Keys to Training Camp: AFC East

Posted 7/28 by Jason Wood - Exclusive to Footballguys.com

Buffalo Bills

Link: http://www.buffalobills.com
Location: St. John Fisher College (Pittsford, NY)
Dates: July 25 - August 19
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)

Preseason Game Schedule

8/09 - @Tennessee (8:00 PM Eastern)
8/15 - Chicago (7:00 PM Eastern)
8/22 - @Green Bay (8:00 PM Eastern)
8/30 - @Pittsburgh (7:30 PM Eastern)
9/03 - Detroit (6:30 PM Eastern)

What We're Watching

Adjusting to a completely new offensive line - Cohesion is as important to an offensive line's success as talent, which doesn't bode well for the Bills this season. Entering camp, all five positions are expected to be manned by new players, a rare occurrence particularly for a team many consider a playoff contender.

Can QB Trent Edwards handle the no-huddle? - The Bills are going to challenge the assertion that you can't go home again, as the team plans on utilizing the no-huddle this year provided Trent Edwards shows an affinity for it in training camp. Can they produce in the same prodigious manner the vaunted Bills K-Gun offenses did under Jim Kelly?

Will the WR Terrell Owens experiment succeed? - Terrell Owens has always put up big numbers and is usually an asset to a team in the first year; but are Bills fans expecting too much from the 35-year old? Can Owens' presence elevate the entirety of the offense, or will his penchant for dropped passes and pouting be the nail in Dick Jauron's coffin?

How large a role will RB Fred Jackson have in the backfield? - Marshawn Lynch remains the projected starter but is suspended to open the season, which will give Fred Jackson and, to a lesser extent, Dominic Rhodes a chance to show off their talents. With the coaches gushing over Jackson's work ethic and receiving ability, could he work his way into a full-fledged job share?

(IDP) Is Aaron Schobel still an elite talent? - IDP experts expect Schobel to generate double digit sacks again in 2009, but he missed the last 11 games of 2008 with a Lisfranc injury. If Schobel isn't 100%, does the rest of the Bills defense suffer?

Miami Dolphins

Link: http://www.miamidolphins.com
Location: Nova Southeastern University (Davie, FL)
Dates: August 1 - August 20
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)

Preseason Game Schedule

8/17 - Jacksonville (7:30 PM Eastern)
8/22 - Carolina (7:30 PM Eastern)
8/27 - @Tampa Bay (8:00 PM Eastern)
9/03 - @New Orleans (8:00 PM Eastern)

What We're Watching

Is RB Ronnie Brown healthy and ready to be the bell cow? - Ronnie Brown lit the league up as the centerpiece of the Dolphins Wildcat formation, but that kind of gimmickry isn't sustainable. Can Brown finally live up to his immense talent and produce for a full 16-game season? Does Ricky Williams pose any threat to his playing time?

What can QB Chad Pennington do for an encore? - Chad Pennington shocked the world last year with a Top 10 fantasy season, setting a career high for completions (321), yards (3,653) and fantasy points (276). Will opposing defenses better exploit his weaknesses this year or has Pennington found a new lease on life?

Do the Dolphins have any WRs fantasy owners should care about? - Ted Ginn didn't play well enough to secure his spot as a longtime starter, but for 2009 the Dolphins don't appear to have many other options. Many fantasy owners are intrigued by Greg Camarillo and Davone Bess, are either sleepers and will camp illuminate that fact?

(IDP) Who wins the coveted SS job? - The Dolphins signed Gibril Wilson in free agency and re-signed leading tackler Yeremiah Bell. While that's great news for Dolphins fans, it's a quandary for IDP fantasy owners who are now faced with one of last year's fantasy studs falling short as they take over a free safety role.

New England Patriots

Link: http://www.patriots.com
Location: Gillette Stadium( Foxborough, MA)
Dates: July 30 - August 8
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)

Preseason Game Schedule

8/13 - @Philadelphia (7:30 PM Eastern)
8/20 - Cincinnati (7:30 PM Eastern)
8/28 - @Washington (8:00 PM Eastern)
9/03 - New York Giants (7:30 PM Eastern)

What We're Watching

Is QB Tom Brady back? - This is one of the biggest questions facing fantasy owners for obvious reasons. If Brady is 100% healthy, which reports say he will be, he should garner consideration as not only the top fantasy QB, but also a first round choice.

Will we get any sense of the RB pecking order? - Bill Belichick isn't one to disclose anything he doesn't have to, which means training camp may not give us much insight into the team's intentions at running back. That said, the Patriots offense is so explosive that a number of RBs are worth drafting. Will Fred Taylor be given a chance to play the role of Corey Dillon? Will Laurence Maroney, now allegedly healthy, surprise everyone by reclaiming the main role? Are Sammy Morris and BenJarvus Green-Ellis still factors? What about Kevin Faulk, who quietly catches a ton of passes in 3rd down formations each and every year?

Does WR Joey Galloway have anything left in the tank? - The Patriots WR3 is a valuable fantasy option as a bye week fill-in and injury replacement, and this year aging Joey Galloway hopes to handle that role. Yet few WRs at his age have ever produced noteworthy numbers.

Does the TE depth chart matter? - The Patriots love to hoard TEs and this offseason they traded for Alex Smith and signed Chris Baker, both starters on their former teams. Will either push for a major role while David Thomas and Ben Watson remain?

(IDP) Who starts at LOLB and RCB? - The Patriots are relatively set on defense save for the aforementioned positions. The trio of Pierre Woods, Tully Banta-Cain and Shawn Crable will vie for the LB slot and Jon Wilhite, Leigh Bodden, Darius Butler and Terrence Wheatley will contest the cornerback gig opposite Shawn Springs.

New York Jets

Link: http://www.newyorkjets.com
Location: SUNY Cortland (Cortland, NY)
Dates: July 27 - August 21
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)

Preseason Game Schedule

8/14 - St. Louis (7:00 PM Eastern)
8/24 - @Baltimore (8:00 PM Eastern)
8/29 - @New York Giants (8:00 PM Eastern)
9/03 - Philadelphia (7:00 PM Eastern)

What We're Watching

Will QB Mark Sanchez win the job? - Sanchez is being paid to be the team's longtime franchise passer, but that doesn't mean they'll hand him the job. Kellen Clemens has as good a chance to start in 2009, and this will be THE camp battle to watch.

Will RBs Thomas Jones and Leon Washington tow the party line? - Both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington want new contracts, and entering camp both are publicly decrying the lack of progress. Will either hold out, and if so will that open the door for rookie Shonn Greene to assume a larger role than we expect?

Is TE Dustin Keller the offensive player to target? - Elite fantasy TEs are often found in offenses without depth at WR, and on teams that love to run the ball. If that sounds like Keller's situation, you're not alone. It's quite possible Keller could be the de facto #1 receiver, and should end up no worse than the team's #2 target behind Jerricho Cotchery.

Who starts opposite WR Jerricho Cotchery? - With Laveranues Coles gone, this is clearly Cotchery's team but someone has to start on the other side. Entering camp Chansi Stuckey has the first shot, but David Clowney can't be counted out.

(IDP) Can Rex Ryan and Mike Pettine implement the Ravens schemes in Gotham? - Ryan and DC Pettine are bringing the attacking 3-4 system from Baltimore to New York, and also brought along SS Jim Leonhard, DE Marques Douglas and ILB Bart Scott to streamline the makeover.