CNN/SI thinks we are playoff bound also

[feelthepain]

Re: CNN/SI thinks we are playoff bound also

2 things to correct you with. 1, these 2 drafts both got As by most experts, 2 how do you compare Stroud, Mitchell, and William James with Tripplett and Webster. Bills had the best full offseason last year. No one picked up the big named players like we did. Stroud is a house hold name in Jacksonville. Now lets talk about your team. Started a former 3 string QB. Then a horrible 3rd round pick. Had your comback RB get injured on his 1st drive back. Won 1 game to the 8th worst team. Got a great tackle but a no name offseason. Ill admit, Henne was a good pick but everything else sucked. No WR. I have heard of only 5 players you signed. You didnt realy need 3 DEs did you?

2 things to correct you with. 1, these 2 drafts both got As by most experts

Well I do believe the Bills did not get an"A" for this years draft by the experts cause You got an under sized CB with some ST skills. Yes he has talent, but he also had issues in college with coverages. As for Hardy, he was not a first round pick because of off the field issues. Being as those were the best part of the Bills draft what I remember reading is mostly "C" grade for the Bills 08 draft...not "A". As for last year I beieve it was basically the same type of draft, nice addition early, but later in the draft the additions were questionable. It's why I believe these last 2 drafts were similar for the Bills.

2 how do you compare Stroud, Mitchell, and William James with Tripplett and Webster. Bills had the best full offseason last year. No one picked up the big named players like we did. Stroud is a house hold name in Jacksonville.

I'm comnparing last years FA additions to this years FA addition, so the addition of Mitchell and Stroud this year, would be like the addition of Dockery and Walker last in FA. Granted a couple were trades, but they came during the FA period, so I compare the 2 seasons the same.

Stroud, has not been a pro bowl level player in years. He's had injury and drug issues even being suspended for performnce enhancing drugs in 07. If he's the monster most Bill fans want us to believe he is, why would Jacksonville move him?? Better yet, why would they move him for so little. To listen to Bill fans, Stroud is a top level DT still in his prime. Ready to dismantle every Oline he lines up against. Again why would Jacksonville just give the Bills this huge talent for next to nothing knowing full well they will face the Bills this year...possibly twice???

I think Bill fans want him to be what he was 4 years ago, but he's hardly been a top DT since his last pro bowl. You also seem to forget what defense Stroud played in, he was in a top 10 defense, the Bills have the 31st ranked defense the last two years. So Stroud won't have the supporting cast he had in Jacksonville..especially "Big John" Henderson, who lined up next to him.

As far as your "opinion" that "Bills had the best full offseason last year. No one picked up the big named players like we did." Seriously, that's a ridiculous statement. There's is no way in hell Dockery and Walker were the biggest FA's on the market last year....NO FRIKIN WAY!!!

Now lets talk about your team. Started a former 3 string QB. Then a horrible 3rd round pick. Had your comback RB get injured on his 1st drive back. Won 1 game to the 8th worst team. Got a great tackle but a no name offseason. Ill admit, Henne was a good pick but everything else sucked. No WR. I have heard of only 5 players you signed. You didnt realy need 3 DEs did you?

First of all this thread isn't about Miami, it's about Buffalo, but I'll play along.

2008 additions through FA:

1) Chris Crocker- CB/ST
2) Tab Perry- WR
3) Nathan Jones-S/ST
4) Keith Davis-CB/ST
5) Boomer Grigsby- FB/ST
6) Charlie Anderson-LB/ST
7) Justin Smiley-G
8) Reggie Torbor-LB
9) Sean Ryan-TE
10) Randy Starks-
11) Ernest Wilford-WR
12) Jason Ferguson-DT
13) Akin Ayodele-LB
14) Anthony Fasano-TE
15) Steve McKinney-T

Draft Picks:

1) Jake Long-T
2) Phillip Merling- DE
2) Chad Henne-QB
3) Kendall Langford-DE
4) Shawn Murphy-T
6) Jalen Parmele- RB
6) Donald Thomas-G
6) Lex Hilliard- RB
7) Lionel Dotson-DT

Loses:

Zach Thomas
Trent Green
Cleo Lemon
Rex Hadnot
Marty Booker
Lorenzo Booker


Lets not forget about the FO and coaching changes, Miami is clearly better in this department. Simply by experience, success and philosophy. There is of course a learning curve with any new staff, but given the amount of experience with BP that curve should much less pronounced. Many of the Dolphins added in FA will contribute to ST and are considered very goo ST players such as,

Chris Crocker
Nathan Jones
Boomer Grigsby
Charlie Anderson
Keith Davis

Add these type of players to a team that has a returner with Ted Ginns ability and suddenly his ability to return the ball has greatly improved. Obviously with any team these players need to prove they can work well together in Miami, but there is a strong history of success with these ST additions. As for Ted Ginn he had several returns for TD's called back last year because of penalties that were called behind the play, so he can return kicks very well at the NFL level.

Miami has added many players BP and company are not only familiar with, but also comfortable with. Miami had plenty of talent on the team before BP arrived such as,

Ronnie Brown
Ricky Williams
Jason Taylor
Yeremiah Bell
Vernon Carey
Samson Satele
Joey Porter
Will Allen

Miami is a couple of years away from being a team that has a chance to win a SB, but we can compete with any team in the league this year do to the changes, soft schedule and expert coachiung staff and FO that will still make addition via the waiver wire because we have the first shot at every player released. Miami will not be the awful coached Dolphins they were in 07. As bad as we were in 07 we had the chance to be 7-9 with the loss of 6 games by 3 points or less. I'm not about predictions this year due to all the changes, but we are bigger, stronger, younger and better coached then we were in 07. So we'll just have to wait and see where we end up.

[mysticsoto]

Re: CNN/SI thinks we are playoff bound also

Well I do believe the Bills did not get an"A" for this years draft by the experts cause You got an under sized CB with some ST skills. Yes he has talent, but he also had issues in college with coverages. As for Hardy, he was not a first round pick because of off the field issues. Being as those were the best part of the Bills draft what I remember reading is mostly "C" grade for the Bills 08 draft...not "A". As for last year I beieve it was basically the same type of draft, nice addition early, but later in the draft the additions were questionable. It's why I believe these last 2 drafts were similar for the Bills.

Not as questionable as the Dolphins taking 2 RBs late in the draft using 2 or their 3 6th rd picks - when in fact they have both Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams on the roster already.

[justasportsfan]

Re: CNN/SI thinks we are playoff bound also

[/B]Lets not forget about the FO and coaching changes, Miami is clearly better in this department. Simply by experience, success and philosophy..

WTF!!! You said that about Cam and Saban. We all know how that turned out. What has you new HC done to show he's better than the last 2? NOTHING!!!

Loses:

Zach Thomas
Trent Green
Cleo Lemon
Rex Hadnot
Marty Booker
Lorenzo Booker.

Ya'll lost your best MLD even though he's old and retained Porter who is nothing without his 6 friends.

You lost your best QB.Yes, Lemon was better than anything you have. Booker is better than anything you have .

[/B]Miami is a couple of years away from being a team that has a chance to win a SB, .

And you say the bills fans are full of wishful thinking?

This is a FH MOD?

[njsue]

Re: CNN/SI thinks we are playoff bound also

The Buffalo Bills of 2008 are the surprise team.

I hope they knock NE on their ass.

[pintonick96]

Re: CNN/SI thinks we are playoff bound also

feelthepain, honestly, Miami has done nothing well this offseason. Akin, Fasano, Jake Long, and Wilford are the only people with talent Miami signed, and Fasano and Wilford are iffy. Fasano hasnt really played yet and Wilford is very inconsistent. Jake Long hasnt even played here yet but as a Penn State fan I've seen him rape my team's amazing DEs so he should be good. Henne, Beck, and McCown are the reason Miami will blow. None of them have been good EVER. Henne has a great supporting cast and almost got benched his senior year. He'll do ****ty in the pros. McCown I didnt know was still in the league after leaving AZ and Beck was the biggest reach ever. Shoulda went with Quinn.

[tat2dmike77]

Re: CNN/SI thinks we are playoff bound also

The bills suck the Front Office sucks the scouts suck everyone sucks who thinks this team will go anywhere. Hire OP to be the next GM/Head coach and they will go undeafeated every season for eternity and the NFL will eventually have to ceise to exisit as the bills will win every game and championship because OP is a football god.

[Mr. Pink]

Re: CNN/SI thinks we are playoff bound also

The favorable national pub is nice but don't read too much into it. Score points in bunches? Really? How?

And even if this team was 9-4 at that point where they say it, we still don't make the playoffs anyways. So what's the point in stating it anyways?

[OpIv37]

Re: CNN/SI thinks we are playoff bound also

The bills suck the Front Office sucks the scouts suck everyone sucks who thinks this team will go anywhere. Hire OP to be the next GM/Head coach and they will go undeafeated every season for eternity and the NFL will eventually have to ceise to exisit as the bills will win every game and championship because OP is a football god.

I made my case for why this guy is wrong and why this team will struggle this year. Where's your case for where I'm wrong? Where's your argument?

You don't have one. You simply don't want to hear what I have to say so you resort to insults and complaining about my tone.

[tat2dmike77]

Re: CNN/SI thinks we are playoff bound also

I made my case for why this guy is wrong and why this team will struggle this year. Where's your case for where I'm wrong? Where's your argument?

You don't have one. You simply don't want to hear what I have to say so you resort to insults and complaining about my tone.

How about this. Experience.

Why is it ok for people to say in college when there is young team that one year of experience will help a team. When that is used in the NFL it is thrown away because *******s like you want to look back at the past and say this team will suck.

You look at stats from last year. You claim that i am just setting myself up for disapointment. Yet i look at a team with a young defense that played together for most of the season. Meaning all of these players have a year or in some cases more together of playing time. Besides the monster that was New England how many games did buffal get blwon out of last year?

A year of experience is big. But it's not ok to say that in the NFL. But it's ok to say it about college teams. Whats the difference? It's football. You also have a offensive line that played together as well and has had time to gel and become to know one and others weaknesses and strengths.

You have one of the best up and coming backs in the league right now with Marshawn Lynch. He will give 100% when it comes down to game day and leaves it all on the field each and every sunday. Trent Edwards was on a leash for the most of last year. Yet at times he did flash some promising moments at us. His upside is much better then Losman who lets face was a product of poor grooming thanks to the dumbahoe area.

Lee Evans will produce as usual and Rosco Parish will be a key factor as but a guy to watch out for is Josh Reed who quickly became a favorite target of Trent Edwards. While he may not burn many people he will make solid plays and help the team move the ball when needed.

The LB core will be stronger this season with Poz coming back healthy. A young fast group with will be able to move vertically and horizontally across the field.

The two safeties are fats and smart. Whitner and Simpson have a worked with one and other and have developed a chemistry with one and other and lets be honest the 2 of them will knock the crap out any wideout just ask Chad Johnson.

Yes there is some question at the CB and TE position but i believe this team and coaching staff and the leaders on it will help improve these positions over the course of training camp and pre season games.

So there thats why i am optimistic about this team. Sorry i don't look at all the bad things and have a pissy party like you do. There are positives. So keep negging me you hairy sasquatch i don't care it's internet popularity and i could care less about what people think of me here. Most of the people here i would never talk to anyway.

[OpIv37]

Re: CNN/SI thinks we are playoff bound also

How about this. Experience.

Why is it ok for people to say in college when there is young team that one year of experience will help a team. When that is used in the NFL it is thrown away because *******s like you want to look back at the past and say this team will suck.

You look at stats from last year. You claim that i am just setting myself up for disapointment. Yet i look at a team with a young defense that played together for most of the season. Meaning all of these players have a year or in some cases more together of playing time. Besides the monster that was New England how many games did buffal get blwon out of last year?

A year of experience is big. But it's not ok to say that in the NFL. But it's ok to say it about college teams. Whats the difference? It's football. You also have a offensive line that played together as well and has had time to gel and become to know one and others weaknesses and strengths.

You have one of the best up and coming backs in the league right now with Marshawn Lynch. He will give 100% when it comes down to game day and leaves it all on the field each and every sunday. Trent Edwards was on a leash for the most of last year. Yet at times he did flash some promising moments at us. His upside is much better then Losman who lets face was a product of poor grooming thanks to the dumbahoe area.

Lee Evans will produce as usual and Rosco Parish will be a key factor as but a guy to watch out for is Josh Reed who quickly became a favorite target of Trent Edwards. While he may not burn many people he will make solid plays and help the team move the ball when needed.

The LB core will be stronger this season with Poz coming back healthy. A young fast group with will be able to move vertically and horizontally across the field.

The two safeties are fats and smart. Whitner and Simpson have a worked with one and other and have developed a chemistry with one and other and lets be honest the 2 of them will knock the crap out any wideout just ask Chad Johnson.

Yes there is some question at the CB and TE position but i believe this team and coaching staff and the leaders on it will help improve these positions over the course of training camp and pre season games.

So there thats why i am optimistic about this team. Sorry i don't look at all the bad things and have a pissy party like you do. There are positives. So keep negging me you hairy sasquatch i don't care it's internet popularity and i could care less about what people think of me here. Most of the people here i would never talk to anyway.

I only negged you because you misquoted me and insulted me. I don't neg people just for disagreeing with me.

Experience and the OL playing together huh? Then how do you explain the skid at the end of last season? By that logic, we should have gotten better as the season goes on, but instead we got worse. Hmmm....

However, I agree to a point. Experience will make the offense better. The problem is that there is a lot of room between "better" and "good enough." It just doesn't make any sense to think the #30 ranked offense from last season is going to be playoff-caliber from experience and James Hardy alone. It's just not enough to fix a very problem-plagued offense.

I think Lynch will be great. Edwards- I'd say I'm cautiously optimistic. He showed flashes last year, but Losman showed flashes, Rob Johnson showed flashes, Todd Collins showed flashes.... I'm not going to have confidence in any Bills QB until they prove it.

I don't like Reed at all. He was a favorite of Losman's as well and he always looks good in camp then is mediocre when the games start. To be fair, he's a decent #3 that several Bills staffs have tried to use as a #2, so it's not entirely his fault.

I actually like our LB's a lot. I think Simpson needs to work on the mental aspects of his game but having him back will only help. Physically he has the tools. As far as Whitner- well, you know my opinions on him. I only hope that he'll improve with better DL support. And I don't think our CB situation is great, but I don't think it's as bad as some people make it out to be. McGee is solid, Greer is OK and McKelvin will only help.

But I think it all comes back to the O. They're still going to struggle to score points and they're going to hang the D out to dry at the end of the games. It's going to look a lot like last year.

[njsue]

Re: CNN/SI thinks we are playoff bound also

Surprise team of the 2008 season is the Buffalo Bills. A sleeping giant in the making. Do expect this team to click on all cylinders!!!

[tat2dmike77]

Re: CNN/SI thinks we are playoff bound also

I only negged you because you misquoted me and insulted me. I don't neg people just for disagreeing with me.

Experience and the OL playing together huh? Then how do you explain the skid at the end of last season? By that logic, we should have gotten better as the season goes on, but instead we got worse. Hmmm....

However, I agree to a point. Experience will make the offense better. The problem is that there is a lot of room between "better" and "good enough." It just doesn't make any sense to think the #30 ranked offense from last season is going to be playoff-caliber from experience and James Hardy alone. It's just not enough to fix a very problem-plagued offense.

I think Lynch will be great. Edwards- I'd say I'm cautiously optimistic. He showed flashes last year, but Losman showed flashes, Rob Johnson showed flashes, Todd Collins showed flashes.... I'm not going to have confidence in any Bills QB until they prove it.

I don't like Reed at all. He was a favorite of Losman's as well and he always looks good in camp then is mediocre when the games start. To be fair, he's a decent #3 that several Bills staffs have tried to use as a #2, so it's not entirely his fault.

I actually like our LB's a lot. I think Simpson needs to work on the mental aspects of his game but having him back will only help. Physically he has the tools. As far as Whitner- well, you know my opinions on him. I only hope that he'll improve with better DL support. And I don't think our CB situation is great, but I don't think it's as bad as some people make it out to be. McGee is solid, Greer is OK and McKelvin will only help.

But I think it all comes back to the O. They're still going to struggle to score points and they're going to hang the D out to dry at the end of the games. It's going to look a lot like last year.

You're right i went back and looked you did not say 3 games.

The problem is you're looking at the past at PAST stats and PAST problems. I know the offense was 30th i know iknow iknow christ already.

Who says we have to have a top notch offense to win games? Last i thought was if can score more then your opponet then you win games. Why can't the Bills D hold opponets in check and get a few TD's in games and win with Defense. I'm not saying this team will win the super bowl this year or even the division. But look at the teams we play this year. Aside from NE there are no powerhouses that we play. Yes there are some good teams here and there but overall i say this is the year the Bills should take advantage of the schedule.

There will be some games the offense has to win for us i'll give everyone that. But why can't the D step up and win games for us. They keep us in alot of games last year. That we should of had won. The games that immediatlly come to mind are Dallas, Denver and Cleveland. Had it not been for some bonehead plays and in a few cases bonehead play calls this team would have been 10-6 instead of 7-9.

Personally it's the talent or lack thereof or any of your reasons that will doom this team. It is that jackass Jauron that will make or break this team. That is the real issue.

[njsue]

Re: CNN/SI thinks we are playoff bound also

You're right i went back and looked you did not say 3 games.

The problem is you're looking at the past at PAST stats and PAST problems. I know the offense was 30th i know iknow iknow christ already.

Who says we have to have a top notch offense to win games? Last i thought was if can score more then your opponet then you win games. Why can't the Bills D hold opponets in check and get a few TD's in games and win with Defense. I'm not saying this team will win the super bowl this year or even the division. But look at the teams we play this year. Aside from NE there are no powerhouses that we play. Yes there are some good teams here and there but overall i say this is the year the Bills should take advantage of the schedule.

There will be some games the offense has to win for us i'll give everyone that. But why can't the D step up and win games for us. They keep us in alot of games last year. That we should of had won. The games that immediatlly come to mind are Dallas, Denver and Cleveland. Had it not been for some bonehead plays and in a few cases bonehead play calls this team would have been 10-6 instead of 7-9.

Personally it's the talent or lack thereof or any of your reasons that will doom this team. It is that jackass Jauron that will make or break this team. That is the real issue.

Remember last year's walking wounded are healthy! they stay that way this season.

[OpIv37]

Re: CNN/SI thinks we are playoff bound also

You're right i went back and looked you did not say 3 games.

The problem is you're looking at the past at PAST stats and PAST problems. I know the offense was 30th i know iknow iknow christ already.

Who says we have to have a top notch offense to win games? Last i thought was if can score more then your opponet then you win games. Why can't the Bills D hold opponets in check and get a few TD's in games and win with Defense. I'm not saying this team will win the super bowl this year or even the division. But look at the teams we play this year. Aside from NE there are no powerhouses that we play. Yes there are some good teams here and there but overall i say this is the year the Bills should take advantage of the schedule.

There will be some games the offense has to win for us i'll give everyone that. But why can't the D step up and win games for us. They keep us in alot of games last year. That we should of had won. The games that immediatlly come to mind are Dallas, Denver and Cleveland. Had it not been for some bonehead plays and in a few cases bonehead play calls this team would have been 10-6 instead of 7-9.

Personally it's the talent or lack thereof or any of your reasons that will doom this team. It is that jackass Jauron that will make or break this team. That is the real issue.

The reason that I keep looking at past problems is because on paper, they're still problems. Now, I'm fully aware that what's on paper doesn't always translate to what happens on the field, but right now it's all we have. It goes in both ways too. I think the D will get better because they're better on paper, and most people here seem to agree with that. But we won't know until the games start.

It's possible that the D could keep us in games and the O could win a few for us- just IMO it's more likely that the O lets the D down and the D eventually collapses late in games. I could be wrong- we'll see in 6 weeks or so.

I agree on the lack of talent and Jauron. I really think Jauron needs to get the boot if this team doesn't improve significantly this year, however, I suspect anything 7-9 or better and he'll keep his job.