Never Too Early: Sneak Peak At The AFC East (Part 3 of 8)

This is part three of my eight-part series breaking down the entire NFL as we move closer to the 2009 season.

AFC EAST

 

 

Miami Dolphins

What can one say about the Dolphins turnaround from 2007? Their season of rejuvenation was sparked by the front office mastery of the Big Tuna, and the enthusiastic coaching style of Tony Sparano. Chad Pennington had another comeback season and if it wasn’t for James Harrison, Joey Porter would have taken home the Defensive Player of the Year Award. Ronnie Brown was one of the most consistent, multi-talented backs in the AFC, was named to the Pro-Bowl and most importantly, avoided major injury.

The Dolphins unleashed the vicious Wildcat formation, which will be copied in 2009. South Beach was full of storylines last season, but after a Wild Card loss at home to Baltimore, the defending champion Dolphins are hungry for more.

Surprising Secondary

With many more glaring bright spots, the secondary was probably the most surprising last season. Will and Jason Allen combined for only 4 INTs but manned their respective secondary spots with enough aggression to allow for the Dolphins pass rush to wreak its havoc. Yeremiah Bell looks to build on a solid 2008 with veteran free agent signee Gibril Wilson.

09 Outlook

The Dolphins return just about everyone on offense and are hoping that Ted Ginn can be more than just a deep threat, as the Fins are hurting for a true number one. Brian Robiskie and Patrick Turner need to give Pennington more options, because the wide receiver position is a soft spot on the team.

The Wildcat will probably be used sparingly after defensive coordinators have had an offseason to plan for the unorthodox wrinkle in Miami’s playbook. I’m looking for Ronnie Brown to swim through defenses again and don’t expect Joey Porter to have much trouble attacking opposing quarterbacks. The Dolphins will have an upstream swim to defend as AFC East champs, but I wouldn’t be shocked if they’re in many close games like they were in 2008. It will be hard to follow last season’s magical campaign.

 

 

New England Patriots

I can’t imagine being a Pats fan entering Week One of 2008. Your team lost the Super Bowl after compiling the most offensive production in NFL history. You returned everyone on the offensive side of the ball. 

You’re thinking…undefeated?

Then your All-World Quarterback goes down in the home opener against the Chiefs. Talk about shattering of dreams. The Patriots were probably the most resilient team in the NFL in 2008. Matt Cassel who we all know, didn’t start since High School, began as a “game manager” but by seasons end was a gun slinger.

The passing game again, featured the underneath routes run by Wes Welker, who was second in the NFL with 111 grabs. 

The defense  saw the emergence of Jerod Mayo, but New England was surely missing interception magnet Asante Samuel in the secondary. They gave it a valiant effort without Mr. Wonderful, but even at 11-5 they failed to make the playoffs. Very odd not watching them in January.

Crossroads?

The New England fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that Tom Brady has fully recovered from the injury that we saw one too many times on ESPN last fall. He’ll have his favorites, Moss and Welker to toy with defenses, and Laurence Maroney believes he can be a quality back. With Vrabel now a Chief, and Bruschi on his last legs, the Patriots have put more demand on their bevy of defensive draft picks. Darius Butler, Patrick Chung, and Ron Brace will most likely be plugged into starting spots on day one. Still the offensive explosiveness we’re used to, but there’s definitely been a youth movement on the defensive side.

09 Outlook

As eluded to above, the Patriots will score points in 2009 — lots of ‘em. I can’t really envision any record breaking performances because 23 TD receptions and 50 TD passes are pretty robust numbers, but you never know with Brady and Moss.

The defense is more athletic, but certainly more inexperienced, so Patriot fans are hoping  New England’s stellar coaching staff can really work the rookies in training camp so they’re ready by Week One.

I anticipiate more onus being put on the running game, but if Brady wants to throw 50 times a game, Belichick isn’t stopping him. If Mayo can become a household name operating from the middle of the defense, the Patriots are back to being title contenders. Don’t forget about the vets, Taylor and Galloway they signed this offseason.

 

 

New York Jets

Last year Gang Green’s season revolved around Brett Favre.  He showed his occasional glimpse of greatness, where at one point both New York teams were on top of the Easts, and a Subway Super Bowl was being predicted.

After a late season collapse the Jets failed to make the playoffs.

Whether it was because of an alleged bicep injury or not, Favre and Mangini were both out of the Big Apple faster than a New York Minute at seasons end. Thomas Jones teamed up with Leon Washington and created a formidable running attack, and Kris Jenkins owned any and every double team he faced.

Jerricho Cotchery’s numbers dipped from his 1,000 plus receiving yard performance of 2007, but he and Coles gave Favre no reason to point any fingers. Darrelle Revis was named rightfully to the Pro Bowl, and the rest of the secondary held up well against the pass. The Favre-led stumble down the stretch was the demise of the Jets’ 2008 season.

Times of Change

You can always count on drama in NYC. After Mangini was semi-surprisingly fired, defensive guru Rex Ryan was given an offer he couldn’t refuse and left Baltimore. He brought former Pro-Bowler Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard with him, along with his furicous defensive schemes.

In even bigger news, the Jets traded picks to select Mark Sanchez early in the first round, after he rocketed up draft boards seemingly hours before the draft. He’ll most likely start Kickoff Weekend, and he has the weight of Jet Nation on his shoulders.

09 Outlook

The Jets go into 2009 as a flashy team, although many are uncertain about a team starting a rookie QB in Week One. Laveraneus Coles is now split out with Chad Ochocinco in Cincy, and the team didn’t bring in a wideout in free agency. Give Sanchez a break. Like he doesn’t have enough pressure on him already.

Dustin Keller should break out as a solid pass-catching tight end, but they’ll hurt when they need that big third down conversion late in the game. Rex Ryan knows how to win with defense though, as he did last year with a tenative Joe Flacco, so Jets fans hope for a lot of 10-7 wins. The defense should be tough.

 

 

Buffalo Bills

The recap of the Bills last three seasons are eerily similar. 7-9, 7-9,7-9.

Last season they got off to a quick 5-1 start, but the inexperience of Trent Edwards and the inability to pressure the quarterback ultimately led to another season without playoff football in Buffalo.

Marshawn Lynch had his second consecutive 1,000 yard season, and Lee Evans eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving, but only scored 3 times. Ouch.

James Hardy wasn’t the redzone threat  that Dick Jauron was hoping for, and injuries plagued the Bills defense late. The two bright spots were unquestionably Leodis McKelvin who showed he was the NCAA leader in return average for a reason, and back-up running back Fred Jackson, who demonstrated he can start in the NFL. Anytime you finish the season 2-8 something must be seriously wrong.

TO in the B-LO

Yes. Terrell Owens is a Buffalo Bill. I’m sure that’s the ten millionth time you’ve been made aware of it, but I had to throw it in. Some see it as a risky move, while others call it genius, but Owens brings a much needed upbeat personality to the lockerroom and an assertive receiver to the field. Owens has historically been a “good boy” in his first season while on the 49ers, Eagles, and Cowboys, and the Bills could use another 10 TD season out of the perennial Pro-Bowler.

In addition to Owens, the Bills signed Dominic Rhodes away from the Colts, in a move that I believe will be more beneficial than many think, especially with Lynch suspended until Week Four.

09 Outlook

It’s a make or break season in Buffalo. Dreams of the 90’s Bills are slowly but surely fading in the minds of the Bills faithful, and they’re NFL’s hungriest fan base for a playoff game, as it’s been since the Music City Miracle that Buffalo has played in the postseason.

Even if Owens bickers a bit, he’ll definitely add to an offense that has traditionally struggled to score points. He and Lee Evans form a scary deep-threat combination, while the three-headed monster of Lynch, Jackson, and Rhodes won’t be easy to stop.

It all comes down to Trent Edwards and his continual growth has a game manager and quarterback as whole, along with the retooled offensive line. If new LT Langston Walker can protect Edwards long enough, and rookies Eric Wood and Andy Levitre can pave the way for the run game, the Bills may be looking at a Wild Card spot. Don’t sleep on the Aaron’s — Schobel and Maybin either.
There she is. Comments welcomed below….