The Buffalo Bills changed head coaches for the first time in nearly a decade.
Josh Allen might barely notice when he looks around the huddle.
The other side of the ball is a different story.
Buffalo released its first unofficial depth chart ahead of Sunday's season opener against the Houston Texans, giving the clearest look yet at how Joe Brady's first starting lineup could look.
The offense is mostly familiar. The defense is not.
Only two starters on offense are different from Buffalo's opening depth chart last season. The Bills could have more than twice that many changes on defense as coordinator Jim Leonhard installs a new 3-4 scheme.
The Bills visit the Texans at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, at Reliant Stadium.
Here's a look at Buffalo's projected
starting lineup, what's changed from last season and the complete depth chart.
Buffalo Bills projected starting offense vs. Texans
There are two changes to the Bills' offensive starters from a year ago.
- QB: Josh Allen
- RB: James Cook
- WR: DJ Moore — The biggest change among Buffalo's skill-position starters. The Bills traded with the Chicago Bears for Moore during the offseason.
- WR: Khalil Shakir
- WR: Keon Coleman
- TE: Dalton Kincaid
- LT: Dion Dawkins
- LG: Alec Anderson — Won the starting job over Austin Corbett in training camp.
- C: Connor McGovern
- RG: O'Cyrus Torrence
- RT: Spencer Brown
Buffalo Bills projected starting defense vs. Texans
The first thing that looks different is the formation.
Buffalo is listed in a base 3-4 defense under Leonhard after playing primarily out of a four-man defensive front under Sean McDermott.
That makes a direct position-by-position comparison imperfect, but the personnel turnover is obvious.
- DL: T.J. Sanders — Moves into a prominent role after being part of Buffalo's defensive tackle rotation as a rookie. He's listed as one of three starting defensive linemen.
- DL: Deone Walker — Takes over in the middle of the defensive front. DaQuan Jones occupied that role in Buffalo's old defense entering last season.
- DL: Ed Oliver
- OLB: Greg Rousseau
- OLB: Bradley Chubb — One of Buffalo's biggest offseason changes. Chubb signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract and replaces Joey Bosa as the veteran pass rusher opposite Rousseau.
- ILB: Terrel Bernard
- LB: Dorian Williams — Steps into a full-time starting role after Matt Milano opened last season alongside Bernard.
- CB: Christian Benford
- CB: Maxwell Hairston — Listed as the starter opposite Benford after beginning his rookie season on injured reserve last year.
- NB: Dee Alford — Signed a three-year, $15.75 million free-agent contract to take over the nickel job previously held by Taron Johnson. The Bills traded Johnson during the offseason.
- SS: Cole Bishop
- FS: C.J. Gardner-Johnson — Replaces Taylor Rapp and gives Buffalo another veteran addition to a secondary that changed substantially during the offseason.
Buffalo Bills projected special teams starters
- K: Tyler Bass
- P/H: Tommy Doman Jr. — The Bills' rookie seventh-round pick beat out veteran Mitch Wishnowsky for the job.
- LS: Reid Ferguson
- KR: Ray Davis
- PR: Dee Alford — His spot atop the punt-returner depth chart is one of the more surprising details in Buffalo's first release.
Buffalo Bills depth chart
The depth chart is unofficial and injuries could still alter Buffalo's actual Week 1 lineup.
Offense
QB: Josh Allen; Kyle Allen
RB: James Cook; Ray Davis; Ty Johnson
WR: DJ Moore; Joshua Palmer
WR: Khalil Shakir; Skyler Bell
WR: Keon Coleman; Tyrell Shavers (IR)
TE: Dalton Kincaid; Dawson Knox; Jackson Hawes; Keleki Latu
LT: Dion Dawkins; Jude Bowry
LG: Alec Anderson; Austin Corbett
C: Connor McGovern; Lloyd Cushenberry III
RG: O'Cyrus Torrence; Ar'maj Reed-Adams; Austin Corbett
RT: Spencer Brown; Tylan Grable
Defense
DE: T.J. Sanders; Landon Jackson; Phidarian Mathis (suspended)
NT: Deone Walker; Greg Gaines
DE: Ed Oliver; DeWayne Carter; Zane Durant (IR)
OLB: Greg Rousseau; Michael Hoecht; Mike Danna
ILB: Dorian Williams; Kaleb Elarms-Orr
ILB: Terrel Bernard; Joe Andreessen
OLB: Bradley Chubb; TJ Parker; Javon Solomon
CB: Christian Benford; Dee Alford
S: Cole Bishop; Jalon Kilgore
S: C.J. Gardner-Johnson; Damar Hamlin; Sam Franklin Jr.
CB: Maxwell Hairston; Davison Igbinosun
NB: Dee Alford; Jordan Hancock
Special teams
K: Tyler Bass
P: Tommy Doman Jr.
Holder: Tommy Doman Jr.
PR: Dee Alford; Ray Davis; Khalil Shakir (Q)
KR: Ray Davis; Ty Johnson (Q)
LS: Reid Ferguson
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills depth chart: Projected starting lineup vs. Texans
