Buffalo Bills Top Draft Needs

The road to opening night in the NFL, in many eyes, begins tomorrow. The draft begins at 8 PM (Est.), and at pick #19, the Buffalo Bills will select their next hopeful superstar. There's a lot of defensive talent in this year's draft pool, and with a defense that ranked 19th last year, expect the Bills to pick up some solid defensive talent. These are the Buffalo Bills top ranked draft needs.


1. LB: The Buffalo Bills top priority may just be a LB. The depth at that position has grown very thin over this offseason, losing Nigel Bradham to Free Agency, along with AJ Tarpley to retirement, along with some cuts, such as Tony Steward. Even with the Bills signing of Lorenzo Alexander and Zach Brown not too long ago, the Buffalo Bills could use an early pick on a LB to solidify the struggling position. If the Bills were to look for a LB in the first couple rounds, potential targets such as Alabama standout Reggie Ragland or Su'a Cravens, out of South California.

2. DL: With the aging of DT Kyle Williams and the departure of Mario Williams, this once menacing Buffalo Bills defensive line seems not so scary at all. The Bills need to make a move here at the draft, and it may happen as soon as round one. They could begin to beef up this line by taking a shot at questionable prospect Robert NKemdiche with their 19th overall pick.

3. QB: Tyrod Taylor is the man in Buffalo...for now. Contract talks have been shaky to say the least, as Whaley is not 100% convinced that Taylor will be this franchise's bona fide starter for years to come. With that said, the Bills may definitely walk out of this full draft with one or even two new additions at quarterback. Paxton Lynch may very well be there at pick 19, but the Bills may wait until later to draft someone, such as a Dak Prescott (Mississippi State) or Kevin Hogan (Stanford).

4. WR: Tyrod needs to prove himself this season, and the Bills need someone to compliment Sammy Watkins. The solution? Draft a wide receiver. The Buffalo Bills may not have a lot of options, as the WR class is not deep this year, but they may still find some value in TCU product Josh Doctson, or Ohio State star Braxton Miller, beginning maybe in the 2nd round.

5. SS/FS: If the Bills could walk out with a solid acquisition for all of these positions, the Buffalo Bills draft would be a 110% success. Late in the draft, the Bills may consider picking up a safety. With Corey Graham aging, Aaron Williams mindset being shaken after a potential career-ending injury, and a simple lack of depth at the position, the Bills may look to someone like Deon Bush (Miami) or Derrick Kindred (TCU).

The Buffalo Bills certainly have some holes to fill, but they've also got a lot of options. The moves Buffalo will make will sure be interesting, and if all goes well, they could walk out with their next gem. Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Bills!!!


Image #1: http://www.billsdaily.com/images/draft2016.jpg
Image #2: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

I'm Back!

Welcome back to the Buffalo Blitz Sports Blog. I've taken a bit of an offseason hiatus while the Bills have been on their vacation. The NFL Draft is tomorrow, which means the road to opening day begins when the draft goes underway in Chicago. In addition, the Buffalo Bills schedule was released last week. Look for blogs about those topics and more, right here. This is just a short message to say that I'm back! Let's go Bills!

Buffalo Bills Year In Review

As the biggest event in the NFL, the Superbowl, is just over 24 hours away, and 30 other teams' seasons have all come to an end, it's time to look back on the Buffalo Bills 2015 campaign. It all began with an offseason full of excitement and unmatched hype, as season ticket sales were at an all time high. Rex Ryan got hired as the new Bills head coach. A new quarterback came to the surface for Buffalo, as Tyrod Taylor earned his spot as the starter. Key transactions such as the signings of Charles Clay and Percy Harvin, along with the trade for Lesean McCoy had this fan base ecstatic for the season to come. The Bills even managed to lock up a great playmaker in DT Marcell Dareus for 6 more years. Still, as has been the usual for the past 16 years, the Buffalo Bills missed out on the playoffs...again. 

Going into the season, the Buffalo Bills had a "run first" mentality, and they did just that. The Bills lead the NFL in rushing, averaging 152 yards per game. They ran the ball 506 times (2nd in the NFL) for a league leading 2432 yards. They also had 19 rushing TD's which is tied for 1st in the NFL. An extensive part of this rushing offense came from QB Tyrod Taylor, who made his first NFL start last season. Other key contributors were superstar Lesean McCoy and rookie stand-out Karlos Williams. Let's not also forget the men up front. Cordy Glenn, Richie Incognito, Eric Wood and John Miller all had solid seasons on the offenseive line. With the league's best rushing attack along with several young runningbacks in the Bills system, this team doesn't need a lot of improvement in the backfield.

The passing attack was also efficient, but other times it was a pain to watch. Let's start by saying the Bills only passed 465 times, which is good for 31st in the NFL. With that said, it's expected that their passing #'s in general will take a large hit. They ranked 28th overall in passing with just 208.9 yards passing per game. Tyrod Taylor carried most of the passing load, except when EJ Manuel got his 2 starts due to an injured Tyrod Taylor. This passing attack had 7.7 yards-per-attempt, which ranks 6th in the NFL. They also managed to prevent turning the ball over, throwing only 9 picks, which is ranked 9th in the NFL. This passing attack was certainly not spectacular, but it was where the Bills needed it to be, considering how dominant their rushing attack was. Overall, Buffalo's offense finished the year ranked 13th in the NFL. The defense is really what seemed to hold this team back. 

This Bills team came into this year boasting the most sacks over the past 3 seasons and just came off a 4th overall ranked year. This year, Buffalo defense ranked 19th overall, and it was unfortunately deserved. This defense lacked discipline, hustle, and overall just couldn't get off the field. The coaching is also to blame, as several times the defensive players were complaining about what they were forced to do and how late calls were being received inside the huddle. The defense was also heavily penalized, which was a huge factor in them not being able to get off of the football field. Buffalo had the 6th most picks this year, but ranked 31st in sacks. Several key injuries also hindered this defense, including Kyle Williams, Aaron Williams, Nigel Bradham, Stephon Gilmore, Leodis McKelvin, and Marcell Dareus late in the season. This defense has a lot of needs, and with Mario seemingly on his way out, it'll be interesting to see how they handle these needs and issues.

However it's looked at, this Bills team was exceptional in some areas, but were inexcusably poor in others. Doug Whaley, along with Rex Ryan will need to step up this offseason to ensure the Bills needs are fulfilled for hopefully a successful season this year. If the defense can fix it's flaws and the offense can continue to grow and succeed, this team may finally find a balance and can gain some consistency. Thanks for reading, and as always, Let's go Buffalo! 

Update: This article pertains to the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Next article will take a look at specific players and how they've contributed over the season. Thank you!

Sources:

Stats: http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/passing/sort/sacks/position/defense/seasontype/2

Image #1: (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)

Image #2: https://nbcprofootballtalk.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/cd0ymzcznguwzdbhnduynddiytjhm2yyzthlmtjjotqwyyznpwm1zje1ntc2yzk4m2m2nzi3y2e3ytazm2flyjhhmmy1.jpeg?w=250

Bills Vs. Jets Game Breakdown

That's all she wrote, folks. The Buffalo Bills 2015 season came to a conclusion on Sunday as they took down the New York Jets by a score of 22-17, eliminating the Jets from playoff contention. It was a meaningless game for Buffalo, but they looked fired up to take down their division rival, who had everything on the line. The Bills finished the season with a typical record of 8-8, average as usual. The Jets finished 10-6, falling just short of the playoffs. Let's break down the game.

It was a defensive battle for most of the early going, but eventually Buffalo broke through and put up a 13-0 lead. The Jets retaliated with a TD of their own, but went into halftime trailing 16-7. The Jets attempted a comeback in the 4th quarter, but Fitzpatrick showed who we really was, and destroyed the Jets chances with 3 late picks.

The offense had a quiet day, putting up only 295 yards of offense, but they scored 22 points. Both QB's had a weak day, each of them putting up below 200 yards. The rushing game for Buffalo wasn't too friendly either. The rushing game put up just 113 yards. Perhaps the most impressive stat for Buffalo was that they dominated the time of possession, maintaining possession of the ball for 39 minutes of the game. It was an overall ugly day, but there were some key contributors for Buffalo's O.

One of these key performers was QB Tyrod Taylor. In his last game of his 1st starting season, he put on quite a show on the ground. He rushed 10 times for 51 yards and a great touchdown run back in the 1st quarter. His passing game wasn't spectacular as he went 18/28, 182 yards, with 0 TD's or INTs. As usual though, he had a big impact on this game, and it'll be very exciting to see what he does going forward.

Sammy Watkins went crazy on Sunday, and he even made a purchase of property on Revis island. He torched the pro bowl CB for 11 receptions and 136 yards. Watkins, when healthy and when getting steady targets, is an absolute monster. The chemistry between him and Tyrod has only grown stronger since Sammy has been healthy, and that chemistry will carry over to next season.

The defense came through when they needed to, holding the Jets to just 300 yards. They got to Fitzpatrick, sacking him twice as well. Fitzpatrick also met the Bills secondary, as he tossed up 3 late picks, sealing the game for the playoff hopeful Jets. The Bills defense came into this game banged up, missing key stars such as Stephon Gilmore and Nigel Bradham. Seeing them play like they did despite all the injuries may show that the team is finally gelling into Rex's scheme. This defense disappointed nearly all year, but may show signs of improvement going forward, especially with the last few outings they've had.

The season finished up 8-8, and it was a disappointing year plagued by penalties and injuries. They seemed to have taken a step back from last year's 9-7 team, but the offense has gotten better, as they excelled in the rushing game, placing 1st in the NFL as a rushing unit. Tyrod played a huge part in getting them 1st in rushing, and although he's made a lot of plays, he still needs work as a passer. Buffalo has made some improvements, but Whaley and company have a lot of work cut out for them. Thanks for reading. I apologize for my absence as of late, and as always, Let's go Buffalo!

Sources:
Stats: http://espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=400791603
Image #1: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Image #2: T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Bills Vs. Cowboys Game Breakdown

The Bills playoff hopes are dead, but they still have games to play. They finished up their 2nd last game of the 2015 campaign by taking out the beaten up, 4-11 Cowboys. The game was quiet from both sides, as both teams failed to move the ball effectively throughout the game, for the most part. Both teams came into Sunday extremely banged up, and both teams left a little more banged up. Buffalo was without several key starters, including Shady McCoy, Charles Clay, Ronald Darby, Kyle Williams, Aaron Williams, Stephon Gilmore, and Nigel Bradham. Meanwhile, the Cowboys miserable season carried on without Dez Bryant or Tony Romo. The Bills took this quiet showdown by a score of 16-6 and set themselves up with a chance to finish with another .500 season at 8-8. They're going to finish 3rd in the AFC East. Let's break down the game.

Offense:
Buffalo was only able to put up 408 yards of total offense today, but they absolutely tore it up on the ground. They gashed the Dallas defense for 236 yards. Buffalo had 3 rushers with 50+ yards on the day. The offense started off slow though, putting up only 9 points through the first 3 and a half quarters. The largest play of the day came from a huge 50 yard rush from a breakout game by the Bills' recent acquisition, Mike Gillislee. Other key rushers were QB Tyrod Taylor and RB Karlos Williams.

Tyrod Taylor was nearly invisible in the passing game on Sunday, as he finished his day with a stat line of 13/18, 172 yds, 0 TD's and 1 INT. He didn't have to show up though through the air, as his ground support was excellent, in addition to his own plays he made with his legs. Tyrod scampered for 67 yards on 14 attempts. He did what he had to do on Sunday, and it paid off.

Karlos Williams and Mike Gillislee tore it up on the ground, as they combined for 169 yards on the ground. Gillislee lead the way though, as he had a breakout performance, putting up 93 yards on just 9 carries, and a TD on a 50 yard run late in the 4th to seal the game for Buffalo. Karlos added his 76 yards on 17 carries and he opened the scoring for Buffalo with his TD in the 1st quarter.

The receivers were overall quiet for Buffalo, but Sammy came through with a couple big plays, grabbing 5 balls for 84 yards. As usual, he did make his presence known.

Defense:
The defense was extremely banged up, and it showed as they gave up some big plays throughout the game. Overall though, they gave up just 6 points and only 307 yards of total offense. They had an easier day than was expected all year though, as top offensive threats Tony Romo and Dez Bryant did not suit up. The defense needs more depth and needs to adapt to this new scheme still, all of which will be addressed in the offseason.

Overall, this game wasn't the prettiest game to watch. Both teams were playing for nothing, and both teams had many key starters out. Still though, it's a win for Buffalo. The Bills go into next Sunday's game against the New York Jets, hoping to spoil the Jets, Ryan Fitzpatrick's and Chan Gailey's playoff hopes. It will be big game for Buffalo, as big as a meaningless game with no playoff implications for them can be. They will hope to play spoiler. Injuries have riddled this Bills team all season, and Lesean McCoy, along with Charles Clay will be missing against the Jets. It will be an interesting game anyway. Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Buffalo!

Sources:
Stats: http://espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=400791535
Image #1: http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/16/files/2015/12/karlos-williams-nfl-miami-dolphins-buffalo-bills-850x560.jpg
Image #2: http://a4.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2016%2F1227%2Fr39372_1296x729_16-9.jpg

Bills Vs. Redskins Game Breakdown

It's officially been 16 seasons since the Buffalo Bills have missed the playoffs. 16 seasons. This drought is old enough to get it's learners permit and driver's license. It's almost old enough to vote too. This drought drags on one year longer as the Bills forgot to show up to Washington D.C. last Sunday, putting on a dumpster fire of a performance. It only took 3 Redskins possessions to put the game away for Buffalo. Buffalo's season, no matter how it ends, will be a disappointing ending to a year that was started with such hype. Let's break down the game.

Offense: The offense was just awful until it no longer mattered. They pulled the game close in garbage time, which is a routine the Bills like to follow when the game is out of hand. They finished with 452 yards of total offense, which is a good game in most situations. Buffalo got most of those yards when the game was considered "over," though. Buffalo committed no turnovers, but it didn't do a whole lot of good, as they still couldn't get the ball moving. It was a dreadful performance, and the only notable performances were by 2 key players, so let's talk about them.

Tyrod Taylor's day was not great early on, but he finished strong and anybody could tell he was the real leader of this Buffalo offense. He finished his day 16/27, 212 yards, 2 TD's, and 0 INT's. He also added 79 yards on the ground with 9 rushes. He looks like he has control of the huddle, and proved he can still make plays with his feet when the rest of the team is having a rough time. He continues to turn the ball over at an extremely minimal rate, throwing only 1 INT since October. Although I think it's too soon to consider him our franchise QB, he is making a strong case to be that guy.

The other notable performance was by WR Sammy Watkins. He makes his presence known in every game, as long as he's thrown the ball! He reeled in 5 catches for 111 yards and  2 TD's. He also looks to be a player this team can really build around, along with Tyrod Taylor. He makes an impact when he's given the chance to, and overall he plays hard. He's a true playmaker, and just needs his opportunities. 

As far as the defense goes, it was a circus. Kirk Cousins lit them up with 308 yards and 5 total TD's, and the ground game of the Skins carved up the Buffalo D for another 123 yards. There wasn't much to take away from this game defensively. They had nothing going on Sunday, and the lack of communication came to a head this game. This defense needs a changeup, and Rex has his work cut out for him.

Overall, it was just a miserable performance from the whole team. With Tyrod and Sammy as bright spots, this team can start to see where they can build around. The last 2 games are meaningless, but still, they face an awfully banged up Dallas team this Sunday. It will be interesting to see how the Bills finish, and it will be an offseason that will come with many changes. Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Buffalo!

Sources:

Stats: http://espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=400791695

Image #1: http://media.nbcwashington.com/images/652*435/502108128.jpg

Image #2: http://img.ccrd.clearchannel.com/media/mlib/2079/2015/12/default/buffalo_bills_v_washington_red_0_1450629461.jpg

Bills Vs. Eagles Game Breakdown

The Buffalo Bills have their backs up against the wall...again. They've dropped their 7th game of the season against the Philadelphia Eagles, and their playoff dreams are nearly over the edge. Penalties came up strong again on Sunday, and ultimately it did just enough to kill multiple Bills drives. They have now fallen to 6-7 on the season, and with the Jets winning their game Saturday, the Bills now find themselves 3 games behind the New York Jets team. This Bills team has been inconsistent all year, and it's come to a head as their playoff hopes are in shambles. Buffalo lost a tough one to Philly in Shady McCoy's homecoming game 23-20. Let's break down the game.

Offensively, the Bills looked good on paper. 418 yards of total offense, 35 minutes TOP (Time of Possession), 18 first downs. Those numbers don't tell the whole story though. Multiple times, the penalties killed the Bills. It seemed like they could never get good field position, especially late in the second half. Tyrod threw the ball well for the most part, but was inaccurate or under duress on several of his passes. In addition, 2 key turnovers killed them, one of them being a muffed punt. Stupid mistakes was the key to this game.

Tyrod Taylor finished his day 19/36, 268 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. Tyrod's interception was his first since October, and although it came at an awful time in the game, he was trying to make a play, and making a turnover is unlike Tyrod. It's a rare occurrence, and he'll only get better as he gains more experience. I still believe Tyrod's talents are not being fully shown like they were earlier in the season. Tyrod needs to rush more with the ball and throw down the middle. The coaching staff seems to like making Tyrod throw deep, which is great, but he can do so much more. If Taylor can get in a groove and play his game, he'll be as dangerous as ever.

Lesean McCoy had a typical Lesean McCoy day, racking up over 100 all purpose yards as usual over his past several games. He put up 74 yards on 24 carries and 35 yards on 4 receptions. He is as explosive as ever, and although he didn't have a huge game back in his home town, he still played hard and had a productive day.

As far as receivers go, Robert Woods went off, putting up 106 yards on 5 receptions. With Sammy's 5 catches going for 85 yards as well, they were a great duo. Sammy Watkins still needs to get the ball more though. He is often times overlooked, even when he's wide open. He also needs to get thrown to in the middle of the field. His speed seems to only be used down the sideline, and as a player who looks to be a potential NFL superstar, he needs more targets ALL OVER the field.

The defense was not too strong on Sunday, and with all the injuries, it was obvious they were needing some help out there. Kyle Williams, Aaron Williams, Nigel Bradham and Stephon Gilmore were all hurt for Sunday's game. The Eagles found some room to run and Sam Bradford also had time to pass, as the pass rush was not always there. This is a confusing defense to watch at times. They've got to find a way to bounce back over the course of this season and into the next.

Overall, it was a loss that should've been a win. Buffalo had many opportunities to take the lead, but could not find a way to do so. With it looking like the playoffs are out of the Bills' grasp yet again, frustrations are beginning to grow all across the Bills fanbase. Why is the defense doing so poorly? How come Sammy's not being thrown the ball enough? Why are the Bills so undisciplined? These are questions that must be addressed somehow. This team is too good to be losing this many games. The Bills are down and out, but not dead yet in the playoff race, and although they're living on a prayer, crazier things have happened. Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Buffalo!

Sources: http://espn.go.com/nfl/matchup?gameId=400791524
Image #1: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Image #2: Elsa/Getty Images