Since he’s entered the National Football League, Aaron Maybin has been an easy target. Unfair as it may be that he’s so harshly judged less than a game into his second NFL regular season, Maybin could be the poster child for all the erroneous moves the Buffalo Bills front office has made this decade.
There’s no easy way to say it—the organization has been mostly a league bottom-feeder for several years running, and while the reasons have mounted, none are greater than their inability to find impact players at the top of the draft. Time and time again Tom Donahoe, Marv Levy, Tom Modrak and Dick Jauron used their powers and influences to get the players they wanted early– and without recent exception the moves have backfired.
Since 2002 with the fourth overall selection of Mike Williams, the Bills first round picks almost read like an encyclopedia of exactly what NOT to do when building a winning football team. Williams was a calamity and J.P. Losman (2004) was even worse due to Donahoe trading up into the first round to get him. Donte Whitner went in the top 10 in 2006 yet has barely been better than backups George Wilson or Bryan Scott. Marshawn Lynch (2007) will be the team’s third running back in the rotation on opening day in a few weeks, provided Fred Jackson’s hand is recovered enough to play. Leodis McKelvin (2008) showed great promise as a rookie, but missed most of last year with a leg injury and has yet to return to form this preseason, though signs are pointing the way of improvement. He’s in a battle with Drayton Florence for the right to start alongside Terrence McGee.
Maybin Makes Most Of An Opportunity – continue reading…
Over the past two weeks, I’ve received dozens upon dozens of emails from Buffalo Bills fans voicing a wide range of opinions and questions that have popped up since the start of Bills training camp. No one Bills player has been the subject of more of those emails than second-year outside linebacker Aaron Maybin.
The paraphrased thrust of all of those questions and opinions: “Should we be worried that Maybin hasn’t been able to beat out Reggie Torbor for a starting role?” My answer is a hearty and unequivocal “no.”
Maybin is listed on the depth chart as a second-teamer, but has seen a very healthy amount of first-team reps as a pass rusher – so even if he is not technically a “starter,” you’re going to see a lot of No. 58 on the field this year. Not only am I not worried about this likely platoon between Torbor and Maybin on the weak side, I am of the opinion that it will be beneficial over the long haul for Maybin as he eases into the 3-4 defense.
Starting Role Not Imperative For Bills’ Maybin – continue reading…
The headline of this article is misleading, perhaps intentionally so. The Buffalo Bills are currently in the nascent months of yet another roster overhaul; GM Buddy Nix and head coach Chan Gailey have put together a roster that’s long on question marks and short on experience. Still, the team has competition across the entire team, and in a throw-away year meant for building a foundation, the team’s plan appears to be to try to develop some of the young talent already on the roster.
Not all of that talent is created equally, nor are any two players in exactly the same situation. As such, “boom or bust” and its typical connotations doesn’t apply to every player that appears on this list (and the list could be much, much longer, as well). Therefore, we urge you not to equate “boom or bust” to “make or break” – for the majority of these players, the 2010 season will not be the sole deciding factor regarding their future inclusion in the team’s re-building plans.
Five Bills entering a boom-or-bust ‘10 season – continue reading…
Not much going on at all this weekend with regard to the Buffalo Bills, but I do have a few small tidbits with things I’ve been hearing I thought were worth sharing with you.
♦♦ I’ve heard that Aaron Maybin is in ridiculously good shape right now, the best of his life and is completely embracing the opportunity to perform in the 3-4 defense. I’m told he’s stepped up his workout regime tremendously and is adding more muscle to his frame.
Buffalo Bills News & Notes – continue reading…
According to Adam Caplan of Scout.com, barring a trade it looks Chris Kelsay will be back with the Buffalo Bills in 2010.
Caplan said in his Scout.com blog Sunday that the team paid Kelsay his $500,000 roster bonus that was due on March 5.
Kelsay will earn $3.7 million this season in base salary.
Report: Bills pay Kelsay $500,000 roster bonus – continue reading…
Regime change in the National Football League is many things to many different people. For fans, seeing their favorite team begin anew is both cathartic and challenging to one’s patience. To ownership, it’s pretty similar. With coaches, it’s all about the opportunity to not only build a team from scratch and try to build a consistent winner, but about making a name for yourself as well.
It’s very different for players. Take the current Buffalo Bills, for instance. Buddy Nix is the new GM, while Chan Gailey is the new head coach. The team will be making massive changes on both sides of the ball, particularly defensively, where they’re switching to the 3-4 alignment. With those changes, many players could quickly be out of jobs. Bills players such as Chris Kelsay, Kyle Williams, John McCargo and others may be released or see their roles change drastically under the new regime. Many more players are in the same boat.
Regime change brings opportunity for young Bills – continue reading…
(We’re running a series profiling players that could fit into the Buffalo Bills’ plans leading up to the start of free agency on March 5. Today we look at New England linebacker Tully Banta-Cain)
There are two keys to any 3-4 defense being successful. One is having a run stuffing nose tackle. The Bills are in trouble in that department (more on that at another time). The other is dangerous pass rushers— an area the Bills need to address as well. Who knows what Aaron Maybin will do in his sophomore year after a woefully quiet rookie season, and who knows if Aaron Schobel is going to play at all going forward.
Pass rushing defensive ends? Marcus Stroud and Spencer Johnson won’t be doing many sack dances.
Free Agent Files: Tully Banta-Cain – continue reading…
They say that the lifeblood of the 3-4 defense is a gap-plugging nose tackle and athletic playmakers at the pass-rushing outside linebacker positions. Unfortunately for the Buffalo Bills, the team is lacking just as severely in the pass rusher department as they are in the nose tackle department.
Well, it’s not that bad, I suppose. The Bills actually have solid options here, and if things fall right this off-season, will have two guys that can at least take the field as starters. But the pass rush has long been an issue in Buffalo, and the team’s inability to find athletic young players at the position in the draft now has a negative effect on their transition to the new scheme.
After the jump, we’ll talk about the four players currently on Buffalo’s roster that fit the mold of a 3-4 pass-rushing outside linebacker. Unfortunately for the Bills, only two of those players are natural fits; the other two names on the list probably don’t belong at all. Add this to the needs list, folks!
Bills Roster Review: Rush Linebackers – continue reading…
As we continue to wait for news to break regarding the Buffalo Bills’ search for a new head coach, we thought it’d be prudent to break away from the repetitive coverage and start talking about the shell of a football team that’s on the verge of getting re-molded.
One of the key sticking points that’s often bandied about when talking about top coaching candidates’ unwillingness to come to Buffalo is their overall lack of talent. This is a valid concern, even if it’s hyperbolized in Buffalo to an extent. Let’s face it – Seattle isn’t exactly brimming with untapped potential, either. While it’s true that Buffalo does lack young, potentially elite talent in key positions, namely quarterback, there are young players on this team with the ability to turn into star players at their respective positions.
Six young Buffalo Bills with significant upside – continue reading…
Aaron Maybin is an easy target. The 11th overall pick can do nothing right.
He held out of training camp. He barely ever sees the field. He is twicked away effortlessly by offensive tackles. Multiple times, he celebrated wildly after a ho-hum tackle. He got locked in the attic. His Christmas tree set on fire. His boss subscribed him to the Jelly of the Month Club.
OK, maybe not the last three. But, wow, Maybin sure has become Buffalo’s own Clark Griswold. To many, he resembles $17.6 million down the drain — a wasted pick that will set the Bills back for years. You know, like Mike Williams. Only thinner.
Give Maybin Time – continue reading…
The Buffalo Bills dropped an 18-15 decision yesterday to the Jacksonville Jaguars, once again squandering a fourth quarter lead in defeat. Perry Fewell’s Bills had many of the same problems that Dick Jauron’s Bills had – which isn’t surprising, as it’s kind of the same team – but there was at least one major difference that’s worth mentioning in this week’s film session.
We’ve got eight topics of discussion in this week’s film review. Let’s get this over with, eh?
Film Session: Breaking Down Bills Loss at Jacksonville – continue reading…
In a way, it’s fitting that 2009 is the Buffalo Bills’ 50th anniversary of existence. I say that because if you’ve been around for all or even most those years, you’d be hard pressed to find more than a small handful of seasons more exasperating than this one.
Despite having sufficient talent, this is a team and an organization clearly stuck in the mud. With the exception of a certain rookie who has the same amount of interceptions as our two quarterbacks have touchdown passes, combined, nobody has played closed to their expectations.
For that, we’ve compiled our midseason list of the five Least Valuable Players (LVP). It wasn’t as easy as you think, as there were many candidates to choose from.
The Bills’ Midseason Five Least Valuable Players – continue reading…
