Is it the Blue Jays Time?

When Alex Anthopoulos (or AA, as I will refer to him as) became the general manager of the Blue Jays I was scared, as a Yankees fan I was scared. Anthopoulos was a young kid with bright ideas and a plan coming in to run a franchise capable of becoming great. Now three years later AA has the Jays in position to challenge for a playoff spot and potentially give the AL East five teams capable of making the playoffs.

 

NL Cy Yong winner R.A. Dickey figures to be the ace on a loaded

Blue Jays squad.

The Blue Jays without question have won the offseason by adding six players who will either crack the opening day lineup or starting rotation including the man who was leading the majors in hitting before a PED suspension, Melky Cabrera, a former steals champion who still can wreak havoc on the base paths, Jose Reyes, and a former utility man who if given regular playing time can steal 40 plus bases a year with a good average and decent walk rate. R.A. Dickey won the National League Cy Young last year with the Mets and now will be the ace of the Jays staff, Josh Johnson was once a Cy Young candidate and if he can remain healthy he can still be a force. Then there is Mark Buehrle who started nine opening day games for the Chicago White Sox. The Blue Jays look to have a lineup that one through nine is very tough, not without holes, but tough nonetheless. When you consider that all these pieces were added to a team that already boasts Jose Bautista who is one of the most feared power hitters in the game currently, and Edwin Encarnacion and Brett Lawrie both of whom are coming off good seasons, the Jays could be set to make a run.

 

Last season the Jays finished 73-89 while dealing with major injuries, and some serious ineffectiveness by the bullpen. Adding Reyes, Dickey, Johnson, Buehrle, and Cabrera should certainly lead to more wins. Last season R.A. Dickey produced a WAR* of 4.6, now while it is not out of the question to see Dickey repeat this performance we must account for him moving to a tougher league and tougher division. Jose Reyes has seen injuries take a toll on his body in recent years and while he is no longer an elite shortstop he is still a major upgrade over Yunel Escobar. Melky Cabrera is only one season removed from being one of the worst players in Major League Baseball and he will have to prove his great season was not just a result of PEDs. Mark Buehrle is a good but not great pitcher who will have games where he takes his lumps and gets shelled, but also brings a lot of experience to the table. Josh Johnson only pitched to an 8-14 record last season and while the numbers back up that record, the potential is always there for him to bounce back to the Cy Young caliber pitcher he was.

 

The Jays need JP Arencibia to have a big season. 

While all these additions are great there are still questions surrounding other players on this team. Can Ricky Romero bounce back? Can Brett Lawrie, JP Arencibia, and Brandon Morrow stay healthy? Can Adam Lind be an effective player at this level or will his 2009 season of a 3.7 WAR be an outlier? Players like Romero and Arencibia are also not without their flaws. Arencibia strikes out at an alarming rate; we are talking strikeouts in 29% of his at bats last season with only a 4.8% walk rate. Ricky Romero’s numbers for the second straight season have declined and last season he completely lost command of the strike zone, seeing his walk rate go up above 5BB/9 innings, more than a two walk per nine increase, and seeing his strike out rate drop by almost a full strikeout. He has lost the ability to strand men on base and his ground ball percentage is trending downward as well while he is giving up more fly balls. Any player can turn their career around at any point, and no roster stays the same through the whole season. Things change, players get hurt or are ineffective and sometimes you pick up that gem off the scrap heap that helps put you over the top. These questions surrounding the Jays roster will be answered soon enough.

 

The Jays have not been to the post season since winning the World Series in 1993 their second in a row and third straight playoff appearance. That could all change this season with a few teams expected to have down years in the AL East. My beloved Yankees are getting too old and just do not seem to have the offense there to compete this season. The Red Sox are coming off an awful season where there was dissent in the clubhouse surrounding now former manager Bobby Valentine. The Rays who have been baseballs darlings the past few years may have passed on this season for the future when they traded James Shields leaving them with only David Price to lead the staff. Then there are the Orioles who are coming off of a dream season where almost everything seemed to go right making the playoffs before losing to the Yankees in the ALDS. They can’t expect everything to fall into place for a second straight season, but then again sports are always unpredictable. The AL East is wide open this season and the Blue Jays certainly are poised to be there in the thick of the playoff race not only this season but for seasons after. 

 

No team is without questions and no player is without risks. Sports are unpredictable and baseball is no exception, any player can go from being awful one season to making adjustments and becoming a force the next season (see Jose Bautista). The Blue Jays have some pieces in place to make a run, and despite what they gave up in trades they still boast a pretty strong farm system. Alex Anthopoulos has done a great job so far with the Blue Jays in just a few years, he promised to bring this team to the playoffs and this season he may just fulfill that promise.

--Kenny Celelli, contributor
--@KCswiss1132

Off-Season Diagnosis: New York Jets

Believe it or not, the Jets did not go 0-16 this year.

Obviously, the Jets didn’t light the world on fire either. With bold and brashness (specifically from the mouth of your head coach) comes high expectations, and when 6-10 happens, you get…. The Jets. There isn’t a quick fix with the Jets, the flaws are numerous and the cap situation is bad. But like we’ve seen time and time again: it all gets better with improved quarterback play.

Jets fans have seen this look from Mark Sanchez

over the years.

Four critical plays come to my mind with this Jets season: a Mark Sanchez interception on the final drive against Houston, a Stephen Hill drop in New England, which left crucial points on the board late, a Mark Sanchez fumble in overtime in that same game, ending the game, and a Nick Mangold bad snap/Mark Sanchez fumble that ended the game (and season) in Tennessee.

I’m not saying the Jets win those games if those plays are avoided (especially Tennessee) or the Jets make the playoffs if those plays happen (the QB play was too bad), but you could argue 6-10 goes to 9-7 just like that. Unfortunately, those plays did happen.

Change comes from the top, and that change is in progress with the general manager position. Mike Tannenbaum did some good things for New York, his last two first round draft picks Muhammad Wilkerson and Quinton Coples seem like home runs, but bad contracts, signings, and trades have put the Jets in a bad situation. His firing was step one in a recovery process.

If New York does indeed land San Francisco’s Tom Gamble, it would be a huge win. Gamble has been key in building what may be the deepest roster in the NFL, striking gold with mid-to-late round draft picks at an abnormally high rate. If Gamble wants the job, snatch him. Do not hire Scott Cohen, a Mike Tannenbaum disciple. Go fresh.

It’s ridiculous that owner Woody Johnson would force a general manager with a head coach, but that’s exactly what he’s done. If a new GM wants his own guy, he should, but I guess that’s not the thinking of Johnson. Rex Ryan is a great defensive mind, but his loyalty and offensive handicapping is holding the Jets back. I’m not against Ryan staying, but there have to be major improvements for year five of the Rex Ryan project. The Jets will also look into a new offensive coordinator. Hue Jackson and Norv Turner should all be at the top of the list. I’d also be thrilled if Broncos offensive line coach Dave Magazu was listed as a candidate. Magazu has had success in Carolina and Denver in that position and has been tutored under some great offensive minds.

Time to cut bait with Tim Tebow. The Jets would save $1.05 million dollars if cut and I think it’d be in the right move unless Jacksonville wants to work out a deal. Personally, I’d sign Matt Moore and go with him to start the season. Moore is an unrestricted free agent and I would be surprised if he went for more than $3.5 million on the open market. Moore will come cheaper than Alex Smith and Mike Vick is… Mike Vick. He can be a dynamic playmaker but too often fails on basic reads, is a fumbling machine (sound familiar?), and gets injured too much. I guess when you phrase it like that he’s perfect for the Jets though.  

Shonn Greene hasn't shown enough to
remain the Jets starting running back. 

The Jets should let Shonn Greene, Dustin Keller, and Matt Slauson walk in free agency. Greene was outplayed by Bilal Powell (among others) all season, Slauson was already splitting time with Vlad Ducasse (yes, rotating guards in the NFL), and Keller is nothing but an average tight end. Delanie Walker, Dennis Pitta, and Anthony Fasano could all be cheaper options at tight end and put up similar production. The Jets could give Powell the full-time starting role with Chris Ivory, Justin Forsett, or Isaac Redman playing second fiddle and giving out no more than $1 million/year. Brandon Moore graded out at +21.3 according to ProFootballFocus.com and played for a very reasonable $2.75 million this season. The Jets would be wise to bring back Moore on something similar to a 3 year/$11 million dollar deal. Starting right tackle Austin Howard is also a free agent, and I think taking a tackle in the second round, like Oregon’s Kyle Long, would be beneficial short term and long term.

The Jets defense ranked eighth in total defense despite having a slow linebacking core and losing Darrelle Revis. Antonio Cromartie played at an all-pro level and the Jets would be wise to see what Cromartie’s stock is around the league. Trading Cromartie for a second round pick with Revis returning wouldn’t be a bad move, as long as this team is taking on most, if not all, of Cromartie’s remaining $21.5 million dollars. To get under the cap, cutting Calvin Pace and Bart Scott must happen. Pace is pretty much useless at this point, and Scott has his moments but is two steps too slow to be a starting linebacker.

David Harris woefully underperformed this year and could use a new battering mate beside him. The Ravens Dannell Ellerbe is intriguing, but the Ravens will likely dish out more than what the Jets, or anyone, would want to pay. There are a few guys who had down years and thus might come cheaper like Manny Lawson, Lorenzo Alexander, and Keith Rivers. Obviously, there aren’t too many good ILB’s out there and second year backer Demario Davis might get the nod to start. Davis has the athleticism but struggled to get comfortable when given the opportunity this year.

The Jets will also be looking for two new outside linebackers. This should be addressed with the ninth overall pick, specifically Oregon’s Dion Jordan, Georgia’s Jarvis Jones, or LSU’s Barkevious Mingo. My personal favorite is Jordan, who has unreal length and athleticism (he was a wide receiver and tight end before switching to defensive end). You can’t go wrong with any of these guys, however, and one of them will likely be on the board. I’d also address the other outside linebacker position by signing Paul Kruger. Kruger doesn’t get the credit he deserves from the national media, racking up 14.5 sacks the past two seasons. If the Jets don’t have the cap room for Kruger (I predict he looks for around ten million/year), Connor Barwin and Wallace Gilberry could be options.

Antonio Cromartie's stock has never been higher-- so

the Jets should explore their trade optons. 

I’ve already discussed The Revis-Cromartie situation, but it should be noted that if Kyle “finger wag” Wilson is starting as a number two corner, something went wrong. Wilson’s ability to locate the ball in the air is as bad as I’ve ever seen an NFL corner. Heck, I’ll take back Drew Coleman before I have to constantly see Wilson get beat deep again. Laron Landry and Yeremiah Bell were big upgrades at safety but are both free agents. The Jets likely won’t be able to retain Landry, but Bell should be affordable (two million/year) and the Jets could look to sign someone to the likes of Kenny Phillips or expand the role of Antonio Allen, who has shown promise and versatility.

But in what has become a trend in No Huddle’s off-season diagnosis, it comes down to the quarterback play. If Norv Turner does come in, maybe he can help correct Mark Sanchez, but probably not. Sanchez has very, very poor footwork and is so mentally fractured that it may be beyond fixable. Let Sanchez, Moore, and McElroy compete this training camp and have the best man win, which will be Matt Moore. A healthy Santonio Holmes, a (hopefully) improved Stephen Hill, and a dynamic Jeremy Kerley leave the Jets with an overall solid wide receiving core.

Finally, re-sign Braylon Edwards and Mike Devito if not for the simple fact that they actually like being Jets. How many people can you say that about? Tannenbaum severely overvalued the formula of “talent>chemistry” the past few years. Losing guys like Jerricho Cotchery, Tony Richardson, and Damien Woody have been bigger losses than almost anything.

I like Sanchez, but that doesn’t mean I think he is a good quarterback. I desperately want him to succeed but I don’t think he will. Two years ago the New York Jets were on the verge of a super bowl, yet somehow the window closed before it really ever opened. Only the Jets.

--Chris Cappella
--@C_Cappella

Off-season Diagnosis: Jacksonville Jaguars

There’s a lot of negative surrounding the Jacksonville Jaguar’s latest 2-14 season-- two wins in four months will do that to you-- so we’re going to start off with some positives that came out of 2012:

1.       The Jaguars ranked 22^nd in pass defense. That’s not too bad… right?

2.       They almost beat the Texans, who won a playoff game AND we had some fun Chad Henne moments that neither you nor I will ever forget.

3.       The Jaguars own the second pick in the NFL draft… there’s always April!

The Jaguars stink. You know it, I know it, we all know it. The quarterback situation is terrible. We could be looking at a Blaine Gabbert v Chad Henne camp showdown this coming August. Their best player, Maurice Jones-Drew, played in six games and still led the team in rushing with an outstanding 414 yards.  Did I mention he might not really want to play there? Fixing the Jaguars isn’t going to be a one year reclamation project, heck, even the great savior Timothy Richard Tebow can’t save them. You won’t get a lot of Tebow nonsense here*, instead, here are some practical ways to make Jacksonville better.

Change needs to come from the top down and that starts with former Atlanta Falcons director of player personnel David Caldwell, who is now the new general manager. Not that long ago, Atlanta was in the same position Jacksonville is-- plain bad. Five years later, Atlanta is the one-seed in the NFC playoffs. The guy clearly knows what he’s doing, GREAT start to the off-season.

Can Greg Roman (left) fix the Jaguars?

Next, you have to let Caldwell pick his guy as coach. The future of current coach Mike Mularkey is understandably bleak, and it sounds like current San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman might get his shot as head coach. I’m hardly qualified to say what coordinators will and won’t be good head coaches-- it’s nearly impossible to say-- but Roman has used all of his tools effectively in San Fran and has more pieces on the offensive side of the football in Jacksonville than one would think.

I really do like Jacksonville’s young receiving core. Justin Blackmon was flat out dominant at times but needs to show that more consistently. The Jags may have found a nice catch with Cecil Shorts, who had  55 receptions for 979 yards (a ridiculous 17.8 yards per catch) and 7 touchdowns. Mercedes Lewis is a serviceable tight end and the combination of Jordan Shipley and Laurent Robinson in the slot could be worse. It’s hard to get a true idea of what the running game is like without Maurice Jones-Drew, but I’m not sure how effective he would have been (in MJD terms) with the pathetic group of guys up front the Jaguars called their offensive line.

The Jaguars should do the right thing and let Blaine

Gabbert develop, not bring in Tim Tebow.

Much like what I said with Tampa Bay, it still all comes down to the quarterback play. If you want to work on improving your football team, forget Tim Tebow, that’s a waste of money. You took Blaine Gabbert tenth overall two freaking years ago, and while I didn’t agree with the pick, see what you have in him. By all accounts, Gabbert had a really strong offseason last year and year three is an important year for struggling quarterbacks. Not everyone is Cam Newton or Russell Wilson, sometimes it takes quarterbacks years to develop. If not, Henne will be back for one more year and played surprisingly well in some games this year (354 yards in an overtime loss at Houston!). If Roman does come in and wants to run a Colin Kaepernick-like attack, keep an eye out for Tarvaris Jackson who should come for about three million per year.

The good pretty much ends right around there. The defense was pitiful: it failed to get to the quarterback with a league low 20 sacks, couldn’t stop the run, and opposing quarterbacks generally threw at will on them. Jacksonville would most likely rank at the bottom part of the league in pass defense if teams weren’t running out the clock all second half.

Damontre Moore could provide a huge boost to a

lacking Jaguars pass rush.

Jacksonville figures to have a solid $22.3 million dollars in cap space, but if I’m Caldwell, I focus more on the draft and let that number grow. Take either Texas A&M defensive end Damontre Moore, Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, or Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner with the second pick.  All-of-the-sudden, a Jason Babin-Damontre Moore combo becomes scary. In the second round go offensive tackle, someone like Tennessee’s Dallas Thomas or North Carolina’s Brennann Williams, both of which would be your opening day right tackle. Alabama’s Barrett Jones is also an interesting name. Jones is solid but probably a little overhyped at this point. He can play both center and guard, and I think Jones’ stock is going to fall into the late second round.

Free agent wise, Rashean Mathis posted a -3.6 this season according to ProFootballFocus.com. Let him walk and look at someone cost-effective like Kennan Lewis or Darius Butler, both of which would be upgrades. You could bring back Drew Coleman for probably half the price you did this year after injuries, and I think that would be a wise move. Dwight Lowery and Dawan Landry aren’t a bad safety combination and provide some excitement for the future in the secondary. On offense, let guard Eben Britton walk and bring in someone, anyone, else. Guys like St. Louis’ Robert Turner and Oakland’s Cooper Carlisle would be immediate upgrades, and that’s saying something.

Unfortunately for Jacksonville, the quarterback situation is bad and the draft class is worse. Just a year earlier, Jacksonville would be looking at Robert Griffin III and a bright future. Now? I think Los Angeles seems sunny enough.  

*This is all I’ll say about Tebow: If Jacksonville wants him, call up New York and offer a 7^th round pick and offer to pay the $1.03 million of deferred money to Denver and that’s it. Either make the Jets cut him or keep him and the circus he brings. Could Tebow help the team? Maybe… but don’t overspend to do it. Fans will come with winning, and winning comes with football savvy moves.

-Chris Cappella

-@C_Cappella

Off-season Diagnosis: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The fact that I couldn’t think of a creative way to start this off-season review of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should tell you all you need to know. Where do you start with Tampa? Are you happy about a 7-9 season after a terrible 2011-2012 campaign, or frustrated at the lack of progress quarterback Josh Freeman is making and how agonizingly close the Buccaneers came to being in the playoffs?



Josh Freeman needs to be more consistent if the

Buccaneers are to be taken seriously. 

Everything comes down to the quarterback. In a draft class that included Mark Sanchez and Matthew Stafford, Freeman is still the biggest question mark in my opinion. We know Stafford has the talent, and we know Sanchez stinks, but what is Freeman? He’s shown the talent (he threw for over 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns) but struggles with accuracy (55% completion percentage, 17 interceptions) and hasn’t proven he can win at this level. There are enough weapons for Freeman to succeed but now it’s up to him. Film-geeks haven’t been very positive on Freeman after reviewing film on him, so why should I?  If Tampa fails to make the playoffs because of Freeman’s demise again, fans (Tampa Bay has fans right?) will be calling for his job, and rightfully so.  

Greg Schiano and his staff need to keep building after last year’s strong offseason. The Bucs offense was immediately bolstered due to the additions of Vincent Jackson and Dallas Clark via free agency and Doug Martin via the draft. There are definitely some positives to take away on the defensive side too. The young front seven that underperformed last year stepped up huge this year. Linebacker Lavonte David, in my best Jon Gruden voice, is a heck of a football player. Tampa was first in the NFL at stopping the run, allowing a measly 82 yards per game and 3.5 yards per carry. Unfortunately, the secondary couldn’t be more opposite, allowing 297 yards per game, 32^nd in the NFL.

Outside of Eric Wright, you could argue Tampa Bay doesn’t have a single NFL caliber corner on the roster, and there’s no guarantee Wright returns after being suspended for violating the league’s performance enhancing substance policy. Cutting Wright would free up $7.75 million dollars in cap space, and would be the right move if…

a)      Tampa can select Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner or Mississippi State cornerback Johnthan Banks with the 13^th pick in the draft…

b)      Tampa, who has one of the best cap situations in the league, shells out money for a cornerback like Sheldon Brown, Sam Shields, or Adam “Don’t Call Me Pacman” Jones, OR

A combination of the three: Bring back Wright, draft Banks at 13, and sign a solid cover guy for cheap like Marcus Trufant, could also be a possibility.

The 13^th overall pick last year received a deal of four years and roughly ten million dollars. Trufant has a base salary of 1.3 million dollars and most likely won’t seek much more than that on the open market. Even if the Bucs did let Wright walk and replaced him with a solid slot corner like Marquice Cole, that’s light years better than last year’s secondary, and cheaper.

Tampa should plan as if they won't

have Ronde Barber.

The status of Ronde Barber is unknown. Barber has been a steady force in Tampa’s secondary for over a decade with this year being no different, recording a +8.9 rating according to ProFootballFocus.com. Let us assume Barber retires this offseason. Does Tampa try and dish out big money for Buffalo’s Jairus Byrd? They should. If not, I’d keep an eye out on Kenny Phillips, who will come with a bit of a discount after an injury plagued season.

On the defensive line, bring back Michael Bennett and Corey Irvin and don’t be afraid to let Roy Miller walk. The combination of Irvin and McCoy inside should be fierce, and pray for the health of Da’quan Bowers.

This is a critical draft for Tampa. I’ve made it clear that Tampa should target Millinier or Banks in the first round, but if Bennett and/or Irvin hit the market and don’t return, defensive lineman Johanathan Hankins might make sense. It’s also time to start looking long term at tight end. Bring back Dallas Clark on a 1 year/$2.5 million dollar deal and draft a tight end in the second round like Tyler Eifert of Notre Dame or Joseph Fauria of UCLA.  Tampa can consider bringing back running back LeGarrette Blount if they want, but not for more than two million per year (Brandon Jacobs got $1.6, so $2 might be too much).  You can find lots of middle-round running backs who can average 3.5 yards per carry.

All of these ideas are good and dandy, but it still will all ride on the quarterback. Good quarterbacks win close games instead of losing seven games by an average of five points. Good quarterbacks will limit the mistakes and bring that completion percentage up to the 60’s. If Tampa wants to make “the jump”, it all rides on Josh Freeman. But why should I believe in Josh Freeman?

--Chris Cappella
--@C_Cappella

Off-season Diagnosis: Carolina Panthers

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers decided to give Rivera another crack
at making the playoffs.

After a wonderful rookie season, Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers were the darlings of the NFL. Many people, including myself thought the Panthers would make the jump, and become a playoff contending team. That certainly was not the case, as Carolina limped out of the gate, starting 2-8 and blowing many games (who can forget Atlanta starting a drive inside their 5 and pulling out a win). The good news? The Panthers ended the year going 5-1 including a four game win streak that featured wins over Atlanta at home, and New Orleans on the road. Ron Rivera probably saved his job, for now. Rivera will surely be on the hot seat in 2013. This roster is built to make the playoffs now. Outside of Newton, try to name a great young player that can be built around for years to come. Last years first round pick, Luke Kuechly was a beast. He led the team in tackles with 103 total tackles and had two picks. Outside of these two, Carolina doesn't have a lot of young talent to build upon for years to come. This doesn't mean that Carolina is in rebuild mode. DeAngelo Williams and Steve Smith are still good players, though not the stars they were years ago. Jon Beason is still a great linebacker, but can he stay healthy? That is a question with a lot of players on the defense. There are many pro bowl caliber players on this roster, but the window is closing on this group. If Carolina wants to make a run with this current roster, the time is now.

Will Captain Munnerlyn take his talents elsewhere
this offseason?

With that said, Carolina needs to have a productive draft to set it self up for future success, and help the core that is in place. Before we get to the draft, lets focus on free agency, and what Carolina can do to improve. The good news? The Panthers don't have too many decisions to make regarding their own players. The biggest name that could walk would be corner back Captain Munnerlyn, but the Panthers should be able to retain the young corner out of South Carolina. After they take care of Munnerlyn, Carolina should focus on bolstering the wide receiving core. Steve Smith is 33 and needs help. Brandon LaFell finished 2012 with 39 receptions and 615 years. LaFell should still be an integral part of the offense going forward, but Cam Newton needs another weapon. Dwane Bowe and Mike Wallace are two options that Carolina should look into, but a better option may be Brine Hartline. Hartline is coming off a 1000 yard season in Miami, and didn't have much help around him. He is young, only 26 and coming off the best year of his career. He wont cost as much as the other top targets, and would take tons of pressure off Smith, Newton, and even tight end Greg Olsen. Tackle is another position of need for Carolina, and with Jake Long on the market it may not be a problem for long. The question is, will Carolina put more money into their line. They already have a lot of money committed to Jordan Gross. Some other guys to keep an eye on, corner back Brett Grimes, corner Tracy Porter, or any other "mid to high" level defensive backs.

Kuechly may win DROY, but Carolina needs
to find more talent in the draft.

As I noted earlier, the Panthers need to increase their young talent from top to bottom. The best way to do that is obviously through the draft. Other than Luke Kuechly, the Panthers didn't find many impact players (yet anyway). They will once again have an opportunity to get some top end talent, as they will be selecting 14th overall. Carolina has only  five picks not counting any compensatory picks. They traded away their third-round selection to San Francisco and their seventh-rounder to Oakland. Much of what Carolina does in free agency prior to the draft will dictate what they do in the draft, but look for Carolina to rebuild the trenches. Either offensive tackle or defensive tackle seems logical. The D line has a lot of talent, including Charles Johnson and Thomas Davis but both are ageing. A few names to remember are D tackles Johnathan Hankins out of Ohio State, Johnathan Jenkins out of Georgia, and Star Lotulelei out of Utah. I would not be surprised if Carolina tried to move up and grab Dion Jordan, a pass rushing specialist out of Oregon, but that will be difficult with the lack of picks. If Jordan is still available at 14, it will be hard to pass on him. Playing Drew Brees and Matt Ryan four times a year, it can't hurt to add another top end pass rushing threat. Offensive tackle Eric Fisher (Central Michigan) could be an option if the Panthers look O-line early. In the later rounds, Carolina should look at grabbing more offensive linemen, a safety, and of course, a play maker. The dynamic Stedman Bailey out of West Virginia could be an option. In the late rounds, look for Carolina to add...wait for it... A KICKER! The Panthers could be in the market for a young leg.

The Panthers don't need Newton to
be Superman, just a better QB.

All in all, the Panthers still aren't far away from becoming a playoff contender. They beat Atlanta once, and should have beat them a second time. They have a good young QB, and some dynamic (but older) play makers. I believe they made the right decision in keeping Rivera around, and making another run at the playoffs with this core.

When it comes down to it though, Cam Newton needs to improve. He is so dynamic, and is maybe the best rushing QB in the league. He can take hits, unlike RGIII or Mike Vick. He led the team in rushing this season (come on DeAngelo Williams and John Stewart), and is a nightmare to defend. Guess what? It won't matter if Newton does not improve his accuracy and overall passing abilities. He has finished in the middle of the NFL (17th and 16th) in total QBR, and showed no improvement in his second year (He actually lowered his QBR from 55 to 54.2. In comparison, Peyton Manning led the league this season with a 84.1 rating). Newton has the talent to become the biggest weapon in the league. The thing is, he doesn't have to be the top weapon, just a better QB. If he can become a top 10 QB, at least in QBR, the Panthers will surely be a playoff team.

---Lee Kunkel
---@Kunkel5

Off-season Diagnosis: Cleveland Browns

Note: I am going to attempt to look at all 32 NFL teams over the next few weeks as the offseason nears. First up, the Cleveland Browns. I am using http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/ to project pending free agents, and will diagnose what positions need filled via the draft. I will name a few prospects at those positions.

First up: Cleveland Browns

History has never treated the city of Cleveland well, at least in the sports world and the Browns are no exception to this "rule." With that said, this offseason could turn the NFL on its back, and turn the Browns into....wait for it....A PLAYOFF TEAM. This team is in a position that most franchises dream about. Take away, the history, jerseys, and you would look at this roster and tell yourself, there is a ton of talent here. In football, there are three vital positions. Quarterback, left tackle, and shutdown corner. The Browns have two of these in place for years to come. Joe Thomas is a top five tackle, and Joe Haden is a good corner who is still improving. These are good building blocks. Throw in Trent Richardson and Josh Gordon and you have a nice young nucleolus.

Richardson is one of a few nice building
blocks in Cleveland.

With this said the Browns still have an ample amount of questions to answer this offseason. First up, who will be the head coach? It appeared that Chip Kelly will be on his way to employ his spread attack, but he passed on the NFL (for now) and is headed back to Oregon. (Side note: I think Chip is waiting for the Panthers to lay an egg, so he can go coach Cam Newton, or take a job next offseason with a top three pick so he can land Johnny Manziel or Teddy Bridgewater, two QB's that would thrive in his system). Who will coach the Browns? I believe they will go with a coach who has proven himself in the league. The Pat Shurmer experiment just didn't work. How about Lovie Smith? He is coming off a 10 win season, is a proven guy who can help this young Browns defense become one of the best units in the league. Smith is well respected around the league, and could help lure veteran talent, something that is not easy to do in Cleveland (because of the lack of success, not the city). Maybe they look to a guy like Ken Whisenhunt who like Smith, is respected and has head coaching experience. Whoever the coach is will have his work cut out for him. Here are the offseason priorities the Browns must address.

First up, resign Sheldon Brown. The veteran corner finished as the 22nd best corner in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus, and tied the team high with three interceptions. He is a stabilizing force in the secondary, and has 2-3 more years of solid football in him. He can be had for the right price. His current deal is around $3.7 million so he is not too pricey. The Browns should also look to resign Ben Watson, a reliable tight end who would be tough to replace.

Next, let Phil Dawson and Josh Cribbs go. While both are fan favorites, and very reliable players, its time to move on. Dawson has received the franchise tag the past two seasons, and will command a decent amount of money for a kicker. He is 37 years old, so even if Cleveland retains him, they will be looking for a new kicker any year now. Go out and draft a young kicker in the late rounds or sign one for dirt cheap. This teams has holes, why waste cap space on a kicker? Cribbs is even more of a waste. I know that hurts Cleveland fans, but he caught 7(?!!!?) balls this season, and is only a threat in the return game. He has never became the receiving threat that many had hoped he would be. Travis Benjamin, a rookie out of Miami is a better receiver, and can handle the return game for years to come. This team is probably a few years away from being a consistent winner, and Cribbs is tired of being part of a rebuilding project. Let him walk, and move on.

Andy Levitre should be the Browns
top focus in FA.

Cleveland should also look to let go of Colt McCoy. Him and Weeden are almost the same player, and while Weeden wasn't spectacular, he certainly looks to have more upside than McCoy, who doesn't possess the arm strength to get it done in this league. The team should then look to bring in a solid veteran QB who can not only help Weeden, but even push for the starting job. A guy like Jason Campbell, or Matt Moore would be a nice fit. The line needs some retooling, especially the guard spot. Andy Levitre from Buffalo would be a great fit. He will command good money, but the Browns have money to spend. He is only 26, and has his best years ahead of him. If the Browns can construct an elite line, they could be a force for years. A top tier wide receiver and pass rushing specialist are the other two needs. With no elite QB in town, it may be tough to bring in a guy like Greg Jennings or Mike Wallace. One name to keep an eye on is Dwane Bowe. If the Browns are willing to pay the man, he can be had. Cliff Avril, Osi Umenyiora, and Randy Starks are three defensive linemen that Cleveland should look into.

While the Browns could be very active in free agency, they will likely look to retool via the NFL draft. They own the sixth overall pick, and wont be looking for a QB (which is a good thing in this years draft). Cleveland is in a perfect spot to trade, its just a question of moving up or down. History tells us they would prefer to move down (mega trade with Atlanta a few years back) but this is a new regime for the organization. Regardless, I believe they will be looking DE or CB. Remember, they could lose Sheldon Brown, and even if they do retain him, his age is a major issue. DeMarcus "Dee" Milliner out of Alabama would be a nice fit, and if they trade down, Johnthan Banks out of Mississippi State would be an option.Both these two young corners would fit nicely across from Joe Haden. My belief is, if they stay at six, they will take Bjoern Werner (FSU) or Jarvis Jones (Georgia) if either are available. Both are stud pass rushers, and Werner would solve the DE problem. The rest of the Browns draft will consist of guards, defensive /linemen/d-backs, and those areas of the team. They filled most of the WR core with players such as Travis Benjamin and Josh Morgan in last years draft. Running back is in good hand for the next 8-10 years, and you just spent a first round pick on a QB. Cleveland needs to use this draft to improve the other areas of the team, and trust that the young play makers will develop.

The Browns have been rebuilding for years now, but never have they been this close to becoming a playoff contending team. Baltimore is old and losing a few key players (#52). Pittsburgh has their problems, and will likely lose Mike Wallace (Heath Miller will be out awhile too). Cincinnati shouldn't scare anyone. They backed into the playoffs, and there are plenty of questions around Andy Dalton. While it may not seem possible, the Browns are very close to becoming AFC North contenders, but make no mistake, they will have to earn it.

Weeden will be the key to Cleveland's success going forward.

Lastly, the Browns can have a stellar draft, T-Rich can become a top 5 NFL running back, they can bring in whoever they want to help bolster the receiving core, and Vince Lombardi himself could be hired as coach... It wont matter unless someone (I'm looking at you Brandon Weeden) becomes legitimate NFL QB and can make plays to win ballgames. John Elway doesn't have to walk through that door (after all, Andy Dalton has made the playoffs two years in a row out of the North) but there must be a consistent leader who can make plays under center. Will the Browns FINALLY get overt that hump? Or will they fall flat their face, right back into rebuilding mode? This offseason will go a long way in answering these questions.

---Lee Kunkel
---@Kunkel5

Your Mega NBA Off-season article

The Boys are back! Chris and Lee are talking Dream Team vs. the 2012 Olympic team, Jeremy Lin, and the rest of the busy NBA offseason!

Chris: Mr. Kunkel nice of you to join me this evening! There has been a ton, I mean a ton, of stuff going on. You know what this calls for? A mega-NBA offseason article of greatness!

Lee: Awesome! What’s on tap first?

Chris: Well let’s start with the original reason on why we wanted to do this-- the Olympic Team. Of course Kobe said that this year’s 2012 Olympic team is better than the original Dream Team. I disagreed, you didn’t...

Lee: My stance is this: They aren’t better, but they can beat them.  I could see either winning in a seven game series.

I also believe this team was ROBBED from true greatness by injury, the Dream Team was not. You’ve got Dwight Howard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Dwayne Wade, Derrick Rose, etc.

Chris: They absolutely were! D-Rose, Wade, Howard, Bosh, and Aldridge (who might be the most underrated player in the game)..... Hell, Rose, Wade, and Howard are hall-of-famers to be, that’s incredible.

What’s your theory on how they’d do this [beat the Dream Team]?

Lee: Match-up problems. Size is certainly a disadvantage for the ‘12 team, but they are SOOO much more athletic and I think people fail to realize that.

Chris: I’m just not sure how they would match-up, especially if the ’12 team goes with the starting five they did in their exhibition vs. Brazil with ‘Melo instead of KD starting.

Lee: But Remember, Bird was done in ‘92, Magic was coming off an off year from HIV, and Drexler/Stockten was banged up. ALSO the numbers are a bit skewed in my opinion. International ball was complete crap then. This year’s Nigeria team that barely made Olympics may have metaled in ‘92.

Chris: I’m thinking this year’s team runs out a starting five of Paul-Kobe-LeBron-‘Melo-Chandler, that’s their biggest line-up (yikes).

Lee: That’s the lineup I’d run out.

Chris: Just like vs. Brazil, a game in which they struggled in, albeit it being a pointless exhibition and all.

Charles Barkley and Larry Bird would have been too much for
this years Olympic squad, according to Chris.

Let me take a look at the match-ups real quick. The Dream Team is trotting out a starting lineup of Magic, MJ, Bird/Malone, Barkley, and Patrick Ewing. This years team would get eaten alive by the size down low. Chandler could hold his own against Ewing but after that you’ve got ‘Melo guarding either Bird (Best PF of all-time), Malone (not a slack himself) or Charles Barkley (Maybe the second best player on the team behind Jordan). In the words of Barkley himself “that’s turrible.”

The Backcourt would be much, much more fun. Paul trying to guard Magic/Stockton would be interesting… Then you have the most entertaining match-up of all time with Jordan taking on either Kobe (practically a Jordan clone) or LeBron (the most physically gifted player to ever step on a court). That’s awesome. No, it’s more than awesome. Words can’t even describe that.

Lee: I think people are under mining Kobe. It’s not like he is a scrub. Dude could have won the scoring title this year, carried an overrated LA team, and has proven he can still lock down anyone.

Chris: I feel the same way... In what world do we live in that Kobe is UNDERRATED!? But that’s just how it is.

Lee: As for the size discussion, LeBron played Center vs. Hibbert and shut him down. Love is a PERFECT international C, and Chandler locks down.

Chris: Thats Roy Hibbert though... Not Ewing or Robinson.

Lee: I thinks it’s closer than people think. With that said, advantage ‘92 team. Barkley-Ewing-Robinson is hard to overcome, but I can throw Melo-Bron-KD. Maybe the three biggest miss matches in NBA right now

Chris: I think the one advantage this U.S team would have is their pure athleticism/defense. Magic was never a good defender and Barkley was born 30 pounds overweight.

Lee: I just think this team is so much more athletic. They could wear them down. This is a bit off topic, but generally I’ll take a team of current athletes over past. This generation is just more athletic. And my ultimate question is who is guarding LBJ. Dude is just unreal.

Chris: Simmons made a good point in the book of basketball.... I think he made the cutoff of comparing current and former players at like 1980. What was the biggest difference? WE FINALLY HAD BLACK GUYS! ‘Bron is the most athletic creature to ever walk on a bball court and some of these current athletes (like Shaq, D12, etc.) would eat alive those poor 210 pound centers from back in the day.

Also random: You know what would be funny? Bird trash talking ‘Melo for an entire game. Carmelo would lose his absolute mind.

Overall though what made you change your mind? When we first started talking about this, you took this year’s team. Was it the realization of the injuries? The shit-show vs. Brazil?

Lee: I didn’t change my mind I’d still take them. I’m not judging their performance in exhibition games, only the real thing.

Chris: Oh, by "advantage Dream team" I thought you were referring to the overall game... how stupid of me. I think Dream team wins by about 8-12 with Christian Laettner scoring 32 points just because

Lee: No the only advantage for the Dream Team is down low, that’s it. And at least my college kid is decent.

Chris: I think MJ has something to say about that, but that’s why it’s a fun thing to talk about, we won’t ever know.

Lee: Yeah, and I just think this teams athleticism would wear them down. MJ-Kobe would be soooooo fun. And let me ask you this, whos containing Paul/D-Will? Johnny was banged up bad, and Magic plays no D. Westbrook would run circles around Johnny.

Chris: Defensively, no one, but I think it goes both ways... Paul, Williams, and Westbrook are all good defenders (especially Russ) but the smoothness of both Stocktons and Magic game are something we might not see ever again

Lee: I'll give you Stockton but Magic took a year off. A whole year! No way he could run with those guys. Just no way.

Chris: But he did!

Lee: No run with Paul/Williams/Westbrook

Chris: He was a liability defensively anyway, who cares!

Lee: It’s a tough argument, both sides have their advantages. I’m just happy they are AMERICAN.

Chris: AMEN! USA! USA! USA! You know, I was hoping you would give me some sort of segway about LBJ so I can say this about him real quick: We've seen some really, really, really, good years from him... But we ain't seen nothing yet. I’m scared for the sake of the NBA.  His career is about to be Kemp over Lister awesome, and that’s the highest amount of awesome you can have.

Lee: Yes, the Thunder may be the only team that can touch them. Ray Allen/Rashard Lewis are huge upgrades.

Chris: Thoughts on Lin? He is officially a rocket

Lee: Stupid. Just stupid for BOTH teams. Here’s why: Rockets have nothing, Lin can’t carry a team, and for that amount of $$$ it’s dumb. He won’t be worth it there. For the Knicks, dumb as well. With the talent in NY, maybe you do get a 10-15$ million PG. But here’s my biggest pet-peeve. He makes luxury tax dollars plus more in one, maybe two years in that market. Easily. The dude played for like three weeks and had the second highest selling jersey. Plus it’s not bad if he learned from kid and they didn’t waste money on the corpse that is Ray Felton.

Leave it to a James Dolan led Knicks franchise to pass up on a

young/charismatic/talented/liked point guard.

Chris: You know what’s so interesting? No one has any idea what to think about this. You have the anti Lin-to-the-Knicks people (Wilbon) and the pro Lin-to-the-Knicks guys like Simmons and Doug Gottlieb. I’ll just say this: If Ray Felton comes in within 22 pounds of his playing weight that’s already a small victory. And you know what else is funny about this? Everyone talks about Lin being so D'Antoni needed that no talks about how bad Felton has been the past year and a half! He might be even more D’Antoni needy then Lin! Bad bad bad for the Knicks.

Lee: Hahaha yeah. I found it interesting Lin said he wanted NY.

Chris: Of course he did... Better team and he would swim in the shit piles of money he’d get from marketing

Lee: Lets go best and worst off-seasons thus far.

The addition of Anthony Davis and others can

potentially make the Hornets a powerhouse down

the road, according to Chris and Lee.

I’ll start off by taking New Orleans. Love Anderson/Rivers/Davis. Resigning Gordon was huge, I think he’ll be a star someday.

Chris: You read my mind, I LOVE what New Orleans has done. Can’t argue that at all, what a young core they have.

Lee: Two years, western conference contenders potentially.

Chris: It’s a good situation for Austin Rivers especially. He can be the man there.

Lee: My worst is Dallas. No direction for their franchise, and I can’t decide if they’re a playoff team or set to be stacking up lottery picks the next three years. They’re in the middle of being bad enough to not contend/good enough not to be awful enough to get a game changer via draft (if that makes sense). See: 76ers since Iverson left.

Chris: Poor Mark Cuban, just nothing can go right. I think losing J Kidd would have been a good thing..... if they had any sort of replacement. Why aren’t they trying to be players in this Howard deal? It makes complete sense. Cuban is so paranoid about nothing going right he’s coming atSimmons for signing Elton Brand and Chris Kaaman on twitter. Anytime the words: "Signing Elton Brand" are involved you’re gonna get criticized, I think it's a new rule under the CBA.

Lee: Yeah, that’s not good. I don’t know they must not have the pieces, not a lot of youth in Dallas right now.

Chris: That’s got to be the reason. They have nothing except Dirk, and assuming he comes in in-shape and motivated he can only carry them so long.

Lee: They got their title, and have coasted since.

Chris: We talked about this the other day, but the most involuntary funny thing that happened all year is the Raptors getting stuck with a terrible Landry Fields contract to keep the Knicks away from Nash so they could get him. No Nash for Toronto, but 20 million dollars’ worth of Landry Fields!

Lee: Poor Toronto, they’ll never be good.

Finals picks right now...subject to change. Miami vs. OKC... OKC in 6.

Chris: That’s too easy Lee, I thought you were better than that! I really like LA.... They might not be able to defend, but Nash is going to improve that team drastically.

I’m not making a finals pick. It’s July. I refuse to do it. And because I’m deeming this my article, we’re finished here.