Midwesternbillsfan
12-27-2007, 06:08 PM
The season always goes too fast, and there's no doubt that has to do largely with the fact that it's ended by December for Buffalo since Bill Clinton was still president. Still, there are some positives to take from 2007 and to be greatly encouraged for 2008. Here are my top-ten- though there are more (and I don't even mention some positions, like upgrades at CB. Anyway):
1. We broke in a rookie at QB AND still managed to at least creep to mediocrity. Edwards will have nine starts under his belt heading into 2008 (more experience than Losman had by the start of his 3rd season), which will be instrumental to him actually having a good season next season without having to qualify it by his inexperience in this league.
2. Marshawn Lynch (1,010 yards in just 12 games; 7 TD's) is a star-in-the-making, a possible perennial Pro Bowler who will only get better w/more experience and offensive continuity, which the Bills will have, returning the same QB (Edwards) and offensive line. And the Bills haven't had as good of a backup as Fred Jackson looks to be since 1995 (Darick Holmes backing up Thurman).
3. The offensive line decreased sacks absorbed from 47 in 2006 to 26 (through 15 games) in 2007. The line will improve with more cohesion, which will result from continuing to play together. And I'd be shocked if the run-blocking suffered regression; it stands to improve, too, actually.
4. The Bills' offense, particularly our passing offense, will almost unassailably be better in 2008: Edwards will no longer be a rookie, Evans had an undeniably down year but is better than he displayed and might be heading into a contract year (the Bills may be unwilling to pay him Andre Johnson-type money now (8 years, $60 million) and this isn't the most opportune time for Evans to sign a new contract, either; the Bills reserve the right to franchise Evans after '08 if they so choose and his play warrants it), the Bills WILL make palpable changes at second wideout and TE (size will finally be a consideration), and any new offensive coordinator will likely represent an improvement over Steve Fairchild.
5. The Bills' pass rush (22 sacks through 15 games) will not be any worse. In fact, despite being contractually locked in at DE, a pass-rushing DT to alleviate pressure and double-teams from Schobel has to high on the team's offseason "want" list. After all, even if his contract wasn't renegoiated and he was already unhappy and obsolete in Philadelphia, we didn't trade Spikes and Holcomb for Darwin Walker for no reason... We still covet a disruptive DT.
6. Ellison is done as a starter, that much is certain, which means a bit more size at WLB. Dan Connor or Keith Rivers- provided at least two other needs are taken care of before the draft- would amount to excellent value w/our 1st round pick. Either teamed with Paul Posluszny and Angelo Crowell would potentially be an elite LB'ing corps.
7. Ko Simpson and Donte Whitner were largely responsible for the Bills finishing 7th in 2006 in terms of allowing the least number of pass plays of 20 yards or more. This year, the Bills have been greatly susceptible to big chunk of yards earned in the passing game and Whitner has also had to handle more run responsibilities than in '06. With the 5'8" Jim Leonard and the neophyte George Wilson out of the lineup in '08, maybe the Simpson-Whitner duo, which many thought before the season had as much promise as young safety combo in the league, save for Indianapolis' Antoine Bethea and Bob Sanders, will live up to its billing. They're still young; it's still eminently possible.
8. The Bills' accumulation of injuries greatly affected the effectiveness of our special teams. Our amount of injuries (15 players on IR) was unprecedented and the trickle-down effect meant that the Bills had fewer players they could designate to only play on ST's. And that's not even mentioning having to hire guys "off the streets" and ask them to contribute immediately on ST's, which was evident on the on-sides kick recovered by the Cowboys in the Dallas debacle. Injuries are a part of the game and will be again in 2008. But the NFL 'gods' should be more merciful next year.
9. $33 million dollars in cap room; that's roughly the amount the Bills had in 2007 and this time around the Bills don't have to worry about losing one player in FA (or on the trade blocket) who's currently a starter; reserve DE Anthony Hargrove is our most significant FA. Even operating under the constrictive 'cash to the cap', a failure to bring in a couple of decent FA's who will start immediately (like Dockery and Walker) would be devoid of rationalizations. If Ralph Wilson tries to impress upon the Bills this offseason some belief that all that Buffalo was lacking in '07 from being a playoff team was experience and good health, he'll righteously have hell to pay. Fortunately, I don't think Marv Levy and Dick Jauron are similarly misguided.
10. The Bills have 10 draft picks, including the possibility of 4 in the top-75, which means that the Bills can both receive exceptional value and immediate impact from their picks, as well as even more draft-day flexibility than afforded Buffalo in 2006 and 2007; Levy and Jauron still showed no equivocation to make a move for the player they coveted. The Bills' draft will be as compelling and entertaining to follow as any team's, save for the Dolphins and their first overall pick and two 2nd's. But they're a mess, anyway...
So those are mine... please add to the list if you want to...
1. We broke in a rookie at QB AND still managed to at least creep to mediocrity. Edwards will have nine starts under his belt heading into 2008 (more experience than Losman had by the start of his 3rd season), which will be instrumental to him actually having a good season next season without having to qualify it by his inexperience in this league.
2. Marshawn Lynch (1,010 yards in just 12 games; 7 TD's) is a star-in-the-making, a possible perennial Pro Bowler who will only get better w/more experience and offensive continuity, which the Bills will have, returning the same QB (Edwards) and offensive line. And the Bills haven't had as good of a backup as Fred Jackson looks to be since 1995 (Darick Holmes backing up Thurman).
3. The offensive line decreased sacks absorbed from 47 in 2006 to 26 (through 15 games) in 2007. The line will improve with more cohesion, which will result from continuing to play together. And I'd be shocked if the run-blocking suffered regression; it stands to improve, too, actually.
4. The Bills' offense, particularly our passing offense, will almost unassailably be better in 2008: Edwards will no longer be a rookie, Evans had an undeniably down year but is better than he displayed and might be heading into a contract year (the Bills may be unwilling to pay him Andre Johnson-type money now (8 years, $60 million) and this isn't the most opportune time for Evans to sign a new contract, either; the Bills reserve the right to franchise Evans after '08 if they so choose and his play warrants it), the Bills WILL make palpable changes at second wideout and TE (size will finally be a consideration), and any new offensive coordinator will likely represent an improvement over Steve Fairchild.
5. The Bills' pass rush (22 sacks through 15 games) will not be any worse. In fact, despite being contractually locked in at DE, a pass-rushing DT to alleviate pressure and double-teams from Schobel has to high on the team's offseason "want" list. After all, even if his contract wasn't renegoiated and he was already unhappy and obsolete in Philadelphia, we didn't trade Spikes and Holcomb for Darwin Walker for no reason... We still covet a disruptive DT.
6. Ellison is done as a starter, that much is certain, which means a bit more size at WLB. Dan Connor or Keith Rivers- provided at least two other needs are taken care of before the draft- would amount to excellent value w/our 1st round pick. Either teamed with Paul Posluszny and Angelo Crowell would potentially be an elite LB'ing corps.
7. Ko Simpson and Donte Whitner were largely responsible for the Bills finishing 7th in 2006 in terms of allowing the least number of pass plays of 20 yards or more. This year, the Bills have been greatly susceptible to big chunk of yards earned in the passing game and Whitner has also had to handle more run responsibilities than in '06. With the 5'8" Jim Leonard and the neophyte George Wilson out of the lineup in '08, maybe the Simpson-Whitner duo, which many thought before the season had as much promise as young safety combo in the league, save for Indianapolis' Antoine Bethea and Bob Sanders, will live up to its billing. They're still young; it's still eminently possible.
8. The Bills' accumulation of injuries greatly affected the effectiveness of our special teams. Our amount of injuries (15 players on IR) was unprecedented and the trickle-down effect meant that the Bills had fewer players they could designate to only play on ST's. And that's not even mentioning having to hire guys "off the streets" and ask them to contribute immediately on ST's, which was evident on the on-sides kick recovered by the Cowboys in the Dallas debacle. Injuries are a part of the game and will be again in 2008. But the NFL 'gods' should be more merciful next year.
9. $33 million dollars in cap room; that's roughly the amount the Bills had in 2007 and this time around the Bills don't have to worry about losing one player in FA (or on the trade blocket) who's currently a starter; reserve DE Anthony Hargrove is our most significant FA. Even operating under the constrictive 'cash to the cap', a failure to bring in a couple of decent FA's who will start immediately (like Dockery and Walker) would be devoid of rationalizations. If Ralph Wilson tries to impress upon the Bills this offseason some belief that all that Buffalo was lacking in '07 from being a playoff team was experience and good health, he'll righteously have hell to pay. Fortunately, I don't think Marv Levy and Dick Jauron are similarly misguided.
10. The Bills have 10 draft picks, including the possibility of 4 in the top-75, which means that the Bills can both receive exceptional value and immediate impact from their picks, as well as even more draft-day flexibility than afforded Buffalo in 2006 and 2007; Levy and Jauron still showed no equivocation to make a move for the player they coveted. The Bills' draft will be as compelling and entertaining to follow as any team's, save for the Dolphins and their first overall pick and two 2nd's. But they're a mess, anyway...
So those are mine... please add to the list if you want to...