Tim Graham's Mailbag: Bills Redux
Everything you need to know about Buffalo from ESPN blogger TIm Graham:
-Nick, a Dolfan based in Montreal, wants to know which is least likely to occur: The New England Patriots miss the playoffs, or the Buffalo Bills make the playoffs.
I've gone on record with predictions -- as everything looks on paper in June; whatever that's worth -- that the Patriots will go to the playoffs and the Bills will finish last in the AFC East.
But I think there's a greater possibility the Dolphins edge past the Patriots again than the Bills rebound from a 0-6 divisional record to make the playoffs with five jumbled offensive line positions.
Can the Bills make the playoffs? Sure. I covered the 1-15 Dolphins. I've seen stranger things. But the last time I checked, Buffalo didn't hire Bill Parcells or make any corrections to their infrastructure. It's the same team plus Terrell Owens, a decent center, a backup running back and some rookies -- but minus a Pro Bowl left tackle.
That doesn't add up for me.
-Jesse from Facebook asks what kind of action Bills running back Dominic Rhodes will get once Marshawn Lynch returns from his suspension.
I'm eager to see how the Bills plan on using all three backs. Unless NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reduces the suspension on appeal, Lynch will miss the first three games of the season because of repeated bad behavior.
The Bills, however, said they intended to add a veteran back all along. So that suggests they have plans to use three somehow, whereas Xavier Omon's six carries were the only ones by a running back other than Lynch or Fred Jackson.
They brought in Fred Taylor, Kevin Jones and DeShaun Foster before signing Rhodes. The Bills clearly weren't looking for depth alone. Based on those names, they wanted production.
Lynch averaged 15.6 carries and 2.9 receptions a game last year. Jackson averaged 8.1 carries and 2.3 catches. If all of them are active on Sunday, then Rhodes might get only two or three attempts and a couple passes thrown his way.
-Shane in East Bay, Calif., contends the Bills have top-five running backs, top-five receiving corps and an improved offensive line. He can't understand why the so-called experts "are sleeping on the Bills' offense."
The Bills have impressive depth at the skill positions, but let's not get kooky. They added Rhodes to a backfield that ranked 14th in rushing last year, and they traded away their best run blocker: Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters.
I do agree the Owens signing gives them a dangerous receiving crew, but will Trent Edwards be able to distribute the ball? I think he can if his blockers withstand, but that O-line has more question marks than Matthew Lesko's suit, and Edwards has a poor track record when it comes to injuries.
So I don't think observers are sleeping on the Bills' offense. We're waiting to be shown something.
-Brandon from San Diego would like me to list my "fantasy studs, duds and sleepers" from the AFC East.
Bills Studs: Lee Evans, Marshawn Lynch
-Ryan in Howell, N.J., asks who I think has the AFC East's best secondary and how I would rate all of the starting cornerbacks.
Darrelle Revis
Will Allen
Leigh Bodden
Terrence McGee
Lito Sheppard
Leodis McKelvin
Shawn Springs
Eric Green
-James in Rochester, N.Y., inquires about Buffalo's possible interest in Michael Vick and asks if Tim Tebow will be considered more valuable to NFL teams because of the Wildcat.
A Bills source told me in May they were not remotely interested in Vick. The team's opinion might have changed since then, but I highly doubt it.
As for Tebow, the Wildcat phenomenon might be the best thing that ever happened to him. Football draftniks have wondered for a couple years if Tebow could play in the NFL, but quarterback versatility is prized appreciably more than it was when he won the Heisman Trophy. Many see his future at H-back, but he'll have a better shot at quarterback because of the Wildcat.
over 2 years ago
MattRichWarren
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he's right on the most important point
We’re waiting to be shown something
In regards to all the ?s, what else could a realistic mind think?
The Bills CAN win any game
Bodden is a good player, but no way is he better than McGee….
I think there’s a big gap between Revis and the rest of that list too.
~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."
I think Bodden has been increadibly overated for a long time. Sure he’s made some great plays, but he disapears at times too, plus he can never stay healthy.
by CanadianBillsFan on Jun 23, 2009 4:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Will Allen?
That dude is barely okay as a starter and then ranking better than McGee, come on…spewing what other analysts tout is not journalism…Tim Graham is a duechebag…
My list…
1-Darrelle Revis
2-Terrence McGee
3-Lito Sheppard
4-Leigh Bodden
5-Leodis McKelvin (the only guy on this list that has the same or better abilities than Revis, minus the experience of a year)
6-Will Allen
7-Eric Green
8-Shawn Springs (simply too old)
by NorCal BillsFan on Jun 22, 2009 2:52 PM EDT reply actions
Jason Peters our best run-blocker?
He was our best all-around O-lineman soley based on ability, based on production he was fourth on the list behind Walker, Butler, & Dock when is came to run-blocking last year only ahead of Preston/the other guy and when it came to pass-blocking (again based on production and not ability), he was fourth again only head of the impossibly bad Preston/Fowler combo (JP still gave up more sacks that this combo, but I can’t reasonably argue that he was worse than those two).
by NorCal BillsFan on Jun 22, 2009 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions
agreed
I definitely scoffed at that list too when I saw where he had Bodden and Allen. However, I have been reading for a while and I think Tim Graham is usually pretty fair when discussing all the AFC teams. He doesn’t think the Bills will be very good and I think his reasoning is fair (mostly pointing to the question marks on our own line). Tim, Chris Brown and Brian here all run excellent blogs, and given the usual cross-referencing, I think they all appreciate one another’s work. I know I appreciate it, especially in these down NFL times. Anyway, I’m glad we’re still considered huge underdogs, it would be too unfamiliar if the Bills were regarded otherwise.
mostly pointing to the question marks on our own line
Pretty much any reference from Graham is about the o-line as far as negatives.
Me personally – i’m not overly worried about it. Is it a concern – yes – but guard is one of the easier positions to learn in the NFL. Most positions have a much larger learning curve. I’d put guard as the easiest to learn in the NFL (save punter, long snapper, place holder) for a player coming out of college. Then we have Walker and Butler who have both played tackle and our C is already experienced there.
Call me crazy – but i’m really not overly concerned with it. Pass protection the first few games might be an issue from time to time – but it’ll come along quicker than what most people think – especially with 5 preseason games.
Everyone has a photographic memory… some just don’t have film
by J2 on Jun 22, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Exactly how I feel...
I understand the need to question our O-line (it’s fair, but it’s lazy IMO) when comparing us to the other teams in the AFC East, but I still think that they play on Buffalo’s past more than they should. I mean look at this statement again “as everything looks on paper in June; whatever that’s worth — that the Patriots will go to the playoffs and the Bills will finish last in the AFC East.” Really? With the Patriots you have Tom Brady’s knee, is that not a concern? Without a tested backup QB and their aging defense I think they are going to struggle at some point this year…The Dolphins, IMO are the favorites right now, but their offense is just okay and their defense is good. The Jets have the best defense in the division and should only get bettet this year, but will be fielding a rookie QB and they have no WRs…The Bills have the most talent on offense in the division, IMO our defense is better than the Patriots and the Dolphins (minus the excellent coordinators which mask the aging talent on both teams) and our special teams is by far the best in the division. Our O-line is our biggest concern and I am not worried about it at all. I see the AFC East shaking out like this: 1 – Dolphins, 2a – Patriots, 2b – Bills, & 4 – Jets.
by NorCal BillsFan on Jun 22, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Lazy?
He can only answer the questions that are asked, you know?
Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
by MattRichWarren on Jun 22, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Hmm, I agree with the most points he make, though I don’t at all agree with the rankings of the CB’s, but in that regard Graham is not basing it on film but on what he thinks, so it is what it is. Lito Sheppard is not a starting caliber CB no more – look at the way he has played the last two seasons with the Eagles, and this will seem indisputable. Leigh Bodden did nothing with the Lions, though he’s a solid fit in Patriots system. Luckily for us, he’s only on a one-year-deal, so he’ll likely – when the season is done – be looking to cash in with another team.
I love the fact that he’s hating on the Bills, because when we’re having lots of success, he can kiss our asses and feel the bittersweet taste of being utterly wrong, but again our guys have got to prove him wrong. I believe in our guys and that they can make the playoffs this year, but – like with 9 out of 10 teams in this league – we’ve got to develop and be much, much, much better at finishing games; in that cohesion the coaching staff must learn that conservatism more than often is what gets them fired, not being aggressive.
Aristoteles – a very famous Greek scientist – used to say: ‘We make war that we may live in peace". I know this isn’t the quintessential context, but if we’re to make the playoffs (live in peace), we must make things happen and get the job done (make war).
by BillsfanfromDenmark on Jun 22, 2009 5:38 PM EDT reply actions
I don't think Graham hates the Bills.
He keeps saying “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
by MattRichWarren on Jun 22, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions
*Aristotle is his name is his name in English, sorry
by BillsfanfromDenmark on Jun 22, 2009 5:38 PM EDT reply actions
Very Fair
Not a homer, but a very fair evaluation. We added a great WR, a backup, running back, a decent center and “a bunch of rookies”.
A lot of people around here want to project our rookies, especially on the O-line as major additions. Let’s take a step back.
"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 Jun 22, 2009 7:31 PM EDT reply actions





















