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AFC west

Sporting News, The, Oct 7, 2005

DENVER BRONCOS

LE Courtney Brown reclaimed his starting job after regaining full strength in his dislocated left elbow. He now can use his reach to drive linemen into the backfield, grab and shed blockers or swim through blocks. Unlike Ebenezer Ekuban, the player he replaced, Brown at times commands double-teams because of his strength and quickness. ... DT Michael Myers' technical proficiency against the run has hoisted him into the starting lineup. Myers anchors well, uses his hands nicely and knows how to play blocking angles by getting himself in proper position. He sometimes is slow to react when it's not an obvious passing situation because he is too consumed with stopping the run and can't get off blocks quickly enough. In third-and-long situations, he usually is replaced. OVERACHIEVING/UNDERACHIEVING: FB Kyle Johnson has developed into a consistent threat inside the 5. He scored on both a run and a pass in the first two games. ... P Todd Sauerbrun has done an above-average job overall but has had difficulty placing the ball inside the 20 and hasn't shown the consistent hangtime that allows the coverage to get downfield.--Lee Rasizer

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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Using Chris Hum instead of Marc Boerigter as the fourth wide receiver is a good move. Hum gives the Chiefs something they would otherwise lack: a reliable possession receiver. Boerigter is faster and has more big-play ability, but the Chiefs already have downfield threats in Samie Parker and Eddie Kennison. ... Kennison remains a reliable and productive player. He isn't a great route runner, but he generally gets separation from coverage and has been unusually reliable catching tough passes. Kennison is not as fast as he once was, but he still can get deep and opponents must respect his speed. OVERACHIEVING/UNDERACHIEVING: After his first two seasons, MLB Kawika Mitchell looked like a bust. He used to miss far too many tackles. Now he's punishing ballcarriers. ... RB Priest Holmes was outplayed by RB Larry Johnson in the first two games. Holmes generally needs a few carries to get into a rhythm. He's getting those carries early but then is replaced by Johnson. When he re-enters the game, he needs to get back into his rhythm. Holmes also isn't as good as Johnson when there's no hole.--Adam Teicher

OAKLAND RAIDERS

DT Warren Sapp has looked more like the Sapp of old than he did last season. He again is putting pressure on the quarterback. He floundered at end last season because he wasn't comfortable using the technique required of that position. He is part of a four-man line, so he doesn't get as much attention from blockers as he did last year. ... QB Kerry Collins has not thrown an interception, partially because he is making good decisions, such as when to throw the ball away and when to take a sack. ... Rookie CB Stanford Routt has been used extensively at nickel back. He has impressive size (6-1, 195) and excellent speed. However, he must avoid penalties. OVERACHIEVING/UNDERACHIEVING: Undrafted rookie PR/KR Chris Carr has developed into a dangerous return man and is one of the league's biggest surprises. He fields the ball smoothly and is a decisive runner who hits holes hard and consistently gives the team good field position. ... K Sebastian Janikowski has missed more field-goal attempts than he did in either of the past two seasons. He is healthy and confident, yet he isn't making solid contact. --Steve Corkran

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Coordinator Cam Cameron must continue to be creative if the offense is to build on its big game against the Giants. Cameron used misdirection almost to perfection, implemented the no-huddle, moved the line, called trick plays and spread out the attack. Movement prevents defenses from having clear lanes to QB Drew Brees, and the no-huddle keeps the offense in a rhythm while keeping defenses off-balance. ... the secondary has been burned consistently and made numerous mistakes (committing penalties, dropping interceptions). It has been soft and particularly porous over the middle, which could be devastating when the team faces the Patriots, Steelers, Raiders, Eagles and Chiefs in October. OVERACHIEVING/UNDERACHIEVING: Rookie KR/PR Darren Sproles' ability to shift into another gear and change directions on the fly is making the return game more effective, the team will try to use Sproles more from scrimmage, especially early in the season when teams have no clue how to defend against he and Tomlinson in the same backfield. ... CB Quentin Jammer has committed four penalties in three games and has been beaten a few times, especially deep. Teams are staying away from Drayton Florence and starting to go directly at Jammer.--Kevin Acee

Power poll

(1) Colts

(2) Buccaneers

(3) Patriots

(4) Steelers

(5) Bengals

(6) Chiefs

(7) Falcons

(8) Eagles

(9) Jaguars

(10) Dolphins

DRAFT DISH

By War Room scouts

Texas A&M's Reggie McNeal is considered a third-round pick, but he's the nation's best dual-threat quarterback and could be a first-rounder if he boosts his passing production. It's also possible he could be switched to wide receiver in the NFL. McNeal's test numbers are outstanding. At 6-2, 206, he runs a low-4.3 40-yard dash. ... Expect Louisville DE Elvis Dumervil to be a Day 1 pick; he has been unstoppable this season. He could move to outside

AFC west

Sporting News, The, Oct 7, 2005

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