2011 NFL Predictions: AFC West Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos

Last Season: 4 – 12

2011 NFL Draft: LB Von Miller (Texas A&M, Rd. 1/Pick 2), S Rahim Moore (UCLA, Rd. 2/Pick 13), G Orlando Franklin (Miami (FL.), Rd. 2/Pick 14), LB Nate Irving (North Carolina St., Rd. 3/Pick 3), S Quinton Carter (Oklahoma, Rd. 4/Pick 11), TE Julius Thomas (Portland St., Rd. 4/Pick 32), LB Mike Mohamed (California, Rd. 6/Pick 24), TE Virgil Green (Nevada, Rd. 7/Pick 1), DE Jeremy Beal (Oklahoma, Rd. 7/Pick 44)

Key Additions: RB Willis McGahee, DT Ty Warren

Key Losses: WR Jabar Gaffney

2010 Individual Stat Leaders:

• Passing yards — Kyle Orton — 3,653 yards

• Passing touchdowns — Kyle Orton — 20

• Rushing yards — Knowshon Moreno — 779 yards

• Rushing touchdowns ­— Tim Tebow — 6

• Receiving yards — Brandon Lloyd — 1,448 yards

• Receiving touchdowns — Brandon Lloyd — 11

• Tackles — D.J. Williams — 119

• Sacks — D.J. Williams — 6

• Interceptions — Champ Bailey/Renaldo Hill/Syd’Quan Thompson — 2

2011 Regular Season Schedule:

Week 1: Raiders

Week 2: Bengals

Week 3: @ Titans

Week 4: @ Packers

Week 5: Chargers

Week 6: Bye

Week 7: @ Dolphins

Week 8: Lions

Week 9: @ Raiders

Week 10: @ Chiefs

Week 11: NY Jets

Week 12: @ Chargers

Week 13: @ Vikings

Week 14: Bears

Week 15: Patriots

Week 16: @ Bills

Week 17: Chiefs

Analysis: When the biggest discussion of the offseason is if you should start Tim Tebow or Kyle Orton at quarterback, you know you are doomed for an underwhelming season. I appreciate what Tebow did in college, but unlike all the Denver Broncos fans I have met, I do not think he is the savor of the Broncos. Orton may not be QB Peyton Manning or QB Tom Brady, but he can throw. One of the main issues last season is the Broncos line allowed 40 sacks. Rookie draft selection OT Orlando Franklin out of Miami (FL.) should help in his first season, but the Broncos should have made some noise in free agency or trades. WR Brandon Lloyd had a great 2010, but his 2011 season will determine if Lloyd is for real. Fellow WR Eddie Royal is a playmaker and will look to make an impact as the No. 2 receiver. In the backfield, the Broncos return RB Knowshon Moreno and picked up RB Willis McGahee to help carry the load. Defensively, the Broncos improved, quite a bit. No. 2 overall pick LB Von Miller is a force and second round pick S Rahim Moore will contribute to a secondary of S Brian Dawkins and CB Champ Bailey. Free agent acquisition DT Ty Warren should contribute to a solid defensive line. The problem the Broncos will have again in 2011 is a lack of production from the offense. In half of their games in 2010, the Broncos failed to score 20 points. The line is going to have to protect whoever gets the snaps and the running game is going to have to produce for the Broncos to battle for the AFC West crown.

2011 Season Prediction: 5 – 11, Fourth in the AFC West

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2011 NFL Predictions: AFC South Houston Texans

Houston Texans

Last Season: 6 – 10

2011 NFL Draft: DE J.J. Watt (Wisconsin, Rd. 1/Pick 11), DE Brooks Reed (Arizona, Rd. 2/Pick 10), CB Brandon Harris (Miami (FL.), Rd. 2/Pick 28), CB Rashad Carmichael (Virginia Tech, Rd. 4/Pick 30), S Shiloh Keo (Idaho, Rd. 5/Pick 13), QB T.J. Yates (North Carolina, Rd. 5/Pick 21), OT Derek Newton (Arkansas St., Rd. 7/Pick 11), DE Cheta Ozougwu (Rice, Rd. 7/Pick 51)

Key Additions: CB Johnathan Joseph, S Danieal Manning

Key Losses: S Bernard Pollard, DT Amobi Okoye

2010 Individual Stat Leaders:

• Passing yards — Matt Schaub — 4,370 yards

• Passing touchdowns — Matt Schaub — 24

• Rushing yards — Arian Foster — 1,616 yards

• Rushing touchdowns ­— Arian Foster — 16

• Receiving yards — Andre Johnson — 1,216 yards

• Receiving touchdowns — Andre Johnson — 8

• Tackles — Bernard Pollard — 112

• Sacks — Mario Williams — 9

• Interceptions — Troy Nolan/Glover Quin/Jason Allen — 3

2011 Regular Season Schedule:

Week 1: Colts

Week 2: @ Dolphins

Week 3: @ Saints

Week 4: Steelers

Week 5: Raiders

Week 6: @ Ravens

Week 7: @ Titans

Week 8: Jaguars

Week 9: Browns

Week 10: @ Bucs

Week 11: Bye

Week 12: @ Jaguars

Week 13: Falcons

Week 14: @ Bengals

Week 15: Panthers

Week 16: @ Colts

Week 17: Titans

Analysis: For the past two or three years, it has been the Houston Texans time to finally make the playoffs. Only problem is, they haven’t lived up to that prediction. Last year I feel for the Texans and predicted them to give the Colts a run for their money and end up with an AFC Wildcard spot. But, the Texans went 6-10 and fell flat again. The main problem I see is the defense. But, in 2011, the Texans are finally looking to make a change. With Wade Phillips on board (and in a position more suited for him), the Texans switch to a 3-4 scheme this year. Sack leader Mario Williams moves from defensive end to outside linebacker and joins LB Brian Cushing in a second level that could cause a lot of damage. Up front, the Texans return DT Shaun Cody and DE Antonio Smith and add Wisconsin rookie DE J.J. Watt. In fact, the Texans used the first five picks of the 2011 draft on defense. They lose tackle leader S Bernard Pollard, but bring in S Daniel Manning from the Bears. Manning has some big shoes to fill, but he will get help from fellow free agent pick up CB Johnathan Joseph. If the defense can turn things around, it will really help out the explosive offense led by QB Matt Schaub. Schaub passed for over 4,000 yards last year in large part to his receiving core. WR Andre Johnson is always a threat and fellow WR Kevin Walter and WR Jacoby Jones add another level. TE Owen Daniels is also a threat. But, the big surprise in 2010 was LB Arian Foster, who rushed for over 1,600 yards. If Foster can replicate his 2010 season, the Texans may finally upend the Colts in the AFC South and make it to the playoffs.

2011 Season Prediction: 10 – 6, AFC South champions

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2011 NFL Predictions: AFC South Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis Colts

Last Season: 10 – 6

2011 NFL Draft: T Anthony Castonzo (Boston College, Rd. 1/Pick 22), T Benjamin Ijalana (Villanova, Rd. 2/Pick 17), DT Drake Nevis (LSU, RD. 3/Pick 23), RB Delone Carter (Syracuse, Rd. 4/Pick 22), CB Chris L. Rucker (Michigan State, Rd. 6/Pick 23)

Key Additions: LB Ernie Sims, DT Tommie Harris

Key Losses: S Bob Sanders

2010 Individual Stat Leaders:

• Passing yards — Peyton Manning — 4,700 yards

• Passing touchdowns — Peyton Manning — 33

• Rushing yards — Donald Brown — 497 yards

• Rushing touchdowns ­— Joseph Addai — 4

• Receiving yards — Reggie Wayne — 1,355 yards

• Receiving touchdowns — Austin Collie — 8

• Tackles — Antonie Bethea — 106

• Sacks — Robert Mathis — 11

• Interceptions — Kelvin Hayden/Aaron Francisco/Jerraud Powers — 2

2011 Regular Season Schedule:

Week 1: @ Texans

Week 2: Browns

Week 3: Steelers

Week 4: @ Bucs

Week 5: Chiefs

Week 6: @ Bengals

Week 7: @ Saints

Week 8: @ Titans

Week 9: Falcons

Week 10: Jaguars

Week 11: Bye

Week 12: Panthers

Week 13: @ Patriots

Week 14: @ Ravens

Week 15: Titans

Week 16: Texans

Week 17: @ Jaguars

Analysis: Many thought the Colts would miss out on the playoffs last season for the first time since 2001. However, the rest of the AFC South collapsed and the Colts played strong down the stretch to win the division. They eventually lost to the New York Jets in the first round of the playoffs. So, is 2011 the year the Colts miss the playoffs? QB Peyton Manning will continue to throw strong, and his receiving core is growing. With young receivers Pierre Garson, Austin Collie, Blair White and Anthony Gonzalez behind veteran WR Reggie Wayne, Manning will have many targets. However, the running game struggled last year. RB Donald Brown was the team’s leading rusher with 497 yards. RB Joseph Addai wasn’t far behind with 495 yards. If the running game doesn’t get going, then defenses will continue to have success reading Manning, who threw 17 picks last year. The defense received some help from the acquisition of LB Ernie Sims, but the secondary was the problem. It didn’t improve and opposing offenses will continue to take advantage of the weak secondary. So yes, I think this is the year the Colts miss the playoffs.

2011 Season Prediction: 9 – 7, Second in the AFC South

 

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2011 NFL Predictions: AFC South Tennessee Titans

Tennessee Titans

Last Season: 7 – 9

2011 NFL Draft: QB Jake Locker (Washington, Rd. 1/Pick 8), LB Akeem Ayers (UCLA, Rd. 2/Pick 7), DT Jurrell Casey (USC, Rd. 3/Pick 13), LB Colin McCarthy (Miami (FL.), Rd. 4/Pick 12), RB Jamie Harper (Clemson, Rd. 4/Pick 33), DE Karl Klug (Iowa, Rd. 5/Pick 11), T Byron Stingily (Louisville, Rd. 6/Pick 10), DT Zach Clayton (Auburn, Rd. 7/Pick 9), S Tommie Campbell (California (PA), Rd. 7/Pick 48)

Key Additions: QB Matt Hasselbeck

Key Losses: QB Kerry Collins, QB Vince Young, TE Bo Scaife, DE Jason Babin, LB Stephen Tulloch, WR Randy Moss

2010 Individual Stat Leaders:

• Passing yards — Kerry Collins — 1,823 yards

• Passing touchdowns — Kerry Collins — 14

• Rushing yards — Chris Johnson — 1,364 yards

• Rushing touchdowns ­— Chris Johnson — 11

• Receiving yards — Kenny Britt — 775 yards

• Receiving touchdowns — Kenny Britt — 9

• Tackles — Stephen Tulloch — 159

• Sacks — Jason Babin — 13

• Interceptions — Michael Griffin — 4

2011 Regular Season Schedule:

Week 1: @ Jaguars

Week 2: Ravens

Week 3: Broncos

Week 4: @ Browns

Week 5: @ Steelers

Week 6: Bye

Week 7: Texans

Week 8: Colts

Week 9: Bengals

Week 10: @ Panthers

Week 11: @ Falcons

Week 12: Bucs

Week 13: @ Bills

Week 14: Saints

Week 15: @ Colts

Week 16: Jaguars

Week 17: @ Texans

Analysis: After a disappointing campaign in 2010, the Titans are a new team this year. Starting with new head coach Mike Munchak and down to a new starting quarterback. The two quarterbacks who started last season, Vince Young and Kerry Collins, have both parted ways with the team via release and retirement, respectively. Young had some off-field issues that had management concerned, so they wanted a new start. They picked up veteran QB Matt Hasselbeck, who led the Seahawks to an upset of the Saints in the first round of the NFC playoffs last season, as well as having played in a Super Bowl. He will be battling rookie QB Jake Locker from Washington, who at one point was considered a #1 pick. Locker can be inconsistent at times, but he could learn from Hasselbeck, so don’t be surprised to see the veteran start at least the beginning of the season. Luckily, the Titans will have reliable RB Chris Johnson in the backfield. Johnson was quiet last season, but still rushed for over 1,300 yards and got into the end zone 11 times. The defense is what will be the downfall of this year’s team. They lost their tackle leader LB Stephen Tulloch and their sack leader DE Jason Babin to free agency. On top of that, they didn’t do much replacing. The secondary should be strong with safeties Michael Griffin and Chris Hope as well as CB Cortland Finnegan. But, you can’t count on your secondary as your run stop, so while the offense may score some points, they will have to keep up with their opponents on a regular basis.

2011 Season Prediction: 6 – 10, Third in the AFC South

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