2003Contenders

Getting back to the original poster's question about what was said at the time... I remember all of this stuff like it was yesterday. First the history of why the Bills selected Losman. The team was coming off a very disappointing 6-10 season, a year after having gone 8-8 and having revamped the defense with acquisitions like Takeo and Adams. Despite the poor record, the defense played very well, and Travis Henry had a pretty good year too. The primary blame, then, fell on the shoulders of Bledsoe, whose skills were clearly declining and Gilbride, who had just gone out the door with Gregg. Mularkey was the new coach, Pittsburgh's former offensive coordinator who had cleaned up after Gilbride once before in Pittsburgh and was credited with having turned Tommy Maddox's career around. Repaying long time debts, Mularkey hired Sam Wyche as the new QB coach. With Bledsoe's days numbered, the team agreed that they needed to find an heir apparent, and one of Wyche's first tasks was to scout the young guys coming out of college. Wyche attended Eli Manning's workout in New Orleans. After Eli was done and most of the scouts left, Wyche hung around for JP's much less pulicized workout. Wyche came away believing that JP had had the better workout that day. He felt that JP's arm was stronger and he was more athletic than Manning. Heading into the draft, the QB that the team had ranked as their #1 QB was Roethlisberger. They knew that the Steelers had their sights set on him and tried to trade up ahead of the #11 spot to get him. With Big Ben gone, the Bils stayed pat at #13 and drafted Lee Evans. They had a borderline 1sr round/2nd round grade on JP, but knew that he would be gone before the 2nd round, since their intel led them to believe that both the Packers and the Rams, who were picking in the mid 20's were considering drafting him. They also saw a significant drop-off between JP and their next ranked QB. Moreover, Donahoe and Modrak looked ahead to the next year's draft, and they were not convinced that there was a 1st-round quality QB coming out in 2005 that would be ranked as highly as JP was at THAT time. Thus, they made the move to come up out of the 2nd round to draft JP. The addition of the new 1st round pick (from Dallas) cost them their 2004 2nd and 5th rounders as well as their 2005 1st rounder. What was said at the time. Kiper had Losman ranked as an early 2nd round pick. He saw the move by the Bills to be a slight reach, but he understood the reasoning, so he was not highly critical. He agreed with the assessment that, from a physical standpoint, JP ranked right up there with Manning/Rivers/Big Ben. However, questions about his leadership, maturity and ability to read a defense dropped his grade. Mort's focus was more on the fact that, by making the trade with the Bills, Dallas had lost out on the best running back in the draft, Steven Jackson. And RB was a great position of need for the Cowboys, who wound up taking Julius Jones with the Bills' 2nd round pick. Jaws LOVED the pick. He predicted that Losman would be a much better pro than Rivers. He showed clips of JP's ability to throw the deep out, which he said was the hardest pass to throw in the NFL. He agreed that JP would be entering the league behind the other three in terms of his development but felt that he had the advantage of having Wyche, who had groomed Montana and Esiasen, as a QB coach. Hodge didn't like the pick because he felt that JP was too erratic. Meanwhile, Mike Mayock was probably the most prophetic of all. He said that JP was probably the most naturally gifted QB in the draft. He predicted that there would be plays where he would do something that would make you say "Wow!" then he would turn around and do something that would make you shake your head. His success would depend upon how much a team would be able to live with his mistakes. He also reckoned that his situation may not be too bad if he had 2 or 3 years to sit behind Bledsoe. And our friend Jerry Sullivan? Well, he was in his full anti-Drew mode at that time. In his last article leading up to the draft, he DEMANDED that the Bills do whatever they had to do to secure drafting a top flight QB. Then after the draft, he criticized them for giving up too much to move up for what he thought was a fringe QB like Losman. In hind-sight he was right about their giving up too much, but the Bills had no shot at Manning/Rivers/Big Ben.

True. My biggest concern is that the Dolphins and Jets have made huge strides, whereas Buffalo hasn't. Heading into the season, I suspected 8-8 or 9-7, believing that we would be swept by New England again but go 3-1 against the Jets and Dolphins. When we got off to the fast start and Brady went down for the Pats, I honestly thought we could be headed for 11-5. Still, based on my original forecast, we are right about where I suspected we would be.

I would say that there was some hyperbole there, but I also agree that the dump-offs were the right way to combat the defense that the Cleveland put out there. In fact, instead of looking at the stats and using the low number of yards that the ball actually traveled in the air versus what Lynch was able to do with the ball after the catch as an indictment on Edwards, I look at it as just the opposite. Namely, Lynch was able to get so many yards after the catch partly because he was having a monster game and partly because the dump offs were absolutely the right calls against that defense. The problem I have isn't with the dump offs per se. It is with the fact that Trent was so quick to check-down, when he had better downfield options available on some plays. Clearly his confidence was completely shot. However, if the Bills had been smart and used the short passing game from the start, the Bills would have won the football game going away.

Wrong. If the front office honestly believes that Trent is their QB, then they need to stick with him through thick and thin. Everyone that doesn't have blinders on understands that JP isn't the answer. Even if Trent continues to regress, plugging JP in to possibly save a game or two is not going to help us this year (when we honestly have to win out to make the playoffs). This is the same sort of knee-jerk idiocy that we went through back in 2005, which ruined JP (if he wasn't already ruined). We have 6 games to let Trent play through this mess. If he does, then we may look back on the second-half of this year as the turning point for him and the franchise. If he doesn't, then we have a large enough sample size to understand that we need to move in a different direction.

Actually, I think he is being very prudent here. He is actually doing a very good job of handling this situation given that Trent is certainly struggling -- and given that he really does NOT have another viable option. But you know what? It is probably BETTER that he doesn't have another option at this point. We have not been able to groom a quality young QB, since Jim Kelly. Some of the failed young QBs probably just sucked -- but some of them may have just been completely mishandled. I will always wonder what would have become of JP if Mularkey hadn't so mishandled him back in 2005. I applaud Jauron for riding through this current tumultuous wave with Edwards. Regardless of what happens, barring injury, Trent needs to be on the field. If Jauron is right and he learns from the struggles, then it will only help him going forward. If he doesn't snap out of this funk for these last 6 games, then we know that it may be time to look elsewhere for our QB of the future. I really wish that Jauron and Turk would have dialed up a creative pass play on that last series rather than just settling for the FG. A game winning TD pass would have done wonders for the young QB's battered ego. In the long run, perhaps the best thing for this team was that Lindell missed that kick.

Johnson did have a couple of decent catches, but he also dropped a crucial 3rd down pass that would have set us up in field goal range at a time where we REALLY needed some points. I find the whole Hardy thing befuddling. Then again, we wondered why Jauron went with an injured McGee over McKelvin in the Miami game and just assumed that is was because McKelvin wasn't getting it. All that I know is that I have seen McKelvin come in for an injured starter twice (McGee against the Rams and Greer last night), and he has proven to be up for the challenge. He also didn't play that badly against the Chargers. As far as Hardy goes, it may simply come down to a comfort factor. For whatever reason, maybe Trent just isn't comfortable throwing him the ball. Remember that he missed quite a bit of time in practice last week, so their timing may have been off as well.

He was open quite a bit last night and Edwards just couldn't find him.

1. Why so much love for McGee? B. Edwards was open all night. 2. If it were up to me, I would have gone with a play-action pass on 2nd or 3rd down on that final series. The defense would have never seen that coming -- and it probably would have led to a TD if not more of a sure thing FGA. Still, I understand why Jauron did what he did at the end of the game, given how poorly Trent had played all night. Yes, ALL NIGHT. He didn't just cease to suck after the INTs as some have suggested. He was missing wide open receivers down the field. (By missing, I mean not seeing them) Lynch really bailed him out on a number of plays. The horrible ankle throw to Fine on the rollout was a seriously missed opportunity. There was no one in front of Fine, and a good throw would have led to a long gain. 3. I REALLY enjoyed Jaws calling the game last night. He was very perplexed on that last drive before the end of the first half, when the Bills were running the ball so successfully why they didn't at least try a play-action pass. he seemed to suggest that perhaps ball-handling was not a strength for Trent. 4. In my mind, the two best players on the field last night (for either team) were our last two years' first round draft picks. With Greer coming off the field with the knee injury, I suspect we are probably going to see a lot more of Leodis the rest of the way. 5. OK, now that we have established that Evans WAS getting open from time to time and Trent just wasn't getting him the ball, shame on Turk for not dialing up some safe plays to get the ball into Lee's hands. Where were the WR screens? Slants? Also, for all of the time that Trent had in the pocket last night, I was looking for something like a pump-and-go? 6. One common denominator about the last 4 teams (besides the 3-4 defense) is that all 4 of them faced Trent before. I don't know if that has any bearing, but in baseball, they always talk about how hitters adjust to a new, young, hot shoot rookie pitcher the second time through the line-up. The teams that he went 4-0 against had NOT seen him before. 7. The offensive line seemed to get better as the game went on. I think so much of that is because the coaches wisely stuck with the running game. In fact, for the first time all year, Jason Peters looked like the 2007 Peters. In fact, you can add Peters to the list with McKelvin and Lynch for who looked best last night. 8. Aside from game planning for the Chiefs, the absolute best thing that the coaches can do is to go to work to help Trent's confidence this next week. The Chiefs should be made to order with their weak run defense. And it may actually be good for Trent to go out on the road. 9. What really hurts about this game is that, aside from the turnovers, the Bills played their most complete game of the season. And, were it NOT for the turnovers, the team would have won in lop-sided fashion. If they can play with that sort of intensity without the costly mistakes, there is no reason why they couldn't win every remaining game on their schedule! 10. Go Bills!

As I was listening to Jaws dissect the plays last night, I was thinking to myself wouldn't it be wonderful if the Bills could get him to come in and sit down with Trent for a week or two?

Boone, I know what you are getting at. In a game that was literally decided by inches and seconds, if any SINGLE play had gone the other way, then the outcome would have been much different. Earlier in the year, when the team was 4-0, it looked like they had finally turned the corner and "learned how to win". This improbable loss last night, shows that this is clearly not the case. In the old days, you could always count on a Bruce or a Talley to make a game saving play. Last night, there were clearly opportunities for players to do that -- and they didn't. (I discount the Simpson near-interception, because the Browns wound up punting the ball away anyway -- which was followed by the Bills' go-ahead TD. In retrospect, his not coming up with that ball played no role in the final outcome.) Also, I get that you are not singling any of these guys out but just saying that if any one of those plays had gone differently, the outcome would have been different. Still, when it is all said and done, the reason -- the REAL REASON -- that we we lost the game is because Trent had the worst game of his career. The 3 interceptions were bad, but the collateral damage was just a 6-0 deficit. Where Trent REALLY failed was in his inability to get the bad plays out of his head, his inability to pull the trigger at times, and his over-reliance on the check-down. He missed several open receivers last night. That drive at the end of the first half that resulted in a FG absolutely should have been a TD if Trent had had the confidence to throw the football. As it was he almost let the clock run out on him on the play before the field goal.

I have plenty of issues with Jauron -- and I have been especially disappointed by the manner in which he has been out-coached in the division games. However, I actually thought he did about as well as he could last night under the circumstances. No dumb challenges. He actually showed some fire, getting into the officials' faces on at least a couple of occasions. He pretty much had all of the players (except for Edwards) ready to play. I also think he did a pretty good job of damage control and making adjustments. The Bills lost the turnover battle 4-0 last night and were still in position to win the game at the very end. Some have argued about the "chicken-you-know-what" running calls at the end of the game. Well, why SHOULD Jauron have had faith in Edwards to put the ball in the air in that situation, when Edwards himself looked so shell-shocked all night long?

Those old dudes still claim to be the only undefeated team because the Pats failed to seal the deal with the Super Bowl loss. Thus, assuming that the Titans lose at some point, the surviving members of that 72 team will uncork the champagne bottles yet again.

I am not saying to run the ball EXCLUSIVELY. Rather, I am suggesting that they not panic, if if they get down -- and give up on the run entirely. The past few weeks, I believe, that Turk has been guilty of doing exactly that. The best example I can illustrate is early in the 3rd quarter of the Miami game. The team capped off a long drive to open the second half based mostly on running the ball. Up 16-7, they inexplicably got pass happy, even though they were having some success running the ball. We saw in the 4th quarter what happens when you give up on the running game -- or at least the appearance of a running game. I am not absolving our OL of blame, but I have a feeling that their play would be better if the offensive game plan was more dedicated to imposing a rushing attack on the opponent.

1. I would like to see 20+ carries for Marshawn. Even if the running game isn't having success early on, stick with it. By the 4th quarter, with the Bills' over-sized OL and the Browns' pension for caving late in games, the Bills' offense should be dictating the flow of the game. 2. I want the coaches to stop coaching scared. On defense, Quinn is a young QB. Give him some new looks. Blitz him when he doesn't expect it. Drop DEs back into coverage on zone blitzes. Bring the CBs up and hit the WRs in the mouth -- and stop worrying so much about getting beat deep. For any reception that Winslow makes, punish him by hitting him hard, very hard. Offensively, if they take my advice and stay committed to the running game, it will force the Browns to stop dropping so many guys into coverage as the last three teams have done. That should open the passing game for Trent. 3. If Evans is taken out of the equation with double teams, then SOMEONE is going to have to step up. Tonight would be an excellent night for Hardy to have a true breakout performance. 4. Lindell has done a pretty good job of kicking the ball deep this year. He has gotten more touchbacks this year than I can remember in years past. Against Cribbs, he will need to do that plenty tonight. 5. No turnovers!!!!!!

It helps when a team like the Giants stay COMMITTED to the running game. Hopefully the Bills will try to se the tone tonight running the football with a purpose.

I think you are mixing up the Fox interview up with the Lewis one. Based on the fact that TD waited until after the Super Bowl to interview these two guys, the conventional wisdom was that Lewis was almost assured of the job, based on his and TD's prior association in Pittsburgh. Lewis was also the hot commodity at the time, given the Ravens' success on the defensive side of the ball. Apparently Lewis went into the interview arrogantly and came off as feeling entitled to the job, rather than trying to win the job. TD hired Gregg instead -- after which Lewis' agent started playing the race card. Then it came out that Lewis' wife didn't want her kids growing up in Buffalo. I think that was all sour grapes. As for Fox, I am not sure why he didn't get the job. Perhaps TD was looking for someone with a more sustained track record. Gregg's Titans were coming off being the #1 defense in the league and had just been in the Super Bowl themselves the year before. Fox's Giants were more of a come-from-nowhere variety the year they lost to the Ravens in the Super Bowl.

You know, it is kinda funny that this Tennessee team is somewhat similar to that 72 Dolphins team. Collins (Earl Morrall), an older journeyman-style QB, is running the show because Young (Griese), the day 1 starter, is out. The offense is primarily centered around the running game of multiple talented RBs (White and Johnson now, Kiick/Moris/Csonka in 72). The defense plays pretty much error-free. There is nothing sexy about this Titans team, so the media doesn't pay too much attention to them. It just goes to show that despite all of the enhancements to the game over the years, the same ingredients that went into a winning team 35+ years ago are still valid today.

Sounds like someone needs some help with reading comprehension there. The quote you provided pretty much says what the headline says. Yes, this is speculation on Gaughan's part, but as a beat writer for the team, I would say that his assertions have merit. This sort of attack on every post that is made here is what drives people away. I thought it was interesting that a beat writer for the team is now suggesting that the team would have drafted a different player if he had been available. Yes, it is hindsight now, but interesting none the less. If you don't find it to be interesting, fine. Pass on the post. But don't look for a reason to whine about it when no reason is there.

He would most likely be sitting on the bench behind Ellison, give the coaching staff's aversion to actually giving their rookies a chance to play and learn.

Big Cat, thanks for the optimism! I agree about the Miami game. Even with McGee being less than 100% we absolutely did NOT lose because of Ginn, who never managed to get in the end zone even with all of the long receptions. The game was lost simply because the offense couldn't hold onto the ball in the 4th quarter. I agree with your assertion that the Bills have played just about as bad as they could in these past three games -- and still were not completely blown out in any contest. Note that the Pats and Jets scored more points against each other last night than either of these teams scored against us in games in which they supposedly dominated us. Take a single bad play away from each of the games and the outcome may have been different. Any of the 4th quarter turnovers against Miami, the pick six against the Jets and the pass intended for Evans that was picked off (and accurate throw there would have probably been six points for us). Note also that health has played a major role in these three games. Hopefully the return of Butler to RG will at least help with the running game. And if the team put stheir heart and soul into it, all of the next three opponents (Cleveland, KC and SF) can be run upon. Let's get the positive vibe going again Monday night!

Says that the Bills would have drafted DE Harvey in April if he had still been on the board at #11, but the Jags traded up to get him at 8. Here is the link

This is an interesting question. I think by and large this team is better than the team from last year. However, the rest of the teams in the division (except for the Patriots, who WERE head and shoulders better than the other teams) have also improved. Last year we swept the Dolphins and Jets. Thus far we are 0-2 against them.

Despite the doom and gloom associated with this post, you actually left me feeling pretty confident that the final record will be pretty decent. To finish 8-8, as you suggest, would mean going 0-6 in the division. That's not going to happen. Even if the Bills wind up going a paltry 2-4 in the division that would leave them 10-6 assuming the same outcomes that you suggest in their other contests. Truthfully, if they can right their ship, there isn't a single game remaining on the schedule that they can't win.

Any word about why Hardy wasn't practicing?

It is too early to tell about Turk. Of course, he would simply follow a pattern of poor OCs that we have had dating back to the end of the Levy era. The funny thing is that some of these coordinators started off hot -- then fizzled. 1998: Joe Pendry. Remember how imaginative he seemed with Flutie behind center? There were even concerns that he would leave for a head coaching gig after the season. Things went downhill in 1999, when defenses caught up. By 2000 it was rumored that Wade fell on the sword to save Pendry, rather than Ronnie Jones as was initially reported. 2001: One and done for the former Seahawks QB coach, Mike Sheppard. 2002: Kevin Gilbride looked like the man through the first half of 2002. By the second half the offense began to struggle, and 2003 proved to be a disaster. 2004: Tom Clements was the guy that TD had privately lobbied for back in 2002. He and MM put together a well balanced attack that year that led to the only winning season the team has had since 1999. By 2005, MM had relieved him of his play calling duties. 2006: Steve Fairchild came in and appeared to do a pretty good job of mentoring JP, who put together a respectable 2006 campaign. I think we all know how 2007 went... So it just appears to be par for the course. The success of Gilbride with the Giants last year and Mularkey with the Falcons this year tells me that this may not all be a product of poor coordinators. Namely, poor QB play led to the demise of each of these coaches. Once defenses figured out how to contain Flutie, Pendry seemed to drop IQ points. Sheppard never really stood a chance with RJ at the helm. As Bledsoe's skills diminished, so did Gilbride's abilities as a play caller. Clements was burdened with a QB in Losman that was thrown to the wolves too quickly. Fairchild did well to help Losman reach his ceiling -- and realized that he couldn't go much further with the one-trick-pony. I believe that Turk's future fortunes will hinge directly on whether or not he and Edwards can get out of this current offensive slump.