He was expected to battle for the starting position, but nothing was certain being that he was only entering his second season. He was not able to comeback from injury, and has now been released. Our starting CB's last year were Daniels / Madison. This year it will most likely be Daniels / Allen..... OT LJ Shelton has always been an interesting prospect, but he's never reached his full potential playing for teams like Arizona / Cleveland. We have one of the best OL coaches in the game{Houck}, so Shelton has no more excuses. At this time, he is expected to win the starting LT position, so he must be considered an upgrade over OT D. McIntosh. If he wasn't considered an upgrade, he wouldn't be starting ahead of him.... Regardless, if Shelton does falter, we still have McIntosh..... We've had more talent than the Pats for years in my opinion. It was poor coaching that has kept us from winning the division more than anything else. It's different now, and Miami is gaining ground fast on the Patriots as a result. Even if it doesn't happen for the Phinz this year, you can be certain that Miami will be back stronger in 2007.... What step backwards did we take on defense???.... Adding Capers was big, and reshaping the secondary was a must. I think Miami has done a great job this off-season on defense. The only loss{if you can call it that} was Madison....
And if those players / coaches are considered upgrades at their respected positions, they shoud be "improved". The opposite if not.... Kind of like going from one QB in 2005 {Frerotte,} to Culpepper in 2006. That would be considered "improved". Or in the Pats case, going from K. A. Vinatieri to M. Gramatica. That would be considered "weakened". Get it???....
Honestly I think it will go Miami New England Jets Bills While I can understand the skepticism about Cullpepper, there is no denying that he's a clear upgrade over Gus Frerrote. I also think that this is Ronnie Brown's breakout year. I thought he was the best RB entering the draft and I still feel that way even after Cadillac's ROY season. I don't love the Dolphins secondary, but who besides for New England really has the weapons to exploit it?
As far as Capers being an upgrade, I would say that is a big stretch. Also, Mike Mularkey didn't exactly make Buffalo an offensive juggernaut, so I wouldn't venture so far as to say that the Phins have a better coaching staff than the Pats. Not to mention that the guy up in NE has three rings and Saban doesn't even have three NFL seasons under his belt. The defense is worse simply b/c Taylor and Thomas are another year older and another year slower, and they will be starting a rookie in the secondary. Plus they did nothing to upgrade their weak D-Line. And the Shelton point only further confirms that you too think he is a question mark.
does anyone else find this comment as amusing as I did.. holy cow Blitz, I have heard some crazy talk on this MB, alot of it from you yourself but this comment takes the cake..
Tough to say right now. I would love to pick the Jets at #1 like usual :lol: 1.Pats 2.Phins 3.Jets 4.Bills seems to be how people think. I think the Dolphins could be better than the Pats, but I don't want to write that either.
I could see the Jets contending for the Wild Card with a healthy Chad and the schedule that they have, but it will definately be tough to beat out the Pats for the division. I would go with: 1. Pats 11-5 2. Jets 9-7 3. Phins 8-8 4. Bills 4-12
As a DC, and running the 3-4, Dom Capers is considered one of the best in the league, period. Go do some research, and take a look at some of the defenses he's assembled over the years. You might want to change that "stretch" statement as a result.... He wasn't an OC either. As the OC while with the Steelers, he had a couple of very productive seasons. He may be a downgrade compared to Linehan, but he's still qualified to run the offense that Linehan istalled in Miami a year ago. If he were bringing in his own offense, or a new offense, that would be different.... As for Miami having a better CS than the Patriots, I don't think I ever made that statement anywhere, so don't assume I did.... A year older, does not equal a year slower. In fact, being that 2006 will be their 2nd full season within the 3-4, they should be even better. Let's not forget how many sacks this "old / aging" unit tallied last year. "Age" as you so simply put it, is a laughable reason for doubting the Phinz defense. You guys have been riding that excuse for years, time to find a new one..... I'll make this as clear as possible for you. I do not think that LT LJ Shelton is a question mark. Are we clear???...
Despite the fact that the Patriots may be weakened, they still win the division by default. They have enough talent, plus they still have Brady + Belichick. Dolphins are a 9-10 win team at best. Pats Dolphins Jets Bills
AFC east may be the new NFC east weak for many years,mediocre football at its best. A team with an 8-8 record will make the playoffs.
What exactly did Dom Capers do in Houston besides run the franchise into the ground? Dom Capers is not a good coach and he proves it time and again. Are you trying to tell me that Mularkey had no influence as head coach of his team on the offense? Think again on that one. Linehan was doing a good thing with that offense and adding Mularkey to the mix is only going to hurt. Your boy Taylor is already showing signs of weakening with back problems, and don't expect Thomas to be far behind. Just put it this way, Shelton is a loser and always has been, so don't expect a change. You are in for a big letdown with him. The only strength your team has right now is their recieving corps, so you can hang your hat on that, but Culpepper will be the downfall of them when he can't find an open receiver because he is so brain dead.
Ok pal im glad you agree.My point will be proven this year, who in the division is a powerhouse? The AFC east in 2006 will be a mirror image of the NFC east in years gone by. 8-8, 9-7 will be the elite team from the division to make the playoffs. Read it and weep.
You must be thinking of the AFC South, the home of the six season expansion team. No wonder Manning looks so good to many, playing against sad sack teams like the Titans and Houston twice a year, never mind that juggernaught in Jackonville. Talk about an automatic six wins per season!
No the AFC EAST the division the Jets are in.Will be a very weak year for the entire division in general.
Your assertion is weak. Our division is nowhere near what the NFCE was. And it isn't likely to become that weak with the coaches on board with the Pats and Dolphins. Providing Mangini proves to be a quick learner the Jets can rebound in a couple of years. Sadly, I can't say much for the Bills, but one or two weak sisters does not the NFCE make.
or we could have great teams like the Colts and Jags in it who play great football until Jan. face it buddy your division is as weak as ours.
http://library.thinkquest.org/12590/domcaper.htm Capers has always been a very good DC. That's "Defensive Coordinator".....
