Our ‘Second Look’ series moves into the AFC, starting in the AFC East. With training camps underway or starting any minute now, there’s still a lot to learn about all the teams at this point.

Refresh your memory with our First Look, and consider: Is there enough information to affect our predictions though?


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The most obvious issue here is how is Tom Brady‘s knee. He says it’s good to go, but we’ll wonder about his mobility until we’ve seen proof it’s fine. There’s no reason to assume that mentally he won’t be ready, or that he’ll be rusty. This guy’s a pro, and he’ll bring it come camp and then gameday.
The Pats look to continue with running the ball by commitee, with a good variety of running styles ready to use. Whilst I’d like to see a ‘lead’ back, you have to expect that the coaches will use these guys wisely to get the best out of them.

Defensively, they’ll miss Mike Vrabel (now in Kansas) at Linebacker. And who can beleive that Teddy Bruschi is still playing? He surely hasn’t got 16 games in him. Shawn Springs comes in from Washington, and I’ve talked about him more here. As ever though, the Pats have drafted wisely and are slowly supplementing the squad with younger players to replace those who retire or move on.

Dolphins' quaterback Chad Pennington

Dolphins' quaterback Chad Pennington

They’re still the team to beat in the East, and arguably in the entire AFC.

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The Dolphins aren’t doing much, but have made a few key acquisitions which should see them right. Jason Taylor is back at linebacker, and will backup an already strong unit that features everyone’s favourite wind-up merchants Joey Porter and Channing Crowder. Mactalksnfl favourite Will Allen will lead the corners, which includes two intriguing draft picks in Vontae Davis and Sean Smith (neither of whom have signed yet).

Chad Pennington will be looking to build on last year’s terrific performance and it’s really good to see him doing well after he was pretty shoddily treated by the Jets. The ‘Fins could use more depth at receiver, but Pennington will make the best of what he’s got.

This team has a tough schedule, and I can’t see them taking the division again. They’ll be a respectable second though.

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The T.O camp is in town! The Bills’ training camp opened this weekend, but I’m not yet up to date with anything coming out of Rochester. Most people will be watching to see how Terrell Owens can contribute and how he’ll affect the team and players around him. On the other side, Lee Evans had a great year last year, and was a major deep threat – he must be pleased that there’s another real threat the opponent has to cater for.

The Bills were 0-6 in division last year, and that alone cost them a playoff place as they tumbled from 5-1 to 7-9. Getting results in the AFC East must be a priority for them this time: improving defensive output will be a factor towards that. Though a solid unit last year, they didn’t produce turnovers.

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The Jets will have grumpy running backs Thomas Jones and Leon Washington in camp. They’ll either be motivated to earn the contracts that they want, or unhappy at the whole affair and therefore not productive.
There’s open competition at quarterback between Mark Sanchez and Kellen Clemens, and I’d have to fancy Sanchez to get the nod at this time, but the chances are we won’t know until the pre-season. Whoever it is, they’re going to need the backup receivers to step up to play with Cotchery.

I can’t put my finger on it, but I don’t fancy this team for much this year. It’s not as simple as the fallout from the Brett Favre experiment, but like I say… I can’t pin it down.

Summary
I still can’t look past the Pats here. But that’s with the assumption that Brady is fully fit and ready to go. If he’s not, or is injured again, then the Dolphins would look to capitalise.
The Bills are intriguing to say the least, but I’m waiting to see how things shape up out of their camp and early pre-season.

So as with so many other divisions… no change at this time.
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