Pick your 2011 sleeper team

Who do you think are going to be this years tampa bay or chiefs, and are really going to shock a few people?
(P.S. Dont take the obvious choise of the cardinals who will probably going to have a 13-3 season)

my pixk for this year is the Carolina Panthers. There going to get Jordan Gross back at LT which should really make this O-line one of the most solid in the league. As always the panthers should be able to run the ball. Both will really help Cam Newton adapt into the NFL.
theyve got pplently of cap room left and should be able to sign the key DE Charles Johnson.
Now im not saying this side has a chance of the playoffs, especially in the strongest division in football but i think theyl be near to .500 by the end of the year.

They will probably break even all right but can't see them having a shot at the playoffs. The Texans could have a good shot at the playoffs.

I don't see it. Newton's going to struggle at least through this season, the passing game will still be non-existant, and their best 2 playmakers are off in FA and trade

On topic, the Kolb led Cards should take the NFC West with ease, I like the Vikes for some reason.

People seem to pick Houston every year and they never produce.

My sleepers for this season are the Cowboys, who are settled at QB and should have some better protection for Tony Romo and I'll also pick the Rams. I think Bradford might take some strides this season.

49ers for me, weak division and i like Harbaugh as a coach, the D is solid and they have some playmakers on offense.
QB is a massive issue but i think that Harbaugh will be good for Smith.

I want to say the Lions, assuming that Stafford can stay healthy for the year. Their O-line does need to improve greatly, but those weapons on O and their D-line's are really sick.

Big problem I see is that their division is so tough that a trip to the playoffs will only likely come from a Wildcard spot what with the Pack still being NFC North kings. They can finish above the Bears as I see them coming back down to earth.

I've always had a soft spot for the Texans, so hoping that this may finally be their year - otherwise its goodbye Kubiak!

Its hard to make any real predictions as free agency period will be mayhem,once cba signed but here goes
NFC
Rams to win west & Lions to improve but won't win north
AFC
Raiders to win west & Bills to improve a lot

@ Forward Pass and Pr4wn i guarantee that the rams will not make the playoffs, id maybe accept that they are the best team in the west but look at there first eight games id expect them to come out of those fixtures maybe 2-6

Graeme Swann's Cat wrote:I don't see it. Newton's going to struggle at least through this season, the passing game will still be non-existant, and their best 2 playmakers are off in FA and trade

I'm a cam believer but all signs seem to indicate that smiths going to stay in carolina. plus they should easily have enough cap room to retain the services of johnson.

Don't rate Newton from what I have seen. He's going to run an offense quite different to his college O and face defenses doing things he won't have seen in college. And I don't think he's very accurate either.

I agree with the 9ers as sleepers, especially if Harbaugh can get thing's turned around with Smith, who has all the physical attributes, but has only shown the mental ones in flashes. Singletary was definitely not the coach to develop a QB!

Texans, Wade will get their Defence firing, they could finally make the play offs

I've got to go with the Lions...
They have a good young team and I think they will be able to put things together offensively.
Don't expect them to beat the Pack because their secondary is weak, but I feel they could push for a wildcard if things fall the right way.
There D-Line should be very strong and that should help them against the Vikes and Bears run game.

As per usual im big on the Texans as they joined the league in the year I did. That said i'm not convinced about moving Mario Williams to OLB, but we will see.

arizona_tom wrote:

Graeme Swann's Cat wrote:I don't see it. Newton's going to struggle at least through this season, the passing game will still be non-existant, and their best 2 playmakers are off in FA and trade

I'm a cam believer but all signs seem to indicate that smiths going to stay in carolina. plus they should easily have enough cap room to retain the services of johnson.

Well I was talking about D-Will leaving. Smitty's probably going to kick up a fuss about moving on once the lockout ends with San Diego and Baltimore mentioned as possibles. Johnson looks like getting a big offer from Atlanta.

I think Atlanta might go after Ray Edwards instead.

arizona_tom wrote:@ Forward Pass and Pr4wn i guarantee that the rams will not make the playoffs, id maybe accept that they are the best team in the west but look at there first eight games id expect them to come out of those fixtures maybe 2-6

Possibly but then 2-6 might be only 1-2 games off leading the nfc west

Going for a guy experienced within the division might be more attractive imo. Johnson probably still gets a big offer from somewhere.

I reckon he stays with the Panthers. They have loads of money to spend before they're above the cap floor.

Aye, but should a winning team decide to come close to the offer he has a choice to make.

If the Texans sign a certain FA shutdown corner I can see them pushing Indy close for the South. Dare I say we'll see there post season debut this January.

Manning-to-Manningham wrote:If the Texans sign a certain FA shutdown corner I can see them pushing Indy close for the South. Dare I say we'll see there post season debut this January.

... thats a vote for Ndamdi then!

1 CB =/= a secondary. Doesn't matter if the #1 is covered if you can get a free completion by throwing it near #2,3,4 or 5

ha sto be the raiders
proved last year they can beat there division
just got to get some wins outside of the afc west and they can easily go
11-5

ahhh its good to be back

cherriesfan wrote:ha sto be the raiders
proved last year they can beat there division
just got to get some wins outside of the afc west and they can easily go
11-5

ahhh its good to be back

But they're more than likely loosing Nnamdi, and could lose some other key players. If Chargers keep their good FA WR's then I expect them to return to the top of the AFC West, Chiefs won't take it this year as they've got a tough schedule, and don't think the Broncos have sorted their issues out.