by By Allen Wilson - NEWS SPORTS REPORTER , Buffalo News

The Bills struggled in all phases for a good portion of this season. Penalties wiped out long returns, put the offense in bad field position and gave the opposing teams opportunities to keep drives alive. Shaky coverage resulted in big plays for the opposition. And of course, there were turnovers by return men Leodis McKelvin and Roscoe Parrish that negatively impacted the outcome of two games.

But the Bills' special teams have changed for the better in recent weeks, especially kick coverage. After allowing 26.7 yards per kickoff return in the first five games, the Bills have held opponents to just 14.6 yards the last two weeks. They go into Sunday's game against the Houston Texans ranked 18th in the league, a vast improvement from their No. 29 ranking three weeks ago.

Punt coverage was already outstanding, allowing 7.6 yards per return through five games. But in the past two games, the Bills have yielded a microscopic 1.3 yards per return. Their 4.8-yard average allowed is fourth best in the NFL.

Punter Brian Moorman, the AFC's Special Teams Player of the Week, has a lot to do with the low return yardage. But coverage is getting downfield quickly and making plays.

"This year we hadn't started as well as we started in other years because of the gaffes," said Bills special teams coordinator Bobby April. "We've had penalties and turnovers. Those are huge gaffes. But our focus has been on getting better and trying to do everything we can to improve in meetings and on the practice field and in games. That's been our mantra and we've been able to do it. Wherever we've started we've gotten better."

But even April is amazed at the dramatic improvement of the coverage teams. So what has changed in the last two weeks?

"I think the attention to detail," said receiver Justin Jenkins, who is on both coverage units. "Everybody is playing hard, but on special teams you have to be in the right place at the right time. You can't overplay it, you can't underplay it.

"The last couple of weeks we've been playing with our hair on fire. You can see it in guys' eyes. They want to go down the field and rip somebody's head off. It's something we've become accustomed to the last few years."

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A lot of draft analysts thought the Bills would take outside linebacker Brian Cushing instead of defensive end Aaron Maybin with the 11th pick of the first round. Undoubtedly, a number of Bills fans are wondering if their team chose the right guy.

Cushing leads the Texans and all NFL rookies with 56 tackles and was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after a Week Six 28-17 win at Cincinnati after registering nine tackles, two forced fumbles, one interception and a half sack.

Meanwhile, Maybin is having trouble getting on the field, averaging just 15 snaps per game. After getting 38 and 27 defensive snaps in the first two games, his chances have gone down. He was on the field for only five plays against Cleveland, one against the New York Jets and nine at Carolina.

Bills defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said Maybin's limited playing time is due to the way teams are attacking the defense.

"We are having problems in the run game," Fewell said. "[Maybin] played really good last week. He didn't have a whole lot of plays, but the plays he was in we saw a lot of progress out of him. We think that he will keep getting better and better. He had to play in the run game and he did very well."

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Defensive tackle Kyle Williams will miss Sunday's game with a sprained knee. He had never missed a game in his career, a run of durability that included 50 consecutive starts.

He is one of four starters declared out, joining quarterback Trent Edwards (concussion), safety Donte Whitner (ankle), right tackle Jonathan Scott (ankle).

Fullback Corey McIntyre (knee) and tight end Shawn Nelson (migraine) are also out. Safety Bryan Scott (ankle) is doubtful, while defensive end Chris Kelsay (back) and corner Terrence McGee (knee) are probable.

Wide receiver Terrell Owens didn't practice Friday. Coach Dick Jauron said it was a day of rest for Owens, who sat out the last two Friday sessions.

In Houston, coach Gary Kubiak said Friday that Texans All-Pro wide receiver Andre Johnson is "ready to go," barring any setbacks. Johnson has shown no ill effects of the bruised lung sustained last week against San Francisco. He'll wear a padded extension to his shoulder pads to protect his chest.

e-mail: awilson@buffnews.com

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