Miami should be improved in AFC East

Though the Miami Dolphins can go nowhere but up, don't be surprised if they take an unexpected (sizable) step forward. In 2007, Miami lost five games by three points and another by four. It is one thing to say that a team loses games. It's another to say that they aren't competitive. The good news for the ‘08 Dolphins is that they were competitive last year.

The light at the end of the near-winless tunnel came in overtime against the Ravens. And what a light it was. As unknown Greg Camarillo took a 64-yard Cleo Lemon touchdown pass to the house, the Dolphins finally held their chins high. As Camarillo was running down the field, the two radio announcers up in the booth quit calling the game and just started cheering.

Tony Sporano and Bill Parcells are in town with the hopes of reliving those cheers, preferably much more often. Fans of the Dolphins have to be excited about the talent and toughness that has been hauled in. No. 1 pick Jake Long figures to be a long-term fixture at offensive tackle. The edge at quarterback goes to John Beck over Chad Henne and Josh McCown.

The Dolphins brought in Ernest Wilford and Tab Perry to help Ted Ginn at wide receiver. Wilford's size suggests that he will be the No. 2 guy with Perry in the slot. Ex-Dallas nose tackle Jason Furgeson should bring a boost to the defensive line, and should help Jason Taylor off the edge if Taylor elects to stay in Miami.

Expect Buffalo to make a push for the postseason. They can't afford to lose second-year player Marshawn Lynch. He does it all. He's very tough and runs between the tackles, and has home-run potential. 6-6 rookie James Hardy will be the tallest guy of a short wide receiving corps, and should be great in the red zone.

Top pick Leodis McKelvin will provide insurance to speedy Terrence McGee. McGee and McKelvin are a very dangerous duo on kickoff and punt returns. If Marcus Stroud's ankle injury heals up and he plays the way he did two years ago, the Bills' run defense will be much better.

Eric Mangini's club fell through the roof on him. Two years removed from the magical 10-win season, the Jets are looking to forget about ‘07. The Jets will feature five fresh faces on the starting lineup, along with two top picks in DE Vernon Gholston and TE Dustin Keller.

The quarterback situation is the same: Chad Pennington can't stay healthy to save his life, and Kellen Clemmons is erratic. Thomas Jones was a major disappointment in the running game, but the offensive line and quarterback play didn't help things at all. Enter long-time Steeler Alan Faneca, who is now the richest guard in the league. Tackle D'Brickashaw Furgeson hasn't lived up to the hype, but he still has time.
Leon Washington is very underrated, fitting the bill as a special teams wizard and a backup to Thomas Jones. Mangini must win over the team and make people happy. His training camps are very brutal, which doesn't sit well with the veterans.
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Bryan Ault will be a freshman at Franklin College this fall and writes columns for The Tribune.