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AFC east

Sporting News, The, Oct 7, 2005

BUFFALO BILLS

Angelo Crowell will replace WLB Takeo Spikes, who is out for the season (Achilles'). The team will miss Spikes' run-stuffing and coverage skills. Crowell has a nose for the ball but lacks experience. ... Coach Mike Mularkey won't back off his plan to develop QB J.P. Losman. Mularkey replaced Losman with Kelly Holcomb for a series against Tampa Bay, but the team doesn't want a quarterback controversy. ... RB Willis McGahee needs to attack the line. He is a big back (6-0, 228) behind an offensive line that averages 327 pounds. OVERACHIEVING/UNDERACHIEVING: LT Mike Gandy does a nice job of setting up quickly and using his hands to ward off pass rushers. He locks on to defenders and drives them off the ball when run-blocking. ... DT Ron Edwards lacks consistency. He has trouble disengaging from blockers and sometimes gets pushed off the line of scrimmage. He needs to play better so teams can't throw so many double-teams at Pro Bowl DT Sam Adams.--Allen Wilson

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MIAMI DOLPHINS

Sam Madison, 31, is the best cornerback on the team, but he has seen better days. He still is effective in press coverage, but Madison has lost the quickness to recover if a receiver beats the initial bump. Still, Madison probably will have a spot with the team next season because there is little depth in the secondary. ... Rookie RB Ronnie Brown is becoming more aggressive as he gets more comfortable and is doing a better job squaring his pads to the line of scrimmage before contact. OVERACHIEVING/UNDERACHIEVING: DT Keith Traylor, 36, has been impressive, showing he still has plenty left in the tank. He holds the point of attack well and anchors the goal-line defense, which has not allowed a touchdown on 10 running plays from the 3 or closer. ... CB Reggie Howard has struggled since the first exhibition game and lost his starting spot to rookie Travis Daniels. Howard looked particularly bad against Panthers WR Steve Smith last Sunday. Smith had three touchdown catches and ran circles around Howard.--Jason Cole

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Losing SS Rodney Harrison (left knee), who will miss significant time, will hurt because he is the defense's most vocal leader. Guss Scott will replace Harrison. Though he can't replace Hardson's intangibles, Scott is not a massive drop-off because he is a sure tackler and capable cover man. ... Rookie Nick Kaczur will replace LT Matt Light (right leg), who figures to miss substantial time. Though Kaczur has been reliable--the team has used him at both tackle spots--he'll probably get help from TEs Daniel Graham and Ben Watson until it is sure he can handle exotic looks each week. OVERACHIEVING/UNDERACHIEVING: DE Jarvis Green has created consistent pressure as a pass-rushing specialist. Green (6-3, 290) isn't as big as some of the team's linemen, but he gets off the ball quickly and uses his hands well. ... Watson, a first-round pick in 2004, has not gained QB Tom Brady's trust on option routes because Watson has been misreading coverages. That's preventing him from becoming as involved in the offense as the Patriots had hoped.--Tom Curran

NEW YORK JETS

With QB Chad Pennington likely to miss some time after aggravating his surgically repaired shoulder and backup Jay Fiedler probably out for the season with a shoulder injury, Brooks Bollinger will start. Bollinger's strengths are his mobility, smarts and toughness, but he doesn't have a big arm, has thrown only nine passes in the NFL and is a marginal player at best. He probably isn't a good fit for coordinator Mike Heimerdinger's offense, which emphasizes the vertical game. The Jets have to get their running game figured out to give Bollinger a chance to succeed. ... WR Justin McCareins (6-2,215) is a big, physical target who excels on short and intermediate routes. He also knows how to use his body to ward off cornerbacks. OVERACHIEVING/UNDERACHIEVING: TE Chris Baker won the starting job in training camp and has proved to be better than expected as a receiver. Always considered a good blocker, he has shown an ability to get downfield and pick up yards after the catch.... LT Jason Fabini, 31, is struggling in pass protection and has surrendered three sacks. He always has had trouble against speed rushers but got by on guile and toughness in the past.--Rich Cimini

AFC east

Sporting News, The, Oct 7, 2005

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