wilcoam

Very unlikely For our 2017 Bills to yield a top 5 D you'd have to have almost no injuries which is very unrealistic And 9 of the 11 starters would have to have either career years and or really exceed expectations Sure, our D line 'might' be great if not solid Yes, if Ragland becomes the game changer some think he is 'maybe' our LB's exceed off season expectations However if you take off your Bills homerism cap we have to have one the worst ranked secondaries in the NFL Or at least a secondary made up of 50% former back up depth players, and raw rookie, and a 3rd year player coming of a bad 2016 Sure, maybe they greatly exceed expectations as a unit, anything is possible However let's be honest here, this is a team that finished 3rd worst in the NFL vs the run last year Yes, we have 2 new potential run stoppers in Ragland/Hodges, and a a whole new secondary, a new HC, a new DC, and a new scheme I hope we will better this year as we cannot be much worse But top 5, C'mon, even the 2014 D was barely top 10 vs the run, while the back 7 was #1 vs the pass If you're a betting person, I wouldn't recommend putting any real money down on that kind of projection, sorry the odds are not with you, lol jc

First off, Buff finished 28th 2 consecutive years in D DVOA, not 15th in 2015 Secondly its a fact some players have good and or bad years under completely different systems You'd silly to just write folks like Bradham and Cockrell just because a HC/DC like Rex thinks they don't fit his system It would be equally premature to just write off Preston because he played poorly in Rex's system Preston is superb depth behind Ragland Maybe even our best depth player on the whole unit where player D depth is a serious issue this year My only issue is Frazier say's we need 3 LB's, sure, but if you are playing 65% in nickel or dime then you only need 3 LB's a mere 35% of the time Most of the time it'll be just 2 LB's, and Lorax would so far coming into camp be the best LB vs the pass Now Brown could be that #2 guy when you are not in a run formation with Ragland/Hodges jc

Gotta love the optimism and I don't disagree that there strong propabiities that our passing game improves in 2017 That TT takes a step forward with new coaching And based on our running game we end up with a top 8-10 offense A healthy Sammy will make a huge impact, Dawkins/New FB's might make an impact We will if see if losing Gilly/Woods, new blocking scheme, hurts However I cannot share the optimism about the probabilities our D is going to improve greatly Just because Ryan has been banished Let alone pronoucniations of being anywhere near top 10 Isn't this a message board boast every off season? The reality is too many talented D bodies left or were released The expectation is just about everyone has to exceed how they performed in 2016 and at the same time stay healthy So too much uncertainty in our back 7 to share the glee But sure if Ragland become a game changing MLB If Hodges is the run stopper he was last year If this very inexperienced secondary all gels due to coaching and scheme Hyde suddenly becomes a starter he hasn't been to date Poyer doesn't suck, Darby returns to year 1 form, White emerges, Seymour becomes a great nickel Anything is possible, including the playoffs, but it's asking an awful awful lot to happen all at the same time No doubt we will better than 30th vs the run with Ragland/Hodges, safety changes, scheme change I can also see our front 4 improving on our 2016 17th QB pressure ranking to maybe top 10 But at the same time I'm just not convinced our 21st ranked 2016 pass D will improve But rather it might unfort decline, PFF just rated it as one the worst in the NFL Sorry... jc

I disagree, some facts Under Ryan last year we were 17th in QB hurries So statistically speaking our pass rush wasn't bad Neither was our pass D DVOA which was rated about 21st The specific problem was our pourous run D which was 3rd worst in the NFL I'm just not so certain changing the scheme and having a new HC and or DC automatically solves the run D issue Unless Ragland and Hodges change everything, here's hoping they do Will we improve the pass rush this year? Maybe, again 17th was pretty decent And most pundits, including PFF rate our secondary to be in the bottom of the league, they expect it to be worse than 2016, not better Again they could be wrong, perhaps scheme and coaching compensate, but nothing logically points to being anywhere near a top 10 unit jc

I think we all hope Ragland will be the Bills run stopping MLB for years and year and years That being said until that occurs, or if that occurs, Brown is a decent asset For both in case of injury to Ragland, and as a backup OLB, and a 3rd down MLB vs the pass In these days of nickel and dime D's I see a role for Brown and one in this scheme he might excel in I'm just not sure he is an NFL 3 down starter jc

Look our Bills sucked vs the run the last 2 seasons, if not but one year, over the last decade, so the hope is he is the one game changing run stopper we have lacked for now over a decade - You can at least undertsand the hype But yes until he steps on that field and performs, he is just another rookie project, but the one potential new player that could be the difference this year between winning 6 and or 9 games plus, clearly a new top performing MLB is a big key to turning around this D and this football team, just as easily if he is no better than Preston Brown, just another draft pick we traded up for that underperforms, it could go either way, just like the 2017 season... jc

I agree, since according to overthecap, our Bills had the 3rd highest player turnover ratio in the NFL, and all mostly on the defensive side, with a new coach, and new OC/DC, there is little continuity to be able to say with assurity how we will perform this year Yes, there is more continuity on the offensive side, especially on the O-line, TE, Shady, so some will claim will we have continue to have a dominant run game, but to me me when you change HC, OC, blocking schemes, there's no guarantee it will as effective as 2016 On the D side, there is no continuity whatsoever, which is wonderful considering how bad our run D was, its a good thing we have a new scheme, a new HC, new DC, but all this talk of being a top 10 D because we made those changes seems awfully premature - Look moving Hughes and Shag to the line should yield better results stopping the run, and I am excited about Ragland and Hodges in the lineup, there's a superb argument in claiming we should improve on being 30th, but top 10, sorry I don't think so, unless Ragland is a game changing player And the least continuous group of players from 2016 to 2017 is our secondary, which by the way was the best unit of our D in 2016, finishing 21st or so vs the pass, obviously they were a liability vs the run, but the wholesale changeover results in a group with maybe the least starting experience in the entire NFL - It just doesn't breed confidence in 'top 10', its more like I hope the front 7 can apply enough pressure so we don;t get exposed while they learn the scheme and the game kind of transitional feeling.... I'm just saying there are so many player changes this year, its hard to project winning 10 games, in fact I think that's a low probability, at the same time there is enough continuity on offense that it seems unlikely we would only win 4-6, the majority opinion of this being a 7-9 win team makes logical sense jc

Well every team also passed on Zay and Dawkins too, both players we traded up for, just like Ragland, so I guess our Bills better start shopping to replace those unknown rookies too, lol Yes there is no assurance Ragland will be the run stopping saviour MLB we've also been dreaming about the last decade, he's an untested rookie, but at least he's a 1st round talent, who only fell into the 2nd round because of an injury, so probability wise he's a stronger bet to stop the run than say Orr, who is not only a full year removed from playing the in the NFL, had horrific PFF ratings vs the run the last year he suited up Sure Lorax, Ragland, and Hodges, with Preston backing up, may not be an all pro starting LB set but I've seen worse trio's going into training camp, and since I expect we will be in nickle and dime 65% of the time, these 3 will likely only be on the field together just 35% of the time, I just don't see a great argument for spending coin on Orr, unless he plays WR or safety, where I think we have much bigger starting issues... jc

The Divisional games followed by the Conference games have always been the most important games on the schedule and always will be until such time as the way in which you qualify the playoffs changes No surprise during this drought the Bills have always struggled both in their division and in the AFC, usually by losing winnable games in the fist half of the season, last year it was loses vs the Jets and Ravens to start the season, the year b4 the Jacksonville fiasco in the UK, in 2014 that Chiefs home game If you believe these Bills are a potential playoff team, and I havn't come across a single media outlet or an NFL pundit who thinks they are, they have to take care off business, especially at home vs the 'weaker' teams, and vs DIV and the AFC so to me critical must win games early on are the Jets and Broncos, and then road matches vs Jets & Bengals, to those are 4 must wins, that assures a minimum .500 record through the first half, and being 4-0 in the AFC early, and its no biggie if you lose vs the Raiders and Bucs jc

Where I disagree with folks here is I don't see how simply installing a new scheme, new coaching, and a new secondary automatically creates a top 10 or top 12 D, the media, right or wrong see's it the complete opposite Now I'm not saying folks here are necessarily wrong but just pointing out in the last month Buffalo media, PFF, lots of other sources, have written pieces about issues for the Bills secondary in 2017, for example PFF gave us a rating in the high 20's That does not suggest we will see anything close to a top 10 overall D, and those concerns seem to be ignored in message board forums Yes, I'm glad Ryan is gone, and I think our D future beyond 2017 is bright, but until we get more experienced premium talent on the back end, or they gel, or scheme and match override what is talent on paper, and what is a lack of NFL starting experience, this could more a transitional year in our secondary, they may limit the unit's overall rating and success, and our ability to win games, after-all you play in nickel or dime, like 65% of the time jc

Denver, who are not projected by most to be a playoff team in 2017, on the road, and in Buffalo, IMO is a winnable game Then again I have to laugh at the thought that Brady and Bellicheck at looking at our new revamped D and in nay way being really concerned, lol Last year they had to look at getting passes completed with pro bowl Zack, Gilmore, Robey-Colemen, and Graham on the field This year it'll be Hodges, a rookie, the Browns injured first year starting safety, and Green Bay's backup CB/S, lol Scheme aside helping what looks like on paper to be paper thin in talent, and lacking NFL starting exp, I would not be so cocky Maybe this unheralded group surprises by the time we take on the Pats late in the season but its not something that's assured What is more assured unfort is Brady completing alot of passes regardless jc

I don't have the same expectation as many here that by simply changing the HC, the DC, and the scheme, that it indicates we are gonna go from being a mid 20's overall D to top 10.... Sure, I like all the coaching changes, and the scheme change, but at the end of the day, its the on field talent matched with the coaching and scheme that produces a top 10 D - And sorry I don't see the talent addition that suggests this big upgrade is gonna happen year one I think there's a better case to be made that we lost talent rather than we gained it on our D, and the back 7, especially the secondary is in major flux Hey, I'd love to be wrong, I totally agree that a top 10 D matched with the potential of our offensive run game makes for winning football, like Thurman I am just not convinced by what transpired this off season that we will be there in 2017, IMO just too many question marks surrounding Hughes, Ragland, Shaq, the 3rd OLB, and the entire secondary, way more question marks than say our offense, because the O is more continuous and appears to have had way less player and scheme changes, though there are changes there too which bring uncertainty jc

Good article, I love PFF Now this may rile up folks but its true The Bills under Pegs to date continually exhibit a lack of on field continuity Think about it 4 yrs of ownership and there's been 3 mgmt regimes So those who thought our 2014 D would be just as good in 2015 were dead wrong Looking back there was a lack of continuity Mgmt changes, scheme changes, minor player changes, all had a major impact, the end result is history I'll project the same thing will unfort occur will the Bills 2017 run game There is a lack of continuity from 2016 You cannot change HC's, OC's, blocking schemes, make player changes, and it not have an effect True, its possible the run game could be even better But the odds are all the changes will result in it not being as effecient as it was last year Then again I expect with a healthy Sammy, shiny new WR's, different blocking on passing downs, you might see an improved pass attack If I am correct maybe it'll balance itself out And I hope I'm wrong, I'm totally down with winning with a great ground game and a better D I'm just not yet convinced with all the changes the 2017 Bills will offer either or I mean do you see an easy 10 wins here with this offense or defense? jc

It should be noted, we TRADED up, to acquire our current MLB, who in college was a stud vs the run True he has yet to play a down in the NFL However relegatting him to a backup role to instead play a guy who has been outta football for a year And who was very poor vs the run, is sorry, plain crazy That would be like going out and signing Brian Harttine and sitting down Jay Zones You don't trade up to draft these players to sit them on the bench jc

Sorry I'm not all that big on Orr Not that PFF ratings are the end all and be all but he was rated very very poorly vs the run last year I'll take the run stuffing potential of Ragland over Orr today and twice on Sunday And I'll note Hodges PFF run rating was very very high So for the poster here who said Orr could be HC Sean Kuchley's Uh no, please note Luke's PFF run rating was double that of Orr's, lol Yeah, no thanks... jc

I think fans spend way too much time going over the Fitz years, the fact is our Bills didn't just release Fitz, instead they offered to re-work his contract so he would remain a Bill - Fitz wouldn't renogotiate so they released him - In the end he signed with TENN for very little money, backup money IMO, when he likely would have still been the Bills starting QB the following year, with Manual the backup, and making more $$$$$ Its the same with CJ Spiller - DW offered him a FA contract, I believe in the 4M per annum range, it was Spiller who made the decision to instead sign with the Saints, its not like Bills didn't want him, its more Spiller decided to somewhere else So for all the fans who say the Bills didn't want Fitz anymore, I don't think think that's necessarily true, its Fitz in the end who decided he wanted to play somewhere else, as is his right, the rest is history - I don't regret the move, there are many others I wish the Bills didn't make, but that's not one of em.... jc

It's not the attack, sacks, and pressure I am concerned about with group, its whether they can help slow down the run, and stop it, b4 the ball carrier gets to our linebackers, and or turns the corner, stop the run, and our D will surprise folks in 2017, don't, and its gonna be a hellish year jc

I think most Bills fans fell a sense of continuity on offense as there was very little change regarding starters from 2016 to this upcoming season - What we lost in losing Woods, Goodwin and others, we gained in getting a hopefully Sammy, Zay, Dawkins, and Dimarco - We should be able to run the ball successfully, we have an above average O-line, and a stud RB, we should get lots of first downs, score points, and be a top 10-15 offense, despite a poor array of wide outs, and a middling QB However the reality is we saw a major non-continuous overhaul on our back 7 D this off season so its hard to predict/project if these changes will result in more wins, less, or the same - Clearly if Ragland can stop the run, and Hyde can become an NFL starter, and Shag/Hughes can rush the passer and hold the edge, the future look very bright, and we could surprise many in 2017, maybe winning 9 games plus But by the same token, if Hyde only turns out to be what he was last year, a backup on a subpar secondary, and Ragland plays like a rookie, and Shag does not develop quicker, and Hughes can't stop the run, this could be a rather loooong year with more loses than wins because we still won't have the kind of team D that can overcome not having a better starting QB Its not being negative to say I'm still not convinced we win more than 8, the reality is I like what HC Sean brings, but we still need an upgrade in on field talent, especially Q, WR's, CB's, Safeties, LB's, to go with the better coaching - But hey maybe TT has a better year, the D come together in the 2nd half, and folks here are correct, its a thin line between winning 7 and winning 10, breaks go your way, its in the realm of probability jc

https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-ranking-all-32-offensive-line-units-heading-into-the-2017-season/ That's a great rating, 10th, and exactly where I thought we'd be, not 20th, which is ridiculous Plus for those on the old BBMB, and here, who claim Eric had an off year PFF didn't single him out as such IMO the O-line is a huge strength of this present team As a unit they likely rank higher than any other except perhaps the RB's because of LM jc

I think HC Sean could be a long term keeper too but I readily admit that opinion is based on pure off season emotion However I differ in the opinion that as a GM he has made moves that will result in more wins in 2017 Yes, I like the switch back to a 4-3 but scheme alone will not add to our win total until such time as we get better talent I don't like our D FA haul and I think we lost more on D in FA than we gained Worse we will not be compensated in 2018 for the losses I am skeptical that the backup DB on a below mediocre team vs the pass is an upgrade at starting safety So I don't like our safety situation nor the starting back 7 on our D Hope I'm wrong, no question improving our D will lead to increased wins, but I don't see the upgrade everybody is hyping Our O is pretty much intact from last year I do see an upgrade at FB and the O-Line and I like our draft picks Though by the old standard chart we didn't get enough value back in either of the first two trades And we are short proven quality NFL #2 and #3 WR's though for now we look healthier all around That will surely change I'm just not seeing how any of the off season moves gets us to 10 wins + NFL pundits and experts agree, most put us at 6-7 wins PFF did project we would finish 7th in the AFC at 8-8 However some say we will be battling the Jets and others for 1st overall pick next year Not saying any of these folks are correct, I hope they are all wrong and we go 9-7 I'm just saying very few see our off season moves as one's propelling us to the playoffs or playoff contention I get longterm the most impactful move is a new GM and a new HC so yes most of us can;t help be bullish on the future Just saying those moves aside, we still need upgrades in talent b4 I am equally bullish on a more positive W-L projection Like Shaw and Scott, I say show me the wins, on the field, during the season B4 anyone can claim we had a decent off season and we made all the right moves, and mgmt knows what they are doing jc

My JK seats are 3rd row aisle on the 45 yard line so I actually only get a smidgen of the radiant heating but the sightlines are beyond spectacular and because there is no overhang you feel the full effect of being outside in good weather, esp in Sep and Oct, and the yearly summer game in Nov My only complaint is that on that side of the field sometimes the sun really bears down on you....(first world complaint) The fave thing about my section is that I have a longtime season ticket holder right behind me, when someone stands at the beginning of the play, he yells quite loudly, 'DOWN IN FRONT' and he is very very effective, almost shaming the stander, he kind of trains the newbies, anyone who was given tickets for that game, and other teams fans, I love this guy, he really makes the game day exp that much better, lol, he also knows not to do it on key 3rd down D plays in the 2nd half, as he stands himself.... jc

There can be a bit of a wait to get out of lot 6 depending on the game, on one hand you get out quicker than most of the stadium and to your car very fast, on the other hand its just 2-3 lanes of exit and you have to real careful of all pedestrians My exp is, say as compared to the private lots like the Hammer one, and all the other Bills lots I've parked in over the years, it still exits quicker, on some games, you are literally out in minutes, others not so much jc

The analysis backed everything I've been saying the past 2 years The D was the primary difference between the potential to win 10 games plus or not Its primary issue was against the run and especially in 2016 However a change in coaching and scheme, while a good start, does not necessarily automatically fix that You have to have the talent on the field, and that magical fit, to implement the new system Unfort we lost 5/12 starting players from 2016 in Zack, Gilmore, Robey, Williams, and Graham In return we gained Ragland, White, ?????, Hyde, & Poyer Yes if Ragland is the real deal, and the backup Hyde, from one of the worst secondaries in 16, lives up to board hype, we could surprise On the other hand it could be a very long year for our transitional back 7 jc

Longtime Jim Kelly Clubber who also came in from the 300 level 50 yard line Its a totally different game day experience While I miss the noise level and intensity of the fans in the 300 level it is replaced by increased safety and great service Very few drunks and never seen a fight Fans are much friendlier with visiting team fans In seat alcohol, beer, coffee, and hot choc service all game The food, especially the carvery and desert options, is a cut above, some of the best sports food I've ever had Radiant seat heating is great Entering the staduim cuts your cue in line by about half Parking in lot 6 is sweet The extra expense aside its a quasi luxury game day experience jc

It is indeed very refreshing however because I'm a lifelong Bills fan I am still very cautious What looks like in the off season of the right approach and saying all the right things means little If the roster moves don't work out as anticipated and they don't win games And or there is not a significant improvement in year 2 if year 1 strikes out I still think there may have been too much roster turnover especially in the secondary Our pass D was at least average, it was our run D that needed more to be blown up Though I give em points for recognizing our WR's situation needed a complete overhaul just not sure they did enough I know patience Look I like the extra 1st next year However a free 3rd and free 4th would be even better if we are only gonna win 6-7 games this season jc