Around the AFC East: The Buffalo Bills
Record in 2008: 7-9
2009 Strength of Schedule: 6th (.570)
Notable Free Agents: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (Bengals), C Geoff Hangartner (Panthers), WR Terrell Owens (Cowboys), RB Dominic Rhodes (Colts),
Notable Rookies: DE Aaron Maybin (Penn State), G Eric Wood (Louisville), G Andy Levitre (Oregon State), FS Jairus Byrd (Oregon), TE Shawn Nelson (Southern Miss.)
Notable Losses: LB Angelo Crowell (Bucs), CB Jabari Greer (Saints), G Derrick Dockery (Redskins), OT Jason Peters (Eagles), C Duke Preston (Packers), TE Robert Royal (Browns).
Breakdown: Adding Terrell Owens and losing Jason Peters are the two biggest changes for this year. Now coupled with the dangerous Lee Evans, Owens gives the Bills two excellent receivers for the first time in the better part of a decade. Adding Dominic Rhodes as a second or third option to an existing group of decent running backs (Lynch, Jackson) can only help the offense. Overall though, the big question will be how much LT Jason Peters’ absence effects the offense. Although the Bills did add some players to the line, opposing defenses will test how good the team’s new Left Tackle is, a key point of failure for any offense.
Aaron Maybin will have to have to make a strong contribution in his rookie season on defense to help give the offense a little lift by creating sacks and turnoers for the offense.
Questions: Just how effective is Terrell Owens at this point in his career? Jauron came close to losing this team last year, will they collectively bounce back? Are Langston Walker & Brad Butler up for the task as the team’s tackles? Can the rejuvenated defense give the offense a lift?
I’m so glad the Bills remain an incompetent team. Keeping Jauron ensures another losing season. I’m not scared of T.O. Revis can nullify him or Lee Evans and Lito has experience gurading T.O. so theres no issues there. With our pass rush destroying their O-line Edwards won’t have time to throw the ball anyway.
All allegiances aside, are we really that much better than the Bills? I hope Rex figures out how to get this team to dominate.
I think Rex will be chomping at the bit with no proven LT on that bills line. They may have TO and Lee Evans, but will Edwards have the time to throw downfield? I wonder if Lynch will suffer as well if the O-line isn’t as good. That said, Lynch is a beast (actually “beastmode” to quote him) and one of the best backs (if not yet, he will be) in the game right now. Jackson is better than Rhodes right now, but that’s decent depth at RB.
I think TO should come ready to play. His ego, as big as it is, will want to prove to the media and league that he is not finished and to especially show-up the Cowboys. That said, he’s notorious for dropped catches and Im curious how that will be effected in Buffalo in December.
I really don’t think TO is a big deal, he can be dangerous if they had a good QB, which they don’t, Trent Edwards won’t know how to get the ball to TO, which will cause TO to destroy Trent’s confidence and you can tell what’s gonna happen next.
I expect to a lot of sacks from Pace and/or (Gholston/Thomas)
Peters was overrated, but he was good enough to not allow a baggillion sacks a game, he was some they should not have traded, but they had to so I don’t blame them, he was asking for to much
I hope Nyckage is correct. Watching TO blow up at another Qb will be great for amusement, his legacy, and set the Jills back for at least a year or two.
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anyone else notice TO’s hand position?
i’m no WR coach. but i was always taught fingers point up with thumbs close when the ball is chest level or higher and point down with pinkeys close when ball is below waist. looks like he’s just about backwards.
i sure hope he keeps dropping the ball like he did in dallas.
ian,
Thats what I was taught. But TO knows it all and can do whatever he wants, because he’s special!
What nobody ever mentions is that Edwards doesn’t have great arm strength. TO, for the most part, has played with guys like McNabb, Romo and Garcia, all of whom, IMO, have much better arm strength than Edwards. In fact, I bet most of Lee Evans’ long catches last season (and I don’t mean YAC, I mean running under a deep thrown ball) were with Losman, who does have a big arm. If Edwards starts to try to stretch out his throws, his INTs will go up. Plus, he’s not the most mobile guy, so not having an LT or a consistent running game will make him vulnerable. And, he’s not the most durable guy, either. Pundits always love the Bills, wake me up when they beat another AFC East team (0-6 last season).
The Bills are the least threatening team in the AFC East. Trent Edwards is extremely unimpressive at QB, and their Offense will be playing without their starting LT and LG from last season. Throw in Terrell Owens temper tantrums and I forsee a 6-10 season. If Owens couldn’t maintain a relationship with pro bowlers like Garcia, McNabb and Romo, why would it work with a bum like Trent Edwards?
Owens has a tendency to get off to a great start when he joins a new team, but then has faded over the second half the last few times. That’s exactly what happened to the Bills last year too.
We don’t play them until week six – after both the Pats and Miami. Let’s hope that’s when they start to hit the skids, although it will be annoying hearing five weeks of “I told you so”…kinda like last year.
The Bills are going to dominate the jets this year. While our off line may not be great, they should be decent enough to open holes for the trio of backs we have and enough time for Edwards to get the ball to TO and Evans. With Parrish on punts, Reed a good slot reciever, Hardy a big target and Shawn Nelson at TE the Bills offense has improved a lot.
The defense had a strong year and only lack in a strong side lb. Great tandem at safety and decent cbs. With Schobel back from injury and Maybin drafted, thie Bills will be able to put pressure on the qb ( esp rookie ones) and allow the play making secondary to do their job. Stroud and Williams up the middle and POZ and Mitchell the def is strong.
Special teams, we all know the Bills have the best every year. Parrish and McKelvin returning enough said.
good luck with your season jets, favre couldn’t get you to the promised land better luck with what you have. i would rather have t.o. and edwards than all of your QB talen or lack there of. N.Y.C. will continue to be a one team town and Buffalo will return to it’s domination of the jets.
Well, at least you’re more polite than the majority of Fins/Pats fans.
Fans of both teams are more than welcome to argue this, but the usual rules apply. No name calling, personal attacks, etc. Thanks.
The Bills will also be running no huddle at some pt this yr so this will allow us to use the speed we have, and Edwards smarts which is his best skill
Jack,
I can’t wait for our D to dominate your Bills again this year. How did you like the way Kris Jenkins ragdolled your QB last year. Get used to it.
The Bills will also be running for their lives.
The Bills will have to run the no-huddle. With the O-Line in shambles, their only hope is to get a play off before the defense is set. Pass protection will be an issue, not just b/c of the lack of talent, but also b/c of the lack of continuity.
Also, Lynch is not a special runner. I’ve followed him closely for fantasy football reasons and he averages just at or below 4 yards per carry. He has also been injured each of his first two seasons and does not have breakaway speed. Without good speed, he will have trouble getting to outside, and that O-Line will not likely create much space for him inside. They could not consistently do so last year, and that unit now has less talent and experience.
I look forward to the Bills continued underachievement and mediocrity in 2009.
Ramble914,
Kris will be having a heart attack by the middle of the thrid if we run the no huddle. Your guys wont be able to keep up with us
Keep dreaming.
Sorry “billsfanatic” but you’ll have to keep your language a lot cleaner than that to get your comment past our spam filter.
Shame too, because it was an insightful post.
Brad R…
I’m not sure why you think Lynch is not a special runner…You really dont judge a football player off fantasy stats. Ive watched Lynch (never in person) multiple times and he looks like a very good runningback. His off-field judgement can be questioned, but he is a special back. It takes multiple guys to bring him down, he has quickness and power…a great combo. His averages his first two years have been 4.0 and 4.1 ypc, respectively. I don’t even know why I’m defending him, I’m a Jets fan, but he is a legit threat at RB and just by watching Bills/Jets games you should know that.
You also need to keep in mind he was the Bills offense, so he wasn’t getting many coverage defenses to run at.
I can’t tell from the photo…is that ball going into T.O.’s hands or OUT OF his hands…
With all due respect (and I’m a fan of neither team), you’re all crazy to think that the NYJ with Clemens/Sanchez at QB and Cotchery as your only semi-legit WR are better than the Bills.
Crazy.
I’m guessing a lot of teams and their fans said the same thing about Flacco and D. Mason last year…including the Dolphins.
Deebo – since you’re not a fan, my advice to you would be to …BELIEVE!
I think the bills will be ready to play us when the time comes during the season.
Lets be more concerned with what we can control and that is how BUDDY BOY will prepare for those games.
Lynch is a better than average back. He has been running behind a overrated O-line for two years now. More than half of his yards have come with two or three defenders on his back. I’m not worried about the O-line. Like I said it was overrated. Dockery was overpaid underachiever. Peters gave up the most sack of any LT in the league last year. The Bills have three interior linemen with attitude to handle Jenkins and to tackles with significant potential.
Yall Jet fans are crazy. we basically away 1 of the 2 games we played last year. With Farve and Coles your offense sucks. Sanchez is a bum. He will never be able to play in the cold. He is just another Matt Leinard maybe even worse. you guys defense looks offical but if you cant score at least 17-20 points a gm you are done. Thomas Jones Better than Lynch that is the joke of the year. Jones cant hold Lynch jock strap. Jets are the worst team in the division. Bills went 7-3 outside the division last year and now with TO and a healthy defense we will at least get to the playoff if not the division. I cant wait for this season to start.
I think T.O. wil not make a big deal to the bills. I think he will do neither good or bad . I think the Jets will also have a hard time because brady is back. I think the afc east is going to the pats or the jets . I think this because the dolphins arent a good football team they just had the easiest schedule in the nfl . Also there wild cat wont work as well teams are finding ways to beat it . The bills arent good either T.O. will cause problems in the locker room and trent edwards isnt use to a star wide reciever . The only team the jets should be worried about is the patriots .