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2009 AFC East Preview: Buffalo Bills |
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The Bills miss Marv Levy. Again. The Hall of Fame coach who led the team to four Super Bowls came out of retirement to fix the franchise and set them on course for success. But the minute he re-retired, Buffalo began to re-re-flounder. There are a lot of questions facing this franchise, on and of the field. The potential for success, however, remains. The Bills have as much skill position talent as any team in the league and may go to a no huddle offense to exploit it. But four of their five O-line starters are playing in new positions. And the fifth, FA signee Geoff Hangartner will have difficulty handling-- and holding up against-- the Nose Tackles ling up across from him in more than half their games. Two more leaks could spring from either side of him. Rookies, Eric Wood and Andy Levitre, will have to adjust quickly to their new positions just to keep middle blitzes from getting to Edwards before the snap does. Levitre played Tackle in college and will pick up pass protection faster than Wood. Langston Walker will take over at LT, but is much better run blocker. Brad Butler has the size to play RT, but the difference in foot work (Guards are taught not to move their feet more than six inches in any direction in order to maintain their balance. Tackles must be able to step out much wider laterally to pick up edge rushers.) could make him a prime candidate for hamstring and knee injuries. If he can stay upright, Trent Edwards will have a break-out year. He has enough arm, plenty of size, and more than enough intelligence. Whether the Bills go no-huddle or not, he has to outgrow his habit of overthinking as he goes through his progressions. That's a confidence-in-the-system issue, not an intelligence issue. Backing him up is Ryan Fitzpatrick, a former Mike Martz project whose mechanics fall apart under pressure. Marshawn Lynch is a Top-5 Runningback, but his off-field entourage seems intent on ruining his career. Fortunately for the Bills, Fred Jackson is exactly the kind of understudy who could lay the groundwork for stardom during Lynch's suspension. Dominic Rhodes is an experienced, effective back-up. By far, the best WR nobody gets to see is Lee Evans, the Anti-Diva, an unselfish player with great hands, great speed, and great attitude. He's respected enough that he'll still see his share of double-coverage, but there's no limit to what Evans can accomplish. Terrell Owens continues to work tirelessly to stay in shape, but at 35, the on-field wear and tear is starting to show. He stopped running over the middle two years ago. Last season, his most effective route was the 8-yard out pattern. Owens might get open deep once a game, but he's best used as a possession receiver at this stage of his career. Second year WR James Hardy has potential, but lacks the proper work ethic. Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish, meanwhile, are ideal slot receivers who can handle the crossing routes and stretch the deep middle. Ideally, the Bills would have a blocking TE who would also keep order in the lockerroom, but they cut Robert Royal. While other teams declared the Tampa-2 defense passe, the Bills played it well enough to improve from 31st to 14th in Total Defense. Marcus Stroud fits perfectly in the system, clogging the middle and occupying blockers. A healthy Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsey, along with a rotation of Kyle Williams and John McCargo, should set the LBs (Kawika Mitchell, Paul Posluszny, and Keith Ellison) up for success. Some fans and local media members complained about a lack of sacks and take-aways by the Bills , but it was wiser of DC Perry Fewell to stress executing the fundamentals of the sytem over scattering about in search of highlight plays. With the fundamentals in place, the sacks and take-aways will increase in 2009. Rookie DE/LB Anthony Maybin provides fresh speed off the edge. There's depth, if uncertainty, in the secondary. Terrence McGee is a steady, fiesty veteran at one CB, and if Leodis McKelvin continues to make strides he'll solidify the other side. Drayton Florence is not very good in zone coverage-- he takes too many needless chances. Bryan Scott and Donte Wittner are similar enough in size and skill that they could switch responsibilities on any given play. Because of rule changes, every Special Teams coach in the NFL will be studying what the Bills do on Kick Returns and Coverage. ST coach Bobby April is that good. The Bills spend serious practice time on Special Teams and execute so well, that PK Ryan Lindell and P Brian Moorhead need only be steady and reliable. There's enough potential on the Bills to make them a darkhorse favorite for the play-offs. But if they get off to a bad start, things could fall apart quickly. Terrell Owens' pattern is to behave and be productive during his first season with a new team. But the Eagels and the Cowboys were winning teams. How Owens will react to being on a small market, losing team remains open to question. HC Dick Jouron is a low key, players coach; exactly the kind of guy Owens will try to run over. |
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