teef Posted May 10, 2017 Posted May 10, 2017 What's in the past is past and can not be changed. What's in the future can be changed if you go about it the right way. This is related to the post - The other day Barry Trotz told the Caps - the past, lets play for today. Since then the Caps have dominated with the same talent that was getting beaten by the Pens. exactly. it's time for this entire organization to move forward.
Success Posted May 10, 2017 Posted May 10, 2017 What's exciting about this season is that we have no idea how good McD is. I mean, for all we know, he could be the league's next great coach. After learning just how disorganized things were under Rex, even a decent coach might be all this team needs.
row_33 Posted May 10, 2017 Posted May 10, 2017 what happened for the last 17 years has no bearing on this upcoming season. if that's what you were implying. Of course the 17 has no direct impact on the team. On our minds and souls and livers and relationships with significant others it has impact, with promises to all of those things that year 18 will be diff.
teef Posted May 10, 2017 Posted May 10, 2017 Of course the 17 has no direct impact on the team. On our minds and souls and livers and relationships with significant others it has impact, with promises to all of those things that year 18 will be diff. i can't argue with you on the second line.
BringBackOrton Posted May 10, 2017 Posted May 10, 2017 So the best response you have is to repeat that the HC and GM are in first-year roles? How many games did Gilmore win for us? Who are the other five players you reference? Woods? Hurt all the time. Gillislie? Backup RB. Brown? Did you watch the Pittsburgh game? We'll see who is closer to being right. How many games did Tyrod, Dareus, Kyle, McCoy, Watkins and Darby win us? Oh. The same amount as Gilmore and Woods. Guess we don't need any of them either.
Wayne Arnold Posted May 10, 2017 Posted May 10, 2017 We did lose like.. a ton of players... and needed upgrades all over the place. The key is structuring contracts better if you want to get comp picks (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/02/13/some-teams-are-using-option-years-to-enhance-compensatory-draft-picks/). Needed: Kicker, backup QB, WR2, WR3, TE2, FB1, CB1, CB3, DE3/4, WLB, FS, SS, RT Several of those players were released - Graham, Robey-Coleman, A-will from their contracts because of cost/performance and don't count in a comp-pick situation. Couple those 3 with the loss of gilmore, and we have a ton of holes in the secondary. If we waited to sign replacements, we're left with many of the players we released/let walk.... See below Aaron Williams Corey Graham Dan Carpenter Marcus Easley Percy Harvin Corbin Bryant Reggie Bush Jerome Felton Leger Douzable James Ihedigbo Corey White Brandon Spikes Sergio Brown Scott Crichton IK Enemkpali Dri Archer Chris Gragg Jonathan Meeks Phillip Thomas Gerald Christian Greg Salas Those players were released because they're (a) too injured or over-paid, or (b) trash If they were looking to rebuild in 2017, then Kyle Williams wouldn't still be here and they would have replaced those players above with undrafted FA rookies instead of veteran free agents.
SlimShady'sSpaceForce Posted May 10, 2017 Posted May 10, 2017 What's exciting about this season is that we have no idea how good McD is. I mean, for all we know, he could be the league's next great coach. After learning just how disorganized things were under Rex, even a decent coach might be all this team needs. He's got to be better than RR, DM, CG and GW Did I miss any?
Success Posted May 10, 2017 Posted May 10, 2017 He's got to be better than RR, DM, CG and GW Did I miss any? Wasn't Mularkey coach for awhile? I've blocked a lot of it out. Therapy is helping.
Ron Burgundy Posted May 10, 2017 Posted May 10, 2017 The complete lack of optimism for the upcoming season says a lot about the fan base. I count myself with the rest to be honest, we're writing off this season (with several valid reasons) even though teams make quick turnarounds all the time in the NFL. I doubt our new Carolina braintrust is thinking they are "rebuilding". I think their plan going in is to make the playoffs. These guys don't seem like the types to go into a season hoping to draft high next year. That's obviously complete speculation.
eball Posted May 10, 2017 Author Posted May 10, 2017 And because it's not a rebuild, it's why we always go 7-9 or 6-10 most seasons. Yes, we could sneak into the playoffs and I will be very happy. But odds are we're winning 6 or 7 games & might not have the ammo to pick a top qb to end this mediocre cycle. I believe this is a talent team. I think with a top qb we are easily a playoff team. Tyrod is fine and certainly not a major problem. But I don't know if he will ever be a difference maker. And until we get that, our margin for error is so small. I see this a lot like you do. This season has a different feel but I expect similar results. The Bills aren't bad enough to be a 3-13 type of team. That would allow them to grab a top QB prospect and rebuild quickly. They have a shot at the playoffs (I would say 20%ish) but are not Super Bowl contenders. If they do win 9 games (as an example) and just miss the playoffs what do they do next year? The problem is it's hard to go from the middle to the top. I wish that they either went all in this year (re-sign Gilmore, BPA at 10, re-sign MG, etc..) and tried to contend or blew it up. I am willing to let this play out but this feels like a decent football team that won't be good enough to win it all or bad enough to add major talent. Guys, I think you're both basically agreeing with me. I'm not predicting a 10 win season, I'm just saying not to expect a 3-4 win season.
John from Riverside Posted May 10, 2017 Posted May 10, 2017 The complete lack of optimism for the upcoming season says a lot about the fan base. I count myself with the rest to be honest, we're writing off this season (with several valid reasons) even though teams make quick turnarounds all the time in the NFL. I doubt our new Carolina braintrust is thinking they are "rebuilding". I think their plan going in is to make the playoffs. These guys don't seem like the types to go into a season hoping to draft high next year. That's obviously complete speculation. why are you speaking for the fan base.....and what fan base the punchbowl pissers you can count with your toes dont count
BillsVet Posted May 10, 2017 Posted May 10, 2017 Name a team that isn't thin at some key position(s). My only point is that it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility that a new approach yields better results, and the roster isn't talent-poor. You've conflated the discussion into all teams having depth at positions. Well, yeah but that's not the point. Buffalo has starting and depth issues all over the field, save for perhaps interior OL and DL. Name another position where they are strong other than...FB. And I would point out that players age, player performance isn't always carried over from season to season, the schedule will be challenging, and their depth will be challenged.
Kirby Jackson Posted May 10, 2017 Posted May 10, 2017 You've conflated the discussion into all teams having depth at positions. Well, yeah but that's not the point. Buffalo has starting and depth issues all over the field, save for perhaps interior OL and DL. Name another position where they are strong other than...FB. And I would point out that players age, player performance isn't always carried over from season to season, the schedule will be challenging, and their depth will be challenged. We don't often agree but you are spot on here. They are thin at LB, DB, RB, TE and who knows about the depth at WR & QB. I think that they are pretty thin at DE as well.
John from Riverside Posted May 10, 2017 Posted May 10, 2017 (edited) We don't often agree but you are spot on here. They are thin at LB, DB, RB, TE and who knows about the depth at WR & QB. I think that they are pretty thin at DE as well. I think what we have are a lot of unknowns in the depth areas I actually we are now pretty good at WR Edited May 10, 2017 by John from Hemet
Kirby Jackson Posted May 10, 2017 Posted May 10, 2017 I think what we have are a lot of unknowns in the depth areas I actually we are now pretty good at WR I think WR has a chance to be decent but it's certainly an unknown. I like Watkins and Jones quite a bit as the top 2 but have no idea behind them. It may be ugly and it may be solid. They only have one safety, one TE, one RB and a couple of DEs. The LBs and corners have some questions but they have some guys that are unknowns. It's possible a guy or 2 emerges.
C.Biscuit97 Posted May 10, 2017 Posted May 10, 2017 Guys, I think you're both basically agreeing with me. I'm not predicting a 10 win season, I'm just saying not to expect a 3-4 win season. Agreed and that's the problem. Honestly, if you don't have a franchise qb, you're better off hitting rock bottom if you're going to kiss the playoffs.
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted May 10, 2017 Posted May 10, 2017 It's a complete rebuild. Top to bottom left to right. The key question is how many of the pieces they need to rebuild the team into what they want, do they have or will they get in the coming months?
QCity Posted May 10, 2017 Posted May 10, 2017 This could be the last year in a Bills uniform for Kyle Williams, Shady, Tyrod, and possibly Watkins. I'd say the 2018 season is when the rebuild truly begins.
JustWinPlease Posted May 10, 2017 Posted May 10, 2017 (edited) ...and I find it amusing that posters are saying things like "give them three years and we'll see" and whatnot. Yes, it's McD's first HC job, and yes, it's Beane's first GM job (although he did serve as interim GM for 10 games in 2012), but these guys are hardly "green" and the Bills' roster cupboard is far from bare. I will be shocked if the Bills aren't at least a 6-7 win team, and I certainly think it's possible they could win 9 or 10. This is not a rebuild, it's a refocus. A full-blown rebuild like the Sabres have gone through? No, it's not. But it is a rebuild, of the entire organization. If you're not rebuilding, and you're not contending...what are you doing? I see several positions that need to be seriously strengthened for us to be a solid football team...not including more solid depth across the entire roster. I see it like this...looking down the road. (Starters first, backups second, and so on...positions in need represented with a "?.") QB: Tyrod (for how long?), Peterman RB: Shady (for how long?), Williams, ? (this is a tough position, it needs to be rebuilt if Williams doesn't pan out.) FB: Dimarco WR: Watkins (for how long?), Jones, (after that we really just don't know) TE: Clay (for how long?), O'Leary, ? OT: Glenn, Dawkins, ? OG: Incognito (for how long?), Miller, Groy C: Wood (for how long?), Groy DE: Hughes (for how long?), Lawson, ?, ? DT: Dareus (for how long?), Williams (for how long?), Washington, Worthy OLB: Alexander (for how long?), Milano/Vallejo, ?, ? (this position needs some SERIOUS work) MLB: Ragland, Brown (for how long?), ?, ? CB: Darby, White, Seymour, ?, ? (depth is a concern) FS: Poyer, ? SS: Hyde, ? K: Hauschka P: Schmidt/Rehkow There's a lot of question marks and guys who could be leaving one way or another within a year...this roster needs some work, and these guys need some time to do it. And knowing the Carolina way, it is going to be done through the draft...not in free agency. Edited May 10, 2017 by JustWinPlease
John from Riverside Posted May 10, 2017 Posted May 10, 2017 A full-blown rebuild like the Sabres have gone through? No, it's not. But it is a rebuild, of the entire organization. If you're not rebuilding, and you're not contending...what are you doing? I see several positions that need to be seriously strengthened for us to be a solid football team...not including more solid depth across the entire roster. I see it like this...looking down the road. (Starters first, backups second, and so on...positions in need represented with a "?.") QB: Tyrod (for how long?), Peterman RB: Shady (for how long?), Williams, ? (this is a tough position, it needs to be rebuilt if Williams doesn't pan out.) FB: Dimarco WR: Watkins (for how long?), Jones, (after that we really just don't know) TE: Clay (for how long?), O'Leary, ? OT: Glenn, Dawkins, ? OG: Incognito (for how long?), Miller, Groy C: Wood (for how long?), Groy DE: Hughes (for how long?), Lawson, ?, ? DT: Dareus (for how long?), Williams (for how long?), Washington, Worthy OLB: Alexander (for how long?), Milano/Vallejo, ?, ? (this position needs some SERIOUS work) MLB: Ragland, Brown (for how long?), ?, ? CB: Darby, White, Seymour, ?, ? (depth is a concern) FS: Poyer, ? SS: Hyde, ? K: Hauschka P: Schmidt/Rehkow There's a lot of question marks and guys who could be leaving one way or another within a year...this roster needs some work, and these guys need some time to do it. And knowing the Carolina way, it is going to be done through the draft...not in free agency. I would throw Tolbert in there with the running backs
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