Buffalo
Bills
2018 Record: (6-10) 3rd AFC East
2018 Season Recap:
Offense
Points: 16.8 (30th)
Yards: 298.6 (30th)
Pass Yards: 174.6 (31st)
Rush Yards: 124.0 (9th)
Defense
Points: 23.4 (18th)
Yards: 294.1 (2nd)
Pass Yards: 179.2 (1st)
Rush Yards: 114.9 (16th)
Coming into the 2018 offseason, the Buffalo Bills were
riding high with finally displacing their long playoff drought to remove that
mantra from this new coaching staff and front office. As this team moved
forward, changeover was on the menu when they traded Tyrod Taylor and drafted
youngster Josh Allen to potentially become the team’s long term answer at quarterback.
Expectations were thin entering the 2018 season, then
the year prior, as most understand what it takes to groom a rookie quarterback
in the NFL. Adding to that, many scouts (outside of Buffalo) criticized the
move to draft Allen given his history of inaccurate passing. Starting the
season on the bench, Buffalo chose to go with Nathan Peterman (over Allen) to
start the new campaign, a choice that didn’t last long as coach McDermott
pulled the cord quick and threw in his rookie gun slinger.
After mop up duty in week one gave Allen some live NFL
action, Josh wound up being the starting quarterback for the next five weeks,
managing to put together two victories while showing his running prowess. As
Allen was beginning to find his game, an injury placed Josh on the bench for
the next five weeks (including the bye week) limiting Buffalo in each and every
contest.
After their week 11 bye, Buffalo seemed to regroup
with better game plans exploiting Allen and the Bills offense to excel in ways
that were conducive to their abilities. Allen began to find his receivers with
big play completions while doing a boat load of damage with his legs. Even
though the season was lost in terms of the post season, Buffalo managed to
complete the year with a 3-3 record providing hope that year two of the Allen
tenure would garner more accomplishments.
Many positives came from this past season, and most of
them could be highlighted from the defensive side of the ball. While the Bills couldn’t
find that top end run attack that most have grown accustomed to, the defense
played their hearts out to the tune of having the best rank in defending the
pass. Seeing the Bills total yards allowed rank as the 2nd best in
the NFL, is that much more impressive given the amount this defense was on the
field in contests.
All-in-all, Bills Mafia should be excited for the
prospects of this team moving forward as the potential is beginning to bear
fruit.
2019
Offseason WorkBook:
The
Coaching Staff
Heading into his third season as the Bills head coach,
Sean McDermott has preached his vision consistently to “trust the process”, and
we for one are buying in.
For the most part, the same cast of characters will be
returning for the 2019 edition of the Buffalo Bills in terms of the coaching
staff. Adding some new additions to specialty coaching departments, McDermott
feels more than confident to continue down the path they have set.
The
Offense
When we review what the Bills offense was able to
accomplish over the course of the 2018 season, and where they plan to go in
2019, much improvement and change should be on the horizon.
First and foremost, Buffalo should be in the market of
compiling far more talent on the offensive line given the lack of high end productivity
last season. The Bills struggled immensely to open up running lanes for LeSean
McCoy to gallop through, ending the year with one of the worst statistical performances
of his long career. While the Bills did manage to increase their rushing ranks
to be a top ten unit in the league, a lot of that damage was done by rookie
Josh Allen in the last 6 weeks of the season. Buffalo allowed a total of 41
sacks on their quarterbacks this past season leaving this group to look far
different heading into training camp.
While we understand that Josh Allen will be the guy
moving forward, his supportive pieces should have a giant look over from general
manager Brandon Beane. The receiving core is a good young group that began to
make waves as the season prolonged, with Zay Jones finally looking to take the
next step in his development. Undrafted rookie Robert Foster, a former Alabama product
that was a great surprise to onlookers outside of Bills-Nation, but was clearly
a player all in the organization believed in. Making strides and showing solid
playmaking ability, Foster should continue where he left off. With that said, it’s
our contention that this receiving core is missing a true number one threat
that can take over games and lift this group as a whole. If Buffalo can manage
to find that player in the draft or free agency, Jones and Foster’s overall game
should ultimately lift that much higher.
Discussing the future of the Bills superstar LeSean
McCoy with many colleagues, the opinions vary in what others believe should be
done with the running back. Entering his 10th NFL season while coming
off his worst statistical campaign of his career, many think the sun is
starting to set on the talented player. While we can’t remove that notion all
together, McCoy is one of those backs that doesn’t endure a great deal of punishment
on the field which should prolong his career. In any offensive transition, the
running back is normally heavily used to supplant the inadequacies of the
offense, but we didn’t see that with LeSean in 2018. The potential to draft
another running back, while attempting to find a trading partner isn’t out of
the question for McCoy; we should see him return to the Buffalo blue and red
this season.
If the Bills can hit home runs in the draft and free
agency this offseason, we could witness the rise of this Bills team to levels
not seen in a very long time.
The
Defense
If Buffalo can correct their inadequacies on the
offensive side, this defense could be a unit that other teams fear on a weekly
basis moving forward.
Some may scoff at our opinion of this Bills defense,
but we are truly supportive of what McDermott has done with this group and have
a great deal of faith for the future. With majority of this unit under contract
for the 2019 season, adding more talent while placing some current starters as giant
depth parts should lift this defense.
While the Bills did lose team leader Kyle Williams to retirement
after the conclusion of last season, this defensive front needs to be better to
find ways to dominate opposing quarterbacks. The largest issue for this line
was their inability to stop the run consistently needing more assistance from their
line backing core. With Jerry Hughes still the main rush end on this team, he
could definitely use more assistance in drawing double teams from his side.
When speaking of the Bills line backers, we feel that
this is the greatest weakness on this defense outside of superstar in the
making middle line backer Tremaine Edmunds. Buffalo hit the jackpot when they
selected this young man in last year’s draft, as the 6 foot 4 inch beast
flashed his potential and skill on a weekly basis. It was clear at times that
Edmunds did require assistance as he was the only difference maker at the
position. Not to downgrade Matt Milano and his sound ability, we feel adding a
talent to match that of Edmunds would create a tandem that could control the
middle of the field for the Bills for many years to come.
Leaving the best for last, this Bills secondary is a brilliant
group lead by Micah Hyde, Tre White, and Jordan Poyer. While the Bills did dabble
in rotating the second outside and nickel positions to find that key formula,
it was the weak link on a group filled with so much talent. With this unit together
for another season, Buffalo should be able to add depth while continuing to
control the opposition with this secondary.
Team
Free Agents / Team Salary Cap
When any club finishes the season with a 6-10 record,
abundant chance should be on the agenda to improve the squad. While this will
be the case for the 2019 edition of the Buffalo Bills, they have key pieces already
in place to show great improvement this season.
The Bills find themselves in a situation where free
agency isn’t a concern with only 9 free agents looking for new contracts. Offensive
line seems to have the greatest effect here with Jordan Mills, Ryan Groy, and
John Miller all vying for new deals. Groy and Miller should be able to get
locked up as they still possess a good level of skill and youth for depth pieces.
Jordan Phillips and Logan Thomas would be next in line for potential deals, but
they are far from certainties to return.
The Bills did make a move already this offseason,
singing former Washington Redskins and New York Jets center Spencer Long to a three
year deal, in hopes he can become the new leader of this offensive line. In a subsequent
transaction, Buffalo cut ties with their starting tight-end and free agent bust
Charles Clay, removing his monster dollars from the cap.
Even before the Charles Clay release, general manager
Brandon Beane has done a magnificent job in managing the books generating a
whopping 83 million (+$83,404,377) to spend on retooling this club. While the
Bills should be spending more than cutting this offseason, the potential to
remove more money off the cap still exists. Jerry Hughes and LeSean McCoy hold
big money contracts this season with little dead money attached. Between the
two, Buffalo could save nearly 20 million more if they chose to cut-bait or
trade, with only 5.5 million headed to dead cap. While we don’t see these moves
coming to fruition this offseason, McCoy’s contract does expire next year.
The
NFL Draft
As the Bills
hold a great deal of funds on the books, they also have a glorious amount of ammunition
heading into the 2019 NFL Draft.
As of today,
Buffalo holds a healthy 10 selections with multiple picks in the 4th,
5th, and 7th rounds of the draft. It’s clear that Brandon
Beane believes in building his team from the draft while adding key additions
from free agency as seen from his days under Dave Gettleman in Carolina.
Currently
the Bills are slotted in at the 9th spot in the first round leaving
them ample opportunity to move up and down throughout this draft. It’s not out
of the question to witness Beane again trade down to continue the embarrassment
of riches for future seasons keeping hopes high for many years. With that said,
moving up to secure a top flight talent to help round out this roster could also
transpire, but we see either standing firm, or moving down as the playbook for
the Bills in this draft.
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