By Jeff Darlington – McClatchy Newspapers
1.) How much will the lockout impact the performance during the 2011 season?
Remember those long weeks of legal talk? Remember those days when football Armageddon seemed to be upon us? Remember the lockout? We didn’t think so. Considering no games were ever missed despite all of those concerns over the past few months, it seems realistic the regular season won’t be overly impacted. If any teams struggle, it’ll probably be those with new head coaches or rookie quarterbacks. Even then, it should only take a few weeks before every team is caught up – and the lockout is no longer an excuse.
2.) Are the Eagles really the Dream Team?
Consider this: Philadelphia shelled out a whopping $120 million in free-agent contracts. They picked up five former first-round picks (including former Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown). They added arguably the best player in all of free agency in cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. All that said, this isn’t about this year’s signings. It’s about one of last year’s signing. If the Eagles are going to live up to their “dream time” dubbing, it’s all going to come down to quarterback Michael Vick.
3.) How much will Chad Ochocinco help the Patriots this year?
Forget, for a moment, Ochocinco’s entertainment value away from the field. Instead, evaluate him only as a player. Although he has fallen off a bit over the last few seasons, Ochocinco still has yet to have a season when he averages less than 10 yards per carry. And although he has failed to eclipse 1,000 yards two of the past three seasons, the charismatic character still seems to be capable of playing at an elite level. Throw in some newfound inspiration with his new team – as well as one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game – and we’ve got a feeling this Miami native might be destined for a comeback season in New England.
4.) How difficult will it be for the Jets to get back to the AFC Championship for a third consecutive year?
Although the hype surrounding the Jets has reached new heights this year, their path back to the championship game – and perhaps beyond – might be tougher than either of the past two seasons. But just like each of the past two years, when the Jets’ regular season didn’t seem much more than mediocre, this is all about getting into the playoffs. Should New York crack into the postseason, that’s when it seems the swagger of this squad comes alive like few others in the NFL.
5.) Is Mike Shanahan going to look brilliant or boneheaded with his QB decision?
The majority of the NFL world shook their collective heads when the Redskins made it clear they had confidence in both John Beck and Rex Grossman heading into training camp. After a preseason battle between the pair, each one has displayed some occasional flashes to make those same people wonder: Might one of these quarterbacks really work out? After a turbulent season in 2010, including drama with Donovan McNabb and Albert Haynesworth, Shanahan’s reputation in Washington might be riding on it.
6.) Which player has the most potential to go from good to great in 2011?
Every season, a handful of players ascend into a level of stardom that seemed inevitable the year before. This year, Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman might fit into that category better than anyone. A budding prospect when he was drafted in 2009, Freeman made a huge leap toward becoming a star in his second season. He finished the year with a passer rating of 95.9 despite a young team – and a young coach – around him. Considering his work ethic, Freeman might be staring at his first Pro Bowl invitation in 2011.
7.) Which NFL rookie will have the biggest impact this season?
Maybe it’ll be Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton. Or Broncos linebacker Von Miller. Or Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones. All three of those players should get plenty of opportunities to prove it as starters. But even after some mediocre showings during the preseason, it’s still difficult to believe Carolina quarterback Cam Newton won’t eventually make some waves this year. During the preseason, it often looked like Newton was hanging in the pocket too long. Once the bullets start flying, though, it’s hard to imagine he won’t start taking off for some runs. That’s when Newton will start to look more like the player you remember at Auburn.
8.) Are there any new rules changes worth paying attention to this season?
It sounds petty. And in many ways, it probably is. But the most hyped rules change of the year centers around the decision to move kickoffs up five yards from the 30-yard line to the 35-yard line. The belief is, kickers will now be able to boot the ball into the end zone for more touchbacks, reducing injuries on kick returns. But as coach Tony Sparano says, if the returner isn’t a big-play threat, teams will instead likely choose to put the ball near the 1-yard line to make him return it (especially since they’ll be five yards closer to make the tackle). Yes, it’ll change things. But you might notice less than many believe.
9.) Will the Packers repeat as Super Bowl champions this year?
Given the number of players returning to the Packers this season, it’d be simply stupid to say the Packers don’t have a shot at getting back to the Super Bowl. They probably deserve to be early favorites. But it’s not going to be an easy path. Not when teams within the conference – particularly the Eagles – are loading up to make a run at a championship of their own.
10.) What is it going to take for Jay Cutler to win over Chicago fans?
During much of last season, particularly late in the year, Cutler looked like he might have finally won over the Chicago community as he put up a quarterback rating above 100 in five of his last eight games. Then, during the team’s playoff loss to Packers, Cutler took two steps back as he watched injured from the sidelines. Could he have played? Was he really that hurt? No matter what the answer, Cutler needs to show a different level of toughness this season to regain the faith of his fans. Oh, and he also needs to win, too.
