Bills offseason report

The bills won't be hanging out together for the next six weeks which comes as good news to players creeped out by Skeletor look-alike, Dick Jauron (pronounced Mauron). This gives us a nice opportunity to reflect on the off season and come up with some realistic expectations for the coming year.

My confidence in this team hit an all time low after our wk 17 loss to the Pats, but the calender turning over has an odd amnesia-like effect on us Bills fans.

Not much has changed from the team who thought they were a playoff contender after beating the Bolts at the Ralph, and on paper we look like we should be competitive. (Translation: expecting glimpses of hope, key injuries, 7-9, and the eleventh pick(hoping Gresham is still there)).

Here are the big questions heading into training camp as I see it. We will do our best to address one of these questions per day or week or fortnight or whatever (and most likely come up with more questions along the way):

A. O-line: Can two blue chip rookies step in immediately and hold up against the staunch DTs of the AFC east? Can Langston Walker make the transition to LT and keep the speed rushers away from Trent Edwards blind side? Can Brad Buttler stay healthy for an entire season? Is our line athletic enough to get outside and block for three excellent pass catching RBs? Will any of our young TEs be able to learn to block well enough to help our tackles (both of whom are playing different positions than they did last year)? Have you noticed how many questions I have about our O-line?


2. Outside linebacker: did Keith Ellison hypnotize Mauron into thinking he was good enough to be a starting NFL linebacker? Will passing on Crowell, Kieho, June, Pisa, etc come back to bite us in the ass?

D. T.O.- is this a 'prove I deserve to be considered one of the best 5 WRs of all time' year' or a 'one more huge pay day before hanging up the pompoms and appearing on celebrity apprentice' year? Will he blow up? Will he free up Lee Evans to make big plays, or pout when Lee gets more balls? How will the honeymoon end?

4. Will Chris Berman be wearing long sleeves under his sport coat as he introduces casual acquaintance, 88 year old Ralph Wilson?

5. Safety: I just farted. But seriously, what's the plan at SS and FS? Where does Whitner go? Where does Byrd fit in? Do Ko and B. Scott both make the 53? Why is Ko not calling me to try to sell me life insurance?

6. QB: I am the biggest Trent Edwards hater out there, but I am still holding out hope that he proves me wrong. Either way, this is a put up or shut up(even if he plays well, I'd love for him to shut up) season for #5.

7. Pass rush: is Shobel good again? Can we generate pressure without blitzing? Can Mccargo put it together and give us an inside pass rush while Stroud eats up double teams? Will Maybin give us anything year 1?

8: Head Coach: how many challenges will Mauron blow this year? Will Bobby April get a job offer from another team before we wise up and
hand him the reins?

We will discuss these questions and more in the coming weeks.