By CHUCK POLLOCK, Wellsville Sun Senior Sports Columnist
Most myopic Bills fans will tell you the team’s current roster is the equal, talent-wise, of the one that made the playoffs eight straight seasons under former head coach Sean McDermott.
Well, not exactly.
To be sure, quarterback Josh Allen, a former NFL MVP, remains among the league elite at age 30. Ditto running back James Cook, just short of his 27th birthday, is one of pro football’s best.
However, Buffalo’s problem isn’t so much its starting talent but rather its depth on the offensive line, wide receiver, running back, defensive line and cornerback.
Let’s look at the Bills’ nine units and how five of them are hurt by a lack of depth.
OFFENSE
Line: This unit lost left guard David Edwards but replaced him with Alec Edwards who won a competition with Austin Corbett. Center Connor McGovern, guard O’Cyrus Torrence, and tackles Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown are solid.
But subs Lloyd Cushenberry and Tyler Grable and draft choices Jude Bowery and Ar’maj Reed-Adams are journeymen at best.
Grade: B+
Quarterback:
Buffalo has two Allens, Josh, who it could be argued is the best in the league, and Kyle, who has proven to be a quality backup.
Grade: A
Running back:
Cook is a quality back but behind him , Ray Davis is little more than a tease while Ty Johnson is a third-down guy.
Grade: C+
Wide receiver
This once-flawed unit has improved with the addition of former Panther and Bear, D.J. Moore and Khalil Shakir is a skilled possession wideout but Joshua Palmer and Keon Coleman are JAGs (Just Another Guy) though there’s hope for fourth-round draft pick Skyler Bell.
Grade: C
Tight end
Dalton Kincaid has failed to live up to his first-round selection in 2023, Dawson Knox is a better leader than receiver. Jackson Hawes is this unit’s best blocker. And if you can tell me why Buffalo kept Keleki Latu as a FOURTH tight end, I’b be interested in knowing.
Grade: C
DEFENSE
Line: After failing with Von Miller and Joey Bosa as edge rushers, general manager Brandon Beane has rolled the dice with Michael Hoecht … we’ll.
Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard has installed a 3-4 alignment which means veteran Greg Rousseau has become an outside linebacker/edge rusher as have Bradley Chubb, Mike Danna and Hoecht backed by Javon Solomon and T.J. Parker
The ends are T.J. Sanders and Landon Jackson.
At tackle are Ed Oliver, still reeling from the accidental drowning of his 2-year-old son, Deone Walker, Greg Gaines and DeWayne Carter.
It’s had to say how the switch from 4p-3 to 3-4 and a new coordinator will affect this unit’s performance.
Grade: C
Linebacker: Undersized Terrell Bernard starts in the middle with Dorian Williams outside. In reserve are draftee Kaleb Elarms-Orr and former UB star Joe Andreessen.
Grade: C
Cornerback: This is the Bills most understaffed unit. Behind starters Christian Benford and Maxwell Hairston is draftee Davison Igbinosun. That’s it. If a desperation situation arises, nickel backs Dee Alford and Jordan Hancock could be pressed into action.
Grade: C
Safety: Cole Bishop and C.J. Gardner-Johnson are the starters with Jalon Kilgore, Damar Hamlin and Sam Franklin in reserve … not exactly star-studded.
Grade: C
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicking units: Place-kicker Tyler Bass seems to have rediscovered his accuracy. Draftee Tommy Doman Jr. takes over the punting chores. Reid Ferguson, in his 11th season with Buffalo, is a quality long-snapper.
Neither the kickoff nor punt-return teams have quality returners.
Grade: C
OUTLOOK
There are members of the Bills’ faithful who are predicting a 12- or 13-win season.
But take a look at Buffalo’s schedule.
Here are the first five games: at Houston, home against the Lions on Thursday night, home versus Chargers and Super Bowl loser New England and at Lombardi Trophy favorite L.A. Rams.
A 2-3 start is asking a lot with a new head coach, three new coordinators and 18 new players.
Among the upcoming foes are Baltimore, Kansas City, a rematch with the Patriots, this one in Foxboro, at Green Bay and Denver.
Given the difficulty of Buffalo’s schedule, a 10-7 finish wouldn’t be surprising and the only question would be whether 10 wins are enough to make the playoffs in a conference with New England, Houston, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Denver, Kansas City, Jacksonville and even Pittsburgh.
(Chuck Pollock, a Wellsville Sun and Olean Star senior sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@wnynet.net.)
