NFL
The TSJ 2018 AFC East Division Preview Is Here
New England Patriots
Additions:
DT Danny Shelton
CB Jason McCourty
WR Cordarrelle Patterson
WR Jordan Matthews
RB Jeremy Hill
RB Sony Michel
OL Isiah Wynn
Departures:
WR Danny Amendola
WR Brandin Cooks
RB Dion Lewis
LT Nate Solder
CB Malcolm Butler
Preview
In the AFC East, the New England Patriots are coming off a devastating Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The loss knocked them from their pedestal of pro football excellence. After the loss in Superbowl 52, they also lost some talented players to free agency and trades.
Questions on offense:
Looking forward to the 2018 season, the Patriots face many question marks on offense, especially at the wide receiver position. Brandin Cooks, the Patriots big-ticket acquisition in 2017 was deemed to not be a fit after a disappointing season in New England. In March, he was swapped to the Los Angeles Rams for a first round pick. Danny Amendola was one of Tom Brady’s most reliable third-down targets last season stepping up in Julian Edelman’s absence. With Amendola now in Miami, and Julian Edelman coming off ACL surgery and facing a four-game suspension for PEDs, the Patriots need someone to step up in the WR room. The new faces Jordan Matthews and Cordarrelle Patterson have flashed playmaking ability in their careers, but are far from proven NFL stars.
Patriots RB and OL situation:
Dion Lewis left the AFC East for the Titans this offseason after spending three seasons in the Patriots backfield rotation as their do it all back. Sony Michel was drafted with the 31st overall pick in the NFL draft to be the Dion Lewis 2.0. Michel’s skillset is a perfect fit for the Patriots offense as he can catch the ball out of the backfield and be a force to be reckoned with at the line of scrimmage coupled with James White, Jeremy Hill, and Rex Burkhead.
Protecting Tom Brady has rarely been an issue for the Patriots, but after seven seasons, stalwart LT Nate Solder has left to protect Eli Manning’s blindside in New York. Can Isiah Wynn, drafted with the 23rd pick in the NFL Draft earn a starting spot and help keep the NFL’s golden boy on his feet?
Patriots Defense:
Defensively, the Patriots ranked 5th in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus. Bill Belichick is known for his defensive football mind, so it begs the question, how will Superbowl 49 hero turned Superbowl 52 zero Malcolm Butler be replaced? Butler’s stellar play helped the Patriots reach the big game, so his benching was heavily criticized, and it signaled his end in New England. Now in the fold is Jason McCourty, a castoff from the winless Browns who had a quietly productive season. Jason and his brother Devin McCourty will team up with Stephon Gilmore to help improve a Patriots secondary that allowed 24 touchdowns through the air last season.
Overall, the Patriots lost more talented players then they gained, but Bill Belichick has a way to get the most out of his players, and as long as the Patriots still have Tom Brady playing at a high level, they will be tough to beat. They win this division easily again in 2018.
Prediction: 12-4 1st in the AFC East
Miami Dolphins:
Additions:
WR Danny Amendola
WR Albert Wilson
RB Frank Gore
DE Robert Quinn
TE Mike Gisecki
S Minkah Fitzpatrick
Departures:
WR Jarvis Landry
DT Ndamukong Suh
C Mike Pouncey
QB Jay Cutler
TE Julius Thomas
Preview:
The Miami Dolphins faced a tumultuous season in 2017. From losing QB Ryan Tannehill early in training camp to losing their home opener to Hurricane Irma, the Dolphins endured a lot. To top it all off, fans watched their best offensive, and defensive players walk out the door in free agency.
With the expected return of QB Ryan Tannehill, the Dolphins hope to get back on track. Tannehill has not lived up to his first-round draft status thus far in his career, but he was on pace to put up career numbers in 2016 before he suffered a knee injury. The hope for Dolphins fans is that this is finally the year for Ryan Tannehill because if he does not come through soon, the Dolphins are back to square one at QB.
Dolphins Offensive Identity:
The Dolphins lack a true offensive identity with the departures of Jay Ajayi and Jarvis Landry. Ajayi was traded to the Eagles in mid-2017 and was replaced by Kenyon Drake who is not an every-down back. Frank Gore was brought in to complement Drake. Gore is a strong runner to pair with Drake’s speed, but Gore is 35 and far from a long-term answer. With Jarvis Landry traded to Cleveland, the Dolphins lost arguably the best slot WR and one of the most dynamic playmakers in the league. Miami snatched Danny Amendola away from division rival New England and wooed former Chief Albert Wilson to help pick up the slack, but it will be no easy task replacing Landry’s 400 catches over the last four seasons.
Dolphins Defensive Questions:
With the loss of DT Ndamukong Suh, question abounds on defense for Miami. Not only is it fair to wonder if Suh can be replaced, but at 36, can Cameron Wake continue his dominance? Will newly acquired QB hunter Robert Quinn find his grove in Miami as he did for the Rams? How will LB Raekwon McMillan look is his return from injury and how much of an impact will Minkah Fitzpatrick have as a rookie? With so many questions and so few answers, it’s hard to know what this unit will be able to accomplish.
Prediction: 6-10 2nd in AFC East
Buffalo Bills:
Additions:
QB AJ McCarron
QB Josh Allen
DT Star Lotulelei
RB Chris Ivory
CB Vontae Davis
LB Trumaine Edwards
Departures:
QB Tyrod Taylor
Preview:
Bills Quarterbacks:
In Orchard Park, its out with the old and in with the new as the Bills who claimed they would not trade Tyrod Taylor, did precisely that and shipped him to Cleveland for a third-round pick. In comes the QB who was all but guaranteed to go to Cleveland until he did not, AJ McCarron.
McCarron takes over as the starter for now of a Bills team whose leading receiver had less than 500 yards on the season. McCarron walks into a tough situation, yet the Bills made the playoffs in 2017 thanks to the steady-handed Tyrod Taylor and the playmaking ability of LeSean McCoy. Bills fans hope that McCarron can prove he is as reliable as Tyrod Taylor was. If McCarron falters, the rocket-armed rookie Josh Allen waits in the wings. Outside of Kelvin Benjamin, the Bills lack a real deep threat at WR, but luckily whoever the Bills have at QB will have LeSean McCoy at their disposal.
Running McDermott’s Scheme:
On a Buffalo defense with little star power, Sean McDermott went out to fix a rush defense that allowed a league-high 22 touchdowns on the ground in 2017. Star Lotulelei comes over from Carolina with knowledge of Coach McDermott’s scheme to create a wall in the middle with veteran DT Kyle Williams. Add that to pass rushers Jerry Hughes, and Trent Murphy and the Bills suddenly have a solid front four.
Pairing cornerback Vontae Davis and safeties Jordan Poyer Micah Hyde with last year’s star rookie cornerback Tre’Davious White makes for a capable group on the back end of the Bills unit that allowed only 14 touchdowns last year, only the Vikings allowed fewer TD passes.
At the end of the day, the Bills have some players, but just not enough to make much noise in the AFC East.
Prediction: 5-11 3rd in AFC East
New York Jets:
Additions:
QB Teddy Bridgewater
QB Sam Darnold
RB Isiah Crowell
WR Terrelle Pryor
CB Trumaine Johnson
RB Thomas Rawls
CB Morris Claiborne
C Travis Swanson
Departures:
DL Muhammad Wilkerson
QB Bryce Petty
QB Christian Hackenberg
RB Matt Forte
Preview:
The New York Jets were a team in 2017 that was not expected to make a lot of noise in the AFC East. However by the end of the year, the five wins they racked up were more then anyone would have expected. They swapped Ryan Fitzpatrick for Josh McCown, an aging veteran for an aging veteran, yet Mccown put up terrific numbers for the majority of the season helping the Jets keep their heads above water. McCown signed a one year deal to return to the Jets who revamped their QB room by adding Teddy Bridgewater and drafting their future in Sam Darnold. McCown is likely the 2018 starter as Darnold rides the bench and learns all he can.
The Jets Run Game:
Matt Forte’s retirement in the offseason came as little surprise since his production dropped significantly in recent seasons. In comes Cleveland castoff Isiah Crowell who is a talented player, but often goes down at first contact rather than running guys over. Thomas Rawls, the former Seahawk was brought in to the RB room as well. Despite Rawls frequent injuries, his talent is unquestioned. Perhaps Crowell and Rawls make a good two back attack such as the one Crowell and Duke Johnson formed in Cleveland.
Jets Pass Catchers:
At this time last year, the Jets had few options left at wide receiver. They were just a year removed from the departures of Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. With projected number one receiver Quincy Enunwa on IR with a neck injury, unknown WR Robbie Anderson stepped up to lead the Jets in yardage at the position with a total of 941. To help Anderson out this year, the Jets brought in QB turned WR Terrelle Pryor. After a disappointing, injury-filled season in Washington, Pryor looks to prove himself once again as a big-time wideout. Pryor should be a solid addition to a WR group that already includes Anderson and Jermaine Kearse.
Defensive Rebuild:
It appears the Jets are still in rebuild mode on the defensive side of the ball. In 2014, the team invested over 70 million dollars in bringing in Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie, and newcomer Buster Skrine. Only Skrine remains of that group. Skrine will be paired with Trumaine Johnson and the Jets once again have a pair of athletic corners manning the outside of their secondary. Put Skrine and Johnson with 6th overall pick S Jamal Adams from a season ago and the Jets present a challenge for any QB to throw against.
Despite the Jets additions, until they solve the long-term QB question, they will only go as far as Josh McCown can take them. McCown can play the game, but his lack of talent will not elevate the Jets to where they want to go.
Prediction: 5-11 4th in AFC East
