08-10-2007, 09:59 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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Both of them
Join Date: Sep 2006
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New offensive line debuts tonight in New Orleans
The Buffalo News: Bills & NFL: New offensive line debuts tonight in New Orleans
Quote:
The Buffalo Bills are taking their revamped offensive line out for a test drive tonight.
In their nationally televised preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome, the Bills hope the new-look line shows signs of becoming a smooth-running engine that ignites their offense this year.
“It’s the preseason, but it’s still a chance to go out and show what you’ve got,” said guard Duke Preston. “We have an O-line with some new guys in here, so it will be a good chance for us to get out and see how we stack up against some other teams.”
The Bills’ line has been less than stellar the past several years, which is why they spent more than $74 million in free agent contracts for guards Derrick Dockery and Jason Whittle and tackle Langston Walker.
The team is counting on the new additions upgrading the front five by providing better protection for quarterback J.P. Losman and blasting open holes for the running backs.
“I haven’t been here, but I know that the offensive line has been an issue here,” said Dockery, who received a franchise-record $49 million deal. “Myself, Langston and Jason were brought in here to help improve that position. But it’s going to take all five guys to get it done, and it starts [tonight].”
Coach Dick Jauron is encouraged by what he’s seen from the offensive line in training camp. But he’s taking a wait-and-see approach until the regular season begins.
“I do believe that we’re significantly better,” Jauron said. “I believe strongly we did the right things there. I really like those players. But they not going to pay off until we win.”
With Dockery and Walker joining left tackle Jason Peters and center Melvin Fowler in the starting lineup, the only undecided position is right guard. Whittle and Preston are the leading candidates for the job. Brad Butler was in the mix, but his lingering hamstring injury has created a two-man race.
Whittle and Preston alternated with the first-team offense throughout training camp.
“It’s shaping up pretty good,” offensive line coach Jim McNally said of the right guard battle. “They are getting reps there and we’ve got enough plays in practice that one of them is next to Langston Walker a lot. We still don’t know who the guy is yet. We want to go into a full-fledged game before we make a decision.”
McNally wanted to name the starting right guard by the first week of training camp. Those plans have obviously changed, but that’s fine with Jauron.
“I’m pretty sure this is what Jim meant: If it played itself out quickly, you’d like that because then you’d get your guys together and all the reps are together,” Jauron said. “But we’re in no hurry to make a hasty decision. I just want to make sure we make the right decision. We’ve got a number of guys we feel are competitive enough and are good enough to start, so we’ll let it play itself out.”
Whittle has started 42 games in 125 appearances during his first nine years in the league. He is a physical blocker who is mobile enough to pull and hit moving targets. He also plays with a mean streak that McNally loves in his linemen.
Preston lacks Whittle’s experience, but he knows the offense a little better after starting the last eight games at right guard a year ago. The 6- foot-5, 311-pound Preston has good size and strength, and improved his footwork during the offseason.
“I’m enjoying the competition because in the long run it’s going to make us that much better,” Whittle said. “But at the same time, I came here to try and win the job. You have to bring that mentality, even if you’re fourth string.”
The job is hotly contested, but that won’t be on Preston’s mind tonight.
“You really don’t go in thinking about that or the what-ifs because it can drive you crazy,” he said. “You just go and put your best foot forward and let the chip fall. My approach is to just go out and do your job.”
If the offensive line is more effective than the patchwork units the Bills have trotted out in recent years, maybe the offense will finally be more consistent. The way Dockery sees it, the line has nowhere to go but up.
“Everything starts with the guys up front,” he said. “We have to come together. Our goal is to be physical, nasty and play with intensity. We might not always be perfect, but when you have five guys who are going to scrap, watch out.”
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New offensive line debuts tonight in New Orleans
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