What are you're expectations for this season?

[ganesh]

For those who say Marrone and Co cant be any worse than Gailey, I present Exhibit A Gregg Williams, Mike Mularkey & DIck Jauron.

 

Actually I disagree...I think the only coach who comes close to (similarity) to Doug is Mularkey...

 

Greg Williams was arrogant from day one and never could put the team together. Mularkey on the other hand is the only HC with a winning season in the whole decade. Mularkey got a lot out of his players with his no-nonsense yet quiet approach.

 

Dick Jauron was simply a bad HC with bad coordinators....He had no chance to succeed and in spite of that made three straight 7-9 seasons. It is hard to win in the NFL...and old Dickie won 21 games...

 

Doug is intense but at the same time has not come out as arrogant even once in the past three months since he has been hired, I really think Doug gives us the best chance to win since Mike Mularkey.

[Chandler#81]

My primary expectation is that people posting on a message board understand the difference between your -- meaning possession -- and you're -- meaning "you are."

 

Go Bill's!!

 

 

Pie in the sky expectation, if YOUR asking me..

[simpleman]

I see the team winning 4-8 games. 4 games on the pessimistic side and 8 on the optimistic side. Probably a 6-10 season.

 

Probable losses:

 

Falcons

Saints

Steelers

NE

NE

Miami

Miami

Jets

Ravens

 

Possible wins:

 

Jets

Panthers

Chiefs

Bengals

Browns

Bucs

Jags

 

I see us splitting with the Jets, Loosing twice to NE and an improved Miami. I think there is a possibility we could sneak one win out of the Probable Losses column. And loose a couple out of the Possible wins columns. That makes the spread between 4 and 8 wins. How the team grows and gels determines our record this year. We just did not add enough talent in the draft to win this year. Rookies take time to develop. And we just did not add much in FA to counter our loses (especially on the OL, and our questions at TE). I just hope that unlike last year we are at least competitive in our loses, instead of pathetic and embarrassing.

[8-8 Forever?]

So now that the draft is over I just wanted to see what everyone's expecting for this upcoming season. I see us either competing with the Pats for the division if things go well or finishing 7-9, 8-8 if not.

Utter rebuilding year. New QB, probably a raw rookie, college coaches, completely new offense, limited practice time to learn it due to new CBA, probably no better on defense unless Dareus, Anderson and Mario all come to play, O LIne worse than last year, LBs all new, this is the NFL, cohesiveness and consistency win games. 4 -12, maybe 5 - 11 or 6 -10 if they come on late. Very difficult schedule. Total rebuild year. Sorry , the truth hurts in the NFL.

[ganesh]

I see the team winning 4-8 games. 4 games on the pessimistic side and 8 on the optimistic side. Probably a 6-10 season.

 

I see us splitting with the Jets, Loosing twice to NE and an improved Miami. I think there is a possibility we could sneak one win out of the Probable Losses column. And loose a couple out of the Possible wins columns. That makes the spread between 4 and 8 wins. How the team grows and gels determines our record this year. We just did not add enough talent in the draft to win this year. Rookies take time to develop. And we just did not add much in FA to counter our loses (especially on the OL, and our questions at TE). I just hope that unlike last year we are at least competitive in our loses, instead of pathetic and embarrassing.

 

The colts were supposed to win 3-4 games last season as they broke in a rookie QB and a whole bunch of unheralded players...All the colts did was win 11 games and into the playoffs. If you ask anyone or everyone the difference between the Bills team and the Colts team and it was simply QB (and very good coaching). Of course this is a new year and if the ball bounces our way a couple of times like it did for the colts last season, we definitely can make the playoffs.

[simpleman]

The colts were supposed to win 3-4 games last season as they broke in a rookie QB and a whole bunch of unheralded players...All the colts did was win 11 games and into the playoffs. If you ask anyone or everyone the difference between the Bills team and the Colts team and it was simply QB (and very good coaching). Of course this is a new year and if the ball bounces our way a couple of times like it did for the colts last season, we definitely can make the playoffs.

 

Comparing Luck, probably the best sure bet at Franchise QB since the Colts drafted Manning, to Manuel is like comparing a Lexus to a Kia.

[YoloinOhio]

At first glance of our schedule based on the performance of the opponents last year, and a rookie QB, I don't see us winning the div but could come closer to making the playoffs because I think the Defense will be much improved.

[hondo in seattle]

8-8

 

There are so many personnel and coaching changes that it's hard to evaluate 2013. You have to, for example, project whether or not Kolb or EJ will be better running Marrone's offense than Fitz was running Gailey's? Will Manny Lawson and Alonso be more effective linebackers in Pettine's system than last year's LBs were in Wanny's? With a bunch of new WRs running plays we haven't seen before, will our QB - whoever it may be - have legitimate targets?

 

I have a ton more faith in Pettine than Wanny. And I think Marrone/Hackett will be an upgrade over Gailey. I expect Kolb to start on opening day and I think he'll do better than Fitz played last year. Overall, I think the changes are more positive than negative so I predict a slightly improved record.

 

 

Edited April 30, 2013 by hondo in seattle

[xsoldier54]

I am ecstatic about this season. No Pickspatrick, more speed on offense, some attitude on defense. I haven't felt this great about us for a long time.

This. No way to predict how many wins, but I really like the direction that this new coaching staff wants to take this team. I believe they will be a pleasure to watch and not so frustrating as in the past few years.

 

Pie in the sky expectation, if YOUR asking me..

[JPS]

Hope for 10-6. Expect 7-9. Disappointed in 6-10.

[Dr. K]

I am amused by all the people who think the offense is going to be better. Kolb is not a better QB than Fitzpatrick. Fitz threw over 70 TD passes in the last three seasons. The Bills scored lots of points under Gailey's leadership. They didn't lose because they could not score. They lost because they couldn't stop anybody from scoring.

 

All those who say the Bills "never ran the ball" or "ran shotgun on every play" or that the coaches "didn't want to be here" or a hundred other distortions and outright misrepresentations of facts, are suffering from amnesia. The Bills were sixth in the league in rushing yards per game last season. Spiller alone had over 1200 yards. Fitzpatrick passed for 3400 yards. They scored 28 or more points seven times last season. They averaged 22 points per game, not in the top half of the league but a respectable number, far more than they did under Jauron.

 

They are likely to be fielding at least two rookie receivers. They lost their most reliable offense lineman. The o-line looked as good as it did in pass protection the last few years because Fitz, whatever his flaws as a QB, made quick and accurate reads and got he ball out in about two seconds on every play. Fred Jackson is getting old and coming off a knee injury.

 

Do you expect them, with a new offense, a retread or rookie QB, and rookie receiving corps, to average over three touchdowns per game?

 

The area where the Bills utterly stank last season was defense, and everything people have to say about how bad they and Wanstadt were in that area is true. So yes, I expect Pettine's defense to be better than Wanstadt's. It could hardly be worse.

 

But I expect the offense to take a large step backward, no matter who is playing QB. Considering the likely improved defense and the likely worse offense, I expect about the same results next season.

 

I have high hopes for EJ Manuel in the future, but I am not banking on better QB performance this season by the team as a whole. If they Bills win six as they did last season, they will be about where I expect them.

 

I could be completely wrong about this, and if I so will be overjoyed. But the misrepresentation on the board of what went wrong last season is astonishing.

[KeisterHollow]

The colts were supposed to win 3-4 games last season as they broke in a rookie QB and a whole bunch of unheralded players...All the colts did was win 11 games and into the playoffs. If you ask anyone or everyone the difference between the Bills team and the Colts team and it was simply QB (and very good coaching). Of course this is a new year and if the ball bounces our way a couple of times like it did for the colts last season, we definitely can make the playoffs.

 

I like your thinking - and, IMO, there's more than just good coaching and a QB that separates the Bills this year and the colts last year. We have a very good running game, perhaps one of the most dynamic RB's in the league. We have, IMO, more promising WR corp, and a good O-line. And, I think our Defense is much better looking than theirs was going into last year. Luck carried that team, and good coaching. If Kolb or Manuel plays good this year, and our coaches step it up, there's no reason we can't be a playoff team - as you said.

 

Of course, I think Indy had a much easier schedule last year, as well - but, in todays NFL, most seasons are going to be tough, schedule wise. I don't think most of the AFC teams are as tough as they once were - NE, Pittsburgh, Baltimore - those teams are beatable. Denver and Houston are still very tough, IMO - but we could play with anyone on any given Sunday as long as our QB plays good and our coaches coach!

[RCOHEN13]

I don't want to rain on the pessimism tread-- but the thing you really have to consider is the addition of Pettine.

 

We poured a ton of money and talent into our defense last offseason, but it was squandered by Wanny's lame defensive schemes.

 

I think Pettine can take that same, frankly top-10, talent, and turn the defense into a top-10 unit.

 

With a good defense, all they need to do on offense is run the ball and not turn it over, and this team has the potential to turn out 10 wins.

 

100% agree. That D SHOULD be top 10 just by having Pettine over Wanny. Frankly, i'd take most posters on here over WANNY! On O, we will prob be very inconsistent cuz of all the youth expected being on the field. But u cant teach speed, and we do not lack speed! Spiller alone is capable of scoring from anywhere on the field. Im very hopeful that 1-2 of our WR outside of SJ13 "catch on" fast. I think Woods will be very consistent. The guy catches everything thrown his way, great after catch and was the Reggie Wayne to Marvin Harrsion last yr with Lee there and STILL caught 85 balls in a pro style offense. Not one of these gadget offenses that throw 60 times a game. We was a monster yr b4 and over 100 catches as the #1 guy. I think we will be in contention for offensive rookie of year catching 60 for 900 and 6 td's and possibly being over 1000 as i see him breaking a few long ones after the catch and being a 1B next to Stevie by mid year.

 

Hopefully TJ improves from year 1 and seizes chance they are giving him. I dont think he beats out Woods for starting WR but we will be running so many 3 WR sets, it wont matter and Goodwin is WAY too raw to be a #3, especially as a rook. He will be a gadget guy on a bubble screen or throw him a bomb here and there. He is not a great route runner and does not have greatest set of hands. He Roscoe, but faster and less elusive. Roscoe had decent hands though, he just couldnt stay on field, and i have same worry about Goodwin. I really think think Rodgers will not only make team, but be on field a fair ammount by mid year. If he can stay out of trouble, he has more upside than Woods! Whether he ever comes to realize it.... who knows...

 

I can easily see us winning 9-10 games if we START EJ and let him run a wide open system. We will make mistakes, but the games will be exciting, and with the speed we have now at WR to go along with Ej's speed and most important CJ.. He will find ways to have some highlight reel td;s from 50+ yards.

 

Here's to optimism!!!

 

GO BILLS!

[ProbablyWrong]

Where have we gotten worse than last year? Other than the Oline losing levitre, every position is the same or better.

 

I'll take Kolb (or EJ) over Fitz.

I'll take these rookie WRs over Jones & Nelson.

I'll take Alonso and Lawson over Barnett and Shep.

DBs and DL are about the same (Losing Wilson will not hurt us after drafting two safeties)

RB and TE are unchanged assuming Chandler heals.

 

Assuming our new coaches are an improvement (not much of a stretch to expect), we are a much improved team, even considering a large number of rookies/new scheme growing pains. I expect at least 7-8 wins, with 9 likely and 10 possible.

[mattsox]

So now that the draft is over I just wanted to see what everyone's expecting for this upcoming season. I see us either competing with the Pats for the division if things go well or finishing 7-9, 8-8 if not.

 

LOL, High Hopes. I hope they go 16-0, but let's be realistic. I think this is gonna be a hard year for the Bills. Lots of growing pains and not enough Pro Bowl talent on the roster means anywhere from 2-5 wins imho...

Edited April 30, 2013 by mattsox

[RyanC883]

I don't want to rain on the pessimism tread-- but the thing you really have to consider is the addition of Pettine.

 

We poured a ton of money and talent into our defense last offseason, but it was squandered by Wanny's lame defensive schemes.

 

I think Pettine can take that same, frankly top-10, talent, and turn the defense into a top-10 unit.

 

With a good defense, all they need to do on offense is run the ball and not turn it over, and this team has the potential to turn out 10 wins.

 

This. And the offense will be more than capable of running w/ Spiller. The Syracuse team last year had a good D, and would run and occassionally pass all over the opposition during its winning streak to end the year. This team seems to be built with a similar goal in mind.

 

I am amused by all the people who think the offense is going to be better. Kolb is not a better QB than Fitzpatrick. Fitz threw over 70 TD passes in the last three seasons. The Bills scored lots of points under Gailey's leadership. They didn't lose because they could not score. They lost because they couldn't stop anybody from scoring.

 

All those who say the Bills "never ran the ball" or "ran shotgun on every play" or that the coaches "didn't want to be here" or a hundred other distortions and outright misrepresentations of facts, are suffering from amnesia. The Bills were sixth in the league in rushing yards per game last season. Spiller alone had over 1200 yards. Fitzpatrick passed for 3400 yards. They scored 28 or more points seven times last season. They averaged 22 points per game, not in the top half of the league but a respectable number, far more than they did under Jauron.

 

They are likely to be fielding at least two rookie receivers. They lost their most reliable offense lineman. The o-line looked as good as it did in pass protection the last few years because Fitz, whatever his flaws as a QB, made quick and accurate reads and got he ball out in about two seconds on every play. Fred Jackson is getting old and coming off a knee injury.

 

Do you expect them, with a new offense, a retread or rookie QB, and rookie receiving corps, to average over three touchdowns per game?

 

The area where the Bills utterly stank last season was defense, and everything people have to say about how bad they and Wanstadt were in that area is true. So yes, I expect Pettine's defense to be better than Wanstadt's. It could hardly be worse.

 

But I expect the offense to take a large step backward, no matter who is playing QB. Considering the likely improved defense and the likely worse offense, I expect about the same results next season.

 

I have high hopes for EJ Manuel in the future, but I am not banking on better QB performance this season by the team as a whole. If they Bills win six as they did last season, they will be about where I expect them.

 

I could be completely wrong about this, and if I so will be overjoyed. But the misrepresentation on the board of what went wrong last season is astonishing.

 

how many running attempts did the Bills have last year? Given their success in running the ball, they should have done it more. And the notion that Fitz is better than Kolb is incredibly false.

[Prickly Pete]

I am amused by all the people who think the offense is going to be better. Kolb is not a better QB than Fitzpatrick. Fitz threw over 70 TD passes in the last three seasons. The Bills scored lots of points under Gailey's leadership. They didn't lose because they could not score. They lost because they couldn't stop anybody from scoring.

 

 

Ridiculous! But not worth arguing (again)

Not turning the ball over at critical times, scoring when it matters, etc., are all important when measuring an offense. Last years offense.... FAIL!

Edited April 30, 2013 by Marauder'sMicro

[Like A Mofo]

5-11 and another 7th overall pick that will get us nowhere

[DE Bills Fan]

P-A-I-N

[Bronc24]

I am amused by all the people who think the offense is going to be better. Kolb is not a better QB than Fitzpatrick. Fitz threw over 70 TD passes in the last three seasons. The Bills scored lots of points under Gailey's leadership. They didn't lose because they could not score. They lost because they couldn't stop anybody from scoring.

 

All those who say the Bills "never ran the ball" or "ran shotgun on every play" or that the coaches "didn't want to be here" or a hundred other distortions and outright misrepresentations of facts, are suffering from amnesia. The Bills were sixth in the league in rushing yards per game last season. Spiller alone had over 1200 yards. Fitzpatrick passed for 3400 yards. They scored 28 or more points seven times last season. They averaged 22 points per game, not in the top half of the league but a respectable number, far more than they did under Jauron.

 

They are likely to be fielding at least two rookie receivers. They lost their most reliable offense lineman. The o-line looked as good as it did in pass protection the last few years because Fitz, whatever his flaws as a QB, made quick and accurate reads and got he ball out in about two seconds on every play. Fred Jackson is getting old and coming off a knee injury.

 

Do you expect them, with a new offense, a retread or rookie QB, and rookie receiving corps, to average over three touchdowns per game?

 

The area where the Bills utterly stank last season was defense, and everything people have to say about how bad they and Wanstadt were in that area is true. So yes, I expect Pettine's defense to be better than Wanstadt's. It could hardly be worse.

 

But I expect the offense to take a large step backward, no matter who is playing QB. Considering the likely improved defense and the likely worse offense, I expect about the same results next season.

 

I have high hopes for EJ Manuel in the future, but I am not banking on better QB performance this season by the team as a whole. If they Bills win six as they did last season, they will be about where I expect them.

 

I could be completely wrong about this, and if I so will be overjoyed. But the misrepresentation on the board of what went wrong last season is astonishing.

 

The fact you think Fitzpatrick was a good QB for the team pretty much voids any other point that you make, but I will reply to the highlighted areas above.

 

Fitz was not a good QB for us as everyone outside of a few Buffalo Bills' fans knows. I won't dispute your TD numbers, however I will point out that when the game was + / - 7 points in the fourth quarter, Fitzpatrick threw one TD and 4 picks and had a passer rating of 55.5. (By comparison, Kolb's rating was 103.4 in the same situation) People throw out 3400 yards like it's a fantastic feat in today's NFL. Reality check: this is not 1995. Fitz's 3400 yards were 18th in the league. 18th! How is that a stat to brag about?

 

One of the biggest issues with Fitzpatrick is his consistent inconsistency in the 4th quarter. He simply could not be counted on to win games when it mattered. His INT vs the Titans is symbolic of Fitz with the game on the line. I'm not even going to mention his lack of a deep ball. Oh wait, I just did. I'm ecstatic to see him gone.

 

Second point: Yes, I do. We were 6th in rushing last season but 13th in rushing attempts. If you have a QB who is an innacurate, turnover machine and a very good running game, logic dictates you run the ball more. The Vikings understood this and made a playoff appearance. Chan did not and won 6 games. Again. Marrone loves to run the ball. We can run the ball. Running the ball effectively opens up so much of your playbook in terms of play action, etc. So yes, I expect our offense will score points.

 

I always take "average" points per game with a grain of salt. We scored garbage time points vs. the Jets. We scored 3, 9, 12, 13, 17 and 10 points in losses during the season. So saying we "averaged" over three TD's a game does not tell the total story of the season and our offense.

 

Point 3: To what do you attribute the huge step backward? The fact we might actually run the ball on 3rd and 1? The fact that we have exponentially increased our athleticism and speed on offense? Or perhaps the fact we just might have a QB who can complete a pass over 20 yards and defenses might just have to respect it? I don't know, maybe we will digress because this coach will realize the special player he has in Spiller and will strive to get him the ball as much as possible.

 

Pardon me for the sarcasm, but I finally see some FO moves that absolutely get me excited about this team. Check my history and you will see that I have been one of the most critical members of Fitzpatrick on this board. Ridding ourselves of him makes us a better team already. Adding the young talent we have is a reason for optimism.

 

If the defense improves, Lord knows they cannot be worse, and if Marrone uses a ball control, run oriented offense (which, by the way, actually reduces 3 and outs and runs time off the clock to rest the defense), I think we will have a competitive team. Regardless, this is the most excited I have been about the Bills in years.