AFC EAST: PREDICTIONS

Well, everyone else has done it, why not me?

NE Patriots –

Good schedule, not especially tough.  Texans, Ravens, and Broncos are  their biggest challenges, besides the usual mud wrestling of the AFC  East.  They upgraded a little, but who cares.  They’ve been on their  pedestal a while, and no one has the stuff to knock them off so far.   Don’t see a change quite yet.  13-3.

NY Jets – 

They’ve got everything you could ask for in a contender  except for one teensy tinsy thing … solid QB play.  Add a QB  competition and it could be even more dangerous.  I just don’t see  how they think Tebow helps Sanchez, except as a bench press spotter.   Should Sanchez throw a couple of picks, the Tebow chants will start.   Sanchez being the sensitive guy he is either turns it on out of  spite, and plays angry, or tanks.  I’m betting on tanking.  Tebow  takes over mid season and we have a strange new bird.  This mess  continues on through next off-season, and viola!  .. we have a Jets  tire fire.  For them to succeed, one of those two QBs needs to go.

I do agree that the Tebow package will pay dividends during games,  but guess what… it’s the same reason the Broncos won.  Yes, the  formation works when done correctly.  I just think the in-fighting  and media mess will kill any progress the Tebow package will create.

In the end the Jets could go full belly up, or win out of sheer  anger.  Really not sure which.

But you’re as good as your QB play, so since I think Sanchez is only  a step above average, I’ll go 9-7.

Miami Dolphins –

How good is Joe Philbin?  Hopefully amazing because  the Dolphins talent level isn’t.  But they’re also not the Sisters of  the Poor.  Solid pros on many levels, all capable of winning games,  and doing their job.  Just no stars.  Yes, yes, I know that the 1972  Dolphins had no stars on defense (they say).  Bush is probably the  poster boy and the defacto star, and he has the best chance of  putting up some serious #s.  He’ll be the busiest guy on the team.   Should Ocho and Naanee work out, then we have a viable WR corps that  can execute Philbin’s offense.  On a shearly professional standpoint,  the Fins have improved their system, and ability to run plays to beat  teams.  That in itself should get them a few more wins.

But the old adage holds true for me.  You’re as good as your QB.   Garrard looks poised to win the job, and yes Garrard has had some  good years.  But his career is still average, new system, and he’s old now, so  not improving.  Even though the 2012 Dolphins are going to look and  be much better than the 2011 Dolphins, their schedule is not easy, and  their record will not quite match the potential.

Either 7-9, or 8-8 is my prediction based on Philbin’s system being  executed well by adequate but not special players.  I do expect this  to drastically change upwards once we have QB solidity.  On the right  track, most definitely.

 

Buffalo Bills-

They made a big splash by adding mario Williams.  They have up-and-comers on offense like Stevie Johnson.   Their the new IT team, and confident and full of teenager-y excitement.  And yes, they have a lot of dangerous players, and are a solid team, that works really hard.

Well he Dolphins team last year worked really hard.  Next.

Going once again to the well …you’re as good as your QB, and Fitzgerald is Feidler.  Gives 100%, but that’s because anything less would not qualify for an NFL QB.  His limitations are the Bills limitations.  Admirable, but in the end, fatally flawed.

The good news for them is their schedule isn’t a monster.  Even though the Fins will be better than them, their record will be close.  I’ll go a solid 6-10.

Bad news for the rest of the league is when the Bills get their QB situation fixed, they’ll be multiple games better.

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**Overall, I expect the Fins and Bills to fix their QB questions within the next year or two.  Assuming the Jets waffle on Sanch-bow for a while, and Brady actually gets old … might be a power switch soon.

Sooo, I stuck my neck out here with my predictions.  Now it’s your turn.

 

Guest Writer:  Jeff Schanz

 

 

 

 

10 Reasons Miami will not be last in the AFC East

I’ve read a few other articles and blogs around saying they ‘easily’ predict the Dolphins to finish last in AFC East.     The following are my 10 reasons (in no particular order) why I think their prediction is premature and well, full of crap.    🙂

1. With Long, Pouncey, and the addition of Martin I think our O-line will turn into one of the best in the league
2. Bills added a few good but unproven players in the draft and made one high-profile move in free agency.  They should be improved, but I think people are jumping the gun on them a little bit.
3. Mark Sanchez – enough said
4. Rex Ryan – enough said
5. Ryan Fitzpatrick – enough said  (I know he had a good first half of the season, but what happened after that????)
6. New offensive scheme that has proven to be more effective in today’s NFL – and should ATTACK the red zone!  Not slow down for field goals!   (more points per game)
7. A restructured and beefed up defense that should continue to improve and might possibly be dominant
8. A QB scenario that will give Miami a chance to be competitive any given Sunday right away, no matter which of the 3 win the competition
9. Miami has a relatively ‘easy’ schedule in terms of last years winning percentages of opposing teams
10. It’s TOO EARLY to ‘easily’ predict that this team will finish last in the AFC EAST, especially with all the positive changes that are being made, and some of the questionable moves the other teams are making.

 

So there you have it.  Much of the outcome of this season will be determined by how quick this Dolphin team can pick up Philbin’s new system and apply it to game day situations.   I admit it could be a year of growing pains, but even so,  there is a good chance the Jets or Bills implode and end with a worse record.

Thoughts……