Immediate Impact Rookies: Quandre Diggs

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From the first overall pick in the NFL Draft to a 6th round pick by the Detroit Lions. I am all over the board here, damn. Well it's a good thing Diggs is helping my cause, as he is already turning heads at the Lions camp. The reason why Quandre Diggs was a 6th round pick, is because scouts say he lacks the ideal size and speed to play outside. With that being said, the importance of a slot cornerback is only increasing in todays NFL, and I believe that he is going to make a really good one too.

I've glazed over the negatives, which is he lacks ideal size and speed to play outside. What he does have are incredible instincts and he attacks the ball. He is a very intelligent player on the field and has quick feet and fluid hips too, which are ideal characteristics for a slot cornerback. He is a fairly polished product (four year starter at Texas) and can come in and contribute immediately for the Lions.

He is also in a great situation with the Detroit Lions too. Detroit had a top 3 defense last season, and even though they lost Suh and Fairley, they should still be very good. They are getting Stephen Tulloch back from his injury, and they get another year of development out of a lot of key players like Darius Slay, Ezekiel Ansah and Kyle Van Noy. Detroit also lacks a good slot cornerback (sorry Bill Bentley) and they desperately need one in a division with Randall Cobb. Diggs can learn from Rashean Mathis who is an incredible veteran presence and has clearly taught Darius Slay a lot. They also have an incredible defensive coordinator in Teryl Austin, who will be able to utilize Quandre Diggs to his strengths and put him in positions to succeed.

The big thing holding Quandre Diggs back from becoming a star, is he has a limited ceiling. His lack of elite athleticism and size will keep him inside, and keep his ceiling limited. This article isn't about whether he will become a star or not, but instead it's that he will have a huge impact for the Detroit Lions straight out of the gate. Diggs is a physical playmaker that fits what Detroit is trying to do on defense, and he will impress people with his ability in the slot in 2015.

Offseason Outlook 2015: Detroit Lions

Offense

The Detroit Lions as a team were the biggest surprise of the 2014 season. Yet somehow, their offense still underachieved. Matthew Stafford had his best statistical season since he threw for 41 touchdowns in 2011. The addition of Golden Tate really helped him. Tate established himself as a top 20 WR in the NFL, and the Lions needed him to step up because Calvin Johnson was playing hurt a lot of last season. Even though Johnson was playing hurt, he is still Calvin Freaking Johnson. He still had over a thousand yards, and went on some dominant stretches of football. Combined with Golden Tate, they are the best wide receiver duo in the NFL, and I'm excited to see what they do if both are healthy.  As extra wide receiver depth, they have Corey Fuller, Lance Moore, Jeremy Ross, and Ryan Broyles. Those players are okay for depth, but aren't reliable starters at this point, and as long as Tate and Johnson are healthy, the Lions don't need them to be. At tight end, the Lions have really invested in the position over recent years. Eric Ebron has a chance to be a star. Even after a very underwhelming rookie season, Ebron has the talent to become one of the best TE's in the NFL. I think he'll make a big jump in 2015, and become a top 10 tight end in the NFL already. The Lions also have Brandon Pettigrew and Joseph Fauria at the position. I'm a big fan of Fauria, he's an absolute monster of an end zone target, and I think he is underused in Detroit. Pettigrew is solid, he's athletic but can struggle with drops and staying healthy too. At running back, the Lions aren't looking great, but they look better than last season. Joique Bell and Ameer Abdullah are both very talented running backs and compliment each other well. Bell is a tough, contact runner and he'll be used in most of the short yardage situations. Abdullah has a chance to be one of the better running backs in the NFL, and he is the best pure runner on the team. He's shifty, has top notch speed, and he will immediately be one of the best pass catching running backs in football. Seriously, take 30 seconds and look up his game winning run in college, it's awesome and it shows you what he can really do. Speaking of pass catching RB's, Detroit also has Theo Riddick who really gained Stafford's trust as the season went on. Riddick really doesn't take up any carries, he's just basically a wide receiver in the backfield. The Lions have invested a lot into their offensive line this offseason. At left tackle, they have a solid player in Riley Reiff. He could potentially be a dominant guard, but he has improved since his rookie season and is a reliable blindside protector. At left guard, Detroit just drafted Laken Tomlinson and he should slot in as an immediate upgrade for them. He has a heavy anchor, andis going to give a boost to their run blocking and pass protection. Travis Swanson will take over the center position this season, and he is a talented young player. At right guard, Larry Warford has proven that he is one of the best, young guards in the National Football League. He is an absolute thumper in the run game, and he shuts down interior pass rushers too. To close out the O-line, LaAdrian Waddle has turned into an average starter, and he should be reliable for the 2015 season. The Lions also traded for Manny Ramirez for added depth on the interior line. This offense has the talent to be a top 10 offense in football, BUT they had the talent to be a top 10 offense last season too. If Calvin Johnson is healthy, that alone will have a huge impact on their offense. Abdullah is also in a good position to give a shot of life to this team, as he is the most explosive runner on a pass first team. They have a decent O-line, and between Stafford, Johnson, Tate, Ebron, and Abdullah, I can't see how they won't improve on last season's numbers. I predict a top 12 finish for this offense, which is at least a ten spot improvement from 2014.

Defense

One of the biggest surprises from the 2014 NFL season was the Detroit Lions defense. They had the 3rd best defense, and were one point allowed away from the 2nd best defense. It was obvious that this team had a really good front 7 last season, but the secondary stepped up in a huge way. At cornerback, they have Darius Slay and Rashean Mathis. Slay has turned into a great number one CB, although the one thing he really lacks is ball skills. He has two career interceptions, and even though he was shutting down opposing ones, the lack of forcing turnovers will keep him from joining the elites at cornerback. Rashean Mathis continues to defy his age by putting forth another solid season. A sleeper rookie I like is Quandre Diggs. If he wins the starting slot cornerback job, he could be a high impact player from day 1. At safety, Detroit has one of the more underrated safeties in football in Glover Quin. He had 7 interceptions last season, and even though that number is unrealistic to expect for 2015, he is still a great player to have roaming the field for you. Beside him, James Ihedigbo put forth a solid year, and has turned into a reliable safety. The backbone of this defense has shifted from the defensive line, to the linebackers. Stephen Tulloch injured himself celebrating last season (He really did, tried the discount double check when they were playing the Packers) but he is a great inside linebacker when healthy. DeAndre Levy is one of the best 4-3 outside linebackers in football, and beside Tulloch for a full season will give them a huge tackling duo that will shut down the run. Levy is also terrific in coverage, as evidenced by his 6 interceptions in 2013. Opposite Levy, Kyle Van Noy or Tahir Whitehead should be the starter, and both of those players have talent and will be solid starters. The Lions had two huge losses this offseason in Suh and Fairley. With that being said, their D-line isn't in horrible shape. Ezekiel Ansah is a star defensive end, and will be the anchor of their line for as long as they have him on their team. Opposite Ansah, Jason Jones or Devin Taylor will be getting most of the snaps, and both of those players are fairly underwhelming and that position is a weak spot of this defense. At defensive tackle, the Lions made a bold move and traded for Haloti Ngata after they lost out on the Ndamukong Suh sweepstakes. I loved this move, and even if Ngata doesn't bring the same level of production, the Lions still needed an interior threat on their defensive line to bring some more heat on opposing QB's. Detroit also made another underrated move by signing Tyrunn Walker. He isn't an elite defensive tackle by any means, but he could be a solid player with Detroit and he was one of the better pass rushing DT's in 2014 too. This defense should see some regression after losing Suh and Fairley, but it is still a very good D. Teryl Austin, Detroit's defensive coordinator, deserves a lot of credit as he has raised the level of play of almost every defender on this team in his current tenure. I think that people are expecting more regression just because of the loss of Suh, but this is still a talented team that is also getting back one of their better defenders in Tulloch. I still do expect a top 10 finish for the Lions defense in 2015.

The 2015 Detroit Lions are a good competitive team. I don't think that last season was a blip on the radar, and 2015 will prove that. Even still, I think this team will have a tough time making the playoffs. I'm grouping the Lions with the Vikings, Cowboys, and Cardinals as the teams that will be fighting for wild card spots in the NFC. They are definitely in the hunt for a playoff spot, and it would not shock me at all if they won a wild card spot, but if I have to split hairs I think they have a tougher schedule and a little less talent than those three teams. The Lions aren't in a bad position though. Stafford is a good young QB, and he is definitely no Andy Dalton. They have elite talent at WR with Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate. They also have stars on defense with Ansah, Levy, Tulloch, and Slay. This is a young team that is going to be good for a while, but they still seem like they are a couple pieces away from being truly great.

Offseason Outlook 2015: Green Bay Packers

Offense

This is the best offense in the league. Aaron Rodgers is, in my humble opinion, the best quarterback in the NFL, and it isn't that close. He has a cannon of an arm, incredible pocket presence and awareness, can throw footballs into windows that no other player can, and is one of the smartest players in the National Football League. He also has the best hard count in all of football. That isn't one of the most vital attributes to have, but it's awesome to watch. What could be better than having the best QB in the NFL? How about having the best wide receiver group in the NFL! I do believe that Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Davante Adams lead the best group of receivers in all of football. Nelson is "sneaky athletic", well actually he's just athletic and very fast, but announcers always seem surprised when he breaks away for a 60 yard touchdown. He also has the best body control out of any receiver in football, and that is a very underrated trait. Seriously, watch some YouTube videos of his sideline catches, they are awesome. He's really just an elite receiver, and does almost everything at an extremely high level. On top of that, the Packers have the best slot receiver in Randall Cobb. He isn't exclusively a slot receiver, but he dominates there. He is also a terrific end zone target for Rodgers, and when A-Rodg extends the play, he is amazing at getting open and being on the same page as his QB. The Packers also have Davante Adams, who I think is in for a huge year. He had a slow start to 2014, but really showed a lot of promise. His huge game against New England in week 13 showed what he can do, and expect him to take on a bigger role in 2015. As depth, the Packers also have a lot of young talent in Jared Abbrederis, Jeff Janis, and the recently drafted Ty Montgomery (Although his impact will be on primarily special teams). At tight end, the Packers don't have star talent. Andrew Quarless has shown himself to be a solid starter, and Richard Rodgers could potentially be very good, but at this point in time both players are only decent starters. In the backfield, the Packers have one of the NFL's brightest young stars in Eddie Lacy. He is so physical, and a terrific addition in the passing game too. Also, he has the best spin move in the NFL, it's so violent and quick. Behind him, Green Bay has James Starks who is one of the best backup running backs in football. Starks is so underrated, but he does everything well. He isn't elite or special at one specific thing, but he has the speed and elusiveness to break off long runs, the power to run between the tackles, and has great hands in the passing game. Green Bay's offensive line really helps these running backs shine. Their entire starter group is very strong. They have one of the best guards in football in Josh Sitton. He is the leader of this line, and is very strong in the running game, but he is almost unbeatable in protecting Aaron Rodgers. Opposite him, they have another amazing guard in T.J. Lang. Another great overall guard, and he goes through stretches where he completely shuts down opposing defensive players. At center, the Packers have sophomore Corey Linsley. He might have been the biggest surprise out of every rookie in the NFL. A 5th round pick in 2014, he started his career playing at Seattle, and the stage didn't look to big for him at all. I'm expecting some more development out of him and he has a chance to become an elite center, which would give the Packers arguably the best interior offensive line in football. At tackle, Green Bay has David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga. Bakhtiari is solid but not spectacular, although he is still young and should get even better next season. Bulaga may have been the best free agent signing in (Well, resigning) in the NFL, and he is a great right tackle in A-Rodg's offense. This offense is scary good. I can't see a weakness they have. They have the best QB in the NFL to pair with the best wide receiver group in the NFL. They will be the best offense in football next season, just like they were in 2014. I know that's not really a bold prediction, but I'm going for what is right not what is bold. I think the scariest part of this offense, is that every player on it is signed through at least 2016, so they will most likely be together for a long time too. This is a dynasty level offense, it's very young, led by the premier quarterback, has a great offensive line, a dynamic passing attack and an awesome run game. Like I said, scary.

Defense

No one will mistake this defense for being as good as their offense. With that being said, this is still a pretty good D. They finished in the top half of the league last season, and I think they could be even better in 2015. On the D-line, the Packers are still trying to find their footing. The past few years they have been desperately trying to draft good players on the defensive line, but they just haven't had great luck. Mike Daniels is the exception, as he has turned into an incredible defensive end. His motor seemingly never stops, and his repertoire of pass rush moves have grown to a point where he is a real threat in not just running situations anymore. Beside Daniels, the Packers signed B.J. Raji to a one year prove it deal. After being hurt for all of 2014, Raji will look to capture his 2010/11 form where he was one of the best nose tackles in football. As added depth, the Packers still have Letroy Guion who was solid in lieu of Raji's injury. Opposite Daniels, Datone Jones will seek to expand his role in this defense. He is another first round defensive line pick by the Packers, and he was solid last season but he has the ceiling to be a lot better. This linebacker group is an interesting conundrum. On the inside, the Packers are probably going to be playing Clay Matthews there in 2015, but that's not a problem as he was really good inside in 2014. They might miss him outside, but he'll still get snaps outside in obvious passing situations, and they desperately need him inside because of their lack of depth. Beside Matthews, Carl Bradford, Sam Barrington, or the recently drafted Jake Ryan will be playing. My bet is on Jake Ryan, I think he is the most talented of the bunch, but Bradford has a pretty good shot too. Those three players aren't reliable players at this point in their careers though, so the need for Clay on the inside is obvious. Outside, the Packers have Julius Peppers who had an incredible career resurgence, and Nick Perry who was a lot better than people think in 2014. Those two should bring the heat, and with Clay inside, the Packers have a trio of outstanding potential pass rushers. The Packers secondary seems very controversial. I'm a big fan of their versatility, but there are potential problems that they could run into that I will address. At cornerback, Green Bay has Sam Shields. He is a very physical player, and I think a very solid number one CB. As GB's number 2 cornerback Casey Hayward will take over for Tramon Williams. This is where it can get controversial. Hayward was the Packers best cornerback last year, but he did his work in the slot. There is a sense of unknown if his skills will translate to the outside. He dominated in the slot, but I think he has the ball skills and athleticism to be a very good CB opposite Shields. In the slot, Micah Hyde and Damarious Randall will see the most action. Hyde has been a very good SCB before, and Randall has the talent and ball skills to become a high impact player immediately. The versatility in this defense comes in Hyde, Randall, and 2nd round pick Quentin Rollins. All three of those players can play outside, in the slot, and at safety (Some people think that's where they fit best) and it gives the Packers a lot of options on how to approach opposing offenses. Dom Capers is a good defensive coordinator, so I believe that he will utilize the talent that the Packers have in their secondary to the best of their abilities. At safety, Green Bay has a great young duo in Morgan Burnett and Ha Ha (Ha'Sean) Clinton-Dix. Clinton-Dix has a chance to be really special, and I think he will make the biggest jump out of any Green Bay defender this season. Burnett had the best year of his career last season, and he has established himself as a leader of this defense. Another huge plus from the Packers investing in their secondary is that because their offense is so good, teams will be forced to play catch up and throw the ball. The Packers versatility and talent will allow them to be extremely opportunistic and force turnovers as well as shut down opposing air attacks. There is a lot to like about this Packers defense. They have a lot of pure talent in the secondary, and a ton of versatility there too. Up front, they have some star power with Daniels, Peppers and Matthews. Their inside linebacker depth is a tough pill to swallow, and their defensive line (Apart from Daniels) has some questions too, but this is a top 10 talent level defense with the pieces they have added. I'm not going to confuse them for Seattle or Kansas City's defense, because they aren't in the elite tier of defenses. I think they will sneak into the top 10 of defenses this season, and they will be led by that young, talented secondary. 

The 2015 Green Bay Packers are the best team in the NFL. Their offense will receive all of the headlines, and rightfully so, but their defense will be very good in 2015 too. This team seems almost destined for a Super Bowl Berth. They are one of the few elite teams that improved going into the 2015 season, and they were so close to a Super Bowl appearance last season before their collapse. That collapse happened with Aaron Rodgers playing basically on one leg too. If Rodgers stays completely healthy this season, then I don't see how any defense, even Seattle, can stop this offense. Green Bay is in an amazing situation right now. The Bears are in shambles, the Lions lost their best defensive player to free agency, and the Vikings still seem about a year away from really competing. The Packers just have to stay healthy, and play up to their standards and they have the best shot at the number one seed in the NFC, home field advantage throughout the playoffs, and a Super Bowl appearance in the Bay Area.

Offseason Outlook 2015: Minnesota Vikings

Offense

The Vikings may have struck gold in the 2014 NFL draft. Teddy Bridgewater stepped into a struggling offense, and he looked the part. The O-line was atrocious last season, but Bridgewater stayed cool under pressure, and even without All Day he led a solid offense. This season, expect Teddy's development to continue even more. Minnesota has added quite a few weapons this offseason, but none will have a bigger impact than the return of Adrian Peterson. All Day is one of the best running backs in the NFL, and he will be fresh as he's coming off a year off from football. Last year, Matt Asiata had 9 rushing touchdowns. Matt Freaking Asiata. In this Norv Turner offense, Adrian Peterson could have one of the best years of his career. On top of that, Peterson has only had a passing offense like this one year in his career with Brett Favre. In that year, he rushed for 18 touchdowns. Expect something similar this year. Out wide, the Vikings swapped Greg Jennings for Mike Wallace. I don't normally like Wallace, but I think he could be a great fit in this offense. His speed can be utilized better in Turner's offense, and Bridgewater needs a guy who can stretch the field. Wallace and Tannehill weren't good with downfield passes, but I don't think it was entirely Wallace's fault. I think that they just didn't sync up and it is a situation that can be solved with a change of scenery. Opposite Wallace, Charles Johnson will see the bulk of the work. He's a solid wide receiver, and Minnesota's coaching staff apparently loves him too. The most polarizing receiver on this team is Cordarrelle Patterson. Anybody who played fantasy football last year knows the struggle with him, but he should be expected to have a better year than 2014. At tight end, the Vikings have Kyle Rudolph. He is coming off of his second straight season in which he got hurt, but I still like his ceiling. Norv Turner is notorious for getting the most out of his TE's (Antonio Gates, Jordan Cameron) and Kyle Rudolph is a big, athletic pass catcher that will be a great red zone target for Bridgewater. The real issues with this offense com at the line. Matt Kalil really struggled last season, but the Vikings are rolling with him again this year and they should. He is still a very talented player, but they smartly invested a lot of picks in their O-line as a backup plan. Beside Kalil, David Yankey will be taking over the left guard spot this season. In college, he was a very good guard, except he needed to work on his footwork and hand placement, he also isn't the best athlete at guard, but he could be solid. At center, the Vikings have John Sullivan who is one of the better centers in the NFL. He is a great pass blocker, solid against the run, and a very smart player at the line too. On the right side of the line, the Vikings have two very good players. Brandon Fusco and Phil Loadholt, at guard and tackle respectively, are both strong offensive lineman. Loadholt especially is a terror in the run game, and he just runs through people. This offense has a chance to take the biggest step forward in 2015. The growth of Teddy Bridgwater, and the return of Adrian Peterson are enough to make me lean that way. Both of those players will benefit from the other, so much so that I think this can be a top 10 offense. Bridgewater will end up being the best quarterback from the 2014 draft class, and Adrian Peterson could end up being one of the best running backs of all time. Deadly combination.

Defense

Mike Zimmer can transform a defense pretty quickly. This is such a young defense, but it was top 10 last year, and it is pretty much guaranteed to get better, barring any huge injuries. On the defensive line, this D has a strong front four. Everson Griffin is the star of the defensive line. He is coming off of a huge 12 sack season, and that was only his first season playing starter snaps. He should be even better in 2015, as the rest of the defense continues to develop. Opposite him, Brian Robison is a solid defensive end. Not spectacular, but he's reliable. The Vikings have two really strong defensive tackles in the middle. Linval Joseph and Sharrif Floyd are both very good. Sharrif Floyd especially could develop into a star. He was terrific against both the run and the pass last season, and if he develops a larger repertoire of pass rush moves, he could be a top 5 defensive tackle as early as next season. At linebacker, the Vikings have built a very solid group. Anthony Barr is the star of the linebackers, and by next year he is going to be a star in the NFL. He was supposed to be very raw coming into the NFL, but Mike Zimmer turned him into an immediate impact player. Alongside the recently drafted Eric Kendricks, he will be freed up to rush the passer more, which is where he could really shine. The other linebacker spot will be either Chad Greenway, Audie Cole, or Gerald Hodges. All three of those players are solid options, and that leaves the Vikings with good depth at linebacker too. In the secondary, the Vikings have a lot of young talent. It starts with Harrison Smith, who is my other pick for the most underrated defender in the NFL (My other pick is Johnathan Hankins, DT for the Giants). Smith is already a top 3 safety in the NFL, and he is the backbone of this defense. His versatility allows Zimmer to bring more pressure through blitzes. Adjacent to Smith, Robert Blanton quietly had a very good season, and is developing into a good safety himself. At cornerback, the Vikings have two young studs in Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes. Rhodes has already established himself as a good cornerback, and Zimmer will coach up Waynes into a great CB too. They also have Captain Munnerlyn, Terrence Newman, and Josh Robinson all as terrific depth at the position. Munnerlyn will probably be the slot cornerback, as he is established at the position and really good there too. This is going to be a top 5 defense next year. That is how good I think this defense will be. Most of my faith has to do with how good of a coach I think Mike Zimmer is, and how much young, established talent they already have, and have added. Harrison Smith, Everson Griffin, Sharrif Floyd, Xavier Rhodes and Anthony Barr are all terrific players, and the backbone of this defense. It's crazy because they are all also really young too, and they could all get even better.

Look out Green Bay Packers, the Minnesota Vikings are coming. I don't think they are coming to take the throne from the reigning NFC North champions in 2015, but I do think that this Vikings team will be playoff bound in 2015. Before I started this article, I didn't think this team would be as good as it was on paper. From the tape I analyzed of the 2014 Vikings and their players, and on top of that the additions they made through the draft, I was dead wrong. This team reminds me of Seattle three years ago, except with a more established QB. They have one hell of a defense, two young talented cornerbacks, an elite safety, and they can bring the pressure up front too. They have a young talented QB that people said was too small to hold up at the position (With Russell Wilson it was height, Bridgewater it is bulk), not a ton of depth at WR, a great running back, and an even better coach. I think a playoff berth for the Vikings this season is just the start of what they're building. In a few years, we'll look back at a Vikings team that is one of the best in the NFL, and say that 2015 was the start of something special.

Offseason Outlook 2015: Chicago Bears

Offense

This offense has to be better in 2015 right? There is still a lot of talent, and it is only one year removed from being the second best offense in the NFL. Jay Cutler is... Well he's Jay Cutler and if you have seen him play you know exactly what I mean. If you haven't, he has a huge arm, can struggle with accuracy and decision making, and is very inconsistent. He's also very talented though, and before last season he was quite a few noted analysts sleeper MVP pick. The Bears have to roll with him this season no matter what, but unless he puts forth a great season chances are he will be playing somewhere else in 2016. At wide receiver, the Bears have two young studs to roll out for the next decade. Alshon Jeffery and Kevin White could be a dominant duo in this league and bring a lot of excitement to a Bears franchise that currently lacks it. The Bears also gave Eddie Royal a 3 year/$15 million deal to come in and be their slot receiver. Royal should blend well with the two strong outside receivers, and strengthen the Bears underneath passing game. At running back, Chicago has one of the most reliable three down backs in Matt Forte. Once again, Forte put forth another great season in 2014. He actually broke the single season reception record for RB's with 102 catches last season. The Bears also signed Jacquizz Rodgers to be Forte's backup this season, with Ka'Deem Carey as the third back. At tight end, the Bears have one of the best all around TE's in the league in Martellus Bennett. He is a great end zone target, he can stretch the field, and he is a solid blocker when needed. On the offensive line, Chicago is average at best. Kyle Long is a terrific guard, and opposite him Matt Slauson is coming off of a good year too. At center, the Bears have Will Montgomery or Hroniss Grasu, and neither one of those players inspires much confidence. At left tackle, Jermon Bushrod is solid but not great. The real issue is at right tackle, where Jordan Mills still figures to be the guy this year. He is coming off of a really bad season, and he needs to either play better or the Bears need to move on. Chicago's offense is a tough one to judge. If Jay Cutler plays well, if Kevin White plays like a rookie wide receiver in 2014 (amazingly), and if Matt Forte does what he normally does, then this offense could be explosive and more like the 2013 version of it. With that being said, I think this offense will fall somewhere in between 2013-14. Losing Brandon Marshall hurts, Forte is getting older, their O-line has some holes, and Jay Cutler isn't a reliable starter at this point in time. There's enough talent for them to put up points, but it is still going to be a frustrating year for Chicago fans, because the issues that the team had last year didn't just automatically go away. I expect a middle of the pack finish, maybe a little worse, and for the Bears to move on from Cutler after this season.

Defense

On defense, the Bears have gone through quite the makeover these past couple seasons. On the D-line, Chicago has a lot of depth at the defensive end positions, and a lot of youth at the defensive tackle positions. At end, Pernell McPhee was signed out of Baltimore to partner up with Jared Allen, Willie Young, and Lamarr Houston. I expect McPhee to play all over the line though, and in obvious passing situations play beside Allen and Young. All four of those players can be really good, but they all have their questions too. Allen is getting older, Houston is coming off of a big injury, Young has had one good season, and McPhee didn't get starter snaps in Baltimore so nobody knows how he'll play with them. At defensive tackle, the Bears have three very young, but talented players. Eddie Goldman was drafted this year in the second round, and Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton were drafted in the second and third round last year respectively. The Bears also have Jay Ratliff to lead the group of youngsters on the inside. This group has talent, but it might be another year or two before Sutton, Ferguson, or Goldman really steps up. At linebacker, this defense has some holes to fill. Mason Foster is actually pretty solid in the middle. If he stays healthy, I like what he can do for this Chicago defense as he is a 3 down LB capable of making big plays. On both sides of him are the issue. Shea McClellin and Jon Bostic are both talented players, but they are both extremely inconsistent and can get caught out of position. Both players need to step up their respective games this season or they will be replaced in 2016. In the secondary, this is an improving team. At cornerback, Tim Jennings pairs up with Kyle Fuller to form a very dangerous CB duo. They both have a knack for creating turnovers, and if Fuller can stay healthy all season then I have high hopes for him. Chicago also had a very underrated signing in Alan Ball, if he's healthy he could be a very good cornerback and they have him for very cheap too. The Bears have some problems with their safety positions. They signed Antrel Rolle, but he isn't a reliable safety at this point in his career. He plays very inconsistently and he gets burned a lot deep in coverage. Beside him, Brock Vereen will probably be the guy. He was okay last season in limited work, but his ceiling as a player isn't all that high to begin with. Chicago has done a lot with a roster that may have needed even more turnover. The free agent signings they did were for the most part solid values and the players should be impactful, and they had what seems like a very good draft too. To start with the positive, their defensive line looks pretty strong, and they also have a solid group of cornerbacks too. With that being said, this defense lacks any real star power. They are rolling with a lot of average players and are relying on them to play big roles in this defense. Their linebacker group could also be a huge issue, and the additions this offseason may not be enough to solve their problems versus the run that they had last season. Chicago seems like a team that is one or two years away from having a solid defense, and because of that I predict them to be a bottom 5 defense for the third year in a row.

Chicago is in a tough spot this year. The coaching staff and front office are in a position where they are limited in the moves they make, because there is a belief that this team can still win and compete. I don't think they can. They don't come close to the talent that the true competitors of the NFC have, like Green Bay, Seattle, Dallas, Philly, or Arizona. The defense is lacking any elite talent or an elite position group, which is going to be a big problem because they lack an identity. After this season, I think Chicago will have to go into full rebuild mode. Their roster isn't in a position that they can be competitive after some free agent signings, they just need an infusion of young talent through a couple drafts. Jay Cutler is also what I like to call the coach destroyer. There are QB's that can save coaches jobs. Eli Manning has extended Tom Coughlin's career with the Giants because of those two Super Bowl wins. Rodgers and Brady both have two terrific coaches, but both of their coaches are helped by having two terrific QB's too. Jay Cutler on the other hand, will never save a coaches job. The enigma with him is that he has so much talent, and always shows flashes of brilliance. So coaches are under the impression that they can fix him, and also win with him, but when they don't they get fired. Just look at Lovie Smith and Marc Trestman. Chicago just needs to rip the band-aid off and move on from Jay Cutler. I have a feeling this will be a long year for Chicago fans, as a last place finish in the NFC North seems almost inevitable. On the bright side, at least you have Jeffery and White!