ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- I had an opportunity to catch up with Buffalo Bills left tackle Langston Walker after Thursday night's 17-6 loss to the Detroit Lions in Ralph Wilson Stadium.

	Rick Stewart/Getty Images
	Langston Walker knows the Bills’ offensive line is still a work in progress.

Buffalo's first-team offensive line was the only unit to start the preseason finale, indicating it's still a work in progress. Those five men and tight end Derek Schouman were the only regulars who didn't get the night off.

Even though Walker has started every game for the past three seasons, including one with the Oakland Raiders, his job isn't safe. Though he'll keep it for now. Second-year upstart Demetrius Bell was pushing him but suffered a back injury Aug. 24. Bell hasn't practiced since and has missed so many precious reps.

I caught Walker in front of his locker stall. Across the way, backup lineman Jonathan Scott serenaded Walker, who turned 30 on Thursday, with "Happy Birthday" and various taunts.

Now that training camp and all five preseason games are over, where do you think the offensive line stands in its development?

LW: We're still trying to come together. We're just one part of the offense, a major part of the offense. But we need to work in house and hope everything comes together. Everybody's working hard. We've just got to come out, show up and have fun because when it comes down to it, that's what good teams do: work hard and have fun. We're not having any issues when it comes to guys not finishing plays or knowing what they're doing or being coached in the right way. It's just a matter of coming together, and that's something you can't teach.

Do you think you're still trying to find your personality as a unit?

LW: To a certain extent, you're always trying to find your personality, especially now that you've got to make cutdowns and different guys are going to be in there. For the most part, everything's pretty much set in stone. But I guess what really counts is Monday night in Foxborough.

Did installing the no-huddle offense while also juggling so many players on the offensive line make the unit's development more difficult?

LW: I'm not going to lie. It does make things a little tough. But I don't think anybody's going to complain about it. It's a great offense. We've just got to perfect it.

At this point, a few more teammates join in the singing and teasing. Walker's laughing and distracted. My digital recording becomes tougher to decipher.

LW: I was digging [Scott] for the last couple weeks. Now it's my time for payback.

Thankfully, I still jot down notes while conducting an interview. Although I don't have the exact quotes, I asked Walker what he felt the line's biggest deficiency was moving forward. He said it came down to experience and continuing to work together to find that ever-important O-line chemistry that's so critical.

I then asked Walker what he needed to work on personally. He said any analysis he makes about the offensive line begins with him, that he still needs to keep working on his sets, his punches and finishing blocks.