bladiebla Posted May 9, 2011 Posted May 9, 2011 Allthough I fully expected to see an immediant improvement, I also fully expect our D to make costly mistakes this year. It's almost an entire new unit.
CodeMonkey Posted May 9, 2011 Posted May 9, 2011 (edited) If buffalo wins those OT games they have a way better record....anything less then 9 & 7 is a dissapointment You see, statements this is where I think logic goes completely out the window. The Bills were 4-12 last year and by all rational accounts a train wreck. A defense that didn't know what it wanted to be when it grew up, 4-3 or 3-4 (had the personnel, arguably, for a 4-3 but wanted to play 3-4). A over achieving offense with no #1 WR, basically 1 RB for the bulk of the season (difficult to count Spiller as a RB he played so little and was so ineffective when he did) and so on. So now this year the defensive line almost certainly got better. Linebackers stay the same. Defensive backs most likely stay the same. And my assumption is they will try a 3-4 again without the personnel for it (with a few exceptions). The offense is for all intents and purposes unchanged. How in the world does this equate to "anything less then 9 & 7 is a disappointment" to even the most fervent kool-aid drinker? I have heard all the "but with a break here and a call going our way there we win 3 more games last season" stuff. But that is all bull ****. That team had the record they deserved last year. And without some kind of divine intervention will again this year. You may "Billieve", but come on. At some point logic has to kick in right? Remember last year at this time when people were saying the same things ("this team HAS to be better with Gailey and Spiller, they CAN'T end up with a worse record than 7-9")? What makes this year so different? Personally with this team and their schedule, I would consider 8-8 a HUGE accomplishment. Edited May 9, 2011 by CodeMonkey
stony Posted May 9, 2011 Posted May 9, 2011 (edited) Hows that progress? We EASILY should've been a 7-9 team last year if we won a couple OT games and won some other close games. I expect a 10-6 season next year and POSSIBLE playoff contention or I consider it a failure. I don't SETTLE for an average and subpar season like most in here. Explain to me how we could've "easily" been 7-9 last year. We lost those close games for a reason. We couldn't close out good teams when the chips were down. Stevie's drop aside, the Baltimore and KC games are perfect examples of how bad we were, not how close we were to being good. Good teams strip the ball from stupid players, bad teams w/ avg. QB play throw floaters to the other team. If you expect 10-6 next season, you'll probably be unhappy. I just hope it doesn't make your posts any more one-sided and angry. Edited May 9, 2011 by stony
billsfan89 Posted May 9, 2011 Posted May 9, 2011 8-8 would be good if the team shows progress it can't be a Jauron like 7-9 where the team beats out a bunch of bad or mediocre teams barely. It has to have two or more wins against quality opponents, two or more complete blowouts, and two or more of the loses against good teams have to be down to wire. Almost every level of the team has to improve.
DreReed83 Posted May 9, 2011 Posted May 9, 2011 Explain to me how we could've "easily" been 7-9 last year. We lost those close games for a reason. We couldn't close out good teams when the chips were down. Stevie's drop aside, the Baltimore and KC games are perfect examples of how bad we were, not how close we were to being good. Good teams strip the ball from stupid players, bad teams w/ avg. QB play throw floaters to the other team. If you expect 10-6 next season, you'll probably be unhappy. I just hope it doesn't make your posts any more one-sided and angry. Did u even pay attention to any of our games last year? 4-12 was our record last year. 3 of our games went to OT, which we had a legit shot of winning. Do the math.
bisonbrigade Posted May 9, 2011 Author Posted May 9, 2011 It's about this year not last. New uniforms, playing surface, players and attitude. Last year and decade are history.
stony Posted May 9, 2011 Posted May 9, 2011 (edited) Did u even pay attention to any of our games last year? 4-12 was our record last year. 3 of our games went to OT, which we had a legit shot of winning. Do the math. Read my post genius. I gave you two reasons why we lost those OT games. Good teams ready to take the next step don't make those mistakes, especially in OT. Keep telling yourself that we could've been 7-9 or 8-8 if not for "this play" or "that call." There's been a lot of that this past 10 years. 8-8 next season would be a huge accomplishment. There's no crime in a 4 game improvement. Edited May 9, 2011 by stony
CodeMonkey Posted May 9, 2011 Posted May 9, 2011 (edited) It's about this year not last. New uniforms, playing surface, players and attitude. Last year and decade are history. Of course, how could I not see that giving the team 3 or 4 extra wins right there The vast majority of last years team is also this years team, unless there is some dramatic upheaval. "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana, in "Reason in Common Sense, The Life of Reason, Vol.1" Edited May 9, 2011 by CodeMonkey
reddogblitz Posted May 9, 2011 Posted May 9, 2011 Like every year, I expect us to go 10-6 this year. But realistically, we haven't won more than 7 games in 6 seasons, and coming off 6-10 and 4-12 season, 8-8 would be good. But I'm pulling for 10 wins.
DreReed83 Posted May 9, 2011 Posted May 9, 2011 Read my post genius. I gave you two reasons why we lost those OT games. Good teams ready to take the next step don't make those mistakes, especially in OT. Keep telling yourself that we could've been 7-9 or 8-8 if not for "this play" or "that call." There's been a lot of that this past 10 years. 8-8 next season would be a huge accomplishment. There's no crime in a 4 game improvement. Read MY post genius. We had legit shots of winning those games. Blah blah blah.
sllib olaffub Posted May 10, 2011 Posted May 10, 2011 Wins and losses don't mean as much to me unless we're in the playoff hunt as attitude and identity. I'd much rather see us finish 3-13 and have at least one phase of our overall game showing promise, with an identity emerging with the other phases, than we finish 9-7 and still don't show any glimmer of hope of outcoaching N.E., and being manhandled by teams like the Jets. We do need the QB, so I'd like to see us do whatever it takes next year to land one of the top 2 QB's. I look at Detroit and I get excited at what they are building with their D-line. You know they're going to collapse the pocket from the middle, and force teams to try to go outside... which will create an interesting reaction with their opponents. When you look at teams like Baltimore and the Jets, they have a distinct identity on Defense, and you know no matter who is in there playing, they're going to be tough, disciplined, and they're going to go after you. I'd like to see us develop some kind of trademark identity on Defense. Even if we don't have all the pieces, I would like to know what we're trying to be, and I'm excited, too, that we might for a change be starting an innovative new type of defensive scheme in the hybrid 3-4. So, I'd like to see a direction and some real play out of the young guys on defense so we know where we need to go next offseason to get the remainder of the pieces. On offense I think we should expect to see a style of play, a system in place that is effective and that is capable of playing with anyone. And, I'd like to see teams start to fear coming to the Ralph again - a turnaround like K.C. would be nice.
San Jose Bills Fan Posted May 10, 2011 Posted May 10, 2011 I agree with sllib olaffub…it's not so much the number of wins but how the team is progressing. In 1987 when the Bills went 7-8, you KNEW they were heading in the right direction. The next year they won the AFC East and went to the Super Bowl in 4 of the next 6 years. In 1995-96 when the Sabres went 33-42-7, you KNEW they were heading in the right direction. Three years later they were in the Stanley Cup Finals. Ditto for the Sabres in 2003-2004 when they went 37-34-10. That team went to the Conference Finals in each of the next two years. It's not that hard to see when a team is improving and has the talent to become a contender.
vincec Posted May 10, 2011 Posted May 10, 2011 I think Fitzpatrick's play will be the difference between a 6-10 and a 10-6 season. If he can build on his play from last year then the Bills will be on their way to a possible playoff birth. If not, then it's back to the QB drawing board.
firemedic Posted May 10, 2011 Posted May 10, 2011 8-8 on the way up. Not 8-8 for a decade. 8-8 against the leagues second toughest schedule would be great, throw in a couple where everything goes our way...... 10-6!!
billsrcursed Posted May 10, 2011 Posted May 10, 2011 Read MY post genius. We had legit shots of winning those games. Blah blah blah. You're not getting it. There's a REASON why we didn't win those "legit shots"..... we weren't the better team. The assumption is that if we're a better team this year, we win games like those, putting us much closer to 8-8 instead of 10-6. It's not that difficult to comprehend, really.
reddogblitz Posted May 10, 2011 Posted May 10, 2011 (edited) I don't care what kind of identity or attitude the team shows. I just want wins anyway anyhow. Just win baby. Edited May 10, 2011 by reddogblitz
San Jose Bills Fan Posted May 10, 2011 Posted May 10, 2011 You're not getting it. There's a REASON why we didn't win those "legit shots"..... we weren't the better team. The assumption is that if we're a better team this year, we win games like those, putting us much closer to 8-8 instead of 10-6. It's not that difficult to comprehend, really. You're right. It's a simple concept. In using one of sports' most hackneyed descriptions, it's called "getting over the hump."
NFLBighits Posted May 10, 2011 Posted May 10, 2011 It's been a long playoff drought for us and thankfully we received some fresh air this past season with the likes of Nixs N Chan the Man Gailey and Mr. Whaley n Wanstar in his new playoff car headed are way hopefully i say But i can see things changing right in front of are eyes and i say this aint koolaid this is the time for this franchise to standup and kick some tail and bring the Lambardi trophy home in the next three years ! And I'd say to you that Fianlly there is a Bright lite at the end of this long long tunnel ! P.S. Kelvin kick some butt
Buffalo Barbarian Posted May 10, 2011 Posted May 10, 2011 Awesome changes have been happening at One Bills Drive. It's a whole new team. New Uniforms, New playing field, New scouting department Modrak fired, Great draft. The old loosing days are over. I BILLLIEVE!!!!! 8-8 or higher this year. 8-8 way to aim high ,or are you being sarcastic.
Canadian Bills Fan Posted May 10, 2011 Posted May 10, 2011 You guys have such LOW standards. You'd be happy with an 8-8 season? I won't be happy until we hit the 10-6 mark. +1 It's sad when some of us set our goals at the .500 mark. Then again 11 years without making the playoffs may do that to some people
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