Utilizing T.O: How The Shotgun Can Solidify Buffalo's Offense

When news surfaced of Terrell Owens signing with the Buffalo Bills, I thought the reports were erroneous. In today's "I must get the story first even if my sources are totally unreliable" society, sometimes things are reported before they're confirmed.

This time though, the reports were true. Buffalo had just signed Owens to a one year deal. Smart move.

Making the deal just one year was downright genius by Ralph Wilson, because if Owens disturbs the calm waters of Upstate New York, he'll pay and the fans will see to it.

On the other hand, if Owens has a great year and helps propel the suffering Bills franchise to a playoff berth, that will be the vindication he's been asking for.

As a wise man once said, "only responsible men are released from prior mistakes; everyone else suffers from the past's bitter wake." If Owens truly wants vindication, then he needs to behave and show us what he knows and what we haven't seen.

One thing Owens can do is catch passes and score touchdowns. Despite more drops than any other elite wideout besides maybe Braylon Edwards, Owens has been a difference maker everywhere he's played.

Playing with the young, inexperienced Trent Edwards can either spell frustration or success for the Bills and Owens.

In his past, Terrell has gotten into quarrels with former teammates Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, and Tony Romo. Edwards is the least accomplished and experienced of the aforementioned QBs, and has won significantly less games.

The question is, "can Owens learn a new offense and surrender his ego for the success of the team?"

Looking from the outside-in and staring back in the past, the answer is no.

In all fairness to Owens, the past is gone and therefore he has a clean slate to work with, and a whole set of weapons beside him.

Buffalo had another down year on the offensive side of the ball last season, finishing in the top-15 of only one major category, which was 14th in rushing at 115.1 YPG.

The Bills finished 23rd in points at 21.0, 25th in yards per game with 305.1 and 22nd in pass yards per game with 190.0.

Their play calling became increasingly predictable as they attempted to maximize the meager offensive talent they had on every play.

Here's a look into how a typical drive would play out for the Bills:

1st and 10: A hand-off to RB Marshawn Lynch, usually off-tackle or up the middle, but with major penetration Lynch ends up breaking tackles just to gain a few yards.

2nd and 7: Another hand-off to Lynch, either on another off-tackle play the opposite direction or a toss to the strong side. Again the opposing defense reads it well and Lynch is buried after another 2-4 yard gain.

3rd and 4: Trent Edwards runs either the double TE singleback formation and looks for Robert Royal, or a three receiver set with Lee Evans alone on the short side of the field and Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish in the slot on the other side.

Buffalo finished 40 percent on third down conversions, so four out of ten attempts on average they would obtain a first down.

Of course there were variations to those three plays, but it just felt like that sequence happened all too often.

Welcome Mr. Terrell Eldorado Owens.

Offensive coordinator Turk Schonert has many more options available to him with the addition of Owens.

Running the shotgun formation didn't work well as expected for Edwards, mostly because he didn't have time to get the pass off or the timing of the throw was disrupted.

Even with tackle Jason Peters anchoring the line, the phantom Pro-Bowler, Edwards still managed to get knocked around like a pinata play-after-play.

Now that the unhappy Peters has been traded away to Philly, Geoff Hangartner and Langston Walker need to give Edwards the time to make throws.

The shotgun is supposed to give the quarterback more passing options, and since he isn't directly under center, a few more seconds to pass using mobility and distance between the defensive line.

If your offensive line isn't delivering, it doesn't matter where you stand.

This unit for Buffalo should be able to gel together better without morale-buster Peters in the lineup. That could mean more room for Lynch and Fred Jackson to roam, and more time for Edwards to pass.

Thus, the shotgun formation can become the Bills best friend in 2009.

With the announcement of the return to the no-huddle offense made popular in the 1990's by Jim Kelly and Marv Levy, the Bills are attempting to put more pressure on opposing defenses and tire them throughout the game.

The shotgun could give the offense many advantages, and here are 3 variations of the shotgun that could be very successful for Buffalo in 2009.

1. Shotgun 4WR Trips Formation

This is a formation Buffalo hasn't used much in the past, but it may work well for them this coming season.

This could be a potential third down play with Jackson in the backfield because of his pass catching abilities out of the backfield. Terrell Owens could be alone on the short end of the field, with Lee Evans, Josh Reed and James Hardy bunched together on the other side.

There's many routes that can be ran out of this formation with endless possibilities, and it forces the defense to account for two stars in Evans and Owens, but also the height of Hardy and crafty route running of Reed, which is almost too much to ask the defense.

Also, don't forget that Jackson is very capable of making big plays in the passing game.

2. Shotgun 2RB and 3WR

This is a shotgun formation that the Bills have used before, but not with the personnel they could line up now.

There are two ways the Bills could use this, depending on the defense they're playing against. The first is Owens on the short side of the field, and Evans on the other side with Roscoe Parrish in the slot for speed, and both Lynch and Jackson in the backfield.

That will give Edwards a little less time to pass because Lynch and Jackson would both go out for passes after a Lynch chip-block, but the options are off the charts.

The other way would be Owens on one side, and Evans on the other with Josh Reed in the slot and Jackson in the backfield with a fullback.

This would give Edwards more time to pass the ball because of the fullback helping with protection, and better hands with Reed in the game finding holes in the zone or coverage.

Both those options can be a nightmare for teams to defend against because of the abundance of options.

3. Shotgun 4WR

This is a common shotgun formation in the NFL, but will simply make the no-huddle very hard to stop for opposing defenses.

With Owens and Evans together, there's many ways to line up to throw the defense off. Owens and Evans can be on opposing sides of the ball, and be motioned to the same side of the field, and vice-versa.

Lynch can start in the backfield and be motioned to the same side as T.O or Evans to create trips on one side. Parrish and Reed can be lined up together to create a speed vs. possession receiver type of attack.

The 4 receiver shotgun formation can be very successful for the Bills, and I envision them running it out of the no-huddle numerous times this coming season.

Buffalo will use the shotgun even more now that T.O has arrived in Buffalo, and the options available at Trent Edwards disposal can make him an elite QB by the twilight of the 2009 season.

The biggest question will be can the offensive line keep those pesky defenders off of Edwards' turf?

If so, Edwards and the shotgun will be waltzing into unfamiliar territory: the NFL Playoffs.

I hope they're ready to dance.