NFL 2007: Buffalo Bills (Re-post)

(This is the Corners look at the upcoming NFL season. For the next 32 days we'll be previewing each team and their prospects for the 2007 season. We start in the AFC and the Buffalo Bills. This is a re-post of a previous article.)

The Bills managed a 7-9 mark last season in Dick Jauron's first year at the helm. Better than most imagined. Major house cleaning was done in Buffalo during the offseason as London Fletcher, Takeo Spikes, Nate Clements and Willis McGahee are all gone. To top it off, the Bills have failed to reach agreement with DT Darwin Walker, who was traded to them from the Eagles for Spikes and Holcomb. This is a squad that has taken a step back in the AFC East.

Offense: J.P. Losman grew into the role of number one quarterback and looked more and more comfortable leading the Bills as the season went along. He threw for 3,051 yards and 19 touchdowns to go with 14 interceptions. Losman needs to stay healthy and keep improving if Buffalo wants to have a decent season. Kelly Holcomb is gone and that leaves Craig Nall and rookie Trent Edwards as the backups. Not good.

Willis McGahee took his 990 yards and nine touchdowns in a trade to Baltimore, which means rookie Marshawn Lynch will be asked to carry the load for the Bills. Veteran Anthony Thomas (378 yards, 2 TDs) provides depth, while fullback Damion Shelton is a solid blocker. The development of Lynch will determine how potent the Buffalo offense will be.

Lee Evans (82-1,292-8) leads a receiving corps that is weak at best and possibly a disaster in the making at the worst. After Evans, there isn't much. Josh Reed (34-410-2), who has never lived up to his rep, is the number two man with Peerless Price (49-402-3) in the slot and Roscoe Parrish (23-320-2) is the fourth receiver. Robert Royal (23-233-2) returns at TE. Watch out for Kevin Everett, who returns from a season-ending knee injury in 2006, to make a statement.

Jauron has completely rebuilt his offensive line by adding guards Derrick Dockery (Redskins) and Jason Whittle (Giants) and left tackle Langston Walker (Raiders). They will pair with holdovers Melvin Fowler at center and Jason Peters at right tackle. Chris Villarial, Duke Preston and Aaron Merz will battle for playing time.

Defense: The Bills were hit hard on defense. Fletcher, Clements and Spikes combined for 286 tackles and three sacks and will be missed. Fortunately, the defensive line, the strength of the defense, returns intact.

DE Aaron Schobel had an All-Pro season with 53 tackles and 14 sacks in 2006. He will be paired with Chris Kelsey, who came through with 61 tackles and 5.5 sacks last season. Anthony Hargrove serves as a capable backup. At tackle, Tim Anderson, Larry Tripplett and Kyle Williams are strong. The position will be even stronger if 2006 first rounder John McCargo can bounce back from injury. If they can sign Walker, the Bills will be tough to run on.

All is not lost at linebacker despite the loss of Fletcher and Spikes. Angelo Crowell (82 tackles) and Keith Ellison (65 tackles) return on the outside with rookie Paul Posluszny manning the middle. Mario Haggan, Coy Wire and John DiGigorio provide depth.

The loss of Clements hurts the secondary but there are some decent pieces in the Buffalo puzzle. Donte Whitner had an excellent rookie season at strong safety with 104 tackles. Ko Simpson (76 tackles, 2 INT) is the free safety with Jim Leonhard backing up both spots. Terrence McGee is at one corner with Jason Webster and Kiwaukee Thomas battling for Clements' slot.

Special Teams: Rian Lindell (102 points, 23-of-25 field goals) and Brian Moorman (43.6 avg) make up a strong kicking game for the Bills. McGee (26.1) is the kick returner and Parrish (11.4) returns punts. The strength of this team is the special teams.

Outlook: The Bills are solid on the defensive line and special teams, but Jauron has lost too much on both sides of the ball for this team to improve much from last season. McGahee's absence means a rookie must lead them. Losman, while improving, doesn't have the best targets to throw too and will be running for his life, thanks to a rebuilt offensive line. The defense lost too much experience and talent to be better than it was last season.

Prediction: Buffalo has dropped back a bit in the AFC East compared with the Patriots and the Jets. Look for the Bills to battle Miami for third. Record: 6-10.