Category Archives: AFC East

2012 NFL Team Preview: New York Jets

For the people who refuse to watch/listen to Skip Bayless, you may not know thatTim Tebow is on the New York Jets. I’m joking…everyone, even those who live under a rock, knows where Tebow is playing this season. ESPN has been broadcasting from Jets training camp and the channel has been Tebow 24/7. I hear they are starting an all-Tebow channel called “ESPN 3:16”.

2012 is a “put up or shut up” season for head coach Rex Ryan. He has talked a lot of game and with the New York Giants winning the Super Bowl, he has a lot of heat on him. His defense should be solid, but the offense has a lot of question marks. The biggest question mark is at quarterback. If Mark Sanchez struggles early, how quick will he to pull the trigger and put Tebow in that role?

Here is our 2012 NFL team preview of the New York Jets.

2011 Win/Loss Record: 8-8

Key Additions: QB Tim Tebow, S LaRon Landry, WR Chaz Shilens, QB Drew Stanton, S Yeremiah Bell, OT Stephon Heyer, DE Quinton Coples, RB Terrance Ganaway, WR Stephen Hill, LB Demario Davis, S Josh Bush, OG Robert Griffin and S Antonio Allen.

Key Losses: S Brodney Pool, OG Robert Turner, WR Plaxico Burress, QB Mark Brunell, CB Marquice Cole, S Jim Leonhard, LB Jamaal Westerman and TE Matthew Mulligan.

Non-Division Schedule: AFC South and NFC West

Fantasy Sleeper: RB Terrance Ganaway – The Jets drafted Ganaway to help inject new blood into the backfield. Shonn Greene had a 1,000 yard season last year, but struggled at times. LaDainian Tomlinson is no longer on the team and Joe McKnight will get some carries. Ganaway has a shot at earning the backup job over McKnight. He has the talent but will need to adjust to the NFL. His carries should increase as the season goes along…sorry, I forgot to mention Tim Tebow. We have no idea how the Jets will use him. He could be a player that will have passing, receiving, and rushing stats by the end of the year.

Team Analysis: The New York Jets have been the most talked about team in the NFL. The team trading for Tim Tebow started the avalanche of media coverage. The national media went from covering the Giants’ Super Bowl parade to walking a few blocks and hovering around the Jets. This season depends on how the team handles pressure. I love their defense, but the offense could look lost at times. They are missing an elite receiver to match on the field opposite Santonio Holmes. I am in the minority in believing that Shonn Greene will finally make the leap into being a top-15 running back. No matter who the quarterback will be, they will benefit from having the Jets defense. Tebow will be able to do the same “Tebow-like” things he did in Denver, but with a better defense in New York. I see the Jets surprising a few teams and getting creative with their offense. Tony Sparano re-introduced the Wildcat into the NFL and he might have another trick up his sleeve. They will be in the hunt for a Wild-Card spot this season.

2012 Wins Over/Under Line: 8.5 (Prediction: OVER)

2012 Projected Win/Loss Record: 10-6

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A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

2012 NFL Team Preview: New England Patriots

For the second time in five seasons, the New England Patriots had a near-perfect season, but fell to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. They are coming back this season hungry and fully loaded. Head coach Bill Belichick will use their loss as ammunition.

New England managed to keep most of their talent and they added a few Pro Bowlers to the team. They tried to fix their secondary, but didn’t sign anyone significant to make a major difference. The biggest free agent signings were receivers. Their high-octane passing offense could break records this season.

It has been eight seasons since New England has won a Super Bowl, can they get over the hump and add to Tom Brady’s legacy?

Here is our 2012 NFL team preview for the New England Patriots

2011 Win/Loss Record: 13-3

Key Additions: WR Brandon Lloyd, WR Donté Stallworth, WR Jabar Gaffney, TE Visanthe Shiancoe, TE Jake Ballard, TE Bo Scaife, CB Will Allen, LB Chandler Jones, LB Dont’a Hightower, S Tavon Wilson, DE Jake Bequette, LB Bobby Carpenter, CB Marquice Cole, DE Jonathan Fanene, TE Daniel Fells, S Steve Gregory, S Nate Ebner, CB Alfonzo Dennard, WR Jeremy Ebert and OT Dustin Waldron.

Key Losses: RB Benjarvus Green-Ellis, WR Tiquan Underwood, OT Matt Light, RB Kevin Faulk, LB Gary Guyton, DE Mark Anderson, DE Andre Carter, DT Landon Cohen and CB Antwaun Molden.

Non-Division Schedule: AFC South and NFC West

Fantasy Sleeper: WR Jabar Gaffney – Chad Johnson, Tiquan Underwood and Anthony Gonzalez didn’t make the Patriots team for a reason, Tom Brady has a lot of familiar weapons. Deion Branch and Jabar Gaffney are back to help Tom Brady to become…better?! Gaffney will get a lot of targets, but the wide receiver position is crowded in New England. Brady likes to mix it up and spread the ball around. Gaffney is a risk in even the deepest of leagues, but New England doesn’t have many sleeper options.

Team Analysis: When you take a look at New England’s non-divisional schedule, barring an injury, you know Tom Brady is about to break a few records. He faces the two worst divisions and gets the two best teams (Houston and San Francisco) at home. The “two tight end” formation has transformed Tom Brady’s passing attack. Many of the teams in the NFL are duplicating it, so defenses in the league will be ready. New England has a major advantage, no other team has Rob Gronkowski. At this point, it looks like Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen will be sharing the duties running the ball, with Ridley slated to get the majority of the carries. They will miss Green-Ellis and Faulk early on, but Ridley and Vereen will be sufficient replacements. The team leaders in sacks last season, Andre Carter and Mark Anderson, are not in the team. They will be relying on rookies and new faces to fill that need. The Patriots need a consistent pass rush, because their secondary will be really bad. In 2011, statistically, their secondary was one of the worst in the history of the NFL. Their offense is too good and will overcome their lack of defense. They should be the #1 seed in the AFC and possibly even make another Super Bowl.

By the way, if you’re putting a bet down on the Patriots’ win total, the line is at 12.5. The odds of New England winning over 12.5 games is high, but the risk isn’t worth the juice. There are too many factors that could make them only win 12 games or less (i.e. injuries, tanking the last game). I would stay away from it, but if you’re in a pool and need to guess over/under, pick the over.

2012 Wins Over/Under Line: 12.5 (Prediction: OVER)

2012 Projected Win/Loss Record: 14-2

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A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

2012 NFL Team Preview: Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins are this season’s focus on HBO’s “Hard Knocks”. If you’re not watching this show, I don’t know what to say. It’s riveting television and the fact that Chad (Ochocinco) Johnson is on the show for a second time, makes it that much better. I predicted he would sign with the Dolphins, if only to be on the show again.

[UPDATED] Chad Johnson was released by the Miami Dolphins due to a domestic violence arrest. I’m sure this will be covered in the next episode of “Hard Knocks”.

After the television show, there’s a good chance the public will forget about the Dolphins. The quarterback situation is messy, Reggie Bush wants to be the every-down, feature back and the Dolphins lack a dependable veteran receiver.

When will the Dolphins hand over the starting quarterback job to rookie Ryan Tannehill? Can they hang with the rest of the AFC East?

Here is our 2012 NFL team preview for the Miami Dolphins…out of respect for new head coach Joe Philbin, I will refrain from using potty language.

2011 Win/Loss Record: 6-10

Key Additions: QB David Garrard, QB Ryan Tannehill, LB E.J. Henderson, WR Legedu Naanee, OG Eric Steinbach, CB Richard Marshall, RB Lamar Miller, WR B.J. Cunningham, OT Jonathan Martin, DE Olivier Vernon, TE Michael Egnew, LB Josh Kaddu, LB Jamaal Westerman, S Tyrell Johnson and LB Gary Guyton.

Key Losses: WR Brandon Marshall, QB Chad Henne, RB Lex Hilliard, CB Will Allen, DE Kendall Langford, DE Phillip Merling and LB Marvin Mitchell.

Non-Division Schedule: AFC South and NFC West

Fantasy Sleeper: WR B.J. Cunningham – It isn’t known if Ryan Tannehill will start the season as the starting quarterback or have either Matt Moore or David Garrard keep the position warm. When you glance at the wide receivers on the Dolphins roster, you have to Google most of them. Davone Bess and Brian Hartline are the only receivers left who contributed in 2011. They added Legedu Naanee and Chad Johnson in the off-season and he will be a factor in the passing attack. B.J. Cunningham had a prolific career at Michigan State and has an NFL body. He has great hands and the size to jump for balls if Tannehill has trouble with his accuracy early in his career.

Team Analysis: If Miami loses its first couple games, I look for Tannehill to be named the starter. I don’t see him having the spot right out of training camp, but anything is possible. Lamar Miller should be in a position to help Reggie Bush carry the ball. Bush is a pass-catching threat out of the backfield. The Dolphins should utilize that aspect of his game more and let Miller, or someone else, run the ball. Miami won’t miss Brandon Marshall much because they didn’t have much of a passing attack last season. The receiving corps is what it is. The strongest facet of the team is their run defense/pass rush. Cameron Wake came into his own last season as the leader of the defense. Yeremiah Bell, Kevin Burnett and Karlos Dansby had amazing years as well. Vontae Davis has all the tools to be a shutdown corner, but as you have seen on “Hard Knocks”, he can be lazy at times. 2012 looks to be a rebuilding year for Miami. Philbon is going to make that offense click at some point, but I don’t see it this year. They could surprise me and end the season at .500, but that is the absolute best-case scenario.

2012 Wins Over/Under Line: 7.5 (Prediction: UNDER)

2012 Projected Win/Loss Record: 3-13

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A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

2012 NFL Team Preview: Buffalo Bills

At one point in 2011, the Bills were 5-2 and looked like a surprise playoff team. They finished the season by dropping eight of their last nine games. A 6-10 record was beside their name at the end of the year. What happened?

During the last nine games of the season, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick had a TD/INT ratio of 10/16. They couldn’t keep the ball and their defense gave up 32 points per game. The loss of Fred Jackson due to injury made their offense look even worse.

Is Jackson and C.J. Spiller ready to be a top-tier rushing attack? Can Fitzpatrick rebound from a poor second-half?

Here’s our 2012 NFL team preview for the Buffalo Bills.

2011 Win/Loss Record: 6-10

Key Additions: DE Mario Williams, DE Mark Anderson, QB Vince Young, WR Stephon Gilmore, OT Cordy Glenn and WR T.J. Graham.

Key Losses: WR Roscoe Parrish, CB Drayton Florence, OT Demetress Bell, CB Reggie Corner and K Brandon Coutu.

Non-Division Schedule: AFC South and NFC West

Fantasy Sleeper: WR Naaman Roosevelt – Buffalo’s wide receiver corps is an improved group. Stevie Johnson and David Nelson are the leaders, but after them it is unknown who the #3 or #4 receivers will be when the season begins. Naaman Roosevelt, Brad Smith, Stephon Gilmore and Ruvell Martin will battle for those two spots. Roosevelt is a local fan favorite since he was born in Buffalo and went to college there. Fitzpatrick has the green light to air it out and he will spread the ball around.

Team Analysis: Fitzpatrick has an entire off-season to work with his receiving corps (something he didn’t have last season), it will make a difference. He had some new faces last year and when the defenses started to catch up to their passing attack, they didn’t have any answers. Jackson and Spiller will be a dynamic rushing attack this year. Both running backs have excellent hands, so Fitzpatrick will have two safety nets during his check-downs. Buffalo’s Mario Williams signing was the biggest surprise this off-season. They struggled getting to the quarterback last year and with Williams and Mark Anderson coming in, that facet will improve drastically. They lost Parrish on special teams, but rookie Gilmore could be a punt/kickoff return star. The Bills learned a lot last season from the ups and downs. They will flip their 6-10 record and be a playoff contender in 2012.

2012 Wins Over/Under Line: 7.5 (Prediction: OVER)

2012 Projected Win/Loss Record: 10-6

CLICK HERE to read the rest of our 2012 NFL Team Previews

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.