The perfect storm

by keysh67 on Dec 30, 2009 4:00 PM EST

With the Latest reports concerning Bill Cowher still being a possibility in Buffalo I allowed myself to slip into a quick afternoon snooze between bowl games and stated dreaming of what the 2010 Bills could look like...

Before I start, let me just say that since the absolute beginning I've had Bill Cowher on my wish list and truly believed that it could actually happen. Buffalo could be an appealing place for a guy like Cowher. He is still young and the challenge in Buffalo is probably greater than anywhere else in the league. Restore winning ways to a franchise that has not made the playoffs in 10years is a huge challenge and any coach that truly believes in his abilities would relish the chance. We are a small market team willing to pay the $$, we have an extremely loyal fanbase that would support the guy through thick and thin, we are an outdoor team in all it's elements. The perfect spot for a smashmouth football guy! Plus he'd get to match wits with Parcells & Bellichick and compare johnson size with Rex twice a year!

So now back to my dream... (After the jump)

Russ Brandon masterfully negotiates a deal with Bill Cowher with the understanding that we intend on hiring a young GM to run the football side of things, pro & college scouting departments, salary caps and negotiations. Personel decisions would be Cowher's but we expect him to work with the GM to form a consensus. Russ then goes out and lands Eric De Costa. Eric is ecstatic of the opportunity to work with a guy of Bill's caliber. Both men come from the same background and mindset, smashmouth "in-your-face" power style football, built around an intimidating 3-4 defense. Ralph promises these two fine gentlemen that money is no object and they have "carte blanche" to hire whoever they need to get this team turned around quickly, after all Ralph is on a certain timetable...

Both Eric & Bill go to work to fill in the dream team staff hiring Russ Grimm as their Offensive Coordinator/Assistant HC and then turn their attention towards the defensive side of the ball and choose Keith Butler to head up the Defensive side of the ball.

Eric decides to keep Modrak but sends John Guy packing. They start evaluating the team based on the new 3-4 scheme and determine the major positions of need in FA and decide to target. The top of the list targets are: Marcus McNeil or Donald Penn & Vince Wilfork. Eric & Bill sit down to discuss player personnel and strategy for the up & coming draft and decide that the two biggest areas to work on is the LB core and finding a starting LT. With NE drafting Ron Brace in 2009, chances are fairly good that Wilfork will hit FA. Assuming they can sign McNeil or possibly Donald Penn they would be set at LT. The next area in FA to focus on would then be NT and both men agree that Wilfork would be the ideal guy to anchor the D-Line. Because we are a few years removed from really being a player in the AFC, both Cowher & DeCosta believe that QB is not the top priority in the 2010 draft. Instead agreeing that Brohm and maybe another veteran QB acquired through a trade such as (Campbell / Vick / McNabb / Kobb / Collins) or even a QB from FA such as (Carr or Harrington).

On draft day, Rolando McClain becomes our primary target and the odds of him dropping to us at 7-9 our fairly good. In the second round we pick Anthony Davis (T)

So there you have it, my mid-aftenoon snooze dream team for next season:

GM: Eric DeCosta

Coaches: Bill Cowher/Russ Grimm & Keith Butler

O-Line: McNeil/Levitre/Wood/Incognito/Butler

QBs: Brohm/Campbell (after sending our 5th round pick to Was in a draft day trade)

D-Line: Stroud/Wilfork/Williams

LBs: Maybin/Poz/McLain/Mitchel

Note: In this dream we traded Schobel & our 3rd & 5th to ARI in exchange for Anquan Boldin.

Then the phone rang and I woke up!

Just another great fan opinion shared on the pages of BuffaloRumblings.com.

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Comments

Great dream. To bad the phone rang....we might have won the SB :-)

"The Bills have no playoff aspirations" – Dan Dierdorf

by Joe P. on Dec 30, 2009 4:26 PM EST reply actions

I had an MRI the other day of my neck and head so it was VERY enclosed!!! I decided to play a round of golf in my head at Crowbush Cove on PEI. I was 2 over after the 5th hole and my tee shot on the par 3 6th was about 4 feet from the pin when the girl pulled me out of the machine!! I told her to put me back in so that I could get my Bird!!

What can I say, my dreams are pretty realistic.

Nothing left to say...

by keysh67 on Dec 30, 2009 4:45 PM EST up reply actions

Should have won the SB

Keysh just needs to dream faster next time

Illinois: My governor is a bigger crook than your governor

by John H IL on Dec 30, 2009 4:33 PM EST reply actions

or drink scotch instead of beer before falling asleep

Nothing left to say...

by keysh67 on Dec 30, 2009 4:48 PM EST up reply actions

only if it was single malt…that blended stuff just gives me a headache.

Illinois: My governor is a bigger crook than your governor

by John H IL on Dec 30, 2009 11:20 PM EST up reply actions

There really is no other option my friend. I have a huge collection of Single Malts (over 65) with many high end ones, 20, 25, 38 years. My favorite, a Coal Ila 25

Nothing left to say...

by keysh67 on Dec 31, 2009 2:09 AM EST up reply actions

I only have five bottles and none are aged as well as yours, but Caol Ila 12 has been my favorite so far…One day I’ll be able to talk my wife into the better aged bottles.

Illinois: My governor is a bigger crook than your governor

by John H IL on Dec 31, 2009 11:56 AM EST up reply actions

if you like the Coal Ila 12, have you tried the Bowmore Dusk / Darkest series? They are really excellent. The Laphroaig 15 is also an incredible SM

Nothing left to say...

by keysh67 on Dec 31, 2009 1:43 PM EST up reply actions

I haven’t but they are now on my list!

Thx

Illinois: My governor is a bigger crook than your governor

by John H IL on Dec 31, 2009 2:47 PM EST up reply actions

If you can get your hands on a bottle of Té Bheag Gaelic Whisky (Scotch) you’ll be very happy. It’s a signle malt Scotch from Scotland. My sister got it for me for Christmas and I swear it’s the best Scotch I’ve ever had. Look into it, I swear you wont regret it.

by CanadianBillsFan on Dec 31, 2009 3:21 AM EST up reply actions

And no it’s not a joke name, as I do realise that if you pronounce it in english instead of gaelic it’s very easy to get T-Bag out of Te Bheag.

by CanadianBillsFan on Dec 31, 2009 3:27 AM EST up reply actions

I have one, i like it.

Nothing left to say...

by keysh67 on Dec 31, 2009 10:15 AM EST up reply actions

must be a great dream since Davis (considered a 1st round draft pick) falls to us in the 2nd…he must have injured himself in the combine.

by jerseybuckeye on Dec 30, 2009 4:35 PM EST reply actions

I know, couldn’t believe it myself!

Nothing left to say...

by keysh67 on Dec 30, 2009 4:46 PM EST up reply actions

wow

that would be so fun to watch and talk about

"Hold ya chin up...nuh nuh nuh...gone" -Marshawn Lynch-

by billsoferie on Dec 30, 2009 4:36 PM EST reply actions

I definitely could see Cowher behind our bench next year, I also could see Butler as our DC.

It really becomes a coolaid dream when you add DeCosta & Grimm to the mix.

McClain is a high probability and I truly believe that Wilfork will hit the FA market. And there is no way in hell that I really think that McNeil will ever reach the FA market.

Nothing left to say...

by keysh67 on Dec 30, 2009 4:53 PM EST up reply actions

I don't ever want to see Wilfork in a Bills uniform.

It’s nearly as dirty as Brian Cox in one.

Twitter: helping to make anti-social people anti-socially social.

"Am I a hero? I really can't say, but yes - I am."

by TheAfghanTwilight on Dec 30, 2009 4:52 PM EST reply actions

When they travel, he could bunk with Richie and trade war stories

Nothing left to say...

by keysh67 on Dec 30, 2009 4:53 PM EST up reply actions

Or they’d kill each other.

Twitter: helping to make anti-social people anti-socially social.

"Am I a hero? I really can't say, but yes - I am."

by TheAfghanTwilight on Dec 30, 2009 4:54 PM EST up reply actions

What doesn’t kill you can only make you stronger

Nothing left to say...

by keysh67 on Dec 30, 2009 4:56 PM EST up reply actions

Win Win

"The Bills have no playoff aspirations" – Dan Dierdorf

by Joe P. on Dec 30, 2009 4:57 PM EST up reply actions

Assuming we go to a 3-4, I’d want him in a flash! He is a great NT and I really don’t care what kind of person he is. He was never a problem in their locker room so who cares of other teams don’t like him.

Nothing left to say...

by keysh67 on Dec 30, 2009 4:55 PM EST up reply actions

Heck even if we stay in a 4-3 he’d be a great adition. Stroud-Wilfork-Williams is deffinatly a three man rotation that I could get behind. Mind you they’d look a lot better working the 3-4!

by CanadianBillsFan on Dec 30, 2009 9:09 PM EST up reply actions

Great dream, not a bad plan either.

And the best part is that all of these are within the realm of possibility; stretches sure, but still actually possible.

…

Well all but Anthony Davis falling to the second round anyways. The kid is a top 15 pick, maybe even top ten. He’s not falling to us in the second. That being said, if guys like Penn or McNeill do become available (also very big stretches) we have to go after them. What is much more realistic though is the Pats letting both Matt Light and Vince Wilfork go, and then they would become our primary targets.

Trading for Boldin isn’t going to happen though. Although I really wouldn’t mind seeing it done, Schobel and a 3rd and a 5th is a very high price in my eyes… and Boldin wants superstar money, and since we’re already giving that to Evans, I find it hard to believe that we would give it to Boldin too. Especially with no establish QB.

by CanadianBillsFan on Dec 30, 2009 9:07 PM EST reply actions

We did give TO almost superstar money though…

by crooked5 on Dec 30, 2009 10:56 PM EST up reply actions

We gave him 6.5 M for one year. ANd while I agree that it is a high price, Bolden has stated that he wants more. If he was willing to settle for 6.5M per year he would have signed an extention with Arizona already. If you want Bolden your looking at 8.5 to 10M per year. And I’m not sure that I want to add that to Evans’ 9.5M without having a good QB to throw to them.

by CanadianBillsFan on Dec 31, 2009 3:24 AM EST up reply actions

then cut/trade Evans

If you can add a player like Bolden (young and uber talented), you do it. Hell, I could throw to Boldin ;-)

"The Bills have no playoff aspirations" – Dan Dierdorf

by Joe P. on Dec 31, 2009 9:32 AM EST up reply actions

I prefer keeping both. even at 18-19M. Look at what they do in ARI, he’d the perfect complement to speedy Evans.

Nothing left to say...

by keysh67 on Dec 31, 2009 10:19 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed, but if you have to pick one......I pick Bolden

"The Bills have no playoff aspirations" – Dan Dierdorf

by Joe P. on Dec 31, 2009 10:36 AM EST up reply actions

Imagine, Fewel is starting Fitz against the Colts. How can he not see that Fitz is lousy and a career backup?

Nothing left to say...

by keysh67 on Dec 31, 2009 10:17 AM EST up reply actions

Who says he doesn't?

"The Bills have no playoff aspirations" – Dan Dierdorf

by Joe P. on Dec 31, 2009 10:37 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

rec’d.

And how can we not see that Fewell is a lame duck whose just trying to win a game for the players? Or maybe it’s apparent to Fewell that Brohm isn’t any good and never will be.

I signed up for Second Life about a year ago. Back then my life was so great that I literally wanted a second one. In my Second Life I was also a paper salesman and I was also named Dwight. Absolutely everything was the same. Except I could fly. - Dwight Schrute

by kaisertown on Dec 31, 2009 11:23 AM EST up reply actions

Or maybe it’s apparent to Fewell that Brohm isn’t any good and never will be.

how the hell can you say that?

Nothing left to say...

by keysh67 on Dec 31, 2009 1:44 PM EST up reply actions

I said maybe. Like, it’s a possibility that Fewell thinks that Brohm stinks.

by kaisertown on Dec 31, 2009 3:04 PM EST up reply actions

The guy has barely gotten any chance yet to get comfortable, no way that he can be branded a bust at this point. He actually looked quite good last weekend.

Nothing left to say...

by keysh67 on Dec 31, 2009 5:56 PM EST up reply actions

Pats letting both Matt Light and Vince Wilfork go, and then they would become our primary targets.

I agree!

Nothing left to say...

by keysh67 on Dec 31, 2009 2:10 AM EST up reply actions

I’m afraid Belichick has no intention of letting Wilfork go. Ron Brace isn’t much of a replacement for him. My sense was that they let Seymour go so they would have the money to keep Wilfork. If I’m right, it would mean we will have to keep facing him, but then again Cogs can probably handle Wilfork real good.

by Macktruck on Dec 30, 2009 9:31 PM EST reply actions

I’d tend to agree with you, but the fact is that it’s not up to Belichick, it’s up to Wilfork. He’s stated tima and time again that he wants to see what the FA market is like. Thats not to mean that he wouldn’t re-sign with NE, but he does want to hit the open market. So now the trick is to make WIlfork an offer that he can’t refuse.

by CanadianBillsFan on Dec 30, 2009 9:38 PM EST up reply actions

You get a ring.

Then you want to get paid.

There's not a wide receiver who is fast enough, that J.P. Losman can't overthrow him on a fly pattern.

by The Buffalo Kid on Dec 31, 2009 2:40 AM EST up reply actions

AndWilfork has the ring, now he wants the Albert Hainsworth type paycheck. Personally, I wouldn’t mind giving it to him.

by CanadianBillsFan on Dec 31, 2009 3:25 AM EST up reply actions

I totally agree. They traded Seymour because they knew they couldn’t resign all their guys this offseason. I don’t think Buffalo could sign Wilfork away from NE. Especially considering that an uncapped season would allow the Pats to give a small one year tender to Logan Mankins, their other big name FA, and delay giving him a big signing bonus until next year.

New England has also been in the bottom third in the league in payroll for a couple years in a row after spending near the top of the league in 2007. The Pats have spent almost 35 million dollars less than Buffalo has on player salaries and bonuses between last year and this season (but Ralph Wilson is cheap). So you know that New England has been planning for this offseason and next offseason (they’ve got a ton of 2011 FAs too, including Brady) for awhile now. New England is too smart to suddenly run out of money for Vince Wilfork.

Although, they did let Asante Samuel walk, so maybe I’m way off on this one.

by kaisertown on Dec 31, 2009 11:33 AM EST up reply actions

"In this dream we traded Schobel & our 3rd & 5th to ARI in exchange for Anquan Boldin"

If its a dream…. then let’s get Fitz instead!

"A failure becomes just one time at bat if you refuse to let it defeat you." Marv Levy.

by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on Dec 30, 2009 11:22 PM EST reply actions

It’s a somewhat realistic dream

Nothing left to say...

by keysh67 on Dec 31, 2009 2:11 AM EST up reply actions

Not Really.

No way they are trading Boldin for that, Think 1st rounder, second rounder. That’s the only way he is parting ways with the Cards before his contract expires.

There's not a wide receiver who is fast enough, that J.P. Losman can't overthrow him on a fly pattern.

by The Buffalo Kid on Dec 31, 2009 2:42 AM EST up reply actions

You lost me with loyal fan base, thick and thin.

You think Cowher would like to see his name plastered on a billboard. Loyal fan base. Try reading some of your own posts. You were firing everyone we couldn’t finangle a trade.

Is it really average talent or just poor coaching, how important is depth and experience.

by VanScottM on Dec 30, 2009 11:23 PM EST reply actions

If Cowher is interested.

I have no doubt it’s a 10 million a year salary that allegedly Ralph is willing to pay for a first tier coach that keeps us on his Radar.

That’s the MOST money EVER paid to a NFL HC, unless Shanahan gets that out of Snyder.

There's not a wide receiver who is fast enough, that J.P. Losman can't overthrow him on a fly pattern.

by The Buffalo Kid on Dec 31, 2009 12:39 AM EST up reply actions

The Hoodie.

Is coaching for about 6 mil a year, What coach wouldn’t want a huge 10 mil payday if you can’t get it somewhere else?

There's not a wide receiver who is fast enough, that J.P. Losman can't overthrow him on a fly pattern.

by The Buffalo Kid on Dec 31, 2009 2:46 AM EST up reply actions

Especially

If you have never been paid nowhere near that figure?

There's not a wide receiver who is fast enough, that J.P. Losman can't overthrow him on a fly pattern.

by The Buffalo Kid on Dec 31, 2009 2:47 AM EST up reply actions

For a real coach, the fans would get behind him and support him. Jauron was lousy from the get-go. We saw no improvement with the offense for his entire tenure and he got fired in his fourth year, I hardly think we were that impatient. Cowher is in a completely different league and we would see tangible results way sooner. Watching him coach a game would not entice fans to stick needles in their eyes either.

Nothing left to say...

by keysh67 on Dec 31, 2009 2:16 AM EST up reply actions