Buffalo Bills 2008 Season Preview

The Buffalo Bills are ready to rampage over the AFC East in 2008 thanks to an aggressive defense and speedy offense

Buffalo Bills Preview: Overview

The Buffalo Bills went 7-9 in the 2007 NFL season. This was an impressive feat considering the rash of injuries the Buffalo Bills had to fight through. Battling out of the AFC East, the Buffalo Bills will have to face division opponents the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and New England Patriots twice a year. The Buffalo Bills will also have to deal with tough opponents from outside the division in the San Diego Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Buffalo Bills Preview: Off-Season

The Buffalo Bills fixed their two biggest team holes in the 2008 NFL Draft by selecting CB Leodis McKelvin in the 1st round and WR James Hardy in the 2nd. The Buffalo Bills hope that Leodis McKelvin will develop into a shutdown corner. James Hardy is a big target and endzone threat to compliment the speedy wideouts already on the Buffalo Bills Roster. DE Chris Ellis fell to the Buffalo Bills in the 3rd round and could instantly become a pass-rushing threat. 4th round selection TE Derek Fine could also be a starter as a rookie.

The biggest off-season acquisition for the Buffalo Bills was DT Marcus Stroud. Coming over from the Jacksonville Jaguars, the three-time Pro-Bowler is a load in the middle of the D-Line. OLB Kawika Mitchell jumps from the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants to bolster the front seven. The Buffalo Bills suffered no significant losses on their roster during the off-season.

Buffalo Bills Preview: Offense

Quarterbacks J.P. Losman and Trent Edwards will battle for the right to be the Buffalo Bills starting quarterback. J.P. Losman has a cannon for an arm, while Trent Edwards is a more surgical strike type thrower. Whichever of these talented QBs gets the start, they will have an awesome arsenal around them. It all starts up front with an excellent offensive line. LT Jason Peters is a freak athlete and converted TE with amazing speed and quickness. Monstrous G Derrick Dockery is a powerful mauler to go along with the speed of Jason Peters. RT Langston Walker combines with Derrick Dockery and Jason Peters to make the heaviest O-Line in the NFL.

The Buffalo Bills are also stacked at the skill positions. 2nd year RB Marshawn “Money” Lynch is on his way to being an offensive monster. With the ability to pound the rock in the ground game or become a deadly receiving threat out of the backfield, Marshawn Lynch is a potential Pro-Bowl caliber player. WR Lee Evans is the main weapon in the passing game and is the best deep threat in the NFL. WRs Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish are two more speedsters in the receiving corps. Rookie WR James Hardy brings a big body to the passing game and is a good change of pace with the other smaller wideouts. The Buffalo Bills will also count on rookie TE Derek Fine to provide offensive firepower.

Buffalo Bills Preview: Defense

Head coach Dick Jauron is a defensive guru and brings all his knowledge to an improving Buffalo Bills defense. The 4-3 alignment is anchored up front by DT Marcus Stroud. The massive tackle has been an All-Star in the past and will likely repeat in the 2008 NFL season. DT John McCargo will team with Marcus Stroud to provide a lot of bulk in the center of the line. Pro-Bowl DE Aaron Schobel is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL and pairs with fellow DE Chris Kelsay to make fabulous bookends. The front seven is completed by a vicious linebacking corps. 2nd year MLB Paul Posluszny is a tackling machine and is healthy after a season-ending injury. OLBs Angelo Crowell and Kawika Mitchell are a deadly pair of hitters and pass rushers.

The Buffalo Bills secondary is top-notch. SS Donte Whitner is a punishing tackler and a rangy mover who can cover well. FS Ko Simpson is also a solid tackler that protects against the deep ball. CB Terrence McGee has developed into a fantastic cover man and has blazing speed. Rookie CB Leodis McKelvin has the potential to become a shutdown corner and will be expected to start right away.

Buffalo Bills: Special Teams

CB Terrence McGee is a superb kick-return man and has taken five returns to the house in his career. WR Roscoe Parrish utilizes his small frame and elusiveness to return punts and has scored on two of them in his short pro NFL career. K Rian Lindell is a veteran clutch kicker and skilled in kicking in bad weather situations. The words “Freak Athlete” and “Punter” rarely appear together, but P Brian Moorman certainly is an athlete. The two-time Pro-Bowler often gives the Buffalo Bills excellent field position and can run for 4th down conversions on fakes or broken plays.

Buffalo Bills Preview: Outlook

The AFC East is a tough division to compete in. The New York Jets and Miami Dolphins may be in a rebuilding phase but are always dangerous. The major obstacle in division play will be the New England Patriots. The dominant Pats have shown a weakness to strong pass rushes and the improved defensive front seven of the Buffalo Bills has the ability to bring a ton of pressure. The improved secondary of the Buffalo Bills should also match up well against the receiving corps of the New England Patriots. The massive Buffalo Bills offensive line team with Marshawn Lynch to form a great clock-milking force that will keep the dynamic offense off the field.

With a strong defense rebuilt and healthy to go along with a speedy offense, the Buffalo Bills have a real shot at the post-season. Outside opponents the New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers, and the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Buffalo Bills play a weak schedule. With snowy home games in both Buffalo’s Ralph Wilson Stadium and Toronto, the Buffalo Bills will have a good chance to close out the 2008-09 season with a winning streak.