1. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS:
3 KEYS ENTERING
2008:
1. RECOVER FROM THE SUPER BOWL HANGOVER: The Pats must get over what happened
in the Super Bowl and move forward. If any team can do, this group can. We know what Brady and the offense can do, but there
are some lingering questions that must be resolved going into camp.
2.
ACHIEVE OFFENSIVE BALANCE: The Patriots began to feature Laurence Maroney more going into the playoffs and that is going to
have to continue. New England will continue to use varied personnel groupings and formations but look for them to feature
Maroney more especially in one-back sets.
3. DEFENSE
MUST FINISH STRONG: Over the course of the past two seasons, the Patriot defense has started strong only to slow down and
fizzle in the playoffs. The additions of Jerod Mayo, Victor Hobson, Fernando Bryant and rookie DB’S Terremce Wheatley
and Jonathan Wilhite should help this aging unit and give them some much needed speed.
IN THE END: The Pats have every one back and they should make another run to the Super Bowl. Don’t
think that they won’t use the Super Bowl loss to their advantage. With Brady, Moss, Maroney and the core of the defense
back, a return trip to the Bowl is expected.
2. NEW YORK JETS
3 KEYS ENTERING 2008:
1. FREE AGENTS MUST PAN-OUT: The Jets spent a lot of money this off-season adding OG Alan Faneca, DE Calvin
Pace, DT Kris Jenkins, OT Damien Woody, FB Tony Richardson and RB Jesse Chatman in free agency. All should make a valuable
contribution but chemistry that is bought can sometimes struggle to jell. Faneca and Woody should help Brick Ferguson and
Nick Nagold as they develop but Pace and Jenkins are boom, bust guys because they’ll either pan out or be terrible.
2. SETTLE QB SITUATION: All sign point towards Kellen Clemens but
don’t forget about Chad Pennington. Eric Mangini needs to have a great year and although Clemens is the more talented
option, its unclear as to whether he’s the best option. Pennington can command the offense and is a proven winner something
Kellen Clemens hasn’t shown he is yet.
3. COACHES MUST COME THROUGH:
As mentioned, this is a big year for Eric Mangini and his staff. Owner Woody Johnson has spent the money necessary to make
this team a contender, now the brass and cocky Mangini must hold up his end of the bargain. At times last year, this staff
worked wonders but at other times, they looked clueless and their game planning lacked imagination. That may have been the
case last season but that won’t be good enough in New York This season.
IN THE END: There is no question the Jets have vastly improved their roster through free agency and the draft
but expecting a double-digit win season could be a stretch if they don’t solve their problems on offense especially
at quarterback. The defense must also improve and ultimately, that will fall on the shoulders of Mangini and his defensive
staff. Ten wins are possible, but so are ten losses as well.
3. BUFFALO BILLS
3 KEYS
ENTERING 2008:
1. IS TRENT EDWARDS THE GUY? We know the organization as a whole
likes Edwards but he has to prove he is the quarterback going forward. At times last season he looked the part but he finished
slowly and ended up missing four games due to injury. Edwards will manage the offense and play within the confines of the
game plans but is he the guy that can get this team to a bowl? Time will tell, he is not as physically gifted as JP Losman
but his leadership and intangibles are through the roof and that is a better fit for this team.
2. IMPROVED DEFENSE MUST PLAY BETTER: The additions of LB Kavicka Mitchell DT Marcus Stroud and DT
Spencer Johnson fortifies a Bills front seven that struggled at times last season. Mitchell gives the Bills the “Sam”
backer they have lacked the last few seasons and if motivated, Marcus Stroud could once again return to his dominant form.
The return of MLB Paul Posluzney from injury should also help especially on 1st and 2nd down. Perhaps
the biggest addition could be rookie CB Leondis McKelvin. McKelvin has shut down skills and he could be a difference maker
in the return game.
3. FIND A SECOND RECEIVER TO COMPLEMENT
LEE EVANS: The Bills are hoping rookie James Hardy can give them the second receiver they have lacked the last few seasons.
At 6-6, he has great size and he could be a factor in the red zone. The emergence of a tight end underneath would also make
Trent Edwards life easy and it would loosen up defense from stacking the box against Marshawn Lynch.
IN THE END: The Bills are on the cusp of being a playoff team but so much of their success
will depend on Edwards and a revamped defense. 8-8 or even 9-7 is possible but with the Patriots in their division, anything
more than that would be an upset of sorts.
4. MIAMI DOLPHINS
3 KEYS
ENTERING 2008:
1. FIND A QUARTERBACK: Regardless of what new head coach Tony Sparano
wants to do offensively, the Dolphins will need to settle their quarterback situation before they can move forward. Right
Josh McCown is the favorite because of his experience and athletic ability but some members of the staff like John beck because
of his intangibles and Chad Henne because of his toughness and arm strength. You get the feeling all three will play until
the offensive staff figures who is the best fit.
2. WHAT ABOUT
JASON TAYLOR? The Dolphins must solve the Jason Taylor mystery. Is he on board or not? Taylor wants to win and the Fish are
clearly in rebuilding mode so he either needs to suck it up and show up or ask to be moved. Chances are he’ll stick
around but will be a distraction. The Dolphins need a focused and healthy Jason Taylor to compete in the AFC. If he commits
himself, this defense could be good, if he doesn’t, it could be a long year defensively.
* Traded to the Redskins on July 20th for a 2009 second round pick and a 2010 sixth round
pick
3. FIND A NUMBER ONE RECEIVER: Ernest Wilford was signed
in the off-season away from the Jacksonville Jags to fit the number one receiver role for the Fish. Wilford is a big target
and he can be a factor in the red-zone but he is slow and can’t separate. Ted Ginn Jr. now has a year under his belt
and he needs to emerge as the big play threat Cam Cameron and friends envisioned when they drafted him. Keep an eye on Cowboys
import Anthony Fasano who should win the starting TE job.
IN
THE END: Its no secret, the Dolphins are bad. Whether its on paper, the field or anywhere else, this team is rotten. Give
it time however, Parcells and GM Jeff Ireland know what they want and they’ll turn it around. Before that happens however,
a 4-12 season is the more likely scenario.
