The Answer
08-31-2007, 12:29 PM
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d801ebc09&template=with-video&confirm=true
Posted: 16 hours 40 minutes ago <!-- 151 sub navigation hyperlink with right arrow END -->
Bills season preview
By Rich Cimini | Special to NFL.com
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Team previews:
Bills: Growing pains (http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d801ebc09&template=with-video&confirm=true) | Dolphins: Uh-oh offense (http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d801ebccd&template=with-video&confirm=true) | Jets: Thinking outside the box (http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d801ebb4c&template=with-video&confirm=true) | Patriots: Mixing new with old (http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d801eba66&template=with-video&confirm=true)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<CENTER>Vic Carucci's take
</CENTER>
<TABLE width="33%" align=right><TBODY><TR><TD>http://www.nfl.com/static/content/catch_all/nfl_image/Carucci_big.JPG Vic Carucci (http://www.nfl.com/news/author?id=09000d5d80021357)
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Although the Bills took some notable defensive hits, they should still be competitive. Depending on how they handle a brutal schedule, they might even show slight improvement.
With the addition of explosive rookie running back Marshawn Lynch (http://www.nfl.com/players/marshawnlynch/profile?id=LYN442976) and a $74-million line overhaul, the Bills' offense should be more productive. That presumes J.P. Losman (http://www.nfl.com/players/j.p.losman/profile?id=LOS588329) will continue to make strides. Cornerback Nate Clements (http://www.nfl.com/players/nateclements/profile?id=CLE298153) is hard to replace. However, rookie linebacker Paul Posluszny (http://www.nfl.com/players/paulposluszny/profile?id=POS250036) should have an immediate impact and Buffalo's special teams remain dominant.
Projected record: 8-8
Since their playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans (http://www.nfl.com/teams/tennesseetitans/profile?team=TEN) in January, 2000 -- aka The Music City Miracle -- the Buffalo Bills (http://www.nfl.com/teams/buffalobills/profile?team=BUF) haven't returned to the postseason. Save for the Houston Texans (http://www.nfl.com/teams/houstontexans/profile?team=HOU), an expansion team, every AFC team except the Bills has made the playoffs at least once since 2001.Yes, these are tough times for a once-proud franchise, and it's not going to get any easier in 2007.
Hello, rebuilding.
The Bills lost a lot of talent last offseason, including cornerback Nate Clements and middle linebacker London Fletcher-Baker (http://www.nfl.com/players/londonfletcher-baker/profile?id=FLE665780). They also traded running back Willis McGahee (http://www.nfl.com/players/willismcgahee/profile?id=MCG001995) and linebacker Takeo Spikes (http://www.nfl.com/players/takeospikes/profile?id=SPI270805), moves that should change the dynamic in the locker room. It's hard to replace that much talent in one offseason, so the Bills are going to experience growing pains, especially on defense.
The offense has a chance to do some special things, with improving quarterback J.P. Losman, electric receiver Lee Evans (http://www.nfl.com/players/leeevans/profile?id=EVA454901), stud rookie running back Marshawn Lynch and a retooled offensive line. What about the defense? Coach Dick Jauron is a sound defensive coach, but it may take some time to build cohesiveness.
<TABLE style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 10px; WIDTH: 20px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f2f2f2"><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 10px"></TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; COLOR: #999999; PADDING-TOP: 5px"></TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
The loss of Clements, a shutdown corner, kills the pass defense. But they can build around DE Aaron Schobel (http://www.nfl.com/players/aaronschobel/profile?id=SCH422487), SS Donte Whitner (http://www.nfl.com/players/dontewhitner/profile?id=WHI720119) and promising rookie MLB Paul Posluszny, who reminds many of former Bills star Shane Conlan, another Penn State alum..........
~The Answer
Posted: 16 hours 40 minutes ago <!-- 151 sub navigation hyperlink with right arrow END -->
Bills season preview
By Rich Cimini | Special to NFL.com
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Team previews:
Bills: Growing pains (http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d801ebc09&template=with-video&confirm=true) | Dolphins: Uh-oh offense (http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d801ebccd&template=with-video&confirm=true) | Jets: Thinking outside the box (http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d801ebb4c&template=with-video&confirm=true) | Patriots: Mixing new with old (http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d801eba66&template=with-video&confirm=true)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<CENTER>Vic Carucci's take
</CENTER>
<TABLE width="33%" align=right><TBODY><TR><TD>http://www.nfl.com/static/content/catch_all/nfl_image/Carucci_big.JPG Vic Carucci (http://www.nfl.com/news/author?id=09000d5d80021357)
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Although the Bills took some notable defensive hits, they should still be competitive. Depending on how they handle a brutal schedule, they might even show slight improvement.
With the addition of explosive rookie running back Marshawn Lynch (http://www.nfl.com/players/marshawnlynch/profile?id=LYN442976) and a $74-million line overhaul, the Bills' offense should be more productive. That presumes J.P. Losman (http://www.nfl.com/players/j.p.losman/profile?id=LOS588329) will continue to make strides. Cornerback Nate Clements (http://www.nfl.com/players/nateclements/profile?id=CLE298153) is hard to replace. However, rookie linebacker Paul Posluszny (http://www.nfl.com/players/paulposluszny/profile?id=POS250036) should have an immediate impact and Buffalo's special teams remain dominant.
Projected record: 8-8
Since their playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans (http://www.nfl.com/teams/tennesseetitans/profile?team=TEN) in January, 2000 -- aka The Music City Miracle -- the Buffalo Bills (http://www.nfl.com/teams/buffalobills/profile?team=BUF) haven't returned to the postseason. Save for the Houston Texans (http://www.nfl.com/teams/houstontexans/profile?team=HOU), an expansion team, every AFC team except the Bills has made the playoffs at least once since 2001.Yes, these are tough times for a once-proud franchise, and it's not going to get any easier in 2007.
Hello, rebuilding.
The Bills lost a lot of talent last offseason, including cornerback Nate Clements and middle linebacker London Fletcher-Baker (http://www.nfl.com/players/londonfletcher-baker/profile?id=FLE665780). They also traded running back Willis McGahee (http://www.nfl.com/players/willismcgahee/profile?id=MCG001995) and linebacker Takeo Spikes (http://www.nfl.com/players/takeospikes/profile?id=SPI270805), moves that should change the dynamic in the locker room. It's hard to replace that much talent in one offseason, so the Bills are going to experience growing pains, especially on defense.
The offense has a chance to do some special things, with improving quarterback J.P. Losman, electric receiver Lee Evans (http://www.nfl.com/players/leeevans/profile?id=EVA454901), stud rookie running back Marshawn Lynch and a retooled offensive line. What about the defense? Coach Dick Jauron is a sound defensive coach, but it may take some time to build cohesiveness.
<TABLE style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 10px; WIDTH: 20px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f2f2f2"><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 10px"></TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; COLOR: #999999; PADDING-TOP: 5px"></TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
The loss of Clements, a shutdown corner, kills the pass defense. But they can build around DE Aaron Schobel (http://www.nfl.com/players/aaronschobel/profile?id=SCH422487), SS Donte Whitner (http://www.nfl.com/players/dontewhitner/profile?id=WHI720119) and promising rookie MLB Paul Posluszny, who reminds many of former Bills star Shane Conlan, another Penn State alum..........
~The Answer