Buffalo Bills 2009 Preview

Buffalo Bills 2009 Preview | NFL Touchdown

Buffalo Bills 2009 Preview
June 24, 2009 by Andy Benoit

On the surface, it’s a brilliant move on a multitude of levels. For starters, by bringing in Terrell Owens, you get a premium go-to receiver who has posted 3,587 yards and caught a league-high 38 touchdowns over the past three seasons. The fact that his $6 million contract is valid for only one year means you have insurance against his advanced age (36 in December) and notorious contemptuousness.

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Predicted: 3rd AFC East

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http://www.nfltouchdown.com/buffalo-bills-2009-quick-hits/

Buffalo Bills 2009 Quick Hits
June 24, 2009 by Andy Benoit

Quick-hitting one-line analysis on every Bills starter and significant offseason pickup.

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I'm going to guess 7-9

My major concerns w/ them are how they replace Peters and Dockery and whats left of Aaron Schobel

Well Peters sucked last year, so whatever dropoff they were going to suffer they pretty much already did. Schobel's definitely a worry for them, but they're probably banking on Aaron Maybin.

Still, though, that doesn't make them a good team. I think they'll be your standard middle-of-the-pack team, for better and for worse. Finishing anywhere from 7-9 to 9-7 would be unsurprising.

The quip about the Bills being the only team to outsource its games is neither witty, nor accurate.

Green Bay frequently used to split is home schedule and play a game or two in Milwaukee,every season. The Pats once played a "Home" game in Shreveport or was it Memphis? Other major league teams did so too. Our champion Celtics used to play a few "home" games in Providence or Springfield, I beleive. Especially when the Bruins, the old Garden owners, got too greedy in reserving all the good dates for the Bruins.

K-Ro 25 said:

My major concerns w/ them are how they replace Peters and Dockery and whats left of Aaron Schobel

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I agree, I would say the Buffalo offensive line is my biggest question mark. While wholesale changes were needed to be made I just wonder how long it will take for them to be able to work together effectively as one cohesive unit. The center (Geoff Hangartner) is a career backup, the two guards (Andy Levitre and Eric Wood) are both rookies who played different positions last year, and the two tackles (Langston Walker and Brad Butler) are both also playing new positions this year. If one of the rookies isn't ready for the NFL or if Walker can't make the transition from RT to LT, for example, Trent Edwards might not make it through the season at QB. Owens, Lee Evans and Josh Reed make for an excellent group of receivers but it won't matter if Edwards is out with a concussion again.

jmt57 said:

I agree, I would say the Buffalo offensive line is my biggest question mark. While wholesale changes were needed to be made I just wonder how long it will take for them to be able to work together effectively as one cohesive unit. The center (Geoff Hangartner) is a career backup, the two guards (Andy Levitre and Eric Wood) are both rookies who played different positions last year, and the two tackles (Langston Walker and Brad Butler) are both also playing new positions this year. If one of the rookies isn't ready for the NFL or if Walker can't make the transition from RT to LT, for example, Trent Edwards might not make it through the season at QB. Owens, Lee Evans and Josh Reed make for an excellent group of receivers but it won't matter if Edwards is out with a concussion again.

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Buffalo also saved a lot of cap room reshuffling the OL, I think the projected starters, once they settle in together, will be a servicable line, perhaps not elite, but they'll be tenacious and will work well to keep Edwards alive and the RBs falling forward. Woods could turn out to be as good as Mankins and Levitre will be pretty good too. Buffalo knew what they had in Walker, Butler, and Hangartner and let it ride, Buffalo's major issues will be on defense - again.

Box_O_Rocks said:

Buffalo also saved a lot of cap room reshuffling the OL, I think the projected starters, once they settle in together, will be a servicable line, perhaps not elite, but they'll be tenacious and will work well to keep Edwards alive and the RBs falling forward. Woods could turn out to be as good as Mankins and Levitre will be pretty good too. Buffalo knew what they had in Walker, Butler, and Hangartner and let it ride, Buffalo's major issues will be on defense - again.

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That's the general consensus with all Bills fans. The O-line is the biggest concern. Although, they are integrating a version of the K-Gun offense or 2-minute drill. This will be run at the beginning of game and at the start of the second half or most likely, whenever they feel like it. If Trent can run it at half of the pace that Kelly ran it, the o-line won't be a concern at all. As far as the defense goes, the philosophy of smaller, faster defensemen is out the window. It was a terrible experiment and should have never happened because it cost us the teams development. Maybin is expected to start right away but now there's talk of him being a LB instead of a DE. I guess we'll find out what needs to be worked on and get an idea of how they look when they play in the Hall of Fame game Aug. 9th.

What is their depth like? The teams that are playing in January always have quality depth because injuries and starters missing games is the norm. We can look at Buffalo's projected starters and attempt to extrapolate a season based on their past production, but it doesn't mean anything when you take into account injuries and missed time. Who is their back up QB? In a division with physical running teams do they have quality depth on their D line?
If the cards fall right they might be capable of 10-6, but if they run into an average or worse level of injuries to their starters it not out of the question to see 5-11. I just don't see them putting it together this year.

stephens44 said:

What is their depth like? The teams that are playing in January always have quality depth because injuries and starters missing games is the norm. We can look at Buffalo's projected starters and attempt to extrapolate a season based on their past production, but it doesn't mean anything when you take into account injuries and missed time. Who is their back up QB? In a division with physical running teams do they have quality depth on their D line?
If the cards fall right they might be capable of 10-6, but if they run into an average or worse level of injuries to their starters it not out of the question to see 5-11. I just don't see them putting it together this year.

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We signed Ryan Fitzpatrick from the Bengals this past offseason as a backup QB. We're very deep at RB and very deep at WR. The D-line has some depth but if we run into trouble injury wise I'm sure there'll be some warm bodies on the waiver wire or some veteran cuts come by week 6. The Bills have the same chance at "putting it together" that the Dolphins had last season.

Peekaboo said:

We signed Ryan Fitzpatrick from the Bengals this past offseason as a backup QB. We're very deep at RB and very deep at WR. The D-line has some depth but if we run into trouble injury wise I'm sure there'll be some warm bodies on the waiver wire or some veteran cuts come by week 6. The Bills have the same chance at "putting it together" that the Dolphins had last season.

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No, they don't. They really, really don't.

stephens44 said:

What is their depth like? The teams that are playing in January always have quality depth because injuries and starters missing games is the norm. We can look at Buffalo's projected starters and attempt to extrapolate a season based on their past production, but it doesn't mean anything when you take into account injuries and missed time. Who is their back up QB? In a division with physical running teams do they have quality depth on their D line?
If the cards fall right they might be capable of 10-6, but if they run into an average or worse level of injuries to their starters it not out of the question to see 5-11. I just don't see them putting it together this year.

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The depth is what hurt them so much Posluzney's rookie year when he broke his arm after Maroney or Morris ran over him. That Buffalo team was doing good things but got badly snake bit, as it was they just missed a wildcard berth. Leonhard who followed Sexy Rexy from Baltimore was a reserve who took over at Safety for Ko Simpson (I think) that year, he's kicking around different teams because he's such a scrapper, but his going to NY is part of the reason I don't think that NY defense is going to be a shade on Baltimore's.

Peekaboo said:

We signed Ryan Fitzpatrick from the Bengals this past offseason as a backup QB. We're very deep at RB and very deep at WR. The D-line has some depth but if we run into trouble injury wise I'm sure there'll be some warm bodies on the waiver wire or some veteran cuts come by week 6. The Bills have the same chance at "putting it together" that the Dolphins had last season.

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Your depth at DE and DT is still pretty thin though you had one of the nicer draft classes this year. Byrd definitely helps your Safety situation and can play some CB if needed, has Whitner got his head right again after Sammy Morris ran him over in the season finale? I know the coaches have been disappointed in his overall play.

On paper, the O-line depth is an issue, but you're basically heading into the season with the same DL depth as last year, and that can only hurt you.

I will give you may take and I go back 42 years with this team as a season ticket holder.

Contact me after the season.......who the hell knows what will happen with this team.

Sure I have an opinion, but I will wait till I have more facts before I screw myself on a New England message board:violent:

All I can say is good luck New England fans and enjoy the team while you are on top.

I just want the best team to win, then I can live with the outcome.

Not going to count any team out before preseason.

The Bills could end up 7-9 in a pretty tough division and dump **** Jauron or finish 11-5 and miss the playoffs just like the Patriots in 2008.

Like I said, see me after week number 1, I should know more

THE SLAMMER said:

I will give you may take and I go back 42 years with this team as a season ticket holder.

Contact me after the season.......who the hell knows what will happen with this team.

Sure I have an opinion, but I will wait till I have more facts before I screw myself on a New England message board:violent:

All I can say is good luck New England fans and enjoy the team while you are on top.

I just want the best team to win, then I can live with the outcome.

Not going to count any team out before preseason.

The Bills could end up 7-9 in a pretty tough division and dump **** Jauron or finish 11-5 and miss the playoffs just like the Patriots in 2008.

Like I said, see me after week number 1, I should know more

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Come in off that ledge, Owens is no reason to do pigeon imitations!

Box_O_Rocks said:

Come in off that ledge, Owens is no reason to do pigeon imitations!

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Nope, I love this ledge.

THE SLAMMER said:

Nope, I love this ledge.

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Does Ralph walk under it now and again so you can take pigeon shots at him?

Box_O_Rocks said:

Does Ralph walk under it now and again so you can take pigeon shots at him?

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Oh, don't be picking on old Ralph now :nono:

THE SLAMMER said:

Oh, don't be picking on old Ralph now :nono:

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Old Ralph done good with his start-up, but he needs to quit trying to move things North.