Bills ’08 vs. Bills ’09: The Tale of the Tape

By BisonBoy  |   Saturday, September 12, 2009  |  Comments( 226 )

Buffalo Bills
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Bills’ fans have had a lot to moan about over the last few weeks and months. The team traded away a Pro Bowl left tackle. They cut loose an additional three starters on the offensive line, including a last minute dump of the current left swinging gate (former right swinging gate), Langston Walker. The offense has been AWOL during the preseason. So poor was the team’s production, that the head Dick dumped the OC with no preseason games left to test his replacement. “Disarray” is the word most often used to describe the Bills in the media today. Are things really that bad? Could the ’09 Bills be worse than ’08 Bills? As Buffalo native Nick Bakay says, it’s not too complicated when you break it down with the tail of the tape…

Coaching
Could things have really gotten worse? No. PUSH.

Offense
QB: Trent Edwards returns in better shape and with more experience than in ’08. The Bills also have a more serviceable backup in Ryan Fitzpatrick. Questions remain about Edwards’ ability to read defenses and throw downfield, however. PUSH.
RB: The Bills backfield is at least as good in ’09 as in ’08. More experience for both main backs likely improves this unit over ’08. ADVANTAGE ’09.
WR: The addition of T.O. is a marked upgrade over last year’s squad. All of the rest of the Bills’ young wideouts now have more experience. ADVANTAGE ’09.
TE: Although Robert Royal was no standout, he beat out both returning TE’s for the starting job in ’08. The addition of Shawn Nelson is an unknown but his receiving skills already likely dwarf those of Royal. PUSH.
O-Line: A muddle of a comparison here. The loss of Jason (Chemistry Killer) Peters is seen as both a blessing and a curse. No doubt new starter Demetrius Bell will not play to Peters’ level at first (or ever?) but the rest of the interior line has improved even though the team is starting two rookies. Brad Butler is definitely an upgrade at RT over Walker. However, you can’t take out a Pro Bowler and call it a push. ADVANTAGE ’08.

Defense:
D-Line: The interior of the line remains unchanged. Marcus Stroud does not seem to have hit a drop-off age yet but this could be the year. Both defensive ends are an upgrade over last year with Aaron Schobel returning from injury and Aaron Maybin able to take snaps in passing situations. That should give the Bills a much better pass rush in ’09. ADVANTAGE ’09.
Linebackers: The squad remains the same from ’08. The Bills have weaker backups than in ’09 but Paul Pusluszny is entering what should be considered his second year. This should improve this group over ’08. ADVANTAGE ’09.
Cornerback: Terrence McGee is the stable element in this group. There is little doubt that Leodis McKelvin will be an upgrade over Jabari Greer at corner. Questions remain about the nickel unit with Drayton Florence or Ashton Youboty. Reggie Corner returns in a supporting role. Ellis Lankster may be a surprise. ADVANTAGE ’09.
Safety: Another muddle here. Who will play weak safety and who will play strong safety in ’09? Will Jairus Byrd step up in the FS position and allow Donte Witner to finally flourish at SS or will Witner have to man the post with Bryan Scott returning in the strong position? Hmmm. PUSH.

Special Teams
Kickers: Both starters return with little expected falloff. PUSH.
Unit: The Bills lost a good number of special teams standouts from ’08. However, Bobby April has a way of making members of his team excel. Parrish and McKelvin will still be returing kicks but the elimination of the wedge from kickoffs may level the playing field a bit for the Bills vs. other teams. ADVANTAGE ’08.

Final Score
Bills ’09: 6
Bills ’08: 2
PUSH: 5

It’s all so easy when you break it down.
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