SB Nation - Marcus Buggs

Bills lose linebackers Mitchell, Buggs for season

Brian Galliford — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:49:35 -0000

Buffalo Bills head coach Dick Jauron told assembled media early Monday afternoon that linebackers Kawika Mitchell and Marcus Buggs will miss the remainder of the 2009 season. Both players injured knees in Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Cleveland Browns and were carted off the field.

For the time being, the loss of Mitchell leaves Keith Ellison as Buffalo's most experienced starter at linebacker. Until Paul Posluszny returns, Ellison will likely assume middle linebacker duties, just as he did when Mitchell departed yesterday.

There is, however, good news on Posluszny. Jauron mentioned that Posluszny is now "week-to-week," a designation held by safeties Donte Whitner and Bryan Scott. Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com mentioned on the team's official pre-game show yesterday that Posluszny had been cleared for everything but practice (and contact drills), but was lifting weights as he normally does. The news could indicate that Posluszny is closer to being cleared for practice.

One other injury note: OT Jonathan Scott, who injured an ankle yesterday, is day-to-day. He should not miss significant time.

Bills drop third straight in bewildering fashion

Brian Galliford — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:33:46 -0000

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There really are not enough words in the English language to describe the extent of the Buffalo Bills' bad play over the last three weeks. Coming off of an embarrassing 38-10 road loss to Miami, the Bills found a way to top even that pathetic performance, losing a miserable 6-3 home game to the previously winless Cleveland Browns. Buffalo has now lost to winless teams in consecutive weeks as they have watched a promising 1-1 start dwindle to 1-4.

As far as this particular game goes, you don't need to look any further than 13 penalties - 9 of them by six different offensive linemen - and two turnovers as culprits behind the loss. Even as poorly as Buffalo played, they'd have beaten Cleveland today if they had not beaten themselves.

But that's not even close to the whole story. The crowd was deservedly miserable. Ralph Wilson's halftime ceremony, in which he was scheduled to receive his Hall of Fame ring, never happened. The offense was terrible, mostly due, again, to the penalties. Two more Bills players - Kawika Mitchell and Marcus Buggs - suffered what appear to be long-term injuries. Derek Anderson, Cleveland's starting quarterback du jour, threw for 23 yards and an interception - and emerged as the winning quarterback. Roscoe Parrish literally handed the game to the Browns on a silver platter by fumbling a punt deep in his own territory late in the fourth quarter. Oh, and Dick Jauron? My guess is that fans calling for his head don't need to ask "if" anymore; it now looks like a matter of "when."

I'm probably forgetting other ugly things, too. I definitely know I'm leaving descriptive nouns and adjectives out of this post, but what's the point? I don't need to say any of this, because the team's issues are gloriously obvious. Unless Wilson gets fed up and brings the hammer sooner than any of us expect, we've got eleven more weeks of this crap to look forward to. The hammer is coming, but for many, it already hasn't come soon enough.

More tomorrow. For now, vent.

Bills bench Buggs, move Mitchell, promote Palmer

Brian Galliford — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:46:20 -0000

Yesterday, in grading the performances of each Buffalo Bills positional unit after the first quarter of the regular season was completed, I gave Buffalo's linebackers a big, fat F for their unspectacular performances in the team's 1-3 start.

The Bills' coaching staff, much to their credit, has become acutely aware of their defense's biggest shortcoming.

Paul Posluszny is still out indefinitely as he recovers from a broken arm. Marcus Buggs replaced him for two weeks, but the second-year player has been benched - in favor of Kawika Mitchell.

Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com reports that Mitchell is taking first-team reps at middle linebacker on Wednesday, the first day of practice in preparation for Buffalo's must-win Week 5 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Mitchell, a veteran addition from 2008 who has played on the weak side in his time in Buffalo, is easily Buffalo's biggest linebacker, and has experience playing inside from his days in Kansas City.

Replacing Mitchell on the weak side in Wednesday's practice setting was undrafted rookie free agent Ashlee Palmer. Aided by strong performances in mini-camp, training camp and the pre-season, Palmer snuck onto the roster despite not being selected this past April out of Mississippi. Now, it appears that he'll see playing time as a starter for this defense - at least until Posluszny returns from injury.

Keith Ellison will remain the strong-side linebacker.

Kudos to Buffalo's coaching staff for at least making the attempt to remedy their bleak situation at linebacker. Mitchell is capable of playing inside, and Palmer has considerable upside. Still, I feel compelled to say this again: get well soon, Poz.

Handing out first-quarter grades for the Buffalo Bills

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

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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: Shot Feet and Opportunities Missed

Brian Galliford — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:00:54 -0000

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The Buffalo Bills lost a Week 3 home contest to the New Orleans Saints 27-7 yesterday. Pre-game, if any Bills fan had been asked to predict how the Bills would lose the game, the crowd predicting "shut down Drew Brees and put forth an offensive attack as ugly any single-game performance in team history" would have been small.

I generally dive right into deeper, more meaningful analysis right away, but I couldn't bring myself to do it this morning. This most recent loss was perhaps the most irritating I've witnessed as a fan of this team, because we played toe-to-toe with a legitimate Super Bowl contender and left countless opportunities on the field to win the darned thing. So I'm doing a krytime-style mind dump this morning - it's all the rage - just to do a little venting. Hope y'all don't mind.

Buffalo beat themselves. That's not to say the Saints didn't beat us, because they did. They didn't do it the way most thought - which is a credit to the Bills, actually - but they certainly closed the game out convincingly in the fourth quarter. That said, I harped all week - to the point where I was actually irritated with myself at how repetitive I was getting - about Buffalo playing mistake-free football. They turned the ball over twice and committed 12 penalties for 116 yards. Add in the fact that the offense converted 2 of 14 third-down opportunities - one of the most miserable stats I've ever seen - and that's the ball game. We handed it to New Orleans on a silver platter.

Opportunities were left on the field. I'll get to the defense momentarily, because I thought they were brilliant. Buffalo was in this game for 50 minutes, mostly because the Saints had scored only 10 points to that point in the game. The offense drove into field goal range in the third quarter, but Trent Edwards - who was terrible - tried to force a slant in to Terrell Owens, and the Saints tipped the pass and DE Will Smith picked it off. Then Trent had T.O. wide open on a bomb that surely would have gone for a touchdown on a good throw, but the pass was long. The plays, and the points, were there for the taking. Those missed opportunities are even more frustrating considering the above paragraph.

We need more from this offense. That seems obvious - and it is obvious - but it works on small levels, too. More points, more yards, more balance - these are all obvious things. I appreciated how blunt coordinator Alex Van Pelt was post-game in taking the blame and, most importantly, acknowledging that he needs to find more creative ways to get the ball into the hands of Terrell Owens and Lee Evans. These guys are making $16 million this season for a reason - they're your best players. We've got to find ways to use them - the time for go routes-or-bust with these guys is over. AVP needs to find a way to diversify the passing attack - and particularly the types of routes run by his top two targets - without overwhelming his already-overwhelmed quarterback. Have fun with that one, coach.

What's up with Edwards' accuracy? Even in two solid performances to open the season, Trent Edwards has been spotty at best in the accuracy department this season. On one throw, he'll thread the needle down the seam, and on the next, he'll throw high, behind or long. I hate chalking it up to his being a young quarterback, because accuracy is supposed to be his strong suit. Maybe he's pressing; I couldn't tell you. But he's been errant on some pretty basic throws, and that's cause for concern.

The O-Line is what it is. These guys are so tremendously inexperienced that mistakes are expected. They're incredibly competent run blockers, and they do a pretty solid job in pass protection, too, despite the fact that Edwards was harrassed to no end yesterday. They struggle with the blitz, but it's on Van Pelt to find ways to make defenses pay for sending the house. Five linemen can't block seven blitzers. Our two best linemen yesterday? Jonathan Scott (lots of mistake-free, heady ball) and Andy Levitre (who has been our most consistently dominant lineman through three weeks). These guys will be fine long-term, but man, some of their mistakes are frustrating.

Give Perry Fewell his props, folks. It's become pretty en vogue around these parts to bash Perry Fewell for his defensive scheme, his coaching tendencies, and the many failures of our defense under his watch. He had Drew Brees - the best quarterback in the league right now - completely flustered yesterday. He got pressure, he mixed coverages, and he held the Saints' 46-points-per-game offense to 10 points in 50 minutes. He had his troops prepared to play, and they by far exceeded anyone's expectations. Don't completely disregard the fact that the flood gates opened to the tune of 17 fourth-quarter points - the D certainly folded - but they gave their team opportunity after opportunity to beat this Saints team, and the offense couldn't capitalize.

Bob Sanders is one hell of a coach. All four of Buffalo's defensive linemen - Aaron Schobel, Chris Kelsay (!), Marcus Stroud and Kyle Williams - have flashed dominance this season. Kelsay has been outstanding. Schobel looks much closer to his old self than he did in 2007. Chalk some of that up to Sanders' tutelage, because Bill Kollar certainly never made this group look like anything other than incredibly average players. They're playing well above average right now. Now we just need to get that Maybin kid going...

Drink your milk, Bills players. It's nearly as frustrating to watch Bills players drop like flies as it is to watch this team lose. Leodis McKelvin, Donte Whitner, Bryan Scott and Demetrius Bell all left the game today with various injuries. Derek Fine played late in the game with essentially one arm. It's tough to win games when you're this young, but it's obviously much tougher when you can't get any continuity in personnel. We've got to find a way to stay healthy.

Paul Posluszny's cast is off. Poz was on the sidelines yesterday, and he didn't have a cast on either arm. That was encouraging to see. It was also encouraging to see him sitting on the bench next to Marcus Buggs and his fellow linebackers, actively involved in the game. I can't wait to get this kid back on the field.

Don't waste your time trying to blame one entity for this loss. Lots went wrong. I speak specifically to Dick Jauron's decision to punt in fourth-and-short with roughly 7 minutes remaining in the ball game. I didn't like the decision (though I didn't boo), mostly because it was a makeable distance and the decision to punt took an opportunity away from an offense that clearly needed as many as it could get. But the game was already slipping away - it was 17-7 at the time - and the decision had no effect on team morale nor the final outcome. Can't just blame the offense, either. It's a team game, and thus, it's a team loss.

We miss Derek Schouman. There, I said it.

Welcome back, Mr. Lynch. The timing of Marshawn Lynch's return to the team could not be more perfect. Fred Jackson is my absolute favorite player on this team, but he's made more effective when he doesn't have to carry the entire load. We're about to enter a critical stretch in our schedule, with two of our next three games on the road against divisional opponents. We'll need all hands on deck, and hopefully, Marshawn's return brings back some of the offensive balance that was lost in the New Orleans defeat.

Miami is a must-win. The defending AFC East champs are 0-3, and might be playing Buffalo without QB Chad Pennington. They're obviously very talented and very dangerous, but they're 0-3. If Buffalo is anything more than a pretender, that's a game they absolutely have to win - particularly considering the fact that they've dropped seven straight divisional games. They'll have a hard time coming back from a loss to Miami next week; if that happens, the frustration will reach an early boiling point.

Replacing Posluszny goes beyond Marcus Buggs

Brian Galliford — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:00:27 -0000

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Nursing a broken arm for the second time in three years, Buffalo Bills middle linebacker Paul Posluszny underwent successful surgery on Tuesday and is expected to miss roughly six weeks of this season. While it's obviously good news that Posluszny won't be placed on season-ending Injured Reserve, as he was in 2007, the fact that he'll miss around half of the 2009 regular season is clearly bad news for Buffalo's defense.

BuffaloBills.com reported yesterday, after confirming with defensive coordinator Perry Fewell, that Marcus Buggs would be Posluszny's replacement for the foreseeable future. Buggs, a second-year player (and former undrafted free agent) out of Vanderbilt, replaced Posluszny solely in base 4-3 looks in New England. The team changed up sub-packages, and they should continue to do so until Posluszny returns. Here are the basics.

Buggs will be a 4-3 defender only. Fewell put it pretty accurately when he said that Buggs is capable of doing a "yeoman's job" of running the defense, but that he "is not Paul Posluszny." Bang on. Buggs is feisty, athletic and competitive, but he's also overmatched physically and a liability due to his inexperience. He can shoot gaps and plug lanes against the run, and he can handle making stops underneath on short throws. He's smart, and he's reliable as a tackler. But he won't be asked to do much beyond that, particularly outside of the team's base defense.

Ellison will take nickel, and perhaps dime, reps. I realize that most fans are making a stink about the fact that Ellison was involved in coverage responsibilities on Ben Watson's two scores late in the loss to New England. Let's not pretend that Ellison belongs in that situation in the first place, because he's not on the field if Posluszny is healthy. But Ellison is a smart defender who is becoming increasingly adept at picking his spots, and no matter how distraught you are about the loss, his coverage on the second Watson score was actually quite good. Ellison can play. Fewell confirmed yesterday that Ellison is Plan B at middle linebacker (in that scenario, rookie Nic Harris would man Ellison's usual spot), but for now, he'll stay on the strong side and line up next to Kawika Mitchell in nickel packages.

Bills can tinker with safeties, too. Fewell confirmed that the Bills had a third option to replace Posluszny, but would not elaborate; I'm just speculating here, but that third option could be Bryan Scott. He's no middle linebacker, but if the Buccaneers (or any future opponent before Posluszny's return) come out in base personnel (2 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB, 1 FB) in a passing situation, the Bills could slide Ellison inside for a play, let Scott man up in underneath coverage, and play Donte Whitner and Jairus Byrd as deep safeties. They did this on occasion against New England, with mixed results. Even if the Bills were to have that lineup on the field against the run, they don't lose a ton from having Buggs in, as Scott himself is a pretty stout run defender.

This situation is far from ideal. Posluszny is a team captain, and his prowess defending the run is severely underrated. You never, ever want one of your young, developing leaders out of the lineup. But the Bills are in good hands (as long as this remains temporary) because of the smarts of Ellison, the versatility of Scott and the skill set of Buggs. This is precisely why the Bills target these types of players, but again, it's merely a band-aid. Get well soon, Poz.

Running back, linebacker remain concerns for Bills

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

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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

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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.