Last Season : 4 - 12
Players Drafted
1st Round - Marcell Dareus DT
2nd Round - Aaron Williams DB
3rd Round - Kelvin Sheppard LB
4th Round - Chris Hairston OL
5th Round - Johnny White RB
6th Round - Chris White LB
7th Round - Justin Rodgers DB
7th Round - Michael Jasper DT
Players in
Buster Davis WR
Lionel Dotson DT
Ruvell Martin WR
Kirk Morrison LB
Brad Smith WR
Tyler Thigpen QB
Players out
Brett Johnson DB
Aaron Myabin LB
Paul Posluszny LB
Jonathan Stuper TE
Lee Evans WR
Donte Whitner S
Aston Youboty CB
The Bills have a mountain to climb in this division. They struggled last year, and have this year allowed some of their best players (LB Paul Posluszny, WR Lee Evans and S Donte Whitner) to leave the team. Evans, now with the Ravens, was their only deep threat last year, and they don't seem to have replaced him with anybody at all. This will allow defences to double cover their main WR Stevie Johnson.
The Bills do look better though on defence. Their number 1 draft pick DT Marcell Dareus should help to clog up the holes, and hopefully provide a bit of interior pass rush. In total 6 out of the Bills 8 drafted players were defensive players. This may not be as useful as it sounds though, as LB Aaron Maybin, who was a 1st round draft choice of the Bills a couple of years back, has been released. Lets hope their talent evaluation has improved. I expect the LB's to be very good this year. They have bought in Superbowl winner Nick Barnett from the Packers, and former Charger Shawn Merriman has shown flashes of past glories. I think the defence is better, but they will still struggle to win many games.
Last season : 7 - 9
Players drafted
1st Round - Mike Pouncey OL
2nd Round - Daniel Thomas RB
4th Round - Edmond Gates WR
6th Round - Charles Clay TE
7th Round - Frank Kearse DT
7th Round - Jimmy Wilson CB
Players in
Gerald Alexander S
Kevin Burnett LB
Marc Columbo OL
Ronald Fields DT
K.J Gerard DB
Marvin Mitchell LB
Matt Moore QB
David Nixon LB
Kevin O'Connell QB
Jason Taylor LB
Jason Trusnik LB
Ray Willis OT
Players out
Ronnie Brown RB
Patrick Cobbs RB
Tim Dobbins LB
Lionel Dotson DT
Al Harris CB
Terrail Lambert DB
Pat McQuiston OT
Tyler Thigpen QB
Ricky Williams RB
The Dolphins finished last year with a losing record, and will find it difficult to leap frog the Patriots and Jets in a very tough division. On the offensive side of the ball, I am looking forward to seeing how the running game will work this year. The Dolphins struggled slightly last year with ageing RB's Ronnie Brown (now with the Eagles) and Ricky Williams (now with the Ravens). They have bought in the exciting Reggie Bush, and paired him with 2nd round pick Daniel Thomas. Thomas will be the big heavy back, with Bush providing the quick, nippy option. The Dolphins need these 2 to form a solid combo to help struggling QB Chad Henne. Henne has received alot of stick over the off season, with many people saying he can never be a decent QB at this level. I feel Chad is playing for his career as a starter this year, watch this space.
The Dolphins defence is a very talented, under rated group. Last year was their first under DC Mike Nolan. He had the Dolphins ranked 6th on that side of the ball, in the NFL. With another year of teaching his system, and another years experience for all of the young players there, I believe they will e better again this year. I think the Dolphins will be in many close games, can QB Chad Henne squeak out enough wins though, to challenge the Patriots and the Jets?
Last season : 14 - 2
Players Drafted
1st Round - Nate Solder OT
2nd Round - Ras-I Dowling DB
2nd Round - Shane Vereen RB
3rd Round - Stevan Ridley RB
3rd Round - Ryan Mallett QB
5th Round - Marcus Cannon OL
5th Round - Lee Smith TE
6th Round - Markell Carter LB
7th Round - Malcolm Williams DB
Players in
Albert Haynesworth DT
Mark Anderson DE
Andre Carter LB
James Ihedigobo S
Niko Koutouvides LB
Chris Morris C
Players out
Tony Carter DB
Shayne Graham K
Quinn Ojinnaka G
Ty Warren DE
The Patriots have for many years been the class of this division. They haven't loss any one of significance this off season, but they have bought in some very talented players. WR Chad Ochocinco, and DT Albert Haynesworth were seen as risky pick ups by many, but I believe both wil work out well for the Pats.
Chad Ochocinco knows that his career is coming towards its final years, and this will be his best opportunity to win a Superbowl. Therefore look for alot less clowning around from Chad, (Belichick wouldn't stand for half of what hes done in the past) and look for him to become Tom Brady's favorite target.
Haynesworth talent is immense in the right system (3-4) which he showed to good effect in Tennessee. The Redskins picked him up and gave him a MASSIVE contract, before deciding to go with the 4-3 defence. Needless to say, 'Big Alb' wasn't happy, and the Redskins never saw the best of him. Now back in a 3-4, with HC Bill Belichick devising ways to put him in the right positions, I think Haynesworth will be hungry for success, and dominant. I also expect the young secondary to look better, with a further years experience under their belts. I expect the Pats to win alot of games again this year, but just look out for teams that choose to blitz Brady alot. The Jets proved in the playoffs last year that it can work, as did the Lions last week.
New York Jets
Last season : 11 - 5
Players Drafted
1st Round - Muhammed Wilkerson DT
3rd Round - Kendrick Ellis DL
4th Round - Bilal Powell RB
5th Round - Jeremy Kerley WR
7th Round - Greg McElroy QB7th Round - Scotty McKnight WR
Players in
Plaxico Burress WR
Aaron Maybin LB
Donald Strickland DB
Players out
Braylon Edwards WR
Damien Woody T
Jason Taylor LB
Brad Smith WR
Steve Weatherford P
Vernon Gholdston LB
Drew Coleman S
Kris Jenkins DT
The Jets have reached the AFC championship game in the last 2 seasons, but still have yet to crack the Superbowl. QB Mark Sanchez is improving year after year, and will need to, if the Jets are to overtake the Patriots in this tough division. The Jets lost 2nd WR Braylon Edwards in free agency, but bought in veterans Derrick Mason (from Ravens) and Plaxico Burress (from prison). I think these 2 will be adequate to replace Edwards.
The Jets have a very good defence on the whole. CB Darrelle Revis is probably the best in the business, and his partner again this year will be Antonio Cromartie. The Jets were going to allow Cromartie to leave, and bring in Nnamdi Asomugha from the Raiders. But when Nnamdi joined the Eagles, the Jets asked Cromartie to come back, and he obliged. The 2 CB's spent alot of last year in 1 on 1, man to man coverage, as the Jets blitzed alot. A major reason for all this blitzing was their inability to get to the QB with their DL. This is why their 1st and 2nd round draft picks were spent on DL (Wilkerson and Ellis). If these players do manage to put alot of pressure onto the QB, allowing the Jets to only blitz as a surprise (and not every down) I believe this defence can challenge the Steelers, as the best defence in the NFL. The Jets should win alot of games again this year, but I'm not convinced they will win the division over the Patriots.
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