State of the Bills Roster: Guard/Center
by Brian Galliford on Feb 1, 2010 9:00 AM EST
in Buffalo Bills News
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PrintThe Buffalo Bills had severe problems along their offensive line last season. Despite Fred Jackson's excellent numbers at running back, Buffalo's passing game - and, by extension, their offense in general - struggled mightily, and it wasn't just because of the team's poor play at quarterback. The injury-riddled offensive line needs fixing, too - which, of course, is a fact that no Bills fan really needs reminding of.
On the interior line, though, there may not be a lot of work to do. Buffalo had two offensive linemen start all 16 games in 2009, and both of them are interior linemen that will be returning to the team next season. On a team with a lengthy needs list at other positions, the middle three spots on Buffalo's offensive line look relatively stable when compared to other positions (like offensive tackle, for instance). Work may get done in this spot, but the team, fortunately, won't need to do as much to field a solid unit in 2010.
What the new regime might be looking for
That's tough to say. GM Buddy Nix has a priority on the offensive front, and that priority is very clearly OT. Nix has displayed a tendency to prefer bigger interior linemen (case in point: OG Toniu Fonoti was a second-round pick during Nix's tenure in San Diego), but given the in-flux status of the rest of the offense, he might stick with some of the smaller players in this group for a year or two.
Continued health and a return to health for injured second-year man Eric Wood make this list, too.
Current personnel
Just as they do at tackle, the Bills currently employ eight interior offensive linemen in one fashion or another.
Andy Levitre. I remain as high on Levitre as I was during the season - I thought he had a terrific close to his rookie season at left guard, and I think he has the ability to emerge as one of the better young guards in the game next season. He's versatile, athletic and plays with an excellent demeanor, and he really made strides after struggling early on. He's ideal at left guard, and that's exactly where I expect him to stay. Levitre was one of my favorite players last year.
Contract status: 3 years remaining. Owed $1.44M in base salaries.
Eric Wood. In case you missed it, BuffaloBills.com has a nice piece on Wood's recovery this morning. Long story short: Wood was injured a little over two months ago, is still walking in a boot and rehabbing daily, and has not ruled out the possibility that he might be forced to miss the entire 2010 season. Wood wants to be ready for training camp, but that's not a lock to happen in the least. When he returns, I think he needs to be a center, but that might be risky to toss him into the pivot immediately after his return. Wood is a wild card; don't expect anything out of him, but obviously if he's able to participate in training camp, the team will be better for it.
Contract status: 4 years remaining. Base salaries undisclosed.
Geoff Hangartner. Signed from Carolina last March, Hangartner made 16 starts at center for the team last year and was the only player to start every game at the same position. Gold star, Geoff. His play was dependable, if rather underwhelming. Still, offensive lines aren't built around glitz and glamor, and Hangartner's a pretty good football player. He's a smart guy and a good technician, and he'll be very valuable to this roster next season, even if circumstances put him in a reserve role or at a new position.
Contract status: 3 years remaining. Owed $7.7M in base salaries.
Seth McKinney. Signed as veteran insurance last spring, McKinney ended the season on IR (which is applicable to 25% of the entire roster). Now, he's a UFA and completely at the mercy of his evaluation from the new coaching staff.
Contract status: Unrestricted Free Agent
Kendall Simmons. He arrived during the middle of the '09 season and was immediately thrust into the starting right guard slot after Wood and McKinney succumbed to their respective injuries. Simmons was below average, and then he landed on IR, too. Very much in the same situation as McKinney.
Contract status: Unrestricted Free Agent
Richie Incognito. "Enigmatic" doesn't do this guy justice. The penalty machine was signed near the close of the '09 season after St. Louis released him following a two-personal-foul-and-spat-with-the-coach game in Tennessee. Incognito wasn't bad in his short time with the Bills, though he did struggle with penalties while adjusting to his new digs. He's an RFA, and given the fact that the market might not be great for him, the Bills should be able to retain him with relative ease if they so desire. Keep your eye on Miami, who put in a waiver claim last season for Incognito's services.
Contract status: Restricted Free Agent
Christian Gaddis. Brought back as a backup body after the massive spate of injuries. Has a shot to stick again, but likely only as training camp fodder.
Contract status: Exclusive Rights Free Agent
Marvin Philip. He ended the season on IR, and as far as we can tell is still under contract for the 2010 season. That's about as much interest as Marvin Philip holds for us.
Contract status: Undisclosed. Not listed as a free agent by BuffaloBills.com.
Who stays? Who goes?
Levitre and Hangartner are locks to be around based simply on their contracts; their playing abilities help as well. Depending on the injury status of Wood - also a lock to be on the team if he can play - Incognito has a very good shot at coming back as a nice, if somewhat risky, insurance policy. Gaddis might stick around as a camp body, but McKinney, Simmons and Philip have likely suited up for the Bills for the last time, unless Nix decides he wants to re-sign one or two of those players for veteran depth. He does not need to do so.
If I were a betting man (and no, I'm not)...
Levitre is the opening-day starter at left guard, and Hangartner continues to man the pivot. It's a short-term plan, to be sure, because center is where Wood belongs - but who knows if he'll even be able to play? If Wood can play, I'd expect it to be at right guard, with Incognito the insurance policy at both right guard and center should Wood be forced to sit out. Adding a young depth player to push Hangartner and eventually replace Incognito on the depth chart would be a smart move.
Names to keep an eye on
I'm not expecting any major movement at this position, though obviously with the team so starved for talent, nothing would surprise me. I won't list any names here, but don't be surprised if the Bills do some rather major tinkering here - Nix and Chan Gailey need to get their ducks in a row up front.
Previous installments of the State of the Bills Roster series: QB, RB, WR, TE, OT.
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A few questions:
1. Is there going to be an end of the year OL evaluation? I’m curious as to how everyone graded out for the season.
2. If Wood is moved to center, what does that do with Hangartner? Would he move to Wood’s guard position, or be the interior backup?
3. What are the thoughts on the ratings given at Pro Football Focus? Because they aren’t very good for Hangartner (although got better as the year went on), and Wood and Levitre were below average as well (with no real trend, but you could reasonably expect them to improve year over year?).
1) Ask Ron :)
2) Either/Or
3) They’re strange. I don’t use them, though I don’t think they completely lack value, either.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Feb 1, 2010 9:37 AM EST up reply actions
They’re strange. I don’t use them, though I don’t think they completely lack value, either
On the surface it passes the eyeball test when you look at the top of the rankings. But I don’t know enough of what goes into them to really know; there certainly could be biases or differences in who’s doing the rankings.
Wood
Good to hear that he is recovering well and that he hope to return for training camp. I have my SERIOUS DOUBTS that he will be ready though. IMO, AT BEST he will be put on the PUP list and could possibly be put on IR for the season if he isn’t ready go when his PUP eligibility runs out.
My wife had recently broke her ankle in 3 places. It took 10 screws and a plate to mend her back. It took a year before she was really 90+%. I am not saying a younger guy and star athlete like Eric Wood is on the same healing time frame as my wife, however, I would guess that Buffalo fans should be prepared that Wood will not be helping our OL in 2010.
Thanks man... Wife is doing well and just had the surgery to remove the hardware...
She is back on the mend for another 6 weeks. Tough injury though. I don’t wish it for anyone especially a pro football player that needs to anchor himself.
I’ll be surprised if Wood isn’t the starter opening day.
Bones heal. It’s ligament and tendon injuries that you really have to worry about. (And I think an ankle is more problematic than breaks in the middle of the leg)
Bones may heal
but I still agree with dabillsr. I don’t expect Wood back until 2011. Bones do heal but Wood’s bones were absolutely shattered. Even if he does come back in 2011 I don’t think he will be the same player. Maybe a move to center will help mitigate the pain I think he’ll be playing in the rest of his career. That injury stunk.
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
You’re missing what I’m saying. Bones heal, back to their strength from before they are broken. Once he’s back he’s as good as new.
It might be a different issue if he never had surgery to put it back together nicely, but modern medicine, and the body’s healing, does wonders.
This injury isnt like breaking your collarbone or fracturing you arm.
He had breaks in both his tibia and fibula. A metal rod inserted into his bone with screws. Bone heals, but with rods and screws in place it takes longer for it to create the proper support over the hardware.
Ive had a couple athletes that needed this surgery and it is NOT as simple as healing and returning.
And after being immoble for so long the muscle atrophies (gets smaller and weaker) so that it is like having a new lower leg. The mucle has to be rebuilt and learn how to be used again. And to make matters slightly worse, the man is THREE HUNDRED POUNDS. Thats quite a load to put on a rebuilt lower leg.
I’d say the only thing he really has going for him is the fact that he will be getting top notch treatment likely 3 times a day while he is rehabbing. Which will slightly lessen his recovery time.
Hopefully, and I think there is a good possibility, that he will return much in the same way Hardy did this year. So don’t get your hopes up for the beginning of the season.
Please do not rush this kid back.....
The last thing we need is for him to come back to soon, only to get injured for good. He means too much to this teams future, take a year and recup properly.
Why do today, when it can wait til tomorrow; the games on!
by UtahBillsFan on Feb 1, 2010 9:51 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
this needs to be rec'd
and be read by everyone who thinks Wood will be back to start the season. The coaches won’t rush him, Wood won’t rush himself, his agent won’t rush him, Buddy Nix won’t rush him, and the fans shouldn’t rush him. Wood’s leg was destroyed. If he ever get back to his old self it’ll be because he took his time, rehabbed fully and properly and didn’t rush to get on the field to help a bad team keep losing.
As you said Utah, he means too much to our future.
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
I know that keeping Incognito makes a ton of sense, but I want nothing to do with the guy. He’s good for a drive ending penalty at least once every other game and I just don’t want an over the top dirty player like that on the team. I wonder if he’s got any trade value as a very cheap option for a team that would like to fill a starting guard spot with a veteran player without having to pay a big price with a contract or traded pick?
On paper this is a position that looks like it’s in solid shape (they did just spend a pair of early picks interior lineman), but I think it’s still a position that lacks depth. Between Wood’s injury, Hang’s mediocrity and Incognito’s ability to blow up and get cut the next day, this isn’t a foursome that can’t be improved upon. I’d like to see Buffalo spend a fourth or fifth round pick on a guard. You can find good players in those rounds. It would provide instant depth and a decent chance at a long term starter.
I signed up for Second Life about a year ago. Back then my life was so great that I literally wanted a second one. In my Second Life I was also a paper salesman and I was also named Dwight. Absolutely everything was the same. Except I could fly. - Dwight Schrute
This is where drafting for value comes in
This team has so many holes, that after the first 2 rounds, it has to be BPA every pick. We need OL, QB & LB, and I think we need to go BPA to fill the best of those 3 areas with our first 2 picks. After that, the draft is such a crapshoot, that we should be going best player with the rest of the draft. Let’s get some quality talent and depth and build our team for the long-term.
The Eternal Pessimist...
But as I will keep reminding everyone Buddy Nix has said clearly that he doesn’t do BPA. He does BPA “at positions of need.” Someone might say that the Bills have a need at just about every position on the roster, but that’s not what Nix meant. He meant positions of significant need, and interior o-line is not among them.
People who believe in value drafting can keep calling for it until they are blue in the face, but the Bills are not going to do it as long as Nix is in charge. He drafts based on a mix of value and need.
He drafts based on a mix of value and need.
I think you can say that of smart personnel men league-wide.
The only time the “need vs. value” debate really matters is when you’re looking at incredible reaches with need positions. Example: John McCargo at No. 26 in ‘06. That was a pure need pick, and I sincerely doubt that’s a reach that Nix replicates.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Feb 1, 2010 11:13 AM EST up reply actions
Everybody drafts based on a mix of value and need. What changes from team to team is how much emphasis is put on need.and how much emphasis is put on scheme fit and interpositional need (I think I just made that phrase up, what I mean is, do you pass on a better, but smaller WR if you’re trying to pair Lee Evans with a big possesion guy?).
I think you could make the argument that Buddy Nix was alluding to the fact that nobody drafts purely on who is the best player available. I wouldn’t read into his comments to the point of coming to the conclusion that the Bills will draft all their biggest needs and pretty much do it in order. I know it wasn’t Nix calling the shots in SD, but they often passed over players who would fill gaping holes for better talent. For example, San Diego basically ignored left tackle 4 or 5 years in a row. They used a crappy one when they got there and then patched it up with a mediocre vet and finally drafted a kid in the 2nd round (passing on Jamaal Brown in the first for a CB when it wasn’t a huge need) and started him as a rookie. They also took a change of pace back (Darren Sproles in the 4th round) when they had a long list of needs. San Diego was also a team that aggressively went after needs other times taking three defensive backs in the first two rounds in 2003 and drafting a kicker in the 3rd round in the middle of a complete rebuild.
We all know that Buddy Nix isn’t going to ignore the teams needs and take the best players available, but it is something of a balancing act and we don’t know what positions Nix will and won’t address on draft day. I think that assuming Nix won’t draft a guard or will definitely draft a certain position could easily leave us completely wrong. And it isn’t that much of a stretch to view it as a sizeable need. What if Wood isn’t ready to go, or if Nix is planning on moving him to center long term and what if this team signed Incognito out of nothing more than desperation?
I signed up for Second Life about a year ago. Back then my life was so great that I literally wanted a second one. In my Second Life I was also a paper salesman and I was also named Dwight. Absolutely everything was the same. Except I could fly. - Dwight Schrute
I think you and Brian are both right on target. My reading of what Nix said was that for each draft pick he would take the BPA in the positions that the Bills need most. In other words, assuming QB, OT, LB and DE are all prime needs, he would take the BPA from one of those positions in the first round. Now it is of course never as cut-and-dried as that. Sometimes there is a Darren Sproles who tempts you even though you are well-fixed at RB. But it does seem to me that those who think you can do BPA in a pure vacuum don’t understand how Nix intends to operate.
And yes, interior line could become a major need again if Wood can’t return at all, although that looks unlikely. I suspect the Bills will sign Incognito as insurance in case Wood doesn’t make it back for 2010, but of course one never knows. It’s a new coaching staff and GM this year and we don’t really have a bead on how they operate yet.
I think Sproles was originally picked
because of his return ability and as a 3rd down back. There’s nothing wrong with that in the 4th round. He was going to help that team from the get go.
~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 completely agree with that. I threw the 4th and 5th rounds out there because that’s where I think the best value will be at guard and center. They could maybe scoop up a player in the 6th as well. This is a draft that only has one center worth taking in the first 75 or so picks, but then there’s JD Walton, Matt Tennant, Eric Olsen, Ted Larson and John Estes as 3rd-5th round guys and at guard, there’s Mitch Pietrus, Jon Asomoah, Roger Saffold, Shawn Lauvao, John Jerry, Sergio Render as 3rd-5th round prospects. There is going to be good value at those positions in those rounds.
After the first 2-3 rounds, BPA becomes less and less noticeable. The difference between the best player on your board and the 10th or 15th best guy is often pretty marginal.
I signed up for Second Life about a year ago. Back then my life was so great that I literally wanted a second one. In my Second Life I was also a paper salesman and I was also named Dwight. Absolutely everything was the same. Except I could fly. - Dwight Schrute
Agreed
Good interior linemen can be found in the middle rounds. I’m hoping we lean towards a guy that can play Center….
~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."
Also, good OT’s can be found in the middle rounds. Bob Matthews in his column today in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle points out that the starting LT for the Saints in this Sunday’s Superbowl was drafted at the very end of the third round in 2007 and the LT for the Colts in the middle of the 6th round in 2006.
As for the RT’s, Jon Stinchcomb for the Saints was picked in the middle of the 2nd round in 2007 and Ryan Diem for the Colts in the middle of the 4th in 2001.
NONE of the other starting o-linemen for the two Superbowl teams was picked in the first round and three were UFA’s. All the people who think Demetrius Bell can’t be a starting LT in the NFL because he was drafted in round seven should get some perspective — along with those who think it is imperative to get a LT in the first round this year. It might be nice to get an OT then if a really good one is available, but it is hardly necessary.
That same arguement can be made for almost every position in the NFL
Late round gems are great, but the odds of them panning out increase. Your best odds of getting an impact player should be early in the draft. That doesn’t mean Bell can be a good player, it just means we need at least one new OT who can start on day one in 2010.
"Do you even hear how totally bat sh!t insane you sound?" - Archer
Although I think the reality of the New Orleans and Indianapolis o-lines shows that talent at OT, OG and C can be found literally throughout the draft if you know how to scout. I honestly think it is more true for o-line than it is for, say, WR or DE or CB, although even there you can on occasion find gems in round six. I was especially surprised to learn that both Jeff Saturday and Ryan Lilya, two of the stars of the Colts’ o-line, actually went undrafted. And the Saints’ LG, Carl Nicks, who does such a good job of protecting Drew Brees, was a late fifth rounder in 2008, but started on day one.
Having stud QB's like Manning and Brees
helps those OL’s more than anything…..
~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."
good point
Aaron Rodgers puts to rest the excuse that no QB would excel behind an o-line as pathetic as the Bills was this year. The Packers O-line made Buffalo’s look almost all-pro. Nice that we now have Rodgers mentor to work with the Bills QB’s!
most of my posts get deleted :(
I'd much rather have Rodgers!!!!
~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 it’s still a position that lacks depth.
Honestly, aside from RB, CB, S and, if you’re feeling stretchy, DT and WR, that’s true across the board.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Feb 1, 2010 10:15 AM EST up reply actions
Not sure you can put CB on that list....
~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 Feb 1, 2010 11:21 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Fair enough, but the point remains. :)
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Feb 1, 2010 11:30 AM EST up reply actions
True, but I think the lack of depth here is much more likely to leave them starting a Kendall Simmons type than at RB, CB or S. I don’t trust Wood’s health and I’m far from convinced that this team wants Incognito back. Only one of things has to happen for Buffalo to have almost literally, zero depth at the position. And you don’t really see that looking at things on paper because there are four decent names in the mix for three spots.
I signed up for Second Life about a year ago. Back then my life was so great that I literally wanted a second one. In my Second Life I was also a paper salesman and I was also named Dwight. Absolutely everything was the same. Except I could fly. - Dwight Schrute
I agree with you, though. I’d like to see them address this position; I just don’t know how high I’d prioritize it.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Feb 1, 2010 12:10 PM EST up reply actions
Heres the thing though kaiser
I wonder if he’s got any trade value as a very cheap option for a team that would like to fill a starting guard spot with a veteran player without having to pay a big price with a contract or traded pick?
Aren’t we one of those teams? I said above I dont think Wood is coming back this year but even if one thinks he is he won’t be 100% so aren’t we one of those teams that needs to cheaply fill a starting guard role? At the very least fill a very important backup role because as you noted, Geoff can be mediocre and Wood’s injury is a question mark?
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
That doesnt sound to good regarding Wood. Sounds like he is hoping he will be back but doesnt seem like he will be. Lots of time between now and then, and anything can happen. But losing him is going to hurt this team. I would have to say Incognito will have to be brought back with the doubtfulness of Wood returning.
I would like to upgrade at center, but its not as high a priority as many other positions, so Hang stays around again.
Levitre was solid all year. He obviously stays… Just need depth at the interior now.
"Be a wuss at home! Be a man on Rumblings!" - Kurupt
any of these would work for me
Mike Johnson ’Bama
Brandon Carter Texas Tech
Vladimir Ducasse UMass
Mitch Petrus Ark
Sergio Render VTech
Lupati will likely be gone first.
"I have become comfortably numb" P. Floyd
Levitre Hang and Wood
are fine with me. The problem, as has been well documented, is their backups. I think a backup has to be able to at least hold his ground, otherwise why are we attempting to use him in any capacity? McKinney and company don’t seem like serviceable backups. With the way injuries hit the Buffalo Bills it wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep Incognito around.
Mmmph rrgh prrmf! - someone with his mouth gagged
Jeez.........What did Marvin Phillips ever do to you Brian?
…
Yeah, I just stare at my desk, but it looks like I'm working. I do that for probably another hour after lunch too, I'd say in a given week I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual, work. - Peter Gibbons
by norcaliangelsfan on Feb 1, 2010 11:15 AM EST reply actions
whoops *Philip
Yeah, I just stare at my desk, but it looks like I'm working. I do that for probably another hour after lunch too, I'd say in a given week I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual, work. - Peter Gibbons
by norcaliangelsfan on Feb 1, 2010 11:15 AM EST up reply actions
Nothing. Nor did he ever do anything for/to the Bills.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Feb 1, 2010 11:30 AM EST up reply actions
hahahahahahahah zing!
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
This team needs to go out and address the O-line badly, and I fully expect them to draft Bryan Bulaga or Anthony Davis with the ninth selection depending on who Nix prefers (I personally prefer Bulaga) and acquire a solid, veteran OG in FA like Ben Hamilton or Eugene Amano.
"The one commonality in both places (Oakland and Buffalo) is an aging owner who keeps interfering too much. Ralph Wilson continually butts his nose in the football operation and tells the team who to draft"
by BillsfanfromDenmark on Feb 1, 2010 11:24 AM EST reply actions
Now that you mention Meredith, I wouldn’t mind Buffalo bringing Andre Ramsey back into camp, sliding him over to guard and seeing if he could make the team there.
I signed up for Second Life about a year ago. Back then my life was so great that I literally wanted a second one. In my Second Life I was also a paper salesman and I was also named Dwight. Absolutely everything was the same. Except I could fly. - Dwight Schrute
Honestly,
The most exciting thing for me in last years draft was the selection of Wood, LeVetrie and the Nelson steal in the fourth round. I loved the Maybin pick and the Byrd pick left my jaw open, still those two lineman made me proud to be a Bills fan again. I wouldn’t mind seeing another draft that addresses the lineman on both sides. Couple two drafts with this alledged professional teaching staff that we just hired, we could be in real good shape in just a two year period. Finally, Fitzpatrick can hand the ball off as good as anyone so I would mind if we started the season out with him competing with Brohm or a F/A that didn’t cost us much to acquire. We need depth on Oline and LB/DL that can contribute either immediately or on a rotational basis. If we go outside OL, DL or LB in the first five rounds, I will side with Sireric and grab that RB that Brian id’d in an earlier post.
Is it really average talent or just poor coaching, how important is depth and experience.
Keep Incognito
He DID generate penalties but not anywhere close to as many as Demetrius Bell. Incognito was a pretty solid lineman and is talented so I think we definitely need to keep him and if Wood can’t make it back I’d go so far as to have him as a starter.
This space held in honor of Robert Royal known to his friends as "Sweet Cream Style Corn" March 11 2006- February 26, 2009
plus he's a mean mother..........................
thats YUUUUUUUUUGGGGEEEEEEE
Yeah, I just stare at my desk, but it looks like I'm working. I do that for probably another hour after lunch too, I'd say in a given week I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual, work. - Peter Gibbons
by norcaliangelsfan on Feb 1, 2010 2:33 PM EST up reply actions
I clicked on this with the sole intention of posting that
Wood is a wild card
but you appear to have covered that, brian. if it makes any difference, I was going to write that “wood is the wildcard.” So…you know, definite article and compound word such and such…
I've contributed to the thread....so I guess now I root for chan gailey...
Maybe we could trade Incognito for Tyler Thigpen! /Madden goggles off
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So basically … this looks good to me (and probably a lot of us, come to think of it) as long as Levitre, Hangartner and Wood are available. If not… Incognito slots in at RG and … then we need some depth. Or, they switch Butler back in, if they make out alright in the draft.
I’m still thinking the priority for the Bills should be QB, LT, LB, WR, then if at all possible OL depth. But I wouldn’t be tied down to that order of priority.
My 2 cents
Wish I could have jumped on this a couple of days ago… But I was still banned by SB!
Anways, I can’t beleive no one else mentioned this. I don’t think we can omit Butler as a viable guard option. Let’s not forget how well he played that position in 2008 (or unfortunately how unimpressive he was at tackle). He could fill Woods role till he comes back and allow Bell to start on the right side, a position he might fit better in, at least initially, of course this assume we draf t or sign a left tackle. BTW, let me fit in an “I told you so” about PRO BOWLER Jason Peters! Great move OBD.
Starting O-line in 2010
RT – Bell
RG – Butler
C – Hangartner
LG – Levitre
LT – TBD (draft/sign)… A scary thought that we don’t have a LT right now.
"You play to win the game, you don't play to just play it" - Herm Edwards
*** I have been banned for being unpopular, like highschool all over again :-) ***
by Jason from OH-IO on Feb 3, 2010 9:32 AM EST reply actions
I thought Butler did a very good job at RT until that guy landed on his leg.
Peters didn’t play well this year. He certainly wasn’t worth 10M a year. He made the Pro Bowl because the who NFC OTs sucked.
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by MattRichWarren on Feb 3, 2010 1:55 PM EST up reply actions
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- Giants get ahead of themselves with ‘Super Bowl Champions’ home page … on Saturday
- Smarter Stats: Super Bowl Edition — Giants’ offense vs. Patriots’ defense
- Curtis Martin’s mother helped drive him to the Hall of Fame
- Patriots heartlessly release Tiquan Underwood on the eve of Super Bowl XLVI
- Butler, Dawson, Doleman, Kennedy, Martin and Roaf make the 2012 Hall of Fame cut
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