danj2202 NFL Season Preview and antepost bet portfolio

[danj2202]

I have been writing a preview for each team, and while it isnt finished yet I will release it division by division and then do a post recommending bets in the various markets, more to keep it easier to keep track of my records AFC NORTH CINCINNATI BENGALS Last Season: 11-5 Key Additions: Hue Jackson OC, Key Losses: Jay Gruden OC, Mike Zimmer DC, Michael Johnson, Kyle Cook, Anthony Collins, Andrew Hawkins Draft Picks: Darqueze Dennard(24), Jeremy Hill(55), Will Clarke(88), Russell Bodine(111), AJ McCarron(164), Marquis Flowers(212), James Wright(239), Lavelle Westbrooks(252) Summary: Overcoming the loss of both coordinators this offseason would seem a massive mountain for a team to climb however on all four occasions a team has lost both coordinators to head coaching gigs elsewhere since 1990, the team has gone on to repeat as division champions, the flip side is that the previous three teams to make the playoffs and fail to win a single game in three consecutive years all failed to make the post season in year four. The Bengals are arguably right there amongst the most talented and deep rosters in the NFL, it all revolves around the key position of quarterback and having a cheap one, QB1 in Cincinnati Andy Dalton is both underrated and frustrating in equal measure, having recently been given an extension he is no longer cheap. The Bengals can swallow the loss of Johnson on defense but will need Leon Hall and Geno Atkins to have fully recovered from serious injuries last season to remain at an elite level. Losing two coordinators, two key offensive linemen and your slot receiver and make zero serious effort to replace those players points to some potential issues this coming season and with unpredictable QB play the stat about the fourth season could get the Bengals too as they look pegged for some regression to me PITTSBURGH STEELERS Last Season: 8-8 Key Additions: Legarrette Blount, Lance Moore, Mike Mitchell Key Losses: Emmanuel Sanders Draft Picks: Ryan Shazier(15), Stephen Tuitt(46), Dri Archer(97), Martavis Bryant(118), Shaquille Richardson(157), Wesley Johnson(173), Jordan Zumwalt(192), Rob Blanchflower(230) Summary: The Steelers were unable to recover from a terrible 2-5 start last season and were unable to retool their roster in free agency due to the restraints of the salary cap and the chickens are coming home to roost in regards to their deferral of salary payments in previous contracts during their window leaving the draft as their main source of building their roster. Fortunately the Steelers look to have drafted well from both a needs and value perspective and signs for the upcoming season look reasonable as long as they remain healthy and their jurassic era secondary holds up. Certainly on offense with Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Leveon Bell and the new additions of Lance Moore and dynamic playmaker Dri Archer there is plenty to look forward to on that side oof the ball. There is a lack of depth so health is imperative for this Steelers team. It is hard to understand the direction of this franchise as I stated earlier the shape of the roster is bound by salary cap issues and doesnt look good enough to win a Lombardi Trophy this season (or next as the team ages) yet no moves have been made with a view to rebuilding either by renegotiating existing contracts or cutting overpaid underperforming veterans (I am looking at you Troy Polomalu though I wouldnt dream of saying it to your face) BALTIMORE RAVENS Last Season: 8-8 Key Additions: Gary Kubiak OC, Owen Daniels, Steve Smith, Jeremy Zuttah Key Losses: Arthur Jones, Jim Caldwell OC Draft Picks: CJ Mosley(17), Timmy Jernigan(48), Terrence Brooks(79), Crockett Gilmore(99), Brent Urban(134), Lorenzo Tallaferro(138), John Urschel(175), Keith Wenning(194), Michael Campanaro(218) Summary: The Ravens offensive line was an abomination last year, they have neglected to fix the right side of that line but have replaced the Matt Birk sized hole at center after his post Superbowl retirement with Zuttah from Tampa and while that us an upgrade the relationship between QB and C takes time to cultivate and may initially not help protecting Joe Flacco or the awful rushing attack all that much. The problem with this team is not and has not been the defense which looks like it will continue to be good, the question remains whether the offense improves under new OC Gary Kubiak hired here after his firing in Houston to improve this awful unit and while GM Ozzie Newsome gets it right more than he gets it wrong in Baltimore I am not convinced here about the prospects for these Ravens this year. CLEVELAND BROWNS Last Season: 4-12 Key Additions: Karlos Dansby, Donte Whitner, Andrew Hawkins, Miles Austin, Nate Burleson, Mike Pettine Head Coach, Kyle Shanahan OC Key Losses: Josh Gordon (suspension), TJ Ward, D'Dwell Jackson Draft Picks: Justin Gilbert(8), Johnny Manziel(22), Joel Bitonio(35), Christian Kirksey(71), Terrance West(94), Pierre Desir(127) Summary: Johnny Football!!! Get used to hearing it because the name is going to be mentioned any time you hear about Cleveland and the NFL this year. Manziel is likely to start this year for the most dysfunctional franchise in the NFL but while I feel for Brian Hoyer who didnt do much wrong last year before getting hurt, he is really only a backup at the NFL level, it is going to make the Browns must see, compelling viewing. It isnt likely to translate to on field success in the immediate future in my mind though. Josh Gordon is impossible to replace on offense and TJ Ward is really really good at safety though is replaced by Donte Whitner coming to his hometown. Justin Gilbert is a nice addition to a pretty good pass defense but offensively they are a concern as Mike Pettine is a defensive guy at Head Coach, who knows what Manziel is going to be, Ben Tate brings his light workload (partly due to time injured) from the Texans but I am unsure of him as a bell cow running back even in an offensive scheme that suits his style well and their best offensive playmaker is missing, while the offensive line looks decent, you cant win games if you dont score points, I believe the Browns are the worst team in this division but incredibly watchable

[danj2202]

Re: danj2202 NFL Season Preview and antepost bet portfolio AFC WEST DENVER BRONCOS Last Season: 13-3 Key Additions: DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib, TJ Ward, Emmanuel Sanders Key Losses: Eric Decker, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Knowshon Moreno, Zane Beadles Draft Picks: Bradley Roby(31), Cody Latimer(56), Michael Schofield(95), Lamin Barrow(156), Matt Paradis(207), Corey Nelson(242) Summary: Generally one area on the field that remains consistent from year to year is offensive production, now assuming better health and a full season at Left Tackle from Ryan Clady, amongst the better LT options in the game and with all the Broncos losses on that side of the ball either having been adequately replaced or already having sufficient replacements in house it is reasonable to project that one of the top 10 NFL offenses of all time will continue in much the same pattern even if not quite scaling the same heights as last year. On defense they project to be stronger as well as they will hope to get a full year from Von Miller to strengthen the pass rush where they also have added DeMarcus Ware and have massively upgraded at safety with TJ Ward and the exchange of DRC out and Aqib Talib in is close in grade and in my opinion a slight downgrade but you could easily argue the other side, this team remains a legitimate contender and is amongst the cream in the AFC and if they can emerge from the difficult schedule matching them up with the NFC West and still obtain a high seed then its hard to see them not going back to back AFC championships…….if. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS Last Season: 9-7 Key Additions: Donald Brown, Kellen Clemens Key Losses: Ken Whisenhunt OC Draft Picks: Jason Verrett(25), Jeremiah Attaochu(50), Chris Watt(89), Ryan Carrethers(165), Marion Grice(201), Tevin Reese(240) Summary: Last season ended in an incredible run of events that were necessary for the Chargers to make the playoffs which resulted in them going into Cincinnati and defeating a more talented team in the Bengals. Not enough can be made of the effect Offensive Coordinator Ken Whisenhunt had on that unit last season and the rejuvenation of QB Philip Rivers, his moving on to Tennessee for a second head coaching gig is the X factor for this team this year, that said the insurance policy of Donald brown added to the backfield that includes Danny Woodhead and the brittle Ryan Mathews and the return of injured receivers such as Danario Alexander and Malcolm Floyd and expected emergence of Tight End Ladarius Green. A lot depends on how important you see Whisenhunt’s influence. With former QB coach Frank Reich taking over the impact could be minimised as much as possible. The defense wasn’t great last year, the secondary should be much improved with the addition of Brandon Flowers in a free agency pickup from the Chiefs who should be expected to bounce back in a more suitable defensive scheme and 1^st round draft pick Jason Verrett but the front seven looks particularly worrisome Overall this team looks set to have at least a half decent year but the schedule is tough and that may prevent them obtaining a wild card playoff berth again this year, though with expected regression in Kansas they are the likeliest “other” playoff team in the division KANSAS CITY CHIEFS Last Season: 11-5 Key Additions: Vance Walker Key Losses: Branden Albert, Brandon Flowers, Tyson Jackson, Jon Asamoah, Geoff Schwartz Draft Picks: Dee Ford(23), Phillip Gaines(87), De'Anthony Thomas(124), Aaron Murray(163), Zach Fulton(193), Laurent Duvernay-Tardif(200) Summary: The Chiefs. The last time we saw them were trudging off the field in Indianapolis having blown a 28 point 3rd quarter lead to lose by a point, how they rebound from that remains to be seen as the schedule last season was as hard as melting butter and despite an 8-0 start they finished up on a 2-6 run where the only wins they managed were against Washington and Oakland two bad teams. This year the AFC West plays the AFC East and NFC West which is a vastly harder schedule, add in that until the team was effectively gunned down by the AK47 of injury during that playoff loss they were an exceptionally healthy team and that usually evens out over time, they have lost their best corner and lack depth in their pass rush and had by far the best swing in turnover differential last year which also usually evens out. All in all this is a classic regression candidate and could potentially drop below the .500 mark this year. OAKLAND RAIDERS Last Season: 4-12 Key Additions: Matt Schaub, Tarell Brown, Maurice Jones-Drew, Justin Tuck, Lamarr Woodley, James Jones, Carlos Rogers Key Losses: Jared Veldheer, Lamarr Houston, Tracy Porter, Rashad Jennings Draft Picks: Khalil Mack(5), Derek Carr(36), Gabe Jackson(81), Justin Ellis(107), Keith McGill(116), Travis Carrie(219), Shelby Harris(235), Johnathan Dowling(247) Summary: A team that has won just 53 games in 11 years was in need of a serious overhaul and that process has finally begun. They have added some veterans on both sides of the ball to lead a young roster, Tuck, Woodley, Jones and Rogers all have relatively recent experience of playing in the Superbowl, Khalil Mack and Derek Carr are two particularly interesting prospects from their draft class and Mack will be right there in the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation, there is not a lot of immediate hope for this team and they look pegged for a last place finish again this year but there is hope a little way down the road and for Raiders fans that is something.