Edited title: Winds of Change for AFC East

[BubbaT]

For the 1st time in a long time, I feel like the AFC East is headed for significant change.  Gone, I think, are the days of the Patriots being odds on favorites (and rightfully so) every year. Will it happen next year? I don't know if that soon (it may depend on Belichick and Brady and how long they are willing to stick it out and whether the teams below make significant gains this offseason)  but for the first time in forever I feel like the Jets and Bills both have legitimate NFL quarterbacks. 

 

The Jets jumped ahead of the Bills last year to the 3 spot to take Darnold. This preemptive strike, in my opinion, has put them ahead in the chase. He already has a big time wideout in Anderson and tight end in Herndon. After seeing some of his throws here at the end of the last game, I for one was impressed. Tremendously accurate, great throw after a scramble. for a td, and a commanding presence. Is he perfect? No. He has INT's and might fumble a little  but I think he will be very good. I think there are legitimate reasons he was the 2nd QB after Mayfield.  The Jets again will likely pick ahead of the Bills. They may well take the top O lineman if available. They have more salary cap space then the Bills do in 2019 and will be chasing offensive linemen and receivers just like Buffalo. Is NY a better place to play than Buffalo? I don't know. A lot may well depend on who the new Jets coach (and perhaps GM are). I doubt with Darnold in place the Jets will have to settle in the coaching department. It will be a job a good coach might want.

 

The Bills have a better D and can stop the pass. To me that is critical in this age of football. Can they fill in enough holes on what I view as a borderline expansion level of talent on the offensive side of the ball to be able to throw the ball with consistency and score through the air? To me NFL football is about passing and stopping the pass. The best teams can throw it and get consistent chunk yards and score with it. Not just occasional big plays but consistent movement. Having a really good O line helps immeasurably. Having a good running game to keep teams off balance helps a lot. The Bills have neither.

 

This off season (after getting their QB) to me is the most important in a long long time. The AFC East power vacuum is ending. It is right there for them to jump legitimately in the hunt.

[BillyWhiteShows]

1 minute ago, BubbaT said:

For the 1st time in a long time, I feel like the AFC East is headed for significant change.  Gone, I think, are the days of the Patriots being odds on favorites (and rightfully so) every year. Will it happen next year? I don't know if that soon (it may depend on Belichick and Brady and how long they are willing to stick it out and whether the teams below make significant gains this offseason)  but for the first time in forever I feel like the Jets and Bills both have legitimate NFL quarterbacks. 

 

The Jets jumped ahead of the Bills last year to the 3 spot to take Darnold. This preemptive strike, in my opinion, has put them ahead in the chase. He already has a big time wideout in Anderson and tight end in Herndon. After seeing some of his throws here at the end of the last game, I for one was impressed. Tremendously accurate, great throw after a scramble. for a td, and a commanding presence. Is he perfect? No. He has INT's and might fumble a little  but I think he will be very good. I think there are legitimate reasons he was the 2nd QB after Mayfield.  The Jets again will likely pick ahead of the Bills. They may well take the top O lineman if available. They have more salary cap space then the Bills do in 2019 and will be chasing offensive linemen and receivers just like Buffalo. Is NY a better place to play than Buffalo? I don't know. A lot may well depend on who the new Jets coach (and perhaps GM are). I doubt with Darnold in place the Jets will have to settle in the coaching department. It will be a job a good coach might want.

 

The Bills have a better D and can stop the pass. To me that is critical in this age of football. Can they fill in enough holes on what I view as a borderline expansion level of talent on the offensive side of the ball to be able to throw the ball with consistency and score through the air? To me NFL football is about passing and stopping the pass. The best teams can throw it and get consistent chunk yards and score with it. Not just occasional big plays but consistent movement. Having a really good O line helps immeasurably. Having a good running game to keep teams off balance helps a lot. The Bills have neither.

 

This off season (after getting their QB) to me is the most important in a long long time. The AFC East power vacuum is ending. It is right there for them to jump legitimately in the hunt.

 

THE WINDS OF CHANGE!

Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away (dream away)
In the wind of change

 

 

[ColdFront_USAF]

The biggest difference between us and the Jets right now is stability. Sure, we don't know if McD and Beane are the long term GM/HC answers that will guide us to the promised land. But they are in no danger of being fired this coming offseason, which is a big plus when you consider that this offseason will be absolutely critical for the foreseeable future for both teams. 

 

Both of us have promising young quarterbacks, a nucleus of some very good young players, and a metric ***** load of resources to spend next year. Difference is, we have a regime returning with year 3 of their master plan, while the Jets will likely send Bowles packing, and may fire the GM as well. Once the new regime takes over, it will start over the whole process of identifying inherited players you want to keep and the ones you dont, eliminating the guys you want gone, and re building the team in their image. The same process we have a two year head start on. 

[JaBu]

 

Though it's a contrarian view, I don't believe it's a foregone conclusion that there will be regime change there.

[Buddo]

As regards the Jests having more cap space than us, well they certainly do. Thing is, they have a lot less guys already under contract for next year, so we may well be in a better position than them.

[ProcessTruster]

30 minutes ago, Buddo said:

As regards the Jests having more cap space than us, well they certainly do. Thing is, they have a lot less guys already under contract for next year, so we may well be in a better position than them.

Lets see... I'm a single milliionaire rock star professional athlete in my mid 20's.   I am choosing between NYC and WNY.   All else being equal, I'm going to NYC.  

 

My guess is the Bills can get their O Line fixed in free agency to some degree as those guys are family types who may not care about the big city.  Skill positions?    Probably coming in the draft as draftees are stuck with the team that drafted them. 

[Rc2catch]

If I’m a jets fan I’m kinda worried. Rookie quarterback who has shown some flashes of greatness along with flashes of being a turnover machine heading into year 2 having to learn a whole new playbook. That sucks. 

Jets are in decent shape like us as far as building blocks though. Definitely an important offseason for the east

[Buddo]

1 hour ago, ProcessTruster said:

Lets see... I'm a single milliionaire rock star professional athlete in my mid 20's.   I am choosing between NYC and WNY.   All else being equal, I'm going to NYC.  

 

My guess is the Bills can get their O Line fixed in free agency to some degree as those guys are family types who may not care about the big city.  Skill positions?    Probably coming in the draft as draftees are stuck with the team that drafted them. 

 

 

I think you're missing the point - it wasn't about where someone might prefer to go, it was about the fact that although the Jests will have a greater amount of cap space available, they also have an awful lot more roster places to fill with it. Iirc, the Bills will have 39 guys under contract for 2019, whereas the Jests only have something like 30. Chances are they will have less to spend if they have to re-sign a greater number of their own guys than the Bills do.

 

I'm not sure there's anyone we actually need to re-sign.

[Prickly Pete]

I think the Bills will crush the Jets for a long time.

[CNYfan]

I agree with the OP that the Jets got the jump on the Bills by trading up, and then landing Darnold.   I do think that that will be a thorn in our side for years to come, but I like our guy as well but the Bills will have to be smart to beat the Jets with defense and a better running game.  JA can push the ball down the field.  

 

Brady and Belichik will not go quietly, but there should be some decent competition in coming years. 

[hemma]

I agree with the OP.  Patriots have 4 starting Offensive skills players that are 30+ (Brady, Edelman, Hogan, Gronkowski).  Actually Gronkowski is 29 but needs a walker.

As long as Belichek holds onto that core as starters, IMO they will slow down/injured even more and get passed very soon by both the Bills and the Jets.

 

Let's hope Belichek stands pat with that crew during the offseason.  If he does, next year could be 3 teams at 9-7 with the Jets & Bills fighting it out thereafter for quite awhile.

[Gugny]

11 hours ago, BillyWhiteShows said:

 

THE WINDS OF CHANGE!

Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away (dream away)
In the wind of change

 

 

 

Horrible, horrible song.  I never understood Scorpions love; especially that craptastic ballad.

[row_33]

I would welcome the Bills and Jets and Fish to start trying to build a legit contender after twenty years of this garbage

 

yeah the Pats are a dynasty but that wasn’t excuse enough for the Useless Three to go to fetal position and cry for two decades

 

———————-

 

Winds of Change was one of the worst albums in rock history, Eric Burdon”s last fumes with The Animals, give it a spin on YouTube.

 

 

[nedboy7]

Wait.  Are you telling me another team has draft picks and money to spend?  This ruins everything!  That was supposed to put us over the top. Now we are just another frencheyes. 

Edited December 27, 2018 by nedboy7

[Seasons1992]

56 minutes ago, Gugny said:

 

Horrible, horrible song.  I never understood Scorpions love; especially that craptastic ballad.

 

This board is going to rock you like a hurricane for that comment...........

[LeviF]

1 hour ago, Gugny said:

 

Horrible, horrible song.  I never understood Scorpions love; especially that craptastic ballad.

 

They just want to be loved by you

[Freddie's Dead]

If the Jest pick the right coach, we're toast.  While I'm confident that Beane will pick the right players, I have zero confidence in MickyD anymore.  

[BuffaloBillies]

[RalphWilson'sNewWar]

3 hours ago, Rc2catch said:

If I’m a jets fan I’m kinda worried. Rookie quarterback who has shown some flashes of greatness along with flashes of being a turnover machine heading into year 2 having to learn a whole new playbook. That sucks. 

Jets are in decent shape like us as far as building blocks though. Definitely an important offseason for the east

 

I see it complete opposite.  That teams with Rookie QBs like Cleveland, Arizona and New York Jets might all be dumping their Defensive Minded Head Coaches to bring in Offensive Minded Head Coaches places them on the current Hot Trend in the NFL and would put them ahead of the teams that do not.

 

you shouldn’t have anything to worry by getting your Rookie QB a better coach in their 2nd season even if that means learning a new play book.  If it is a better playbook then they will be better for it.

[teef]

Just now, RalphWilson'sNewWar said:

 

I see it complete opposite.  That teams with Rookie QBs like Cleveland, Arizona and New York Jets might all be dumping their Defensive Minded Head Coaches to bring in Offensive Minded Head Coaches places them on the current Hot Trend in the NFL and would put them ahead of the teams that do not.

 

you shouldn’t have anything to worry by getting your Rookie QB a better coach in their 2nd season even if that means learning a new play book.  If it is a better playbook then they will be better for it.

you keep bringing this up, but pat kirwan was speaking of this and called it fools gold.  every few years fans just want the hottest trends, but a the end of the day, it's nonsense.  if fan driven hysteria, and that young qbs have gotten better with both offensive and defensive head coaches.  

[RalphWilson'sNewWar]

5 minutes ago, teef said:

you keep bringing this up, but pat kirwan was speaking of this and called it fools gold.  every few years fans just want the hottest trends, but a the end of the day, it's nonsense.  if fan driven hysteria, and that young qbs have gotten better with both offensive and defensive head coaches.  

 

I only base my “hysteria” on results.  It’s a results based business after all ?.

 

I have personally seen 2 High Drafted Rookie QBs being driven to their early graves by Defensive Minded coaches only to be saved in their 2nd seasons by 1st Year Offensive Minded Head Coaches.

 

i have also seen very recently, 2 other QBs be driven to consideration of league MVP in their 2nd seasons by their own Offensive Minded Head Coaches.  (Wentz and Mahomes).

 

And shoot...since I’m feeling good.  Toss in Shanahan and Garrapalo into this mix as well.

 

so Pat Kirwan can call it fools gold all he likes...but the results paint a very different picture.

[PearlHowardman]

57 minutes ago, Freddie's Dead said:

If the Jest pick the right coach, we're toast.  While I'm confident that Beane will pick the right players, I have zero confidence in MickyD anymore.  

 

This^

 

[Freddie's Dead]

20 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

Jets are in a good position here to win a lot of games next year if they hire the right guy. 

 

Im with you. I don't have much confidence in McBeane to get this thing corrected in this all or nothing offseason. 

 

Especially after that ***** show in NE.

 

I'm de-coupling them.  McBeane, for me, is no longer.  Unfortunately, the reality will be different.

[teef]

1 minute ago, RalphWilson'sNewWar said:

 

I only base my “hysteria” on results.  It’s a results based business after all ?.

 

I have personally seen 2 High Drafted Rookie QBs being driven to their early graves by Defensive Minded coaches only to be saved in their 2nd seasons by 1st Year Offensive Minded Head Coaches.

 

i have also seen very recently, 2 other QBs be driven to consideration of league MVP in their 2nd seasons by their own Offensive Minded Head Coaches.  (Wentz and Mahomes).

 

And shoot...since I’m feeling good.  Toss in Shanahan and Garrapalo into this mix as well.

 

so Pat Kirwan can call it fools gold all he likes...but the results paint a very different picture.

it's funny you say that, because he mentioned that fans will give you one or two examples of how this is the right thing to do, and that's about all the evidence you can find.  i'm not picking on you or anything...it was just discussed.  people love to use examples such as the rams, but in reality, the qbs are good and grew.  good coaches, whether offensive or defensive, will do the right things for a qb to be put into a position to win.   you use examples of how rookies were being "driven to early graves".  maybe they were just playing like rookies, and actually improved in year two.  in a year or two, they'll be another shift and everyone will be screaming for a defensive coach.  

 

i'm not saying this in defense of the bills staff, but if the qb is well managed,  takes their job with a workman like attitude, and has the ability, they'll be fine, no matter what the overall philosophy of the coach.

[That_Guy]

i'll believe it when i see it.

[RalphWilson'sNewWar]

1 minute ago, teef said:

it's funny you say that, because he mentioned that fans will give you one or two examples of how this is the right thing to do, and that's about all the evidence you can find.  i'm not picking on you or anything...it was just discussed.  people love to use examples such as the rams, but in reality, the qbs are good and grew.  good coaches, whether offensive or defensive, will do the right things for a qb to be put into a position to win.   you use examples of how rookies were being "driven to early graves".  maybe they were just playing like rookies, and actually improved in year two.  in a year or two, they'll be another shift and everyone will be screaming for a defensive coach.  

 

i'm not saying this in defense of the bills staff, but if the qb is well managed,  takes their job with a workman like attitude, and has the ability, they'll be fine, no matter what the overall philosophy of the coach.

 

Maybe the issue here is more with Pat and him feeling like an antiquated relic of the past who didn’t see this trend coming.

 

i mean Pat Kirwans advice to the Rams was, quote, “He needs someone that has the vision of building this thing that he’s done it before successfully,” Kirwan said. “He can go out and hire some kid, for all I know, but my instincts tell me this is a job for someone with credentials, someone that’s been there and done that.”

 

good thing Rams went 180 the opposite direction of Pat Kirwans advice.

[teef]

Just now, RalphWilson'sNewWar said:

 

Maybe the issue here is more with Pat and him feeling like an antiquated relic of the past who didn’t see this trend coming.

 

i mean Pat Kirwans advice to the Rams was, quote, “He needs someone that has the vision of building this thing that he’s done it before successfully,” Kirwan said. “He can go out and hire some kid, for all I know, but my instincts tell me this is a job for someone with credentials, someone that’s been there and done that.”

 

good thing Rams went 180 the opposite direction of Pat Kirwans advice.

ah...he wasn't giving advice.  he was just calling out a common fan reaction.  fans see it work for one or two teams, feel it's the new, only way trend, and start screaming to copy cat.  over a few years that trend is dead, and fans move onto the next one.  you can dislike pat, but he is right on this one.  you're not really relying on a large body of evidence at all.  you're taking an example or two and stamping it as the new golden rule.  i'm not saying you're wrong, but it's not an absolute fix the way you seem to think it is.

[RalphWilson'sNewWar]

3 minutes ago, teef said:

ah...he wasn't giving advice.  he was just calling out a common fan reaction.  fans see it work for one or two teams, feel it's the new, only way trend, and start screaming to copy cat.  over a few years that trend is dead, and fans move onto the next one.  you can dislike pat, but he is right on this one.  you're not really relying on a large body of evidence at all.  you're taking an example or two and stamping it as the new golden rule.  i'm not saying you're wrong, but it's not an absolute fix the way you seem to think it is.

 

Well it is a copy cat league afterall.  

 

Isnt that what the NFL is all about?  Finding the hot new trend and exploiting it against the teams that haven’t caught on?

 

Was not the Best Era Of Bills Football founded on a Trend?  

 

And if you get a few divisional titles, maybe a league MVP and perhaps a few Super Bowl appearances out of the hot trend...

 

Trust me...you don’t hear Rams or Bears fans crying today.  And I’m sure the Eagles aren’t giving back the Super Bowl trophy.

 

as for only having a few examples...yes there are only 4-5 examples...but so far...again I like what I’ve seen with the results.

[Rc2catch]

57 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

See the Rams and Bears.

 

The learn a "whole new playbook" is completely overrated. 

 

Thats the funny part to this new “offensive rage” everyone seems to have. 

Bears and Rams are not legit offenses. The Bears at any given time can look like total trash on offense and Trubisky had a couple A+ games but is mostly an average to below average quarterback. 

Goff has had some success with his coach in his ear, but they have come up short in some big games, Gurley is the one carrying the offense usually and none of these offensive minded geniuses who apparently run the league now have won anything. A mediocre if not college level offense like say Baltimore can easily come in and shut down some of these top offenses if their defense is playing good. 

1 hour ago, RalphWilson'sNewWar said:

 

I see it complete opposite.  That teams with Rookie QBs like Cleveland, Arizona and New York Jets might all be dumping their Defensive Minded Head Coaches to bring in Offensive Minded Head Coaches places them on the current Hot Trend in the NFL and would put them ahead of the teams that do not.

 

you shouldn’t have anything to worry by getting your Rookie QB a better coach in their 2nd season even if that means learning a new play book.  If it is a better playbook then they will be better for it.

In certain areas I agree. Hue wasn’t helping Mayfield and Wilks certainly wasn’t helping Rosen. But Darnold really seemed to be coming along with whoever runs the jets offense. Given the Jets history of coaches and misses I would still be scared to be a fan of them and see what they may hire to coach Darnold 

[LABILLBACKER]

Darnold & Allen will improve and have more weapons at their disposal. Tannehill is awful and I see Miami being cellar dwellers for awhile. This season will be Brady's last as AFCE champions. It will be the Bills and Jets battling it out for the next 10 years.

[Nextmanup]

Too early to declare NE dead.

 

None of the other teams in the division, Bills included, have proven that they are ready to assume the mantle of AFC East leader.

 

The end for NE is coming however, and coming soon.

 

 

[row_33]

1 hour ago, Nextmanup said:

Too early to declare NE dead.

 

None of the other teams in the division, Bills included, have proven that they are ready to assume the mantle of AFC East leader.

 

The end for NE is coming however, and coming soon.

 

 

 

just because the best team falls apart doesn't mean SHEER EXCELLENCE pops up suddenly with the other teams

 

i can see a horrible division for a few years after Brady leaves, 6-10 could win it for 5 years

 

won't that be something to cheer your little hearts out over

 

[BillyWhiteShows]

4 hours ago, Gugny said:

 

Horrible, horrible song.  I never understood Scorpions love; especially that craptastic ballad.

 

This song is atrocious but so bad, it’s almost good.  The lyrics are so cheesy.  Just like Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.”

[nedboy7]

2 hours ago, LABILLBACKER said:

Darnold & Allen will improve and have more weapons at their disposal. Tannehill is awful and I see Miami being cellar dwellers for awhile. This season will be Brady's last as AFCE champions. It will be the Bills and Jets battling it out for the next 10 years.

 

In the NFL nothing lasts 10 years. It’s just that the Pats have ruined reality for the rest of the AFC East over the last decade. 

[Nextmanup]

[row_33]

the Pats stink compared to peak years, but NOBODY is really any good this year, and they are easily likely to rep the AFC as any other playoff team

 

 

[RochesterRob]

10 hours ago, Buddo said:

 

 

I think you're missing the point - it wasn't about where someone might prefer to go, it was about the fact that although the Jests will have a greater amount of cap space available, they also have an awful lot more roster places to fill with it. Iirc, the Bills will have 39 guys under contract for 2019, whereas the Jests only have something like 30. Chances are they will have less to spend if they have to re-sign a greater number of their own guys than the Bills do.

 

I'm not sure there's anyone we actually need to re-sign.

  Thanks for making this point.  Without knowing how that breaks down it may tie the Jets' hands a little bit in certain bidding situations.  

[Nextmanup]

5 hours ago, row_33 said:

 

just because the best team falls apart doesn't mean SHEER EXCELLENCE pops up suddenly with the other teams

 

i can see a horrible division for a few years after Brady leaves, 6-10 could win it for 5 years

 

won't that be something to cheer your little hearts out over

 

Who's talking sheer excellence?  I thought we were talking division leader once NE loses Tom Brady and maybe BB too.

 

I agree it could be  soft division for years to come; like I said, no one looks ready to be a NO. 1 right now.

 

Well, other than NE.

 

 

 

 

[LSHMEAB]

8 hours ago, ScottLaw said:

Jets are in a good position here to win a lot of games next year if they hire the right guy. 

 

Im with you. I don't have much confidence in McBeane to get this thing corrected in this all or nothing offseason. 

 

All or nothing off season? What are you smoking?

 

These fellers did a complete teardown. You doggone millennials and your french fry vending maching culture of "I gotta have it and I gotta have it now." Waaah!

 

Next year is technically year one for Beane all things considered. If they're not producing by year 3 (2021), it's time to start considering a change. Until then, relax and enjoy the ride. 

[Fr. Jerk]

Winds of change? I think you might be breaking wind, ya dig?