We see a ton of player movement every offseason, but it's important while considering new faces in new place to not ignore the effect of coaching changes on teams. No nugget of information should go ignored during your preparation phase. It might be easy to overlook what a new coaching staff means for a franchise running back or quarterback, but without doing the work, you might end up with a team on the field that differs greatly from your perceived value. Today, we'll look at eight offenses that will have to deal with new whistle-adorned men on the practice field. Play Fantasy Football: It's All FREE at Fleaflicker.com
Cleveland Browns
The Browns cleaned house, bringing in Eric Mangini to run the team after Romeo Crennel was dismissed. With a very good offensive line in New York and a stable of young, inexperienced QBs, Mangini saw much more success on the ground than in the air. While the Jets' pass offense was mediocre at best, the team boasted a top-ten rushing attack, even with an aging RB nearing the end of the line.
Sounds a lot like Jamal Lewis in 2009, right? With an open competition at QB, I would expect to see Mangini lean on the rushing attack, led by Pro-Bowl LT Joe Thomas and rookie center Alex Mack on the line. If Lewis can stay healthy, he could be in for a Thomas Jones-like season. If Lewis can't stay healthy, Jerome Harrison will be a huge waiver-wire pickup in 2009.
At the QB position, I would expect Brady Quinn to eventually be named the starter, as he fits the type of offense new Browns offensive coordinator is likely to implement, but keep an eye on Brett Ratliff. Mangini made it a point to bring Ratliff to Cleveland in the draft-day trade of first-round picks with the Jets, so the new Cleveland coach must have taken a liking to the little-known QB.
Denver Broncos
Josh McDaniels lands in his first head-coaching gig, and his first major action as coach was to tick off the franchise QB. McDaniels had Jay Cutler, wanted Matt Cassel, and wound up with Kyle Orton. Can Orton succeed in a New England-style offense? Optimists point to Cassel's success, as he had logged absolutely no professional experience in any games before looking like a potential franchise QB after taking over for Tom Brady in 2008.
With a Patriots-type offense being implemented, you would think that the rushing game would be de-emphasized. But Denver shockingly used the 12th overall pick in this year's draft on running back Knowshon Moreno. Also realize that even though the Patriots didn't have a lead back with large numbers, they actually were the sixth-best rushing attack in the league. With Moreno getting the lion's share of work, he makes a great RB2 in 2009.
In addition to McDaniels, the Broncos signed Carolina QB coach Mike McCoy to run the offense. If he and McDaniels play to Orton's strengths, the new Denver QB should have the best year of his career, as he has many more weapons at his disposal in the passing game. But remember that with Moreno in tow, Orton's upside is limited. He's not going to turn into the next Brady.
Detroit Lions
An 0-16 season is cause for any team to clean house, and that's exactly what the Lions did. With Jim Schwartz at head coach, you can believe that the defense is on its way to greener pastures. But what about the offense? Scott Linehan joins the team as offensive coordinator, a post he's held both at Miami and Minnesota. His last work was as head coach of the Rams from 2006 through four games of 2008.Even with the great Steven Jackson in tow, Linehan's St. Louis offenses generally emphasized the pass. This will eventually be good news for rookie QB Matt Stafford, who will take the reins of the Detroit offense sooner or later. However, a lot of young people will have to take a step forward before he becomes a usuable fantasy QB. Calvin Johnson should retain premium value as the Torry Holt of the offense.
The real quagmire is what we should do with Kevin Smith. He showed a ton of promise last year as a rookie, but if Linehan is going to favor the pass, it'll limit Smith's fantasy upside this year. But when the St. Louis offense was running on all cylinders and Jackson was healthy, everyone on offense was a great fantasy starter. Feel good about Smith as your RB2, but be advised that he has a wide range of potential outcomes this season.
Indianapolis Colts
Like the teams above, the Colts went looking for a new coaching staff this offseason. Unlike the previous teams, the need for new coaches was predicated by retirement, not poor performance. The transition should be eased by the coach-like impact of Peyton Manning in the huddle, as he was already responsible for much of the play-calling on offense.
It will also help that Indianapolis stayed in-house with all their new signings, so the players will have familiarity with the coaches and continuity in the offense. As that is the case, expect Manning, Reggie Wayne, and Dallas Clark to remain near the top of their respective positions in fantasy football. As the third option in the passing game, Anthony Gonzalez is due for a big step forward.
Caldwell is backing Joseph Addai as the main ball-carrier, but it remains to be seen how the incumbent RB will recover from arthroscopic knee surgery. I'd still count on Addai producing fantasy-relevant numbers week in and week out, making him a decent RB2 and a great RB3. Donald Brown looks like an RB4 with upside.
Kansas City Chiefs
The biggest addition in Kansas City's offseason was the hiring of Scott Pioli as general manager. Pioli was able to use his relationship with Bill Belichik and the Patriots to add QB Matt Cassel and veteran LB Mike Vrabel at the low cost of a second-round pick. This gives new head coach Todd Haley a young QB to build around as the new staff rebuilds the Chiefs franchise.
Moving from Herm Edwards to Haley will mean a shift from a run-based offense to a pass-based attack. While the offense will only go as far as Cassel can take them, the shift in philosophy should be a huge help to WR Dwayne Bowe. Since Kansas City dealt away Tony Gonzalez, Bowe's main competition for looks in the offense, he should have no trouble reaching the huge number of targets he had last year.
Who will emerge as the second option in the passing offense? If the Chiefs don't find a reliable weapon across from Bowe, he'll have to deal with constant double teams throughout the season. Mark Bradley is the lead option to start and fill the Anquan Boldin position in Haley's offense. Bradley has more upside than any other late-round WR option in your draft due to this opportunity he's receiving.
Seattle Seahawks
Mike Holmgrem made good on his retirement plans, leaving the 2009 Seahawks in the hands of Jim Mora. The role of offensive coordinator goes to Greg Knapp, who previously held the same position in San Francisco, Atlanta, and most recently Oakland. While together in Atlanta in the same coaching positions, the two men lorded over the league's top rushing attack, due in large part to Michael Vick.
Can they rediscover the rushing magic in Seattle? Until the line improves, a top-ten rushing offense is just a pipe dream. However, Julius Jones is likely to benefit from Knapp's zone-blocking scheme and could approach 1,000 yards. The goal-line work is likely to go to T.J. Duckett, who filled that same role in Atlanta with Mora and Knapp. This Atlanta connection makes Duckett a great RB sleeper at the end of the draft.
The West-Coast attack, led by Matt Hasselbeck and newly-signed WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, looks to be the strength of the team. While the 33-year-old Hasselbeck won't be able to recreate Vick's dangerous running ability in Knapp's attack, his passing talent has never been questioned. If Hasselbeck can't stay healthy, the starting QB role goes to the mobile Seneca Wallace. Could he reprise the Vick role if called upon?
St. Louis Rams
The Rams front office finally had enough of the team's sputtering offense and turnstile defense and cleaned house in the offseason. In comes defensive whiz Steve Spagnuolo at head coach and former Eagles QB coach Pat Shurmur at offensive coordinator. Shurmur comes from the most pass-heavy offense in the league, but how will he fare without Donovan McNabb under center?Shurmur inherits Marc Bulger at QB, a huge step down from working with McNabb. Bulger has one last chance to keep his starting job in St. Louis, and if his play remains as bad as it's been the last two years, the whole team will suffer and the Rams will have to find another QB. With not much in the WR cupboard, Shurmur is going to have a tough time recreating the success he had in Philadelphia.
As such, the coaching staff has promised to rely heavily on Steven Jackson and the rushing game. Any success the team is going to have this season will come through Jackson, so look for Shurmur to get involved in the passing game as well as the rushing game early and often. Jackson will be hard-pressed to stay healthy with such a big role, so his owners should invest a late-round pick in a handcuff, Kenneth Darby being the current favorite.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
When Jeff Jagodzinski interviewed with the Jets, he was fired from Boston College. The talented coach wound up with Tampa Bay, taking over the offensive coordinator duties. With the defensive-minded Raheem Morris as the head coach, Jagodzinski will be in charge of turning an average offense into a quality unit -- and don't be surprised if he succeeds.
Jagodzinski coached under Alex Gibbs and will use Gibbs' zone-blocking scheme in concert with Tampa Bay's great offensive line to open holes for the two-headed rushing attack of Derrick Ward and Earnest Graham. As part of a committee with each other, both RBs upside will be limited. However, Jagodzinski is going to sport a rush-oriented attack, making both guys great value as RB3s.
Either Byron Leftwich or Luke McCown will enter the season as the Bucs starter at QB. While neither will be better than Jagodzinski's 2007 starter at Boston College (Matt Ryan), both have qualities that could earn them the job. McCown's big arm would play well in Jagodzinski's offense. Leftwich has extended NFL starting experience, which is an invaluable asset to a QB. I'd expect Leftwich under center, and I think he'll enjoy a great deal of success in this system.
