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It's early in the offseason. But from the looks of it, the Miami Dolphins want to run an up-tempo offense under first-year head coach Joe Philbin.

The former offensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers is known for putting pressure on defenses. Green Bay was as good as anyone in dictating tempo. Last year the Packers were third in total offense (405.1 yards per game) and first in scoring (35 points per game).

But can Philbin's philosophy work in Miami?

The key to Philbin's first year will be quickly learning and knowing his personnel. New coaches often make the mistake of assuming their system and concepts are one size fits all.

Miami quarterbacks Matt Moore or David Garrard certainly isn't Aaron Rodgers. Dolphins receiver Brian Hartline is not Greg Jennings, and tight end Anthony Fasano is not comparable to Packers tight end Jermichael Finley.

The Dolphins have uncertainty at quarterback and the worst group of receivers in the division. Going up-tempo has its risks. Miami could face plenty of three-and-outs, which would put a lot of pressure on its defense.

Philbin and offensive coordinator Mike Sherman need to be careful about this while installing their new West Coast offense. Green Bay's strengths under Philbin were the quarterback and passing game. It's much easier to go up-tempo when you have a Pro Bowl and Super Bowl-winning quarterback throwing to stud receivers and tight ends.

Miami doesn't have that on its roster this year. The Dolphins' strength is their running game behind their offensive line and 1,000-yard rusher Reggie Bush. It would be wise for Miami's coaching staff to keep that in mind.

Earlier this week we took a look at the best running backs in the division. On Wednesday, we will examine another position: tight ends.

Here are the top four tight ends according to the AFC East blog:

No. 1: Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

Skinny: Say what you want about Gronkowski's personality, but he is a beast on the field. His size, wing span and strong hands have made him an elite tight end in just two seasons. Gronkowski had an NFL record 17 touchdown receptions for a tight end in 2011 and is nearly impossible to stop in the red zone.

No. 2: Aaron Hernandez, Patriots

Skinny: Hernandez is part tight end, part wide receiver. He was probably the Patriots' best deep threat last year, although receiver Brandon Lloyd will take over the role this season. Hernandez is a top-10 tight end but a second option in New England. Hernandez probably will get a shot to be the guy somewhere else when his rookie contract expires in a couple years.

No. 3: Dustin Keller, New York Jets

Skinny: Keller set career highs with receptions (65) and yards (815) last season. He was Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez's most reliable weapon from the start of the season to the end. Keller has a lot of tools. He's able to make the catches in traffic as well as stretch the field. Keller should improve as New York's passing offense becomes more efficient.

No. 4: Anthony Fasano, Miami Dolphins

Skinny: Fasano is a solid player but not great at any particular thing. He does stretch the field better than he's given credit for. He averaged a career-high 14.1 yards per reception in 2011. I'm curious to see how well Fasano fits in Miami's new West Coast offense. Fasano also won't have the luxury of Brandon Marshall taking away coverage and double teams.

The AFC East made some interesting additions in the third round of the NFL draft.

Here is a recap:

• The Bills finally drafted a wide receiver by taking T.J. Graham of North Carolina State. Buffalo passed up better prospects in the second round, but you can't fault the Bills for finding a potential starting offensive tackle (Cordy Glenn). Graham was the 20th-ranked prospect at receiver by Scouts Inc. His not a big receiver (5-foot-11) but does possess top-end speed. Buffalo needs a speedster opposite top target Steve Johnson.
• The Dolphins made an interesting choice in Miami (Fla.) defensive end Olivier Vernon. He is the first player from the hometown Hurricanes the Dolphins have taken since Vernon Carey in 2004. Vernon had an inconsistent career at Miami. The Dolphins also traded back and drafted Missouri tight end Michael Egnew with their second pick in the third round. Agnew can provide depth behind starter Anthony Fasano.
• The New York Jets also drafted Arkansas State linebacker Demario Davis at No. 77 to help their pass rush.
• The New England Patriots continue to boost their pass rush with third-round pick Jake Bequette of Arkansas. He recorded 21.5 career sacks at Arkansas and is a versatile player. The Patriots traded down with the Green Bay Packers for this third-round pick.

Here are the most interesting stories Tuesday morning in the AFC East:

• Which game will the new-look Buffalo Bills get in prime-time when the NFL announces its schedule this evening?

Morning take: The Bills-Patriots and Bills-Texans games are the most attractive. Let's find out tonight.

• Should the Miami Dolphins search for a tight end in the draft?

Morning take: Maybe for depth, but Anthony Fasano is a decent player at the position. I would rank other needs on offense higher, such as a right tackle and wide receiver.

• Will New York Jets quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow run "two separate teams" on offense?

Morning take: That's one way to look at it. Sanchez will have the conventional package, while Tebow will run the Wildcat package. The key will be the efficiency of the other 10 players.

• New England Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork says defensive linemen should be able to rush the quarterback without worrying about penalties.

Morning take: That’s the new NFL world we are living in and it’s not going to change. Quarterbacks are too important and may be over officiated. But I understand.

Two of Peyton Manning's most reliable weapons are now on the free-agent market. Former Indianapolis Colts receiver Reggie Wayne and tight end Dallas Clark -- both multi-time Pro Bowlers -- will wear new uniforms next season due to Indianapolis' big roster makeover.

Should the Miami Dolphins consider signing one or both players? This would be one sure way to appease Manning, who is considering Miami as one of several destinations.

Miami could use an upgrade at receiver opposite Brandon Marshall. Wayne is a good friend of Manning and lives in Miami, where he went to college. Wayne seems like a good fit. The Dolphins don't have a huge need at tight end. But Clark, 32, could make a decent tandem with Anthony Fasano. Clark does have an injury history the past two seasons that Miami needs to be careful of.

The Dolphins are expected to meet with Manning over the weekend, and Manning has all of the leverage. But this is a very fine line for Miami to walk with free agency approaching.

On one hand, the Dolphins need to be careful not to let a player who may or may not sign with the team dictate how they operate with free agents. On the other hand, this is Peyton Manning -- one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. If going after Wayne and/or Clark is what separates Miami from the other potential Manning suitors, it's probably general manager Jeff Ireland's best interest to swallow his pride (and offseason game plan) and go for it.

Miami's front office has spent months analyzing the draft and free agency, and there is a good chance spending money and cap room on two 30-something pass-catchers wasn't in the plans. But chasing a player the caliber of Manning is a high-stakes game where just about anything goes.

Here are some thoughts on the Miami Dolphins' 30-23 victory over the Buffalo Bills :

What it means: Miami (5-9) continues its strong second-half push and improves to 5-2 in the past seven games. It also marked the first victory under interim coach Todd Bowles, who kept the Dolphins focused and motivated this week after the firing of Tony Sparano. For Buffalo (5-9), it was the team's seventh straight loss. The Bills have major questions to answer on both sides of the ball.

What I liked: Miami tailback Reggie Bush continues to make a push for his first 1,000-yard season. He recorded a season-high 203 rushing yards, including a 76-yard touchdown to seal the game. He now needs 77 yards in the final two games for the milestone. Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore returned from last week’s head and neck injury and played very efficiently. He threw for 217 yards and two touchdowns -- one to receiver Brandon Marshall and the other to tight end Anthony Fasano.

What I didn’t like: Defensively, the Bills don't do anything well. They can't stop the run or rush the passer and need to spend a lot of resources in the draft and free agency to improve on that side of the football. Offensively, it also looks like the Bills may have jumped the gun on signing quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to a $59 million extension. Fitzpatrick lost his seventh straight game as a starting quarterback and was inaccurate in the first three quarters. He threw for 316 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Fitzpatrick padded his stats late in the fourth quarter after Miami took a sizable lead. Fitzpatrick will be the starter for the foreseeable future, and it's looking dicey if he can lift the Bills to contender status.

What's next: The Dolphins will travel for the second consecutive week to play the New England Patriots. New England won the first meeting between these two teams, 38-24, in Week 1. The Bills have another tough game upcoming next week. Buffalo will host Tim Tebow and the surging Denver Broncos, who were 7-1 in their past eight games entering Sunday.

Here is the latest injury updates for Week 11 in the AFC East:

Buffalo Bills: The Bills finally got some good news this week on the injury front, as top receiver Steve Johnson (shoulder) returned to practice Thursday on a limited basis. Buffalo's struggling offense really needs Johnson in Sunday's game against Miami. Buffalo linebacker Chris Kelsay (calf) again had a limited practice and looks primed to return. Safety George Wilson (neck) and receiver David Nelson (illness, ankle) both missed practice for the second straight day.

Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins remain healthy late in the season. Starting tight end Anthony Fasano (ankle) was the only player limited in practice. But he's on pace to play Sunday. Cornerback Nolan Carroll has a hamstring injury but had full participation.

New England Patriots: For New England, the big injury is top cornerback Devin McCourty, who didn't practice with a shoulder injury. The Patriots had 14 players who were limited. It was mostly the usual suspects from last week. But Wes Welker was limited with a knee injury that appears to be a new ailment for New England's leading receiver.

Here are the most interesting stories Wednesday morning in the AFC East:

• New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis said the team is not blaming quarterback Mark Sanchez for the Jets' struggles.

Morning take: Playing quarterback in New York is always tough. Sanchez is not making all the strides the Jets expected this season. But other areas of the teams are struggling as well.

• Guard Brian Waters is fitting well with the New England Patriots.

Morning take: New England made some big-name acquisitions such as Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco. But it's been the under-the-radar additions like Waters and Andre Carter that are paying off.

• The Buffalo Bills are middle of the pack in these Power Rankings.

Morning take: The good news is Buffalo is 5-4 and still in the playoff hunt. But the Bills are on a two-game losing streak and need to get their act together before it's too late.

• Miami Dolphins tight end Anthony Fasano is catching the important receptions.

Morning take: Fasano isn't the focal point of Miami's offense. But he has three touchdowns in his last three games. That's the kind of production Miami needs.

The Miami Dolphins (1-7) finally had fun again playing a football game. Miami broke a 10-game losing streak by trouncing the Kansas City Chiefs, 31-3.

In our latest "Caption this," we have an interesting picture of Miami tight end Anthony Fasano and receiver Brandon Marshall from that game.

What are they smiling about? Why are they laughing? It could be a thousand possibilities.

Have fun and keep it clean.

Here are the most interesting stories Thursday morning in the AFC East:

• The New England Patriots are waiting for defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth to get back to his old form.

Morning take: Chad Ochocinco's lackluster production actually took pressure off Haynesworth, who has been in and out of the lineup. But the Patriots need Hanynesworth to have a good second half of the season more than they need Ochocinco.

• Dolphins starting tight end Anthony Fasano is tired of the "Suck for Andrew Luck" talk in Miami.

Morning take: Miami needs to win games. That's the bottom line. If the Dolphins remain winless and in the hunt for the No. 1 overall pick, talk of Luck won't go away.

• The Buffalo Bills' work this offseason helped with their fast start.

Morning take: Buffalo has good chemistry in the locker room, which usually is the case with winning teams. Sunday's game against Washington is a big opportunity for Buffalo to improve to 5-2.

• The New York Jets are in the top third of the NFL in penalties committed.

Morning take: New York plays aggressive. Penalties come with that style of play. The Jets could get better, but there are bigger concerns on the team.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 1:

Handling Hali: Something to watch carefully when Buffalo visits Kansas City is how the Bills handle linebacker Tamba Hali. If left alone, he will torment Bills left tackle Demetrius Bell. If Buffalo designates a tight end next to Bell to assist with Hali or assigns a running back to chip him, that leaves the rest of Buffalo’s protection scheme vulnerable against pass-rushers Justin Houston, Glenn Dorsey and Wallace Gilberry. Kansas City also has a strong secondary. I have a hard time believing that Buffalo will have much success through the air this week. One guy who could really help their cause if used properly is running back C.J. Spiller.

Inexperienced Cowboys: Dallas visits the Jets on Sunday night. This is a terrible matchup for the Cowboys’ offense. Instead of older, heavy-footed road graders up front, the Cowboys' offensive line has an influx of athletic, but very young, starters. This could pay off in time, because they should be much better equipped to pass-block and get out on the screens and draw plays that favor Felix Jones. But for now, I expect huge growing pains. Ultra-talented Cowboys first-round pick Tyron Smith will not play because of a knee injury. I expect Dallas’ protection schemes to have plenty of breakdowns. That is an awful situation against a defense coached by Rex Ryan. Compounding matters for the Cowboys are the matchups on the perimeter. Miles Austin and Dez Bryant are as good a pair of starting wideouts as you will find. But Austin isn’t 100 percent healthy, and Darrelle Revis will shut down whichever wide receiver he covers. Antonio Cromartie is a very good man-to-man cover man who thrives against bigger wide receivers like Austin and Bryant. However, it should be noted that New York’s third-down defense last season gave up too many big plays.

Test for New England: New England travels to Miami for the early "Monday Night Football" game. Although it struggled this preseason, particularly against the Lions, I still consider New England’s offensive line one of the very best. But they will be tested in a huge way on the road. In the Miami heat, the fatigue factor will favor the home team. Miami has an extremely physical and deep 3-man defensive line. Led by Cameron Wake, the Dolphins’ edge pass-rushers are a real handful for any protection scheme. New England might be without starting right tackle Sebastian Vollmer, so we might see first-round pick Nate Solder in his first action.

Pressure from Patriots: When Miami has the ball, I expect Bill Belichick to dial up a lot of front-side pressure. Chad Henne is not very mobile, and he can struggle with pressure right in his face. Jake Long returns, after missing the preseason, to man his left tackle spot. I worry about the right side of the Dolphins’ offensive line, particularly starting right tackle Marc Colombo. He should be out-manned by players such as Shaun Ellis and Jermaine Cunningham, let alone the added front-side pressure. Compounding the problem, right guard Vernon Carey has little experience at guard. Anthony Fasano is an excellent blocking tight end and will have to spend much of his time on the right side, but the Miami running backs are either small and lacking physicality (Reggie Bush) or lacking experience (Daniel Thomas) in protection.

Stopping the run: The Bills' defense was awful against the run last season, but I am betting that it improved with the drafting of Marcell Dareus and some other additions. I expect the run defense to be particularly stout up the middle, where Dareus, Kyle Williams and Nick Barnett play. However, the changes might not pay off big against the Chiefs because Jamaal Charles is such a great runner outside the tackles. I also expect Dexter McCluster’s role as a ball carrier to increase.

Let's see who is rising and falling in the AFC East.

Falling

1. Miami Dolphins' halftime celebrations: Last time I checked, the Miami Hurricanes play football at Sun Life Stadium. That is why it's baffling that the Dolphins will honor the rival Florida Gators' 2008 championship team during halftime of the Dolphins-Broncos game on Oct. 23. Most Dolphin fans are Hurricane fans. So expect Tim Tebow and even current Dolphins center Mike Pouncey to get booed profusely. This won't end well. Miami is not Gator country. So the Dolphins should leave the Gators halftime celebrations to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

2. New York Jets offense: The Jets' first-team offense scored seven points on seven possessions last week. Quarterback Mark Sanchez connected with receiver Santonio Holmes for a 17-yard touchdown before halftime in a 17-3 victory over the New York Giants. But the Jets' other six possessions from the starting offense netted just 56 yards. The offensive line struggled with run blocking and the timing was off in the passing game. The Jets have to be more crisp offensively before their Sept. 11 regular-season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

3. New England Patriots' pass defense: It's always risky to make too much of a preseason performance for a veteran team like New England. But it's hard to ignore the Patriots' shaky pass defense in a 34-10 loss to the Detroit Lions. Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford carved up New England's secondary. He was 12-for-14 passing for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Stafford was doing so well against New England that the Lions pulled him before halftime of the third preseason game.

Rising

1. Chad Henne, Dolphins quarterback: Is Henne turning the corner? Miami hopes last week's performance against Tampa Bay in the "dress rehearsal" game was a sign of things to come. Henne was 10-of-13 for 175 yards and a touchdown. He started hot right away with a pair of long connections to tight end Anthony Fasano and receiver Brandon Marshall. Henne capped the opening drive with a 60-yard touchdown to Marshall. This is a big season for Henne, who has to prove he's worthy of being Miami's starting quarterback.

2. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills quarterback: Fitzpatrick was nearly perfect in Buffalo's 35-32 win over Jacksonville. Fitzpatrick was 11-of-12 for 165 yards and two touchdowns. He had a 158.3 passer rating. Fitzpatrick was aggressive downfield. He connected with receiver Steve Johnson for several nice plays, including a 52-yard touchdown reception.

3. David Harris, Jets linebacker: Harris looks ready for the regular season. He had seven tackles, two pass defenses and an interception against the Giants. Harris' pick was a slick call by Jets coach Rex Ryan. The Jets sent a zone-blitz and dropped Harris into the flat. The blitz confused Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who threw the ball right into the zone Harris occupied. Harris returned the pick seven yards.

Buffalo Bills

Count running back Fred Jackson among those surprised when he learned he wouldn't be starting the Bills' second preseason game last week. "I was shocked," Jackson said. "I feel like a No. 1 back, and I should be treated like one. As far as what's going on, you would have to ask them. I'm going to come out here and compete. I feel like I have been competing. I feel like I have done everything I can. It's been like that for two or three years, and nothing has changed."

After missing last season with an injury, linebacker Danny Batten isn't taking playing football for granted.

Miami Dolphins

Coach Tony Sparano has been impressed with the lack of mental errors from cornerbacks Sean Smith and Vontae Davis.

Anthony Fasano isn't flashy, but the Dolphins know they can always count on the veteran tight end to get the job done.

New England Patriots

Despite what appeared to be a very solid performance in the Patriots' latest preseason game, Logan Mankins says there is still room for the offensive line to make improvements.

Gerry Callahan of the Boston Herald is anything but a fan of Albert Haynesworth.

New York Jets

Former Jets first-round draft pick Vernon Gholston says he never got a fair shot to succeed under Rex Ryan.

Saturday’s Jets-Giants matchup, according to Plaxico Burress, is just "another football game."

Observations on the Miami Dolphins' 28-23 preseason win against the Atlanta Falcons.

More required from Henne: I have been in the Dolphins’ corner all offseason on their approach at the quarterback position: Build the supporting cast around Chad Henne and give him another chance to succeed. His game versus Atlanta didn’t help his cause at all. His first pass of the night was well behind Anthony Fasano, who could not handle it. John Abraham, who dropped into coverage on a zone blitz, intercepted it. It wasn’t as though Henne was confused by the scheme or under a lot of pressure in the pocket. He just missed an easy, short throw to his tight end. His second first-quarter interception also was released from a clean pocket. In this case, it looked as though he just was unable to fit the ball in over the cornerback (Brent Grimes, who made the interception) and in front of the safety in what was most likely a Cover 2 look. That won’t do. I wonder how much the Dolphins fans attending training camp will boo Henne now. To his credit, Henne did improve after throwing the second interception, although he was facing many of the Falcons’ backup defenders.

Miami was the inferior team: When the starters were playing, it was pretty clear the Falcons are the better team. There is no shame in that for the Dolphins, because Atlanta is clearly one of the top few teams in the NFL. But Miami was beaten in just about all areas when both team’s best players were on the field. After Henne’s opening interception, the Falcons totally owned Miami’s defense and promptly made the score 7-0 in dominant fashion.

Line play: I have been singing the praises of Miami’s defensive line this entire offseason. It faced a stiff test against a rugged and well-coached Falcons’ front five that returns four of five starters from a year ago. Atlanta is not especially athletic, but boasts one of the best offensive lines in the league. Miami’s defensive front did not offer much resistance against the Falcons’ downhill power running game. Michael Turner had too many holes to run through.

Offensive tackles: Because the great Jake Long is injured, Miami started Lydon Murtha at left tackle. Newly signed Marc Colombo started on the right side, and Vernon Carey slid in to right guard. Ray Edwards didn’t play for the Falcons, but Atlanta -- led by Abraham -- is still pretty strong at defensive end. Murtha and Colombo are not an athletic pair at all, and they were far from perfect. But they played better than I had expected. Murtha had a tougher outing than Colombo, which is not a surprise. I still have my doubts about Colombo as a starter.

Nolan didn’t show much: This isn’t an excuse for the Dolphins’ front to get abused by simple downhill run plays, but it was pretty clear after watching this game that Mike Nolan didn’t want to put a lot of his defensive playbook on tape. There were very few blitzes and little pre-snap movement. The top guys on the Dolphins’ defense didn’t play a lot of snaps in this contest. The depth of the Dolphins’ defense did show up well as the game went along. I am still very confident that Miami will have one of the best defenses in football this season.

Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson breaks down the tight ends of each AFC East team. Today: Miami Dolphins.

Anthony Fasano might not be the most dynamic tight end in the league, but he is a very underrated all-around player. He battled several injuries for much of the 2010 season, but his toughness was obvious and he was quite productive. Blocking is his forte -- and he is among the best blocking tight ends in football. But Fasano also is a good receiving option. He won’t stretch the field or make a lot of big plays, but he is reliable in the middle of the field and near the goal line.

Mickey Shuler was the only other Dolphins tight end to record a catch in 2010. But Shuler lacks the power to play every down and isn’t dynamic enough to create mismatches in coverage. Jeron Mastrud, Joey Haynos and Dedrick Epps also are in the equation, as is sixth-round pick Charles Clay. Mastrud needs a ton of work as a blocker, but his height and athleticism are reasonably intriguing. But still, Mustrud doesn’t play the game with enough leverage. Haynos also is very tall, but he is heavier and far more physical than Mastrud. Haynos isn’t a playmaker at all as a receiver. Epps is a young player who could develop. Epps has upside and might just surprise. Clay is a jack-of-all-trades who might have a tough time finding a niche in the NFL. But Clay does have some upside as a receiver.

Miami would be wise to consider signing a backup tight end for Fasano. Actually, adding a tight end to the current crop would be a good move for every team in this division with the exception of New England.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.