Buddy Nix is the Buffalo Bills’ New GM

Today, December 31st, the Buffalo Bills held a press conference at 2:30 pm to name Buddy Nix their new general manager. While much maligned at first glance by the fan base because he’s not a “big name” from outside, this is NOT a bad move.

Wait, what? He’s been with the Bills this past season! He’s part of the inept Bills front office!

Well, yes, he was here last year in time for the start of the draft. The Bills draft produced two offensive line starters (Eric Wood and Andy Levitre), a Pro Bowl free safety (Jairus Byrd), the most athletic tight end the Bills have had in quite possibly their history (Shawn Nelson) and players who can still develop to be quality contributors.

Sounds like quality production for the head national scout to me.

Buddy Nix has been in Buffalo previously as well. He was a member of John Butler’s scouting department in the 1990s as the Southeast regional scout. He then departed with Butler to San Diego and became the director of player personnel. After Butler’s passing and AJ Smith being named general manager, Nix added the title of assistant general manager to his nameplate.

That’s the time period when the San Diego Chargers became one of the most talented teams in all of football. They’ve found great players in the draft and also evaluated undrafted players well (Antonio Gates anyone?). He was an integral part of that great turnaround by that franchise. The Bills need that.

Among the league, he’s widely considered a great talent evaluator, both at the college and professional level. He sounds determined to build this team through the draft. Every team that is a power in the National Football League is built through the draft.

Yes, pieces are added through free agency. However, the majority of teams get the lynchpins of their offense and defense through the draft. The Bills need to discover their offensive keys through the draft at quarterback and left tackle. That will go a long way to making this team a contender.

So while the knee jerk reaction to the Nix promotion might be disgust, give it a chance. He’s a a quality talent evaluator and a football guy. The Bills need that kind of talent in a leadership role. Now he needs to evaluate the team and get a new head coach in the next few weeks. It will be nothing if not interesting.

So please, Bills fans, be patient. The Bills aren’t as bad as their record suggests, I believe. They need to make serious improvements at a few key spots, namely quarterback, left tackle, and the head coach. Make those improvements and the Bills could be well on their way to a playoff berth. Simply be patient.

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Buffalo Bills-NFL Coaching News: What’s New in Man Meets Football

Things have been a little bit quiet in the Buffalo Bills football front. Another disappointing loss to the New England Patriots to make it 13 straight losses to their AFC East rivals should theoretically cement any chance that interim head coach Perry Fewell will be named the full time head coach next year. Now that doesn’t necessarily mean he shouldn’t be, but that’s how things should work out.

Not much news on the head coaching front for the Bills. Supposedly Mike Shanahan is going to end up in Washington with the Redskins. The only way I see that possible is if owner Dan Snyder backs off from the day-to-day operations. Most owners have a lot of power with their teams, and they should. After all, they own them.

However, Dan Snyder takes that right to a whole new level. He’s a micro-manager. Shanahan likes a lot of power and flexibility to build his team the way he wants to. Seems like a quick and easy recipe for further drama with the ‘Skins.

However, if Snyder backs off and lets GM Bruce Allen really put his mark on this team, which seems like a better situation for Shanahan. We’ll just have to wait and see how that plays out.

On an unrelated note, I had an interesting day today while working at the radio station. I actually got to go on air and talk about football and the Bills. A big thank you to Mike Ward, host of Inside Local Sports, for giving me that opportunity.

I must say I enjoy getting to talk about football with sports people. Hopefully I’ll continue to have some semi-intelligent things to say in relation to football and the Bills so I don’t squander this chance that Mike has so graciously afforded me. Stay tuned!

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Dynasty or 19-0: Which Is More Important?

With two teams remaining undefeated in the National Football League heading into Week 15, the old familiar spectre of Mercury Morris and the 1972 Miami Dolphins is rearing its ugly head. The only team to go undefeated from Week One to the Super Bowl, the 1972 Dolphins represent the pinnacle of football achievement.

However, by the same token, the dynasties of the NFL throughout the years represent the pinnacle of football achievement as well.

Michael Irvin, a former member of the Dallas Cowboys dynasty and Hall of Famer, was quoted by Pro Football Talk as having said on NFL Gameday Morning that he, “would turn in all three Super Bowls and [his] Hall of Fame bust for one undefeated season.”

Three Super Bowl rings and a Hall of Fame bust for a 19-0 season. That seems like an incredibly high price to pay to me. However, no one can say they’ve been part of a 19-0 season. The ’72 Dolphins played a 14 game regular season, so they went 17-0.

There’s obviously a lot of fame that comes from that perfect season. However, just being a part of that season doesn’t guarantee more Super Bowl rings and a bust in Canton.

I personally wouldn’t give up three Super Bowl rings and a Hall of Fame bust for one perfect season. I’m sure there are people who think they would give up all that for the 19-0 season. Comment section is available, so weigh in!

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New York Jets-Buffalo Bills: What to Look For in Toronto

An interesting match up tonight north of the border, as the Bills beat the Jets in the Meadowlands 16-13 in Week Six. Both teams have certainly changed since that match up. The Jets have attempted to scale back on how much rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez has to do. The Bills have fired Dick Jauron and shown that they aren’t going down without a fight. After giving the Jacksonville Jaguars everything they could handle in Week 11, the Bills routed the Miami Dolphins to the tune of 24 points to none in the fourth quarter last Sunday.

So the question is this: Can the Bills stop Thomas Jones this time around?

In the first match up, Jones had a career day, the Bills gave up over 300 yards on the ground and still won. They can’t give up that many yards again and expect to win. Given Sanchez’s reduced role, the Jets won’t be throwing if they can rush for that many yards.

Of course it’s impossible to say 100 percent that the Bills will slow Jones down this time around. However, on the Jets’ side of the ball, they don’t have Leon Washington who gashed the Bills last time out and provided very good breathers for Jones.

The past two weeks, the Bills faced Maurice Jones-Drew and Ricky Williams, two very good running backs. In fact, MJD is a top 10 back in the league (some may say he might be top five, but that’s a different discussion). However, he didn’t come anywhere near the yardage Jones gashed the Bills for, the same goes for Williams.

Part of the reason for the turnaround of the run defense (yes, they’ve had a turnaround, they haven’t given up anywhere near that many yards on the ground since the previous Jets game) has been the play of the defensive tackles, specifically Kyle Williams and Spencer Johnson. Both of them have been trouble for opposing offensive lines and been making plays in the backfield the past two weeks. If that continues, Jones won’t see anywhere near as much yardage.

If the Bills can force the ball into Sanchez’s hands to try and win the game, we could see a game similar to the Dolphins game last Sunday where the Bills defense took over in the fourth quarter, picking off quarterback Chad Henne three times. In their last meeting, the Bills picked off Sanchez five times. If the Bills can produce on offense and hold Jones to more manageable numbers, they will win this game.

Part of the offensive production will be on the shoulders of running back Fred Jackson. He’s been playing quite well, running the ball hard and finding the end zone. If the Bills can establish a running game of their own, it will go a long way towards winning this game tonight.

However, if the Bills are to win and establish a running game, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will need to continue producing big plays when the opportunity presents itself. This will be hard with corner back Darrelle Revis matched up against Fitzpatrick’s favorite target right now, wide receiver Terrell Owens.

The Jets won’t hesitate to put Revis one-on-one against Owens until he burns them. That will allow them to put a safety over the top of fellow receiver Lee Evans, which means either Fitzpatrick needs Owens to beat Revis a few times, or offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt needs to get tight end Shawn Nelson and Fred Jackson more involved in the passing game.

Both players have the ability to make plays in the passing game, and that may be what it takes for the Bills to win this game. If both players get involved, it will either open up Evans from double-teams or open up the running game, if the Jets decide to bring the other safety into the box.

All that being said, I really like what interim head coach Perry Fewell has been doing with the Bills in the past two weeks. He’s preached aggressiveness, but not out-of-control aggressiveness. He’s picking his spots to be aggressive , and the players on the field are taking the same approach. This approach should translate to a win for the Bills in a close game.

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NFL Week 12 Predictions, Quick Hits Style

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons – Atlanta

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills – Miami

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals – Cincinnati

Carolina Panthers at NY Jets – Carolina

Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles – Philadelphia

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans – Indianapolis

Seattle Seahawks at St. Louis Rams – St. Louis

Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – San Diego

Jacksonville Jaguars at San Francisco 49ers – Jacksonville

Arizona Cardinals at Tennessee Titans – Arizona

Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Minnesota

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens – Pittsburgh

New England Patriots at New Orleans Saints – New Orleans

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Buffalo Bills Fire Head Coach Dick Jauron: What Now?

Well, today is finally the day. The Dick Jauron era in Buffalo has finally come to an end. Whether you think it came too late (most people) or too early (middle-season firings rarely work out that well), there is no question that everyone thinks Jauron needed to be gone.

The question now is how do the Bills begin to pick up the pieces? There are huge holes that need to be filled both on the field and off the field. Who will the quarterback be next season? How does the offensive line get fixed? How does the run defense get fixed?

Who will be on the coaching staff next season and who will be in the front office?

My personal choice for head coach and quasi general manager is former Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan. He worked miracles with no-name running backs for years in Denver. Imagine what he could do with Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson.

On the defensive side of the ball, if Shanahan is okay with it, I’d like to see either Perry Fewell stay on as defensive coordinator or current defensive line coach and former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Bob Sanders promoted. He’s been a big part of the Bills’ defensive line, generating pressure for once. I’d like to see what they could do with a bit more free reign.

What this move does NOT change is the fact that the Bills need to find a quarterback. If Shanahan is hired, I could see him going with an accurate veteran quarterback to help control the clock. If Chad Pennington recovers well from his shoulder injury, I would definitely not be adverse to him being brought in, run the offense, and have a rookie QB learn from him.

Also top on my priority list are tackles, both offensive and defensive. I’ll actually be highlighting the defensive tackle position in an article on my new blog, Man Meets Football. Suffice it to say, the Bills need a massive tackle that demands double teams a la Pat Williams or Vince Wilfork.

Obviously the Bills need to get better at protecting the quarterback and the biggest weak spot this season has been the tackle position. That really needs to be rectified, both at the starting position and in terms of depth.

Regarding current players, there’s a good chunk of players who will still be with the team next year. However, in what capacity is still to be determined. Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick, the top two quarterbacks on the depth chart, are still going to be with the team next year, barring being cut. However, I could see that happening if another veteran is brought in and a player drafted.

Right now, I highly doubt much effort will be made by any coaching staff to re-sign Terrell Owens unless a miracle occurs.

It’s also possible that with defensive coordinator Perry Fewell now the interim head coach, a change in the offensive play-calling occurs. Jauron was a conservative head coach in terms of the offense. It will be interesting to see if Fewell wants to continue that trend or just gets an idea from offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt in terms of what he thinks the offense is best suited to do.

Right now, I want to see a lot of younger players getting significant playing time to see if they’ve got anything. It will be an interesting rest of the season and offseason, that’s for sure.

Jeremy Pike is currently the only writer at the blog Man Meets Football, found at http://jeremynpike.com/manmeetsfootball.

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Wait, The Buffalo Bills Actually Have Tight Ends?

With the first week of the 2009 Buffalo Bills training camp in the books, Terrell Owens has been unsurprisingly the biggest story of practices in Pittsford, NY. However, for those discerning fans looking past the glitz and glamor of the T.O. Show, there is more happening on the field at St. John Fisher College.

What is surprising is that quietly the tight end position for the Bills is much improved, and probably at its best since the early to mid 1990s. Forget Robert Royal, Michael Gaines, Dave Campbell, and the laundry list of no-namers since the likes of Pete Metzelaars, Keith McKeller, or even Jay Riemersma.

While none of these players may be as good as Metzelaars, McKeller, or Riemersma yet, the position is the deepest it has been in a very long time. Led by three year veteran Derek Schouman, all the tight ends are having a good camp even with quarterback Trent Edwards spreading the ball as much as possible to T.O. and fellow wide receiver Lee Evans.

Quite often the Bills have been lining up in a two tight end set, with Schouman and second-year player Derek Fine the two starters. What is catching some fans eyes is the fact that Schouman has been lining up in the slot at times.

Over the first week, Schouman has shown that he is more than a blocker, demonstrating that he has the hands and improved speed to be a problem in the intermediate range for defenses.

Fine has also shown the ability to make tough catches in the short to intermediate ranges. He will have the ability to show block, then quietly sneak out into the flat to make blitzing defenses pay.

Rookie Shawn Nelson has been turning heads in camp as well, showing the athleticism and hands that led to many surprised he fell to the fourth round in the NFL draft. He also has shown willingness to block, but that will take time. While he develops that, he will continue to make plays in the passing game, lining up either on the line or in the slot.

Also, Jonathan Stupar has made some very nice plays during camp, showing an unexpected set of hands that just may make pre-season cuts that much more difficult for the coaching staff.

Overall, the depth chart for tight end is a blend of young veteran experience, ability to block, and athleticism that in some cases is very underrated. Even with the addition of T.O. in the off-season, expect to see the Buffalo Bills tight ends making plays during the 2009 football season.

 

 

How Do the Buffalo Bills’ Running Backs Affect the No-Huddle Offense?

The K-Gun style of offense defined the Buffalo Bills offense in the early 1990’s. Named after tight end Keith McKeller, designed by offensive coordinator Ted Marchibroda, and run to perfection by Jim Kelly, the K-Gun is constantly at the forefront of Bills fans’ minds when thinking about how an offensive coordinator will call his games.

Fans remember Kelly slinging the ball down the field to wide receivers Andre Reed, James Lofton, and Don Beebe. They clamor for those days to return, and perhaps this year they will.

However, due to limitations, the no-huddle offense will not be completely pass-based.

The no-huddle offense is built around running a series of plays called by the quarterback at the line of scrimmage, removing the traditional huddle. Hence the name. The intent is to catch the defense off guard and tired, especially later in a half or towards the end of a long drive.

However, that does not necessarily mean that it has to be based around the pass. The Bills want to build their offense around a power running game. That is the way head coach Dick Jauron thinks. Ball control and good, stout defense.

The no-huddle offense can include running the ball in heavy doses, which seems to be a logical choice for the Bills especially as the season winds down in winter. Anyone remember the Bills-Cleveland Browns game in 2007? There were barely any passes thrown for good yardage in that game.

How can a pass-happy, no-huddle offense exist in the winter at Ralph Wilson Stadium once the snow starts falling? It does not sound likely. However, a run-based no-huddle offense can still be effective. It would be even harder for defenders to recover if they get caught by surprise.

Expect to see the no-huddle offense run by the Buffalo Bills this season. Just do not expect to see it dominated by the passing game, especially at home in the winter. That is why the Bills are making sure they are set at running back with players who can both run and catch.

They will be the ones, along with Edwards, who make the no-huddle offense work. Just like a certain Thurman Thomas back in the 90s.

Will the Buffalo Bills’ Lack of an Elite Left Tackle Kill Their Offense?

Possibly the biggest remaining question with the 2009 edition of the Buffalo Bills surrounds the offensive line—specifically left tackle position. With Jason Peters traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, Langston Walker steps in as the starter.

Walker performed admirably in the first two games last season, playing the entire first game at left tackle and swapping back and forth during the second game.

The question still remains if he will be able to stand up to a full 16-game season at the left tackle position. If the offensive coaching staff  gameplans correctly, he should be able to man the position effectively. Just look at the Arizona Cardinals last season.

They made it to the Super Bowl with Mike Gandy starting at left tackle. Yes, that Mike Gandy who left Buffalo as a disgrace in the fans’ eyes. Yet there he was, protecting Kurt Warner en route to a Super Bowl berth.

Who would you rather have at left tackle? Mike Gandy or Langston Walker? Arizona, and countless other teams, have proven that it is possible to gameplan around an average left tackle to hold up on the offensive line.

The Bills have assembled the personnel on the field to help Walker should he need it. Playing in a division in which the other three teams run a 3-4 defense, he will probably need all the help he can get, which is not a slight against him. A 3-4 defense is simply a faster blitzing defense with the linebackers.

However, the running backs and tight ends who have experience are good blockers. Lining up a tight end on Walker’s outside shoulder and using a running back to chip the pass rusher could certainly help solidify the left side of the line. Protecting the quarterback is not simply about the offensive line, which is why the Bills could turn out just fine without a premier left tackle in the NFL.

It is not just the blockers that determine whether or not an offense is going to deal with a lot of pressure. It also is dependent on the offensive gameplan as a whole.

The Cardinals last year used a lot of quick slants and other passes designed to get the ball out of Warner’s hands early before pressure got to him. Now, I am not saying that Trent Edwards is Kurt Warner, or that Lee Evans and Terrell Owens are Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

However, the three players for the Bills do have the abilities necessary to run a quick West Coast-style offense designed to keep Edwards upright. If Turk Schonert utilizes his weapons correctly, the Bills can succeed without Jason Peters at left tackle.

Oh, and the other starting left tackle in the Super Bowl? Max Starks. Not exactly a Pro Bowl-caliber player, yet the Pittsburgh Steelers still made it to the Super Bowl and won. Just saying.

 

Buffalo Bills 2009 Draft Day One Wrap-Up

With Day One of the 2009 NFL Draft in the books, some questions have been answered about what the Buffalo Bills needed to do and some new questions have been asked as well. So let’s look back on the first day of the draft and see what happened.

With the 11th overall pick, the Bills drafted defensive end Aaron Maybin out of Penn State. Maybin has the potential to be an elite pass rusher, but it remains to be seen if he can become a three-down defensive end.

However, the Bills’ need at end was a pass rusher, and Maybin provides that in spades.

He is fast, tenacious, and incredibly productive. He did add weight prior to the combine so he is closer in size to a 4-3 defensive end than when he was playing, but it will be interesting to see if the extra weight will affect his play.

I expect that it will be beneficial, making it harder for tackles to push him out of the way. A good pick that addressed one of the biggest needs.

With the 28th pick, the Bills took interior offensive lineman Eric Wood from Louisville. He brings an element of physicality and a mean streak to an offensive line that was the biggest in the NFL, yet rarely played like it. He will certainly be a factor in getting the ground game going again.

He is physically gifted and a very smart player who finishes plays well, driving his block into the ground often. Over the last two seasons of his college career, unofficial count has him with 164 knockdown blocks.

That is a man who plays a physical game and can certainly get a ground game going. Maybe he can be a catalyst for returning the Bills offensive line to the glory years of the 90’s or the Electric Company.

With the forty-second pick of the draft, the Bills selected cornerback/safety Jairus Byrd from Oregon. At first, I was displeased with the pick until I took the time to do some research and read about what scouts had to say.

The Bills are shifting him to free safety with the ability to sub into corner positions. This masks his lack of elite speed and allows him to use his football intelligence to continue producing.

In college with Oregon, he picked off 17 passes, including one in the 2009 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl against Oklahoma State. To watch the tape on him shows a very intelligent defensive back with a knack for finding the football in the air and making a play on it.

17 interceptions in college is definitely a stat that will get attention. Hopefully he will continue to produce at that level with the Bills, we could certainly use more defensive playmakers.

In a surprising move, the Bills traded their third round pick and their first of two fourth round picks to move back into the second at the 51st overall pick. With this pick, the Bills took offensive lineman Andy Levitre from Oregon State.

A tackle in college, scouts predict that due to his physical stature he will translate into a guard in the pros. He further bolsters the interior of the line which had little to no depth after the season.

He brings more physical play and good footwork from manning the tackle position. He and Wood will provide a sorely lacking physical presence on the interior of the offensive line.

So on the first day of the 2009 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills spread four picks evenly between the offense and defense, picking up two defensive playmakers and two physical interior offensive lineman.

A good start to the draft, and on Day Two, they should be looking at strong-side linebacker and tight end to start with more offensive and defensive line depth as well. Let’s go Buffalo!

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