1st off. I'll admit I looked at the schedule before the season started and said 11-5. However, in hindsight, the possibility of a successful season was pretty slim. Let's examine the actual team we've got:
QB: We opened the season with a QB who had never started an NFL game & a has been veteran backup and a bust former 1st rounder 3rd string: What was the expectation? That Tyrod would instantly become Russell Wilson overnight? The reality was we were either going to have some growing pains, or worse, if Tyrod got injured, be in position where it would be tough to win any games in his absence. This was proven in the 2 games Tyrod missed and the other 12 he has played, where he's given us hope but is not a finished product.
O-line: Face it, the right side of the line was always going to be iffy in 2015. Henderson did not grade out well his rookie year & CK has proven to be a total bust. Now in the offseason, there was hope for CK, but the fact that he's already been passed by a guy the Bills got off the scrap heap makes CK a proven bust by now. The only bright spot has been the Incognito signing, which saved the left side.
So, going into the season with a problem area at RT & a 3rd rd. rookie at RG, how high could the expectations have been.
RB: After Shady came back to nearly 100% things look good, but once FJ was let go, how optimistic could anyone be going into the season about depth? Karlos Williams looks good when he plays, but he misses more games than he plays, so who knows.
TE: We knew outside of Clay there wasn't much there.
K: Whether Carpenter is money or not (and this season he isn't) the fact that the team carries 2 kickers is ridiculous. Maybe we don't cut Cockrell and he provides DB depth.
The D was expected to carry the team, but with so many ? on offense, was that really realistic that they alone would help improve the record & make this a playoff team?
I think anyone calling for firings expected a lot more than was realistic. Let's see what happens in the offseason where upgrades on the O-line, QB depth or more competition, K, and a reconfiguration of the D roster, at least to replace Mario, will be needed.
We expected too much-I'm more mad at myself for being suckered in than the Bills management who deep down probably knew that this wasn't going to be a great year.
QB: We opened the season with a QB who had never started an NFL game & a has been veteran backup and a bust former 1st rounder 3rd string: What was the expectation? That Tyrod would instantly become Russell Wilson overnight? The reality was we were either going to have some growing pains, or worse, if Tyrod got injured, be in position where it would be tough to win any games in his absence. This was proven in the 2 games Tyrod missed and the other 12 he has played, where he's given us hope but is not a finished product.
O-line: Face it, the right side of the line was always going to be iffy in 2015. Henderson did not grade out well his rookie year & CK has proven to be a total bust. Now in the offseason, there was hope for CK, but the fact that he's already been passed by a guy the Bills got off the scrap heap makes CK a proven bust by now. The only bright spot has been the Incognito signing, which saved the left side.
So, going into the season with a problem area at RT & a 3rd rd. rookie at RG, how high could the expectations have been.
RB: After Shady came back to nearly 100% things look good, but once FJ was let go, how optimistic could anyone be going into the season about depth? Karlos Williams looks good when he plays, but he misses more games than he plays, so who knows.
TE: We knew outside of Clay there wasn't much there.
K: Whether Carpenter is money or not (and this season he isn't) the fact that the team carries 2 kickers is ridiculous. Maybe we don't cut Cockrell and he provides DB depth.
The D was expected to carry the team, but with so many ? on offense, was that really realistic that they alone would help improve the record & make this a playoff team?
I think anyone calling for firings expected a lot more than was realistic. Let's see what happens in the offseason where upgrades on the O-line, QB depth or more competition, K, and a reconfiguration of the D roster, at least to replace Mario, will be needed.
We expected too much-I'm more mad at myself for being suckered in than the Bills management who deep down probably knew that this wasn't going to be a great year.
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