BillsWin
09-07-2009, 10:08 PM
Two actually picked us to finish second which surprised me.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/preview09/team?team=buf
Here are some highlights.
Seth
Wickersham
ESPN The Magazine
DIVISION FINISH: 2 Nothing about the Bills is exceptional, but that doesn't mean Trent Edwards, T.O. and Lee Evans can't help the team finish second in the division -- not that a playoff trip will necessarily come with it.
Bill
Williamson
ESPN.com
DIVISION FINISH: 2 It's all about Terrell Owens in Buffalo. But I look at Owens as a final piece to a team that will make a playoff push. This team is ready to make some noise, and not all of it will be coming from Owens' mouth.
Best offensive player: On a team loaded with skill players, the best weapon is Marshawn Lynch. He's only 23 years old and already has gone to a Pro Bowl. Lynch isn't the most adroit receiver out of the backfield, but his concussive running style places him among the league's toughest to wrangle.
Best defensive player: Marcus Stroud is a defensive tackle, but he tied for fourth on the team last season with six passes defensed. The three-time Pro Bowler was fourth in tackles with 85 while adding 2½ sacks and two fumble recoveries. Best coach: Special-teams guru Bobby April routinely has the Bills at the top of the NFL in coverage and returns. In the annual Dallas Morning News special-teams rankings, the Bills have finished first three times in the past five years. April very well could be the club's next head coach. Best candidate to break out: Leodis McKelvin, the 11th overall draft choice in '08, moves into the vacant right cornerback spot created when Jabari Greer left via free agency. McKelvin lacks experience, but there's value in getting flambéed by Terrell Owens and Lee Evans in training camp. McKelvin has scintillating skills and will have the chance to come up with interceptions. Best rookie: It's not 11th overall pick Aaron Maybin, but the other first-round selection: guard Eric Wood. He's a foundation-caliber player who will be in the starting lineup on opening day. -- Tim Graham, ESPN.com
Strengths
Offensive playmakers: This has been a weak spot for the Bills in recent memory, but now they have playmakers at every position. Even if WR Terrell Owens has lost a step, as it appeared last season, he is still a terrific red zone receiver. Even the tight end position was upgraded athletically with the drafting of TE Shawn Nelson, and don't neglect the versatility that RB Fred Jackson brings to the table as well.
Special teams: Year in and year out, the Bills are among the best teams in the league in this department. They have excellent coverage teams, kicking specialists and returners. This organization puts great emphasis on this phase of the game, and the results are quite impressive. Young defensive talent: Some of these youngsters are ready to step up. Keep an eye on players such as CB Leodis McKelvin, S Donte Whitner, LB Paul Posluszny and first-round pick LB Aaron Maybin. Led by McKelvin and Whitner, the Bills also have a very young secondary with strong collective upside. Weaknesses
Offensive line: This might be the worst offensive line in the league. The Bills will field two marginal athletes for their respective offensive tackle positions, a new starter (who was a backup in Carolina) at center and probably two rookie guards, one of whom is a natural center and the other is a natural tackle.
Quarterback: Edwards has shown glimpses of being a solid chain-moving signal-caller, but he is not an upper-tier quarterback. The real worry is his brittleness. Buffalo will have two heavy-footed tackles trying to keep up with the speedy outside linebackers of the 3-4 defenses in the AFC East. Pass rush: The addition of LB Maybin should help in this regard on throwing downs, but asking this undersized rookie to play every down is probably unwise at this point. DE Aaron Schobel's health is the key here. Buffalo managed only a meager 14 sacks in the 11 games that Schobel missed last season.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/preview09/team?team=buf
Here are some highlights.
Seth
Wickersham
ESPN The Magazine
DIVISION FINISH: 2 Nothing about the Bills is exceptional, but that doesn't mean Trent Edwards, T.O. and Lee Evans can't help the team finish second in the division -- not that a playoff trip will necessarily come with it.
Bill
Williamson
ESPN.com
DIVISION FINISH: 2 It's all about Terrell Owens in Buffalo. But I look at Owens as a final piece to a team that will make a playoff push. This team is ready to make some noise, and not all of it will be coming from Owens' mouth.
Best offensive player: On a team loaded with skill players, the best weapon is Marshawn Lynch. He's only 23 years old and already has gone to a Pro Bowl. Lynch isn't the most adroit receiver out of the backfield, but his concussive running style places him among the league's toughest to wrangle.
Best defensive player: Marcus Stroud is a defensive tackle, but he tied for fourth on the team last season with six passes defensed. The three-time Pro Bowler was fourth in tackles with 85 while adding 2½ sacks and two fumble recoveries. Best coach: Special-teams guru Bobby April routinely has the Bills at the top of the NFL in coverage and returns. In the annual Dallas Morning News special-teams rankings, the Bills have finished first three times in the past five years. April very well could be the club's next head coach. Best candidate to break out: Leodis McKelvin, the 11th overall draft choice in '08, moves into the vacant right cornerback spot created when Jabari Greer left via free agency. McKelvin lacks experience, but there's value in getting flambéed by Terrell Owens and Lee Evans in training camp. McKelvin has scintillating skills and will have the chance to come up with interceptions. Best rookie: It's not 11th overall pick Aaron Maybin, but the other first-round selection: guard Eric Wood. He's a foundation-caliber player who will be in the starting lineup on opening day. -- Tim Graham, ESPN.com
Strengths
Offensive playmakers: This has been a weak spot for the Bills in recent memory, but now they have playmakers at every position. Even if WR Terrell Owens has lost a step, as it appeared last season, he is still a terrific red zone receiver. Even the tight end position was upgraded athletically with the drafting of TE Shawn Nelson, and don't neglect the versatility that RB Fred Jackson brings to the table as well.
Special teams: Year in and year out, the Bills are among the best teams in the league in this department. They have excellent coverage teams, kicking specialists and returners. This organization puts great emphasis on this phase of the game, and the results are quite impressive. Young defensive talent: Some of these youngsters are ready to step up. Keep an eye on players such as CB Leodis McKelvin, S Donte Whitner, LB Paul Posluszny and first-round pick LB Aaron Maybin. Led by McKelvin and Whitner, the Bills also have a very young secondary with strong collective upside. Weaknesses
Offensive line: This might be the worst offensive line in the league. The Bills will field two marginal athletes for their respective offensive tackle positions, a new starter (who was a backup in Carolina) at center and probably two rookie guards, one of whom is a natural center and the other is a natural tackle.
Quarterback: Edwards has shown glimpses of being a solid chain-moving signal-caller, but he is not an upper-tier quarterback. The real worry is his brittleness. Buffalo will have two heavy-footed tackles trying to keep up with the speedy outside linebackers of the 3-4 defenses in the AFC East. Pass rush: The addition of LB Maybin should help in this regard on throwing downs, but asking this undersized rookie to play every down is probably unwise at this point. DE Aaron Schobel's health is the key here. Buffalo managed only a meager 14 sacks in the 11 games that Schobel missed last season.