NFL Training Camps 2011: Biggest Weakness That Has Been Discovered on Every Team

This year's off-season hasn't exactly gone well for the NFL as a whole. This year's training camp isn't going well for some teams as they rush to try and formulate some sort of consistency in such a hurried fashion.

There is no perfect team in the NFL however the limitations of the lockout have forced teams to deal with and discover their biggest weaknesses at a very late point during the offseason.

Here are the biggest weakness discovered on every team in training camp.

Serial tweeting about NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA, Soccer and Rugby:  @Cianaf

I also write for Irish Central and Fantasy Football Life.

Pittsburgh Steelers: No Cornerback Is Stepping Up

The Steelers look all but certain to return with the same secondary that started last season's Super Bowl after their first preseason game.

Nobody stood out during camp while the Washington Redskins and Rex Grossman dominated youngsters like Keenan Lewis and Crezdon Butler in the team's first preseason outing.

The only remaining hope for the Steelers to improve their secondary appears to be rookie Curtis Brown, who did not feature in the preseason loss and had some snaps in camp with the starters. Even if those snaps came when Ike Taylor and William Gay weren't involved.

The revolving door at right guard is also a major issue.

Baltimore Ravens: Right Tackle

Oniel Cousins was terrible in the Ravens' first preseason game against the Eagles. The Eagles' defensive line was good but it was helped by his wayward play.

Cousins will need to improve vastly come the regular season or else Marshal Yanda could find himself being moved to the outside.

Jah Reid may look to take his place also but he was almost as bad in the Ravens' opening game.

Cleveland Browns: Wide Receiver

Despite the impressive play in practice of Brian Robiskie and the promise of rookie Greg Little, there is no doubting the Browns' biggest weakness coming out of camp.

Even if both Robiskie and Little step up and become reliable receivers, the Browns would still need Mohammed Massaquoi to improve again on his performances from last year.

The fact the Browns didn't add a proven veteran to aid the youngsters at the position since the lockout ended is surprising and hurts their prospects at competing this season.

Cincinnati Bengals: Quarterback

The fact that Carson Palmer looks set to stick to his guns and Mike Brown rarely ever wavers on anything, makes the quarterback outlook in Cincinnati look even less optimistic.

Palmer would undoubtedly be the starter and any little hope of him returning is dwindling away as the days go by.

Throwing Andy Dalton to the wolves instantly seems like a bad decision in a division with the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers so Bruce Gradkowski could find himself under center at the start of the season.

Minnesota Vikings: Left Tackle

Bryant McKinnie had to go after coming back to the Vikings in horrible shape. The Vikings replaced him with Charlie Johnson who is in shape....

However Charlie Johnson can be in whatever shape he likes, he nearly got Peyton Manning killed last season.

Donovan McNabb will need to use his feet quite a bit in his new surroundings as Phil Loadholt isn't the greatest of pass protectors either...and that's putting it nicely.

Detroit Lions: Loss of Impact Players

The Detroit Lions shouldn't have any major issues replacing either Nick Fairley or Mikel Leshoure while they are injured.

Jerome Harrison is a very underrated back who was harshly treated in Cleveland before not seeing the field in Philadelphia. He should be a reliable and resilient runner to replace Leshoure. The Lions' defensive line was stout last season without Fairley and has the adequate depth to succeed without him.

However it does hurt the excitement and optimism that had been growing in Detroit. Leshoure and Fairley were seen as major impact players even as rookies for the coming season. Without them there is a little less excitement around the Lions.

Chicago Bears: Wide Receiver

The Bears' biggest weakness remains their offensive line. Though the offensive line looks better than it was last year, that's not saying much.

They entered this offseason in desperate need of adding a first choice receiver to aid their talent at the position.

Roy Williams doesn't help anyone however. Williams isn't even better than Johnny Knox who was the team's leading receiver last season. He does give them a big body which they had been lacking but Williams' drops and poor all-around-play overrides that.

Green Bay Packers: Distractions

The Packers had no unofficial team practices before the lockout was lifted. While many teams were playing in their first preseason game last Friday, the Packers were spending time with the President of the United States.

While this is normal for the reigning Super Bowl champions, it doesn't normally come this close to the season after such a tumultuous offseason.

The Packers may be a talented team, but they have a lot of things to work on if they are to be ready for the coming season. Every team will be circling their game with the Super Bowl champions for the coming season.

New York Jets: Who's Rushing the Passer?

The New York Jets may have drafted Muhammed Wilkerson to fortify the defensive line but he will need to prove that he can replace Shaun Ellis.

The fact that Ellis was not re-signed really hurts their defense. He was the team's best performer in the playoffs last year and was the only consistently disruptive player in the passing game.

Wilkerson won't be able to replace Ellis' experience and until the regular season he will not be able to prove he is as disruptive.

Buffalo Bills: Left Tackle

Demetrius Bell is the Bills' projected starter at left tackle. That doesn't mean that he is a starting caliber left tackle in the NFL though.

Bell hasn't been replaced in training camp and he strained a shoulder which doesn't help.

The tackle spot has been a huge problem for the Bills over the last few seasons. This year doesn't look like being any different and the fact the Bills haven't improved in the area during camp is a huge weakness for the team.

Miami Dolphins: Quarterback

The Dolphins knew coming into the season that their poor quarterback play was going to be a problem. However the moves made in the last few weeks have highlighted that flaw.

The Dolphins would be one of the best teams in the league with solid play from Chad Henne. Daniel Thomas and Reggie Bush complement each other very well while the offensive line is in good shape.

The addition of Kevin Burnett and re-signing of Paul Soliai and Jason Taylor have aided the defense and should push it to being a top five group under Mike Nolan.

New England Patriots: Wide Receiver

Chad Ochocinco is an upgrade at wide receiver for the Patriots. However he's not anywhere near the elite receiver that the team needed. He's not even the deep threat that the team needed.

Ochocinco runs great routes. He is an outstanding possession receiver and fits into the Patriots offense perfectly.

He is still the same receiver that was shut down by Darelle Revis two weeks in a row the last time they went head to head. Now that is nothing to be ashamed of but Ochocinco is more suited to playing the Wes Welker role in the Patriots offense. He definitely doesn't put this team over the top.

*for the record, I don't believe his attitude will be a problem one bit.

Tennessee Titans: Chris Johnson

Running backs are a dime-a-dozen in the NFL. Chris Johnson is in the funny position of being the Titans' biggest strength and greatest weakness.

Johnson is a star on the field, there is no doubt about that. However he plays at a position where it is easy to find a good starter.

Should the Titans give into Johnson's demands and grossly overpay to retain his services, it will significantly hurt the team's ability to spend elsewhere. Ultimately if they really want Chris Johnson to be in Tennessee they will be sacrificing too much for a position that doesn't tend to produce for very long in the NFL.

Indianapolis Colts: The Health of Peyton Manning

The fact that Peyton Manning's neck injury is becoming more serious by the day is a serious worry for the Colts.

It doesn't need to be said that each team's starting quarterback is vital to their success, but Manning is the difference between the Colts finishing atop the AFC South or at the bottom.

He has never missed a game in his career and I doubt he will, but missing time with all his returning pieces is going to hurt them early in the season.

Jacksonville Jaguars: The Health of Eben Britton

The Jaguars came into the season hoping for Jason Hill to take the leap and be their go-to-guy on the outside. In a sense their wide receiver problem was already there before training camp.

Britton had season-ending shoulder surgery last year and has been behind in camp so far. He also missed practice with a back injury.

His pass protection has been a problem which will kill the passing attack regardless of what receivers the team has.

Houston Texans: Growing Pains on Defense

The whole of training camp will be a learning experience for the Houston Texans defensively. Switching from a 4-3 to 3-4 scheme is never a simple task.

There will be a flurry of issues but the biggest one is Brian Cushing's lack of time on the field. Cushing had offseason knee surgery. Despite how well others may fill in, Cushing is vital to the defense and picking up the scheme will be huge for the team as a whole.

New York Giants: Offensive Line Shuffle

David Bass has replaced Shaun O'Hara as the team's starting center. While Bass is talented he's nowhere near what O'Hara offered to the team before being injured last year.

The real issue is the fact that the team released O'Hara and Rich Seubert before moving David Diehl to left guard.

This means that William Beatty has been entrusted with the job of protecting Eli Manning's blindside. This may not be an issue by the end of the season but just ask the Dallas Cowboys how they did with a confused offensive line at the start of last season.

Washington Redskins: Cornerback Play

There is no doubt that quarterback is the team's biggest concern, but since the start of training camp they look to have improved in that area. Rex Grossman impressed during the first preseason game while Kellen Clemons has also arrived.

On the other side of the ball the Redskins look to have a very aggressive unit in place.

This was evident during their first game of the preseason against the Steelers. However while aggression is a good thing, they were overly aggressive and do not have the talent at corner to play that type of defense. Josh Wilson and DeAngelo Hall were burned more than once when matched up one on one with the Steelers' receivers. It was only not exposed because of erratic throws from the Steelers' quarterbacks.

Philadelphia Eagles: Right Side of the Offensive Line Unsettled

While covering the Baltimore Ravens vs. Philadelphia Eagles opening preseason game, I watched the right side of their line struggle.

While they were not on the field for that long, Danny Watkins and Ryan Harris struggled more than you would expect. Watkins can be excused somewhat considering he is a rookie but Harris should have been better.

This was made much more of a worry by the fact that the Ravens' strength defensively was on the opposite side of the defensive line in Haloti Ngata. Corey Redding shouldn't have dominated Watkins as he did.

Dallas Cowboys: Is Abram Elam Really the Answer at Safety?

The Dallas Cowboys haven't had a real impact player at safety since Roy Williams—not that one!—left for the Bengals a few seasons back.

Abram Elam is being reunited with his former defensive coordinator from Cleveland: Rob Ryan.

Ryan obviously knows what to expect from Elam but will he really satisfy the Cowboy fans that were desperate for an Eric Weddle or Michael Huff signing? More importantly is he capable of reigniting that secondary.

Kansas City Chiefs: Will Justin Houston Step Up?

The Chiefs' biggest problem on defense last season was their reliance on Tamba Hali to get pressure on the opposing quarterback.

They did little to remedy this problem in the offseason and will instead look to Justin Houston who they drafted in the third round of this season's draft.

Houston is a pass-rushing specialist with first-round talent that fell due to character concerns. If the Chiefs have to rely on Hali alone next year again, their offensive improvements will be moot.

Denver Broncos: Chemistry

The failure to clearly determine who is the starting quarterback in Denver has definitely had some sort of effect in the locker room.

It would be ignorant to believe that each and every player on that team has a preference as to who they'd like to see under center on opening day. Not everyone will be in agreement either.

While that normally is the case for any team, the fact that the Broncos haven't fully supported either quarterback to this point will allow those cracks to continue to grow rather than be moved on from.

San Diego Chargers: Who Will Play MLB?

Donald Butler and Takeo Spikes looked to be certain starters at the beginning of training camp. However Stephen Cooper was then re-signed to muddle the picture once again.

Cooper wasn't exactly stellar last year despite the team's strong overall play.

The re-signing of Cooper could just be for added depth but it could also be a sign that the team isn't happy with Butler's progression or Spikes' fight with father time.

Oakland Raiders: Need a Veteran Presence on Left Side of Line

The Raiders have Jared Veldheer and Daniel Loper manning the left tackle and left guard spots of their offensive line.

Both players look to be quite talented but neither has any notable level of experience. While they do have Khalif Barnes, Cooper Carlisle and Samson Satele on the line also who have a lot of experience, the left side of the line is crucial.

The team had tried to bring in Jared Gaither during camp to be their starting left tackle but after a spell in limbo he eventually landed with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Seattle Seahawks: Should Have Added a Veteran Quarterback

The Seattle Seahawks offense will be Andrew Luck's most realistic landing spot next season. The team has made great moves offensively except at the quarterback position.

While I'm not as down on Tarvaris Jackson as some people are, he is at best an unproven commodity.

Had the Seahawks brought back Matt Hasselbeck or even considered Marc Bulger—who subsequently retired—or Vince Young they would be the favorites in the NFC West.

St. Louis Rams: Injuries at Corner Expose Lack of Depth

The Rams have focused most of their offseason activity on surrounding Sam Bradford with weapons to the point that they have more than they need.

The team has a seemingly endless list of receivers and are expected to re-sign Mark Clayton once he is 100 percent fit.

This isn't exactly a problem but you would wonder if the Rams have cost themselves elsewhere by focusing so much on offense. The team could have used another addition at cornerback such as Josh Wilson for depth opposed to Al Harris. Harris himself was injured in camp as were Jerome Murphy and starter Ron Bartell.

San Francisco 49ers: Alex Smith Looks Like Alex Smith

Smith hasn't been wowing anyone after the limited time he has been working with Jim Harbaugh.

Smith was two for seven with a fumble in his first preseason outing as the 49ers were destroyed by the Saints.

You can't read too much into preseason performances but Smith has a whole career to back it up as well as fellow bust Michael Crabtree feeling good enough about himself to call Smith out in the offseason. Smith needs to have been better than he has to this point.

Arizona Cardinals: Adrian Wilson's Injury

Adrian Wilson tore a tendon in his biceps attempting to tackle Chris Wells in practice during training camp.

When healthy, Wilson forms one of the best safety pairings throughout the whole league with Kerry Rhodes.

The Cardinals are looking to avoid surgery in order for Wilson to play again this season but it may be more prudent for him long term to have the surgery. The Cardinals may be looking to compete in the NFC West this year but I can't imagine Wilson's long term health is worth risking for their slim Super Bowl chances this year.

Atlanta Falcons: Ray Edwards

Ray Edwards is being relied upon in Atlanta to be a prized pass rusher because that is the way they will pay him.

Edwards has never been a great pass rusher. What doesn't help is the fact that he has not been able to practice during camp.

It was recently revealed that Edwards had offseason knee surgery. The procedure was considered minor but he has not been able to learn the system with contact while also missed the first preseason game.

New Orleans Saints: Injuries to Marques Colston and Tracey Porter

There are few problems emerging from the camp of my Super Bowl favorites for this coming season.

The most notable problem the Saints have is the injury to Marques Colston. While the Saints have probably the best group of receivers in the league and can handle injuries at the position better than most, Colston is the one guy that they can't afford to lose.

Tracey Porter's injury isn't a major problem as it has allowed Patrick Robinson the chance to showcase his development. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has repeatedly praised Robinson and even hinted that Porter could lose his job at this rate.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Has the Defense Got a Soft Center?

22-year-old Mason Foster was the team's starter in their opening preseason game. Foster is replacing Barrett Ruud but it is a lot to ask of a rookie to man the middle linebacker in a division with the Falcons and Saints.

Foster won't be helped by the fact the Buccaneers' already needed an upgrade at safety.

Cody Grimm was solid if unspectacular before being injured last year and he is still feeling the effects of that injury. Ahmad Black is a rookie the coaching staff likes but he hasn't been impressive in camp. Sean Jones is proven but won't be making many highlight reels while Corey Lynch came over from the Bengals which is a team that would have kept him if he was worthwhile as they also needed safety help.

Carolina Panthers: Defensive Tackle

The Panthers brought in Ron Edwards from Kansas City this offseason to stuff the run after re-signing Charles Johnson on the edge.

Edwards landed on IR after only a few days in camp which leaves the Panthers with the remains of last season's 23rd ranked defense against the run last year.

The Panthers have a fantastic trio of linebackers and Edwards would have been a huge player to occupy blockers for both them and Charles Johnson as he looks to eclipse his sack total of last season.

Serial tweeting about NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA, Soccer and Rugby:  @Cianaf

I also write for Irish Central and Fantasy Football Life.