Is Teflon's 10 Yr. Plan still on target?

[Chef Jim]

Such preseason anxiety!

It's been this way since the Juggernaut days of the Kelly era vanished into the sunset.

TD has been rapidly (OK, OK the Civil War only lasted 4 years, but rebuilding a contending NFL team is much more complicated than that) working his butt off getting our Bills into a team that can play with the best of them in the AFC North division.

 

What we're left with in terms of offense is a pop-gun like Rachel Ray - not a juggernaut but "Jugs-'O-Naught!"

429162[/snapback]

 

Where were you during the Super Bowl seasons?? They were worse, we just didn't have this message board to go to. Anybody read the letters in the Shout! magazine of those years? I have copies if anyone wants to read them.

[Nanker]

Where were you during the Super Bowl seasons??  They were worse, we just didn't have this message board to go to.  Anybody read the letters in the Shout! magazine of those years?  I have copies if anyone wants to read them.

429168[/snapback]

The angst was on the Defensive side of the ball back then. Kelly's teams always scored points by airing it out when Thurman wasn't grinding it out. God, what I'd give to have that offense coupled with this defense.

[Nanker]

unfortunately, the bills play in the east.  maybe that's the problem. 

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I think you're on to something!

[Mark VI]

and yet

1. 47,000 season tickets have been sold

2. Every game looks like a sellout.

3. Gameday is a blast.

4. The team has talent

5. I'm not dwelling on last year, I'm thinking of the opener and beyond.

6. One game at a time and keeping an open mind.

 

What did you say again ? No matter...only my opinion counts...

[cåblelady]

and yet

1. 47,000 season tickets have been sold

2. Every game looks like a sellout.

3. Gameday is a blast.

4. The team has talent

5. I'm not dwelling on last year, I'm thinking of the opener and beyond.

6. One game at a time and keeping an open mind.

 

What did you say again ? No matter...only my opinion counts...

429297[/snapback]

 

[ajzepp]

The people I get sick and tired of are the ones who seem to ONLY post negative sh--.....DeeRay is one of those people. Good God, man....do you have anything fuggin POSITIVE to say about anything?

 

As for the team, how in the world can you or anyone else be doom and gloom before the friggin season even starts?? If you can't see the positives of last year and what we have to build on for this year, you are just a miserable bastard. As for JP, the guy hasn't even played a game yet!! The coaching staff is obviously going to focus on establishing game plans that minimize his mistakes while he gains experience and adjusts to the speed of the pro game.

 

It's a brand new season....we have a ton of talent on this team....why don't you try and friggin look on the bright side for once??? I'm tired of reading your negative sh*t all the time.

[San-O]

Plan to see the Bills hover around the .500 mark for a long time.

 

If JP is OK next year, then maybe Bills sneaks into playoffs.

 

Otherwise, Ole' Whitey has a job, and there is always "next year".

 

Wait, this IS next year!

 

 

Besides, TD never published a Ten Year Plan, did he? We are only five

years in: relax man, sit back, and have another long, cool, refreshing sip

of TD KoolAid.

 

All the experts on the board say:

 

1. JP will be good this year.

2. Our O-Line is MUCH better than last year. See FFS.

3. JM will have the O-line ready to play.

4. Our defense is the best in the league.

5. We are going to run all over everybody.

[smokinandjokin]

A major appeal of the NFL is the season-to-season surprises, and the fact that probably 24 out of 32 teams and their fans have a legitimate excitement and anticipation for the upcoming season. If you want to lump the Bills in with the Browns, 49ers, Cards, etc. that's your choice. However, I think most fans, with all records stating 0-0, will choose to see the positives in their team and carry an optimistic attitude into the season. Freaking Cowboys fans are optimistic for Chrissakes. There are plenty of fans who would love to see their team swap rosters with the Bills.

 

Not every move Donahoe has made has panned out (ex: Greggers), but there were very few that did not look like the right play at the time. In fact, I was shocked by the McGahee pick and thought it didn't make sense. But then I saw the logic in it. Chance for a superstar, and still get the player you wanted in Round 2. It's sure easy to look back at moves made over the past 3 years and criticize.

 

I'd love to rewind to 2002 and hear what Deeray was saying about Bledsoe and Josh Reed then, and TD building a contender out of 3-13.

 

I will be at all 8 home games and the Tampa and San Diego away games giving everything I have for the Bills, whether they are undefeated or 0-fer. I think they will be 9-7.

[Frez]

Two words for all you positive people.............

 

 

Rian Lindell

 

Mhhauuahaaaaaaahaaaa

[Fake-Fat Sunny]

I really understnd all of you and your angst at Deeray. He's not brought forth the love you want to hear.  All is not well in this world.  It's not all ice cream and mom's apple pie.  The sun is not always shining  But, at least you're on your way to recovery.  First there's the anger, then the denial, the next hoop to pass through is recognizing that there may be some truth to that which Derray hath delivered to you.  Once you pass through that phase, I'm confident you have seen the light.

 

Trust me bros.  I don't have a axe to grind against your beloved Teflon man, aside from the fact that he hath not delivered that which he hath said he was going to deliver in his opening press conference.  After 4 years, now he begins to build the offense aftre stop gapping it with Bledsoe, Centers, Shaw, and Gash.  Meanwhile , the contracts of Fletcher, Denney, and Clements will be up at season's end, Milloy, Vincent, and Adams are all on the wrong side of 30... and Spikes contract will be up after next season.  I see a treadmill that ain't fun to be on.  I mean, WTF? are we still in cap jail?

429027[/snapback]

I think manu Bills fans follow the ethic laid out repetively by the Fox News folks and take a fair and balanced appraisal of TD (or Teflon Tom as you call him).

 

In this fair and balanced view Ws are the bottomline for the serious football fan, but folks recognize that for most of even the folks who care a lot about the NFL, the bottom line is to party hard and root for your team win or lose. Ws are key because the longer you play the more tailgates and parties in living rooms you get, but the bottomline is that the product needs to be entertaining In both of these realities the rule is what have you done for me lately and while missing the playoffs yet again last year was inadequate TD's team put up a winning record last year and even you who profess that Ws are the measure should recognize and axknowledge this or you obviously have some other agenda which is quite obvious but you fail to mention.

 

In the big fair and balanced picture it is critical that TD has a lousy record in his regime, but the reality is simply that TDs biggest error was hiring the wrong guy as HC the first time and actually letting this meauron make his own bed with his mistakes and TD not insisting on his views which apparently was advocating hiring of TC to replace the bad choice of Sheppard and instead letting GW make our bad badly by hiring Kevin Killdrive.

 

TD has failed gloriously in hiring GW (understandable but not condonable after his last HC hire ran him out of town) and he also did OK with the wash of signing Bledsoe to replace RJ (would you advocate he should have gone with Chandler or Blake or one of the available QBs?) who did great in 92 but sucked in 03. The mistake was in resigning him for 04 but fortunately TD and MM seeed to have recitified this by jettisoning Bledsoe (do you advocate we should have kept him(.

 

At any rate a fair and balanced view of TD has to judge him as not being great but not being bad either.

 

In fact, if one wants to pay even more attention to reality, the bottomline for Ralph (which is a different than any fan) is that he has overseen a massive increase in the value of the franchise under his reign and he has made a number of moves to control costs and improve the business that even if he does not produce the Ws will likely keep him as GM for a long long time.

[Terry Tate]

Two words for all you positive people.............

Rian Lindell 

 

Mhhauuahaaaaaaahaaaa

Two words for all the doomsayers - don't watch.

[jahnyc]

Much uncertainty this year. A second year qb with a crummy o-line combined with a solid defense and strong special teams (other than Lindell) produces this result. It will be interesting and fun.

 

Although I am somewhat neutral towards TD, I am a little tired of all of the positive spinning about TD. We are into year five and have not made the playoffs. That is the most important fact (other than the Bills still playing in Buffalo). The o-line is still average at best and our back-ups are inexperienced. I don't see much talent at DT, other than S. Adams. Our starting and back-up linebackers look great, but where is the overall team depth? Wire? Aiken?

 

I know that TD has done many good things, which I purposefully did not focus on in this reply. I am very pleased that season ticket sales and attendance have improved. My biggest concern is that the Bills will eventually leave Buffalo. TD seems to be focused on improving the stability of the franchise, which I appreciate.

But we need to start making the playoffs on a consistent basis. It has been too long.

 

Bottom line: the negative posts are as interesting to me as the positive posts. Keep them both coming.

[smokinandjokin]

our back-ups are inexperienced.  I don't see much talent at DT, other than S. Adams.  Our starting and back-up linebackers look great, but where is the overall team depth?  Wire?  Aiken?

429358[/snapback]

 

How many teams in the salary-cap NFL have talent and experience on their bench? Take it easy folks. The Colts don't have any depth either. Somehow the Pats have had young players step in and play well. That is an exception to the rule. But that's the key. Draft well enough to let your older, expensive players walk. But depth is a luxury, and most teams don't have it.

 

Where's the depth? McGahee was a backup last year at this time.

[IDBillzFan]

and yet

1. 47,000 season tickets have been sold

2. Every game looks like a sellout.

3. Gameday is a blast.

4. The team has talent

5. I'm not dwelling on last year, I'm thinking of the opener and beyond.

6. One game at a time and keeping an open mind.

 

What did you say again ? No matter...only my opinion counts...

429297[/snapback]

I like the way you think. Someone gimme a "Thank ya, Jesus!"

[Bill from NYC]

I think manu Bills fans follow the ethic laid out repetively by the Fox News folks and take a fair and balanced appraisal of TD (or Teflon Tom as you call him).

 

In this fair and balanced view Ws are the bottomline for the serious football fan, but folks recognize that for most of even the folks who care a lot about the NFL, the bottom line is to party hard and root for your team win or lose.  Ws are key because the longer you play the more tailgates and parties in living rooms you get, but the bottomline is that the product needs to be entertaining  In both of these realities the rule is what have you done for me lately and while missing the playoffs yet again last year was inadequate TD's team put up a winning record last year and even you who profess that Ws are the measure should recognize and axknowledge this or you obviously have some other agenda which is quite obvious but you fail to mention.

 

In the big fair and balanced picture it is critical that TD has a lousy record in his regime, but the reality is simply that TDs biggest error was hiring the wrong guy as HC the first time and actually letting this meauron make his own bed with his mistakes and TD not insisting on his views which apparently was advocating hiring of TC to replace the bad choice of Sheppard and instead letting GW make our bad badly by hiring Kevin Killdrive.

 

TD has failed gloriously in hiring GW (understandable but not condonable after his last HC hire ran him out of town) and he also did OK with the wash of signing Bledsoe to replace RJ (would you advocate he should have gone with Chandler or Blake or one of the available QBs?) who did great in 92 but sucked in 03. The mistake was in resigning him for 04 but fortunately TD and MM seeed to have recitified this by jettisoning Bledsoe (do you advocate we should have kept him(.

 

At any rate a fair and balanced view of TD has to judge him as not being great but not being bad either.

 

In fact, if one wants to pay even more attention to reality, the bottomline for Ralph (which is a different than any fan) is that he has overseen a massive increase in the value of the franchise under his reign and he has made a number of moves to control costs and improve the business that even if he does not produce the Ws will likely keep him as GM for a long long time.

429350[/snapback]

 

Good post FFS. It is certainly not possible to rate TD as 'great" nor "bad." He has been both; great in terms of trades/free agents, and bad in terms of making the playoffs.

I also will not discard the valid point that you raise about the value of the franchise. This matters, particularly to a small market, cold weather franchise like us.

Still, I do have concerns about TD. He continues to draft wrs, rbs and he gave up a ton for a qb. Look, I know that we need talent at skill positions, but this far from negates the fact that our OL still at least appears to suck. After Henry was benched it was OK last year, but we lost a solid if unspectacular LT. He was replaced by a castoff from a basement team. We had an opportunity to sign a proven LG, but instead opted for a cheaper model; one who may very well be another plodding blob. Our RT has cost us in the neighborhood of 20 mil, and you can find posts on this very page which speak of his "potential." Are you OK with this?

Receivers and qbs may put the proverbial fannies in the seats, but sometimes they suck, ala Josh Reed. In the last few years, we have devoted a 2nd (Reed), a somewhat early 1st (Evans, great pick), and another 2nd (Parrish, who was our first pick). After all of this we have Evans, who I think will be great, and aging Moulds, Reed who sucks, and an injured midget. Throwing to them will be an untested qb behind a line which consists of a very good player (Villarial), two apparent castoffs (Gandy and Anderson), a small center (Teague), and the highest paid RT in NFL history who is perhaps a tad better than average, if that.

In summary, although TD doesn't seem to be as bad as Mr. Butler wrt blocking, it is certainly not his strong suit. The Bills will flounder until they put forth a unit that can open holes and protect it's qb. Our defense in the "RJ/Flutie" era was as good as what we have now, or close to it. Truthfully, I prefer the current secondary by a lot, but the front 7 with Bryce and Bruce was pretty damn good, and we failed to advance in the playoffs due to the same problem we now face.

I am as excited about this season as one could imagine, but the fear of TD not taking care of the important business of blocking does linger.

[buckeyemike]

The main thing I'm worried about is keeping JP upright and healthy. If he's sputtering in Week 5, and Holcomb comes in, we're in trouble.

 

Prognosticating is half the fun around here...those who are usually positive (including myself) sometimes have to eat their words, while those who are negative occasionally must be served a dish of crow or humble pie.

 

TD flamed miserably with the GW hire (I posted here before that GW was his last choice, and everyone else he wanted was gone...really, TD wanted Marvin Lewis), but the pickups of Spikes, Fletcher, and the home run of Willis McGahee, have offset many of TD's early mistakes. Bledsoe looked good for half a season, and the jury will be out on JP for sometime.

 

Just don't expect Kelly Holcomb to win games for you consistently. With the Browns, some of Holcomb's best efforts came in spectacular losses (the Steelers playoff game, Helmet-throw, 58-48).

 

My view? Losman does well for a virtual rookie, McGahee takes his game to another level (and some MVP consideration), the special teams are tops in the league again, and the defense more than holds their own.

 

I say, 10-6 with a wildcard berth.

 

Mike

[Steven in MD]

TD flamed miserably with the GW hire (I posted here before that GW was his last choice, and everyone else he wanted was gone...really, TD wanted Marvin Lewis), but the pickups of Spikes, Fletcher, and the home run of Willis McGahee, have offset many of TD's early mistakes.  Bledsoe looked good for half a season, and the jury will be out on JP for sometime. 

Marvin Lewis did not want TD. Can we hold off on McGahee being a HR till after the season. If he has an average year (1000-1200 yds) would you consider it a HR?

[buckeyemike]

Marvin Lewis did not want TD.  Can we hold off on McGahee being a HR till after the season.  If he has an average year (1000-1200 yds) would you consider it a HR?

429547[/snapback]

 

1200 yards (and double-digits rushing touchdowns) to me would be a home run.

 

Mike

[AJ1]

Throwing to them will be an untested qb behind a line which consists of a very good player (Villarial), two apparent castoffs (Gandy and Anderson), a small center (Teague), and the highest paid RT in NFL history who is perhaps a tad better than average, if that.

429379[/snapback]

 

The key to the success of this Bills' season will be the ability of Losman to recognize blitz defenses and choose the right antidotal options. The coaching staff cannot help him with this, he has to learn it on his own. McGahee will not be successful with 8 in the box against him; the defenders must be moved out of position by a QB who can read and react. That is precisely what DB COULD NOT do.

 

The Bills record will depend on how soon it all begins to 'click' upstairs with JP. From what I've seen up to now, that process could take all season. I don't expect a good record for the Bills until JP experiences his epiphany.

[Fake-Fat Sunny]

The key to the success of this Bills' season will be the ability of Losman to recognize blitz defenses and choose the right antidotal options.  The coaching staff cannot help him with this,  he has to learn it  on his own.  McGahee will not be successful with 8 in the box against him; the defenders must be moved out of position by a QB who can read and react.  That is precisely what DB COULD NOT do. 

 

The Bills record will depend on how soon it all begins to 'click' upstairs with JP.  From what I've seen up to now, that process could take all season.  I don't expect a good record for the Bills until JP experiences his epiphany.

429569[/snapback]

I disagree to the extent that while it will be extremely helpful for JP to recognize various defenses he has never seen before since he has limited pro experience. the key strikes me not has him doing something positive based on his reads but instead the still difficult but more simple task of him not doing anything negative.

 

The key for the Bills this year is going to be the adjustment after we see what the opposing gameplan is. The coaches can do this and quite frankly will do this on the fly with their playcalls during the game and in the lockerroom with second half adjustments. JP has a critical role in this obviously, but his primary role will be not to make early mistakes which put us in a hole we have to climb out of. A fast start for the Bills O would be great in each game, but this strikes me as gravy rather than bread and it will not be worth taking any/many risks to try to get an advantage.

 

The keys for the Bills in '05 are the following it strikes me:

 

1. Always win the field position battle with good ST work and often (as we did last year) have the ST give us a huge leg up with a return for a TD, a punt block, or great coverage.

 

2. Have the D gets turnovers which set the field position game in place or give us easy scores with a Spikes INT or some such.

 

3. JP does not make many critical errors (he will make a few errors as he learns how to become a vet) but if they are not killers for us which force the D and the ST to score or repetitively stop the opponent with bad field position for us, it wi;l; be OK.

 

Perhaps we should reverse numbers 1 and 2 but item 3is way down on the priority list of still necessary and essential things to do.