| 2009 Yearbook: Buffalo Bills | ||||
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Did you see the Buffalo Airport lined with fans, waiting in anticipation of former 49er, Eagle and Cowboy Terrell Owens? Owens signed a one-year, $6.5 million contract with Buffalo and Orchard Park will be buzzing all summer. “For me, I have a new offense and new terminology and you’re doing a lot of thinking and you’re processing a lot of stuff so there are some mistakes made. Owens said. “Once I get very comfortable with everything, the signals, and the codes, that’s when it will all slow down. Every day has been a work in progress and it’s been good. I’m going to get better with this.” Clearly T.O.’s quote machine is already making the adjustment to his new home. So the saga begins as the same player that was ousted by successful football teams now receives the key to the city Buffalo’s Mayor, Byron Brown. OFFENSE Quarterbacks: The J.P. Losman project has officially ended. Trent Edwards now holds the reins to the Buffalo offense and with the addition of Owens, he should build on his impressive 65.5 completion rating, which was second best in the history of the franchise. Edwards seemed to struggle after leaving the Arizona game last year with a concussion, but that injury should be in the rearview mirror as he enters 2009 fresh. Ryan Fitzpatrick didn’t wow anyone with his play in Cincinnati while filling in for Carson Palmer, but he isn’t the worst option to have as a back up. Matt Baker and Gibran Hamdan will battle for the number-three job. Running Backs: Starter Marshawn Lynch has gone over 1,000 yards in each of his first two NFL seasons. His game doesn’t end there, as he’s become a valuable receiver out of the backfield. At this point, Lynch is the not only the centerpiece of the offense but the centerpiece of off-field distractions as well. The coaching staff and his teammates can’t be happy about that. Lynch has proved himself on the field, but at some point he needs to straighten up and realize he has people counting on him and that suspensions are no longer acceptable. Fred Jackson has turned out to be a pleasant surprise as a more than capable back-up for Lynch, and the off-season addition of Dominic Rhodes should only enhance the Bills’ depth and quality at the position. Watching tape, it would be hard to argue that Rhodes wasn’t the best back Indianapolis had last season.
Tight Ends: Former Bills’ tight end Jay Riemersma last suited up for the Bills in 2002 and that might have been the last time the position was a factor in Buffalo. Shawn Nelson, a rookie out of Southern Miss, could change all of that with his pass-catching and ability to stretch the field from the tight end spot. Offensive Line: This unit was hit hard during the off-season. Constant contract squabbles led to the trade of Jason Peters and Derrick Dockery, Melvin Fowler and Duke Preston aren’t returning. So the line will have a new look in 2009, most notably at center, where the Bills will plug in Geoff Hangartner from Carolina. The Bills addressed the line early and often in the draft by selecting guards Eric Woods in round one and Andy Levitre in round two. Both rookies will be counted on to make an impact this year. Langston Walker will be the most experienced player on the line and will be the guy protecting quarterbak Trent Edwards’ blind side at left tackle. Brad Butler, who played guard last season, will move to right tackle. Summer camps can’t be wasted—this unit will need all the time it can get to gel. DEPTH CHART
DEFENSE
Linebackers: In 2008, Paul Posluszny finally got the chance to show his stuff after missing his rookie season with a broken arm. So far, Posluszny has been everything the Bills could hope for and hitting the nail on the head with another highly drafted Penn State kinebacker in Maybin could carry this defense for years to come. Keith Ellison is an underrated player who will combine with Posluszny to give the Bills a terrific tandem. Entering his sixth season last year and his first with Buffalo, outside linebacker Kawika Mitchell had one of his best seasons to date. Tying a career high with four sacks to go along with two interceptions made him the versatile player the Bills needed at outside linebacker. Former Sooner safety-turned-linebacker Nic Harris was drafted in the fifth round and will provide depth and athleticism along with Pat Thomas and Alvin Bowen. Defensive Backs: Leodis McKelvin proved worthy of his first round selection last season, playing in all 16 games, starting six and picking off two passes. McKelvin should start erasing the memories of former Bill, Nate Clements. Starting opposite him is Terrence McGee, a solid cornerback in his own right. This duo can hold their own against the NFL’s best. Defensive leader Donte Whitner missed time last year with a shoulder injury. The Bills need the former Buckeye to produce—and leave his legal troubles behind him—if they’re going to have defensive success. The secondary was hurt by the lack of a pass rush, but for Whitner and Ko Simpson to come home empty-handed with no picks in 2008 isn’t acceptable. Jairus Byrd, the rookie from Oregon, will have a chance to push Simpson for time–the fact that the Bills saw a need to take a defensive back on day one of the draft tells me that Buffalo is not willing to settle for mediocrity at the position. Ashton Youboty and the newly-signed Drayton Florence give the team nice depth. SPECIAL TEAMS Bills’ special teams coach Bobby April is a two-time winner of the Special Teams Coach of the Year Award (2004 and 2008). He needs to continue to work his magic and bring Buffalo’s special teams to yet another level. Kicking in Buffalo isn’t any kicker’s dream but Rian Lindell has handled it with flying colors. Lindell is Buffalo’s all time leader in kicking accuracy, having bested longtime Bill Steve Christie for the honor. Punter Brian Moorman shares a similar honor as the all time team leader in average per punt. Rookie Leodis McKelvin was outstanding on kick returns, setting a team record with 1,468 yards while returning one for a touchdown. Roscoe Parrish has led the NFL in punt returns the past two seasons, but it remains to be seen if he’ll be on the team in September as the Bills have been shopping him around. BUFFALO BILLS OFF-SEASON TRACKER Acquisitions PROJECTION Last season wore on Bills fans as the team started out 5-1 before spiraling out of control. Dropping eight of their next ten games left them at 7-9 and out of playoffs for the ninth straight season. The natives are getting a bit restless, but the AFC East isn’t getting any easier. That being said, a second place finish is not out of the question. New England is the cream of the crop and the defending AFC East Champs, the Miami Dolphins are going to find it bit more difficult this season in their effort to repeat. With young Mark Sanchez taking over for the Jets, even the happy-go-lucky Rex Ryan will have a hard time getting this team to .500. Owens—distraction and head case that he is—helps Lee Evans tremendously and gives this team the type of offensive weapon it hasn’t seen since the healthy Eric Moulds-Peerless Price days. On paper the Bills have the second best group of talent outside New England in the AFC East. The Bills projected finish is 9-7 and a possible playoff berth. Photo Credit: College Press Box (Southern Miss, PSU)  Trackback(0)
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