2014 NFL Season Preview

Football is back.

Four nights ago, the New York Giants defeated the Buffalo Bills 17-13 under the lights of the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton.  Training camps have been under way for a little over two weeks, and already plenty of intriguing stories have been making rounds.  Here are some of the top questions surrounding camps heading into the preseason and eventually the 2014 regular season.


-Which rookie quarterbacks will start for their teams this season?
There is a youth movement at the quarterback position in the NFL.  More and more franchise GMs are willing to risk letting a rookie quarterback lead their offense.  The 2011 season saw three rookie quarterbacks throw over 300 passing attempts.  The 2012 season had five.  Last season had three, and even that was a lacking draft class at the position.  I wouldn't be surprised if this season puts up another three or four.  The Jaguars made it clear Blake Bortles was their future under center by drafting him third overall.  The Browns, while reports say Brian Hoyer may be having the better training camp and will start the team's  first preseason game, will probably start Johnny Manziel a majority of the season, unless Hoyer is consistent and puts on a pro bowl worthy performance(which I wouldn't be surprised to see).  The Vikings snatched up in my opinion the best rookie passer in the draft in Teddy Bridgewater, and there's no reason he shouldn't be starting week one.  The Raiders rookie quarterback Derek Carr may have a bit more work to do to supplant Matt Schaub as Oakland's man.  Lastly, I will bring up a far less popular rookie in Tajh Boyd.  Boyd is currently fourth on the Jets' depth chart behind Geno Smith, Michael Vick, and Matt Simms.  He probably won't get much if any playing time this season, but if he impresses in the preseason, if Smith under-performs, and if Vick gets injured, Boyd may just have a chance to show Rex Ryan he is the future quarterback for the Jets.

Johnny Manziel performs in a passing drill at Cleveland Browns training camp.

-Who is the best cornerback in the league?
We've heard it from just about everyone this summer.  The Jets' second year man Dee Milliner, who only had three interceptions last season, said it.  Even Packers offensive guard T.J. Lang had to tweet it:

Since everybody else is saying it, I might as well join. I am the best corner in the NFL.
— TJ Lang (@TJLang70) July 2, 2014

There are a few front-runners for this title; Richard Sherman of the Seahawks, Patrick Peterson of the Cardinals, Joe Haden of the Browns, and Darrelle Revis of the Patriots.  But one, by statistics and overall public opinion, holds the crown: Richard Sherman.  In 2013 he led the league in interceptions(8) and tied for 2nd in pass deflections(24).  Over the past three seasons, Sherman intercepted one of every eight passes thrown his way.  He has incredible instincts to go along with his sizable frame of 6'3", 195 lbs.  Sherman plays similarly to how DBs like Charles Woodson and Asante Samuel used to play; high risk, high reward, and with Sherman it's mostly the latter.  However, Patrick Peterson is close.  He can shadow a receiver better than anyone, and he plays all over the field, drawing comparisons to Deion Sanders.  The stats weren't all there last season, but the stats don't tell everything.  This argument will surely become a heated competition come week one.

Sherman and the Seattle Seahawks lost a few cogs in their "Legion of Boom", including Brandon Browner(right) to the New England Patriots.

-Can the Seattle Seahawks repeat as Super Bowl Champions?
Over the past ten seasons, the task of repeating the previous season's performance as the team at the top has become more and more improbable.  The Super Bowl Champions have a target slapped on their backs, often a small exodus occurs, and in the end they even struggle to make the postseason the following year.  This season, the Seattle Seahawks are given the chance to break history.  However, many of the other 31 contenders will be looking to deny them that title.  The defending AFC Champion Denver Broncos have licked their wounds from one of the most lopsided Super Bowls in recent memory, and maybe even got better, with ex-Steeler receiver/return man Emmanuel Sanders replacing Eric Decker, Cowboys legend DeMarcus Ware joining the defense, and Peyton Manning returning just as hungry as ever.  Within that same division, Jamaal Charles and the Kansas City Chiefs are looking to prove last season was no fluke.  The Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons want to prove their 2013 seasons were just that.  The New England Patriots now boast an impressive secondary of their own.  Mark December 7th on the calendar; the Seahawks travel to Lincoln Financial Field to take on the new-look Philadelphia Eagles in what could be the game of the year.  The Eagles not only gave Nick Foles the starting job this offseason, but also added more ammunition in rookies Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff, gained a year's worth of experience in Chip Kelly's bizarre but effective play style, and slotted Darren Sproles next to LeSean McCoy in what will be a terror for opposing defenses.  The New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts also got better in numerous areas.  The San Francisco 49ers and Carolina Panthers, despite having taken a step back since last year, still are both extremely formidable threats.  Some even claim the Browns and Jaguars have evolved into playoff teams.

The Saints and Eagles are each considered top five favorites to win the Super Bowl.  Here, then-Saint now-Eagle Darren Sproles fights through defenders in the 2013 wild card matchup between the two teams.

The next four weeks will be tests not only for teams as a whole but for individuals.  As the Cinicinnati Bengals' head coach Marvin Lewis said, "you learn the team and how to play the game in training camp, but you make the team in the preseason games".  As teams gear up for their first preaseason matches tonight and into the weekend, all of them are fighting for the title of Super Bowl XLIX Champions.