Chicago Bears
Key Additions: DE Julius Peppers, RB Chester Taylor, FS Major Wright, TE Brandon Manumaleuna, CB Tim Jennings
Key Subtractions: DE Alex Brown, LB Jamar Williams, CB Nathan Vasher
The Bears enter year two with QB Jay Cutler under center trading him for an abundance of drafty picks prior to last season. Cutler struggled last year throwing for 27 TD's, but 26 INT's, only the Lions and Bucs threw for more interceptions. Mike Martz takes over the offense that will do wonders for Cutler. However, Martz loves to throw the ball, and head coach Lovie Smith does not. Lovie went as far as to have Cutler only attempt 17 passes in a game last year against the Rams in which they won 17-9. But the message was clear that what Lovie wanted out of Culter wasnt resonating. Martz now is faced with the challenge of improving Culter and limiting his mistakes. Cutler has the weapons around him to succeed. Chester Taylor joins Matt Forte in the backfield as the Bears struggled to run the ball last year. But the real strength is at wide receiver, where Johnny Knox, Devin Hester, Earl Bennett, and Devin Aromashodu-ashodu lead the way, and bringing in Manumaleuna provides a big target in the red zone. With the weapons surrounding Cutler, he should improve big time this season.
The premier free agent this offseason was Peppers, and the Bears landed the big fish. Peppers improves the defense by himself, as there is no better coverage in my mind than an excellent pass rush. Urlacher returns after missing pretty much all of last season. He can still play at a high level and with Lance Briggs still there, the Bears are set at linebacker. They brought in Tim Jennings to compete for one of the starting corner jobsw, but the rest of the secondary is up in the eair with a lot of rookies and vets competing for spots, including FS Major Wright.
Schedule:
1 Sun. Sep. 12 vs. Lions
2 Sun. Sep. 19 at Cowboys
3 Mon. Sep. 27 vs. Packers
4 Sun. Oct. 03 at Giants
5 Sun. Oct. 10 at Panthers
6 Sun. Oct. 17 vs. Seahawks
7 Sun. Oct. 24 vs. Redskins
8 BYE
9 Sun. Nov. 07 at Bills
10 Sun. Nov. 14 vs. Vikings
11 Thu. Nov. 18 at Dolphins
12 Sun. Nov. 28 vs. Eagles
13 Sun. Dec. 05 at Lions
14 Sun. Dec. 12 vs. Patriots
15 Mon. Dec. 20 at Vikings
16 Sun. Dec. 26 vs. Jets
17 Sun. Jan. 02 at Packers
The Bears have the #14th hardest schedule and opponents were 129-127 last season. They catch the AFC East and NFC East, two of the toughest divisions in the NFL. Already having to contend with the Packers and Vikings twice each, this schedule doesnt favor the Bears. But they should contend for a playoff spot.
Miami Dolphins
Key Additions: WR Brandon Marshall, LB Karlos Dansby, DT Jared Odrick,
Key Subtractions: WR Ted Ginn Jr., LB Joey Porter, LB Jason Taylor
The Dolphins are now three years into the Parcells era and look to have something brewing down in Miami. Chad Henne is the quarterback the Dolphins feel they can win with. He took over in Week 2 last year and started every game for the remainder of the season. His numbers were decent even in the absence of a true number one receiver. In the offseason, the Dolphins acquired one...Brandon Marshall. Marhsall is the physical go to guy that Hennne can lean on in a big spot. But the strength of the offense has, and will continue to be, the running game. Ronnie Brown struggled until going down for the year in Week 10. Ricky Williams did pick up the slack, rushing for 1,211 yards averaging 4.7 yards per carry. If both of them can stay healthy and Chad Henne improves, the Dolphins will do better on offense.
Defensively, the Dolphins lost a few veterans. However, they did get the best middle linebacker in free agency in Karlos Dansby. Dansby will play alongside Chaning Crowder. However the Dolphins were playing with rookies at corner towards the end of the season and were terrible against the pass. They were worst in the league in giving up plays of 40+ yards through the air, surrendering 17. They must improve heading into year two. Mike Nolan may have his hands full if the defensive personnel currently in place does not do their job.
Schedule:
1 Sun. Sep. 12 at Bills
2 Sun. Sep. 19 at Vikings
3 Sun. Sep. 26 vs. Jets
4 Mon. Oct. 04 vs. Patriots
5 BYE
6 Sun. Oct. 17 at Packers
7 Sun. Oct. 24 vs. Steelers
8 Sun. Oct. 31 at Bengals
9 Sun. Nov. 07 at Ravens
10 Sun. Nov. 14 vs. Titans
11 Thu. Nov. 18 vs. Bears
12 Sun. Nov. 28 at Raiders
13 Sun. Dec. 05 vs. Browns
14 Sun. Dec. 12 at Jets
15 Sun. Dec. 19 vs. Bills
16 Sun. Dec. 26 vs. Lions
17 Sun. Jan. 02 at Patriots
The Dolphins have the 17th hardest schedule in the league and opponents were 128-128 last season. They catch the NFC North and AFC North this season. Both divisions have teams with three or more teams capable of making the playoffs. Three easy games at the end of the schedule at home sure help the Dolphins. If they can remain in the hunt once December rolls around, they'll be in good shape.
Showing posts with label Miami Dolphins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miami Dolphins. Show all posts
Monday, July 26, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
NFL News and Notes - April 13
Updated 4/14 11:50 A.M.: The Denver Broncos have traded WR Brandon Marshall to the Miami Dolphins for a second round pick in the 2010 draft and a second round pick in the 2011 draft. The Dolphins clearly had a need at the wide receiver position and with Marshall now on the team that need has been addressed. Davone Bess and Ted Ginn Jr. have not stepped up like the Dolphins would have liked, so Bill Parcells brings in a nice target for QB Chad Henne to throw to who will make big plays.
For the Broncos they have good receivers in Eddie Royal, Jabar Gaffney, and Brandon Stokley, but none of them are the caliber receiver Marshall is and probably never will be. Dez Bryant has the potential to be what Brandon Marhsall is. Will they take a shot at the receiver with the 11th pick? Or will they address a serious need on defense and draft LB Rolando McClain? That will be a highly debated topic in the next two weeks leading to the draft.
*
A lot has been brewing in the NFL this offseason so lets take a look at a few stories making headlines these past few weeks.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have traded Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes to the New York Jets for a 2010 fifth round draft pick on Sunday night. The following day the NFL suspended Holmes for the first four games of the 2010 season for abusing the leagues substance abuse policy. Holmes was cited for possession of marijuana in 2008. If you look at this trade from purely a football standpoint, the Jets clearly got the better of this deal. The Steelers however downplayed this the following day saying that they would have cut the Super Bowl MVP had they not found a trade partner. What this means for the Jets is, they are out to win at all costs. What this means to the Steelers is they are looking to clean up their organization. The Jets add Holmes to go along with Braylon Edwards and Jericho Cotchery to complete their receiving core. The Jets are going to be a lot of peoples favorites to win the AFC this year, but we'll discuss that after the Draft.
Brandon Marshal has signed his tender offer from the Denver Broncos, making it a lot easier for a team to trade for him knowing they do not have to negotiate a contract for him for the upcoming season. Their are several teams in need of a WR, the Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Seattle Seahawks included among others. Obviously his value drops below what was tendered for him, a first round pick, to probably a second to third round pick.
Ben Roethlisberger escaped charges on Monday when a DA in Georgia decided not to charge Ben with a crime for conduct with a 20 year old women in the bathroom of a nightclub several months ago. Conduct like this is unacceptable from any human being, but for a celebrity or professional athlete who carries responsibilities beyond themselves, is reprehensible. The league has taken a black eye from this incident and I believe the league must impose some sort of retribution on Ben for his conduct. The league has a strict personal conduct policy and can impose a suspension or fine regardless of whether or not a crime was committed. I also applaud the district attorney for coming out and explaining the events leading up to the incident and why he chose not to pursue charges in this case.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have reportedly taken WR Dez Bryant off their draft boards. This can mean several things to a lot of different teams. Originally I thought Bryant would go to Jacksonville and the Broncos would select Rolando McClain. With Bryant now off at 10, the Broncos may now be looking at Bryant in the 11 spot. Meaning Giants fans like me can take a deep breath if this is the case and would expect McClain to be there when the Giants pick at 15. A lot of scenarios that will play out that will probably change 100 different times between now and the draft.
Comments. I'll do a Mock Draft for the First Round next week
For the Broncos they have good receivers in Eddie Royal, Jabar Gaffney, and Brandon Stokley, but none of them are the caliber receiver Marshall is and probably never will be. Dez Bryant has the potential to be what Brandon Marhsall is. Will they take a shot at the receiver with the 11th pick? Or will they address a serious need on defense and draft LB Rolando McClain? That will be a highly debated topic in the next two weeks leading to the draft.
*
A lot has been brewing in the NFL this offseason so lets take a look at a few stories making headlines these past few weeks.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have traded Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes to the New York Jets for a 2010 fifth round draft pick on Sunday night. The following day the NFL suspended Holmes for the first four games of the 2010 season for abusing the leagues substance abuse policy. Holmes was cited for possession of marijuana in 2008. If you look at this trade from purely a football standpoint, the Jets clearly got the better of this deal. The Steelers however downplayed this the following day saying that they would have cut the Super Bowl MVP had they not found a trade partner. What this means for the Jets is, they are out to win at all costs. What this means to the Steelers is they are looking to clean up their organization. The Jets add Holmes to go along with Braylon Edwards and Jericho Cotchery to complete their receiving core. The Jets are going to be a lot of peoples favorites to win the AFC this year, but we'll discuss that after the Draft.
Brandon Marshal has signed his tender offer from the Denver Broncos, making it a lot easier for a team to trade for him knowing they do not have to negotiate a contract for him for the upcoming season. Their are several teams in need of a WR, the Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Seattle Seahawks included among others. Obviously his value drops below what was tendered for him, a first round pick, to probably a second to third round pick.
Ben Roethlisberger escaped charges on Monday when a DA in Georgia decided not to charge Ben with a crime for conduct with a 20 year old women in the bathroom of a nightclub several months ago. Conduct like this is unacceptable from any human being, but for a celebrity or professional athlete who carries responsibilities beyond themselves, is reprehensible. The league has taken a black eye from this incident and I believe the league must impose some sort of retribution on Ben for his conduct. The league has a strict personal conduct policy and can impose a suspension or fine regardless of whether or not a crime was committed. I also applaud the district attorney for coming out and explaining the events leading up to the incident and why he chose not to pursue charges in this case.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have reportedly taken WR Dez Bryant off their draft boards. This can mean several things to a lot of different teams. Originally I thought Bryant would go to Jacksonville and the Broncos would select Rolando McClain. With Bryant now off at 10, the Broncos may now be looking at Bryant in the 11 spot. Meaning Giants fans like me can take a deep breath if this is the case and would expect McClain to be there when the Giants pick at 15. A lot of scenarios that will play out that will probably change 100 different times between now and the draft.
Comments. I'll do a Mock Draft for the First Round next week
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)