Brandon Marshall, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Braylon Edwards, Torry Holt, Santonio Holmes, and Davone Bess are the prolific wide receivers of the AFC East. You could base an entire Pro Bowl team on just this one division and still have leftovers.
Brandon Marshall is quickly becoming the most proficient possession receiver in the NFL. Randy Moss has led the NFL in touchdowns two out of the last three years. Torry Holt led the NFL in receptions from 2000-2010. Wes Welker has had three straight seasons where he caught over 100 passes. Santonio Holmes has two Super Bowl rings and was the Super Bowl MVP two years ago.
When you combine these receivers with Tom Brady, Chad Henne, and Mark Sanchez, you have arguably the best young, talented division in football at the quarterback position.
In 2007, Tom Brady set the NFL record with 50 touchdown passes; Randy Moss had a record 23 touchdown receptions to go with it. We already know that New England will have that trademark prolific passing attack.
But now Chad Henne and Mark Sanchez are starting to get some toys to play with. Mark Sanchez can run Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes with Jerricho Cotchery out of the slot. Henne, in a system that is run-heavy, can finally spread the ball out to the daunting Brandon Marshall with Davone Bess and Ronnie Brown out of the backfield as escape valves.
What was considered the weakest division in the NFL just two seasons ago has grown into arguably the most powerful. Three teams could plausibly make pushes for the division title. In the end, perhaps all three of them could make the playoffs. That is how talented New England, New York, and Miami have become offensively.
Miami and New England have also addressed their troublesome defenses this off-season. The Dolphins went out and signed Karlos Dansby to a lengthy, expensive contract. They also added a few minor players in the secondary and line. The Patriots solidified a long term deal with the behemoth we call Vince Wilfork to a six year deal. They also brought back Leigh Bodden, the second best free agent cornerback of the off-season, former Panther Damione Lewis, and Tully Banta-Cain, who had 10 sacks for the team last year.
The Jets, who were already solid as it were, got better defensively. With the signing of Antonio Cromartie early in the off-season, they improved also the linebacking corps with the addition of Jason Taylor.
Both teams addressed defense in the NFL Draft as well. Both the Pats and Jets took a cornerback in the first round: New England took Devin McCourty while New York selected Kyle Wilson. The Patriots also addressed their linebacker woes in the second round with Jermaine Cunningham and Brandon Spikes, both teammates from Florida. Cunningham and Spikes are projected to start in Bill Belichick’s linebacker corps in the upcoming season.
At this point, it is really a coin toss as to who could take the division. The NFL Draft is tonight and that could be divisive in determining the pre-season favorite.
You almost have to feel for Buffalo who seems to be the only team that got worse, if that is possible. Hey, if it’s any consolation, they were able to take CJ Spiller with the ninth pick of the draft. Looks like Ryan Fitzpatrick will be getting a second chance…
Perhaps they can lure Jim Kelly from retirement.
You would include Davone Bess as a "prolific wide receiver" over Jerricho Cotchery. Neither deserves the title, but Cotchery should over Bess lol.
ReplyDeleteBraylon Edwards would be prolific if he caught the ball more than half the time it hits BOTH of his hands
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