Buffalo Bills 2019 Season Preview
Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Posted on 9/5/2020.
Buffalo Bills Free Agency Recap
The Bills signed Mario Addison as a 4-3 left end to replace Shaq Lawson. A.J. Klein was a 4-3 left outside linebacker with the New Orleans Saints. Klein will play 4-3 right outside linebacker on the other side in Buffalo replacing Lorenzo Alexander who chose to retire. Buffalo also signed Josh Norman who was once the field cornerback in Carolina with Mario Addison before signing with Washington. Buffalo now has two good cornerbacks with experience covering number one receivers. Buffalo's final Free Agent signing came days before training camp when they signed right guard Brian Winters after the New York Jets released him..
Buffalo Bills Draft Recap
Buffalo traded their 2020 first round pick for veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Minnesota used Buffalo's pick on LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
Buffalo's first pick came in the second round when they got first round 4-3 right end A.J. Epenesa out of Iowa. Running back Zack Moss out of Utah, was their third round pick and he is competing for the starting running back job.
Wide receivers Gabriel Davis out of Central Florida an Isaiah Hodgins out of Oregon State could be great backups for depth. Jake Fromm was my fourth best quarterback in the 2020 NFL Draft, and Buffalo took him in the fifth round of this draft before getting Hodgins in the sixth round. Tyler Bass is going to start at kicker as a rookie.
Buffalo's final pick in the seventh round was used on Pitt cornerback Dane Jackson. The Pittsburgh Panthers cornerback impressed in Mobile, but had a less than stellar combine. Buffalo dominated the 2020 NFL Draft in my opinion, so with Tom Brady gone, there is an expectation that the Buffalo Bills finally secure the AFC East Division.
Buffalo Bills Quarterback Summary: Josh Allen enters his third season. Allen showed promise of having a Pro Bowl ceiling down the road when he thrived in a vertical offense with a good supporting cast surrounding him.
Matt Barkley is the backup quarterback. Jake Fromm should be the third stringer since Davis Webb is on the practice squad. Fromm may have the upside to be a borderline starter down the road, but he's clearly not as good as I thought he was when I gave him an 89/100 potential grade. Fromm is probably a 69/100 right now and could develop into an 85 just based on how raw his game is right now heading into the NFL.
Ken Dorsey was able to coach Josh Allen and did well with Allen as a quarterbacks coach. If Josh Allen gets injured, Ken Dorsey will have his hands full with the remaining quarterbacks on the roster.
Buffalo Bills Running Back Summary: Devin Singletary took the running back job from LeSean McCoy, but McCoy finally got his ring in Kansas City. Buffalo also has T.J. Yeldon last years backup to Singletary as well as Zack Moss as complimentary options. Kelly Skipper had a third strong year as Buffalo's running back coach in four years. Skipper has been phenomenal as the running backs coach ever since succeeding Anthony Lynn.
Buffalo Bills Wide Receiver Summary: Stefon Diggs is a number one target. He takes pressure off of John Brown and Cole Beasley allowing both to thrive as either a number two target or a slot receiver. All three guys excel in deep passing game which is Josh Allen's strength when it comes to throwing the ball and Buffalo is switching to a vertical offense to cater to Allen's strength while trying to make their offense more unpredictable. Chad Hall enters his second season as the wide receivers coach in Buffalo.
Buffalo Bills Tight End Summary: Dawson Knox took the tight end job from Tyler Kroft late in the season. Kroft is still a quality backup to Knox. Offfensive coordinator Brian Daboll has experience coaching tight ends and wide receivers.
Buffalo Bills Offensive Line Summary: Dion Dawkins took over at left tackle and has done enough to maintain the left tackle job for now. Quinton Spain did well with the Bills after previously being with the Titans. Both starters on the left side of Buffalo's offensive line got extended. Mitch Morse was a very good pass blocking center with the Kansas City Chiefs, but by signing with Buffalo he missed out on a ring. Maybe Morse can help Buffalo get a ring. Brian Winters is the new starting right guard, but last years starter Jon Feliciano is a quality right guard as well so who starts at right guard may not matter. Sophomore Cody Ford did well as a run blocker, but struggled during his rookie season in pass protection with 7 sacks allowed and 11 quarterback hurries allowed.
Bobby Johnson is a former head coach at Vanderbilt. This offensive line is solid enough for Josh Allen. Johnson did well with this group last year and kept hi job.
Buffalo took the NFL by storm last year. They got the five seed and led 17-0 over the Houston Texans at one point in a wild card game. Their offense looks even deeper and stronger this year. Without Tom Brady on New England, this may finally be Buffalo's year to win the AFC East.
Buffalo Bills Defensive Line Summary: Buffalo will have Jerry Hughes at 4-3 right end with Mario Addison complimenting him at 4-3 left end. Ed Oliver and Vernon Butler start at 4-3 defensive tackle. Bill Teerlinck enters his second year as a defensive line coach. His job will be easier with a chess piece like Ed Oliver on the interior defensive line.
Buffalo Bills Linebacker Summary: A.J. Klein is playing 4-3 right outside linebacker. You got Tremaine Edmunds starting at 4-3 middle linebacker with Matt Milano starting at 4-3 left outside linebacker.
Head coach Sean McDermott specializes with developing linebackers. Linebacker coach Bob Babich also specializes in this department.
Buffalo Bills Defensive Backs Summary: Buffalo has Tre'Davious White at field cornerback with Josh Norman at boundary cornerback. Taron Johnson is the nickel cornerback. Levi Wallace is the dime cornerback. Dane Jackson is the quarter cornerback. Micah Hyde is starting at strong safety with Jordan Poyer starting at free safety.
John Butler enters his second season as a defensive backs coach. He has more to work with compared to last season.
Buffalo showed they could be a top 5 defense. They have more depth at cornerback compared to last season. However, they aren't as deep as they were on the defensive line, and I'm worried Klein is a downgrade at linebacker.
Buffalo Bills Special Teams Summary: Rookie kicker Tyler Bass, a sixth round pick out of Georgia won the starting kicker job. I wasn't a fan of Colton Schmidt. Buffalo replaced him with another mediocre punter. Their return specialists also need to be upgraded.
Heath Farwell is the new special teams coordinator. No idea why they let go of Danny Crossman.
Buffalo Bills Worst Case Scenario: The Buffalo Bills go 7-9 and miss the playoffs due to having no fans for the entire season. I highly doubt this happens, this is just a worst case scenario.
Buffalo Bills Best Case Scenario: Buffalo finally wins the AFC East Division. Tom Brady is gone so the Buffalo Bills have a chance to assert themselves in the AFC East.
Buffalo Bills 2020 NFL Schedule
Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Time |
Cable Network |
Result |
Week 1 |
September 13 |
VS  |
1 PM EST |
CBS |
W |
Week 2 |
September 20 |
AT  |
1 PM EST |
CBS |
W |
Week 3 |
September 27 |
VS  |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
W |
Week 4 |
October 4 |
AT  |
4:25 PM EST |
CBS |
W |
Week 5 |
October 11 |
AT  |
1 PM EST |
CBS |
L |
Week 6 |
October 15 |
VS  |
8:20 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 7 |
October 25 |
AT  |
1 PM EST |
CBS |
W |
Week 8 |
November 1 |
VS  |
1 PM EST |
CBS |
W |
Week 9 |
November 8 |
VS  |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 10 |
November 15 |
AT  |
4:05 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 11 |
|
Bye Week |
|
|
|
Week 12 |
November 29 |
VS  |
1 PM EST |
CBS |
W |
Week 13 |
December 7 |
AT  |
8:15 PM EST |
ESPN |
L |
Week 14 |
December 13 |
VS  |
8:20 PM EST |
CBS |
W |
Week 15 |
December 19 |
AT  |
8:20 PM EST |
NFL Network |
L |
Week 16 |
December 28 |
AT |
8:15 PM EST |
CBS |
L |
Week 17 |
January 3 |
VS |
1 PM EST |
CBS |
W |
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