Who are the 2011 Buffalo bills

by Coast
(if you missed it here is Steve's break down of free agency)

Wow, so the NFL lockout is over. This means my 7 month blog hiatus is over. It is football season, finally. I actually had to spend time paying attention to the NHL regular season in March-June without free agency, mini camps, etc. I was starting to learn the names of players NOT on the Sabres, something that I would have found embarrassing in years past. It was a brutal 4 plus months. Please, never let this happen again.

So, now that the lockout is over, I need to re-learn who actually is under contract on this football team that is worth a damn, if anyone.

Quarterback: My boy Levi Brown and my boy times 2 Ryan Fitzpatrick. I have never loved a duo of quarterbacks more than these two. Levi Brown is a perennial 3rd string NFL QB at best and my boy Fitz is, well, he is a future hall of famer and the man to lead this football team back to the promise land. Since these two are the only two QBs on the roster going in to training camp, the Bills will surely be in the hunt for some quarterback help...maybe someone like Tyler Thigpen who has a history with Chan.

Running Back: The Bills only have 2 starters on the team this year going into camp, not 3. Yeah, Spiller has been a bust, but if you are drafted 9th, you best be starting. Fred and the whole county of Erie still think he is as good as Barry Sanders circa 1992. I believe Corey McIntyre is still on the roster and the Bills, of course, drafted their token running back when they should have drafted an offensive lineman or linebacker in Johnny White. He might actually be good. Quinton Ganther is a RFA. Who knows or cares if he will be on the team.

Wide Receiver: I think this is the Bills strongest position. They have about 300 receivers on the roster and most of them got solid game action in 2010. They are Easley, Evans, Hubbard, Huggins, Johnson, Jones, Nelson, Parrish and Roosevelt. Marcus Easley is a wild card since he missed all of 2010 after being a reasonably high draft pick last year. Lee Evans and Steve Johnson are probably shoe ins to start. Roscoe Parrish, David Nelson and Donald Jones are locks to make the team. The 6th receiver spot will have to be earned in training camp and the preseason...hopefully Naaman Roosevelt, the UB alum, earns the spot. I don't think there is any way the Bills bring anyone in from the free agent wire to help at wide receiver.

Tight End: The Bills have no tight end for the 12th consecutive season. Scott Chandler is a RFA who we have tendered. Jonathan Stupar is an exclusive rights FA who we have not tendered. David Martin is certainly not the answer and Shawn Nelson is looking like a bum. The Bills drafted Mike Caussin (who?). He isn't going to be replacing Pete Metzalaars any time soon. The Bills HAVE to find a tight end with a pulse in free agency. Zach Miller anyone?

Offensive Line: The starters from 2010 look to be the same going in to 2011. Demetrius Bell hasn't really impressed (see the film against the Vikings from last year). The Bills are at least decent in the interior with Hangartner, Wood and Levitre. Eric Wood is the team's best center so hopefully he will at least switch with Hangartner for 2011. I think Cornell Green was the starter opening day in 2010 at RT and at this point in time I have no idea who will be starting there this year...is it Mansfield Wrotto? The Bills depth at offensive line is, well, I haven't heard of most of these guys. I know that the Bills drafted Ed Wang, the only Chinese player in the NFL. Is he ever going to be good enough to actually play? I think Cordero Howard got some action in 2010 also so he can provide some depth. Chris Hairston, the 4th round pick from 2011, is most likely at least a year away from contributing. The Bills have some other guys that aren't worth mentioning as well. Basically, I think the Bills will do themselves well by picking up some help at offensive line.

Defensive Line: The Bills run defense in 2010 was possibly the worst run defense in the history of the league. The Bills addressed this need with the 3rd pick in the NFL draft by taking 'Bama defensive lineman Marcell Dareus. Dareus could be the best player in the 2011 class and from what I have seen, he actually seems like he has a solid head on his shoulders. Kyle Williams, the Bills best lineman from 2010 will return along with 2010 free agent pick up Dwan Edwards to complete the starting defensive line in the "hybrid 3-4," what ever that means. The Bills also will return Alex Carrington, Spencer Johnson and Torell Troup to provide solid depth in the interior. Hopefully Troup and Carrington can step their games up in their 2nd seasons. Don't forget about Michael Jasper...the 394 pound rook from Bethel College...he could be the next Ted Washington. One player almost certain to be off the team, finally, is John McCargo. Remember when we actually traded UP into the FIRST round to draft this guy? Good one, Marv.

Linebacker: Paul Posluszny is the UFA and allegedly will test the free agent waters. He wants to stay a Bill and hopefully the Bills can keep him. I don't think Pos is that great but he is a lot better than the alternative, whatever that would be. Also UFA are Akin Ayodele and Keith Ellison. Hopefully these guys are gone, especially Ellison...I am so sick of this dude...somehow he has been on the team for 5 years. I am not really sure what the deal is with Andra Davis...is he on the team still/going to be starting opening day at ILB? I sure hope not. I am banking on the 3rd round pick out of LSU, Kelvin Sheppard, winning a starting job next to Pos in the interior of the Bills linebacking core. Unfortunately, Chris Kelsay is still on the team and will be starting on the strong side. Oh yeah, the Bills have Shawn Merriman, who has more sacks than anyone on the Bills times 10 combined. Can he return to 2006 form? Probably not. Will he ever play a down for the Bills? Probably not. We can only hope he shows up and is ready to do the lights out dance all over Tom Brady. Waiting in the wings at outside linebacker are Arthur Don't Cross the Moats and Antonio Coleman (although he might play middle, I don't really know). Either way, I think the linebacker corps looks better than last year...which isn't saying much.

Defensive Back: Dante Whitner is finally going to be off this football team. He is somehow going to get paid top 5 or 10 safety money and he barely warrants starting in the league. The Bills were no different on defense with him in there or with George Wilson in there along with Jairus Byrd. Finally I won't have to watch Whitner drop pick 6s (like he did against the Ravens) or get run over by running backs because he is like 5'9 123 pounds. I am done with Whitner. Jairus Byrd better have been going through a sophomore slump last year. How do you go from 9 INTs to 1 INT in week 17 in garbage time when the Jets were already up by 30? Bryan Scott will also be returning as a veteran strong safety presence along with George Wilson and will provide quality depth at safety. So who will be replacing Whitner in the starting lineup eventually? It's gotta be rookie 2nd round pick Aaron Williams...or OP native John Corto...I just puked when I saw his name on the roster. As far as cornerback goes, its looking like Terrance McGee and Leodis McKelvin will be starting opening day. Florence is a UFA and most likely will be gone. Also gone will be Ashton Youboty...who underachieved his entire Bills career. Reggie Corner will be returning as a backup and the Bills drafted Da'Norris Searcy in the 4th round...not really sure if he will play corner or safety or both...I haven't done my homework. Either way, it looks like the Bills may be thin at corner at the present time.

Free agency will begin in full force Friday at 6 PM...that is the time that veteran free agents can sign with teams. Follow the blog for the latest Bills news and opinions once this crazy shortened offseason gets fully underway.