A new idea I had in order to help me go through the NFL team's rosters and examine all the personnel and coaching changes, etc., one-by-one. I'm going to look at two teams head-to-head in seven key categories (my bias on what is ‘key'). The team that gets my vote in each category gets a ‘win'…the first team to 4 wins moves on to the next round. Just a quick, hopefully fun, way to take the temperature of each team heading into the 2023 preseason.
The seven categories…it's actually six because one category is so important that it's worth double:
1-2) The quarterback comparison…the winner of this gets 2 wins, or if too close to call it could be a 1-1 split.
3) O-Line -- Judging which team has the better O-Line…the most critical aspect of a team after the QB.
4) Cornerbacks -- After O-Line, I think the most critical position is shutdown corners (or not having any).
5) Head Coach/Organization -- A battle of which coaches will get in the way less, to some degree but also an edge given to teams that will attract free agents or be a desired destination in trades…and what teams are filling the stadium for home games, etc. Everything rolled into one judgment call.
6) Offensive Weapons -- Which team has the better, scarier RB-WR-TE group.
7) Kicker -- If it comes down to #7, of course the kicker should make the determination...as the kicker often determines the winner of a 59+ minute war prior with a last second make/miss.
As we lead into each category and tap a winner -- I'm also listing the major add/loss for each team in the offseason so far, just to eyeball it as a list.
Is this a brilliant way to judge teams over another? Who knows! But it struck me as something fun to do while studying each team this preseason, after the majority of offseason moves have been made.
MIA major adds: CB Ramsey, LB Long, QB M. White, CB Cam Smith, RB Achane
MIA major losses: LB Roberts, TE Gesicki
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NE major adds: CB C. Gonzalez, DE K. White, WR JuJu, TE Gesicki
NE major losses: LB Hightower, TE Jonnu, SAF McCourty, WR Jakobi, RB D. Harris, WR Agholor
QB (2x): You have to give the nod to Tua/Miami…when healthy, in that quick hitter offense…it's perfect and electric at times. The same cannot be said for Mac Jones, who could get beaten out by Bailey Zappe, and I like Zappe but he's not at Tua's level right now.
Miami takes a 2-0 lead.
O-Line: You usually cannot beat a Patriots O-Line, but that was more true back in the Brady days. It's still a good O-Line, but the anticipated starting OL group for Miami is just better. If Terron Armstead and Austin Jackson coulda stayed healthy last year (and Tua), Miami wins the AFC East.
Miami takes a resounding 3-0 lead.
CBs: This one isn't even close. How can you get better than the Miami duo of Ramsey-Howard? No need for much discussion.
Miami sweeps 4-0 to move on to the AFC East to meet Buffalo.
HC/Organization: Players are flocking to Miami…willingly. Mike McDaniel is a coach players want to play for. Conversely, players are fleeing/avoiding New England…they cannot get legit top free agents anymore. Bill Belichick is a coach not many players of this era want to go play for. Slam dunk advantage for Miami.
Miami is pitching a shutout 5-0.
Weapons: No contest…Miami has electric weapons at WR and solid RBs. The Pats have boring WRs and solid RBs and Miami's old, dull TE (Gesicki). I'll take Miami's group.
Miami continues to roll (6-0).
Kicker: And completing the shutout…Jason Sanders is a decent, experienced kicker with a strong leg. The Pats are transitioning to a rookie kicker, it appears.
Miami crushes the Patriots (7-0) and moves on to face Buffalo for the AFC East title.
