European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 27, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 22 b the stars and stripes tuesday August 27, 1991nfl 91 aim in on near miss by Dave Goldberg a football writer Midway through the first half of their exhibition game with the new York giants the Buffalo Bills allowed a 15-play, 84-Yard touchdown drive that consumed nearly nine minutes. Super bowl Dejavu a it was just an exhibition but i would have been happier if we had stuffed them a coach Marv Levy said. In fact super bowl Dejavu is just what the Bills expect this year hopefully without those time consuming drives they surrendered in a 20-19 loss to the giants in the title game last season. For if Levy and his players engage in typical a ave play Mem one at a time rhetoric the expectation in Buffalo is simple. Having come so close a year ago the Bills expect to go that extra step this year especially since they re conceded to be perhaps the a Fly a most talented team. Certainly the division title is there for the taking. Only Miami which challenged Buffalo into the next to last week of the 1990 season seems capable of upending the Bills. In fact Miami will open the season in Buffalo. Indianapolis continues to try to build a team around Jeff George last years quarterback find the new York jets continue to rebuild and poor new England 1-15 a year ago looks for a Way Back toward respectability. Acc East preview last year finished 13-3 in the regular season reached the super bowl with a 51-3 win Over the raiders then lost 20-19 to the giants when Scott Norwood s 47-Yard Field goal attempt was wide right at gun. Strengths hurry up offence featuring Jim Kelly. Thurman Thomas Andre Reed and a solid Veteran offensive Tine. Defensive Impact players in Bruce Smith Cornelius Bennett and Shane Conlan plus solid Cor nor bachs led by Nate Odomes. Weaknesses defense against the run. Safeties. Newcomers de Reggie Rogers former no 1 pick of fans after missing two years serving prison term Tor negligent homicide de Phil Hansen no. 2 pick. A Buffalo Bills Many fans there seem to think the Bills building step by step have no More to do than to play out the season to take the final a one. They would have taken it last year had not Scott Norwood a 47-Yard Field goal attempt sailed 6 feet wide. The Bills could Breeze into the super bowl 18-0, then lose and the year would be one big bust. A a in be taken the position that we re not the favourites a Levy said. A a we re one of five or six teams in each conference that has the Talent to win the super  that of course is coach speak. The Bills 13-3 last year with two playoff wins enter the season As the heir apparent the first acc team in eight years to be a super bowl favorite. But first the Bills must Stop Good running games. Because they did no to is Why their explosive no huddle offence had the Ball for just 19 minutes in the super bowl. One possible solution is defensive end Reggie Rogers the one time no. 1 pick at Detroit Back after two years out serving a prison term for negligent homicide and recovering from a broken neck sustained in the Accident that killed three people. The offence needs Little help. It starts with one of the leagues most experienced offensive lines quarterback Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas the a Fly a most elusive running Back. Andre Reed and 35-year-old James Lofton Are the wide receivers a Lofton As Good last year As he was a decade ago. The defense is built around Bruce Smith the leagues defensive map last year and linebackers Shane Conlan Cornelius Bennett and Darryl  a we a win or at least we should win a Smith said. A i want that  Miami dolphins last year bounced Back from Lour non Pinyon seasons to go 12-4. Lost division Idle by losing to Buffalo in 15lh game then beat Kansas City 17-16 in first round of playoff before losing to Bills again 44-34. Strengths coach Don Shula. Passing of Dan Marino to Mark duper Mark Clayton Ferrell Edmunds and perhaps Rookie Randal Hill improving Hon Sive line led by second year men Richmond Webb and Koith Sims. Safeties Louis Oliver and Jarvis Williams. Weaknesses Overall defense including pass Rush. The dolphins four losses Iasi season were to the Only physical teams they played. Newcomers Hill the no. 1 draft pick r8 Aaron Craver the no. 3 pick. Miami will see to that starting from the opening game. The dolphins remain explosive with Dan Marino Mark duper Mark Clayton and now Rookie Randal Hill at wide receiver. But More important to it to outstanding rookies Richmond Webb and Keith Sims were added to the offensive line last year helping protect Marino and produce a running game headed by Sammie Smith and Tony Paige. 7-9 record and so was the secondary which had just nine interceptions. A we simply need better players a coach Ron Meyer said of those positions. There Are a few besides Dickerson and George a like linebackers Duane Bickett and Jeff Herrod and wide receiver Billy Brooks and running Back Albert Bentley who has been buried in Dickerson a Shadow. But probably not enough to Challenge Buffalo or Miami. A new York jets last year improved to 610 in the first year with Dick Steinberg at general manager and Bruce collates coach. But it was an uneven 6-10 against a last place schedule strengths skill positions a Al Toon and Rob Moore at wide receiver Blair Thomas at running Back. Young defensive line led by Dennis Byrd shows some Promise but pass Rush is still needed. Weaknesses a a linebacker and offensive line. Quarterback Ken of Brien s Lack of mobility. Newcomers Browning Nagle taken on the second round looks like he May be the quarterback of the future. No 3 pick to Lewis could Start immediately at linebacker. The jets 6-10 in Bruce Coslett a first year As coach have problems similar to Indianapolis a Good skill players not enough break and butter. The quarterback will be Ken of Brien with Rookie Browning Nagle and Sec on a year Man Troy Taylor in the wings Blair Thomas should emerge As a top running Back in his second year and Al Toon and Rob Moore Are a a a dynamic receiving duo. But the offensive and defensive lines Are suspect. Irv Eatman and Ron Mattes veterans obtained in trades to beef up the offensive line failed to impress in training Camp leaving the relatively immobile of Brien exposed to a sack barrage on the other Side the jets need More pressure on opposing passers to help the Strong Point of the defense their secondary. The jets Are covered with question Marks. Can of Brien survive the season behind the porous front will Freeman Mcneil and Johnny Hector continue to produce in their 30s to augment Thomas at running Back can Coslet who has predicted a 10-win season work under the constant scrutiny he gets in new York Dick Steinberg has a Good track record As a personnel Man but the weak drafts of the late �?T80s Haven to left much to build upon. Coslet will have to wait a while to get his 10-win season. Jim Kelly provides Aerial punch for favored Buffalo. A new England a amp to lots still the dolphins had trouble with physical teams a the redskins the raiders the giants particularly on defense. A for us to match up with Buffalo we have to do a better Job of Rushing the passer and getting better play from the front of our defense a said coach Don Shula who had the same problem the previous four years his longest run Ever out of the playoffs. One reason was Jeff Cross who opened the season with 10 sacks in 10 games then got Only a a in the final six As teams double and triple teamed him. The dolphins signed a group of plan b linebackers hoping to find one or two who could help. The secondary features safeties Louis Oliver and Jarvis Williams. But there May be a Hole at cornerback where Shula finally unloaded the talented but troublesome Tim Mckyer to Atlanta. A Indianapolis Colts last year on the Field 115. Off the Field enough turmoil surrounding the use Olson locker room incident end the troubles of Victor Kam to fill e prime time �1pl strengths tally Good Young players in de a Quot new and line Young p i Ray a la Songli some Potev ,.______________ Backer Chota Singleton the top two draft choices last season. Weaknesses you name it they have it Tommy Hodson last years no. 3 draft Choice i Wing for the quarterback to with Hugh Millen a career third the Colts found their quarterback last year in Jeff George who even without much of a supporting cast looked like a rising Star. This year they have a cooperative and quiet Eric Dickerson who held out last year demanded to be traded and was finally suspended. Now Dickerson says a to ready to go if i get the cracks whoosh Man look out. Anyone who says there a no Spring left in these legs. Just ask the first Tacker who hits  but the problems May be getting the cracks. The offensive line was a major reason for last seasons last year went 7-9, and beat such playoff teams As eagles bengals. Redskins and chiefs. But also lost at Home to new England. Strengths Jeff George up end Down As a Rookie but on of the league s future stars Eric Dickerson in Camp and in shape from the Start receivers Billy Brooks and Jessie Hester and linebackers such As Jeff Herrod and Duane Bickett. Weaknesses secondary Lack of pass Rush and most importantly a porous offensive line that must protect George and open holes for Dickerson. One reason is the loss of Chris Hinton to Atlanta in which the Colts got George s rights. Newcomers none. New England the Only Way to go from a 1-15 record and All of the off the Field turmoil is up Sam Jankovich the teams new president and 61-year-old Rookie coach Dick Mcpherson will provide stability and the last two drafts have been decent. More picks could come in if the pats forsake the present and Trade the likes of John Stephens and Andre Tippett but one of those draftees second year Man Tommy Hodson will have to play quarterback a unless he a beaten out by career Len. The pats Are rebuilding but Are the Young players lil Ray Angew Chris Singleton Hodson Pat Harlow a Leonard Russell durable enough to learn through to inevitable losses do some of the Oft injured Veteran like Andre Tippett Bruce Armstrong and Garin ver have enough incentive to suffer with them there a Little Home Field advantage. The pats Are the areas fourth team behind the red sox celtics a Bruins. Sullivan stadium a a crowds will be negligible a Boos Are More Likely than cheers. Tomorrow acc Central battling for tha quarterback Job with hug1 a a a Stringer. Newcomers coach Dick Mcpherson president Sam Jan Kovich first round picks Pat Harlow and Leonard Russell could Start at offensive tackle and running Back immediately la Eugene Lockhart obtained from Dallas in Trade Lor the no. 1 pick in the draft who is Nso an instant starter. Third Stringer Hugh Mil How  finish 1. Buffalo 2. Miami 3. Indianapolis 4. New York jets 5. New England