Bflojohn

I think in a very odd way, Marv MAY profit from Tom Donahoes' penchant for making the "splashy" picks in April. It is possible that Levy inherited a skill position squad that, with the proper tweeks, can become an offensive "show" under the likes of Steve Fairchild. Conversely, the "D" was the element that Marv and his crew targeted first and foremost due to the lack of playmakers ( Example, 3rd down efficiency!) so he set out to increase the likelihood (down the line- a year or 2) that this team would be somewhat like what the Chicago Bears are NOW!! Look at the blueprint people.... St. Louis Rams and the Chicago Bears! Fairchild and Fewell are being directed to install the version that the Bills will run that essentially takes both sides of the ball into exciting realms, IMO! The execution of the plan is in its early stages, but I think I see the overall scheme and I LIKE IT! Good thinks come to those who wait... tough concept for starving football fans, but a recipe for success nontheless!

While were at it don't forget DT! I'd throw some money at either Lance Briggs or Cato June, IF they're available because this "D" needs experienced hands on this defense. Both LB's play this style with their respective teams. bringing in a rookie LB is fine, but I'd hold off until round 2 or 3. In free agency, the DT I'd target would be Terdell Sands of the Oakland Raiders. I'd suppose that he wouldn't mind escaping that zoo atmosphere!! The word on him is that they (Raiders) couldn't keep this guy on the bench anymore because he's a monster in the middle. I do expect the Raiders to try HARD to keep him, though! I'll keep touting Leonard Davis because he is best suited for OLG. He is a man out of position at OLT... IF the Bills were to land "BIG" (his nick-name!), he would be awesome next to Jason Peters. The Bills could run left all game with those two.

I LIKE THE WAY YOU THINK!! In my assessment, Brett Favre will put up more points than you've estimated. I also don't think the Bills will be as prolific scoring as you seem to think. I,too, see this game as being a bit closer.... Oh, say, Green Bay Packers 24 Buffalo Bills 28

The one thing that I dwell on is that most of these guys went to poor teams, and in some cases, those teams were perrenially BAD! The formula has to be a rebuilding of the franchise(s) in the trenches, then maybe the QB has a fighting chance at success. In J.P.'s case, is anyone ready to say that he is failing with a quality team around him? Give it time people, Rome wasn't built in a day!

First off, Laurence Maroney was a late first rounder, #21, I believe, so the argument that the Bills will not get a player later on in the 1st round are faulty. The rest of your post is optimistic, and I love that! Why NOT? The schedule is either extremely hard or presents the Bills with very winnable games! 7-9 is possible, but 6-10 or 5-11 are more likely. With a rebuilding team, I'm O.K. with the losing IF the front office puts this curture of losing behind them!! I want the Bills to be major news in the offseason, both in free agency and in the draft.

Hold this thought and see us in, oh say, five years!!

Guys, do yourselves a favor and watch OLT Jake Long out of Michigan. He reminds me of another OLT from that school, Jumbo Elliott!! He will play in the NFL for 12 to 15 years and be a ROCK at OLT! He simply engulfs people, and I've seen him play 3 or 4 games this year. He is fast becoming my choice for the Bills in April '07....

Butler is NOT strictly a tackle, when the move was made to Pennington, Jauron stated that Brad Butler HAD BEEN WORKING at OG!! The #1 swing tackle HAS BEEN Pennington and they're rewarding him with a great effort in learning the techniques from Jim McNally and friends! I think Terrence Penningtons' rise up the depth chart is a GREAT story!!

Wow, the optimism on this board is uplifting gang!! Does anyone out there in the wilderness see a ray of hope? Personally, I am going to hitch my "wagon" (circling them, of course!) to Marv and the boys! Call me crazy.....

Maybe Tony Romo should go on E-bay... they have "it"!!!

Oh, and by the way, Goodell will say this sometime in the future.... " and with the 32nd pick of the 20__ draft the Buffalo Bills select _____!" Just call me optimistic!

I'll be the first to say this, so here goes.... the Buffalo Bills will be extremely active and will sign a top flight free agent the MINUTE the clock strikes 12:00 A. M., and they will pay market value and not get gouged by said player. I DO NOT believe in the "sky is falling" adherance some fans pander to. The 2007 off season will be chocked full of great Bills stories.... bet on it!!!

This is getting dizzying in it's never ending tit for tat comparisons and definitions. First off, quit comparing apples to oranges people! Different teams and TOTALLY differing results! Define the criteria of whether or NOT Jonathan Paul Losman is or subsequently isn't making "it" as an NFL signal-caller. My personal criteria is rooted in the belief that until J.P. can be seen setting up in a secure pocket (better O-line) with a bonified #2 reciever and a pass catching TE, say ala a Heath Miller type, then all the bets are off! Talent is my critical measure for making a judgement on player A, B, or C and it is my belief that this staff of Marv Levy and Dick Jauron etal, are COMPLETELY aware of the NEED to surround this guy with MORE TALENT! The suffling of the O-line is "window dressing" for the next act of free agency and the 2007 draft, IMO.

Now me.... I'm always looking for the 4 or 5 game winning streak that shocks the football world! Oh well!

I think that sometimes this can be attributed to coaching philosophies! If the current braintrust doesn't have that type of confidence in him yet, then he will remain a "game manager" at this point in time. I do believe that it is HIGH TIME to take the kid gloves off of JP and see if he is indeed capable of what you speak!! I must tell you however, I was thinking this same thing against the Lions, and really thought that that game could have been a glimmer of things to come IF JP had gotten his hands on that ball with 2:00 minutes(or more) to go..... I guess it really is a team game. I'm still upset that the "D" didn't give him a chance!

Here's a point to ponder about Drew Brees. Go check Street and Smiths, or Lindys' or ANY magazine or paper that had a prediction for the San Diego Chargers the year they went 12-4 (2004, I believe). Everyone. and I mean Charger fans too thought that that team was one of the WORST teams in the NFL. The O-line was HIGHLY suspect and Brees was coming off a season where he did NOTHING to inspire the fan base. The franchise even drafted a 1st round QB in Phillip Rivers who was destined as Brees' heir-apparent! My point is that the "light" can and does "go on" for QB's at various stages and in a contemporary sense Drew Brees is a classic case that can be a measure for development at this time in NFL history. Note: Terry Bradshaw was extremely hurt by the Pittsburgh "faithful" and this bore out with his reluctance to EVER go back to Pittsburgh until, what.... last year?! Thomas "Hollywood" Hendeson is famous for his comment about spotting Terry the C and the A to spell cat! By the way, I'm ALL FOR building a DOMINATING team worthy of comparison to the 70's Pittsburgh Steelers! Wouldn't THAT be fun!!! Sub Note: YES, JP Losman could win with that type of team! Give it time people...

The preverbial "fly in the ointment" is that OLT DOES get the lions share of the money because they protect the Blind-side, which is exactly what Liberals ALWAYS MISS!! Sorry, couldn't resist! Love ya bro!!!

What a great article! Thank you for that jem. I have little regard for the innuendo at the end of the article, and tended to focus, as you did, on the vast potential of this youngster! I will assure you that scouts have aready taken notice of this type of talent because the "great ones" do come along every generation. I will admit I'd never heard a word about his game, but look forward to the time I can see him!! By the way, I'm assuming he's a freshman... Right or wrong??

Bills_fan, I didn't neccessarily pick Leonard Davis over Eric Steinbach! I'm simply using examples of players that may be available next offseason. Personally, Steinbach might very well be a better pick-up, but he is likely to be in Steve Hutchinsons' price range, so I say no way on that account!! I've seen Sands play and it is ALL in front of him! The Raiders may go the way of transitioning Sands if he's a UFA or tender him the highest offer in the offseason, making him virtually untouchable!! Daniel Graham, out of the possibles I mentioned could turn out to be the most viable candidate, but other teams will be vying for his services too!!

Interestingly, I've heard a story about Ralph Wilsons' hiring of Bill Polian. As the story was related back to me, Bill Polian upon his first evaluation of where the franchise stood (player personnel), he told Ralph that he wasn't neccessarily being cheap, but that he was overpaying for inferior talent! I liken this episode to the present day. In my mind, Ralph has turned to Marv Levy for just that type of honesty with him and a diligent e v a l of the status of ALL the players currently employed by the Buffalo Bills. Marv will be allowed, IMO, to weed out the malcontents and inferior talent and bring in what this team truly needs, and that is talent and character! Plain and simple!! As some of you say... Get r' done Marv!! I personally think he will.

I would make a play for Terdell Sands, DT, from the Oakland Raiders. He is a massive man who is still a bit raw, but the Raiders are compelled to play him because he has vast potential. If he pans out, you'd solve some of the NT woes this team has, and the 3-technique guys like Tripplett and McCargo could then flourish because they would only draw single blocks versus double-teams. Daniel Graham is supposedly a free agent and subtracting him from New England would be a win-win for him and the Buffalo Bills. He could be the main target from the TE position, as far as getting into the deep middle of the field for JP Losman. I think Leonard Davis is being played out of position by the Arizona Cardinals. His best position, by far, is as a road-grading OLG. His presence in Buffalo as a OLG would be welcome, IMO. Three players, some sound improvements!!

Disclaimer: I'm NOT a Wolverines fan, however, I'd take a good look at Jake Long, OLT in the first round along with Leon Hart, CB. I'd also look at Alan Branch, DT very closely too! Then pray that LaMarr Woodley, DE is around in round two (highly unlikely though!). They have a wealth of talent on that team and David Harris is a stud at ILB. There are other schools and players, but Michigan has a loaded roster of fine football talent available, IMO. I would trade myself into at least two of these players myself... winning program and a history of producing good Pros.

I'll wager that Drew has a "sudden urge" to rip the Dallas Cowboys merchandise to shreads here real SOOOON!!! I wonder what his kids will be wearing next year??

I'm always one who wonders what would have happened IF someone like JP Losman had gone to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2004 NFL Draft? I'd venture to say that his maturity level would NOT have been brought into debate nearly as often as they are with a woeful team called the Buffalo Bills! I, for one, would like to see him play a FULL season (preferably 2007) with a soon-to-be dominant O-line (it's NOT done overnight!) and a viable 2nd reciever and a legitimate pass catching TE, somewhat akin to say Jeremy Shockey or Heath Miller. Now, if he STILL comes out of that scenario looking dazed and confused, I'm ALL FOR PULLING THE PLUG!! By the way, other teams pay vastly more for QB's, so I think the Buffalo Bills, in the eventuality that JPL doesn't "pan out", can afford a free agent/ trade/ draft option for a bonified starter, without question!

Another offshoot of the shake-up is that Mike Gandy will be able to help Jason Peters in the transition from ORT to OLT. The twists and stunts are going to be handled better on that side. Chris Villarrial really has the tough task of playing next to Terrence Pennington, IMO. The Packers will try ever trick in the book to confuse TP in his first game starting in th Pros. Fowler and Villarrial will have to be sharp on November 5th. Playing 2 TE's would help greatly too! Three step drops early in this game could help the line find a rythym (sic). I think that there is a fairly good chance that the Bills could recieve a "lightning in a bottle" performance from Terrence, somewhat similar to the "suprise" Jason Peters was throughout last year. Now wouldn't that be NICE??? I'm with other fans here, whereby the Bills entire draft strategy could swing on the prospects of Peters and Pennington.... Wow, the future would be MUCH brighter with this coming to fruition and getting two road-grading OG's in 2007. (1 in free agency, 1 in the draft!)