BillsVet

And for the record, Denver changed their coaching staff and converted to a 4-3 over an off-season minus OTA's. I'm not saying they're world-beaters after one half of starters versus starters, but we were told after last season that these changes equaled a drop in the W category. Interesting to see what Denver does after their 4-12 2010 campaign. No, Buddy said he had 35 calls a day for the HC job AND made fun of Oakland AND claimed 80% of the reporting about the HC search was false. What's Buddy going to claim next? That they need to coach 'em up harder and everything will be all right? I suspect he'll be MIA the first 5-6 weeks of the 2011 season just like he was in 2010 when they proceeded to start off winless.

Awesome.

Last season plenty of people said Buffalo had to deal with a new staff, defensive alignment, etc as a reason for their struggling. Denver was the 2nd worst team in the NFL and don't appear close to that for 2011 with a new staff and defensive scheme.

During the off-season, some were convinced Bell was going to improve just because he could work out in the off-season. I think it's clear he's no more than a swing tackle. Can't handle bull rushes and appears slow against edge rushers. Gailey: "Offensive line got manhandled in the first half." He's PO'd and Nix owes him some help immediately. Not sure if anything's available, but there's no excuse for entering the pre-season this short in talent on the OL. None.

At the risk of not being a "real fan" I concur. Denver has a new HC, coaching staff, and a new defensive scheme yet look much further along than Buffalo. And Buffalo's continuity in staff and personnel was supposed to help them. At this point it means nothing.

Buffalo is playing like the guys in your avatar.

They have to save face after the guy who was going to make the OL better didn't fare well last season. Jackson doesn't appear to have lost anything, but he's not "their" guy either.

2006: Fun with Dick and Marv

You're pretty old for being a ball boy here, aren't you?

Nix has a lot riding on this season: the lack of quality resources allocated to the OL, trusting Merriman to remain healthy and provide a pass rush, Spiller's improvement to being an all-around back, the WR corps now without their arguably best threat, et al. It's not enough to get 50% of your personnel decisions right and if the OL isn't at least replacement level in 2011, the trust in Nix needs to be downgraded. If he can't put together a decent OL I have serious doubts about his other decisions.

Marv and Nix have echoed a sentiment that you draft them and then keep them. The Bills didn't retain Clements, didn't re-sign Peters, didn't keep Posluszny, traded Lynch, traded Evans, allowed Fletcher to walk, traded Spikes, allowed Greer out in UFA, etc. Now, they weren't going to keep all of those guys for various reasons, but it seems like there's always something for why a player just has to go. And then they go and re-sign Kelsay who cannot play their defense of choice. The roster isn't bereft of talent, but it's not top half of the NFL. At some point they start the first part of the equation, which is draft guys that are good and earn a second contract. Dareus is a start, but as you note, contracts are 3-5 years and unless your hitting on all of your 1st-3rd round picks with a late round guy thrown in, you'd better anticipate your better players to get them re-signed. Aside from Kyle Williams and Steve Johnson, I'm not sure they have any that fit the profile.

Aaron Williams will most certainly be a bust because he played at UT. That was all the rage during the lead up to the '09 draft with Orakpo. Sure Williams made a fine INT, but Marcell Dareus is the guy with the most upside. I'm interested in seeing him play against some solid offensive lineman because I see him giving them fits.

Good topic Dave. Completing the rebuild and winning games will go a long way to attracting talented players down the road and at the same time, there are things happening above the GM and HC level that make it hard to sign in-demand UFA's. I don't know if the team's on-field success can overcome this obstacle. Not long ago it wasn't a bad destination for in-demand players like Paup, T. Washington, and Spikes. In the span of about 7 years their reputation has done a complete 180 because there were so many bad decisions which affected the on-field product. Naming Levy and then Brandon GM contributed to some of the worst drafts in the NFL and now they're paying the price. Nix and Gailey admitted they needed to overcome the losing mentality, which could be the hardest item on their to-do list. A start in the right direction would be locking up their core guys before their value increases. I'm talking about Kyle Williams, perhaps Levitre, and Johnson if he's productive in 2011.

DAREVS MAXIMVS EX BUFFALONVS -Large defensive lineman with agile feet who feasts on offensive lineman and quarterbacks. Devours running backs behind the line of scrimmage and is versatile to work in any defensive front.

If this is the case, why did Buffalo sign Nick Barnett, Tyler Thigpen, or Brad Smith? They obviously care how players perform on previous teams or they wouldn't sign them. Why then can't a fan give a thumbs up/down on a player who hasn't produced in his entire 4 year career? There is little to demonstrate that Chandler is a viable receiver or blocker and the fact that 3 other franchises gave up on him is indication enough he's not going to be even replacement level for Buffalo. Now I suppose someone will attempt to minimize my argument by saying Chan doesn't believe in TE's or you can't do it all in one season. Even though Zack Miller was perhaps pricey for the organization, Kevin Boss was clearly affordable and they elected to go with 3 street free agents, a UDFA, and a disappointing 4th rounder from 2009. This circular logic that if he was something before is poor attempt at conflating the argument. I don't deal in hypotheticals and he simply wasn't good enough to remain on a roster. That's reality. Don't forget Jason Peters, Kurt Warner, or James Harrison. Guys like this are the rule and definitely not the exception.

I'd like to know what some see in Chandler. Four seasons in the NFL and didn't record a reception until last year. Now he's the nominative starter? Sure Gailey isn't one to believe in an all around TE, but if they can't find someone better than Chandler, it'll hurt in short order. Only the offensive tackles group depth is worse.

And they'll be pretty much better than anything Buffalo has if it's an OT. Then again, Buddy is the greatest OL dumpster diver there is and could build an offensive line out of matchsticks, tin foil, and playing cards if he had to.

Their team building approach? Well, the owner has said the fans need to experience some pain and show patience which is probably what the GM has told him. The owner has also said it'll take 3-4 years. Compare that to a team like the '10 Bucs who showed a 7 win improvement from '09 (3 to 10 wins) in a tough division. Or the 2008 Falcons who had a new QB, new HC, new GM and managed to make the playoffs. Or perhaps the '08 Dolphins who won 11 games after being the laughingstock of the NFL in 2007. This mindset that it absolutely takes 3-4 years to turn around a franchise is asinine. Buddy and Chan may have only been in charge since '10, but unless this team wins 8 games in 2011, I consider the rebuild to be failing.

Where's that thread which lists all the heart-breaking losses since the late nineties?

So do I Dave. Not that I expect the Bills to spend like the Yankees. Overdorf actually cut Troy Vincent without telling anyone back in 06 I believe. RW was apparently furious, but Jimmy O. is still there making decisions, so what's changed? It's decisions like this, when you connect the dots, why in-demand HC candidates like Leslie Frazier, Ron Rivera, Jim Harbaugh and perhaps Brian Schottenheimer refuse to interview or later withdraw their name from consideration for the HC gig. NFL people know what's going on at OBD and avoid it like the plague. Slowly but surely the fans are coming to the same realization that their team is a 3rd rate organization and moves like this prove it. Who sets the long term plan is the question that must be asked. Those December home games will be sparsely attended, I can see it.

Have to believe those December home games will be on TV. By that point Buddy and the Rebuilders will be firmly out of the playoffs and they'll have nothing (as always) to play for but pride. At some point, attendance will take a steep drop, either this season or next when it becomes clear Nix and this organization are spinning their wheels.

Yes, their starting OT's are the worst in the NFL. If Buffalo's offense is in any way hindered by the lack of decent OT's, that's directly on Nix for arrogantly assuming his cast-off's and projects would fit the bill. The risk he took in not signing someone a healthy and more accomplished OT this off-season is inexcusable.

If Nix is so sure about Buster Davis, who has fewer catches in his career than Evans had in his poor 2010 campaign, they should consider "retiring" Nix immediately. Just once I'd like to see Buffalo go "all in" to demonstrate that they're capable of showing fans they want to win. The last time they tried during UFA 2007 it resulted in a massive failure and now they're content to sit on the sidelines and trade their promising/proven players for picks.

You forgot the Nixism about always trying to improve the team and having more competition. BN always mentions that, but if this deal is made, how did they actually accomplish this if Buffalo does not get a player for 2011? The 4 year rebuild continues. Changing defenses last season and potentially dealing Evans for low picks makes this seem like Year 0.

Buddy already signed Erik Pears, Colin Brown, Mansfield Wrotto, and drafted Chris Hairston along with Ed Wang. I think the OT position is in good shape.