Bills: Love and hate
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PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Poor Buffalo. Every year the Bills try to push for the top of the AFC East, and then September arrives and gravity takes over.
Buffalo was last in the division last year. It was last the year before that, too. And it could be ... no, should be ... last this season. But strange things have happened in the AFC East, with none stranger than Miami rebounding from a 1-15 finish in 2007 to win the division the next year.
Could Buffalo be next? It's doubtful, and here's why:
Love
• Rookie running back C.J. Spiller. He was the best running back in the draft, and he proved why in the Bills' preseason defeat of Indianapolis. He is quick. He is fast. And he is a game-breaker. Having him gives the Bills depth at a key position, with Spiller taking a seat alongside Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch. If you're going to win in Buffalo you must be able to run, and the Bills can anywhere and over anyone with these three.
• The secondary. It's solid and deep, and it produces a raft of takeaways. The Bills were second only to Green Bay last year in interceptions with 28, including a league-leading nine by then-rookie Jairus Byrd. There are cornerbacks galore, and the safeties run four deep. Memo to Baltimore: Looking for a cornerback? I suggest you start here.
• The special teams. The Bills have the best collection of returners on the planet, with Spiller joining Roscoe Parrish, Leodis McKelvin and Terrence McGee. Oh, and did I mention Fred Jackson? All he did was gain over 1,000 yards in returns last season. Throw in punter Brian Moorman, kicker Rian Lindell and coach Bruce DeHaven, and you have a unit that is bullet proof.
• Nose tackle Kyle Williams. Yeah, OK, at 6-feet-1, 306 pounds, he's not exactly suited to play the nose in a 3-4, but when did that bother Williams? A try-hard guy who makes a ton of plays, he led the Bills' defensive linemen in tackles last season and was second to Aaron Schobel in tackles for losses. Williams will be fine in the middle, with rookie Torell Troup relieving him 15-20 plays a game.
Hate
• The pass rush. A year ago Buffalo produced 32 sacks, with Schobel the team leader. Well, Schobel is gone, and the club switches to a 3-4, hoping to get more production out of, say, former first-round pick Aaron Maybin at outside linebacker. Good luck. He barely made a dent as a rookie defensive end.
• Injuries, injuries, injuries. There is no team outside of Fenway Park that suffers injuries like the Bills. A year ago they wound up the season with 20 guys on injured reserve. One game into preseason, Lynch and Jackson were sidelined, with Jackson in danger of missing the season opener. Byrd is hurt, too, nursing an injured groin that could sideline him for the opener. Rookie wide receiver Marcus Earley and linebacker Danny Batten are on injured reserve, meaning they'll miss the entire season. Tight end Derek Schouman is out three to six weeks with a knee injury. And while tight end Shawn Nelson isn't hurt, he will miss the first four games because of a league suspension. Question: When does this organization catch a break?
• Who's Number Two? I'm talking about the team's wide receivers. We all know that Lee Evans is the go-to guy. But who's next? Steve Johnson? James Hardy? Chad Jackson? Roscoe Parrish? Easley might have been in that conversation, too, had he not been hurt. Now he's out for the season, and what else is new around here? A year ago the Bills acquired Terrell Owens to sell tickets and take the heat off Evans, and while they sold tickets Owens didn't accomplish much else. So who will? Scratch James Hardy. He's hurt again and may not make the final cut. Johnson is the likely second receiver, with undrafted rookie David Nelson pushing for the third spot. The good news? The Bills seem to have found a place for Parrish, who is a playmaker with the ball in space. The bad? There is no one here to keep opponents from double-covering Evans.
• The offensive line. It wasn't very good a year ago, allowing too many sacks and left tackle Demetrius Bell taking too many penalties. Bell could be a franchise left tackle, provided he stays healthy. The club is taking it easy with him, giving him ample time to recover from knee surgery, but he's a question mark at a critical position. Remember: He's the guy who covers Trent Edwards' back.
• The first four games. The Bills quickly find out if they cut it under a new head coach. They open with Miami at home. Then it's off to Green Bay and New England, before returning home to play the New York Jets. "I'd be disappointed if we were 2-2," said one player. You gotta be kidding. I'd throw a parade. The Bills may be fortunate to steal one victory.
• The division. New England, Miami and the New York Jets play for first. The Bills are the dead-bolt cinch for last again, and why not? They haven't reached the playoffs in a decade, and they haven't beaten New England in their last 13 meetings.
