AFC EAST PREVIEW (In Predicted order of Finish)
The Buffalo Bills
have the goods to become AFC champs this season and even win it
all. To do that, though, they must get by an equally talented
New England Patriots team. Coach Derril Richards has quietly
assembled one of the best rosters in the league. The real issue
becomes how he uses QB Lemar Jackson. LJ is extremely talented
but has to be constrained with his throws to about 26-27 per
game and that is a very limited number. Of course, Richards
does have the workhorse numbers of punishing RB Christian
McCaffrey who is one of the deadliest players in the game
today. McCaffrey is not only an excellent runner but a monster
out of the backfield where is nearly impossible to cover by any
option. WRs Christian Kirk and Robert Woods are a nice 1-2
punch along with rising TE Mark Andrews who rates in the elite
category at his position. The offensive line is balanced and
talented but a bit skewed more towards pass protection than run
blocking.
Of
course, defense needs to be supreme if one wants to win a title
and the Bills rank in the top tier as well here. While the
Dline might have some health issue bumps along the way, it is
also one of the best pass rushing groups in football which means
they will not need to blitz to get after the QB. Likely DTs
Chris Jones and Shelby Harris can flat out rush the quarterback
combining with Melvin Ingram and Everson Griffin to terrorize
teams. OLBs Shaquill Barrett and Von Miller are as good as it
gets for increased pass rush abilities as the front 7 should
wreak havoc all season long. The secondary is not tremendous
but considering the heat being put on in front of them, they
should be more than up to the task.
The
Patriots have been the toast of the East for a bit now and can
win it again this season as they really have almost as much
talent as Buffalo. QB Derek Carr had an amazing season last
year for coach Don Merlenbach and might repeat that this year.
He has a stud back in Zeke Elliott to hand the ball to all the
time but the Pats might be just a shade lite at wide receiver
this year. WR Tyler Boyd is the best of the lot but the skill
drops off quickly after him. TE Tyler Higbee is very good but
might be asked to do too much. Super G Joe Thuney heads a solid
Oline that might have some injury concerns and is not quite
elite outside Thuney.
The Pats
look geared towards a 3-4 base D. That would have Fletcher Cox,
Frank Clark, and Leonard Williams clogging the front with OLB
Chandler Jones roaming around with a very solid line-backing
foursome. CB Marcus Peters is elite and the entire unit is solid
except maybe a small dropoff at safety.
Coach
Stanley Milton has a team that can sneak into the playoffs if a
few things fall his way. The QB position seems a bit unsettled
but it can be effective if Milton figures out how to utilize
them all. RB Joe Mixon will need to carry the load this season
and is just another top back one finds in the AFC East. WR
Stefon Diggs is solid but the overall wide receiver grouping is
average. The offensive line can be effective but it is not
over-powering although T Mitchell Schwartz and G David Decastro
both are superior players.
The
Browns are another team that seems slanted towards using the 3-4
alignment. The defensive line ranks among the best in football
if for no other reason that Aaron Donald being there. Donald,
though, will also have Cameron Heyward and Brandon Graham
alongside him making for one heckuva unit. The line-backing is
solid too led by all-world MLB Bobby Wagner. The secondary also
has some tremendous talent with Stephon Gilmore the best in the
biz back there. That gives Cleveland the best player at DT, MLB,
and CB!
Coach
Jeff Beyel returns to Florida for a second stint. Beyel led the
Fish to their lone playoff appearance a few seasons back but has
spent much of his PAFL career in Green Bay. Many of the players
he drafted for Miami are just beginning to develop now so the
future looks pretty bright but, for now, this team is an
also-ran group. QB Jacoby Brissett is likely to get most of the
snaps under center with Ryan Tannehill spelling him from time to
time. RB Derrick Henry brings the toughness Beyel loves in his
backs and he will be the centerpiece of a very limited offensive
arsenal. TE George Kittle and WR Calvin Ridley, two earlier
Beyel draft choices, will be the top targets. The offensive
line actually has some talent on one side but also has injury
problems.
The
defense simply is not good enough particularly at line-backer.
The Dline is solid and can get it done but Jon Bostic is the
best they have at one of the weakest LB units in the league.
The secondary is well below average.
The
Jags and coach Shawn Studebaker have been dealing away pieces to
acquire picks. Time will tell if his rebuild is successful. In
the interim, Kyle Allen will be the quarterback and Le’veon Bell
will star at RB. The team lacks numbers at WR with Will Fuller
the #1 target there. The line can pass protect a bit but is
average run blocking.
The
defensive front seven is under-manned and the line lacks true
pass rush or run stopping power. LB Montez Sweat is solid. The
team just dealt away its lone top CB to the Vikings in a last
second trade that is sure to shake up the NFC Central a bit. The
loss of Steve Nelson leaves the cupboard rather bare and exposes
the Jags to offensive onslaught.
Final
Analysis: Buffalo has the slightly better team over the
Patriots but both teams are playoff squads that could win the
AFC. Cleveland needs to have just a few things go its way but
has a playoff level defense that should pave the way to a
post-season run. Miami is a year or two away from being
considered more than a home-coming team. The Jags have gone all
in on a rebuild. |