The AFC West

by Brian (DaBolts) on Jan 23, 2009 7:42 AM PST

In going through the mock drafts you can't help but notice that Kansas City and Oakland are going to be picking up some pretty tasty talent again this draft. With Oakland you have to wonder how many top ten picks they can get without actually, you know, getting better. The Chargers went 5-1 against AFC West opponents last year, obviously that means 3-7 against the rest of the league. To be fair five of those seven losses made the playoffs; the Chargers played some good teams this year.

Even with that record, those games never look like sure bets to me. We were 2-0 against Kansas City, but won those games by the barest of margins. A deflected pass in the home game or missing the recovered onside kick in the away game and we would have been watching the Denver Broncos taking on the Colts. The games against the Raiders were by bigger margins, but the Bolts trailed the Raiders for much of the game in Oakland. Denver handed the Chargers their only AFC West loss, but went on to get thumped in the final game of the season. Still as we look at next year the Chargers have a very tough divisional winners schedule coupled with improving foes in the AFC West. The question becomes, is there a team on the cusp that this draft will dramatically improve? Denver has already let go their Super Bowl winning coach and KC and Oakland might bring on new head coaches and management that will make more of what they already have.

Kansas City gets the third overall pick in the draft and the Raiders get the seventh. Kansas City has taken on some of the talent scouting of the Patriots by hiring Pioli while the Broncos have taken the Pats Offensive Coordinator as their Head Coach. The Broncos go with the 12th pick while the Chargers will get the 16th, but will be sorely missing their second rounder. Both KC and the Raiders might hit a big impact player, the top of this draft looks talented. Oakland's main problem is their offensive line, and they could easily pick up a great tackle. Kansas City really needs a pass rush, Orakpo looks like the best player to help there. Last years story was the turn around of the Dolphins who came off a 1-15 campaign to win their division. The question of the day is which team do you think will be the biggest threat to the Chargers next season?

Poll

Who is the biggest threat to take the AFC West from the Chargers?

Kansas City is coming on, with Pioli picking the talent they are going to turn it around big!

15 votes

The Raiders will finally put it together, Russell will come on strong.

10 votes

The Broncos have the offense, they will revamp their defense under a new coach.

51 votes

Who is kidding whom; the Chargers own this division.

31 votes

107 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Chargers Biggest Threat

could be just like this year…. The Chargers.

by Jonny Dub on Jan 23, 2009 8:04 AM PST reply actions

Ha

Didn’t think of that, good point.

"Football is a physical sport, sometimes you have a disagreement on what's going on, and you have a discussion about it." Kris Dielman

by Brian (DaBolts) on Jan 23, 2009 9:20 AM PST up reply actions

Chargers should win the division again next year

The Broncos need to rebuild their D and their O will prob be a bit of a mess this year.

The Raiders will not be competative again as long as Davis is calling the shots.

KC does not scare me next year but they are already starting to get the frame work in place and are reallt a good draft or two away from really becoming a very good team (im thinking they are in the same spot as the 2003 Chargers).

by Grey Suit on Jan 23, 2009 8:18 AM PST reply actions

KC

I think they worry me more than anybody. The offense looks nearly there, and they have some hard hitting safeties coupled with some good young corners. I’m with you on not being sure if it happens next season or the one after that.

"Football is a physical sport, sometimes you have a disagreement on what's going on, and you have a discussion about it." Kris Dielman

by Brian (DaBolts) on Jan 23, 2009 9:23 AM PST up reply actions

agreed... KC played better than their record this year

I of course voted the Broncos, I expect improvements on D and fewer injuries — especially at RB, but KC played tough in many games this year. With a decent off-season (draft, FA, etc.) they may have a chance to be next year’s Dolphins. I wouldn’t mind seeing the AFC West as a whole be more competitive…. except for the Raiders.

by Leukadian on Jan 23, 2009 9:34 AM PST up reply actions

KC

Their offense was a little “smoke and mirrors” this season. With a whole offseason to look at the film of Thigpen and that offense it is likely that they won’t be able to get by that way in 2009. And that’s assuming they don’t replace Thigpen with a rookie, which will set them back some. And who knows what will happen with Larry Johnson. Plus, Gonzalez will be another year older. Like was previously said, they are building up a core, but I think this team is closer to being like the 2001 or 2002 Chargers than the 2003 version.

1-10-DEN 18 (9:52) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right intended for 19-E.Royal INTERCEPTED by 93-L.Castillo (95-S.Phillips) at DEN 18. 93-L.Castillo to DEN 14 for 4 yards (62-C.Wiegmann). 6-J.Cutler pouts ob to DEN 25 for 11 yards.

by Wonko on Jan 23, 2009 11:14 AM PST up reply actions

That being said

I still voted for them. We just don’t match up well with them. I get the feeling that Shanny was pulling the Broncos up to mediocrity more than he was pulling them down. Neither of which is a good thing, but it could drop the W’s next year.

The interesting thing is that the schedule has the NFC East, AFC North gauntlet. So it’ll be interesting to see how the AFC West teams fair against those bullies. The NFC South and AFC East should have been a cakewalk compared to them and the AFC West did not hold up well in 2008.

by Wonko on Jan 23, 2009 11:18 AM PST up reply actions

Denver

It could be I’m reading too much into the last game, but the Bronco defense looks at least a year away and maybe more. Champ Bailey is the only player that might be great if he can stay healthy, even he looks a little long in the tooth. There isn’t anybody that plays like a premier player on defense. I could see letting any Bronco defender walk without being too worried about it. There are just too many missing pieces to fill via the draft and free agency. Couple that with new coaches and a switch to the 3-4 and it looks ugly. If they pull in a whole crew of new players and install a new scheme, even if they do it perfectly it is going to take a while to cohere. Maybe I’m overstating, preseason should be very interesting.

The offense is solid, they just need to cut down on the drops, fumbles and interceptions. Cutler needs to lead more and talk less, and obviously find a running back that can stay on the field. The offensive side they have down, plus their new coach’s expertise lies there; defensively the Broncos look like a train wreck to me. Long term they may have more potential than anyone, next season I’m not so sure.

"Football is a physical sport, sometimes you have a disagreement on what's going on, and you have a discussion about it." Kris Dielman

by Brian (DaBolts) on Jan 23, 2009 2:23 PM PST up reply actions

Everyone Scares Me

McDaniels will not be embarrassed. It’s just not happening. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that he’s renting a house and living with Cutler, Royal and Marshall just so everyone has the playbook memorized.

Oakland looked good, REALLY good, at certain parts of the season. They have all the right parts in some skill positions (QB, RB) and could be really dangerous if they could get something out of their O-line. Like….REALLY dangerous. Thankfully, I think they’re going to keep Cable, who looked good but certainly isn’t turning that ship around this year. If they somehow got Parcells away from Miami (as I’ve heard some rumors saying they’re trying to do just that), I’ll be terrified.

I think KC’s offense is ready. The things that killed them this year were injuries to their LBs and getting almost nothing out of Dorsey. If Dorsey can turn it around and they can add a good DE, they’re a 9-7 team.

I picked the Chargers though. We’re the team with the least amount of “What If”s. Even if nothing happens with LT and even if we get off to another slow start, Rivera and the rest of the old Bears coaching staff sure up the defense enough that we’re a 10 win team. That’s more than I can say about the other teams in the AFC without adding an “if”.

by John Gennaro on Jan 23, 2009 1:29 PM PST reply actions