31-year old placekicker Rian Lindell is money in the bank for the Bills.  The amazing thing about that is the fact that the often terrible weather in the 2nd half of the season in Buffalo doesn’t seem to effect him at all.  Lindell played in all 16 games for the Bills last season and he was 24 of 27 (88.9%) on field goals and he made all 24 of his extra points.  Lindell is very important to the Bills because the offense wasn’t potent last year often leaving it to him to put points on the scoreboard.  Lindell has now played in 124 games in his NFL career and he has converted 175 of 217 field goals (80.6%) and all 248 of his extra point attempts in his career.  Look for Lindell to have another outstanding season in 2008 for the Bills.

The Bills have essentially been using their tight ends as extra offensive linemen because they don’t throw the ball much to them.  6′4″, 255 pound veteran Robert Royal will be the starter for the Bills in 2008.  He played in 16 games (15 starts) for the Bills last season and he caught 25 passes for 248 yards (9.9 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  Don’t expect numbers better than that in 2008 as the Bills will be looking to throw to other players in the passing game.  Royal has now played in 67 games (59 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 79 passes for 730 yards (9.2 avg) with 11 TD grabs.

2nd year man Derek Schouman has converted to TE from fullback and he is currently #2 on the Bills’ depth chart at the position.  He is 6′2″, 247 pounds and he has good hands and is a solid blocker.  He played in 3 games (1 start) last season for the Bills and he caught 3 passes for 19 yards (6.3 avg) as a rookie.

Rookie Derek Fine could move up the depth chart quickly if he plays well in training camp and the pre season.  Fine is 6′3″, 245 pounds but he runs a 4.8 40 so don’t expect a lot of long pass plays out of him.  Fine played in 13 games (10 starts) last season for Kansas and he caught 46 passes for 394 yards (8.6 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  Fine finished up his career at Kansas having played in 48 games (33 starts) and he caught 98 passes for 1,009 yards (10.3 avg) with 10 TD grabs.

6′6″, 270 pound veteran Courtney Anderson will try to work his way up the depth chart before the season begins.  He played in 4 games (0 starts) last season for the Lions and Falcons and he didn’t catch a pass for either team.  Anderson has now played in 43 games (28 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 62 passes for 763 yards (12.3 avg) with 6 TD grabs.  He could surprise this season if he’s healthy and focused.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  D

The Bills drafted James Hardy in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft to provide a big target for Bills’ QBs and to help stop teams from doubling up on Lee Evans.  We shall see if it will work out or not.  Evans is 5′10″, 197 pounds and he’s as fast as lightning.  Evans started all 16 games for the Bills last season and he caught 55 passes for 849 yards (15.4 avg) with 5 TD runs.  Opposing teams doubled him almost every game because the Bills didn’t have anyone else they had to worry about in the passing game.  If Hardy does a good job on the other side of the field Evans could have his best season yet.  Evans has now played in 64 games (57 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 233 passes for 3,727 yards (16.0 avg) with 29 TD grabs.  He’s also shifty on trick plays as he has carried the ball 9 times for 123 yards (13.7 ypc) in his career.

6′6″, 220 pound James Hardy gives the Bills a legitimate big target for the first time in years.  He’s not the fastest runner around but he has good hands and his size helps him win a lot of jump balls.  Hardy played in 13 games (all starts) at Indiana last season and he caught 79 passes for 1,125 yards (14.2 avg) with 16 TD grabs.  Hardy finished up his career at Indiana having played in 33 games (32 starts) in which he caught 191 passes for 2,740 yards (14.3 avg) with 36 TD grabs.  He should have a solid rookie season for the Bills.

Mighty mite Roscoe Parrish is fast but he’s too small to take a constant beating as he is only 5′9″, 171 pounds.  Parrish will likely either be the #3 or #4 WR for the Bills this season.  He played in 16 games (3 starts) for the Bills last season and he caught 35 passes for 352 yards (10.1 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 19 yards (6.3 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Look for Parrish’s numbers to spike a little bit this season as the Bills try to create mis-matches with his speed in the slot.  Parrish has now played in 42 games (5 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 73 passes for 820 yards (11.2 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  Parrish has also carried the ball 7 times for 35 yards (5.0 ypc) with 1 TD run.

Josh Reed is a possession receiver and he can take the punishment going over the middle as he is 5′10″, 210 pounds.  Reed has good hands but he doesn’t have good enough speed to make really big plays.  Reed played in 15 games (9 starts) for the Bills last season and he caught 51 passes for 578 yards (11.3 avg).  He also carried the ball 4 times for 10 yards (2.5 ypc).  If Reed wins the #3 WR job in training camp he could catch a lot of balls this season for the Bills.  Reed has now played in 88 games (35 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 228 passes for 2,687 yards (11.8 avg) with 8 TD grabs.  Reed has also carried the ball 14 times for 57 yards (4.1 ypc) in his NFL career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C