Nitro Posted April 29, 2013 Posted April 29, 2013 They won 6 games with a crappy defense and a weak armed QB being lead by a coach and staff that looked like they wanted to be some place else. This team can make it to 8-8. That would be a successful year for them.
Since 1972 Posted April 29, 2013 Posted April 29, 2013 They won 6 games with a crappy defense and a weak armed QB being lead by a coach and staff that looked like they wanted to be some place else. This team can make it to 8-8. That would be a successful year for them. You may be right, but still seems like a sad commentary.
PromoTheRobot Posted April 29, 2013 Posted April 29, 2013 (edited) I'll settle for being fun to watch. I do hope the temptation to harp on these young players gets tempered a bit. Don't start throwing the "B" word around after a couple weeks. Â PTR Edited April 29, 2013 by PromoTheRobot
Cotton Fitzsimmons Posted April 29, 2013 Posted April 29, 2013 I don't know if Doug Marrone and his staff are going to be good, but I know they will be better than last years staff. In fifty some odd years of watching football I have never seen more inexplicable decision than that staff made last year. Do you need to be reminded? Seriously, stop and think about it for a second. As idiotic and inept as they were they still managed six wins. How could this staff do worse? Â Do you think the personnel is worse? Why because we lost a guard? Who other than Levitre could possibly be missed? Is anyone going to miss Fitzpatrick? Kolb or Manuel have to be better. Nelson and Jones vs. all these new guys? New guys can't be worse. Do you find yourself longing for Barnett and Wilson? Â Their record will be better than last year. They will at the very least be fun to watch, instead of painful. Â With regard to the decision making at times... YE OLE agrees. There were a lot of head scratchers along the way, especially with regard to game management and everything on the defensive side of the ball. That said, it's unwise to completely write off what Gailey did for this offense. The Chanimal absolutely had a penchant to call some weird stuff at the wrong times, but he also made our offense watchable for the first time in many years. Gailey truly got more out of the offense than I think most would have. Â With regard to the QB situation... YE OLE is more confident by the day that EJ has the makings to be a special player. That said, Kolb is not, and EJ is a rookie. Maybe EJ steps in from day one and does great things. More likely, he takes a while to develop and frankly Kevin Kolb has done nothing in the league to make anyone believe he is better than Fitzpatrick. Kolb has thrown 28 TD's in his entire 6 years in the league. Fitz has been throwing 24 TD's a year as a Bill. Barring Manuel stepping in from day 1 and playing lights out, there's a good chance we'll have a drop off at the QB position in the short term. Â On the defensive side of the ball, however, last year's unit broke historical records for futility. There should be a significant bump on that side of the ball, no matter what.
CodeMonkey Posted April 29, 2013 Posted April 29, 2013 16-0 Senator? That you? No. The Senator would have said 19-0
KOKBILLS Posted April 29, 2013 Posted April 29, 2013 I don't expect any better than 8-8... Â I look at Seattle as the model, and they were 7-9 in Carroll's first two years (though they did make the Playoffs in 2010 at 7-9)... Â Anyway...I do think we will start seeing improvements on both sides of the ball...I think this Roster has a absolute ton of potential now...There are still holes, and there will be growing pains no question...But I just have a feeling that Marrone, Hackett, and Pettine are going to be light-years ahead of what we have seen here over the past decade plus...
flmike Posted April 29, 2013 Posted April 29, 2013 I don't want to rain on the pessimism tread-- but the thing you really have to consider is the addition of Pettine. Â We poured a ton of money and talent into our defense last offseason, but it was squandered by Wanny's lame defensive schemes. Â I think Pettine can take that same, frankly top-10, talent, and turn the defense into a top-10 unit. Â With a good defense, all they need to do on offense is run the ball and not turn it over, and this team has the potential to turn out 10 wins. Â +1 this. Wannstadt miraculously took some pretty good talent and created a bottom-of-the-pack defense. I think we do much better on defense simply from bringing in a DC who knows the modern game. The offense will struggle, but it will also shows flashes, I think. Keep expectations low and enjoy the season. Maybe we get lucky and get a WC spot. It has happened.
Fan in San Diego Posted April 29, 2013 Posted April 29, 2013 They won 6 games with a crappy defense and a weak armed QB being lead by a coach and staff that looked like they wanted to be some place else. This team can make it to 8-8. That would be a successful year for them. Â I feel the same way but they should win 10 games.
Jerry Jabber Posted April 29, 2013 Posted April 29, 2013 So now that the draft is over I just wanted to see what everyone's expecting for this upcoming season. I see us either competing with the Pats for the division if things go well or finishing 7-9, 8-8 if not. Â At the moment, I have no expectations for the Bills. I'm not trying to sound negative, but I've been fooled numerous times over the past 13 years by this team. I need to see results on the field first before I get excited about them again.
bladiebla Posted April 29, 2013 Posted April 29, 2013 Personally I think that a lot rides on the first game against the Pats* at home, we win that one and we could well be contending for the playoffs and have a great season. If all goes well we'll still have a couple of games were things go wrong with all the youngsters but should see a more stable and succefull team near the end of the year. If not then we may as well write off this coach too...
eball Posted April 29, 2013 Posted April 29, 2013 Same expectations I always have...a team that starts fast, improves throughout the season, has a shot at the playoffs, and is fun to watch. Â I've been waiting a while.
Big C Posted April 29, 2013 Posted April 29, 2013 We were a bad team last year. Coaching was in large part responsible. Even then, we were one late pick by Fitz (NE) and two dropped INTs by Wilson (Tenn & STL) away from a 9-7 record. I fully expect us to play tougher and finish games better. No reason 9-7 isn't possible this year.
HeHateMe Posted April 29, 2013 Posted April 29, 2013 7-8 wins, tough schedule but the Jets should be awful so there may be 2 easy wins. Â Kolb starts but Manuel finishes the season once he inevitably gets hurt.
gbjackson Posted April 29, 2013 Posted April 29, 2013 A winning season will make me happy(playoffs, ecstatic). With being pretty much a different team than last year, I have no idea what to expect.
CaliBillsfan Posted April 29, 2013 Posted April 29, 2013 as long as were better than the last 13. I say start EJ from day one and lets see where it goes. I really think this a completely different team and we have a great chance of turning this ship in the rt direction!
BuffaloBillsMagic1 Posted April 29, 2013 Posted April 29, 2013 Anything about 7 wins is a great season. I'd top off at 8-8.
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