SB Nation - Alvin Bowen

Running back, linebacker remain concerns for Bills

Brian Galliford — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 04:15:10 -0000

by David Richard - AP

Heading into Saturday's NFL roster cut-downs, there were two situations that were known commodities to the Buffalo Bills: they knew that running back Marshawn Lynch would be serving a three-game suspension, and they knew that due to their inexperience at reserve linebacker, the position was a liability.

Buffalo worked the phones all day at One Bills Drive - just as every other NFL team did - trying to find reinforcements at linebacker, and very likely at running back as well, particularly after releasing veteran Dominic Rhodes. We're also fairly certain that the Bills found themselves short-handed at both positions for good reason.

The fact of the matter, however, is that the Bills are now woefully inexperienced at both running back and linebacker. Considering the way the Bills want to play football in 2009, that's not necessarily terrible news - and therefore, obvious areas such as quarterback, the offensive line and the pass rush remain the biggest question marks heading into the season. From a pure personnel standpoint, however, running back and linebacker are the two spots most likely to get reinforcements prior to the season.

Making it three weeks without Marshawn
Lynch will miss three games - and while he's sidelined, the Bills will be counting on a trio of backs. Well, that's not exactly true - they'll be counting on Fred Jackson, and solely Fred Jackson, sore wrist and all. BuffaloBills.com described Jackson's wrist injury as something that could "nag" Jackson all season - but apparently, it's healthy enough where they're comfortable using him as their feature back for three weeks.

Xavier Omon has six career NFL carries. Corey McIntyre, who is a fullback by trade, has zero career NFL carries. To expect the Bills to rely on either of these players as anything more than a let-Fred-breath-for-a-play relief player is absurd. It also throws into light just how little an impression Rhodes must have made in the pre-season, because the team is thinner than thin at this position. Stay healthy, Freddie.

Just as inexperienced at linebacker
The linebacker situation is not as desperate as the running back situation, simply because the Bills already have one starter - Keith Ellison - who is essentially a part-time player, as the team spends plenty of time in nickel and dime packages.

Nic Harris and Ashlee Palmer are both rookies. Marcus Buggs, who will back up Paul Posluszny at inside linebacker, dressed four four games in 2008 as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Vanderbilt, but eventually ended the season on Injured Reserve. Jon Corto, who is on the team strictly as a special teams ace, dressed for all 16 games last season, but did not see reps at linebacker.

Just like at running back, the Bills are one injury away from asking a wide-eyed, green player to step in and play like a pro. It's a scary proposition. Posluszny, Ellison and Kawika Mitchell - we'd appreciate it if you stayed healthy right alongside Freddie.

Further fortifications coming?
Just because of numbers issues and the inexperience factor, released players such as RB Bruce Hall and LB Alvin Bowen are strong candidates to make the team's practice squad. Both fit the same bill as the players listed above, however, and neither comes close to helping the situations much, particularly since, you know, they're not on the active roster even if they're brought back.

We have to think that the Bills will be scouring the waiver wire with several sets of eyes for fortifications at these two positions - and if there are veterans available, all the better.

Defining the Buffalo Bills' roster bubble players

Brian Galliford — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:00:24 -0000

For one last time, at least for another year or so, we're about to talk about the roster bubble. It's pretty difficult to define a roster bubble, particularly if you're nerdy enough - like yours truly - to project an NFL's 53-man roster obsessively until your thoughts are no longer relevant.

Heading into their pre-season finale, the Buffalo Bills (and more particularly, its coaching staff) very likely has their final 53 already selected. For fans, however, speculation rules the day this time of the year. This post is meant to do three things: define Buffalo's list of "bubble" players, force you to pay attention to those bubble players, and serve as one last spot for y'all to formulate your thoughts before tomorrow's "Buffalo Rumblings Roster Projection Contest" begins.

Staying with the team, but they don't count yet (2)
RB Marshawn Lynch (Reserve/Suspended) - Lynch probably won't play tonight, and he begins his three-game suspension on Saturday.
WR James Hardy (Physically Unable to Perform) - Right now, Hardy is on Active PUP, meaning that he counts against the active roster, and that he can be activated at any time. Active PUP ends when the pre-season ends. It's very likely the coaches will give Hardy an extra six weeks to get into football shape and all healed up by placing him on Reserve PUP.

With those two moves in mind, the Bills will have 72 active players. That list, obviously, needs to be whittled down to 53 - so 19 more must go.

Certain cuts (11)
Let's face it - if any of these eleven players make the roster, every single one of us will be floored.

QB Matt Baker, RB Bruce Hall, WR Felton Huggins, WR C.J. Hawthorne, TE Tyson DeVree, OT Nick Hennessey, C Christian Gaddis, DE Ataefiok Etukeren, DT Derrick Jones, DT Corey Mace, LB Ryan Manalac

That list puts us down to 61 players. We've now officially reached the bubble portion of our roster.

THE BUBBLE (15)
I've got 15 players listed as "on the bubble." All of these players have at least something going for them that could keep them on the roster through the weekend. By current math, eight of these players will make the final roster, while seven will try to latch on with other NFL teams.

RB Xavier Omon, FB Corey McIntyre, WR Justin Jenkins, TE Jonathan Stupar, OT Jonathan Scott, OG Brandon Rodd, DE Chris Ellis, DE Copeland Bryan, LB Marcus Buggs, LB Jon Corto, LB Alvin Bowen, LB Ashlee Palmer, CB Cary Harris, FS Ko Simpson, SS John Wendling

Picking eight of these names as keepers may seem easy, but it's made a bit more difficult by potential surprises. We've got four such scenarios below. For every scenario that comes to fruition below (and we're not saying any of them will), pick another name from the above list and toss it onto your final roster.

Surprise cuts/roster decisions (4)
TE Derek Fine - He's dealing with a hamstring issue, and to say the competition at tight end is heavy is an understatement. It wouldn't completely shock us to see him released, even after being a 2008 fourth-round draft pick.

OT Langston Walker - WGR 550 reporter Paul Hamilton is already on the record as saying Walker could be a surprise release. I'm not sure I buy that, particularly given Demetrius Bell's bad back, but Walker's apparent fall from grace seems legitimate. I can't fathom a scenario in which the Bills would be comfortable entering a season with three highly unproven tackles - but in the spirit of "it wouldn't shock me," we'll list Walker anyways.

DE Ryan Denney - The Bills, for the first time in what seems like forever, actually have some depth at the defensive end position. They've got three young ends - two listed on the bubble above - that have proven worthy of roster consideration. It's difficult to imagine the team cutting Denney, but it's not impossible. They could also dangle him in trade talks if they try, as some suspect they might, to swing a deal for veteran linebacker depth.

CB Ashton Youboty - Speaking of veterans that are candidates to be dangled in trade talks, meet Mr. Youboty. 25-year-old corners with some promise aren't exactly easy to come by, but the Bills have solid depth at corner without considering Youboty. (There's also a reason I listed Cary Harris as "on the bubble" above.) Buffalo obviously doesn't feel the need to actively try to trade Youboty, and he certainly won't be released. But if the right offer comes along - particularly if it involves that aforementioned veteran linebacker - the Bills might just pull the trigger.

***

That's it. That's about as ironclad as you can get on a pretty ambiguous topic. I'm off to Ralph Wilson Stadium to take in tonight's game; the open thread will air at 6:00 PM ET, and I'll have a recap up for y'all when I get back from the stadium. Enjoy yourselves this evening.

Young Bills playing for roster spots as Bills close pre-season

Brian Galliford — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:30:13 -0000

After a month of progressively worsening pre-season football, the Buffalo Bills will gladly bring their fall session of practice games to a close this evening when they take on the Detroit Lions in each team's pre-season finale. Though the team's starters aren't expected to see much time (if any), there is still plenty to monitor as roster cut-downs are looming.

There are several intriguing battles, players and situations to keep track of - not the least of which is the battle we polled y'all about this morning. Head on in past the jump for all of the end-of-pre-season goodness.

Will Edwards play?
QB Trent Edwards has been the opposite of the toast of the town over the past two weeks. There is some speculation out there that Edwards, who sports a 46.9 quarterback rating this pre-season, might sit the game out entirely. He didn't play in last year's pre-season finale (also against Detroit), but he was dealing with a minor injury at the time, and was held out as a precautionary measure.

Edwards certainly hasn't been given much help this pre-season. He's entered each game without a game plan, three of the games without WR Terrell Owens (who probably will not play tonight), and has been asked to perform without those assets and behind a work-in-progress offensive line. Those aren't excuses, but should we have expected something different? If Edwards doesn't play tonight, I'm sure folks will be angry. At least, at that point, they'll be piling on someone else. I think Edwards will play, if only for a series.

We'll miss you, Marshawn
This is the last time we'll see Marshawn Lynch until October 4 - if he plays, that is. Lynch, as you're well aware, will serve a three-game suspension to start the season. He will not be eligible to practice or work out a team facilities until the week prior to the Bills' early-October matchup in Miami, when he'll make his (hopefully triumphant) return to the lineup. Keep your head down and your nose clean, Marshawn.

Final auditions for bubble players
Several veterans and youngsters, as you well know, are currently battling for roster spots. Here are a few key veterans who need solid performances to make sure that they remain Bills through the weekend.

TE Jonathan Stupar - Was the NFL's pre-season receiving leader through three games, but got completely blanked when he was bumped up the depth chart in Pittsburgh. Derek Fine probably won't play tonight, and Derek Schouman will see limited action, so Stupar gets another chance to make an impression. Another shutout obviously won't help his cause.

OT Jonathan Scott - Given Demetrius Bell's back injury, the possibility exists for the Bills to keep nine offensive linemen, at least to start the season. Scott has struggled of late, as has Brandon Rodd, another contender for the ninth lineman spot (if, again, it exists).

DE Chris Ellis - Just one of a handful of defensive ends with a lot to gain or lose tonight. (I could technically put Ryan Denney on this list, but the chances of him going anywhere are quite slim.) Ellis has had a surprisingly productive pre-season, which has likely saved his once-tenuous hold on a roster spot after a slow start to training camp. Still, given the flux at other positions, it's tough to call Ellis a lock.

DE Copeland Bryan - You have to feel for Bryan a little. He's clearly sixth on the DE list in terms of priority (i.e. he was neither drafted nor re-signed by this team), plus he's dealt with a nagging hamstring injury throughout the pre-season. Yet despite a very strong pre-season effort that includes two sacks and two forced fumbles, he might not even make the team.

Pretty much every reserve linebacker - The three starters aren't going anywhere. Neither is rookie fifth-round pick Nic Harris, who has been inconsistent but productive in the pre-season. That leaves two (with a small possibility for three) spots open for two of Marcus Buggs, Ryan Manalac, Alvin Bowen, Ashlee Palmer and Jon Corto to claim. With the exception of Manalac, this one is very close, and quite difficult to call. Obviously, a strong performance from any of these players could ultimately sway the coaching staff's decision in their favor.

CB Ashton Youboty - There isn't any realistic scenario that could play out this weekend in which Youboty gets cut. I'm not making any promises on the trade front, however - if the Bills don't like their depth at linebacker and want to swing a trade for a vet, Youboty is the player the team would most likely dangle. The chances are strong that Youboty will be on the field in New England (for the Bills) on September 14, but it's not a lock.

SS John Wendling - I won't even list Ko Simpson here, because I think it's close to a virtual certainty that his days in Buffalo are numbered. (Barring injury, of course. Knock on wood, everyone.) Wendling, however, is a different scenario altogether - he's been a centerpiece of Bobby April's special teams units for two years, but he's not a lock to make it this year, particularly considering the team's excellent depth at cornerback, defensive end and wide receiver.

Also, one last note - dig your thinking caps out of whatever crevasse you've left them in, because we've got a contest running from tomorrow (Friday) morning through roster cut-downs. Bet you can't guess what the contest entails; there will be a prize, however, so stay tuned.

Bills looking to go light at linebacker

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

by Keith Srakocic - AP

View full size photo »

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Eight Bills position battles that will dictate roster decisions

Brian Galliford — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:15:08 -0000

In the spirit of the topic of the day - roster projections - I thought it might be a useful little exercise to break down some of the more ferocious battles going on at the moment for Buffalo Bills roster spots. Obviously, with the initial roster cut-downs taking place a week from today, the intensity in some of these battles should be cranked up to another level.

This is only my opinion, but I believe that there are eight battles taking place right now in the eyes of the coaching staff that could have large ramifications on how the final roster ultimately takes shape. My views on those eight battles appear after the jump.

Ryan Denney vs. Chris Ellis vs. Copeland Bryan
May the best two men make the roster!
- I know that the idea of the Bills keeping six defensive ends has swept Bills nation and captured the imaginations of the masses, but I sincerely doubt that the coaching staff would be willing to sacrifice a player at another position for depth at the position that might not dress on Sundays. The good news is that the play has been solid enough to this point in the pre-season that the likelihood of the team keeping five ends is high. Aaron Schobel, Chris Kelsay and Aaron Maybin aren't going anywhere. That means that two of the three players listed above could stay. The smart money says Denney and Ellis will stay, but don't sleep on Bryan - the coaches really like him. If Ellis and Bryan continue to impress the way they have in the past two pre-season games, the coaches could get gutsy and take the youth route at a position that needs it.

Projected winners: Denney, Ellis

Derek Fine vs. Jonathan Stupar
May the best man make the roster!
- It might surprise you to see Fine's name in any sort of competition not involving the starting tight end role after the hype this off-season. Derek Schouman is a near-lock to start, and rookie Shawn Nelson will see playing time in specific offensive packages to make use of his athleticism and length. Meanwhile, Jonathan Stupar is the team's leading receiver in the pre-season with 15 grabs for 155 yards and a touchdown. Fine has been solid enough, but nowhere near as impressive as Stupar. Is it possible that Stupar could supplant the 2008 fourth-round pick on the roster? Again, the smart money says no, but you shouldn't scoff at the notion. Stupar has been that impressive.

Projected winner: Fine

Ashton Youboty vs. Ellis Lankster
May the best man... well, this one's tricky!
- Unlike the first two battles outlined above, this one isn't so black-and-white. The simplest way to put it is this: Ellis Lankster is a lock to make this team. He will not be cut. Case closed. Where the wrinkle comes in is if the coaches feel that he can adequately be bumped ahead of Youboty on the depth chart. With the top four corners pretty much set in stone at this point, Youboty and Lankster are duking it out for the fifth corner role. If Lankster is perceived as ahead of Youboty on cut-down day, Youboty could be released or traded. The coaches aren't thrilled with his injury history, which, despite his solid play when healthy, makes him a liability on the roster. Smart money says both will make the team, but if the Bills want numbers at another position, Youboty could get the axe. It all depends on how close Youboty and Lankster compare in the coaches' eyes.

Projected order of finish: Youboty, then Lankster. Six corners seems likely at this point.

Pat Thomas vs. Marcus Buggs
May the best man make the roster!
- Paul Posluszny needs a backup, and unfortunately, it's not going to be John DiGiorgio, who'll spend a second straight season on IR. Thomas and Buggs spent much of training camp flip-flopping Mike roles with the second and third defensive units. Though Thomas has been considered the slight leader in this race all along thanks to his NFL experience, he's currently dealing with an ankle injury. That ankle injury was once considered minor - yet it's kept him out of two weeks' worth of practices and pre-season games. Perhaps that ankle injury isn't as minor as once thought. Meanwhile, Buggs hasn't been spectacular, but he's a good athlete and can help on special teams. Please stay healthy, Poz.

Projected winner: Buggs

Alvin Bowen vs. Jon Corto vs. Ashlee Palmer
May the best man make the roster!
- Just like at middle linebacker, Kawika Mitchell and Keith Ellison need backups. The good news is that rookie fifth-round pick Nic Harris has cemented himself as Ellison's chief understudy. That leaves one spot open - working under the very likely assumption that the Bills will open the season with six linebackers on the active roster, as they did in 2008 - for one of these three young outside linebackers. Palmer is a ghost participant here - he was very impressive early in camp, but an ankle injury has caused him to miss two pre-season games, and could keep him out for the foreseeable future. He seems destined for the practice squad. Meanwhile, Bowen and Corto are essentially the same player - undersized, speedy athletes that will see most of their time on special teams. I'll tell you this: the coaches like Bowen, but they love Corto.

Projected winner: Corto

Ko Simpson vs. George Wilson
May the best man make the roster!
- At a bare minimum, the Bills will keep four safeties. Donte Whitner, Bryan Scott and Jairus Byrd are locks to make the roster. Simpson and Wilson are currently duking it out for the final spot. Neither has been particularly impressive in coverage, but Wilson has looked a bit better in run support. The deciding factor here may be the fact that Wilson was a special teams captain in 2008, while Simpson... was not. Meanwhile, John Wendling will have to wait to see what happens at other critical positions before finding out if he'll make the team as a pretend safety and a full-time special teams ace.

Projected winner: Wilson

Xavier Omon vs. Corey McIntyre
May the best man moonlight on the roster for a month!
- I know, right? This battle is keeping you up at nights, so epic is the role to be won and the contestants for the job. Long story short, the Bills will need an emergency third running back to start the season while Marshawn Lynch serves his three-game suspension. Both Omon and McIntyre have seen extensive special teams action, and both have gotten their fair share of touches at running back. McIntyre has been serviceable, but Omon has made plays. Still, this competition is not over.

Projected winner: Omon

Jonathan Scott vs. Brandon Rodd
May the best man hope that 9 offensive linemen are needed!
- It's not a lock that the Bills will keep nine offensive linemen, and as it sits right now, the top eight is very much set in stone. Then again, the line has been incredibly inconsistent this pre-season, and a few players have had issues with minor back injuries. It's possible the coaches might want to keep a ninth lineman around simply to have the player on the practice field and still familiar with the system in the event more depth is needed. If that's the case, one of these players would stick.

Projected winner: Scott, if and only if a ninth lineman is needed

Bills set to take on Bears sans Owens

Brian Galliford — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 10:31:21 -0000

The Buffalo Bills will open their 2009 home schedule this evening when they take on the Chicago Bears in their second pre-season game of the season. For those that attend Bills home games regularly hoping to catch a glimpse of WR Terrell Owens for the first time in live game action in person, you'll have to wait - Owens will miss the game as he puts the finishing touches on recovering from a sprained toe that kept him out of practice all week.

Though Owens' absence sucks what little excitement can be mustered out of a pre-season game, there are still several areas of the team worth keeping an eye on this evening. Our top five points of interest are after the jump.

What will the no-huddle look like without Owens?
Last weekend, Buffalo unveiled its no-huddle to the tune of a quick 50 yards and some escalating hopes in just one drive. Owens caught two passes for 27 yards on that drive, though; without Owens, the Bills will continue to run the no-huddle, but with largely the same skill personnel that they fielded in 2008.

Tonight is an opportunity for QB Trent Edwards to prove that the no-huddle attack can be effective on its own merit. How will it function without Owens in the lineup? There isn't a lot that we can learn in this department tonight - the starters aren't expected to play much more than a series or two, after all - but it's certainly intriguing to ponder. If the offense has another solid showing tonight, we can stash that feeling in the back of our minds in the horrifyingly-difficult-to-ponder event that we have to prepare for a meaningful game without Owens.

Game two for the offensive line
Lots of folks were concerned with the offensive line after a not-so-spectacular performance in Canton last Sunday. This time around, however, the line will be completely healthy, as RT Brad Butler will start after missing the Hall of Fame Game. For rookie guards Eric Wood and especially Andy Levitre, this game marks another chance to take a lot of reps in an effort to get as ready as possible for the regular season. Chicago's active front four will provide a great test for this unit, just as Tennessee's active front four did a week ago.

Will the backup quarterback(s) improve?
The big rumor of the week - and by "rumor," we mean completely fabricated farce that wasted our time - was that the Bills were interested in signing Michael Vick. That obviously didn't happen - nor was it ever truly an option - but Vick's signing in Philadelphia does nothing to eradicate an NFL.com report that the Bills have been taking a look at available backup quarterback options. Ryan Fitzpatrick was not terribly impressive last weekend, particularly in the red zone. If he and fellow backup Gibran Hamdan struggle tonight (and it's worth mentioning that Hamdan had a strong outing last week), the possibility at least exists that Buffalo's activity in the free agent quarterback market increases. Let's hope Fitzpatrick gives them reason to focus on signing a certain other player that remains unsigned, rather than a mediocre waiver-wire quarterback.

Defense looking to rebound
In two series' worth of action against Tennessee, Buffalo's defense gave up 107 yards on 18 plays, including a 73-yard Titans scoring drive on their second drive of the game. The Bills struggled to get off the field, and QB Kerry Collins had a field day, completing 7 of 10 passes for 82 yards and generally making it look easy.

Tonight, they square off against Bears QB Jay Cutler, a player that has put up gaudy statistics on this defense in the past. Again, this is a good test for a unit that would put ease into a lot of minds with a stronger showing, particularly against a player as talented as Cutler. And if Paul Posluszny gets his hands on another throw, we're curious to see if he can hang on this time.

Young linebackers getting a chance to shine
Maybe it's only me, but I find the battle royale at reserve linebacker for the Bills right now fascinating. Players like Marcus Buggs, Nic Harris, Alvin Bowen and Jon Corto all seem to be on a level playing field in terms of their chances of making the roster. (Ashlee Palmer is in that ballpark too, but he'll miss tonight's game with an ankle injury.) They'll get their fair share of chances to make some plays tonight, too, as the Bears have some terrible quarterbacking depth (they'll have chances at interceptions) and some solid backup running backs to test them (such as Kevin Jones, the other Adrian Peterson, and the speedy Garrett Wolfe). This group should be fun to watch.

What will y'all be paying attention to tonight? Also, be sure to join us this evening for the open game thread; I'll be at the stadium, so keep it civil and keep it chill. It's pre-season, after all.

Back seven battles wide open in Buffalo

Brian Galliford — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:45:15 -0000

Unless an NFL coaching staff is in the first year (or two) of its current regime with their team, most NFL coaching staffs enter training camp and the pre-season with a pretty good idea of which 53 players will be on their team. Entering his fourth season at the helm of the Buffalo Bills, it's very likely that Dick Jauron and his coaching staff - most of whom have been here as long as he has - have a firm grasp on what their opening day roster will look like.

Injuries and unexpected performances obviously can change the game, but the general idea remains valid. These guys know who they'd like to go into battle with.

It's therefore unsurprising, then, that the Bills are essentially defined depth-wise at most offensive positions, as well as along the defensive line. The picture becomes much fuzzier, however, when talking about linebackers and defensive backs. The Bills have 24 players currently on their roster playing in their defensive back seven. 21 of them have very legitimate shots to make the roster.

Even breaking this down into general positions (outside linebacker, inside linebacker, cornerback, strong safety, free safety), the competition is fierce and the flexibility is envious. We've broken this down by position, and then placed every player into three categories: roster locks, in the hunt, or on the bubble.

Outside Linebacker
Locks: Kawika Mitchell, Keith Ellison, Nic Harris
- Mitchell and Ellison are locked in as starters. Harris, a fifth-round pick out of Oklahoma, has had a strong camp, looked very active in the Hall of Fame Game, and is a certainty to make the team. He might be the first linebacker off the bench if either starter goes down as well.

In the Hunt: Jon Corto, Ashlee Palmer, Alvin Bowen
- Corto has made a strong impression on the coaching staff - strong enough, in fact, to make him one of a very few players that the staff might try to force onto the roster. Palmer has opened some eyes with his raw athleticism as well, but no one is sure at this point how soon he'll be available after spraining his ankle against Tennessee. Jauron confirmed Tuesday night that he'd miss at least a week. Bowen had a strong pre-season performance as well; though he had fallen behind Palmer a bit in the pecking order, Palmer's injury gives Bowen another shot to make an impact now that he'll get more reps.

Inside Linebacker
Locks: Paul Posluszny
- Not a ton to add here. Pretty obvious, really.

In the Hunt: Pat Thomas, Marcus Buggs
- The beauty to these two players is that, while they've been taking middle linebacker reps pretty much exclusively throughout camp, both can play outside as well. Right now, we'd be inclined to say that Thomas is closer to making the roster than is Buggs - but Buggs has a bit more than a fighter's chance. The coaches like him, and he (as well as Thomas) give the team a boost on special teams.

So, yeah. Literally every linebacker on the roster - right now, there are nine of them - has a chance to end up on the final roster. Every single one of them. That clearly won't happen, but your guess as to which one (or two, or three) gets cut is as good as ours. Palmer's injury is very unfortunate.

Cornerback
Locks: Terrence McGee, Leodis McKelvin, Drayton Florence, Reggie Corner
- McGee and McKelvin are entrenched as the starters. The coaches have been very pleased with Florence; barring an injury to the veteran, the competition for the starting nickel role is all but over. Corner has had a very productive off-season to date (including a pick-six in the Hall of Fame Game), and he provides great depth and special teams ability.

In the Hunt: Ashton Youboty, Ellis Lankster
- At least one of these players will still be with the team. There's a chance both could stick. But each player is out of "lock" territory for different reasons; for Youboty, it's his injury history, and for Lankster it's his status as a vastly unproven seventh-round draft pick. Both players are obviously talented. They have some work to do, however, if they want to secure roster spots.

On the Bubble: Cary Harris, Lydell Sargeant
- Both of these rookies are listed here simply because the Bills are deep at this position. Both have talent, and the coaches obviously like both of them as well. One or both could wind up on the practice squad.

Free Safety
Locks: Donte Whitner, Jairus Byrd
- The safety position is wide open, folks. Whitner is the jack-of-all-trades defensive back of this team and a defensive co-captain; obviously, he stays. Byrd is a lock as well as a second-round draft pick, though as he's still recovering from sports hernia surgery and on the PUP list, questions remain as to how quickly he'll be able to contribute.

In the Hunt: Ko Simpson
- Byrd's injury has given Simpson an opportunity to take a lot of reps this pre-season, and he's been the second-team free safety throughout camp. He played well against the Titans. Depending on how the numbers game shakes out, Simpson is an experienced option with an excellent chance of making the roster - even though he's been a popular "cut" throughout the off-season.

On the Bubble: Antwain Spann
- The most Spann has done in his very short time with the team is get Dustin Fox waived. He's known for his special teams prowess, but how much of an 'in' does that give him when every safety on the roster can contribute in that area?

Strong Safety
Locks: Bryan Scott, George Wilson
- Some may be surprised to see Wilson's name here, but you shouldn't be - Wilson was a special teams captain last year, has outstanding leadership qualities, and can contribute defensively. I wouldn't be overly shocked to see him released, mind you - that's a testament to how closely contested the safety position is right now - but Wilson has things going for him that others just don't right now. Scott continues to impress as a run defender. He can play.

In the Hunt: John Wendling
- If there's one safety that has an 'in' as a specialist, it's Wendling, who for two years has been a key centerpiece to Bobby April's coverage units. The guy simply isn't going to contribute defensively, though, which takes him out of "lock" range. The coaches love him, though. The chances that he makes the team again as a pure specialist are quite good.

We just discussed 24 football players. Only three of them have less than a fighter's chance at making the final roster. At a bare minimum, the Bills are likely going to keep 16 of these players (a minimum of six linebackers, and a minimum of ten defensive backs). Y'all can try, if you like, to pick out five names to cut. Every player here can contribute in some way. The competition is wide open. This is a good problem for the Bills' coaching staff, but they've clearly got some difficult decisions to make.

Owens highlights growing Bills injury list

Brian Galliford — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:00:14 -0000

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The big news out of Buffalo this morning is, of course, the toe injury of Buffalo Bills WR Terrell Owens. After spraining his toe at an undisclosed point in the Bills' 21-18 loss to the Tennessee Titans in the Hall of Fame Game, Owens missed the Bills' Tuesday walk-through as well as their evening practice. Head Coach Dick Jauron described Owens as "day to day," and would not speculate on whether or not the star receiver will play in this Saturday's pre-season contest against the Chicago Bears.

Unfortunately for Buffalo, Owens isn't the only player injured. Fellow WR Steve Johnson, who returned to practice late last week after a rib injury sidelined him, re-injured the rib when he got tangled up with rookie CB Cary Harris in a drill on Tuesday. Harris landed on Johnson to re-aggravate the injury; from what Johnson told BuffaloBills.com last night, he will likely miss practices for the rest of this week as well as his second straight pre-season game.

Injuries seem to be a constant issue in Buffalo, and it's for that reason that the Bills have had to sign six street free agents over the past few weeks. C Christian Gaddis is the latest, joining WR Shaine Smith, DE Ataefiok Etukeren, DT Derrick Jones, DT Corey Mace and S Antwain Spann as players that have joined the Bills since training camp opened on July 25. However, one injured player did return to the field last night - and as he's a key figure on a revamped offensive line, Brad Butler's return is an important one.

Keeping track of the O-Line
Butler participated fully for the first time since injuring his back early last week, and looked good as he re-assumed his spot as the starting right tackle. It's still unclear if he'll play this Saturday - the coaches and trainers will likely wait to see how his back responds to a full practice load - but for now, the return is good news. Meanwhile, Butler's understudy, Demetrius Bell - who has impressed this pre-season - took reps with the second unit at left tackle.

With Butler back in the fold, Buffalo's entire offensive line is once again healthy. The more they play together this pre-season, the better.

Linebacker dinged, too
Arguably the most impressive Bills linebacker in the Hall of Fame Game was undrafted rookie free agent Ashlee Palmer. It would figure, therefore, that Palmer suffered a severe ankle sprain in the game and could be looking at missing a significant chunk of practice time. Alvin Bowen took his reps with the second unit on the weak side (as well as a few reps on the strong side with the third unit).

Meanwhile, BuffaloBills.com reports that Pat Thomas and Marcus Buggs continue to flip-flop with the second and third units at middle linebacker. Buggs started with the second unit against the Titans; it's therefore logical that Thomas is gearing up to get those reps against the Bears. This is one of the more unique battles going on at the moment; no matter the winner, both of these guys have excellent opportunities to make the final roster.

More lineup changes to note
Aaron Schobel continues to get a lighter work load, but rather than Ryan Denney taking his first-team reps last night - as usually happens - Chris Ellis took those reps, and took advantage of the opportunity by registering two would-be sacks on Trent Edwards, cleanly beating Langston Walker on both plays. That's what we like to hear. Now we just need to see it in a game.

RB Xavier Omon, who impressed against the Titans, was injured in practice and missed some reps. The injury is not considered serious, but Bruce Hall gladly took his reps.

With Owens and Johnson missing time, Josh Reed, Roscoe Parrish and Justin Jenkins shot up the depth chart. Jenkins has had a strong camp and pre-season, and other than an ugly pass interference call against Tennessee, has impressed. Ponder for a moment, however, the prospect of the Bills playing any meaningful games without Owens. Who wouldn't mind if T.O. sat out the rest of the pre-season? We're not advocating it. It's just a thought.

CB Ashton Youboty continues to sit with a lingering groin injury. Three cornerbacks with whom Youboty is jockeying for time - Drayton Florence, Reggie Corner and Ellis Lankster - continue to reap the benefits of his sitting out.

Wednesday
Buffalo has a practice scheduled for the early afternoon on Wednesday. It is doubtful that players such as Owens, Johnson and Palmer will practice. Butler should continue to work; it will also be interesting to see if Youboty returns to action.

Keys to a successful Buffalo Bills pre-season

Kurupt — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 10:00:10 -0000

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Last season, I ran a series in which I provided my opinion about the keys to a Buffalo Bills victory each week. I'm sure I was correct with some of those ideas a few times, but mostly it was just a bunch of gibberish and unfulfilled hopes. To get ready for the pre-season, I thought it might add a little intrigue if I came up with a set of keys for surviving and getting value out of these five games. Please note: some of these will be obvious. I know that; you know that; even Dick Jauron knows that, so no need to heckle me like some of you heckled Chris Kelsay at camp last week. Remember, we have five pre-season games to work with this year, so there will be advantages and disadvantages to this heavier pre-season load.

Get Trent to the regular season unscathed. This one falls on the obvious scale somewhere between "Brian is a fan of Lost" and "the sun rises in the east." You don't need me to tell you how important it will be to keep Trent Edwards healthy. For all intents and purposes, his health (and play on the field) will be the biggest factor for how this season plays out. He needs to get his work in against other teams this summer, but he also needs to make it out alive. As you may recall, Trent was hurt last pre-season - albeit in practice - and missed the final two games heading into the regular season. Let's hope we don't have to go through that again.

The Battle of the Dereks. This should be one of the more hotly-contested position battles during the five games, with the best Derek - Derek Fine or Derek Schouman - more than likely securing the starting position heading into the season. I'll be looking for the better blocker, because I think they are both solid enough receivers. Each has underrated athleticism, a good pair of hands and an improving skill set. Unless one really falters, the winner of this battle will be the one who holds up better as the blocker. After these two, I'd like to see Shawn Nelson get comfortable as a receiver first and a blocker second. Jonathan Stupar has a solid chance of making the team as the fourth tight end if the team goes in that direction. He just needs to continue his strong camp and perform with the lights on.

Offensive line, please don't be offensive. The two rookie guards, Eric Wood and Andy Levitre, need to prove they are capable of starting right away; more importantly, they need to prove they won't be overwhelmed. Both have the opportunity and talent to play right away, they just need to take advantage of it and nail down the starting roles. Wood appears more ready at this point, already playing like a hardened veteran, but the extra game should really come in handy for Levitre. Also, with a new starter at each OL position, steady improvement and efficient play is what we'll be looking for out of them. Gelling into a formidable unit prior to the Patriots game would also be welcome. Keeping Trent upright and healthy is the main priority, while gelling is an obvious 1A.

Trent Edwards, Good. J.P. Losman, bad. I see a lot of Losman in Ryan Fitzpatrick, and I'm not talking about beard crafting. He's a mistake-prone player that is known for his questionable decision making on the field. He needs to show less of that this pre-season and more of the efficient quarterback we're looking for to backup Edwards. Fitzpatrick - and to a lesser extent, Gibran Hamdan - needs to prove they are capable players to keep us sane and to make the coaching staff comfortable heading into the season should either be called upon.

Know the no-huddle. It's out there. The league knows the Bills having been working extensively on the no-huddle offense this summer. The element of surprise will not be there, so in order to be effective running this, the team needs to really get comfortable using it this pre-season. I'm not talking about perfecting it (yet), but the offense needs to get the reps in it and needs to have some success. If the plan really is to utilize this throughout the season, then the work needs to be done over the next month to iron out the kinks and see how it works against other defenses. Getting a test run of the new wildcat setup with Roscoe Parrish at quarterback might also be worth trying out.

Defensive bubble players need to crackle, not pop. The starting lineup for the defense is pretty much set in stone at this point, but the battles for roster spots should be fun to watch. John McCargo has been having a good camp thus far, but he needs to carry that over to where it really counts. Even though there is little competition for the fourth DT spot, a poor pre-season could result in the team looking elsewhere for a rotational piece. Nic Harris has a roster spot locked up, but there are a number of other linebackers fighting for what is likely only two more backup roles. Pat Thomas and Alvin Bowen are probably leading the way right now, but Jon Corto, Marcus Buggs and Ashlee Palmer will all have their chances to prove they belong on the opening day roster. The team could keep seven linebackers depending on numbers at other positions. The top five cornerbacks are set, but will the team keep a sixth? Ellis Lankster was a major surprise during the spring and has carried it over to training camp. A strong performance over these five games could vault him onto the opening day roster. The battle for backup safety jobs will also be one to watch, with Ko Simpson, George Wilson and John Wendling likely going after two spots. Special teams play will factor in heavily here, although the players that demonstrate the most ability to help defensively could win out.

Fighting for a nickel. This position battle might be the closest and toughest to predict at this point. Drayton Florence is getting first team reps now and looks to be the favorite, but strong performances in the five pre-season games out of Ashton Youboty or Reggie Corner could win them the job. Remember, Youboty won the starting nickel job last year with a great preseason highlighted by a number of big plays and solid tackling. He might have to do it again to win the job back, assuming he can stay on the field. Corner has been solid, but might not be able to win the job even if he plays well simply because the other two players are getting the job done. No matter how this battle plays out, each of the three will contribute this year. My money continues to be on Florence to win the job. By adding Lankster to the group, this unit is pleasantly deep.

Perfect the wedge. With the new wedge rules in place for kickoff returns, it'll be important for Bobby April and his return unit to get the new formation down pat. April needs to see which players work best in the new formation of two groups of two blockers a few yards apart, even if it's with smaller guys. It'll take time to get used to this new setup; perfecting it by the end of the pre-season is necessary. We have one of the most dynamic return men in the NFL in Leodis McKelvin, so we cannot waste potential big returns and good field position on systematic errors. I have faith Bobby April will have it all worked out come September.

Terrell Owens: I'm well over 1,000 words in without mentioning these two. It just had to be done to keep the Earth spinning.

Be ready. Last year, the team was pretty well prepared for the season heading into Week 1, and it showed, as the team started 4-0. It needs to happen again. With a tough opening slate including road games at New England and Miami, and a pair of games against the AFC South (New Orleans and Tampa Bay), both sides of the ball need to be ready to roll. Hopefully, last year's 0-6 record against AFC East foes and a 2-8 finish will be the nadir for the Dick Jauron era, because a slow start this season might quickly result in the end of that era.

Survive. Beyond keeping Edwards healthy, we absolutely have to hope for no major injuries. It's bound to happen, but I really don't want to see this scene play out in real life. A strong pre-season, coupled with no major injuries, would result in a major success for the next month. Hope for the best.

***

Feel free to add your keys to the pre-season games in the comment section. There are plenty more to choose from, but I figured these were the most important. It doesn't matter if we go 5-0 or 0-5. What matters most is steady improvement, health and a full head of steam headed into New England. We'll definitely need it.

Bills practice recap, 8/5: defenders get rest

Brian Galliford — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:40:24 -0000

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On a near-perfect day in Western New York (sunny, virtually cloudless and mid-to-high 70s), the Buffalo Bills went padless under the sun and allowed several of their key defenders some rest.

Ending practice early, two Bills players who had not had a rest day to date - linebackers Kawika Mitchell and Paul Posluszny - did not take part in team work, according to BuffaloBills.com. Further, the coaches allowed their second- and third-team defensive units to take the majority of the team's reps, as many other defenders took it easy on the day.

There wasn't a lot that happened today that's new or terribly interesting, but we'll recap everything we heard (and in MattRichWarren's case, saw) for you anyways.

Keeping track of the O-Line
With Brad Butler missing his second straight practice due to a back injury, second-year pro Demetrius Bell once again saw the lion's share of first-team reps at right tackle. The rest of the starting line remained the same. Kirk Chambers saw a few reps at right tackle as well, but spent most of his time as the second-team left guard.

There was a little feistiness out there on the field today. Langston Walker got into a mini-skirmish with LB Alvin Bowen; Walker continued to block Bowen after the whistle blew. Walker and Bell also drove defensive ends Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay yards off the line of scrimmage in pass protection on one play. It's nice to see a little attitude from the starting offfensive line, particularly on a pretty laid-back day at camp.

Technique work dominates the action
You probably won't hear a lot in the way of highlights today, because the Bills spent a lot of time in position work ironing out technical details. Bob Sanders had his defensive linemen working on getting under blocks and gaining the leverage advantage. The entire defense later was put through the same paces. Sean Kugler was once again working with his offensive linemen on hand techniques, and even spent some quality one-on-one time with rookie guard Eric Wood. The offense spent some time working on break and recover.

Schematically, the Bills continue to make an effort to work on screen passes and the play-action game on a daily basis. To this point, we've seen a lot more work done in the way of play-action, but the screen pass clearly isn't being ignored, either. We're curious to see if either is used in pre-season action.

Miscellaneous items
Trent Edwards hit Terrell Owens in stride on one play, but Buffalo's biggest star dropped the pass. Who's ready to panic? (We kid, of course.)

John McCargo has put in a couple solid days' worth of work after returning from an early camp injury. He was seen making a stop in the backfield today.

Chris Ellis had yet another play in which he beat a blocker badly while pass rushing; today, it was rookie TE Shawn Nelson.

Speaking of Nelson, he continues to see a lot of work in Buffalo's offensive red zone package. He looks great in that area.

Donte Whitner had an interception in the opening practice of camp, and we haven't seen or heard boo about him since. He was seen lined up deep in center field coverage today; on essentially every snap, his first movement is backwards, and then toward the ball. He's in the role he should have been in all along; we'll see if it leads to more big plays when the games start to count.

Injury Update
Butler was on the field for part of the session in a hat and shorts; he was moving well, but we don't expect him to practice any time soon. WR Steve Johnson returned to practice, but on a limited basis. CB Leodis McKelvin remains limited as well. DE Copeland Bryan and DT Marcus Smith did not practice.

The Bills have another night practice tomorrow night at St. John Fisher; Matt and I will both be in attendance. As Matt so eloquently put it, "double team supreme." I'm a little weirded out by that, too.