The Keys to Training Camp - NFC North

Chicago Bears

The Bears finished 2009 with a 7 - 9 record.  This record left them in 3rd place in the division behind the Vikings and Packers, and also out of the playoffs.  This is not good enough for this sports crazy city.  During the off season they have bought in the innovative Mike Martz as their offensive coordinator.  Will his system help the Bears get back to the Superbowl?


What will the offence look like?

It is no secret that the Bears offence struggled a lot last year.  They came in ranked 17th in the pass game, and a really poor 29th in the run game.  This stat is particularly shocking of a Chicago team, that are always so well known for their run game.  QB Jay Cutler (pictured) was bought in at the beginning of last year to be their saviour, he struggled throwing almost as many INT's as TD's (26 : 27).  This has led the Bears to bring in new OC Mike Martz.  Mike is known as an offensive genius around the league.  He was in charge of the Rams offence that became known has the 'greatest show on turf'.  Will Martz be able to recreate this kind of offence in Chicago, and does he have the pieces in place?

Who are the receivers?

 This is a major question in Chicago at the moment.  The Mike Martz system is very aggressive, very explosive, and relies on big plays from WR's.  It also does not include many passes to TE's, which is a shame, as the Bear with the most catches last year was TE Greg Olsen.  In fact, after Olsen came WR Devin Hester (pictured) and after him came RB Matt Forte.  Only 1 WR in the top 3??  The Bears have also failed to address this situation in the draft.  Devin Hester is a very exciting football player.  His returns are a joy to watch.  He was the player that ran the opening kick off of Superbowl 41 back for a TD.  The Bears have tried to mold him into a WR, but he is struggling slightly with the transition.  After Hester are Johnny Knox and Earl Bennett.  Both players are decent, but neither is a star WR.  How will these players fit the new system?

Can they get back to 'Bears defence'?

The Bears over the years have been known as a dominant football team.  When you look at last years stats - 13th against the pass, 23rd against the run - they aren't to bad, but they aren't Bears defence.  A major reason for the struggling defence was the injury to star MLB Brian Urlacher.  He missed a big section of the season last year, and in my mind, this is the reason they struggled so bad against the run.  It will be interesting to see how close to 100% he looks in camp.  Also it will be interesting to see how the Bears plan on using big off season acquisition DE Julius Peppers (pictured).  Peppers on his day is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL.  His presence can make the whole defence look better.  Can Chicago get the best from him?



Detroit Lions

The Lions had another poor year last year, finishing at the bottom of the NFC North with a 2 - 14 record.  The Lions have been struggling for a number of years now, but because of this have managed to get quite a few very high draft picks, and this year was no exception.  So what are the major talking points going into camp.


Can the defence improve?

O dear!!!  The Lions defence was absolutely horrid last year.  They came in dead last in points per game, total yards per game, pass yards per game and 25th in run yards per game.  This was a very bad defence.  But, lets give the owners credit, they went out this off season, and completely changed this defence.  At the very opening of free agency the Lions bought in talented DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (pictured).  He and first round draft pick (2nd overall) Ndamukung Suh will certainly improve this D line, and will get pressure on opposing QB's.  The interesting thing will be to see how the rest off the defence comes together.


How good can the Stafford - Johnson combo be?

As I mentioned earlier, the Lions have had a lot of very early picks in the draft in recent years.  One benefit of this is that they are gathering a number of very talented individuals.  On the offensive side of the ball there is no doubt that the most exciting combination is QB Matt Stafford and WR Calvin Johnson (pictured).  Last season both players had their injuries, so we didn't really see how good this could be.  Both players are incredibly talented and if this combo works out, could be the best QB - WR combo in the league - potentially.

Can the mentality be changed?

If I was a member of the coaching staff, or a fan of the Lions, the thing that would worry me is that the team are just so used to losing.  The Lions have not had a winning record since 2000, and have only won 33 games since then.  This is a major concern.  In sports, especially football, so much of what you do on the field is achieved by believing you can do it.  If you go out thinking you will lose, you defiantly will.  This is what is happening in Detroit, and it needs to change.


Green Bay Packers

The Packers finished 2009 with a 11 - 5 record, which saw them as runners up in the NFC North, but the record was good enough for a place in the playoffs through a wildcard entry.  The Packers went out to Arizona on wildcardKarlos Dansby returned INT in overtime to win the game.  So how do the Packers get back to the playoffs, and make the next step?

Can the O Line improve?

Rodgers goes down again.

When it came to writing this piece about the Packers the first thing that jumped into my mind about last year was how often it seemed Aaron Rodgers got sacked.  I went to look at the numbers and found that the Packers actually gave up the most sacks in the NFL last year with 51.  Most embarrassingly they actually had 14 against the rival Vikings.  When you add to this the fact that Julius Peppers and Ndamukung Suh have also moved into the NFC North, this becomes a real concern for Packers fans.  The Packers will hope that first round draft pick Brian Bulaga will help to solve this problem.  Also the Packers will hope to have Mark Tauscher fit and healthy for the season.  T Tauscher only managed to start 8 games in '09.

How much of an impact will the Johnny Jolly suspension have?

The Packers had a fantastic defence last year.  After the initial struggle of changing from a 4 - 3 team to a 3 - 4 team were passed, the Packers defence went on to become one of the best units in the league.  This statement was backed up by the numbers - 5th pass defence, 1st run defence.  A big part of that great run defence was DT Johnny Jolly.  This year though the Pack will have to play without Jolly.  Jolly has been suspended for the entire season following an arrest do to drug possession.  This could be of huge consequence for the Packers, as the NT is a massive piece in the 3 - 4.  There is talk that 2nd year pro B.J Raji will move to NT.  Can he be as effective?


Where will the pass rush come from?

Even though Green Bay had a great defence last year, they did seem to struggle when they came up against an elite QB.  Farve on 2 occasions, Big Ben, Carson Palmer and Kurt Warner all torched the Packers defence last year,and the Packers lost all 5 games.  A huge part of this is down to the fact that the Packers struggle to get a pass rush.  With the Jolly suspension, and Aaron Kampman now being a Jaguar, a lot of this responsibility will now fall on 2nd year pro Clay Matthews (pictured).  Clay had a fantastic rookie year scoring 10 sacks in total.  The Packers will need at least a repeat of this performance from Matthews if they are to move forward this year.



Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings finished last year on top of the NFC North with a 12 - 4 record, which not only gave them a spot in the playoffs, but also gave them 2nd seed in the whole NFC.  The Vikings then welcomed the Dallas Cowboys to Minnesota, and swiftly sent them back to Texas with their tail between their legs following an impressive 34 - 3 beating.  The Vikings then travelled to New Orleans for the NFC Championship game, a nail biting game that they eventually lost 31 - 28 to the eventual Superbowl winners.  So can the Vikings get one step further this year?



Will Brett Farve return? (and when?)

 There is only really one place that you can start when talking about the Minnesota Vikings for the upcoming season.  I believe that Brett Farve is the difference between the Vikings being a Superbowl team, or not.  The Vikings have the talent both on defence and offence, they just need somebody to steer the ship.  Welcome Captain Farve.  People continually say that Farve is past it, he can't play another year, but he keeps on proving them wrong.  Last year Farve had a great season throwing for over 4,200 yards, 33 TD's and only 7 INT's.  Are you trying to tell me that these numbers could be achieved by Tarvaris Jackson?  Not a chance!  If Farve comes back this year he will get the right people involved at the right time, and I believe, get the Vikings back to the NFC Championship at least.

How will they replace Chester Taylor?

 There is no question whatsoever that Adrian Peterson is an every down RB.  He is a fantastic talent both running the ball, and receiving coming out of the backfield.  Even AP though cannot be expected to play every single down during a game.  This is where Chester Taylor came in last year.  He would spell Peterson when he needed a break, and production would not drop off.  Taylor though was traded to the Bears during the off season, and I'm looking forward to finding out how the Vikes plan on replacing him.  They took RB Toby Gerhart in the 2nd round of this years draft, but he won't be as effective as a pass catcher.  There is also rumours that WR Percy Harvin may fill in at times.  I'm looking forward to seeing how this plays out during camp.

Who will play at CB?

 The main area of weakness in the Vikings defence is against the pass.  Last season they ranked 19th against the pass, their worse ranking in any major category.  The projected 2 starting CB's Antoine Winfield (pictured) and Cedric Griffin are both coming off injuries and so are a concern.  The Vikes did though bring in Lito Sheppard from the Jets, and draft Chris Cook in the 2nd round.  Camp will be very interesting to see which of these CB's will step up and take the starting role for the opening game of the 2010 season against the defending champion New Orleans Saints on Thursday 9th September.


Check back tomorrow for a look at the NFC South.

The Keys to Training camp - NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys finished 2009 as the division winner, with a 11 - 5 record.  They then did something that they had failed to do since 1996, they won a playoff game.  They beat the Eagles at home, before going on the road to Minnesota, and getting hammered 34 - 3.  Obviously the playoff win was a big relief for Wade Phillips, Tony Romo and co, but what do they need to get to the next level?

 Who will be the starting WR opposite Miles Austin?

Last year the Cowboys cut T.O in the off season, as they believed that WR Roy Williams (picked up in a trade form Detroit) was going to be the answer.  Williams however struggled throughout 2009, having just 38 catches for 596 yards and 7 TD's.  These numbers may not seem to bad, but when you consider that the Cowboys were the 6th ranked pass offence in the league, its obvious Roy was not the number 1 guy.  Those honours went to little known WR Miles Austin.  I have to admit, at the beginning of last season, I didn't know who Miles Austin was.  Now after his breakout year of 81 catches for over 1,300 yards and 11 TD's, I consider Austin as one of the best WR's in the league.  This past draft, the Cowboys took WR Dez Bryant (pictured) who was perceived as the best WR in the draft.  What does this mean for Williams?  Who will start opposite Austin?  Training camp should give us some ideas.

Can they protect Romo better?

Romo sacked again!!

 A major problem the Cowboys encountered last year was that they struggled to keep Tony Romo upright.  In the Vikings playoff game especially, the talented Vikings D line ran riot.  The Cowboys also released long serving LT Flozel Adams this off season.  It will be very interesting to see how his replacement, either Doug Free or Alex Barron, cope in camp.  Also it will be interesting to see how they plan on stopping sacks occurring.  There is one good thing for the O-Line, they will get very good practice in camp, going against the sack machine that is DeMarcus Ware.

Can their secondary improve?

 The disappointing thing on the defensive side of the football for the Cowboys last year was their poor play at times against the pass.  Last year they ranked 4th against the run, but then 20th against the pass.  With the QB's that are present in this division (Manning, Kolb and McNaab) this is not good enough.  Also coming in to camp they have a couple of niggling injuries to CB's Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick.  This will put even more pressure on the rest of the secondary, Terrence Newman included (pictured), to improve this phase of the game.


New York Giants

The Giants finished last year with a very disappointing 8 - 8 record, which left them 3rd in the division, and out of the playoffs.  After starting an impressive 5 - 0, the wheels came off the Giants season and they went on a 6 game losing streak.  A strange stat that should be thrown in here, although they had a poor year, the Giants managed to beat the division winning Cowboys in both meetings - strange!

What will be the situation with the running backs?

Last season the Giants seemed to have problems with a phase of their game that has pretty much being a staple of their offence for years, the run game.  Brandon Jacobs (pictured) only managed 3.7 yards per carry and 5 TD's.  Ahmad Bradshaw had a better year rushing for almost 800 yards and 7 TD's.  This may well be a battle in camp.  These 2 players are completely different, Jacobs is a heavyweight downhill runner, and Bradshaw is more of a speed back.  But I believe that the Giants may well decide to go with Bradshaw as the number 1 back full time, if he proves his worth in camp.

Who will be the starting Middle Linebacker?

This was a major question a few weeks ago, since then though, the Giants have bought in former Titans MLB Keith Bulluck.  The Giants lost MLB Antonio Peirce at the end of last year, he had to retire due to medical reasons.  The Giants were expected address this situation, but they lost out to the Dolphins over Karlos Dansby, and then they didn't select a LB until the 4th round of the draft.  Bulluck has been bought in now though, so the thing to look out for at training camp is how he will settle in and take to the system.

Will the secondary tighten up?

The Giants secondary was hit by the injury bug last year.  Aaron Ross and Kenny Phillips were missing for a big chunk of the year, and this caused them to continually give up big plays.  They ranked 14th against the pass last year, which obviously isn't to bad, but I remember them constantly being beat over the top, especially by Eagles WR DeSean Jackson.  The Giants have obviously recognised this fact by bringing in S Antrel Rolle from Arizona.  This off season it will be interesting to see how both Rolle and Bulluck fit into this defence.



 
Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles finished last season in 2nd place in the division with a 11 - 5 record.  This was good enough for a wildcard.  They also lost this game, which was the Cowboys first playoff win since 1996.  How do the Eagles take themselves past the Cowboys in the NFC East? 

How will Kevin Kolb perform in his first year as a starter?

The Philadelphia Eagles decided during the off season that it was the right time to turn to the QB of the future - Kevin Kolb.  Donavan McNaab was traded away to the division rival Washington Redskins, and the team was handed over to Kolb.  The question is weather Kolb is quite ready yet.  McNaab knows this offence like the back of his hand, and still struggled at times.  It is concerning that a young player that is trying to learn the system may struggle at first.  The pre-season games should tell us a lot about weather or not Kolb is ready for the big time, if he is not, it might just be to late, and the Eagles could be in for a long season.

How will the secondary look?

The pressure on the Eagles secondary has been building now for the past couple of years.  Legendary S Brian Dawkins was traded to the Broncos at the beginning of last season, and during this off season starting CB Sheldon Brown was traded to Cleveland.  This has obviously weakened this unit.  The Eagles will now be hoping that CB Ellis Hobbs (pictured) will be able to step in and start alongside Asante Samuel.  This is a very difficult position to fill in the Eagles defence, as the abilities of Asante Samuel mean that teams decide to throw away from him.  This will make Hobbs the prime target for the opposing teams to attack.  Is he up to the challenge?  Training camp will give us the answer.

Can the Offensive line improve?

The last 2 games of last year for the Eagles were a complete disaster against the Cowboys.  One of the main reasons for this was their complete inability to block for the QB - then Donavan McNaab.  They will definatly have to improve in this area if they are to give new QB Kevin Kolb a decent shot at settling in early in the year.  Jason Peters (pictured) is the LT and is seen by many as their best O-Linemen.  If no other players are bought in to support the line, Peters will have to step up and become a leader.  



 Washington Redskins

The Redskins finished last year at the bottom of the division, with a poor 4 - 12 record.  There were many reasons why they ended up with this record, and many questions hanging over them moving into this year.  Here are the main ones.


How will McNaab settle in?

Donavan McNaab is a legendary QB in the NFL.  I believe that one day number 5 will be in the Hall of Fame.  All of his career though he has been in Philadelphia, with Andy Reed.  The question that needs answering is, will he be able to pick up a different offence, with different terminology.  I don't for a second doubt McNaab's mental ability to take in the information, but its just a matter of how soon he can do it. As well as taking on all of this info, McNaab will also have to settle in a different city.  This may be a problem for a player who has spent a long time in Philly.



Who will McNaab throw to?

Not only is there the question of McNaab settling in, but maybe the more pressing issue is, who will McNaab throw the ball to.  He obviously has the very talented Chris Cooley at TE, and there is no question that the Redskins will try to run the ball when they can, but McNaab likes a deep threat WR.  Last year you saw time after time in Philly, McNaab would move around in the pocket, buy himself some time, and throw a huge bomb the length of the field for DeSean Jackson.  I don't believe the Redskins have a player with this ability.  The best WR on the roster is probably Santana Moss, with Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly behind him.  I expect the Redskins to run as much as possible, using Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson and 'fast' Willie Parker.  I then expect Chris Cooley to have a big year.  Will this be enough though to get out of this tough division.

What will happen with Albert Haynesworth?

Throughout the off season the Redskins have had problems keeping DT Albert Haynesworth happy.  Haynesworth came in during last off season, and signed a HUGE contract.  When in Tennessee Albert was a dominant 4 - 3 DT.  Now in Washington though, and now playing a 3 - 4 defence, Albert is not making all the plays, and is therefore not happy.  Haynesworth has not been present at any of the Redskins off season activities.  He has had a meeting with Head Coach Mike Shanahan in the last few days and it is reported he will be at training camp.  Shanahan though, unhappy about Haynesworths off season antics, has told him he must pass a fitness test before he can practice, and even when he does it will not be with the first team.  This will be an interesting situation to watch, because even though it is not always Hayneworths name on the stat sheet, the pressure he brings up the middle is vital to the success of this defence.


Check back tomorrow for a look at the NFC North.

The keys to training camp - AFC West

Denver Broncos

 The Broncos finished up last season at 8 - 8.  This was a huge let down though after they started the season with a 6 game winning streak, then going 2 - 10 after the bye week.  They have lost quite a lot of big name players over the past couple of years - QB Jay Cutler and WR Brandon Marshall.  It will be very interesting to see just how good the Broncos will look throughout training camp looking forward to the NFL London  game against the 49'ers.  What are the main questions to lookout for?


 How long is Orton the starting QB?

The starting QB in Denver for the moment is Kyle Orton.  This though is only the beginning of what could be an ongoing story, not only through training camp, but also throughout 2010.  Orton is the definite starter at the moment, but without WR Brandon Marshall, he may well struggle with a lack of play makers on the offence.  If this is the case, and the Broncos are struggling at any point of the season, there is going to be a huge outcry to sit Orton, and start former Florida Gator QB Tim Tebow.  'Superman' as Tebow became known at the college level was selected by the Broncos in the first round in the draft this year.  I personally believe that Tebow will struggle to compete at the NFL level, as he is more of a running QB, but he also is a big powerful runner, as opposed to a speed runner.  At the college level he was often stronger than opponents, and was able to run over them, I don't think he will find it so easy at this level.  Another person to mention here is QB Brady Quinn.  The former Browns QB does look like he doesn't fit into this situation in Denver, but he does help heap the pressure on Orton, even if Tebow isn't quite ready.

Can they stop the run?

Last season the Broncos really struggled against the run.  They actually ended up ranked 26th against the run in the NFL.  This isn't good for a team that ranked 3rd against the pass.  The Broncos coaching staff have recognised that this was a huge issue, and one of the reasons behind their drop off in form.  During the off season the Broncos bought in 3 big, run stopping D-Linemen.  These players are Jamal Williams (pictured), Justin Bannan and Jarvis Green.  These 3 look likely to be the 3 starters along the D-Line, and it will be up to them to stop the Broncos leaky defence against the run.  Will they step up to the plate?

Where will the points come from?

 All that people can talk about when it comes to the Broncos offence is 'How do they replace Marshall?'  Well the Broncos will be hoping that their first pick of the past draft WR Demaryius Thomas, will help on that front.  There is no doubt that RB's Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno are talented, but how will they be affected by the injury to LT Ryan Clady?  This effect will be even greater if the WR's aren't playing well, and defences can just stack up against the run.  This is why there is a lot of pressure on Thomas and Eddie Royal to perform, or else this offence could really struggle in 2010.



Kansas City Chiefs

 The Chiefs ended last season with a poor 4 - 12 record, that left them at the bottom of the AFC West.  The Chiefs though have not just sat around hoping that something will be different this year, they went out and got themselves both a new offencive and defensive coordinator, bought in quality veteran players like RB Thomas Jones, and selected S Eric Berry (seen by many as the best impact player available in the draft.  There are a lot of changes around Kansas City, that's why I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in their training camp, which starts on 29th July.

Will the young stars on defence settle in the new system?

The Chiefs then have a new defensive coordinator and they also have a lot of young talent for Romeo Crennel to use.  This change is obviously required as the Chiefs were ranked in the bottom 3, in most defensive categories last year.  Now though with players like DT Glenn Dorsey (pictured), CB Brandon Flowers and S Eric Berry (all players taken high in recent drafts) they have the talent to change it all around.  This is something I'm really looking forward to watching throughout training camp.

Will Matt Cassel look better in year 2?

Matt Cassel was the QB that stepped in when Tom Brady suffered his season ending injury 2 years ago, on the opening day of the season.  Obviously there was huge panic in New England, and they thought their playoff hopes were over.  But in came a little known QB Matt Cassel (pictured).  He helped the Patriots win 11 games that year, unfortunately missing out on the playoffs.  When Brady came back in 2009, Cassel was surplus to requirements in New England.  The Chiefs gave Cassel a big money contract in Kansas City, but as the record suggests, he didn't have the best year.  Now though the situation looks very good for Cassel.  New offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, is a former Patriot coach, and will completely understand the system and terminology that Cassel used in New England.  Add this familiarity to the fact that they have a fantastic backfield of Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles, and talented WR's in Chris Chambers and Dwayne Bowe, things look to be coming together for Matt.  Can he take the next step?

How will Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles spread time?

There is no doubt that the Kansas City Chiefs have one of the best one-two combos at RB in the league.  Charles (pictured) ran for over 1,100 yards and 7 TD's last year, and Jones (bought in from the Jets) ran for over 1,400 yards and 14 TD's in New York.  The other reason this combo looks so good is that both players are so different.  Jones is a big, heavy hitting back, and Charles is more of a speedy back.  It will be interesting to see how time and carries is spread between these 2.


Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders finished 2009 with a 5 - 11 record, a record that saw them finish 3rd in the division.  There is though, reason to be optimistic if you are a member of Raiders nation.  They have finally realised that QB Jamarcus Russell (former number 1 pick overall) is not the answer, and have cut him.  They also had a decent draft, going with what most people thought, and not just picking a player because of his burning speed.  For years now Oakland have been a laughing stock in the NFL, finally though, is it time that they turn the corner?

How will Jason Campbell fit in? 

Jason Campbell has had a rough time in his NFL career so far.  He has had 5 years in the league, all with the Redskins, but he has actually had to learn a new system every year, because of the turnover rate in coaches in Washington.  Obviously this is a huge problem in the development of any young QB, and because of this Campbell has had his problems.  Throughout this though there is no question that Campbell has talent.  He has started 52 games, throwing 55 TD's with 38 INT's, how Jake Delhomme would like that record!  His arrival in Oakland, following the departure of Jamarcus Russell, has helped ignite the passion of 'Raider Nation'.  I believe that Campbell can be a success in Oakland, only time will tell.

Can they stop the run?

 Last season a huge problem for the Raiders was the fact that they could not stop the run.  They ranked 29th overall against the run.  This is going to be vital this year as the running attacks throughout this division have improved a lot.  The Raiders though, against all previous form, have actually gone out and attacked this problem.  LB Rolando McClain (pictured) was selected with their 1st round draft pick this year.  Rolando is a fantastic player.  He is the QB of the defence, very clever, puts everyone in the right position and helps make everyone around him better.  Him, along with the signing of DE John Henderson and the re signing of DE Richard Seymour should improve their ability against the run.

Who will be the starting RB?

As you can see from this article, I believe that the Raiders are on the right path this year.  One area though that they didn't have to improve was at the RB position.  Michael Bush and Darren McFadden (pictured) are now the only 2 left following the departure of Justin Fargas, and it will be interesting to see how the Raiders decide to split these carries.  Although all the RB's were very talented last year, having 3 extremely talented RB's can be difficult to manage at times.  Now with just Bush and McFadden, I expect the Raiders to still split time, but each player will be on the field more and therefore will be able to get into more of a rhythm.


San Diego Chargers

The Chargers have owned this division in recent years, and last season was no different, as they finished 13 - 3, winning the division and advancing to the playoffs.  The playoffs though were not a happy time as the Chargers lost to the Jets, at home, in the divisional round.  The Chargers have lost quite a few high profile players in the off season, and although they are still seen as the class of the division, they must be concerned at the fact all the other teams seem to have improved.  Here's what to look for during Chargers camp.

Can Ryan Matthews be the answer at RB?

The Chargers have got one of the best offences in the NFL.  Last season they ranked 4th in points scored, 5th in pass yards, but disappointingly 31st in rush yards.  This was not a problem for most of the year last year, as there record suggests, but eventually if you cannot run the ball, it will catch up with you.  The Chargers have understood this, and in this years draft, they moved up the board in a trade with Miami, and took the player that was seen as one of the best 2 RB's in the draft Ryan Matthews.  Ryan played at a small school in college - Fresno State.  This is a concern for some people as the competition he came up against would not have been as good as if he would have gone to a major school.  I will be watching Matthews in training camp to see if he can prove these doubters wrong.

Will they be able to replace Vincent Jackson?

The Vincent Jackson saga has been one that has over shadowed the Chargers this off season.  Jackson was a big part of that 5th ranked passing offence last year having 68 catches for over 1,100 yards and 9 TD's.  He is unhappy with his contract and has threatened to not turn up to play this year, unless he gets an improved deal.  He has also now been banned from the first 3 games of the year after he broke the NFL's policy on substance abuse.  Nobody is quite sure how this ban will effect his decision to holdout or not.  Personally I believe that this will encourage him to hold out, knowing he's missing the first 3 games anyway.  In his absence the Chargers need big performances from Malcolm Floyd and Legedu Naanee.

How will the defence look?

 Last season the Chargers defence was around the middle of the pack in all defensive categories.  The lowest they ranked was 20th in run defence.  This could be a problem this year as the Chargers have lost NT Jamal Williams to division rival Denver.  They are really going to need a return to form from LB Shawne Merriman, who has struggled over the past couple of years.  If he does return to form, him, Larry English and Stephan Cooper should help to plug this gap.  The other question will be how to replaced CB Antonio Cromartie, who was traded to the Jets.  This should be a good battle through camp with Jammer, Strickland, Cason and Vasher all battling for 2 places.

Check back tomorrow as we move onto the NFC East!

The keys to Training Camp - AFC South

Houston Texans

 The Texans finished up 2009 with a 9 - 7 record, the first time in the teams history that it has recorded a winning record.  This is great news for the Texans, a real sign that they are moving in the right direction, about time to with the talent of QB Matt Schabb and WR Andre Johnson.  The next step for the Texans is to push on and gain a place in the playoffs.  Will it be this year??  Here are the things to look out for at training camp.


Who will be the kicker??

Ever since the Houston Texans came into the NFL in 2002, their kicker has been Kris Brown.  The Texans have come really close in many tough games against the Colts, as well as others, and it has come down to a last ditch kick from Brown.  Unfortunately, Brown has missed a few of these kicks, and this has cost the Texans dearly.  This off season the Texans bought in former Cardinals kicker Neil Rackers (pictured).  This will make for a kicker competition in camp.  It will be very interesting to see which of these players will get the job full time, and which will get released.


Just how good is the secondary?

The major key to beating division rival Indianapolis Colts is to stop Peyton Manning, and the passing game.  The Texans though, allowed their number 1 CB from last year, Dunta Robinson, to leave and join the Falcons.  This, obviously is a major concern.  The Texans tried to address this problem by selecting CB Kareem Jackson (pictured), from NCAA champion Alabama, with their first round pick in this years draft.  Kareem will probably start, but it will be interesting to see who will start around him in the secondary.  Potential candidates for this are Glover Quinn and Brice McCain.

Who will be the starting RB?

Last years starter Steve Slaton (pictured) had alot of fumbling problems during the year, and received heavy competition for his starting job.  This Texans took RB Ben Tate with their 2nd round pick.  He is expected to push Slaton all the way for the starting job this camp.  It is vital that the Texans improve their running game.  Last year their offence was one of the top offences in the league.  It actually was the best pass offence, but was then ranked 30th in run game.  If they can get this run game going, look out for the Texans this year.


Indianapolis Colts

 Last year the Colts finished with a 14 - 2 record.  This could have been even better if they did not rest their starters at the back end of the regular season.  They then picked up where they left off in the playoffs, beating the Ravens and Jets, before losing to the Saints in the Superbowl.  What do they need to get back to that stage, and go one better?


Will there be a Superbowl hangover?

The last time that a Superbowl losing team got back to the Superbowl the following year was in 1995 - the Buffalo Bills.  Can the Colts break this trend?  I feel that teams usually struggle with this because they struggle to lift their spirits, and motivate themselves.  Will the Colts have these problems? Not if legendary QB Peyton Manning (pictured) has anything to do with it.  Peyton is one of the very bet leaders in the NFL.  He is a perfectionist, and there is no doubt that that INT in the Superbowl, that was returned for a TD by Tracey Porter, has been replayed over and over in his head.  Manning will want to put this right, and this is the reason I believe there will be no Superbowl hangover for the Colts this year.

Will the change of Offencive coaches effect Manning?

E

 Ever since Peyton Manning came into the NFL, he has played under the coaching of Tom Moore and Howard Mudd (pictured).  Alot of what the Colts offence does on the field is called by Manning, and therefore people believe that the departure of Moore and Mudd, will not effect this team at all.  I think though that the trust that Moore and Mudd have placed in Manning, as well as the knowledge that they undoubtedly supply him with during the game will be heavily missed.  I'm not saying that Manning and the Colts will not be as effective this year, but I believe there will be some knock on effect - what will this be? and how much will it effect Manning?

Which players will start in the Safety positions?

Bob Sanders (pictured) is seen as one of the best S's in the NFL.  He is immense against the run, and his presence is sorely missed by the Colts when he is not in the lineup.  The problem that Bob has is that he is very injury prone.  In the last 2 seasons, Bob has only managed to start 8 games (2 in 2009).  This problem has obviously had to be looked at by the Colts.  Last year the players that stepped up were Antonie Bethea and Melvin Bullitt.  These 2 players obviously did a fantastic job as the team went to the playoffs.  Bethea has just received a big contract, and the Colts really like Bullitt.  This will be an interesting battle during camp.


Jacksonville Jaguars

 The Jaguars finished last season with a 7 - 9 record, a record that saw them finish last, in this very competitive division.  This was hugely disappointing as they went into December in prime position to take a wildcard spot.  There is no doubt that this division will be just as good this year, so how can the Jags lift themselves off the bottom, and push on towards the playoffs?

Has the defence got better?

 Kampman (pictured) during free agency, and also selected DE Tyson Alualu with their 1st round draft pick.  In fact the Jaguars selected D Linemen with their first 4 picks in this years draft.  This should lift the level of competition at the position, and competition can only produce improvement.  Look for Kampman to have a big year, returning to his preferred 4 - 3 defence.

Can they protect their QB?

 The Jaguars had a huge problem keeping QB David Gerrard up right last year.  In fact, he was sacked a total of 44 times.  This kind of pressure obviously will not help a QB.  The Jaguars did have 2 rookie T's on the field last year, and this may help to explain this problem.  Hopefully with a year under their belts, they will be better this year.  This pressure on Gerrard caused him to fumble the ball 14 times in 2009.  This is one of the main reasons that people are starting to question Gerrards ability.

Has the passing game improved?

 Another area where the Jags offence struggled last year was the passing game.  This is frustrating for a team that had the 10th best rushing attack (mainly down to pocket rocket MJD) and it could only come in 19th place in the passing category.  This is another reason why QB David Gerrard's postion at QB is under question.  I believe though, that the problems in the Jags pass game are not of Gerrard's doing.  I think that the WR's and TE's need to step up and start making plays.  Last year Mike Sims-Walker (pictured) led the Jags in receptions with 63.  The next person on the list was RB MJD, with 53.  This shows that plays just aren't being made by the WR's.  Who will step up to the plate this year?  To help drive this offence on.

 
Tennessee Titans

 The Titans finished 2009 with a 8 - 8 record, in 3rd place in the AFC South.  This record was seen as quite a good finishing point for a team that actually started the season 0 - 6.  QB Vince Young came back into the lineup at the 0 - 6 mark, and helped turn the team around.  RB Chris Johnson ran for over 2,000 yards, which really helped this team.  Can these two, with the support of the rest of the team, carry the Titans to the playoffs?

Can Vince Young carry this team?

 VY (pictured) has had a very interesting career so far in the NFL.  In his previous 4 seasons he has started 39 games, been the backup and has had alot of off field problems.  This will be his 5th season, he will be the starter - Time to grow up Vince!  We all know VY has the ability, he has shown it time and time again, especially against the Cardinals last year, when he drove the field, getting a end of game, match winning TD.  What he now has to do is become a leader, and stop getting into trouble off the field.  He has the perfect situation in which to succeed.  I'm sure there are alot of QB's around the league that would love to have Chris Johnson as their RB.  Having Johnson on the field means that defences often go out to stop the run, leaving gaps for Young to exploit in the pass game.  I believe VY can get it right this year, lets hope he does.

Who are the leaders?

 During the off season the Titans lost a number of players that you would consider being the leaders on this roster.  C Kevin Mawae (pictured), DE Kyle Vanden Bosch and LB Keith Bullock were all declared as free agents in March.  This veteran leadership will undoubtedly be missed on both sides of the ball.  The Titans played many close games over the course of last season, and the most important thing during close games is leadership.  I just wonder if they have alot of close games this year, who will step up, and be those much needed leaders?


How happy is Chris Johnson?

 A 'HUGE' talking point surrounding the Titans this off season was Chris Johnson's contract.  If you keep in touch with nflgbview regular you will be well aware of this situation.  The Titans have finally decided to pay Chris more money for this season, but the problem will defiantly arise again during the next off season.  The question for me is just how happy is Johnson with the deal he got?  Yes, Johnson will now make alot more money than he would have done without this contract redo, but he is still on nowhere near the same money as rival RB Adrian Peterson for example.  Just how much will this impact on his game this year?  The Titans will have to hope that it won't, because in all honesty, he IS the Titans offence.  Looking forward to seeing 'CJ2K's' commitment this year.

Check back tomorrow for a look as we wrap up the AFC, with a look at the AFC West.