How many players need to step up to propel the Bills go a step further towards Superbowl this year?

[PoundingDog]

Last year most of us are expecting a down year, based on what happened in the off-season. I did expect the Bills to still win the division but not getting to the AFC championship game. 

 

Looking back, I can say for myself that I didn't expect

1) a step forward from Allen. I suspect when we look back years later in Allen's career, it might be a very important year. His 3rd season proved he's elite. But last year (year 6) in my opinion, he became a more rounded, complete QB, especially in decision making.

2) a step forward from Cook. In my book, he became THE offensive weapon and too bad Brady didn't use him enough in the most important game last year.

3) a step backward from Kincaid. Many, including me, expected Kincaid to be THE offensive weapon but he didn't.

4) not a single defensive player stepping up to have a career year. Benford, Rousseau improved, but not a dominant force. Von and Milano didn't have resurgence.

 

This year. I don't think Allen is going to improve significantly again. Neither would I expect from Cook. I expect Kincaid to do better but not sure I would expect a breakout performance.

a) Hairston. Widely reported as a McDermott pick (unlike the Elam pick), he may have a chance to have a Tre White like rookie campaign. If that happens, it is a huge boost to the D.

b) Bishop. Little evidence to suggest that he's in line for a Bernard kind of 2nd year but no one saw that in Bernard either. Just my hope. we can dream that both a) and b) happen this year so McDermott has his best secondary as a HC of the Bills. 

c) Coleman. He played enough last year that he got a taste how people defended him effectively later in the season. Does he develop enough to counter, or do Brady and the staff find something to use him more effectively?

d) Bosa. He's still young enough to do what he can do. Can he provide the Bills what Von provided when he came to the Bills before his knee injury?

 

I know the Bills spent a lot on the D-Line but I'm not going to bet on the rookies and suspended players. Chances are one of the rookie D-Line will flash, but I just don't see consistently D-Line plays from rookies picked in the low 1st round onwards.

 

[Don Otreply]

Everyone needs to step up, let’s not fool ourselves into believing three guys or so will put us over the line, its going to take everyone, 

[uticaclub]

All-22

[JakeFrommStateFarm]

Brady's play calling

[TheBrownBear]

53 plus PS.

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

We can just dance around the true issues as much as we want but it’s truly pointless. The issue has been the same for 7 full years. Outside of the Jags playoff loss. Always the same. The defensive coaching needs to step up. The defense needs a philosophical overhaul to something more aggressive and less predictable. Making stops. That’s how it happens. Not praying for turnovers. Not watching good QBs absolutely shred us on every 3rd down. The defensive coaching needs to step up. That’s the whole answer 

[mushypeaches]

Saying to myself for the 439th time since January after reading one of these posts...

 

The regular season can't get here soon enough

[corta765]

Listen this is a team where it is SB or bust and that goes for a few teams like BAL PHI LAR KC, so your talking about very specific needs to move the needle even more.

 

The easy candidates for guys to breakout would be Coleman & Bishop. Coleman turning into a quality #2 would help diversify the offense more and Bishop becoming an impact safety would really help to solidify the back end as the CBs figure out CB2/CB4.

 

The real way the team gets just a bit sharper is someone on offense like Kincaid or Coleman or Palmer becoming a true stud not just solid player and/or the defense seeing a young guy or two like Landon Jackson, Sanders, or Hariston come in and not only take a spot but have the impact (Tre White style) while the D line vets have the gas to turn it on when it matters. On offense even if Kincaid or Coleman does do that they still are a top 5 unit and with Josh so the impact is not as pronounced. BUT for the defense you honestly need that type of impact player to emerge and they have not had that in a bit (with respect to Bernard who was good the last two years). The Eagles when they revamped the defense last year it was a mix of vets and youth all emerging and elevating at once that turned the unit into a real force. For the Bills the equivalent is Bosa/Larry Ogunjobi as vets being a force and Jackson/Hariston coming into their own all at once.

[SoCal Deek]

Or….Kincaid could just catch the damn ball. 

[oldmanfan]

Everyone on the team including coaches and players should always be looking for continual improvement.

[Bullfrog]

1 hour ago, Don Otreply said:

Everyone needs to step up, let’s not fool ourselves into believing three guys or so will put us over the line, its going to take everyone, 

Dang it Don. I was going to say 4.61 people need to step up or one Colman but you had to go the everyone route. 

[JerseyBills]

Coleman

Rapp/Bishop

Kincaid

Oliver- down year after a pretty dominant season 

Samuel

Bosa 

If these guys take a step this should be best team in the Allen era

 

[Nineforty]

42

[frostbitmic]

All of them.

[MJS]

Just one player needs to make the right play in the right moment.

[PoundingDog]

Of course everyone in NFL needs to improve to stay in the league. And it is a team message across the league, all 53 etc. etc. But we fans don't play that game. It is a fact that for all teams, majority of the players don't improve that much; they merely keep up. That's why rarely teams go from last to first in one season.

 

When a team does make a leap, it is usually some guys on that team take a big leap forward, especially at a key position (QB for example can improve a team record directly by 3-4 games).

 

The Bills have been Superbowl contenders for a few years now. We have a QB who is in the top 5 for the last 4 years. We have a solid team, sound management for the last 6 years. But it looks like we are hitting a ceiling the last few years. The most likely scenario for us to break thru that ceiling is to have a couple of guys taking a big leap forward. And we know guys in the group of Benard, T Johnson, Knox etc. are NOT going to give us that big leap, but they are solid, steady, dependable.

 

Injury is always a factor, and that involves luck. Who knows what Von could give us 3 years ago in the playoff had he not had that ACL. This year, we'll be looking for some luck on Bosa. 

[Billsfed1]

Mostly a few guys on defense.  If the offense holds serve from last year I’d say one corner needs to surprise, Rousseau needs a bigger year and any 2 of the draft picks or free agents up on the defensive line