Circling The Wagons: Buffalo Bursts Out to 4-0

In a year of surprises and shocking finishes (Tampa Bay Rays, Davidson's NCAA Run, etc.), it is only fitting the consummate underdog, the Buffalo Bills, are reigning supreme thus far in the AFC East. Thanks to a revamped (and less predictable) offence, and young talent growing up faster than expected, the team has busted out of the gates and holds a perfect 4-0 record through the first quarter of the 2008 NFL season.

Despite limping to the finish in 2007, the Bills shows many positive signs , most notably from rookies Marshawn Lynch and Trent Edwards.  Rarely if ever do two potential franchise players come from the same draft, and a third is almost unprecedented as MLB Paul Posluszny has established himself after suffering a broken leg in week one of last season. Combine those 3 with spectacular wide-out Lee Evans, Dynamic return man Roscoe Parrish, and former all pro Marcus Stroud, and you have the makings of a very dangerous and talented team.

Despite being the dark-horse "team to surprise" by many National media outlets and prognosticators, the jury was still out on whether the offence was potent enough to win games.   Cue new offensive co- coordinator and former quarterbacks coach Turk Schonert, who was appointed to replace outgoing OC Steve Fairchild.  Under Fairchild the Bills  offence was at times very predictable and allowed for very little creativity.  Thus far Schonert has exhibited some of the unorthodox formations not seen since the days of the Mike Mularky era.  Schonert has given Edwards the reigns of the offence and has allowed for more big plays to take advantage of the explosiveness of both Evans and Parrish.  He has given Lynch a chance to pound away like he loves to do as well as stretch him out and get him into some space so he can use his power to dominate at the second level.  Keeping the offence on the field has in turn made the defence more effective and fresh, bringing to mind the dominance the unit has exhibited in the past.

That defence led by the unfazed second year Posluszny, is exerting its dominance by stuffing the run and coming up with big plays.  Stroud in particular has solidified a defence which was horrendous against the run a year ago.  Just his large presence in the middle along with fellow tackle Kyle Williams make it harder to run inside and give ends Chris Kelsay and All-Pro Aaron Schobel more room to harass opposing quarterbacks.  Perhaps one of the most under the radar signings of the off-season was that of Linebacker Kawika Mitchell.  Mitchell was one of the leaders of the Super Bowl Champion Giants and is exuding a winning mentality on this team. 

Finally, the Bills may have chosen the perfect time to play up to their unlimited potential.  With all the happenings early on the Bills time is now and the AFC East and AFC in general is ripe for the picking with Tom Brady out, Peyton Manning and the Colts looking shaky on offence and vulnerable on defence and a down year for the majority of teams left on the schedule.  Skepticism still abounds especially with a young team but if the Bills young players continue to grow and the injury bug doesn't bite we may see something special in Buffalo that we haven't seen in a long while!