Cover story: With Patriots ruling the division, AFC East gets defensive
AFC East: Coming to grips with the Patriots
(This is the first of an eight-part series reviewing the offseason moves in the NFL. Today’s installment covers the AFC East.)
It’s probably no surprise that the New England Patriots’ AFC East foes spent a lot of time this offseason trying to get tougher on defense.
After all, the Patriots’ average of 36.8 points a game last year was an NFL record for a 16-game season. Quarterback Tom Brady set the league record for most touchdown passes (50) in a season, and receiver Randy Moss set the record for most receiving TDs (23).
So the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets and Miami Dolphins will be trying to slow the Patriots’ juggernaut this year.
The Bills expect to have at least seven new significant contributors on defense this season, if you count two players who sat out almost all of last year due to injury (Paul Posluszny and Ko Simpson). The Jets spent big money on three new defensive starters. Miami has overhauled its entire roster, with four significant additions to the defensive line.
Even New England got into the act, with its top two draft picks going for defense.
“We certainly wanted to get younger and faster on defense,” coach Bill Belichick said after the draft. “But I’ve been saying that for six years.”
The Patriots won the division by a nine-game margin last year and remain the overwhelming favorite in 2008.
Here’s a review of the offseason moves in the AFC East:
New England Patriots
Key gains: LB Jerod Mayo (Tennessee), CB Terrence Wheatley (Colorado), CB Fernando Bryant (Lions), WR Sam Aiken (Bills), CB Jason Webster (Bills), LB Victor Hobson (Jets).
Key losses: CB Asante Samuel (Eagles), WR Donte Stallworth (Browns), CB Randall Gay (Saints).
Breakdown: The Patriots did nothing for an offensive line that was swarmed in the Super Bowl. Conclusion: They’re not too worried about it. The depth at receiver took a hit with the departure of Stallworth.
Questions: There aren’t many. How fast can Mayo adjust to provide relief to aging inside linebackers Tedy Bruschi (35) and Junior Seau (39), assuming Seau returns? Can RB Lawrence Maroney stay healthy? Can any of these cornerbacks step up and replace Samuel?
Buffalo Bills
Key gains: DT Marcus Stroud (Jaguars), LB Kawika Mitchell (Giants), DT Spencer Johnson (Vikings), CB Leodis McKelvin (Troy), WR James Hardy (Indiana), CB Will James (Eagles), TE Jeremy Fine (Kansas).
Key losses: CB Kiwaukee Thomas (cut), DT Larry Tripplett (cut), TE Michael Gaines (Lions).
Breakdown: The Bills are much bigger in the defensive front. They’re counting on that to create a dramatic turnaround for a defense that ranked 31st last year. The Bills think improvements to the trenches the past two years could make them a playoff team in 2008. The offense is counting heavily on new coordinator Turk Schonert to make an impact.
Questions: Will QB Trent Edwards fulfill the potential the Bills see in him? Can Stroud stay healthy after two injury plagued years in Jacksonville? How much improvement can Schonert, Edwards and Hardy create for the 30th-ranked offense? Who steps up at tight end?
New York Jets
Key gains: G Alan Faneca (Steelers), DT Kris Jenkins (Panthers), LB Calvin Pace (Cardinals), LB Vernon Gholston (Ohio State), TE Dustin Keller (Purdue), T Damien Woody (Lions).
Key losses: LB Jonathan Vilma (Saints), DT DeWayne Robertson (Broncos), LB Victor Hobson (Patriots).
Breakdown: The Jets took a winnow approach in free agency by handing out more than $140 million in contracts. Lack of a pass rush killed the Jets’ defense last year. So the team added Gholston, Pace and Jenkins and expects a big improvement. There is some reason for skepticism. Pace looks like a good fit in the 3-4 defense but was a one-year wonder in Arizona. Faneca still is good, but at age 31 his best days probably are behind him. Jenkins, only 28, is a monster when healthy. But he has had injury and weight issues. Woody, who turns 31, was a bust in Detroit. If they all perform at their best, it will be a successful extreme makeover.
Questions: Can Kellen Clemens beat out Chad Pennington and be a good quarterback? If not, are all the Jets’ changes for naught? Gholston was not always productive in college. How quickly can he adjust to the NFL? Is New York good enough at receiver with Laveranues Coles coming off a down year and unhappy with his contract?
Miami Dolphins
Key gains: T Jake Long (Michigan), G Justin Smiley (49ers), WR Ernest Wilford (Jaguars), QB Chad Henne (Michigan), DE Phillip Merling (Clemson), DT Jason Ferguson (Cowboys), DT Randy Starks (Titans), TE Anthony Fasano (Cowboys), DE Kendall Langford (Hampton), QB Josh McCown (Raiders).
Key losses: LB Zach Thomas (Cowboys), WR Marty Booker (Bears), QB Cleo Lemon (Jaguars), QB Trent Green (Rams), DT Keith Traylor (cut).
Breakdown: Talk about an extreme makeover. The Fish added a new owner (Stephen Ross) in control of half the team, a new president (Bill Parcells), a new coach (Tony Sparano) and booted more than 20 players from last year’s roster out the door. That’s what happens when you finish 1-15. It’s a long road back for Miami, but Parcells has a brilliant track record for rebuilding. Already the offensive line looks better.
Questions: Will Parcells shove DE Jason Taylor and his dancing feet out the door? Will second-year man John Beck, Henne or McCown win the quarterback job, and are any of them the real answer? Can RB Ronnie Brown rebound? Is Ted Ginn Jr. a bust? Can Wilford catch more than 45 passes?
Next: AFC North.
