SB Nation - John McCargo

Bills send LT Demetrius Bell to IR

Brian Galliford — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:42:10 -0000

More photos » by John Russell - AP

Update: BuffaloBills.com is now reporting that D-Bell has been placed on Injured Reserve, ending his 2009 season. OL Andre Ramsey was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster. End Update

Three Buffalo Bills players will miss the team's Week 14 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs, but of those sitting, left tackle Demetrius Bell is the only starter. This according to BuffaloBills.com.

Bell, who began the season as the starting left tackle, has missed all or part of the Bills' last four games as he deals with a knee injury that might prevent him from playing again this season. That streak now extends to five games. Also out for this contest are tight end Joe Klopfenstein (who re-joined the team this week) and receiver Justin Jenkins.

Jonathan Scott will again start at left tackle in place of Bell. Kirk Chambers, who is questionable this week but is expected to play, will start at right tackle. Andy Levitre, Ryan Denney, Chris Draft and Jairus Byrd are all questionable as well, but BuffaloBills.com reports that it's anticipated that all players listed as questionable will be in the lineup.

Shawn Nelson, John McCargo and Ashton Youboty are all probable. McCargo and Youboty have each missed action in the past few weeks, but will be available this week.

Meanwhile, Terrence McGee, who was active but did not start in the Bills' Week 13 loss to the Jets, practiced fully all week and will start in Kansas City.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Link, 12/10

MattRichWarren — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:01:51 -0000

Bills' Maybin barely toes the line : Jerry Sullivan : The Buffalo News
"In time, Maybin might turn into a star. But it's disconcerting to watch so many other rookies having good years while the Bills' top pick struggles to find himself. Well, they're 4-8. Maybe someone up top should tell Fewell the time has come to find out about Maybin."

All Fundamentals Team - Brian Moorman
The Bills' punter was named to the USA Football "All Fundamentals team" for his excellent form on and off the field.

Lindell having another strong season | BuffaloBills.com
"The most accurate kicker in franchise history, Lindell is putting together another solid season. Entering this weekend’s action the veteran kicker is 20-23 on field goal attempts this season (87%). With four games left to play Lindell is within striking distance of his single-season career high in field goal percentage set back in 2006 when he went 23-25 for a 92 percent success rate."

Bills bleeding away points in the red zone : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"The Bills have scored just nine touchdowns inside the opponent's 20-yard line, tying the St. Louis Rams and Oakland Raiders for the fewest in the NFL. The Bills' 27 red-zone possessions are tied with the Detroit Lions and Sunday's opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs, for the fifth fewest in the league."

Byrd’s injury improving – Inside The Bills
"Fewell wasn’t ready to go so far as to say that Jairus Byrd’s snaps will be increased significantly as a result of his improved condition. But it’s a good sign that the rookie ballhawk could be out on the field more than he has been in recent weeks."

Bills notebook: Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"Cornerback Terrence McGee practiced fully for the first time since having knee surgery during the bye week. Whether he's able to return to the starting lineup won't be known until the end of the week. Defensive tackle John McCargo also practiced fully after being sidelined the last two weeks with a calf injury."

Injury report – Inside The Bills
Terrence McGee practiced fully. Check out the list of players who didn't here.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Bills vs. Chiefs; So Similar, It's Scary
"Fewell was asked if some of the Bills younger players, like Aaron Maybin, James Hardy and Steve Johnson would see playing time over the last few weeks of the season. He replied that he's trying to put the best 45-man roster on the field each week and that the younger players that aren't playing as much will get a chance when he (Fewell) feels that they give the Bills a chance to win. "

Time for Bills to go with Brohm? | Democrat and Chronicle
"One way the Bills could make some headway on 2010 is to start finding out, as soon as possible, if new quarterback Brian Brohm is someone that could help the team."

Back to Work With the Bills | Democrat and Chronicle | Three-Point Stance
Sal Maiorana looks back at the Jets loss and forward to next season.

Bills looking toward 2010 for Maybin - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"I think he's going to be a dynamic player for us," said Perry Fewell. "It's very tough to play in this league, and I think he will get better, and he’ll be a top-flight pick. Maybe not at the end of this season, but he’s going to be a top-flight pick for this football team."

Video: AFC East Huddle - AFC East Blog - ESPN
ESPN's John Clayton takes his weekly spin around the AFC East and touches on a variety of subjects.

Jones, McNabb headline the top fantasy starters for Week 14 | NFL.com
Terrell Owens is a "Start 'Em" this week now that he's not locked up against Darrelle Revis.

wgrz.com | Buffalo, NY | Bills Roundtable
Watch 2-On-Your-Side's Adam Benigni and Sal Maiorana of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle on this week's Bills Roundtable.

Owens and Lynch have long pass contest | WIVB.com
45 second clip of Terrell Owens and Marshawn Lynch in a long pass contest following Wednesday’s practice.

Bills search for motivation | WIVB.com
"We're all competitors number one," Fewell said Wednesday. "We talked about it this morning, that in order to get what you want in life, you have to have enthusiasm and a vision. Our vision is to win."

Bills top draft pick DE Maybin remains motivated - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
"Maybin is willing to lower his expectations a little for this year. The level of confidence he has in his abilities, though, remains unchanged."

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
Bills interim coach Perry Fewell on LT Demetrius Bell (knee): "That's a day-to-day thing with Bell. He worked out Monday, really looked good on Monday. Did not participate today so we’re just trying to find out what the problem is there."

Further Evidence Edwards Is Done : Buffalo Sports Daily
Pat Moran, who two weeks ago called for Briam Brohm to get a look, now wants Trent Edwards back as the starter since he lit up the Chiefs a year ago.

Countdown Daily AccuScore Report: BUF-KC - ESPN Video - ESPN
Jenny Dell tells you the chances the Bills go into Kansas City and beat the Chiefs

Saints sign LB off Bills practice squad – Inside The Bills
"LB Anthony Waters, who was signed to Buffalo’s practice squad on Oct. 14 in the wake of a rash of injuries at the LB position, has been signed by New Orleans as they deal with injuries themselves at the LB position."

Owens open to re-signing with Bills in 2010 | BuffaloBills.com
"Terrell Owens seems to view the Bills as the victim of circumstance in 2009, which is why he’s not as discouraged by what has transpired this season as some might think." He is quoted as saying, "It’s no coincidence as (Ryan) Fitz(patrick) has been in the offense that I’ve been getting involved and he’s kind of been dropping back and looking downfield and he’s seen on the film where I have been open and we’ve taken full advantage of that."

Bills Week 14: Bills at Chiefs | Buffalo News Video
"The Bills head to Kansas City this week where they face the the Chiefs. Last time the Bills played in Arrowhead Stadium the Bills racked up 54 points in a win. Can the Bills repeat this season? Al, Sully and Rodney take a look at the matchup."

Bills celebrate Play 60 with students | BuffaloBills.com
The event included appearances by wide receiver Lee Evans, safety George Wilson, linebacker Chris Draft, long-snapper Garrison Sanborn, linebacker Jon Corto, defensive end Aaron Maybin, safety John Wendling and team mascot Billy Buffalo as they encouraged kids to stay fit.

Wilson: Bills work out Pettiti | National Football Post
The Bills worked out former Cowboys offensive tackle Rob Pettiti, late of the UFL's Florida Tuskers, Tuesday.

Team in Transition
WGR 550 SportsRadio - Getting a new football coach - in 12 stages
Jeremy White's 12-step program of getting over your old coach and finding your enthusiasm for the next season.

ProFootballWeekly.com - Assistants will draw interest for head-coaching jobs
"With the majority of the teams likely to be looking for new head coaches at the end of the season also having financial concerns that figure to keep them from pursuing heavy hitters such as Mike Shanahan, Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden and Mike Holmgren, PFW this week takes an in-depth look at the more affordable alternatives whom our leaguewide sources have identified from the NFL assistant-coaching ranks."

2010 NFL Draft
FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Cover-3: A Man Named Suh
FO profiles the big Nebraska DT.

Locker might return to Washington - San Jose Mercury News
"Washington coach Steve Sarkisian says he's "very optimistic" that star quarterback Jake Locker will return to the Huskies for his senior season rather than enter the NFL draft."

Bills Tweets
Nic Harris
Off tired, think this is what they call the rookie wall, imma fight thru! Time to bite down!

Letterman writer Eric Stengel
Terrell Owens has signed with a modeling agency. A couple of gigs and maybe the guy can finally get some attention!!

McGee, Byrd questionable for Thursday night Toronto tussle

Brian Galliford — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:38:46 -0000

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While Terrell Owens puts on his best giddy face for the cameras and scores of reporters covering the Buffalo Bills' latest excursion to Toronto, there's actual news to discuss about tomorrow night's divisional battle with the New York Jets.

The injury reports are out, and two of Buffalo's main defensive cogs are questionable: starting cornerback Terrence McGee and starting free safety Jairus Byrd. McGee, who has missed the Bills' last three games recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery he had during the team's Week 9 bye week, is considered a game-time decision. Byrd is as well, as he deals with a groin injury that has bothered him off and on since before training camp.

Demetrius Bell, John McCargo and Ashton Youboty have all been ruled out. Just like in last week's victory over Miami, Jonathan Scott is expected to start at left tackle.

For the Jets, they'll be without two cornerbacks - Dwight Lowery and Donald Strickland - as well as guard Robert Turner. Mark Sanchez, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Shaun Ellis, Calvin Pace, Jim Leonhard and Eric Smith are all listed as probable, and all will play.

Identifying the "crux players" on Buffalo's roster

Brian Galliford — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:00:30 -0000

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Two weeks ago - a day before the Buffalo Bills fired head coach Dick Jauron, in fact - we here at Buffalo Rumblings took a look at the core players of Buffalo's roster. The idea behind the post was to identify players that, based on their contract status with the franchise, are very likely to survive a regime change at One Bills Drive.

We'll recap the fruits of that labor quickly after the jump, but the purpose of this post is to take that exercise a step further. With the core players out of the way, it's time to look at the players that I'll term "crux players" - guys with flexible contract situations that will define a new regime's focus on re-building the Bills.

Core player recap
We named 17 current Bills as "core players," splitting the group up into vested veterans, young players with promise and role-playing veterans awaiting new roles once the regime change is complete. Of those 17 players, we defined a solid 9 as starting-caliber, a further six as fringe starters, and two as reserves. Here's that breakdown:

Starters: RB Fred Jackson, WR Lee Evans, G/C Eric Wood, DE Aaron Schobel, DT Marcus Stroud, LB Kawika Mitchell, CB Terrence McGee, FS Jairus Byrd, P Brian Moorman

Fringe starters: TE Shawn Nelson, OT Brad Butler, OG Andy Levitre, DE Aaron Maybin, DT Kyle Williams, CB Leodis McKelvin

Reserves: C/G Geoff Hangartner, DT Spencer Johnson

Keep in mind that all of these players are currently under contract through the end of the 2012 season. That means that, if each plays to the end of their contract, they'll be in Buffalo for another three years. The fact that each player has at least three years left on his deal at least ensures that they'll be part of the roster in Year 1 of a new regime, and many of them will be playing considerably large roles.

For this exercise, the criteria changes a bit. "Crux players," as far as we're concerned for now, are players that, once the 2009 season ends, will have either one or two years left on their current deal. Each is under contract for the 2010 season, but each also has a deal that makes it possible for a new regime to play football in 2010 without these players under contract. They are truly "crux" players in that a new regime will be making its most important decisions amongst this group. The entire new direction of the franchise from a personnel standpoint will be based largely on evaluations of these 19 players.

Keep in mind, also, that this list changes if 2010 is an uncapped year. Ask MattRichWarren about it.

Buffalo's 19 "crux players"
You'll have a task at the end of this exercise, but for now, here's a quick summary of the 19 crux players on Buffalo's roster:

Trent Edwards, QB - Signed through 2011. He's been benched and needs a new environment, but some talent remains.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB - Signed through 2012. Has proven to be reliable as a backup, but is not considered a franchise signal-caller.
Brian Brohm, QB - Signed through 2012. A project player with some solid tools, there's a chance he never sees the field for Buffalo.
Marshawn Lynch, RB - Signed through 2013, with an opt-out clause in the final year. No longer the starting running back, Lynch might be the subject of trade talks this off-season.
Corey McIntyre, FB - Signed through 2011. Run-of-the-mill player.
James Hardy, WR - Signed through 2012. Buffalo invested a second-round pick in him, and the talent is there, but Hardy has had injury issues and hasn't seen the field much.
Roscoe Parrish, WR - Signed through 2012. Has clamored for a trade, but a new regime might be inclined to keep him as a punt returner. Unlikely to get PT as a WR anywhere.
Steve Johnson, WR - Signed through 2012. Held in high regard by current regime, but that could change quickly, and doesn't carry the same investment as Hardy.
Derek Fine, TE - Signed through 2012. Probably survives a regime change because he's a role player with special teams ability.
Demetrius Bell, OT - Signed through 2012. Has struggled with injuries and on the playing field, but again, there is raw ability to work with.
Chris Kelsay, DE - Signed through 2011. A heady veteran who has improved under position coach Bob Sanders, but has a large salary that might seal his fate.
Chris Ellis, DE - Signed through 2012. Does not play a significant role now and that's not likely to change, but represents a significant investment ('08 third-round pick).
John McCargo, DT - Signed through 2011. Nothing more than a rotational tackle at this point in his disappointing career.
Paul Posluszny, LB - Signed through 2011. Sure to be the most intensely-debated player on this list.
Drayton Florence, CB - Signed through 2011. Has been excellent as a fill-in starter, and has scheme versatility.
Reggie Corner, CB - Signed through 2012. Reserve-type corner that has his uses, but should never be counted on as a starter.
Donte Whitner, S - Signed through 2011, with an opt-out clause in the final year. Could be a UFA as soon as this coming March. New regime might feel differently about him.
John Wendling, S - Signed through 2011. Special teams player only.
Rian Lindell, K - Signed through 2012. Reliable and gets more consistent with age.

Your Task
There's your list, folks. Some of those names obviously carry much more weight and importance than others. Your task: pick out the players that you believe are worth keeping around. Then, of those names, split them into starters and reserves. Combined with your input from the original post, this should really cement your ideas about where you'd take the franchise if you were GM.

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).

Titans 41, Bills 17: Week 10 Film Session

Brian Galliford — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:32:03 -0000

by John Russell - AP

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Call this ripping the band-aid off quickly, or pinching your nose to avoid the bad taste. I typically run film reviews on Tuesdays, but I couldn't force myself to watch a second of Buffalo Bills football on an otherwise valuable Monday evening. So this is the short, get-it-over-with-quickly version of what we usually do on Tuesdays. I sincerely doubt many of you will mind, given the sad state of affairs that was the Bills' 41-17 loss yesterday to the Tennessee Titans.

To discuss (briefly): Trent Edwards and the quarterbacks, Alex Van Pelt, the offensive line, John McCargo, the linebackers, Jairus Byrd and Dick Jauron.

On Trent Edwards and the quarterbacks. Edwards' numbers weren't as awful as they've been before on Sunday (18/28, 185 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT), but if you watch closely, you see a quarterback that is completely and utterly shell-shocked, and it's leading to breakdowns in his game. He's even struggling to take the snap and cleanly get into his drop consistently. His throws, particularly in the second half, were erratic and lacked precision. Edwards doesn't play like he trusts anyone - his line, his receivers, or himself. Yes, he made a few big plays in the passing game - and yes, he's still clearly a much better quarterback than Ryan Fitzpatrick - but I'm ready to officially declare him the latest in a long line of failed experiments at quarterback in Buffalo.

On the Wildcat and Alex Van Pelt. Folks - it really, really sucks to be Alex Van Pelt. Get that into your head. The man has proven this season that he knows how to set big plays up. Terrell Owens' reverse for a TD? Set up by Van Pelt's faking the reverse. Fred Jackson's Wildcat TD throw to Lee Evans? Set up by Van Pelt's extended use of it on back-to-back plays over the last two games. The man clearly has a knack for setting the table for his players to execute. But his players rarely execute, and his offensive line's enormous amount of miscues and terrible quarterback play overshadows his solid play-calling. As you recall, Van Pelt was made the offensive coordinator just days prior to this season after the firing of Turk Schonert. Now, with Dick Jauron's tenure in Buffalo likely to last only another seven games, Van Pelt's one shot to be an NFL coordinator might be wasted despite his putting in some good efforts.

On the offensive line. No, Andy Levitre was not OK at left tackle, folks. There's a reason the Bills drafted him to play guard - he's a good player, but he's not an NFL-caliber tackle. He struggled on the edge. But to be fair, Levitre wasn't the only one who struggled. Edwards was sacked twice and forced to scramble or throw the ball away at least another half-dozen times. The line as a whole committed another five false starts, which has gotten to the point where the penalties are so redundant that it's laughable. There is solid talent up front, but when are these guys going to start showing that they get it?

On John McCargo. Given this was the ninth game in McCargo's fourth season as a pro, it's probably too late to expect him to stay in Buffalo based on any of a number of solid performances he has a chance to put up the rest of the season. He's been a complete non-factor after the Bills drafted him in the first round in 2006, but to his credit, he came to play on Sunday. McCargo may have been Buffalo's best defensive lineman in Tennessee; I realize that isn't saying much, given the dominant performance of Chris Johnson, but McCargo piled up five tackles and was far more active than he's ever been in his career. Clearly, the performance will likely fall under the "too little, too late" umbrella, but McCargo is good enough to kick around in this league for a while as a reserve.

On the play of the linebackers, Poz in particular. I know everyone here is very anti-Paul Posluszny at the moment. Poz had another typical week, finding himself behind plays far too often and making himself a factor in the backfield far too infrequently. Many will continue to point out his ugly missed tackle in the fourth quarter that led to Johnson's second TD, which also happened to be the game-winning points. He's very obviously having an awful season. I still think he's a legitimate NFL-caliber starting linebacker. He might even be able to do it at middle linebacker, but the Tampa 2 is not his friend. His talents are wasted in a gap-control defense. Poz needs to be in a system similar to Minnesota's, where he's got massive tackles in front of him and can flow to the football in a more natural manner. He'll never be a dominant defender, but we don't have enough information to condemn him further than "he's having a bad season."

As for the rest of the linebackers? Not much to say. I thought Bryan Scott did about as well as could have been reasonably expected playing a new position. Even with the healthy return of Kawika Mitchell in 2010, this position is still very obviously the Achilles heel of Buffalo's defense.

On Jairus Byrd. Go vote this kid into the Pro Bowl. He's now got eight interceptions on the season after picking off Vince Young, giving him the NFL lead as well as picks in each of his last five games. He might be the elite ball hawk in the NFL, at least this season. Rarely do you see rookies make the most of their opportunities. Byrd is still very much a one-dimensional presence - he struggled against the run once again yesterday - but Buffalo might actually have an elite player on their team. He just produces.

On Dick Jauron. After guiding the Bills to a 24-32 record in his first 56 games as head coach of the Bills, this game may have been the straw that broke the camel's back for Jauron. No, the team didn't look discernibly better or worse than it has all season, but for the first time with the team, Jauron coached as if he had little to no confidence in his team on the whole. The decision to decline a holding penalty and let Rob Bironas kick a 51-yard field goal to give the Titans a 27-17 lead spoke solely of a complete lack of confidence in his defense. The decision to pull Edwards late in the fourth quarter for no glaringly apparent reason spoke of a man who literally has run out of options at the game's most critical position and is just flying by the seat of his pants. Jauron is a professional, and he'll get all he can from his troops over the next seven weeks. After that, the odds of Jauron being in Buffalo are astonishingly small.

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.

Bills 20, Panthers 9: Week 7 Film Session

Brian Galliford — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:39:06 -0000

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I could get used to this. I know I shouldn't, but I definitely know, one hundred percent, that I can get used to re-watching Buffalo Bills victories. Buffalo's most recent victory, a 20-9 win over the Carolina Panthers, puts the Bills at 3-4 on the 2009 season - and while they aren't playing anywhere near playoff-caliber football, they're keeping themselves alive despite a pitiful start to the season.

There's a lot to cover in this particular installment of our weekly film session. Let's go.

Ryan Fitzpatrick. It is absolutely terrifying to say this, but get used to watching Fitzpatrick play, folks - there's a very strong chance you'll see him in the lineup for a while. Why? It's pretty simple, really - Fitzpatrick currently gives Buffalo the best chance to win football games. That's not saying a lot - for Trent Edwards or for Fitzpatrick.

Buffalo's offense looks different with Fitzpatrick at the helm - no one can deny that. They're much less prone to mistakes. The best examples there are turnovers (in eight quarters of play, the Bills have turned it over just once with Fitzpatrick at the helm), and far more importantly, sacks (Fitzpatrick has been sacked just twice in two games, whereas Edwards was sacked 19 times in a little over five games). Forget about their skills as a quarterback. If I know Dick Jauron, I'm looking at things like pocket presence, poise and decisiveness right now - because Fitzpatrick has displayed a crystal clear advantage in all three of those departments over the past two weeks, particularly in avoiding a solid Panthers pass rush and making a few really nice throws on Sunday.

Fitzpatrick is what he is. Don't expect him to get better. More efficient, possibly, but not better overall. He's got a bit of swagger, he's solid in the pocket, and he's got a pretty strong arm. He's not terribly accurate - he's only completing 44.7 percent of his passes this season, after all - and he doesn't put a lot of touch on his throws (Bills receivers dealt with a lot of high throws and balls glancing off their hands - Terrell Owens specifically - because Fitzpatrick decided to throw in howitzer mode). It's a mark of how much Edwards has regressed in basic areas that we can truthfully say that Fitzpatrick is our best chance at making the playoffs. It's obviously not ideal, but it is what it is.

The running game. It's pretty easy to get on Fitzpatrick for his bad stats over the past two weeks, but it's also more than fair to say that he's been steering a completely one-dimensional offense. Buffalo, which ran the ball very effectively early in the season - even while piling up defeats - hasn't been able to run the ball effectively at all in the past two weeks. The Bills ran for 53 yards on 29 carries against Carolina, whose run defense was down near the bottom of the league entering the contest. Fred Jackson has 54 yards on 20 carries in the past two weeks. Marshawn Lynch? 101 yards on 36 carries. Oh yeah - he also scored the Bills' first rushing TD on the season in this win.

Defenses aren't doing anything special to stop the run, either. The Bills are seeing more stacked boxes than perhaps they did earlier in the season, but they see their fair share of seven-man fronts, too, thanks to Owens and Lee Evans on the outside. The blocking isn't there, and the running backs haven't played up to their usual standards, either. If Alex Van Pelt can find some rhythm for his running game, Buffalo's offense might finally start clicking - and Fitzpatrick might actually complete more than half of his pass attempts.

Offensive tackles. It is plainly obvious that, aside from quarterback - yes, folks, Buffalo will be looking at quarterbacks next off-season, regardless of what happens this season - the Bills' biggest need offensively is a tackle. Demetrius Bell is OK. He played pretty well against the Panthers, and every week he looks a little more comfortable on the field. There's a chance that he sticks around, particularly if he continues to improve. Right tackle is another story altogether. Jamon Meredith, making his second professional start, was repeatedly viciously abused by Julius Peppers. Obviously, that wasn't unexpected, but half the time it looked like he was just letting Peppers pick him up off the ground to slow down his acceleration. He's got some athleticism, but he's decades away from being worthy of dressing regularly for NFL games. I never thought I'd be pining for the return of Jonathan Scott, but here I am, pining for the return of Jonathan Scott.

Terrell Owens. Part of me just wants to see a guy like Fitzpatrick or Lee Evans rip into this guy. Buffalo does what it can to get him involved early in games, and T.O. just lets the opportunities slip through his hands - literally. Nothing would help the Bills more in games such as the ones they've played over the past two weeks than grabbing an early lead. Owens has had chances to make plays early in ball games - whether to sustain drives or of bigger scale - and those opportunities have been blown. Not only would it be fun to see the bemused expression on Owens' face if Fitzpatrick lit him up on the sidelines (yes, I'm aware it'll never happen), but it might actually provoke Owens to act like he gives a crap on the football field.

John McCargo. I paid close attention to McCargo, who saw his first "extensive" playing time thanks to the knee injury that sidelined Kyle Williams early in this one. My verdict: McCargo is useful, but he's absolutely nothing more than average. He can stack and shed, he can penetrate, and he's tough against the run with a good motor, but he's just "a guy" - he'll never be a game-changer. He's exactly where he belongs - fourth in the rotation. Buffalo could use some additional beef in the middle of their D-Line rotation, and if that comes at the expense of McCargo next off-season, I'm OK with it.

Yet another linebacker shakeup. Most of you probably noticed this during the game or heard about it afterward, but Perry Fewell made yet another change at linebacker. Keith Ellison, who was the strong-side linebacker for the past two seasons, is now playing the weak-side role vacated by Kawika Mitchell. Ashlee Palmer, who got the nod for Mitchell after his season-ending knee injury, is out of the lineup. Chris Draft, a street free agent signing, is the new SAM linebacker. It didn't really help - the Bills still gave up 4.6 yards per rush to a Panthers team that inexplicably allowed Jake Delhomme to air it out 44 times - but Draft at least attacked the line of scrimmage and had a big hand in a key fourth-and-one stop in the second half. Did I mention the Bills need help at linebacker, too?

Jairus Byrd. There isn't really much more to say than what we've said on each of the past two Mondays, but I thought I'd offer this up: Byrd doesn't look like he ran a 4.67-second 40-yard dash in pre-draft workouts. Many questioned his athleticism coming out of college based on this single time, but it's pretty clear that Byrd is a fantastic athlete. He's really the ideal package at free safety - he's got terrific sideline-to-sideline range, he hits with solid leverage, and I don't think I need to tell you he's got great ball skills. I'm not sure he'll ever be a top-notch run defender, but at free safety, he really doesn't need to be. This guy is an absolute pleasure to watch - but wrap up that ball carrier, Jairus. He had an ugly missed tackle on DeAngelo Williams' fourth-quarter touchdown run.

Special Teams. Name a guy who plays special teams for the Bills, and I'll tell you that they had a great day on Sunday. Well, I take that back - name a guy who plays special teams and isn't a returner, and I'll tell you that he had a great day. Buffalo's return units continue to be pretty average, though Fred Jackson is still capable of making plays back there, with the scoot-up-the-sideline routine his go-to return.

The coverage units were back with full force on Sunday. Maybe the Panthers just aren't great on special teams - OK, the Panthers aren't great on special teams - but we saw big hit after big hit from the Bills on Sunday. John Wendling, Corey McIntyre, Ashlee Palmer, Jon Corto, Jonathan Stupar, Ashton Youboty - all of these and many others had big hits either on return men or on blockers. Rarely have I seen Bills special teams units be as physically dominant as they were on Sunday. Special teams will always be underrated by the masses, but the ability of Bobby April's units to physically manhandle the Panthers and flip field position was a huge factor in the Bills pulling out a win on the road.

Good morning, Sunshine! Welcome to bye week football

BigBlueShoe — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:35:30 -0000

More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP

2 months ago: Oklahoma staff assist quarterback Sam Bradford (14) after being injured on a sack in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Texas, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009, in Dallas. Bradford did not return to the game. Texas won 16-13. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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I feel sorry for Sam Bradford, re-injuring his shoulder against Texas. And while nutsacks like Mike Florio are laughing at Bradford for not entering the draft last year, where he surely would have been a top 10 pick, I think it was a smart move.

Bradford's "knocks" are his durability and the system they run at Oklahoma (spread offense). If he's had declared for the draft last year, he'd have come into the NFL as a sophomore (age 21). Sorry, but you throw a 21-year-old rookie QB out there, safeties like Ed Reed and pass rushers like Dwight Freeney won't give Bradford a bruised shoulder. They'd tear his arm off. If Bradford's injury shows anything it's that he is not ready, physically, for the NFL.

Sure, if he wanted a quick payday, not caring about whether he becomes a great QB or not, then the advice of a sleaze bag like Florio makes sense. However, if you are Bradford, and you are looking for a long and fruitful career in the NFL, your body must be able to take the pounding. This newly injured shoulder will allow him to rest, heal up, and (hopefully) help him come back to Oklahoma next season for his senior year, where he can prove he is durable and gifted enough to play NFL-style football. Because, seriously folks, professionals in the NFL hit a lot harder than the pampered Longhorns in Texas.

OK, enough college football. Today, the pros play. I'm looking forward to Giants v. Saints along with Ravens v. Vikings.

Some interesting trade rumor news:

Chiefs are looking to trade Glenn Dorsey, maybe.
Some idiot at FOX Sports thinks the Colts should trade for Terrell Owens. I personally wouldn't take that slow, washed-up, pass-dropping clown if YOU paid ME. Seriously, what have we seen from Owens in two years that shows he is better than Pierre Garcon, Anthony Gonzalez, or even Hank Baskett? Guy drops more balls than your blind cousin in a flag football game.
The Browns do not want to trade Josh Cribbs to the Colts or any other team.

In case you are wondering what I think on this (because I know you do), I do indeed think the Colts will make a trade before tomorrow's deadline. For two of the past three years, the Colts have made a major trade just prior to the deadline. They traded a second round pick for Anthony McFarland in 2006 and a 3rd rounder for John McCargo in 2008. The McCargo trade was voided after he failed a physical with the Colts, a move I still find a little dubious on the part of the Bills.

The current needs for the Colts are tackle, kick returner, and maybe a pass-rushing DT.

Open threads coming soon. Until then, chit-chat here.

Oh, and congrats to shake n bake, whose Iowa Hawkeyes are still undefeated. It's crap like this that makes me hate college football. How an undefeated Big 10 team is not ranked in the top 5, I don't know.

[UPDATE]: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand speaking of trades the Colts, right on cue, we have news from Pewter Report that the Buccaneers are talking with the Colts about trading linebacker Barrett Ruud to Indy. Ruud is Tampa Bay's middle linebacker and is 6'2, 240 pounds. If Indy gets him, they will likely transition him to SAM backer.

Whitner, Scott out; Bell, Byrd probable for Browns game

Brian Galliford — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:15:09 -0000

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

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The Buffalo Bills will again be depleted in their defensive secondary for a regular season game, but will get their starting left tackle back in time for the Cleveland Browns.

Starting safeties Donte Whitner (thumb) and Bryan Scott (ankle) will each miss their second consecutive game, as both have been ruled out for the Bills' upcoming matchup with the Cleveland Browns, reports The Buffalo News. Also listed as out are defensive end Chris Ellis (death in the family) and linebacker Paul Posluszny (arm).

The good news is that starting left tackle Demetrius Bell - who missed last week's loss to Miami with a groin injury - practiced all week and is listed as probable for the Browns game. Joining him is free safety Jairus Byrd, who has been dealing with a hip injury. Terrence McGee had some mild knee soreness during the week, but will play on Sunday. He, too, is probable. One more for the probable list: defensive tackle John McCargo (calf) is set to return to the lineup.

Cornerback Ellis Lankster (back spasms) is listed as questionable. Should he miss the game, Buffalo will take the field Sunday with four healthy corners and three healthy safeties.