2008 NFL Sneak Peek – AFC West
Posted on Friday, July 18th
Welcome to the eighth and final
edition of your 8-week series taking an off-season look at each of the National
Football League’s divisions. This week we chase the setting sun west and drop
in one of the most lopsided groups where the bottom three were outscored by an
average of 6.52 points per game in 2007. Can any of these crews stop the Bolts?
San Diego (11-5 regular season, 2-1 playoffs) Hang with me, but is
this crew that tough? They outscored opponents by 8 points per game in the
regular season and won 8 straight before falling in the AFC Championship Game
but is a team that ranked 20th in offense and 15th in
defense while being out-gained ready to win a Bowl? The answer is Coach Norv
Turner’s philosophy: dominate the box, take few offensive risks, and leave the
stats to the geeks. The front 7 that sprung 42 sacks, 25 fumble recoveries, and
30 interceptions (+18 S, + 22 TO) returns, including the 21 sacks of OLBs
Merriman and Phillips, with veteran RILB Derek Smith (cut-SF) holding fort while
Wilhelm serves a 4-game suspension. CBs Jammer and Cromartie (10 INT) also
return while nickel back Drayton Florence (FA-JAX) will be replaced by 1st
round pick CB Antoine Cason (Arizona) and FS Eric Weddel (53 T, INT) takes over
for Marlon McCree (FA-DEN). A key offensive piece was secured when RT Jerome
Clary, who took the job from Shane Olivea (cut) last season, was re-signed to
join the top-flight crew of RG Goff, C Hardwick, LG Dielman, and back-to-back
Pro Bowler LT McNeil. Hardwick is recovering from toe surgery but the adds of
veteran starters C Jeremy Newberry (FA-OAK) and T LJ Shelton (FA-MIA) plus T
Corey Clark (7th round, Texas A&M) brings enviable insurance.
Michael Turner (FA-ATL) and Lorenzo Neal (cut) are big losses in the backfield
so the Chargers spent 3rd and 5th round picks on backs
5’11” 230 Jacob Hester (LSU) and 6’2” 215 Marcus Thomas (UTEP) to battle
RB Andrew Pinnock behind Tomlinson. The targets for QB Rivers are equally thin
behind the front line of Chambers, Jackson, and still rehabbing TE Antonio Gates
(toe) with WRs Eric Parker, Craig Davis, and re-signed Malcolm Floyd in the pen.
Health at the skill positions will decide the Bolts’ Super Bowl readiness.
Denver (7-9 regular season, missed playoffs) Getting pushed around
for 142.6 rush yards and 25.6 points per game prompted GM Lundquist to a major
overhaul. Gone are DE Rice (mid-2007) and DT Adams (cut) and in is LDT Dewayne
Robertson (Trade-NYJ) while RDT Alvin McKinney moves to first sting along
re-signed LDE Engelberger and RDE Dumervil. 2nd-year comers DT
Thomas, DE Crowder, and DE Moss plus re-signed DE Ekuban and run-stuffer DT
Carlton Powell (5th round, Virginia Tech) bring keen competition for
starts. At backer, WLB Gold’s release allows DJ Williams to move back outside
with his MIKE slot filled by Niko Koutouvides (FA-SEA) while SLB Webster gets
pushed to backup by SLB Boss Bailey (FA-DET). Corners Bailey and Bly return,
re-signed FS Abdul Hamza moves up for Nick Ferguson (FA-HOU), plus safety adds
Marlon McCree (FA-SD) and Marquand Manuel (FA-CAR) push re-signed SS Lynch and
allow Dominique Foxworth to move to nickel, bumping Payma to dime. On offense,
LG Hamilton and C Nalen are back after ending 2007 on the IR to rejoin RG
Holland while retired LT Lepsis is replaced by the light feet and devastating
punch of 12th overall selection Ryan Clady (Boise State), backed up
by Pears who surrenders his starting job to RT Chris Cooper with C/G Casey
Wiegmann (FA-KC) grabbed for insurance. QB Cutler lost WR Jevon Walker (FA-OAK)
but has his diabetes in check and gets WRs Darrell Jackson (cut-SF), WR Sammie
Parker (FA-KC), and Keary Colbert (FA-CAR) added to Marshall and Stokley plus WR
Eddie Royal’s (2nd round, Virginia Tech) RAC ability has impressed.
For now RB Selvin Young keeps his job but Michael Pittman (FA-TB) and powerful
Ryan Torian (5th round, Arizona State) have shots at major rushing
roles. P Sam Paulescu and K Matt Prater replace Sauerbrun (cut) and Elam
(FA-ATL).
Kansas City (4-12 regular season, missed playoffs) The Chiefs fell
from the NFL’s best offensive unit to one of the worst in two seasons while
losing 9 straight to end 2007 but thanks to the trade of DE Allen to Minnesota,
KC was stacked with 12 draft choices including 6 in the top 82 overall - at
least 3 of which will start immediately. Offensive line was a disaster (78.0
rush yards per game and 55 sacks) so let’s start there where starters RT John
Welbourne (cut) and C Casey Wiegmann (FA-DEN) plus part-time starter T Kyle
Turley (cut) went packing. RT Damion McIntosh moves from left, opening up a slot
for 15th overall pick LT Branden Albert (Virginia) next to 3-time Pro
Bowler LG Walters, while backups C Rudy Niswanger and RG Adrian Jones move to
first string. Road grader G/T Barry Richardson (6th round, Clemson)
or free agent pickups C Wade Smith (NYJ) and T Anthony Alibi (FA-MIA) could
challenge. Behind this shaky crew, QB Croyle gets back a healthy RB Johnson plus
elusive RB Jamaal Charles (3rd round, Texas) to push Smith. Two-TE
sets are the norm and Brad Cottam (3rd round, Tennessee) is a
dynamite blocker to pair with Gonzalez while 4th rounder WR Will
Franklin (Missouri) brings a rare size/speed combo to battle WR Devard Darling
(FA-BAL) opposite Bowe and in place of Kennison (cut) and Parker (FA-DEN).
Slashing payroll while boosting run stopping were the goals on defense sending
LB Bell (cut), CB Law (cut), DT Reed (cut), and CB Sapp (FA-MIN) packing. RE
Hali moves from the left side, LE Boone slides over from tackle and 5th
overall pick RDT Glenn Dorsey gets the start next to Ron Edwards. WLB Demorrio
Willams (FA-ATL) was the big grab, allowing slowing Donnie Edwards to move
inside and pushing MLB to the 2nd string, while RCB Brandon Flowers
(2nd round, Virginia Tech) steps right in opposite Surtain. What a
mess!
Oakland (4-12 regular season, missed playoffs) Predicting a team
that has posted a 19-61 mark over the last 5 seasons will be improved -
especially in a weak division - isn’t much of a stretch but we like the
Raiders’ direction. The departure of QBs Culpepper (cut) and McCowan (FA-MIA)
and their 15 starts in 2007 signals the open of the JaMarcus Russell era and his
line will be better. LT Barry Sims (FA-cut) is replaced by Kwame Harris (FA-SF),
LG Gallery has found a position is which he can succeed, and C John Wade (FA-TB)
is an upgrade joining returning starters RG Cooper and RT Green on Russell’s
oft-used roll-out side. Re-signed RB Fargas and the homerun ability of 4th
overall pick Darren McFadden (Arkansas) will buy time, leaving Rhodes (cut)
superfluous, while the adds of WR Javon Walker (FA-DEN) plus 4th and
7th round blazers Armon Shields (Richmond) and Chaz Schilens (San
Diego State) replace the loss of WR Jerry Porter (FA-JAX) alongside Curry and
Carter. A defense that allowed 4.8 yards per rush is a little trickier. Gone are
rush DE’s Clemons (FA-PHI) and Brayton (FA-CAR) plus DT Sapp (retired) while
LDT Tommy Kelly re-signed and along with RDT Terdell Sands the Raiders see their
future. We’re not sold but this pair and starting DE’s Burgess and
Richardson have plenty veteran help in DE Kalimba Edwards (FA-DET), DT Gerard
Warren, DT William Joseph (FA-NYG), and DE Greg Spires (cut-TB). The linebacker
situation is largely the same - better vs. pass than run - but the trade for RCB
DeAngelo Hall (ATL) opposite re-signed LCB Asomugha give Oakland a top-flight
pair. Nickel back Stanford Routt moves up for Fabian Washington (trade-BAL)
while grabbing SS Gibril Wilson (FA-NYG) adds run support, allows Michael Huff
to move to his natural free safety, and made FS Schweigart (cut) expendable.
Give some love to the Black and Silver!
***NOTE: Weekly college and pro football articles will be posted every Thursday throughout the season for a major weekend match up so we hope to see you here every week and best of luck this year!*** - The Champs at #1 SPORTS