As I write this post, I've seen 21 different teams during this preseason. That means when you add together each team's offense, defense, and special teams, I've seen a total of 63-different units. I will say that without a doubt, the worst of any of those 63-units was EASILY the Buffalo Bills defense.

They can't tackle, they can't cover, they can't put pressure on the quarterback.

I guess the good news is that the Bills know it.

As one Buffalo coach told me, "we have to do everything we can to keep our defense off the field." Well, knowing you have a problem is the first step to recovery.

Last season, head coach Dick Jauron and defensive coordinator Perry Fewell somehow got this unit to overachieve. Their 10th ranking in scoring defense was a big reason why Buffalo surprised a lot of folks with a 7-9 record. Those two might have to be miracle workers for that to be the case again this year.

The losses of linebackers Takeo Spikes and London Fletcher-Baker will grab the headlines, but really, the crew is more athletic without them. They're also much more inexperienced, and for now, less talented. Maybe not for long, though.

Speaking about second-round pick, middle linebacker Paul Posluszny, Jauron told me "he gets it." He's not with the first unit yet, but "he's pushing hard." That would be a major step in the right direction. Current starters Angelo Crowell, John Di Giorgio and Keith Ellison all are hard working guys who give you everything they've got. The issue is, they just don't have a lot.

Things are better up front and behind....slightly.

On the defensive line Jauron thought that his team was "pretty deep, pretty strong at the defensive end position, but now that's all changed." Starters Chris Kelsay and pro bowler Aaron Schobel (who just got a new contract potentially worth $50 million this week) are still in tact, but pass rush specialist Ryan Denny will likely miss the entire season with a broken foot. Anthony Hargrove will miss the first four games of the season due to a league suspension. Thusly, the team signed veteran Al Wallace this week just to have somebody to backup Kelsay and Schobel. Wallace is officially a seven-year veteran, but made his NFL debut 11-years ago, and has bounced in and out of the league since while working as a junior high school assistant principal.

In the secondary, the team hasn't come close to replacing departed cornerback Nate Clements. Jason Webster and Terrence McGee are the starters, but both are just holding on. The hope is that second year man Ashton Youboty can step up and take over one of those spots, but he hasn't yet. Having safeties Ko Simpson, and Donte Whitner together for a second straight season should help. At times last year, Whitner was the defense's best player despite his rookie status, and this year he could take on that title full time. Not just by default, but because he actually has a chance to be that good. But on this defense he's a rarity.

Obviously, this team is going to rely heavily on it's offense, particularly at the start of the season. But, it's not like they appear ready to carry the load.

Quarterback J.P. Losman actually seemed to get better toward the end of the season in '06. What's surprising is that even a number of the coaches don't seem to be sold that he's turned the corner. Every coach I spoke with talked about how he must become more consistent. I was told that the reason he appeared to get better late in the year was that things were made so basic for him that they were able to "hold his hand." The problem is, you can only get away with that for so long.

Watching Losman, particularly when he throws the deep ball, you can see the flashes that give the Bills hope. Losman throws as pretty a long ball as any quarterback in the league. He also may be as tough as there is as well. Going into just his second year as a full time starter there should be a little leeway for him. This is his fourth season in the league. Not to mention, Buffalo spent a third-round pick this year on Stanford's Trent Edwards. Impatience is the norm in the NFL, so the jurors out there are just about ready to make the call on Losman's making it in Buffalo.

The Bills have tried to help him as much as possible with a group of running backs that may, as a unit, be the strength of the team. First-round pick Marshawn Lynch is "100% the real deal."

"He's a good runner, and a really good receiver" according to Jauron. He even does an decent job in pass protection, although that needs to get better (as is most often the case for a rookie who wasn't really asked to do it in college). Behind Lynch the Bills have former Bear Anthony Thomas, and fourth-round pick Dwayne Wright out of Fresno State, whom the coaches like in spot duty.

The Bills feel that they've upgraded the offensive line by adding left guard Derrick Dockery, Jason Whittle (who'll most likely be the starter at right guard), and right tackle Langston Walker. We'll see. The one guy that they don't have any concern about is left tackle Jason Peters who this year could catapult himself into the company of Walter Jones and Jonathan Ogden, joining the argument of "who is the best left tackle in the NFL?" Peters isn't there yet, but he's knocking on the door (along with San Diego's Marcus McNeill, by the way).

Lee Evans is a solid No. 1 receiver, the No. 2 role will be a group effort. Somehow out of Peerless Price, Josh Reed, and the speedy but small Roscoe Parrish, the Bills need to find a way to keep defenses honest in their coverages.

I don't mean this sarcastically, but the best unit on this squad is special teams. In fact, Buffalo's special teams are among the best in the league.

That may be the thing that allows Buffalo to tread water until it learns to swim. Jauron told me that this is his kind of team, one that isn't filled with stars, but guys looking to get better and a franchise looking to improve. He did a brilliant job last season in getting them to win seven games. The challenge could be tougher this season, but he seems ready for it. At least he knows what he's in for.