AFC East

Sporting News, The, Sept 15, 2003

BUFFALO BILLS

TRUTH IN ADVERTISING: The revamped defense was as good as advertised in the opener. SS Lawyer Milloy, who started against his former team after only one full day of practice, combined with fellow newcomers OLB Takeo Spikes and DT Sam Adams for a dominating performance. It was a dramatic improvement over the past two seasons, when the defense couldn't stop the run or keep teams from scoring.... Milloy, 29, is a physical player and fundamentally sound tackler. His range in pass coverage is good, though not what it once was, and he's so aggressive at times in run support that he can be vulnerable to play-action passes. He's rarely out of position and is still quick enough to run down plays. He continues to possess the instincts that allow him to anticipate where a play is going. His leadership will be a big asset.... The club is going with only two quarterbacks. Coaches believe it is important for Drew Bledsoe and Alex Van Pelt to get all the practice repetitions so they are prepared on game days. Rookie Jason Johnson was signed to the practice squad, just in case.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: Running backs coach Les Steckel has introduced the "lock mode" of carrying the football as opposed to tucking it away. The backs lock the ball on their biceps, making it more difficult for defenders to strip away. The team hopes this change will help RB Travis Henry, whose breakout second season was overshadowed by his 11 fumbles (eight lost). Some of his fumbles came on plays when he tried to fight for extra yards, but others were the result of the ball being stripped away. Henry had a fumble in the opener, but it was on a bad handoff.--Allen Wilson

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Turnovers the team forced in the opener. After registering a league-low 19 take-aways last season, the Bills showed the kind of playmaking ability that will shorten the field for the offense. They had four interceptions. Buffalo went without an interception in the first six games last season.

MIAMI DOLPHINS

SAD SACKS: The team may have finished fourth in the NFL in sacks last season with 47, but the pass rush proved to be suspect against Houston. DE Jason Taylor didn't have a sack or tackle. That is further proof the team lacks a fearsome defender.... The coaching staff appears to overthink situations. Defensive coordinator Jim Bates inexplicably had the cornerbacks off their normal coverage style against Houston; they appeared to fear the Texans' ability to go deep. Even after Houston started running short patterns, the corners didn't return to press coverage. On offense, the staff gave up on RB Ricky Williams too early. The Dolphins must stay with their strengths if they are to be a competitive team. ... QB Jay Fiedler's weak arm continues to be a problem. Fiedler has problems passing to the outside either way, but he especially struggles throwing to the left side line when he has to swing his hips around. That problem seemed more pronounced against Houston. He suffered a critical interception in the fourth quarter that led to the go-ahead field goal by the Texans.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The offense lined up in a lot of two tight end formations against the Texans, but it wasn't necessarily because of great confidence in rookie backup TE Donald Lee. In facing Houston's 3 4 defense, coaches wanted to provide help for OTs Todd Wade and Wade Smith in pass protection. Expect to see more of that alignment later in the season when the club faces Buffalo and New England. Wade needs to prove he's a better pass blocker if he expects to receive the big contract he wants when he becomes a free agent at the conclusion of this season.--Jason Cole

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Turnovers and sacks the team had in the season-opening loss to Houston. The goal for the Dolphins was te get close to the 41 turnovers they had in 2000, when they made the second round of the playoffs. That was one reason Miami picked up LB Junior Seau and SS Sammy Knight.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

ONE-SIDED STORY: OLB Rosevelt Colvin and DE Richard Seymour each recorded a sack, but otherwise there was only sporadic pressure from what was thought to be an improved pass rush. With Colvin and Seymour rushing from the same side, LB Mike Vrabel, LB Tedy Bruschi or DE Willie McGinest must apply consistent pressure from the other side.... Against the Bins, mammoth NT Ted Washington was on the field in some passing situations because the coaches valued his ability to collapse the middle of the pocket. When he plays that role will vary, though, because the strategy figures to work better against a pocket passer, such as the Bills' Drew Bledsoe, as opposed to a mobile QB, such as the Eagles' Donovan McNabb.... The defensive backs were often confused and out of position against the Bills. SS Lawyer Milloy, who knew the system better than anyone, was released recently. His responsibilities fall to SS Rodney Harrison, a hard hitting player who can make the middle a scary place for receivers. But his coverage skills aren't the best. He doesn't match up well with quick tight ends. He is best at providing run support.