Usually start this thread every year just to get a pulse on everyone's team.
1. Who is your favorite team, and how will they finish this year?
San Diego Chargers - Ugh, they'll probably go 7-9 or 8-8. No playoffs but just good enough to miss out on a top 10 pick.
2. Who is your team's sleeper?
Although probably not a real "sleeper" anymore, Vincent Brown looks to work well in the new McCoy offense and seems 100% healthy after coming off of last year's broken ankle. Denario Alexander doesn't seem to have convinced anyone that he's put his (lengthy) health issues behind him as his ADP in mock drafts seem to indicate, so he might be considered a nice sleeper.
Antonio Gates is definitely on the downside of his career and is going as a TE2 in most drafts, which I think is a bit low. He's shed quite a bit of weight this offseason due to a gluten-free (see "fad") diet and says his chronic foot issues are behind him. He might have another productive season left in him but, due to the O-line woes, might be called on to block a little more than in the past.
3. Who will disappoint?
Hard to say that Ryan "Clavicle" Mathews is going to disappoint anyone and, if you are disappointed by him, you just haven't been paying attention.
With the o-line still a mess, Philip Rivers will be hard-pressed to get back to the 2006-2010 numbers.
4. How would rank the Offense?
It's looking like Max Starks and King Dunlap aren't going to be the answer at left tackle and 2013 first-rounder right tackle DJ Fluker's pass-protection isn't nearly as good as his run-blocking. With that said, Mike McCoy is implementing a shorter passing game than the downfield "attack" of Norv Turner and is getting Rivers to go to a 3 step drop so as to avoid Mrs. Rivers and his 6 kids from making funeral arrangements.
It seems the new regime isn't convinced that Mathews is the "man" either and Danny Woodhead has been brought in to share the load. They've also brought Ronnie Brown back to be a third down guy.
The receiving corps seems to be the strength of the team and Brown and Eddie Royal will get the slot/underneath work and Alexander, rookie Keenan Allen and Malcom Floyd will stretch the field. Last year's big free agent signing, Robert Meachem is just a spare part and only being kept around because of the financial implications of getting out from under his contract (thanks, AJ!)
Allen might turn out to be the steal of the draft, but it won't be this year.
5. How would rank the Defense?
The Chargers will have about 8 new starters on the defense this year due to injury (Melvin Ingram) and free agency. The linebacking corps and defensive line are woefully thin and I'm not sure if Mantei Teo is going to translate to anything but a bust. Losing Quentin Jammer (who the previous regime should have moved to safety two years ago) and replacing him with Derek Cox is nothing but a positive. While he was a standout during most of his career, the past two years Jammer made Charger fans look back fondly on the Elvis "Toast" Patterson years.
Eric Weddle is one of the premier safeties in the league and pairs nicely with Atari Bigby.
List your teams.
1. Who is your favorite team, and how will they finish this year?
San Diego Chargers - Ugh, they'll probably go 7-9 or 8-8. No playoffs but just good enough to miss out on a top 10 pick.
2. Who is your team's sleeper?
Although probably not a real "sleeper" anymore, Vincent Brown looks to work well in the new McCoy offense and seems 100% healthy after coming off of last year's broken ankle. Denario Alexander doesn't seem to have convinced anyone that he's put his (lengthy) health issues behind him as his ADP in mock drafts seem to indicate, so he might be considered a nice sleeper.
Antonio Gates is definitely on the downside of his career and is going as a TE2 in most drafts, which I think is a bit low. He's shed quite a bit of weight this offseason due to a gluten-free (see "fad") diet and says his chronic foot issues are behind him. He might have another productive season left in him but, due to the O-line woes, might be called on to block a little more than in the past.
3. Who will disappoint?
Hard to say that Ryan "Clavicle" Mathews is going to disappoint anyone and, if you are disappointed by him, you just haven't been paying attention.
With the o-line still a mess, Philip Rivers will be hard-pressed to get back to the 2006-2010 numbers.
4. How would rank the Offense?
It's looking like Max Starks and King Dunlap aren't going to be the answer at left tackle and 2013 first-rounder right tackle DJ Fluker's pass-protection isn't nearly as good as his run-blocking. With that said, Mike McCoy is implementing a shorter passing game than the downfield "attack" of Norv Turner and is getting Rivers to go to a 3 step drop so as to avoid Mrs. Rivers and his 6 kids from making funeral arrangements.
It seems the new regime isn't convinced that Mathews is the "man" either and Danny Woodhead has been brought in to share the load. They've also brought Ronnie Brown back to be a third down guy.
The receiving corps seems to be the strength of the team and Brown and Eddie Royal will get the slot/underneath work and Alexander, rookie Keenan Allen and Malcom Floyd will stretch the field. Last year's big free agent signing, Robert Meachem is just a spare part and only being kept around because of the financial implications of getting out from under his contract (thanks, AJ!)
Allen might turn out to be the steal of the draft, but it won't be this year.
5. How would rank the Defense?
The Chargers will have about 8 new starters on the defense this year due to injury (Melvin Ingram) and free agency. The linebacking corps and defensive line are woefully thin and I'm not sure if Mantei Teo is going to translate to anything but a bust. Losing Quentin Jammer (who the previous regime should have moved to safety two years ago) and replacing him with Derek Cox is nothing but a positive. While he was a standout during most of his career, the past two years Jammer made Charger fans look back fondly on the Elvis "Toast" Patterson years.
Eric Weddle is one of the premier safeties in the league and pairs nicely with Atari Bigby.
List your teams.
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