Buffalo Bills Breakdown, Week One: The New England Patriots

If you’ve been searching for an in-depth, detailed preview of tonight’s game, look no further—Buffalo Bills Breakdown is exactly what you’ve been looking for…

It’s here. Finally, tonight we can sit back and watch the Buffalo Bills in meaningful action. Monday Night Football is the biggest and brightest stage, and opening a season on national television has generated an electric buzz in Western New York today, even if everyone’s Bills play in Foxboro on the night Tom Brady returns to the NFL.

The Bills last beat the Patriots on the road in 2000, and the players are hungry to come out of Gillette Stadium victorious after being shut out at home by New England in Week 17 of last season.

The Bills are, as you may well imagine, underdogs and have received much criticism for their recent offensive modifications heading into their divisional showdown.

Here’s the breakdown of tonight’s game, which has a chance to be a great one.

 

Bills Advantages

Lee Evans vs. Leigh Bodden

The Patriots brought in Bodden from the Detroit Lions as their once veteran secondary of Randall Gay, Asante Samuel, and Ellis Hobbs became increasingly thin over the past two offseasons. Bodden began his career in Cleveland and racked up six INTs in 2007, but he is hardly a shutdown corner and was used sparingly this preseason.

Much has been made of the Terrell Owens-Shawn Springs matchup. Owens has owned the “rivalry,” averaging nearly 90 yards and over one score a game, but as far as an advantage for either team, I just don’t see it.

Evans is a polished route runner, and his speed makes him a coverage nightmare. He should see his first single coverage since the days of Eric Moulds—Evans will relish in the fact that Owens is now his teammate.

He’s never performed great against the Patriots, but this is a new defense, and there’ll be few times when double coverage is rolled his way. Look for Evans to have his biggest night in New England. 

 

Roscoe Parrish/Leodis McKelvin vs. Patriots coverage team

The Patriots were near the cellar of the league in terms of covering punts and kickoff last season, and as we all know, the Bills have excelled in that facet of the game for years.

In a game where the Bills could run into some issues on the offensive side of the ball, field position could keep Buffalo in the game.

Parrish and McKelvin are amongst the league’s most dangerous duos on special teams, and if there’s one area of the game the Bills are ready to feast on, it’s with these two returning kicks.

 

Bills offense vs. Patriots’ base 4-3 defense

I know you’re thinking I’m crazy for favoring the Bills offense against a New England defense that’s owned Buffalo of late, but the Bills have had their problems when facing the 3-4 alignment.

The trade of Richard Seymour to Oakland is big (eliminates a truly underrated yet ferocious edge rusher). The Patriots have stated their base defense will revert back to the 4-3.

Last season Trent Edwards and the offense went 1-8 against teams using the 3-4 and 6-1 against teams whose defensive foundation is the 4-3. Just a thought.

 

How the Bills win

First and foremost, forget the offensive line—they need to get to Tom Brady. We’ve seen that even the game’s better quarterbacks (Jay Cutler, Jake Delhomme) can look bad when pressure’s applied.

Remember Brady’s last full ball game was against the Giants in the Super Bowl, and then-defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo brought the house as creatively as possible, throwing off the All-Pro’s timing consistently.

Perry Fewell is known for his “sit back and wait” defense (seems like I bring that up in every article), but that will be completely ineffective in tonight’s game. If Brady has time to throw, it’ll be a near impossibility for the Bills secondary, as deep as it may be, to slow down the likes of Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Please blitz.

When I say blitz, I mean bring a variety of blitzes—zone blitzes, delayed blitzes, corner blitzes, stunt blitzes, anything to throw their wily line off balance. Look at what the Jets did to Matt Schaub and the Texans.

Equally, the Bills’ line needs to hold its own after a week of being bashed by the media. I’m sure AVP has devised plays to hide the apparent weakness of the line. I’m not fully against the moves made, although the inexperience is hard to miss.

I’m in favor of the new toughness and agility the line boasts, and hopefully screens, quick slants, and bubble screens will be used to put the line’s new attributes on display.

This could have easily been listed first: The Bills need to take shots down the field. Apparently the Bills call for deep balls frequently, but the protection is never good enough for the plays to develop. I don’t believe it, and even if the plays are called, Trent Edwards needs to man up and get the balls deep to his playmakers, even when they aren’t wide open.

Think about it—what are the outcomes of a deep pass down the field?

– Outcome No. 1 | The ball is caught, which is an obvious positive. It keeps the secondary on their heels throughout the contest.

– Outcome No. 2 | Pass interference. With Terrell Owens’ ability to get the ball thrown long, you should see a lot of jockeying for position that could result in the big penalty.

– Outcome No. 3 | Pass incomplete. No big deal, it’s not like the offense has been clicking already. At least it tells the defense they need to be ready on every play to backpedal deep, thus setting up comeback routes.

– Outcome No. 4 | Interception. Probably the least likely of the four. Also on a third down, it’s essentially a punt, minus any return. Still reminds the defensive backfield of the Bills’ downfield threats.

See what I mean? If the Bills want to stay in a game that most likely will be a high-scoring affair, they need to keep pace with Brady’s well-oiled machine, not by checking down, but by going deep, a lot.

Lastly, and most critically, don’t turn the ball over. Or at least win the turnover battle. If the Bills can keep the ball off the turf, they’ve got a shot.

 

Patriots Stat of the Week

I’m not big on looking at the past when talking about the future, especially with all the player turnover, but the Patriots have won 42 straight games when leading at halftime. If that’s the case tonight, the Bills will really have the odds stacked against them.

 

Bills Stat of the Week

Fred Jackson ran for 136 yards in the Bills’ last meeting with the Patriots. This was in a game where New England knew plenty of runs were coming. As Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com has stated, the blocking wasn’t great in that contest either.

 

Prediction: Bills 27, Patriots 24.

For a few reasons. I haven’t yet seen a prediction, anywhere, that’s given the Bills the slightest chance. I can’t name a legitimate wide receiver on New England besides Moss and Welker, and Welker’s banged up—though Joey Galloway may have a few more big plays in him (Julian Edelman and Sam Aiken do not count).

Lastly, chances are, after a few games, I’ll be frustrated, so my optimism is at its height right now, so why not pick a Bills win.

What do you think? Either way, you’ve gotta be pumped.

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They Did What? Explaining The Buffalo Bills Recent Roster Moves

The Buffalo Bills have been headlining ESPN personalities’ twitter pages, ESPNEWS bottom-lines, and sports blog updates this preseason. All in the past week.

After one of the poorest preseasons to date, the Bills have made some, for a lack of a better term, “surprising” roster moves. Let’s outline them.

 

Schonert Out, Van Pelt In

Days after the Bills’ preseason finale against the Detroit Lions, Buffalo’s front office, led by head coach Dick Jauron relieved offensive coordinator Turk Schonert of his play calling duties, in turn firing him. Alex Van Pelt, the former Bill, and at the time, the quarterback’s coach was promoted to offensive coordinator.

On cut-down day, normally a sad, but meaningless afternoon, the Bills parted ways with veteran running back Dominic Rhodes—a signee during a busy 2009 offseason. This left Fred Jackson, Xavier Omon, and fullback Corey McIntyre on the roster for opening night.

Today, Langston Walker was released after the Bills allegedly couldn’t find a team willing to trade for the 6’8”, 368 pound tackle. Walker’s preseason wasn’t glaringly awful, but the coaching staff wasn’t impressed at his transition from right to left tackle.

Because of this drop, Kirk Chambers was re-signed after being a victim of cut-down day on Saturday. He and second-year player Demetrius Bell are slated to fill the left tackle position.

What does all this mean?

Well to start, it’s definitely tough to figure out exactly what’s going through the Bills’ management’s minds right now.

 

The Good, The Bad

Going chronologically, the Turk Schonert firing wasn’t a monster surprise. His “War and Peace”-thick playbook wasn’t clicking with a talented, but young offense. He instituted the no-huddle, but the plays simply weren’t being relayed quickly enough.

The mark he left remains on the offense, but Van Pelt shouldn’t have much trouble tweaking the playbook to simplify everything for Trent Edwards, while taking more shots down the field.

 

The Good

Van Pelt is allegedly asking for player suggestions on which plays run well, when they do, and against which defenses. Also giving Edwards the option to call his own plays speeds up the no-huddle attack. It allows for the Bills’ play makers—and trust me, they have them—to make plays.

 

The Bad

Van Pelt’s promotion probably couldn’t have come at a worse time. Outside of play calling in NFL Europe, he’s new to this. Tougher yet, he’s game planning for a team that’s had the Bills’ number for the last six years.

With only a week to prepare for the Patriots, Van Pelt doesn’t have time to scrap off any rust, and any mishaps during the Monday Night affair could lead to another embarrassing defeat on national TV.

 

Cutting Dominic Rhodes opened my eyes a bit more than the Schonert firing did. I was actually calling for a new offensive coordinator, but was completely content with the running back situation.

Rhodes didn’t standout in the preseason contests, but no one really did. The fact of the matter is that he’s still a viable change-of-pace runner in this league.

 

The Good

Hard to find a whole lot here. If Rhodes was indeed unwilling to pass block, the move is a bit more understandable. Xavier Omon will be on display at least for the team’s first three games, and showed a quick burst through the hole this summer. His scoring prowess in college is well documented, as he scored nearly 100 touchdowns while at Northwest Missouri State.

He was very aggressive picking up blitzes, after an offseason where he shed fat and added muscle. Omon may be another success story in Buffalo’s backfield. Maybe. Possibly.

 

The Bad

For as much as I’m trying to talk up the former Division II star Omon, he’s carried the ball six times for five yards as a professional. Fred Jackson hasn’t had problems rushing against the Patriots, but his finger injury creates worry about ball security.

After New England, the Buccaneers and Saints don’t pose a major threat against the run, but Jackson and Omon will need to fight for every yard. Marshawn Lynch will be welcomed back, BIG TIME in Week Four.

 

Langston Walker’s departure from Buffalo had the biggest shock value out of the three latest roster/coaching moves. His size alone makes him an average blocker, but it’s his uncharacteristically nimble feet that make him a solid NFL tackle.

 

The Good

The news of Walker’s release was initially disheartening, but I’ve received information that Demetrius Bell, who hasn’t practiced in over a week, will return to the practice field tomorrow. Sigh of relief.

He, along with re-signed vet Kirk Chambers are formidable enough to block Trent Edwards’ blind side. I think. Bell has loads of potential, and has already been dubbed by some analysts “the next Jason Peters.”

If he has a strong performance against the Pats, who are now without Richard Seymour, it’ll build confidence for a budding star on Buffalo’s offensive line.

 

The Bad

It sounds like Bell will start on MNF, which means the Bills will begin the game with basically three rookies on their line. Eric Wood and Andy Levitre saw much more preseason action than Bell due to his injury, but Bell has a year of practice and some game experience on this years’ draftees.

This line was shuffled completely heading into the 2009 campaign and Walker’s release leads to even more confusion on an offensive line that needs to gel, or else.

Bell needs to begin work with Levitre on assignments and double teams because offensive lines function well as one, not just individual players blocking.

Tough spot to put the rook’s in.

Maybe the Bills have a great plan in store, maybe they don’t, but they surely are cutting guys that aren’t playing up to their heightened expectations.

 

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Seen and Herd: Preseason Week 4 | Buffalo Bills Vs Detroit Lions / News

I decided to hold off on the final preseason edition of Seen and Herd, and wrap the game’s analysis and the news from “cut” day altogether. There’s been a lot of interesting stories coming out of Buffalo in the past week. A lot. 

First, the game. 

The Buffalo Bills ended their dismal preseason without much improvement on either side of the ball, and the absence of starters from each team made Friday night’s outing a rather boring one. 

Matthew Stafford’s last start prior to the regular season was the main headline entering the game, and although his play wasn’t horrible, he certainly didn’t win the starting job away from Daunte Culpepper.

This year’s No. 1 overall pick finished the night 5-of-9 for 81 yards, but he threw an untimely interception to surging ball hawk Reggie Corner in the first half. He flashed signs of comfort in the pocket, but was sacked twice, and fumbled after a speed rush by rookie Aaron Maybin. 

Overall, Stafford, who will be a good pro someday, displayed that the Bills still struggle with the more physical threat at wide receiver, like Calvin Johnson. Many will struggle with guys of Johnson’s caliber this season. 

Though Johnson had a big evening, the depth in the Bills’ secondary allows them to match up against teams with spread attacks that feature multiple talented receivers. (Patriots).

Second stringers to make contributions

Ellis Lankster was beat down field on more than one occasion, but his sure tackling, surprising athleticism, and decent coverage skills made him a lock for the final roster. 

John McCargo, my favorite player to watch this preseason, again exhibited the supreme motor and footwork that made him a first round pick a few seasons ago. He forced a sack early on Stafford, bull rushing his way to the quarterback. 

Whether it’s been the aid of new defensive line coach Bob Sanders, or his re-found drive after the nullified trade to Indianapolis, McCargo will be a key cog on the interior defensive line, spelling Marcus Stroud and Kyle Williams without much production drop off. 

Aaron Maybin was at it again, this time forcing a fumble while working against the Lions starting left tackle, Jeff Backus. Maybin’s acceleration off the edge is as quick as advertised, and he hasn’t been bottled up in the run game thus far. 

He’s the catalyst for a pass rush in dire need of a boost.

Offense sputters, but shows signs of life

Ryan Fitzpatrick started the preseason finale, and he did much to make Bills’ fans realize that if Trent Edwards goes down with injury, their team may be in some serious trouble.

I’m not fully discounting Fitzpatrick, but his 40.8 quarterback rating doesn’t help his cause in winning over the Bills’ faithful.

Roscoe Parrish was shifty as usual in the short to intermediate passing game. 

Reports have surfaced that Parrish is on the trading block, and his extended play throughout the preseason may have been solely to put him on display, but he’s showed that if used in the correct fashion, he can be lethal. 

Steve Johnson provided the big plays for a Bills offense that has yet to show they can be dynamic down the field. 

His catches of 27 and 33 yards demonstrated his growing knack to get to the football at his highest point, and use his clean route running to get open. 

He’ll be critical as the fourth receiver—I’ll take his youth and enthusiasm to make the big catch over many other fourth string wide outs at this point. The Bills have a good pass-catcher with seemingly limitless potential. 

The last point of emphasis heading into the game against Detroit was scoring in the red zone. The play-calling wasn’t crisp or creative enough to end any drives with touchdowns. Rian Lindell field goals will not win games against the schedule the Bills have in front of them this season.

Which brings me away from the game, and on to my next point. 

Due to the fact that the offense hasn’t progressed much from the glory days of Steve Fairchild, Dick Jauron and Bills’ upper management decided to fire offensive coordinator Turk Schonert, and promote Alex Van Pelt to take over play calling duties. 

At first one thinks, why so late? They made the decision with only 10 days separating them from a showdown with the powerhouse Patriots.

The Bills could’ve given Van Pelt at least one game to test his abilities calling plays, but it comes down one simple fact: the Bills are desperate. 

Desperation in many cases is tied in with negativity, but here, it may not be. 

Now I don’t have the utmost faith in Van Pelt as an offensive coordinator, but the changes needed are so blatantly obvious, it shouldn’t be difficult to simplify the offense while making it more explosive.

Van Pelt will reportedly give Edwards more play-calling leeway, something I was hoping would come from Schonert a week ago. 

This instantly gives the no-huddle a faster pace, something imperative for the newly-implemented attack. 

The biggest issue with Edwards to date has been his lack of confidence throwing the deep ball. Van Pelt needs to urge Edwards to make more shots down the field.

Terrell Owens helps this facet of the passing game immensely. 

Van Pelt must begin to thin the playbook, and plan the, as Dick Jauron put it, “more attacking offense”.

Cut-down day 

Making the final cut on an NFL roster isn’t an easy thing to do. More than 700 players lost their job yesterday, 18 of whom were Buffalo Bills.

The day was headlined by the surprising release of free-agent signee Dominic Rhodes. 

I don’t fully understand the move, but it’s rumored his lack of desire in pass blocking and slowed step led to the cut of the former Indianapolis Colts star. 

Rhodes certainly would have helped in relief of Fred Jackson for the first four games of the season, but the coaching staff must have realized he wouldn’t have played a big part in the offense after Lynch’s return.

Still, I don’t really get the thought process behind the axing a capable back-up runner, when the running back position is thin for Buffalo. 

I guess we’ll see how it plays out. 

The Bills have a week to prepare for one of the more hyped games in recent memory, on the road against the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football. Now, many are worried, but come on, it’s finally the regular season. I’m pumped.

Next Edition: Following the Bills/Patriots tilt on September 14th. 

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Seen and Herd: Preseason Week Two | Buffalo Bills Vs Chicago Bears

Oh, how great it felt to be back in Ralph Wilson Stadium. Well kind of. On a really hot night, the Bills faced off against the Chicago Bears, and believe it or not, played well.

Let’s jump right into the analysis, my favorite part.

To start, the Bills were very unconventional in Saturday’s game. When the Bears took the field with their new gunslinger at the helm, Jay Cutler.

The Bills didn’t fold under the pressure that the former Vanderbilt standout often brings to opposing defenses.

I’m not going to say that the pass rush wreaked havoc, but the pocket certainly collapsed on more than one occasion, leading to Leodis McKelvin’s interception in the first quarter. 

Beside the semi-disruptive pass rush, the secondary stood out to me ( I attended the game, so take my word for it ). The depth was apparent. Although Bryan Scott and Drayton Florence suffered knee sprains. Yet even without them, they proved the secondary is by far the deepest facet of the team. 

Jay Cutler looked more nervous in the pocket than I’ve ever seen him, and the interior defensive line held up much better against the run, in comparison to last week’s tilt against the Titans. 

The run game for Buffalo, for the second straight week, was unimpressive, but Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson displayed their ultra-aggressive running style to fight for each yard. The line needs to improve a great deal on those vital first and second down running plays.

We all heard about Trent Edwards’ perfect 10-for-10 evening, he did check down to Lynch three times, but did hit Lee Evans five times, and found Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish, while looking cozy in the No-Huddle against a minimal pass rush. He never came close to passing for a touchdown during his only end zone trip. On 3rd and long, a dive play was called. A little odd.

Andy Levitre didn’t seem to get owned like he did against Tennessee, and as a whole, the offensive line looked much more like a singular unit, although it’s obvious there’s more gelling to be had. 

As mentioned, the defensed performed well. Anytime you force five turnovers, things are looking up. Ellis Lankster stole the show with his two picks, and nearly grabbed a third in the second half. He’s a lock for the final roster. Wouldn’t be shocked to see him rotating in the with the nickel, but then again if he doesn’t see the field this season during any meaningful play, I wouldn’t be surprised either—you’ve gotta love the kids’ effort. 

Chris Ellis and Copeland Bryan were active on the outside, and contributed sacks on consecutive plays. Yes, believe it or not, the Bills’ finished off two straight sacks. The linebackers didn’t see that much field-time, but Nic Harris and Alvin Bowen demonstrated their athleticism, and made the coaches fully aware that in the case of the untimely injury, the drop-off in production won’t be substantial. 

Harris tipped a third down and goal attempt, and was a fixture on almost every run play, wrapping up the Bears’ running backs with ease. 

Bowen got smacked on a side-block, was shaken up, but stayed on the field. Tough guy.

As far as the back-ups go, basically the real reason why one should attend a preseason game, they faired well. Justin Jenkins, Felton Huggins, and C.J. Hawtorne cemented themselves as practice squad players, and that’s in a worst case scenario.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo’s goat thus far to Bills’ fans, showed his smarts from Harvard extended further than the classroom. 

He completed 13 passes for 146 yards and lofted a beautiful fade route to rookie Shawn Nelson for a score. His ball had more zip and he too, like Edwards, showed a comfort operating out of the No-Huddle offense. 

The pass rush showed signs of hope, the secondary flexed their muscles with four interceptions, while the offense clicked working out of the No-Huddle. 

If the progression from the first game to the second game continues throughout the preseason, the Bills’ faithful have an exciting season to look forward to. 

Next Edition, next Sunday following the Bills match-up against the Green Bay Packers.

What did you guys/girls think? Much better? Worse? Loved being back at home? Fire away below….

Seen and Herd: Preseason Week 1 | Bills Vs Titans

The 2009 NFL season has officially started. Well, just for the nuts that take preseason games seriously like myself.

Realistically, everyone’s record is still 0-0 and Kickoff Weekend isn’t for another month, but having the chance to watch live football brought joy to my life once again.

Now down to business. From here on out I’m going to piece together a few observations, reviews, and thoughts from each Buffalo Bills game. 

Here’s what I took from the Hall of Fame game yesterday:

The Bills looked rusty.

Period.

But they were the first NFL team in camp. What’s up with that?

Rust at this point is still perfectly fine. Now if the third preseason game finishes and the Bills first-teamers are still drastically slower, weaker, and unprepared compared to their opponent (Green Bay Packers), then there’ll be some reason to worry.

But even still, the main worry that comes from the preseason is injury. Not the first team failing on third down during their only series, or a kicker missing a chip shot. Ask any coach.

The Bills finished the game with no major injuries—check.  

Back to the game. Back to the sloppiness. Most of this came from the offensive line, a component of the Bills team the experts have been pointing out as weak since Jason Peters left for Philadelphia.

Eric Wood, looking ferocious, drove a few defensive tackles back with ease and consistently reached the second level—but it was clear he was playing in his first NFL game. He whiffed on a few counter-moves, something he’ll need to get accustomed to playing in the AFC East that’s loaded with beefy, agile interior defensive lineman.

Langston Walker moved his feet well, but did get beat on the outside via the speed rush occasionally. This seems like a scary predicament because Walker’s protecting Trent Edward’s blind side, but if there’s one go-to move Edwards has in terms of moving in the pocket, it’s the slide forward prior to his rapid release.

Walker needs the extra game to get the feel for how fast those ultra-athletic defensive ends will be turning the corner. 

Demetrius Bell didn’t look like a guy playing in only his fifth year of organized football. I’m not at all stating that he stood out and dominated the right side, but he never got beat badly, and he blocked well in the run game.

The Brad Butler injury may be a blessing for the Bills because Bell will see a great deal of playing time during the preseason, and his potential is through the roof. Time to turn that promise into production.

Hangartner was solid as expected manning Melvin Folwer’s old position. He’s unquestionably an upgrade from Folwer, but he’ll be tested against Kris Jenkins, Vince Wilfork, and Jason Ferguson. 

Boy did Andy Levitre have a tough night. Although Trent Edwards put the interception solely on his own shoulders during a post-game interview, Levitre being man-handled into Edwards’ step forward caused the ball to sail over Lee Evans’ well run seam route.

It did look like Levitre was a victim of illegal hands to the face on the play, but he consistently stood out in a negative way, whether it was being beat on a bull rush or missing after a swim/spin move. Yesterday’s game is the wake up call he needs. He was a force in college. This isn’t the Pac-10 anymore. 

I criticize, but the first-team offensive line didn’t allow the Titans to register a sack, and the offense was clicking until the aforementioned interception.

The run game didn’t astound anyone, but it wasn’t expected to. Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson are hard runners, but fully understand that “Beast Mode” and “Action Jackson” aren’t needed until Monday Night Football on September 14. Or in Lynch’s case, Week Four.

You can look at the back-up quarterbacks last night from two different angles. Either Ryan Fitzpatrick paved the way for Gibran Hamdan or Hamdan is knocking on the second-string door.

Probably a little of both.

Fitzpatrick seemed scared, made hurried throws even in times when he didn’t need to, and had a hard time scrambling.

Meanwhile, albeit against third and fourth-teamers, Hamdan managed his game well without any mistakes.

Forget that Matt Baker pick, he won’t touch the ball this season.

The first-team defense displayed its eerily similar “bend not break” style, and if it wasn’t for a fake punt (which I’m still not sure why it was called) they did force the Titans to punt in their first possession. 

I still don’t think Leodis McKelvin is ready. There I said it. He seems so fluid and freakishly athletic, but he must become aware of the common routes receivers run so jumping passes will be easier. Also, he has to sure up his tackling before I feel comfortable with him starting alongside Terrance McGee.

The secondary is still the strong point of the defense because of the depth.  

The linebackers stood strong as a second level, but it would have been nice if Paul Posluszny could have corralled that surefire interception—just for confidence reasons. 

There wasn’t a downhill pass rush that many Bills fans were hoping for, but I’m pretty sure Perry Fewell doesn’t want any tape of his new outside and zone blitzes. 

Lastly, the play-calling wasn’t witty and creative, but again, chalk that up to the fact that the Bills know their biggest advantage heading into Foxboro is that there won’t be any tape on their new players and system.

Which brings me to the famed no-huddle offense. Edwards looked cozy directing the fast-paced attack, and Buffalo successful caught a good Titans defense off-guard at various points during the game. 

Terrell Owens caught two well timed passes. Thank god. 

The Bills didn’t thrive in terms of big plays or outstanding production in their first preseason game, but it was played how it should be. Get the veterans back into the swing of things and indulge the rookies into the hyper speed of the NFL, while working against actual opponents. 

Remember, first…pre…season…game. 

 

Next edition: Sunday, August 16th following the Bills second preseason game against the Chicago Bears.

A Decade Removed: How The ’09 Bills Compare to the ’99 Playoff Team

Anyone watch the Music City Miracle replay on NFL Network’s “Classic Games” yesterday? I did. Classic alright. Classic if your a Tennessee Titans fan or if you hate the Buffalo Bills. I wanted to turn it off, but for some reason couldn’t, even though I knew the epic catastrophe that was about to ensue.

Anyways, enough of me whining. Sitting on my couch afterwards, disgusted with the shots of ecstatic Titans’ fans, and the realization that I just finished watching the Bills’ last trip to the playoffs, I tried to rejuvenate my spirits.

Most remember the Tennessee Tragedy as another wonderfully creative way the Bills found how to lose a game…myself included.

In my meager attempt to find any light in a game surrounded by so much darkness from a Bills’ standpoint, I couldn’t.

But thinking about it, today’s Bills aren’t much different in comparison to the group from a decade ago: a solid 11-5 team that essentially should have advanced to the Divisional Round. Which may bring more hope on this season.

Breaking down the team in sections made the most sense to me so here it goes.

Quarterback

Doug Flutie started 15 games that year, and impressed at age 37. His 19 touchdowns and 16 interceptions showed he wasn’t capable of lighting up a statbook anymore, but he certainly had Flutie Flakes flying off the shelves at the local Tops’ Friendly Markets.

His nearly 1:1 touchdown to interception ratio is where his comparison to Trent Edwards ends. He was a wily veteran, who could make something out of nothing. A lot.

Now to Rob Johnson, (wonder what he’s doing right now). We only saw him in action twice, but he managed both games surprisingly well.

He nearly reached the 300 yard mark through the air against a permeable Colts’ secondary in Week 17, and basically led the Bills to victory in Tennessee, a place where the Titans hadn’t lost all year.

His arm never wowed anyone and at times he looked a bit shaken in the pocket. More of the “cerebral quarterback.” Sound similar to Trent Edwards? Does to me.

The only difference between the two is positive for today’s Bills: Trent Edwards is much more gifted athletically and is complete with many more quarterback intangibles than Rob Johnson.

Just watching Johnson throw the short underneath passes, progressing through his reads while connecting on the occasional deep pass, made me think of the Bills’ current quarterback right away.

Who knows, if Bobby April was the Special Teams Coach then, things may have gone in a different direction for Johnson. Probably not.

 

Running Backs

The 1999 Buffalo Bills featured a two-back look…before they were trendy in the NFL. Antowain Smith was considered the starter, but Johnathon Linton (remember him?) had more rushes and rushing yards on the year.

The two combined for over 1,200 yards rushing which isn’t terrible, but Marshawn Lynch has run for over 1,000 by himself in his first two seasons, and we all know what Fred Jackson contributes to the run game.

Both Linton and Smith were bigger backs; the Bills didn’t use the “Thunder and Lightning” tactic of one bruising back coupled with a shifty speedy runner as a changeup, like many clubs do today.

This year’s Bills won’t, either.

Lynch and Jackson are known as downhill yet nimble runners, and Dominic Rhodes’ addition creates a frightening trio. Give the edge to the 2009 Buffalo Bills.

Wide Receivers

Andre Reed was at the end of his illustrious career, although he grabbed 52 balls for a respectable 536 yards. Close to a season I envision Josh Reed having while working behind Terrell Owens and  Lee Evans.

Eric Moulds represented the dominating, physical, possession wideout and really had a great year. He nearly reached the 1,000 yard mark and gathered in 60-plus balls.

He jammed cornerbacks at the line before they jammed him. Moulds brought an intimidation factor to Buffalo that they’ve dearly missed since he departed.

Until now.

Owens is a bigger and even more daunting to opposing defenses. Basically a more experienced version of the Bills go to target in the late 90’s through the mid 2000’s, Eric Moulds.

Kevin Williams and Peerless Price combined for 60 catches, clearly an attainable goal for backups Roscoe Parrish and Steve Johnson. Williams returned kicks just like Roscoe, but I think we know who’s got the better special teams now. 

Lee Evans is the man who puts this year’s group above the receivers from ’99. They missed a true deep threat and we’re well aware that’s Evans’ forte. Expect a lot of double move and go-routes to be called Evans’ way.

There’s not a corner in the league who can keep up.

Very similar corp of wideouts. Not a First Team All-Pro lineup, but not a group you’d wanna fall asleep on.

Offensive Line

The ’99 trenchmen are what the ’09 men are dying to be. John Fina was the lone starter from the tail end of the glory years, but Ruben Brown and Robert Hicks were some big boys, coming into their own as great blockers.

Jerry Ostrowski and Dusty Zeigler rounded out a good but not overwhelmingly great offensive line.

Not a ton of glaring similarities, but shooting to be like the ’99 unit is a good start.

Secondary

Henry Jones and Kurt Schulz played strong safety and free safety respectively, and although their names are held in high regard in Buffalo, they only combined for three interceptions, all coming from Schulz.

Jones was more of the veteran leader at the closing stages of his career, but he was durable enough to start every game.

Ken Irvin and Thomas Smith, who to me, played like Antoine Winfield before Antoine Winfield, matched up on the outside against team’s best receivers. Neither were household names, but did enough to help the Bills to the league’s best pass defense.

McGee probably has a leg up on Smith, as a pure cover corner and tackler, and Leodis McKelvin has a reminds me a lot of what I remember of Irvin.

The secondary this season has more depth, but saying the 2009 group is better than it was a decade ago would be wrong, because there was no one better in the NFL defending the pass that year.

Hard to believe the Bills were that solid.

 

 

 

Buffalo Bills Sleepers: Players That Will Surprise in 2009

The Bills have been in camp for over a week now, and believe it or not, in a week, we’ll be watching them playing live football in the Hall of Fame game. How the time does fly.

I remember a time when I was under the impression that training camp was meaningless summer practices that prepared teams for the regular season – walkthroughs from basic formations and half speed plays. Boy was I wrong. Sometimes we forget that when the players hit the field on Kickoff Weekend they’ve been going at it for over a month.

For the players training camp is different for everyone. The entrenched starters use camp to scrap off rust, rejuvenate their competitive spirit, and work to become one of the league’s elite. Their performances, good or bad, are well documented. If the Edwards to Owens hookup looks like it might have the possibility of recreating the Kelly to Reed magic, you’ll know. If Owens and Edwards are already bickering, you’ll know. If the offensive line looks slow and porous, you’ll know.

Training camp is also a time when rookies, 2nd string, and even 3rd stringer players get their shot at impressing the coaches, their chance to display that they’ve worked hard enough to garner a more significant role on the team. 

Many teams have had players go from pleasant surprises during camp to household names by mid-season. The Bills have had them as well. Fred Jackson, Jason Peters, Steve Tasker, Jabari Greer, Terrence McGee to name a few. 

This season’s no different. Here’s a few guys I’m looking to use as training camp has a springboard to a great 2009 season.

Roscoe Parrish – He’s entering his fifth year with the team, so it’d be incorrect to call him inexperienced, although he hasn’t exactly accumulated great statistics. He surpassed 1,000 receiving yards on his career last season, and he’s reached the paint only five times from the wideout position. He’s known for his remarkable return ability, as he’s returned 3 punts for touchdowns in his first four seasons.

Many believe he can’t beat press coverage at the line, but this season I can’t imagine offensive coordinator Turk Schonert not calling his number more often. I’ve said it before, they need to use Parrish like Wes Welker and I believe they will.

With Owens and Evans occupying double and triple coverage on the outside, Parrish will have more than enough room to run, spin, juke, and break ankles down the middle of the field. Look for 40-45 catches while nearing 500 yards receiving. 

Bryan Scott – A consistently mediocre player, Scott has what it takes to become a great strong safety. He manned the strong safety position when Ko Simpson continued to disappoint last season ( I’ll get to him in later ) and held his own. He matched up well against Antonio Gates, and Tony Gonzalez plus his size allows him to be a great run-stopper.

With rumors swirling in Buffalo that Donte Whitner will be utilized more as a free safety with hopes to yield more turnovers from the defense’s vocal leader, Scott can feast on running plays, while covering team’s tight ends, something he’s shown he can do without being a glaring weakness.

His work’s cut out for him in 2009, as he’ll be covering the likes of Kellen Winslow, Jeremy Shockey, Dallas Clark, Tony Gonzalez and Owen Daniels. Scott shouldn’t have a problem containing opposing backs when he’s the eighth man in the box, but he’ll surely be tested in coverage. I think he’s up for the challenge. 

Dominic Rhodes – BuffaloBills.com recently ran a story on Rhodes’ familiarity with the no-huddle offense, that has been a fixture of Bills’ training camp thus far. His experience with the fast-pace attack will be invaluable for the Bills this season. He worked alongside the most efficient operator in Peyton Manning, and I wouldn’t be shocked if Rhodes provides great insight on how to tweak the no-huddle when Buffalo’s having a tough time executing. 

I’m as upset as much as the next guy that Marshawn Lynch is suspended for the season’s first three games, but it may be a blessing in disguise for the Bills. Rhodes and Jackson can create a good rhythm together, and Buffalo will be forced to use Rhodes often, something I’m not sure they would have done had Lynch not been suspended.

They’ll like what they see out of the former Indianapolis Colt, because his versatility can’t be ignored. Not a monster statistical season for Rhodes, but he’ll be an integral part of the Bills offense in 2009. 

That’s the good news. Potential under the radar players, contributing in an unexpected, positive way.

Now the bad news. 

These Buffalo Bills have been great at one thing thus far in their careers – being a major disappointment.

Although I’d love to think they may revitalize their careers in a hype-filled 2009, I just don’t see it happening.

Ko Simpson – A former fourth round pick out of South Carolina in 2006, Simpson won the starting safety role after a rookie season where he picked off two passes and forced a fumble. He hasn’t been involved in a turnover since. He was lost after the Denver Broncos game opening weekend in 2007, and he regressed last season from his respectable rookie campaign.

With Donte Whitner, Bryan Scott, John Wendling, George Wilson, and rookie turnover specialist Jarius Byrd forming a logjam at the safety spot, Simpson may be on the outside looking in, if he doesn’t become more aggressive in the secondary.

He’s been given somewhat of a second chance, because Byrd hasn’t seen the playing field thus far, and may not be inserted into the starting lineup until the third or fourth preseason game. The Bills are reportedly looking to institute a three safety look, which may shed more hope for Simpson, but expect the starting back line to be Whitner, Scott, and Byrd.  

Any Tight End – The position as a whole has been more frustrating for the Bills offense than one particular player and production hasn’t been established,  but I don’t see much change in the tight end’s production this season. Shawn Nelson has the ability to become a great pass-catching target down the seam, but it’s a tough transition from Conference USA competition to the NFL, so don’t expect much. 

I like the Dereks, Fine and Schouman, but they don’t possess the speed, agility, or escapability to stretch the field. You’ll hear more from them this season as they’re slated as the starters heading into the regular season, but their value lies in blitz pickups and catching short play-action role outs. The tight end position remains the Bills biggest offensive liability. 

Ryan Denney – I recently wrote that I’m expecting the Bills pass rush to show progression in 2009, and Denney gathered 4 sacks in 2008, but any revitalization will come from elsewhere. Denney is one of the higher paid players on the team, and I don’t think he’ll live up to the 2.4 million he’s owed this season. He’s never eclipsed 6 sacks and he often disappears for long stretches during a game. With Chris Ellis having an inspired camp, with Schobel back and Aaron Maybin lurking in the distance, Denney may be out of a starting job.

Keep a close eye on these players during this season. Their play will be pivotal in the Bills’ failure or success. 

 

 

Summer at St. John Fisher: Buffalo Bills 2009 Camp Questions Answered

The Bills’ season officially starts under the ominous skies of Gillette Stadium on Monday Night Football, Sept. 14. But if you ask me, the season began Saturday morning.

Saying that I’ve been anxious for training camp to kickoff is a colossal understatement.

Along with the launch of the highly anticipated summer session come many questions, and Terrell Owens is at the forefront of everyone’s uncertainty.

Can he form a bond with third year quarterback Trent Edwards? How will the added publicity brought by Owens affect the rest of the Bills? Will he and Lee Evans coexist as two true number one’s on the same team?

All those questions are legitimate and will be beat into our brains for the coming weeks by the national sports media. So get used to ’em.

Some of the more “Bills-specific” writers, namely Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com, Brian Galliford of BuffaloRumblings.com, and Tim Graham, who maintains the AFC East blog on ESPN.com, have produced lists of the story lines worth following, in order to gauge the Bills’ progress in Rochester. (Outside of the T.O. circus that will certainly ensue.)

Here’s what we’ve heard heading into camp.

Buffalo Bills Training Camp Tweaks:Changes That Could Lead to a Successfull ’09

With the T.O. Show only hours away, it’s fitting that I write an article on the Bills. The first episode of his highly anticipated reality show will air tonight, and whether I’m fast asleep after the second segment, or I’m reveling in the fact that he’s bringing even more publicity to the media desert that is Buffalo, training camp starts Friday.

What this means is, the team finally gets down to business. Can T.O. deal with an inexperienced quarterback? Can Jauron lead his team to a record other than 7 and 9? How will the pass rush be? Can Jackson and Rhodes carry the load with Lynch suspended?

Although we won’t be able to answer those questions at St. John Fisher, at least we finally get to see the players on a football field, where their play dictates how the media responds. Speculation starts to turn into reality.

I love training camp, as do most football fans, mainly because of the reasons stated above. But not only do I like seeing the players on the field, but the clean slate that comes with training camp is so very refreshing to me. When I say clean slate, I don’t just mean everyone’s record being 0—0, but the fact that new wrinkles and playbook changes come with the additions of fresh players. 

Certainly the Bills have the opportunity to make some drastic changes that will need to be instituted in training camp. I’m not sure the changes will be made, but these  tweaks would increase the Bills chances of becoming a playoff contender in 2009.

 

1. Use Roscoe Parrish like Wes Welker 

Listen Roscoe—haters, I’m fully aware that Parrish will always excel more in the special teams facet of a game, but the guy’s talents can be utilized to become an effective wideout.

I’ve also read that the difference in Welker’s game compared to Parrish’s is that Welker is much stronger, and quicker, which allows him to shake press coverage for his squiggly underneath routes.

I find that hard to believe. Welker may have around 10lbs. on Parrish, but neither guy has been a staple at the weight room, that’s obvious. I can say with a good deal of certainty that Welker can’t be much quicker or agile than Parrish, as has been evident in some of Parrish’s videogame—like returns.

When it comes down to it, it has just been the coaching—the Patriots realize Welker’s value, basically doubling as their running game, while the Bills coaching staff would rather have Edwards dump down to running backs. If Turk Schonert works more bubble screens, short drags, inside screens—understands how deadly Roscoe Parrish can be, then the receiving corp could become one of the tops in the AFC.

Parrish has already let the media know he’s been quite upset with the lack of looks his way. I can’t picture defenses manning up against Lee Evans, and Owens on the outside, while having to worry about the possibility of Parrish taking a screen to the house behind a more fleet—footed offensive line. Work him in, Turk.

 

2. Let Donte Whitner Roam in Centerfield 

I understand that Jarius Byrd is the next Willie Mays for Buffalo, but he’s still a rookie.

17 interceptions in the Pac—10 is eye—popping, but they came from the corner spot.

I’m not saying Byrd doesnt’ have the potential to be a stud in the league down the road, but it makes more sense to me to work him in with time, similar to how Leodis McKelvin saw action last season. Even so, Donte Whiter and Bryan Scott will most likely man the two safety spots in Week One. Scott was the most pleasant surprise on a defense that lacked many big plays last season.

With the Bills entering 2009 knowing his abilities are good enough and he’s big enough, at 6’2 220lbs to play strong safety, Whiter should finally be able to roam free in Buffalo. Pun intended. I’m not expecting Whitner to accumulate 12 interceptions, but it’s time Whitner is solely used as a playmaker down the field, rather than in 3 or 4 different spots as a safety.

Many of the leagues best safeties are strong safeties but that doesn’t mean Whitner has to be. He’s got an in—genius football IQ and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d play a great centerfield, while being a sure tackler after deep completions. 

 

3. Say Yes to the No—Huddle 

This probably was supposed to be kept a secret by the Bills coaching staff, but after ESPN caught wind of the possibility that the Bills may revitalize their “K—Gun” no—huddle offense this season, everyone knows.

Which is totally fine.

Schonert has to add this tweak in, because it’ll make the refurbished offensive line’s gelling process a little easier as they won’t see the good pass rushing teams at full force. It shouldn’t be that difficult to add to the playbook, because we know Trent Edwards likes to dump down and his quick release has been his forte, if he’s had one thus far in his career.

Throw in a few hard-nose runs back Fred Jackson, a couple underneath tosses to Parrish and Josh Reed, then when the defense’s legs are beginning to wear, hit Owens or Evans deep for six. Pick your poison.

 

4. Don’t be afraid to blitz 

The Bills’ Tampa two zone coverage scheme didn’t look like the Tampa Bay defense in which it was emulated after last season. You need the players to work in a consistent pass rush that is ever so important to the Tampa two, and Schobel’s injury didn’t help last year.

But the times that defensive coordinator Perry Fewell called Kawika Mitchell on blitzes they seemed to be direct hits. I really can’t remember seeing any other Bills blitzing outside of Mitchell and that’s a problem. Granted Mitchell seems to have a nose for getting to the quarterback, corner blitzes or delayed blitzes, even safety blitzes would be nice to see more occasionally.

The Bills have given up enough big plays under Perry Fewell while they’ve been playing their “bend not break”, “sit—back” defense. Why not call a blitz? You’ve really got nothing to lose. The Bills have the talent and quantity of speedy players that have the ability to get to the quarterback. Showing different blitz packages will only confuse opposing offensive coordinators, something the Bills’ defense hasn’t done in quite some time. 

Adding and sticking to these tiny tweaks would help the Bills this season. Tell me if I’m right. Tell me if I’m wrong. I’m all ears. 

 

Never To Early: A Sneak Peak at The AFC West (Part 2 of 8)

This is part two of my eight-part series breaking down the entire NFL as we move closer to the 2009 season.

 

AFC WEST

San Diego Chargers

Last season, the Chargers were more unpredictable than the jumping lightning bolts they’re named after. Losing two heart-breakers in Weeks One and Two, they rebounded to beat the New York Jets by 19 at home. Their first two defeats seemed like sheer misfortune—we all were expecting another 10-win season. But heading into Week 14 the Chargers sat at 4-8, with the Broncos lapping the rest of the division.

Then Phillip Rivers showed he was one of the leagues’ elite.

Four straight victories coupled with a momentous collapse by the Broncos, and the Chargers once again snuck into the playoffs after a sluggish start to the season. Darren Sproles ignited a Wild Card victory over Indianapolis in overtime, but the Pittsburgh Steelers proved to be to much at home in the Divisional Round.

Steady Rivers

Phillip Rivers demonstrated his talents in 2007, after a valiant effort in Indianapolis lead to a Chargers birth in the AFC title game. In 2008, he made sure everyone knew that game wasn’t a coincidence. His 34 touchdowns led the NFL, and he managed to throw only 11 interceptions.

He was the most consistent player for San Diego in a year when LaDainain Tomlinson and Shawn Merriman suffered injuries. Tomlinson was able to play sparingly, while Merriman was sidelined for the year after hobbling on defense in Week One.

The franchise is riding Phillip Rivers’ tenacity and arm strength, and the team will go as far as he can take them.

’09 Outlook

Mr. Merriman is slated to be ready in Week One, and although Igor Olshansky is now a Cowboy, the Chargers drafted Northern Illinois’ hybrid Larry English, who was a prominent force in his career in the Mid-American Conference. San Diego was able to keep Darren Sproles and LaDainian Tomlinson on their roster, and added brute Gartrell Johnson to the mix in the draft.

The Chargers’ coaching staff is counting on big targets, Malcolm Floyd and Vincent Jackson to continue to improve, which spells lots of trouble for any defense. Health is always a concern, but San Diego should be fully charged heading into 2009.

Denver Broncos

How could a team led by Mike Shanahan and Jay Cutler give up such a vast divisional lead so late in the season, and fail to make the playoffs?

Maybe you can tell me, cause I haven’t been able to figure it out just yet. Cutler had a Pro-Bowl season but his 18 interceptions definitely played a role in the Bronco blunder. Their supposed lock-down secondary two-some of Champ Bailey and Dre Bly was surprisingly permeable, as they ranked near the bottom of the NFL in all the major defensive categories.

Buckin’ Bronco

This offseasons’ soap opera was placed in the lovely city of Denver. After apparently being dangled as trade bait, Jay Cutler completely shut off communication with new head coach Josh McDaniels and owner Pat Bowlen.

After a feud that seemingly got more weird each week, Cutler was shipped to Chicago for Kyle Orton and some draft picks. With the Cuter catastrophe over, the Broncos went on a serious shopping spree. After signing Brandon Loyd, Lamont Jordan, Brian Dawkins, J.J. Arrington and Correll Buckhalter, it was obvious the Broncos were in complete overhaul mode with their new Head Coach.

Now, Brandon Marshall is demanding to be traded.

Come on guys, give Bowlen a break, he’s had enough headache this offseason.

’09 Outlook 

We haven’t seen a team completely renovate their roster like Denver did this off season in quite some time. McDaniels is known for being a great coach of system quarterbacks, and that’s the type of quarterback Kyle Orton is.

Draftee Knowshon Moreno oddly enters what seems to be a log-jam at the running back position, but there is a bevy of talent in the backfield. Brian Dawkins brings much needed resolve to a defense that’s lacked drive in the past.

Obviously, the status of Brandon Marshall looms large in Denver, but I’m thinking the Broncos may be in a very unusual rebuilding mode. Kyle Orton will be center point of the team in 2009.

 

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders were back to their old tricks last season. Saying Al Davis embarrassed Lane Kiffin in his press conference—where he fired the former USC assistant—is the understatement of the year.

JaMarcus Russell started 15 games and threw 13 touchdowns to only eight interceptions, but Raiders fans want more out of the 2007 No. 1 overall pick. The dream running back trio of Darren McFadden, Justin Fargas, and Michael Bush never fully developed and Zach Millers’ 56 receptions were nearly 30 grabs ahead of McFadden who finished with a mere 29.

The defense was anchored by Nnamdi Asomugha but he only recorded one interception on the year.

Draft to Remember

The Raiders 2009 draft was undoubtedly one to remember—for all the wrong reasons. In one of the most unprecedented reaches in recent draft history, the Raiders selected Darius Heyward-Bey out of Maryland, who never made an All-ACC first team, with the seventh overall pick.

Heyward-Bey, who has upside, ran the fastest 40 time at the combine, and many believe his great clocked speed was the main factor in Al Davis pulling the trigger. To seemingly make matters worse, Michael Mitchell, a workout warrior from Ohio University, who many had slated as a second day prospect, was selected 47th overall in the second round.

Boy Al Davis, do you make things interesting.

’09 Outlook

Believe it or not, outside of the draft, the Raiders had a respectable offseason. Jeff Garcia was brought in to, well, we’re not sure yet? He’ll surely provide great competition for the young Russell in camp, if nothing else.

Lorenzo Neal brings his bulldozer mentality to a backfield with a lot of young flair. Greg Ellis should bolster a defense that may turn the corner and become one of the AFC’s best. If the quarterback, whoever it may be, can manage games consistently, while relying on what should be a daunting running assault, the Raiders may win a few more games this season.

Heyward-Bey needs to confirm the Raiders decision on drafting him over the likes of Jeremy Maclin, and cross-town rival, Michael Crabtree. We’ll see where Al Davis takes his team in 2009.

 

Kansas City Chiefs

It’s well known that the Chiefs have one of the best fan bases in the NFL. A 2-14 record doesn’t cut it with the die-hard Kansas City faithful, re-building or not. Tyler Thigpen was a fantasy steal during some stretches, but he’s simply not experienced enough to be a legitimate starting quarterback in the NFL.

Larry Johnson started 12 games and although he averaged 4.5 yards a carry, his five scores were well under what we’re used to seeing out of one of the NFL’s best.

Dwayne Bowe built on his stellar rookie season with 86 grabs and accumulated over 1,000 yards receiving. A few crushing losses led to their worst season in quite some time.

The Pioli Push

With Scott Pioli, the true mastermind behind the Patriots’ dynasty, now controlling all player personnel decisions, the Chiefs know they have a great mind in their front office.

In somewhat of a fishy deal, the Chiefs were able to gather Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel from New England for chump change. They made a surprise pick at No. 3 overall in the draft when the chose Tyson Jackson out of LSU.

Switching to a new coach, quarterback, and defensive scheme encourages Chief fans to have faith in Pioli.

’09 Outlook

Tony Gonzalez is now a Falcon, but Matt Cassel still has offensive weapons at his disposal. The aforementioned Bowe has legitimized himself as a No. 1 receiver, and Bobby Engram was brought in to play the role as not only a possession guy, but as a mentor to the young group of receivers behind him.

The offensive line needs to detain edge rushers to give Cassel plenty of time to throw, and must pave the way for the one-two punch of Johnson and Jamal Charles. A lot is looking up in Kansas City, but don’t expect great amounts of improvement this season.

 

Your thoughts?

Part 3 Coming Soon….AFC EAST

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