Welcome back to our Glaring Team Needs series! Its time to pull three random teams from the NFL pool and find where their personnel is lacking. It’s finally here: real live NFL football! Well, pre-season football, but that counts for something. It will give the second and third stringers, the recent draft picks and undrafted free agents, a chance to shine. It may also help to expose the holes in the line up. Here are three random teams that play today: Jacksonville, San Diego, and Arizona
Glaring NFL Team Needs
1. Jacksonville Jaguars - Biggest Need: Wide Receiver I like Mike Thomas. I do. But with Mike Sims-Walker gone to St. Louis and no longer taking attention away, he could struggle as the #1 WR option. Jason Hill doesn't inspire a ton of confidence either. Mercedes Lewis will continue to be a great target, but some weapons on the outside would help move this offense. 2012 Draft Pick: Jeff Fuller, WR Texas A&M - Luckily for Jacksonville, WR is looking to be deep in the 2012 draft. Fuller has the hands, size, and body control you look for in a #1 receiving option, but isn't overly athletic.
2. San Diego Chargers - Biggest Need: Tight End I was quite surprised when looking at the Charger roster to find that Antonio Gates is a nine year veteran. An injury plagued nine years when you think about it. Next in line: 10 year vet Randy McMichael. Behind him? Two UDFAs and Kory Sperry, a three year vet with seven career catches. Its possible that after Gates is gone that the Chargers would use a WR more instead of a TE, but regardless of future strategy, the talent behind him currently could use an upgrade 2012 Draft Pick: Ladarius Green, TE Louisiana-Lafayette - Unlucky for San Diego, TE is not a top heavy position this year. In fact, the current top ranked TE on the MtD 2012 Top 200 Prospect is barely in the top 50 and may end up playing WR in the NFL. Green is similar to Gates in that they are big, athletic, and hails from a small, non-BCS school.
3. Arizona Cardinals - Biggest Need: OLB/Pass Rusher In a 3-4 defense, having talented starting OLBs is a boon because their versatility in rushing the passer and dropping in to coverage. When Joey Porter and Clark Haggans are your starting pair, you better be stocking lots of talent behind them. Sam Acho was a nice pick up in this year, but some top end ability needs to be added. 2012 Draft Pick: Courtney Upshaw, OLB/DE Alabama - Upshaw is a versatile option on the Tide defense, rushing the passer both standing up and with his hand in the dirt. Has the size to hold up on the outside in the NFL and would fit into the Cardinal defense nicely.
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