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Smerlas 88

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Posts posted by Smerlas 88

    Bills will be making a major move at QB

    in The Stadium Wall Archives

    Posted

    Well written!

     

    The past decade should be noted as the decade of the embarassment and shame. Think about it, only Ferguson, Kelly and Flutie really have been worth their salt in three decades.

     

    Since Jack Kemp's last days, every time the Bills have had a perceived hole at QB, they've made a move. Be it a 1st day draft choice (which really didn't become relevant until the common draft, because the AFL draft choices could be lost to the NFL), a trade or both, the team has never stood pat. Even when the team has appeared set, they still made 1st day moves on QBs.

    This offseason represents another year when the Bills go in with a hole at QB. I expect a QB in the 1st 3 rounds & possibly a trade before the draft, spending one of these pick on a more seasoned QB.

    Here's a recap of what they've done.

    1970-Spent a 2nd rounder on Dennis Shaw, who became the starter.

    1973-Not happy with Dennis Shaw, after his promising beginning, the team drafts Joe Ferguson in the 3rd round. He starts from day 1 as a rookie.

    In between Ferguson's rookie year in 1973 and his final year in 1984 the team spent a number of high picks on QBs looking earlier for a solid backup & then Fergy's eventual successor. The 1st day picks are 1974-Gary Marangi (3rd round), several later round QBs throughout the 1970s, 1980 Gene Bradley (2nd), 1982 Matt Kofler (2nd), 1983 Jim Kelly (1st).

    With Ferguson done after 1984, Kelly in the USFL, and Joe Dufek ending up the starter that season, the team did some major work to upgrade the QB spot in 1985 trading a mid-rounder for former Super Bowl QB Vince Ferragamo and drafting Frank Reich in the 3rd round. Then they went to the scrap heap to get Bruce Mathison after they decided to dump Dufek. With Ferragamo failing, Mathison became the starter and Ferragamo got cut, ending the season in Green Bay. Now forward to the following year & the Bills sign Art Schlichter to go with Reich & Mathison, but their real target is 1983 draft choice Jim Kelly, who signs a big contract & along with Frank Reich, solidifies the QB position for the next decade.

    With Kelly aging, and Frank Reich leaving for a chance to start in Carolina, the Bills look ahead & spend a 2nd round pick on Todd Collins. In 1997 the Bills are not sure Collins can do it, so they trade a 3rd rounder for some competition-Billy Joe Hobert. Collins ends up the starter but only gets a year to prove himself as the starter and doesn't cut it well enough to satisfy the team.

    It is now 1998 and the Bills once again see a hole at QB. With starter Todd Collins on the thinnest of ice, 1st they bring in Doug Flutie and then go for the gold (and get manure instead) sending 1st rd pick #9 and a 4th to Jacksonville for Rob Johnson, who promptly signs a 5 year $25 million contract.

    Nothing happens between 1998 & 2000 because the Bills feel they have 2 QBs and are set. The only move for 2001 is to decide which QB to keep between Johnson & Flutie. They conduct interviews with both to see what they think of the team's offensive plans for 2001. The choice turns out to be an easy one as egomaniacs Tom Donahoe & Gregg Williams hear Johnson willing to toe the line while Flutie tells them he'll try it, but if it doesn't work out he wants to do it his way. Egomaniacs don't like that & cut Flutie.

    After the 2001 final failure of Rob Johnson, the team once again has a hole at QB. They once again make the big move, trading a future 1st round pick for Drew Bledsoe. Bledsoe makes the Pro Bowl in 2002 and even though he tailed off in the 2nd half he's the unquestioned starter.

    After a shaky 2003 season the Bills aren't quite sure how much Bledsoe has left, so they go bold again in 2004. 1st they try to trade up for Ben Roethlisberger, then failing to do so, they end up once again bombing in a bold QB move trading a 2nd, 5th & a future 1st for JP Losman.

    In 2005 with Bledsoe gone and Losman named the starter, the Bills get insurance with Kelly Holcomb signing as a free agent. Then in 2006 they sign UFA Craig Nall and in 1987 draft Trent Edwards in the 3rd. Through 2009 they now feel Trent Edwards is the answer, but they need a backup after JP Losman leaves & sign Ryan Fitzpatrick with the intent of having a non-threatening #2. Eventually career 3rd Gibran Hamdan, Trent's best buddy, is waivd when Trent is benched & Brian Brohm is signed as the new #3 and the team's latest project. Hamdan returns when Buddy Trent goes down for the season.

    After this season's disaster the Bills are in a familiar spot-No QB is on the roster that they can confidently pencil in as the starter for 2010. History says they will make a bold move, going for QB gold no later than April's draft. This means they will go with at least 1 new QB, possibly two. If the Bills go into the draft without acquiring one of Philadelphia's QBs in a trade, team history almost guarantees the selection of a QB no later than round 3 and more likely round 1 or 2. Don't be surprised if the Bills trade up in the 1st round if they have Bradford or Claussen targeted. This team has never been afraid to make the bold move for a QB and I'm sure Ralph, who has been the one constant in the Bills history, has told Buddy Nix to get him a high profile QB.

    Coaching search

    in The Stadium Wall Archives

    Posted

    Glad you asked.

    It's simple.

    Nix isn't a "west coast offense" type of guy.

    He fundamentally doesn't believe in a ball control game through passing.

    He's an old fashioned SEC type coach that wants big strong tough players.

    He's not into finesse.

    So, no Holmgren, Billick or anybody else from Lavalle Edwards/Bill Walsh coaching trees.

     

     

    To end the search in one simple frase: FUBAR

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