The Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos are two “rebuilding” teams. Both teams will struggle in the 2011-2012 season. The NFL Lockout stole minicamps and OTAs (Organized Team Activities) from the teams like Buffalo and Denver who needed it the most. Veteran teams (like New England and the Jets) with stable coaching staffs will do well this season. Young teams with new coaching staffs will find the early part of the season a grind against more experienced opponents. But the beauty of the NFL is that the talent levels are, by design, fairly equal across the 32 teams. The Draft and the Salary Cap insures balance. The big variables are coaching and management. Within a few weeks we’ll find out if the Bills and the Broncos are improving or still mired in mediocrity. (This just in: the Bills lost to the Broncos, 24-10.)
I’m guessing the Bills need all the luck they can get.
The Jets look good but I just wish Rex Ryan would shut up until his team actually makes the Super Bowl.
Go Giants!
Rex Ryan has come close to the Super Bowl, Jeff. But he needs to make it to the Super Bowl this year or next year before the window of opportunity closes.
I think Denver’s coaching and management were seriously upgraded in the off season. The Bronco’s win was nice, but Denver fans probably shouldn’t read too much into it. An 8-8 record would be more than acceptable.
Dunno much about the Bill’s management. Chan Gailey isn’t a great coach, but he is old pro with a decent win-loss record. Buffalo has had five head coaches in ten years. Maybe he’ll be able to calm things down and bring some stability. Hard to win with that sort of turnover. It sort of disrupts things a bit.
Excellent analysis, Drongo! You’re right on the money. But when you have a senile owner who really doesn’t care about the team, things tend to drift towards disaster.
And Rex Ryan? One seriously doubts if he’s even capable of shutting up. He just seems to be that kind of guy.
I think Rex Ryan likes to say outrageous things to motivate his team, Drongo. In the off-season, Ryan challenged 30 teams in the NFL to beat the New England Patriots–the Jets’ nemesis. “I think we have to find somebody out there to beat New England besides us, I think that would help,” Ryan said. “Anybody out there that wants to sign up for it? Are you good enough as a team to beat the New England Patriots? Forget about us, are you good enough to go out and beat the New England Patriots? I’m challenging the league.” Great stuff!
As much as you suggest there is parity in talent between teams, it’s not so. There are, and probably always will be, the haves and have-nots. It has a lot to do with the way the teams structure contracts, let rookies, especially young skill players, learn before being thrown into a starting role, savvy use of trades and releases, and drafting players that will really contribute and not just take some dough and wash out. Buffalo, Arizona, Detroit and a lot of other cellar dwellers can’t seem to nail down the combination of front office, coaching and players it takes to get to win their division, let along the whole thing.
The couple of pre-season games I’ve watched (most of) so far have been pretty discouraging, as I’m a Seahawks fan.
The Seahawks made the playoffs last season, Rick. The Bills haven’t made the playoffs for 11 years!
I agree with Rick. I’m finding it easier to find teams to hate than teams to support.
Plenty of fans around here dislike the Jets (since Rex Ryan made them into a playoff team) and, of course, the New England Patriots who almost always win the AFC East, Bob.
On the other hand, the Cards did make it to the Super Bowl a few years ago. Of course, since then they have, ha ha, downgraded a wee bit at the quarterback position.
I think the Arizona Cardinals have made a disastrous move in signing wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald to an 8-year, $120 million contract, Drongo. It’s insane! No wide receiver is worth that kind of money. There aren’t many QBs I’d pay that kind of money for.
Yes, the Seahawks made the playoffs – with a losing record! They are in the weakest division in the NFL and still won by default. That they beat the Saints was simply a fluke. I still put them in the Detroit-Buffalo category. Yes, the Cardinals made the playoffs and did well, but then their QB retired. Leinart? One of the washouts I referred to in my earlier comment.
San Diego looked pretty good last night, and so did Dallas, not that I like the latter at all.
Preseaon games don’t count, but they matter, Rick. The Bills have looked hapless on offensive (the First Team has scored two field goals in two games). The Seahawks could win their division again this year.