Three If By Air: Warning Of a Bills Air Attack

"One If by land, two if by sea" is the line spoken by the Great Paul Revere as he rode to warn of the British Invasion.

However if Revere was a bills fan asked to predict the Bills method of attack for the upcoming season, I would like to think he would reply with "Just hang three lanterns, Trent Edwards will air it out all dayyyyy sonnnn." (If Revere were doing a prediction of the Bills style of play in 2009, he would obviously be more accustomed to the language of today.)

It's no secret, it's nothing I think the Bills are shying away from. The 2009 Buffalo Bills coaching staff are going to beat you by throwing the football, or their going to lose their jobs trying.

From the moment the rest of America picked up their jaws from the floor after hearing about the small market Buffalo Bills singing of Terrell Owens, you knew the plan would be to throw the football.

The Bills play the last three years has been equal to that of the Anemic Baltimore Ravens, only the Bills don't have that pro bowl littered defense to back them up.The bills seemed to be on track to follow suit with last years offensive game plan. Run, Run, Pass, Punt.

How quickly one player can change everything.

With the addition of Terrell Owens, the Bills get two things they have not had since Doug Flutie emerged and sold Flutie Flakes as well as he played football. A play maker, and a star.

I can only imagine the moment Bills Offensive Coordinator Turk Schonert heard of the T.O. singing, (I can only hope he was like a mad scientist, with wild hair, crazy glasses, and all kinds of beakers overflowing,and a crazy evil laugh as he thought of how deadly this offense could be) drawing up plays that could feature their two star receiver's hauling in deep touchdown passes from Trent Edwards.

I'm going to play devils advocate and predict what formations should help the Bills acheive the air supperiority they desperately need to establish.

1. 4 Wide Receiver set(under center or shotgun)- This has the potential to be the most explosive formation for the Bills this year. The potential of having two deep speed threats on the outside in Evans and Owens should accomplish two things.

It will either leave the Evans and Owens in Single coverage, in which case Trent will just have to air it out, and let his play-makers, make a play. Eventually however I believe teams will start to either double the outside or drop the safeties back for over the top help.

If this happens The bills should have no problem getting the ball over the middle to their talented slot receiver's in Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish, and a player I like a lot in Steve Johnson.

2. Split Back formation- The Bills have talent all around on the offensive side of the ball. With their young offensive line however, they may switch to this formation if they find themselves having trouble with pass protection.

With Marshawyn Lynch and Fred Jackson in the backfield together, it gives the Bills help protecting Trent to get the ball down field to Owens and Evans, or they can keep one in, while slipping the other out of the backfield, OR they can slip both out as decoys and look for the Tight End down the middle, with so many variations of this formation, this is why I believe the Bills will have  breakout player in TE Shawn Nelson.

3. I formation- With all the threats at Wr the Bills have, it might be easy to forget that they have two extremely talented backs in Lynch, Jackson, and potentially a third if Dominic Rhodes stays Healthy.

By establishing a punishing running attack out of the I, the Bills can adjust when Defenses start stacking men in the box to stop the run. When teams adjust for the run is when Trent Edwards should have a field day with the play action and potential single coverage on the outside.

If I am foaming at the mouth thinking of the high scoring passing machine that could be this years Bill's, Imagine what a professional coach such as Turk Schonert can achieve.

You gotta BILLieve.