Re: Take it for however you wanna take it... Jets will win the AFC East and the Patri
The Patriots have lost two key players that were leaders of that Defense in each and every playoff and superbowl run.
Seymour was actually out for the playoffs in 2004 and 2005, only returning for the Super Bowl, and Rodney was out last year, when the team was one first down away from the Super Bowl, and the year before, when the team still made the divisional round. Give me a break.
R.Seymour will be hard to replace, yea Jarvis Green is actually more than an average backup DE, but at the same time... As a Jet fan... He's no R.Seymour, not even close. Not only can R.Seymour get after the QB with the best of em, he at times can help contain if not shut down the run by finding a way to get past the D-Line, He can play LB, DT, DE, he's been a play-maker for this NE Defense for quite some time in my eyes..
Problem is, Warren's the true force on the defensive line. I'd be more worried about Ferguson against him than Seymour. Jarvis is also a better pash rusher than Seymour, and in those playoff runs you were talking about, was one of the best defensive players on the field. Oh, and Seymour can't play LB. I don't know when you've seen that.
R.Harrison? I guess all those cheap shots and late hits from Harrison all through his playing career wasnt because he was actually a dirty player, I now feel it was simply something we call "Roid Rage". ...Call me crazy, but the Patriots Defense may just feel a strong impact from the loss of 2 leaders and 2 all pro type players for a good 6 weeks, if not longer. R.Seymour was the leader on that D-Line with Wilfork and Warren and R.Harrison was the leader of that secondary with A.Samuels. Is A.Samules even ready to start this week?
Rodney's suspended for 4 games and has played all of about 8 games over the past two seasons anyways. It's not like the Jets suddenly have a huge advantage they didn't have in last year's playoffs; Rodney wasn't playing then either. Oh, and HGH isn't steroids; it doesn't cause symptoms of roid rage.
The loss of C.Dillon may just hurt this NE Patriots rushing attack... He may have lost a step or two, but he was one player who could always get that extra 2-3 yards and be that work-house that every great team needs to set up the pass. One thing about Dillon, I seen it all last year, he would help tire down the Defense and L.Maroney would benefit alot by the smash mouth style of play from Dillon.
Dillon really sucked last year. He was already retired in his mind. He broke a few good runs but just wasn't the same after the injury he suffered the year before.
Stallworth is nothing more than a deep threat who may pull a hammy when going for a Tom Brady hail marry. I know one thing, Moss and Stallworth are not the recievers to ask to make that tough 3rd and 8, or that tough catch in the middle of the field in crutial situations. Welker may just be the best WR on this team.
Many of us, including myself, have said Welker will be the most productive receiver on the team. Moss is still the best receiver on the team; healthy and motivated, there's never been a WR in the NFL with his sheer talent and athletic ability. Ever.
Lat season the Patriots only finished 2 games above the Jets in the AFC East standing.
And then kicked the crap out of them in the playoffs.
Last season we had 2 rookies on the O-Line in Ferguson and Mangold. I know one thing, I'v had a chance to see a great HOC Center play in his prime in Kevin Mayae, and with Mangold... Bare injury, this kid is a future pro-bowl center for years to come. Last season Brickashaw Ferguson made some rookie mistakes at times, which is expected and in the NFL, rookies who start right away will make mistakes... But as a fan I can say this... We drafted a Franchise LT, and that 4th pick in round one was well spent.
Mawae was not a HOF center. He was a very good (very dirty) player, but not a hall of famer. Oh, and the name is D'Brickashaw... you should probably know that.
As far as WR's go... We have Pocket A's if you ask me. Coles in one of the toughest WR's to play the position in a long time, and a player who will get his 1,000 yards recieving each and every year. J.Cotchery came into his own last year as a first year starter, much before the late TD in the 4th Quarter vs New England... This kid broke almost each and every record set by T.Holt while playing at UNC, dont ask me why Herm Edwards had this kid on the bench for 2 seasons... Dont ask me.
I like both of these players, but can you honestly say that they're better than Moss, Stallworth, and Welker? No, you can't. And Noodle Arm is a far, far inferior passer than Brady.
This year we went and brang is a proven work horse in Thomas Jones, we drafted the best CB out of the draft in D.Revis who has looked great in preseason (First CB drafted by the Jets since Aaron Glenn) And we also drafted D.Harris out of Michigan in the 2nd round where most draft experts say he was the 2nd best MLB in the draft (And he played a 3-4 D) and a for sure 1st round talent.
Didn't you just say "rookies who start make mistakes?" The Patriots traded away their pick rather than take David Harris, who was at a position of need for the team; I don't think he's the answer.
With C.Baker being who is a solid TE
I doubt he could make the Patriots. He definitely could not have last year with Graham.
Not to forget... But we also have one the best secondarys in the AFC as of right now with Dyson, Revis, Miller(Who is one of the best KR's in the game today) and Barrett as our 4 CB's and E.Coleman and K.Rhodes as our safetys, Look at E.Reeds stats, and look at K.Rhodes stats from last year... And tell me who should have been in the pro bowl?
No you don't. The Jets are trying to get rid of Dyson, Revis is a rookie, Miller's a pure STer, and Barrett is a stiff. Kerry Rhodes is good, but that's about it (and Ed Reed is the best player, period, in the NFL... Rhodes doesn't have anything on him).
Call me crazy all you want... Jets only finished 2 games behind the Pats last year for the AFC East... We are 10 times better this year with year 2 under Mangini that as a Jet fan, it's not even funny. Just dont think that you all will run away with this division... Because i'm telling you now... Jets will be the AFC East champions... It's then up to the Pats to fight for the Wilcard. Last year we had to fight for the wild card and win 3 games str8 to make the playoffs... This year it's the Patriots turn.
I think the Jets make the playoffs as a wild card. But, objectively speaking, the division is the Patriots' to lose.
