obie_wan Posted February 17, 2007 Share Posted February 17, 2007 This is from another board, but it applies to the Bills approach to building their team. Note that Bills will follow the Colts allocation of value to the CB position & DL positions. I would guess the Bills re-sign Kelsey but not break the bank for Nate. "Strikes me that some of the most successful NFL franchises are employing similar models to sustain competitiveness in the salary cap era. By following a specific business model they can avoid the "bust" that follows the "boom" for other teams and be consistently competitiveness. This trend is most noticeable in the Patriots, Colts and Steelers. i) Pay your studs. Whether it's Manning, Harrison and Wayne for the Colts or Brady, Seymour and Wilfork for the Patriots, the principle is the same: pay your studs. BUT it's not that simple. The top franchises only pay top $$$ at positions they deem the most important - usually QB and DL. That means they must refuse to overpay at positions they don't consider so important - LB for the Colts and Steelers (who frequently let LBs go in FA), WR for the Patriots and Steelers too ii) Coach up cheap overachievers at other positions If you're paying top $$$ at certain positions, then you won't have much money to go around at others. The trick is to employ a coaching strategy that enables you to use guys other teams don't want successfully and to maximise coaching effectiveness. For example, Indy uses the Cover 2 and doesn't mind if their CBs are short. Pittsburgh uses DE/OLB tweeners in its 3-4 because other teams wouldn't use them. New England and Indy both pick up overachieving physically limited types on the OL and coach them into being solid players. iii) Employ specific role players as your depth players Guys like Polian and Pioli pick up depth players with potential to play very specific roles. For example, Indy uses receiving TEs like Bryan Fletcher in its offensive scheme very successfully. New England is always apparently able to turn backups into competent starters when injury strikes. iv) Be ruthless when Father Time approaches All these franchise refuse to pay $$$ to older players. That having been said, they are smart at picking up former greats for the veteran minimum if no-one else wants them. v) Consistency, consistency, consistency All these franchises have a philosophy they stick to with their coaching regardless of personnel. It means that they can pick players very precisely who "work" in their scheme - for example, speed DEs for Indy, pass-rush OLBs for Pittsburgh, possession WRs for New England" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsVet Posted February 17, 2007 Share Posted February 17, 2007 This is from another board, but it applies to the Bills approach to building their team. Note that Bills will follow the Colts allocation of value to the CB position & DL positions. I would guess the Bills re-sign Kelsey but not break the bank for Nate."Strikes me that some of the most successful NFL franchises are employing similar models to sustain competitiveness in the salary cap era. By following a specific business model they can avoid the "bust" that follows the "boom" for other teams and be consistently competitiveness. This trend is most noticeable in the Patriots, Colts and Steelers. i) Pay your studs. Whether it's Manning, Harrison and Wayne for the Colts or Brady, Seymour and Wilfork for the Patriots, the principle is the same: pay your studs. BUT it's not that simple. The top franchises only pay top $$$ at positions they deem the most important - usually QB and DL. That means they must refuse to overpay at positions they don't consider so important - LB for the Colts and Steelers (who frequently let LBs go in FA), WR for the Patriots and Steelers too ii) Coach up cheap overachievers at other positions If you're paying top $$$ at certain positions, then you won't have much money to go around at others. The trick is to employ a coaching strategy that enables you to use guys other teams don't want successfully and to maximise coaching effectiveness. For example, Indy uses the Cover 2 and doesn't mind if their CBs are short. Pittsburgh uses DE/OLB tweeners in its 3-4 because other teams wouldn't use them. New England and Indy both pick up overachieving physically limited types on the OL and coach them into being solid players. iii) Employ specific role players as your depth players Guys like Polian and Pioli pick up depth players with potential to play very specific roles. For example, Indy uses receiving TEs like Bryan Fletcher in its offensive scheme very successfully. New England is always apparently able to turn backups into competent starters when injury strikes. iv) Be ruthless when Father Time approaches All these franchise refuse to pay $$$ to older players. That having been said, they are smart at picking up former greats for the veteran minimum if no-one else wants them. v) Consistency, consistency, consistency All these franchises have a philosophy they stick to with their coaching regardless of personnel. It means that they can pick players very precisely who "work" in their scheme - for example, speed DEs for Indy, pass-rush OLBs for Pittsburgh, possession WRs for New England" There's only one problem with this scenario of using these teams as an example. Belichick, Dungy, and Cowher (when he coached in PIT) were superior coaches with plenty of NFL success. DJ is a nice guy but his career record demonstrates that he's a middle of the road coach. That's fact not speculation. Our coaching staff must prove they can turn below average players into average and average players into above average. Right now I'm not seeing it but perhaps that changes. Just working hard in the off-season though can't replace talent. Everyone knows that some guys aren't going to be average or above average no matter how hard they work. BTW, who are cheap overachievers on this team? And when those overachievers overachieve, aren't they going to want to become paid overachievers? This scenario demands you draft well every year and doesn't allow for any mistakes, especially in Rounds 1-3. Secondly, NE, IND, and PIT keep most of their big guys. We are proving that we won't because they play the wrong positions and probably will cost too much. Which positions does our team require? If Evans has another outstanding season, is he worthy of a big contract? That's hypothetical but will some make an argument that there are only 1-2 positons absolutely important? One is LT but where are the others? The writing is on the wall after yesterday. Whether you choose to interpret it or ignore it, be prepared for a model that allows us to remain consistently mediocre. For those who have short memories, we haven't had a playoff win since the 95 season. Those teams you've mentioned have all won Super Bowls in the last 3. There's a huge difference. Our version of what NE, IND, and PIT do will be similar, just with less money to spend. It's absurd to think we can do what NE does. They have Belichick as HC and Pioli as GM. Those guys run circles around Marv and Dick for fun. Free Agency and the Cap era have been around since 1993. Teams are adjusting to the cap and trying to be good each year rather than great for 1 or 2. I understand that. However, we haven't been anything but bad for a while. 7-9 isn't horrendous if you're coming off 10-6. But our last few seasons before 2006 were: 5-11, 9-7, 6-10, 8-8 and 3-13. That's not all Marv's fault. I think Pioli and Polian are All-Pro GM's and Marv, well some have their opinions. The one constant has been Ralph. And he hasn't made the team better, bottom freakin line. And now we're being told to prepare for less. Why can't we spend like 31 other teams will? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obie_wan Posted February 17, 2007 Author Share Posted February 17, 2007 There's only one problem with this scenario of using these teams as an example. Belichick, Dungy, and Cowher (when he coached in PIT) were superior coaches with plenty of NFL success. DJ is a nice guy but his career record demonstrates that he's a middle of the road coach. That's fact not speculation. Our coaching staff must prove they can turn below average players into average and average players into above average. Right now I'm not seeing it but perhaps that changes. Just working hard in the off-season though can't replace talent. Everyone knows that some guys aren't going to be average or above average no matter how hard they work. BTW, who are cheap overachievers on this team? And when those overachievers overachieve, aren't they going to want to become paid overachievers? This scenario demands you draft well every year and doesn't allow for any mistakes, especially in Rounds 1-3. Secondly, NE, IND, and PIT keep most of their big guys. We are proving that we won't because they play the wrong positions and probably will cost too much. Which positions does our team require? If Evans has another outstanding season, is he worthy of a big contract? That's hypothetical but will some make an argument that there are only 1-2 positons absolutely important? One is LT but where are the others? The writing is on the wall after yesterday. Whether you choose to interpret it or ignore it, be prepared for a model that allows us to remain consistently mediocre. For those who have short memories, we haven't had a playoff win since the 95 season. Those teams you've mentioned have all won Super Bowls in the last 3. There's a huge difference. Our version of what NE, IND, and PIT do will be similar, just with less money to spend. It's absurd to think we can do what NE does. They have Belichick as HC and Pioli as GM. Those guys run circles around Marv and Dick for fun. Free Agency and the Cap era have been around since 1993. Teams are adjusting to the cap and trying to be good each year rather than great for 1 or 2. I understand that. However, we haven't been anything but bad for a while. 7-9 isn't horrendous if you're coming off 10-6. But our last few seasons before 2006 were: 5-11, 9-7, 6-10, 8-8 and 3-13. That's not all Marv's fault. I think Pioli and Polian are All-Pro GM's and Marv, well some have their opinions. The one constant has been Ralph. And he hasn't made the team better, bottom freakin line. And now we're being told to prepare for less. Why can't we spend like 31 other teams will? your life must be pretty fulfilling with such a negative attitude. As you state, the Bills have not been good for a while even thought they spent big money on FA in Spikes, Milloy, Adams, etc. Marv has stated point blank that the Bills will spend to the $109 million cap but won't play cap games to go beyond. The Bills can and will build a successful team by spending judiciously. However, they won;t break the bank for a shut down CB when you the defense they play doesn't require one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted February 17, 2007 Share Posted February 17, 2007 This scenario demands you draft well every year and doesn't allow for any mistakes, especially in Rounds 1-3. THE key to any pro sports franchise and the reason the Bills were so successful in the early '90s (and unsucessful in the swing-for-the fences TD era). If Youboty and McCargo pan out, last yeay's draft will be a good one to get the ball rolling again on this front. NE, IND, and PIT keep most of their big guys. We are proving that we won't because they play the wrong positions and probably will cost too much. IMO, the cb position isn't important enough (especially in the Cover-2) to allocate that kind of money on. I have no doubt that NE, IND or PIT would let Nate walk as well if faced with the same situation. Nate's a fine player but this team needs better balance at the front seven on D and an upgrade on the OL. Those $$$ have to go where the biggest impact will be felt. Why can't we spend like 31 other teams will? I'd say there are only about half a dozen teams that spend like TSW would like, with the 'Skins and Falcons being the prime examples. What have they won lately? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted February 17, 2007 Share Posted February 17, 2007 Obie is right and it is smart. Remember the Bills will have to pay JP and Evans big money next year as well--I think if they both cont to improve then those are two types of players you love and have to pay big money for! The major point is that you pay big money to a handful of great players and obviously QB is the big one. See what a QB can do to make a difference on a team just look at New Orleans this year. Then you need a host of good players that have reasonable cap numbers and then guys on their first contracts you hope make a difference. And you don't pay big for older guys---yes, sign them if you can get them for a good cap figure but don't pay a L Fletcher (as good of a guy and teammate he has been) a 10M bonus and an additional 3-4 M/year. The Pats, Colts and Steelers are hardly big spenders and are not doling out huge sums of cash to free agents. They allocate it to a handful of players they see fit and there is enough money around to pay the rest. The Redskins can pay huge money to every "top" free agent out there but it has not worked so far now has it---they can also pay top dollar for G Williams and his lousy defense that blitzes 90 of every 100 plays! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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