by Larry Felser - SPECIAL TO THE NEWS , Buffalo News

Schonert will get no argument here, but there is more to Buffalo's offense than Trent Edwards' success. The developmental progress of the completely revamped line is central to the quarterback's ability to at least move the Bills in the direction of the playoffs starting this weekend at training camp.

In the absence of New England's superstar quarterback, Tom Brady, Miami won last season's AFC East championship by sweeping its last five games, a fact many fans may not remember. The Dolphins did it with a Jets' castoff, Chad Pennington, at quarterback. Pennington does not have a strong passing arm but he's smart, a sharp decision-maker and a good leader.

Miami's freshly constructed offensive line, built around first overall draft pick Jake Long, was coached by University at Buffalo alumnus Mike Maser. It was virtually all new but allowed Pennington to be sacked just 24 times despite the fact he started every game. Edwards, frequently absent, was sacked 23 times and J.P. Losman, who played a lot when Edwards was banged up, went down 15 additional times behind a line that was more experienced and paid far more than the Miami group.

Yet Schonert's point is completely valid. The Buffalo season pretty much hangs on Edwards' development.

That is not to say Edwards must become the second coming of Jim Kelly in order for Buffalo to make the season interesting and competitive from start to finish. There are a large number of NFL teams that have waited far longer than the Bills for another Hall of Fame quarterback, or for that matter for a Hall of the Very Good quarterback, to lead them.

Joe Namath hasn't worn a Jets uniform for 33 years and no quarterback yet has given New York a reasonable imitation. The Cleveland Browns have undergone a total metamorphosis but none of their quarterbacks has been mistaken for the great Otto Graham since he retired after the 1955 season. We may still think of Jim McMahon as "that smart-aleck kid" but he's been gone almost a quarter century since he led the Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl annihilation of the Patriots. Joe Montana gave it a nice try at the end of his career when he became a Kansas City Chief in 1993, but the Chiefs haven't had a gold standard quarterback since Lenny Dawson retired in 1975.

In Detroit they know long suffering. They've been trying to replace Bobby Layne for a half-century.

Some franchises live golden Football lives. Miami had Bob Griese and Dan Marino; the Giants Charlie Conerly, Phil Simms and now Eli Manning; Dallas had Don Meredith, Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman; the Colts, in Baltimore then Indianapolis, employed Johnny Unitas, Bert Jones and now Peyton Manning.

San Francisco has been luckiest of all. In 1946 the 49ers went into business with Frankie Albert at quarterback, then Y.A. Tittle, followed by John Brodie, Montana and Steve Young.

As Schonert pointed out, Edwards has been through a lot in a short pro career, has learned a lot and gained confidence that permeates through his team. The coordinator thinks that with the addition of Terrell Owens the Bills now have the receivers to win one-on-one matchups. As he says, "It's up to Trent to find them."

So let's cut Edwards some slack. To develop he has to stay in reasonable physical condition, which means he can't be allowed to take beatings from enemy pass rushers. Schonert has to devise offensive game plans that make things happen quickly and keep opposing headhunters occupied with enough duties to keep Trent out of traction. Another hunt for a "quarterback of the future" would be too dismal a prospect.

Larry Felser, former News columnist, appears in Sunday's editions.

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