Training camp preview
Starting today i will give my assesment of each group on the Buffalo Bills. Then followed up on a assesent of the offense, then the defense, and the team as a whole. To me the foundation of any team are the defensive and offensive lines. Today we will look at the offensive line.
The offensive line is a unit that was influxed with a lot of cash talent, and potential. Reading the article today by Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News to me there is not a doubt that the offensive line will be much approved.
The biggest improvement will actually come within the organization itself. Jason Peters will be switched this year from right tackle to left tackle. Peters is ready for the step up. He gave up only three sacks last year, and two of them were coverage sacks.
The big thing that allows Peters to be above and beyond most other tackles is his speed. His speed allows him to drop back in his stance, and shuffle his body into position. For a tackle that is being parrallel to the quarterback, or in other words back to back with a lot of space in between. Most tackles fail when they do not get out of thier stance fast enough and just ride the defensive end, eventually the end puts a move on and gets by the tackle. Peters speed allows him not to do that.
The other two big additions were Derrick Dockery and Langston Walker. Dockery is a hard worker, and the type of guy us Bills fans are going to love. Nice guy off the field and nasty on it in the trenches. Walker was on a bad Raiders team last year. However, the Bills liked what they saw on game film, and if there is some talent and work ethic in Walker offensive line coach Jim Mcnally will turn him into something. After all look what he did with Peters.
The other returning starter from last year is Melvin Fowler. With this being his second year we should see him improve under McNally. He is a very important person his adjustments are crucial to the rest of the line. With this being his second year there should be no doubt that he will be familiar with the adjusting.
The big unknow is the right guard position. Duke Preston and Terrance Pennington will be competing for the spot. I must refere to a quote of The Coach Chuck Dickerson. It is easy for a tackle to move to guard than it is for a guard to a tackle. Why this quote, well actually simple. Pennington started in several games last year, and was solid in those games. Moving to the guard should be a breeze for him. He will not have to flip or adjust his stance. There will be a learning curve, but he is not a slug like Mike Williams was. Williams would be a bust no matter where he is.
The line as a whole should improve, and thus improving the running game at least. After playing offensive line in high school I know that there are some other things the can do like trapping, pulling, and cross blocking that would improve the line also, but the talent alone should improve it.