NFL ROUNDUP News and notes

Dolphins: The passing game is practically nonexistent and the running game is even worse. An 0-2 start for the first time since 1988 has frustration levels already boiling over. Coach Dave Wannstedt's search for answers is perhaps as futile as the offense itself. "Our entire offense needs to take it up another notch. Pass-wise and run-wise," Wannstedt said Monday. "I really wouldn't break it down. It wouldn't be fair. It'd be a waste of time to talk about how one position played compared to another, because it obviously wasn't good enough." If lineup changes are coming for Sunday's game against Pittsburgh, Wannstedt hasn't decided on any. He's got plenty of options, the most likely being juggling pieces of the struggling offensive line. Breakdowns are more common than first downs, and there's plenty of blame to go around. A.J. Feeley, who supplanted Week 1 starter Jay Fiedler, has thrown two touchdown passes; he's also thrown two interceptions that were returned for scores. Still reeling from Ricky Williams' unexpected pre-training camp retirement -- Miami has 90 yards and two first downs on the ground. Leaguewide, 28 players have more rushing yards than Miami's entire offense.
Falcons: A few weeks ago, offensive coordinator Greg Knapp issued some cautionary words about Michael Vick's adjustment to the new West Coast offense. "It's a 2- to 3-year process for a quarterback to feel real comfortable in this offense," Knapp warned. "Mike's going to have to stay extremely patient this year." But it seems Vick has needed only two weeks to make opposing defenses feel most uncomfortable with his role in the new offense. Knapp and coach Jim Mora say that a strength of the West Coast attack is how it can be molded to the strengths of a team. Vick's most obvious strength -- his speed -- was emphasized in Sunday's win over St. Louis, when he rushed for 109 yards.
Bills: Quarterback Drew Bledsoe spent the off-season insisting the Bills' offense would be improved. So far, no good. The same problems -- sacks, penalties, red-zone ineptness -- that plagued Bledsoe and his offense last year are back again, leaving the Bills with plenty of concerns heading into their bye week. "I'm confident we can get it turned around," Bledsoe said. "We've got two weeks to do it. We've got an outstanding coaching staff and we've got talented enough guys to get it done. So we will get it done."
Lions: Coach Steve Mariucci knew going into the season that he was going to be relying a lot on young players. Injuries to starters Charles Rogers, Boss Bailey and Dre' Bly made the kids even more important heading into Sunday's game with Houston, but they passed the test with flying colors. Rookie wide receiver Roy Williams scored twice in Detroit's victory, but he wasn't the only first-year player with a key role. Kevin Jones rushed for 57 yards on 12 carries, and defensive back Kevin Smith intercepted a pass while linebackers Teddy Lehman and Alex Lewis each had five tackles.
Buccaneers: Jon Gruden is standing by Brad Johnson. Despite benching the quarterback during a 10-6 loss to Seattle, Gruden said Monday that Johnson -- not Chris Simms -- will start this week's game at Oakland. "We made a change to try to give our team a spark, a different perspective. We thought we needed that," Gruden said. Simms, a second-year pro making his debut in a regular season game, was 21-of-32 for 175 yards. But he also was sacked four times, had two turnovers and -- like Johnson -- failed to get the Bucs into the end zone. Tampa Bay (0-2) has had 26 possessions in two games and has yet to score a touchdown on offense. The starting unit also failed to get into the end zone on eight possessions during the preseason.
Saints: Running back Deuce McAllister, who had his foot in a heavy orthopedic boot Monday, said he thought he'd be able to play soon -- maybe even this coming weekend. But coach Jim Haslett said the team's top rusher is expected to be out four to five weeks. McAllister was injured on his third carry Sunday against the 49ers.
Ravens: Tight end Todd Heap, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, will miss two to four weeks with a sprained right ankle. The injury occurred late in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Steelers. Heap was blocking downfield when his right ankle was rolled over by Pittsburgh linebacker James Farrior. Deion Sanders is nursing a strained hamstring, but hopes to play Sunday against Cincinnati.
Bears: Safety Mike Brown, who returned a fumble 95 yards for a touchdown to spark the Bears' win over the Packers, will miss the rest of the season after tearing his right Achilles' tendon. He was injured in the closing minutes of the game.
Dolphins: The agent for defensive tackle Larry Chester said a torn ligament in his right knee will force Chester to miss the rest of the season.
Chiefs: Priest Holmes missed much of the last quarter of Kansas City's loss to Carolina after spraining his left ankle, and the team isn't sure if he'll play against Houston this coming weekend. Coach Dick Vermeil said after the game that he had been assured Holmes was all right, but on Monday morning he was told about the ankle problem.
Colts: Edgerrin James strained his hamstring in Sunday's victory against Tennessee. He was running through some light drills Monday and was optimistic he would play this week.
Associated Press
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