STOP saying "preseason doesn't matter."

[OpIv37]

Some of you are forgetting a key component of that. RESULTS- W/L, statistics- do not matter in preseason. You don't get anything for being the best QB in preseason or having your team go 4-0. And you don't get the #1 overall draft pick for going 0-4.

However, PERFORMANCE absolutely matters. Teams do not get magically better or magically worse once the regular season starts. Everyone says "well it's a vanilla O" or "the D didn't game plan." Well guess what? Those statements apply to our opponents too.

So far this off-season, the Patriots' O looks like it's clicking again. The Bills look like they have trouble on the OL and DL and still can't handle a 3-4. At this point, what evidence is there that the Pats' O will slow down? What evidence is there that the Bills can overcome a good 3-4 D? Absolutely none.

If the offense is too predictable, a full game plan may fix that. If the OL is getting blown off the ball and the DL is getting no pressure whatsoever, no amount of game planning or opening up the playbook will fix that. Preseason DOES matter and it does provide at least some evidence of how the team will perform.

[MikeInRoch]

Re: STOP saying "preseason doesn't matter."

Everyone says "well it's a vanilla O" or "the D didn't game plan." Well guess what? Those statements apply to our opponents too.

No, actually, they don't. Green Bay, for example, did game plan against us.

You'll get full agreement from me that players getting beat physically is a bad pre-season sign - and that it's happening. Also, things like mental errors are important to watch for.

The fact is that pre-season is not irrelevant, but it's not completely relevant for some things, either. And I'll agree that for the things that it *is* relevant for, the signs are not very good.

[BillsOwnAll]

Re: STOP saying "preseason doesn't matter."

preseason doesnt matter.

[Mad Bomber]

Re: STOP saying "preseason doesn't matter."

Preseason DOES matter.

I heard someone on ESPN radio make the quote yesterday that "preseason games don't count, but they do matter".

This is so true if you aren't executing, are getting beat physically, or making mental mistakes. It's not like you will be able to flip a switch on week one of the regular season and make these things go away.

Especially if you're playing the Patriots in their house on MNF.

[jamze132]

Re: STOP saying "preseason doesn't matter."

Our starting offense has scored 3 points in four games while giving up 5 turnovers.

I would say the pre-season should be extremely important to our team... but unfortunately Club Jauron thinks otherwise.


edited

[kscdogbillsfan1221]

Re: STOP saying "preseason doesn't matter."

although i agree that the preseason can be an indicator of what your team will look like, remember that we looked pretty damn good last year against the eventual super bowl champions. you see how last year turned out after that. lol

[Ickybaluky]

Re: STOP saying "preseason doesn't matter."

Preseason games are not a good indicator of regular season success. That is pretty well established by multiple examples.

There are going to be a lot of mistakes made in preseason, and even early in the regular season. You hope to see some improvement over time in execution, but other than that it really doesn't matter.

[Thurmal]

Re: STOP saying "preseason doesn't matter."

It didn't matter in the early '90's because the team was awesome and had nothing to prove. Kelly and Co. played like three plays, then the backups (who were also solid) came in and just went through the motions. They were Super Bowl contenders, and the preseason was just a necessary hassle that they had to endure.

Now, however, the Bills have A TON to prove. They are constantly rebuilding and have not shown any rhythm whatsoever since the last half of the 2004 season. Unlike the glory years, this team needs reps and needs to build confidence. They have done neither.

[BillsWin]

Re: STOP saying "preseason doesn't matter."

I know were gunna suck, but I still have hope. not much though... Why do you think I made the Brian Billick thread? *sigh* if only...

[Billz_fan]

Re: STOP saying "preseason doesn't matter."

Some of you are forgetting a key component of that. RESULTS- W/L, statistics- do not matter in preseason. You don't get anything for being the best QB in preseason or having your team go 4-0. And you don't get the #1 overall draft pick for going 0-4.

However, PERFORMANCE absolutely matters. Teams do not get magically better or magically worse once the regular season starts. Everyone says "well it's a vanilla O" or "the D didn't game plan." Well guess what? Those statements apply to our opponents too.

So far this off-season, the Patriots' O looks like it's clicking again. The Bills look like they have trouble on the OL and DL and still can't handle a 3-4. At this point, what evidence is there that the Pats' O will slow down? What evidence is there that the Bills can overcome a good 3-4 D? Absolutely none.

If the offense is too predictable, a full game plan may fix that. If the OL is getting blown off the ball and the DL is getting no pressure whatsoever, no amount of game planning or opening up the playbook will fix that. Preseason DOES matter and it does provide at least some evidence of how the team will perform.

Full agreement, I just want to get to a point where I can watch a Bills game and not spend much of it laughing at coaching errors, mental mistakes and just poor performances in general. Im still chuckling about trying to Ice our own kicker in the Hall Of Fame game.

Also, I laugh at the games now because Im getting older and I cant afford the blood pressure increases I get if I react the way I used to.

[Typ0]

Re: STOP saying "preseason doesn't matter."

The thing really lacking in preseason is continuity. Teams have to work so hard to make sure that many people get game experience. There is never any chance for things to really get clicking.

[Mad Bomber]

Re: STOP saying "preseason doesn't matter."

The thing really lacking in preseason is continuity. Teams have to work so hard to make sure that many people get game experience. There is never any chance for things to really get clicking.

I agree. But tonight's game (the second to last preseason game) is the one that tends to set the tone for the regular season, because starters generally play the most time of any preseason game.

I'm going to watch to see what our starters do against a good team.

[mybills]

Re: STOP saying "preseason doesn't matter."

The last one would matter more. After (see Mad's post) that, they'll get a 2nd try at it, and practice is always a good thing. But for the most part, I don't think ps really matters. They're just a way for coaches to weed out who they don't want.

[Tatonka]

Re: STOP saying "preseason doesn't matter."

STOP saying anything.

[X-Era]

Re: STOP saying "preseason doesn't matter."

Some of you are forgetting a key component of that. RESULTS- W/L, statistics- do not matter in preseason. You don't get anything for being the best QB in preseason or having your team go 4-0. And you don't get the #1 overall draft pick for going 0-4.

However, PERFORMANCE absolutely matters. Teams do not get magically better or magically worse once the regular season starts. Everyone says "well it's a vanilla O" or "the D didn't game plan." Well guess what? Those statements apply to our opponents too.

So far this off-season, the Patriots' O looks like it's clicking again. The Bills look like they have trouble on the OL and DL and still can't handle a 3-4. At this point, what evidence is there that the Pats' O will slow down? What evidence is there that the Bills can overcome a good 3-4 D? Absolutely none.

If the offense is too predictable, a full game plan may fix that. If the OL is getting blown off the ball and the DL is getting no pressure whatsoever, no amount of game planning or opening up the playbook will fix that. Preseason DOES matter and it does provide at least some evidence of how the team will perform.

Im not sure whether I agree or not.

The Lions starting unit went neck and neck with the Colts starters. Is that likely to happen in the regular season? Hell no.

I think the only real thing that you can evaluate is individual performances. Maybe the performance of units... I.E. The offensive line.

Not:

Play calling
Schemes
Coverages
Game plans

What I will say is that we havent seen what we need to see from:

Trent Edwards
Brad Butler
The offensive line unit as a whole
The defensive line unit as a whole
Aaron Schobel
Keith Ellison

And with all of those things still being undeveloped or not ready for the regular season, yes, I think we still have much to be concerned about.

Thats why I will be looking specifically at those guys/areas and watching for signs of improvement.

But, no, Im not too concerned with the score or play calling on either side at this point.