Comparing the 2005 Bills to the 2009 Bills

Oh, and if you voted “Worse”, you sure as heck better tell us why.

I voted ‘better’, though, I wouldn’t say they are markedly better. We do have more talent now, but I’m not sure it’s all that much better in the team sense and wins-wise.

I do like the new interior OL….it should be much, much, much better. On paper, the safeties should be better, but there’s no guarantee they’ll play any better. The offensive skill players look a whole lot better, so the potential is much, much greater for the current team.

I don’t think the current roster is where it needs to be, or even where it should be after all the turnover, purges and additions via the draft. On paper, the team looks a lot better, but all that matters is the results on the field. If we see another 7-9 team, does it really matter?!?!

I would have liked to see different DE’s on that list instread of Aaron Schobel, Chris Kelsay as the two starters. The biggest difference is our running game and QB.

I think the only way to really turn this team around is a proven franchise QB, and that has yet to be proven with Edwards. If he is who he can be and was last year in the first 4 games this team will be in the playoff mix or at least looked upon as a team that is growing and has promise.

If he cannot do this then next year we start all over again and take a 1st round QB or trade for one.

This is a better roster. It should be (and the votes are backing it up) obvious that this is a deeper roster with more overall talent. How much better the 2009 team is largely depends on how good Edwards is. I know it’s sort of becoming the theme for this offseason that the team will go as Trent goes, but it’s true. Especially when you consider that Losman had a pretty solid 2006 season with half the offensive weapons that Trent has this year, for this roster to be considered significantly upgraded, Trent needs to have a great season.

When you look at some of the great talent that 2005 defense had (Spikes, Fletcher, Clements and a younger, healthier Schobel), you can see just how average our defense is. A bunch of good players with really just Stroud standing out. Nothing against Terrence McGee, Kawika Mitchell, Kyle Williams, Schobel, Poz and the rest of them, but they shouldn’t be considered our second and third best defenders if this unit is ever going to be a force. Buffalo needs McKelvin and Maybin to pan out and be gold. And they need Poz and Whitner to make a play here and there too.

if Maybin could somehow prove to be a starter that would be a huge boost for the team and the off-season productivity.

I believe one of the releases from 2005 that had a huge impact was Mike Schnect. It seems like a position of unimportance and it may be, but Lindell and Moorman had career years when Shneck was the LS. Confidance is a major concern in both kicking facets. Neil is a mediocre snapper and I feel it creates uneasiness for RL and BM. Look at the games we have lost the last few seasons due to field position or missed Field Goals. I may be over thinking this but this is my opinion.

I voted that we’re better, but I am extremely disappointed that the Bills didn’t upgrade the long snapper.

there are reasons other than age that a good 70% of the 2005 ending roster are now selling insurance.
i’m dying to hear from one of the “Inner Circle” of 15 that feels the roster is worse.
please share.

We are unquestionably better talent-wise than we were then. That year was the year without the first round pick (thanks JP) and if Losman had panned out it would have been worth it. He didn’t and it set us back a bunch of years.

I’ll say this – the Bills got to 7-9 that year and people called Jauron a hero. In 2009 7-9 is unacceptable so there is a perception that the Bills are better or at least should be better.

We do have more talent and on paper it looks better but will it translate? I’m not so sure.
If this team cannot come up with a winning season, then I’m not so sure it’s the lack of talent. We need a new head coach and offensive coordinator.

the bottom line is that the talent level is better, imo – but the results aren’t there. yet.

i’m in the minority, and exercising “ifs and buts,” but had the bills won 2 games they wasted away last year – SF and Cleveland (at home! no less) and gone 3-3 in their division, my math says 12-4.

maybe i should burn my rose colored glasses, but i truly don’t think this team is very far away.

than was we were in 2005. Every skill position: QBs, WRs, RBs, TEs, CBs, & Ss is better than they used to be in 2005; with solid starters, quality depth (QB can be argued though), and emerging young talent at the key skill positions. The O-line is remarkably better as well already…Mike Williams!?! Just look at the interior O-line positions and you have your answer. The D-line is basically a wash, expect that our depth is better and we have that potential passrushing specialist opposite of Schobel (Maybin) that we have not had since, I can only go back t Hansen/Smith….and who knows what Chris Ellis brings to the table this year. Stoud and Adams wash each other out, but I would rather have Stroud anyday (just a different kind of DT). The depth at DT is much better IMO as well. The only place we are lacking (compared) is in the LB corps. Spikes/Crow/Fletch was a good combo, but hopefully someone unseats Ellison and has a big year, I am pulling for N. Harris big-time, as I seem him as the most capable of delivering game-changing plays (I know he won’t start immediately, but hopefully with a good showing on passing downs, he gets more PT). The CBs are better ownerall now than in 2005, with a slightly-lower talent ceiling (thanks to Clements departure) but a much higher talent floor (solid depth and competition). The Ss are hands-down better now, than then. Who else remembers Malloy not being able to keep up with slow TEs? With Whitner, Byrd, Scott, Wilson, & Wendling, I like our Safetys alot because some are all around football players and others have specific roles, which gives us the flexibility to be unpredictable; whether or not they will is entirely dependent upon Fewell. Which brings me to my last point: The players are better, is the coaching? I would argue anytime you don’t call a the-annexation-of-puerto-rico-double-reverse-option-pass play inside your own redzone, the playing calling is improved, now I can’t recall, but I believe the DEF was coached by Jerry Gray. Gray vs Fewell = Does it matter, its a wash…

then we were in 2005

Mike Gandy and Mike Williams were the tackles in 2005. How can the Bills not be better? Oh, and the interior linemen were all pretty terrible as well. It’s kind of amazing that Buffalo won any games with that offensive line…

For whatever reason, it is the question mark that can’t, in my mind, be answered legitimately. Everywhere else, is either the same or better in my mind. RBs and WRs and TEs and interior line all better, as well as tackle if you consider the depth (while Peters gone is a ?, so was his play last year, so there you go). Defense is strange, but seems better and all in all we did retain alot of players, and have certainly gotten younger with players on the rise, instead of at the peak or decline in their ability.

BUT it is the QB, and Edwards, that mans this ship, and if he can prove to be better, especially with the better weaponry, then we are much better, and so is our coach. However, if not, then we will be worse or the same, and therefore, a bad football team….very bad….GO BILLS!

What Possable QB’s are out there for next year draft, Trade, possable free agents?

Wish that was an option… The 2009 team is VERY young. You look at guard, for instance and assume we are better, because of the young talent. Plus hind sight is 20-20. We know what a disaster Bennie Anderson was, but Levitre “could” be just as bad. We just don’t know. That linebacking core was awesome and Sam Adams played well that year. Other than that we are marginally better, marginally worse… All-in-all a draw to me.

big improvements on offense. defense, not so much. especially the linebacker corps.

Our DBs and OLBs are a little weaker. The rest of the team is better. That’s ironic that Dick would improve the rest of the team while failing to upgrade significantly at the coverage positions.