I am not sure that all of the changes to the Bills team this year are the right ones or that they will work. That is still up for debate. But, to their credit, Brandon and crew have made a number of significant changes to the team and its personnel. I would have still preferred that one more change be made (head coach), but one can't deny that the Bills FO is trying to make the team better and is not standing around.
Taking a step back and reviewing the entire offseason:
1. The Bills have completely redone their offensive line. Part of the change, replacing Jason Peters at LT is not a positive and was not by choice. However, let's be honest here - Peters handled the situation at least as poorly as the Bills did. The entire interior line (Wood, Hamgartner, Levitre) could be different from last year. In fact, it is possible that only one starter from last season,Walker , could be back this year if Butler is not at RT.
2. Realizing they do not have a #2 WR, the Bills signed TO. This move is definitely out of character for this team. It is a bold move, despite the one year deal, to make the team better now.
3. Drafting Maybin and Byrd. What has the Bills defense been missing the last few seasons? Pressure on the QB and turnovers. Maybin’s job will be to pressure the QB, which will help with the turnovers. Byrd has 17 picks in two years. That is ~ 26 games in college. He averaged more than .65 ints a game. Whether he an do that in the NFL is no known, but it shows the Bills realize they need to create more plays on defense. Byrd and Whitner could be a good safety duo.
4. Continuing on, it would be nice to make one more move. Maybe Levi Jones. Maybe LeRoy Hill. Both need to be made with caution. Jones has had an injury riddled few seasons. Plus, would his arrival signal the end of Walker orButler ? Hill would likely be costly and has the drug arrest. Perhaps the move will be more under the radar and will the signing of Freddie Keiaho or Derrick Brooks (if he would come to Buffalo ). Either move would allow Mitchell to move to SLB and would put Ellison on the bench (where he is OK as a back-up and ST player). I would not be shocked to see Bowen starting though. I also would not be shocked if he got cut, depending on his knee.
5. The Bills finally eschewed the theory that a TE must be balanced and drafted a very good and fast receiving TE in Shawn Nelson, with limited blocking ability. The good news is that he can improve in blocking. If Edwards has time, the Bills can have success with Evans, TO and Nelson stretching the field, while guys like Reed, Johnson, eventually Hardy, Fine and the RBs are able to work underneath. In short, if the young guys on the O-line can be ready and the line can gel, the Bills might actually have a potent passing attack.
6. In their first 4 picks, the Bills drafted 3 lineman (1 DL, 2 OL). I am too lazy to go back in their history and look this up, but this has not happened in a very long time. They realize that success starts in the trenches.
These changes might not be the answers the team needed, but it is apparent that it has not been business as usual at OBD this offseason.
It can’t hurt. The old way sure as hell was not working out.
Taking a step back and reviewing the entire offseason:
1. The Bills have completely redone their offensive line. Part of the change, replacing Jason Peters at LT is not a positive and was not by choice. However, let's be honest here - Peters handled the situation at least as poorly as the Bills did. The entire interior line (Wood, Hamgartner, Levitre) could be different from last year. In fact, it is possible that only one starter from last season,
2. Realizing they do not have a #2 WR, the Bills signed TO. This move is definitely out of character for this team. It is a bold move, despite the one year deal, to make the team better now.
3. Drafting Maybin and Byrd. What has the Bills defense been missing the last few seasons? Pressure on the QB and turnovers. Maybin’s job will be to pressure the QB, which will help with the turnovers. Byrd has 17 picks in two years. That is ~ 26 games in college. He averaged more than .65 ints a game. Whether he an do that in the NFL is no known, but it shows the Bills realize they need to create more plays on defense. Byrd and Whitner could be a good safety duo.
4. Continuing on, it would be nice to make one more move. Maybe Levi Jones. Maybe LeRoy Hill. Both need to be made with caution. Jones has had an injury riddled few seasons. Plus, would his arrival signal the end of Walker or
5. The Bills finally eschewed the theory that a TE must be balanced and drafted a very good and fast receiving TE in Shawn Nelson, with limited blocking ability. The good news is that he can improve in blocking. If Edwards has time, the Bills can have success with Evans, TO and Nelson stretching the field, while guys like Reed, Johnson, eventually Hardy, Fine and the RBs are able to work underneath. In short, if the young guys on the O-line can be ready and the line can gel, the Bills might actually have a potent passing attack.
6. In their first 4 picks, the Bills drafted 3 lineman (1 DL, 2 OL). I am too lazy to go back in their history and look this up, but this has not happened in a very long time. They realize that success starts in the trenches.
These changes might not be the answers the team needed, but it is apparent that it has not been business as usual at OBD this offseason.
It can’t hurt. The old way sure as hell was not working out.
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