'O' what a difference

Five offenses that'll look completely different in 2014.The Sporting NewsBy David Steele @david_c_steele RSS July 18, 2014 12:07pm EDT Different-looking offenses 'O' what a difference In a pass-first NFL, teams spend the offseason adding missing pieces to their offensive puzzles. Inevitable change is good for some but bad for others. SN's David Steele points out five offenses that'll look completely different in 2014. The NFL is now an offensive, pass-first league — the Seahawks’ Super Bowl win notwithstanding. Offense gives you a chance, at least. A lack of offense means no chance, which means some teams must improve on 2013 or perish.Here are five NFL offenses that look the most different this year1      Jacksonville Jaguars What’s new: First four draft picks were QB Blake Bortles, WRs Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson and G Brandon Linder; RB Maurice Jones-Drew left as a free agent; RB Toby Gerhart signed as a free agent; QB Blaine Gabbert was traded; Gs Will Rackley and Uche Nwaneri were released; WR Justin Blackmon is suspended indefinitely; T Luke Joeckel returns from October broken ankle.For better or worse? Better, if only because of the quarterback, whenever Bortles takes over for good. They’re not counting on Blackmon anymore. Losing Joeckel hurt last year. Gerhart has big shoes to fill in Jones-Drew’s.2    Houston TexansWhat’s new: QB Matt Schaub was traded to Oakland; QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and RB Andre Brown signed as free agents; RB Ben Tate and TE Owen Daniels left as free agents; RB Arian Foster returns from November back surgery after missing eight games; drafted G Xavier Su-a-Filo, TE C.J. Fiedorowicz and QB Tom Savage.For better or worse? Break-even. Expectations for Fitzpatrick, while he keeps the seat warm for Savage, are far lower than they were for Schaub. A healthy Foster (and Brown) will ease the loss of Tate. They know they’ll miss Daniels, a cap 3    Cleveland BrownsWhat’s new: RB Ben Tate and WRs Andrew Hawkins, Miles Austin and Nate Burleson signed as free agents; WR Josh Gordon likely to be suspended for at least part of the season; drafted QB Johnny Manziel and RB Terrance West; QB Brian Hoyer returns from October knee surgery; QB Brandon Weeden and WR Davone Bess were released.For better or worse? Factoring in most of the drama, including the quarterback duel, it’s better. Inserting the Gordon mess makes it worse, though.4    Carolina PanthersWhat’s new: WR Steve Smith released; WRs Ted Ginn, Brandon LaFell and Domenik Hixon left as free agents; WRs Jason Avant, Jerricho Cotchery and Tiquan Underwood and TE Ed Dickson signed as free agents; drafted WR Kelvin Benjamin and G Trai Turner; T Jordan Gross and G Geoff Hangartner retired; G Travelle Wharton was not re-signed.For better or worse? Worse, until proven that the complete overhaul at wide receiver is an upgrade. Benjamin has the potential to do that by himself, though.5  Tampa Bay Buccaneers .What’s new: QB Josh McCown, T Anthony Collins, Gs Evan Dietrich-Smith and Oneil Cousins and TE Brandon Myers signed as free agents; WR Mike Williams was traded; all six draft picks were on offense, including WR Mike Evans and TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins; RB Doug Martin returns from October shoulder surgery; G Carl Nicks’ status uncertain with an injured and infected toe.For better or worse? Better. Lovie Smith and Co. completely hosed the stables out. Martin and Vincent Jackson may have to go around introducing themselves to the wave of new teammates.