Sporting News, The: AFC reports

BALTIMORE RAVENS QB Kyle Boiler didn't perform up to par in the passing camp--he looked uncomfortable and often tried to force passes---but he had plenty of company. The entire offense is learning the scheme's new wrinkles, particularly motion, installed by new offensive assistant Jim Fassel.... CB Coney Fuller, trying to secure a spot as either a nickel or dime back, is about 10 pounds lighter than he was at the end of last season. The coaches urged Fuller, 33, to lose weight if he wanted to extend his career, and team officials are pleased with his response. OFFENSIVE TACKLES ANALYSIS: LT Jonathan Ogden and RT Orlando Brown are intimidating forces. Ogden, arguably the best tackle in the league, is sound technically and fast enough to pull and work into the second level. His forte is pass blocking, but he's just as effective as a run blocker. Brown is a mauler who relies on brute strength and meanness. He's a strong run blocker but needs to improve his fundamentals as pass blocker. He often gets overextended when trying to engage a speed rusher. The backups are Damion Cook and Ethan Brooks. Cook is almost as athletic as Ogden but doesn't have Ogden's skills or size. Brooks has trouble with speed rushers....--Mike Preston

POSITION GRADE B-

BUFFALO BILLS SS Coy Wire is getting a look at free safety. Wire, who's physical and instinctive, is competing against starter Izell Reese. Wire must prove he has the range and know-how to pass Reese, a smart player who's rangier than Wire but not as physical. Whoever starts must make more big plays.... QB Greg Zolman joined the team at minicamp after playing in NFL Europe. The Bills like his arm and ability to move around in the pocket. But be must show he can read defenses and make quick, sound decisions. For now, he's a practice-squad candidate. OFFENSIVE TACKLES ANALYSIS: LT Jonas Jennings and RT Mike Williams have the potential to be one of the NFL's top duos. Jennings is athletic, mobile and strong. He plays with leverage and works to finish blocks. He has trouble keeping edge rushers from turning the corner but does well when he sets up quickly and uses his long arms and strong hands to lock on a defender. Williams uses his size (6-6, 370) and strength to overwhelm defenders. He's a great drive blocker but struggles in pass protection against speed rushers. Marcus Price backs up both tackle spots. He has the strength and technical skills to knock defenders off the line. His power is negated when he doesn't play with leverage.--Allen Wilson

POSITION GRADE C+

CINCINNATI BENGALS Rookie FS Madieu Williams should contribute immediately in the nickel package. In workouts, he has shown ballhawking skills, good awareness and the ability to take proper angles. ... LCB Deltha O'Neal, who had a reputation for having poor technique and gambling too much with Denver, has been better than advertised. O'Neal must improve as a run defender, but his burst in coverage is impressive. He's using his speed, quickness and leaping ability to make plays on the ball. OFFENSIVE TACKLES ANALYSIS: RT Willie Anderson and LT Levi Jones form an elite duo. Anderson plays with a mean streak and finishes his blocks. He can struggle changing direction, but he uses his big hands to ride edge rushers past the pocket. Jones' strong lower body allows him to move the pile in the running game, and he's able to block moving targets in space. Jones tore cartilage in his knee last season but played six days after arthroscopic surgery, He's still not 100 percent, and Stacy Andrews was drafted as insurance. Andrews is massive (6-6, 342) but athletic. Once he gains experience and improves his technique, he'll serve as the top backup on both sides. Backup RT Scott Kooistra has good upper-body strength but lacks nifty footwork.--Chick Ludwig

POSITION GRADE B+

CLEVELAND BROWNS QB Tim Couch finally was released after a trade couldn't be worked out with the Packers. The only thing holding up Couch's release was the health of backup Kelly Holcomb, but he's progressing nicely from offseason shoulder surgery. After knocking off rust by throwing a youth football, Holcomb now is using a regular model. He's on a "pitch count" but is throwing as many as 64 passes each workout. Holcomb's top distance is 40 yards, but he insists he'll be ready for training camp.... Losing rookie SS Sean Jones (ACL) hurts. He had been impressive, and the hope was he could replace Robert Griffith, who has been a major disappointment. Now the team likely is stuck with Griffith for another year, though it will look for a proven veteran. OFFENSIVE TACKLES ANALYSIS: RT Ryan Tucker is the team's best offensive lineman. He is big and strong--the type of player coach Butch Davis wants for his power running game--and has a mean streak. LT Ross Verba is better suited to play guard; he has a stocky build and isn't fast enough to handle speed rushers. But the Browns have no one else to protect QB Jeff Garcia's back side. Verba, who missed last season (torn biceps), is determined to show he can handle the position. Still, the team will keep an eye out for alternatives. Backups Chad Beasley and Joaquin Gonzalez have ability and long arms but aren't every-down players. .--Steve King

POSITION GRADE C-

DENVER BRONCOS Former Lions Pro Bowl DT Luther Elliss has supplanted Darius Holland as the starter. In the latest minicamp, Ellis showed verve. Finally healthy and 20 pounds lighter than last season, Ellis looks like he'll be a force. He's the kind of player the club hoped it was getting when it signed Daryl Gardener last year.... RB Quentin Griffin will enter camp as the No. 1 option. Although there will be competition, coach Mike Shanahan loves Griffin's work ethic, quickness and receiving ability. But Griffin is only 5-7, 195 pounds, so questions remain about his ability to be a workhorse back.... Rookie OLB D.J. Williams already has cemented a starting spot. He's serious, confident, fast and aggressive, but Williams gets out of position too often. He figures to improve with experience. Expect the team to use Williams on blitzes. OFFENSIVE TACKLES ANALYSIS: This area is in transition. Matt Lepsis, the longtime starter on the right side, has moved to the left. George Foster will start on the right side. Lepsis has quick feet and uses his hands well, which should help him deal with speed rushers. He's also a terrific run blocker but needs to improve his footwork in pass blocking. Foster (6-5, 338) is bigger than the team's typical lineman. That size will help him take on big ends, but he's raw and must use his hands better. Depth is an issue. P.J. Alexander and Cornell Green aren't prepared to start if there is an injury. --Patrick Sounders

POSITION GRADE B-

HOUSTON TEXANS OLB Kailee Wong has been getting work at inside linebacker to bolster the depth. If starting ILBs Jamie Sharper or Jay Foreman goes down, the team likely will move Wong inside and play second-year man Antwan Peek on the right side. Wong shouldn't have problems playing inside. He played in the middle with the Vikings and is intelligent enough to make the calls, a key element of playing inside.... The biggest transition to the NFL for rookie CB Dunta Robinson will be adapting to the Texans' coverage techniques, which require him to stay in his backpedal longer than he was asked to in college. But with the help of CB Aaron Glenn and secondary coach Jon Hoke, Robinson should be able to hold his own. OFFENSIVE TACKLES ANALYSIS: Though he's massive (6-8, 317), free-agent acquisition RT Todd Wade (Dolphins) is very athletic and has a reputation for being a dominant run blocker. Teamed with athletic RG Zach Wiegert--who also is Wade's backup--he'll give the Texans a formidable 1-2 punch on the right side. When the club used a third-round pick on starting LT Seth Wand in 2003, it probably didn't think he would develop so quickly. Wand is a sound run blocker, but the real test will be how he handles pass protection against opponents' best rushers. His technique and footwork are a work in progress, but his future is bright. LG Chester Pitts, a former tackle, will back up Wand.--Carlton Thompson

POSITION GRADE B-

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS It appears the team will head to training camp without a proven backup for QB Peyton Manning. gory Sauter, who inherited the spot following the offseason release of Brock Huard, has a firm grasp of the offense, but Sauter has thrown nine regular-season passes in five NFL seasons.... The team expects DT Josh Williams to play a major role. He's an ideal fit for the defensive scheme, which requires interior linemen to be quick, athletic and able to get upfield. The club showed its confidence in Williams when it signed him to a big contract this offseason. It was quite an investment in a player who has battled injuries the past two seasons, but he could be the interior playmaker that has been missing. OFFENSIVE TACKLES ANALYSIS: LT Tarik Glenn is strong enough to deal with bull rushers and agile enough to fend off edge pass rushers. RT Ryan Diem continues to improve. He's entering his second season as a starter after spending his first two years at right guard. When Glenn was lost midway through last season, the team discovered a viable option in Makes Freitas. Line coach Howard Modd had so much confidence in Freitas that Mudd didn't alter the schemes to provide Freitas help. Jim Newton, a raw prospect, and rookie Jake Scott, who might be a better fit at guard, likely will compete to provide additional depth.--Mike Chappell

POSITION GRADE B+

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Rookie Daryl Smith has bad an unexpected impact on the linebacker situation. Veterans Grog Favors and Tommy Hendricks were signed to compete for the strongside job, but Smith has been so impressive in workouts that he could start. Smith lacks blazing speed and might be best suited to play in the middle, but the Jaguars love his tackling ability and instincts.... The coaches think DT John Henderson (6-7, 325) is ready to make the leap to the Pro Bowl. Henderson is an excellent run stuffer who rarely is moved out of the way and thrives in the one-gap, attacking style of defense favored by coach Jack Del Rio. Last season, he erased doubts about his stamina and whether he played too high. OFFENSIVE TACKLES ANALYSIS: The Jaguars allowed a franchise-record low 28 sacks last season, but the coaches aren't entirely comfortable with LT Mike Pearson and RT Maurice Williams. Pearson generally is a solid pass blocker but can be victimized by top speed rushers and struggles in the running game. The team signed Ephraim Salaam to compete against Pearson, and Salaam also could take a run at Williams' job. Williams is sound and sturdy, but coaches wish he would show a mean streak. The Jaguars like Salaam's experience and athletic ability, but he lacks power in the running game. Fifth-round pick Seen Bubin (6-6, 310) has been impressive in workouts and should stick over 2003 sixth-rounder Marques Ogden.--Bart Hubbuch

POSITION GRADE B-

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS Adding No. 3 QB Damon Huard might seem to be a minor move, but he supplies badly needed insurance. Starter Trent Green hasn't missed a game in three years, but that good fortune is due to end. And the team wanted someone with experience behind backup Todd Collins, who has thrown 22 regular-season passes since 1997.... K Morten Anderson has had an impressive offseason, consistently making field-goal attempts from beyond 40 yards and even making a 58-yarder at a minicamp. That indicates Andersen, who will turn 44 in August, has regained some of the range he lost last season. He's determined to kick at a high level for a couple more years. OFFENSIVE TACKLES ANALYSIS: LT Willie Roaf, 34, shows no signs of slowing down. He was as dominant as ever last season and is having his best offseason since joining the Chiefs. An injury to Roaf would be a huge problem. There are plenty of candidates to replace RT ,John Tait (Bears), but there's no guarantee the transition will be seamless. John Welbourn mostly played guard with the Eagles, but he's physical and nasty. Chris Bober is athletic but has rough edges as a pass blocker. Ditto for Marcus Spears, who needs to be more physical at the point of attack. Brett Williams is unproven, and the team is leery handing the job to an unknown quantity. Rookie Kevin Sampson has been impressive in his offseason work and could win a backup spot.--Adam Teicher

POSITION GRADE B

MIAMI DOLPHINS CB Reggie Howard is starting to show why the team signed him to a big contract. Since struggling in the team's first two offseason camps, Howard has displayed a good nose for the ball and a better comfort level. His physical style makes him a good fit in the defense, and he'll allow Pro Bowl CB Patrick Surtain to cover the slot receiver on third downs. Surtain is one of the best in the league in covering the slot.... RB Risky Williams looks like he's in the best shape of his career, and he showed good speed in the offseason camps. But the team still would be wise to lighten his load; in back-to-back seasons, he set the franchise record for carries. OFFENSIVE TACKLES ANALYSIS: LT Wade Smith went from being a project to a full-time starter as a rookie last season. His biggest weakness was a lack of strength, but he has put on l0 pounds of muscle. On the right side, the team signed John St, Clair and Damion McIntosh and drafted Vernon Carey in the first round. McIntosh, a former starter with San Diego, isn't expected to be ready until midseason because of an ankle injury. So the plan is for Carey to start after competing with St. Clair in camp. Carey, a mauler, needs to keep his weight (335 pounds) under control, but he has been very dedicated to doing so in the past two years. McIntosh and St. Clair, who also can play guard and center, offer great depth. Still, the game experience is shaky.--Jason Cole

POSITION GRADE C

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS QB Tom Brady has shown no ill effects from February shoulder surgery and threw with authority at a recent minicamp. Coach Bill Belichick says Brady's audible responsibilities will be expanded this season. With three NFL seasons and two Super Bowl championships under his belt, Brady dearly can handle the extra responsibility.... OLB Rosevelt Colvin (hip) continues to make slow, steady progress in his rehab, but it is not certain he will be 100 percent by the start of the regular season. He seems to be running well, but no one has any idea how he will respond to contact when training camp starts. OFFENSIVE TACKLES ANALYSIS: LT Matt Light and RT Tom Ashworth are athletic tackles who get the job done with footwork and hand technique rather than by relying on pure bulk. Light is an aggressive run blocker but sometimes struggles with speed rushers. When needed, the team uses an extra tight end to help him. Ashworth, a converted tight end, operates well in space and on the edge but lacks the pure power of most right tackles. The team has little proven depth behind the starters. Oft-injured Adrian Klemm is trying to establish himself as the swing tackle. Filling out the ranks are Brandon Gorin and Jamil Soriano, who have virtually no experience.--Michael Felger

POSITION GRADE B

NEW YORK JETS When the lets used their first-round pick on Jonathan Vilma, they immediately put him behind starting MLB Sam Cowart. Now, because Vilma is picking up the system so quickly, they're prepared also to use him on the weak side, where Eric Barton currently starts. The team plans to alternate between a 4-3 and 3-4 scheme.... Of the cornerbacks, Ray Mickens might have the easiest transition to the new man-to-man scheme. Mickens, the likely nickel back, prefers man-to-man to zone and still has enough speed to run with wideouts. He has a smooth hip turn and rarely guesses wrong, thanks to his strong preparation. His lack of size (5-8, 180) makes it tough for him to match up against big receivers. OFFENSIVE TACKLES ANALYSIS: LT Jason Fabini and RT Kareem McKenzie are intelligent players who rely heavily on textbook technique--especially Fabini--to compensate for a lack of athleticism. McKenzie, whose offseason work was limited by shoulder surgery, is the better athlete. Both get beat on occasion by taking a bad angle, but neither makes many mental mistakes. The lets drafted LT Adrian Jones (fourth round) and Marko Cavka (sixth), and it's imperative that one (most likely Jones) is ready to start in 2005. That's because McKenzie probably will leave as a free agent. Jones, with good athleticism, could play on the left side and allow Fabini to move to right tackle, where he began his career.--Rich Cimini

POSITION GRADE B

OAKLAND RAIDERS Justin Fargas has recovered from a knee injury that cut short his rookie season and put his status for this season in question. He is running at full speed and is putting himself in position to challenge for more playing time, if not a starting spot. He is the team's fastest back and best breakaway threat but has had problems with fumbles and injuries in the past. ... Starting RG Mo Collins injured a pectoral muscle during an April minicamp and might not be 100 percent by training camp. If Collins' injury doesn't heal as well as hoped, the free-agent signing of RG Ben Stone will become even more significant. Stone has starting experience and likely would fill the void without a drop-off. OFFENSIVE TACKLES ANALYSIS: With four starting-caliber players, this position should be a strength. LT Barry Sims might be forced to move to a different position if first-round pick Robert Gallery develops as quickly as expected. Sims is smart, resourceful, technically sound and knows Oakland's offense, but Gallery is a big, strong, tireless worker and is regarded as the best prospect at his position in a decade, Langston Walker is the front-runner at right tackle after playing well in spot duty the past two seasons. He moves well for his size (6-8, 345), is extremely intelligent and is dedicated to succeeding. Brad Badger has the most experience of the bunch, but he hasn't played much tackle the past two seasons.--Steve Corkran

POSITION GRADE B

PITTSBURGH STEELERS QB Tommy Maddox's contract extension is structured to keep him with the team through 2007, as a starter or a backup. The team won't keep four quarterbacks on the roster, so 2003 fifth-round pick Brian St Pierre might be released. If the coaches think rookie Ben Roethlisberger has a chance to play, Charlie Batch could be let go.... The team needs to take a longer look at OLB Alonzo Jackson, a 2003 second-round pick. Jackson was inactive for 14 games last season, but he showed good pass-rush skills in the preseason. Jackson has a quick first step and positions his body well to make moves from the outside. He also has long arms, which allow him to reach over blockers to disrupt the quarterback. OFFENSIVE TACKLES ANALYSIS: It is difficult to evaluate the performance of LT Marvel Smith, who missed 10 games in 2003 because of a pinched nerve in his neck, but he is expected to make a full recovery. Oliver Ross enters camp as the starter on the ride side, but that could be temporary. The team drafted Max Starks (6-7, 359) to solidify the right side, but Starks isn't a sure thing. Scouts have questioned his ability because he does not play with the dominating style his size suggests. The team needs Starks to become a starter; that would allow Ross to back up both tackle spots. Ross played better at the end of last season, but he must show more intensity. Depth is thin with Barrett Brooks and Todd Fordham.--Gerry Dulac

POSITION GRADE C

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS An undrafted rookie last season, DT Jacques Cesaire is attracting attention. He has good quickness and strength and will battle rookie Ryon Bingham for the backup job.... Phil Bogle played primarily at offensive tackle last year, but he might switch to left guard and battle for a starting spot. Bogle has good size (6-3, 322) and excellent strength. He struggles in space and could be much more effective inside. He has the potential to be a dominant run blocker. OFFENSIVE TACKLES ANALYSIS: New LT Roman Oben, acquired last week from the Bucs for a fifth-round pick, is the team's only tackle with more than eight starts. Oben isn't spectacular but is durable and has no glaring weaknesses. Because of the Oben move, Courtney Van Buren is shifting to the right side. At 6-5, 350, he is surprisingly agile. He has a nasty streak as a run blocker but must improve in pass protection. Van Buren reaches for defenders rather than waiting for them to come to him. He is coming off a knee injury that limited his offseason work. The backup candidates are Leander Jordan and seventh round picks Carlos Joseph and Shone Olivea, with Bogle also a possibility if he doesn't move to guard. Jordan has good athleticism but has yet to show it in games. Olivea could be behind after missing the spring coaching sessions. Joseph will get a long look but must prove he can be consistent.--Jim Trotter

POSITION GRADE C-

TENNESSEE TITANS A clear-the-air meeting with team officials has increased RB Eddie George's chances of staying with the Titans. George was assured he'll get plenty of carries if he takes a reduced deal and maintains his level of play. Second-year RB Chris Brown still will get more work, but his carries will cost Robert Holcombe more opportunities than George. George will have to be at his best to hold off Brown.... The team would like to give WR Derrick Mason a break from his return duties, but it will have to find someone else to fill the job. Rookie CB Michael Waddell will get a long look, and WR Jake Schifino or WR Eddie Berlin could solidify a roster spot with good return work. The player who shows he can handle the ball the best will get the job. OFFENSIVE TACKLES ANALYSIS: LT Brad Hopkins dropped weight before last season and might have had his best season. He is small for a tackle (6-3, 305) but compensates with strong footwork. Hopkins, a 12-year veteran, knows how to counter a variety of speed rushers. RT Fred Miller is a power player but commits untimely penalties on occasion. Still, the team has been able to switch to an offense built around QB Steve McNair in large part because of Miller's and Hopkins' work. Backup Jason Mathews, a savvy veteran who prepares well, can play both spots. Second-year OL Todd williams, a power player who is learning fast, will work exclusively at tackle.--Jeff Logwold

POSITION GRADE B+