Offense
The offense was the weak link for the team in 2014, and is the great unknown going into this season. The position of offensive coordinator changes from unproven Nate Hackett to one of the NFL’s most respected play-callers in Roman. The starting lineup will include six new starters, so it’s unfair to say the unit will automatically struggle because they did last year. Rex Ryan’s plan supposedly is to play a conservative, ground and pound style that limits mistakes, but there is some explosive talent on the roster that could make this unit a strength.
Defense
If the Bills are going to break their 15 year run of missing the playoffs, it will lean heavily on the play of this unit, considered one of the best in the league. The front four is without a doubt unmatched, with four Pro Bowl caliber players, and the linebacking corps and secondary should be strong. Coordinator Jim Schwartz is gone so there may be a period of adjustment to the style that Ryan and new coordinator Dennis Thurman like to play, but the talent level says that adjustment should be brief.
The Bills place a high priority on special teams – they are the only club to keep two placekickers (Dan Carpenter and kickoff specialist Jordan Gay) on their roster, have a solid punter in Colton Schmidt, and they have seemingly held roster spots for core special teams players (Marcus Easley, Boobie Dixon) to make sure those units stay strong. They have a number of players who can handle returns also, including Marcus Thigpen, Marquise Goodwin, newcomer Percy Harvin and Leodis McKelvin, once he returns from injury.
Here’s a position-by-position look at the Bills’ roster going into the 2015 season:
Quarterback
QB Tyrod Taylor
In a bold move that doesn’t quite fit Ryan’s plan to play conservative ground and pound offense, the Bills turned the starting quarterback job over to free agent signee Tyrod Taylor, a multi-faceted player who looks to have a big upside. Some national experts have branded Taylor a mediocrity who hasn’t shown anything in his four years in the league. However, in my mind he took the old school route to this opportunity, spending those years learning the position behind a Super Bowl winning QB in Joe Flacco, and now looks to take advantage of this chance to finally start. Not only did Ryan go the risky way in deciding to start Taylor, he also cut the “safe” choice – veteran Matt Cassell, in favor of former first round pick EJ Manuel, who played well in preseason and looks to be a viable option to start if anything happens to Taylor. There was a lot of noise in the media regarding Manuel being a “bust” since he was first round pick and didn’t win the starting job. However, in Washington, a much more highly-regarded draft pick, Robert Griffin III, was also kept on as a backup after not securing his position, so I have no problem with Manuel staying on as a backup. He has the demeanor that will allow him to sit and learn and wait for his chance, just as Taylor did in Baltimore.
Running Back
RB LeSean McCoy
The Bills’ running game was a huge disappointment last season, as they failed to have any back rush for 100 yards in any game. Their two top backs from last year are gone, and their new feature back, LeSean McCoy, should be a big upgrade over C.J. Spiller, who never put up consistent numbers in his time here. It’s hard to imagine the Bills not missing Fred Jackson’s veteran presence, but the team seems satisfied with their remaining backs, Bryce Brown, Boobie Dixon and rookie Karlos Williams. They need to find a back among their stable who can succeed on short yardage downs and in the red zone, a major weakness last year. The blocking of new fullback Jerome Felton, another free agent signee, will be a big help to whichever back is in the game at any given time.
Receivers
TE Charles Clay
The Bills’ regular receiving corps saw hardly any action at all during the preseason, but should be a solid group with playmakers like Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods and the newly signed Harvin on board. There’s solid depth behind them in the form of Marquise Goodwin, who is a playmaker when he stays healthy, Chris Hogan, who was dependable last year but didn’t show much this preseason, Marcus Easley, a special teams star who showed in the exhibition games that he’s a talented receiver also, and Marcus Thigpen, who brings versatility as a return man option, and even played some at running back in a pinch in the preseason. Since he was hired as offensive coordinator, the word on Greg Roman’s offense is that he likes to be creative with his tight ends, and that must be true since Buffalo’s opening roster includes five of them. Charles Clay was the team’s prize free agent acquisition and will be featured prominently in the passing game. Behind him are a pair of pass catching threats in MarQueis Gray and Chris Gragg, a top notch blocker in Matthew Mulligan and a raw talent in rookie Nick O’Leary, who claimed a roster spot on pure potential since he didn’t show much in training camp.
Offensive Line
G Richie Incognito
This unit needed an upgrade over last season, and this should be accomplished by plugging in two new starting guards in Richie Incognito and rookie Jon Miller, along with expected growth and improvement from tackles Cordy Glenn and Seantrel Henderson. The depth behind the starting five is extremely thin and any injuries here could pose a problem. Kraig Urbik returns as a backup at guard, much improved youngster Cyrus Kouandjio backs up the tackles, while starting center Eric Wood’s backup will be a late addition to the roster, a waiver wire pickup named Gabe Ikard.
Defensive Line
DE Jerry Hughes
The strongest and deepest unit on the team returns intact in 2015. Tackles Marcell Dareus, in line for a big pay hike, and Kyle Williams and end Mario Williams are all Pro Bowl caliber players, and Jerry Hughes, the other end, is becoming a top playmaker. There’s plenty of experience among the reserves, also. Tackles Corbin Bryant and Stephan Charles are top rotational options behind the starters, and ends Manny Lawson and Alex Carrington (back after a one year stay with the Rams) are both veterans. There’s very little drop off in play when the starters are rested during games.
Linebackers
LB Preston Brown
There’s a bit of mystery and uncertainty in the linebacking corps with this year’s club. In the past, Rex Ryan has always been an advocate of a 3-4 defensive alignment, but the strength of the Bills’ defense is their four man line. Even in a 4-3 alignment, the Bills have two promising young starters in Preston Brown and Nigel Bradham, but the third starter would have to come from a group that includes three untested youngsters – Randell Johnson and rookies Tony Steward (currently injured) and A.J. Tarpley. Most likely the Bills will use a lineup that has one or both of the ends (Mario Williams and Hughes) in a standup position with an extra defensive back on the field. Today’s wide use of spread formations with extra receivers on the field dictates this type of alignment anyway.
Defensive Backs
S Corey Graham
With the above-mentioned use of spread formations in the NFL today, the Bills’ secondary has a distinct advantage. Both of their starting safeties, Corey Graham and Aaron Williams, are converted cornerbacks who have no problem drawing coverage duties on the extra receivers teams use against them. Bacarri Rambo and Duke Williams provide good depth behind the starters while also contributing on special teams. The club will miss the experience of Leodis McKelvin at one of the cornerback spots to start the season, and his replacement, rookie Ronald Darby, will be tested early and often as a perceived “weak link” in a strong Bills’ defense. On the other corner, Stephon Gilmore is poised for a breakout year. Depth is provided by a couple of young veterans, Nickell Robey and Ron Brooks, who have shown flashes of brilliance in their limited roles the last couple of seasons. Another young corner, Mario Butler, earned a spot on the final roster and is another backup option.
Overview
New coach Rex Ryan set the expectations high when he was hired, boldly predicting the team would make the playoffs this year. The club, with the help of owners Terry and Kim Pegula, completely remade the roster by adding some exciting playmakers to the offense, where they were sorely needed. They showed almost nothing during the preseason, but you have to figure the team will be much more dynamic on that side of the ball with the additions of LeSean McCoy, Charles Clay and Percy Harvin, who has yet to be seen in game action in a Buffalo uniform. It was a bold move to name Tyrod Taylor as the starting QB, and if he produces the type of play in the regular season that he showed in preseason that got him the job, the Bills will be a tough opponent and a real playoff threat in 2015.
It’s become a tradition for this post to include, for any Bills fans who need to get psyched a little more for the start of the season, the audio below:
