........Rivalry or not, the Bills know the Dolphins are a different team this year. Parcells doesn’t have to say a word. When you watch game film, you can hear his football voice, screaming off the screen. This is a Parcells team, an expression of his football vision.
“Oh, yeah,” said defensive end Chris Kelsay. “You can tell. When you see Miami on film this year, you see a renewed sense of energy and work ethic and attitude. It’s a completely different team, even in their mannerisms and the way they play.”
“Physical,” said left guard Derrick Dockery. “A very physical group. They want to come in and establish their standard of play, which is winning the line of scrimmage. We have our hands full.”
Parcells made a quick statement by taking Jake Long, a 6- foot-7, 310-pound left tackle, with the first overall pick of the draft. A year earlier, the Dolphins had chosen Ted Ginn, an undersized wideout, with the ninth overall pick. A sizable difference, you must say.
The Dolphins traded for veteran nose tackle Jason Ferguson to help their run defense, which was last in the league in ’07. They’re now 12th against the run. They had their worst game of the season last week against the Ravens when Ferguson — who is questionable for today with an oblique injury — went out with an injury.
So it’s not the same Miami team that went 1-15 a year ago. The Dolphins are 2-4, with wins over the Pats and Chargers, last year’s AFC title game participants. With a bounce here or there, they could easily be 4-2.
Evidently, that was this week’s theme from coach Dick Jauron. He said they could be 4-2. His players said it. In fact, tackle Langston Walker thought they actually were 4-2. The point is, they’re acting as if Miami is breathing down their necks.
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