SB Nation - Andy Levitre

Bills need to keep pounding the rock

Brian Galliford — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:46:13 -0000

The Buffalo Bills have struggled to run the ball this season. Amidst massive offensive line changes and a three-game suspension to former starting running back Marshawn Lynch at the outset of the season, the Bills have surpassed 100 rushing yards as a team in just 6 of 13 games this season, to the team's overall offensive detriment.

Things are turning around for this unit, however. Interim head coach Perry Fewell has re-established the importance of the running game into his offensive game plans, and as a result, the Bills have rushed for over 100 yards as a team in three of Fewell's first four games as the head man, all in the last three contests. Buffalo's 200-yard rushing effort in yesterday's win over the Kansas City Chiefs may have been their most dominant ground performance of the season.

Why are the Bills suddenly running the ball well? It has a lot to do with the fact that the team has finally strung together a few games in which the same offensive line has started. Buffalo has begun games with seven different line combinations this season - most in the NFL - but in their last three games, the Bills have been fortunate to start the same five along the offensive line (Jonathan Scott, Andy Levitre, Geoff Hangartner, Kendall Simmons and Kirk Chambers). Say what you want about the quality of our opponents or the issues that remain up front, but continuity has played an important role in the run game increases over the past three weeks.

This is a trend that needs to continue, particularly if Fewell is serious about removing the interim tag from his current job title. The only thing that matters to Fewell's job prospects right now is wins. Forget style points. Fewell doesn't need them. He just needs to keep winning, and if he wants to do it, he'll continue to emphasize the running game.

Lynch and Fred Jackson are simply too good to not get touches. Yes, the same can be said of Terrell Owens and Lee Evans, but let's face facts - Ryan Fitzpatrick is much more adept at getting touches for Lynch and Jackson than he is for Owens and Evans. If you want those receivers to get the ball, run a reverse.

Speaking of Fitzpatrick, a good running game is his best friend. It opens up the play-action game and, as much of that particular brand of offensive football features rollouts, it allows Fitzpatrick to utilize the one consistent strength to his game - his ability to make plays with his legs.

The offensive line is OK with a run-dominated offensive game plan, too. This is a group that has fatal pass protection flaws. They only gave up two sacks to the Chiefs, and the fact that that two-sack performance feels like a milestone achievement should speak volumes. But no matter how deficient this unit is pass-blocking, they know how to run block, because every blue-collar offensive lineman knows how to run block. It's what they've done their entire lives. There are no finesse players on this line. Every one of those guys is physical and plays the game with the correct demeanor. Their strength is in run-blocking. They may not be very good at it, but it's what they're best at. Let them continue to do what they're best at.

In 2008, Jackson and Lynch combined to rush for 1,607 yards and 11 touchdowns on 380 carries. Buffalo's quarterback play has gotten worse from '08 to '09, as hard as that is to believe, and as a result, the rushing numbers have suffered; the two backs have 1,153 yards and 4 touchdowns on 284 carries this season. But in their last three games, their numbers have picked up, with the two backs rushing for 353 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Buffalo's next three opponents are ranked Nos. 17 (New England), 23 (Atlanta) and 18 (Indianapolis) against the run. The matchups are there for the Bills to keep running the ball effectively. It's what Buffalo's offense does best, and the team's two most consistent threats just happen to be runners. Knowing Fewell's preferred brand of football and his quest for a starting job, the Bills should - and likely will - keep pounding the rock.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 12/12

MattRichWarren — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:22:56 -0000

Bills notebook: Tolbert staying put; McGee ready to start : The Buffalo News
"When asked about LSU, Tolbert declined comment and said he was focused on the Bills' season. According to team sources, Tolbert, a former LSU receiver (1988-90) never was offered the job."

Draft class review | BuffaloBills.com
Dan Bates profiles the instant impact Bills rookies, one that is showing some promise, and a few still paying their dues as well as first-year players that made the team since the draft.

Dungy says he was contacted Thursday about an NFL job | ProFootballTalk.com
"Former Bucs and Colts coach Tony Dungy said earlier today on The Dan Patrick Show that he was contacted Thursday by an NFL team about a job. Dungy said that the Bills weren't the team that contacted him."

Pro-football-reference.com blog » HOF 2010: Steve Tasker
PFR takes an in depth look at the candidacy of Bills special teamer Steve Tasker.

T.O., Freddie Mitchell have a Philly love fest | ProFootballTalk.com
"No disrespect at all to Buffalo, I would have to give it to Philly," said Owens when asked whether Bills fans or Eagles fans are better. "Both organizations' fans embraced me with open arms but I never felt anything like when I stood in Lincoln Financial Field and heard 75,000 fans chant my name."

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
Bills C Geoff Hangartner on Buffalo’s non-stop rash of injuries on the offensive line this year: "We just put our fifth guy (Demetrius Bell) on injured reserve - that’s a whole starting line on IR, which is just crazy. I've never seen anything like it."

Kansas City Chiefs - Chiefs-Bills Game to be Televised
The Chiefs asked for and received a 24-hour extension from the NFL yesterday, until 12:05 PM today, to sell the remaining tickets to lift the blackout and did.

Fan Friday 12-11 – Inside The Bills
Bills reporter Chris Brown answers your questions on using a dual RB backfield; coacing candidates Brian Billick, Russ Grimm, and Pete Metzelaars (with Frank Reich getting a shout out); the Bills QB situation; the revenue benefit of the Toronto series; and the fates of Bobby April and Perry Fewell.

Bell to I-R; Ramsey promoted | BuffaloBills.com
Bell becomes the 15th Bills player to go on injured reserve as the club is not far from surpassing their all-time high of 17 players on injured reserve in 2007.

Kelly's Call: It's Pride Time | BuffaloBills.com
"If you’re a player for the Bills you know you’re not going to the playoffs, but you have to continue to play for pride," writes Bills Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly.

Levitre and Martin score TD for Teachers | BuffaloBills.com
Brian Martin was selected as the grand prize winner of the Bills and M&T Bank's "Touchdown for Teachers" program. Martin, an Iraq War veteran, teaches in Olean and Bills OL Andy Levitre was welcomed with open arms to Martin's classroom.

Marcus Mailbag 12/11/09
Find out what Marcus Stroud thinks about Buffalo's first snow storm of the season, what the biggest play of his career has been, and what actor would play him in a movie.

Bills put Bell on IR, promote Ramsey : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"Andrew Ramsey, a 6-foot-5, 322-pound Ball State product, has spent the past 10 weeks on Buffalo's practice squad. He entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Seahawks following the 2009 draft. He was released by the Seahawks prior to the start of the 2009 season. "

Final Word: AFC East - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"The only way Terrell Owens comes back to Buffalo is if he has no other options. "

Bills' special teams have been a letdown - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"We haven't gotten set on offense, defense, and special teams all year because of the rotation of people going in and out," Bills interim head coach Perry Fewell said. "Especially for Bobby because you have to cross-train so many different people in so many different places, and so he doesn't have any consistency.

Kansas City Chiefs - KC's Rushing Offense vs. Buffalo's Rushing Defense A Key Matchup
Pete Morris of the Chiefs team website looks at the matchup.

Bills send LT Demetrius Bell to IR

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

More photos » by John Russell - AP

Browse more photos »

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jets 19, Bills 13: Week 13 Film Session

Brian Galliford — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:00:16 -0000

by Chris Young - AP

View full size photo »

It's Monday, and even though the Buffalo Bills are a full three days removed from their most recent loss - in this case, a 19-13 loss to the New York Jets in Toronto - Monday means it's film session day.

You know the drill. We've added a few thoughts about teams and games outside of this (dreary) matchup, so that's slightly different, but you know what to expect. As always, feel free to add your own thoughts and observations to those presented here in the comments section.

Rex Ryan has Buffalo's number. Buffalo put up 29 points in two games against the Jets this season. They ran the ball well in (extremely occasional) spots, and were able to hit the (extremely occasional) big play. But New York's offense was also very kind to Buffalo, giving them plenty of opportunities to put both games away, and the Bills were only able to do so once. Just how thoroughly is Rex Ryan's defense owning Buffalo's offense? Take a quick look at Ryan Fitzpatrick's stat line in the two games: 39.6% completions (19 of 48), 214 yards (4.46 yards per attempt), 1 TD, 2 INT, 3 sacks and a quarterback rating of 43.2. Fitzpatrick's quarterback rating of 43.2 is only slightly higher than the number of yards per quarter Thomas Jones picked up against the Bills this season (39.9).

Ryan's defense didn't do a ton, but given Buffalo's massive upheaval along the offensive line, it did the only thing it needed to do: run a bunch of exotic blitzes and confuse the hell out of Buffalo's blockers. Just like in Week 6, the Bills had opportunities to make plays down the field in this one - Lee Evans was open on intermediate routes several times, for example - but overload blitzes and stunts got pass protection out of whack, and Fitzpatrick was forced to either throw an inaccurate pass or eat the ball nearly every time.

I feel bad for Ron From NM. Not because of anything he's done or anything that's in his control. I just feel bad that most of the excellent, hard work he puts into analyzing Buffalo's offensive line on an annual basis will be largely meaningless this season. Demetrius Bell hasn't played enough to be evaluated fairly. Grades on Jonathan Scott, Kendall Simmons, Kirk Chambers and Jamon Meredith will be largely meaningless, because none of those players figure to be in Buffalo's long-term plans.

If I were Ron - and if I were him, he'd be me, and he'd probably use my body to do his usual analysis anyway - I'd just focus on three guys in my ultimate end-of-season analysis. Those three guys would be Andy Levitre, Geoff Hangartner and Eric Wood. They're the only guys who've played enough to fairly evaluate, and considering that fact alone, it's not hard to understand why Buffalo's offense is so ridiculously awful.

Given everything that's happened up front this season, as well as the fact that the Jets threw exotic looks at the Bills again, I came away impressed with Levitre. I think it's pretty safe to say that he has been the Bills' best lineman this season, his first in the league. He's played in every game, he's acquitted himself nicely when asked to play positions beyond his skill level (left tackle), and while he's had his ups and downs, his technique and consistency have come a long way since September 14 in New England. He's going to be a good player in this league for a while.

We've already talked about the abysmal run defense. Read that article if you missed it, but if you're looking for the Cliff's Notes version: backside contain and gap discipline are lacking, the linebackers stink, and the secondary is hit-and-miss in run support across the board.

That's it. I don't think I can talk about the rest of the team, because the game was so dreadfully boring and repetitive that we won't learn anything new by re-hashing what we've been talking about for three months. Blech. This team is awful to root for sometimes.

Mark Sanchez has the stuff to be the real deal. When I'm looking at a young quarterback, I don't care as much about the throws and the production as I do about what he looks like in the pocket. Sanchez has a little bit of a Tony Romo flair to him - he's quite mobile, can throw from different arm angles, and can create throwing lanes with his movement. He's terrific with ball fakes, and he has the arm to eventually make "all the throws," as they say in the biz. Yes, he's struggled in two games against the Bills this year, but I beg you to understand that that is not likely to continue. Sanchez is gonna be pretty good.

The AFC East stinks. Is there a more overrated division in the NFL? Our division leader is 7-5. Buffalo has beaten each of the two teams currently a game behind New England - who also barely beat us in the season opener. New England split with New York and Miami, two highly, highly average teams. I mean, they lost to the Bills, for crying out loud.

Going into the season, fans fretted about the "difficulty" of the two divisions the AFC East would be playing in 2009 - the AFC South and the NFC South. Granted, those two divisions sport the only two undefeated teams in football, but beyond those two teams, there aren't any others that strike fear into its opponents, with the possible exception of the Tennessee Titans of the last six games. This division is 7-5 against the NFC South - although, to be fair, they're 7-1 against teams not playing in New Orleans - and, more pertinently to the overrated argument, they're 3-6 against the AFC South.

There aren't any elite divisions in the NFL this season - mostly because there aren't many elite teams - but the AFC East race, at least in my personal opinion, is one of the least exciting out there. Which is, of course, a bummer.

New York Jets Run Defense vs. Buffalo Bills Run Offense

John B — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:00:26 -0000

by Dean Duprey - AP

View full size photo »

The Jets lost Kris Jenkins in the first game, leaving a void on the defensive line for the rest of the year. The defense really stepped up in games against teams with powerful running attacks like Miami and Carolina. The Bills aren't on the same level. They're averaging a pedestrian 4.1 per run and only gain 104.6 per game, not terrible but on the bottom half of the NFL.

Fred Jackson is now the starter for the Bills. He's more dangerous than Marshawn Lynch. Think of him as Leon Washington to Lynch's Thomas Jones. Jackson is very quick, capable of making guys miss in space, and a threat as a pass catcher out of the backfield. His 4.2 average per carry is over a yard better than that of Lynch, who started his year suspended and never really got things going.

A good chunk of the blame should go on the run blocking. Lynch is good at hitting holes. Buffalo has been terrible at opening them. The Bills tried to revamp their offensive line during the offseason. lnjuries have played a role, but even without them things have looked bad. Geoff Hartinger was supposed to bring veteran stability to the center positon. His play has been uneven. Rookie guard Eric Wood was doing well, but he's on IR, replaced by unremarkable Kirk Chambers. Other rookie guard Andy Levitre has gone through ups and a lot of downs. Tackles Jonathan Scott and Demetrius Bell have been flagged a combined 15 times in 12 combined starts. Bell will sit this one out with a knee injury, leaving Jamon Meredith likely in his place. We all know the Jets don't have many playmakers on the line, but this matchup is a favorable one.

Identifying the "crux players" on Buffalo's roster

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

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

Browse more photos »

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

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

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

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

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

Reserves: C/G Geoff Hangartner, DT Spencer Johnson

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

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

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

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

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

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

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/27

MattRichWarren — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:38:45 -0000

More photos » by Phil Coale - AP

24 days ago: Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) tries to keep his balance on a third-quarter run against the Jacksonville Jaguars during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009, in Jacksonville, Fla. Jacksonville won 18-15. (AP Photo/Phil Coale)

Browse more photos »

Simmons could step right in | BuffaloBills.com
Kendall SImmons is playing so well in practice he may get the start at guard this week.

Moorman punting at Pro Bowl level | BuffaloBills.com
Through ten games, Moorman already passed his punting yardage total of last season with 2,747 yards, good for second in the AFC behind Oakland’s Shane Lechler. His net average, a category that most look at to judge a punter’s season, is ranked third in the conference at 40.2.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Report: Kelly wants piece of team; Tebow
The long-whispered rumors are true, Jim Kelly wants to be a part of the Bills ownership group.

4th quarter is Bills' Achilles heel | BuffaloBills.com
The Bills have been outscored in the fourth quarter this season 109-40, close to a 3:1 ratio through the first 10 games. Only one team in the NFL has given up more fourth quarter points (Miami, 110). In six of Buffalo’s 10 games they have been shut out in the final stanza of the contest, and in their last three outings the Bills have been outscored in the fourth quarter 54-0, all losses.

HOF semifinalists to be named Saturday – Inside The Bills
The Pro Football Hall of Fame will be naming their 25 semifinalists for enshrinement as part of the 2010 Hall of Fame class. Former Bills likely to be on the list include Steve Tasker, Andre Reed, Kent Hull and Darryl Talley.

Sanborn making it look like a snap | BuffaloBills.com
Dan Bates profiles Buffalo's low profile long snapper, Garrison Sanborn.

Practice squad adds are interesting – Inside The Bills
A little more information on the two newest Bills, Lonnie Harvin amd Jason Watkins.

Bills practicing in rain – Inside The Bills
The Bills practiced outside in the rain Wednesday.

Sparano knows Fewell – Inside The Bills
Sparano was the tight ends coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2002. Fewell was the secondary coach for the Jaguars on that same coaching staff.

Safety rotation will continue – Inside The Bills
Donte Whitner and Jairus Byrd subbed in and out for one another through the course of the Jacksonville game. Interim head coach Perry Fewell liked how it worked last Sunday and intends to continue with it moving forward.

Fewell asks for fan support – Inside The Bills
The Bills coach wants fans in the seats this Sunday to welcome the Dolphins to town.

Eric Wood still not back from Jacksonville – Inside The Bills
"I don’t think [the injury is career-threatening]," said Fewell. "I can’t answer that question, but I just know that everything went well and we hope to have him home soon."

Bills players serve turkey dinner | BuffaloBills.com
Among the players serving a full menu of turkey, stuffing, beans, corn, yams, grilled cheese, rolls, deserts and drinks were safety Jairus Byrd, defensive backs Cary Harris and Lydell Sargeant, offensive lineman Nick Hennessey, Andy Levitre, Jamon Meredith and Andre Ramsey, defensive end Aaron Maybin, linebacker Ashley Palmer and long snapper Garrison Sanborn.

Whitner's return means safety in numbers for Bills | Buffalo News
"I didn't start, but I played most of the game," said Donte Whitner. "It was a different feel not starting. I didn't know why it happened and I haven't really talked to anyone about it." The rotations is likely to continue.

Bills notebook: Williams is back in limelight as Dolphins' feature back : The Buffalo News
Ricky Williams was named AFC offensive player of the week after his three-TD performance last week.

Question Mark: Coaching contracts can be structured with an out clause : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Mark Gaughan answers questions about out clauses in a coach's contract (for instance if the team is sold or moved), blaming the Bills ineptitude on financial constraints, and Aaron Maybin's lack of productivity.

Offensive line does the shuffle, again : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"There was no truth to the rumor the Buffalo Bills handed out stick-on tags that read "Hello, My Name is:" at their offensive line meeting on Wednesday. But it would have been warranted."

Former Bills DB Janik dies : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Tom Janik, who as a member of the Buffalo Bills in 1968 intercepted a pass by Joe Namath and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown, has died. He was 69.

Buffalo Bills may have McGee for game against Miami Dolphins | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
The Buffalo Bills bumped up their schedule of meetings and practice so the players and coaches could enjoy part of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Buffalo Bills reshuffle offensive line again | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
Injuries force a seventh new starting lineup

Dolphins vs Bills: Keys to Victory - The Phinsider
The Dolphins travel up to Buffalo on Sunday and these three factors are critical for a dolphins win. Resident SBN Dolphins blog the Phinsider (my third-favorite blog name) tackles the keys.

Dolphins backup Joe Berger could start at center Sunday | The Palm Beach Post
Starter Jake Grove sat out his second straight practice with a high-ankle sprain and is behind schedule with his recovery.

Bills’ poor record may leave many stadium seats empty : Buffalo/Erie County : The Buffalo News
Tickets still are available for the team’s last three "home" games, and two of them could be played before a bunch of empty seats.

Niagara Gazette - BILLS: Wood retunrs to town for Thanksgiving
Buffalo Bills rookie Eric Wood flew back to Buffalo for Thanksgiving, reports Mark Ryan.

Buffalo Bills Transcripts | Miami Dolphins
Transcripts of Perry Fewell and Ryan Fitzpatrick talking to the Miami media.

Niagara Gazette - BILLS: Buffalo wide receiver Terrell Owens insists he's still got it
"I knew if I just kept plugging away, remaining positive and keeping my faith and believing in my abilities, yeah, I knew the opportunities would eventually come," Owens said, referring to the third-most prolific performance of his 14-year career.

Want your QB in 2010? Then root for this : Buffalo Sports Daily
Pat Moran tells you what to root for if you want to select the QB of the future in this year's frat.

Reason for thanks: Five NFL players grateful for their bounty - USATODAY.com
Fred Jackson and his long road to the NFL is part of this Turkey Day feature.

Team in Transition
Buffalo Bills elevate search for new coach | Democrat and Chronicle
Sal Maiorana gives his take on the current Bills coaching search.

Cowher would be a better fit for Bills : Bucky Gleason : The Buffalo News
Bucky Gleason opines the Bills should prefer Cowher to Shanahan.

Murphy and Peck discuss coach prospects | WIVB.com
WIVB's sports guys discuss possibilities to man the top coaching jjob in Buffalo.

What's next for Bills after Shanahan? - AFC East Blog - ESPN
The next wave of candidates might include the likes of Brian Billick, Jim Fassel, Mike Martz and Jim Haslett, but the Bills seem hot for an offensive-minded coach, which could work against Haslett, a former Bills linebacker.

Bills Tweets
Rochester D&C's Sal Maiorana
I think they will be fiscally cautious as always. RT @tblonsky: Do you think Bills would be big spenders if next off season is uncapped?

More from Rochester D&C's Sal
It's raining in Buffalo, and Bills are outside practicing. Novel concept given they may have to play in rain Sunday. Jauron rarely did that.

Rochester D&C's Sal again
I doubt it. Ralph trusts Brandon. RT @MattKabel: Any chance Bills bring in a consultant? Don't think Brandon is qualified to lead search.

Fake Perry Fewell
They gave Shanny the fieldhouse RT @tblonsky u have the bills outside today? Why risk giving the players the sniffles? This is a disgrace.

Rochester D&C's Sal Maiorana
Bills coach Perry Fewell liked the way new OG Kendall Simmons looked in first practice. No commitment from Fewell, but Simmons should start

SalSports' Sal Cappacio
Looks like former Bills DC Jerry Gray will be new Head Coach at Memphis.

John Niyo
Lions put S Ko Simpson on iR, sign CB Jahi Word-Daniels from practice squad [Ed.: Even former Bills aren't safe!]

Donte Whitner
Keep your Head down and grind don't look up til ur past where u wanna be!

Fake Perry Fewell
Getting ready for Sunday. On the menu for Thansgiving, tuna WITH dolphin meat!

Adam Schefter
$10 mil per year is not close to offer. RT @ryanferreira2: how bad is Buffalo if 10 mil per year and control of the team may not be enough?

Rochester D&C's Sal Maiorana
Mike Martz wants the Bills job. What I don't like is he drafted Ryan Fitzpatrick with Rams in '05, and he might think Fitz is the right QB

WHAM TV's Chuck Wade
Bills fans: be thankful the NFL still has the Raiders. They are just bad.

WGR's Nick Mendola
The Lions and Raiders made me realize the Bills weren't the worst game-day coached team in the league. Wow.

Dolphins vs Bills: Five Good Questions

Matty I — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:15:09 -0000

More photos » by Don Heupel - AP

A picture is worth a thousand words...

Browse more photos »

With the holiday just a day away, we decided it would be wise to do our five question exchange in preparation of Sunday's game between the Dolphins and Bills today as opposed to Thursday - which is when we did it back in week four. After all, I don't think too many people will be running to their computer with a gut full of turkey to see what Brian and I are talking about.

So let's welcome in Brian Galliford of Buffalo Rumblings - SBN's fine Bills blog, and the best Bills site you'll find on the internet, if you ask me. I asked him five questions about his Bills and his responses are below. You can head over to his blog at some point on Wednesday to see how I responded to his Dolphin questions.

Matty I: Way back in June, during one of our "Around The AFC East" posts, you said that this would probably be the make-or-break season for Trent Edwards. But you also called Edwards a "good young football player." I'll bet you probably still don't feel that way about Edwards. So what do you think the future holds for Edwards and for the quarterback position in general in Buffalo?

Brian G: Yeah - I wouldn't turn that exact phrase to describe Edwards at this point. I wouldn't go too far the other way, either - he's still got the talent to stick around in this league for a long time, even if it's just as a backup. But Buffalo really, royally screwed the pooch with his development. He's never spent more than one season with an offensive coordinator, and to say that their plans for a re-structured offensive line have backfired would be the understatement of the century.

Unless Buffalo's next head coach is enamored with Edwards' raw skills and thinks they can still mold him into a starter, I'd guess that Edwards' career in Buffalo is essentially over. He's under contract at a cheap rate for 2010, so he may stick around as a backup next season. Either way, he's clearly not the franchise quarterback he appeared to be in the first six games of the '08 season. He needs to be in an environment where he can mature emotionally, because his confidence is completely shot right now.

Matty I: Speaking as an outsider, I'd say the firing of Dick Jauron was about 11 months too late. With that said, I don't understand why the Bills had to fire him in the middle of the season. What was your take on the firing? And where do you see the Bills turning for a new head coach?

Brian G: About 95 out of 100 Bills fans agree with your sentiment that Jauron should have been fired at the end of last season. He's a hell of a guy and is far more well-respected than most realize, but the results speak for themselves. He needed to go.

WIVB-TV in Buffalo reported that Ralph Wilson gave Jauron the opportunity to finish this season as the lamest of lame duck coaches, and not surprisingly, Jauron declined - what was to be gained for either side? I was floored that Wilson pulled the plug in the middle of the season; he hasn't done that since 1986, when the Bills brought in Marv Levy. But it is what it is, and it may have even been a savvy move on Wilson's part, since it'll take a significant head start in the search process to talk a guy like Mike Shanahan into coming to Buffalo. It probably won't happen even with said head start.

Bottom line - the firing was inevitable after the Bills' ridiculously awful Week 5 loss to Cleveland. I mean, seriously - Cleveland is 2-17 in their last 19 games, and both wins have come against Buffalo. It's sickening, considering we're on the verge of a full decade without playoff football, but we're looking at yet another complete re-build, and this will be our most desperate attempt at it yet. Ralph isn't exactly a spring chicken, after all.

Matty I: This is about the time of the year when I like to ask fans of other teams their impressions on their rookies. The Bills have a number of them. From browsing the stats and watching highlights, Jairus Byrd seems to have had the biggest impact of all of Buffalo's rookies. So what are your early impressions of Buffalo's key rookies (Aaron Maybin, Eric Wood, Byrd, and Andy Levitre)?

Brian G: Byrd hasn't just been our biggest-impact rookie, he's been one of the best rookies in the entire league, and probably the most valuable rookie to his team. That's not to say he'll win Rookie of the Year, because Percy Harvin and Brian Cushing are having outstanding seasons as well. But they're playing on much more talented teams, whereas Byrd has been pretty much the lone bright spot on an awful football team. Seriously - he's directly responsible for two of Buffalo's three wins. Can any other NFL rookie legitimately claim that they're responsible for 67% of their team's wins? Byrd is also the NFL's current interception leader (8).

Maybin has struggled to earn playing time, and when he's gotten time on the field, he's only flashed potential, and his tangible impact has been very minimal. But he's only 21 years old and he's playing one of the toughest college-to-pro transition positions, so I've been preaching patience with him, largely to no avail. Levitre has been important for the offense simply because he's capable of playing left tackle and left guard, but flip-flopping his position isn't exactly helping his development. Wood was probably our best lineman this season, but you may or may not have witnessed his gruesome, season-ending leg injury, in which he suffered compound fractures to both his tibia and his fibula. (If you haven't seen it, I wouldn't suggest actively seeking out the footage.) He'll be lucky to play football in 2010.

Matty I: Marshawn Lynch has been far from impressive since returning from his suspension. I know the offensive line isn't very good. But it seems like Fred Jackson has outplayed him (averaging a yard more per carry, for example) for the most part. What's been Lynch's biggest problem and what does the future hold for Lynch? Is he still considered Buffalo's long-term starting running back?

Brian G: Jackson has most definitely been the better back of the two this season, and playing from the start of the season helped him get a rhythm that Lynch just hasn't been able to find this season. In fact, Lynch's presence in the lineup has taken Jackson out of rhythm, and our run game has suffered as a result.

I'm not sure I'd call more than one or two running backs in the NFL a "long-term starting running back," because as dynamite as players like Adrian Peterson and Chris Johnson are, running back is easily the most replaceable position on a football field. Quarterbacks, defenses and good trench play win championships. A good running back can be a tremendous asset to a team, obviously, but most teams who build around a running back, rather than a quarterback or a line, are going to struggle. Lynch is a good football player. He needs to clean up his act in the off-season and commit himself totally to football; if he does that, I have little doubt that he'll return to near-Pro Bowl form in 2010.

Matty I: It seems as though Buffalo's defense has regressed. They're allowing 40 yards and one point more per game than they did last year. What's this unit's biggest problem right now and what can the Bills do this offseason to improve?

Brian G: They haven't regressed - not in my opinion, anyway. The pass rush is markedly better than it has been in years past, though it's still not great (they've picked up 19 sacks in 10 games, as opposed to 23 all last season), they're No. 2 in the league with 17 interceptions, and they've made many more game-changing plays than they ever have under Perry Fewell. The statistical drops you mention are directly attributed, again in my opinion, to a ridiculous injury situation and the fact that the Bills can't get off the field on third downs (42% third down rate, good for No. 25 in the league).

Only two opening-day starters - ends Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay - have played in all 10 of Buffalo's games to this point. Three more opening-day starters (Kawika Mitchell, Keith Ellison, Leodis McKelvin) are on IR. A further four (Kyle Williams, Paul Posluszny, Donte Whitner, Bryan Scott) have missed three games or more. Considering the fact that they're a M.A.S.H unit, and the fact that they get zero help from the offense most weeks in terms of being able to stay off the field, the defense has actually been borderline phenomenal this season. It's tough to blame them totally for fourth-quarter meltdowns when they're on the field 35+ minutes per game, and aside from our Week 4 loss to your Dolphins, the Bills have had chances to win every game this season.

As for improving next off-season, they need Aaron Maybin to develop into a much bigger factor as a pass rusher, and they really need to bolster their depth at defensive tackle and linebacker. If they get that accomplished and can finally stay healthy, they have the makings of a really good unit - unless a new coach tries to fit them into a 3-4 defense, of course.

Rumblings Draft Scouting: Offensive Line Prospects

Brian Galliford — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:47:21 -0000

More photos » by Michael Conroy - AP

Browse more photos »

It's been a couple of weeks since we've done a Rumblings Draft Scouting piece - the Buffalo Bills' firing of Dick Jauron and the subsequent rumor mill chatter kept us pretty busy - but now that things have died down some, our weekly scouting piece returns.

At the time that this post was published, Buffalo currently has five healthy offensive linemen - Andy Levitre, Geoff Hangartner, Jonathan Scott, Kirk Chambers and Jamon Meredith. One might argue that, at a maximum, two of those players are legitimate NFL prospects. Demetrius Bell might be considered legitimate, too, but he's having trouble staying healthy, and it might not be wise to count on him as a starter in 2010.

Naturally, we thought y'all might enjoy talking about 2010 NFL Draft prospects on the offensive line. Away we go.

Offensive Tackles
1. Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State (6'5", 300-pound senior)
- The nation's top pass protector without question. Possesses elite athleticism and footwork. Has been dominant against top-flight competition as a senior. Still something of a liability in the run game, and can be overwhelmed at the point of attack. Smart kid with a good work ethic and the frame to add a little bulk. Okung is really the only tackle that is a mortal lock for the Top 10.

2. Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers (6'5", 330-pound junior)
- Many scouts will tell you that Davis is a road grader who fits best on the right side. I don't see it. I see a powerful guy who can play the left side, even at his weight, and who is slightly better in pass protection than he is run blocking. I really like his athleticism, and he plays the game with the right demeanor. I'll consider Davis the most well-rounded tackle if he declares, but his ceiling is lower than other players'. I'd take him in the Top 12 without hesitation.

3. Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa (6'6", 304-pound junior)
- I really like Bulaga as a prospect, but he's just not the elite player that you see taken at the very top of the first round these days. Bulaga's very technically sound and has a great reach to help him in pass protection, but he's not an astonishing athlete, and again, his upside might be somewhat limited. He's a safe pick, however, and could be considered an instant starter on the blind side.

4. Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland (6'7", 310-pound junior)
- Campbell might be the highest-upside tackle in the nation right now. He's a phenomenal athlete with great length, and he's really come on as an elite lineman as a junior despite playing for a very mediocre Maryland team. But he's also missed a lot of time with nagging minor injuries, much like Bell, and that's a pretty major concern. He's pretty boom-or-bust, and he might not declare, but he's definitely a Round 1-type prospect.

5. Charles Brown, OT, USC (6'6", 298-pound senior)
- I look at Brown as a poor man's Okung. He's an elite pass protector with great footwork and the ability to consistently mirror. He plays with surprising power and isn't one-dimensional, but like Okung, he can still be controlled at the point of attack. He's a bit of a project player in that he'll need a year or two in a weight program to reach his full potential, but he's got elite left tackle written all over him. Right now, I consider him a fringe Round 1 prospect.

Others to keep tabs on: Jason Fox (Miami, FL), Selvish Capers (West Virginia), Trent Williams (Oklahoma), Ciron Black (LSU)

Interior Linemen
1. Stefen Wisniewski, C, Penn State (6'3", 297-pound junior)
- I don't think Wisniewski will enter this year's draft, but it's still at least possible. Centers are becoming hot commodities - two were drafted in the first round last year - and Wisniewski has the look of a top-end NFL anchor. He plays with great leverage and really understands angles and how to open up run lanes.

2. Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida (6'5", 318-pound junior)
- This guy is fun to watch. He's a really big kid and plays a very physical brand of football. He can bend and anchor, and even better, he looks completely at ease on the move when pulling or getting to the second level. Many scouts will consider him the best center in the draft, even ahead of Wisniewski, and it'd be hard to argue with them.

3. Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho (6'5", 330-pound senior)
- I consider Iupati the most NFL-ready lineman currently playing college football. He's huge, moves extremely well for a man his size, and is absolutely dominant at the point of attack. He's also an incredibly motivated and humble young man. The big question surrounding Iupati is whether or not he'll be able to adjust to a pretty massive change in competition level, but as far as run blockers go, Iupati is the best of the best this year. Another immediate starter.

4. Eric Olsen, C, Notre Dame (6'4", 305-pound senior)
- If Buffalo's new regime digs versatility as much as the one currently on its way out, Olsen will be high on their board. He was a guard up until this season, when he shifted over to the pivot. He's had a great season and made the switch seem effortless. He's not a top-end athlete, but he's well-rounded enough to be a starter at either center or guard in the NFL for quite a while.

5. Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida (6'5", 320-pound senior)
- Yes, he's the brother of Maurkice. No, he's not as talented as his younger brother. But Mike is an excellent pro prospect in his own right - he plays the same physical style of football and is fluid enough athletically to block at all levels. He's not the borderline first-round prospect that every name on this list is (with the exception of Olsen), but he, too, has the look of a guy a team can plug in at guard immediately and let him play for a long time.

Bills' battered O-Line takes another big blow

Brian Galliford — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:05:47 -0000

More photos » by Stephen Morton - AP

Browse more photos »

We knew, as the Buffalo Bills entered the 2009 regular season, that the team's top-to-bottom re-structure of the offensive line was a huge question mark. Jason Peters had been traded. Derrick Dockery and Langston Walker had been released. Melvin Fowler and Duke Preston were unceremoniously allowed to test the free-agent waters. Demetrius Bell made a seemingly miraculous leap from 16-game healthy scratch to starting NFL left tackle, Geoff Hangartner was signed from Carolina, Eric Wood and Andy Levitre were drafted early, and Brad Butler moved to the position he manned in college.

Presto change-o! Buffalo had the NFL's most inexperienced offensive line. It was painfully clear that bumps in the road were expected - and they came in the form of drive-killing penalties and inconsistent blocking. But through it all, we decided by and large that it would be entertaining and interesting to watch these young guys develop as individuals and come together as one cohesive unit.

So much for that pipe dream. Through the first ten games of the season, Buffalo has been absolutely ravaged by injuries up front. They've been forced to field eight different line combinations during that time frame. The tackle position has been hit so hard by the injury bug that it's now affecting the guards; add in the latest and most brutal injury, a double fracture to Wood's lower left leg, and the verdict is simple. Buffalo can no longer hope to see tangible development from this offensive line. It is in complete disarray.

By the way, folks - Wood's surgery was successful. Seth McKinney, meanwhile, was lost for the season on Sunday as well. Buffalo now has one healthy guard - Levitre.

The line combinations
Look, I tried to comb through each of the Bills' ten games to chart each and every line combination the Bills have used this season. I went through each game twice to fleece out every minor injury that forced a player in for even a snap or two. I'm fairly confident I still missed something, so keep an eye on Ron From NM's comments in this post, if he has any. He's the line guru, after all.

The original starting five didn't even get through two full games. Four opening-day reserves - Seth McKinney, Jonathan Scott, Kirk Chambers and Jamon Meredith - have seen significant playing time.

1. Bell - Levitre - Hangartner - Wood - Butler
2. Bell - Levitre - Hangartner - Wood - Scott
3. Chambers - Levitre - Hangartner - Wood - Scott
4. Scott - Levitre - Hangartner - Wood - Chambers
5. Bell - Levitre - Hangartner - Wood - Meredith
6. Bell - Levitre - Hangartner - Wood - Chambers
7. Levitre - McKinney - Hangartner - Wood - Chambers
8. Scott - Levitre - Hangartner - Chambers - Meredith

Where the Bills once had continuity - in the interior - that's gone by the wayside. Only Geoff Hangartner has been the constant, and even he has been battered, dealing with a back injury earlier in the season.

Not much more development to be had
If you've seen the replay of Wood's injury, you're painfully aware of just how over his rookie season is. He suffered fractures to both his tibia and his fibula - word is one or both were compound fractures - and stayed in Jacksonville last night to have metal rods inserted to stabilize the leg. He'll end up on IR, and will have played a little under ten games. He got some development and played reasonably well this season, but there's no more development to be had for Wood this season - hopefully, just a lot of healing.

Bell might get a little development time if he ever gets healthy, but he's been in and out of the lineup so much this season that any development he's made has been negligible. Levitre might continue to develop, so long as he isn't forced to play two different positions each and every game. The guy is a guard, and while he's to be commended for capably manning both spots, it's best if he sticks to left guard.

Hangartner is what he is. There's no development to be had there, though the guy deserves a steak or something for finding a way to make it through ten games. That's a rarity in Buffalo. The rest of the players that have seen field time aren't worth considering, as they're not the types of players around which championship-caliber offenses can be built. For the young players that really matter - Wood, Levitre and Bell - hopes for further development this season are minimal at best.

Buffalo needs a franchise quarterback. It is, without doubt, the organization's biggest issue from a personnel standpoint. Given the sheer amount of upheaval along the offensive line, that unit rates a very close second.