BillsVet

Unless your scheme requires excellent CB play with types who are left alone on the outside with WR's, I'm not sure investing in CB's to this degree is absolutely necessary. A team has to align scheme with cost requirements, like what was done years ago in Indianapolis. They weren't going to spend big on defense because more was required for the offensive side of the ball with P. Manning, Harrison, Wayne, Clark, E. James, et al. So their defensive scheme, a Tampa-2 was suitable because corners were zone types, the LBs were smaller quicker types, and their big dollar types were DE's and safeties, and perhaps DT's. The Bills don't seem to have that. Their personnel acquisition isn't aligned with scheme, which means (as Whaley noted) they're top heavy. This only happens though when you've got solid personnel administration and coaching who are in lock step. I'm not sure the Bills have been there in more than 20 years. Good for Gettlleman. Now Norman can go look for the big contract after all the teams have spent most of their cap.

Translation: "Even if the season goes south, I want my bosses to know that I'll praise them no matter what to keep my job."

They'll probably have some C-130s from Niagara Falls fly over. ...and there was much rejoicing.

Obviously.

Does anyone know how many times Whaley said the word, "excited" during the press conference?

You're not a slight bit skeptical of a franchise that's below .500 the past 3 seasons? With a HC who hasn't made the playoffs the last 6 seasons? BTW...prospective? I guess we're done here.

Wynn is a 7th year player who missed all of 2015 with an injury and will be learning a new position in Rex's defense. How do we know he can, "play?"

I'll bet Robert Blanton has fewer personal foul penalties this year when he's the starting SS.

The author doesn't mention that positional value being what it is, drafting RB's high is no longer typically the best use of a team's resources. The rules of the game have shaded toward throwing the ball and as a result, running it isn't very important. Teams trying to run their way to success typically don't. There are so many variables conveniently left out of this article. The one constant in the modern NFL is that teams with top RB's aren't making the playoffs. Of the top 16 backs by rushing yards in 2015, only 5 of them played on playoff teams. Only 7 RBs in 2015 ran for more than 1k yards. Only 1 RB who rushed for 1k or more yards played on a playoff team (Adrian Peterson) The other intangible not mentioned is that RB's have a high propensity for being injured. And it makes sense because when they touch the ball they're usually getting hit. It's why teams are limiting carries, with only Peterson getting more than 300 carries (327) last year. That means more platooning (the fantasy owners know this) which therefore reduces the need to have a feature back. Which means you'll look for, as the author says, committee backs. I know there's going to be an effort by some to justify Buffalo's absurd use of draft resources and UFA dollars on RB's the past 10-15 years. Offensively the Bills haven't done much in that time, because their priority on running the ball is not in keeping with NFL trends. And because they've failed to find a QB, which falls on multiple GM's. RB's aren't "easily" replaceable...but it's still the easiest position to replace. And the Bills still use far too many resources on the position, Lesean McCoy being the latest example.

Agreed. It's hard for any GM to remain in the position without results, i.e. playoffs. I'm pretty sure TPegs expects a winner in 2016 and if not, perhaps they'll make significant changes. But we're a long way from there right now.

Wins are overrated when a team drafts so well. Everyone knows Buffalo has drafted better than most teams, even though doing so would eventually result in more wins. Whaley just can't get the HC's to use all the talent he's evaluated appropriately. And this is why the Bills don't make the playoffs.

If TT doesn't progress in 2016 and they draft a QB early this month...well, some people are going to use that to say they need more time building this team. Senior executives are usually in survival mode. Particularly when they have nothing to show for their effort.

Where's the manipulation of stats? They are 39-57 over the past 6 seasons (2010-2015) with Doug Whaley employed by the team as essentially lead personnel guy. They are 23-25 with Whaley as GM (2013-2015), who has had way more money to spend than his predecessors. I doubt the direction the team is headed. Offensively they've built a team to run the ball in a passing league. The defense is complex and not flexible, requiring new talent to fit the scheme as opposed to the SB winning team that ran a more slimmed down defensive playbook. Oh, and (EDIT: their) lack of cap space prevented signing more than some depth players, which were admittedly necessary.

It's astounding how little you understand here. Nix was 16-32 in 3 seasons (2010-12) and was retired. In his successor's 3 seasons (2013-15) Buffalo's gone 23-25, ergo a 39-57. That fact is what so irritates and antagonizes those of you who still believe this franchise is on the verge of greatness. It's why you go to such extremes trying to manufacture metrics to support your errant opinions. Like claiming Buffalo's drafted better than most teams, an entirely subjective exercise. The agenda? A team that wins. Yet, I see the team doing precious little this off-season and frankly, debating a failed GM and another who's not put a winner on the field is an exercise in futility. Who cares? Those of you who manufacture good emotions from this team can continue to do so. And based on their UFA signings, cap management, presumed reliance on rookies and uncertainty at QB they're not primed to win in the AFC. And facts still don't care about your emotions.

How many times can Whaley use the word "excited" in one interview? Marrone didn't say "obviously" as much as Whaley does his signature word.

17-15 in 2014-2015. After being one of the highest spending teams in the NFL and getting a win the final week of 2014 against NE when they played their JV team. I'm sure TPegs is good with being barely .500 the past 2 years given the big dollars he's spent on the franchise.

We may as well compare Levy and Brandon to Nix and Whaley. The first guy was advanced in age, brought more credibility, retired 2-3 years in, and was succeeded by a young guy who still couldn't get the team into the playoffs. Sure there are differences, but it ceases to amaze me how GM's who can't get their team in the playoffs are lauded. If that's truly the case, Ted Thompson, Ozzie Newsome, and John Schneider should be in the HOF right now. Buffalo is 39-57 (.406) in the past 6 seasons. I realize that's a harsh metric to some because it doesn't fit the narrative that the Bills are unlucky, but that's what they are.

Forget it, he's rolling. Nix's teams went 16-32 and some defended him to the hilt. Whaley's had teams go 23-25 and he's practically a living saint. Not that you could be one but there are some who'd like him to be.

There isn't much wisdom to building for the short term at the expense of the future. No perennially successful NFL teams go wild in free agency like Buffalo did last year and maintain much beyond 1-2 seasons. Being consistently successful, i.e. a playoff contender each year is very hard but not impossible. I heard for years on this board that spending like Dan Snyder was bad because Washington wasn't building right. At that time the Bills were notoriously frugal in UFA. Now that they're spending big it's good because it shows they want to win. Which one is it? I see issues all over the field with this team. They're not sure enough on the QB to sign him long term, no doubt the result of meetings between personnel and coaches. They have a new defensive scheme that needs 2-3 new front 7 players. Their presumably starting RT has a serious medical issue, and there's little proven depth at WR, TE, and the OL. All of this after 3 seasons spent "rebuilding" the roster.

Amazing the Bills need multiple starters after 4 off-seasons with Whaley as GM and the 2015 spending spree. I guess one could say Nix left him a crap sandwich, but Whaley was on board then. Teams that rebuild for 3+ seasons and still need to his 2-3 homers in the draft aren't rebuilding. They're just maintaining mediocrity.

They also don't have a QB or LT signed for 2017 and they'll need a long term deal for Watkins and Gilmore by that point too. Saying you've got 50M in space for 2017 is extremely misleading. Something tells me other people will be addressing these contracts when the time comes.

Free agency 2016 is shaping up to be what 2006 was...quantity over quality. Of course, back then the Bills didn't spend a lot. Now they do, but went for broke in a desperate shot to make the playoffs. Blanton, Brown, Moore, and White. Talk about underwhelming additions for the 19th ranked defense in the NFL. I guess Rex's scheme is going to save the day.

And this is why 2 down run stuffing LBs are becoming the defensive version of a FB. The game is oriented more each year toward stopping the other team from passing, both in terms of positional value (pass rushers more valuable to run defenders) and scheme. Of course, smart teams will line up in more spread offenses to open up lanes to run the ball...and punish those 190-200 pound DBs. Interesting times and some teams aren't keeping up.

No matter how many times you slice it, the defining metric to what constitutes success is W-L record. There is nothing else. If they have all this talent, why aren't they more than a .500 team? And where is their talent? Because if you're outstanding at RB, G, LB, S and still can't pass the ball between the hash marks who cares? The Bills remain what their record says they are. Now go find that ball.