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It'll be nice to have two good running backs even if one of our guys gets hurt for a few games here and there. I've thought it all along, and it's starting to be talked about more - that this year's team will be a old school football team - like the SB Ravens, the recent SB Steelers. I get sick when I hear people mentioning trading Lynch for a 4th or some second stringer - if we're trading any of our backs it should be for a talented starter at another position, and a young one at that.

Injury and inexperience both played large roles in last years state of the O-line. And then there was the coaching staff. And despite those things we still had the 16th or 17th rushing attack in the NFL, and that isn't mentioning that we were losing a lot last year, too. If we improve just on coaching then we are above average in rushing. If we improve on injury and, as a whole, experience wise, then we might be looking at a pretty good running team. I'm not opposed to not signing old linemen in order to get our young guys the playing time they need to be effectively evaluated. I'm sure all of us have guys we wish we could've signed or picked up in the draft pool. With our O-line being as bad as it is considered, I still can't believe we didn't pick up Tony Washington. I know he had the issue with his sister when he was fifteen, but Dallas picked him up and nobody has talked about it since, and he was considered by many to be a 1st round talent. And we could've had him as an undrafted college F.A.... but, with Wang, Wood, and Levitre, a guy with sex problems might have been too risky, no matter his potential.

I don't think Gailey is a second rate coach. And I don't think Nix is second rate, either. If we'd had hired Whaley from Pittsburgh as our G.M., then a lot of media would've said we were finally willing to hire from outside and take a serious shot at keeping up with the ever changing NFL landscape. Now, if Nix were the kind of guy who feels lucky to have the job he's got because he's not qualified, he never would've hired his replacement! That really points to his confidence in the system they're installing. I think Nix is much more respected within the league than he's known outside it. And, for being 70, the guy looks healthier than some 40 year olds I've known. As for Gailey and his coordinators - we'll have to see. The offensive side is more or less a helper; someone to help keep the guys on track, someone to contribute to game preparations. On the defensive side - I like that our coordinator has a lot of experience seeing defenses built up from the ground, and defenses that've had to use hybrids, even, for awhile to maximize the potential of the personnel. I was so tired of seeing the Bills go after coaches and systems that are on the downward slide in the NFL - getting people who were coming in and implementing systems that were not innovative, but rather worn out - like the tampa 2. I'm alright with having a handful of guys who need to prove themselves, and I'd rather have a bunch of coaches that are going to make their names here, and rise up here, and bring the Bills with them. I think 80% of it is mentality. That is where we'll see the difference in our team - hopefully. We'll see creativity, aggressiveness, toughness, and a need, above all, to win. No excuses. That would be a nice motto for our training camp this year. Here's to our new coaches and F.O. - I, for one, like them, and think we'll be competitive this year, and that the posters on this site that are negative now will be singing the praises for Gailey and Nix by season's end.

That is my belief, too. It's hard to get excited about a team when you think the guys are all just stopgaps, though. Even if, say, Trent gets the job and does pretty good - who would want to pass up a shot at a really good QB next year and bank on Edwards not regressing? It almost seems like, unless Brohm really lights it up, that we'll be getting our guy next year.

I've asked myself why I watch football anymore, when things like the Jason Peters situation occurs, in light of the players focus on money, and free agency, and I believe what draws me still to taking such an interest in the Bills and football as to write my opinion here and to follow the offseason, is that when you look at the teams and the players today, they're all so very similar in measurables, and even when a team like the Redskins try to buy victory with superstar, one would think superior rosters - because of the better players - they fall short without a specific ingredient or two. I'd say those ingredients are playing as a team, and heart. These guys are so close I think the ones who want it more, and the ones who play together, can rise above the challenge of the sixteen week schedule and the playoffs... part of being a Bills fan is being an underdog - and yes, I'm sick of seeing our guys fall short; at the least, if they aren't going to win, make the other guys dread coming to play. I know, the Jets are becoming one of my least favorite teams, as far as rivalries go, because they are so tough. And Rex Ryan brought that with his beliefs. His mentality that they are going to go out there and be tougher, without exception, is what makes that team - and previously the Ravens - what it is. Those guys can't come off the field without having given it their all in the attempt to knock the other teams head off, or they'll be facing Rex, and he isn't going to accept excuses. No excuses. Money doesn't equate there. It doesn't matter if these guys are making rockstar money, they're football players and they've got a job to do. It's very 1970's ish. I'd like very much to see that kind of discipline and meanness here again, too.

When talking about whether or not a player is a bust early in his career, I also think - what would that player look like somewhere else? Sometimes it is more a good fit than necessarily an overall bust. I could imagine Rex Ryan getting his hands on Maybin last year, using him as a rush outside linebacker, and getting five, six sacks out of him. I'm not saying our coaching staff is inadequate at all, because it hasn't had a chance yet, but I'd say in the scheme of last year's Bills, trying to use Maybin as a DE was bound to be ineffective. He was just too small and inexperienced to go up against the blocking he faced. Also considering he's only like 21 years old, he could blossom in a few years and still have a long career in front of him. I really thought, last year, that we'd of drafted Orakpo. I was hoping for Orakpo or Everette Brown. So, just for the sake of evaluating my evaluating skills, I'm keeping an eye on those two to see how their careers fare against Maybin's.

I think when Bell came out he was one of those guys who was said to have terrific potential, but who was very raw - which is why he garnered so little attention. Project type players take, what, two, three years to develop? You hear the "such and such player has all the physical tools to be dominant" often about certain players, and some of them turn out, some don't. I'd wager the staff approached this year thinking - we know we need to fix this, this, and that - and we have these guys who might be o.k., might not be, but we won't know until they play, so, we'll audition those guys this year, and whoever doesn't perform will be replaced. I'm thinking QB, LT, WR, C, DE, and OLB are the biggest question marks, and probably in that order. They could've picked Clausen instead of Troupe, but they knew Kyle Williams wouldn't be able to hold up full time at NT, and probably wouldn't hold up against the run, but they probably equally confident that Trent Edwards doesn't have it, or Brohm, or Bell, for that matter. Anyway, if Bell was a developmental player, then he should be right on schedule if he starts this year and performs even in the middle of the league, statistically speaking. Really, the way he's been written off, he could be the 25th ranked LT in the NFL and be overperforming. My guess is that our O-line this year, until they get the pieces they want in place and have time to gel, will be more of a unit performance, rather than single guys standing out. I can see Gailey putting them, as a unit, in situations - calling plays - that will mask their deficiencies.

I think we're better off now than ever simply because we've got Jackson, who if you want to compare to players of old just last year made 4th all time all purpose yards. I know that includes returns, but you've all seen him make things out of nothing, and there's no denying he's really good at every aspect of being a RB. Then you've got Lynch, who although isn't as fast, seems to have an almost superhuman drive that kicks in near the endzone. When he gets a whiff of it he looks like a beast. Now we're speculating on Spiller, but if he's as fast and shifty as Lynch is tough, then we've got a combination of all the types of things you'd want out of a backfield - and we can put that all in the backfield at the same time with just two guys - Spiller and Lynch, for instance, can give you fullback type toughness for a few yard gain, or lightning quick swing or screen. Jackson and Spiller give you equal amount RB and WR. So, that is my reasoning. And we don't even have the threat of a Jim Kelly passing or the quality of the O-line blocking. These last few years have been like Berry Sanders in Detroit bad.

Yeah, I haven't actually seen a practice in person, nor could I tell you what anything meant while still playing in shorts, but there was a good point made - we know that Fitzpatrick and Edwards have been closer to bad than good. So, either they've both miraculously made great strides in one year towards being really good, or all three are equally as uninspiring. How does the saying go? If you have two QB's you've got none?

Of course we're just speculating on how the Bills will do; and it does matter if they win, as far as how successful a coach Chan Gailey ends up being here. However, we can see some things taking shape now - the mentality he's instilling, the toughness, the confidence. Jauron was frustratingly weak. When he spoke it made you wonder how he could lead anyone. That matters. The Jet's Ryan, although irritating in his arrogance, still, motivates his players to play because he's telling them they had better be the best, they had better out play anyone - quite contrary to "it's hard to win a single game in this league". So, yeah, Gailey has already done some things. I like the players he's brought in. If you were looking at he 2009 Bills and had to fix them, I'd say improving the run defense would be high on the list. It looks like we'll be a much harder team to run on, and if we can get to the QB, we should be a terror for opposing QB's with our secondary. Also, playing to a strength - the running game. We ran o.k. last year and everyone knew we couldn't pass. I think we've got better recievers in our young guys than people think. I see a young Green Bay receiver corps when I look at our guys, or a young New Orleans team - they're fast, and now their pretty good sized, and they can catch. Run and stop the run. I think we'll do that well this year. To top that, though, we're going to see what the young guys can do on the O-line, at WR, at QB, and going into next year we'll know what we need to run the kind of game plan Nix and Gailey want. That's good for year one, IMO. Football isn't rocket science - but, these athletes are so close, talent wise, that winning and losing are decided by very little. I'm thinking that with what we have right now we could make a wild card run. I'm thinking that Nix and Gailey are bringing back to Buffalo what we haven't had since the days of Pollian - legitimate organization and know-how. Just look at what Miami did in one year. Look at what Harbough brought to Baltimore - now they're one of the top organizations in the league. I really think Buddy and Gailey were two smart, tough guys who were waiting for the right chance to run a show the way they knew they could, to build a team as they saw fit - and I don't think they'll let themselves down here. This will be their legacy, and that is why I like their hirings so much - because they are both are dignified, smart guys who haven't been given credit for what they've done, and now have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Pat Kirwan on NFL.com recently posted an article about how fans should temper their expectations for first round defensive line rookies - even 1st overall selections shouldn't be expected to contribute much in their first season, and that wasn't merely an opinion, but the way, statistically, players have performed over the last twenty years or so. The problem (and not really a problem) with Maybin is that his rookie year is over and now he's entering year two, but he's learning a new position. So, it's almost like rookie year all over again. He is very young, and even if he came out of college at 22 people wouldn't mind drafting him - and that would be his age next offseason, so we've got plenty of time to develop him. The bummer is that he eats away at his contract, and it would suck to see another instance of a player beginning to play really good for us, after we've developed them at the expense of our money and time, and to see them go elsewhere. Anyway, he has the tools and body to be really good. So do a lot of guys, though. I think we just brought in an undrafted rookie, or a sixth rounder who had very similar numbers as Maybin - maybe even quicker short shuttle times. The measurables are so close with most of these players after awhile it doesn't mean so much. Still, I like our group of linebackers. I think between Moats, Poz, Batten, Maybin, and Coleman we have a good young core. Add in Davis, Mitchell - and Kelsay & Schobel, and I think we'll be fine there.

I think Gailey being let go from K.C. was more to do with the new coach and "power of personality" struggles than anything Chan was or wasn't capable of. He's a guy who has had success, who seems to know how to create an environment condusive to success - yet, as we know, there are a lot of truly good Head Coaches in the NFL, but only one wins the championship per year. Losing doesn't mean a coach needs to go, or that his way is wrong. Along those lines, Gailey winning in his first year will not be as indicative of his success as a coach as will the way the players play, the way the schemes are set up - are we playing to win, are our guys in it with conviction, confidence. The Patriots team that won the first Super Bowl was a good example of a bunch of hard working mid level players all buying into a system and playing their hearts out. As for our talent level - I think we'll have much more talent in the Defensive front seven than most people assume. I think our defense will be good enough to win with. I think our offense will put up more points, will stay on the field a lot longer, and will look more professional, too. I just think that a coach envisions a certain type of team - and it takes two, three years to have them in place to really play out the type of football he wants played. So, we'll see guys playing hard this year, and a competitive team, but there will be some players that just don't fit the style Gailey's looking for for the first year or two.

I've been reading most of the articles on the practices this past month, and there have been a lot of rave reviews for Easley - I'd say he's had more praise than any of the other WR's except maybe Steve Johnson. I'd like to see three WR sets with Easley, Johnson, and Evans, mixed up, position wise, along the line, with Nelson at TE - that doesn't sound too bad to me.

I think it will be Brohm, too. My reasoning is - they've seen, in person, and in game film, Edwards and Fitz. They have a better idea, I'd think, of those guys' capabilities. This year has to represent a rehearsal for the players, so the coaches are going to want to know if Brohm can be a legitimate starter, because they'd be wasting a first rounder next year on a franchise QB if they've already got one on the roster now. That's how I see it. They're going to want to let him try, and if he's terrible they can always throw Edwards in, but they've got to find out whether or not he can cut it.

I read over at Profootballtalk.com that Willie Anderson took last year off - retired - despite a handful of teams showing interset in him. He said he wanted to let his body rest so he could play productively again. This guy has been to probowls, is an all pro, and over 13 seasons he missed like 8 games. He knows how to play with injury, and he knows when he's capable of playing at a good level. He's younger that San Diego's Tra Thomas signing. He wants to play - says he can still get it done, and, more importantly, he wants to teach the players on the team how to develop, how to handle the money, the schedules, how to make priorities. I think Buffalo would be a great place for him. We've got the "potential/talent" in Bell and Merideth, and he'd be great insurance and he'd be great at leading them into better ways of practicing, playing, preparing, etc. I say lets give him a chance.

I often hear the "Thigpen would have a head up with us because he knows Gailey's offense" opinion and I was wondering: Is Gailey carrying over the same offense he ran in K.C.? And, was that the same one he ran at Georgia Tech., carried over again from Dallas? I would think he'd be putting together new offenses - so the defensive coordinators around the league can't game plan as easily. How exactly does that work?

...Not to mention - New Orleans greatest strength offensively is that the opponent never knows who's going to be getting the ball. They get everyone involved, and they never appear to be zeroing in on anyone. You could practically see N.E.'s defensive player's heads spinning last year when N.E. got spanked - they didn't know who to defend. When you've got a guy like T.O. - who demands the ball, or else he starts pouting and going half!@#$#@ss'd, then you're giving the defense the advantage. In this regard, anonymity might be our greatest weapon this year.

T.O. might have refrained from verbally causing trouble last year with his "no comment", or "I'm just doing my job, just running the routes called", routine, but his behavior, his demeanor, his attitude, and especially the times he obviously gave up on plays out on the field, were all negatives, in my opinion. Let these young recievers who probably have enough talent between them (Hardy, Johnson, Easley - and just maybe even Parrish) get a chance here. The attitude with which these guys approach practice and games is far more important than is sometimes given credit; having a bunch of young, energetic guys, having something to prove, competing - that energy will carry over onto the field. Right now this team has no identity. Right now these guys are free to go out this season and create a new team. I think we'll be pleasantly surprised by how these recievers handle themselves on the field this year.

The Saints don't have quite as good a LT on their roster as do the Ravens, so considering the Saints are only getting a 3rd at best - and in that case sending a sixth - I see no reason why the Bills couldn't get a deal done for Gaither or McNiell. This tells me that it's really more the case of the Bills not wanting to give away much to get a LT in a trade, that they don't value these LT's as highly as the media and fans do, because if they did, then there's no reason they couldn't get one. Or they really do like Bell. I want to believe they know what they're doing here, but that just seems like a really low amount of compensation the Saints are getting, and if we could be talking having a pro-bowl caliber LT for a 3rd, or a 2nd and maybe getting a fourth in return or something, then we might really be regretting this come regular season. I hope they know what they're doing.

Buddy and Chan weren't drafting this year looking to put together just a one year team. None of their actions reflect the motive of trying to make a championship team now. They're building a team that will be competitive year in and out - at least, that is thier design. You look at great teams, you envision how a great team would look, and then you look at what you have, especially the young guys that will be around for three plus years to contribute to this vision, and that, I think, is what Gailey and Nix did. They have talent at running back now - but Lynch isn't a lock to play even this year, if he doesn't stay out of trouble altogether, and Jackson, as good as he is, is limited. They wanted a lightning quick guy, and Spiller not only is quick, but he's stronger than most guys his size - he can run between the tackles, if need be, and he can be a reciever and a return guy. You get such a dynamic player with him, the value is off the charts. Really, it shouldn't amaze anyone they picked him - it should amaze everyone he was available. You can win in this league with good defense and a good running game. Ideally you want everything, but they saw their secondary was young and talented. They saw they needed youth, size, and talent in the front seven - and they went out and got Troupe and Carrington to strengthen the 3-4 line, and when Easley was there in the 4th - a WR with elite measurables, they grabbed the guy (who I think will prove to be a really good #2WR - and who has the combination of size, speed, athleticism to make our WR corps much more versatile; we can line up big with Hardy, Easley, Nelson and Johnson - and still have speed, or we can line up quick with Evans, Nelson, Parrish, Easley and even Jackson). In one year - and I know we've got to play still - but I think our coach and G.M. gave us a good foundation now for a strong, Buffalo friendly, cold weather, tough defense, and a great stable of running backs, and I believe a handful of intriguing OLB's in Maybin, Batten, and Coleman, and a great compliment to Poz in Moats. We've got a lot to get excited about in what they've put together this year. Sure, by next year we'll probably be looking for a LT and a QB, and maybe a WR, maybe a DE or LB, but six months ago it was a disaster - if we can go into next offseason knowing that all we need is a QB, a LT, and maybe a DE & LB, then betwen F.A. and the draft, we should have no problems doing that. I think, after this draft, they set the foundation for the next four or five years for this team to be competitive.

Good point. I think that really sums up a lot. The great QB's - Payton, Brady, Brees - they are very dynamic; when the ball is snapped they see the field, and even if a play designed to go to a certain guy is called, if another guy is open they can see it and put the ball where it needs to go. That ability to see the recievers, to read the defense, and to make the instant decision - to have that decisiveness - has been lacking since Bledsoe, Kelly, and Flutie. Flutie was a great example of that talent - just taking what the defense gave him, and if need be, scrambling to give the recievers an extra second or two to get open. With Trent, you can tell if his guy is covered he freezes, then looks to the screen, or merely throws it away. He doesn't appear to be scanning the whole field, nor does he appear willing to throw it to certain areas of the field. So, I sure hope we have a QB on the roster who has that quick, dynamic ability. If Trent turns it around - if it was his coaching and O-line play, then I'll be real happy. But, as it is, I'm doubtful he has the ability to do that. On the bright side, statistically, at least, we're due for a good QB; probability more or less indicates that our next guy will be a good one

I was a real Trent fan when he came out - the Bill Walsh endorsement was the clincher for me, especially when he was doing so good. But, I have to say, even at his worst moments, J.P. never looked as bad to me as Edwards did at times last season. He was afraid to throw the ball - and I don't know what contributed to it behind the scenes, or schematically, but I have to believe that most NFL caliber QB's could've done much more with what Edwards had, despite everything. There were moments I couldn't bear to watch anymore, because I knew he just wouldn't risk throwing it. Now, he looked good at times early on, so if he does turn it around then no one will be asking for his head. I mean, if he were to carry this team to the playoffs everyone would love him. But, he'll have to show a lot of guts and he'll have to prove himself, I think, by overcoming some tough situations with good play before his coaches, and especially his teammates, will have faith in him again. As it is now, who knows when he'll cave in again? And, that is why I'm pushing for Brown or Brohm to be our starter. At least they have potential. We've seen both Edwards and Fitz and it's ugly.

There is quite a bit of faulty logic going on there, IMO. First off, don't discount Kyle Williams. He's a tough, tough player - and his size is not much different than Dallas Cowboys NT - who is considered an up and coming talent - which is to say, Kyle can get it done there. But, our F.O. knows that he'll be better if he doesn't have to play every down. Keeping him fresh will be big. Also, our F.O. took Troupe when there were still a bunch of options at NT - inluding Mount Cody, who by all reports is looking really good so far in Baltimore. Our scouts and evaluators must've seen some very special things in Troupe to go ahead as quickly as they did with the pick. Even if he just holds his own, it'll be an o.k. pick. Consider players like B.J. Raji and Ziggy Hood, and there's another guy who looked a lot like Warren Sapp who came out - did he go to the Saints? - but, these guys have been pretty silent in their rookie campaigns, and no one is saying they are busts. It'll take time for these rookies, but my guess is that he'll play alright for us, despite being a rookie, because I don't think our coaches will ask more of him than he'll be capable of.

Questions like that hinge on so many things. A team like Houston - a good example - could use both Lynch and Schobel. If they came looking, then I'd say a second round pick is very reasonable. In fact, if a team that considered itself a Super Bowl contender lost it's number one RB, I'd think the team would be willing to part with a second round pick for a RB of first round talent, who's only a few years into the league. It depends mostly on who needs the players and how good they are, and even how many picks they have. Another good example would be New England - although they're off limits, of course - but, you can't tell me they wouldn't have been overjoyed to part with one of their second rounders for a legitimate RB like Lynch. I think they'd of jumped at it. It just depends on what team it is.

As long as he's not suspended and he's healthy, Lynch has the value of a first round running back - and, if it weren't the trouble, no one would question his football value. So, right now we've got two legitimate 1st round RB's and a 2500 all-purpose back alongside them... that - especially considering they each have different capabilities - has got to be one of the nicest backfields in the NFL. And, as long as he's healthy and not suspended, his value remains high to us. If he really gave it his all, I think he'd be the starter, with Spiller being the change of pace guy, relegating Jackson to relief, returns, and passing downs... Considering the inconsistency of our line in pass protection, Gailey's history of being a run minded coordinator, and our young recievers and QB situation, I'd say that even with Jackson and Spiller Lynch has more value to us as things are than almost anywhere else. That being said, I think it's great he's back practicing and I hope we keep him here unless we can get a second rounder for him (in the event a starter somewhere goes down) or we use him in a trade for a player - maybe a LT or QB...