papazoid Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 To project which NFL franchises are in the best shape for the next three seasons, we asked our panel of experts -- John Clayton, Louis Riddick and Mike Sando -- to rate each team on a scale of 0-100 in five categories: roster (excluding quarterback), quarterback, draft, front office and coaching. #26 - Buffalo Bills The overview: The Bills improved four spots overall largely because they jumped from 29th to 16th in the front-office category. They also moved from 16th to 10th in non-QB roster. It's just tough to climb up too much in the overall standings with Matt Cassel, EJ Manuel and Tyrod Taylor at quarterback. Buffalo ranked tied for last with Cleveland in that critical category. Because the front office has done a good job of setting up the roster overall, the Bills can make a big jump overall next year, provided they find more stability behind center (no easy task). --Mike Sando http://espn.go.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/13129838/ranking-nfl-teams-1-32-based-their-outlook-next-three-seasons-nfl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan-4-Ever Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 anything lower than 20 is utter BS and s/b ignored Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDH Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 There are not 9 teams in the NFL with better rosters minus the QB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDIGGZ Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 lol uhhh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan-4-Ever Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 John Clayton, Louis Riddick and Mike Sando (and Pete Prisco etc) are proof that You Can't Fix Stupid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 anything lower than 20 is utter BS and s/b ignoredPretty much this ^^ QB is really important but the Bills had the 19th pick in this draft. They finished ahead of 18 teams and by ALL accounts improved this offseason. They are not old either. I'm having a tough time comprehending how as they improve they drop 13 spots over the next 3 years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorkington Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 Disagree... it's a QB driven league, and without a proven QB it's tough to predict longer term success for the franchise, which I think this ranking is based on. Not what our record will be this upcoming season, but if a few years down the road we're still looking good/stable. If you have a QB you can absorb losing star players to free agency, without a QB you can't... and thus, a low ranking is born. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 anything lower than 20 is utter BS and s/b ignored Chin up. If we win the SB we might just crack #20. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 (edited) Disagree... it's a QB driven league, and without a proven QB it's tough to predict longer term success for the franchise, which I think this ranking is based on. Not what our record will be this upcoming season, but if a few years down the road we're still looking good/stable. If you have a QB you can absorb losing star players to free agency, without a QB you can't... and thus, a low ranking is born. 26th would mean that the Bills pick 6th in the draft. Dareus is our only top 6 pick (besides Watkins trade) since Mike Williams. I don't know how they can project that as the norm. Edited July 1, 2015 by Kirby Jackson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorkington Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 (edited) 26th would mean that the Bills pick 6th in the draft. Dareus is our only top 6 pick (besides Watkins trade) since Mike Williams. I don't know how they can project that as the norm. Without a QB, and with some big re-signings coming up, and possibly KW/Mario retiring, it's pretty easy to see how our future outlook is dim. Even if this season is looking very optimistic. Edited July 1, 2015 by Dorkington Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunnerBill Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 Without a QB, and with some big re-signings coming up, and possibly KW/Mario retiring, it's pretty easy to see how our future outlook is dim. Even if this season is looking very optimistic. Mario is not going to retire in the next 3 seasons. There is no way we should be 26th. I could understand some drop off from 13th (essentially where we finished last year) but 26th? No way. 22nd would be the absolute floor for me and I think 16-20 would be most accurate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorkington Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 I don't really have an opinion, myself... I just understand the low ranking considering the QB bias, and some of the challenges we have in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H2o Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 The Tampa Bay teams of the late 90's and early 2000's. The Ravens teams of the same time. Both quite relevant and SB winning teams with average at best QB's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 Mario is not going to retire in the next 3 seasons. There is no way we should be 26th. I could understand some drop off from 13th (essentially where we finished last year) but 26th? No way. 22nd would be the absolute floor for me and I think 16-20 would be most accurate. This is pretty much exactly how I feel. Even in the last decade the Bills have only been 26th or worse once. I don't see them being worse in the next 3 years then in the last 13 years (or whatever it has been). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 To project which NFL franchises are in the best shape for the next three seasons, we asked our panel of experts -- John Clayton, Louis Riddick and Mike Sando -- to rate each team on a scale of 0-100 in five categories: roster (excluding quarterback), quarterback, draft, front office and coaching. #26 - Buffalo Bills The overview: The Bills improved four spots overall largely because they jumped from 29th to 16th in the front-office category. They also moved from 16th to 10th in non-QB roster. It's just tough to climb up too much in the overall standings with Matt Cassel, EJ Manuel and Tyrod Taylor at quarterback. Buffalo ranked tied for last with Cleveland in that critical category. Because the front office has done a good job of setting up the roster overall, the Bills can make a big jump overall next year, provided they find more stability behind center (no easy task). --Mike Sando http://espn.go.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/13129838/ranking-nfl-teams-1-32-based-their-outlook-next-three-seasons-nfl Yet another reason ESPN gets no clicks or views from me unless it's unavoidable (NFL or MLB games that I can't see elsewhere). This (the poll, not the post) is one of the most stupid things I've ever seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hondo in seattle Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 Wow. Given the vagaries of the NFL, you'd have to be a soothsayer to predict 2-3 years out. Star players get injured or surprisingly retire. Coaches unexpectedly quit or get fired. Unheralded draft picks and no name coaches sometimes emerge as superstars. Key personnel sometimes succumb to drug, alcohol, or other personal problems. Owners sometimes die or sell, leading to wholesale changes. It's hard enough to predict the upcoming season let alone the next 3! I guess the exercise is interesting but I'd love to revisit this 4 years from and see how accurate the "panel of experts" was. My guess is that the accuracy of the rankings (versus actual 3 year won-loss records) won't be spectacularly high. Their rankings versus Year 3 standings will be low, I'd wager. Despite Buffalo's #26 ranking here, I'm personally happy with the direction of the Bills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfan89 Posted July 2, 2015 Share Posted July 2, 2015 It's fair, the Bills have a QB situation that's not that good and doesn't stand too much chance of improving in the next 3 seasons (If they go with a rookie after this upcoming season they will have to groom him for a couple of seasons), also our cap situation next season is a bit concerning. So while the rest of the roster is loaded for the most part, the team has a better front office and an owner will to spend there remains some concerns going forward. But !@#$ it it's about this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSaint Posted July 2, 2015 Share Posted July 2, 2015 Only way 26 makes sense is counting qb, and then penalizing both rest of roster and front office for the lack of qb. Really if it even thirds between the 3 and independent rankings of the 3 I'd venture we are probably pretty close to 10-15. Qb- bottom 5 Roster- top 5 Front office- better than average Average of those slightly better than average? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_Formerly_of_Roch Posted July 3, 2015 Share Posted July 3, 2015 You can just as easily argue the opposite. If you have a top rated QB, you're going to devote a much larger part of your salary cap for qb, thus not having enough money left to sign other players and you will lose players to FA. Will be interesting to see what happens in Seattle. If R Wilson gets even close to what he wants, there won't be enough money left for others and Wilson is not elite enough to carry the team either. . If you have a QB you can absorb losing star players to free agency, without a QB you can't... and thus, a low ranking is born. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papazoid Posted July 3, 2015 Author Share Posted July 3, 2015 NFL coach power rankings #19 - REX RYAN http://www.nfl.com/photoessays/0ap3000000499554/nfl-coach-power-rankings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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