| BUFFALO BILLS 2010 TEAM YEARBOOK
While some fans were very critical of Buffalo Bills teams of the 1990s for their 0-4 record in the Super Bowl, at least team diehards back then were able to witness huge points being scored on a weekly basis by star performers and future Hall-of-Famers.
The days of the no-huddle, K-Gun offense featuring Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed and others combined with an intimidating defense led by mainstays Bruce Smith, Cornelius Bennett and company are now nothing but a cold, distant memory.
Whereas Ralph Wilson’s franchise was looked upon as a perennial elite squad, the past 11 seasons haven’t quite been so kind. In fact 11 seasons have now come and gone since the original AFL franchise last competed in postseason play.
A lethal cocktail of poor coaching and aimless drafting has heavily contributed towards this team’s decisive collapse.
Four seasons of blind leadership by Dick Jauron didn’t exactly help matters, but the downturn started in 2000 when the front office swung and missed on too many prospects in the early rounds.
Not only were some of them totally ill-equipped to play in the NFL (i.e. Erik Flowers, James Hardy, etc.), but the Bills inexcusably failed to do their homework on guys like Travis Henry, Mike Williams, Willis McGahee and J.P. Losman to determine if they had the character/work ethic/intelligence to prosper at the next level.
GM Buddy Nix has been enlisted to guide this wayward franchise out of the darkness. Although the colorful quote machine has a monumental task ahead in making his new organization a competitive one, he’s not one for making excuses.
"Talk's cheap. We all know that. It's like I've always said: 'Don't tell me about the labor pains, just show me the baby.' That means, 'Quit making promises. And when you get it done, let me see that,'" Nix says. "The details and complaints nobody cares about. They don't care about how hard it is, or how much you're working, or how much you're doing. Just show me the baby. Yeah, it's the beginning of the process. But now they've got to produce and win."
Quarterbacks: Most fans have undoubtedly had enough of Trent Edwards, a.k.a “Captain Checkdown,” but don’t be surprised if the Stanford graduate ends up outperforming his competition in training camp. The heady field general has featured a good enough arm and the ability to anticipate his receivers in the past, but a porous offensive line and a lack of firepower around him contributed to a loss of confidence on his part last season. That, in turn, prevented him from attacking opponents on deep routes. If that sounds like a poor excuse for Edwards’ sub-par play, it is. The fact that only two of his 183 pass attempts went for over 40 yards is a damning statistic. The fourth-year pro needs to develop a better pocket presence with bodies flying around him if he ever hopes to become the unquestioned team leader. Late bloomer Brian Brohm may provide Edwards with some stiff competition. Although he’s been slow to develop ever since being drafted in the second round by Green Bay two years ago, Brohm has finally started showing signs of turning things around in voluntary team practices. His arm won’t have opponents shaking in their boots, but his accuracy and touch can be razor sharp. Ryan Fitzpatrick’s pop-gun arm will be exposed over time as a starter. Rookie Levi Brown is both tough and competitive. The challenge coaches face with him is to smooth out his mechanics and delivery. Brown can certainly benefit from putting some more air under his passes. Overall, this is a very flawed committee of passers and a lack of Ws in 2010 may force the front office to roll out the welcome mat for Jake Locker in 2011. Grade: D
Running Attack: Fred Jackson emerged as the number-one back last year with his hard-charging, no-frills running style. The 29-year-old’s ability to quickly read and react to what’s in front of him is why he’s so adept at squeezing through small creases. He should continue getting the lion’s share of carries, although rookie C.J. Spiller will look to cut into his action with his versatility. The former Clemson star has one-of-kind acceleration to explode for huge gains. He’s also a very skilled route runner who’ll remind fans of Marshall Faulk as a pass catcher. Expect the Bills to utilize Spiller as a kick returner as well. Marshawn Lynch would seem to be a man without a role in this offense and rumors of him being traded continue to swirl. However, if he remains in Buffalo, he’ll most likely contribute as a short-yardage/goal-line option. The 24-year-old’s combination of speed and impressive leg drive suggest that he should have a bigger role, but his questionable off-field behavior makes him unreliable. A move to a new city may be the best thing for both sides at this point. Chad Simpson headlines the reserves. The smallish, but sturdy back has some burst to his game and can makes defenders miss. The bigger Joique Bell is an undrafted free agent who never played against top competition in college and isn’t very elusive. Justice Hairston is a patient runner who diligently follows his blocks. Rodney Ferguson is a high-effort runner with soft hands, but he lacks breakaway speed. Corey McIntyre is the only blocking back on the roster and can certainly create open lanes with his 258-pound body, as well as chip in on special teams. A major concern with this corps of backs is the lack of protection up front. Grade: C+
Passing Game: The failed Terrell Owens experiment is a thing of the past, but what now? Lee Evans has never been, nor will he ever be a number-one target in the passing game. While his speed and leaping prowess are phenomenal, he doesn’t command the ball and will often vanish from the game plan versus good defenses. Who steps up and earns a starting role alongside Evans is very much up in the air. Steve Johnson seems to a prime candidate for the role given his physical nature. The 6’2” wide out owns a nice set of hands and uses his size to shield defenders away from the football. The coaching staff is also high on former UConn standout Marcus Easley, who’s just as big as Johnson and has an extra gear to run away from defenders after the catch. The 6’5” James Hardy is a basket case who shows no lateral agility or quickness to get open in tight coverage. The Bills only hope is that he develops into a large, complementary red zone target due to his height. The undersized Roscoe Parrish is a speed demon who’s better suited as a return man and a weapon on reverse plays. Donald Jones of Youngstown State has the tools to develop into a physically strong possession receiver, but he needs to improve his catching technique. Former Gator David Nelson is a better blocker than he is a wide receiver and will have to make the roster via special teams. Buffalo’s Naaman Roosevelt shows the willingness to catch the ball in traffic, but needs to bulk up. One-time New England Patriot Chad Jackson was once a highly regarded deep threat, but numerous injuries have left him with one last opportunity to establish himself. He’ll probably compete as a backup to Evans at split end. C.J. Hawthorne and Felton Huggins are both second-year players hoping to get noticed. Needless to say, there are a lot more questions than there are answers at this position. At tight end, Shawn Nelson should be a bigger factor in his second year. He’s an agile sort who’s capable of making tough catches, but his poor blocking technique continues to stand in his way. Derek Schouman is a reliable check down option who’s coming back from a season-ending knee injury. Jonathan Stupar is a superb blocker with enough athletic ability to get open on underneath routes. Michael Matthews is a plodding tight end with enough size to block defensive ends. Former Colorado Buffalo Joe Klopfenstein is a second round bust that lacks the speed to get open on seam routes and can’t block his way out of a paper bag. Grade: D+
Offensive Line: Buffalo’s situation at both bookend positions is quite frankly a mess. Karl Malone’s boy, Demetrius Bell, remains entrenched as the blind side protector despite holding the dubious distinction of being the most penalized offensive lineman at the time of his Week 10, season-ending injury. The young buck also gave up five sacks in his eight starts. The new coaching staff really needs to sharpen the young man’s technique, particularly in the area of pass blocking. Fellow youngster Jamon Meredith, on the other hand, looked much more disciplined. He quickly engages his opponent with his long arms and can seal the edge over on the right side. Kirk Chambers will compete with Meredith at right tackle and while he’s versatile, the 31-year-old veteran comes up a bit short in the stamina department and frequently runs the risk of getting thoroughly abused. The pedestrian Cornell Green is also in the mix, but is a penalty machine and doesn’t display the brute strength to move opponents off the ball. Ed Wang was drafted to bring some much needed relief, but the former Hokie was often seen struggling against speed rushers in college and doesn’t always do a good job of maintaining leverage. The athletic Jason Watkins looks to be a more promising option with his ability to play in space and get to the second level. Over at guard, Andy Levitre isn’t very mobile and is by no means a masher, but he compensates for his athletic shortcomings with effort and smarts. The mauling Eric Wood is expected to return from his gruesome leg injury and start at right guard. The second-year player was developing into the team’s best run blocker before breaking his tibia and fibula. Seventh round pick Kyle Calloway could get the nod in place of Wood if the latter isn’t ready to perform at the start of the new season. The Iowa product is well schooled in terms of hand placement and overall technique, but needs to enhance his size and strength to compete at the next level. Backup Andre Ramsey is a practice squad player with good recognition skills, but is a little on the stiff side. Undrafted free agent Cord Howard is a former All-ACC lineman who used to play for his current head coach Chan Gailey at Georgia Tech. The center position will be manned by the heady Geoff Hangartner who’s fundamentally sound, but will get eaten up by big defensive linemen. The unimpressive Christian Gaddis is backing him up for now. The bigger Sean Allen may get a shot to unseat Gaddis in that role. Allen is very alert, but doesn’t always maintain proper leverage. Grade: D-
Defensive Line: Defensive coordinator George Edwards’ new 3-4 scheme may be the way to go in order to generate a more consistent pass rush, but one has to wonder if the Red, White, and Blue have the personnel to make the system work. Initially, Kyle Williams will have to carry out nose tackle duties. No one plays harder on a snap-to-snap basis than Williams, but at 306 pounds, he may not have the girth to hold up as a starter in a two-gap scheme. UCF’s Torrell Troup will be groomed to eventually take over due to his ability to anchor against double teams and engulf ball carriers. The gargantuan 342-pound Lonnie Harvey will also compete at the nose. At his current weight he probably won’t see much action if he makes the team, but you can never have enough size in the middle. Marcus Stroud is the best athlete on the line and has slimmed down in order to prepare for his new role in the five technique position. But make no mistake—it will be adjustment for him to monitor two gaps once he defeats his man. Veteran Dwan Edwards has lots of experience as a 3-4 end and should fit in nicely. He brings excellent hand skills and superior upper-body strength to the table. Spencer Johnson will serve as a rotational end who’s well versed in gaining leverage on his opponent. The recent trade of John McCargo opens up new opportunities for guys like Alex Carrington. The rookie has the power and leg drive to collapse the pocket. Rashaad Duncan is an interesting option blessed with exceptional lateral mobility and good instincts. He will be in contention for a roster spot along with Canadian import Corey Mace, Jermaine McGhee, and Marcus Smith. Grade: C
Linebackers: How will converted end Aaron Schobel deal with a moving to outside linebacker? Well, we may never know. The 32-year-old is contemplating retirement despite coming off a highly productive 2009 campaign in which he registered 10 sacks. There’s no doubt that he’s a dynamic edge rusher, but the fact that he’ll have to drop back in coverage is probably giving him second thoughts about returning, as is the fact that Buffalo is most likely a few years away from becoming a true contender in the AFC. One player who may actually benefit from the new scheme is last year’s first round pick, Aaron Maybin. The Bills mistakenly lined him up as a 4-3 end in his rookie year, ignoring the fact that he lacked the size to grapple with larger-than-life tackles for four quarters. The second-year man has the speed and balance to flourish in his new role, but still lacks the pass rushing moves to become a feared sack master. Chris Kelsay has the agility to make a relatively smooth transition to his new role and occasionally play in space, although his run support needs to improve. Rookie Antonio Coleman may not possess the quickness of Maybin, but he can shed blocks by using an assortment of hand and shoulder maneuvers. Fellow rookie Danny Batten isn’t very nimble, but has a non-stop motor. Arthur Moats is great at chasing down plays, but doesn’t have that quick first step to be a quality pass rusher. Chris Ellis looks like the early down option on the outside given his stoutness versus the run, but his inability to stay on the field has really hindered him. The starting inside positions will be handled by Paul Posluszny and Andra Davis. Posluszny is the inspirational leader of the defense who usually manages to stay on his feet and make sideline-to-sideline plays by properly wrapping up ball carriers. The only thing standing in his way is his penchant for getting hurt. The less athletic Davis has lots of experience in the 3-4 and is a menacing hitter. The fearless Kawika Mitchell is trying to bounce back from a knee injury, knowing full well that he’ll have to earn a roster spot. The former Giant is a tremendous blitzer, but isn’t quite as gifted in pass coverage. Keith Ellison is a little light in the pants on the weak side and does tend to get pushed around. What he can do, though, is cover tight ends. Converted safety Nic Harris has a nose for the ball and can similarly hold his own in pass coverage. Recently acquired Reggie Torbor looks like a core special teams player. The undersized Marcus Buggs is a hard-nosed run plugger who shoots the gaps and throws his body all over the place. Grade: C+
Secondary: The emergence of strong safety George Wilson last season will see the converted wide receiver battle it out with Donte Whitner and Bryan Scott for a starting job. As a fierce hitter and textbook wrap-up tackler, Wilson took over for an injured Whitner and amassed 103 tackles, four interceptions, and two sacks. The aforementioned Whitner is the more versatile of the two and can lend a hand as a nickel corner thanks to his superior range. However, the former first round pick isn’t the best in-the-box safety…that’s an area where Wilson definitely has him beat. Scott, a converted corner, is a quality bump-and-run cover man who can hit with authority. The 6’1”, 219-pounder lacks top-end speed, which can sometimes lead to costly mistakes when he tries to compensate for his ordinary footwork. Jairus Byrd was sensational as a rookie with nine interceptions. Gil’s son just has incredible instincts, lateral quickness, and can close on the ball with the best of them. 6’3” rookie Dominique Harris may lack speed, but he craves contact and gets his hands on a lot of passes. Carry Harris isn’t much of speed merchant either, but his value lies in the fact that he’s a technically sound special teams man. Local kid Jon Corto is a special teams mainstay who’s transitioning from linebacker to safety. At corner, Terrence McGee is an intelligent defender who can anticipate plays, but his lack of size often causes him to get overpowered by the Andre Johnsons of the world. Leodis McKelvin is the more physically gifted player, but he can get fooled by double moves. Backup Drayton Florence was surprisingly effective in is first season as a Bill, displaying decent speed in man-to-man coverage. The journeyman isn’t quite as talented in zone coverage. Reggie Corner is an underrated nickel man with terrific ball skills who’s quicker than he is fast. Ashton Youboty has to learn how to play through pain if he ever wants to fulfill his potential. Ellis Lankster’s calling card is his aggressiveness, particularly on special teams. Keep on eye on Lydell Sargeant, who looks to be a heady slot corner. The lightweight, but tough Stephan Virgil will also compete for a roster spot along with the very raw John Destin. Grade: C-
Special Teams: Kicker Rian Lindell doesn’t have the strongest leg, but he usually makes pressure kicks and plays his home games under less-than-optimal weather conditions. Brian Moorman is a solid directional punter. Punt returner Roscoe Parrish is master of finding openings on special teams. Leodis McKelvin is explosive runner who can take advantage of any opening he sees. Grade: B
Final Analysis: By and large, this roster is comprised of lots of young talent that may or may not be part of the solution. But Gailey will have no choice but to roll these youngsters out there to assess what he has. Yes, there will be a lot of growing pains for the once proud organization and playing in the AFC East certainly won’t do Buffalo any favors. The offense has virtually no shot at keeping pace with some of the better teams in the league, but if the defense can show discipline and muster more of a pass rush, Bills fans might just witness some good, hard fought, competitive games. Let’s hope Gailey gets three years to get this group headed in the right direction.
Projected Record: 3-13 |
