BillsVet

Where did I talk about Super Bowl there? I do think it's reasonable to ask for a playoff appearance at some point. It's true free agency has thinned the talent of the league, not to mention the addition of 4 teams since the 1995 season. That's 4 team's worth of players which 20 years ago would have been spread across the 28 teams before expansion. So yeah, the product is obviously cheapened. I completely understand NC and LFB going in free agency. But did we acquire someone with a combination of experience and talent that can step into the position? We really didn't...Crowell we hope can play MLB and either K.Thomas/Youboty are supposed to be the solution at one CB position. We're calling on Ellison to play WLB after only a few NFL starts. And let's not even go RB now. The point is, guys let go for extremely legitimate reasons. But who replaces them? Sure you can find options within the team, but not all the time. And I don't think it's right to splurge in Free Agency every season. You build through the draft, but those picks aren't always going to be big time contributors their rookie seasons. I'm not one to select best player available just because you've got so many areas to make better. That's not a good thing no matter how you slice it. RB, CB, LB, DT, take your pick. All need improvements. And as for the "some" who critique the moves the team has made, we all can make our own opinions. I don't care what one lone voice in the forest says about Buffalo. Guys like Peter Kind slobber over the Pats all off-season, but there's nothing that says what you have on paper wins games. But it's apparent to me we're relying too much on rookies to make our team better.

Sure, every team has weaknesses. And it's up to the other team to exploit them during the game. But it's a widely held belief that depth at RB, CB, LB, and DT is thin at best. With the salary cap comes limitations. We all know the Bills can't have the caliber of teams they had in the early nineties when you could have players backing the starters up who could play relatively well. Some people have said they're fine with the team, particularly how Marv and DJ (emphasis on DJ's opinion given to Marv) draft. Still, I think the biggest lie is that they'll feel comfortable taking another year's worth of rookies and plugging them into play and feeling confident about it. I just don't believe it. Marv didn't like playing rooks back when he coached, and I don't believe he does now. Last season they played rookies because they had little else to work with. That's continued this season with the departures (NC and LFB I completely understand) in FA. But if every season we're forced to play rookies, how far can this team go? Not all draft picks succeed and sometimes they're high picks. Marv does not have the Midas touch, no matter what anyone on this board says. And neither does DJ.

When are some people going to admit we played rookies last season out of sheer desperation and lack of depth? It didn't happen because these guys were the best option, in most instances they were the only option. Ellison, Simpson, Pennington, and to a lesser degree Whitner played because there were no other options. K. Williams played because McCargo was hurt and wasn't effective when he was in there. And it showed on defense when we were easy to run on and offense where we rarely ran much at all behind the right side of the line. The team's depth both last season and most likely this seaon is very weak, even glaring in some spots. I think it's a lie that they feel comfortable putting some of the players on the field they'll end up having to. This Youboty/K. Thomas thing is a little scary. Hoping Ellison is good enough to play WLB is almost as bad. DT, regardless of the 1st round pick last season still doesn't phase most O-Coordinators. During draft weekend Buffalo will try to cull 2-3 starters or regular contributors out of their picks. That's not comforting. Rookies can only be counted on for so much. Most likely, one of those will be a LB, and the others are unknown. Biggest lie? That they're comfortable at all with some of their 2006 draft choices as starters in 07. And that somehow they'll have enough depth, especially on defense, to be a playoff team. Not a contender at 6-7 in Week 15, but a definite playoff team.

With all the talk recently about 2-back sets and surveying the RB position throughout the league, I'm not a big believer in selecting a RB in the first. I wouldn't be totally disappointed with a first round RB, but there are plenty of options available and this thread clearly indicates that. Irons, Pittman, B. Jackson, Hunt, and others provide a pretty good option that won't go in the first. Last season Addai was a late first round pick, Jones-Drew went late in the second and if I'm correct, Larry Johnson went after everyone's favorite back in 2003. You don't need to use a top-15 pick on RB, unless it's an LT or Reggie Bush type, and there's no one like that this season. Then again, there's Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams who are more underwhelming even though they were selected top-5. I'd rather the 12th pick be used for an instant impact type player on defense that isn't a CB. Then again, the Bills will decide what to do with the pick. If they were able to find someone to trade with, going LB in Round 1 late, picking up a second and using that pick on a RB would be excellent. Of course, who's to say they're going to trade.

I think there are multiple reasons to take Pittman. First, he'll be available in the 2nd, if not the 3rd. Second, he's got some room to grow into his frame. Third, he comes from a large program. Now, of those three reasons, the least important is the last. Just playing in a big program doesn't equate into NFL success. But at least he's got experience in big games (e.g. Michigan each season) His downside is a lack of contribution to the passing game. I like Brandon Jackson as well, perhaps in the early second. Depends on how whether or not the Bills would like to use their 2nd on a RB. He's ahead of Pittman in the strength category but hasn't carried the load at Nebraska. Still, an intriguing pick.

Sure, I agree...Leonard may not be an every down type back. And Bush has those injury concerns. But I'm sure Jacksonville didn't envision Jones-Drew or Indy with Addai being the same. Both were the complement to an established NFL veteran. But yeah, at this point neither looks to be consistent backs. I like Leonard's work ethic, but so many have said that his insistence on being a RB and not a FB scares teams. Bush is a between the tackles guy with injury problems. Probably not a good combination. Hunt or Pittman would do fine.

If Tony Hunt can play DB, that clinches it. No, seriously, I'd rather go defense with the first pick of our draft, assuming it's a first rounder which I think is probable. Going RB in the 2nd-3rd round would be nice. Be nice to trade back into the 2nd after our first pick to grab a back who's capable of carrying 20+ times a game. Brian Leonard would be nice, but Michael Bush would be better. For some reason I like Antonio Pittman from OH St. Not a big guy but he'll put on weight and has very good speed. Might be available in the 3rd. But I must admit Chris Henry from Arizona is an intriguing option in the 5th-6th round. Anyone who weighs 230 and has 4.4 speed is worth a shot. But I suspect Buffalo will only select 1 RB in the 2007 draft. Who knows. So much can happen in the next 40 days.

With so many positions of need, I think trading down is a good idea. I won't speculate on which teams would deal with us, but I'm sure we could collect 1 or 2 first day selctions in making a move down in the first. I can't see Buffalo completely getting out of the first. So many people seem to be high on Youboty after seeing him play CB in one game. K. Thomas has never been a starter in his NFL career. Still, I'd rather see a LB, RB, and DT selected before CB. If Youboty is so good, the Bills won't be spending a first day pick at DB. If they do, it tells me Youboty isn't the sure thing some people think he is. LB is simply thin on this team. One injury with the current roster and we've got to look at Coy Wire or Mario Haggan being a starter. A frightening thought. And for all those Wire lovers, he's never played the position in the pros beyond a few games last season. And that was out of necessity. All of this though is worthless based on what happens to Spikes. If he returns at a high level we're able to concentrate on other areas and pick a LB later, perhaps Day 2. DT is still not something I'm thinking is going to be better next season. Hoping and wishing Kyle Williams can play the 1 consistenyl is just that. We've got to have a bigger body who can absorb blockers for those LB"s. Tripplett at 3 can't do it himself, and we saw that nearly every game last season outside of perhaps the Jacksonville game. McCargo as the X factor worries me with that broken foot problem. We've got to get some more depth at DT. RB in Round 2 or 3 is almost necessary now. Buffalo probably wants a young speedster to complement A. Thomas. Pittman from Oh St. comes to mind but I'm not sure he's there in the 3rd. Then again, who knows at this point.

Let's condense the LB situation: 1. TKO's health is still a concern, though he could bounce back but we won't know for awhile. 2. Crowell is getting better, but it's up in the air how versatile he is to switch to MLB. 3. A draft pick of either Willis at MLB or Posluszny at OLB might be in order. It depends on retaining Spikes and Crowell's adaptation to MLB. There are other names out there including Siler, Timmons, Harris, and others who may fall into the 3rd. 4. The team likes Ellison, but he certainly needs to be bigger and stronger to attack the LOS. A smart player. 5. The remaining group (Stamer, Haggan, Manning, Wire, et al.) are merely ST's or backups. Not much to work with. Depth is an issue here. I'm sure the front office would love to dump Takeo for salary, performance and/or locker room reasons, but they're not in a position to do so yet. There are literally a host of options this team can take at LB. It's evident they won't pursue any free agents because they think they've got what it takes on the roster and or in the draft. That said, they must know something most people don't and are gambling that either a rookie or Crowell will be able to play MLB.

Let's face it, the better the DT's can penetrate the gaps and create havoc the easier it'll be for Crowell or whomever plays MLB to make tackles. Brian Urlacher is a great LB, but without Tank "Jailtime" Johnson and Tommie Harris, the Bears aren't nearly the same caliber defense. IMO the DT's the are the most important position on defense next to the MLB. If they don't do their job, the MLB has to do more.

All I can think of is we're taking a step back to take two steps forward. I like Dockery and to a lesser extent Walker. Making your offensive line better is the right move to take. Skill positions other than QB don't require big time picks all the time. But, you've got a WR in Evans who is the real deal. Opposite him there's a mix of several similar players. At RB you're going to have a committee and that isn't something I'm keen on, but they don't have much choice either. Defense is probably the name of the game in the draft again. On defense, we're hoping the young guys get better. Plain and simple. For guys drafted in the first or second that's fine. After that I'm concerned. Sure, we've got guys in the past from later rounds who performed, but the odds are against low round picks. On the DLine, we've got bodies at DT, but quality is another question. DE seems to be the foundation of this defense. At LB we're woefully thin, and should Spikes get the boot, even more. The safeties both have 1 year experience and the corners are shaky at best. Youboty/K. Thomas aren't big names while McGee had a rough 2006 campaign. Not saying you need name CB's, but I'm not comfortable with a 7 year veteran who's never started before and a super-rookie who has minimal experience no matter how high he was ranked last season. I don't like speculating about 2007 this early, but getting guys from the 07 draft to start appears the only option at certain positions. I can see a CB being taken, but I'd spontaneously combust as would many other fans. One thing I don't like is people asserting that we can find a RB in round 3 or 4 who can share time with A. Thomas and provide an adequate running game. That's more wishful thinking. Backs look good behind good lines, but they still need to see their blocks and get past the LOS. That's the hard part.

I would tend to agree with this assessment. Patrick Willis seems like a great pick, though 12 may be high. LB is a position of need because after Crowell, the talent drops off dramatically. We hope Spikes can return to near what he was like pre-injury and Ellison is still young. After that we have very little but UDFA's and late round picks. LB is a definite position of need. IMO Buffalo is looking for their 1st Rounder to start this season. They simply have a need for new talent at certain positions, including LB. It's still so far off though.

It's simply wishful thinking that Buffalo's LB Corps will be able to make tackles and "attack" the LOS. I hope he can make the conversion, but MLB is simply the most complicated position to play in the Cover-2. Just hoping and praying he can do it isn't enough to me. I think physically he can play the position, but should he move to the middle, Ellison (at this point) becomes the WLB. And despite what some say, I believe Spikes will be served his walking papers. Should Spikes remain, we're still unsure how Ellison can perform as a starter for a 16 game season. After Ellison, Spikes, and Crowell, our LB's are extremely weak. When your options after the starters are Mario Haggan, Coy Wire, Josh Stamer, Roy Manning, and John DiGiorgio, you'd better hope no one gets hurt. The Bills have no margin for error at LB. Crowell must make the conversion, or Donte Whitner might make more tackles than he did last season.

Marv relies on other people to do what other team's GM's do. Overdorf, Modrak, those guys do things Marv should be doing. Face it, Marv's a figurehead with a desk. He's doing what Ralph Wilson wanted when he hired him-put a good face out there for the organization. And with the dealing of Willis he's started that. Spikes has been rumored to be a disruptive force in the locker room, especially with his comments in the wake of Vincent being released. Marv will handle that in due time. You have to figure that Jim McNally had a big hand in getting Dockery and Walker and advised Marv. IMO DJ had a big hand in going defense in the draft in 2006. Marv never ran the Cover-2 as a Head Coach. He was new to the system and DJ already knew it well, having run it in Chicago. One thing about DJ, he got some players in Chicago like Urlacher and Briggs. So if he's advising Marv that's not an altogether bad thing. GM's and coaches aren't crazy about scouts historically and so that coach-GM relationship is important.

Again, let's not give Marv credit for being Marv. When they decided on a head coach they went looking for someone with previous experience. Good idea after the previous 2 HC's. How do we know how much talent evaluation Marv did back in the late eighties and nineties? Didn't we have Polian, Butler, and AJ Smith? Those guys did the scouting and personnel work. Marv provided input but didn't make the decision. Now Marv's doing the work those guys did. Marv has admitted himself he didn't have a lot of knowledge about the draft last season. He relied on Modrak and Jauron's insight because they'd been in the league those 10 seasons Marv was out of the game. Marv was hired in early January and the draft took place in April. Marv is not a scout, but he ultimately makes personnel moves. However, the off-season in 2006 was a completely new experience simply because he was a brand new GM. You don't become a great GM overnight. Some would argue we still don't have one. Marv does not get the benefit of the doubt. I don't go along with what those ESPN people say, but they're not wrong all the time either.

I gather DJ holds a lot of sway over Levy regarding personnel issues. I'll wager he was behind the Whitner, McCargo, and Simpson selections last year. While I won't assess the picks one way or another, I think it's safe to say we go defense in the first round. Despite all the posturing teams do leading up to the draft, DJ will advise Marv to go defense in Round 1 and/or 2. Now, I could be wrong, but DJ is a defense first coach and there's no way Marv totally blows off his head coach. Offensive weapons are a "want" right now, with defense being a "need." Especially considering there's CB, LB, and DT issues. Then again, they might surprise us all and take Sepulveda the punter from Baylor with their first pick. Who knows with this bunch.

I'd agree with that as well...but let's not give the coaching staff/front office too much credit after one season and draft. They made changes at the bye week that strengthened the OLine and gave the team a chance down the stretch. They beat a JAC team that was pretty good. They weren't blown out by the likes of SD, Indy, and BAL like Chicago did. But they also didn't hold the lead against Tennessee in the 4th. I wasn't crazy about clock management in the SD game, nor the two timeouts on the Price non-catch. To wager 2 TO's on one play in inexcusable. I also didn't like the game plan for Indy. Conservative play calling can go too far. Granted hindsight is 20/20, but outside of the McGee return at Indy we didn't score a TD in yet another game. Not going to get worked up over the team in March. But I still say you put the pieces together personnel wise in March and April for mini-camp and training camp in July and August for the regular season in September. The OLine revamping was a great start, but we're not finished.

OK, not to quibble with your assessment here, but just because a guy is a first round pick doesn't mean he's starter grade. The jury's still out on McCargo...I keep hearing he showed flashes but I didn't really see them. Seemed to me the games he did play in I didn't even know he was there and I was watching the interior DLine. And with a potentially chronic foot problem, I'm still seeing big question marks. Even if he does start, who knows at what level. DJ does defense better than anything else, and if they've got faith in Crowell at MLB, great. But let's not put him there because DiGiorgio is the only option. Now we're trying to fit the players to the system and that doesn't always work. I'm not convinced on Ellison. Don't want to shut him out, but he's not got that much playing time. Of course we'll see what the off-season has done for him. I hope he can become a Cato June type player who can tackle better. Who knows? I'll give them the benefit of the doubt on that one. I think the OL is going to be a strength. There's good starters and good depth, at least on paper. But a below average running back is our starter right now. Here's why: 1. backed up McGahee in 06...against the NFL's worst run defense (Indy) ran for 109 yards on 28 carries...not real impressive but of course the line wasn't great. 2. hasn't run for 1000 yards or started either since that 2003. I can't get over those facts. If they go by committee, I think there are some fine running backs available out there in the 2-3rd, but I don't like putting faith into a rookie. And neither does Marv. His track record prior to 06 demonstrates that, and last season was out of pure necessity.

I'm glad you are optimistic for this season, but I figured you were already writing off 2007. 10 wins will be tough to come by in the ultra-competitive AFC East. Granted, we're playing only 6 divisional games, but getting out of the AFC East will be a challenge. And with NFL teams changing so much from year to year, maybe a repeat of 06 happens in that we get a very tough schedule that going into the season no one expected. I believe this team is weak because we're going into draft weekend in need of starters. And we need starters at multiple positions. RB, LB, DT, and CB need continued personnel improvement. I completely understand needing an infusion of talent at 1-2 positions, but four is too much to still be hopeful of 10+ wins. A lot of people on here are quick to point out that we were poor against the run with LFB and NC. That's accurate, but so is the opposite. We were poor with them, and it's entirely possible that we'll be poorer without them. To be fair, we do not know what this team, particularly the defense, will be like minus those two. The Bills will need unproven players to become proven in a hurry. If not, it could be a long 2007 season. Then again, here's to 2008 and waiting until the season after next.

How much time should we give the current Bills Braintrust? Two seasons? Three seasons? To me, talking about 2008 is even worse than all those 40s and 50s Brooklyn Dodgers fans who said every season after they lost in the World Series, "wait until next year." I don't think too many fans want to even consider that type of rationale. Another season, off-season, and regular season to a playoff appearance is a lot to wait for. I want Buffalo to win now, not next year, not two years from now. This year. And if my patience is short, well, I think I have a reason. We're 46-66 in the last seven seasons. We can talk about who was in charge and what players we had, but the fact remains the same, we've had 0 playoff appearances in 7 seasons, and only 2 in the last 11. And one playoff win since 1995. It's not about who's in charge, it's the organization that's experienced failure comparable to teams like Detroit and Arizona. To ask to have a winner now is certainly within bounds.

I think it's safe to question this team when there are a lot of, "ifs." And here are the biggest ifs. 1. Defensive Tackles. If McCargo, Tripplett and/or K. Williams significantly improve from last season then the DLine will be in good shape. If not, you might see some long possessions from opponents and lots of big rushing performances. Eerily similar to 2006. 2. Running Back. If Anthony Thomas and/or a possible draft pick can be effective both inside and outside the tackles. Thomas is a between the tackles guy and no one knows if we even go with a RB in the first 2-3 rounds of the draft. If we do, can that player provide the depth and speed to give us a running attack. 3. If Crowell can make the adjustment to MLB. This is the most demanding position physically and mentally in the defenseive system. The Mike is called on to drop into coverage and attack the LOS. Not for the feint of heart. Besides, IF Spikes is let go, we'll need another LB to play in addition to Ellison, a former 6th rounder with little game experience. But that's just if. 4. If K. Thomas or Youboty can become adequate options as a starting CB. Thomas is a career backup/nickel corner. Now in all probability he's the starter in his eighth NFL season. Youboty's development is still in question because of family concerns. One game is not enough to tell what his future holds. 5. If J.P. Losman continues to develop. It appears he'll be a good NFL QB with decent talent around him. Should be a better bet with an improved OLine on paper. 6. If Lee Evans can play as well in 2007 as he did in 2006 it'll make Losman's development that much easier. The more ifs, the more chances for failure. Those aren't opinions, they're fact. Rationalize it all you want, teams like NE and NYJ don't have that many significant problems-at least on paper going into Draft Weekend. Sure it's early, but I don't know many teams that add starters to their roster in July or August. You get them now in March or April. And when you go into the draft needing immediate impact starters, that's not a good formula for success. Besides, it's OK to question your team when 28 other NFL clubs have been to the playoffs since the last team your team went. But that might be too negative for some.

I reminds me of those old NFL Films productions after the season that highlighted every team in the league. The year the Jets went 1-15 after watching their 1/2 hour production, you'd have thought they went 10-6 and made the playoffs. You can convince yourself that all the Bills question marks will be solved through the draft/free agency/divine intervention/whatever. But, with lackluster depth at RB, LB, and CB, it's not comforting knowing we've got so many holes and so few dependable options to fill them with. When you absolutely depend on the draft for players, something is seriously wrong.

Good depth signing...but totally agree. There are several better backs, regardless of whether they're in a two-back set or not. Thomas stuck around because he wasn't in demand by the rest of the NFL. I don't know if his relationship with DJ helped here with the potentially low price, but it probably did given their familiarity. This is a guy who rarely played in 05, even after Deuce McAllister went down. That tells me a lot about him. And then to get 109 yards against Indy's swiss cheese defense made me wonder about his everydown back abilities. Let's not get too excited about A-Train. He will do the things mentioned above, but won't provide us with a dominant back. Sorry to raise the rational flag here, but he's just part of the solution, not close to all of it.

I'm not going to knock down someone who chooses to feel positive about the off-season SO FAR. But reality rears its ugly head at some point. While we can't ascertain what the effect of these moves is right now, we will know in September. And I'm less inclined to believe what comes out of OBD after last season. I heard all off-season how Royal, Reyes, Bowen, and the like were described in more glowing terms than they played. Bottom line: don't believe the hype. With that in mind, I don't feel optimistic about the season SO FAR in free agency. The offensive line is better, but anyone who thinks the RB position SO FAR is better has another thing coming. Anthony Thomas lost his starting job to Thomas Jones in Chicago and did not start here. For Buffalo to pass him off as a starter is laughable. Now, they may choose to go RB in Round 1,2, or 3, but whomever they pick is still a rookie and most likely won't be providing a huge impact. Some fans might drop names like Addai or even Jones-Drew, but those guys are few and far between. McGahee was a bad attitude and team disease, but you've got to have a solution before voluntarily opening a new problem. The defense SO FAR is not better than last year, and we weren't all that great in 2006 anyway. Sure, Clements and F-B were gone, but there's been no one with starting NFL experience even in for a visit on defense. To say the draft will solve the problem is too much because rookies aren't normally going to be impact players. Maybe a 2nd or 3rd year player, but rarely rookies. Cato June is probably the best defender available along with Ken Hamlin and neither are going to Buffalo. Again, speculation, but after looking at the salary cap page, there's little room for quality players but enough for depth type guys. SO FAR of course. Last year's picks are on the team for one reason, we had nothing in the way of depth. Keep feeling good about Pennington, Merz, and Butler, but these guys could be done this season in Buffalo. Sure, that's obvious speculation, but getting two big name guys means they don't have the luxury of being options like last season when Reyes and Villarrial didn't cut it or were injured. I don't care for Bob Matthews' opinions. He doesn't attend many sporting events but writes about almost all of them. But he's got the guts to say something that isn't partial or negative, just observation. If you don't like it, ignore him. SO FAR, the Pats have improved, albeit on paper. But any team that goes to the AFC Title game and adds Adalius Thomas along with to a lesser degree Welker and Stallworth makes me wonder. They've got a good defense already and have more weapons on offense. Go ahead and minimize what they've done, but don't dare come back and say how our players will improve. Anyone heard of the sophomore jinx? If you're going to be positive, have a reason. 5th, 6th, and 7th round picks rarely become dependable NFL starters. That's the odds, but many players have defied the odds in NFL history. Still the pieces to the Bills puzzle will most likely be coming from the draft. And relying on the draft for starting grade NFL players isn't something I'm taking to the bank. Talk all you want about Whitner and Simpson, but they were the only options remaining. I hope they play well, because they've got no options after those two. Same goes for LB where Crowell, Spikes, and undersized Keith Ellison are the only options outside of new LB Coy Wire. Those names aren't reassuring at the position.

Some people panic about the positions of need. If we go into the draft with 1 RB w/NFL experience, 3 signed CB's, only one of whom has decent NFL experience, and a LB corps that consists of Crowell, Ellison, and Wire, I'm going to be nervous. But we're not at that point. Should Spikes be released, and that's up in the air, we've got to have an excellent draft with guys who can step in. There is no option there. DT is a position of need, but at this point it's not the priority. RB and CB are. LB comes in a close third. I'd like Okoye, but as far as getting picks I can't see them keeping #12 and using it on a player. I think they're going to stockpile picks, particularly 2nd's and 3rd's like they've already started to get more of a chance to draft good players.