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Here's a look at how they graded out:
Linebackers
Nick Barnett
Time on Field: 64.8% snaps played; 46 total
Stats: 6 tackles (3 solo)Blitz Count: 5
Plus/Minus: +4 (5 positive, 1 negative)
Observations: For the second straight week, Nick Barnett was out on the field for every snap that mattered for the Buffalo Bills. He came out in the second half with the game well in hand just to allow Arthur Moats get some reps at WLB, Nigel Bradham to get time at SLB and Kelvin Sheppard to be out there in nickel situations. Barnett continues to be one of the major reasons that the Bills have been so stout against the run. He exhibits a great feel to stuff the proper lane and forces the runs to the outside. Even though he didn't get a full piece of him, his hit on Peyton Hillis on the goal line is what held up the running back long enough for him to reach the ball out and fumble it. If the Chiefs scored there, it could have been an entirely different second half than the dominating effort that we saw from the Bills throughout. His only weak point of the contest was when he was in man coverage on tight end Kevin Boss, to which he lost his assignment. Another great outing for the Bills' top linebacker.
Grade: A-
Season GPA: 3.70
Kelvin Sheppard
Time on Field: 43.7% snaps played; 31 total
Stats: 4 tackles (all solo), sack, TFL, QB Hit
Blitz Count: 6
Plus/Minus: -1 (3 positive, 4 negative)
Observations: One thing that was noticeably different from the Bills' first game to the second game was how many times they blitzed at least one linebacker. The player that was used the most in that respect was middle linebacker Kelvin Sheppard, blitzed a whopping six times. It worked for the second-year player, getting a free shot at Matt Cassel to which the quarterback dove to the ground and accepted his fate of a sack. Early on, Sheppard was very good against the run. He showed the poise to keep his eye on the runner and change along with him. As the game wore on, though, Sheppard misread the hole a couple of times. He also has to be careful not to bite on a play action attempt, which he did early in the game. It was another average outing for Sheppard where he flashed at times and left some to be desired at others.
Grade: B-
Season GPA: 2.7 GPA
Arthur Moats
Time on Field: 39.4% snaps played; 28 total
Stats: 3 tackles (2 solo)
Blitz Count: 1
Plus/Minus: +2 (3 positive, 1 negative)
Observations: Through the first two games, strongside linebacker Arthur Moats has been impressive and more effective than you think he would be. He shows a very good feel for the strongside when the run is going away from him. He has very good body control in keeping and flowing with the play. He showed the ability to fight through blocks as well as some good recognition skills. The one area of his game that is still a work in progress is when he's in coverage. On the Alex Carrington sack and forced fumble play, Moats was beaten soundly downfield by his assignment in man-to-man coverage.
Grade: B
Season GPA: 3.0
Bryan Scott
Time on Field: 36.6% snaps played; 26 total
Stats: 1 tackle
Blitz Count: 1
Plus/Minus: Even (2 positive, 2 negative)
Observations: In the second week, Bryan Scott continued his 'Johnny-on-the-spot' ways by jumping on the loose ball in the end zone when Peyton Hillis fumbled it at the goal line. He showed a nice feel for zone looks while focusing on the eyes of the quarterback. The one play that comes to mind was where it looked as though Dexter McCluster may have had a seam to turn a short-yardage catch up field, Scott sensed it and put a stop to the play.
Grade: B-
Season GPA: 2.86
Nigel Bradham
Time on Field: 33.8% snaps played; 24 total
Stats: 3 tackles (2 solo)
Blitz Count: 0
Plus/Minus: +1 (2 positive, 1 negative)
Observations: While Nigel Bradham does show some flashes at times, it doesn't appear he's ready to challenge Arthur Moats for the strongside linebacker job just yet. He took a few steps forward too many and was engulfed by a blocker early on in to his time on the field. As he continued to get more time, he got a little bit more comfortable. He'll give a nice little pop to a tight end within the five yard area as the player is going out for a route. Bradham also had a play where he staved off a blocker enough to close the running lane with one arm and dragged down the tackler along with a teammate.
Grade: B-
Season GPA: 2.62
Chris White
Time on Field: 9.9% snaps played; 7 total
Stats: 3 tackles (all solo)
Blitz Count: 1
Plus/Minus: +1 (1 positive, 0 negative)
Observations: The thing that stuck out during Chris White's first plays on defense this season was his closing speed. He brings that special teams mentality that will get him caught sometimes, but he flies to the ball carrier and makes solid contact most times.
Grade: B
Season GPA: 3.0
Running Backs
C.J. Spiller
Time on Field: 67.3% snaps played; 37 total
Stats: 15 carries, 123 yards, 2 TD, 3 receptions, 47 yards
Plus/Minus: +6 (7 positive, 1 negative)
Observations: Yet another game where C.J. Spiller gets the MVP honors for his performance on the field. Spiller, combined with a 'spread 'em out' style of offense, was incredibly difficult to contain early on for the Kansas City Chiefs. His patience and decisiveness are what has made him in to the type of player that leads the NFL in rushing through two weeks. Once again, his ability to set up a defender in the distance with a cut to gain more yardage was on display. His vision, on the screen play especially that brought the Bills down to the goal line, proved to be top notch as well. His only negative play was on the botched handoff, fake handoff, or whatever it was with the Bills in a Wildcat look in the 3rd quarter. It's going to be very hard for Spiller to keep up this pace all season long, but he's off to a great start.
Grade: A
Season GPA: 4.0
Tashard Choice
Time on Field: 25.5% snaps played; 14 total
Stats: 8 carries, 37 yards
Plus/Minus: +1 (2 positive, 1 negative)
Observations: Predictably getting more time due to the Fred Jackson injury, Choice did well with the opportunity. His toughness stands out through all his runs, often absorbing contact and continuing for two to three more yards. He dropped a pass on a 3rd-and-5 late in the game that would have been close to a first down. Other than that, Choice had a nice outing.
Grade: B-
Season GPA: 2.58
Corey McIntyre
Time on Field: 14.6% snaps played; 8 total
Stats: None
Plus/Minus: Even (0 positive, 0 negative)
Observations: Mostly used as a special teams player by the Bills in 2012, McIntyre saw most of his eight plays late in the contest as the team was trying to run out the clock.
Grade: B-
Season GPA: 2.86
Johnny White
Time on Field: 10.9% snaps played; 6 total
Stats: 5 carries, 11 yards
Plus/Minus: Even (0 positive, 0 negative)
Observations: A ho-hum game for Johnny White, who was only brought in late in the game to get the team out of Ralph Wilson Stadium without any added injuries.
Grade: B-
Season GPA: 2.7
Tight Ends
Scott Chandler
Time on Field: 92.7% snaps played; 51 total
Stats: 2 receptions, 53 yards, TD
Plus/Minus: -2 (4 positive, 6 negative)
Observations: Scott Chandler has proved to be a dependable target for Ryan Fitzpatrick, accounting for 20-percent of Ryan Fitzpatrick's completions in the game. One of those two receptions included Fitzpatrick's best throw of the day to the end zone for the team's third touchdown. Chandler is solid for the Bills in that respect, but he didn't have a great day blocking for the Bills against the Chiefs. He whiffed on a few blocks, where his assignment got in to either make the tackle or be a part of the group to bring down the Bills' runner. You could see him get upset with himself on a few different occasions. That's not the best part of his game, but he can be better.
Grade: B-
Season GPA: 3.01
Lee Smith
Time on Field: 23.6% snaps played; 13 total
Stats: None
Plus/Minus: -2 (0 positive, 2 negative)
Observations: A week after demolishing people as a blocking tight end, Lee Smith took a step back. Early in the game, he lost Tamba Hali in a run blocking effort. Not doing anything to stand out, Smith's time was not at all voluminous up until the Bills got up big in the second half. Smith was also whistled for a holding call. He'll still be a big part of the running offense this season, it just wasn't his best game.
Grade: C
Season GPA: 2.7 GPA
Dorin Dickerson
Time on Field: 10.9% snaps played; 6 total
Stats: 1 rush, -8 yards
Plus/Minus: -1 (0 positive, 1 negative)
Observations: Getting more time than he had against the New York Jets, Dickerson stood out only once on the H-back reverse at the goal line. While the play call wasn't his fault, the fact that he wouldn't go down and very nearly had the ball ripped out of his hands was. In that situation, you just have to cut your losses, minimize it and go after it the next play.
Grade: C+
Season GPA: 2.22
- Those that did not appear in the game on offense or defense were not graded.
- For obvious reasons, this is a report that highlights my findings and opinions from the individual games.
- The GPA's attached at the bottom are an overall grade of how I felt that player performed, basing it all on the play-by-play film review done throughout the week. B- is considered average on my scale, not C.
- Plus/minus scores and GPAs will be tracked as the season goes along. An individual game's GPA will be weighted with how many snaps that player has on the field in the contest when figuring out a season long average.
Twitter: @JoeBuscaglia