NFL Teams with Most to Glean from 2015 Training Camp

Football has finally returned, as training camp began this weekend for a few select teams. After an offseason filled with suspensions, drama and major acquisitions, it’s time to see what the on-field results will bear.

Training camp is a place where weaknesses can be identified and begin to be hashed out. Whether through great coaching or breakthrough players, some issues get fixed before the regular season starts, while others will require a long-term focus stretching into the season.

There are six teams that could potentially be playoff-caliber squads if the regular season works out well. But these teams have major flaws that may manifest into uncontrollable problems. They must start to prove in training camp that their biggest issues are fixable.

We’re looking past the obvious playoff contenders here. Five of these six teams failed to make the postseason in 2014. Major factors could separate these same teams from being in the playoffs in 2015 or picking in the top 10 of the 2016 NFL draft. And training camp should start to tell that story.

New Orleans Saints

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

The New Orleans Saints are possibly the most difficult team to predict entering the season. On one hand, the team still has the elite duo of Sean Payton and Drew Brees at the helm. Their presence should continue to keep the franchise relevant in the playoff picture unless the roster underachieves like it did in 2014.

There are major reasons for concern that 2015 will mirror last year, as well. Instead of building around Brees, the Saints traded his two best vertical threats in Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills. It’ll be nice to have a solid center in Max Unger and a young linebacker in Stephone Anthony, but this team is unlikely to improve without those receivers.

The release of pass-rusher Junior Galette only makes the outlook murkier. New Orleans must be commended for the progressive move, but it will really hurt the defense in the short term. There will be a huge amount of pressure on rookie Hau’oli Kikaha and safety Jairus Byrd to play well, or else this defense is likely to be one of the worst in 2015.

With so many unknown factors, the Saints may end up back in the playoffs or back in the top-10 of the draft. Their aging roster must squeeze out one more year of production of several veterans, and they need to start seeing results from recent draft classes.

Houston Texans

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

The Houston Texans’ quarterback situation could certainly hold the team back from a playoff spot. Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer were not good last season. Houston’s best chance to win is if Mallett makes major progress in training camp as the starting quarterback.

The Texans are known for having the NFL’s best overall player, J.J. Watt. But the franchise hasn’t been known for being a consistent winner since its creation. Houston has a good roster filled with up-and-coming talent, but its offense is still reliant on running back Arian Foster due to the trouble at QB. If Foster is healthy, the offense could be fine thanks entirely to his skill.

The Texans defense could ascend to a top-five unit in the league. It’s far from a lock, but if Jadeveon Clowney and Benardrick McKinney can be at least replacement level this year, there’s no reason to think the Texans won’t have a great defense. If that’s the case, the offense won’t have as much pressure to be elite.

Arizona Cardinals

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

The Arizona Cardinals were having a magical start to 2014 before quarterback Carson Palmer tore his ACL. Their 9-1 start helped propel a return to the playoffs, but the team couldn’t overcome the loss of its leader and best quarterback available. There’s really nothing more the team could have done to compensate for such a big loss.

With Palmer back in the fold, the Cardinals figure to be at the forefront of the NFC West discussion with the Seattle Seahawks. Arizona has a top-notch coaching staff and talented roster. But there are several red flags we cannot ignore.

Overall, the Cardinals have struggled to stay healthy in recent years. Not only is Palmer coming off a major injury at 35 years old, but Andre Ellington, Jonathan Cooper, Tyrann Mathieu and Sean Weatherspoon have dealt with considerable issues. Those are a lot of injury question marks to be dealing with.

The Cardinals don’t have the deepest roster, either. Their pass-rushers are among the worst in the NFL, and the cornerback position is average. Whether this defense can thrive without Todd Bowles as the coordinator must be proven still.

Buffalo Bills

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

The underwhelming talent available at the Buffalo Bills’ quarterback position will be the overarching theme to the team’s 2015 season. Buffalo can’t do much about it now, except for hold an open competition to find the best candidate. If the winner can outperform expectations, the Bills’ playoff hopes will be more realistic.

Outside of quarterback, the Bills seem primed for a great season. Their defense is stacked with quality players with game-breaking talent. Adding Rex Ryan as the head coach should help maximize the quality of the defense.

Unfortunately, the hole at quarterback is too large to ignore. The Bills have a deep fleet of receivers and a talented backfield. All the starting quarterback has to do is get them the ball with average effectiveness.

The Bills’ plan to bring back a run-heavy approach to mitigate the quarterback’s workload will be the opposite of where the NFL is heading. Maybe they’ll be ahead of the curve.

San Francisco 49ers

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

The San Francisco 49ers’ presence on this list really shouldn’t be a surprise. It’s impossible to know what to expect from this team. Not only have the 49ers lost significant talent to free agency and retirements, but they have a new coaching staff.

The uncertainty for the 49ers’ 2015 season is somewhat exciting but also nerve-wracking. If this coaching staff is good and can adapt its scheme to its players, this team might return to winning ways. No one can possibly know how good this group of coaches will be right now, though.

A lot hinges on how the young players perform. The depth that Trent Baalke has built is now in line to start. There will surely be some growing pains, but this has been considered one of the best drafting teams in recent years.

Getting Colin Kaepernick back on track as a potential franchise quarterback must be the top priority. If he can shine this year, then the 49ers will likely find themselves right back in the playoff mix. If he struggles when given more responsibility again, he may not be the long-term answer for the franchise.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

The Pittsburgh Steelers have built one of the more dangerous and efficient offenses in the NFL. Led by Ben Roethlisberger, this is a team that can win any shootout. Running back Le’Veon Bell and receivers Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton comprise possibly the best supporting cast of any.

The Steelers’ offensive line is finally above average as well. The emergence of left tackle Kelvin Beachum and right tackle Marcus Gilbert was enormous for the offense.

But can the defense hold up?

That’ll be the looming question throughout training camp. Pittsburgh’s defense is filled with young players who have to prove themselves. The front seven has some proven veterans, but the secondary is shaky at best.

Pittsburgh must give as many snaps as possible to rookies in training camp. Linebacker Bud Dupree and cornerbacks Senquez Golson and Doran Grant have the opportunity to earn major roles with the team right now. They must show they can be instant contributors and earn the coaching staff’s trust quickly.

All stats used are from sports-reference.com.

Ian Wharton is an NFL Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

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