So with the Bills season run to a 5-11 mark almost concluding, what exactly should a fan look for besides cheering their team to win or lose? Here’s a couple of Bills who still have a lot to gain for next season.
Fred Jackson or Marshawn Lynch
I’d like to see one of these backs really try and separate themselves from the other. As of now, I am more of a Fred Jackson guy because he has played the most consistent of the two. However, Marshawn Lynch seems to finally be shedding his early season slump, rushing for almost 6 yards a carry over the last two weeks. Lynch has three weeks to prove to the Bills that he’s a better back than Jackson. The Bills backs do play against some mediocre run defenses in New England, Atlanta, and Indianapolis. However, those teams possess the type of offenses that could force the Bills to play catch-up for the entire game. Personally, I’d like to see the Bills trade one of the two backs and bring in a speedster who would be able to bring a certain kind of diversity with one of the other running backs.
Aaron Maybin
In the 20 years of watching Bills football, I can’t think of a Bills rookie under this much scrutiny as Aaron Maybin. Even when the guy makes a play, fans and media (myself included) get all over the guy for celebrating as if he just recorded his 100th sack. He has had a rookie year to forget. If the guy can get a sack or better yet, a hit on the quarterback, it would at least give the impression that he is making some strides.
Donte Whitner
Put Whitner under the same category as Marshawn Lynch. Whitner has a lot of competition with the strong play of George Wilson and Jarius Byrd. If Whitner doesn’t show an eye for the ball over the next three games, the Bills would be foolish not to entertain the thought of trading the former first round pick. Whitner is going into the last year of his rookie deal. I doubt the Bills would entertain the thought of extending Whitner, so the pressure on him to perform is on.
Steve Johnson and James Hardy
With all the talk about the Bills benching Terrell Owens for either Johnson or Hardy, how about benching Josh Reed, who has been completely invisible this year. Reed is a FA and is as good as gone for next year. Why not start Johnson or Hardy off slow, and put them into the third wide out spot.
Perry Fewell
Fewell is 2-2 as the Bills head coach and could very easily be 3-1 or 4-0. However, the schedule is going to get a lot more tougher than his first four games. The Patriots own the Bills. If Fewell can somehow muster up a victory against New England, some fans may look at it as if it’s 1980 all over again, when the Bills beat the Dolphins for the first time in 10 years. We all know fans love nostalgia. If victory on Sunday brings the fans to that, it could be the momentum from the public, that Fewell needs for the brass at One Bills Drive to realize he could be their answer at head coach.
Shawn Nelson
With Derek Schoman and Jason Fine on IR, Shawn Nelson is the lone tight end standing for the Bills. Nelson only has 13 catches on the season and I’m still not convinced that he is the long term solution for tight end for the Bills, which makes him having a good close-out to his season very important. We all know the Bills hierarchy doesn’t care much about the TE spot, so maybe they are already counting on Nelson being their guy.
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