2009 NFL Season Preview: AFC West
Probably the league’s second-worst division as judged by lack of overall talent, the AFC West featured an anticlimactic battle of teams who would both wind up finishing 8-8 for the division title in 2008. Looking for a repeat in 2009? Well, sort of…
Denver Broncos (predicted: 4-12, 2008: 8-8)
The Broncos seem determined to wrestle the title of “League’s most dysfunctional team” away from division rival Oakland. After hiring offensive genius Josh McDaniels to replace Super Bowl head coach Mike Shanahan after a long tenure in Denver, McDaniels immediately tried to shop starting quarterback Jay Cutler in a trade for Matt Cassel. Cutler, being the somewhat immature college frat-boy wannabe, demanded his way out of Denver and ended up with the Bears. Later in the offseason McDaniels started to ice the relationship between the organization and emerging star wide receiver Brandon Marshall, widely regarded as one of the best talents in the league at the position. In the meantime, McDaniels’ first draft was questionable at best, taking defensive end Robert Ayers with the pick from Chicago and running back Knowshon Moreno with their own. Denver heads into 2009 with Kyle Orton at quarterback, a defense that can’t stop anything, and a stable of running backs that probably won’t be able to do anything against stacked fronts. McDaniels certainly has his work cut out for him.
Key Question: Is McDaniels’ career in Denver over before it even began?
Player to Watch: CB Champ Bailey. Bailey has not been a shutdown cornerback at the level of Nnamdi Asomugha in Oakland, even though he’s paid like one. Bailey needs to match his statistics to his paycheck, and in my opinion could end up on the trading block.
Kansas City Chiefs (predicted: 5-11, 2008: 2-14)
Total regime change came to Kansas City with the voluntary retirement of longtime GM Carl Peterson and the firing of Head Coach Herm Edwards. Todd Haley, the fiery offensive coordinator from Arizona, took over and new GM Scott Pioli brought in Matt Cassel from New England. The defense is transitioning to a 3-4 with the drafting of defensive end/outside linebacker Tyson Jackson. Haley seems to have made his mark on the Chiefs, instilling the no-nonsense attitude we’ve seen from Haley on the sideline. I don’t even think he’s named a starting quarterback, although in my humble opinion they’re taking a big risk on Cassel when Tyler Thigpen proved he could win last season.
Key Question: How long is it going to take to turn the hapless Chiefs into winners again? One wonders if they’ll need at least one more season.
Player to Watch: CB Brandon Flowers. Flowers showed promise last season before getting injured, and has put himself back on the map during the preseason. Slated as one of the starters, Flowers joins a much-maligned secondary that only had decent stats last year because the Chief’s run defense was so awful.
Oakland Raiders (predicted: 3-13, 2008: 3-13)
Al Davis is many things, but you can’t call him cheap. He gave a deserving Nnamdi Asomugha a huge $45 million, 3-year contract to stay in Oakland and a historically lucrative deal to punter Shane Lechler. Head Coach Tom Cable (while not punching assistants) is now as permanently appointed as anyone can be in Oakland, and hopes to bring the Raiders out of a 8-year losing streak. Even with all of the Raiders’ problems, they’re not out of the conversation to win the division, simply because the rest of the division is so terrible.
Key Question: How much longer does quarterback JaMarcus Russell get a free pass from criticism about his lack of gameday ability?
Player to Watch: TE Zach Miller. Probably the only reliable receiving option on the team, if anyone’s going to catch something from Russell it’s going to be Miller. He’s poised for a Dallas Clark-like season if Russell can get his act together.
San Diego Chargers (predicted: 10-6, 2008: 8-8)
The Chargers just seem to be that team that can never make it over the hump. In 2008 they almost never made it to the hump; winning their final four including the division game against Denver to become the most pathetic division winner in years. With a new contract for LaDainian Tomlinson and franchise running back Darren Sproles waiting in the wings, the Chargers drafted OLB Larry English to upgrade their defense and provide some young insurance in case Shawn Merriman falters. San Diego’s star is falling, however, and this now-aging team needs to find a way to get the elusive Super Bowl title before the realistic opportunity passes by.
Key Question: Can the Chargers win enough games to guarantee home playoff games? They’re going to need it against AFC powerhouses New England, Indianapolis, and Pittsburgh.
Player to Watch: OLB Shawne Merriman. Returning from major reconstructive surgery on his knee, Merriman will be looking to prove that he was the heart and soul of the Chargers’ defense with a big comeback in 2008. If he can get 10 sacks, he’ll be looking for a big contract extension.
That finishes the AFC. The NFC East is coming up tomorrow.
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