Winds of change
Roy Daniel
Winds of Change
Every off-season, NFL teams trade players or sign free agents with the hope that they will help them win the Super Bowl, and this year was no different. Let's take a look around the league and discuss key acquisitions at the Quarterback and Running Back position.
Brett Favre - Minnesota Vikings
Call me naïve, but I actually believed that Favre would stay retired this time. Unlike other teams, there will not be a quarterback competition in Minnesota. Obviously, this is causing some hate and discontent with other Minnesota players, not to mention Tavaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels who were and should feel cheated. Okay, it is time to get back to the purpose of this article and discuss if Favre will hurt or help your team this season. While Favre would not be a wise pickup if you are penalized for interceptions as he has averaged 18 over the past three seasons, I think that you can draft him as a QB2. I fully expect that Favre will show a slight decline in his numbers from last season with the Jets as he transitions from a playmaker to game manager. My reasoning behind this is due in large part to his age, he is coming off bicep surgery, he is dealing with a rotator cuff tear, and most importantly, Minnesota is a run first team.
Projections: 3200 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions
Jay Cutler - Chicago Bears
While the plan for Cutler was to be traded to either Tampa Bay or Detroit, he ended up in Chicago and Kyle Orton was sent to Denver. I like the avenue that the Bears are heading down and if they can obtain a solid receiving corps, this team will be hard to stop. Unfortunately, the Bears are lacking a solid receiving corps. Yes, Cutler will have Matt Forte and Greg Olsen, but their other receiving options lack NFL experience. Their veteran WR is Devin Hester who has been in the league since 2006. While Cutler is a strong QB1, I would not expect the same stats as he had in Denver.
Projections: 3800 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions
Matt Cassel - Kansas City Chiefs
Matt Cassel has spent his entire College and NFL career as a back-up quarterback. He was thrust into the starting role when Tom Brady went down with a knee injury. While he responded to his new role very well, he had many weapons to help him along the way, mainly Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Fortunately, Cassel was traded from one pass heavy offense to another as new head coach Todd Haley will continue to pass as often as he did in Arizona. The most pressing question surrounding Cassel is, was 2008 a fluke? Only time will tell, but I think that you can draft Cassel as a low end QB1. While he will not have Moss or Welker to throw to, he does have Dwayne Bowe which should help.
Projections: 3500 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions
Kyle Orton - Denver Broncos
Kyle Orton was traded to Denver for Jay Cutler and while this is an obvious downgrade, the sky is the limit for Orton. New head coach Josh McDaniel, who came over from New England knows how to mold a QB, which is evident by Matt Cassel. It is obvious that Josh McDaniel likes to pass the ball, so Orton should get plenty of chances throwing to Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, and Tony Scheffler. If Orton cannot pass for 3,000 yards for the first time in his career, then I do not know of any other situation when it can be done. With that said, Orton is a high end QB2 and should have a solid season in relief of your starter.
Projections: 3200 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions
Correll Buckhalter - Denver Broncos
Correll Buckhalter has played every season in Philadelphia behind Brian Westbrook. In is limited chances, he took full advantage of his opportunities as he averaged 4.5 yard per carry. Now that he is out of Westbrook's shadow, he has the chance to show what he can do, and what a better place than the home of the Running Back carrousel. Buckhalter is currently at the top of the depth chart above Peyton Hillis and Lamont Jordan. If he wins the starting job, he could be a low end RB2, but I would still draft him as a RB3 to be on the safe side.
Projections: 845 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns
Derrick Ward - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Speaking of shadows, here is another player that may get the chance to be at the top of the depth chart at the end of the pre-season. Derrick Ward is an outstanding running back and that showed during his time with the Giants. While splitting time with Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, Ward rushed for 1,025 yards and averaged 5.6 yards per carry. He is currently battling Earnest Graham for the top spot and with the injury history that Graham has, I think Ward will end up winning the starting job. Ward should be drafted as a RB2 as there is a bit of uncertainty at the position in Tampa Bay.
Projections: 980 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns
