Buffalo Bills

We credit Pro Football Focus, STATS LLC and Football Outsiders with OL performance data

Buffalo’s offensive line has been a sub-par unit the last few seasons. They drafted three soft prospects with conditioning concerns in 2014, two of which we absolutely hated – OG Cyril Richardson and OT Seantrel Henderson. This year, the new regime appeared to rebound by selecting OG John Miller in RD3, who many draft analysts considered a solid prospect.

Declining veteran Erik Pears departed in free agency, while the team signed a much surlier OG in Richie Incognito. Incognito’s talent has never been in question, it’s been his character – and now his age – that have. By all accounts, he has been a perfect solider in Buffalo and looks to be playing well with his friends.

Projected Starting Lineup

Cordy Glenn, LT 6’6″ 345 pounds– One of the best offensive lineman we’ve ever scouted at the Senior Bowl, has positional versatility but we’re not sure LT is his ideal position, we liked him most at OG/RT, started 14 games at LT in 2014, performed at an average level and needs to continue improving in the run game, flashed a lot of upside in 2013

Richie Incognito, LG 6’3″ 319 pounds– At 32 years old being touted by the team for excellent conditioning, was a Pro Bowler in 2012, played well at LG in his last season with Miami in 2013 where he graded positively in all areas before being banished from the team for a bullying scandal, if Incognito returns to form it’s a huge upgrade for the interior of a unit that did not have a 100-yard rusher last season

Eric Wood, C 6’4″ 310 pounds– Has been a low-end starter the last three seasons, has never excelled in the run game

John Miller, RG 6’2″ 303 pounds– NFL Draft Expert Mike Loyko touted Miller – and the word is so does Rex Ryan, Loyko wrote:

“John Miller has been an under the radar and unheralded piece of Louisville’s explosive offense the last four seasons. Miller is a strong, compact OG that generates great power through his lowerbody. He can overwhelm defenders at the point of attack. Strong hands to control and toss aside defenders. Miller has an effective first step and battles hard for every inch. Built to play in the phone booth where his balance and lateral mobility issues will be masked. Miller had a great week at the East-West Shrine Game.”

Seantrel Henderson, RT 6’7″ 331 pounds- RD7 pick in 2014, going to be pushed by Cyrus Kouandjio, after a rotten performance in 2014 Henderson needs a bounce back season, the team appears committed to giving him the opportunity- which appears to be an indictment on Kouandjio who was a much more highly acclaimed prospect out of Alabama

Notes-

This has the look of a much-improved group. It’s a B- unit.

Through no lack of effort by the team, the depth of this group is still questionable. If Cyrus Kouandjio can ever develop as the highly rated prospect he was considered to be, it will be a huge boost. Scouts had injury and conditioning concerns about him throughout the 2014 pre-draft process.

After analyzing the offseason scheme and personnel changes to this offensive line, we are much higher on LeSean McCoy than we had been. It’s shaping up as a solid run-blocking unit and McCoy is going to get huge volume. It looks like Matt Cassel is going to start at QB, which also makes us more confident in McCoy as Cassel sucks. The passing offense will be far from a juggernaut but Cassel and his bevy of talented receivers should be enough to keep defenses semi-honest.

As for that passing offense, this line looks good enough that the receivers should be serviceable. Sammy Watkins presents interesting second-year value at a RD5/6 ADP and sometimes later. He was considered the cream of a historical 2014 rookie WR draft class just 12 short months ago. Watkins’ peers from that class are flying off the board in the first three or four rounds of fantasy drafts. Percy Harvin is also intriguing late in drafts. He had a few big games under Rex late last season after being acquired in a trade. We’re concerned he could have a gadget role in the Bills offense, but nonetheless he’s a low risk high reward late round draft commodity.

Depth-

Cyril Richardson- RD5 2014, was lackluster in 4 starts at LG last yr, we always hated him
Terren Jones- UDFA 2013 with very little experience
Kraig Urbik- RD3 2009, several starts at LG in 2014 was terrible in the run game, was much better at RG in 2012/2013, a lot of starting experience
William Campbell- no experience