How Far Away Are The Buffalo Bills To The Super Bowl?
By Dennis Amo
Nov 9, 2014; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus (99) celebrates a sack against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Kansas City beats Buffalo 17 to 13. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Pro Football Focus is known for analyzing the teams and their players and rating each of them. They have combined with ESPN and put together a missing pieces edition breaking down each team and determining how many players they are away from reaching the Super Bowl.
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How far away do you think the Buffalo Bills are from getting to the Super Bowl? How many players? Lets take a look.
These rating and stats have been determined by looking at 28 teams that played in the conference championship games during the years of 2007-2013. They found that an average of 40% of the rosters that were analyzed were composed of elite/good players. Using this and their rating systems for the players, they put together this little missing pieces piece.
Where do the Buffalo Bills fall? 12th overall. Missing a total of 7 above average players is what PFF has determined to be the magic number for the Bills to make the playoffs and the ultimately the Super Bowl.
PFF has broken down the Bills as having 1 elite player; Marcell Dareus. 5 Good players; Corey Graham, Kyle Williams, Mario Williams, Da’Norris Searcy, and Jerry Hughes. 21 average players, to include the likes of Brandon Spikes, Stephon Gilmore, Fred Jackson, Nigel Bradham, Preston Brown, Aaron Williams, EJ Manuel, Scott Chandler, Cyril Richardson and Manny Lawson. 5 bad players; Nickell Robey, Corbin Bryant, Kyle Orton, Erik Pears and Seantrel Henderson.
Now, I would probably classify one or two guys in different spots than what PFF has rated the Bills players as. This is based on their system that they have been using for a while and it breaksdown the play of the players during the games which in turn gives them a rated score. This score is then added up at the end of the year to get their final rating and from their they then can classify who is an elite player and who is a bad player. I would probably look at Seantrel Henderson as at least an average player right now. I still think that Mario Williams should be classified as an elite players a well, but it is not my rating system.
Here is Mike Rodak’s. of ESPN, breakdown on PFF’s ratings.
"The Bills’ defensive line has sacked opposing QBs on an NFL-best 9.9 percent of drop backs the past two seasons. So, it can be tricky to separate individual success from the performance of the unit as a whole. There were plenty of games this season in which both Mario Williams and Kyle Williams could be considered in the elite category, but it’s hardly an injustice to give Dareus the nod over both of them.Signing Graham last offseason has been one of the best moves of general manager Doug Whaley’s tenure. The Bills raised some eyebrows by giving the eighth-year veteran a four-year, $16 million contract when they already had an established core group of cornerbacks, but Whaley made it clear he wanted to build depth at the position.One of the bigger names on the free-agent market this spring, Hughes should spark some healthy debate about his true value. Is he actually a good player, or just an average one surrounded by a glut of talent? After compiling just five sacks in three seasons with the Colts, Hughes was traded to the Bills and exploded for 20 sacks since 2013.– Mike Rodak, ESPN"
Check the link above to see what else Mike had to say about the Bills and where they were rated.
If you want to see where the rest of the league stands as far as how many players they are away from the Super Bowl, right here for your viewing pleasure.
Next: https://buffalowdown.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=41464&action=edit
"The Bills’ defensive line has sacked opposing QBs on an NFL-best 9.9 percent of drop backs the past two seasons. So, it can be tricky to separate individual success from the performance of the unit as a whole. There were plenty of games this season in which both Mario Williams and Kyle Williams could be considered in the elite category, but it’s hardly an injustice to give Dareus the nod over both of them.Signing Graham last offseason has been one of the best moves of general manager Doug Whaley’s tenure. The Bills raised some eyebrows by giving the eighth-year veteran a four-year, $16 million contract when they already had an established core group of cornerbacks, but Whaley made it clear he wanted to build depth at the position.One of the bigger names on the free-agent market this spring, Hughes should spark some healthy debate about his true value. Is he actually a good player, or just an average one surrounded by a glut of talent? After compiling just five sacks in three seasons with the Colts, Hughes was traded to the Bills and exploded for 20 sacks since 2013.– Mike Rodak, ESPN"
Check the link above to see what else Mike had to say about the Bills and where they were rated.
"The Bills’ defensive line has sacked opposing QBs on an NFL-best 9.9 percent of drop backs the past two seasons. So, it can be tricky to separate individual success from the performance of the unit as a whole. There were plenty of games this season in which both Mario Williams and Kyle Williams could be considered in the elite category, but it’s hardly an injustice to give Dareus the nod over both of them.Signing Graham last offseason has been one of the best moves of general manager Doug Whaley’s tenure. The Bills raised some eyebrows by giving the eighth-year veteran a four-year, $16 million contract when they already had an established core group of cornerbacks, but Whaley made it clear he wanted to build depth at the position.One of the bigger names on the free-agent market this spring, Hughes should spark some healthy debate about his true value. Is he actually a good player, or just an average one surrounded by a glut of talent? After compiling just five sacks in three seasons with the Colts, Hughes was traded to the Bills and exploded for 20 sacks since 2013.– Mike Rodak, ESPN"
Check the link above to see what else Mike had to say about the Bills and where they were rated.
Signing Graham last offseason has been one of the best moves of general manager Doug Whaley’s tenure. The Bills raised some eyebrows by giving the eighth-year veteran a four-year, $16 million contract when they already had an established core group of cornerbacks, but Whaley made it clear he wanted to build depth at the position.
One of the bigger names on the free-agent market this spring, Hughes should spark some healthy debate about his true value. Is he actually a good player, or just an average one surrounded by a glut of talent? After compiling just five sacks in three seasons with the Colts, Hughes was traded to the Bills and exploded for 20 sacks since 2013.
Signing Graham last offseason has been one of the best moves of general manager Doug Whaley’s tenure. The Bills raised some eyebrows by giving the eighth-year veteran a four-year, $16 million contract when they already had an established core group of cornerbacks, but Whaley made it clear he wanted to build depth at the position.
One of the bigger names on the free-agent market this spring, Hughes should spark some healthy debate about his true value. Is he actually a good player, or just an average one surrounded by a glut of talent? After compiling just five sacks in three seasons with the Colts, Hughes was traded to the Bills and exploded for 20 sacks since 2013.
One of the bigger names on the free-agent market this spring, Hughes should spark some healthy debate about his true value. Is he actually a good player, or just an average one surrounded by a glut of talent? After compiling just five sacks in three seasons with the Colts, Hughes was traded to the Bills and exploded for 20 sacks since 2013.
One of the bigger names on the free-agent market this spring, Hughes should spark some healthy debate about his true value. Is he actually a good player, or just an average one surrounded by a glut of talent? After compiling just five sacks in three seasons with the Colts, Hughes was traded to the Bills and exploded for 20 sacks since 2013.
Check the link above to see what else Mike had to say about the Bills and where they were rated.
Check the link above to see what else Mike had to say about the Bills and where they were rated.
Check the link above to see what else Mike had to say about the Bills and where they were rated.
Check the link above to see what else Mike had to say about the Bills and where they were rated.