Billsguy

It brings back fond memories of Rob Johnson! If Marv trades a 1st and more for Turner I think he is making another in a series of mistakes.

I don't know if anybody has mentioned this already amidst the euphoria, but Langston Walker, our new answer at RT was on an offensive line that was 29th in the league in rushing offense and their offensive line gave up 72 sacks! The worst offensive line in recent NFL history. I watched every Raiders game last year. It was UGLY, especially the offense. The latest savior, Darwin Walker, was expendable in Philly principally because they couldn't stop the run. The Philly defense was 26th in the league in rushing defense. The cover 2 defense couldn't stop the run last year and it likely won't this year. The best rushing defenses around the league have guys up the middle in the 325lb. range. This is not just a coincidence. The Bills D-line will get steamrolled again next year. Speed can be overpowered. Look at he tapes from last year and you will see London Fletcher getting pushed 8-10 yds back or knocked down after the DT's were handled with relative ease. A rotation system at DT can be an excuse for not having anybody good enough to handle the position(s) by himself. A defensive scheme (i.e.cover 2) cannot disguise a lack of talent. The Bills have a couple new faces which gets everybody excited, but IMO they haven't improved.

The 49er's coaching staff coached Willis at the Senior Bowl and they have a big need at LB. From what I have read they were highly impressed with Willis. At his pro workout last week he ran a 4.37 40 yd. dash. That's a freakin' middle linebacker! I strongly suspect SF will pick him at #11 if available.

Here's another point: Marv is cleaning out Donahoe's big money moves (some mistakes) and rebuilding and redefining the team to fit his own style. I am personally concerned that the run defense is still inadequate. The defense is really undersized.

The Bills will draft Patrick Willis in the 1st round if he is available. http://www.footballsfuture.com/news/2007/0...-yard-dash.html I have no doubt he is their choice and it is their main need. If he is taken before the Bills pick, I believe that RB Marshawn Lynch will be the choice. My semi-longshot pick is CB Leon Hall. The Bills have telegraphed their need for defense by losing Clements, Fletcher, Spikes in the offseason. They are woefully thin at LB. It is the weakest link on the team by far. I hope LB Willis is available.

You summarized it fairly well. Any "objective" analysis would have to conclude the Bills are weaker now than they were a month ago. A net loss of three starters. By itself, this may not be bad, but the Bills DO NOT have ready and capable replacements to fill those huge holes. Get serious. A starting CB, a starting MLB and a starting RB all gone! How dare anybody conclude this is bad (including Michael Smith)!! I get it - the Bills are going to draft a starting CB, a starting MLB and a starting RB and then in the second round they are going to address a real area of need at DT and OLB. In the third round they will draft a FB and a TE. Sounds like a plan. I trust Bills management!! Get those playoff tickets now.

What did the Bills get for Clements? Fletcher? Nada. Zilch. At least they got a bag of pucks for Willis.

Trading past 1st round picks for 3rd round picks is a sure-fire path to long term mediocrity. The Bills are making moves for sure, but is the team improving? So far the Bills have lost three starters: CB Clements, LB Fletcher, RB McGahee - Who is going to fill those holes and will they be upgrades? Dockery looks like a solid addition, but the Bills look worse now than they did a month ago to any objective viewer.

Yes, I saw him play every game. My opinion, and those of the Raiders fans who saw him play every week, are far superior to your ignorance about him. I can almost hear the echoes of " I trust Gregg Williams, I trust Tom Donahoe, I trust Jerry Gray, I trust Mike Mularkey, ... where did that get you? I trust my own eyes and my history of watching the Bills since 1960.

http://www.raiderfans.net/forum/showthread.php?t=96826 This is no upgrade! I saw him play every game last year - ugh! JP losman better get the team doctor on speed dial!

Raider fans are delighted he's gone! Check it out http://www.raiderfans.net/forum/showthread.php?t=96826 He sucks!

Do they hand out trophies at the end of the year for this?

You are correct sir on both points! Walker was a huge joke for the Raiders. And "Paying Dockery a contract like Steve Hutchinson is just plain pathetic." Agreed. Bills have severely overpaid. I love Marv as a person, but after last years draft, after letting both Nate and London get away with nothing in return, and after overpaying for these guys, I am getting concerned.

I heard the same things when Bennie Anderson was signed. The exact same things! How did that go? I would rather they signed Steinbach. When the Bills acquire a Pro Bowl player or two I'll get excited. The guy they got from Minnesota is no better than Villarial. Clements and Fletcher are gone with nothing to show for it - why weren't they traded last year? I watched Oakland play (unfortunately I live in the NFL coverage TV area) every week and you are absolutely crazy if you think Langston Walker is a big upgrade at RT. The Oakland OL was a complete disaster and their QB's got KILLED every week. One of the worst offenses in NFL history! Apparently, most of the posters have no idea about him. The enthusiasm is understandable, but naive and premature to put it politely.

The threshold for success has reached a new all-time low here. As long as they don't get blown out; the season is a success? What a loser mentality. This is going to take a new philosophy on the part of the new owner. As an example, the Jets and Saints were in a similar predicament as the Bills. They chose to hire young inventive new head coaches. This is no guarantee of success, but at least they didn't go with proven losers like Art Shell and Dick Jauron.

Amen. Sometimes I'm stunned into a comatose state by such statements. WR? You have got to be kidding, right? OL, OL, OL, OL, DL, DL, DL in that order!!!!

My sentiments exactly. Rock bottom. Thank goodness for the Sabres.

Amen. Well said. The two greatest enemies of freedom are ignorance and fear. America has been fed a steady diet of both for the last 5 years.

Assuming the accuracy of the numbers, this was an outstanding observation. Now would someone please send these numbers to Marv so that he doesn't piss away $40 million or so on an overrated CB! All the talk about improving should start with both lines. Until the Bills are good in the trenches, all the rest is trivia.

I was pulling for Arizona, not because of Leinart or JP, but because the Bills will be fighting it out with the Cards for a top 5 draft pick next year.

What scheme? The concept that 4 mediocre DT's can substitute for two good ones? How about DE's who are mostly anonymous? The idea that a virtual rookie QB behind a patchwork offensive line can't score points reliably. The list goes on and on... Re-signing Clements for big money would make a little sense if both lines weren't in desperate need of repair. Since they are in need, goodbye Nate!

Excellent analysis.

Nice link if you don't mind a 5 minute time delay from the live action. Tape delay radio is the bomb!

Excellent summary which happens to be true.

TW isn't the only one. I have Charter communications and they pulled NFL network last year even though I subscribe to the Sports tier. The cable co. said that the NFL demanded that its network be pulled off the sports tier or they would deny their service to Charter. They did. Apparently the NFL demands that its network be put on the same status as ESPN or it will withhold service. Cable rates keep rising because ESPN keeps demanding fee increases. I guess ESPN has to pay for 10,000 former jocks/analysts on its payroll. IMO ESPN,cable and the NFL are trying and succeeding in pissing off almost everbody. I can barely watch ESPN anymore. Thank goodness for the mute button.