KEEPING IT SIMPLE: New Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator KIPPY BROWN believes in stressing the basics.

"It’s like I’m back in school," says Dolphins quarterback DAN MARINO. "It’s kind of exciting for me." Brown’s new offense will stress the ground game as well as basic patterns with built-in adjustments for receivers. Running plays and offensive line blocking schemes now have simpler terminology rather than previous numerical coding. In addition, there will be more set plays and fewer four-receiver sets.

"A lot of people run the same plays," Brown says. "There are no secrets. It’s what you emphasize, what you believe in and what you coach with a passion."

Dolphins head coach JIMMY JOHNSON likes the direction the team’s offense is taking.

"We want to do the things that allow us to beat the good teams," he says. "I’m amazed at the few mistakes we’ve had in minicamp, especially when you consider what we’ve changed – the snap count, the way we call our formations, the way we call our protections, the way we call our running plays, the way we call our passing plays."

Brown wants to keep it simple in 1998. "We’re going to learn how to get in the huddle, get out of the huddle and get off the line of scrimmage first and make adjustments along the way," he says.

THE DEFENSE ISN’T RESTING -- YET: Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator GUNTHER CUNNINGHAM said he was "stargazing" when the club opened minicamp on June 3.

This offseason, the Chiefs signed free-agent defensive linemen CHESTER MC GLOCKTON and LESLIE O’NEAL to upgrade an already formidable defense. Last season, the Chiefs yielded the NFL’s fewest points (232), topped the AFC in sacks (54) and interceptions (21), tied for the conference lead in takeaways (34) and placed cornerbacks DALE CARTER and JAMES HASTY and linebacker DERRICK THOMAS on the AFC Pro Bowl squad.

McGlockton earned four straight Pro Bowl trips as a defensive tackle with Oakland. A six-time Pro Bowl choice, defensive end O’Neal ranks ninth in league history with 122.5 career sacks.

"We don’t want the players to fit the scheme," Cunningham says, "we want the scheme to fit the players. That’s the mental gymnastics I’m going through because of the new guys."

CROSS-TRAINER: Jacksonville Jaguars head athletic trainer/physical therapist MICHAEL RYAN practices what he preaches.

On May 23, Ryan competed in the Lanzarote Ironman Triathlon on the Canary Islands and sliced nine minutes off his previous Ironman best. Ryan finished the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike-ride and 26.2-mile run in a combined 11 hours, 15 minutes and 26 seconds to place 161st out of 622 triathletes.

While Ryan has to squeeze in his workouts -- "During minicamp, I woke up one morning at 3:30 AM to get my 20-mile run in before work," he says -- his professional background has been helpful. "I use the knowledge of nutrition, heat and hydration, conditioning principles and rehabilitation methods that I use as an athletic trainer and apply it to myself," Ryan says. "It becomes not just something that I teach players."

CHANGING SIDES: ALFRED JACKSON will be crossing both the United States-Canadian border and the line of scrimmage while seeking a roster spot in training camp with the Baltimore Ravens as a cornerback. Last year, as a wide receiver, Jackson earned All-Star honors for the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League by ranking among league leaders with 79 catches for 1,322 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also led the CFL with a 12.8-yard punt-return average.

"I’m really rusty," says the former All-America receiver at San Diego State of the switch back to a former position. "I’m so used to catching the ball that I want to turn when the receiver turns, but it also helps, too, because I know where they are going."

Jackson played cornerback in 45 games over six NFL seasons (L.A. Rams, 1989-90; Cleveland, 1991-92; Minnesota, 1995-96). He has five career interceptions, including one touchdown return.

ON THE RECEIVING END: New York Jets wide receiver WAYNE CHREBET recently caught praise – earning Man of the Year honors in his hometown of Garfield, New Jersey -- and then a probable starter position this season.

On May 17, Chrebet was honored as Man of the Year by the Boys and Girls Club of Garfield. "That’s where I first learned teamwork and the discipline that comes with sports," he says. Added Chrebet’s dad, WAYNE, SR.: "He hasn’t changed. Success hasn’t changed him at all."