NFL Team-By-Team Previews - Buffalo Bills

2008 Recap

Record: 7-9 (4th AFC East)

Best Game: Week 7 vs. San Diego - 23-14
Week 7 was the Bills' only win over a playoff team, and they beat up on the Chargers. The Chargers kept it respectable, but Buffalo beat San Diego in virtually every statistical category, including rushing and passing yards, turnovers, sacks, and first downs. At 5-1, the Bills looked poised to make a run at the playoffs - but they only won 2 more games the rest of the season.

Worst Game: Week 5 @ Arizona - 17-41
The Bills started out 4-0, but it was a deceptively weak 4-0: those 4 teams ended 2008 with a combined 16 wins, and none did better than 5-11. Week 5 was the first glimpse of the real Buffalo Bills, as they were leveled by the eventual NFC Champion Cardinals. They committed 4 turnovers an allowed 5 sacks, while Arizona neither turned the ball over nor allowed a sack on Warner. The Cardinals didn't overwhelm the Bills, but they capitalized on 3 of the 4 turnovers with 2 TDs and a field goal.

MVP: LB Kawika Mitchell
The Bills were not especially good in any facet of the game last year, but their defense was ultimately more effective than their offense, and a big part of this was Kawika Mitchell. He led the team in sacks with 4 and had 2 interceptions, as one of only 5 Bills players to pick off a ball in 2008. He also had 82 tackles, second most on the team. His biggest play came against the Chargers in week 7, when he intercepted a Phillip Rivers pass in the end zone to prevent a Chargers comeback.

The Offseason

Significant Losses:
-TE Robert Royal (Cut) - Royal led Bills TEs with 33 receptions for 351 yards in 2008.
-OT Jason Peters (Trade - Eagles) - Peters was a dubious Pro Bowl selection last season, considering a stat (which I haven't been able to verify) has been floating around that his 11.5 sacks allowed was the worst in the NFL. He was traded after he didn't show up at offseason activities, unsurprising given his extended holdout in 2008 which lasted the entire preseason.
-OG Derrick Dockery (Cut) - Dockery, who started 16 games for the Bills in both 2007 and 2008, was a salary cap casualty.
-C/OG Duke Preston (UFA) - Started 11 games for the Bills last season. Versatile and can play guard, center, and even right tackle in a pinch.
-CB Jabari Greer (UFA) - Started the first 10 games of the 2008 season before he was injured. He returned both of his interceptions for touchdowns last season.

Significant Additions:
-RB Dominic Rhodes (UFA) - The first player in NFL history to rush for 1000 yards as an undrafted free agent rookie, Rhodes hasn't averaged over 4 yards per carry since 2004.
-WR Terrell Owens (UFA) - The Bills gave Owens a 1-season contract to minimize their risk. At 35, Owens isn't the player he used to be (and his hands are suspect), but even if he doesn't light the world on fire, he'll definitely free up Lee Evans to do some damage to opposing defenses.
-C Geoff Hangartner (UFA) - The Bills selected 2 interior offensive linemen in the first two rounds of the draft, but signing Hangartner gives the Bills a veteran at center while the rookies adjust to the NFL.

Draft Picks:
Round 1, Pick 11: DE Aaron Maybin -- Penn State
Round 1, Pick 28: C/G Eric Wood -- Louisville
Round 2, Pick 10: CB Jairus Byrd -- Oregon
Round 2, Pick 19: G Andy Levitre -- Oregon State
Round 4, Pick 21: TE Shawn Nelson -- Southern Miss.
Round 5, Pick 11: S Nic Harris -- Oklahoma
Round 6, Pick 10: CB Cary Harris -- USC
Round 7, Pick 11: CB Ellis Lankster -- West Virginia

Grade: C
The Bills were tied with the Redskins for the 4th fewest sacks in the NFL last season, largely due to Aaron Schobel's foot injury, which limited him to just 5 games. Even with a healthy Schobel, however, the Bills still could use another good pass rusher, and Ryan Denney is only adequate. They addressed this need by taking Maybin with the 11th overall pick. Both Wood and Levitre can play multiple offensive line positions, and they'll be helpful in shoring up a questionable interior line. Shawn Nelson is a fast receiving TE who very well could outperform Royal in his rookie season. Now for the bad: After the Jason Peters trade, they needed an OT, but they didn't get one. Cary Harris is very slow for a CB, though injuries at his pro day contributed to his 4.89 40 time. Byrd is slow too, and barely broke 4.7 on his pro day, though he could be a decent safety. Nic Harris might be too slow to even play safety, running in the 4.8s at the combine and at his pro day. I wouldn't be surprised if 7th round pick Ellis Lankster turns out to be the best pick of the 4 secondary players the Bills took in the draft.

Training Camp Report
-First round draft pick Aaron Maybin has yet to sign, largely due to the holdout of fellow rookie Michael Crabtree, pick in the spot ahead of Maybin. Maybin presumably hopes that Crabtree will get a bigger contract than the 10th pick might merit, giving Maybin leverage on the bargaining table.
-Rookie center/guard Eric Wood has reportedly done well blocking three-time pro bowler Marcus Stroud.
-Just 4 days after cutting him on August 7th, the Bills have re-signed CB Antwain Spann, a 3-year veteran who played for the Patriots from 2006 to 2008.
-In the Hall of Fame game this past Sunday, the Bills lost by 3 to the Tennessee Titans. Backup QB Gibran Hamdan was impressive, completing 11 of his 13 passes, though the only touchdown came from the defense on an interception return by Reggie Corner. Second year RB Xavier Oman got the bulk of the carries and added 3 receptions. RB Bruce Hall didn't do himself any favors with 2 rushes for 0 yards and a muffed punt.
-WR Terrell Owens isn't practicing today with a toe injury. He caught 2 passes for 27 yards in the Hall of Fame game.
-One has to wonder if Terrell Owens will be fined for saying that Antonio Cromartie's (Chargers) fine for complaining about the food at camp was "ridiculous". Somehow I doubt it.
-Ashton Youboty has done well in camp after returning from a foot injury that sidelined him for much of last season.
-Leodis McKelvin has been limited in practice with a strained quad, but he did pick off one of Tennessee QB Vince Young's passes in Sunday's Hall of Fame game.

2009 Outlook

Best Case Scenario:
Terrell Owens behaves like a reasonable human being, and he and Evans compliment each other well at wide receiver, allowing Trent Edwards to put up some stats. The young line meshes and Lynch has his best year yet, rushing for over 1300 yards and 10 TDs. Fred Jackson and Dominic Rhodes contribute as well. The 4 rookie DBs add depth to the secondary and the Bills pass defense, solid last year, moves into the top 10 in the NFL as Aaron Maybin signs and gets up to speed quickly, while Schobel returns to form. Either the Jets or Dolphins fall apart and the Bills take a run at a wild card shot, finishing around 10-6.

Worst Case Scenario:
Owens, who ultimately didn't get along very well with the likes of Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, and Tony Romo, doesn't have the patience for Trent Edwards. The offensive line is in shambles as the rookies develop, and Edwards finds himself on the turf constantly. Lynch plays well, but his numbers suffer behind the inexperienced offensive line. The run defense continues to be mediocre, while the secondary suffers as Maybin's holdout forces him to play catch-up for the first half of the season, while Schobel shows his age. The Bills struggle to win 4 games.

Prediction: 7-9, 3rd AFC East