NFL: 4 Teams That Are Beyond a Simple Rebuild

Sometimes all a struggling team needs to do to improve from one year to the next is draft just two or three players, get a few injured key starters back on the field and maybe snag a talented veteran off of the free agency market.

Other times, teams are in such significantly bad shape that it's going to take more than just one offseason and one rebuilding effort to turn things around. In the following slides, I examine four teams that have so much work to do that it might be impossible for them to improve very much in 2012.

New York Jets (8-7)

While at first glance, it doesn't seem that the New York Jets are in serious trouble, a closer look at all of their missteps and mistakes belies a team that needs to make a lot of changes in the upcoming offseason.

A loss today against the New York Giants has all but killed the Jets' chances to reach the playoffs this year.

Though they made it to the AFC Championship game in the previous two seasons, the issues that have led to them never reaching a Super Bowl have magnified in 2011 to the point that it's clear the Jets might need to consider cleaning house.

Quarterback Mark Sanchez has only become a greater liability to his team in each passing year, with his limitations at the position costing his team a number of wins. The fact that they cannot rely on their running game as they have in years past has left the entire offense exposed.

Not helping matters are the boasts of head coach Rex Ryan, who seems more intent upon declaring the team is the best and most intimidating in the league rather than actually creating a team that truly is.

The Jets need help in the pass rush, a better crew of running backs and a more reliable quarterback. That's a lot of components and it's doubtful they will be able to improve at all of them between now and the start of the 2012 season.

St. Louis Rams (2-13)

Decimated by a number of early-season injures, the St. Louis Rams didn't have the depth to recover from them as a team. However, even their starters have under-performed this season, and now the team pegged to win the NFC West will end the year with one of the worst records in the league.

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford has been plagued by a number of injuries of his own, but even when healthy hasn't been able to perform well. They've got one of the worst overall passing offenses in the NFL; but even worse is their defense, which has given up yards and points by the bucketful this season.

With head coach Steve Spagnuolo's record at 10-37 in his three years on the job, there's no way he has any job security, and it's likely the team will look for a new coach in the offseason.

There are just too many missing pieces for the Rams to make enough significant improvements. They should end 2012 with a better record than they did this year, but it will still be a struggle for them to end the year above .500 with their problems.

Cleveland Browns (4-11)

The Cleveland Browns have torn things down and started over a number of times in the last decade, but it's been to little success.

The Browns have had just two seasons that ended about .500 since the team returned to activity in 1999. It's been a rotating cast at every position, most significantly at quarterback, and they've lacked coaching stability as well.

Though head coach Pat Shurmur's job is safe for at least one more year, the same can't be said for almost every player on the team. On defense, things are a bit better, at least in the secondary. But against the run, they're being eaten alive. They also lack a consistent pass rush, which is critical especially when in the AFC North.

Quarterback Colt McCoy doesn't seem built for the professional game, with his weak, inaccurate arm. With running back Peyton Hillis potentially out the door, the team will need to draft a high-level running back in the 2012 draft.

While scoring a high-talent running back won't be hard for the Browns to do in the draft this year, their other issues are so serious and varied that their ongoing rebuilding campaign will continue beyond 2012.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 10-6 in 2010 and entered 2011 with more buzz than nearly any other team. Though the NFC South has been a difficult division in recent years, the Buccaneers seemed to have more than a good chance to snag themselves a playoff spot if not the divisional title.

They started the 2011 season well, winning four of their first six games, but they've since lost their next nine games in a row, and from Weeks 13 through 16 they gave up a minimum of 31 points per game.

Nothing is going well for the Buccaneers. Quarterback Josh Freeman has regressed to his rookie-season form, throwing 19 interceptions and fumbles to just 18 total touchdowns thus far this season. Despite Freeman's down play, the Bucs haven't consistently stuck with running the ball, the only thing they've been successful at this year.

On defense, Tampa Bay is a major mess. They're giving up nearly 250 and 140 passing and rushing yards per game, respectively, and they've held opponents to under 20 points just twice this season.

If there's any organization that needs wholesale gutting this offseason, it's the Buccaneers. They're having the kind of season that's hard for even stronger squads to bounce back from.

While they may have some success in their rebuilding efforts, there's only so much a team can do in the offseason. Don't expect the Buccaneers to rebound in any significant way in 2012.