Here are five points about the Bills that concern me. I'm not saying any of these points (except for #2- I think it's a given) aren't things that can't be overcome. I'm simply saying that they are the things I'm concerned about moving forward. I ranked them in what I feel is the order of importance.
7- Jason Peters- We need him in training camp, period. Regardless on your stance if you think he has the right to get a new contract, the bottom line is he's the most important player on this offense and we NEED him. Nobody knows how serious or how far this holdout will go at this point. We can't afford to be without him and having Chambers even thought about as a starter. This is just my opinion, but there isnt' a single offensive tackle in the NFL I'd trade Peters for, not one. The crazy thing is he's still learning and will get better. This is a guy who can easily make the next five Pro Bowls.
6- Don't Believe The Hype- I don't care what they tell you, I know for a fact the vast majority of players read the papers. Buffalo is being heralded everywhere as a "surprise" team and even a playoff team. This team needs to forget all that noise, and remained focus and take the underdog approach. Nothing ruins a season for a young team more than believing your own press clippings. The bottom line is this team hasn't done **** yet, and it's Jaurons' job to make sure they remember that.
5- Who's #2?- This team in my opinion is counting too heavily on a rookie. James Hardy will be counted on to produce a lot more than a number two rookie WR should be. There' a lot of pressure on him. If he doesn't produce, I don't see this offense making much strides from last year. Reed and Parrish are what they are; decent players that have a big play every now and then but are not consistent. Our tight end position, in my opinion at least, is still a joke. I am certainly not saying Hardy can't do the job. I still love the drafting of him (I would've loved Sweed too). I"m just saying there's a lot of rookie pressure there and that concerns me.
4- The "Turk"- Anybody has to be better than Fairchild. But until we see it on the field (and I"m not saying we won't)- the Turk is nothing more than a lot of talk with a badge. I personally would've preferred a more established coordinator, especially on an offensive team so young.
3- Health: Last year was scary with all the injuries. This is a concern for every team in the league but none more than Buffalo. Poz and Simpson are needed on the field this year.
2- JP Losman remained in Buffalo: I'm very well aware every team needs two "good" quarterbacks on their roster. I still think we should've found someone else via Free Agency or the draft. This guy isn't now, but I'll bet anyone at some point he WILL become a distraction. At some point this season, a young Edward might struggle. People and worse, a few teammates may even call for Losman. I think that's the single most horrible thing for team chemistry. He has absolutely no future here, he's gone at season's end no matter what happens (he would never stay in Buffalo the way he's been treated) so why not trade him (too late now though) for anything you can get, and get a guy like Lemon or even Culpepper (Who is still out there) as a backup for Edwards. There is one more thing about Losman, I don't think he's any ****ing good, unless we're playing the Bengals or Texans.
1- Offensive Line Depth: I'm terrified of this. When Duke Preston, Chambers or Jason Whittle are your top options off the bench, you're one play away from being in trouble. Overall, I've written that I love the depth on this team, and I still do. But not here. I'm still befuddled on why we A) Didnt sign at least one solid vet backup OL in free agency and B) Why we drafted Reggie Corner in the 4th round instead of the best OL prospect on the board. We could use an upgrade as a backup on every single OL position.
7- Jason Peters- We need him in training camp, period. Regardless on your stance if you think he has the right to get a new contract, the bottom line is he's the most important player on this offense and we NEED him. Nobody knows how serious or how far this holdout will go at this point. We can't afford to be without him and having Chambers even thought about as a starter. This is just my opinion, but there isnt' a single offensive tackle in the NFL I'd trade Peters for, not one. The crazy thing is he's still learning and will get better. This is a guy who can easily make the next five Pro Bowls.
6- Don't Believe The Hype- I don't care what they tell you, I know for a fact the vast majority of players read the papers. Buffalo is being heralded everywhere as a "surprise" team and even a playoff team. This team needs to forget all that noise, and remained focus and take the underdog approach. Nothing ruins a season for a young team more than believing your own press clippings. The bottom line is this team hasn't done **** yet, and it's Jaurons' job to make sure they remember that.
5- Who's #2?- This team in my opinion is counting too heavily on a rookie. James Hardy will be counted on to produce a lot more than a number two rookie WR should be. There' a lot of pressure on him. If he doesn't produce, I don't see this offense making much strides from last year. Reed and Parrish are what they are; decent players that have a big play every now and then but are not consistent. Our tight end position, in my opinion at least, is still a joke. I am certainly not saying Hardy can't do the job. I still love the drafting of him (I would've loved Sweed too). I"m just saying there's a lot of rookie pressure there and that concerns me.
4- The "Turk"- Anybody has to be better than Fairchild. But until we see it on the field (and I"m not saying we won't)- the Turk is nothing more than a lot of talk with a badge. I personally would've preferred a more established coordinator, especially on an offensive team so young.
3- Health: Last year was scary with all the injuries. This is a concern for every team in the league but none more than Buffalo. Poz and Simpson are needed on the field this year.
2- JP Losman remained in Buffalo: I'm very well aware every team needs two "good" quarterbacks on their roster. I still think we should've found someone else via Free Agency or the draft. This guy isn't now, but I'll bet anyone at some point he WILL become a distraction. At some point this season, a young Edward might struggle. People and worse, a few teammates may even call for Losman. I think that's the single most horrible thing for team chemistry. He has absolutely no future here, he's gone at season's end no matter what happens (he would never stay in Buffalo the way he's been treated) so why not trade him (too late now though) for anything you can get, and get a guy like Lemon or even Culpepper (Who is still out there) as a backup for Edwards. There is one more thing about Losman, I don't think he's any ****ing good, unless we're playing the Bengals or Texans.
1- Offensive Line Depth: I'm terrified of this. When Duke Preston, Chambers or Jason Whittle are your top options off the bench, you're one play away from being in trouble. Overall, I've written that I love the depth on this team, and I still do. But not here. I'm still befuddled on why we A) Didnt sign at least one solid vet backup OL in free agency and B) Why we drafted Reggie Corner in the 4th round instead of the best OL prospect on the board. We could use an upgrade as a backup on every single OL position.
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