Who'll play CENTER?

[H2OBFLO]

For the longest time, I've been reading that Jonas was getting all or most of the snaps, but I've just received my SHOUT, and it says that Teague is projected at center, I guess they're still trying out both guys.
Who would be the best choice?
I read that Jennings is ProBowl material, he'd be better off at tackle then I think.
H2OBFLO:drinker:

[DraftBoy]

I have siad before that I would like Jennings ot stay at Tackle not C. Teague/Ostroski/Contany can all play C. A possible line combo is:
Jennings-Brown-Teague-Ostroski/Sullivan-Williams

I really like that possible combo.

[lordofgun]

i completely agree guys. I think when all is said and done, we'll see Jennings back at center. I'm hoping the minicamps expiriments were just that...expiriments.

[WG]

Center? Or Tackle LOG?

I agree w/ Winfield! Jennings will be at LT for now. I'll also predict that Jennings will be the RT next year unless he becomes an absolute and dominating force at LT.

[Buffarama]

I say if you got a guy that can play tackle, like Jennings you play him there. Yet , if he can dominate at center, you can run up the middle. Tough call. Remember, injuries happen, these guys will move all over the place.

[BillsNYC]

jwnnings....he has the right attitude for it and seams like he want to learn the position...i like teague as a solid tackle...probably not a pro bowler....but solid

[angneli]

Put the best five lineman on the field. Shouldn't we be thinking about experience a LT. I think it would be better for chemistry on the line, while everyone is learning the new offense.

I have heard that Teague might develop an attitude problem if he doesn't play tackle.

[lordofgun]

Yeah I meant tackle...thanks wys.

[lordofgun]

That's the thing I love about this new Oline. It seems like many of them can play several positions. That'll help in case of injuries.

[Dozerdog]

Let's give Jennings the center spot. This kid can be a pro bowler there

[BillC]

Jennings? Leave him at tackle! You can't be serious.

Conaty can hang in there until next season when we can grab a big name center in free agency.

Is that an oxymoron? Are there any "Big Name" centers?

[askabry]

Here's my two pennies...

First off, I think the coaches have already begun to realize from their brief sightings that Mike Williams is in for a long, long season.

Secondly, with that problem surfacing, the Bills have a competant-not dominant-center on their roster right now in Billy Conaty. I think we will see a lineup consisting of Trey Teague at LT, Jennings at RT, with Brown, Conaty and Ostroski playing from the outset of the year.

In time, Williams will be able to play RT and when he does you'll see Teague switch to C and Jennings at LT. In the meantime, look for the Bills to keep an additional OT on the roster this fall. My bet is Kris Farris surprises and pushes Pucillo to the PS.

[angneli]

You have to put Williams on the field. The best thing for him is experience.

[askabry]

mmmm. You have to keep Bledsoe's head attached to his neck.

[DraftBoy]

Farris is not going to push Pucillo to PS, how can you PS a guy ho can play G, or T. Thats too versatile.

[angneli]

Originally posted by askabry
mmmm. You have to keep Bledsoe's head attached to his neck.

...and by putting the best 5 lineman on the field. That is exactly what will happen.

[Kicker22705]

from what i've read, the coaches said Jennings is playing better at both center and left tackle than Trey Teauge.

When i first looked at the situation, i thought it was absurd to move such a young talented tackle to center, but then i thought it out.

Right now i think the bills are committed to running the ball first to control the clock and keep pressure off Bledsoe. The best way to do that is to put Jennings at center.

Why? because Travis is an "in between tackle" type of running back, not an outside runner like Bryson. Jennings is a more imposing center than Conaty or Teague, a more of a bruiser who can knock guys off their feet.

With him at center the bills can run up the middle behind Brown, Jennings, and Ostroski.

If they decide to take it outside, although Teague is not as physical as Jennings, he will have help from Brown, and probably TE Moore, if they go right they can run behind 350+ lbs Williams. Williams may struggle against the pass rush his rookie year but run blocking probably won't be much of a problem.

[askabry]

Are you suggesting that Mike Williams is one of those five right now? I don't think that's the case, and we've got six weeks to find out if he can move to the head of the class.

Young offensive lineman typically have trouble adjusting. Not every player is Jonas Jennings or Matt Light; and unlike the Bucs last year with Kenyatta Walker, we are in a position to put an experienced offensive lineman at every spot if need be.

He'll learn on the field, but he doesn't have to do that at the expense of the team.

[eyedog]

well you can count on m.w. starting from day one. and yes he will have some growing pains starting from day one, but on this o-line he is definitely one of the five best. and you don't draft a guy 4th overall and pay him all that money to sit on the bench.

i would like to see jg,rb,tt,jo,mw left to right.

[angneli]

He was drafted 4th for a reason. The whole purpose in drafting him was to have him start right away. Jonas Jennings was a surprise. Do I think that Mike Williams is our best lineman. No, but he will be by the end of the year if he plays the whole season. If we put him on the bench we destroy his confidence.

[The Shadow]

You can chisel Mike Williams as a starter right now, in stone. Question is will it be right or left tackle? All indications point that he will be the starting right tackle.

[askabry]

A couple of things. If his confidence is so weak sitting will "destroy" any part of his game, he's in the wrong league. I'm not concerned about his "confidence" and from watching him on ESPN I don't think that's a weak link.

Pushing a player before he's ready is just a sure a path to his destruction- regardless of position- as sitting him. Beyond that, we'll see how good he is. The coaching staff has already shown some indications of surprise of the less than positive sort about him. Playing RT in the NFL is no party; more and more teams are sporting their pass rush specialist over the QBs right side (see:Strahan, Michael).

Maybe MW is the man; I don't doubt he has the talent to play the game. Leaf wasn't drafted #2 to fail, but he did anyway. This team has the ability and depth along the front five to not rush MW. Right now, I'd be willing to say he's not one of the five best. If he's close on September 6th, that's fine. Push him. But Kenyatta Walker got destroyed early last year and the Bucs season was torched with a slow start. It wasn't a direct connection, but it didn't help. I don't see any purpose in following their path.

[SABURZFAN]

it's nice to know that we have several quality people who can play C.last year was a complete opposite.

[angneli]

Originally posted by askabry
A couple of things. If his confidence is so weak sitting will "destroy" any part of his game, he's in the wrong league. I'm not concerned about his "confidence" and from watching him on ESPN I don't think that's a weak link.

Pushing a player before he's ready is just a sure a path to his destruction- regardless of position- as sitting him. Beyond that, we'll see how good he is. The coaching staff has already shown some indications of surprise of the less than positive sort about him. Playing RT in the NFL is no party; more and more teams are sporting their pass rush specialist over the QBs right side (see:Strahan, Michael).

Maybe MW is the man; I don't doubt he has the talent to play the game. Leaf wasn't drafted #2 to fail, but he did anyway. This team has the ability and depth along the front five to not rush MW. Right now, I'd be willing to say he's not one of the five best. If he's close on September 6th, that's fine. Push him. But Kenyatta Walker got destroyed early last year and the Bucs season was torched with a slow start. It wasn't a direct connection, but it didn't help. I don't see any purpose in following their path.

I personally think that Mike Williams can be as good as Orlando Pace, and Chris Samuels when they were rookies. However I am going to agree to disagree. We'll see what happens when the season starts.

[John from Hemet]

The bills will give the Teague, Brown, Jennings, Ostroski, Williams group to win those respective positions....

Why? Because you bring in Tre Teague...who is a quality starter....but is balking at (and to be honest does not the the weight to) the center position.....the bills want to run between the tackles.....

I envision Teague being a youthful Fina....who will wall off pass rushers while the other players on the line open up holes for the running game......

Eventually...I would like to see Jennings and Williams as our tackles......

If Jennings goes out to tackle....you could well see Conaty at center....because he is a let 300 pounder

[colin]

I Willy has trouble at RT, he can play RG. Os can go to RT or to RG, so he is flexible. Jennings can be a RT or a LT or a C, Teauge can be C or LT. Brown is gonna be our LG.

So we could go:

TT, RB, JJ, OS, MW

or

JJ RB TT MW OS or TT RB JJ MW OS

or

TT RB Conaty MW JJ

or at worst

TT RB Conaty OS JJ

We have to keep in mind that at least center and LT will be big upgrade over any point last season.

Mike Willy should be able to play at RT at the same level that JJ did last year, so TT RB JJ OS MW should not be trouble.

What is more important that a rook having some trouble early on is that some one WILL get injured, and no matter who it is we can replace them. Brown would obviously be our biggest loss, but he is a rock.

[John from Hemet]

I have done extensive study on Mike WIlliams...from his rookie season until he was drafted by the bills......

This guy has special talent....to tell the truth I dont think there has been anyone in the NFL quite like him.....folks like to draw comparisons to guys like Ogden or Orlando Pace....I look at him more in the mold of the dominant tackles that the Dallas Cowboys had back in their hayday.....who bullied around Bruce Smith and Phil Hanson and I hated them for it.....who paved the way for Emmit Smith....who looks a awful lot like Travis Henry to me.......

This is a guy who COULD play left tackle for us this year if we absolutely had to......but dont.....look for him to very possibly make the pro bowl in his FIRST YEAR as a right tackle....