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Continuing in the 'Upon Further Review' series, we'll take a look at how the linebackers, running backs and tight ends for the Bills graded out. It wasn't nearly as good as the defensive line, but they still held their own considering how the last two weeks went.
Linebackers
Nick Barnett
Time on Field: 87.3% snaps played; 62 totalStats: 6 tackles (4 solo), 1.5 sacks, TFL
Plus/Minus: -1
Observations: Nick Barnett didn't have his best game against Arizona, but proved to be especially effective late in the game when he was allowed to get after the Cardinals quarterbacks. He played mostly a contributing role to stuffing the run early on in the game. It wasn't until Kevin Kolb started ripping off yards in bunches that the Bills' run defense was called in to question. On one of them along the right side of the defense, Barnett failed to get off the block of the diminutive LaRod Stephens-Howling along the sideline. Another of his negative plays came in a complete mismatch, when he had to cover Larry Fitzgerald over the middle of the field. Predictably so, that play ended in an Arizona touchdown. Barnett missed a pair of tackles, but was dependable down the stretch for the Bills. Just an average game for the veteran.
Grade: B-
Season GPA: 2.80
Kelvin Sheppard
Time on Field: 45.1% snaps played; 32 total
Stats: 9 tackles (7 solo)
Plus/Minus: Even
Observations: In limited time on the field, Kelvin Sheppard played a solid game for the Bills. He lost his gap on a run to the outside when a blocker chopped out his legs from under him. However, Sheppard has been showing a nice fire when running sideline-to-sideline to either get to the ball carrier, or to force him a certain way. His tackles were mostly products of downfield runs.
Grade: B-
Season GPA: 2.78
Bryan Scott
Time on Field: 45.1% snaps played; 32 total
Stats: 5 tackles (4 solo)
Plus/Minus: +1
Observations: In the game against Arizona, Bryan Scott saw most of his time as the game was dwindling down and the Cardinals were in full-on passing mode. His best play of the game came when he covered a throw to the flat to Early Doucet, and roped the receiver down right at the line of scrimmage. Scott did bite on a play-action fake early on in the game that allowed an Arizona tight end to come free. Play-action fakes have been a problem for most of the Bills linebackers, though.
Grade: B-
Season GPA: 2.72
Nigel Bradham
Time on Field: 43.7% snaps played; 31 total
Stats: 3 tackles (2 solo)
Plus/Minus: +2
Observations: In his first start, Nigel Bradham continued his trend from last week of being around the ball carrier. His statistical production doesn't show it, but Bradham was all over the place for the Bills. Once again, the rookie started off very strongly and worsened as the game went along. He's a strong sideline-to-sideline linebacker that has the athleticism to make big plays. His instincts just have to come through hold the edge when the scheme and play dictates it. He's not there yet, but he has the talent to become a strong starter for the Bills.
Grade: B
Season GPA: 2.88
Arthur Moats
Time on Field: 5.6% snaps played; 4 total
Stats: None
Plus/Minus: Even
Observations: Benched for his performance in San Francisco, Moats got only a handful of snaps to spell Nigel Bradham when he needed it. In his four plays, there weren't any discernible plays for Moats.
Grade: B-
Season GPA: 2.64
Running Backs
Fred Jackson
Time on Field: 57.4% snaps played; 39 total
Stats: 16 carries, 53 yards, 5 receptions, 30 yards, TD, fumble lost
Plus/Minus: +6
Observations: Fred Jackson bounced back from a fumble on his first carry of the game to help the team in a few different ways. He really excelled a pair of times in pass protection to give Ryan Fitzpatrick more time to throw the ball. He also had some tough runs that got yardage that most running backs wouldn't get. However, he hasn't gotten back to being the complete Fred Jackson we're accustomed to since the injury. He remains the best option on the goal line, and exhibited that against Arizona. But his 3.3 yards per carry average in comparison to that of C.J. Spiller's drops his grade a bit.
Grade: B+
Season GPA: 2.95
C.J. Spiller
Time on Field: 42.6% snaps played; 29 total
Stats: 12 carries, 88 yards, 4 receptions, 22 yards, TD
Plus/Minus: +5
Observations: It looks as though the C.J. Spiller from the Jets, Chiefs and the first quarter of the Browns games was back in uniform on Sunday. Spiller, against a solid run defense, made people miss on plays that should have been stopped in the backfield. Even when some of his blockers missed their assignment, he overcompensated for them on a few plays. His side-steps, jukes and explosion are what makes him the most dynamic running back the Bills have to offer right now.
Grade: A-
Season GPA: 3.55
Corey McIntyre
Time on Field: 22.1% snaps played; 15 total
Stats: None
Plus/Minus: +2
Observations: The Bills seemed to get back to more of an old-school, fullback as the lead blocker, sort of offense more so than they have in their first five contests. McIntyre did a solid job on the very first snap to open up a hole for Fred Jackson (which resulted in a fumble lost). His work on Jackson's touchdown on the goal line also helped pave the way for a score.
Grade: B
Season GPA: 2.84
Tashard Choice
Time on Field: 1.5% snaps played; 1 total
Stats: None
Plus/Minus: Even
Observations: In one play on the field, Tashard Choice served as a blocker on a pass play.
Grade: B-
Season GPA: 2.82
Kyle Williams
Time on Field: 1.5% snaps played; 1 total
Stats: None
Plus/Minus: Even
Observations: That was the first time we saw Kyle Williams lined up in the backfield on the goal line. He didn't really make solid contact with anyone in the attempt. He shot one gap while McIntyre shot the other, and Fred Jackson chose the latter.
Grade: B-
Season GPA: 2.67
Tight Ends
Scott Chandler
Time on Field: 82.4% snaps played; 56 total
Stats: 1 reception, 4 yards
Plus/Minus: -1
Observations: It was a quiet game for Scott Chandler on Sunday. Mostly designated as a blocker for the Bills, Chandler had his ups and downs in that category. He missed a few blocks that resulted in contact right at the line of scrimmage. He did, however, have a block that sprung a first down in the fourth quarter. He also roped in his only reception for a first down. Against a porous Tennessee defense, Chandler will likely be a much bigger part of the game plan.
Grade: B-
Season GPA: 2.94
Lee Smith
Time on Field: 20.6% snaps played; 14 total
Stats: None
Plus/Minus: Even
Observations: Playing on the edge for all his time on the field this season, Lee Smith got hit with a personal foul penalty at a most inopportune moment. The Bills had the lead, and the ball, and were driving down the field to try and put the game away. His penalty after a run-for-loss not only compounded the negative play, but also made it close to impossible for the Bills to get a first down. He knows he can't make that mistake, and was kicking himself on the sidelines for it. As a blocker, Smith was solid as usual.
Grade: B-
Season GPA: 2.66
- 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