Month: July 2007

Hey remember me?

Well Bills fans I’m back and I’m stepping up my role with the BBR this year. So what does that mean? Well that’s an excellent question I myself would like an answer to. I actually wrote a really long and in depth article about the Bills draft, my thoughts, where I thought the team could go this year, etc. Then before I published it I looked around and noticed that everything I wrote was already said/written by everybody else. Coming to the realization that I had nothing new or interesting to say, I stayed quiet, honoring the ancient Chinese proverb, “Everybody already thinks you’re stupid, shut up stupid.”

Still trying to find my role on this BBR team overflowing with analytical talent, I’m going to try to fit in where and when we’re thin, sometimes that means filling in as a co-host, sometimes that means writing articles, sometimes it means getting coffee, and sometimes showing the supermodels who visit around the studio (which we don’t have…yet. Note to self: remember to ask Greg to build a studio and invite supermodels).

As some of you might know, the guys are planning an upcoming interview with my favorite player Brian Moorman, and as my favorite player I have a very important role in that show, which is nothing. So, not wanting to be left out I’ve done some investigating on the pro-bowl punter and complied some fun facts that the guys can use in their interview, and at the same time start my Brian Moorman for President… Of the Universe! Campaign.

(Me + Moorman jersey + Bills cheerleaders = Best. Picture. Ever.)

One time Brian Moorman was walking down the street and a bully tried to pick on him. Brian gave him a warning, but the kid didn’t back down. Having no other choice, Brian removed the kid’s braces… with his foot.

Brian Moorman gave J.K. Rowling the idea for Harry Potter, suggesting it was better than her original idea, which was a low fat cook book.

Brian Moorman single handedly won the Cold War for the U.S. When the Soviets launched a secret spy satellite that would have given them the information that would have won the war, Brian Moorman, sensing his country was in danger, went out into his backyard and punted a ball into space that destroyed the satellite. When the Soviets found out that the Americans had such a man, they called it quits right away, which was a good move if you ask me. The act earned Moorman The Congressional Medal of Awesome.

Although this is unconfirmed, it is rumored that Air Bud is actually Brian Moorman’s dog.

(This is my mom’s dog doing an impression of Brian Moorman on game day)

One time Dick Jauron told Brian Moorman what to do… just kidding.

The real reason David Beckham came to America was to be closer to Brian Moorman. Even though he’s on the other side of the country, he knew that L.A. was closer than England. He tried to come to Buffalo, but was unsuccessful since Buffalo doesn’t have a soccer team, and that’s because nobody in Buffalo really knows what soccer is.

Superman has a Brian Moorman poster on his wall.

One time Brian Moorman was held up in a bank robbery. When instructed to get on the floor like the rest of the hostages, Brian Moorman just laughed and showed the robbers his number 8 jersey. They got scared and ran out of the bank. The mayor was so impressed that he gave Brian Moorman all the money that would have been robbed from the bank and he in turn gave it to charity, his own charity. Brian Moorman has no need for money; the fact that he is the highest paid punter in the NFL is simply a statement of dominance.

Brian Moorman was walking down a road one night when he came to a bridge. Before he could cross the bridge a giant troll appeared, and said, “In order to cross this bridge you must answer correctly these three questions.” Brian agreed and the troll began to ask the first question. Before he even finished the question Brian Moorman kicked the troll’s head clean off. Stupid troll.

It turns out the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs was actually “The Lost Punt of Brian Moorman.” During a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brian Moorman punted a ball so high it appeared lost forever. The truth is the ball traveled so high it went back in time and hit the earth with such ferocity that it caused the extinction of entire races of giant lizards and plunged the Earth into an ice age.

Santa Clause asks Brian Moorman for Christmas presents.

The Transformers play with Brian Moorman action figures.

Christopher Columbus said he discovered the new world because, “Brian Moorman told me to.”

So you can see, Brian Moorman has been with us throughout history. Who do you think told Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel? As a thank you, he put Brian Moorman in the picture. I know you might not have noticed this before, but take a closer look (click image to enlarge).

(Who does the guy on the left look like?)

Brian Moorman is an inspiration to us all. He is the reason we don’t throw a brick through our TV when the Bills mess up on 3rd down, he’s the reason a child laughs, he’s the reason George Washington crossed the Delaware and he’s the reason the Bills are going to have a better season than the Lions and win me $20, take that Doug! It’s good to be back, go Bills!

-The John

Probably one of the biggest question marks for the 2007 Buffalo Bills is Cornerback. The departure of solid but over-hyped starter Nate Clements to free agency with no obvious replacement has the national media saying less than positive things about the Bills chances in the coming season. Things may or may not be as bad as it seems, but one thing is for certain, the Bills are depending on young inexperienced players to step up into the void.

Nate Clements was certainly the anchor of this position in the past, but how much of an impact player was he really? The truth is, Nate looked a lot better before Buffalo implemented the Tampa Two defense. Nate is a cover corner, he is really good an keeping tight coverage on a single receiver. Even the best receivers in the league struggled against Nate in his time in Buffalo. The result is that opposing teams’ number one receivers generally had quiet days against Buffalo and Nate Clements when, and only when, Buffalo used a man coverage scheme. In other words, when you tell Nate Clements, “see that guy over there, he’s their best receiver, cover him all day.” he does a good job. However, when you play more of a zone type scheme that requires that the cornerback be reactive and read the field, Nate’s play slips off real quick. Nate is not very good at reading an offense and reacting to the play. This was very obvious in the first part of 2006 where Buffalo attempted to run their intended defensive schemes. Nate got eaten alive. Then around the time of the BYE week, Perry Fewell asked Nate to just shadow the best receiver on the other team and forget the scheme. It worked out ok, but thats not the defense the Bills are building. Nate just didn’t fit. All that aside, Nate Clements was tied with a bunch of players for 33rd in the league in interceptions last season. Think that was an off-season for Nate? Think again. Nate Clements has a total of 23 Interceptions in 6 years in the league. The most he has ever had in one season was 6 (which he achieved in 2002 and 2004). 6 Interceptions would have landed Nate 7th in the league in 2006 had he made that mark. Asante Samuel and Champ Bailey who are really difference makers each had 10 interceptions in 2006. Nearly half Nate’s career total. The reality is that no corner puts up those kind of numbers every year, but Nate never has. Interceptions come to players that are reactive and can hang in the zone and read the play.

Even though the Bills were right to let Nate Clements walk (especially considering the silly sum he received from the 49ers), they really don’t have a replacement for him. The Cornerback roster for the Bills is thin and not very exciting:

Terrence McGee
Jason Webster
Kiwaukee Thomas
Ashton Youboty
Jabari Greer
Eric Bassey
Chris Thompson
Reggie Lewis
Duane Coleman
Riley Swanson

You never can tell what diamonds in the rough might be in there, but this isn’t the kind of list that puts fear in the hearts of the opposing quarterbacks and receivers. Terrence McGee is listed at number one and he is a marginal corner at best. What makes McGee exciting is his return capability (the Bills will be crazy to take him off kick returns, starting corner or not, he is way too good, all-time franchise leader). In fact he is so good running through chaos with the ball that its worth sacrificing his often blundered coverage on the field for the chance that he makes an interception. McGee, when he gets the ball has high odds of making a big return or scoring a touchdown. This is the innate part of playing football, the natural vision. McGee is still pretty raw but his mistakes are more correctable. Nate Clements has all the technique but lacks the feel for the game that McGee has. McGee will need some work, but could take the next step this season. If not, the Bills may be looking deeper into their depth for Cornerback talent. Is it there?

Jason Webster figures to be the number two guy, he has played great so far in his minicamp work. While may consider this position open, I think Webster has it locked up. He has tons of experience and is a reliable piece in an otherwise wide open cornerback situation. He has more experience than McGee but has never been a real big play maker. Thats why he is the lock for the number two spot and not number one.

Kiwaukee Thomas came on strong in 2006 and should be guaranteed a roster spot. He was solid when the Bills used 3 cornerbacks in their nickel package. He also came in and played well spelling for Clements and McGee in 2006. Ashton Youboty possesses all of the talent to be the number one guy but so spot time in three games his rookie season. He seems to be a little slower on the uptake than the Bills would have liked, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have a shot at doing something in 2007. Jabari Greer has been a solid backup and special teamer and will also likely be on the roster.

Between Bassey, Thompson, Lewis, Coleman and Swanson things are wide open for maybe 1 roster spot. The Bills may hold onto a couple good prospects on the practice squad in this area as well, so its likely that 3 of these guys could be around in September, if only on the practice field. Since the Bills don’t have a stand out corner they will be looking for diamonds in the rough and want to keep a few young guys around to see if they develop. Prior to camp it would be silly to guess which one of these guys will take the next step.

I’d like to see Webster, Youboty as the starters with McGee and Thomas rotating in heavily and filling the Nickel role. McGee has had a much greater impact on special teams so it seems stupid to have him focus on the part of his game where he has had less success. McGee has scored 4 touchdowns on Special Teams and only one on defense. The Bills will be playing more cover two and more zone than they did last year. They want fast reactive players. Guys that can break on the ball and take it away. Expect more turnovers for the Bills secondary in 2007 but also expect more blown coverages.

The Bills may have to rotate players a bit in the beginning of the season to see what group works best, but they have a lot of young players who may shine when given the chance. Then again they may not. The 2007 Bills with a little luck will have a solid if not daunting corps of defensive backs.

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