offde-fence

I agree that this team has the talent, now, to be competitive, if the rookies are as good as advertised. I think given a proven coach and system you'd see a playoff team, and no one in the media or nfl circles would question it. The weakest link here, now, imo, is the coaching. Can they put together the right game plans, can they prepare their players mentally and physically - can we get back our home field advantage, especially in the winter - those questions are the hinges on which this season hangs, and trent's play, of course. And as for Dynasty, I'd like to just know the Bills will be in Buffalo for another ten years before we start on the Dynasty talk.

I've wondered over the years why more teams haven't tried the no huddle offense. It worked so well in Buffalo, and it seems like it should be able to work if ran effectively. My concern here, as posted, is not that the Bills plan or might be planning on using the no huddle. What bothers me is that if they are planning on it, It Shouldn't Have Been Made Public!!! The Patriots will now game plan for that. I'm all for seeing it, and, as I said, if done right it is a good scheme, but the Patriots are great at game planning. I'm guessing they'll have an answer for it, or at least be able to deal with it a lot better than if it were kept secret. And, it wouldn't surprise me a bit if they use the no huddle against us in that first game. Bellichek has a kind of weird humor like that. Anyway, I like the idea, I just wish they would've kept it secret, so we could have taken the Pat's by surprise.

We used our first five picks on areas of necessary upgrade, and look to be good picks at that. I really wanted E. Brown, more than any of the other DE's. We'll have to trust their grades, though, and wait and see. I also thought, since there were so many good options deep into the second and even third round, that the Bills should have traded up more to get, perhaps E. Brown, or Sidbury when he was there. Still, we got a retooled O-line, DE, TE, and playmaking Safety. They put together with this years picks as competitive a group as possible, without loading up too much in one area. My guess is that with next years coach up in the air, the top of the F.O. didn't think fairly about trading away next years picks for this years possible gains. I'd bet Juaron wouldn't have minded, though. We'll have to wait and see. I think we'll be a balanced team if we stay healthy. I hope, too, on a different note, that the Bills look hard at what the Giants did to New England in the SB. It seems like the best way to deal with that team.

If they've got the salary cap room, and want to assemble the best team possible, and an upgrade is available, I'd think they'd make a run at a few positions, especially OLB. Who knows with this team. I just don't think they'd get too deep into a bidding war with anyone. Are there many F.A.'s out there still that'd be an upgrade for us at either DT or OLB?

I'd say Keiaho or Brooks would be enough to make us competitive. That outside LB spot is the only realy glaring hole, now, IMO. The rest would be luxuries. But, I think the Bills move to get one of the FA Tampa 2 ready OLB's. That'd be my guess as to why they didn't seriously pursue any starting quality LB's in the draft.

In regards the Bills not taking an OT, let us consider that the glaring hole - that being OT - certainly wouldn't have slipped by the F.O. It's not like come Monday they'll be, all of a sudden, saying, "Oh, crap, we forgot about Tackle!" Those potential replacements were passed on for a reason. They either think the guys they've got and assembled will do it, or, they are considering bringing someone in. Remember, they aren't looking to the future; they know they have to win now. I'd also like to point out that, although I consider the lines the very most important part of a team, there have been successful teams of late with lesser lines on paper than the one we can start with as is.

I wouldn't be at all surprised, with all the talk about how we're going to be a pass happy team this year, if we aren't more of a run, run, pass oriented team. We've got Lynch, Jackson, and Rhodes, and drafted some tough interior linemen. I'd bet be run a lot more than people would think, and use our reciever threats after we establish the run.

Harris wasn't meant to push any of the CB's on our roster. He's an experimental move, just as Byrd was. They are in win now mode, so the first five picks were meant to help this year. Peters had to go. I like that they got rid of him, after hearing him talk about how he justified not playing 100% some of the time, and after he screwed his teammates. I like that we are putting together a really good O-line. Let's hope they continue to build both lines. That where it starts. I think we'll like our Defense this year. It's gonna be fast, and we're gonna have a bunch of turnovers, IMO. We've got ball-hawks in McGee, McKelvin, and hopefully Byrd as safety. Add to that a healthy Schoebel, and Maybin, and Stroud, and Mitchell...as pressure...I think we've improved our D a lot, and we were 14 place last year. I'm looking to see us at top 5 this year.

Darkman, I like your thinking.

Nicely put. I have to disagree with some of the posts about Wilson and Whitner. I think Wilson did a fine job in transition from one positition to another, and I think Donte's arrest had nothing to do with it. It might be his production, but I doubt that, too. I think they saw a playmaker at safety and took him (remember, the big 4 teams last year and their safeties) and, are moving a few to linbacker. So, I don't think it reflects a particular dissatisfaction with any of the players, except, perhaps, Ko. He'd be the one to go, I'd think. I thought the other guys stepped in nicely in that spot. As for other positions and the leftovers from Marv - Kelsay is getting too much for too little. The others were appropriate releases, too, IMO. I like what I'm seeing from this years off-season. Will it be too late?

Good one. I'd have to agree that this draft was very well done. It looked like after the fourth round there was very little talent to be had. Leaning towards guys that can contribute to special teams is fine, considering we've got Bobby April running that show. Throw the guy some bones. I like the Byrd selection more and more when thinking of him as a safety. There is the fact that all four of the last teams playing last year had really good safeties, and now, we might have two. I think our F.O. knows what they need and stayed true to their board after Nelson, and will upgrade as much as possible now with F.A. to make this the best team they can. I'd expect to see an OLB signed within a week or two, and maybe a OT. and, fingers crossed, Henderson. Overall, on the draft, even with passing on E. Brown, I'd give them an A.

Looks like our scouting staff and F.O. is intent on taking our OLB's from the crop of college safeties. Not sure how that'll pan out. What do you think?

With our RB's, there is no excuse not to be one of the top five rushing teams in the nfl. Now that we have T.O. and Evans, and now Nelson, too, that stat should doubly improve, given that we've upgraded our O-line. It seems those moves on the O-line have given more strength and potential to both the running and passing games. Teams, it should seem, will have to be honest against us. Our defense should be more opportunistic, and our Special teams will regularly give us good field position. Lets see what the coaches can do, now that we've got all the weapons we could ask for.

There is no chance the Bills put up the kind of money he'd be demanding considering his recent off-field issues. They'll be real selective about character after the recent issues with our players. And besides character, they aren't going to pay twice as much for a guy when they can get another option at less than half the price. There are F.A. linebackers, at least three, out there for much less with Tampa 2 experience. It'll be one of those guys.

As a fan of this team, and often a critic of it, I have to say after four rounds I think the F.O. has done a remarkable job. Maybin being only 20 yrs old, with all the time and room for growth, is perhaps our next Bruce Smith. He could be a monster. Wood and Levitre bring consistency and nastiness to this O-line, which will benefit us, especially helping our great running backs achieve their potential. The Byrd pick puzzled me, especially over E. Brown - my favorite prospect - but, thinking that he could be our version of Sanders or Polemula - however you spell it - would be good. If he's that kind of safety, coupled with Whitner, Mcgee and Mcelvin, then we've got a really nice secondary. Then getting Nelson in the fourth, who fits to a T what we as fans wanted - a play maker at tight end - now we've got weapons through the air: Evans, Nelson, Reed/Parrish/Hardy/Johnson, and Owens - that is a nasty group of recievers, with our backfield as solid as it is! We can add a OLB in F.A. - there are some perfect fits out there, and hopefully Henderson, and our roster looks tough, fast, and mostly young. I'd say the F.O. is working hard with what they've got to put together a competitive team. I'm excited to see the results this fall.

We've got some respectable talent on the team. Our Defense, with some FA and Rookie additions could be in the top ten, and if this new line pans out, our offense should be productive. Our special teams is going to be very good. As a Bills fan, you don't always agree with the moves, and through this Juaron era we haven't moved forward at all, BUT, everyone in this organization knows this is a make or break year. It's Wilson's HOF year, to boot, and these players are tired of getting overlooked and beaten. I think that character drive is what motivated the departure of Peters and Dockery. So, we're going to have to sit back and watch, and hope these professionals know what they are doing and can put together a competitive team, that will certainly be young, and hopefully will have enough desire and drive to go out every week and play their butts off. Until they are out of the playoffs (in which case it is another few years of rebuilding) I'm going to expect to see the Bills prove that they're contenders. So far they haven't been close enough to be what we want, but they're going to do everything they can this year to do it. So, we'll see just how good this organization is. There won't be any excuses. And that is something to look forward to.

I agree with your assessment. This organization knows what they need to compete in their division, and in the nfl. They knew where they needed the most improvement, and studied up on the prospects, and if they passed on guys like E.Brown, and some linebackers, then I'll assume they've got a pretty good plan in place for this season. Looks like on day 1 they filled three big holes. I'd like to see them trade up into the third for another potential starter....or strike out on a couple sleepers.

I like that we've got a number of guys on the O-line that can be considered starters. No one knows what the lineup will be, and who will get left out...which means we'll have good depth. And, they're tough and nasty! If the LT postition works out, maybe we can finally let the RB's loose...Lynch, Jackson, and now Rhodes. If our RB's can have success, our passing game will open up that much more. On Defence, the Byrd pick makes so much more sense as a safety. I read an article about how the final four teams this last year all had impact, pro-bowl caliber safeties. Maybe, now, we'll have that tandem, too. With ball hawk CB's, and if Maybin grows into that beast, then all we need is a good OLB to have a really good D. Throw in Henderson. We could still pick up a good Tampa 2 linebacker in FA. So far, not bad.

What I wouldn't give to know what our F.O. is thinking. I screamed when they let E. Brown go past them not once, but THREE times! Man, with Maybin, then Wood, and Brown, we could've had one of the two go to linebacker, and we'd of nicely filled three holes, of the four glaring ones. My thoughts on Maybin are that he could be great or a bust - probably one or the other. Brown would've given us insurance, and our DE's are old - we could've had those positions covered for years. And the Byrd pick????????? What - even with the move to safety. I just don't understand their reasoning here. I really would've liked to see them move up or back in when there were still some really good guys at need positions for us. Now, once again, it is wait and see if they know a lot more about these players than we do as fans. The last ten years haven't been too reassuring. That sixth rounder we got this year for Peters is looking real nice... geniuses. I think everyone but Carolina is going to regret passing up Everette Brown.

People and things are not inherently boring. Boring is a word used to describe how one feels. That plane ride might have been completely different had a different person been sitting in your seat.

This is crazy thinking, I suspect all of the hard core members here will be busting on me hard for this, but I'm a layman psychologist - at least I get into the aspects of motivation - and I would like to see this experiment unfold. Mike Williams retired after playing very little for the Jaguars, and we all know what a bust he was for us... but, I read an article just now stating that he took some time off, and got healthy, and is now back down to his old playing weight, and is looking to take off another 20 lbs, putting him at around 345 lbs. His back is healed and he's been working out with none other than Derrick Dockery. When he left Buffalo, he said he didn't want to make excuses, But that he thought having two different HC's and two or three different Line Coaches and systems did detract from his play. Then, in Jacksonville, he got injured. Still, he was a beast in college, and certainly knows how to play the position, and has unique physical attributes. Here are some big IF's. If he could keep his weight down, and stay in shape, and bust his give it his all in practice and really crave excellence, then he might be able, still, to be good. He seemed a pretty intelligent person, and mature, in his comments during the interview. I believe some guys get a taste of failure, and live for a while as most of us do - that is having to work our butts off to get by - or, in his case, living a relatively normal life, then he might have truly grown to understand how fortunate he was five, six years ago, and be ready to redeem himself. So, why not give him a chance at absolute minimum pay with minimum commitment, and see what he can do? We'd lose nothing and perhaps gain... or even send a trainer or scout out to see him.

I just had a think: I've been obsessing over the last three or four weeks about the draft and picks, trading spots, and F.A. signings, and how good the Bills roster can be in this up-coming season, and out of left field like a K.O. punch I think: Can the Bills win with Dick J.? Is this the coach that is going to bring us a Super Bowl victory? All I can do is hope, because I have absolutely no faith or intuition that he can.

There is a lot of talk about Maybin and Orakpo, how each could be a bust, the positives and negatives of each. I say look at the film, watch the games, watch the flow, the nature of the player in the position. I think, watching these top DE prospects - and I know this isn't the thread - but, it's E. Brown who is the most naturally dominant DE. I think this guy will be a monster, a one of a kind kind of football player, one whose name will be heard on almost every play.... yeah.

I believe they are more content with their OT's than their DE's. An average offensive line and a really solid defensive line (NY Giants Super Bowl) does better than the reverse. And, I think the depth at O-line is much better than at DE. I'd be surprised if they didn't go DE with their first pick. I also think they are going to try to mimick what and how the Giants did against New England in the Super Bowl as a strategy for beating them.

I've mentioned this before: this draft is deep in our areas of need. The Bills also brought back an old scout, one who had some solid credentials. They know they need to fill those five spots - DE, OT, OG, TE, and OLB. That's five spots, and I think, (I hope) that they realize if they get these extra picks they are looking to move up, and up as much as possible to land four of the five starters - and good ones. If they can't get all five, they'll go back to F.A.'s and there are still some quality upgrades out there (I'm guessing OLB is the one they'd let slip in the draft and pick up the F.A., of which there are two or three still out there that would be good upgrades. If they can get a good starting DE, OT in round 1, and a starting OG in round 2, then in round 3 they can grab a good, fast, sticky hands TE. That would be four starters in the first three rounds. Whatever trades they need to make to do it, then so be it, as long as they are exceptional and able to immediately impact and improve our team. With rounds 4-7 and UDFA's and Vet F.A.'s, they can fill the other needs and add depth, and hopefully find a few gems that can be more than adequate. Between DE, OT, OG, TE, and OLB there are enough exceptional players at those postions in this draft to manage to land a combination of four out of the five in the first 3 rounds. Let's hope they do it.