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.

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? 

QB Future Bright in AFC East

This past Sunday featured the debut of two rookie quarterbacks, both of whom play in the AFC East

By Kevin Reese

Geno Smith, product of West Virginia University, started his career in East Rutherford at MetLife Stadium. At the same time, about six hours away in Orchard Park, EJ Manuel, the only quarterback taken ahead of Smith, debuted against the division rival New England Patriots. The results of the two games might not have been the same, but both teams now have a lot to look forward to after watching their rookie signal callers take the field for the first time.

Bloomberg.com

Geno Smith was anointed the Jets starting quarterback this offseason, when former first round pick Mark Sanchez suffered an injury to his throwing shoulder. Of course when playing in New York, expectations are always high, especially for the starting quarterback. Geno did not disappoint. Now he didn’t go out there and sling the football around to the tune of 400 yards and five touchdowns, but what he did do was win. He showed that he has what it takes to get the job done when it needs to be. Trailing 17-15 with 34 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Geno did what he had to do. Starting at his own 20, Geno completed a 25-yard pass down the middle to Kellen Winslow. After rushing to the line to spike the ball, Geno showed of his legs to gain ten more yards. Following the play, Tampa Bay linebacker Lavonte David was penalized for a late hit on Smith. This set up the Jets for a Nick Folk field goal to put the Jets up for good.

Now like I said, Geno Smith didn’t win this game on his own, however, he put his team in the best position to win. Smith finished with 256 yards passing and one touchdown, completing 24 out of 38 throws. Also, he was able to add 47 yards on the ground. During the game winning drive, it was all Geno. He appeared to have the confidence of a ten-year veteran, not a rookie quarterback starting his first game.

Boston Globe

Now lets travel to Ralph Wilson Stadium, where EJ Manuel, first round pick out of Florida State, took the field. This was Manuel’s first live action since Week 2 of the preseason, after which Manuel had a minor procedure on his left knee. EJ lived up to being the first quarterback taken in this year’s draft, a move questioned by many. Manuel played a very efficient game. He completed 18 of his 27 passes including 2 touchdowns, did not throw an interception, and was not sacked once. After halftime, with the Bills trailing 17-14, Manuel led the Bills on a systematic 80-yard touchdown drive, capped off by an 18-yard touchdown pass to Stevie Johnson. At this point, it seemed as though the Bills might be able to defeat the Patriots for the second time in twenty tries. But of course, things returned to normal in the AFC East, and the lone main stay in the division at quarterback showed the young gun how it’s done. Starting at his own 34-yard line, Tom Brady marched his team down the field, putting them right in place for Stephen Gostkowski to kick the game-winning field goal.

While the Bills didn’t ultimately pull off the upset, EJ Manuel gave Bills fans a lot of reasons to be optimistic. First off, EJ played turnover free football, something which has been a bit of an Achilles’ heel for Buffalo recently. Second, EJ posted a Total QBR rating of 70.8. QBR measures quarterbacks performances and what they do to help their team, incorporating the context of when certain plays happen, and how it impacts the outcome of the game. EJ’s QBR of 70.8 was good for 11^th in the league, better than Aaron Rodgers and his Sunday counterpart, Tom Brady.

While both didn’t come out victorious on Sunday, both Geno Smith and EJ Manuel gave fans something to look forward to. While this division is still Tom Brady’s for the next couple of years, the young quarterbacks in this division might be able to supplant Brady in time. The future is very bright for the American Football Conference’s East division. 

Looking to the Future

The Buffalo Bills are for real this year, right? Nope, keep dreaming.

By Michael Quagliana 

The Buffalo Bills’ chances at making the playoffs appear to be slipping away yet again. In 2011 the Bills began the season 4-1 and for the first time in years, Buffalo fans had plenty of reason to be excited. Then, before you could blink, the Bills, lost seven games in a row in route to a 6-11 record.

(AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)

This year, the Bills carried a 2-1 record after Week 3 and looked to be a team on the rise once again. Unfortunately, the Bills loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday puts them at 3-4, and last in the division heading into their bye. Coming off of the bye, the Bills are slated to play the Houston Texans (6-1), the New England Patriots (4-3), and the Miami Dolphins (3-3).

On top of the demanding schedule, the Bills have arguably the worst defense in the NFL. Buffalo is statistically the league’s worst team against the run, giving up 176.9 yards a game. And if a struggling Chris Johnson can run for over 190 yards against them like he did last Sunday, the Bills’ defensive struggles will continue to cost them games.

This year might not be the Bills breakout year, but there is good reason to be hopefully in Buffalo. Though short-lived, the glimmers of hope the Bills have shown in the past two seasons are without a doubt impressive, and are more to show for than other below .500 teams.

For now the division belongs to the Patriots, but the Bills have youth to their advantage. Their offensive weapons just need help on the other side of the ball for the team to start converting losses to wins within the next few years.

Running back CJ Spiller is one of the most explosive in the game. He is leading the league in yards per rush, with a most impressive 7.3 on 72 carries. He is a threat out of the backfield on screen and dump passes as well, and has a rare combination of power and elusiveness at the position. The third year back out of Clemson can very well be one of the best rushers in the league for years to come.

Wide receiver Steve Johnson is of Pro Bowl caliber, and Mario Williams, who has been the best defensive end in football since he was drafted first overall by the Texans in 2006, is new to the team this year and is still looking to make his mark.

However, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is not the long-term answer, and the defense is not playoff caliber. Those two areas need to be the target of the upcoming drafts for the Bills, because once the offense has a leader to do more than just manage the game, and the defense can be trusted on, the Bills could actually pose a solid threat in a wildcard race.

Patience, patience, patience. The Buffalo Bills have potential. They have talent. It is up to the organization to work on the areas in need, and harness the talent that’s there with strong coaching and discipline. Once they’ve done so the Bills may finally submerge from the trenches of the AFC East.