furley
Third String But Playing on Special Teams
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I preface this by saying that the Patriots have some very important decisions to make during this off-season. I almost feel as if this is all bad timing, everything is happening at once. Hence, I've my skepticism about the Patriots right now. What these teams do and don't do during the off-season as far as the draft and free agency, and how the strength of schedule for the regular season stack up. Will settle this... Well, my thoughts are...
New York Jets (9-7)
Offensive rank: Twentieth
Defensive rank: First
Conclusion of 2009 Season: Lost in AFC Conference Finals
What needs to happen in 2010: Mark Sanchez having a sophomore leap a la Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan (got injured, statistics somewhat dropped off but wasn't awful). Continue to mature, must cut down on his turnovers. Will be the pre-season favored to win division, but overall offense must catchup to defense. Team finished the regular season ranked thirty-first in passing but did finish first in rushing. Meaning Shonn Greene doesn't have a sophomore slump and Thomas Jones continues to be solid. Dustin Keller establishes himself as a real threat in the passing game as fellow 2008 draftees John Carlson and Jermichael Finley are for their teams. Team needs to resign Braylon Edwards (who desires to return) and play-maker Leon Washington (rushing; special teams). Defensively, team finished the regular season ranked first in total defense. Won't lose anyone major from the defense to free agency. Can they improve on a first place ranking against the pass and eighth against the run? Probably... Should have a healthy Kris Jenkins returning. Not to mention, Pro Bowler Darrelle Revis, David Harris, Calvin Pace, Kerry Rhodes, Shaun Ellis (recently broke hand), Lito Sheppard and Bart Scott all return as well. Backup quarterback Kellen Clemens, fullback Tony Richardson and wide receiver David Clowney are free agents.
Biggest concern: Quarterback
Least concern: Defense; rushing
Miami Dolphins (7-9)
Offensive rank: Seventieth
Defensive rank: Twenty-second
Conclusion of 2009 Season: Didn't make the playoffs
What needs to happen in 2010: Chad Henne builds on his 2009 season in which he became the starter for injured Chad Pennington. Ronnie Brown is healthy and ready to go before the start of the regular season and/or Ricky Williams picks up where he'd left off the last seven games of this season. Team needs to resign free agent wide receiver Davone Bess. Must make a concerted effort to acquire or sign one of these three possibly available wide receivers: Brandon Marshall, Vincent Jackson and Anquan Boldin. Acquiring Anquan Boldin from Arizona with the right offer of draft picks would go a long ways in helping Henne with his progression. After Bess, who's the odd man out among wide receivers Brian Hartline, Ted Ginn, Jr. and Greg Camarillo? If team doesn't resign Anthony Fasano, will second-year player John Nalbone be the answer at starting tight end? The hiring of Mike Nolan as the new defensive coordinator could prove to be one of the team's best off-season moves. Nolan will have young talent in Vontae Davis, Phillip Merling, Randy Starks, Sean Smith and Channing Crowder to work with. Far better than what he'd in players with Denver. However, they'll likely lose veteran defensive end Jason Taylor to free agency or retirement. So either Starks or Merling will be counted on to assume a larger role. Defensively, they'd finished the regular season ranked eightieth against the run, but were ranked twenty-fourth against the pass. So it'll be imperative that their secondary improves dramatically. Quarterback Chad Pennington will be a free agent so team will need to sign a backup quarter back. Pat White saw very few opportunities as a passer outside of playing the wildcat.
Biggest concern: Defense; top wide receiver; offensive line; depth at quarterback
Least concern: Rushing
New England Patriots (10-6)
Offensive rank: Third
Defensive rank: Eleventh
Conclusion of 2009 Season: Lost in AFC Wild Card game
What needs to happen in 2010: Team more than adequately replace the lost of both their offensive and defensive coordinator. Pro Bowl wide receiver Wes Welker tore his MCL and ACL during the last game of the regular season. His indefinite return is a legitimate concern. Issues could arise for Tom Brady and the passing game if he's out longer than expected and Julian Edelman isn't up to task in his absence. Randy Moss will be playing in a contract year. Could be extra motivated to step up and attempt to silence his critics from this season. Namely, Darrelle Revis and Chris Gamble. Laurence Maroney has yet to prove he can be the running back the team had hoped for when he was selected ahead of fellow first round draftees DeAngelo Williams and Joseph Addai. With that said, Maroney isn't the longterm answer. Still, team did their best to establish a balanced offense rotating their running backs when healthy. Finished the regular season ranked third in passing and twelfth and rushing. Major decisions to make with Pro Bowl defensive lineman Vince Wilfork, kicker Stephen Gostkowski, Pro Bowl offensive lineman Logan Mankins, tight end Benjamin Watson, corner back Leigh Bodden, defensive end Jarvis Green and running back Kevin Faulk all free agents. Whether or not to resign Wilfork is the most important personnel decision the team will make this off-season. With little to no pass rush to think of, team will think long and hard about Julius Peppers who will be a free agent as well. Team finished the regular season ranked twelfth against the pass and thirteenth against the run. So they were able to maintain a bend but don't break defense. Intriguing young talent on defense in Jerod Mayo, Brandon Meriweather, Darius Butler and Patrick Chung. All will have something to prove.
Biggest concern: Depth at wide receiver; top running back and tight end; depth at running back; pass rush
Least concern: Passing
Buffalo Bills (6-10)
Offensive rank: Thirtieth
Defensive rank: Nineteenth
Conclusion of 2009 Season: Didn't make the playoffs
What needs to happen in 2010: Establish an identity, who's the face of this franchise. Team lacks a star at all of the major skilled positions. Fred Jackson could help to change that by providing stability and play-making at the running back position. Shawn Nelson will need to establish himself as a reliable offensive threat at starting tight end. But who'll be throwing him the ball? Brian Brohm? The Bills will need to retool the wide receiver position with Terrell Owens, Lee Evans and Josh Reed all being free agents. Will James Hardy assert himself enough and join Nelson as another possible play-maker on offense? Could Roscoe Parrish have a bigger role? Because the Bills finished the regular season as the thirtieth (behind the Jets) worst passing team. But this team will remain in their division's basement and miss the playoffs unless major changes and a gradual turnaround doesn't happen real soon. Newly hired head coach, Chan Gailey, has a tall order ahead of him. Misery must love company since Detroit hasn't made the playoffs the past ten seasons either. Interestingly, Gailey inherits a team as their head coach and offensive coordinator with most of its young talent coming on defense. With key veteran Aaron Schobel possibly retiring, more will be expected from second-year player Aaron Maybin after a quiet rookie year where he didn't start a game. Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd, Paul Posluszny, Leodis McKelvin, Donte Whitner and Maybin lead the youth movement on defense for the Bills. Team finished the regular season ranked second against the pass but thirtieth against the run. That isn't good. A mainstay of the secondary, corner back Terrence McGee is a free agent.
Biggest concern: Quarterback; offense; top wide receiver; wide receiver depth; offensive line; pass rush
Least concern: Rushing
New York Jets (9-7)
Offensive rank: Twentieth
Defensive rank: First
Conclusion of 2009 Season: Lost in AFC Conference Finals
What needs to happen in 2010: Mark Sanchez having a sophomore leap a la Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan (got injured, statistics somewhat dropped off but wasn't awful). Continue to mature, must cut down on his turnovers. Will be the pre-season favored to win division, but overall offense must catchup to defense. Team finished the regular season ranked thirty-first in passing but did finish first in rushing. Meaning Shonn Greene doesn't have a sophomore slump and Thomas Jones continues to be solid. Dustin Keller establishes himself as a real threat in the passing game as fellow 2008 draftees John Carlson and Jermichael Finley are for their teams. Team needs to resign Braylon Edwards (who desires to return) and play-maker Leon Washington (rushing; special teams). Defensively, team finished the regular season ranked first in total defense. Won't lose anyone major from the defense to free agency. Can they improve on a first place ranking against the pass and eighth against the run? Probably... Should have a healthy Kris Jenkins returning. Not to mention, Pro Bowler Darrelle Revis, David Harris, Calvin Pace, Kerry Rhodes, Shaun Ellis (recently broke hand), Lito Sheppard and Bart Scott all return as well. Backup quarterback Kellen Clemens, fullback Tony Richardson and wide receiver David Clowney are free agents.
Biggest concern: Quarterback
Least concern: Defense; rushing
Miami Dolphins (7-9)
Offensive rank: Seventieth
Defensive rank: Twenty-second
Conclusion of 2009 Season: Didn't make the playoffs
What needs to happen in 2010: Chad Henne builds on his 2009 season in which he became the starter for injured Chad Pennington. Ronnie Brown is healthy and ready to go before the start of the regular season and/or Ricky Williams picks up where he'd left off the last seven games of this season. Team needs to resign free agent wide receiver Davone Bess. Must make a concerted effort to acquire or sign one of these three possibly available wide receivers: Brandon Marshall, Vincent Jackson and Anquan Boldin. Acquiring Anquan Boldin from Arizona with the right offer of draft picks would go a long ways in helping Henne with his progression. After Bess, who's the odd man out among wide receivers Brian Hartline, Ted Ginn, Jr. and Greg Camarillo? If team doesn't resign Anthony Fasano, will second-year player John Nalbone be the answer at starting tight end? The hiring of Mike Nolan as the new defensive coordinator could prove to be one of the team's best off-season moves. Nolan will have young talent in Vontae Davis, Phillip Merling, Randy Starks, Sean Smith and Channing Crowder to work with. Far better than what he'd in players with Denver. However, they'll likely lose veteran defensive end Jason Taylor to free agency or retirement. So either Starks or Merling will be counted on to assume a larger role. Defensively, they'd finished the regular season ranked eightieth against the run, but were ranked twenty-fourth against the pass. So it'll be imperative that their secondary improves dramatically. Quarterback Chad Pennington will be a free agent so team will need to sign a backup quarter back. Pat White saw very few opportunities as a passer outside of playing the wildcat.
Biggest concern: Defense; top wide receiver; offensive line; depth at quarterback
Least concern: Rushing
New England Patriots (10-6)
Offensive rank: Third
Defensive rank: Eleventh
Conclusion of 2009 Season: Lost in AFC Wild Card game
What needs to happen in 2010: Team more than adequately replace the lost of both their offensive and defensive coordinator. Pro Bowl wide receiver Wes Welker tore his MCL and ACL during the last game of the regular season. His indefinite return is a legitimate concern. Issues could arise for Tom Brady and the passing game if he's out longer than expected and Julian Edelman isn't up to task in his absence. Randy Moss will be playing in a contract year. Could be extra motivated to step up and attempt to silence his critics from this season. Namely, Darrelle Revis and Chris Gamble. Laurence Maroney has yet to prove he can be the running back the team had hoped for when he was selected ahead of fellow first round draftees DeAngelo Williams and Joseph Addai. With that said, Maroney isn't the longterm answer. Still, team did their best to establish a balanced offense rotating their running backs when healthy. Finished the regular season ranked third in passing and twelfth and rushing. Major decisions to make with Pro Bowl defensive lineman Vince Wilfork, kicker Stephen Gostkowski, Pro Bowl offensive lineman Logan Mankins, tight end Benjamin Watson, corner back Leigh Bodden, defensive end Jarvis Green and running back Kevin Faulk all free agents. Whether or not to resign Wilfork is the most important personnel decision the team will make this off-season. With little to no pass rush to think of, team will think long and hard about Julius Peppers who will be a free agent as well. Team finished the regular season ranked twelfth against the pass and thirteenth against the run. So they were able to maintain a bend but don't break defense. Intriguing young talent on defense in Jerod Mayo, Brandon Meriweather, Darius Butler and Patrick Chung. All will have something to prove.
Biggest concern: Depth at wide receiver; top running back and tight end; depth at running back; pass rush
Least concern: Passing
Buffalo Bills (6-10)
Offensive rank: Thirtieth
Defensive rank: Nineteenth
Conclusion of 2009 Season: Didn't make the playoffs
What needs to happen in 2010: Establish an identity, who's the face of this franchise. Team lacks a star at all of the major skilled positions. Fred Jackson could help to change that by providing stability and play-making at the running back position. Shawn Nelson will need to establish himself as a reliable offensive threat at starting tight end. But who'll be throwing him the ball? Brian Brohm? The Bills will need to retool the wide receiver position with Terrell Owens, Lee Evans and Josh Reed all being free agents. Will James Hardy assert himself enough and join Nelson as another possible play-maker on offense? Could Roscoe Parrish have a bigger role? Because the Bills finished the regular season as the thirtieth (behind the Jets) worst passing team. But this team will remain in their division's basement and miss the playoffs unless major changes and a gradual turnaround doesn't happen real soon. Newly hired head coach, Chan Gailey, has a tall order ahead of him. Misery must love company since Detroit hasn't made the playoffs the past ten seasons either. Interestingly, Gailey inherits a team as their head coach and offensive coordinator with most of its young talent coming on defense. With key veteran Aaron Schobel possibly retiring, more will be expected from second-year player Aaron Maybin after a quiet rookie year where he didn't start a game. Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd, Paul Posluszny, Leodis McKelvin, Donte Whitner and Maybin lead the youth movement on defense for the Bills. Team finished the regular season ranked second against the pass but thirtieth against the run. That isn't good. A mainstay of the secondary, corner back Terrence McGee is a free agent.
Biggest concern: Quarterback; offense; top wide receiver; wide receiver depth; offensive line; pass rush
Least concern: Rushing
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