BUFFALO BILLS
2009 RECORD: 6-10-0
(4th in AFC East)
HEAD COACH: Chan Gailey
Key Additions: LB Andra Davis (FA/Denver), DT Dwan Edwards (FA/Baltimore), OT Cornell Green (FA/Oakland)
Key Losses: WR Terrell Owens (FA/Cincinnati), WR Josh Reed (FA/San Diego), G Richie Incognito (FA/Miami), DE Aaron Schobel (retired)
Offense: The Buffalo Bills have a lot of work to do improve an offense that ranked 30th overall last year, averaging just 274 yards per game while only scoring 258 points for the season.
Trent Edwards (1,169 passing yards with six touchdowns and seven interceptions) and Ryan Fitzpatrick (1,422 yards, nine TD and 10 INT) split the duties last year and are in battle for the starting spot this season.
The running game wasn't bad and will get a boost from top draft pick C.J. Spiller (Clemson) as he joins Fred Jackson (1,062 yards, 4.5 ypc average and two TD) and Marshawn Lynch, who rushed for 450 yards and two touchdowns.
Lee Evans will be the main man again at wide receiver with the departure of Terrell Owens.
Evans had 44 catches for 612 yards and seven TD in 2009 and will line up with Roscoe Parrish, James Hardy and Steve Johnson. The tight end is Shawn Nelson (17 grabs in '09) with Derek Schouman providing depth.
The offensive line also needs work as they allowed 46 QB sacks a year ago. The center is Geoff Hangartner, the guards are Eric Wood and Andy Levitre and the tackles Cornell Green and Demetrius Bell.
Defense: The Bills did a great job defending the pass in 2009, finishing second overall (184 yards allowed per game) as safety Jairus Byrd led the AFC with nine picks.
The run defense was another story after allowing 156 yards per game, which ranked 3oth in the NFL.
The 3-4 scheme has Kyle Williams at nose tackle with ends Dwan Edwards and Marcus Stroud.
The linebackers are Aaron Maybin and Chris Kelsay (five sacks) on the outside with Paul Posluszny and Andra Davis on the inside spots. Davis (3.5 sacks in '09) comes over from the Denver Broncos.
Edwards comes over from Baltimore to fill the void left by Bills' QB sack leader in '09 Aaron Schobel, who registered 10 sacks.
The secondary features Byrd at free safety along with strong safety Donte Whitner and the corners are Terrence McGee and Leodis McKelvin.
Buffalo picked off 28 passes last season, good for second in the NFL with Byrd tying for the league lead with nine interceptions.
OUTLOOK: The Bills are definitely in rebuilding mold with new Head Coach Chan Gailey taking over in 2010.
Edwards must show improvement at quarterback after a disappointing 2009 season.
The running game appears solid and the passing game has to catch up in order to balance the attack.
There are too many questions to answer this season for the Bills as they face a rugged schedule and an uphill battle in the AFC East, where the Patriots and Jets loom large.
Defensively, stopping the run is a must for the Bills.
A 3-13 finish is likely for Buffalo and anything better than that would be considered an accomplishment.
TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1- vs. Miami
Week 2- at Green Bay
Week 3- at New England
Week 4- vs. NY Jets
Week 5- vs. Jacksonville
Week 6- Bye Week
Week 7- at Baltimore
Week 8- at Kansas City
Week 9- vs. Chicago
Week 10- vs. Detroit
Week 11- at Cincinnati
Week 12- vs. Pittsburgh
Week 13- at Minnesota
Week 14- vs. Cleveland
Week 15- at Miami
Week 16- vs. New England
Week 17- at NY Jets
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