If the "whiners" and the "homers'" of this board can come together on this thread for a minute.. Let's have a discussion on a specific topic.
90% of the people on here despised Donahoe, including myself. Regardless of who liked him or not, I think we can ALL concur that the BIGGEST REASON the Bills didn't make the playoffs the past six years is because of TD's blatant neglect on the offensive line. To a man (or woman) we all agree on this, no?
Well the Bills have already signed five free agents this season, and NOT a SINGLE one of them is an offensive linemen. Nada
HOw does this make Levy ANY better than Donahoe? WE're signing these system and developmental safeties, tight ends and quarterbacks. Where the hell are the offensive linemen?
In Donahoe's defense; he brought in a damn good defense. Spikes, Fletcher, Posey, Milloy, Vincent and Adams were all brought in by Donahoe and two of the past three years we had the #2 defense in the NFL.. TD dropped the ball last year by letting Big Pat walk to the Vikings and then TKO got hurt. As we all know, it was a very long year for the defense.
One can tell already that Marv is looking at building a better line through the draft. I think it's a big mistake if anyone expects this team to be any kind of competitive anytime soon.
Jason Peters is rising as a tackle. At times he was VERY solid last year. IN fact, he was probably our best linemen by season's end. STill he's been a starting tackle for LESS than a year. He still has to grow and develop more.
Same for Duke Preston. He's likely to inherited the starting center spot from Trey Teague, the same way JP was handed the QB spot from Drew. The kid is good but still has a lot to learn.
What are we going to do, surround them with one or two more rookie starters?
JP's never going to have a chance in Buffalo, this line is going to get him murdered. Willis will never be a franchise back either running behind a line that young and unproven.
I cant even see them using the first pick on a OL either. THey paid Tripplett good money and since there is no one really left in FA, you have to draft Ngata/Bunkley or Tripplett is going to be a $3+ million waste.
I don't condem Marv and Co. for the general plan they have in place. But I can't fathom he didn't learn from Donahoe that you can't do ANYTHING without an offensive line that is solid.
People keep talking about Pittsburgh, Denver, New England etc and how they didnt go crazy in FA and they're always good. This is all true.. However, these teams have one thing in common.. THey ALL HaVE outstanding offensive lines.
Marv doesnt have the luxury. SPEND THE MONEY and get Runyan and Neal.. Both are still out there. This in ONE day makes the line legit and on par with some of the better lines in the league.
Then JP will have a real chance to succeed. Willis has a chance to run for 1,500 yards.. We have a good chance to control the clock and line of scrimmage.. Then we have a chance to stay in games, ESPECIALLY on the road.
Draft smart, spend cheap wherever else you want.. JUST not with the offensive line. You already have two youngsters on a shaky line..
Don't make it more.
90% of the people on here despised Donahoe, including myself. Regardless of who liked him or not, I think we can ALL concur that the BIGGEST REASON the Bills didn't make the playoffs the past six years is because of TD's blatant neglect on the offensive line. To a man (or woman) we all agree on this, no?
Well the Bills have already signed five free agents this season, and NOT a SINGLE one of them is an offensive linemen. Nada
HOw does this make Levy ANY better than Donahoe? WE're signing these system and developmental safeties, tight ends and quarterbacks. Where the hell are the offensive linemen?
In Donahoe's defense; he brought in a damn good defense. Spikes, Fletcher, Posey, Milloy, Vincent and Adams were all brought in by Donahoe and two of the past three years we had the #2 defense in the NFL.. TD dropped the ball last year by letting Big Pat walk to the Vikings and then TKO got hurt. As we all know, it was a very long year for the defense.
One can tell already that Marv is looking at building a better line through the draft. I think it's a big mistake if anyone expects this team to be any kind of competitive anytime soon.
Jason Peters is rising as a tackle. At times he was VERY solid last year. IN fact, he was probably our best linemen by season's end. STill he's been a starting tackle for LESS than a year. He still has to grow and develop more.
Same for Duke Preston. He's likely to inherited the starting center spot from Trey Teague, the same way JP was handed the QB spot from Drew. The kid is good but still has a lot to learn.
What are we going to do, surround them with one or two more rookie starters?
JP's never going to have a chance in Buffalo, this line is going to get him murdered. Willis will never be a franchise back either running behind a line that young and unproven.
I cant even see them using the first pick on a OL either. THey paid Tripplett good money and since there is no one really left in FA, you have to draft Ngata/Bunkley or Tripplett is going to be a $3+ million waste.
I don't condem Marv and Co. for the general plan they have in place. But I can't fathom he didn't learn from Donahoe that you can't do ANYTHING without an offensive line that is solid.
People keep talking about Pittsburgh, Denver, New England etc and how they didnt go crazy in FA and they're always good. This is all true.. However, these teams have one thing in common.. THey ALL HaVE outstanding offensive lines.
Marv doesnt have the luxury. SPEND THE MONEY and get Runyan and Neal.. Both are still out there. This in ONE day makes the line legit and on par with some of the better lines in the league.
Then JP will have a real chance to succeed. Willis has a chance to run for 1,500 yards.. We have a good chance to control the clock and line of scrimmage.. Then we have a chance to stay in games, ESPECIALLY on the road.
Draft smart, spend cheap wherever else you want.. JUST not with the offensive line. You already have two youngsters on a shaky line..
Don't make it more.
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