 |
|
| |||
| |
|
AFC East Capsules
Compiled by David Larimer
Coach: Gregg Williams, first season. Key acquisitions: FB Larry Centers (Redskins), DB Nate Clements (first-round draft pick, Ohio State), RB Travis Henry (second-round draft pick, Tennessee), DE Aaron Schobel (second-round draft pick, Texas Christian). Key losses: QB Doug Flutie (Chargers), LB John Holecek (Chargers), CB Daryl Porter (free agency), LB Sam Rogers (Chargers), RB Antowain Smith (Patriots), DT Ted Washington (Bears), DE Marcellus Wiley (Chargers). Outlook: The Bills are young (just six players older than 30), and will be adjusting to a new coaching staff, offense (the ubiquitous West Coast system) and defense (switching from a 3-4 alignment to a 4-3). Plus, they will have to learn quickly, opening the season against three teams that advanced to the playoffs last season. Free agency weakened a defense that ranked third in the league last season, but do-it-all LB Sam Cowart remains the anchor. One to watch: QB Rob Johnson finally has the starting position with the departure of Flutie. But while talented, Johnson has been sidelined with an injury in 11 of his 18 starts with the Bills, and a sprained index finger on his right (throwing) hand nagged him throughout training camp.
Coach: Jim Mora, 26-22 in three seasons with Colts (119-96 in 14 seasons overall; lost to Miami in first round of playoffs in 2000). Key acquisitions: DT Christian Peter (Giants), WR Reggie Wayne (first-round draft pick, Miami), QB Mark Rypien (who last played for Rams in ’97). Key losses: S Jason Belser (Chiefs), LB Cornelius Bennett (free agent), CB Tyrone Poole (Broncos). Outlook: Last season, a lack of balance hurt the Colts, who ranked in the league’s top five in total offense, passing offense and scoring but were 21st or worse in total defense, rushing defense and takeaways, and gave up 209 yards rushing to Miami’s Lamar Smith in an overtime playoff loss. But the Colts are hoping that their young linebackers—up-and-coming third-year player Mike Peterson and second-year players Rob Morris and Marcus Washington—come into their own. They will have to, or defense will be the team’s weak point again. The Colts have the AFC’s toughest schedule. One to watch: Mora, despite resurrecting a team that went 6-26 in 1997 and ’98 to one that was 23-9 the last two regular seasons, is 0-2 in the playoffs with the Colts and 0-6 overall as a coach. Another one-and-done playoff may signal the end of his days in Indianapolis.
Coach: Dave Wannstedt, 11-5 in one season with Dolphins (51-61 in seven seasons overall; lost to Oakland in second round of playoffs in 2000). Key acquisitions: WR Chris Chambers (second-round draft pick, Wisconsin), CB Jamar Fletcher (first-round draft pick, Wisconsin), QB Ray Lucas (Jets), WR James McKnight (Cowboys), WR Dedric Ward (Jets). Key losses: DE Trace Armstrong (Raiders), QB Damon Huard (Patriots), LB Larry Izzo (Patriots), LB Robert Jones (Redskins), WR Tony Martin (Falcons), T Richmond Webb (Bengals). Outlook: Defending their first division title since 1994, the Dolphins are aiming to break a string of embarrassing postseason exits: Miami has won three straight first-round playoff games, only to lose its second-round games by a combined score of 127-10. QB Jay Fiedler, unspectacular but solid last season, has the benefit of a deeper, more athletic receiving corps. The loss of Armstrong (AFC-best 16½ sacks last season) puts more pressure on DE Jason Taylor (14½ sacks), but the rest of the stalwart defense’s nucleus remains. One to watch: RB Lamar Smith averaged 324.7 yards in his first six seasons before rushing for 1,139 last season, second-best in Dolphins history.
Coach: Bill Belichick, 5-11 with Patriots (41-55 in six seasons overall). Key acquisitions: G Mike Compton (Lions), QB Damon Huard (Dolphins), LB Larry Izzo (Dolphins), WR Charles Johnson (Eagles), G Matt Light (second-round draft pick, Purdue), DT Richard Seymour (first-round draft pick, Georgia), RB Antowain Smith (Bills). Key losses: T Bruce Armstrong (free agency), DT Chad Eaton (Seahawks), WR Terry Glenn (suspended by team for the season), LB Andy Katzenmoyer (out for season, neck injury), LB Chris Slade (Panthers), S Larry Whigham (Bears). Outlook: The Patriots dedicated their offseason to acquiring help for QB Drew Bledsoe, who couldn’t overcome New England’s shortcomings last season. With questions remaining at tight end and the team’s squabbles with the enigmatic Glenn, the Patriots may wish they had drafted a wide receiver. One to watch: RB J.R. Redmond ran for just 406 yards on 125 attempts (a meager 3.2-yard average), but will be counted on to lead the Patriots’ struggling running game. Robert Edwards (1,115 yards in 1998) was released after being unable to come back from a knee injury. The Patriots have not had a 1,000-yard rusher since.
Coach: Herman Edwards, first season. Key acquisitions: WR Matthew Hatchette (Vikings), RB LaMont Jordan (second-round draft pick, Maryland), WR-PR Santana Moss (first-round draft pick, Miami), S Damien Robinson (Buccaneers). Key losses: LB Bryan Cox (Patriots), DT Jason Ferguson (out for season with torn rotator cuff), QB Ray Lucas (Dolphins), WR Dedric Ward (Dolphins). Outlook: Edwards is the Jets’ third head coach in three seasons. With two emerging stars in DE John Abraham and DE-DT Shaun Ellis, and an upgrade in Robinson, the defense, even without Ferguson, could be among the AFC’s best. Offensively, the Jets improved at receiver to complement terrific RBs Curtis Martin and Richie Anderson. Hatchette, understandably overshadowed while playing behind Cris Carter and Randy Moss in Minnesota, provides a needed big (6 feet 3) target. Exciting rookie Santana Moss will miss significant time after tearing cartilage in his left knee during training camp. One to watch: Does 37-year-old QB Vinny Testaverde have another good season left? The Jets have improved their receiving corps, expecting Testaverde (NFL-high 25 interceptions, 69.0 quarterback rating last season) to deliver. |
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Preview
