Phil Savage is serious about positioning his football team to contend for the AFC title sooner than later. 

The Browns suddenly have a solid rotation along the defensive line with the additions of Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers.  I’ve always liked Williams.  He’s not the quickest nor strongest lineman, but he plays hard and displays intensity on the field.  His effort will bring energy upfront.  Rogers needed a change of scenery from Detroit.  When Rogers plays hard and he’s in shape – he can as dominate as any defender in the league.  He can collapse the pocket and disrupt opponents in the backfield.  The Browns need Rogers to become energized in Cleveland. 

Holdovers Shaun Smith and Robarie Smith round out the rotation.  Shaun Smith displayed a good effort on the field at nose tackle and end during his first season with the Browns.  He should be effective at the point of attack. 

I like the addition of Donte’ Stallworth on the other side of the ball.  Stallworth stayed healthy last season, but has a track record of hamstring problems.  At his best, he provides an excellent complement to Braylon Edwards in the passing game.  This move allows Joe Jurevicius to escape some wear and tear and remain a clutch performer on third down. 

Moving forward, the Browns still must upgrade their pass rush behind Kamerion Winbley and add a veteran cover corner to solidify the secondary. 

Bills: The Bills have been quite active in addressing their problems against the run.  Opponents have capitalized on Buffalo’s lack of size upfront the past couple seasons.  Marcus Stroud provides the size and ability the clog gaps in the trenches against the run.  But the Bills must hope Stroud can overcome severe ankle problems that have slowed him down the past two seasons.  If Stroud bounces back and John McCargo emerges as a playmaker inside, the Bills should have a solid rotation including a few capable backups.  Kawika Mitchell adds much needed size to a smallish linebacker corps.  Mitchell isn’t a playmaker, but possesses good size and toughness against the run.  He made a lot of key stops down the stretch for the Giants last season and takes a good approach to the game.   

Saints: Have the Saints finally found some answers at linebacker?  On paper, I would say yes.  Jonathan Vilma is a very active and instinctive guy who plays hard and has a nose for the ball.  Morgan is a solid run defender who can solidify the middle.  He brings a blue-collar approach to the field.  The question is whether they can stay healthy.  Vilma has a history of knee problems, which finally sidelined him for a significant stretch last season.  Morgan has the history of concussions and various other injury problems because he plays so hard.  He can bring some attitude if he can stay on the field. 

Buccaneers:  Antonio Bryant attempting a comeback after off-field issues kept him off the field last season.  If Bryant has turned the corner and matured, he could become a difference-maker to complement Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard for Tampa Bay next season.  Bryant lacks ideal speed and has lapses in concentration on the field, but has good size and isn’t afraid to go over the middle of the field.  A consistent Bryant would add balance within Jon Gruden’s passing game. 

The Eagles have to be pleased by what they saw on Friday Night in Donovan McNabb’s debut following a tough rehab from a serious knee injury. 

The Eagles rallied to make the playoffs with Jeff Garcia at quarterback last season.  But they were getting by in the passing game with smoke and mirrors as Garcia’s limitations were exposed down the stretch.  Brian Westbrook carried the offense as Garcia faded.  Now with a healthy McNabb, the Eagles look to have a dangerous offense this season.

Some observers are skeptical about the big-play ability of the offense after allowing Donte’ Stallworth to sign elsewhere this spring, but McNabb has a solid group of receivers to spread the ball around.  This allows the Eagles to get back to the roots of Andy Reid’s philosophy to avoid relying on one primary option to build a passing game around.  Reggie Brown has emerged as a playmaker.  He lacks breaking speed and will drop a few balls, but has shown he knows how to get open and make big plays in clutch situations. 

Former Ram Kevin Curtis replaces Stallworth.  Curtis lacks the size and ability to create matchup problems downfield like Stallworth, but is more consistent and has enough speed to make plays in Reid’s ball-control passing game.  Hank Baskett and Jason Avant have emerged as solid targets in their second seasons.  Baskett has good size and toughness, but is also a deceptive playmaker downfield.  Avant has proven he can be a reliable option in traffic with his hands and toughness. 

L.J. Smith has good athletic skills from the tight end spot, but the Eagles are still waiting for him to display more consistency and avoid nagging injuries.  Meanwhile, rookie Brent Celek has displayed the ability to become a solid intermediate target during camp.  

Packers rely on youth: The Packers finally pulled the plug on Robert Ferguson.  Drafted by Green Bay in the second round in 2001 based on his tremendous blend of speed and physical skills, Ferguson never developed into the consistent playmaker the Packers envisioned.  His numerous injuries over the years curtailed his developmental time on the field early in his career.  This was the right move by the Packers.  Organizations often have the tough task to balance when its time to give up on a high round draft choice.  Generally, when you realize a young player can’t play and shows little chance for development, its best to cut ties sooner than later.  On the other end of the spectrum, organizations also need to show patience with good athletes.  In the Packers’ situation, they’ve given Ferguson a couple years longer than normal.  Now, the Packers have collected a group of younger receivers that have shown enough to for them to build behind Donald Driver.  Greg Jennings showed good maturity as a rookie last season and added some bulk over the spring.  Rookie James Jones has opened a lot of eyes this summer.  Jones displays a tremendous blend of physical skills and ball skills.  Ruvell Martin has developed into a steady option over the middle with his physical skills.  And Carlyle Holiday rounds out this unit with his excellent size and athletic ability.  Holiday displayed flashes at wide receiver last season.

Jaguars changing guard at wide receiver: It’s no secret that Jack Del Rio has grown frustrated with the inconsistency of his wide receivers over the past couple years.  It has reached a boiling point – especially with Reggie Williams.  Williams continues to struggle separating from defenders and make plays with the ball.  And for a receiver that struggles to make plays, he doesn’t catch the ball consistency enough.  Look for Williams to hit the waiver wire later this month.  Dennis Northcutt and rookie Mike Walker have been their best targets this summer.  Northcutt runs the best routes and has brought a level of professionalism to a young unit, but he’s a number three receiver at best for many teams because he lacks ideal size and speed.  Walker also lacks speed, but catches the ball well and displays a lot of natural skills for a rookie.  Unfortunately, many scouts around the league have concerns about the long-term durability of Walker, who suffered a serious knee injury in college.  Rookie Charles Sharon has shown good hands and the ability to make some plays with ball. 

In Blakely The Falcons Trust: With knee problems slowing Alge Crumpler again, Dwayne Blakely has capitalized on the opportunity to establish himself within the offense.  Blakely has always had good athletic ability, but is showing the ability to make plays down the seam with his toughness and ability to leap in traffic.  With Crumpler and Blakely, the Falcons have two tight ends who can line up in slot and create favorable matchups in the passing game.  Meanwhile, the Falcons must closely monitor Crumpler’s knee problems this season as he turns 30 in December.  Crumpler has had knee problems in the past and there is some concern about his long-term durability. 

Bills look to establish run: Being a Mike Martz-disciple, many people view Steve Fairchild as a passing guy.  But Fairchild’s objective since arriving in Buffalo has been to establish a productive run game.  Fairchild never had much confidence in Willis McGahee last season – especially with his lack of versatility.  Now with rookie Marshawn #### replacing McGahee, look for Fairchild to implement his vision for a multifaceted backfield.  #### has impressed the Bills with his excellent speed and quickness – especially in open space.  Expect #### to make a major impact in the passing game with his ability to create matchup problems for linebackers.  In addition to #### creating headlines, veteran Anthony Thomas is having a very solid camp.  Thomas has displayed an extra bounce in his step this summer and has looked his best in years to provide a solid complement to #### in the backfield. 

The New England Patriots are a dangerous team.  The additions of Randy Moss and Donte’ Stallworth represent that danger both ways.  If they fit within Bill Belichick’s culture, both have the ability to create a lot of favorable matchups for Tom Brady.  Former Dolphin Wes Welker will bring a lot of spark from the slot.  Ben Watson must become a more consistent playmaker at tight end.  Watson has the athleticism to create a lot of matchup problems, but must learn how to get open more consistently.  The Patriots will again have a strong front seven on defense – especially with the addition of Adalius Thomas.  They will shut down the run and will have no problems getting after the quarterback.  The biggest question again will be the secondary – more so with questions with the status of Asante Samuel.  Having a strong pass rush certainly covers up a lot of problems, but this unit could be major downfall if Samuel isn’t on the field or if the pass rush dries up. 

Most of the talk around the Buffalo Bills has been centered around all the veterans they let go, but Marv Levy is building an intriguing young core of talent on both sides of the ball.  J.P. Losman has shown signs of developing into a solid quarterback.  Losman can push the ball downfield, but needs to take another step forward with his grasp for reading defenses.  They have good speed at wide receiver.  Lee Evans is a playmaker who can stretch the field.  Roscoe Parrish has the quickness to make plays underneath.  Marshawn #### should make an early impact at running back with his speed and versatility.  The offensive line is improving with the emergence of Jason Peters at left tackle.  The major concern again is stopping the run on defense.  They hope John McCargo can get healthy and become a disruptive presence inside with his quickness.  That’s only a start.  They have growing talent in the secondary.  Donte Whitner and Ko Simpson will form a strong tandem at safety for years.  And look for Ashton Youboty to step up in his second season at cornerback.  The Bills love his natural athleticism and approach to the game. 

The New York Jets have the mindset to become a playoff contender again this season, but it wouldn’t be surprised if they take a step back this season.  Eric Mangini did a tremendous job last season getting his team to play above their talent on paper.  He’ll need to make this happen again and he’s already continued building a strong culture this spring.  The addition of Thomas Jones to stabilize the backfield should help the offense build upon its efficiency.  Chad Pennington isn’t going to create plays, but gets the ball where it needs to be.  They just don’t have a playmaker who scares opponents.  Jerricho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles are solid, but not game-breakers.  Stopping the run remains a question on defense.  Dewayne Robertson played better down the stretch, but he’s not a natural nose tackle.  Eric Hicks and rookie David Harris could help.  They also must create more turnovers at cornerback.  Darrelle Revis should bring instant energy to this unit, but will have his growing pains as a rookie. 

Building continuity has been a problem for the Miami Dolphins lately – especially after Nick Saban abandoned the organization after only two seasons.  Now they must clean up the pieces.  Trent Green is a short-term fix at quarterback, but also represents an enormous unknown.  He’ll be 37 when camp starts and is coming off a bad concussion.  He won’t have the same pass protection he enjoyed with Kansas City, but is savvy and has a strong comfort level with Cam Cameron.  Cameron and Green love building around the tight end in the passing game, but David Martin is a question mark.  Martin is coming off a solid year in Green Bay, but durability has been a problem throughout his career.  Ronnie Brown has posted solid numbers on the ground, but hasn’t shown any special traits or the temperament to become a franchise back.  The defense should remain solid under Dom Capers.  They should be steady against the run.  Jason Taylor is always a presence off the perimeter.  Jason Allen should make a bigger impact moving to cornerback, but the secondary is filled with questions. 

After allowing Nate Clements sign elsewhere this spring, the Bills felt a veteran void at cornerback heading towards training camp.  This prompted the addition of former Falcon Jason Webster last week. 

Terrence McGee is established at one starting spot.  But the loss of Clements left a hole on the other side.  The Bills drafted Ashton Youboty last spring with the idea of stepping in the starting lineup once Clements departed after the 2006 season.  But Youboty missed most of training camp last summer due to the passing of his mother and fell behind in learning the defense and how to play cornerback at the NFL level. 

Enter Webster as insurance.  Webster has plenty of starting experience as a buffer if Youboty doesn’t develop quickly this summer.  He displays good recognition skills as a cover-2 guy and isn’t afraid to tackle, but lacks size and has a track record of getting nicked up too easily. 

Youboty has shown a lot of positive signs.  He displays a strong work ethic and good approach at this stage of his development.  Youboty has natural athletic ability and ball skills to match up against most receivers.  There’s no question that Youboty will develop into a very solid starter once he masters his techniques.  Overall, the Bills must hope Youboty seizes the starting job entering the season if their defense is going to build off last season’s development.  Although Webster possesses experience, he lacks the upside to lift their defense to another level.  Youboty is being counted on to help the Bills create more turnovers in the secondary this season. 

The Bills round off the depth chart with Kiwaukee Thomas and Jabari Greer.   Greer and Thomas are good effort players.  Thomas particularly did a decent job working out of the slot last season with his toughness and quick feet. 

Buffalo Bills: Marv Levy and #### Jauron used this spring and draft to cement their own identity in Buffalo.  Willis McGahee never meshed with Jauron’s coaching staff.  So now they are banking their run game behind Marshawn ####.  #### is a very instinctive and versatile back who can make big plays, was never a durable workhorse in college. 

Despite the development of J.P. Losman last season, this coaching staff isn’t yet sold on whether he’s their long-term answer at quarterback.  That led the Bills towards Trent Edwards.  Edwards was physically beaten up at Stanford and will need a year to clear his head, but is smart and has good natural tools.  He could surpass Losman in terms of his feel for the intermediate passing game.  The Bills also replenished themselves at linebacker with Paul Poslusnzy.  He’s smart and instinctive while possessing the mentality to fit in the blue-collar culture around Buffalo. 

Miami Dolphins: Ted Ginn will provide a big-play dimension in the return game, but its very uncertainty whether he’ll be able to justify himself as the 9th pick in the draft.  He’s not very polished in the passing game and lacks the toughness to get dirty in traffic, but has the speed to stretch the field.  John Beck has physical limitations, but is a great fit in Cam Cameron’s offense and could become a late bloomer like Trent Green.  But going for Beck in the second round was a reach.  Beck is smart and will make good decisions with the football. 

Lorenzo Booker was a nice pickup to complement Ronnie Brown in the backfield.  He displays good run instincts and versatility.  Samson Satele is raw, but has the physical tools to eventually make an impact as an interior blocker.  Paul Soliai has excellent size and strength to develop at nose tackle, but is very raw. 

New England Patriots: The Patriots have struggled with depth issues, forcing Bill Belichick to piece together a secondary the past couple years.  Eugene Wilson has regressed the past two seasons and hasn’t been durable.  Rodney Harrison has been breaking down physically. 

So Brandon Merriweather should be a nice addition.  Merriweather is a smart and versatile defender who is athletic enough to cover slot receivers, but tough enough to support the run.   Most importantly, Merriweather is a true football player who loves playing.  He'll make his presence felt within the New England defense. 

And the Patriots got tremendous value using their fourth round pick for Randy Moss.  Moss is motivated and hungry for a championship.  Moss is motivated and hungry for a championship.  That means we’ll see Moss at his best this season and the Patriots will be a team very difficult for opposing defensive coordinator to match up against.   

New York Jets: Eric Mangini came away with two solid starters for his defense in cornerback Darrelle Revis and linebacker David Harris. 

Revis fills a major need for talent at cornerback.  Andre Dyson is their most accomplished veteran and he’s better suited as a nickel corner at this stage.  And the rest of the secondary returns fringe players.  Revis displays good instincts and physical ability to make an impact within Mangini’s cover-2 scheme.  And Harris provides the Jets with a physical presence inside to take pressure off Jonathan Vilma against the run.  Vilma hopefully can have more freedom to use his quickness and instincts on the move rather than take on blockers.  Harris is strong at the point of attack and displays good instincts as a run defender.