jahnyc Posted December 14, 2013 Posted December 14, 2013 I think that many predicted that this is the way our season would play out. I know that we hoped EJ would step in and play well, but he is a rookie and a project. It seems that the draft experts had him pegged correctly, and his current deficiencies were noted well before the draft. I do not recall anyone suggesting that he was first round talent before the draft. Clearly, the offense misses Levitre and Chan Gailey. I think we all knew that LG would be a problem, particularly when it was not addressed in the offseason, which I still do not understand. The play calling on offense has been uncreative and I do not like the hurry up when the offense cannot sustain drives. The defense has improved, and I expected more, but people were correct in thinking that Wanny was in over his head as our defensive coordinator. Overall, the new coaching staff has seemed overmatched at times this year and I do not have any confidence in Marrone or Hackett at this point. A surprise this season has been the play of Alonso. His overall play has been superb. A negative has been the regression of Spiller. I expected him to have a very strong season. The front office made a nice move in acquiring Hughes, but not filling the LG position after the departure of Levitre and failing to get immediately get a back-up QB after Kolb was injured were inexplicable, as is the failure to get some additional CB help in free agency last offseason (this really hurt us early in the season because we had to play Rogers). I hope we re-sign Byrd. It will be extremely unfortunate to lose both Levitre and Byrd. Overall, I was hoping for better, but with a rookie QB as our starter, new offensive and defensive systems, a rookie head coach and offensive coordinator, and some holes, is this about what we should have expected?
Gerry Posted December 14, 2013 Posted December 14, 2013 Depends on what you predicted. I predicted 5-11, so I have to decide which of the next 2 games I expect the Bills to win, which is not easy.
BADOLBILZ Posted December 14, 2013 Posted December 14, 2013 I think that many predicted that this is the way our season would play out. I know that we hoped EJ would step in and play well, but he is a rookie and a project. It seems that the draft experts had him pegged correctly, and his current deficiencies were noted well before the draft. I do not recall anyone suggesting that he was first round talent before the draft. Clearly, the offense misses Levitre and Chan Gailey. I think we all knew that LG would be a problem, particularly when it was not addressed in the offseason, which I still do not understand. The play calling on offense has been uncreative and I do not like the hurry up when the offense cannot sustain drives. The defense has improved, and I expected more, but people were correct in thinking that Wanny was in over his head as our defensive coordinator. Overall, the new coaching staff has seemed overmatched at times this year and I do not have any confidence in Marrone or Hackett at this point. A surprise this season has been the play of Alonso. His overall play has been superb. A negative has been the regression of Spiller. I expected him to have a very strong season. The front office made a nice move in acquiring Hughes, but not filling the LG position after the departure of Levitre and failing to get immediately get a back-up QB after Kolb was injured were inexplicable, as is the failure to get some additional CB help in free agency last offseason (this really hurt us early in the season because we had to play Rogers). I hope we re-sign Byrd. It will be extremely unfortunate to lose both Levitre and Byrd. Overall, I was hoping for better, but with a rookie QB as our starter, new offensive and defensive systems, a rookie head coach and offensive coordinator, and some holes, is this about what we should have expected? The most predictable thing was Kevin Kolb getting injured. We played the Cardinals last season. Alex Carrington tackled Kolb.....nothing brutal......and broke bones, dislocated joints and concussed the guy. And with firsthand knowledge of his porcelain construction.......we signed him to be our starter/primary backup. That unfathomable decision and an inexplicably carefree stroll thru free agency....in a buyers market no less....... lead to early season defeats that halted the momentum created by the hope that new coaches would yield different results. I think the results in the W-L column are predictable........what should be maddening for Bills fans is that the schedule actually unfolded nicely with a heavy slate of home games early to support a young QB and good opponents who the Bills met while they were playing poorly......like Carolina and Baltimore........and very winnable road games against a Jets team that wanted to give away the game to the Bills and a weak Cleveland team that any decent NFL backup QB could have finished off. Yet they couldn't capitalize. After the Pittsburgh game I said it right here........we have seen this before and know what to expect..........variable effort from week to week from there on out. Sure enough after the clunker in Pitt, good game vs. Jets, a strong start and weak finish against Atlanta and a 60 minute dog show in Tampa. That's what happens when a team goes off the rails. And yes........you are right, this result was predictable. You don't half-step when you are attempting a culture re-build AND playing with a rookie QB.
jjmac Posted December 14, 2013 Posted December 14, 2013 My prediction was 4-12. New coaches, new system, new players, and a young QB with young receivers.
jahnyc Posted December 14, 2013 Author Posted December 14, 2013 I absolutely agree that this could have been a good year for us in terms of schedule and opponents. We have faced very few strong teams this year. I also forgot to mention the inexperienced group of WRs other than Stevie. It is unusual for rookie WRs to have much of an impact in their rookie year.
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