New Offensive Line and the 2009 Bills

by hilliarddavid on Apr 23, 2009 10:17 AM EDT Comment 24 comments

Looking at the Bills in a positive light. Please, no "Negative Nancy's."

I just want to start by saying that if we are going to have a year that we would be replacing or moving, up to four of our offensive linemen and plan on having three impact rookies start (DE or OT or OG or TE or LB); it might as well be this year. Here are my reasons to be optimistic and why:

1. We have an extra preseason game: This will allow our new offensive line to gel with each other and for the rookies to gain valuable snaps in an NFL setting. This will also give Edwards some extra snaps, since it will still only be his second full year starting

2. TO factor: With TO lining up across from Lee it will do several things for our team and offensive line.

It will give Trent one on one options on the outside, especially if they stack the box for the run
If they don't stack the box for the run, then we run the ball with one of our three capable RB (Lynch obviously not until week 4)
Josh Reed is like most other QBs TE for Trent Edwards. With a viable #2 WR, I see Reed having the most improved (not best) stats out of him and Lee

3. Run game: The best way to help a weak offensive line is to run the ball well. Walker (LT), Bell (RT) will do fine while running the ball. This will keep defenses honest and protect Trent.
4. Draft Picks: With Walker and Bell playing tackle, I see the Bills taking the best player available with their first two picks and not trading up to get a player. With how deep the draft is, I can see the Bills trading up in rounds two and three to nab a player the really like.
I wanted to give the plus side to all these moves. A team like the Eagles needs a dominant LT a lot more then a team like the Bills need a dominant LT. The Eagles pass a lot more and have a QB that holds on to the ball. The Bills have a better run game and a QB that gets rid of the ball. The Bills can get by with an above average LT which I think Walker can be... Walker is not a push over.
Please let me know your positive thoughts.

This FanPost was written by a registered user of Buffalo Rumblings. Its views do not necessarily reflect the views of Rumblings' editorial staff, but are just as valued as our own.

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It's about time...

to see someone shed a positive light on our situation. I think our OL will be fine if we don’t draft a OT in the first round. Whether it be Bell or Chambers or someone we add in a later round who starts at LT, depth and versatility is going to be the key to our OL this year. There are multiple T/G and G/C prospects in the draft that we can add.
I would love to see the Bills take the best available player at #11 and #28 while filling holes at the same time.
My ideal picks for the first round would be Curry / Maualuga at 11 and Ayers / Johnson / Pettigrew at 28. That way we take the best person available and fills some of our needs.
NICE WAY TO SHED A POSITIVE LIGHT ON THE 09 SEASON!

by Teaters33 on Apr 23, 2009 10:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Pretty good

I like the positive outlook. I’ve been trying to get everyone around here to take their Peters “Pro Bowl LT” goggles off for a while now. If he and the rest of them were so great, why didn’t we have a top 10 offense? O-Line play is the key to that. There were bad players (Fowler,Preston), underachievers (Dockery), and egomaniacs (Peters). They are gone. Between our current roster and the draft I think the Bills will end up with a nice group of “mauler” type linemen that we’ve needed for years. Enough of the “you’re the biggest guy so you must be the best” garbage. The best thing we can hope for is silence in the media and defenders pancaked on the field. I think the Bills are going to be more than ready for the upcoming season, and we should be pleasantly surprised come the Patriots on MNF. My reservations are on the defensive side of the ball, but I think that will work itself out as well. We’ve got a great arsenal of draft picks to solve a lot of our problems.

by syrbillsfan on Apr 23, 2009 11:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well spoken

When push comes to shove I also feel that the defensive is going to be our weak side. But as you said we have plenty of draft picks to help fill depth and starter positions.
Is it Saturday yet?????

by Teaters33 on Apr 23, 2009 12:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I know, I would like to have something else to talk about.

by syrbillsfan on Apr 23, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You know

The Bills are better because of who they let go. All the team has to now is just focus on one goal that is winning games that lead them to making the playoffs. No holdouts, no underachievers, just players who want to play and win. The motto of the 2009 Buffalo Bills – (it is old school) – Just win Baby!!!!!

Fat, Drunk, & Stupid is No way to go through life.

by Deadpool71 on Apr 23, 2009 1:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice post

It’s great to be optimistic about the O, but numbers 2 and 3 won’t happen if we don’t solidify the OL. Sure, we’ll be able to run the ball against crappy D’s or protect Trent against the Chiefs, but can a lineup with Walker at LT and Bell at RT really handle going up against the Jets or Dolphins run D’s (those are the best we face this year!?!?!?) or some of the top pass rushers we’ll be facing this year???? We need to get over the hump, which includes finally winning games against the best. I’m not sure if it’s possible with that bookend duo, at least not until Bell shows us something.

I do think we’ll be able to run the ball effectively IF our goofball OC sticks with it and we get a quality OG.

~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 Apr 23, 2009 1:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Is your glass

half empty or half full?

Fat, Drunk, & Stupid is No way to go through life.

by Deadpool71 on Apr 23, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

in need of a refill

I can’t be confident about the O until the OL is addressed. I don’t want Walker at LT, nor do I think Bell is capable of helping until we actually see something from him in an actual NFL game. Plus, Schonert was such a dud last year that that is a major concern going forward, as well.

I just hope we get some quality OL this weekend, some guys that will help our O improve. Then I may have some more desire to be confident in our O….

~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 Apr 23, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed but...

that is why I think the extra pre-season game is so vital for the us. Not so much for our defense, but to help our O-line gel. This will help Bell and any rookie we bring in immensely.

by hilliarddavid on Apr 23, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Question???

If Sanchez falls and is available at #11, what is the likelihood we trade back with one of the teams that need a QB?

by hilliarddavid on Apr 23, 2009 1:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

High. But since the chances of Sanchez being available at 11 are extremely low…

Buffalo Rumblings - all you care to know about the Buffalo Bills and more

by Brian Galliford on Apr 23, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah it's more than likely going to be Freeman that people are after...

If people want Sanchez they are going to have to trade up to spot 4.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Apr 23, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Your being kind Brian

There is a better chance I stop choosing hot chicks for my Avatar than Sanchez being there at #11.

"Get ready for the pain women…the pain train is coming Whooo Whooooo !!!!!" – Terry Tate Office Linebacker

by Joe P. on Apr 23, 2009 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

See here: Several teams in play for Sanchez

by Zumone on Apr 23, 2009 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not likely to work out that way...

Why wouldn’t some team try to jump ahead of SF….or Jax for that matter? If somehow he did reach us, I would be ticked if we didn’t trade with Washington or someone.

I would have to think that someone like Washington or Tampa will be a making a significant offer to move into the top 8 to get him….

~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 Apr 23, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

response

would be if the teams are asking to much for a top 8 pick. With only so much time to make a deal, their may be too much back and forth.

by hilliarddavid on Apr 23, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right, but

if they really want Sanchez, they’ll get it done. SF could take him, Jax could take him….why wouldn’t the Redskins or Jets or Bucs or whoever want to jump ahead of them to ensure that happens?

~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 Apr 23, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

no need for ol in round1

The Bills traded Jason Peters from a postion of strength, not weekness. They would not have done so without having the player they like to take over that postion. I see them taking a Guard in the Second rnd and a offensive tackle to develop later in the third or fourth rounds. With that said. I still believe the bills will use their first two picks on BPA’s (best players available)
11th LB/DE Hybrids Orakpo, E.Brown or A.Maybin
28th DT that can play LDE like P.Jerry, Ziggy Hood

by sabrelake1 on Apr 23, 2009 1:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If the Bills end up with Mack, Wood, Unger or Robinson somewhere in there, I’ll be very pleased.

by thefourwinds on Apr 23, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love your optimism!

I’m with you…we’re a playoff team in my mind, just like we are every April! Half full, or half empty, it’s always kool-aid in my glass from March-August…and then reality sets in (OK it waited until October this year!).

Seriously though, I like your points. I think the draft is key and there’s no reason to believe we can’t get two (or more!) quality rookie starters out of our first handful of picks. I would like to see one more piece added to our OL though…for competitions sake. Another point you could add is that our OL will have a full offseason working together, something we couldn’t say last year.

by BuffaloWill on Apr 23, 2009 1:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Is optimism, realistic?

Granted I went off the deep end recently when I have ripped the Bills for allowing the Peters situation to degrade into us losing one of the best OT in the league, event worse, one that is only 27 years old.

We play in a tough division (probably the toughest in football). We face some pretty good NT’s which require help from our guards to handle.

To reconcile the OL, I think we need to do the following:
1) Draft Andre Smith or Michael Oher with the #11 pick. Simply put Langston Walker is not athletic enough to play LT and please don’t have any illustions the Bell is anywhere near ready to play such a premium position.
2) move Chambers to LG, I like Chambers and think he could play well here.
3) Do NOT draft a center, let Hangartner play at the position he plays best.
4) Don’t move Walker, his perfect spot is at RT, not the blindside.
5) Draft Pettigrew (hopefully) with the #28 pick. We will need a decent blocking TE to help out, especially initially in 2009.

Unfortunately, this does not allow us to draft a much desperately needed pass-rushing DE, but it will allow our offensive line the possibility to be effective.

Is that positive enough? You see, I am coming around!

"It's that time of the year where all teams are involved in making some, to a degree, painful decisions." - Marv Levy

by Jason from OH-IO on Apr 23, 2009 2:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs