Bleacher Report - Articles by Jeremy Pike

New York Jets-Buffalo Bills: What to Look for in Toronto

Jeremy Pike — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:41:23 -0500

An interesting match up tonight north of the border, as the Bills beat the Jets in the Meadowlands 16-13 in Week Six. Both teams have certainly changed since that match up. The Jets have attempted to scale back on how much rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez has to do. The Bills have fired Dick Jauron and shown that they aren’t going down without a fight. After giving the Jacksonville Jaguars everything they could handle in Week 11, the Bills routed the Miami Dolphins to the tune of 24 points to none in the fourth quarter last Sunday.

So the question is this: Can the Bills stop Thomas Jones this time around?

In the first match up, Jones had a career day, the Bills gave up over 300 yards on the ground and still won. They can’t give up that many yards again and expect to win. Given Sanchez's reduced role, the Jets won’t be throwing if they can rush for that many yards.

Of course it’s impossible to say 100 percent that the Bills will slow Jones down this time around. However, on the Jets’ side of the ball, they don’t have Leon Washington who gashed the Bills last time out and provided very good breathers for Jones.

The past two weeks, the Bills faced Maurice Jones-Drew and Ricky Williams, two very good running backs. In fact, MJD is a top 10 back in the league (some may say he might be top five, but that’s a different discussion). However, he didn’t come anywhere near the yardage Jones gashed the Bills for, the same goes for Williams.

Part of the reason for the turnaround of the run defense (yes, they’ve had a turnaround, they haven’t given up anywhere near that many yards on the ground since the previous Jets game) has been the play of the defensive tackles, specifically Kyle Williams and Spencer Johnson. Both of them have been trouble for opposing offensive lines and been making plays in the backfield the past two weeks. If that continues, Jones won’t see anywhere near as much yardage.

If the Bills can force the ball into Sanchez’s hands to try and win the game, we could see a game similar to the Dolphins game last Sunday where the Bills defense took over in the fourth quarter, picking off quarterback Chad Henne three times. In their last meeting, the Bills picked off Sanchez five times. If the Bills can produce on offense and hold Jones to more manageable numbers, they will win this game.

Part of the offensive production will be on the shoulders of running back Fred Jackson. He’s been playing quite well, running the ball hard and finding the end zone. If the Bills can establish a running game of their own, it will go a long way towards winning this game tonight.

However, if the Bills are to win and establish a running game, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will need to continue producing big plays when the opportunity presents itself. This will be hard with corner back Darrelle Revis matched up against Fitzpatrick’s favorite target right now, wide receiver Terrell Owens.

The Jets won’t hesitate to put Revis one-on-one against Owens until he burns them. That will allow them to put a safety over the top of fellow receiver Lee Evans, which means either Fitzpatrick needs Owens to beat Revis a few times, or offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt needs to get tight end Shawn Nelson and Fred Jackson more involved in the passing game.

Both players have the ability to make plays in the passing game, and that may be what it takes for the Bills to win this game. If both players get involved, it will either open up Evans from double-teams or open up the running game, if the Jets decide to bring the other safety into the box.

All that being said, I really like what interim head coach Perry Fewell has been doing with the Bills in the past two weeks. He’s preached aggressiveness, but not out-of-control aggressiveness. He’s picking his spots to be aggressive , and the players on the field are taking the same approach. This approach should translate to a win for the Bills in a close game.

Buffalo Bills Nation, Be Patient with Perry Fewell

Jeremy Pike — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:40:40 -0500

One of the biggest topics of discussion among Buffalo Bills Nation is the head coaching position. It’s currently second to, “Hey! We beat the Fish!”

Understandable, especially for fans who still love to hate the Miami Dolphins. However, long term, the head coaching position is more important and deserves a lot of time in discussions.

A lot of names are being discussed right now, but a good portion of that discussion revolves around the Bills’ current interim head coach, Perry Fewell. A lot of fans are starting to toss the question around if Fewell should be the next head coach.

While I agree that the question needs to be asked, I firmly believe it’s way too early to answer it. There simply isn’t enough evidence either way.

What we do know about Fewell is that he’s a passionate and aggressive guy. He’s got the Bills playing incredibly hard and with calculated aggression.

That last part is key. The team’s aggressiveness has to be calculated and controlled, otherwise it will cause more problems than it solves.

He has gotten the team prepared both weeks and has given the players the closest thing to an identity they’ve had in a very long time in Buffalo.

How he has them prepared for the incredibly short week remains to be seen, but if the Bills can beat the Jets again, it’ll go a long way towards helping him retain the job into next year. Beating the New England Patriots later in the season would solidify his spot as head coach.

Right now, though, there just isn’t enough to go on to either bring him on full-time or to dismiss him out of hand, either. There seems to be a number of fans who want nothing to do with him simply because he’s been the defensive coordinator under Dick Jauron. I think that’s patently unfair to Fewell.

Let the man have his chance to make a mark for himself before judging him as just being part of the Jauron-era problem.

If, and I do stress if, Perry Fewell is hired on as permanent head coach, the Bills NEED to hire a football guy as general manager. Fewell was a defensive coordinator. I’m not sure how his offensive talent evaluation skills are, but I imagine he would say that they aren’t good enough to handle making all the decisions regarding offensive player acquisition.

So what I’m saying is that fans need to be patient and not have any knee-jerk reactions regarding Perry Fewell.

Just because the Bills beat the Dolphins in convincing fashion doesn’t mean he should be the next head coach.

On the other hand, just because he was hired by Dick Jauron doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be the next head coach.

Give him time.

Fish Got Squished: Bills over Dolphins 31-14

Jeremy Pike — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:12:53 -0500

Before getting into the breakdown of yesterday’s Bills-Dolphins game, I must say as a fan, it feels really really good to be able to say we squished the Fish again. That game felt like a rivalry game. Terrell Owens said that prior to the game, fellow wide receiver Lee Evans called everyone together to explain the significance of the rivalry.

I’m glad that Evans did that. For too long, the Bills players haven’t cared about what has long been the most hated rivals of the Bills. Kudos to Evans on reminding the players of what this means to us fans.

Alright, on to the game. I admit that I actually picked the hated Dolphins to win this game. I figured with the Bills’ beat up offensive line, the Fins’ D would take over the game. I also thought that Ricky Williams would run roughshod over the Bills’ D even with the improvements we had made against the Jaguars and Maurice Jones-Drew the previous weekend.

With how the first series was going, it looked like I was going to be right about Williams. Then the Dolphins got cute. One of the assets of having Ronnie Brown run the Wildcat is that he can throw the ball every once in a while to keep defenses honest.

Well, while Williams is playing really good football, it became very obvious that he’s no Brown on first and goal by throwing a pick to let points come off the scoreboard.

The first half was definitely a slug fest, with neither team really taking control of the game. The Dolphins had their chances to take control of the game, with Williams gaining a lot of yardage. However, that pick on the first drive really hurt them.

So did Ryan Fitzpatrick with his legs. The Bills quarterback rolled out of the pocket from the Dolphins 31 yard line, had no one open and a clear lane. So he ran. And ran. And ran. 31 yards to the end zone for the longest scoring run by a Bills quarterback. He looked positively Doug Flutie-esque in that game.

Yes, he made mistakes. However, it’s completely obvious that Fitzpatrick is the gutsiest quarterback the Bills have had possibly since Flutie and he’s definitely the right man for the job right now. He probably isn’t the answer long-term for the Bills. He has a low ceiling because he isn’t the most accurate passer.

However, he gives the Bills the best chance to win the rest of the season. He’s reading defenses well, making the correct calls at the line, and he’s willing to put the ball up for his playmakers.

The game was deadlocked at seven going into the half. All things considered, the Bills had to be happy with that result.

However, the Dolphins got the ball to start the second half and drove down the field for nine minutes and punched the ball into the end zone. Huge drive. The Bills were done. This had happened in the past, and the team always collapsed.

Not this time. Interim head coach Perry Fewell has definitely given this team a new lease on life and a new outlook, because the offense got the ball back and actually answered with a long seven minute touchdown drive of their own. That’s when things began to feel like this was a completely different team.

That was confirmed when Brian Moorman pinned the Dolphins back at their own two, the defense held, and Fewell trusted Rian Lindell to line up for a 56-yard field goal.

To understand the significance of that, Lindell had never hit a field goal that long before. Also, he missed one for 44-yards earlier in the game. So what did he do?

He cleared the crossbar and gave the Bills a 17-14 lead. Then Drayton Florence finally got to cap off his very good game. Florence had the best game of his short Bills career on Sunday. He’s easily the most physical corner the Bills have and he covers extremely well.

On that three-and-out from the Dolphins two yard line, Florence made a huge pass breakup on first down that would have put the Dolphins out past their own 20.

On the next drive, Chris Kelsay got great pressure on quarterback Chad Henne, causing him to underthrow his receiver and Florence made him pay by picking it off. The Bills set up on their own 49 yard line with just over three minutes left. Time to run out the clock, right?

Wrong. As Fewell said in his press conference, the team focus was on being aggressive. If you see an opportunity, take it.

So Fitzpatrick seized an opportunity. The Dolphins had single coverage on Owens. Fitzpatrick audibled out of the pass play that had been called and had Owens run straight up the field. Fitzpatrick just put the ball up, Owens beat the rookie corner back cleanly and caught the ball for a 51-yard touchdown. The rout was on.

The defense picked off Henne three times in the fourth quarter, the offense scored 24 points in the fourth as well, and the Bills reversed their fourth quarter fortunes in a big way, beating the Dolphins 31-14.

So how did they do it? How did the Bills make this happen? Each phase of the team stepped up in a huge way. All three set out with specific goals in mind and achieved them.

The defense set out to do two things. First was to contain Ricky Williams. Yes, Williams had a good rushing day, clearing 100 yards and getting a touchdown. However, the majority of that yardage was had in the first half and part of the way through the third quarter. Usually teams run over the defense in the fourth. Williams was a non-factor in the fourth quarter.

The other objective was to force turnovers. Three interceptions in the fourth quarter was huge. Clutch, even. There was no fourth quarter collapse. The defense succeeded in forcing Henne to try to win the game, and then forced him to make bad throws and capitalized on them. Very successful day.

The offense came out with an aggressive mentality and it showed. They hung tough with the Dolphins, didn’t give up after the long scoring drive in the third, and then once they had the lead, they didn’t back off. This is the biggest difference between the Jauron era and how Fewell coaches.

Jauron would have had the team run out the clock with a 17-14 lead. Who knows what would have happened. Too often that’s resulted in a last minute loss. Not with Fewell, however. He preached aggressiveness. The best time to be aggressive is after creating a turnover. 24 fourth quarter points is aggressive. They had the Dolphins by their proverbial throats and didn’t let up for once. That’s why they won.

The special teams had a task almost as difficult as the defense having to contain Ricky Williams. They had to contain Ted Ginn Jr, who gashed the Jets a few weeks ago for two touchdown returns. However, on Sunday that was nowhere to be found. The coverage teams did absolutely phenomenal, filling the return lanes and not letting Ginn shake tackles.

This was a team win, there’s no question. Each phase did what they set out to do. The coaching staff had this team ready to fight, and they fought hard and for sixty minutes, rather than 58. Now for a short week and back to the fight on Thursday night against the New York Jets in Toronto.

NFL Week 12 Predictions, Quick Hits Style

Jeremy Pike — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:11:41 -0500

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons – Atlanta

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills – Miami

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals – Cincinnati

Carolina Panthers at NY Jets – Carolina

Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles – Philadelphia

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans – Indianapolis

Seattle Seahawks at St. Louis Rams – St. Louis

Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – San Diego

Jacksonville Jaguars at San Francisco 49ers – Jacksonville

Arizona Cardinals at Tennessee Titans – Arizona

Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Minnesota

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens – Pittsburgh

New England Patriots at New Orleans Saints – New Orleans

Buffalo Bills-Jacksonville Jaguars: The Messy Aftermath

Jeremy Pike — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:01:31 -0500

Last Sunday’s game between the Bills and the Jaguars was a mixed bag of results for Buffalo.

On the positive side, they came out and played extremely hard on both sides of the ball. This is a different team under interim head coach Perry Fewell. WR Terrell Owens had his biggest day as a Bill (catching a 98-yard pass for a TD will do that for you) and the defense held RB Maurice Jones-Drew in check enough to draw praise from the Jags tailback.

Unfortunately, the negative side holds a lot more weight.

First off, they lost the game in the fourth quarter again. Obviously the team didn’t go into complete self-destruct mode when they were down like the Tennessee Titans game the previous week, which I think is a testament to Fewell. However, they still are having serious issues closing out games in the fourth.

Second, the injury situation continues to get worse, especially on the offensive line. I’m glad I was unable to watch the game for at least a few minutes when guard Eric Wood went down. That’s a horrible injury, and I wish Wood a quick and full recovery. Not just as a football player, but also as a fellow human being, because that’s just bad. Hopefully it won’t hinder his development.

Also lost for the season was guard Seth McKinney. The Bills are down to five active roster linemen, one who is injured (Demetrius Bell). Hello, free agents.

Also expect to see Christian Gaddis activated from the practice squad.

Another negative was the penalties, especially two key ones that erased touchdowns. The first on a TD run by Fred Jackson sounded ticky-tack, but as a football player, it’s your job to avoid putting yourself in that kind of situation as much as possible. A rookie mistake by Shawn Nelson, who will be a fine player, but still hurts.

The second penalty, a hands-to-the-face by Jonathan Scott, also really hurt. If the Bills had those two touchdowns, they would have won that game. However, they did commit those penalties (at least the Scott one), so they paid the price.

In Fewell’s postgame comments, it sounds like players were going to be getting an earful from him, which is another big difference between Jauron and Fewell. Maybe the players need to read my article on discipline (look back in the archive for Coach J’s Board Talk—Discipline Edition.)

The Jaguars did earn that win, however. They stayed in it, played tough, and made the most of their chances at the end, unlike the Bills. Lots to learn for this young team. On to Miami next week.

NFL Week 11 Predictions: Part One of Four

Jeremy Pike — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:28:28 -0500

Miami Dolphins (4-5) at Carolina Panthers (4-5)

The Dolphins were dealt a crushing blow this week with the news that running back Ronnie Brown is going on injured reserve. Brown, to me, was a shoe-in for the Pro Bowl and was having a career season. He was the perfect Wildcat trigger man, able to hand off, run the ball, and throw it equally well. His injury will have serious repercussions for the Dolphins the rest of the season.

The Panthers are turning the season around, earning good wins against the Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons. They also pushed the New Orleans Saints to the brink.

Panthers will win this one.

Washington Redskins (3-6) at Dallas Cowboys (6-3)

Even though the Redskins won and the Cowboys lost this past week, they’re two very different teams and the ‘Boys are the superior team. They’ll win.

Cleveland Browns (1-8) at Detroit Lions (1-8)

Bottom-feeder game of the week. However, these two teams are moving in opposite directions. There are rumblings that Browns head coach Eric Mangini is on the way out in Cleveland, while Lions head coach Jim Schwartz has made progress this season. Well, winning one game after the first winless 16 game season in NFL history is considered improvement. Lions will win.

San Francisco 49ers (4-5) at Green Bay Packers (5-4)

The Packers are coming off a very good defensive performance against the Cowboys. I think they’re playing confident football on the defensive side of the ball. That being said, the Packers' offensive line is still one of the worst in football (not as bad as the Bills' probably).

I think they’ll still win, but it’s going to be a struggle against a good 49ers defense led by linebacker Patrick Willis.

Business As Usual?: Perry Fewell's First Day as the Bills' Interim Head Coach

Jeremy Pike — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:16:49 -0500

I just finished reviewing the notes from One Bills Drive on Perry Fewell’s first practice as interim head coach. One concern voiced across the board yesterday was, “How is Fewell going to improve this team?”

Well, it looks like he made quite an impression on the team.

First day back on the practice field saw the Bills in pads and working heavily on the run game. Marshawn Lynch said that he knows one thing: They’re going to be very physical.

Fewell also said that they’re going to be in pads for tomorrow’s practice and that the only way he knows how to improve the run game is to put on the pads and go out there and work.

I think this is the right approach by Coach Fewell. He’s setting a physical tone early and keeping it going. That’s going to be very important for getting the team ready for this Sunday and beyond.

Both sides of the ball need to seriously improve the run game, and he knows it. Good job on focusing on it out of the gate. Teams win by running the ball and stopping the run. Let’s see how that goes on Sunday.

If you yourself want to review today’s practice, check out the video .

And The Stampede Keeps Going

Jeremy Pike — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:09:13 -0500

Now news out of One Bills Drive is that the Buffalo Bills are attempting to arrange a meeting with former Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan. Sources include Adam Schefter from ESPN. You can find his write-up here .

Now what does this mean? First off, I’m quite happy. i’ve been calling for Shanahan all season long. I think he would do wonders with running backs Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson. Shanahan’s used to taking no-name guys and making them 1,000-yard rushers. Lynch has done it every season so far, and Jackson could do it in terms of yards from scrimmage.

The one possible issue I see with this is that Shanahan in Denver tended to not pick the greatest players for his defense. That would have to change if he’s brought in with the power to not only coach, but also call the shots general manager style.

I would like to see him either bring in an established defensive coordinator or keep either Perry Fewell or Bob Sanders, the defensive line coach who was the coordinator for the Green Bay Packers previously.

Obviously nothing will happen right at the moment, but it certainly is a fun time to be a Bills fan.

A Change of Direction At One Bills Drive

Jeremy Pike — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:35:17 -0500

The abrupt release of head coach Dick Jauron sounded like the start of something big at One Bills Drive to me. A sign that business as usual for the Bills was no longer going to cut it.

Multiple people with league sources and sources at One Bills Drive are confirming that thought. Thurman Thomas, Hall of Fame running back and still heavily involved with the Bills as evidenced by his weekly Thurman Thomas Show, spent some time at One Bills Drive today according to his Twitter account, and this is what he had to say.

“Nobody is safe at One Bills Drive, they are cleaning house and bringing in a Football guy to run the ship. Jimbo says Ralph will spend money!!!!”

“When I say clean house, I mean clean the f****** house out!!!!!!”

“Everybody, players included!!!!!!!!!”

Jimbo of course being fellow Hall of Famer Jim Kelly. It’s obvious that Kelly has owner Ralph Wilson Jr’s ear when it comes to the team.

As time passes, it becomes more evident that this time is different. It’s looking like Ralph realized that he doesn’t have much longer, his team is going to miss the playoffs for the tenth straight season, and things won’t get better unless he starts spending money.

Time to open the checkbook, Mr. Wilson. Fix this and bring respectability back to our once-proud franchise.

What Now? The Buffalo Bills on the Field for 2010

Jeremy Pike — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:44:06 -0500

Even before the news today of head coach Dick Jauron’s firing, it was painfully clear that the 2009 Buffalo Bills season was a complete loss. The offense had regressed which I was pretty sure was impossible after last year. The defense has struggled in the fourth quarter of games, but when the offense isn’t staying on the field, that’s no surprise.

So I’ve been thinking about what positions need to be overhauled for next season. Three come immediately to mind: quarterback, offensive tackle, and defensive tackle. The first two will be addressed in later articles. This is about defensive tackles and why the Bills need to get another one.

I was thinking about the need for another defensive tackle yesterday, but in Michael Lombardi’s article on National Football Post, he talks about the need for the Bills to get bigger, faster, and stronger because they have to deal with the elements especially as the season wears on.

I also think that the Bills need to get bigger on the defensive line to help shore up the run defense. A big, dominant defensive tackle would help all levels of the defense. He would consistently require double teams.

That would help the other three defensive linemen, but also help free up the linebackers currently on the roster. If they didn’t have offensive linemen always in their faces, they’d probably do a better job against the run.

So I spent some time looking at possibilities for a dominant defensive tackle, and one name keeps popping into my head. Now before anyone who is a fellow Bills fan or a football fan who hates dirty players starts foaming at the mouth, I will say this. I cannot stand the man who I am about to mention. He’s a dirty player who’s been punished on more than one occasion.

However, he also happens to be one of the most dominant defensive tackles in the league. He consistently demands a double team and still causes havoc for offensive lines. I would know, I’ve seen him in the Bills' backfield way too often.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am talking about upcoming free agent defensive tackle Vince Wilfork.

Now, I’m not necessarily advocating the Bills go out and sign him. However, they NEED a dominant player with his skills and size. If he simply stopped being a dirty player, he would be a perfect fit. He’s shown the ability to play in both the 3-4 and 4-3.

Adding a player like him would go a long way to replacing the long-since-departed Fat Pat Williams. The defensive line has never been the same since he left.

Do I think he will be on the Bills next season? No. However, I’m not exactly sure what to expect out of the Bills after today. Things are changing. We’ll have to wait and see how much.

No matter what, though, the Bills are definitely in need of a dominant presence on the defensive line. That much is for sure.

Buffalo Bills Fire Head Coach Dick Jauron: What Now?

Jeremy Pike — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:08:08 -0500

Well, today is finally the day. The Dick Jauron era in Buffalo has finally come to an end. Whether you think it came too late (most people) or too early (mid-season firings rarely work out that well), there is no question that everyone thinks Jauron needed to be gone.

The question now is how do the Bills begin to pick up the pieces? There are huge holes that need to be filled both on the field and off the field. Who will the quarterback be next season? How does the offensive line get fixed? How does the run defense get fixed?

Who will be on the coaching staff next season and who will be in the front office?

My personal choice for head coach and quasi general manager is former Denver Broncos Head Coach Mike Shanahan. He worked miracles with no-name running backs for years in Denver. Imagine what he could do with Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson.

On the defensive side of the ball, if Shanahan is OK with it, I'd like to see either Perry Fewell stay on as defensive coordinator or current defensive line coach and former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Bob Sanders promoted. He's been a big part of the Bills' defensive line, generating pressure for once. I'd like to see what they could do with a bit more free reign.

What this move does NOT change is the fact that the Bills need to find a quarterback. If Shanahan is hired, I could see him going with an accurate veteran quarterback to help control the clock. If Chad Pennington recovers well from his shoulder injury, I would definitely not be adverse to him being brought in to run the offense and have a rookie QB learn from him.

Also top on my priority list are tackles, both offensive and defensive. I'll actually be highlighting the defensive tackle position in an article on my new blog, Man Meets Football. Suffice it to say, the Bills need a massive tackle that demands double teams a la Pat Williams or Vince Wilfork.

Obviously the Bills need to get better at protecting the quarterback and the biggest weak spot this season has been the tackle position. That really needs to be rectified, both at the starting position and in terms of depth.

Regarding current players, there's a good chunk of players who will still be with the team next year. However, in what capacity is still to be determined. Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick, the top two quarterbacks on the depth chart, are still going to be with the team next year, barring releases. However, I could see that happening if another veteran is brought in and a player drafted.

Right now, I highly doubt much effort will be made by any coaching staff to re-sign Terrell Owens unless a miracle occurs.

It's also possible that with defensive coordinator Perry Fewell now the interim head coach, a change in the offensive play-calling occurs. Jauron was a conservative head coach in terms of the offense. It will be interesting to see if Fewell wants to continue that trend or just get an idea from offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt in terms of what he thinks the offense is best suited to do.

Right now, I want to see a lot of younger players getting significant playing time to see if they've got anything. It will be an interesting rest of the season and offseason, that's for sure.

Jeremy Pike is currently the only writer at the blog Man Meets Football, found at http://jeremynpike.com/manmeetsfootball.

Wait, The Buffalo Bills Actually Have Tight Ends?

Jeremy Pike — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:14:51 -0400

With the first week of the 2009 Buffalo Bills training camp in the books, Terrell Owens has been unsurprisingly the biggest story of practices in Pittsford, NY. However, for those discerning fans looking past the glitz and glamor of the T.O. Show, there is more happening on the field at St. John Fisher College.

What is surprising is that quietly the tight end position for the Bills is much improved, and probably at its best since the early to mid 1990s. Forget Robert Royal, Michael Gaines, Mark Campbell, and the laundry list of no-namers since the likes of Pete Metzelaars, Keith McKeller, or even Jay Riemersma.

While none of these players may be as good as Metzelaars, McKeller, or Riemersma yet, the position is the deepest it has been in a very long time. Led by three year veteran Derek Schouman, all the tight ends are having a good camp even with quarterback Trent Edwards spreading the ball as much as possible to T.O. and fellow wide receiver Lee Evans.

Quite often the Bills have been lining up in a two tight end set, with Schouman and second-year player Derek Fine the two starters. What is catching some fans' eyes is the fact that Schouman has been lining up in the slot at times.

Over the first week, Schouman has shown that he is more than a blocker, demonstrating that he has the hands and improved speed to be a problem in the intermediate range for defenses.

Fine has also shown the ability to make tough catches in the short to intermediate ranges. He will have the ability to show block, then quietly sneak out into the flat to make blitzing defenses pay.

Rookie Shawn Nelson has been turning heads in camp as well, showing the athleticism and hands that led to many surprised he fell to the fourth round in the NFL draft. He also has shown willingness to block, but that will take time. While he develops that, he will continue to make plays in the passing game, lining up either on the line or in the slot.

Also, Jonathan Stupar has made some very nice plays during camp, showing an unexpected set of hands that just may make pre-season cuts that much more difficult for the coaching staff.

Overall, the depth chart for tight end is a blend of young veteran experience, ability to block, and athleticism that in some cases is very underrated. Even with the addition of T.O. in the off-season, expect to see the Buffalo Bills tight ends making plays during the 2009 football season.

How Do the Buffalo Bills' Running Backs Affect the No-Huddle Offense?

Jeremy Pike — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:15:41 -0400

The K-Gun style of offense defined the Buffalo Bills offense in the early 1990's. Named after tight end Keith McKeller, designed by offensive coordinator Ted Marchibroda, and run to perfection by Jim Kelly, the K-Gun is constantly at the forefront of Bills fans' minds when thinking about how an offensive coordinator will call his games.

Fans remember Kelly slinging the ball down the field to wide receivers Andre Reed, James Lofton, and Don Beebe. They clamor for those days to return, and perhaps this year they will.

However, due to limitations, the no-huddle offense will not be completely pass-based.

The no-huddle offense is built around running a series of plays called by the quarterback at the line of scrimmage, removing the traditional huddle. Hence the name. The intent is to catch the defense off guard and tired, especially later in a half or towards the end of a long drive.

However, that does not necessarily mean that it has to be based around the pass. The Bills want to build their offense around a power running game. That is the way head coach Dick Jauron thinks. Ball control and good, stout defense.

The no-huddle offense can include running the ball in heavy doses, which seems to be a logical choice for the Bills especially as the season winds down in winter. Anyone remember the Bills-Cleveland Browns game in 2007? There were barely any passes thrown for good yardage in that game.

How can a pass-happy, no-huddle offense exist in the winter at Ralph Wilson Stadium once the snow starts falling? It does not sound likely. However, a run-based no-huddle offense can still be effective. It would be even harder for defenders to recover if they get caught by surprise.

Expect to see the no-huddle offense run by the Buffalo Bills this season. Just do not expect to see it dominated by the passing game, especially at home in the winter. That is why the Bills are making sure they are set at running back with players who can both run and catch.

They will be the ones, along with Edwards, who make the no-huddle offense work. Just like a certain Thurman Thomas back in the 90s.

Will the Buffalo Bills' Lack of an Elite Left Tackle Kill Their Offense?

Jeremy Pike — Sun, 31 May 2009 14:51:17 -0400

Possibly the biggest remaining question with the 2009 edition of the Buffalo Bills surrounds the offensive line—specifically left tackle position. With Jason Peters traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, Langston Walker steps in as the starter.

Walker performed admirably in the first two games last season, playing the entire first game at left tackle and swapping back and forth during the second game.

The question still remains if he will be able to stand up to a full 16-game season at the left tackle position. If the offensive coaching staff gameplans correctly, he should be able to man the position effectively. Just look at the Arizona Cardinals last season.

They made it to the Super Bowl with Mike Gandy starting at left tackle. Yes, that Mike Gandy who left Buffalo as a disgrace in the fans' eyes. Yet there he was, protecting Kurt Warner en route to a Super Bowl berth.

Who would you rather have at left tackle? Mike Gandy or Langston Walker? Arizona, and countless other teams, have proven that it is possible to gameplan around an average left tackle to hold up on the offensive line.

The Bills have assembled the personnel on the field to help Walker should he need it. Playing in a division in which the other three teams run a 3-4 defense, he will probably need all the help he can get, which is not a slight against him. A 3-4 defense is simply a faster blitzing defense with the linebackers.

However, the running backs and tight ends who have experience are good blockers. Lining up a tight end on Walker's outside shoulder and using a running back to chip the pass rusher could certainly help solidify the left side of the line. Protecting the quarterback is not simply about the offensive line, which is why the Bills could turn out just fine without a premier left tackle in the NFL.

It is not just the blockers that determine whether or not an offense is going to deal with a lot of pressure. It also is dependent on the offensive gameplan as a whole.

The Cardinals last year used a lot of quick slants and other passes designed to get the ball out of Warner's hands early before pressure got to him. Now, I am not saying that Trent Edwards is Kurt Warner, or that Lee Evans and Terrell Owens are Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

However, the three players for the Bills do have the abilities necessary to run a quick West Coast-style offense designed to keep Edwards upright. If Turk Schonert utilizes his weapons correctly, the Bills can succeed without Jason Peters at left tackle.

Oh, and the other starting left tackle in the Super Bowl? Max Starks. Not exactly a Pro Bowl-caliber player, yet the Pittsburgh Steelers still made it to the Super Bowl and won. Just saying.

The Buffalo Bills Defense: Playmakers Please Apply

Jeremy Pike — Wed, 27 May 2009 16:19:27 -0400

The Buffalo Bills defense in the past few years has lacked consistent playmakers on the defensive line, linebacker, and in the secondary. This is not to say that the Bills defense has been horrible. For the most part, they have been decidedly average to moderately good. However, especially this past season, they have lacked in quarterback pressure and turnovers.

The Bills front office and coaching staff entered the offseason determined to change that. They went out and got a new defensive line coach, Bob Sanders, who has been able to get defensive tackle John McCargo working harder than ever when it looked like he might not be with Buffalo much longer. They also drafted two college playmakers in defensive end Aaron Maybin from Penn State and cornerback-turned-free-safety Jairus Byrd from Oregon.

These three players could very well help change the defense from okay to good or even beyond that. McCargo, at times in his career, has shown flashes of why the Bills drafted him in the first round. If he is playing with heart, he can beat offensive lineman at the snap and make plays in the backfield. If Sanders can continue to get him to work hard, he should provide some help in getting to the quarterback.

Maybin will be instrumental for the pass rush this season and for years to come. He has a first step that rivals any I have seen in the NFL. Due to being lighter than most 4-3 defensive ends, he needs to utilize his explosiveness and moves to keep offensive tackles from locking on. If he can add more moves to his repertoire, he should be a pressure and sack machine on passing downs.

Byrd will be looked to add another playmaking presence in the secondary, this time at safety. The Bills have been solid at safety, but have lacked playmaking ability there for years. If he can continue the production he had at college (17 interceptions and 53 passes defensed), he will be a force to be reckoned with at safety.

He and second-year cornerback Leodis McKelvin, an explosive playmaker in his own right, could anchor the secondary for years to come.

Also of note will be the return of defensive end Aaron Schobel who was injured last season and did not see much action. The Bills will be looking to him to return to Pro Bowl form and add to the pass rush. If the Bills can start getting more pressure out of the front four due to the return of Schobel, McCargo being more motivated, and the addition of Maybin, the whole defense will benefit.

The addition of Byrd in the secondary will hopefully allow the defense to translate pressure into takeaways on awkward throws by pressured quarterbacks.

If these men can step up and have a postive impact for the Buffalo Bills in 2009, the Bills could very well surprise a lot of teams. The defense will be a major indicator of how far the team will go this season. Fans can only hope that the defense steps up and delivers.

The 2009 Buffalo Bills Coaching Staff: Playoffs or Nothing

Jeremy Pike — Wed, 27 May 2009 16:02:03 -0400

After the 2008-2009 Buffalo Bills crashed and burned to a 7-9 record for the third consecutive season, the coaching staff collectively should be on the hot seat.

Any coaching staff in the league that allowed a team that started 5-1 and finished the season with only two more wins would be in that position. Some coaches would have been fired on the spot.

The coaching staff, led by head coach Dick Jauron, needs to take advantage of the tools they have assembled in order to build upon the 5-1 start and avoid a repeat of the 2-8 finish. That means that the three top coaches for the Bills are going to be very closely monitored this season by the fans and by the front office.

Head coach Dick Jauron has a lot of experience coaching, but unfortunately not much experience winning. He was the head coach for the Chicago Bears prior to coming to Buffalo, including a 13-3 season in 2001. However, that season has been the exception rather than the rule in Jauron's head coaching career.

He is a defensive-minded coach, having played free safety in the NFL and coaching defensive positions and spending time as the Jacksonville Jaguars' defensive coordinator prior to becoming a head coach.

He prefers not taking risks on offense and relying on the defense to keep the score close. He prefers a power running game to complement his defenses to wear down opposing teams.

This type of game management influences Jauron's thinking for drafting and free agency. For the most part during his time in Buffalo, the team has focused on drafting and free agent moves that bolster the defense and the running game.

However, the run game has not been as good as he would like, leading to the Bills cutting Derrick Dockery in the offseason and not attempting to retain either Melvin Fowler or Duke Preston.

This year's draft continued to follow Jauron's modus operandi, spending picks to bolster the interior offensive line to upgrade the running game and bring in play-makers on the defensive side of the ball.

The man who will be working with Jauron to utilize the new defensive play-makers is defensive coordinator Perry Fewell. Fewell has experience working with Jauron previous to Buffalo so they have a rapport in terms of what they want to do on defense.

Fewell has shown that he at times is willing to bring some heat in the form of blitzes, but some of that is because the defense has lacked consistent pressure from the front four.

Fewell will be utilizing his new defensive line coach Bob Sanders who was the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers and his new rookie defensive end Aaron Maybin to improve that pass rush.

He will also be looking to improve the secondary's play-making with Leodis McKelvin starting full-time opposite Terrence McGee and rookie free safety Jairus Byrd getting extensive play time on passing downs once he gets acclimated to the speed of the NFL.

On the offensive side of the ball, coordinator Turk Schonert will have all eyes on him and his gameplan to effectively utilize free agent pick-up Terrell Owens and also help to keep quarterback Trent Edwards progressing.

He will also be tasked with getting the Bills running game going with a completely retooled offensive line that should be more physical than any Bills line in recent memory.

Obviously with the weather in Buffalo during the winter and Jauron's mentality, the running game will continue to be the focal point of the offense.

However, with new acquisitions in the passing game (Owens and rookie tight end Shawn Nelson), Schonert needs to effectively call a balanced offensive game and allow Edwards to take advantage of any opportunities he is presented with.

Schonert was the quarterbacks coach for the Bills prior to taking over the offensive coordinator position from Steve Fairchild who departed the NFL for the college ranks. He also spent time in that capacity with the New York Giants and the Carolina Panthers.

This season should be make-or-break for the Buffalo Bills coaching staff not only in Buffalo, but for Dick Jauron, his head coaching career for the foreseeable future. A winning record may not be enough to keep their positions either.

The Bills' fan base is desperate for a playoff berth, and with the talent acquisitions made this offseason, that should be the mark they are shooting for. Only time will tell if this coaching staff can meet those expectations, however.

Getting To Know The Buffalo Bills: Alvin Bowen, Linebacker

Jeremy Pike — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:01:36 -0400

Drafted out of Iowa State in the 2008 NFL Draft, Alvin Bowen looked to add to the Buffalo Bills' already strong special teams and provide valuable depth at the linebacker position en route to fighting for a starting position.

However the plans for Bowen were derailed during training camp when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. So how has he been recovering, and what are his expectations for the 2009 season? Also, who is the person behind the player? Here is a series of questions for Bowen so the Bills fans can get to know the second-year linebacker.

1. How is the knee feeling after getting on the field for organized team activities?

2. What did you do during rehabilitation? Give us a little glimpse into the world of injury rehab.

3. How did you keep up to speed on what the special teams and defense were doing during the season? Did you spend time reviewing film and looking at the playbook? Did you sit in on meetings?

4. What are your expectations for this season personally and as part of the team?

5. Where do you see yourself fitting in this season on special teams and the defense?

6. Now for some questions for you as a person. If you were not playing football, what would you want to do with your life?

7. What do you do to relax when not concentrating on football?

8. What's your favorite movie and favorite book?

Thank you for your time, Alvin Bowen.

Hope all the readers have enjoyed the glimpse into the life of Buffalo Bills linebacker Alvin Bowen.

The 2009 Buffalo Bills Offense: Upgrades, Upgrades, Upgrades

Jeremy Pike — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:38:43 -0400

After last season's end in which the offense sputtered and failed to produce on more than one occasion, the Buffalo Bills front office made a decision to overhaul key positions on the offensive side of the ball.

The Bills targeted two key positions to upgrade and a third position was opportunistically addressed. These three positions will influence the play-calling on the offensive side of the ball and should help propel the Bills to a winning season.

The first area the Bills addressed, and the biggest key, was the interior of the offensive line. They lost every game against the rest of the AFC East, and all those teams run the 3-4. Experts say that the game is won in the trenches, and in order to win against the 3-4, the Bills needed to upgrade the interior of the line.

The Bills in free agency signed two interior linemen, center/guard Geoff Hangartner who played for the Carolina Panthers, and center Seth McKinney from the Cleveland Browns. Hangartner is the favorite to start at center this season and McKinney is a valuable depth signing.

In the draft, the Bills draft guard/center Eric Wood from Louisville and guard/tackle Andy Levitre from Oregon State. Both project to start at guard, moving Brad Butler to tackle.

Butler played tackle in college and is the prototypical size for a right tackle. Levitre projects better at guard due to his size.

These acquisitions should lead to a more physical play which was lacking last season in the run game. This should allow the Bills to spread the offense out more and run the ball effectively.

The Bills for the past few years have simply elected to run out of a jumbo formation on situations other than third- and fourth-and-short to go. Yet even in that formation, there was a greater chance of the run failing.

The Bills have been lacking a physical offensive line for years, and that was with one of the biggest offensive lines in the NFL. This led to the release of left guard Derrick Dockery and not retaining the services of center Melvin Fowler and guard/center Duke Preston. The new acquisitions should form a more physical interior this season.

The second position addressed was a surprise as to how it was addressed, not necessarily that it was addressed. The Bills have lacked a threat at the wide receiver position opposite Lee Evans except for his rookie season. When the Dallas Cowboys released Terrell Owens, the Bills shocked the sports world and their fans by signing him to a one-year deal.

A number of NFL experts said that this was a bad move, yet it makes sense for the Bills. T.O. performs at a very high level and does not cause team trouble during his first season with a new team. If he performs well this season, he hopes to cash in for one last big pay day.

In turn, the Bills get a proven threat to play opposite Lee Evans, forcing the defense to finally account for multiple threats in the passing game. This should force defenses to stop double-covering Evans and even stop putting eight men in the box to defend against the run.

Another acquisition that should spread out defenses is fourth-round draft pick Shawn Nelson. A number of draft experts had him going in either the second or third round, but he fell to the Bills in the fourth.

He is a tight end who can cause match-up problems with his height and speed. If he can adjust to NFL defenses, he should be able to cause damage underneath coverage and continue to spread out the defense.

All these moves are moot if Turk Schonert does not utilize the upgrades in drafting game plans and Trent Edwards cannot execute well. Yet the potential is there for the offense to improve and make problems for defensive coordinators and players.

Buffalo Bills Training Camp Will Be a Battle for Two Defensive Positions

Jeremy Pike — Mon, 11 May 2009 15:07:30 -0400

Training Camp for all 32 NFL teams is always interesting, determining not only who will be a part of the team, but also who starts. The Buffalo Bills are no different, and there are two positions on the defensive side of the ball targeted in camp for possible shake-ups.

The two positions are strong-side linebacker and starting safety opposite Donte Whitner. Last season's starters, Keith Ellison and Bryan Scott respectively, were solid players, Scott more-so than Ellison.

However, neither were playmakers. Ellison was someone the coaching staff could count on to not make mistakes, but he also could not be counted on to make big plays in favor of the defense.

Scott was effective in both coverage, shutting down Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez, and run support. He did not force fumbles or intercept passes, however.

The Bills needed play-makers on the defense last year, and only one player really responded at all.

That was rookie corner-back Leodis McKelvin who played very well in relief of injured starter Jabari Greer. With the off-season departure of Greer, McKelvin will be starting from Week One opposite Terrence McGee.

During training camp, the coaching staff will be looking for play makers at these two positions. Who will step up?

At strong-side linebacker, Keith Ellison is probably the favorite at this point due to his consistency and ability to keep from giving up big plays too often. The rest of the linebackers are inexperienced, which can lead to mistakes.

However, Alvin Bowen and Nic Harris both have more upside than Ellison.

Bowen was drafted last year to be a force on special teams and possibly be groomed into a starter. However, a knee injury during training camp derailed any possibility of him playing.

During his college years, he was a tackling machine. This training camp is very important for him to prove that he can come back from the injury and become a force to reckon with.

Harris is a rookie who played safety in college, but he did play in the box enough to be familiar with that area of the field. He is very good in run support, has good ball skills, and can cover tight ends. Due to being a rookie, the team is probably reluctant to put him into the starting position at the start of the season.

However, if he blows away the competition in camp, he should start. At the very least, he will be seeing a lot of time in special teams where he should have a very good impact.

Prediction: Keith Ellison will start the season at strong-side linebacker; Nic Harris may supplant him as a starter by the end of the season.

At safety, the Bills have lacked a playmaker for many years. Donte Whitner and Ko Simpson were supposed to change that. They were a good rookie safety tandem and appeared to be poised to make waves after that point. However, Simpson got injured and since that point, he has been unable to break back into the starting lineup.

Simpson will be fighting not only for a starting spot during this camp, but also simply to make the team. Prior to the draft, the Bills were shopping him, but were unable to get any suitable offers. If he does not have a good camp, they will probably cut him.

Bryan Scott is a solid and dependable strong safety who is a physical presence. He simply does not make game-changing plays, however. He should at the very least see plenty of time on run downs and match-ups against better-to-elite tight ends.

Jairus Byrd was drafted in the second round of the 2009 draft as a corner-back, but with the intention to move him to free safety. He has excellent ball skills, which is why the Bills are so high on him. If he can acclimate to the speed of the NFL, he will see plenty of time on passing downs and should be a full-time starter by the end of the season.

Prediction: Bryan Scott will start the season at strong safety; Jairus Byrd will be starting by the end of the season at free safety, moving Donte Whitner back to strong safety.

Will the Buffalo Bills Circle the Wagons in 2009?

Jeremy Pike — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:51:23 -0400

Many Buffalo Bills fans were talking division championship and a playoff berth after the first six games of the 2008 season.

However, praise turned to criticism and doubt as to whether head coach Dick Jauron was going to be the head coach after the end of the season as the Bills crashed and burned to a final record of 7-9. Will the Buffalo Bills circle the wagons in 2009 to finish with a winning record and possibly a playoff berth?

Predictions, like meteorologists, are more often than not wrong. Yet football fans of all teams and football "experts" always engage in them, ranging from a solitary game to the entire season. Why do we fans do this?

Fans of any sport, including football, love to talk about the game and how things will progress. It is simply a part of fan hood, and no fan is immune, myself included.

So what are some realistic expectations for the Buffalo Bills in 2009? The only realistic expectations are that the Bills will finish somewhere in between 0-16 and 19-0. I can offer informed expectations based upon how the Bills performed last season and how the off-season progressed.

One of the major problems of last season was the Bills' inability to handle 3-4 defenses which led the Bills to an 0-6 record against the rest of AFC East who all run that style of defense.

This motivated the Bills to revamp the interior of the offensive line, developing a more physical interior that should not continually get pushed around by the large nose tackles of 3-4 defenses.

The Bills coaching staff and front office signed center/guard Geoff Hangartner, previously of the Carolina Panthers, to replace center Melvin Fowler and center/ guard Duke Preston who were continually pushed around by nose tackles like New England Patriots' Vince Wilfork, New York Jets' Kris Jenkins, and Miami Dolphins' Jason Ferguson.

Then in the draft, they drafted guard/center Eric Wood and then guard/tackle Andy Levitre.

Wood and Levitre gained reputations in college of being nasty and finishers. Last season the Bills lacked any sort of physicality in the run game, and these two should provide a serious upgrade.

Also on the offensive side of the ball, the Bills signed wide receiver Terrel Owens to a one-year contract, hoping that the trend of him playing his best football in the first season with a new team will continue. For years the Bills have been searching for a threat on the other side of the field from Lee Evans and Owens is that threat.

Also, rookie tight end Shawn Nelson could have a positive impact in the passing game during the season. Reports out of rookie mini-camp are verifying his potential and his status as a steal in the fourth round.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Bills are looking to create more havoc in the passing game with the additions of defensive end Aaron Maybin and safety Jairus Byrd. Maybin was brought in to upgrade the pass rush, and his explosive first step should help.

Byrd was a ball-hawk in college, with 17 interceptions and 53 pass breakups in three years. The safety position has been lacking a playmaker and Byrd should change that.

So what does all this mean for the 2009 edition of the Buffalo Bills? On paper, they have made improvements at a number of positions. However, most of those improvements are made by rookies. There will be a learning curve that will hopefully be short.

The potential is there for a winning record and a playoff berth, but I am not sure how likely that scenario is.

In the division, the Miami Dolphins could very well fall back after a very surprising season last year, and the New York Jets are going to be starting a quarterback without very much (or no) experience at the pro level. The Bills should not get shut out by the AFC East again this season.

The Bills are also beneficiaries of starting the season against the New England Patriots. This means that the Patriots will not have any game film on what the Bills can and will do on either side of the ball. The Bills traditionally play the Patriots very well in the first week of the NFL season.

The Bills are facing a very tough schedule, but the potential is there for them to do well. It depends on the offensive line coming together in its new form and if the Bills' pass rush has improved. If the offensive line comes together quickly and the new acquisitions perform as expected, expect the Bills offense to be very potent.

The flip side is also true, however. If the line does not gel quickly, expect the offense to be rocky at best until the line comes together.

The defense could possibly cover for the offense at points with an upgraded pass rush and another play-maker in the secondary to go with second-year corner-back Leodis McKelvin who showed that throwing in his direction is dangerous at best.

The 2009 NFL Draft Recap for the Buffalo Bills

Jeremy Pike — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:08:08 -0400

The 2009 NFL Draft is in the books and now it is time to take stock of what the Buffalo Bills did in two days to help improve the team. I offered my thoughts on Day One for the Bills in an earlier article, so I will not focus too much on those four players except in an overall look at the draft's impact on the team. Most of the focus will be on the second day.

Starting off Day Two in the fourth round, the Buffalo Bills selected Shawn Nelson, tight end from Southern Mississippi. He belongs to the group of tight ends who play the game like a wide receiver in a bigger body, yet he has shown the potential to be a very good all-around tight end.

Mike Mayock in his Senior Bowl notes referenced Nelson's willingness to block during the week's practices.

With some of the draft expert predictions about Nelson, getting him in the fourth round is an incredible value pick at a needed position.

In round five, the Bills turned to another versatile player, a very important theme of this draft, in Oklahoma Sooner Nic Harris. He played safety mostly for the Sooners, but his slow forty time leads many to project him as a linebacker, which is a need of the Bills.

He is a very physical player, loves playing around the line of scrimmage, and was a leader in the defensive backfield for the Sooners. If he can make the transition, this will be an incredibly valuable pick in terms of linebacker play and special teams.

Rounds six and seven saw two cornerbacks come to the Bills. The sixth rounder was Cary Harris out of USC, a very tough and physical player. The seventh rounder was Ellis Lankster from West Virginia. Lankster is another versatile player who can play either corner or safety. He is good in man-to-man coverage and a good open field tackler.

So how do the four picks from Day One and the four picks from Day Two change the dynamic of the Buffalo Bills? I see three major impacts of the 2009 NFL Draft.

The first impact is on the offensive line. Many experts predicted the Bills would select an offensive tackle to replace Jason Peters. The decision makers for the Bills had other plans however. With the addition of Eric Wood and Andy Levitre, the offensive line now has a new identity that has been sorely lacking.

These two offensive linemen bring a physical presence and a mean streak to what was the NFL's biggest offensive line, but was one of the most ineffective especially in the run game. Watching the game tape shows that all the yardage earned by the Bills' running backs were truly earned in spite of the line.

Wood and Levitre will help solidify the middle of the line and should have an immediate impact in the run game.

The second impact is in the pass rush with the acquisition of defensive end Aaron Maybin. Watching the game tape on him is awe-inspiring for me. Mayock talks about Maybin's first step and he is not exaggerating. I do not think I have ever seen anyone with a quicker burst off the snap.

He should come in and provide some serious firepower for the defense on passing downs.

The third impact is a new approach to choosing personnel. More than half the players selected during the weekend are going to be very versatile with the ability to play multiple positions on their side of the field.

Between Wood and Levitre, they have the ability to play any position on the offensive line. Great if anyone gets injured.

Jarius Byrd was a cornerback at Oregon who projects to free safety due to his lack of speed, but could still play corner in a zone formation. Nic Harris was a safety who projects to linebacker, but also could play safety in some zone formations. Lankster also looks to have the ability to play both corner and safety.

This philosophy of getting players who can play multiple positions will be a big benefit once the pads are put on and injuries start occuring. It will allow a nice degree of flexibility for the coaching staff with sub packages and getting players a breather when necessary.

I think that the 2009 Draft appears on paper to be a successful draft for the Bills. We will see once rookie camp and then training camp begins. Hopefully the Bills will be able to make some positive noise this season and not suffer a collapse like last.

Buffalo Bills 2009 Draft Day One Wrap-Up

Jeremy Pike — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:18:54 -0400

With Day One of the 2009 NFL Draft in the books, some questions have been answered about what the Buffalo Bills needed to do and some new questions have been asked as well. So let's look back on the first day of the draft and see what happened.

With the 11th overall pick, the Bills drafted defensive end Aaron Maybin out of Penn State. Maybin has the potential to be an elite pass rusher, but it remains to be seen if he can become a three-down defensive end.

However, the Bills' need at end was a pass rusher, and Maybin provides that in spades.

He is fast, tenacious, and incredibly productive. He did add weight prior to the combine so he is closer in size to a 4-3 defensive end than when he was playing, but it will be interesting to see if the extra weight will affect his play.

I expect that it will be beneficial, making it harder for tackles to push him out of the way. A good pick that addressed one of the biggest needs.

With the 28th pick, the Bills took interior offensive lineman Eric Wood from Louisville. He brings an element of physicality and a mean streak to an offensive line that was the biggest in the NFL, yet rarely played like it. He will certainly be a factor in getting the ground game going again.

He is physically gifted and a very smart player who finishes plays well, driving his block into the ground often. Over the last two seasons of his college career, unofficial count has him with 164 knockdown blocks.

That is a man who plays a physical game and can certainly get a ground game going. Maybe he can be a catalyst for returning the Bills offensive line to the glory years of the 90's or the Electric Company.

With the forty-second pick of the draft, the Bills selected cornerback/safety Jairus Byrd from Oregon. At first, I was displeased with the pick until I took the time to do some research and read about what scouts had to say.

The Bills are shifting him to free safety with the ability to sub into corner positions. This masks his lack of elite speed and allows him to use his football intelligence to continue producing.

In college with Oregon, he picked off 17 passes, including one in the 2009 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl against Oklahoma State. To watch the tape on him shows a very intelligent defensive back with a knack for finding the football in the air and making a play on it.

17 interceptions in college is definitely a stat that will get attention. Hopefully he will continue to produce at that level with the Bills, we could certainly use more defensive playmakers.

In a surprising move, the Bills traded their third round pick and their first of two fourth round picks to move back into the second at the 51st overall pick. With this pick, the Bills took offensive lineman Andy Levitre from Oregon State.

A tackle in college, scouts predict that due to his physical stature he will translate into a guard in the pros. He further bolsters the interior of the line which had little to no depth after the season.

He brings more physical play and good footwork from manning the tackle position. He and Wood will provide a sorely lacking physical presence on the interior of the offensive line.

So on the first day of the 2009 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills spread four picks evenly between the offense and defense, picking up two defensive playmakers and two physical interior offensive lineman.

A good start to the draft, and on Day Two, they should be looking at strong-side linebacker and tight end to start with more offensive and defensive line depth as well. Let's go Buffalo!

With The 11th Pick of the 2009 NFL Draft The Bills Pick...Aaron Maybin

Jeremy Pike — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:56:05 -0400

With the 11th overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills selected DE, Aaron Maybin (Penn State).

Going into the NFL Draft, it was known that the Bills were going to be targeting an upgrade for the pass rush.

Twenty-four sacks are unacceptable and was definitely a key of why the Bills did not win more games last year. A pass-rush specialist was needed, it was simply when it would occur.

With the eleventh pick, the Bills addressed that need with Aaron Maybin.

He is a small defensive end, but fast and tenacious and knows how to get after the quarterback and had a stellar year with the Nittany Lions.

Is this a great pick?

I would have preferred Everette Brown from Florida State at that pick, but Maybin has the ability to come in on a passing down and wreak havoc. He certainly fills a need and if nothing else and pushes Chris Kelsay off the field on passing downs.

The question is if Maybin can hold up and not get tossed around like a rag doll. In response to that question: Maybin bulked up for the Combine and still put up some impressive numbers, however, it is unknown how well he will play at that weight.

There are a number of questions that need to be answered, but Aaron Maybin is a gifted player and I hope as a Bills fan that he will rise to the occasion.

There is definitely the potential there. Hopefully he will produce.

Welcome to Buffalo, Mr. Maybin—please do not disappoint.

Stampede to the NFL Draft, the Night Before

Jeremy Pike — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 00:56:03 -0400

Ah, the 2009 NFL Draft is nearly here. It is the eve of the draft (actually very incredibly early the morning of for us East Coasters). Everyone is getting itchy to find out who their favorite team will be selecting over the next two days. Much has been said for the past few months about the draft, so how much more can be said?

A lot, I suppose, but most of it rehashing. However, this is one last chance to get the ideas and thoughts about the draft prior to the kickoff. I have discussed in previous articles the need for a pass rush upgrade and also a tight end who will factor into the passing game positively.

There is also the glaring needs along the offensive line. Who will start at the tackle positions next season? Obviously Langston Walker will be one, barring injury or some other major event. Will he be playing left or right tackle? Who will be the other bookend? Demetrius Bell, a seventh round pick from last draft? Kirk Chambers who has seen some playing time?

Or will it be a rookie such as Andre Smith, Michael Oher, or possibly Phil Loadholt?

Also, who will be the starting left guard? Will it be the aforementioned Kirk Chambers, free agent acquisition Seth McKinney, or another unforseen free agent? Or yet again, could it be a rookie such as Duke Robinson, Max Unger, or Eric Wood?

There are a lot of questions leading up to 4:00 pm Saturday. Only time will tell the answers. That will not stop football fans anywhere from debating, so here are three highly important questions for the Buffalo Bills coming into the first round (not including the offensive line questions posed above).

1. Who will be brought in to address the pass rush? Will it be defensive end, defensive tackle, or linebacker? Possibilities in the first round include Florida State end Everette Brown, Texas end Brian Orakpo, Penn State end Aaron Maybin, Tennessee end Robert Ayers, Boston College tackle B.J. Raji, and USC linebackers Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews.

Other names that could be called include Richmond end Lawrence Sidbury, Jr., Houston end Philip Hunt, and Cincinnati end/linebacker Connor Barwin.

My personal favorite throughout the majority of the draft talk had been Brown, but doing some research into Sidbury has changed that. He's bigger than Brown, yet still faster and shows up big in big games (three and a half sacks in the championship game against Montana).

I think he would be a very nice addition at either twenty-eight or forty-two to help the pass rush.

2. Will the Bills draft a strong-side linebacker? If so, who will it be? The Bills' actions during free agency would seem to show that they are unhappy with the current SLBs on the roster, talking to a number of them and signing one (Pat Thomas).

However, Thomas is not the solution, he is a good depth signing. This question actually ties into the first one with some of the possibilities fulfilling both requirements, such as Cushing and Barwin.

There are other possibilities, however. Some draft gurus have had Aaron Curry falling recently for unknown reasons, but if he falls to eleven, I think the Bills would have a very hard time ignoring him.

Both USC linebackers are still options. Later in the draft, Jason Williams from Western Illinois is an intriguing prospect, along with Zack Follett from California.

I like Clay Matthews, especially at twenty-eight, but I have a feeling that I might hear his name called at eleven, depending on how the first ten picks shake out.

3. Which of the many tight ends will the Bills take? Most people have the Bills taking Brandon Pettigrew at either eleven or twenty-eight. I would be more open to taking him at the latter rather than the former.

However, he is not my favorite tight end in the draft. I would prefer a tight end such as Southern Mississippi's Shawn Nelson who has both the production and shown blocking ability at the Senior Bowl or Mizzou's Chase Coffman who has the ability to gash defenses in the middle of the field.

Pettigrew will most likely command a first round pick; Nelson could command either a second or third while Coffman will likely go in either the third or the fourth, barring an unforseen run on tight ends.

Other tight ends to keep an eye on are James Casey out of Rice, Jared Cook out of South Carolina, and once-elite and unfortunately injured for his senior season Travis Beckum from Wisconsin.

So that is it for me, folks! After the Day One picks are done, I will be offering my analysis of the Bills' three picks (unless they trade, at which point it could be more or less), plus my overall thoughts about the draft. Let's go Buffalo!

Buffalo Bills: How Addressing the Issue of Jason Peters Could Affect the Draft

Jeremy Pike — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:19:44 -0400

The Buffalo Bills' offseason seems to be embroiled in controversy at every turn.

Some of it is really controversy, other parts of it media-created, such as all the backlash at the organization for signing Terrell Owens. It was a smart move for a one-year deal at a good price. If the Bills do not win this year, the team is going to be blown up anyways. Might as well take a chance for once.

The other major controversy carries over from last offseason and revolves around the Bills' Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters. He wants to get paid and get paid big.

Negotiations between the team and Peters are ongoing, but nothing has been settled. I, for one, certainly hope things get settled. However, there needs to be a backup plan if there is no agreement reached.

One particularly strong rumor has been the possibility of trading Peters to the Philadelphia Eagles for at least the 20th overall pick in this year's draft. If I were the Bills and trading is the route that is the only way to go, I would see what it would take for both of the Eagles' first-round picks.

Maybe send Peters and a mid-round pick for both firsts? Just speculation on my part.

If the Bills only get the 20th pick, I would not be surprised to see the Bills draft Michael Oher with the 11th pick and Brandon Pettigrew with the 20th pick. However, I do not see Oher coming in and starting at left tackle immediately.

I would rather see the Bills swing Langston Walker over to left tackle where he played to start the season last year and play Oher at either right tackle or see if he can play left guard. Wherever Oher does not play, Kirk Chambers likely plays.

In the second round, the Bills should address the pass rush with the drafting of Lawrence Sidbury out of Richmond. He has the size to play defensive end, and he is fast.

Now if the Bills can trade for the Eagles' second first-round pick, that second pick could very well become a linebacker or defensive tackle, depending on how the draft shakes out.

One of the two USC outside linebackers, Clay Matthews or Brian Cushing, could very well be available there. Another name to think about is defensive tackle Peria Jerry. Any of those three would be good additions for the defense. I would lean towards the linebackers, but if those two are gone and Jerry is available, definitely take Jerry.

So where does that leave the offensive line if the Bills trade Peters? I would like to see it as Langston Walker—LT, Michael Oher/Kirk Chambers—LG, Geoff Hangartner—C, Brad Butler—RG, and Michael Oher/Kirk Chamber—RT.

Yes, there would be inexperience and unfamiliarity with the system on the line. However, this spreads it out and keeps the LT position experienced until Oher can develop. It is better than having a starting line of Oher—LT, Chambers—LG, Hangartner—C, Butler—RG, and Walker—RT. That would be way too much inexperience on the left side of the line.

Feel free to share your thoughts!

The Stampede to the Draft: Part Two

Jeremy Pike — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 02:13:33 -0400

First seen on wnysportstalk.com, your source for Western New York sports talk.

In Part One of this series, I highlighted one of the Buffalo Bills’ most pressing needs, the upgrading of its abysmal pass rush. Now in round two, I want a receiving threat at the tight-end position.

However, the type of tight end the Bills should select is a topic of heavy debate, and rightfully so. Should they look for another lineman in a tight end’s body, or should they look for a pass-catching threat?

I am a proponent of the latter for one reason.

The more weapons an offense has, the better that offense will be. The defense is forced to spread out and cover multiple threats at once, rather than keying in on one or two players.

Over the past few years, the Bills offense has had only two real threats and defenses have reacted accordingly.

The first threat is wide receiver Lee Evans. He has shown the ability to score touchdowns from anywhere on the field. He has scored the most touchdowns covering 70-plus yards since 2000, and he was drafted in 2004. This is not to say he is only useful from the Bills own side of the field.

For evidence, look at the San Diego Chargers game from last season. The David Tyree-esque catch should be more than enough to dissuade anyone of Evans’ ability to hurt a defense from anywhere on the field.

The other threat has been the run game. Due to the ongoing search for Jim Kelly’s replacement (which hopefully is over), the run game has had to pick up much of the slack on the offensive side of the ball.

Over the past few years, the run game has been quite solid, if sometimes unspectacular.

Defenses have reacted accordingly by double covering Evans and bringing eight men into the box to provide run coverage. Other offenses in the league have the ability to exploit single coverage with their second wide receiver, but the Bills have also been looking for a compliment in the passing game to Evans since Eric Moulds left the Bills.

Thankfully that search appears to be over, at least for this season. Shortly after Terrell Owens was cut from the Dallas Cowboys, he was signed by the Buffalo Bills to a one-year, $6.5 million deal.

Since T.O. historically has been on his best behavior the first year he is with a new team, this should work out to the Bills’ benefit.

Also, aside from the potential headaches involved with T.O., it is hard to imagine that there is another wide receiver in the league that is better to learn how to play the game from for a young wide receiver.

T.O.’s presence should have a long-term effect on James Hardy and Steve Johnson, hopefully bringing them along to both become good compliments to Evans in the future.

With the addition of T.O., the effect on a defense’s pass coverage is huge. No longer can a defense afford to double cover Evans and put eight men in the box. The situation forces defenses to play a much more cover-based scheme predicated on defending against the big pass play.

That should open up holes for the run game.

So now the Bills have two legitimate receiving threats. What would happen if they had another in the form of a pass-catching tight end who has the ability to exploit linebacker coverage? Even more issues in the run game and even more headaches for defensive coordinators. Remember, more offensive weapons equals better offense.

We all know how bad the Bills offense has been the past few years, especially in passing categories. T.O. is going to have a very nice impact on that, but a receiving threat at the tight end position is going to be another shot in the arm for this offense, and it should be a long-lasting shot as well.

The Bills have lacked a tight end that could make consistent positive plays in the passing game (I’m looking at you, Robert Royal) since Jay Riemersma. They have lacked tight ends who can make big plays since the days of the K-Gun offense in the early 1990s.

Everyone remembers Andre Reed, James Lofton, Don Beebe, Jim Kelly, and Thurman Thomas.

However, just as equally important are two tight ends who played wonderful counterparts in the early 90s, Keith McKeller and Pete Metzelaars. They were just as important as anyone else in that offense due to their ability to make plays underneath the coverage and especially in the red zone.

The Bills’ woes on offense stem around their inability to punch the ball into the end zone when they reach said red zone. A big pass-catching tight end like the Bills used to have would be great.

So who are the candidates possibly available in the second round that would be a boost in the passing game? There are four Bills fans should become familiar with if they are not already.

My personal favorite is Missouri tight end Chase Coffman. He has been one of the most consistent and productive tight ends in college over the past few years. He’s tall and has great hands.

Sounds like an excellent red-zone target. He is not known for his blocking ability since he was the main compliment to wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and therefore was running pass patterns all day, but we are more concerned about catching than blocking.

He is not the fastest tight end, but he is very athletic and can get yards after the catch as well. Some experts have him coming in anywhere from mid-second round to the fourth round, so there is the possibility of him being available in the third if the Bills do not take him here.

However, I consider him to be a very good talent and would not pass on him here.

Another tight end to keep an eye on is Shawn Nelson from Southern Mississippi. He is more rounded than Coffman, especially after the performance he put on at the Senior Bowl. However, to say he is an adept pass catcher would be an understatement.

He is more of a vertical threat than Coffman in terms of pure speed so he would help stretch the field even more on offense.

The other two I think are less likely, but should be considered if the situation arises that Coffman and Nelson are both off the board. The first is James Casey from Rice. He also has very good hands and is extremely athletic, even taking snaps from under center in the Wildcat formation.

Good route runner and has the ability to make plays after the catch. The other is South Carolina’s Jared Cook. He is probably one of the most talented and physically gifted tight ends in the draft.

He simply does not have the production that the others do. There is some speculation that he might not be as passionate as the others, but good coaching can help that.

So there you have it, why the Buffalo Bills should look at tight end in the second round of the NFL draft and who they should be looking at. Stay tuned for Part Three, profiling interior offensive linemen.

Go Bills, and getcha popcorn ready!

Buffalo Bills: The Stampede to the Draft Part 1

Jeremy Pike — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:24:49 -0500

This article was first seen on wnysportstalk.com the only site for all your Western NY sports news.

Ah yes, the NFL Combine has wrapped up. There have been some shockers, both good and bad. Good, did you see how fast wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey was? Bad, offensive tackle Andre Smith pulled a major “Whoops, I forgot to do that…” and left the combine early. Also, wide receiver Michael Crabtree had a stress fracture in one of his feet. He should be fine, though. Smith on the other hand is plummeting down everyone’s boards.

How did the combine affect the Buffalo Bills? Well, hopefully tight end Brandon Pettigrew’s abysmal 40-yard dash time finally seals the deal on selecting him with the No. 11 overall pick.

Where does that leave the Bills however? In a perfect world, the Bills would have the choice of defensive tackle BJ Raji, outside linebacker Aaron Curry, and defensive ends Brian Orakpo, Everette Brown, and Aaron Maybin. However, we all know this isn’t a perfect world, otherwise the Bills would have made the playoffs in the past nine years.

After some fine performances in the combine, the stock of all three defensive ends has risen. That probably means two of them will be selected before the Bills. Curry is competing for the No. 1 pick overall. Raji is widely considered to be a lock for the Top 10. However, the NFL draft is a crazy place. Who would have thought that the Browns would have been able to select Brady Quinn in 2007 at 22? Not me.

Personally, out of the three defensive ends, I believe that Brown is the most complete. He shows play recognition better than the other two, and he stops the run as well as gets after the quarterback.

Orakpo is a very physical end and does bring a hard-hitting and powerful element to the pass rush. Maybin is quick and had a phenomenal year at Penn State. He was a red-shirt sophmore, but a lot of scouts think his potential is through the roof.

Now, let’s look at what the Bills need out of the defensive end position.

They have Aaron Schobel coming off a Lisfranc foot injury that kept him out of most of last season. However, when healthy he’s the best pass rusher we have. He has also, in the past two years, gotten stronger against the run.

Next is Chris Kelsay, a high-motor guy but not that talented. He’s a fringe starter and a good back-up. Pretty good against the run, not good at getting after the quarterback.

After him is Ryan Denney, who led the defensive ends and tied for the team lead in sacks, with four.

Rounding out the rest of the defensive ends are Copeland Bryan and Chris Ellis. Copeland was primarily a special-teamer forced into a more prominent reserve role with Schobel’s injury and did register a sack. Rookie Chris Ellis spent most of his time playing on special teams.

When your leading defensive end in a 4-3 alignment only nets four sacks in a sixteen game season, something needs to be changed and fast. Even if the team only brings in a situational rusher that improves the rush on obvious passing downs, pressure equals turnovers.

Maybe the situational rusher doesn’t get that many sacks. However, if the defense’s third-down-conversion-allowed percentage improves and so does the turnover numbers, the impact has been felt.

Therefore, my choice for the Bills with the No. 11 overall pick would be Everette Brown followed by Aaron Maybin. Based off their production and their combine results, I think they would bolster the pass rush, even as situational rushers, the best.

The Battle of the Ends: Defensive or Tight?

Jeremy Pike — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:20:48 -0500

With the Buffalo Bills currently sitting at No. 11 in the upcoming National Football League Draft, they have a lot of choices with what to do with that pick. The biggest debate ranges around what I call the “Battle of the Ends.”

It seems like every Bills fan falls into one of these two camps

Proponents for tight end argue that quarterback Trent Edwards needs a receiving tight end who also can block to continue his development since second round pick James Hardy has barely shown anything.

However, most wide receivers take until about their third year in the NFL to really come into their own. The NFL is simply a tougher place to play week in and week out for rookies. The talent level is the best of the best when it comes to football. I still would not discount the possibility of Hardy coming around.

Plus I was impressed with fellow wide receiver rookie and seventh round pick Steve Johnson. I liked him coming out of college even though he was a raw talent and his hands are phenomenal. He has good size as well.

I also like the two young tight ends the Bills have on their roster, Derek Schouman and Derek Fine. Derek Fine showed that he blocks just as well, if not better, than Royal. Also, both Schouman and Fine have shown they are simply better receivers than Royal.

When it comes to defensive end play this past season, we all can agree the Bills desperately need help. Will Aaron Schobel’s return from his Lisfranc injury be enough? Color me skeptical.

I like Schobel and I think his return will be helpful. However, our best defensive end last year appeared to be Copeland Bryan with Ryan Denney coming in at a close second. That scares me right there, especially with the contracts Schobel and Kelsay have.

Yes, Schobel was injured. What’s Kelsay’s excuse? He simply costs too much for what he is. He is a good backup, not a starter.

So that’s the current status of the Bills roster at the two positions in question. So is a tight end at No. 11 bigger upgrade over Schouman and Fine? Or is a defensive end at the same spot bigger upgrade over Kelsay, Bryan, Denney, and Chris Ellis?

To me, that’s the biggest and most important question. Plus, I’d say that Schouman and Fine did their jobs better this past season than those four defensive ends did theirs.

I’d say the biggest need of the two is defensive end. If I was the one deciding who the Bills choose at No. 11, I'd be looking for Florida State Seminole defensive end Everette Brown followed by Penn State Nittany Lion defensive end Aaron Maybin. More on them to follow.

This is the second version of the Battle of the Ends. The first version was written for wnysportstalk.com on Feb. 3, 2009 and can be seen here. The piece has been modified due to changes at One Bills Drive since it was written.

An Outsider's Perspective on Florida-Alabama

Jeremy Pike — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:23:45 -0500

I normally only write on the Buffalo Bills in the NFL, but I do enjoy sitting down on the couch on Saturday afternoons and watching all the college action I can get. So I figured I'd lend my two non-important cents to the upcoming SEC championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Florida Gators.

To me, the outsider in the title, the game is going to come down to one thing: strength versus speed. Florida is a very fast and skilled team, while Alabama is a power team. Both teams exhibit this behavior on both sides of the ball. Florida's offense is built around speed in both the passing and running games.

Their defense is a fast group built around flowing to the ball and causing disruption in the offensive backfield. Not to say that they aren't strong, which they are. But they are a finesse and speed team. They'll just as soon run you ragged in a shootout then slug it out in a defensive struggle.

On the other hand, Alabama is a power team. They're built around running the ball and stopping the run. On offense, the run game takes precedence. It's a means of controlling the game, keeping the flow in Alabama's hands. Run the clock down and wear the opposing defense down.

When Alabama's defense is on the field, it's all about winning at the point of attack. They've got a very strong front seven that is going to be put to the test with Tim Tebow at quarterback. Keeping him contained will be their primary job in the game.

It comes down to the question of who wins: Strength or speed? What do you think, Bleacher Nation? Will Florida's speed overwhelm Alabama or will the Crimson Tide be able to get the Gators in range and slug it out in a defensive-minded game?

If the game turns out to be a shootout, it'll be Florida's game. Yes, Alabama has weapons on the offensive side of the ball—no doubt. However, it would come down to Tebow versus John Parker Wilson. Not that I don't like Wilson, but he doesn't even come close to Tebow.

If this game turns into a defensive-minded game, Alabama wins, hands-down. Its power running game would keep the ball in its hands and wear down Florida's defense. The Crimson Tide need to keep Tebow contained to win.

Is It Okay to Quit On a Coach In Professional Sports?

Jeremy Pike — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:05:13 -0500

Do you believe that it is okay for a professional sports team to quit on their coach? If so, in what sort of a case would it be okay?

I'm of the opinion that the players are playing for more than themselves. They are playing for the team, their coaches, their teammates, and their fans. They should have some sort of pride in themselves to give it their all, no matter what.

Obviously, not everyone in sports, including the NFL, shares that same opinion. See Adam Jones, Chad Javon Ocho Cinco (Really? Sheesh...), Plaxico Burress, Cedric Benson...

The reason I bring this up is because I have heard some fellow Bills fans espousing the idea that the Bills should quit on Dick Jauron to get him fired. I'm torn on the coaching matter, which I'll hit on in another article later.

But really, is quitting when you are a professional athlete an appropriate thing to do? Doesn't that go against all competitiveness? I want to hear everyone's opinion from every sport, not just us NFL fans. Soccer/football, basketball, racing, baseball, if you're a fan of a professional sport, give me your opinion!