Pessimism/Optimism

[st pete gogolak]

If you recall preseason 2024, certainly the media and maybe a chunk of the fanbase were extremely pessimistic regarding the Bill’s outlook going into the season. More experts were picking the Dolphins and Jets to win the division than the Bills.  Too many veteran losses, too many holes. The reality?  Josh Allen MVP, 13 - 4 and as close to a Super Bowl as the Bills have been in the Allen Era.  
 

Going into 2025, I was optimistic as can be for two reasons. One, the schedule is as favorable to the Bills as humanly possible. No overseas trips, almost all of the hardest games are at home. Two, loading up on D in the draft hopefully would add some additional speed and talent so that we avoid a playoff collapse on the D side.

 

i get that it is preseason and I get that preseason is essentially meaningless but I’m no where near as optimistic heading into the season, again for two reasons. One, last year’s turnover count and turnover differential were off the charts good. It would be miraculous to repeat those numbers.  Two, like many on the board, just not seeing much of anything from Bishop, Hairston (injured), Sanders, Jackson or Walker.

 

So what say you,  do the two preseason games have you less optimistic or still bullish on the upcoming season?

[eball]

23 minutes ago, st pete gogolak said:

i get that it is preseason and I get that preseason is essentially meaningless

 

Repeat that three times and do something else for a couple of weeks.

 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Totally bullish!  It's ok to discuss the weaknesses of the team without thinking they are falling off a cliff. Not sure why the board can't comprehend this.

With Allen they can compete with anyone.  I still like a lot of the off-season moves.  Yes safety and CB remain an issue.  We would all feel a lot better if Hairston was looking like a lock down first round draft pick.  Lots to worry about with White and the current group of safeties, but the pass rush can be better. Milano and Bernard are healthy. 

Bring on the Ravens!

 

[eball]

3 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Totally bullish!  It's ok to discuss the weaknesses of the team without thinking they are falling off a cliff. Not sure why the board can't comprehend this.

With Allen they can compete with anyone.  I still like a lot of the off-season moves.  Yes safety and CB remain an issue.  We would all feel a lot better if Hairston was looking like a lock down first round draft pick.  Lots to worry about with White and the current group of safeties, but the pass rush can be better. Milano and Bernard are healthy. 

Bring on the Ravens!

 

 

You're absolutely right.  I'm glad this thread was started because there is nowhere else on the board to discuss these issues.

 

[K-9]

The only thing these two games have me wondering is when did we acquire so many pearl clutching preseason neophytes around here. 

[Bills14221]

One of the key reasons so many people expressed optimism for this year is based upon how much depth the team has (and of course Josh).  I think it is completely reasonable to pump the brakes a bit on that optimism based upon the performance of the team as a whole but more importantly the individual performances yesterday.  
 

 

[HOUSE]

I am not sure how any conclusions can be drawn this time of the year, good or bad. 

Preseason games should be banned from TV and the score TOP SECRET.

 

[Gregg]

Just remember those Super Bowl teams of the early 90's with Levy usually sucked in the preseason and they still went on to have great regular seasons and get back to the Super Bowl. My optimism for the season hasn't changed at all despite these games against the Giants and Bears. I expect the following to happen.

 

1. The Bills will win the AFCE and quite possibly the #1 seed as the overall schedule isn't that tough. 

2. If they don't get the #1 seed, I expect the Bills will play at home on WC weekend and they will win.

3. Getting by the Ravens or Chiefs in the divisional round which is who I expect the Bills will face is real question. We know they can beat Baltimore in the playoffs.        Done it twice but KC as of right now is different story. 

[Peace Frog]

My eyes (had my preseason goggles on) witnessed Cole Bishop, Buffalo Joe, Van Demark, and Deone Walker's individual efforts during the game and they were downright embarrassing. 

[transient]

Given the Bills are a team that has been together for a while, now, isn't the preseason the time for the coaches to put players in situations that they struggle with to see how they handle it? Or did something change this offseason and did the league start counting these games in the standings... 

[julian]

Injuries are the only thing that would alter my optimism, we know what this team is.

 

 Stay healthy and try to get the one seed and go from there, these preseason games are useless.

[Augie]

I am generally the eternal optimist, to the point that I probably annoy some people. 

 

Having said that, Cole Bishop scares me. I’m worried about all the DBs on some level, but especially him. And it’s not just because of a little preseason play. 

 

That’s why we play the games! I’m looking forward to real Buffalo Bills football. 

[Walking Tall]

No worries. The Bills called me today and I have a tree-out with them tomorrow.

[Virgil]

42 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Totally bullish!  It's ok to discuss the weaknesses of the team without thinking they are falling off a cliff. Not sure why the board can't comprehend this.

With Allen they can compete with anyone.  I still like a lot of the off-season moves.  Yes safety and CB remain an issue.  We would all feel a lot better if Hairston was looking like a lock down first round draft pick.  Lots to worry about with White and the current group of safeties, but the pass rush can be better. Milano and Bernard are healthy. 

Bring on the Ravens!

 

I find it impossible to care about the preseason with this team.  NFL is scheme and talent, with scheme usually being the deciding factor.   We are running zero scheme while Ben Johnson is trying to install his still.  
 

These two teams are night and day different in regards to what that game meant to them.  Remember when Spurrier took over the Skins and was blowing out good teams?  I think they even blanked the Super Bowl champs 40 something to nothing.  Guess how both teams started the regular season. 
 

If that game was played for real tomorrow,  would expect us to steamroll the Bears.  
 

I do somewhat worry about a slow start against the Ravens, similar to how we came out against the cards.  But am I worried that Bishop couldn’t cover their best receiver out of the slot in man coverage?  No.  If that happens in a game, I’m questioning why that was allowed to happen.  
 

I do not believe for a second that McD would hold out so many players if he did not believe they were ready for the season.  Anyone making the team who played in that game was just for reps.   

Btw, this isn’t directed at you Ethan.  Just the first post I’ve seen since checking the site after the game that seemed to warrant the response.  

[dwight in philly]

53 minutes ago, eball said:

 

You're absolutely right.  I'm glad this thread was started because there is nowhere else on the board to discuss these issues.

 

So what..

[NickelCity]

I'm optimistic about what I see from #37, as a 5th round rookie

[chris heff]

3 hours ago, K-9 said:

The only thing these two games have me wondering is when did we acquire so many pearl clutching preseason neophytes around here. 

Hey, pearls are classic, you dress them up, or dress them down, wear them to the opera, the supermarket.

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

3 hours ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Totally bullish!  It's ok to discuss the weaknesses of the team without thinking they are falling off a cliff. Not sure why the board can't comprehend this.

With Allen they can compete with anyone.  I still like a lot of the off-season moves.  Yes safety and CB remain an issue.  We would all feel a lot better if Hairston was looking like a lock down first round draft pick.  Lots to worry about with White and the current group of safeties, but the pass rush can be better. Milano and Bernard are healthy. 

Bring on the Ravens!

 

 

I question too if Bishop should even have played , was he really ready physically, then put him out there with 10 other backups isn't a fair test.  I suspect if he were a 3 or 4 year vet, just coming off  the injury, he wouldn't have played.

[Dukestreetking]

2 hours ago, HOUSE said:

Preseason games should be banned from TV and the score TOP SECRET.

 

Agreed, good idea. Preseason should be labeled as:

 

TS/SCI/HCS/NOFORN/ORCON

 

HCS: Humint, for players only

 

NOFORN: non-US personnel should not be subjected to this crap

 

ORCON: originator-controlled distribution...so we'll allow @Simon to control all flow of information 

[chris heff]

3 hours ago, Augie said:

I am generally the eternal optimist, to the point that I probably annoy some people. 

 

Having said that, Cole Bishop scares me. I’m worried about all the DBs on some level, but especially him. And it’s not just because of a little preseason play. 

 

That’s why we play the games! I’m looking forward to real Buffalo Bills football. 

Go read the piece on Bishop in Buffalo Rumblings, it will make you feel better.

2 hours ago, NickelCity said:

I'm optimistic about what I see from #37, as a 5th round rookie

Any news about his shoulder?