Bills’ line begins with Walker, Butler at the ends

By Anthony Bialy  |   Wednesday, May 06, 2009  |  Comments( 110 )

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The Buffalo Bills decided to promote last season’s only good offensive linemen. Coach Dick Jauron announced recently that Langston Walker is going to flip to left tackle; meanwhile, former right guard Brad Butler is the new Walker on the right. While it initially feels like creating disarray, the double maneuver actually ensures that the best protectors get the most responsibility. Plus, there are a good number of solid choices the Bills can station in between.

It’s nothing new for Butler, who worked as a tackle at Virginia, making 31 straight starts on the outside right. Still, is he big enough to do it every week in the pros? While Butler certainly has the height at 6-foot-7, he’s relatively slender at 315 pounds; fortunately, the Lynchburg, Va., native has never relied on his physical gifts.

While a tangible measurement like his weight may not sound formidable, Butler impresses with his preparedness, technique and vicious attitude. He brings whatever the opposite of “tangibles” might be.

Still, Butler will have to employ altered skills one spot away. He has that hateful quality which makes him a prototypical run blocker; despite his college position, the Cavalier’s natural strengths are conducive to the active process of knocking aside rush defenders.

Stopping a pass rusher intent on reaching the quarterback requires new techniques. It’s why there’s less trepidation about moving Walker; even though he obviously faces new challenges on the left, he’s still moving from tackle to tackle. But adapting is far easier than compensating for lack of ability. Butler just needs to use his talents differently.

In fact, the biggest case against moving Butler to right tackle is how well he performed at right guard. As Butler adjusts to taking on bull-rushing defensive ends, this offense also loses his knack for clearing the filthiest part of the trench. That means Marshawn Lynch and his fill-ins will be frequently swinging out wide.

Or maybe not. This team’s backs may still be able to head through the heart thanks to a hopeful crop of blocking applicants. For the middle, coaches can pick any three from the veteran pool of Geoff Hangartner, Seth McKinney, Demetrius Bell or Kirk Chambers; they also could go with draftees Eric Wood and Andy Levitre, both of whom got their first mini-taste of pro action at rookie minicamp. The Bills have given themselves many permutation options for the interior.

As for the bigger picture, one of 2006’s picks has panned out: While he hasn’t played there yet, the Bills’ planned starter at right tackle was the 143rd pick that year. But the team is anticipating more than a draft win. If Butler pans out at tackle, the Bills can feel confident that the line will be stable straight across.

And they’ve done so without seeing if Ruben Brown will un-retire or signing Mike Williams; besides, the Washington Redskins already beat them to the latter for some inexplicably sad reason. The Bills have ample legitimate candidates to play between the designated bookends, both of whom did fine work at slightly different previous spots.
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CommentsComments: 110  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
garyg		04:10 AM
05/07/2009
Walker scares the heck out of me if he is our starting LT all season. On top of that he will want LT money and Butler will want ...
No.2
garyg		04:11 AM
05/07/2009
Sorry I got my personal life involved here, please disregard my last few comments. I really need to get back to Florida though. ...
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No.3
8and8Forever		05:38 AM
05/07/2009
Garyg: get positive man, we have TO and the no huddle offense this year.. call it the "T-Gun"... this is going to be great. ...
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