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Stability is not the first thing that you think of when you think Buffalo Bills football. In this decade, they have gone through 4 head coaches, two GM's, and many quarterbacks. With all this wheel spinning, the Bills looked like a stranded motorist during a December snowstorm. However, the Bills come into this season with the quarterback situation settled, the same head coach for the third straight season, and a front office that has been able to put together several solid drafts, which has formed a nucleus of players that should be with the team for many years to come.

Thanks to the solid drafts of the past three years the Bills have built up a solid roster that includes Donte Whitner, Ko Simpson, Leodis McCelvin, Paul Posluzny, John McCargo and Keith Ellison all of whom will be contributors to the team this upcoming season. On offense, we have been able to put together a solid trio that should thrive for years in Trent Edwards, Marshawn Lynch and James Hardy. This will only compliment the talents of Lee Evans and the offensive line that should take a big stride after having a full season to play next to one another.
The stability on the team extends to the coaching staff as well. Head coach Dick Jauron will be returning for his third season as mentioned above, and has assembled a solid staff around him. Perry Fewell took a rag tag defense last year and had them ready to play and perform above expectation. With the key pieces of the defense returning from injury this season, Fewell will be able to turn the team loose in terms of defensive game planning, and the already solid defense will become a force to be reckoned with next season. New offensive coordinator Turk Schonert will be manning the post for the first time in his career, yet has experience calling plays, and has been on the staff as QB coach last season, which will help him in developing an offense that suits Trent Edwards. Look for Edwards and Lynch to take big steps this year as the pass offense will exploit Lynch's ability to catch passes, and Edwards experience will help to compliment his poise and maturity. Bobby April returns this season as well, and the Bills, already dominant on special teams, should fare well in that area as well.
The Bills finally have the team chemistry that it takes to build championship teams. Combine that with a favorable schedule, and the Bills could be a surprising team. I believe that Trent Edwards will prove to be the man for the job at QB, and JP Losman will be a solid backup, and his team first attitude will prove to be key to the Bills winning games this season. On defense, as long as Poz can keep up the league leading pace he had through three games last season, he will be a beast at MLB, and paired with Kawika Mitchell and Angelo Crowell, will be a nice linebacking core. The pass rush should be much improved too, as Schobel will have something to prove this season, and Marcus Stroud should be a huge upgrade at DT, with John McCargo getting free because of him. I would not discount the Bills being 5-2 when we play our first divisional opponent, and a sleeper team in the AFC much like the Browns last year. I won't predict playoffs, but I will predict a ten win season and a much more competitve team.

Learn more about this author, Cody Hodge.
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