European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 8, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday september 8, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 23 oilers to slip through an iffy Field up Strong armed a a Warren Moon might run and shoot Houston into super bowl xxv. By Dave Goldberg a football writer there was a Subtle change at the Denver Broncos training Camp this summer. Like fewer television trucks fewer re porters and a certain defensiveness Lone members of a team that has won three of the last four acc championships. That a what happens when you lose three super bowls by an average of 32 Points a game. A sure the super bowl stays in the Back of our Heads a says safety Dennis Smith. A you keep wondering Why we played so badly each time. Was it just a bad Day or was it us a Why the Broncos played badly May have to do with the difference Between the two conferences. Not Only has an pfc team won the last six nil titles but Only one game has been close a san Francisco a 20-16 win Over Cincinnati in 1989. It does no to look much different this season which is Why people sick of seeing Denver getting run out of the super bowl should be prepared for a repeat. Not Only is every other acc team flawed in one Way or another but the Broncos made the super bowl in a rebuilding year starting four rookies for most of the season. Who will Challenge perhaps someone from the balanced Central division a Houston under new coach Jack Pardee Cincinnati Pittsburgh or even Cleveland if it can Patch together an offensive line. Perhaps Buffalo or Miami in the East or emerging Kansas City in the West. But All have problems a Houston needs help on defense the bengals have several injury created holes and the chiefs Lack a proven quarterback. Which brings us to of no Denver.0 West division a people forget that we re a Young team a coach Dan Reeves says. A a we be got a lot of second year Guys who should get  principal among them is Bobby Humphrey who ran for 1,151 Yards As a Rookie. He was joined in an All Rookie Back Field by Melvin Bratton. Steve Atwater at Strong safety and Dave Widell at guard looked like future pro bowlers. This year Reeves expects More of last years Rookie crop to emerge particularly Warren Powers a 280-Pound defensive end who will add More beef to a still Small defense. The versatile Karl Mecklenburg at outside linebacker will add More Speed to the pass Rush. But the comebacks Are still slow a weakness exploited by Joe Montana in san Francisco a 55-10 super bowl Victory. Also Rookie Alton Montgomery drafted for Comer looks More like a safety. Nevertheless the key is still John Elway much maligned for his super bowl performances but still a quarterback who can lift a team by himself. If All three of his Amigos a Mark Jackson Vance Johnson and Ricky Nattiel a stay filthy the Broncos have one of the nil s Best balanced offences. If Kansas City had Elway the division would have a Winner. Instead coach Quot tarty sch Ottenheimer is hoping Steve Feller can find the consistency he tacked in Dallas. If not his quarterback 1s 35-year-old Steve Deberg with Sec Ond year Man Mike Elkins a future project. Otherwise the chiefs who went from �?T11-1 to 8-7-1 in sch Ottenheimer a first season Are solid with Christian Okoye me leagues leading rusher. They also a have an outstanding offensive line and one of the leagues Unsung defences. Linebacker Derrick Thomas the latest to Awrence Taylor clone showed As a postseason lineup East dolphins West Broncos Central oilers wild cards Bills bengals chiefs acc Champion oilers for openers sundays games Minnesota at Kansas City Phoenix at Washington los Angeles rams at Green Bay Seattle at Chicago Tampa Bay at Detroit Denver at los Angeles raiders Houston at Atlanta Indianapolis at Buffalo new York jets at Cincinnati Miami at new England Pittsburgh at Cleveland san Diego at Dallas Philadelphia at new York giants mondays game san Francisco at new Orleans Rookie that he May be the real thing. Defensive end Neil Smith turned it on his second year and the chiefs got a plan b find in nose tackle Dan Saleaumua. Deron Cherry a knee is hurting and cornerback Albert Lewis and Kevin Ross were holdouts but if they re around the secondary is Strong. San Diego 6-10 last season is also building around defense particularly a front seven that features Lee Williams Burt Grossman Leslie of Neal Billy Ray Smith and Rookie linebacker Junior seau. The problem is the offensive line which May make second year quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver a learning period a Little longer. The raiders Are on an 8-8 Treadmill that does no to figure to change until they find a permanent Home. There Are some Good things about what was once the leagues most feared team a Marcus Allen to Jackson when he shows up Tim Brown Howie Long and an offensive line that improved last year with the addition of Steve Wisniewski. But neither Jay Schroeder nor Steve Beuerlein has shown Long term consistency at quarterback. The Best thing about Seattle 7-9 last year May be its rookies a defensive linemen Cortez Kennedy and Eric Hayes linebacker Terry wooden and safety Robert  Central division Cleveland won the Central at 9-6-1 last year Only a game and a half better than last place Cincinnati 8-8, As Houston and Pittsburgh also made the playoffs. Look for Houston to stabilize with Jack Pardee replacing Jerry Glanville As head coach. But it May take a while As the defense goes from a 3-4 to a 4-3 and the offence installs the run and shoot full time. Warren Moon is the perfect quarterback for the system if he stays healthy and the receivers a Haywood Jeffires Drew Hill Ernest Givins and Curtis Duncan fit the system. Cincinnati is still talented but the knee injury sustained during a Bas Ketba game to comeback Eric Thomas will Hurt the defense and Ickey Woods in t fully recovered from the knee he Hurt last year. Pittsburgh started last season by losing two games by an aggregate score of 92-10 and finished 9-7. It made the playoffs beat Houston and scared Denver losing 24-23 at mile High stadium. Tim Worley and Merril Hoge look like an excellent set of running backs and Bubby Brister is a Leader at quarterback if not a consistent passer. The secondary is Good but the defense still needs a pass rusher. Cleveland has made the playoffs five straight years a the Only team in the league other than san Francisco to do so a but has lost three times to Denver in the acc title game. The Browns will have trouble making it six primarily because the offensive line is in disarray endangering the health of Bemie Kosar. A a we re not going anywhere if we can to Block anyone a coach Bud Carson says.0 East division that a Why Miami which lost four of its last five to finish 8-8, May go somewhere in the East. Despite leading the league in fewest sacks allowed every year because of Dan Marinous Quick release the offensive line has been a weak spot. If rookies Richmond Webb and Keith Sims can step in up front Marino May get a running game to go with the passing threat. Sammie Smith is the runner although he could be More durable. That could be enough in a relatively weak division particularly if the defense holds up. If it does no to then its Buffalo which claims to have overcome the internal problems that dropped it from 12-4 to 97 last year. Despite a nucleus of real and potential All pros in linebackers Cornelius Bennett and Shane Conlan defensive end Bruce Smith quarterback Jim Kelly and running Back Thurman Thomas the Bills underachieved last year. This season Buffalo lost two of its leaders from the defensive line a Art still and Fred Smerlas. And Thomas and will Wohlford its Best offensive lineman held out. If Marv Levy can pull things together Buffalo can win. Indianapolis 8-8, last year took two Steps Back in Hopes that it can take three Steps Forward someday. The Trade of Chris Hinton and Andre Rison to Atlanta for the rights to quarterback Jeff George makes this a rebuilding year by definition particularly with Eric Dickerson a presence in doubt. The front seven is solid but there a not enough elsewhere to get very far. The new York jets on the other hand show signs for reawakening behind new coach Bruce Coslet. The strength is the receiving corps where Rookie Rob Moore bolsters a1 Toon but the offensive line and pass Rush need too much work to make new York 4-12 last year an immediate contender. New England 5-11, also has offensive line troubles and is going with two old quarterbacks Marc Wilson and Steve Grogan. Rod rust is the new coach and May get a better season from John Stephens who fell off after an outstanding Rookie year. The playoffs however Are a Long haul away