1 BIG Thing To Watch For Each Team This Cycle

AFC Edition

AFC West

Denver Broncos

Does coach Nick know how to build a team for the long term in Denver?

I think the commitment issues with Nick have been documented so I didn’t want to go the oh when does he quit or get kicked route here. Can Nick prove himself as a team builder? On the sticks I think he is a bit underrated in terms of what he can do with his gameplay. I am not so sure Nick is into football in an X’s and O’s manner. I know he likes to have a good passing attack on offense but building a scheme and executing it is really what long term success on both sides of the ball. Outside of seeing him in a 4-3 defense when he has been with us I don’t know what gap scheme’s he would like to use. I am not sure he knows about any of that either but the days of see high overall player and throw them a ton of money for no purpose would seriously hurt any chance this Broncos team has of success.

Los Angeles Chargers

How does Coach KFox take the next step in his development?

KFox is someone I am very familiar with when he joined the NFC West about half way or so through the cycle. Unlike Kad who had built a juggernaut running the football and trying to play mistake free KFox tried to sign some players and focus more on the passing attack. Based on what he did last cycle I do think he needs some work on what to do with his free cap space and when paying a player is not worth it like Carson Wentz for example in his situation. I felt like he drafted quite well and hope he continues to do well when the new system is implemented by EA. Offense and Defense on this team are set up with some nice pieces it will be up to KFox to make sure they are used properly and that he does not let talent simply get older without replacing them. I think KFox is ready to surprise some folks this cycle especially with four guaranteed games against opponents he knows very well. KFox should be our most improved user when the cycle is all said and done.

Kansas City Chiefs

How does Coach KJ fair with this roster in the long term?

This roster is loaded but with some serious older talent at specific positions, pair that together with the inevitable 3 plus 1 casualties and you have yourself some intrigue. I feel a lot like the Rams that I mentioned in the NFC this team has a big superbowl or bust vibe to them coming into the first season of the cycle. On a personal level King John came so close multiple times to winning the big one last cycle just to fall short in the game of games. So there has to be a level of personal pressure the coach is putting on himself to get this one done. This is not the defense he had in Pittsburgh so if he is going to be there it will come on the back of Patty Mahomes and crew to get him there. If things don’t go right I expect to see some veteran trade options being explored, Tyran Mathieu, Travis Kelce, and Chris Jones may be some hot names to watch if things get cash strapped out in KC.

Las Vegas Raiders

Now that BM is home, how does he manage the emotional attachment to certain Raiders players?

I personally cannot relate I traded one of my favorite players in Reshad Jones before we played a game two cycles ago because he just did not fit with the rebuilding plan I had for my team. If an opportunity came up to make a good deal will BM pull the trigger or will he feel a false sense of loyalty to a player that has no emotions or family in this scenario to account for. I think BM who is as much a football guy as we have in this chat will do quite well with his beloved Raiders. I could see him getting back to the big game and winning it in this go around. I saw him say something about not starting Carr and that would be a mistake made based on fandom and starting Mariota. I will say this is a tough division and if he does not make the proper roster moves he will not be able to compete and be a playoff team most years like I expect him to.

AFC North

Cincinnati Bengals

How does coach Moji deal with such a talent deficient roster maybe the worst he’s ever taken?

Commish Moji now, which is a bit weird to type or say out loud for that matter is a situation where his team outside of some of the young guys they have gotten over the last couple of drafts on offense is missing out big time on talent. I think the patience approach which is not normally a staple of Coach Moji is the key here to his long term success. He is light years behind Adel and the Ravens in terms of the talent on the roster and trading away picks to get guys now is not really the move I would be making. I have liked his early moves getting offensive line help while getting rid out wideouts he can easily sign in free agency or draft when the time comes. The real question really boils down to can Moji get the amount of talent he needs in order to win a superbowl this cycle. I think he can but that will be 4-5 seasons down the line once we don’t remember who was on our roster to begin with.

Cleveland Browns

How does Longville correct the mistakes of last cycle and get it right?

I think that going back to Cleveland may have not been the best decision for him in my book but he decided to stay put anyway. This roster is really good and to be fair he did not get the original crack at it but the results were not great in terms of the roster building and his stick skills. Baker Mayfield was allowed to move on at the end of last cycle so why go back to him? I personally don’t get that line of thinking but I did read somewhere he said that the team fit the way he wanted to run his offense and defense which I will give him credit he seems to understand scheme, and how those type of things work. I think he is missing out on Chase Young who thrived under him last cycle and getting a running mate for Miles Garrett will be a top priority. He really needs to sell early on the older guys and try to keep this roster relevant for an entire cycle.

Baltimore Ravens

How does Adel avoid the curse of Lamar Jackson and win the whole damn thing?

Ernest won early and often before he made the blockbuster trade to get Lamar Jackson, he did not do much winning in terms of playoff games when he finally did get Lamar. I think Adel may be in the same boat if he is to enamored with the skills of the Quarterback and not what the team can do as a whole. He needs to just take a step back, a deep breath and just play like this is any other QB and not a guy who has nine million speed. This Ravens team is talented but also has their fair share of areas that GM Adel will need to improve. I am just of the opinion that people who get Lamar Jackson just tend to play differently than they do with guys who are lesser and somehow it leads to them not having the success in the end that they usually would otherwise. Word to the wise Adel give the local (to me) Boynton Beach product his due and get that man a ring.

Pittsburgh Steelers

How does Coach Theo navigate the “Big” void that is about to be left at the Quarterback position?

I know that Theo managed to grab Cam Newton a Coach Jim favorite and has him at least this season. Big Ben is not the answer moving forward and there will be a huge hole there for the next few seasons unless Theo is able to make a huge move. I fully expect him to be able to fill that with a higher draft pick, getting your guy and starting to develop him early makes that a lot easier for the long haul. He could opt to bring Cam back and try to run the position by veteran guy you bring in that offseason which does not always work out I can tell you from personal experience. The rest of this roster is turning over in the trenches so whatever Theo does with that big hole will need to complimented with protection. I think Theo is a better user than he showed and Lefty while building great teams for himself is tough to take over for because the way he builds his teams feel really specialized to him.

AFC East

Buffalo Bills

Can Coach RFox overcome his perceived issues on the sticks and take the leap?

I think based on the division that RFox was put in a tough spot. Taking the least talented team in the Lions last cycle he managed to be at the top of that division even though the other teams had much better rosters to start. I believe that RFox can be a factor in the AFC this year, I don’t know that he will win it but he will definitely give some of the upper level competition some tough times. I think Josh Allen will be one of the better Quarterbacks league wide. My question with RFox is does he have any other defensive talent outside of being a defensive line user. If he can show the aptitude he had at linebacker for example then I feel like he may be able to take the leap.

Miami Dolphins

How does Spittah rebound from a subpar cycle with Mahomes going to Tua and crew?

Starting with the good things, he has more pieces on defense to begin with. The bad is he does not have that generationally talented offense that he could never seem to make work until the end. I am hearing rumblings that Spittah is not even married to the idea of starting Tua which will be a disaster. There a few different avenues he can go but I don’t see him getting back to the place he needs to be in terms of winning. I fully expect it to take a while and now that this means is he’s not taking advantage of a situation where most feel like he could win it. This being my favorite team I hope he does this right but he does not have his first round pick, that is with the Eagles currently although he does have Kelly’s the next two seasons so that should help get some extra talent or to make that trade to get his guy.

New York Jets

Robo****** struggled quite a bit in his early tenure with the WFT how does he bounce back?

Robo and I had a conversation about his Quarterback at the time Gabe Peek. I mentioned to him how jealous I was that he was able to coach that guy and wished I could have gone up in the draft to grab him. The issue I had was Peek being a Lamar Jackson level athlete was used like he was washed up Big Ben who cannot move a bit anymore to save his life. I think just learning what you have and playing to your strengths is going to be huge here in getting these Jets where they need to be. Do not ruin Zack Wilson early and just try to ride it out until you can spend some money and the extra picks you have to build your roster. I feel like if he is able to do that he will win a lot more, and have a lot more fun than he did last cycle.

New England Patriots

Can Coach Kad play mistake free football and win with this team?

Mac Jones is never going to be a world beater but I fully expect Kad to replicate the Derrick Henry led Seahawks model he was able to set up over there. The Pats are older but loaded on defense, the offensive line is quite good as well. It is the Wide Receiver group that I question, who is Mac Jones going to throw to? Run the football you have a whole bunch of backs including a young CEH or Clyde Edwards-Helaire for the uninformed. I fully expect Kad to be knocking on the door of a playoff berth and Mac Jones being a sneaky choice for an efficient rookie of the year. Kad the GM has a lot of work to make this offense more dynamic in the long term.

NFC South

Indianapolis Colts

How does WG deal with keeping this roster talent with little draft picks this year?

I think that WG is in a tough spot with the way the Colts and himself have sold away this seasons draft picks. Carson Wentz is not the long term answer to his Quarterback position and it will be tough to figure that out without having much capital to get his guy. I do think that WG took a step forward in terms of his stick skills last cycle, but as a GM made some questionable choices. If he wants to be taken seriously as one of the best users in this league his GM work needs to match the improvement, he made to his stick skills. You don’t need to trade for defensive line when there is one every year in the draft while trading away offensive lineman who are not easy to acquire for example. If WG can fix his GM work and make some better moves the sky is the limit for him.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Does Coach Jim figure out how to run an efficient offense?

If I was a betting man I would say no on this one. The argument is there with the Golden Haired Prospect of the last thirty years that there is a chance. I like what the offense has to offer in the short term until I can find a big time weapon to pair with Trevor Lawrence. I have been working on my stick skills against the CPU and feel like I am finally back to being the linebacker I was before the last cycle came around. I like my chances in the division long term especially if I can figure out this offense thing that has seemed to elude me the last six or seven years. I feel like the defense will be there after a season or two of moves just need to figure out how to move the football.

Houston Texans

How will coach Biggs fair in his Redzone debut?

I am not sure how he will fare. The hype is obviously there and selfishly I would like to win week 1. The Texans as a franchise are a dumpster fire and will need to retool their roster big time in the coming years for them to win games long term. Biggs has a huge job ahead of him with this Texans roster, could he possibly entertain trading Deshaun Watson to a team that needs a QB? I could easily see it happening and the Texans being a big player come draft time.

Tennessee Titans

Can Andy raise the talent of his roster enough to win big?

I love having Andy with the Titans, from a he’s super fun to play standpoint as well as I think the fit is really good. I think that he needs to make some improvements to this roster to get them over the hump of a Ravens or Chiefs level roster for example. The defense can use some major improvement in a few different areas including the corners, and pass rushers which is where most of your money on defense should be spent anyway. On offense they are great with line being a top tier line, and some wonderful skill players. The question is going to be at the Quarterback position, can Ryan Tannehill be the guy or will the Titans continue to search for a franchise signal caller and reminisce about the days of number nine Steve McNair? I don’t think Tannehill is the long term answer so that replacement will likely define whether Andy can get this roster to make the jump.