USA TODAY International Edition
Dolphins, others have cause for optimism
The NFL preseason is in sight, and soon fans can begin putting unattainable expectations on their favorite teams. This is the time of year when anything is possible if you fudge enough numbers and revise enough history. But for some teams there’s an abundance of things to look forward to in 2015 that didn’t exist in 2014.
Here are five that might not be as bad as you think:
1. MIAMI DOLPHINS
The AFC East is scary. The Dolphins signed the best player in free agency, Ndamukong Suh; rid themselves of Mike Wallace and his contract and drafted wide receiver DeVante Parker and running back Jay Ajayi to fill huge offensive needs. Miami was a perfectly marginal team in 2014 at 8- 8. The Dolphins brought in a franchise- altering player in Suh and drafted responsibly. Now it’s time for Miami to put all of the pieces together and make the jump to playoff contender. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, they’re in a division that will almost surely have three if not four playoff-caliber teams. Fortunately for fans, watching those four teams duke it out will be a lot of fun.
2. BUFFALO BILLS
The first season of Rex Ryan anywhere is like your first week of college. Few responsibilities, limitless possibilities and a strange sense of invincibility that doesn’t really exist. The Bills aren’t invincible. They are a team littered with talent facing the prospect of a 16- year playoff drought. It seems the ingredients exist to finally push a team that went 9- 7 last year into doubledigit wins and the playoffs. LeSean McCoy, Percy Harvin and Charles Clay must prove you can surround a mediocre quarterback with exceptional talent and be successful, while Matt Cassel will attempt to not marginalize exceptional talent as a mediocre quarterback. While all of this happens, you can expect fiery Ryan to passionately yell sweaty colloquialisms at the podium every week. It’ll be great.
3. ARIZONA CARDINALS
The Cardinals might have been the unluckiest team in the NFL in 2014 and still managed to get into the playoffs. First, starting quarterback Carson Palmer was lost in November. Second, backup Drew Stanton went down. Finally, Ryan Lindley, a man some thought was the team’s punter ( he wasn’t), was inserted into the lineup. Yet Bruce Arians found a way to win with what he had. The Cardinals have only gotten better. This was an 11- 5 team last season that could very well have reached 15 wins had Palmer stayed healthy. This fall is looking exceptionally bright.
4. ST. LOUIS RAMS
Jeff Fisher has quietly assembled a very dangerous team in the NFC West. The additions of Todd Gurley, Nick Foles, Nick Fairley and a bevy of fresh talent on the offensive line will surely lift the Rams out of the basement in the West. Whatever happens beyond that will depend on whether Foles can bring out the best in Tavon Austin, whom the Rams traded up for in 2013 and who has yet to prove himself worthy of that eighth overall selection.
5. TENNESSEE TITANS
Let’s face it, things couldn’t be much worse than Tennessee’s 2014 season. A 2- 14 record, an offense lacking a long- term quarterback and a defense that was sixth worst in the league in yards and third worst in points conceded. There wasn’t a whole lot to be excited about. This year, the Titans took Marcus Mariota with the second pick in the draft and seemingly found their franchise quarterback. They followed up that pick by drafting wide receiver Dorial Green- Beckham in the second round. Ken Whisenhunt brought in linebackers Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan to shore up the bleeding defense. Will the Titans make the playoffs this season? No. Will they be watchable and even mildly entertaining? Absolutely.