AFC East: Team's "weak spot"

[madness]

Bills' weakness: Offensive tackle
May 14, 2009 11:27 AM
Posted by Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson
We examined each AFC East team's "weak spot" based on its 2008 performance. In this post, we explore the Buffalo Bills' offensive tackle position.

	AP Photo/David Duprey
	Trent Edwards will continue to take a pounding if the Bills don't improve at the tackle position.

The Bills signed wide receiver Terrell Owens and already have speedster Lee Evans in the fold. But if they cannot protect the edge, this duo's playmaking abilities will be for naught. If the Bills cannot protect the edge, quarterback Trent Edwards will be facing constant pounding.
Every team that Buffalo faces in its division runs a 3-4 defense. That means that the Bills' offensive tackles will often be protecting against agile outside linebackers who bring great speed to the table. That is a big problem for Buffalo's current group of offensive tackles that is now without two-time Pro Bowl selection Jason Peters, who was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in April.
Buffalo currently has a whopping nine offensive tackles listed on its roster, but only one of them, Langston Walker, has my confidence to get the job done. And at that, Walker is just a massive man with very average feet who struggles against speed in general. Right now, Walker is penciled in as the starting left tackle, but for my money, he is a right tackle every day of the week -- and twice on Sundays and Mondays.
Kirk Chambers has some starting experience at various line positions, but he is a marginal athlete on a good day and has gotten by with grit, technique and intelligence, which he has in abundance. To me, he is a No. 3 tackle at best, though, and far from starting material. Both speed and power rushers can give him fits.
Brad Butler is not a bad football player. He has tackle size, but his skill-set is better suited inside. Butler and Chambers could be fine at right tackle, but only for a very short time. These two are in no way long-term answers to this problem. Both players have peaked and no longer offer upside.
The Bills used a high draft pick on Andy Levitre, who I consider a fine overall line prospect -- but only on the interior. While Levitre was a tackle at Oregon State, he lacks the required dimensions for that spot at this level. Asking him to handle the edge would be a mistake.
The wild card of the current group is Demetrius Bell. He's entering his second season and was used primarily as a practice player in 2008. While he has a good set of tools to work with, there is little to evaluate him on to this point of his young career. Coming out of Northwestern State-Louisiana, Bell was a very raw technician who had a lot to learn about the position. That may have changed over the past calendar year, but either way, he remains a huge risk as a starter against the defensive schemes that mad scientists like Rex Ryan and Bill Belichick will throw at him.
Buffalo has rebuilt its offensive line. For numerous reasons, Peters had a very down 2008 season by his standards, but I still believe that Philadelphia (Andy Reid knows a thing or two about offensive linemen) got the better of that deal. Peters might have forced the Bills' hand, but any way you spin it, their offensive tackles are an area of major concern. Buffalo might have the worst offensive tackles in the NFL.
Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.

[madness]

Re: AFC East: Team's "weak spot"

Jets' weakness: Wide receiver
May 14, 2009 1:00 PM
Posted by Scouts Inc. Matt Williamson
We examined each AFC East team's "weak spot" based on its 2008 performance. In this post, we explore the Jets' wide receiver position.

	Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
	Jerricho Cotchery will see more attention from opposing defenses now that Laveranues Coles has left New York.

Tthe Jets are clearly in a win-now mode and should be looking to surround new franchise QB Mark Sanchez with as many pieces as possible to aid his transition to the NFL.
Laveranues Coles is not an upper-tier starting wide receiver, but Jerricho Cotchery has also pretty much always had the luxury of having Coles alongside him on the field. Making up the 70 receptions that Coles accounted for last year will be tough for the Jets to do, especially considering that they have done nothing to bolster the position after Coles' departure. Now that Coles is in Cincinnati, Cotchery surely will be the focus of opposing defense's coverage schemes, whether it be in the form of their top corner or rolling an extra coverage player to Cotchery's side of the field. I do think that he is a superior player to Coles, but Cotchery will still need to step his game up even further in 2009.
Two players who must absolutely be mentioned in this conversation are second-year TE Dustin Keller and the mercurial Leon Washington. Both could very quickly become Sanchez's safety blanket options and best friends.
More of a wide receiver than inline tight end, Keller is an emerging player whom the Jets will split out wide and use in a similar fashion to how the Colts employ Dallas Clark. He caught 48 passes as a rookie and has the ability to stretch the field, but New York will need him to step up his red zone production especially considering their other pass-catching options.
Washington is dynamite with the ball in his hands and is one of the most underrated players in the league today -- both as an offensive weapon and returner. Not only can he have a strong influence on the passing game out of the backfield, but Washington has the skill set to motion out wide and exploit linebacker or safety coverage in that regard as well. Even though he hauled in 47 passes last year, the Jets need to use him in this capacity even more going forward. Washington is a game changer.
While the Jets are very high on their young upcoming wide receivers, they also publicly said the same thing about the quarterback position, and then proceeded to put a package together for Sanchez. The Jets have been awfully aggressive over the past two offseasons and it appears as though now is not the time for patience. It wouldn't shock me one bit if the Jets got their hands on a proven veteran wide receiver before the season opens.
Personally, I want to see much more from Chansi Stuckey, David Clowney, Marcus Henry and even Brad Smith, who remains a project after three years in the league, before anointing any of these four true starting material. There is some undeniable talent in this group, most notably with Stuckey and Clowney, but this foursome combined for just 45 receptions in 2008. The Jets need more.
Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.

[madness]

Re: AFC East: Team's "weak spot"

Dolphins' weakness: Wide receiver
May 15, 2009 11:00 AM
Posted by Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson
We examined each AFC East team's "weak spot" based on its 2008 performance. In this post, we explore the Miami Dolphins' wide receiver position.

	Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images
	Miami's Ted Ginn Jr. is a solid No. 2, but is not the No. 1 receiver the Dolphins need.

The term "No. 1 receiver" is used too loosely for my taste. Off the top of my head, I think there are about 10 true No. 1 wideouts in the league right now. In the AFC East, New England Patriots star Randy Moss is the only true No. 1 who I would put on that list. Until recently Terrell Owens -- who just joined the division this winter -- would have been included, but today he just misses. Of course Owens could rebound in a huge way this season with the Buffalo Bills.
Miami is a team that could use a true No. 1 receiver. Ted Ginn has solid No. 2 potential, but he remains a work in progress. He possesses rare long speed, but is unrefined as a route runner. Ginn has average hands. His lack of elite lateral agility makes him best suited as an outside-the-numbers deep threat where he can blow by opposing cover men. However, quarterback Chad Pennington's ordinary arm strength nullifies some of Ginn's deep-play potential. Ginn also is a dangerous weapon when he gets the ball quickly off a one-step drop or when he has the ball handed to him on reverses. He is very good with the ball in his hands. With all of this being considered, I have no problem with Ginn as Miami's second option. But only with a clearly superior pass catcher in the fold.
There is a lot to like with Greg Camarillo and Davone Bess. Both have excellent hands and are extremely reliable in the short-to-intermediate portions of the field. In a way, each is like a lesser version of Wes Welker. Each should continue to be very valuable in the slot, in multiple-receiver packages and as chain-moving complementary players.
Miami did use some 2009 draft picks to help the position, but I'm not fond of any of the incoming rookies. USC's Patrick Turner (selected in the third round) and Ohio State's Brian Hartline (a fourth-round pick) could exceed my expectations. But I expect both players to be best suited for a No. 4 receiver role. Each will struggle to gain separation at this level.
Then there is West Virginia quarterback Pat White, the Dolphins second-round pick. He is the massive wildcard in this discussion. While his physical traits suggest that he could transition to wide receiver and I love his ability with the ball in his hands, what I just don't know (and assume Miami does) is how well does this guy catch the football? During his college career and the pre-draft process, that was something that White did not put on display. By not showing off his hands, it put up a red flag to me in this regard.
I understand that he wants to play quarterback -- and I respect that. (I do think he has a chance to succeed to some degree behind center at this level.) But why not show off everything that you can do well while on audition to NFL decision-makers and scouts if in fact you do catch the ball well? In time, White could flourish as a wide receiver, but even in the best-case scenario, surely it will take a fair amount of time for him to learn a new position -- if he even does it at all.
Miami's lack of a No. 1 wide receiver is magnified with the lack of a dynamic pass-catching tight end. Anthony Fasano is a solid two-way tight end, but he isn't a seam stretcher or explosive playmaker. Once again, with a true No. 1 wideout on board, what he brings to the table would be that much more valuable.
When he's focused, former New York Giants star Plaxico Burress qualifies as a true No. 1 receiver. The Arizona Cardinals' Anquan Boldin and the Cleveland Browns' Braylon Edwards -- each the subject of trade talk -- also would be right on that fringe. Edwards has the better shot of asserting himself as a true No. 1 receiver who still excels even against defenses designed specifically to stop him. Any of these three players would be a more-than-adequate addition to Miami's receiving corps and address a glaring weakness.
Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.

[madness]

Re: AFC East: Team's "weak spot"

Patriots' weakness: Man Purses

[Yasgur's Farm]

Re: AFC East: Team's "weak spot"

Thanks madness... good reads.

[madness]

Re: AFC East: Team's "weak spot"

Thanks madness... good reads.

No problem.

I'll post NE as soon as it is listed.

[justasportsfan]

Re: AFC East: Team's "weak spot"

the reason why I think our best blocking TE will start before Nelson. Our bookends may struggle and will need help.

[billogic99]

Re: AFC East: Team's "weak spot"

Wouldn't QB also qualify as a weakness for the Jets? If they are already weak at WR, who is there to help Sanchez in their passing game? I can't see another Joe Flacco or Matt Ryan success story out of Sanchez. Maybe Sanchez can work his way into a star, but I don't see it happening right away and isn't there some sort of issue with undeclass QB's succeeding in the NFL, especially as rookie starters?

[Dying_-2-_Live]

Re: AFC East: Team's "weak spot"

How much do you want to bet that they dont put up NE's?

[Ickybaluky]

Re: AFC East: Team's "weak spot"

How much do you want to bet that they dont put up NE's?

It'll be OLB. Bunch of unknowns there outside of Adalius Thomas.

Maybe punter as well.

[billogic99]

Re: AFC East: Team's "weak spot"

It'll be OLB. Bunch of unknowns there outside of Adalius Thomas.

Maybe punter as well.

If I were a Pat fan I would have gaurded concerns over Brady and his knee. We'll see, but the Pats no longer have a backup who's proven successful in that system. I know the Pats didn't have that when Brady went down, but honestly how many times can the Pats just put a QB in and win? I would think the luck will run out eventually. Not to mention the Pats D isn't exactly dominant.

[madness]

Re: AFC East: Team's "weak spot"

It'll be OLB. Bunch of unknowns there outside of Adalius Thomas.

Maybe punter as well.

Bingo!

Patriots' weakness: Outside linebacker
May 15, 2009 1:00 PM
Posted by Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson
We examined each AFC East team's "weak spot" based on its 2008 performance. In this post, we explore the Patriots' outsider linebacker position.

	Paul Spinelli/Getty Images
	Losing linebacker Mike Vrabel to Kansas City isn't a huge concern for the Pats, but they still need to fill a gap at outside linebacker.

New England has had a terrific offseason. They have navigated free agency, the trade market and draft with ease. I see the Patriots as one of the best two teams in the league right now. But, there is one area of concern: outside linebacker. It doesn't concern me that Mike Vrabel was shipped off to Kansas City. His play fell off dramatically last season and his presence in Kansas City is to be as a mentor and trend setter of sorts. Also, the Chiefs' roster is not as well stocked as the Patriots and they need every close-to-able body they can get their hands on. I am not so sure Vrabel would have even made the Patriots' final roster this year. So his loss is minimal.
Adalius Thomas hasn't quite lived up to expectations in New England since being added in free agency from the Ravens. He has played in the league now for nine seasons, is coming off an injury plagued season and it is possible that he is beginning to decline. However, I still hold out hope that Thomas can be a similar versatile playmaker as he was in Baltimore, especially if there were a difference maker opposite him at the other outside linebacker position.
There are three young players of interest here in Shawn Crable, Vince Redd and Pierre Woods. Crable or Woods is probably the front runner to start right now with Crable having the more upside of the two former Michigan Wolverines. Still, for a team as strong as New England, this starting spot is not up to par and presents far more questions than answers.
What I have no doubts about is the fact that New England's offense is going to score points. They are going to score in bunches. This should put the Patriots' pass rushers in very favorable situations late in games when New England's opponents are forced to throw. Think Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis coming off the edge when the Colts are ahead in the fourth quarter.
Jason Taylor just signed with divisional rival Miami and while he doesn't look like a player who is ideally suited to play a high number of snaps, he could have been a mentor and bridge to the Patriots' younger outside linebackers and provided a pass rush specialist that New England presently lacks. However, Taylor is not going to remind anyone of Vrabel from a toughness standpoint and may not be a real Bill Belichick type of player. Losing out on Taylor to Miami isn't the end of the world.
Another option could be Julius Peppers, who also isn't a glass eater but clearly would be a more desirable choice than Taylor... or any other available option. Before the draft, Peppers was often linked to the Patriots. Sometimes when there is smoke there is fire in situations like this and obviously New England has a lot of resources at its disposal in the form of selections in the 2010 draft to make something happen. Peppers' inconsistencies worry me, but adding him to this team would turn New England's number one weakness into a potential great strength.
Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.

[Night Train]

Re: AFC East: Team's "weak spot"

The Bills weak spot is Jauron on gameday.

[Lexwhat]

Re: AFC East: Team's "weak spot"

Bills' weakness: Offensive tackle
May 14, 2009 11:27 AM
Posted by Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson

And at that, Walker is just a massive man with very average feet who struggles against speed in general. Right now, Walker is penciled in as the starting left tackle, but for my money, he is a right tackle every day of the week -- and twice on Sundays and Mondays.

Peters might have forced the Bills' hand, but any way you spin it, their offensive tackles are an area of major concern. Buffalo might have the worst offensive tackles in the NFL.

This is exactly what I have been saying since we failed to draft an Offensive Tackle:

Langston Walker is NOT a legitimate 16-game starter at Left Tackle!!!!!!

[DMBcrew36]

Re: AFC East: Team's "weak spot"

I still think defensive-end is the Bills biggest weakness.