Below the Rim: Bills look to answer questions in opener
By Chris Potter
Last Updated:10:37 PM EST 9/8/08 Section: Blogs
Questions, questions, questions.
If the beginning of a new school year means one thing, it's that the seemingly endless parade of questions is set to begin once again (well, that and the lack of parking spaces, but I digress). Questions in class. Questions on homework. Questions on tests.
The Buffalo Bills, who called Fisher home July 24 through August 20, during training camp, also have their own set of questions as they prepare to kick the season off this Sunday against Seattle. Here's a quick look at some of the issues surrounding the 2008 edition of the Bills.
Will an offseason that added several key defensive players pay off on the field? In an effort to shore up the heart of the defense, the Bills made a splash by trading for former Jaguars defensive tackle Marcus Stroud and signing Spencer Johnson away from the Vikings. Linebacker Kawika Mitchell, fresh off a Super Bowl run with the Giants, strengthens an often undersized linebacker core, while first round draft pick Leodis McKelvin should challenge for a starting role by midseason.
How will Trent Edwards progress in his first full season as the starter? Buffalo has decided that Edwards is the QB of the future, and it's now up to him to seize a job that has been waiting for someone to do just that ever since Jim Kelly hung up his cleats a dozen years ago. Buffalo added wide receiver James Hardy to give Edwards an ideal red zone target, one that has been sorely lacking in past years. How effectively Edwards runs the offense of new offensive coordinator Turk Schonert will go a long way towards determining the Bills '08 fortunes.
Will left tackle Jason Peters ever rejoin the team? Peters, arguably Buffalo's best player, is holding out for a new contract. Langston Walker, a natural right tackle, is currently filling in for Peters, who is among the best players in the league at his position. With Peters in the fold, the Bills offensive line has the potential to be dominant; without their Pro Bowler the line might have difficulty being above average. Think the difference between Shaq in his heyday and the Shaq of today.
Can everyone stay healthy? The Bills were forced to place 17 players on the injured reserve list last season, which led the league. The return of starters Ko Simpson and Paul Posluszny should be a big boost to the defense. The Bills made it through training camp relatively healthy, although linebacker Angelo Crowell was recently lost for the season. The injury bug can't possibly strike the Bills so hard in two consecutive years, can it?
While a single game doesn't define a season (the Super Bowl Champion Giants started last year 0-2), how the Bills perform in the opener, a home contest against a 2007 playoff team, should go a long way towards answering some of these questions. If only getting answers to some of those classroom questions were so easy.
If the beginning of a new school year means one thing, it's that the seemingly endless parade of questions is set to begin once again (well, that and the lack of parking spaces, but I digress). Questions in class. Questions on homework. Questions on tests.
The Buffalo Bills, who called Fisher home July 24 through August 20, during training camp, also have their own set of questions as they prepare to kick the season off this Sunday against Seattle. Here's a quick look at some of the issues surrounding the 2008 edition of the Bills.
Will an offseason that added several key defensive players pay off on the field? In an effort to shore up the heart of the defense, the Bills made a splash by trading for former Jaguars defensive tackle Marcus Stroud and signing Spencer Johnson away from the Vikings. Linebacker Kawika Mitchell, fresh off a Super Bowl run with the Giants, strengthens an often undersized linebacker core, while first round draft pick Leodis McKelvin should challenge for a starting role by midseason.
How will Trent Edwards progress in his first full season as the starter? Buffalo has decided that Edwards is the QB of the future, and it's now up to him to seize a job that has been waiting for someone to do just that ever since Jim Kelly hung up his cleats a dozen years ago. Buffalo added wide receiver James Hardy to give Edwards an ideal red zone target, one that has been sorely lacking in past years. How effectively Edwards runs the offense of new offensive coordinator Turk Schonert will go a long way towards determining the Bills '08 fortunes.
Will left tackle Jason Peters ever rejoin the team? Peters, arguably Buffalo's best player, is holding out for a new contract. Langston Walker, a natural right tackle, is currently filling in for Peters, who is among the best players in the league at his position. With Peters in the fold, the Bills offensive line has the potential to be dominant; without their Pro Bowler the line might have difficulty being above average. Think the difference between Shaq in his heyday and the Shaq of today.
Can everyone stay healthy? The Bills were forced to place 17 players on the injured reserve list last season, which led the league. The return of starters Ko Simpson and Paul Posluszny should be a big boost to the defense. The Bills made it through training camp relatively healthy, although linebacker Angelo Crowell was recently lost for the season. The injury bug can't possibly strike the Bills so hard in two consecutive years, can it?
While a single game doesn't define a season (the Super Bowl Champion Giants started last year 0-2), how the Bills perform in the opener, a home contest against a 2007 playoff team, should go a long way towards answering some of these questions. If only getting answers to some of those classroom questions were so easy.
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