Preseason Watch List: AFC East

Photo: USA Today Sports

BUFFALO BILLS

The Bills return to St. Fisher College with an eye toward emerging from the mediocrity that besieged the team in Doug Marrone's first season at the helm. Buffalo finished 22nd in points scored and 20th in points allowed; there is clearly room for improvement on both sides of the ball. Marrone and OC Nathaniel Hackett will be focused on the development of 2nd year QB E.J. Manuel, who missed six games last year. On the defensive side of the ball, DC Mike Pettine took the Cleveland Browns head coaching job and will be replaced by Jim Schwartz, most recently the head coach in Detroit. 

Preseason Game Schedule

• 8/3 -- @New York (8:00 ET)
• 8/8 -- @Carolina (7:30 ET)
• 8/16 -- @Pittsburgh (7:30 ET)
• 8/23 -- Tampa Bay (4:30 ET)
• 8/28 -- Detroit (7:00 ET)

What We're Watching

• Is E.J. Manuel a franchise quarterback? -- The vaunted Manuel vs. Kevin Kolb 'battle' never materialized last year but the jury is still out on Manuel after an injury truncated season. Buffalo added Todd Downing as quarterbacks coach to provide Manuel with more one-on-one tutoring. Downing was credited with Matthew Stafford's development in Detroit; although some would argue that's not a resume booster since Stafford's success came in spite of inconsistent mechanics. 
• F. Jackson vs. C.J. Spiller (vs. B. Brown?) -- Did you realize the Bills led the NFL with 546 rushing attempts last year, and finished 2nd with 2,307 yards on the ground. While C.J. Spiller didn't live up to preseason expectations, he did amass 933 yards rushing with a respectable 4.6 yards per carry average. Meanwhile Fred Jackson tallied 1,277 total yards and 10 touchdowns. Fantasy owners will be frustrated if these two backs split time, but it's fair to say that either have RB1 upside if the other is out of the picture. Further confusing matters, the Bills traded for Bryce Brown a few months ago -- a back who ran for 160+ yards and 2 TDs in each of his first two starts in Philadelphia. 
• Figuring out the WR depth chart -- Buffalo made improving the WR corps a priority this offseason, starting with the acquisition of Mike Williams from Tampa Bay. Williams is mercurial but has shown, when focused, he can be an above average #2 receiver. The team hopes 1st round pick Sammy Watkins is ready for immediate stardom, but also has confidence in 2nd year Robert Woods who led all returning receivers last year with 40 catches for 587 yards. 
• Can the league's biggest O-line pass protect? -- Marrone clearly has an affinity for massive linemen, and the Bills project to have the league's heaviest starting line. Yet Buffalo is counting on a rookie right tackle Cyrus Kouandijo and a failed LT-turned-LG in Chris Williams. 
• Installing Jim Schwartz' defense -- Mike Pettine was a Rex Ryan protege and favored multiple fronts, versatility and disguise. New DC Jim Scwhartz is a more traditional coordinator, preferring 4-3 fronts using a "Wide 9" alignment that has the rush ends far outside of the tackles. The key to the Wide 9 is a linebacking corps that can tackle effectively, which is a far bigger question mark with star LB Kiko Alonso already on injured reserve.  

MIAMI DOLPHINS

The Dolphins enter 2014 with a lot to prove after last year's free agent bonanza led to an 8-8 finish and, more importantly, embarrassing issues related to locker room bullying and unrest. Many of the key pieces return intact, but the keys to the offense have been handed over to Bill Lazor, who comes over from Philadelphia. Lazor's job will be to take a number of perceived assets -- namely QB Ryan Tannehill -- and optimize their abilities. The team's offensive turnaround is also contingent on fixing the offensive line. Defensively Kevin Coyle won't change much from last year's attacking unit. 

Preseason Game Schedule

• 8/8 -- @Atlanta (7:00 ET)
• 8/16 -- @Tampa Bay (7:30 ET)
• 8/23 -- Dallas (7:00 ET)
• 8/28 -- St. Louis (7:00 ET)

What We're Watching

• What is Bill Lazor's offensive philosophy? --  Bill Lazor has an opportunity to make an immediate impression taking over a Dolphins offense that ranked 26th in points scored and 27th in yards gained last season. Lazor coached under Dan Reeves, Mike Holmgren, Joe Gibbs and Chip Kelly which tells you two things: 1) Lazor has learned from some of the best offensive minds in NFL history and 2) he's been exposed to a variety of systems. Since Lazor's never called plays at the NFL level, it's difficult to pigeon hole his plans until we see them. The preseason should give us some hints at what's to come. 
• Is Ryan Tannehill a franchise quarterback? -- Ryan Tannehill played in Mike Sherman's West Coast offense for the majority of his adulthood -- having learned the system while both were at Texas A&M and then running the system in Miami over the last two seasons. The results has been uninspiring -- a career 59.4% passer rating, 36/30 TD/INT ratio in 32 games, and a 15-17 record as a starter. 2014 is shaping up to be referendum year for both Tannehill and head coach Joe Philbin. 
• Lamar Miller vs. Knowshon Moreno -- Lamar Miller wasn't the breakout star many expected last year, rushing 177 times for 709 yards (4.0 yards per rush) and scoring just one touchdown. Miami signed Knowshon Moreno in the offseason -- coming off a top-5 fantasy season in Denver -- and most assumed Moreno would take over the lead role. Yet Miller has looked sharp in OTAs and mini-camp while Moreno has been out of shape and continues to rehab from offseason knee surgery. This may shape up to be a committee approach, in which case neither back has much appeal. 
• Is a rebound in store for Mike Wallace? -- Mike Wallace caught 73 receptions for 930 yards (12.7 yards per catch) and 5 TDs in his first year as a Dolphin. Neither Wallace nor his coaches were pleased with his production, and he's saying and doing all the right things to hint at a rebound. Wallace's vertical game was taken away last year due to conservative play-calling, but Bill Lazor appears ready to utilize Wallace in the same way the Steelers did when Wallace was at or near the top of the league in yards per catch. 
• Rebuilding the offensive line (with or without Pouncey) -- No matter how excited Dolphins fans are with the addition of Bill Lazor and his up-tempo scheme, the fly in the ointment is the scary state of the Dolphins offensive line. Mike Pouncey is going to miss a significant portion of the season with a hip injury. As a result, the Dolphins will have new starters at every position to start the season. Left tackle will be manned by marquee free agent Branden Albert, while Shelley Smith (signed to play guard) will replace Pouncey in the middle. At right tackle Miami is counting on rookie 1st rounder Ja'Wuan James -- with Jason Fox as a contingency plan. Dallas Thomas, rookie Billy Turner and veteran Daryn Colledge are vying for the two guard positions. 

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

The Patriots enter training camp with far fewer questions than they faced 12 months ago. Last season Tom Brady was without more than 80% of his prior season's passing targets, but this year the majority of his targets return. That includes Julian Edelman (105 receptions for 1,056 yards and 6 touchdowns) who did his best Wes Welker interpretation. It also, hopefully, includes TE Rob Gronkowski. Defensively there is work to be done after giving up 5,969 yards last season. At the center of the defensive turnaround are the acquisitions of CBs Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner.   

Preseason Game Schedule

• 8/7 -- @Washington (7:30 ET)
• 8/15 -- Philadelphia (7:30 ET)
• 8/22 -- Carolina (7:30 ET)
• 8/28 -- @New York Giants (7:30 ET)

What We're Watching

• Rob Gronkowski's health -- How many other players could miss 14 of the last 32 games dealing with arm, back and knee issues and still be a consensus 2nd round fantasy pick? That's Rob Gronkowski's lot in life because when healthy he's the NFL's toughest mismatch. After fighting through arm and back worries last year, Gronkowski tore his ACL just as he was rounding back into dominance. New England has little incentive to rush Gronkowski back during the preseason, but any sign that he'll be OK for Week One is all fantasy owners will need to roll the dice on him. 
• Finding play makers beyond Julian Edelman -- Julian Edelman stepped into Wes Welker's role, gobbling up 105 receptions and providing Tom Brady with a reliable safety valve. That's all well and good but New England desperately needs other receivers to step to the forefront, particularly in terms of outside threats that can stretch the defense. It's anyone's guess how the pecking order will shake out between Danny Amendola, Brandon LaFell, Aaron Dobson, Josh Boyce and Kenbrell Thompkins. 
• Ridley vs. Vereen (vs. White?) -- The dynamic one-two punch that was Shane Vereen (injury) and Stevan Ridley (fumbles) fizzled as Bill Belichick lost faith in the young tandem and eventually relied on LaGarrette Blount. This preseason is a fresh start for both Vereen and Ridley but no one can say for certain what their roles will be until the games start counting in September. No coach is harder to read than Belichick, which is why you can't rule out rookie James White particularly if he flashes as a pass protector in camp.
• Stork vs. Wendell -- The Patriots hope a new starting center was born when (Bryan) Stork arrived. In all seriousness, Wendell was ineffective last year and Tom Brady's play suffered due to pressure up the middle. If rookie Stork can displace Wendell in the preseason, it bode well for a stronger rebound offensively in 2014. 
• Is Darrelle Revis still an elite cornerback? -- The Patriots have often been willing to take on contracts of big-name veteran players; sometimes it's been a boon and others it's been a complete failure. Can Darrelle Revis regain the form that made him the most feared cover corner since Deion Sanders? 
• A scramble at strong safety -- Devin McCourty is set at free safety but five players have their sights set on the strong safety job including Duron Harmon, Tavon Wilson, Kanorris Davis, Patrick Chung and Nate Ebner. 

NEW YORK JETS

Rob Ryan is like a Phoenix rising from the ashes -- surviving another mediocre (8-8) season even though most Jets fans preferred a change. The defense was uncharacteristically average (19th in points allowed) while the offense was typically ineffectual (29th in points scored, 25th in yards gained). Marty Mornhinweg implemented a new system but with little tangible improvement, and all eyes will be on him now that New York has added more pieces to the puzzle. 

Preseason Game Schedule

• 8/7 -- Indianapolis (7:00 ET)
• 8/16 -- @Cincinnati (7:00 ET)
• 8/22 -- New York Giants (7:30 ET)
• 8/28 -- @Philadelphia (7:00 ET)

What We're Watching

• Michael Vick vs. Geno Smith -- Geno Smith was given the job over Mark Sanchez as a rookie, but the jury is still out on Smith's future as an NFL starter. He threw only 12 touchdowns against 21 interceptions and completed 55.8% of his throws. Meanwhile Michael Vick comes over from Philadelphia with an eye toward one final shot at being an NFL starter. Vick has the advantage of knowing Mornhinweg's system inside and out (he had his best NFL season as a passer under Mornhinweg in Philadelphia) but at his advancing age Vick will have to be markedly better than Smith in camp to win the job. 
• Chris Johnson vs. Chris Ivory -- Chris Ivory flashed feature back talent at times last year, amassing 833 yards on 182 carries (4.6 yards per rush), but never won over the coaches as a full-time contributor. Enter Chris "CJ2K" Johnson from Tennessee, who has the talent to dominate but it's unclear whether he has the heart and drive to match. For now Johnson and the coaches are saying all the right things, but Johnson needs a strong preseason before fantasy owners are going to take a big bite of the Big Apple's newest runner.  
• Finding a viable WR2 -- Whether or not Eric Decker is miscast as the Jets' #1 receiver, there's no question he's a massive upgrade over last year's starting tandem. What's not clear is who else gets major playing time. Jeremy Kerley has a role as the slot receiver, but can Stephen Hill shake off the bust label in his third season? Will David Nelson win the job by default? Are rookies Jalen Saunders and Shaq Evans ready to push for snaps yet? 
• How quickly can Jace Amaro become a difference-maker? -- Jace Amaro may be the world's largest slot receiver. At 6'5", 265 lbs. he's one of the larger tight ends in the league, but is most decidedly a player that will make his living as a receiver and not a blocker. Rookie tight ends rarely contribute in fantasy leagues, but Amaro may be the exception given his refined route-running, good hands and the Jets need for reliable red zone options. 
• Is Calvin Pryor the missing link? -- The Jets did not have the defensive swagger typical of a Rex Ryan team last year, giving up 387 points (19th in the NFL). Ryan and GM Idzik believe SS Calvin Pryor is the key to making New York a formidable defense once again. Pryor is the kind of big-hitting, ball hawking safety that Ryan hasn't had since he was an assistant in Baltimore (Ed Reed). Big shoes to fill for a rookie, but the skills and attitude appear ready for prime time.