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“What to Make of the West”

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Here comes the opening weekend of the NFL season and there are more questions than answers for teams in the AFC West.

CHARGERS…The waiting game for Joey Bosa continues. Healthy, not healthy, ready, not ready. We know a couple of things for sure. He is not ready for game type hitting. That’s what contact workouts in preseason camp, and the four preseason games are for. He had none of that. Hopefully, whatever ailment the Chargers are hiding from the media, calf, hamstring or minor knee strain, will not keep him out of ‘live action’ for sure. The Chargers think they have upgraded all their shortcomings in the draft and thru free-agency. Only time will tell if Casey Hayward is more consistent than Brandon Flowers. If Dwight Lowery is a different breed of safety than Eric Weddle. If the kids at linebacker, Josh Perry and Kyle Emanuel can make plays. The general feeling is that Brandon Mebane will be a difference maker at nose tackle, thereby making Corey Liuget and the combo of Darius Philion and Bosa much more active. Of course there needs to be weekly showings (big plays) from Melvin Ingram and Jerry Attaochu. Melvin Gordon looks so different, so good, so explosive.

RAIDERS…Everyone has picked the Raiders as a key team in the division. Yes they are building around young gun quarterback Derek Carr. And yes their offensive line is huge, nasty, veteran in game experience. The biggest question, is do they have enough of a running game to make Carr’s play action package something special down the field? The defense is really young, and yes Khalil Mack plays with veteran leadership well beyond his just two years in the league. But there are not alot of names, and not alot of big time studs on that side of the ball. And the Raiders must still prove they can win on the road, to be a really dangerous team. Only opening day and beyond will tell us that.

BRONCOS…Enjoy that shiny new Super Bowl ring, for you won’t be getting back to the dance for awhile. Denver did not want to pay (4.5M) as an insurance policy fee to keep veteran QB-Mark Sanchez on the roster, in case raw rookie Trevor Siemian, a 7th round pick out of Northwestern, gets overwhelmed as a first time NFL starter. Behind him is the Memphis rookie Paxton Lynch, who has played just 1-game in preseason. Yes the receiving corps is back, and the run game has been bolstered to support CJ Anderson. But the Denver defense took some hits. losing DT-Malik Jackson and inside linebacker Danny Travaythan. Von Miller is back, and so is DeMarcus Ware, if his back holds up. But the Broncos want to play ball control and play great defense, but you have to have a QB to make plays down the field. And some of those defensive playmakers are no longer there. Jury is out on he guys wearing rings.

CHIEFS…Andy Reid is so conservative, but what he wants to do, with what is left on the roster, might not be enough to get the job done. Jamal Charles, the explosive running back, is still not ready coming off his 2nd knee ligament surgery. Reid did uncover a ‘cloud of dust’ power run game in Spencer Ware-Chan West, but he needs game breakers there. For some reason KC has just never found blazing speed receivers over the years to compliment Jeremy Maclin. And they have a no-name offensive line after getting stung with free agent defections. The Blood-Red blitz package on defense won’t be the same either. Justin Houston, the sack artist, is coming off knee surgery, and won’t be available till week seven. Aging pass rusher Tamba Hali has not been the same player two years running. The secondary lost cover corner Sean Smith, too. Alex Smith cannot do it by himself, though he does alot of good things at quarterback.

SUMMARY…The Chiefs could be the only team in the division that wins opening weekend. That would mean a Chargers loss at Arrowhead, a Denver home loss to Cam Newton and Carolina, and a Raiders loss to Drew Brees on the road in New Orleans. We find out quickly how improved the Bolts defense is. What the loss of the quarterback and the defensive defections means in Denver. And whether the Raiders are ready to grow up and win away from the Black Hole against a quality opponent. Stay tuned for Sunday night. .

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