Bills' major area of regression in 2009: penalties
by Brian Galliford on Nov 7, 2009 8:21 AM EST
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It's fairly easy to blame coaching for every little problem with a given NFL team, and just as easy to ignore giving credit where credit is due to a coach for team strengths. For Buffalo Bills head coach Dick Jauron, credit is hard to come by these days - his Bills are currently 3-5, and as they're also on the heels of three straight 7-9 seasons, consternation surrounding the coach and his team is at an all-time high.
For all of Jauron's faults and virtues, one fact was continually glossed over throughout Jauron's first three years in Buffalo: his Bills teams were some of the most disciplined and technically sound in the game. Jauron got little credit for that. This season, thanks to the Bills taking the youth route at key positions - admittedly, decisions that Jauron had heavy influence in - the Bills are uncharacteristically mistake-prone. Here's a quick history of Buffalo's discipline (or lack thereof) under Jauron.
In 2006, Jauron's first season in Buffalo, the Bills committed 87 penalties on the season - between 5 and 6 per game. That total was tied for the eighth-lowest in the NFL.
In 2007, the Bills improved in the penalty department under Jauron, committing just 78 on the season (4.9 per game). That total was tied for the seventh-lowest total in the league, and the Bills shared that honor with Bill Belichick's 16-0 New England team.
In 2008, the Bills once again improved in this area, dropping their penalty total to 71 on the season - 4.4 per game, and good for the second-lowest total in the NFL (tied with New England again, and behind Atlanta).
In 2009, we've seen a complete regression, thanks mostly to the youth issues along the offensive line. Through just eight games, Buffalo has committed 59 penalties - the highest total in the league at 7.4 per game, or three more penalties per game than they averaged a year ago.
The lack of discipline has undoubtedly been a key factor in the Bills' struggles this season. (Buffalo's opponents have been helpful, committing 36 penalties to the Bills' 18 in their three wins.) Jauron's decisions to make wholesale, youthful changes along the offensive line and in other key areas have led to these issues, and it may ultimately cost him his job. To his credit, however, the penalty issue has gotten slightly better as the season has worn on; after committing 28 penalties in Weeks 1-3, the Bills have totaled 31 penalties in their last five games, a difference of 3 per game. In addition, in their last two games, the Bills have committed just 7 penalties while going 1-1.
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Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/7
by MattRichWarren on Nov 7, 2009 8:21 AM EST
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Rosenhaus says Bills line "potentially worst in the league" | ProFootballTalk.com
Terrell Owens' agent goes off on the Bills coaching, QB play, and pays special attention the Bills offensive line as reasons why his client is under performing in Buffalo this year.
Bills sack numbers are up | BuffaloBills.com
Through the first eight games the Bills rank seventh in the league in sacks with a respectable 18. To a man credit is paid to Buffalo’s new defensive line coach Bob Sanders (pictured above during training camp).
WGR 550 SportsRadio - Excuse me, Mr. Wilson
Nick Mendola wonders aloud what it would be like to sit down with Ralph Wilson like two members of Cleveland's Dawg Pound did with Brown's owner Randy Lerner. His main question is how does Ralph feel about this team and he comes up with three possibilities.
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Your chance to have a voice in HOF voting
by Brian Galliford on Nov 6, 2009 12:31 PM EST
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Fans of the NFL do not have a vote when it comes to placing players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Thanks to an NFL partnership with Van Heusen and JC Penney, however, NFL fans now have a voice and public acknowledgment in the Hall of Fame voting process. The Van Heusen Fan's Choice vote is the result of that partnership, and gives fans some (unofficial) say in the Hall of Fame voting process.
The Buffalo Bills have been fortunate enough to place key members of the organization into the Hall of Fame in recent years, including Marv Levy, Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Bruce Smith and team owner Ralph Wilson. There are, however, still players deserving of that honor - Andre Reed, Steve Tasker, Darryl Talley, Kent Hull and Cornelius Bennett, as examples - that aren't being hyped up enough. In the Fan's Choice vote, for example, Reed is the highest-voted former Bill, but he's approximately 10,000 votes behind leading vote-getter Jerry Rice. I urge everyone to head on over to the voting page and make that change a little.
Again, even though the fan vote does not officially count towards the actual Hall of Fame voting process, the results of this vote will be announced by NFL Network shortly before the official results are announced early next year. Go vote! And, if you've never seen this video... well, let's just say that I've been looking for an excuse to post it for a couple of weeks now, and this is the perfect spot for it.
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First-half defensive rookie of the year -- Bills S Jairus Byrd: Buffalo knew something other teams didn't when it used the 42nd overall pick on a cornerback who is playing better than any top pick.
Playoffs or not, Bills have much to learn post-bye
by Brian Galliford on Nov 6, 2009 9:04 AM EST
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90 comments
The Buffalo Bills are 3-5, and as they enjoy their last weekend off until their 2009 season comes to a close - whenever that may be - it's time for us fans to stop reflecting on what they've done through the first half of the season and to start discussing what we might learn over the next eight weeks.
Clearly, the big questions in Buffalo remain the coaching situation - which is probably tied directly to the outcome of the season - and the quarterback position, which we've discussed very thoroughly over the last couple of days. But from a player personnel standpoint, there is still plenty of progress to be made for several young players. What follows is a breakdown of Bills players with the most to gain, most to lose, and those waiting for some developments to unfold.
Three Bills with the most to gain developmentally
Demetrius Bell. Buffalo's starting left tackle has had his share of struggles early in his career, particularly with consistency (which isn't a surprise) and mistakes (which are incredibly irritating). He's cleaned up his act in the latter department in recent weeks, and it's therefore not impossible to think he can work out some consistency issues over the next eight games, too. No one denies that Bell has solid talent. If he proves he can play left tackle in this league, that's one less major issue the Bills will need to address in the off-season.
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Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/6
by MattRichWarren on Nov 6, 2009 7:34 AM EST
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Offense focused on moving the sticks | BuffaloBills.com
The Bills have used the bye week to focus on converting third downs. This will help even out the time difference their defense is on the field.
Bills' Hardy will join the crowd : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
The Bills have until Wednesday to activate or IR James Hardy. Jay Skurski puts forth the names of Roscoe Parrish and Todd Johnson as likely casualties.
Where Bills run ‘D’ is getting hurt – Inside The Bills
The Bills are giving up the majority of their yards to the outside with opponents averaging 7.31 yards per rush on Buffalo's left side (Kelsay). Chris Brown gives a complete breakdown of where the yards are coming from.
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SB Nation's Mid-Season NFL Studs, Duds Awards - SB Nation
The football bloggers at SB Nation were polled, and the results are now published: SB Nation's 2009 NFL Mid-Season Studs and Duds Awards are up.
No, Jairus Byrd did not get mid-season Rookie of the Year, but not for the lack of a serious campaign on my part. Check out the full list of award winners at the link above.
1 day ago
Brian Galliford
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Bills have tried various methods to address QB
by MattRichWarren on Nov 5, 2009 12:00 PM EST
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116 comments
Since Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly retired after the 1996 season, the Buffalo Bills have tried virtually every strategy available to find the next great franchise quarterback. With Trent Edwards faltering in his third year, the Bills may once again be in the market for the "next franchise quarterback". How might the Bills go about obtaining him? What has the organization tried in the past that may make them weary to go down a specific path again? The quarterbacks' winning percentages with the Bills are listed following each bio.
Draft a second-tier prospects in picks 15-45: Todd Collins (1995-1997), J.P. Losman (2004-2008)
The Bills selected Todd Collins No. 45 overall in the 1995 draft. That year, he started his first game in relief of an injured Kelly. The following year, he started three more games before taking over as the full-time starter when Kelly retired. In 1997, Collins' only full season as the starter, his numbers were adequate, going 215 of 391 with 2,367 yards. His 55% completion percentage and 12-13 TD-to-INT ratio were very lackluster, as was the team's 6-10 record. (41% winning percentage)
J.P. Losman was drafted No. 22 overall in the 2004 draft. In fact, the Bills traded up to get him, giving away their 2004 second-round pick and 2005 first-round pick to obtain the rights to the Tulane QB. Losman started for only one complete season throwing for 3051 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2006. The Bills went 7-9 that year but in 2007 Losman took a severe step back losing the first three games of the year and looking awful in the process. (30% winning percentage)
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