Hey there, good to see ya. This is my NFL blog! Now, I’m going to be assuming a basic knowledge of the workings of American Football as I write this, so it’s not for rookies. Anything you don’t understand though, feel free to ask in the comments, or Twitter, or however you see fit.
Now, we have a problem. Dave has created this blog site in May, and this is an NFL blog. Anyone even vaguely versed in the lore of the sport should be getting what I’m on about.
No, Brady. It has nothing to do with 'International Day against Homophobia'.
Yes, you’ve got it. The regular season doesn’t start until September. The 9th of September, to be exact. So, I’m going to do what all sport bloggers do to pass the depressing hours until the reason for their existence restarts: PREVIEWS! To be exact, in this blog I’m going to do power rankings. Best term ever, BTW. Pointlessly masculine, like the sport itself (Brady Quinn aside, of course). So, here we go….
32: Buffalo Bills
‘What!?’, I hear you ask. Across the internet. I’m that good. ‘Surely the Rams must be worst!’. Well, don’t worry, they’re up next. And rest assured, it’s not Jets-Bills rivalry that has influenced this decision. The Bills were one of the worst teams in the NFL last year, particularly towards the end. This was due to their porous O-Line.
Pictured: Bills Offensive Line
They also had a revolving door at QB, with Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Brian Brohm all playing roles at some point in the season. But did they address either of these issues in the draft? No. They used their 1st round draft pick on a RB, a postion of strength for them (Yes, pot calling the kettle black, I know. We’ll get to that.). Keep in mind this is when Brian Bulaga, considered be some to be the best OT in this draft, was still on the board. They ended up not addressing either of these issues until the 5th round, when they picked Ed Wang, I assume for comic effect. For sheer lack of effort, the Bills get no. 32 in my power rankings. (Don’t worry, not all the explanations will be this long. Or maybe they will. I’m making it up as I go.)
31: St. Louis Rams
Told ya. Unlike the Bills, the Rams had a solid draft, using their top 2 picks to draft a franchise QB in Sam Bradford, and a powerful OT in Roger Saffold, to help shore up the rookie’s blind side. They also drafted well in the later rounds, bringing much needed depth to important decisions. I could put them higher. They still have that running game (imagine S-Jax behind a good O-Line. Scary), and have improved in all areas. However, nobody knows the pains of having a rookie QB like a Jets fan. That, coupled with the distractions of a public war over the ownership of the club, mean it’ll be a couple of years before the Rams are a force again.
30: Chiefs
I’ll admit, I haven’t been paying much attention to the Chiefs. I’m just assuming they’re as poor as ever.
I kid, I kid. It’s the same problem as the Bills. They had one glaring need at OL, and didn’t address it properly. But they got possibly the best overall player in the draft in Eric Berry (although he does have a whiff of the Aaron Curry about him), and a good change of pace back in Dexter McCluster. They’ve improved. Just not majorly in the places they needed to.
29: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This is another team I sometimes forget exists. If it weren’t for their alternate logo giving them a certain camp naivety, I’m not sure anyone outside of the general Tampa area would give them any attention.
Well hello, sailor.
But in all seriousness, they’ve completely rebuilt their D-Line, and got a couple of nice WRs in the draft for Josh Freeman to throw in the general direction of. They won’t do as badly as last season.
28: Detroit Lions
For years, the joke of the NFL. That won’t change. However, Matt Stafford will get better. With the addition of Nate Burleson, Megatron won’t be in double coverage all the time, which will make things easier.
Megatron hates double coverage. Just look at him.
They’ve also got hold a of a much needed change of pace RB, and some guy called Ndamukong Suh. If they were in a different division, they could be a 6-8 win team.
27: Cleveland Browns
After being crap for most of last season, they suddenly got on a 4 game win streak to finish the season, the longest of any team not based in San Diego. With a new emperor in Mike Holmgren, a brace of veteran QBs, a young’un to develop, and an improved defense, this could be the year that the Browns finally break into mediocrity.
Mediocrity.
26: Jacksonville Jaguars
The team so average, even their own fans forget they exist. They didn’t get Tebow. I think a move to LA is all but confirmed by now. And they took Tyson Alulu at 10, despite the fact he’d have been there at their second round pick. What else is there to say? Epic end-of-season collapse, not much has changed. Expect 6-8 wins again.
25: Washington Redskins
Yes, they’ve improved massively. But everyone they’ve got is OLD. I just can’t see all of their slightly used new acquistions making it through the end of the season unscathed. But they’ve shored up that leaky O-Line, which is good. But then again, you know, LOLskins. We’ll see how they do. But I’m certainly not predicting the ‘worst-to-first’ turnaround that everyone else seems to be.
Well, that’ll do for now. It’s taking longer than either of us could’ve expected, especially me. For those of you that are still awake, next 8 should be up in a couple of days. And..err…wake that other guy up, will you?
