Season Preview Thread

BigBadRob83

Ranking the Divisions

Giving every team a rank based on their draft position (Pick 1 = 1, etc.) all the way up to Berty at 21. Then all the new players get an average rank of 11 (middle of the pack as we have no idea, yet, of level). CPU team = 1 (Colts & Raiders atm) Add these up by division and you get:

AFC West 50
NFC South 43
NFC North 42
AFC East 41
NFC West 41
NFC East 38
AFC North 36
AFC South 32

Even without ibmax, the AFC West looks to be the most difficult division!
AFC South looks to be the least competitive, mainly due to CPU Colts

BigBadRob83

NFC East preview coming (hopefully today depending on workload)

BigBadRob83

Redskins (SantryRed, Power Ranking #3 )
FA - RB BenJarvis Green-Ellis, RG Jake Scott
Trades - None

Tim Hightower was let go, as Law Firm was was signed in free agency after being surprisingly cut by the Bengals. Everyone will be wary of the RG3 led offense, with a two solid options at TE in Davis and Cooley, the speedy Garcon at WR with other good options in Moss and Morgan. Ben will hope that Jake Scott can help sure up the O-Line.
The defense looked good against the Saints generating 5 picks and is an under-rated part of this team.
The Skins got off to a winning start against Raoul's Saints (17-7), and look to be the team to beat in this division. If only the real life injuries of Orapko and Carriker carried through, unfortunately they haven't and it it is hard to look past this team as the NFC East champs.


Cowboys (BigBadRob83, #16)
FA - MLB Gary Brackett, SS Bob Sanders, TE Bear Pascoe, RT Ryan O'Callaghan, WR Brandon Lafell
Trades - None

There is talent on offense, starting with Romo, the young buck Murray, elite TE Witten, the mercurial Dez Bryant and the reliable Miles Austin. The skill players however could be let down by a shaky O-Line, there are two good Tackles surrounding an inconsistent interior.
Cowboys should be hard to pass on with three solid CB's should be able to cover well, a solid D-Line and the edge rush coming from Ware and Spencer. The rush will be needed as if the QB finds time the below average safeties could be found out, even after the signing of veteran Bob Sanders.

After a horrible pre-season (0-4), the Cowboys start the regular season well, with a 35-20 victory in the Meadowlands. It was all DeMarco Murray and the defense in this one, question marks still remain over Tony Romo. Cowboys are aiming for a wildcard, unless DeMarcus Ware can lay out RG3.

Giants (empacher, #22)
FA - WR Lavelle Hawkins, C K. Matthews
Trades - None

Offense looked good in parts against the Cowboys, as Ahmad Bradshaw ran riot. However when forced to throw Eli looked shaky throwing a couple of picks. Once he settles in to the offense, can see this being a hard team to stop scoring. The pass rush was beastly at times and will be tough for teams to contend with, as the y don't need to bring extra rushers to generate pressure. JPP is a monster, pass-rushing, chasing down RB's and even tackling the TE!
Careful if this team gets it together, lost to Cowboys mainly through two big plays from the special teams and defense.

Eagles (Notyalc666, #23)
FA - RT Tony Pashos, LG - Ryan Durand
Trades - None

Lot of talent on both sides of the ball, can the offense gel? Hard to know, as the team got off to a losing start against the Browns (14-20) after being run over by Trent Richardson. They didn't manage to get much going on offense, and concern as Michael Vick took some hits. Similar story to the Giants, as I would expect this team to improve as the year goes on. Lot of talent to work with and could be dangerous.


This division will leave a lot to be decided until the last few weeks, as the schedule is back-loaded with divisional matchups, but will give the early predicitions anyway

1. Redskins
2. Cowboys
3. Giants
4. Eagles

Raoul

Great write up Rob, I think with a bit of luck you could have a very good season. Some good pick ups in the FA.