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Diner Morning News: AFC East

Michael Lombardi

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FROM MICHAEL LOMBARDI:

12 March 2009

QUOTE:  “The real test of character is how you treat someone who has no possibility of doing you any good."  ~ George Orwell

FROM HARVEY FIALKOV OF THE SOUTH FLORIDA SUN-SENTINEL... While the Dolphins have barely dipped a toe into the free-agent pool, the rest of the AFC East dove in headfirst. Sure, the Dolphins didn't make a huge splash like the Bills did last week with the signing of diva receiver Terrell Owens, but they did secure the future of five solid starters, including three of their own, without breaking the bank.

With free agency coming to sudden stop, there will be many columns like this one by Harvey Fialkov grading the offseason.  It makes for great conversation, but I find it difficult to place a grade on teams until after the draft, when I can look at their moves in total.  Each team’s movement in free agency answers some questions about which direction they’re heading, but it also opens others before the draft.  I tend to focus on what’s next rather than looking back and grading just one part of the offseason.  Here are five questions each AFC East team must answer...

            BUFFALO        

1.    Can they find some rushers?  Pass rush is a huge concern.  The Bills had only 23 sacks last year and might improve with a healthy Aaron Schobel, but finding a rusher is still a huge need. 

2.    Who is the left guard?  The Bills must fix their offensive line.  They let Derrick Dockery go, which wasn’t a big loss, but they must find a solid left guard who can handle the starting job. 

3.    Who is going to be the tight end?  Tight end is a huge concern in both the running and passing game. The Bills lack a legitimate blocker and a player who can make plays in the kicking game. 

4.    Where’s the depth at defensive tackle?  The Bills tried to trade John McCargo last year; they need more size and power inside. 

5.    Can a team with this much talent in the kicking game miss seven kicks outside the 40-yard line?  The Bills ranked 28th in the NFL in field goal percentage last season; it might be time to think about finding a young leg. 

            MIAMI

1.    Who’s going to make plays in the passing game?  The Dolphins must find someone who can pressure the defense and be a playmaker. 

2.    Can they find some young, athletic and versatile linebackers to make plays on all downs? Even with the re-signing of Channing Crowder, the Fins need more help at both OLB and ILB to help the coverage teams in the kicking game. 

3.    Who will replace Andre’ Goodman and Renaldo Hill in the back end?  Both played well last year, so the Dolphins need to find younger, faster and more athletic players to play corner and safety. 

4.    Will they keep rebuilding the offensive line?  One of the signatures of Bill Parcells teams is the depth and talent base on the line.  Look for the Dolphins to keep improving in this area. 

5.    Can anyone return a kick?  Alternatively, a punt?  Look for the Dolphins to find their Dave Meggett in this draft. They need to control vertical field position, and the best way to do that is to find a returner. 

            NEW ENGLAND

1.    Where’s the pass rush going to come from?  The Pats need an outside linebacker who can rush.  They lack the ability to make plays on third down and were last in the league in allowing third-down conversions on third-and-10 or more.  A rusher would help. 

2.    Can Tedy Bruschi play another year?  The Patriots need to add speed to their front seven, and this might keep Tedy off the field.  They need to find a big, tough inside linebacker. 

3.    Do they have enough depth in the offensive line?  The Patriots do a great job moving all the pieces around, but they need to find some young linemen they can develop for the future.  They ranked 26th in sacks allowed last year. 

4.    Can they find some help in the punting game?  They were 31st in the NFL in yards allowed on punt returns.  This was due, in part, to their punter and their lack of speed on the field. 

5.    Who is the next Matt Cassel?  The Patriots need to make sure they have another young player ready to go.  Is it Kevin O’Connell?       

            NEW YORK JETS

1.    Who is going to be the quarterback?  Is that a fair question, Yahoo Dave, or am I being too hard?

2.    Once we know who the quarterback is, can the Jets find a wide receiver who can make plays and draw double teams?  Wide receiver is a huge need – other than Jerricho Cotchery, there’s not much there and very little speed. 

3.    Can their offensive line stay healthy all year?  The Jets have two starters over 30; they need to find some young, talented offensive linemen.  They need some depth here. 

4.    Is the kicking game set?  The Jets had issues in 2008 with field-goal kicking and punting and need to find some youth in both areas. 

5.    Do they have enough speed at linebacker to run the Rex Ryan scheme?  Will Vernon Gholston ever make a play at linebacker? 

Comments

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dave
Mar 12, 2009
09:22 AM

Fair question at QB mike... Any chance if your boy Josh Baskin continues to screw things up in Denver that the Jets could get Cutler? If not..then all hope lies with Ratliff...because Clemens isnt very good at all.

Bones
Mar 12, 2009
09:23 AM

Anyone who cites Bruschi as a concern for the Patriots just doesn't pay enough attention to this team. Bruschi will be lucky to see the field on a regular basis this year, if at all. In fact, I could see him assuming the Larry Izzo role on this team going forward. The guy who replaces Bruschi is Guyton, who played great as an off-the-street free agent last year. He showed some real ability last year. And with a year under his belt and an off-season working out and studying with the team, he can only improve on last year's performance. I see him and Mayo patrolling the middle for some time.

With Thomas on one side, the Pats are one good outside rusher away from a solid front seven. Maybe the get someone in the draft (I like Barwin - not polished yet, but versatile) and maybe Jason Taylor for one year for short money, to hold that other side down until their first rounder is ready.

I just think Bruschi no longer deserves to be a consideration when discussing the viability of the Patriots defense. If he wasn't Teddy Brsuchi, he'd be gone by now (which I could still see happening soon anyway).

Sonny L.
Mar 12, 2009
09:29 AM

Mike,
Love the quote by Orwell, very true.... reminds me of old Charlie Weis!

Yahoo Dave will still think you're picking on gang green.

CK
Mar 12, 2009
09:47 AM

I don't get it. Why do the Dolphins still need to find a replacement for Renaldo Hill? They signed Gibril Wilson to a 5 year, $27.5 million contract for exactly that purpose. They re-signed Yeremiah Bell to a 4 year, $20 million contract.

I'm pretty sure they're set at the starting safety spots, granted they need to find an adequate backup safety since Gibril has missed a few games in his time and Yeremiah is pretty injury prone.

Was that comment just an oversight on your part, Mike? Or were you making some kind of bold statement that you think Gibril Wilson is nothing more than a $5.5 million per year bench player?

Neal
Mar 12, 2009
09:49 AM

Not that we needed any more proof that the Ginn pick was an overdraft, but everyone at the very least thought he'd be a great returner on special teams. You citing that as an area to upgrade is a sad sommentary on his impact on the field

Greg
Mar 12, 2009
10:09 AM

How are the Jets going to score points this year? Why doesn't this team make a play for quarterback? As of right now, their "plan" is hoping a qb on the roster steps up. And we know the difference between a plan and hope. Right?

Can they give the Broncos enough for Cutler? There are a lot of free agent veterans out there, they haven't signed any? Could they trade for a guy like Leinart? Aren't all these options better than hoping that Brett Ratliff is as good as he was in two preseason games last year?

dave
Mar 12, 2009
10:13 AM

Greg..What free agent Vets are you referring to? Garcia? Is that really the way you want to go? I say offer MCscrewup #17 and next years #1 for Cutler....
.

Greg
Mar 12, 2009
10:34 AM

I'm thinking they should've gone for a Simms or a Leftwich or even David Carr. Just somebody with a track record so there is back up plan in case Rafliff or Clemmens doesn't work out.

I think, if he's available, you do whatever it takes to get Cutler. Guy is a franchise QB. And we remember how he threw the ball in the Meadowlands last year.

Chad M.
Mar 12, 2009
10:45 AM

@Dave -
Maybe if you reeled in the hostility people would take you more seriously. All of the silly name calling just makes you seem childish, imho.
(I'm not sure where the Lombardi hate comes from. His relationship with Belichick doesn't make him anti-Jet. None of his comments in the three months I have been following NFP reflect your belief. Perhaps you just have a hard time admitting that your team (just like every team) has weaknesses?)
Regarding the Jets' QB situation: I think that bringing in a proven veteran like Garcia to compete for the QB job would not be a bad idea. Neither of the current QB's have shown they can be the starter (pre-season success does not mean much).
Going into a season with only hope (growth from the current roster or getting lucky in the draft) at the QB position is not a winning strategy. Trust me, I know all about this since I am a Minnesota Vikings fan and Childress fails miserably with this. (Rosenfels is the solution?! I doubt it. So, once again, I am hoping that Tarvaris continues to progress...)

lagfish
Mar 12, 2009
10:51 AM

Miami signed Gibril Wilson and re-signed Bell at Safety. Corner is still a concern however.

Sonny L.
Mar 12, 2009
10:58 AM

The Jets (or any other QB-starved team) are NOT going to pry Cutler away from Denver...

People are missing the point here. Denver was willing to trade Cutler if (and only if) they got Cassel in return. They are not going to deal Cutler for draft picks (no matter how high) and not end up with a good QB.

It made sense to Denver to get Cassel to play QB and get additional picks to use for improving the defense but it didn't pan out. They aren't looking to dump Cutler just to get picks, they just felt Cassel is just as good and maybe they could've gotten additional picks in the process.

david
Mar 12, 2009
10:58 AM

i dont understand what all the big deal with the Jets QB situation.
the answer is very simple in my opinion.
first of all they have 3 young QB's in the roster .
any one of them can play and play well , we never know who will be good(who would have said Cassel will be good? anyone?)
every year we see QB's that are not considerd good play and play well.
and if none of them plays well , so what?
that means they will probebly get a high draft pick next year which will be a much better class for QB's.

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