Heading into the 2006 season, no fewer than 17 NFL teams will have made changes at offensive coordinator. And while head coaches still have the most influence on a given player's chances for Fantasy success, the offensive coordinator is clearly next on that list.

How important? You'll find that no fewer than eight of the head coaches for the 17 teams featured will actually have more offensive input than their respective coordinators.

Whatever approach a team takes, the better you know how each situation works -- as well as the background and general tendencies of the principals involved, the better prepared you'll be when it comes time to crank out your player evaluations this summer.

The primary goal here will be to familiarize you with each change by providing a solid baseline of info to work from -- a baseline we'll continue to build upon throughout the coming months.

Remember, being well informed is a process; this is just a starting point.

So, with all that out of the way. ... This is the first of a four-part series; we'll review all 17 teams (Buffalo, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Green Bay, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Minnesota, New England, New Orleans, the New York Jets, Oakland, Philadelphia, St. Louis, San Francisco and Washington) in question and help you get up to speed on their play-calling plans before mandatory mini-camps begin in earnest the week after the NFL Draft (April 29-30).

This week: The Bills, Cowboys, Broncos and Lions.

We'll start in Buffalo. ... As Rochester Democrat & Chronicle staffer Sal Maiorana advised readers last week, Steve Fairchild will use the next few months to figure out the talent level in Buffalo and what his new charges are capable of doing within the offensive system he is installing.

For those not familiar with his background, Fairchild bounced around the college coaching ranks from 1982 to 1992 before settling in at Colorado State -- where he played quarterback for two years in the late 1970s -- for an eight-year run during which time he served as quarterbacks coach and later as offensive coordinator.

Under his tutelage, Moses Moreno became the third-most prolific quarterback in school history and Pete Robstock one of the finest receivers CSU has ever had.

But also during his stint with at CSU, five of the 15 all-time 1,000-yard rushing seasons in school history were achieved, including 1997 when both Kevin McDougal and Damon Washington surpassed 1,100 yards on the ground.

As Maiorana suggested: "Fairchild knows balance."

"I like Steve because I like his background," incoming Bills head coach Dick Jauron (see initial report on Jauron's hiring here) said after hiring Fairchild away from the St. Louis Rams. "I like the variety of ways he's coached. I'm a big believer in the fact you've got to do it all to win in our league.

"You've got to be able to throw it creatively, but you've got to be able to run it. He's had a background in both."

Fairchild left Colorado State in 2001 to begin his NFL career in Buffalo on Gregg Williams' first staff. He was in charge of running backs for two years and in 2002 Travis Henry gained 1,438 yards, fifth-best in Bills history.

Fairchild left to join his old friend, then-Rams head coach Mike Martz, with whom he had a long association. In 1976, just three years removed from college, Martz was an assistant coach at Mesa Community College in San Diego. His quarterback there in 1976 and 1977 was Fairchild, then a scrawny lefthander.

Back in the days when 20-25 passes marked a good day's work for a college offense, Martz had Mesa throwing twice that much and using four wide receivers. It was a radical approach for the time.

"Nobody was really used to seeing one-back sets (and) teams throwing it aggressively on first and second down," Fairchild said. "It was fun. You were doing things nobody else was doing, and it was working. I'm sure that was cool for Mike. It certainly was cool for the guys that played for him."

According to St. Louis Post-Dispatch staffer Jim Thomas, Fairchild was low-key, highly intelligent but very competitive as a player. He was able to identify and exploit the weaknesses in defenses. Those attributes have transferred over to Fairchild's coaching career.

In St. Louis, Fairchild was quarterbacks coach in 2003 and offensive coordinator in '04 and '05. While Martz was the primary play-caller, Fairchild was instrumental in game-planning, and when Martz missed most of '05 with a heart ailment, Fairchild called the plays.

"It was a great opportunity for me," Fairchild said of his time in St. Louis. "A lot of my background in coaching had been run-oriented. I felt I needed, for my own professional development, to get more experience in a downfield passing offense and seeing the explosive things they did under [Martz]."

Jauron did not know Fairchild before he interviewed him for the Bills' job in January, but knowing Fairchild was being pursued by a couple other teams including the division rival Jets, he hired him.

Now Fairchild has to reward Jauron's confidence by fixing an offense that ranked 28th in yards, 29th in passing and 24th in scoring in 2005. But of course, turning things around will be no mean feat.

Fortunately, Maiorana reports the newcomer has a pretty good idea of what needs to happen.

Asked by Maiorana about the style of offense the Bills need to play, Fairchild replied: "No matter who you are, you have to have some sort of identity and I think in the AFC East there's no question you have to be able to run the football. If you're sound, you don't make mistakes and you have enough big-play capability, you can build off that run game and be successful."

On whether he can get more out of Willis McGahee: "He's impressive and I look forward to working with him. He was a sure thing in this offense last year. You saddled him up and gave him the ball and lived with it, but maybe there can be some ways to get him into space a little better, not pound him in between the tackles as much. He's a good downhill runner, but if that's all you're doing, maybe that limits your production."

A greater mystery might be what he can get out of the team's quarterback. Actually, the real mystery is who winds up as the starter.

Ever since the Bills signed former Green Bay backup Craig Nall to a contract that included a $1.3 million signing bonus, speculation has run rampant in Buffalo that J.P. Losman's days in Buffalo are numbered.

Fairchild says that's not the case. He says the competition -- and his mind -- are wide open.

"Here's what I'm trying to do with the quarterback issue," Fairchild said recently. "We're going to start on even ground and try not to pre-judge anybody. We're going to open it up and see where it goes."

The team's recent three-day mini-camp seems to bear him out.

It's safe to say nothing that happened during those sessions offered a hint as to whether Losman, Nall or Kelly Holcomb will be the starter at New England on Sept.10. It was merely the first step in a vitally important evaluation process.

Asked by Maiorana about getting more out of Losman, Fairchild was realistic.

"J.P. has some talent," he explained. "Obviously, he was a first-round pick and he showed arm strength and all sorts of good things, but that's just a little piece of being a good quarterback. Putting it together and producing on the field, all the arm strength and athletic ability in the world doesn't guarantee that you'll produce as a quarterback.

"But there are a lot of tools that look good, a lot of positive things. Maybe a fresh start will be good for him."

Then again, as Maiorana pointed out, a fresh start will be good for everybody on offense. Fortunately, Fairchild already understands this.

"I think we need to see improvement everywhere, but that's up to us," he said. "We have to see what we have and try to get better and better. ..."

One last note on this one. ... Although he clearly believes in a more balanced attack, Fairchild never managed to do achieve the desired balance after taking over for Martz last year. It all started with a Nov. 20 loss to the Cardinals, when the Fairchild-led Rams managed a meager six yards on 12 carries, the second-lowest figure in franchise history.

In fact, during the four-game stretch that started with the Cardinals, Fairchild called 186 passing plays compared to 74 rushing plays prompting Steven Jackson to make what one observer characterized as "Keyshawn Johnson-like pleas" for more touches.

Those pleas went unheard as Jackson only had 16 carries in each of his last two appearances. Let's hope McGahee doesn't meet a similar fate. ...

In Dallas. ... The Cowboys made a number of adjustments to their staff in the wake of Sean Payton's move to New Orleans, where he was hired on as head coach of the Saints.

In addition to hiring Mississippi State assistant Freddie Kitchens to coach tight ends, former Texans offensive coordinator Chris Palmer was hired to coach quarterbacks.

This will be Palmer's second time on staff with head coach Bill Parcells. Palmer was the receivers coach for three seasons when Parcells was head coach in New England. Palmer was the quarterbacks coach for one season and worked with quarterback Drew Bledsoe when the Patriots reached the Super Bowl in the 1996 season.

Palmer and Kitchens were the additions, but they weren't the only moves.

Offensive line coach and running game coordinator Tony Sparano had assistant head coach added to his title, probably as payback for Parcells denying him permission to move to New Orleans and become offensive coordinator under Payton.

Receivers coach Todd Haley had passing game coordinator added to his title, meaning he will take over Payton's duties in developing the game plan.

It also means that head coach Parcells will likely call his own plays in 2006 after letting Payton do it in 2005. Prior to that, Parcells said the last time he didn't call plays was in his first or second year in New England (1993-96).

Bottom line? Parcells isn't hard to figure out.

The Cowboys will rely heavily on the run but take plenty of shots downfield with Bledsoe looking to connect on big plays with newcomer Terrell Owens and capable counterpoint Terry Glenn.

In Denver. ... As the Sports Xchange recently suggested, the Broncos shouldn't have much of a transition period adjusting to a new offensive coordinator. Head coach Mike Shanahan hired former Broncos assistant Mike Heimerdinger as the team's assistant head coach and promoted offensive line coach Rick Dennison to replace Gary Kubiak, who became the Texans' new head coach, as offensive coordinator.

Shanahan said Dennison was ready and deserved a promotion to become the team's offensive coordinator.

Dennison has coordinated the team's running game in recent years and will continue to do that. Heimerdinger will coordinate the passing game and call plays with input from Dennison and Shanahan.

Dennison also will continue coaching the offensive line. He has been the line coach for the past five seasons.

"Rick Dennison has done a great job; he's coordinated a running game for a number of years," Shanahan said. "He's an excellent coach. I thought it was a great promotion for him because it's well-deserved. (He's) very sharp, very accountable."

Heimerdinger was Denver's receivers coach from 1995-99 and has been an NFL offensive coordinator the past six seasons. Heimerdinger will probably have a large say in the offense, considering his background. He also is a close friend of Shanahan's, going back to their days as college teammates at Eastern Illinois University.

Dennison has been a Broncos assistant since 1997. He has been offensive line coach since 2001, overseeing one of the best units in the NFL.

In fact, Pro Football Weekly reported that it was no secret Kubiak wanted Dennison to join him in Houston, but Shanahan valued Dennison's ability to teach Denver's blocking techniques too much to let him walk.

Asked in a recent Rocky Mountain News interview whether it will be different for Jake Plummer with Heimerdinger calling plays instead of Kubiak, Shanahan said: "It's the same offense, it's basically going to be the same plays, same game plans, same quarterback reads he's had with (quarterbacks coach) Pat McPherson. ... Even though Mike will be there and will obviously be instrumental in Jake's success, we haven't lost a lot of the components."

Asked further hat Heimerdinger can bring to the offense since he was last with the team in 1999, Shanahan indicated the team would benefit from an additional -- new -- perspective.

"Any time you bring somebody into your staff, there are always ideas that are implemented," he explained. "Mike's been away for six years; he brings some fresh ideas to our team. We got another guy, (offensive assistant) Jeremy Bates, who's been with Tampa Bay, a few different organizations. He brings some fresh ideas.

"Dennison being the offensive coordinator, kind of getting his perspective on what we've done, it's always nice to kind of start over again.

"I'm in those meetings now more than I have been just because you've got some new guys this year and you want to be on the same page as far as terminology and that we're all thinking on the same lines."

Oh yeah. ... Shanahan also said he'll continue to have a strong say in Denver's offensive plans.

"One thing that I'll always do is stay involved with the football aspect of the offense, defense and special teams," he added. That's especially true of the offense. ...

In Detroit. ... Martz not only is beginning his overhaul of one of the NFL's worst offenses, but he's making a quick impression. According to the Associated Press, the Lions broke a three-day voluntary mini-camp last Thursday with a better understanding of what has made their new offensive coordinator one of the most respected in the league.

"He's very detailed. There's nothing that goes by the wayside. He sees everything," quarterback Jon Kitna said of the former Rams' head coach. "But the great thing about it is he's going to give us every opportunity to be successful."

That attention to detail often has been a matter of yards.

"There's more coaching. He says 2 yards outside the number, he means 2 yards. Not a yard and a half," said receiver Roy Williams, who led the team with eight touchdown catches last season. "That's different that what I'm used to."

The Lions were 27th in total offense last season and 26th in passing, marks Martz hopes to reverse after a successful seven-year run in which is St. Louis teams rank in the top 10 offensively in six of the seven seasons. Kurt Warner and Marc Bulger emerged as stars under his tutelage.

Kitna, signed as a free agent from Cincinnati during the offseason, is a believer.

"I know people in Detroit hear that with a skeptic ear, but look at his track record," he said. "The Rams were 3-13 before we got there. We have to take what we've learned now and go out and do it."

Like his offensive coordinator, new head coach Rod Marinelli (see initial report on Marinelli's hiring here) kept workouts brisk as the team spent most of the week beginning the process of learning its system.

"Right now you're using these camps as tools to teach and find what you want to teach," Marinelli said. "The biggest thing is progress and the tempo were trying to create."

Lions president Matt Millen was watching the coaches as much as the players.

"You saw a lot of coaching going on, a lot of details," he said. "All the tiny little things that you take for granted that often get overlooked when you don't make it a priority."

With Martz installing his vaunted offense -- and with a new quarterback under center (whether it's Kitna or Josh McCown), all involved are looking for better totals than we saw last year.

In fact, the wideouts believe part of their problem last season was that the West Coast offense focused on the flanker position, which was manned by Roy Williams. That left the rest of the receivers to pick up a few crumbs here and there.

"Martz has made it clear that he can make it happen with anybody and it doesn't have to be the guys who are here. He'll go out and find guys that can get what he wants done," receiver Mike Williams said. "Plus, when you watch this offense, it's not focused on one or two guys.

"It's so obvious that it's not about one person and it's going to work."

According to Detroit Free Press columnist Drew Sharp, fellow wideout Charles Rogers "almost salivated" when talking about Martz's strategy, wholeheartedly agreeing with tight end Marcus Pollard's assessment that Martz's approach is comparable to fast-break basketball.

By all accounts, the practice tempo was noticeably faster and more intense during last week's sessions. But that's only the first of many adjustments players will have to make.

As Detroit News beat man Mike O'Hara noted, given the shift in offensive philosophy -- with more passes downfield -- the personnel groups are sure to be affected.

The Lions carried two tight ends last season. This year, they'll probably have three. Dan Campbell, a blocking specialist, has been added to incumbents Pollard and Casey Fitzsimons.

The roles of the running backs and fullbacks also will change. Kevin Jones is in line for more carries at tailback and Shawn Bryson's role at fullback likely will expand to take advantage of his speed and receiving ability.

O'Hara went on to remind readers that Marinelli pursued Martz doggedly as one of his most important additions to his staff because of the success Martz had in St. Louis, first as offensive coordinator and later as head coach.

Marinelli has said he likes the versatility Martz has in his offense, in the balance between the running and passing games and how he adjusts in both phases.

That is evident in the different players Martz uses. The first five games of 2005 -- which also were Martz's last five as coach -- were typical of how he uses players as specialized parts of the offense.

Madison Hedgecock, a 266-pound rookie, started one game at fullback. In another, Brandon Manumaleuna, a 288-pound tight end, was listed as the starting fullback. In another, Blaine Saipaia, a 310-pound offensive lineman, lined up as a starting tight end in a one-back formation.

On the 1999 Rams team that won the Super Bowl, Robert Holcombe, a 220-pound rookie, was the primary fullback.

In fact, veteran fullback and blocking specialist Cory Schlesinger is wondering if he will have a role for a 12th season with the Lions under Martz. While it's too early to make any final judgments, all indications are that the classic fullback could be phased out.

For what it's worth, Jones doesn't seem especially concerned about his lead blocker. He's already buying everything Martz is selling.

"He's quiet. He reminds me of myself," the former first-round draft pick said. "I told him he was a genius. He said, 'No, I'm not. I'm not afraid to do what some people are afraid to do out on the field.'

"Some people get caught up in the game and don't want to call certain plays. He says that's not him."

(That might be the biggest understatement since Noah said it looked a little like rain.)

Better still, Martz seems to be just as keen on Jones.

"He's a very explosive player that you can hang your hat on," Martz said of Jones. "He really is. He's just scratching the surface. I just think there's so much potential there. When you looked at this job and looked at what was real exciting about it, I think that was probably one of the areas you would start with."

Martz also praised his versatility, saying Jones could carry the ball 30 times a game or carry it five and catch it 10. "We just have to shine that up a bit."

One last note on this one. ... If you're wondering what Jones thinks of the progress already being made by the new staff, look no further than his comments after the first day of last week's workouts when the promising halfback characterized practices as "intense" and having "good tempo."

Then he added this: "I think we're already ahead of where we were last year."

Last year in April?

"No," he said. "Last year in general. I just think the whole building is different. I'm happy with the staff, happy with the new additions we got. Everything's looking good right now. We've just got to stay focused through this whole offseason."

That's it for Part One; watch the Main Page and Headline News section of this site on Friday when I'll post Part Two, featuring Green Bay, Houston, Kansas City and Miami.