50. The Trade also just made the whole AFC West competitive and probably at a QB standpoint the best QB Division you have KC and Mahomes LAC and Herbert and LV and Carr. When it comes to the Division you will see that no team will win all their in division games and see a lot of splitting and this can make the case that this will be a close division as well.
Ross- George Karlfatis : The Chiefs had 31 sacks last season, the only teams with less were the Lions, Eagles and Falcons. Karlaftis should definitely help generate more of a pass rush for the Chiefs defense.
- Head Coach under the most pressure?
Adam – Matt Rhule. It’s time for the Panthers to take that next step.
Mark- Mike McCarthy anything short of Super Bowl then Sean Payton is next Dallas head coach. McCarthy has NFC winning team possible its entrant for the Super bowl. If Dallas isn’t in the Super bowl than he is gone.
Mike: Matt Rhule. The Panthers have talent everywhere on the field but they need to upgrade the quarterback position. If Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield don’t play well enough again it will cost Rhule his job.
Jeff – Brandon Staley of the LA Chargers. This is Justin Herbert’s 4th year under a rookie contract. No playoff appearances in 3 years. Last year they were 2nd in passing yards, 5th in passing TDs, tied for 6th in rushing TDs, 3rd in scoring, had 2 players with 1000 receiving, 3 players with 99 or more tackles, Joey Bosa had 10.5 sacks. They also added Khalil Mack and Kyle Van Noy on defense. They have a real shot at making the playoffs, but if they don’t make it, tons of injuries notwithstanding, then Staley could be out in LA
Patch-Man – Mike McCarthy he has had one winning season (2021) where he went 12-5 and lost in first round of the playoffs to SF 49ers and his first season with Dallas (2020) where he went 6-10 granted Dak Prescott got hurt that year so who knows how the season would have ended. But coming into his third season as the Cowboys head coach he is under the most pressure because looking at the NFC East he has the best team and should easily win the Division and if so when it comes to playoff time he needs to take the Cowboys on a run instead of being one and done. If the Cowboy make the playoffs and go one and done or have a losing season Owner Jerry Jones will have to make the decision to weather to keep McCarthy or fire him and go Head Coach shopping at the end of season.
- Would you rather trade for Baker Mayfield or Jimmy Garoppolo? (Note this was written before Baker was traded)
Adam – Jimmy Garoppolo : Garoppolo led the Niners to a Super Bowl appearance. In the right system Garoppolo can still be a very good quarterback.
Mark- Baker to me has the bigger upside with his arm and vision on the field. Baker also has a lot to prove that he is a top 12 QB in the NFL. With the Watson decision looming Baker could see a huge 1 yr contract and if he shows off well enough like we know he can then he will be the hottest FA next season.
Mike: This is a tough call for me but I lean towards Baker because the Browns adding Deshaun Watson should put a chip on his shoulder, and if he goes to the right situation (Seattle) Baker could flourish quickly.
Jeff – I’d take Jimmy G. Since 2019, Jimmy’s had a better starting record, better completion%, less Ints, almost a 12 points higher Quarterback rating and has taken 33 less sacks. Over 37 games, he’s 25-12 as a starter compared to Baker who is 23-23 over 46 games as a starter. He’s also won in the playoffs and Baker hasn’t been there yet.
Bill – I am going to say Jimmy G , he has more experience . My thing with Baker is needs to gain confidence back after the whole Deshaun Watson situation and see if he will be starting in Carolina.
Patch-Man I would go for Baker because of the Browns decision to go out and get Deshaun Watson before his case is settled and what the league will do with him. Baker Needs help and The Browns instead of trying to get more help for him went out and basically said screw you we want a new qb and saying its all his fault not ours. I like Jimmy Garoppolo but how many times is he going to be hot and cold? If you watch Garoppolo play when he has help he is hot but when that help is not there he is cold as ice. If you get Baker a new team and a fresh start i think he will go out and show that he belongs in NFL and that the Browns should have gotten him more help instead of going out and getting a QB who is off the field issues that have not been settled and that his suspension from the NFL has not been handed out yet. Now that we know Baker has a new home with the Carolina Panthers he will do his best to win the starting position to get that Week one matchup against the Browns .
Ross- Baker Mayfield
- Which Quarterback are you more willing to give a long term contract to Lamar or Kyler?
Ross- Lamar Jackson : Lamar has won an MVP. Kyler at times has been very inconsistent.
Adam – Lamar Jackson certainly warrants a contract extension more than Kyler Murray in my opinion. Lamar was a league MVP just
Mark- Both are very accomplished Quarterbacks but after seeing the immaturity of Murray in the off season and play over the last 2 years it’s Lamar all the way. Lamar brings more to the table with his running ability. Jimmy has played well but just not well enough.
Mike : Lamar has won an MVP. Kyler the last two seasons has faded down the stretch and here is the thing Kyler should get an extension by way of Kliff Kingsbury getting one but I would be more comfortable handing one to Lamar Jackson.
Jeff – This is hard because Lamar is more versatile, and Kyler seems to be a bit more accurate of a passer. Kyler has only 1 playoff appearance that he lost and Lamar, who is an MVP has a 1-3 record in the playoffs. Lamar deserves it more at this point, but with all his running, I’d be a little scared of injury. Lamar’s 37-12 record vs Kyler’s 22-23 record, his MVP and he has more come back wins and game winning drives than Kyler. I might change my mind in a year or 2, but right now I’d stick with Lamar Jackson.
Bill- Lamar , I think he is a better running QB and he has a better record . Kyler only has one winning season and one playoff appearance. Lamar has won MVP.
Patch-Man This is interesting because at this time i think neither deserve a long term deal both QBs have their flaws. Jackson in four seasons is 37-12 at qb which is great but is 1-3 in postseason he is a great running qb in the age of the running qb but his postseason performance is subpar because its like he does great all regular season but come playoffs its like he cracks under pressure. Murray in three seasons with Arizona is 22-23-1 which its not great or terrible it’s ok. His immaturity off the field does not help his case for a long term deal but age could play into that giving he is only 24 and he entered the league at 22. But with the Cardinals picking up his fifth year option it might show that the Cardinals are giving him one more chance to prove that he deserves the deal. So at this point I can’t give an answer who deserves a long term deal. At the halfway point of the season I might be able to give an answer.
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