Seen and Herd: Preseason Week 1 | Bills Vs Titans

The 2009 NFL season has officially started. Well, just for the nuts that take preseason games seriously like myself.

Realistically, everyone's record is still 0-0 and Kickoff Weekend isn't for another month, but having the chance to watch live football brought joy to my life once again.

Now down to business. From here on out I'm going to piece together a few observations, reviews, and thoughts from each Buffalo Bills game. 

Here's what I took from the Hall of Fame game yesterday:

The Bills looked rusty.

Period.

But they were the first NFL team in camp. What's up with that?

Rust at this point is still perfectly fine. Now if the third preseason game finishes and the Bills first-teamers are still drastically slower, weaker, and unprepared compared to their opponent (Green Bay Packers), then there'll be some reason to worry.

But even still, the main worry that comes from the preseason is injury. Not the first team failing on third down during their only series, or a kicker missing a chip shot. Ask any coach.

The Bills finished the game with no major injuries—check.  

Back to the game. Back to the sloppiness. Most of this came from the offensive line, a component of the Bills team the experts have been pointing out as weak since Jason Peters left for Philadelphia.

Eric Wood, looking ferocious, drove a few defensive tackles back with ease and consistently reached the second level—but it was clear he was playing in his first NFL game. He whiffed on a few counter-moves, something he'll need to get accustomed to playing in the AFC East that's loaded with beefy, agile interior defensive lineman.

Langston Walker moved his feet well, but did get beat on the outside via the speed rush occasionally. This seems like a scary predicament because Walker's protecting Trent Edward's blind side, but if there's one go-to move Edwards has in terms of moving in the pocket, it's the slide forward prior to his rapid release.

Walker needs the extra game to get the feel for how fast those ultra-athletic defensive ends will be turning the corner. 

Demetrius Bell didn't look like a guy playing in only his fifth year of organized football. I'm not at all stating that he stood out and dominated the right side, but he never got beat badly, and he blocked well in the run game.

The Brad Butler injury may be a blessing for the Bills because Bell will see a great deal of playing time during the preseason, and his potential is through the roof. Time to turn that promise into production.

Hangartner was solid as expected manning Melvin Folwer's old position. He's unquestionably an upgrade from Folwer, but he'll be tested against Kris Jenkins, Vince Wilfork, and Jason Ferguson. 

Boy did Andy Levitre have a tough night. Although Trent Edwards put the interception solely on his own shoulders during a post-game interview, Levitre being man-handled into Edwards' step forward caused the ball to sail over Lee Evans' well run seam route.

It did look like Levitre was a victim of illegal hands to the face on the play, but he consistently stood out in a negative way, whether it was being beat on a bull rush or missing after a swim/spin move. Yesterday's game is the wake up call he needs. He was a force in college. This isn't the Pac-10 anymore. 

I criticize, but the first-team offensive line didn't allow the Titans to register a sack, and the offense was clicking until the aforementioned interception.

The run game didn't astound anyone, but it wasn't expected to. Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson are hard runners, but fully understand that "Beast Mode" and "Action Jackson" aren't needed until Monday Night Football on September 14. Or in Lynch's case, Week Four.

You can look at the back-up quarterbacks last night from two different angles. Either Ryan Fitzpatrick paved the way for Gibran Hamdan or Hamdan is knocking on the second-string door.

Probably a little of both.

Fitzpatrick seemed scared, made hurried throws even in times when he didn't need to, and had a hard time scrambling.

Meanwhile, albeit against third and fourth-teamers, Hamdan managed his game well without any mistakes.

Forget that Matt Baker pick, he won't touch the ball this season.

The first-team defense displayed its eerily similar "bend not break" style, and if it wasn't for a fake punt (which I'm still not sure why it was called) they did force the Titans to punt in their first possession. 

I still don't think Leodis McKelvin is ready. There I said it. He seems so fluid and freakishly athletic, but he must become aware of the common routes receivers run so jumping passes will be easier. Also, he has to sure up his tackling before I feel comfortable with him starting alongside Terrance McGee.

The secondary is still the strong point of the defense because of the depth.  

The linebackers stood strong as a second level, but it would have been nice if Paul Posluszny could have corralled that surefire interception—just for confidence reasons. 

There wasn't a downhill pass rush that many Bills fans were hoping for, but I'm pretty sure Perry Fewell doesn't want any tape of his new outside and zone blitzes. 

Lastly, the play-calling wasn't witty and creative, but again, chalk that up to the fact that the Bills know their biggest advantage heading into Foxboro is that there won't be any tape on their new players and system.

Which brings me to the famed no-huddle offense. Edwards looked cozy directing the fast-paced attack, and Buffalo successful caught a good Titans defense off-guard at various points during the game. 

Terrell Owens caught two well timed passes. Thank god. 

The Bills didn't thrive in terms of big plays or outstanding production in their first preseason game, but it was played how it should be. Get the veterans back into the swing of things and indulge the rookies into the hyper speed of the NFL, while working against actual opponents. 

Remember, first...pre...season...game. 

Next edition: Sunday, August 16th following the Bills second preseason game against the Chicago Bears.