My thoughts on the offseason if anyone cares...

by live6453 on Dec 17, 2009 4:54 PM EST

Regardless of who comes in to run our team next year HC/GM, I would like to see us do a couple things. If we can trade a lower round draft pick or sign Jason Campbell for a reasonable sum, we could have a competition between him, Brohm, Edwards and eliminate the need to spend our first round pick on a QB. We could then draft the best available LT and shift Bell over to RT, which I would personally feel fine with him over there. (These moves are contingent of having all hands on deck come training camp health wise)

This would allow us to shift Butler back into RG, and Wood could move to center. That would give us:

Drafted LT --- -Levitre/ LG ----- Wood/ C------ Butler/ RG ------- Bell/ RT

Depth: T: Scott, Meredith, Chambers

Depth G/C: Hang, Incognito, Simmons

With that mix in training camp, I feel we could field a good core of quality OL depth. This is the most pressing need on our team. I'm not saying we couldn't still spend a 2nd rounder on a Tony Pike or someone if the right value is there. If we got the second LT on the board as well as an impact LB type in the 2nd round (Sean Weatherspoon is who I'd like), you'd have to like our chances. I don't think any QB is going to be there in the first round where we're likely to be picking that would really improve our team enough now to warrant taking him. I also don't think that we as a fanbase are ready for another 2-3 year project that it might take with a supposed frachise QB in the first round. I just think with the improved OL you could find a quality NFL QB out of Campbell, Edwards, and Brohm. I've always thought Campbell has gotten a bad reputation playing with all the turnover at OC. He's had five or six in the short time he's been in the league. Let me know what you guys think.

Just another great fan opinion shared on the pages of BuffaloRumblings.com.

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I like Campbell as an option

I also like Pike as an option in the second’

Concerning the O-line: I agree we must draft LT 1st with a LB second (if Pike is not available) but i am nervious about the availability of Wood. This is why i like the Incognito signing. I believe he was a C in College and could easily take the place of Wood or Buttler (i think Hang still has potentail with another year of this system under his belt.)

This line should have a better oppertunity to work together next year and will benifit from not running a no huddle the entire offseason.

With a better O-line comes better QB play from whome ever is back there.

"Hold ya chin up...nuh nuh nuh...gone" -Marshawn Lynch-

by billsoferie on Dec 17, 2009 5:03 PM EST reply actions

not sure Hang will get better

with another year of this system under his belt.

I think everyone will be learning a new system next year.

"The Bills have no playoff aspirations" – Dan Dierdorf

by Joe P. on Dec 17, 2009 5:57 PM EST up reply actions

Well new system or not, i think it is too early to count him out

"Hold ya chin up...nuh nuh nuh...gone" -Marshawn Lynch-

by billsoferie on Dec 17, 2009 6:08 PM EST up reply actions

I do.

Hang would be best as a swingman backup for the inside line, at guard or center.

There's not a wide receiver who is fast enough, that J.P. Losman can't overthrow him on a fly pattern.

by The Buffalo Kid on Dec 18, 2009 1:16 AM EST up reply actions

I haven’t seen anyone else mention this yet. Next season could be a lateral move for many of the rookies, having to re-learn a whole new system.

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by TheAfghanTwilight on Dec 18, 2009 7:14 AM EST up reply actions

Not sure lateral is the right term, but I get what you mean

The yearish experience that they got is extremely valuable to their development. They will continue to get better next year, it just might not be as great as it could have been.

"The Bills have no playoff aspirations" – Dan Dierdorf

by Joe P. on Dec 18, 2009 2:44 PM EST up reply actions

interesting thought, but I think if the rookies can learn the system and play decent going from college to pros, it wont be hard to learn a different system with a year of what the NFL is like under their belts.
but i get what your saying, so maybe a diagonal move?

by BillsfanDan on Dec 20, 2009 2:50 AM EST up reply actions

I think two steps forward, one step back is more accurate.

"The Bills have no playoff aspirations" – Dan Dierdorf

by Joe P. on Dec 20, 2009 8:54 AM EST up reply actions

Yes. It is.

Thanks, I am not a wordsmith, especially at 3 am

by BillsfanDan on Dec 20, 2009 9:48 AM EST up reply actions

That's one step forward more than we're used to

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Dec 21, 2009 1:45 AM EST up reply actions

Well to be fair, the Bills coaches usually are not able to get a player to regress until year 3

"The Bills have no playoff aspirations" – Dan Dierdorf

by Joe P. on Dec 21, 2009 10:29 AM EST up reply actions

First, you might want to not have the ‘woe is me’ factor in your headlines.

Second, there is a good chance that Jason Campbell will be available in free agency. The question will be how hotly he is pursued. With one of the typical ‘spend big now-think about it later’ off the table and another (Jerry Jones) not needing a QB, Campbell might not be hit with too many astronomical offers. Buffalo could at least pursue him ahead of the draft. I don’t think he’s the long term answer but he might bring more to the table than Edwards or Brohm.

Third, Buffalo will not keep 11 offensive linemen on the roster. Scott and Meredith may have some practice squad eligibility, which would drop the number to 9…and it’s a good bet that Simmons is one and done. That, of course, assumes that Incognito doesn’t do anything to become persona non grata.

Fourth, I don’t know that I’d like our chances with a rookie LT and an unproven guy at RT. Buffalo pretty much went that route this year and it didn’t work out terribly well. Hmmmm, that’s a bit harsh. Perhaps I should say that it didn’t work out terribly well for the Bills; it worked marvelously for the opposition.

Fifth, I’m a Butler fan. I can also count and simple math argues against counting on Butler due to his extensive injury history. He’s missed two full seasons and portions of two more. If Incognito plays well in Wood’s guard slot (before, you know, he ends up on IR…) and takes being cut by the Rams as the slap in the face for being an idiot that it clearly was meant (as in he learns from it and stops being an idiot), he might be the better bet at guard with Butler in reserve.

Of course we could make things more challenging, Lisa, but then the stupider students would be in here complaining, furrowing their brows in a vain attempt to understand the situation--Seymour Skinner

by Ron From NM on Dec 17, 2009 5:57 PM EST reply actions

A question: having gone through all of Bell’s growing pains at LT this year, does it make sense to draft a rookie who will almost certainly go through similar growing pains next year, or would it be a better bet to put Bell back at LT and put the rookie (assuming we draft one) at RT? I keep thinking of D’Brickashaw Ferguson whose rookie year at LT was a lot like Bell’s (with lots of people saying he had been a big draft mistake), followed by an excellent second season.

One answer might be that we should draft a LT and let him compete with Bell. Ok, but that means using our first-round pick, while a good RT can usually be found in Round Two. And the fact is that we have MANY other needs for that first-rounder.

by Macktruck on Dec 18, 2009 12:59 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Or just draft a RT

That is what Trent Williams OT(OKLA) will probably end up playing.

by Brennan McCoy on Dec 18, 2009 6:50 PM EST up reply actions

Scott has used up his PS eligibility. Meredith will likely be active for 9 games this year which would eliminate his PS eligibilty. Incognito is also not under contract for next season.

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by MattRichWarren on Dec 19, 2009 1:02 PM EST up reply actions

My preferance for an O-Line Next year

LT-First Round Pick
LG – Levitre
C – Wood
RG – Incognito
RT – Bell
- i know there is some disagreement about about drafting a tackle in the first round, but based on what i have seen this year at LT, next years starter is not on the roster. If LT can be addressed in free agency, then I say go after a LB in the first round. However, I think if we put that OL in place going forward, our OL would be set for for a while.

by MarkyMarkO on Dec 17, 2009 6:32 PM EST reply actions

I like your thoughts on the OL, but no way we keep 11 OL. I think Meredith is the only one who is PS eligible and he would get picked up by someone else.

"Security comes from earning it--not seeking it." Marv Levy

by howedyhowe on Dec 17, 2009 11:21 PM EST reply actions

He wasn’t when he was on Green Bay’s PS. Well…. nobody except the Bills.

"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
Your daily source for Buffalo Bills information.

by MattRichWarren on Dec 19, 2009 1:03 PM EST up reply actions

I think we need to Start Drafting OL and LB.

Like we have been drafting DBs the last few years.

I don’t want even one pick spent on a DB this year, unless we trade one for a pick.

We keep injuring DB’s and keep plugging in more.

We Keep injuring Lineman and Linebackers and keep plugging in scrubs or castoffs from other teams.

Time to draft some OL and LB this year.

I don’t think this is the year to draft a QB.
.

There's not a wide receiver who is fast enough, that J.P. Losman can't overthrow him on a fly pattern.

by The Buffalo Kid on Dec 18, 2009 1:21 AM EST reply actions

Ron I'm just saying all of those guys will likely be on the roster in offseason camp.

I know we’re not going to keep 11 OL, but with them on the roster whoever is brought in will have a fair chance to evaluate who to keep and who to cut before draft time. There’s never any legitimate veteran franchise LT’s available via FA. Therefore it’s going to be incredibly difficult to not solve that problem via the draft. Bell showed me enough at LT to prove he can be an adequate RT in this league. Also, I did preface my statements that I was assuming optimal health in training camp, which is a major question. I just think the cupboard is not bare.

by live6453 on Dec 18, 2009 10:20 AM EST reply actions

I would be genuinely excited with improving are O-line and bring in Jason Campbell instead of drafting a QB. Bring in a new GM and create stability in the Coaching staff and improve from the inside out on both sides of the ball. And by the way post your opinion whenever you want that’s what this sites for…shot I know I’m wrong most of the time but I just enjoy Bills Talk

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by Moe_frm_B_ on Dec 18, 2009 7:08 PM EST reply actions

Options for Bell

1. keep him at LT
2. move to RT, with the draft of a LT
3. move to G, move Butler to RT, draft LT, move Wood to C
4. buy Q-tips so he can hear the count

by BillsfanDan on Dec 20, 2009 3:01 AM EST reply actions