ArticleNinja
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Commentary: Beast of the East -- Week 3
- Thread starter ArticleNinja
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OK.
Well, not much to say about the Bills and the Dolphins. Both have excellent defenses and offenses that are indescribably bad. Both teams will be lucky to get to 8-8 and will make the AFC East much less competitive than it has been in recent memory. I think there is a pretty good chance that both teams will just quit, probably more likely for Miami where Wanny has a very tenuous hold on his team. Buffalo has a better chance of being a spoiler in some games. Although bad, at least their offense has the weapons to score some points from time to time.
The Jets appear to be another KC Chiefs this season. With C. Martin running for big yardage, their offense has been very potent. However, they've given up 52 points in two games -- not good at all. I would guess that they will be a streaky team, but not a threat to win the division over the course of 16 games. It's just too hard to win consistently with no defense. They could, however, be a wild card contender.
The most striking thing about the Pats in the early going has been the potency of their offense. Brady leads the AFC in passing yardage and TD passes. Corey Dillon is averaging 122 yards per game and 5.2 yards per carry. This seriously compounds the problem of defending Brady's passing game. As game film builds up on Dillon, play action becomes more and more effective.
Interestingly, Belichick is hard at work building depth. In Sunday's game, he used a different offensive line for EACH of the first seven drives. Not only rotating seven different players into the action, but shifting players around -- right tackle to left tackle, guard to right tackle, guard to center, center to guard, etc.
On defense, last year's first round pick, Ty Warren, has become the every down starter at DE and this year's first rounder, Vince Wolfork, has surprised everyony by earning the starting nod at NT over veteran Keith Traylor. The entire starting D-line is now first round draft picks in their 1st, 2nd, or 4th year of action. I look for this unit to be among the best in the NFL by the time the December stretch run rolls around. The only other signficant change from last year's squad is that Rosey Colvin is back from a hip fracture and getting significant playing time. He is not yet back to pre-injury form in terms of production, but is playing a lot of snaps and steadily getting back into the flow of NFL football after a year off -- and three months flat on his back.
Beating Indy on opening day could have huge implications for a bye week and home-field advantage in the playoffs. I would say that the Pats and the Colts have to be the odds-on favorites to be the top 2 seeds in the tournament.
Well, not much to say about the Bills and the Dolphins. Both have excellent defenses and offenses that are indescribably bad. Both teams will be lucky to get to 8-8 and will make the AFC East much less competitive than it has been in recent memory. I think there is a pretty good chance that both teams will just quit, probably more likely for Miami where Wanny has a very tenuous hold on his team. Buffalo has a better chance of being a spoiler in some games. Although bad, at least their offense has the weapons to score some points from time to time.
The Jets appear to be another KC Chiefs this season. With C. Martin running for big yardage, their offense has been very potent. However, they've given up 52 points in two games -- not good at all. I would guess that they will be a streaky team, but not a threat to win the division over the course of 16 games. It's just too hard to win consistently with no defense. They could, however, be a wild card contender.
The most striking thing about the Pats in the early going has been the potency of their offense. Brady leads the AFC in passing yardage and TD passes. Corey Dillon is averaging 122 yards per game and 5.2 yards per carry. This seriously compounds the problem of defending Brady's passing game. As game film builds up on Dillon, play action becomes more and more effective.
Interestingly, Belichick is hard at work building depth. In Sunday's game, he used a different offensive line for EACH of the first seven drives. Not only rotating seven different players into the action, but shifting players around -- right tackle to left tackle, guard to right tackle, guard to center, center to guard, etc.
On defense, last year's first round pick, Ty Warren, has become the every down starter at DE and this year's first rounder, Vince Wolfork, has surprised everyony by earning the starting nod at NT over veteran Keith Traylor. The entire starting D-line is now first round draft picks in their 1st, 2nd, or 4th year of action. I look for this unit to be among the best in the NFL by the time the December stretch run rolls around. The only other signficant change from last year's squad is that Rosey Colvin is back from a hip fracture and getting significant playing time. He is not yet back to pre-injury form in terms of production, but is playing a lot of snaps and steadily getting back into the flow of NFL football after a year off -- and three months flat on his back.
Beating Indy on opening day could have huge implications for a bye week and home-field advantage in the playoffs. I would say that the Pats and the Colts have to be the odds-on favorites to be the top 2 seeds in the tournament.
Keep in mind that the Jets have had large leads in both games only to allow their opponenets to make the game closer late in the game, it's not like we have been in back and forth shootouts PLUS we have young talent and a new DC so I think this D will be much better than a year ago and already is much better against the run and much better overall despite giving up the amount of points they have given up.
FakeSpike13
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lets see the jets put points up on a legitimate d before we crown them with any title....
FlyingElvis
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Its too early to write anyone off, but I like hwc's assessment of the Bills and Dolphins. The Dolphins are more likely to quit early, depending on how much they respect their coach. Mularkey is in his honeymoon season, so that shouldn't be an issue.
The Jets have some veterans that have won some games and are good leaders and will set good examples to young players, especially Martin, Pennington, Chrebet, Mawae. They should continue their fast start, but I'd like to see how they hold up depthwise if the injuries start piling up (they always do) come November/December. They could be this years surprise team in the AFC.
The Pats are the Pats. They will be there at the end. Too many players that have won many big games over the last few years. I have nothing to add, there is no mystery to this team. Their biggest weak spot is backup QB. Like hwc said, BB has been moving people in and out of the lineup to give everyone on-the-job experience because he knows he might need them at some point. The other aspect that could take down the Pats is the fact they are trying to defend their title. They will be looking at every team's A game for the rest of the season.
The Jets have some veterans that have won some games and are good leaders and will set good examples to young players, especially Martin, Pennington, Chrebet, Mawae. They should continue their fast start, but I'd like to see how they hold up depthwise if the injuries start piling up (they always do) come November/December. They could be this years surprise team in the AFC.
The Pats are the Pats. They will be there at the end. Too many players that have won many big games over the last few years. I have nothing to add, there is no mystery to this team. Their biggest weak spot is backup QB. Like hwc said, BB has been moving people in and out of the lineup to give everyone on-the-job experience because he knows he might need them at some point. The other aspect that could take down the Pats is the fact they are trying to defend their title. They will be looking at every team's A game for the rest of the season.