Inside The Bills

Fan Friday 5-25

Happy Memorial Day weekend Bills fans. Don’t forget those servicemen and women that made the ultimate sacrifice. May they all rest in peace. Let’s press on with your questions from AskChris@bills.nfl.net.

1 - Hey Chris,

I’m hoping you can give us some idea how our line plays out after Kyle, Mario, Anderson and Dareus. Do Kelsay and Merriman split time on the left end with Kelsay playing run downs and Merriman playing pass downs? I assume Dwan Edwards and Troup are tackles. Are Carrington and Spencer Johnson tackles or ends? Are Moats and Batten ends or linebackers? Do you think all of those players even make the team?

Thanks and Go Bills,
Brad

CB: From what I have heard Dwan Edwards is now a defensive tackle and to me that makes sense in a 4-3 scheme. Troup obviously is still a defensive tackle. Carrington and Spencer Johnson are both ends, with the ability to kick inside to defensive tackle on obvious passing downs should a rotation be needed. Moats and Batten are both outside linebackers. Kelsay would presumably be a run defending end with Merriman and Anderson pass rushing options on obvious passing downs.

Do all of them make the team? I’m not so sure they do.

2 – Chris,

With the upgrade to the pass rush, it is still to be determined how much better the Bills’ run defense will fair. Pass rush was an issues that needed to be fixed with Mario and Anderson. However, the last two years the Bills run defense has been last and 28th in the league. I feel this part is being ignored by the team in some degree. Even when the Bills were using the 4-3 they gave up lots of yards. How will the switch to the 4-3 contain the “big plays the team gave up. It is still a question how the 3 LB’s will shape up in new positions. Obvious a healthy Kyle is part but what else do they need to do since they appear in pass rush mode instead of stop the run. 

Thanks always, 
Josh 

CB: When they went to the 4-3 they were still giving up rushing yards because they didn’t have Kyle Williams, Torell Troup and Shawne Merriman (a very underrated run defender) in the lineup. The players they get back healthy this offseason is what will improve the run defense, more so than the scheme.

3 - Chris,

Short and simple.. how is our center doing? haven’t heard anything about Eric’s rehab. Wood love an update:) 

Thanks
Eric (displaced fan in AZ)

CB: Wood is progressing well, but won’t be doing any real on the field football-related stuff until training camp. That’s the timetable.

4 - Hey CB,

I was looking through the remaining free agents and I saw that there are still some decent free agent WR’s. Do you think there is any chance of the Bills still picking a receiver up? Or OT? 

Thanks, Carter

CB: I would never rule anything out. Buddy Nix always says you never know who might become available late in the free agent process, like Nick Barnett last year. That being said, Chan has said time and again that he likes his group of receivers on the roster already. I think an offensive tackle is added only if Hairston and Glenn struggle mightily.

5 - Hi, Chris, 

Last pre-season, the Bills said that they had too many good receivers, so they traded Lee Evans. Roughly a year later, they say that a deep threat receiver (e.g. Lee Evans) is near the top of their needs list. What has changed? Have they re-evaluated those “too many good receivers” and decided that they are not so good after all?

Regards,
Tom from Charlottesville, VA

CB: First, the Bills were trying to publicly show some respect for the years that Lee Evans gave them. They didn’t publicly say they felt he was a player in decline, but that was their opinion and ultimately why he was traded. That was the main impetus, not because of who they had. They did feel by moving Evans off the roster it would allow more of their young talent to blossom, chiefly Marcus Easley, who is a deep threat and a huge target. That was compromised however, when his medical condition ended his season before it began just days before Week 1.

They’ve added additional deep threats in T.J. Graham and David Clowney, so there’s some insurance this time around and Easley is medically cleared and ready to get his career off the ground.

BONUS: Chris,

Thanks for keeping BillsNation in the loop with your work.   I’m curious if you could give us a sense of what the Bills main objectives are in OTA’s?   Clearly assimilating new players from free agency and the draft is job 1, but what else do they view as important during OTA’s?

Regards,
Tony C.

CB: I think getting the defensive players up to speed with the new defensive scheme under Dave Wannstedt is at the top of the priority list. Second, there are a lot of new pieces that have to get accustomed to playing with one another in that front seven. And third, there’s a very good chance that a second-year CB and rookie CB will be starting on the boundaries in Aaron Williams and Gilmore, so getting them ready will be huge.

On offense it’s finding a definitive answer at left tackle, being more consistent on third downs, getting Marcus Easley ready for the season, finding a true number two threat opposite Stevie Johnson and finding a way to get Jackson and Spiller on the field at the same time.

The 4-3 appealing to Troup

Torell Troup didn’t have a problem with Buffalo’s old 3-4 defense, but Dave Wannstedt’s new 4-3 scheme is particularly appealing to the defensive tackle.

Troup, who plans to be back on the field full go come training camp, played in a 4-3 system under George O’Leary at Central Florida and likes the playmaking opportunities for defensive linemen in Wannstedt’s scheme.

“The 4-3 is just more of a defensive line scheme,” Troup told Buffalobills.com. ”In a 3-4 you’re holding up guys and letting the linebackers shoot gaps. This 4-3 is going to be us getting off the ball and making plays. Whoever has the one-on-one has to win and to me that’s more suited for me and a lot of the guys we have on our defense. This is going to be a better suited defense for the scheme that we’re running.

“The biggest thing is that first step. If you beat that guy when he hikes that ball and get a step on that guy… and I have a great first step and I feel like I’d be able to use that to my advantage this year.”

Troup: Fans were rough

Torell Troup is on his way back to being full go, though it likely won’t come until training camp as we profiled on the home page of Buffalobills.com today. While the coaches know what he’s capable of he wants to prove to his teammates he can be a reliable and consistent contributor to the cause. And if the fans start believing in him too, it’s gravy.

After Troup’s troublesome 2011 season that was riddled with bad luck (see: broken hand, broken back), he endured an awful lot of criticism from Bills fans. It got to the point where he avoided his twitter account.

“With the fans I’ve taken a lot of heat for this (past season),” Troup told Buffalobills.com. ”For example that (second) Jets game for not going out on the field I’ve taken a lot of heat for that. It got to the point where I wouldn’t even check my twitter page because the guys are bashing me on there.”

Troup was a game time decision in Week 12 for the rematch with the Jets, but watching him personally from the press box with binoculars it was obvious he was in no shape to play. He looked like a 70-year old the way he was laboring to walk out there and drop into a three-point stance, instead of a strapping 25-year old NFL lineman. In our profile on Troup even Chan Gailey approached after he knew his body wouldn’t allow him to suit up for that game.

Now on the rehab train and targeting training camp for a return there’s a lot of motivation to prove he belongs in the NFL. 

“I want to prove to the fans, but most important I want to be a contributor to my team,” he said. ”It’s so hard to see the guys working. I’m in the building and even though I’m kind of with them, I’m not with them. They can do a lot more stuff than I can right now so I still feel like I’m on the outside looking in and that hurts. Until I can get healthy and do everything only then will it feel right again because I just want to be there for my teammates. I just think it could be a big year for us as a defense and as a team and I want to be a part of it. So I’m working my butt off to try and be a part of it for this 2012 season.”

Why mock drafts don’t help prospects

NFL draft prospects always are curious as to where they might be drafted. In making the decision to declare for the draft underclassmen often submit a request to the NFL Advisory Board, which assesses where a prospect might go in the draft. For seniors however, it’s a best guess situation and some look to mock drafts for answers.

That’s what third-round pick T.J. Graham did, but that didn’t work out so well.

“You don’t get very much feedback about where you might be picked,” said Graham while appearing on the FAN590 recently. ”So all you have to rely on are the mock drafts. A lot of the mock drafts aren’t very accurate so you can’t get a real gauge on where you might be picked.”

What’s interesting is Graham, even though he knows mock drafts are hard to rely on, still based where he might go on what he had seen in mocks. That’s why he was fully planning to watch the first two days of the 2012 NFL draft, not be a part of it.

“I’m a big fan of football so just watching the draft and being a part of it was cool, but I got the chance to watch as a fan the first day and I figured I’d watch on the second day and figure out where I’d fall on day three,” Graham said. ”But watching it and then getting your name called was pretty surreal. I guess all the hard work and being a good character guy paid off.”

BDC 5/24: Kids Day Game 8.25.12

DAILY REPORT
–The Buffalo Bills announced yesterday that the 12^th annual Kids Day Game will be celebrated Saturday, August 25, 2012 at the home preseason game vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kids Day activities begin at 3:30 p.m., game time is 7:00 p.m. The Kids Day Game will feature youth themed tailgating, an exclusive gameday giveaway, interactive games, face painting, Buffalo Jills Cheerleaders, Billy Buffalo, stage performances by artist Glenn Colton and Jeff Musial of Nickel City Reptiles and Exotics as well as post-game fireworks.

NEXT WEEK’S OTA SCHEDULE
Tuesday – May 29
12:35 – 2:05pm – Open to media (photographers and videographers will be restricted to shooting stretching and individual drills only);
Coach Gailey available following

Thursday – May 31
12:35 – 2:05pm – Media availability following

Friday – June 1
12:35 – 2:05pm – Media availability following

QUOTE OF THE DAY
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
On working with new quarterback coach David Lee and working on his mechanics:
“I’ve never really had a technician as a coach. I’ve kind of always just gone out there and thrown. And I don’t know why I go out and throw like I do. I just go out and do it. To have a coach like him that’s able to sit there and say, ‘Hey you missed this throw six times last year and you missed it low every time. Here’s why…’ That makes a lot of sense for me. That’s something that I can process and now I understand why I’m doing it and can correct it.

“We’re attacking it right now. Every throw there’s dialogue. He’s just making sure that I’m heading in the right direction fundamentally and not going to slip into old habits.”

PHOTOS OF THE DAY

Bills RB Fred Jackson poses with a group of kids at last night’s “Night of Champions” event to benefit Buffalo’s inner-city kids @ summer camp.

Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick during last night’s 63^rd Rochester Press-Radio Club dinner event. (Kris J. Murante/Rochester Democrat & Chronicle)

DAILY LINKS
Rochester D&C – Buffalo Bills close to extending Toronto series

BuffaloBills.com – Fitz already improving mechanics under Lee

BuffaloBills.com – Spiller and Wilson giving back

BuffaloBills.com – 12th Annual Kids Day Game vs. Pittsburgh

Dallas Morning News – Why a season with Chan Gailey could be the best thing for Texas-ex Vince Young

Audio/Video/Photo Clips
WGRZ
Jackson, Bills Ready for OTA’s

Additional Clips
Inside the Bills Blog
McGee on his veteran influences

AFC East Blog (ESPN.com)
NFL Future Power Rankings: AFC East Poll: Future top AFC East quarterback

Buffalo Rumblings
Further Dissecting The Buffalo Bills’ Receiving Corps
State Of The Buffalo Bills Roster: Defensive Tackle
Would NFL Rule Change To IR Have Affected Fred Jackson?

Buffalowdown
Terrence McGee Unsure if He Will Be Healthy Enough to Play in 2012
The Buffalo Bills Have The Best And Worst Of The Wonderlic

The blue team dream

Bills third-round pick T.J. Graham like any other draft prospect didn’t know what team was going to pick him for sure, but his dream the night before the draft certainly gave him a hint.

Appearing on the FAN590 in Toronto recently, Graham explained the dream he had just prior to the draft.

“I had a dream a few months ago about getting picked by a team that wears blue, and that team wound up being the Bills,” said Graham. “The anticipation and waiting to get picked and the anxiety that comes with it, and then I got picked by Buffalo. It feels good.”

We’ll check in with Graham next week at OTAs to see if he’s had other premonition-type dreams.

Fitz off and running with QBs coach Lee

Be sure to check the home page Thursday morning at Buffalobills.com as we talk with QB Ryan Fitzpatrick about the throwing mechanics he’s already working on with QB coach David Lee. Here’s an idea of what Fitz was expecting as he began work with Lee, who is known as a master at fixing flaws in passing mechanics.

“I was expecting that,” Fitzpatrick told Buffalobills.com. ”I knew that he was a technician and a hard worker. Everybody told me about his work ethic and how passionate he is about football so I was excited for it.

“He’s a big proponent of just being able to throw with your lower body. Sometimes when you get closed off as a thrower with your front foot in terms of where it’s pointed where you can’t get your hip through and use your legs it becomes a throw with all arm and you lose a lot of power.”

Read how Lee has already helped improve Fitz’s consistency in terms of throwing power and accuracy Thursday morning on the home page of Buffalobills.com.

McGee on his veteran influences

As the elder statesman of the cornerback group, Terrence McGee knows the younger corners will be asking him questions from time to time seeking knowledge about the game. McGee never did that himself as a rookie back in 2003. He just watched the veterans practice and play, and the one he watched most was Antoine Winfield.

“He’s one of the best cornerbacks I’ve ever seen so I would watch him and wanted to be like him,” said McGee, who was a rookie during Winfield’s last season in Buffalo. “If you watched him the way he tackled, even the way he did drills. He would do the drills perfect and it would make you sick because you would have to follow him in front of the coach. The way he broke on the ball, he just did everything you would want a corner to do. He was cat quick and just a real good corner.”

Nate Clements was also on the roster at the time and was a bigger playmaker than Winfield in terms of interceptions, but Winfield was rarely beaten for big plays, while Clements was more of a risk taker and would get beat deep from time to time. McGee knew who was better to pattern his game after, even though initially he was a bit conflicted.

“When I was here you would see Nate make all the plays and interceptions, but watching Antoine that was the guy you wanted to be like,” McGee said. “Of course you also wanted to make the type of plays that Nate made.”

A couple of years later Troy Vincent was on the roster and he was quick to mentor young players like McGee.

“A person who was really vocal and would tell you things on his own was Troy Vincent,” said McGee. ”He’d give me advice. You’re going to listen to Troy. He was a great corner and a veteran guy. You’re going to listen to whatever he says. He could’ve told me to eat at McDonald’s every day and I probably would’ve done it. You definitely listen to a guy like that.”

McGee doesn’t feel like things are different now that he’s one of those vets, but he’s willing to provide answers to the younger corners that are looking for them.

BDC 5/23: Williams to wear #94

DAILY REPORT
–Buffalo Bills CEO Russ Brandon and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick will attend tonight’s Rochester Press-Radio Club’s Day of Champions Dinner at the Riverside Convention Center. The 63^rd annual dinner will honor New York Giants Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning as this year’s Sports Personality of the Year. For more information on the event click here.

–Bills RB Fred Jackson, Hall of Famer Joe DeLamielleure, and former OL Ruben Brown will highlight the “Night of Champions” event to benefit Buffalo’s inner-city kids @ summer camp as honorary chairpersons. The event is being held at the Statler City in downtown Buffalo from 6-10pm. The Butler Mitchell Association of Buffalo, who has been helping kids since 1955, will be sponsoring the 2^nd Annual event.

–The Buffalo Bills announced yesterday that they will begin their Organized Team Activity sessions on Tuesday, May 29^th.

QUOTES OF THE DAY
DE Mario Williams
On if his new number will be something he’ll have to get used to:
“It’s not something I’m going to have to get used to, it’s just a number. I look at it like it’s a new day, a new chapter in my career, so I’m changing things up a bit.”

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Bills DE Mario Williams announced yesterday via his Twitter account that he will wear jersey #94. Bills fans can preorder their Mario Williams #94 jersey online at the Bills store.

DAILY LINKS
Buffalo News – Super Mario will wear No. 94 with Bills

Buffalo News – Bills expected to continue Toronto series for five more years

BuffaloBills.com – McGee hopeful knee lets him compete

BuffaloBills.com – Mario Williams chooses jersey number

Toronto Sun – Bills will visit Toronto five more years

Audio/Video/Photo Clips
BuffaloBills.com
Bills Focus: Brooks Stepping Out of the Shadows

WIVB
Bills will play in Toronto through 2017

WKBW
Report: Bills-In-Toronto Series Extension Approved

WGRZ
NFL Approves Bills in Toronto Extension

WROC
Bills’ Fitzpatrick and Brandon added to P-R Dinner

YNN
NFL approves new Bills Toronto series Bills News and Notes

Additional Clips
Inside the Bills Blog
Bills get go ahead on Toronto Series, Mario takes number of former pass rusher, Mario didn’t have much of a choice, Bills OTA schedule

Around the League (NFL.com)
Five-year extension of Buffalo Bills’ Toronto series approved

Buffalo Rumblings
Bills Toronto Series Extension Approved; Report Says Five-Year Agreement Forthcoming
State Of The Buffalo Bills Roster: Guard, Center
Can T.J. Graham Crack Buffalo Bills’ Top 5 Weapons List?
Check out T.J. Graham at this past weekend’s NFLPA event
How Much Have Expectations Changed For The Buffalo Bills?

Pro Football Talk
Bills will continue to play in Toronto through 2017

Pro Football Weekly
Report: Bills extend series in Toronto through 2017

AFC East Daily
Bills DE Mario Williams finally chooses a number

Buffalowdown
Buffalo Bills Reportedly on Verge of Extending Toronto Series

National Football Post A
re the Bills legitimate playoff contenders?

Buffalo Rising
How Buffalo Bills Make The Playoffs: Part 1

Eye on Football (CBSSports.com)
Bills extend Toronto series additional five years; tickets ‘significantly’ cheaper

Bills get go ahead on Toronto Series

At the league meetings in Atlanta the International Committee gave the Bills approval to continue playing games in Toronto as part of their Bills Toronto Series.

Bills CEO Russ Brandon issued the following statement.

“The International Committee’s decision to approve the continuation of our games in Toronto is a crucial step in our ongoing efforts to regionalize our franchise. As we have stated on many occasions, the regionalization process remains vital to keeping our franchise strong in Western New York. We are continuing our discussions with Rogers Communications on a new deal and remain optimistic that we can come to an agreement in the near future.”

The Bills and Rogers Communications are still negotiating a new agreement to extend the Bills Toronto Series.

Mario takes number of former pass rusher

In officially choosing his jersey number, Mario Williams didn’t do it on purpose, but his number is the same as that of Buffalo’s last most effective pass rusher.

In taking number 94, Williams is wearing the same digits as Bills former pass rusher Aaron Schobel. Schobel is second all-time in sacks by a Bill with 78 in his nine-year career. Hall of Famer Bruce Smith is obviously tops on the list with 171 sacks as a Bill.

Mario didn’t have much of a choice

Mario Williams has officially picked his jersey number, but when it came to a number in the 90′s he really didn’t have much of a choice.

Most of the jersey numbers in the 90’s were already occupied by veteran players, and after talking to Williams Tuesday he wasn’t going to entertain wearing a number in the 70′s or 60′s or 50′s, which is also permissible. After Mark Anderson chose number 93 a couple of weeks ago, 94 was the only available number left in the 90’s.

That’s why even though he didn’t make it official until today (Tuesday) he had a pretty good idea, which way he was leaning once he knew 90 wasn’t available.

“I was pretty sure it was going to be number 94 since I got here,” Williams told Buffalobills.com. “I just had to make it official.”

Bills OTA schedule

Here’s the Bills OTA practice schedule, which begins on Tuesday next week.

We’ll have full coverage of the practices on Buffalobills.com.

Tues. May 29 – 12:35-2:05 pm
Thurs. May 31 – 12:35-2:05 pm
Fri. Jun 1 – 12:35-2:05 pm
Tues. Jun 5 – 12:35-2:05 pm
Thurs. Jun 7 – 12:35-2:05 pm
Fri. Jun 8 – 12:35-2:05 pm
Mon. Jun 11 – 12:35-2:05 pm
Tues. Jun 12 – 12:35-2:05 pm
Thurs. Jun 14 – 12:35-2:05 pm
Fri. Jun 15 – 12:35-2:05 pm

BDC 5/22- WR T.J. Graham sports full uniform

DAILY REPORT
–The Buffalo Bills announced yesterday that 2012 individual game tickets for the first two home games at Ralph Wilson Stadium have sold out. The Bills play Kansas City for their home opener Sunday, September 16^th at 1:00 p.m. and New England Sunday, September 30th at 1:00 p.m. Regular tickets for those two games sold out during a special pre-sale for season ticket holders held this past Saturday where they were able to purchase an unlimited amount of individual game tickets. Group tickets for remaining games will go on-sale beginning Saturday, June 9^th 2012. Individual game tickets will be available for purchase to the general public Tuesday, July 10^th. 2012 season tickets are available now for purchase online through buffalobills.com, by phone, or in person by visiting the Bills ticket office at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
OL Eric Wood
On the team being able to re-sign offensive linemen Chad Rinehart and Kraig Urbik during the offseason:
“It’s really big for our offensive line just having continuity bringing those guys back. We have a good solid group of interior guys that have been working together for a couple of years now with a lot of us starting a bunch of games. We all trust each other and all know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and the numbers proved it last year.”

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Rookie wide receiver T.J. Graham sported his full Buffalo Bills uniform for the first time during trading card photo shoots on May 19 at the NFLPA Rookie Premiere presented by Nike at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Los Angeles. (Kevin A. Koski/NFLPA)

DAILY LINKS
BuffaloBills.com – First two home games sell out

BuffaloBills.com – Bills O-line interior stabilized

Olean Times Herald – Busy offseason for Bills boosts fan interest

CBSSports.com – Bills go from 3-4 to 4-3 in measured fashion, and look formidable

Audio/Video/Photo Clips
NFL.com
Most intriguing storyline in AFC East – Bills Defensive Line

YNN
Day of Champions Dinner This Week
WNY Fans Excited to See the Bills

WGRZ
Hamburg Schools Unite To Help Ellie’s Mission – Katy Ryan Head Varsity Lacrosse Coach

CBS Pittsburgh
Dave Wannstedt: ‘The State Of W. Va. Lost A Great Man’

Additional Clips
Inside the Bills Blog
Sapp likes Bills D-line, Moore not Tannehill and QB for Fins? , Gilmore & A. Williams working together, Levitre called ‘star on the rise’

AFC East Blog (ESPN.com)
Ranking AFC East defenses

Buffalo Rumblings
State Of The Buffalo Bills Roster: Linebacker
Buffalo Bills Aren’t Only Team Struggling To Sign Third-Round Picks
Shawne Merriman Getting “Outstanding Reviews” In Recovery, Per Report

Pro Football Weekly
AFC East players in the crosshairs (Mario Williams)

AFC East Daily
Schedule favors snow games for Bills, Patriots fans

Buffalowdown
Bills Sell Out First Two Home Games Already
Comparing Cordy Glenn to Marcus McNeill

Pro Football Focus
Secret Superstar: Andy Levitre, G, Buffalo Bills

The end gain from ’11 injuries

For Buffalo’s offensive line 2011 was a juggling act from week to week with all the injuries the unit suffered. They ultimately persevered, but with everyone expected to be healthy for 2012 there’s a hidden benefit that came out of all those man games missed.

“It’s a little easier with the amount of snaps that me and Andy (Levitre) were getting at center last year,” said Kraig Urbik. ”In training camp I’ll get a lot of reps at center too. It was just unfortunate. We couldn’t help the injuries. It wasn’t like we were running and got hurt. Guys fell on your legs and stuff like that. It was unfortunate, but part of the game.”

Buffalo used a total of three players at left tackle last season and four at center (Wood, Levitre, Urbik and Colin Brown). Getting Urbik and Rinehart back in the fold however, will do wonders for continuity.

Wood hopes unit sticks long term

Bills center Eric Wood is one of the many on Buffalo’s offensive unit that was very happy to see both Chad Rinehart and Kraig Urbik re-sign with the club as restricted free agents. Now he’s just hoping that down the line both are extended with multi-year deals.

“We’d like to keep that group together as long as we can,” Wood told Buffalobills.com. ”Hopefully in the future we can sign them to longer terms deals, but we’re happy they brought them back.”

Go to the home page at Buffalobills.com for more on the importance of Rinehart and Urbik being back in the fold up front.

Sapp likes Bills D-line

I guess we shouldn’t be shocked that a former perennial Pro Bowl defensive tackle in Warren Sapp really likes the Bills defensive line, but when asked for his biggest story line in the AFC East this offseason, Sapp picked Buffalo’s defensive coordinator and what he’s got to work with up front.

An NFL Network studio analyst, Sapp pointed chiefly to Mario Williams, Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams as the main reason for him believing that Buffalo’s defense will be able to do some damage, and right now there’s no arguing with that point.

Fellow analyst concurred with Sapp’s assessment saying the way you make headway in the AFC East is by neutralizing Tom Brady, and he believes the Bills went a long way in arming themselves with the ability to do that.

Moore not Tannehill at QB for Fins?

The Miami Dolphins drafted Ryan Tannehill eighth overall in last month’s NFL draft, but according to team owner Stephen Ross he’s expecting his veteran incumbent to start under center in 2012.

Ross told NFL.com at the league’s spring meetings in Atlanta that Moore will probably be the starter come this fall.

“I don’t think they’re going to rush (Ryan Tannehill) into anything,” Ross said. “He’s going to have to win the starting job. I think Matt Moore will probably be the starter, and I wish him the best.”

It’s not exactly a shocking development. Moore showed he was very capable at times, especially against Buffalo’s defense. Two of his top three passer rating performances in his 12 starts in 2011 came against the Bills with ratings of 133.3 and 122.3 in the two meetings with Buffalo. Those were only trumped by a 147.5 rating in a win against the Chiefs. Here are his combined stats against the Bills in 2011.

Record: 2-0
Passing: 24-40 (60%) – 377 yards – 5 TDs – O Ints
Yards per attempt: 9.43
Pass plays of 25 yards or more: 5
Rating: 130.9

In all likelihood the team will not throw Tannehill to the wolves in his rookie season unless the Dolphins season goes up in flames in terms of wins and losses. If and when the team shows it can’t contend expect to see the Texas A&M product on the field.

Gilmore, A. Williams working together

As we profiled late last week Aaron Williams and Stephon Gilmore are the two main cogs for the team’s future at cornerback. Not surprisingly, the two are working to gain a level on field chemistry with OTAs a week away.

Both players have been present for just about all of the offseason conditioning workouts since the draft and even when away from position specific training are often side by side. It’s clear that both understand the potential roles both could have come the start of the 2012 season and appear determined to know each other as much as their assignments.

“It sounds good, but what we’re focused on right now and I know Stephon is working on is getting used to the playbook,” said Williams. ”I’m still learning the playbook. Not only will the OTAs help each of us individually, but it’s going to help the team chemistry-wise. We’ve all got to mesh together and I feel like being here together is going to give us that chemistry as a team.”

Levitre called ‘star on the rise’

Bills guard Andy Levitre got a very glowing write up from the stat crunchers and film reviewers at Pro Football Focus.

Levitre, who graded out extremely well in the eyes of PFF, had a full write up done on him. Here’s some of the better excerpts from the post.

On rushes off left guard in 2011, only one team (Miami) earned a higher Yards Per Carry average than the Bills’ 6.0 on 42 carries off Levitre’s outside shoulder.

On top of those stats to Levitre’s outside, he is also proved essential to the Bills as a blocker in space, showing real quality while pulling. At 305 pounds, Levitre isn’t necessarily the ideal size to be a dominant, road-grading run blocker, but he augments his solid in-line play with some quality efforts on the move; a job that leaves many other offensive linemen looking lost.

In the Bills’ Week 15 loss to the Dolphins, he exhibited this quality by getting the upper hand on Karlos Dansby–one of the league’s better inside linebackers–in space. He got off to a fast start pulling right and neutralizing Dansby as the linebacker attempted to fill the gap off right guard. The block served to spring C.J. Spiller through the line on a 24-yard touchdown. Levitre also pulled off  a pair of cut blocks on Dansby while getting downfield on screen plays, helping to finish first down runs by Spiller and Tashard Choice.

Levitre’s ability in pass protection at both guard and tackle cannot be questioned. Over the last two seasons whether you look at our grades (+15.1) or the stats (35 total pressures allowed), he is amongst the elite pass protectors at guard. Combined with clear improvements in his in-line run blocking, and his consistent quality blocking in space, Levitre is ready to use the 2012 season to break into the NFL’s upper echelon of guards.