2008 BUFFALO BILLS PREVIEW

2008 BUFFALO BILLS PREVIEW 2007 Record: 7-9 (2nd AFC East) 2008 Predicted Record: 8-8 (3rd AFC East)

Key Acquisitions: TE Courtney Anderson, CB William James, DT Spencer Johnson, LB Kawika Mitchell, LB Donnie Spragan, DT Marcus Stroud
Key Losses: WR Sam Aiken, CB Jerametrius Butler, TE Michael Gaines, LB Mario Haggans, DE Anthony Hargrove, LB Leon Joe, S Jim Leonhard, WR Peerless Price, LB Josh Stamer, RB Anthony Thomas, CB Kiwaukee Thomas, DT Larry Tripplett, CB Jason Webster, LB Coy Wire

The Buffalo Bills suffer from a bad case of the 'Little Brother complex' and always have. They are the third team in the biggest market for the NFL, New York. They dont represent New York City like the Jets and Giants, though, the Bills are not very popular in the state. The Bills have always tried to overcome their 'big brothers' but are mostly known for losing seasons, getting to but losing all 4 Super Bowl appearances, and their current 8 year Playoff drought. All that said over the last several years the Bills have continued to grow and really get better by primarily getting younger. Once again this offseason the Bills dropped several veterans from the roster that wont be missed because of their younger counterparts. Before the Jets acquired Brett Favre it was very possible that the Bills could've jumped into that NY #2 spot, but now it looks doubtful. Even though the Bills will still continue to get better and possibly even contend for a playoff spot.

OFFENSE
Head Coach Dick Jauron has said over and over that there is no QB controversy in Buffalo and that Trent Edwards is their QB. Rightfully so too. Edwards is the better all around passer and his mobility (JP Lossman's strongest feature) is underrated. Edwards will continue to grow as more playmakers are placed around him. One playmaker that was added in the NFL Draft is James Hardy (Indiana), a big, athletic 6'7" WR with unbelievable leaping ability. Hardy should finally be the consistent #2 to Lee Evans finally. Evans is turning into an elite WR in the NFL and is probably the most underrated. He is consistent and very good in every area: route running, speed, hands, and even a good run blocker. Josh Reed is a great slot receiver and Roscoe Parrish is a speedster that flourishes in deep routes. These 4 make a very solid receiving corps. TE Robert Royal is a great run blocker but not very good receiving, while Derek Schouman is a good receiver and good blocker. Schouman will push Royal for more playing time in his second year. Marshawn Lynch is already a great RB that the Bills wont to get more involved in the passing game where he could be even better. Lynch's only flaw is hes sometimes very impatient, he must become more patient and wait for holes sometimes to form to become an elite back in the NFL. The line that will be protecting Edwards and blocking for Lynch is a sometimes ineffective offensive line. C Melvin Flower and RG Brad Butler are very intelligent but lack the power needed to be great run blockers. LG Derrick Dockery is a stud as is the beastly LT Jason Peters who is a monster in space. Also Langston Walker at RT is very effective. Depth is a big problem, though, if anyone gets injured it could be tough. Little experience is on the bench for the Bills OL.
Grade: B

DEFENSE
The Bills defense last year was ranked 31st in the NFL in yards allowed, yet were very stout in the red zone and 18th in scoring defense. The biggest change for the the Bills defense will be up the middle with new starters at DT, MLB, & FS. Starting on the line, DT Marcus Stroud is a block eater and will demand double teams. The huge 300+ lb. DT is very quick for his size and has great leaverage. Kyle Williams will play beside Stroud and is another block eater thats great against the run. This year, though, Williams will be called upon to get more penetration as Stroud gains most of the double teams. Aaron Schobel hopes to stay healthy this year and when he is hes an elite pass rusher and needs for Chris Kelsay to step up this season and get more pressure on the QB. Rookie Chris Ellis (Virginia Tech) is likely to see alot of time in situational pass rushes as he is a speedy DE. Paul Poslunszky will take over the MLB spot this season. Poslunszky is a prolific tackler with great speed and is very intelligent. He should be a perenial Pro Bowler if he stays healthy. Strongside LB Angelo Crowell is extremely athletic and a great tackler but will be asked to play closer to the line this year. On the other side at Weakside LB newcomer Kawika Mitchell is a huge addition, he is very smart and another great tackler that only gets better in pressure situations. Keith Ellison is a solid backup at LB as well. Ko Simpson will take over the FS job and is a future star with great potential. Simpson makes great reads and is a hard hitter that should make a big impact for the Bills defense this season. Donte Whitner is the SS and though he is undersized he is very athletic yet sometimes reckless, plays best in the box. At Corner the Bills have 3 very good players. Rookie Leodis McKelvin (Troy) will be expected to come in right away and make an impact. McKelvin's man-to-man coverage ability is incredible and a big playmaker. McKelvin may be a future star but Terrence McGee is already a star. McGee is a playmaker and one of the best route jumpers in the game. McGee broke up a league high 21 passes and intercepted 4 passes last year. With the addition of McKelvin his game should only pickup. Jabari Greer is a very underrated cover corner that shutdown alot of receivers last season. Greer will likely play a ton in the nickel package and possibly slide to the outside while McGee slides to the nickel spot when all 3 are on the field. William James and Reggie Corner add great depth to the Bills secondary.
Grade: B

SPECIAL TEAMS
Assistant coach Bobby April is the NFL’s sultan of special teams. April routinely has some of the league’s best coverage and return units. Last season, the Bills were No. 1 in both punt coverage and return. Roscoe Parrish set an NFL record with 440 punt return yards en route to posting a league-leading 16.3 average. He also averaged 240 yards on kick returns, and had one of his two touchdown returns. Leodis McKelvin will likely join him as a kickoff returner and probably return punts as well. That is a scary tandem. Brian Moorman averaged only 40.8 yards per punt, but that was by design. His net of 37.6 tells you what kind of coverage he got. Rian Lindell has been the league’s most accurate kicker over the past two seasons, successfully converting 47/52 field goal attempts. That’s not easy when you play your home games in Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Grade: A+

2007 LEADERS
PASSING
Trent Edwards: 151-269, 1,630 yards, 7 TD, 8 INT; 14 carries, 41 yards
JP Lossman: 111-175, 1,204 yards, 4 TD, 6 INT; 20 carries, 110 yards
RUSHING
Marshawn Lynch: 280 carries, 1,115 yards, 7 TD; 18 catches, 184 yards; 1-1, 8 yards, 1 TD
Fred Jackson: 58 carries, 300 yards; 22 catches, 190 yards
RECEIVING
Lee Evans: 55 catches, 849 yards, 5 TD
Josh Reed: 51 catches, 578 yards
Roscoe Parrish: 35 catches, 352 yards, 1 TD; 3 carries, 19 yards, 1 TD
DEFENSE
Angelo Crowell, LB: 126 tackles (86 solo), 2.0 sacks, 1 INT (5 yards), 4 PBU
Terrence McGee, CB: 78 tackles (68 solo), 4 INT (4 yards), 21 PBU
Aaron Schobel, DE: 57 tackes (45 solo), 6.5 sacks, 5 PBU
SPECIAL TEAMS
Rian Lindell: 24-27 FGs, 24-24 XPs
Brian Moorman: 40.8 YPP
Roscoe Parrish: 6 KOR 126 yards; 27 PR, 440 yards, 1 TD
Terrence McGee: 45 KOR, 1,082 yards, 1 TD