The first three weeks of the preseason are over and every team has had their ups and their downs. As a fan you hope that your team has had more ups than downs. However, some teams have had such glaring problems so far that it’s hard not to take notice of them. If these problems aren’t fixed this season, they are positions that will surely be addressed early in next years draft. Lets take a look at the most glaring team needs so far this preseason.
San Diego Chargers – Wide Receiver
The Chargers receiving core is extremely thin. Danario Alexander went down earlier in the preseason with a knee injury and reports are coming out that San Diego may cut Robert Meachem. Philip Rivers has proven he is a very good quarterback, but with little talent to throw the ball too, this team won’t go far. Rivers isn’t getting any younger and San Diego needs to give him some talent on the offensive side of the ball. An aging Antonio Gates and Malcom Floyd aren’t top notch weapons.
New York Jets – Wide Receiver
The Jets essentially need a whole new team, but receiver is one of the biggest positions of need. One could argue for quarterback, but they just drafted Geno Smith in the second-round this past draft and he deserves a shot before another quarterback is drafted. However, if you don’t give Geno any weapons, his chances of succeeding are very slim. The Jets have Santonio Holmes who has talent, but is getting older, can’t stay healthy and doesn’t always give it his all. Stephen Hill is a young, talented receiver who is an athletic freak, but he has yet to learn how to be a complete receiver. If they don’t get some weapons for whoever starts at quarterback there, the Jets won’t get much better anytime soon.
Oakland Raiders – Pass Rush
The Raiders have probably what is the worst roster in the NFL. They have a lot of needs, but none can help the team as quickly as a great pass rusher. They are another team that might need a quarterback, but we don’t yet know what Terrelle Pryor will do this season, so I’m not ready to say quarterback just yet. Oakland was next to last with 25 sacks in 2012. 18.5 of those sacks are no longer with the team. Lamarr Houston led the Raiders with sacks last year with four. If the Raiders can’t get better pressure on the quarterback this year, they again will give up a lot of points.
Detroit Lions – Number Two Wide Receiver
The Lions go into this season with the same problem they have had for the past few seasons, the lack of a receiver to play opposite Calvin Johnson. Nate Burleson looks to be the Lions No. 2 receiver this year, but he isn’t the answer. Even with the lack of a No. 2 receiver Johnson put up huge numbers last year, though he only ended up with five touchdowns. If they could get a receiver opposite Johnson to take some pressure off of him and make the defense respect the other side of the field it would be a huge boost to this offense.
Arizona Cardinals – Tight End
The Cardinals finally have another receiver to team with Larry Fitzgerald for the first time since Anquan Boldin left. One big weapon that is lacking from the Cardinals offense is a talented tight end. Rob Housler has been a disappointment thus far and he left the field with an injury in their third preseason game. They could use a left tackle, but they do have some talent on their line with Bobby Massie, Eric Winston and Jonathan Cooper, even though he is out for the foreseeable future with a broken leg. If the Cardinals get a real weapon at the tight end position it would open the field up even more for Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and the run game. It would also help take pressure off of Carson Palmer or whoever is playing quarterback there next year.
Atlanta Falcons – Right Tackle
Matt Ryan was sacked five times in their third preseason game against the Titans and this wasn’t the first time this preseason that he got knocked around. Lamar Holmes is their starting right tackle and he was abused by the Titans. Ryan is the most important player on the Falcons and they have to protect him at all costs. Holmes is not the answer at right tackle and until the offensive line is better the Falcons won’t win the Super Bowl.
Miami Dolphins – Left Tackle
Jonathan Martin had another less than spectacular game against the Buccaneers. He gave up a pressure to Adrian Clayborn which caused an incompletion. Martin then was not lined up on the line of scrimmage and got a five yard penalty. Martin has had a rough preseason, getting beat and giving up pressures. If Martin doesn’t improve significantly, Ryan Tannehill and the entire offense will struggle and that will cause Miami to look at a top left tackle prospect in next years draft.