You're GM, What Positions are you upgrading besides QB?

[kingJofNYC]

QB is obvious, so lets focus on the other holes/spots.

WR, DE, LB, S in that order for me.

May flip flop LB or DE. Anderson isn't getting younger and Mario's here for the long haul, but we have nothing behind these two. I don't see starters besides Barnett at the LB position. Sheppard is probably an inside 3-4 backer at best, he's a liability everywhere else so far.

Levitre, Urbik are free agents so you may want to throw G in there as well.

[BillsFever21]

As I said before the season started, we have what probably is the worse LB unit in the NFL and we didn't do anything to upgrade it in FA or the draft.

[kingJofNYC]

As I said before the season started, we have what probably is the worse LB unit in the NFL and we didn't do anything to upgrade it in FA or the draft.

I agree, this last draft was the one to do it too, lot of good LBs available in the second and early third. Sean Spence anyone? Who knows about Bradham, but if he can't crack this unit...hopes aren't high.

Problem is, we're always playing catch up. Can't take a LB in the 2nd round when you have no LT. Feels like this story plays out year after year after year.

[BuffaloWingEater]

LB fo sho.

[SABURZFAN]

Ownership

[Extremebillsfan247]

QB is obvious, so lets focus on the other holes/spots.

WR, DE, LB, S in that order for me.

May flip flop LB or DE. Anderson isn't getting younger and Mario's here for the long haul, but we have nothing behind these two. I don't see starters besides Barnett at the LB position. Sheppard is probably an inside 3-4 backer at best, he's a liability everywhere else so far.

Levitre, Urbik are free agents so you may want to throw G in there as well. Gilmore is the only DB on this team worth keeping. CB belongs on that list more than any other position beyond LB. JMO

[kingJofNYC]

Ownership
hahaha

I don't trust A.Williams at CB as well, maybe he makes the transition to S, another CB would be in play in that case but less of a need for a S. If Byrd doesn't resign....well, then we need both.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

I think we have more than enough talent on the Defense to be competitive. Not Ravens or 49ers dominant, but come on. Our Free Safety, #1 DT, and LE are all in their physical primes and have been to the Pro Bowl within the last 3 years. Dareus and Gilmore look to be legit, if raw. Anderson is a solid role player who's been over-promoted.

There's talent there. This one is absolutely on coaching.

I want to see them build a dominant offense for the first time in 20 years. Setting aside QB, as you have, I would want one WR who is physically imposing to go along with Chandler and win contested passes. A dual-threat TE ala Gronk, Hernandez, or Graham would be as good, provided Gailey gets it through his head that TEs have value in diversity.

[kingJofNYC]

Byrd's a free agent though, so who knows where he ends up. Besides Byrd, the safety depth isn't there. Wilson is pretty average and getting older.

[Mouldsie]

LB CB WR DL


Re-sign Byrd, Move Aaron Williams to Safety, Look for players but it's not the top priority if those moves are made.

[Lefty2985]

Don't bash bradham he is a late round rookie give him time. You expect everyone to jump in a play. Come on.

[YardRat]

Pretty early considering we have young guys that have barely gotten their toes wet and may fill some of those roles (Graham, Rogers, Brooks, Bradham, Howell etc), but I'll play along.

Priority #1 - Real, honest-to-the-football-gods coordinators that understand contemporary NFL. If Gailey doesn't want to hire or work with them, a new HC also.

As far as players...

QB-Please. Anybody that ever said Gailey knew how to work QB's, take it back, now. The position has been fubared and not upgraded in his entire tenure here, and it doesn't seem to be getting any better considering he apparently can't get TJax up to speed in an entire freakin' month. QB coach Lee, also. Genius Jr. has healthy Fitz looking and playing like injured Fitz. Nice job, thanks for nothing.

LB-We need a stud. Middle or outside, maybe both still, I don't care. Barnett is decent, but replaceable. Morrison might as well sit next to me on Sundays. Moats just isn't going to get it, and White is a waste of a roster space.

WR-Still no depth, and we only kept four anyway. Could use a big-time game-changer, though.

Center-A legit, vet FA to back-up Wood. Again. Urbik is a decent b'u option, but he's also your starting RG, dumbass. And he's hurt now, so how's that working out for you?

TE-Would be nice to latxh onto our own version of Gronk or Graham, if there is one available in this year's draft.

CB-A lot of young talent, but McGee will most likely retire and McKelvin move on. How high of a priority this position is obviously depends on the development of the four kids.

Safety-Maybe. Need to re-sign Byrd. Wilson is appreciated, but could be upgraded.

DE-Kelsay and/or Moore can go.

[SpikedLemonade]

Pretty early considering we have young guys that have barely gotten their toes wet and may fill some of those roles (Graham, Rogers, Brooks, Bradham, Howell etc), but I'll play along.

Priority #1 - Real, honest-to-the-football-gods coordinators that understand contemporary NFL. If Gailey doesn't want to hire or work with them, a new HC also.

As far as players...

QB-Please. Anybody that ever said Gailey knew how to work QB's, take it back, now. The position has been fubared and not upgraded in his entire tenure here, and it doesn't seem to be getting any better considering he apparently can't get TJax up to speed in an entire freakin' month. QB coach Lee, also. Genius Jr. has healthy Fitz looking and playing like injured Fitz. Nice job, thanks for nothing.

LB-We need a stud. Middle or outside, maybe both still, I don't care. Barnett is decent, but replaceable. Morrison might as well sit next to me on Sundays. Moats just isn't going to get it, and White is a waste of a roster space.

WR-Still no depth, and we only kept four anyway. Could use a big-time game-changer, though.

Center-A legit, vet FA to back-up Wood. Again. Urbik is a decent b'u option, but he's also your starting RG, dumbass. And he's hurt now, so how's that working out for you?

TE-Would be nice to latxh onto our own version of Gronk or Graham, if there is one available in this year's draft.

CB-A lot of young talent, but McGee will most likely retire and McKelvin move on. How high of a priority this position is obviously depends on the development of the four kids.

Safety-Maybe. Need to re-sign Byrd. Wilson is appreciated, but could be upgraded.

DE-Kelsay and/or Moore can go.

That number of players to acquire is another 2-3 year project.

What NFL team gives their GM 6 years of a losing record?

Typically, it is 3 years and your done if you don't make the play-offs.

[kingJofNYC]

That number of players to acquire is another 2-3 year project.

What NFL team gives their GM 6 years of a losing record?

Typically, it is 3 years and your done if you don't make the play-offs.

They ****ed up the '10 draft. Modrak & his cronies were still running the college scouting, but Nix was doing the picking even if the grades were wrong. Really set us back.

[BertSquirtgum]

QB is obvious, so lets focus on the other holes/spots.

WR, DE, LB, S in that order for me.

May flip flop LB or DE. Anderson isn't getting younger and Mario's here for the long haul, but we have nothing behind these two. I don't see starters besides Barnett at the LB position. Sheppard is probably an inside 3-4 backer at best, he's a liability everywhere else so far.

Levitre, Urbik are free agents so you may want to throw G in there as well.

It would be QB as the number one thing to find first for me. Then LB, WR, and Safety. I hate to say it but Whitner was much better than stinky George Wilson. I was one of the few that didn't hate him.

[Generalissimus Gibby]

LB, WR, QB, backup QB, third tring QB, stadium lease

[BertSquirtgum]

Anyone that doesn't think QB is the number one position that needs upgrading is a ****ing ******. We have three third string quarterbacks on our team.

[BertSquirtgum]

Ownership

I wish Ralph would either sell the team or let the reaper take him because I'm sick of this team sitting in limbo. The Bills are an embarrassment to the region.

[coastal]

Owner...

[Lone Stranger]

LB, WR, CB, S,DE,DC(probably should be first).

[BLeonard]

Well, if I'm the GM, I probably not in a position to "upgrade the owner," even if I would want to...

So, let's go with what I would be capable of... For me, it's two simple steps:

Step One:

The first thing I would do would be to get Bill Cowher on the phone. After all, we were told that it was Cowher that suggested Gailey for Head Coach. The two have worked together before, why not see if there is a way to have them work together in some capacity again? If not, I ask Cowher what it would take to take over the Head Coaching job and do what it takes to get him in the doors or OBD, even if that means canning Gailey tomorrow. I then give Cowher the keys to the Kingdom and do anything that he requests. He wants a Free Agent? I get him. Trade? Make it happen.

Step Two: (And, this is what will change things at OBD, regardless of how successful any or all of step one is)

If, at ANY TIME I have ANY SORT of interference from ANYONE in the Front Office regarding ANYTHING I go public with the issue... and, I go public EVERY TIME there is ANY interference from above. ESPN and NFL Network have cameras on everywhere 24/7. I'm certain that they would love to give me a live mic so I could tell the world (and more importantly, Bills fans) "Hey, I want Bill Cowher in here, but Jeff Littman and Russ Brandon don't think he's worth the money he wants." Or, "Well, Coach wants us to sign Plaxico Burress, so that we have another threat at WR, but Ralph, Russ and Jeff say that that would cut to much into profits this year." In short, I make the people who I REALLY think are the problem (and have been the problem for some time) accountable.

Now, I realize that I probably would be fired pretty quickly, but it likely would only take one incident as described above, to expose the people in the organization for the shams that they are. That would damn near FORCE them to do something to prevent fans from coming to OBD with torches and pitchforks. Even after getting fired, I'd be on ESPN, NFLN and any other station that carries sports telling anyone who would listen exactly how things are really run at One Bills Drive.

THAT, my fellow Bills fans, I believe would do more for this franchise than any change at any position (including QB) or coach would do at this stage of the game.

-Bill

[Ingtar33]

QB, LB, DB, DE, WR

in that order. I can live with going LBer over QB in round 1 if there are no good options at QB available, but beyond that, those are our needs, in order of importance.

If they use every pick in the draft on QB or LB i could be happy with that.

[Historian]

LB (2)
QB
K
WR

[X-Era]

I agree, this last draft was the one to do it too, lot of good LBs available in the second and early third. Sean Spence anyone? Who knows about Bradham, but if he can't crack this unit...hopes aren't high.

Problem is, we're always playing catch up. Can't take a LB in the 2nd round when you have no LT. Feels like this story plays out year after year after year.I'm looking at Skov, Hodges, Mauti, and Reddick.

[DraftBoy]

Well first I'd hire a DC who can is aggressive, Id want to stay in our 43 base as to utilize our strong line but change the Cover 2 philosophy to a more man cover one to utilize Gilmore's strengths.

Defensive I'd upgrade:
RDE - Anderson is a better pass rush specialist off the bench than an every down starter
DT Depth-We have bodies but lack overall talent
OLB-We just need somebody who can make plays here, maybe Bradham sticks
MLB-See above
Starting CB-Williams can't play in this scheme as a CB so he moves back to SAF
CB Depth-Brooks and Rogers are nice but they are undersized for the press system I want, Brooks can play man (he did it plenty at LSU) and he can play outside, Rogers can't and he may be a casulty
SAF depth-I see three SAF worth keeping on this team at the moment (Byrd, Williams, and Howell) I'd add a fourth size SAF who I can walk into the box (Kam Chancellor type size)

Offensively I want a guy who can stick with the gameplan Gailey was trying to run and keep it innovative, like I said before a Jay Gruden HC hire would go a long way to helping that happen;
QB-Nothing needs to be said here
RB Depth-Im dumping White and Choice for a true power back who can bang on the defense
WR-We need a size guy who can run to play opposite Stevie and every WR other than Graham at this point is replaceable
TE depth-Chandler is good but we lack depth, would like to maybe keep Smith for jumbo packages and then add an athletic 3rd option who can run
OT depth-Solid here though I'd begin to consider my options with Pears as I think Hairston is a better long term option at RT, add some depth
OG-Resigning Levitre is key, but Id look to upgrade Urbik. He's not bad but he's not perfect either
OC-For the love of god can we get a true backup OC

K-Good
P-Powell is on a one year trial
LS-Safest position on the team

[stuckincincy]

What NFL team gives their GM 6 years of a losing record?



CIN.

Brown is Owner/GM/President. Pays himself a salary for the GM/Prez. positions. Then deducts those salaries as business expense, which reduces tax liability, thus increasing his profits as owner. The VPs, directors of Personnel, Player Development etc. are mostly family and close friends.

Brownian logic dictates that unquestioned loyalty trumps competence. Which is why Marvin Lewis has been an NFL HC for 10 years. The rb coach just entered his 27th year. The truly appalling OC Bob Bratkowski had a 10 year tenure, and so on.

[DraftBoy]

CIN.

Brown is Owner/GM/President. Pays himself a salary for the GM/Prez. positions. Then deducts those salaries as business expense, which reduces tax liability, thus increasing his profits as owner. The VPs, directors of Personnel, Player Development etc. are mostly family and close friends.

Brownian logic dictates that unquestioned loyalty trumps competence. Which is why Marvin Lewis has been an NFL HC for 10 years. The rb coach just entered his 27th year. The truly appalling OC Bob Bratkowski had a 10 year tenure, and so on.

Also why I think Jay Gruden would jump at the chance to take a HC job.

[stuckincincy]

Also why I think Jay Gruden would jump at the chance to take a HC job.

No doubt about that all.

His" bona fides" weren't much coming into the OC position last season. He started out calling in the predictable Bob Bratkowski style - most runs to the left, deep hand offs, sideline heaves in dire straits, 2nd half panic if no lead going into the 2nd. But he improved - wised up.

I feel sorry for Gabbert and Jones-Drew. Bratkowski is the OC in JAX, and the CIN defense knew the script by heart.

[YardRat]

That number of players to acquire is another 2-3 year project.

What NFL team gives their GM 6 years of a losing record?

Typically, it is 3 years and your done if you don't make the play-offs.

Not at all...8-10 new players is a typical annual turnover. Not every guy on the roster can, or has to, come from the first two rounds of the draft or huge free agent contracts.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

Anyone that doesn't think QB is the number one position that needs upgrading is a ****ing ******. We have three third string quarterbacks on our team.

Did you read the thread title?

[BertSquirtgum]

Did you read the thread title?

Did you read some of the posts in the thread?

[Mike]

In order of Need:

*1) Number one need, and this can not be stressed enough, we need the Best Front Office and Coach money can buy. Look at what jim harbaugh (http://www.google.com/search?q=jim+harbaugh&hl=en&client=safari&sa=X&rls=en&biw=1152&bih=658&prmd=imvnsuo&source=univ&tbm=nws&tbo=u&ei=F5FrUIirI7SK2QWJmYDYCA&ved=0CB0QqAI) has done with the 49ers. In one year, he took them from doormats to contender with the same pool of talent.

2) QB: obviously its very difficult to contend for a title if you don't have a stud at the position. In the last 30 years only two team have won a SB without a Pro Bowl QB, only 2!
3) LB: There are no NFL caliber LBs on this roster. We have a bunch of guys playing pretend at this point.
4) WR: We have a 1B receiver. Put Johnson on any of the playoff teams right now, and he would not be the number one pass catcher.
5) DB: The CBs & Safeties need work. I don't know what is wrong with the safeties but it seems to me that both of them excel at being ball hawks but not at much else. As for the CBs, Gilmore might pan out, the rest are either too old or not good enough.
6) DLine: Mario is here to stay one way or the other. Sometimes these moves pan out ala J. Peppers or J. Allan and other times the FA pick up is a turn ala A. Haynesworth. Lets hope for the former and not the later. However at the end of the day, I expect Mario to be somewhere in the middle.
7) TE: Imagine if we had a guy like Gronk or Davis or Graham...
8) O-Line: Improvement is good even for a good unit. After all its about getting better.

[JoeMama]

For the thirteenth consecutive year, this team looks so lost in all facets of the game, it's anyone's guess as to how and where to improve.

We have a very, very expensive defense.

I expect better than 5 consecutive touchdowns scored on us after we were holding onto a lead.

The Stache has some 'splanin' to do.

[TigerJ]

Buffalo's linebackers could certainly be upgraded. I think Shepherd is decent, but he's not great. Barnett is pretty good, but is long in the tooth. Moats has some skills, but I don't think he's a really well rounded linebacker. Nigel Bradham is pretty impressive physically. I'm not sure mentally how he measures up. Scott is a liability in the run game. The others on the roster are no more than fringe players. We still haven't seen any evidence that anyone besides Steve Johnson among the wide receivers really has the ability to be a difference maker, but part of that may be our QB. Otherwise, I think the talent level of the Bills is pretty good. Chan Gailey has a little time to prove his contention about "mental toughness" and begin to change the culture, otherwise he's going to lose the fans and then eventually his job. At this point, I think the talent level of the Bills is better than what they are doing on the field, and when that happens, it's only a matter of time before the coaches end up on the hot seat.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

Did you read some of the posts in the thread?

I don't see any defending our QBs, so who are you arguing with?