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2010 Offensive Line Analysis - Buffalo Bills

2010 Projected Starters:
Left Tackle: Demetrius Bell
Left Guard: Andy Levitre
Center: Geoff Hangartner
Right Guard: Eric Wood
Right Tackle: Cornell Green

2009 Injuries:
T Brad Butler: Weeks 3-17
T Demetrius Bell: Weeks 11-17
G Eric Wood: Weeks 12-17

2009 Statistics:

Overview:
The Buffalo Bills offensive line was one of our surprise picks for the 2009 season but it didn’t turn out so well, in large part due to injuries. Langston Walker and Brad Butler were expected to be the starting tackles but one was released before the start of the regular season and the other suffered a season-ending injury in week two. Despite that, the Bills managed to have a solid running game for most of the season and will look to build on that in 2010.

Demetrius Bell is expected to retain his starting job at left tackle after a very difficult season in 2009. Bell allowed five sacks in only eight starts and took ten penalties; if he had kept that pace over 16 games he would have ranked last in the NFL amongst left tackles in both sacks allowed and penalties but he suffered a season-ending injury which kept him out of the final seven games of the year. Bell was acceptable in run blocking and would probably be a much better fit on the right side but the Bills have no one to replace him at this point, makes you wonder why they didn’t select Anthony Davis with the ninth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. The newly-acquired veteran Cornell Green will start at right tackle in his first season with the Bills. The 33-year old started 38 games for the Raiders in the last three years but he had played with four different teams and started only eight games before the 2007 season. Green has been okay when healthy in the past three years but his tendency to take penalties (22 in the past two years) makes him a below average tackle. Kirk Chambers, a sixth year veteran who started nine games last year, and Jamon Meredith, seventh round pick in 2009 who started four games as a rookie, are the top backups at tackle. Meredith is currently practicing at left tackle while Bell recovers from his injury and he could surprise by holding on to the starting job.

The Bills will bring back a pair of guards whom they selected in the first and second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. The 6’2” and 305 lbs Andy Levitre made the move to guard after starting the final 35 games of his college career at tackle. He adjusted pretty well to his new position and his good technique allowed him to play well in pass protection but he struggled in run blocking. He is a below average starting guard for now but, if he gets stronger, has the potential to develop into a solid starting NFL guard. Eric Wood was in a similar situation starting at center for his entire college career and making the move to guard in the NFL. Wood had an easier time adjusting to his new position but he suffered a season-ending injury in week 11. He is a very smart and intense player who will play to the whistle on every play. Similar to Levitre, Wood could also get a little stronger and if he does, he will be a good starting guard in the NFL for many years. Seventh round pick in 2010, Kyle Calloway, adds depth at guard.

Starting at center for the Bills will be 28-year old Geoff Hangartner who started 27 games from 2006 to 2008 for the Panthers and started all 16 last year in his first year with the Bills. He was a fifth round pick in 2005 who gained a lot of experience in the past few years because of injuries to various linemen in Carolina. He struggled early in his first year as a full-time starter in Buffalo but seemed to pick up his game in the eight games following the bye week. Similar to the two guards around him, he does not have great physical abilities but he is a very hard worker and will continue to improve. Former undrafted free agent Christian Gaddis is the top backup at center but he has very little experience.

2010 Outlook:
The Bills offensive line had a lot of promise last year but were slowed down by injuries and they failed to address obvious needs in the off-season. Unless Meredith or Bell can surprise, the Bills will be very weak at both tackle positions and they have very little depth inside. In the eight games last year with the group of Bell, Levitre, Hangartner, Wood and a few different players at right tackle, the Bills averaged 4.2 yards per carry and allowed 19 sacks. The only change with that line will be Cornell Green at right tackle who will replace Butler, Meredith, Chambers and Scott. Green is a below average starter so we can’t consider him an upgrade over that four-man rotation. If we put all that together, we expect the Bills to be slightly better than last year in pass protection and to be similar in run blocking, if everyone stays healthy, but they can’t afford a single injury to their inside three or they will be in big trouble.

See all of our 2010 Offensive Line Analysis Articles