CFL 2005-2009 League Preview - AFC East

2009 Indianapolis Colts - It all starts and stops with Peyton Manning.  With only 1 true star receiver (Reggie Wayne), Peyton was able to take non-household names like Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie and make them look like pro-Bowlers.  Joseph Addai represents a change in pace when the offense isn't throwing.  Running out of the spread and with a line not geared for run blocking limits his effectiveness to under 4 yards per carry.  The defense is predicated on getting after the passer.  Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, when healthy, will combine for 24 sacks.  When they are out of the lineup it will be hard to get pressure on the opposing QB.  The kicking game could pose an issue with Adam Vinitieri being injured and Matt Stover not having the distance that  he had when he was in his prime.

2008 Miami Dolphins - Chad Pennington might have been the QB, but Ronnie Brown ran the "Wildcat" offense.  Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano put their heads together and rode this gadget offense all the way to a play appearance for a team that won only 1 game 2 years before.  Brown and cohort Ricky "up in smoke" Williams combined for almost 1,600 yards on the ground, while Ted Ginn Jr. was the deep threat.  Joey Porter (17.5) had almost half the team's sacks, while Andre Goodman (5) led the team in INT's.  Special Teams are pretty darn good with Davone Bess averaging about 11 yards a punt return and Brandon Fields making over 84% of his FG's.

2007 New England Patriots - To sum it all up in one sentence:  18 and 0 + one Giant loss.  This team was less than 3 minutes away from perfection.  Age and the lack of protection for Tom Brady did them in, in SB XLII.  If their opponents fail to rush Brady he will play pitch and catch with Randy Moss all day.  Moss had 23 TD receptions.  You can pick your poison trying to stop this offense.  Double cover Moss and Wes Welker will nickle and dime you to death.  Laurence Maroney and Sammy Morris average 4.5 ypc on the ground, so there is no letting up.  The defense is well above average.  Mike Vrabel (12.5 sacks) had a career year blitzing the QB.  Don't throw the ball Asante Samuel's way or risk him getting another INT (he had 6).  Ellis Hobbs and Wes Welker are unstoppable returning kicks and if you stop this offense Stephen Gostkowski will make 88% of his FG's.  It's not hard to see how they didn't lose a game in the regular season and almost won it all.

2006 Baltimore Ravens - This defense is scary good.  Ed Reed (5 INT) is a playmaker back their in a secondary that had 28 picks and returned 5 for TD's.  Part of the reason their secondary was so strong was the attack / blitz style of defense Rex Ryan employed.  60 sacks says it all.  You never know which LB is coming.  Even Ray Lewis got into the blitz happy action.  They will have their work cut out for them playing in this offensive oriented division.  Speaking of offense, the late Steve McNair protects the ball and runs a steady ship.  His favorite target will be TE Todd Heap (73 catches).  Mark Clayton caught 67 passes and is the deep threat, but the offense revolves around a slow and plodding running game and Jamal Lewis (1,130 yards).  Lewis is a workhorse (300+ carries), but his ypc average 3.6 is low.