Bone
03-12-2009, 05:15 PM
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AtlvQ__GF925kdnhUmyZWm1DubYF?slug=cr-nextyearscards031109&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
4. The Buffalo Bills (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/buf/;_ylt=Att8tOzOrscwGeGzRmFY5RvhMMQF)
Offense: Quarterback Trent Edwards (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/8346/;_ylt=AlXwhYEge4p_Z.r2bLzteu_hMMQF) is entering that pivotal third year of growth, and the franchise took a tremendous chemistry gamble by bringing in wideout Terrell Owens (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/3664/;_ylt=Ati3utscTrE7eb_q3mx3WJDhMMQF) to help maximize those strides. Make no mistake: Even with the relatively safe one-year financial commitment, Owens is now more dangerous than ever. As his skills continue to diminish, he will continue to seek that No. 1 role in an offense. And if he struggles to maintain the stature that role requires, he’ll look for someone to blame. The fact is, he has dropped more passes since the start of the 2007 season than any other player in the NFL. That’s nobody’s fault but his. That said, putting him alongside Lee Evans (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/6772/;_ylt=AuiNN6fPBHqJPmXJdYTl4kvhMMQF) undoubtedly opens up the offense more for offensive coordinator Turk Schonert, and should create more breathing room for running back Marshawn Lynch (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/8266/;_ylt=AkqxvOMhCQGzgvRHik.QAbjhMMQF). The offense is more diverse but still in an embryonic stage that is now mortgaged on Owens. It’s an unstable position to be in, especially with a quarterback who has 24 games under his belt.
Defense: An upgrade is needed at defensive end, and the coaching staff has got to find a way to get Aaron Schobel (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5493/;_ylt=AlnMBTJk_FzqxdYQn69l9P7hMMQF) back on track. This is simply a different defense when Schobel is playing well. There are still some bargains on the free-agent market who would provide a solid veteran presence at end, but barring a trade for Julius Peppers (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5888/;_ylt=AgTv24pbt13tSP3Vqx09qE3hMMQF) (not going to happen) an earth-shattering move isn’t likely. Despite playing 16 games last season, Marcus Stroud (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5460/;_ylt=AkAWgc_p9pBSOw2dmTeIncfhMMQF) still wasn’t 100 percent back mentally from his injuries the previous season in Jacksonville. With a little help, this is the season Stroud could approach dominance again. But there are developmental needs from some of the younger players, namely cornerback Leodis McKelvin (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/8788/;_ylt=Aomdbkv5Tuoa7iJQxBdA5QzhMMQF) and defensive end Chris Ellis (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/8849/;_ylt=Akp0S2m6rk0rW_HGgQFrNK_hMMQF). It’s time for McKelvin to move into a starting role, and for Ellis to provide something – anything – for depth purposes.
4. The Buffalo Bills (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/buf/;_ylt=Att8tOzOrscwGeGzRmFY5RvhMMQF)
Offense: Quarterback Trent Edwards (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/8346/;_ylt=AlXwhYEge4p_Z.r2bLzteu_hMMQF) is entering that pivotal third year of growth, and the franchise took a tremendous chemistry gamble by bringing in wideout Terrell Owens (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/3664/;_ylt=Ati3utscTrE7eb_q3mx3WJDhMMQF) to help maximize those strides. Make no mistake: Even with the relatively safe one-year financial commitment, Owens is now more dangerous than ever. As his skills continue to diminish, he will continue to seek that No. 1 role in an offense. And if he struggles to maintain the stature that role requires, he’ll look for someone to blame. The fact is, he has dropped more passes since the start of the 2007 season than any other player in the NFL. That’s nobody’s fault but his. That said, putting him alongside Lee Evans (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/6772/;_ylt=AuiNN6fPBHqJPmXJdYTl4kvhMMQF) undoubtedly opens up the offense more for offensive coordinator Turk Schonert, and should create more breathing room for running back Marshawn Lynch (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/8266/;_ylt=AkqxvOMhCQGzgvRHik.QAbjhMMQF). The offense is more diverse but still in an embryonic stage that is now mortgaged on Owens. It’s an unstable position to be in, especially with a quarterback who has 24 games under his belt.
Defense: An upgrade is needed at defensive end, and the coaching staff has got to find a way to get Aaron Schobel (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5493/;_ylt=AlnMBTJk_FzqxdYQn69l9P7hMMQF) back on track. This is simply a different defense when Schobel is playing well. There are still some bargains on the free-agent market who would provide a solid veteran presence at end, but barring a trade for Julius Peppers (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5888/;_ylt=AgTv24pbt13tSP3Vqx09qE3hMMQF) (not going to happen) an earth-shattering move isn’t likely. Despite playing 16 games last season, Marcus Stroud (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5460/;_ylt=AkAWgc_p9pBSOw2dmTeIncfhMMQF) still wasn’t 100 percent back mentally from his injuries the previous season in Jacksonville. With a little help, this is the season Stroud could approach dominance again. But there are developmental needs from some of the younger players, namely cornerback Leodis McKelvin (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/8788/;_ylt=Aomdbkv5Tuoa7iJQxBdA5QzhMMQF) and defensive end Chris Ellis (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/8849/;_ylt=Akp0S2m6rk0rW_HGgQFrNK_hMMQF). It’s time for McKelvin to move into a starting role, and for Ellis to provide something – anything – for depth purposes.