This is the third of 11 articles targeting all position situations for the Buffalo Bills entering the 2008 season. The third entry will deal with the tight end position.
It seems ideal for the Bills to try to instill in their passing game a solid tight end who can make plays and force the defense to have a linebacker specifically shadowing the tight end on the field.
In 2007, the Bills received a very slight increase in production from the tight end position.
In '07, their core combined for 54 catches for 485 yards and five touchdowns went up from 30 catches for 280 yards and three touchdowns from the previous season.
The loss of Michael Gaines, however, takes away much of that yardage in 2007.
The decision to move back to a "true fullback" offense, ending officially the one-year trial of placing a tight end in the fullback position to save a roster spot, will force the Bills to maintain one less tight end on the roster.
They will likely keep three up for the season unless the fullback ploy proves disastrous.
Robert Royal is a lock, of course. He is the starter at the position for the Bills and will be the catalyst should the Bills prove successful in finding the tight end in the passing game.
He is also a sound blocker, with his 6-foot-4, 255 lb frame.
From there, nothing is certain. The Bills have six other tight ends tentatively under contract. One of those six is Kevin Everett, who is a non-factor barring yet another unforeseen miracle.
That leaves the team with five players and only two spots on the 53-man roster.
Tim Massaquoi, a former seventh round draft pick, received limited work on the field in his first season. It would be a long shot for him to make the team.
The most likely scenario for the Wolverine would be a year on the practice squad with the potential to move up should an injury occur.
Derek Schouman, also a former seventh round draft pick, is a more mobile tight end and is slightly undersized.
However, this, one would think, would be ideal for the Buffalo Bills, whose offensive line should not need the assistance of a sixth man.
If he makes the team, he has to be the current favorite to step in as the No. 3 man. Bills’ fans would likely see him on the majority of special teams’ plays and on third and long situations when Royal needs to take a breather.
Derek Fine, the Bills' second fourth round pick in this year's draft, was considered a reach where he was taken. However, it isn't surprising that they did select him.
The Bills went out and signed three fullbacks. Two through free agency prior to the draft, and the other signed as an un-drafted FA post-draft in their attempt to move away from the H-back offense.
However, only one of the three has legitimate NFL experience.
Derek Fine is an H-back coming out of college. He has extensive experience at the fullback position, despite being a "true" tight end. Given his potential value to the team, it wasn't as much of a stretch as it seemed.
He was rated by "draft guru" Mel Kiper as being the 19th best tight end in the draft and was taken as a stretch in the fourth round.
4 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Joel Hunter about 1 year ago
personally i think it should be royal, fine, and anderson. anderson was a wr in college, and will help in our woefull redzone offense. and i know it's a LONG SHOT, but it would be nice to see the final three being, Royal, ONE OF THE OTHER FOUR, and Everett. at least for week one.
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Gabe Erlichman about 1 year ago
teyo. big sleeper. i hope the coach's see his receiving skills in camp
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Joe Rogers about 1 year ago
Not bad but you seem to undermine Derek Fines blocking ability. If anything he is more of a blocker then he is a receiver. He isn't just a catching tight end he is basically a hybrid at his postion though slightly undersized which helps in blocking, but not so much in receiving. I'm not saying he doesn't have good hands but we "reached" for him because he can do both and thats what the Bills are looking for. Schouman played really well last season before going down with an injury. Being a season ticket holder I was impressed with him. In my opinion Fine has alot more of an upside then every other tight end on the roster, besides Royal, so he should get a spot. Not impressed with Anderson or Johnson. But i'm forced to agree that it will probaly come down to Royal, Fine, and Anderson or Johnson. Schouman should stay on the practice squad assuming he is productive in OTAs.
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Carl Wagner about 1 year ago
Yeah I tried to take the opinion aspect out of these articles cause it really doesn't belong in a preview-type article. Hope you enjoyed it more than the previous ones. I'll be writing my next one on the running backs tommorrow.
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