Can the Jets, Dolphins, and Bills, make it a difficult year for the favored Patriots in the AFC East this season?

New England Patriots

The Patriots took major steps into improving the positions around Tom Brady in the off-season. One of the most shocking moves made by New England was trading for Randy Moss during the NFL Draft in April. Wes Welker was the leader with the Dolphins and will now catch passes from one of the best QBs in the league today. Donte Stallworth who had productive 2006 season in Philadelphia also becomes a Patriot. With Moss, Stallworth, and Welker as the Patriots receiving corps, this may be another major run for the New England.

Prediction: The addition of Randy Moss automatically makes the Patriots a Super Bowl contender. They were a few drops away from making it to Super Bowl XLI last year with average receivers. Now with a stout receiving corps, this could be another big year for the Patriots. New England definitely wins the division with at least 12 or 13 wins.

Buffalo Bills

Some of the Bills biggest names in recent years are no longer with the team. General Manager Marv Levy and Head Coach Dick Jauron feels confident that the youth movement they decided to start in the off-season will benefit down the road. On offense, rookie Marshawn Lynch (drafted from California) replaces Willis McGahee at running back. The Bills are certain that Lynch can improve the ground attack that was only 27^th overall in 2006. Guard Derrick Dockery was lured away from the Redskins for a monster signing bonus to strengthen the Bills offensive line. Also added to the unit is big tackle Langston Walker who comes from Oakland. Quarterback J.P Losman showed some flashes last season, throwing for 19 touchdowns and 3,051 passing yards. The Bills are hoping he can improve and have a monster 2007 season. Losman will have a lot of help from receiver Lee Evans who has emerged as a big play receiver in the NFL.

On Defense, the Bills lost three major playmakers to other teams. Linebackers Takeo Spikes and London Fletcher-Baker are now in the NFC East while Nate Clements is in San Francisco. Paul Posluszny, drafted in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft, will replace Fletcher while Angelo Crowell takes over Spikes old position at the weak side.

The defensive line gets an upgrade with the addition of Darwin Walker while the secondary will have to prove they can be as good without Clements.

Prediction: Time will tell if the youth movement will work in Buffalo. For now, the Bills will struggle with a young QB and a rookie running back. There will be no way that this young team (with their key players on defense now gone) can compete with the Jets and Patriots. The Bills miss the playoffs with a 7-9 record.

Miami Dolphins

When the Dolphins decided to draft wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. instead of Brady Quinn in the April draft, I thought that Cam Cameron would get hung in Miami. However, by mid off-season, the Dolphins were able to get Trent Green from the Chiefs. With Green under the center, Miami will finally get consistent play from the quarterback position, something that this franchise hasn’t had since Marino. Green will still need help from the rest of the offense. Ronnie Brown will definitely have to step up and become the elite runner the Dolphins hoped for when they drafted him in 2005. Wide receiver Chris Chambers had a solid 2006 with 59 receptions and six touchdowns, but will need to come harder than that to keep his job.

The defense will remain stout with Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas. The addition of ferocious linebacker Joey Porter is only a plus a unit that was 4^th overall in the NFL in 2006. Don’t expect the Dolphins defense to slack off in 2007.

Prediction: The Dolphins still have a dominating defense that can turn a game around on any given play. The problem the Miami will have is the lack of game-breakers on offense to help out Trent Green. The Dolphins miss the playoffs and hang in the cellar of the AFC East.

New York Jets

In 2006, the Jets shocked the league by winning 10 games and making the playoffs. Eric Mangini made the most out of his first year as the head coach and hopes his squad can become even better in 2007. The majority of the unit will be back with the addition of running back Thomas Jones from Chicago. Chad Pennington is the perfect quarterback in the Jets offense, but he will need to cut down on turnovers if the Jets are to improve. Laveranues Coles and Jericho Cotchery combined for more than 2,000 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in 2006. With Thomas Jones in the backfield to take the pressure off Pennington and the air attack, Coles and Cotchery should see some more opportunities to catch defenders off-guard.

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (Registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment