(WECK 1230) — It’s the slowest-moving week in the every NFL fan’s year, the wait for the first game. We’ll try and make it all move a little faster with a different daily feature leading up to the Dolphins and Bills on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Tuesday — All-AFC East teams
Wednesday — Week One NFL Power Rankings
Thursday — Bills rap
Friday — Bills predictions
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New England’s Mike Wright
Color me one of the folks who think it’s ridiculous to assume the Bills will finish 0-6 in the division. There are simply too many questions around the AFC East to believe it’s a certainty the Bills lose Week One and never leave the basement. Are Mark Sanchez and Chad Henne for real? Do the Patriots have anyone in the secondary? Obviously, they have less pressing questions than Buffalo, but let’s break down the division’s best by position.
In some of the breakdowns, I won’t include an explanation because I think there shouldn’t be much of an argument against my rankings. Feel free to disagree: nickonweck@gmail.com
With all teams in the 3-4, this is far more appealing a concept for me than it was in 2009.
Left defensive end: 1. Shaun Ellis, NYJ | 2. Marcus Stroud, BUF | 3. Kendall Langford, MIA | 4. Gerard Warren, NE
Nose tackle: 1. Vince Wilfork, NE | 2. Kris Jenkins, NYJ | 3. Randy Starks, MIA | 4. Kyle Williams, BUF
– Tough break for first year NT Williams, who is behind three behemoths. Jenkins’ injury history offers Starks a chance to break through.
Right defensive end: 1. Mike Wright, NE | 2. Jared Odrick, MIA | 3. Dwan Edwards, BUF | 4. Sione Pouha, NYJ
– Odrick could pass Wright quickly. Wright’s a physical player, but Odrick is a terrific prospect who will have to adjust to the NFL game. It isn’t often a DE learns the NFL game in a hurry, but we’ll see.
Left OLB: 1. Bryan Thomas, NYJ | 2. Koa Misi, MIA | 3. Chris Kelsay, BUF | 4. Tully Banta-Cain, NE
Left ILB: 1. Channing Crowder, MIA | 2. Bart Scott, NYJ | 3. Andra Davis, BUF | 4. Gary Guyton, NE
– If Bill Belichick were starting Brandon Spikes over Guyton, Davis would find himself in last in this group. Nothing against Andra, just a deep group. I also realize I shouldn’t second guess a football genius.
Right ILB: 1. David Harris, NYJ | 2. Channing Crowder, MIA | 3. Jerod Mayo, NE | 4. Paul Posluszny, BUF
– Harris is an absolute monster in the middle, and doesn’t get a ton of love on account of his ostentatious inside mate, Bart Scott. Mayo is very close to catching Crowder, and Posluszny gets a tough break here. I’m not nearly as down on him as many in Buffalo.
Right OLB: 1. Cameron Wake, MIA | 2. Jason Taylor, NYJ | 3. Reggie Torbor, BUF | 4. Rob Ninkovich, NE
Corner No. 1: Darrelle Revis, NYJ | 2. Terrence McGee, BUF | 3. Vontae Davis, MIA | 4. Darius Butler, NE
– It’s an interesting group. Revis is clearly the No. 1, but Davis and Butler both have growing to do. A reporter in the league called McGee the most underrated corner in the league during training camp this year. I agree.
Corner No. 2: 1. Antonio Cromartie, NYJ | 2. Drayton Florence, BUF | 3. Devin McCourty, NE | 4. Sean Smith, MIA
– See “Corner No. 1.” Florence is solid, while Smith has a lot of work to do. McCourty is a first-rounder, but expect some growing pains from the rookie.
Strong safety: 1. Brandon Meriweather, NE | 2. Jim Leonhard, NYJ | 3. Yeremiah Bell, MIA | 4. Donte Whitner, BUF
– Meriweather is the clear No. 1, but Whitner can make some noise if it turns out the Dick Jauron regime was horribly misusing him. That said, I still hate his propensity to throw a shoulder check rather than wrap-up and tackle.
Free safety: 1. Jairus Byrd, BUF | 2. Brodney Pool, NYJ | 3. James Sanders, NE | 4. Chris Clemons, MIA
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The Jets’ Brandon Moore
Left tackle: 1. Jake Long, MIA | 2. D’Brickashaw Ferguson, NYJ | 3. Matt Light, NE | 4. Demetrius Bell, BUF
Left guard: 1. Andy Levitre, BUF | 2. Richie Incognito, MIA | 3. Dan Connolly, NE | Matt Slauson, NYJ
– So much for his “short arms,” Levitre may have been on a bad line last year, but he developed into a locker room leader and a dependable blocker. Weak group here.
Center: 1. Nick Mangold, NYJ | 2. Dan Koppen, NE | 3. Jake Grove, MIA | 4. Geoff Hangartner, BUF
– The opposite of left guard: this isn’t a slight on Hangartner as much as it is a crop of good centers.
Right guard: 1. Brandon Moore, NYJ | 2. Stephen Neal, NE | 3. Eric Wood, BUF | 4. John Jerry, MIA
– By next year, Wood should improve enough to be No. 1, but health is a question for now.
Right tackle: 1. Sebastian Vollmer, NE | 2. Vernon Carey, MIA | 3. Damien Woody, NYJ | 4. Cornell Green, BUF
– Green is miserable, Woody is acceptable and the other two are above average.
Tight end: 1. Dustin Keller, NYJ | 2. Alge Crumpler, NE | 3. Shawn Nelson, BUF | 4. Anthony Fasano, MIA
– I can understand those who want to put Fasano ahead of Nelson, but there’s just little debate in my mind. I don’t have much love for Fasano, regardless of what every tight end should do to the Bills this season.
Wide receiver No. 1: 1. Brandon Marshall, MIA | 2. Randy Moss, NE | 3. Lee Evans, BUF | 4. Braylon Edwards, NYJ
– Edwards is the most talented of the group, but also plays half the game with trampolines for hands. He should stop that.
Wide receiver No. 2: 1. Wes Welker, NE | 2. Santonio Holmes, NYJ | 3. Brian Hartline, MIA | 4. Steve Johnson, BUF
Fullback: 1. Lousaka Polite, MIA | 2. Tony Richardson, NYJ | 3. Corey McIntyre, BUF*
– *New England was awarded a one for not naming a fullback. Feel free to bookmark that for the final rankings.
Running backs: 1. Brown/Williams, MIA | 2. Spiller/Jackson, BUF | 3. Greene/Tomlinson, NYJ | Taylor/Maroney, NE
– This could be the year Ricky Williams drops off, which would allow either the Bills or Jets to seize the day. The distance between the Bills and Jets crews is a hair’s width.
Quarterback: 1. Tom Brady, NE | 2. Chad Henne, MIA | 3. Mark Sanchez, NYJ | 4. Trent Edwards, BUF
– I believe Henne’s more of a lock for an adequate second year as a starter, even if Sanchez will show more improvement simply by eliminating the 52-interception games. Don’t be surprised if the Bills quarterbacks combine to throw for their most touchdowns since J.P. Losman’s 19. Sadly, that would be a marked improvement.
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Bills punter Brian Moorman
Punter: 1. Brian Moorman, BUF | 2. Brandon Fields, MIA | 3. Steve Weatherford, NYJ | 4. Zoltan Mesko, NE
Kicker: 1. Stephen Gostkowski, NE | 2. Rian Lindell, BUF | 3. Dan Carpenter, MIA | 4. Nick Folk, NYJ
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Standings (Four points for 1st, Three pts for 2nd, etc.)
New York Jets: 67 (11)
Miami Dolphins: 63 (6)
New England Patriots: 58 (7)
Buffalo Bills: 51 (3)
I’m not saying this is how I’ll predict the division to fall — you’ll find out later this week — but it certainly should be an indication. Another thought: clearly Bill Belichick and Rex Ryan would be most peoples Nos. 1 and 2 as head coaches, but are you willing to discuss Chan Gailey being in the mix with Tony Sparano as No. 3?
Argue away: nickonweck@gmail.com
