Like the Premier League Preview, my attempt at a Crowdsourced NFL Preview blew up in my face like a trick cigar. Similarly, I took to an old route for an NFL Preview: fan predictions. I know the season is already a game old (if you can call what happened last night a game) but here are said predictions for your reading pleasure. Division winners, conference champions, Super Bowl champions, and various award winners (along with a bold prediction) are what you can peruse here. You'll quickly pick up how Patriots fans feel the 2014 season is going to end. I'd be remiss if I didn't include the work of those who actually contributed to the Crowdsourced Preview. Their team previews will be at the end of the article, plugs and all!
TREVOR UTLEY, Colts fan (Twitter: @TREVORutley)
AFC East- Patriots
AFC North- Bengals
AFC South- Colts
AFC West- Broncos
NFC East- Eagles
NFC North- Packers
NFC South- Falcons
NFC West- Seahawks
AFC Wild Cards- Chargers, Steelers
NFC Wild Cards- 49ers, Saints
AFC Champion- Chargers
NFC Champion- 49ers
Super Bowl Champion- 49ers
MVP- Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
Offensive Rookie of the Year- Mike Evans, WR, Buccaneers
Defensive Rookie of the Year- Jadeveon Clowney, DE, Texans
Coach of the Year- Mike McCoy, Chargers
BOLD PREDICTION- Giants coach Tom Coughlin doesn't make it through the season.
COLIN HECHT, Patriots fan (Twitter: @C_Hechta)
AFC East- Patriots
AFC North- Steelers
AFC South- Colts
AFC West- Broncos
NFC East- Eagles
NFC North- Lions
NFC South- Saints
NFC West- Seahawks
AFC Wild Cards- Browns, Chiefs
NFC Wild Cards- Panthers, Packers
AFC Champion- Patriots
NFC Champion- Panthers
Super Bowl Champion- Patriots
MVP- Russell Wilson, QB, Seahawks & Cam Newton, QB, Panthers
Offensive Rookie of the Year- Bishop Sankey, RB, Titans
Defensive Rookie of the Year- Khalil Mack, LB, Raiders
Coach of the Year- Mike Pettine, Browns
BOLD PREDICTION- Wes Welker retires midseason.
JOSH SOUZA, Patriots fan (Twitter: @JSouza1487)
AFC East- Patriots
AFC North- Bengals
AFC South- Colts
AFC West- Broncos
NFC East- Eagles
NFC North- Packers
NFC South- Panthers
NFC West- Seahawks
AFC Wild Cards- Chiefs, Steelers
NFC Wild Cards- Saints, 49ers
AFC Champion- Patriots
NFC Champion- Seahawks
Super Bowl Champion- Patriots
MVP- Tom Brady, QB, Patriots
Offensive Rookie of the Year- Brandin Cooks, WR, Saints
Defensive Rookie of the Year- Khalil Mack, LB, Raiders
Coach of the Year- Sean Payton, Saints
BOLD PREDICTION- At least five more 49ers are arrested.
ANDREW DASILVA, Patriots fan (Twitter: @andrewdlsv)
AFC East- Patriots
AFC North- Bengals
AFC South- Colts
AFC West- Broncos
NFC East- Eagles
NFC North- Packers
NFC South- Saints
NFC West- 49ers
AFC Wild Cards- Steelers, Chiefs
NFC Wild Cards- Seahawks, Falcons
AFC Champion- Patriots
NFC Champion- 49ers
Super Bowl Champion- Patriots
MVP- Andrew Luck, QB, Colts
Offensive Rookie of the Year- Sammy Watkins, WR, Bills
Defensive Rookie of the Year- Jadeveon Clowney, DE, Texans
Coach of the Year- Chip Kelly, Eagles
BOLD PREDICTION- Carson Palmer's huge year will lead to nothing for Arizona.
So that is one for the 49ers and three for the Patriots in terms of Super Bowl picks. There was a great deal of overlap in division winner picks but the award selections and bold predictions were diversified. My MVP pick, Aaron Rodgers, will look better over the next fifteen games than he did against the Legion of Boom last night. Trust me. As promised though, here are the previews of the Texans, Buccaneers, and 49ers done by fans as well as the Colts one done by yours truly.
Well for any self respecting Texans fan we all know how last season went down: in a blaze of failure, watching our team crumble to pieces as the laughingstock of the NFL for the entire nation to watch on live TV. We went from the playing in the playoffs against the Patriots the year before and being the AFC South champions, with very real Super Bowl aspirations, to watching our team crumble from the inside out one game at time. From our quarterback Matt Schaub breaking the record for most consecutive pick sixes to be thrown in a series of games (4) to our coach, Gary Kubiak, having a mini stroke on the sidelines and being promptly fired two games later, 2013 was a disaster. Needless to say, last season tested fans' resolve for a team that is only a decade old and the 2-14 record left a bitter taste in our mouths.
So this season, is a year of redemption. With new head coach Bill O'Brien, versatility is what the Texans will be focused on going into the season. The quarterback situation is somewhat solved by bringing in Ryan Fitzpatrick from the Titans while Matt Schaub got shipped to Oakland as only his abysmal performance last season dictated he deserved. (Still laughing about that hahahahahhahaha). Second string quarterback TJ Yates was let go loving Case Keenum as second string signal caller (ED: He was one of the final cuts). With first round draft pick Jadeveon Clowney showing promise at training camp despite a small injury, to which coaches said was minor, the team holds their defensive hopes high. Brian Cushing, a major factor in the Texans defense on which we so heavily rely, is still on the PUP list. Seeing as how he has only played 12 games in the last two seasons, here's to hoping he actually gets back to being a full time member of a team that so desperately relies on him.
And then there is JJ Watt. A superhuman football machine that Jesus himself sent down from the heavens when the clouds parted and the Texans asked for a player that will never get injured, plays excellent defense, and will dedicate the majority of his adult years to playing football for the great state of Texas. A powerhouse who exudes confidence and team spirit and has a nice smile to boot, The 2012 Defensive Player of the Year has remained the rock that the Texans need to survive a season like last years. I am going to go pray for JJ Watt's health and safety right now.
Things are shaky at best for the Texans heading into the 2014-2015 season. But there is potential. Potential so long as they don't break under the pressure. More seasoned teams like the Patriots can function with rookies, injured players, and an aging line up due to experienced head coaches and long time veterans of the game. The Texans will be put to the test this season to see if the fledgling team can hang with the big boys. As always, we shall see.
Season Prediction: 8-8
You can follow Carli Colonna on Twitter @ladycolonna.
1. NEW COACH
First, I'll try some actual football analysis and look at the change in coaching staff and upper management. Lovie Smith is a man that real Bucs fans will recognize as the LBs coach under Tony Dungy from 1996-2001; the one who coached up a young Derrick Brooks and played a part in shaping him to be the Hall of Fame Linebacker that he is today. He followed the natural coaching progression, Coordinating the Rams Defense from 2001-2003, and eventually becoming a head coach for the Bears in 2004. From 2004-2012, he had a career regular season record of 81-63 and a postseason record of 3-3. Yup, definitely a Tony Dungy guy. Having a proven track record of bringing solid respectable football teams to the table, Lovie Smith is the perfect guy for the Bucs at this point in time. He brings in a solid support staff, flanked by OC Jeff Tedford, and DC Leslie Frazier. Tedford is the wild card here, as he's never proven anything at the pro level. He does have a lot to work with, which I'll highlight next.
2. NEW FACES
When any team changes coaches and front office, they usually clean house and bring in some new players via free agency. The Bucs did just that by signing QB Josh McCown, LT Anthony Collins, C Evan Dietrich-Smith, G Logan Mankins, DE Michael Johnson, DT Clinton McDonald, S Major Wright, TE Brandon Myers, and CBs Alterraun Verner and Mike Jenkins, among others. Making way for these new players, they lost CB Darrelle Revis, LT Donald Penn, G Davin Joseph, and C/G tweener Jeremy Zuttah, among others. Overall, the strategy of new GM Jason Light was to replace a few great players with an abundance of good players, and build a team that is solid at all positions. He also adds an impressive draft class, highlighted by WR Mike Evans, TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, RB Charles Sims and WR Robert Herron.
Offensively, new QB Josh McCown has twin towers to toss the ball to in the aforementioned Evans and veteran Vincent Jackson. If Seferian-Jenkins pans out, this team may be difficult to cover. McCown has a pattern of success with tall receivers (see Marshall, Brandon: 2013 and Jeffery, Alshon: 2013). Along the trenches offensively, the Bucs lost Carl Nicks forever due to a faulty toe that's plagued him for years. This loss hurts, but Logan Mankins should do a fine job replacing him, and a much better job than him of staying healthy. This is breakeven, to possibly a slight upgrade at the position. Anthony Collins is a slight downgrade from Penn at LT in my opinion, but is still solid. The addition of C Dietrich-Smith may be the most underrated signing of the offseason. If he can remain healthy he will provide a stable line general for years to come (a crucial element to a successful offense, and something we haven't had since Jeff Christy circa the early 2000s). With a talented group of guys in the backfield led by Doug Martin, Tampa should have no problem running the ball.
Defensively, you have a lot of incredibly talented players, and a couple of special ones. Gerald McCoy is considered by many to be the best in the world at what he does. Lavonte David may have similar status by years end, as he's already banked 2 phenomenal years as a pro. These two form the foundation for a defense that should play a lot better than they have. In order for this unit to be successful as a whole, however, guys like LB Mason Foster, DE Adrian Clayborn, SS Mark Barron, and CB Alterraun Vernor will have to provide solid consistent play. If this is the year that things start to click for these young guys, then this could easily be a top defense in this league for years to come. That remains a big if, and I'll believe it when I see it.
3. NEW LOGO AND UNIFORMS (I Have a lot of time on my hands)
Bear with me as I take you back in time…
1. 1995: DT Warren Sapp and LB Derrick Brooks both drafted.
2. 1996: Record = 6-10 (not good). 1991-1996: Combined Record = 32-64 (again, not good).
3. 1997: the Bucs undergo a uniform and logo change.
4. 1997: Record = 10-6 (pretty good) with a playoff appearance. 1997-2002: Combined Record = 60-36 with 5 playoff appearances and a Superbowl Victory (again, pretty good).
Now, back to the present….
1. 2010: DT Gerald McCoy drafted. 2012: LB Lavonte David drafted
2. 2013: Record = 4-12 (not good). 2008-2013: Combined Record = 37-59 (again, not good).
3. 2014: the Bucs undergo a uniform and logo change.
4. 2014…
2014 Prediction
The combination of a new front office and coaching staff, new players, and most importantly, new uniforms, will form the perfect shitstorm In Tampa Bay. Said shitstorm will lead the Bucs to a 10-6 record, a playoff appearance, success for years to come, and a slightly less depressing version of me on Sundays.
You can follow Matt Falcone on Twitter @matthewfalcone and if you need a website for your small business check out mfwebsolutions.com.
Let me quickly delve into my fandom with the 49ers. I have rooted for the team since '94 when they obliterated the Chargers to win their last Superbowl. I was eight years old then and for the past twenty years I have seen many up and down moments. This year, I am very hopeful due to some key additions through free agency and the draft. The two key free-agent acquisitions that will pay dividends for the Niners are Antoine Bethea and Stevie Johnson.
Losing Donte Whitner was tough because he brought physicality to the team, however, Bethea brings experience, leadership, and statistically has averaged 100 tackles throughout his eight-year NFL tenure. When you factor in the penalties associated with Donte's physical play, it can only benefit the team going forward in a tight NFC West. The second free-agent that will prove to be crucial to the 49ers' success is Stevie Johnson. As a solid third wide receiving option, Stevie will lead to more opportunities for Vernon Davis and Vance McDonald in the end zone, along with creating open running gaps for Gore, Lattimore, and Hyde. The hope is that Johnson can stay healthy throughout a grueling season against the likes of Sherman, Patterson, and other formidable defensive pass coverage experts.
Finally, the draft has proven very fruitful over the years for San Francisco, most recently with Eric Reid. The same I think will be said for Jimmie Ward, defensive back from Northern Illinois, who brings speed and an eye for the ball after getting an interception from Kaepernick the second practice into training camp. Lattimore and Hyde will be a great battle to look out for as they vie for the backup role to Frank Gore.
Record Prediction: 12-4
Results: Superbowl Winners against the Patriots
Al deCiutiis can be found on Twitter @ALpocalypseNow and his video game hijinx can be found at Tapped Gaming.
The Colts are clearly the class of the AFC South but they are still the low man on the totem pole in terms of potential division winners in the AFC. They have a very imposing first string on both offense and defense but a lack of depth will surely be their undoing as their grueling schedule unfolds.
Andrew Luck will continue his ascension into the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks in 2014. The third year Stanford product shows you something new each game and will be the face of this franchise for another decade plus. Injuries however are slowly depleting Luck's supporting cast. Running back Vick Ballard and starting guard Donald Thomas have already been lost for the season before the first preseason game has even been played. This puts even more pressure on starting RB Trent Richardson, who underperformed after his trade from Cleveland, and rookie lineman Jack Mewhort. Wide receiver Reggie Wayne and tight end Dwayne Allen are coming back from IR stints themselves and need to stay on the field for the Colts offense to flow. I'd talk more about the Colts offense but I'd end up just getting more and more angry at the thought of Trent Richardson running into the line for one yard and then getting up and acting like he just ran for a 99 yard touchdown.
Defensively the Colts are decent but will be playing undermanned against some high flying attack the first two weeks. Robert Mathis will not be chasing Peyton Manning and Nick Foles in weeks one and two as he serves a four game drug suspension. 2013 first rounder Bjoern Werner has the unenviable task of filling in the shoes of Mathis, who had 19.5 sacks en route to Defensive Player of the Year honors last season. New signings D'Qwell Jackson and Arthur Jones are also upgrades against the run and pass. If Indy can find anybody outside of Vontae Davis to make plays in the secondary, their D will be much better than expected. If not, seeing Indy on the schedule will be a quarterback's wet dream.
Predicted Record: 11-5
Trevor Utley can be found on Twitter @TREVORutley, here of course, and check out the Continuous Cardboard Fire on Tumblr.
Image Credits: NFL Collage (lombardiave.com); Texans, Buccaneers, 49ers, Colts logos (wikipedia.org)