Que “Sweet Caroline” all over stadiums, football is here! Real football, not that preseason junk we watch every year hoping it’s different, and never is. Brand new season gives every fan base hope, yes, even you Raider Nation. Every team has a clean slate, and although it won’t last long, everyone has a shot. Maybe the division with the most potential, is the AFC East. Tom Brady and the Patriots sit atop once again, but the three other teams also have serious playoff chances. Geno Smith and the Jets, Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins, and E.J. Manuel and the Bills are all going to try and dethrone the hated Patriots.
Quick Notes
New England Patriots
For the first time in nine years, come opening day, Logan Mankins will not be on the Patriots offensive line. Traded to the Buccaneers, Mankins was shipped in favor of tight end Timothy Wright and a pick. In more surprising offensive news, the Patriots used their second round draft pick on a quarterback, one Jimmy Garoppolo. On the other side of the ball, their secondary is completely revamped. Darelle Revis and Brandon Browner have come over via free agency to solidify their back-end. While the other three teams in the division are shooting for the playoffs, the Patriots with their new roster are a serious Super Bowl contender.
New York Jets
A lot of what they did this offseason was to help Geno. They signed Eric Decker away from the Broncos to give Geno a target in the passing game. They also signed Chris Johnson from the Titans to give Geno a solid running game. While the team did let Antonio Cromartie and his 37 children sign with Arizona, they drafted one of the most solid safeties available, in Calvin Pryor. They also let Santonio Holmes walk away to eventually sign with the Bears.
Miami Dolphins
The Phins have only four division wins the past two years, and didn’t do much this offseason to get considerably better. They did sign Brandon Albert to contract worth over $40 million, which was priority number one after giving up 58 sacks last year as a team. They also took a flyer on Louis Delmas as their probable starting safety and Cortland Finnegan as their cornerback. Much of this season depends on Tannehill, and learning a whole new system might make his progression even slower.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills did everything they could to ensure Manuel’s success this season. They traded up for the most dynamic offensive player in this year’s draft, Sammy Watkins. They also traded for veteran and Buffalo-born receiver Mike Williams. Staying with the offensive theme, they also spent three 2014 draft picks on their offensive line. Jairus Byrd signed with the Saints this offseason, and Kiko Alonso is out for the year with a torn ACL, but they still have a top-five front four. General Manager Doug Whaley is all in for this season, let’s hope it pans out.
Ranking the Quarterbacks
1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
No surprise here, at all. I would have been fired if I put anyone else atop this list. Brady is one of the best signal callers of our generation, and while some say he’s on a decline, I’m not buying it. He makes no-named receivers look like they’re all-pro, and makes the most with nothing. He is surely capable of leading the Patriots to one more title.
2. Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins
The next three quarterbacks in the division, after Brady, can all be grouped together pretty similarly. They all underachieve big time. But, Tannehill’s potential is more than the other two in my opinion. In 2013, he completed over 60 percent of his passes, threw for nearly 4,000 yards and 24 touchdowns. That’s pretty impressive for a kid who didn’t play quarterback until his last couple years in school.
3. Geno Smith, New York Jets
Geno had a very up and down rookie season. When he was good, people thought he was the guy. When he was bad, people thought drafting him was a mistake. Typical fan stuff. Luckily for Jets fans, Geno is their guy. Or so he should be. He has the ability to lead this team to the playoffs, for heavens sake Mark Sanchez did it twice...to the AFC Championship!
4. E.J. Manuel, Buffalo Bills
After Manuel’s rookie season, he earned his spot in the cellar of these rankings. He has a lot to work on. A lot. His footwork is awful, and to the people who say it doesn’t matter, watch him throw a football. I’m not sure there has been a more inaccurate quarterback taken in the first round. E.J. has to make major strides, because if the Bills don’t make the playoffs again, there could be another overhaul. The team has the potential, just not at quarterback.
Ranking the Running Backs
1. C.J. Spiller, Buffalo Bills
Trying to take any home-town team bias out of this article, Spiller surely is the best running back in the division. While he did have a down season in 2013, he has a clean slate. He can be a top-three runner in the league, he’s that dynamic. It’s just putting it all together like he did in 2012. If the Bills make the playoffs, he could be a dark-horse for MVP.
2. Stevan Ridley, New England Patriots
Last year, Spiller was the clear cut best back in the AFC East, and Ridley was two. This year is no different, but it really is just a log-jam after them. With the departure of LeGarrette Blount, Ridley will see even more carries, especially on the goal-line. Surprisingly enough, he went undrafted in our eDraft Experts Fantasy League. That didn’t last long, however. If Ridley can stop fumbling(tell me if you’ve heard that a thousand times before) he can be a very, very great back.
3. Lamar Miller, Miami Dolphins
Like I said, after Spiller and Ridley, it’s a log jam. I’ll take Miller in hopes that new offensive coordinator Bill Lazor can get him to break out, even more so than he did in 2013. Lazor has said that he wants Miller to be his Lesean McCoy player that he had in Philly. The Dolphins have been waiting for this kid to break out for a couple years now, and this may be it.
4. Chris Johnson, New York Jets
It was a real toss up for this fourth spot, but trying to take my home-town team bias out of it, I put CJ2K here. Why everyone is so down on him, I do not know. The guy is still on the right side of 30, and has good football left in him. He’s rushed for over 1,000 yards every year he’s been in the league. Every. Single. One. Since 2008. He’s in for a good year in Rex Ryan’s offense.
5. Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills
There’s good ol Freddy. Coming off another incredibly serviceable year, he’s the NFL’s fountain of youth. Everyone talks about the dreaded “30 year old running back,” but since turning 30, he’s only had 18 touchdowns and averaged 4.5 yards per carry. That’s value right there. Plus he’s the heart and soul of Buffalo.
Ranking the Receivers
1. Eric Decker, New York Jets
Wide Receiver is a joke in the AFC East. Once again, trying not to use my home-town team bias, it’s to soon to put Sammy number one, as much as I want to. Coming off back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons, and 24 touchdowns the last two years, Decker got a major pay-day. Now, it’s time to see what he’s made of. Is he a product of a hall of fame quarterback and historic offense in Denver? Or does he have legitimate talent? I think it’s a mixture of both.
2. Julian Edelman, New England Patriots
I’m not even ready to put Sammy number two, for the fact that he hasn’t played a regular season game yet. Someone who has though, is Julian Edelman, and he’s waited awhile for his chance. He got it last season, and boy did he capitalize. After being behind the likes of Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and Brandon Lloyd after all these years, he made an impact. Over 100 catches, over 1,000 yards and six scores. Brady’s favorite target deserves a top spot on any list.
3. Sammy Watkins, Buffalo Bills
Here he is. Watkins has been incredible thus far in practice and preseason. Whether it’s making some insane one-handed catch, or leaving a defenders jock strap on a double move, Watkins is something special. Regarded as the best receiver prospect since Megatron, he could and should be atop this list very easily next season.
4. Brian Hartline, Miami Dolphins
Hartline has quietly been one of the more consistent receivers in the division. He’s registered 70 catches and 1,000 yards the last two years. While he doesn’t score much, five touchdowns in two seasons, he catches the ball a lot. Not only does he catch it a lot, Tannehill targets him a lot. He had a whopping 134 targets last season.
5. Mike Wallace, Miami Dolphins
Two fish round out the top-five, and for good reason. Wallace didn’t live up to expectations in his first year as a Dolphin, but he still finished with 930 yards and five scores. It’s a very real that next year he could be number two on this list behind Watkins, if he plays like he did in Pittsburgh. In 2010, he finished with an incredible 21 yards per reception. That’s what Miami signed him for.
Ranking the Tight Ends
1. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots
Once again, no surprise here. Only thing that’s in question is his injury problems. Even so, I would take Gronk in 10 games, over any other tight end in the division for a whole season. Him and Jimmy Graham are the elite tight ends in the game, and the only two. When Gronk is on the field, he is a major force to be reckoned with.
2. Charles Clay, Miami Dolphins
Clay is one of the more enjoyable tight ends to watch, for me anyways. He has an almost identical time to Gronk, and he loves getting in the open field. He really broke out last year with 759 yards and six touchdowns. Not to mention he had nearly 70 receptions.
3. Tim Wright, New England Patriots
The newest Patriot, and one of the most important now. Wright had a great rookie season, with 571 yards and five touchdowns on over 50 receptions. We all know about New England’s two tight end set, and Wright will be that second guy. Hopefully he doesn’t murder anyone.
4. Scott Chandler, Buffalo Bills
After stops in San Diego and Dallas, Chandler has found a home in Buffalo. The behemoth tight end was Buffalo’s leading receiver last season with 53 catches. And for good reason, he is six foot seven inches tall. He’s an animal, and a huge red zone target.
Ranking the Rookies
1. Sammy Watkins, Buffalo Bills
2. Calvin Pryor, New York Jets
3. Ja’Wuan James, Miami Dolphins
4. Jimmy Garoppolo, New England Patriots
5. Dominque Easley, New England Patriots
6. Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins
7. James White, New England Patriots
8. Billy Turner, Miami Dolphins
9. Seantrel Henderson, Buffalo Bills
10. Jace Amaro, New York Jets
Ranking the Offensive Lines
1. New England Patriots
2. New York Jets
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Miami Dolphins
Ranking the Defensive Lines
1. Buffalo Bills
2. New York Jets
3. Miami Dolphins
4. New England Patriots
Ranking the Linebackers
1. New England Patriots
2. Buffalo Bills
3. New York Jets
4. Miami Dolphins
Ranking the Secondaries
1. New England Patriots
2. Buffalo Bills
3. Miami Dolphins
4. New York Jets
Overall Offensive Rankings
1. New England Patriots
2. Buffalo Bills
3. Miami Dolphins
4. New York Jets
Overall Defensive Rankings
1. Buffalo Bills
2. New England Patriots
3. New York Jets
4. Miami Dolphins
Final Power Rankings
1. New England Patriots
2. Buffalo Bills
3. Miami Dolphins
4. New York Jets