European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 29, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Monday August 29,1988 the stars and stripes Page 23 pro football 88 Only no Chance jets miss logjam by Steve Herman Indianapolis a the Indianapolis Colts halloween Surprise Eric Dickerson brought in Stant respectability to one of the nil s weakest team Sas the Colts won their first acc East title in a decade last year. But All five teams remained in Contention until the final three weeks and the 1988 race could be the same Way. You can t sneak up on anybody says Ron Meyer starting his second full season As Indianapolis coach. Quite frankly in the past the Colts probably have arc East preview been considered a win on our opponents in t taken for granted the Colts were 3-3, including two victories with re placements during the players strike when Genera manager Jim Irsay pulled Oft one of the biggest trades in nil history last oct. 31. Dickerson unhappy with Tholos Angeles rams was shipped to Indianapolis in a Deal that sent the Colts unsigned top draft pick line Backer Cornelius Bennett to the Buffalo Bills. The move benefited both teams and made both Strug gling franchises legitimate contenders with Miami an new England in the acc East. Only the new York jets rebuilding after cutting nine one time starters appear Down this year. In fact with three weeks left All five teams were 6-6. Dickerson who played in nine games led the acc onrushing with 1,011 Yards As the Colts finished 9-6 for their first winning season and first playoff berth since 1977. Bennett Shane Conlan and Bruce Smith helped move up a Buffalo defense from 26th in 1986 to 12th last year the dolphins and patriots finished a game behind and the Bills who had won just eight of 48 games the previous three years were 7-8. And the jets were Only one game behind Buffalo finishing 6-9. Buffalo and Indianapolis Are coming on says Jet coach Joe Walton. The Colts showed last year what they could get done. They won the Buffalo Bills the Bills have an established quarterback in Jim Kelly who passed for 2,798 Yards and broke his own club record with a 59.7 completion percent age. Wide receivers Andre Reed and Chris Burkett Don t have the Speed coach Marv Levy would like but Are capable play ers. Second year Man Jamie Mueller is the Hope at full Back while Rookie thur Man Thomas who rushed for 1,613 Yards at Oklahoma state last season is expected to Challenge Veteran Ronnie Harmon at running Back. We walked away from last year s season accomplishing what i would say is our objective every year Levy said. We want the fans the Media our opponents and our own players to be Able to say the Buffalo Bills were definitely a better team than they were year ago if we do that for enough years you re going to win a last year 7-8, 1-2 strike fourth in division. Strengths quarterback defensive line linebacker. Weaknesses running Back tight end team Speed. Key players a a Jim Kelly lbs Shane Conlan and Cornelius Bennett de Bruce Smith. New and emerging faces re Thurman Thomas top draft pick de Art Shell obtained in Trade with Kansas City plus second running Back Jamie Mueller and second year do Nate Odomes. Prediction first provid ing no injury to the four Young All pro Caliper players Kelly Conlan Bennett Smith. Indianapolis Colts the Colts offence improved drastically wit the acquisition of Dicker son and the steady performance of Albert Bentley who was first in the acc and second in the of with 1,578 All purpose Yards. Their backup Fig ures to be George Wonsley. We Renow but better right unfortunately last year 9-6 regular sea son 2-1 strike. 1st place in Divi Sion. Lost to Cleveland 38-21 in first round of playoffs. Strengths running backs linebackers coach Ron Meyer. Weaknesses secondary quarterback team Speed owner. Key players re Eric Dick Erson olb Duane Bickett of Chris Hinton Ray Donaldson and Ron Solt or Billy Brooks. New and emerging faces nose tackle Joe Klecko signed As a free agent. Third year defensive end Jon hand. Prediction in t always reflect Don the scoreboard says Meyer. Injuries performance and attitude Al have a big part to play As the season the Colts often injured quarterback Veteran Gary Hogeboom has played in Only 11 of 32 games since he up Dan Marino putting Eric Dickerson into Colts stable made contenders of two acc East teams. Me in a Trade with Dallas three years ago. He Helmut then suffered a minor Elbow injury Early in training Camp giving the starting Job at least temporarily to Jack Trudeau. Among other holdouts were guard Ron Solt one of six pro bowl selections for the Colts. But Meyer beefed up his roster by signing a flock of experienced free agents from other teams including nose tackle Joe Klecko from the jets and defensive end Ezra Johnson from the Green Bay packers. New England patriots Miami dolphins last year 8-7 2-1 stake. Second in division. Key players and emerging stars la Andre Tippett a a Steve Grogan or Stanlcy Morgan cd Ronnie Lippett. De Garin Veris. New and emerging faces re John Stephens no 1 pick la Vincent Brown no 2. Second year feb Boh ferry Man. Prediction fourth Buffalo s Levy thinks the dolphins Are the favorite in the division. You be always got to be apprehensive of Miami because they have such a Fine quarterback Dan Marino and a Lon tradition of knowing How to win he said. Marino entering his sixth season holds 17 league records and is thenal s All time passing Leader with a career efficiency rating of 94.1. He had help from Troy Strad Ford who ran for 619 Yards caught 48 pass Sand was the nil offensive Rookie of the year. But two holdouts wide receiver Mark duper and offensive tackle Jon Giesler were a concern and the dolphins line has been further depleted by injuries to tackle Ronnie Lee and Center Dwight Stephenson who in t expected Back until november. The key however remains the defense. Last year the dolphins were 27th in the nil in sacks 26th in total defense and 25th against the Rush. The top two draft choices were defensive end Eric Kumerow and free safety Jarvis Williams but neither is expected to Start. The heart of the defense is linebacker John Offerdahl a pro Bowler in his first two seasons. Last year 8-7, 1-2 strike third in division. Strengths quarterback Dan Marino wide receivers Mark duper and Mark Clayton coach Don Shula running Back Troy Stradford. Weaknesses offensive line secondary Overall de sense particularly against the Rush. Key players Abdan Marino was Mark duper and Mark Clayton re Troy Strad Ford la John Offerdahl. New and emerging faces the Ferrell Edmunds no. 3 pick plus last year s top draft picks de John Bosa and la Rick Graf. Prediction third with the potential to Challenge for first if Kumerow Bosa and Graf develop. New England s Hopes lie with quarterback Steve Grogan a 35-year-old, 14 year Veteran. He will be in charge of an offence that dipped to 23rd in the nil from 13th the pre Vious year. The receiving corps is deep with Stanley Morgan Irving Fryar Cedric Jones and Stephen running backs Are Young third year Man Reg Gie Dupard Rookie John Stephens and second year Maybob Perryman. There s also turnover on defens with out Veteran linebackers Steve Nelson and Don Black Mon who retired. I feel our team has All the ingredients to compete with the Best in the business says coach Raymond Berry. We must find a Way to play High intensity foot Ball Over the course of 16 games. If we accomplish the mental part i feel we have the physical Talent to go All the new York jets the jets have been going downhill for the past year and a half Ever since they were 10-1 in 1986 and lost their Las five regular season games. This year the Only established veterans Are quarterback Ken o Brien wide receiver Al Tooland running backs free Man Mcneil and Johnny Hector. Three rookies will Start in the secondary an top draft pick Dave Cadi Gan will be at left tackle. Tomorrow a look at the Browns and the acc Central last year 6-9. T-2 strike strengths wide receiver Al Toon quarterback Ken o Brien if he plays Back to the form of 1986. Weaknesses defensive line secondary offensive line linebackers coaching key players 0 Brian re Freeman Mcneil. Toon the Mickey shul i la Bob Crable. New and emerging faces of Dave Ca Ringart. No. 1 pick Rookie defensive backs Terry Williams Erik Mcmillan James Hasty second year play ers olb Alex Gordon re Roger Vick it genial it Nichols prediction solid last
