SB Nation - Andy Levitre

Fall Camp Questions - Offensive Line

Jake Bertalotto — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:31:14 -0000

Coach Cavanaugh's offensive line may be young, but as head coach Mike Riley has said, "they look good coming off the bus." Now, the question remains, will they look good in games? (Photo by Ethan Erickson)

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Fall Camp has concluded at Oregon State, as the team will now move into preparing for their home and season opener against Portland State this Saturday. The Vikings-- who are rumored to be installing more "run" in their "run-and-shoot" this season-- will provide a legitimate test to the Oregon State defense. We'll dive more into that later, but as the old saying goes, "if they don't score, we don't lose." BUT, if they do score, that means that the Oregon State offense will need to be putting points on the board, which likely means that the rebuilt offensive line is doing a good job of opening holes for the likes of Jacquizz Rodgers and Jovann Stevenson.

(This, by the way, is the final installment of our "Fall Camp Questions" series that has been going on throughout the month of August. Don't be surprised if this post feels more like a position-by-position look at this year's O-Line,. as the starters have practically been named at each position. Check out links to the six other posts at the bottom of this entry.)

For the first time in a long time, the Beavers will likely go to battle with the 6-3, 320 pound true freshman giant Michael Philipp as their starting left tackle. Philipp has been worked over in practice several times by Oregon State's speedy defensive linemen--Kevin Frahm especially--but overall, has adapted well to the change of pace. He'll step in as the heir-apparent to Andy Levitre at the left tackle position, and has big shoes to fill-- but the San Bernardino native has the the size, speed, and smarts to pull it off.

OH, AND BY THE WAY... the countdown clock at the left of this page has been properly re-adjusted and is now accurate.

Mike Remmers will play the right tackle position, He's a year removed from starting seven games in place of Tavita Thompson, after walking on. He's since earned a scholarship, and as a sophomore, is becoming a big part of what Oregon State is doing on the offensive line.

Grant Johnson, a Baker City native and also a former walk-on, has perhaps been the biggest surprise of fall camp. Listed on the Pre-Spring Camp depth chart as the back-up center to Alex Linnenkohl, he has won the competition at left guard, and will likely start alongside Michael Philipp when the Beavers take the field this Saturday. His story is a great one, and is told by Jeff Smith of the Oregonian. Basically, Johnson elected to walk-on to the Beavers after growing up a fan-- both his parents went to school in Corvallis-- and after two years in the program, has summited the depth chart, the old-fashioned way.

Alex Linnenkohl returns as a 13-game starter from 2008 and will anchor the offensive line at the center position. He's battled a knee injury throughout camp, but appears to have recovered and should be healthy for Saturday's opener.

Gregg Peat rounds out the group at right guard, and will start next to Remmers. Peat will be a senior this year and is a co-team captain. He also started all 13 games last year, all at right guard.

To review, here is how the group looks, from left to right:

Michael Philipp - Grant Jonson - Alex Linnenkohl - Gregg Peat - Mike Remmers

Overall, offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh is impressed with his young group heading into the season:

"I think we're going to be fine. I'm excited about these guys. We're a little bit young in some spots, but to be honest with you we've got more depth than we've ever had.''

While the Beavers don't have USC-type depth on their offensive line, there are several players who were expected to start on the offensive line before fall camp began who have either been surpassed or lost their spots. Ryan Pohl and Michael Lamb come to mind, and guys like Colin Kelly and Wilder McAndrews also have experience in the program.

--Jake (jake.buildingthedam@gmail.com)

Previous "Fall Camp Questions" posts: Quarterback - Running back - Wide receivers - Defensive line - Linebackers - Secondary

The incomparable 2009 SBN Pac-10 Football Preview

Nuss — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:00:12 -0000

More photos » by Jae C. Hong - AP

USC has more question marks this year than at any time in their reign of dominance over the Pac-10, starting with who will play quarterback. Will freshman Matt Barkley be the guy? (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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We SB Nation bloggers are quite proud of our independence. Yet, from time to time, an event so compelling comes along so as to draw us out from our communities and collaborate on a project of such import, the very future of SBN depends on it.

The beginning of football season is just such an event.

For seven years now, every Pac-10 football season has approached with the same question in mind: Is this the year that Oregon/Cal/Oregon State/ANYBODY supplants USC as the champion of the West Coast's premier conference? Not since 2002, when Washington State advanced to the Rose Bowl by virtue of its head-to-head victory over the Trojans, has someone other than USC represented the Pac-10 as the league's champion.

Could this finally be the year it happens? Can Jeremiah Masoli lead Oregon to the heights that Dennis Dixon's knee could not? Can Jahvid Best carry Cal there? Will Oregon State take that next step to elite status by competing for the conference title year in and year out?

In a lot of ways, this sure feels like the year. The Trojans will be breaking in another new quarterback, and while that hasn't exactly stopped them before -- a couple of guys named John David Booty and Mark Sanchez did OK -- you have to wonder if their luck doesn't run out at some point. Defensively, they'll have to replace three linebackers selected in the first two rounds of the NFL draft, and eight starters overall. Again, they've done this before ... but still.

Nationally, the take is that this string of dominance by USC says more about the rest of the conference than it does the Trojans. True or not, that's the perception. If this conference ever wants to get the respect it thinks it deserves, it's going to have to start consistently challenging the Trojans for that title, and occasionally taking one.

This just might be the year.

Predicted Order of Finish

As voted on by the Pac-10 SBN bloggers ...

Top Five Pac-10 Heisman Trophy Candidates

1. Jahvid Best

#4 / Running Back / California Golden Bears

Height: 5-10

Weight: 195

Year: junior

Best is absolutely electric; he's been described as 'silly-fast'. He's a human highlight reel who's a threat to take the ball to the house every time. He's the leading returning rusher in college football, averaging over 8 yards every time he touches the ball. If Cal wins 10+ games, he's the prototypical candidate, right?

- California Golden Blogs

2. Jacquizz Rodgers

#1 / Running Back / Oregon St. Beavers

Height: 5-7

Weight: 191

Year: sophomore

Rodgers burst onto the scene last year with a sensational campaign as a true freshman, rushing or 1,253 yards in 2008. His small size and shifty moves make him a fun player to watch -- and a tough target for opponents to bring down.

- Building the Dam

3. Jeremiah Masoli

#8 / Quarterback / Oregon Ducks

Height: 5-11

Weight: 214

Year: junior

Jeremiah Masoli is not your typical QB. He’s short, and a bit squatty, but does he ever produce. He can throw the ball, he can run the ball, and he doesn’t make mistakes. In his second year with Chip Kelly, look for him to become the most productive player in the Pac-10, and maybe run over a few safeties in the process.

- Addicted to Quack

4. Taylor Mays

#2 / Safety / USC Trojans

Height: 6-3

Weight: 235

Year: senior

Normally, defensive players don't stand a chance in the Heisman race. But Mays never has really fit the mold. A freak of an athlete -- he hits like a linebacker but runs like a wide receiver -- Mays has two things going for him that every Heisman candidate needs: 1) A well-hyped reputation that proceeds him, and 2) He plays for one of the best programs in the country. A big game against Ohio State would set his candidacy into motion.

- Conquest Chronicles

5. Jake Locker

#10 / Quarterback / Washington Huskies

Height: 6-3

Weight: 222

Year: junior

The Huskies likely won't be very good this year, but Locker is an undeniable talent and a dark-horse Heisman candidate. He's a run/pass threat who has been more run than pass so far. If new coach Steve Sarkisian can get his completion percentage up, and the Huskies can win a few more games than people think, Locker has the opportunity to put up some eye-popping numbers.

- CougCenter.com

Team Capsules (in predicted order of finish)

1. USC Trojans

By Conquest Chronicles

Overview: USC has faced using a new starting QB in the past and they have responded. The Trojans have all of their starters back on offense (except Patrick Turner) and although they are replacing most of the defense, the defense will be better in 2009 than a lot of people think. I do think the rest of the Pac-10 is catching up to USC, but until someone actually knocks USC out of the top spot ...

Key to Success: The QB position is the key to USC's success in 2009. With Aaron Corp out for a short time with an injury, don't go to sleep on true freshman Matt Barkley, who has really stunned many with quick grasp of the offense and his maturity at handling the pressure. Barkley has a ways to go, but he is a lot closer than others in his position in the past.

Potential Achilles Heel: See above ...

Best Case Scenario: USC Wins the Pac-10 but will probably have 1-2 losses.

Worst Case Scenario: USC loses the pac-10 because of some bone head lead loss in conference.

Likely Scenario: USC will have a tough time with their road schedule and their winning the Pac-10 will probably come down to the last week of the season.

2. Cal Golden Bears

By California Golden Blogs

Overview: The Nate Longshore era is over. For better or for worse, the Bears will be entering a new age of Tedford football at Strawberry Canyon, where faces have changed but the strategy remains the same: Run the ball, terrorize on defense. Those were the characteristics of the 2004 team that should've been Rose Bowl-bound, and while Tedford searches for the next great Cal QB to follow in Aaron Rodgers' footsteps, there is hope the 2009 team can finally put it all together. With eight returning starters on defense, eight on offense, plus one of the most spectacular players in the country, what's not to like?

Key to Success: The Bears' hopes to make it to the Rose Bowl remain firmly perched on the spectacular Jahvid Best. Best was the main reason for five or six of Cal's wins last season; with a battered offensive line and only sporadic quarterback play, everyone looked to Best to provide the offense with some spark. Get him the ball in space, and he's a threat to take it to the house every time, leaving defensive backs grasping at air. Cal's defense is good enough to keep the Bears in every game, but it will be up to Jahvid (and those who block for him) to put up enough points to win them.

Potential Achilles Heel: Kevin Riley still won't inspire many Cal fans until he can show he can complete a short route downfield consistently. He struggled with his command and mechanics all last season, and he and a green receiving corp never got on the same page. With another offensive coordinator coming in, it'll be most important to monitor his development as the leader of our offense. Anything the passing game can do to ease the pressure on Best will pay big dividends in the Pac-10 title chase. Runner-up: Our placekickers can't be trusted with a kick from over 30-35 yards, and kickoffs were a dicey proposition all last year.

Best Case Scenario: Pasadena. The default answer of a Cal fan. This year, though, there are two choices. We'll be happy with either one.

Worst Case Scenario: Beating USC, somehow nursing a one game lead in the Pac-10, everything going smoothly into the Big Game ... and blowing our Rose Bowl chances on the field of the Furdies. Yeah, brace yourself Cal fans. Less heartbreaking would be a repeat of the sort of meltdown that imploded the Bears' 2007 season. Even in the worst case, however, I can't see this team limping to the finish line with less than a 7-5 record.

Likely Scenario: If Riley is good and everything else holds to form, we're finally BCS-bound. If Riley struggles, we get our pick of the ESPN bowl bonanza. The Trojans will never be more vulnerable than they are this fall. The Bears will never be stronger. I would put better than even odds on the Bears winning at least 10 games this season. Our chances rest with our quarterback. Haven't we been here before?

3. Oregon Ducks

By Addicted to Quack

Overview: Oregon is beginning a new era this season, but it really doesn’t seem like much has changed. New coach Chip Kelly will continue his offensive explosion that has averaged 475 ypg and 40ppg over the past 2 years. Duck fans expect great things, as Oregon is loaded with talent at the skill positions, and the inexperienced offensive line will be coached by the top offensive line coach in the country, Steve Greatwood.

On the other side of the ball, the Ducks will rely on speed. Oregon has an experienced and talented group of linebackers, and the team is led in the secondary by All Pac-10 CB Walter Thurmond and hard hitting safety TJ Ward (Google "TJ Ward hits Zac Robinson;" you’ll be glad you did). Though Oregon’s defense has been a weak line in the past, it has the talent to improve from last season, when the Ducks’ D spent more time on the field than any team in the nation.

Key to Success: The passing defense. Oregon fans are always up in arms about the secondary, which they constantly feel is underachieving. Last year, the unit was supposed to be the best in the nation, but then gave up a combined 829 yards to BSU and USC.

This year, the unit must improve, which will be a very difficult task as Oregon lost two starters in the first two rounds of the NFL draft. The secondary is talented with a finally fully healthy Thurmond, who should be one of the top cornerbacks in the nation. But Oregon will need young players to step up at the opposite corner position, as well as at rover.

Potential Achilles Heel: Any follower of the Pac-10 knows that injuries have spelled disaster for the Ducks time and again in recent years, most notably when Dennis Dixon’s knee gave out on a terrible night in Tucson. This season is no exception, with only one experienced QB on the roster. QB Jeremiah Masoli is backed up by Nate Costa and Darron Thomas but Costa has injured his ACL three times and Thomas is an inconsistent true sophomore.

Health will also be vital at receiver and on the offensive line. The WR position has seen multiple injuries through the first week of fall camp, and the offensive line is still healing from spring ball. As the offensive line returns only 20 total starts, health will be vital in ensuring this unit can come together and help Oregon compete with the upper echelon of the Pac-10.

Best Case Scenario: Go undefeated and win the bowl game against anyone not named Florida. All the games on Oregon’s schedule are definitely winnable. Oregon has the talent to realistically stick with almost any team in the country, and has a very favorable schedule.

Worst Case Scenario: Oregon’s offensive line never comes together and neither does their defensive line or secondary. This means that Oregon can’t beat either USC or Cal at home, and drops a few games to teams like Arizona, UCLA, and Stanford. Oregon goes 6-7 after losing in Chip Kelly’s bowl debut.

Likely Scenario: Oregon goes 9-3, losing to USC, splitting Cal and BSU, and dropping another along the way. Oregon has a lot of talent, yet a lot of inexperience in a few key positions, which could mean inconsistency. But Oregon wins its bowl game, setting the stage for a big 2010.

4. Oregon State Beavers

By Building The Dam

Overview: For the second straight year, Oregon State will be looking to reload on defense. All four members of the secondary are gone from a year ago, as well as three from the defensive line. The linebackers, led by Keaton Kristick, will be the strength of the defense and should help stop this year's talented crop of Pac-10 running backs. Any pressure the defensive line (watch out for DT Steven Paea) can put on the quarterback will help the young secondary. On offense, the healthy quarterback is Sean Canfield, with Lyle Moevao taking a backseat -- for now. Jacquizz Rodgers returns at RB, but there is little proven depth behind him -- and the receivers are young.

Key to Success: Two things quickly come to mind. The first is the offensive line. LT Andy Levitre and LG Adam Speer are off to the NFL, leaving behind a young, inexperienced group-- especially on the left side. Highly touted recruit Michael Philipp has come into camp to compete for the LT spot, and has been turning some heads. According to HC Mike Riley, Philipp will either "start or redshirt", but at 6-3, 320, the Beavers need him to learn the system and start this year. The other key is Jacquizz Rodgers. He needs to stay healthy all year, or this could turn into a train wreck on offense with the inexperience at receiver, especially with Darrell Catchings going down with a wrist injury early in fall camp.

Potential Achilles Heel: The secondary, which isn’t young -- just inexperienced -- could be the achilles heel this year. It shouldn’t be quite like 2005, when the Beavers baptized freshmen Brandon Hughes and Keenan Lewis by fire at cornerback, but all four to-be starters don’t have much starting experience. It will be up to Tim Clark to hold down the group -- he has the most experience and should turn into the leader of the defensive backfield.

Best Case Scenario: The best case scenario this year is that the Beavers win all their home games (it’s doable), and then go out and win most of their tough games on the road. With road trips to Cal, Arizona State, USC, and Oregon, it’s not going to be easy, but the Beavers know they have the talent and the wherewithal to do it.

Worst Case Scenario: The worst-case scenario would be that the Beavers can’t win the games they need to win at home, and they struggle against the Pac-10’s best on the road -- which could mean that Jacquizz Rodgers goes down with an injury.

Likely Scenario: Most likely, the Beavers will win seven or eight games. It's very possible that this squad could win more-- and it probably wouldn't surprise many, based on what Riley has been able to do in the past. Look for the Beavers to get off to a better start in years past with the more favorable pre-season schedule, have a solid season, and win their sixth straight bowl game.

5. Arizona State Sun Devils

By House of Sparky

Overview: 2008 is known as the year of disappointment in Tempe. After an extremely promising 2007 campaign where they finished 10-3 and won a share of the Pac-10 with USC, the Sun Devils found themselves overconfident and overmatched, going 5-7 and missing the postseason for the first time in years. 2009 brings a new quarterback in senior Danny Sullivan, and a highly touted recruiting class that could pay instant dividends on the playing field.

The Sun Devils are headed to Athens, Georgia to play the Bulldogs in a highly anticipated rematch of the drubbing of 2008. Going into a vaunted SEC stadium and pulling off the victory would give the Sun Devils a huge vote of confidence. In all likelihood, however, this team is a year away from legitimacy, after the recruiting class gets some experience in 2009

Key to Success: If the defense can live up to its massive potential, ASU will be a sleeper pick to finish in the top 3 of the Pac-10. If true freshman LB Vontaze Burfict is eligible for the 2009 season, he and fellow true freshman DT Corey Adams will join an experienced, tenacious D led by LBs Gerald Munns and Mike Nixon. Given the uncertainty on offense, a reliable defense would give ASU a fighting chance against any competitor. Stop the run in the Pac-10, and you can put up wins. There isn't a single QB in the Pac-10 that can break down a great defense on his own.

Potential Achilles Heel: In a fairly obvious move, House of Sparky picks the quarterback position. Danny Sullivan is currently the guy, but Samson Szakacsy and Brock Osweiler are both breathing down his neck on the depth chart. In terms of talent, Osweiler is king. But as a true freshman, it's a spotty idea to even consider him for the role. As for savvy, it might just be Szakacsy. He's a laid back dude who enjoys surfing while at home in California, but he has the resolve to lead this team in the desert. As for experience, Danny is the only one who has ever played college football. Hopefully, Sullivan assumes the role nicely and takes us to a nice 8-win season. But with this lack of control over the circumstances, the QB position will be worth watching for the Devils in 2009.

Best Case Scenario: Sullivan catches onto the starting role, and the defense destroys the pretenders in the Pac-10. ASU goes into Georgia and gives them a heck of a fight, earning the respect of SEC fans everywhere. ASU wins 9 games, culminating in a victory over Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl. Thomas Weber wins his second Lou Groza Award.

Worst Case Scenario: Sullivan breaks down against Georgia, and we're embarrassed once again by the Bulldogs. Pac-10 competition brings about the emergence of Szakascsy, but he cannot fulfill the fans' expectations. Vontaze Burfict is deemed ineligible for competition, and has to sit out 2009. ASU wins 4 games, and Dennis Erickson is fired

Likely Scenario: Sullivan is an average Pac-10 QB, and we win 6 games, making it into the postseason, but lose to BYU in the Las Vegas bowl. Osweiler gets some reps, and is named starter going into the 2010 season. The defense scores 10 defensive touchdowns, the main bright spot on the team.

6. Stanford Cardinal

By CougCenter.com

Overview: Jim Harbaugh's program is one on the come. The Cardinal were living in the bottom of the Pac-10 in the wake of Tyrone Willingham's departure and the disaster that was Walt Harris, but after steady gains the past two seasons and one of the nation's top recruiting classes, Stanford has its eyes set on the top half of the conference. Harbaugh's got people believing down on The Farm.

Key to Success: Quarterback Andrew Luck. The highly regarded reshirt freshman has supplanted senior Tavita Pritchard, and by all accounts has the ability to be a star. If he can live up to the hype and provide a legitimate compliment to the already potent running attack led by Toby Gerhart, the Cardinal offense could take a quantum leap this year. And if it does, there's no telling what kind of noise Stanford can make.

Potential Achilles Heel: The offense ought to be good, but there are some nagging questions. The aforementioned quarterback battle could spell trouble if Luck doesn't pan out -- Pritchard has had plenty of issues over the years. And while Gerhart is a freight train, the offensive line has some new faces. The defense should be solid again, but if the offense can't come up to speed, the Cardinal might lose some games they might otherwise win.

Best Case Scenario: The Cardinal make the most of their relatively soft landing to begin the year, winning their first five against WSU, Wake Forest, San Jose State, Washington and UCLA. Emboldened by their fantastic start, Stanford goes 4-3 the rest of the way, winning a game or two against the conference's heavyweights to finish the year 9-3 and in the Sun Bowl.

Worst Case Scenario: That soft landing? Yeah, not so soft. WSU upsets Stanford after Luck throws a trio of interceptions, and it's a portent of things to come, as the Cardinal head to Wake and lose there, too. The bad start throws a wrench in the Cardinal improvement plan, and they take a step back to 4-8.

Likely Scenario: Stanford wins four of its first five, and goes 3-4 over the final seven to get to 7-5 and Las Vegas.

7. Arizona Wildcats

By AZ Desert Swarm

Overview: The 2009 season will be all about momentum. Nic Foles and Matt Scott battle out the quarterback position while the receivers, running backs, and offensive line return tons of experience. Our defense should be solid as well with a D-line that will be strong, aggressive backers, and anchors on the defensive backfield in Cam Nelson and Devin Ross. Arizona's recruiting class is the strongest since Stoops has been in Tucson. Three guys could make immediate impacts as true freshman (C.J. Parish, Trevor Erno, and Adam Hall). The Cats brought in Jonathan Hollins as a Junior transfer as well as Jack Julsing and Shane Zink for immediate experience and upper classmen strength.

Key to Success: The key to our success will definitely be the offensive line play, giving our young quarterbacks the time to throw the ball. I think that Matt Scott will be the starter at the beginning of the year. Scott will have the mobility factor that Foles isn't able to bring to the team. Nic Grigsby and Keolin will be dominant out of the backfield and shouldn't miss a beat on the offensive end. Wide receivers are deep (minus Mike Thomas) and will be open, they just need a QB to get them the ball. Defensive line is really deep with the return of Elmore, Mitchell, Horton, Reed, and the addition of Hollins. Linebackers is the weak point, with our DB's returning two guys who have lots of experience.

Potential Achilles Heel: Arizona's achilles heel is the lack of cohesiveness with the offense. We will have a new QB in Scott, or Foles. Our offensive line lost three guys, and will be making patchwork of returning backups from last year and juco transfers in Zink and Jusling. The receivers will need to find a man to step up and take Thomas' spot, most likely Delashaun Dean or Terrell Turner. Arizona's offense faces plenty of tough teams in the Pac-10 this year, will have to play a scary Central Michigan team, and travel to Iowa to play a Big-10 team on their third week of the year.

Best Case Scenario: Take care of business in the non-conference schedule by taking out Central Michigan, Northern Arizona, and Iowa without missing a beat. The next three games are Oregon State, Washington and Stanford. The Cats will probably win 2 out of 3 of these. I think our best case scenario for the Cats is to start out the season 5-1 heading back to Tucson to play UCLA. A win at home against UCLA is definitely winnable. Taking out UCLA, then lowly Washington State could lead the Cats to 7-1. I think that's where the honeymoon stops and the Cats struggle the rest of the way out. At California, home against Oregon, at Arizona State, then to USC will be a brutal way to end the year.

Worst Case Scenario: Lose at home to Central Michigan (scary team) to start the season, and then at Iowa two weeks later. I think a slide in the beginning of the year could snowball the Cats downward and cause problems for them at Oregon State and Washington. I think a 1-4 start would be the worst case scenario for Arizona. After Oregon State, UCLA and Washington could prove formidable foes. I already talked about our year end schedule, which could easily be 4 losses for the Cats this year.

Likely Scenario: A middle ground of the above scenarios. The Cats will take out Central Michigan and Northern Arizona no problem. Travel to Iowa will be a challenge. Oregon State in Corvallis will be a huge win, but unlikely. The Cats will finish 8-4 this year, but will need to find a way to put up point like they did last year. Sonny Dykes has done a great job installing the spread offense in Tucson and Matt Scott could be an unbelievable fit in the system.

8. UCLA Bruins

By Bruins Nation

Overview: To say Rick Neuheisel was handed a program that had to be built from the ground up is a massive understatement and last season couldn't even be called building a foundation. Last season, Neuheisel just cleared the scraps off the lot. This season, he will begin to build his foundation. With the infusion of talent thanks to great recruiting, some fantastic offseason work and a year of development, this program will take a major step forward this year. They won't compete for a Pac-10 title, but they'll be competitive in every game and that's progress.

Key to Success: The Bruins' key to success will be the man under center, Kevin Prince. While the offensive line is the unit that needs to take the biggest step forward, the quarterback position is still the most important on the football field and UCLA will send a redshirt freshman who hasn't played in two years (season-ending injury in the first game of his senior year of high school) into the fire. He does have a good arm though and has drawn rave reviews for his football smarts and leadership qualities. His ability to keep the turnovers at a minimum and handle the pressure sure to come from dropping back behind a green offensive line will tell the tale of the offense.

Potential Achilles Heel: The Bruins' potential achilles heel is the same as last season. While the team had issues last year, no unit caused UCLA more problems than the offensive line. The running backs never had holes to run through and last year's quarterback, Kevin Craft, showed as much toughness as anyone in the country just to make it through each game with the beating he was taking. The offensive line's first job this year will be to open some holes to get a running game going. If the Bruins have a respectable running game, then UCLA will have a chance to take advantage of the talent at the skill positions.

Best Case Scenario: The UCLA offensive line, which is amazingly inexperienced, but has some talent, could come together and provides decent play. Kevin Prince could maximize his talent a little earlier than expected and mature quickly, while the defense remains as injury-free as possible to be led by Brian Price, Reggie Carter and Alterraun Verner to an eight-win season.

Worst Case Scenario: Kevin Prince and the offensive line's play leans more towards inexperience than talent, while the linebacking core, which is strong but thin, falls prey to injury. With the offensive line and QB unable to take advantage of the talent on the perimeter, the offense flounders and the lack of linebackers lets opposing teams control possession as UCLA fails to go bowling again.

Likely Scenario: The Bruins will be inconsistent as they mesh some extreme inexperience in with their handful of great players. The offense will be much improved and keep from turning the ball over too much, but is never explosive. The defense should be steady and help the offense out with field position and special teams is stout to win UCLA seven games.

9. Washington Huskies

By CougCenter

Overview: The 2009 Huskies are in rebuilding mode under new head coach Steve Sarkisian after going through total destruction mode under the Willingham and Gilbertson eras. There is hope on Montlake, as Sark has shown the ability to bring in big recruits. If he can get those recruits to execute his offensive plan the same way his USC superstuds did, then Husky fans may see the glory of the Don James days return. Of course, having Joe Montana roaming the sidelines watching his son, all the while bumping into a few recruits and boosters, probably won't hurt.

Key to Success: Jake Locker's arm. We all know Jake can run. Last year we saw what happens when Jake relies on his legs too much. The problem is Locker has only been effective when he has made plays with his legs. Unfortunately, he has not impressed when putting the ball in the air. His most famous throw is a behind the back toss that led to a 15 yard penalty against BYU last year. If Jake can improve his throwing accuracy, the Husky offense would become difficult to stop.

Potential Achilles Heel: There is a common thread that connects all historically bad football teams. Poor line play. The Husky offensive line was very ineffective in 2008 (2.9 YPC). It doesn't matter how talented Jake Locker or any other skill player on the UW offense is, if the line doesn't block, the offense won't move.

Best Case Scenario: Jake Locker stays in the pocket a little more, hits some open receivers, continues to make some plays with his legs, and keeps his leg out of a cast for all twelve games. The lines on both sides hold up just enough and the Huskies go 5-7.

Worst Case Scenario: Another 0-12 season is unlikely thanks to the scheduled W known as Idaho. Worst case, the Huskies go 1-11 with a historic third straight Apple Cup loss to the Washington State Cougars.

Likely Scenario: The Pac 10 is down this year, but UW was just flat out bad last year. It would be a lot to ask to challenge for a bowl game. The Huskies will most likely beat Idaho, Wazzu, and either Arizona or Oregon at home. On the road, they could get one from either Stanford or UCLA. UW ends the season at 4-8.

10. Washington State Cougars

By CougCenter

Overview: The Cougs are coming off of perhaps the worst season in the history of the program. A roster already low on Pac-10-caliber talent was made worse by a plethora of injuries, especially on offense: Five different quarterbacks saw action for the Cougs and seven different offensive line combinations started games. The result was ugly: The Cougs' eight Pac-10 losses were by a combined score of 440-61. Ouchy.

But there is hope that this year can be better. There is a lot of experience returning on offense, and a number of transfers join the defensive ranks. Additionally, the team dedicated itself to strength and conditioning in the offseason, making gains that have been noticeable to observers close to the program. It should add up to the team being more competitive in 2009.

Key to Success: The biggest problem for this team last year was that it was physically dominated at the point of attack on both sides of the ball. The defensive allowed a whopping 5.78 yards per attempt last year (dead last in FBS), most of which you can lay at the feet of the line. Add in the fact that they had just 15 sacks against FBS competition, and you can that the rest of the defense never really had a chance. The story was much the same on the offensive side: 2.75 yards per rushing attempt (No. 116), 42 sacks allowed (No. 117).

If the big fellas on the offensive and defensive lines can put those strength gains to good use -- holding their own in the trenches and avoiding injury -- this team stands a real chance of being a lot more competitive.

Potential Achilles Heel: Injuries, plain and simple. This team still is paper thin at just about every position not named running back -- the Cougs are loaded there, led by explosive Cal transfer James Montgomery -- and if any unit suffers a sudden spate of injuries, it could undermine the effort of the entire team. The positive news is that it's so far, so good in camp, as no key players have suffered notable injuries; at this time last year, the training table was already overflowing. The Cougs will need that to continue in order to make the strides they want to make this year. Otherwise, it could be a replay of 2008 until more reinforcements come next fall.

Best Case Scenario: With last year's experience fresh in their minds, the Cougs play inspired football. The strength and conditioning gains made in the offseason are real, and the team is able to withstand the physical punishment of Pac-10 play. They also get a little lucky in avoiding major injuries. The offense is able to move the ball well on the ground and adequately through the air, and the defense employs a bend-but-don't-break philosophy that allows them to give the offense a chance. It all adds up to the Cougs shocking some people en route to a 5-7 season.

Worst Case Scenario: Injuries pile up again, and so do the losses. Another string of embarrassing defeats has fans questioning Paul Wulff's ability to turn the program around, and worse than that, the players' commitment, which looked so strong in the offseason, begins to waver. WSU finishes the year without a win, and Wulff never gets to see the rebuilding job come to fruition.

Likely Scenario: The team is better. Not great, but better. They're not winning a whole lot more games, but they're in a lot more games than they were a year ago. There still are some lopsided scores, but clearly, progress has been made and things are heading in the right direction. The Cougs get a couple of non-conference wins against SMU and Hawaii, jump up to bite either Arizona State or UCLA, and finish up the year with yet another win over Washington. Four wins? We'll take it.

Upgrade or Downgrade? - Left Tackle

Jake Bertalotto — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:12:12 -0000

Our look at the departed starters continues today, shifting to the offensive line and the hole left by Andy Levitre at Left Tackle. Levitre, a second round pick of the Buffalo Bills, started three years on the line for Oregon State and has been awarded all-conference honors since his sophomore year. He was named to several all-America teams last season-- he played both right and left tackle over the course of his career at OSU.

Last Year:

Andy Levitre

#66 / Offensive Linesman / Oregon St. Beavers

Height: 6-3

Weight: 217

Year: graduated

This Year:

Mike Remmers

#50 / Offensive Linesman / Oregon St. Beavers

Height: 6-4

Weight: 286

Year: sophomore

Remmers started seven games last season at right tackle before Tavita Thompson returned to the starting lineup for the Arizona State game.

--Jake (jake.buildingthedam@gmail.com)

Previously: Split End, Slotback

Poll

Is Mike Remmers an upgrade or downgrade from Andy Levitre?

Upgrade

16 votes

Downgrade

88 votes

104 votes | Poll has closed

2009 NFL Draft Grades: Buffalo Bills Edition

Brian Galliford — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:30:10 -0000

More photos » by Don Heupel - AP

8 months ago: Russ Brandon, center, Buffalo Bills chief operating officer/general manager, stands with the team's first-round NFL draft picks, Aaron Maybin, left, and Eric Wood at the Ralph Wilson Stadium complex in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Sunday, April 26, 2009. Maybin, 11th-overall pick, is a defensive end from Penn State and Wood is a center from Louisville. (AP Photo/Don Heupel)

Browse more photos »

The 2009 NFL Draft is in the books, and the Buffalo Rumblings community - at least to the point that this is published - has given the Buffalo Bills' efforts over the weekend an overwhelming 78% approval rating (while 9% of voters disapprove and 12% are undecided).

I have long believed that handing out grades after a draft is an exercise in futility, because ultimately, we have no idea how each pick is going to pan out. Ellis Lankster may end up being the best draft pick out of this class; we just don't know yet. But we do a reasonable amount of research, and far more prudently, we can grade the picks on a philosophical level - so grades aren't completely irrelevant. Here's how we grade the Buffalo Bills' 2009 NFL Draft efforts - factoring in player, philosophy and using those to form an ultimate grade.

1-11: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State
Entering draft weekend - and throughout the entire pre-draft process, really - I worried that the Bills would pass on a speed rusher for a more well-rounded, every-down defensive end. That's the type of athlete they've targeted in the past, and I didn't expect it to change. I'm happy to report I was wrong. On paper, Buffalo has its most explosive pass rusher since Bryce Paup.

What makes this pick better is the fact that they took the right player. No DE displayed a quicker first step in college or at the Combine than Maybin. I had him rated as the top DE on the board the moment he declared for the draft, and the Bills clearly followed suit, if only at the most critical juncture. I think he's the best pass rusher in the draft. The Bills, too, think he's the best pass rusher in the draft, and his upside is tremendous. There is risk here, and he won't play every down, but this is still a perfect fit. Philosophy grade: A; Player grade: A-

1-28: Eric Wood, OG, Louisville
Considering the fact that Buffalo went into the draft with only three set starters on the offensive line, this pick made a ton of sense both philosophically and player-wise. Wood was Buffalo's top-rated interior lineman, and he was close to the top on my board as well. He was one of four or five guys that I viewed as immediate starters at this level, and it was plainly obvious that the Bills needed one of those. They may have had to reach a touch to get him, but blame the Cleveland Browns for that - they took California C Alex Mack at No. 21 overall. Buffalo couldn't wait on Wood once that happened, so they're not docked as many points overall. Philosophy grade: A-; Player grade: B+

2-42: Jairus Byrd, FS, Oregon
My eyebrows raised a bit on this one, as I'm certain yours did as well. It was pretty apparent, however, that the Bills were going to add a DB early on in the draft process, and it was nice to see them target a safety prospect with ball skills. Byrd's ball-hawking tendencies alone make him a smart investment, but like Maybin, he's probably not an immediate starter. I like the fact that they targeted a playmaker here; I do believe there were some better safety prospects available, but I'm not complaining about the Byrd selection in the least. Philosophy grade: B; Player grade: B-

2-51: Andy Levitre, OG, Oregon State
Remember when I said that I thought four to five interior linemen in this draft class could start right away? Levitre was one of them. He was also the third-rated interior line prospect on Buffalo's board (behind Wood and Seahawks C Max Unger), and at this point in the draft, he was another supremely intelligent investment. Don't be concerned with the college tackle's position switch - Levitre was born to play guard. He's a Wood clone. With this pick and the subsequent shift of Brad Butler to RT, Buffalo had quickly re-assembled its offensive line after the trade of OT Jason Peters a week prior to the draft. Philosophy grade: A; Player grade: B

4-121: Shawn Nelson, TE, Southern Miss
I'll say it now, folks - Shawn Nelson is the steal of the 2009 Draft. Name any other pick by any other team that you think is a steal, and I'll tell you why Nelson is a better pick. At one point in time, Nelson was considered a fringe first-round pick. A day before the draft, most experts would have told you he'd be a second-round pick; third at the worst. This kid is tall, super fast and athletic, and outside of Bengals TE Chase Coffman has the best set of hands on any receiving prospect in this draft class. Buffalo actually considered trading up on day two for this guy. His athleticism, ability to stretch the field, and run-after-catch abilities are going to be an excellent help for QB Trent Edwards - who got a lot of help in this year's draft, by the way. Philosophy grade: A-; Player grade: A-

5-147: Nic Harris, OLB, Oklahoma
I have no issues with Buffalo taking a productive, athletic collegian and asking him to make a position switch. Harris will be able to handle it. We've crossed the threshold from instant impact to depth here, though; Harris will make the team and contribute as a special teams player (where he actually has a good deal of potential), but he's not an answer to the team's question at starting SAM linebacker. Philosophy grade: B; Player grade: C+

6-183: Cary Harris, DB, USC
You knew that Buffalo would take a pure corner at some point, and Harris was actually one of the late-round sleepers I'd circled because of his physicality and zone-based skill set. He has the potential to start in this league, folks. He'll never be a spectacular player or a Pro Bowl performer, nor will he make many big plays, but he's smart, tough, defends the run well, and will hold his own. He can also play some safety if need be, and of course, he'll play special teams. Philosophy grade: B-; Player grade: C+

7-220: Ellis Lankster, DB, West Virginia
Was I surprised that the Bills ended the draft by taking two defensive backs? Not really. Lankster is a fringe prospect, but he has a bit of playmaking potential and, like Harris, has a zone-based skill set. I'll defer to the Bills on this one - they've drafted relatively well in the late rounds over the past three years. It would have been nice if they'd had a player at a different position graded out as highly as another DB, however. Philosophy grade: C+; Player grade: D

Total (weighted) philosophical grade: B+
Total (weighted) player grade: B
Overall 2009 Buffalo Bills Draft Grade: B+

2009 NFL Draft: Buffalo Bills Pick Recap

Brian Galliford — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:33:19 -0000

More photos » by Charlie Neibergall - AP

Buffalo Bills DE Aaron Maybin, the team's first first-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

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The 2009 NFL Draft is officially in the books!

Entering the weekend, the Buffalo Bills had three areas that needed immediate attention: their woeful pass rush; their porous offensive line; and a defensive playmaker. The Bills addressed those needs on day one, and coupled with one tremendous value selection on day two, the Bills made out like bandits this draft weekend - whether you're a fan of their late-round picks or not.

Without further ado, here are your eight newest Buffalo Bills...

1-11: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State (Coverage)
We asked for a speed rusher and the Bills obliged. Maybin, by a country mile, is Buffalo's most athletic pass rushing threat since the days of Bryce Paup. He is undoubtedly a gamble, and won't be an every-down player right out of the gate. But with quarterbacks Tom Brady, Chad Pennington and now Mark Sanchez in the division, the Bills needed a guy to put heat on those signal-callers. This is a smart risk for the Bills to take - and Maybin's potential is elite.

1-28: Eric Wood, OG, Louisville (Coverage)
They tried to move up for TE Brandon Pettigrew but weren't prepared to pay out the nose to do it. Instead, they stay put and take a smart, athletic, tough-nosed kid who steps in and immediately fills the right guard position vacated by Brad Butler, who will move to right tackle.

2-42: Jairus Byrd, FS, Oregon (Coverage)
Buffalo went into the draft keenly aware that they needed a playmaker defensively, and particularly at the safety position. This is a risky pick in that they're asking Byrd to make a position switch, but he enters Buffalo as the best DB on the team in terms of pure ball skills. Ko Simpson, beware: you are officially on the roster bubble.

2-51: Andy Levitre, OG, Oregon State (Coverage)
Buffalo traded third- and fourth-round picks to move back into the second round and draft another instant starter in the versatile Levitre. He is a Wood clone - tough, smart, and durable. He has the inside track at starting immediately at left guard; the Bills will move Brad Butler to right tackle and flip Langston Walker to left tackle to replace the departed Jason Peters. And just like that, Buffalo's in-flux offensive line is once again settled - and perhaps better.

4-121: Shawn Nelson, TE, Southern Miss (Coverage)
This was by leaps and bounds Buffalo's best selection, if you're asking me. Nelson is one of the finer athletes available at any position in this draft class, and he's also got an incredibly soft pair of hands. He's an immediate upgrade at the tight end position and complements Derek Fine and Derek Schouman perfectly. Even better - unlike some of his "receiving TE" counterparts, he's got upside as a blocker. Buffalo now has themselves a legitimate tight end threat for the first time since Jay Riemersma ran routes at The Ralph, though whether or not he'll contribute as a rookie is another question.

5-147: Nic Harris, OLB, Oklahoma (Coverage)
He played safety in college, but the Bills will move the 230-pound athlete to outside linebacker. This is where Buffalo's draft class crossed the realm from "contributor" to "depth", but Harris was very productive at a high-quality program. He's worth a shot, and he'll compete directly with Keith Ellison for a future roster spot.

6-183: Cary Harris, CB, USC (Coverage)
Zone-based, physical cornerback that provides depth and special teams potential. May have a tough time making the roster considering Buffalo's envious depth in the defensive backfield, particularly at cornerback.

7-220: Ellis Lankster, CB, West Virginia (Coverage)
... Zone-based, physical cornerback that provides depth and special teams potential. May have a tough time making the roster considering Buffalo's envious depth in the defensive backfield, particularly at cornerback.

That's it, folks. Draft weekend at Buffalo Rumblings has officially concluded. Thanks for dropping by this weekend; I know that personally, I had a blast hanging with y'all. Cheers!

Poll

Do you approve of the Buffalo Bills' efforts in drafting eight players in the 2009 NFL Draft?

Yes

1064 votes

No

131 votes

Undecided

159 votes

1354 votes | Poll has closed

Morning Quack Fix 4.26.09 - Weekend Edition

dvieira — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:00:13 -0000

Lots of big happenings going on this weekend with Oregon ties. Let's get started. Also, feel free to jump in with additional notes in the thread about the ongoing NFL draft. With 3 Ducks going in the 2nd round, there are a couple of other names out there that may go. 3 Ducks in the Top 50 of the draft has never happened before. USC had the most picks of the Pac-10 with 4 going in the top 50. Oregon was second with 3. Arizona and California each had one. Oregon State's Andy Levitre barely missed the Top 50, getting drafted at 51. Everyone else had bupkiss.

As mentioned in the outset, Patrick Chung goes 34th to New England, Jairus Byrd goes 42nd to Buffalo and Max Unger goes 49th to Seattle. Byrd will get to swap Civil War stories with Oregon State's Andy Levitre who was picked 51st by Buffalo. The reaction coming from Buffalo Rumblings, an SB Nation Blog, is less than flattering about the Byrd pickup.
Baseball has lost 5 straight after losing 2-0 to the Huskies. I think we can say that the team has finally come back to earth after the lofty expectations at the beginning of the year. Oregon is in 9th place in the Pac-10 and you can't argue with that. The Ducks are beating most people's expectations since they were picked dead last to start the season. The series with Arizona to end the season may very well be for last place in the Pac-10.
The defense is looking good for the football team in the latest scrimmage. Chip Kelly also invokes his Major League Baseball trivia comparing the team's performance to a Pedro Martinez outing.
From Rob Moseley's Twitter feed, Got an email alert at 12:22 a.m. saying that Cliff Harris "has been released from the Fresno County Sheriff's Department as of 04/25/2009." Also to note, the charges against him have been reduced to a misdemeanor charge of obstructing a public official.
Academic honors for Nick Reed by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.
Cal beat up on two of our teams. The Bears defeated the Softball Ducks 7-2. They also squashed a comeback bid by Women's Lacrosse, winning the semifinal game in the MPSF Tournament 10-9.
The Women's 4x400 meter relay team broke a 25-year-old meet record at the Oregon Relays meet. That mark was one of 17 NCAA Regional-qualifying marks the Ducks had on the day.

Check out the ATQ Facebook page and become a fan today! Also don't forget the Addicted to Quack Twitter Feed with all kinds of juicy tidbits. With the Spring Game looming, come on out and meet your fellow ATQ'ers. Stop by dvieira's car and say hi for some nice BBQ and conversation.

[UPDATE]: I'm not sure if I was drunk when I wrote this but I've fixed the title to reflect the accurate date. We have now moved "Back to the Future" - dvieira

2009 NFL Draft at Rumblings: Bills Day One Recap

Brian Galliford — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 02:34:03 -0000

More photos » by Darron Cummings - AP

Louisville G/C Eric Wood, pictured above, runs a 40-yard dash at the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Wood was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

Browse more photos »

Day one of the 2009 NFL Draft featured a dozen trades and plenty of surprises - including several eyebrow-raisers made by your Buffalo Bills. In the end, four players are now the newest members of the Buffalo Bills: DE Aaron Maybin, OG Eric Wood, DB Jairus Byrd and OG Andy Levitre.

Obviously, a lot went on today - and if any Bills fan tells you that they saw this result coming, laugh loudly in their face, folks. We'll break down everything that we know happened today below - and then turn it over to you guys for your thoughts on day one, our new players, and of course, a day one grade.

1-11: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State (Coverage)
We knew going in that Alabama OT Andre Smith sat at the top of Buffalo's board. I got a phone call early this afternoon, however, that I didn't expect - I was informed earlier today that if Smith wasn't available (and he wasn't, going No. 6 overall to Cincinnati), that Maybin would be the pick for the Bills.

Here's the scoop - the Bills liked Tennessee's Robert Ayers (who eventually became a Denver Bronco). But they realized he wasn't a playmaker. They needed a defensive playmaker more than any other position in this draft, and they think they have that player in the speedy, athletic and long Maybin. They are certainly taking a risk with this pick - but it's a risk worth taking for a franchise that hasn't been to the playoffs in nearly a decade. He'll be counted on as a situational pass-rusher as a rookie - and the team was keenly aware that their woeful pass rush needed to be addressed first and foremost.

SB Nation had representatives at Radio City Music Hall today covering the draft as credentialed NFL media. I was sent this statement from JasonB, who was on a call with Maybin. This was Maybin's reaction after the Bills made him their top selection...

Just very overwhelmed. I'm very happy to just be able to have a chance to play in such a great city for such an amazing franchise. It's a great opportunity for me and I'm coming into a situation where I'm going to get a chance to play with some Penn State guys out there. They've got Paul Posluszny and Bryan Scott on the team right now. I'm really anxious to just get out there and just to start putting in work, just to start building the foundation out there for myself.

Trying to trade back up...
From this point, the Bills got on the phone and tried to move up to select Oklahoma State TE Brandon Pettigrew. The consensus top TE in the draft went a bit earlier than anticipated, however, when the Detroit Lions took him at No. 20 overall. USC LB Clay Matthews III nearly fell to them at No. 28, but the Packers traded up to No. 26 to steal him (and I don't think they tried to trade up, preferring to keep their picks after Pettigrew was selected). When those two guys were gone, the Bills stuck to their board and took a guy they didn't think would fall to them at No. 42 in the second round...

1-28: Eric Wood, G/C, Louisville (Coverage)
Simply put, the Bills were focused on adding a quality interior lineman today (a point that they would emphatically underscore later in the second round). Wood was their highest-rated interior lineman; they view him as an immediate starter at guard. I am speculating that he'll play left guard, but based on the Bills' fourth (yes, fourth) pick of the day, that might change. But Wood will play guard in Buffalo, and he will very likely start right away.

With no prospects to trade up for at that point and seven more picks, the Bills chose to stay put... for a while. Head on in beyond the jump to see how the second round unfolded for Buffalo.

2-42: Jairus Byrd, DB, Oregon (Coverage)
I don't think I've ever seen a Bills draft pick as immediately despised as this selection of Byrd. DB was clearly a spot that was going to be addressed, as three cornerbacks and five safeties are within the final two years of their respective contracts in Buffalo. As mentioned ad nauseam, the Bills were also focused on adding playmakers defensively - and Byrd is decidedly that, having picked off 17 passes in just three seasons at Oregon.

Byrd tested poorly in pre-draft workouts, running a 4.68-second 40, but he's a good athlete with great instincts that fits well in a zone scheme. He has the ability to play either corner or free safety, and might get a look at both spots in Buffalo. He also averaged 12.3 yards per punt return in his career at Oregon. This pick may have been completely left-field and certainly not a need-centric selection, but there is undeniably some value here. Still... it was a weird pick. We'll admit it.

At that point, the Bills had exercised all of their day one picks. Then, one trade later, they hadn't.

Bills trade up with Dallas
In a very surprising move, the Bills sent their third-round pick (No. 75 overall) and their first fourth-round pick (No. 110) to the Dallas Cowboys for the No. 51 overall pick. The trade gave the Bills four first-day picks, but it also takes them completely out of the third round.

The Bills currently have four picks tomorrow: Round 4 (No. 121), Round 5 (No. 147), Round 6 (No. 183) and Round 7 (No. 220). Who'd they move up for?

2-51: Andy Levitre, OG, Oregon State (Coverage)
A college left tackle, Levitre is widely considered to be a guard prospect at the NFL level - and, ironically, Levitre was second to Wood on the Bills' board of interior offensive linemen.

Levitre is a versatile player that can play four spots on the line. He is similar to Wood in many respects, including demeanor, athleticism and intelligence. He'll make a very good pro, and the fact that the Bills focused so heavily on their lines on day one (three picks) is an encouraging sign. But the Levitre selection absolutely creates some question marks surrounding the Bills' re-tooled offensive line.

LT: Langston Walker has the early edge at this position as the most experienced OT on the roster.
LG: I had penciled Wood in here, but it could easily be Levitre or even current RG Brad Butler at this position.
C: This one's settled - Geoff Hangartner will be the Bills' starting center.
RG: Butler is here for now, but having played OT in college, there's a chance they could move him to RT. If that's the case, Wood and Levitre become contenders here.
RT: Kirk Chambers will likely open camp as the starter here, but Demetrius Bell and perhaps even Brad Butler (depending on the speed of assimilation from our two new guards) could challenge.

A lot is changing on the line, clearly, but there's certainly no shortage of quality depth at this point. There are options - and with only two spots locked down (Walker and Hangartner), there will be some interesting decisions to make. If you're asking me now, the line will look like this:

L. Walker - E. Wood - G. Hangartner - A. Levitre - B. Butler
K. Chambers - D. Bell - S. McKinney

That does it for Buffalo Rumblings' coverage of day one of the NFL Draft. It was a surprising day, but I had fun chilling with y'all. Thanks for making Rumblings your one-stop shop for NFL Draft and Buffalo Bills news. We hope to see y'all tomorrow!

Poll

How satisfied are you with the Bills' day one haul of DE Aaron Maybin, OG Eric Wood, DB Jairus Byrd and OG Andy Levitre?

Very satisfied

435 votes

Somewhat satisfied

804 votes

Somewhat dissatisfied

244 votes

Very dissatisfied

140 votes

Completely and utterly neutral

36 votes

1659 votes | Poll has closed

Bills trade back into second round, select OG Andy Levitre

Brian Galliford — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:02:41 -0000

New Buffalo Bills OG Andy Levitre (photo source)

The Buffalo Bills, in their most shocking move of the day, have traded back into the second round to select Oregon State OG Andy Levitre.

The Bills sent their third-round pick (No. 75 overall) and their first fourth-round pick (No. 110 overall) to the Dallas Cowboys for the No. 51 overall selection, which they used to add the versatile Levitre.

Levitre is the second interior lineman selected by the Bills on the day, joining Louisville C/G Eric Wood, the team's No. 28 overall pick in the first round. Though he played left tackle at Oregon State, NFL scouts don't believe he can play the position in the pros, lacking the arm length and overall frame (6'3", 305 pounds) to adequately protect the edge.

Oddly enough, the Bills emerge from the first day of the draft with the top two interior linemen on their board in Levitre and the aforementioned Wood. Feel free to speculate on how Levitre fits into the picture - does Brad Butler move to RT? Is Levitre simply a backup? The comments section is yours. We're pretty sure Buffalo is done for the day.

Poll

Are you pleased with the pick of new Buffalo Bills OG Andy Levitre in the second round?

Yes

834 votes

No

263 votes

1097 votes | Poll has closed

Theorizing the Buffalo Bills' NFL Draft plan

Brian Galliford — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:00:13 -0000

More photos » by MARK J. TERRILL - AP

USC outside linebacker Clay Matthews III is a likely first-round target of the Buffalo Bills. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

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We are now officially 26 hours away from the start of the 2009 NFL Draft. The time has arrived where Buffalo Bills fans (as well as NFL fans in general) cross the realm from mock draft land to the land of rumors and speculation. We're happy to add a little bit of both to your Bills thoughts and discussions this afternoon.

Throughout the pre-draft process, we have closely monitored the rises and falls of draft prospects' stock as well as been the beneficiary of some (incomplete) legitimate first-hand information. From there, we have boiled it down into a simple pre-draft post for y'all to ponder this afternoon. There is a degree of truth to the post - but please don't take it to be anything more than that. This is a theory post - not a law post. We believe thoroughly that what we type below can, and probably will, change in an instant when the draft begins tomorrow afternoon.

High-Priority Round One Targets
Through various discussions that we've had over the past several weeks, we believe that we can identify four targets that the Buffalo Bills will focus on in the first round. We know that the Bills like all of these players, but that's where the knowledge ends and speculation begins. We have no idea where these players fit on the draft board or how they figure into the plans, but you can rest assured that the Bills are interested in the following four names (listed in our believed order of preference, though clearly we don't have - and wouldn't want - a means to confirm this):

Andre Smith, OT, Alabama. The massive 340-pound Jason Peters clone is one of the hottest names in the draft right now despite a rocky pre-draft process and lingering questions about his maturity. He could go as high as No. 4 overall to Seattle, but rest assured he wouldn't slip past the Bills at No. 11. (And no, we don't think Buffalo is serious about trading up for him.)

Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State. We have spoken at length about the Bills' preference for finding immediate, well-rounded contributors at the top of the draft. The Bills lost a degree of physicality in their run blocking department when Peters was traded. Pettigrew would instantly restore that as well as give Trent Edwards a solid short-area and red zone target. There isn't a more NFL-ready player in this draft class.

Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee. Mike Mayock's favorite defensive prospect is flying up draft boards thanks to an impressive pre-draft process and a terribly weak natural 4-3 defensive end class. He's not a guy that will immediately solve Buffalo's pass rushing woes, but he can play immediately on any down, has a lot of natural ability, and can be a major player in Buffalo's DE rotation.

Clay Matthews III, OLB, USC. Put all thoughts of Brian Cushing out of your head, folks - the Bills (and many other NFL teams) see Matthews as the best of the LB bunch from USC with the most upside. Matthews is an elite blitzing prospect, having played the elephant (rush linebacker) position as a Trojan, but he's got the athletic chops to man virtually any linebacker position imaginable. Buffalo will do its absolute best to not enter 2009 with Keith Ellison as a starting linebacker. Matthews would help them accomplish that.

We've heard the rumors that the Bills are exploring a trade up to land Alabama's Smith, but we're not buying it - even if we do know that Smith tops the Bills' board at OT by a considerable margin. The Bills have too many holes. Far more importantly, this team's front office and coaching staff - particularly head coach Dick Jauron - has too much invested in this draft class to throw half of it away for one player. They are in win now mode, and trading picks for one guy doesn't help the team plug holes. If anything, we believe the team would prefer to trade down. It's likely that the Bills have discussed (and will continue to discuss) moving up, but we see it as a due diligence matter that won't get any further than the exploratory stages. (Feel free to speculate on if that theory is shot when/if Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry begins to slide.)

If you're asking me now (or any time within the past two weeks), I think the Bills would ideally like to find a way to get two of these players onto its roster. With two first-round picks and nine in total, they have the ammo to shift themselves into better position in the first round to get that done. We're not making any promises, but given Smith's popularity at the moment, we think that the team will be aggressive in nabbing two of Pettigrew, Ayers and Matthews tomorrow afternoon.

What if that doesn't work? Good question - and it's actually one that we're not too thrilled to ponder. Head on in past the jump to peruse five names that we think the Bills might focus on if they can't land two of the names listed above.

Be prepared to pinch your nose, because we're guessing that the notion of taking any of these guys at No. 28 wouldn't thrill most of you. We're not jumping for joy at the thought, either, and we're guessing the Bills themselves will do their best to avoid it. The Bills will likely focus on two things if they can't get two of their (as we see it) top four targets: offensive line help and defensive playmaking - position be damned.

That's why I think these five guys become priorities if two of the four names mentioned aren't Bills by pick No. 28. Yes - this is ALL speculation on my part, and shouldn't be taken as anything more.

Eben Britton, OT, Arizona. He visited Buffalo on a pre-draft visit, so we at least know the Bills are curious. Britton is one of the most boring prospects you'll ever encounter - nothing about his game is exciting, and he doesn't have one trait that blows you out of the water. He will likely be a liability as a rookie when it comes to pass protection, which means he'll play RT in his first season. But he's a solid athlete that competes, finishes and plays the game intelligently. If the Bills are serious about moving Langston Walker to the left side, Britton would be a safe investment with the potential for a long, stellar career.

Andy Levitre, OG, Oregon State. I don't think it's a lock at all that the Bills target OT with either of their first round picks (unless, obviously, Smith is available). Britton will be considered, but I think it's far more likely that the Bills look at an interior lineman like Levitre. A left tackle in college, Levitre lacks the measurables to play outside in the NFL - but he's got loads of potential as a guard. He plays mean, finishes blocks and has good hands and feet. He's a little rough around the edges, but he's an immediate starter, unlike Britton. That in itself leads me to believe he'd be the top offensive lineman on Buffalo's list at the end of round one and into round two.

Max Unger, G/C, Oregon. Here's another non-flashy player with traits similar to Levitre - positional versatility, intelligence, and a bit of a mean streak. The interior line has always been an area where the Bills look for players that can play multiple positions. Unger is exactly that player, having played LT and C in college. He's another immediate starter.

Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest. We told you it wasn't ideal. We also told you that defensive playmaking was a priority - and Smith is certainly that, having amassed 21 career interceptions at Wake, including 15 in his final two seasons. He's small (5'9", 193 pounds), but size has never stopped the Bills from taking a DB. Smith is aggressive, physical for his size, and possessor of the best ball skills amongst the DB class this year. I think he could beat out Drayton Florence for the nickel corner role right out of the gate - and he offers a bit of return upside as well. CB is obviously not a need, but position won't prohibit the Bills from drafting the best, most impactful players they can find. It's obvious they'd like to avoid it - but as Smith visited Buffalo in March, they clearly like him as a prospect.

Louis Delmas, SS, Western Michigan. I'm very confident that the Bills will take a corner at some point considering the fact that three of their corners (Terrence McGee, Ashton Youboty, Florence) all have contracts expiring within the next two seasons. The same is true at safety, where all five of the team's current players are in the tail ends of their respective deals as well. Delmas is the most complete safety in this class - physical with good range; solid against both the run and the pass; productive, experienced and a leader. In short, he's everything the Bills look for - and he'd likely beat out Bryan Scott for the starting strong safety role by mid-season. Again, it's obviously not ideal from any angle, but production is production - and the Bills could consider this kid if the worst comes to fruition.

That's all we've got. We're speculated out. Consider this your open thread for Draft Eve; we'll hit you back tomorrow morning with our final, very trade-happy first-round mock draft, and then official NFL Draft proceedings begin tomorrow at noon eastern. Hang tight, Bills fans - we're almost there!

Rumblings Authors Mock, V2.0 - Galliford's Take

Brian Galliford — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:15:08 -0000

DE Ayers a likely Round 1 target (photo source)

The 2009 NFL Draft is one week from tomorrow, Buffalo Bills fans! With that glorious fact in mind, (most of) the editorial staff at Buffalo Rumblings will be bringing you our final versions of our seven-round team mock drafts over the next week. Predicting the NFL Draft is impossible even without a contract squabble hanging over your heads; we're toughing it out. Over the next seven days, you'll have at least one mock from a Rumblings author - but don't worry. We'll have plenty of draft coverage to supplement the mocks as well, including the reveal of the Buffalo Rumblings 2009 NFL Draft Big Board.

Since I run the show (toot!), I'm starting the Authors Mock series off today. Each author was given free license to do the mock however they saw fit; in my case, I've done two - one with trades of Jason Peters and Roscoe Parrish included, and one without. This is going to be long, so bear with me.

MOCK ONE: NO TRADES

We'll get the "boring" mock out of the way first. This is how I believe the draft might unfold for the Bills - not "what I would do," but "what I think the Bills will do." I don't do mock drafts for personal satisfaction or to promote my own beliefs on prospects. This is how I see the Bills making decisions on draft day. (And I feel extremely comfortable predicting that much can and will change over the next week, so don't take this as canon.)

Round 1, Pick 11: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
You probably saw this pick coming based on writings over the past week or two. Ayers has soared up draft boards at the right time and is now a lock to be taken in the first round. Ayers will be at, or at a bare minimum near, the top of the Bills' board. I did not project a Peters trade in this mock, but that doesn't mean he's signed; if that's the case and Alabama OT Andre Smith were available, the Bills would undoubtedly seriously consider him, if not pick him. I expect that TE Brandon Pettigrew and LB Clay Matthews will be in the conversations as well, but Ayers seems like the probable choice at this point.

2-42: Andy Levitre, OG, Oregon State
No matter what, the Bills are still in need of a new starting guard. I've been touting Oregon's Max Unger for a while as a possibility, but call this one the first of many gut feelings I'm about to have - I think Levitre will be their pick in round two. The college left tackle is far better suited to play guard at the NFL level, and some scouts think he can play center as well. That versatility is Unger's major selling point, but Levitre might have just as much of it - in a tougher, nastier package. He should start immediately at either left or right guard.

3-75: Gerald Cadogan, OT, Penn State
Again, I re-iterate: Peters is not traded in this scenario, but he's not signed, either. That's the worst-case scenario for Buffalo, so they will need to hedge their bets with a high-upside OT prospect in the early rounds that can start in a pinch. Cadogan is that type of player - not an immediate starter, but a possessor of very solid potential. He would compete with Kirk Chambers for the starting LT position while Peters sat at home hoping the team will pay him. (And again, I feel I should mention that this is the worst-case scenario for Buffalo. I don't expect this to happen unless things go very badly on draft day.)

4-110: Gerald McRath, LB, Southern Miss
It's always difficult to predict what type of linebacker the Bills will pursue - will they take the big-bodied, downhill run defenders or the light-footed, undersized pass defenders? In McRath, they get a little of both - he's a middle linebacker by trade with the athletic chops to man the weak side in a 4-3 scheme. He's been over-hyped a bit in terms of draft status, and it's not a lock that he would be available this late (though he certainly could be). I think he'd be a good fit as a SAM linebacker in Buffalo, though he's not by any means an immediate starter.

5-147: Corvey Irvin, DT, Georgia
Buffalo had Irvin in for a pre-draft visit - which doesn't mean a lot, but it doesn't mean nothing, either. At this point in the draft, he would represent solid value - and the team would like to add some competition to kick John McCargo into gear (though that's clearly not a high priority). Irvin is an underrated athlete that's quick in the short area. He can cause some problems as a penetrator. The Bills should seriously consider investing in the long-term future of the DT position with Marcus Stroud on the wrong side of 30, but if they do, it likely won't be too early in the draft.

6-183: John Phillips, TE, Virginia
This is the type of tight end pick that Bills fans would immediately despise. See why it makes sense? Phillips is the type of TE that the team has traditionally preferred - gritty, solid athletically and a good blocker. He would add to the competition at the position, and he and Derek Fine could actually make a pretty solid (if extremely underwhelming) 1-2 punch at the position.

7-220: Greg Toler, CB, St. Paul's
The Bills like their "random DB" picks, and always have. No one had heard of Northwestern State's Terrence McGee in 2003. Nor had anyone a clue about Akron's Reggie Corner last year. Toler is a popular sleeper pick out of St. Paul's, a school that has never had a player drafted into the NFL. Sounds like a perfect opportunity for the Bills - but Toler's got some solid upside.

There. Boring stuff is out of the way. In my second mock - which appears after the jump - the Bills are getting three extra picks through two trades, and it's shaking up the way they're going about adding players to the roster. Check it out!

MOCK TWO: PETERS, PARRISH TRADED

Before we get into the picks (patience, padawans!), we have to go over the trades involved in this mock.

Peters to Philadelphia: I still believe that the Bills will be able to squeeze a first-round pick out of a team the closer they get to draft day. The Eagles are obviously interested. (But are they more interested in Anquan Boldin?) I have the Bills shipping Peters to Philadelphia for two picks - their second first-rounder, No. 28 overall, and the first of their four fifth-rounders, No. 141 overall. It's time to lay the "first and a third for Peters" dream to rest - the Bills will likely be willing to accept (far?) less than that to get the situation resolved. With the Eagles possessing twelve picks, this is a fair trade in that they pick up Peters while retaining their high first-round pick as well as at least one selection in every round.

Parrish to Tennessee: Buffalo is reportedly seeking a fourth-round pick for Parrish - which isn't an awful lot value-wise to a team as good as the Tennessee Titans. Last year's best regular season team holds ten draft picks - and they're hurting for both a return man (Chris Carr left via free agency for Baltimore) and receiver depth. Parrish has a chance to help them tremendously - can you imagine having to deal with the type of speed that offensive skill players like Parrish and RB Chris Johnson possess? Therefore, I have the Bills shipping Parrish to the Titans for their fourth-round pick, No. 130 overall.

There we go. Peters and Parrish are gone for a first, a fourth, and a fifth. Onto the picks...

1-11: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
Surprise! Peters is gone, and the Bills aren't taking an offensive tackle?! It's not the lock that most Bills fans seem to think it would be. There is very little chance that the team could seriously contend for top tackle prospects Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe. That leaves Andre Smith and Michael Oher. The team would obviously prefer Smith, but I sincerely doubt that he makes it out of the top ten. I mentioned in the "boring" mock that I thought Ayers would beat out Pettigrew and Matthews for the pick; Oher is now necessarily a part of the conversation because of the Peters trade, but I still think Ayers beats Oher out. Just a gut feeling. The margin between Ayers and Pettigrew/Matthews is much wider than between Ayers/Oher, based on need alone. I still think Ayers is the pick.

1-28: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
It's fairly obvious that the Bills love Pettigrew. Obviously, OT is still a need, but it's incredibly unlikely that Oher or even the overrated Eben Britton drop this far into round one. The team could reach for UConn's William Beatty, but far more likely, they'd take a guy they like. I firmly believe that if the Bills are able to pick up an extra first-round pick by dealing Peters, Pettigrew will be the target. There's a chance that Pettigrew could slide, but it's also possible (and more likely) that the Bills could swap a pick or two to move back up a few slots and nab Pettigrew. If they were to emerge from round one with Ayers and Pettigrew in tow, even with a hole at LT remaining, I believe the Bills' brass would be ecstatic (and most of the fan base would have fists through monitors).

2-42: Gerald Cadogan, OT, Penn State
Ladies and gentlemen, your new starting left tackle... at some point. OT is such a critical need at this point that I think the Bills would reach for any guy that they believe has good upside. I wanted to pencil Beatty in here, but I don't think he lasts all the way to No. 42. Again, Cadogan would enter the mix with Kirk Chambers and Demetrius Bell - and Bills fans would worry about the LT position for all eternity. (So would the Bills, in all likelihood.)

3-75: Tyrone McKenzie, LB, South Florida
Linebackers typically fall on draft days - which is exactly why I don't see the Bills addressing the position earlier than this spot, and which is exactly why I'm hoping McKenzie lasts this long into the third round. I love this kid - he's active, athletic, and mature. I think he's an instant starter. I wouldn't be disappointed if the Bills considered him in the second round. He's not ever going to be a dominant run defender, but he's good in coverage already, plays hard, and has some solid upside.

4-110: T.J. Lang, G/T, Eastern Michigan
One of the more underrated linemen in the draft, Lang is a stocky, physical run blocker that has the potential to start very early in his career. It's tough to gauge exactly when a small-school prospect like Lang will be picked - he could go as late as the fifth round, or as high as the second, as EMU teammate DL Jason Jones did last year. Lang might start at guard as a rookie in Buffalo, and he'd be excellent value here.

4-130: Courtney Greene, SS, Rutgers
I've believed all along that the Bills would pursue an in-the-box strong safety to complement Donte Whitner's move to free safety. Greene is that type of player - big and physical. He's also a smart player and will be able to help out on special teams. He's got the career outlook of a Bryan Scott - a situational player that won't let you down, but a liability in other areas. That's about as much has they can hope for from a mid-round safety prospect. (Side note: I seriously considered Derek Pegues of Mississippi State here because of his return experience, but two separate legal issues turned me off.)

5-141: Corvey Irvin, DT, Georgia
I had him in my "boring" mock, too, six spots lower than this. See above for an explanation.

5-147: Jerraud Powers, CB, Auburn
I think the Bills will look for a sixth cornerback in this draft. They'll have an easier time getting away with it if they have extra draft picks thanks to a trade. Powers is a small player that will have to play inside as a pro, but he's a quick athlete - and with some polish, he has the potential to grow into a very solid sub-package corner and special teams player. Powers is a bit of a risk-taker, and the Bills could use some of that defensively.

6-183: Henry Melton, DE, Texas
I don't believe that the Bills are looking at this year's draft and thinking "we have to draft two defensive ends." I believe they'll take at least one, but if a player with Melton's raw potential were to be available here in the sixth, I think they'd have a hard time not pulling the trigger. Melton is a superb athletic specimen, and though he hasn't played a lot of end (he started out as a RB at Texas), he's got elite potential - and that potential alone may get him drafted higher than this. If the Bills were to enter training camp with Chris Ellis, Ayers and Melton as the "young guns" at defensive end, I'd say they have a future at the position. Melton's best fit will be as a left end in a 4-3.

7-220: Anthony Parker, OG, Tennessee
Versatile, athletic, solid line prospect that has fallen out of favor in most places because of an arrest and his limited upside. Sounds like a solid fit for the Bills as a depth player - and in the seventh round, you're not doing much better than a depth player.

So, to recap...

MOCK ONE: NO TRADES
1-11: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
2-42: Andy Levitre, OG, Oregon State
3-75: Gerald Cadogan, OT, Penn State
4-110: Gerald McRath, LB, Southern Miss
5-147: Corvey Irvin, DT, Georgia
6-183: John Phillips, TE, Virginia
7-220: Greg Toler, CB, St. Paul's

MOCK TWO: PETERS, PARRISH TRADED
1-11: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
1-28: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
2-42: Gerald Cadogan, OT, Penn State
3-75: Tyrone McKenzie, LB, South Florida
4-110: T.J. Lang, G/T, Eastern Michigan
4-130: Courtney Greene, SS, Rutgers
5-141: Corvey Irvin, DT, Georgia
5-147: Jerraud Powers, CB, Auburn
6-183: Henry Melton, DE, Texas
7-220: Anthony Parker, OG, Tennessee

I imagine that the few of you that actually read every word of this are gnashing your teeth right now. I imagine that the majority of you that skimmed just to see what the trades were and who was picked are gnashing your teeth and think I'm insane (though the first group is entitled to that opinion as well). It's up to you to decide whether or not your teeth-gnashing makes my guesses more or less accurate. Fire away.