Scouting the AFC

[*SHRacerX*]

In another post, I mentioned to Nate that it might be a fun way to pass time during the slowest, most boring time of the off-season by taking each AFC "threat" and having an individual do the breakdown for the rest of the members.

I, for one, would love to do the steelers, so I could mix in some humor and insults (although still doing a deep dive on their roster, coaching changes, etc.).

We could do the following:

All AFC North teams
All AFC West teams
Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots
Tennessee Titans
Indianapolis Colts

If someone really wants to do another like the Jets, that's cool.

Does anyone want to do a team? You could do the research and post it over the next couple weeks under the heading of "Scouting the AFC teams: The ********".

As I said, I will take pissburgh. If you would like to do a team, please reply to this thread.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

X

[Soonerpeace]

(06-25-2022, 09:46 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: In another post, I mentioned to Nate that it might be a fun way to pass time during the slowest, most boring time of the off-season by taking each AFC "threat" and having an individual do the breakdown for the rest of the members.

I, for one, would love to do the steelers, so I could mix in some humor and insults (although still doing a deep dive on their roster, coaching changes, etc.).

We could do the following:

All AFC North teams
All AFC West teams
Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots
Tennessee Titans
Indianapolis Colts

If someone really wants to do another like the Jets, that's cool.

Does anyone want to do a team? You could do the research and post it over the next couple weeks under the heading of "Scouting the AFC teams: The ********".

As I said, I will take pissburgh. If you would like to do a team, please reply to this thread.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

X

That’s a great list and idea. I’d do it by week. I’d make the AFC North right before the season. I’d start Monday with the AFC West. Start the thread Monday and start with Denver. Move on through the week with each team. I’ll post Denver to start Monday and others do work this weekend

[impactplaya]

I will do the Browns when ready

[*SHRacerX*]

(06-25-2022, 10:45 AM)Soonerpeace Wrote: That’s a great list and idea. I’d do it by week. I’d make the AFC North right before the season. I’d start Monday with the AFC West. Start the thread Monday and start with Denver. Move on through the week with each team. I’ll post Denver to start Monday and others do work this weekend

Maybe more than one a week.  Maybe we will roll out the next one about every 3 days?  There are lots of "threats", just in the AFC.

[Soonerpeace]

(06-25-2022, 11:39 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: Maybe more than one a week.  Maybe we will roll out the next one about every 3 days?  There are lots of "threats", just in the AFC.

Definitely

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

Nice SHRacer.

I will do the Bills as I like this team second to the Bengals and know the team pretty well...

But as Impactplaya says, when I am ready. Really busy right now.

[*rfaulk34*]

(06-25-2022, 11:39 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: Maybe more than one a week.  Maybe we will roll out the next one about every 3 days?  There are lots of "threats", just in the AFC.

No reason to put a limit on them. This is the slow time of year and i run out of threads to read pretty quick. I'd just say, post em when you got em. 

[*jason*]

Lemme do Denver! That team was a QB away from being a problem, and now they've got him. I have COVID so I can jump on it pretty quick.

[Soonerpeace]

(06-26-2022, 08:52 PM)jason Wrote: Lemme do Denver! That team was a QB away from being a problem, and now they've got him. I have COVID so I can jump on it pretty quick.

I did it already it’s posted

[Soonerpeace]

Here’s Denver
The Denver Broncos hired a new head coach, Nathaniel Hackett, and traded for a Hall of Fame quarterback, Russell Wilson. Before the blockbuster deal was done, Denver was +3500 to win the Super Bowl. Then, Denver jumped near the top of AFC contenders at +1800. With a young and talented corps on defense, a terrific receiving corps, and a sturdy offensive line, the Broncos will prove if they were really “just a quarterback away.”

Denver Draft:
NFL.com
PARR: The Broncos ranked toward the bottom of the league in 2022 NFL Draft capital after dealing away their first- and second-round picks as part of the Russell Wilson trade, but they managed to put together a nice haul relative to the selections that were still in their possession. General manager George Paton was able to fill needs and find significant value with his first three picks. Using NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah’s Top 150 prospects as a guide, Bonitto (ranked 44th, picked 64th), Dulcich (ranked 60th, picked 80th) and Mathis (ranked 99th, picked 115th) netted a value of +56. Dulcich was NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks’ No. 2 tight end in the draft and he fills a major void at the position for Denver after it traded Noah Fant to Seattle in the Wilson swap. The former UCLA star isn’t going to help much as a blocker, but he averaged 17.6 yards per catch during his collegiate career and brings it in the hair department. Obviously, the Broncos decided to add primarily to the defense in the draft -- re-signing Melvin Gordon prior to the draft last week might have helped make that so – and they spent wisely with their first pick. Bonitto has the potential to be a force off the edge versus the pass early in his career and could develop a more well-rounded game if he adds strength. They landed another exceptional athlete in Mathis, who posted an 11-foot-1 broad jump and a 43 1/2-inch vertical at the Pitt pro day (the top vertical at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine was 42 inches). Uwazurike was a sneaky-good addition to the depth of the defensive line. The Broncos did not address their need at inside linebacker in the draft, but there’s not a lot to quibble with here.
Denver Free Agency
Football Outsiders

Denver Broncos
Improved Roster: A
Used Resources Well: A
Coherent Plan: A
Overall Grade: A
The best arguments against the Russell Wilson trade, Randy Gregory signing, and smaller complementary moves the Broncos made in March boil down to:
* Going all-in is risky and scary and therefore bad; or
* The AFC West is too tough so why try?
Both arguments make more sense when tweeting from a coffee shop than when running an NFL organization that has been stagnating for over half a decade. The Broncos risked not even having a playoff appearance to show for their strong 2018-2020 drafts if they kept twiddling their thumbs at quarterback.
The risk/reward ratio on the Wilson trade favorable, and the Broncos made supplementary moves (Gregory, linebacker Alex Singleton, re-signing linebacker Josey Jewell). to backstop the trade by reinforcing their defense. The Wilson gamble may fail, but doing less would have guaranteed failure.

BRONCOS 2022 OFFSEASON MOVES
Key signings: DE Randy Gregory, OT Billy Turner, LB Alex Singleton, DL D.J. Jones, CB K’Waun Williams, OT Tom Compton
Re-signings: OL Graham Glasgow, RB Melvin Gordon, SAF Kareem Jackson, EDGE Malik Reed
Trades: QB Russell Wilson (from Seahawks)
Key losses: DL Shelby Harris, TE Noah Fant, EDGE Stephen Weatherly
Key draft picks: LB Nik Bonitto, TE Greg Dulcich, CB Damarri Matthis

The Lines:

Recap: There’s a lot to like about the Broncos in 2021. Their defensive secondary is one of the most talented in the league and rookie Patrick Surtain II shaped out to be as good as advertised; he was joined by All Pro teammate Justin Simmons at safety. However, Denver showed just how important having a good quarterback is. Without a true starter– or an effective playmaker– the Broncos weren’t close to making the playoffs and really struggled down the stretch. As a result, Vic Fangio was relieved of his duties as head coach.

TeamRankings projections

https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/team/denver-broncos/projections

Oddscritic:

Our other early futures wager is on Russell Wilson and those Denver Broncos – or more specifically against them. We remain unconvinced that Russ is still as elite as he once was, and we are even less convinced that Denver will emerge from this brutal division with a postseason berth.

Sportsnaut:

The AFC West is the best division in the NFL and will have the widest spectrum of picks for who comes out on top. While the Kansas City Chiefs have the quarterback advantage, the nod for the best roster goes to the Los Angeles Chargers. With Justin Herbert also poised to become an MVP candidate this year and the defense significantly better, it could be enough to push Los Angeles just ahead of Kansas City.
Of course, the Chiefs are still going to be a playoff team. Patrick Mahomes doesn’t need Tyreek Hill to play like an All-Pro quarterback, Besides, Kansas City arguably did more for its passing attack by creating a deeper and more versatile receiving corps. There are some slight concerns on defense, but the Chiefs should easily be a playoff team in 2022.

TWSN:

Denver Broncos:
The Denver Broncos finished 7-10 last season, but were competitive in many losses. Denver’s roster has many young talented players and now they also have a proven quarterback in Russell Wilson. Bronco fans have been patiently waiting to be a contender again and this upcoming season has promise. Last season, Denver finished 19th in total offense and eighth in total defense. So, this offseason the front office made moves to address their biggest weaknesses from a season ago. Wilson understands how to win in the NFL and if he’s able to elevate the talent around him in Denver, they will have a very explosive offense that will help guide the Broncos back to the playoffs next season.

Broncos offensive skill group:
Javonte Williams (RB)
Melvin Gordon III (RB)
Courtland Sutton (WR)
Tim Patrick (WR)
Jerry Jeudy (WR)
KJ Hamler (WR)
Albert Okwuegbunam (TE)
General Manager George Paton had a busy off-season agreeing to terms with elite pass rusher Randy Gregory and former 49ers defensive tackle D.J. Jones along with five additional free agents. Denver’s defense was good last season, but now it’s time for the group to focus on working to become one of the top five defenses in football. The AFC West may end the season as the best division in football, so it will be intriguing to see what happens.

My thoughts: Denver looks to be a 10 to 10.5 win team by the betting lines.I think they’ve got a tough road in a brutal division. Hackett is a first year coach. Fangio was a hell of a defensive coach. They’ll miss him.Hackett is a great offensive coach. So goes Russ so goes Denver. Hackett is probably going help him. But I like LA,Vegas,& KC more. But the 3 of them (minus KC) are ridiculously close.

[*jason*]

(06-26-2022, 09:01 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: I did it already it’s posted

Sure enough... I didn't see the other thread. Guess it's up to me to enlighten everybody (and myself) on the Jacksonville Jaguars. This year's Bengals y'all!!!

[*SHRacerX*]

(06-26-2022, 03:26 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Nice SHRacer.  

I will do the Bills as I like this team second to the Bengals and know the team pretty well...

But as Impactplaya says, when I am ready. Really busy right now.

You got it! 

[*SHRacerX*]

(06-26-2022, 08:52 PM)jason Wrote: Lemme do Denver! That team was a QB away from being a problem, and now they've got him. I have COVID so I can jump on it pretty quick.

It's yours!