Your 2010 Buffalo Bills Preview: Linebacker edition

The deal
Honestly, you could make the case that after the quarterbacks, the linebacking core may be the weakest depth chart for the team. You have guys that are either switching positions from defensive end to linebacker or you have guys that are injury prone. If you think nose tackle was the biggest question mark for the Bills transformation to a 3-4 defense, you must have not taken a glance at the Bills linebacker depth chart.

NFL coaches who institute the 3-4 defense always speak about the importance of having a lot of talent at the linebacker spot. Think of the linebackers that the Steelers have had over the last 15 years, guys like Joey Porter, Kevin Greene, Chad Brown, Greg Llyod and LaMarr Woodley were all-pros that a defense could build around. As for the Bills, they just don't seem to have those type of linebackers on the roster.

The basis of what you want your linebackers to accomplish in a 3-4 defense goes like this:

The linebacker unit is made up of two inside linebackers flanked by two outside linebackers (OLBs). The OLBs often line up closer to the line of scrimmage than the ILBs, while being lined up next to the defensive ends and may also be positioned at the same depth or deeper in coverage than the ILBs.

Strengths of the 3-4 include speedy ILBs and OLBs in pursuit of backs in run defense and flexibility to use multiple rushers to confuse the quarterback during passing plays without being forced into man-to-man defense on receivers.

The 3-4 linebackers must be very athletic and strong enough to shed blocks by fullbacks, tight ends, and offensive linemen to get to the running back. In most cases, 3-4 OLBs lead their teams in quarterback sacks. (Wikipedia)

Got that?

The Players
Chris Kelsay-Outside Linebacker (Starter)
Last year: 5 sacks and 83 tackles
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm not a fan of Chris Kelsay. Yes, he's a leader, but for a guy pocketing 5-6 million dollars a year, I'd have liked to see more of an impact. Sorry, but the high-motor compliment that seems to resonate on some of the members of the Bills front seven is whithering away with this writer. Kelsay's 22 career sacks didn't do much for me when he was the starting defensive end and now that he's making the transition to outside linebacker, I'm even more concerned about his production. Frankly, If I were the Bills, I would have cut Kelsay for a few reasons: 1) He's entering the last year of his contract. 2) He's over 30 years old. 3) He's learning a new position.

I'm not sure how the Bills plan on using Kelsay, but if they just ask him to rush the passer, then the experiment of transitioning to an outside linebacker won't be that big of a change for him. However, if Kelsay is asked to drop back into coverage and has to cover running backs or tight ends, then this is going to be a disaster. Frankly, even when Kelsay is just rushing the passer, I'm still not floored by his skills. He's just not quick enough to make it around the corner to be a constant pass rusher.

Reggie Torbor-Outside Linebacker (Starter)
Last year: 1 sack and 46 tackles
Who??? Yes, that's what I said when I found out that Torbor was starting at outside linebacker. I really don't have much to say about the guy. He played for the Dolphins last year under linebacker coach and now current Bills defensive coordinator George Edwards, and contributed one sack and 46 tackles. The scouting reports say that Torbor is very athletic with excellent agility and closing speed. However, he's undersized and doesn't play well in pass coverage.

Bottom line: You want an OLB that can get to the quarterback and 6.5 sacks in six years doesn't cut it. BTW, he only started two games last year.

Paul Poszluzny- Inside Linebacker (Starter)

Last year: 1 sack, 3 interceptions, and 134 tackles

Face facts, if Paul Poszluzny didn't have a polish name or if he didn't hail from the same college as Shane Conlan attended, he would be viewed as just another guy for the Bills. For a linebacking core that's as thin as the Bills have, Poz has to be be counted on to make plays. Unfortunately, if you look at Poz's first three years in the NFL, I don't exactly have the confidence that he can make those plays.

Now, in fairness to Poz, some of his setbacks have been due to injuries; missing 17 games over his career. However, even when he's healthy, he doesn't do enough in penetrating the line of scrimmage and he seems to be a liability on passing downs. Now, Poz's biggest contribution is that he plays well against the run, if he's going downhill. However, when Poz has to go lateral, he just lacks the quickness that you would want in your linebacker.

If there's one thing that Poz should look forward to with the change to a 3-4 defense, its how he's going to have another inside linebacker playing next to him to help cover the field.

This is going to be a pivotal year for Poz, as he's a free agent after this year. I know some Poz fans will say that he was held back in a cover 2 defense because he wasn't called upon to blitz all that much. In a 3-4 defense, he'll be allowed to blitz and attack the QB more. If Poz doesn't make enough plays this year, I think you can chalk up finding a inside linebacker to the Bills offseason wish list.

Andra Davis- Inside Linebacker (Starter)

Last year: 3.5 sacks and 113 tackles

I'll make it short and simple about Andra Davis: The guy knows how to play against the run. Of course, I haven't watched enough Browns or Broncos games to know that, but that's what the scouting report says about him. Davis has 3 seasons of 100 tackles or more and should make a decent one/two punch with Poz in stopping the run.

Another thing going for Davis is that he doesn't get injured (Knocking on a huge Maplewood Tree), unlike the rest of the Bills roster. Davis hasn't missed a game since 2006 and has only been lost for seven of a possible 128 starts. That's pretty impressive considering that he plays one of the more physical demanding positions at inside linebacker.

Davis is a big hitter and can diagnose plays very quickly. His biggest issue is that he doesn't play well in pass coverage (Like Poz) and is getting up there in age.

Kawika Mitchell: Inside Linebacker (Back-up)

last Year: O sacks and 37 tackles

Well, if it isn't Mr. Twitter himself, Kawika Mitchell. The former Giants linebacker is coming back from a season ending injury. Mitchell kind of runs hot/cold with his play. He's probably the most explosive linebacker in terms of speed, but sometimes his mind doesn't catch up to his skills. Mitchell bites a lot on play action and he tends to take some god awful angles when pursuing ball carriers.

I also have to wonder if Mitchell's salary and the fact that he's coming off a major injury may make him a training camp casualty. Mitchell makes a little more then $3 million a year and is currently listed 3rd on the depth chart, which means he's not starting (Duh). Now, it should be noted that Mitchell is probably the only inside linebacker who can play on 3rd and long situations. So, maybe I'm reading too much into the Bills looking to save money. Hell, they don't have to pay Aaron Schobel the 8 million dollars that he was suppose to earn this year.

Frankly, I don't understand why the Bills don't have Mitchell play OLB. He has the speed to rush the quarterback and looks to have the build of a OLB that you would want. I'd rather see Mitchell playing outside than some dude named Torbor.

Aaron Maybin- Outside Linebacker (Back-up)

Last year: 0 sacks and 25 tackles

When it was leaked that the Bills were going to a 3-4 defense, even without hiring their head coach, my only assumption for the switch was so the team could jump start Aaron Maybin's career. If you look at Maybin, he looks like your prototypical outside linebacker. You want your OLB to be quick off the edge and Maybin seems to possess that quality. The problem for Maybin is that he's extremely raw. He doesn't have a counter move to his standard bull rush tactic, and he has only started a season worth of games at the college and pro level.

The other issue going against Maybin is that he's not particularly liked by the media or most Bills fans. Look, I get that the guy over celebrates when he makes plays and that he will probably bronze his cleats when he gets his first career sack, but can we stop with the overkill on the guy's celebrations. Gees, thank goodness T.O. didn't get in the endzone all that much last year or war would have been declared. It's the nature of football these days. It's all about celebration and that's how it goes.

Here's the bottom line about Maybin: When the guy came out of college, a lot of the scouts had termed him as being a project. Many experts thought that Maybin going to the Bills would be beneficial because he wouldn't have to be hurried to start. Mainly, because he was playing behind Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay. A year later, everything has completely changed. Schobel has retired, the Bills aren't running a 4-3 defense, and the team is now in desperate need of pass rushers. Even still, patience has to be the name of the game with Maybin.

Look, I'd love for Maybin to come out and get 10 sacks this year and start. However, the bottom line is that he's learning a new position and still needs seasoning. Even if Maybin has a downer of a year, you can't just say he's a bust. I know the media wants to forget what the experts said about him being a project; in order for them to crap on him even more, but he's still developing. He's a project and we won't get the benefits of his play until next year at least.

I'll say this, when you see the guy rushing off the edge, I can't help but think that there's something there with his talent. He's got the speed and explosiveness that you would want from your OLB. Maybin's got the talent, however, he just needs someone to teach him how to get the most out of his physical gifts.

Chris Ellis- Outside Linebacker (Back-up)

Last year: 0 sacks and 8 tackles

Normally for my Buffalo Bills previews, I wouldn't dive this deep into a roster position. However, the Bills outside linebacker position is so thin and so average, that all of these guys will probably get playing time in some shape or form. Hence the reason I'm going to write about Chris Ellis. The former 3rd round pick from the 2008 draft hasn't really gotten onto the field, due in large part to injuries. However, when he's been healthy, he hasn't brought anything to the table.

Now, Ellis is switching positions (what else is new with the OLBs?), which seems to fit his game because he's a bit undersized, but has a quick first step.

On a side note, I don't understand how Torbor or Ellis can get more snaps than Maybin. These guys aren't good and the team has absolutely no long-term investment in either of the two players. If this is what stands in Maybin's way of getting on the field, then I'd be more inclined to just throw the kid in the lion's den and have him learn on the fly. I'm all about baptism by fire with young players, especially if the players in front of them aren't worth taking to church.

What I like about the linebackers?

1) The inside linebackers play well against the run.

2) Andra Davis will be a nice compliment to Poz.

3) Um, they are kind of young (Looking for anything).

What I don't like about the linebackers?

1) They can't cover a lick in the passing game.

2) The four starters have a combined 41.5 sacks for their careers.

3) The outside linebackers don't seem to be threats for rushing the passer.

4) Not fast enough.

Your 2010 Buffalo Bills Preview: Defensive line

The Deal
When the Bills announced that they were going to a 3-4 defense, I wasn't exactly enamored with the idea. Most experts believed that the Bills didn't have the personnel to make such a drastic change, especially at nose tackle. Frankly, I totally agreed with the experts because Kyle Williams doesn't seem to have the size to play as a legit nose tackle or "the fat guy" in the middle of the defense.

The nose tackle is the most important and most physically demanding position in a 3-4 defense. In other words, Kyle Williams better get a lot of ice after games. Now, before you all write me something stupid like "Jeff Wright was a small nose tackle in the Bills 3-4 defense of the 90's," I would suggest that you just save it. Sure, Wright was small, but he didn't have to battle double teams constantly because he had arguably the best defensive lineman to ever play this game lining up right next to him. Sorry, but Marcus Stroud and Dwan Edwards aren't up to that par.

I'm also not a fan of having 4-5 players on the front seven learn a new position; especially if those players are in their 30's. Plus, in order to have a legit 3-man front, you would want size to be their biggest attribute, because they are going to be facing more double teams than in a four man front. I just feel that the Bills aren't really that big up front, especially at nose tackle.

Now, the Bills coaching staff did come out and say that they were going to have different looks, mainly a 4-3 look at times. However, I still think the Bills just don't have the players yet to run an effective 3-4 scheme and frankly, even if they were still in a 4-3 defense, I wouldn't have that much confidence in the defensive line. Don't get me wrong, I think the trio of Dwan Edwards, Kyle Williams and Marcus Stroud are decent role players, but they are not game changers.

The Players

Marcus Stroud- Defensive end (Starter)

Last Year: 2.0 sacks and 56 tackles
You have to give it up to Marcus Stroud for not falling into the trap that Albert Haynesworth had fallen into. Yes, he's one of the more higher paid players on the team, but when asked to make the switch from a defensive tackle to a defensive end, Stroud didn't complain and even shed weight to make the transition. Even though Stroud is taking the right steps forward in trying to fit in, the question is whether he can actually be an effective defensive end.

The pros going for Stroud is that his game is all about power and pushing offensive lineman off the ball. Those are two things that you need from your defensive ends to make a 3 down line work. You also want your defensive ends to control the run gaps, and since Stroud has made his money off being able to stop the run, he shouldn't have that big of a problem in continuing that trend.

However, two things going against Stroud is that he's getting older and may not be quick enough to make the transition to a defensive end. I would think that you would want your defensive ends to be able to get off the ball with quickness (Think Bruce Smith), and I just don't see Stroud having that first step to get around the guard or tackle on pass situations. Plus, Stroud is coming off a not so-Stroud like year. He just didn't seem to have the burst from his previous seasons, not to mention, the Bills front seven was a disaster against the run, and you can only look at your high priced players as a reason for the criticism.

Overall, I think this is going to be a very pivotal year for Marcus. He's 32-years old and is only a year removed from signing a 2-year, 16.5 million dollar contract extension. Of course, that contract was signed under a different regime and Stroud was playing in a 4-3 scheme. If Stroud struggles at defensive end this year and then you factor in his contract numbers, I think there's a possibility that he's not going to make it to year four with the club.

Kyle Williams- Nose tackle (Starter)

Last Year: 4 sacks and 66 tackles

Look, I like Kyle Williams. He was one of the few bright spots for the Bills front seven last year. He's a blue-collar type of player that plays hard on every down and is actually one of the few draft picks that made sense for Marv Levy. The Bills were smart in giving Williams a 3-year contract extension in 2008, which averaged less than $5-million per year.

With all that being said, I still think the Bills should have traded Williams in the offseason. Like I wrote earlier, most experts felt that Williams was too small to play a legit nose tackle. I just felt that if the Bills were going to overhaul their defensive scheme, they should have done the same with their personnel. Enough of this "Fit a square peg in a round hole" rhetoric that the franchise has used in recent years (Exhibit A: The position swaps of the offensive line from last year).

Well, the Bills didn't see it my way and decided that keeping Williams was the way to go. The biggest problem for Williams is that even at 300 plus pounds, his game isn't built around his power, which is something you want out of your nose tackle. KW's technique is mostly geared around speed and for him to handle the constant double teams, he's going to need more power than speed. Williams succeeding is key for the Bills to make the transition to a 3-4 work.

Dwan Edwards- Defensive end (Starter)

Last year: 1 sack and 47 tackles
Edwards was the big free agent pick-up for the Bills last offseason and is coming from a loaded defense in Baltimore, where he was counted on to be nothing more than a role player. Now, with the money the Bills have given Edwards, he needs to be more than just another guy.

Edwards is considered to be a high-motored player, who plays well against the run. Again, the Bills seem to have a surplus of lineman that can play well against the run, which is good of course. However, he's not the type of player that is going to get 10 sacks a year and bring constant pressure on the quarterback. Of the three starters on the defensive line, Edwards seems to be the player that is going to be rotated the most of the lineman.

Spencer Johnson- Defensive end (Back-up)

Last year: 2 sacks and 43 tackles
With the change to a 3-4 defense, Spencer Johnson now moves from defensive tackle to defensive end. Johnson is entering his third year with the Bills and has mostly played on passing downs. Look for that trend to stay the same. Johnson is a high-motored guy, who never seems to give up on a play. Of course, his problem is that he's a bit undersized and speed isn't exactly his forte.

Alex Carrington- Defensive end (Back-up)

Senior year: 9 sacks and 36 tackles
Look, this isn't meant to be a knock against Carrington, but anyone who is expecting a rookie from the 3rd round to pay big dividends for the Bills this season, must be reading too many Mel Kiper books. Seriously, there are only a handful of rookies that make a legit impact during their first year and defensive lineman from the 3rd round are hardly on that list.

As for Carrington himself, a lot of draft experts felt that he was the steal of the Bills draft. He definitely seems like the heir apparent to someone like Stroud, who is on the wrong side of 30. Carrington's biggest strength is his pass rushing ability, which is something the Bills desperately lack. Look for him to be another situational player that gets playing time on passing downs. The biggest question mark involving Carrington is that he played at a small college and the competition obviously wasn't up to par because of that.

Torrell Troup- Nose tackle (Back-up)

Senior year: 2 sacks and 32 tackles
Troup will probably get more playing time than Carrington because of his draft status and because he's more of a fit at nose tackle than Kyle Williams. The 2nd round pick out of Central Florida has impressive size and strength. Actually, Troup weighs almost the same amount as Williams, except he's more even proportion with his weight distribution (I have no clue what that means)

Troup can hold his ground against multiple blockers and is a very physical player, who has an excellent bull rush. From that description, he's the type of player you want to play at nose tackle. The one thing going against Troup is that he's coming from another small school and putting on weight has been an issue for him in years past. Troup isn't going to wow you with his play making abilities, but he is a space eater that the Bills desperately need.

John McCargo- Who the hell knows

0 sacks and 11 tackles

Do I really need to talk about McCargo? Here's the same guy that the Bills traded up to pick in the first round and he can't hardly get on the field. The same guy that was traded once before, but failed his physical and was returned to the Bills. Hell, I don't even know what position he would play in a 3-4 defense. He's too small to play nose tackle and he doesn't seem to have the physical presence to play at end.

Frankly, I don't even know why this guy is still on the team. Honestly, you could probably make the case that McCargo is the biggest first round bust in the last 25 years for the Bills. Yes, even bigger than Mike Williams and JP Losman. Think about it, since 1985, the Bills have drafted 25 players in the first round and 23 of them have started an NFL game for the team. Guess which two players haven't? It's Aaron Maybin (Who is only going into his second season) and John McCargo. Yes, McCargo still hasn't started an NFL game. This is the same guy that couldn't even start in front of Larry Triplett for god sakes.

Anyways, I think it would behove the Bills to just bench this guy and let the other young players (Carrington and Troup) get as much playing time as possible. Plus, he's a free agent at the end of the year and I doubt the Bills would resign him.

What to like about the defensive line

1) The Bills have a nice mix of youth and experience.

2) The starters all play well against the run.

3) They can definitely pull off a nice 6-7 man rotation; keeping their lineman fresh and giving the defense different looks.

4) The Bills should be better against the run.

What to NOT like about the defensive line

1) Marcus Stroud has the most sacks by anyone on the defensive line for a season (6.5 sacks in 2002). Not a good number.

2) Besides Carrington, none of the players are known to be pass rushers.

3) All three starters are playing in a 3-4 defense for the first time in their careers.

4) The defensive line lacks an impact player.

Overall

I think the Bills line would work so much better if they had that one guy that offenses had to game plan around. I'm talking someone like Joey Porter in his prime. They have a nice group of role guys, but they just don't seem like the type of players that are going to put the fear of god into offensive coordinators. They just need another all-pro to make this front seven work. I'll say this though, I do feel that the defensive line are much more talented than the linebacking core.

Another thing that I am worried about is that the defense is switching over to 3-4 scheme. That transformation takes time. I remember when Gregg Williams came to Buffalo and he decided to overhaul the Bills 3-4 for the "46" defense and it took the Bills two seasons to reap in the benefits of it. BTW, the defense that Williams had from 2001-2002 was just so deplorable against the run and the pass. The defense that Williams had inherited was ranked 4th in the NFL in 2000 and it bottomed out to 29th in points allowed the following year.

I think the defensive line will be much better at stopping the run than in years past, mainly, because it is the 3-4's speciality. However, I think the line will struggle at getting constant pressure on the quarterbacks. I'm talking, we would be lucky to have a defensive lineman get more than seven sacks this year.

Bottom line: I'm not looking for the defense to set records, but I'd like to see progress from the younger players. I'd like to see Carrington and Troup show signs that they can play at an NFL level; considering that they are the future of the Bills defensive line. Of course, they are rookies and that may be too much to ask for.

Your 2010 Buffalo Bills Preview: Offensive Line

The deal

So, is it the chicken or the egg? Is it Beer or liquor? Is it Tom Golisano or Larry Quinn? Those are some of the endless debates that we have always tried to figure out. Well, we can add whether it's the offensive lineman or the quarterback that makes pass protection work. If you walk up to a football fan and say that the Bills need to draft an offensive tackle in the first round, that person has every right to say that the New Orleans Saints starting left tackle was a converted tight end. I'm sure Drew Brees' name will be brought up as the reason for why the offensive line hardly ever gave up sacks.

Of course, the fan that's all about name recognition on the O-line, can talk about how great the Jets front line of all-pros played last year. You can even make the case that coaching philosophy has something to do with pass protection. People always give credit to Mike Shanahan and Alex Gibbs for developing their zone blocking technique which helped Terrell Davis get over 2,000 yards in 1998. Frankly, besides Mark Schlereth (because of being on ESPN), I couldn't even tell you who were the best lineman in Denver. It was just all about the system.

As for the Bills offensive line, the unit didn't have anything close to the best of all three worlds with their play. Too many times last year we saw quarterbacks getting drilled and running backs getting hit 2-3 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

Enter Cornell Green...Yeah, I'm not feeling that. Um, enter...Trent Edwards being a 4th year NFL quarterback...didn't think so. When the smoke clears and the dust settles, here enters, Ed Wang... (Insert Crickets). Hmmmm...Chan Gailey's offensive coaching philosophy will help the line gel?...Okay, lets go with that. Frankly, Gailey's playbook is really the only hope we have for the offensive line to get it together. Gailey does have experience with working with some all-time great offensive lineman. He's coached guys like Dermontti Dawson and Larry Allen.

Even when Gailey didn't have the talent around him, he was still able to get the most out of his offensive line. While in Miami, Gailey's offensive line gave up just 52 sacks in two years and only had one pro bowler on the unit (Center Tim Ruddy). On the other hand, the Bills gave up 46 sacks, and that was just last year. Say what you will about Jason Peters and Derrick Dockery, but the Bills missed their experience last year. Remember, with those two players on the offensive line, the Bill gave up 38 sacks in 2008 and 26 sacks in 2007. Those aren't great numbers by any stretch of the imagination, but they sure were better than last year's performance.

You have to wonder what the Bills were thinking in starting three offensive lineman that had never taken an NFL snap, and then moved their most experienced player (Brad Butler) from guard to right tackle. It really shouldn't shock anyone that the Bills pass protection hit rock bottom. Hell, the team had the most inexperienced offensive line to start an NFL season in the last 8 years!

You think all of this is bad? I haven't even gotten to the injuries from last year and how the team was starting offensive lineman from the Green Bay Packers practice squad. At last check, the Bills started 11 different offensive lineman last year, to go along with eight different line combinations. In other words, things can't possibly get any worse. Then again, we said that after we endured the Tutan Reyes and Mike Gandy era.

The Players
Demetrius Bell:

Left Tackle-7th round choice in the 2008 Draft
I couldn't help but laugh at how some Bills fans were under the impression that Demetrius Bell was going to be the next Jason Peters; all because the kid was a 7th round pick and was being touted as a "pure athlete." Sorry kids, but you can't find too many pro bowl left tackles on the streets. Without question, the Bills biggest weakness on the offensive line are their tackles. As a starter last year, Bell had a really rough time. The guy had the trifecta going for him while getting penalties, getting hurt, or getting Trent Edwards killed. For an offensive lineman, those are three things that you don't want to have on your resume. Hell, if it wasn't for Bell getting hurt, he probably would have led the league in sacks allowed and penalties committed (Gave up five sacks and eight penalties in just 8 games). I can recall some games where the guy lined up two yards off the line of scrimage. Not good.

Sure, Bell doesn't have that much experience, as he's considered to be extremely "raw." God, I hate when I hear that word, because it gives a team an excuse to keep the guy around longer to see if he can play or not. Bell has to stay healthy if he wants to make it to year three as a starter. Sorry, but you can't rely on a player, who plays arguably the most important position on the football team, to stay on the field for half of his games (Unless you are talking about the Sabres and Tim Connolly).

Cornell Green:

Right Tackle- 1999 undrafted free agent
So, what is the team's solution in trying to offset the other starting left tackle who gives up a ton of sacks and penalties? You give a 3-year, 9 million dollar deal to a player who was flagged 12 times and gave up six sacks last year. Yup, that's Cornell Green, another former Oakland Raider. I haven't watched many Raiders games over the years (thank god!), but from what I've read about him, he's a pretty decent run blocker, but doesn't play well in pass protection.

If you take a closer look (well, you don't have a choice because we are going there) a couple of other things going for Green is that he's athletic for a guy his size and can play effectively when running plays are designed for the tackle to pull or trap. On the negative front, the guy doesn't play physical football and can be pushed around pretty easily. In all honesty, the guy has to be better than the right tackles from the Green Bay Packers practice squad.

Eric Wood:

Guard- 1st round choice in the 2009 NFL Draft
I don't know about you, but it seems like Eric Wood is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Buffalo. If you look at the guy's intangibles (or is it tangibles?), he has Buffalo written all over him. He's a blue-collar type player, who plays with a nasty edge and can fire up a fan base with his, um...talkative ways (Just ask Aaron Maybin). Plus, for a guy his age, he's been talking a lot about being one of the leaders on this team, which tells me he's growing up rather quickly.

He's also the most talented player on the unit. He was having a nice rookie year until he had one of the most gruesome injuries you'll ever see. I'm sure you have all seen the clip on youtube and it's just a huge testament to his determination to participate in training camp.

Wood brings it all to the offensive line, with a very nice mix of size, mobility, technique, and aggressiveness. Wood anchors the interior part of the line, which really is the nucleus of this group (Mainly because the tackles can't even amount to an atom). Of course, the big question going into this season for Wood is whether he's going to be at 100%. Knowing Wood, he probably won't tell us if he is hurt or not.

Andy Levitre:

Guard- 2nd round choice in the 2009 NFL Draft

Andy Levitre was one of the Bills two 2nd round choices in 2009 and played very well for rookie. Levitre did make the all-rookie team, which is a great accomplishment considering that the Bills had to move him to tackle at one point. Plus, it's not like he was surrounded by superior talent.

Unlike Wood, Levitre's size isn't his greatest strength (mainly because he has short arms), but he's a versatile lineman that can battle and get the most out of his shortcomings. The guy is going to be a player for years to come.

Geoff Hangartner:

Center- 5th round choice in the 2005 NFL Draft

When the news broke that the Bills signed a free agent from the Carolina Panthers last year, you could probably hear the collective yawn from Bills fans. Well, Geoff Hangartner isn't Melvin Fowler. The guy can play. Sure, he's not a superstar by any stretch, but he's the best center the Bills have had since Kent Hull. I assure you, it's more of an indictment towards the Bills centers after Hull retired.

Hangartner plays a little like Levitre, in that they both have a nice mix of size and intensity. They can also play multiple positions and really give the Bills a nice interior presence.

What does it all mean?

If there's one preview that I hate writing about, it's the Bills offensive line. It's just very tough for me to sit at home and give a grade to each player on the line. Mainly, because you don't know if the reasoning for a sack is on the quarterback or the play-calling. The same goes into figuring out if there are holes for the running back to break through or is it just the runner not being able to see the lanes.

Bottom line: The Bills line has been nothing short of a disaster. Hell, you can go back to the late 90's to see where their problems originally started. You can place the blame on Rob Johnson, Mike Williams, Turk Schonert and a number of other people, but even when the names are changing, the problem still remains the same. I just don't think the Bills as an organization value the offensive line like they should. Sorry, but you can't have your starting left tackle be a guy that is nothing more than a project. Again, the Bills should have just paid Jason Peters what he wanted because you can't find tackles like him on the streets.

As for the Bills line this year, the biggest key for them is to stay healthy. I don't even want to write up scouting reports on their backups. If you want to look at a silver lining for this group, it's the how the unit really didn't get on the field together that much last year.

Before injuries derailed the line, they actually didn't look that bad against the Patriots and Bucs. The only gave up a couple of sacks in each game and Fred Jackson was leading the league in total yards. Then week 3 came and it all went downhill from there. Brad Butler was lost for the season and then retired to join a life of politics. Then Eric Wood got hurt against Jacksonville and it seemed like Demetrius Bell would get hurt every other game.

Sorry, but you can't build chemistry on the line if an I.V. is stuck in your arm while laying on a hospital bed. So, you could make the case that we just haven't seen what these guys can do collectively as a group. Like I said earlier, you can't discount Chan Gailey's coaching methods in trying to get the unit to gel. Plus, Gailey is all about the short passing gaming, which of course means more 3-step drops. Of course, you still have Trent Edwards back there, which may hamper Gailey's coaching methods.

Anyways, I think the Bills line is going to do much better in opening up holes for their running backs, due in large part to coaching and not having a bunch of rookie starters. However, I still think the combination of Trent Edwards and our starting tackles are going to be a recipe for disaster in pass protection. I'm hoping the interior line will take another step forward in being the backbone of the unit and then hopefully one day, the Bills will believe in paying for an elite left tackle.

Overall, I think the line will be better than last year's disaster, but they have to stay healthy or it's going to be another long season of wondering, "Why doesn't this team do something about the line?"

Your 2010 Buffalo Bills Preview: Wide Receivers edition

The Deal
If you were to look at the Bills roster from last year and compare it to this year, the names and faces seem to be the same. Sure, they added some guys like Andra Davis, Dwan Edwards and the 2010 draft class, but the team really didn't overhaul their personnel. Unfortunately, if there's one position that the Bills are going to look a lot more different at, it's wide receiver.

Gone are veterans Terrell Owens and Josh Reed, who are now replaced by...um...where's the depth chart at? Well, the depth chart doesn't look pretty. Look, it's anyones guess on who the 2nd and 3rd wide receiver will be on this team. Yes, the names aren't that attractive, but you always have to start your career somewhere. From James Hardy to Marcus Easley, this young receiving core are going to have every opportunity to make something of themselves. However, even with opportunity, you are still going to need talent to get the job done.

Say what you will about Terrell Owens (Drops and lack of focus) and Josh Reed (Mostly a disappointment throughout his tenure), but on paper, those guys are much more proven than what the Bills are going to deal with for this season. Last year, Owens and Reed combined for 82 catches and 1,120 yards, which is nothing to write home about. However, those numbers are almost equivalent to the career stats of Roscoe Parrish, Stevie Johnson and James Hardy (1294 yards and 122 catches).

Again, like the quarterbacking, the only thing that most fans can hang their hope on is that Chan Gailey will get the most out of his players that the previous regime couldn't.

The Players
Lee Evans
Last season: 44 catches, 612 yards and 7 touchdowns
Obviously, the biggest debate about the depth chart doesn't concern where Lee Evans ranks. He's number one and is arguably the Bills most explosive offensive weapon. However, he is coming off his worst season to date. Frankly though, since Evans signed his 40 million dollar contract extension, he hasn't come close to producing elite numbers. Sorry, but a guy who makes 10-million a year shouldn't be ranked 88th in catches. Yes, 88th in catches for 2009!!! You want to know what Fred Davis, Mike Thomas and Devery Henderson all have in common? Yup, you guessed it, they had more catches than Evans had and I'm sure their bank accounts aren't as big as his.

Now, here's where most Bills fans and I have differing opinions about Evans. I know that everyone is going to say that Evans production is being affected by circumstances beyond his control. It's the quarterback, it's the play calling, it's the offensive line, it's the weather. I've heard it all to know that I'm not buying it all. Sure, it has something to to do with it. However, he's getting paid to be an elite wide receiver and elite wideouts should be able to make due, without worrying about the environment.

I can recall a number of wide receivers that have been effective during a season without getting the help from a legit quarterback or coach. Calvin Johnson caught 86 passes on an 0-16 team in 2008. Over the years, it didn't matter if it were Matt Schaub or Sage Rosenfels throwing the ball to Andre Johnson. Last year, Brandon Marshall caught 101 balls with the immortal Kyle Orton as his quarterback. Look at Eric Moulds 2000 season, the Bills great had 94 receptions with Rob Johnson starting 11 of those games.

Look, I'm not trying to kill off Evans, but it seems like this guy always gets a pass (Unfortunately not on the field) from the fans and media whenever he doesn't get the ball. I don't know if it has to do with him being a nice guy to the media or that he's really the only superstar (Using the term loosely) on this team. How many years can we let go by where we chalk up a disappointing Lee Evans season to outside distractions?

As for this year, it seems that the Bills have found an offensive minded coach to help with the passing game. As for the quarterback? Well, keep fishing. The main thing going for the Gailey/Evans combo is that at the coach's previous NFL jobs, he has had six different wide receivers go over the 1,000 yard mark for a season. You thought Tyler Thigpen and Mike Tomczak were no names? How about Charles Johnson and Yancey Thigpen? Well, those two guys were part of Gailey's 1,000 yard club.

Maybe Gailey's coaching methods will help Evans become a more consistent player. I'd also like to see him evolve into a more well-rounded wide receiver. No, I'm not talking about gaining weight, I'm talking about catching more than his normal 60-yard bombs. Catching balls in traffic or over the middle is something that the receiver never seems to do enough of. I'm not saying that he fears getting his head torn off, but I'd like to have the coaching staff get the guy involved with running those particular routes.

James Hardy

Last Season: 1 catch, 9 yards and 0 touchdowns
Just like his rookie season in 2007, James Hardy once again inherits the 2nd wide receiver spot on this team. Or does he? There have been some reports that Hardy didn't look good in minicamps (offseason surgery). Even still, how can you not put your former 2008 2nd round pick on the field? I understand that the Bills have a new regime, but you have to give a high draft pick like that every opportunity to get on the field. Even though Buddy Nix and Gailey are inheriting Hardy, it still counts as a team investment and shouldn't be considered as a junk bond...at least not yet.

Hardy is entering his 3rd season, which represents a year that most wide receivers tend to blossom. Hardy's size (6'5, 220lbs) seems to be his biggest attribute, which is something that Evans and Roscoe Parrish lack. Unfortunately, Hardy still hasn't discovered ways to utilize his size. In the few games that Hardy has started, he has had a difficult time in gaining separation from defensive backs and seems to lack the tough, physical play that you would want from a possession receiver.

Another thing going against Hardy is actually his greatest asset; yup, the aforementioned...size. As crazy as it sounds, Hardy may be just too big for Chan Gailey's offense. Gailey likes fast wide receivers that can run precise routes. The type of guys that can run after the catch. I don't think those are Hardy's attributes. If you look at the guys he had in Pittsburgh, Dallas, Miami and Kansas City, the majority of his wide receivers weren't big possession type players. Actually, the top 3 wide receivers on each team were shorter than 6'1 and mostly beat you with skill, rather than size. Frankly, they were kind of like water bugs (Gailey's favorite creatures), and Hardy just doesn't seem like that type of insect.

Stevie Johnson

Last season: 2 catches, 10 yards and 0 touchdowns
Can somebody explain to me why Stevie Johnson has kind of a cult following in Buffalo? Does it have to do with his Twitter page? I mean, the guy only has 12 catches for his career and the only one I can recall him making was his touchdown reception against Denver in 2008. The only reason that I can come up with is that he's an underdog. Kind of like what made people like Fred Jackson.
As of today, Johnson seems to have the lead for being the #2 option for the Bills.

Like Hardy, he's got the size at 6'2, 202lbs, but he seems to have the better speed of the two. Like I said before, Gailey likes speed guys. That's really all I got on Johnson. I mean, what else can I describe about a guy that caught 12 passes for his career?

Roscoe Parrish.
Last Season: 3 catches, 34 yards and 0 touchdowns
Ugh. I'm sorry, but Roscoe Parrish is like the Bills poor man version of Tim Connolly. All you ever hear about is how this guy has all the talent in the world and if healthy, he'll be a game breaker. I'm sorry, but I'm sick and tired of hearing that. Parrish is nothing more than our version of "Dante Hall." He's not an every down wide receiver and like Hardy, he has problems with getting off the line scrimmage against bump and run.

You also have to wonder if the years of being a punt returner have finally caught up to Parrish. The shelf-life for a returner doesn't last too long in the NFL, especially if you are the size of Parrish. We already saw signs of his decline last year, when he was benched after a key fumble against the Browns. It's the same thing that happened to Hall after his 5th season with the Chiefs. Sometimes, Father Time isn't looking at the calender when he arrives, he just gets there unexpectedly.

Now, in fairness to Parrish, this will be the first time in his career that he will be in the slot from the start of training camp. Reed is gone and Parrish seems to be the heir apparent for that spot. Another thing going for Parrish is that he seems like the type of player that Chan Gailey will enjoy designing plays for. Gailey, like all former coaches from the Steelers, likes gadget players who are quick and explosive. Kind of envision what Kordell Stewart was in Pittsburgh as "Slash." Parrish would seem to fit that sort of mold.

Marcus Easley
Look, I'm not going to try and give you a scouting report on a 4th round pick from the state of Connecticut. From what I read online, Easley has the size and speed to become a nice possession receiver for the Bills. I've even read on Twitter and message boards (They are always right), that Easley has a slight chance to become the #2 option for the Bills. Now, I'm all for having the Bills play guys who are young with a lot of upside, but to start a rookie from the 4th round seems a little extreme.

What does it all it mean?
I know a lot of fans/media seem to assume that whoever gets the starting job opposite Evans will become the 2nd most productive wide receiver on the team. However, I really wouldn't put too much stock in that assumption. If you were to look at some of the wide receiving cores that Gailey has coached, it seems like spreading the ball around is his forte.

As Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator in 1997, the Steelers 2nd and 3rd leading wide receivers had 46 and 47 catches (Charles Johnson and Courtney Hawkins). During his last year in Dallas, Gailey showed even more passing distribution by having three players catch between 30-40 balls (Ernie Mills, Chris Warren and David LaFleur). Those numbers may not seem like a lot by today's standards, but the league at that time wasn't like wild west of today's passing numbers.

Of course, it's not entirely up to Gailey to decide who gets the ball in the passing game (The quarterback/defensive formation plays a part), but if the coach represents the major hope for the receivers to evolve, then you have to look at his history. I remember during his days in Pittsburgh, the offense was known to spread the field in 4-5 receiver formations and get all of their receivers involved.

As far as predictions for their actual numbers goes, if Chan Gailey can coach Charles Johnson to a 1,000 yard season, then Lee Evans should be able to rebound from a subpar 2009 season. As for the rest of them, look for a bunch of guys to get between 25-40 catches. Also, because of the quarterback situation, I think the Bills will be a predominantly running team.

Now, if you want me to predict what the depth chart will look like, well, here you go:

1) Lee Evans- Duh

2) Stevie Johnson- Just from reading reports online, it seems that Johnson is a more seasoned player than Hardy.

3) Roscoe Parrish- Roscoe's size makes him the slot receiver.

4) James Hardy- I still think that if Hardy can show any signs of life in training camp, he'll supplant Johnson on the depth chart.

5) Marcus Easley- Selected on day three of the NFL Draft tells me that you're the #5 receiver on an NFL roster.

Your 2010 Buffalo Bills preview: Running Backs Edition

The deal
I know a lot of fans/experts feel that the secondary is strongest part of the Buffalo Bills roster. However, you could make a compelling argument that the running back position has the most promising depth chart. It's a depth chart that includes two former first round picks, two running backs that have a 1,000 yard seasons on their NFL resumes and a renewed dedication to running the football.

My biggest complaint last year with the one/two punch of Lynch and Jackson was that both running backs' styles were just too similar. Seriously, if you switched both guys jerseys and cut Lynch's hair, you really couldn't tell the difference between them. Now, with the addition of Spiller, the Bills have added a thunder/lightning approach with their running back attack.

If you look over the successful running back tandems in this league, the majority of them offer diversity. The Saints had Reggie Bush, who has the ability to zip past defenders with his breakaway speed. Then you have Pierre Thomas, who would do the dirty work by running between the tackles. The Giants, Cowboys and Dolphins are other teams that come to mind that had a similar approach.

If there's one thing that I'm curious/excited to see about this upcoming season, it's how Chan Gailey plans on getting all three of his running backs the ball. Forget trying to get these quarterbacks on track, because on the surface, they are nothing more than serviceable backups. It's the running back situation that has me amped up about the Bills offense. OK, amped is a little too strong of a word.

I just keep on envisioning a scenario kind of like what the Giants had in 2008. The G-men went 12-4 and had a three headed monster at running back with Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw. The trio compiled over 2,500 yards rushing that year and were a key contributor to the Giants success. Sure, the Giants had consistent quarterback play and a stout defense that the Bills only wished to have. However, I can't help but think that with the talent the Bills have in the backfield, why can't we have a running attack like New York did?

The Players

CJ Spiller
Senior Year: 1,212 yards rushing, 503 yards receiving, 16 TDs
Look, I wasn't exactly enamored with the CJ Spiller pick in April. I've gone over ad nauseam about my reasons for the selection and I'm not about to go over it again. Here's the thing you have to know about Spiller, he's not going to be the type of back that's going to carry the ball 20-25 times a game. At 5'11 and 195lbs, he's a little too small to be able to handle the wear and tear of being a every down back. For his college career, Spiller has only carried the ball more than 150 times just once.

Now, the Bills didn't draft Spiller to become the next OJ Simpson, instead, they drafted a guy that could become their version of Reggie Bush. The type of guy who can line up in the slot and can catch bubble or wide receiver screens out of the backfield. A guy that has the type of talent for the coaching staff to devise some passing plays, or in Trent Edwards' case, check downs for big chunks of yardage. If you ever watch the way the Saints and Eagles execute screens to their running backs, it's some of the more prettier plays you'll see in football. I'm hoping that Gailey would be able to open the playbook and be comparable to those teams in running screen plays.

Spiller will be counted on to get the ball in his hands about 8-12 times a game. It wouldn't surprise me to see either Marshawn Lynch or Fred Jackson on the field whenever Spiller is inserted into the game. By doing that, it will make Spiller into the type of player that will keep teams second guessing on whether he's going to get the ball receiving or rushing. Also, he could be used as a decoy. The good thing about Spiller is that he's that homerun type of running back that could break off a 70-yard play. I don't think you could say that about Fred Jackson or Marshawn Lynch.

Bottom line: I'm putting pressure on the coaching staff to be able to design plays that are going to put Spiller in situations to succeed. It can't be the basic Pop Warner (Turk Schonert's words) sort of play-calling that we have seen over the last four years. If it is, Spiller is going to be a wasted pick for this year.

Fred Jackson

2009 Season : 1,062 yards rushing, 371 yards receiving, 4 touchdowns

I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you are not cheering for someone like Fred Jackon, you seriously need to get your head checked. Jackson is the type of player that many Buffalo fans can relate too. A guy that had to fight his way to the NFL. The type of player that probably has been told throughout his career that he just wasn't good enough. He's a fighter that Buffalo fans should embrace.

It was only three years ago that he wasn't really even on the football map; playing his games at some bootleg Arena football league. Luckily, Marv Levy was an alumnus at Jackson's college and had gotten a tip from the football coach at the school's program about the running back. In all honesty, it was Levy's best signing of his short, albeit unremarkable tenure as GM. Three years later, Jackson sits atop the depth chart.

Jackson was arguably the offensive MVP for the Bills last year. He probably would have amassed 1,400 yards rushing if he was the featured back and didn't have to split carries with Lynch during the middle part of the season. In a crowded backfield where the running backs seem to share the same qualities in their respective games, Jackson seems to have the slight edge over Lynch and Spiller in being the guy that can do it all equally. Now, by being able to do it all, I'm talking about carrying the ball 20-25 times a game and being a threat out of the backfield.

Sure, Spiller has that homerun threat, but he's not a workhorse back. Lynch has proven to be able to handle the rock 20x a game, but he isn't that explosive in the passing game. Jackson seems to be more of a complete back of the trio.

I've always liked the way Jackson runs. Actually, scratch that, because the funny thing is that when you see him run, he really doesn't seem like he's going full steam to run over someone or break off a 40-yard run. He just does everything in such a smooth motion. He's got great vision and knows how to use his blockers in hitting the holes. He's also very patient when it comes to letting his offensive lineman slide down field during screen passes out of the backfield. In a way, Jackson's patience on the football field almost duplicates his patience for getting a shot at the NFL level.

A lot of people have said that it's Lynch who has the most to prove on this team. However, it was Fred Jackson who seemed to be in the driver seat for getting the bulk of the carries for this upcoming season. By drafting Spiller, The Bills are kind of telling Jackson that he wasn't the answer to their running game. I'm sure that has added more motivation for the Coe product to prove that he truly belongs at the top of the depth chart.

Marshawn Lynch

2009 Season: 450 yards rushing, 179 yards receiving, 2 touchdowns

Look, I'm not going to get into the off the field saga with Lynch. I've gone over it ad naseum and if you need a refresher, then here you go. I'm going to go about it as if Lynch's status with the team is that he's just another running back who lost his job last year.

As for Lynch's on the field production, he had a 2009 season that he would soon like to forget. Not only was he slowed by his 3-game suspension, but he had to contend with a emerging Jackson, who was taking half of his carries. I've always said that Lynch doesn't seem like the type of back that can only get the ball 10-15 times a game and be effective. Lynch's power running game is more geared to reach the next level when defenses are tired and the team is feeding him the ball constantly. Besides the lack of carries, Lynch's other problems were that he danced way too much in the backfield and didn't seem to hit the hole with the velocity he had during his first two years with the team.

Unfortunately for Lynch, there seems to be no change in how the Bills view him and the former Cal product would be so lucky to even get 5-10 carries a game. Now, I'm not going to sit here and discredit Lynch, he's a hell of a talent and may have better physical gifts than Jackson. However, he's coming off a bad season and the team was very active in shopping him around during the offseason, which tells me that the team doesn't think to highly of him. Frankly, if the Bills wanted more than a 3rd round pick for him (good luck with that), it would behove them to try and up his value by playing him more. Having him just sit on the bench isn't going to increase his trade value.

What does it all mean?

People have gotten it all wrong when it comes to Chan Gailey's qualifications. People keep talking about what he has done with the likes of Tyler Thigpen, Kordell Stewart and Jay Fiedler.........ZZZZZZZZZZZZ......but if you were to dive into Gailey's resume even further, the thing that pops out the most for me is the way his teams have pounded the rock (Not talking about Lawrence Taylor's weekends).

In the seven years that Gailey has been a head coach or a offensive coordinator at the NFL level, rushing the football has been his real forte. During his two years as the Steelers offensive coordinator, the team ranked 1st and 2nd in rushing and almost racked up 2,500 yards both years. When Gailey was the head coach for Dallas, the Boys ranked 6th and 8th respectively. Of course, you can't ignore the fact that Gailey had two of the all-time greats at his disposal in Jerome Bettis and Emmit Smith. Things did catch up to Gailey a bit in Miami, as the Fish were ranked 14th and 23rd in rushing, but he was dealing with Lamar Smith as his feature back.

It's going to be up to Gailey to devise a plan to get all three of his running backs the football. I'm talking the wildcat, wishbone, reverses and whatever other gadgets that can be used to get the ball in his playmakers' hands. When I say playmakers, you have to put in account that after Lee Evans, the offensive skill positions on this team seem to be unproven commodities. I mean, the 3rd string running back on this team is more explosive than the 2nd wide out.

I can see Spiller being the type of back that's used mostly in the passing game to go along with maybe 5-7 carries a game. I then can see Jackson and Lynch running the football 10-12 times a game. Of course, if one back is hotter than the other, I'm sure Gailey will go with the guy that's brought him that far. The Bills could just choose to eliminate Lynch from the equation and use Jackson and Spiller as their one/two punch. However, what would be the point of keeping Lynch if the Bills didn't have any plans to use him?

The bottom line: Take away the running backs and the Bills don't really have much of an offensive punch. Their quarterbacks aren't exactly stellar, their wide receives are inexperience (Besides Evans) and the offensive line is..well, bad. People always use the cliche about the run setting up the pass, I think in the Bills case, they are going to need the run to set-up the victory.