Why are you so sure we aren't a playoff team?

[row_33]

The answer is talent.

 

With the Pats probably a lock to take the division, making the playoffs hoping to squeak out a WC is a long shot.

 

Then there's that talent thing...

[nedboy7]

^^^

 

How many DBs have the Bills drafted in the first or second round in the last 20 years who were allowed to walk away in free agency after their rookie contracts despite the fact that they were clearly excellent players, several with Pro Bowl appearances on their resumes? How many times did the Bills then turn around and draft a replacement for said DB in the first or second round of the next draft? Allowing Gilmore to walk and then drafting White to replace him is simply the latest iteration of one of the Bills' favorite moves over the length of the playoff drought. It doesn't make the team better; it simply saves real $$$ for the organization. A first round rookie gets paid a whole lot less than a proven vet with Pro Bowl honors. Meanwhile, that first rounder could have been used to draft another OLer or DLer to groom to replace the aging vets on both lines!!! Guys like Kyle Williams and Richie Incognito will both be on the wrong side of 35 by next season. Several other members of both lines are on the wrong side of 30, too. Then there's the possibility of Vlad Ducasse pretending to play RG ...

 

The Bills have similarly used first/second round picks on rent-a-RB for 20 years, too, beginning with Antoine Smith drafted in 1997, Travis Henry in 2001, Willis McGahee in 2003, Marshawn Lynch in 2007, and CJ Spiller in 2010. All of them had some success after they were traded/allowed to walk in FA, and Smith and Lynch have Super Bowl rings.

 

Fans who have paid attention to the Bills over the years see the current regime doing the very same things that the failed regimes of the past have done. We recognize it for what it is: the way the Bills organization has operated for nearly two decades and we don't expect any more success from the new regime than any of the previous ones had.

 

talk about nailing it. well done.

[Billsguy]

Dear God...

OP, check back in around week 5, and thanks for the comical post.

Agreed 100%

 

I'll bet you can find people on the NY Jets board who think they have a chance at the playoffs. Delusion is everywhere!

 

The Bills currently have the worst receiving corps in the league and are a McCoy hamstring away from the worst RB corp in the league. And the QB situation is comical.

 

Which team are you talking about? Seriously dude?

Edited September 5, 2017 by Billsguy

[Captain Hindsight]

I admire your optimism, but this is going to be a rough year. There is so much turnover. to expect the team to be a team week one would be optimistic at best.

 

I expect the defense to be better, which will help. If they win 8 games I would be amazed and McD deserves coach of the year

[HuSeYiN_NYC]

Yup those "negative" fans are always wrong, oh wait actually no they're not, it's been 17 years of no Playoffs.

But you're right, let's blindly follow this regime and support every head scratching move they make.

Call me crazy but I'm gonna take a wild guess. My guess is, you don't trust the process...

[cba fan]

Did you actually research this or are you pulling this out of your butt?

I researched it.

 

There have been new HC who took teams to playoffs first year, but none with this kind of mega roster turnover.

 

fart....

Edited September 5, 2017 by cba fan

[bisonbrigade]

No Talent, Tommy Brady, no QB, new secondary, no speed at WR, injuries, lack of depth, bad luck, Flutie jinx.

Edited September 5, 2017 by bisonbrigade

[BillsCelticsAngelsBama]

^^^

 

How many DBs have the Bills drafted in the first or second round in the last 20 years who were allowed to walk away in free agency after their rookie contracts despite the fact that they were clearly excellent players, several with Pro Bowl appearances on their resumes? How many times did the Bills then turn around and draft a replacement for said DB in the first or second round of the next draft? Allowing Gilmore to walk and then drafting White to replace him is simply the latest iteration of one of the Bills' favorite moves over the length of the playoff drought. It doesn't make the team better; it simply saves real $$$ for the organization. A first round rookie gets paid a whole lot less than a proven vet with Pro Bowl honors. Meanwhile, that first rounder could have been used to draft another OLer or DLer to groom to replace the aging vets on both lines!!! Guys like Kyle Williams and Richie Incognito will both be on the wrong side of 35 by next season. Several other members of both lines are on the wrong side of 30, too. Then there's the possibility of Vlad Ducasse pretending to play RG ...

 

The Bills have similarly used first/second round picks on rent-a-RB for 20 years, too, beginning with Antoine Smith drafted in 1997, Travis Henry in 2001, Willis McGahee in 2003, Marshawn Lynch in 2007, and CJ Spiller in 2010. All of them had some success after they were traded/allowed to walk in FA, and Smith and Lynch have Super Bowl rings.

 

Fans who have paid attention to the Bills over the years see the current regime doing the very same things that the failed regimes of the past have done. We recognize it for what it is: the way the Bills organization has operated for nearly two decades and we don't expect any more success from the new regime than any of the previous ones had.

DROP THE MIC and walk off the stage. 100 % agree

[BillsCelticsAngelsBama]

Well, let's just look at this in detail. They traded two young guys in Watkins and Darby. And got back two young guys in Matthews and Gaines (which you and others refuse to acknowledge when you say they dumped them for picks) and two picks. So at least in terms of age that's a wash. They traded Seymour for, again, a younger WR and a pick. So same deal there.

 

 

 

This topic is about is whether or not this is a playoff team. The Seymour deal may be a wash, though I think we got the short end of the stick. BUT Watkins and Darby, combined are way, way better than Matthews and Gaines. Not even close. ​ That's why we have received the picks. The deals may work out for the future, and I'm not saying it won't but for 2017 the talent pool is much less.

[oldmanfan]

This topic is about is whether or not this is a playoff team. The Seymour deal may be a wash, though I think we got the short end of the stick. BUT Watkins and Darby, combined are way, way better than Matthews and Gaines. Not even close. ​ That's why we have received the picks. The deals may work out for the future, and I'm not saying it won't but for 2017 the talent pool is much less.

Well, if you had read that part of the thread you would have seen my response was to a statement saying we let young players go for old players. We didn't with Sammy and Darby. We got back two guys in Gaines and Matthews who have exactly the same years experience in the league.

 

If you had read further you would see that I was not in favor of the Sammy trade.

 

So we've now established you didn't read anything before posting this. I think Sammy if healthy is a great talent. Darby and Gaines was a wash. Seymour? I don't get hung up on a # 5 CB.

[Chuck Schick]

As much as he grated on me, I wonder if this way of doing business is what Marrone wanted in an organization.

The ability to swiftly make personnel and scheme decisions based only on what they believed to be in the best interest of the team.

No concern over name recognition, draft status, etc.

 

We obviously didn't have it before, and maybe that's why he felt it wasn't worth sticking around.

[transplantbillsfan]

Agreed 100%

 

I'll bet you can find people on the NY Jets board who think they have a chance at the playoffs. Delusion is everywhere!

 

The Bills currently have the worst receiving corps in the league and are a McCoy hamstring away from the worst RB corp in the league. And the QB situation is comical.

 

Which team are you talking about? Seriously dude?

 

You mention the offense. What about the defense?

 

And our WR corps last year was arguably as bad as this year for most of the season with all the games Sammy and Woods missed. If Matthews and Jones stay on the field healthy all year (which is obviously a big if), I'd guess our WRs this year are better than last year.

 

And we still have McCoy, one of the best RBs in the league. Criticize the other guys all you want but we did the same with "who the hell is Karlos Williams" and then "who the hell is Mike Gillislee." RBs are just largely a dime a dozen, especially in this running scheme.

 

Why is the QB situation any more comical than last year? I think it's better because if Taylor misses games because of injury or benching, we don't have to watch EJ Manuel take the field.

[snafu]

 

You mention the offense. What about the defense?

 

And our WR corps last year was arguably as bad as this year for most of the season with all the games Sammy and Woods missed. If Matthews and Jones stay on the field healthy all year (which is obviously a big if), I'd guess our WRs this year are better than last year.

 

And we still have McCoy, one of the best RBs in the league. Criticize the other guys all you want but we did the same with "who the hell is Karlos Williams" and then "who the hell is Mike Gillislee." RBs are just largely a dime a dozen, especially in this running scheme.

 

Why is the QB situation any more comical than last year? I think it's better because if Taylor misses games because of injury or benching, we don't have to watch EJ Manuel take the field.

 

We actually don't know how this running scheme will work, since it isn't the same as the previous two years.

[transplantbillsfan]

I researched it.

 

There have been new HC who took teams to playoffs first year, but none with this kind of mega roster turnover.

 

fart....

 

I mean I could take your word for it, except for the fact that the 2008 Atlanta Falcons, who had a mega roster turnover (I didn't do the math, but looks about equal to what we have) and a new HC, went to the playoffs in the first year of this mega roster turnover.

 

So, forgive me for not believing you spent much time researching this when we have a pretty obvious and prominent example within the last decade.

[Straight Hucklebuck]

 

I mean I could take your word for it, except for the fact that the 2008 Atlanta Falcons, who had a mega roster turnover (I didn't do the math, but looks about equal to what we have) and a new HC, went to the playoffs in the first year of this mega roster turnover.

 

So, forgive me for not believing you spent much time researching this when we have a pretty obvious and prominent example within the last decade.

How are the Bills better than the last few years when they have finished with an aggregate 8-8 record?

 

The talent doesn't say they're better on either side of the ball.

 

And sorry McDermott is not getting a pass as a better Coach than Marrone or Ryan just because he is new. He has shown nothing so far.

Edited September 5, 2017 by Straight Hucklebuck

[transplantbillsfan]

How are the Bills better than the last few years when they have finished with an aggregate 8-8 record?

 

The talent doesn't say they're better on either side of the ball.

 

And sorry McDermott is not getting a pass as a better Coach than Marrone or Ryan just because he is new. He has shown nothing so far.

 

Ummm... what?

 

Who says anyone's getting a pass as anything? I'm not. I don't know what McDermott is. But I think if he ends up being a great coach (and a lot of folks raved about his hire) then this team with this roster could still find a way into the playoffs.

 

 

I think talent is overvalued by folks here and coaching is undervalued.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm really looking forward to how that statement is going to result in one of those great message board leaps of me somehow saying that talent doesn't matter

[RaoulDuke79]

Please dude, this team is botton five talent wise.... but we get the Jets twice, but playoffs.... would love to hear a reason anyone thinks they are playoff caliber. This is possibly the worst roster they've had since 1984.

 

They'll win 4-7.Wanna bet me ?????? More of a realistic bet.................... crickets

4-7 is reasonable....1 win is easy money.

[TheFunPolice]

I think this team will surprise some people but ultimately fall short of the playoffs.

 

I predict 8-8. Jets and Phins could be 4 wins. I have zero fear of Cutler at this point in his career. One thing he loves is turning the ball over, early and often.

[H2o]

I think this team will surprise some people but ultimately fall short of the playoffs.

 

I predict 8-8. Jets and Phins could be 4 wins. I have zero fear of Cutler at this point in his career. One thing he loves is turning the ball over, early and often.

People want to knock MIA because of Cutler. I think he can perform just as well as Tannehill, if not better, given he stays healthy. He had his best year of his career under Gase. He also has more weapons in MIA than he has ever had. Parker is gonna be his Alshon, he has Julius Thomas, that dirty bastard Landry, Stills to take the top off of the D, and a beast in Ajayi at RB. I wouldn't be surprised if Miami wins 10 games.

[Thunderstealer]

Schedule

You just have to beat the team in front of you. some coaches have a gift to prepare guys to do just that. Be nice if Buffalo had one.