AFC East Overview

SCHEDULES

Buffalo

1. Indianapolis

2. New England

3. @ Miami

4. New York Giants

5. @ Tennessee

6. Cincinnati

7. @ Jacksonville

8. ~BYE~

9. Miami

10. @ New York Jets

11. @ New England

12. @ Kansas City

13. Houston

14. @ Philadelphia 

15. @ Washington 

16. Dallas

17. New York Jets

Miami

1. @ Washington

2. @ Jacksonville

3. Buffalo

4. New York Jets

5. ~BYE~

6. @ Tennessee

7. Houston

8. @ New England

9. @ Buffalo

10. @ Philadelphia

11. Dallas

12. @ New York Jets

13. Baltimore

14. New York Giants

15. @ San Diego

16. Indianapolis

17. New England

New England

1. Pittsburgh

2. @ Buffalo

3. Jacksonville

4. ~BYE~

5. @ Dallas

6. @ Indianapolis

7. New York Jets

8. Miami

9. Washington

10. @ New York Giants

11. Buffalo

12. @ Denver

13. Philadelphia

14. @ Houston

15. Tennessee

16. @ New York Jets

17. @ Miami

New York Jets

1. Cleveland

2. @ Indianapolis

3. Philadelphia

4. @ Miami

5. ~BYE~

6. Washington

7. @ New England

8. @ Oakland

9. Jacksonville

10. Buffalo

11. @ Houston

12. Miami

13. @ New York Giants

14. Tennessee

15. @ Dallas

16. New England

17. @ Buffalo

-BUFFALO, MIAMI, ON THE RISE-

          The defensing Super Bowl Champions have lost key players on both sides of the ball. They've gained, and still probably have the best team in the AFC East. However, catching up in terms of talent quickly is Miami and Buffalo. Doug Marone left the Bills shortly after the 2014 season, and the Bills found his replacement in former New York Jets coach Rex Ryan. Ryan, known for his smash mouth talk and love for defense, traded Kiko Alonso to the Eagles for LeSean "Shady" McCoy. The Dolphins have built a great passing game for Ryan Tannehill to throw out of. I believe this will be Tannehill's season. The Jets are still struggling and are signing as much talent as they can to join the team.

POWER

    The highest paid defensive player in NFL history,

and possibly the most sought after free agent, Suh left

Detroit for a lucrative $114M deal over 6 years. Suh 

is a beast on the defensive line, known for his extreme

violent and aggressive play. He completes the defensive 

line in Miami and puts them on the list of best defensive

lines in the league. 

MIAMI

BEST OF THE DIVISION

Best QB- Tom Brady, NE

Best RB- LeSean McCoy, BUF

Best WR1- Brandon Marshall, NYJ

Best WR2- Sammy Watkins, BUF

Best TE- Rob Gronkowski, NE

Best OT- Nate Solder, NE

Best OG- Willie Colon, NYJ

Best C- Nick Mangold, NYJ

Best DE- Mario Edwards, BUF

Best DT- Ndamukong Suh, MIA

Best 3/4 OLB- Quinton Coples, NYJ

Best 4/3 OLB- Jamie Collins, NE

Best 3/4 ILB- David Harris, NYJ

Best 4/3 ILB- Jarod Mayo, NE

Best CB- Darrelle Revis, NYJ

Best S- Devin McCourty, NE

Best K- Steven Gostkowski, NE

Best P- Brandon Fields, MIA

Best Coach- Bill Belechick, NE

~ROOKIE SPOTLIGHT~

DT Leonard Williams, New York Jets

Williams plays any position on the defensive line and is effective in both run defense and pass rush. At 6'5" and 300 pounds, he's an explosive player with the sky as the limit for his ceiling. Considered by most as the best prospect in the draft, Williams falling to #6 was a blessing for the Jets, and Williams caught on fast. "I want Tom Brady to be my first sack," he told the press after being drafted. Williams is already a Jet at heart, 

Player Ratings Explained

    With the new season approaching, our player rankings and team previews will be hitting the web over the summer. So, when our ratings come out, we want you to understand what they mean. Here are our player rankings explained.

QUARTERBACKS

    Quarterbacks are given 2 ratings, their pass rating and their run rating. A sample quarterback would look like this:

12 QB Tom Brady (4-1)

    The first rating is the Pass Rating. In Tom Brady's case, it's 4. Mainly based off of a passer rating of a quarterback, quarterbacks have 5 different pass ratings they can receive. 

     1-Camp arm on a low talent depth chart

     2-Below average QB 

     3-Average QB

     4-Above average QB

     5-All-Pro QB

    The second rating is the run rating. It detects the QB's ability to scramble or run for gains. In Tom Brady's case, it's 1. Quarterbacks can receive 5 different run ratings. 

     1-Average QB Sneak player.

     2-Master QB Sneak player

     3-Below average scrambler

     4-Average scrambler

     5-All-Pro Scrambler.

RUNNING BACKS

    Running Backs are given 2 different ratings, their run rating and their receiving rating. A sample Running Back would look like this:

25 RB LeSean McCoy (4-2)

    The first rating is the run rating. It mainly is based off the average yards per attempt, running backs have 5 different passer ratings they can receive. 

     1-Camp runner on a low talent depth chart

     2-Below average runner

     3-Average runner

     4-Above Average runner

     5-All-Pro Running Back

    The second rating is a catch rating. It detects the running backs ability to catch passes out of the backfield, and turn them upfield for gains. There are 3 ratings a Running Back can receive for receiving talents.

     1-Below average receiver

     2-Average screen back

     3-Incredible screen back

    Fullbacks receive the same ratings.

WIDE RECEIVERS

    Wide Receivers are given one rating, their receiving rating, and in rare circumstances, Wide Receivers are given a run rating. A sample Wide Receiver would look like this:

15 WR Brandon Marshall (3)

    The one rating above is the receiving rating. Receiving Ratings are based mainly off the average yards per catch a receiver makes. Receivers can receive 5 different receiving ratings. 

     1-Camp Receiver on low talent depth chart (Very rare ranking)

     2-Below average receiver

     3-Slot receiver

     4-Deep Threat receiver

     5-Extreme deep threat

    In rare circumstances, Receivers receive a rushing ranking. Receivers can receive 3 different rush rankings. A sample receiver rush ranking would look like this:

18 WR Percy Harvin (3-5)

     3-Below average receiver runner

     4-Average receiver runner

     5-Hybrid receiver runner

TIGHT ENDS

    Tight Ends receive one ranking, their receiver ranking. A sample Tight End would look like this:

85 TE Tyler Eifert (3)

     Tight Ends can receive 5 different receiver rankings. 

      1-Camp Receiver on low talent Depth Chart

      2-Below average receiver

      3-Average receiver

      4-Deep threat receiver

      5-Extreme deep threat receiver

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

    Offensive Linemen receive one ranking, based on their blocking ability. A Sample Offensive Lineman would look like this:

66 RG David DeCastro +2

    Offensive Linemen can receive 3 different blocking ratings. 

      +1-Average Lineman

      +2-Solid Starter

      +3-All Pro Player

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

    Defensive Linemen receive one ranking, based on their playing ability. A sample Defensive Lineman would look like this:

99 NT Marcell Dareus +3

    Defensive linemen can receive 3 different rankings. 

     +1-Average Player

     +2-Pass rusher

     +3-All-Pro caliber player

LINEBACKERS & DEFENSIVE BACKS

    Linebackers and Defensive Backs receive two different rankings, one based on their pass rush, the other based on their coverage. A sample Linebacker or Defensive Back would look like this:

50 MLB AJ Hawk (W/GB) +1(0) 

    The first rating is the pass rush rating. Based on the number of sacks per game, linebackers and Defensive Backs can receive 3 different rankings in this category.

     +1-Average Player

     +2-Effective Pass Rusher

     +3-All-Pro Pass Rusher

    The second rating is the coverage ranking. It is determined by the number of projected interceptions in 2015. 

2015 AFC Outlook

PREDICTIONS

MVP- Andrew Luck, IND
Offensive Player of the Year- Ryan Tannehill, MIA
Defensive Player of the Year- JJ Watt, HOU
Offensive Rookie of the Year- Amari Cooper, OAK
Defensive Rookie of the Year- Kevin Johnson, HOU
Coach of the Year- Bill O'Brian, HOU

    The reining world champions, the New England Patriots, are looking to reclaim their title in style despite the fact that they're missing a couple key pieces in Darrelle Revis, Vince Wilfork, Shane Vereen and Dan Connolly. The Patriots will have their hands full, just in their division, as the Bills and Dolphins are now major threats to take the division. The stakes are high in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and the Patriots are looking to bounce over every obstacle.

    The AFC West division is wide open as the Broncos take steps back and the Chargers and Chiefs move forward. Watch the Broncos stay alive because of their defense, and the Chiefs take the steps to claim the division crown.

    The AFC North continues to be the toughest division to play in, the Steelers, Ravens and Bengals all making a run for the division crown. The Browns seem to have degressed since last season, so I'm not considering them in a run for the title.

    The Colts continue to dominate the AFC South, although they now have a competitor- the Houston Texans. The Texans are growing into a solid team with Bill O'Brians coaching. If Ryan Mallet can grow into an elite QB, the Texans will be a force to be reconned with.

First Round Geniuses

    There were 32 picks made in the first round. Some of those picks made fans cry for joy. Others shocked the nation. Then, there were some picks that left my mind spinning, thinking of the teams being built up. Here are those 5 picks from round 1.

11. Trae Waynes, Michigan State- Minnesota Vikings

    This is the first pick that blew my mind. Waynes reminded me of Richard Sherman when I saw him on tape, just his physicality, his coverage, his enthusiasm was perfect. Add him to a secondary with Xavier Rhodes, Josh Robinson and Captain Munnerlyn, Minnesota truly has a group of scary and elite corners for the Vikings to build the rest of their defense on. I think its a group who will be feared in the league for years to come.





13. Andrus Peat, Stanford- New Orleans Saints

    This is a truly great pick. Peat is considered a top 15 pick talent all around the board, Add him to an experienced and re-vamped Saints offensive line, who added All-Pro Center Max Unger from Seattle, and your giving your QB of the future a strong line for him to play around.








20. Nelson Agholor, USC- Philadelphia Eagles

    With Riley Cooper and Jordan Matthews in Philadelphia, Chip Kelly landed the best hands of the draft with a 4.42 40 yard dash speed player to eventually take over from Cooper. Matthews, who had a great rookie season in 2014, and Agholor are the pair for the future, a great pick by Chip Kelly.







23. Shane Ray, Missouri- Denver Broncos

    Ray dropped a potential 10 to 15 spots after a failed drug test was added to Ray's resume. However, the Broncos traded up 5 spots to add Ray to their defense. With DeMarcus Ware on one side and Ray playing on the other, Denver could have one of the fiercest pass rushing duos in recent history. I think it was a fabulous pick based on the fact that Denver has added yet another pass rusher to their defense.



30. Damarius Randall, Arizona State- Green Bay Packers

    Randall was considered by many as the best safety prospect entering the draft. The Packers added HaHa Clinton-Dix last season, and he played a phenominal rookie season. Adding Randall this year to play beside Clinton-Dix could end up big. Green-Bay has solidified their back end for the next decade.







    The NFL Draft is always full of surprises, especially in the first round. But these are the picks that surprised me first and most of all. They were ingenious, and well thought picks adding even more strength to teams. That's how you make a good football team.