Buffalo Bills offseason Part 1

As I stare out my window in the middle of February with an inch of snow falling an hour, winds gusting at 15-20 mph and a temperature in single digits I can't help but think about the Buffalo Bills. The Bills have holes, and as free agency begins March 1st those holes are only going to increase i.e. Nate Clements, London Fletcher, Chris Kelsay, Daimon Shelton, Kiwaukee Thomas, Mike Gandy, Anthony Thomas, and Andre Davis.

Whether we bring any of these players back or not is still in doubt but I for one will be counting down the days until London Fletcher-Baker is off this team(14 more days). Since he has gotten here he has done two things, lose big football games and make tackles. Perhaps undervaluing his ability to make tackles or his big play making abilities all I am remembering are the numerous times in which LFB and his defense collapsed in the fourth quarter, when the team needed a big stop, or even when all they needed was A PLAYER TO NOT!!!! KICK THE BALLLLL!! ya know so Jacksonville wouldn't get 15 extra yards a free time out and more momentum. It probably isn't fair to blame the numerous collapses of an alleged great defense, which at one point in 2004 compared them selves to the Super Bowl winning Baltimore Ravens defense, only on LFB so I won't. I am going to blame Nate Clements, Takeo Spikes and even Kennelsay. It isn't yet however time to cut ties with Spikes. Yes, he does have a big base salary and a smaller cap hit if we do cut him, but the Bills should give him one more year, if not for him but for the team to see if there is value left in him and to see if he can return to his pre-injury days.

Clements wants too much money, he is a very streaky player and doesn't seem like he has that winning mentality especially after saying he would go for the interception again instead of trying to just knock the ball down in that same Jaguars game. The only other meaningful UFA the Bills may lose is Mike Gandy. Continuity plays a factor in a good offensive line and keeping him would maintain consistency on the o-line, however if an upgrade without a major upgrade in salary is available the Bills should explore those options.

Needs
Linebacker
Defensive end
Guard
Cornerback
Wide receiver

The number one need on the Bills is line backers. The departure of the MLB, the questionable status of Spikes, and only Crowell and dare I say Ellison as the only other linebackers with starter quality on the roster leaves holes. Outside linebacker Adalius Thomas is slated to be an unrestricted free agent however it is rumored the Ravens could franchise him. Another major possible free agent looking at a franchise tag is Lance Briggs who also players OLB. If the Bills were able to lure either of these players away without giving anything but cap room, Crowell could move inside, which has been discussed as a viable option by Bills insiders, and maintain Spikes opposite either Briggs or Thomas. Looking to the draft Patrick Wills LB out of Ole Miss is rumored to be of great interest to the Bills and possibly available at or near the 12 spot in the first round.

Defensive End comes next on the list. With the possible departure of Kelsay that only leaves Denney and Hargrove(a restricted free agent) opposite Pro Bowler Aaron Schobel. The undersized inability of the Bills D-ends to stop the run severely hurt the Bills defense and put major pressure on young D-tackles Kyle Williams and McCargo/ overpaid underachieving Tripplett. This specific lack of run stuffing ability by the d-ends is why I am leaving out Defensive tackle as a major need of the Bills this offseason. With some protection on either end and a more appropriately sized MLB Williams, McCargo, and Tripplett may be able to flourish. It is still too early to see which DE's will be available come March 1st, perhaps the 2nd or 3rd round is where this problem could be addressed also.

To be continued..

IMPORTANT DATES

Franchise tag dead line Feb 22nd

Free Agency starts March 1st

NFL Draft April 28-29