2020 Our Year For Sure

...for some other team. Sorry.

Its been a while since you could call the Bills predictable. For years now, they've been botching their most obvious decisions. I'm not talking about a decision like replacing JP Losman with Trent Edwards...I'm talking about decisions that unite nearly all observant followers of the team on one side. Decisions that were far simpler than those in charge made them out to be, and which were plainly obvious to anyone interested in seeing the Buffalo Bills rebuilt successfully. Decisions like prioritizing the offensive line, rather than bringing in scraps from other teams, like your Tutan Reyes' or your Bennie Andersons. Decisions like acquiring playmakers in the middle of your defensive front. For a long time, a three-year stint from an aging Sam Adams was the only serious attempt to do so. Decisions like building a core group consisting of young players rather than retread veterans, who would give your team only a small window before leaving behind a position that would need to be reloaded. Free agency would come and go, 1st and 2nd round draft picks would come and go, and we'd all hold our breath over and over again hoping this team was finally serious about getting better. Opportunity would pass us by, pick after pick would be wasted, and we'd come away disappointed year after year. Enter Marv Levy and Dick Jauron. We held our breath in their first draft, and finally were not disappointed: we spent three draft picks- yes, we did what was needed- to acquire perhaps the last potential impact DT remaining on the board. The result of which is not yet known, but the concept is difficult to refute. We held our breath again during the following season's free agency period, and again, we were strangely satisfied with the results: Buffalo spent over $74 million in total to fix a then-woeful offensive front. The result of which was the 11th fewest sacks allowed in 2007. We held our breath yet again during this season's free agency period, and many of us were simply blown away when Buffalo acquired 3-time Pro Bowl DT Marcus Stroud to anchor their defensive front. The offensive and defensive lines had finally been stocked. The thorn in the Bills' side that the previous management had ignored for years had at last been addressed. Are Buffalo's lines perfect? Absolutely not. But both units have been stocked with brand name players, and both units have without refutation been brought at least to a level of competency. So Buffalo felt comfortable turning their gaze to their other needs. Even the most obvious courses of action will have their detractors...on a personal note, I was one of the more outspoken of those who didn't think Buffalo needed a cornerback. But when the Bills went on the clock in the 2008 NFL draft, many obvious picks that could have addressed arguably more glaring needs (like a pass rusher off the edge, for instance) were off the board. If Buffalo's value board is an accurate representation of future NFL performance, their selection of Leodis McKelvin in the 1st round will indeed be a wise one. And we all knew what Buffalo ought to have been targeting with their next pick. We all knew what the glaring need was that stuck out like a sore thumb. But we had been through this before. We had seen this team fail to address it's most obvious of needs, wasting opportunity after opportunity, season after season, wading through a seemingly endless state of mediocrity. The prospects who could fill the role of the big wide reciever, who could give us the help in the red zone and the compliment to Lee Evans we so badly needed began to dwindle. The Bills came on the clock for their 2nd round selection with three names on the board their faithful fans had agreed upon: Limas Sweed, James Hardy, and Malcolm Kelly. I don't know about the rest of you. But when the 'current selection' notice started flashing on the marquee, I did what the Bills had conditioned me to do for years. I did the only thing I knew how to do. I held my breath. And in the few moments leading up to the revelation of the pick, I nervously repeated the words, "Sweed or Hardy, Sweed or Hardy, Sweed or Hardy..." I did not believe Buffalo would do what I wanted them to do. What I, and nearly all of my fellow fans, believed they needed to do. After all, considering this team's track record over the last 10 years...how could I? And when "James Hardy, WR, Indiana" was revealed as the pick, I could enjoy one alleviating exhale. Finally, I realized the days when we'd pick a Willis McGahee, with a Travis Henry on our roster and an Eric Steinbach on the board were finished. The slate had finally been cleaned, the page finally turned. And what did they do with their next pick? The Bills went out and found the very thing I was so disappointed we were unable to get in the 1st round...they got me my edge rusher. Considering their three-year history, one could say the Bills now have a tendency to actually address their most glaring needs. That sounds elementary, but it is a vast difference from how the franchise had previously been run, and a change that Bills fans can revel in. If nearly all observers of the team can see a certain course of action is best, you can bet those in charge can see it, too. In a way, the Bills have become predictable. As predictable as their fellow NFL franchises, and as predictable as you can be in the topsy-turvy, cutthroat, 24/7 world of the NFL. They're predictable, and I'm loving it. I don't feel the need to hold my breath anymore.

I really like the current home unis. They look sleek and modern without being too noisy, and they're more or less our classic colors. Most of us agree the road unis are a mess, though, so I'd love to see them use the 90s whites on the road again. Since they both use the same helmet, I don't see the problem with mixing and matching two unis when they're both pretty modern anyway.

There's no doubt we need depth along the offensive line. Jason Whittle, Duke Preston and Kirk Chambers just don't cut it.

Well said, Tip.

That did become pretty clear when Leodis was thinking of something to say, and the host blurted, "Well...maybe Deion Sanders?"

Yeesh, give the guy some time. With all the turnover we've (quite necessarily) had, its a wonder he's kept the team competitive. He's done a fine job here. The offensive deficiencies on his track record you astutely point out ARE worrisome. You can hope that can be chalked up to poor assistants and poor quarterbacks, but this can only go on so long without he himself being held responsible. I believe there are more pieces in place now than he's had in any other season in Buffalo, so we'll see. I think we'll both agree this is an important year for him, and that may be an understatement.

Why all the hate for Jauron? I'm not trying to be a smartass, I'm genuinely interested. He's given me reason for hope since he's gotten here, as it feels like he's turned this franchise around from the hellhole it was when he got here. It feels as if the ball is rolling in the right direction.

If there can be interceptions, how can the QB not matter?

Completely agree. They need to at least be put on the "competing for a spot" list.

I'd certainly hope not...Parrish's punt returns are almost unquestionably one of the best things about this team. Break out the tar and feathers if April takes him out of there.

The recievers who talk trash would be my guess.

I think first priority should be updating your handle...BDW2008 seems suitable.

WR, DE, TE, FS, C?

The Colts, Giants, Jaguars, Browns, Steelers, Seahawks, Titans and Buccaneers all had winning records last year. Seven of those 8 were 10-6 or better.

I'd say McGee would be somewhere around 15th-20th, and Greer would be somewhere around 45th-50th, making him a middle-of-the-pack #2.

Or maybe they think they've fixed the issue, adding Stroud, S. Johnson, Denney and Ellis? Call me skeptical about the Bills' pass rush...but I'm not the one in charge. I think chances are they believe the rush will be much-improved.

Someone forgot to get Mr. Polian that memo, I suppose.

I feel completely justified in expecting McKelvin to start by opening day in year 2, and expecting him to be a top-10 NFL corner by year 4. My view is that this pick came at a position where the Bills already had 2 solid starters and a good nickel back. In order for the pick to be justified, McKelvin has to be significantly better than Greer. The above expectations are the only way for that to be the case, in my opinion, so unfortunately the expectations being put on the kid are pretty steep ones. If he's just another Terrence McGee (in other words a solid starter), the pick doesn't make sense to me. He needs to be something special, or the pick was botched.

Um...McGee needs to return to his 2006 form? The form that got him benched? He didn't regress last season, he finally established himself. You got this completely backwards. He's not a "stop-gap type," he's a long-term starting cornerback. One of the few good things about the McKelvin pick is that I don't have to read about people whining about cornerbacks anymore when we have no pass rush. Please, at least give me that.

We have five corners and draft another? It's rediculous. This should have been all offense after the first round. I agree with the other guy. Get ready to see a lot of the defense this year.

Regardless of how much money they make, if they continue to fail to produce a pass rush, competition must be brought in. We can't just continue with an anemic pass rush because we gave these guys decent contracts.

Can you post the scouting report?

I mean Guy and Modrak, the true 'draft guys.'