BADOLBILZ Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 (edited) The Bills were pro-active in addressing their QB and head coaching positions this offseason, their two primary areas of failure over the past 13 years. So why shouldn't we be optimistic? IMO an old joke about convenience stores sums it up: Open 24 hours.....but not in a row. Over the last 13 years the Bills have shown that sooner or later, they get around to addressing each of their problems........but there is such a decided lack of urgency. By the time they address one....another one or sometimes even MORE problems pop up. Turning around an organization is no longer about 5 year plans. It's not even about 3 year plans. It's about getting competitive right away. The ideal situation is bringing in a new coach and giving that coach the tools to be successful while the message is still new and before a lack of results compromises that message. Teams like San Francisco and Seattle are the standard. While strong coaching has helped those two fast turnarounds, the personnel departments of those teams have been very aggressive. IMO, the Bills personnel department was tentative this offseason. It seems like they are still working in the era of 3 year and 5 year plans. They somehow came away with a net loss of personnel this offseason, which is just not what you want your rookie head coach coming into. Marrone is confident, but ALL new head coaches are confident. I hope I am wrong and EJ Manuel is a revelation and Marrone and Hackett/Pettine take the league by storm but on paper this team looks a disfunctional mess waiting to happen. Maybe Marrone can pull it together. What I AM excited about is the tailgating. Can't wait for that! Edited July 15, 2013 by BADOLBEELZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Jose Bills Fan Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 To flesh out the offseason a bit: Additions Player Pos. 2012 team Acquired via EJ Manuel QB Florida State 2013 NFL Draft - Round 1 Kevin Kolb QB Cardinals Free agent Jeff Tuel QB Washington State Undrafted free agent Kendall Gaskins RB Richmond Undrafted free agent Drew Smith RB Albany Undrafted free agent Frank Summers FB N/A Free agent Robert Woods WR USC 2013 NFL Draft - Round 2 Marquise Goodwin WR Texas 2013 NFL Draft - Round 3 Da'Rick Rogers WR Tennessee Tech Undrafted free agent Brandon Kaufman WR Eastern Washington Undrafted free agent Kevin Norrell WR Stony Brook Undrafted free agent Chris Gragg TE Arkansas 2013 NFL Draft - Round 7 Zack Chibane OG Syracuse Undrafted free agent Ryan Turnley C Pittsburgh Undrafted free agent Alan Branch DL Seahawks Free agent Izaan Cross DL Georgia Tech Undrafted free agent Aaron Tipoti DL California Undrafted free agent Manny Lawson OLB Bengals Free agent Jerry Hughes OLB Colts Trade with Indianapolis Kourtnei Brown OLB N/A Free agent Jamie Blatnick OLB N/A Free agent Keith Pough OLB Howard Undrafted free agent Kiko Alonso ILB Oregon 2013 NFL Draft - Round 2 Marcus Dowtin ILB Eagles Waiver claim Nickell Robey CB USC Undrafted free agent Vernon Kearney CB Lane Undrafted free agent Jumal Rolle CB Catawba Undrafted free agent Kip Edwards CB Missouri Undrafted free agent Duke Williams S Nevada 2013 NFL Draft - Round 4 Jonathan Meeks S Clemson 2013 NFL Draft - Round 5 Jordan Dangerfield S Towson Undrafted free agent Dustin Hopkins K Florida State 2013 NFL Draft - Round 6 Brian Stahovich P N/A Free agent Subtractions Player Pos. Departure 2013 team Ryan Fitzpatrick QB Released Titans Tyler Thigpen QB Free agency unsigned Corey McIntyre FB Free agency unsigned Donald Jones WR Free agency Patriots David Nelson WR Free agency Browns Ruvell Martin WR Free agency unsigned Joe Sawyer TE Released unsigned Adam Grant OT Released unsigned Andy Levitre OG Free agency Titans Chad Rinehart OG Free agency Chargers Kyle Moore DE Free agency Bears Chris Kelsay DE Retired N/A Shawne Merriman DE Retired N/A Spencer Johnson DT Free agency unsigned Nick Barnett ILB Released unsigned Kelvin Sheppard ILB Traded Colts Kirk Morrison ILB Free agency unsigned Terrence McGee CB Released unsigned George Wilson S Released Titans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bills fan since 87 Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 I'm a bit more optimistic but yes. Can not wait for tailgating Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Jose Bills Fan Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 Well to start off with, I would say the only significant loss of the offseason was Andy Levitre. I was sorry to see Chas Rheingold leave but his loss was certainly offset by the addition of Doug Legursky so that's a wash. On the other side of the ledger, besides what I consider a strong draft, a good undrafted free agent crop and a good new coaching staff, significant additions include Kevin Kolb, Manny Lawson, Alan Branch, and I'll say it… Jerry Hughes. Jairus Byrd is a wild card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 It's easier to expect failure. 31 teams fail every year. PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Linen Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 For me it isn't necessarily about this season. Optimism for this team should and is centered around Manuel. I'm all about seeing how the rest of the team progresses in preparation of E.J.'s potential emergence as the future leader of this's team. I believe we have an opportunity as other teams have done to build the team until this occurs. These two roads will meet at some point and its going to be interesting to see where the team is when it's chosen QB takes over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
You herd it hear last Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 how many years was it from making whitner the highest paid d guy to them making the superbowl? If history bodes well, then the bills will be there in a few years too...but probably not... but just maybe... i'm gonna go out on a limb and say "why not"?...but i'm only gonna whisper it, when no one else is around (and the door is locked)... Well to start off with, I would say the only significant loss of the offseason was Andy Levitre. I was sorry to see Chas Rheingold leave but his loss was certainly offset by the addition of Doug Legursky so that's a wash. On the other side of the ledger, besides what I consider a strong draft, a good undrafted free agent crop and a good new coaching staff, significant additions include Kevin Kolb, Manny Lawson, Alan Branch, and I'll say it… Jerry Hughes. Jairus Byrd is a wild card. you misspelled chester rhinegarden...again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Jose Bills Fan Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 you misspelled chester rhinegarden...again Damn! I dunno why I have a mental block with that guy's name. But I should get bonus points for spelling Legursky with a "y." Especially after having lived on Dick Road for all those years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
You herd it hear last Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 Damn! I dunno why I have a mental block with that guy's name. But I should get bonus points for spelling Legursky with a "y." Especially after having lived on Dick Road for all those years. thank you for including the word 'road' in your last sentence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Jose Bills Fan Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 thank you for including the word 'road' in your last sentence We lived in the upper and the code on our Niagara Mohawk bill said "956 Dick Up." It was a constant source of hilarity to a couple of 16 year old stoners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FluffHead Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 A bunch of you nailed my exact sentiments...the reason I am not optimistic this year is because of the loss of one Chesterton Rhinestein. Can't believe they let him go after losing "whale's tongue" Levitre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keukasmallies Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 My wife put the upcoming season in perspective for me: I was cheering John McCain's announcement that he was going to war against the NFL's blackout rule when she grounded me by saying, "So you actually want to watch the Bills screw up on TV more often?" With that, and after a giant step backward toward reality, I've lapsed into the traditional wait-and-see stance that has characterized the past decade plus. Probably see the same old cycle of promises, take my money and my heart, then slam me to the turf of mediocrity once again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fansince88 Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 we will either win more, less, or the same amount of games but reguardless I will sit through them all, of this I am sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glory Bound Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 It's easier to expect failure. 31 teams fail every year. PTR I love the way you cut right to the chase with so few words PTR. So....odds are extremely high we'll fail this year by not winning the SB. I suppose we can hope for this miracle, but it would be more realistic to hope that we're entertained by the 2013 Bills, and not end the season with that familiar sick feeling of having so far to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanker Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 I may never watch another NFL game, so pizzed am I that "they" let Chris Reinheitsgebot get away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just in Atlanta Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 This was a good offseason. We're building a team to win for many years to come. Likely just not for next season, but not because of a lack of urgency, only due to QB play. My prediction: We'll be both painfully sloppy and exceptional on O and will field a respectable D. Final record 8-8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 (edited) I may never watch another NFL game, so pizzed am I that "they" let Chris Reinheitsgebot get away. Quality player, that guy. Difficult to live up to his standards. Edited July 15, 2013 by eball Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewildrabbit Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 It's easier to expect failure. 31 teams fail every year. PTR Not in my view, just achieving a winning record is a successful season to me. That is, if you are in rebuilding mode for 13 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8-8 Forever? Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 The Bills were pro-active in addressing their QB and head coaching positions this offseason, their two primary areas of failure over the past 13 years. So why shouldn't we be optimistic? IMO an old joke about convenience stores sums it up: Open 24 hours.....but not in a row. Over the last 13 years the Bills have shown that sooner or later, they get around to addressing each of their problems........but there is such a decided lack of urgency. By the time they address one....another one or sometimes even MORE problems pop up. Turning around an organization is no longer about 5 year plans. It's not even about 3 year plans. It's about getting competitive right away. The ideal situation is bringing in a new coach and giving that coach the tools to be successful while the message is still new and before a lack of results compromises that message. Teams like San Francisco and Seattle are the standard. While strong coaching has helped those two fast turnarounds, the personnel departments of those teams have been very aggressive. IMO, the Bills personnel department was tentative this offseason. It seems like they are still working in the era of 3 year and 5 year plans. They somehow came away with a net loss of personnel this offseason, which is just not what you want your rookie head coach coming into. Marrone is confident, but ALL new head coaches are confident. I hope I am wrong and EJ Manuel is a revelation and Marrone and Hackett/Pettine take the league by storm but on paper this team looks a disfunctional mess waiting to happen. Maybe Marrone can pull it together. What I AM excited about is the tailgating. Can't wait for that! For 50% of game fans, the tailgate IS the game. If suddenly, tailgating were prohibited, I wonder what would happen to attendance at Bills games. I really wonder. The parking lot drinkfest is the draw for most fans IMO. On the team front, they are making the right moves; in fact a sign and trade for Byrd (who obviously wants out regardless of the money issue) for a high draft pick or picks would regrettably be a good next move. The fact that most fans don't recognize is when they canned Gailey, Nix, Fitz, Barnett, Jones, Nelson, etc and crew, THEY BLEW IT ALL UP and are for the most part starting over from scratch with new offenses, new QBs/WRs (who are the key to NFL offenses today) New Defenses (we have 4-3 personnel suddenly stuck back in a 3-4.. never woudl have gone after Mario under the new regime, for example as he is a 4-3 DE) . We have like one NFL experienced LB as we fired all the guys the prior management brought in. Yes they were not Pro Bowl players, but now we have rookies and inexperienced players being stuffed into a scheme some have never played in. Gonna be a long year people. For this year, Enjoy the tailgate and watch the replay on NFL Rewind. You'll have a better time and saving a couple hundred bucks a game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8-8 Forever? Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 This was a good offseason. We're building a team to win for many years to come. Likely just not for next season, but not because of a lack of urgency, only due to QB play. My prediction: We'll be both painfully sloppy and exceptional on O and will field a respectable D. Final record 8-8. Dream on. 4-12, hopefully Kolb for 8 games at 1-7, canned for EJ week 9 who goes 3 - 5 but shows glimmers of hope. You know that is how its going to go. Lots of historical precedent for this. This is the NFL. Young building program teams get killed by the top 15 teams all year. Bunch of O Line guys go on IR because they are playing from behind all year and throwing 45 passes a game. Spiller gets pissed b/c he isn't getting the ball, decides to leave. The storyline is so easy to write. They blew it up. The franchise is starting over (again) and this is the honeymoon season for Marrone, Whaley and Co. where the record is not held against them. "they are trying to build a team" ,etc etc. 4 - 12, "but on the way up" . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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