ChanOverChin Posted March 30, 2012 Posted March 30, 2012 Here's a look at the 28 Bills players who were on the roster last year, but who missed too many games (either due to injury or possibly weren't quite ready) to make an impact for the 2011 season: Offense: RB: F. Jackson/Spiller/Choice. TE: L. Smith. WR: D. Jones/Easley/Hagan/Roosevelt/Aiken. OT: D. Bell/S. Young. OC: E. Wood. OG: Rheinhart/Jasper. Special Teams: K: R. Lindell. Defense: DT: K. Williams/T. Troup. DE: S. Merriman/K. Moore/Carrington. MLB: K. Sheppard/C. White. OLB: K. Morrison/Batten/Eddins. CB: T. McGee/Rogers/Corner. It's almost like all of these guys are being added to the roster this year because so many of them were not able to contribute in at least half of the games last year. We're talking about possibly having TEN major contributors like F. Jackson, CJ Spiller, K. Williams, S. Merriman, E. Wood, Rheinhart, K. Sheppard, K. Morrison, T. McGee, and Lindell for an entire season unlike last year when so many of them either were injured early on or didn't get to play very much for whatever reason. On top of that there are TEN highly regarded players like M. Easley, T. Troup, Carrington, Rogers, D. Jones, Hagan, C. White, L. Smith, T. Choice, and Batten who could be big contributors this year as well. Add to that free agent pash rushers DE M. Williams and DE M. Anderson. That's a lot of new players for 2012. If the Bills are able to maximize their TEN draft picks to fill their remaining major needs such as LT, CB, OLB, WR, backup QB, backup TE, backup MLB we could be looking at the new AFC East Champion and a definite 2012-2013 playoff contender. While it's unlikely that all of these guys are going to make a positive impact for the Bills this year I think there are enough to put us on a path to the 2012/2013 playoffs.
JOE IN HAMPTON ROADS Posted March 30, 2012 Posted March 30, 2012 One reason we've had so many inopportune injuries is we've had marginal guys forced to try to overachieve in their positions. In other words, our medicrity drove our injuries, not the other way around. That may end this year. With our FA acquisitions and a good draft, we could finally be able to play well without having to overplay and risk injury. Go Bills!
sllib olaffub Posted March 31, 2012 Posted March 31, 2012 There will be new players, yes - and a good portion of those new players will be very good players, at that! What if Merriman comes back, even 80% of what he used to be? Count him as a real threat, then, if he's lining up next to Mario, Dareus, and Kyle! Mario Williams and Mark Anderson! That is a HUGE Defensive upgrade! You've got Easley - who I think will be a very good reciever for us. Fred Jackson is Fred Jackson. Then you've got a first and second round pick - each of which should be starters and good. Of the twenty two starters on offense and defense, about a third will be new, or off injury - and those are all exceptional!
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