From the ugly beginnings of the slam fest, I kept pointing out:
In 2008 after 5 games Trent was rated in the top 5 QB's and the Bills were firing on all cylinders. Then it was one disaster after another and he never seemed to regain the poise that he had shown. The potential was there, but he had very little in way of a supporting cast and an anemic coaching staff.
Mid level NFL players were just about interchangeable and except for the 2 or 3 marquis players on any given team, coaching was THE key. I reiterated what Bum Phillips said about Don Shula, "He can take his'n and beat your'n, and then take your'n and beat his'n." That's coaching, not players. MIA.
A good coach maximizes what he has to work with and brings out the best in his players. He forms the schemes around the player's abilities and puts them in the best position to succeed. That was MIA.
A good coach motivates his players. That's what good management does. Different coaches have different ways of motivation. But there has to be motivation from the top and that was completely MIA.
I had pretty much given up on Roscoe. That seems to have been a mistake...we will see a good deal more of him this year and I hope I was dead wrong on that.
I had Hardy as a bust.
I was, and still am, calling for trading Lynch while he was worth something. I wish they had kept Joique Bell and traded Lynch.
I wasn't delirious about the choice of Nix as GM.
I didn't think the Bills would get Shanahan or Cowher.
I wasn't thrilled with Gailey at the beginning, but the more I saw and heard, the more I liked what he brought to the team. I don't think he will be here for more than 2-3 seasons, but I do think he will lay the foundation for a smarter, more disciplined team when the Bills move on.
I thought Poz was too slow and not instinctive enough. I still do. I really want him to be a great player, but I don't think he is capable of more than what we've seen so far.
Ditto for Demetrius Bell.
I thought David Nelson would make the team from the moment they selected him.
I thought (hoped) that AVP would turn out to be a better OC than he did. I think he was handcuffed by Jauron.
I thought Schonert was arrogant and egotistical.
I was, and will always be, forever grateful to Ralph Wilson for everything he has done to bring the Bills into existence and keep them in Buffalo.
I said that Gailey would have this team playing harder, smarter and more disciplined, and that by the end of the season, no team will be looking forward to playing the Bills
Now, that being said.....it's time to get this season started and I will let loose with the same words I yell when I launch for a bass tournament:
NO PRISONERS!!!!!