The keys to Training Camp - AFC East

Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills have lots and lots of problems and decisions to make during their Training camp - starting on the 29th July.  The Bills finished last season with a 6 - 10 record, which left them at the bottom of this division.  Their star acquisition from last year WR Terrell Owens, has left, after not impressing much, and now looking at this roster, you start to wonder where, and how points are going to come about.  The Bills decided to take Clemson RB C.J Spiller as their 1st round draft pick.  This seemed a very strange decision to me at the time as they have no QB, no star WR, are completely changing their defence (from a 4 - 3 to a 3 - 4) and they decided to take a RB, a position of strength - probably their only position of strength.

Who will be the starting RB?

The Bills have 3 fantastic players that are able to take the RB role at the moment.  1st round draft pick C.J Spiller, Marshawn Lynch (pictured) and Fred Jackson will undoubtedly all see action, but what I want to know is who the Bills consider their best option.  It is now widespread around the NFL, that teams reqiure more than 1 capable RB, so that the one on the field is always fresh.  The Bills will use these players, probably as their whole offence (as they don't have much else).  I believe C.J Spiller will return kicks and punts, and get into the games in certain situations where his speed can produce game changing moments.  I believe that if Lynch stays around, he will be the main option, with Fred Jackson maybe as the goal line back.  Jackson had a great year last season, but I believe Lynch has more talent, and the Bills will want to get Spiller on the field.

Who is the QB?

 Before the Bills begin to worry to much about their RB, they need to sort out a more pressing problem - Just who is their QB?  QB now is the most important position in the league.  The best teams in the league, i.e teams making playoff and Superbowl apperences, always have a solid, if not elite, QB.  Looking at the Bills QB options - they have niether.  This point was proved when last year, even with the superstar WR that is T.O, the Bills still only came in 30th in passing yards per game.  Trent Edwards (pictured) seems to have the job at the moment.  But when this team starts to struggle, the only options they have are Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brian Brohm.  Good luck Buffalo!!!  Just a quick question - Why didn't you take Jimmy Clausen again?


How does the '4 - 3' to '3 - 4' transition go?

One thing that did run quite well for the Bills last year was their defence.  Infact their pass defence actually came in 2nd in the whole NFL.  The only problem was, their run defence - ranked 30th.  This year the new head coach Chan Gailey has decided to move the Bills to a more athletic 3 - 4 defence.  This is the trend in the league now, as lots of teams move to this scheme.  The only problem is, as we saw with the Packers last year, it takes time.  This is not something the Bills have.  They now have a struggling offence, with a pretty good defence struggling to adapt to the new system.  I don't think this was a good call by the Bills, and I think they are in for a long season.



Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins took a step backwards last year, making the playoffs in 2008, to a 7 - 9 record in 2009.  They have lost a few key players on defence - Joey Porter, Jason Taylor, Jason Ferguson, so it will be interesting to see how new Defensive co-ordinator Mike Nolan decides to play.  The offence has all its big players back, and one big name new addition - WR Brandon Marshall.

What will the new defence look like?

The Dolphins have taken on former 49'er head coach Mike Nolan as their Defensive co-ordinator and he is determind to improve the 22nd rank defence form last year.  The quotes coming out of Miami are all along the track of 'We are going to get more offensive - defensivly!'  What this means is the Dolphins are going to get after teams more, and try and create turnovers.  A major part of this new defence will be new recruit, LB Karlos Dansby (pictured).  You may remember Karlos running back the pick 6 for the Cardinals to beat the Packers in the playoffs last year.  The major worry about this though is that the Dolphins no longer have the fantastic pass rushing abilities of either Jason Taylor, or Joey Porter.  This could be a major problem for a team that is looking to pressure oppenents into mistakes.  It will be interesting to see how players like Cameron Wake and Charlie Anderson can step into this vital role.

Will Chad Henne continue to improve?

At the begining of last season Chad Pennington was the QB in Miami, and was seen as a very capable stop gap, until Chad Henne (pictured) was ready.  Unfortunatly, due to a week 3 shoulder injury in San Diego, Pennington was out, and Henne was in.  Although Henne would probably have chosen to sit out the year and learn, the learning he did on the field should stand him in good stead.  He had an average first year as a starting QB, throwing for 2,878 yards and 12 TD's, but he was helped tremendasly by the fantastic Miami running attack.  Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams really helped take the pressure off the young QB, and have allowed him to grow into the game slowly.  This will also be the case this year, the question is - Will Henne be able to take the next step?

How will Brandon Marshall change the offence?

For many years now, the Miami Dolphins have not had a star WR.  They took Ted Ginn with a 1st round pick, and that didn't work out.  Now though, the Dolphins have finally got themselves a big time play maker at WR.  The addition of Marshall means that teams can no longer go out against the Dolphins, and be determind to stop the run game because they now have a genuine pass option.  This should open up the game for Ronnie and Ricky, and will undoubtedly help improve young QB Chad Henne.   If all goes as expected, this move should dramatically improve the Dolphins offence - watch this space!

New England Patriots

The Patriots (participators in last years NFL London game) finished last year with a 10 - 6, division winning, record.  The Patriots have dominated this division over recent years, but will they continue to do so??  As the Jets and Dophins have improved, training camp will help us see wether the Patriots have or not.


How healthy is Tom Brady?

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Tom Brady is without doubt one of the elite QB's in the NFL.  His ability to make plays over the years has been a major factor in the Patriots dynasty.  After his horrific leg injury on opening day 2008, which kept him out for the rest of the season, he is yet to convince everyone that he is playing at full tilt.  The most obvious signs of this were in the playoff game last year against the Ravens.  We all know how good the Ravens defence is, and how much they love getting after the QB.  They did this all day and Brady was not at all comfortable.  If he is jittery like that this year, I belive the Pats will struggle to make a deep playoff push.


How much will Wes Welkers injury affect the offence?

 Wes Welker is a huge part of the potent pats offence.  With Brady throwing the football, and Randy Moss demanding double coverage, Welker is the beneficery, and he certainly doesnt disappoint.  Last year Welker had 15 TD's and when he got injured in the final regular season game last year there was panic in New England.  How would the Pats replace him?  Well the answer is that they can't replace Welker.  Julian Edleman will probably start in place of Wes, but to be honest, he is no Wes Welker.  The Patriots are hopeful that he may be ready for the opening game of the year against the Bengals.  That though seems like a prayer to me, by a team that is afraid of losing its grip on what is becoming a very competitive divison.


Who will pressure the QB?

A major defensive problem for the Pats last year was their inability to pressure the opponents QB.  This lead to the secondary giving up big plays quite regulary.  The problems arose when they traded Richard Seymour to the Raiders, and have also allowed Jarvis Green to leave.  Alot of the responsibility will now fall on Tully Banta Cain (pictured) who had 10 sacks last year.  That is a OLB on one side, but who is on the other?  It will be a battle in training camp between Derrick Burgess, Pierre Woods, Jermaine Cunningham and Gary Guyton.  One of these players has to step up to help the Pats this year, if they are to win the division.

New York Jets

 The Jets finished 2009 with a 9 - 7 record, which gave them second place in the division, but also gave the a playoff berth.  The Jets made the most of this oppotunity, making a run all the way to the Conference championship game, before falling short against the Colts.  During the offseason they have added plenty of elite talent, that they hope will push them over the top.  So what are the key points to watch for at Jets camp?

Can the run game be as effective?

 A big question that needs to be answered is, are L.T (pictured) and Joe McKnight as effective as Thomas Jones and Leon Washington?  Last year Jones, Washington and Greene were the best running attack in the league, can Greene, McKnight, and L.T replicate this?  The mix that the Jets managed to acheive last year, tough defence, good run game, and decent young QB, all need to be at the same level, if not better, if the Jets want to acheive their goal of the Superbowl this year.  My major question about the RB position is why allow Thomas Jones to leave for L.T?  L.T has been a fantastic player in the league, and will be in the H.O.F one day, but has he got the legs to push the Jets to a Championship?  I am a HUGE Thomas Jones fan, and I just hope the Jets have made the right decision.

How good can this defence be?

The Jets defence is one of the things I am most looking forwrd to seeing in 2010.  The pressure that the unit creates is amazing.  The reason that the Jets can blitz as often as they do (highest count of blitz plays in the league) is the play of CB Darrelle Revis (pictured).  Revis is the best CB in the world.  'Revis-island' can match up against any WR one on one and take them completley out of the game.  This frees up other players in the defence to pile on the pressure.  Now Rex Ryan has bought in CB Antonio Cromartie, to play opposite Revis.  Cromartie is also very talented as a CB, and is going to be asked to match up one on one.  If he is capable of this, the Jets have another 'spare man'.  One of these man can also be considered as being Jason Taylor.  Taylor has made a career off pressuring the QB.  This defence is going to be soooooo good.

Will they live up to the hype?

 This Jets team has the look of a Superbowl winning team.  Fantastic defence, great run game and a very talented, young up and coming QB.  Add to that the super confident head coach Rex Ryan (pictured), and the beast that is the New York media, and they will have you handing out the Lombardi Trophy right now.  But the Jets have not won it all since Superbowl 3 in 1969.  How will they handle the pressure of being favorites?  Last season they were runners up to the Patriots in their division and went to the playoffs as a wildcard.  This underdog mentality will have taken all the pressure off them, and allowed them to play well.  This time they are top dog - there to be shot at, how will they cope?  I personally believe that the confidence of coach Ryan and the pure ability of the team will overcome this pressure.  Look forward to a very good year 'Gang Green'.

Check back tomorrow for a look at the AFC North.