JOE IN HAMPTON ROADS

In 1986 I got into the NFL and had to pick a team to follow. In Eastern North Western PA it was Steelers or Browns, maybe Eagles. But I picked Buffalo, because they were 2-14 with no where to go but up. I hardly knew it at the time, but the Bills had a few things going for them: They just picked up a smart QB from the extinct USFL named Jim Kelly. He looked like he might be good. They fired their HC midway through the season and hired Marv Levy. They just picked up a monster defensive lineman in the draft named Bruce Smith. They put together a solid offensive line anchored by Center Kent Hull. They were soon to draft a terrific RB in Thurman Thomas. After 2-14 in 86, Bills went 7-8 then 12-4. The rest is history. An optimist could see a lot of parallels in the 85/86 Bills and the 2010/2011 Bills. Fitz is no Jim kelly, but he's smart and capable. Chan is no Marv Levy - or is he? Dareus has potential to be HOF. Wood is a great Center and the O-line is getting better. Fred Jackson is a franchise RB. Could we be a draft or two away from the Super Bowl? BUT . . . is ownership committed to winning? We seem to see an endless cycle of poor drafts, FA wiffs, and letting our best players go when they get too expensive to keep. Bill Polian ran the late 80s Buffalo Bills . . . does Nix have the authority to build a champion, and if so can he make it work? Looking for your thoughts, TBD . . .

I have to admit I underestimated Spiller. Not as good as Freddo but better than I thought. Surely we'll trade him for a low pick. Agreed. Pick your lineman, O or D, that could have made a bigger impact starting last year.

Always love Corey Mac. Need to use him more.

I hope you're right Doc, but time is running out . . . next year is Buddy's third year, if things go badly next year Ralph will fire him and Chan to appease the fans and we will start this whole cycle again.

I think we mostly agree: blowing it up is counterproductive, we need to have some strong drafts, we need to do more in FA. I'm just not that confident we can pull off the last two under current ownership.

Yup, and don't forget to add, anytime a player starts getting very good, we trade him away for a draft pick rather than write a new contract that will eat into the salary cap. Not meaning to be a doomsayer, we are better off now than under TD and DJ, but blowing up the team isn't going to solve our problems.

I'll grant you a GOOD draft can add depth, but we have so many misses I don't see how we can do it without major FA acquisisitions. This year's draft was better than most, but we need to do better if we are going to continue to go way under the cap in FA.

All true Doc, but the lack of depth can only be addressed in FA, and we have avowed a strategy of "rebuilding through the draft" (see my post above about keeping the team minimally competetive at the lowest cost). Without depth, we're going to see the cycle occur every year, fast start by young talent and then hit a wall when the first string starts getting hurt.

The only way for this team to win, is for Ralph to sell the team to someone committed to winning. Everything the FO does is calculated to keep the team minimally competetive at the lowest possible cost.

I was toatlly with you until the last word . . . a little harsh? Although I did laugh until I could hardly breathe.

I love Roosevelt. If we somehow win that catch will have been huge.

what was that??

Searcy made a play!

one of our guys looked like he got hurt after the stop

Nice stop!

best chance to win is a turnover in Titans territory.

rub the ball!

Thanks, was on the road for awhile & missed that.

where did Choice come from? UFA?

Spiller having a great game. Trade him for a fourth!

why do the refs consistently hate us?

I stand corrected!!

yeah but they won/t reverse the call on the field.

raelly?? From TD to touchback? Should he have not picked up the ball?

wow I think that was an accident. Heads up play by Smith.