AFC East

This is the second in an eight-part series, where I post my draft notes about each team based on my viewing/reading prior to next month's draft:

AFC East

New England Patriots 14-2 Won Super Bowl

Offense 7th/ Defense 9th (2nd PPG vs)
Lost both Coordinators Weis & Crennel, T Brown, Phifer, T Law, J Andruzzi, E Moreland, D Patten (Wash)
Added Duane Starks CB
Corey Dillon brilliant signing – worked wonderfully
In ‘04 draft, 3 players were hurt, and never contributed. They will all be back in ‘05

Needs: Depth at WR, DB, LB youth, more OL
#32 Pick in 1st round: Demarcus Ware? Marlin Jackson CB/S?

’04 Draft – Watson, Hill, Scott DNP – Wilfork DT, and D Reid DB, PK Sam, R Gay


New York Jets 10-6 Lost to Pittsburgh in Divisional Round

Offense 12th (Rush 3rd)/ Defense 7th
Lost Lamont Jordan (Oak), DT Jason Ferguson (Dal), T Kareem McKenzie (NYG) S Moss (Wash), A Becht
Added D Blaylock (KC), L Coles (Wash) DE L Legree
Hired OC M Heimerdinger (Tenn)
Jets – fewest turnovers in NFL, leading rusher in NFL
Great DL – but need to replace Ferguson

Needs: Playmakers in DB, More from pass game, TE
#26 pick – Alex Smith TE Stanford? Justin Miller CB Clemson?

’04 Draft – Vilma (wow), E Coleman (5th round) S – 16 starts


Buffalo Bills 9-7

Offense 25th (7th PPG)/ Defense 2nd
Lost Drew Bledsoe (Dal), Pat Williams (Min), T Jonas Jennings (SF)
Added G Mike Gandy, QB Kelly Holcomb
McGahee is the center of this offense, in is JP Losman
39 Takeaways (1st in the NFL), 3rd in Sacks

Needs: OL depth, DT (to replace Williams), WR/TE
Will look to deal Travis Henry to add to their picks -
No 1st round – Ist pick #55

’04 Draft – Lee Evans (9 TD), Losman, Anderson DT,


Miami Dolphins 4-12

Offense 29th/ Defense 8th (2nd versus pass/31st versus run)
Nick Saban – No OL, No RB, No QB, No WR Need everything on offense
Added Kevin Carter (5/$30m), V Holliday (KC), T Tillman, Frerotte
Lost Boston, Fiedler, R Freeman, LB M Greenwood, DE J Williams, S S Wooden
Needs –Both Lines need help- cut turnovers (42 = most in NFL)

#2 pick in draft – Ronnie Brown or Cedric Benson
Need more size on Defense to help stop the run

’04 draft – Vernon Carey (gave nothing), W Poole, D Pope (7th round) – Poor, poor draft