Rome Posted September 4, 2009 Posted September 4, 2009 The pre season has come and gone folks, we've all seen what concerns us most(Which is everything!) But let's step back for a moment and try to evaluate this team based up it's talent, coaching staff, competition & it's direction. So below ladies' and gent's I have put together a list of our franchise & it's near future. As everyone knows a franchise signal caller is difficult to find, names such as Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Kurt Warner dominate the landscape that is the NFL. Naturally a supporting cast, scheme fitting their talents and a team culture that breeds success is very supportive of these young QB's as their career mature into the legends we see before us. Trent Edwards has all the tools that makes a winning Quarterback in this league(as listed below) -Mobility -Accuracy -Field Intelligence -Game Management But Buffalo isn't the practice field, in December you have winds the can top 45 MPH and the vision on the field rivals the sight depth of the Pacific Basin(F.Y.I. darkest area on planet Earth). So, of needless to say a signal caller in Buffalo must have the arm strength to put the ball in play on a field that is hostile to it's inhabitants as well as it's intruders. Trent as well all know has "marginal" arm strength, he has the arm in the mold of Joe Montana(please folks don't take that as a comparison of talent, just a comparison of their respective arm strengths). His vision hasn't been proven either, he is referred to in a close circle of my friends(Who are real Bills fans) as the "Check down King". There are areas for concern, that is clear and without a doubt, but he has the tools to start in this league. The question though sports fans is whether he has the ability to start in Buffalo for the next 12 years? He might have a better chance at meeting such a number if he had an offensive line that weren't coverts of every other position but their own. He might stand a better chance if he were truly supported by a coaching staff that didn't shrug their shoulders and define a loss as "An opportunity to compete", Trent might have alot of things that could help him, but he doesn't. This franchise needs help, it needs to be burnt down, torn down and rebuilt with a direction that reflects in geographical culture. TOUGH! MEAN! RELENTLESS! Those are the cultural tones I believe define the Buffalo Bills(90's, not now) A new coach, a new direction and a new sense of a team being built to win! not compete. So where does this put our team as it stands now? let's go position by position QB-Trent Edwards(3rd year) trade for a 5th round selection and conditional 7th round selection, teams like SF, DEN and TB have the culture & climate for him. QB-Gibran Hamdan(3rd year) has the toughness to play in Buffalo, is cheap and shows signs of promise. I'm not saying he's the answer but he's something a new regime should try to develop. QB-Ryan Fitzpatrick(4th year) Should re-enroll at Harvard and learn how to be something other than an NFL QB, he's a 3rd stringer at best. RELEASE RB-Marshawn Lynch(3rd year) Hasn't proved his toughness and reliability yet, my evaluation is to trade him and attempt to get value for him with a 5th round selection RB-Freddie Jackson(3rd year) has good hands, doesn't pick up the blitz well and has trouble staying on the field. Good third option but not the answer at tailback, toss up between release or 3rd down back/pass situation back FB-Needs to be drafted, scouted, signed just whatever it takes to get tougher, more intelligent and more noticeable for that position WR-We have talent that isn't the case but it's talent built on shifting sand, our blocking is horrid at this position, he have one true route runner and our fundamentals aren't solid. The speed, down field progression and the desire to score is heavy, but the roles aren't defined. Terrell Owens won't be around for year two, Hardy is a project, Evans time is fading quick and Reed is the best we have at coming in and out of the window. TE-Shawn Nelson shows his potential, but he will never be an official TE, he doesn't have the leg strength and body form to take on an elite defender at the point of blocking. He needs to be matched with another tight end with good hands, good route running abilities, great blocking but poor speed. It will be that contrast that will draw defenders to have to cover both, one shallow and the other could stretch anywhere OFFENSIVE line- it is offensive to say the least. Eric Wood, Langston Walker are the only ones who should survive the cut. Defensive(Not one position, but all) DT we need to scrap our current position holders and get bigger, meaner and nastier. DE's need to be a mix of 4 players, 2 starters and 2 complimentary players. Big, long with decent first step capable of taking on a tackle, guard and getting to a ball carrier. Fast and quick who can get to the signal caller, a combination in this league is essential. Keep the offense off balance and force them to play your game. Nick Harris and Paul Posluszny are the only hold overs at the line backer position, defensive backs we only have Lankster, Simpson & McKelvin I would carry over and keep in that level of my defense. Folks it's simple, this whole team needs to be burnt down, rescue a few survivors and let the rest parrish. Dick Jauron needs to be banned from the head coaching position and our front office needs to be sacked like Rome by the Goths. It's time for a change folks, that's it. Sucks for right now though....
Rome Posted September 4, 2009 Author Posted September 4, 2009 available head coaches that we could pursue Bill Cowher(he is expensive, but he has the toughness and prestige to get the job done) Mike Holmgren(he too is expensive but he has the ability to develop a questerback like Trent and help build a solid offense line for years to come Marty Schottenheimer(Is the games best foundation builder, hire Marty and have a plan to replace him with another coach that fits the teams build within 4 years). Trent most likely isn't the answer, so drafting a strong armed QB looks like our only option. get veterans, get specialists, get nasty! that's the direction we need to be going in.
DarthICE Posted September 4, 2009 Posted September 4, 2009 Trent isn't the answer. He would never have started in the NFL (minus an injury to a normal starter) on any other team but the Bills where the HC is as conservitive as he is.
Rome Posted September 4, 2009 Author Posted September 4, 2009 Trent isn't the answer. He would never have started in the NFL (minus an injury to a normal starter) on any other team but the Bills where the HC is as conservitive as he is. He's a starter in a "west coast" system actually played on the west coast. He isn't the answer here though, that's become obvious.
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