"New" No-Huddle Bills Resemble '90s Greats

To anyone who was in attendance at this year’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony, it was obvious that the NFL's loveable loser, the Buffalo Bills, dominated the class of 2009.  Thousands welcomed career sack leader Bruce Smith and revered original owner Ralph Wilson Jr. into the Hall, cheering at any mention of the great teams of the 1990's.

For the Buffalo Bills organization, 2009 may be remembered as the “year of the throwback.”  This season, the team will celebrate its fiftieth year as a franchise. 

Buffalo players unveiled a new alternate jersey for the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio that hearkens back to the days of Jack Kemp and O.J. Simpson.  The team plans to wear a home and away version of the uniform for three games during the regular season.

Ironically, the Bills’ coaching staff has prepared an even greater homage to the history of the team.  The tribute will not be in the form of a statue, an award or a jersey.  Instead, Bills head coach Dick Jauron has decided to reintroduce the “no-huddle” offense to the NFL.

The Miami Dolphins success with the “wildcat” offense may have something to do with coaches around the league experimenting with new methods.  However, there is nothing new about the no-huddle.  Jim Kelly and the powerhouse Buffalo Bills offense of the early 1990’s tired defensive lineman and frustrated defensive backs for years while executing the no-huddle offense to perfection. 

A no-huddle offense is only effective with an accurate, intelligent quarterback, a physically fit and highly mobile offensive line, an experienced receiving corps who can run precise routes and an athletic back who can catch intermediate passes in the flat while running between the tackles or pulling guards.

The no-huddle offense is designed to tire opposing defenses with near-constant motion and rush coverage assignments.  Defenses which do not adapt quickly to the scheme are simply confused, fall victim to mismatches and fail to account for at least one open man.  With a defense on its heels, the no-huddle can also incorporate a devastating rushing attack, as the focus is on the receiving corps.

Dick Jauron may have reinstituted this offense for this year’s Buffalo team after examining his personnel and realizing they bear a striking resemblance to the Bills' dominant Super Bowl teams.

While the present team may not be stacked with future Hall of Famers, each position is filled with more than capable individual talent, which only requires the right system to start functioning as a cohesive force defenses will respect and fear.

The most unfair comparison may be at the QB position.  Hall of Fame quarterback and foundation of the Bills’ franchise for over a decade, Jim Kelly was at the helm for the greatest years in team history, executing the no-huddle to perfection and popularizing the “K-Gun.”  He had a strong arm, delivering the ball quickly and accurately. 

Kelly could make all of the throws, but fared best when he could set his feet.  Kelly wasn’t particularly mobile and struggled throwing across his body.  Most importantly, he was smart and could see the gaps in coverage before they developed.

In 2009 the Bills will look to a relatively inexperienced QB in Trent Edwards.  In only his second full season as the starter and team leader, Edwards has all of the attributes to successfully execute the no-huddle offense.  Hailing from Stanford, he has the intelligence to continue to learn the system. 

Edwards is more mobile than Kelly was, but isn’t as precise on the long throws.  He is tough, returning this year from concussions sustained last season which may have contributed to his decreased effectiveness at the position in the last few games.

Edwards will need help from his offensive line and will rely on their ability to move quickly downfield after a play ends.  The O-line of the 90’s teams was anchored by probable Hall of Fame center Kent Hull, as well as other stand-outs like Will Wolford.

This year’s crew is deficient in the Pro Bowl category after trading away Jason Peters to the Eagles in the offseason and filling the gaps with young, unproven talent like rookie Andy Levitre.  As with any offensive unit, if the group can gel and master the new offense, the Bills should be able to run the ball with power and give Edwards enough time in the pocket to deliver the ball to a number of weapons.

The skill positions on the 2009 Bills roster are stacked.  Marshawn Lynch will return as the feature back, but will be complimented by a veritable stable of capable rushers.  Dominic Rhoades, Xavier Omon and Fred Jackson have already proven themselves, but Jauron may have trouble finding enough carries for the crew.  Lynch must serve a short suspension after off-the-field troubles, but the backups will fill his spot easily.

Rushing duties were handled almost exclusively in the '90s by the “Thurminator,” Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas.  A shifty, athletic and fairly lean rusher, Thomas not only juked defenders out of tackles, but also possessed enough power to absorb hits and continue moving.  In addition to taking hand-offs from Jim Kelly, Thomas caught 472 passes for over 4,400 yards in his 12-year career, making him a dual-threat out of the backfield. 

Lynch is more of a physically punishing back, prompting fans to refer to his style as “Beast Mode.”  Lynch doesn’t have hands like Thomas, but is a solid blocker, and can still release to catch screens and punish defenders after the catch.  If he can stay on the field and out of the courtroom, Lynch will be an integral part of the Bills’ attack.

Finally, the Bills of the 1990’s had a reliable receiving corps that could break big plays but also find holes in coverage for possession catches and first downs.  Led by yet another future Hall of Famer in Andre Reed, the Bills also relied on James Lofton, Don Beebe and everything-man Steve Tasker.

While none of the wide receivers were particularly physically imposing, they each brought different skills that allowed Kelly to choose his target depending on the play call.  Lofton was always a deep threat, Beebe was a speedy wideout with great hands and Reed was always the go-to-guy.  If a defense doubled Reed, Kelly would make defenders pay by airing it out to Lofton or tossing a slant to Beebe or Tasker. 

Edwards will be just as lucky in 2009 with an all-pro receiving corps that will have safeties feeling alone and afraid.  With the addition of volatile receiver Terrell Owens, Edwards will have a Pro Bowler to rely on to catch and run with a physicality Buffalo was lacking in recent years at his position. 

Combine Owens’ talents with the freakish speed of Lee Evans, the fundamental route running of Josh Reed, the height and raw talent of James Hardy and ankle-breaking moves of Robert Parrish, and opposing defenses will need to be at their best.  The WR position is almost too deep, and the Bills may end up parting ways with one promising player. 

The Super Bowl era for the Buffalo Bills produced at least a half dozen Hall of Famers, who coupled talent with a will to win that was unmatched throughout the league, except when the Big Game finally arrived.  However, there is no denying the no-huddle offense propelled those teams into the record books and history itself. 

The 2009 version of the Buffalo Bills has lofty expectations and a nearly impossible standard to achieve. The fans in Buffalo remember their past glory, and expect a return in the near future.

This year's team may have a shot with the new offensive changes, but will require leadership on both sides of the ball.  It will certainly be interesting to see if the team sticks with the unfamiliar offense or abandons it after a potentially rocky start.