Teams Will Underestimate Rams Offense

The St. Louis Rams have had a tough off-season with the losses of star running back Steven Jackson, a great slot receiver in Danny Amendola, and wide receiver Brandon Gibson. The Wide Receiver and Running Back position is very thin, but the Rams have underrated talent.
Rookie receiver Tavon Austin has boat loads of talent to show this season. He was very electrifying and fun to watch last season with West Virginia. Austin's speed will be a huge advantage, since he doesn't have as durable as a body as most receivers. He is a potential deep threat for Sam Bradford this season. Austin runs good routes and once he gets the ball, he'll be off to the races. Chris Givens can stretch the field and be quick, just like Austin. At 6'0, Givens decent size will complement his speed this season. He averaged 16.6 yards per catch last season and set an NFL rookie record last season by, catching at least a 50 yard pass in 5 consecutive games. Brian Quick and Austin Pettis disappointed me last season and need to prove they are still reliable targets to make up the loss of Gibson and Amendola. The addition of Tight End Jared Cook improves a poor tight end game in St. Louis. Cook's 6'5 size isn't huge for a TE, but his ability to stretch the field is. He caught 44 passes for 523 yards and 4 TD for the Titans last season. Look for Cook to be a solid contributor for the Rams this season. Austin, Cook, and Givens are valuable targets for Bradford in 2013. They all can stretch the field and speed is a key factor in the Rams passing game.

The Running Back position looks unnoticeable. Youngsters Daryl Richardson and Isaiah Pead will compete for the starting job. Both Pead and Richardson are coming into their 2nd season. Richardson ran for 475 yards on 98 carries. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry. Richardson is speedy back and likes to go between the tackles. He isn't as durable at 5'10, 196 lbs. He's good at cutting back and sneaking past defenders with his speed. Pead has lots to prove as he moves up to 2nd string, following the departure of Jackson. He doesn't have much experience and has to show he's ready in training camp and preseason, if he wants the starting job. Pead is another small, back like Richardson, but hasn't had enough snaps to show he's worthy of being a reliable back. Pead did average 5.4 yards per carry, but that was only on 10 carries. Running Back is a question for the Rams, but just like the receivers, speed and quickness will help them be competitive.

The offensive line looks improve with the addition of Pro Bowl LT Jake Long. Long has been amazing blocking for the QB Blind Spot. Despite the fact, Miami never produced a Pro Bowl Caliber QB, while Long was their, he as a huge help for the dropped sack total their and why the Wild Cat worked for a couple of years. He held in check great pass rushers in the AFC, such as James Harrison, Von Miller, Dwight Freeney, Terrell Suggs, and Elvis Dumervil. Long is a huge improvement at the LT position. He will be the reason why Bradford will have time in the pocket and not get smacked from the blind side. Center Scott Wells and Right Guard Harvy Dahl did a solid job opening up holes for Rams running backs last season. Right Tackle Rodger Safford has matured and has improve a little every season. If, the Rams O-Line holds up, gives Bradford time in the pocket, and running backs holes, this offense will succeed in 2013.

Ravens Add Needed Weapons

With a plethora of injuries at wide receiver and tight end, the Baltimore Ravens were trying to find weapons for Joe Flacco. They already lost their #1 receiver, Anquan Boldin to the 49ers, and were very thin at the wide receiver position. The Ravens kept their hopes alive by signing veteran Brandon Stokley to a one year contract. Stokley and Baltimore reunite after Stokley had left to go the Colts in 2002. Stockley had been a huge contributor for the Ravens passing game in their first Super Bowl victory. Stokley will most likely used out of the slot, where he's most valued. His leadership and presence should help young Ravens receivers. Last season with Denver, Stokley caught 45 passes for 544 yards and 5 TD. He runs precise routes and is a reliable target for QB. Deep threat Torrey Smith and steady Stokley will be huge for Flacco's game this season.

The Ravens also signed veteran tight end Dallas Clark to a one year deal. Clark will step in for the injured Dennis Pitta, who had season ending hip surgery. The loss of Pitta, who was Flacco's favorite target last season, will be a huge loss. Clark is out of his prime, but still has the ability to stretch the field and be a solid red zone threat. Clark is also a great pass catcher and runs very good routes, which Pitta excelled at last season. Last season, Clark caught 47 passes for 454 yards and 4 touchdowns for the Bucs. Clark will team up with his former teammate, Brandon Stokley, as a solid 1-2 punch, in the passing game for Baltimore. Hopefully Flacco can have good chemistry with veterans Stokley and Clark and succeed as well as he did, last season.

The Brandon Swap

The Detriot Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks Point Guards Brandon Knight and Brandon Jennings will be flip-flopping jerseys this season. The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to trade Brandon Jennings to rival Detroit Pistons for Brandon Knight, Forward Khris Middelton, and Center Viacheslav Kravtsov. The loss of Jennings is going to hurt the Bucks a ton, especially since they'll see him more often when they play against the Pistons. The Bucks added Point Guard Luke Ridinour to fill in Jennings spot, which won't be easy at all. Jennings scoring and passing ability will be missed. The Bucks get to underachieving players in Kravtsov and Khris Middelton, who bring needed height the a small Bucks team. The Bucks acquired Brandon Knight, who had a solid season in his first season as a starter, with 13.3 Points and 4 Assists Per Game. However, everybody remembers when Brandon got posturized by Clippers Center DeAndre Jordan, and got schooled by Cavs All-Star Point Guard Kyrie Irving in the Rookie/Stars Game and then got schooled by Irving again. Hopefully Brandon can forgot about those scenes and not run into one again. Knight will provide depth and could be mentored a little by Ridinour.

On the plus side, the Pistons add a talented Point Guard in Brandon Jennings. He averaged 17 points, 6 assists, and a steal per game. In the past, Jennings has done very well against the Pistons averaging 19.8 Points, 4.8 assists in 16 games. The Pistons hope Brandon can do the same thing for the Pistons and against everyone else. Jennings will replace Jose Calderon at point and will be mentored by veteran Chauncey Billups, which will come in handy this season. The Pistons have also added talented Power Forward Josh Smith who can do it all. He can dribble it down the court very well, great passer, great player in the post, can make some 3's, good rebounder, has a great ability to block, and throw down towering dunks. GM Joe Dumars has done a great job adding pieces to make the Pistons contenders again.

Red Sox Add Needed Arm

With their pitching going wild and not getting back Clay Buchholz (9-0, 1.71 E.R.A. in 84 innings) for a long time, the Red Sox needed to find a deadline deal for a starting pitcher. The Red Sox found gold when they acquired former Cy Young Winner Jake Peavy in a 3 team trade. The Red Sox will give up young and talented 3B/SS to the Detroit Tigers and the Tigers will send Minor League Outfielder Avisail Garcia, and also send right-hander Bryan Villarreal (currently in Triple A) to Boston. Even though Peavy's stats aren't that great (8-4, 4.28 E.R.A. with the White Sox this season), he still has the stuff and talent to help Boston in a decisive race, in the A.L. East. Peavy will team up with John Lackey (3.23 E.R.A.), Felix Doubront (3.77 E.R.A.) as a great 1-2-3 punch in the Red Sox rotation. Starters Ryan Dempster (Signed this off-season) and Jon Lester have been very disappointing. Peavy has done well in Fenway, despite starting only game their. Peavy pitched 7 innings, allowed 6 hits and 3 runs, and recorded a 0.857 WHIP during the game. If Peavy pitches that way every time he starts a game in Fenway, the Red Sox would take him all day. Losing young Jose Iglesias (23 years old, batted .330 in 215 At-Bats) will hurt the White Sox at shortstop, considering that Stephen Drew (.235 AVG, 81 strikeouts, does have 6 Triples) has disappointed Boston this season. The Tigers added Iglesias since the suspension of shortstop Jhonny Peralta is coming very soon. He will be huge down the stretch for Detriot. The White Sox are hoping Garcia (Top Power Prospect in Detroit's Farm System) will turn out into a player like Jermaine Dye or maybe almost like Frank Thomas, that Chicago can build around.

Padres Acquire Ian Kennedy

Losing Starter Jason Marquis only makes matters worse for the Padres. They have attempted to replace Marquis by adding struggling right hander Ian Kennedy. Kennedy has been absolutely not himself this season, as he has stumbled to a 3-8 record, with a 5.23 E.R.A. He has also given up 18 Homers. Kennedy might be able to get back on track since his new home, for now is pitcher friendly Petco Park. In return, the Diamondbacks get lefty reliever Joe Thatcher (2.59 E.R.A. with Padres). Thatcher makes the D-Backs bullpen even better, considering that they don't have many lefty relievers. The D-Backs already have a great bullpen, led by Righties Brad Ziegler (2.23 E.R.A.), Matt Reynolds (1.98 E.R.A.), Josh Collementer (2.66 E.R.A.), and Will Harris (2.20 E.R.A.). Thatcher will either be a mid or setup man for the D-Backs. He will have to adjust to hitter friendly Chase Field though. The addition of Thatcher and giving up struggling righty Ian Kennedy to the Padres increases the Diamondbacks chances of winning the N.L. West.

Angles send Downs To Atlanta

The Atlanta Braves have been very fortunate to stay atop the NL East this season. They lost their two best relievers (Both Lefties): Johnny Venters and Eric O'Flaherty. Lefty Luis Avilan (Now on Baltimore) was having a career year in Atlanta, posting a 1.22 E.R.A. and 0.92 WHIP in 50 games. Righty Jordan Walden was a nice acquisition from the Angels as he has registered a 2.50 E.R.A. this season. Overall, the bullpen has played spectacular, but trading Avilan was no help. The depature of Avilan has left Atlanta will no lefties in their bullpen. This is the reason why the Braves acquired lefty Scott Downs from the Angels. Downs has been amazing this season, posting a 1.71 E.R.A. and 18 holds. Downs will be the setup man for fire-flaming closer Craig Kimbril. The addition of Downs should help forgot the loss of Avilan. In return, the Angles got minor league righty Cory Ramos.

Crain Gonna Be a Ray

Looking to clinch a playoff berth, the Tampa Bay Rays were in desperate need of a reliever. With Lefty Jake McGee and others struggling, the Rays needed a complement for setup man Joel Peralta. The Rays were lucky enough the find out that the White Sox had put Jesse Crain (0.74 E.R.A. in 38 games this season) on the market. The Rays immediately took action and picked up Crain from the Sox for a player to be named. Crain has a career 3.05 E.R.A., but has done exceptionally well for the struggling White Sox this season. He has posted E.R.A. of 2.62 and 2.44 the past 2 seasons. The Rays acquisition of Crain was a good one because he has a lifetime 17-9 record, with a 3.46 E.R.A. when playing in a dome, where Crain will play his home games for the Rays. His career E.R.A. in Tropicana Field is 2.53 in 20 games. Crain will pair with Joel Peralta as a setup man for Fernando Rodney. The A.L. East is gonna be a close one with Tampa, Boston, and Baltimore each fighting for a playoff spot and the division title.

Offensive Machines

Last season, the Denver Broncos acquired All-Pro Quarterback Peyton Manning to engineer an offense with potential weapons. The Manning addition was a great addition to  Denver's offense and one reason why they owned the best record in the NFL (13-3). Manning threw for over 4,600 yards and tossed 37 Touchdowns. He made an underachieving receiving core into an explosive one. Wide Receivers Eric Decker and Demariuys Thomas set career highs in catches, yards, and touchdowns. Even though the running game was mostly a non-factor during the season, Manning had no trouble throwing the football behind one of the best offensive lines.

After a Divisional Playoff Loss to the eventual Super-Bowl Champion Ravens, the Broncos were looking to add more pieces to there offense. They added the best slot receiver in the game, in Wes Welker (2nd in NFL catchers with 118), and Right Guard Louis Vazquez through free agency, and then drafted Wisconsin Running Back Monte Ball. The Broncos now have the best trio of receivers  with Thomas, Decker, and Welker, have 2 reliable Tight Ends (Joel Dreesen and Jacoub Tamme), a formidable offensive line, and a solid 3-headed attack running game. Denver has the best and versatile offense in the NFL and are prepared to light up the scoreboard, with their explosive offense. Quarterback Peyton Manning could even have 3, 1,000 yard receivers for the first time since 2004. He might even break his own touchdown record of 49, also set in 2004. Welker, Decker, and Thomas might not have the same numbers as last season, but they will combine as a great triple threat against opposing secondary's. Manning is great spreading the football, and confusing the defense by using audibles. Monte Ball, Ronnie Hillman, and Knowshon Moreno will be a huge part in Denver's offense and are all great 3rd down running backs. Thomas and Decker are 2 very good deep threats and their height really helps out too. Welker will do great in the slot as he will work with another future hall of fame quarterback in Peyton Manning. The Broncos offense will score at least 510 this season and will seemingly manhandle defenses, in 2013.