Re: Let's face it - The AFC is a 3 team race
I try to take off the rose colored glasses occasionally and view the contenders dispassionately.
I see a Colts team that is in the middle of a train wreck. You don't lose Glenn, Stockley, Rhodes, and Simon. McFarland, Reagor, June, David, Doss, Nathan before the first kickoff and not be diminished. There is now no depth anywhere. And some holes that are being handed to rookies.
Sorgi, DeDe Dorsey, rookie Ugoh, Johnson, rookie Gonzalez, Keiaho, Klecko, Pit****, Boiman, rookie Sessions, Jennings and Giordano, are the first call reserves.
I'll grant that Giordano and even Jennings have some experience. And that Ugoh and Gonzalez might come through as rookies; but it is unusual at he positions they play LT and Safety, where a year or two of experience is
required.
What happens if any fail? What happens when the inevitable Injuries start to happen?
San Diego is granted the title of "best talent".
Pooh and Drivel !
The lost talented team doesn't have four glaring hole in its starting 22. They have new starters at WR1, perhaps WR2, and ILB1 and ILB2. Vince Jackson a deep threat; might fill one of the two starting complete wide receiver roles, but he is a big deep fly receiver much more like diminutive Davis Patten in that deep pass catching talent than a starting guy like a Branch or even a Givens.
OTOH, I truly fear what Shanahan is building in Colorado. It isn't deep anywhere, but talent even if immature abounds, except on the Defensive line, but high rookies were chosen there and DE is a position where a rookie can excel.
Well, that's a pretty good analysis, overall. However, I'd like to add...
Colts: "Train wreck" is a little strong, but, yes, they are diminished as a result of all they've lost. Super Bowl contenders have good depth, which this Indy team is now sorely lacking.
Bolts: The holes you've mentioned are of consequence, yes, but the biggest thing is the wholesale coaching staff replacement. We've already seen up close what happens to a team when they lose a coordinator...or two. While Big Norv promises to leave the existing offense in tact, that may prove to be easier said than done. Success always starts at the top, so we'll have to see how this one plays itself out.
Bronx: While everyone seems to be ooh-ing and ahh-ing about the fabulous B-boys in the defensive backfield, few have noticed the weakness at DL you pointed out. Once again, 16 defensive linemen were under contract as training camp began (it was 17 last year). The age-old question in the Mile High city remains, "Where's the Denver pass rush?". If the line doesn't improve on last year's efforts, then the fabulous B-boys will begin to find themselves being eaten alive, and the Broncos will invariably find themselves in the rear view mirror of San Diego...or maybe even Arizona!
Heavens to Mergatroid!
Jax and Baltimore have good D's, but QB on both teams forces question marks to arise.
I'm still not a believer in that Houston O-line, and Matt Schaub may begin to wonder just where he is on any given Sunday.
The Jets find themselves grounded by a tougher schedule and that awful thing called "stern reality".
Pitt? They looked good against a clueless Saints team Sunday night, but most anybody and his grandmother can look good at this time of the year. We've seen this phenomenon before. 4-0 in the preseason. 6-10 in the regular season. I'm gonna wait on this one, sorry.
Cincy seems bound for a starring role in "Prison Break", and not much else.
Tennessee remains Young at heart, 'tis true, but you can't really consider them for the Big Dance, given their serious lack of depth.
For everyone else in the conference (save the Pats), it's a case of, "congratulations for being there!".
And while the Pats do have a few issues (RB, DB depth, LB), they are at this very moment the strongest entry extant.
'Course, it's a long season, and they still have to play the games. But this is my view, and it's not too far from yours.
