BillsVet

TD may be gone, but his hand-picked personnel men, Modrak and Guy, still remain. Not to mention Overdorf is still entrusted with negotiating contracts. So the front office makeup hasn't really change much. I would venture to say those first two have more say in personnel because the previous and current GM are not experienced talent evaluators. The Bills are a small market team that must draft well each season, because they won't be major players in free agency. The difference between Buffalo and other small market teams lies in management. Whereas the Bills name marketing people and retired HC's as their GM, San Diego, Green Bay, Indianapolis, and Pittsburgh are all having success without spending huge sums on free agents. AJ Smith, Ted Thompson, Bill Polian, and Kevin Colbert are some of the best in the league. In a conference where 6 teams out of 16 make the playoffs, being average isn't good enough and drafting at a C+ level won't get this team beyond Week 17.

Let's all remember that Brandon was thrown into the fire after Levy retired. He had absolutely in evaluating talent, beside what people tell him. He had never scouted, negotiated with an agent, nothing. It's my belief that Brandon is the public face for Wilson and Littman. He speaks well, is much younger, and has succeeded in marketing a team which really has a track record of failure going back nearly an entire decade. Unfortunately, he had no experience working with players. And it showed when he arrogantly said (based on a directive most likely from Littman and Wilson) that they would not renegotiate the Peters deal from 06. They, like the Sabres, stuck to principle of not renegotiating and adhering to out-dated principles. I'm not one for renegotiating deals, but in this situation they took the nuclear option and it blew up in their face. Losing Peters means moving the starting RT to LT (a position he's never played long term) and the RG to RT. It's more than just losing Peters, it's a whole lot more.

There are plenty of fans who don't truly appreciate what a good LT can do, as in being left alone against an opponents' best rusher. There are three AFCE teams who will rush faster OLB's at Walker and Butler. Both of the probable starting OT's have marginal foot speed and will struggle to keep those guys from dipping beneath their reach. I have a suspicion that both Walker and Butler will require more TE help than most realize, which will mean fewer options to throw at for Edwards. Peters was underwhelming last year, but he didn't require another TE, which forces the team to keep one guy in on pass plays. Walker will require it and certainly won't be better than Peters. I'm also all for blowing up the front office, many of whom were hired during the TD years. It's amazing how adamant the Bills are that their people up top should remain the same, but the players must change. There is no accountability in this organization, and it's going to blow up in their face in 2009.

I remember how the 2006 draft was heralded as a great one shortly after the season conluded. The story was that so many of the selections played in their rookie season, hence it was a great draft. Unfortunately, many of those players were not long term options and merely fill-ins until better players could be found. Either way, depending season after season on rookies is not a reliable means of improvement. Buffalo's done that each season since 06 and it's not working. I'd argue that rookies are cheaper and easier to hype simply because they're new. The downside is they've got zero NFL experience and learning on the job will hinder the team's playoff chances. Everyone assumes they'll understand the game quickly, but it normally takes several games and the Bills don't have that. They need to win from Day 1 given their divisional opponents and strength of schedule

Buffalo's strengths lie within the skill positions. The OL and pass rush are still big question marks going into the regular season, especially considering rookies will be expected to make the difference. Turk does have to devise a way to get the ball out of Edwards' hand or else I've got a feeling it'll be a long season. The last few seasons, Buffalo has relied heavily on rookies to start or play significant time. As the writer pointed out, the front office hasn't had a problem with this in the past. I like how the author pointed out that there could be a link between plenty of youth and salary constraints.

I'm aware many college OT's without the measureables make the conversion from T to G. I'm not aware of any who go from OT to OG and back.

It's remarkable that fans fall back on Butler having played RT at Virginia. The difference between the college and pro game is so great, that experience playing OT in college has almost no bearing on how he'll fare in the pros. We're not talking about playing BC, Miami (FL), and Duke here, it's NE, NYJ, and MIA among others. All NFL OT's have size, but the ones who have mobility are those who start. If Butler had so much upside as an OT, it stands to reason he'd have started in the NFL as one. No matter what anyone says, the Bills already know they'll need to routinely keep TE's in to help Walker and/or Butler in pass protection.

This is a non-sequitur. If anything, Walker and apparently Butler will get plenty of help from the TE, because neither have the agility or foot-work to go one on one with speed rushers. And so they'll not be left on an island like Peters was expected to be. The guards will be busy handling all those 3-4 NT's and DE's. Walker and Butler will need to handle rush OLB's. And the idea of leaving one or two TE's in regularly to help Butler and/or Walker means less players running patters and more predictability in the offense.

Selling out and fan experience are two completely different things. Have you ever seen a game in another stadium? As for the coaching, there was a reason DJ was fired in Chicago: he could not win over the long term. Regarding RW, his election into the Pro Football HOF is based more on his actions between 1960-1970 in founding an AFL team and working toward merging that league with the NFL. In 39 NFL seasons, Buffalo reached the playoffs 13 times, 6 of those during the Polian years. I'd venture to say his election was not due to franchise success. It's fans like you who completely ignore that only two teams this century (outside of HOU) have failed to make the playoffs. This record of futility is what prompts people like me to complain and I cannot believe there are fans who actually defend an organization which hasn't won a playoff game since the 95 season. Even if DJ is let go, the team is addressing the symptoms and not the disease. There must be better management, especially in personnel, if this franchise is ever to attain what other small markets like IND, PIT, and GB have in recent years.

Every year, these sort of articles come out from various media sources. And every year, everything fails to materialize during the regular season that was written in the summer months. I don't think the team would tip their hand this early, and if so, it's absurd. And if they're not bluffing, well, it had better work if they want to run it that much. The Bills PR machine, much like the Sabres, depend on pre-season hype to build excitement. Rarely is that fanfare realized on the field of play. It's just too bad that many fans will believe this without recalling previous seasons failure to live up to expectations.

Got it on the reference. Thank Bill. No offense taken. My attitude on this team is dire because they've proven nothing in nearly an entire decade. I'm sorry, but my feelings from the final 10 games of 08 have carried over into 09. Hope ain't enough for me at this point, and there's plenty of questions heading into year 4 of a rebuild. Teams need talent to win, and I'm seeing a team with plenty at the skill positions, but issues on the OL and DL, specifically a lack of a pass rush in the latter. If a team has so many questions after three complete seasons of rebuilding, did they really rebuild? The Buffalo Bills have not had a legitimate GM throughout the course of this rebuild, and we're seeing the results. The franchise was torn down in the wake of Donahoe, when we've seen clubs like Miami and Atlanta only get rid of veterans when there's a replacement. The point to all of this is a structure and strategy which is completely haphazard and uncoordinated. I'm perfectly fine with the TO signing, but when your big UFA acquisition is a former backup C, I'm not thrilled. After all, did anyone at OBD plan on picking up TO until the moment he was released? As to the HC, rational Bills fans know DJ isn't going to improve, in this his 9th complete season as a HC and yet the front office (RW) chose to retain him. The best teams in the league, save NE, have a strong personality at the GM position: NYG, SD, PIT, MIA, BAL, IND, GB, ATL, et al. The consensus method is complete folly, and when compromise is a priority among proven losers like DJ, the results are catastrophic. The best example is taking a small DB over lineman in their first draft. And that's not hindsight, it's analysis which was delivered on draft day 06. If a team cannot win after rebuilding for three years, it's an indication that it's more than a HC issue. It's a culture (of decision makers) which must be changed. I cannot imagine what would happen if this season doesn't live up to the hype we're starting to see. It could make the 2005 season seem tame.

Is he not part of the front office as team president? He is also happens to be the biggest vote among the "Inner Circle" which consists of Littman, Brandon, and Modrak. BTW, I'll refrain from dropping a stupid reference.

Who hires the HC?

From Jason LaCanfora via Tim Graham LaCanfora-NFL.com I don't think this is news to anyone. Buffalo spent less in the previous five season than all but five teams in the NFL. Only Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Green Bay, and Kansas City spent less during that span. Obviously, spending does not equal winning, and of those five teams Buffalo out-spent, TB, JAC, and GB, have gone to the playoffs and had some success. If these teams can spend less and still make the playoffs, what separates Buffalo from those teams? IMO, it's the front office, which features individuals who are nowhere near good enough to find talent and a coaching staff which is bargain basement. It's also noteworthy that teams like SD and DEN spent relatively the same amount as Buffalo in this stretch.

A successful offense needs a line which provides their QB with time. The more time, the greater chance for success. Edwards has the skill players to succeed, but it's debatable whether or not the OL is capable to keep him off his back. Right now it's speculation, but I'm not comfortable with two new tackles, rookies starting at the guards, and a new center. Edwards needs to play better, but don't underestimate how his coaches maximize his abilities. Some of the Bills game-plans last season were severely lacking and unimaginative. Arizona's QB is a veteran, two time NFL MVP and SB winner. Edwards is not in his category yet, and it there's no comparison to make there. Besides, they had perhaps the best receiving tandem in the NFL last season. Comparing Todd Haley's offense to Turk Schonert is also laughable.

I think it's fair that some fans see Peters as having let the team down last season by skipping all the camps. His presence in 08 wasn't nearly what it was in 07 because he didn't stay in game shape. At the same time, these fans assume Peters is washed up, because his 08 campaign was so poor, and therefore a trade is more easily digested. Still, it is perfectly said by Graham. There's no question the Bills OL is worse without him than with him. After all, this one trade forces the team to move their RT to LT, a RG to RT, and replace the RG with another player. By the time he was shipped to Philadelphia, veteran options from outside the organization were nil. Many football analysts are saying Buffalo's OL is among the worst in the league, given the mix of rookies and position changes. That's not to say they can be good however. It should also be pointed out that his trade produces a big cost savings to the team, which cannot be understated.

It isn't that simple. Guys like Tim Graham cover four teams, attend enough practices and follow those teams closely enough to have a solid take on their strengths and weaknesses. It's a hallmark of this board to marginalize writers whenever they aren't as optimistic as some on this board. I'll take Graham's, John Wawrow's, and Chuck Pollock's opinion more seriously than a vast majority of those on this board. They wouldn't have their positions if they didn't know something about this team and league. The Bills have questions marks on the OL, rushing the passer, and most importantly, their entire coaching staff (not to mention a front office minus proven talent evaluators). Just because many Bills fans are optimistic doesn't mean this extends to the media.

Top 10 NFL picks aren't supposed to be moved around to playing another position in their third season. Whitner seems like a DB who has no solid position but is adequate at playing SS, FS, and nickel CB. Yes he's versatile, but taking another safety high says a lot about DW. Last year he was exposed as being too small to handle playing near the LOS. The natural move is to make him a FS, which is Byrd's position. He is most certainly not a bust, but he hasn't lived up to expectations either.

I'm just tired of losing. And when you look south into PA and see a team that is winning, it's even worse. Bills fans deserve better, and the hype won't be enough forever. I'm not impressed with how they handle personnel, and it smacks of amateurish methods to me. I'll agree to disagree on the Peters situation, but it's over and Buffalo ain't getting him back. When people lower expectations just because the team hasn't won consistently since the 90s, it bothers me. Small market teams are winning, but they have proven front offices which can operate without the financial resources of a Dallas, Washington, or New York team. It just takes people who are ahead of the curve. If you're a fan and aren't upset, so be it. I can't agree with being a fan and not demanding some form of success. All I've looked for is a playoff team, not necessarily one that advances deep into the post-season. IMO, that's reasonable after a decade of futility.

Any team can address a position of need, but finding the right personnel is not this franchise's strong suit. They answer personnel issues with strange ways. It's not merely addressing a problem, it's doing it with the right solution. Buffalo had one above average OL, and that was Peters. The others were average to below average, and that was after three years of rebuilding. So they deal their top OL for a low first, move some guys around, get two highly touted rookies, and sign an unproven UFA. So yes, they addressed parts of the OL. We'll see if they did the right thing. My whole point has been that Buffalo does not have proven talent evaluators to find top players. They swing and miss far too often in UFA and the draft. For the latter, they've spent far too many picks on non-lineman. It took them four off-seasons to finally admit they'd screwed up on the OL and DL, outside of Stroud. Guess I'm being negative again, but hope ain't enough for me. If the team doesn't get into the playoffs this season, the entire organization should be gutted. Coach, GM, Pro Personnel, Amateur Scouting, Overdorf, everyone.

Why should we expect to see results on the OL? Buffalo attempted the quick fix to build the OL through UFA (06-07) and it didn't work. They spent exactly zero picks on day one on OL. Now, they've essentially given up a huge contract in Peters for a first round pick with Wood. I really like Eric Wood, but finding quality starting guards is much easier than getting a top LT. Someone will say Peters stunk in 08, and while he didn't have his finest season, he won't fall off the table like some of the haters think. He was a tremendous run blocker, and Walker's strength isn't his mobility because he's about 30 pounds overweight. All in all, it is preposterous to believe changing both the tackle spots, which happen to be the two most difficult OL positions, while integrating a former backup and two rookie guards into the starting lineup is wishing upon a star.

It's ironic that DJ went to his first SB in his fifth full season as a HC in the NFL. And that Jeff Fisher didn't win the AFC in his fifth season, advance to the SB, and come with mere yards of winning it just like DJ. The irony!

I don't know why I remember it, but after the Philadelphia game to conclude the 07 season, Jauron said: "Offensively we did a pretty good job of not turning (the ball) over. I think the fact that we didn't turn the ball over today at all, and didn't have very many penalties in that football game, kept us in the game. Obviously, the fact that we don't score, we don't get it in the endzone, is the difference in the football game. These were his opening comments after a 17-9 loss in which the team didn't seem to do anything offensively. I honestly think people miss the point re: DJ and his vanilla statements. He, in a jaded way, takes pleasure from saying nothing to the media and admitting as little fault as he does. If he spent as much time gameplanning as he did wording his worthless statements to the press. EDIT: Jauron post-Philadelphia 07 comments

How many GP does Walker have at LT over Gandy? And AZ is a unique example, given their drafting of OT Levi Brown 5th overall in 2007 to play RT for the left handed Leinart. The Cards didn't believe Warner would be their starter, and for development's sake, didn't attempt to move Brown to LT from RT. It's clear now that Warner isn't going anywhere soon. And AZ has serious cap issues, considering they franchised Karlos Dansby, signed Warner to a lucrative 2 year deal, and Anquan Boldin wants a new deal. Throw in that they've got 10M given to Fitzgerald, knew Adrian Wilson needed a new deal (since re-signed) and they just didn't have the room to add another large contract. All of those players are NFL stars, and AZ has quite the challenge to keep them all. They weren't in the market to trade for nor sign Peters. They preferred to keep their own guys, at least for 2009 and I think it's reasonable to see that they preferred to sit tight. It doesn't mean Peters isn't a fine player.

This is revisionist history. Only in 04 did Buffalo narrowly miss the playoffs, and they controlled their own destiny. As in the final week of the season they had a chance to make the post-season. 2001 3-13 Not even close 2002 8-8 (division winner 9-7, wild-cards 9-7 and 10-6) Close 2003 6-10 (division winner 14-2, wild cards 12-4 and 10-6) Not close 2005 5-11 (division winner 10-6, wild cards 11-5 and 10-6) Not close 2006 7-9 (division winner 12-4, wild cards 10-6 and 9-7) Not close 2007 7-9 (division winner 16-0, wild cards 11-5 and 10-6) Not close 2008 7-9 (Division winner 11-5, wild cards 12-4 and 11-5) Not close And if Buffalo is lacking in coaching, shouldn't it stand to reason that the coach be replaced for not even (by these standards admittedly) be replaced for failing to get close to a post-season berth? There I go being negative again. Personally, close losses are the same as blowouts: Big L's. And L's, no matter the score difference, hurt when it comes to the end of the season.