One writer thinks we could battle Jets for #1 pick

[Albany,n.y.]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2717015-five-nfl-teams-already-in-contention-for-2018-no-1-overall-draft-pick?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial

Buffalo Bills

Former head coach Rex Ryan and previous general manager Doug Whaley never saw eye to eye during their time together with the Bills. Both are gone, and it's up to new head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane to clean up the mess.

Three of the team's top four wide receivers from last season have signed with other organizations. The New England Patriots snatched LeSean McCoy's backup, Mike Gillislee, away by working the restricted free-agent market. The defense's leading tackler, Zach Brown, wasn't retained. The team's top cornerback, Stephon Gilmore, also left to join the Patriots.

Buffalo still isn't fully committed to quarterback Tyrod Taylor, either. While the two sides agreed to a restructure his deal this offseason, Taylor is essentially operating under a one-year contract. The team can avoid $9.44 million of his $18.08 million cap hit next season if he's released, per Spotrac.

With McDermott running the draft, the team started to build toward the future by trading the 10th overall pick in exchange for first-round selections this and next year. Clearing cap space, adding assets and stripping the roster of unwanted veterans, Buffalo is checking off the boxes toward tanking and trying to build long term.

As such, the Bills could be battling the AFC East rival Jets for the top pick by December.

[SpikedLemonade]

This is good news.

[Novacane]

I doubt it. We'll be just average enough again to miss a top QB.

[Novacane]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2717015-five-nfl-teams-already-in-contention-for-2018-no-1-overall-draft-pick?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial

Buffalo Bills

Former head coach Rex Ryan and previous general manager Doug Whaley never saw eye to eye during their time together with the Bills. Both are gone, and it's up to new head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane to clean up the mess.

Three of the team's top four wide receivers from last season have signed with other organizations. The New England Patriots snatched LeSean McCoy's backup, Mike Gillislee, away by working the restricted free-agent market. The defense's leading tackler, Zach Brown, wasn't retained. The team's top cornerback, Stephon Gilmore, also left to join the Patriots.

Buffalo still isn't fully committed to quarterback Tyrod Taylor, either. While the two sides agreed to a restructure his deal this offseason, Taylor is essentially operating under a one-year contract. The team can avoid $9.44 million of his $18.08 million cap hit next season if he's released, per Spotrac.

With McDermott running the draft, the team started to build toward the future by trading the 10th overall pick in exchange for first-round selections this and next year. Clearing cap space, adding assets and stripping the roster of unwanted veterans, Buffalo is checking off the boxes toward tanking and trying to build long term.

As such, the Bills could be battling the AFC East rival Jets for the top pick by December.


I think not having a baffoon and his loser brother coaching the team will offset those player loses. 7-9 again.

[OpIv37]

It's a bit harsh but 1-2 injuries and it could happen. We are much closer to the #1 pick than we are to winning the SB.

[TigerJ]

Everything the writer says is true, but not everything he says may have the impact he suggests it might. I don't think any Bills fan really wanted to lose Robert Woods, one of three the author points out that the Bills lost, but he was the only meaningful loss, and even Woods shouldn't be that hard to replace. I wanted to keep Zack Brown and Mike Gillislee, but the move to a 4-3 defense made Brown superfluous, and Gillislee was not a difference maker. Gilmore's talents would be wasted in McDermott's defense. No one would argue that the Bills didn't suffer losses this offseason, but there are lots of factors that go into the success or lack of success a team might have, and we've also seen some positive factors. The Bills drafted 3 players who look like they could be ready to step into the lineup day one (White, Jones and Dawkins). Two of them are at positions where the article points out only Buffalo losses. Buffalo is getting a second round draft pick from a year ago back after he lost the whole season. That is at another spot where the author points out a loss. Ragland may not have the elite 40 speed that Zach Brown could boast, but the guy was a heck of a linebacker at Alabama. As Novacane points out, the coaching staff that the Bills have hired seems to ooze competence and focus in comparison to the Bobsey twins.

The article looks to me like a selective lifting out of a few facts from one side of the offseason balance rather than a thorough analysis of what has actually happened.

[The Toe Show]

For the Bills, there are only two scenarios:

1) A typical mediocre season (7-9ish) or 2) being the surprise up-start (10-6ish).

There's too much talent for it to be a tank. Only the uninformed think otherwise.

The Jets are a lock for the #1 pick. They are going suh-huck.

[Joe Fo Sho]

For the Bills, there are only two scenarios:

1) A typical mediocre season (7-9ish) or 2) being the surprise up-start (10-6ish).

I think there's maybe a 3rd scenario hiding in there somewhere.

[The Toe Show]

I think there's maybe a 3rd scenario hiding in there somewhere.
I feel like the team didn't get worse talent-wise. I think Zay and Tre will be upgrades over Gilmore and Woods.

But Rex and Rob were such terrible gameday coaches - I'm pretty sure they lost 3 games last year with mis-calls and mismanagement. Average coaching should keep the team afloat to 8-8

[Joe Fo Sho]

I feel like the team didn't get worse talent-wise. I think Zay and Tre will be upgrades over Gilmore and Woods.

But Rex and Rob were such terrible gameday coaches - I'm pretty sure they lost 3 games last year with mis-calls and mismanagement. Average coaching should keep the team afloat to 8-8

You could be right. Personally, I'd put my money on 6 wins or less.

We may not have got worse talent-wise, but this talent won 7 games last year. As much as it helps getting rid of Rex and Rob, there could be growing pains with a new scheme on offense and defense, as well as a 1st time head coach. Not to mention our schedule got more difficult, at least at this point in the season. It would surprise me if we won as many games as we did last year. Here's hoping, though.

[The Toe Show]

You could be right. Personally, I'd put my money on 6 wins or less.

We may not have got worse talent-wise, but this talent won 7 games last year. As much as it helps getting rid of Rex and Rob, there could be growing pains with a new scheme on offense and defense, as well as a 1st time head coach. Not to mention our schedule got more difficult, at least at this point in the season. It would surprise me if we won as many games as we did last year. Here's hoping, though.
That's fair, the new scheme is a wild card I'm not giving enough weight.
I'd much prefer rock-bottom to anything in the grey, 7-9ish would be a total mistrial nightmare.

[Joe Fo Sho]

That's fair, the new scheme is a wild card I'm not giving enough weight.
I'd much prefer rock-bottom to anything in the grey, 7-9ish would be a total mistrial nightmare.

7-9 would be the worst case scenario for this team, just like it was last year.

[psubills62]

Have been saying I'm not surprised if they tank this year. Could be several QB's worthy of high draft picks this coming year.

Though will say I don't feel like we are Jets level bad...but we certainly aren't good.

[OpIv37]

For the Bills, there are only two scenarios:

1) A typical mediocre season (7-9ish) or 2) being the surprise up-start (10-6ish).

There's too much talent for it to be a tank. Only the uninformed think otherwise.

The Jets are a lock for the #1 pick. They are going suh-huck.
You're right that this isn't a tank. You're wrong about the talent.

On O, we have a mediocre QB whose only proven NFL target can't stay healthy. The O will only be successful if Tyrod can be good enough to keep them from stacking the box against McCoy. And McCoy needs to stay healthy too.

On D, the DL should be solid (assuming Kyle stays healthy and Dareus stays away from league-mandated vacations). The back 7 is a mess.

[Goobylal]

Stupid article. The bills will be no worse than last year and have a good shot at being better.

[YardRat]

SHOCK THE WORLD !!!

[OpIv37]

Stupid article. The bills will be no worse than last year and have a good shot at being better.
They have practically sero shot at being better. Net talent loss, new systems. The only way they will be better is if Tyrod suddenly becomes good, 3 rookies contribute immediately and they stay healthy. I don't see all those things happening.

[The Toe Show]

You're right that this isn't a tank. You're wrong about the talent.
On O, we have a mediocre QB whose only proven NFL target can't stay healthy. The O will only be successful if Tyrod can be good enough to keep them from stacking the box against McCoy. And McCoy needs to stay healthy too.
On D, the DL should be solid (assuming Kyle stays healthy and Dareus stays away from league-mandated vacations). The back 7 is a mess.

Ugh, wow. Yeah I can see your perspective. If Shady goes down - game over. Imagine a season-ender: initiate tank mode immediately. I've seen Jonathan Williams, and I know for sure he sucks. Feeling thin at RB all the sudden.

I think you're right on the offensive side.

On the flip, consider:

-Watkins in a contract year
-We've never seen Reggie Ragland play
-Micah Hyde was expensive, is he good?

[OpIv37]

Ugh, wow. Yeah I can see your perspective. If Shady goes down - game over. Imagine a season-ender: initiate tank mode immediately. I've seen Jonathan Williams, and I know for sure he sucks. Feeling thin at RB all the sudden.

I think you're right on the offensive side.

On the flip, consider:

-Watkins in a contract year
-We've never seen Reggie Ragland play
-Micah Hyde was expensive, is he good?

I do want to see what Ragland can do, and Shaq with a full off-season

[Night Train]

Well..if it's on the internet..


IT MUST BE TRUE !

[bleve]

You're right that this isn't a tank. You're wrong about the talent.

On O, we have a mediocre QB whose only proven NFL target can't stay healthy. The O will only be successful if Tyrod can be good enough to keep them from stacking the box against McCoy. And McCoy needs to stay healthy too.

On D, the DL should be solid (assuming Kyle stays healthy and Dareus stays away from league-mandated vacations). The back 7 is a mess.

Our offense last year - while not great - was 10th in the league in points per game. We scored 24 or more points in a game 11 times. We only won 5 of those. It was clearly the defense that was the problem, and I don't think it was the talent given what they were capable of prior to Mr. "don't-let-him-leave-the-building-rex-the-fraud-ryan".

Yes, the schedule on paper is more difficult, but I do expect a better performance from the D despite new schemes and coaches.

[Goobylal]

They have practically sero shot at being better. Net talent loss, new systems. The only way they will be better is if Tyrod suddenly becomes good, 3 rookies contribute immediately and they stay healthy. I don't see all those things happening.

The move back to the 4-3 will be the biggest improvement to the team because that's what's held the team back the past 2 years. The majority of players are suited to it, especially the D line players, and that will help the rest of the units as well. As for talent losses, they're swapping Hodges for Brown and upgrading at safety. Gilmore is a loss but not at $12M/year and White has looked good.

On offense, the team will still be run first and should still excel. They replaced guys they lost with equal talent and if Jones shows something, it's gravy.

And on STs, Hauschka is an upgrade not only in FG kicking but kicking off, meaning no more wasting a roster spot on a kickoff specialist. I also have a feeling UDFA Rehkow will upgrade Schmidt, but again if that happens it's gravy.

[Mace]

Our offense last year - while not great - was 10th in the league in points per game. We scored 24 or more points in a game 11 times. We only won 5 of those. It was clearly the defense that was the problem, and I don't think it was the talent given what they were capable of prior to Mr. "don't-let-him-leave-the-building-rex-the-fraud-ryan".

Yes, the schedule on paper is more difficult, but I do expect a better performance from the D despite new schemes and coaches.

Can't really agree, though yes the defense was bad. The offense put up yards and scored points when the pace was leisurely enough to run, then when it had to pass or operate quick and efficient, nada. The defense will get better.... immediately ? I dunno about that, ojt and weeding process. They're still going to have to pass in a league where better teams can score 3 times in the last 5 minutes, routinely. Are we one of them ? No.

I expect a better showing, but I'd hold back on better results to give McDermott & Company time to build their machine the right way.

[SpikedLemonade]

You could be right. Personally, I'd put my money on 6 wins or less.

We may not have got worse talent-wise, but this talent won 7 games last year. As much as it helps getting rid of Rex and Rob, there could be growing pains with a new scheme on offense and defense, as well as a 1st time head coach. Not to mention our schedule got more difficult, at least at this point in the season. It would surprise me if we won as many games as we did last year. Here's hoping, though.

That is what I see right now as well.

The strategy to beat TT is well documented now. Unless he suddenly evolves his between the hash marks passing game (and I don't think that is possible), it will be easy to defend against us.

[kscdogbillsfan1221]

That is what I see right now as well.

The strategy to beat TT is well documented now. Unless he suddenly evolves his between the hash marks passing game (and I don't think that is possible), it will be easy to defend against us.

i disagree. i do think it's possible. He was very good against the seahawks (minus the boneheaded interception in the third quarter) and the second game against miami. If I recall correctly, he was throwing over the middle during those games. He has the potential to do it. If the coaching staff 'makes him' for the lack of a better term i think it's more than possible. it's likely.

but i could be wrong.

[sudzy]

This is good news.

That's why it won't happen. 7-9, here we come.