On Offense, the Bills' Playbook Is Now Open

What does adding a future Hall-of-Famer do to a struggling Bills offense? Everything. 

As the saying goes: the pass opens up the run, and the run opens up the pass.

TO doesn't have to be great, or even catch 80 balls, to be a game-changer for Buffalo. When TO is on the field, he is always a threat to get yards after the catch. A five yard seam pass can break out into a fifty yard touchdown; he's that fast and strong.

Even at 35, the $6.5 million man can play like he's bionic. OK, in short bursts he's great, but that's still more than the Bills are used to!

If he can be a reliable threat over the middle, he and Josh Reed can help bust up zones, effectively forcing the D into a man, breaking down the double team on Evans, perhaps even forcing a double team on Owens.

If the opposing defense tries to press by putting No. 8 in the box to stop the run, or blitz on the outside corner, Owens will have to break through the thinned-out secondary into the middle of the field, making the defense think twice about playing the run. 

If the defense plays dime, the offense can still function. Use TO as a decoy! If the Bills play sound football, avoiding turnovers, they help themselves. Edwards is patient with the football. He goes through the progressions and stays in the pocket on most passing plays. When he protects the football, the Bills win, simple as that.

Turk Schonert has said that the playbook is now wide open: it's exciting! As a fan, it will be great to watch. While Edwards is not known for his arm, it will be important for him to press the coverage back by throwing deep early in games. This will keep the defense honest, opening up seams later on, and paying dividends late in the game.

If, and this is a big if, the offensive line can delay pressure on Edwards, and give him time in the pocket, the possibilities are endless.