Goldfish's Slightly Too Early 2019 Season Predictions - All 32 up

[goldfishwars]

11 minutes ago, CP3MVP said:

You think the panthers will be a better offensive team than Tampa? By what measure?

Where did I say that? 

[MrOaktown_56]

16 hours ago, Jakuvious said:

The existence of Tom Cable takes away the OL point. They return 3 starters, and one change was Osemele down to Incognito, so I'm not sure I'd called it revamped. But it looked like a talented OL last year and they wound up giving up 51 sacks.

Tom Cable destroys anything good or positive about the OL he coaches. The Raiders OL implemented when he arrived. Seattle's looked great the second he left.

To be fair, we were riddled with major injuries on the OL.

KO was actually just bad last year. I think he wasn't 100%, but if you hear his offseason interview, he sounded a bit on the cancerous side. He didn't buy in and certainly didn't play up to his $$. Jackson had a hurt pec the whole year which is pretty brutal. Miller played 3/4 of the year with a sprained MCL, which is very very painful and nearly impossible to play well on.

Cable is awful. I agree. But it's not like we had a healthy line and then we still sucked. Far from it. If we did, I'd be even more concerned.

[candyman93]

Detroit is really tough for me to project. If that secondary wasn’t spotty, they could have a top 10 defense.

 

They should have drafted Greedy.

Edited June 27, 2019 by candyman93

[FinSting]

8 minutes ago, candyman93 said:

Detroit is really tough for me to project.

There are at least 20 teams that could be 2-14 or 8-8 or 10-6 this year.

Wait, it's like that every year. 

[ET80]

8 hours ago, goldfishwars said:

I just think there's more to football than focusing your efforts on being hard to beat and sometimes low-risk football bring back low rewards.

This single statement might be the most brilliant thing I've ever read on this site. It's so true. 

[SkippyX]

I am not all in on the Panthers offense but who actually thinks Tampa's offense will be great this year?

 

Tampa scored a whole 20 points more than Carolina last year, and that included 25.4 per FitzMagic game and 24.2 per Lick-an-L start.

On the other hand Carolina scored 23.8 per game with Cam and 21.5 without him.

We are talking about 6.4 points per 16 games difference (Cam vs Winston)

- Fitz and Wintson played in relief for each other and I'm not going to dig that deep.

 

DJ Moore and Samuel should be better in year 2, McCaffrey is moving to superstar status, and Olsen might not miss 7 games this year.

We can argue Funchess vs his environment all day long, but Cam to Funchess was not exactly  a big production pipeline.

Tampa has a better offensive coach now, but lost their big play guy in DeSean Jackson (and possession guy in Humphries as well)

 

Neither team really drafted for their 2019 offense

 

 

[goldfishwars]

26. Cincinnati Bengals

 

What’s New in 2019:

A lot on the coaching side. A brand new head coach for the first time in forever in Zac Taylor and a cast of first time coordinators who seemed pretty hard to come by for a while back there. Bill's son Brian Callahan takes over the offense after a stint as Oakland's OC and Lou Anarumo (yeah me either) takes on the defense after a stint as the defensive backs coach for the Giants. Bobby Hart and John Jerry were signed to 'help' the offensive line. The draft class was kinda underwhelming and I normally like their classes. This one featured legendary 2^nd round pick Drew Sample and their 1st round Jonah Williams fulfilled the team tradition of getting hurt for the foreseeable immediately his first round selection. 

Roster Strengths:

Defensive Line – Geno Atkins is still an elite level talent in the NFL and Andrew Billings alongside him has come on a bit at nose. At defensive end, there’s name recognition with Carlos Dunlap and a slew of recent draft picks in Carl Lawson, Sam Hubbard and Jordan Willis. That defensive end unit didn't quite come along as expected last year. 

Running Back – Joe Mixon was very good with very little fanfare last year and going into a very good situation in his third season if his new HC can replicate what his former old boss did for the Rams running game.

Secondary – The secondary is still talented throughout, even with the Bengals having a horrible year in pass defense last year. PFF has suggested much of that was due to beyond awful coverage at linebacker.

Elsewhere – AJ Green is still AJ Green, I think - which always helps. Tyler Boyd is pretty good now too and obviously my boy Stanley Morgan will make that a sweet trio pretty soon. 

Roster Weaknesses:

Offensive Line – It still looks really bad, even with the nice pick-up of Jonah Williams who now won't play in 2019. They apparently seem determined to start Bobby Hart somewhere, who shouldn’t be starting anywhere. The guard situation also seems not ideal.

Quarterback – This feels like an abusive relationship at this point. Can’t be with Andy, can’t be without him.

Linebacker – They have not resolved a historically bad unit on paper, that’s all we can say. It remains a weird blind spot for this franchise.

Breakout Player:

Jessie Bates III – Had a very good rookie season, allowing a passer rating of 59.9 in coverage. I think he could become one of the league’s special deep safety talent if he isn't there already. 

How they can win in 2019:

Zach Taylor needs to deliver something like what McVey did with the Rams in his first season unless teams were just chasing unicorns this off-season. That means more than just installing a good scheme, McVey has a special charisma and natural gift for relating to players. Certainly Jared Goff made obvious incremental improvements on his watch, we’ll see if something similar happens with Andy Dalton via Taylor. The outside zone running game has to fire to open those passing lanes, the offensive line has a big role in delivering that so will need to play well above expectations. Dare I even suggest a bounceback year for Tyler Efiert? Technically he could be the x-factor difference between a winning and losing record. His health has had a measurable impact on Dalton’s performances and he’s been a difference-maker on the field when he does suit up. Clearly a reliable third/fourth receiver would help a lot, whoever it is.  

It’s been mentioned, but the linebackers have to play well whatever combination that comes from. Perhaps new rookie Germaine Pratt makes an impact or Preston Brown and Jordan Evans play better than absolute trash. The secondary needs to be healthy and that defensive line, with its talent, needs more than just Geno Atkins to flash on a consistent basis. It really does need to become the focal point of this defense and has the talent to make it so. Consistent delivery throughout the rotation is needed.

Predicted record 2019:

5-11 -  I think the Jonah Williams injury is a death knell on their hopes for a bounceback year. There's just too many unknowns elsewhere. 

[ClutchDJ]

I wouldn’t be shocked if Cincy finishes the season with the #1 pick this year. Don’t expect it happening with Miami being alive, but I wouldn’t be shocked.

[Bolts223]

On 6/25/2019 at 5:37 AM, CP3MVP said:

The dolphins have seemingly been 8-8 for the last 25 years. They rarely if ever Bottom out completely.

It's rare but it happens.

4-12 in 04 (Still somehow beat what was probably the best Pats SB team)

1-15 in 07

 

[goldfishwars]

25. Jacksonville Jaguars

What’s New in 2019:

A new offensive coordinator in former head coach candidate John DeFilippo fresh from a disaster campaign as the Vikings OC. They also landed one of the game’s great enigmas in new quarterback Nick Foles and promptly decided to pay him a lot more than any other franchise would do for....reasons. It was quiet elsewhere on the free agency front with small deals given to Terrell Pryor, Chris Conley, Alfred Blue and Datone Jones. The draft was headlined by the other Josh Allen who slipped to them at 7 and that's where most of the excitement was directed to. 

Roster Strengths:

Trenches – Both starting lines look very strong still, with a couple of tweaks to work through . Otherwise they look damn right fearsome where it can really really matter. 

Corner – The Ramsey/Bouye/Hayden trio was solid last year and has the potential for further growth in year two together

Roster Weaknesses:

Wide Receiver – There’s some name recognition, but no obvious singular threat and a lot of similarly skilled players. That whole corps lacks an obvious identity at this point

Tight End – Unless third round rookie Josh Oliver can grasp the position from day dot, there’s not an obvious passing threat coming out that position in 2019

Running Back – There’s a decent rotation of blunt force weapons, but also a distinct lack of variety and dynamism. No pass-catching specialist is wild. 

Breakout Player:

Taven Bryan – Had a better rookie season that most probably realise, but he’s primed for an expanded role as an inside pass-rusher this season with no Malik Jackson in town.

How they can win in 2019:

They need to find a new identity on offense and they know this, because they hired John DeFilippo whose offenses haven’t looked anything like what the Jags have been doing in recent seasons. The reason he was fired in Minnesota was because he couldn’t take the workload off his quarterback in a pass-happy offense which was threatening to get his man killed. He’s already proved he can blow hot with Nick Foles manning the QB spot from their Super Bowl winning season and the Jags should give him better pass protection than the Vikings managed. That magic formula has to work here too and Foles needs to prove he can be more than just a streaky player at the position. Outside of one season in Philly, he's not been good for a complete NFL regular season. 

On defense, they had a down year in 2018 in comparison to a sparkling 2017. Most of the talent on that defense remains with the exceptions of Malik Jackson, who can be replaced in theory, and Telvin Smith whose replacement seems harder to come by on paper. The front end can absolutely be a focal point of the defense and it'll be interesting to see what Josh Allen can add in year one. But there are lingering personnel questions at linebacker and safety, those are two spots where they need to ensure play doesn't drastically drop-off. They have everything else most teams don’t come close to have a successful season on this side of the ball, they just need to find a way of ensuring that talent can maximise their ability again.

Predicted record 2019:

6-10 – They’re absolutely talented enough to do well again, but they have six tough games out of the gate to navigate and a whole offensive identify to find. 

[JaguarCrazy2832]

I'm not even sure the offensive line should be on the strengths, we are relying heavily on:

Cam Robinson to come back 100%

A rookie(Taylor) or 2018 4th round pick(Richardson) to be our starting RT

Norwell to get his head out of his....and play the elite level he is paid to play like 

 

I'm not upset at all the rankings. The offense is a major question mark, there isn't a single position I feel great in.

Can we make the playoffs? I think so, but its a ridiculously long list of things that need to happen:

Foles needs to be as good as he was in Philly not the other teams

 LF needs to be healthy to help sustain drives and keep our defense from having to constantly bail us out

Cole and Chark need to improve alot

OL has to stay healthy

 

That's alot to expect and all 32 teams can put a list together in how to make the playoffs though

Thanks GFW

[tom cody]

The Jaguars will be interesting to watch this year. QB was always a weakness for them but they seem to have that addressed with the addition of Nick Foles. If they can get him to play well, the defense stays good and Fournette's good again the Jags could be a playoff team in 2019.

[Daniel]

36 minutes ago, tom cody said:

The Jaguars will be interesting to watch this year. QB was always a weakness for them but they seem to have that addressed with the addition of Nick Foles. If they can get him to play well, the defense stays good and Fournette's good again the Jags could be a playoff team in 2019.

That's the kicker.  Foles has pulled some rabbits out of his hat in Philly,  but every time he's been handed a full time starting role, he hasn't exactly shined.  Their defense looks like it'll be great again, but there's trouble in paradise there too.  Ngakoue and Campbell are their only significant pass rushers, unless Bryan takes a big step in his sophomore season or Josh Allen is surprisingly good as a rookie (rare for pass rushers).  Now Telvin Smith is sitting the season out, apparently, so their linebackers are now way less impressive.

Put all that together and if Bryan or Allen don't blow up, they're an above average front seven only.  If Campbell's age ever hits him, they might be even worse.  Still an elite secondary, but that makes for a good defense, not a great defense, unless things break their way.  If things do break their way, they could have a really great defense again.

And that's not getting to the concerns on offense.  I think Fournette gets too much hate, but with a receiver rotation that makes either Dede Westbrook or Keelan Cole as the top target, he and Blue/Armstead will see some stacked boxes.

They need Foles to elevate their play on offense, not just take what he can get, because that won't score them a lot of points with this offense IMO.

[SkippyX]

Foles was a 100+ rated QB in KC and they won both games they relied on him (he was great in 1 game and OK in the other)

• At this point the 3 Jeff Fisher QBs of 15-16 have all led teams to NFCCGs or Super Bowls. I think we can blame the coach and let it go.

I think the Jags will be good to very good on D (not great though)

I think their run game is mediocre.

• Fournette is not a top 20 RB

It all comes down to how the young pass catchers get on the same page with Foles and if they can be a good passing offense in year one.

[iknowcool]

On 6/27/2019 at 2:22 AM, footbull3196 said:

I think the Bucs are definitely better than the Panthers, especially offensively.  Carolina just strikes me as a 5-11 team

How do they strike you as a 5-11 team?  That seems like an enormous stretch.  I know I sound like a broken record, but we were 6-2 last year before Cam got hurt.  Anything can happen and there are a lot of factors that will decide if we can reach that level again so I'm not suggesting we're guaranteed for success, but I'm not sure how anyone is looking at our roster and thinking "5-11 team".  The only time since Cam's rookie season the Panthers have been that bad was 2016 when the team was ravaged with injuries... and we still went 6-10.  We're one of the most talented and experienced teams in the NFL

Bucs may have the edge offensively, although I'm not sure I would agree.  Unless you think Cam isn't healthy, he's certainly proven to be better than Winston at this stage.  Panthers also have a huge edge on the offensive line and at RB.  But for the edge the Bucs may have, the gap between the Panthers defense and Bucs defense is far bigger.  

Bucs seem to get hyped every year but until they prove it on the field, I don't see the argument for them being better than the Panthers.  

Edited June 28, 2019 by iknowcool