Stretching the Field: AFC Free Agent Impact
by Luke Paul Chandler
Players like Jaguars S Chad Nkang will have an impact on their teams free agent movement. Luke Paul Chandler reviews the entire AFC, and identifies players already on roster who could be the missing piece.
By Luke Paul Chandler
As free agency nears, teams will start to identify their needs and who can fill those needs. Teams will need to first look at their own players before seeking outside help. This week, each AFC team’s needs will be looked, and the players that can alter their free agency plans identified.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Marshal Yanda OT - Yanda’s versatility has paid off for the Ravens. His best position is right tackle, where he likely takes over as the starter under new head coach John Harbaugh. With so many questions on the offensive line, Yanda is one of the solid anchors.
Derrick Martin CB - As the Ravens begin to shift away from veteran Samari Rolle, Martin’s presence is important. He can play off man or zone, but he stopped gambling so much in his second season. Look for Martin and David Pittman to fight out for a starting role in 2008.
Cincinnati Bengals
DeDe Dorsey RB - The Bengals lack of a consistent ground game changed the dynamics of their offense. With second year running back Kenny Irons still a question mark after a Preseason ACL tear, Dorsey’s presence is that much more important. His shifty moves and cutback ability give the Bengals a new dimension in the ground game.
Chinedum Ndukwe S - The Bengals pass defense, who have given up many big plays in past few seasons, may have found a keeper in Ndukwe. He’s an enforcer in the middle who made some impressive plays in the coverage late in the season. With Madieu Williams a free agent, Ndukwe gives the Bengals a solid option to move into the free safety spot.
Cleveland Browns
Leon Williams ILB - The Browns linebackers underperformed in 2007, and a big part lays with Captain Andra Davis. Davis will be feeling pressure from Williams, who has slowly been worked into the base defense over the past two years. Williams represents an upgrade in run defense, and has a high ceiling.
Brandon McDonald CB - McDonald played big over the last month of the season, showing strong ball skills and man coverage abilities. With Leigh Bodden’s injuries constantly effecting his status, the Browns depth at this position is necessary.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Chris Kemoeatu OG - Inevitably, the departure of Alan Faneca causes a massive hole along the Steelers once vaunted offensive line. His likely replacement is the mauling Kemoeatu. Kemoeatu’s biggest question mark is ability to move in space and pass protect, two areas that Faneca excelled in.
William Gay CB - The yearly search for a starting cornerback duo continues in the Steel City. Gay’s value was originally as a return specialist, but he displayed aggressiveness and recovery speed late in the season on passing downs. Look for head coach Mike Tomlin to promote from within.
AFC South
Houston Texans
Darius Walker RB - Everyone remembers the free fall of Walker during the 2007 NFL Draft. Ranked by many experts as a surefire first day pick, he went undrafted. Ending up in Houston was a blessing in disguise. His skill set and patience fit the running style head coach Gary Kubiak and new assistant head coach Alex Gibbs need to execute their zone based run scheme. With age, injuries, and inconsistency ahead of him, Walker could end up the starter in 2008.
Von Hutchins FS - Houston’s acquisition of Hutchins early in 2007 made very few headlines, but Hutchins played well in first season as a free safety. Hutchins is more powerful at the point of attack than given credit for, and as a converted corner possesses solid cover skills. Hutchins may never be a superstar, but he played sound football in 2007.
Indianapolis Colts
Dylan Gandy OG - Every two to three years, the Colts lose at least one guard in free agency, and this year they will lose at least one of Jake Scott and Ryan Lilja. Gandy has played both guard spots, and his athleticism and quick feet are a great fit in Indianapolis’ ground game.
Tyjuan Hagler LB - The versatile Hagler can play both inside and out, and he has the type of speed and cover skills needed to thrive in Tony Dungy’s Tampa 2 defense. Hagler’s best position is middle linebacker, where he may push Gary Brackett to the bench.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Chad Nkang S - With the Jaguars unlikely to resign last year’s leading tackler, Sammy Knight, Nkang’s value increases. Gerald Sensabaugh is highly regarded by the staff, but Nkang’s versatility may make him more valuable to new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Nkang has more range than Sensabaugh, and could be a bigger game-breaker.
Brent Hawkins DE - Despite the talent on the defensive line, they lack a true pass rush threat. The Jaguars use more bull rushers than they do speed rushers, but left end Reggie Hayward has not looked the same since a 2006 torn Achilles tendon. With Bobby McCray likely moving on to a big pay day in free agency, look for Hawkins role to increase.
Tennessee Titans
Corteland Finnegan CB - Who needs Pac Man? The Titans saw this year how well Finnegan assimilated into their quarters style pass coverage, and the impact he brought. Finnegan’s physical enough to match up bigger wide receivers, and is still a work in progress.
Chris Davis RS - When Pac Man was suspended for 2006, the Titans not only lost a starting cornerback, but a return specialist too. Davis has started to take over those return duties and was shining by season’s end in the role.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Jabari Greer CB - The Bills lack of experience of at the defensive backfield is an issue, but Greer played well in 2007. He took over for the lackluster Ashton Youboty early in the season, and showed good coverage skills in zone. Greer flew under the radar playing for a down Bills team this season, but he is a key piece to their secondary.
John DiGiorgio LB - The team’s starting middle linebacker after rookie Paul Posluszny was lost for the season after a broken forearm, DiGiorgio was a bright spot for the Bills. With Posluszny entrenched in the middle, look for the athletic DiGiorgio to move the strong-sidein 2008. He has smooth enough hips to turn in coverage and be effective from the outside.
Miami Dolphins
Jason Allen FS - The amount of injuries in the secondary, especially at safety, gave Allen the chance to shine at free safety. Allen has been shuttled between corner and safety for most of his college and pro career, but he finally settled in at safety late this year. Allen’s ability to play deep zone coverage, which he struggled with before, helped stabilize the Dolphins secondary.
Paul Solilai DT - With the team likely to move to the 3-4 full time because of Bill Parcells presence as Vice President, Solilai becomes a vital part. He’s a true two gap lineman, but if his conditioning doesn’t improve, he’s worthless to the Dolphins. He’s one of three true nose tackles on the team, but all three possess huge question marks about their conditioning and stamina.
New England Patriots
Chad Jackson WR - To be a Patriot, one must sacrifice his ego and give the good to the team, as Jackson learned. After spending most of 2007 rehabbing a torn ACL, suffered in the 2006 Playoffs, Jackson came back late in 2007 to play mostly special teams. Jackson is still working on his injured knee, but look for him to take over Kelley Washington’s role in 2007. Jackson will be worked into coverage units, and will return kicks to help take the load off the other skill position players. Jackson also has a shot to move up the depth chart at wide receiver, should a veteran like Washington or Donte Stallworth be let go.
James Sanders FS - The Patriots lack of athleticism at the safety positions were troublesome for them all season long. Sanders looked too stiff in the hips in coverage, and lacked the closing speed to be a force. Sanders likely should be playing strong safety, but with Rodney Harrison there, he’s blocked. Sanders could have a bigger impact if he was paired up with another safety with more range, though that doesn’t make him worthless. The Patriots are likely grooming him to move into Harrison’s role, possibly as early as 2008.
New York Jets
Eric Barton ILB - With head coach Eric Mangini trying to force his 3-4 defense upon the Jets, Barton’s down play in 2007 was troublesome. Barton, who adapted well to his new role a 3-4 inside linebacker in 2006, looked to be sluggish this year, and was not slipping blocks as needed. With rookie David Harris locking down the other inside linebacker position, Barton needs to prove that 2006 was not an aberration. Barton’s smart play could stabilize the front seven, as he was often pushed out of plays in 2007.
Victor Hobson OLB - Another case of a round peg in a square hole, Hobson might be the right guy for this defense, just in the wrong position. Hobson, never much of a pass rusher, has been playing the strong-side for the past two seasons with mixed results. He’s not much of a big play guy, and could be an asset on the inside should Barton falter again. If Hobson continues to play outside, the Jets will keep tipping their hand in pass rush situations, as Hobson has yet to provide an impact in that area.
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Tim Crowder DE - Despite being the second defensive end taken in the 2007 Draft by the Broncos, he gave them more upside as a two-way-defender then first round pick Jarvis Moss. Crowder was in a rotation with John Engelberger this season, but played the run poorly. Crowder has nice upside as a strong-side power rush end, but his lack of awareness against the run may force the Broncos to look elsewhere.
Jordan Beck ILB - Without a true middle linebacker on the roster in 2007, the Broncos were run at consistently. Beck’s an intriguing player, as the team has expressed interest in moving D.J. Williams back outside again this season. Beck handles the run inside the phone booth well, and has never been given a shot in the league.
Kansas City Chiefs
Brodie Croyle QB - With the Chiefs undergoing another shift in offensive style, away from Croyle’s comfort zone, the team may start to see if he can make in the NFL. Croyle’s struggles appeared to tied to the protection problems in front of him, but now he has to learn a new offense under new coordinator Chan Gailey.
Eddie Drummond RS - Drummond at one point was considered an elite return specialist, but he looked very average this year. Drummond no longer has the quickness needed to be effective as a duel punt and kick returner. If he can concentrate on kickoffs, which he was always better at, then the team can look to find a punt retunrner in the draft.
Oakland Raiders
Hiram Eugene FS - Eugene is a practical unknown, even in Oakland. He’s a two year veteran with a nice size to speed ratio, and explosive athleticism. Eugene made former second round pick Stuart Schweigert expendable in 2007, taking over his starting free safety job in December. Eugene is very raw, after entering the Supplemental Draft in 2005, and has only played sparingly before this year. His upside is there, and it has intrigued the Raiders staff.
Josh Shaw DT - It’s hard to follow a legend, let alone a Hall of Fame player like Warren Sapp, but Shaw has to do it. Shaw is a quick-footed tackle who can get to the ball carrier quickly, and will likely get the first shot at Sapp’s old spot.
San Diego Chargers
Brandon Siler ILB - The Chargers troubles with Matt Wilhelm at inside linebacker showed why Marty Schottenheimer fought so hard to keep veterans at those two spots. They play a very complex role, mostly in coverage, and Wilhelm was not up to par in this area. Siler was mostly a nickel and dime linebacker, but his play in limited time was good. His awareness in zone was strong.
Darren Sproles RB - Sproles’ value as a punt returner this year showed up on film, but he was played in the base offense more as the season wore on. The team will surely lose Michael Turner to free agency, and they may ask Sproles to fill in more as a backup running back then a third down back.
Next week: The NFC.