It's July, the slowest month of the year for the NFL, and it's driving you nuts. You need a fix. A hit. Anything NFL to pull you through the dog days. FanHouse is here to help with an in-depth look at each division that should have you plenty prepared for training camp. We're calling it the Summer Scramble, and today we look at the AFC East's looming position battles.
• New York Jets -- Quarterback: As the Mets fade and the Yankees cruise into the playoffs, this will be the topic that dominates the summer tabloid headlines in the Big Apple. Will Mark Sanchez, the USC star and widely hailed first-round draft pick, be under center in Week 1? Or will Kellen Clemens, whose shot to start last year got stomped on by Brett Favre, finally get the chance to call the starting QB job his own?
Prior to the draft, Clemens was talking tough, saying he believed his experience in the Jets' system and with the Jets' personnel meant he was ahead of whoever the team might pick in the first round. But once that pick turned out to be a prepackaged star and potential marketing bonanza, Clemens' perspective undoubtedly changed. In post-draft minicamp interviews, Clemens came off as a man resigned to his fate -- another year holding the clipboard.
There were many stories last month during the OTAs about how Sanchez was struggling to make throws during the no-pads portion of the off-season. But make no mistake: Sanchez is the leader in this competition and will be given every chance during training camp and in the preseason to be its clear winner. Head coach Rex Ryan has said several times that he has an idea about how the competition is going to play out, and it'd be foolish to bet against it working out the way the head coach envisions it. The Jets believe that their defense, their offensive line and their running game will be so good that their quarterback will just have to avoid major mistakes. Sanchez should be able to handle that.
PREDICTION: Assuming he gets through the preseason without injuring or completely humiliating himself, Sanchez is the starter from Day 1.
• New England Patriots -- Cornerback: The 2008 Patriots allowed 27 passing touchdowns and 6.4 yards per pass attempt. Both figures ranked among the worst in the league. So Bill Belichick decided to clean house and load up with fresh-faced depth at DB for 2009. Gone are Ellis Hobbs, Deltha O'Neal and Lewis Sanders. New on the scene are veteran corners Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden, as well as second-round draft pick Darius Butler. That threesome will compete with second-year men Jonathan Wilhite and Terrence Wheatley for the two starting CB spots, though it's likely that all five will play major roles in the pass defense during the season.
It's hard to imagine that the Pats would have signed Springs and Bodden to play backup roles, so they probably begin training camp as the de facto starters. The question is wheher one or two of the other three can impress enough during August to muscle out one of the vets. Butler is a favorite of Belichick's and impressed during minicamp. He's sure to be involved in the kick-return game from the start, which could make him a fan favorite right away. And if one of the starters struggles, there will be a clamor for an exciting young rookie like Butler to get more playing time.
PREDICTION: Butler shows enough in training camp to lock down one of the starting spots, and Wilhite, who started the final four games of the 2008 season, grabs the other.
• Miami Dolphins -- Cornerback: Less wide-open in South Florida than in Mew England. Will Allen will start at one of the CB spots, and thee are three candidates for the other, including first-round draft pick Vontae Davis. He will be competing with fellow rookie Sean Smith, whom the team selected 36 picks later, and veteran Eric Green. During minicamp, the coaching staff said the three-way fight was running about even, which may be better news for Smith than either of the other two. If Green's experience can't help him stand out from a couple of cramming rookies, and if first-rounder Davis doesn't look better than second-rounder Smith, that would indicate some deficiencies on their part of which Smith might take advantage. A converted receiver, the 6-3 Smith is huge for a defensive back and must prove he can handle the position if he's to earn a starting spot.
PREDICTION: Davis' raw athleticism takes over in training camp, where he works with the first team as a nickel back and shows enough to start alongside Allen in Week 1.
• Buffalo Bills -- Offensive line: There's a major shuffle going on with the Bills' line. Langston Walker is getting the first crack at replacing Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters, who wad traded to Philadelphia. But Peters is but one of four major O-line contributors the Bills must replace.
Geoff Hangartner is currently No. 1 on the depth chart at center. But the other three positions on the line remain unsettled. Rookies Eric Wood and Andy Levitre will compete with Brad Butler and Kirk Chambers for those spots. Of the four, Butler looks like the most certain bet to start, most likely at right tackle. But what happens with the rookies in training camp will determine the makeup of the line come Week 1. If one of them struggles, Butler could move to the interior and open up the RT spot for Chambers.
PREDICTION: Butler begins the season at right tackle. First-round pick Wood starts next to him at right guard. Second-rounder Levitre starts at left guard. And if starting two rookies on the interior offensive line seems risky... well, we'll deal with that in tomorrow's entry.
Tomorrow: AFC East Burning Questions and Prediction
Tuesday: NFC North Position Battles
Wednesday: NFC North Burning Questions and Prediction
