I’ll get to my reaction about the Jets game in a post later today. In the meantime, I just want to get my Bills wrap-up posts online. For the next week or so, I’m going to tell you exactly what the Bills need to do in the offseason, awards and a review of their season. For now, it’s 5 things the Bills need to improve on in the offseason.
5) Get me a tight end
I’ve been saying this for over 10 years now and I have a feeling I’ll be saying it next year as well. For whatever reason, the Bills organization doesn’t feel that the tight end position is vital to an offense. I know some will say that Gailey’s offenses don’t normally utilize the tight end, but he did have Gonzo in KC, where he gained over 1,200 yards receiving. I know the passing game looked better this year with the emergence of Stevie Johnson and Roscoe Parrish, but right now in the NFL, the tight end position is booming! 13 tight ends this year finished with 50 catches or more. If you look at the elite teams in the NFL, teams like the Saints, Colts, Falcons and Patriots all have contributions from the tight end. Frankly, I’m sick of the Stupar’s and Nelson’s of the world. Lets find someone for once. Pay a free agent. Last year, I wanted the Bills to take a run at Ben Watson and he paid dividends for the Browns, as he caught 68 passes this year. Better yet, get a tight end that can help block. Just get rid of this need that I’ve been listing for over a decade.
4) Improve the o-line
This is another thing I’ve been preaching for years now. I know that the line played better this year, as they gave up only 34 sacks, ranking 18th in the NFL. However, I think there is room for improvement, especially at right tackle. If you saw yesterday’s game, it should tell you one thing..actually, two things: The Jets line is awesome (and the Bills can’t stop the run). They have all-world talent up there and it didn’t matter that the Jets had zero passing yards at the half because they know how to run block. Guys like Ferguson and Mangold are studs, who have been blowing up d-lines for years. I think Demetrius Bell played okay this year, at least he was way better than last year. However, I’d like for the Bills to add another tackle and possibly move Bell to the right side.
3) Outside linebackers are a must
I maybe in the minority in adding more outside linebackers. Yes, the Bills resigned Merriman (which I’ll talk about later), but he’s a major question mark for the Bills. I’ve been saying since the 3-4 defense was instituted by the Bills a year ago that they needed outside linebackers. To me, that’s the key to making a 3-4 work. You need guys off the edge. The Bills only had 27 sacks on the year and only 8 of them came from the outside linebackers. That’s not good enough. If Merriman is healthy and plays like he did in 2006, then we’ll be fine. However, if he doesn’t, the Bills are going to have issues with rushing the passer. I say get an insurance policy, whether it’s from free agency or early in the draft. Hell, if you find a better player than Kelsay, cut his ass.
2) Defensive ends
Paging Marcus Stroud, he may have last been seen on a milk carton in the fall of 2009. Look, the Bills defensive ends aren’t anything to write home about. It wouldn’t shock me if the Bills cut Stroud, because he makes way too much money for what he brings to the table. He’s not a true defensive end and needs to go. I know Alex Carrington showed some signs, but we need someone who can get after the QB. Pretty much, I’m preaching for the Bills to find the next Bruce Smith, Phil Hansen and Marcellus Wiley.
1) Get me Takeo Spikes version 2.0
I’m done! Done with Poz, done with Eddie Robinson, Andra Davis, done with whoever mans the inside linebackers for the Bills. I get why some critics feel that Kyle Williams shouldn’t have made the probowl because this defense has given up like 700 yards rushing against the Jets over the last three games. I get that. However, the one player I want to mention in defense of Williams is actually his brother from another mother, and that’s Pat Williams. Fans forget, when Pat Williams became a starter in 2001, the Bills rush defense was awful, ranking 25th in 2001 and 29th in 2002. Yes, Pat made plays, but he had absolutely no help from the linebackers. I mean, he had Brandon Spoon and Eddie Robinson backing him up. Well, guess what happened when the Bills defense ranked in the top 5 for the next two years? Takeo Spikes came to town and they brought in Sam Adams. As for the Bills today, their linebackers can’t cover and they can’t attack the gaps. The inside linebackers have been a joke for the last 2 years and it’s time for some new blood there. We need guys who can make plays behind the line of scrimmage. Ask the defensive tackles that have played with the likes of Ray Lewis, Patrick Willis and Takeo Spikes (in his prime) about how much it helped to have linebackers who would make plays.
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