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Who can wait any longer for another Bills game? I sure can’t so I will start the breakdown of the game, that takes place on Sunday at 1:00 pm (eastern) when the Buffalo Bills visit the Jacksonville Jaguars. Today’s “Key’s to the Game” will focus on the Jaguars offensive line against the Buffalo Bills defensive line.
Jaguar’s O-Line
The Jaguars offensive line suffered two big losses in their first game of the season. They lost both of their starting guards, Maurice Williams (out 2+ months with ruptured biceps) and Vince Manuwai (out the season with torn ACL).
They also don’t have a lot of depth in the position either. Remember, backup Richard Collier is still in a hospital after being shot before the season opener. Second year man Uche Nwaneri will have a big spot to fill which will be hard for him. He has only 1 start in his NFL career after getting into 9 games last season, most as a special teams player. The other backup now starter at guard is nine year vet Tutan Reyes. A 9-year vet might sound good but Reyes did not play in a single game last year. The last time he was in a game was in 2006, when he started the first 6 games for the Bills before he was inactive for the last 10. These two backups will need to perform in this game.
Left tackle Khalif Barnes will need to step up his game. He has started 41 games for the Jags over his first 3 seasons with the team. He is a player up to the task.
Dennis Norman, the 8 year vet is at the center position for this one. He is athletic and can play multiple spots on the line.
Tony Pashos is the teams starting right tackle. The hardworking, former undrafted free agent started 14 of 15 games with the Jags last season. He was picked up by Jacksonville before last season in free agency.
Overall the team really needs to step up its O-line play if they want to contain the Bills rush. This is a squad that let QB David Garrard get sacked 7 times last week against the Titans. Jacksonville was only able to gain 33 yards on the ground last week with Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor as the running backs. I would have to say they are one of the top tandems in the league. If the run game doesn’t get going look for the Bills to send blitzes from all over the place and make it another long day for Garrard.
Bills D-Line
The defensive ends for the Bills are defiantly one of the best threesomes in the league. Pro Bowler Aaron Schobel will get his usual good pass rush. Even when facing one of the best LTs in the game, and even getting double teamed from time to time in last weeks game, Schobel was able to break though and get a sack. The other two DEs worth mentioning are Ryan Denney and Chris Kelsay. The Bills go with a rotation so they always have the freshest D-lineman on the field. Denney also recorded 1 sack last week, and Kelsay had 1 tackle.
The Bills FINALLY have a great DT in Marcus Stroud. The Bills went out in the off season in a trade with the Jags to get him, and the big man looks to be at full health. He showed it in last weeks game and will look to stick it to his old team. Stroud had 7 tackles and 2 sacks and was a force all game. He made his home in the Seahawks backfield. Similar to the rotations for DEs, the Bills also sub in fresh DTs. Kyle Williams had a huge game, Spencer Johnson also looked reliable and former first rounder John McCargo did not have an impact at all as he spent most of the game of the bench. Stroud and Williams are the top pair for this group.
A solid line all around. Stroud and Schobel will have to be accounted for the entire game, leaving room for the others to make plays. If they can repeat what they did to the ‘Hawks, well watch out Garrard. This team had 5 sacks in total and only let up 85 yards on the ground, not to mention a mere 10 points!
Winner of this Match up
With the Jags banged up and the Bills coming off such a huge game, I gotta give this one to the Buffalo Bills.
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