Pro Set Fits Bills to a T-Gun

I’m a big believer in getting all the talent you can on the field at once.

You can effectively rotate players in and out in a platoon system, but whenever possible, giving the defense more skill position players to defend at the same time is critical to creating mismatches.

With the Bills moving to their new “T-Gun” this season, a fast-paced offense meant to harken back to the Bills glory days under Jim Kelly and the “K-Gun,” Buffalo will be in prime position to do just that.

The most intriguing story line for the Bills this season, aside from integrating Terrell Owens into the offense, has to be what they will do with the stable of running backs they’ve assembled.

Marshawn Lynch is suspended for the first three games, but when he returns he will join a log-jam in the backfield.

I’m in favor of leaning heavily on a pro set, using two-back formations that utilize different combinations of the backs.

Rotating combinations of Lynch, Fred Jackson, and Dominic Rhodes gives you two rushing options, as well as one to two more receiving choices depending on blocking assignments.

I also like the pro set because of the options for lining up. You can line the backs up traditionally in the center, or you can offset them to the strong or weak sides. You have the option to switch between with audibles depending on the defensive package and what Trent Edwards reads with regards to blitzes.

With T.O. and Lee Evans lined up as the outside receivers, you can rotate Roscoe Parrish and Josh Reed in the slot. I look for Parrish to have a big season this year as he looks to shake off his reputation as being “just a return guy.”

You can switch one of the receivers out for a tight end and move his position around depending on which side you’ve offset the formation in the backfield.

Derek Schouman and Derek Fine should get the bulk of the looks.

At this point, I’m afraid fans hoping for Shawn Nelson to get significant playing time as a rookie are probably deluding themselves. Nelson has reportedly been struggling with his route running and blown assignments early.

Though there is still a lot of time until the season starts, making the transition from a spread attack in college to an elaborate, often-shifting, pro style attack presents a daunting task for any rookie and Nelson is no exception.

Running the offense with the personnel combinations I’ve outlined will be far more effective at a fast tempo, and that’s what the Bills plan to do.

Keeping the pace up and switching formation orientation will make it that much harder for the defense to keep track of the personnel on the field as well as coverage assignments.

I think the Buffalo offense is poised to have an explosive season, and this is just one way to utilize all the talent they’ve assembled on that side of the ball.

Upstate Pride: Why It’s OK to Root for the Buffalo Bills

New Yorkers have entirely too many teams to choose from. There are multiple teams in every major sport, but only one plays football in the Empire state. 

That’s right, it’s those wagon-circling, hot-wing eating Buffalo Bills. 

There’s a sense of upstate pride associated with the Bills. In my travels around the country, when you tell people you’re from New York they automatically assume you mean the city. 

There’s always a sense of shock when you tell them, “No. I’m from upstate.” It’s like they can’t fathom the idea that there’s an entire state outside of the five boroughs. 

When you meet someone from the city itself, there’s often a reaction of, “Oh, you’re from upstate.” 

For a long time, I was embarrassed of where I was from simply because people made me feel like that was how I should feel. I hail from the land of fine wine, dairy farms, and not a whole lot else. 

Over time I’ve grown to embrace these things and the number of strange subtleties that make upstate New York and Buffalo such a unique place. 

Whether it’s loganberry juice, Mighty Taco, or even non-food landmarks like the numerous Frank Lloyd Wright-designed homes sprinkled throughout the area, there are plenty of things that make Buffalo a world unto itself. 

Nothing, however, makes the area more unique than the people.

Upstate New Yorkers seem to have a giant chip on their collective shoulder, and no group has a larger chip than the Buffalo Bills and their fans. 

The Bills have always been lovable losers to me. Even when they won four consecutive AFC championships in the 90s, they just never could win the big one, and they’ve been mired in mediocrity ever since. 

When the team starts off well, the hopes of all of western New York rise with the team’s place in the standings. When the record heads south, so too do the moods of the faithful as they plunge head first into the frigid teeth of the New York winter sans a playoff berth. 

Every year, however, hope springs eternal with the promise of a new football season.

Some might call it foolish or masochistic, but there’s an admirable optimist hiding beneath those blue-and-red-painted chests. 

Far away from the glitz and glamour of the big city lights the other New York teams play under, there is a fan base stretching across a state holding onto the belief that this is the year our team will finally slay that Super Bowl demon. 

In college I had an English professor with a thick southern drawl who, fittingly enough, taught Southern Literature. 

Her family was a collection of mountain people, and she was extremely proud of that fact. She often made a point to tell us to be proud of our heritage no matter what it was or where we came from.

That sums up Bills fans. They don’t try to be anyone else. They know who they, are and they embrace it, the way only upstate people can.

Seats Warming For Bills’ Coaches

It appears that North America’s team will go as far as its offense takes it this season. 

The pieces finally seem to be in place from a personnel standpoint, but what about the coaching staff? 

The evolution of Trent Edwards is the most important growth in western New York, short of the activity in the vineyards dotting the banks of the Finger Lakes. 

Both Edwards and offensive coordinator Turk Schonert are former starting quarterbacks at Stanford, and both have to deal with high expectations this season. 

Under Schonert, Edwards has shown progress and is clearly one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL.  

The Bills set a goal for Edwards to average eight yards per attempt and Edwards managed to reach 7.2, up from 6.1 the year before that. 

“That was a big jump for him,” Schonert said. “We’re going to aim for eight again this year and, yeah, T.O.’s going to help, hopefully, get the average per attempt up there.” 

Ah, yes—T.O.

Of course the addition of Terrell Owens changes what the offense is capable of, but Schonert stresses that Owens will have to fit into what the Bills are trying to do. 

“We’ve got our system intact and we’re not going to change the entire system because we add somebody new,” Schonert said. 

Schonert faces the task of balancing what looks to be a potent running game with a passing attack that they will utilize even more with big 81 on the edge.

“We’re going to put him into our system and then it’s kind of a feel thing for us. What do we need to add? What do we need to take away? We can plug him in and run our offense and not miss a beat.” 

While the seat is certainly hot for Schonert, no one’s sweating as much as head coach Dick Jauron. 

The decision to bring Jauron back for another season after leading the Bills to a 7-9 record in each of his first three campaigns was very unpopular among the Buffalo fan base—and Jauron knows it.

“I understand their feelings,” Jauron said. “We have to win, that’s our business. We plan on winning. I’m really excited to have another opportunity. I’m really excited about our team…My job is to do a better job and to get us ready, to attract more talent, better prepare it, get us on the field and be a consistent winner.” 

That’s all well and good, but Jauron’s track record does little to inspire confidence. 

In six seasons leading the Chicago Bears, Jauron posted a .438 winning percentage, the same percentage he has in three seasons in Buffalo. 

He did lead the Bears to a 13-3 regular season in 2001, winning the NFC North division. However, the Bears then lost in the first round of the playoffs. 

History only tells us so much. It’s a new season and there is good reason for the optimism of the coaching staff. The pieces are in place to be very good. The staff just has to find a way to gel the team to help the team realize their lofty goals. 

Circling The Wagons: 2009 Buffalo Bills Defensive Preview

In stark contrast to the Bills offense, the defensive unit doesn’t have much that leaps off the page and screams of a potential championship run.

The defense ranked 14th overall in the NFL last season. They were good, but not great.

The unit epitomizes recent Bills teams. There are loads of potential on the roster, but the group as a whole has been plagued by inconsistency and generally underachieves.

There are of course some very bright spots.

Linebacker Paul Posluszny led the team in tackles with 110, good for a tie for 24th best in the NFL. He should remain a force up the middle for many years to come. 

Kawika Mitchell and Keith Ellison make for a solid group of linebackers.

Most of the secondary is more than capable, though also plagued by inconsistent play.

The Bills have developed a penchant for picking up safeties and corners, some of them appear better than others.

Leodis McKelvin looks like a nice pickup. As a rookie, McKelvin had 32 tackles and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

Returns are what really make McKelvin a great addition. In 2008, he returned 52 kicks and averaged just over 28 yards per touch.

Safeties Bryan Scott, Ko Simpson, and Donte Whitner have all had their moments and make up a talented group. Throw in rookie second-round pick Jairus Byrd, and the Bills could have quite the rotation shaping up in the defensive backfield.

Up front is where the Bills have had their problems.

Last season saw defensive end Aaron Schobel play in just five games before suffering a lisfranc foot injury. Schobel participated in the Bills first day of OTAs Monday and says he’s back to 100 percent.

Schobel will be the key to the Bills’ defensive success. Last season, the entire Buffalo defense managed just 24 sacks. For reference, DeMarcus Ware of the Dallas Cowboys had 20, by himself.

Getting to the quarterback is imperative this season, and that’s why they used the 11th overall pick in the NFL draft to pick up defensive end Aaron Maybin out of Penn State.

Maybin won’t come in and dominate right away, he won’t even play every down. The Bills really like his explosive burst off the line, however, and they expect him to be able to at least contribute early on.

If the Buffalo defense can just improve on what they did last year and most importantly stay healthy, they can give the entire team a huge lift.

It’s certainly possible that the big play potential of the offensive unit is finally realized this season and will ease the pressure on the D, but their ability to keep opponent’s scoring in check could be the difference between making the playoffs and having yet another 8-8 season.

 

 

 

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