How the state of the Bills franchise has changed dramatically

[RobbRiddick]

I try not to get carried away with the optimism. I will say that I haven't been this pumped since Donahoe was GM and we had that offseason where we got Adams, Spikes etc. and had Bledsoe, then got Milloy just before the opener. 

 

In retrospect Donahoe was one of those GMs who was partly out to show how smart he was and to make a splash. I think that's why he got McGahee when we didn't really need him. It came across as a 'smart' move that would get the media buzzing, which it did.

 

You could say that's what Beane was trying to do in going after AB but I don't see that as the same, and the guys he's got in FA I see as intelligent moves that are under the radar a bit, sort of like Poyer and Hyde were

[Chandler#81]

8 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

They used free agency to temporarily fill some holes.

 

Last year at this time TSW was talking about how Vontae might return to excellence and how Murphy could get back to double digit sacks and Star would be a star and McCarron was an incredible value that Beane pulled from a magic hat. ?

 

Those were just the guys who were going to be great.    The rest of the duds Beane signed were just going to compete for starting gigs.

 

The good news is other than the awful Star Lotulelei contract most of the others were deals that it would be easy to walk away from.

 

Which brings us to this 2019 free agent crop.........little bit better players.........higher dollars.......but same profile.........a high potential for flameouts and injury and mostly deals that will be easy to walk away from when the time comes to re-up with the guys that McBean has drafted.

 

For the most part.......they are just doing what free agency is really good for..........filling needs with hopefully, temporarily productive players.........and allowing the team to draft with a clear head and hopefully be able to draft better, long term players.

 

Fair enough. But for better or worse, this FA crop will man at least 5 starting spots for the ‘19 Bills including KR. Possibly 6, if Long can earn a spot on the line . It’s safe to assume 2 rookies will start as well. 

For however comical our hopes were a year ago, most fans knew it was going to be a tough year. Some of it had to do with the schedule but most of it was being cash strapped. At least the vibe is better this year.

[billsfan_34]

Mmmm Kool Aid! How about we start winning first.

[Bob in STL]

Let’s not get too excited just yet.  Last year they fielded a mostly minor league team, started the season with Nathan Peterman and no veteran qb on the roster, and the depth was so non existent that they could not play any facet of special teams well. 

[BADOLBILZ]

1 hour ago, Chandler#81 said:

Fair enough. But for better or worse, this FA crop will man at least 5 starting spots for the ‘19 Bills including KR. Possibly 6, if Long can earn a spot on the line . It’s safe to assume 2 rookies will start as well. 

For however comical our hopes were a year ago, most fans knew it was going to be a tough year. Some of it had to do with the schedule but most of it was being cash strapped. At least the vibe is better this year.

 

I think tempered expectations were almostly entirely because of the uncertain QB situation.    

 

They had plenty of cap room last offseason and even more in 2019 that they could have dipped into.....and they tried to spend more........it's just that without a respected QB a guy like John Brown turned down a 3 year deal with a higher AAV from Buffalo for a 1 year deal with Baltimore.

 

Ultimately I think the realization was that they were probably going to have to take a step back at the QB position in 2018 to be able to get much better at QB in the future.

 

Fortunately Allen really got some good experience in the season and that's colored EVERYTHING since.

 

 

[BillsVet]

 

5 hours ago, The Wiz said:

Just curious, why does it matter what anyone outside of Buffalo thinks? 

 

Because many Bills fans have a huge inferiority complex and act as if criticism is directed at they the fan. The board should have a resident psychologist for instances when a national figure dares question what the Bills are doing.   

 

5 hours ago, Logic said:

Boy, the OP didn't know what he was in for. 

Here he came with his optimism and his statement that he felt that the Bills ownership, management, and coaches had the team headed in the right direction.

Can't have THAT kind of upbeat nonsense now, can we?

Buzzkill patrol, engage!

 

Dozens of posters have come and gone who went after those who expressed skepticism the franchise had turned a corner over the years. 

 

What's funny is hearing someone with the name "Logic" say that it's perfectly normal to get all emotional and start expecting big things without demonstrable results.    

 

No, the truth is, after all these years it's actually logical to hedge your bets and let things play out before getting worked up that everything has changed.  Anything else is just illogical. 

[Freddie's Dead]

Mario Williams earned every penny of his deal for the first three years of it.  Year 4, he hit the wall, hard.  His public criticism of defensive genius Rex Ryan's coaching greased the skids for his release.  Since he was unable to do anything with the Fish, it would appear that Rex wasn't the problem (I just threw up in my mouth).  Few NFL athletes have fallen so far, so quickly.  Weird. 

[Cotton Fitzsimmons]

One day Coach McDermott is going to step on that podium, hoist the Lombardi Trophy, look Jim Nantz square in the eye and say “Hey Jim... it’s all about THAT PROCESS!”

 

FACT!

[Dr.Sack]

Being objective this whole thing comes down to the QB. If Allen improves his accuracy, ability to read coverage & throw with anticipation then this FA period was amazing.  If he struggles Beane & McD are likely gone by end of 2020. We all don’t want that to happen but that’s the reality of pro football.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

4 hours ago, Bob in STL said:

Let’s not get too excited just yet.  Last year they fielded a mostly minor league team, started the season with Nathan Peterman and no veteran qb on the roster, and the depth was so non existent that they could not play any facet of special teams well. 

 

Yes. Let's not get excited. Heaven forbid.

[BillsFan1988]

11 hours ago, msw2112 said:

We've "won the offseason" a few times before only to be disappointed when the season came.  Let's hope it's different this time around.  I'm pretty optimistic.

We sure did and a few times the injury bug hit us very hard the same yr.

[Foxx]

i have always been proud to be a Bills fan.

 

ftw!

[Thurman#1]

12 hours ago, DJB said:

 

Gone are the cheap Ralph days. 

 

Gone are the days of signing an aging and deteriorating Mario Williams to am oversized contract when we had nothing else around him and we should have been tearing it down instead of that marketing ploy by Russ Brandon. 

 

Gone are the days of trading up for a WR using valuable draft stock when we had no QB to throw to him. 

 

Gone are the days of hiring a flashy coach like Rex Ryan who was all talk with little substance and had the team pulling in different directions. 

 

I'm just so pleased with this front office and ownership group who appears to have an actual plan to be successful and be a perennial team in the playoff hunt. 

 

Obviously going for Allen was their biggest and smartest decision they have made. And now free agents are actually wanting to come to Buffalo because of our QB!

 

McDermott and Beane have built an actual team with character and skill who care for each other, the city of Buffalo and are excited to be a Buffalo Bill!

 

And for once in a very long time im proud to be a Bills fan! The time is now!

 

Go Bills !

 

 

The problem wasn't Mario or his contract. The defense was good enough for several years there. The problem was Fitzy at QB.

 

Bringing in a QB who has franchise potential was absolutely something they should have done long ago and was desperately needed. Choosing Allen as that guy ... well, we'll see. Too early to say, though I'm hopeful.

 

I do like the way the new FO works. A lot. But they still have a lot to prove.

[Thurman#1]

11 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

They used free agency to temporarily fill some holes.

 

Last year at this time TSW was talking about how Vontae might return to excellence and how Murphy could get back to double digit sacks and Star would be a star and McCarron was an incredible value that Beane pulled from a magic hat. ?

 

 

Oh, please.

 

You know a point is weak when the writer has to exaggerate so immensely. Produce some links where people the FO said McCarron was an "incredible" value, mentioned a "magic hat," he'd pulled anything out of, or said Star "would be a star." Star's been very good, he's done what they wanted from him, and he shows no signs whatsoever of being being a temporary hole fill.

 

Yes, FA was used to fill holes. This year too. In fact, it's pretty much what FA is for.

 

And blaming Beane for Vontae in light of how he left is just stupid.

 

Yes, when you sign someone you say positive things about him, and that's not just the Bills. But you had to exaggerate what was said precisely because the point is so weak.

 

 

11 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

Those were just the guys who were going to be great.    The rest of the duds Beane signed were just going to compete for starting gigs.

 

The good news is other than the awful Star Lotulelei contract most of the others were deals that it would be easy to walk away from.

 

Which brings us to this 2019 free agent crop.........little bit better players.........higher dollars.......but same profile.........a high potential for flameouts and injury and mostly deals that will be easy to walk away from when the time comes to re-up with the guys that McBean has drafted.

 

For the most part.......they are just doing what free agency is really good for..........filling needs with hopefully, temporarily productive players.........and allowing the team to draft with a clear head and hopefully be able to draft better, long term players.

 

 

 

The good news about Lotulelei is that he's here and doing what they want him to do.

 

The rest of the "duds Beane signed" include Hauschka, Levi Wallace, McKenzie, Foster, Anderson, Gaines, and a bunch of others, some of whom have done well, and others of whom haven't. And he brought them in in a year when they had serious salary cap problems and not a lot of cash to throw around. How come you left out those guys? They don't fit your narrative? How about constructing a narrative strong enough, next time, to stand up to all the facts?

 

As for "high potential for flameouts," nonsense. No more than any other group of FAs.

 

Your last paragraph, at least, makes a lot of sense. I disagree that there's only one thing FA is good for. It's good for a lot of purposes. But yeah, one of the  primary ones is what you're talking about, filling in the gaps so you can draft for BPA.

Edited March 16, 2019 by Thurman#1

[Shaw66]

There is no doubt the franchise has changed dramatically.  Yes, they haven't won yet, but the FRANCHISE has changed dramatically.  To wit:

 

1.  Ralph Wilson is gone.  Great man, but not a successful owner.  Was willing to spend only inconsistently.  He insisted a positive bottom line, and that insistence got in the way of team building.  Pegulas are completely different in that regard.

 

2.  Russ Brandon is gone. 

 

3.  Brandon Beane has a clear focus, and he is extremely disciplined.  He approach is thoughtful.  For examole, McD wants Allen to focus on the short passing game, so Beane's gets one of the best short-game receivers in the league.  Great focus.

 

4.  McD is organized and has a system. His players love it and want to play for him.

 

5.  The Bills are all in on a great young QB.  Yes, he still must improve, but the Bills haven't had this kind of talent in the building since Bledsoe or maybe Kelly.

 

That's dramatically different. 

[Shaw66]

Yea, Thurman. Combat that nonsense. 

 

Every GM misses sometime.  

 

Wait until the draft.  Then watch training camp.  The Bills are going to be putting more talent on the field for the third consecutive season, and they will do it again next year too.

[Scorp83]

13 hours ago, The Senator said:

 

19 and 0 baby!!!!! ??

.

"Championship" ?????

20 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

Yea, Thurman. Combat that nonsense. 

 

Every GM misses sometime.  

 

Wait until the draft.  Then watch training camp.  The Bills are going to be putting more talent on the field for the third consecutive season, and they will do it again next year too.

Hmmmm ??

[gjv001]

14 hours ago, The Wiz said:

Just curious, why does it matter what anyone outside of Buffalo thinks? 

Why don't you ask all the Buffalonians who got bent out of shape when some agent said  Buffalo was the least desirable place to play what it matters what anyone outside of Buffalo thinks.

[MacGyver]

Not much has changed really, they still lose more often than they win.  That's all that matters in the end. They need to start showing this season they can compete, not just win a few games here & there.

Edited March 16, 2019 by MacGyver

[PromoTheRobot]

15 hours ago, DJB said:

 

Gone are the cheap Ralph days. 

 

Gone are the days of signing an aging and deteriorating Mario Williams to am oversized contract when we had nothing else around him and we should have been tearing it down instead of that marketing ploy by Russ Brandon. 

 

Gone are the days of trading up for a WR using valuable draft stock when we had no QB to throw to him. 

 

Gone are the days of hiring a flashy coach like Rex Ryan who was all talk with little substance and had the team pulling in different directions. 

 

I'm just so pleased with this front office and ownership group who appears to have an actual plan to be successful and be a perennial team in the playoff hunt. 

 

Obviously going for Allen was their biggest and smartest decision they have made. And now free agents are actually wanting to come to Buffalo because of our QB!

 

McDermott and Beane have built an actual team with character and skill who care for each other, the city of Buffalo and are excited to be a Buffalo Bill!

 

And for once in a very long time im proud to be a Bills fan! The time is now!

 

Go Bills !

 

And yet they're are people (Bucky Gleason e.g.) who insist team history is a predictor of future results. Even when the current regime, from ownership, management, coaching and players, have no connection to the past. 

Edited March 16, 2019 by PromoTheRobot