Revisited Post: Kevin Kolb Trade Speculation

While this blog was still in its infancy (many could argue it still is), we wrote an article that speculated the potential landing spots for then-Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb (to view that article, click here). Now that Kolb has taken flight from the birds of the northeast to the birds of the southwest, here is a follow-up look at how other possible landing spots for Kolb have shaped up their quarterback situation.

PHILADELPHIA
The Eagles were the ones who held the rights to the Kolb sweepstakes, and they could have understandably just kept Kolb all along (especially due to the extended labor negotiations). However, once it was realized that Kolb's potential could attract quarterback-hungry teams even more, the option of keeping a second starting quarterback behind Michael Vick became moot. For a while, it seemed that Kolb's replacement would be Mike Kafka, but the Eagles then picked up Vince Young during their massive overhaul to become a team of all-stars. Vince Young is somewhat of a downgrade from what Kolb offered, but he does fits the system that Vick runs better than Kolb does.

MIAMI
The first team we speculated as a possible Kolb landing spot was Miami, given the inconsistency of Chad Henne. While this still remains true, Henne still remains quarterback. We still believe Henne is not the long-term solution in Miami, but either way this team must rely on him, or try to see if Matt Moore can lead them.

CINCINNATI
We never could have imagined that Palmer would actually stick to his word and retire before he plays another down with the Bengals, but apparently that's the case. The story isn't over just yet, as rumors persist that Palmer is working out with former Jets quarterback Ken O'Brien, but that's a discussion for another day. Turns out the Bengals did draft their guy; Andy Dalton of TCU. Dalton has struggled mightily in the preseason, but with a slew of young receivers, this team will take time to develop.

JACKSONVILLE
With David Garrard gone, the Jaguars have gone with Luke McCown as their Week 1 starter. Kolb would definitely have been a fit here, if not for Blaine Gabbert waiting in the wings. Gabbert has shown some potential during the preseason, but throwing him into the fire is probably not the best idea. McCown will fill in early, and depending on how much the Jaguars struggle, Gabbert will inevitably replace him. Look for the Gabbert era to begin sometime around Jacksonville's bye week.

TENNESSEE
The Titans face a completely new look at the quarterback position. Gone are Vince Young and Kerry Collins. The Titans decided to go the safe route and develop a young quarterback through the draft, in Jake Locker. Locker has shown abilities to extend plays, but his accuracy is always a question. Fortunately, the Titans also reached out to former Seahawk Matt Hasselbeck, who should fill in nicely as an early game starter. Hasselbeck has still shown the ability to lead a team to the postseason, so he should be able to mentor Locker into a quality NFL starter. Kolb wouldn't have fit into either position in this dynamic.

MINNESOTA
Gone are Tarvaris Jackson, Rhett Bomar, and Patrick Ramsey. Joe Webb is still here, but currently as a third stringer. The Vikings decided to solve their post-Favre situation at quarterback by both bringing in a veteran (Donovan McNabb) and drafting a quarterback (Christian Ponder). Ponder hasn't been stellar during the preseason, so it's a good thing the Vikings reached out for McNabb. Unfortunately, McNabb may be asked to simply be a placeholder until Ponder can contribute, and this may be the beginning of his career as a backup (which he has already gotten a taste of in Washington). The Vikings overreached to grab Ponder in a flurry of early quarterback picks in last year's draft, meaning expectations will be much higher for him than his current abilities allow. The Vikings will hope for the best with this one.

CAROLINA
The Panthers drafted their future guy with the number one overall pick in the draft. Cam Newton may have been a one hit wonder in college, but he will be pressured to succeed in Carolina like never before. The Panthers have decidedly thrown Newton into the fire, as there is little experience behind him (Derek Anderson will never live up to his '07 campaign, and Jimmy Clausen has taken too long to develop). Newton will take time to develop his accuracy, and against some tough foes in the NFC South, don't expect this team to break .500.

ARIZONA
Looks like Kolb is that new quarterback Arizona needed. The Cardinals opted to bring in Kolb over a veteran, with the hope that Kolb can keep backups John Skelton and Richard Bartel at bay (last year, the revolving door at quarterback was an epic failure). Kolb brings a much better game to the offense that could use a better transition from the Kurt Warner era.

SAN FRANCISCO
The 49ers weren't willing to pull the trigger, and thus Alex Smith returns as the starter (Troy Smith is in the UFL and David Carr is in New York, backing up another former number one pick). Smith will obviously be playing for his job this year, with rookie quarterback Colin Kaepernick ready to take his place. Unfortunately, it looks as if neither quarterback will be ready to fully handle the load of starting week in and week out. Smith has slowly been improving in his maturity and leadership, but his slow progress should allow Jim Harbaugh to make the switch eventually.

SEATTLE
So looks like Seattle wasn't high on Hasselbeck after all, who landed in Tennessee. Former Carroll pupil Matt Leinart has decided to remain in Houston backing up Matt Schaub, and Carson Palmer is still in a battle with the Bengals. But with Hasselbeck gone, and the Seahawks not entirely sold on Whitehurst, the Hawks brought in Tarvaris Jackson from Minnesota. Jackson hasn't looked all that great during the preseason, but the Seahawks have also overhauled their receiving core, adding former Viking Sidney Rice and former Raider Zach Miller into the fold. Jackson doesn't look to be an improvement from Hasselbeck, and the Seahawks could regret not chasing after Kolb as soon as Week 3 (when Arizona comes to town).

UTTQ 2011 Predictions: Overview

NFC NORTH: Green Bay Packers
NFC SOUTH: New Orleans Saints
NFC EAST: Philadelphia Eagles
NFC WEST: Arizona Cardinals

NFC WILD CARDS: Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons


AFC NORTH: Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC SOUTH: Indianapolis Colts
AFC EAST: New York Jets
AFC WEST: San Diego Chargers

AFC WILD CARDS: Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens


SUPER BOWL XLVI: New Orleans Saints over New York Jets

• The Saints are on a quest for redemption this year after being knocked out of the playoffs early last year. New Orleans is balanced and still retains a similar identity to the Super Bowl team of 2009. The Jets will finally make it to the big game, but their biggest threat may be the AFC North teams (Ravens and Steelers). Despite this, the Jets have a stifling defense and a solid offense (once the chemistry builds). But even with all the talent the Jets may have, the veteran experience of the Saints being to the big game before will surely take over.

Here's an added bonus:

POSTSEASON AWARDS PREDICTIONS:

NFL MVP: Aaron Rodgers

Offensive ROY: Mark Ingram

Defensive ROY: J.J. Watt

Comeback POY: Plaxico Burress

Offensive POY: Philip Rivers

Defensive POY: DeMarcus Ware

Now I'm ready to watch tonight's game! Are you?

UTTQ 2011 NFL Predictions: AFC West

The 2011 season may have not begun, but our 2011 NFL Regular Season predictions have. Here's a brief summary of each AFC West team, in no particular order, starting with the defending division champion Kansas City Chiefs:

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
The Chiefs certainly have playmakers in many areas, but they can't rely on them all the time. The addition of Steve Breaston should certainly add another dimension to a receiving core that is headlined by Dwayne Bowe. Matt Cassel also has a bunch of proven weapons in Jamaal Charles, Thomas Jones, and Le'Ron McClain lining up behind him. On defense, young ends Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson will try to put pressure on opposing o-linemen, while young cornerbacks Eric Berry and Brandon Flowers will continue to blossom into air-assualt-artists. Perhaps the most explosive player on this team is Dexter McCluster, a useful speed player who will see the most time as a tailback and returner.

DENVER BRONCOS
The biggest storyline throughout camp (and maybe the season) was the emergence (or lack thereof) of Tim Tebow as a starting NFL quarterback. Tebow struggled throughout camp, and while many locals in Denver support the consistent college winner, Kyle Orton has been more accurate throughout the preseason. Tebow tends to struggle to remain composed when he is being pressured, and can sling the ball loosely and inaccurately. He does have a few redeeming qualities, but not enough to make the Broncos as a starter. Besides the quarterback situation, the Broncos are fairly lackluster: their offense needs to step up (particularly the younger ones), and their defense is continually strapped by injuries.

OAKLAND RAIDERS
The Raiders biggest splash during this offseason marred by key losses (Nnamdi Asomugha, Zach Miller, Robert Gallery) was undoubtedly the drafting of Terrelle Pryor in the supplemental draft. Pryor may have the skills to make this Oakland offense interesting, but we can't be sure for a while: he will have to sit out the first 5 weeks. In the meantime, Jason Campbell will continue to command the troops, and rely heavily on the run game. Darren McFadden continues to improve as the Raiders top tailback, with Michael Bush and Marcel Reece providing run support. On D, Richard Seymour, Rolando McClain, and Michael Huff will try to command each level of the defense in an offensively oriented division. Sebastian Janikowski continues to boast the strongest leg in the league, while Shane Lechler continues to flaunt his Pro Bowl caliber (but not quite Ray Guy caliber--yet) style of play.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
If the Chargers could consistently get out of the gates running, they'd have won one, if not more, Super Bowls in the last couple of years. The Chargers are notorious for getting off to a slow start before coming together at the last minute and taking the division. With Philip Rivers, the Chargers will continue to threaten the Broncos and Chiefs for the division crown. Antonio Gates and Vincent Jackson continue the familiarity on offense, with Ryan Mathews ready to step in and take over the immense responsibilities left by LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles. The defense returns with a mix of old and new faces, but should perform admirably as a collective unit.


AFC WEST TITLE: San Diego Chargers

• The Chargers should take this division with the most balanced roster, and a schedule that should allow them to get off to a strong start this time around.

WILD CARD TEAMS: None

• The Chiefs look like the might be formidable, but they don't look to be consistent enough to survive. The Broncos are seemingly plagued by injury or poor performance. And if you didn't notice my subtle jab at the Raiders in San Diego's preview, let me just say this: Oakland won't make it to the playoffs until Al Davis is turning over in his grave.

UTTQ 2011 NFL Predictions: AFC East

The 2011 season may have not begun, but our 2011 NFL Regular Season predictions have. Here's a brief summary of each AFC East team, in no particular order, starting with the defending division champion New England Patriots:

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
The Patriots continue to stay competitive as long as Bill Belichick is their coach and Tom Brady is their quarterback. Of course, New England is also fortunate to have returning o-linemen like Dan Koppen and Logan Mankins, as well as newcomers such as Nate Solder. The Patriots receiver core also introduces Chad Ochocinco, who hopes to make an immediate impact to a shifting receiver core. On defense, the Patriots' D-line looks to be especially powerful, with the likes of Shaun Ellis, Albert Haynesworth, and Vince Wilfork. Overall, New England should continue to "do what they do", although the division crown may not be as easy to attain this year.

NEW YORK JETS
Arguably New England's biggest rival (even bigger than the Colts), the Jets once again have Super Bowl aspirations. Rex Ryan will try to lead his motley crew towards the promised land, which, after a failed bid for Nnamdi Asomugha, may be even more inspired to drive for success. Mark Sanchez will have a new toy this year in Plaxico Burress. Although Burress has been away from the game for a while, his sheer size should allow him to continue to dominate shorter corners. On defense, the impeccable duo of Cromartie and Revis should continue to puzzle opposing quarterbacks.

MIAMI DOLPHINS
The Dolphins had a QB controversy brewing over the offseason, with many Miami fans wanting another option over current incumbent Chad Henne. Henne has struggled to remain consistent during his tenure in Miami, and the loss of his top two backfield buddies puts even more stress on his shoulders. Fortunately, the team reached out to grab Reggie Bush, the former Saint who has a knack for flashy play in open space but limited ability to run between the tackles. Overall, this Miami team has the weapons necessary to succeed, but that success rides solely on the performance of Henne.

BUFFALO BILLS
It's been a long time since the dominant early 90s Bills teams. However, the Bills now seem to be on their way back to a respectable record. Ryan Fitzpatrick is a better quarterback than people take credit for, and Fred Jackson provides stable support in the backfield (and considering Buffalo's shoddy o-line, that's quite a statement). A revamped defense includes Shawne Merriman, Nick Barnett, and first round pick Marcell Dareus. Hopefully, this defense can make the sting of utter disappointments (namely Aaron Maybin) disappear from memory. Of course, as with all mediocre teams, the Bills' greatest strength is still special teams, with kicker Rian Lindell and punter Brian Moorman.


AFC EAST TITLE: New York Jets

• The Jets have a fairly straight-forward schedule, and many pieces from last year's team are back in place. Perhaps this will be the year that Rex Ryan's team truly lives up to his bold predictions.

WILD CARD TEAMS: Miami Dolphins

• I believe that the Dolphins can finally make it over the hump this year. This may be the year that the Bills or the Dolphins can finally be included in the division race. The Bills, however, may not have as many pieces in place just yet. And New England? Well, it may be a shock that they completely miss the playoffs, but I think the Patriots will lack consistency this season. If teams can figure them out early, they may be on the verge of missing the playoffs for the first time since Cassel led them to an 11-5 record in 2008.

UTTQ 2011 NFL Predictions: AFC South

The 2011 season may have not begun, but our 2011 NFL Regular Season predictions have. Here's a brief summary of each AFC South team, in no particular order, starting with the defending division champion Indianapolis Colts:

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
For the first time in a while, this division is almost completely up-for-grabs. With the quarterback situation unsettled in Indy, everyone else must step up. Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Austin Collie, and Joseph Addai provide excellent support for whoever throws the ball. The o-line has shuffled a bit, and it remains to be seen whether it holds well. On defense, with Dwight Freeney continuing to pressure the opposing left tackle, the linebackers (led by Gary Brackett) can be more flexible in coverages, which translates to a more free wheeling secondary. Of course, the biggest question is when Peyton Manning can come back. If this team gets off to a tough start with Kerry Collins, and Manning returns to lead them to the playoffs, it will be hard to ignore his contribution as a true MVP of this team, if not the entire league.

HOUSTON TEXANS
"This will be the year." That's what NFL pundits have been saying about the Texans' playoff hopes ever since the Carr era ended. Unfortunately, the Texans have managed to disappoint numerous times with a mediocre regular season record. Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, Arian Foster, and company have done all they could, to no avail. As explosive as the offense has been the last few years, the defense has been dreadful. This year, former Cowboys coach Wade Phillips installs his 3-4 scheme with a bunch of possible playmakers at his disposal (including Mario Williams, DeMeco Ryans, Brian Cushing). The question will be whether the available personnel can cleanly make the switch.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
The Jags have only been to the playoffs twice since their epic 1999 season (see our "Greatest Teams"), and have otherwise been a downtrodden franchise. The team has had little identity save for their tailback position, where Fred Taylor has dominated for years, and now Maurice Jones-Drew takes the role of featured back. David Garrard is still the starting QB, but Blaine Gabbert patiently waits in the wings. This year could very well be do-or-die for Del Rio, otherwise it may be time to finally make the move to LA....

TENNESSEE TITANS
The Titans, like the Jaguars, have a quarterback project of their own. Matt Hasselbeck, the longtime Seahawk, is set to start, with Jake Locker right behind him on the depth chart. Fortunately for both, the Titans have secured their number one player in runningback Chris Johnson. Johnson has a questionable attitude, but undoubtedly holds unbelievable talents and skills. If/when the quarterbacks start to struggle in the passing game, they can always hand it off to Johnson. The o-line looks ready to reach Pro Bowl caliber form under new Titans coach Mike Munchak. What will be interesting to watch is whether the defense improves.


AFC SOUTH TITLE: Indianapolis Colts

• This was a tough choice, but if the Colts can survive relatively unscathed while/if Peyton Manning's gone, then they have a legitimate chance to run the table. Unfortunately, if Manning continues what many see as the beginning of a steady decline, look for possibly the Titans to surprise some people.

WILD CARD TEAMS: None

• I believe the Titans will be formidable, but in the end it may not be enough to beat out the other wild card teams of the AFC. The Texans could also surprise, but may struggle with their new defensive personnel adjustments. The Jaguars are too unstable a franchise to consistently compete.

UTTQ 2011 NFL Predictions: AFC North

The 2011 season may have not begun, but our 2011 NFL Regular Season predictions have. Here's a brief summary of each AFC North team, in no particular order, starting with the defending AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers:

PITTSBURGH STEELERS
The Steelers have looked like their typical selves during the preseason. The question is can they translate that to the regular season? The Steelers may suffer from the Super Bowl hangover in an up and coming division. With a plethora of young, fast, and methodical receivers, ben Roethlisberger hopes to lead his team back to the promised land. Of course, this team has always been about defense, and features a defense that returns relatively intact from their Super Bowl run. Led by Troy Polamalu, James Harrison, and a slew of other studs, look for this team to scare others in a division of high playoff hopes.

CINCINNATI BENGALS
Did I say "a division of high playoff hopes"? Hmm...my bad. Looks like the Bengals ruined that picture. Carson Palmer literally screwed this team (or, perhaps it was Mike Brown). Without him, and with new quarterback Andy Dalton of TCU, the team looks destined to struggle this season. Gone are top offensive and defensive playmakers (Chad Ochocinco and Johnathan Joseph), with a bunch of young, unproven talent in place (particularly on offense). Manny Lawson and Nate Clements come in from the Bay Area to help a struggling defense.

BALTIMORE RAVENS
The team that will challenge the Steelers the most should undoubtedly be this Ravens team. After all, the defense is still studly (Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Haloti Ngata, and Terrell Suggs form the core of this unit), and the offense is up and coming with the development of Joe Flacco and runningback Ray Rice. Lee Evans provides a threat across from Anquan Boldin. Hell, even the kicker, Billy Cundiff, can be an consistent offensive threat.

CLEVELAND BROWNS
It was not too long ago that the 2007 Browns shocked the NFL world by going 10-6, only to miss the playoffs. And although that team was purely a fluke, this Browns team could be much better. Long gone is Derek Anderson, with Colt McCoy ready to take the helm of this team. Bruiser Peyton Hillis can be a real weapon on this team, but he needs some backfield buddies to provide depth (will Brandon Jackson heal in time, and will Montario Hardesty stay healthy?). The only thing will be to also groom a defense of up and coming playmakers like Joe Haden, and continue to use special teams extraordinaire Josh Cribbs effectively.


AFC NORTH TITLE: Pittsburgh Steelers

• The Steelers will be looking over their shoulders at the Ravens more this season, but it shouldn't be much of a problem. The Steelers have a creampuff schedule, and, with consistent play, should easily take this division.

WILD CARD TEAMS: Baltimore Ravens

• The Ravens will once again enter the playoffs right behind the Steelers, and could at least stick around for a while. The Browns are a work in progress, but they are showing signs of improvement. The Bengals have had their ups and downs through the years, but it's hard to ignore this current downward spiral.

UTTQ 2011 NFL Predictions: NFC West

The 2011 season may have not begun, but our 2011 NFL Regular Season predictions have. Here's a brief summary of each NFC West team, in no particular order, starting with the defending division champion Seattle Seahawks:

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
The Seahawks managed to sneak into the playoffs last season with a losing record, and upset the heavily favored Saints. This year, the Hawks will rely on Tarvaris Jackson/Charlie Whitehurst to navigate their way through an up-for-grabs division. With Sidney Rice, Zach Miller, and Mike Williams at his disposal (along with Marshawn Lynch), look for Jackson to put up respectable passing numbers. Of course, Jackson must also hope his hodgepodge O-line can hold together as well.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
The Niners have a new coach, but the same old quarterback. Hopefully this marriage will pan out between Jim Harbaugh and Alex Smith, but also don't count out the rookie Colin Kaepernick. Braylon Edwards will be the new no. 1, and with Frank Gore getting his contract dispute settled, he'll once again be the workhorse of this offense. Patrick Willis is the leader of the defense, which improves in the secondary with the likes of Carlos Rogers, Donte Whitner, and Madieu Williams.

ST. LOUIS RAMS
The Rams have a beacon of hope in second year quarterback Sam Bradford, but they must first figure out who he will throw to. Danny Amendola, Brandon Gibson, and Mike Sims-Walker look to be the safe picks for now. The Rams also made several intriguing additions to their defense, adding the likes of Ben Leber, Justin Bannan, Al Harris, Brady Poppinga, and Zac Diles. Perhaps most important was the addition of safety Quintin Mikell, a student of coach Steve Spagnuolo in Philadelphia.

ARIZONA CARDINALS
Arizona believes it has finally found a successor to Kurt Warner in Kevin Kolb. With Larry Fitzgerald anchored by a long term contract, the Kolb-Fitz combination could dominate the NFC West for years to come. The running game takes a hit with a season-ending (and, possibly career ending) injury to running back Ryan Williams, which means Beanie Wells must step up. On defense, corner Patrick Peterson looks like he can have an immediate impact.


NFC WEST TITLE: Arizona Cardinals

• The Cards start the season with a relatively soft schedule, until their bye in week 6. After that, if they can survive a few tough weeks and finish strong, they have a real chance of winning the West. It also depends on Kolb's development, since there is no insurance if he goes down or sucks.

WILD CARD TEAMS: None

• The Rams have a very tough schedule that will test their ability to play possible playoff teams (of which they didn't have much success against last year). The Seahawks have no quarterback(s). And the Niners arguably have no QBs either (although they do have a favorable schedule).