(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
The sleeper of this group could be Ron Brace on the defensive line, drafted out of Boston College. If the Patriots do not re-sign either Vince Wilfork or Richard Seymour after 2009 , look for Brace to be an impact player.
Overall, Belichick will have a faster, younger, hungrier and more explosive defense to tinker with in addition to his All-Pro defensive line of Seymour, Wilfork, Ty Warren and Jarvis Green.
Biggest concern(s): Tom Brady will have the most watched knee ligaments throughout Boston as training camp approaches. The depth behind him will need to learn the playbook if he goes down at any point either in camp or during the season.
The secondary is another thing to look out for as New England brought in good, veteran players and addressed it through the draft but it will be interesting to see how they mix and work together against the more dangerous passing games in the NFL.
2009 prediction: Assuming Brady stays healthy all season, New England will be one of the few teams to compete for the AFC crown along with Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Tennessee and San Diego. They are too good on offense, defense and coaching to slip up again this season.
Don't be shocked if they are vying for home-field throughout the AFC playoffs.
2009 record: 13-3
New York Jets (2008: 9-7)
2008 in review: Brett Favre was brought in to be the savior yet he ended up being the pariah.
After an 8-3 start, New York was buzzing about a Big Apple Super Bowl but Gang Green fizzled to a 9-7 finish including a regular season humiliation at the hands of ex-QB Chad Pennington and the Cinderella Miami Dolphins on the season's final day.
Favre's arm went dead and the defense pretty much went with him. The dream season turned into a nightmare and just added to a list of agonizing moments for Jets fans.
Key Additions: new head coach Rex Ryan, LB Bart Scott (FA/Baltimore), QB Mark Sanchez (D1/5/USC), RB Shonn Greene (D3/65/Iowa), S Jim Leonhard (FA/Baltimore), CB Lito Sheppard (trade w/PHI)
Key Losses: QB Brett Favre (released), WR Laveranues Coles (trade w/CIN)
When offense has the ball: This offense will go one of two ways: Either Rex Ryan will implement Mark Sanchez from day one or he will give Kellen Clemens his chance and let Sanchez sit for a season like Carson Palmer.
Regardless of who is under center, the Jets still lack a big play threat wide receiver with a corps consisting of Jerricho Cotchery, Chansi Stuckey and David Clowney. Dustin Keller is an emerging stud at tight end but he cannot do it alone.
What the Jets will be confident in is a three-headed attack at running back consisting of Thomas Jones, slasher Leon Washington and rookie Shonn Greene. Though Jones and Washington enter camp without finalized deals, the Jets feature a ground attack that could prove to be very difficult to stop.
The three backs will run behind one of the better constructed offensive lines in the NFL but quarterback play will be key as well as establishing chemistry between the presumed franchise quarterback and his receivers, explosive or not.
When defense has the ball: Rex Ryan was brought to New York for not only a change of attitude in coaching but a change of attitude on the field, especially on defense where the Jets' pass rush was almost non-existent down the stretch last season.
Ryan brought linebacker Bart Scott and unheralded safety Jim Leonhard with him from Baltimore to bolster a mediocre secondary and a woeful pass rush, the former of which struggled against tight ends.
Pro-Bowl nose tackle Kris Jenkins should plug holes to open up gaps in opposing offensive lines for many blitzing opportunities with Scott as well as Calvin Pace who enjoyed a nice first season in New York.
The key player in that corps is Vernon Gholston, the much heralded hybrid DE/OLB from Ohio State whom the Jets took with the sixth pick in the 2008 draft. His production never emerged, racking up only 13 tackles.
How Gholston will be used in the defense will be content on Ryan's teaching and execution of the gameplan but for him to avoid the "bust" label, he will need to have a huge bounce back sophomore season.
Biggest concern(s): Obviously, the decision for Ryan is the simple "damned if he does, damned if he doesn't" when it comes to his starting quarterback. Whether it be Clemens or Sanchez, the Jets will be under heavy assault when it comes to the passing game as they lack a true No. 1 receiver.
Also, keep an eye on the contract situations regarding Thomas Jones and Leon Washington.
2009 prediction: The Jets spent a lot of money fixing their defense and addressing their quarterback but they did not do enough to address the wide receiver concerns which will unfortunately lead to Adrian Peterson-like treatment from opposing defenses (stacking the box, blitzing, etc.)
Also, considering the Jets play in the AFC and will be playing foes within their own division and the explosive AFC and NFC South divisions, their defense could be asked to do more than it is asked for because the offenses they will face can score almost at will.
The Jets have added good pieces and should compete for a wild-card berth.
2009 record: 10-6
Overall opinion: The AFC East for the first time will be balanced and very tough to win in 2009. New England is projected to win but their foes will not lay down and give them a fight to the bitter end.
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