NFL
AFC West: Stability keeps Chargers out of turmoil below
This is the fourth of an eight-part series on the offseason moves in the NFL. Today’s installment covers the AFC West.
There is a major New England Patriots influence in this division. Denver fired long-time head coach Mike Shanahan and replaced him with 32-year-old Josh McDaniels, who spent eight years with the Patriots including the last three as offensive coordinator. Kansas City’s new general manager is Scott Pioli, who helped Bill Belichick build the Patriots into the decade’s most dominant team.
The Patriots’ philosophy may help in the long run, but it won’t help close the widening gap between the West’s also-rans and the San Diego Chargers.
The wholesale changes made by the Broncos and Chiefs include roster overhauls with a combined 25 players released and 29 signed. Both teams are also changing offenses and switching from a 4-3 defense to the 3-4. The Oakland Raiders didn’t make a lot of changes, which is not good for their defense, which couldn’t stop the run or rush the passer in 2008.
Meanwhile, the Chargers are a model of stability with very little roster turnover. After winning the division the last two years, there’s no need to mess with success.
Here’s a look at the offseason moves in the AFC West:
| San Diego: Super Bow window still open. |
| Denver: Cutler was not addition by subtraction. |
| Oakland: Might finish second in division, by default. |
| Kansas City:Pioli faces a big rebuilding job. |
San Diego Chargers
Key Gains: OLB Larry English (Northern Illinois), OLB Kevin Burnett (Cowboys),GLouis Vasquez (Texas Tech), C Tyronne Green (Auburn), DT Vaughan Martin (Western Ontario), RB Gartrell Johnson (Colorado State).
Key Losses: GMike Goff (Chiefs), DE Igor Olshansky (Cowboys), Marques Harris (49ers).
Breakdown: English and Burnett were good additions to an already strong position, which has Shawne Merriman returning from a knee injury. Vasquez and veteranG Kynan Forney (87 career starts in Atlanta) will compete to replace the reliable Goff (89 straight starts). San Diego avoided a PR disaster by re-doing RB LaDainian Tomlinson’s contract. Franchised RB Darren Sproles is an explosive kick returner and a nice change of pace from L. T.
Key Questions: Will Tomlinson, Merriman and TE Antonio Gates (toe) bounce back from injuries?How much does Tomlinson have left? With English on board, is this Merriman’s last season in San Diego?
Denver Broncos
Key Gains: S Brian Dawkins (Eagles), QB Kyle Orton (Bears), QB Chris Simms (Titans), RB Knowshon Moreno (Georgia), DE/OLB Robert Ayers (Tennessee), ILB Andra Davis (Browns), CB Alphonso Smith (Wake Forest), S Darcel McBath (Texas Tech),WR Jabar Gaffney (Patriots).
Key Losses: HC Mike Shanahan (fired), QB Jay Cutler (Bears), DT Dewayne Robertson (released), LB Nate Webster (free agent), CB Dre Bly (released).
Breakdown: McDaniels’ first year got off to a rocky start as his relationship with Cutler soured to the point where the team had to trade its Pro Bowl quarterback. Either Orton or Simms will replace Cutler, for now. Moreno joins a crowded backfield, but he wasn’t drafted in the first round to sit on the bench. Dawkins’ veteran savvy and Ayers’ pass-rushing ability were needed additions to a woeful defense. Smith and McBath should contribute early.
Key Questions: Is McDaniels capable of filling Shanahan’s shoes? Will Denver regret trading Cutler? Orton and Simms are downgrades. The Broncos’ secondary should be better, but is the front seven good enough? Can Ayers make the transition to a 3-4 outside linebacker?
Oakland Raiders
Key Gains: WR Darrius Hey-ward- Bey (Maryland),WR Louis Murphy (Florida), QB Jeff Garcia (Buccaneers), OT Khalif Barnes (Jaguars), GMarcus Johnson (Vikings), C Samson Satele (Dolphins), S Keith Davis (Cowboys), S Mike Mitchell (Ohio), FB Lorenzo Neal (Ravens).
Key Losses: C Jake Grove (Dolphins), OT Kwame Harris (released), WR Ronald Curry (Lions), S Rashad Baker (Eagles).
Breakdown: Picking Heyward- Bey seventh overall was a head scratcher, but Raiders boss Al Davis loves speed, and the league’s worst pass offense sorely needed a deep threat. Mitchell was another curious choice in the second round, but they’re high on him. The 39-year-old Garcia gives JaMarcus Russell an old, er, experienced backup. The O-line was retooled—again—so Russell won’t get beat up, again. Davis’ smartest offseason move was re-signing All- Pro CB Nnamdi Asomugha to a long-term deal.
Key Questions: Will Davis have the last laugh with the Heyward-Bey pick? Is this the year Russell starts justifying No. 1 selection in 2006? Why wasn’t more done to improve the NFL’s 31st-ranked run defense?
Kansas City Chiefs
Key Gains: QB Matt Cassel (Patriots), DE Tyson Jackson (LSU), LB Mike Vrabel (Patriots), LB Zach Thomas (Cowboys),WR Bobby Engram (Seahawks),GMike Goff (Chargers), C Eric Ghiaciuc (Bengals), TE Sean Ryan (49ers),DE Alex Magee (Purdue).
Key Losses: TE Tony Gonzalez (Falcons), QB Damon Huard (49ers), LB Donnie Edwards (released), LB Pat Thomas (Bills).
Breakdown: The Chiefs think (make that hope) Cassel is the answer to their long search for a franchise quarterback. Vrabel, Zach Thomas, Engram and Goff inject experience— and age—to a youthful roster. Jackson is the kind of versatile D-lineman Pioli drafted in New England. The running game is a mystery because the Chiefs haven’t made a decision on troubled RB Larry Johnson, who appeared on his way out after the Chiefs won a grievance that allows them to withhold a portion of his guaranteed salary if he’s released.
Key Questions: Is Cassel the real deal or just a product of the Patriots’ system?How much will the Chiefs miss Gonzalez?Who will be the main ball carrier if Johnson is cut? The Chiefs had an NFL record-low 10 sacks last season, but Jackson and Magee weren’t great pass rushers in college.
Next: NFC East
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