jahnyc

Yes, I should have added that beating the Pats in the near term is unlikely. After five years of losing twice a year to that team, it pains me to think that we are still not close to being competitive with them, even with Brady out. So few of the games over the last five years were close.

1. Free agent pick-ups by Jets are better than ours. Jenkins is better than Stroud and Faneca is better than Dockery. 2. We have no depth at key positions, partly due to cash to cap. 3. No stars on the team and a lot of positions could be upgraded. 4. A lot of average players on defense. Is Poz going to be at least above average? Hard to tell so far. 5. Ditto with T. Edwards. 6. Trading up in recent drafts to take Losman and McCargo has really hurt. I like Whitner, but I still wonder if we could have had both Ngata and Whitner in that draft. 7. Worried that Miami and Jets have the resources to continue to improve. Miami's coach has made a big difference for that team. 8. Yes, we need a center, but is that really most of the problem? 9. Cannot fathom our lack of a pass rush. With blitzes, should be getting to QB more frequently. 10. Still not generating turnovers (and we are making too many turnovers on offense). I was really excited this year, particularly after our fast start. Really not sure how to fix all of this.

The Bills may end up with a better record than last year, but I have lost all faith in this team. If there was a year to have, success this was it. Brady out for the year, and one of the easiest schedules of all time (Oakland, St. Louis, KC, San Fran, Cleveland, Seattle, etc.). If they can't make the playoffs this year, when will they? Miami is improving, the Jets are better, and the Pats will get Brady back next year.

1. Cassell and Edwards were playing similar football going into this game--short, safe passes made up the signficant percentage of attempts. NE figured out a way to stop our short passing attack, Buffalo did not do the same. Why were there no attempts at longer passing plays by the Bills? Why was Welker open all game? I cannot make sense of this. 2. Our rushing attack is pitiful. Enough said. 3. There are no stars on this team, and now there are legitimate questions about whether Edwards will be the guy at QB. 4. We have not been to the playoffs for years, and every year I watch the same games against NE. Outcoached every time. 5. Very little pressure on Cassells today. Very few sacks and turnovers generated over the last number of games.

1. It is easy to forget that Trent is only a second year player who has played in less than 20 games so far in his career. By that standard, he has played very well at times. He seems to have the head for the game, although I hope he will start challenging defenses downfiled a bit more than he has. 2. For a seven million per year guy, Dockery has been a disappointment. I understand that the center situation is unsettled at best, but the offense should be able to sustain a drive in short yardage situations by going left behind Peters and Dockery. 3. The Bills rush defense is much improved, and I suspect that Stroud and Poz are a big part of that improvement. That said, it seems that Jenkins and Rogers have been more dominating to this point. Poz has played well, and he is also only a second year player who missed most of his first season, but I keep waiting for him to make some game changing plays. 4. I think Josh Reed and Greer are free agents after this year. Not sure if I am comfortable with Hardy and McKelvin as replacements at this point. We may be looking for a number two wide receiver again after this season. 5. We need a lot of help at LB this offseason (certainly one new starter). Ellison is having a very quiet season and seems to disappear during games. 6. I have not kept track of where the Bills' injuries are taking place, but is it possible that there are problems with our stadium and practice turf? I recall the Bills installed a type of turf that did not catch on and the company subsequently went into bankruptcy (field turf?). Do we still have that turf? Maybe it is the turf and not the conditioning program. 7. The last two losses have been very disappointing, but at least I can watch our offense this year and not be completely frustrated for the entire game. The play calling is better, Trent has improved, and overall, in terms of statistics, they are making progress.

Agreed. That play was a game changer. I had no confidence that the Bills would come back at that point and it was only the first quarter.

1. Not being able to get a first down by running the ball on a fourth and one at home. This happens way too much to this team on short yardage run plays. 2. Letting the Jets drive for a FG at the end of the game when you know they will be running the ball. 3. Continuing to give up big plays on defense on slants and quick passes. 4. Hesitating or running into the backs of your blockers on kick-offs. 5. Losing at home to a division rival after losing on the road to another. They looked flat today.

Jenkins dominated the interior today. We have a big need at center, but does this explain all of the problems with the o-line? Agreed on McKelvin. He has obvious speed, but seems to lack instincts. No production from our first three picks in the draft. I understand that they are rookies, but we needed some production from them this year and it has not happened. I am starting to worry that at least two of these guys will be busts. What were the injuries to Lynch (who came back) and Whitner (who left at the end of the game)?

1. Looks like it may rain periodically during the Miami/Buffalo game. I have been interested to see how Trent performs in rain and snow this year. I don't think that Trent has had much experience playing in poor weather conditions over his college QB career and it seems he ran into some difficulties last year. Something to keep an eye on. 2. It is amazing that the Cowboys were able to trade for and then sign R. Williams easily and quickly after we spent months working to get a deal done with Lee Evans. I guess this is the difference between the big market teams and the small market teams. I hope this does not portend difficulties when the Bills try to get some of our young players and veterans to sign contract extensions (i.e., Edwards and Stroud). 3. K. Mitchell has been a nice acquisition. I remember last year when the Bills played the Giants and how his interception changed that game and served as a catalyst for the excellent play of the Giants from that point forward. 4. I wonder how involved Marv Levy was with making the actual selections in the draft for the Bills. Way too early to make any judgments about last year's draft without Marv, but there has not been much production from any of our draft picks (other than maybe Mckelvin, who looks like a rookie) so far. These guys did not seem "ready" to contribute, which may have reflected a different draft strategy based on the level of talent of the team improving to the point where this was not as necessary. 5. I think that if the Bills can split against each of Miami, NYJ and NE Pats, they should make the playoffs. The other remaining games are KC, San Fran, Denver and Cleveland and the Bills will have a very good shot at winning three of these games. 6. Bills will need to draft an outside linebacker early in next year's draft.

With possible interest from the Niners, does this mean that Bryant Johnson has been a bust? This appears to be the case based on this stats to date. I know that many on this board were hoping that the Bills would sign him this past offseason.

A few more points: 1. Also wondering why we did not blitz more today, particularly since Warner has a history of getting rattled with pressure. 2. Not worried after this first loss, but I am worried that McKelvin will be a bust. Seems to lack instinct. Sorry, but he reminds me of JD Williams. 3. Wonder if the oline misses Mouse?

The Bills will not win many games this year if they are without both Peters and Walker. When the regular season begins, and the opposing coaches game plan, any substitutes for Peters and Walker will be in a for a very rough time.

I am finding this situation with Peters to be incredibly bizarre. 1. How many holdouts of star players over the last number of years proceeded without any statements from the player to the press during the holdout? Usually, the player and the agent want to get out there and tell the world how the player is underpaid and the best player at his position (i.e., make the case). 2. Peters has been a player for the Bills for a number of years. Why is Dockery the only player communicating with him? Is he communicating with other players? It would seem very odd for a young veteran to cut himself off from the entire team. I understand that he does not make his offseason home in Buffalo, but I would be shocked if he did not have a number of friends on the team that he would stay in touch with. 3. Why does it seem that the Bills have no information about the health of Peters following offseason surgery? Who performed the surgery on his sports hernia? Was the team doctor involved? If the best player on the team had offseason surgery, shouldn't the team send the team doctor or a trainer to the player's home to see how he is recovering if the player does not report to any of the offseason activities and does not live in Buffalo? How can the physical condition of Peters be a mystery at this point in time? I am among the worried that when he does report that he will not be in shape or that he will get injured when he does play. 4. An inexperienced COO (Russ Brandon) does not help in this situation (nor does having a 90 year old owner). I am sure Brandon wants to prove that he is not a pushover. I would guess that RW can be stubborn and difficult when pushed in this manner. Is there a possibility that this guy does not want to be a Bill? Is he angry at the team for some reason (other than money)? What is going on here?

Regarding, Peters, it is impossible to make any real judgments about the o-line or the playcalling tonight since it is preaseason (and the first preseason game). To me, the bottom line is that Peters in the line-up makes for a stronger o-line. He is a very good player and clearly better than anyone else who would replace him.

By the way, I thougt Fletcher looked great tonight. He is a very solid football player (and does not seem to have lost a step).

1. The Bills will have a very dangerous return game with multiple weapons/options in McKelvin, Parrish and McGee. 2. Overall, I thought Poz looked good. Seemed a bit rusty and out of position at times, but he had some nice hits. 3. Edward is a second year QB and he looked like one tonight. Impossible to make any judgments after the first preseason game, but Edwards is the most critical piece of the offensive puzzle. If he does not improve from last year, the Bills will not be above .500 this year. I really hope that he will prove that he is the "guy" this year. 4. Although Schonert received a lot of positive press and he has called plays before, it will be interesting to see if he is an improvement in his first year as OC over the last guy. I understand that it is only preseason, but the playcalling tonight seemed similar in terms of plays and mix as last year. 5. I agree that Youboty is being showcased for a trade. 6. Our second and third teamers played pretty well. I think there is a lot of young talent on the Bills roster. 7. Now, the most obvious point of all: the Bills need Peters in camp. Is he 100% after his surgery? Kind of shocking that the Bills do not seem to know his medical status (unless I missed something). He needs to be in camp to work on timing and coordination with the o-line. I always worry that guys who report late tend to get injured later.

I have wondered if Jordy Nelson was the guy the Bills were trying to move up to draft in the second round. Always had a feeling (without any information) that the Bills were interested in him.

I think Robert Felton, an undrafted free agent pick-up from University of Arkansas, will make the opening day roster and eventually get some playing time at guard. Arkansas had an excellent rushing attack last year and he gets some of the credit for that. For what it is worth, many of the pre-draft publications had him going in the fourth or fifth round.

1. McKelvin reminds me of the Winfield pick some years ago. Not great ball skills, but strong in every other area, including hitting. I wonder how McKelvin compares to Clements and Winfield in terms of grades prior to being drafted. 2. Kind of surprised the Bills took Hardy. Hardy may not be a character risk, but the Bills really seem to place great importance on character and intelligence, particularly in recent years. I sometimes forget that not all of the Bills of the past were angels (i.e., Bruce Smith, Kelly and Talley, among others). I thought the Bills would take Sweed over Hardy, since Sweed seems like the kind of guy the Bills would like. 3. Will Hardy start opposite Evans? It kind of scares me to think that if Hardy is not ready, Josh Reed may be in the starting line-up. He did not work out well opposite Moulds as the starter, and I assume that nothing has changed in that regard. 4. Mike Maycock on The NFL Network is the best draft analyst. His mock draft selections were very accurate and he seems to have a dialogue with the teams and their coaches and scouts. Overall, I thought the NFL Network's coverage was superior to that of ESPN. 5. It seems that Berman no longer is in touch with the Buffalo cab driver. Too bad. 6. I think we got short changed on the coverage of our picks on both networks (ESPN and The NFL Network). In the first round, they focused on and discussed the Patriots' pick instead of discussing the Bills. 7. There are many needs that still need to be addressed. I think DE is one of those needs. Kelsay and Denney are both coming off of significant injuries and Hargrove has been suspended.

A couple of nights before draft weekend, I met Chris Berman and Mort at Sparks steakhouse in New York City. I asked Berman who the Bills were going to take, and he told me that he was hearing that the Bills really liked David Harris, LB--Michigan (Mort agreed). I predicted on this board that the Bills were going to take Harris as a result of that conversation, and then Kiper later that day listed Harris as the pick in his mock draft. Kind of interesting since the Bills could have selected Harris in the second round.

You guys are harsh. Mike Williams was in a pick-up truck accident. See link below (sorry not sure how to provide direct link) to ESPN article dated November 17, 2003. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=16...&type=story

I thought that was Mike Williams.

I also agree, paricularly if he is considered by the scouts for the Bills to be a better overall prospect than any of the cbs or wrs available when the Bills draft at #11 in the first round.

I think the Bills will draft a cb in the first round (hearing the collective groans as I type this). The Bills are already talking about getting some competition for Greer. Thomas was waived and Webster was not re-signed. We need a third corner, particurarly since Youboty does not seem to have the confidence of the coaching staff (plus third corners play a lot). The draft seems fairly deep at wr and some are suggesting that there is not a wr who has the value associated with the #11 overall pick. CB first round, wr second round. Sorry.

Pure speculation on my part, but I have a feeling that one of the complexities that Marv was referring to during his press conference is that Turner prefers the Titans over the Bills.