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Tuesday, September 1,1992 The Champion, Page 13 Improved AFC East will pose threat to Buffalo By BRIAN SPERLING once again to run their powerful of­ the for second place 3) NEW YORK the Giants if Nagle competes to his 5) Champion Reporter fense. Kelly will have the ageless will be the consistent play of Dan potential. The AFC East provides its fans and going Marino and his offense. Marino has JETS 4) NEW ENGLAND COLTS with five teams out to prove compe­ deep as his targets. a strong duo of receivers in Mark Second year head coach Bruce Coach returns to tence in a closely matched division. remains in the backf ield as one of the Duper and Mark Clayton to provide Coslett has New York headed in the PATRIOTS the Colts to rebuild the club off a The will attempt to win most dangerous two-way threats in the big catch. right direction as he guided the Jets to Coach Dick MacPhcrson helped to nightmarish 1-15 finish last season. the after losing the big the . The Dolphins have had a suspect a wildcard playoff position in 1991. improve the Marchibroda had Jeff game the past two seasons. The defense will be solid once again running game in recent years, so they However, Coslett will need new last season after a 1 -15 campaign just George possibly go down for the However, the and behind the linebacking corps of Shane went out and swapped the disgruntled blood at quarterback for the contin­ two years ago. season with torn ligaments in the New York Jets are primed to take Conlin and . Bruce for Bobby Humphery ued building of this young club. As The offensive attack will be headed thumb of his throwing hand during an shots at the Bills for supremacy in the Smith will return al, an injury- of the . the Ken O'Brien era comes to an end, by Hugh Millen, who showed the exhibition game. If George returns, division. The New England Patriots plagued 1991 season to terrorize op­ The Dolphins drafted Coslett will look to Browning Nagle signs of a winner in several games he will once again be running for his will attempt to improve behind the posing . from Wisconsin in the to lead the offense. last season when he upset the Bills at life behind a poor offensive line and arm of a veteran quarterback while The highlight of the offseason for first round in hopes of bolstering their The second year Louisville prod­ Foxboro. Millen's main targets will trying to find receiver Bill Brooks. the Colts go to the youth movement. special teams was the Plan B signing defense which was inconsistent at uct will take aim for explosive wide be fleet-footed and The Colts suffered a big blow at the 1) BUFFALO of kicker from Tampa times last season. receiver Rob Moore. The bulk of the . position with the depar­ With a more consistent effort on Jets' running game will be placed on A good portion of the running load ture of to the Los BILLS Bay to replace Scott Norwood. 2) MIAMI both sides of the ball, the Dolphins the shoulders of Blair Thomas. will be placed on the shoulders of Angeles Raiders in the offseason. Buffalo will aim to reach the Super will be right in the thick of things in The New York Jets defense will John Stephens who will be vital if Former Giants Maurice Carthon was Bowl for the third consecutive sea­ DOLPHINS the Eastat playoff time. A team effort need a lot of maturing in order to Millen's arm goes cold. signed to strengthen the position. son. However, the rest of the division The Dolphins will mount a run at on offense will provide the difference overtake Miami for second place. It With a defense full of question Defensively, top pick Steve should make things more interesting the division title after narrowly miss­ between overtaking the Jets for a may be too much to ask in 1992. marks and the quick improvement of Emtman was taken from the Univer­ for 's club in 1992. ing the playoffs last season. wildcard spot or another third place Nevertheless, Coslett will have fans the Jets, third place is still far off for sity of Washington to help improve a The Bills will look to The key to the Dolphins edging finish. in the Meadowlands forgetting about this developing club. mediocre defensive line. Weak Central Division to aid Houston's 1992 title game hopes

By MIKE GATHMAN critics have staked these claims for The secondary will be helped with originally expected. Sports Editor the last three years about Moon. the addition of Darryl Williams from 4) CLEVELAND The AFC Central includes only one The Oilers lost Drew the University of Miami. He will join team that can actually compete with Hill to free agency, but the team is in a secondary that BROWNS the NFC elite. The other three teams still capable with its explosive of­ will hold if the line places any pres­ The Browns are still a team that has are only competitive when playing fense. Receiver Haywood Jeffries sure on the quarterback. not yet hit rock bottom. The 1992 each other. will still be around this season as 3) PITTSBURGH season could be the year Cleveland The Houston Oilers proved last Moon's favorite target downfield. bottoms out and faces the fact that it season they can play well with any Houston's pass rush will help main­ STEELERS needs a complete rebuilding in order team in football, including the Re­ tain the Astrodome's House of Pain With the exception of tighten d Eric to compete in its own weak division. dskins and Eagles. However, they nickname for opposing teams. Lee Green the, the Steelers are a team is the highlight of an still lost to both teams in close games. Williams will be back to join Sean lacking impact players. New head otherwise anemic offense. Although As for the rest of the division, Pitts­ Jones, Ray Childress and William coach takes over after the team lost 10 times last year, Kosar burgh and Cincinnati will rely on new Fuller in knocking down opposing 23 years of 's reign in did not throw an in nine coaches to lead them from last sea­ quarterbacks. Pittsburgh. consecutive games. But Kosar can sons troubles. The Browns will still 2) CINCINNATI Without impact players, especially only do so much to help the team with flounder this season, but with four at the quarterback position, Cowher so little help around him. games combined against the Steelers BENGALS will have to rideou t a few seasons and If the offensive line does not pro­ and Bengals, who knows. Although the Bengals will not re­ draft well in order to return the team tect Kosar better than last year's 41 With two new coaches in the turn to the status gained during their to respectability. sacks, then the team's leader won'tbe division, it should provide for Super Bowl days, sometimes the dif­ Either Neil O'Donnell or Bubby around much longer in the NFL. interesting matchups as the teams ference between a 3-13 season and a Brister will lead the Steelers behind Cleveland's defense should be go through changes that occur with 9-7 season could be a simple coach­ center, and unless either improves improved from a draft that included new coaches. ing change. significantly early in the season, Bill Johnson from Michigan State. If new head coach David Shula Pittsburgh's offense will suffer. Baylor's Marcus Lowe should also 1) HOUSTON can return pride and self confidence The big job for the Steelers' coach­ improve the line of a year ago. OILERS to Cincinnati, the team will win ing staff will be to return the defense If new talent and returning leaders Houston is still the team to beat in again, and quarterback Boomer to its number one form of two years Michael Dean Perry and James Jones this relatively weak link division of Esiason will score again. Returning ago. Last season the defense fell to come through for the Browns, football. Without 's drive Esiason to top form should be 22nd and allowed 21 passing touch­ Cleveland's defense could help lead last year, the Oilers may well have Shula's top goal. downs after allowing only nine dur­ the team back to respectability. been in the AFC championship game However, the biggest problem for ing the entire 1990 season. However, most teams don't im­ against Denver. the Bengals is defense. New defen­ Greg Lloyd, Jcrrold Williams and prove until working together for at Critics claim and the sive coordinator Rod Lynn will have return as Pittsburgh's least two years and, of course, hitting Preview Oilers have only one final shot at the to turn last year's group of defensive stellar defensive players and will lead rock bottom which is where the Super Bowl this year because of players into a quality team defense the resurgence back toward the once Browns are headed this year. Only a The NFC Preview will appear Moon's age. However, Moon is a this season as the draft did nothing to dominant defense. If not, the Steelers miracle could save the Browns from quality, capable quarterback, and improve the line. will be in for a longer season than finishing last. in the Sept. 8 issue of The Champion. Broncos set to retain title with tougher '92 schedule By CHRIS BIESIADECKI ter, Dennis Smith, Karl Mecklenburg a good head coach when Marty Schot- 3) NFL? The defense will be aided by Jun­ One thing is for certain though. Champion Reporter and NFL rookie of the year Mike tenheimer took over the helm. Now RAIDERS ior Seau, , The AFC rough and tough division Croel. Remember that defenses win this is a team in need of a leader Shell and will make sure and Leslie O'Neal, but three defen­ lies in the west The Broncos and the championships, and the Broncos could behind center, and that man may be Commitment to excellence is not they get the best out of the players sive backs left via Plan B free agency. Raiders carried the division through very well compete with the NFC elite Dave Krieg. the way to describe the Raiders last they have. It will be a tough firstyea r for Ross the 1980's, but one team has to step in Pasadena because of it. The defense is solid with Derrick season. Inconsistency is probably a 4) SAN DIEGO and the Chargers. up and dominate the division through On Denver's offense, John Elway Thomas and Neil Smith leading the better way to describe them. The 5) the 1990's. is still the man. He is coming back way. The secondary will improve with Raiders are coming into this season CHARGERS Thr conference has to look in the from a shoulder injury that experts the addition of draft pick . needing to gain back respect. came into San Diego SEAHAWKS direcu. ^ of Kansas City, San Diego believe is Denver's reason for select­ Look for much of the same offense Head coach is going to with the knowledge that he had a lot The Seahawks will be playing and Sea.u0 This season will be full ing quarterback in except no Steve DeBerg at quarter­ have to decide whether to go with of work to do to make this team a Raiders-style football this season with of challenges for the conference title. the first round. back. The running back position will inconsistent or un- contender. That task has even be­ head coach Tom Bores. San Diego and Seattle are starting the The running back position will be be solid with the platoon of Barry proven . The team come tougher with starting quarter­ When Flores took over the season with new coaches, and the solid this season with Gaston Green Word, Christian Okoye and Harvey has also brought in running back Eric back John Friesz lost for the season Seahawks head coach position, he conference will be matched up with (1,037 rushing yards in 1991) carry­ Williams. Dickerson to share the offensive load. due to injury. brought the mystique of Raider fool- the NFC East which may be the best ing the ball for his second season and If the Chiefs want to make it over He will be sharing lime with Nick Ross has given the controls to jour­ ball tradition with him. in football. Sammie Smith right beside him. the hump this season, it will be be­ Bell and . The wide neyman quarterback Bob Gagliono. Flores and his '83 Raiders were the Coach needs his offen­ cause of Plan B acquisition Kreig. He receiver position is solid with Mervyn It is a good thing this team has a last team in the AFC to win the Super 1) DENVER sive line to be more consistent with a needs to use his leadership to bring Fernandez, , Ethon Hor- couple of All-Pro runningbacks stand­ Bowl. The Seahawks will iry to re­ BRONCOS schedule that includes Buffalo, Wash­ out the best in the team and bring out ton and Tim Brown. ing behind him in Marion Bulls and kindle thai magic but not in the near The Broncos will carry the flag ington, Philadelphia, Dallas and both the best in himself. If that doesn't The defense is becoming old, and . future. Il will take time for Flores to once more for the division. Denver, New York teams. happen, look again for an early Chiefs with names like , Riki Last season, the learn expected build a championship team. once a team controlled by its offense, 2) KANSAS CITY exit in the playoffs. Ellison, Greg Townsend, Bob Golic, defense to be its strength but ended In the mean time, the new coach is now one of the best defensive teams The Chiefs must also play well Eddie Anderson and Ronnie Lou, the season with defense as its primary has given the ball to Kelly Stouffcr in the league. The defense is domi­ CHIEFS against its tough NFC East matchup how long this defense can hold up weakness, leaving Ross with a rough with John L. Williams carrying the nant with stars such as Steve Atwa- The Chiefs were a team in need of games this year. against the pounding received in the job ahead. ball behind him. 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