SB Nation - Spencer Johnson

Identifying the "crux players" on Buffalo's roster

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

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

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.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/25

MattRichWarren — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:29:33 -0000

More photos » by Phil Coale - AP

19 days ago: Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew (32) runs for second-quarter yardage as Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Spencer Johnson moves into make the tackle during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phil Coale)

Browse more photos »

Wilson making mark at strong safety | BuffaloBills.com
In six starts this season Wilson stands third on the team in tackles, is tied for second in forced fumbles, fourth in sacks and fifth in pass breakups. He also caught his third interception of the season last week.

Bills' Johnson lending a hand on D-line : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Spencer Johnson's (pictured above) name may not jump off the stat sheet from Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but his impact was certainly felt by interim Bills coach Perry Fewell.

Give The Ball To Brohm : Buffalo Sports Daily
Pat Moran suggests that Brian Brohm is the only potential franchise QB on the roster so he should get some playing time down the stretch this year.

Team in Transition
Bill Cowher Snubs Bills, Would Not Snub Bears Or Texans - SB Nation
Apparently Bill Cowher would be "excited" to coach the Bears or Texans. Guys - welcome to the QB quandry.

Schottenheimer says he's not a coaching candidate | ProFootballTalk.com
"I'll be very candid with you and say it's nice to think that people would consider you," Schottenheimer said, "but the reality of it is is that after 30 great years I'm really not going to go back down that road again."

Cowher isn’t shuffling off to Buffalo | National Football Post
Robert Boland says Bill Cowher may or may not be interested in Buffalo but he is not going to give away the leverage he has over the Bills and other teams. He also doesn't want the Bills to pit Shanahan against Cowher.

Schottie addresses Bills coaching rumors – Inside The Bills
Chris Brown laments the disinterest of Marty Schottenheimer because of his great coaching record.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - NFL.com's Jason LaCanfora joins THSS
"It's more just a sort of extension of where Coach Cowher is coming from in terms of having a commitment to honor right now at CBS," LaCanfora said. "He doesn't want to become a part of a coaching search while guys like Perry Fewell are trying to make a statement."

Shanahan stays on Buffalo Bills wish list | Democrat and Chronicle
A person familiar with the Bills' search told The Associated Press that the team has contacted the former Denver Broncos' coach. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Bills are not discussing the search.

Bills owner Wilson willing to write the check, but who'll cash it?
Mike Holmgren has rejected an overture from the Bills as well, presumably because he has his eye on one or more other opportunities that would likely involve him taking only a front-office position.

NFL Videos: Around the League
Will Bill Cowher coach in Buffalo next season? Get the latest on that story and more from Jascon La Caforna.

News and Notes
Dolphins vs Bills: Five Good Questions - The Phinsider
Brian Galliford of Buffalo Rumblings joins the Phinsider to discuss the Bills as we look towards Sunday's Dolphins/Bills game.

Blogger's Blitz: AFC East - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Tim Graham analyzes the state of the Patriots, Bills, Jets and Dolphins

Even in defeat, Fewell rouses Bills fans - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Fewell, the Buffalo Bills' interim head coach, lost his first game as Jauron's placement but as of Tuesday night was pulling down a 65 percent in SportsNation's weekly NFL head coach approval ratings.

Week 13 power rankings: AFC East - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Tim Graham lists the AFC East teams best wins, worst losses, and close calls. The Bills-Patriots game is both teams' close call game and the Bills win over the Jets is their worst loss.

How I See It: AFC East Stock Watch - AFC East Blog - ESPN
The Bills offensive line stock is falling - and let's face it how could it not be - and Terrell Owens stock is rising.

Buffalo City Mission's Photos | Facebook
Chris Draft, Terrell Owens, Bryan Scott, and C.J. Hawthorne helped out at the Buffalo City Mission yesterday.

Bills bring cheer to kids | BuffaloBills.com
Bills offensive lineman Kirk Chambers, linebacker Jon Corto, kicker Rian Lindell, and safety John Wendling visited with children and their families from the Women’s & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo on November 23rd.

Niagara Gazette - BILLS DVR REWIND: Small errors keep killing Bills
Tim Schmitt looks back at the Bills loss to the Jaguars to give his thoughts.

Buffalo Bills' QB situation among the worst in the NFL | Democrat and Chronicle
Bob Matthews ranks the Bills QB situation 29th in the NFL.

Bills Tweets
Kawika Mitchell
rehab is goin good. Healin up and storin up energy

Aaron Maybin
just got done serving dinner to over 300 kids and their families in downtown buffalo. Great time!

Adam Caplan
Source said they brought in a young guard today, no name guy.RT @mdschmidt: @caplannfl Any word on other OLs Buffalo might be pursuing?

Donte Whitner
Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strength.when u go through hardship and decide not to surrenderthat strenth

Stroud one of three Bills starters out for Sunday

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

More photos » by Rick Havner - AP

Browse more photos »

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).

Identifying the core of the Buffalo Bills' roster

Brian Galliford — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:00:05 -0000

by John Russell - AP

View full size photo »

Welcome, Buffalo Bills fans, to yet another "coping with disastrous football" post. The Bills, as I'm sure you're aware, lost 41-17 on the road to the Tennessee Titans yesterday; the loss puts the Bills at 3-6 under Dick Jauron for the first time since 2006, Jauron's first season in Buffalo. The players have been awful, the coaching staff is officially in "play out the string" territory, and that broad, sweeping change that fans have called for since December of 2008 is probably coming after seven weeks are up.

As brutal as it may be to watch the Bills during that two-month stretch, there's still plenty we can learn. The front office and the coaching staff will probably have new faces come next February. (Read that as me being hopeful on the former, and realistic on the latter.) But in all likelihood, many of the faces you currently see on game days will still be donning red, white and blue in 2010 and beyond.

This post is the first of a three-part series in which we'll attempt to segment the Bills' roster up to accurately pinpoint where change is not only most-needed, but most likely. Up first for discussion: those Bills players who are likely to be in Buffalo far longer than many of their teammates. After the jump, you'll find three groups of these players, as well as your task for the comments section. Here's hoping you find the discussion therapeutic.

Criteria
In order to qualify for this first group of players, one must have a contract that has at least three years remaining on it at the start of the 2010 season; in other words, all of these players are locked up in Buffalo through either 2013 or 2014. That qualifies 19 players for this list, but we'll only discuss 17. Sorry, fans of Nic Harris and Ellis Lankster, but your guys are fringe prospects and all too easy to release at any point, particularly under the employ of a new decision-making hierarchy.

The unknown status of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the possible free agency rules changes has little to no effect on this list. All veterans that have been in the league for a number of years remain unchanged, while the young players on the list (four years or less of experience) will only see the status of their free agency change (from unrestricted to restricted), likely increasing their time in Buffalo, in most cases.

We've split these 17 players into three groups: the veteran core, the youth core, and the vets whose roles would be dependent on how a new decision-making hierarchy attempted to address the team's bigger issues.

The veteran core (7 players)
These are players whose contracts meet the above criteria and who are veterans, either age-wise or experience-wise, with established reputations across the league. They are all players that have significant roles with the team, as well, and would likely hold onto significant roles, at least initially, in a regime change. These players will likely be the heart and soul of Bills football for the next few years.

Fred Jackson, RB - Signed through 2013. Cheap, versatile player who leaves everything on the field and makes plays.
Lee Evans, WR - Signed through 2013. Is proving this season that he can make big plays when he has help.
Aaron Schobel, DE - Signed through 2014. On the down side of his career, but can still produce, and is very consistent.
Marcus Stroud, DT - Signed through 2013. Again, on the down side, but still a more-than-capable starter in a 4-3.
Kawika Mitchell, LB - Signed through 2013. If he can start at LB on a Super Bowl champion, he can do it in Buffalo, too.
Terrence McGee, CB - Signed through 2014. Has enjoyed a consistent, successful career at a premium position.
Brian Moorman, P - Signed through 2013. Still an excellent punter and a fantastic teammate/community member.

The youth core (6 players)
These players meet the above criteria contract-wise, but carry far less established professional resumes. These six players' development - or lack thereof - will have a critical effect on how a new regime will address future iterations of the Buffalo Bills, but for now, their status as Bills players worth building around remains intact.

Shawn Nelson, TE - Signed through 2013. Great physical talent in need of playing time. Minor injuries are concerning.
Andy Levitre, OG - Signed through 2013. Versatile, plays the game the right way. Inconsistent, makes too many errors.
Eric Wood, C - Signed through 2014. Listed as a center because that's where he belongs. Also inconsistent.
Aaron Maybin, DE - Signed through 2014. Like the pick or not, his potential still remains through the roof. Needs PT.
Leodis McKelvin, CB - Signed through 2013. Elite talent at premium position, but has had two disappointing seasons.
Jairus Byrd, S - Signed through 2013. Ceiling may be somewhat limited, but has proven he's an elite ball hawk.

Veterans awaiting roles (4 players)
Again, these players meet contractual criteria and should be in Buffalo for the foreseeable future. These players might not be guaranteed much in the way of starting positions or playing time, however, under a new regime.

Brad Butler, OT - Signed through 2013. Has been dependable as a starter, but is a major risk for injury every season.
Geoff Hangartner, G/C - Signed through 2013. Disappointing as a center, but hard to ignore versatility and experience.
Kyle Williams, DT - Signed through 2013. Again, dependable, but new staff might view him as only rotation-worthy.
Spencer Johnson, DT - Signed through 2013. See Williams. Probably sees PT, but DT might be an upgrade area.

Your task
That's it. 17 players who are probably going to be Bills for a while, split into three pretty-easy-to-define areas in terms of how new regimes will view them. Your task for the comments section: split all 17 of these names into starters and non-starters. That's it. Only list a name as a starter if you think they could start for a playoff-caliber football team. My guess is that, at least for this part of the series, opinions will be pretty universal. Have at it, folks.

Bills WR Owens questionable for Week 10

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

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

Browse more photos »

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

Bills' defense remains banged up heading into Week 8

Brian Galliford — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:12:53 -0000

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

Browse more photos »

The Buffalo Bills have released their Week 8 injury report, and as usual with this team, it's mostly bad news.

Six players have been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Houston Texans. Quarterback Trent Edwards (head), fullback Corey McIntyre (knee), tight end Shawn Nelson (migraines), tackle Jonathan Scott (ankle), defensive tackle Kyle Williams (knee) and safety Donte Whitner (ankle) will not dress. In addition, safety Bryan Scott - who hasn't played in a month with a high ankle sprain, but who did practice on a limited basis all week - is listed as doubtful.

Williams will miss his first start since being drafted by the Bills in the fifth round of the 2006 Draft. Whitner and Scott, the team's opening-day duo at safety, will (probably, in the case of Scott) miss their fourth and fifth straight games, respectively, though Whitner did make a brief appearance in a Week 6 win over the Jets before succumbing to his ankle injury. Spencer Johnson starts for Williams. Jairus Byrd and George Wilson - who have combined for six interceptions over the past two weeks - will continue to get the call at safety.

Defensive end Chris Kelsay (back) and cornerback Terrence McGee (knee) are listed as probable. Both are likely to suit up.

Ryan Fitzpatrick will make his second straight start at quarterback in place of Edwards; he's won his last five starts dating back to the end of the 2008 season, when he was with Cincinnati. Jamon Meredith will make his third straight start at right tackle in place of Jonathan Scott. The Bills will once again enter a game with just two healthy tight ends (Derek Fine and Jonathan Stupar), and they do not have a replacement fullback for McIntyre, who has seen more action than usual in recent weeks as a lead blocker.

Meanwhile, two key Texans starters - receiver Andre Johnson and linebacker Brian Cushing - will start on Sunday.

Bills vs. Panthers: Blogger Q&A

Jaxon — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:15:11 -0000

Welcome to our next installment of Blogger Q&A as this week we have Brian Galliford from Buffalo Rumblings. Things have been rumbling in Bills territory as they face a number of significant injuries including the loss of QB Trent Edwards.

Question 1: I'm most curious how former Panther Geoff Hangartner is doing? I realize it can be hard to evaluate a center but is he starting? Performing well?

BG: Right now, he's grading out as one of our weakest performers up front - but that's not completely unexpected, given the importance of the center position against NFL teams who use three-man fronts far more often than they have in recent past. There is no question that Hangartner has been a significant improvement over the Bills' two centers from 2008, Melvin Fowler and Duke Preston. The difference, really, is night and day. Hangartner has had some minor back issues and has had some issues snapping in shotgun sets, but he's been a steady performer to this point.

His importance skyrocketed when the Bills lost RT Brad Butler for the season; when the Bills take on Carolina, Hangartner will be centering an offensive line that features four players that may as well be rookies. LT Demetrius Bell is a second-year player, but he was not active for a single game in 2008. Andy Levitre and Eric Wood have started just six games apiece as our rookie guards. With Butler (drafted in 2006) gone, we're starting another rookie, Jamon Meredith (drafted by GB in the fifth round this season), at right tackle. Hangartner's leadership qualities are being put to a severe test, as he's now by far our most experienced starting lineman.

Hangartner is the elder statesman on the Bills o-line? The Panthers should be able to contain the Bills running game with their new DT additions. Who knows, they might actually be able to get pressure on the QB without blitzing. What a novel concept!

Question 2. Fred Jackson or Marshawn Lynch? Who's the better RB for the Bills and why?

BG: If you're asking which runner needs to carry the bulk of the workload, the answer is clearly Lynch. He's the more talented of the two backs. The fact that he can carry the load, however, only highlights the versatility and importance of Jackson. With Roscoe Parrish falling out of favor in Buffalo, Jackson is now our full-time kick and punt returner. He also lines up in the slot as a receiver on occasion, and has perhaps the softest pair of hands on the team. He is Buffalo's leading rusher and receiver. Getting both of these players playing at a high level is absolutely essential however much success the Bills are able to milk from this 2009 season. The better running back for the Bills is Lynch, but the more important player is certainly Jackson.

How did I miss Jackson in my FFL draft?

Question 3. If Ryan Fitzpatrick starts at QB for the Bills what does that mean for your offense? Is there anything different the Panthers should be worried about concerning Fitz versus re-injured starter Trent Edwards?

BG: First thing's first: Edwards was not present at team facilities either Wednesday or Thursday, so we can just go ahead and strike that "if" from the question - Fitzpatrick is going to start for Buffalo on Sunday.

Not much will change offensively as the Bills make the temporary transition from Edwards to Fitzpatrick. They're slightly different players - Edwards is a better pure passer, but Fitzpatrick is a better runner and probably a more savvy decision-maker at this point - but they're executing the same scheme. We'll run, we'll screen, we'll take the occasional shot down the field - and, as it's par for the course, we probably won't score a lot of points, either.

The fact he is more mobile does change things for the Panthers a tad. The Panthers will need to make sure they don't lose containment straight up the middle.

Question 4: Let's see, the Bills got 6 INT's last week against the Jets and statistically they rank last against the run. Seems pretty obvious the Panthers will run the heck out of the ball Sunday. What do you think the Bills will do on defense to stop the Panthers running game?

BG: Sell out. Seven, eight in the box at all times. DT Kyle Williams has been one of our better run defenders for the last 2-3 years, but he'll miss this contest with a shoulder injury. Spencer Johnson, a former Viking, will replace him in the lineup, starting next to Marcus Stroud. Paul Posluszny returned to the lineup last week, but the Jets still ran for 318 yards. Our best back seven run defender might be Donte Whitner, but he hasn't practiced at all this week as he deals with an ankle injury. We're depleted of our best run defenders, so it'll take numbers to contain the run. Buffalo will be content to sell out a bit to stop the run, but they won't let the deep pass happen, either - so Delhomme should have backs, tight ends and Muhsin Muhammed at his disposal early and often on Sunday.

We are used to teams stacking the box for sure with Delhomme handing out INT's like Halloween candy. He's bound to try and force a few balls at Smith to keep him happy.

Question 5. After 6 games who is your offensive and defensive MVP so far? I don't suppose on offense its Terrell Owens?

BG: On offense, it's obviously Fred Jackson. He's the team's leading rusher. He leads the team in receptions. He's far and away been the Bills' most consistent threat offensively. It's really no contest - and if you add in his new special teams responsibilities, he's probably the Team MVP, too.

Defensively, I'm going with Terrence McGee. He's not a big-name NFL corner because he's not a loud-mouth nor is he arrogant, but he routinely lines up across a team's best receiver, and he routinely shuts them down. He's solid against the run, he plays through minor bumps and bruises, and most importantly (considering he's lining up to a lot of new guys in the defensive backfield), he knows the system back to front. He's an effort defender. The fact that he's been in the lineup and performed at a high level - minus the statistical acclaim - speaks volumes about the importance of his presence to this banged-up defense.

So Smith will draw McGee as his cover guy? Let's see if the kid holds up because I'm betting they take some shots down field early in this game.

A big thanks to Brian Galliford over at SBN site Buffalo Rumblings.

Handing out first-quarter grades for the Buffalo Bills

Brian Galliford — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:15:14 -0000

More photos » by Lynne Sladky - AP

Browse more photos »

The Buffalo Bills have completed the first quarter of their regular season slate this season, and have done so with a 1-3 record. After a promising start to the season with a surprisingly close loss in New England and a semi-convincing home victory over Tampa Bay, Buffalo has dropped two straight abysmal performances to New Orleans and Miami. The Bills are 0-2 in the division, and are the only AFC East team to not yet pick up a win against a divisional foe. They've scored more points than just two other AFC teams - Oakland (1-3) and Cleveland (0-4). Meanwhile, only Kansas City (0-4), Cleveland and Detroit (1-3) have surrendered more points than the Bills.

In short? It's been pretty brutal.

It's not all bad news, though - Buffalo has four more games on its schedule against teams that have yet to win a single game in the first quarter of the season (Week 5 vs Cleveland, Week 7 at Carolina, Week 10 at Tennessee and Week 14 at Kansas City). So unless the Bills continue to play as they have over the past two weeks (or they can't stay healthy once they get healthy again), there's a chance they could climb back into the race. But only a chance.

We've got grades for you for each positional unit through four games. We also highlight two players that have really stood out, and two more that... haven't. It's all after the jump.

Quarterbacks: C- You can't completely discount Trent Edwards' strong start to the season - through two games, he'd thrown four touchdown passes and sported a QB rating of 104.9. But with his O-Line in a constant state of flux and with his own play slipping to a new level of mediocrity (for him), the position has only barely been passable this season - and it's been ridiculously awful in the past two weeks. Good news, though - Ryan Fitzpatrick has shown a great aptitude in relaying play calls from Alex Van Pelt to Edwards. (Yes, that means I'm saying that the calls to bench Edwards are ridiculous.)

Running Backs: A- There is nothing to not like about Fred Jackson's game. He's still the sixth-leading rusher in the league (333 yards at 4.8 yards per carry) despite the fact that Buffalo has abandoned the running game almost completely in the last two weeks. He continues to lead the Bills in receptions and receiving yardage, too. Fred Jackson is our best player right now, and it's not really close. Marshawn Lynch is back and continues to knock off the rust; we'll see if his presence has any long-term effects on the effectiveness of Jackson. Heck, Xavier Omon looked pretty solid taking spot carries for Jackson in Weeks 1-3, too.

Wide Receivers: D Part of their alarming lack of production has to do with the lack of cohesiveness up front as well as the lack of rhythm in the passing game. Terrell Owens, Lee Evans and Josh Reed have combined for 29 catches, 415 yards and 3 TD through four games. That's about equal to the output of Steve Smith - New York's Steve Smith, not Carolina's Steve Smith - who has 34 catches, 411 yards and 4 TD as a make-shift No. 1 receiver for Eli Manning. If that doesn't speak volumes about how putrid the receivers and the passing attack in general have been, I don't know what does. They only get a D because they can't be completely blamed for their issues.

Tight Ends: D+ Derek Schouman proved himself a valuable, underrated underneath option before landing on IR with a knee injury. Derek Fine has been just as prone to drops as the receivers have been, and while Shawn Nelson has flashed ability (he had a TD reception in Week 1, his first NFL appearance), he hasn't yet asserted himself as a threat in Schouman's stead. Jonathan Stupar? He's human, folks - very, very human.

Offensive Tackles: D Unfortunately for Brad Butler, he gets dragged down by his teammates. Butler was performing well, but he, too, is on IR - his season is over. Demetrius Bell flashed loads of potential and dominance, but he also made tons of mistakes - and then he missed Week 4 with a groin injury. His worth, however, was thrown into perspective when Jonathan Scott and Kirk Chambers resorted to the pirouette pass-blocking technique down in Miami. It didn't work for them. Buffalo has given up 16 sacks already this season, and the vast majority of them are the fault of the tackles.

Offensive Guards/Centers: B- Geoff Hangartner has struggled with a nagging back injury and really awful shotgun snaps, but he's still representative of a massive improvement at center from last year's group. Andy Levitre and Eric Wood, the subjects of much pre-season skepticism, have both made their share of mistakes (many more in the case of Wood), but they've also been dominant at times, particularly in the run game. These guys have proven why they were high-round picks, and there is some hope that they'll turn into dominant offensive linemen sooner rather than later. It's not perfect, but here, at least, there is lots of potential.

Defensive Ends: B It's hard to find reasons to be upset with this group right now; much-maligned for the past two seasons, this group is performing well. With very little statistical input from first-round pick Aaron Maybin, the trio of Aaron Schobel, Chris Kelsay and Ryan Denney have amassed 7 sacks already - well beyond the pace they've set in recent seasons. Yes, they're still susceptible to misdirection plays and lapses against the run, but on a long list of problem areas, this unit is unranked. They're playing well.

Defensive Tackles: C+ This group had a strong start to the season, but they've faded in the last two games as the Bills have given up well over 200 yards rushing per game to opponents. Marcus Stroud has two sacks, while Kyle Williams and Spencer Johnson have both flashed the ability to make plays in the backfield. Williams in particular has been unblockable at times. But they're getting gashed right now - which isn't completely their fault, I realize, but does bring their grade down a touch.

Linebackers: F How's your arm, Paul Posluszny? "Poz" has played roughly two quarters' worth of football this season after breaking his arm in the first half against New England, and Buffalo's defense clearly misses him. Kawika Mitchell and Keith Ellison are both serviceable players, but in this defensive scheme, they can't carry the burden they're carrying now - they've been abysmal against the run, and the plays they've made are... well, never mind, they haven't made any plays yet. Marcus Buggs has been overwhelmed trying to fill in for Posluszny, and none of the team's young, talented reserves have proven capable of stepping up. This is the clear weak area of the defense right now.

Cornerbacks: B Terrence McGee continues his unappreciated play; as far as reliable tacklers go, McGee might sit atop a list of two or three names - all of them defensive backs. (Posluszny might have sneaked onto that list were he healthy.) Leodis McKelvin is gone for the season, but before he was lost, he'd been picked on almost mercilessly by the likes of Tom Brady, Byron Leftwich and Drew Brees. Drayton Florence has played well in his place, but we'll see how long that lasts - he was brutal as a starter last season in Jacksonville. Reggie Corner and Ashton Youboty have performed well in sub-package duty, but it's best if they stay in that role - we really can't afford any more injuries here.

Safeties: B+ Take away some big plays they've given up to opposing tight ends, and they might have snuck into A range. I said it earlier this morning, and I'll say it again: Donte Whitner is playing at a Pro Bowl level. I'm curious to see if that continues when he eventually returns from his thumb injury. Bryan Scott continues to be highly competent defending the run, and is as sure a tackler as there is. Jairus Byrd has seen a lot of playing time, and has acquitted himself quite well - he hasn't made any big plays yet, but he hasn't given any up, either. He's shown physicality defending the run, too - but he needs to start taking better angles.

Specialists: B- I knock the grade a bit because of the poor overall performance of Bobby April's coverage units and kick return unit, but overall, the individual specialists - Rian Lindell, Brian Moorman and particularly rookie long-snapper Garrison Sanborn - have been quite good.

Coaching: C- I'll never be the type of guy that lays blame at any one person or group's feet. Football is a team game, and losses are team losses just as wins are team wins. But the coaching has not been good this season. Strong game plans - such as the one employed by Perry Fewell to almost completely shut down Brees and the Saints - have been overshadowed by terrible on-field play, which no matter which way you cut it is partially at the feet of the coaching staff. Hot seat? Yep - every last Bills coach is sitting on one as we speak.

Saints 27, Bills 7: Week 3 Film Session

Brian Galliford — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:00:45 -0000

More photos » by Mike Groll - AP

Browse more photos »

Before we turn our attentions to the upcoming Week 4 matchup between our dinged up Buffalo Bills and the hated, also-dinged-up Miami Dolphins, we'll take two glances back at the Bills' Week 3 27-7 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

This is your first look back - our weekly Film Session. Stay tuned for this afternoon's Week 3 installment of Ron From NM's ultra-popular Notes from the Bills' O-Line series. Week 3 Film Session begins after the jump.

Things are getting complex for Trent Edwards. Again. Give Gregg Williams a lot of credit - Edwards has beaten his defenses twice before (2007 in Washington, 2008 in Jacksonville), and he finally figured our young quarterback out. The Saints flashed 3-4 looks and zone blitzes, and while Edwards seemed to have most coverages figured out, he struggled to consistently, properly diagnose pressures. When he had time and made the right pressure reads, his receivers weren't open; when Terrell Owens and Lee Evans did manage to run free, Edwards was being flushed or sacked on most occasions. There was zero rhythm to this offensive attack, and that starts with not being able to figure out Williams' pressures.

If you're still looking to point the finger of blame this fine Tuesday morning for the team's offensive woes, split the difference between Edwards and Alex Van Pelt. Buffalo had done a nice job of throwing in some misdirection passing plays and play-action passes in Weeks 1 and 2, but those disappeared nearly entirely in this game. Rather than cut the field in half or check to screen throws, Edwards was forced to take shotgun snaps and read the entire defense. Not only does Van Pelt need to find ways to get the ball to his receivers, but he needs to continue to simplify Edwards' reads. That's where the major regression occurred Sunday.

Man crushes on Andy Levitre are allowed. He, like every lineman, struggled in pass protection on Sunday, but he continues to be the one lineman who routinely flashes dominance. I love watching this kid play football. He's nowhere near the biggest, fastest or even strongest (though he's a beast) player on the field, but he really gets after it. This guy is 100% football player. I'll defer to Ron on the rest of the O-Line this afternoon, but I felt compelled to mention Levitre here.

Terrell Owens' body language. A lot is being made about T.O.'s supposed lackadaisical nature on the field over the past three games, but on more than one occasion I saw him scuffle with DBs post-whistle on run plays. If he's a little loose running his routes, then Lee Evans is right there with him. Move on, folks - nothing to see here. T.O. is OK, and he'll be peachy keen if we can finally get him involved early in games.

We missed Shawn Nelson. As much as I like Derek Fine and value his blocking abilities and toughness, he's not a starting-caliber NFL tight end. We miss Derek Schouman, but on Sunday in particular, we missed Shawn Nelson, too. Nelson's raw and rough around the edges, but he's a receiving threat - something Fine is not. We need Nelson back as soon as possible, because he is Buffalo's only remaining hope of fielding a tight end that can actually hurt defenses the way Schouman was. (Never thought I'd say that.)

Fred Jackson... ... is my favorite player. Rarely have I seen backs with his inexplicable ability to wiggle his way for massive extra yardage. He wasn't great on Sunday, but he did a remarkable job of keeping Buffalo's offense somewhat balanced despite AVP's best efforts to abandon the run altogether. New Orleans bottled him up alright, but they certainly didn't shut him down.

Josh Reed is great. But... I love the role that Reed has carved out for himself. He made some terrific hands catches on third down in this game. I don't even mind that he was Buffalo's leading receiver - but when he's your leader in receiving yards, there's an obvious issue.

This D-Line is playing great. From top to bottom, Buffalo's defensive line is playing extremely well, particularly against the pass. They wore down against the run on Sunday, but with Miami coming up, I'm quite confident they'll fix that issue. Every end - Aaron Schobel, Chris Kelsay, Ryan Denney and rookie Aaron Maybin - got heat on Drew Brees on Sunday. Every tackle - Marcus Stroud, Kyle Williams and Spencer Johnson - played different responsibilities and made plays in the backfield. I said it early Monday morning, and I'll re-iterate it here: Bob Sanders is one heck of a position coach.

Perry Fewell's game plan was masterful, but flawed. Name a defensive formation, and you likely saw it at least once on Sunday. They ran 3-man line looks, they rushed linemen standing up, they zone blitzed, they blitzed in the middle, they blitzed the edges, they stunted, they dropped eight into coverage - seriously, they threw the house at Brees, and for the most part, it worked. Brees made some plays, but he clearly was not the Brees Saints fans have become accustomed to. But they weren't particularly stout against the run the entire game, let alone in the fourth quarter. I suppose if you want the Saints to beat you, you let them do it on the ground, but a bit more resistance would have been nice there. Still, Fewell deserves a ton of credit - his game plan really frustrated an extremely lethal Saints offense for 50 minutes.

I miss Paul Posluszny. Kawika Mitchell has his limitations, which were on full display again on Sunday, mostly in coverage (he looked good blitzing, as usual). As much as I admire the way Ellison has capably assumed on-field quarterbacking duties while Posluszny sits, his physical limitations were exposed by a highly athletic Saints skill position corps. Posluszny is a nice marriage between Ellison's smarts and Mitchell's physicality - and we miss our best linebacker something fierce. Our run D has not looked the same since he's been out.

Oh, and Marcus Buggs? Completely overwhelmed in this game, and he barely played (mostly due to the fact that the Saints ran multiple spread formations and multi-WR packages). Get healthy soon, Poz.

Please get healthy soon, Mr. Whitner. I say that not because I didn't like what I saw from Jairus Byrd - I think he's playing remarkably disciplined football for a rookie playing a new position - but Whitner once again was flying all over the football field against New Orleans. It's only been three games, but he has emerged as a presence in this secondary. He had thumb surgery yesterday and is week-to-week; we need our free safety back as quickly as possible. Byrd will be fine, but he doesn't play as fast as Whitner has been yet.

Don't worry about cornerback. Knowing that Leodis McKelvin is set to miss a significant chunk of time with a fractured fibula, I paid extra close attention to Drayton Florence. Forget about his year in Jacksonville, folks - he wasn't flawless, but he had excellent coverage on the vast majority of his snaps. Yes, I'd much rather see him in the slot, too, but the Bills can play Ashton Youboty outside if they'd really prefer Florence inside, and Reggie Corner is a more-than-capable nickel corner if Florence stays outside. McKelvin, by the way, has been continuously burned by good receivers early in the season. I'm with Kurupt on this one - we won't miss him as much as most would think, though we'll certainly miss the idea that there's someone capable of making plays back there.

This was brutal to re-watch. As in any NFL game, there were good things on the football field, but it is particularly agonizing watching a football game in which 21 penalties were called. Good Lord, those refs were flag-happy. I cannot re-iterate enough that Buffalo needs to play with fewer yellow hankies flying if they want to be serious winners.

Bills/Patriots injury report: TE Fine, CB Florence unlikely to play

Brian Galliford — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 11:24:05 -0000

The Buffalo Bills will fly into Massachusetts on Sunday night prior to their Monday Night Football opener against the New England Patriots. After Friday's practices wrapped up, each team was required to provide the first injury report for the season - and although the Bills are considerably healthier than New England at present, at least two key reserves are unlikely to suit up for the Bills.

TE Derek Fine, who missed the final two pre-season games with a hamstring injury, did not practice on Friday and probably will not play in New England. That leaves the Bills with just two tight ends (Derek Schouman, rookie Shawn Nelson) for the game. Meanwhile, nickel cornerback Drayton Florence, who practiced on Thursday in a limited capacity, returned to the sidelines on Friday and is also unlikely to play. Reggie Corner would get nickel reps in Florence's stead, with Ashton Youboty and rookie Ellis Lankster waiting in the wings.

The one bit of good news injury-wise for the Bills is the thigh injury of DT Spencer Johnson. He's been limited in two consecutive practices, but head coach Dick Jauron was optimistic that Johnson could play in New England. If he can't go, the Bills will play with just three defensive tackles, with John McCargo rotating in with starters Marcus Stroud and Kyle Williams. Full injury report is after the jump.

Buffalo Bills Injuries	New England Patriots Injuries
TE Derek Fine (hamstring) - NP	QB Tom Brady (shoulder) - FP
DT Spencer Johnson (thigh) - LP	RB Sammy Morris (finger) - LP
CB Drayton Florence (knee) - NP	WR Wes Welker (knee) - LP
	WR Julian Edelman (ankle) - LP
	WR Matt Slater (elbow) - NP
	TE Ben Watson (hamstring) - FP
	C Dan Connolly (back) - LP
	DT Myron Pryor (calf) - NP
	CB Shawn Springs (knee) - LP
	CB Terrence Wheatley (knee) - LP
	S Bret Lockett (chest) - FP

NP = No Practice; LP = Limited Practice; FP = Full Practice