Biggest position battle
It’s tempting to say quarterback, but it appears the Jets are committed to Geno Smith beginning the year. Because of that we will go with right guard as the biggest battle in Jets camp. There are a slew of players — Willie Colon, Oday Aboushi, Brian 🌱Winters, Brent Qvale and Jarvis Harrison — fighting for the starting spot. Colon was the starter last season, but at 32 he is nearing the end of his career and his play has slipped. Aboushi played well at left guard last year after replacing aဣn injured Winters. Qvale saw a lot of playing time with the first team in the spring.
Most intriguing rookie
Who was the last true deep-threat wide receiver the Jets had? Rookie Devin Smith could fill that void. The second-round pick from Ohio State is known f♊or his ability to get downfield and make big catches. He averaged 28.2 yards per catch last year for the Buckeyes. It will be interesting to see how the Jets utilize Smith. They already have Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker and Jeremy Kerley at the position, but none has Smith’s deep-threat ability.
Coach’s toughest challenge
Todd Bowles launches his first training camp as a head coach trying to manage a delicate quarterback situation. Bowles has said the job is Geno Smith’s to lose. You can expect the media and fans to be watching for any slipup by Smith to see if Ryan Fitzpatrick has an opening to grab the job. Bowles and offensive coordinator Chan Gailey will be under the microscope when it comes to the quarterbacks. If Smith has an interception-filled practice, will Fitzpatrick get more first-team reps? Bowles has 👍been confident that he can deal with the media, but quarterback questions wear on coaches and if training camp becomes all about Smith and Fitzpatrick, it will be a test to see how patient Bowles is with the questions.
Most fascinating newcomer
New general manager Mike Maccagnan did not wa💟it for free agency to begin reshaping the Jets roster. He made a trade for wide receiver Brandon Marshall days before free agency opened. Marshall is the most notable change to the Jets’ offense. Now, how much of an effect can he have on Smith and the offense, which has struggled for years? Marshall made some dynamic catches during the spring practices and is fun to watch, especially in red-zone drills.
Most notable absence
This one is easy — Rex Ryan. Say what you want about the former Jets coach, but his personality was huge and dominated the dog days of training camp. Reporters will miss Ryan’s predictions of greatness for his defense that always made for easy stories. Todd Bowles is much more subdued (who isn’t?). Training camp will have a much different feel without Ryan. The biggest difference is camp being held at the team’s Florham Park headquarters. 🅷Ryan preferred the quiet of Cortland. For anyone missing Ryan, though, there will be reminders with the Bills not being too far away and his ability to always make headlines.
Biggest comeback
The Jets took a gamble on running back Stevan Ridley, signing him after his 2014 season ended with a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee. Ridley did not do much this spring, and it was unclear whether he would be ready to participate fully in training camp. Ridley’s recovery could be critical for the Jets. If he recovers and can be the running back he was in 2012 with the Patriots when he ran for more than 1,000 yards, the Jetꦜs running game gets a huge boost. But 🎶he enters camp as a big question mark.
Sizing up the competition: AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Coach: Rex Ryan (first season).
Biggest newcomers: Ryan was busy in his first offsea🌺son with the Bills, with his biggest move coming rig💞ht off the bat with the acquisition of 1,300-yard rusher LeSean McCoy from the Eagles for oft-injured LB Kiko Alonso. Other notable additions include TE Charles Clay, WR Percy Harvin and QB Matt Cassel, although early reports say Cassel might not make the team.
Biggest losses: Ryan cut LB Brandon Spikes despite a productive 2014 season, and the departure of playmaking SS Da’Norris Searcy will be felt. C.J. Spiller left for♓ the Saints, but Ryan thinks Buffalo has his replacements in McCoy and Ha📖rvin.
Training-camp outlook: The Bills will look familiar to anyone who watched Ryan coach the Jets the previous six years. They have a loaded defense, an offense that vows to pound the football … and no quarterback. Ryan, in fact, seems to have Geno Smith’s double in EJ Manuel, assuming Manuel can beat out Cassel in the Bi🍸lls’ pillow-fight of a quarterback competition. Manuel has a big arm like Smith’s, as well as the same penchant for boneheaded mistakes anไd turnovers. But the lack of a quarterback hasn’t kept Buffalo from quickly warming to the promises and bluster that won Ryan so many fans early in his Jets tenure. The Bills have set a record for season-ticket sales, and expectations are high — at least until the games start.
Preseason schedule: Aug🍒. 14: Panthers, Aug. 20: at Browns, Aug. 29: Steelers,ꦇ Sept. 3: at Lions
How they fared vs. Jets last season: Buffalo swept the series 2-0.
Dolphins
Coach: Joe Philbin (fourth season).
Biggest newcomers: Miami made the biggest splash of all in free agency, adding All-Pro DT Ndamukong Suh. Other promising moves included the signing of WR Kenny Stills and Suh’s former Detroit linemate C.J. ෴Mosley. The Dolphins will also get to see if WR Greg Jennings and oft-injured TE Jordan🔯 Cameron have anything left.
Biggest losses: The Dolphins were busy in the offseason, but t♚hey took a lot of hits, too. They’ll miss DE Jared Odrick, WR Mike Wallace, TE Charles Clay, LB Philip Wheeler and RB Daniel Thomas.
Training-camp outlook: After yet another free-agent spending spree, this time by new GM Mike Tannen🌺baum, it’s time the Dolphins — and especially fourth-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill — finally lived up to their promise. With Suh anchoring a defense that was already stout (Miami ranked 12th in total defense last season), the Dolphins won’t be easy to score on and likely will be in every game they play. But whether they make the playoffs for the first time since 2008 will depend on Tannehill and the offense developing the consistency that has been sorely lacking. Tannehill won’t have the deep threat of Wallace, but Miami doesn’t lack weapons. Lamar Miller ran for 1,099 yards, while WR Jarvis Landry caught 84 passes as a rookie. They just need Tannehill to sꦏtart stepping up with them.
Preseason schedule: Aug. 13: at Bears, Aug. 22: at Panthers, A🎃ug. 2ꦓ9: Falcons, Sept. 3: Buccaneers
How they fared vs. Jets last season: The teams split the series 1-1.
Patriots
Coach: Bill Belichick (16th season).
Biggest newcomers: Amid a host of key losses, the only additions of note were OLB-DE Jabaal Sheard and CB Tarrell Brown. The Patriots also signed QB Matt Flynn in case Tom Brady’s four-gam👍e Deflategate suspension is upheld.
Biggest losses: Other teams picked the Patriots’ defense apart in free agency, with the most critical departures b🗹eing CBs Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner and DE Akeem Ayers. New England also cut three top contributors on defense, NT Vince Wilfork and CBs Kyle Arrington and Alfonzo Dennard. The Pats’ backfield also took hits with the exits of Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley.
Training-camp outlook: The biggest question mark surrounding the defending Super Bowl champions — will Tom Brady be suspended for the first four games? — is in the hands of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. But even if Brady’s Deflategate ban is kept in place and the untested Jimmy Garoppolo starts in his place, it would be foolish to count out Belichick and the Patriots. After all, they started last year 2-2 and still ended up winning their first Lombardi Trophy since Spygate. New England’s defense was obliterated in free agency, but that typically produces some of Belichick’s b♔est coaching. If the Patriots were somehow lacking in motivation to repeat, the Deflategate saga that dominated the entire offseason no doubt cured that.
Preseason schedule: A꧑ug. 13: Pa𝐆ckers, Aug. 22: at Saints, Aug. 28: at Panthers, Sept. 3: Giants
How they fared vs. Jets last season: The Patriots swept the series 2-0.