Foxsports: Ranking the offseasons

[The Answer]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6817578

14. Buffalo Bills

Get ready for the new-look Bills in Buffalo. Gone are several of the premier players from last year's squad: London Fletcher-Baker, Willis McGahee, Nate Clements, and Takeo Spikes. In comes Langston Walker, Jason Whittle, and Derrick Dockery on the offensive line, and big Darwin Walker at DT. Buffalo then scooped up Marshawn Lynch — a do-everything back that runs, receives, and blocks — a Dick Jauron/Marv Levy dream at linebacker in Paul Posluszny, and a highly-rated quarterback in Stanford's Trent Edwards on Day 1 of the draft. Ko Simpson and Donte Whitner — two starters as rookies at safety in '06 — are now a year older and wiser, and can mentor John Wendling, an exciting sixth-round pick out Wyoming. Fourth-round pick Dwayne White, a lightning rod running back out of Fresno State, should get to spell Lynch and Anthony Thomas as well. New faces all around, but this is a Jauron team from top to bottom. They could be a surprise team in the AFC.

Biggest gain: Marshawn Lynch, RB
Biggest loss: Willis McGahee, RB

Are they in better shape than they were in January? They're a different team for sure. A lot of the veteran leaders are now elsewhere, creating opportunities for younger players to step up. Lynch will get the ball right away, and this is now Year 4 of the J.P. Losman era. Is this the year he puts it all together and takes Buffalo to the playoffs? Bills fans can only hope.

~The Answer

[casdhf]

I don't want the hype. I want everyone to thing we're a 5 win team.

[OpIv37]

Are they in better shape than they were in January? They're a different team for sure. A lot of the veteran leaders are now elsewhere, creating opportunities for younger players to step up. Lynch will get the ball right away, and this is now Year 4 of the J.P. Losman era. Is this the year he puts it all together and takes Buffalo to the playoffs? Bills fans can only hope.



wow, way to take a strong stance on the direction this team is taking!

That's probably the most ambiguous, fence-sitting piece of analysis I've ever read in my life.

But, it goes along with what most of us here have been saying. Some of us take a positive view of it and some of us take a negative view, but we all pretty much agree that this team is loaded with "potential" (for lack of a better word): young, unproven players who could be a huge improvement or a huge disappointment.

[patmoran2006]

We are a 5-win team, dont worry about it.

[Luisito23]

I don't want the hype. I want everyone to thing we're a 5 win team.



LOL...I don't either, but it does feel good to get a 'lil bit of props Cas...And also biggest lost WM???...Pass me what you smoking son...:smoke:....BIggest lost is definetly Clements, and any person who truly knows us can tell you the same....






GO BILLS!!!!!

[OpIv37]

LOL...I don't either, but it does feel good to get a 'lil bit of props Cas...And also biggest lost WM???...Pass me what you smoking son...:smoke:....BIggest lost is definetly Clements, and any person who truly knows us can tell you the same....






GO BILLS!!!!!

you could argue Fletcher as well as Clements but a lot of people overrate McGahee because of his name recognition. We're not going to be feeling his loss as much as most people think.

[Mr. Miyagi]

wow, way to take a strong stance on the direction this team is taking!

That's probably the most ambiguous, fence-sitting piece of analysis I've ever read in my life.

But, it goes along with what most of us here have been saying. Some of us take a positive view of it and some of us take a negative view, but we all pretty much agree that this team is loaded with "potential" (for lack of a better word): young, unproven players who could be a huge improvement or a huge disappointment.
That, Op, is the single most neutral, objective, logical, and reasonable post you've ever made. Bravo! :bf1:

[BILLSROCK1212]

100% accurate other than them saying that McGahee was our biggest loss.

[SquishDaFish]

We are a 5-win team, dont worry about it.

Pat lets make a little wager shall we big mouth? If the Bills win more then 5 games you leave this site for good (no alias) if they only get 5 or less Ill leave and before I do Ill praise the allmighty wana be GM/Coach Ice...errr I mean PAT.

Sound good?

[The Answer]

31. Miami Dolphins

Rough off-season in Miami. The Nick Saban debacle was a disaster and the start of the Cam Cameron era hasn't been much better. Joey Porter was involved in a highly publicized, embarrassing off-season slapfest with Levi Jones at a Las Vegas casino; the quarterback position is still an enormous question mark; and the head coach was heckled and mocked when announcing the team's first round pick at a draft party. Oh, and Ricky Williams — still linked to the Dolphins at least in the public eye — failed another drug test. Wes Welker's gone, so is Travis Minor, Damion McIntosh, Tony Fonoti, Randy McMichael, David Bowens, Darian Barnes, and Joey Harrington. Solid blockers Mike Rosenthal and Cory Schlesinger were added, as was David Martin, Cameron Worrell, and Porter. In the draft, they raised eyebrows by selecting Ted Ginn, Jr. over Brady Quinn, while taking a quarterback (John Beck) in the second-round. Lorenzo Booker, a disappointment at Florida State, was a first day selection as well. It's a totally new team. That could, of course, be a good thing.

Biggest gain: Ted Ginn, Jr., WR
Biggest loss: Wes Welker, WR

Are they in better shape than they were in January? Well, who's playing quarterback on opening day? Trent Green? Daunte Culpepper? John Beck? Cleo Lemon? A lot of questions like that down in Miami? The Dolphins could very well be the surprise team of the AFC. I just don't see it happening.

~The Answer

[The Answer]

7. New York Jets

Very busy off-season for Tannenbaum, Mangini and Co. New York 's biggest move was a pre-draft deal to bring in 1,000-yard rusher Thomas Jones from Chicago. Jones — who will be paired alongside rookie standout Leon Washington in the backfield — brings another playmaker to the Jets efficient offensive attack. New York also took a low-risk gamble on the former #3 overall draft pick from the 1998 NFL Draft, Andre Wadsworth. Darrelle Revis and David Harris, the team's first and second round draft choices, should start next season on defense.
Biggest gain: Thomas Jones, RB
Biggest loss: B.J. Askew, FB

Are they in better shape now than they were in January? I'd say so. New York added a feature tailback via trade, and two potential starters on defense through the draft. They didn't lose much in doing so, either. At the very least, they kept pace as the second best team in the AFC East.

1. New England Patriots

No team cleaned up this off-season quite like New England. Aside from the Randy Moss deal, the Pats also picked up arguably the number one defensive player on the free agent market in Adalius Thomas, a guy who led the Dolphins in punt returns, receptions, and receiving yards in '06 in Wes Welker, and Sammy Morris, Kyle Brady, and Tory James. They also re-signed Asante Samuel and Larry Izzo. Though I don't love their selection of Miami's Brandon Meriweather with the 24th pick as much as some others in the media, he'll no doubt contribute as soon as next year. Then there's Mr. Moss. Is he a Hall of Fame receiver? The guy Tom Brady's always longed for? Or is he a malcontent whose best days are behind him? We'll have to wait and see.

Biggest gain: Randy Moss, WR
Biggest loss: Corey Dillon, RB

Are they in better shape now than they were in January? Yes. That is, of course, unless Randy Moss goes insane and infects a locker room full of model citizens.

~The Answer

[justasportsfan]

wow, way to take a strong stance on the direction this team is taking!

That's probably the most ambiguous, fence-sitting piece of analysis I've ever read in my life.

But, it goes along with what most of us here have been saying. Some of us take a positive view of it and some of us take a negative view, but we all pretty much agree that this team is loaded with "potential" (for lack of a better word): young, unproven players who could be a huge improvement or a huge disappointment.


WTF??? Believe it or not coming from you that's a very positive post.

[patmoran2006]

Pat lets make a little wager shall we big mouth? If the Bills win more then 5 games you leave this site for good (no alias) if they only get 5 or less Ill leave and before I do Ill praise the allmighty wana be GM/Coach Ice...errr I mean PAT.

Sound good?
No..
Make the over/under 7 and you have a bet.
8 wins or more, I'm gone
6 wins or less, you're gone
7 is a push.

Basically, my proposed bet is zero win/loss improvement from last year.

[casdhf]

:lolpoint:<TABLE class=tborder cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD class=alt2 width=175>Post groaned at by: </TD><TD class=alt1><!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: post_groan_box_bit -->LT teh ghost (http://www.billszone.com/fanzone/member.php?u=5317) (Today)
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[OpIv37]

WTF??? Believe it or not coming from you that's a very positive post.

see, I'm not always negative just to be negative, despite what you and mystic may say....

[justasportsfan]

Pat lets make a little wager shall we big mouth? If the Bills win more then 5 games you leave this site for good (no alias) if they only get 5 or less Ill leave and before I do Ill praise the allmighty wana be GM/Coach Ice...errr I mean PAT.

Sound good?
Did Estrogen queen take the bet? I cant read his replies.

[justasportsfan]

see, I'm not always negative just to be negative, despite what you and mystic may say....
once in a blue moon.

[SquishDaFish]

No..
Make the over/under 7 and you have a bet.
8 wins or more, I'm gone
6 wins or less, you're gone
7 is a push.

Basically, my proposed bet is zero win/loss improvement from last year.

So now we go from a 5 win team to a 6 win team?? Chicken****.

[SquishDaFish]

Answer same bet goes to you. Wanna take me up on the bet?

[Static]

:lolpoint:<TABLE class=tborder cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD class=alt2 width=175>Post groaned at by: </TD><TD class=alt1><!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: post_groan_box_bit -->LT teh ghost (http://www.billszone.com/fanzone/member.php?u=5317) (Today)

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Your cut and paste abilities rival that of the awnser :up:

[justasportsfan]

So now we go from a 5 win team to a 6 win team?? Chicken****.


:roflmao: I knew he'd change his mind.

[SquishDaFish]

:roflmao: I knew he'd change his mind.

Thats all he ever does Justa.

[HAMMER]

No..
Make the over/under 7 and you have a bet.
8 wins or more, I'm gone
6 wins or less, you're gone
7 is a push.

Basically, my proposed bet is zero win/loss improvement from last year.

You made a statement that this is a 5 win team, stand behind it or don't make the statement. What a candy ass.

[casdhf]

Your cut and paste abilities rival that of the awnser :up: Whatever you say, number 31

[The Answer]

Answer same bet goes to you. Wanna take me up on the bet?

Too hard to gauge this team just yet - The Answer needs to do a little more scouting first and see how Lynch's progression comes along. Plus The Answer is still concerned over POZ and hoping he don't bust outright, which he's on track to do right now given his poor showing at mini-camp.

Right now this is anywhere from a 2 - 8 win team, but unfortunately 5-11 is probably realistic given the schedule and lack of inexperience.

~The Answer

[SquishDaFish]

You made a statement that this is a 5 win team, stand behind it or don't make the statement. What a candy ass.

Hes a chicken****. And changes tunes more then the weather changes.

[SquishDaFish]

Poor showing at mini camp? LMAO your a damn JOKE!

[justasportsfan]

Hes a chicken****. And changes tunes more then the weather changes.


but yet he knows more than anyone here. BTW, he does have his minions. Beware.

[SquishDaFish]

I dont care Justa he can have a Mafia for all I care. I called him out on his crap post and he changed his tune like usual.

[The Answer]

Poor showing at mini camp? LMAO your a damn JOKE!

He has a long way to go to say the least - and that doesn't bode well for a team that is very thin at LB and has no true starters.

~The Answer

[SquishDaFish]

Answer hes a damn rookie its going to take more then just one mini camp to get all the plays down. God damn man unreal

[The Answer]

Answer hes a damn rookie its going to take more then just one mini camp to get all the plays down. God damn man unreal

The Answer realizes he's a rookie - but given his lack of talent it's going to be hard for him to come in and produce right away like some day one picks.

He's still a bit raw - remember he was originally graded as a 4th/5th round pick on a lot of draft boards including The Answer's.

~The Answer

[Mr. Miyagi]

The only thing worse than a know-it-all is a know-it-all who doesn't know crap.

[SquishDaFish]

Yea sure he has no talent.

*Edited for Pat dont want him crying*

[The Answer]

The only thing worse than a know-it-all is a know-it-all who doesn't know crap.

You and your boy billsin05 need to keep the weak smack out of here Miyagi san - if you think you can challenge The Answer's expertise and vast wealth of football knowledge than BRING IT!!!

~The Answer

[SquishDaFish]

So Pat have you officially turned down my bet?

[Luisito23]

LOL....




GO BILLS!!!!!

[SquishDaFish]

So answer you know it all. Is there some sort of bet for banning you want to come up with?

[Dr. Lecter]

OK, kids. Take these "bet" proposals to PM and leave it outta here.

[SquishDaFish]

Sorry Dr. I just want Pats final answer. Ill PM him.

[patmoran2006]

Yea sure he has no talent. You have NO TALENT except hitting the crack pipe.
Guess the "no personal attacks" rule doesnt apply to cheerleader homers huh?

[SquishDaFish]

I edited it for you Pat dont worry.

[mysticsoto]

You and your boy billsin05 need to keep the weak smack out of here Miyagi san - if you think you can challenge The Answer's expertise and vast wealth of football knowledge than BRING IT!!!

~The Answer

Can I challenge too? B'cse I remember the Answer saying that Dallas was going to trade Marion Barber and that Jerry Jones was going to move up for Adrian Peterson. Apparently, the "inside source" that the Answer has is as bad as Skooby's rich friend...


The Answer has caught word of a potential blockbuster trade in the works in which Dallas plans to trade up and grab Adrian Peterson in next months draft.

http://www.billszone.com/fanzone/showthread.php?t=121809&highlight=marion

and again


This is stictly a RUMOR that The Answer got from an inside source from a draft publication with high level contacts in the Cowboys organization and no The Answer don't have a link

http://www.billszone.com/fanzone/showthread.php?t=125336&highlight=marion

[The Answer]

Can I challenge too? B'cse I remember the Answer saying that Dallas was going to trade Marion Barber and that Jerry Jones was going to move up for Adrian Peterson. Apparently, the "inside source" that the Answer has is as bad as Skooby's rich friend...



http://www.billszone.com/fanzone/showthread.php?t=121809&highlight=marion

and again



http://www.billszone.com/fanzone/showthread.php?t=125336&highlight=marion

Um - was Adrian Peterson available at #12 when we picked? Didn't think so - that's why there wasn't a trade.

However The Answer's inside sources did tell him that several teams wanted to make a deal with us but Marv wasn't biting.

~The Answer

[madness]

You and your boy billsin05 need to keep the weak smack out of here Miyagi san - if you think you can challenge The Answer's expertise and vast wealth of football knowledge than BRING IT!!!

~The Answer

Check out the hook while my DJ revolves it. :dj:

[PECKERWOOD]

Still too early too tell.

[feelthepain]

This is why they play the game, so people who get paid to evaluate football teams can look like their being paid for nothing at all.

[Mr. Miyagi]

However The Answer's inside sources did tell him that several teams wanted to make a deal with us but Marv wasn't biting.

~The Answer
Yeah, my inside source aka articles on BB.com also told me the same thing. Cleveland was one of the teams.

[Mr. Miyagi]

You and your boy billsin05 need to keep the weak smack out of here Miyagi san - if you think you can challenge The Answer's expertise and vast wealth of football knowledge than BRING IT!!!

~The Answer
:rofl: Sorry did not mean to challenge your expertise. I'm sure Wendling is in fact the "tweaker" you mentioned.

[SquishDaFish]

:lmao:

[evol4276]

We are a 5-win team, dont worry about it. at least

[HHURRICANE]

We are better on Offense and marginally improved on D. I think that still puts us in the 6-9 win category.

I wish I felt more confident about this squad. Last year I was super confident about 7 wins. We have a tough schedule and no one looks scary-good on D.

[ublinkwescore]

We are a 5-win team, dont worry about it.

I will happily bet you for all the ZBs I can afford to lose that we win more than 5 games.

[ublinkwescore]

Guess the "no personal attacks" rule doesnt apply to cheerleader homers huh?

that was a petty reason to whine.

[HHURRICANE]

I will happily bet you for all the ZBs I can afford to lose that we win more than 5 games.

If we don't win at least 7 games I'm not sure that there will be a Marv/Dick in Buffalo.

5 wins is just showing up.

[ublinkwescore]

If we don't win at least 7 games I'm not sure that there will be a Marv/Dick in Buffalo.

5 wins is just showing up.

Fine, I'll up the ante - I'll bet you we win AT LEAST 8.

[!Papacrunk!]

wouldn't be the 1st poster here that wouldn't take a loser leave town bet

[Mad Bomber]

It's MAY, and everyone is so SURE of how many games we're going to win???

We could win anywhere between 0 and 16 games.

I've said it before, and I'll stick to it. We'll win between 7 and 9 games.

Anything less than that and I'll be disappointed. Anything more and I'll be very happy.

This isn't a team that is going to be looking at the Lombardi trophy this year (except on TV), but it's not going to regress from last year either. I believe that this team is indeed BUILDING to become a winner.

We had too many holes in this team to realistically have a "win this year" type of mentality. We still have holes...we're thin at LB, CB, and still questionable at DT. Our offense, which BTW was statistically much worse than our defense last year, should be better.

I'm not going to waste a lot of effort arguing over how crappy our draft was or how crappy we did in free agency when we don't even know what our roster is going to be in September!