An opportunity squandered...

[Boatdrinks]

Today was a watershed moment in the Bills '08 season. At the halfway point, we should have a clear focus on what this team is about. Well, most of the flaws that we saw even in our early wins have persisted. Some have worsened. It wasn't premature to be thinking about a division title, bye week,etc because we were finding ways to win. But we now see that these problems are not going away any time soon. A few observations:

 

*On Edwards- Look, can we give the Trent/JP crap a rest? Edwards has had more good days than bad, and more good moments than bad. More good so far than JP did. That issue is dead. Now, Edwards has struggled two weeks in a row. No excuses, but there are factors. Probably not some fatal flaw in TE's makeup, and that is the difference between him and JP. The pressure has been more frequent, and Josh Reed has been sorely missed the last 6 quarters. The INT for six was eerily reminiscent of the one Vs Cowboys last year, but I fault the play call there. Why? It is too high risk, plain and simple. The Jet defender lurked back there and TE never saw him. Our coaches can't get greedy and think the Jets will cover that play the same way twice. In plus territory, that is a dangerous route because a pickoff usually results in a TD. Shame on Turk there. Call a smart game. The fumble? Well, TE simply has to recognize that corner blitz and get rid of it.

 

* Turk's play calling- has been lacking lately, see above. Also the turnover on downs series, which is a turnover as well. If you know you are going for it on 4th, why not run twice and pick up the 1/2 yard? Play the percentages and don't take points off the board. Get the first down then try for a TD. Then later, virtually no threat of a run even deep in Jet territory and down two scores. Gave up on the run way too easily.

 

* No running game- is Turk reluctant to run due to poor blocking? Or do we never get revved up due to lack of carries? Whichever, playoff teams usually do not produce 30 yard efforts at home midseason.

 

Going forward, it seems we have blown our good start to the season. TE will still have good days ahead, but I don't see it next week. Foxboro has been a house of horrors for this team since '95 and it won't change anytime soon. So 5-4 with 3 division losses probably relegates us to the also ran file. Just being realistic. I can see an 8-8 finish in the cards for us. Edwards is still a promising young QB, but maybe not good enough to mask all of our flaws. Poor special teams coverage, bad run blocking, mediocre pass blocking and dubious coaching decisions are too much to overcome. The defense has not made nearly enough plays to be of playoff caliber. A lack of QB pressure, bad tackling and takeaways are contributing hugely to these losses that are starting to mount.