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Sporting News, The, Nov 29, 2004

BUFFALO BILLS

FS Izell Reese, who lacks toughness and big-play skills, was replaced as a starter by undrafted rookie Rashad Baker, who is active and physical in run support. Baker has good range in pass coverage but tends to bite on play-action fakes. His hold on the job is tenuous. CB Troy Vincent (knee) could move there once healthy, and another option is Pierson Prioleau (5-11,188), who lacks ideal size but plays with good technique. ... After struggling early, RT Mike Williams has been a key reason for the team's resurgent running game. He has the size (6-6, 360) and strength to overpower defenders as a run blocker. Williams struggles in pass protection; he lacks the footwork to stop speed rushers. YOUTH MOVEMENT: Rookie QB J.P. Losman, who broke his leg in training camp, got some snaps in Week 11, but he's not ready to replace Drew Bledsoe. Losman has a strong arm and exceptional mobility. However, he is raw when it comes to reading defenses and hasn't gotten enough reps in practice. But if the team gets eliminated from the playoffs, Losman could get a shot.--Allen Wilson

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Ousting coach Dave Wannstedt didn't fix an essential problem: protecting the quarterback. The whole middle of the line has issues. C Seth McKinney is hesitant to make calls at the line, and the interior linemen have trouble with simple stunts. In the first half of the loss to Seattle, QB A.J. Feeley and backup Jay Fiedler came out with injuries (Feeley returned after Fiedler was hurt). The good news there was Feeley won major points with teammates for playing through a hip injury. ... The Dolphins are coming up with schemes to get WR Chris Chambers in more man-to-man coverage. They are offsetting their formations and keeping TE Randy McMichael on the other side to keep the defense from roiling coverage toward Chambers. Chambers had a season-high nine catches at Seattle. YOUTH MOVEMENT: Rookie Rex Hadnot, a college center, will fill in for LG Jeno James (knee). James will help the club build a new offensive line next season; Hadnot could give McKinney a run for the starting job at that time, so this playing time will be valuable. Hadnot's athletic ability has been surprising.--Jason Cole

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

QB Tom Brady's completion percentage this season is slightly below his career average, largely because the team has thrown downfield more often. The running of RB Corey Dillon has eliminated the need for the dink-and-dunk passing game. ... Coaches believe the defense struggles against the run at times because players try to help their teammates before taking care of their own gap. The Patriots' 3-4 scheme demands that players stay in their lanes even when the run is headed away from them; failing to do so opens up big cutback lanes. YOUTH MOVEMENT: Second-year LE Ty Warren fills the role formerly held by Bobby Hamilton; Warren plays on running downs, then comes out in passing situations. That has prevented Warren from showing his development as a pass rusher, though coach Bill Belichick believes Warren is more than capable of playing on passing downs. Warren has been consistent against the run. He does not have great upfield explosiveness, but he has gotten considerably stronger since his rookie year, and that has helped him against powerful right tackles.--Michael Felgar

NEW YORK JETS

The Jets have one of the NFCs top pass-rushing linemen, RE John Abraham, but coordinator Donnie Henderson has called blitzes on about 30 percent of opponents' pass plays. He wants to make quarterbacks throw quickly because he's concerned about the secondary's coverage ability. ... NT Jason Ferguson improved his quickness in the offseason, which has helped his pass rushing. He no longer is simply a stay-at-home run stuffer or a first-and second-down player. The presence of Abraham and DT Dewayne Robertson, who frequently draw double-teams, has given Ferguson more one-on-one battles, and he's winning them. YOUTH MOVEMENT: Rookie MLB Jonathan Vilma replaced Sam Cowart (knee), made a seamless transition and retained the starting job when Cowart returned. Vilma has sideline-to-sideline speed, giving the defense a dimension it had lacked. He does a nice job in coverage and plays with the poise of a veteran.--Rich Cimini