Sunday, July 31, 2016

BUFFALO BILLS - 2016 Season Preview

BUFFALO BILLS                                                                                      
2015 Record: 8-8-0

Head Coach: Rex Ryan

New Faces for 2016 - Zach Brown (LB), Sterling Moore (CB), Corey White (CB), Robert Blanton (S)

OFFENSE: Tyrod Taylor (3,035 passing yards with 20 TD and six INT while also rushing for 568 yards and four scores) will be the starting quarterback with E.J. Manuel (561, 3, 3) backing up once again for the Bills. The running backs are LeSean McCoy, who rushed for 895 yards (4.4 ypc) with three scores while catching 32 passes with two touchdowns. Karlos Williams is an able backup, running for 517 yards (5.6 ypc) and he scored seven touchdowns.
Sammy Watkins (60 receptions, 1,047 yards and nine TD) and Robert Woods (47, 552, three TD) appear to be the starting receiving tandem entering training camp. Charles Clay is the tight end and he had 51 receptions last season for 528 yards and three scores.

DEFENSE: Up front for Buffalo in the 3-4 set will be Marcell Dareus (nose) along with ends Adolphus Washington (rookie from Ohio State) and Kyle Williams. Mario Williams was let go during the off-season after a very subpar year.
The linebacking unit features rookie Shaq Lawson (Clemson) and Jerry Hughes (five QB sacks) on the outside while Preston Brown and Reggie Ragland (rookie from Alabama) man the inside spots. Zach Brown, Manny Lawson, IK Enemkpali and Kevin Reddick provide depth.
Ronald Darby and Stephon Gilmore (three interceptions) man the corners while Aaron Williams and Corey Graham are the safeties.

OUTLOOK:  The Bills are banking on quarterback Tyrod Taylor turning the corner and leading them back to the playoffs for the first time since 1999 when Doug Flutie and Rob Johnson were lining up under center.
A bounce back season from McCoy is a must to bolster the offense, though the running game was the top ranked unit in the NFL, averaging 152 yards per game. Taylor is a dual threat at QB, but he must improve in his passing abilities with the receiving tandem he has.
The defense lagged last season and Head Coach Rex Ryan, who hails himself as a defensive guru hired his brother Rob to help out this season for a team that had just 21 QB sacks a year ago after amassing 54 in the 2014 season.
The Bills will be depending on three highly touted rookies to fill the bill on the defense, which was mediocre at best last season, ranking 19th overall (356 yards allowed per game) while allowing 22.4 points per game. Improving on last year's pathetic pass rush is a must.

Fearless forecast -  8-8 this year

2016 TEAM SCHEDULE
Week 1 - at Baltimore
Week 2 - vs. NY Jets
Week 3 - vs. Arizona
Week 4 - at New England
Week 5 - at Los Angeles
Week 6 - vs. San Francisco
Week 7 - at Miami
Week 8 - vs. New England
Week 9 - at Seattle
Week 10 - BYE
Week 11 - at Cincinnati
Week 12 - vs. Jacksonville
Week 13 - at Oakland
Week 14 - vs. Pittsburgh
Week 15 - vs. Cleveland
Week 16 - vs. Miami
Week 17 - at NY Jets

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