AFC East in 2015

[BigKen]

The Patriots will not have a cake walk through the AFC in 2015. Every other team has been busy as hell reloading and trading and acquiring talent in an attempt to unseat the Patriots.

The Bills have a new head coach and have made some defensive improvements and traded for an All-Pro running back. If they can find a decent QB, they'll be a contender.

The Dolphins are spending money like they have a printing press in Miami. They've made improvements on the defense but have lost some offense. They are trying to make a deal to move up in the draft to get a RB. Most likely Gurley of Georgia.

The Jets have also spent like a drunken sailor. They've acquired a new head coach and general manager, and they've been plugging a lot of holes with decent players from trades and free agency.

The Patriots have done very little and have lost significant pieces of a Super Bowl Champion. The offense is pretty much intact except for a very important player who went to the NY Giants. Shane Vereen was a relief valve at worst and critical 3rd down running back/receiver. The defense must reload and replace critical pieces in the secondary and the middle of the defensive line. The lack of activity always causes concern, but one can't imagine that there isn't some sort of plan in place.

In the past 15 years, the AFC East has never appeared to be as committed as they are in 2015 to send the Patriots to the bottom of pile.

 

[SDGuy73]

Which is why I've said it's very important to improve the oline. Two top oline draft picks.

 

[Southieinnc]

The Patriots will not have a cake walk through the AFC in 2015. Every other team has been busy as hell reloading and trading and acquiring talent in an attempt to unseat the Patriots.

The Bills have a new head coach and have made some defensive improvements and traded for an All-Pro running back. If they can find a decent QB, they'll be a contender.

The Dolphins are spending money like they have a printing press in Miami. They've made improvements on the defense but have lost some offense. They are trying to make a deal to move up in the draft to get a RB. Most likely Gurley of Georgia.

The Jets have also spent like a drunken sailor. They've acquired a new head coach and general manager, and they've been plugging a lot of holes with decent players from trades and free agency.

The Patriots have done very little and have lost significant pieces of a Super Bowl Champion. The offense is pretty much intact except for a very important player who went to the NY Giants. Shane Vereen was a relief valve at worst and critical 3rd down running back/receiver. The defense must reload and replace critical pieces in the secondary and the middle of the defensive line. The lack of activity always causes concern, but one can't imagine that there isn't some sort of plan in place.

In the past 15 years, the AFC East has never appeared to be as committed as they are in 2015 to send the Patriots to the bottom of pile.

We lost 2 overpaid DB's that ranked us at #25 in passing defense.
We can do better than that with no changes!
We lost a RB that gained 1930 combined total yards in 4 years.
We expected to replace him and can do better than 480 yards per year with RB's we have on staff right now!

 

[TxHeat]

The Patriots will not have a cake walk through the AFC in 2015. Every other team has been busy as hell reloading and trading and acquiring talent in an attempt to unseat the Patriots.

The Bills have a new head coach and have made some defensive improvements and traded for an All-Pro running back. If they can find a decent QB, they'll be a contender.

The Dolphins are spending money like they have a printing press in Miami. They've made improvements on the defense but have lost some offense. They are trying to make a deal to move up in the draft to get a RB. Most likely Gurley of Georgia.

The Jets have also spent like a drunken sailor. They've acquired a new head coach and general manager, and they've been plugging a lot of holes with decent players from trades and free agency.

The Patriots have done very little and have lost significant pieces of a Super Bowl Champion. The offense is pretty much intact except for a very important player who went to the NY Giants. Shane Vereen was a relief valve at worst and critical 3rd down running back/receiver. The defense must reload and replace critical pieces in the secondary and the middle of the defensive line. The lack of activity always causes concern, but one can't imagine that there isn't some sort of plan in place.

In the past 15 years, the AFC East has never appeared to be as committed as they are in 2015 to send the Patriots to the bottom of pile.

that may be so..but that time is not NOW!!! Bills still don't have a QB, Jets have Geno and Tannehill is overrated.

 

[Rock Strongo]

the bills defense scares the piss out of me./.that being said, matt casell...doesnt.

suh in miami will scare the piss out of tom brady

need o-line depth, badly...and d-line

 

[TxHeat]

the bills defense scares the piss out of me./.that being said, matt casell...doesnt.

suh in miami will scare the piss out of tom brady

need o-line depth, badly...and d-line

The Pats handled Suh pretty well last season. BB will game plan around him again. Bills do have a defense, so those games might be of the 13-10 variety. Most likely the Pats will sweep the Jests and split with the fins and bills.

 

[BigKen]

We lost 2 overpaid DB's that ranked us at #25 in passing defense.
We can do better than that with no changes!
We lost a RB that gained 1930 combined total yards in 4 years.
We expected to replace him and can do better than 480 yards per year with RB's we have on staff right now!

I don't think "we" can do anything. Bill Belichick has done very little. The Ptriots have trimmed about $42M off the salary cap and haven't really spent anything to backfill the positions lost. Not the players, the positions. As far as the draft is concerned, rarely do rookies make a significant impact in their first season.

My point is that the competition in the AFC East has made tremendous efforts to catch the Patriots while the Patriots brain trust has done very little. You can dismiss the losses out of hand if you so desire, but the players lost were critical in getting the Patriots through the 2014 season in the place they were. Individually, none were all-stars, but as part of the team, they were all outstanding. I always lectured my kids that they had to trust each other and play with each other and that they had to "take care of their square". The square was the distance in all directions that they could lay down and touch. Something I made every player do. Belichick says it as "do your job". Everyone did their job.

We can argue all day about the stats and the plays. The simple truth is that Belichick has to find the guys who can create the same team first attitude, play their position and do their job.

I'm not seeing that so far and usually by this time, BB has signed a few veterans that we either never heard of or were scrap pilers. I just hope there are things cooking on the back burner that no one has any idea is happening........

 

[Southieinnc]

I don't think "we" can do anything. Bill Belichick has done very little. The Ptriots have trimmed about $42M off the salary cap and haven't really spent anything to backfill the positions lost. Not the players, the positions. As far as the draft is concerned, rarely do rookies make a significant impact in their first season.

My point is that the competition in the AFC East has made tremendous efforts to catch the Patriots while the Patriots brain trust has done very little. You can dismiss the losses out of hand if you so desire, but the players lost were critical in getting the Patriots through the 2014 season in the place they were. Individually, none were all-stars, but as part of the team, they were all outstanding. I always lectured my kids that they had to trust each other and play with each other and that they had to "take care of their square". The square was the distance in all directions that they could lay down and touch. Something I made every player do. Belichick says it as "do your job". Everyone did their job.

We can argue all day about the stats and the plays. The simple truth is that Belichick has to find the guys who can create the same team first attitude, play their position and do their job.

I'm not seeing that so far and usually by this time, BB has signed a few veterans that we either never heard of or were scrap pilers. I just hope there are things cooking on the back burner that no one has any idea is happening........

And I recognize you are in the majority opinion, Ken.....

 

[CreepCreep2014]

I was worried about the Bills, until Rex took over. He will ruin that team.

 

[Southieinnc]

The Pats handled Suh pretty well last season. BB will game plan around him again. Bills do have a defense, so those games might be of the 13-10 variety. Most likely the Pats will sweep the Jests and split with the fins and bills.

and they split with each other......

 

[NWPATSFAN]

No need to worry yet. There is still the draft. Who knows maybe BB trades picks for players? Secure an O lineman early on in the draft. Pick up a DE/DL mid rounds. Package a player or two with a pick or two and get Haden. All is good in Foxboro. In BB we trust even though we question his genius. Come on draft

 

[BigKen]

Just a couple of questions.....

Why hasn't Bill resigned Connelly? He was critical keeping Solder together last year. If he was that important in keeping Solder playing well, why isn't he wrapped up? Money? Doesn't want to play for the Pats??

The Patriots have had a large number of free agents visit Gillette. With few exceptions, none have been offered a contract. Are they bad? In poor physical condition? Have unknown (to us) injuries??

As I previously stated, Belichick historically has brought in a relatively unknown DL or Ol and signed them about 3-4 weeks after free agency begins. There hasn't been one free agent visit to Gillette in at least 2 weeks since Weineiski stopped in for a donut. I thought he'd be a perfect BB kind of guy, plays both G and C and the Jags brought him in, neither signed him. He played the entire 2014 season.....injury??

It's almost too quiet.........

 

[CreepCreep2014]

Well I think the reason Dan C is not signed, BB plans on drafting a starting OG. Look at the names Scar has worked all, all the top OG in this draft. Cann, Jackson, Irving, Tomlinson, Matias, Humphries. Everyone except Irving could be available in the 2nd rd.

OH take a look at this pic, there seems to be a CORNERstone piece missing from it....HA~