MOtorboat
01-27-2008, 01:49 PM
The Bills are in an interesting position. They seem to have a lot of young talent, but now that young talent has to come through and propel them to the next level. Of course, the problem the Bills face right now is that they are in a division with possibly the best team of all time. Meaning a 4-2 divisional record may be the best they can get in the next few years.
What has hindered the Bills from developing is J.P. Losman’s inability to step up and be the No. 1 quarterback they wanted him to be when they drafted him four years ago. So, in 2007, the Bills went out and spent another day one pick on a quarterback, and brought in Stanford’s Trent Edwards in the third round.
Edwards stepped in, in his rookie season and didn’t do a bad job, leading the Bills to a 7-9 record, 5-4 in games he started. He threw eight interceptions, but also seven touchdowns, and his rating was 70.4. Not horrible numbers for a guy thrown to the fire. He’s big, 6-3, 230, and does have a good arm, though he lacks some mobility, but with Edwards it appears the Bills have finally found what they were looking for when they took a quarterback on day one four years ago.
Sitting behind Edwards in the backfield was another rookie in Marshawn Lynch. Lynch, who is a tough runner, though he tends to bounce things outside, stepped in from almost day one and ran for 1,115 yards and seven touchdowns. He was exactly what the Bills needed when oft-unhappy Willis McGahee left town. With Lynch and Edwards, it seems as the Bills may have found their starters for years to come. Dwayne Wright and Fred Jackson back Lynch up. Long-time fullback Ryan Neufeld is a blocking back, that was utilized a little more this season with the departure of McGahee, but the Bills still favor one-back sets.
Robert Royal and Michael Gaines start at the two tight end positions. Both are big targets, but still need to improve in the passing game to help take the pressure of Edwards and the receiving core. Combined they totaled 50 catches for five touchdowns. With a young quarterback, I think those numbers will probably go up next year.
Lee Evans is one of the top receivers in the league, but his numbers significantly dropped off last season as the Bills struggled to get him the ball. Defenses were able to key on him, and the Bills have to find some other options to take the pressure of Evans and allow him to break out once again next season. Josh Reed has been inconsistent at best for the Bills as he enters his seventh NFL season. He’s a third-receiver at best, and Roscoe Parrish, the Bills’ other option, is as well. The Bills are a team that may look at a receiver like Limas Sweed in the first round, or look at taking Mario Manningham or James Hardy if they are available in the second. The Bills may even be a candidate to try and find someone in free agency.
The Buffalo Bills offensive line was inconsistent at best. They allowed 48 sacks, 25th worst in the league, and averaged less than four yards per carry, good for 28th in the NFL. The Bills need to upgrade along the offensive line if they want to give Edwards the protection he needs to become the franchise quarterback. Jason Peters will be entering his fifth season with the Bills, and his third season as the starter at left tackle. The Bills were atrocious running the ball to the left side, and Peters clearly is more of a pass blocker. It may be time for the Bills to try and upgrade the position in order to protect Edwards blind side, while trying to run the ball to the left.
Derrick Dockery, a free agent signing before 2007, was a little disappointing, but Dockery is a good guard, and some of his production problems may have been because of Peters next to him. Dockery has started all but three games in his five-year career, and could help anchor this line in the future. Melvin Fowler was a free agent signing two years ago, who will only be 29 next year. He helped the Bills to a decent running game on the right side of the line, but needs to be more consistent in the pass game.
Likewise, Brad Butler, in his first year as the full-time starter, was very good in the run game, but inconsistent against the pass. The Bills ranked in the top 10 in the running game over left tackle. Butler was drafted as a tackle in 2006, but started all 16 games at guard. Langston Walker is another free agent signing along this offensive line. As stated, over left tackle, the Bills were great in the run game. He’ll be the starting right tackle next year, as well.
The Bills have a decent core to the line, and there were no injuries along the line in 2007. They will need to be more consistent, especially at left tackle. If there is a change along the line, it would be at left tackle.
Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay are decent defensive, but their production was way down in 2007. Kelsay isn’t a pass-rushing type of defensive end, but he’s been pretty good against the run. Schobel, on the other hand, is the pass rusher. Problem is, he 6.5 sacks this past season, his worst performance since his rookie season in 2001. The Bills are going to need much more from these two if they are going to improve from their 29th place finish against the pass. The Bills were 29th in sacks, with Schobel leading the team with his 6.5. Anthony Hargrove will be just 25 next season, and could push either of these defensive ends for a starting position, if he ever lives up to his free agent contract.
Larry Triplett will be just 29 heading into next season, but he hasn’t been the defensive force they thought he could be at defensive tackle when they signed him away from Indianapolis two years ago. During his 2005 season with the Colts he had four sacks. In the two seasons with Indianapolis, he’s had just 3.5. They need him to get a better push from the left side, which in turn will help Kelsay. Kyle Williams, a fifth round draft pick in 2006, has been a pleasant surprise, stepping in and starting all but five games in his first two seasons. But he’s going to have to take on more double teams next year to make this unit more effective. I wouldn’t be overly surprised if the Bills try to find some depth to help push their four starters. They would love for John McCargo, a first-round selection in 2006, to step in and be a force, but so far, he’s shown no signs of that.
Paul Posluszny’s early-season injury really hindered this defense. The second round pick was expected to step right in at middle linebacker and start. He did so for three games, and had 26 tackles before breaking his arm, and having to sit out the rest of the season. John DiGiorgio stepped in and did a decent job, recording 113 tackles, two sacks and an interception in 14 starts. However, a healthy Posluszny will most likely take the starting job back, heading into 2008.
Angelo Crowell, a third round pick in 2003, finally showed that he can step in and be the full time starter at weak side linebacker. His 126 tackles led the team, and he also registered two sacks, a forced fumble and an interception. Crowell will be expected to have the same production next season.
At the other outside linebacker position, the Bills need to find a solid starter. Keith Ellison started 9 of the last 12 games, but the sixth-round pick in 2006 didn’t perform very well, notching just 39 tackles, one sack and one interception. He’s shown a nose for the ball, but his consistency just isn’t there. The Bills may look to upgrade this outside linebacker position in the offseason. If they stick with Ellison, he’ll really need to step up early in the season to keep the job.
Donte Whitner, the team’s first round selection in 2006, has shown a real nose for the ball from the Strong Safety position, and should be an anchor to the defensive secondary for many years. He notched 89 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception, as his production went down a little in his sophomore season. His production should go up, as they upgrade positions in front of him. Opposite him at free safety, the Bills had a pair of injuries that really hindered the team. Ko Simpson, a fourth-round selection in 2006, was expected to be the starter, after a decent rookie campaign, but he broke his left ankle against Denver in week one and couldn’t return. Simpson should be the starter, but pushing him may be George Wilson, who stepped in and had 39 tackles, two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, and a fumble recovery.
Terrence McGee is a solid cornerback, missing just five games in his first five seasons, he notched four interceptions and 21 pass deflections, while also having 78 tackles this season. However, the Bills are looking for a complement to him at the other corner position. The Bills would like Ashton Youboty to be that guy, but injuries and inconsistency have hurt the young corner. He had 23 tackles and one interception, while playing in 11 games this season, and starting in three. Jabari Greer started 13 games this season, but never has produced much more that a nickel or a dime back in his four-year career. The Bills need either Youboty or Greer to step up and really take that position over next season.
Rian Lindell is a solid kicker, who missed just three kicks this season, and had two kicks of 50-plus yards. He is not a great kickoff guy, but he is the strongest leg on the team. Brian Moorman is a middle-of-the-road punter, but he is serviceable, despite his averaging dropping a full two yards this season.
Terrence McGee and Roscoe Parrish are very good returnmen, and should be featured in their respective return positions next season as well.
What has hindered the Bills from developing is J.P. Losman’s inability to step up and be the No. 1 quarterback they wanted him to be when they drafted him four years ago. So, in 2007, the Bills went out and spent another day one pick on a quarterback, and brought in Stanford’s Trent Edwards in the third round.
Edwards stepped in, in his rookie season and didn’t do a bad job, leading the Bills to a 7-9 record, 5-4 in games he started. He threw eight interceptions, but also seven touchdowns, and his rating was 70.4. Not horrible numbers for a guy thrown to the fire. He’s big, 6-3, 230, and does have a good arm, though he lacks some mobility, but with Edwards it appears the Bills have finally found what they were looking for when they took a quarterback on day one four years ago.
Sitting behind Edwards in the backfield was another rookie in Marshawn Lynch. Lynch, who is a tough runner, though he tends to bounce things outside, stepped in from almost day one and ran for 1,115 yards and seven touchdowns. He was exactly what the Bills needed when oft-unhappy Willis McGahee left town. With Lynch and Edwards, it seems as the Bills may have found their starters for years to come. Dwayne Wright and Fred Jackson back Lynch up. Long-time fullback Ryan Neufeld is a blocking back, that was utilized a little more this season with the departure of McGahee, but the Bills still favor one-back sets.
Robert Royal and Michael Gaines start at the two tight end positions. Both are big targets, but still need to improve in the passing game to help take the pressure of Edwards and the receiving core. Combined they totaled 50 catches for five touchdowns. With a young quarterback, I think those numbers will probably go up next year.
Lee Evans is one of the top receivers in the league, but his numbers significantly dropped off last season as the Bills struggled to get him the ball. Defenses were able to key on him, and the Bills have to find some other options to take the pressure of Evans and allow him to break out once again next season. Josh Reed has been inconsistent at best for the Bills as he enters his seventh NFL season. He’s a third-receiver at best, and Roscoe Parrish, the Bills’ other option, is as well. The Bills are a team that may look at a receiver like Limas Sweed in the first round, or look at taking Mario Manningham or James Hardy if they are available in the second. The Bills may even be a candidate to try and find someone in free agency.
The Buffalo Bills offensive line was inconsistent at best. They allowed 48 sacks, 25th worst in the league, and averaged less than four yards per carry, good for 28th in the NFL. The Bills need to upgrade along the offensive line if they want to give Edwards the protection he needs to become the franchise quarterback. Jason Peters will be entering his fifth season with the Bills, and his third season as the starter at left tackle. The Bills were atrocious running the ball to the left side, and Peters clearly is more of a pass blocker. It may be time for the Bills to try and upgrade the position in order to protect Edwards blind side, while trying to run the ball to the left.
Derrick Dockery, a free agent signing before 2007, was a little disappointing, but Dockery is a good guard, and some of his production problems may have been because of Peters next to him. Dockery has started all but three games in his five-year career, and could help anchor this line in the future. Melvin Fowler was a free agent signing two years ago, who will only be 29 next year. He helped the Bills to a decent running game on the right side of the line, but needs to be more consistent in the pass game.
Likewise, Brad Butler, in his first year as the full-time starter, was very good in the run game, but inconsistent against the pass. The Bills ranked in the top 10 in the running game over left tackle. Butler was drafted as a tackle in 2006, but started all 16 games at guard. Langston Walker is another free agent signing along this offensive line. As stated, over left tackle, the Bills were great in the run game. He’ll be the starting right tackle next year, as well.
The Bills have a decent core to the line, and there were no injuries along the line in 2007. They will need to be more consistent, especially at left tackle. If there is a change along the line, it would be at left tackle.
Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay are decent defensive, but their production was way down in 2007. Kelsay isn’t a pass-rushing type of defensive end, but he’s been pretty good against the run. Schobel, on the other hand, is the pass rusher. Problem is, he 6.5 sacks this past season, his worst performance since his rookie season in 2001. The Bills are going to need much more from these two if they are going to improve from their 29th place finish against the pass. The Bills were 29th in sacks, with Schobel leading the team with his 6.5. Anthony Hargrove will be just 25 next season, and could push either of these defensive ends for a starting position, if he ever lives up to his free agent contract.
Larry Triplett will be just 29 heading into next season, but he hasn’t been the defensive force they thought he could be at defensive tackle when they signed him away from Indianapolis two years ago. During his 2005 season with the Colts he had four sacks. In the two seasons with Indianapolis, he’s had just 3.5. They need him to get a better push from the left side, which in turn will help Kelsay. Kyle Williams, a fifth round draft pick in 2006, has been a pleasant surprise, stepping in and starting all but five games in his first two seasons. But he’s going to have to take on more double teams next year to make this unit more effective. I wouldn’t be overly surprised if the Bills try to find some depth to help push their four starters. They would love for John McCargo, a first-round selection in 2006, to step in and be a force, but so far, he’s shown no signs of that.
Paul Posluszny’s early-season injury really hindered this defense. The second round pick was expected to step right in at middle linebacker and start. He did so for three games, and had 26 tackles before breaking his arm, and having to sit out the rest of the season. John DiGiorgio stepped in and did a decent job, recording 113 tackles, two sacks and an interception in 14 starts. However, a healthy Posluszny will most likely take the starting job back, heading into 2008.
Angelo Crowell, a third round pick in 2003, finally showed that he can step in and be the full time starter at weak side linebacker. His 126 tackles led the team, and he also registered two sacks, a forced fumble and an interception. Crowell will be expected to have the same production next season.
At the other outside linebacker position, the Bills need to find a solid starter. Keith Ellison started 9 of the last 12 games, but the sixth-round pick in 2006 didn’t perform very well, notching just 39 tackles, one sack and one interception. He’s shown a nose for the ball, but his consistency just isn’t there. The Bills may look to upgrade this outside linebacker position in the offseason. If they stick with Ellison, he’ll really need to step up early in the season to keep the job.
Donte Whitner, the team’s first round selection in 2006, has shown a real nose for the ball from the Strong Safety position, and should be an anchor to the defensive secondary for many years. He notched 89 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception, as his production went down a little in his sophomore season. His production should go up, as they upgrade positions in front of him. Opposite him at free safety, the Bills had a pair of injuries that really hindered the team. Ko Simpson, a fourth-round selection in 2006, was expected to be the starter, after a decent rookie campaign, but he broke his left ankle against Denver in week one and couldn’t return. Simpson should be the starter, but pushing him may be George Wilson, who stepped in and had 39 tackles, two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, and a fumble recovery.
Terrence McGee is a solid cornerback, missing just five games in his first five seasons, he notched four interceptions and 21 pass deflections, while also having 78 tackles this season. However, the Bills are looking for a complement to him at the other corner position. The Bills would like Ashton Youboty to be that guy, but injuries and inconsistency have hurt the young corner. He had 23 tackles and one interception, while playing in 11 games this season, and starting in three. Jabari Greer started 13 games this season, but never has produced much more that a nickel or a dime back in his four-year career. The Bills need either Youboty or Greer to step up and really take that position over next season.
Rian Lindell is a solid kicker, who missed just three kicks this season, and had two kicks of 50-plus yards. He is not a great kickoff guy, but he is the strongest leg on the team. Brian Moorman is a middle-of-the-road punter, but he is serviceable, despite his averaging dropping a full two yards this season.
Terrence McGee and Roscoe Parrish are very good returnmen, and should be featured in their respective return positions next season as well.