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Attention Buffalo Bills Pessimists: Be an Optimist This Year
Published: September 7, 2009
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Most sports fans say that they’ve been a fan of their favorite team since they were born. That doesn’t exclude me by any means. However, my team has been the Buffalo Bills, and that separates me from the rest.
Few other teams have been as depressing over the past decade as the Buffalo Bills have been (honorable mention to the Lions, Browns, and Bengals). Being a Bills fan is to truly understand depression.
The beginning of each year starts out the same for most fans. The draft goes well, and there is an overwhelming sense of optimism despite all the signs of another average year. Of course, why should this year be any different?
Everything is happening the way a mediocre team’s offseason should go. Marshawn Lynch is suspended for the first three games, the offensive coordinator was just fired, and Alex Van Pelt—a man who has never called plays before in the NFL—is the Bills new offensive coordinator.
It should be noted that Van Pelt did call the offensive plays for the Frankfurt Galaxy in 2005, so to say that he has no experience is inaccurate.
But this season, there is optimism that the Bills may have a good season, despite everything working against them. This season, the Bills may actually make it to 10-6. Their losses will come from New England, New Orleans, Miami, Carolina, Tennessee, and Atlanta (Indianapolis will rest their starters in week 17 with a likely AFC South title).
There are many things to be hopeful for if you’re a Bills fan.
First off, the Bills had a major offseason acquisition in Terrell Owens.
Most agree that Owens is out of his prime and he’s a locker room killer. But the problem with the first argument is that the Bills don’t need Owens in his prime. All the Bills need is a legitimate weapon on the opposite side of Lee Evans. They don’t need a Larry Fitzgerald.
The problem with the second argument is that he’s only here for one year. He’s playing for a new contract, whether it’s with Buffalo or another team, so Owens will play to win and keep his mouth shut.
Second, Alex Van Pelt is the new offensive coordinator.
Most of you are probably scratching your heads right now at that one. Last year under Turk Schonert, the Bills offense ranked 25th in the NFL. Even if Van Pelt can’t muster up the same amount of offense that Schonert did, they can’t fall much further.
But Van Pelt is a former quarterback who played with Jim Kelly under the K-Gun offense. He understands the risks involved with down-the-field throwing but knows that it’s necessary, and he will allow Edwards to win games, not manage them.
It should also be noted that Ralph Wilson recently met with Jauron and Van Pelt, no doubt to tell them that if he paid for Lee Evans and Terrell Owens, they had better put them to good use this season.
Third, Jauron knows he’s on the hot seat.
He may not even last to the mid-season mark if he doesn’t start off strong. Jauron will have to deviate from his conservative ways and place his trust in Van Pelt and Trent Edwards.
Fourth, the depth on the Bills roster is fantastic.
Fred Jackson will start the first three games at running back to fill the void left by the suspended Lynch. When Lynch returns, his “Beast Mode” will be up and running, and he will be fresher down the stretch.
The secondary is the deepest it’s been in years, and any absence will be quickly filled. It’s still unknown who will be the nickel because Drayton Florence, Reggie Corner, and Ashton Youboty have all played very well.
The wide receivers are some of the best weapons, whether for the offense or special teams. Josh Reed proved to be “Mr. Third Down” last year amid years of dropping very catch-able balls. Reed may actually have one of the best seasons among the WRs, as most secondaries will be focusing their attention on Evans and Owens.
Justin Jenkins is a special teams stud, and despite the lack of attention that special teams receives, it is a very big deal to the Bills defense. It is no easy task to march 80 yards down-field to score a touchdown. With Moorman’s punting and Jenkins’ coverage ability, those 80-yard drives to the endzone may be few and far between.
Lastly, the defense has looked strong in the preseason. Aaron Maybin seems to be OK with the pass rush, the secondary has been pulling in the interceptions, and the run defense has been stellar. As much as no Bills fan wants to rely solely on the defense, the defense may be stout enough to keep them in those tough games this year.
This is the year for Jauron and Edwards to either make things happen or find new jobs. The Bills certainly have a tough road in front of them this season, but there are a lot of things to be hopeful for.
All you have to do is Bill-ieve.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Marshawn Lynch: “Beast Mode”, Love Him Or Hate Him?
Published: August 12, 2009
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I was listening to the local sports talk radio station recently and an interesting question came up—Do you like Marshawn Lynch?
I was intrigued by the question because after the departure of McGahee, Lynch became a focal point of the Bills offense. The city immediately embraced him since his first snap as the starting running back.
Then the phone calls came in.
“Kick him off the team”, “He’s a disgrace to Bills fans everywhere”, “What ever happened to having respect for the game?” There seemed to be one common factor between all of those people that complained about Marshawn.
They were all over the age of 30.
When I sat back and thought about it, all of those people had legitimate points about Marshawn. He was slapped on the wrist for a hit-and-run for a female on Chippewa; downtown Buffalo’s stretch of bars.
It should be noted that this girl was not left there to “die”, because she was not seriously hurt (I hardly count seven stitches to be seriously injured).
Marshawn maintains that he didn’t even know that he hit her, and some find that hard to believe. If you hit someone though, would you leave your dented car in the driveway for the world to see on the following morning?
Lynch was also arrested for having an unregistered firearm in his trunk recently, resulting in a three game suspension.
He’s on thin ice with Goodell, but Lynch sounds serious when he says he’s learned his lesson and that he doesn’t want to be removed from the game again.
It’s very understandable that a portion of Bills fans don’t want him on the team. But there’s something about Marshawn that makes the younger fans gravitate to him—he’s good, and he looks like he’s having a blast out there.
Marshawn is always smiling and goofing around on the sidelines. He seems to have a great rapport with the offense, and even messes around with DE Aaron Schobel (for those of you who have never met Schobel, he’s not the kind of guy that wants to be messed with).
Remember when Chad Ochocinco came out with a new touchdown dance every week? Every Monday at the office, people would ask “Did you see Chad Johnson do CPR on the football?”, or “Putting with the pylon…genius”.
Before he became a raging ego-maniac, Ochocinco was a lot of fun because he had fun at what he did.
I have a theory on why the younger crowd likes Marshawn and other controversial players more so than the older crowd.
Although both groups are mature enough to handle the antics of athletes and understand the consequences of athletes’ actions, the majority of the older crowd has kids at impressionable ages.
I hear from several parents that their kids look up to certain players. I wouldn’t want my child looking up to a lot of the stars that command kids’ attention nowadays.
A handful of these high profile athletes have been arrested for drugs, guns, and assault. Some have multiple children with multiple women. Others are just competitive on the field and want to win and are perceived to be a “bad guy.”
Nevertheless, I don’t have kids, and I appreciate these stars for their talent on the field. Marshawn has made some dumb mistakes, but I believe him that he’s truly sorry. I don’t think we’ll see his name in the headlines anytime soon.
And if I ever saw Marshawn out somewhere, there’s no doubt in my mind that I’d tell him that he’s one of my favorite Buffalo Bills.
Line ‘Em Up: Buffalo Bills Draft For The O-Line
Published: April 30, 2009
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Christmas in April came to an end last weekend, and we are definitely not short of a few opinions.
I love reading everyone’s point of view, but this year I find myself contemplating how some draft experts grade the Bills at a B+ all the way down to an F.
Looking at the picks and the makeup of the team, I’ve decided to grade the draft at the higher end of the spectrum.
With two first round picks, many thought the Bills would address their need at left tackle with their 11th overall by drafting Michael Oher. When the Bills took Aaron Maybin, a DE from Penn State, it was almost a slam-dunk that a tackle would be taken with the 28th pick.
To the surprise of many, Buffalo took a center, Eric Wood from Louisville, bypassing their need on the vacant tackle spot. The Bills then followed up with a CB from Oregon, and traded back into the second round for a Guard from Oregon State.
Most experts have agreed that not addressing the left tackle was a poor choice by the Bills. Some are still disagreeing over the Maybin pick, but that’s another argument to be had.
Here is some background that some may know, and others may not regarding the Bills offensive line:
Langston Walker, the Bills starting right tackle, played left tackle for Jason Peters in the opening game of the season and also filled in during the second game as Peters was not in playing condition. Walker filled in the hole quite nicely, and during those two games, Bills fans everywhere contemplated, “If Jason Peters ever left…”
Eric Wood was a standout center at Louisville racking up (unofficially) around 160 knockdowns throughout his career. The Bills want to use free agent signee Geoff Hangartner at center, so the theory is that Wood will move over to fill the vacant left guard position.
Wood is described as having a “nasty” demeanor on the field and is always looking for the next player to punish. Wood also played guard in high school and says that the transition should be easy enough, as the footwork is similar.
As I said before, the Bills want to use Hangartner at center. Although Hangartner only performed as a backup in Carolina, he did end up starting mid-year due to injuries and performed admirably for Carolina’s powerful running game.
Should Hangartner not be the free agent Buffalo thought he will be, I suspect that Wood would be moved to the starting role.
Brad Butler has manned right guard for the past two years, and he looks to be the only part of the offensive line that will not change. However, with different scenarios that could pan out, Butler could move around the line.
Most seem to have forgotten that Butler’s natural position is tackle.
Last is right tackle. With this position now becoming the one with the biggest questions, the Bills have several options. Kirk Chambers played at this position last year during the first two games, while Walker moved to the left side.
The Bills also drafted a tackle last year in the seventh round—Demetrius Bell. Bell was drafted as a work in progress, but has since shown extreme promise after being on the practice squad last year.
For all of you who can’t see a seventh rounder making the team, remember that Peters was an undrafted tight end.
If neither of these two options work out, there is the possibility that Butler is moved outside to right tackle, and the Bills second round guard, Andy LeVitre, will be plugged in at right guard.
At the end of day one, many people were agitated that the Bills did not address their needs, but it looks like they did everything they needed to. I give the Bills exemplary marks for this year’s draft, but hey, what do I know? I’m no draft expert.
