Ed. Note, by Brian Galliford: This, Rumblers, is what a FanPost should be.  Kudos to J2 for a ripping good read and some great insight. End Note

For the first time in as long as I can remember I honestly am not sure how the Buffalo Bills will do this season.  I'd say 70% of me thinks we're going to win 6 games, and 30% thinks we can improve on our 7-9 season.  There are just too many factors for me, at least somewhat, to accurately gauge our team this year.

I'll give it a shot after the jump - but regardless - I do think that his season is going to be fun to watch.

I want to start at the obvious spot here and just get it out of the way.  T.O. - I think the single biggest factor that he brings to this team is his desire to win.   A lot of people point out that he causes distractions - which is true - but his desire to win is what drives this.  If he doesn't feel that a player is giving the team 100% then he makes this known.  Obvously he does it in ways that most don't like - but this is considered leadership in a lot of circles.  To me - having a player that is willing to try and get more out of their peers is just what this team needs. 

Obviously I am excited about what he can potentially bring to our Offense in general to help out Lee and Trent, but his passion for being the best is precisely what this team needs.

Offense

The offense this year is going to be suspect for the first half of the season unfortunately.  With the firing of Schonert and the promotion of AVP - a learning curve is expected. 

1. I expect our O-Line to have mistakes, some major, for the foreseeable future.  Schonert or no Schonert - this line is going to need to be tweaked (LT) and they are going to need time to gel.  I think the combination of players is there - but like anything - this will need time.  So expect early season struggles then solid play after week  8 or so.  I think the players are there and are improved from last year - but the rookies are green and that unit will struggle.  Expect it - but expect to see improvement throughout the year.
2. Play calling will be interesting to watch for the first few weeks so obviously it's impossible to go ahead and try to predict what is going to happen here.  Based off of all the information that has been passed to us via the web and Geronimo - we can expect a simplier offense (more on that in a sec.).  Expect AVP to put in plays that Trent likes and the players like then tweak from there.  AVP is an unknown commodity - he's played in the NFL and has had little success in NFLE while being literally shoved through the job chain at OBD to his current position as O-Coordinator.  The good thing going for him is he is not going alone on this.  DJ and Studesville will help - how much help with they bring?  Not sure - but 3 heads can be better than one as long as they have a common goal - which they do.  I would expect play calling to struggle - however, a simplier and more effective play calling scheme might overcome some of the learning curve here. 
3. I expect the running game to be very lackluster for at least 4 games.  Obviously having Marshawn suspended is a large reason for this - but not the sole reason.  Obvously the run game in the preseason left a lot to be desired and I think this will continue.  Our line just clearly needs time to work together and get good at certain things then move on from there.  Having a simplified offense might help them - but i'm not sure how by how much.
4. With Schonert gone I do expect a few players to get more playing time this year and a few players to see less playing time on the O (barring injuries - naturally).  I think Roscoe's days in the slot are going to be few and far between with Scuba Steve seeing a majority of the 4th or even 3rd WR slots.  I also expect to see Bell in there sprinkled in then possibly thrust into the starting position quicker than what a lot of people would think.

Simplier offense and AVP

I'll start with AVP.  First, I have zero idea what this guy brings to the team as far as o-coordinator goes.  Here are a few thoughts though:

1. He does know the playbook so he is not reinventing the wheel here.  The players also know the playbook - this works largely in our favor.  If he were installing a new O then I wouldn't even bother watching games this year.  However, the architect of the Offense is now gone and the "workers" are putting the product on the field.  This isn't necessarily a bad thing however, sometimes people are great at theory and philosophy but literally stink at applying them in a real world situation.  It is possible that Schonert is one of these people.  AVP might end up being o.k. with a playbook already assembled - all he has to do is run what works and not get too cutsey.  I expect this from him because of what has been presented to us as far as information.
2. Being an ex-QB is great and all - however so was Schonert.  The difference is that AVP did work with Kelly and from what I understand they still talk periodically.  I was listening to the radio last week and Kelly was on and he said that AVP already called him and talked to him to get some advice.  I know that the K-Gun was successful because Kelly ran plays that he liked and they were good at.  I expect this philosophy to be implemented by AVP. 
3. In a nutshell - AVP is clearly going have his head just above the water - especially against NE.  He has a supporting cast, he has a playbook already designed for him.  All he has to do is call what the offense is good at and what they like to run - I think he can do this and I think he will. 

Simplier Offense

When I hear of simplier offense I don't think of dive left, dive right, counter left, play-action pass short.  When I think of simplier offense I think specifically of Trents reads in the pocket.  Instead of Trent having 3 or 4 options then a checkdown that he has to look to - I expect  him having 2 and a checkdown.  Chances are he will only be scanning one side of the field.  The drawback is that once teams realize this they will start cheating over to where Trent looks. 

This is where I expect crossing patterns (:-)) and other patterns that bring the players into Trent's FOV - or bring the play to Trent.  When I went back and watched some footage I saw a lot of curls, outs and fades by all the receivers on the field.  Which meant that Trent had to digest who was open by taking what the entire defense gave him.  I expect him only to have to concentrate on half of the field for now while players are being brought to that side as well.

Even though I expect the run game to struggle - I expect them to stick with it and run more play-action passes this season as well.  The run game will need time to get their act together - but they will keep running this because A) the offense should be able to run more plays and stay on the field and B) It will keep our D off the field.   This should also open up play-action and take a little pressure off of Trent (when it's working).

Defense

The defense hasn't been upgraded that much this offseason.  They will have players such as Poz and Leo that are one more year into a system and that should help.  I expect them to be what they were last year, unspectacular but serviceable.  They won't win you a lot of games, but they probably won't lose many for you either.  Expect them to also keep us in games that we could be potentially blown out in because of offensive futility.

1. Pass Rush - having Schobel and Maybin will help us this year.  I don't think anyone will say they weren't impressed with Maybin this preseason.  Yes it was preseason - but his first step us undeniable.  Kids got talent.  With Schobel at least we have a threat there.  I expect our sacks to increase because of these two - especially Maybin.  Also, don't forget Poz and his growth as a blitzer. Mitchell will be the primary blitzer, but expect Poz to be more efficient in this area as well.
2. Turnovers - this unit must generate more turnovers with the addition of Maybin(pressure off of the edge).  I think they will.  I think our secondary is better than last year because of experience and the moving of Scott to SS.  Expect this unit to be a strength - but with how many draft picks DJ's used on this unit it better be good.
3. Run Defense should be pretty darn good this year if they are not on the field for 35+ minutes.  I expect us to have a very very good year defending the run.  Yes we face a ton of good offenses this year, but we should be up to the challenge.  I don't think this unit will be sieve like.

Special Teams

I think the changes to the rules this season will actually help the Bills on special teams.  why?  because April is probably the best special teams coordinator in the league.  If anyone can find an advantage it will be April.  Expect this unit to be top 10 for sure and most likely top 5. 

Leo and Roscoe will continue to keep ST coordinators up late at night and also provide good field position for our offense. 

Schedule

Make no mistake - we have ourselves one tough schedule this year.  Instead of going game by game i'm going to lump teams together.  Also make no mistake, any team can win any game - It is the NFL afterall.

World Beaters - very tough to beat

NE X 2
Saints
Titans
Colts

Good teams

Panthers
Jets
Dolphins
Texans
Falcons

Teams we can/should beat

Tampa
Cleveland
Jags
Chiefs

Based off of these rankings you can see how difficult this season is going to be for the Bills minus all of the Offensive issues.  Then you can also see how I have almost no idea how this year will pan out so I am going to do this in two sections.

Optimist

I can see us beating NE once and basically going 4-2 in the division.  I can see us beating the majority of the good teams while letting one of the should/can beat teams beat us.  So the optimist in me thinks 10-6 or 11-5

Pessimist

I can easily see us getting beat by NE twice and all of the good teams.  I still don't think we win fewer than 6 games this season so i'm going with 6-10 or 7-9(shocker). 

All in all one thing is for certain - this is clearly a make or break it year for this team.  If they do not improve then we can expect a whole new coaching staff next year.  I think this helps us this year because our coaches should be going all out and should be more aggressive.  I still think we can be a very good team - I think we have a lot of good players but i'm not sure we have the cohesivness at this point to take a major run at a playoff birth.  This can change over the course of the season but it will take a lot of hard work and determination.

Bottom line - expect this team to struggle out of the gate.  I'm not sure but I can see 2-4 or 3-5 easily.  Then if this team does have the pieces in place expect them to make a strong, strong push at the end of the season.  will it be enough?  I don't know, but I expect them to be a completely different team from game 1 to game 10.  This is why I will continue to watch, hope and root for the team.  Because i think they do have the pieces, but it's going to take a crap load of effort and improvement from everyone if they are to take the next step.