Quick-hitting one-line analysis on every Bills  starter and significant offseason pickup.

Buffalo Bills

Predicted Finish:3rd

2008 record: 7-9 (4^th in AFC East)

Head Coach: Dick Jauron (4^th year)

Roster Quick View (*new veteran, **rookie)

Offense (coordinator: Turk Schonert)

QB: Trent Edwards Time to prove himself in Year Three. Flashes potential, but has ran only the remedial version of the offense thus far.

RB: Marshawn Lynch Character issues are starting to impact career. Will serve 3-game suspension in September. Upon return, must prove to be a smarter, more patient runner.

RB: Fred Jackson Awarded a four-year contract extension. Interior quickness makes him worthy of 20 carries a game, if need be.

FB: Corey McIntyre Uses his 258-pound size well, but the FB position plays second fiddle to backup TE’s and H-backs in this offense.

WR: Terrell Owens* One thing he won’t have here that he had in San Fran, Philly and Dallas is a huge national spotlight. How will that impact things?

WR: Lee Evans Should flourish now that he’s not the only dangerous receiver defenses must deal with.

WR: Josh Reed Epitome of a “possession receiver.”

TE: Derek Schouman Started 12 games last season; playing-time could hinge on his improvements as a blocker.

TE: Shawn Nelson** The first true receiving TE to play for Dick Jauron. Bills are eager to use his 4.52 speed.

LT: Langston Walker Not thrilled about moving from RT to LT. Can’t blame him. At 6’8”, 366, he’s a fine player who simply lacks the necessary quickness to handle top edge-rushers.

LG: Andy Levitre** Played OT at Oregon State, though stocky frame (6’2”, short arms) pushes him inside to guard. Bills traded a 3^rd and 4^th rounder to get him in Round 2.

C: Geoff Hangartner* The hope is he has enough power to survive the brute force of the AFC East’s three NT’s (Vince Wilfork, Jason Ferguson and Kris Jenkins destroyed this O-line in 2008).

RG: Eric Wood** Grittiness and versatility are a plus, though how much of an upgrade can he really be over last year’s best interior blocker, LG Derrick Dockery?

RT: Brad Butler Lacks ideal range and needs to play on the move in order to thrive. In other words, a questionable RT.

6 OL: Kirk Chambers A backup-level talent who can fill in as a starter anywhere up front.

Defense (coordinator: Perry Fewell)

LDE: Chris Kelsay As a pass-rusher, predictable almost to the extent of irrelevant. Solid against the run, at least.

DT: Marcus Stroud Stellar play earned him a two-year contract extension with $12 million in guarantees. If you’re picky, you could say he needs to be a slightly more dynamic pass-rusher.

DT: Kyle Williams One of the most formidable, underrated run-defenders in the NFL.

RDE: Aaron Schobel Hoping to bounce back from Lisfranc sprain that cost him 11 games in ’08. Will he regain his explosive first step?

3rd DT: John McCargo Back after a trade to the Colts fell through. Has dropped some weight in hopes of being quicker.

3rd DE: Aaron Maybin** If he’s an immediate pass-rushing force, this defense becomes playoff caliber. Some experts think he could take years to develop, though.

SLB: Keith Ellison Watch any Bills game and, come third quarter, you’ll almost always forget he’s even on the field.

MLB: Paul Posluszny A prototype middle linebacker. Is also superb against the pass, which is critical in a Cover 2 scheme.

WLB: Kawika Mitchell His aggressiveness brings some much-needed chippiness to this front seven.

CB: Terrence McGee Can be a stifling playmaker when he trusts his mates in help-coverage.

CB: Leodis McKelvin Bills need the speedy second-year pro to bring his special teams playmaking prowess over to the defense.

NB: Drayton Florence* Humbled in Jacksonville. Will have to fight off ascending second-year man Reggie Corner and fourth-year project Ashton Youboty for No. 3 CB job.

SS: Bryan Scott Doesn’t have elite tools, but does everything well. This defense was plain better with him in the lineup last year.

FS: Donte Whitner Moving him further from the line of scrimmage would be a way to capitalize more on his speed.

6 DB: Ko Simpson Has been an okay starter for three years, but Bills are looking for more big plays at the S position. Second-round rookie Jairus Byrd could surpass him.

Special Teams

K: Rian Lindell Uncharacteristically missed eight field goals last season. All were from 40-yards-plus in windy Ralph Wilson Stadium.

P: Brian Moorman One of the smartest and most consistent punters in the game.

RS: Roscoe Parrish Led all NFL punt returners with a 15.3 average last season. Shiftiness and acceleration make him lethal.

Offseason Quick Glance

Draft

RD PK (OVR) NAME POS SCHOOL

1 11 (11) Aaron Maybin DE Penn State

1 28 (28) Eric Wood C Louisville

2 10 (42) Jarius Byrd CB Oregon

2 19 (51) Andy Levitre OG Oregon St

4 21 (121) Shawn Nelson TE So Miss

5 11 (147) Nic Harris OLB Oklahoma

6 10 (183) Cary Harris CB USC

7 11 (220) Ellis Lankster CB W Virginia

OFFSEASON QUICK VIEW

KEY PLAYERS ACQUIRED

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick: UFA Bengals; $6.9M/3 yrs, guarantees unknown.

CB Drayton Florence: FA Jaguars; $6.6M/2 yrs, guarantees unknown.

OG Geoff Hangartner: UFA Panthers; $9.6M/4 yrs, guarantees unknown.

C/G Seth McKinney: UFA Browns; terms unknown.

WR Terrell Owens: FA Cowboys; $6.5M/1 yr, $4M SB/$2.5M salary guaranteed.

RB Dominic Rhodes: UFA Colts; 2 yrs, terms unknown.

LB Pat Thomas: UFA Chiefs; 1 yr, terms unknown.

KEY PLAYERS LOST

LB Angelo Crowell: UFA Buccaneers; $3M/1 yr.

OG Derrick Dockery (released).

CB Jabari Greer: UFA Saints; $22M/4 yrs, $1)M guaranteed.

OT Jason Peters (traded Eagles).

C Duke Preston: UFA Packers; $2M/2 yrs, guarantees unknown.

TE Robert Royal (released).

Analysis

The Bills teased their fans this offseason. They cajoled optimism by signing Terrell Owens. Owens is a big acquisition because, sideshow or not, he’s a nightmare to defend. And putting him next to Lee Evans gives Buffalo arguably the best No. 2 receiver in football (you can decide for yourself who is the No. 1 and who is the No. 2).

But T.O.’s arrival was nullified by the evisceration of the offensive line. In what were obvious cost-cutting moves, the Bills traded disgruntled LT Jason Peters to Philadelphia and abruptly released LG Derrick Dockery. QB Trent Edwards won’t be able to get Owens or Evans the ball if he’s supine and seeing stars. What hurts is that Peters and Dockery were also Buffalo’s only viable run-blockers.

Former Panther Geoff Hangartner will step in as the new center. He’ll be flanked by two rookies: second-rounder Andy Levitre (LG) and first-rounder Eric Wood (RG). This means mediocre guard Brad Butler moves to RT, and behemoth veteran Langston Walker flips over to LT.

Cornerback Drayton Florence was terrible in Jacksonville, but the Bills hope he can provide help in the slot. He can, though he’s not the tight cover corner that Jabari Greer was. One would think that second-round rookie Jairus Byrd would contend for nickel back duties. However, Buffalo wants to make him a starting safety. He has the instincts to be a playmaker.

First-round DE Aaron Maybin represents a classic “need-pick”. The Bills have an anemic pass-rush, and they’re banking on Maybin cooking some of his raw athleticism into at least a third-down role. No guarantees there.