3.5/5 Stars
Monday, August 21, 2017
Movie Review: The Hitman's Bodyguard
3.5/5 Stars
Friday, August 18, 2017
2017 NFL Power Rankings: Preseason
I would be an irresponsible blogger if I let the NFL season start without dropping some preseason NFL power rankings for 2017. This batch of rankings is bound to be severely shaken up by the time mid-September rolls around, but it's always a good time to take a look at where the NFL hierarchy stands before the chaos of the regular season hits. Make sure you check back in mid-November and laugh at how naïve I was in mid-August.
1.New England Patriots
2.Atlanta Falcons
3.Pittsburgh Steelers
4.Green Bay Packers
5.Oakland Raiders
6.Seattle Seahawks
7.New York Giants
8.Dallas Cowboys
9.Kansas City Chiefs
10.Houston Texans
11.Tampa Bay Buccaneers
12.Detroit Lions
13.Miami Dolphins
14.Minnesota Vikings
15.Denver Broncos
16.Arizona Cardinals
17.Tennessee Titans
18.Baltimore Ravens
19.Philadelphia Eagles
20.Washington Redskins
21.New Orleans Saints
22.Carolina Panthers
23.Indianapolis Colts
24.Cincinnati Bengals
25.Los Angeles Chargers
26.Buffalo Bills
27.Jacksonville Jaguars
28.Los Angeles Rams
29.Chicago Bears
30.Cleveland Browns
31.San Francisco 49ers
32.New York Jets
1.New England Patriots
2.Atlanta Falcons
3.Pittsburgh Steelers
4.Green Bay Packers
5.Oakland Raiders
6.Seattle Seahawks
7.New York Giants
8.Dallas Cowboys
9.Kansas City Chiefs
10.Houston Texans
11.Tampa Bay Buccaneers
12.Detroit Lions
13.Miami Dolphins
14.Minnesota Vikings
15.Denver Broncos
16.Arizona Cardinals
17.Tennessee Titans
18.Baltimore Ravens
19.Philadelphia Eagles
20.Washington Redskins
21.New Orleans Saints
22.Carolina Panthers
23.Indianapolis Colts
24.Cincinnati Bengals
25.Los Angeles Chargers
26.Buffalo Bills
27.Jacksonville Jaguars
28.Los Angeles Rams
29.Chicago Bears
30.Cleveland Browns
31.San Francisco 49ers
32.New York Jets
Thursday, August 17, 2017
Movie Review: Wind River
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For reasons that are unbeknownst to me, the stretch of the calendar between mid-August and mid-September has become the most unconventional time of the year for the film industry. With the spectacle of summer all but completely finished and the glamour of fall's prestige pics lurking on the horizon, Hollywood has recently decided to dedicate this part of the calendar to risks they can't afford to take at any other time of the year. Everything from oddball mid-budget fare that didn't fit in with their prime summer slate to low-budget horror flicks to well-reviewed indie fare to long-delayed crap that they didn't feel like releasing last winter makes its way into theaters during this four-to-five week transitional period. The quality of these films are clearly all over the map, but the level of genre diversity and original products that tend to hit the marketplace during this time makes it a very thrilling period for avid moviegoers. Wind River, the first high-profile directorial effort from Sicario and Hell or High Water writer Taylor Sheridan, is a premier example of the greatness that can be found during Hollywood's unofficial "Island of Misfit Toys" period.
When writers make the leap to directing, there's always a sense that they might be in over their head. Just because you know to how to craft an effective story doesn't mean you know how to handle actors, establish the proper tone, pick the right camera angles, etc. Sheridan is not one of those people. As a director working from his own screenplay, Sheridan knows every single beat he needs to hit in order to maximize the effectiveness of his story. The dialogue-driven scenes do an excellent job of helping flesh out the motivations of every character, the burst of tension/action are perfectly deployed to elevate the stakes of the central mystery throughout and the desolate atmosphere that runs through every frame meshes beautifully with the frigid, isolated backdrop of the Wyoming Indian Reservation where it takes place. His understanding of structure and the palpable confidence in which he executes his vision is absolutely incredible for a guy whose only directed one straight-to-VOD horror film (Vile) before this.
The excellence of Wind River is further solidified by outstanding performances from Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen in the leading roles. Renner hasn't been this emotive or powerful on-screen since American Hustle while Olsen does an excellent job of reminding the world why she's one of the best young actresses in the industry after a string of middling turns as Scarlet Witch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Sheridan's reliance on straightforward plots pushes the characters to the forefront of his work and the plethora of terrific actors he's worked with on his first three projects as a writer have helped his minimalist, human approach to storytelling become booming successes.
As great as Sicario and Hell or High Water are (they both finished just outside my top 10 films of 2015 and 2016 respectively), I believe Wind River is by far Sherdian's most impressive project to-date. Top-notch genre filmmaking is an underappreciated artform and you aren't going to find too many entries in the time-tested murder mystery/thriller genre that are as well-constructed, engrossing and satisfying from start to finish as this. Fingers crossed that Wind River can follow Hell or High Water's lead and get some recognition come awards season.
4.5/5 Stars
When writers make the leap to directing, there's always a sense that they might be in over their head. Just because you know to how to craft an effective story doesn't mean you know how to handle actors, establish the proper tone, pick the right camera angles, etc. Sheridan is not one of those people. As a director working from his own screenplay, Sheridan knows every single beat he needs to hit in order to maximize the effectiveness of his story. The dialogue-driven scenes do an excellent job of helping flesh out the motivations of every character, the burst of tension/action are perfectly deployed to elevate the stakes of the central mystery throughout and the desolate atmosphere that runs through every frame meshes beautifully with the frigid, isolated backdrop of the Wyoming Indian Reservation where it takes place. His understanding of structure and the palpable confidence in which he executes his vision is absolutely incredible for a guy whose only directed one straight-to-VOD horror film (Vile) before this.
The excellence of Wind River is further solidified by outstanding performances from Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen in the leading roles. Renner hasn't been this emotive or powerful on-screen since American Hustle while Olsen does an excellent job of reminding the world why she's one of the best young actresses in the industry after a string of middling turns as Scarlet Witch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Sheridan's reliance on straightforward plots pushes the characters to the forefront of his work and the plethora of terrific actors he's worked with on his first three projects as a writer have helped his minimalist, human approach to storytelling become booming successes.
As great as Sicario and Hell or High Water are (they both finished just outside my top 10 films of 2015 and 2016 respectively), I believe Wind River is by far Sherdian's most impressive project to-date. Top-notch genre filmmaking is an underappreciated artform and you aren't going to find too many entries in the time-tested murder mystery/thriller genre that are as well-constructed, engrossing and satisfying from start to finish as this. Fingers crossed that Wind River can follow Hell or High Water's lead and get some recognition come awards season.
4.5/5 Stars
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
2017 NFL Preview: AFC West
Denver Broncos
2016 Record: 9-7 (3rd in AFC West)
Head Coach: Vance Joseph (1st season)
Notable Additions: G Ronald Leary, RB Jammal Charles, T Menelik Watson
Notable Departures: DE DeMarcus Ware (retired), T Russell Okung, NT Sylvester Williams
-Fans in the Mile High City have the distinct pleasure of sitting through a riveting QB battle between Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch for the 2nd consecutive year. As disheartening as it is for a fanbase that is just 4 years removed from watching Peyton Manning throw an NFL-record 55 TD's in a season to hear, Siemian appears to be the clear favorite to line up center for the Broncos in 2017. Denver's offense was at least semi-functional with Siemian at the helm last season and his chemistry with the team's top wideouts (Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders) was solid throughout the year. Despite Siemian's respectable 1st season as a starter (3,401 YDS, 18 TD, 10 INT in 14 games), I can't help but think that Lynch has a realistic chance of stealing the job. The Broncos made a huge investment in the former University of Memphis standout by selecting him with the 26th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and it's only a matter of time before the team wants to see if their faith in his ability to evolve into a franchise quarterback was justified. The common sense move would be to let Lynch, who looked like a lost puppy in his 2 starts last season, sit for another year while he gets acclimated with new offensive coordinator's Mike McCoy's system, but I wouldn't be shocked if the coaching staff forced him onto the field this season. Regardless of how this situation shakes out, Broncos nation are all but guaranteed to be dealing with another season of so-so play at the quarterback position.
-General manager John Elway has become known as a model front office leader during his 6 seasons on the job. His latest innovative piece of roster-building was changing the approach to his annual offensive line overhaul from trotting out inept clowns he selected in the early-to-mid rounds of the draft (Max Garcia, Michael Schofield, Ty Sambrailo) to signing every a-hole castoff from excellent offensive lines around the league. Ex-Cowboys guard Ronald Leary, you get a contract! Former Raiders tackle Menelik Watson, you get a contract! Journeyman guard Allen Barbre, who just got acquired from the Eagles, you get a contract! EVERYONE WHO PLAYED SPARINGLY ON AN ELITE OFFENSIVE LINE GETS A CONTRACT!!!!!!!! This ragtag group of rotational lineman will be rounded out by 25-year old rookie left tackle Garret Bolles, who is sure to emerge into the next Jonathan Ogden and definitely isn't the offensive lineman version of Brandon Weeden and center Matt Paradis, who is coming off an excellent 2016 season and could once again end up being the only success story in the group. O-line has been the only area Elway has consistently screwed up on during his tenure with the Broncos and it's going to be a Rudy-esque underdog story if this haphazardly-assembled group ends up stopping this extended streak of futility.
-Watching the Broncos defense play last season was a high-wire act full of awe-inspring highs and sprit-breaking lows. Their pass defense was pretty much impenetrable thanks to the continued dominance of their league-best corner duo of Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. and their pass-rush led by sack artists Von Miller and Derek Wolfe was once again excellent (their 42 total sacks was tied for 3rd most in the NFL). However unlike their 2015 Super Bowl Champion team, the 2016 squad was helpless at stopping the run, ranking 28th in the league with an average of 130.3 yards allowed per game. 2017 looks like it's going to be more of the same. For some inexplicable reason, the Broncos didn't make any serious changes to the front 7 of their defense this offseason. The only new starter (the recently-retired DeMarcus Ware is being replaced in the starting lineup by Shane Ray, who started 8 games in 2016 while Ware missed time with elbow and back injuries) they brought in is geriatric defensive tackle Domata Peko, who honestly isn't much of an improvement over last year's horrific starter Sylvester Williams. Without any notable new blood on the roster, it's going to be up to the group's returning deadbeat starters (inside linebacker Todd Davis and defensive end Jared Crick) to improve this run-defense and ideally, help this group return to its elite all-around form of 2015.
-This narrative oddly hasn't come up much this offseason, but the hiring of Vance Joseph as head coach to replace Gary Kubiak, who was forced to retire from coaching due to medical issues, strikes me as a potentially damaging move for this franchise. Joseph, who was Kubiak's defensive backs coach for 3 seasons when he was with the Texans, has never had a head coaching before this and his middling work with the Dolphins last season in his only year as an NFL defensive coordinator doesn't exactly inspire a lot of confidence in his ability to lead a team. Not even the return of offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, who was with the team from 2010-2012, has me sold on the Joseph regime in Denver. None of the key personnel outside of wideout Demaryius Thomas was here during McCoy's previous tenure as OC, so the "familiarity" with his system that some of the beat writers/national reporters have been droning on about for the past 6 months doesn't really apply. Going from a staff full of wily veterans that have solid, if not excellent track records at their respective jobs (Kubiak, Rick Dennison, Wade Philips) to a group that largely lacks experience at their current positions (new defensive coordinator Joe Woods, who was promoted from defensive backs coach, is also a 1st-time shot caller) could be a hard pill to swallow for a team that is trying to bounce back from a disappointing season.
Bottom Line:
While the Broncos have too many elite players to be written off completely, their shaky QB situation horrific run D and 1st-time head coach make it hard to get overly excited about their team this season.
-Fans in the Mile High City have the distinct pleasure of sitting through a riveting QB battle between Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch for the 2nd consecutive year. As disheartening as it is for a fanbase that is just 4 years removed from watching Peyton Manning throw an NFL-record 55 TD's in a season to hear, Siemian appears to be the clear favorite to line up center for the Broncos in 2017. Denver's offense was at least semi-functional with Siemian at the helm last season and his chemistry with the team's top wideouts (Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders) was solid throughout the year. Despite Siemian's respectable 1st season as a starter (3,401 YDS, 18 TD, 10 INT in 14 games), I can't help but think that Lynch has a realistic chance of stealing the job. The Broncos made a huge investment in the former University of Memphis standout by selecting him with the 26th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and it's only a matter of time before the team wants to see if their faith in his ability to evolve into a franchise quarterback was justified. The common sense move would be to let Lynch, who looked like a lost puppy in his 2 starts last season, sit for another year while he gets acclimated with new offensive coordinator's Mike McCoy's system, but I wouldn't be shocked if the coaching staff forced him onto the field this season. Regardless of how this situation shakes out, Broncos nation are all but guaranteed to be dealing with another season of so-so play at the quarterback position.
-General manager John Elway has become known as a model front office leader during his 6 seasons on the job. His latest innovative piece of roster-building was changing the approach to his annual offensive line overhaul from trotting out inept clowns he selected in the early-to-mid rounds of the draft (Max Garcia, Michael Schofield, Ty Sambrailo) to signing every a-hole castoff from excellent offensive lines around the league. Ex-Cowboys guard Ronald Leary, you get a contract! Former Raiders tackle Menelik Watson, you get a contract! Journeyman guard Allen Barbre, who just got acquired from the Eagles, you get a contract! EVERYONE WHO PLAYED SPARINGLY ON AN ELITE OFFENSIVE LINE GETS A CONTRACT!!!!!!!! This ragtag group of rotational lineman will be rounded out by 25-year old rookie left tackle Garret Bolles, who is sure to emerge into the next Jonathan Ogden and definitely isn't the offensive lineman version of Brandon Weeden and center Matt Paradis, who is coming off an excellent 2016 season and could once again end up being the only success story in the group. O-line has been the only area Elway has consistently screwed up on during his tenure with the Broncos and it's going to be a Rudy-esque underdog story if this haphazardly-assembled group ends up stopping this extended streak of futility.
-Watching the Broncos defense play last season was a high-wire act full of awe-inspring highs and sprit-breaking lows. Their pass defense was pretty much impenetrable thanks to the continued dominance of their league-best corner duo of Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. and their pass-rush led by sack artists Von Miller and Derek Wolfe was once again excellent (their 42 total sacks was tied for 3rd most in the NFL). However unlike their 2015 Super Bowl Champion team, the 2016 squad was helpless at stopping the run, ranking 28th in the league with an average of 130.3 yards allowed per game. 2017 looks like it's going to be more of the same. For some inexplicable reason, the Broncos didn't make any serious changes to the front 7 of their defense this offseason. The only new starter (the recently-retired DeMarcus Ware is being replaced in the starting lineup by Shane Ray, who started 8 games in 2016 while Ware missed time with elbow and back injuries) they brought in is geriatric defensive tackle Domata Peko, who honestly isn't much of an improvement over last year's horrific starter Sylvester Williams. Without any notable new blood on the roster, it's going to be up to the group's returning deadbeat starters (inside linebacker Todd Davis and defensive end Jared Crick) to improve this run-defense and ideally, help this group return to its elite all-around form of 2015.
-This narrative oddly hasn't come up much this offseason, but the hiring of Vance Joseph as head coach to replace Gary Kubiak, who was forced to retire from coaching due to medical issues, strikes me as a potentially damaging move for this franchise. Joseph, who was Kubiak's defensive backs coach for 3 seasons when he was with the Texans, has never had a head coaching before this and his middling work with the Dolphins last season in his only year as an NFL defensive coordinator doesn't exactly inspire a lot of confidence in his ability to lead a team. Not even the return of offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, who was with the team from 2010-2012, has me sold on the Joseph regime in Denver. None of the key personnel outside of wideout Demaryius Thomas was here during McCoy's previous tenure as OC, so the "familiarity" with his system that some of the beat writers/national reporters have been droning on about for the past 6 months doesn't really apply. Going from a staff full of wily veterans that have solid, if not excellent track records at their respective jobs (Kubiak, Rick Dennison, Wade Philips) to a group that largely lacks experience at their current positions (new defensive coordinator Joe Woods, who was promoted from defensive backs coach, is also a 1st-time shot caller) could be a hard pill to swallow for a team that is trying to bounce back from a disappointing season.
Bottom Line:
While the Broncos have too many elite players to be written off completely, their shaky QB situation horrific run D and 1st-time head coach make it hard to get overly excited about their team this season.
Kansas City Chiefs
2016 Record: 12-4 (1st in AFC West)
Head Coach: Andy Reid (5th season)
Notable Additions: DT Bennie Logan, DE Jarvis Jenkins, ILB Kevin Pierre-Louis
Notable Departures: WR Jeremy Maclin, RB Jammal Charles, DT Dontari Poe
-With their surprising decision to cut ties with top WR Jeremy Maclin in early June, the Chiefs have fully committed to All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce as their top receiving option. Kelce's reliable hands, strong short-to-intermediate route-running and status as a YAC (yards after catch) god make him a perfect fit for this offense. Unless the Chiefs can magically complete their seemingly eternal quest to find a true top wideout this season, I believe that Kelce has a great opportunity to top his career-best numbers (85 REC, 1,125 YDS, 4 TD) from a year ago.
-While Kelce is an elite tight end that arguably hasn't peaked yet, the lack of options behind him are alarming, even for a team is as reliant on the running game as the Chiefs are. Chris Conley's impressive athleticism is overshadowed by his terrible hands/route-running, notorious fantasy point stealer Albert Wilson is fortunate to still be on the roster and unlike every football fan in the Greater Kansas City area, I'm not convinced that Tyreek Hill can be anything more than a splash play-dependent gadget player in this league. Kelce is dynamic enough to make an impact almost every week, but without a reliable 2nd option to complement him, this team will more than likely be even less scary through the air than usual.
-Don't be stunned if rookie Kareem Hunt becomes the 2017 version of David Johnson or Jordan Howard by unseating veteran Spencer Ware as the team's starting running back at some point this season. Ware battled streaks of poor play (he failed to run for more 69 yards in the last 8 games of the season) and some fumbling issues (4 total, 3 lost in 14 games) during his 1st year as a starter in 2016, and Hunt strikes me as the type of under-the-radar, powerhouse back that could step in as an injury replacement and end up stealing the job on a permanent basis. While this clearly is by no means a guarantee, it'll be an intriguing situation to monitor as the season progresses.
-With the decision to replace rapidly-fading Dontari Poe with ex-Eagles standout Bennie Logan in free agency and outside linebacker Justin Houston returning to the fold at 100% health after missing 11 games last season, you can make a pretty strong case that the Chiefs are going to be the most improved defense in the NFL this season. While they still managed to be resilient enough to hold their opponents to under 20 points a game (19.4, 9th best in the league), their defense wasn't too great on the whole. All-Pro seasons from cornerback Marcus Peters and safety Eric Berry kept the pass defense afloat, but their rush D (8th in 2015 to 26th in 2016) and sack total (47 to 28) suffered immensely without Houston in the lineup. 2 players joining an otherwise unchanged group might seem like too insignificant of an overhaul to make a notable difference, but both of these guys can make the type of impact that elevates this group back into the upper-echelon of defenses in the league. Logan is a run-stuffing specialist that should help immediately stabilize the interior defensive line that Poe let turn to hell over the past 2 seasons and if Houston can return to be the human wrecking ball he was prior to suffering an injury, him and Dee Ford, whose 10 sacks accounted for most of the team's pass-rushing in 2017, have a pretty good shot of turning into the one of the most feared edge-rushing duos in the league. Defense has defined the Chiefs for most of the past decade and after a pretty sizable regression last season, it should once again in 2017.
-While it's unlikely to have any ramifications on the 2017 season, the Chiefs decision to trade up to #10 overall to select Patrick Mahomes makes no sense. Putting a mobile gunslinger with a cannon arm in the most conservative passing offense in the NFL is like putting Speed Racer behind the wheel of a fucking Prius. Andy Reid's love affair with quick screens and shovel passes goes completely against the Texas Tech's products strengths as a quarterback (which as of right now, are exclusively throwing long bombs with astonishing accuracy and evading pressure with his solid mobility). The polarizing rookie has the luxury of sitting behind Alex Smith for at least the next 2 seasons, but unless Reid opens up the offense to tailor to his young quarterback's strengths or he can develop into a more versatile pocket passer before he gets handed the reigns, I don't see Mahomes thriving on this team.
Bottom Line:
The Chiefs continuity gives them a solid shot of returning to the playoffs, but their offense is too vanilla and weak at the skill positions to take them seriously as contenders in the AFC.
-With their surprising decision to cut ties with top WR Jeremy Maclin in early June, the Chiefs have fully committed to All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce as their top receiving option. Kelce's reliable hands, strong short-to-intermediate route-running and status as a YAC (yards after catch) god make him a perfect fit for this offense. Unless the Chiefs can magically complete their seemingly eternal quest to find a true top wideout this season, I believe that Kelce has a great opportunity to top his career-best numbers (85 REC, 1,125 YDS, 4 TD) from a year ago.
-While Kelce is an elite tight end that arguably hasn't peaked yet, the lack of options behind him are alarming, even for a team is as reliant on the running game as the Chiefs are. Chris Conley's impressive athleticism is overshadowed by his terrible hands/route-running, notorious fantasy point stealer Albert Wilson is fortunate to still be on the roster and unlike every football fan in the Greater Kansas City area, I'm not convinced that Tyreek Hill can be anything more than a splash play-dependent gadget player in this league. Kelce is dynamic enough to make an impact almost every week, but without a reliable 2nd option to complement him, this team will more than likely be even less scary through the air than usual.
-Don't be stunned if rookie Kareem Hunt becomes the 2017 version of David Johnson or Jordan Howard by unseating veteran Spencer Ware as the team's starting running back at some point this season. Ware battled streaks of poor play (he failed to run for more 69 yards in the last 8 games of the season) and some fumbling issues (4 total, 3 lost in 14 games) during his 1st year as a starter in 2016, and Hunt strikes me as the type of under-the-radar, powerhouse back that could step in as an injury replacement and end up stealing the job on a permanent basis. While this clearly is by no means a guarantee, it'll be an intriguing situation to monitor as the season progresses.
-With the decision to replace rapidly-fading Dontari Poe with ex-Eagles standout Bennie Logan in free agency and outside linebacker Justin Houston returning to the fold at 100% health after missing 11 games last season, you can make a pretty strong case that the Chiefs are going to be the most improved defense in the NFL this season. While they still managed to be resilient enough to hold their opponents to under 20 points a game (19.4, 9th best in the league), their defense wasn't too great on the whole. All-Pro seasons from cornerback Marcus Peters and safety Eric Berry kept the pass defense afloat, but their rush D (8th in 2015 to 26th in 2016) and sack total (47 to 28) suffered immensely without Houston in the lineup. 2 players joining an otherwise unchanged group might seem like too insignificant of an overhaul to make a notable difference, but both of these guys can make the type of impact that elevates this group back into the upper-echelon of defenses in the league. Logan is a run-stuffing specialist that should help immediately stabilize the interior defensive line that Poe let turn to hell over the past 2 seasons and if Houston can return to be the human wrecking ball he was prior to suffering an injury, him and Dee Ford, whose 10 sacks accounted for most of the team's pass-rushing in 2017, have a pretty good shot of turning into the one of the most feared edge-rushing duos in the league. Defense has defined the Chiefs for most of the past decade and after a pretty sizable regression last season, it should once again in 2017.
-While it's unlikely to have any ramifications on the 2017 season, the Chiefs decision to trade up to #10 overall to select Patrick Mahomes makes no sense. Putting a mobile gunslinger with a cannon arm in the most conservative passing offense in the NFL is like putting Speed Racer behind the wheel of a fucking Prius. Andy Reid's love affair with quick screens and shovel passes goes completely against the Texas Tech's products strengths as a quarterback (which as of right now, are exclusively throwing long bombs with astonishing accuracy and evading pressure with his solid mobility). The polarizing rookie has the luxury of sitting behind Alex Smith for at least the next 2 seasons, but unless Reid opens up the offense to tailor to his young quarterback's strengths or he can develop into a more versatile pocket passer before he gets handed the reigns, I don't see Mahomes thriving on this team.
Bottom Line:
The Chiefs continuity gives them a solid shot of returning to the playoffs, but their offense is too vanilla and weak at the skill positions to take them seriously as contenders in the AFC.
Los Angeles Chargers
2016 Record: 5-11 (4th in AFC West)
Head Coach: Anthony Lynn (1st season)
Notable Additions: T Russell Okung, S Tre Boston, RB Kenjon Barner
Notable Departures: RB Danny Woodhead, CB Brandon Flowers (retired), G D.J. Fluker
-It's mid-August, which means the Chargers are already getting a nice head start on filling up their injured reserve. Through 2 weeks of training camp and 1 preseason game, the team has already lost projected starting guard Forrest Lamp (torn ACL), rookie wide receiver and top-10 overall pick Mike Williams (phantom back injury) and starting inside linebacker Denzel Perryman (torn ankle ligament) for a significant amount of time. Tune in Week 3 when 60% of this eternally snake-bitten team's key players are rocking basketball shorts and earbuds on the sideline.
-No 2017 head coach hiring made less sense to me than Anthony Lynn. Dumping Mike McCoy for another offensive-minded guy with a resume that's nowhere near as impressive is such a textbook Dean Spanos move that it almost seems like a cruel joke. The crowning achievement of Lynn's 14-game stint as the Bills offensive coordinator was presiding over the top rushing offense in football, which is immediately undercut once you find out that Greg Roman (aka the man he replaced in Week 3 last season) managed to accomplish the exact same feat the year before. The odds of Lynn's ground-and-pound philosophy having the same level of effectiveness with Melvin Gordon running behind guys like Matt Slauson, Joe Barksdale and Russell Okung that it did with LeSean McCoy running behind a line with 3 Pro Bowlers on it (Richie Incognito, Cordy Glenn, Eric Wood) is highly unlikely. To top it all off, Lynn has already managed to disrespect the team's 2 most respected leaders (quarterback Phillip Rivers and tight end Antonio Gates) by reportedly refusing to let them attend the Hall-of-Fame induction of their former teammate LaDanian Tomlinson. If I were to bet on any new coach losing their job after 1 season, I would every penny I had on Lynn.
-Since arriving in the grand city of Los Angeles, the Chargers PR team has been pushing the fact they're "temporarily" playing in a 20,000-capacity soccer stadium to try and bring in fans. Not to be hyperbolic, but this is an absolutely brilliant move on their part. The intimate setting of the StubHub Center will be cool for the opposing team's fans to experience 8 times a year and force the Chargers to run even more silent-counts on their home field than they did in San Diego, which is a moving tribute to the 12 people (which is approximately 40% of their old fanbase) that begrudgingly stuck with the team after they relocated. Whoever came up with this ingenious marketing campaign deserves a raise stat.
-Whether he likes it or not, wide receiver Keenan Allen has become the poster boy for the Chargers status as the most snake-bitten team in the NFL. Allen has arguably been the brightest offensive talent to enter the Chargers organization since Antonio Gates and the rapport he's developed with quarterback Phillip Rivers in such a short period of time is astonishing, but a slew of injuries including back-to-back season-ending ailments (kidney laceration and torn ACL respectively) have prevented him from blossoming into a top-tier WR. Fortunately for Allen, time is on his side. He only turned 25 in April and the Chargers expressed their confidence in his ability to be a long-term factor on this team when they signed him to a 4-year extension prior to last season. If Allen can remain healthy and retain the level of dominance he flashed in the past, the Chargers could end up surpassing expectations in 2017.
-If anything is going to help the Chargers break out of their cycle of perpetual misery, it's their defense. This group has a nice combination of players entering their prime (cornerback Casey Hayward, defensive end Melvin Ingram) and promising young talent (reigning Defensive ROY Joey Bosa, cornerback Jason Verrett, outside linebacker Jatavis Brown) spread throughout their ranks and new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley is the type of coach that could push them to a whole other stratosphere of production. As a fellow fan of a team that's stuck in the league's basement, I know that it's nice to have little rays of sunshine to give you (often false) hope for the future, and this group offers up PLENTY of the necessary mental comfort food that helps you get through a double-digit loss season.
Bottom Line:
New city, same fanless, injury-riddled Chargers.
-It's mid-August, which means the Chargers are already getting a nice head start on filling up their injured reserve. Through 2 weeks of training camp and 1 preseason game, the team has already lost projected starting guard Forrest Lamp (torn ACL), rookie wide receiver and top-10 overall pick Mike Williams (phantom back injury) and starting inside linebacker Denzel Perryman (torn ankle ligament) for a significant amount of time. Tune in Week 3 when 60% of this eternally snake-bitten team's key players are rocking basketball shorts and earbuds on the sideline.
-No 2017 head coach hiring made less sense to me than Anthony Lynn. Dumping Mike McCoy for another offensive-minded guy with a resume that's nowhere near as impressive is such a textbook Dean Spanos move that it almost seems like a cruel joke. The crowning achievement of Lynn's 14-game stint as the Bills offensive coordinator was presiding over the top rushing offense in football, which is immediately undercut once you find out that Greg Roman (aka the man he replaced in Week 3 last season) managed to accomplish the exact same feat the year before. The odds of Lynn's ground-and-pound philosophy having the same level of effectiveness with Melvin Gordon running behind guys like Matt Slauson, Joe Barksdale and Russell Okung that it did with LeSean McCoy running behind a line with 3 Pro Bowlers on it (Richie Incognito, Cordy Glenn, Eric Wood) is highly unlikely. To top it all off, Lynn has already managed to disrespect the team's 2 most respected leaders (quarterback Phillip Rivers and tight end Antonio Gates) by reportedly refusing to let them attend the Hall-of-Fame induction of their former teammate LaDanian Tomlinson. If I were to bet on any new coach losing their job after 1 season, I would every penny I had on Lynn.
-Since arriving in the grand city of Los Angeles, the Chargers PR team has been pushing the fact they're "temporarily" playing in a 20,000-capacity soccer stadium to try and bring in fans. Not to be hyperbolic, but this is an absolutely brilliant move on their part. The intimate setting of the StubHub Center will be cool for the opposing team's fans to experience 8 times a year and force the Chargers to run even more silent-counts on their home field than they did in San Diego, which is a moving tribute to the 12 people (which is approximately 40% of their old fanbase) that begrudgingly stuck with the team after they relocated. Whoever came up with this ingenious marketing campaign deserves a raise stat.
-Whether he likes it or not, wide receiver Keenan Allen has become the poster boy for the Chargers status as the most snake-bitten team in the NFL. Allen has arguably been the brightest offensive talent to enter the Chargers organization since Antonio Gates and the rapport he's developed with quarterback Phillip Rivers in such a short period of time is astonishing, but a slew of injuries including back-to-back season-ending ailments (kidney laceration and torn ACL respectively) have prevented him from blossoming into a top-tier WR. Fortunately for Allen, time is on his side. He only turned 25 in April and the Chargers expressed their confidence in his ability to be a long-term factor on this team when they signed him to a 4-year extension prior to last season. If Allen can remain healthy and retain the level of dominance he flashed in the past, the Chargers could end up surpassing expectations in 2017.
-If anything is going to help the Chargers break out of their cycle of perpetual misery, it's their defense. This group has a nice combination of players entering their prime (cornerback Casey Hayward, defensive end Melvin Ingram) and promising young talent (reigning Defensive ROY Joey Bosa, cornerback Jason Verrett, outside linebacker Jatavis Brown) spread throughout their ranks and new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley is the type of coach that could push them to a whole other stratosphere of production. As a fellow fan of a team that's stuck in the league's basement, I know that it's nice to have little rays of sunshine to give you (often false) hope for the future, and this group offers up PLENTY of the necessary mental comfort food that helps you get through a double-digit loss season.
Bottom Line:
New city, same fanless, injury-riddled Chargers.
Oakland Raiders
2016 Record: 12-4 (2nd in AFC West)
Head Coach: Jack Del Rio (3rd season)
Notable Additions: RB Marshawn Lynch, TE Jared Cook, WR Cordarrelle Patterson
Notable Departures: RB Latavius Murray, ILB Malcolm Smith, T Menelik Watson
-After a phenomenal 3rd season in the pro's that saw him parlay the immense potential he showed during his first 2 years in the league into something truly special, the Raiders unsurprisingly decided to give Derek Carr a historic payday (5 year/$125 mil/$70.5 mil guaranteed). Now that Reggie McKenzie and Mark Davis have given him his lucrative contract extension, Carr needs to go out and prove that he's an undisputed franchise quarterback. He was playing like a legit MVP candidate before he went down with a broken fibula against the Colts in Week 16, so there's absolutely no reason that he should suddenly regress now that he's back at 100% with the same group of guys that he won 12 games with a season ago. This Raiders squad is in a terrific position for the foreseeable future and if they want to become the team that ends the Patriots decade-and-a-half reign of terror on the piss-weak AFC, Carr is going to have to play his off every single year.
-Nothing else that occurred this offseason brought me more joy than when the news broke that running back Marshawn Lynch was going to come out of retirement to play for his hometown Oakland Raiders. As delighted as I am to have Beast Mode back in the NFL, I'm skeptical that his comeback is going to be a rousing success. His last season with the Seahawks in 2015 was defined by injuries and mediocre play (he only ran for 417 yards and 3 TD's in 7 games) and even with a year away from the game, the harsh reality is that he's a 31-year old back whose trademark punishing running style puts him at an even higher risk of tapering off than most backs at his advanced age (31 is pretty much 70 in RB years). That being said, the Raiders give Lynch the best possible chance of ending his career on a more positive note. Their offensive line is among the best in football and they have dense cache of weapons in the passing game (Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, Seth Roberts, new-acquisition Jared Cook) that should give Lynch more open tackle boxes in the first few games than he faced during his entire 6-year stint in Seattle. I'm crossing my fingers that he can return to his crushing form and end up being the missing piece that pushes this Raiders squad from surprise playoff team in 2016 to legit contenders in 2017.
-Unlike a lot of defenses that finished in the bottom-3rd of the league in 2016 (23rd against the run, 24th against the pass, 20th in points allowed per game), there's reason to believe that the Raiders can make a huge swing in the other direction this season. They've accomplished the hardest parts of building a good defense by bringing in a talented top corner that can shutdown pretty much any wideout in the league (Sean Smith), some skilled edge-defenders (Bruce Irvin, Mario Edwards Jr.) that can prevent huge outside runs from happening and get after the quarterback, hard-nosed young defensive backs with sky-high ceilings (David Amerson, Karl Joseph) and of course, the elusive transcendent talent that can take over games (and occasionally dictate outcomes) by himself (reigning Defensive Player of the Player Khalil Mack). Now the Raiders just need to nail down the smaller, more unsung roles in order to make their desired leap up the league's defensive power rankings. Their attempt to fill the void at these not-so-glamorous positions (inside linebacker, slot corner) in 2017 appears to be rookies Marquel Lee and Gareon Conley. While trusting rookies with (potential) starting roles right away is always a nerve-racking dice roll, it's hard to believe that these young guys will be much of a downgrade from previous starters Malcolm Smith and D.J Hayden-who were among the biggest coverage liabilities in the league over the past couple of seasons. Lee isn't super athletic or fast, but his discipline and instincts are excellent for a young linebacker while Conley displayed excellent ball skills and sure-tackling during his tenure at Ohio State. This young duo paired with the continued strong play of their established, big-name starters could prove to be the X-factor for the 2017 Raiders.
Bottom Line:
With a deep, talented-loaded offense and defense with some exciting young players, the Raiders are the only AFC team that even has a shot of spoiling the Patriots Super Bowl run in 2017.
-After a phenomenal 3rd season in the pro's that saw him parlay the immense potential he showed during his first 2 years in the league into something truly special, the Raiders unsurprisingly decided to give Derek Carr a historic payday (5 year/$125 mil/$70.5 mil guaranteed). Now that Reggie McKenzie and Mark Davis have given him his lucrative contract extension, Carr needs to go out and prove that he's an undisputed franchise quarterback. He was playing like a legit MVP candidate before he went down with a broken fibula against the Colts in Week 16, so there's absolutely no reason that he should suddenly regress now that he's back at 100% with the same group of guys that he won 12 games with a season ago. This Raiders squad is in a terrific position for the foreseeable future and if they want to become the team that ends the Patriots decade-and-a-half reign of terror on the piss-weak AFC, Carr is going to have to play his off every single year.
-Nothing else that occurred this offseason brought me more joy than when the news broke that running back Marshawn Lynch was going to come out of retirement to play for his hometown Oakland Raiders. As delighted as I am to have Beast Mode back in the NFL, I'm skeptical that his comeback is going to be a rousing success. His last season with the Seahawks in 2015 was defined by injuries and mediocre play (he only ran for 417 yards and 3 TD's in 7 games) and even with a year away from the game, the harsh reality is that he's a 31-year old back whose trademark punishing running style puts him at an even higher risk of tapering off than most backs at his advanced age (31 is pretty much 70 in RB years). That being said, the Raiders give Lynch the best possible chance of ending his career on a more positive note. Their offensive line is among the best in football and they have dense cache of weapons in the passing game (Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, Seth Roberts, new-acquisition Jared Cook) that should give Lynch more open tackle boxes in the first few games than he faced during his entire 6-year stint in Seattle. I'm crossing my fingers that he can return to his crushing form and end up being the missing piece that pushes this Raiders squad from surprise playoff team in 2016 to legit contenders in 2017.
-Unlike a lot of defenses that finished in the bottom-3rd of the league in 2016 (23rd against the run, 24th against the pass, 20th in points allowed per game), there's reason to believe that the Raiders can make a huge swing in the other direction this season. They've accomplished the hardest parts of building a good defense by bringing in a talented top corner that can shutdown pretty much any wideout in the league (Sean Smith), some skilled edge-defenders (Bruce Irvin, Mario Edwards Jr.) that can prevent huge outside runs from happening and get after the quarterback, hard-nosed young defensive backs with sky-high ceilings (David Amerson, Karl Joseph) and of course, the elusive transcendent talent that can take over games (and occasionally dictate outcomes) by himself (reigning Defensive Player of the Player Khalil Mack). Now the Raiders just need to nail down the smaller, more unsung roles in order to make their desired leap up the league's defensive power rankings. Their attempt to fill the void at these not-so-glamorous positions (inside linebacker, slot corner) in 2017 appears to be rookies Marquel Lee and Gareon Conley. While trusting rookies with (potential) starting roles right away is always a nerve-racking dice roll, it's hard to believe that these young guys will be much of a downgrade from previous starters Malcolm Smith and D.J Hayden-who were among the biggest coverage liabilities in the league over the past couple of seasons. Lee isn't super athletic or fast, but his discipline and instincts are excellent for a young linebacker while Conley displayed excellent ball skills and sure-tackling during his tenure at Ohio State. This young duo paired with the continued strong play of their established, big-name starters could prove to be the X-factor for the 2017 Raiders.
Bottom Line:
With a deep, talented-loaded offense and defense with some exciting young players, the Raiders are the only AFC team that even has a shot of spoiling the Patriots Super Bowl run in 2017.
Projected Standings
1.Oakland Raiders (12-4)
2.Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)
3.Denver Broncos (7-9)
4.Los Angeles Chargers (4-12)
Monday, August 14, 2017
The Best and Worst of Daniel Craig
The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an
actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I
take a look at the filmography of "Logan Lucky" star Daniel Craig.
Films starring Daniel Craig that I've seen:
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Road to Perdition
Layer Cake
Casino Royale
Quantum of Solace
Cowboys & Aliens
Dream House
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Adventures of Tintin
Skyfall
Spectre
Best Performance: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
With films like Skyfall and Layer Cake, Craig has established himself as a pretty reliable action movie badass. However, the 49-year old Brit ,whose resume primarily consists of big-budget, stunt-filled spectacles- finest hour came in his co-leading role in the American version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Craig got out of his usual, hardened tough guy element with an understated, laser-focused and subtly vulnerable turn as a disgraced Swedish journalist that gets wrapped up in solving a decades-old missing persons case.
Worst Performance: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
Craig became an international superstar a decade ago thanks to his gritty portrayal of James Bond. If you had watched him sleepwalk through the role of Alex West in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider five years before he first appeared as 007 in Casino Royale, his future success as an action hero would've seemed like a stretch to say the least. Despite being one of the film's main characters, Craig is so charmless and wooden every second he's on screen that I'd pretty much forgotten he was in it.
Best Film: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
David Fincher's version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo permanently shut down the "American remakes of foreign film are worthless" take that film elitists scream from the virtual mountaintops every time Hollywood adapts a beloved non-English language film. With its masterful slow-burn pacing and stunning performances from its entire primary cast (Rooney Mara, Craig, Stellan Skarsgard, Christopher Plummer), Fincher was able to make an engrossing, atmospheric and remarkably tense mystery/thriller that greatly exceeded the quality of the Swedish original.
Worst Film: Dream House (2011)
To be fair, Dream House isn't an aggressively terrible movie. Hell, there was a number of horror-thrillers that came out the same year (The Roommate, The Rite, Shark Night 3D, Straw Dogs, Apollo 18) that made it seem like the apex of cinema. However, it's a still below average thriller that wastes its creepy atmosphere and decent acting on a dull story full of weak, obvious plot twists.
Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "Leap!" star Elle Fanning.
Films starring Daniel Craig that I've seen:
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Road to Perdition
Layer Cake
Casino Royale
Quantum of Solace
Cowboys & Aliens
Dream House
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Adventures of Tintin
Skyfall
Spectre
Best Performance: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
With films like Skyfall and Layer Cake, Craig has established himself as a pretty reliable action movie badass. However, the 49-year old Brit ,whose resume primarily consists of big-budget, stunt-filled spectacles- finest hour came in his co-leading role in the American version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Craig got out of his usual, hardened tough guy element with an understated, laser-focused and subtly vulnerable turn as a disgraced Swedish journalist that gets wrapped up in solving a decades-old missing persons case.
Worst Performance: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
Craig became an international superstar a decade ago thanks to his gritty portrayal of James Bond. If you had watched him sleepwalk through the role of Alex West in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider five years before he first appeared as 007 in Casino Royale, his future success as an action hero would've seemed like a stretch to say the least. Despite being one of the film's main characters, Craig is so charmless and wooden every second he's on screen that I'd pretty much forgotten he was in it.
Best Film: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
David Fincher's version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo permanently shut down the "American remakes of foreign film are worthless" take that film elitists scream from the virtual mountaintops every time Hollywood adapts a beloved non-English language film. With its masterful slow-burn pacing and stunning performances from its entire primary cast (Rooney Mara, Craig, Stellan Skarsgard, Christopher Plummer), Fincher was able to make an engrossing, atmospheric and remarkably tense mystery/thriller that greatly exceeded the quality of the Swedish original.
Worst Film: Dream House (2011)
To be fair, Dream House isn't an aggressively terrible movie. Hell, there was a number of horror-thrillers that came out the same year (The Roommate, The Rite, Shark Night 3D, Straw Dogs, Apollo 18) that made it seem like the apex of cinema. However, it's a still below average thriller that wastes its creepy atmosphere and decent acting on a dull story full of weak, obvious plot twists.
Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "Leap!" star Elle Fanning.
Thursday, August 10, 2017
5 Highly Ranked Players to Avoid in Fantasy Football: 2017 Edition
Every year I dawn my douchey fantasy football authoritarian hat and put out a list of highly-touted players that I believe are horrible value picks. After weeks of thumbing through projections from the so-called "experts" and doing a healthy amount of mock drafts, the 2017 edition of this useless public service has finally arrived. Here are the 5 guys (plus an additional 3 "honorable" mentions at each position) I think should be avoided at their current ADP.
Quarterback: Andrew Luck (Colts) (Average Draft Position: Yahoo!: 47.3 ESPN: 69.6 NFL.com: 52.5)
I absolutely love Andrew Luck as both a real-life and fantasy quarterback, but with his availability for the start of the season currently in question, I just can't justify spending a 4th or 5th round pick on him when there's comparable talents with a clean bill of health (Russell Wilson, Matt Ryan, Jameis Winston) getting selected around the same point.
Honorable Mentions (aka "Also going too high"): Marcus Mariota (Titans), Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Phillip Rivers (Chargers)
Running Back: Melvin Gordon (Chargers) (Average Draft Position: Yahoo!: 10.6 ESPN: 10.8 NFL.com: 11.3)
The lack of depth at running back has forced a disturbing, head-scratching trend of fantasy players overdrafting unproven talent on average-to-bad teams (Jordan Howard, Jay Ajayi, Leonard Fournette) in the first 15-20 picks to emerge this season. Of these young, untrustworthy RB1's, none are more overvalued than Melvin Gordon. Gordon averaged just under 4 yards per carry last season, has missed multiple games in each of his first 2 NFL seasons (2 in 2015 and 3 in 2016) and most importantly, has a horrific offensive line in front of him that already lost a starter for the year (RIP Forrest Lamp). I'd rather grossly overdraft a proven stud QB like Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady or Drew Brees with a late 1st round pick than spend one on a 3rd-year back who has no 1,000-yard rushing seasons under his belt and possesses a floor that's well below top 11 overall pick.
Honorable Mentions: Leonard Fournette (Jaguars), Joe Mixon (Bengals), Mike Gillislee (Patriots)
Wide Receiver: Tyreek Hill (Chiefs) (Average Draft Position: Yahoo!: 51.2 ESPN: 59.6 NFL.com: 49.8)
Tyreek Hill has been anointed the Chiefs de facto top WR after the release of Jeremy Maclin, but I'm not sold on the idea of him suddenly getting flooded with targets now that the 29-year old Pro Bowler is out of the equation. Andy Reid primarily utilized Hill as a gadget player (355 of his 860 total yards last season came on 8 plays) to offer up a reprieve from the Chiefs' usual short-pass/run-based offense and even with the group of well below-average clowns that are currently beside him in the receiving corps (Chris Conley is currently penciled in as the other starter), I don't foresee him shifting to a more traditional outside/slot receiver role this season. Hill didn't leave his role as the offense's Swiss Army Knife while Maclin struggled to produce for the bulk of last season and reigning 1st-team All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce, who led the team in receptions and receiving yards in 2016, should once again be the clear focal point of the passing attack. In addition to Hill's specialist-esque role in the Chiefs ultra-conservative offense, I also have a feeling that opposing defenses are going to start scheming against his splash play-dependent skill set in his sophomore season and not let him get as many uncontested free-runs to the endzone as he did as a rookie. Unless your league counts kick return yards/TD's towards individual scoring, Hill should be avoided as a WR2/3.
Honorable Mentions: Brandin Cooks (Patriots), Davante Adams (Packers), Keenan Allen (Chargers)
Tight End: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots) (Average Draft Position: Yahoo!: 25.6 ESPN: 23.0 NFL.com: 22.0)
Every fantasy football player around the globe knows how much of a monster Rob Gronkowski is when he's healthy. He has 3 1,000+ yards seasons on his resume, has put up double-digit TD's every single season he's appeared in 11 or more games (5 out of 7 seasons in the league) and is the 1st tight end since future Hall-of-Famer Tony Gonzalez to be considered a perennial top-20 overall pick. That being said, his extensive injury history combined with his standing in a Patriots offense that prides itself on getting as many people as humanly possible involved in the passing game on a weekly basis make him an unnecessary risk at his current ADP (late 2nd-early 3rd round).
Honorable Mentions: Jordan Reed (Redskins), Tyler Eifert (Bengals), Eric Ebron (Lions)
Defense: Arizona Cardinals (Average Draft Position: Yahoo!: 84.9 ESPN: 155.8 NFL.com: 94.3)
No this isn't a typo, I'm pretty much only the moron in this lovely fictional football realm that's down on a defense that finished number 1 in fantasy points in most leagues last season. While the pass-rush led by Chandler Jones and Markus Golden should remain excellent, I think that the losses of star defensive lineman Calias Campbell and safety Tony Jefferson is going to effect their points allowed and takeaway total.
Honorable Mentions: Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Rams
Quarterback: Andrew Luck (Colts) (Average Draft Position: Yahoo!: 47.3 ESPN: 69.6 NFL.com: 52.5)
I absolutely love Andrew Luck as both a real-life and fantasy quarterback, but with his availability for the start of the season currently in question, I just can't justify spending a 4th or 5th round pick on him when there's comparable talents with a clean bill of health (Russell Wilson, Matt Ryan, Jameis Winston) getting selected around the same point.
Honorable Mentions (aka "Also going too high"): Marcus Mariota (Titans), Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Phillip Rivers (Chargers)
Running Back: Melvin Gordon (Chargers) (Average Draft Position: Yahoo!: 10.6 ESPN: 10.8 NFL.com: 11.3)
The lack of depth at running back has forced a disturbing, head-scratching trend of fantasy players overdrafting unproven talent on average-to-bad teams (Jordan Howard, Jay Ajayi, Leonard Fournette) in the first 15-20 picks to emerge this season. Of these young, untrustworthy RB1's, none are more overvalued than Melvin Gordon. Gordon averaged just under 4 yards per carry last season, has missed multiple games in each of his first 2 NFL seasons (2 in 2015 and 3 in 2016) and most importantly, has a horrific offensive line in front of him that already lost a starter for the year (RIP Forrest Lamp). I'd rather grossly overdraft a proven stud QB like Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady or Drew Brees with a late 1st round pick than spend one on a 3rd-year back who has no 1,000-yard rushing seasons under his belt and possesses a floor that's well below top 11 overall pick.
Honorable Mentions: Leonard Fournette (Jaguars), Joe Mixon (Bengals), Mike Gillislee (Patriots)
Wide Receiver: Tyreek Hill (Chiefs) (Average Draft Position: Yahoo!: 51.2 ESPN: 59.6 NFL.com: 49.8)
Tyreek Hill has been anointed the Chiefs de facto top WR after the release of Jeremy Maclin, but I'm not sold on the idea of him suddenly getting flooded with targets now that the 29-year old Pro Bowler is out of the equation. Andy Reid primarily utilized Hill as a gadget player (355 of his 860 total yards last season came on 8 plays) to offer up a reprieve from the Chiefs' usual short-pass/run-based offense and even with the group of well below-average clowns that are currently beside him in the receiving corps (Chris Conley is currently penciled in as the other starter), I don't foresee him shifting to a more traditional outside/slot receiver role this season. Hill didn't leave his role as the offense's Swiss Army Knife while Maclin struggled to produce for the bulk of last season and reigning 1st-team All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce, who led the team in receptions and receiving yards in 2016, should once again be the clear focal point of the passing attack. In addition to Hill's specialist-esque role in the Chiefs ultra-conservative offense, I also have a feeling that opposing defenses are going to start scheming against his splash play-dependent skill set in his sophomore season and not let him get as many uncontested free-runs to the endzone as he did as a rookie. Unless your league counts kick return yards/TD's towards individual scoring, Hill should be avoided as a WR2/3.
Honorable Mentions: Brandin Cooks (Patriots), Davante Adams (Packers), Keenan Allen (Chargers)
Tight End: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots) (Average Draft Position: Yahoo!: 25.6 ESPN: 23.0 NFL.com: 22.0)
Every fantasy football player around the globe knows how much of a monster Rob Gronkowski is when he's healthy. He has 3 1,000+ yards seasons on his resume, has put up double-digit TD's every single season he's appeared in 11 or more games (5 out of 7 seasons in the league) and is the 1st tight end since future Hall-of-Famer Tony Gonzalez to be considered a perennial top-20 overall pick. That being said, his extensive injury history combined with his standing in a Patriots offense that prides itself on getting as many people as humanly possible involved in the passing game on a weekly basis make him an unnecessary risk at his current ADP (late 2nd-early 3rd round).
Honorable Mentions: Jordan Reed (Redskins), Tyler Eifert (Bengals), Eric Ebron (Lions)
Defense: Arizona Cardinals (Average Draft Position: Yahoo!: 84.9 ESPN: 155.8 NFL.com: 94.3)
No this isn't a typo, I'm pretty much only the moron in this lovely fictional football realm that's down on a defense that finished number 1 in fantasy points in most leagues last season. While the pass-rush led by Chandler Jones and Markus Golden should remain excellent, I think that the losses of star defensive lineman Calias Campbell and safety Tony Jefferson is going to effect their points allowed and takeaway total.
Honorable Mentions: Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Rams
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
2017 NFL Preview: AFC South
Houston Texans
2016 Record: 9-7 (1st in AFC South)
Head Coach: Bill O'Brien (4th season)
Notable Additions: T Breno Giacomini, ILB Sio Moore, CB Marcus Roberson
Notable Departures: QB Brock Osweiler, CB A.J. Bouye, S Quentin Demps
-Rick Smith was able to undo the biggest mistake of his 11-year tenure as the Texans GM by somehow finding a team that was willing to take on Brock Osweiler's ridiculous contract. In a twist that shouldn't really surprise anyone, the brave squad that was willing to accept a trade offer involving the grossly overpaid signalcaller was the Browns. The sabermetric-obsessed Browns gleefully agreed to dish out $19 million to Osweiler for the 2017 season, simply so they could add another 2nd round selection to their overflowing aresenal of future draft picks. It's one of the most jaw-dropping yet subtly ingenious transactions I've ever seen in the NFL and I doubt that the Texans have ever been happier to trade a draft pick in their brief existence as a franchise.
-With Osweiler out of the equation, the Texans appear to be set to (temporarily) turn over the reigns to Tom Savage. While he has yet to throw a touchdown as a pro, the 27-year old still managed to serviceable in the 3 games he appeared (461 YDS, 63.0 CMP% 0 INT's) in last season before going down with a concussion in Week 17. This defense is good enough to carry the Texans to another title in the sorry-ass AFC South, so as long as Savage can master the art of the dump-off pass and not turn the ball over at an Osweiler or Blake Bortles-esque level before they let him walk in free agency to make way for this year's 1st-round draft pick DeShaun Watson, they'll be fine.
-Savage and head coach/offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien got handed a big bag of shit when 2nd-year wideout Will Fuller went down with a broken collarbone during a training camp practice last week. Fuller may fallen off like crazy after a solid start to his rookie campaign a year ago, but his top-end speed at least gives O'Brien a constant splash-play threat to place next to firmly-entrenched top wideout DeAndre Hopkins. Now the team is left scrambling to find a starter from a trash heap of unattractive options. Converted college quarterback Braxton Miller is still far too raw to be trusted with a prominent role in the passing attack, Jaelen Strong has failed to make any plays that weren't fluke hail marys against the Colts, Devin Street is coming off a season where he hauled in a whopping 1 pass and Dres Anderson was an early cut by the Bears, whose receiver room currently includes such studs as Markus Wheaton, Reuben Randle and the rhythmic particles of dust that used to be Victor Cruz. If all hell breaks loose and Hopkins goes down sometime before Fuller returns, the Texans will be a Jets-level of fucked at the receiver position.
-2016 proved that the Texans defense doesn't need J.J Watt to succeed. As Watt spent the final 14 games on the sideline, his teammates managed to post very good numbers across the board (1st in yards allowed, 2nd in pass defense, 11th in run defense) and finish as the 11th ranked scoring defense in the league. With the 3-time Defensive Player of the Year reportedly returning at 100% after undergoing back surgery last September (his 2nd in a 2-month period), a series of interesting questions arise about what effect his presence will have on the functionally of this group. Will Watt's return stunt the growth of rising young stars Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilius? Is Watt comfortable letting other players emerge as vocal leaders or will he double-down on his attention-whore persona and ensure the spotlight is only on him? And most importantly, will the 28-year old still be able to play his bruising style of football after undergoing multiple major injuries in the past 2 seasons? In an ideal scenario, Watt's physicality won't drop off in the slightest and his disruptive presence upfront will make this talent-loaded unit even better than they were a season ago. At worst, he won't be the player he once was or his return will screw up this group's dynamic and force a surprise regression to happen. Logic would point to the former being the case, but Watt's potential physical decline and domineering presence on-and-off-the field could have a negative effect on the togetherness this group played with in his absence.
-The Texans currently have the rare luxury of letting notable players leave in free agency without suffering any serious loss of talent. Their excellent depth throughout the defense allowed them to let cornerback A.J. Bouye, safety Quentin Demps and outside linebacker John Simon walk this offseason without even batting an eye. On the flip side, their lack of new additions is also kind of worrisome. The biggest potential impact veteran they brought in this offseason was ex-Jets right tackle Breno Giacomini, who is currently locked in a position battle with incumbent starter Chris Clark. This is a team that struggled to go 9-7 in 2016 and unless some of their draft picks make a monumental impact right away (I'm looking at you Zach Cunningham and D'Onta Foreman), they're unlikely to be much better this season.
Bottom Line:
The Texans once again have enough defensive talent to win their division yet not enough offensive firepower to contend with the AFC's best teams.
-Rick Smith was able to undo the biggest mistake of his 11-year tenure as the Texans GM by somehow finding a team that was willing to take on Brock Osweiler's ridiculous contract. In a twist that shouldn't really surprise anyone, the brave squad that was willing to accept a trade offer involving the grossly overpaid signalcaller was the Browns. The sabermetric-obsessed Browns gleefully agreed to dish out $19 million to Osweiler for the 2017 season, simply so they could add another 2nd round selection to their overflowing aresenal of future draft picks. It's one of the most jaw-dropping yet subtly ingenious transactions I've ever seen in the NFL and I doubt that the Texans have ever been happier to trade a draft pick in their brief existence as a franchise.
-With Osweiler out of the equation, the Texans appear to be set to (temporarily) turn over the reigns to Tom Savage. While he has yet to throw a touchdown as a pro, the 27-year old still managed to serviceable in the 3 games he appeared (461 YDS, 63.0 CMP% 0 INT's) in last season before going down with a concussion in Week 17. This defense is good enough to carry the Texans to another title in the sorry-ass AFC South, so as long as Savage can master the art of the dump-off pass and not turn the ball over at an Osweiler or Blake Bortles-esque level before they let him walk in free agency to make way for this year's 1st-round draft pick DeShaun Watson, they'll be fine.
-Savage and head coach/offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien got handed a big bag of shit when 2nd-year wideout Will Fuller went down with a broken collarbone during a training camp practice last week. Fuller may fallen off like crazy after a solid start to his rookie campaign a year ago, but his top-end speed at least gives O'Brien a constant splash-play threat to place next to firmly-entrenched top wideout DeAndre Hopkins. Now the team is left scrambling to find a starter from a trash heap of unattractive options. Converted college quarterback Braxton Miller is still far too raw to be trusted with a prominent role in the passing attack, Jaelen Strong has failed to make any plays that weren't fluke hail marys against the Colts, Devin Street is coming off a season where he hauled in a whopping 1 pass and Dres Anderson was an early cut by the Bears, whose receiver room currently includes such studs as Markus Wheaton, Reuben Randle and the rhythmic particles of dust that used to be Victor Cruz. If all hell breaks loose and Hopkins goes down sometime before Fuller returns, the Texans will be a Jets-level of fucked at the receiver position.
-2016 proved that the Texans defense doesn't need J.J Watt to succeed. As Watt spent the final 14 games on the sideline, his teammates managed to post very good numbers across the board (1st in yards allowed, 2nd in pass defense, 11th in run defense) and finish as the 11th ranked scoring defense in the league. With the 3-time Defensive Player of the Year reportedly returning at 100% after undergoing back surgery last September (his 2nd in a 2-month period), a series of interesting questions arise about what effect his presence will have on the functionally of this group. Will Watt's return stunt the growth of rising young stars Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilius? Is Watt comfortable letting other players emerge as vocal leaders or will he double-down on his attention-whore persona and ensure the spotlight is only on him? And most importantly, will the 28-year old still be able to play his bruising style of football after undergoing multiple major injuries in the past 2 seasons? In an ideal scenario, Watt's physicality won't drop off in the slightest and his disruptive presence upfront will make this talent-loaded unit even better than they were a season ago. At worst, he won't be the player he once was or his return will screw up this group's dynamic and force a surprise regression to happen. Logic would point to the former being the case, but Watt's potential physical decline and domineering presence on-and-off-the field could have a negative effect on the togetherness this group played with in his absence.
-The Texans currently have the rare luxury of letting notable players leave in free agency without suffering any serious loss of talent. Their excellent depth throughout the defense allowed them to let cornerback A.J. Bouye, safety Quentin Demps and outside linebacker John Simon walk this offseason without even batting an eye. On the flip side, their lack of new additions is also kind of worrisome. The biggest potential impact veteran they brought in this offseason was ex-Jets right tackle Breno Giacomini, who is currently locked in a position battle with incumbent starter Chris Clark. This is a team that struggled to go 9-7 in 2016 and unless some of their draft picks make a monumental impact right away (I'm looking at you Zach Cunningham and D'Onta Foreman), they're unlikely to be much better this season.
Bottom Line:
The Texans once again have enough defensive talent to win their division yet not enough offensive firepower to contend with the AFC's best teams.
Indianapolis Colts
2016 Record: 8-8 (3rd in AFC South)
Head Coach: Chuck Pagano (6th season)
Notable Additions: DT Jonathan Hankins, OLB Jabbal Sheard, OLB John Simon
Notable Departures: P Pat McAfee (retired), S Mike Adams, TE Dwayne Allen
-After 5 years of poor drafting and misguided free agent signings, Jim Irsay pulled the plug on much-maligned general manager Ryan Grigson in mid-January. This move was long overdue, but at least Irsay finally rid this organization of the man that stunted any chance the team had of growing after they drafted young stars Andrew Luck and T.Y. Hilton in 2012. Grigson was replaced by former Chiefs front office assistant Chris Ballard, who went onto to put together a pretty impressive haul in his inaugural season as the Colts front office shot caller. Ballard addressed the team's hole-filled defense with a plethora of affordable, potential impact free agent signings (defensive tackle Jonathan Hankins, outside linebackers Jabbal Sheard and John Simon, inside linebacker Sean Spence) and brought in a draft class that is loaded with numerous high-upside prospects (safety Malik Hooker, cornerback Quincy Wilson, edge rusher Tarral Basham, running back Marlon Mack). While there's clearly no way to tell if Ballard's moves will help elevate the Colts from their 2-year mediocrity slump right now, he's already managed put more effort into trying to address the team's needs than Grigson did during his entire tenure.
-For a team that's looking to break out of a funk, the news that broke last Tuesday about Andrew Luck potentially missing the first 6 games of the season as he recovers from offseason surgery on his throwing shoulder was devastating. Luck's low-key excellent 2016 (63.5 CMP %, 4,240 YDS, 31 TD, 13 INT in 15 games) was the only reason the team cracked .500 and without him on the field, they would likely crumble into complete disarray. Current backup Scott Tolzien boasts a 0-2-1 career record as a starter and has thrown multiple interceptions in all 3 of those games. I'm not even a Colts fan and reading that stat still made me want to projectile vomit all over my keyboard. If a situation arises where Tolzien has to step in for any substantial length of time, this squad's hopes of returning to the playoffs for the 1st time since 2014 are pretty much dead and buried.
- 2017 is a crucial year for the development of this offensive line. For the 1st time in a long time, there's actually reason for optimism when you look at the Colts o-line group. Center Ryan Kelly had a pretty decent rookie year in 2016, Jack Mewhort has played well whenever he's been at his natural position of guard and left tackle Anthony Castonzo is a reliable performer that's currently in the middle of his prime. However, that's not to say there isn't still some reason for concern with this group. Young guns Joe Haeg and Le'Raven Clark didn't display the same level of polish or consistency as Kelly did in his rookie year and have the unfortunate distinction of being raw, inexperienced players playing on the same side of the line. There may be more talent present than there was in the Mike McGlynn/Samson Satele/Gosder Cherlius days, but unless they can establish some consistency and stability across the entire group, this revamped o-line will be deemed yet another failure for the long-suffering Colts.
Bottom Line:
Without the guarantee of a healthy Luck for the entire season, the Colts are more than likely going to miss the playoffs for the 4th straight season.
-After 5 years of poor drafting and misguided free agent signings, Jim Irsay pulled the plug on much-maligned general manager Ryan Grigson in mid-January. This move was long overdue, but at least Irsay finally rid this organization of the man that stunted any chance the team had of growing after they drafted young stars Andrew Luck and T.Y. Hilton in 2012. Grigson was replaced by former Chiefs front office assistant Chris Ballard, who went onto to put together a pretty impressive haul in his inaugural season as the Colts front office shot caller. Ballard addressed the team's hole-filled defense with a plethora of affordable, potential impact free agent signings (defensive tackle Jonathan Hankins, outside linebackers Jabbal Sheard and John Simon, inside linebacker Sean Spence) and brought in a draft class that is loaded with numerous high-upside prospects (safety Malik Hooker, cornerback Quincy Wilson, edge rusher Tarral Basham, running back Marlon Mack). While there's clearly no way to tell if Ballard's moves will help elevate the Colts from their 2-year mediocrity slump right now, he's already managed put more effort into trying to address the team's needs than Grigson did during his entire tenure.
-For a team that's looking to break out of a funk, the news that broke last Tuesday about Andrew Luck potentially missing the first 6 games of the season as he recovers from offseason surgery on his throwing shoulder was devastating. Luck's low-key excellent 2016 (63.5 CMP %, 4,240 YDS, 31 TD, 13 INT in 15 games) was the only reason the team cracked .500 and without him on the field, they would likely crumble into complete disarray. Current backup Scott Tolzien boasts a 0-2-1 career record as a starter and has thrown multiple interceptions in all 3 of those games. I'm not even a Colts fan and reading that stat still made me want to projectile vomit all over my keyboard. If a situation arises where Tolzien has to step in for any substantial length of time, this squad's hopes of returning to the playoffs for the 1st time since 2014 are pretty much dead and buried.
- 2017 is a crucial year for the development of this offensive line. For the 1st time in a long time, there's actually reason for optimism when you look at the Colts o-line group. Center Ryan Kelly had a pretty decent rookie year in 2016, Jack Mewhort has played well whenever he's been at his natural position of guard and left tackle Anthony Castonzo is a reliable performer that's currently in the middle of his prime. However, that's not to say there isn't still some reason for concern with this group. Young guns Joe Haeg and Le'Raven Clark didn't display the same level of polish or consistency as Kelly did in his rookie year and have the unfortunate distinction of being raw, inexperienced players playing on the same side of the line. There may be more talent present than there was in the Mike McGlynn/Samson Satele/Gosder Cherlius days, but unless they can establish some consistency and stability across the entire group, this revamped o-line will be deemed yet another failure for the long-suffering Colts.
Bottom Line:
Without the guarantee of a healthy Luck for the entire season, the Colts are more than likely going to miss the playoffs for the 4th straight season.
Jacksonville Jaguars
2016 Record: 3-13 (4th in AFC South)
Head Coach: Doug Marrone (1st season)
Notable Additions: DT Calias Campbell, CB A.J. Bouye, S Barry Church
Notable Departures: S Jonathan Cyprien, CB Prince Amukamara, TE Julius Thomas
-Even with the team's decision to exercise his 5th-year option and keep him under team control through the 2018 season, 2017 is going to be a make-or-break year for Blake Bortles in Jacksonville. The former top-5 pick undid any of the goodwill he earned during his perceived breakout 2015 campaign with an underwhelming 2016 that saw his TD total dip from 35 to 23 and already-maligned throwing mechanics fit a new level of sloppiness (sup Tebow-esque sidearm). Even as a person who has unreasonable amount of faith in Bortles, it's hard for me to envision a scenario where he magically fixes his ailments in a single offseason. New head coach Doug Marrone retained Nathaniel Hackett, whose has worked with Bortles since the 2015 season, as offensive coordinator, new front office minion Tom Coughlin reportedly doesn't envision him as the team's long-term starter and decisionmaking/delivery deficiencies are damn near impossible for a quarterback to correct in a such a short period of time. A rapid level of development that he has yet to display during his professional career paired with a tsunami of good fortune (aka a bunch of players overachieve and the teams ends up winning 8-10 games) is the only way Bortles will be able to keep his job past this season.
-To be honest, the best bet of the Jags offense getting back on track doesn't even lie on their embattled QB's shoulders. That's right, the most viable potential savior of this offense is rookie running back Leonard Fournette. Part of the reason Bortles and co. struggled so mightily last season was due to their inability to run the ball. Chris Ivory and T.J. Yeldon couldn't generate a god damn thing whenever they touched the ball (they combined for 904 yards on 247 carries), which forced their erratic, gunslinging quarterback to throw more than he should've. While there's questions about his durability and the talent level of the guys upfront that are blocking for him, Fournette has the potential to be the type of 3-down back you can run your offense through. At 6'1, 228 lbs, he has the devastating speed, size and power combo that every NFL team dreams of having in their backfield. The presence of a reliable workhorse back would bring a much-needed sense of balance to this group and take some of the pressure off of Bortles to be the sole creator of offense.
-The plus side of the Jags non-stop losing is the plethora of available cap space they have to go out and sign pretty much any free agent they want. Their 2017 haul might have been their most impressive to-date. Defensive tackle/end Calias Campbell is a versatile, well-rounded monster upfront that also happens to be one of the best locker room leaders in the league, cornerback A.J Bouye is a burgeoning menace in the slot and safety Barry Church is a run-stuffing specialist coming off a career-best year with the Cowboys. Putting more high-caliber veteran along talents alongside outside linebacker Telvin Smith, promising young corner Jalen Ramsey and last year's big-ticket signing defensive tackle Malik Jackson should help this mostly young unit make another substantial leap forward in 2017.
-There's nothing about this Branden Albert situation that isn't hilarious. The Jags acquired the 32-year old Pro Bowler from the Dolphins for pretty much nothing (tight end Julius Thomas and a 6th-round draft pick) in late February with the hopes that he would be a viable short-term solution to the left tackle woes that have plagued them since they dealt Eugene Monroe 4 games into the 2013 season. Then Albert gets a few days into training camp and decides he'd rather sit on his coach than try to protect Blake Bortles' blindside. The story appeared to be over until the news broke on Monday night that Albert told the Jags he wanted to return to the team and the brass said no thanks. To sum it all up, the Jags are now being forced to throw unpolished rookie Cam Robinson into the fire at left tackle right away and Albert is going to have to try and make his NFL "comeback" somewhere else. Professional sports never fail to be the greatest soap operas on Earth.
Bottom Line:
Even with the additions of more solid veteran talent, the Jaguars have too many deficiencies and uncertainties (particularly on offense) to make a significant jump in the standings this season.
Tennessee Titans
2016 Record: 9-7 (2nd in AFC South)
Head Coach: Mike Mularkey (2nd season)
Notable Additions: CB Logan Ryan, S Jonathan Cyprien, WR Eric Decker
Notable Departures: CB Jason McCourty, WR Kendall Wright, G Chance Warmack
-After a surprise 9-7 finish last season, everybody from Wichita to Omaha is aboard the Titans hype train heading into 2017. I'm one of the few people that refuses to board this densely-packed locomotive. This team never impressed me at any point of last season and nothing that's occurred in the 7 months since they last took the field gotten me to waver from that position. I think Marcus Mariota is more of an anonymous game-manager than a legit franchise quarterback, they're relying on a currently-injured rookie (Corey Davis) and an inconsistent 30-year old coming off of a major shoulder injury (Eric Decker) to improve their wonky receiving corps, their defense ,outside of a few nice pieces on the front 7 (Derrick Morgan, Jurrell Casey, Wesley Woodyard) is an unreliable, injury-prone mess (more on that later) and even though he's coming off a nice season (1,287 YDS, 9 TD) and has an excellent offensive line blocking for him, workhorse running back DeMarco Murray is still one of the biggest injury flight risks in the league (he already pulled him hamstring in training camp. I've got a strong feeling that this 2017 team will expose the Titans as a below-average squad primarily driven by fugazi talent that can't be relied to deliver sustained success in the NFL.
-The Achilles' heel of the 2016 Titans (and what their fanbase believes was the only reason they didn't win the division) was their secondary. Their 30th-ranked pass defense doesn't do justice to how much they burnt throughout last season. Naturally, general manager Jon Robinson made trying to upgrade this lackluster his primary focus this season. He went out and signed ex-Patriot corner Logan Ryan and former Jags Jonathan Cyprien on the 2nd day of free agency then proceeded to use 1 of the team's 2 1st round draft picks to select USC corner Adoree' Jackson. The problem with these moves is that every single one of them is a massive dice roll. Ryan was an erratic presence throughout his tenure in New England and has yet to prove he can guard top WR's on a weekly basis, Cyprien was a garbageman until last season and Jackson is a super athletic gambler that lives and dies by the big play. Robinson was right to make a ton of moves in the secondary, but I'm skeptical that the guys he brought in are going to be able to make the type of impact he desperately needs them to make in order to quickly sure up their horrific pass defense.
-Another part of the reason why I'm so down on the Titans is because of this coaching staff. A surprisingly strong season from DeMarco Murray and rare 16-game campaign for Brian Orakpo covered up a lot of the issues the schematic masterminds behind this operation bring to the table, but I wouldn't bank on it happening again. Mike Mularkey is a so-so offensive mind (I still haven't figured out what "exotic smashmouth" means) that has mustered 2 winning seasons and 0 playoff appearances in 5 seasons as an NFL head coach, Dick LeBeau is a stubborn fossil that won't let go of his precious zone-driven scheme that hasn't been consistently effective in at least 20 years and with just 1 year as an offensive coordinator, there's no way to tell if Terry Robiskie is the real deal or not (spoiler alert: I don't think he is). While the play of Mariota and the impact of (or lack thereof) their big-ticket free agent signing are currently commanding the narratives out of Nashville, the abilities of these 3 men should ultimately determine if the Titans deserve to be taken seriously as a playoff contender or simply benefited from a whole lot of fluky-ass strong performances in 2016.
Bottom Line:
The pride of Smashville appear set to fall back to Earth after overachieving a season ago.
Projected Standings
1.Houston Texans (9-7)
1.Houston Texans (9-7)
2.Indianapolis Colts (7-9)
3.Tennessee Titans (6-10)
4.Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)
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