While many are whining...

[ublinkwescore]

I really like what our front office has done so far. I really think we can have the makings of a significantly improved Defense with the addition of Marcel Dareus, and the steady improvement year to year of Kyle Williams and Dwan Edwards still being here. If Jasper ends up being a player instead of a project, and Torell Troupe ends up taking the anticipated step forward this year we not only have the makings of a solid D line but one with depth as well. Add in Alex Carrington's hopeful step forward as well, our coaching staff could have some very difficult decisions to make come cut time...

Our Linebackers look to be pretty solid as well with Barnett and Merriman making up the leadership core. Sheppard could be a nice surprise as well. this could be the strongest section of what is figuring to shape up into a pretty solid defense. It will be nice to see us more than capable of running a competent 3-4 d.

Our Secondary is still for the most part in tact. Donte Whitner's likely departure shouldn't be missed too much. we've still got george wilson and bryan scott (i think that's our big safety's name - i've been away for a while). Our secondary will definitely welcome the addition of Aaron Williams.

it's time for the negative nancys to stop their whining. the front office has done a good job both in free agency and the draft. now it's up to the players to get out there and just execute.

[OpIv37]

Re: While many are whining...

lmao- we get this post ever year.

"Steady improvement" is supposed to happen every year and it never does.

And the FO did their job in FA by getting one guy to replace a guy we lost? It's a slight upgrade and it helps, but this team still has a myriad of holes that were not addressed.

This is same ****, different day: their sole strategy for improvement is rookies and player development. Look at all the qualifiers in your post... "IF Jasper isn't a project" and "IF Troup takes a step forward" and "Carrington's HOPEFUL step forward" and "Sheppard COULD be a nice surprise"... and you didn't even mention Merriman's health.

Basically, this is the same as every other year: IF a couple dozen things ALL go right, the Bills will have a good season. And some of those things will go right. But the chances of all of those things going right, or even enough of them to have a good season, are slim to none.

[justasportsfan]

Re: While many are whining...

lmao- we get this post ever year.

"Steady improvement" is supposed to happen every year and it never does.

And the FO did their job in FA by getting one guy to replace a guy we lost? It's a slight upgrade and it helps, but this team still has a myriad of holes that were not addressed.

This is same ****, different day: their sole strategy for improvement is rookies and player development. Look at all the qualifiers in your post... "IF Jasper isn't a project" and "IF Troup takes a step forward" and "Carrington's HOPEFUL step forward" and "Sheppard COULD be a nice surprise"... and you didn't even mention Merriman's health.

Basically, this is the same as every other year: IF a couple dozen things ALL go right, the Bills will have a good season. And some of those things will go right. But the chances of all of those things going right, or even enough of them to have a good season, are slim to none.

translation

[trapezeus]

Re: While many are whining...

OP, you are getting it all wrong, as per usual. The way you should read it is "IF all these things go right, we have A CHANCE to start to get good."

This allows us to go 4-12 again, but you have a warm and fuzzy feeling that 8-8 is just around the corner for next year.

Ca-peesh?

[DesertFox24]

Re: While many are whining...

As a bills fan I am always optimistic our young drafted players take the next step. However, until I see it in the regular season I am not going to get to high or low.

[mysticsoto]

Re: While many are whining...

lmao- we get this post ever year.

"Steady improvement" is supposed to happen every year and it never does.

And the FO did their job in FA by getting one guy to replace a guy we lost? It's a slight upgrade and it helps, but this team still has a myriad of holes that were not addressed.

This is same ****, different day: their sole strategy for improvement is rookies and player development. Look at all the qualifiers in your post... "IF Jasper isn't a project" and "IF Troup takes a step forward" and "Carrington's HOPEFUL step forward" and "Sheppard COULD be a nice surprise"... and you didn't even mention Merriman's health.

Basically, this is the same as every other year: IF a couple dozen things ALL go right, the Bills will have a good season. And some of those things will go right. But the chances of all of those things going right, or even enough of them to have a good season, are slim to none.

I'm not going to jump on the "we will be great" bandwagon yet either Op, but Dareus alone being on the team by default makes us better by himself!!!

Our biggest hole right now is at RT and isn't anything new we didn't have last year. Even if we don't make the playoffs, I think we'll come close. That's a positive in that we will win more games although unfortunately, we will still have problems beating the Pats and Jets. It's a negative in that we will be out of the running for Luck. Still we will be in the running for a 2nd or 3rd best QB.

[mayotm]

Re: While many are whining...

lmao- we get this post ever year.

"Steady improvement" is supposed to happen every year and it never does.

And the FO did their job in FA by getting one guy to replace a guy we lost? It's a slight upgrade and it helps, but this team still has a myriad of holes that were not addressed.

This is same ****, different day: their sole strategy for improvement is rookies and player development. Look at all the qualifiers in your post... "IF Jasper isn't a project" and "IF Troup takes a step forward" and "Carrington's HOPEFUL step forward" and "Sheppard COULD be a nice surprise"... and you didn't even mention Merriman's health.

Basically, this is the same as every other year: IF a couple dozen things ALL go right, the Bills will have a good season. And some of those things will go right. But the chances of all of those things going right, or even enough of them to have a good season, are slim to none.

You're complaining about seeing the same post every year? We essentially get the same posts from you hourly.

[psubills62]

Re: While many are whining...

Thing is...EVERY team has to depend on young guys. Look at the Chargers - they're starting two very young guys at ILB. Green Bay won a Super Bowl with two rookie undrafted free agents fighting over the starting OLB spot across from Clay Matthews. Jets are hoping to replace Woody with a disappointment.

I think it's reasonable to expect young guys to get better. The problem is that the Bills are depending on too many young guys. With time, the good young players will become good veterans and we'll fill in the (hopefully) fewer remaining holes with more draftees or free agents.

Every team has their IF...THEN players. We just have more because we're building a team with an enormous youth movement, and we had almost no good players to start with.

There are certainly some things I'm not really liking about our FO, but in general I think they're building a team the right way. First, they've really focused on the defense. Second, they've made the DL a big priority. Third, they've made it clear that they want to upgrade positions when they can, but not overpay FA's. Fourth, they've also made it clear they aren't happy with our current situation at RT. Fifth, they want to build a core through the draft.

Do I agree with all their decisions? No. Do I agree with them not doing much to truly improve the OL? No. Do I agree with some of the extensions they've handed out, like Kelsay? Certainly not. Do I think they're improving the talent on the team? It's a little slower than I would have liked, but yes, I think they are.

[BidsJr]

Re: While many are whining...

Looks like OP lives in the DC area. Maybe a transistion to being a Redskins fan would be good for him. At least in the offseason he would be excited about all the big splashes being made.

[OpIv37]

Re: While many are whining...

You're complaining about seeing the same post every year? We essentially get the same posts from you hourly.

because people constantly say the same nonsense like the initial post in this thread.

I love it how people complain that my posts are repetitive but never complain about the dozens of "Dareus is great and will make our whole D better" or "Carrington is improving and will be good" or "I can't wait to see what Marcus Easley can do" or "we'll get better by player improvement" posts.

[psubills62]

Re: While many are whining...

because people constantly say the same nonsense like the initial post in this thread.

I love it how people complain that my posts are repetitive but never complain about the dozens of "Dareus is great and will make our whole D better" or "Carrington is improving and will be good" or "I can't wait to see what Marcus Easley can do" or "we'll get better by player improvement" posts.

I really don't think the uber-positive posts are nearly as abundant as you make them out to be. I consistently see pessimistic posts, whether logical or illogical, significantly more than their counterparts. And to be honest, I often dismiss certain posters (MDP, for one), some of whom do post those uber-positive statements.

[OpIv37]

Re: While many are whining...

I think it's reasonable to expect young guys to get better. The problem is that the Bills are depending on too many young guys. With time, the good young players will become good veterans and we'll fill in the (hopefully) fewer remaining holes with more draftees or free agents.

I agree with this- my problem is that the Bills insist on doing everything through the draft, so by the time the good young players become good vets, new holes open up and we need to depend on more young guys, and hence the revolving door rebuilding cycle continues.

[psubills62]

Re: While many are whining...

I agree with this- my problem is that the Bills insist on doing everything through the draft, so by the time the good young players become good vets, new holes open up and we need to depend on more young guys, and hence the revolving door rebuilding cycle continues.

Well, the hope is that a good number of those young players turn into good ones that we re-sign to new contracts. We also need to be able to get talent everywhere, even among undrafted rookies.

To me, Green Bay is the ideal way to go about building through the draft. The vast majority of their roster was drafted by them. I think the only significant players who weren't are Charles Woodson and Ryan Grant, but I may be missing a couple others. They've done a superb job of adding talent through the draft and re-signing it when the time comes. They got to the point where they could plan for the future during the draft, replacing Cullen Jenkins and Johnny Jolly with young DE's who have already spent a year in the system. Green Bay has spent a ton of time and money re-signing their own guys to keep the team intact as well, meanwhile drafting good players to replace them.

I think it's very possible, especially since we're slightly active in free agency - GB regularly signs no one in FA.

The keys are 1) getting draftees who are talented but don't bust, 2) having good offensive and defensive systems, and 3) having coaches who implement these systems well and can develop talent.

I believe our previous regime was horrible at 1 and 3, and not very good at 2. Our current regime still has a lot of uncertainty, but I think they're OK at 1, decent at 2 (offensively, jury's still out defensively), and not enough data to know about 3.

I think it will be tough, but I definitely think we can build this team through the draft. Like I said, every team is replacing guys every year. It may vary as to how significant the holes are, but if a team has done its job, then after building a good core, then they should have talent in the wings waiting to replace those significant losses.

[djjimkelly]

Re: While many are whining...

and while people cursing about sheppard and some of the other second year guys we have to hit on a couple of them at some point

and these guys actually look like they might

everyone in the know knew maybin wasnt gonna hit people knew whitner would never live up to the 8th pick

these young guys actually have a chance to be something for the first time in a while

buddy is doing real good!

[Mr. Pink]

Re: While many are whining...

and while people cursing about sheppard and some of the other second year guys we have to hit on a couple of them at some point

and these guys actually look like they might

everyone in the know knew maybin wasnt gonna hit people knew whitner would never live up to the 8th pick

these young guys actually have a chance to be something for the first time in a while

buddy is doing real good!

He really nailed last years draft class, didn't he?

/sarcasm