Notes From Lombardi: AFC West

FROM MICHAEL LOMBARDI:

In today’s installment of our division-by-division breakdown of team needs, we examine the AFC West. Here are five questions each team must answer heading into next month’s NFL Draft:

Click HERE for a breakdown of the NFC South

Click HERE for a breakdown of the NFC North

Click HERE for a breakdown of the NFC East

Click HERE for a breakdown of the AFC East

Click HERE for a breakdown of the AFC North

Click HERE for a breakdown of the AFC South

AFC WEST

DENVER          

1.    Who is going to be the Broncos’ starting quarterback?  Can they repair, restore and revive the relationship between Jay Cutler and the head coach?

2.    With the switch to a 3-4 there are plenty of positions up for grabs, but the essential question is this: Who will rush the passer from the outside? 

3.    Denver forced only 13 turnovers last season and clearly lack speed on every level of their defense.  Who is going to be their playmaker?

4.    The Broncos struggled to cover anyone, even with Champ Bailey, and finished with just six interceptions for the season.  Who can cover? 

5.    Can they expect to get another year out of Casey Wiegmann at center? They struggled when they played physical defensive teams. 

KANSAS CITY

1.    Who will be the Chiefs’ defensive playmaker, someone who can attack the pocket and get sacks?  Ten sacks is all they had last year. 

2.    Who is going to be the right tackle?  Damion McIntosh has not played well on the left or right. 

3.    Can the Chiefs find a way to get more speed at DS? They have run defenders in Bernard Pollard and Jarrad Page, but both lack range and the ability to cover. 

4.    Will they find someone at corner who can play man-to-man and make plays? Speed on defense is the key for the Chiefs.  They may have young corners, but that doesn’t mean they have man-to-man corners. 

5.    Who will be the other wide receiver to Dwayne Bowe?  When Mark Bradley came in and played well, their offense looked more effective. 

OAKLAND

1.    Who is going to make plays in the passing game?  They had the fewest net passing yards in the NFL last year. 

2.    Can the Raiders find a big inside tackle to play with good pad level and handle the run? Their run defense is a huge concern; they allowed 23 rushing touchdowns in 2008. 

3.    Where will their pass rush come from?  They talked as if they would trade Derrick Burgess, but that was just talk.  Who will pressure the passer?

4.    Do the Raiders have any options at tackle? When Cornell Green is your starting right tackle, you need a right tackle.  When Kalif Barnes is your starting left tackle, you need a left tackle.   

5.    Michael Huff has not been a solid player for the Raiders, but Gibril Wilson was worse.  Who will be the starting SS?

SAN DIEGO

1.    Getting Shawne Merriman back will help the Chargers’ defense, but who will help their run defense on first down? 

2.    Luis Castillo, their starting left end, did not play as well as he has in the past. Who will give them some physical toughness and power at end?

3.    The Chargers considered bringing back Drayton Florence to be the inside nickel corner but lost him to Buffalo.  Who will fill that role?

4.    Speed on defense.  The Chargers were the 27^th-ranked defense last season in allowing yards after the catch.  How do they fix this shortcoming?   

5.    Who will be the right guard?  San Diego signed Kynan Forney to be the starter, but look for the draft to provide some fresh talent. 

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