The running game hasn't been stellar in the preseason, and although that does not suggest a trend that will carry into the regular season, it does concern that coaches were searching for the right combination of starters along the interior line, even through the final exhibition game. Ronnie Brown has shown no signs of the foot fracture that ended his 2009 season prematurely and Ricky Williams has shown little sign that his age (33) has started to become a factor in a decline. The Bills had the 30th-ranked run defense last season, but they are undergoing a dramatic change in replacing their 4-3 defense with a 3-4 look. The front seven for Buffalo, which includes Marcus Stroud, Andra Davis and Chris Kelsay, is a talented group.
WHEN THE BILLS RUN THE BALL
Injured Fred Jackson, arguably Buffalo's best running back, might not play. Backup Marshawn Lynch's availability also is in doubt because he also missed much of the preseason because of an injury. So the Bills are likely going to throw a huge dose of rookie C.J. Spiller, and electric runner totaled 51 rushing, receiving and kick/punt return touchdowns at Clemson, with 21 of those being 50 yards or longer. The Dolphins added Karlos Dansby to shore up a run defense that wilted to 18th in the NFL last season. The club also is expected to start rookie Jared Odrick at defensive end. But the focus of this run defense will be on new nose tackle Randy Starks, who is more mobile and is expected to create more of an upfield push given his quickness. If Starks is a hit, the run defense will be improved.
WHEN THE DOLPHINS PASS THE BALL
This is the year the Dolphins hope Chad Henne shows he is a game-changer rather than a game-manager at quarterback. Henne threw 12 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions in 2009. He needs to have a 2 to 1 touchdown to interception ratio to be considered a highly effective quarterback. The Dolphins gave Henne an elite receiver in Brandon Marshall, who has not impressed during the preseason. The Dolphins suppose that will change starting Sunday. The Bills have perhaps the second-best secondary in the AFC East behind the Jets. Terrence McGee and Drayton Florence are excellent enough that former first-round pick Leodis McKelvin cannot crack the staring lineup. Jairus Byrd, hampered by a groin injury, led the NFL in interceptions last season and Donte Whitner and George Wilson are experienced and effective.
WHEN THE BILLS PASS THE BALL
Trent Edwards, the 92nd pick by the Buffalo Bills in the 2007 NFL Draft, wasn't supposed to be Buffalo's starter because the coaching staff wanted to find a franchise quarterback. Although the staff didn't find one, Edwards improved and solidified his grasp on the position. He no longer has Terrell Owens, the team's leading receiver in 2009, on the roster, but Lee Evans has had a number of great games against the Dolphins. Miami's secondary is untried for the most part. Free safety Chris Clemons won the job after Miami tried and failed to find a viable starter in free agency. Jason Allen, long a disappointment because he hasn't lived up to his first-round draft pedigree, has won a starting cornerback job over Sean Smith. That's great news in that Allen raised the level of his game.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Dolphins were bad on special teams for much of 2008, for parts of 2009 and during this preseason. They saw two punts get blocked and their return coverage was subpar. That should not impugn kicker Dan Carpenter, who quickly is becoming one of the NFL's more dependable kickers. He kicked at Montana, so he knows a little something about booting the ball in swirling winds similar to the ones in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills have undergone significant special teams turnover, including losing coordinator Bobby April and bringing in Bruce DeHaven, who was the special teams coach during the Bills' Super Bowl years. Former University of Miami and Miami High standout Roscoe Parrish needs 55 punt return yards to reach 1,500 for his career. He has three career punt returns for touchdowns.
COACHING
Chan Gailey is new to the Bills but hardly new to coaching. The Buffalo Bills' 15th coach in history was the coach in Dallas, where he posted an 18-14 record in two seasons, and was the coach at Georgia Tech, where he was 68-43 in nine years. Had the San Diego Chargers not lost in the playoffs in January 2007, Gailey was on track to succeed Nick Saban as the coach in Miami. For the Dolphins, Tony Sparano also is 18-14 in two seasons and is hoping he can return his team to the playoffs after falling out of contention in 2009. Sparano has put together a tough, physical team that might not be exciting in its approach but will try to eliminate mistakes and win at the line of scrimmage. In that regard, the Dolphins are molded with the same personality as their coach.
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