Does anyone feel like the roster can be better this year?

[machine gun kelly]

Next year the Bills currently have $60 million in cap space and that's before they cut ties with Kyle, another $7 million in savings.

 

Even if they give Glenn and Gilmore hefty extensions they'll still have $40+ million. Plenty to sign Taylor or franchise him if he has a break out year.

 

Wayne - I didn't know that at all. That is very good news. I'm assuming you went to Sportrac, or Over the Cap to find that info. That changes my mind as that really means it is just a 2016 problem. I'm guessing Kyle Williams might be asked to take a small pay cut this year to give us some room with the wink nod that if he has a good year this year, we give him some small bump the following year where he gets to retire a Bill. I think he would want that if we don't ask for more than may 1.5 mil this year. He still would get 4.5 mil, and with a good year, no injuries, go back to $6 mil in his final year.

[papazoid]

Optimist - Bills roster will be slightly better

 

Realist - Most other NFL teams roster will be ALOT better......Bills lose ground.

[ALF]

The Offense last season was #1 in the run game despite

 

Injuries to McCoy , Karlos, John Miller, Henderson serious illness

 

Kromer missing first 6 games

 

New system with Roman

 

Defense was over confident from previous season success , injuries , penalties , new system not being accepted.

 

Getting the right players for a Rex D and everyone doing the extra study and focus should be a lot better.

[26CornerBlitz]

Rex is going fully pregnant with his antiquated system so just naming players that have left is inaccurate. We have no 34 NTs on the roster, Dareus will be playing at a position that will be a question mark, the system does not fit Kyle, Brown has already been thrown under the bus, we needed a safety before the offseason ever started, Lawson is not a 3 down starter in any position....he is depth, last year's injury excuse was way overblown and we'll have injuries this year too. I'm sure I left stuff out.

In essence, with the exception of 2 quality corners, we are an expansion team on the defensive side because we trashed what had been built and even our more talented players are question marks in their new spots.

Your antiquated comments are a joke because you can't justify them.

[Wayne Cubed]

 

Wayne - I didn't know that at all. That is very good news. I'm assuming you went to Sportrac, or Over the Cap to find that info. That changes my mind as that really means it is just a 2016 problem. I'm guessing Kyle Williams might be asked to take a small pay cut this year to give us some room with the wink nod that if he has a good year this year, we give him some small bump the following year where he gets to retire a Bill. I think he would want that if we don't ask for more than may 1.5 mil this year. He still would get 4.5 mil, and with a good year, no injuries, go back to $6 mil in his final year.

 

Yea that number is based on Top 51 for next year and the assumption the cap rises again. Personally I don't see them asking Kyle for a pay cut and I think they'll cut him next year. This years draft is talent rich at DL, it is perfect time to draft his replacement.

[HT02]

I am also more pessimistic going into this year. While I understand and agree with the need to move on from Mario Williams and McKelvin , and to a lesser degree Rambo I think at this point our talent level has gone down.

 

In addition to hopes for a strong rookie class, some unexpected gems in the scrap heap free agents they do add and improvement from younger players (including even better play from Tyrod) the only source of optimism I can hope for is that with Mario gone the players buy into his defense and the performance of that unit jumps big time.

[Nanker]

Yep. Just read this entire thread and your post come closest to my opinion. At the risk of taking Rex off the Hot Seat, our offense played as equal a part in the drop off on defense. For as exciting as Roman's offense could be with Tyrod, Sammy and a productive ground game, we had a million 3 & outs. The criticism of Tyrod NOT attempting many middle field throws and only one 4th quarter comeback (Tenn) that cost him a couple games on the bench rehabbing, we didn't have many clock consuming drives that relate to better defensive stats. In at least 4 games, the offense was non-existent for the middle quarters while the opponent racked up double digit leads.

A full year of the Roman Empire offense under the belt and the evident growth of Taylors' confidence as the season wore on WILL make for a better team showing. In an anti-statement, leading the League in TD's from 20 or more yards, wasn't a good thing.. Having quick strike capability is always good. 20 game minutes of idleness isn't.

Now, here's my Pie in the Sky forecast; we can't possibly endure as many crippling injuries 2 years in a row, right?? How many street FA's were signed to the roster after the Opener? 15? 20?? Expected improvement from the consistent offensive production and a 2nd year in the Defense SHOULD turn frowns to smiles. We have the bulk of a quality roster signed. There will be $$ to play with next off-season. The offense WILL be better. Injuries will be less.

 

Playoffs, Baby!

Well said. I agree with most of it.

 

Well thats kind of a bummer when you put it that way

Just trying to level-set the hysteria of the masses since we lost Free Agency this year instead of crushing it.

[rfk]

OK its been said but bares repeating Rex Ryan and his brother are a sideshow...Buddy Ryan'

s underachieving Twins...The Bills have been building for years and now everyone is jumping ship..What other Super Star can they overpay to fill the seats ? I predict a successful 2016 if success is measured by how high they pick in the draft.

[4merper4mer]

Your antiquated comments are a joke because you can't justify them.

Antiquated is a word that means something that used to be modern or leading edge that has lost its position as time has passed. Rex's defense was leading edge back in the Baltimore days. It won them a Super Bowl when he was a defensive assistant. Recently, it has not produced results for half a decade, which in the NFL is an eternity. Yes, he did stop being able to coach defense. That is why I call it antiquated.

 

I can understand people saying "wrong personnel" or "it could still work under the right circumstances" and things like that, but things become antiquated for different reasons. You might have a working Model T Ford in your driveway. If you lose a race to your neighbor's Subaru does it really matter if it was because the engine design was outdated or that because you couldn't find replacement parts at NAPA and your neighbor could? You still lost the race. The Model T might win a beauty contest but if the purpose is to win the race, the Subaru is superior. Henry Ford was an innovator and should be remembered as such, but if we woke him from the grave and sat him down in front of Subaru's design computers, he'd be lost. This is where Rex has found himself.

 

As always, I hope I am wrong about Rex, but all of the facts point the other way. A year ago today we were all rightfully excited about what the D could do in 2015. Today, a bunch of them are gone, more still will be asked to play new roles in 2016 and we're supposed to think it will work. Hoping it will work is fine. I hope so. But thinking it will work is another thing altogether.

8-8 is like really really bad huh ?

Whether you're stoned or not, and it is hard to tell, you know I'm right.

Edited March 11, 2016 by 4merper4mer

[26CornerBlitz]

Antiquated is a word that means something that used to be modern or leading edge that has lost its position as time has passed. Rex's defense was leading edge back in the Baltimore days. It won them a Super Bowl when he was a defensive assistant. Recently, it has not produced results for half a decade, which in the NFL is an eternity. Yes, he did stop being able to coach defense. That is why I call it antiquated.

 

I can understand people saying "wrong personnel" or "it could still work under the right circumstances" and things like that, but things become antiquated for different reasons. You might have a working Model T Ford in your driveway. If you lose a race to your neighbor's Subaru does it really matter if it was because the engine design was outdated or that because you couldn't find replacement parts at NAPA and your neighbor could? You still lost the race. The Model T might win a beauty contest but if the purpose is to win the race, the Subaru is superior. Henry Ford was an innovator and should be remembered as such, but if we woke him front the grave and sat him down in front of Subaru's design computers, he'd be lost. This is where Rex has found himself.

 

As always, I hope I am wrong about Rex, but all of the facts point the other way. A year ago today we were all rightfully excited about what the D could do in 2015. Today, a bunch of them are gone, more still will be asked to play new roles in 2016 and we're supposed to think it will work. Hoping it will work is fine. I hope so. But thinking it will work is another thing altogether.

 

Whether you're stoned or not, and it is hard to tell, you know I'm right.

 

Total hogwash!

[Maury Ballstein]

Antiquated is a word that means something that used to be modern or leading edge that has lost its position as time has passed. Rex's defense was leading edge back in the Baltimore days. It won them a Super Bowl when he was a defensive assistant. Recently, it has not produced results for half a decade, which in the NFL is an eternity. Yes, he did stop being able to coach defense. That is why I call it antiquated.

I can understand people saying "wrong personnel" or "it could still work under the right circumstances" and things like that, but things become antiquated for different reasons. You might have a working Model T Ford in your driveway. If you lose a race to your neighbor's Subaru does it really matter if it was because the engine design was outdated or that because you couldn't find replacement parts at NAPA and your neighbor could? You still lost the race. The Model T might win a beauty contest but if the purpose is to win the race, the Subaru is superior. Henry Ford was an innovator and should be remembered as such, but if we woke him front the grave and sat him down in front of Subaru's design computers, he'd be lost. This is where Rex has found himself.

As always, I hope I am wrong about Rex, but all of the facts point the other way. A year ago today we were all rightfully excited about what the D could do in 2015. Today, a bunch of them are gone, more still will be asked to play new roles in 2016 and we're supposed to think it will work. Hoping it will work is fine. I hope so. But thinking it will work is another thing altogether.

 

Whether you're stoned or not, and it is hard to tell, you know I'm right.

 

[4merper4mer]

 

Total hogwash!

 

He said without refuting a single point.

 

Look dude, I hope the whole thing goes great and I look like a big idiot. If it does, please feel free to link back to posts like the one i made above and mock me. I won't mind, because it will mean the Bills have won, which is all I care about. It'll be fun.

 

If you think it is hogwash, tell me which players currently on the roster will improve and thrive because of the system switch. Will Dareus have more impact or less? Kyle?

 

To me the corners are a wash, Mario is gone, Kyle is probably not going to do well, Dareus will have an adjustment period and then be equal, we don't even have a guy for NT, Hughes is a wash, Graham is getting older and won't suddenly become improved. The change in system will improve nobody, cause decline in a few key players, and gradually make us realize we have an expansion team defense with a head start on talent at corner. Why is that wrong? Who will improve?

[thebandit27]

 

Yea that number is based on Top 51 for next year and the assumption the cap rises again. Personally I don't see them asking Kyle for a pay cut and I think they'll cut him next year. This years draft is talent rich at DL, it is perfect time to draft his replacement.

 

Agreed--I think next offseason you'll also see a re-tooling of the safety position, and probably WR as well.

 

Next year's UFAs, as of this moment are: Taylor, Glenn, Gilmore, EJ, Bryant, Woods, Lawson, Hogan, Mills, Goodwin, Duke, Gragg, Boykin, Wynn

 

Notable RFAs include: Butler, Meeks, Gillislee ,Schmidt, Gay, Groy

 

I know we've hashed this out a bit, but if we start at $60M under, and assume that Kyle and Corey Graham are let go, then that puts you right about $71M under.

 

From there, we can assume cap hits of approx. $11.5M each for Glenn and Gilmore (http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/topic/185098-we-have-the-worst-cap-situation-in-the-league/page-28?do=findComment&comment=3891541 ), and figure $20M cap hit for Taylor. That brings you down to $28M of space. Subtract out $11M for 2016 and 2017 draft picks and you're down to $17M.

 

You probably need to tender Butler, Gillislee, and Schmidt, which will take up another $5M or so, knocking you down to $12M.

 

If we then assume that the 2016 draft has provided replacements for Lawson and Kyle, that means that the team will have $12M with only Bryant as a realistic priority to re-sign. That means that the remainder of the cap room can go to finding a backup QB, starters at WR and safety, a RT, or depth on the DL (we should also note at this point the likelihood that maybe half of those players would be in the fold from either the 2016 or 2017 draft). Any remaining cap money can be used to bring back guys like Groy, Gragg, and one of Boykin or Goodwin if they perform.

 

Cap situation for next year doesn't look bad at all. The major hurdle to clear--and I have confidence they'll do it soon--is getting Glenn and Gilmore's deals done.

[4merper4mer]

LOL Janis Joplin. The perfect intersection of antiquated, wasted talent, and drugs. Way to keep with the themes.

[BillsVet]

Total hogwash!

 

Best debater on TBD right here.

 

Someone writes a well thought out analogy and the response is two words. Typical.

 

If another poster offends you because they have an opinion contrary to yours, deal with it. Don't have a digital meltdown and refuse to talk to them.

[Big74Mac]

Still picking up vibes here in Denver that Bills are talking with Broncos about shipping EJ to Denver for a lower round pick. It was on sports talk radio in Denver this morning.

[Maury Ballstein]

LOL Janis Joplin. The perfect intersection of antiquated, wasted talent, and drugs. Way to keep with the themes.

Don't forget the crybaby part. Look inward.

 

Team Rex !! Babies like you and Mario can exit stage left.

Still picking up vibes here in Denver that Bills are talking with Broncos about shipping EJ to Denver for a lower round pick. It was on sports talk radio in Denver this morning.

Ej thread Denver style !! Gonna be a good one

[4merper4mer]

Don't forget the crybaby part. Look inward.

 

Team Rex !! Babies like you and Mario can exit stage left.

 

 

Who's the next one to be cast aside? After Brown of course as he has already been marked. Kyle, MD, Gilmore? Who will be the next "crybaby?

 

 

Ej thread Denver style !! Gonna be a good one

 

 

 

We might not end up agreeing on how it will work out for Den/Buf, but I definitely agree it will be a good thread.

[Big74Mac]

Truth is I am shocked nobody has picked this up at all. I have heard it twice now on sports talk radio here in Denver. I am a Bills fan stuck in Denver and about crashed the car when I heard it. They are totally freaking out here because they have zero QB's. They need two. They don't even have a backup at this point. I would love the Bills to get something for EJ.

[26CornerBlitz]

 

He said without refuting a single point.

 

Look dude, I hope the whole thing goes great and I look like a big idiot. If it does, please feel free to link back to posts like the one i made above and mock me. I won't mind, because it will mean the Bills have won, which is all I care about. It'll be fun.

 

If you think it is hogwash, tell me which players currently on the roster will improve and thrive because of the system switch. Will Dareus have more impact or less? Kyle?

 

To me the corners are a wash, Mario is gone, Kyle is probably not going to do well, Dareus will have an adjustment period and then be equal, we don't even have a guy for NT, Hughes is a wash, Graham is getting older and won't suddenly become improved. The change in system will improve nobody, cause decline in a few key players, and gradually make us realize we have an expansion team defense with a head start on talent at corner. Why is that wrong? Who will improve?

 

You didn't make any points that were worth refuting. All I have asked you to do is justify your antiquated scheme posts from a football perspective. Is it because the NFL has caught up to that style of defense and rendered it ineffective? If that is the case, please provide evidence. Why did the Bills' 2015 defense fail in some games while showing itself to be effective in others? That's all I would like to see from you. Instead you post silly analogies that have nothing to do with the question. Let's see you expound upon your definitive posts with some real evidence if it isn't too much to ask.