Assessing The NFL Draft: AFC West
Friday, May 1st, 2009Welcome back, today we dissect the abysmal yet still better of the two west divisions in the NFL. Then again, the NFC west at least represented the conference in the Super Bowl, so there you go. But the AFC West has some teams on the up and up, particularly San Diego, who if they act like adults and not petulant children who feel they’ve been wronged, might actually live up to expectations; and we’re of the mind that Kansas City is a dark horse playoff contender. The other half of the division, well, we’re not trying to ruin your day so we’ll just say that I’d find an Arena League team too root for if you have any hopes of one of these two teams making a run.
At least there will be one reason to attend a game at mile high.
Prognostication: While I think Knowshon Moreno is a talent worthy of recognition, but as much as I like Kyle Orton, he’s not exactly a suitable replacement for Jay Cutler. Not to mention that their O-line couldn’t stop a a mediocre offensive line and no legitimate help in the backfield. So, take that for what it’s worth. I’m also skeptical of this new coach. If you didn’t notice, no one really considered Jay Cutler a “cancer” until Shannahan was out and McDaniels was in, that just wreaks of a control freak and not in a good way. I don’t know, when I look at this roster I see the closest thing to the 2008 Lions. Which means the only player you really want to draft off this team is Brandon Marshall.
Who they drafted: Much like Denver, Kansas City’s defense was putrid. Actually, it was ranked 30th overall instead of 31st and there cause for concern was inexperience and not decimation via injury, so they have that going for them. Anyhow, they also focused primarily on defense and traded their second round pick for Matt Cassel. They didn’t actually draft an offensive player until the sixth round, which is the right thing for them to do. And if you’re so cynical as to actually question them, then you’re questioning the architect of the New England Patriots teams of the past decade in Scott Pioli.
Prognostication: Yeah, I don’t think Javarris Williams or Quentin Lawrence are really going to turn this team upside down, so they key here is Matt Cassel, who they gave up relatively little for. With Tony Gonzalez gone, they’re left with Dwayne Bowe, Bobby Engram and last year’s enigma for, like, weeks 11-15 in Mark Bradley. If I’m being honest I don’t expect Cassel to have a season like the second half he had in New England (you’re kidding yourself if you think he will), but that doesn’t mean he won’t be an upgrade from Tyler Thigpen, yet another 2008 Chiefs enigma. In short, I like this team as a dark horse in the same fashion of 2008 Miami, but the Dolphins didn’t have any real fantasy players either.
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Who they drafted: “It’s my hot body, I’ll do what I want. It’s my hot body, I’ll do what I want.” This is what I kept hearing when Tom Cable so virtuously and unconvincingly went to defend their draft day. Look man, I understand wanting to “get the guys” you want and all that, but there is this little thing called Market Value that you, Al Davis and whatever mad scientist you have making the calls in the front office decided to look over. I don’t know for a fact, but you probably could have drafted Bay in the second round, if not the third. As for the rest of their draft…ugh.
Prognostication: There really isn’t much to say because it doesn’t look like they’re going to corrode as a result of this draft. If it goes either way it will be the latter, just by virtue of not improving, like, you know, most teams do in the NFL draft. Maybe Bey will pan out and JaMarcus Russell will continue to improve like he was at the end of last season, but it seems like wishful thinking to assume any of this is going to happen.
Who they drafted: Third and fourth round offensive lineman, a sixth round running back and Demetrius Byrd, one of our dark horses from our draft preview. Yeah, not much happening on the San Diego front in the way of newly acquired players effecting your fantasy season.
Prognostication: San Diego is still going to be a dynamic fantasy team. Between Chambers, Jackson, Rivers, Gates and whether it be Sproles, Tomlinson or both of them. I am surprised they didn’t think to re-up at running back with either Donald Brown or Beanie Wells. They probably wanted to avoid pissing off Tomlinson but his career is done, and I can’t imagine what they’re going to do with yet another linebacker. I mean, when you run the 3-4 I guess you can always use added depth but if San Diego has any one glaring weakness that needs addressing, considering Sproles is under-sized and Tomlinson is over the hill, then it’s probably at running back. But as it stands, I imagine one of the offensive lineman they drafted will improve their blocking, making everyone just slightly more impressive.
Alright, we’re off until next Monday, when we’ll tackle the NFC South.
