Most improved team in the league this year?

[TDs3nOut]

My homer impulse is to go with Denver, but aside from winning the SB, rather than getting blown out in the biggest game, there really isn't a lot of room for upward mobility.

I'm thinking that Houston is the team that most improves this year, based mostly on my belief that they underperformed last year, they had a lot of high picks in the draft, and their division isn't particularly strong.

Who you got?

 

[raptorlife4]

A healthy RG3 will bring a winning record to the Washington Redskins

 

[TDs3nOut]

A healthy RG3 will bring a winning record to the Washington Redskins

I hope that he is fully recovered. Really looked like a special talent before he was left out to limp around in the playoff game the season before last. Inexcusable, in my opinion.

 

[Clayton]

Texans, Falcons and Giants

 

[cdumler7]

I would say the Tampa Bay Bucs were my winner in this category. Draft wise they added some major offensive weapons that should be able to contribute year one. Evans should give Tampa a great 1-2 punch with Jackson on the other side. Then throw in the TE they drafted in round 2 and that gives them what I would guess is one of the bigger WR/TE groups in the NFL. Charles Sims looks like a Matt Forte clone so doesn't surprise me that Lovie Smith would draft him. OL wise they seemed to upgrade on a couple of positions with some talent to develop through the draft. Only question for the offense is the quarterback position in my opinion.


Defensively it will hurt losing Revis but at the same time his game doesn't exactly fit a Love Smith type defense. On the other end of that they got a great corner for pennies on the dollar (at least compared to other top end Corners on the market) in Verner. Then adding Michael Johnson to a pretty decent DL and this team looks like an up and coming unit.


I would also say one of the bigger moves the Bucs made is in getting Lovie Smith. I think he is a top notch coach if he can get out of the way of the offense and just focus on defense. He needs a good OC to thrive but it would not surprise me if he has that defense as a top-10 unit this year.

 

[SteelersPride]

steelers

 

[SteelersPride]

and the texans and giants

 

[Schmoopy1000]

record wise. I will guess the Falcons.

Team to worry about that wasn't a playoff team last year. I say the Rams.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

Falcon,Texans, Bucs and Rams are the teams making some strides in 2014.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

AFC: Either Houston or Pittsburgh (homer pick of course!)
Dark Horse: Jacksonville

NFC: Falcons or Cardinals
Dark Horse: Redskins

Overall: Falcons… Finishing 4-12 in 2013 and likely going into a 10 win season would be a huge turnaround. Same could be said for the 'Skins sad 3-13 showing, but the Falcons are more likely to turn things around.

 

[SonnyCID]

Jags

 

[boogiewithstu2007]

A healthy RG3 will bring a winning record to the Washington Redskins

RG3 has to start throwing that rock more and stop running so much... He has the arm it's time he uses it exclusively .... I"m not saying NEVER run just don't run very much... Extend play's if anything and get that ball down field... No reason to risk getting hurt so much...

 

[boogiewithstu2007]

AFC: Either Houston or Pittsburgh (homer pick of course!)
Dark Horse: Jacksonville

NFC: Falcons or Cardinals
Dark Horse: Redskins

Overall: Falcons… Finishing 4-12 in 2013 and likely going into a 10 win season would be a huge turnaround. Same could be said for the 'Skins sad 3-13 showing, but the Falcons are more likely to turn things around.

I agree with this.... And it's not being a homer picking Pitt to improve because they should from last year... Falcons though will probably improve the most because they definitely have some weapons on that offense and just had a bad luck year with lots of injuries...

 

[SoCalWizFan]

RG3 has to start throwing that rock more and stop running so much... He has the arm it's time he uses it exclusively .... I"m not saying NEVER run just don't run very much... Extend play's if anything and get that ball down field... No reason to risk getting hurt so much...

Agree. You never know how this will play out. However - I believe that there is a good chance you will see this change in RG3 now that Gruden is running the show instead of the Shanahans & Grunden has pretty much hinted at this change. Only time will tell.

 

[LucklessPadresFan]

Most improved will be Oakland. Now, I don't know if they will be improved enough to make the playoffs, but their defense will be solid and if Matt Schaub can bounce back, their offense should be able to stay in games. They still lack a solid RB and receiving corp, but will still be a vastly improved team.

 

[Bulletz]

Gotta be the Texans.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

I agree with this.... And it's not being a homer picking Pitt to improve because they should from last year... Falcons though will probably improve the most because they definitely have some weapons on that offense and just had a bad luck year with lots of injuries...

I can only hope with PIT. They ended on a high note going 6-2 in their final 8 games so I'm hoping they will continue that level of production. I don't see why not when they have made a lot of solid additions which should help in the long run. The defense has a lot of question marks right now, but I'm not worried. Heyward is going to turn some heads this season.

My only worry with the Falcons is their O-line. If that unit can get some consistency then it would make a world of difference.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Record wise

ATL...they have 10 win type talent...should be around a +5 to +6 win gain over LY.

Why? Within the team...the biggest reason would be a healthy Julio Jones and a better OL...Matthews will be a plug n play RT...at some point he might switch place with Baker. They have a legit RG now...the only real battle for a job in camp will be C...Hawley or Konz.

They lost a huge pc of the OFC in Tony G., but I expect a heavier work load from the RBs to offset some of those targets and the rookie RB from FSU reportedly is impressing folks in his early looks.

The DEF got better along the front 7 in FA...Hageman can be a beast...losing Spoon for the year hurts, but not a dagger in the heart...imo not a championship DEF, but they should be better.

DIV...CAR is going to be tough, b/c of the DEF, but I think the OFC is going to take most of this season to find itself with all new WRs...they take a step back...TB...Idk if they are proven enough at QB to win on the road...6 to 8 win team imo...of course the Saints will factor.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I can only hope with PIT. They ended on a high note going 6-2 in their final 8 games so I'm hoping they will continue that level of production. I don't see why not when they have made a lot of solid additions which should help in the long run. The defense has a lot of question marks right now, but I'm not worried. Heyward is going to turn some heads this season.

My only worry with the Falcons is their O-line. If that unit can get some consistency then it would make a world of difference.

Recordwise, ATL obviously has more losses to improve on...of course PIT will have something to say about their final record.

For PIT...I agree about the 6-2 run and the momentum...like every year lately, a lot will depend on the OL...are we really fixed there? I do feel better about the OL, but a new position coach on board...hopefully they have all the communication work down and can play as a 5 man unit.

The RB situation has improved on paper...Bell/Blount are proven and should be effective...Archer is kind of the unknown.

WR...this is my my biggest question mark...combined with the TE, this might be the most talent around him...will Ben be in sync with the crew and be productive from the get go? If so, this can be a 10 to 11 win team. Admittedly I'm anxious to see Wheaton make plays.

DEF...overall I think they will be faster in the middle of the field, and better speed on the backend so I don't think they will yield as many of those huge gain type plays like they did vs OAK & Pryor. Run stopping...imo still a question just based on personnel...I'm anxious to see how Williams fits now that is seems that Shazier will be the opening day starter at ILB.

I'm still a little concerned about pass rush...Is Worilds a 1 yr wonder?, has JJ taken another step?...what impact will Tuitt have? But Lebeau has dealt with the lack a fierce pressure so he'll have a game plan to have an effective DEF on the field...the key to the year will be the OL.

I'd be happy with a WC spot, but to be honest I don't see anyone in the DIV running away with it.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Recordwise, ATL obviously has more losses to improve on...of course PIT will have something to say about their final record.

For PIT...I agree about the 6-2 run and the momentum...like every year lately, a lot will depend on the OL...are we really fixed there? I do feel better about the OL, but a new position coach on board...hopefully they have all the communication work down and can play as a 5 man unit.

The RB situation has improved on paper...Bell/Blount are proven and should be effective...Archer is kind of the unknown.

WR...this is my my biggest question mark...combined with the TE, this might be the most talent around him...will Ben be in sync with the crew and be productive from the get go? If so, this can be a 10 to 11 win team. Admittedly I'm anxious to see Wheaton make plays.

DEF...overall I think they will be faster in the middle of the field, and better speed on the backend so I don't think they will yield as many of those huge gain type plays like they did vs OAK & Pryor. Run stopping...imo still a question just based on personnel...I'm anxious to see how Williams fits now that is seems that Shazier will be the opening day starter at ILB.

I'm still a little concerned about pass rush...Is Worilds a 1 yr wonder?, has JJ taken another step?...what impact will Tuitt have? But Lebeau has dealt with the lack a fierce pressure so he'll have a game plan to have an effective DEF on the field...the key to the year will be the OL.

I'd be happy with a WC spot, but to be honest I don't see anyone in the DIV running away with it.

OL... Agree its always a worry. But the entire group is in the upswing of their careers when you start to see their best work. Munchak should be leaps and bounds better at getting this group on the same page as Bicknell was. The O-line performed well after adjusting to Bicknell in only 1 offseason. The talent is there all along the line, with maybe LT being the only question mark still. As we have stated before, Beachum isn't likely the long term answer.

RB... This group is definitely going to cause some matchup problems for defenses. And it is a good thing that Archer is the "unknown". Nobody will know how to prepare for him. But we as fans don't even know how Haley plans to use him yet. I expect McCluster type production, back when Haley had him to play with in KC.

WR... I'm very excited to see how this group pans out. Especially the 5th WR position (& possibly 6th). AB, Wheaton, Moore, J. Brown & Bryant is how I see it panning out. 6th could be Heyward-Bey if he ever gets it together. Wheaton is sort of a wildcard here in that we don't know what to expect, but I'm hearing great things.

DEF... I think moving Heyward to the right side will be extremely beneficial to JJ. I'm more worried about Worilds now that he won't have Heyward drawing the attention away from him. LeBeau is going to have the answers this season. His improv with Polamalu last season hurt the secondary, but with Shazier/Williams (more experienced) we should see better all around play. I'll temper my expectations with this group during 2014, but I can see great things for the future.