SB Nation - Brandon Rodd

Bills close pre-season with 17-6 loss to Detroit

Brian Galliford — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:10:10 -0000

The Buffalo Bills closed their 2009 pre-season schedule with a 17-6 home loss to the Detroit Lions. Buffalo did not score an offensive touchdown in either of their final two pre-season games, and the only starters that took the field in tonight's contest were the five starters along the offensive line.

Ryan Fitzpatrick started at quarterback, completing 9 of 17 passes for 78 yards; Gibran Hamdan took over in the second half, also completing 9 of 17 passes for 163 yards. Both quarterbacks threw interceptions. Meanwhile, rookie DE Aaron Maybin had a sack and a forced fumble on top overall draft pick QB Matthew Stafford in the first quarter. Two other defensive rookies turned in big nights, as FS Jairus Byrd recorded an interception and LB Nic Harris led the team with a dozen tackles.

Bills head coach Dick Jauron mentioned in post-game interviews that the decision was made to rest his starters because preparations for the team's season-opening game in New England have already begun. In particular, in regards to QB Trent Edwards, Jauron mentioned that he "did him a disservice" by playing him without a game plan over the past two weeks, and did not want to repeat the feat tonight. Edwards spent the entirety of the past week running plays in the New England game plan, and the staff did not feel there would be anything to gain by playing Edwards without a game plan again this evening. The same can be said for the entirety of the starting defense.

WR Terrell Owens spent the game in full uniform on the sideline; he ran some routes in pre-game warmups and looked completely healthy.

Reserve G/C Brandon Rodd left the game with a leg injury and did not return. The same can be said of RB Xavier Omon, who was scheduled to get a lot of carries, but only managed 4 carries for 17 yards before leaving the game with a calf contusion.

Other big plays: John McCargo recorded a sack and was generally disruptive the entire evening. Reggie Corner had an interception and a lengthy return in the first half. WR Justin Jenkins caught a long 43-yard reception from Hamdan in the fourth quarter as the Bills were playing catch-up. Steve Johnson also had a 33-yard reception on the evening.

Buffalo has the next two days off as the Bills finalize their 53-man roster, which they must do by 4:00 PM ET Saturday. They return to the practice field on Sunday for a full week of preparation for their Monday Night Football opener in New England.

The pre-season is over. The football gods, at least on this evening, are merciful. Leave your comments on the pre-season and this game in the comments section - then be sure to check back in tomorrow morning for the announcement of our roster projection contest!

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.

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

2009 Bills Training Camp is officially in the books

MattRichWarren — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:45:09 -0000

This morning was the final day of 2009 Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher College in Pittsford. I was in attendance today - as I was for a dozen practices this year - as the moving vans arrived and the team headed back to Orchard Park for the remainder of the pre-season. Due to the copious amounts of rain yesterday, my phone was not operational for Twitter updates this morning, so I am going to change up and give you a timeline of the typical practice after the jump with my notes from today.

I arrived early thanks to a friend who attends SJF. She gave me her parking pass and I rolled into the parking lot instead of taking the blasted shuttles. That was pretty sweet.

9:30 - 9:40 Special Teams - Punt Team
Bobby April led the punt team through some work on blocking, then on getting off their blocks; meanwhile, the gunners worked at the other end of the field. As has been a continuous trend, Ryan Neill got all first team work with Garrison Sanborn squarely behind him. Working at gunner (in no particular order) were Justin Jenkins, Reggie Corner, Ashton Youboty, Felton Huggins, Jairus Byrd, Shaine Smith, Lydell Sargeant, John Wendling, and Ko Simpson. Easily the most vocal player during this work was Marcus Stroud, standing on the sideline.

9:40 - 9:49 Walk Through vs. Scout Teams
The first team offense was without Terrell Owens again today; Owens has been officially ruled out of Saturday's pre-season contest in Green Bay. Josh Reed took his reps on the outside. Bryan Scott continued to practice following his injury and alternated moving up in the box with Donte Whitner during the exercise.

9:49 - 9:55 Warm up and Stretch
Easily the most boring thing to watch in practice, it's also the best to see who is participating. QB Matt Baker was stretching, but didn't throw a pass all day, instead standing and watching in a ball cap. WR James Hardy joined Owens in the training room, and defensive tackles Corey Mace and Marcus Smith watched from the sidelines. TE Shawn Nelson was late arriving on the field, but eventually joined the team during team work. Everyone else was participating fully.

9:55 - 10:11 Position Work
At this point in the practice, the team broke up into their position groups: DL, LB, DB, OL, TE, WR, RB, QB and ST (kickers, punters and long snappers). Without pads on, the OL and DL were working on footwork and hand techniques on opposite ends of the field. The RB and QB groups started together working on hand-offs before the RB group went to work on footwork and cuts. LBs were working on gap assignments, and DBs were focusing on backpedaling and ball skills. TEs were focusing on blocking and when to move off onto the blitzing linebacker. The WRs were catching passes after breaking off routes, but the most interesting part was that a coach was smacking them with a pad when the ball was in the air. Essentially the guys had to keep their focus even though they were being hit as the ball arrived. Then the WRs and QBs got together and worked on pass routes before the TEs and RBs were mixed in as well.

10:11 - 10:19 7on 7, OL vs. DL
While the offensive and defensive linemen did some one on one work, the first team offense and defense worked in the passing shell. It was around this time that people were figuring out that T.O. was just not going to show up. Many were sad. It would have been nice for him to at least come out and wave or something. Skill players with the first team offense were Lee Evans, Derek Fine, Josh Reed (in for Owens) and Shawn Nelson in the slot. He moved in tight on a couple plays as well before Roscoe Parrish replaced him. Roscoe and Nelson's reps were split pretty evenly as the "third WR" option. Good to see the big guy getting some first team reps. As an aside, it's pretty clear that Derek Schouman and Derek Fine are 1A and 1B and will rotate with Nelson. We officially have a three-headed monster at TE.

Trent Edwards was hitting guys in stride today and not one throw hit the ground during position work or 7 on 7. He was working the ball down the field, hitting Evans and Reed for gains on 15-20 yards. Ryan Fitzpatrick also looked good, completing good passes before throwing a 30+ yard bomb to Justin Jenkins. It was a gorgeous arching pass right over the top of the defender. Even Gibran Hamdan got in on the act, threading the ball between two defenders for a 25-yard pickup to C.J. Hawthorne.

10:19 - 10:31 Special Teams - Kick Return
Bobby April had the front six on one side of the field and his back five on the other. The starters for the front line were George WIlson, Jon Corto, John Wendling, Marcus Buggs and Justin Jenkins (L to R facing the kicker), with Shawn Nelson about ten yards behind Wendling. They were working on picking up their guys based on what the kick team does. The wedge (April used the term) portion was Leodis McKelvin returning with Xavier Omon five yards in front of him, and Spencer Johnson five yards in front of Omon. The Dereks were about five yards further up splitting the field in thirds. When the ball was kicked deep, the Dereks stood about three yards apart and Johnson came between them about two yards back. They also worked on short kicks and getting communication down so they know who is going to catch it.

10:32 - 10:38 11 on 11
The first full-team work of the day again highlighted the offense as they continued to practice without pads. James Hardy made his way onto the field prior to the team work, walking out and talking with teammates. Bryan Scott had a simulated stop in the backfield on a Roscoe reverse, the second of those I witnessed today. Jairus Byrd had a nice pass breakup on a Gibran Hamdan throw working with the third team. Answering some questions, the second team center was Brandon Rodd and Seth McKinney, running second team guard, slid over to the pivot with the third team. Watching more position battles, Chris Ellis is clearly getting more reps than Copeland Bryan, who ran third team today. Ellis has been seeing second team reps while Aaron Maybin continues his holdout.

10:38 - 10:54 Walk Through vs. Coaches
A staple of the end of practice is a walk through against a team of coaches simulating a defense. It's not interesting to watch, but the fans were getting anxious and began chanting. At one point between plays, Eric Wood and Langston Walker raised their arms in the air exhorting the chants to continue and get louder. The first team offense was working against the coaches, but on the other side of the field, it was the second and third team defense getting the reps against the ghost team.

10:54 - 10:58 Stretching and Team Huddle

10:59 Position Meetings and Break
DB, OL, LB, and TE met with their position coaches briefly while the rest of the team made their way towards the locker room for the final time this year. After practice, Fitzpatrick signed autographs and Walker and Butler threw their gloves into the stands.

***

Best Development of the Day
Only one Trent Edwards pass hit the ground all day. It was a yard overthrown to Lee Evans on the sideline about 18 yards off the line of scrimmage.

Worst Development of the Day
The moving vans were moving stuff from the sidelines and locker room during the entire practice. I still have at least one camp story to tell and you should see that later this week, but for now, the only time we'll see the Bills is when they play the Packers this weekend.

Notes from the Bills' Line: Bills 27, Bears 20

Ron From NM — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 04:44:19 -0000

Talk about great frustrations! The NFL Network decided, for reasons that only they will ever pretend to understand, continued to televise the scrubs from the worst team in NFL history instead of flipping over to the Bills-Bears contest, which was then featuring the first teamers for Chicago and Buffalo. As a result, I completely missed the entire first series, which included four runs and two passes. While I managed not to destroy my television, I did have plenty of foul things to say about the decision making process at NFL Network. (And, for the record, if the Bills game had run 19 minutes into the Chargers-Seahawks game, I wouldn't have been surprised or even upset if they had cut off coverage of the Bills' scrubs.)

Anyway, the end result is that my notes for the game begin at Pass 3 and Run 5, all of which are after the jump.

Drive 2
Pass 3: Lynch for 2 yards
- Langston Walker locked up 96. Andy Levitre forced 71 inside, who got tripped up but managed to get to Trent Edwards' feet - leading to a high throw to Marshawn Lynch. Geoff Hangartner popped 95 and when 95 stunted around RT, Levitre helped out Eric Wood. Wood and Brad Butler doubled 93. When 95 stunted, Butler peeled off to pick him up. Butler had help from Lynch with 95, who then went out into the flat.

Pass 4: Sack for -8 yards against a 5 man blitz
- Walker pushed 96 into the pile. Levitre and Hangartner doubled 95. Wood blocked 71 and kept his arms down. Butler looked at 93, who then dropped into zone coverage, and then helped Wood. Edwards didn't recognize the corner blitz. Derek Schouman did and immediately cut off his route to serve as the hot read. Whoops, Trent.

Pass 5: Lynch for 8 yards
- Walker blocked 96 who stunted inside after the pop. Walker didn't pick up 95, who Levitre handed off to him when 96 stunted inside. Hangartner and Wood doubled 71 until he stunted. They both then tried to pick up 93, who had been pushed inside by Butler, but they wiped each other out when 93 did a spin move. 93 hit Edwards. Butler, for his part, picked up 71 when he stunted to the outside after passing off 93 to Wood.

Drive killed by: Edwards' failure to recognize the corner blitz.
Drive stats: 1 blitz, 0 stacked boxes.

Drive 3
Pass 6: Evans for 9 yards against a 5 man blitz
- Walker and Levitre doubled 71 after 96 dropped into a zone. Hangartner and Wood blocked 96 and Butler blocked 97 towards the inside of the line. Lynch had a good blitz pick up when a DB came late through the area Butler had vacated.

Run 5: Lynch for 4 yards
- The play wasn't televised from the beginning. Lynch was almost on the ground when NFL Network deigned to return to live coverage, so I don't have anything definitive to write.

Pass 7: Reed for 3 yards
- It was a straight ahead four man rush and the Bills' line stopped it cold. Butler had some help with his man, the second time that he was given assistance. It appears that the coaches are a bit more worried about Butler than Walker.

Run 6: Jackson for 2 yards through the right B gap against an 8 man front
- Walker went to the second level and crossed the field without blocking anyone. Levitre missed a cut on a DT but he did get up quickly and get to the second level. Hangartner locked onto Urlacher in the second level and pushed him past Jackson. Wood tried to cut 93 and didn't. He also didn't spring back up like Levitre did. Butler pulled wide and manhandled a DB.

Pass 8: Evans for 14 yards
- Walker beat 96 to the corner and stopped him cold. Levitre and Hangartner doubled 95. Wood and Butler had good communication in defeating a stunt. Wood started to block 71 and Butler blocked 93. They smoothly switched opponents when they tried to stunt.

Run 7: Jackson for 1 yard through right C gap
- Walker and Levitre drove 75 eight yards off the line. Hangartner was kind of lost in the wash and dropped on 95 when 95 fell down while spinning. Wood tried to get Urlacher at the second level but couldn't reach him fast enough after chipping 95. 93 jumped to the inside and Butler got under his shoulder and wouldn't let him turn.

Pass 9: Fine for 3 yards
- 97 turned the corner on Walker but was too far upfield to effect the play. Levitre tried to block 95 as he crossed all the way over past the RT. Wood and Hangartner doubled 75. Butler shoved 93 into the pile.

Pass 10: Jackson for 5 yards on a dump off
- Walker shut down 97. Levitre put 95 down and then held him down. Hangartner helped Wood with 75 and Butler stoned 93.

Run 8: Edwards for 17 yards on a bootleg against an 8 man front through the left C gap
- Yes, it was a misdirection play so the blocks, in theory, for Jackson really shouldn't matter. With that said, Walker drove 71 inside and away from bootleg lane. Levitre blocked 55 on the line of scrimmage. Hangartner was toasted by 96, who would have had a tackle for loss if Jackson had had the ball. Wood and Butler popped 97. Butler stayed with 97 and Wood peel off and pushed Urlacher down.

Run 9: Jackson for 6 yards through the A gap
- Walker had a half-hearted block on Urlacher at the second level. Levitre put 95 down. 95 tried to slant left and Levitre drove him into the ground. Hangartner hit 55 in the second level and rode him in a circle away from the play. Wood got a bit of a drive on 71 and when 71 tried to move right, Wood put him down. Butler stuffed 93's spin move. Fine had an awesome block on 97.

Run 10: Jackson for -1 yard through the right B gap against an 8 man front
- Walker stood up 97. Levitre and Hangartner drove 95 and put him down. Wood barely let 71 get out of his stance and Butler circled 93 away from the play.

Pass 11: Schouman for 5 yards
- Walker beat 97 to the corner and Butler beat his DE to the corner as well. Levitre, Hangartner and Wood stopped 95 and 71.

Run 11: Jackson for 1 yard through the right B gap
- Walker hand fought with 71. Levitre put 95 down using the back of Hangartner's legs. Hangartner and Wood dug 97 out of the line. Butler picked up a filling Urlacher.

Pass 12: Sack for -5 yards
- 96 got inside of Walker - leading to what looked like a hold - and then Walker didn't sustain his block, letting 96 get the sack when Edwards began to scramble. Levitre helped Hangartner with 71 and peeled off to pick up a stunting 95. Hangartner kept 71 away from Edwards. Wood had no one to block and eventually helped out Butler, who rode 97 around the corner.

Run 12: Jackson for 4 yards through the A gap
- Walker kept 96 on the edge of the line. Levitre pulled to lead the play but was lost in the wash. Hangartner took down 95 - it looked like a flagrant hold. Wood turned 71 and kept after him until 71 was on the ground. Butler circled 55 completely away from the play. Fine got under 97's shoulder and drove him all over the field.

Drive killed by: Edwards' play call-run on third and goal from the 14
Drive stats: One blitz, three stacked boxes

Drive 4 (Ryan Fitzpatrick in at QB)
Run 13: Jackson for 3 yards through right C gap
- Demetrius Bell kept 99 on the edge and out of the play. Levitre helped Brandon Rodd with 98 and then slipped off the block to pick up 92 in the second level. Wood was taken down by 75. Nick Hennessey pushed on 75 and may have inadvertently helped 75 drop Wood.

Run 14: Jackson for 2 yards
- Bell followed 99 as he went to the edge but didn't really engage him. Levitre pulled to lead the play and fell down in the second level. Rodd drove 98 a little one on one. Wood was again put down by 75. It looked like some kind of wrestling match. Hennessey eventually got under 75's shoulder and put him down.

Pass 13: Felton Huggins for 19 yards
- Bell had a pathetic block on 98 on a stunt and got Ftizpatrick leveled. Levitre fell over while picking up a stunt by 99. Rodd actually picked up 99. Wood was bull rushed by 75 and took him down - it sure looked like Wood just took him down with what amounted to a hip throw. Hennessey was beaten to the inside by his DE. In short, it was a terrible play for the offensive line.

Pass 14: Incomplete to Huggins - should have been an INT
- Bell aggressively hit the DE instead of waiting for the DE to engage. Levitre stoned his DT at the line. Rodd did a good job on another DT. Wood helped Hennessey with his DE when the DE tried to slip off of Hennessey's block to the inside.

Pass 15: Stupar for 5 yards
- Bell and Hennessey stopped their DEs cold. Levitre and Rodd doubled 98. Wood kept 75 from moving off of the line.

Pass 16: Parrish for 14 yards against a 5 man blitz - Parrish fumble
- Bell and Hennessey again stopped their DEs well away from Fitzpatrick. Levitre waited for a LB to blitz and popped him when he did. Rodd handled a DT while Wood helped first Rodd then Hennessey.

Drive killed by: Parrish's fumble
Drive stats: One blitz, zero stacked boxes

Overall, the line did much better with straight rushes than with stunts. That's good in terms of dealing with the brute strength common to 3-4 DTs and DEs. It's not so good in terms of dealing with the sheer inventiveness of coaches the Bills routinely face. I really hope the starting line sees significant playing time against the Packers and Steelers as they both run 3-4 defenses.

Recapping week one of Buffalo Bills training camp

Brian Galliford — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:30:09 -0000

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

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The Buffalo Bills are now nine practices deep into 2009 training camp, and after eight full days of hard work, the entire team is getting Sunday off to rest and recuperate. The pads go back on on Monday as the team prepares for its first pre-season game of the year, which takes place a week from today in the Hall of Fame Game.

A lot has happened to this point - in terms of players performing (or not), in terms of lineup surprises, and in terms of who is not in camp. We were fortunate to have representation at camp seven days, and have recaps here for those in the reviewing mood: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7. (You'll have to rely on bigger-name sources for Day 8 coverage; we'll be back camping next week.)

This post is not intended to recap every significant development; you'd be reading for the rest of the afternoon if that was the case. Instead, we'll focus on each position after the jump, giving you some of our general impressions based on what we've seen and heard, with a specific focus on the big story lines for the Bills heading into the regular season.

Quarterback. Trent Edwards is looking pretty comfortable. Not all of his throws have been pretty - defensive backs have made a lot of plays on his passes, actually - but the encouraging sign is that he's making many more big plays himself. He and Terrell Owens have quickly established a good on-field rapport, though, as with Edwards and any other player, the rest of the relationship is a work in progress. Trent's also looking more comfortable making his reads and with his footwork. Signs are encouraging. Meanwhile, steady improvement has been the name of the game for backup Ryan Fitzpatrick. He was awful when camp opened, but has leveled off to the point where we don't have to have nightmares about our backup QB situation every night.

Running Back. Marshawn Lynch looks great. He is his usual explosive (in the short area), difficult-to-tackle self. Fred Jackson has been pulling off his best Swiss Army knife impression, running the Wildcat and catching passes as a receiver in addition to his running back duties. Veteran free agent signee Dominic Rhodes is in great shape, running hard, and looks quick with the ball in his hands. He is easily the best receiver of this group; even when Lynch returns, Rhodes will get playing time.

Fullback. Nothing to see here. The position has been completely eradicated from Buffalo's offense as they transition to the no-huddle, and if Corey McIntyre wants to make the team, he'll have to do it as a specialist.

Wide Receiver. Terrell Owens has been outstanding. The man, quite simply, is a freak. His skills don't look diminished a bit, no matter what the "experts" tell you. As long as he's happy this season, the man will produce. Lee Evans is his usual self. Josh Reed is going to have a monster year, folks, provided Owens and Evans are on the field. He might lead the team in catches. Seriously. Before injuring his ribs, Steve Johnson was off to a great start as well. He's got a bright future. Roscoe Parrish has been running the Wildcat in an effort to find ways to get the ball in his hands offensively. One young receiver has been impressing as well - Shaine Smith might be just a street free agent, but he's been making plays, and is very long and athletic. Keep your eye on him.

Tight End. Derek Schouman currently has the inside track to start over the more talented, yet slightly less polished Derek Fine. Schouman looks quite impressive - he's a reliable short-area receiver, and his blocking has been outstanding thus far in camp. He routinely handles defensive ends with ease. Jonathan Stupar is a similar player, and he's been very solid throughout the first week as well. He might find a way to sneak onto the roster. Shawn Nelson is currently dealing with a foot injury, but his outstanding athleticism is apparent when he's on the field. He's easily got the softest pair of hands of this group, and he's a willing, yet highly unpolished blocker. His impact might not be immediate, but Nelson will be a player in this league.

Offensive Tackle. Outside of quarterback, this area has easily been the biggest worry for the fan base, but Langston Walker and Brad Butler are playing well. Butler has struggled some with bull rushes, but he's still re-learning tackle techniques, so that's to be expected. Once he fixes pad level issues, he'll be fine. These two are known commodities and play consistently, so as long as their shortcomings aren't anything more than physical - and thus far, they haven't been - the Bills should be alright offensively. Demetrius Bell has shown tremendous improvement in his second year; you're going to see him on the field a ton in the pre-season. Jonathan Scott has been solid as well, and has a shot to make the roster.

Offensive Guard. Eric Wood is a freaking monster. He's huge, athlhetic, strong, and tenacious. He's a leader. Buffalo's offensive line has been physically talented over the past few years, but there wasn't any leadership up front. Wood is that player. He might be an offensive captain next year; the kid oozes leadership. Andy Levitre has been impressive as well, though not anywhere near the level Wood has; Levitre is improving, but don't be surprised if he's beaten out for the starting left guard job by Kirk Chambers, a dependable veteran who doesn't make a lot of mistakes. Levitre has some growing up to do. Seth McKinney doesn't stand a chance to beat out Wood at right guard, but he's been solid as well, and he'll be a valuable reserve this season.

Center. Geoff Hangartner, unsurprisingly, has picked up the intricacies of Buffalo's no-huddle offense quickly. There isn't an awful lot to report here, as we've had a tough time keeping an eye on him, but no news isn't necessarily bad news. Brandon Rodd has been getting second-team reps at center; he's a big, thick kid that in all likelihood will end up back on the practice squad. He has some talent.

Defensive End. Chris Kelsay, surprisingly, has been the bright spot. Chalk it up to going up against Butler in practice if you'd like, but Kelsay has recorded numerous sacks and pressures, and his run defense has always been solid (when he's not getting faked out on a misdirection play, that is). Aaron Schobel is showing no ill effects of his Lisfranc foot injury, though he hasn't been particularly effective rushing against Walker in practice. Chris Ellis is looking great as a reserve; his upper body strength has improved tremendously, and he looks pretty quick out on the field. He might be ready to make an impact. Still, Aaron Maybin cannot get here fast enough - this is not an athletic group of people.

Defensive Tackle. Marcus Stroud is Marcus Stroud. Nothing to worry about here - the guy can play. Kyle Williams has been borderline dominant to this point; he might now take the crown as the Bills' best pure run defender. John McCargo was putting together some nice work before a hamstring injury sidelined him. This group isn't particularly deep (Spencer Johnson helps, of course), but all four of these guys can play. If there's a young player to be stashed on the practice squad for depth in the event of an injury, it's David Lindquist.

Outside Linebacker. Kawika Mitchell has looked solid on the weak side, and Keith Ellison has found himself making plays in the backfield on more than one occasion on the strong side. No one has come close to unseating Ellison for his starting job. Nic Harris has flashed some promise as a reserve, but his technique work currently leaves a lot to be desired. Alvin Bowen and Ashlee Palmer are easily the best athletes at this position; they're quite fast, and both have a chance to make the roster as reserves and specialists. Don't count out Jon Corto, either - he's revered by Bobby April, and he's not a bad linebacker, either.

Inside Linebacker. Paul Posluszny has been outstanding against the run, and he looks far more comfortable defending the pass and blitzing than he did a year ago. He's much, much less tentative. Pat Thomas and Marcus Buggs have been splitting second-team reps at the position, with Thomas looking a hair better. We're going to miss John DiGiorgio, however; he's a much more physical defender than either Thomas or Buggs.

Cornerback. Just like with any veteran, you can safely say that Terrence McGee has been his usual self. Not many big plays, but a lot of pass break-ups and few big plays given up. Leodis McKelvin, on the other hand, has been far more up-and-down, and he's spent a lot more time down than up. Owens and Evans are brutalizing this kid. Here's to hoping it doesn't ruin his confidence. On the other hand, he's also made some beautiful plays, including a couple of gorgeous interceptions. Once Leo gets himself consistent, he's going to be quite the ball player. The battle at nickel corner rages on, but only technically - Drayton Florence has distanced himself early from Reggie Corner and Ashton Youboty (and right now, we'd place Corner slightly ahead of Youboty as well, but that should change quickly once the team starts playing games). Ellis Lankster continues to surprise; he's a great athlete.

Free Safety. Donte Whitner has seen every first-team rep here, and that's not likely to change for a long, long time. Buffalo's coaching staff is very anxious to get Jairus Byrd onto the field, but as he's currently on the PUP list recovering from sports hernia surgery, the idea that he'd line up next to Whitner as a starter is borderline absurd. Ko Simpson has been dependable as the second-team safety, though his climb to a roster spot is still an uphill one. Antwain Spann, recently signed from the Patriots, will be watched with interest over the next couple of weeks - he's got some talent, but his role has yet to be clearly defined.

Strong Safety. Bryan Scott has been excellent, recording a few interceptions and taking one back for a score. He's even gotten some reps here and there at linebacker, in the event that the Bills have to deal with a bunch of injuries there. George Wilson has made some nice plays running with the twos at this position. John Wendling appears to be nothing more than a solid run defender and specialist; we still maintain that he, too, should make a move to linebacker.

Specialists. Rian Lindell is Rian Lindell. Brian Moorman is Brian Moorman - but circa a few years ago, when he was awesome, and not last year, when he was just very good. Ryan Neill and Garrison Sanborn will duke it out for the long-snapping duties, but let's be honest, we're not at camp to watch long snappers. We'll chart them both during pre-season games. One last note - Leodis McKelvin has looked absolutely fantastic returning kicks. He's in line for a possible Pro Bowl season in that department.

State of the Bills Roster: Guards and Center

Brian Galliford — Sun, 17 May 2009 18:15:09 -0000

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

Buffalo Bills first-round pick, OG Eric Wood. (AP Photo/David Duprey)

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Now that the 2009 NFL Draft is in the books and off-season player acquisition will crawl at a snail's pace, Buffalo Rumblings has begun re-examining the Buffalo Bills' revamped roster. We continue off our 'State of the Roster' series this morning with a look at the safety position. Previous installments: QB, RB, TE, OT, DE, DT, S.

When the 2008 NFL regular season came to a close for the Buffalo Bills, the team, at that point in time, employed five interior offensive linemen on its active roster. Roughly four months later, one of those five players remains with the team - and he's new starting right tackle Brad Butler.

Derrick Dockery? Released. Melvin Fowler and Duke Preston? Bid adieu. Jason Whittle? Hasta la vista. With Butler moving out to right tackle, the Bills are in line to feature three starting interior linemen - and four in total, taking in the entire depth chart - that were not members of this team last season.

If that's not an indictment of the team's play along the inside of the line last year, then no low level of play will ever go punished again. Playing in a division that features three dominant nose tackles in New England's Vince Wilfork, New York's Kris Jenkins and Miami's Jason Ferguson, the Bills' interior line was routinely dominated last year. With radical changes having been made, no one is sure if things are looking up inside - but rest assured that it can't get much worse than 2008.

STARTER (C): Geoff Hangartner
Rhetorical question: was there a player position in Buffalo last year that was as much-maligned as center? The Bills, to their credit, saw the need to address the position entering free agency, and Hangartner quickly jumped to the top of the team's wish list once teams were able to sign players. Make no mistake about it: if the Bills had been allowed to sign only one free agent this year, Hangartner would have been their choice. A smart, technically sound player, Hangartner's got his work cut out for him in this division.

STARTER (RG): Eric Wood
A center in college, Buffalo will move Wood to right guard - at least for now. Wood is another highly intelligent player, and is considered an outstanding leader; he was a team captain during his time at Louisville. He plays the game with a fiery demeanor, and his positional versatility will be an asset for the team as well.

STARTER (LG): Andy Levitre
The second interior lineman that the Bills selected on day one of the 2009 NFL Draft, Levitre was a left tackle at Oregon State. Though he lacks the athleticism and measurables to play outside at the NFL level, he brings some of his more endearing qualities (hand punch, finishing ability) to guard, and shouldn't take too long to adjust. He'll play the left side - he's more familiar with that side of the line - and, if the Bills are lucky, will be an immediate upgrade over the departed and severely overpaid Dockery.

Seth McKinney
A seven-year veteran that has spent time with Cleveland and Miami, McKinney offers some value in that he can play either guard or center. He's also got solid experience, having made 45 starts in his career. Don't expect much more out of McKinney than a dependable reserve presence.

Brandon Rodd
If you're asking Pete Prisco, Rodd is a solid player. I, however, am not completely certain how a one-year practice squad player earns that reputation. Rodd will fight for a practice squad spot again this year, barring injury.

Marvin Philip
Philip was the center at Cal-Berkeley during Marshawn Lynch's first two years in college. The sixth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2006 draft, Philip has yet to appear in an NFL game.

Nick Hennessey
A 6'5", 291-pound undrafted rookie free agent out of Colgate, Hennessey has an uphill climb to stick with the team in any capacity.

Contract situations: When you're talking about this many new additions, there isn't much to worry about from a contract standpoint. Wood, as a first-round pick, is likely going to get a five-year deal. Levitre will probably get a four-year accord as a second-round pick, and Hangartner signed a four-year deal - so the Bills have some relatively long-term investments amongst their starters. McKinney is on a one-year deal; this is exactly what the team did with the departed Whittle as well.

Bottom Line
Buffalo gets an 'A' for recognizing that change was needed, and a solid 'B+' for finding low-risk, solid-upside, tough-nosed players to fill out the inside of their line. The starting trio of Levitre, Hangartner and Wood has promise - you won't ever see any of these guys take a play off, but you might see them block a guy out of bounds. The attitude adjustment can't be the only fix, however - these guys need to prove they can play, and they also need to show some cohesion as soon as possible. The Bills did good work here this off-season - but in this division, the work's not done until the Bills are able to actually run the football against the Pats, Jets and Dolphins.

State of the Bills Roster: Guards/Centers

Brian Galliford — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:30:05 -0000

Butler still can't stay healthy (buffalobills.com)

The "State of the Bills Roster" series trucks on! If you're new around these parts within the past nine months or so, this series is an off-season progression of posts in which we'll break down Buffalo's roster in-depth. From these discussions, we'll put together a "Community Needs List" in priority order, then begin researching potential free agent and draft acquisitions that will satisfy all of the Bills' needs as we perceive them.

Hey - at least this way, we're doing the job right. Right? Unlike a certain front office we're forced to support.

And now, we continue our foray into heavy-duty off-season work at Buffalo Rumblings. It's our "State of the Roster" series, off-season mode, and we'll continue the discussions by breaking down the Bills' situation on their interior offensive line - the much-maligned centers and their wingmen.

Previous installments: QB :: RB :: TE :: WR :: OT

Opening statement
There isn't a lot to be said here that hasn't already been thoroughly discussed throughout the season. Buffalo's center play has been lackluster for a number of years now, and though the guard play has been better, it hasn't been great. There is little depth to speak of here. This is clearly the problem area on Buffalo's underachieving offensive line. With three of the five non-practice squad players unrestricted free agents, the time for change is ripe.

#75 Duke Preston (starter, center)
6'5", 326 pounds
Age: 27 in June 2009
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent
- The best that can be said about Preston's 2008 efforts is that he beat out veteran Melvin Fowler for the starting center job during the season, and that he played with some passion while he was in the lineup. Clearly, his actual blocking is lacking however. At this point, Preston's best shot at returning to the Bills in 2009 is as a backup at all three interior spots - and that's not a given.

#66 Derrick Dockery (starter, left guard)
6'6", 330 pounds
Age: 29 in September 2009
Contract status: 5 years remaining (UFA after 2013); owed $26.25M in base salaries.
- When Buffalo's line was struggling to run block and pass protect in the middle of the '08 season, Buffalo's coaches called out Dockery as the man not playing up to snuff. They were right - Dockery, Buffalo's highest-paid lineman, stunk during the critical mid-season stretch. He responded by playing better in the run department late in the season, but when former fifth-round pick Brad Butler is out-playing him, there are issues. Dockery has another season or two to prove that he'll be worth the exorbitant dollars he's scheduled to make as his contract expires; if he doesn't do any proving, he'll likely be released.

#60 Brad Butler (starter, right guard)
6'7", 315 pounds
Age: 26 in September 2009
Contract status: 4 years remaining (UFA after 2012); owed $5.65 million in base salaries.
- Butler once again had a strong season, proving that the modest contract extension that he signed prior to the start of the '08 season was a smart move by the Bills. Butler still missed a stretch of games due to injury, however, also proving that the Bills can't rely on his health for a full slate of games. He's a keeper, but his injury history is one of the main reasons the Bills need to bolster their depth on the interior.

#65 Jason Whittle
6'4", 279 pounds
Age: 34 in March 2009
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent.
- He has spent two seasons on Buffalo's roster and has not made an impact in any capacity. He's dealt with injuries as well. Re-signing Whittle would be pretty easy, but if the Bills want to upgrade their depth on the interior - and they certainly should - Whittle's spot is the one that will be upgraded.

#67 Melvin Fowler
6'3", 310 pounds
Age: 30 in March 2009
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent.
- Fowler struggled as the starting center in both 2006 and 2007, and was eventually replaced by Preston as the starter this year after Preston got an opportunity thanks to a Fowler injury. With an upgrade at center looming and Preston a more versatile depth option, Fowler is almost certainly a goner.

Other guards/centers on the roster: Brandon Rodd (practice squad)

The Breakdown
Keepers: Dockery, Butler. Their contracts dictate they'll be back. Butler's injury history is a concern, as is Dockery's lethargy and underachieving. Depth is sorely needed here, and it wouldn't hurt for that depth to be a young guy they can develop.

Extendables: Preston I'm not exactly thrilled with the idea, either, but you can do worse than Preston as a reserve. He should not, and likely won't, be re-signed as a starter.

Expendables: None.

Questionables: None.

Goners: Whittle, Fowler. Both are going to be at least 30 next season, and both are rather average, run-of-the-mill players. They'd be cheap to re-sign, but why bother?

What we need: Obviously, we need a starter at center. We need at least one reserve guard as well to replace Whittle and possibly develop to replace Dockery and/or Butler. We'll put Preston's future up to a vote. If you, the Rumblings community, votes down re-signing Preston as a reserve, we'll add a second swing guard to the list. So yes - we could possibly be looking at needing three players at this position, depending on the Preston vote.

That's it. I'm done with the easy stuff. Now it's on you, folks. Who wants to gush some more about Cal center Alex Mack? Or should the Bills try to fill their need at center with a veteran? Have any names of potential additions you'd like to throw into the ring? Have fun with this, and let's get brainstorming.

Poll

Should the Bills re-sign Duke Preston as a reserve?

Yep - his versatility has value

200 votes

Nope - let's just overhaul this position

137 votes

337 votes | Poll has closed