Avocado or Mud: T.O. Masks the Problems of the Bills' Offensive Line

VH1, ABC, ESPN. It can only mean one thing.  Welcome to T.O., Buffalo!  He says he’s ready for Buffalo, and after a decade without a superstar, it’s hard for a city not to get excited for the upcoming season.

Bills fans everywhere are expecting the team’s first playoff appearance in 10 years—as if that wasn’t the case every year prior.  With the acquisition of Owens, most fans are only thinking about the good and are turning a blind eye to one of the most important and weakest areas of the team: the offensive line.

Only two out of five starting linemen have returned since last year, and not a single position will be manned by the same individual. 

The Bills knew that their offensive line was a glaring weakness, and they acted appropriately by drafting Eric Wood and Andy LeVitre; their likely starters at right and left Guard respectively.  Ironically, neither of these draft picks played Guard steadily in college as Wood mostly played Center, and LeVitre at Tackle.

The Bills also signed highly touted free agent Jeff Hangartner, who will be playing Center, but played Guard in Carolina.

Throughout the summer, fans have heard about how each of these three players are intelligent and are handling the transition.  Nevertheless, an inordinate amount of time has been and will be spent on teaching these players how to play their positions, and not on gelling as a unit.

It looks like it has the potential to develop into a solid line, but it will take some time for it to develop as a functioning unit and give Edwards good pocket consistently.  As such, Jauron may need to alter his passing game for a portion of the year. 

This is where T.O. fits in.  While Owens cannot fix the line, his presence will mask its weaknesses. 

With a legitimate threat in Owens lining up on one side, Reed in the slot, Evans on the other side, and Lynch/Jackson in the backfield, opposing defenses will have a hard time with coverage. 

It’s a well known fact that Evans was double covered for much of last season, as well he should have been, but it isn’t feasible that Owens and Evans can both be double covered this year.

With quick throws and above average receivers, the offensive line won’t have to worry on giving Edwards a significant amount of time.  If defenses can’t stop Edwards, they may choose to send an extra man into the backfield, and that is where fireworks will be seen.

Edward is a smart quarterback, and as soon as he realizes which of his receivers got loose, it will be too late for the defense to react.  Evans or Owens will light up their worlds and make them feel like rookies in their first training camps.

While Owens may be past his prime, he has a chip on his shoulder and by no means has he digressed to just an average receiver.  No matter what the media has to say, Bills fans should be thrilled with Buffalo’s offseason moves, and should prepare for one of the most entertaining seasons in recent memory.