Here we go everyone. In just one week, the NFL regular season will kick off with a playoff-worthy matchup between the defending champion New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs. Teams will be trimming their rosters down to 53 players on Saturday as well. Anticipation for the upcoming season is at a fever pitch around the sporting world. If you can’t wait for some meaningful football though, we get a taste of that this weekend as college football gives us a colossal opening weekend. Can you tell I’m excited?

We’ll talk about the big weekend in college football tomorrow, but for today we have another NFL division to preview. Next on the schedule is the AFC North. Last season Pittsburgh ran away with this division and made a deep playoff run before losing to the eventual champion Patriots. While the Steelers enter this season as the odd-on favorite to repeat as division champions, the rest of the division isn’t willing to make that easy for them. Let’s take a look at the AFC North in today’s “No Huddle.”

Pittsburgh Steelers (last season: 11-5)

For a brief moment this offseason, it looked like Ben Roethlisberger would be hanging up his cleats and heading into retirement. Then superstar running back Le’Veon Bell began a holdout after he couldn’t get the lucrative, long-term contract that he was looking for instead of the holdover deal from the franchise tag. For a team that is one of the Super Bowl contenders this season, there was a decent amount of uncertainty.

Most of that uncertainty was short-lived as Roethlisberger announced he would be back for at least the 2017 season, and Bell would end his holdout on September 1^st. Pair those announcements with the reinstatement of wideout Martavis Bryant, and Pittsburgh’s Killer B’s will all be on the field together for the first time in almost two years. This means Pittsburgh’s offense can be penciled in as a top-five unit heading into this season.

Health is always a major concern for this team though. My biggest worry is with Bell in regards to his holdout. No training camp, and only ten days to work with the team before the opener has me concerned that Bell is heading towards an injury early this season. De’Angelo Williams is no longer with the team, but Pittsburgh did draft James Connor, who could be a solid replacement should Bell go down.

The Steelers also began to prepare for the eventual retirement of Roethlisberger by selecting former Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs in the draft. Dobbs has looked promising in limited preseason action, but still has a ways to go before he can take the reigns. Big Ben tends to take a beating over the course of the season so we may get a quick look at Dobbs before the season is over.

There wasn’t a lot to talk about with Pittsburgh’s defense until yesterday. Cleveland cut ties with cornerback Joe Haden after failing to trade the two-time Pro Bowler. It would only be a matter of hours before Haden inked a three-year deal with the Steelers. This acquisition is a major coup for Pittsburgh as they finally get the shutdown corner this defense has needed for the past decade.

Haden joins a defense that has a ton of upside this season. Linebackers Ryan Shazier and Bud Dupree are both on the fringe of becoming Pro Bowl caliber players. This unit may not be the best in the league, but they could certainly be a difference maker for the Steelers as they chase another Super Bowl ring.

If healthy, the Steelers shouldn’t have a problem winning this division and will be one of the biggest threats to New England in the AFC. This offense is potent and this defense should surprise people this season. A few concerns aside, there is a lot to like about this team at the outset of the season.

Baltimore Ravens (last season: 8-8)

Admittedly, this Baltimore team has been impossible to get a read on this preseason. Quarterback Joe Flacco has been out with a back injury, which has prevented us from really seeing what this new-look Ravens offense will look like. Luckily the Ravens defense doesn’t have anyone going into panic mode just yet, we’ll get to them in just a second.

While it looks like Flacco will be ready for Week 1, he’ll have to quickly get together with a new cast of players around him. Running back Terrance West and receiver Mike Wallace are the only to holdovers from last year’s offense. Baltimore added receiver Jeremy Maclin and running back Danny Woodhead to the mix creating an intriguing veteran core for this offense. Over 300+ targets were vacated from last year’s team so it will be interesting to see how each of these four get worked into the gameplan.

Now onto the real story of the 2017 Baltimore Ravens and that is this defense. Last season the Ravens finished seventh in total defense and fifth against the run. It’s scary to think that this defense has the chance to get even better this season. Baltimore brought in cornerback Brandon Carr and safety Tony Jefferson to bolster this unit. Personally, the safety tandem of Jefferson and Eric Weddle could be among the best in the NFL. Jefferson made his name as a safety/linebacker hybrid in Arizona and is a tailor-made fit to play alongside the ball-hawking Weddle.

With an improved secondary on paper, the pressure is on the front-seven to raise their game. Despite being the fifth-best run defense, the Ravens had problems rushing opposing quarterbacks. Baltimore finished tied for 24^th in the NFL with 31 sacks last season. Bringing that number up will have the Ravens in a position to be a top-three defense at the end of the season. It’s a little early for people to compare this defense to the 2000 Ravens (but they are), but there is a lot to like here.

Overall, you have to be cautiously optimistic about the Ravens this season. While the jury is still out on this offense, it will be the defense that will ultimately lead the way in 2017. Baltimore just a shade behind Pittsburgh in the division race, but this is a team that should be able to compete for a playoff berth.

Cincinnati Bengals (last season: 6-9-1)

2016 was another season that was seemingly killed by a major injury for the Bengals. AJ Green’s severe hamstring injury essentially knocked Cincinnati out of playoff contention. Without their superstar receiver, this offense lacked any sort of explosion and they limped to the finish last year.

A new year brings a renewed optimism though. The Bengals will have recapture the magic of the 2015 season where they finished 12-4 despite a late-season injury to Andy Dalton. While they lost much of the supporting cast from that offense (and former OC Hue Jackson, now Cleveland’s head coach), Cincinnati has slowly rebuilt this offense around Dalton and Green.

Young and unproven is the best way to describe the new nucleus of this offense. Tyler Boyd never really made an impact, but we are all waiting to see what rookies Joe Mixon and John Ross will add to this unit. All three will have to become reliable options for the Bengals to get back to the postseason.

The real story has surrounded Mixon, who looks poised to be one of the NFL’s breakout players this season. He will join a running back group that includes the bruising Jeremy Hill (currently dealing with an ankle injury) and versatile Giovani Bernard (who is coming back from an ACL injury). Mixon is a mix between these two and looks to have the starting job in hand for the time being.

In the passing game, we all know that Green is the main attraction here but who emerges as the second and third options will be important. Tight end Tyler Eifert is logically the guy who would be the second option, but injuries have hampered him the past few seasons. When healthy he is a deadly red-zone threat. Veteran wideout Brandon LaFell will have a role opposite Green, but more attention will be on whether Boyd or Ross can make an impact in the slot. Ross has a ton of upside and could potentially be used like Taylor Gabriel or Tyreek Hill.

On the defensive side of the ball, there isn’t a whole lot to talk about. It is a tough unit that can be stingy but often times are magnets for penalty flags. They will already be without linebacker Vontaze Burflict for the first three games of the season due to a suspension. The loss of Burflict is huge as he is the anchor of this defense, although this unit has not looked great with him either. Unfortunately, this could be a unit that regresses in 2017.

This is setting up for a topsy-turvy season in Cincinnati. The Bengals will be a competitive team every week, but it is hard to get excited about their prospects for the postseason. Short of Dalton playing like the MVP, this offense might not be able to carry this defense if it falters.

Cleveland Browns (last season: 1-15)

Last season, the Browns came very close to making history for all the wrong reasons. Cleveland started 0-14 and looked like a shoo-in to match the 0-16 record of the 2008 Lions, worst-ever for an NFL team. Thankfully the Browns were able to avoid the big ol’ goose egg in the win column by “upsetting” the Chargers in Week 16. On the surface, a 1-15 finish looks pretty awful but this was a much more competitive team than their record would suggest. However, this is still a team in search of direction.

The endless search for a franchise quarterback is the first hurdle to finding that direction. This season the Browns will turn to rookie DeShone Kizer as the starting quarterback in 2017. Kizer turned heads in the football community when he announced he would leave Notre Dame early to enter the NFL draft. He has a ton of talent, but is a pretty raw prospect. Coach Hue Jackson is a hell of an offensive coach and will have to do a lot of work to get Kizer ready for the big time.

Look for the Browns to rely on the running game to take the pressure off their rookie quarterback. Running back Isaiah Crowell looked early last season, but his numbers faded when the wheels really fell off for the Browns. Crowell can undoubtedly be the bell-cow back and Duke Johnson is a fine change-of-pace back. Plus, this offensive line looks solid on paper this season. The problem is that the Browns played from behind way too much for these backs to really control games.

This means that Kizer will be forced to throw the ball a lot at times. Cleveland signed receiver Kenny Britt in free agency to pair him with second-year wideout Corey Coleman. Britt was surprisingly effective for the Rams last season while Coleman looked great before a broken hand ruined solid rookie season. We’ll also have to wait and see if rookie tight end David Njoku can make an impact this season. The tight end position battle is wide open at the moment.

Cleveland made a clear declaration on draft night. They were going to build through the draft and spent two first round picks on potential game-changing defenders. Defensive end Myles Garrett is the tone setter for the future of this organization. He will be relied upon to pick the up the NFL game quickly and become the game-breaker that NFL scouts believe that he could be.

The other first round pick on this defense is safety Jabrill Peppers, who you will see all over the place for the Browns. Peppers is a safety in name only right now. By the end of the season he could play at safety, cornerback, nickelback, kick returner, punt returner with the occasional stint at wide receiver, and running back. Aside from an off-field issue, the reason Peppers fell so far in the draft was because it was difficult to project just how he would translate to the college game despite being one of the most athletic prospects. Defensive coordinator Greg Williams will have to figure out where his best fit will be in the NFL.

It is looking like another long season for the Browns, but with a ton of young players 2017 is all about progression. Cleveland has been stuck at square one for the better part of a decade so baby steps will be important this season. No longer being a doormat or a punching bag will be the goal for Cleveland.

That’s it for me today. I’ll be back tomorrow with a preview of the weekend in college football. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney, subscribe to Shooting the Moon on WordPress, and go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook.

Sometimes you have to love when a plan works out. Today we will be looking at the NFC North and there just happens to be some big news regarding two of the teams within the division. We’ll get to that in just a bit but let’s do a quick recap of last season in the division.

2016 saw a hotly contested race for the division crown in the NFC North. A Week 17 Sunday night showdown between the Packers and Lions would determine who would take the division and host a Wild Card game. Green Bay ended up finding another gear in the postseason before running into a buzz saw in the form of the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship game. Meanwhile, Detroit was unceremoniously eliminated in the Wild Card round.

A new year presents a potentially three-way dance for supremacy in the NFC North. Green Bay and Detroit are poised for another duel but it could be the Minnesota Vikings who have the last laugh. The six games between these three teams are worth circling on your calendars right now. Who will end up as the kings in the North? Let’s look at the tale of the tape in today’s “No Huddle.”

Green Bay Packers (last season: 10-6)

We all know the story in Green Bay. As long as Aaron Rodgers is healthy, the Packers will always be a contender. Last season Rodgers produced one of the best statistical stretches ever by a quarterback to vault the Packers just one game shy of the Super Bowl. It took an MVP-type effort from Rodgers to alleviate a laundry list of injuries in the backfield.

Since we all know what this passing attack will be with all of the key cogs healthy, it’s the backfield that raises the questions for Green Bay heading into 2017. Due to all of the injuries a year ago, Green Bay was forced to convert receiver Ty Montgomery into a running back.

While it could have been a temporary solution, it seems as if the Packers are committed to Montgomery as the lead back at the outset of the season. Montgomery did flash some potential as a runner, but really showed his value as a versatile threat in the passing game. However, if Montgomery continues to have problems in pass protection like he did last season, one of the rookies could see the field sooner rather than later. Reports indicate that Jamaal Williams will get the first crack as the backup to Montgomery.

Over on the defensive side of the football, the Packers have to embrace a bend but don’t break style of football. With the offense as proficient as it is, the Packers defense really just needs to string together a few stops per game to win ball games. The health of Clay Matthews and Nick Perry will be a huge factor for Green Bay. If both players can stay on the field, this defense will have a chance to keep the Packers on their winning ways.

Potentially the biggest concern for the Packers has nothing to do with the players on the field, but with coach Mike McCarthy. Over the years, the Packers have had some issues with letting teams hang around when they get ahead. McCarthy has gained a reputation for taking the foot off the gas pedal, which has hurt the Packers in some regard. A killer instinct in the gameplan could be the difference for Green Bay being a Super Bowl contender or falling short once again in the postseason. The NFC North is theirs to lose, but with Rodgers at the helm a Super Bowl victory is always the ultimate goal.

Detroit Lions (last season: 9-7)

Last season was a tough finish for the Lions. After an 8-2 run through October and November, Detroit lost their final three regular season games and blew a chance to win the division. While Detroit clinched a playoff berth, a Super Bowl run was far from being in the cards.

Similar to the Packers, there really hasn’t been a lot of change heading into the 2017 season. Detroit has essentially doubled down on their current roster. The biggest indication came yesterday as the team agreed to a record-setting contract extension with quarterback Matthew Stafford. Now the highest-paid player in the NFL, Stafford will be under a ton of pressure to perform.

This offense has a ton of potential around Stafford, and should be the foundation the Lions. Golden Tate and Marvin Jones each had great stretches of games, but finding a balance between the two was a problem. One would be a focal point while the other kind of faded into the background. So far it looks like offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter might have the formula to prevent that being an issue again. Tight end Eric Ebron could be a vital target in the red-zone but is already dealing with a hamstring injury. Luckily the Lions may have found a solution to Ebron’s continued injury problems in rookie receiver Kenny Golloday, who flashed a dominant skill-set for the red-zone in training camp (potential fantasy sleeper).

Detroit’s running backs will another key part of this offense. Theo Riddick clearly has a role as a third down and receiving back. The Lions will turn to Ameer Abdullah in order to have some form of balance for this offense. Abdullah has flashed some big playmaking ability, but injuries have hampered his progress since his rookie season. A sustained ground attack will be a much-needed dimension for this offense.

Why does this offense need to be efficient and effective? Detroit’s defense was atrocious last season, specifically against the pass. You would think that improving this area would have been a priority this offseason, but that was not the case. The only notable improvements were made along the defensive line. However, that doesn’t solve this problem if that pass rush doesn’t improve on the 26 sacks from a year ago.

The bend, but don’t break philosophy only works when you can do that with consistency. Detroit was content to let teams hit underneath passes, but often times were burned by big plays. Unfortunately, this formula isn’t adding up to any form of success on defense.

Despite having a potentially great offense, a sub-par defense could prevent this team from reaching the postseason for a second consecutive season. The Lions were able to eek out wins by less than a touchdown frequently last year. Unfortunately, that is not a trend that carries over year-to-year. Don’t be shocked if that trend ends up working against the Lions in 2017.

Minnesota Vikings (last season: 8-8)

It’s tough to say that a team that finished 8-8 essentially had a lost season. Unfortunately, Minnesota’s upward trajectory under coach Mike Zimmer hit a major roadblock in 2016. Numerous injuries on both sides of the football prevented the Vikings from taking the next step towards becoming a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

A better way to figure out just how bad things got last season is to go through the list of players who weren’t injured, especially on offense. Teddy Bridgewater’s freak knee injury forced the Vikings to make a last minute trade for Sam Bradford, who will once again lead this offense. Adrian Peterson is no longer the focal point of this offense as he left for New Orleans in free agency. While that seems like a big loss, it actually might free this offense help them find a more suitable identity.

Drafting running back Dalvin Cook may be the first step in figuring that out. Despite falling to the second round, Cook was a first-round talent who flashing homerun ability at Florida State. He has taken the reigns as the top running back, leaving free agent addition Latavius Murray in a short yardage role. Both will face the pressure of improving this rushing attack, which struggled mightily last season.

If Cook and Murray are able to get the ground game going, that will allow Stefon Diggs and Kyle Rudolph to thrive in the passing game. The other factor will be the offensive line, which was hampered by injuries and poor play by the backups. Sustained play in the trenches will be the most important factor for this offense.

Minnesota getting any kind of offensive production will be music to this team’s ears because their defense is ferocious. The Vikings quietly put together a young core of players that have this unit in a position to be the best defense in the NFL for the next five years. They can rush the passer, stop the run, and create havoc for opposing offenses. This defense isn’t quite the “Purple People Eaters” just yet, but they are very close. Don’t be surprised if Minnesota’s road to the postseason is paved by a top-three defense.

If there is one team that can make the jump back into the postseason in the NFC, the Vikings are at the top of the list. Health is a major concern given the problems of last season and depth is still a bit of an issue. However, given the talent on this team a Week 16 matchup against the Packers in Lambeau Field will likely determine the outcome of this division.

Chicago Bears (last season: 3-13)

To put it quite simply, the Bears are in a pretty bad spot heading into 2017. Jay Cutler and Alshon Jeffrey are no longer on the team, so this roster is now in a full rebuilding stage. It will be hard to see this team vastly improving on its 3-13 record from a year ago.

Prior to the third preseason game, we were keenly watching the quarterback battle in Chicago. Mike Glennon signed a big contract to be the starter, and then the Bears moved up to the second spot in the draft to take UNC quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. The plan seemed to be that Glennon would be locked in as the starter this season with Trubisky getting a “redshirt” rookie season as the backup. However, the rookie has played well and Glennon looks less than impressive.

However, the devastating knee injury suffered by Cameron Meredith over the weekend should be a sign that coach John Fox needs to stay true to the original plan. Right now, there is no point throwing Trubisky into the fire with a shorthanded offense. This receiving core is in shambles right now after losing their top target for this season (and potentially part of next year). Kevin White and Kendall Wright will have to step up in a big way to get this offense going this year.

Running back Jordan Howard needs to be the focal part of this offense after finishing last season with the second-most rushing yards in the league. Unfortunately, its tough to get expect similar results this season with a depleted passing attack. We’re going to learn a lot about Howard in 2017. If he can find similar success, the Bears could have a superstar to build around.

The bright spot this preseason has been the defense, which looked strong through the first three exhibition games. A stingy defense will certainly go a long way to masking some of the potential problems of this offense. The real test for this defense will come right away with a Week 1 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Ultimately, this team probably won’t be a pushover but are teetering very close to the edge of a totally lost season.

That’s it for me today. I’ll be back tomorrow with a look at the AFC North. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney, subscribe to Shooting the Moon on WordPress, and go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook.

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the weekend as we all try to get the last little bit of summer in before the fall begins. To be perfectly honest, I’m still catching my breath from last night’s Game of Thrones finale. While I was going to write a little bit about the Mayweather/McGregor fight from Saturday, I think the collective sports outlets covered just about every angle. So we’ll continue our division-by-division journey through the NFL.

Today, we’ll be looking at the AFC South where last season the Houston Texans narrowly edged out the Tennessee Titans for the division title. This year figures to be another tight race between these two teams, which should make for colossal matchups during the year. Indianapolis and Jacksonville each have talented teams but the quarterback situation could prevent them from making a move to the top of the division.

It won’t be pretty at times but this division will be one of the more intriguing storylines of the 2017 season. Let’s size up these teams in today’s edition of “No Huddle.”

Houston Texans (last season: 9-7)

The Texans seem to be in a perpetual state of competitive purgatory. They have made the playoffs four out of the past six seasons but have gone no further than the Divisional Round. In that time, the team has gone through a multitude of quarterbacks, and relying heavily on a defense that is consistently one of the best in the NFL. 2017 presents Houston with a rare opportunity to finally get over the hump, if they can take the division crown.

The key to this will be finally solving their questions at quarterback. Tom Savage took over for the ineffective Brock Osweiler last season and showed he could get this offense going in the right direction. Savage could just be the stopgap for the future of this team as Houston drafted Clemson quarterback DeShaun Watson with the 12^th overall pick in the NFL Draft. Savage was named the starter in late July, but Watson has shown a lot of promise in the preseason so stay tuned here if the Texans start slow.

Once again the strength of this team will be the defense. Houston withstood the loss of J.J. Watt last season due in large part to the emergence of Jadaveon Clowney. We may finally get to see the full potential of this defense with Watt returning to the lineup. Opposing offenses will have their hands full trying to keep Watt and Clowney at bay on a weekly basis.

It will be an interesting season for sure, but the offense will have to improve if the Texans want to hang onto the division crown for a third consecutive season. Squeaking by with a 9-7 record just won’t cut it this season.

Tennessee Titans (last season: 9-7)

The Titans are the main reason why the Texans should be worried about hovering around .500 for another season. Tennessee was one of the surprise teams of 2016 due in large part to the smash-mouth identity of this offense. DeMarco Murray proved that he is far from done as one of the best running backs in the NFL and the offensive line emerged as one of the best units in the league. Another bright spot was the vast improvement of quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Tennessee used this offseason to upgrade the receiver position to take this offense to the next level. While this isn’t a high-volume passing offense, drafting Corey Davis with the 5^th overall pick and signing Eric Decker will certainly help give this offense another dimension. The Titans were one of the best red-zone offenses a year ago and the addition of two potentially solid receivers should only make them more efficient in that area.

Where the Titans will really need to improve is on the defensive side of the football. Last season the Titans finished 20^th in the NFL on defense, which certainly kept this team from reaching the postseason. Tennessee spent much of free agency overhauling the secondary with the hopes that its front-seven would be solid again (12^th in the NFL a year ago).

The new additions include cornerback Logan Ryan and safety Jonathan Cyprien. Ryan was one of the more underrated players on the New England defense last season but will be right in the spotlight this season transitioning into the top corner in Tennessee. Cyprien came into the league with a lot of potential but never seemed to reach the lofty expectations. The Titans used their second first round pick to select USC cornerback Adoree’ Jackson, who is an explosive playmaker and solid against the run game.

If the Titans expect to take the next step in their development and become a playoff team they will have to take care of business within the division. A 2-4 record against the AFC South prevented the Titans from stealing this division a year ago despite four out the last five games a year ago. Things are looking really good here, and don’t be surprised if the Titans force a changing of the guard in the AFC South.

Indianapolis Colts (last season 8-8)

The Colts are a tough team to get a read on heading into 2017. A litany of injury concerns could prevent Indianapolis from capitalizing on potentially the easiest schedule in the NFL. This is an extremely volatile situation less than two weeks before the season starts.

Two key injuries on the offensive side of the ball will have a profound effect on how this season will go for the Colts this season. Since being drafted with the top pick in 2012 draft, Andrew Luck has had to carry this team on his shoulders. Unfortunately, his throwing shoulder is the main injury concern in Indy heading into this season. Conflicting reports about Luck’s recovery from offseason shoulder surgery have really prevented any realistic expectation for this team. As we get closer to the season though it is becoming increasingly likely that Luck will not be ready for Week 1 at the very least. The worst case scenario puts Luck out until Week 6, although it seems unlikely he will be out that long.

To make matters worse, the Colts already shaky offensive line lost its best player when center Ryan Kelly went down with a foot injury. Kelly was tremendous as a rookie last season, but he will be out for the first 6-8 weeks of the regular season after he had surgery to correct a bone defect. This injury could be the one that sinks the ship for the Colts this season.

Indianapolis spent much of the offseason trying to improve a defense that finished 30^th in the NFL last season. The defensive side of the ball has never been this team’s strength, but if injuries are going to be a problem for the offense, this unit needs to become reliable. Rookie safety Malik Hooker could be one of the keys to making that change to this defense in addition to a number of free agent acquisitions. There is a lot of hype surrounding Jonathan Hankins, who could end up being this defense’s best player by the end of the season.

Overall, there is just too much uncertainty surrounding this team to really feel confident about its chances to get back to the postseason. At this rate, the Colts might be lucky to finish 8-8.

Jacksonville Jaguars (last season: 3-13)

Speaking of uncertainty, the Jaguars enter this season with a metric ton of it. Doug Marrone took over for Gus Bradley as the head coach and Tom Coughlin was brought in to oversee the entire organization. While that should have signaled a step in the right direction, in true Jacksonville fashion, they have already taken a few steps backwards.

Most of that concerns the increasingly erratic play of quarterback Blake Bortles. Statistically he looks fine, but Bortles is failing the eye-test miserably this preseason. Bortles might be the king of garbage time, but until he shows that he can keep this team in games the Jags aren’t going anywhere. Chad Henne looks like a better option every time Bortles goes out on the field. Marrone may have named Bortles the Week 1 starter over the weekend, but it looks like the leash is going to be incredibly short.

Some form of consistent quarterback play will be the key for this team to truly embrace the of their new head coach. Marrone wants to run the ball right down the opposing defense’s throat. Jacksonville took Leonard Fournette in the first round of the draft and if healthy, he could become the next Adrian Peterson. Unfortunately, Fournette is already dealing with a foot injury, similar to the one that hampered him in his final season at LSU. Jacksonville just can’t seem to have nice things.

Things are not as dire on the defensive side of the ball though. Jacksonville has quietly put together an extremely talented defense, one that experts believe could be one of the surprise units this season. The Jags added Calais Campbell to an already solid defensive line. Another name to keep a eye on is weak-side defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, who totaled eight sacks as a rookie last season.

What could really make this a dangerous defensive unit is the play of Jalen Ramsey. A year ago Ramsey looked like one of the best corners in the league during the second half of the season. Year two for Ramsey brings a whole new set of challenges, as he will have to be the leader of this defense. His playmaking ability is unquestioned, but there is no room for him to have a sophomore slump.

While there are things to love about these Jaguars, the quarterback situation could prove too much to overcome this season. This won’t be one of the worst teams in the league, but the record may not show that. Don’t get too excited about Jacksonville’s chances this season.

That’s it for me today. I’ll be back tomorrow with another installment of my NFL preview as we’ll be taking a look at the NFC North. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney, subscribe to Shooting the Moon on WordPress, and go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook.

Final preparations and dress rehearsals are the theme of this weekend in the NFL as teams are getting one last look at their starters. We get one lasting impression before teams start to focus on their regular season openers in just about two weeks. More importantly, every team is mainly looking to get through the third preseason game without injuries. We’ll all have a pretty solid idea of where each team stands before they cut their rosters down to 53 players after the weekend.

In the meantime, let’s size up another division as we make our way towards September 7^th. Today we are looking at the NFC West. Admittedly, it was a down year for this division as the Seahawks took the division without much issue. Seattle struggled for much of the season despite finishing 10-5-1. The rest of the NFC West really didn’t match the level that we have come to expect from this division over the past few years.

Arizona went from a potential Super Bowl contender to completely missing the postseason due to a myriad of on-field issues. Los Angeles spent most of the season with a sub-par offense holding back a talented defensive unit, raising many questions about the direction of the team. Over in San Francisco, the 49ers completely bottomed out essentially putting an end to the Chip Kelly experiment in the NFL.

2017 brings a number of questions inside this division. Will two regime changes light a fire at the bottom of the division? Can Arizona recapture the magic from two seasons ago? Are the Seahawks legitimate contenders now that key players are healthy once again? Let’s try to answer those questions in today’s “No Huddle.”

Seattle Seahawks (last season: 10-5-1)

2016 was a strange season in Seattle. This seemingly potent offense was kneecapped by poor offensive line play all season, which even led to injury issues for quarterback Russell Wilson. In spite of that, Seattle still showed its championship window is still open with Wilson and the Legion of Boom.

A new year offers a clean slate in many ways. Similar to the past couple of seasons, the Seattle offense will look to build upon a hot finish. Wilson and the passing game really stepped up at the end of the year but getting off to a good start will be vital this year.

The main question that remains is which running back will step up to lead they way. Thomas Rawls looked to have the inside track on free agent signing Eddie Lacy, but another ankle injury as kept this position battle in limbo. CJ Prosise will have a role as a receiving back but a groin injury has the coaching staff questioning the reliability of this potential Swiss Army knife. Adding to the confusion surrounding the running backs is the sudden emergence of rookie Chris Carson, who looked great in the first two preseason games and is getting reps with the first team. Much of the identity of this offense will undoubtedly be a direct result of which of these four can take the reigns before Week 1.

It’s a new year, but the same story for the Seattle defense. The return of Earl Thomas from a broken leg will certainly bring the edge back to the Legion of Boom. Without their eraser on the back-end of the defense, Seattle looked uncharacteristically vulnerable. There is no reason to worry about a dip in play from the Seahawks and a return to the top tier of NFL defenses is not out of the question.

A return to the playoffs is almost a certainty this season as Seattle has a leg up in the division race here. If we’re talking Super Bowl chances though, Seattle has seen the rest of the NFC catch up to them and securing some form of home-field advantage will be paramount.

Arizona Cardinals (last season: 7-8-1)

Talk about getting burned last season. Arizona saw one of the more surprising declines in the NFL last year after coming up short in the NFC Championship prior to Super Bowl 50. 2016 looked like a prime example of Murphy’s Law in full effect. Amazingly the Cardinals still stayed competitive, thanks to David Johnson showing the signs of becoming a full-fledged superstar.

The biggest battle that Arizona faces this season is the fight against Father Time for Carson Palmer. While many of his receivers battled injuries throughout the year, Palmer seemed to show signs that his age was catching up to him. Palmer’s arm became a major concern in the second half of the season as he lacked the ability to effectively throw the deep ball. In a Bruce Arians offense, that is a big problem. This year Arizona has made it a priority to keep Palmer on a “pitch count” until the games actually count.

Luckily for the Cardinals, Johnson avoided a potentially catastrophic knee injury at the end of the season. He looks ready to continue his ascent as one of the league’s top players and will be heavily relied upon as this offense undergoes a bit of an identity change. Palmer is not going to be able to consistently throw the ball 40 times per game, so look for Johnson to average close to 30 total touches per game.

Speaking of changes, the Cardinals defense underwent a complete facelift this offseason. Free agency saw the departure of five starters from this defense from a year ago, but an influx of defensive talent from the draft could help cushion the blow. Arizona drafted linebacker Hassan Reddick out of Temple and safety Budda Baker to fill some of the holes. These two have some pressure on them to hit the ground running as professionals to keep this defense afloat.

Ideally, health will be the key for this team as the year goes on, specifically for defensive back Tyrann Mathieu. When healthy, the Honey Badger is one of the most versatile and effective defensive players in the league. However, that has not been the case these past couple of seasons. He adds another much-needed playmaker alongside shutdown corner Patrick Peterson.

My biggest concern for this defense is the front seven. This was a top-10 rushing defense a year ago, but many of those key players are now gone. It’s well known that this is not the team to air it out against with their playmakers, but maintaining the success against the run game will be a key to this team’s success overall. So far this hasn’t been the case but there is plenty of time to right the ship.

Overall, this is a team with the makings of a playoff contender. However, playing in the NFC means there are a litany of teams knocking on the door of the postseason. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, there are too many things that will have to go just right to warrant playoff expectations. It’s looking like division title or bust in 2017.

Los Angeles Rams (last season: 4-12)

Where do I start with the Rams? Much of last season was spent in total disarray. There is no question that this defense has the makings of a top-ten unit in the league, but this offense is in desperate need of improvements. The Rams will be banking on a number of offseason moves to accomplish that goal.

It will be the first full season with 2016 number one pick Jared Goff at the helm of this offense. Goff did not show a ton of promise last year, but in his defense the learning curve coming from a air-raid collegiate offense to a pro-style offense is steep. However, the Rams front office made a bunch of moves to help aid the development of their young quarterback.

A coaching change was the first sign of that, as Jeff Fisher was fired midseason in 2016. LA replaced the king of 7-9 with former Washington offensive coordinator Sean McVay, making him the youngest coach in the NFL at age 31. McVay comes in with a good amount of hype thanks to the success of Kirk Cousins over the past few seasons. He’ll have a lot of work on his hands turning one of the league’s worst offenses around in 2017.

Todd Gurley is another young talent that needed some additions to this offense. Making teams respect the passing game will be the key to tapping the potential of Gurley. To do so, the Rams signed receiver Robert Woods and then traded for Sammy Watkins just a couple weeks ago. This should help to cushion the blow of losing the surprisingly effective Kenny Britt, but this will be all for naught if Watkins can’t stay healthy. Keep an eye on rookie receiver Cooper Kupp in this offense, as early reports tab him as the favorite receiver of Goff (fantasy alert!).

Potentially the biggest problem for the Rams on the defensive side of the ball is the prolonged holdout of defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Folks, this could really start to become an issue if Donald keeps to his word regarding his holdout. Multiple reports have stated that Donald, arguably one of the five best defensive players in the league, is willing to sit out regular season games in order to get the money he feels that he deserves. There is still time for both sides to come to an agreement but there have been no signs of that happening any time soon.

Luckily the Rams signed one of the leagues best defensive coordinators to help unleash the potential of this defense. Wade Phillips is fully capable of finding a way to get the most out of this defense until the Donald situation finally gets resolved. So while there is a glimmer of hope on this side of the ball, general manager Les Snead could be the key to the success of this defense. Not the kind of thing you want to hear in late August.

While signs are pointing to the Rams improving on the 4-12 record from a year ago, there is a long way for them to go to reach the postseason. The Rams will more likely be a spoiler than a pushover this season, especially if they can figure out some of the issues that have haunted them the past couple of season.

San Francisco 49ers (last season: 2-14)

One year ago, there was a massive feeling of dread surrounding the 49ers. A completely lost season followed, leading to management completely cleaning house moments after the conclusion of the 2016 regular season. San Francisco turned a lot of heads when they lured John Lynch out of the broadcast booth to become the team’s general manager. Lynch’s first order of business was finding a new head coach, and tapped the league’s hottest coordinator, Kyle Shanahan, to man the sidelines in San Francisco for the foreseeable future.

Lynch and Shanahan have a lot of work to do going forward, but ownership seems willing to see this rebuild through until the end. Year one will see the beginnings of a complete roster overhaul in the Bay Area. The 49ers signed former Shanahan players to help get his prolific scheme in place. Quarterback Brian Hoyer and receiver Pierre Garçon step into huge roles, as they will be teaching the younger players the details of Shanahan’s offense.

The big situation to monitor for the 49ers on offense is the backfield. Carlos Hyde has shown promise but injuries have derailed his progress. Early in the offseason it looked like Hyde could be on his way out, but came into OTAs and training camp with a renewed fire to be “the man” in this offense. Hyde could be on a short leash though, as Lynch signed veteran Tim Hightower and drafted rookies Joe Williams and Albert Brieda.

While Oakland might be known as the “Black Hole,” you would have thought that moniker belonged to San Francisco’s defense a year ago. Ranking as the league’s worst defense, the 49ers had a ton of holes. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is tasked with potentially one of the most difficult reclamation projects in the league this season.

The building blocks of this new-look Niners defense came in through the draft. Defensive tackle Soloman Thomas was drafted with the third overall pick then the Niners snagged Reuben Foster with the 34^th pick in the draft. These two will be the bedrock for the Niners defense moving forward. Now it will be all about building up and around these two future Pro Bowlers.

Don’t expect a lot from the Niners this season, but this team will be much improved from the dismal team that took the field a year ago. The record might not show it, but the future is looking brighter for San Francisco.

That’s it for me today. I’ll be back on Monday with another NFL preview and potentially my thoughts on the Mayweather-McGregor fight. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney, subscribe to Shooting the Moon on WordPress, and go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook.

Can you feel the palpable excitement in the air? Its late August and the third week of the preseason begins tonight. The NFL regular season is two weeks away! While the offseason in the NFL has lacked the fireworks of the NBA offseason, I think we all are ready for a new season. Just like a thrilling season finale of your favorite show, Super Bowl LI was the epic exclamation point that left us all wanting more.

The 2017-18 season is shaping up to be quite the interesting affair. One team is the clear favorite to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in Minneapolis next February, while the rest of the league is jockeying for a chance to just be there at the end. Between all of the coaching changes, roster moves, and intriguing draft picks there is a feeling among many that cover the league that this could be one of the most chaotic seasons in recent memory.

This brings us to the beginning of the second full season of “No Huddle.” Today we’ll get started with my 2017-18 NFL preview with a look at the reigning Super Bowl champion New England Patriots and the rest of the AFC East. Now why are we starting here you might ask? Well, the quick answer is that, other than the Super Bowl champions being in this division, this is probably the easiest division to handicap heading into the season. So with that in mind, let’s not waste too much more time and just jump right in.

New England Patriots (last season: 14-2)

In most cases, its tough to imagine the reigning champions getting better during the offseason in the modern NFL. Of course, not every team is as savvy as the Patriots. While the Pats lost goal-line specialist LeGarrette Blount, cornerback Logan Ryan, and tight end Martellus Bennett in the offseason, they certainly did well to make upgrades all over this roster. On paper, this is potentially the best roster that the Pats have put together since they flirted with an undefeated season in 2007-08.

For the cost of a first round pick in the most recent NFL draft, the Patriots acquired speedster Brandin Cooks from the New Orleans Saints. While the Pats typically run a gameplan offense week-to-week, Cooks adds a dimension that this offense has not had (or needed) since the days of Randy Moss. It still remains to be seen how Cooks will ultimately fit in with Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, but defensive coordinators are going to have nightmares trying to scheme against New England this year.

New England also added running backs Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead to the backfield in free agency. Gillislee made his name as the effective backup to LeSean McCoy in Buffalo last season while Burkhead is the under-the-radar type of name the Pats always seem to find each season. Both will get a crack at filling the Blount role in this offense alongside the versatile running back tandem of James White and Dion Lewis.

Over on the defensive side of the ball, New England’s other major move of the offseason could end up being the biggest upgrade of all. The Patriots signed former Bills cornerback Stephon Gillmore to a contract worth $14 million per season. Gillmore, the top corner on the market, joins an already formidable secondary, which will be the backbone of what could be a devastating defensive unit. Not only did the Patriots get better with the Gillmore signing, but made Buffalo weaker with one more. Classic New England.

Provided this team stays healthy, repeating last season’s 14-2 record is not out of the question. New England could very easily go 6-0 in the AFC East, and should coast to the number one seed in the conference once again.

Miami Dolphins (last season: 10-6)

Things were looking up for the Dolphins after a disappointing finish in the playoffs last season. A knee injury to Ryan Tannehill took the wind out of the Dolphins sails heading into the postseason. Unfortunately, Tannehill’s knee would get reinjured during the first week of training camp and will force him to miss the entire 2017-18 season. Not the way head coach Adam Gase could have envisioned his second year in Miami starting.

As they say, desperate times call for desperate measures. In an effort to stay in contention this season, Gase reached out to one of his former quarterbacks from his days as an offensive coordinator (no, not Peyton Manning). Gase talked Jay Cutler into putting his broadcasting career on hold and come out of retirement for one last season.

Early indications are that Cutler isn’t going to change his game, but it remains to be seen how he will affect this offense. Jay Ajayi will likely be the top option in this offense after a breakout year in 2016, so look for Miami to be run-heavy this year. In the passing game, I’ve got a feeling that DeVante Parker will turn into the Dolphins top weapon. Over the course of Cutler’s career, he has fallen in love with big-bodied receivers. Parker not only fits that bill but also plays the same position as another former Cutler target, Alshon Jeffery.

Defensively, we should expect more of the same from the Dolphins this season. Consistency will be the key here as the Dolphins will have to string together solid performances early on in the season. The first six weeks are crucial for the Dolphins having any chance at getting into the playoffs for a second consecutive season.

Buffalo Bills (last season: 7-9)

Okay this is where this column takes a turn and I start sounding like a negative Nancy. This is for good reason though, because things in Buffalo aren’t all rainbows and butterflies. Former Carolina defensive coordinator Sean McDermott is now at the helm in Buffalo and has a long road ahead to turn the Bills into contenders once again.

The first indication that Buffalo is in the process of rebooting (not quite a rebuild yet) came a couple of weeks ago with the surprise trades of Sammy Watkins and Ronald Darby to Los Angeles (Rams) and Philadelphia, respectively. In return the Bills got picks and receiver Jordan Matthews.

As in past years, this offense will rely heavily on the running game, led by Shady McCoy, especially now that the receiving core lacks a “stud” on the outside. The free agent signings of fullback Patrick DiMarco and “fullback” Mike Tolbert should signal that Buffalo is doubling down on the ground game.

Another sign that things in Buffalo aren’t looking great came in the form of the sudden retirement of Anquan Boldin last Sunday. 13 days after signing with the Bills, the future Hall of Famer decided that it was time to hang up the pads. Yikes. The only positive to come out of this is that we will get a good look at rookie Zay Jones this season (fantasy alert!).

However, the pressure now falls on quarterback Tyrod Taylor to prove he is capable of leading an NFL offense. To say that Taylor could be on a short leash is an understatement. There is a growing sentiment around Buffalo that fifth round pick Nathan Peterman could play a significant amount this season should Taylor falter early on this season. Once again, not good signs for Buffalo.

Defensively, I do like the regime change for the personnel here. The Bills defense was a lot better running a 4-3 scheme under Jim Schwartz than the 3-4 scheme employed by former head coach Rex Ryan. However, this doesn’t mean that the Bills will return to being a top-five defense under McDermott. This team has to readjust to the 4-3 both schematically and roster-wise.

Overall, this is shaping up to be a lost season in Buffalo and the playoff drought will likely continue. Hey, at least we’ll have the social media greatness of the Bills Mafia to keep us interested in Buffalo throughout the season.

New York Jets (last season: 5-11)

Holy dumpster fire Batman! The Jets bring today’s column to an end with a whimper. There is nothing to really get excited about for New York heading into this season. You know things are bad when repeating a 5-11 record seems like a pipe dream.

While the calling card of this team is its defense, don’t expect this unit to be saving the Jets a lot this season. This is due to the fact that this offense is looking like the worst in the NFL. Brandon Marshall left the Jets for the Giants in free agency, Eric Decker was cut then signed with Tennessee, and surprise contributor Quincy Enunwa is out for the season with a neck injury. Robbie Anderson is now the lead target in this receiving corps.

It only gets worse when you look at the quarterback situation. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith are gone, leaving Josh McCown, Christian Hackenberg, and Bryce Petty vying to lead this offense. McCown is a journeyman while Hackenberg is the definition of unproven (don’t hold your breath on him though). Barring a herculean effort from running backs Matt Forte and Bilal Powell, don’t be surprised if this offense barely averages 14 points per game, which might even be generous.

Now I’m not saying that the Jets are definitely going 0-16, but they could give it a run as they are trending towards having the top pick in the 2018 NFL draft. Sorry Jets fans, it is going to be a looooooooooooooong season.

That’s it for me today. I’ll be back tomorrow to continue my NFL preview with a look at the NFC West. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney, subscribe to Shooting the Moon on WordPress, and like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook

The hiatus is over! Shooting the Moon is back in a big way. Yes, it’s been awhile, but with football on the horizon and the massive news from last night was like flipping the switch on the bat signal. It’s time to dust off the keyboard and actually get back to writing. That’s not to say I’ve been totally out of the loop, the past few weeks has involved a lot of researching and studying so I’m anxious to get back to writing about the NFL, college football, and fantasy football yet again.

However, there is a massive piece of news that we need to get out of the way first before we can start talking about football. Judging from the “Heat Check” tag on this post, I’m sure there are no surprises here. The wild and never-ending NBA offseason may have dropped its biggest nugget last night in the form of superstar (and NBA 2K18 cover athlete) Kyrie Irving getting traded from Cleveland to Boston. This megadeal was weeks in the making, and yet came out of nowhere at the same time.

When news broke a month ago that Irving had requested to be traded, there was this sense that it was more “if” not “when” it would occur. Even more bizarre than the out-of-the-blue trade demand was the implication that Irving was no longer content to be the Robin to LeBron James’s Batman. Trade rumors were wildly tossed around like a lunchtime food fight, but all the while Irving remained a Cavalier.

First, he was as good as gone. Then, there was a feeling that Cleveland would hold off on making a deal in the hopes that Irving and James could smooth out their working relationship to make one more run at a championship. New Cleveland GM Koby Altman had quite the conundrum on his hands during his first month on the job.

Altman clearly saw that there was a limited shelf life for duo that brought Cleveland its first championship. The problem was how could he trade a 25-year old player, who is arguably one of the best point guards in the game, and give LeBron a reason to stick around after next season. Two superstars, Jimmy Butler and Paul George, were already traded this offseason for what seemed like pennies on the dollar. Altman was not in the position to be left holding an empty bag with this trade.

Enter the Boston Celtics, its general manager Danny Ainge, and the countless assets at their disposal. The league has been waiting with baited breath for when Ainge would finally push those chips to the center of the table to acquire a superstar. Ainge is notorious for being a great trade negotiator (ex. forming the Big Three in 2008, then trading Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Nets in 2013). However, he did not pull the trigger to acquire Butler or George. Ainge was willing to play the long game in order to get the Celtics back to the NBA Finals and was unwilling to flip the two most valuable trade pieces at his disposal to get a star.

That 2017 pick swap with Brooklyn that turned into the number one pick in the draft? It was untouchable for the longest time, until days before the draft in late June when Boston traded down with Philadelphia. It netted Boston the third pick (Jason Tatum) and either the Lakers 2018 first round pick (if it falls at 2-5) or the better of the Kings/Sixers first round picks in 2019 (unprotected).

So what would it take for the Celtics to finally make their move? Well it turns out the Irving trade request opened up a huge opportunity. Last night the NBA world was rocked by the news that the top two teams in the Eastern Conference agreed to a megadeal that sent Irving to Boston in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the Nets 2018 unprotected first round pick. Now that we’ve all had some time to let that piece of news sink in, we have to try and figure out what this means heading into next season.

As for the NBA championship, Vegas sports books still have the Golden State Warriors as the HEAVY favorites to repeat in 2018. The Cavs and Celtics odds to win the title also remained the same as well. Truthfully, this speaks more to the dominant roster that resides in the Bay Area than anything. In reality, this trade has more far-reaching effects than just next season.

While most NBA insiders believe that LeBron might leave Cleveland, last night’s trade may have pushed more people into agreeing with that opinion. A championship run could be the only thing keeping the King in “The Land” past next summer. However, the path there got much more difficult now that Boston has Irving to lead the new-look Celtics.

I have held a strong opinion that the Eastern Conference would be up for grabs sooner rather than later, and this trade has only strengthened that opinion. Boston is in the driver’s seat long term, while Washington and Milwaukee each have rosters ready to take the next step towards a championship. Toronto kept much of last year’s roster for one more run, but they could be on their last legs with the current iteration of this team. Cleveland is certainly heading towards a rebuild sooner than we could have expected a few months ago. Speaking of rebuilding, the Philadelphia 76ers are finally on their way towards relevance, provided that its young core can finally be healthy all at once.

Over in the Western Conference, we all know that the Warriors will be the team to beat for the foreseeable future. Houston has a one-year experiment with Chris Paul and James Harden, so we will have to see what the future holds for them. San Antonio can never be counted out and are lurking like the army of the dead in Game of Thrones. Minnesota has built an impressive core of players and is poised to take aim at the champs. Oklahoma City has two of the best playmakers in the entire league, but for how long?

If this Irving trade has done anything, it has made the foreseeable future of the NBA a lot murkier past next season. The summers of 2018 and 2019 will now become major turning points for the next five years in the NBA. October can’t come soon enough for the Association.

That’s it for me today. I’ll be back tomorrow with the return of “No Huddle” to start my division previews for the 2017-18 NFL season. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney, subscribe to Shooting the Moon on WordPress, and go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook.