SB Nation - John DiGiorgio

Bills looking to go light at linebacker

Brian Galliford — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:15:09 -0000

by Keith Srakocic - AP

Heading into training camp and the pre-season, the Buffalo Bills were seriously concerned about their youthful depth at the linebacker position. When the team lost backup MLB John DiGiorgio for the season, their most experienced depth player was no longer available to them. The Bills, after entertaining several veteran free agents in free agency without signing them, forged ahead towards the regular season with Pat Thomas - he of a mere 29 NFL games in four seasons - as their "veteran" depth.

Though the depth at linebacker remains a serious concern given the group's vast inexperience, there has been some surprisingly solid play out of the group.

Prior to the 2008 season, the Bills made the decision to enter the year with just six linebackers on their roster. Considering the team's depth along the defensive line, in the defensive backfield and at the skill positions offensively, the team will very likely sacrifice numbers at linebacker to keep more talented players at other positions. Six, once again, seems likely at this position. The good news: the Bills have some really solid young talent to be choosing from.

Starters set
Though many Bills fans hoped that an open competition might exist for the starting role on the strong side, Keith Ellison nailed down the starting role very early in the off-season, and has enjoyed a solid pre-season. Though he's still the linebacker that comes off the field in nickel situations - as he should be - Ellison has been stellar defending the run, filling lanes and making big hits. Once again, he is proving how underrated he is, even if he's simultaneously underwhelming.

Kawika Mitchell and Paul Posluszny were always going to be starters. These two players are the unquestioned leaders of this young, inexperienced linebacker corps; Mitchell has a Super Bowl ring to his name, and although his play has once again been streaky this pre-season, it's clear that he will once again be an asset for defensive coordinator Perry Fewell as a blitzer. Posluszny, meanwhile, has picked up right where he left off in 2008 and then some - he's still a hair late in pass coverage, but looks far more comfortable in that role. His run defense has been nothing short of impressive - more than any other player, Posluszny has found himself in opposing backfields this pre-season. He still has some ground to gain in his development, but Poz brings a physical presence to the team's run defense.

Who nabs the backup spots?
We already knew all of that about the starters, though. The intriguing question at this position is not who would start, but who would win positions as depth players. Right now, it's becoming pretty clear that Marcus Buggs, Jon Corto and rookie Nic Harris are the front-runners.

Buggs is perhaps the biggest surprise of the group; though he started the 2008 season on the active roster, he only found himself there after the Bills were forced to place Angelo Crowell on Injured Reserve. Buggs himself would end up on IR a few short weeks later, and most had written him off as a likely roster cut with the return of DiGiorgio and the signing of Thomas. But Buggs was given an opportunity to compete right away, and spent much of camp splitting second-team MLB reps with Thomas after DiGiorgio was lost. With Thomas missing three consecutive pre-season games with an ankle injury, Buggs has taken advantage of his opportunity to secure himself a job - and he had his best pre-season game to date last Saturday in Pittsburgh, finishing with 5 tackles and playing fast and physical in run support.

Jon Corto, too, started the '08 season on the active roster as a special teams ace. Corto was another Bills linebacker that eventually ended the season on IR, but he caught the eye of the coaching staff when he reported to camp this year at a svelte 220 pounds - 15 more than he weighed as a converted linebacker last season - while retaining all of the speed that made him an NFL safety prospect. Corto has not played a ton of defense this pre-season, but special teams coordinator Bobby April has used him in many different ways on special teams, including as a starting punt gunner in Pittsburgh. When a player has special teams versatility and play-making ability, and is in favor with the coaching staff, it's not likely he's going anywhere.

We have already discussed Harris' solid pre-season. As a rookie fifth-round pick, he's been a virtual lock to make the roster ever since he showed his potential in the camp setting. Though his most recent pre-season performance was his worst yet, Harris has shown solid instincts and a nose for the football - but he, too, is making the switch to linebacker from college safety, and he's got a ways to go before he challenges for a starting spot.

Bottom line at LB
The only scary part of the Bills' linebacker depth is, as we've mentioned, inexperience. It's not likely that talented players such as Thomas, second-year man Alvin Bowen and undrafted rookie free agent Ashlee Palmer will make the roster, even though all three have made their share of plays throughout camp. That says a little something about, at a minimum, the raw talent that this group possesses.

Those worried about the inexperience should be calmed a bit by the fact that the Bills will spend the majority of their time defensively in sub-packages utilizing their depth and experience in the defensive backfield. Ellison, a starter by name, may not see the field for 50 percent of the team's snaps this season. Considering that fact alone, if Posluszny and Mitchell can stay healthy (each played a full 16 games in 2008), the Bills should be in business.

Keeping Buggs, Corto and Harris (or, in reality, whatever trio ends up sticking in reserve roles) gives the team three young, active players that can contribute to the team even if they never see the field defensively. Ideally, that would be the role of each of these players, as most would be defensive liabilities this year. Young depth is a scary proposition, but talent isn't. I'm actually quite comfortable with this group heading into the regular season.

Recapping week one of Buffalo Bills training camp

Brian Galliford — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:30:09 -0000

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

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The Buffalo Bills are now nine practices deep into 2009 training camp, and after eight full days of hard work, the entire team is getting Sunday off to rest and recuperate. The pads go back on on Monday as the team prepares for its first pre-season game of the year, which takes place a week from today in the Hall of Fame Game.

A lot has happened to this point - in terms of players performing (or not), in terms of lineup surprises, and in terms of who is not in camp. We were fortunate to have representation at camp seven days, and have recaps here for those in the reviewing mood: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7. (You'll have to rely on bigger-name sources for Day 8 coverage; we'll be back camping next week.)

This post is not intended to recap every significant development; you'd be reading for the rest of the afternoon if that was the case. Instead, we'll focus on each position after the jump, giving you some of our general impressions based on what we've seen and heard, with a specific focus on the big story lines for the Bills heading into the regular season.

Quarterback. Trent Edwards is looking pretty comfortable. Not all of his throws have been pretty - defensive backs have made a lot of plays on his passes, actually - but the encouraging sign is that he's making many more big plays himself. He and Terrell Owens have quickly established a good on-field rapport, though, as with Edwards and any other player, the rest of the relationship is a work in progress. Trent's also looking more comfortable making his reads and with his footwork. Signs are encouraging. Meanwhile, steady improvement has been the name of the game for backup Ryan Fitzpatrick. He was awful when camp opened, but has leveled off to the point where we don't have to have nightmares about our backup QB situation every night.

Running Back. Marshawn Lynch looks great. He is his usual explosive (in the short area), difficult-to-tackle self. Fred Jackson has been pulling off his best Swiss Army knife impression, running the Wildcat and catching passes as a receiver in addition to his running back duties. Veteran free agent signee Dominic Rhodes is in great shape, running hard, and looks quick with the ball in his hands. He is easily the best receiver of this group; even when Lynch returns, Rhodes will get playing time.

Fullback. Nothing to see here. The position has been completely eradicated from Buffalo's offense as they transition to the no-huddle, and if Corey McIntyre wants to make the team, he'll have to do it as a specialist.

Wide Receiver. Terrell Owens has been outstanding. The man, quite simply, is a freak. His skills don't look diminished a bit, no matter what the "experts" tell you. As long as he's happy this season, the man will produce. Lee Evans is his usual self. Josh Reed is going to have a monster year, folks, provided Owens and Evans are on the field. He might lead the team in catches. Seriously. Before injuring his ribs, Steve Johnson was off to a great start as well. He's got a bright future. Roscoe Parrish has been running the Wildcat in an effort to find ways to get the ball in his hands offensively. One young receiver has been impressing as well - Shaine Smith might be just a street free agent, but he's been making plays, and is very long and athletic. Keep your eye on him.

Tight End. Derek Schouman currently has the inside track to start over the more talented, yet slightly less polished Derek Fine. Schouman looks quite impressive - he's a reliable short-area receiver, and his blocking has been outstanding thus far in camp. He routinely handles defensive ends with ease. Jonathan Stupar is a similar player, and he's been very solid throughout the first week as well. He might find a way to sneak onto the roster. Shawn Nelson is currently dealing with a foot injury, but his outstanding athleticism is apparent when he's on the field. He's easily got the softest pair of hands of this group, and he's a willing, yet highly unpolished blocker. His impact might not be immediate, but Nelson will be a player in this league.

Offensive Tackle. Outside of quarterback, this area has easily been the biggest worry for the fan base, but Langston Walker and Brad Butler are playing well. Butler has struggled some with bull rushes, but he's still re-learning tackle techniques, so that's to be expected. Once he fixes pad level issues, he'll be fine. These two are known commodities and play consistently, so as long as their shortcomings aren't anything more than physical - and thus far, they haven't been - the Bills should be alright offensively. Demetrius Bell has shown tremendous improvement in his second year; you're going to see him on the field a ton in the pre-season. Jonathan Scott has been solid as well, and has a shot to make the roster.

Offensive Guard. Eric Wood is a freaking monster. He's huge, athlhetic, strong, and tenacious. He's a leader. Buffalo's offensive line has been physically talented over the past few years, but there wasn't any leadership up front. Wood is that player. He might be an offensive captain next year; the kid oozes leadership. Andy Levitre has been impressive as well, though not anywhere near the level Wood has; Levitre is improving, but don't be surprised if he's beaten out for the starting left guard job by Kirk Chambers, a dependable veteran who doesn't make a lot of mistakes. Levitre has some growing up to do. Seth McKinney doesn't stand a chance to beat out Wood at right guard, but he's been solid as well, and he'll be a valuable reserve this season.

Center. Geoff Hangartner, unsurprisingly, has picked up the intricacies of Buffalo's no-huddle offense quickly. There isn't an awful lot to report here, as we've had a tough time keeping an eye on him, but no news isn't necessarily bad news. Brandon Rodd has been getting second-team reps at center; he's a big, thick kid that in all likelihood will end up back on the practice squad. He has some talent.

Defensive End. Chris Kelsay, surprisingly, has been the bright spot. Chalk it up to going up against Butler in practice if you'd like, but Kelsay has recorded numerous sacks and pressures, and his run defense has always been solid (when he's not getting faked out on a misdirection play, that is). Aaron Schobel is showing no ill effects of his Lisfranc foot injury, though he hasn't been particularly effective rushing against Walker in practice. Chris Ellis is looking great as a reserve; his upper body strength has improved tremendously, and he looks pretty quick out on the field. He might be ready to make an impact. Still, Aaron Maybin cannot get here fast enough - this is not an athletic group of people.

Defensive Tackle. Marcus Stroud is Marcus Stroud. Nothing to worry about here - the guy can play. Kyle Williams has been borderline dominant to this point; he might now take the crown as the Bills' best pure run defender. John McCargo was putting together some nice work before a hamstring injury sidelined him. This group isn't particularly deep (Spencer Johnson helps, of course), but all four of these guys can play. If there's a young player to be stashed on the practice squad for depth in the event of an injury, it's David Lindquist.

Outside Linebacker. Kawika Mitchell has looked solid on the weak side, and Keith Ellison has found himself making plays in the backfield on more than one occasion on the strong side. No one has come close to unseating Ellison for his starting job. Nic Harris has flashed some promise as a reserve, but his technique work currently leaves a lot to be desired. Alvin Bowen and Ashlee Palmer are easily the best athletes at this position; they're quite fast, and both have a chance to make the roster as reserves and specialists. Don't count out Jon Corto, either - he's revered by Bobby April, and he's not a bad linebacker, either.

Inside Linebacker. Paul Posluszny has been outstanding against the run, and he looks far more comfortable defending the pass and blitzing than he did a year ago. He's much, much less tentative. Pat Thomas and Marcus Buggs have been splitting second-team reps at the position, with Thomas looking a hair better. We're going to miss John DiGiorgio, however; he's a much more physical defender than either Thomas or Buggs.

Cornerback. Just like with any veteran, you can safely say that Terrence McGee has been his usual self. Not many big plays, but a lot of pass break-ups and few big plays given up. Leodis McKelvin, on the other hand, has been far more up-and-down, and he's spent a lot more time down than up. Owens and Evans are brutalizing this kid. Here's to hoping it doesn't ruin his confidence. On the other hand, he's also made some beautiful plays, including a couple of gorgeous interceptions. Once Leo gets himself consistent, he's going to be quite the ball player. The battle at nickel corner rages on, but only technically - Drayton Florence has distanced himself early from Reggie Corner and Ashton Youboty (and right now, we'd place Corner slightly ahead of Youboty as well, but that should change quickly once the team starts playing games). Ellis Lankster continues to surprise; he's a great athlete.

Free Safety. Donte Whitner has seen every first-team rep here, and that's not likely to change for a long, long time. Buffalo's coaching staff is very anxious to get Jairus Byrd onto the field, but as he's currently on the PUP list recovering from sports hernia surgery, the idea that he'd line up next to Whitner as a starter is borderline absurd. Ko Simpson has been dependable as the second-team safety, though his climb to a roster spot is still an uphill one. Antwain Spann, recently signed from the Patriots, will be watched with interest over the next couple of weeks - he's got some talent, but his role has yet to be clearly defined.

Strong Safety. Bryan Scott has been excellent, recording a few interceptions and taking one back for a score. He's even gotten some reps here and there at linebacker, in the event that the Bills have to deal with a bunch of injuries there. George Wilson has made some nice plays running with the twos at this position. John Wendling appears to be nothing more than a solid run defender and specialist; we still maintain that he, too, should make a move to linebacker.

Specialists. Rian Lindell is Rian Lindell. Brian Moorman is Brian Moorman - but circa a few years ago, when he was awesome, and not last year, when he was just very good. Ryan Neill and Garrison Sanborn will duke it out for the long-snapping duties, but let's be honest, we're not at camp to watch long snappers. We'll chart them both during pre-season games. One last note - Leodis McKelvin has looked absolutely fantastic returning kicks. He's in line for a possible Pro Bowl season in that department.

Bills open training camp as expected: rusty

Brian Galliford — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:06:31 -0000

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

Browse more photos »

The Buffalo Bills opened 2009 training camp with two practices, some roster moves, and a few instant talking points. Head on in past the jump to get into the discussions - and if it's pictures of camp you're looking for, click that picture of QB Trent Edwards above for a full set of AP photos from today's practices.

Before the Bills even hit the practice field on Monday, they were short three players after waiving LB John DiGiorgio (failed physical) and placing receivers James Hardy and C.J. Hawthorne on the active PUP list. Hardy and Hawthorne are eligible to return to the active roster at any point (and both are expected to be cleared to practice soon), but if DiGiorgio's Bills career is to continue, he'll have to clear waivers. Either way, he won't be playing again until 2010 after undergoing a second procedure on his surgically repaired knee.

Once the Bills hit the field, the team performed just as you'd expect a team to perform after not playing football for six weeks - they were rusty and streaky. This was particularly true at the quarterback position.

Our very own MattRichWarren was at both practices today, noting that starting QB Trent Edwards was "off" throughout the day, making some good throws but missing several receivers as well. Backups Ryan Fitzpatrick, Gibran Hamdan and Matt Baker didn't fare much better, as all four tossed interceptions on the day.

There was some good news, however - Edwards and WR Terrell Owens appeared to have a bit of chemistry, as most of Edwards' throws to Owens were for productive gains. (S Donte Whitner did intercept an Edwards pass intended for Owens, however.) The trend with training camp is that the offense usually starts out slow, particularly with a young quarterback and some new personnel. Rust was expected; it's nowhere near time to panic yet.

Keeping track of the offensive line
We'll have this little section in each practice recap that we put together; today's "installment" will be rather boring, however, as two projected starters on Buffalo's line have yet to report to camp in rookie guards Eric Wood and Andy Levitre. Kirk Chambers filled in at left guard between Langston Walker and Geoff Hangartner; the line was completed by veteran Seth McKinney at right guard and Brad Butler at right tackle. No surprises.

Four rookies still unsigned
Due to some logistical (i.e. travel) issues, rookie TE Shawn Nelson was not able to make the morning session, as he had not yet signed the contract that was finalized on Friday night. He signed today and practiced this afternoon. Buffalo's top four rookies - the aforementioned Wood and Levitre, as well as DE Aaron Maybin and S Jairus Byrd - remain unsigned. Our very own krytime spoke briefly with Byrd today, who was "bummed" about not being on the field, and hopeful something would get done soon. (Feel free to ask kry about his general impressions of Byrd in the comments section.)

Tracking positional battles
TE: Derek Schouman was the first to rotate through with the first team, but he and Derek Fine split reps pretty equally throughout the day. Schouman has a slight edge at the moment, but there's a lot of camp left, and Fine is universally considered slightly more talented.

SLB: Keith Ellison ran with the ones, and that's not likely to change any time soon. Nic Harris ran with the twos at SAM, with undrafted rookie free agent Ashlee Palmer running on the weak side. Jon Corto was the third-team SAM linebacker, with Alvin Bowen weak on the same unit. It's quickly turning into a two-horse battle between Ellison and Harris (as expected), but we don't think Ellison is going anywhere. (Keep your eyes on Palmer, too - he had a good day, as did Buffalo's linebacker unit as a whole.)

Nickel CB: Reggie Corner ran through first. Ashton Youboty ran through second. Drayton Florence got most of his reps on the outside, but that's likely to change as he gets a firmer grasp on the defense. Corner has a much better shot at holding onto this job than most give him credit for, but my money is still in Florence in the long run.

Injuries
We've mentioned Hardy and Hawthorne; DE Ryan Denney got poked in the eye, but returned quickly, and DT Marcus Stroud tweaked a hamstring, eventually getting pulled from practice. There's a good chance he'll be held out for a day or two just to make sure he's completely healthy.

Y'all can read highlights elsewhere, but honestly, don't put much stock in them. It's nice to see some defenders making plays, particularly Paul Posluszny, Donte Whitner and Leodis McKelvin. We're going to need those guys to deliver. Right now, however, if you're looking for a little optimism, the team practiced with good energy and good pacing. Steady improvement is the name of the game now.

Buffalo has two more practices tomorrow, which will bring their two-a-day sessions to an end.

Bills waive DiGiorgio after failed physical; Hardy to PUP list

Brian Galliford — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:05:12 -0000

We'd heard the rumor this morning, and now the rumor has been verified: WGR 550 is confirming (with an assist from the Bills themselves) that Buffalo Bills linebacker John DiGiorgio will miss the 2009 NFL season after being waived (failed physical).

DiGiorgio missed the majority of the 2008 season with an ACL injury. He did not participate in any of the team's spring mini-camps or OTA sessions; he has undergone a second procedure done on his knee to further repair the damage that has not healed.

Pat Thomas - a veteran free agent signed in March - will assume DiGiorgio's role as the top backup to starting middle linebacker Paul Posluszny.

In addition, wide receivers James Hardy and C.J. Hawthorne have been placed on the PUP list. Those players can be recalled to the active roster at any time; if they start the season on PUP, however, they will miss the first six weeks of the season.

2009 Bills Training Camp: Day One Open Thread

Brian Galliford — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 11:15:08 -0000

It's here, folks - the Buffalo Bills are set to take the field for their first practice of 2009 training camp in one hours' time. This is an open thread for the day's events. Our very own MattRichWarren will be attending both practices today (tweeting us updates from the stands), and we'll be (remotely, unfortunately in most cases) keeping up with the prevailing story lines of the day.

Updates will appear after the jump throughout the morning. From what we've been able to gather, the Bills will be practicing without at least their top four rookies (Aaron Maybin, Eric Wood, Jairus Byrd, Andy Levitre), and Shawn Nelson may join that group, as he has not yet actually signed the deal he agreed to yesterday.

7:15 AM: First update of the day, and it's a short one. As mentioned, Matt's on Twitter, so if you're looking for updates directly from the source, follow him there. Make sure to give Matt some love for the live-from-camp updates! We also will be able to provide you exclusive photos (again taken from the stands) thanks to the generosity of Atlanta Bills Backer (and fan of Rumblings) David Selby.

The players had a 7:00 meeting this morning, then they hit the field at 8:30 for the first of two practices.

8:49 AM: Matt's first update indicates that WR James Hardy is on the field as the Bills begin practice. The same can't be said for LB John DiGiorgio, who we're hearing may be mulling season-ending surgery on his knee.

9:33 AM: MRW reports that James Hardy did not run or stretch at the beginning of the practice; looks like his rehab continues (as expected). Rookie TE Shawn Nelson is not practicing this morning, either, despite reports that a deal is in place. He may have just had a travel issue considering how late in the day the deal was agreed upon. [Chris Brown]

9:42 AM: In seven-on-seven work, T.O. makes his first "great" catch of the season.

11:09 AM: With Andy Levitre and Eric Wood still unsigned, Kirk Chambers and Seth McKinney filled in at left and right guard, respectively.

This morning's practice was padless, and has now concluded. Next practice is this afternoon, with two more coming tomorrow (which will bring two-a-days to an end in Buffalo).

4:27 PM: Apologies, folks, for the lack of updates this afternoon. Found myself unexpectedly away from the computer. Matt has been dutifully tweeting up a storm, however, so we'll do a big summary in one afternoon update:

+ TE Shawn Nelson officially signed his contract today and hit the practice field this afternoon after missing only one practice.

+ Matt describes QB Trent Edwards as being "off" and slightly out of sync, consistently throwing poor balls to any receiver not named Owens (who he hit with a 50-yard bomb in 7-on-7 work). CB Leodis McKelvin picked off an Edwards pass, which he promptly returned for a touchdown. S Donte Whitner also intercepted an Edwards pass intended for Owens.

+ Buffalo's backup quarterbacks aren't faring much better. Matt describes Gibran Hamdan as just "bad." Ryan Fitzpatrick has been better, but MLB Paul Posluszny did have a pick-six on him in the afternoon workout.

+ The competition at tight end appears to be wide open, with both Derek Schouman and Derek Fine splitting first-team reps.

+ DT Marcus Stroud left practice "dinged", according to Matt, with what appears to be a gimpy hamstring. DE Ryan Denney was also briefly injured, but returned to action quickly.

Buffalo Rumblings' Countdown to Bills Training Camp

Brian Galliford — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:00:25 -0000

The long, winding, dreary road that is the NFL off-season officially ends tomorrow morning - and we've got our very own Buffalo Bills to thank for it. Bills players will be trickling in to St. John Fisher college all day Friday, and the team will be the first to practice as a full squad (veterans and rookies) when Bills training camp begins on Saturday morning with the first two-a-day of the year.

Drink it in, Bills fans. Football is back.

We've covered the Bills from nearly every angle imaginable this off-season. We thank you for sticking with us. We'll continue to monitor the progress of training camp once it opens tomorrow; our very own MattRichWarren will be on hand to take in practice in person (tweeting updates to us along the way), and we'll have another cool announcement regarding training camp tomorrow as well.

What should y'all be paying attention do during training camp? Most of you have your own agendas, and most Bills fans are keenly aware of the hot issues of the day surrounding the team. There are some players, coaches and positional battles, however, that are worth mentioning in our countdown to training camp. Yes, it's a literal countdown, and we'll be using it as a "viewing guide" of sorts throughout camp. It's after the jump.

5 - Five players you'll hear a LOT about
#1 - QB Trent Edwards. Every perfect throw will be revered. Every skipped pass will cause hearts to do likewise. Over-analysis will run rampant through the fan base. That's just what happens when the collective hopes of an entire city are riding on the brain and right arm of one man. No pressure, Trent.

#2 - WR Terrell Owens. If there's a Bills fan out there who has no idea who Terrell Owens is, you're welcome for listing him here.

#3 - OT Langston Walker. With Jason Peters in Philadelphia, all eyes will be on his replacement, former right tackle Walker. Is he athletic and consistent enough in effort to protect the tough-but-brittle Edwards' blind side? On a line with a lot to prove, the 6'8", 366-pound Walker will be watched the closest.

#4 - DE Aaron Schobel. Clearly Buffalo's most dominant pass rusher of this decade, Schobel returns after missing the majority of 12 games in 2008 with a serious foot injury. Schobel is terribly boring during the pre-season, as he rarely plays during games, but he'll be monitored closely at any rate, particularly if he has to miss any practice time. The eight-year veteran remains the key to not just the team's pass rush, but perhaps the entire defensive scheme as well.

#5 - DE Aaron Maybin. He's likely to miss the start of camp as the team works to get his rookie contract in order. When he does finally hit the field, there will be some excitement. The electric rookie out of Penn State is being asked to add punch to an anemic pass rush, but he's got plenty of questions of his own to answer as well.

4 - Four position battles to monitor
There aren't many positions to iron out this year in camp, but no NFL team will be without training camp competition. These are four battles to monitor throughout the pre-season.

#1 - Left Guard. Four line positions are settled - Walker is the left tackle; Brad Butler is the right tackle; Geoff Hangartner is the center; and once Eric Wood gets to camp, you can bet he'll emerge as the starting right guard. It's not a complete certainty, however, that rookie second-round pick Andy Levitre will be the left guard. Kirk Chambers and/or Seth McKinney might have something to say about that, and it seems likely that one or both will see first-team reps early in camp. If the line displays any sort of cohesiveness with Levitre running with the twos, the coaches might be tempted to let the ones remain the starters heading into the season.

#2 - Tight End. Folks will rip me for leaving rookie Shawn Nelson out of the equation, but let's face it: his role will be specialized in his first year. He's not going to be the every-down tight end. Third-year player Derek Schouman will battle second-year player Derek Fine for that honor; the early money is on Schouman, but don't be shocked if the slightly more talented Fine beats him out by the start of the season.

#3 - SAM linebacker. Widely considered to be the one position that didn't get addressed in a satisfactory way, Keith Ellison remains the incumbent starter at the position - and it's likely to stay that way. Impressive pre-season performances from either Alvin Bowen or Nic Harris, however, might be enough to bump Ellison down the depth chart. Just don't count on it.

#4 - Nickel cornerback. After the free agent departure of Jabari Greer, the Bills moved quickly to bring in veteran Drayton Florence, an accomplished nickel corner in his own right. He'll battle with Ashton Youboty - who got off to a hot start in 2008 before succumbing to injury - and upstart second-year player Reggie Corner, who is coming off of a nice spring. This is clearly the most wide-open battle of camp, as the Bills will likely let the best pre-season performer take nickel duties to start the season. It's difficult to define an early favorite here.

3 - Three important reserves to watch
#1 - QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. In each of his first two seasons, Trent Edwards has missed time due to injury. The odds that we'll see Fitzpatrick taking meaningful regular season snaps are astronomically high; it's a virtual certainty. The speed at which he absorbs Buffalo's evolving playbook is very important - as is, obviously, his overall level of play.

#2 - OT Demetrius Bell. The pressure is currently off of Bell, a second-year tackle project entering just his fifth season of organized football. His potential is enormous, but he's still reportedly quite rough around the edges. He's widely considered the team's future left tackle, and with questions remaining up front, an encouraging pre-season from Bell would be relieving - even if it doesn't result in any playing time.

#3 - LB John DiGiorgio. Buffalo's depth at linebacker is already thin, and far more importantly, it's also inexperienced. Veteran Pat Thomas was added via free agency, which helps the cause, but players like the aforementioned Bowen and Harris, as well as guys like Marcus Buggs and Jon Corto, have little to no NFL experience. DiGiorgio is coming off of a severe knee injury, and it's not certain if he'll be ready for camp. He's a dependable reserve and special teams player, and the sooner he's back in action, the better.

2 - Two positional coaches with their work cut out for them
Buffalo's coaching staff isn't terribly popular. Most will pick apart the decisions of men like Dick Jauron, Perry Fewell, Bobby April and especially Turk Schonert throughout the season. There are two positional coaches, however, working under a severe amount of pressure as well.

#1 - Sean Kugler, offensive line. Entering just his second season as the line coach (he spent 2007 under Jim McNally as an assistant), Kugler gets to oversee perhaps the most massive line overhaul in team history. There's no question that the talent level is solid and there's been a great improvement in blocking demeanor, but there will be kinks that only good, solid coaching can quickly work out.

#2 - Bob Sanders, defensive line. The pass rush has been a hot-button topic for the Bills - in a highly negative way - for at least the past two seasons. Sanders has already made waves by preaching the counter-move and bringing in outside consultants to help with hand usage, and it's no secret that his coaching style is quite different from his predecessors, Bill Kollar and Tim Krumrie. The former Packers defensive coordinator must squeeze more sack production out of his veteran ends, and rookie Maybin is entirely his responsibility as well.

1 - One goal
It's not a taboo word in Buffalo, believe it or not: playoffs. For training camp purposes, one might say "injury-free" or "steady improvement" might be the goal - and while I'd be happy to agree with you on the health part, nothing but the playoffs matters this year. Dick Jauron and the coaching staff have one (last?) shot at ending this franchise's nine-year post-season drought. The talent is undeniable; this is, without a shred of doubt, Jauron's most talented roster. Excuses are very short, for the coaching staff and for the players. This team does have the talent to compete with the big boys. Yes, a lot of questions need to be answered for that to happen. But expectations are high, and that's not unfair. This is the NFL. The playoffs are the goal every year, and the journey begins for the 2009 Buffalo Bills tomorrow morning.

2009 Schedule Preview: Week 3 @ the Buffalo Bills

Saintsational — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:00:21 -0000

The Saints follow up their game in Philadelphia with another trip to the Northeast to take on Buffalo in a week three late game. The Bills finished 2008 with a less-than-mediocre 7-9 record and hope to get over that .500 hump this season. It's been a while, four years to be precise, since these two teams last met in the regular season. The Saints have the misfortune of playing in frigid Buffalo but the fortune to have it scheduled during the mild-weather month of September when it shouldn't be an issue. Let's take a look at what fans can expect against the Saints first AFC East opponent of the year.

Bills Offense

Buffalo has had a pretty action-packed off-season this year and much of that excitement has been on the offensive side of the ball. Obviously, the signing of wide receiver Terrell Owens has contributed most to that excitement. Owens is a game changer and inevitable Hall of Famer who always seems to play well in his first year with a new team. T.O. will play opposite wideout Lee Evans, teaming up to create a formidable aerial threat. With former Tulane quarterback J.P. Losman now out of the picture, it will be the responsibility of Trent Edwards to get Evans and Owens the ball, making sure to keep the latter happy on the field. Ryan Fitzpatrick was brought in this year to provide a little competition in camp but the job is Edwards' to lose.

The other big story of the Bills off-season was the trade of offensive tackle Jason Peters to the Eagles. It is that loss of Peters as well as guard Derrick Dockery combined with a lot of other offensive line tinkering that has Bills fans worried about the state of their quarterback protection. Last years team ranked poorly in sacks per pass attempt and this year, things could get worse before they get better.

On the ground the Bills remain strong. Marshawn Lynch continues his duties as the number one back with Fred Jackson and newly acquired Dominic Rhodes taking on backup roles.

This could be a good, early test. If Gregg Williams does suceed in building that blitzing, attack-style defense we've all been promised then they should have no problem exploiting Buffalo's weak offensive line and rattling unproven quarterback Edwards. Allowing him time to throw to Owens and Evans could be damaging to our secondary. Advantage: Saints.

Bills Defense

First round draft pick Aaron Maybin has been tapped to hopefully play alongside veteran Aaron Schobel and be the defensive end of the future, adding talent and depth to a pass rush that has been lacking. Getting the most out of this unit will be a deciding factor in the overall success of the Bills defense for 2009. In the linebacking department, Keith Ellison, Pat Thomas and John DiGiorgio were all signed in the off-season with the hopes of shoring up the middle of the field and offsetting the loss of several players.

One of the bigger hits to the Bills defense this off-season was the loss of cornerback Jabari Greer to our very own New Orleans Saints. Decent against the pass last year, the Bills should still have a solid secondary with Terrence McGee, Leodis McKelvin and Drayton Florence as well as newly drafted and versatile Jairus Byrd. The secondary is rounded out by aptly named Reggie Corner.

Though the Bills may match up well against Saints receivers, their lack of a pass rush should give Brees time to find the right guy. This will also be a good game to establish a ground attack.

Bills 2008 Season

7-9 Record

Last Meeting

October 2, 2005

Week 4	1	2	3	4	OT	Final
Bills	7	0	0	0	--	7
Saints	0	13	0	6	--	19

Why the Saints Can Win

Brees should have all day to do his damage.

Why the Saints Can Lose

T.O. or Evans could have a great game.

Prediction

Saints 27 - Bills 17

Newly Acquired

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick

RB Dominic Rhodes

WR Terrell Owens

G Seth McKinney

C Geoff Hangartner

ILB Pat Thomas

CB Drayton Florence

CB Ellis Lankster

CB Cary Harris

RB Bruce Hall

LB Keith Ellison

OL Kirk Chambers

FB Corey McIntyre

CB Dustin Fox

DE Marcus Smith

LB John DiGiorgio

WR Justin Jenkins

WR Felton Higgins

OL Chris Denman

WR C.J. Hawthorne

2009 Draft Picks

DE Aaron Maybin

C Eric Wood

CB/S Jairus Byrd

G Andy Levitre

TE Shawn Nelson

SS/OLB Nic Harris

CB Cary Harris

CB Ellis Lankster

Key Losses

QB J.P. Losman

TE Robert Royal

G Derrick Dockery

G Jason Whittle

C Duke Preston

C Melvin Fowler

OLB Angelo Crowell

OLB Blake Costanzo

ILB Teddy Lehman

CB Jabari Greer

OT Jason Peters

Linkage

Buffalo Rumblings

SB Nation Bills Coverage

Saints @ Bills Coverage

Buffalo Bills Roster

Buffalo Bills Depth Chart

Buffalo Bills Transactions

Poll

Do you consider the Saints game against the Bills to be an easy victory?

Sure thing.

34 votes

There's no such thing as an easy victory.

167 votes

I do but I would never admit it.

20 votes

The Bills definitely present a challenge.

97 votes

318 votes | Poll has closed

Around The AFC East: Ranking the linebacker corps

Matty I — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:00:28 -0000

Two weeks ago, you'll remember that our weekly "Around The AFc East" feature was a ranking of the running back stables in the division. After a week off for the holiday last week, we are back this week with the ranking of each team's linebacker corps.

My rankings are below. And you can also see how the three other AFC East bloggers ranked each team's linebackers by heading over to Buffalo Rumblings, Pats Pulpit, and Gang Green Nation.

And just a quick note - I only gave consideration to linebackers who have actually played a game in the NFL. I didn't consider rookies or players who have spent their career on the practice squad only. I will admit, though, that this one was a tough ranking to create. All four teams have some solid linebackers.

MATTY'S RANKINGS OF THE AFC EAST LINEBACKER CORPS

1. New York Jets

As much as I dislike the Jets (my most hated team in the NFL), I respect how good their linebackers are. While I don't think Bart Scott is great, he is very good and will now anchor the middle of New York's defense. Along side Scott is third-year linebacker David Harris - who really impressed me in 2007 but took a step back in '08. On the edges, they have two solid pass-rushers who can get to both the quarterback and the ball carrier. Last year, Bryan Thomas and Calvin Pace combined for 12.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. But this unit does seem to lack depth. Vernon Gholston showed absolutely nothing as a rookie last year. They'll need more out of him to help that unit get over Pace's four game suspension.

2. Miami Dolphins

Some people are going to call me a homer. But the Dolphins have some very good linebackers on this team. Having the 2008 AFC sack leader, Joey Porter, instantly makes this unit worthy of being in the upper half half of the divisional rankings. His 17.5 sacks are more than the combined 2008 sack totals of the Jets' projected starting linebackers this year. But the Dolphins are much more than just Porter. Channing Crowder, despite his lack of big plays, is a solid linebacker who really stepped up last year. His 113 tackles last year is more than any other current AFC East linebacker other than Jerod Mayo. And his 3.5 tackles for loss were more than Mayo and David Harris - and just as much as Bills' LB Paul Posluszny. Matt Roth really stepped up in his first year at linebacker - doing a terrific job setting the edge and stopping the run. It got to the point where teams made it a point to run away from Roth's side when he was on the field. And Roth picked up 5 sacks and 5 tackles for loss along the way. He's only going to get better, too.

I also think the Dolphins have solid depth at linebacker. Jason Taylor is back and will be a force as a pass-rusher. He's going to allow defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni to get creative in how he uses Porter and Taylor in passing situations. Reggie Torbor is also a capable backup at inside linebacker. After all, he's a guy who started all four playoff games during the Giants' Super Bowl run in 2007. Truth be told, if not for Akin Ayodele, the Dolphins would ne at the top of my list. And it's not that Ayodele is bad, but he just doesn't compare to either of the Jets' inside linebackers.

3. Buffalo Bills

I'll admit that I'm a big fan of Paul Posluszny and how he plays the game. He had a very good season last year after missing basically all of his rookie season in 2007. I think he's going to be a star in this league. I also think that Buffalo's backup middle linebacker, John DiGiorgio, is a very solid reserve. He filled in well for Buffalo in '07 after "Pos" went down. I think that Kawika Mitchell is a solid outside linebacker, too. He rarely misses a tackle and he will make the occasional big play - tallying 4 sacks, 4 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles last year. But I'm not too high on Keith Ellison at all and I'm not a big fan of Buffalo's depth at outside linebacker - at least from what I've seen and/or know of the guys.

4. New England Patriots

It's not that I think New England's linebackers stink. I just think they are in a division that has three really good groups of linebackers ahead of them. Jerod Mayo is probably going to be a very good linebacker. But he is yet to prove to me he is as great as the media wants you to believe. Yes, he made 128 tackles (100 of them solo). That's impressive for a rookie. But he didn't show any ability to make a big play. Right now, I simply can't say with any confidence that Mayo is or will be better than Channing Crowder. Mayo had fewer tackles for loss and fewer passes defensed than Crowder, and just as many sacks and interceptions - none. So why am I supposed to believe the media when they talk about how great he's going to be? I'm not buying.

Adalius Thomas wasn't exactly playing outstanding before his season ended early in 2008 due to injuries. Tedy Bruschi was once a good linebacker but is now just a shell of himself. And the Pats don't have anyone of note to man the other outside linebacker spot. Pierre Woods, Shawn Crable, and Tully Banta-Cain are marginal at best. Paris Lenon was a good pickup by New England, though. He'll provide good depth inside - and perhaps even push Bruschi for some playing time.

State of the Bills Roster: Linebacker

Brian Galliford — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:30:09 -0000

MLB Paul Posluszny (above) should improve in second full season (photo source)

Now that the 2009 NFL Draft is in the books and off-season player acquisition will crawl at a snail's pace, Buffalo Rumblings has begun re-examining the Buffalo Bills' revamped roster. We continue off our 'State of the Roster' series this morning with a look at the linebacker position. Previous installments: QB, RB, TE, OT, G/C, DE, DT, S.

Entering the 2008 NFL regular season, linebacker was supposed to be an emerging team strength for the Buffalo Bills. Then veteran Angelo Crowell was placed on Injured Reserve before the season began; he has since signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an unrestricted free agent. Meanwhile, play from the team's starters last season was hit-and-miss, with big plays in some games outshone by highly average overall play in most others.

Not much has changed at linebacker for the Bills at the top of the pecking order. As it stands now, the trio of 'backers that ended the '08 season as starters will inherit those roles for next season. In a critical year for the Bills, however, the team may not be done addressing the position, as the team is still in play for free agent LB Pisa Tinoisamoa. For now, however, the team has added some parts, but the question is whether or not those parts are significant enough to raise this group's level of play.

STARTER (WLB): Kawika Mitchell
Last year's key addition at the position put together a productive, yet inconsistent 2008 season. While his stat line was impressive (82 tackles, a career-high 4 sacks and 2 INT) and he made clutch interceptions in victories over San Diego and Denver, he also disappeared for stretches and fought bouts of poor tackling. Mitchell is what he is - a big, tough player that can help you in a lot of ways and make big plays. He's a pro's pro. But he's not a defensive anchor in that he won't make plays for you game in and game out. That's fine - he is what he is, and that's just a good football player. A bit more consistency would be nice, however.

STARTER (MLB): Paul Posluszny
The two-year pro wrapped up his first full season as a starting linebacker in the NFL as the Bills' leading tackler. He was consistent, and for a player that was essentially a rookie, that's a good sign. What's missing from the arsenal of Poz is big-play ability; he's not a great pass rusher, and he seemed a hair slow recognition-wise defending the pass. The latter will hopefully change with experience; Poz does have the ability to be a strong pass defender. The real question surrounding Poz isn't centered around a lack of talent; it's whether or not his upside is as considerable as we once thought it was.

STARTER (SLB): Keith Ellison
Buffalo didn't exactly want to enter 2009 with Ellison still listed as a starter, but unless something happens on the free agent front with Tinoisamoa, that appears to be exactly what's going to happen. Again, Ellison is a "he is what he is" player - smart and more dependable than people realize, but lacking in the physical skill set to make him a true NFL starter. He is, in a phrase, a career backup - and a pretty good one at that.

Pat Thomas
The athletic former Chief and Jaguar has starting experience in the league and a familiarity with Buffalo's defensive system. For now, he is Ellison's chief competition for the starting SAM spot - and his chances of beating out the three-year veteran are more than fair.

John DiGiorgio
Playing place of an injured Posluszny in 2007, DiGiorgio quietly put together an impressive season in just his second year removed from being an undrafted free agent out of Saginaw Valley State. He's coming off of a knee injury, but with a new contract in hand, he has a chance to establish himself as a long-term reserve middle linebacker and special teams ace in Buffalo.

Alvin Bowen
Hey, look! Another Bills linebacker coming off of injury! The active and athletic Bowen missed his entire rookie season - including most of training camp - with a knee injury. He's back with an outside shot to start at SAM, and he'll definitely be a big part of Bobby April's plans on special teams.

Nic Harris
The rookie fifth-round pick out of Oklahoma played safety in college, but will be moved to linebacker in the pros. The team views him as more active, physical and a bigger playmaker than some of the players listed above Harris here, but he'll start out low on the totem pole and be yet another option for April in his loaded special teams deck.

This is a fairly deep (numbers-wise) position, folks - so we've got four more names plus some extra analysis for you after the jump.

Blake Costanzo
Remember Josh Stamer? Costanzo has the look of being the Bills' Stamer 2.0 - he'll rarely, if ever, see the field as a defender, but he's outstanding on any special teams unit he's a part of. Don't be shocked if Blake finds a way to stick on the roster - he's been a pre-season cut each of the past two years, and yet here we are, still talking about the guy.

Jon Corto
He was a nice story last year, playing for the Bills after growing up in Orchard Park. With imported depth and the possibility of a Tinoisamoa signing, however, Corto's a longshot to stick around.

Marcus Buggs
Say it with me: "Bills linebacker coming off of devastating injury." Yep - Buggs fits that profile, too. He's being worked at MLB early in OTAs, and he's also got some practice squad eligibility left. He's got a solid chance to stick around in that capacity.

Ashlee Palmer
The rookie UDFA is super athletic, but that's about where his allure ends for now. He's got a lot to prove on the field; if he can pick up the defense relatively quickly, he could be stashed on the practice squad.

Contract situations: As it stands right now, the only player that's locked up beyond two more seasons is Mitchell, who enters the second year of a five-year deal he signed last spring. Posluszny is a candidate for an early extension; don't be surprised if he gets something mid-season. As for the rest of the players here, it looks like Buffalo is throwing a lot of talent at the wall and seeing what sticks. Harris and Bowen have arguably the most upside, and their standing with the club is probably also strongest.

Bottom Line
I've said it before and I'll say it again - considering the Bills' sheer amount of needs entering free agency and the type of defense the team prefers to play, they addressed this situation about as intelligently as they could - with the return of Bowen, they've essentially added three players (Thomas and Harris included) that can at least push Ellison for his starting role - something Ellison did not have to endure in 2008. If the team can find a way to bring in Tinoisamoa, that obviously changes the picture a bit and gives the team outstanding depth.

If there is a concern defensively (outside of the pass rush), linebacker is where that concern lies. Can Posluszny improve to the point where he's considered the clear anchor of the defensive unit? Can Mitchell play a bit more consistently while still delivering clutch plays here and there? Can anyone unseat Ellison in the SAM role? In this defense, linebacker is low in the pecking order in terms of importance - but that doesn't mean that mediocre-to-average play is acceptable. This group needs to be more productive, starting at the top.

Poll

Provided the Bills do NOT sign Pisa Tinoisamoa, who should start at SAM linebacker for the Bills in 2009?

Keith Ellison

223 votes

Pat Thomas

161 votes

Alvin Bowen

244 votes

Nic Harris

181 votes

809 votes | Poll has closed

Free Agency by Buffalo's Book: Team Free Agents

Brian Galliford — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 13:00:10 -0000

CB Greer headlines Bills' FA class (Associated Press)

With the NFL's free agent signing period set to begin in just under two weeks' time, each NFL franchise is going through similar preparations for the league's annual spending spree. Luckily for us, the Buffalo Bills have been vaguely specific about their process - currently in progress - of addressing their roster holes. In a recent article from Chris Brown (the team journalist, not the allegedly violent R&B artist), several members of the Bills' pro personnel department lent some insight into the team's strategy in determining the best course of action in fixing their team.

In the days leading up to the start of free agency, I'll be running through each step of this process in an effort to put together my own, personal game plan which, if things go swimmingly, will be infinitely worse than the Bills' own plan. Still, it's an opportunity to outline just how difficult strengthening your team via free agency really is, and it's also an opportunity for the rest of you fine, intelligent folks to string together your own game plans as well. We'll kick the process off right now by ticking off steps one and two in Buffalo's process.

From the horse's mouth
What's the first thing that VP of Pro Personnel John Guy and his staff do during their free agency process? Well, they kind of told us, so rather than guess, let's just regurgitate fact.

"We'll start with our team and where our needs are and where our free agents are. So we finish our team first..."

Perfect! We've already painstakingly taken care of the first area of concern by putting together our Buffalo Rumblings Community Needs List. The article specifically mentions identifying three to four positions of need on each side of the ball, and again, we've already done that. (Take note, One Bills Drive.) Since this is my game plan, I'm prioritizing the needs as I see fit. Why? Because I'm now appointing myself General Manager of the Buffalo Bills. You're more than welcome to do the same. Here goes nothing...

Offense: TE, C, QB, FB
Defense: DE, SLB, DT, S

Feel free to disagree with my priorities. I don't care. I'm the GM of the Buffalo Bills. And since you're apparently also the GM of the Buffalo Bills (I think it's probably more like Assistant to the GM), do whatever you like. Just don't screw up - the fan base can be pretty brutal. Wink!

Next up on Buffalo's list - taking care of our own free agents. With our needs in mind, here's how I'm addressing the twenty players whose contracts have expired.

Players to re-sign (or tender)
QB Gibran Hamdan - Hamdan gets an RFA tender from me to remain as the team's third quarterback. Why? He's cheap, smart, and a good influence on my starter, Trent Edwards.

RB Fred Jackson - The plan here is to give Jackson a moderate contract extension of at least four years. He's one of our most valuable performers, and deserves the financial security after being one of the team's lowest-paid players over the past two seasons.

TE Derek Schouman - As an ERFA, he gets the lowest tender and sticks around as my third tight end and my safety fullback.

OT Kirk Chambers - He's a solid, dependable veteran that surprised with some good play and versatility in 2008. He's a high-quality backup, and he's just obscure enough where he won't be getting offers to start elsewhere. Plus, he gives us more flexibility if a certain two-time Pro Bowler becomes difficult. (And if you click that there link, you'll have your answer as to how I'm handling him.)

OLB Keith Ellison - He gets a tender. Smart, versatile backup that is a key cog on the league's best special teams unit.

OLB Blake Costanzo - He gets a tender, but he's certainly not guaranteed a roster spot. The one thing he's got going for him - he's an outstanding special teams player. That's the only reason I'm bringing him back.

MLB John DiGiorgio - See Ellison.

FS George Wilson - I consider safety a weak point on the team, but that doesn't stop me from giving Wilson a tender. He's a special teams captain and has shown that he can make plays when he's on the field as a defender.

LS Ryan Neill - He's becoming more consistent as a long snapper, and he's still a young player. Well worth a tender.

Players I'm letting walk
QB J.P. Losman - No explanation needed.

CB Jabari Greer - No, he probably wouldn't be too expensive to re-sign, but as much as I like the guy, cornerback is a team strength. There are bigger fish to fry, so while I'm obviously not averse to Greer returning, I'm not spending energy on getting him back. Some team will give him a good deal, and he'll probably deserve every penny.

Others that I'm straight up ignoring once free agency starts - FB Corey McIntyre, WR Justin Jenkins, OT Jonathan Scott, OG Jason Whittle, C Melvin Fowler, DE Copeland Bryan, CB Dustin Fox

Players for the back of my mind
C Duke Preston - There's not a snowball's chance in hell that I'm keeping this guy around to start in any capacity. I'm not even fully interested in re-signing him. But he does offer some versatility and familiarity in the pivot, so if he isn't signed with a new club after a week or two of free agency, I'll make his cell ring.

OLB Angelo Crowell - If things go well, I'm filling Crowell's strong-side linebacker spot with a new player. That player is going to be a veteran. If, however, things don't go well, I'm going to make an effort to bring Crowell back on a short-term deal as opposed to starting a rookie - provided he doesn't have a new team by that point, that is.

***

So that takes care of steps one and two of Buffalo's free agency process. I've identified a handful of needs on both sides of the ball. I've identified our own free agents that I'm quickly and efficiently bringing back. I encourage everyone here to do the same if you want in on this GM game, because next up in "Free Agency by Buffalo's Book" is identifying preliminary free agent targets. Get those GM hats on, folks. It's time for each of us to start ironing out our very own free agency plans. Go!