AFC East Mock Draft

Looking At Potential Draft Picks During the Combine

By Kevin Reese

#9-Buffalo Bills – Team Needs: WR, OL, LB, TE, S

The Buffalo Bills will get the ball rolling in the 2014 NFL Draft for the AFC East. The Bills were up and down during the 2013 season, beating quality teams such as the Panthers and the Ravens yet lost by 21 to the Buccaneers. The inconsistent play could be attributed to the Bills’ youth. The Bills played the 2013 season with the third youngest team in the NFL, with an average age of 25.3. However, the Bills put up some very impressive stats in 2013, despite their 6-12 record. The Bills finished the season second in rushing yards per game, sacks, and interceptions, all of which should contribute to more victories going forward.

The Bills, therefore, seem to be set with running back, pass rushers, and pass defenders. The biggest way to improve this team would be to give help to their rookie quarterback, EJ Manuel. The team has large needs at the receiver and offensive tackle positions. At pick No. 9, one of the premier offensive tackles in this draft, such as Texas A&M’s Jake Matthews or Auburn’s Greg Robinson, might not be available. Therefore, the best option for the Bills would be to give Manuel some help on the outside, especially with the cloudy future of the current #1 receiver Stevie Johnson.

And with the ninth pick in the 2014 NFL Draft the Buffalo Bills Select:

Sammy Watkins, WR Clemson

Watkins certainly impressed in his final college game, catching 16 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns. With his Orange Bowl performance, Watkins cemented himself as the best wide receiver in this draft, and possibly the best skill position player. Buffalo needs a playmaker on the outside of his caliber and his combination of speed and athleticism, Watkins would be a perfect fit of both need and getting the best player available.

#18-New York Jets – Team Needs: WR, RB, OG, OLB, S

The New York Jets were the epitome of a .500 team during the 2013 season. The team alternated wins and losses for the first 10 weeks of the season, before losing three straight but then improving towards the end to finish the season 8-8. The Jets had quality wins against the Saints and Patriots under the leadership of rookie quarterback, Geno Smith. The Jets seem to be getting back to their winning ways from when they reached back-to-back AFC Championship games.

 They played great defense and ran the ball, both of which they did in 2013. The Jets finished third in opposing rushing yards per game and sixth in rushing yards per game. The defense, however, could improve on the back end. The Jets did finish 22nd in passing yards allowed last season. The Jets did spend their first round pick last year on Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner, and along with Antonio Cromartie, the two form a pretty good cornerback duo.

The Jets definitely could use some help at the safety position though. Dawan Landry was solid in his first season as Jets safety but opposite him is a mystery. Ed Reed had a down year after signing with the Jets mid season so finding a long-term replacement might be vital. Wide receiver seems to be the other glaring need for the Jets to help with the development of Smith. The Jets seem to be in the same position as the Bills, even though they had two more wins. Ultimately, need might trump best available at this spot.

And with the 18th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft the New York Jets select:

            Marqise Lee, WR USC

Lee has been ridiculously productive during his time at Southern Cal with quarterback Matt Barkley. The only problem is Matt Barkley wasn’t present at USC this past season as he entered the NFL. Lee’s first two seasons saw him put up a combined 191 receptions, 2,864 yards, and 25 touchdowns, with Barkley at the helm. If he were eligible to enter the NFL Draft after his sophomore season he would’ve, and most likely would’ve ended up a top 10 pick. However, he was forced to stay one more year without Barkley and Lee’s production took a fall. Lee finished with 57 receptions, 791 yards, and four touchdowns. As a result Lee’s draft stock has fallen a bit. Nonetheless, Lee is still a gifted playmaker and would be a huge help to Geno Smith going forward.

#19-Miami Dolphins – Team Needs: OL, DT, OLB, CB, S

The Miami Dolphins 2013 season will always be remembered not what happened on the field, but what happened off of it. The team’s performance was overshadowed by the off-field dispute between offensive lineman Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin. The two were eventually dismissed from the team and the Dolphins controlled their own fate in the AFC playoff picture going into week 16. Unfortunately, the Dolphins lost the final two weeks of the season and were on the outside looking in at the playoffs. So while the Dolphins were almost able to shake off the loss of two starting lineman, help is still direly needed.

And with the 19th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft the Miami Dolphins select:

            Cyrus Kouandijo, OT Alabama

Kouandijo came out of high school as a five-star recruit and the consensus number one offensive tackle. At Alabama, Kouandijo has been a very integral part on some very good offensive lines. Kouandijo has been listed as short as 6 foot 5 inches and as tall as 6 foot 7 inches. He has been weighed anywhere from 310 to 325 pounds. With measurable like that, Kouandijo really can stand out. Kouandijo will be able to step in right away and help ease the complete offensive line overhaul that is transpiring in Miami right now.

#29-New England Patriots – Team Needs: WR, RB, TE, DE, S

This past season was more of the same for the Patriots. They reached the playoffs, as we’ve been accustomed to during the Tom Brady era, but as of late, they have commonly exited without a Lombardi Trophy. The Pats’ 2013 season was marred by injuries, especially on the defensive side of the ball with notable players such as Vince Wilfork, Jerod Mayo, and Brandon Spikes all being out for the year. So getting healthy and making a good draft pick here, maybe more focused on getting the best player available over picking for need, could put the Pats over the hump in the AFC. Tom Brady, coming off one of his worst statistical seasons, could use some more weapons around him, whether it is a wide receiver, running back, or tight end.

And with the 29th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft the New England Patriots select:

            Eric Ebron, TE University of North Carolina

The absence of tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez was very noticeable last season. The Patriots thrived with their ability to put two tight ends on the field who can create match-up problems all over the field. Ebron seems to be a perfect fit to be able to fill the void left by Aaron Hernandez. The junior tight end out of UNC is listed at 6’4” and 245 pounds, yet he can line up all over the field, something that the Patriots know how to utilize. Adding another weapon at this pick will immensely help the Patriots and Tom Brady going forward, hopefully catapulting them back to where they once were.

A Push to Remember

Your AFC East Weekly Roundup

By Kevin Reese

Just a mere 4,292 days since we witnessed the “Tuck Rule” ultimately decide an NFL game, we might have met the newest controversial rule. On January 19, 2002 the New England Patriots were the beneficiary of this rule that no one had ever heard of. It might’ve just decided that playoff game.

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

This week, the Patriots were on the other end of the spectrum. This Sunday we were presented to the “Push Rule”.

The Patriots and Jets were locked in a back and forth match-up all day. Stephen Gostkowski was able to kick the game into overtime with his field goal with 16 seconds remaining. The Pats received the opening kickoff in overtime and quickly were forced to punt the ball back to the Jets.

The drive stalled after a ten-play drive, in which the Jets ran nine times. Nick Folk lined up for the decisive 56-yard field goal. Bill Belichick elected to not do the common “ice” the kicker, however, Folk would get another chance as his kick sailed well wide of the uprights.

As Folk was kicking for the game, a flag was simultaneously thrown to the ground. The entire MetLife Stadium population collectively exulted a “please let it be on them,” according to Jet’s head coach Rex Ryan. No one in the stadium could’ve predicted what was going to come out of referee Jerome Boger’s mouth.

Patriots defensive tackle Chris Jones violated Rule 9, Section 1, Article 3.2 of the 2013 NFL rule book, a rule which was newly implemented this year. The rule states, “[Defensive] players cannot push teammates on the line of scrimmage into the offensive formation”. Jones was unfortunately the first player to fall victim to this new rule.

The refs got the call right, but it came at the expense of the Patriots win total. The penalty was enforced as an unsportsmanlike conduct and pushed the Jets up 15 yards. After running the ball three times, Folk lined up for a second try from 42-yards away. Folk took advantage and ended the game with his leg.

The Pats felt the pain that the Raiders felt years ago (kind of). A previously unknown rule had a decisive effect on a big game. The result might not end up deciding the AFC East division race, but one thing is for sure: this isn’t the last time we’ll be hearing the “Push Rule”. 

They Aren't Who We Thought They Were

Your Weekly AFC East Roundup

By Kevin Reese

Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo Bills-

The always seemingly bipolar Buffalo Bills are at it again. A week ago, the Bills took down the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens at home.

It was a dominating performance, as the Bills outrushed the Ravens by about 200 yards. On a short week, they took on the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football. The Bills seemed to be going punch for punch with the Browns, and seemed to have the edge when Brian Hoyer suffered a knee injury in the first quarter. But then the favor was returned, and EJ Manuel suffered a knee injury as well.

As EJ Manuel went, it seemed, so did the Bills. The game took a complete 180 at this point, and the Browns took control. Manuel engineered a successful drive, bringing the Bills down to the Browns 13-yard line on the play he was hurt. Backup QB Jeff Tuel was able to capitalize, finishing the drive with a touchdown and putting the Bills ahead, 24-17.

The Bills never scored another point. Brandon Weeden, on in relief for Hoyer, took control, appearing to be playing for his job. Weeden finished with 197 yards and a touchdown. The game was sealed when Tuel threw an interception, which was returned for a touchdown by T.J. Ward. The Browns went ahead 37-24 for good. The Bills might’ve lost more than the game. The Bills also lost not only a quarterback, but also their leader.

New York Jets-

So the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets played on Monday Night Football. The winning quarterback threw three touchdowns and put together a fourth quarter two-minute drive to put his team in position for the game-winning field goal. Yes, that’s right. I’m talking about Geno Smith, not Matt Ryan.

The Jets appeared to finally let Geno loose, giving him the reigns in this offense. Smith, coming in with a league leading 11 turnovers, knew he had to cut down on the interceptions.

Smith didn’t throw an interception, and the Jets as a team didn’t give the ball away. Coming off of an ugly 38-13 pounding at the hands of the Tennessee Titans, the Jets were able to bounce back in a big way.

With the Patriots losing this week, the Jets were able to pull within one game of the surprisingly competitive AFC East lead. If the Jets can continue to take care of the ball, they might be able to surprise some people this season.

Miami Dolphins-

We’ve been here before. Ryan Tannehill with the ball, given the opportunity to lead his team on a game-winning drive. We’ve seen it against the Colts and Falcons earlier this year.

The Baltimore Ravens might’ve caught on. The Ravens, led by Terrell Suggs, sacked Tannehill six times on Sunday, he last of which came on the potential game-tying drive that ultimately pushed the Dolphins out of field -goal range.

The Dolphins, after starting 3-0, might have found their Achilles heel. Tannehill had been sacked a league-leading 18 times before this game. Adding six to that total certainly keeps them in the lead. The ‘Phins also amassed only 22 rushing yards on 11 carries.

Rushing for 2 yards per carry definitely does not help a second-year quarterback. If the Dolphins want to return to their winning ways, they’ll need to become a more balanced offense, as well as keeping their quarterback upright.

New England Patriots-

Tom Brady, for once, appeared to be human. Brady, coming into the game with a 52-game streak of throwing a touchdown pass, wasn’t able to find the endzone on Sunday. Nobody on the Patriots was able to.

The Patriots were out-passed, out-rushed, and outplayed in a truly ugly game. The Bengals passed for 13 more yards than the high-flying Patriots passing attack, while they rushed for 80 more yards than the Pats.

Maybe it was just a bad game, or maybe the Patriots finally got a taste of what playing a good team feels like. The Patriots opened up the season 4-0. Their opponents through their first four games: a combined 5-11.

With their hardest match-ups remaining on their schedule, it’ll be interesting to see where the Patriots end up. Might this be the beginning of the end for Tom Brady? 

Are These 'Phins Phor Real?

What does the Season have in store for the Dolphins?

By Kevin Reese

US Presswire

The Miami Dolphins opened up their 2013 season with three wins, two of which came on the road.  They began the season by beating the Cleveland Browns in a game where Miami’s leading rusher had 14 yards.

 In Week 2, the Phins took down a considerably better opponent when they went to Indianapolis and defeated Andrew Luck and the Colts. Many started to deem the Dolphins a legitimate contender after they took down the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3.

The Dolphins entered the week undefeated facing the unbeaten New Orleans Saints in the vaunted Superdome. In just one game, our perception of this version of the Miami Dolphins might have been altered. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill didn’t look like the same player who led the Dolphins on a game-winning drive the previous week. 

Tannehill turned the ball over four times in this contest (one fumble and three interceptions). The defense got torched by Drew Brees to the tune of 413 yards and four touchdowns. The Dolphins ultimately fell to the Saints 38-17, putting them at 3-1 for the season.

So was this one bad game or was the first three weeks misleading as to who the real Dolphins are? Only time will tell. The Dolphins remaining schedule is quite favorable. The Dolphins only play one team who currently has a winning record the rest of the way. 

That team is their division rival New England Patriots, whom the Dolphins get to face twice. Also, it’s worth noting that half of the Dolphins remaining games are against division opponents.

In this very young NFL season, Miami is still very much in the race for the AFC East. It just depends on what Dolphins team we see. Do we get the team that won games against teams that were in last year’s playoffs, or the team who can’t seem to stop anything? The Dolphins are only one game back and have a multitude of winnable games left. 

So whatever team shows up, Miami will most likely exceed expectations this season, considering many picked them to not even smell a division title. This Dolphins team will most likely experience more ups-and-downs like this previous game, but one thing is for certain: they’re not going undefeated. 

Happy Birthday Pops

EJ Manuel's game-winning fourth quarter touchdown drive marks special day for the Bills quarterback

By Kevin Reese

Erik Sr. celebrated his birthday this Sunday by doing the only thing feasible for any American to do on a Sunday: watch football. Except Erik Sr. was watching his son play on this Sunday. Erik Jr., better known as EJ, was able to give his father one hell of a birthday present.

 

Bill Wippert/Times Union

I also happened to be in attendance this Sunday in overcast Orchard Park, where the Buffalo Bills took on the Carolina Panthers. I watched on as EJ Manuel, playing in his second career game, led his team to a victory, Manuel’s first in his career.

I also happened to attend three Buffalo Bills games last season, and this game for 58 minutes felt like another one of those games. Missed open receivers, bonehead penalties, and of course, disgruntled Bills fans. It had all the typical ingredients of a letdown at Ralph Wilson Stadium. But we still haven’t accounted for those other two minutes of the 60-minute contest. The last two minutes in this game saw history being made, and one 80-yard touchdown drive.

EJ Manuel looked like a rookie for most of this game, often times looking timid, checking down to receivers while receivers ran open downfield. At one point, wide receiver Stevie Johnson, following a failed third down conversion in which he ran uncovered, returned to the sideline slamming his helmet to the turf in frustration. But by the end of the game the outspoken receiver was praising his young quarterback. “He earned a lot of our respect”, said Johnson following the win.

The Bills received the ball with 1:38 left in the game, down by six. Manuel took the field, and all I could think of was those 3 Bills games last season. A loss to the Rams where Ryan Fitzpatrick was sacked to end all hopes, an incompletion by Fitzpatrick on a fourth down to end the game against the Titans, and a game which saw Fitzpatrick intercepted four times against the Patriots. However, today was different. The Bills had a new leader under center, and the end result showed. The Bills started the drive at their own 20, with no timeouts. Manuel marched his team down the field, in an all no-huddle drive. He finished 6-8 for 51 yards, with a crucial nine-yard scramble to set up the game-winning score. Manuel was able to find Johnson all alone in the back of the end zone with a blitzing Luke Kuechly in his face, putting the Bills ahead for good.

This is a new Bills team, specifically because they might’ve found their new face of the franchise. EJ Manuel made some history with his late game heroics. He became the first NFL quarterback since 1960 to post a QB rating of 89+ in his first two games, as well as becoming the fifth NFL rookie since 1960 to engineer a fourth quarter comeback in his first or second game. So how’s that for a birthday present for Dad?