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Tuesday Aug, 2015 2:11 PM | by | NO COMMENTS

Football Gameplan’s 2015 NFL Team Preview: Atlanta Falcons

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Reason for Optimism

New Coach, new attitude and a defense that looks to be strong at every level.  The Atlanta Falcons under Dan Quinn will be tougher, more physical and should be exciting to watch.  Oh by the way, their passing game is nothing to sneeze at either, so you can understand the optimism in Atlanta.

Cause for Concern

The offensive line, it’s health, growth and productivity could either make the season or break the season.  If this unit does well, for a full season, the Falcons will do just fine.

The Road to the Super Bowl for the Atlanta Falcons

1. Run Game Flourishes – If the Falcons are able to get a ground game going, develop the balance within their offense, they’ll be tough to beat.

2. Defense becomes Dominant – They have the pieces to get it done.  I think they’re really strong within the front 7 and have guys that can pick off passes on the back end.  This Falcons defense could be Top 10 by season’s end.

3. Treat Opponent the Same Way – The Falcons have to make sure to treat every game like the Super Bowl and not get relaxed verses a struggling team.  That’s the difference in what kept Atlanta out of the playoffs last year and helped Carolina get in.

Monday Aug, 2015 4:25 PM | by | NO COMMENTS

Football Gameplan’s 2015 NFL Team Preview: Tennessee Titans

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Reason for Optimism

The Titans finally got themselves a QB that has both the passing skills and running skills that they’ve lacked since Vince Young.  Having that threat back there at QB should make everyone better offensively.  A better offense means that the defense won’t be on the field as much. They’ve bolstered the offensive and the coaching staff by bringing in Dick Lebeau, so you can see why there’s a lot to optimistic about in Tennessee.

Cause for Concern

The Titans really don’t have a ‘game breaker’ at running back, other than Dexter McCluster but he’ll primarily be utilized situationally.  They are also very thing at edge rusher.  They can’t afford any injuries at either position.

The Road to the Super Bowl for the Tennessee Titans

1. Mariota Provides Stability – If the reigning Heisman Trophy winner is able to help bring balance to the offense and continuously get better every week, the Titans will win their fair share of game.

2. Horton & LeBeau’s Gumbo – If two the greatest football minds and their aggressive style are able to coexist and create something that’s feared within the division most importantly, then Tennessee could be very strong in 2 aspects of a game: Defense & Special Teams.

3. Running Game Awakens – Either Bishop Sankey or rookie David Cobb has to step up and put up at least 1200 yards in order for things to really take off in the Music City.

Sunday Aug, 2015 9:50 PM | by | NO COMMENTS

Football Gameplan’s 2015 NFL Team Preview: Jacksonville Jaguars

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Reason for Optimism

The Jags have revamped their offensive line and quietly, there’s a nice group of athletic and talented receivers, tight ends and running backs on the roster.  The expected growth of 2nd year quarterback Blake Bortles could make the Jaguars formidable; which definitely brings optimism to Duval.

Cause for Concern

The overall lack of depth defensively is the biggest concern going into the 2015 season.  Jacksonville can’t afford any injuries at the 1st and 2nd level of their defense otherwise it could be a problem.

The Road to the Super Bowl for the Jacksonville Jaguars

1. Bortles Graduates – If Blake Bortles becomes better with his decision-making, more consistent with his mechanics and a better protector of the football, there’s more than enough talent offensively for Jacksonville to put up a lot of points.

2. Defense Gets Better Each Week – Like I mentioned before, the Jags are thin depth-wise defensively within the front 7.  If they can avoid injury and reserve guys step up, seize the opportunity and play well, then there’s no doubt in my mind that with the tutelage of Gus Bradley, they’ll be tough to move the ball against.

3. Special Teams Become Special – It’s about winning 2/3 facets of a football game and for a young team like Jacksonville, you want 1 of those facets to be special teams. From punting to the return game, the Jaguars have to make sure their special teams is the most consistent unit week-to-week. Offense or defense may struggle week-to-week depending on the opponent, but if your special teams are consistent, it helps pick up the slack in other areas.

Tuesday Aug, 2015 2:04 AM | by | NO COMMENTS

Football Gameplan’s 2015 NFL Team Preview: Indianapolis Colts

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Reason for Optimism

The Colts made it to the AFC Championship last season and have improved in the areas that needed improvement.  There’s talent well-stocked throughout the roster and armed with a revamped run game, there is a lot of reason for optimism in Indy.

Cause for Concern

The main concern would be if, even with the new additions to the run game, the Colts remain a pass happy team.  Balance will help get them over the hump.  The other concern would be if the offensive line can’t find its stability with the reshuffling.

The Road to the Super Bowl for the Indianapolis Colts

1. Running Game Flourishes – This has been an evident missing piece for this Colts football team for 3 seasons.  With Frank Gore and others in the fold, it doesn’t look that way anymore…at least for this season.

2. Young Defenders Mature – If guys like Bjoern Werner, Jonathan Newsome, Josh Chapman and others are able to build on the success they had at the end of 2014, the Colts will have a vicious defensive rotation with a ton of depth.

3. Staying Multiple – The good part about the Colts offensive weapons is that they’re able to play any style of game: Up Tempo, Spread, Power, West Coast.  That multiplicity creates all sorts of problems for a defense which could help get them ultimately where they want to be.

Monday Aug, 2015 2:07 PM | by | NO COMMENTS

Football Gameplan’s 2015 NFL Season Preview: Houston Texans

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Reason for Optimism

Houston has a really good running game and strong defense; potentially strong at every level.  This team only needs adequate play from the Quarterback position to make some serious noise in the AFC.

Cause for Concern

The biggest concern would be if the Texans can’t settle in on a QB and have that ‘competition’ carry on throughout the season.  That helps no one.  Also, defensively if they’re not able to get additional production outside of JJ Watt — more in particular at the 2nd level — it could be an issue.

The Road to the Super Bowl for the Houston Texans

1. QB Play Saves the Day – And by that, I mean just be adequate, stay ahead of the chains and don’t turn the ball over.  If this happens, either with Hoyer or Mallett, they can go far.

2. Arian Foster Stays Healthy – If Foster is healthy and active for all 16 games, the Texans should be able to control the clock and keep their defense very fresh to close out ball games.

3. Jadeveon Clowney Arrives – The former #1 overall pick has dealt with nagging injuries so far, but if he’s cleared and ready to go by week 1, then there’s no doubt in my mind he’ll start to realize his immense potential and really make this Texans defense “Super”.

Saturday Aug, 2015 4:11 PM | by | NO COMMENTS

Football Gameplan’s 2015 NFL Team Preview: Minnesota Vikings

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Reason for Optimism

The Vikings played some good ball last season despite breaking in a rookie QB and playing without arguably the best running back in the NFL.  This year Bridgewater is much more comfortable, they’ve added additional offensive weapons, the offensive line is back healthy and oh-by-the-way, Adrian Peterson returns.  Add all of that to the fact that their defense was pretty solid and you can understand the optimism.

Cause for Concern

The biggest cause for concern, at least in my opinion, would be if the offensive line falters once again.  Last year it was mainly because of injury but there were some spots where injury wasn’t an excuse.  You also wonder if there will be any rust from Peterson’s game that he’ll have to dust off because of the layoff.

The Road to the Super Bowl for the Minnesota Vikings

1. Bridgewater Takes Huge Leap – If he’s able to follow the trek of Russell Wilson and Ben Rothelisberger in what they did their 2nd season, then they’ll be more than ready to compete in January.

2. Defense Continues to Grow – This is the 2nd year in Mike Zimmer’s system and if they’re able to build on what they did last season, they’ll have a Top 5 defense.  They have a ton of talent at all 3 levels.

3. Adrian Peterson Goes Wild – The reason why this is important is because it helps control and close out games.  If the Vikings can do this, they’ll find themselves playing for a Super Bowl title.

Friday Jul, 2015 4:03 PM | by | NO COMMENTS

Football Gameplan’s 2015 NFL Season Preview: Green Bay Packers

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Reason for Optimism

The Packers ‘should’ have represented the NFC in the Super Bowl last year but didn’t quite finish.  The bulk of that team returns along with great rookie talent.  This is a team that has the look to get back to the NFCCG.

Cause for Concern

The only concern would be at the 2nd level if Green Bay can’t figure out the right combination of players outside of Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers.

The Road to the Super Bowl for the Green Bay Packers

1. Close Out Games – This is an obvious one if you’re just basing it on one game — which I am — but you don’t want something like that to happen in any ball game.  The best way to do so is to lean on both Eddie Lacy, James Starks and that offensive line to finish.

2. Defensive Line Dominates – If BJ Raji and Datone Jones bring their 1st Round talent type play this season, there’s more than enough talent at the 2nd and 3rd levels to benefit from that.

3. Dominate the Return Game – Again, Ty Montgomery, Micah Hyde, Jeff Janis, Adrian Coxson, John Crockett, Jared Abbrederis, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb the list goes on and on with viable options in the return game.  Byproduct is that coverage units will also be excellent with the depth at both receiver, linebacker and in the secondary.

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