Wham!� Here�s my AFC (American Football Conference)
preview.
Stillers
draw the AFC South as their conference opponents in 2011. That�s where to
start.
SOUTH
HOUSTON TEXANS
What�s to
like --- Wade Phillips will bring the best defensive mind this franchise has
ever had. Former #1 overall draft pick Mario Williams playing OLB @ 6�6 290. The
Texans have one of footballs best all purpose offenses. Houston balances the
run and pass at exceptionally high levels.
Where
there�s concern --- Just because Houston has a better chance of having a
defense this year, doesn�t mean it will. Schaub has to be more diligent with
the ball late in close games. With the Colts down their star quarterback, the
Texans will be crowned the division champs early. Big time, premature hype has
never been a positive for this team.
Roster
Stability --- Offense� 83% Defense� 58% Specialty Players 33%
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
What�s to
like --- The Colts� pass rush gets to opposing quarterbacks fast. Indianapolis
has solid depth and a good rotation to keep guys fresh. Even without Peyton,
the Colts have a number of offensive weapons to utilize. The defensive
secondary will be aggressive and healthy.�
Where
there�s concern --- Without Peyton under center someone else is going to have
to call plays---like someone from the sidelines. It has probably been close to
a decade since that was a responsibility not primarily held by Manning from the
field.� The Colts have no hammer in the
run game on defense, no physical plugger determined
to eliminate ball carriers from gaining yards on the ground.�
Roster
Stability --- Offense� 75% Defense� 92% Specialty Players� 66%
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
What�s to
like --- Jack Del Rio apparently did what was best for the future of the
franchise by cutting David Garrard. Even if it eventually costs him his job.
Del Rio may be in jeopardy, and the team may be about to move, but his Jags
will be going out fighting tooth and nail if he has any say in the matter. The
compact and powerful Maurice Jones Drew is fun to watch.
Where there�s
concern --- As was mentioned about the Buccaneers, Jacksonville struggles with
fan support. The Jaguars lack a marquee player on the defense.
Roster
Stability --- Offense� 75% Defense� 42% Specialty Players� 66%
TENNESSEE TITANS
What�s to
like --- Lots of good experienced players on the offensive line. Chris Johnson
has threatening speed.
Where
there�s concern --- Jeff Fisher is gone. That leaves only the special teams
coach, and the assistant head coach/strength coach as the remaining members of
the old Houston Oilers. The Oilers were historically a rugged and tough
football team. Fisher did well to personify that legacy. Someone else must now
step forward to ensure that this franchise doesn�t lose touch with its
traditions.�
Roster
Stability --- Offense� 75% Defense� 75% Specialty Players� 100%
PLAYOFF
PREDICTION --- Indianapolis Colts --- I expect Manning to return at some point
this season and the Colts to run down either Houston or Tennessee.
WEST
DENVER BRONCOS
What�s to
like --- Denver has passionate Broncos fans. John Elway adds an element to the
franchise that no one else could bring. Kyle Orton will start the season as the
team�s quarterback.
Where
there�s concern --- Tim Tebow is a great role model, but wasn�t a great draft
choice. Denver picked him too high. As a first round pick, Tebow is expected to
perform immediately. Even if he was ready, the rest of the team lacks the extra
kick necessary to help a young quarterback out. The Broncos� vaunted running
game is nowhere to be found.
Roster
Stability --- Offense� 83% Defense� 50% Specialty Players� 100%
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
What�s to
like --- Kansas City has great football tradition. Its stadium, fans and game
day experience are famous for being first rate. Defensively the Chiefs have a nucleus
of good, young players with game experience and a division title. Jamaal
Charles is fast, like don�t blink or you might miss him score fast!
Where
there�s concern --- Matt Cassel�s story of being a lifelong back up who earned
a multi-million dollar starting contract is neat, but now what? He�s tough,
efficient and plays like a #1, but can he win in the playoffs? The Chiefs have
little offensive depth.
Roster
Stability --- Offense� 50% Defense� 83% Specialty Players� 100%
OAKLAND RAIDERS
What�s to
like --- Oakland won every divisional match up last season. That gives its
franchise something to feel good about, something to build upon. Al Davis has
stayed true to his obsession with speed, and his roster is full of quick strike
athletes. The Raiders� rushing attack possesses a good blend of breakaway speed
(Darren McFadden), and powerful ball control (Michael Bush). R (Rookie) Rolando
McClain quickly became a leader, and should hold down the Raiders middle
linebacker spot for the next decade or so. ��
Where there�s
concern --- The passing game lacks polish. When opponents put a stop to
Oakland�s #2 rushing attack, Jason Campbell couldn�t keep the Raiders in the
game with his arm. The rushing defense doesn�t stop anyone outside the AFC
West. Non-divisional opponents rushed for an average of 188 yards per game.� �
Roster
Stability --- Offense� 67% Defense� 75% Specialty Players 100%
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
What�s to
like --- San Diego looks phenomenal on offense. Phillip Rivers is as good from
the pocket as any quarterback in the league. The Chargers had more pass plays
of 20 yards or more (66) than any other team in the league, and their 12.6 ypc
(yard per completion) rate was also the league�s highest mark last season. Vincent
Jackson, a contract holdout at this point last year, is now signed. Jackson
adds one more big, physical player to an already enormous group of pass
catchers.
Where
there�s concern --- San Diego always seems to find new ways to be mediocre. If
there is such thing as �innovative mediocrity,� this franchise has found it.
Last year the Chargers blew the doors off this development. Spearheaded by
having the league�s top ranked units on offense and defense, San Diego still
missed the playoffs. That is cutting edge stuff.� �
Roster
Stability --- Offense� 92% Defense� 58% Specialty Players� 100%
PLAYOFF
PREDICTION --- SAN DIEGO CHARGERS --- The Chargers are going to score a lot of
points.
EAST
BUFFALO BILLS
What�s to
like --- Ryan Fitzpatrick is intelligent, shows skill and even has some promise
as the team�s quarterback. There is lots of speed at wide receiver. Buffalo
returns almost all of its assistant coaches. The lone new face, Dave Wannstedt,
will coach the linebackers and work on getting the Bills� ground game
functional.�
Where
there�s concern --- The run defense is abysmal. A unit that is perennially one
of the worst in the league will find it difficult to make any strides this
season (or to prevent its opponents from taking them), because the defensive
scheme is in flux.
Roster
Stability --- Offense� 58% Defense� 50% Specialty Players� 83%
MIAMI DOLPHINS
What�s to
like --- The Cowboys got into trouble when the dinosaur Bill Parcells was
brought in to run their football operations. His system was successful in the mid
to late 80�s, but when he tried to bring his Parcellosaurus
to Dallas the Cowboys became fossilized. Parcells recently concluded a three
year tenure working a lead role in the Dolphins football operations, and he may
have learned a thing or two from his previous failure. For now, Bill appears to
have left Miami in a better state than before he arrived. If this was
accomplished and he unassumingly slipped out the back, good for him. The
defense is stout. The Dolphins� secondary has some sharp looking players. Miami
finds ways to run the ball.
Where
there�s concern --- While they are not exactly the Miami Plesiosaurs, this
franchise�s issues aren�t immediately available for resolve. Offensively Chad
Henne has been offensive. Miami could lose ground quickly if it doesn�t draft
well in the near future. �
Roster
Stability --- Offense� 67% Defense� 83% Specialty Players� 100%
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
What�s to
like --- Tom Brady is one of the most composed players in the game. The
Patriots run game is underrated. Big tight ends are both effective blockers and
receivers.
Where
there�s concern --- 100 million dollar Albert Lamesworth�s behavior last year represented
so much of what is wrong with this country --- an �overpriced, self inflated, superstar in
Washington earning millions of dollars for doing nothing, yet New England
couldn�t resist his charm. Lamesworth was seen rolling around like an
overstuffed burrito late last season in front of 90,000 Washington fans,
suffering apparently from a torn career. For this behavior, he was rewarded
with a promotion to Patriot status. That�s hardly how the team�s dynasty of the
previous decade operated.
Roster
Stability --- Offense� 83% Defense� 58% Specialty Players� 83%
NEW YORK JETS
What�s to
like --- Rex Ryan and his mouth. Mark Sanchez and his bold, Joe Namath like
confidence. Defensively New York is once again stacked. Offensively the Jets
have young players who are talented and more experienced than they were a
season ago. Plaxico Burress gives them good mojo over the Patriots. Plax scored
the game winning touchdown in Super Bowl 42, and decimated the Patriots�
perfect winning season.���
Where
there�s concern --- Sanchez is good, but I�m not ready to say he can put his
team over the top. To win the AFC and go to the Super Bowl, the Jets would have
to be able to get by the Stillers. Despite all the toughness he showed in last
season�s match up for a ticket to the big game, Sanchez doesn�t scare me.
Roster
Stability --- Offense� 75% Defense� 75% Specialty Players� 67%
PLAYOFF
PREDICTION --- NEW YORK JETS & NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS --- These teams seemed
destined to battle it out in the playoffs once again.
NORTH
BALTIMORE RAVENS
What�s to
like --- Ray Lewis was a great draft pick. He is awesome and intense. Any team
with him on the field is a force to be reckoned with. Ray Rice is an
exceptional runner and receiver out of the back field. The defense has
ferocious players who can get after the passer. Ed Reed appears to have gotten
wiser as he advances in age. ��
Where
there�s concern --- The Ravens are a classic bottom feeder first rate team. �They dominate weaker teams and are tough
enough to play well against the Stillers. Baltimore wants its team to be
considered elite, and if it can beat the Stillers then the Ratbirds
can appear to be just that.� However, Baltimore
hasn�t proven the ability to get past Pittsburgh when it matters. Joe Flacco�s propensity to hit check downs doesn�t inspire come
from behind ability. If Baltimore can�t stretch the field with Lee Evans than
the offense will eventually sputter.
Roster
Stability --- Offense� 58% Defense� 75% Specialty Players� 100%
CINCINNATI BENGALS
What�s to
like --- Carson Palmer is gone. Andy Dalton is going to start from day one. Cedric
Benson is a physical runner. The offense has lots of good young receivers. The
defense has some good athletes, and they are healthy. �
Where
there�s concern --- Carson Palmer is gone. Polamalu will have to intercept
someone else�s passes and return them for touchdowns. The rest of the division
looks tough. No matter how lenient Cincinnati parole officers are, it�s hard to
envision this team breaking out of the AFC North cellar.
Roster
Stability --- Offense� 92% Defense� 67% Specialty Players� 67%
CLEVELAND BROWNS
What�s to
like --- Colt McCoy is the best thing that could have happened to Cleveland.� He wants to win, and he�s willing to work hard
every day to become an elite NFL QB.� If
the Browns can build team chemistry by drafting well, then they have a chance
to raise themselves out of the NFL�s junkyard.
Where
there�s concern --- It�s Cleveland.� How
can you not be concerned?
Roster
Stability --- Offense� 75% Defense� 67% Specialty Players� 100%
PITTSBURGH STILLERS
What�s to
like --- Professional football is a business. As with any business, it is
critical to be disciplined in good principles. Professional football is also a
game. As with any game, intelligent strategies and unique concepts can be used
for an advantage. NFL teams who combine a worthwhile business model with
product ingenuity have themselves a rock solid foundation. These franchises
will stack up better throughout extended periods of time to achieve their
purpose. Simply put, they will win.
It's clear to me that �discipline in good principles� pays off in professional
football --- I'm a Stillers� fan. Watching this organization has crystallized a
perspective that plenty of other teams� fans have never been privileged to
witness. When Pittsburgh has turnover in its franchise, the last place it tries
to go looking for help is outside of the organization. The Stillers build
primarily through the draft. It�s a simple plan that works, makes so much
sense, and yet other franchises still don't catch on.
The Stillers
are loaded on offense and defense this season.
Where
there�s concern --- The Stillers offensive line has improved dramatically over
the past couple seasons, but more work remains to be done. The defense has
trouble with elite level quarterbacks who can effectively build rhythm hitting
short range targets. Listening to their own hype could get them in trouble if
this team plays as well as it�s capable of.
Roster
Stability --- Offense� 100% Defense� 100% Specialty Players� 100%� (The
only perfect score)
PLAYOFF
PREDICTION --- PITTSBURGH STILLERS --- An NFL season can be long and
emotionally draining. To be the best Pittsburgh must handle whatever adversity
shows up, and the Stillers have to play to their abilities each week. If these
things get accomplished, I don�t see any good reasons this team would lose.
WILD CARD
WEEKEND --- #6 BALTIMORE over #3 San Diego, #5 NEW ENGLAND over #4 Indianapolis
DIVISIONAL
ROUND --- #5 NEW ENGLAND over #2 New York, #1 PITTSBURGH over #6 Baltimore
CONFERENCE
TITLE --- #1 PITTSBURGH over #5 New England, Here We Go Stillers, Here We Go!!!
�