| April 17, 2005 | « Previous Story | HOME | Next Story » | Posted at 11:10 PM |
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| Centers | Bills Depth Chart | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Starters- Trey Teague Backups-Mike Pucillo Trey Teague rebounded from 2 mediocre seasons to post a strong 2005. New offensive line coach Jim McNally did wonders turning around a shambles of an offensive line led by Teague's resurgence. However, the Bills still are in need of depth. Ross Tucker filled in admirably for a couple of starts for the injured Teague, but moved to the starting right guard position by mid-season. With the imminent loss of Jonas Jennings at OT, it remains a possibility that Teague will be moved back to tackle, the position he played with the Denver Broncos before coming to Buffalo and playing center. While not the most talented, Teague remains the most flexible option the Bills have on the front five. The Bills should be addressing all offensive line positions this offseason. We expect the Bills to be active in both the draft and free agency. |
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| Guards | Bills Depth Chart | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Starters- RG Chris Villarrial LG Ross Tucker Backups- By far the weakest position on the team in 2004 was at the interior line. The Bills addressed the loss of Ruben Brown with the signing of RG Chris Villarrial, who had a very solid season. The LG position was a mess, with Mike Pucillo and Lawrence Smith both failing to produce. Once a healthy Trey Teague returned to center, Jim McNally was able to weave his magic. Ross Tucker took over at the LG position and never relinquished it. Donahoe has his work cut out for him- expect him to be active pursuing help up front on the open market as well as in the draft. One step in the rebuilding process was the acquisition of Mike Gandy, a versatile OG/OT that -if healthy- can be a steal in free agency. Much depends on the outcome of the proposed Travis Henry for LJ Shelton trade with Arizona. If Shelton fails to materialize, and Jennings is lost in free agency, look for the Bills to rebuild through the draft. The Bills Recently inked mamoth 345 pound guard Bennie Anderson, a 14 game starter in 2004 for the Baltimore Ravens. |
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| Off. Tackles | Bills Depth Chart | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Starters- RT Mike Williams LT Jonas Jennings (Signed with San Francisco UFA) Trey Teague? Backups- The one position in a complete state of flux this offseason is at offensive tackle. On the right side Mike Williams is coming into his own as a solid contributor. However, his hefty salary as the 4th overall pick in 2002 doesn't match his production. Williams will need to make the next step under McNally if he is to have a future in Buffalo. On the left side, Jonas Jennings is as good as gone in free agency. With Orlando Pace and Walter Jones off the market- Jennings became the top OT - and he signed a huge $37 million deal with the 49ers. If the Henry for Shelton deal goes through, Donahoe will replace his empty LT position for 4 more seasons. Marcus Price would have made an adequate replacement, but his contract has also expired. Recent acqusition of OL Mike Gandy may also provide depth or even a suprise starter. Trey Teague may be shifted to LT from center if all else fails. |
One of the most physically gifted offensive linemen in a league that boasts an array of standout
tackles, the Pac-10 Conference, Khalif has seen his draft stock continue to rise throughout the
off-season. He has all the tools pro teams look for in a quality blocker – size, strength,
temperament and outstanding quickness. A vocal leader on the team, the coaching staff called
him an exceptional athlete with good footwork for an offensive tackle.
He red-shirted at Washington in 2000, spending the time adjusting to offensive tackle after
originally being recruited for the defense. Barnes went on to start 42 consecutive games before a
right wrist fracture in a 2004 mid-October practice would bring his Husky career to an end. He
began to receive national attention in 2001, when he battled the NCAA's season-record holder in
quarterback sacks, Terrell Suggs of Arizona State to only four tackles while preventing the Sun
Devil from penetrating the backfield. Barnes manned the left tackle position throughout the 2002
campaign and was even used as a receiver on a trick play during the 2002 Sun Bowl.
Barnes started all year at weak -side tackle in 2003, picking up All-Pac 10 Conference honorable
mention and Player of the Game honors vs. Washington State and Stanford. The team captain
had an excellent 2004 season, as he did not allow a tackle, sack or pressure in two of the team's
first five games.
Jammal has exceptional athletic ability, blending speed with power. He has led the team in
blocking consistency the last two years, grading highest among the down linemen in 20 of 26
contests. He is smooth and sudden coming out of his stance and has developed that aggressive
nature that is a trait you will find in most standout tackles.
Regarded as one of the top ten defensive tackles in the nation coming out of McArthur High
School, Jammal was a first-team All-State choice that played both sides of the ball and ended his
senior season with 70 unassisted tackles, nine sacks and 15 quarterback hurries. He played
sparingly in 2001, but took over the right tackle slot as a junior, registering 80 knockdown blocks
while being penalized just once in 2002.
The following year, he posted 127 knockdowns and earned first-team All-American honors in
2003 while allowing only one sack. Blessed with tremendous speed for a line-man, he brought the
OU fans to their feet in the UCLA game, when he ran down Bruins linebacker Spencer Havner to
make the tackle at the end of a 72-yard interception return that year.
He continued his dominance in 2004, as he did not allow a sack, pressure or tackle in three
games (Texas, Houston, Oklahoma State) and no sacks in any contest, as he collected 130
knockdowns for the season. In 2004, he showed marked improvement in picking up stunts and
the edge rush. He also has improved greatly in his ability to chip and land when working in the
second level. On sheer athletic ability alone, he’s worth a first round pick.
.
Elton is a massive athlete with good upper body strength. He is an excellent pass protector who
utilizes a punishing hand punch to consistently jolt the pass rushers. He simply knocks defenders
off their feet when working in the short area. The “Big E” as his teammates call him, is not the
only son of Robin Brown-Miller and Quienton Miller to perform at the collegiate level last year, as
Elton's brother, Scorpio (19), is a sophomore tight end at Hampton University.
Brown played in every game as a true freshman in 2001 at Virginia, starting four times. Beginning
in 2002, he began a string of 37 consecutive starts at the right guard position.
He earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference honorable mention for his performance at right offensive
guard as a sophomore, followed by second-team All-ACC accolades in 2003.
Elton twice (2003-04) was the recipient of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the top blocker in the
Atlantic Coast Conference. In his final season, Brown finally captured All-American honors, in
addition to elevating his All-ACC rankings to first-team status.
An imposing physical specimen, Marcus is a player who knows how to use his size to his
advantage. The team captain started 45 games at right guard and three other contests at right
tackle during his four-year career with the Rebels. He received the J. Richard Price Courage and
Compassion Award, which is presented annually to the rising senior lineman who, in the opinion
of his coaches, has demonstrated extraordinary courage and unusual compassion in their
dedication to the team and Ole Miss. He followed his brother, Belton
(1999-2002) to Mississippi and has started every game he's played in (46) at Ole Miss.
With Belton (now with Cincinnati) lining up at right tackle, Marcus started at right guard in 2001,
earning Freshman All-American (fourth-team) honors from The Sporting News. He and his
brother were key players on an offensive line that was second in the Southeastern Conference in
the fewest sacks allowed (14) as Ole Miss generated over 350 yards of total offense in 8-of-13
games, including at least 450 yards in four contests in 2002.
In 2003, he again started every game at right tackle, paving the way for an offense that helped
Ole Miss rank first in the SEC in scoring (34.0 ppg), passing (286.0 ypg), and total offense (433.2
ypg) and set school season offensive records for points scored (442), TD passes (31), passing
yards (3,718), passing yards per game (286.0), first downs (295), offensive plays (940), total
offense (5,631) and total offense per game (433.2). In 2004, he did not allow more than two
tackles in any game, including shutting out his opponents completely in the Wyoming and South
Carolina clashes.
Chris is an unheralded athlete with only one year of starting experience, but so impressed the pro
scouts during the 2004 campaign, that he is now regarded as one of the elite blockers in college
football. Surrounded by stellar offensive guards Marcus Johnson and Douglas Buckles, Spencer
showed the ability to generate combo blocks, along with his line mates, as the trio accounted for
eighteen touchdown-resulting blocks on the team's twenty scoring drives in 2004.
Chris played in every game behind Marcus Johnson at right offensive guard during the 2002
campaign. He started the first four games and the Mississippi State clash at center in 2003,
spending most of the year sharing playing time with Justin Sawyer. With Sawyer graduated, Chris
took over the starting chores at center full-time in 2004.
Chris is a good athlete with above average quickness, agility and body control for a player his
size. He played left offensive guard during his first two years before shifting to the
