Die Hard Sports Fan

Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch was back at practice again today after being excused by the team yesterday. He had to tend to a personal matter and nothing more was said about the missed practice. 

Things don’t look so good for DE Aaron Schobel and WR Josh Reed. Neither is working out with the team.  Schobel did finally take the walking boot is off but it doesn’t look like he will play.  Reed is recovering from a sprained Achilles suffered in Sunday’s loss at Miami.  The usual recovery time for such an injury is two to three weeks.  Head Coach Dick Jauron has not ruled out the wide receiver for this Sunday.  The Bills coach will update the injury report tomorrow.

There is a mix up at the offensive line now too.  Jason Whittle is lining up at guard.  The veteran lineman occupying the spot left vacant by the injured Brad Butler (knee).  The injury has kept him out of practice all week.  Duke Preston is getting first team reps at center.

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The Buffalo Bills have listed DE Aaron Schobel and G Brad Butler out for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins.  Here is wgr550.com’s latest report on the Schobel, Butler and the rest of the Bills:

Bills’ DE Aaron Schobel and G Brad Butler have both been ruled out for Sunday’s game in Miami. Schobel is still nursing a foot injury. Butler has a knee sprain. Jason Whittle was practicing in Butler’s place with the first team offense on the portion of Friday’s practice that the media was allowed to watch.

Center Melvin Fowler practiced with the second team offense on Friday He’s listed as questionable. Duke Preston took the first team reps at center. Cornerback Terrence McGee practiced again. Ashton Youboty sat out. McGee and Youboty are both questionable.

Derek Fine is listed as probable. The rookie tight end has yet to play an NFL game due to a thumb injury that required surgery.

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We are now just a mere 3 days away and counting until the Bills home opener on Sunday afternoon at the Ralph!  As a Bills fan I am PUMPED!!  Finally we get to see the team back in action and see what they can do against some pretty good competition in the Seattle Seahawks.

I broke down the Bills defense a couple days ago so today is time to show a little love to the O!

QB

1.  Trent Edwards

2. J.P. Losman

3. Gibran Hamdan

…The biggest question mark with this group is can they perform?  They all combined for 12 touchdown passes last season which was good for 29^th in the league.  Their combined passing yards of 2,634 was 30^th in the league.  In comparison to how bad this group was take a look at former Bills QB Todd Collins.  Last season the 35 year old (now 36) threw for 888 yards and 5 touchdowns in 4 games!…  Edwards worked hard in the off-season and added much needed muscle to his frame.  It will help him be more durably and keep him in the lineup.  It won’t hurt for his deep balls either.  When drafted he was suppose to be a leader.  The 2^nd year signal caller was voted team captain this season…  Losman is entering his last season as a Buffalo Bill.  His contract is up and he will take his services elsewhere.  A very gifted QB but was never very consistent…  Hamdan is back for another season.  He was on the practice squad last season before being signed to the club due to Edwards last season injury…

GRADE: C

RB

1. Marshawn Lynch

2. Fred Jackson

3. Xavier Omon

…Beast MODE is back!  After leading AFC rookies last season in most of the rushing categories, Lynch is looking to build on the numbers he had last season.  He is already one of the top 10 backs in the league…  Action Jackson is now in his second season of backing up Lynch.  Look for an article on him to come later in the year.  Not many people realize what he has gone through to make it to the league…  Omon, the rookie draft pick beat out Dwayne Wright during the preseason for the final RB spot.  Won’t see much time with the two guys he has in front of him…

GRADE: A-

FB

1. Darian Barnes

…Barnes is a 7 year vet and his big body should pave the way for a great season for Lynch.  The 6′ 2″, 240lb FB loves hitting people.  Look for him to clear the way for a great season running the ball.  Will do much better than those stupid H-backs in the past…

GRADE: C+

WR

1. Lee Evans

2. James Hardy

3. Josh Reed

4. Roscoe Parrish

5. Steve Johnson

6. Justin Jenkins

…Evans continues to be a huge deep threat and is by far the best WR for the Bills.  He worked with Edwards during the off-season so we will have to wait and see if that will pay off.  Evans put up some of the worst numbers of his career last year…  Hardy is the 2^nd round pick from Indiana.  The big target should get some opportunities in the red zone…  Reed is a great possession receiver on the Bills team.  He has reallu improved his catching ability since joining the Bills…  Parrish is the speed man who the Bills want to get the ball to.  His speed can change games.  A 5 yard slant could turn into a touchdown…  Johnson is the rookie wideout from Kentucky.  He was selected in the 7^th round.  He stood out during training camp and the preseason to win a roster spot…  Jenkins was kept for his special teams ability…

GRADE: B+

TE

1. Robert Royal

2. Derek Schouman

3. Derek Fine

…Royal caught 3 touchdown passes last season, and 2 came in one game.  He has had a good preseason though so let’s see if they try to get him more involved in the gameplan…  Schouman has 3 receptions in his career and is currently coming back from injury…  Fine the rookie from Kansas looks to get more reps at special teams this year than tight end.  When he gets healthy look for him to be an impact player on special teams which he was very good in at college…

GRADE: C

LT

1.  Jason Peters (HOLD OUT)

2. Langston Walker

3. Kirk Chambers

4. Matt Murphy

5. Demetrius Bell

…Peters is a bum.  Report to your team.  You’re not only hurting yourself but your teammates also…  Walker switched over from the right side of the line with the absence of Peters.  At 6′8″, 366 lb. he defiantly has the size to do it.  He will need to step up big time though.  Let’s be honest he is no Jason Peters… Chambers is starting at RT after Walker switched over… Murphy is a 7 year vet who is undersized for the LT position.  He should be on special teams duty all year…  Three years ago, Bell wasn’t even playing football.  He was playing basketball.  In college he started 22 games in a row at LT.  He has the size but needs to work on fundaments.  Has raw talent just needs to be groomed.  He was selected in the 7^th round, Pick 219^th overall…

GRADE: C

LG

1. Derrick Dockery

2. Jason Whittle

…Dockery stands at 6′6″ and 330 lbs.  He has to step up his play with Peters gone for the foreseeable future.  This is his 2^nd year with the Bills…  Whittle is a 10 year vet with a lot of experience.  Will help provide depth on the OL…

GRADE: C+

C

1. Melvin Fowler

2. Duke Preston

…Fowler has started all 16 games at center for the past two seasons for the Bills…  Most of Preston’s playing time last year came from special teams…

GRADE: C+

RG

1. Brad Butler

2. Duke Preston

…Butler is a 3 year player that has a huge body.  The 6′ 7″, 315 lb. guard started all 16 games last season…  In case you needed another fact on “Duke”, his real name is Raymond Newton Preston III…

GRADE: C

RT

1. Langston Walker (moved to LT while Peters holds out)

2. Kirk Chambers

…The former 6^th round pick is given the starting role by default.  He has only one start in his NFL career.  It was at left tackle against the Eagles in last year’s season finale.  The outcome?  No sacks allowed and helped Lynch gain 105 yards on the ground…

GRADE: D

Overall the Bills need to be able to run the ball and whatever QB is in needs to play consistent.  Edwards gets the ball out quick and not saying that Peters being gone will hurt the running game but Peters is a much better pass blocker than run blocker.  A true FB will also help out Lynch on the ground game.  The offense also needs to get the ball to the playmakers.  Lynch, Evans and Parrish should all be in the game plan every week to get a lot of touches.  Royal at TE also needs to be more of a receving threat.  He is a good blocker though so that will help out the line too.  The Bills O won’t do much this year numbers wise but if they can hang on to the football and control the clock it should be enough to get by on.    

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Hello Bills fans.  The Bills will host the Pittsburgh Steelers this Thursday in Toronto.  This is the first game of the Toronto series that will span over the next five seasons.  Im excited to see the crowd reaction to this one.  Although I dont like the idea of playing there, I do like the fact that playing in Canada will assure the team of staying in Buffalo.  As the Bills come off a defeat in their first preseason game and injury free, the team has lost a couple of players in the last two days.  Backup tackles Matt Murphy and Patrick Estes both went down with a shoulder and leg injury respectively.  Murphy’s injury is more serious and he was not at the morning walk through.  Estes was at practice today but did not participate.  Starting right guard Brad Butler has been given some reps at right tackle and will most likely play with the second unit this Thursday.  We really need Jason Peters in camp as soon as possible.  There have been some rumblings that he would sit out the entire season but I feel the Bills will get this situation settled and Peters in camp.  Go Bills. 

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Hello Bills fans.  The team announced that they have come to terms with fourth round pick Derek Fine.  Fine will compete for a backup spot at the tight end position.  He is an experienced special teams player and will contribute in that phase right away.  He isn’t the biggest guy but set records at Kansas for most receptions for a tight end.  I liked when the Bills picked Fine and feel he will contribute right away. 

Shortly after the signing of Fine was announced, the team reach a contract extension with starting right guard Brad Butler.  Butler still had two years left on his rookie deal but showed last season that he can be a full-time starter on the offensive line.  The team did not release details of the contract but Im sure Butler will be getting a raise.  He started all 16 games last season after winning the position battle in training camp.  Butler showed me a lot last season.  He formed a strong tandem with right tackle Langston Walker.  If the Bills can sign Jason Peters to a long term deal, we will have four out of the five starters on the o-line locked up for a long time.  Go Bills. 

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