BillsVet

Amazing the difference between teams. War Room Decision Makers One thing which ceases to amaze is how successful teams do things. Philly and NE have their coach running the show, while other good teams have a de facto GM. But Jerry Jones, Al Davis, Mike Brown, and Ralph Wilson still run the show in Dallas, Oakland, Cincinnati, and Buffalo. Those teams have combined for 0 playoff wins in the past five seasons.

Look, I'm down on this team almost as much as anyone. I'm not big on depending on rookies to come in, but for this defense to improve they need a pass rush a better WLB. If they can get production from a rookie DE and LB, and that's a huge if, they won't be bad. The front 7 is aging though, and you've got 4 guys on the DL in Schobel, Stroud, Denney, and Kelsay who are or will turn 30 during the season. That's why you've got to go DL if there's one worthy of 11. I can't forget the team's inability to pressure Warner in AZ last year. Those long drives need to stop if they're going to win more than 6 games this season. Brees, Brady, perhaps P. Manning will carve them if they can't rush the passer. Of course, protecting the QB will be an issue this year.

A few months ago GG you wrote an emotional piece that appeared on TBD about your feelings for this franchise. I'm not accusing you of hypocrisy, but at the time I felt run down by the 2-8 finish and retention of DJ as HC as well. It seemed there weren't a lot of redeeming qualities to their final months of the season. We're close to the draft now, which is perhaps the one day on the NFL calendar requiring the greatest savvy and strategy. Having said that, IMO the Bills lack both qualities to put them ahead of their divisional and conference rivals. I don't see a vision from the front officet to remake the on-field team into something, anything. Again, I'm not trying to say you're a hypocrite, but the current makeup of the front office does not feature the bright minds which might put this team over the hump. I myself can't see the wisdom in having so few football minds running the show. You're correct, IMO, that Guy and Modrak supply the information and someone makes the decision. But whoever makes that decision on draft picks and UFA's hasn't changed in years. I can't support the front office with a continued record of futility like this. When they change the people at the top with football people, it'll change. For now, I'll remain realistic.

Dave, I thought about this tonight as well. Coincidence I guess. Last year, I saw the Cardinals featuring a predominantly passing offense with outstanding wideouts. They didn't attempt to do anything different, because that was their strength. The Giants of 07 ran the ball and put pressure on the QB. They weren't great at passing the ball because they didn't have to be. They won the SB against a highly favored opponent with that strategy. The point to this is that the team must have a vision, based on current and desired personnel. I don't get the feeling Buffalo reflects a vision, and moves are made without much planning. None of the teams you mentioned tried to get cute and do the opposite of their strengths. They went right at opponents and generally won a lot of games. I would like to see a first day pick on the OL, but otherwise, go defense with the other picks. Find a pass rusher and LB to solidify the front 7. There were too many times last season when offenses went on long drives, and I can't soon forget how painful this is to watch. Even if the 11th pick is a situational pass rusher, I'd be fine with that. I think they've improved the run defense, now it's a matter of making the pass a challenge. Nice post Dave. Agree wholeheartedly, particularly the final paragraph.

I get Schopp's point that LT's are available in other rounds and skilled playmakers aren't usually found in lower rounds. But to say LT's shouldn't be drafted in the first is nonsense and would be dismissed by every expert. Cody is right that he's not a football fan and, IMO, only talks about it when he has to. WGR's bread and butter is the Sabres because they have the rights to broadcast the games and have interviews with the HC and players. As popular as hockey is, when half your drivetime show doesn't care about football and admits it on-air, something is desperately wrong. I hope Brad Riter can cut deeply into their ratings with his show. I can recall his Schopp on WNSA being much better, aptly titling his program, "sports talk for smart people." It was so long ago he was talking about John Fina. Now he's devolved into a bitter and short tempered argumentative bore.

Whaddya mean? He'll fit right in.

So you marginalize the position because you've generalized that some teams don't have first round LT's? Both Pittsburgh and Arizona's biggest needs in this coming draft is OL, specifically LT. Roethlisberger got hammered a lot last year, and not just in the bar. Gandy's lack of ability made things more interesting than they should have for Warner. And I'd also point out that the Cards drafted a first round tackle in Levi Brown, who's been playing RT. Percentages only count at the end of the season for contract talks. And because there's no stat to measure OL, just Pro Bowl and All Pro voting, most people don't know what makes Peters, just that he's a (former) malcontent.

I know that half the league features a starting left tackle taken in the first round: J. Long (MIA) Ferguson (NYJ) Joe Thomas (CLE) L. Jones (CIN) T. Thomas (JAC via PHI) D. Brown (HOU) Clady (DEN) Albert (KC) Samuels (WAS) C. Williams/Pace (CHI) McKinnie (MIN) Baker (ATL) Gross (CAR) J. Brown (NO) Staley (SF) W. Jones (SEA) No starting LT, aside from Peters, has been acquired through trade, and only 3 in UFA. I know that you can't pin a SB on one position alone, but it doesn't hurt to have a guy who can keep opposing RDE's off their QB. EDIT: I know that OLT's will be selected at least twice in the top 10, and probably 5+ times in the first round. But that's elementary to the average football fan.

Schopp said today he wouldn't draft a OLT in the first round, and would concentrate on people who have the ball. The later part, as long as it's a top prospect QB, game breaking RB (see Peterson, Adrian) or top WR I might understand. I turned it off at that point and I cannot understand who Bulldog tolerates him. Maybe he missed his Mensa meeting this month.

And yet I could see it happening. That's the scary part. I see them going after Sidbury if he's available, perhaps as early as 28 if they go OT or LB at 11. It's a weak 4-3 LB class this year, with most of the OLB's being of the rush variety.

Saving money is worthless if you can't put a playoff team on the field. I'm not sure why people are high on saving money when making the playoffs and winning is the goal. I don't expect a Jerry Jones type effort, but that's ridiculous. The Bills aren't as financially strapped as they'd make you think. They were separated by 3M it was reported with Peters, so I would think they offered at least 8-8.5M. That money will now not be spent, as late first rounders aren't getting big dollars. I think 11th overall will get 5-10% more than McKelvin last year, which is 5 yrs 22M perhaps. The rest of their picks still have to fit underneath the rookie cap.

That's an amazing statistic. Only two teams have not traded down at some point on draft day? I sincerely hope they consider trading down this season, although they may not be able to with the demand for rookies to instantly become starters. If they were truly rebuilding, it'd be okay to drop down in the first. Now, I don't think they have that option needing LB, OL, TE, and DE help.

The highly regarded McNally (who is soon to be demonized by those for the trade) believed Peters was a superior talent. Sure, he's partial, but I think he knows OL when he sees them. I'll take the experts take before message board posters who don't study film. But again, only time will tell if this move benefits one side or the other more. I think we'll know by Week 6 of this upcoming season.

Pennington needed help when he played RT in 06 on most downs. The idea, especially if you're trying to exploit the seam down the field, is to involve your TE in the passing game occasionally. We cannot do that because we're too busy needing the TE to block. There are plenty of guys who can be blocking TE's. This team needs to A) Find one who can block and receive, with a premium on the last item and B) get a mauler at RT. The skill set for a RT is different than that of LT. A RT will get help from the TE to seal the edge, and doesn't face top pass rushers (LDE's) as much as a LT. So it's not as big a deal if they guy's footwork is slower and they play heavier in weight. Britton is 310 and a little light to play RT.

Florida spent heavily in 97 on UFA's like Kevin Brown, Gary Sheffield, Al Leiter, and others to get a winner. After the title, they dismantled the entire bunch, but not before Russell came north to work for the Bills. Russ wasn't on board when the exodus began of Florida's purchased talent. He's been able to sell tickets like no other, and I think it's for this reason that he's well-regarded in RW's eyes. Well, at least in putting a face on the team as opposed to a 90 year old man who is a PR nightmare. RB also can't fire coaches. The only way for most fans to see through the smokescreen going on is for Buffalo to fail during the season, which I think they will. I don't hope they do, but a 10th season without the playoffs will make even the diehards think twice about their support of this team. And maybe that's the plan.

The truth hurts. Too bad most Bills fans can't read between the lines. It's become more fun to pay attention to the off-season than the regular season. At least without the arrests. The only saving grace is having a good team, and right now with UFA all but over, I'm not seeing it either.

Robots. And not having insurance from Old Glory insurance for when they attack.

Langston Walker is a RT without the footwork to handle speed rushers. Buffalo will be seeing RDE or OLB's such as Mario Williams, Dwight Freeney, Peppers, Joey Porter, John Abraham, and whoever Belichick puts out there. He will need help with these pass rushers. And he's played all of 1 game in the NFL at the position. Unfortunately, not every OT in the NFL can play LT. Hangartner is a guy Buffalo's pro personnel folks picked that they think has ability to start. I'm not a big fan of their judgment, as evidenced by recent UFA's from 06-07. He may well prove to be good, but he's not a slam dunk OC. Butler was a very good value in the 5th round of 06. He's had injuries, but seems to be dependable. And he'll be the only guy who will start at the same position in 08 and 09. The OL has undergone two complete transformations in four off-seasons. I'll be realistic here, especially considering the same crew is picking the players.

Majic 8 ball-the military intelligence officer's best friend. And the preferred method of making picks at One Bills Drive. J/K.

I enjoy reading posts from those fans who've been with the team for years. I started watching in 88 and took it for granted all the success from that point through 99. If only I'd have known that a decade of success would follow with a walk across the Sahara of playoff deserts. I suppose I'm a "hater" because I don't feel the direction of the franchise is healthy. In order to win in today's NFL, you must have great management well versed in personnel. When I look at Buffalo's "inner circle" I see the owner, CFO, and marketing guy making football decisions, yet none of them are trained in doing so. The previous GM, a HOF HC, had no training as a personnel guy in the NFL. Someone will say Donahoe did, but if one guy fails, it's no reason to avoid other GM's from the personnel ranks. Most of all, I'm a "hater" because the writing is on the wall WRT the future of this team. Read between the lines here. None of us have seen the actual Toronto contract, but Phil Lind is saying they'll pursue options to add further games under the Bills in Toronto series. If the team can make 2-3 times per game what they can in Buffalo, no self-respecting businessman would accept less revenue in Buffalo. That's downright frightening. Lastly, when I look at other teams in the league, a great many of them aren't selling games to other locales or so dependent on an owner in his 90s. It almost seems the Bills are doing a little above minimum to keep a product on the field that won't be dreadful nor spectacular. Beyond what happens on the field, it's what's going off it which concerns me most. How anyone can ignore the 800 pound gorilla in the room that is Toronto remains beyond me. EDIT: Nothing personal SWBuffalo, but you've been here on this board for 2 months. There are many who've been here longer than I, but calling people out with so little time on TSW is not recommended.

Hopefully there won't be a situation where Russ Brandon or whoever has a Cam Cameron type moment. Imagine if they draft a DB with the first pick! I hope not.

This offseason is shaping up to be reminiscent of 2007 personnel-wise. That year, the Bills traded McGahee and Spikes while letting Clements and Fletcher go in UFA. They signed Dockery and Walker as opposed to drafting OL and perhaps waiting. Lynch and Posluszny needed to be immediate starters, and Edwards had to play when JPL got hurt. After the season, people began talking playoffs in 08. Now we're back at the same point: making wholesale changes and hoping rookies will play at a decent level. We've been down this road, and banking on rookies isn't a good plan when you consider the team knows it must make the playoffs. Then again, maybe it's never been about making the playoffs. I get the feeling that the marketing strategy, tied in with personnel with Russ, is about changing things every so often to provide a "new and improved" product. People always love something new, even if a previous version was better. Thing is, they won't know it until the "new and improved" version has run its course.

I think Littman, Bogdan and Russ have been scouting a locale to the north as well. Hey, she liked Carwell Gardner back in the day! I just wish Polian was around to tell her where to go.

Now that Peters is gone, none of the options to replace him are decent. The team had to once again nuke the OL by changing everyone or their positions save Brad Butler. That's continuity right there, and after 2 seasons of rebuilding the OL by the Levy front office, I'm not keen on this attempt at an OL either. The problem that most fans on this board have is they lack a statistic which can be attached to offensive lineman. And so they cling to the unofficial sack thing to prove their point that Peters is bad, always will be, and wanted too much. The wish most people had that Buffalo would trade him has come to fruition. And now the OL will be a collection of late round picks, cheap to moderate UFA's, and street free agents. How is this different than what Donahoe did with the OL.

The Bills pride themselves on having excellent special teams. They've scored points and had good field position from many a PR and KR. Parrish may never be a #2 or #3 WR, but trading him for a 4th or 5th does absolutely nothing to help this team this year. I would file the Peters trade under that same category. What are the Bills doing to help themselves this year? That's the central question, which, IMHO, is very little. TO is a start, but the OL is in serious trouble. Now it appears likely Buffalo will trade perhaps an outstanding PR because he doesn't fit perfectly into their WR depth chart. Draft picks in all probability will not help in 2009. Yet, we're told they know they need to win this season. I don't understand the logic is trading experienced players for future rookies. If it's cap hit, well, would Bills fans rather have a team far below the cap that struggles to 7-9, or one which is going for broke (as they should after 9 non-playoff seasons in a row) that is closer to the cap max?