Die Hard Bills Fan

Hello Bills fans.  Marcus Stroud showed us last week what kind of dominant player he can be on our defense.  The Bills have missed a defensive tackle with this ability since Pat Williams left after the 2004 season.  The team tried plugging in guys like Larry Tripplett and Tim Anderson.  This totally backfired as either player was able to get any push up front.  Stroud can dominate a game.  He has the strength to push back offensive lineman and the ability to get to the quarterback.  Stroud had two sacks on Sunday and was a handful for Seattle everytime he was on the field.  If Stroud plays the rest of the season as he did on Sunday, the Bills defense will carry this team to the playoffs.  Guys like Aaron Schobel, Chris Kelsay, Ryan Denney, Kyle Williams and Spencer Johnson will continue to benefit from the double teams that Stroud draws.  This week Stroud and the Bills face the Jaguars.  The Jaguars are Stroud’s former team and they gave up on him after the 2007 season.  Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio thought that Stroud would never return to his Pro Bowl form.  The team traded him to the Bills for a third and fifth round pick.  Can you say Stroud will have a monster game this weekend?  I can.  Go Bills.  Beat the Jaguars. 

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Who can wait any longer for another Bills game?  I sure can’t so I will start the breakdown of the game, that takes place on Sunday at 1:00 pm (eastern) when the Buffalo Bills visit the Jacksonville Jaguars.  Today’s “Key’s to the Game” will focus on the Jaguars offensive line against the Buffalo Bills defensive line.

Jaguar’s O-Line

The Jaguars offensive line suffered two big losses in their first game of the season.  They lost both of their starting guards, Maurice Williams (out 2+ months with ruptured biceps) and Vince Manuwai (out the season with torn ACL).

They also don’t have a lot of depth in the position either.  Remember, backup Richard Collier is still in a hospital after being shot before the season opener.  Second year man Uche Nwaneri will have a big spot to fill which will be hard for him.  He has only 1 start in his NFL career after getting into 9 games last season, most as a special teams player.  The other backup now starter at guard is nine year vet Tutan Reyes.  A 9-year vet might sound good but Reyes did not play in a single game last year.  The last time he was in a game was in 2006, when he started the first 6 games for the Bills before he was inactive for the last 10.  These two backups will need to perform in this game. 

Left tackle Khalif Barnes will need to step up his game.  He has started 41 games for the Jags over his first 3 seasons with the team.  He is a player up to the task.   

Dennis Norman, the 8 year vet is at the center position for this one.  He is athletic and can play multiple spots on the line. 

Tony Pashos is the teams starting right tackle.  The hardworking, former undrafted free agent started 14 of 15 games with the Jags last season.  He was picked up by Jacksonville before last season in free agency. 

Overall the team really needs to step up its O-line play if they want to contain the Bills rush.  This is a squad that let QB David Garrard get sacked 7 times last week against the Titans.  Jacksonville was only able to gain 33 yards on the ground last week with Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor as the running backs.  I would have to say they are one of the top tandems in the league.  If the run game doesn’t get going look for the Bills to send blitzes from all over the place and make it another long day for Garrard.

Bills D-Line

The defensive ends for the Bills are defiantly one of the best threesomes in the league.  Pro Bowler Aaron Schobel will get his usual good pass rush.  Even when facing one of the best LTs in the game, and even getting double teamed from time to time in last weeks game, Schobel was able to break though and get a sack.  The other two DEs worth mentioning are Ryan Denney and Chris Kelsay.  The Bills go with a rotation so they always have the freshest D-lineman on the field.  Denney also recorded 1 sack last week, and Kelsay had 1 tackle.

The Bills FINALLY have a great DT in Marcus Stroud.  The Bills went out in the off season in a trade with the Jags to get him, and the big man looks to be at full health.  He showed it in last weeks game and will look to stick it to his old team.  Stroud had 7 tackles and 2 sacks and was a force all game.  He made his home in the Seahawks backfield.  Similar to the rotations for DEs, the Bills also sub in fresh DTs.  Kyle Williams had a huge game, Spencer Johnson also looked reliable and former first rounder John McCargo did not have an impact at all as he spent most of the game of the bench.  Stroud and Williams are the top pair for this group.

A solid line all around.  Stroud and Schobel will have to be accounted for the entire game, leaving room for the others to make plays.  If they can repeat what they did to the ‘Hawks, well watch out Garrard.  This team had 5 sacks in total and only let up 85 yards on the ground, not to mention a mere 10 points!

Winner of this Match up

With the Jags banged up and the Bills coming off such a huge game, I gotta give this one to the Buffalo Bills.

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1st Quarter

Rain was coming down hard and you could tell that both of the teams quarterbacks didn’t play much in the preseason. It was a quarter filled with incompletions and punts. The Bills went on a drive with 4:04 left in the 1^st quarter. It started with great field position (had the ball at midfield). Trent Edwards dropped back and threw a nice ball to Lee Evans down the sideline. Completed for 32 yards. On this same drive the Bills were stuck on 3^rd and 11. It looked like they would have to settle for a field goal but a great play call changed that. The Seahawks showed blitz and it looked like it would work but then Edwards handed the ball to Marshawn Lynch on a draw play. Evans threw a great block downfield that sprung Lynch for a 21 yard touchdown.

Bills lead 7-0 after one quarter of play.

2nd Quarter

The Bills special teams is going to have to step up if they want to stay in ball games this season and they showed up big on a punt return for a TD by return man Roscoe Parrish. Parrish caught the punt and then showed why he is a game changer, makes cut and breaking tackles before he took it all the way to the house, finishing the 64 yard run.

Later in the quarter with about 5:00 on the clock, the Seahawks went on a drive of their own. On 2^nd and 10, the Bills had blown coverage and the Seahawks looked like they could take advantage. Matt Hasselbeck threw a deep ball to Nate Burleson who was wide open. He jumped up, had the ball in his hands but just couldn’t hang on. The next play Hasselbeck dropped back and threw a fade to Burleson who made a great catch in the end zone with Bills CB Jabri Greer on the coverage. Seahawks finally get on the board, 14-7.

Bills kicker Rain Lindell then added a FG to add to the Bills lead, 17-7.

Then after the Seahawks failed to do anything with a minute left, they gave the ball back to Buffalo. Edwards made a few good passes which set up Lindell with another FG try. The 38 yard attempt was up and good.

Bills lead at halftime, 20-7.

3rd Quarter

Seahawks wide receiver Burleson was injured in the 3^rd quarter while running a pattern on 3^rd and 7 with under 6 minutes left. He ran an out and fell to the ground holding his knee. He did not return to the game.

Seahawks would also add a FG to the mix. Score is now 20-10.

With under 3 minutes left in the 3^rd, the Bills lined up for another FG try. The snap was good, the holder (and also punter) Brain Moorman got the snap and then stood up to throw a fake. Ryan Denney (the DE and special teams player) was wide open and ran into the end zone for the first TD of his career. The trick play worked and the Bills are now up, 27-10.

On that kickoff following the Bills TD, Jon Corto the Orchard Park native (who was featured in a previous story) forced a fumble. Bills recover! The Bills then went for the stranglehold. On first and 10, Edwards faked a handoff and steps up in the pocket. He then delivers a strike to TE Robert Royal who caught it for a 30 yard TD. Bills now lead 34-10.

4th Quarter

It was just a quarter where the Seahawks couldn’t do anything and the Bills were content with running out the clock. With :34 left in the game, the Bills finally accomplished something that they were close to the entire game. They intercepted a pass. Terrence McGee picked off the Hasselbeck pass and that would seal the game. BILLS WIN 34-10!

The NFL.com Gamecenter: Post Game is attached.

Wrap Up

Trent Edwards went 19/30 with 215 yards and a TD with no INTs.

Marshawn Lynch led the ground game carrying the ball 18 times for 76 yards and a TD. Fred Jackson also contributed with 31 yards on 10 attempts.

Brain Moorman (holder and punter) went 1/1 for 19 yards and a TD.

It seemed like everyone was catching passes in this game with 6 different players recording receptions. Evans had 4 catches for 102 yards, Royal had 6 catches for 52 yards and a TD. Josh Reed caught 3 balls for 37 yards, Denney of course had the TD catch for 19 yards. The running backs also got mixed into the action with Lynch catching 3 catches for 18 yards. Not only did Parrish serve as a big return man but he also caught 3 balls for 6 yards (mostly on screens).

Lindell went 2/3 on field goals with one of them being blocked.

McGee had an INT, Denney, Aaron Schobel and Kawikea Mitchell all had 1 sack. DT Kyle Williams had 1.5 sacks while newcomer Marcus Stroud contributed with .5 sacks.

Not only did Moorman throw the TD pass, he also averaged 40.6 yards a punt (on 9 punts) with 3 inside the 20.

Keith Ellison played well at LB today in place of Angelo Crowell who will be out for the year. All of the newcomers on D looked amazing too, not to mention 2nd year man Paul Poz.

MORE TO COME on this game tomorrow where I tell you what my feelings are. Of course it will be happy though because the Bills WON! LET’S GO BUFFALO!

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The Buffalo Bills named their team captains today. Six were named in all and of the 6 captains, 3 are retutning from last season.

Lee Evans (offense), Chris Kelsay (defense) and Brain Moorman (special teams) were the 3 captains that were named again for a second straight year. Second year quaterback Trent Edwards was also named a captain on the offensive side of the ball. Thrid year saftey Donte Whitner, who has showed great leadership for such a young player will also represent the defense. George Wilson, the backup saftey was given the 2nd special teams captains role.

All of the players were voted captain by their teammates.

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The season is starting in just under 5 days with the Buffalo Bills home opener just around the corner. The game is of course on Sunday, September 7^th when the Bills take on the Seattle Seahawks at the Ralph at 1:00 PM (Eastern Time).

So what am I going to do for you guys out there reading this? Get you pumped for the regular season opener! From now until Sunday I will be covering the Bills as a team and their chances of making the playoffs. First, I will cover the Buffalo Bills defense. I will list the depth chart of the position in my breakdown of the D position by position and give them an overall grade along with some commentary of the team.

DE

1. Aaron Schobel

2. Chris Kelsey

3. Ryan Denney

4. Chris Ellis

5. Copeland Bryan

The Bills have a very solid group of defensive ends on the roster this year. That means they will have a good duo out there on any play seeing as the Bills like to rotate in the freshest players on the D-line… Schobel has made the pro bowl two years in a row but he is trying to improve his sack total for this year after only 6.5 sacks last year, the lowest in his career since his rookie season back in 2001… Kelsey is trying to return to top form after he battled nagging injuries all last season. He underwent off-season surgery on his torn tendon in his ankle… Denney is also trying to return to top form after he had to undergo foot surgery. He was only able to play in 7 games last year due to the injury… Chris Ellis is the rookie DE from Virginia Tech. He was selected by the Bills in the 3^rd round. Ellis could be used as a situational pass rusher and is also good against the run. Fast fact, the last DE selected by the Bills from VT, Bruce Smith… Bryan appeared in only 2 games last season and was later put on the IR in December. Before joining the Bills last season, Bryan was on the Bear practice squad…

GRADE: B

DT

1. Marcus Stroud

2. Kyle Williams

3. John McCargo

4. Spencer Johnson

The Bills are hoping that a healthy Stroud can return to his former pro bowl form. The 6’ 6’’, 306 lb. tackle was brought in to help improve the Bills D against the run which finished near the bottom of the league last season. Stroud will also get some double team attention at the line giving the DEs and LBs some room to run and make plays… The 25 yard old Williams just signed a contract extension this off-season for 3 more years in Buffalo… McCargo, the former 1^st round pick (26^th overall) in the 2006 draft was fined this spring for being overweight. He reported to camp in shape and looks to build into a starting DT… Johnson came over in the off-season as a free agent from he Vikings. He didn’t put up huge numbers because he played behind the monstrous Williamses in Minnesota…

GRADE: B- (Grade will improve after we see how Stroud plays)

MIDDLE LB

1. Paul Posluszny

2. John DiGiorgio

Poz is BACK! After fracturing his forearm in the Bills Week 3 game last year he is back at 100%. The guy just has a nose for the ball and is a great tackler. Through the first 3 games last year, he led the Bills with 26 tackles (remember he didn’t even finish the 3^rd game)… DiGiorgio had a very good year last year filling in for the injuried Posluzny. He had 113 tackles last season to go along with 2 sacks and 1 INT. Provides great depth at the MLB position…

GRADE: B+

WEAK-SIDE LB

1. Kawika Mitchell

2. Jon Corto

Mitchell was an early free agent signing for the Bills. The Superbowl Champion is highly underrated. He had 86 tackles, 4 sacks and 1 INT to go along with 2 forced fumbles. Something to remember, his last game in Buffalo on December 23^rd of last season, he had 2 sacks, forced a fumble, and returned an INT for a touchdown… Corto is the Orchard Park native now on his hometown Bills squad. He was on the Bills practice squad last season…

GRADE: B

STRONG-SIDE LB

1. Angelo Crowell

2. Keith Ellison

The 27 year old Crowell is entering his contract year with the Bills. This is the last season of the 3 year deal he signed in 2005. He too is another Bills LB that is highly underrated. He had 126 tackles last season that led the team… Ellison also played significant time last season. He had 39 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 INT in 12 games last season…

GRADE: B+

CB

1. Terrence McGee

2. Jabari Greer

3. Ashton Youboty

4. Leodis McKelvin

5. Reggie Corner

McGee was the clear choice for the #1 corner spot. McGee has 78 tackles and 4 INTs last season in 15 games… Greer looked to be the odd man out with the Bills after they selected a bundle of corners in the draft. He has played hard though and the Bills coaching staff is impressed. He earned the #2 spot for at least the first half of the season… Youboty was another guy that was as good as gone before the preseason but he played hard and had two very good games. He won the nickel corner spot because of his great progress… McKelvin was the #11 pick in this years draft. He has looked so-so in the preseason. He has either made a good play or has completely messed it up. It will be interesting to see whether he plays a lot at all this year. A candidate to play in the dime and quarter packages for the Bills (which they don’t run very much at all)… Corner was a ball hawk in college and had a sharp preseason. The rookie has even be rumored to be ahead of McKelvin on the depth chart…

GRADE: C+

FS

1. Ko Simpson

2. George Wilson

Simpson is looking to rebound after he was injured in the Bills 1^st game last season against the Denver Broncos and then placed on the IR for the year. The 4^th round draft pick from the 2006 draft is looking to have a breakout year and also continue the chemistry with SS Donte Whitner after the two started their entire rookie seasons together… Wilson played in 12 games last season after Simpson and former Bills safety Brain Leonard went down, before of course he went down to injury also. It occurred before the last week of the season. He ended the year with 37 tackles and 2 picks…

GRADE: C

SS

1. Donte Whitner

2. Bryan Scott

3. John Welding

Whitner guaranteed that the Bills will make the playoffs this season. He has been an unofficial team captain since he was drafted. He shows great leadership and also builts team chemistry by having the team over for film watching and he even took McKelvin under his wing during the off-season Hard qualities to find from a 23 year old entering his third season of NFL play… Scott returns for another stint in Buffalo after he played in 15 games last season, most in a special teams role… Same goes for Welding. Will play in the special teams role…

GRADE: B

Overall the Bills defense has a good mix of playmakers and role players. Due to all of the injuries last season, the Bills now have good depth at almost all of their positions. They are a young D that flys to the football. Look for team to improve as an entire unit this year.

Here is the rundown on what I will be covering the rest of the week:

Weds: Bills Offense

Thurs: Bills Special Teams

Fri: Breakdown of the Bills Schedule and Chances of Making the Playoffs

Sat: Game Preview with my Picks of all of the Winners in Week 1

Sun: Game recap with Commentary

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Hello Bills fans.  The Buffalo Bills defeated the Colts last night at the brand new Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.  J.P. Losman led the first team offense to two scoring drives.  The most impressive was the 18 play 94 yard which took over 10 minutes off of the clock.  The drive was capped off by a one-yard by rookie Xavier Omon.  Losman looked great in this game.  He made quick decisions and released the ball on time to his wideouts.  Its comforting to know that we have a more than capable backup quarterback.  Losman should good command and only had one bad throw.  Lee Evans and Josh Reed were his go to guys and Justin Jenkins made a nice grab for a first down.  The offensive line played well and gave Losman plenty of time to throw the ball.  Left tackle Langston Walker held Dwight Freeney in check and is getting better at his new position.  It was scary when he left the field but x-rays were negative on his forearm.  I still would love to see Jason Peters report one of these days so Walker could move back to the right side.  The Defense had a fantastic game last night getting four interceptions.  Ashton Youboty, Keith Ellison, John Wendling, and Reggie Corner all had picks on the night.  The defensive line played well and on the first play of the game Chris Kelsay sacked Jared Lorenzen.  I cant wait to see this team hit the field on September 7th.  Check out the highlights of the game on nfl.com.  Go Bills. 

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Hello Bills fans.  As most of us know, the Jets have acquired quarterback Brett Favre from the Packers for a draft pick.  I can’t believe they acquired him for a conditional pick.  It could go from a fourth to a first depending on how well the Jets do this season.  I just have to see that this morning when I found out, I was a little angry.  This moves does make the Jets better but I still feel that we have the defense to give Favre nightmares.  The Bills have a deep secondary and a great front seven.  I hope to see players like Aaron Schobel, Marcus Stroud and Chris Kelsay in Favre’s face everytime we face the Jets.  I still can’t believe that Favre is no longer a Packer.  Its going to be strange to see him twice a year.  Lets Go Bills.  Can’t wait to see our guys in action on Saturday. 

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Hello Bills fans.  I was extremely excited when the Bills traded for Marcus Stroud.  A third and fifth round draft choice is a bargain for a player that can dominate on the defensive line.  Stroud is coming into this year healthy and if he can stay that way, I see this defense finishing in the top 10.  There is a cool video about Stroud’s Pro Bowl Presence on BuffaloBills.com.  Stroud is going make players like Aaron Schobel, Chris Kelsay and Ryan Denney very happy.  I believe that Schobel and Kelsay will have double digit sack seasons.  Go Bills. 

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Hello Bills fans.  As the 2008 NFL draft quickly approaches, many so called experts put together their final mock drafts.  One mock I came across has the Bills selecting Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey.  This pick is very intriguing because Harvey had 20 1/2 sacks in his college career.  He would give the team tremendous depth at the position and will be rotating with Pro Bowl defensive end Aaron Schobel, Chris Kelsay, and Ryan Denney.  With our defensive tackle improvements, having four really good defensive ends would put tremendous heat on opposing quarterbacks.  Our guys can stay fresh and constantly bring pressure the entire game.  Although I feel the team should go wide receiver, if Harvey is there at 11, it might be too hard to pass him up.  Go Bills. 

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Hello Bills fans.  Today was the first offseason conditioning program.  As per the Bills official website, nearly 50 players showed up for the voluntary workout.  Players like Trent Edwards, Lee Evans, Chris Kelsay, Paul Posluszny, Josh Reed and Terrence McGee were in attendance.  Its great to see some of the main guys show up.

In other news, the team officially announced the signing of cornerback Will James to a multi-year deal.  James will be given the chance to win a starting job.  He brings experience and size to the Bills secondary.  James is six feet tall and 200 pounds which will help when covering receiver like Randy Moss.  I hope James can stay healthy and help improve the teams pass defense.  Go Bills. 

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