Bills trying Levitre at LT

wtf?

Is our OL a game of musical chairs or what?

by Munchausen on Aug 22, 2011 5:13 PM EDT reply actions

OL Bingo

Check your cards, boys…

B-67 I-76 N-70 G-60 O-79

anyone have it? If not, probably another game tomorrow.

by Brian in Shortsville on Aug 22, 2011 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Desparate times call for desparate measures

And Buddy will do anything to avoid signing a free agent tackle….

by BillinNC on Aug 22, 2011 5:14 PM EDT reply actions

Do we langston walker Bell next?

by BillinNC on Aug 22, 2011 5:15 PM EDT reply actions

Gotta keep 8 or 9 O-lineman on the final roster. Moving guys around to see what they can do in other positions may be what separates them from the ones that end up cut.

Year two is upon us.

by Buffalo for Eternity on Aug 22, 2011 5:27 PM EDT reply actions

Now it is time

to move Machael Jasper to the offensive side of the ball. We need to be able to pass block adn run block and Jasper could do both. How bad could it be?

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

by Deadpool71 on Aug 22, 2011 5:30 PM EDT reply actions

this makes sense

Im serious.

For the past few weeks weve been hearing quite a bit about how Levitre impresses in pass protection but is an absolute hazard when it comes to run blocking.

If Levitre’s run blocking on the interior is as much a cause for concern as Buddy and Chan are making it out to be and our offensive tackle situation is as dreadful as it appears in pre-season, allowing Levitre a chance to see what he can do on the outside works for me.

The bandwagon will be full and fast and drunk and exciting - Undee

by poz on Aug 22, 2011 5:33 PM EDT reply actions

I agree

If he can play better than Bell, which doesn’t say much, then why the hell not. Can’t be much worse I suppose….

Being a Bills fan the last decade is a lot like being a man with E.D....sometimes you get excited too soon just be disappointed in the end, and other times...you just don't get excited at all

by Flanders333 on Aug 22, 2011 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Train wreck

Desperate times indeed. I never understood why fatter, blobbier types made better O-lineman than strong, mobile D-line type bodies. I guess you want their COG lower (belly) vs. higher (arms/chest). Still never figured out why more athletic types don’t have success at OT.

by BuffaloRepresent on Aug 22, 2011 5:41 PM EDT reply actions

What?

What makes you think LT aren’t athletic? I’ve always considered LT to be the most demanding position across O/L, do you think its just because of weight? Than Jasper should be a OT. I’d think its a unique combination of size, speed and intellect all wrap in a perfect package hows that a fatter, blob?

Baby steps are for babies. Step it up buffalo!

by buffalobacker on Aug 22, 2011 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions

It all comes down to

Ralph Wilson being a cheap owner. We could still have Jason Peters if Wilson wanted to pony up the money. Yes we would not have wood and levitre but what would you rather have Peters or Wood and Levitre?

In this shortened free agent season there were plenty of quality offensive linemen available and ralph and buddy could not get one of them. WTF?

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

by Deadpool71 on Aug 22, 2011 5:49 PM EDT reply actions

How did Peters play the year that he was demanding more money? And did he even ask for more money before he held out or did he just holdout hoping that the Bills could read his mind?

by AP22 on Aug 22, 2011 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Has Peters played well in Philly? And don’t say he made a pro-bowl or two… cause thats a pretty poor barometer, especially for linemen.

by greysquirrel on Aug 22, 2011 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions

greysquirrel

I still can’t believe that Peters pulled that stuff that year. Let me ask you something. I just want to know what you would have done. If you were the Bills GM and Peters pulled that crud that season, and played as poorly as he did, would you have signed him to the deal that he wanted?

by AP22 on Aug 22, 2011 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t really know how he has been in Philly. I get the sense reviews are mixed, but he would definitely help us now. In retrospect those Buffalo teams weren’t good enough with or without Peters.

Ignoring all that hindsight is 20-20 stuff I guess the answer is no. I don’t know if those draft picks were put to the best use, but we certainly got compensated. I’m not against signing a tough negotiator, Bruce Smith was worth it. But Peters literally screamed unmotivated and we aren’t a franchise that can afford to get cowed into overpaying guys. It my be moot, but wasn’t part of the argument he wanted a trade no matter what?

by greysquirrel on Aug 22, 2011 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I personally wouldn’t have signed him. If you are going to make a contract demand, you better play well or you aren’t going to be paid like you want. Who did we end up picking with those draft picks? I really don’t remember.

by AP22 on Aug 22, 2011 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Wood and Levitre… basically. As much as we say those picks are okay, Sebastian Vollmer was the offesnive lineman to take in retrospect (With the Levitre pick). He seems to be a decent tackle and could move to the leftside.

by greysquirrel on Aug 22, 2011 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Well hopefully Levitre takes the LT job and does well and Wood becomes a good center. I think that would be a good trade then. A good LT and C for Peters. I would take that every time.

by AP22 on Aug 22, 2011 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Thats Old

So tired of the Peter’s arguement, lets move on and spend $$$ on somebody other than Peters! And really? Making pro -bowl isn’t good on a resume? What have we; the Bill’s done since Peter’s? Are we better? Forget the Peter’s era lets sign a legit. O/L.

Baby steps are for babies. Step it up buffalo!

by buffalobacker on Aug 22, 2011 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Making a pro bowl is great for a resume. It just has absolutely nothing to do with how good of a player you are anymore.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Aug 22, 2011 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah this. I’m not sitting back and saying Peter’s stinks. But having not watched him, I know enough not to use pro bowl appearances as a barometer.

by greysquirrel on Aug 22, 2011 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Hey FO

Go spend some f-inng money and get some OL

by billsboyz on Aug 22, 2011 6:53 PM EDT reply actions

FO

you cheap skates

by billsboyz on Aug 22, 2011 6:54 PM EDT reply actions

Yes I know. $90 million dollars is chump change.

by AP22 on Aug 22, 2011 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions

And the same with the 21 or 22 million guaranteed dollars to Marcell Dareus.

by AP22 on Aug 22, 2011 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions

thats over 4 years...

In Ralph we trust

by RICHNESSS on Aug 22, 2011 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Okay. Is it still over 20 million dollars and is it guaranteed?

by AP22 on Aug 22, 2011 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions

And I wouldn’t be surprised if there are other players that are getting more guaranteed money that that this year and in the coming years.

by AP22 on Aug 22, 2011 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I think that it has a chance of working and I hope that it does. It will look a little weird to have the taller and bigger guy to his right but if it works hey I’m good with it.

by AP22 on Aug 22, 2011 8:47 PM EDT reply actions

Don’t look too much into this – this is to light a fire under Bell. Levitre has T-rex arms and that’s not ideal for a LT

by J2 on Aug 22, 2011 8:49 PM EDT reply actions

Are you sure about that? Someone on the Bills message board said that Andy’s arms are .5 inch longer than Joe Thomas’.

by AP22 on Aug 22, 2011 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Or something to that effect.

by AP22 on Aug 22, 2011 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions

When he was drafted that was one of the knocks on him – his smaller size and his short arms – I might be remembering wrong but that’s why he was put at Guard in the first place.

by J2 on Aug 22, 2011 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ve read this before too, even looks like it…. Seems like that is REALLY not ideal for a LT. But hopefully Bell thinks about his no good very bad day.

by greysquirrel on Aug 22, 2011 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Roos and Joe Thomas are not ideal LTs if you go by their arm length.

by AP22 on Aug 22, 2011 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions

actually from what I just looked up they were the same – so maybe that was misguided

by J2 on Aug 22, 2011 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Somebody else also said that Michael Roos also has 32.5 inch arms and I checked it and that is correct.

by AP22 on Aug 22, 2011 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions

So that means that Andy has the same length arms as them. I think what will be the determining factor is if his feet are good enough and if his hand-fighting is good enough.

by AP22 on Aug 22, 2011 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions

also height…

by J2 on Aug 22, 2011 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions

What about his height?

by AP22 on Aug 22, 2011 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions

love the T-Rex reference....

but if Kyle can do it????

I like the move… If nothing else, it helps to light that fire, and determine depth at the position. If Levitre ends up on the bench, it would be nice to know if he’s capable at backing up at center, LG, and LT….

Optimistic??? Of course I am!! I'm a Bills fan, and as of right now, we are undefeated on the regular season!!!
Things are truly looking up!!!

by Cinga on Aug 22, 2011 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think that he will be on the bench this year. I think that he will be starting somewhere on the offensive line this year.

by AP22 on Aug 22, 2011 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Question

But wasn’t Levitre a guard and the word is he’s lost weight and gets winded easily? Why would you think he’d play better at LT? Just to light a fire under Bell? This isn’t pee wee football is it? This is more like duck, duck, goose and hopefully someone on roster can play LT.

Baby steps are for babies. Step it up buffalo!

by buffalobacker on Aug 22, 2011 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions

“But wasn’t Levitre a guard and the word is he’s lost weight and gets winded easily?”

Where did you hear that? That is the first time I have heard that. Even if that is true, I am not too concerned. There is still a little bit of time before the season starts.

by AP22 on Aug 22, 2011 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Well

First Levitre is a guard and secondly a BR at practice made the comments abourt weight and being winded. And yeah I’m concerned because there is a little time left before season. Oy.

Baby steps are for babies. Step it up buffalo!

by buffalobacker on Aug 22, 2011 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions

“secondly a BR at practice made the comments abourt weight and being winded.”

What is a BR?

by AP22 on Aug 22, 2011 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions

BR

Buffalo Rumbler. He was at practice and was kind enough to give his insight on practices.

Baby steps are for babies. Step it up buffalo!

by buffalobacker on Aug 22, 2011 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions

True. I do remember that now you mention it (that poster also totally grossed me out with explaining how much he sweats. Dude tmi). But I haven’t heard any of the coaches or anyone else from the media notice or comment about it.

by AP22 on Aug 22, 2011 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions

You also have to take into account that these aren’t rookie coaches and front office executives, or at least the ones that I know of, that we are talking about here. Nix has been in the NFL for a while as a scout. Gailey had to work his way up through the ranks and has been doing this for a while now. The defensive coordinator has NFL experience. I trust them because they know more than I do. And Gailey, and maybe Buddy Nix, have shown that they are willing to acknowledge their mistakes and work to correct it.

by AP22 on Aug 22, 2011 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions

if you watch Chan’s presser from today he talks about consistency – I think he’s just trying to send a message to Bell. Bell basically single handed made the entire o-line look incompetent but he got some help from Spiller and the TE’s in that dept. too

by J2 on Aug 22, 2011 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Levitre has also been the Bills most consistent offensive lineman.

by AP22 on Aug 22, 2011 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions

this is to light a fire under Bell

It might be but its definitely not the right way to do it. I am still flabbergasted that the front office could not predict this situation if they did not bring in competition to challenge Bell to start from the get go of the off-season.

The bandwagon will be full and fast and drunk and exciting - Undee

by poz on Aug 23, 2011 1:42 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I don't even know if it matters any more.

Play everyone there!

In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!

by TheAfghanTwilight on Aug 22, 2011 10:18 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

Your Right

We consistently avoid signing/drafting talent we need to be competitive. Our FO announces yrly we won’t be active in FA, surprise! And fans here praise that approach, like its gospel. How many yrs not making play-offs till you get to point were you question direction of team? And remember every time Ralph fires either HC or GM he gets a new clock, why?

Baby steps are for babies. Step it up buffalo!

by buffalobacker on Aug 22, 2011 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Haha, do whatever you have to do to get the best 5 guys on the field.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Aug 22, 2011 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Could the line look

Levitre-Rinehart-Wood-Urbik-Bell

I mean people say Bell cant play RT, but i bet those same people are saying Levitre cant play LT. What if he can? Does Chan slide Bell to RT? I guess the real question that needs to be asked is; is Bell a better tackle than Pears?

by NHBillzFan on Aug 22, 2011 11:24 PM EDT reply actions

On the right side...

Throw Hartnanger (sp) in that mix.

by Easy Ryder on Aug 22, 2011 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think I would mind if he became the Bills RT later this year. He had a hard time with the bull rush because, at least we were told, that he was rehabbing throughout the year and not strength training. I think being a backup until he builds up more strength would help him out a lot. But all of that is really moot if Levitre can’t play LT in my opinion.

by AP22 on Aug 23, 2011 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Ive believed for some time now

that Bell is better suited to play RT than LT.

The bandwagon will be full and fast and drunk and exciting - Undee

by poz on Aug 23, 2011 1:44 AM EDT up reply actions

This should clear things up a little.

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bills-nfl/article530658.ece

by AP22 on Aug 23, 2011 12:32 AM EDT reply actions

it does

“You would rather not look at those options at this time, but you have to,” Bills coach Chan Gailey said

Chan Gailey continues to make public statements that more or less are calling out Buddy Nix for giving him absolutely nothing on the offensive line. Chan is an offensive guy and what exactly has Nix given him in two years on that side of the ball. I can’t think of anything. Chan gave himself Ryan Fitzpatrick, he gave himself Stevie Johnson, he gave himself Roscoe Parrish, he gave himself Corey McIntyre, Fred Jackson is always Fred Jackson. Nix hasn’t given Chan one solid starter on the offensive line, hasn’t given him one solid tight end, hasn’t given him one solid wide receiver (he in fact gave one away). I thought the two have seemed to be on the same page but the last few weeks Chan’s statements leave some questions about how insync they are.

The bandwagon will be full and fast and drunk and exciting - Undee

by poz on Aug 23, 2011 1:50 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I think ur fishing. Chan referenced the qb situation last yr. Thats not Nix, its all on him.

Many fans were upset that Chan couldnt recognize Edwards weaknesses before the season began. Effectively making Fitz learn on the fly w his new wr’s and line. I believe all Chan is saying at this time is that he does not want to make that same mistake twice (waiting until the season to play someone w the ones).

by DJ O on Aug 23, 2011 7:40 AM EDT up reply actions

I believe all Chan is saying at this time is that he does not want to make that same mistake twice

Valid counter-point DJ O. Maybe I am fishing, I am quite frustrated that Levitre is being moved around so much. I hope you are right because one thing I really liked about this front office-coach connection (or Chix around here) is that they seemed to be on the same page. I would hate to see a deterioration here because personally, I love Chan as a coach.

The bandwagon will be full and fast and drunk and exciting - Undee

by poz on Aug 23, 2011 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions