What will happen to this team If we don't make the playoffs?

by csc06258 on Jul 4, 2009 2:54 PM EDT Comment 31 comments

So I am glad I mixed things up a little bit by going against the Bryd pick even though its way to early to tell but that conversation is over. Next... This team has put a lot of effort in adding players in order to excel next year ( mainly by adding Owens). This should help out our offense a great deal and I think you are going to see a huge year from Lee Evans no matter what happens, playoffs or not. My thing is, I believe this is the last year for a lot of players and coaches. If we do not make the playoffs this year you can expect Ralph to clean house and begin the rebuilding process (even though we have been rebuilding for the last 10 years). I believe this is Trents last chance to show us if he is the one. He has all the weapons now (maybe not a great line) and has no real excuses. Next years draft is strong at QB and I would be shocked if the Bills didn't take one of the three (if you count Tebow) if Trent has just an O.K year (similar to last year). He has to prove he can make the big plays, and the big throws. He seemed to be way too gun shy last year, hopefully this is not the case this year with T.O at the Ralph. Most people don't understand this teams problem has been that we haven't had a real quarterback since Jim Kelly; that is the real reason we haven't made the playoffs in ten years. The only ones I would consider decent have been Flutie and the Blade. Trent has shown that he is smart and can lead, which are two qualities I love about him. But, I am not sure if he has the talent or the toughness to propel us into the playoffs. The only way I see the Bills not cleaning house this year is if they make the playoffs or just miss it and have a solid season. We can't afford horrible clock management on gameday and horrible play calling. Let me know how you think the teams record will be and who will be gone or kept after this year (be honest with yourselves Bill fans, T.O doesn't make us an automatic superbowl team).

Poll

What will be the Bills record and who will walk or stay (will keep this to Trent and Dick).

4-12. Both will take their walking papers

7 votes

7-9. Not again, Both will be gone

18 votes

7-9. Trent will stay, dick will walk

47 votes

9-7. Decent season, just missed it, Dick will walk

34 votes

9-7. Both will stay

39 votes

Playoff record- Both will stay

42 votes

SuperBowl- Both will be seen as Gods

11 votes

198 votes | Poll has closed

This FanPost was written by a registered user of Buffalo Rumblings. Its views do not necessarily reflect the views of Rumblings' editorial staff, but are just as valued as our own.

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i just dont see

anyway that the bills make the playoffs this year. sorry, not even close.

by ncfinfan on Jul 4, 2009 5:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t see any way the Dolphins make the playoffs this year. Sorry, not even close.

- TEMS

"We want to win immediately. To say you're building is an incomplete sentence. ... You're building for a future coach and general manager."
-Marv Levy

by TEMSON on Jul 4, 2009 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

is there an echo in here?

i wasn’t trying to be a smart ass, i was just stating my opinion.

by ncfinfan on Jul 5, 2009 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then what do you think will happen to the Bills if they don’t make the playoffs.

It's just a game.

by jj24 on Jul 5, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i think they'll fire jauron

i don’t think the bills are a bad team, i just don’t think the coach gives them the best chance to win. our whole division plays a pretty tough schedule this year, one team will overcome it and have a good year. the others will have a long year. of course, i’m hoping maimi will be the one to rise to the challenge, but we’ll have to wait and see.

by ncfinfan on Jul 5, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I gotta agree with finfan, and not because I'm a fin fan.

I might be wrong but I don’t think Dick Juron is the type of coach who can contain Terrell Owens. And lets face it, he’s going to blow up and cause a distraction at some point. I have a ton of respect for Lee Evans and I hate that he plays in the AFC East for a rival, but I’m glad T.O. plays in the AFC for a rival.

I don’t have a high opinion of Dick Juron or Turk Schonert, either. I gotta hand to you Bills fans as some of the most hardend and loyal fans in football. You guys deserve better than those guys.

"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me."
-Hunter S. Thompson

by Daren on Jul 5, 2009 9:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I might be wrong but I don’t think Dick Juron is the type of coach who can contain Terrell Owens.

As opposed to every other coach Owens has had, right? Keep in mind that list includes Bill Freaking Parcells.

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by Brian Galliford on Jul 6, 2009 7:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As opposed to every other coach Owens has had, right? Keep in mind that list includes Bill Freaking Parcells.

EXACTLY. It also includes Andy Reid too, who is a pretty damn good coach as well. Look, I didn’t come over here to start a fracas, but there is no way you can convince me Juron is better at coaching or handling players then Bill Freaking Parcells or Andy Reid.

"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me."
-Hunter S. Thompson

by Daren on Jul 6, 2009 8:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not going to go into detail, but trust me when I say that Jauron is one of the NFL’s best at handling players. You may not like it, but trust me – it’s true. That doesn’t mean that I’m saying he can handle T.O., though. Nobody’s done it yet. All I’m saying is that where Parcells and Reid have failed, Jauron might succeed. Seriously. They’re clearly different coaches in terms of style. My point was that we won’t know where the weak points in the relationship are until they’re revealed. Right now, I can tell you that all is well between T.O. and Jauron.

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by Brian Galliford on Jul 6, 2009 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's true

Jauron is adept at handling players and treating them well. Gameday coaching is an entire different problem, though!!

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Jul 6, 2009 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not going to argue that point but there are factors that make me believe that T.O. in Buffalo could be much different.

1) T.O. signing a 1y contract really is a good thing for us. There is no way in hell that he will ever play again if he creates a stir here in buffalo. Unlike previous stops, now most teams wouldn’t sign him just because of his age. He is definitely at the end of his illustrious career and he is so selfish that he surely is eyeing Jerry’s records. He is so amazingly in good shape that he could easily play into his 40s but he will need to behave to get there.

2) The Bills are a bunch of “low key” lunchpail type guys that avoid the spotlight. TO is the only show in town and nobody else wants his spotlight so he can get all the attention that he wants. If he performs like he can, Buffalo fans will start to name their children after him. He doesn’t have any competition in Buffalo that will compete for the media attention, everyone of his teamates are very content to let him grab all the attention. This was not the case in his two last stops (Romo, Witten & McNabb – all like the spotlight as much as TO)

Then mix in the fact that Jauron is the authentic Players coach, it might work. I would cation however that the first time that Jauron has problems yanking the challenge flag or screws-up a timeout or something and causes the team to loose, I can expect TO to be quite vocal about it in his Press conference afterwards.

Your ability to control the LOS is directly linked to your ability to win football games!
FEED the BEAST!

by keysh67 on Jul 6, 2009 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well,

but trust me – it’s true

You know Juron better than I do. You have good football acumen from the “Around the AFC East” Q&A you do with Matty, so if you think so, you might be right. But there is definitely a pattern with T.O. that has to at least concern you.

"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me."
-Hunter S. Thompson

by Daren on Jul 6, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I don’t think so – I know so. :)

But yeah, you’re completely right – there’s clearly an Owens pattern, and it’s a bad one. I don’t think many Bills fans have any delusions about the guy. Dick Jauron certainly doesn’t. He’s about to enter the toughest season of coaching he’s ever had, and I’ve got a hunch he realizes it.

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by Brian Galliford on Jul 6, 2009 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right now, this is really all that matters!!!!!…..

That doesn’t mean that I’m saying he can handle T.O., though.

Couldn’t be any more true….

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Jul 6, 2009 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He couldn't be worse than the other guys...

You can bet your butt he won’t start calling him “the player”. :-)

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jul 6, 2009 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, in all fairness, I don’t think that coming off of a 1-15 season the year before anybody gave the Dolphins a chance in hell of going 8-8, much less 11-5 and winning the division. I guess that is why they play the games….

No night spent pantsless is a wasted night.

by sireric on Jul 4, 2009 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Trent will still be on the team next year. No doubts about that.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jul 4, 2009 11:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Easy. New coaching staff and new starting QB. Pretty simple.

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Jul 4, 2009 11:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think it’s so cut and dry. The Packers went 6-10 last year and Aaron Rodgers threw for over 4000 yards and 28 TDs. If Trent has a year like that and the Bills go 6-10 you could easily see Jauron gone and not Edwards.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jul 5, 2009 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

but if he has an O.K year I think you can expect him to be gone. with all the talent at Q.B in the draft this upcoming year I would start fresh. 4,000 yards and 28 TD is a hell of a season, trent would never come close to that, not with our type of offense. But if you see close to 3,000 yards and 18 TD then I would call that a good enough year to keep him. If he has less than 15 TD’s id let him go

by csc06258 on Jul 5, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anything's possible

And there is no reason to “know” Trent can’t have a big year, averaging just under two TDs a game…

The Bills CAN win any game

by killascript on Jul 5, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But you are leaving out the biggest issue of all — the o-line. If they can’t come together and offer decent pass protection, as well as run-blocking, and if Trent is running for his life most of the 2009 season, then it will not matter much if he has poor production. The conclusion will be that it was the line’s fault, not his, and he will not be replaced. The Bills might end up taking an OL in the first round of the 2010 draft, not a QB.

by Macktruck on Jul 5, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There’s no way Trent throws for 4000 yard and 28 TD’s. If he does somehow achieve that, we’ll be better than 6-10.

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Jul 5, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would agree with you about everything you said.

I was just noting that it won’t be as cut and dry as you said.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jul 5, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i did mention the O-line. They are the only thing that is uncertain. that and i guess TE.

by csc06258 on Jul 5, 2009 11:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree on the OL.....

Our O line is the the ugly red headed step child that no one talks about. We all know that controlling the line of scrimmage wins football games and we have neither. It is like a bad domino effect. Trent may be capable of having a great year this year, but he will be undermined by the O line.

However, if we can get a stud LT next year we have the potential to have one of the better lines in the next 2-3 years. Levitre and Wood are going to be studs.

by PWilliams on Jul 7, 2009 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

First of all

We are going to make the playoffs, there is no doubt in my mind. Call me a delusional optimist but this team has way too much talent not to. Last year with Trent at the helm & Lynch/Jackson in the backfield we were able to sustain drives and control the clock quite well in every game – we always fell short when we got to the redzone.

If we do not make the playoffs this year you can expect Ralph to clean house and begin the rebuilding process

Absolutely not!! At his age do you honestly think he would want to re-build? That is exactly why he didn’t fire Jauron, because he wants to avoid the rebuilding process at all costs!

I believe this is Trents last chance to show us if he is the one

My god, has the world gone mad? QBs take 2-4 years to develop and Trent is smack in the middle. He obviously needs to show improvement in his weaker areas but if he does I expect him to keep his job. And I expect OBD to draft a QB next year in the first 3 rounds regardless how Trent performs, just because our depth at the position sucks.

He seemed to be way too gun shy last year

I’ll admit that he might have been a bit gunshy in a few games but please do not confuse a smart QB using his check-downs when nothing is there as a “gunshy” QB. I was watching a few of the RAMS superbowl games the other day and I was flabbergasted by the amount of times that Kurt Warner would end up checking down to Faulk. Same thing for Peyton Manning & Edge or Addai, it’s part of the system. I must say that from a spectator’s point of view it’s boring as hell but it keeps drives alive and avoids un-necessary turnovers. Trent Edwards is a very smart guy that reads defenses quite well and because he’s very grounded and unselfish, he rarely takes un-necessary risks – even at the expense of being tagged “gunshy”

Most people don’t understand this teams problem has been that we haven’t had a real quarterback since Jim Kelly

True but: Do people realize that most great QBs learned for a few years on the bench behind a good veteran. Trent had Losman as his mentor (no comment required…) and he was thrown into action in his rookie year. From a purely QB perspective Trent’s stats are great in his two first years, we cannot blame him for the system or the play-calling. I definitely believe and trust that with more control of the offense and the ability to change play calls on the line as well as the no-huddle, Trent will really come into his own. Trent is our franchise guy folks, there is no doubt in my mind.

Your ability to control the LOS is directly linked to your ability to win football games!
FEED the BEAST!

by keysh67 on Jul 5, 2009 12:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Call me a delusional optimist but this team has way too much talent not to.

I’m struggling to understand where all this talent is. We have some good skill position players, but our QB is in the bottom half of the league, and that’s what really matters. Our OL is a major question mark, and I’m not sure it’s overly talented. Can it be good? Yes. Can it be great? Perhaps. But I don’t that’ll happen because of possessing superior talent.

I personally think our D is average to below average talent-wise. The DL has some solid vets and a promising rookie in Maybin, but there’s not a whole lot of talent there. The LB’s are one of the least talented units on the team. Solid, but not overly talented. The secondary has a phenomenal talent in Leo, a good player/talent in McGee, a nice looking FS prospect in the Byrd man, and then average players in Scott and Whitner. I don’t think the secondary is that talented, but it’s hardly depleted.

There is some talent on this team, even some very good talents, but overall it’s not something to say we are too talented to miss the playoffs again. A team like Houston has a lot more individual talents and is more able to make a statement like that, IMO.

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Jul 5, 2009 8:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Backfield
Lynch / Jackson / Rhodes
Especially since they seem to now understand how to get Jackson more involved. This backfield could be in the top 3 and certainly in the top 5.

Receiving core
Evans / Owens
Again top 5 at least

TE
I really liked what I saw of Fine last year and I think that he’s going to be huge for us this year. I also think that they are going to be very creative with Nelson – I expect a lot of production from the TEs this season.

QB
I won’t get into a debate here but needless to say that I really believe in Trent’s abilities. He’s shown me enough to believe that he can do it. With the weapons that he has this year, he will jump to the next level.

DBs
I love McKelvin & McGee and our depth is pretty impressive with Youboty & Corner

DL
I think that Schobel bounces back with a vengeance. Other veteran DEs like Strahan had a slump or two in their illustrious careers and bounced back and I think Schobel is motivated to prove naysayers wrong. I like the fact that Ellis is back and now with the addition of Maybin – I think we’ll have some firepower off the edge. I find our DT position to still be somewhat weak and I pray that stroud stays healthy. I am also hopeful that McCargo can finally start showing us why we drafted him so high.

LB
I agree with your statement. I want to see a lot more from Poz and the two outside spots are ordinary to weak if you ask me.

I think the big difference this year is that we are going to finish drives and score a lot. This will in turn change the whole dynamic on defense because they can now pin their hears back and going in hard to defend the pass.

Your ability to control the LOS is directly linked to your ability to win football games!
FEED the BEAST!

by keysh67 on Jul 6, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s a lot of hope-based rankings…..

If this team had so much talented, we’d be seeing more big plays simply by default. We wouldn’t be scoring 3 points in a few games, getting shut out in another. We wouldn’t finish near the bottom in sacks, INT’s, and many offensive categories. There’s some talent there, but it hasn’t been good enough.

Comparing Schobel to Strahan and expecting a similar outcome is pretty ridiculous…That guy was one of the best pass rushers of the past few decades.

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Jul 6, 2009 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There’s only one thing that I really disagree with:

Next years draft is strong at QB

Am I the only one who thinks that next year’s draft could be one of the weakest at QB that we have seen in a long time? If Snead or Jimmy Clauson don’t step up and have big years and declare early, then I think it’s an awful QB draft. As a pure QB, I think Tebow is barely draftable. Colt McCoy has a weak arm and relies on his legs way too much. Sam Bradford is probably long gone before the Bills pick. If somebody else doesn’t step up, then there won’t be a name worth writing down during the first and maybe even second round.

by kaisertown on Jul 5, 2009 3:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs