Owens, O-line dominate talk at Booster Club meeting

Editor’s note: To clear up any confusion, please be advised that this story was not written on behalf of either the Monday Quarterback Club or the Buffalo Bills Booster Club, the two organizations which co-sponsored the event.

Two of the biggest offseason stories in the NFL, Terrell Owens’ arrival and Jason Peters’ departure, have focused national attention on normally quiet One Bills Drive for the last several weeks. So when members of the Bills Boosters and Monday Quarterback Club had an opportunity to question chief operating officer Russ Brandon and head coach Dick Jauron on Thursday evening, both the offensive line and a certain wide receiver were sure to be mentioned early and often.

After short opening remarks by emcee Paul Peck – filling in for an under-the-weather John Murphy – and Brandon, the Bills’ COO handed off the microphone to Jauron.

“We believe we’ve had a terrific offseason. In our free agency, we’ve added some big names, as you’re all aware, and we’ve added some people at positions that were critical for us to have on our roster. And then, of course, our draft was a really exciting day for us. It fell in a way that we felt really strengthened our team in areas that needed strengthening,” the Bills coach said before opening the floor for questions.

The first one concerned the changes on the line, with Jauron confirming that Langston Walker is the most likely candidate to start at left tackle this season. Kirk Chambers, Demetrius Bell, and Jonathon Scott will compete for the job on the right side, and draftees Eric Wood and Andy Levitre are both in the mix to start at guard.

“I make a list that might have about 15-18 players on it. Regardless of where they’re ranked, I always say, ‘These are guys I want on our team. These guys will help us win.’ And both of those guards were on it,” he said, admitting he was pleasantly surprised to see Levitre still on the board when they traded back into the second round. “I was really taken with this player,” he added.

On defense, although bringing in a free agent is still an option, it sounds like the Bills think they’re set at linebacker. And no, first-round pick Aaron Maybin is not part of that plan.

“Aaron Maybin is a defensive lineman,” Jauron said. “We plan to just play him as a defensive end, primarily in pass rush situations. But he can play against the run. If you try to block him with a tight end, he’ll defeat your tight end. He’s very lean, so he’s got room to add some weight. Now, we’re not planning to put a lot of weight on him. The reason we drafted him was to give Aaron Schobel another speed rusher, so they have to worry about two speed rushers outside, and that’s what his forte is. So we’ll concentrate on that, and then in time, he’ll grow into playing more and more for us.”

He continued, “I really like our starting (linebacking) corps, but I’d like to be able to stay healthy for the year. That changed before we played a game last year, when Angelo left on the Thursday before the opening game. Keith did a terrific job filling in all year at that spot. Kawika upgraded us; he’s tough, he’s big. Paul will take another step this year. Paul Posluszny’s a guy who loves football, he’s very smart, and he’ll be even more confident this year. I’ve got a lot of faith in those guys.”

The talk then turned back to the offensive line, when an astute member of the audience noted that Jauron had omitted a name in his earlier breakdown, and asked about the Brad-Butler-to-right-tackle rumors.

“I guess I didn’t want the public to know that,” he said with a sheepish grin while the crowd chuckled. “There’s a really good chance that we will move Brad Butler out. Brad’s a very unselfish player. He may be more suited to tackle than to guard, and he’s a good guard. We’ll just have to see how it all goes with the young players, and Kirk Chambers can play guard, too. We’ve got some other guys we can see at that position.

“But at this point, I would say that we’re kind of counting on that to happen. We’re kind of counting on Brad to take that spot. We’re counting on Langston to take that left spot, to be the defender, the pass blocker that he is. And then compete inside. That really solidifies us. I think it gives us a cohesive group of guys, tough guys.”

Naturally, he couldn’t escape without answering at least one question about Owens, who he considers a “great addition.” He listed the wideout’s Hall of Fame-worthy credentials, then added, “… so we’d better throw the ball to him,” to another round of laughter.

After a couple more questions, Brandon took over at the front of the M+T Bank Club, and provided more insight on exactly how the deal with T.O. came to pass.

“It was about winning games,” he said. “When we looked at it – I’ll tell you a little bit about the story, because a lot of people have asked us. When we went onto the offseason, one of our key thoughts was to bring in another playmaker. As many of you know, we took a run at Laveranues Coles, and we lost out to Cincinnati on that move. As we continued to look, there looked like there was going to be an opportunity that Owens was going to become available. We talked about it at length internally, and coach Jauron said, ‘I’d rather play with him than against him.’

“It just so happened that we were looking at a third running back at the time named Kevin Jones who happened to be a Drew Rosenhaus client. I was actually having dinner with my wife on Friday evening, and Drew called and said, ‘We’d be interested in coming up and having a discussion.’” Brandon knew booking them on a commercial flight was out of the question, so he called in a favor from a friend with a private plane.

“We flew down, picked up Owens, and were back here in our office by about 12:30. One thing about Drew Rosenhaus, he hardly ever wears a tie. But he had a tie on that day, and I said, Why are you wearing this tie, he said, because I think we might be doing a press conference. But when we sat down and had the first conversation relative to this contract, I didn’t think we were going to be doing a press conference.

“It was a situation that came together quickly ... It was a great opportunity for this organization, under the sole premise of winning games. It’s key for us to take that double coverage off of Lee, and get him in space. Bringing in another playmaker like Owens really does that for us, and it opens up what we do in the middle with Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish. Obviously, our two running backs last year led the National Football League in catches with 70 catches out of the backfield. So we have weapons, and we wanted to also add another tight end into the mix, which we were able to do ... I was stunned Shawn (Nelson) was still there in the fourth round. We had a very high grade on him. He runs very well, he’s an explosive player, and that was something we felt we needed to add to our offense at the tight end position.”

With those weapons in place, it was time to deal once and for all with the Jason Peters situation, which had been dragging on for an entire year.

“Here’s a player that we brought in as a undrafted free agent, we developed, we signed to an over-market contract,” Brandon said. “And the one misnomer in that contract was, he had an escalator clause if he would ever move to left tackle. He was not making bottom money at all. He was paid very handsomely. And we told Jason – I personally told Jason – that we would not renegotiate his contract with three years left on it, because he was not our priority. Lee Evans was our priority. I said, ‘You come back to camp, and once we get Lee done, you become a priority.’ The day that we signed Lee, I had him come to my office, and I said, ‘You are now the priority.’ We worked on that for five or six months, and we offered Jason an enormous contract – the largest contract in Bills history – and he had no interest in it. None. That was right at the conclusion of the season.

“From our standpoint, history is the greatest predictor. We felt very strongly that Jason was not going to come back to camp, was not going to participate, and we were going to be in the same situation. And we felt as an organization that we should not do that to you the fans, and to our organization. Coach Jauron mentioned the word cohesion on the offensive line It’s the most important part of our operation, the cohesion in that line. And with that type of atmosphere, you don’t have that cohesion.

“Quite frankly, I was somewhat stunned when you look at some of the trades that happened in the offseason, with Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel going for a second-rounder and some of the other moves that were made. When that first-rounder came available, along with a few other picks, we felt it was the right move, and we were able to do some things along the offensive line. We think we have the offensive line together now for the next five to seven years, if some of our draft picks pan out the way we anticipate they will.”

As previously mentioned during the draft-day press conferences, that line will be anchored from the center spot by free-agent signee Geoff Hangartner, not first-round pick Eric Wood. Brandon explained the logic:

“Geoff Hangartner was 100 percent our No. 1 priority going into free agency at 12:01. We had pro-scouted him for the last two years. He is enormously intelligent, very talented, and tough, physical. He finishes. His football intelligence, and overall intelligence, is off the charts. I think everyone knows how important that position is, and he was a guy we went right after.

“Many people have asked about the Eric Wood question, whether we brought him in as a center. Eric is coming in here to compete at guard, and Eric knows that. Many of you remember Steve Kragthorpe, who was our quarterback coach. Steve is the head coach at Louisville, and I had extensive conversations with Steve about Eric at the combine. He said, ‘Unquestionably, he is the toughest, smartest, nastiest finisher I have ever coached on the offensive line.’

“That’s what we’re trying to add to this team. Both Levitre and Wood have added that, along with Hangartner, and I think you know what kind of a player Brad Butler is as far as his demeanor on gameday. Pass-pro wise, Langston Walker is our best pass protector. As Dick said, probably the left side would work the best for him.

“We think we have the start of something.”

Notes:
--Booster Club president Sharon Jackson asked that thoughts and prayers go out not only to Ralph Wilson and family upon the passing of his daughter, Linda Bogdan, but also to the surviving family members of Tom Sestak, whose wife died yesterday. And if Lou Saban’s family didn’t already have enough heartache to deal with, the family home was apparently destroyed in the wildfires that devastated parts of North Myrtle Beach, S.C.

--Trainer Chris Fischetti was on hand to present the team’s Ed Block Courage Award to this year’s recipient, defensive end Chris Kelsay.

New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills Game Day Preview

PATRIOTS OVERVIEW (2008 RANKINGS)

Believe it or don’t: missing All-World quarterback Tom Brady (for all but eight minutes of the season), running back Laurence Maroney, and multiple starters from last year’s defense, New England still has a chance to win the division. Some pundits suggest this may be Bill Belichick’s best coaching job ever ... and they just might be right.

OFFENSE (#4 total yardage, #7 rushing, #10 passing, #3 scoring):
At one point during the preseason, Matt Cassel was so bad that some of the local beat writers were predicting he wouldn’t make the final roster. But since taking over for the injured Tom Brady, the perennial backup has put up numbers that rival some of “Tom Terrific’s” better seasons, and ensured himself a starting job somewhere – and a rich payday – when he becomes a free agent at the end of the season.

How incredible has Cassel’s rise been? Check a few of these stats from this week’s game release:

• The Patriots had 514 total net yards against the Cardinals, achieving the fifth-highest output of total net yards in team history. The Patriots have broken the 500-yard mark three times so far this season, achieving three of the top six single-game net yardage outputs in the franchise’s 49-year history.
• The Patriots scored 47 points against Arizona and coupled with their 49-point output on Dec. 14 in Oakland have scored 96 points in their last two games. The 96 points over a two-game span mark the third-most prolific two-game span in team history, trailing only two overlapping two-game spans from the Patriots’ record-setting 2007 season. New England’s 96 points are the most for any NFL team in any two-game span this season, and the Patriots are the only NFL team this year to have back-to-back 40-point games.
• New England has equaled the team record for most games scoring 40 or more points, also achieved in 2007. The Patriots have broken the 40-point mark three times in a season on three occasions (1996, 1963, 1961).

Whether it’s Brady or Cassel throwing passes, you can count on Wes Welker hauling them in. A lot of them. Welker, who leads the league with 109 receptions, is one of just eight players in league history to compile back-to-back 100-catch seasons. He’ll make his first trip to the Pro Bowl next February after becoming the only player selected from the potent Patriots offense. Randy Moss won’t be joining him despite leading the team with 11 touchdown catches, which probably didn’t go over too well ... but the edgy wideout is just 10 yards from tying Andre Reed for 10th place on the career receiving yardage leaderboard. A yeah after Ben Watson scored on six of his 36 catches, he and fellow tight end David Thomas have combined for just 31 receptions and two touchdowns, leaving third-down back Kevin Faulk and No. 3 wideout Jabar Gaffney to shoulder more of the load.

The running game has picked up some of the slack, as well. Despite Laurence Maroney going on IR early in the season and backups Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan missing significant time, the Pats have already rushed for 2,110 yards and 20 touchdowns. Morris, the former Bill, leads the team with a career-high 642 yards and seven rushing TDs.

A year after the team only allowed 21 sacks all season, Cassel was taken down 28 times in the first seven games. That’s not entirely the young quarterback’s fault, though, as linemen Stephen Neal and Nick Kaczur missed some time during that stretch. The normal starting line has been back in place for the last eight weeks, and the improvement has been easy to see; they allowed five sacks to the Steelers, but just 13 in the other seven games.

DEFENSE (#10 total yardage, #12 rushing, #15 passing, #12 scoring):

After a full week of will-he-or-won’t-he-play intrigue, team sack leader Richard Seymour has been officially downgraded to out, which means left tackle Kirk Chambers should sleep a little better Saturday night. However, the rest of the Bills’ offensive line isn’t quite as fortunate, as Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren are ready to go. Expect to see Jarvis Green fill in for Seymour, with Mike Wright also getting a few more plays.

The linebacking corps has been devastated by multiple injuries; there are almost as many ‘backers on IR (five, including Adalius Thomas) as on the active roster (eight including Tedy Bruschi, who is sidelined with a knee injury). Fortunately for New England, the cupboard wasn’t entirely bare: Mike Vrabel is still there, they brought old friends Junior Seau and Rosevelt Colvin back into the fold, and first-round pick Jerod Mayo (Tennessee) is the odds-on choice to win the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

“Jerod has done a lot for us,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “We have asked a lot of him. From day one he has been a well-prepared, very mature player who can do a lot of things: play in the running game, play in the passing game, blitz, helps us in the kicking game. He’s a good football player that has good versatility. He’s smart, makes a lot of defensive adjustments and calls for us. He runs well. He is tough. He is a good all around football player. He is very mature. He is very professional. For a rookie, he is probably as professional as anybody I’ve coached.”

At corner, rookie Jonathan Wilhite has moved into the starting lineup ahead of veteran Deltha O’Neal, who continues his slide toward irrelevance. Ellis Hobbs starts on the other side. Former first-round pick Brandon Meriweather has played well since taking over for the injured Rodney Harrison at strong safety, leading the team with four interceptions, but it’s anyone’s guess who will line up next to him – Lewis Sanders, who started the last two games in place of James Sanders (abdomen), is out for this one. If James isn’t ready to return, special-teamer Antwain Spann looks like the only other option at the position.

SPECIAL TEAMS:
Despite the best efforts of Dolphins fans to stuff the Pro Bowl ballot box in favor of their kicker, rookie Dan Carpenter, Stephen Gostkowski will be making his first visit to the game next February. He’s a remarkable 34-for-37 this season (91.9 percent), and leads the league with 141 points.

As usual, Chris Hanson spends most of his time trying to keep busy on the sideline; among punters who have been on a team’s roster for the entire season, only Denver’s Brett Kern has fewer attempts than Hanson’s 46. He’s still mediocre, but since he’s a good holder – and they don’t need him that often – New England can afford to get away with keeping him.

Ellis Hobbs is a dangerous kickoff returner who currently ranks third in the league with 28.5 yards per runback. Welker and Faulk split time on punts, combining to average over 10 yards/return. The coverage teams remain a problem, though, giving up almost 13 yards on punts and allowing two touchdowns on kickoffs.They’ll catch a break if Roscoe Parrish can’t play; Leodis McKelvin could do some damage if they let him, but odds are they won’t kick to him very often.

OUTLOOK

This was the year, right? With Tom Brady out of the picture, the Bills were finally going to end the Pats’ recent dominance in the series. Well, so much for that plan, because the gap appeared to be as wide as ever when Buffalo lost yet again in Foxboro.

The Patriots have scored at least 47 points in three of their past five games, including last week’s 47-7 beatdown of a Cardinals team that looked like they wanted to be anywhere other than a snowy football field in Massachusetts. Can the Bills slow down Cassel and his high-flying attack, perhaps with a little help from Mother Nature in the form of a 30mph crosswind? We’ll see.

I was pleasantly surprised at how Buffalo fought back to beat the Broncos instead of taking an early 13-0 deficit as a signal to run for the bus, and I do think they’ll try to win this game for Dick Jauron. But against a Patriots team fighting for their playoff lives, I’m not sure that will be good enough.

LINKS

Patriots depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats
Bills depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats

Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos Game Day Preview

BRONCOS OVERVIEW (2008 RANKINGS)

There’s no “D” in Denver these days, but the offense has been good enough to keep them atop the AFC West standings since the first week of the season. Then again, if you look at the rest of the AFC West ...

OFFENSE (#2 total yardage, #16 rushing, #3 passing, #16 scoring):

Back in early October, Jay Cutler ruffled some feathers when an interview in The Sporting News hit the stands. Among other pronouncements of his talent, he offered this appraisal:
“I have a stronger arm than John (Elway), hands down. I’ll bet on it against anybody’s in the league. Brett Favre’s got a cannon. But on game days, there’s nobody in the league who’s going to throw it harder than I am at all.”

Since then, the young Denver quarterback has done his best to live up to that braggadocio. He’s already thrown for an AFC-leading 3,851 yards this season, third-best in the league and 238 shy of Jake Plummer’s team record. People are paying attention; while the selection could be argues, Cutler will make his first trip to the Pro Bowl at the end of the season.

Joining him in Hawaii will be favorite wideout Brandon Marshall, who’s on track for another 100-catch season, something previously accomplished just eight times in league history. He leads the team with 88 receptions for 1,081 yards and six touchdowns, and has the size-and-speed combination to be a tough one-on-one matchup for any cornerback in the league. With rookie Eddie Royal (75-847, 5 TDs) on the other side, the Broncos could have one of the best receiving duos in the league for some time to come, which makes slotman Brandon Stokely even more dangerous. And if those three are all covered, Ben Graham and Tony Scheffler give Cutler a good pair of pass-catching tight ends to look for.

The Broncos are fortunate that the passing game is so potent, because they haven’t been able to keep any of their running backs on the field. Indeed, they now have more RBs on injured reserve than their active roster. Selvin Young, the opening-day starter, lasted five games before a groin injury knocked him out of the lineup for several weeks. Since then, Michael Pittman, Ryan Torain, and rookie Peyton Hillis have all gone from the starting lineup to IR. This week’s candidates for playing time are cellphone salesman Tatum Bell, midseason pickup P.J. Pope, and Young, who didn’t see a single carry after fumbling near the end of the first half in last week’s loss to Carolina..

The line is very good, as usual, giving up only 11 sacks in the first 14 games. Ryan Clady, the twelfth overall pick in this year’s draft, has started every game at left tackle and already looks like a keeper. According to the team’s weekly release, the Boise State alumnus has allowed just a half-sack, and has only been flagged for three penalties. Ryan Harris has similar stats on the right side, giving Denver a solid young set of bookends. A sore ankle kept Clady out of practice earlier in the week, but he expects to play today. Right guard Chris Kuper also expects to be in the lineup, wearing a cast to protect a broken bone in his hand.

DEFENSE (#28 total yardage, #27 rushing, #27 passing, #29 scoring):

It’s a good thing the offense is so potent, because the defense is giving up yards and points at an even faster clip. Check out these stats, courtesy of the Broncos PR department:
“During the last seven weeks since returning from its bye week, Denver’s run defense has been one of the league’s most improved units. After ranking 31st in the league in yards per carry (5.4) during its first seven games, Denver has given up 1.0 fewer yards per rush (4.4) in its previous seven games. The Broncos also are giving up an average of 29.0 fewer rushing yards per game (154.6 to 125.6) in their last seven games versus their first seven contests.”

When allowing 4.4 yards per carry is an IMPROVEMENT ...

The pass rush isn’t much better. With 22 sacks for the entire season, led by defensive ends Elvis Dumervil (5.0) and Ebenezer Ekuban (4.0), Denver is right down there with Buffalo near the bottom of the league rankings.

The secondary definitely misses Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey, who has missed a good chunk of the season with a groin injury; the team’s corners have accounted four just four interceptions this season. Bailey returned to practice a couple of weeks ago, but his status for Sunday’s game is still unclear. In his absence, undrafted rookie Josh Bell has started the last several games across from Dre Bly. Safeties Marquand Manuel and Marlon McCree have both been nicked up this year, with McCree missing several games due to an ankle injury.

SPECIAL TEAMS:
Denver’s press releases laud the long-distance accuracy of new kicker Matt Prater, who’s a perfect 5-for-5 from 50 yards and out. If only he was that good on the shorter kicks; he’s just 17-25 inside the 40, including a horrid 4-of-10 from 30-39, and has missed seven of his last 15.

Grand Island native Brett Kern, signed as an undrafted free agent out of Toledo, is having an exceptional rookie season. He currently ranks fifth in the league in gross average (47.0 yards), and is on pace to break the club record in that category. Even a bad coverage team, allowing over 12 yards per return (including an 89-yard touchdown), only knocks his net average down to 38.0. The kickoff squad isn’t any better, and has also given up a touchdown. Could be a good day for Parrish, if he can get past his sore knee and fear of snow.

Royal is a decent returner, averaging 10.6 yards per punt and 26.1 per kickoff.

OUTLOOK

On paper, this should be an even matchup. Denver scores bunches of points but gives up even more, can’t stop the run, and doesn’t force turnovers. And the Bills surprised a few people (including me) with their solid performance against the Jets last week. (Minus the final 2:06, of course.) But the Broncos need this game badly – even if the Chargers manage to beat Tampa Bay in an early game, Denver can clinch the division with a win today – and Buffalo hasn’t won in the thin Colorado air since 1967.

And while I’d like to believe the team has recovered from last week’s devastating come-from-ahead loss, the amount of postgame dissension in the locker room makes me think otherwise. Denver isn’t invincible at home – heck, they lost to the Raiders – but I think they win this one.

LINKS

Bills depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats
Broncos depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats

Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets Game Day Preview

JETS OVERVIEW (2008 RANKINGS)

The Jets are 8-5 and tied for the division lead with the Pats and Dolphins, but their fans are still finding cause for concern ... and perhaps with good reason. The team that went out to Tennessee and ruined the Titans’ undefeated season has dropped both games since then, including a discouraging loss in San Francisco last weekend.

OFFENSE (#14 total yardage, #9 rushing, #15 passing, #5 scoring):

While most of the publicity – both good and bad – has centered on the future first-ballot Hall of Famer now playing quarterback for the Jets, the team’s true MVP is quietly putting together the best season of his career. Running behind three-time Pro Bowl fullback Tony Richardson and a revamped offensive line, Thomas Jones leads the AFC in rushing with 1,144 yards on 243 carries, good for a 4.7-yard average. The former Cardinals’ first-round pick has scored at least one touchdown in each of the last seven games, and his 14 touchdowns (12 rushing) tie him for the franchise records in both categories.

Jones shares the backfield with Leon Washington, a dangerous runner and receiver who merely leads the league in combined yardage. Not all of that mileage is from kick or punt returns, either; Washington has scored on runs of 61 and 60 yards this season, giving him two of the top five longest touchdown runs in franchise history.

Although he still has his moments, adding three more pick-sixes to his NFL-record interception total, Brett Favre is doing a decent job of playing under control this season. In 13 games, he’s completed 288 of 421 passes (a career-best 68.4 percent) for 2,845 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Jerricho Cotchery (59 catches 702 yards, 4 TDs) and Laveranues Coles (56-620, 6 TDs) are still his primary targets, but rookie tight end Dustin Keller (42-474, 3 TDs), the first-round pick from Iowa, shows signs of becoming an impact player at the position. Brad Smith is sitting out this game with a concussion, so blazing-fast wideout David Clowney may see his first action of the season.

DEFENSE (#18 total yardage, #4 rushing, #31 passing, #19 scoring):

Could Kris Jenkins be the NFL Defensive Player of the Year? Tackles don’t normally accumulate the eye-popping stats that skew most of those awards toward pass-rushers, but the former Panther has been a disruptive force. He abused the interior of the Bills’ line in the first meeting, finishing the game with 1.5 sacks and three quarterback pressures – including the play that led to Abram Elam’s interception for a touchdown – in a performance good enough to earn him Player of the Week honors. Shaun Ellis has benefited from the added attention being paid to Jenkins, notching a team-high eight sacks and 12 pressures from his spot at left end.

Inside linebacker David Harris is back in the lineup after missing several games, including the one in Orchard Park, with a groin injury.

The pass defense has gotten measurably worse since the Jets’ trip to Orchard Park, leading the team to bring cornerback Ty Law out of semi-retirement. Law, now in his 14th year in the league, has started the last three games opposite Darrelle Revis. Safety Abram Elam started the first Bills game because Eric Smith was sidelined with a concussion; it doesn’t look like Smith will reclaim the job any time soon.

SPECIAL TEAMS:
Jay Feely was signed after Mike Nugent suffered a thigh injury in the season opener. Nugent is healthy now, but may not play another game for the Jets, as Feely has made his last 11 field goals.

Free agent Reggie Hodges took over the punting duties after the Jets released Ben Graham, but there hasn’t been much of a change. The coverage teams are very good, though, allowing a 21.2-yard average on kickoff returns and fewer than eight yards per punt.

Leon Washington remains one of the most dangerous return men in the league, ranking sixth with a 27.5-yard average on kickoff returns – including a 92-yard touchdown return against the Patriots – and eighth (10.7) on punt returns. The Jets’ average drive start after kickoffs is just past their 30-yard line, good for second in the league.

OUTLOOK

Six weeks ago, the Bills were still leading the division, and firmly in control of their own destiny. How did we end up here? There’s plenty of blame to go around, and it looks like Ralph Wilson might be gearing up for yet another offseason housecleaning. Meanwhile, the fans who sold out the entire home schedule have been rewarded by a 12th consecutive season without a home playoff game.

The Dolphins and Patriots both face below-average opponents this week, so the Jets probably need a win to hold onto a share of first place in the division. The Bills have won their last two road games in the series, but nothing in the way they’ve played lately leads me to believe they’ll make it three in a row.

LINKS

Bills depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats
Jets depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats

Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills Game Day Preview

DOLPHINS OVERVIEW (2008 RANKINGS)

Is Tony Sparano the NFL Coach of the Year? He has a decent argument. Few could have foreseen Miami, 0-12 at this point last year, still firmly in the playoff picture with a 7-5 record. The Dolphins show the signs of a well-coached team, committing few penalties and leading the league with just 10 turnovers.

OFFENSE (#10 total yardage, #13 rushing, #8 passing, t23 scoring):

Chad Pennington continues to prove he can still start in this league. The ninth-year vet’s 92.8 passer rating is second in the AFC and fifth in the NFL, and 119 more yards would give him the first 3,000-yard season by a Dolphins quarterback since Jay Fiedler did it in 2001 – the second-longest drought in the league. He’s no Dan Marino, but he’s certainly an upgrade from the succession of washed-up veterans and second-stringers the team has plugged into the lineup in recent seasons.

Ted Ginn may have looked like the second coming of Jerry Rice against a gimpy Terrence McGee in the first matchup, rolling up 175 yards on seven catches, but has managed just 40-476 in the other 11 games. Greg Camarillo (55-613 yards, 2 TDs), Trent Edwards’ Stanford teammate, was Miami’s best receiver before a knee injury ended his season the weekend before Thanksgiving. In his stead, Davone Bess inherits the starting spot opposite Ginn. The undrafted rookie from Hawaii has taken advantage of his increased playing time, totaling 11 receptions for 171 yards in the last two games. Pricey free-agent addition Ernest Wilford is still a non-factor, with former Giants practice-squadder Brandon London passing him to take over the No. 3 role.

With so little production from the wideouts, Pennington often looks to his running backs and tight ends; they’ve combined for eight of Miami’s 12 touchdown catches this season. Anthony Fasano (23-312 yards and a team-leading 3 TDs) starts, but David Martin (25-335, 1 TD) gets plenty of playing time in two-TE sets.

Whether they’re in the Wildcat or splitting time in a normal formation, Ronnie Brown (169 carries-690 yards, 10 TDs) and former Toronto Argonaut Ricky Williams (120-512, 1 TD) provide a formidable one-two punch in the backfield. They’ve also combined for 40 catches and 344 receiving yards. Overall, the team has 16 rushing touchdowns in the first 12 games, the most they’ve scored in a single season since 2002.

The line has been a source of stability, starting the same five players in every game since Week 2, but that will change on Sunday. Left guard Justin Smiley’s season ended with a broken leg last week, forcing waiver pickup Andy Alleman, who had been splitting time with Ikechuku Ndukwe on the right side, into the rotation. Expect Alleman to line up next to No. 1 overall pick Jake Long again on Sunday, with recently signed Al Johnson, who played for Sparano in Dallas, also an option.

DEFENSE (#18 total yardage, #11 rushing, #26 passing, #13 scoring):

Under the tutelage of Paul Pasqualoni, who made the Dallas-to-Miami move with Tony Sparano, the Dolphins defense continues to improve. After giving up seven individual 100-yard games last season, they’ve allowed just two in the first 12 games, and they’re also letting opponents score six fewer points per game.

Third-round pick Kendall Langford (Hampton) and veteran Vonnie Holliday flank nose tackle Jason Ferguson, with Randy Starks and second-rounder Phillip Merling (Clemson) also in the rotation at end. Reserve DT Paul Soliai might be working his way off the roster, serving his second one-game suspension of the season last week.

Linebacker Joey Porter leads the AFC with 14.5 sacks from his preferred weakside spot. Teams have begun to pay extra attention to him in recent weeks, slowing his production, but he could still be considered a decent candidate for the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award. The loquacious veteran, never one to avoid an interview, credits the Miami coaching staff for helping to revive his career. “Actually, I’ve never been in a system like this to where I’m not a part of the defense, I’m featured in the defense to go out there and make some plays,” Porter said. “They put me in position to make plays a lot and I put that on myself to go out there and make the plays. It’s a great position they’ve got me in. It’s a player friendly defense. I have a lot of opportunities that I’m one-on-one with the back, one-on-one with the tackle, I’m isolated and in a lot of situations, I take advantage of it. The sombrero is on me when I have to win those matchups.”

Former defensive end Matt Roth continues to adapt to playing the strongside position, with Akin Ayodele and Channing Crowder manning the inside.

Aside from top cornerback Will Allen, the secondary is still the weak point of the defense. Andre’ Goodman starts on the other side. Former first-round pick Jason Allen is (finally) on the injury report with a broken hand, and his replacement last week, Joey Thomas, had a rough game against the Rams. Nobody on the team has more than two interceptions. Safeties Renaldo Hill and Yeremiah Bell won’t be on too many voters’ Pro Bowl lists, but they have provided some stability on the back line. Bell leads the team with 92 tackles.

SPECIAL TEAMS:
Rookie Dan Carpenter is having a solid season after beating Jay Feely for the kicking job in training camp. He’s made 11 straight field goals and 16 of 18 overall, and hasn’t missed a kick since the first half of the first Buffalo game. The Montana grad is even making a run at a Pro Bowl berth, courtesy of some recent ballot-box stuffing.

Carpenter is a rare bright spot on an otherwise mediocre-at-best unit. Punter Brandon Fields is averaging just 35.0 net yards per kick, among the worst in the league. The coverage teams are equally bad, allowing an average of 14.5 yards on punt returns (including two TDs) and 26.2 yards per kickoff.

Since taking over as the lead returner, Davone Bess has been adequate (22.2 yards per attempt) on kickoffs and slightly better on punts (9.6), still just barely above the league average.

OUTLOOK:

The Bills haven’t lost to Miami in Orchard Park since 2003. Too bad this one isn’t being played there. The marketing department can says whatever it wants, but I’ll be surprised if the sterile atmosphere of the Rogers Centre provides any semblance of an advantage to the “home” team. That brings it down to, who’s better on a neutral field? Before the game in Miami, I was convinced the Bills were. Now? They probably still have more talent, but they haven’t exactly been showing it lately.

The Dolphins have won five of their last six games. The Bills have lost five of six. Despite some promising signs – Terrence McGee and Josh Reed are healthy for this game, and the Fins struggled to put away St. Louis last week – it’s hard to bet against that trend.

LINKS

Dolphins depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats
Bills depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats

San Francisco 49ers vs. Buffalo Bills Game Day Preview

49ERS OVERVIEW (2008 RANKINGS)

Not that long ago, the 49ers were one of the model franchises in the league. But following Eddie DeBartolo’s forced departure, several seasons of bad drafts and worse free-agent transactions have left the team struggling to avoid their fourth double-digit-loss season out of the last five.

OFFENSE (#23 total yardage, #24 rushing, #15 passing, #t18 scoring):
After San Francisco finished the 2007 season ranked dead last in total offense, passing yards, and points scored, head coach Mike Nolan – fearing for his job – made the bold move of hiring passing-game guru Mike Martz to run the offense. So much for that idea; Nolan lasted seven games before getting the axe in October, with assistant head coach/defense Mike Singletary taking over.

Martz brought J.T. O’Sullivan with him from Detroit, but after throwing 10 interceptions and taking 19 sacks in a five-game stretch, the former Lion was benched in favor of former Vikings clipboard-holder Shaun Hill. The Niners are 1-2 since the switch, but the offense is playing better, with the mobile Hill compiling a 100.0-or-better passer rating in two of his three starts.

Another of Martz’s old standbys from Saint Louis made the trip out West, when Isaac Bruce signed with the team after the Rams released him. Although the aging wideout’s good days are fewer and father between, he can still break loose for a 100-yard game now and again, and the 15th-year vet leads the team with 558 yards and five touchdowns catches. A note to Bills fans: Bruce now ranks fifth all-time in catches and third in yardage, ahead of Andre Reed in both statistics. Bryant Johnson has started most of the games opposite Bruce, although the team wouldn’t mind seeing rookie Josh Morgan – who’s out this week with a groin injury – take over that job. Jason Hill, although also limited in practice this week, will likely line up as the No. 3 receiver. Martz’s offense doesn’t call for many throws to the tight ends; Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker have combined for just 27 catches and three touchdowns.

Despite the turmoil around him, running back Frank Gore just keeps producing. Between rushing and receiving plays, he’s touched the ball just 227 times this year, but has racked up a combined 1,191 yards and seven touchdowns. Speaking before the Giants’ October game against San Francisco, defensive end Justin Tuck praised the Niners back. “I think what makes Frank a great running back is the fact that you can’t pinpoint what type of running back he is,” he said. “He’s a slasher. He’s a downfield runner. He’s patient. He’s quick. He’s elusive. He fits just about every category you can say about a running back, but you really can’t pinpoint on how you need to attack him. He can be a finesse runner. He can be a power runner. When it comes to running backs, he definitely has all of the tools to be a great one.” Something to keep in mind: Fullback Michael Robinson, the 2005 Big 10 Offensive Player of the Year as a quarterback at Penn State, could be dangerous out of a Wildcat-style formation.

Like the receiving corps, the line is dealing with injury issues. Seriously, is any Bills fan surprised to see Jonas Jennings on IR for the fourth time in six seasons? That six-year, $36-million deal bought the 49ers exactly 23 games, including just two starts this year, and they’ll likely cut their losses after the season. Fortunately, they weren’t counting on the oft-dinged Jennings as their left tackle, having already made the decision to flip 2007 first-round pick Joe Staley over to that side. After journeyman Barry Sims filled in for several games, the team moved Adam Snyder over from left guard, leaving David Baas and rookie Chilo Rachal to line up on either side of veteran center Eric Heitman. 49ers quarterbacks have paid for the unsteady line and Martz’s low priority on pass protection, taking 40 sacks in the first 11 games. The 49ers took the unusual step of dismissing offensive line coach George Warhop during the season, shortly after Singletary took over as head coach.

DEFENSE (#23 total yardage, #15 rushing, #29 passing, #29 scoring):

The 49ers use a hybrid 3-4 as their base defense, news that should give Bills fans a sense of unease. As Tim Graham pointed out on his AFC East blog on ESPN, the Buffalo offense has been less than impressive against 3-4 teams.

Fortunately for Buffalo, though, San Francisco doesn’t have Vince Wilfork, Kris Jenkins, or Shaun Rogers anchoring the middle of their three-man front. That job falls to Aubrayo Franklin, with Isaac Sopoaoga moving inside to the other tackle position when the Niners shift to a four-man line, with ex-Bengal Justin Smith and Ray McDonald at the ends. Twenty-ninth overall pick Kentwan Balmer (North Carolina) has been invisible, managing just six total tackles in the first 11 games.

Inside linebacker Patrick Willis went to San Francisco with the 11th overall pick in the 2007 draft, one slot before the Bills selected Marshawn Lynch. No matter how good Lynch ends up being, there’s room for regret that the talented Ole Miss product didn’t slide one more spot, because Willis looks like a perennial All-Pro in the making. “You have to account for him,” Seahawks tackle Walter Jones said of the 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year. “He’s a great player who’s going to make great plays. You really have to try to get on top of him and block him. You are going to try to block him, but for the most part he is going to make his plays. The defense is built for him to make plays and he’s making plays.”

Lining up next to him is an old friend, Takeo Spikes. He’s not the same sideline-to-sideline player who made back-to-back Pro Bowls in Buffalo before shredding his Achilles tendon, but the move inside suits the 11th-year vet well; he leads the team with three interceptions. As expected, outside ‘backers Parys Haralson (4.5) and Manny Lawson (3.0) – along with Smith (3.0), who can also rush from a stand-up position – lead the team in sacks. Meanwhile, Tully Banta-Cain continues to prove why he’s never been a long-term starter.

Another familiar face, Nate Clements, is in his second season as the 49ers’ top cornerback after breaking the bank in free agency with an eight-year, $80-million deal. He had a tough game against Terrell Owens last week, getting burned repeatedly during T.O.’s seven-catch, 213-yard performance, but he didn’t have much help from the 49ers pass rush, either. With counterpart Walt Harris likely to miss this game due to a hamstring injury, Lee Evans is likely to see a steady dose of his former teammate while Donald Strickland and Marcus Hudson try to keep the other Bills receivers under control. Safeties Michael Lewis and Mark Roman complete what would normally be a veteran secondary.

SPECIAL TEAMS:

Thirteenth-year kicker Joe Nedney is a perfect 13-for-13 inside 40 yards, with his only misses this season coming from . The San Jose native has hit 87.7 percent of his field goal attempts since returning to the Bay Area in 2005, good enough for second place in team history. Andy Lee earned the NFL Pro Bowl bid at punter last season, and currently ranks sixth in the league with a 47.2-yard net average.

Allen Rossum currently ranks third in the conference in both punt and kickoff returns, but is on the shelf with an ankle injury. With Arnaz Battle also questionable for the Bills game, Clements will probably get some work on punt-return duty, while Delanie Walker and Michael Robinson could drop deep on kickoffs.

The coverage units are average, but here’s something to keep in mind: San Francisco has blocked three field-goal attempts this year, returning two for touchdowns.

OUTLOOK

The 49ers stand at 3-8, well on their way to challenging last year’s 5-11 record for ineptitude. Unless they run the table – and with games against the Jets, Dolphins, and Redskins left on the schedule, don’t bet on that happening – they’ll finish below .500 for the sixth consecutive season. San Fran has enough playmakers on both sides of the ball to pose a genuine threat, but unless the Bills play down to their level, the East Coast teams’ perfect record against their West Coast counterparts should remain intact.

LINKS

Bills depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats
49ers depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats

Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs Game Day Preview

CHIEFS OVERVIEW (2008 RANKINGS)

The Chiefs are in the early stages of a massive rebuilding program, and it shows – at 1-9, they’re firmly in the running for next April’s No. 1 overall draft pick. There are signs of hope for the future, though; three of their last four losses have come by four points or less.

OFFENSE (#26 total yardage, #16 rushing, #26 passing, #29 scoring):
Second-year quarterback Tyler Thigpen was flat-out awful in his first NFL start, completing just 14 of 36 passes for 128 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions in a Week 2 blowout loss at Atlanta. But both opening-day starter Brodie Croyle and veteran backup Damon Huard were lost for the season against the Titans in Week 7, leaving Thigpen the last man standing at the position. With no depth – and no running game to speak of, minus the suspended Larry Johnson – coordinator Chan Gailey decided he had to do something radical, installing a college-style spread offense similar to the one Thigpen ran at Coastal Carolina. The win total hasn’t increased since the change, but the former Vikings practice-squadder has shown vast improvement in the new system, throwing eight touchdown passes and just one interception in the last four games.

“It’s developing as we go,” head coach Herm Edwards said recently. “Every week we try to put a new wrinkle in it and try to see what else we can do out of it. So it’s new. It’s two or three weeks old for us. Last week we were able to run the ball out of the shotgun more than we had in the past. So I just think every week we try to do different things with it and try to develop it because we’ve been successful moving the ball and scoring some points. We’ve got to score more. But I think Tyler feels very comfortable. And I think the players are starting to feel comfortable with it, too.”

Dwayne Bowe, who topped all rookie receivers last year with 70 catches and 995 yards, should be even better in a wide-open attack. He’s tied with Tony Gonzalez for the team lead in catches and touchdowns, and could be the first Chiefs wideout to lead the team in receptions since 1997, Gonzalez’s rookie season. Former Bears second-round pick Mark Bradley starts on the other side; despite missing some practice time this week, he should be ready to play. No other Chiefs receiver or tight end has more than seven catches.

Johnson resumed getting the bulk of the carries upon his return to the lineup last week, but one wonders how much longer the troubled running back, who just turned 29 this week, will be in Kansas City. His replacement may already be on the roster; third-round pick Jamaal Charles (Texas) is averaging 5.5 yards per carry, and recently ran for 106 yards on just 18 carries against a decent Tampa Bay defense.

Not all that long ago, a veteran line stocked with All-Pros led the way for Johnson’s record-setting performances ... but most of those players are gone, with left guard Brian Waters the only one still on the roster. The Chiefs began the rebuilding process at the top of the 2008 draft, using the 15th overall pick to select guard Branden Albert from Virginia and immediately moving him to left tackle. They’ve still got some work to do, though; while they like the potential shown by first-year starter Rudy Niswanger at center, the right side is populated by journeymen Damion McIntosh and Wade Smith (who will fill in at guard for Adrian Jones).

DEFENSE (#32 total yardage, #31 rushing, #27 passing, #28 scoring):

General manager Carl Peterson was ecstatic to see LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey slip to the Chiefs, who had the fifth overall pick in last April’s draft. Combined with 2007 third-rounder Tank Tyler, the middle of the Kansas City line should be solid for some time to come. The situation isn’t nearly as settled at end, though; instead of paying Jared Allen the franchise-tag price and putting up with his off-the-field issues, Peterson traded last year’s team sack leader to Minnesota and went into the season with Tamba Hali and Turk McBride as the starters. Bad call. The two have combined for exactly one of the team’s league-worst six sacks, and McBride is now on injured reserve, forcing them to shift tackle Alfonso Boone to left end and leaving old friend Ron Edwards as the only backup on the inside.

Outside linebacker Derrick Johnson returns after sitting out the last two weeks, but Donnie Edwards (hamstring, knee) and Patrick Thomas (thigh) will both miss the game. Johnson could end up in the middle, flanked by backups Rocky Boiman and Demorrio Williams. The Chiefs were already bad against the run, allowing over five yards per carry and 16 touchdowns; further upheaval in the front seven won’t help.

With Patrick Surtain also missing another game, the Chiefs are left with rookies Brandon Flowers (Virginia Tech) and Brandon Carr (Grand Valley State) starting at cornerback and journeyman Ricardo Colclough playing the nickel. Flowers has been one of the few bright spots in an increasingly dark season, but Carr has had his struggles. Bernard Pollard – best known for ending Tom Brady’s season – and Jarrad Page, who leads the team with three interceptions, start at safety.

SPECIAL TEAMS:
Nick Novak won a training-camp battle against Connor Barth to open the season as the Chiefs’ kicker, but after Novak missed his second sub-40-yard field goal attempt of the season, he was released and Barth brought back. The undrafted rookie from North Carolina has been a perfect 5-for-5 so far, but has yet to try a kick of over 39 yards.

Lefty punter Dustin Colquitt is having a good season, currently averaging 40.4 net yards on his kicks and placing 20 out of 47 inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. This, despite a bad coverage team that allows over 10 yards per return.

Backup running back Dantrell Savage was average on kick returns and horrible on punts; the undrafted free agent was bounced off the active roster earlier in the week, then re-signed to the practice squad. Fellow rookie Kevin Robinson, who holds the Utah State records for return yardage and touchdowns, takes over both jobs.

OUTLOOK:

A month ago, I would have chalked this up as an easy win for Buffalo. My, how times have changed. The Chiefs would seem to present an enticing matchup ... but that’s what we thought about the Browns, too. Until Trent Edwards gets his head straight, I’m not sure this team can beat anybody, much less on the road. We’ll see.

LINKS

Chiefs depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats
Bills depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats

Cleveland Browns vs. Buffalo Bills Game Day Preview

BROWNS OVERVIEW (2008 RANKINGS)

After Cleveland finished the 2007 season 10-6 and just barely missed the playoffs, some observers thought this could be the Browns’ year to take over at the top of the AFC North. The schedule-makers agreed, giving them five prime-time games (the most in franchise history, and one more than the Super Bowl champion Giants). But after coughing up two-touchdown leads late in back-to-back home games, the team sits at 3-6, three games south of the Steelers and Ravens and ahead of only the woeful Bengals in their division.

OFFENSE (#27 total yardage, #21 rushing, #25 passing, #25 scoring):
In September 2007, starting quarterback Charlie Frye was so spectacularly bad in the first half of the season opener, the Browns shipped him off to Seattle before the next game. And with No. 1 pick Brady Quinn scrambling to catch up after a lengthy training-camp holdout, the door was open for Derek Anderson to win the job. The former Baltimore practice-squad reject seized the opportunity, passing for 3,787 yards and 29 touchdowns to become the first Browns quarterback to be named to the Pro Bowl since Bernie Kosar made the trip 20 years ago. He cashed in after the season, signing a three-year, $24-million contract to remain in Cleveland.

But Anderson’s sub-50 percent completion rate this year, and his late pick-six to seal a loss against the hated Ravens (dropping the team to 3-5), had the fans chanting Quinn’s name. The Browns acquiesced, benching their team captain to hand the reigns to the projected franchise quarterback. Was it the right move? Time will tell, but Quinn got off to a promising start in his debut, completing 23 of 35 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns against the Broncos, without taking a sack or turning the ball over.

The Browns-Broncos prime-time game had at least one very interested observer in Buffalo, with Bills head coach Dick Jauron impressed by the young quarterback’s performance. “Anytime in a football game you put 30 points up on the board offensively, that’s a pretty good evening,” Jauron said. “It starts with that because that the point of an offense. Then, possessing the ball, keeping the ball and limiting the number of times that you turn it over and all those things he did an outstanding job with. I thought he was accurate with his throws, he looked like he directed their offense without any problems and he did not look like he got rattled. Those are all big pluses for a quarterback.”

Judging by last week’s game, the switch could mean a change in the distribution of passes among the Browns’ receiving corps. Anderson loved to look downfield for Braylon Edwards, but with offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski seeking to protect the inexperienced Quinn by working underneath the coverage, Kellen Winslow caught a season-high 10 passes for 111 yards and the first two-touchdown game of his career. Still, don’t expect the Bills defense to shut out Edwards; he’s caught at least one pass in every NFL game he’s played, a streak that currently stands at 51. The other starting wideout spot has been a problem; Joe Jurevicius has missed the entire season after developing a staph infection following knee surgery, and free-agent pickup Donte’ Stallworth is just as fragile as ever. That left the memorable duo of Syndric Steptoe and Steve Sanders to share time on the other side for the first four games, with underwhelming results. The Browns will likely use plenty of two-tight end sets to compensate, with veteran Steve Heiden joining Winslow on the field, and also sneak special-teams star Joshua Cribbs (yes, Joe’s nephew) onto the field on offense every now and then.

Workhorse Jamal Lewis leads the team in rushing again (167 carries – 593 yards, 4 TDs), but he’s averaging just 3.6 yards per carry – almost a full yard under last year’s numbers – and after the Browns’ second straight fourth-quarter meltdown, he questioned the effort put in by some of his teammates. This situation bears watching. Backup Jason Wright and change-of-pace back Jerome Harrison get a few plays here and there; fullback Lawrence Vickers didn’t practice all week and is listed as doubtful for this game.

The Browns could also be without one of their best offensive linemen, left guard Eric Steinbach, who missed last week’s game with a torn abdominal muscle and was limited in practice. If he can’t go on Monday night, Seth McKinney will get another start between center Hank Fraley and Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas. Guard Rex Hadnot and tackle Kevin Shaffer give the Browns a veteran presence on the right side of the formation.

DEFENSE (#t27 total yardage, #26 rushing, #21 passing, #t15 scoring):

After the Browns finished 2007 near the bottom of the league rankings in both rushing and overall yardage allowed, general manager Phil Savage went to work rebuilding the line. He traded a second-round pick to Green Bay for Corey Williams, for the Packers who shifted to left end in Romeo Crennel’s 3-4 set, and shipped starting cornerback Leigh Bodden and a third-rounder to Detroit to steal Pro Bowl tackle Shaun Rogers away from division rival Cincinnati, who thought they had a deal done with the Lions.

Rogers has been a disruptive force in the middle so far, leading the team with 4.5 sacks and adding six tackles for loss and 12 QB pressures. Jauron, who coached him during his stint in Detroit, isn’t surprised. “He did a tremendous job for us there,” Jauron said. “He was a force on the field, and there was no doubt in my mind that he was going to be the same player in Cleveland, and that’s what he looks like.”

Robaire Smith was supposed to complete the revamped line, but was lost for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon in Game 2, moving Shaun Smith into the starting lineup. Rogers (neck) and Williams (shoulder) practiced on a limited basis Thursday and Friday after not practicing at all on Wednesday; both should be ready to play, but if either is forced to miss any time, there’s not much depth behind them. And that run defense? As you can see by the numbers above, it hasn’t improved much, if at all.

Willie McGinest and Kamerion Wimbley line up at outside linebacker in the Browns’ scheme, but neither has made much of an impact this season. Wimbley, who notched 11 sacks in his rookie year, tailed off to five last season and has just two so far in 2008. Meanwhile, McGinest, who turns 37 next month, may not have much left. Shantee Orr, brought back when Antwan Peek was placed on IR, and seventh-round pick Alex Hall (St. Augustine), who has made an immediate impact with three sacks in limited action, should see more playing time on the outside this week. D’Qwell Jackson and Andra Davis man the inside, with the former leading the team in tackles by a significant margin.

Eric Wright took over as the Browns’ top cornerback when Bodden left for Detroit, and leads the team with three interceptions. The other planned starter, Daven Holly, blew out his knee in minicamp, leaving that job to Brandon McDonald. The second-year player has had his ups and downs ... mostly downs, lately, as he was torched by Brandon Marshall in the Broncos’ comeback win last Thursday. Expect to see more of Travis Daniels in the base defense on Monday night, and maybe even in the starting lineup.

Although he denies it, the team claims strong safety Sean Jones’ surgically-repaired knee is still bothering him, and they plan to rotate him with Mike Adams, who started while Jones was out. Brodney Pool is the free safety, with Nick Sorenson also seeing time in the backfield.

SPECIAL TEAMS:
Phil Dawson, the last remaining player left from the Browns’ 1999 roster, is having another solid season in Cleveland. He’s 17-of-19 (including a perfect 15-of-15 from 49 and in), and connected on a 50-yarder in each of the last two games, including a career-long 54-yard kick against Baltimore. He’s never made a field goal in Buffalo, though, missing a 45-yarder in his only previous trip in 2004.

Punter David Zastudil is having a decent season, with a 38.7-yard net average and 13 of 41 kicks inside the 20. The cover teams are solid, allowing just 20.4 yards per kickoff and 7.1 yards per punt, both good enough to put them in the top seven in the league.

The unit is led by Joshua Cribbs, who Crennel calls the best special-teams player he’s ever seen. “He is a returner and a cover guy and that combination is kind of special,” the Browns head coach said on Monday. “As a returner he is special but when you watch the coverage plays he is involved in, you have an appreciation for what he is able to do. The other teams know that he is a good cover guy and he is still able to make the plays and get to the football.”

Cribbs trails only New England’s Ellis Hobbs in kick-return average, running one back 92 yards for a touchdown against Baltimore two weeks ago, and also leads the coverage teams in tackles.

OUTLOOK

Monday night will mark Brady Quinn’s first road start since college. Can the Bills defense find a way to rattle the young signal-caller, or will he be able to follow the same short-passing, control-the-ball formula that proved so successful for Buffalo’s opponents in each of their losses? On the other side of the ball, who’s going to line up at wide receiver across from Lee Evans? The Browns are vulnerable to the pass, and have given up a combined 71 points in the last two games, but can the Bills take advantage of a shaky secondary?

If the middle of the Buffalo offensive line can keep Rogers occupied, and if the defense finds a way to make Quinn uncomfortable, the Bills should win this game with the help of an amped-up Monday Night crowd.

LINKS

Bills depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats
Browns depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats

Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots Game Day Preview

PATRIOTS OVERVIEW (2008 RANKINGS)

The NFL landscape changed dramatically just 7:33 into New England’s season opener, when onrushing Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard wiped out the knee of All-Everything quarterback Tom Brady. Despite dire predictions of their imminent demise (and the schadenfreude expressed by a significant contingent of other teams’ fans), however, the defending AFC champs have refused to go away quietly.

OFFENSE (#18 total yardage, #7 rushing, #23 passing, #22 scoring):

For 128 consecutive games, a streak that encompassed four Super Bowl appearances and three championships, the Patriots could count on Brady’s presence at the helm of the offense. His injury sent shock waves throughout New England, and thrust untested backup Matt Cassel into the spotlight. Based on the fourth-year pro’s underwhelming preseason performance, many observers predicted total meltdown. While he won’t make anyone forget No. 12 any time soon, Cassel has exceeded the doomsayers’ expectations to the point that some local writers are even suggesting that he could cash in as a free agent next offseason. Scott Mitchell, anyone?

Of course, having Randy Moss and Wes Welker at wide receiver makes Cassel’s life a little easier. While the edgy Moss is nowhere near repeating his record-smashing 2007 performance, and for a stretch it looked like the “bad” Randy might reappear, he’s still one of the most dangerous targets in the league. A good game on Sunday could move Moss past Irving Fryar for 11th on the career receiving yardage list, with Hall of Famer Steve Largent next in his sights. Meanwhile, Welker just keeps catching passes – he’s on pace to match the franchise-record 112 receptions he hauled in last season. Jabar Gaffney is back as the third wideout, but Cassel hasn’t looked his way often. Special-teamers Sam Aiken and Kelley Washington round out the WR corps. Tight ends Ben Watson and David Thomas aren’t contributing much in the passing game, combining for just 19 catches so far, and have yet to score.

While the top receivers will play, the situation is different at running back, where Laurence Maroney is on IR and LaMont Jordan (calf) and Sammy Morris (knee) both appear likely to miss another game. That leaves Kevin Faulk and undrafted rookie BenJarvus Green-Ellis (Ole Miss) to carry the rushing attack. Expect to see Green-Ellis get his third consecutive start and play in short-yardage situations. Faulk, always there when the Pats need him, is averaging just shy of six yards per carry and trails only the two starting wideouts in receptions. Heath Evans is the fullback of record, but will also see some plays in the single-back sets the team uses most of the time.

With Cassel at the controls, the team’s sacks-allowed stat has skyrocketed. He’s already been dropped 28 times in the first eight games, more than Brady – renowned for his quick release – took in any of his last four full seasons. The young quarterback isn’t totally to blame, though, as the offensive line hasn’t performed at their usual level. They finally had their projected starting five together for the first time last week, with right guard Stephen Neal returning from the PUP list after offseason shoulder surgery and tackle Nick Kaczur back after missing two games with an ankle injury, but the left side has no such excuse. Jamal Williams abused center Dan Koppen in San Diego’s blowout win, and Matt Light and Logan Mankins – both Pro Bowl players last year, as was Koppen – have also struggled at times.

DEFENSE (#14 total yardage, #15 rushing, #17 passing, #9 scoring):

A full calendar year after returning from a knee injury, Richard Seymour appears to be back on track for another Pro Bowl season. He, tackle Vince Wilfork, and left end Ty Warren comprise one of the best 3-4 fronts in the league. Wilfork has been limited with a toe injury this week; the Bills offense probably wouldn’t mind seeing undersized reserve Mike Wright on the field for a significant number of plays.

The Patriots released Rosevelt Colvin in the offseason, making room for Adalius Thomas to return to his more natural outside linebacker spot. The former Ravens star has benefited from the change, pacing the team with five sacks. Mike Vrabel starts on the other side, with fellow captain Tedy Bruschi and top draft pick Jerod Mayo (Tennessee) manning the inside. Mayo, the Pats’ leading tackler, has grasped the complex scheme quicker than expected. Undrafted rookie Gary Guyton (Georgia Tech) has been a pleasant surprise, taking some passing-down snaps in Bruschi’s stead.

Asante Samuel (Philadephia) and Randall Gay (New Orleans) are plying their trade elsewhere this season, leaving newly-acquired Lewis Sanders and Deltha O’Neal to battle for the starting job at left cornerback. Neither has inspired flashbacks to Ty Law’s best seasons. Both Sanders and 2008 second-round pick Terrence Wheatley will probably miss this game, so it looks like O’Neal, who was benched for the rookie last week, is back in the lineup. After slot corners Jonathan Wilhite and Mike Richardson were repeatedly burned by Colts wideout Anthony Gonzalez, the Pats brought back Jason Webster in an attempt to shore up the secondary. At strong safety, Rodney Harrison’s season – and likely his career – ended against the Broncos two weeks ago. Brandon Meriweather starts in his stead, with James Sanders remaining at free safety.

SPECIAL TEAMS:
The Pats have called on Stephen Gostkowski for more than extra points this season, and the third-year kicker has more than justified the faith the team showed in him by letting Adam Vinatieri leave. Gostkowski has missed just one of his 20 attempts this season, a 48-yarder in San Diego, and is currently tied for fourth in the league scoring race.

Punter Chris Hanson is average at best, and that’s being polite. He’s in the middle of the pack in gross average, but ranks 29th in net and has almost as many touchbacks as punts inside the 20. The coverage team isn’t helping, allowing almost 13 yards per return.

The return teams have yet to score, but consistently provide the offense with great field position. Ellis Hobbs averages 29.3 yards per kickoff return, and Welker and Faulk are both dangerous when they drop deep on punts.

OUTLOOK:

You’ve seen the numbers. The Patriots have won nine in a row and 14 of the last 15 in the series, an ugly stretch of football that recalls the Dolphins’ dominance in the 1970s. The Bills have yet to win a game in Gillette Stadium, now in its seventh year of operation. And recent games haven’t even been competitive, as New England has won four of the last five by 22 points or more.

Bills fans had reason to believe that record of futility might change after Brady crumpled to the turf in September. Without their leader, the Pats got pasted by Miami – at home, no less – and drilled by the same Chargers team that left Buffalo with a loss. The secondary is in disarray, they’re down to their fourth-string running back, and even though Cassel isn’t as bad as their fans feared he might be, he’s a long, long way from making anyone forget about the league MVP he replaced.

But Buffalo’s list of injured starters is beginning to rival last season’s – and, as discussed in Lot 1 following the Jets game, these are starters they actually miss. The two teams are closer in overall talent than they have been in several years, but the Bills running game and pass rush will have to be significantly better than they have been lately to earn a road win this week.

LINKS

Patriots depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats
Bills depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats

New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills Game Day Preview

JETS OVERVIEW (2008 RANKINGS)

Following a disastrous 4-12 season in 2007, general manager Mike Tannenbaum and coach Eric Mangini went on a spending spree in hopes of avoiding a repeat. Did they do enough to ensure New York’s return to playoff contention? So far, the results are mixed.

OFFENSE (#15 total yardage, #15 rushing, #15 passing, #8 scoring):
At the beginning of training camp, the main question about the offense concerned whether or not Kellen Clemens, the team’s alleged quarterback of the future, could wrest the starting job away from Chad Pennington. That instantly changed on August 7, 2008, when Brett Favre posed for pictures with a green-and-white No. 4 jersey and told the assembled media at his coronation how excited he was about being traded to the Jets. Nice knowing you, Chad, and drop off your playbook on the way out. As for Clemens, he may lose the No. 2 job to Brett Ratliff sooner rather than later.

The first seven weeks of Favre’s stay in New York have been a roller-coaster ride. He put up a career-high six-touchdown-pass performance against the Cardinals, but has also thrown seven picks in the last three games. When a Jets beat reporter asked Trent Edwards what would happen if he matched that second set of numbers, he responded, “I don’t even know. Me, with where I’m at in my career, I’m pretty sure that would be a pretty bad thing…I’m sure the media would be all over me, I’d be trying to find excuses and I’m sure there’d be some questions as to whether or not I should continue to be playing this position.”

Yeah, 457 career touchdown passes and three league MVP awards do tend to give a guy some wiggle room. So does throwing for the winning score with 1:05 left in the game, as Favre did against Kansas City last week, several minutes after his 91-yard pick-six had allowed the woeful Chiefs to take the lead. Favre may talk about protecting the ball, and his completion percentage is the best it’s ever been, but he’ll always have that gunslinger’s heart.

The quarterback has changed, but most of the receiving corps returns intact from 2007. As Laveranues Coles closes in on his 600th career reception (he’s currently at 598 catches for 7,678 yards and 42 touchdowns), it’s hard to imagine that he was the third wideout taken from Florida State in the 2000 NFL Draft. The Bengals apparently decided that both Peter Warrick (4th overall) and Ron Dugans (third round, 66th overall) were better than Coles, taken later in the third round (78th overall). Their combined career stats: 288 catches, 3,080 yards, and 21 touchdowns.

While Pennington obviously favored Coles, Favre has looked for Jerricho Cotchery more often, especially targeting him on third down. The two have nearly identical numbers through the first seven games, with Coles (37-433, 5 TDs) barely leading Cotchery (36-430, 3 TDs) on the stat sheet. The former No. 3 receiver, Justin McCareins, returned to Tennessee. He isn’t missed; second-year player Chansi Stuckey has filled in nicely, and Brad Smith (the former Mizzou quarterback) still sees some time.

Something to keep an eye on: Coles (thigh), Cotchery (shoulder), and starting tight end Chris Baker (hip) have all been limited in practice, and Bubba Franks will probably miss another week. That leaves rookie Dustin Keller and long-snapper James Dearth as the only healthy options at tight end, and Dearth isn’t much of one, so backup lineman Robert Turner might be pressed into service at the position.

Earlier in the season, segments of the New York media were suggesting that Thomas Jones had “lost a step.” Not sure how they could tell, since he was never a track star to begin with, but his 4.4 yards-per-carry average is the highest it’s been since 2003. That still may not be enough to keep Leon Washington from assuming a greater portion of the workload, though – unlike Jones, he is a home-run threat. (Ask the Chiefs defense after Washington stunned them with a 60-yard touchdown run last week, the Jets’ longest in six years.) To back them up, the Jets added Marcus Mason from the Ravens’ practice squad to replace Jesse Chatman, who went on injured reserve.

The Jets paid for shipping the disgruntled Pete Kendall out of town before last season began. Without the veteran guard to steady them, left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick Mangold struggled, Jet quarterbacks were sacked 53 times (just two fewer than the league-worst Chiefs and 49ers), and Jones averaged 3.6 yards per carry. Tannenbaum and Mangini knew they couldn’t afford a repeat, so they paid the hefty price to sign seven-time Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca, and also added Damien Woody to play right tackle. The two big-ticket additions give New York a remarkable four first-round picks on the line; only right guard Brandon Moore, undrafted in 2003, isn’t a member of that exclusive club.

So far, the results are mixed: they’re certainly better than last year’s unit, but Favre, who hasn’t been sacked 30 or more times in a season since 2000, is on pace for 36 takedowns this year.

DEFENSE (#12 total yardage, #4 rushing, #23 passing, #20 scoring):
For the last two years, the Jets have been trying to play a 3-4 with players ill suited for the scheme. They addressed that mismatch during the offseason, trading Jonathan Vilma and Dewayne Robertson and bringing in massive Kris Jenkins (Panthers) to play the nose. The switch has made an immediate impact; the team soared from 29th to 4th in the run-defense rankings, and held Cincinnati and Arizona under 50 rushing yards in back-to-back weeks.

Jenkins’ presence also means fewer double-teams for ends Shaun Ellis and Kenyon Coleman; Ellis has taken advantage of the increased opportunities by notching a team-high six sacks. Likewise, outside linebacker Bryan Thomas – who already has 4.5 sacks this season, after managing just 2.5 in 2007 – benefits from having free-agent pickup Calvin Pace rushing off the other edge. Behind those two, No. 6 overall pick Vernon Gholston (Ohio State) has yet to make an impact.

The Bills do catch a break this weekend, as the Jets will probably be without their leading tackler, inside linebacker David Harris. The 2007 second-round pick from Michigan, who ably assumed Vilma’s starting job midway through last season, is “week-to-week” with a pulled groin muscle. David Bowens, who spent the 2001 training camp with the Bills as a defensive end, is the likely replacement next to another veteran, Eric Barton.

Darrelle Revis, the 14th overall pick in last year’s draft, is on his way to becoming one of the better corners in the conference; opposing quarterbacks are already starting to avoid his side of the field. Of course, that may also have something to do with the Jets’ continuing struggles to find another decent starter at the position. This year, rookie Dwight “Swipe” Lowery, a two-time All-American at San Jose State, starts opposite Revis, with former starter David Barrett seeing time in nickel and dime packages. Revis leads the team with three interceptions, but the Jets haven’t had a pick in three games. Safety Eric Smith will sit out this game after suffering post-concussion symptoms, moving Abram Elam into the lineup next to Kerry Rhodes.

SPECIAL TEAMS:
Mike Nugent is still out, so veteran Jay Feely will continue to handle the kicking duties this weekend. Feely has been in the league for eight years, but made his first visit to Ralph Wilson Stadium just last December, hitting one field goal and two extra points in Miami’s 38-17 loss. He’s been adequate at best for the Jets, missing two of seven attempts from inside 40 yards.

The team gave up on Aussie import Ben Graham after the loss to the Eagles, turning to free agent Reggie Hodges to fill the job. So far, there’s not much difference; if anything, Hodges’ net average is even worse. He has placed five of 12 kicks inside the 20, though.

Leon Washington is one of the most dangerous return men in the league, currently ranking third on kickoffs (27.6) and fifth on punts (13.0) despite not breaking one for a touchdown. The kickoff-coverage team is average, but the punt squad is giving up 10.1 yards per return.

OUTLOOK

The Jets are 4-3, but the last three games have been anything but impressive. Sandwiched around a road loss at Oakland, they struggled to barely get by teams quarterbacked by Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tyler Thigpen.

Question is, with at least three starters (Schobel, Butler, and Reed) out and McGee and Youboty likely still limited, do the Bills have enough left to win this game? Trent Edwards will certainly miss Reed, especially if the Jets try the same blitz-on-every-play gameplan that rattled, and ultimately injured, the rookie quarterback in their last meeting. Time for James Hardy to step up, and Roscoe Parrish to get the increased playing time he desires.

On the other side of the ball, the Bills have had success stopping Favre, who has never won a regular-season game at Rich/Ralph Wilson Stadium. Can he reign himself in enough to take the underneath routes the defense will give him, something Kurt Warner and Chad Pennington did with great success, or will that itch to “make a play” add more giveaways to their -6 turnover differential, already worse than every team but San Francisco and Denver? We’ll see.

Buffalo seeks to start the season at 6-2 for just the fifth time in team history, and the first since 1992.  Even after factoring in the injuries, a respected colleague told me, “I don’t see the Bills letting this game get away.”

I agree. See you in Lot 1.

LINKS

Bills depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats
Jets depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats

Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins Game Day Preview

DOLPHINS OVERVIEW (2008 RANKINGS)

Since moving to Miami at the end of last season, Bill Parcells and general manager Jeff Ireland have managed to restore a measure of competency to the Dolphins administration. They’re probably still not playoff caliber, but they’re certainly far removed from the team that was one poor Brian Billick play-call away from the league’s first 0-16 season.

OFFENSE (#11 total yardage, #17 rushing, #8 passing, #t23 scoring):

The Jets deemed Chad Pennington expendable when they acquired Brett Favre during training camp, and Miami quickly snapped him up. Pennington may not have too many 60-yard throws left in that rebuilt right shoulder, but given some time in the pocket, he’s one of the best ever at moving the chains with the dink-and-dunk stuff ... and still a definite upgrade over the Beck/Lemon mess the Dolphins had at quarterback after Trent Green went down for the count last season.

He could use some better receivers, though. Ted Ginn is a deep threat on a team that doesn’t throw deep, and he’s got a lot of work to do to become a consistent option in the kind of offense Dan Henning wants to run. Marty Booker wasn’t invited back after leading the team in catches last season, so Miami gave Ernest Wilford a four-year, $13-million deal to start opposite Ginn. This might possibly go down as one of the worst free-agent moves of the offseason; the former Jaguar has exactly one catch this year, and hasn’t even been activated for the last two games. (Ditto for 2006 third-round pick Derek Hagan.)

The Fins’ best receiver right now is Greg Camarillo, Trent Edwards’ Stanford teammate, who leads the team with 27 catches for 337 yards and one touchdown. Some of you may recall that it was Camarillo who broke loose to score in overtime against Baltimore for Miami’s only win last year, and he seems to be developing the same kind of rapport with Pennington that the quarterback once had with Wayne Chrebet in New York. Rookie Davone Bess, an undrafted free agent out of Hawaii, works out of the slot.

As one might expect from Henning after watching his tenure in Buffalo, he uses a lot of two-TE sets. Parcells and Ireland know how valuable a good tight end can be to an offense, and spent a fourth-round pick to acquire Anthony Fasano from Dallas. (Linebacker Akin Ayodele was also part of the deal.) Surreal stat of the week: Fasano (17 catches-234 yards, 13.8 average, 2 TDs) and David Martin (16-233, 14.6, 1 TD) both have a higher yards-per-reception average than either starting wideout.

Given that uninspiring corps of receivers, it’s a good thing the running backs can all catch: so far this season, the trio of Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, and Patrick Cobbs has accounted for over 25 percent of the Dolphins’ receptions and almost half of their total yards from scrimmage. Brown appears to be fully recovered from the ACL tear that ended his 2007 season in Week 7. Just ask the Patriots, who he trampled for four rushing touchdowns in Miami’s Week 3 beatdown at Gillette Stadium. Oh yeah, he also tossed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Fasano in that game, which marked the debut of the heralded “Wildcat” formation. Williams almost had his own 100-yard game that afternoon, as the Fins rolled up their first 200-rushing-yard performance since the 2002 season finale – coincidentally, also against New England. Cobbs gets some work as the third-down back. And considering Miami’s emphasis on running the ball – Pennington has thrown 30 or more passes in just two of six games this season – keeping the Bryan Scott/Donte Whitner tandem at safety makes sense.

With the No. 1 overall pick sewn up well before the end of the season, the Dolphins braintrust had plenty of time to decide on their selection. They settled on Jake Long (Michigan), signed him to a contract before draft day, and immediately installed him as the starting left tackle, allowing Vernon Carey to move back to the right side. Center Samson Satele was by far the most productive member of Miami’s 2007 draft class; barring injury, he could solidify the middle of the Miami line for a long time. Ireland also decided the team needed an upgrade at both guard spots, signing Justin Smiley (49ers) and drafting Shawn Murphy (Utah State) and Donald Thomas (UConn). Thomas won a training-camp battle at right guard, but a Lisfranc injury sent him to injured reserve after just two games, and holdover Ikechuku Ndukwe inherited the job.

DEFENSE (#21 total yardage, #12 rushing, #t27 passing, #15 scoring):
Defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni came along on the Dallas-to-Miami shuffle; the Dolphins were already playing some 3-4 last year, but now use it as their base defense. There aren’t many familiar faces left, though, as team captains Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas were unceremoniously dumped in the offseason.

Jason Ferguson’s status is uncertain for this game – he’s listed as questionable, despite practicing Friday – and his absence would be a huge setback for the Dolphins. The 12th-year veteran is a prototypical 3-4 nose tackle; his potential replacements, Paul Soliai and Randy Starks, aren’t. Third-round pick Kendall Langford (Hampton) starts at left end, with Vonnie Holliday shifting to the right side to replace Taylor. Second-rounder Phillip Merling (Clemson) will eventually replace Holliday, and get a few snaps on passing downs in the meantime.

Joey Porter was miscast as a strong-side linebacker last season; back at the Will position, he’s showing flashes of the talent some observers thought he’d left behind in Pittsburgh. He leads the team (and is tied for second in the league) with 8.5 sacks. Matt Roth, his replacement at SLB, is making the switch from a 4-3 end to the 3-4 hybrid’s “flex” position. Ayodele and Channing Crowder man the middle of the Dolphin defense.

Will Allen is a decent cornerback, but he could use some help in the secondary. Andre’ Goodman, the Dolphins’ nickel back last year, is the other starter, and the only defensive back with an interception. Michael Lehan’s attempt to return from a dislocated ankle ended this week, when he was placed on injured reserve. 2006 first-round pick Jason Allen, who has yet to make an impact at any position he’s played, will move from safety back to corner.

The Fins signed Chris Crocker to start at free safety, but that plan only lasted two weeks. He’s now off the team, with Renaldo Hill joining Yeremiah Bell in the lineup. Bell, whose 2007 season ended with a torn Achilles tendon, has recovered well enough to lead the team in tackles.

SPECIAL TEAMS:
The out-with-the-old theme continued, with kicker Jay Feely cut in favor of rookie Dan Carpenter. So far, Carpenter is 5-for-6, with his only miss from 42 yards out. Brandon Fields, who posted a mediocre 36.6-yard net average in his rookie season, is even worse this year, with a net that ranks near the bottom of the league.

Of course, a coverage squad allowing 14.6 yards per return isn’t helping. They’re even worse on kickoffs, giving up a league-high 27.6 yards per runback despite not allowing a touchdown. It’s tough to predict special-teams scores, but this could be a very good week for Roscoe Parrish and Leodis McKelvin.

Remember when Cameron tried to defend using a top-10 pick on Ginn by extolling his kick-return ability? Bess, the rookie, has been a better option so far this season. Ginn got the job back last week, but how long he’ll keep it this time remains to be seen.

OUTLOOK:

While the Dolphins are starting to resemble a real football team again, they still have some holes to plug. Can the running backs carry the load until Pennington finds some NFL-quality receivers? Maybe. Has the secondary improved to the point where they’re not a weekly liability? Probably not.

The Bills have won seven of the last eight games in the series. Making it eight of nine might not be a cakewalk – after all, they barely escaped Miami Gardens with a win last year, against a club far worse than this one – but Buffalo is still the better team, and if they follow Baltimore’s blueprint for declawing the “Wildcat,” they should win this game.

LINKS

Dolphins depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats
Bills depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats

San Diego Chargers vs. Buffalo Bills Game Day Preview

CHARGERS OVERVIEW (2008 RANKINGS)

San Diego’s record may officially stand at 3-3, but they’re two last-second plays (and one admittedly blown call) away from 5-1. While drubbing the Patriots on national television Sunday night, they looked every bit the team that more than a few preseason prognosticators thought would win the AFC championship.

OFFENSE (#12 total yardage, #t21 rushing, #8 passing, #1 scoring):

For most of LaDainian Tomlinson’s eight-year tenure in San Diego, the offense has relied heavily on its future Hall of Fame running back. That’s not the case this year, though. While Tomlinson struggles to recover from a bad case of “turf toe,” averaging almost a full yard per carry under his career numbers, Philip Rivers is making an argument to be included in any discussion of elite NFL quarterbacks. Most of the early-season hype has centered around the usual suspects – or their absence, in one particular case – but the fiery Rivers, who proved his toughness by playing last year’s AFC championship game on a partially torn ACL, leads the league in passer rating.

He’s not putting up those stats in a conservative, dink-and-dunk gameplan, either: six of his 14 touchdown passes (tied for the league lead with Tony Romo, despite Rivers’ 35 fewer attempts) came from outside the red zone, and only the Saints have as many completions of 40-plus yards. One wonders if this team is beginning to remind receivers coach Charlie Joiner of his “Air Coryell” heyday.

As usual, Antonio Gates leads the team in touchdown receptions, but the talented tight end continues to be limited by various nagging injuries. Fortunately for San Diego, 2005 second-round pick Vincent Jackson finally appears capable of becoming Rivers’ go-to option. The 6’5”, 240-pound Jackson had a career night against New England, torching the diminutive Pats cornerbacks for 134 yards and a touchdown, and would pose a difficult matchup to a McGee-free Buffalo secondary. On the other side, it looks like Chris Chambers will miss his second game in a row, so Malcolm Floyd will likely get another start with Legedu Naanee coming in as the third receiver. Brandon Manumaleuna, the other tight end, is rarely used in the passing game.

The offensive line hasn’t been immune from the injury bug; neither left tackle Marcus McNeill (neck) nor center Nick Hardwick (foot surgery) was ready for the beginning of the season. When healthy, those two combine with Pro Bowl guard Kris Dielman to open holes for Tomlinson and provide above-average pass protection for the not-exactly-mobile Rivers. The only change from last year’s opening-day lineup took place at right tackle, where Jeromey Clary wrested the starting job away from Shane Olivea, who was later released. Right guard Mike Goff might be playing his final games in powder blue; the eleventh-year vet is in the final season of his contract.

DEFENSE (#28 total yardage, #17 rushing, #31 passing, #19 scoring):

Wade Phillips is now in Dallas, of course, but he left his beloved 3-4 in the capable hands of another former Bills defensive coordinator, Ted Cottrell. Jamal Williams anchors the middle of the line; the three-time Pro Bowl nose tackle started slowly this season, but absolutely dominated Patriots center Dan Koppen last week. Whether Melvin Fowler or Duke Preston ends up starting on Sunday, Trent Edwards had better keep an eye on the line directly in front of him. Williams is flanked by ends Luis Castillo and Igor Olshansky. Both are well suited to hold the point of attack, freeing up the linebackers to run to the ball. (That’s the plan, anyway ... but with three defensive backs listed among the team’s top five tacklers, one that might not be working as well as they’d hoped.) Jacques Cesaire, Ryon Bingham, and the recently signed Ian Scott make up the rest of the rotation.

The Chargers took a huge hit just before the season started, when doctors discovered two torn ligaments in Shawne Merriman’s left knee. “Lights Out” played in Week 1 against their advice, before wisely deciding to shut himself down for the season and go through with reconstructive surgery. He’ll miss a potential playoff run this year, but any further hits to the damaged knee could have had a much higher price: his career, and perhaps even the ability to walk normally for the rest of his life.

Depth is a concern in Merriman’s OLB spot. His replacement, Jyles Tucker, will probably miss this game with a bad hamstring, and with third-teamer Marques Harris also dinged, former practice-squadder Antwan Applewhite could see some time at the position. No worries on the other edge, though; with his running mate on IR, expect the underrated Shaun Phillips to lead the team in sacks this season. On the inside, Stephen Cooper is back after serving a four-game steroids suspension, and Tim Dobbins is pushing Matt Wilhelm for the other starting job.

Last year, San Diego was 4-4 and had given up at least 30 points in each loss when Antonio Cromartie replaced Drayton Florence at cornerback. After the change, they finished the season 7-1, allowing 17 or fewer points in six of those games. Coincidence? Doubtful. With Cromartie’s game-changing ability and Quentin Jammer’s solid pass defense, the Chargers arguably now have one of the league’s best tandems at corner, which allows the front seven to be more aggressive. Both Cromartie and Jammer were first-round picks, and general manager A.J. Smith continued the trend in April, drafting Antoine Cason (Arizona) with the 27th overall selection. The rookie quickly adapted to the NFL, earning the nickel job in training camp. Clinton Hart is back for his second full season at strong safety, but the Bolts released Marlon McCree, handing the free safety job to 2007 second-round pick Eric Weddle.

SPECIAL TEAMS:

San Diego’s weekly release refers to kicker Nate Kaeding as “Nate the Great.” Okay, maybe that’s a little over the top (and he apparently develops a case of the yips during playoff games), but he’s deadly accurate during the regular season, hitting 69-of-73 kicks from inside 40 yards.

Punter Mike Scifres is having the best year of his career. Remember Brian Moorman’s quest to average 40 net yards per kick? Scifres currently leads the league at 43.3. The coverage team, led by Pro Bowl gunner Kassim Osgood, is helping that average by allowing just eight yards per return.

Darren Sproles is iffy for this game with a sore ankle. That might be a break for the Bills’ struggling cover squads, because when he’s at full speed, the shifty, lightning-quick running back is one of the best return men in the league. Backup receiver Buster Davis also isn’t practicing, so if Sproles isn’t available, either Cromartie or rookie RB Jacob Hester could take over those duties.

OUTLOOK

With the decline of the Patriots, San Diego may well be the toughest test on the Bills’ schedule this season. A.J. Smith continues to stock an already talented roster with astute drafting and street free-agent signings; including Rivers, who moved West in the 2004 draft-day trade, 19 of the 22 Bolts starters have never played for any other NFL team.

There are a a few reasons not to like Buffalo’s chances in this game, especially if Aaron Schobel joins Terrence McGee on the inactive list. (Of course, with his ailing foot, Schobel’s matchup against McNeill doesn’t look all that enticing to begin with.)

That said, other than their games against inexperienced quarterbacks Matt Cassel and JaMarcus Russell, San Diego’s defense has looked ordinary this season ... and that’s being polite, if you watched Jay Cutler rip them up in Denver. They’ve allowed at least 140 rushing yards in three of six games; if the Bills can find Marshawn Lynch some running room, control the clock, and keep Rivers off the field, they have a decent shot at sending the Chargers off to London with a loss.

See you in Lot 1.

LINKS

Bills depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats
Chargers depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats

Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona Cardinals Game Day Preview

CARDINALS OVERVIEW (2008 RANKINGS)

The Cardinals have been an easy target for most of the last 60 years. They’ve won precisely one playoff game in that time period, a wild-card victory in 1998 in their only trip to the postseason since moving to the desert 20 seasons ago.

However, under head coach Ken Whisenhunt, that streak of futility may begin to change. The former Steelers offensive coordinator, 10-10 four games into his second season, is the first Cardinals coach to hold a .500 or better record this far into his career since Don Coryell left St. Louis in 1977.

OFFENSE (#5 total yardage, #t25 rushing, #4 passing, #10 scoring):

Whisenhunt tried to re-install former top-10 pick Matt Leinart as the Cards’ starting quarterback during the offseason, but Kurt Warner wouldn’t give up the job. The two-time NFL MVP, now 37, can still make all the throws, and if the Bills give him time to stand in the pocket, he’ll pick them apart.

Of course, when he doesn’t get time to throw, he becomes a turnover machine. Warner cracked when the Jets applied heavy pressure last week, throwing four picks and losing two fumbles to help bury his team in a 34-0 halftime hole. Think Buffalo defensive coordinator Perry Fewell took a few notes while watching that tape?

Warner is likely to be without one of his top targets on Sunday afternoon, as Anquan Boldin recuperates from a vicious hit at the end of the Jets game. He hasn’t been officially ruled out as of this writing, but the Cards would be silly to take any risks with one of their best players. That leaves former No. 3 receiver Steve Breaston to start opposite two-time Pro Bowl wideout Larry Fitzgerald – a tough matchup against a Bills secondary missing Terrence McGee – with Jerheme Urban and Sean Morey seeing time in multiple-receiver sets and third-round pick Early Doucet (LSU) possibly activated for the first time this season.

6’ 8” tight end Leonard Pope, a huge red-zone target who scored five touchdowns on just 23 catches last season, is also out for this game with a lower leg injury. With Jerame Tuman still sidelined, Ben Patrick is the only healthy TE on the roster.

Edgerrin James no longer has the game-breaking ability that made him a star in Indianapolis, but the No. 13 rusher in league history will still fight for the extra yard. He leads the team with 71 carries for 277 yards, but rookie Tim Hightower (Richmond) looks like he could be the Cards’ featured back sometime soon. (Maybe not just yet, but there’s a better-than-average chance that Edge doesn’t see the final year of his contract, which runs out after the 2009 season.) Fullback Terrelle Smith is solely a blocker; he carried the ball exactly once last year.

Observers expected the line to improve under the tutelage of Russ Grimm, who came to Arizona with Whisenhunt, but according to FootballOutsiders.com stats, Arizona quarterbacks were hit more often than any other team in the league last season. Warner’s tendency to hold the ball, looking for a big play, doesn’t help. Right tackle Levi Brown had a rough afternoon against Shaun Ellis last week; the potential is there, but the fifth overall pick in the 2007 draft still has some learning to do. The same is true for “Deuce” Lutui, who came into the league with fellow Trojan Leinart in 2006. Lyle Sendlein inherited the job at center when last year’s starter, Al Johnson, went on injured reserve with a knee injury. The left side of the line should be familiar to Bills fans, as tackle Mike Gandy lines up next to Reggie Wells, who Marv Levy attempted to sign as a restricted free agent.

DEFENSE (#9 total yardage, #t14 rushing, #16 passing, #25 scoring):
Of course, that points-allowed number is skewed by the Jets game; before then, the team was giving up fewer than 16 per game. Langston Walker and Brad Butler could have their hands full with Darnell Dockett, who can line up at tackle or left end (when the team switches to a 3-4 set). The Cardinals have been starting most games in a 4-3, with veteran Bryan Robinson on the nose and Travis LaBoy and Antonio Smith at end. With Bertrand Barry and his team-leading three sacks likely still out, Arizona could use more of a pass rush from the outside. They do get some help at tackle, though; after missing the first four games, it looks like Gabe Watson will make his 2008 debut this weekend.

The linebacking corps is solid; after signing with the team as a free agent, Clark Haggans couldn’t crack the starting lineup. Gerald Hayes isn’t as well known as Karlos Dansby and Chike Okeafor, but the outside ‘backers wouldn’t have room to roam if Hayes wasn’t taking care of the middle of the field.

Corners Rod Hood and Eric Green are average at best, although Hood did score two interception-return touchdowns last season. Green should be supplanted in the starting lineup by first-round pick Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie sometime this season. The defense suffered when Pro Bowl strong safety Adrian Wilson sat out the Jets game with a tender hamstring; if he’s out for this game – and that’s a good possibility, since he hasn’t practiced yet this week – Trent Edwards’ job gets a lot easier. Replacement Aaron Francisco has some talent, but he’s certainly not at Wilson’s level. (To be honest, few safeties are.) Former No. 6 overall pick Antrel Rolle washed out as a starting corner, but has the necessary ball skills to be a decent free safety.

SPECIAL TEAMS:
Is Neil Rackers starting to slow down? He’s already missed two field goals from inside 40 yards, matching his total for the last three seasons. He did still hit three 50-yarders last year, though.

Mike Barr and Mitch Berger were both horrible last season, so former Eagle Dirk Johnson was brought in to be the new punter. He’s not great, averaging 42.1 (gross) and 37.1 (net) yards per kick, but it’s still an improvement.

Breaston has been handling both punt and kick returns with mediocre results, but now that he’ll be taking a larger role in the offense, backup running back J.J. Arrington might get another chance at the job. Leodis McKelvin might have problems finding room to run against the coverage teams, both among the best in the league.

OUTLOOK:

Interesting factoid: in 18 years at Sun Devil Stadium, exactly 12 home games sold out in time to lift the local television blackout. In contrast, this game will be the 24th consecutive sellout at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Last week’s meltdown in the Meadowlands aside, this isn’t the same Cardinals team we’ve grown used to dismissing. They have a decent chance to win their first division title since 1975, and if the Bills continue their recent habit of slow starts, Warner is capable of putting up enough points to make another fourth-quarter comeback difficult.

Make no mistake, Buffalo is still the (slightly) better team, and I’m picking them to go into the bye at 5-0 ... but don’t be overly surprised if Arizona finds a way to win.

See you in Glendale.

LINKS

Cardinals depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats
Bills depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats

Buffalo Bills vs. St. Louis Rams Game Day Preview

RAMS OVERVIEW (2008 RANKINGS)

The rankings are listed below, but these are the only numbers you’ll need to know how bad the situation is in St. Louis:

Eagles 38, Rams 3
Giants 41, Rams 13
Seahawks 37, Rams 13

The Edward Jones Dome used to be the home of the “Greatest Show On Turf.” My, how times have changed.

OFFENSE (#31 total yardage, #32 rushing, #27 passing, #31 scoring):
Pick a stat, any stat, and you’ll more than likely find the Rams at the bottom of the league rankings. Offensive touchdowns? A grand total of two in three games. First downs? Averaging just shy of 12 per week, a number most high school teams can match. Rushing yardage? 169 after three weeks ... or 51 fewer yards than Michael Turner piled up in Atlanta’s season opener.

Seeking a way out of the team’s disastrous start, head coach Scott Linehan pulled the trigger on a quarterback switch on Tuesday, benching Marc Bulger in favor of 38-year-old (and oft-concussed) Trent Green. The savvy veteran does know the system, and word is that Bulger was starting to look a little gun-shy. But the last time we saw Green, he was being wheeled off the field in Houston. Bulger was sacked 11 times in the first three games. Do the math, and hope for Mr. Green’s continued good health.

Steven Jackson is off to a slow start after holding out well into training camp, averaging just 3.1 yards per carry. Of course, because the Rams have been outscored 38-0 in the first quarter and 61-12 in the first half so far this season, opportunities to run the ball have been scarce. He also leads the team with 15 receptions. Antonio Pittman is out with a cracked fibula, so Brian Leonard returns from the inactive list (after missing time with a sprained shoulder) to back up Jackson, who’s been limited in practice this week with a sore groin muscle. Former Steeler Dan Kreider is now the fullback.

By now, Torry Holt has to be wishing that his old running mate, Isaac Bruce, was still in St. Louis. With Drew Bennett and Dane Looker starting across from him, the seven-time Pro Bowl receiver has been seeing plenty of double-teams. Holt has a current run of eight consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, but with just 11 catches for 122 yards in the first three games, that streak is definitely in danger.

Looker started the last two games after Bennett broke his foot in the opener, but the Rams are making the move to second-round pick Donnie Avery this week. The top wide receiver selected in the draft, Avery has blazing speed, but we’ll see how well he’s picked up Al Saunders’ complex offense. Looker, Dante Hall, and Eddie Kennison will see time in multiple-receiver sets. If Randy McMichael isn’t held back to block on every play, he’s a decent downfield threat at tight end. Anthony Becht and 2006 second-round pick Joe Klopfenstein are the other TEs on the roster; neither has caught a pass this season.

Left guard Jacob Bell was brought in from Tennessee to help shore up a line that saw 13 different players start at least one game last season, but immediately fell victim to the Rams’ injury curse, missing the last two games with a bad hamstring. Adam Goldberg started in his place, but Bell is optimistic about playing this weekend. The Rams could certainly use him lining up next to future Hall of Fame tackle Orlando Pace. They’d love to see Pace return to his pre-injury level, as well – after playing only eight games in 2006, a torn rotator cuff and labrum in the second quarter of Week 1 cost him almost all of last season. He’s already dinged again this season, though; he’ll play on Sunday despite a nagging groin injury. Former Cardinal Nick Leckey starts at center, with guard Richie Incognito and tackle Alex Barron lining up on the right side.

DEFENSE (#32 total yardage, #29 rushing, #30 passing, #32 scoring):
The massive upheaval continues on the other side of the ball, where the Rams are giving up over five yards per carry, have yet to force a single turnover on defense (their one fumble recovery was on a muffed punt), and allowed opposing quarterbacks to torch the secondary for seven touchdowns and an unbelievable 123.6 passer rating.

Latest word out of St. Louis has Clifton Ryan taking over for veteran La’Roi Glover at the tackle spot next to Adam Carriker and run-stuffer Victor Adeyanju lining up at left end, sending top draft pick Chris Long back to the right side and James Hall to the bench. The normal left end, Leonard Little, may also be back for this game; he’s been out since the opener with a sore hamstring.

Will Witherspoon is a quality middle linebacker; last season, he led the team in both tackles and sacks, an unusual combination. Weakside ‘backer Pisa Tinoisamoa will be joined in the starting lineup by Chris Draft, who takes over for second-year player Quinton Culberson. They’re steady, but average.

The team’s No. 1 pick in 2006, cornerback Tye Hill, is looking more and more like another bad draft-day decision. He was benched for Fakhir Brown, but will apparently regain his starting job after Brown – arguably the team’s best corner, although that might not be saying much – was inexplicably released at the beginning of the week. Former nickel back Ron Bartell starts on the other side, and Jason Craft was signed to fill Brown’s roster spot. Corey Chavous and O.J. Atogwe remain at safety.

SPECIAL TEAMS:
Jeff Wilkins decided to call it a career at the end of last season, so the Rams brought in Josh Brown to replace him. So far, so good. The ex-Seahawk has provided most of the team’s offense this year, converting all five of his field goal attempts. He’s never been afraid to try the long ones – two more 50-yarders this season have tied Brown with Neil Rackers for the most among active kickers, and only Jason Hanson has a better success rate from long distance.

Miami may have made a mistake when they let Donnie Jones get away. He’s absolutely crushing the ball, averaging a league-leading 51.9 yards in gross punting average, and even a mediocre cover team isn’t enough to drop him below fifth with a 42.2-yard net. Of course, with the Rams rarely crossing midfield these days, he’s free to boom away without much fear of finding the end zone for a touchback.

Dante Hall handles both punt and kick returns, but his “Human Joystick” days in Kansas City are well behind him. Hall is averaging south of 20 yards per kick return, and has yet to break one for longer than 30.

OUTLOOK:

Will all the lineup changes help? Maybe, maybe not ... but at this point, things can’t get much worse, can they? Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz recently nominated the current Rams as the worst professional football team in St. Louis history, calling them “lifeless, helpless, hopeless.”

The Seahawks, the same team Buffalo pounded in the opener (minus even more of their top wide receivers), ran all over the Rams last week. The old “on any given Sunday” axiom aside, there’s little reason to think the Bills won’t do the same.

LINKS

Rams depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats
Bills depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats

Oakland Raiders vs. Buffalo Bills Game Day Preview

RAIDERS OVERVIEW (2008 RANKINGS)

Beating the hapless Chiefs has apparently saved head coach Lane Kiffin’s job for at least one more week, but if I were him, I wouldn’t be signing any long-term leases. In recent years, Al Davis has proven more adept at firing coaches than at building a roster capable of winning more than five games a season.

OFFENSE (#13 total yardage, #2 rushing, #31 passing, #19 scoring):
Daunte Culpepper and Josh McCown, who split starting duties in 2007 with mediocre results, are both long gone, and the keys to the offense have been handed to last year’s No. 1 overall pick, JaMarcus Russell. Looks like they’re willing to work through the 6-6, 260-pound Russell’s learning curve, because Andrew Walter and Marques Tuiasosopo are the only other quarterbacks on the roster. Although it’s hard to tell with Walter, who was thrown to the wolves during the Raiders’ horrid 2006 season, neither he nor Tuiasosopo would seem to be a long-term alternative.

To protect his young signalcaller, offensive coordinator Gregg Knapp will need to rely heavily on a talented stable of running backs led by No. 4 overall pick Darren McFadden (Arkansas). The former Razorback gouged a bad Chiefs defense for 164 yards on 21 carries last week, breaking several long runs to pump up his 7.0 yards-per-carry average, and the team piled up 300 rushing yards in a game for the first time in over 20 seasons. McFadden’s got all the talent to be a superstar, but a turf-toe injury could slow him down this week. (For the record, it’s not the same toe that required surgery while he was in college.) And with Justin Fargas – the team’s leading rusher last season (222 carries-1,009 yards, 4 TDs) – expected to miss the game with a groin pull, expect second-year back Michael Bush to be much more involved in the offense. Fullback Justin Griffith doesn’t get many carries, but is a decent lead blocker and receiver.

In fact, the running backs contributed a significant share of the passing game last season – accounting for 89 of the team’s 260 total receptions – and it looks like they’ll do the same in 2008. Of course, if the Raiders had better wideouts, this might not be necessary ... but the same team that lined up Jerry Rice and Tim Brown not so long ago is now relying on Ronald Curry, Ashley Lelie, and Javon Walker (if he ever comes back from his nagging hamstring injury). Tight end Zach Miller is Oakland’s most reliable passcatching target, but he’s likely to spend as much time blocking as in running routes.

The front five is better suited to run the ball than pass-protect. Former 49er Kwame Harris was brought in to play left tackle, but he’s still sitting out practice following a Week 1 knee injury, so backup Mario Henderson will likely get another start instead. If he does, he’ll line up next to Robert Gallery, a certified bust at tackle who has looked a little better since moving inside to left guard. Journeyman John Wade was brought in to play center, but has been unable to push Jake Grove out of the starting lineup. On the right side, guard Cooper Carlisle is a veteran of the Broncos-style blocking scheme employed by line coach Tom Cable; tackle Cornell Green is little more than a stopgap measure.

DEFENSE (#18 total yardage, #13 rushing, #21 passing, #23 scoring):
After finishing 2007 as the second-worst run defense in the league, the Raiders made an interesting move to shore up their front four, giving Tommy Kelly a seven-year, $50.5-million deal and moving him to tackle to replace the retired Warren Sapp.  So far, the results are mixed: Denver trampled them for 142 yards and three touchdowns on the ground in the season opener, but the Chiefs could manage only 55 yards on 19 carries last week. (Then again, Kansas City also finished the game with someone named Tyler Thigpen at quarterback.) Derrick Burgess and Chris Clemons tied for the team lead with eight sacks apiece last year, racking up more than half of the 27 takedowns Oakland managed. Burgess is back at right end for another season, but Clemons is now with the Eagles, moving Jay Richardson into the starting lineup. Gerard Warren is the other tackle, with Terdell Sands also in the rotation.

WLB Thomas Howard and MLB Kirk Morrison are among the best in the league at dropping into coverage; they combined for 10 interceptions last season, including two returned for touchdowns by Howard. Former undrafted free agent Ricky Brown mans the strong side, pushing onetime starter Robert Thomas out of the lineup (and off the roster after a preseason knee injury).

Nnamdi Asomugha has quietly become a shutdown corner. Trouble was, with Fabian Washington on the other side, nobody bothered throwing in Asomugha’s direction. The Raiders think they’ve solved that problem by sending two draft picks to Atlanta for DeAngelo Hall, forcing opposing quarterbacks to choose between two Pro Bowl-worthy cover men. Stanford Routt comes in as the nickel back.
Michael Huff, the No. 7 overall pick in 2006 – one slot ahead of Donte Whitner – compared himself to Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed coming out of college, but he hasn’t had anywhere near their impact. The Raiders brought in free agent Gibril Wilson (Giants) during the offseason to play strong safety, switching Huff to free.

SPECIAL TEAMS:
Sebastian Janikowski has never been known for accuracy, but he can crush a 50-yard field goal with the best of them. Against Kansas City, he hit one from 56, a new career best. He’s annually near the top of the rankings in touchbacks, which might force Bobby April to adjust his return schemes accordingly.

Likewise, three-time All-Pro Shane Lechler holds the NFL record for career punting average. He’s off to a great start again this season, averaging an unthinkable 48.2 yards per kick, but the coverage team isn’t giving him much help with his net average. They allowed two touchdowns in 2007, and they’re giving up over 11 yards per runback again this year.

With the departure of Chris Carr, speedy wide receiver Johnny Lee Higgins takes over as the Raiders’ return man. So far, he’s had better luck on kickoffs (28.6-yard average, with a long of 58) than punts (6.1-yard average).

OUTLOOK

First and foremost, Buffalo’s defense needs to worry about stopping the run. If they can accomplish that with any degree of success, they should be able to put pressure on Russell, a young quarterback making just his fourth career start. On the other side of the ball, hopefully another full week of practice for the starting offensive line plus a few shots down the field by Trent Edwards will help Marshawn Lynch find some holes against his hometown team.

The Bills are trying to start the season 3-0 for the first time since 1992. If they don’t keep the Raiders in the game with turnovers or other mistakes, they’ll succeed, and the Fire Lane Kiffin Watch will resume.

See you in Lot 1.

LINKS

Bills depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats
Raiders depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats

2008 Wall of Fame - Bruce Smith

NOTE: This profile originally appeared on the Stadium Wall on May 11, 2008, the day Smith’s Wall of Fame selection was announced. The slightly edited version seen here was printed in The Coffin Corner, the newsletter-magazine of the Professional Football Researchers Association, in June.

Fact: Bruce Smith is one of the greatest players in NFL history.

He’d be quick to agree, of course, as would all but the most contrary Buffalo Bills fan, but the unbiased views of players and coaches around the league provide a truer measure of Smith’s impact on the game:

“He’s an opposing coach’s nightmare,” said Larry Beightol, one of several Jets offensive line coaches who tried – but failed, more often than not – to keep the perennial All-Pro from pummeling their quarterbacks. “You watch film of him, you don’t sleep that week. I don’t really think there’s a way to stop him. He’s at another level.” Veteran coach Jim Hanifan agreed, saying he was “the most formidable player since Deacon Jones.”

Colts tackle Zefross Moss was even more emphatic after Smith’s 11-tackle, three-sack performance against him in a 38-0 Bills beatdown: “He’s the greatest defensive lineman to ever play the game.”

You want numbers?

• 200 career sacks, more than any other player since the sack became an official statistic in 1982.
• A franchise-record 11 Pro Bowl selections in 15 seasons with the Bills.
• Two Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year awards, a feat previously accomplished only by first-ballot Hall of Famers Joe Greene, Mike Singletary, and Lawrence Taylor. (Reggie White would join the group two years later.)

A résumé like that is impossible to ignore. The day before the 2008 draft, a selection committee composed of Buffalo-area media and club personnel took all of ten minutes to name Smith the next member of the team’s Wall of Fame, with the ceremony set to take place at the Bills – Raiders game on Sept. 21. After that, an inevitable August 2009 appointment in Canton awaits.

And now, a few words from the always-quotable guest of honor:

“I always dreamed of being rich, to be someone special. I guess everything worked out OK.”
- Olean Times Herald, April 30, 1985

The Bills earned the No. 1 overall pick in the draft with a brutal 2-14 season in 1984, losing their first 11 games, allowing a franchise-record 454 points, and redefining “run for the bus” with a pathetic 52-21 finale in Cincinnati. The fans wanted Doug Flutie, but in January, he signed with the New Jersey Generals of the rival USFL. General manager Terry Bledsoe and director of pro personnel Bill Polian then concentrated their focus on Smith, the Outland Trophy winner and consensus All-American whose 16 sacks in his senior year at Virginia Tech eclipsed the performance of the entire Bills defensive line (10.5). The Baltimore Stars – who held his USFL rights – made a few preliminary overtures, but after signing a reported four-year, $2.6 million contract with Buffalo in February, Smith said, “I guess it’s every young boy’s dream to play in the NFL.”

Smith ranked near the top of most draft boards, but the evaluations weren’t uniformly positive. From the Times Herald’s draft-day preview:

“For the record, one scouting service tabbed the 6-3, 275-pounder as the best DE in the draft and rated only four players higher overall: running backs Herschel Walker (in the USFL) and Ethan Horton (North Carolina) along with wide receivers Eddie Brown (Miami) and Al Toon (Wisconsin).

“In assessing Smith’s strengths, the service noted, ‘He’s massive and extremely mobile with great initial quickness. Naturally strong. Can flat-out dominate a game when he plays up to his ability.’ On the negative side it added, ‘He doesn’t always play hard and has a weight problem.’ In summing up Smith’s future, it noted, ‘He could be King Kong in shoulder pads, or just another guy.’”

He started the first two games of his rookie season, but was relegated to pass-rushing duty after the Jets administered a 42-3 beating in Week 2, with running back Freeman McNeil gouging the Bills for a franchise-record 192 yards. The benching didn’t last long. Kay Stephenson’s head-coaching tenure staggered to a merciful end at 0-4, and when Colts RBs Randy McMillan (112 yards) and Albert Bentley (100) welcomed Hank Bullough to the top job by trampling the defense in another blowout loss, Smith regained his spot at right end – a position that he would keep, barring injury or suspension, for fifteen seasons.

“If someone is going to go out there and single block me, I don’t think that’s fair to the offensive lineman. I can’t be single-blocked.”
- Olean Times Herald, Oct. 22, 1989

By the end of the 1988 season, Smith was gaining recognition around the league ... and seriously thinking about leaving Buffalo. He’d made his second straight All-Pro squad despite missing the first four games to a drug suspension that stirred up the hate-mail crowd, and the Buffalo News was reporting that the team had hired detectives to follow him. So when the Broncos presented him with a five-year, $7.5-million offer sheet, he strongly suggested that the Bills not match it. At least one local sportscaster agreed with him, saying the team would be better off with the two No. 1 picks they’d receive in return (and without his off-the-field issues). Polian, by then the general manager, knew better. He matched the offer sheet, and Smith remained a Bill.

Bad news for the quarterbacks in the rest of the AFC East. He blew past the franchise sack record (previously set at 51 by Ben Williams) before the midpoint of his fifth year in the league, dumping favorite target Ken O’Brien three times as the Bills pounded the Jets. The season would come to a disappointing end in the wild-card playoff game at Cleveland, but better days were ahead.

“I think that, right now, on defense, I’m the hottest thing going. It’s as simple as that. When I walk down the street, I want people to say, ‘There goes Bruce Smith. He’s the best defensive player in the league.’ I don’t want them to say, ‘Hey, he’s second to Reggie White, or he’s second to Lawrence Taylor.’ I want them to say, ‘He’s the best there is in the league right now.’ ”
- Olean Times Herald, Dec. 10, 1990

Smith made that bold claim before a business trip to Indianapolis, where he proceeded to back up his bravado by sacking Colts rookie quarterback Jeff George four times – IN THE FIRST HALF. By the end of the game, an easy-as-it-looked 31-7 Bills victory, the shellshocked George was reduced to muttering expletives as Smith bore down on him yet again. Chuck Pollock’s column in the next day’s Times Herald began with the quote, “If you can do it ... it ain’t bragging!”

The performance against Indy gave him 19 sacks for the year – just three shy of Mark Gastineau’s record – with three games left on the schedule. The next game was a nationally-televised affair against the Giants, and he provided the New York media with something to write about: “Over the last 10 years, Lawrence Taylor has been the most dominant player in the league, but I think I’ve taken it up a notch above that. You’ve got to give credit to the person who deserves it. It would be an injustice if I don’t get the MVP.”

Although Taylor declined to discuss the comments, some of his Giants teammates took predictable offense. The media apparently agreed with Smith’s assessment, though, as the AP, UPI, Football News, and Pro Football Weekly all awarded him Defensive Player of the Year honors.

The individual accolades were piling up, but one thing was still missing ... a championship. Nobody knew it then, of course, but Scott Norwood’s final field goal attempt in Super Bowl XXV was the closest any of those star-studded teams would ever come to capturing the Lombardi Trophy.

“I have said over and over again, I am not in this game to be second best to anyone.”
- The Sporting News, Dec. 8, 1997

While the Bills never managed to cross that last river, Smith’s personal quest continued with a single goal: to be the best there ever was. The kid who tipped the scales at 300 pounds after his rookie season now played 30 pounds lighter than that, spending countless hours in the gym to sculpt his physique. He studied film until he became an expert at diagnosing plays from the line of scrimmage, the better to create havoc in the other team’s backfield. And if he felt disrespected – by contract disputes with management, stories suggesting someone else might be better, whatever – woe to the quarterback unlucky enough to face him in the next game.

He added another AP Defensive Player of the Year award to his trophy case in 1996, and probably should have repeated the honor in 1997. Switching to a 4-3 defense at midseason, after playing his first 12 seasons in a 3-4? Didn’t matter. He led the AFC in sacks again, made first-team All-Pro again, and did it on an aching knee that would require microfracture surgery after the season.

“I wish I had the opportunity to play in front of our fans one more time knowing that it was my last time. After 15 years in one place, the fans deserved better. I never got a chance to say goodbye.”
- New York Times, Feb. 27, 2000

By the end of the decade Smith was no longer the consistently dominant force he had once been, but he was still good enough to lead a playoff team in sacks, quarterback pressures, and forced fumbles. He took Drew Bledsoe down twice in a playoff-clinching overtime win in Foxborough, then added another 2.5 sacks against Steve McNair in the wild-card loss at Tennessee.

But he was about to turn 37, and he was due to make $4.8 million in 2000. With 10 players (including six starters) slated to hit free agency and the team already snug against the cap, general manager John Butler decided he had no other recourse than to lop off the aging, high-salaried core of the Super Bowl squads. Smith refused a 50 percent pay cut – as Butler knew he would – and joined Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed on the road out of Buffalo. He didn’t stay unemployed for long, though, as new Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder jumped at the chance to throw a boatload of money at yet another big-name player.

“Being in the stadium with 70,000-plus fans — I felt their energy, and I hope that they felt mine.”
- Olean Times Herald, Oct. 20, 2003

Smith played in 217 regular-season games for the Bills, second only to Andre Reed’s 221. But on this afternoon, he walked out of the tunnel at Ralph Wilson Stadium toward the visitors’ sideline, wearing Redskins burgundy and gold. The uniform may have looked out of place, but the grin was instantly recognizable as the fans serenaded him with a familiar chorus of “Bruuuuuuuce.”

He came into the game with 196.5 sacks, two shy of taking Reggie White’s record and making it his own. Facing Bledsoe, a quarterback he’d flattened more often than any signal-caller not named O’Brien, must have seemed like a good omen. Not this time, though. He left Orchard Park with the same number, and the Bills rolled to an easy victory.

Although frustrated with the loss, Smith made sure to note the ‘hometown’ fans in his postgame comments. “It was certainly an emotional experience for me, coming back and seeing so many fans who were yelling and chanting and saying polite and kind words,” he said. “It was certainly a memorable experience for me. For all the years I’ve been here, they supported my career, and I just want to tell them thank you.”

“I know I’m not in second place any longer,” Smith said.
“When they print up the football cards, they won’t say, ‘Second place.’”
- Washington Post, Dec. 8, 2003

So who was the unfortunate record-breaker? Jesse Palmer, the Giants’ backup quarterback. (Smith knocked starter Kerry Collins out with a high ankle sprain earlier in the game.) He picked up one more sack two weeks later to make his career total an even 200 – the Bears’ Rex Grossman is the answer to that trivia question – then retired when Washington released him after the season.

Smith founded a commercial real estate development firm, Bruce Smith Enterprise, LLC, in 2004. The company is headquartered in Virginia Beach, where he, his wife Carmen, and their son Alston reside.

Precisely where he ranks in the pantheon of NFL legends is open to debate – Bruce or Reggie, and how does either one match up against Deacon Jones or Gino Marchetti? – but his place in Buffalo Bills history is secure. Simply put, he remains the best defensive player the franchise has ever seen, and that’s not likely to change for a long, long time.

Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Game Day Preview

JAGUARS OVERVIEW (2008 RANKINGS)

Jacksonville finished 11-5 in 2007 to earn its second playoff berth in three years, knocking off the Steelers in the wild-card round before falling to the eventual conference champions in Foxborough. Coming into this season, the Jags’ pounding run game and ballhawking defense had some observers pegging them as a trendy Super Bowl pick. However, as the list of injured offensive linemen continues to grow, even matching last year’s success might be more difficult than it looked just two months ago.

OFFENSE (#30 total yardage, #32 rushing, #t24 passing, #t26 scoring):
The Jaguars were reeling even before starting guards Vince Manuwai (ACL) and Maurice Williams (biceps tear) were both lost for the season against Tennessee last Sunday. Starting center Brad Meester will probably be out for another month following surgery to repair his torn biceps, but far worse news arrived at Jaguars headquarters early on the morning of Sept. 2. Backup tackle Richard Collier, out on the town with a former teammate, was shot several times in an apparently targeted attack; at press time, he remains in critical but stable condition in a local hospital. The Jaguars, who once projected Collier as a possible replacement for left tackle Khalif Barnes, are reduced to hoping he recovers from his life-threatening wounds.

Williams’ and Manuwai’s injuries leave the middle of the Jaguars’ front five in the unsteady hands of guards Tutan Reyes (remember him?) and Uche Nwaneri, a second-year player with one career start who is battling his own knee injury. Dennis Norman will fill in for Meester, as the eighth-year veteran has done on several previous occasions. Barnes and right tackle Tony Pashos, who came over from Baltimore before last season, are average at best. After the wave of injuries hit, general manager James Harris scrambled to sign journeymen Charles Spencer, Milford Brown, and Todd Wade in the last several days.

Fortunately for quarterback David Garrard, he’s far more mobile than Byron Leftwich, the man he replaced at the beginning of last season. (Behind that line, that still may not be good enough; he was sacked seven times by the Titans in the season opener.) Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio took a chance when he set Leftwich adrift; Garrard repaid the favor by completing 64 percent of his passes and throwing just three interceptions in 12 starts. He also accomplished something Leftwich could never do in his four years as the starter: win a playoff game.

Of course, the strong running game had a lot to do with that. Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew combined for the second-most yards in the league last season; only Chester Taylor and super-rookie Adrian Peterson of the Vikings were better. Taylor, who still brings back unpleasant memories of the Rob Johnson trade 11 years after Jacksonville drafted him with Buffalo’s 1998 first-round pick, trails only Edgerrin James and LaDainian Tomlinson for the most rushing yards by any currently active running back. The Bills did a decent job of corralling Jones-Drew last November, holding him to 10 yards on as many carries, but he still found the end zone – not a surprise, because he’s third in the league (behind Tomlinson and Marion Barber III) in that category since 2006. MJD is also a threat on screens, and fullback Greg Jones shouldn’t be overlooked.

Garrard is throwing to a reconfigured receiving corps. The Jags let last year’s catch leader, Ernest Wilford, leave for Miami, gave Jerry Porter a big free-agent contract, and traded for Troy Williamson. The former Vikings first-round pick is trying to shed the “bust” tag, something Reggie Williams and Matt Jones are far too familiar with. After three years of inconsistency, Williams set a franchise record
with 10 touchdown receptions last season; Jones, who many observers thought might not even make the roster, led the team with 80 yards against Tennessee. Although Williamson (thigh) and Dennis Northcutt (back) didn’t practice on Thursday, Porter, who is recovering from hamstring surgery, expects to play this weekend. Starting tight end Marcedes Lewis is talented, but hasn’t quite lived up to expectations. The Jags use a lot of two-TE sets; with George Wrightster on the reserve/PUP list, Greg Estandia and Richard Angulo will fill that role when needed.

DEFENSE (#16 total yardage, #20 rushing, #14 passing, #t13 scoring):
Will the Jaguars miss three-time Pro Bowl tackle Marcus Stroud? So far, the answer is “maybe”: Tennessee averaged 4.3 yards per rush against them last week. Rob Meier takes over the spot next to John Henderson; he’s one of those “high-motor” types new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams prefers to “fat guys” such as Ted Washington. Defensive end Bobby McCray is also gone, so Reggie Hayward returns to the starting lineup opposite Paul Spicer. They’ll eventually be pushed by this year’s top two draft picks, Derrick Harvey (Florida) and Quentin Groves (Auburn). However, Harvey didn’t do himself any favors by holding out well into the preseason.

Middle linebacker Mike Peterson missed the game last November after breaking his hand and landing on I.R. He’s back, allowing Daryl Smith to move back to the strong side. Justin Durant was pressed into service as a rookie last season and earned the starter’s reps at WLB with 31 tackles in Jacksonville’s two playoff games. Clint Ingram should also see some time at the position.

The Jags had a decent secondary last year, but think they’ve improved by bringing Florida native Drayton Florence home from San Diego to start opposite Rashean Mathis. Scott Starks is the likely choice at nickel back, and after the Bills released Will James at the final cutdown, Jacksonville signed him to provide additional depth. Brian Williams, who started at corner last year, has moved to safety ... which would seem to be an odd move for Gregg Williams, who likes his strong safeties to play like linebackers, not corners. If the move doesn’t pan out, Gerald Sensabaugh, who started there before sustaining a season-ending shoulder injury last September, is an option. 2007 first-round pick Reggie Nelson started 15 games at free safety in his rookie season, pulling in five interceptions, and has worlds of potential. He’s backed up by Pierson Prioleau, who seems to follow GW wherever he goes.

SPECIAL TEAMS:
Josh Scobee missed the first half of the 2007 season with a strained quadriceps muscle, but was 12-for-13 when he returned. When his leg is all right, he’s also one of the deepest kickoff men in the league.

Last year, the Jaguars spent a fourth-round pick on Maryland punter (and Pittsford, N.Y. native) Adam Podlesh to upgrade that part of their kicking game. Of course, to be an upgrade from Chris Hanson, Podlesh had merely to keep from frying himself with a fondue pot, slicing his leg open with an ax, or pulling some other stupid-kicker trick. The fact that the rookie finished with a net average of 36.9 yards, just behind Brian Moorman (37.6), has to be seen as an additional bonus.

Special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis can thank Roscoe Parrish for his job in Jacksonville; Parrish’s 82-yard punt-return touchdown in the 2006 game helped get the last guy who held that job fired. In just one season, DeCamillis, who earned leaguewide respect for his work in Atlanta, has already improved the coverage squads; the kickoff unit finished in the top five last year.

Reserve defensive back Brian Witherspoon, who played for former Bills cornerback Derrick Burroughs at tiny Stillman College before the Jaguars signed him as an undrafted free agent, has been a revelation on kick returns. The rookie led the league in punt return average during the preseason, then burned the Titans with kickoff runbacks of 49 and 51 yards last week. The Bills had some trouble tracking down Nate Burleson last week; Bobby April will no doubt have his coverage teams pay close attention to the lightning-quick Witherspoon, a Division II first-team All-America selection in both football and track.

OUTLOOK:

Although Buffalo’s defense managed to keep the score close until the end of the game, the Jaguars were clearly better when the two teams played last November. However, between the Bills’ offseason additions and Jacksonville’s ailing line, that may not be true this time.

Trent Edwards doesn’t have much experience starting road games, but having Marshawn Lynch instead of Anthony Thomas lining up behind him has to help. Oh, and if he plays, welcome back, Mr. Peters. On defense, think Marcus Stroud will be a little amped for this game? And if his old teammates concentrate too much on neutralizing No. 99, the rest of the suddenly resurgent Bills pass rush might have something to say about the final outcome.

Jacksonville, a playoff team used to the Florida heat, is still a sizable favorite ... but I like the Bills’ chances in this one.

LINKS

Jaguars depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats
Bills depth chart | 2008 regular-season stats

Seattle Seahawks vs. Buffalo Bills Game Day Preview

SEAHAWKS OVERVIEW (FINAL 2007 RANKINGS)

The Mike Holmgren 2008 Farewell Tour kicks off in Buffalo this weekend, with the league’s winningest active coach looking to add one last playoff run to his record before handing over the team to head-coach-in-waiting Jim Mora at the end of the season.

OFFENSE (#9 total yardage, #20 rushing, #8 passing, #t9 scoring):
Matt Hasselbeck has mastered Holmgren’s offense. In 2007, he set a new franchise passing record (3,966 yards) and threw for a career-high 28 touchdowns, earning his third Pro Bowl selection along the way. If he wants to match those number this year, though, he’ll have to do it with an almost entirely new group of receivers. Bobby Engram (shoulder) and Deion Branch (ACL) are both sidelined, although Branch is trying to practice this week. D.J. Hackett is in Carolina. And Ben Obomanu, who the team was counting on to fill in until the starters returned, broke his collarbone during the preseason and landed on I.R. That leaves Nate Burleson and second-year receiver Courtney Taylor to open the season, with former practice-squadders Jordan Kent and Logan Payne backing them up, and rookie John Carlson (Notre Dame) is the team’s starting tight end.

Hasselbeck, who missed most of the preseason with back spasms, didn’t sound worried. “They’ve been with us,” he said. “They know how we do things. We’ve seen how they play. Even though we haven’t necessarily had a lot of work together, I don’t think it’s going to be a big deal.”

We’ll see.

After watching his team run for just 35 yards on 18 carries in their playoff loss to Green Bay, Holmgren and general manager Tim Ruskell knew they had to get better, and fast. “The one thing I can guarantee you: There will be some change in all of it,” Holmgren said. “We have to look at changes in the running backs, we have to look at changes along the offensive line, and there have to be scheme changes.”

Start with the running backs. The Seahawks said goodbye to all-time franchise rushing leader Shaun Alexander, and hello to Dallas Cowboys free agent Julius Jones. But while Jones probably expected to start in Seattle, Maurice Morris – who outplayed Alexander last year – did the same to Jones in the preseason. T.J. Duckett also signed with the team during the offseason, and Cal rookie Justin Forsett gives the team outstanding depth at the position. Leonard Weaver is the starting fullback; the Bills will have to keep an eye on him coming out of the backfield.

The left side of the line, with Mike Wahle now lining up next to perennial All-Pro tackle Walter Jones, should be among the best in the league. Rob Sims, who started at left guard last season, moves to the right side to make room for Wahle. The other two spots are in question. Center Chris Spencer’s back was so bad a month ago that he couldn’t tie his own shoes. H got some work in the final preseason game and is expected to play this weekend, but Steve Vallos may see some time there. Right tackle Sean Locklear will probably miss this game, leaving Ray Willis to start in his place.

DEFENSE (#15 total yardage, #12 rushing, #19 passing, #t6 scoring):
Ruskell has almost completely overhauled the defense since joining the club in 2005; cornerback Marcus Trufant and tackle Rocky Bernard are the only holdovers in the starting lineup.
Defensive end Patrick Kerney made an instant impact after signing with the team as a free agent, leading the conference with 14.5 sacks. Meanwhile, his old team, the Falcons, finished with 25 last year; only Carolina and Cincinnati were worse. Think they wish they’d had a chance to re-sign him? Kerney will present a formidable challenge to new right tackle Kirk Chambers. Expect the Bills to help out with a tight end or running back; Trent Edwards might be in for a long afternoon if they don’t. The team’s No. 1 pick this year, Lawrence Jackson (USC), beat out Darryl Tapp to start on the other side.
Buffalo catches a break this week with the suspension of disruptive tackle Rocky Bernard for violating the Personal Conduct Policy. Instead, backup Craig Terrill will line up next to Marshawn Lynch’s Cal teammate, Brandon Mebane, with rookie Red Bryant (Texas A&M) also in the rotation.

The front four is pretty good. The linebacking corps is better; in fact, it might just be the best in the league. Draft “experts” considered Lofa Tatupu a “reach” when Ruskell traded up to take him in the second round; since then, Tatupu has merely become one of the best middle linebackers in the league, leading the team in tackles and earning a trip to the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons. Weakside ‘backer Julian Peterson, apparently back at full speed four years after tearing his Achilles tendon, joined Tatupu in Hawaii in 2007 and 2008. And while those two get most of the ink, FootballOutsiders.com calls Leroy Hill “perhaps the most underrated linebacker in the league.”

Trufant led the team with a career-high seven interceptions last year and made his first Pro Bowl, then cashed in with a new six-year, $50.2-million contract. While he normally plays on the left side, it wouldn’t be stunning to see him matched up on Lee Evans and the Seahawks taking their chances with whoever lines up opposite Kelly Jennings on the other side. Jordan Babineaux joins Bernard on the suspended list for this game, so Josh Wilson takes over as the nickel back. Safeties Deon Grant and Brian Russell provide veteran leadership – and a good dose of size – on the back line.

SPECIAL TEAMS:
Josh Brown signed with St. Louis in the offseason, so for the first time since 2002 (Rian Lindell’s last year there), Seattle needed to find a new kicker. They’ve apparently settled on Olindo Mare, who won the job over seventh-round pick Brandon Coutu (Georgia). Mare’s long-range accuracy has dipped in the last couple of seasons, but his booming kickoffs might force some adjustments for the Bills return team.

Punter Ryan Plackemeier doesn’t have a great net average, but he’s good at dropping the ball inside the 20. (30 of 86 kicks last year, versus just six touchbacks.) The coverage units are below average, which is somewhat surprising considering that old friend Bruce DeHaven runs the teams.

Nate Burleson is a threat to take any punt or kick return all the way; last year, he scored on 91- and 94-yard runbacks. But with his current status as Seattle’s No. 1 receiver, they may not be able to afford using him on special teams. Forsett and Wilson got some chances during the preseason; Trufant and Seneca Wallace – yes, Wallace, who’s not your typical backup quarterback – are other available options.

OUTLOOK

All the pundits and prognosticators have had their say; it’s time to play the game.

While Angelo Crowell’s absence gives me pause, Paul Posluszny’s return and the addition of Kawika Mitchell make the Bills much more able to absorb this blow than they would have been in previous seasons. With Marcus Stroud and Spencer Johnson creating havoc up front, Chris Kelsay should be able to win his battle with backup right tackle Ray Willis. (Anything from Aaron Schobel, going up against future Hall of Famer Walter Jones in this game, should be considered a bonus.) And if the secondary can’t handle Seattle’s backup wide receivers, it’s going to be a long season.

On offense, Marshawn Lynch should be able to find some holes where Bernard would have been. A strong running game is critical this week, because Kerney and Peterson can make Trent Edwards’ life miserable if he’s forced into too many adverse down-and-distance situations. What’s Turk Schonert’s playcalling really going to look like? Guess we’ll see on Sunday.

The Seahawks were a playoff team last season ... but they may not have been one in the AFC. They’re banged up, and they’re flying across the country for a 10:00 a.m. (their time) game start. With a raucous Kickoff Weekend sellout crowd backing them up, the Bills win this game.

LINKS

Bills depth chart | 2007 regular-season stats
Seahawks depth chart | 2007 regular-season stats

Discuss this story on The Stadium Wall!

Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills Game Day Preview

LIONS OVERVIEW (FINAL 2007 RANKINGS)

The Lions are 3-0 in the preseason for the first time since 1995. Now, it is only the preseason, but that Lions squad did finish with a 10-6 record and make the playoffs. Will this year’s team do the same? Only if the offensive players can quickly adapt to a dramatically different system, and execute it well enough to keep an overworked defense off the field for a change.

OFFENSE (#19 total yardage, #31 rushing, #9 passing, #16 scoring):
Mike Martz’s chuck-and-duck offense never meshed with head coach Rod Marinelli’s personality, so after two seasons in Detroit, Martz and his pass-happy playbook were shown the door. New coordinator Jim Colletto will try to return some balance to the gameplan, and the Lions have emphasized the run in their first three preseason games.

So far, Marinelli approves of the change: “A big part of the run game – and back on my old philosophy all those days – is if you keep hitting and keep throwing body punches, body punches, body punches, you have a chance. But the thing is you have to throw body punches to make it crack. Right now I’m trying to evaluate the guys that want to do it our way. That’s what I’m trying to evaluate out of these games.”

After racking up his second consecutive 4,000-yard season, quarterback Jon Kitna wasn’t happy to see Martz leave ... but after absorbing 114 sacks in the last two years, maybe he should have been. He turns 36 next month, and this is his twelfth year in the league, but Kitna still has problems with consistency – he can look like an All-Pro on one play, then make an utterly inexplicable throw the next. For the third season in a row, he ended up with more interceptions (20) than touchdown passes (18).

The Bills probably won’t see much of Kitna on Thursday; backup Dan Orlovsky may even get the start. Former Michigan State star Drew Stanton would have been in line for a good chunk of playing time, but the 2007 second-round pick, who missed his entire rookie season following knee surgery, is on the shelf again with a sprained thumb. For now, his reps will go to Drew Henson.

Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson, the two holdovers from general manager Matt Millen’s run on first-round wide receivers, are a nightmarish matchup for opposing defensive coordinators. If they stay healthy – a problem last season, when Johnson injured his back and Williams missed the last four games with a sprained knee – both have the size-and-speed combo to dominate most defensive backs. Bills fans will no doubt remember watching Terrence McGee attempt to cover Williams in their last meeting, with predictably futile results. Slot receiver Shaun McDonald, a veteran of Martz’s offense from St. Louis, led the team with 79 catches for 943 yards and 6 touchdowns ... but with the Lions throwing the ball less often this year, his role in the offense is likely to diminish. Tight end Dan Campbell has missed time with a nagging hamstring injury, so Michael Gaines should get another start on Thursday.

The running game has nowhere to go but up. Only Kansas City was worse last season, and five backs finished with more rushing yards than the 1,288 managed by the entire Detroit team. (Of course, Martz’s playcalling contributed to that paltry total; the Lions ran 11 or fewer times in five games.) Oft-injured Kevin Jones was released in March, signing with division rival Chicago, and Central Florida workhorse Kevin Smith – the NCAA’s leading rusher in 2007 – was drafted in the third round. Tatum Bell re-signed with the team and announced that he was setting his sights on a 1,300-yard season as the featured back; didn’t happen last year, and it won’t happen now. In fact, since Aveion Cason, Artose Pinner, and Brian Calhoun can all play special teams, Bell may be closer to the waiver wire than the starting job. Small-school rookie fullback Jerome Felton (Furman) is a masher, and he’s learning from one of the best – Lions running backs coach Sam Gash.

Left tackle Jeff Backus has started every game of his NFL career since becoming Millen’s first-ever draft pick in 2001. Center Dominic Raiola, the first of Detroit’s two second-round picks in that same draft, joined Backus in the lineup for good in 2002 and now has a 96-game streak of his own. Former Raven Edwin Mulitalo, who took over at left guard last season, played for Colletto when the latter was the line coach in Baltimore. First-round pick Gosder Cherilus (Boston College) was expected to immediately step in at right tackle, but George Foster – familiar with the zone-blocking system from his time with Alex Gibbs in Denver – still has the job for now. After taking over for Damien Woody last year, Stephen Peterman remains the right guard.

DEFENSE (#32 total yardage, #23 rushing, #31 passing, #32 scoring):

Although he remains immensely talented, the Lions tired of Shaun Rogers’ attitude and inconsistent work ethic, and the two-time Pro Bowl nosetackle was shipped to Cleveland in the offseason. His replacement, Chuck Darby, is an undersized-but-high-motor type who won a Super Bowl with Marinelli in Tampa. The other tackle, Cory Redding, earned a fat new contract after leading the team in sacks in 2006, then disappeared for a good part of last season. Ends Dewayne White (another former Buccaneer) and Jared DeVries will have to provide most of the pass rush, with Ikaika Alama-Francis pushing DeVries for playing time on the left side.

Now that Rogers is gone, weakside linebacker Ernie Sims is the best player on the defense. Injuries were a concern when the Lions drafted him with the ninth overall pick in 2006, but even though he’s dealt with a nagging shoulder problem that eventually led to offseason surgery, he hasn’t missed a game. Second-round pick Jordon Dizon (Colorado) is the team’s middle linebacker of the future, but for now, veteran Paris Lenon is holding him off in their battle for the starting spot. After an injury-plagued five-year run, strong-side ‘backer Boss Bailey wasn’t re-signed; Alex Lewis and former Colt Gilbert Gardner are dueling for the job, but Lenon could eventually end up here once Dizon is ready to play.

Leigh Bodden, who arrived in the Rogers trade after picking off six passes for Cleveland last year, was expected to make an immediate impact. But after signing a four-year, $27-million contract extension, he hasn’t been able to pass Travis Fisher on the depth chart. Two more of Marinelli’s old friends from Tampa, corner Brian Kelly and strong safety Dwight Smith, were signed to shore up a secondary that gave up 32 receiving touchdowns and allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete a stunning 70.1 percent of their passes last season. Forced into a starting spot as a rookie by Daniel Bullocks’ torn ACL, Gerald Alexander acquitted himself well enough to keep the job this season. Bullocks has been slow to recover, but may see his first game action on Thursday.

SPECIAL TEAMS:
Jason Hanson returns for his seventeenth season in Honolulu blue. He’s battled some leg injuries the last few years, but can still hit the long field goal. In 2007, he made 3-of-4 kicks from 50 yards and out. And when Chicago safety Danieal Manning blocked his 39-yard attempt in Week 4 of last season, it marked Hanson’s first under-40-yard miss since 2004. Dave Rayner, who handled the kicking duties in the first three games while Hanson rested a strained thigh muscle, was released on Tuesday.

Nick Harris is a pretty good punter, landing 26 punts inside the opponent’s 20 (versus just five touchbacks) last year, but the coverage team didn’t give him much help. They ranked 30th in return yardage allowed, and they’re giving up over 11 yards per runback so far in the preseason. The kickoff team was even worse, allowing two touchdowns and a 26.9-yard average.

Aveion Cason probably has the kick-return job sewn up, but backup wide receiver Devale Ellis is also in the mix. Troy Walters has moved on, so Cason, rookie receiver Kenneth Moore, and even Shaun McDonald have returned punts this summer.

BILLS PLAYERS to WATCH

Last chance before cutdown day, kids. If you’re fighting for one of those last roster spots, better make this game count.

QB: As most of you are aware, starters normally don’t play much in the final preseason game. I’d hoped Edwards might get some additional time because of missing the Colts game ... but if that thigh is still bothering him, he may not play at all. And with J.P. Losman’s thumb still banged up, and Matt Baker on the waived/injured list, I hope Gibran Hamdan’s resting up tonight (Wednesday). He’ll be busy tomorrow.

RB: Fearless forecast – whether or not Dwayne Wright is still on the roster after Saturday, Xavier Omon has done enough to make the team. Bruce Hall is an intriguing prospect, but for right now, he’s practice squad material. Hey, that’s where Fred Jackson started.

WR: The top four are set. Steve Johnson, Justin Jenkins, Felton Huggins, and Scott Mayle are battling for one or two spots, because there’s no chance they’ll keep seven receivers. Were I a wagering sort, I’d still have to pick the first two names on that list – Jenkins’ special-teams aptitude keeps him here.

TE: What a mess. Courtney Anderson looks like a serviceable backup, but do the injuries to Schouman and Fine mean that Tim Massaquoi makes the team (thus costing the Bills a player they want to keep at another position)? They probably don’t want to make the move, but it may be time to put Fine on injured reserve.

OL: Assuming Langston Walker plays very little (or not at all), Demetrius Bell and Patrick Estes will get a long look at tackle. If they try to sneak Bell onto the practice squad, he’s gone. Unless they’re considering moving Brad Butler outside in an emergency, I believe they also have to keep Estes until (if?) Jason Peters decides to show up. Duke Preston and Jason Whittle haven’t been practicing this week, but both should be safe.

DL: Jason Jefferson has given this team a solid effort since he’s been here, but there no longer appears to be a roster spot for him. This is a good thing – except for Jason, obviously – because it means the tackles have gotten better. Likewise, the Bills should be set with Schobel, Kelsay, Denney, and Ellis at end. With any luck, Ryan Neill will never have to play another down in the base defense.

LB: DiGiorgio and Ellison are solid backups. Right now, I’m guessing they also keep Donnie Spragan, because they just aren’t sure about Costanzo. He, Corto, and Buggs are all decent practice squad candidates.

DB: If they keep five safeties (Whitner, Simpson, Wilson, Scott, Wendling), that probably doesn’t leave room for at least one cornerback who can contribute. Is one of those five not as safe as we think? As for corner ... From this viewpoint, the competition between James, Youboty, and Corner is wide open. I’ll guess that Youboty is the odd man out, but to be honest, I’d try to find a way to keep all three of them.

Hey, the Bills fans finally get a home game? (No, Toronto does NOT count.)

See you in Lot 1.

LINKS

Bills depth chart | 2007 regular-season stats
Lions depth chart | 2007 regular-season stats

Discuss this story on The Stadium Wall!

Buffalo Bills vs. Indianapolis Colts Game Day Preview

COLTS OVERVIEW (FINAL 2007 RANKINGS)

Counting the regular season and playoffs, Indianapolis has played 174 games since selecting quarterback Peyton Manning with the first overall pick in the 1998 draft. Manning has started every one of those games, obliterating most of Johnny Unitas’ Colts career passing records and winning a Super Bowl along the way. However, that streak may end on Sept. 7, because the certain Hall of Famer is still on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list after undergoing surgery in July to remove an infected bursa sac in his left knee.

The Colts might have enough talent to make the playoffs even if Manning isn’t at full strength to begin the season. They have loftier goals, though – including a visit to Raymond James Stadium for Super Bowl XLIII – and they’re not likely to make it to Tampa without No. 18 under center.

OFFENSE (#5 total yardage, #18 rushing, #6 passing, #3 scoring):

While Manning continues his rehabilitation, backup Jim Sorgi is running the first-team offense. If necessary, could he keep the Colts on track for a few weeks? Perhaps ... but nobody knows for sure, because he hasn’t had any meaningful playing time since he was throwing passes to Lee Evans at Wisconsin. Head coach Tony Dungy has to be concerned that Sorgi and the first-stringers haven’t yet managed a single touchdown drive this preseason. Quinn Gray and Jared Lorenzen are the other quarterbacks on the roster; both were signed after Manning’s surgery, and neither presents a threat to Sorgi’s status.

Of course, whoever starts at quarterback will have plenty of weapons at his disposal. All-Everything wide receiver Marvin Harrison finally looks healthy after a knee injury cost him most of last season, but even if the eight-time Pro Bowler has lost a step in his mid-thirties, running mate Reggie Wayne (who led the team with 104 catches for 1,510 yards and 10 TDs in 2007) has proven he’s ready to take over as the No. 1 option. With fellow first-round pick Anthony Gonzalez in the slot and tight end Dallas Clark (58-616, 11 TDs) also drawing attention, there aren’t enough defensive backs on most teams’ rosters to cover everyone.

Like Wayne, third-year running back Joseph Addai made his first trip to the Pro Bowl after last season. He’s a perfect match for the Colts offense, whose single-back, three-receiver set looks suspiciously like the one Jim Kelly used to run. After a year in Oakland, Dominic Rhodes returns as his backup. Sixth-round pick and former Syracuse-area prep star Mike Hart (Michigan) has played well during the preseason, and has a decent chance to shove holdover Kenton Keith off the roster.

All-Pro center Jeff Saturday, now in his tenth season, anchors the middle of the line. The situation at guard isn’t nearly as clear: Jake Scott signed with Tennessee, and Dylan Gandy was released. With Ryan Lilja still on the PUP list, the current depth chart lists Dan Federkeil and Charlie Johnson as the starters. (Maybe it’s a good thing Peyton is taking the preseason off.) Second-round pick Mike Pollak (Arizona State) is pushing Johnson, and may well take over at right guard soon. Left tackle Tony Ugoh, pressed into service as a rookie following Tarik Glenn’s surprising retirement, played well; on the right side, steady Ryan Diem returns for his eighth season.

DEFENSE (#3 total yardage, #15 rushing, #2 passing, #1 scoring):

Yes, those rankings are correct. Remarkable what a healthy Bob Sanders can do for the Colts defense, isn’t it? Unfortunately for Indy, though, that hasn’t happened often enough during Sanders’ four years in Naptown. He’s on the mend yet again following offseason shoulder surgery, and just returned to practice earlier this week.

Like the playmaking strong safety, franchise sack leader Dwight Freeney (Lisfranc surgery) is slowly working his way back into the lineup. The Colts will most likely use him as a designated pass rusher early on; for now, Raheem Brock has shifted outside to left end, with Robert Mathis moving to Freeney’s spot. Tackles Ed Johnson and Keyunta Dawson are young and unproven, and there’s not much depth behind them. The line could look drastically different this weekend, as several players are dealing with minor injuries. Looks like Freeney’s coming back just in time, because they may need to move Brock back inside.

Middle linebacker Gary Brackett doesn’t get a lot of publicity. Instead, he just calls the defensive signals, makes tackles, and intercepts passes (four last season, tying him with safety Antoine Bethea for the team lead). He might never make it to the Pro Bowl, but he’s an important part of Dungy’s Tampa-2 defense. Freddie Keiaho took over as the weakside ‘backer when Cato June left as a free agent, without a major dropoff in production. Tyjuan Hagler, the projected starter at SLB, tore a pectoral muscle while lifting weights during the offseason. He’s on the PUP list – but the way Clint Session has looked while filling in for him, Hagler might not get the job back.

Kelvin Hayden and Marlin Jackson will never be mistaken for a stereotypical “shutdown” cornerback, but they’re more than adequate for the roles they fill in the Tampa-2. Jackson, especially, is a bove average in run support. Tim Jennings is the nickel, with former Bengal Keiwan Ratliff trying to make the club. Sanders, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, combines with Bethea to form one of the top safety tandems in the league. Matt Giordano has been filling in for Sanders, but rookie Brannon Condren may well take that No. 3 spot away from him before long.

SPECIAL TEAMS:
In New England, Adam Vinatieri’s nickname was “Automatic Adam.” He’s still one of the better kickers in the league, but that moniker no longer applies. He missed three field goals of less than 40 yards last season, and for the first time in his nine-year career, didn’t connect on a single one of his longer attempts.

Hunter Smith is an average punter, but dreadful coverage – the worst in the league in 2007 – didn’t do him any favors. The kickoff coverage team is equally bad, allowing three touchdowns last season. Bobby April might not need any exotic gameplanning to hit a big return against them this week.

Defensive back T.J. Rushing handled both return jobs last season; he was adequate, but there’s room for improvement. Former Titan Courtney Roby and sixth-round pick Pierre Garcon (D-III Mount Union) are in the rotation, with Garcon looking like he might be a keeper.

BILLS PLAYERS to WATCH

With cutdowns next week – 75 on Tuesday, 53 on Saturday – the competition for the last few roster spots should continue to increase. (I’ve listed players with practice squad eligibility in italics, but I didn’t include players like Leodis McKelvin and James Hardy, who will obviously make the team. And if I missed anyone, my apologies.)

QB: It figures. Against the Steelers, Trent Edwards puts together two drives showcasing all the promise and potential the coaches foresaw when they decided to make him the starter ... and then promptly gets dinged in practice. Yup, these are our Buffalo Bills.
He should be all right for the season opener, though. And while it’s surely disappointing to see him miss any time, getting J.P. Losman some reps with the starters might not be a bad thing. Based on past history, the Bills will need him at some point this season.
PS eligible – Matt Baker (UDFA 08)

RB: Has sixth-round pick Xavier Omon done enough to unseat Dwayne Wright? Dick Jauron can’t like Wright’s newly acquired fumbleitis. And with fullback Darian Barnes on the roster, there’s almost no chance the Bills will keep both of them.
PS eligible – Xavier Omon (D6-08), Bruce Hall (UDFA 08)

WR: Five or six receivers in the top 53? Obviously, we won’t know what the coaches are thinking until the final cuts are announced ... but if anyone other than Steve Johnson or Justin Jenkins joins the top four (Evans, Hardy, Reed, Parrish), it’ll be an upset.
PS eligible – Steve Johnson (D7-08), Felton Huggins (UDFA-06), Scott Mayle (UDFA 07), C.J. Hawthorne (UDFA 08)

TE: So much for the Royal-Schouman showdown. New questions: How many tight ends will the Bills keep until Schouman gets back on the field, and will Courtney Anderson be one of them? Has Fine done enough to stick, or is he headed to the practice squad?
PS eligible – Derek Schouman (D4-07), Derek Fine (D4-08)

OL: As discussed on the Stadium Wall message board, Demetrius Bell may have already shown too much potential for the Bills to try to sneak him onto the practice squad. Will they have to make room for him on the active roster to keep him? Will they be making a huge mistake if they don’t?
PS eligible – Christian Gaddis (UDFA 07), Nevin McCaskill (UDFA 07), Demetrius Bell (D7-08), Robert Felton (UDFA 08)

DL: No McCargo talk from me this week. Spencer Johnson may be better than Kyle Williams, but I’m thinking that instead of making him the starter, Johnson’s ability to shift outside might just make him more valuable to the team as a “swing” man at both positions. Third-round pick Chris Ellis continues to impress, making it more likely that the DEs from the bottom of last year’s depth chart won’t be here after next weekend. My best guess: nobody will notice their absence.
PS eligible – Corey Mace (UDFA 07), Teraz McCray (UDFA 08), Derrick Jones (FA 08)

LB: Veteran Donnie Spragan isn’t the typical free agent signing by the Bills front office, which might lead one to think they don’t quite trust the younger players currently filling the backup roles. Does Spragan stick around, or will they keep someone like Costanzo (who can also play some special teams) instead?
PS eligible – Marcus Buggs (UDFA 08), Blake Costanzo, Jon Corto (UDFA 07), Jon Banks (UDFA 08)

DB: Can Buffalo possibly find room for 11 defensive backs on the roster? Seems like way too many ... but remember, that’s how many different players started at least one game in the Bills secondary last season. If they do keep only five cornerbacks, the last man out will be able to step in and contribute for another team this season. That’s a nice – and rare, especially for this team – problem to have.
PS eligible – Reggie Corner (D4-08), Kennard Cox (D7-08)

LINKS

Colts depth chart | 2007 regular-season stats
Bills depth chart | 2007 regular-season stats

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Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Buffalo Bills Game Day Preview

STEELERS OVERVIEW (FINAL 2007 RANKINGS)

OFFENSE (#17 total yardage, #3 rushing, #22 passing, #9t scoring):

Hampered by the lack of a running game, Ben Roethlisberger’s year ended with an uneven performance in the wild-card loss to Jacksonville: three interceptions and four sacks in the first half, followed by three fourth-quarter touchdowns in a stirring comeback attempt negated by Josh Scobee’s last-minute field goal. Overall, though, it was still a marked improvement over his lost 2006 season. He adapted quickly to new coordinator Bruce Arians’ offense, throwing for 3,154 yards and setting a franchise record with 32 touchdown passes. During the 2004 draft, rumors had Tom Donahoe trying everything he could to trade up to select Roethlisberger; as “Big Ben” continues to establish himself as one of the elite quarterbacks in the league, Bills fans have more than enough justification to regret that the since-departed general manager didn’t succeed.

Backup quarterback Charlie Batch’s broken collarbone, suffered against the Eagles last Friday night, left director of football operations Kevin Colbert scrambling to find a replacement. He settled on another former Mid-American Conference star, Byron Leftwich, who should be able to fill in adequately on a short-term basis. Fifth-round pick Dennis Dixon (Oregon) hasn’t had a great camp, but performed reasonably well against Philadelphia.

The Steelers definitely could have used Willie Parker against Jacksonville, but his season ended with a broken fibula two games shy of the playoffs. With Najeh Davenport taking over as the lead back for the wild-card game, the Jaguars held the NFL’s third-ranked rushing offense to just 43 yards on 26 carries. Exit Davenport, enter first-round draft choice Rashard Mendenhall (Illinois), marking the first time the team has used a No. 1 pick at the position since 1989. He’ll provide a solid alternative (and eventual successor) to Parker, who was leading the league with 1,316 yards – and on pace to become the first Steelers back to win the rushing title since “Bullet” Bill Dudley did it in 1946 – before his injury. Gary Russell and free agent pickup Mewelde Moore are behind them on the depth chart. Carey Davis is the stereotypical Steelers fullback: touch the ball once or twice per game, block the rest of the time.

Hines Ward, Pittsburgh’s all-time leader in receiving yards (8,737), receptions (719) and receiving touchdowns (65), may not be the fastest wideout on the team, but he still knows how to get open. The three-time All-Pro is also a devastating run blocker, as many unsuspecting defensive backs can confirm. Running mate Santonio Holmes is a rising star who led the league with an 18.2 yards-per-catch average last season. Once 6-4 second-round pick Limas Sweed (Texas) learns the offense, he’ll provide the tall target requested by Roethlisberger. For now, though, Nate Washington is still the third receiver. Recent draft picks Willie Reid and Dallas Baker are the top contenders for the fifth slot, with special-teamers Eddie Drummond and Jeremy Bloom also fighting to make the roster. Tight end Heath Miller, a former first-round pick, is a solid blocker as well as a downfield threat. Matt Spaeth is the second TE; he and Miller accounted for 10 of the team’s 34 touchdown catches last year.

After the 2006 season, the Steelers gave perennial Pro Bowl left guard Alan Faneca a contract offer he didn’t like, so he decided to play out the last year of his deal and move on. That’s bad news for Roethlisberger, who has absorbed 93 sacks and countless other hits in the last two seasons, because Faneca was unquestionably the team’s best lineman. Chris Kemoeatu inherits that spot, with Marvel Smith – now in his contract year – next to him at tackle. There’s an open competition at center; former Panther Justin Hartwig should start against Buffalo, and the Steelers have to hope he’s better than last year’s free-agent addition, Sean Mahan. Guard Kendall Simmons and tackle Willie Colon make up the right side of the line, with former starter Max Starks pushing Colon for the job. Hard to imagine an offensive line could be so good at run blocking and so rotten at pass protection at the same time, but Roethlisberger shares some of the blame for holding on to the ball.

DEFENSE (#1 total yardage, #3 rushing, #3 passing, #2 scoring):
Some of the faces may change from year to year, but as long as Dick LeBeau is in charge, the Steelers will have one of the nastiest defenses in the league. When new head coach Mike Tomlin joined the team last season, there was some thought that he might make the switch to a 4-3, but he sensibly decided against blowing up LeBeau’s system and starting over.

The line is anchored by Pro Bowl nosetackle Casey Hampton. After a stint on the physically-unable-to-perform list because he showed up at camp overweight, Hampton was recently activated and expects to play this week. He’s still not in game shape, though, so expect to see plenty of backup Chris Hoke and practice-squadder Scott Paxson. Underrated defensive end Aaron Smith lines up on the left side, with Brett Keisel on the right.

Many Bills fans might remember linebacker James Harrison from the 2004 season finale, when he snatched a Drew Bledsoe fumble out of midair and returned it 18 yards for his first NFL touchdown. It took two more seasons of spot starts (and the departure of Joey Porter) for Harrison to win a full-time job; “Silverback” responded by leading the team with 8.5 sacks and making it to the Pro Bowl. On the left side, the team didn’t try to keep free agent Clark Haggans because 2007 second-round pick LaMarr Woodley is ready to take his place. Inside ‘backers James Farrior and Larry Foote hold down the middle, leaving Harrison and Woodley free to create havoc. Last year’s No. 1 pick, Lawrence Timmons, was supposed to push one of them out of the lineup before now, but the steady veterans aren’t making the coaches’ decision easy.

Ike Taylor and Deshea Townsend will never be shutdown corners, but since the Steelers play so much of LeBeau’s beloved zone-blitz scheme, they don’t have to be. Townsend is out for this game; Bryant McFadden, the incumbent nickel back, will take his place. There are questions at safety, where Ryan Clark and Troy Polamalu each missed significant time last season. Polamalu, who made his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl in 2007 despite playing in just 11 games, remains on the physically-unable-to-perform list with a nagging hamstring injury. While Clark was out dealing with a serious illness, his backup, Anthony Smith, proved more adept at making guarantees than at covering Randy Moss. Smith’s a big hitter – ask Hines Ward about that – but is vulnerable to the deep ball. Clark and Smith should start against the Bills, with Tyrone Carter also in the rotation.

SPECIAL TEAMS:
So much for the difficulty of kicking at Heinz Field: Jeff Reed led the NFL in field goal percentage last season, connecting on 23-of-25 attempts. (One of the misses was a 65-yard attempt at the end of the first half in Denver. The other was during the Miami game – the one played on five inches of mud masquerading as a football field.)
“Robo-punter” Dan Sepulveda is done for the year with an ACL tear, so Paul Ernster and Mitch Berger are competing for the position. Berger used to be one of the best in the league and will probably win the job, but at this point in his career, he’s not an upgrade.

After watching Willie Reid struggle during the 2007 preseason games, Pittsburgh sent the Falcons a late-round pick for cornerback/return specialist Allen Rossum. He did take one kickoff back for a touchdown, but the overall results were mediocre, and Rossum moved on. The Steelers are trying out a number of players to replace him, but so far, no one has stood out. Reid, Moore, Mendenhall, Jeremy Bloom, and recent pickup Eddie Drummond are all in the mix.

BILLS PLAYERS to WATCH

QB: From the Dept. of the Obvious – going 1-for-5 in his first game wasn’t a good way for Trent Edwards to begin the preseason. Even in a meaningless exhibition game, Bills fans, a nervous bunch in the best of times, would like to see a better performance from the man the front office has pegged as its quarterback of the future.

RB: We know Lynch and Jackson are the top two. Who’s No. 3? Wright? Omon? Neither?

WR: Last week, James Hardy looked like a rookie ... but one with loads of potential. Like to see him keep the great touchdown catch, while cutting down on the mental errors. He’s getting there.

With both Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish limited in practice and their availability for the game uncertain, the wideouts competing for the last couple of roster spots should have plenty of chances to be seen. Felton Huggins may have added his name into the discussion on Monday night, when he came down with long passes from J.P. Losman and Gibran Hamdan.

TE: Looks like Robert Royal has accepted Derek Schouman’s challenge for the starting job. Some – any – production from this position would be nice.

OL: Still no Peters. And now, not much in the way of backup tackles. Yeah, this should be fun. Moving Butler outside may not be the worst idea, since Whittle and Preston are somewhat capable at guard.

DL: Not a good performance against Washington, and every single starter on Pittsburgh’s offensive line weighs in at over 310 pounds. Stroud’s presence for more than one series would help, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement. Unlike some of you, I’m still holding out hope for McCargo. That may not last much longer, though.

LB: Here’s hoping Paul Posluszny shook off the rust last weekend. If not, I’m sure those Steelers linemen would be happy to help. Kawika Mitchell is already looking like the solid addition I expected, and I’m anxiously waiting to see the two of them team up with a healthy Angelo Crowell in the base defense.

DB: Ashton Youboty may have kept himself on the roster a while longer with last week’s performance, or at least bumped up his trade value. Good to see the kid make some plays. But with 11 potential “keepers” in the defensive backfield and perhaps only nine or 10 available spots, who gets left out? This position looks like the coaching staff’s toughest decision come cutdown day, which means every play for the next three weeks counts.

LINKS

Steelers depth chart | 2007 regular-season stats
Bills depth chart | 2007 regular-season stats

Discuss this story on The Stadium Wall!

Buffalo Bills vs. Washington Redskins Game Day Preview

REDSKINS OVERVIEW (FINAL 2007 RANKINGS)

OFFENSE (#15 total yardage, #12 rushing, #14 passing, #18t scoring):
Washington made a late playoff run in 2007, but the tragic loss of Taylor took a definite toll on the team. Shortly after the season ended, Gibbs decided it was time to move on. The search to replace him turned into a soap opera: owner Dan Snyder and executive vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato strung along heir apparent Gregg Williams, making him interview multiple times while sending out overtures to seemingly every big-name coach in the phone book. When none of those moves worked out, the Redskins let Williams walk and turned to the man they’d already hired as their offensive coordinator, former Seahawks quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn. The 55-year-old Zorn enters the job without previous head coaching experience at any level, but with a firm grasp of the Mike Holmgren offense that helped turn Brett Favre and Matt Hasselbeck into Super Bowl quarterbacks.

“It’s an open offense that’s going to give a lot of people opportunities to make plays,” said running back Clinton Portis, “and that’s what you ask for when you’ve got as much talent as we’ve got on the team. You look for everyone to be a contributor, and I think this offense is going to open it up for a lot of people to come in and contribute something.”

When healthy, Portis is one of the best backs in the NFL. He finished sixth in the league in rushing last year with 1,262 yards and 11 touchdowns, adding another 389 yards on 47 receptions, and should be a perfect fit for Zorn’s playbook. He’s no fan of preseason games, but may get in for a series or two against Buffalo. Ladell Betts and Rock Cartwright return as his backups. 284-pound fullback Mike Sellers mostly served as a punishing lead blocker in previous coordinator Al Saunders’ scheme, but did get a couple of touches per game.

One of Zorn’s first tasks upon arrival was to upgrade the receiving corps. Starters Antwaan Randle El (51 catches-728 yards, one touchdown in 2007) and Santana Moss (61-808-3 TDs) remain, but Brandon Lloyd, Keenan McCardell, and Reche Caldwell all moved on. Judging by their 2007 production, they won’t be missed. To replace them – and add some much-needed size at the position – Washington spent second-round picks on receivers Devin Thomas (Michigan State, 6-2, 208) and Malcolm Kelly (Oklahoma, 6-4, 227), and tight end Fred Davis (USC, 6-4, 257). However, both rookie wideouts are dealing with injuries, and neither one is likely to play against Buffalo. The much-hyped Davis may see some time in two-TE sets, but starter Chris Cooley (66-786-8 TDs) made his first Pro Bowl in 2007 and remains quarterback Jason Campbell’s most reliable outlet.

Campbell, a first-round pick in 2005, showed promising signs of developing into a quality NFL passer before dislocating his kneecap against Chicago in early December. After Campbell’s injury, Todd Collins came in and piloted the Redskins to a playoff berth, leading some observers to suggest a potential training-camp competition for the starting job. Won’t happen – Zorn knows Campbell is his guy. With Mark Brunell moving on, Washington drafted NCAA career passing-touchdown leader Colt Brennan (Hawaii). He looked good in the second half of Sunday night’s Hall of Fame Game, completing 9-of-10 passes for two touchdowns.

The starting offensive line is intact for the first time since right tackle Jon Jansen broke his ankle in the 2007 season opener. They form a solid and experienced unit: center Casey Rabach, in his eighth year, is the youngster of the group. He’s flanked by Pete Kendall and Randy Thomas at guard, with elite left tackle Chris Samuels protecting Campbell’s blind side. Reserves Todd Wade and Stephon Heyer will both miss this game, which leaves Jason Fabini as the only veteran on the second-string line. Look out, Todd.

DEFENSE (#8 total yardage, #4 rushing, #16 passing, #20 scoring):
After injuries wiped out the depth chart at defensive end – Phillip Daniels (ACL) and reserve Alex Buzbee (Achilles tendon) were both lost for the season on the first day of training camp – the Redskins dealt two future draft picks to Miami for dancing sensation (and playmaking DE/LB) Jason Taylor. The six-time Pro Bowl selection, whose 117 career sacks and 41 forced fumbles lead all active players, will line up at left end for defensive coordinator Greg Blache. Is he still quick enough to outmaneuver the road-graders at right tackle, or will he wear down when teams run at him? We’ll see. Andre Carter, the incumbent on the right side, led the team with 10.5 sacks in 2007. Anthony Montgomery and Kedric Golston are locked in a heated competition for the right tackle slot, next to Cornelius Griffin. The Redskins also acquired former Vikings first-round pick Erasmus James in the offseason, but he’s recovering from his second knee injury in as many years and is nowhere near ready to play.

London Fletcher was a definite upgrade from Lemar Marshall at middle linebacker, leading the team in tackles and earning a selection as a Pro Bowl alternate. He’s flanked by Marcus Washington (Sam) and Rocky McIntosh (Will). There isn’t much depth at the position other than special-teamers Khary Campbell and H.B. Blades, so the Redskins brought in free agent Alfred Fincher last week.

Fred Smoot starts opposite Shawn Springs at cornerback, with former first-round selection Carlos Rogers still working his way back from an ACL tear. There’s plenty of room for improvement here; Washington ended last season with just 14 interceptions, fewer than all but five other teams, and five of those picks were made by Sean Taylor.

LaRon Landry, the sixth overall selection in the 2007 draft who’s already shown loads of potential, takes over Taylor’s spot at free safety. He and strong safety Reed Doughty, the former Division I-AA All-American, should only get better with a full offseason to work together. Don’t expect to see either Springs or Landry on the field Saturday night, though, as both are nursing minor injuries. Reserve corners Leigh Torrence and Justin Tryon should see significant action, and the team is pleased with the progress of rookie safeties Chris Horton and Kareem Moore.

SPECIAL TEAMS:
Shaun Suisham was 18-of-20 on field goal attempts inside 40 yards last year and 29-of-35 overall, solidifying a recent trouble spot. The team used a sixth-round pick on punter Durant Brooks (Georgia Tech) in April; the reigning Ray Guy Award winner should present a strong challenge to incumbent Derrick Frost. Old friend Ethan Albright, now in his 14th season, is the long-snapper. Cartwright returns kickoffs, averaging 25.8 yards per runback last year. The punt-return job, previously filled by Randle El with mediocre results, should be wide open. Coordinator Danny Smith – yeah, that Danny Smith – has apparently figured out how to coach coverage teams since he left Buffalo. Those units were outstanding in 2007, ranking third in the league on kickoffs and No. 6 on punts.

BILLS PLAYERS to WATCH

WR: Thanks to Josh Reed’s aching back, No. 2 pick James Hardy could get some repetitions with the starters against an underwhelming Redskins secondary. (Hardy has a tender hamstring, though, so he may not see much action.) The battle at the bottom of the depth chart is intriguing; pay close attention to Justin Jenkins and Steve Johnson, the consensus top two choices for the No. 5 slot. Or will the Bills keep six wideouts?

TE: Will Robert Royal still be the starter? We keep hearing good things about Derek Schouman, and it surely would be nice to have an above-average downfield option at the position for the first time since ... ever?

OL: Is Duke Preston closer to taking Melvin Fowler’s job, or falling completely off the roster? Depends on which website one believes. Personally, I’ll be interested in the progress of Christian Gaddis. And if Andre Carter plays a significant amount of snaps, you know we’ll all be watching Langston Walker.

DL: Finally, we get to see Marcus Stroud hit someone in an opposing uniform. Just how much will his presence open up the outside rush lanes, anyway? And how’s third-round pick Chris Ellis coming along?

LB: As with Stroud, I’m anxious to see Kawika Mitchell in action. If both live up to our expectations, they should make enough of a difference to boost the defense out of the depths of the league rankings.

DB: I don’t know if the coaching staff would consider such a move, but I wouldn’t mind a bit if McGee sits out a good chunk of the preseason so the kids can get some extra work. There’s been a lot of recent hype about Reggie Corner, but how will he look in live action? And whither first-rounder Leodis McKelvin? Is Ko Simpson ready?

One more thought: The Turk Schonert Era begins Saturday night. Let’s see what he’s got hidden in that playbook ...

LINKS

Redskins depth chart | 2007 regular-season stats
Bills depth chart | 2007 regular-season stats

Discuss this story on The Stadium Wall!