Featured image courtesy of Chiefs.com
By John Sarianides
The weather is getting warmer and the football is starting to fly around again as teams begin voluntary OTA’s this week. Teams actually began OTA’s last week but most of those practices were sparsely attended by veterans. Veterans typically attend the third week of OTA’s. We have gotten a good look at many of the rookies working out with their new teams but now we will get to see them work with the veterans. Here are some OTA storyline I’ll be following.
1. I am curious to see how the Panthers will use Christian McCaffery now that he is in the same backfield as Cam Newton. Panthers OC Mike Shula is one of the most innovative coaches in the NFL. He will use McCaffery in different personnel groupings and line him up all over the place.
2. Patrick Mahomes is the quarterback of the future in Kansas City. It will be interesting to see how many first team reps he gets this spring. Andy Reid doesn’t want to play him in 2017 but has to get him ready for 2018.
3. Deshaun Watson got reps with the one’s yesterday in Houston and judging by the looks of things, he will be in the mix for the starting quarterback job.
4. Myles Garrett and Gregg Williams has the potential to be a marriage made in heaven if Garrett plays up to his potential on a consistent basis. This week we will get our first look of Garrett playing with the ones in Cleveland.
5. Do the Jets even know who their starting quarterback will be in 2017? It is easy to say Josh McCown but that is not a given. With a good spring and summer, Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg could enter the conversation.
6. We will get our first look at new L.A Rams head coach Sean McVay working with Jared Goff this week. Word is Goff has struggled a little with picking up McVay’s system. Veteran Sean Mannion on the other hand has had a good spring. Could the Rams turn to Mannion if Goff continues to struggle? We’ll find out soon enough.
7. I want to see how new Chargers coach Anthony Lynn is going to try to fit rookie wide receiver Mike Williams into the Bolts offense. Williams gives L.A size and the ability to win one on one situations.
8. All first year head coaches will under the microscope. I am curious to see what the 49ers look like under Kyle Shanahan. We’ll get our first glimpse this week. The Niners were offensively challenged but the son of Mike will change that.
9. Vance Joseph is saying all the right things in Denver but he and offensive coordinator Mike McCoy need to figure out their quarterback situation. This spring and training camp will go a long way in helping them figure it out under center.
10. The Raiders need to get Derek Carr back but I doubt we’ll see a lot of him this spring. He will throw if he can but the Raiders do not want to rush him.