Top 10 Things the Bills need to do to get better!

[USABuffaloFan]

1. Fire Edwards and get new DC.

2. Fire Tom Modrak

3. Don't draft any players who haven't played at least 2 years of college ball.

4. Get stud Left Tackle and move Bell to Right Tackle.

5. Move Woods to Center

6. Either Urbik gets RG or find a new one. Hargartner backsup C/Guard.

7. Start Jackson from beginning but use Spiller on 3rd down and to spell Jackson more. Commit to the run more!

8. Find run stuffing middle linebacker.

9. Find a tightend, how about Fenner from Stanford.

10. FIND A PASS RUSHER!!!!

 

Obviously we need a QB for the future but Fitz starts next year. We are set at NT but need DE's. We are set at OL if Merriman is OK and use Moats more. We have our starters at all other defensive positions, could use better backup safeties. This team needs better backups everywhere.

[Mr_Blizzard]

3. Don't draft any players who haven't played at least 2 years of college ball.

 

I think that's big. Back in the day, the Bills would often draft small-school players who would be successful in the NFL, and the indicator of future success was 3 or 4 years of solid performance in college. I don't know why the Bills seem to get blinded by these guys who have one solid season, and next thing you know, they are being declared a future hall-of-famer without having played a down in the NFL. Give me a guy who has been solid all the way through college any day...

[the_franchise]

3. Don't draft any players who haven't played at least 2 years of college ball.

 

I think that's big. Back in the day, the Bills would often draft small-school players who would be successful in the NFL, and the indicator of future success was 3 or 4 years of solid performance in college. I don't know why the Bills seem to get blinded by these guys who have one solid season, and next thing you know, they are being declared a future hall-of-famer without having played a down in the NFL. Give me a guy who has been solid all the way through college any day...

 

I don't care if they're big or small school guys, I'd just like to see us stay away from one year wonders. That and undersized one year wonders. And after watching this run d all year, I wouldn't mind seeing us pick up two stout DTs and just running a 3 DT line maybe then we can just form a collapsing blob around the pocket.

[Buffalo Barbarian]

Draft Luck, get Run stuffing NT the rest will take care of itself.

[BuffaloBillsMagic1]

1. Fire Edwards and get new DC.

2. Fire Tom Modrak

3. Don't draft any players who haven't played at least 2 years of college ball.

4. Get stud Left Tackle and move Bell to Right Tackle.

5. Move Woods to Center

6. Either Urbik gets RG or find a new one. Hargartner backsup C/Guard.

7. Start Jackson from beginning but use Spiller on 3rd down and to spell Jackson more. Commit to the run more!

8. Find run stuffing middle linebacker.

9. Find a tightend, how about Fenner from Stanford.

10. FIND A PASS RUSHER!!!!

 

Obviously we need a QB for the future but Fitz starts next year. We are set at NT but need DE's. We are set at OL if Merriman is OK and use Moats more. We have our starters at all other defensive positions, could use better backup safeties. This team needs better backups everywhere.

Nice job! Repped!

[Homey D. Clown]

1a. Fire Edwards and get new DC.

1b. Fire Tom Modrak

2. Stay away from Vince Young

3. Don't draft any players who haven't played at least 2 years of college ball.

4. Get stud Left Tackle and move Bell to Right Tackle.

5. Move Woods to Center

6. Either Urbik gets RG or find a new one. Hargartner backsup C/Guard.

7. Start Jackson from beginning but use Spiller on 3rd down and to spell Jackson more. Commit to the run more!

8. Find run stuffing middle linebacker.

9. Find a tightend, how about Fenner from Stanford.

10. FIND A PASS RUSHER!!!!

 

Obviously we need a QB for the future but Fitz starts next year. We are set at NT but need DE's. We are set at OL if Merriman is OK and use Moats more. We have our starters at all other defensive positions, could use better backup safeties. This team needs better backups everywhere.

 

 

Fixed.

[bowery4]

1. Fire Edwards and get new DC. wont happen and not 100% sure it is a good move at all

2. Fire Tom Modrak Also won't happen not sure I have an opinion he IS the real problem with scouting

3. Don't draft any players who haven't played at least 2 years of college ball.OK but if Luck is there, he just has 2, no?

4. Get stud Left Tackle and move Bell to Right Tackle.Bell playing out of position sounds like what Jarbum did with Walker who was a passable RT, Bell's strong suit has not been the run and that should be the RTs job to a certain extent

5. Move Woods to CenterI think you mean keep him there

6. Either Urbik gets RG or find a new one. Hargartner backsup C/Guard.I was impressed with him there too, Chan seems to like Rienhart too. We started with 8 OL on the rooster at the beginning of the season. I could see them fighting it for starter out in camp. I would still love to see some Mankins here but that's a dream. I do admire the job they did once the injury bug started hitting (scoring PSs from other teams IMO just like a free draft choice) but want them to have more on the roster at the beginning of next year. I want some depth a swing tackle and a good RT

7. Start Jackson from beginning but use Spiller on 3rd down and to spell Jackson more. Commit to the run more!I think Chan has a plan, would like to see CJ play more and better but feel in reality that has more to do with the line, Fitz and Freddy would look better behind a good line too IMO

8. Find run stuffing middle linebacker.all of our LBs need to be able to excell in coverage as well

9. Find a tightend, how about Fenner from Stanford. a bunch of good TEs are available in FA, I would rather save draft picks for other positions

10. FIND A PASS RUSHER!!!! be nice to be able to both stop the run and the pass

 

Obviously we need a QB for the future but Fitz starts next year. We are set at NT but need DE's. We are set at OL if Merriman is OK and use Moats more. We have our starters at all other defensive positions depends how you look at it I guess, I think we see a lot of different people on the roster next year, could use better backup safeties? really. This team needs better backups everywhere totally agree but can only see us trying to find better starters before the depth players honestly. I think back ups will happen but we need fewer holes is what I mean by that.

Edited January 6, 2011 by bowery4

[2003Contenders]

3. Don't draft any players who haven't played at least 2 years of college ball.

 

I think that's big. Back in the day, the Bills would often draft small-school players who would be successful in the NFL, and the indicator of future success was 3 or 4 years of solid performance in college. I don't know why the Bills seem to get blinded by these guys who have one solid season, and next thing you know, they are being declared a future hall-of-famer without having played a down in the NFL. Give me a guy who has been solid all the way through college any day...

 

That actually is kind of what they did last year. Under the Levy/Brandon regime the emphasis was on YOUNG guys. Case in point, guys like Whitner, Lynch and Maybin were all underclassmen who were barely 20 at the time they were drafted. I think the faulty concept was to draft them young and bank on longer careers. Funny that with the status of both Maybin and Whitner being "tenuous", there is a good chance that all 3 of these guys who were drafted for their potentially lengthy livelihood could very well be off the roster before the 2011 season (assuming there WILL BE a 2011 season) begins.

 

My assessment of what the Bills need to do to get better:

 

1. The weakest part of this team IMHO was the LB corps. If Merriman can get back to where he was 3-4 years ago that would be a big shot in the arm. Obviously there are plenty of doubts there. I consider Poz decent -- but not great. He certainly isn't a big play maker. Maybe he is "good" in the sense that Nix described Kelsay after the questionable extension. If the team can extend him without breaking the bank, I think they should do so -- and focus on improving the other LB spots. Moats was a welcome surprise in the second half of the season, but he is a pass rush specialist and a liability against the run. They definitely need an upgrade at the other ILB spot (assuming they bring Poz back). Here is where they need to find someone that is a true play maker. The way I see it, they need to place a premium on finding a beast at ILB and should add more depth at both ILB and OLB positions too.

 

2. Improve the DL. I would start by getting rid of Stroud -- and finding an improvement to Kelsay, who would be best served as a reserve. Maybe Carrington can fit that bill? Edwards should be serviceable, but Williams was the only guy that played well last season. I have high hopes for Troupe. But it sure would be nice to have a studly Wilfork type to dominate the point of attack. More beef at DT would also allow the team to mix-and-match with their multi-front look by moving Williams inside and out depending on down and distance. It would also allow them to keep the big bodies fresh.

 

3. Build depth along the OL. I think they are in good shape along the interior with Wood, Levitre, Urbick, and Hangman. They could probably use another quality body there for depth. I see Bell as average at LT -- and the RT position the biggest weakness. I would look for a starting RT in free agency and draft both OTs and OGs in the middle rounds.

 

 

4. The team needs a legitimate passing-catching TE. I am not sure why the team has neglected this position for so long. Really, since they let Jay R go after the 2002 season. I don't know that Nelson, who I really liked coming out of college, will ever be what they need.

 

Obviously, there are other things that need to be improved too (like cutting down on turnovers and finding ways to get pressure on the QB). However, if they can address these 4 key areas -- all of which, I believe, are doable in a single off-season -- I believe they can make significant strives to move toward the postseason.

[MattyT]

11. Don't be too confident in thinking that any of these re-tread O-linemen that they picked up off the trash heap are going to be any kind of long term solution.

Edited January 6, 2011 by MattyT

[tennesseeboy]

1. Be aggressive in Free Agency. find a solid offensive tackle, a quality tight end (Bo Scaife?) and/or a good run stuffing defensive lineman.

2. Draft for the trenches. A quality run-blocking front line will open up holes that will make both Spiller and Jackson more effective,eat time of possession and free up the passing game.

3. Sign existing free agents. You are not going to draft a better safety than Donte Whitner or a linebacker better than PP. Get er done.

4. Take the number one player available in a position of need with the third choice. Assuming the number one and two choices are on point that leaves a number of choices in positions of need. Chan..not running back....qb, de, dt, ot, olb...YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY MISS ON THIS ONE.

5. Frankly given our draft position on two we should go into the third round with two penciled in starters on the board.

5. Set a goal of getting to the playoffs and pump it with a trumpet. If you have low expectations you get low results (e.g., the 2010 Buffalo Bills.)

 

one more thing...if we don't get Scaife, go for Luke Stocker TE out of Tennessee. This from a homer, but the same homer pushing for us to draft Jason Whitten in the second round and he has turned out pretty well.

[BillsFan-4-Ever]

#1 Bribing the Refs

 

#2 Don’t be afraid to spend $ on great players

 

#3 Bribing the Refs

 

#4 use stickum on the receivers hands or gloves

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1. Fire Edwards and get new DC.

2. Fire Tom Modrak

3. Don't draft any players who haven't played at least 2 years of college ball.

4. Get stud Left Tackle and move Bell to Right Tackle.

5. Move Woods to Center

6. Either Urbik gets RG or find a new one. Hargartner backsup C/Guard.

7. Start Jackson from beginning but use Spiller on 3rd down and to spell Jackson more. Commit to the run more!

8. Find run stuffing middle linebacker.

9. Find a tightend, how about Fenner from Stanford.

10. FIND A PASS RUSHER!!!!

 

Obviously we need a QB for the future but Fitz starts next year. We are set at NT but need DE's. We are set at OL if Merriman is OK and use Moats more. We have our starters at all other defensive positions, could use better backup safeties. This team needs better backups everywhere.

 

Nice stuff especially #3!!!

#10 is #1 in my book!!!

 

Q: do we really think Bell has what it takes for LT? It seems like whenever the run goes toward his side, forgettaboutit

[USABuffaloFan]

I enjoyed everyones opinion. It is obvious most of us believe the issue with the Bills is drafting. I want a LT or Pass rushing Lineman with first pick. That is the bang for the buck for the Bills. Forget the 4th pick with Williams. That was a fluke for him to miss' he was decent as a RT (not for 8mil/yr). Thanks everyone and lets see where this goes without LUCK!!!!!!!