YardRat
03-09-2008, 07:56 AM
DT-Traded for Stroud, signed Johnson, cut Tripplett. Net difference = HUGE plus.
LB-Mitchell was a good signing and a definite upgrade to the line-up. Plus.
CB-No rumours, no visits...nothing. Cut Thomas. Webster signed with Pats. Loss.
Safety - McCree signs with Denver. If Ko's ankle is OK, this is a push. If not, and the team was looking for a vet to either A-buffer themselves from Simpson's injury or B-bring in another safety, move Whitner to corner and address two positions, and failed to do so, then this becomes a loss.
WR-Almost a solid week with no news or action on this front. Johnson still in limbo. Hackett still out there, but a non-factor at this point. Nobody else worth even looking at who could step in at #2 from the start. Lost Aiken to Pats. Peerless gone. If Johnson signs elsewhere, this is a loss.
TE-Troupe signs with Tampa. Crumpler with Titans. Signed Teyo Johnson before FA. Lost Gaines. Loss.
#2 QB-Nobody on the radar, apparently, and JP most likely out the door. Loss.
C-Again...Nobody on the radar, but at least we haven't cut Fowler yet. Push.
RG-I'll put the re-signing of Whittle for depth under here. Push.
FB- No news on the kid from Atlanta. Signed Barnes before FA. Push.
No news is supposed to be good news, but in the Bills case this off-season it's becoming the opposite. The team went into free agency with at least four glaring needs (two on both sides of the ball) and the opportunity to address all four have been there early.
Kudos for addressing DT and LB quickly, but the longer the FA period progresses, the more it looks as if the team is willing to sit on it's hands and wait for the draft to address the offensive side of the ball. Big mistake.
We hit big on defense, and appear to be in a position of going into the draft without feeling it's necessary to address any spots with the expectation of a rookie being able to contribute immediately. We can draft for ability and value, instead of need, and allow the new guys to grow at their own pace. Eventually, some players may step into a starting role, but at least the entire squad won't be expected to cover while one or two are getting OJT in games that count.
The same can't be said for the offense. The longer we go without at least snagging a WR and a TE, the bigger priority it becomes to get one early in the draft. Unfortunately, that strategy will not only hamper the offense, but could affect the defensive side of the ball as well. Without, at least, a viable #2 receiver already on the roster, the need for one decreases the opportunity for flexibility at the draft, and could restrain the team from actually getting the eventual replacement for Greer or McGee or a pass-rushing specialist at DE and increase the chance that we 'reach' for a player that might be available with our next pick but we can't afford to pass up for the fear of losing out altogether.
Without a vet back-up at QB, we'd be looking at another unproven commodity to fill a vitally important role, arguably the most important position beyond the starting 22 and specialists. The dominos, in such a scenario, won't be falling in our favor.
As of this moment, the FO should get an 'A' for defense, an 'F' for offense, and overall a 'C-' for what they've been able to accomplish, but at least the opportunity (Johnson and maybe Hackett, specifically) is still there to salvage a 'B'. Unfortunately any higher grade has already passed us by.
LB-Mitchell was a good signing and a definite upgrade to the line-up. Plus.
CB-No rumours, no visits...nothing. Cut Thomas. Webster signed with Pats. Loss.
Safety - McCree signs with Denver. If Ko's ankle is OK, this is a push. If not, and the team was looking for a vet to either A-buffer themselves from Simpson's injury or B-bring in another safety, move Whitner to corner and address two positions, and failed to do so, then this becomes a loss.
WR-Almost a solid week with no news or action on this front. Johnson still in limbo. Hackett still out there, but a non-factor at this point. Nobody else worth even looking at who could step in at #2 from the start. Lost Aiken to Pats. Peerless gone. If Johnson signs elsewhere, this is a loss.
TE-Troupe signs with Tampa. Crumpler with Titans. Signed Teyo Johnson before FA. Lost Gaines. Loss.
#2 QB-Nobody on the radar, apparently, and JP most likely out the door. Loss.
C-Again...Nobody on the radar, but at least we haven't cut Fowler yet. Push.
RG-I'll put the re-signing of Whittle for depth under here. Push.
FB- No news on the kid from Atlanta. Signed Barnes before FA. Push.
No news is supposed to be good news, but in the Bills case this off-season it's becoming the opposite. The team went into free agency with at least four glaring needs (two on both sides of the ball) and the opportunity to address all four have been there early.
Kudos for addressing DT and LB quickly, but the longer the FA period progresses, the more it looks as if the team is willing to sit on it's hands and wait for the draft to address the offensive side of the ball. Big mistake.
We hit big on defense, and appear to be in a position of going into the draft without feeling it's necessary to address any spots with the expectation of a rookie being able to contribute immediately. We can draft for ability and value, instead of need, and allow the new guys to grow at their own pace. Eventually, some players may step into a starting role, but at least the entire squad won't be expected to cover while one or two are getting OJT in games that count.
The same can't be said for the offense. The longer we go without at least snagging a WR and a TE, the bigger priority it becomes to get one early in the draft. Unfortunately, that strategy will not only hamper the offense, but could affect the defensive side of the ball as well. Without, at least, a viable #2 receiver already on the roster, the need for one decreases the opportunity for flexibility at the draft, and could restrain the team from actually getting the eventual replacement for Greer or McGee or a pass-rushing specialist at DE and increase the chance that we 'reach' for a player that might be available with our next pick but we can't afford to pass up for the fear of losing out altogether.
Without a vet back-up at QB, we'd be looking at another unproven commodity to fill a vitally important role, arguably the most important position beyond the starting 22 and specialists. The dominos, in such a scenario, won't be falling in our favor.
As of this moment, the FO should get an 'A' for defense, an 'F' for offense, and overall a 'C-' for what they've been able to accomplish, but at least the opportunity (Johnson and maybe Hackett, specifically) is still there to salvage a 'B'. Unfortunately any higher grade has already passed us by.