BillsVet

Are the Saints 5 TDs better than Buffalo? Are the NYJ that much better than Buffalo? Are the Bills ascending or on the down swing? I see no evidence that even after acquiring Benjamin and having 10 days to prepare for NO that they're anything but bottoming out. People point to 5-4 as if that's good, except they've been thoroughly dominated 2 weeks in a row. I know they're 5-4. Does anyone think they all of sudden rip of 2 wins at the Chargers, and KC? Or that someone, perhaps Oakland or Baltimore, won't rise out of mediocrity and take the 6th spot in the playoff race.

They are 5-4 now, much like they were in 2008 and 2011 after 9 games. A swan dive is coming primarily because they're not fooling anyone anymore. Opponents have the solution to Taylor and know they can run on the defense. These two losses aren't flukes. They're a window into the remaining games of this season.

Beane and McD both have had a wide amount of freedom from Ownership to get their guys. Not unlike Rex, who was behind signing TT, trading for McCoy, Clay, Incognito, drafting Lawson, et al. The latest regime in the generation of fail has somehow managed to make more moves and ended up with the same result. We're going to learn whether McD is just a louder and younger version of DJ. Ownership may not be bright enough to hire a czar, but they'll know when they're being mocked for still having an inept organization with another talker, albeit quieter, HC. This roster is far thinner than most fans can admit. It's a good thing McBeane have all those draft picks because the roster still needs significant improvement. And finding lesser talented types who buy in when things are good isn't going to cut it in this league. DJ proved that when things were easier in the late "oughts."

You leave your defense on the field for 40+ minutes and they're going to get tired. It doesn't help when Try-hard can't read a defense after 7 (with 2+ starting) years in the NFL. He can't make basic throws, doesn't throw receivers open, gets happy feet when he feels slight pressure, and is essentially become a faster version of Trent Edwards. Tyrod will never be a sufficient passer in the league. Never.

By mid-season the pretenders typically begin to flame out as more teams have film on them and their lack of talent and/or depth is exposed. This team has heart, but it's not going to make up for a lack of talent at QB, on the OL, or a pass rush.

The bar was raised after a win at Atlanta and a home destruction of Oakland. It's time people started to expect to win as opposed to simply hoping. And playing the Jets (who BTW have Josh McCown starting at QB) shouldn't be a "hope" to win match up. Now, Buffalo has a four game stretch that will define their season and splitting those will be a tough task.

A first time HC without a lot of film on what he's doing has the element of surprise over opponents. Getting contributions from lesser heralded players is necessary to win, but talent wins out in the end because teams are going to take away what's working well. I'm very interested to see how McD adjusts in the second half. We're going to find out if they can keep getting the same type of performance as teams see more of what McD's doing.

You and I agreeing Kirby is getting to be a habit.

Buffalo was +9 in turnovers through their first 7 of 2011 (with Fitz throwing 7 picks in those games). This year it's +14, which I find hard to believe can be sustained. The WR corps back then was thin, much as it is now and neither the 2011 and 2017 should have/are banking on the QB to bring them from behind Big difference is the 2017 defense isn't the bend but don't break version they featured in 2011. At the same time, neither the 2011 or 2017 defenses were/are generating a lot of pass rush.

I've seen the "addition by subtraction" argument made numerous times after trades or players who hit UFA and it's never led to better teams. For McBean's sake they better go at least 9-7 in year one because not doing so might mean the house crashes in on them. Do fans have the patience to watch more young players be asked to play starting roles because their predecessors weren't motivated to play? Because with the loss of talent this year, they're going to need every single pick they've got. I get that there are some things from the past which aren't McBean's fault. Still, blowing everything up and winning simultaneously is a hard task to accomplish. If Buffalo takes a swan dive this year a la DJ 2008 and Chan 2011 it could get interesting.

Dick Jauron and Marv were trying to develop a culture as well. I recall the term "football character" frequently thrown around on this board like it was a guarantee to work. Only problem is culture needs to be balanced with talent. It should be concerning that Coach McD isn't motivating young wealthy men to play hard. Dareus had issues and we know he wasn't buying in. Good thing McBean is accumulating these draft picks. They're going to be using most of them now to fill needs at DT, LB, WR, RB, TE, and hopefully QB.

John Idzik says hello. So Billsy. Billy or Brandon? Because in Moneyball Billy doesn't watch all the games. Good opportunity for treadmill time.

Here's how I see this thread going with the two camps typically on this board: Non-homer: Belichick has 7 SB rings and his run with the Patriots is very impressive regardless of who you root for. Homer: Yeah, but he lucked into getting Brady and cheated to win the Super Bowls. Non-homer: He's a great coach and has made numerous solid personnel moves before this off-season. Homer: Yeah, but he lucked into getting Brady and cheated to win the Super Bowls. Non-homer: He won the Super Bowl last year and in 2014. Homer: Yeah, but he lucked into getting Brady and cheated to win the Super Bowls.

Aside from finding a QB, putting together a coherent team-building strategy, his relationships with HC's, and handing out bad contracts, he was a fine GM. Unfortunately he got fired.

Franchises more often than not miss at the QB position when your methodology consists of finding other team's unwanteds and not drafting anyone. Or, not taking a QB for years and then being desperate in a QB poor draft which forces you to take the best of a bad lot.

At this rate, Alan Branch will be in the league when Dareus is out. It's a lot easier being game ready at 22 not working hard. Doing so at 28 with 6 years in the league requires work.

Resource wise, DJ had a lot less to work with than Coach McD does now. Does anyone think Cordy Glenn, Jerry Hughes, and Marcell Dareus receive those contract extensions with Ralph/Littman/Smithers making decisions? To quote DJ, "it's hard to win in the NFL." And it's even harder now than it was 10 years ago when the Bills could go 7-9 with the low cost rosters they trotted out there. Back in 2006-09 no one was going to succeed with RW/Littman/Smithers hovering over football decisions. Coach McD has resources DJ never dreamed of. I'm not showing pity for DJ, only that the change in ownership means anyone post RW/Littman/Smithers should be winning with a decent strategic team-building plan.

No, Dennison is more like Jauron's OC, Steve Fairchild right now.

Yet, CJ needed a blow after a running out of bounds after a four yard gain.

I could care less about Simmons, but is it fair to say the Bills have been bad to mediocre for all of the last 15 years?

Good thing McCoy has been so durable over the past 2 seasons. I would hate to see Mike Tolbert being the primary ball carrier.

What, watching Jordan Palmer, Ma(x)tt Leinart, and Vince Young wasn't your thing? I frankly can't wait for Keith Wenning and a 5th round over-hyped rookie. It's going to be great.

It's kinda like a Twilight Zone version of fantasy football for Buffalo fans.

This now counts as the best news of the off-season for Buffalo.

It's beginning to look more like year zero of a rebuild than year 1. Cushioning the tear-down and not bottoming out is looking less likely now. At least the Bills are giving their fans plenty of other former Bills to watch this season: Gilmore, Gillislee, Watkins, Darby, Ragland, Woods, Goodwin, and others.