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ESPN: NY Jets-Three Burning questions


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Have the Jets done enough to improve their running game?

Last season the Jets gained 108.1 yards rushing per game and finished 20th in the NFL. This offseason, the Jets wasted no time in acquiring RB Thomas Jones from the Bears prior to the NFL draft. Jones led the Bears in rushing last season with 1,210 yards and six touchdowns. Prior to joining the Bears, Jones was somewhat of an underachiever with both the Buccaneers and Cardinals. However, he has put up back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons over the past two seasons. Another under-the-radar signing was the addition of FB Darian Barnes from the Dolphins. Barnes is an effective straight-line blocker who can lower his shoulder on contact with an explosive force. He knows how to use his size and strength to create inside running lanes. With the cast of Jones, Leon Washington and Cedric Houston, along with Barnes, the Jets have really improved their running game this offseason.

Camp battle to watch

Right cornerbacks Darrelle Revis, Justin Miller and David Barrett

The Jets may have found their future No. 1 corner in this year's draft with the selection of Revis in the first round. However, he will have to compete in camp for the starting right corner position opposite Andre Dyson. Revis is a tough, aggressive player with good size and athletic skills. He can be very productive versus both the run and pass. He is a perfect fit for the way Eric Mangini runs the Jets' coverage concepts and rotations. Barrett is a physical corner who is best suited from a Cover 2 alignment. He is a better player in zone than in man-to-man situations. He does have some versatility when aligning both on the outside or inside in sub-personnel groupings. Miller has the ability and skill set to be a starter in the NFL, but has been inconsistent when given the chance to play. Look for Revis to come out on top.

Can Chad Pennington get this team back to the playoffs?

For the first time in his career, Chad Pennington played in all 16 games in 2006. He finished the season with a quarterback rating of 82.6 and a completion percentage of 64.5. Can Pennington stay healthy and lead this team to an AFC East title? Pennington is a very smart, instinctive player who knows how to attack opposing defenses on the back end in coverage. He has suffered a lot of adversity over his career due to the multiple surgeries on his right arm, which has affected his downfield strength. However, he is still very effective in the short and intermediate areas of the passing game. He can move and avoid pressure in the pocket when finding passing windows. He is a tough, competitive player who knows how to win, but he will need a strong running game this season to be even more effective. If the Jets are to get back into the AFC playoffs and beyond, Pennington must continue to stay healthy and play within himself in the Jets' offensive system.

Can the Jets' front seven stop the run?

If the Jets are going to make a run at the AFC East title, they must improve their run defense. Last season, the Jets allowed 130.3 yards per game, ranking 24th in the NFL. After improving his technique, leverage and recognition skills, NT Dewayne Robertson improved his performance as the season wore on, adapting to the Jets' 3-4 system. Shaun Ellis is the Jets' best defensive lineman, while being productive in both regular and sub situations. Kimo von Oelhoffen is a great locker room guy who is on the downside of his career. Newly signed defensive end Kenyon Coleman should battle von Oelhoffen for the starting position. Coleman is a disciplined player who has experience in a 3-4 system. The linebacker corps improved with the addition of David Bowens, a high-motor player with pass-rushing skills. However, he must show good improvement when setting the edge versus the run. Bryan Thomas is a productive player that must improve his recognition skills and ability to get off blocks. Both inside linebackers -- Jonathan Vilma and Victor Hobson -- must make more of an impact against the run.

Fantasy take

The Jets hope to stabilize their running game with the addition of Thomas Jones, who is coming off consecutive 1,200-yard seasons in Chicago. The Jets will use Leon Washington to spell Jones at times, but Jones shouldn't lose carries on the goal line. Make sure that is the case.

-- Nate Ravitz

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Three Burning Questions

Did the Bills do enough to upgrade their offensive line in the offseason?

One of the major areas of concern for the Bills over the last few seasons has been the offensive line. Offensively, Buffalo finished 27th in the league in rushing last season, while allowing 47 sacks. The Bills were very aggressive addressing this need in the early stages of free agency with the additions of Derrick Dockery, Jason Whittle and Langston Walker. Dockery is a big road grader who has been somewhat inconsistent over his career but is an upgrade to the interior of the Bills' offensive line. Walker played on one of the worst offensive lines in the history of the NFL last season in Oakland. He is a massive tackle with above-average athletic skills who has struggled with consistent performance throughout his career. Whittle is a journeyman backup player with decent versatility. Again, offensive line coach Jim McNally will have his hands full in developing a consistent unit that creates run lanes and protects QB J.P. Losman.

Camp battle to watch

RB Marshawn Lynch vs. Anthony Thomas

The Bills must find a replacement for RB Willis McGahee, who was traded this offseason to the Baltimore Ravens. Rookie first-round pick Lynch has an excellent combination of size and straight-line speed. He is a tough inside runner with the speed and quickness to bend the edge and get outside, while showing a second gear to take it to the end zone. However, he will need a lot of work in his recognition skills as a pass-blocker when reacting to blitzes. Thomas is an experienced back with good size and strength, who performed well in his role in 2006. He is a downhill, north-south runner who can be effective between the tackles. He is not an elusive back but more of a one-cut zone runner. This has all the makings of a great training camp battle in which Lynch should come out on top. However, both players will contribute significantly in the Bills' running game based on game plan and design.

Can the Bills replace the core of their defense with younger players?

The Bills were hit hard in the offseason with the loss of the core of their defense, losing linebackers London Fletcher and Takeo Spikes and cornerback Nate Clements. Clements is a major loss for the Bills' secondary that finished seventh in the NFL in pass defense last season. Last year's third-round pick, Ashton Youboty, and newly signed corner Jason Webster (Falcons) are expected to compete for the starting right cornerback position. Youboty has the potential to develop into a frontline player, while Webster lacks ideal size and is best suited as a No. 3 or No. 4 corner. If both players struggle in the preseason don't be surprised to see either Jabari Greer or Kiwaukee Thomas get an opportunity to compete. The middle and outside linebacker positions will be in transition. Second-round pick Paul Posluszny is expected to replace Fletcher, while second-year player Keith Ellison will replace Spikes. Ellison is an undersized linebacker who played well as a rookie. Posluszny has the intangibles but lacks experience playing in the NFL.

Do the Bills have enough playmakers on the offensive side of the ball? ?

It's obvious on paper that the Bills simply don't have enough playmakers on offense. With that said, the Bills will need players other than WR Lee Evans and Losman to step up and make impact plays. Marshawn Lynch is unproven, while Anthony Thomas lacks explosive run skills. WR Peerless Price is on the downside of his career and Josh Reed is best suited as a slot receiver who can be effective in the short and intermediate areas in the passing game. However, two players who could impact this offense because of their speed are backup receiver Roscoe Parrish and backup TE Kevin Everett. Like Evans, Parrish is a fast receiver who can take a short throw and turn it into an explosive big play. Everett is a former third-round pick who has struggled to stay healthy. He is a natural athlete and has the physical skills to develop into an NFL starter, but he is still raw in his overall development.

Fantasy take

If the second half of 2006 is any indication, Lee Evans could be ready to join the fantasy elite in '07. The key to Evans' season could be J.P. Losman, who quietly showed great improvement last year and needs to show in pre-season that he can build on that success.

-- Nate Ravitz

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Three Burning Questions

Can Trent Green be the short-term fix at QB?

Since the retirement of Dan Marino, the Dolphins have not yet found a new franchise quarterback. The quarterback position continues to be the biggest question this franchise needs to answer. Can an aging Trent Green, whose skills are declining, still play winning football? After suffering a concussion in last year's season opener, he never seemed to gain his confidence back, which altered his decision-making and accuracy. However, if Green can regain his confidence, he is a solid frontline starter who could excel in head coach Cam Cameron's offensive system. He is a tough, competitive player who does not easily get rattled under pressure, but he will need a strong running game to be successful in Miami. If the Green experiment doesn't work out, who will the Dolphins turn to? Backup QB Cleo Lemon is probably not good enough, so don't be surprised to see 27-year-old rookie John Beck at some point in the regular season.

Camp battle to watch

LG Chris Liwienski vs. Drew Mormino

The Dolphins don't have a starting left guard yet, and it could fall on the shoulders of rookie sixth-round pick Mormino. Mormino is versatile, having played both center and guard at Central Michigan. He lacks the good size and strength to match up inside but has a very good understanding of angles and body position due to his sound technique. Meanwhile, Liwienski is experienced and also offers versatility; he could fill in as a short-term starter. He is a smart, instinctive player who is best-suited in a confined area, where he can use his size and strength to maul defenders. Liwienski should come out on top; however, if both players struggle to make an impact, the Dolphins' offensive line will continue to have moving parts.

Can the Dolphins find the right combinations on the offensive line?

The Dolphins' offensive line was not very consistent in 2006. Offensive line coach Hudson Houck will be under the gun to develop chemistry within an offensive line that has a lot of moving parts. Can former first-round pick Vernon Carey handle the left tackle position? Carey is a versatile player who could play either tackle position. He is a better run-blocker than pass-blocker and could have his hands full in protecting the quarterback's backside. L.J. Shelton has always had weight issues and looked very sluggish in the offseason. He is a versatile player who has been inconsistent throughout his career. Rex Hadnot is a versatile player who must continue to rely on his technique and improve his consistency. He is a big inside guard who relies on angles and body position to create inside run lanes. Two rookies could start on the inside: Samson Satele and Drew Mormino. Satele is the leader in the clubhouse to handle the right guard position, while Mormino will compete for the starting left guard position with Chris Liwienski.

Do the Dolphins have enough depth at corner to match up in sub situations?

The Dolphins' defense finished the season fifth in the NFL against the pass. However, Will Allen and Andre' Goodman are adequate starters. Goodman is a solid technician with speed, athleticism and quickness, but he has durability concerns. Allen is a confident player who lacks size, but he is tough and aggressive versus the run. He also has durability concerns. Travis Daniels is expected to be the No. 3 cornerback. Daniels has the size to match up with big receivers but lacks good man-to-man cover skills. Former first-round pick Jason Allen was moved from safety to corner this offseason. Allen had a solid spring but still is not as consistent as the coaching staff would like. Backup Michael Lehan should compete for the final corner spot, but there is not a lot of quality depth here.

Fantasy take

Chris Chambers was one of the biggest disappointments in fantasy football last season, and we can all thank Daunte Culpepper and Joey Harrington for that. Even at 37, Trent Green should stabilize quarterback and allow Chambers to have a strong bounce-back season if the two can find some early chemistry.

-- Nate Ravitz

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Can the Patriots' new corps of wide receivers get them back to the Super Bowl?

The number one need for the Patriots heading into the 2007 offseason was wide receiver. The Patriots were aggressive in adding Donte' Stallworth (Eagles) and Kelley Washington (Bengals) through free agency and trading for Wes Welker (Dolphins) and the disgruntled Randy Moss (Raiders). How will the new receivers, specifically Moss, mesh with Tom Brady? Moss is easily the receiver. He places a tremendous amount of pressure on opposing defenses. He is an explosive downfield playmaker with excellent leaping ability. Stallworth will provide another vertical presence that the team lacked last season. Both receivers should open up the middle part of the field for TE Ben Watson. Welker is at his best in the slot and should be a dangerous player in the short and intermediate areas in the passing game, while Washington is a big, athletic target with above-average route-running skills. Also, the Patriots still have Reche Caldwell, Jabar Gaffney and Chad Jackson on the roster, which gives this team one of the deepest receiving corps in the NFL. And, on top of that, Brady is in the prime of his career and is easily one of the NFL's top quarterbacks.

Camp battle to watch

FS-SS Eugene Wilson vs. Brandon Meriweather vs. Rodney Harrison

One of the major concerns of the Patriots defense has to be the safety positions. Free safety Wilson is a versatile player who is returning after spending last season on the injured reserve. However, he was coming off a poor season in 2005 and there are concerns about his playmaking ability on the backend. Also there is a major concern about the health of SS Harrison -- the heart and soul of the Patriots defense -- who has missed time in each of the last two seasons with injuries. Rookie first-round pick Meriweather is a versatile player who should develop into a solid frontline starter in the NFL. He is an instinctive player who may be best suited at the free safety position. He is a very aggressive player who can be reckless with his body and is very similar to Wilson.

Do the Patriots still have problems on the backend on defense?

The Patriots love versatile players who can handle multiple roles in the secondary. The Patriots finished 12th in the NFL in pass defense last season, allowing 200.2 yards a game. Starting CB Asante Samuel is expected to hold out when training camp begins. He performed at a very high level last season as one of the NFL's top corners. He finished the season tied for the league lead with 10 interceptions. Will his holdout be a distraction similar to Deion Branch from a year ago? The starter opposite Samuel is Ellis Hobbs. He is a physical, undersized player who is tough and aggressive. He is a good young player who should continue to improve as a frontline starter. No. 3 CB Randall Gay is a smart, instinctive player who can handle many roles but has struggled with durability issues at times. Both Tory James and Chad Scott are experienced players who could fill in as short-term starters. However, there is still some uncertainty at the safety positions due to health concerns for Rodney Harrison and Eugene Wilson (see inline on key position battle). The Patriots have solid depth with Brandon Meriweather, James Sanders and Artrell Hawkins.

Will Laurence Maroney be able to replace Corey Dillon?

Dillon was one of the biggest offseason losses by the Patriots. Even though Dillon is on the downside of his career, he still led the Patriots in rushing and will be sorely missed in red-zone and goal-line situations. The Patriots were one of the best teams in 2006 in that area and Dillon was a big part of that success. With that said, the Patriots will continue to utilize their running backs in different situations based on down and distance. Maroney was very limited in the Patriots' offseason conditioning program due to shoulder surgery. If fully healthy, Maroney has the run skills and ability to be an outstanding player in the NFL. He places a lot of pressure on opposing defenses and could put up some impressive numbers in 2007.

The player under the microscope

Adalius Thomas. The Patriots were aggressive in the free-agent market, landing OLB Thomas. The former Raven is a perfect fit in Bill Belichick's defensive system. Thomas is a versatile player who can be utilized in many ways in the Patriots' multiple systems. Along with his playmaking abilities, his mere presence should improve the Patriots' front seven.

Fantasy take

The New England front office rebuilt the receiving corps by acquiring Randy Moss, Donte' Stallworth and Wes Welker to join emerging tight end Benjamin Watson. Tom Brady is primed for a monster season, but whether he distributes the ball evenly or establishes a favorite target is the key determining his receivers' value.

-- Nate Ravitz

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