BillsVet

It's a perennial occurrence on TBD that fans cite injuries for Buffalo not succeeding. And that's going to happen in 2017 because they're razor thin across the board, save perhaps interior OL, and DL. One injury disrupts just about every other position. RB depth is nil and McCoy has had a balky hammy for a while now. WR depth is a complete unknown and the starters aren't close to set. Others here already made the case they're thin at LB (even playing nickel) and the secondary is still completely new. Beyond Hyde, there isn't a capable starter there. Starters and depth at corner are an unknown and the talent drop off will be evident if one of them gets hurt. I like where the management is going. But installing new schemes on both sides of the ball is a double edged sword. While it means other teams aren't sure how to plan for them as well, the players need to learn what the staff wants to do...again. The off-season purge was years perhaps decades overdue. Doing things right takes time and I can't see them, with this schedule, winning more than 6 games. No one's calling it a rebuild, but that's precisely what it is.

Selected a QB with his first rounder in 2013. Traded up to take the then ranked top WR in 2014. Traded for McCoy (at RR's urging) in 2015. Signed Clay the same year. Nix and Whaley seemed like scouts miscast in management roles. That there wasn't alignment between coaching and the front office isn't hard to see, but it's a subject that goes too deep in the weeds for many. But if you're looking for improvement, that relationship needs to be there. And it hasn't been since Polian and Marv were working together.

Welcome to corporate America. If you're complaining about resources, you likely won't be complaining long. Whaley didn't have the perfect situation. He also had it far better, at least in resources, than preceding GM's who worked within RW's antiquated system.

I think TPegs has found his football man and, to borrow a favorite Brandon word, "empowered" him to make substantive changes. We don't know how that'll work out, but I'm confident that McD and whomever the GM is will be ownership's true football people. And Russ will remain in his role. If Smithers attempts to interfere, I think unlike with the Whaley front office, there will be push back because saving their skin isn't the primary objective anymore.

I think everyone wants results. At the same time, the first evidence is there to show this isn't the same old same old. This isn't status quo packaged as new. This isn't Marrone pointing at the lifers 3 years ago and Russ stepping in to protect them. It's the closest to real substantive change there's ever been at OBD. It's going to be a new regime both in terms of coaching AND in the front office next season. Sure, McD could be unsuccessful. But he won't be unsuccessful because RW cronies were still pulling the strings from behind the scenes. He's the first HC in some time who'll control his own destiny. He wouldn't have taken this job without that assurance.

It's called human nature, grown men or not. Almost no one wants a reduction in their role or less attention, especially when money is involved.

Perhaps TPegs is a George Costanza fan?

If TT suddenly finds the ability to see down field, sure. Makes you wonder how Clay would respond to getting fewer targets though if Barnidge is also on the field.

In a roundabout way, McD was the consultant some of us have advocated for going back to TPegs purchasing the team in 2014. It's still ironic that Whaley pushed to get RR fired, won that battle, and then lost the war because the successor at HC promptly demanded the GM's tenure end.

I know. Does this mean I'm becoming a Bills homer?

Check McD's resume. Besides, how many years did Belichick or Carroll or Andy Reid work in a front office before becoming coaches? He's been in the league since the late 90s and I'd like to think he's learned what he needs to do to be successful. He's worked for coaches that understand the alignment necessary between personnel and the coaching staff.

People act like it's unprecedented for a new CEO type to come in the building and end the status quo. If there's a new leader in town it's typically because the previous one wasn't successful and changes needed to be made. McD did what any decent CEO would do upon taking over a sinking ship. He pushed for changes and control to reverse the continued slide into oblivion. And that meant axing an underwhelming GM and his staff. It's not all Whaley's fault, but he was more of a problem than a solution. He's the one standing up and making the changes, knowing full well that he'll take the arrows if things don't work. This is a tremendous change after years of people pointing at others when there was continued failure.

(EDIT: Right now) I'll take that over faith in the former GM.

Results matter and Doug Whaley didn't get results. Sure, he didn't have the perfect situation with which to be successful, but he had a whole lot more to work with than many of his predecessors. I can't imagine him having to work under the constricted spending that occurred during the RW years. Imagine having to trade your only All-Pro player because they couldn't come to terms on an agreement. Imagine having Overdorf release players out from under you. The new ownership who inherited him did what they're allowed to do. Now it's on Coach McD. 30-34 is all that matters.

So, the brand new HC has more sway with ownership than the incumbent GM who T/K Pegs elected to retain upon buying the team 2.5 years ago. Interesting. I always figured McD doesn't take this job without being granted a lot of authority over football beyond what recent HC's have had. And that authority he received overlapped the GM's, who is now history.

I don't know where the idea comes from that what works one year is going to work the next. Teams adapt to what you're doing eventually. And given the short nature of NFL careers, the idea one side of the ball will remain very good or better with the same or very similar personnel is myopic.

Their LB's are an issue. Ragland's coming back from an ACL and hasn't played yet. Alexander is 34 this season and seemed to slow down late in the year. Preston Brown, at this point, seems like JAG. As much as I'd like to see them go offense in Round 2, McDermott's remaking this defense with his first draft.

Whaley, unfortunately for homers, cannot be judged on some bargain bin pickups in UFA. His job is to assemble a roster and anticipate what the team will need. Not an easy job, but for someone who's been in an NFL front office for 20 years, it's his responsibility. That, and have a good relationship with the coaches. I've never said it isn't Belichick. But he's the one who develops their strategy. In their first 3 SB wins the team was very much a defensive first club, yet over the years they've become more offensive via the pass. Belichick adapted to the league's rules changes and knew what he had at QB. I'd say that transition started in 2007 when the acquired Moss and Welker. Because the previous season they had the likes of Reche Caldwell to go up against Indianapolis in the 2006 AFC Championship game. They have synchronization between personnel and game-planning in large part because the same guy is running both. People can say their drafts aren't phenomenal, but their end result is.

It's way more nuanced why NE wins...they set the trends which develop mismatches. Just one example is how they focused in 2010 on adding TE's who could run the middle of the field. Or in recent years, having a back who punishes DB's behind their OL. The same DB's who then have to defend against their (as of last year) 2 TE's. Other teams followed their lead on that, which is easier because college TE's are more often pass-catchers. People focus so much on players because they can't see scheme until it hits them right in the face. Minimizing NE's success down to Brady and Belichick is intellectually dishonest and an easy out for those who know their team is still scrambling around trying to field a decent roster.

Buffalo Bills 2017: Because Quarterback purgatory isn't over yet.

I don't know what's wrong with CK, but the possibility exists he's dealing with a mental health issue. We don't know for sure, but if that's the case I hope he gets the help he needs. A report earlier this off-season indicated he fell down in his home which necessitated hip surgery. Perhaps the two events are connected, perhaps not. He's 23 years old and certain illnesses reveal themselves early in adulthood. I wish him the best.

I think the homer crowd has gone full "To Doug Whaley" at this point. As if it's a stroke of genius he allowed MG to be tendered at a 5th round level and then the Patriots fell for his smokescreen.

Yep. So many fans don't expect their GM to anticipate problems and then act surprised when a player can't get it done anymore. Yet these are the same people calling for a CEO's head whose business doesn't improve and they're paid too much. A NFL GM should be expected to assess his roster and who is improving or regressing. And naturally, to plan accordingly. Is it that hard for a guy in the NFL 20+ years to anticipate a 29 year old back with balky hamstrings might need (EDIT: a quality) backup at a position which probably has the greatest probability of injury? A position where they're hit on just about every carry? Is that too much for this GM? Especially considering they're set up to be a run first team? GM's need to operate in the here and now while keeping an eye on the future. I don't sense Whaley does much of the later because he's too concerned about keeping his job to make bold decisions like moving on from a player before it's too late. More fans defining conflation. Karlos and Gillislee had similar stats. Ergo, the same. Right.

So Billsy. The NFL can give the worst teams the best draft picks. They can create a salary cap. But they can't even out the intelligence in NFL front offices. The slow moving teams circle the drain because their decision makers aren't good.

It's never been more conducive for a rookie QB to play right away in the NFL. It's still not easy, just more forgiving given the rule changes and more PI, roughing the QB, etc.. And teams have responded with their offensive philosophy and prioritized QB play. This idea it's so hard to get a QB and a team is better off addressing other positions is so defeatist. It's as bad as DJ saying "it's hard to win in the NFL." Of course it is. That doesn't mean you don't try. There's risk to everything. No one just hands you a playoff appearance or a franchise QB.