We are what…A month away from Bills preseason football? Crazy. Because we are coming down the stretch with training camp on the horizon, I gotta start practicing at this blogging thing for the Bills. The only thing I’ve written about them since the draft has been how much I hate the QB situation. So, I gotta start branching out and use my venom towards other things. For this piece, I’m going to look at some players who really need to put their best face moving forward for the Bills or else…
Cyrus Kouandjio
When you are a 2nd round pick who was pretty much deactivated for most of his rookie year, you better believe you need to start progressing. No, I am not looking for Cyrus to be the virus for all defensive ends, but starting or contributing would be a good start. I know that he was the first team during OTAs, but I wipe my ass with taking away any takes from those “Practices”. I know its easy to put a lot of blame on Marrone for some of the shortcomings that happened last year and some of it is true, but Cyrus didn’t seem to be in shape entering training camp last year. I’ll always remember the HOF game when in the 4th quarter against the backup for the backup for the other backup, Cyrus whiffed badly on a block and we never saw him again. Hopefully, he starts trending upwards since he can’t get any worse from last year’s no-show.
Leodis McKelvin
I feel like I’ve had Leodis on this list like 3-4 different times during his career. He’s like Freddy Kruger in the final 20 minutes of Nightmare on Elm Street. When you think you finally have him beat, he always comes back in the end to set up a sequel. Like every year, whenever your team decides to dedicate a high draft pick or a free agent signing to a certain position, you start combing the roster to see if someone is about to lose their job. When the Bills drafted Ronald Darby (Note: I hope he’s a lot better of a player than he is with his hot domestic takes), it may be a move to put a certain 5-million dollar cornerback on notice. McKelvin is 29 and has missed 9 games over the past 3 seasons. I always throw caution into the wind when it comes to players who were kick or punt returner for most of their careers because it could mean their shelf life won’t last as long (See: Roscoe and Terrence McGee). While McKevin’s 4 INTs last year were the 2nd most in the NFL after 10 games (He missed his final 6 games), PFF ranked him as the 56th best cornerback prior to his injury. QBs completed 68% of their passes for 441 yards (12th most) towards McKelvin. He got picks, but he got picked on a lot. Hopefully McKelvin can recapture his 2013 season at CB (Ranked 18th by PFF) because if he doesn’t, I think he’ll get his walking papers.
Bryce Brown
What on God’s green earth was the point of the Bryce Brown trade from last year? What was thought to be a deal that would give the Bills insurance and the possibility of an heir apparent if CJ Spiller left town, has now gone up in smoke. I have no idea if Brown will make the team since the Bills have like 2,000 running backs and Terry Pegula is smitten towards Fred Jackson (Allegedly). Sure, we can blame it on Doug Marrone being a dick and not activating him until later in the season because he needed to play a kickoff specialist, but I’m pretty sure the Bills are going to want some return on their 4th round trade investment. The 3 things going against Brown:
1) The love for Fred Jackson which goes beyond the fan base (See: Locker room and Terry Pegula)
2) 5 fumbles on just 226 NFL carries is NOT a good fumble/carry ratio.
3) Greg Roman supposedly likes bigger backs and Bryce isn’t that.
We will see what will happen at the end of training camp. It would probably behoove the Bills to go with the younger back over someone like Fred Jackson, but Bryce has to prove he can contribute in a Bills uniform and not what he did in Philly.
EJ Manuel
I know what you are thinking…NO SHIT, JOE. Yeah, we all know if EJ doesn’t show any progress this year, he’ll be gone. Hell, by some reports EJ has to have a stellar preseason or he’s completely fucked. I’ve written about EJ numerous times. Everyone has. I don’t have much confidence in him, but I think he’s the better option than Tyrod Taylor and Matt F’N Cassel (Note: I am using F’N between Matt and Cassel for the foreseeable future). If EJ wins the starting job, there won’t be anymore excuses for him. He’ll have an all-world OC (Hyperbole) and a way more talented offensive roster than he had during his rookie year. EJ doesn’t have to be a franchise QB this year, he just needs to survive and not fuck over his team.
Chris Williams
Wait? We didn’t cut this guy yet? I thought he was gonna be one of those June 1st cuts because we’d save money on the cap. Anyways, the starting guard for the all PFF-shit team looks to be making it to training camp. Williams started just 3 games last year and he was just dreadful. Go ask Robbio Quinn to show you one of his 10,000 vines on how the guy couldn’t block a Skip Bayless jump shot. In the 3 games he played prior to getting hurt, PFF ranked him as the 65th worst guard in the NFL. He was just as bad during his years with the Rams which makes it even more incredulous that the Bills would sign him to a 4-year, 13-million dollar deal. Maybe he’ll find a resurgence under Roman, but since he sucked before and after he came here, he’s got a long hill to climb.
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