SB Nation - Keith Ellison

Game Day Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/22

MattRichWarren — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:33:10 -0000

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Bills-Jaguars Primer
Joe Buscaglia gets us primed and ready to go for the game in Jacksonville.

Buffalo Bills Game Day | Democrat and Chronicle
Reporter Sal Maiorana breaks down today's Buffalo Bills game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Gameday Tipsheet - Week 11
Chris Brown's thorough look at the game against the Jaguars.

Game Previews
Bills-Jags scouting report : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Allen Wilson's breakdown of the Bills-Jaguars matchup.

NFL Game Center: Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars - 2009 Week 11
Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars NFL Game Center featuring previews and live coverage of the game.

Bills hope to get off and running with Fewell : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"Today's game against Jacksonville would be a good time to get [the rushing attack] rolling, as the Bills usher in the tenure of interim head coach Perry Fewell."

Buffalo Bills shift focus to Fewell, Fitzpatrick | Democrat and Chronicle
Perry Fewell and Ryan Fitzpatrick take over this team and are exciting about making their mark.

NFL Preview - Buffalo (3-6) at Jacksonville (5-4)
he Sports Network gives you the information and quotes you need to get ready to watch today's game.

Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Gameday Preview
Two Bills Drive gives their preview for the Bills game.

Jaguars Gameday: Jacksonville vs. Buffalo | Jacksonville.com
Game preview from Jacksonville.com

Your Bills vs Jags Game Day Preview : Buffalo Sports Daily
Pat Moran at BSD gives his answers for how to beat the Jaguars.

Gameday Prep: Bills vs. Jaguars | The Goose's Roost
Your gameday prep from the good folks at TGR.

Video: Another long day for Bills' run D - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Jenny Dell's AccuScore report for Sunday's game between the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars was shot before we learned talented Bills defensive tackle Marcus Stroud and linebacker Keith Ellison won't play. Even so, AccuScore gave Maurice Jones-Drew a 55 percent chance of rushing for at least 100 yards and a touchdown. The Jaguars won 68 percent of AccuScore's 10,000 simulations.

Niagara Gazette - NFL: Crohn’s among Garrard’s foes
Tim Schmitt profiles Jaguar's quarterback David Garrard and his fight with Crohn's disease.

Team in flux
Sullivan: Plenty left for Bills to play for : Jerry Sullivan : The Buffalo News
Jerry Sullivan knows that many Bills players and coaches are fighting for their jobs in these last seven weeks of the year.

Report: Bills had "back channel" communications only with Gruden | ProFootballTalk.com
WIVB's source has slightly changed. The Bills only hand "back channel" dealings with Gruden and won't hire anyone until after the season. The latter isn't a big surprise.

Gruden declines comment on Bills report - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Jon Gruden isn't commenting on a report that he had a meeting with the Bills.

Felser: Who cleans up after the horse is ridden out of town : Larry Felser : The Buffalo News
Larry Felser wants the Bills to hire Ron Wolf or Ernie Acorsi as consultants to help hire a new GM.

Inside the NFL: Trestman would be good coaching fit, but not here : Mark Gaughan : The Buffalo News
Mark Gaughan of the says the Bills shouldn't hire Marc Trestman, the Montreal Allouettes coach. He's "even more low key than Jauron," says the columnist.

Bills need a proven GM - Corning, NY - The Corning Leader
Bob Benz wants the Bills to hire Mike Holmgren or someone like him to be GM to turn this team around.

Sully on Sports: Live Chat With Sully
Jerry Sullivan chats about potential GM candidates and much more.

ProFootballWeekly.com - Five underrated NFL executives
PFW's Nolan Nawrocki identifies five evaluators who have played key roles in building championships. (This article was recommended by Sully during his chat.)

Midseason change different from '86
Chris Brown interviews Andre Reed and Jim Kelly about the last midseason coaching hire, Marv Levy. He also explains the major differences between 1986 and 2009, for instance, Marv wasn't "interim" head coach.

More Bills News
Maybin gives back – Inside The Bills
Aaron Maybin gave back to his Baltimore hometown this week.

OT Scott pressing forward – Inside The Bills
Bills OT Jonathan Scott talks for the first time since his dad's passing.

Brooks Brothers Best Dressed at Jacksonville | BuffaloBills.com
George Wilson took over for Gibran Hamdan on this little feature. Some nicely dressed guys there.

Calls and Effect: AFC East penalty tracker - AFC East Blog - ESPN
The Bills lead the NFL by far with 23 false starts, about twice the league average. 37 different players have been flagged a total of 60 times. Demetirus Bell is still leading the league with 10 on his own.

Book review: Game Changers, by Marv Levy - thestar.com
Game Changers is a book by Marv Levy and Jeff Miller about the greatest plays in Buffalo Bills history. The Toronto Star gives its book review.

Buffalo Bills fans might want to watch UFL title game | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
J.P. Losman and his coach Jim Fassell hook up with Jim Haslett's undefeated Florida Tuskers in a matchup of past (and future?) Bills.

For Brohm, Christmas comes early | The Louisville Courier-Journal
Brian Brohm had a hectic week but a week he is glad took place.

Bills Tweets
MovetheSticks
Only take a QB in round 1 if you LOVE him... Most of these bottom 6-7 teams have holes all over the place, take best player period

Thurman Thomas
Play like Hell and Win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stroud one of three Bills starters out for Sunday

Brian Galliford — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:54:36 -0000

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The Buffalo Bills, led by interim head coach Perry Fewell, will be looking for a win in Jacksonville without the services of three key starters.

Marcus Stroud did not practice all week with a knee injury and has been ruled out, according to BuffaloBills.com. This could potentially leave the Bills with just two healthy defensive tackles on Sunday. Also ruled out were tackle Demetrius Bell (knee), linebacker Keith Ellison (thigh) and cornerback Ashton Youboty (ankle).

Stroud's absence is of critical importance. The Bills have the NFL's worst run defense, and they're about to take on the NFL's fifth-leading rusher in Maurice Jones-Drew without their most proven run defender. Exacerbating that issue is the fact that fellow defensive tackle Kyle Williams is on the injury report as well, listed as questionable with a knee injury that has caused him to miss Buffalo's last two games.

Spencer Johnson will start in Stroud's place, and if Williams can't go, John McCargo will make his first start of the season as well. Converted safety Bryan Scott will make a second straight start at outside linebacker in place of Ellison. Rookie guard Andy Levitre will flip out to left tackle in place of Bell, with veteran Seth McKinney getting the nod in Levitre's left guard spot.

Joining Williams as questionable for Sunday are receiver James Hardy (groin), cornerback Terrence McGee (knee) and rookie free safety Jairus Byrd (groin). McGee and Byrd were both limited in practice on Friday. With Donte Whitner returning to the lineup (he's not listed on the injury report and practiced all week), George Wilson would start at safety if Byrd can't go. If McGee cannot play, the Bills will dress just three healthy cornerbacks in Jacksonville (Drayton Florence, Reggie Corner and Ellis Lankster).

Meanwhile, Jacksonville will be missing one key defensive starter (cornerback Rashean Mathis) and is likely to be without another (middle linebacker Justin Durant is doubtful).

Fewell sticks with Fitzpatrick at QB, Levitre at LT

Brian Galliford — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:00:30 -0000

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Various news outlets - we'll link WGR 550 and Paul Hamilton, since it's been a while - are reporting that Ryan Fitzpatrick is taking first-team reps at quarterback in Perry Fewell's first practice as interim head coach of the Buffalo Bills. Fewell confirmed this fact after practice. That bit of news confirms an NFL.com report from Wednesday - prior to the firing of Dick Jauron - that Fitzpatrick would be the club's starter.

With Demetrius Bell dealing with a knee injury, rookie lineman Andy Levitre lined up at left tackle in practice on Wednesday, again according to Hamilton. Levitre saw his first reps of the season at that position last week in Tennessee after Bell left the game at halftime. Replacing Levitre at left guard was, and remains, Seth McKinney. If that move is permanent, Levitre will become the sixth player to line up at either tackle position for Buffalo this season, and the third on the left side.

Additionally, Chris Brown at BuffaloBills.com is reporting that, while safety Donte Whitner and defensive tackle Kyle Williams are back on the practice field, several players missed today's session. That list includes Roscoe Parrish, Justin Jenkins, Bell, Jonathan Scott, Marcus Stroud, Keith Ellison, Terrence McGee, Ashton Youboty and Jairus Byrd. McGee, recovering from knee surgery, worked with trainers on the sideline. Scott was absent as he continues to mourn the passing of his father.

One last note: converted strong safety Bryan Scott continues to take practice reps at linebacker, again according to Brown. That likely won't change until Ellison returns to the lineup.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/14

MattRichWarren — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:01:54 -0000

Bills go to the "Extreme" | BuffaloBills.com
For those of you that don't live in the area, Extreme Makeover Home Edition built a house in Buffalo last week. Here's a rundown of the extensive support the Bills team, players, coaches, and cheerleaders gave to the campaign.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Home of the Buffalo Sabres - Where Hardy Stands
Nick Mendola compares Hardy's career numbers to those of the other 10 WRs drafted in the second round in 2008.

Breaking down the free-agent class of an unpredictable offseason
For those of you who have been looking, here's a list of guys who will be Unrestricted Free Agents if the CBA does not change at all between now and the offseason. Kudos to Jason La Canfora.

NFL Videos: O-Line Confidential: Bills, Week 9
A look at offensive line confidential of the Buffalo Bills from Week 9 of the 2009 season. (It's different than the one from Week 3.)

Bills run defense will be tested | WIVB.com
The Bills banged up defense will be hard-pressed to stop the Titans explosive running attack this Sunday.

SB Nation's Week 10 NFL Picks - SB Nation
"The Bills give up an NFL worst 173.6 yards rushing yards per game. Chris Johnson leads the NFL with 959 rushing yards. Sometimes this is easy."

Between the Lines: Who's Allowing the Most Sacks? -- NFL FanHouse
The Bills do surprisingly better than I thought they would in this look around the league.

Bills take hands-off approach to S Byrd's success - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
"I try not to tell him too much because I might screw him up," Fewell said with a laugh. "That’s the best coaching I can give."

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
Bills WR Terrell Owens on his hip injury: "I fell asleep on the couch Monday night, woke up and early that morning I just felt like I was kind of stiff from sleeping on the couch. I don’t know what happened ... this is something that happens so I’m not really worried about it."

Fan Friday 11-13 – Inside The Bills
Chris Brown's Fan Friday focuses in on motion on offense, Aaron Maybin's minimal impact, Fred Jackson's lost carries, Steve Johnson (expected to be the first WR off the bench if Owens can't go), and Trent Edwards as the QB of the future.

6 Bills probable for Sunday – Inside The Bills
Injury report for Blogs.BuffaloBills.com

Bryan Scott likely to start at LB | BuffaloBills.com
With starter Keith Ellison looking less and less likely to play after missing two days of practice, it appears that the favorite to start in his place Sunday is the veteran strong safety.

Bills' notebook: Owens should play Sunday : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens ran routes, caught passes and looked pretty healthy as he participated in his first practice of the week on Friday.

Hanging 10 with Hamdan: Week 10
This week, Hammy sits down with rookie phenom Jairus Byrd who recently got a haircut.

Bills will be keeping fast company on Sunday : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"So, can the Bills stop Johnson? Their defense's record this season isn't promising."

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Home of the Buffalo Sabres - Owens: "I'll be ready"
For those fond of facial hair, Chris Kelsay says he plans not to shave his impressive beard until January, even after Kyle Williams and Aaron Schobel cut their beards.

Tennessee's 'D' spurs its revival | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
The Titans finally have gotten back to their defensive formula of sacking quarterbacks and forcing turnovers. They have eight sacks and six turnovers in the past two games — both wins.

Bills vs. Titans: Five Questions with Buffalo Rumblings - Music City Miracles
"Johnson's big plays continue as Titans roll past Buffalo" - Benedict Galliford

Video: Oher, Bills could've been big - AFC East Blog - ESPN
In hindsight, Michael Oher would really help the bills right now according to Tim Graham.

Final Word: AFC East - AFC East Blog - ESPN
An out-of-the blue hip injury may signal the beginning of the end for Terrell Owens' career.

NFL Midseason Report: SN's All-Pro Team - Clifton Brown - NFL - Sporting News
Jairus Byrd made the Sporting News Midseason All-Pro team as one of the two best safeties in the entire league.

Bills WR Owens questionable for Week 10

Brian Galliford — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:07:13 -0000

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After missing two days of practice this week with a strained hip, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens has been officially listed as questionable for his team's Week 10 matchup with the Tennessee Titans.

Owens practiced on Monday after returning from the bye week, but the missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday with his sudden, aforementioned hip injury. Owens was limited on Friday.

Starting defensive end Aaron Schobel, safety Donte Whitner, tackle Jamon Meredith and receiver Roscoe Parrish are also listed as questionable.

Meanwhile, three defensive starters - defensive tackle Kyle Williams, linebacker Keith Ellison and cornerback Terrence McGee - have all been officially ruled out for this contest. Spencer Johnson will start once again in a short-handed defensive tackle rotation that will dress just three players Sunday. Former starting free safety Bryan Scott will get the start at Ellison's weak-side linebacker spot, while Reggie Corner - the team's nickel back - is expected to be in the lineup for McGee. Ashton Youboty and Ellis Lankster will see nickel and dime work; Youboty will likely play outside on passing downs, allowing Corner to stay in the slot.

Six Bills players are listed as probable: quarterback Trent Edwards, fullback Corey McIntyre, tight end Shawn Nelson, right tackle Jonathan Scott, linebacker Bryan Scott and free safety Jairus Byrd. All are expected to play on Sunday.

Source: BuffaloBills.com

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/12

MattRichWarren — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:05:20 -0000

Scott to start at LB? – Inside The Bills
Scott got some first team reps at linebacker Wednesday. Nic Harris seems to be the alternative to Scott.

Sullivan: As T.O. fades, Bills should look at Hardy : The Buffalo News
Jerry Sullivan suggests that James Hardy should get some of T.O.'s reps at wideout.

Midseason Report: Bills - AFC East - ESPN
Tim Graham breaks down the Bills at the halfway point of their year.

Bills look to James Hardy to help passing game | ProFootballTalk.com
Hardy will try to erase the memory of his disastrous rookie year after getting activated Wednesday from the physically unable to perform list.

Whitner believes he’s ready – Inside The Bills
"Felt pretty good," said Donte Whitner after Wednesday’s practice. "Did a little more than I did the other day. So it feels good."

Omon likely to return – Inside The Bills
Omon has appeared in just six career games (four in 2009), so he still has practice squad eligibility. It’s presumed that provided Omon clears waivers that the Bills will sign him to their eight-man practice squad.

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
- Bills QB Trent Edwards will start this week against Tennessee. He has not played since suffering a concussion on Oct. 18 against the New York Jets. "Trent’s earned the right to be back in there and we’re really looking forward to seeing him play," coach Dick Jauron said.
- It looks like there's a good possibility Bills SS Bryan Scott could start in place of the injured Keith Ellison at LB this week. "We’ve been so unlucky there (with injuries) that it gives us what we think may be our best shot," coach Dick Jauron said.

Bills speak up with confidence : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Here are some reasons the Bills might be ready to play a watchable game on offense this week in Tennessee from reporter Mark Gaughan.

Owens tops Bills' injury list : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Bills receiver Terrell Owens was among several Bills not practicing fully on Wednesday. Full details here.

Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans Series at a Glance - Music City Miracles
A look at the series history between the Bills and Titans.

Video: AFC East injury update - AFC East - ESPN
ESPN injury expert Stephania Bell takes a look at injuries to Buffalo Bills receiver Terrell Owens and other AFC East players.

Dungy: Vick to Bills 'an intriguing situation' - AFC East - ESPN
"That was just my personal opinion," Dungy said. "I didn't have anything to base that on, no conversations with anyone else. They haven't gotten consistent quarterback play in the last three or four years. That's probably been their Achilles' heel. I think it could be an intriguing situation."

Video: Midseason AFC East Report Card - AFC East - ESPN
ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton gives you his midseason grades for each team in the AFC East.

Should the Bills reinstall Trent Edwards at QB? - AFC East - ESPN
ESPN Stats & Information data digger Matt Lyon passed along some interesting stats that illustrate the differences between Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Fun with AccuScore: Playoff field and draft order - AFC East - ESPN
The Buffalo Bills are given a 1.1 percent chance at the playoffs and 0.3 percent at the division. They are currently projected to draft ninth.

POLLOCK: Do you really think Vick’s a fit for Bills? | Olean Times Herald
Chuck Pollack gives his thoughts on Vick to the Bills.

tennessean.com | Nashville Tennessee Titans | The Tennessean
The Titans page of the Tennessean website. Know they enemy.

Edwards back in starting role for Buffalo Bills | Democrat and Chronicle
Trent Edwards will be back as Buffalo's starting quarterback Sunday when the Bills travel to Tennessee to take on the rejuvenated Titans.

Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans Series at a Glance - Music City Miracles
A look at the series history between the Bills and Titans.

AFC & NFC News N' Notes - Baltimore Beatdown
AFC & NFC News n' Notes comes from the NFL and has mid season projections for players and teams in both conferences. Scroll down for Bills info.

NFL Week 10 Power Rankings: Steelers Making Themselves Heard - SB Nation
The Bills drop from 24 to 25 in this week's poll of SBN bloggers as the Titans jump from 26 to 23.

Edwards to start, Owens misses practice

Brian Galliford — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:21:35 -0000

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The Buffalo Bills hoped to exit their bye week healthier. While, by and large, that's true, the team is still severely banged up entering their Week 10 game on the road against the Tennessee Titans.

Terrell Owens missed practice on Wednesday with what head coach Dick Jauron described as a strained hip. Owens practiced Monday, but the injury flared up late Tuesday. His status is uncertain for this weekend, but it looks like a situation that the Bills will monitor on a day-by-day basis.

The rest of the injury report: defensive end Aaron Schobel, defensive tackle Kyle Williams, linebacker Keith Ellison and cornerback Terrence McGee all missed practice Wednesday. The four defensive starters may not be available for this weekend's game, which could leave Buffalo severely short-handed in their front seven. Meanwhile, safeties Jairus Byrd and Donte Whitner, as well as offensive tackle Jamon Meredith and fullback Corey McIntyre, were limited.

In the least surprising bit of news on the day, Jauron named Trent Edwards his starter for the Titans game.

Buffalo needs to make a decision on whether or not to promote receiver James Hardy to the active roster. They'll make that announcement by 4PM; look for a FanShot confirming which player was released in order to make room for Hardy.

Scott's return could glue Bills' D back together

Brian Galliford — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:55:19 -0000

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The Buffalo Bills face a curious problem at the safety position right now. Opening day starters Donte Whitner and Bryan Scott have each missed at least four starts this season, and while they've been down, rookie Jairus Byrd has established himself as one of the elite young players at his position. Now that Whitner and Scott are close returning to the lineup, the Bills have three legitimate starting safeties, but only two starting spots to occupy.

Luckily for the Bills, Bryan Scott is a multi-faceted weapon. He's also a team player and a genuinely good guy, which makes removing him from the "starting" lineup all the easier. Byrd is a candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year and the team's best defensive playmaker by miles, so he's not going anywhere. Whitner won't sit, either, considering his versatility in coverage and the level of play he exhibited prior to his various injuries.

Even if Scott doesn't start - and if both Byrd and Whitner are healthy, he won't (not at safety, anyway) - you're going to see a lot of him. He might just be Buffalo's best run defender, and given the fact that the Bills sport the No. 32-ranked run defense in the NFL, Scott's return to the lineup may be of critical importance, even if he's not technically a starter.

Scott's presence makes a difference defending run
Scott has only played in part of three games this season. He got hurt mid-way through the Bills' Week 3 loss to undefeated New Orleans, meaning he's been available to Perry Fewell for roughly ten quarters this season. In those ten quarters, Buffalo surrendered 219 rushing yards to New England (the NFL's No. 16-ranked rush offense), Tampa Bay (No. 25, thanks to a lot of late-game passing) and New Orleans (No. 5). Since his departure from the lineup, the Bills have surrendered 1,170 rushing yards in 22 quarters. That stat jumps from 22 yards per quarter to 53 yards per quarter with Scott out of the lineup.

That's not to say that Scott is the key to Buffalo's run defense. The flood gates have certainly opened since he's been out of the lineup, but in all fairness to his teammates, they've faced four of the top five rushing offenses in the entire league (New York, Carolina, Miami and the second half of that New Orleans game) without him. That certainly won't help your statistical cause. (The Bills face the league's No. 2-ranked rushing offense this week in Tennessee, and the No. 6-ranked attack the following week in Jacksonville, by the way.)

But let's not pretend that Scott's absence wasn't a blow, either. He racked up 27 tackles in less than three games. Even with all the time he's missed, he's still third on the team in tackles at the safety position, behind fill-in George Wilson (54) and Byrd (32). Unlike Byrd and Wilson, Scott is technically sound, makes an impact in the box, and has the ability to make plays in the backfield consistently. You can't take that type of player off the field and not expect to see a decline in play.

Potential roles
As mentioned, Byrd will continue to start at free safety, and Whitner will probably still see the lion's share of his work at strong safety. Fewell has, however, found ways to incorporate three safeties into his defensive packages in years past, with Whitner playing a rover position or lining up in the slot. In those cases, Scott could line up at strong safety.

More likely, you'll see Byrd and Whitner take coverage responsibilities, allowing Scott to take the majority of his reps in the box - because let's face it, the run defense can use all the help it can get. Scott has been taking reps at linebacker for the past two weeks, and it's possible he could see time in that role as well, particularly if either starting outside linebacker, Chris Draft or Nic Harris (if Keith Ellison can't go), is injured or fails to live up to the task.

That versatility has been sorely missed - not just from Scott, mind you, but from Whitner as well. Byrd and Wilson have made more than their fair share of plays while Scott and Whitner sat out, but those two players are limited schematically. Byrd is strictly a free safety at this point, and Wilson is a severe liability defending the run. Whitner's versatility allows the Bills to play more matchup coverage in their defensive backfield and, more importantly, get better players in position to make plays against the run.

But as important as Whitner is - even against the run - it's Scott's return that could prove to be the most important to a potential Bills playoff run. Buffalo's chances are slim at best, but they become non-existent if they can't improve against the run, particularly with run-heavy teams coming up on the schedule. Scott isn't a dynamic enough player to turn the league's worst run defense into anything more than an average run defense. But if he can get Buffalo to average - and if the defense finally gets a little help from Buffalo's offense - anything can happen.

Bills getting healthier with streaking Titans looming

Brian Galliford — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:51:29 -0000

The Buffalo Bills returned to the practice field on Monday after their weekend of rest, relaxation, and with any luck, dramatically increased football skill. The week's hiatus appears to have done some good for the team's overall health, as a report from WGR 550 this morning indicates. Here's a quick glance at where the Bills are getting healthy, and where they're still hurting.

+ Trent Edwards practiced fully today and, according to the WGR report, it's looking like he'll be ready to resume starting duties next Sunday in Tennessee. Edwards practiced fully last week, but it appears he got through the weekend unscathed and is ready to get back into the lineup.

+ BuffaloBills.com reports that Shawn Nelson returned to the practice field on Monday as well.

+ Jonathan Scott practiced fully and also appears ready to return to the lineup, according to BuffaloBills.com - which is good timing, really, as fill-in Jamon Meredith missed practiced Monday and is expected to miss another week or two. Scott would, as usual, start at right tackle against a still-feisty Titans pass rush.

+ Aaron Schobel and Kyle Williams missed practice on Monday. Schobel is dealing with a groin injury, while Williams' knee injury was expected to keep him out 2-3 weeks. It's quite early in the week, so there's still a (strong?) chance that both will play this weekend, but clearly the defensive line as a whole is a situation worth monitoring.

+ Keith Ellison also missed practice Monday. Buffalo's leading tackler has a lingering quad issue. If he can't play, Paul Posluszny will likely be flanked by Chris Draft and Nic Harris on Sunday. Yikes.

+ The defensive backfield is getting quite healthy. Terrence McGee, as we mentioned early last week, had his knee scoped and is not yet ready to return to the practice field. There's an outside shot that he plays this weekend, but it's more likely that he returns on November 22 in Jacksonville. If he can't play, Reggie Corner and Ashton Youboty would see increased playing time. The health is coming at safety, where Jairus Byrd, Donte Whitner and Bryan Scott all practiced fully. With the emergence of Byrd, that's as solid a trio of safeties as you'll find in the NFL.

Playoffs or not, Bills have much to learn post-bye

Brian Galliford — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:04:49 -0000

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The Buffalo Bills are 3-5, and as they enjoy their last weekend off until their 2009 season comes to a close - whenever that may be - it's time for us fans to stop reflecting on what they've done through the first half of the season and to start discussing what we might learn over the next eight weeks.

Clearly, the big questions in Buffalo remain the coaching situation - which is probably tied directly to the outcome of the season - and the quarterback position, which we've discussed very thoroughly over the last couple of days. But from a player personnel standpoint, there is still plenty of progress to be made for several young players. What follows is a breakdown of Bills players with the most to gain, most to lose, and those waiting for some developments to unfold.

Three Bills with the most to gain developmentally
Demetrius Bell. Buffalo's starting left tackle has had his share of struggles early in his career, particularly with consistency (which isn't a surprise) and mistakes (which are incredibly irritating). He's cleaned up his act in the latter department in recent weeks, and it's therefore not impossible to think he can work out some consistency issues over the next eight games, too. No one denies that Bell has solid talent. If he proves he can play left tackle in this league, that's one less major issue the Bills will need to address in the off-season.

Aaron Maybin. I've preached patience in regards to Maybin, and even though that argument is nearly universally accepted, fans still don't like the pick because Maybin's rookie contributions have been minimal. Depending on how the rest of the season goes, however, there's a strong chance Maybin's playing time could increase as the season progresses, particularly as he's already starting to see a few more snaps per game. Again - this is a player whose talent is undeniable. If he starts producing in the second half of the season, the minds of a large number of fans will be put at ease.

Jairus Byrd. Yes, he's been Buffalo's MVP through the first half of the season, thanks to his league-leading seven interceptions. He's a leading candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year. But he's not a complete, two-dimensional safety yet. If his groin injury doesn't hamper him over the next two months, Byrd has a chance to gain a ton of starting experience and develop his tackling skills. The more he plays, the closer he comes to becoming an all-around playmaker, and if that happens, he could be considered one of the elite defensive backs in the NFL.

Three Bills with the most to gain if they're on tape for a new coaching staff
Trent Edwards. That one's pretty obvious. He's a young player that has some talent, and he's shown (very occasional) flashes of competence at the game's most important position. If a new coaching staff is in Buffalo in 2010, that staff's most important decision will be centered around what to do at quarterback. A strong finish to this season could help Edwards survive a regime change. Of course, it could also help save his current coach's job, as well.

Paul Posluszny. The completely unbiased view of Posluszny outside of Buffalo right now is as follows: perfect teammate, tremendous competitor with leadership skills and smarts, limited playmaker and an injury risk. He might be playing out of position as well, and is this kid's ceiling as high as originally thought? Like Edwards, Poz isn't going to be leaving Buffalo any time soon, but if he wants to remain this team's starting middle linebacker through next off-season, he needs to close this season well.

Donte Whitner. He's missed at least one game in each of his four pro seasons, including four of the Bills' first eight games this season. Prior to his departure from the lineup, Whitner was playing at the highest level of his career - but as he's missed time, Byrd has established himself as one of the elite young defensive backs in the NFL. Whitner has been a team captain, but he's not anymore. His production remains an issue, even if his versatility remains a tremendous asset to this team. Again - he won't be going anywhere any time soon, but he's got a lot to prove if he's to remain a key part of Buffalo's defense through a regime change.

Three Bills playing out the string
Roscoe Parrish. He's been relegated to third quarterback duties, and there's a chance he could be released when the team activates James Hardy from the PUP list. One of the elite punt returners in NFL history, Parrish has worn out his welcome in Buffalo thanks to a mistake-prone 2009 season and his inability to learn the Bills' offense.

Chris Ellis. A third-round pick in 2008, Ellis had a quiet rookie season and, thanks to the presence of three veterans and Maybin, hasn't had much opportunity this year, either - he's been active just once. He barely hung on to a roster spot as it was, and did so only after a strong pre-season. Unless a veteran or two leaves and the coaching staff remains intact, Ellis is unlikely to get his career started in Buffalo.

John McCargo. He's been hurt, ineffective, traded, and returned to the Bills over the past couple of seasons. He is the only Bills defensive tackle that doesn't have a contract that expires in the 2013 season - and the Bills could use additional beef at that position. Add it all up, and McCargo is probably done in Buffalo after this season ends.

Three Bills pondering future roles with the club
Brad Butler. He started the season off relatively well at right tackle, but now he's on IR, and Buffalo's offensive line is a mess. A new regime would almost certainly address the O-Line, and particularly each tackle position, but Butler also has a contract that expires in 2013. He'll be in Buffalo for a while - the question is simply where he'll be playing, and whether or not he'll be starting.

Eric Wood. Again, Wood's not going anywhere soon - the only Bills locked up as far into the future as Wood is are WR Lee Evans, DE Aaron Schobel and Maybin. But most NFL personnel executives saw Wood as a pure center prospect entering the 2009 NFL Draft. Obviously, he's playing guard in Buffalo. I, for one, would support the move, but Wood needs to put good tape together so a new regime - or even the current regime - wises up and puts him at center.

Leodis McKelvin. He had a so-so rookie campaign, and to say the start of his 2009 season was disastrous would be a monumental understatement. Now he, too, is on IR, and Buffalo's secondary is getting along swimmingly without him. CB Drayton Florence has filled in admirably in his stead; his play has been so good, in fact, that if it continues, McKelvin may not regain his starting role in 2010.

Three Bills free agents waiting on tenterhooks
Terrell Owens. T.O. is in a tricky position. His numbers are so far down that it seems unlikely that many teams will be interested in him as a UFA in 2010, even if he's been on his best behavior as a Bill. Then again, he's unlikely to stay in Buffalo beyond this season if Dick Jauron is let go. Owens has eight more games in Buffalo, and then it's anyone's guess what happens from there.

Ryan Denney. People tend to grossly underestimate just how valuable Denney is to this team. He gives the Bills quality reps as a rotational defensive lineman - at both tackle and end, by the way - and he's been one of Bobby April's key special teams players throughout his career. He's scheduled for free agency after the season, however, and the Bills have serious investments in Schobel, Maybin and even DE Chris Kelsay. Particularly if Jauron leaves, but even if he doesn't, he could be looking for a new home.

Keith Ellison. He's currently fourth in the NFL with 68 tackles, and he's clearly having his best season as a pro. He's been an incredibly valuable commodity to Perry Fewell, as he has played all three linebacker spots - strong, middle, weak - as the Bills have dealt with ridiculous injuries and shake-ups at the position. But he also has his limitations, and while the Bills have been able to scheme around them, a new regime might not view Ellison in quite the same light. He'll be a UFA as well (though if there's no new CBA, he'll be an RFA), and like many players, Ellison's Bills fate may be tied directly to his play the rest of the season as well as the fate of the coaching staff.