The AFC East

There has been a lot of talk the last few days about who the team to beat is in the AFC East. While I understand that common knowledge points to Belichick and Brady, I just want to take a close look at the champs...show me where the flaws are....

Pennington is coming off an MVP runner-up season, with a strong up-and-coming quarterback behind him, and Pat White set to take the Wildcat to a whole new level. Ronnie Brown is in the prime of his careeer and coming off a Pro Bowl, while Ricky Williams and Patrick Cobbs provide enviable depth.

The offensive line consists of two absolute bookends locked down for years, including last year's #1 overall pick coming off a Pro Bowl. The guards, a patchwork position for all of last year, are healthy and guaranteed to provide an upgrade, and the strength issues we had last year at center have been addressed through free agency.

Anthony Fasano has his eyes set on becoming an elite player, while there is so much competition behind him at tight end that David Martin may not even make the team. Finally, Ted Ginn appears ready to explode in his third season, and if he can become a true #1, the group behind him at from two through five look awfully impressive.

On defense, more of the same. We have two young stud defensive ends, with Langford already resembling Richard Seymore and Merling showing the potential to dominate. Ferguson holds down the nose, while Channing Crowder, the emotional leader of the team, orchestrates behind him.

Our pass rush was an issue last year, but between defensive player of the year candidate Joey Porter, two time CFL devensive MVP Cameron Wake, and the greatest Dolphin defender of all time Jason Taylor, 2009 should be different.

In the secondary, Will Allen is a high level corner supported by first round pick Vontae Davis, the impressive, 6'3" Sean Smith, and vet Eric Green, so there is depth and size to match up with Randy and Terrell. And Yeremiah Bell and Gibril Wilson present potentially the best pair of safeties this team has had since Jake Scott and Dick Anderson.

Just to be thorough, names like Walden, Chatman, Hartline, London, Folsom, and Clemons will all hold it down in the special teams.

This team is well built and ready to explode. As long as we get consistent play from the quarterback position, which relies on either Chad Pennington's health or Chad Henne's emergence, I'm confident enough in this team's ability to put a physical beatdown on any team, combined with its cleverness and versatility, to say that the AFC East goes through Miami.