It’s not usually the mode of operation in this space to dish out a quick, half-formed opinion on a show — new or revamped — that is still finding its tone and voice. Even established shows evolve, let alone fledgling ones. But exceptions exist, and here is one: It is guaranteed that ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown’’ and “Monday Night Countdown’’ programs will be superior this season to recent editions.

The presumed improvement is not so much about who’s in, but who’s out. Joining Chris Berman on NFL Countdown are ESPN newcomers Randy Moss, Charles Woodson, and Matt Hasselbeck, along with Trent Dilfer, who signed a new deal with the network in June after rumors indicated he was leaving. Dilfer is adequate, though Patriots fans may still disagree after he infamously said “they’re not good anymore’’ after a loss to the Chiefs early in 2014. Moss, the former Patriots receiver, was a revelation on Fox Sports 1’s NFL programming the past three seasons before jumping to ESPN. Hasselbeck and Woodson, who both joined ESPN immediately after ending their 18-year NFL careers, are unknowns in their new line of work.

It’ll be a work in progress, and I would have liked to see Louis Riddick, the breakout star of ESPN’s NFL Draft coverage, gain a more prominent role on Sundays. But this already is progress. The entire “Sunday NFL Countdown’’ panel from a year ago is, mercifully, gone. The departures, in order of least annoying to why-do-I-subject-myself-to-this: Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, Mike Ditka, Cris Carter, and Ray Lewis. Jackson, who had been at ESPN since 1987 and in his 1990s heyday resided on the short list of the best studio analysts in any sport, retired over the summer. Johnson recently signed on in a lower-profile Los Angeles-based role with the network. Ditka is a regular on “SportsCenter’’ in the final year of his contract. Carter was his own fall guy for a string of bewildering comments made through the years.

And Lewis? Losing him is the definition of addition by subtraction. In his three years in the role, he was ESPN’s most disastrous, nonsensical analyst since Emmitt Smith’s 2007-08 disaster. He lacked credibility when he’d attempt to proselytize about the character or comportment of players. He should be a lesson to all sports television talent executives that on-field look-at-me charisma requires some semblance of articulateness to translate to television. Kudos to whichever ESPN executive had the nerve to tell Lewis his services were no longer required.

The shakeup on the studio programming is not the only prominent change with ESPN’s NFL coverage. The network kicks off its 11th season of “Monday Night Football’’ broadcasts — and MNF’s 46th season overall — with a Steelers-Redskins matchup Sept. 12. That will be the official debut of Sean McDonough, who replaces Mike Tirico alongside Jon Gruden in the booth. McDonough, whose bona fides need no explaining around here given his accomplished run as the Red Sox voice from 1988-2004, becomes just the fifth play-by-play voice in MNF history, following Keith Jackson, Frank Gifford, Al Michaels, and Tirico.

McDonough has a knack for getting the best out of his broadcast partners — the Red Sox TV broadcast has never been better than when he was paired with Jerry Remy — and he and Gruden, who swears he does a spot-on imitation of McDonough, are a tandem worth anticipating. They will call one Patriots game this season, a Week 14 matchup with the Ravens on Dec. 12.

The major changes on NFL broadcasts this season have been confined mostly to ESPN. Here are a few other roster notes from the NFL’s other broadcast partners:

NBC: The major addition is Tirico, a remarkably versatile broadcaster who in June left ESPN after 25 years. The assumption when he joined the network was that he would be the play-by-play voice for the five late-season Thursday night broadcasts, but he says that was never the case. Instead, he will serve as the on-site host for the “Football Night in America’’ studio show, with previous host Bob Costas moving over to the same role on Thursdays. Rodney Harrison and Tony Dungy will also be on-site with Costas on the Thursday games, beginning with the Panthers-Broncos opener Thursday. On Sundays, they will remain in their familiar studio roles with host Dan Patrick. Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, and Michele Tafoya, arguably the best broadcast team in any sport, are beginning their sixth season as a trio. The Patriots play three times on “Sunday Night Football,’’ beginning with their opener.

CBS: The most familiar network to Patriots fans remains . . . well, familiar. Jim Nantz and Phil Simms, along with reporter Tracy Wolfson, again form the No. 1 broadcast team. Nantz and Simms have been partnered since 2004. They also will call the five early-season Thursday night games that will be simulcast on CBS and the NFL Network. Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts are in the No. 2 spot, with reporter Evan Washburn. Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, and NESN alum Jamie Erdahl are the third group. The studio program remains intact: James Brown anchors, with analysts Bill Cowher, Tony Gonzalez, Boomer Esiason, and Bart Scott. Jason La Canfora is the information guy. The Patriots will play on CBS 11 times, including once on Thursday — the Week 3 matchup with the Texans on Sept. 22.

Fox: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman return for their 14th season as the network’s No. 1 pairing, with Erin Andrews handling sideline duties for the team that will broadcast Super Bowl 51. Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, and reporter Pam Oliver form Fox’s unheralded but outstanding No. 2 team. The entire cast of the “Fox NFL Sunday’’ studio show returns: hosts Curt Menefee and Terry Bradshaw, and analysts Howie Long, Jimmy Johnson, and the busiest former defensive lineman in show biz, Michael Strahan. Jay Glazer is back as the insider. The Patriots play once on Fox, against the Rams during Week 13 on Dec. 4.