If the team fails this season, who should be the scapegoat?

Predicting Every NFL Team's Potential Scapegoat for 2015 By Kristopher Knox Jun 19, 2015 Matt Rourke/Associated Press Everybody loves a good scapegoat, especially in the NFL. We must recognize that there is a little irony here, of course, as football is one of the most team-oriented sports in existence. However, much of the sport is driven by the superstars we love to prop up when their team finds success. The other side of the coin is that we often look for someone to blame rather than believe that our favorite team actually failed. Just ask Brandon Bostick, who botched an onside kick that could have sealed an NFC Championship Game victory for the Green Bay Packers last season.It just seems easier to cast a few proverbial stones at an individual, keep embracing the team as a whole and try to remain positive about the future.With this idea in mind, let's take a look at one potential scapegoat for each NFL team, should it fail to succeed in 2015. To be clear, this isn't a list of the individuals who actually deserve blame but of those whom fans are most likely to crucify at the end of a disappointing season. Atlanta Falcons: Dan QuinnJohn Bazemore/Associated Press The Atlanta Falcons stumbled to a losing record for the second year in a row last season, which led to the firing of head coach Mike Smith.Dan Quinn replaced Smith this offseason; Quinn was the mastermind behind the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl defense in 2013 and 2014. This should give some indication of where the Falcons want to improve.As bad as the 6-10 Falcons were last year, the passing offense was still eighth-best in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. In theory, a better defense and an improved running game should help Atlanta return to its playoff form of 2012.Since Quinn comes from Seattle, where everything was predicated on defense and the running game, fans (and likely to some extent, the Falcons organization) are going to expect the same philosophy in Atlanta. Since he was the defensive coordinator for Seattle's Super bowl teams, it's only natural for his Falcons defense to have a significant and dramatic turnaround, right?Well, Quinn and defensive coordinator Richard Smith have some work to do there. Atlanta was 32nd in overall defense (398.2 yards allowed per game) last season. The running game, which added rookie Tevin Coleman in the draft, was 24th (93.6 yards per game).Still, Quinn can expect to hear some criticism if the Falcons defense doesn't make a quick turnaround and another losing season ensues. Carolina Panthers: Cam NewtonChuck Burton/Associated Press Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton won his first playoff game this past season and was rewarded with a  new five-year, $103.8 million contract in the offseason.Now is the time for Newton to step up and deliver more than a subpar season and a single postseason victory.He has never quite found a way to replicate his rookie season (4,051 yards passing, 706 yards rushing and 35 total touchdowns). He is just 31-33 as a starter and produced career lows in yards passing (3,127), passing touchdowns (18), yards rushing (539) and passer rating (82.1) this past season.If Newton cannot deliver a winning season and a little postseason success this year, then he and his fat new contract can rightfully expect some criticism. New Orleans Saints: Mickey LoomisBill Haber/Associated Press New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis restructured his team as much as any other executive in the league this season.Gone is tight end Jimmy Graham. Guard Ben Grubbs and receiver Kenny Stills are also out. In are guys like center Max Unger, linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, running back C.J. Spiller and first-round tackle Andrus Peat.It would appear that Loomis' plan is to make the Saints more of a balanced overall team. A stronger running game and a better defense should take some of the pressure off quarterback Drew Brees, who was rated second overall among quarterbacks last season by Pro Football Focus.Giving up talented pass-catchers is a gamble, but the formula of running hard and playing defense seems to have become the blueprint for success in the NFC as of late.If Loomis' plan works, then great. If it doesn't, then expect many fans to blame him for another disappointing season.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jason LichtPhelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press In every practical sense, Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht had to go into the offseason knowing his team was going to select a quarterback.The Buccaneers owned the No. 1 overall selection and had their choice between Florida State's Jameis Winston and Oregon's Marcus Mariota (they selected Winston).Why, then, did Licht not do more in free agency to set up his new quarterback for success?The Buccaneers ranked dead-last in pass-blocking in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus, 24th in rushing yards (85.9 per game) and 30th in total yardage (292.0 per game). They also exited free agency with more than $20 million in cap space.Yet, Licht didn't go after a back to improve the running game, a pass-catching tight end to complement Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson or a top-tier offensive lineman. As it stands, two rookies (center Ali Marpet and left tackle Donovan Smith) may be starting in front of Winston.Of course, there is no guarantee that Winston will win the starting job. If he does and struggles, though, Licht will largely be at fault. For every team...link