nucci Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 This is the definition off off-season euphoria. People get caught up in some nice signings and now even the weakest part of the team will suddenly perform at a respectable level with little change. While I do expect them to play better with blocking schemes more suited to their skills the OL talent is still nowhere near where it needs to be for a team with a shakey QB situation that is going to bave to repeatedly run the ball vs. 8 man fronts. Even if Henderson makes a giant leap forward this year (a big IF) this team still needs a quality G. If they go into this season with what they currently have they will struggle. How will there be many 8 man fronts with Sammy, Woods, Harvin and Clay on the field. That would leave 3 players to cover them all, correct? If there are 8 man fronts why would we run the ball? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffaloed in Pa Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 The line wasn`t that bad last yr it was a old slow back making it look bad. Remember when he was hurt,and missed a game. Bryce and Boobie tore it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDH Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 How will there be many 8 man fronts with Sammy, Woods, Harvin and Clay on the field. That would leave 3 players to cover them all, correct? If there are 8 man fronts why would we run the ball? Until the Bills show that they can throw the ball successfully teams are going to dare them to do so. They did it last year and you can expect more of the same until one of our QBs can force them to back off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nucci Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Until the Bills show that they can throw the ball successfully teams are going to dare them to do so. They did it last year and you can expect more of the same until one of our QBs can force them to back off. I think the speed and quickness of our WR and TE will help. I would love teams to put 8 at the LOS..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanker Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 One of the worse guards in the league is replaced with a guy that was a pro-bowl player 2 years ago, and a RT will have a year under his belt. Improvement will be a surprise? Yes it will to the 99% of analysts and 90% of fans who view the present season through the rear view mirror of the past. Nearly everything about this team that sucked last year is improved... by a lot, and from the very top on down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nucci Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 This is the definition off off-season euphoria. People get caught up in some nice signings and now even the weakest part of the team will suddenly perform at a respectable level with little change. While I do expect them to play better with blocking schemes more suited to their skills the OL talent is still nowhere near where it needs to be for a team with a shakey QB situation that is going to bave to repeatedly run the ball vs. 8 man fronts. Even if Henderson makes a giant leap forward this year (a big IF) this team still needs a quality G. If they go into this season with what they currently have they will struggle. It's the off-season....what other time of year can we be optimistic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nextera15 Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 I agree 100%. We had a decent line when Chan was around, then saint dougy came in and things went down hill. Yes some interior lineman left but I feel it was also the way they were told to block or the technique. Not to mention the very conservative approach the Bills were playing. I would be at the bar and most people were calling the plays before the snap. If bar experts can call it imagine the other teams. The system will be different along with the schemes. Yes ground and pound but Roman has been around and knows how to mix it up. That being said the QB situation as well. The offense itself will be much different and it will help the line as well. Once they start loading the box, Roman will open it up. People can say what they will about EJ or even Cassel but you can see the Bills are doing what the Ravens did. I said this before Rex and have said this team reminds me of them but I think this defense and offense might be better. We have more weapons and we will have that chemistry. When a team is all in sync its very hard to beat them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commander Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 I was happy to see Urbik is staying. Prior to last year, Urbik had three solid seasons at RG. According to Pro Football Focus, his rankings among all qualifying OG were 20 of 78 (2011), 25 of 81 (2012) and 20 of 81 (2013). I'd be happy with those kind of results from any of our offensive linemen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r00tabaga Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Incognito replacing Pears is a HUUUUGE upgrade! A healthy C Williams in this scheme should help too. I'm not as worried about line as others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALF Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Urbik was ok at RG so he can backup Richie , RT and LG a ? for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloFan68 Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 I think we will be fine at OL now. I say our first 2 draft selections should be 1) LB. 2) Sean Mannion 3)Corner or Safety then BPA from there on out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 LT, LG (I'm figuring Incognito plays there since he made the Pro Bowl with Miami there in 2012), and C are set. And there's a lot of competition for RG and RT. I'd ideally like to see them add Evans at RG, but there's probably not a lot of cap room left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elroy16 Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 (edited) Incognito replacing Pears is a HUUUUGE upgrade! A healthy C Williams in this scheme should help too. I'm not as worried about line as others. A lot of people want him cut but seem to forget he won the starting job before getting hurt last year. Maybe try to get him to take a pay cut, but I'm not ready to just cut him. Edited March 18, 2015 by elroy16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klos63 Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Until the Bills show that they can throw the ball successfully teams are going to dare them to do so. They did it last year and you can expect more of the same until one of our QBs can force them to back off. You should just admit you were wrong in saying that teams will use an 8 man front against us. It will only happen when we are on the opponents goal line. Our QB's aren't great, but they aren't horrible either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronin Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 (edited) I'm calling it now. This year the offensive line will be much improved. They will play very well and people will talk about what a big surprise it was. But it won't be a surprise to all of us. Watch and see. I agree. Chemistry is huge along the OL and last season they didn't have a lot of it. They'll enter the season starting with it. Also, it seems that no one wants to admit how overrated our RBs were last season. Jackson was washed up, Spiller was all sizzle and no steak and always has been, everyone whooped up Brown who's backup caliber, and Dixon is a short-yardage specialist. McCoy changes all of that and Jackson and Dixon can fill roles instead of being relied upon to carry the running game. That alone will be huge. Until the Bills show that they can throw the ball successfully teams are going to dare them to do so. They did it last year and you can expect more of the same until one of our QBs can force them to back off. Cassel will be able to do that. He may not be top-10, although I wouldn't write that off, but he's also not EJ, Orton, or Fitzpatrick either. I'm not worried about 8-man fronts, that's where the talents of Watkins or Harvin come in quite handy. Short pass big gain. Two plays like that for long gains or TDs and that'll be the end of those 8-man fronts. Edited March 18, 2015 by TaskersGhost Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 I'll go on record that I believe Cyrus and Cyril will make tremendous 2nd year strides, rendering much of the OL hand-wringing moot (or mute). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobChalmers Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 (edited) COACHING The same guys who were excellent under Gailey/Delasandros deteriorated rapidly under Marrone/Morris. Even Wood was noticeably worse. They will be good again this year. Marrone was so out of his depth - and the rest of the NFL obviously knew this by not showing any real interest in hiring him Edited March 18, 2015 by BobChalmers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bourbonboy Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Williams is not starter-caliber, particularly in this year's offense - he has the size, but not the power, so is not a great fit. He is versatile, can play guard or tackle, and would make for good backup depth, but we need a better starter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevewin Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 I'll go on record that I believe Cyrus and Cyril will make tremendous 2nd year strides, rendering much of the OL hand-wringing moot (or mute). Agreed - add Henderson to that list. I think the biggest factor in OL improvement this year will be new coaching (both properly teaching technique/fundamentals and implementing schemes to make the talent you have successful). I also think they are also building a list of NFL starter-ready OGs to potentially go after in Rd 2 - esp with the idea they will actually work with and nuture that talent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebandit27 Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 No question in my mind that the OL is more talented than they showed last year. Mostly, Henderson needs to get comfortable on the right side, guards need to be suited to the position and not simply converted tackles, and the blocking scheme needs to suit the players. We're 50% there with Henderson and incognito in the fold; just need to draft a guard in round 3 and let Kromer do his job. Agreed - add Henderson to that list. I think the biggest factor in OL improvement this year will be new coaching (both properly teaching technique/fundamentals and implementing schemes to make the talent you have successful). I also think they are also building a list of NFL starter-ready OGs to potentially go after in Rd 2 - esp with the idea they will actually work with and nuture that talent. Right now it looks like both AJ Cann and Laken Tomlinson have a chance to be there at 50. Both could be day 1 starters IMO. If they wait until round 3 I'd really like to see Jarvis Harrison of Texas A&M be the guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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