Ufialo, San Diego Favored in Tight AFC Races
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. COLUMBIA MISSOURIAN. Wednesday. Sept. 2, 1981 Page 1V1A ufialo, San Diego favored in tight AFC races ByJoeCarnicelli middle of season 6--10 ' last and didn't even make lineman in Donnell Thompson of North after a dismal start and could be ready choice James Brooks of Auburn. But UPI executive sports editor the playoffs. Carolina. to move up. The key is the health of Coach Ron Jefferson is the man who strikes fear into the Erhardt again is faced with a Miami could be hard pressed to duplicate quarterback Kenny Anderson and the of defenses and the road to the Super NEW YORK 8-- heart The American Football choice between veteran quarterback Steve last season's 8 finish. The Dolphins will be progress of the two top rookies, wide Conference race this season should be so Grogan or young Bowl may be a little bumpier without him. Matt Cavanaugh. Both without quarterback Bob Griese, who retired receivers David Verser of Kansas and Cris Oakland came to life in the second half of heated that there's a good chance the Super have serious knee problems and the one who in June, and Shula will again go with young Collinsworth of Florida. Bowl champion Oakland Raiders won't even can best up may the season under rejuvenated quarterback stand become the starter. David Woodley , who was erratic as a rookie. The defense, led by end Eddie Edwards, Plunkett and stormed to its second 275-pound- Jim make the playoffs. Tackle Holloway, 6-- 7, er Brian a Veteran running back Delvin Williams looks solid up front. Bowl championship. There are at least six clubs which can from Stanford, was picked on Super be the first round claims he wants out and the man picked to Houston fired popular Coach Bum Phillips Defensive back Ted Watts of Texas Tech considered bonafide Super Bowl contenders to provide more protection. replace him, No. 1 draft choice David on New Year's replaced with two or Eve and him and tackle Curt Marsh of Washington are the and three others which could break- Defensively, the New England secondary Overstreet of Oklahoma, signed to play in assistant Ed Biles in an effort to produce through. may be top newcomers to a basically veteran team. the best in the league, with Mike Canada. more discipline. Houston's outlook Denver, under new coach Dan Reeves, has Here's the way the AFC races shape : Haynes, up Tim Fox, Raymond Clayborn, The defense is still impressive, however, brightened on Aug. 26 when quarterback Ken quarterback problems. Veteran Craig East Roland James and Rick Sanford. with nose Bob tackle Baumhower and Stabler reconsidered his abrupt retirement Morton, now 38, is the quarterback by The Bills won the AFC East at 11-- 5 last The Jets are the mystery team of the AFC. cornerback Don McNeal leading the way. even on barely but with Stabler back the team the default. Matt Robinson, who cost the year and missed out on making it to They could be serious contenders or they Pittsburgh was decimated by injuries 11-- last Oilers could fade from their 5 finish last Broncos two first-roun- d picks a year ago, 4-- the title game, losing to San Diego in the could flop as they 12 9--7. last did in their finish last year and failed to make the playoffs at season. Biles got no help from the draft, couldn't even the team this year. The two minutes. No AFC East club has repeated season. The key en offense is the of Coach Chuck Noll make health had veterans ve three since Houston traded its first two picks. running game is mediocre and the once-impressi- as champion in the last five years but with wide receiver Wesley Walker. If he can go, running back Rocky Bleier, safety Mike Earl Campbell comes off the second best Ferguson defense is beginning to show quarterback Joe and running back the combination of Walker and Lam Jones Wagner and defensive end Dwight White season in NFL history ( 1,934 yards) but he Joe Cribbs keying the offense and nose could be devastating. signs of age. retire but the Steelers still have the weapons can't do it alone. Reeves, who is a year younger than his tackle Fred Smerlas and linebacker Jim Coach Walt Michaels will have more to make it to the Super Bowl. The key is Haslett sparking the defense, the offensive firepower quarterback, may have to wait until best in the for quarterback Richard keeping them healthy. West youngsters like quarterback Mark NFL last season, the Bills could be in Todd with the addition of running on a solid back Cleveland also came within seconds of San Diego is the pre-seas- favorite to Herrmann of Purdue, safety Dennis Smith of position. Freeman McNeil, No. 1 All-Pr- the draft choice. earning a trip to the title game, bowing to take the AFC title but that's if o wide and tight Clay The big question for Coach The defense will be Southern California end mark Chuck the question mark and Oakland on a interception in the end zone in receiver John Jefferson decides to play. Brown of Brigham Young develop before he Knox is at fullback. No. 1 Michaels needs big draft pick Booker efforts from ends Mark the playoffs. Quarterback Brian Sipe (4,132 Jefferson, who caught 82 passes for 1,340 can approach the success he had as an Moore of Penn was to fill Gastineau and Joe Klecko yards, 30 ) State the void but and a defensive touchdown passes is back to lead yards and 13 TDs last season, is asking to assistant in Dallas. he came down with a nerve ailment in the secondary led by cornerback Bobby Jackson Coach Sam high-power- ed Rutigliano's 4-1- attack have his contract renegotiated and the Seattle fell apart last season, finishing 2, off-seas- on will be out if Jets to contend. 11-- 5 and for the year. That the are which brought the Browns an record last Chargers are holding firm. and Coach Jack Patera will try to put the leaves holdovers Curtis Brown and Roland Baltimore, which owns some of the year. Quarterback Dan Fouts, who threw for an top pieces together again. Quarterback Jim Hooks. league's offensive weapons in The problem is on defense, where NFL record 4,715 yards last year and Zom must rebound a dismal year. Top New England after suffered a major loss this quarterback Bert Jones and running back Cleveland ranked last in the AFC, and the produced 30 TDs, still has impressive targets draft pick Kenny Easley of UCLA looks like summer when star tight end Russ Curtis Dickey, got some help in two top (89-1,29- Francis, the draft and draft choices, cornerback Hanford in tight end Kellen Winslow of Missouri 0) a sure starter in the defensive backf ield but coming off his Dixon of (71-1,13- best year, suddenly decided to could be a factor. Coach Mike McCormack Southern Mississippi and end Mike and Charlie Joiner 2) along No. 2 pick David Hughes of Boise State has retire. New England has superb talent but got the big fullback he wanted in Randy Robinson of Arizona, could start. with running backs Chuck Muncie, Mike hardly looked like the cure to a plodding of the Patriots blew four of five games in the McMillan Pittsburgh and a top defensive Cincinnati closed strong last year to finish Thomas, John Cappelletti and No. 1 draft running game. .. -- - - - w. - MIMM MMUHIiMUl WIWIWIIWIMWllMI MM McEnroe, Mandlikova struggle Mei Oray tight ena Doug Marsh anc defensive enc AL standings NL Kirby CnseM on miurea reserve signed wee "e-Ceiv- er irst-ron-nd standings John Floyd and tight end Greg LaFleur re- (Second Half) moved wide receiver Vmce Featherson and de- in f U.S. Open wins (West coast games not included) fensive Gael- - Jonn AHman tror, the miured 'eserve East (Second Hall) Ust and waived tnem W L Pet. GB East By Martin Lader Hana Mandlikova, the losing fi- didn't play very good tennis. Some- W L Pet. GB Detroit 14 8 .636 St Louis .. 12 6 667 UPIsportswriter year, had even more trou- play losing." 1 nalist last times I better when I'm Baltimore 12 9 .571 1V2 Montreal 12 3 600 U.S. Open ble than McEnroe, escaping a match Three other seeded players Chicago ... 11 10 .524 2Vs Milwaukee 13 10 .565 1V2 York . 3 New 1111 500 At Sept. 1 NEW YORK McEnroe, point in second set before beating fortunate during day of Philadelphia 13 381 5Vj New York. - John the weren't as New York 12 10 .545 2 8 (Seeding In parentheses) 6-- 7-- Pittsburgh 7 15 .318 7 showing traces of the temper that's Mary Lou Piatek, 7, 6, 6--3, in a tennis that was interrupted three Boston 11 10 .524 2V2 First Hound West Men over- night of Wojtek Toronto 10 10 .500 3 Houston . 14 8 636 been heard around the world, featured match. times because rain. Fibak, Jimmy Connors (4) Miami Beach. Fla . det San Francisco 12 8 600 1 John Cleveland 10 12 .455 6-- 0. 6--0. 6--2. came two rain delays, a hostile home the No. 14 seed from Poland, lost to 4 12 571 Lloyd. Britain. 19-year-- LosAngeles 9 1'4 a. Si-nonss- old (3). Czecr-osiavaki- on. -- Ivan Lendl def Hans The Czechoslovakia 7-- 6, 6--4, West Atlanta 12 10 545 2 crowd and a poor start to defeat Kevin Curren of South Africa, Sweden 6-- 2.