ddaryl
05-01-2007, 01:24 PM
I looked ot see if this article was discussed already but didn't find it, so if it has don't throw me under the bus for posting it.
I like th earticle basically for how it points out what we are trying ot achieve. The article also demonstrates how purging vets and experience to allow a young team to grow and improve together and bond as a team... rather then use to many resources on acquiring FA's who might throw a wrench in to team chemistry.
the parallels to our Sabres are interesting, but the article to me was more about the true philosophy surrounding our rebuild. It's painful but I have to say there is a definite method to our process...
It's up to us to decide if we believe in the scheme, and are we willing to be patient for another year or 2.... It's hard but building a championship club that can be sustained requires it IMO.
http://www.wgrz.com/sports/columnist/AsISeeIt_article.aspx?storyid=47606
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By Ch2 Sports Director
Ed Kilgore
You can't make comparisons between the Bills and Sabres in many areas, but I do see one similarity after the 2007 NFL Draft.
The Sabres had a plan, and now the Bills actually seem to have one too.
The Sabres began to become a team and organization to be taken seriously when they began focusing on young players they believed in, and had patience enough to let them grow together a bit.
Some might call it "rebuilding", but that isn't altogether what the Bills are doing here. A better term might be refocusing their priorities.
Sure, they could have worked out ways to keep Takeo Spikes or London Fletcher or maybe even Nate Clements around for awhile in hopes they could sneak into playoff contention, but doing that would only be a short term approach.
The way to win, especially if you don't have unlimited resources, is to find a way to draft or acquire good young players and let them improve and get better at roughly the same time.
More often than not, and it has happened with the Bills in recent years, personnel mistakes in both hiring coaches and drafting and acquiring players leads to constant change in search of wins to appease the media and fan base.
Stability is the key, but you can't get that without making good decisions in the first place, starting with the coach and gm.
The Sabres certainly have that in Lindy Ruff and Darcy Regier, and that has been a huge part of their success.
We don't know yet if Marv Levy, now in his second year as a general manager, or Dick Jauron can bond to achieve that kind of stability and success, but based on two drafts now, it does seem possible.
When you jot down a first impression of the Bills 2007 draft, you have to think something like, this is almost too good to be true.
That's in direct contrast to first impressions of the 2006 draft, engineered by "rookie" gm Levy and new head coach Jauron.
If this year's draft exceeds expectations like last year's did, this group will be something special indeed.
Saying good bye to Spikes, Fletcher, Clements and especially Willis McGahee, could possibly lead to a minor step back in order to finally take the BIG step forward, and checking out this year's draft crop makes that case in my mind.
We can't know for sure until we see him for ourselves, but it appears Marshawn Lynch can be better in every way than McGahee, who seemed to be really good only when it suited him. We don't even need to bring up all the other baggage.
A growing J.P. Losman will now have what the Bills think will be a vastly improved offensive line in front of him, and the presence of Lynch will only make Losman better. Lynch runs with power and great balance, yet has the speed to turn small gains into big ones. He's also an outstanding receiver.
Great teams, and the Bills are not there yet, nearly always have outstanding qb's, running backs and a star wide receiver or two.
Should Losman continue to emerge, and if Lynch is as good as most NFL scouts think he is, that trio could be here. Evans is already there.
Defensively, the loss of Clements can't be dismissed as no big deal. It's a big deal.
On the other hand, second round pick Paul Posluszny of Penn St. looks to be the ideal fit in every way to step in at middle linebacker and eventually upgrade the position. Posluszny is bigger and faster than Fletcher, and a Pennsylvania blue collar achiever who brings great intelligence and leadership to the D.
The Bills obviously feel Ashton Youboty can hack it in Clements vacant cornerback spot, or else the position would have been addressed in this draft. It wasn't.
The Bills are getting younger and faster, and while the loss of some experience might show at times, this is the only realistic way they can break out of the funk they've been in since the 2000's began.
I love the fact they added Stanford quarterback Trent Edwards in the third round, even though he won't play a down most likely in 2007. What's better than having a really good young quarterback? Having two of them.
After that, who knows? Fourth round pick, running back Dwayne Wright of Fresno St. is said to be a punishing inside runner with only fair speed, but it does appear to give the Bills quality depth at a key spot.
Wyoming safety John Wending, taken in the sixth round, has good speed and toughness, and will no doubt be a solid special teams addition.
While we've read and heard good things about 7th round pick C.J. Ah You, the defensive end out of Oklahoma, we haven't heard many positives on the other 7th rounder, tight end Derek Schouman out of Boise St. Guess we'll have to trust the Bills scouts on that one, right?
They were certainly right a year ago, when no less than six rookies were starters at one time or another.
At least now we know the Bills, under the Levy-Jauron guidance system, have a plan.
Get younger, get better, and grow up together. Oh, and keep some stability at the gm and head coach positions.
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I like th earticle basically for how it points out what we are trying ot achieve. The article also demonstrates how purging vets and experience to allow a young team to grow and improve together and bond as a team... rather then use to many resources on acquiring FA's who might throw a wrench in to team chemistry.
the parallels to our Sabres are interesting, but the article to me was more about the true philosophy surrounding our rebuild. It's painful but I have to say there is a definite method to our process...
It's up to us to decide if we believe in the scheme, and are we willing to be patient for another year or 2.... It's hard but building a championship club that can be sustained requires it IMO.
http://www.wgrz.com/sports/columnist/AsISeeIt_article.aspx?storyid=47606
<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=5 width=740 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=440>
By Ch2 Sports Director
Ed Kilgore
You can't make comparisons between the Bills and Sabres in many areas, but I do see one similarity after the 2007 NFL Draft.
The Sabres had a plan, and now the Bills actually seem to have one too.
The Sabres began to become a team and organization to be taken seriously when they began focusing on young players they believed in, and had patience enough to let them grow together a bit.
Some might call it "rebuilding", but that isn't altogether what the Bills are doing here. A better term might be refocusing their priorities.
Sure, they could have worked out ways to keep Takeo Spikes or London Fletcher or maybe even Nate Clements around for awhile in hopes they could sneak into playoff contention, but doing that would only be a short term approach.
The way to win, especially if you don't have unlimited resources, is to find a way to draft or acquire good young players and let them improve and get better at roughly the same time.
More often than not, and it has happened with the Bills in recent years, personnel mistakes in both hiring coaches and drafting and acquiring players leads to constant change in search of wins to appease the media and fan base.
Stability is the key, but you can't get that without making good decisions in the first place, starting with the coach and gm.
The Sabres certainly have that in Lindy Ruff and Darcy Regier, and that has been a huge part of their success.
We don't know yet if Marv Levy, now in his second year as a general manager, or Dick Jauron can bond to achieve that kind of stability and success, but based on two drafts now, it does seem possible.
When you jot down a first impression of the Bills 2007 draft, you have to think something like, this is almost too good to be true.
That's in direct contrast to first impressions of the 2006 draft, engineered by "rookie" gm Levy and new head coach Jauron.
If this year's draft exceeds expectations like last year's did, this group will be something special indeed.
Saying good bye to Spikes, Fletcher, Clements and especially Willis McGahee, could possibly lead to a minor step back in order to finally take the BIG step forward, and checking out this year's draft crop makes that case in my mind.
We can't know for sure until we see him for ourselves, but it appears Marshawn Lynch can be better in every way than McGahee, who seemed to be really good only when it suited him. We don't even need to bring up all the other baggage.
A growing J.P. Losman will now have what the Bills think will be a vastly improved offensive line in front of him, and the presence of Lynch will only make Losman better. Lynch runs with power and great balance, yet has the speed to turn small gains into big ones. He's also an outstanding receiver.
Great teams, and the Bills are not there yet, nearly always have outstanding qb's, running backs and a star wide receiver or two.
Should Losman continue to emerge, and if Lynch is as good as most NFL scouts think he is, that trio could be here. Evans is already there.
Defensively, the loss of Clements can't be dismissed as no big deal. It's a big deal.
On the other hand, second round pick Paul Posluszny of Penn St. looks to be the ideal fit in every way to step in at middle linebacker and eventually upgrade the position. Posluszny is bigger and faster than Fletcher, and a Pennsylvania blue collar achiever who brings great intelligence and leadership to the D.
The Bills obviously feel Ashton Youboty can hack it in Clements vacant cornerback spot, or else the position would have been addressed in this draft. It wasn't.
The Bills are getting younger and faster, and while the loss of some experience might show at times, this is the only realistic way they can break out of the funk they've been in since the 2000's began.
I love the fact they added Stanford quarterback Trent Edwards in the third round, even though he won't play a down most likely in 2007. What's better than having a really good young quarterback? Having two of them.
After that, who knows? Fourth round pick, running back Dwayne Wright of Fresno St. is said to be a punishing inside runner with only fair speed, but it does appear to give the Bills quality depth at a key spot.
Wyoming safety John Wending, taken in the sixth round, has good speed and toughness, and will no doubt be a solid special teams addition.
While we've read and heard good things about 7th round pick C.J. Ah You, the defensive end out of Oklahoma, we haven't heard many positives on the other 7th rounder, tight end Derek Schouman out of Boise St. Guess we'll have to trust the Bills scouts on that one, right?
They were certainly right a year ago, when no less than six rookies were starters at one time or another.
At least now we know the Bills, under the Levy-Jauron guidance system, have a plan.
Get younger, get better, and grow up together. Oh, and keep some stability at the gm and head coach positions.
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