We can breathe again.
There are those who have claimed nothing was lost this past offseason. They point to a largely intact preseason (Hall of Fame game notwithstanding) and a normal kickoff weekend and shout down those among us who felt cheated by CBA-related distractions.
F them.
I love the stretch between the annual draft and the first preseason (so-called) game. There are OTA reports, contract disputes, rookie hazing, and free agent rumors. There are radio talk show hosts with homer predictions and the callers offering equally biased support. And of course, there are the clichés. The wonderful clichés…
They’re on the hot seat.
<insert team name> faces a make or break year.
<insert team name> might be this year’s Cinderella story.
So let’s quickly re-cap our abbreviated offseason with an abbreviated run down of what was stupid, which teams might surprise and who to place some action on for the opening week of the National Football League.
The stupid:
Plax; stop doing interviews. You were in jail for shooting yourself with a gun that you had smuggled into a nightclub. I’m sorry Coughlin did not cuddle you and Eli failed to write.
Bears; hugely under cap yet you permit your o-line to weaken and bring Roy Williams to boost WR group? Bad case of the Martz.
Arian Foster; no more tweets please. Be seen not heard.
Colts GM/Owner; massive contract with $50M+ of guarantees and you did not think to have a doc glance at Manning’s neck?
Redskins’ Shanny; Beck versus Grossman is not Montana versus Young.
Surprises:
Browns: Brownies in the playoffs? Outside of home division, schedule is weak (thank you NFC West) and both diminished Colts and Jags on the calendar.
Cardinals: Cards win the West? Nucleus of prior successful teams remains in place and free agent additions Bradley and Kolb suggest the one team in the miserable NFC West who wants to win this year.
* side note: Lions are a trendy pick to post a winning record and make playoffs. ‘Capper thinks 9-7 is very possible; however, hype from media on the return of the roar likely will ruin any spread value.
Fantasy:
By the end of this year you will know the names of offensive players: Julius Thomas, Jared Cook, Andre Roberts, Ed Dickson, and David Nelson.
This week’s selections:
Take Titans -1.5 at Jacksonville:
Jaguars on ‘Capper’s early “sell” list. Despite playing a Titans team in full reformation (new coaching staff, new offensive strategy, new defensive alignment and new quarterback), all the ‘Capper needed to see was Hasselbeck versus 8 yr back-up Luke McCown to toss his support on the road team.
Take Buffalo +5.5 at Kansas City:
Remove Charlie Weiss and replace the ’10 schedule (among easiest in league) with the ’11 schedule (among hardest) and this will be frustrating year for Chiefs fans. Bills can score points and were a better road than home team last season. Fitz might be current generation version of Rich Gannon if given a couple of more years in the same system.
Take Atlanta -2 at Chicago:
Road favorites tend to be losing propositions but ‘Capper likes the QB matchup here and the potential for a lopsided turnover differential. Cutler’s o-line was actually worse this preseason than during the end of the ’10 campaign (not easy thing to do). It was time for Kruetz to move on but a shortened offseason likely has impeded o-line communication with new center Garza. Cutler’s weapons are weak (particularly without Olsen) and Atlanta’s pass rush should be much improved. Matty Ice versus Cutler? Lay the deuce.
The NEWSLETTER, a handicapping report with an attitude.
