How bad is it?? One more off-season might not be enough.

[HHURRICANE]

Well I've watched all of the playoff games and I can't see a single game where the Bills would have won, even against the losers.

I'm not trying to bash the Bills but I'm really concerned.

First year players are not going to get us over the hump so 10 draft picks, although nice, is not getting us into the playoffs.

We are in desperate need of not one, but two DTs. We are are in derparate need of not one, but two WRs. We are are in desparate need of not one, but two DEs.

One big WR, one additional DT, and one additional DE, even if standouts, don't get us over the hump.

It already doesn't look good.

[raphael120]

Well I've watched all of the playoff games and I can't see a single game where the Bills would have won, even against the losers.

I'm not trying to bash the Bills but I'm really concerned.

First year players are not going to get us over the hump so 10 draft picks, although nice, is not getting us into the playoffs.

We are in desperate need of not one, but two DTs. We are are in derparate need of not one, but two WRs. We are are in desparate need of not one, but two DEs.

One big WR, one additional DT, and one additional DE, even if standouts, don't get us over the hump.

It already doesn't look good.

W-w-w-wait!? This isn't a 2, or 3 year plan? It's at least a 4 year plan?!

In Marv we trust!!!!!!!!!!

[raphael120]

Sad thing is, we are supposed to have 2 solid drafts and 2 FA classes that actually HELP the team more than hurt, and we've seen that the only thing we really got out of the past 2 seasons is a franchise RB, a questionable talent at QB, 2 overpaid DE's, a waste of 2 picks to move into the first round for McCargo, a reach at #8 overall for an average but not great safety, and a promising MLB, and an o-line that gives good pass protections but is too soft to support the running game.

So since Donahoe got fired, the only area we improved on is the oline, while we regressed everywhere else. We've had two years, and the only players on our team that could start on any other team in the league is Evans, Peters, and Lynch.

3. Evans is not a gamechanger and neither is Lynch. 2 seasons and no stars aquired.

This is the last year for Jauron, time is running out for this experiment, Ralph, and Buffalo being home to the Bills.

[LABillsFan]

Well I've watched all of the playoff games and I can't see a single game where the Bills would have won, even against the losers.

I'm not trying to bash the Bills but I'm really concerned.

First year players are not going to get us over the hump so 10 draft picks, although nice, is not getting us into the playoffs.

We are in desperate need of not one, but two DTs. We are are in derparate need of not one, but two WRs. We are are in desparate need of not one, but two DEs.

One big WR, one additional DT, and one additional DE, even if standouts, don't get us over the hump.

It already doesn't look good.

It doesn't look like the Bills will win 11 or more games granted, but I can see them winning 9-10 and a true shot at the playoffs. I am not one to generally prognosticate but I like the direction, I just hope they start the car.

[streetkings01]

It doesn't look like the Bills will win 11 or more games granted, but I can see them winning 9-10 and a true shot at the playoffs. I am not one to generally prognosticate but I like the direction, I just hope they start the car.

And give it a tune up and fill it up with some gas too!

[ParanoidAndroid]

We have very little veteran talent. Most of our talent is found in 1st and 2nd year players with the exception of Crowell and Evans. It shows. However, the future looks much more promising than it has for a decade.

[gr8slayer]

Well I've watched all of the playoff games and I can't see a single game where the Bills would have won, even against the losers.

I'm not trying to bash the Bills but I'm really concerned.

First year players are not going to get us over the hump so 10 draft picks, although nice, is not getting us into the playoffs.

We are in desperate need of not one, but two DTs. We are are in derparate need of not one, but two WRs. We are are in desparate need of not one, but two DEs.

One big WR, one additional DT, and one additional DE, even if standouts, don't get us over the hump.

It already doesn't look good.

I don't care about getting to the play-offs, I want to Super Bowl Ring.

We need a:
- RG = I still think that Merz is the best thing we have going for us there.

- Franchise QB = Maybe it's Edwards, maybe it's not, he still has two more years in my book so I'll hold off judgment.

- CB = I'm a huge Greer fan (always have been) but I don't trust McGee.

- Difference maker at Safety = Whitner just doesn't look like he's going to live up to the #8 pick, I'll give him another year....

- LB that strikes fear into people = Crowell is good but he's not a top tier player, move Posluzny to OLB and get a beast at MLB.

- DT for the love of god = There's nobody on our DL that I would be sad to see go and it wouldn't be hard to upgrade.

- Owner = ............................. Nevermind............

[BillsFever21]

Look at them teams in the playoffs this year. Even the Chargers and Jaguars who can't make the SB. Now look at our team and how far away we are from any of them teams.

At the very least if everything went perfect we MAY be able to make the 1st round of the playoffs. Even that is far away. That's about where the Steelers are at and look at them.

All you have to do is look at teams like the Chargers, Giants and Packers and you can see how bad the management is on this team. All of them guys were drafting in the Top 5 within a few years ago and they all made the Conference Championship games this year.

When Marv started two years ago everyone said it will be a 2 year building project and then in year 3 we will make our run. This time has now come and now it's another two years. This is always the same old crap at OBD and it always will be. The best run we have a chance for is maybe losing a WC berth in a given season but this team will never sniff a Conference Championship game let alone a SB.

[LifetimeBillsFan]

...All you have to do is look at teams like the Chargers, Giants and Packers and you can see how bad the management is on this team. All of them guys were drafting in the Top 5 withing a few years ago and they all made the Conference Championship games this year.

The Bills would have been better off if they had collapsed completely and been able to pick in the Top 5, but, when that did happen, the sure-fire pick that they took to anchor their offensive line (and every scout had M.Williams highly rated and praised the pick by the Bills) turned out to be a bust and it hasn't happened since.

Unlike the Jets and Dolphins, as well as the teams that you cited, the Bills have been winning just enough games to keep them not only just at the fringe of the top talent pool (except when they picked Whitner--who I think will become more of a playmaker in the secondary when he can stop having to play LB most of the time) in each year's draft, but also having to play 3rd place schedules every year (against teams just bad enough that they have been able to beat a handful of them).

All three of the playoff teams that you have cited have also been able to get decent or better play from the QB position more consistently than the Bills. It doesn't matter how much talent you have or bring in through free agency if you don't get consistent play from the QB position. Good QB play doesn't guarantee that a team will make the playoffs (I could cite many examples of this), but it is essential to success: even Baltimore and Tampa Bay, who won their titles based mostly on their defenses, got consistent, error-free--if unspectacular--play from their QBs when they won). The fact that JP Losman was unable to develop to the point where he could give them that has helped to set the Bills back as well as the failings of many of T.Donahoe's other draft picks. We all have to hope that the coaches are right and that T.Edwards can finally provide the solution to this problem.

[BillsFever21]

The Bills would have been better off if they had collapsed completely and been able to pick in the Top 5, but, when that did happen, the sure-fire pick that they took to anchor their offensive line (and every scout had M.Williams highly rated and praised the pick by the Bills) turned out to be a bust and it hasn't happened since.

Unlike the Jets and Dolphins, as well as the teams that you cited, the Bills have been winning just enough games to keep them not only just at the fringe of the top talent pool (except when they picked Whitner--who I think will become more of a playmaker in the secondary when he can stop having to play LB most of the time) in each year's draft, but also having to play 3rd place schedules every year (against teams just bad enough that they have been able to beat a handful of them).

All three of the playoff teams that you have cited have also been able to get decent or better play from the QB position more consistently than the Bills. It doesn't matter how much talent you have or bring in through free agency if you don't get consistent play from the QB position. Good QB play doesn't guarantee that a team will make the playoffs (I could cite many examples of this), but it is essential to success: even Baltimore and Tampa Bay, who won their titles based mostly on their defenses, got consistent, error-free--if unspectacular--play from their QBs when they won). The fact that JP Losman was unable to develop to the point where he could give them that has helped to set the Bills back as well as the failings of many of T.Donahoe's other draft picks. We all have to hope that the coaches are right and that T.Edwards can finally provide the solution to this problem.

There are many teams that draft in the Top 5 every year and they do not turn it around and many teams that don't draft in the Top 5 that do turn it around.

Not every one of them Top 5 picks are going to be good players. That is not any excuse for the state of our franchise over the last decade.

You can't pin the QB as the only reason for them teams being good. Up until a few games ago Eli Manning has been horrible but they were still able to make the playoffs 3 of the last 4 years. Phillip Rivers wasn't very good this year and the Chargers made the playoffs.

A great QB may be able to get you into an occasional playoff bearth but they are not going to be the reason why you become a team like the ones mentioned above. It takes a hell of a lot more then that. Enough that the Bills are unable to accomplish.

Do you think Eli Manning is the reason for the Giants? How about Rivers for the Chargers? You put both of them guys in Buffalo for the last 4 years and we still are not a playoff team let alone as good as them. Do you think AJ Hawk made that much of a difference that the Packers would not be where they are this quickly without him? All them teams only drafted in the Top 5 once.

It takes a combination of a good core of players and coaching to get to that level. Something that Buffalo hasn't had either of in years(and for most of their existence for that matter). Not any one player is going to take you to the SB or conference championship.

So you feel that if Mike Williams wouldn't have turned out to be a bust then our team would be a totally different team right now? Not a chance. We would still be where we are at today. Also if you want to count the emergence of Jason Peters that we got from nowhere then that offsets any contributions that Williams would have made IF he wasn't a bust.

It takes great coaching and many good moves to build a team. The Buffalo Bills are just anable to do that with their current ownership and management. There are great players being drafted throughout the entire 1st and 2nd rounds every year. Many of them turn out much better then the Top 5 draft picks from that draft. The Bills are just unable to draft, develop and build a good team. The main reason for that has been because of very poor coaching and direction for the team. All of that comes back to the ownership and management too. The reason for being unable to draft, develop and build a good team is because of the things listed above. Great ownership hires the right management staff. The management staff drafts/signs the players andhires the coaches. The coaches develop the players. It all starts up top.

[colin]

i think this offseason tells us that qb play and playmakers are what will win championships.

we need a big time large passing threat or two, and a cb and playmaker in the front 7. we need a DT, but a decent one will do if we get a powerhouse OLB.

SD dallas and indy are teams of allstars that fell off because of a couple of injuries and sloppy qb play. if we are disciplined like we have been but also add some play makers we can play with any playoff team.

we had the giants down 14 nothing before losing our best player and we had a lead into the 3rd quarter. this is with an all rook backfield 15 injuries and smurfs at wideout.

we need to go out and get guys, but they are there and we have a good shot.

[bigbub2352]

Well I've watched all of the playoff games and I can't see a single game where the Bills would have won, even against the losers.

I'm not trying to bash the Bills but I'm really concerned.

First year players are not going to get us over the hump so 10 draft picks, although nice, is not getting us into the playoffs.

We are in desperate need of not one, but two DTs. We are are in derparate need of not one, but two WRs. We are are in desparate need of not one, but two DEs.

One big WR, one additional DT, and one additional DE, even if standouts, don't get us over the hump.

It already doesn't look good.

This is a critical year for the FO, not like the other 8 havent been, but we actually are in better shape than we have been in the last few years, being in the top 5 in cap room, we should not have to depend on the draft to fill all holes
we can sign a vet at WR (bryant johnson, DJ hackett, Jerry Porter, Ernest Wilford) and draft one on day 1, preferably in the 1st or 2nd round

We can sign a vet DT and draft one on Day 1, hopefully opposite the WR pick on day 1

We can draft a TE in the 3rd round or 2nd round depending on what we already took and who is avaiable and also go out and throw some money at a TE like LJ SMith

Lock up Evans, and Get a LBer in the DRaft on day one preferably with the other 3rd round selection or throw money at Karlos Dansby from ARZ who would be a Beast here and would not ask for Briggs money

and we still got day 2 of the Draft to get a DE, CB, C, G depth and still got 2 7s

we r in better shape that everyone thinks
as for Whitner he is 22 yrs old and still learning, did u hear about Bob Sanders till a year ago, he is 26 and it took him 3 yrs in that system to become outstanding, same with others, we drafted him and Youboty as JR out of OSU they are still developing, plus u r gettin Simpson who is more ballhawking at FS, and Poz back in the middle that will improve us, as well as THomas manning the Nickel spot, we are better than we think in the secondary, young and fast teams didnt throw all over us they ran all over us which set up the pass, DT is most critical postion for this offseason on D, and then LBer,

I think we should make great strides this offseason
FO just has to committ

[THATHURMANATOR]

The Bills being a playoff team next year rests solely on Trent Edwards. If he is able to produce we have a shot. If not we are in major trouble. I for one am nervous.

[gr8slayer]

The Bills being a playoff team next year rests solely on Trent Edwards. If he is able to produce we have a shot. If not we are in major trouble. I for one am nervous.

I know one thing for sure, we better use more play-action and take more shots down the field.

[Mahdi]

Well I've watched all of the playoff games and I can't see a single game where the Bills would have won, even against the losers.

I'm not trying to bash the Bills but I'm really concerned.

First year players are not going to get us over the hump so 10 draft picks, although nice, is not getting us into the playoffs.

We are in desperate need of not one, but two DTs. We are are in derparate need of not one, but two WRs. We are are in desparate need of not one, but two DEs.

One big WR, one additional DT, and one additional DE, even if standouts, don't get us over the hump.

It already doesn't look good.

I dont agree. We dont need two more DTs, WRs, and DEs.

We need 1 more DE to replace Kelsay. If we can get good production from that position it will open things up for the rest of our DL.

If we can get another talented DE we might be ok with McCargo who has really stepped up, Tripplett and Williams. The addition of Poz back into the line-up will help our run D also, as well as Ko Simpson or George Wilson.

As for WR we dont need 2 more we need 1. Evans is our burner, Reed and Parrish are our slot guys. All we need is a big play WR on the other side that brings size and redzone abilities.

The notion that we have to bring in guys who will come in and produce big things is not right IMO. All we need are guys that can fill certain roles on our team that we currently dont have right now.

We need another threat at DE, which I believe a 1st rounder can provide, more of a presence at MLB which we already have, and someone who can catch a jump-ball or make the big 3rd down catch when we need it. A TE that can catch would be nice also.

Considering what is available in this draft and in FA i think all our needs can be covered quite easily.

an example of that: Sign Ernest Wilford and Corey Williams.

Draft: Vernon Gholston, Dustin Keller, Ali Highsmith with the first 3 picks.

IMO that would put this team in position to compete with most teams in the league.

[Jan Reimers]

I agree, Mahdi. I think we're no more than 4 or 5 players away, assuming our injured guys come back strong. We could easily get them with a couple of good FA signings and a judicious draft, where we have 4 picks among the top 70 something players.

I think the key is getting players in FA at positions that generally require the most experience, and rookies at positions where guys often play well right away.

[Jan Reimers]

. . . Or maybe the key, given our rather tight fisted approach, is getting any quality free agents at all.

[Historian]

On thing that the playoff have showed me, is that you need to be on the top of your game just to make a low wild card spot.

Remember the good old days? (like when we used to win consistantly)

Teams used to sneak in with 8-8 records, some even as bad as 7-9?

Not so today. The top teams are out for blood. 10-6 doesn't even guarantee you get in anymore. The competition is just that tough.

[imbondz]

i'm holding out for a St. Louis Rams 1998-1999-2000 season turnaround!

All things are possible.

[gr8slayer]

i'm holding out for a St. Louis Rams 1998-1999-2000 season turnaround!

All things are possible.

I've been holding off for something like that for damn near a decade lol.