Exciting Outlooks of the 2014 NFL Season

Nate’s 9: Things I’m Excited for in 2014 NFL Season

                Even though this season isn’t complete, I’m already giddy in anticipation of what’s to come for 2014.  The main reason why? Because I am taking the passion out of my game.  E.J. Manuel vs Geno Smith you say?  Can’t wait!  The St. Louis Rams and Carolina Panthers duking it out in a defensive battle?  Yes please! Adrian Peterson vs LeSean McCoy… where’s the popcorn?  Here are 9 stories that I think everyone will get excited about when the new season rolls around.

#9. Bill O’Brien as the Houston Texans HC – I actually enjoyed having him as a coach at Penn State.  For all the crap that he had to deal with, upon all the penalties that the University were given (and I’m in partial agreement with that – there should have been penalties, but more against the university and less against the football team) he did a great job recruiting, and Penn State won a lot of games.  He is probably going to be given the greatest gift of any new head coach in the NFL: a talented roster, and the #1 pick in the draft.  Teddy Bridgewater should be joining up with the likes of Andre Johnson, Brian Cushing and JJ Watt.  They could be above .500 in a matter of months.

#8. The quarterback carousel around the league – Now that Jay Cutler is officially off the market, this off-season is about to get very interesting.  It appears that at least seven teams will be making quarterback changes this year, and with an abundance of over-the-hill and too-young-to-start QB’s available.  Teams will have a chance to sign the likes of Michael Vick, Matt Schaub and Jason Campbell or go with the unknown quantities of Johnny Manziel, Derek Carr and Blake Bortles through the draft.  None of these players scream Super Bowl, but neither did Alex Smith or Nick Foles before the season, and now the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs have one less thing to worry about going into the off-season.

#7. Jeff Fisher’s finished product in St. Louis – One must say that he has done a fantastic job putting talent on what was only recently one of the NFL’s least talented franchises.  Now they have top end talent in Tavon Austin, Zac Stacy, Chris Long, Robert Quinn, and Alec Ogletree.  They also inherit the #2 pick in this year’s draft with an eye on DE Jadeveon Clowney or LT Jake Matthews, two guys that will be slotted in as instant starters and upgrades.  It wouldn’t shock me to see the Rams go 10-6 next year with their schedule, or even make Carolina Panthers type improvements.

#6. The NFL’s realization that there aren’t that many answers in firing a HC – Look at the final 8 teams left standing.  While there is a lot to be said for how long and how successful each coach has been for the teams remaining (Mike McCoy – 1 year, Bill Belicheck 13 seasons), the fact is all 8 of them got there based on one thing.  QUARTERBACK!!  Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Andrew Luck, Philip Rivers, Colin Kaepernick, Cam Newton, Russell Wilson and Drew Brees are still in the playoffs.  Come to think of it, Aaron Rodgers, Nick Foles, Andy Dalton and Alex Smith went home.  It’s not that hard!  You can hire any head coach you want, but in today’s NFL, the easiest path to glory is through the man that holds the ball on every single play.  Clearly, we aren’t talking about the center.  Get one of these guys, and no longer are you the Oakland Raiders.  The Cleveland Browns.  The Dallas Cowboys.  J

#5. The Detroit Lions front 4 – It’s hard to imagine a team this talented going 7-9, with one of the easier schedules in the NFL this season.  But next year, depending on what they do at the other DE spot, they have a chance to have one of the great defensive lines of this generation.  Ziggy Ansah is growing into a sack master at his spot.  Although inconsistent, Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley have the promise to be more than dominant on the inside.  And while Willie Young is neither Cliff Avril or Kyle VandenBosch, he is young and adequate and should be able to get 5-10 sacks next season.  There’s no reason the Lions can’t take that next step and become a dominant team in the NFC for the next few seasons.  Well, maybe all the turnovers.  That might stop them.

#4. Sammy Watkins – Oh lordy!  I haven’t been this excited about a rookie since… well… Ad… ri… an… Pet…er…son.  Don’t let that one get out, but I am one of his biggest fans.  With that being said, Sammy Watkins is a ridiculous talent; he can catch, run, return and throw if he needs too, and my only hope is that he goes somewhere that will get the best out of his services unlike that one guy languishing in Jacksonville.  I forget his name already. 

#3. Johnny Manziel – I kind of feel bad for the team that drafts him.  Not because I think he will be a bust (I see him better than Rex Grossman, but not quite the slinger and winner that Brett Favre was), but because the expectations and the hype surrounding him will be so preposterous that he may fail spectacularly and fall into the realm of a Tim Tebow.  Whatever team does this (please don’t Oakland or Cleveland!), just be patient, don’t placed unattainable expectations on him, and just let him do what he does best: sling that f’in football.

#2. Andrew Luck – 3^rd year seasons are usually when the great quarterbacks take it to that next level a ’la Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning.  I think this kid is easily on their level, and may even do something more special that puts him in the MVP talk for next season.  Just watching him come back against the Kansas City Chiefs last weekend made me realize how blessed I am to be a fan of a sport that allows me to see the greatest type of leadership and commitment and faith to a cause in any paid profession, and how these truly great players only come around once or twice in a lifetime.  He may still yet win it this year, but I am already excited to see what he’s going to do for an encore.

#1. My investment in football analysis – I love the passion that people have for sports, and it’s so much fun to just sit down with people and share stories about our teams and experiences and memories and all the other great stuff that comes with being a fan of an NFL franchise or any professional sports franchise.  But like the true greats – the Bill Parcells’, the Bill Walsh’s, the Tom Landry’s and Vince Lombardi’s, I’m excited to see football through a different lens – one that allows us to see the sport in all of its glory and failure.  I want to see every run and throw for as they are, and not be pacing the living room or hiding my head in my crotch while I wait for the outcome of the play.  I want to smile when any team wins the Super Bowl and be able to appreciate the particular journey that it took that team to become the ones at the top of the summit for that season.  I want to know sports at the highest level, and be able to break players/plays/moments/situations down and understand them as the eyes of the Wooden’s, Torre’s, Bryant’s and Bowman’s once did.  I want to experience a Saints-Falcons game at the Superdome or a Patriots-Jets game in Foxboro and get goosebumps when the home team wins in the final seconds. I want to make new friendships in new cities and share experiences with my wife, sons or whoever goes on these trips with me. Most importantly, I am excited to make this change as a human being, and share my new pursuit of sports with my family.