Training camp is only days away now as football season is vastly approaching. Mini camp and OTAs allowed players and coaches to get acquainted with each other and take a look at specific players to evaluate during training camp and preseason. The AFC West will feature a few new faces as these teams look to make a statement this season and get back in the postseason.
Here’s a look at the top training camp battles within the AFC West.
Denver Broncos
The biggest competition within Broncos camp would have to be at the running back position. Last season, the Broncos struggled in the run game due to injury. Montee Ball was the starter at the beginning of the 2014 campaign, but missed a good amount of time due to a groin injury. Ball played in only five games and had 172 yards and one touchdown.
Denver’s overall run game was ranked 15th in the league for 1,785 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. The Broncos are more of a passing team anyway, with Peyton Manning under center, but a strong run game is necessary for a balanced offense.
Looking at camp, the battle for the starting position will be between Ball, Ronnie Hillman, and C.J. Anderson. Last year Anderson proved to be a strong asset to the roster and had an impressive season. He ran for 849 yards in 179 attempts, and had eight touchdowns in 15 games played. Hillman 434 yards in 106 attempts and three touchdowns in eight games.
Now the starting battle will be between Anderson and Ball, which will be an intriguing competition to keep an eye on. With Manning getting older and the loss of Julius Thomas to free agency, this offense will have a different look to it, so a solid reliable run game could do wonders.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs were the only team without a touchdown by a wide receiver, and their lack of production at that position proved to be costly as the season progressed. KC released Dwayne Bowe and signed top free agent Jeremy Maclin in hopes of resolving this problem.
During camp, the Chiefs will look to build a solid receiving corp. KC drafted Chris Conley who will battle for playing time this training camp with hopes to be the number two receiver on the roster. Albert Wilson is also eyeing playing time as is guys like Jason Avant and De’Anthony Thomas; who have both been in the league and are looking to add depth in a receiving corp in desperate need of it.
Last year, the Chiefs passing game was ranked 29th with 3,182 yards. Luckily for KC, they have one of the better run games in the league with Jamaal Charles, but they need a solid passing game with good, reliable receivers who can get in the end zone.
The battle amongst receivers will be the most intriguing for the Chiefs and will have a great impact on the rest of the season.
Oakland Raiders
The Raiders have had an interesting offseason. They welcome a new coach, new veterans, and a few new rookies who they hope make an immediate impact this season. As camp approaches the biggest competition for the silver and black is at the wide receiver position.
The offense needed to be addressed this offseason, especially the problems at wide receiver, and they were. Michael Crabtree was signed this offseason, and the Raiders drafted Amari Cooper with the fourth overall pick. Oakland needed a playmaker on offense to accompany Derek Carr and they hope to have found that in Cooper. They also have Brice Butler, Andre Holmes and Rod Streater to consider throughout camp.
Holmes, Butler, and Streater, aren’t all that flashy, but they have made some good plays in their time with the Raiders and provide depth on the roster, but they won’t all be needed and will have to battle it out for playing time.
The Raiders passing game was pretty bad last season as they were ranked 26th in the league with 3,275 yards and 22 touchdowns.
This is a team in rebuilding and head coach Jack Del Rio will have a few battles to consider, another top battle will be at running back, but the wide receiver situation is one that is most intriguing considering their play last season.
San Diego Chargers
The Chargers were disappointed with how last season ended, and will look to rebound to finish the 2015 season on a high note. The Bolts were plagued with injuries last season, but were still able to compete and contend in the tough AFC West.
San Diego didn’t make a big splash this offseason, and will have to do without Antonio Gates for the first four games after his suspension announced this offseason.
The Chargers biggest battle in training camp would be on the defensive line and the depth at the linebacker position. They have an assortment of both young players and veterans on the defensive end and the Bolts are in need of a strong defense this year.
A player to keep an eye on is Denzel Perryman, who looks to make an immediate impact out of camp for playing time throughout the season.
Offensively, the Chargers run game is in need of improvement and is something they look to work on throughout camp as well, especially with the loss of Gates for the first four games.