Who's to blame or isn't it time to hit the panic button yet?

by dabillsr1 on Aug 30, 2009 12:21 PM EDT

Considering this is still only preseason and according to a lot of the posts and replys that were talked about after the Green Bay game, most fans shouldn't be too concerned because this is only the preseason.

However, considering that this IS preseason and most of the fans optimism for the coming season has already been squashed, is it time to hit the panic button or throw blame around on this team or organization?

It is tough not to get too worked up as a fan, but when you look around the league and see other teams that are suppose to be good, play good. And then you see teams that were bad, start playing better and/or make the changes necessary to turn their team around and make them competitive. Finally, you see the Bills still make the same mistakes and lack any execution or confidence to make plays or make changes that need to be made. There are few teams is this category (Detroit, St. Louis, Cincy, etc.) and the Bills are there and have been there for quite some time.

Having patience, waiting for the younger player to mature, hoping the veterans can still make plays, having little or no significant injuries, and possibly a coach that can call the right play at the right time or have a game plan that can help our players succeed is what we are experiencing as fans.

So should we hit the panic button, have more patience, throw blame around now, stop caring and rooting for the team?

I think all signs so far this preseason show that it is time to hit the panic button. Very little if anything is there to be excited about with this team right now. Who believes the Bills really have a chance to do any better in Foxboro on 9/14, that what they showed in any of the presseason games so far this year? We are riding our hopes and this offense on TO's Toe right now. This is a guy who was brought here to be marketing ploy to sell jerseys and tickets and produce some on the field. If we think that we are going to be a 300 yard passing team and 400 yards of offense with 100 plus rushing yards because he is in the game, we must be kidding ourselves right now.

Want the Blame game:

Here's my list:

1) Turk Schonert - He is very predictable and out team struggles to put any pressure on defenses.

2) Dick Jauron - Likeable guy by everyone who is not a fan of the Buffalo Bills. FO, players, league insiders, everyone seems to love the guy, why he can't be a winning coach here is inexcusable.

3) Trent Edwards - There is no excuse for his poor play. He needs to put the team and offense on his back and make our offense successful. The Cleveland game last year messed with his mental psyche and he obviously hasn't recovered in game situations. Until the guy starts to makes plays we will be calling for another QB. (Maybe Josh Johnson in TB????)

4) Front Office - They sell tickets but make little money. They have to do brand the Bills in Toronto now. Seems like we haven't had anyone passionate about the actual performance on the field or any true football people driving this organization in a long long time (probably since John Butler left).

5) Ralph Wilson - He's at the top, but hard to put anymore blame on a guy who is 91 and hasn't made very many good decisions for quite sometime. I think more blame is on the people below him, but all signs eventually point to the top.

Have more patience:

Yes we are 0-0 in the regular season so should we really be this hard on the players or organization at this time of the year. Everything would change if this team can some how pull out a victory in New England on week 1. Until we prove that we can beat them (hasn't happened since 2003), we haven't improved at all.

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

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Comments

Josh Johnson

I live in the Tampa Bay area and Josh is going to become a very good QB. I would love to see him with the Bills. He will need some time and a coach. The Bucs are going to want a lot in return.

by Honeyroy77 on Aug 30, 2009 1:24 PM EDT reply actions

I haven't see much of Johnson

But what I’ve seen is that he is athletic and a gunslinger that plays full of confidence and makes plays whenever he is in the game.

by dabillsr1 on Aug 30, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

some thoughts

This is a guy who was brought here to be marketing ploy to sell jerseys and tickets and produce some on the field.

This is the only thing that I really, really disagree with. TO is not a marketing ploy. Buffalo does just fine in jersey sales and signing a player, even TO, to a one year deal isn’t exactly a huge boon in sales. Buffalo was ahead of where they were last year in season ticket sales when they signed TO and looked like they weren’t going to have a problem selling out every game before the signing. TO is here because Buffalo needed another player who could make things happen on offense and the price and situation were right. He’s here because he is still a great receiver and not because everybody knows who he is.

I don’t think it’s time to hit the panic button, but I can’t blame anybody who already has. As for the “the Bills have been terrible” vs. “it’s just preseason debate”, it’s like Billskkdirtynumber’s fanpost says, the truth is somewhere in the middle. It really depends what people are freaked out about. If anybody is worried about the run game, well, they should be.

If people are worried about the defense then I don’t get it. It’s pretty much the same D as last year and they were pretty solid. If anybody has disagreed with the preseason play calling, or the personel they have used in certain situations, then I would tell them it’s just preseason and those are the kinds of things that coaches always do in the preseason, but change once the games count.

I have no clue whether to be excited about Trent and TO, or whether to write Edwards off before the season even starts. He doesn’t throw the ball down the field, but Derek Schouman is probably his 2nd best receiver beyond 10 yards with TO out. It is discouraging to watch football highlights and watch QBs complete passes to covered WRs down the field and know that it’s a throw that Trent wouldn’t attempt.

While it may not be too early to hit the panic button, it’s certainly too early to play the blame game. How can we possibly know who is to blame when they havn’t played a game that counts yet? I want to see Trent play with TO before I say that he is to blame for something. Schonert was a rookie coordinator last year, we can’t assume that his faults from last year will carry over into this season. I completely agree with half of the things that people dislike DJ for, I hardly even understand why people think the other stuff is a big deal. Blame Ralph for hiring DJ, but what else is his fault?

by kaisertown on Aug 30, 2009 1:33 PM EDT reply actions

Good point... it is probably somewhere in the middle

As a fan with little optimism, I don’t think any blame should really be pointed until they “officially miss the playoffs” or make some boneheaded moves/plays/decisions that cause a loss.

I think it is more frustration this preseason because we’ve actually seen little to be impressed about. Certainly nothing with consistency that would make us believe that a 3 and out here and there won’t be too bad, because we have the fire power to score points. On Defense, we see other teams continue to convert 3rd downs with consistency no matter the yardage to go. We hope that our ST can make a play to keep us in the game. etc. etc. etc.

However, I agree with you… tough to debate officially in preseason. Just frustrating when you want to see something that make us want to cheer.

Hopefully it will be a health toe soon.

by dabillsr1 on Aug 30, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Billskkdirtynumber

HAHAHA

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

by MattRichWarren on Aug 30, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Offensive Coordinator

I thought we were supposed to be upgrading at the OC when Fairchild left for CSU, I had high hopes for Schonert, but its the same old predictable offense just like you stated. Even though I keep hearing that it is only preseason, and even though I will never loose faith in my Bills it def hurts to see us barely making an improvement. I hope as every one else has mentioned it’s only preseason and we will turn things around. Till then Lets go Buffalo!!

by Hassanali181 on Aug 30, 2009 2:02 PM EDT reply actions

Week 1 Victory???

I was at Ralph Wilson Stadium the last time the Bills beat the Patriots and I’ll be there Dec 20th when they host them again.
I’ve had about enough of basement football and I think it’s time for a change all around. New FO, new coaching staff, new 3-4 defense!

by Teaters33 on Aug 30, 2009 2:16 PM EDT reply actions

I disagree on the 3-4. It’s the en vogue defense. I’d rather have a Tampa 2 with the right personnel. I’d rather have a 40 front in any form that a 30 front.

A good 40 front with good personnel is harder to beat.

1.) It stresses the interior of the OL. It’s harder to block two 320 pound DT’s over your C-OG than just the NT. This also frees up the MLB to make plays. Ask Ray Lewis. The Raven 2000 defense- 40 front.

2.) You’re defense is faster overall. You can get away with a smaller, faster OLB with a 40 front. A 30 front will have a tougher time defending TE’s and pass-catching RB’s. This also frees the safeties up for scheme modulation.

by Der Jaeger on Aug 30, 2009 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I think you’re the only other person on here who prefers the 40 front. I’ve always preferred a 40 front defense over the 30 front. Bills just don’t have the front personnel to make it work (yet…hopefully!).

"I wish we could convince our opponents to play their 2nd and 3rd stringers against ours for the whole game – when it counts." - TEMSON

by thefourwinds on Aug 31, 2009 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s just a matter of taste. Either front is hard to beat with the right personnel. You referenced the Ravens, I’ll reference the Patriot defense of the Super Bowls. It’s a great example of what the 3-4 can do. And the 3-4 stresses the exterior of the OL, where the 4-3 stresses the interior. And the slight speed differential is cancelled out. You have an extra lighter man at LB and one less heavier man at DL. It’s a matter of strategy and style.

by Dyl on Aug 31, 2009 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions

This is a guy who was brought here to be marketing ploy to sell jerseys and tickets and produce some on the field.

Personally I think you have it backwards. T.O. was brought in for his on the field help and the drama that comes with him is mitigated by the jersey stuff. It’s production first.

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

by MattRichWarren on Aug 30, 2009 2:42 PM EDT reply actions

It’s the pre-season, so it’snot the time to hit the panic button yet… wait until week 5 at least.

Captain of the "Promote Bob Sanders to Deffensive Coordinator" band wagon.

by CanadianBillsFan on Aug 30, 2009 5:46 PM EDT reply actions

Same as last year

Look at last years preseason and this years preseason they are the same they both are doing bad Edwards had 3 ints and 1 Td last preseason. When the reagular season hit thet went 5-0 so this really does not matter. Don’t forget that Evans had no help the pass couple of games also so it is not all Edwards. Now the O-Line they need some help i was thinking this for next year Ruben Brown and O-Line coach what do you guys think of that.

GO BUFFALO

by kooldude on Aug 31, 2009 2:53 PM EDT reply actions