Buffalo Bills Vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Observations For Bills Fans

I'm ready to accept the penalty (fewer reads) for posting a day late, but I was one of tens of thousands that couldn't watch the Buffalo Bills/Cincinnati Bengals until Sunday due to the NFL's lovely blackout policy.

I didn't want to cheat my loyal readers by giving insight on a game I'd only heard on the radio. Seems fair, right?

So for what it's worth, I give to you "Seen and Herd" for Week 3 of the preseason for the Buffalo Bills.

Everything wasn't pretty, but after hearing the game on Saturday, watching it Sunday made me feel that much more encouraged with type of team Chan Gailey is fielding in Orchard Park.

9. Trent Edwards: Another Solid Effort

Trent Edwards cemented himself as the starting quarterback with a 13-for-17, 153-yard performance that included a 12-yard touchdown pass to Roscoe Parrish in the first quarter.

The majority of his throws stayed underneath, but if guys like C.J. Spiller, Parrish and Lee Evans are getting the ball, checking down might not be a bad idea.

He did make two fantastic tosses to Parrish down field and hit rookie wide receiver David Nelson for 14 yards in the first half.

Edwards connected with seven different players during his time on the field.

Not bad.

He looks more calm in the pocket than I've ever seen him. Even during his now infamous 5-1 start in 2008, against what we later found out was atrocious competition, he never threw two touchdown passes in any of those games.

Chan Gailey is proving that sometimes a quarterback is only as good as the system in which he plays.

8. Chan Gailey Runs an Efficient System

Greg Fiume/Getty Images

LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 13: Head Coach Chan Gailey of the Buffalo Bills watches the preseason game against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field on August 13, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

I touched on this in the first slide, but I'm really impressed and somewhat surprised with what Chan Gailey's been able to do with the offense in such little time.

Sure, it's the preseason, but in 2009 the first team didn't score a touchdown in the exhibition games and we know how the offense played out during the regular season.

He understands the offensive line's weaknesses, disguising their faults with quick throws and using their agility with plenty of screens—something I've been calling for.

I'm not calling Gailey an offensive genius just yet, but his team's last two performances are really unlike anything I've seen in Buffalo for over five years.

Gailey's putting everyone in a position to succeed, and that's all you can ask for from your head coach.

7. Here Comes Roscoe

Are we finally in store for a breakout year from Roscoe Parrish?

I sure hope so; the guy deserves it.

He was in Dick Jauron's doghouse last year and has never been able to blossom during his five years in Buffalo.

We always heard he was "too small" to get off the line, but come on, he's the prototypical slot guy that is thriving around the league.

Parrish's athleticism is his greatest attribute, and he is fantastic after the catch.

He caught four passes for 56 yards with a touchdown against the Bengals. 

I watched him in my camp visits and, outside of Lee Evans, he's got the most sure hands on the team. As you can probably imagine, he's also a very exact route runner.

If Parrish is ever matched up against a linebacker, forget about it.

6. The Thriller

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 28: Running back C.J. Spiller of Clemson runs the 40 yard dash during the NFL Scouting Combine presented by Under Armour at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images)

Yeah, I'm talking about C.J. Spiller.

The first running back drafted has made the best of the time he's had as the starter with Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch sidelined with injury.

Talk about someone who can hit a hole and has that YAC ability.

On his two scores, we witnessed how special the kid really is: he bends around the corner faster than anyone, and he's as elusive as they come in the open field. 

He's got world-class speed running north and south.

Spiller will be most effective getting around 15 carries a game while mixing in the screen play.

The former Clemson star can improve on taking what the defense gives him, however. He ran for negative yards twice; reversing his field to bust the big play must be left in college.

C.J. seems to be a smart kid, so I wouldn't be surprised if he limits the negative plays in the future.

Oh yeah, he also must improve on blitz pickup - his whiffed chop block resulted in a Bengals sack.

5. Don't Sleep on the Offensive Line

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

ORCHARD PARK, NY - MAY 01: Andy Levitre #67 and Eric Wood #70 of the Buffalo Bills listen to lineman coach Sean Kugler during Buffalo Bills Minicamp at Buffalo Bills Fieldhouse on May 1, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images

We aren't talking the Patriots line here, but the Buffalo Bills are moving toward a much better offensive front than many people think. 

The interior lineman are jelling and, though they have the tendency to get beat from time to time, the tackles Cornell Green and Demetrius Bell are serviceable.

With Chan Gailey masking the unit's deficiencies, we could be in for a respectable season from the heavily criticized group of a year ago.

4. The Defense Needs to Stop Tweeting, Start Playing

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TORONTO - AUGUST 19: Jacob Tamme #84 the Indianapolis Colts scores a first half touch down with George Wilson #37 and Donte Whitner #20 of the buffalo Bills defending during game action August 19, 2010 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (P

One thing we were almost sure about was that the defense would be among the league's finest.

Drayton Florence frequently tweets about the Bills having the best secondary in the NFL, and safety Donte Whitner joined the boasting by telling national media outlets that Buffalo's safeties are tops in professional football.

Easy, gentlemen.

In two straight games, in which they faced two elite quarterbacks, this very confident Bills secondary was abused.

The aforementioned Florence was flagged for pass interference (iffy call) and both of Carson Palmer's touchdown passes were thrown to wide open receivers.

Donte Whitner did deliver a crushing blow on Cedric Benson that halted the Bengals drive on 4th-and-1, but as a former No. 8 overall pick, he needs to lead his unit to more consistent performances.

3. Defensive Line

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

ORCHARD PARK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: Marcus Stroud #99 of the Buffalo Bills stands on the field with teammates during the game against the Houston Texans at Ralph Wilson Stadium on November 1, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. Houston won 31-10. (Photo by Rick

I didn't see a ton of 3-4 sets from the first-team defense, but in the few times they flashed the look, they were mostly ineffective.

Nothing terrible, but nothing impressive.

Marcus Stroud and Kyle Williams remain the only true "disrupters" on the defensive line, but hopefully the reason we haven't seen much of a pass rush is that defensive coordinator George Edwards is saving the exotic blitz packages for the regular season. 

Torrell Troup got the nod as the starting nose tackle in this game, and I kept an eye on him.

Through three series, Troup was double-teamed frequently and didn't create any push. At this point, I think Troup is still getting accustomed to the overly aggressive NFL centers.

I'm looking for Troup to be more a factor than just demanding double teams, but if he can take blockers away from outside rushers, it'll be something we'll have to accept for the time being.

Chris Ellis, Chris Kelsay and Antonio Coleman are the situational DE/OLBs and will make the occasional play, but I've yet to see anything that makes me believe they'll wreak anything resembling havoc.

I guess only time will tell.

Side Note: I'm worried about Aaron Maybin; he only makes an impact against second- and third-teamers. Develop a counter move, Aaron.

2. Solid Second-Stringers

I've already discussed Antonio Coleman, who's definitely NFL ready, but the Bills have a few other guys that are primed to make the roster.

The unheralded David Nelson caught his second touchdown of the preseason and even saw time with the first team as the fourth wideout, catching that 14-yard pass from Edwards.

We know he's that big target teams look for, and his route-running is squeaky clean.

He played behind stars like Percy Harvin, Riley Cooper and Aaron Hernandez during his time with the Florida Gators and it looks as though Buffalo's acquisition of Nelson was a total steal.

Joique Bell has made his case to be one of the final 53. Chad Simpson can play too, but Bell is sneaky below the lineman and isn't afraid to block. Bell ran six times for only 10 yards on Saturday, but he's a gamer.

With Jackson and Lynch still hurt, I'd be surprised if Bell and Simpson aren't on the opening day roster.

Ryan Fitzpatrick doesn't always look like an NFL quarterback, but he somehow gets the job done. His TD throw to Nelson was from his back foot, but he evades the rush and isn't afraid to zing it.

He has got to be the backup signal caller.

Arthur Moats has played against nothing better than second-string competition during the exhibition games, but Saturday was his best game thus far.

Forcing a few hurried throws and making a quarterback hit, Moats may be in line to become a situational pass rusher if injuries set in during the season. 

1. What's Next?

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

DETROIT - AUGUST 28: Bryant Johnson #80 of the Detroit Lions celebrates a first quarter touchdown with Matthew Stafford #9 of the Cleveland Browns during a preseason game on August 28, 2010 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Ge

We're probably in for a full game of backups when the Bills play the Lions in Detroit, Thursday at 7:00 pm, for the last tuneup before the home opener against the Miami Dolphins.

For once, I've got a good feeling after seeing the starters play in the preseason.