Blog Archives

Buffalo Bills: B
The Bills concentrated their draft efforts on shoring up an extremely porous defense. Seven of their nine picks were on defense, including first round defensive lineman Marcell Dareus from Alabama. He should start immediately and provide a major boost to the team’s 32nd ranked rush defense. Offensive tackle remains a question after they waited until the 4th round to address the position. Ryan Fitzpatrick remains the starter at quarterback after the team didn’t draft one.

11) Houston Texans – Da’Quan Bowers, Defensive End, Clemson

The Texans need some major improvements on defense with the transition to a 3-4 scheme. While they could go cornerback, Bowers could add an immediate pass rushing presence after leading the nation with 15.5 in 2010. Injuries and the risk of a one year wonder are concerns, but the risk is worth the reward at 11.

12) Minnesota Vikings – Cameron Jordan, Defensive End, California

The first milestone in the NFL offseason calendar is the draft so, to satisfy our thirst for something football-related to talk about, we look to the AFC East draft needs.

Buffalo Bills: Buffalo has so many needs, it is impossible to list them all. The team was last in the league at stopping the run, so the defensive line definitely needs help. Offensive tackle is another major weakness, with no true starters in place. Quarterback may be the biggest concern, but the coaching staff may stick with Ryan Fitzpatrick for the time being. When they pick third, the Bills could go in several different directions.

Ben Roethlisberger had a successful return for the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, as they beat the Browns 28-10, while the Miami Dolphins went into storied Lambeau Field and beat the Packers in overtime on the road.

The NFL spread for this contest has Pittsburgh at -3 as a visitor, with the betting total set at 41.

Granted, the rust was there for Big Ben. He did make some great plays last week, which in turn allowed the Pittsburgh Steelers to be more aggressive on offense than they had been with his backups under center. On the other hand, he also made a few poor throws, including a horrible interception to Joe Haden that set up a Browns field goal.

The New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins are part of a three-way tie with the New York Jets in the AFC East, with the Jets owning the advantage of having beaten each of these two teams. That makes this a crucial game already for each club, even this early in the season.

The NFL betting odds have this game set as a toss-up, as the betting spread is set at Pick with this game in Miami, with the betting ‘total’ set at 46½.

While the Minnesota Vikings may have more raw talent on their team than the Miami Dolphins do, the Dolphins may have the emotional edge when these teams meet in Minnesota on Sunday.

The bookmakers set the NFL betting spread on this contest at Minnesota -5½ at home, with the betting ‘total’ set at 39.

The Minnesota Vikings were sky high for their opening game in New Orleans, as they were seeking revenge for the NFC Championship Game last season where Minnesota won on the stat sheet but the Saints won on the scoreboard.

A Look Back – Injuries really crippled the Miami Dolphins in 2009, as the losses of both QB Chad Pennington and RB Ronnie Brown were devastating for their hopes of making the playoffs. Brown is back, but Pennington’s replacement, Chad Henne, now has the pressure on his shoulders for leading the franchise into the next generation.

Brandon Marshall of the Miami Dolphins had an unspecified surgery that that will keep him off of the field until training camp.

The injury means that the Dolphins won’t be able to practice their re-worked offense until he returns which is going to hurt them early in the season.

Last season, the Miami Dolphins were a run-first team and didn’t have any receivers with anywhere near Marshall’s talent and his presence. Now they aren’t going to be able to practice their new offense until he gets back which means early season growing pains are going to be amplified.

Winners

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy is perfect for them and they got him exactly where he should go.

Kansas City Chiefs: Eric Berry is exactly what they needed. They might have been able to trade down a few spots and still pick him, but Berry is exactly what they needed.

Seattle Seahawks: Russell Okung probably shouldn’t have fallen to Seattle, so great for them to pick him up. Earl Thomas is another great pick at 14. The Seahawks probably did the best of anyone on Day 1.