Die Hard Sports Fan

Being called weapons is being kind to the two players in question.  TE Robert Royal and WR James Hardy both did not practice on Friday because of injuries.

Hardy was limited because of a hip injury and has been listed as questionable.  Royal is also listed as questionable with an ankle injury.

Seeing as neither one of them is really producing, this shouldn’t hurt the offense too much.  What really hurts is the injury to Josh Reed.  He is still trying to come back from an achilles injury and was upgraded from “out” to “doubtful” which indicates that the wide out is getting closer to a return. Reed’s return in Week 12 would bode well for Lee Evans, who has seen constant double teams while the Bills’ No. 2 receiver has been sidelined.

If Hardy can not go, look for Steven Johnson to get some time in the game.  Lee Evans will put up even less numbers though as he will draw a double team all game.  If Royal is a no go either one of the Dereks will fill his spot, in rookie Fine or Schouman.

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The Buffalo Bills injury report is just getting longer and longer as the days go by.  The Bills will be without a bundle of key members of the squad.  For the latest injury news, let’s get the update from WGR550.com:

The Bills will be without DE Aaron Schobel, G Brad Butler and WR Josh Reed for Sunday’s contest against the Jets. All three starters were declared out at Friday’s practice. CB Ashton Youboty practiced fully on Friday, according to Coach Dick Jauron. Youboty is listed as questionable to play.

James Hardy and Roscoe Parrish will combine to replace Reed at wide out. Jason Whittle will start at guard in place of Butler.

Tight end Derek Schoman was working with the wide receivers during Friday’s practice.

This is not good news for a Bills team that really needs a win against division foe, New York Jets.  Youboty being back will give the secondary some much needed depth though.  It will be interesting to see if the backups and role players can step up big time.

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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.  Today the team announced its injury report for this weekends game against Seattle.  Tight end Derek Fine and offensive tackle/tight end Matt Murphy are the only two players listed.  Fine is definitely out with his thumb and Murphy will most likely miss this one due to the shoulder injury he suffered a few weeks back.  Tight end Derek Schouman and linebacker John DiGiorgio practiced and will be available for Sundays game.  The Seattle Seahawks also released their injury report.  Wide receiver Bobby Engram is out and Deion Branch and Lofa Tatupu were limited in practice.  If Branch is out, the Seahawks are going to be short handed at the wide receiver position.  If the defense can stop the run, the Seahawks will be in trouble.  Go Bills. 

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Hello Bills fans.  As the roster was trimmed to 53 players, there were a few suprises that made the team.  The first was converted safety to linebacker Jon Corto.  I thought linebacker Blake Costanzo would make it over Corto because he was a great special teams player.  The coaches must feel they can develop Corto and help him make the transition just like they did for Coy Wire.  Corto did look good in the preseason games and was around the ball constantly.  Corto needs to add a little size but will be mostly used on the special teams units.  A suprise cut was cornerback Will James.  I thought James would add experience to our secondary and win the nickel position battle.  Ashton Youboty had a tremendous preseason with a couple of interceptions and was named the starting nickel back by the Bills today.  The team decided to go with rookie cornerback Reggie Corner instead of James as a backup.  Another suprise to me was that the team only kept three tight ends.  Robert Royal is the starter but second year man Derek Schouman and rookie Derek Fine are injured.  Schouman is scheduled to be ready for opening day but Fine will be out for a while due to thumb surgery he had last week.  Lets hope Royal and Schouman can stay healthy and we dont have to worry about finding a tight end mid-season.  Check out the complete 2008 roster on buffalobills.com.  Go Bills. 

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Hello Bills fans.  With Jason Peters still holding out, the team signed offensive lineman Dustin Dickinson and released receiver Jason Jones.  Dickinson was a rookie free agent that was released by Seattle on June 25.  He will most likely play tackle due to an injury to Matt Murphy.  The team was back in Orchard Park today.  Trent Edwards was not participating due to injury suffered Tuesday night.  James Hardy, Roscoe Parrish, Derek Schouman and John DiGiorgio were also sidelined.  Coach Dick Jauron also stated that the starters will play at least the first half maybe more this coming Sunday against the Colts.  I hope Trent can play but it doesnt seem likely because the season is two weeks away.  I would rather him heal up and be ready to go on September 7.  Go Bills. 

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Hello Bills fans.  Tomorrow starts the first mandatory minicamp at One Bills Drive.  The last couple of weeks were voluntary and almost the entire roster was in attendance.  The only player to not make an appearance was starting left tackle Jason Peters.  It will be interesting to see if he shows up tomorrow.  If he doesnt, the rumors are true that he is unhappy with his contract situation.  Peters has three years left on his deal but his the teams third highest paid lineman.  He was elected to the Pro Bowl last year and is viewed by many as one of the best tackles in the game.  We need Peters here from the start of camp.  He is a tremendous blocker and is counted on to protect Trent Edwards blindside.  I hope the Bills can make Peters happy so we dont have to go into training camp with a distraction. 

Today was the last day of OTA’s and the offense shined.  Trent Edwards is starting to show why he was named the starting quarterback.  He has great chemistry with Josh Reed, Roscoe Parrish and Derek Schouman.  Look for Schouman to get a ton of playing time this season.  Go Bills. 

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