Will the 2018 Bills be better then the 2017 Bills???

[Scorp83]

I ask this cause I want to get a sense on where the fanbase is at right now? Has the plan change for you??? ("Staying competitive while building for the future")

 

It seems like every move McBeane tries to make, we end up going in reverse. They trade Darby & Sammy... both Gaines & Matthews gets hurt, they trade Dareus & then trade for Benjamin, KB gets hurts & the run game suffers, Tyrod has a bad game, gets bench & Peterman comes in, throws 5 picks. We make the playoffs by the skin of our teeth after that decision, all seems forgiven & McDermott knee jerk reaction to Tyrod's bad game doesn't come back to haunt him...Cool

 

Fast forward to the off-season, we trade Tyrod without a sure fire plan, & we're stuck with McCarron on a minimum deal, not even legit backup money. We sign Star L...& Kyle comes back...cool! Wood retires, Then we don't bring Preston back (maybe cause of scheme fit). We trade Cordy to the Bengals & move up to 12...Great! Then the Jets move up to 3, & put a stink our strategic  gameplan to trade up & draft a top QB...because regardless of what the Bills do...the Jets will have a guy at QB also for possibly the next 10-15 yrs Ughhh. We sign Russell Bodine to patch up the lost of Wood...we figure Bodine should do well lining up next to Richie...who now retires along with Wood. 

 

As of right now we have No QB, No LB's, outside of KB no legit WR's, No O-line, & we need CB, TE & RB depth. Last year's team finish better then expected, & it felt like we were only a QB & WR away from improving.

 

I guess MY feeling is, it's hard to remain confident in 2018, with NO QB, our division all wanting a QB, & our roster not looking no where close to last year's...with Free Agency pretty much over with, & only the draft to improve this team. How do we maintain McDermott & Beane plan of "Staying competitive while building for the future"???

Edited April 10, 2018 by Scorp83

[thurst44]

19 minutes ago, Scorp83 said:

I ask this cause I want to get a sense on where the fanbase is at right now? Has the plan change for you??? ("Staying competitive while building for the future")

 

It seems like every move McBeane tries to make, we end up going in reverse. They trade Darby & Sammy... both Gaines & Matthews gets hurt, they trade Dareus & then trade for Benjamin, KB gets hurts & the run game suffers, Tyrod has a bad game, gets bench & Peterman comes in, throws 5 picks. We make the playoffs by the skin of our teeth after that decision, all seems forgiven & McDermott knee jerk reaction to Tyrod's bad game doesn't come back to haunt him...Cool

 

Fast forward to the off-season, we trade Tyrod without a sure fire plan, & we're stuck with McCarron on a minimum deal, not even legit backup money. We sign Star L...& Kyle comes back...cool! Wood retires, Then we don't bring Preston back (maybe cause of scheme fit). We trade Cordy to the Bengals & move up to 12...Great! Then the Jets move up to 3, & put a stink our strategic  gameplan to trade up & draft a top QB...because regardless of what the Bills do...the Jets will have a guy at QB also for possibly the next 10-15 yrs Ughhh. We sign Russell Bodine to patch up the lost of Wood...we figure Bodine should do well lining up next to Richie...who now retires along with Wood. 

 

As of right now we have No QB, No LB's, outside of KB no legit WR's, No O-line, & we need CB, TE & RB depth. Last year's team finish better then expected, & it felt like we were only a QB & WR away from improving.

 

I guess MY feeling is, it's hard to remain confident in 2018, with NO QB, our division all wanting a QB, & our roster not looking no where close to last year's...with Free Agency pretty much over with, & only the draft to improve this team. How do we maintain McDermott & Beane plan of "Staying competitive while building for the future"???

Yes, I know this is the time for breaking each others' heads open and feasting on the goo inside, but methinks you might be exaggerating a bit here.  First off, a lot of these "two steps forward, three steps back" moves happened last year, before we made it to the playoffs. I'm not sure how you're spinning the fact that we're paying McCarron very little as a bad thing--that was actually a savvy move to get a solid backup with starter potential after everyone else got one. And, if you've been around here regularly, you might have heard from the occasional thread about it that there's more than one major QB prospect out there and the Jets move does not completely shut them out (nor ensure the Jets pick a guy who will be there any longer than our guy--see 1983 draft). We hardly have zero LBs. Milano played quite well in his rookie season, Humber's not great, but he played decently last year, Lorax was near back to 2016 form at the end of the season. We could use more depth and a better middle linebacker, but we don't have "No LB's." As for WR, it's bad, but Zay could still come on, Holmes had his moments. O-line: again not "No O-line"...Dawkins looked like he might be on his way to being a top-level left tackle. O-Line is a question mark. Our CB depth is not discernibly worse than last year and there's ample time to get Leonard Johnson/Shareece Wright level players (including Leonard Johnson himself). I don't really get this supposed need for "TE & RB depth" Ivory is better than Tolbert. Travaris Cadet looked good when he played. Nick O'Leary and Logan Thomas had flashes of greatness and are both very early in their career.

 

As you said, last year's team finish(sic) better than expected, and the likely reason for that was coaching. (1) there's every reason to believe that they could surprise again and (2) we haven't even had the draft yet, free agency is not completely done, and there's June 1st cuts. Let's all bring it down a notch. Incognito retiring suddenly sucks, but it's not the end of the world.

 

 

[Zac]

There's definitely a very legitimate chance that we are worse this year, but i think that was part of the plan.  We free up a ton of cap space next year and i expect us to be a playoff team again in 2019-2020

[without a drought]

Are we defining better by record or by whether they have their QB .

[mead107]

We will be with Riley Ferguson. 

[Scorp83]

23 minutes ago, thurst44 said:

Yes, I know this is the time for breaking each others' heads open and feasting on the goo inside, but methinks you might be exaggerating a bit here.  First off, a lot of these "two steps forward, three steps back" moves happened last year, before we made it to the playoffs. I'm not sure how you're spinning the fact that we're paying McCarron very little as a bad thing--that was actually a savvy move to get a solid backup with starter potential after everyone else got one. And, if you've been around here regularly, you might have heard from the occasional thread about it that there's more than one major QB prospect out there and the Jets move does not completely shut them out (nor ensure the Jets pick a guy who will be there any longer than our guy--see 1983 draft). We hardly have zero LBs. Milano played quite well in his rookie season, Humber's not great, but he played decently last year, Lorax was near back to 2016 form at the end of the season. We could use more depth and a better middle linebacker, but we don't have "No LB's." As for WR, it's bad, but Zay could still come on, Holmes had his moments. O-line: again not "No O-line"...Dawkins looked like he might be on his way to being a top-level left tackle. O-Line is a question mark. Our CB depth is not discernibly worse than last year and there's ample time to get Leonard Johnson/Shareece Wright level players (including Leonard Johnson himself). I don't really get this supposed need for "TE & RB depth" Ivory is better than Tolbert. Travaris Cadet looked good when he played. Nick O'Leary and Logan Thomas had flashes of greatness and are both very early in their career.

 

As you said, last year's team finish(sic) better than expected, and the likely reason for that was coaching. (1) there's every reason to believe that they could surprise again and (2) we haven't even had the draft yet, free agency is not completely done, and there's June 1st cuts. Let's all bring it down a notch. Incognito retiring suddenly sucks, but it's not the end of the world.

 

 

I wasn't saying signing McCarron was a bad move but in no way does his contract shows savviness. It says...he's just a guy.  Potential starter...is a reach.

 

Wasn't saying this either, I was stating the point that the Jets could have a stud QB along with us. You can't be too closed minded... the Jets could hit on a QB just as much as the Bills. 

 

Milano & Humber... please. Your reaching & we're still in the off-season... which was my point too... right now, those 2 are not legit answers. Milano did play well but not to justify getting better. As of now, we have no legit starting LB's... Alexander is running from father time too.

 

To put so much stock in the draft, with this many holes is concerning to me. Yes, I believe in drafting more then signing Free Agents... what I don't believe in is trading away talent without a plan & that's what we've done. You don't quit your job until you have another one lined up. I get your optimism... I love that!

 

But we would have to almost hit on every pick to probably be better then last year

[SoCal Deek]

35 minutes ago, The Drought said:

Are we defining better by record or by whether they have their QB .

Oh come on!! It’s defined by record, and ALWAYS will be. Nobody wants a QB more than me but don’t kid yourself. It is NOT the answer to everything. It just isn’t.

[KHAN]

The record will likely be worse IMO. The future is wide open. I can't remember the last time it felt like the coach/GM had a plan. These guys obviously have a plan. Will it work is another story.

[HappyDays]

I think it's likely we are worse which is why I'm against trading our 2019 1st.

[Logic]

No. They will finish with a worse record because they will be starting a rookie QB.

BUT....you sometimes have to take a step back to make a leap forward.  Manning, Kelly, Aikman, and more recently Goff and Wentz...all finished their first seasons with losing records. But then year two of their careers happened, and none of their teams cared much about that first year.

[Radar]

No. Period.

[OldTimer1960]

Just now, HappyDays said:

I think it's likely we are worse which is why I'm against trading our 2019 1st.

Agreed - I have a difficult time thinking that they might trade 12, 22, 53, 65 and next year's first for any of these QBs.  Sure, I'd like a shiny new QB in the draft for hope, but I am thinking that given the price to move up for one of the "big 4" would preclude the ability to build a competitive roster.  

 

I think there really are 3 QBs that are very good prospects: Darnold, Rosen and Mayfield.

 

Beyond that, I would not trade any picks to move up for Allen or Jackson.  I'm not very confident that either of them is better than Mason Rudolph, Kyle Lauletta or Mike White.

 

If they trade up for a QB, 2018 will need to be a red-shirt year for the rookie QB, otherwise he could easily lose confidence or get hurt in a significant way behind this OL.

[TFBillsfan]

I could easily see us having double digit losses this year. Just way too many holes to fill. OL, LB, WR along with a big ? at QB.  Multiple holes on the OL.  After this season KW will be done and Shady will be another year older. So we’ll need a replacement in both of those positions as well. At this point, call me greedy but I’d rather move up to the 6-7 spot and keep the majority of my picks. With the current roster, not sure it’s wise to start any rookie QB this year. Keeping next years #1 is a must.

[xxxxxxxx]

They traded a QB who took them to the playoffs, fired the OC, and lost two starters on the o-line. I think the defense will be good, but I expect the offense to suck. 8-8 is likely their ceiling. Hopefully they show improvement by the end of the year, but September and October are going to be rough. You can't expect so many new guys to gel right away, irregardless of who they draft. And even if they get a top QB prospect, they would be insane to play him right away, especially since they will have at least two rookies on the OL.

Edited April 11, 2018 by MURPHD6

[Cusefan66214]

We will likely finish in the top 4 in the AFC East

Book it.

[xxxxxxxx]

With Ritchie retiring and Shady getting older,  Cleveland might have a better year. I hate to say it, but its the reality.

[Scorp83]

2 hours ago, HappyDays said:

I think it's likely we are worse which is why I'm against trading our 2019 1st.

YES! That's another thing I meant to mention! Great point!

38 minutes ago, MURPHD6 said:

They traded a QB who took them to the playoffs, fired the OC, and lost two starters on the o-line. I think the defense will be good, but I expect the offense to suck. 8-8 is likely their ceiling. Hopefully they show improvement by the end of the year, but September and October are going to be rough. You can't expect so many new guys to gel right away, irregardless of who they draft. And even if they get a top QB prospect, they would be insane to play him right away, especially since they will have at least two rookies on the OL.

& that's my point. It's crazy to put alot of stock in the draft to have a better season then last. Again, we would have to hit on every pick...which is unlikely given the uncertainty of the draft

[gobills1212]

Who knows... IF they land one of the big 4 I dont think they need to be. As I mentioned in another thread, one of the circumstances of this being a unique year is that the fan base seems more willing to provide a 'pass' in the name of future success and progress. Other things include a strong qb draft class, a ton of ammo, and dead cap/future cap room. If it is a step back to make a step forward - Bills fans seem smart enough to realize and accept this (in general of course) and can deal with a year of learning with out being idiots and calling for heads to roll. Maybe last year helped prepare them to a degree and who knows - maybe they can have their cake and eat it too again this year. But, if a step back is necessary for future winning I'd hope last year gave this duo a bit more rope. Years from now who knows what they do with said rope but in the mean time last year seems to have served them well into fans buying in and understanding they are trying to build a winner which sometimes means addition by subtraction. 

[GreggTX]

My belief is that we played above our talent level last year and now have unproven QB to boot. We'll get a few wins, but not very many and I'm OK with that. Even with all of our draft picks we are still a couple offseasons away. Beane has made some good moves and at least 1 questionable move in overpaying Lotulelei. If he has a good draft, gets the righr QB and spends next year's cap space wisely, we could be contenders in 2019.

[Saxum]

2 minutes ago, gobills1212 said:

Who knows... IF they land one of the big 4 I dont think they need to be. As I mentioned in another thread, one of the circumstances of this being a unique year is that the fan base seems more willing to provide a 'pass' in the name of future success and progress. Other things include a strong qb draft class, a ton of ammo, and dead cap/future cap room. If it is a step back to make a step forward - Bills fans seem smart enough to realize and accept this (in general of course) and can deal with a year of learning with out being idiots and calling for heads to roll. Maybe last year helped prepare them to a degree and who knows - maybe they can have their cake and eat it too again this year. But, if a step back is necessary for future winning I'd hope last year gave this duo a bit more rope. Years from now who knows what they do with said rope but in the mean time last year seems to have served them well into fans buying in and understanding they are trying to build a winner which sometimes means addition by subtraction. 

 

LOL!  You actually believe that?