2011 NFL Predictions: NFC East Washington Redskins

Washington Redskins

Last Season: 6 – 10

2011 NFL Draft: DE Ryan Kerrigan (Purdue, Rd. 1/Pick 16), DT Jarvis Jenkins (Clemson, Rd. 2/Pick 9), WR Leonard Hankerson (Miami (FL.), Rd. 3/Pick 15), RB Roy Helu (Nebraska, Rd. 4/Pick 8), S Dejon Gomes (Nebraska, Rd. 5/Pick 15), WR Niles Paul (Nebraska, Rd. 5/Pick 24), RB Evan Royster (Penn St., Rd. 6/Pick 12), WR Aldrick Robinson (Southern Methodist, RD. 6/Pick 13), CB Brandyn Thompson (Boise St., Rd. 7/Pick 10), G Maurice Hurt (Florida, Rd. 7/Pick 14), DE Markus White (Florida St., Rd. 7/Pick 21), DT Christopher Neild (West Virginia, Rd. 7/Pick 50)

Key Additions: WR Jabar Gaffney, WR Donte’ Stallworth, CB Josh Wilson, RB Tim Hightower, K Shayne Graham

Key Losses: DT Albert Haynesworth, QB Donovan McNabb, DE Vonnie Holliday

2010 Individual Stat Leaders:

• Passing yards — Donovan McNabb — 3,377 yards

• Passing touchdowns — Donovan McNabb — 14

• Rushing yards — Ryan Torain — 742 yards

• Rushing touchdowns ­— Ryan Torain — 4

• Receiving yards — Santana Moss — 1,115 yards

• Receiving touchdowns — Santana Moss — 6

• Tackles — London Fletcher — 136

• Sacks — Brian Orakpo — 9

• Interceptions — DeAngelo Hall — 6

2011 Regular Season Schedule:

Week 1: NY Giants

Week 2: Cardinals

Week 3: @ Cowboys

Week 4: @ Rams

Week 5: Bye

Week 6: Eagles

Week 7: @ Panthers

Week 8: @ Bills

Week 9: 49ers

Week 10: @ Dolphins

Week 11: Cowboys

Week 12: @ Seahawks

Week 13: NY Jets

Week 14: Patriots

Week 15: @ NY Giants

Week 16: Vikings

Week 17: @ Eagles

Analysis: After a failed experiment with Donovan McNabb in Mike Shanahan’s first season, the Redskins are ready to start over. Unfortunately for the Washington, that means choosing between QB Rex Grossman and QB John Beck. Yes, Grossman has been to a Super Bowl, but that was more about the defense than it was about his stellar quarterback play.  Still, with some offseason moves, the Redskins have tried to surround whoever starts at quarterback with some weapons. WR Jabar Gaffney will make a great No. 2 receiver and bringing in RB Tim Hightower from Arizona provides a solid running game with RB Ryan Torain after RB Clinton Portis started to show his age. First round draft pick Ryan Kerrigan will move from his college position of defensive end to outside linebacker along with LB London Fletcher and LB Brian Orakpo. The loss of DE Vonnie Holliday will be felt when the linebackers are called upon to provide more run support. The secondary receives some more help from free agent pickup CB Josh Wilson, who, along with fellow CB DeAngelo Hall and S LaRon Landry, should provide decent coverage against the opposing NFC East quarterbacks. However, the run game will haunt a weak defensive line. Along with the lack of offensive production, the Redskins are in for another long season and may want to think about picking up a quarterback in the next offseason.

2011 Season Prediction: 3 – 13, Fourth in the NFC East

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2011 NFL Predictions: AFC West San Diego Chargers

San Diego Chargers

Last Season: 9 – 7

2011 NFL Draft: DT Corey Liuget (Illinois, Rd. 1/Pick 18), CB Marcus Gilchrist (Clemson, Rd. 2/Pick 18), LB Jonas Mouton (Michigan, Rd. 2/Pick 29), WR Vincent Brown (San Diego St., Rd. 3/Pick 18), CB Shareece Wright (USC, Rd. 3/Pick 25), RB Jordan Todman (UConn, Rd. 6/Pick 18), G Steve Schilling (Michigan, Rd. 6/Pick 36), LB Andrew Gachkar (Missouri, Rd. 7/Pick 31)

Key Additions: S Bob Sanders, LB Takeo Spikes

Key Losses: RB Darren Sproles

2010 Individual Stat Leaders:

• Passing yards — Philip Rivers — 4,710 yards

• Passing touchdowns — Philip Rivers — 30

• Rushing yards — Mike Tolbert — 735 yards

• Rushing touchdowns ­— Mike Tolbert — 11

• Receiving yards — Antonio Gates — 782 yards

• Receiving touchdowns — Antonio Gates — 10

• Tackles — Eric Weddle — 96

• Sacks — Shaun Phillips — 11

• Interceptions — Antoine Cason — 4

2011 Regular Season Schedule:

Week 1: Vikings

Week 2: @ Patriots

Week 3: Chiefs

Week 4: Dolphins

Week 5: @ Broncos

Week 6: Bye

Week 7: @ NY Jets

Week 8: @ Chiefs

Week 9: Packers

Week 10: Raiders

Week 11: @ Bears

Week 12: Broncos

Week 13: @ Jaguars

Week 14: Bills

Week 15: Ravens

Week 16: @ Lions

Week 17: @ Raiders

Analysis: The San Diego Chargers were looking to finally get over the hump in the AFC playoffs last season and make the Super Bowl. Instead, turnovers and a lackluster defense buried the Chargers early and they gave up the AFC West crown to the Chiefs. They finished strong, however, going 7-2 after a 2-5 start. With QB Philip Rivers still at the helm the Chargers have as good a chance as anyone. Rivers is a statistical machine, passing for over 4,000 yards the past three seasons and an average of about 30 touchdowns over the same time period. With WR Vincent Jackson locked down early and raring to go, the offensive production should be on par. RB Ryan Matthews had a not-so-pleasant rookie season, but the Chargers still think he can produce. RB Mike Tolbert stepped up last year and will back-up Matthews this year. On the defensive side, the Chargers picked up free agent S Bob Sanders and LB Takeo Spikes, with both contributing to an already solid defense. The only question is the defensive line. DT Antonio Garay had a good season in 2010, but defensive ends Jacques Cesaire and Luis Castillo will have to help around the ends. The Chargers still have all the makings of a playoff contender, and if they can handle a scrappy Chiefs team, they should return to power in the AFC West.

2011 Season Prediction: 10 – 6, AFC West champions

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2011 NFL Predictions: AFC West Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs

Last Season: 10 – 6

2011 NFL Draft: WR Jonathan Baldwin (Pittsburgh, Rd. 1/Pick 26), C Rodney Hudson (Florida St., Rd. 2/Pick 23), DE Justin Houston (Georgia, Rd. 3/Pick 6), DE Allen Bailey (Miami (FL.), Rd. 3/Pick 22), CB Jalil Brown (Colorado, Rd. 4/Pick 21), QB Ricky Stanzi (Iowa, Rd. 5/Pick 4), LB Gabe Miller (Oregon St., Rd. 5/Pick 9), DT Jerrell Powe (Mississippi, Rd. 6/Pick 34), RB Shane Bannon (Yale, Rd. 7/Pick 20)

Key Additions: WR Steve Breaston, RB Le’Ron McClain

Key Losses: DT Shaun Smith, DT Ron Edwards, LB Mike Vrabel

2010 Individual Stat Leaders:

• Passing yards — Matt Cassel — 3,116 yards

• Passing touchdowns — Matt Cassel — 27

• Rushing yards — Jamaal Charles — 1,467 yards

• Rushing touchdowns ­— Thomas Jones — 6

• Receiving yards — Dwayne Bowe — 1,162 yards

• Receiving touchdowns — Dwayne Bowe — 15

• Tackles — Derrick Johnson — 122

• Sacks — Tamba Hali — 15

• Interceptions — Eric Berry — 4

2011 Regular Season Schedule:

Week 1: Bills

Week 2: @ Lions

Week 3: @ Chargers

Week 4: Vikings

Week 5: @ Colts

Week 6: Bye

Week 7: @ Raiders

Week 8: Chargers

Week 9: Dolphins

Week 10: Broncos

Week 11: @ Patriots

Week 12: Steelers

Week 13: @ Bears

Week 14: @ NY Jets

Week 15: Packers

Week 16: Raiders

Week 17: @ Broncos

Analysis: Kansas City surprised many last season when they went 10-6 and won the AFC West. QB Matt Cassel improved in his second season in Kansas City, passing for more yards and touchdowns all the while cutting down on interceptions, which was a big factor. Cassel wasn’t the only surprise. WR Dwayne Bowe had a breakout season and RB Jamaal Charles had his second strong year, rushing for almost 1,500 yards. The Chiefs wanted more weapons and did so in the offseason. They picked up RB/FB Le’Ron McClain, a very strong blocker and pass catcher, as well as WR Steve Breaston from Arizona. WR Jonathan Baldwin was a strong draft pick, and, combined with Breaston, will allow Bowe to have another strong season. The defense will be a big question this year however. The team lost DT Ron Edwards and DT Shaun Smith, but keep DE Glenn Dorsey. The retirement of LB Mike Vrabel was a big surprise, so more responsibility will fall on fellow linebackers Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali. The defense was a big reason the Chiefs excelled last season, and if they want to make it back to the playoffs, they are going to have to answer some of the questions that arise on the D-line and linebacker core.

2011 Season Prediction: 8 – 8, Second in the AFC West

 

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2011 NFL Predictions: AFC West Oakland Raiders

Oakland Raiders

Last Season: 8 – 8

2011 NFL Draft: C Stefen Wisniewski (Penn State, Rd. 2/Pick 16), CB Demarcus Van Dyke (Miami (FL.), Rd. 3/Pick 17), T Joe Barksdale (LSU, Rd. 3/Pick 28), CB Chimdi Chekwa (Ohio St., Rd. 4/Pick 16), RB Taiwan Jones (Eastern Washington, Rd. 4/Pick 28), WR Denarius Moore (Tennessee, Rd. 5/Pick 17), TE Richard Gordon (Miami (FL.), Rd. 6/Pick 16), WR David Ausberry (USC, Rd. 7/Pick 38)

Key Additions: QB Trent Edwards, TE Kevin Boss

Key Losses: TE Zach Miller, QB Bruce Gradkowski, CB Nnamdi Asomugha,

2010 Individual Stat Leaders:

• Passing yards — Jason Campbell — 2,387 yards

• Passing touchdowns — Jason Campbell — 13

• Rushing yards — Darren McFadden — 1,157 yards

• Rushing touchdowns ­— Michael Bush — 8

• Receiving yards — Zach Miller — 685 yards

• Receiving touchdowns — Zach Miller — 5

• Tackles — Tyvon Branch — 104

• Sacks — Kamerion Wimbley — 9

• Interceptions — Michael Huff — 3

2011 Regular Season Schedule:

Week 1: @ Broncos

Week 2: @ Bills

Week 3: NY Jets

Week 4: Patriots

Week 5: @ Texans

Week 6: Browns

Week 7: Chiefs

Week 8: Bye

Week 9: Broncos

Week 10: @ Chargers

Week 11: @ Vikings

Week 12: Bears

Week 13: @ Dolphins

Week 14: @ Packers

Week 15: Lions

Week 16: @ Chiefs

Week 17: Chargers

Analysis: Like their AFC West counterparts, the Raiders had problems with sacks last season. The O-line allowed 44 sacks on the season. Rookie C Stefen Wisniewski will start right away, but that is about all the Raiders did to help the situation. But, that is not the only problem the Raiders have on offense. QB Jason Campbell isn’t great. He barely got over 2,300 passing yards last year and the team lost their leader in receiving yards and touchdowns, TE Zach Miller. But, they were able to replace them with workhorse TE Kevin Boss from the NY Giants. WR Darrius Heyward-Bey hasn’t yet lived up to his draft selection, but WR Jacoby Ford and WR Louis Murphy can produce. However, without a quarterback who can distribute the ball, the receivers can't score points. The Raiders did pick up QB Trent Edwards in free agency, and don’t be surprised to see a battle during the season. The one shining point is the Raiders still have the running back combo of Darren McFadden and Michael Bush. Defensively, the Raiders only loss was CB Nnamdi Asomugha. Unfortunately, that is a big loss. CB Chris Johnson and CB Stanford Routt will fill in, but hopefully the front line led by DT Richard Seymour and DE Lamarr Houston can put some pressure on opposing quarterbacks to help out. Ultimately, the Raiders improved last season, going 8-8, but they didn’t add much to keep improving in 2011. They benefited by playing in a weak division last season, but I think the Chargers will be tougher this year and the Chiefs will continue to battle for a playoff division.

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

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