They just have to do it. In Order for Trent to be a better qb, he needs a better center, a better TE threat, and a better fullback. Hands down this area needs to be fixed.

If buffalo is smart, they will trade back down in the first couple of rounds to try and get impact players. We need a DE of course, but also offense is still a major concern for this team.

yes, lets keep this thing rolling here. Offense, offense, offense. I think we can build a smash mouth offense in one off-season as you alluded to. Sign Neal, draft Mack, draft Coffman. Boom. Re-sign Crowell, sign Berry. Boom. Done.

ha, too bad things are never so easy. Either way. I think we can deliver the tools to develop a smash mouth offense this off-season and I hope we do.

rec rec rec rec rec

Couldn’t have said it better myself, John. This needs to happen. All of it.

It’s too bad we don’t have more early draft picks. We need so many players, yet again.

I seriously worry about Schonert. He didn’t really recognize all year that a power running game is what we need here, and what probably works best. I hope for it next year, but I’m not counting on it.

I think this team has lacked an identity since Jauron walked through the door. Our O has been a mess with few changes and our D remains passive and reactive.

Luckily, I think we can fill our positional needs pretty easily this year. A center can be had in FA that will be an improvement, or we can take one of our highest rated centers in round 2. A pass catching TE can be had in any of the first 4 rounds, and it’s likely we could get an immediate impact guy in the 3rd or 4th if all we really want is a receiving threat at the position. A FB can be had in FA or late in the draft. And welcome aboard the 3rd RB as a threat bandwagon!!! I’ve been wanting a smaller, but quick big play threat for some time. Even if this guy only gets a handful of touches a game, I’d love to have a guy that has the ability to take it to the paint at any time. We’ve got two between the tackles RB’s in Lynch and Jackson, do we really need a 3rd in Omon? Aren’t third stringers of that variety a dime a dozen??? Let’s get some playmakers on O!

my issue is, its the same old repeating record every year. WE need this, that and the other. I don’t see much change coming. The only thing that can change is if Edwards evolves and takes on more and more and almost despite teh offensive coordinator, makes plays. We all know a ton of change needs to be made, but I don’t really see much changing philosophy wise. Its up to the players to make plays, cuz the philosophy will not change much

I continue to back our drafting of playmakers. McKelvin was that last year. He is so special just on KR alone but then he made those picks that sparked everyone. We need to add that again. I mean we don’t have impact offensive players besides our RB’s and Evans running a fly. That’s not an offense. Our coaches have shown that their schemes just aren’t that all effective. I believe however, if Trent had a Pass-catching TE, FB, C, that he could and will take this team to new heights. I don’t really think Schonert will be the reason….the system is in place, they might tweak it, but they won’t overhaul nothing. Schonert tried to copy New England so much last year in that shotgun style. But Trent did not succeed. Maybe another off-season and it will work. I don’t agree he needs to be under center more, I just think the playbook has to be deeper than
1) under center run
2) under center play action (rarely)
3) Shotgun – pass
3) Shotgun – run the inside handoff that we all say so often last year

You have to have more consistency in the scheme. Gotta do much, much better on 1st and 2nd down for this offense to go anywhere. Just like last season, 2009 will be predicated on Trent and Turk and so here we go again

I would be happy, if, at the end of 2009 our team stats showed us running 50% of the time. The biggest adjustment has to be in the mind of Turk Shonert. Why he calls so many runs up the gut with such a weakness at center is beyond me. The plan must include more runs outside the tackles. A more balanced approach.

Gresham looked awesome to me last night. He was the shining light on OU’s offense. That pass down the sidelines that was called back was a super timed catch. If we could land a Jared Cook that would be wonderful. Gresham is tempting at #11 but my guess is still DE.

Agree a fast RB at #3 is preferable. Omon didn’t show much at all.

At this point I’m not even a “hopefulcynic” about next year. All I’ve seen from Turk is a desire to impose his own limited scheme. Again our only hope for improvement is to emphasize the run game. And when passing the slant pass in all its variations.

Speaking of the passing game, Turk seems to prefer the 90degree in pattern over the middle and the curl. We call those 2 patterns too much for a young QB IMO. I have never seen any stats on what pass play is defeated/successfully defended the most, but I’d guess the in pattern has the lowest success rate. Especially for a young QB. Too many times the QB does not see the coverage coming from the other side. And he has to lead his receiver the farthest. The curl needs good timing so that the receiver is not standing still more than a split second. I am not a fan of throwing to a receiver who is standing still. Trent did that too often last season. We need to incorporate the slant much more. Short medium or long routes. It is harder to defend and easier for the QB to see and gauge the coverage.

You bring up some very good points. It’s the only way we get our offense out of the 20 something ranking.

I agree with this entire piece other than the offensive line being one player away…I especially agree with your assessment of the backfield. A true helmet busting FB and a little scatback type of 3rd RB to go with Jackson and Lynch would be nice, easily attainable additions to this offense. The TE and C additions are no brainers that even a marketing guru should be able to recognize at this point.

unless Trent erupts next year. Cuz the same philosophy is in place and we keep trotting out the same lackluster receiving playmakers. Gotta get a big time athletic TE, above-average center, and a FB and hope Trent figures “it” out

I even think the order is perfect.

I could not have said it better myself, especially your first point!

I still remain hopeful for Alex Mack as the anchor of our “new” identity. This would help so much in short yardage situations and it would improve our REDZONE efficiency so much, we would actually be able to finish drives and keep our Defense fresh!

I totally agree with you that we would greatly benefit from a change-of-pace “speedy” back instead of Omon. He is exactly like Jackson & Lynch in that he is a power guy with no break away speed. I think it has to be a priority in the off season to get an extension for Freddy. He is a big part of our future and we sure as hell don’t want to loose him.
Agreed we need a “bulldozer type” FB, a guy that can get the job done. I really like the FB from LSU, Quinn Johnson who probably will go undrafted.

A guy like Coffman would definitely do the trick as far as pass-catching TE goes. I must admit that Jermain Grisham’s numbers look great but he did not impress me much last night. There were quite a few drops on out patterns where I found that he doesn’t seem to give much of an effort. Sure the kid has speed and ability but he didn’t seem intense to me. I expect more from a potential 11th pick. So I am back to Mack and hopeful that we can pickup a guy like Coffman or Beckum in the 3rd round. In a perfect world, OBD would make a splash in FA and pickup a guy like Suggs and then draft a big DT in round 2, a guy like Terrance Taylor or Ron Brace.

You know dam well that ain’t going to happen – stop dreaming buddy! Plus I’m not sure that we could afford it? How much do you think he’s going to get? Compared to say Suggs?

didn’t promise nothing. He just said we will continue to make our team better. So it means the same old shannanigans. Maybe its the cold winter, annoying co-workers, the way I got out of bed, or something else, but everything today just irks me, and none other than all the “hope” we are starting to trick ourselves into believing right now. We just did 3 straight 7-9 seasons, and people are now saying stuff like every other friggn year “if we get a c, te, de, lb, back up this backup that” then we will be so good next year. It’s a complete pipe dream….the same old will happen. They will try to get better, say all the right things, blah blah blah. All that matters to me is what happens between those white lines and in #5’s mind and arm. Trent and only Trent can bring a contender back to Buffalo, and so I hope to God he figures it out in spite of Turk and DJ not helping him much

I’m with you no harm in dreaming. While we’re at it, please pass the bong!

Awesome post.

Terell Smith or Heath Evans are FA FBs we could sign that would help immediately. Why AZ has a battering ram like Smith in their spread offense is beyond me. Or how about getting Kleinsasser from the Vikes and using him as FB and a 3rd TE in lieu of Schouman- assuming we get a speed TE in the draft.

Along those lines – I like Travis Beckum or Shawn Nelson as our TE option in draft. Speed Kills!

As for the RB role – I like Ian Johnson form Boise State and Kugler could give Modrak some insight there!

I would only move the pass-catching TE ahead of the center, because our brass has believed they can get away with cheap castoffs (i.e., Courtney Anderson) and mid-round draft choices m(e.g., Fine) instead of really going after a stud.

Second, the theory will only work if the NFL’s most massive offensive line decides to stop being pushed around like tackling dummies…as they did against the Jets late in the season, after Lynch indirectly embarrassed them by taking the blame for a sub par ground game.

I literally was thinking the same thing and even emailed Brian Gallford about this and then I read this and I see I didn’t need to because you had already said what needs to be said.