Evans (left), receivers more productive in '08 (buffalobills.com)

In 2007, the Buffalo Bills fielded one of their worst offensive units in team history.  En route to a 7-9 record, the Bills shuffled quarterbacks and scored just 20 touchdowns in what was, statistically, a mediocre season on just about every level.

Fast forward to 2008.  Trent Edwards has settled the Bills' instability at quarterback by emerging as a legitimate NFL starter with tons of potential.  But that's been the only major change.  Even with very little personnel turnover (rookie WR James Hardy was the only significant off-season import for the unit), the turnaround that Buffalo's offense has made has been surprising - and even more surprising, the biggest strides have come in the passing department.

The Bills have improved in just about every major statistical category offensively, most importantly in points scored (the Bills are averaging 25.2 points per game this season, up from 15.8 in 2007).  Yet despite the significant strides made, there's still room for improvement.

Quarterbacks making each play count
We're all aware of how well Edwards has played.  He's the most exciting Bills player in quite some time, at least in terms of the excitement he engenders for future prospects of the organization.  But even J.P. Losman, filling in for Edwards for a game, has jumped in on the statistical prowess.

A quarterback's effectiveness is best measured in yards per attempt.  In 2007, Bills passing plays averaged 6.39 yards per passing attempt - a mediocre number that reflects the team's inability to make big plays through the air.  That number has skyrocketed to 8.24 yards per attempt in 2008, as the Bills have made more plays downfield and have gotten much more from their receivers in run-after-catch yardage.

Bills quarterbacks - yes, even Losman - are distributing the ball effectively and letting their receivers make plays.  It's not an elite development, but it's clearly a step in the right direction.  (Get well soon, Trent.)

Receiver production up
The Bills took some heat when their only significant upgrade to a mediocre receiving corps was the rookie Hardy, whose impact has been minimal through the first five games of his inaugural season.  Effective quarterback play, however, has turned this "mediocre" receiving corps into a bunch of playmakers.

In 2007, the Bills' top four receivers (basically, swap Peerless Price for Hardy) combined for 148 receptions, 1,847 yards and just six scores.  The touchdowns were most concerning, but 2008 is different - Bills receivers have already nabbed four scores this season, and more are on the horizon.  If statistical trends continue for the remainder of this season, Bills receivers will see increases in receptions (projected 157), yards (2,483) and touchdowns (13).

Lee Evans and Josh Reed have been the go-to guys.  Evans is currently averaging 27 yards per reception, second in the league for players with 10 or more receptions.  Reed's production has been a bit more surprising; in line for a career year, Reed has become the go-to-guy on third down.  14 of Reed's team-leading 21 receptions (67%) have created first downs; Evans has added 14 more on his 16 receptions (87.5%).

Running backs getting involved, too

One of the more noticeable differences between 2007 and 2008 has been the involvement of running backs in the passing game.  Offensive Coordinator Turk Schonert promised to emphasize the talents of Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson as receivers, and he's delivered in a big way.

In 2007, Bills running backs caught 55 passes - and that total includes the 15 hauled in by the now-departed Anthony Thomas.  Lynch and Jackson have already hit the half-way point of that total this season, as they've combined to catch 29 balls.  That puts the duo on pace to catch 93 passes this season, a very high number for any running back duo in today's NFL.

Where to improve: tight ends and pass protection
It's been great that Buffalo's running backs have been playing the role of safety valve, because the Bills have seen a drop-off in production from the tight end position.  Sure, Robert Royal has increased his production (he's on pace to outstrip his 2007 reception total by 17), but the position has dropped off as a whole.  Bills tight ends caught 56 passes in 2007; they've got just 15 this season.  The return of rookie Derek Fine from injury likely won't help balloon those stats.  Lynch and Jackson have picked up the slack, but the lack of a threat down the seam still hinders this team.

The biggest hindrance, however, has been pass protection.  The Bills aren't throwing much more than they did in 2007, surprisingly, yet the excellent pass protection that Bills quarterbacks enjoyed last season has been MIA.  Bills quarterbacks were sacked 26 times in '07, or less than twice per game.  In just five games this season, Bills quarterbacks have been sacked 16 times; if that pace continues, the Bills will likely surrender double their '07 sack total (52).  That's not good news for Edwards and his concussion, nor for the still-highly-unreliable Losman.

Even considering these issues, there's far more promise to Buffalo's aerial attack this year than we saw in 2007.  The difference has been night and day, and it's been reflected in the team's overall performance.  Don't expect the tight ends to produce more than their current clip; we can be a bit more optimistic about the pass protection given the bye week.  In the end, it all comes down to the quarterback, however; the emergence of Edwards, with an assist from Schonert, has turned an awful Bills passing game into, in reality, an excellent one.

I know you don't want to re-live it; I didn't much enjoy it myself.  But in my desperate search to find someone to blame, and thus loathe, in regards to Trent Edwards' concussion suffered in Sunday's loss, the following analysis proves that the blame may lie on the shoulders of an unsatisfactory player.  Rumblers, it's our first ever Paint Analysis - and if you like the glorious crappiness of this exercise, perhaps it could become a more regular feature...

The Situation
Buffalo ball, 3rd and 6, BUF 30, early first quarter

* Buffalo comes out in a three-wide set.  Edwards (5) is in the shotgun with Marshawn Lynch (23) to his left.
* Arizona counters with a dime look - three corners, three safeties.  Adrian Wilson (24) is lined up essentially in no-man's land; it's apparent that he's going to do as he pleases on this play.
* Hardy comes in motion, eventually settling to the right and slightly behind Robert Royal (84).  Simultaneously, Chike Okeafor (56) and Karlos Dansby (58) cheat up to the line of scrimmage, and Wilson comes up to, apparently, take Hardy in the slot.  Everything the Cardinals are doing to this point screams "blitz up the gut", including Wilson's actions.  The Cards appear to be playing man in the slots behind this blitz.  Appearances, as it turns out, can be deceiving.
* Other relevant notes: Eric Green (25) is lined up across Josh Reed (82) in the slot; Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (29) and Antrel Rolle (21) have Lee Evans (83) bracketed on the left side of the formation; Aaron Francisco (47) and Roderick Hood (26) are clearly in a zone shell behind Wilson.

The Snap

* Surprise!  Arizona's blitzing, but it's from the edges.  Dansby (58) and Okeafor (56) drop off into zone coverage, and Green (25) and Wilson (24) blitz off the edges.
* The actions of Arizona's defensive linemen make this play.  LaBoy (55) and Antonio Smith (94) rush on the interior, pinching the Bills' line into an even more tight-knit group.  It's compounded by the disguised interior blitz.  As a result, there's a pileup, and Langston Walker ends up assisting on Smith when he really didn't need to.  Wilson runs by unscathed.
* Marshawn (23) easily picks up Green, the other edge rusher.
* Reed (82) and Royal (84) are essentially decoys for the guy running the hot route, Hardy (81).  Reed draws coverage from the dropping Dansby.  Okeafor, meanwhile, is stuck in no-man's land between Hardy and Royal, who run an excellent route combination on the converted defensive end.  The problem, however, is two-fold: Hardy doesn't run it quick enough, and Wilson's untouched.
* Edwards reads the blitz and immediately knows Hardy is his guy.  Kid's sharp as a tack.  Here comes Wilson, however...

The Hit

* Trent starts drifting backwards, waiting for the Hardy/Royal route combination to develop.  He makes the throw quickly; the ball is out a split second before Hardy turns his head.  The problem is, Edwards has to hold the ball a touch longer than he'd like, and he ends up throwing the ball off his back foot.  He's essentially ripe for Wilson's picking.
* Edwards delivers the first down throw, but at an awful expense.  Wilson hits high to try to knock the ball out; Edwards is too quick on the draw, but Wilson hits under Trent's shoulder and drives his helmet - in a non-dirty fashion; it has more to do with momentum than anything - up into Edwards' chin.
* As the pair go down, the back of Edwards' helmet hits the turf first.  He's very clearly going to have a sore neck and a rung bell.  Wilson - mostly because of Edwards' drifting and his own explosiveness - drives through Edwards and lands on the quarterback with his full body weight.  If Wilson gets fined, it'll be because of this last detail - he wasn't playing dirty, as many Bills fans have unfairly claimed.

The Aftermath

Where should the blame lie?  It's spread out a bit; part of it is on a great blitz scheme by Clancy Pendergast, part of it is on Langston Walker for pinching in when he should have fanned out and tried to knock Wilson off course (though, admittedly, he wouldn't have had much time to do this), and part of it on Edwards for being a smart, gritty, loveable guy.

Will Wilson get suspended?  Almost certainly not.  Will he get fined?  If he does, it won't be for a large amount, and it shouldn't be; it won't be for a dirty hit, either.  If Wilson has to pay up, it'll be because he landed on Edwards with all of his weight.  My guess?  Wilson won't get fined, either, and he probably shouldn't.  He was just playing football.

The good news: Edwards is reportedly doing well - or, rather, about as well as can be expected at this point.  With the bye week upon us, Edwards has plenty of time to shake off the cobwebs, get plenty of sleep, take a little vacation and get ready for San Diego.  It's far too early to speculate on his availability for that game, but to this point, signs are far more encouraging than they are discouraging.  Get well soon, Trent.

RB Lynch sees role change slightly (buffalobills.com)

To say that the Buffalo Bills have "improved" offensively from 2007 to 2008 would be one of the biggest understatements ever recorded in human history.  Granted, it was never going to take much to improve, as Buffalo suffered through a historically bad offensive effort in 2007 - a year in which the Bills scored only 20 offensive touchdowns and ranked at or near the bottom of the league in nearly every major statistical category.

Now it's 2008, and the Bills have made improvements.  We're all aware of the reasons - namely, the rise of Turk Schonert to offensive coordinator and the maturation of second-year quarterback Trent Edwards - but the level to which the offense has risen (while still leaving a level of satisfaction to be attained) shows how dramatically different this year's version of the Buffalo Bills offense is.  The Bills played 16 games in 2007 and scored 20 touchdowns.  In three games thus far in 2008 - all wins - the Bills have scored 7.  That puts them on pace to nearly double last season's output.

Here are some themes to Buffalo's offensive resurgence.

Chunk Yardage
Picking up yardage in chunks has long been a favorite saying of head coach Dick Jauron.  Now his team's offense is actually doing it, and at an above-average level of proficiency, at least when it comes to the rest of the league.  Did you know that Edwards currently ranks fourth amongst NFL quarterbacks with 10 passing plays of 20 yards or more?  Nor did I.  The Bills may not be throwing deep, but they're making big plays in the passing game.  It's these plays that have allowed the Bills to up their yards-per-passing attempt statistic (arguably the most important at the QB position) from the 6.39 YPA they put up last season to 7.8 YPA this season.

What's even more interesting is that the Bills are picking up said chunk yardage through the air, something they simply could not do last season.  Marshawn Lynch was the team's workhorse between the twenties last year, but Lynch thus far has just one carry in which he picked up more than 20 yards.  He's being relied on more as the "tough yardage" guy in the new offense, and it's a role that he excels at - and which also inhibits some of his statistics.

Playmakers
When Schonert took the job, he said he was going to get the ball into the hands of his playmakers and let them go to work.  Boy, has he delivered on that promise to date (with 63 huge assists from Edwards); the Bills are currently on pace to field five players with 40+ receptions on the season, and a sixth could be added to that group depending on the production of Roscoe Parrish when he returns from injury.  The Bills had just two players - Lee Evans and Josh Reed - cross the 40-catch plateau last season.

In particular, Schonert has worked to get the ball into the hands of Lynch and Fred Jackson in the passing game - and it's worked.  Last season, Beast Mode and Action Jackson combined to catch 40 passes.  They're currently on pace to end the 2008 season with a combined 85.  The 16 grabs the duo have put up in three games have all been essential to Edwards and the offense, especially when it comes to moving the chains.

Lynch as "The Closer"
With such an inept passing attack last season, Lynch was counted on as the "do-everything" guy for the offense.  It's the reason he led the league in average attempts per game (21.5), and it wore him down a bit.  This season, he's only logged 71% of Buffalo's carries, with Jackson eating into some of his rushing workload (he has 21 carries to the 60 of Lynch).  The result?  Lynch has been free to do other things, particularly catch passes, and he's been effective in the fourth quarter (see the Oakland game for proof of that).

Edwards and the passing game are taking care of business between the twenties, but Lynch has now become "The Closer".  Buffalo's red zone offense was terrible last season, and the one player with a nose for the paint - Lynch - had some trouble getting there due to his heavy workload.  He scored 7 times last season; he's already notched over half of that total with 4 through three games this season, good for the second-highest total in the league.  What's more, he's doing it on big plays - of his 4 scores, three have come from outside the ten yard line (on runs of 21, 11 and 14).  Don't be fooled by his lowered yards-per-carry average (3.6) - Lynch is every bit the explosive player we saw frequent glimpses of in 2007.

The Formula = Efficiency
This isn't exactly rocket science - in fact, it's mostly common sense, something a Buffalo play-caller hasn't had in quite some time.  Schonert's instinctive play-calling has worked wonders on Buffalo's skill players, and it's led to a dramatic increase in production by Buffalo's once-inept offense.

Yet the group isn't satisfied, and they shouldn't be.  Edwards has been harder on himself than anyone has ever been on his predecessor, J.P. Losman.  They're aware that there are holes to patch up, particularly on the offensive line, whose run blocking has been questionable and pass blocking deteriorated (the group has given up 7 sacks this season).  There are still cries to get rookie receiver James Hardy more involved in the offense, a move that might now necessitated by the Parrish injury.  They'll work on it.

What matters is the competency.  No longer do the Bills have to pray for breaks for their offense.  Now the group is getting it done on their own, and they have plenty of room for growth.  That's great news in the short-term and most definitely in the long-term - and the credit goes to Schonert's formula, with some help from Edwards' development.  If this pace is kept up, Buffalo's going to win a lot more football games in 2008.

Hardy will get his chance to contribute (Associated Press)

It's been a strange sight for fans of the Buffalo Bills through the first three weeks of the 2008 regular season.  No, not just because the Bills have jumped out to a 3-0 start; that's certainly strange around these parts, but not the point here.

The point here is that for the first time in quite a long while, the Bills are playing winning football - rather, they're playing any kind of football - without large contributions from their rookies.  Sure, second-round pick WR James Hardy made an outstanding game-winning touchdown catch in the team's win over Jacksonville; yes, top pick Leodis McKelvin has made an impact as a kick returner, registering a 56-yard jaunt in this past Sunday's win over Oakland.

But the Bills' two most prominent rookies have barely played.  McKelvin has seen a handful of snaps - almost literally - as a dime back, but he hasn't recorded a stat defensively.  Hardy has two receptions for 12 yards and a score through three games, has dropped some passes, and hasn't seen a lot of field time overall.  Now, one injury - a thumb that will keep WR Roscoe Parrish out of action for 4-6 weeks - bizarrely forces the Bills to rely on both of their top draft picks to fill the void left by Parrish.

McKelvin to be primary return man
Don't be fooled by head coach Dick Jauron, who yesterday said that punt return duties could be handled by either McKelvin, running back Fred Jackson or receiver Josh Reed.  It was McKelvin who handled first-team punt return duties during the pre-season, when Parrish saw no action in that role.  It was McKelvin who, despite making a few bad decisions - one leading to a turnover in the pre-season win over Pittsburgh - also made some big plays in that role.  It was McKelvin who returned seven career punts at Troy for touchdowns.  The kid's explosive, and his forte is returning the punt.

There may be a circumstance or two where the Bills put Jackson back as more of a "punt catcher" (remember Chris Watson?), but McKelvin should and will see most of the work.  He's one of the most explosive return men to enter the league since, well, Devin Hester, and it would be a crime if the Bills kept him on the sideline.  They won't.  McKelvin's style is clearly a bit different than that of Parrish, but they're both effective, dynamic return men.  The drop-off will be minimal, but we should be wary of the rookie's decision-making back there.  (Of course, Parrish has made some questionable decisions himself.)

Hardy's role likely to expand offensively
It's Hardy, the 6'5" rookie receiver out of Indiana, that has more pressure placed squarely on his shoulders.  The team's offensive coordinator, Turk Schonert, has slowly been working Hardy into more and more offensive packages as the team has progressed through its first three games.  But we all know the history of rookie receivers - rarely do they make an impact in their first seasons.

But Hardy's not expected to carry the offense by any means.  The team will still rely on Lee Evans and Josh Reed as its two main receiving threats (just as they did when Parrish was healthy), and players such as Jackson, Robert Royal and Marshawn Lynch will likely see their roles expand in the passing game as well.  Hardy clearly won't need to fill the void alone - but when the ball comes his way, he needs to grab the opportunity.  He's got a chance to show that he can be more than a spot contributor and a red zone threat.  It'd be nice to see the rook make an impact in the middle of the field, where the Bills haven't been particularly effective throwing the ball to date.

A new era of Buffalo football
The Parrish injury, and his two young replacements, are indicative of a new era of Buffalo football.  Gone are the days when Bills rookies were thrust immediately into the starting lineup and expected to play like veterans.  Now, Buffalo's most talented youngsters are relied on as depth - something the Bills haven't had much of in recent years.  It's time for the rooks to contribute - even if it's only for a few weeks.  The Bills are fortunate that their first major injury occurred before the bye week, as it slightly lessens the impact.

So let's go, Leodis and James.  We've been anxious to see the kids get some playing time.  Now their time has arrived.

The Buffalo Bills are coming off of their second straight win to open the 2008 NFL season, and since it's Tuesday, it's time for another Buffalo Rumblings Film Session to get into the finer details of Sunday's game.  We'll start with the offense - the unit that carried the team to victory on Sunday.

Buffalo's offense made some serious strides in Sunday's win over Jacksonville.  For the first time in a long time (thank you, Steve Fairchild-Mularkey), the Bills were aggressive and highly efficient in victory - a big reason that punter Brian Moorman was only called to duty three times.

Poor run blocking for second straight week
However, the Bills didn't come out of Jacksonville with a perfect resume offensively.  Averaging just 2.9 yards per rush didn't help quarterback Trent Edwards out (though he ultimately didn't need it), and the fact that the Bills are only averaging 3.45 yards per carry on the season is cause for concern moving forward - though, admittedly, the team has played two stingy run defenses in Seattle and Jacksonville.

I have a theory regarding Buffalo's inability to run block, and I haven't heard it discussed much - height.  Buffalo has an unusually tall offensive line, specifically at guard - Derrick Dockery (6'6") and Brad Butler (6'7") are tall compared to average guards in the NFL.  Don't forget, either, that Langston Walker (6'8") and tight end Robert Royal (6'6") - two more valuable run blockers - are tall dudes as well.  These are all excellent athletes, but their height sacrifices some leverage in the run game - and that's why shorter defensive tackles like Seattle's Craig Terrill (6'2") and Jacksonville's Rob Meier (6'4") are so effective stuffing the run - they're playing lower and faster.  It doesn't help, either, that the Jaguars and Seahawks were playing a lot of defenders close to the line of scrimmage.

The quick fix (though it's a band-aid): keep up the misdirection, and whip fullback Darian Barnes into shape.  Barnes, as many of you have noticed, is terribly inconsistent as a run blocker.  He doesn't seem to have much chemistry with the line or his backs yet.  This has potential to improve, but there's a long way to go.

Dynamic running back duo
Despite the rushing woes, you've got to hand it to Buffalo's dynamic running back duo of Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson - these guys are the heartbeat of the entire offensive attack.  Lynch ran for 59 yards, and a good 45 of them came of his own accord.  Jackson was Edwards' best possession receiver on Sunday; he's truly excellent after the catch.  I'm not speaking specifically about his long gainers, either - I'm talking about the fact that of his seven catches, five went for first downs.  The guy runs routes like a receiver and runs after the catch like a running back; he's quickly becoming one of Buffalo's most valuable offensive threats.  These guys complement each other perfectly, and they're an absolute joy to watch.  As a duo, they rank among the top five in the league in 1-2 punches.

In particular, I like the balance of these two runners.  No defender has been able to take either Lynch or Jackson down on first contact this year; Jackson in particular is very adept at making the first guy miss.  They're chain-movers, and they're very good at their craft.

The value of spreading the ball around
Yes, over a third of Edwards' completions went to Jackson (7 of 20), but Edwards proved again Sunday that he's a master of spreading the ball around.  Lee Evans and Josh Reed both caught four balls for over 10 yards per reception.  James Hardy had the first two catches of his professional career, including the deciding touchdown (a highlight that I could watch on repeat possibly for the rest of my life).

It's even more impressive over the two-game stretch.  Completing 71% of his passes, Edwards has hit Evans eight times (for a whopping 22.4 yards per catch), Jackson and Reed seven times, Royal six times, and Lynch and Roscoe Parrish four times each.  That's 36 of his 39 completions right there.  It's evident on tape that the balance in the passing game is what is keeping the offense unpredictable and moving the chains.  I'd still like to see the team take some shots downfield earlier in the game, however, particularly to loosen up the box to help out the rushing attack.  It's not perfect, but it's effective.  There's room for growth, but this offense has gotten off to a good start in 2008.

Each Tuesday this season, we here at Buffalo Rumblings will review the week's Buffalo Bills game on film (i.e. good old fashioned DVR) to get a little more in-depth perspective on how the Bills are performing.  Special teams analysis immediately below this post; this is the offense, and the defense is coming.

We've already discussed the Buffalo Bills' offensive performance a bit this week, so rather than a blow-by-blow or general observations, I'd like to talk about a few individual players and units instead.  Let's start with the quarterback, shall we?

Trent Edwards: I harp on consistency all the time, and it might be a bit cliche, but it's seriously the only thing holding Edwards back from becoming a proficient NFL quarterback.  Reading defenses?  He does that well already.  Decision making? Already top notch.  It's the intricacies of the game that are holding Edwards back at this point, and once he nails them down, he's going to be solid.

An area of particular concern for Trent is his streaky accuracy.  There are points when he's in the zone and making outstanding throws, and there are also equal amounts of time where he's enough off to completely throw off the timing of a route.  That will become less of an issue as he gains experience.  Edwards was particularly awful at throwing screen passes Sunday; his throws come off high and on a hard line, and his backs routinely have balls skip off of their hands.  If he can't resolve that, we might start seeing some tipped passes for interceptions.

All in all, though, you can tell the kid is bright.  He's got what it takes to succeed, and more importantly, his teammates are behind him.  Let's hope the kid stays healthy.  And on that note...

Offensive Line: Ron from NM has done most of the heavy lifting here with his usual excellent O-Line analysis.  I've just a couple of things to add: Buffalo's pass protection was excellent.  I was impressed by the job that Kirk Chambers did in a lot of one-on-one pass protection against Patrick Kerney; the Pro Bowl end was a non-factor in this game (and on the one sack he did pick up, he beat Marshawn Lynch).  Would like to see better run blocking, but I'm not particularly hopeful in that department.  Can't wait to see how Jason Peters looks once he returns to the lineup.

Marshawn Lynch: Tony Boselli, who did color commentary for FOX's coverage of this game, loves Lynch's feet - and I completely agree.  Much of the yardage that Lynch picked up in this game came via his impeccable ability to set up defenders once he hits the second level.  This kid is something special, and what makes that even more exciting is that he's absolutely a team player.  He has no issues with Fred Jackson stealing touches, and he's an incredibly willing blocker.  The kid is just a lot of fun to watch, and he's only going to get better.

Lee Evans: It's pretty easy to tell that Evans isn't quite in sync with Edwards yet.  Something about the way Edwards throw the balls - my best guess is release point - still bothers Evans; Lee dropped a few passes on Sunday and bobbled a couple more.  He was also quite clearly out of bounds on his first long reception of the day (the one that led to Lynch's touchdown run), but we'll let that one slide - thanks, refs.

Still, Evans runs excellent routes, and it was plain that when Evans was lined up across from Seattle's Kelly Jennings, the Bills were going to attack it.  The guy makes plays, and it was nice to see him doing it early in the game and early in the season.  See what good play-calling does for an offense?  It gets the ball into the hands of your best players.  Evans needs to become a bit more reliable, but he also needs to get paid.  Make it happen, Brandon.

Turk Schonert: I'll end the offensive analysis with Turk Schonert.  I love this guy's instincts.  We tend to forget that this was the first official game in which he'd called plays, and he called a pretty good game against a stingy Seahawks defense.  He seems to have a much better feel than his predecessor - we shall call him Steve Fairchild-Mularkey - of knowing which player should get the ball in which situation.  Once his offense can execute at a higher level, the guy might end up looking like a genius.

I particularly like Schonert's killer instinct.  It was excellent to see the Bills' offense taking chances in big situations, which in 2007 would have been incredibly out of character for them.  The field goal right before halftime to make the lead 20-7 at the break was huge, and of course, the 30-yard touchdown pass from Edwards to Robert Royal one play after a recovered fumble put the final nail in the coffin.  Killer instinct will take this team a long way.  Schonert's influence might be the most encouraging offensive sign to date.

Edwards efficient, unspectacular in Week 1 win (Photo Source)

Progress.  For a Buffalo Bills offense that was dreadful in 2007, "progress" is a term that has been necessarily associated with the unit.  Without offensive progress, fans have feared since the off-season, Buffalo's chances at securing a playoff berth in 2008 aren't much better than they were in 2007.

When the Bills' offense began their season-opening win over Seattle with four consecutive punts and nary a first down, then, fans' skepticism may have strengthened.  Quarterback Trent Edwards looked rusty and gun-shy, the running game was having consistency difficulties, and there were some early pass protection issues in which Edwards was forced to make snap decisions.  It wasn't pretty.

Just as they must continue to do as the 2008 season moves forward, however, Buffalo's offense progressed against Seattle.  Mid-way through the second quarter, Edwards hit wideout Lee Evans on a 32-yard fade route to set up a 21-yard touchdown run by Marshawn Lynch, and Buffalo's offense didn't look back en route to an efficient (if unspectacular) day.  Tripled with a dominant defensive effort and a near-perfect special teams performance, Buffalo won handily.  But it's no secret that while effective, Buffalo's offense is clearly the team's weakest link.

Edwards growing comfortable
Buffalo's offense piled up 338 yards of offense on the day, most of it once Edwards settled into his comfort zone near the end of the first half.  The second-year quarterback, entering his first full season as the team's starter, completed 19 of 30 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown; he was sacked just once, didn't turn the ball over, and his smart decision-making led to a 95.8 QB rating.  He was solid and made a few excellent throws, including his 30-yard touchdown strike to tight end Robert Royal.

What might have been most impressive about Buffalo's offensive performance, however, was the way it responded to tricky situations.  After building a 14-0 lead, Seattle's Nate Burleson hauled in a touchdown reception to cut the lead in half.  Buffalo's offense responded well, promptly driving down the field and kicking a field goal to extend the lead to 10.  They then got the ball back at the end of the half, and Edwards calmly put his team in position to add to the lead by the half, which they did, extending their lead to 20-7 at the break.  Again they responded in the third quarter; Olindo Mare again cut the lead in half with a field goal, and again, Edwards drove his offense down the field for what would have been another field goal had punter Brian Moorman not stolen his thunder with a TD toss of his own.

The point is this: Edwards was handed the starting job because head coach Dick Jauron and his staff believed that he was a good decision-maker, could operate an offense, and handled particular situations well.  That's exactly what Edwards did yesterday, and it worked to the tune of 20 offensive points for the Bills.  Seeing him make progress within a single game was a great indication of his smarts and potential, but it's clear that there is still a long ways to go for Trent and his offense.

Where they can improve
Consistency is the biggest area lacking offensively at this point, and that's to be expected - offensive coordinator Turk Schonert, as well as Edwards and a couple of offensive linemen, were in brand new situations yesterday.  Schonert called a good game, but there were one or two questionable decisions, and I'm sure that Schonert isn't satisfied - and he shouldn't be.  This offense is still trying to figure things out, first and foremost what their true identity is.  It wasn't pretty at times, but this was as solid a start as could have reasonably been expected.

Buffalo's run blocking needs to become more consistent as well.  Marshawn Lynch had a solid 18-carry, 76-yard performance highlighted by a touchdown run, but many of those yards - as they did in 2007 - came on his stupendous effort.  Only a handful of times yesterday did Lynch and his running mate, Fred Jackson, have substantial room with which to work on running plays.  I'm not so sure that a return to the lineup by Pro Bowl LT Jason Peters will remedy the situation, either, because this was a "problem" last year, even when Peters was in the lineup.  The pass protection, on the other hand, was superb, and I'm confident that offensive line coach Sean Kugler - who has done a good job preparing his guys to play - can make the situation better as the season moves forward.

Perspective can be a glorious thing, and on a day as exciting as this - because let's face it, how long has it been since we, as Bills fans, could be this excited after a dominant effort by our team on opening day? - perhaps some perspective will be a good calming effect for us.  It's OK to be pleased; satisfied, on the other hand, is an entirely different animal.  To see Buffalo's offense mature and progress within a single game was encouraging.  But there were enough issues to remain skeptical about Buffalo's playoff chances, considering Tom Brady's shredded knee or not.  Perspective is good, but progress is better.  As long as progress consistently continues to show up when Buffalo's offense takes the field, however, there is every reason to be euphorically excited about this 2008 Buffalo Bills season.

Parrish, special teams dominant in W (Photo Source)

Permission to be excited? Granted.  The Buffalo Bills are 1-0 after dominating the field in all three phases in a 34-10 opening day victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

Buffalo set the tone early and used several big plays, particularly two made by the team's NFL-best special teams unit, to blow the game open in the third quarter.  A 64-yard touchdown punt return by Roscoe Parrish gave the Bills a 14-0 lead in the second quarter, and the Bills held a 20-7 lead at the half.

A second special teams score - this time a 19-yard touchdown pass from punter Brian Moorman to defensive end Ryan Denney - put the game completely in Buffalo's control, and a forced fumble on the ensuing kickoff allowed Buffalo's offense - via a touchdown strike from Trent Edwards to Robert Royal - sealed the deal.

Defense beats up on banged up Seahawks O
Without a shred of doubt, however, Buffalo's most impressive unit was its defense.  Facing a banged up, yet still dangerous Seahawks offense, Buffalo surrendered just 252 net yards, and their pass rush kept Seattle's offensive attack off balance all day.  Matt Hasselbeck - one of the smartest and most productive quarterbacks in the NFL - was horribly ineffective facing said pass rush, completing just 41% of his passes en route to a five-sack performance in which his QB rating was a paltry 53.9.

Marcus Stroud proved to be the difference-maker that the front office envisioned him as in this matchup.  Routinely overpowering Seattle's interior lineman, Stroud recorded three tackles, three assists and a half a sack, and anchored a run defense that gave up some longer runs but ultimately left Seattle largely one-dimensional.

Buffalo's pass rush was successful thanks to a nice variety of blitz packages installed by defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.  The team's two best linebackers, Kawika Mitchell and Paul Posluszny, were particularly excellent in this area, and both have proven to be explosive playmakers near the line of scrimmage.  This trio, along with a tough, hard-hitting secondary, led the attack for what looked like a potentially excellent Bills defense.

Offense Efficient, but room to grow
Buffalo's offense got off to a slow start with four straight punts, but their attack was largely effective as the weather cleared up.  Trent Edwards outdueled Hasselbeck, completing 19 of 30 passes for 215 yards, a score and after taking just one sack.  After taking just 16 pre-season snaps, Edwards proved why he's the right quarterback for Buffalo: he's smart and handles situations particularly well.  He's got to get better, but play like that is enough to be getting on with for the time being.

Despite generally poor run blocking, Marshawn Lynch was effective, gaining 76 yards on 18 carries and opening the scoring with a 21-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.  As inconsistent as the run blocking was, the pass protection was excellent; Buffalo did a great job keeping Edwards' jersey clean against what is, in reality, a ferocious Seahawks pass rush.  That should only get better once the team incorporates Jason Peters back into its lineup.

Game Balls
We only give out game balls around these parts after wins; since the Bills won so thoroughly this afternoon, we'll give out four, as opposed to our usual three.  Game balls to...

Roscoe Parrish - I don't want to hear any more about Devin Hester, because he's clearly not the best punt returner in the NFL.  Parrish is clearly his equal.  His touchdown return was poetry in motion, and though it's sometimes a bit scary to watch him return, he's clearly a sparkplug for this team.

Langston Walker - Buffalo's entire offensive line did a great job pass blocking, but Walker in particular was excellent.  Assigned to stop speed rusher Darryl Tapp all day, Walker didn't allow Tapp to make a peep of impact in this game.

Marcus Stroud - Clearly this team's MVP after one game.  The man's hand punch is ridiculous, and he's unblockable at times, even when there are two guys into him.  If Buffalo is able to sustain its early defensive success, Stroud will obviously be at the center of the action.

Kawika Mitchell - He struggles a bit in space, but he is an outstanding blitzer, and it showed today.  Plugging him into the defensive lineup is nearly as important as plugging Stroud in, and to boot, Mitchell is an excellent leader.  He played great.

Roll Call
Props to the 25 folks - including some classy Seahawks fans - who stopped by today's open game thread.  Y'all kept the place hopping while I was away, and it's appreciated.  Congrats to Kurupt, who as usual commented more than anyone.  The roll call...

StuckInNJ, Kurupt, silverstreak3k, katal, Christian, Cinga, RabidBuffalo, jdol1568, Zumone, jri111, patamunzo, Memphisbillsfan, fletcherjd, Ron From NM, redwolf75, NJBillsfan, keuka121, Joe P., killascript, Hopefulcynic, BearsNecessity, acarj84, The Buffalonian, MARVelous, John Morgan

Plenty to be excited about after this one, folks.  Let's discuss this more and more in the comments section.

Walker to face plenty of speed rush Sunday (Photo Source)

Last year, the Buffalo Bills' offensive line - bolstered with free agent additions and the emergence of LT Jason Peters - allowed 26 sacks en route to one of the most successful pass-blocking seasons for a Bills offensive line in over two decades.  Just one year later, however, Peters is voluntarily away from the team, the line is re-shuffled, and many of the question marks that last year's line play resolved have resurfaced, unanswered once more.

Think the Seattle Seahawks aren't smiling about it?  Think again.

Last year, the Seahawks boasted one of the NFL's fiercest pass rushes, registering 45 sacks during their 10-6 season, in which they won the NFC West and reached the divisional round of the NFC playoffs.  Their ferocity in this department is made possible by the fact that they have three pass rushers that literally could play for any team - defensive ends Patrick Kerney and Darryl Tapp, as well as outside linebacker Julian Peterson.  Combined, the three players had 31 of those 45 sacks in 2007.

Three-headed monster
Kerney is the veteran of the group; the warrior.  He led the team with 14.5 sacks last year from his left end position, and he'll spend this coming Sunday lining up across from Bills right tackle Kirk Chambers.  The journeyman tackle, who suffered many indignities at the hands of Osi Umenyiora in a loss to the Giants in '07, has had an effective pre-season, but hasn't faced anyone of the caliber of Kerney to this point.

Langston Walker - filling in for Peters at left tackle - might have an even more difficult assignment in Tapp.  Though his 7 sacks in 2007 could be categorized as "good, but not great", Tapp seems poised to establish himself as one of the NFL's best pure speed rushers in 2008.  Don't make the mistake of thinking he's just a speed rusher, however - he's got power, and he's certainly not a liability against the run.  The 6'8", 366-pound Walker has played well at left tackle in Peters' absence, but his size - and the agility it saps from him - makes him a liability against quicker players.

Peterson's ability severely complicates the issue.  He registered 9.5 sacks in 2007, and his ability to blitz from anywhere on the field will be the Seahawks' most dangerous defensive asset in 2008.  Picture this, Bills fans: Kerney and Peterson both rushing the quarterback from the left side, with Chambers and either TE Robert Royal or one of the team's two running backs, Marshawn Lynch or Fred Jackson, to pick up Peterson (one of the game's best overall athletes).  Yeah, I'm not exactly comforted by that thought either.

Scoring won't be easy
Buffalo's offense has appeared to make significant strides during the pre-season, for certain, particularly in the play-calling department - so there is certainly reason for optimism.  However, the starting quarterback hasn't played live football in over two weeks, and Walker is a bit banged up.  Scoring points this Sunday isn't going to be easy for Buffalo's offense.  Impossible, no; easy, definitely not.

The key lies in how Buffalo's "revamped" offensive line handles Seattle's trio of superb pass rushers.  Look for the Seahawks to run a lot of stunts with its athletic defensive tackles and push the line's communication skills to the brink.  Buffalo's offense has enjoyed solid pass protection throughout the pre-season even without Peters, and it has remained a team strength.  But the unit is far from perfect - they weren't perfect with Peters, either.  Seattle's defense is the first big test; Buffalo may not have a good shot at starting their season with a win if that test isn't passed.

  Has Ashton Youboty outjumped the competition? (Photo Source)

As the pre-season begins to wind down, some of the Buffalo Bills' fringe players have one game left to show their stuff.  So the question becomes: what spots on the roster are most up for grabs and who's fighting for these final spots?  Besides the positions that have been discussed previously (Backup TE, Backup LT, Starting CB, Returners, Starting DT), there are some strong battles being waged between players of different positions fighting to make the final roster.

How many spots are available?
To start off, I'd like to point out the positions I feel we are comfortable enough to say who and how many players will make it.  I left a few positions up for grabs as one of those guys is likely to grab the final spot.

QB: 2 (Edwards, Losman)

RB: 3 (Lynch, Jackson, Omon(or Wright I suppose))

FB: 1 (Barnes)

TE: 3 (Royal, Fine, Schouman)

WR: 5 (Evans, Reed, Parrish, Hardy, Jenkins)

OL: 9 (Peters, Dockery, Fowler, Butler, Walker, Chambers, Whittle, Preston, Bell)

DE: 4 (Schobel, Kelsay, Denney, Ellis)

DT: 4 (Stroud, Williams, McCargo, Johnson)

LB: 6 (Posluzny, Mitchell, Crowell, DiGiorgio, Ellison, Spragan for now)

CB: 5 (McGee, Greer, McKelvin, Corner, Youboty/James)

S: 5 (Whitner, Scott, Simpson, Wilson, Wendling)

ST: 3 (Moorman, Lindell, Neill)

That gives us a rough total of 50 roster spots that should be pretty set at this point, at least numbers wise.  Again, the battle for the 5^th WR, backup C and 5^th CB are all debatable by many, but we will definitely be keeping someone for those spots.  That leaves us with roughly 3 open spots to be filled by any number of individuals from various positions: 3^rd QB, 4^th RB, 4^th TE, 6^th WR, 10^th OL, 9^th DL, 7^th LB or 6^th CB.  There should be some heated competition for these final roster spots and it should come down to a number of deciding factors, which we'll discuss after the jump.

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