Bills offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris earned rave reviews for his coaching performance in 2011. Under his guidance, the revamped line easily exceeded expectations and gave up an NFL-low 23 sacks.

The Bills need him to work some magic if they hope to achieve similar results up front.

“We’re not as far along as we should be,” LG Andy Levitre said.

 Buffalo's offensive line has not had a smooth preseason. Right tackle Erik Pears, one of the team’s most pleasant surprises last season, is questionable for the season opener due to a groin injury. Pears’ injury has forced second-year pro Chris Hairston to the right side and out of a competition at left tackle with rookie Cordy Glenn. That essentially gave Glenn the starting job by default.
Along the interior of the line, C Eric Wood is making his way back from a torn ACL and has been limited throughout training camp.

That’s a lot of question marks for this stage of the preseason, and it’s no surprise that the results on the field have been mixed thus far.

“Week one of the preseason, not very good, and I’m being honest with you,” D’Alessandris said. “Week two, better. I’m hoping week three is even better. We’ll wait and see.”

Glenn remains the biggest question mark up front. The Bills chose Glenn with the 41st overall pick in April’s draft with the belief that he could step in and fill a need on the blind side.
The Bills let last year’s starter at left tackle, Demetress Bell, go in free agency. Glenn is massive at 6-foot-5, 343 pounds and has the tools to be productive but is clearly a work in progress at the moment.

“Cordy’s got great ability,” coach Chan Gailey said. “Ability’s not the issue. It’s just playing time. I think if he gets playing time, he’s got a chance to be a really good football player. He’s not done great against the two good pass rushers he’s faced (in preseason games), but he’s done OK. And I think that we see a great upside with him.”

Now that Glenn is the unquestioned starter on the left side, the next couple of weeks will be pivotal to establishing chemistry with Levitre, one of the rocks of the offensive line. After practice on Wednesday, the duo spent extra time going over calls and assignments.

“It’s very big for he and Andy to line up next to each other and them to continue to create communication there -- that’s really big,” Gailey said.

The Bills are hoping to get a boost once Wood gets the nod to return on a full-time basis. The emotional leader of the line, he returned to game action ahead of schedule, seeing a handful of reps against the Vikings in Week 2 of the preseason. He’s expected to see around 20 snaps against Pittsburgh on Saturday. 

“I think (he’s doing) really good,” D’Alessandris said. “From the type of surgery he had to where he's come, we'll continue to progress with him.”

If Wednesday’s practice was any indication, the Bills still have a long ways to go. The line had one of its most difficult practices of the preseason, and D’Alessandris was extremely vocal in making sure they knew about it.

“We’re working different combinations, communicating, (getting) all on the same page," he said. "It’s getting better. It’s not there yet, but we’re making progress.”

For more updates on the Bills follow correspondent Mark Ludwiczak on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLBUF and @MarkLud12.