This team can go 8-8 this year...if not better.

[DarthICE]

The Pats beat us last year by a combined 11 points. One of those loses was handed to them on a platter and should have been a win. That's hardly "kicking our asses".

 

I'm not saying they're not a better team but the delta may not be as great as it seems.

 

 

Exactly mike, a 1 point game at their place is hardly an asskicking.

[Calgary_JG]

If we can turn the 2-4 in the division into 4-2 (which isn't impossible) then we've got a fighting chance at 8-8 / 9-7.

 

We're basically fielding the same offense that somehow managed 6 wins last year (5 maybe I guess) but it'll be improved in the coaching alone. This D should be able to stop the run AND the pass this year which should translate into a couple of more wins.

 

nobody in the division outclassed us last year and I'm not ready to annoint the Jets the SB champs like seemingly every sportswriter on the continent. We should have beat the patsies twice last year.

 

I'm actually really looking forward to this season, its gonna be the first step in the right direction that we've taken in a long time. By 2011 this team will be ready to make some noise.

[vincec]

First off I don't do drugs, and it is way too early for me to be drinking so YES I am serious and here is why.

 

1. Coaching is better. ANYONE is an improvement over Jauron, VanPelt etal.

2. The talent has improved. No way in hell do we suck this year as badly as we did against the run. The 3-4 should bring more pressure allowing our good DB corp to make more turnovers.

 

This OL produced the 16th rated running game in the NFL last year as well as a 1000 yard rusher. Spiller has 10x the talent our other RB's do, plus I don't see us having as many OL injuries this year. We will be improved.

 

3. We lost 6 games by a total of like 20 points.

 

I feel this team is going to do better than most people think!

1. I agree 100%. Although we should probably wait to see if Gailey can coach before we say that he's good, it's hard to imagine worse game management than Jauron.

 

2. I would call it break even at best. They add Spiller and some strong role players, but lose Owens and probably Schobel. If they are going to improve, they need LAST years draft picks to step up a notch, especially Maybin.

 

3. They lost some close games, but also won some that they shouldn't have like against Carolina and Indianapolis. I'd say that their record was a pretty accurate indication of how good they were.

 

I think all this adds up to the same old thing as last season... between 5 and 7 wins.

[PS 56]

First off I don't do drugs, and it is way too early for me to be drinking so YES I am serious and here is why.

 

1. Coaching is better. ANYONE is an improvement over Jauron, VanPelt etal.

2. The talent has improved. No way in hell do we suck this year as badly as we did against the run. The 3-4 should bring more pressure allowing our good DB corp to make more turnovers.

 

This OL produced the 16th rated running game in the NFL last year as well as a 1000 yard rusher. Spiller has 10x the talent our other RB's do, plus I don't see us having as many OL injuries this year. We will be improved.

 

3. We lost 6 games by a total of like 20 points.

 

I feel this team is going to do better than most people think!

 

I love the optimism. I will not second guess. I am very intrigued about the development of a solid running game. We are heavy in the running back department. I can hardly wait for the season to begin.

[Rob's House]

Be careful what you ask for. New England just had a huge draft with 4 picks in the first two rounds and 5 in the first 90 players chosen. Next year NE will have 4 picks in the first two rounds of the 2011 draft. Champion teams are built through the draft and the Bills will need two great drafts to match the talent in our own division. The Bills will need to out draft the AFC east to make the playoffs. I think the only chance the Bills will have this decade is to finish in the bottom 5 for two consecutive years. Jerry Sullivan has it right, they have to bottom out to get better. The number of wins in the next couple of years is far less important than the elevation of the talent base of this team. Winning 7 or 8 games just might doom them to mediocrity for a decade.

 

The Pats dynasty may well be over. Pioli's gone, and for as good an Xs and Os guy as Bellichick is, He's had some questionable personnel moves.

 

Add to that, Wes Welker may not be back in full form, and Randy Moss, while still dominant, is getting a little long in the tooth and rumor has it he's disgruntled.

 

Their defense doesn't impress me either. They're still a quality team, and yes they did make some key aquisitions, but their strenghth is still their O, and with the kind of defense we look to be putting on the field, Brady might get flashbacks of the SB against NY.

[billsfreak]

First off I don't do drugs, and it is way too early for me to be drinking so YES I am serious and here is why.

 

1. Coaching is better. ANYONE is an improvement over Jauron, VanPelt etal.

2. The talent has improved. No way in hell do we suck this year as badly as we did against the run. The 3-4 should bring more pressure allowing our good DB corp to make more turnovers.

 

This OL produced the 16th rated running game in the NFL last year as well as a 1000 yard rusher. Spiller has 10x the talent our other RB's do, plus I don't see us having as many OL injuries this year. We will be improved.

 

3. We lost 6 games by a total of like 20 points.

 

I feel this team is going to do better than most people think!

I like your optimism, but it is crossing into dreaming. If this team goes 8-8 or better, that only says the rest of the league already went on strike, and nobody told the Bills they were leaving. You are looking at a team who will win probably 5 games, if they are lucky. You can't say for sure the coaching is an improvement, Jauron had a better NFL resume coming into Buffalo than Gailey does. You don't know the talent is improved, and it has decreased at some positions, notably WR. If we do cut down on the OL injuries, and it would be bizarre to expect that many again, it should be better in that area, but then again, you can't get any worse on the OL than we were last year. Better common sense from professional players (McFumble/Parrish) and we might have won 8 games last year, but we were fortunate to play the Colts in game 16 or they would have blown us out if the needed the game.

[Bufcomments]

First off I don't do drugs, and it is way too early for me to be drinking so YES I am serious and here is why.

 

1. Coaching is better. ANYONE is an improvement over Jauron, VanPelt etal.

2. The talent has improved. No way in hell do we suck this year as badly as we did against the run. The 3-4 should bring more pressure allowing our good DB corp to make more turnovers.

 

This OL produced the 16th rated running game in the NFL last year as well as a 1000 yard rusher. Spiller has 10x the talent our other RB's do, plus I don't see us having as many OL injuries this year. We will be improved.

 

3. We lost 6 games by a total of like 20 points.

 

I feel this team is going to do better than most people think!

You forgot that most of the Team was on IR last year. Buddy thinks we are not far off, I believe him.

 

If we had scored a TD against the Browns we win. thanks Trent...

If we didn't fumble in NE we might have won.

If we could have scored against NO that game was winnable.

The Jacksonville game was winnable as well. Needed more points.

[DarthICE]

Great to see some realistic optimism from many posters! Lets all stay in that boat and even when it gets tough this year, back each other and keep the faith going!

[BuffaloBillsMagic1]

Realistic as can be is that Miami, Jets and New England has imporved themselves each more than we have. We still have questions on OL and QB like last year. I say 7-9 is about right if all goes well.

[seq004]

4-12

[Ray]

New England's draft over the past 5 years have not been that good. They got lucky and drafted Brady and put together a very good DL. Brady makes the OL very good.

How were there picks last year? We have had more productive players the past two years from our drafts than the Pats. The major talent problem with the Bills is at the QB position and other than getting McNabb which they tried to do it was not going to change in the draft.

[bonzaibills]

I look at the schedule and there's no way I can talk myself into anything close to 8 wins.

[port allegany]

I share some of your optimism. I'm hoping for a very competitive 'one year away' type performance. Here's why:

1. I do agree the coaching will be better, particularly on the offense. Gailey has done it at the NFL level and we haven't had someone like that in almost a decade.

2. Gailey has some weapons - Evans, Spiller, Nelson, a couple of RBs, and Parrish - that can be exploited better than in the past. Edwards HAS to play better than last year overall. Remember, he has a good start and then it fell apart. In fact, the entire offense fell apart.

3. The OL is a year older, stronger, and wiser. It can't possibly have as many injuries again or as much inexperience. A new game plan can minimize the protection problems (again, I am counting on Gailey and his experience exceeding Van Pelt, but I feel that's a safe bet). I think that's one of the reasons they got Spiller. And if the Tight Ends improve (both were young with upside last year) that will help Edwards. Remember, Edwards was pretty good with Schouman (spelling?) in the line-up. Obviously, he likes to checkdown but he needs quality to checkdown to. Spiller and the TEs might provide the quality

4. The defense is stouter and stronger. Right now we are projecting a starting line-up without Kelsey, Schobel, or Johnson (DL). Those guys are still on the team (assuming Schobel comes back) so depth will be better.

5. Maybin has talent. Maybe he doesn't have a position in the NFL but if he does it's likely OLB. If it is and he blossoms up to his talent, we just filled another need with a #1 round draft choice.

6. It is a last place schedule against the NFC North. Yes, the AFC West and the NFC West are worst but the NFC North is not that much better.

[Koufax]

I share some of your optimism. I'm hoping for a very competitive 'one year away' type performance. Here's why:

1. I do agree the coaching will be better, particularly on the offense. Gailey has done it at the NFL level and we haven't had someone like that in almost a decade.

2. Gailey has some weapons - Evans, Spiller, Nelson, a couple of RBs, and Parrish - that can be exploited better than in the past. Edwards HAS to play better than last year overall. Remember, he has a good start and then it fell apart. In fact, the entire offense fell apart.

3. The OL is a year older, stronger, and wiser. It can't possibly have as many injuries again or as much inexperience. A new game plan can minimize the protection problems (again, I am counting on Gailey and his experience exceeding Van Pelt, but I feel that's a safe bet). I think that's one of the reasons they got Spiller. And if the Tight Ends improve (both were young with upside last year) that will help Edwards. Remember, Edwards was pretty good with Schouman (spelling?) in the line-up. Obviously, he likes to checkdown but he needs quality to checkdown to. Spiller and the TEs might provide the quality

4. The defense is stouter and stronger. Right now we are projecting a starting line-up without Kelsey, Schobel, or Johnson (DL). Those guys are still on the team (assuming Schobel comes back) so depth will be better.

5. Maybin has talent. Maybe he doesn't have a position in the NFL but if he does it's likely OLB. If it is and he blossoms up to his talent, we just filled another need with a #1 round draft choice.

6. It is a last place schedule against the NFC North. Yes, the AFC West and the NFC West are worst but the NFC North is not that much better.

 

 

Don't forget the 7. Injuries. There is no way (knock on Eric Wood) that this year can be like last, and as our injuries regress to the mean we are a healthier team.

 

Minuses:

1) New schemes on both sides of the ball will take a little getting used to, but hopefully that doesn't hold us back too much.

2) TO and Schobel could take two of our more talented players off the roster, otherwise we lose nobody we will miss.

3) Bobby April. Hopefully his philosophy sticks, but losing him AND having a huge turn over of the coaching staff who might otherwise carry the torch would lead me to believe our special teams are likely to suffer somewhat.

 

I'm on the 8-8 kool aid diet. This is not the year we win it all, we all know that. What would be nice is to feel some excitement and progress right away, and as the season winds down calculating playoff scenarios instead of draft scenarios even if we come up short. The later in the season we play meaningful games instead of just playing out the season the better.

[firstngoal]

First off I don't do drugs, and it is way too early for me to be drinking so YES I am serious and here is why.

 

1. Coaching is better. ANYONE is an improvement over Jauron, VanPelt etal.

2. The talent has improved. No way in hell do we suck this year as badly as we did against the run. The 3-4 should bring more pressure allowing our good DB corp to make more turnovers.

 

This OL produced the 16th rated running game in the NFL last year as well as a 1000 yard rusher. Spiller has 10x the talent our other RB's do, plus I don't see us having as many OL injuries this year. We will be improved.

 

3. We lost 6 games by a total of like 20 points.

 

I feel this team is going to do better than most people think!

 

The Franchise is finally headed in the right direction, but this team has 4 to 5 wins written all over it.

[folz]

I know I'm always a bit on the optimistic side, but I can't understand the people who are predicting

a worse season than last year (1-5 wins).

 

Why we could be worse:

New offense

New defense

loses: TO, Butler, Reed, maybe Schobel

 

Why we could be better:

New Offense

New Defense

New coaching staff

Non first time OC

Less injuries

Injured players coming back

Another draft and a few new FAs with no significant loses (unless you consider TO and maybe Schobel)

Our younger players have another year under their belt

Our OC won't be fired just before the season

Our offense won't be hampered by a conservative Defensive head coach

Our LT won't be let go a week before the season

The team got bigger and stronger on D

Tougher attitude across the organization

 

I'm not going to even guess whether this was a good draft or not (who after last year thought we

would be praising Jarius Byrd as one of our best players now). But seriously, where did we get worse

from last year?

 

QBs: didn't get a big name prospect or FA but the guys we have are the same as last year, so we didn't

downgrade either and I'm pretty sure Gailey will get more out of them than Jauron and Van Pelt

RBs: Sure we didn't need to improve this area but either way Spiller has upgraded this position

OL: Ok, we did lose Butler and we need to see if Wood can come back from injury...but the injuries last year

were just unreal (if we improve with that alone the line should be better), they will hopefully be in a better system,

the young guys will have more experience and now we have more depth...so we didn't get significantly better,

but again I don't think we got worse by any means...Besides Butler only played 1-1/2 games last year and

wasn't the answer at RT anyhow, he was more of a G. If Wood comes back, we definitely didn't get worse here.

TEs: Should be better as Schouman will be healthy and Nelson progresses

WRs: Ok this is one spot that until proven otherwise I will give the sceptics saying we are worse (but I am intriqued

to see what Johnson and now Easley can do--not so sure about Hardy)

DL: We will definitely be bigger here, Kelsey won't be on the end...Schobel is a loss, but Edwards was a great pickup

and Stroud will be healthy again...hopefully the rookie DT can come in and produce

LB: We were starting a safety at LB by the end of the season and we were already small at that position. We brought

in Davis, Poz will be back, Mitchell will be healthy, we have the DEs converting (Kelsey, Maybin, Ellis, maybe Schobel),

and our draft picks from last year and this year...if nothing else, we are bigger and have more options than the last few years

DB/S: We are fine here and should be as good or better (more experienced and improved front 7)

 

I'm not saying we are a contender or even a playoff team this year, but how, seriously how could we

be worse than last year...every position should be the same or improved except for maybe WR...and

that isn't even taking into account that the offensive coaching/playcalling should be vastly improved.

I'm not annointing Gailey as a genius, but there is no way he isn't an improvement over a first time

caller in Van Pelt who was hampered by a conservative HC. What are the guys predicting 2-5 wins

seeing that I am not...I don't think I'm just drinking the Kool-Aid.

[Mr. ChumChums]

3. We lost 6 games by a total of like 20 points.

 

While I DO agree with most of what you say, that 3rd point is slightly misleading, as Jauron's philosophy of playing "not-to-lose" did keep many games artificially close. It just wasn't good enough to actually win.

[DrFishfinder]

If the Bills play hard, play smart and don't lose games they are winning because of stupid blunders, I will be a happier camper. I'm not expecting a playoff berth, but I am hopeful that they will not embarrass themselves this season as they have so many times in the past several years.

 

They should be a more disciplined, better coached and better executing team.

[kasper13]

2-14. Just because it's a new coaching staff doesn't make it a good one. Time will tell. Changing offense and defense without the players to do it. All of the draft picks other than Spiller will take time to develop. Not one will step in and contribute much this year. The biggest thing is still no QB, the three coming back can't get the job done and they have nobody to throw to other than Evans and now Spiller. 20 checkdowns a game to Spiller. O-line still needs time to develop. I do not see where they are better on the D-Line or LB than they were last year. Totally unproven players and aging veterans being asked to play a new system. That takes time. Schedule is brutal and then some. Have alot of young inexperienced guys and some older not so good veterans. I don't see where the depth has improved this year. Rebuilding takes 2-3 years sometimes more, not one offseason where quite honestly, they have not done all that much to improve for 2010. I think they will get worse before they get better. 8-8 would be a disappointment actually. I would like to see them have the top pick in 2011.

[agardin]

This team will be much better but I don't know if it will result in more wins as our division has appreciated in term of talent/experience; the schedule, on paper, looks harder as well. If drafting Spiller can improve our abysmal 3rd down conversion rate ( dead last in the league ) then we will be in way more games.

 

This should help out the D as they won't be on the field for the entire game. Upgrades on the D line should result in better field postion as well. Last year was one of the worst for injuries in league history, that can't happen again. We are going in the right direction. Likely 6-10 maybe 7-9. Hey that isn't too bad, I think last years 6-10 was one of the worst 6-10 teams I have ever seen.