NFL Preseason 2011: 10 Biggest Storylines Heading into Week 1

Will someone please pinch me because there is no way that preseason football starts in less than four days!

As the excitement around the NFL is as high as it’s ever been, the time for depth chart moving and roster cutting is upon us.

Many of the players you will see during this preseason period may be gone before the opening game, but this will also be where teams find their diamonds in the rough.

The beginning of the preseason also signifies the month mark before the start of the season, and I can already feel my palms getting sweaty.

In celebration, this slideshow is of the ten biggest storylines heading into week 1 of the NFL preseason. Enjoy!

Check back for more on the NFL world as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s Football Page to get your fill of the NFL.

Donald Wood is a Bleacher Report Featured Columnist and Syndicated Writer. Follow Donald Wood on Twitter.

10. Seattle Seahawks Quarterback Competition

After veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck flew the coop out of Seattle, the Seahawks had to go hard after another quarterback to take the helm.

Besides Charlie Whitehurst being the backup, the Seahawks and mediocre head coach Pete Carroll decided to put all their eggs in one basket and mortgage the farm with career backup Tarvaris Jackson.

Jackson played second fiddle to Brett Favre in Minnesota, and Carroll feels like he can make Jackson into the solution for Seattle.

9. Kevin Kolb’s Big Chance in Arizona

After spending a few seasons backing up Donovan McNabb and learning the NFL offense under one of the greatest quarterback coaches in the league, Kevin Kolb is ready to spread his wings.

While the original plan was to have Kolb as the backup in Philly, he requested a trade to get a starting job, and Arizona took that chance.

With Pro-Bowl wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and elite tight end Todd Heap making his life easier, Kolb has found himself in the best possible situation.

8. Houston Texans’ New Defense

The Houston Texans had one of the most potent offenses in the NFL, but their defense was not anywhere near up to snuff with what the team was expecting.

While the players have brought a new found aggression to camp this year, it was the hiring of Wade Phillips that makes the defense that much better.

For the secondary, after one of the worst years in terms of being destroyed by the opposition, the Texans went big and signed former Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Jonathan Joseph. 

7. Detroit Lions’ Running Game

The Detroit Lions were one of the big winners in the NFL Draft, but now the beautiful painting that was the Lions season has become smeared.

Not only has prized defensive tackle prospect Nick Fairley had surgery on his foot, but now star running back prospect Mikel Leshoure has gone out for the season with an Achilles injury.

Leshoure was expected to challenge for the top running back spot, but now the team will ride with Jahvid Best as the starter.

6. The John Beck Experiment in Washington

For the Washington Redskins fans, life will be getting worse before it gets any better, and head coach Mike Shanahan is officially to blame.

With McNabb shipped away to Minnesota, the wildness that is the quarterback issues in Washington have culminated with the crowning of John Beck as head quarterback.

John Beck has never been a substantial starter in the NFL, but Shanahan thinks he is a god when it comes to working with quarterbacks, and he has no idea how truly bad he is.

5. Andy Dalton and A.J. Green in Cincinnati

After veteran quarterback Carson Palmer lost his game of chicken with the Cincinnati Bengals organization, the team decided to draft a young quarterback to replace him.

With former TCU quarterback Andy Dalton adding to the offense and the new addition of star wide receiver A.J. Green through the draft, the Bengals young offense looks very potent.

The questions will be about how Dalton transfers to the NFL and if Green is a big enough safety net for the young QB to make a serious impact. Cincinnati is very intriguing. 

4. Donovan McNabb Sporting Purple in Minnesota

With one of the worst ends to a quarterback controversy in the history of football finally over, Donovan McNabb’s renaissance is ready to begin in Minnesota.

After being treated like garbage by Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan, McNabb finally finds himself where he is wanted.

The question will be whether or not McNabb can handle the heat of carrying a playoff team across the threshold and into the big game.

3. Tim Tebow vs. Kyle Orton

In what could be the most highly fought over position in sports right now, veteran Kyle Orton and newcomer Tim Tebow are battling for the starting quarterback job in Denver.

While the media has all but written Tebow off, there is still a strong legion of management types that are fighting for Tebow to get the job.

It’s obvious that Tebow can't run a pro-style offense, and the fact that there is even a controversy shows the state of the Bronco’s organization.

2. New England’s Gambles

While the New England Patriots have never been afraid to take risks, this offseason has the best example of the team taking educated challenges on.

This year’s challenges include troubled wide receiver Chad Ochocinco and overweight defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth.

Both are Pro-Bowl quality players that have struggled mightily with their former clubs, but something about the aura of New England makes people snap into line.

1. Philadelphia Eagles Dream Team

After the longest lockout in National Football League history, the shortened offseason had one predominant winner.

The Philadelphia Eagles.

By signing Nnamdi Asomugha, Jason Babin, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Cullen Jenkins and Vince Young to just name a few, the Eagles have put the target squarely on their back.

With the first week of the preseason just four days away, all eyes will be looking to the Philadelphia Eagles to see if they are as good as they appear to be on paper.