One week in, Bills staying patient in free agency
by Brian Galliford on Mar 12, 2010 8:30 AM EST
in Buffalo Bills News
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PrintA week ago this morning, the NFL's free agent signing period was already several hours underway for the 2010 league year. We knew entering the new year that the Buffalo Bills, under the direction of new GM Buddy Nix and new head coach Chan Gailey, would not be overly active, attempting to stay patient and fill holes frugally while waiting to make their big off-season acquisitions via next month's NFL Draft.
To this point, Nix has stayed true to his word. Through one week of NFL free agency, the Bills have been anything but active.
By my count, 48 players have switched teams over the past week. Just one of them finds his new home in Buffalo, as the team on Monday signed free agent right tackle Cornell Green to a three-year, $9 million deal. Green is the early favorite to start at right tackle in place of the retired Brad Butler.
Green is one of three players that the team has reportedly hosted on free agent visits in that time frame, as well. On the first day of free agency, former Kansas City guard Wade Smith stopped in at One Bills Drive. He, however, did not sign on the dotted line, instead accepting a four-year, $12 million deal from Houston. Reports surfaced Wednesday that the team would host free agent nose tackle Jimmy Kennedy for a visit, but the team has not yet confirmed that visit, nor have we heard an update on that story.
Official visits are one thing, but the Bills have been connected to players that have not yet scheduled free agent visits, as well.
A week ago, Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com reported that the team had interest in free agent wide receiver Kelley Washington. There was also a report that linked the Bills to Miami backup quarterback Tyler Thigpen, though since that report, it's been made clear that Thigpen isn't available via trade. Two former Pittsburgh linebackers have been on Buffalo's radar, as the team has reported interest in both Larry Foote (link) and Joey Porter (link). A report also linked the team to free agent receivers Antonio Bryant and Derrick Mason, but both are off the market, having signed with Cincinnati and Baltimore, respectively.
The Bills did take care of their own, however, agreeing to terms with safety Bryan Scott on a two-year, $3-plus million deal on the first day of free agency, and re-upping tight end Joe Klopfenstein yesterday.
While the team stays patient and frugal in free agency, Nix has already begun working hard on the aforementioned draft, where Nix likes to do his best work. The team has already scheduled private workouts with Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and Clemson running back C.J. Spiller. More visits and workouts are sure to follow.
Nix was in Stillwater, Oklahoma earlier this week, taking in Oklahoma State's pro day workouts, where he reportedly spoke briefly with the consensus best left tackle prospect this year, Russell Okung.
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My guess is that we may only sign 2 or 3 more UFA's before the draft.
Nix is a draft guy, our big acquisitions and our biggest holes will probably befilled threw the draft. I’m thinking that we’re only going to sign 2 or 3 more guys, all depth or fringe starters (like Green). Then we’ll go threw the draft and our biggest free agent signings will happen after the draft in order to fill the holes that we were unable to fill in the draft.
My impretion is that we’re going to have a very young team with very few new starting faces that haven’t been drafted.
The more I see, the less I know.
by CanadianBillsFan on Mar 12, 2010 8:41 AM EST reply actions
That would be fine with me.
As long as they stay healthy and play a full season. Then we can truly evaluate their progress from start to finish Vs Calling them mediocre or sucks .
This is like dumping a new puzzle from it's box. Now let's start putting the peices together. I guess this is what we all asked for.
I commend them for staying patient. You are showing the your commitment to winning by signing a 34 year old RT to a $3m a year contract, who brings his exuberent penalty problems to team who can’t get out their own way when it comes to penalties. Good luck to the Bills and their switch to a 3-4 defense with 4-3 personel. It’s not like their are any FA’s out there who have played in a 3-4.
I know the draft is still upcoming, and thats where Nix has historically shined, but for a team that hasn’t done SQUAT in over 10 years, well it’s just very frustrating to stay patient on my end as a fan. Before anybody chimes in; YES I heard Nix’s press conference and his stance on Free Agency, but you have to be somewhat of a player in FA to win in this league.
"It took twenty five years to get there, and they did it in championship style" - Van Miller 1/20/91.
What tells you that we haven’t contacted 20 other UFA’s and they just flat out said NO. Just because we contact a UFA doesn’t mean that he’ll schedual a visit. I think that your forgetting that the consequence of losing for 10 years is that no quality UFA will truly see us as an option.
Players generally want to win, and they know that winning truly wont happen here for another 2-3 years at best. So why would a guy that thinks that he can the missing peice to a chamionship contender want to come here?
I mean I understand the frustration, I feel it too. But I’ve also accepted the fact that we are involved in a long rebuilding process and that until we near the completion of that rebuild, we wont be attracting many UFA’s.
The more I see, the less I know.
by CanadianBillsFan on Mar 12, 2010 8:57 AM EST up reply actions
I’m just really really frustrated.. That’s all.
I know we have a lot of optomistic people on here @ Rumblings, and that’s great, but It’s hard for me to get that away.
I can’t speak for anyone else and this is just how I feel.
"It took twenty five years to get there, and they did it in championship style" - Van Miller 1/20/91.
by Michael_Necci on Mar 12, 2010 9:00 AM EST up reply actions
And I totally understand that feeling, I feel it too. I just see it as useless to be negitive. Personally i think that Nix had=s done almost everything right in the way he wants to rebuild this team. We`re doing things the right way, as painfull as that might be.
The more I see, the less I know.
by CanadianBillsFan on Mar 12, 2010 9:04 AM EST up reply actions
ha!
Now I have the song, “Your love is like bad medicine” stuck in my head.
by Mindbender14 on Mar 12, 2010 10:03 AM EST up reply actions
Hahaha....better than "I got you babe" ...... ooooops......sorry :-)
A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!
Damn you Joe!
The more I see, the less I know.
by CanadianBillsFan on Mar 12, 2010 11:30 AM EST up reply actions
good line.
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
What About Cleveland?
I think you have a good point that others have also expressed on this board, too, but I only think that is part of the picture. Cleveland was also terrible last year and they’ve made some good pickups already in Free Agency. Are they really that much more desirable or are they just being more aggressive (and smarter)?
by IthacaBillsFan on Mar 12, 2010 9:05 AM EST up reply actions
Mike Holmgren’s presence helps them out quite a bit.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Mar 12, 2010 9:06 AM EST up reply actions
Sorry, but Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert trump Buddy Nix and Doug Whaley 7 out of 7 days per week.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Mar 12, 2010 9:11 AM EST up reply actions
OK, all sarcasm aside, it is interesting to see how attracting a big name Coach and/or GM helps you out in ways beyond just the smart decisions they make! I had not originally thought of that downside to the Chix hirings.
by IthacaBillsFan on Mar 12, 2010 9:15 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
absolutely
and that, too, adds to the fan frustration that we did not get a GM/Coach team that had that “drawing power”. That is the simple advantage of a “big name” that Wilson et al. could not/would not deliver.
His quote that, “we looked at a list and didn’t see anyone we knew” speaks volumes. But, that’s history. We can only move forward (with our fingers crossed)
"huge, big, fast, nasty...all those terms"
by fansince60 on Mar 12, 2010 9:17 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
good point
but also, take Wade Smith for example. He said upon signing with Houston that he had a real chance to start in Houston, I deduced from that comment that he didn’t in Buffalo or at least didn’t feel as confident, which makes sense since we already have Levitre/hang/wood
Nothing left to say... the clock is ticking...
look in Wikipedia under "truism"
and you’ll see your comment.
Maybe winning isn’t everything for 2010
"huge, big, fast, nasty...all those terms"
True, but at this moment we can barely even field the front 7 of a 3-4 defense. We can’t do it all in the draft. Hopefully the next week sees us add a linebacker and a DT/NT. Fingers crossed…
by IthacaBillsFan on Mar 12, 2010 9:24 AM EST up reply actions
I think the main thing is people must accept that we might not win as many games as last year and it’s OK in the overall scheme of things. Playing younger players and letting them blossom into pro-players might be the best approach.
Nix said that a rookie is no longer a rookie after week 7, this statement is only true if the rookie is on the field. The rookie cannot be on the field if we’ve signed high priced FAs to start in front of him. I really think Nix is serious about his approach. I’ve accepted it in my mind that we will not be very competitive in 2010 but it will be real fun to watch the young guys develop.
Nothing left to say... the clock is ticking...
I think the main thing is people must accept that we might not win as many games as last year and it’s OK in the overall scheme of things.
Right on Keysh! That’s how I’ve been approaching things since Nix’s first press confference. Short termpain for long term gain. Our young guys (Hardy, Johnson, Maybin, the Harris’s) will get better by actually playing, not by sitting on the bench. DJ’s biggest fault was that he couldn’t properly develop our young players. I do not see that happening with Nix and Chan.
The more I see, the less I know.
by CanadianBillsFan on Mar 12, 2010 9:46 AM EST up reply actions
DJ’s biggest fault was that he couldn’t properly develop our young players.
I know many have said that Jauron was a good teacher but was he a good player developer? I think not. I firmly believe that you get better by playing and learning from your mistakes. When the GM/Coach believe in bringing in average veterans to start while the rookies develop? Where on the bench? I think they need to play and learn. If that means you take a step back so be it. Rookies must play and we need to determine if our GM and staff are drafting well, and we need to determine if the kids is worth extending when his rookie contract comes up.
Nothing left to say... the clock is ticking...
If that’s true (and it is) what was the point of spending millions of dollars bringing in a 34 year-old RT who is known primarily for his talent at giving up sacks and drawing penalties? Why not let the promising but inexperienced younger OT’s who are already on the roster or about to be drafted get lots of playing time to give them a chance to develop?
in a word
depth- although the price tag was steep. Ironic considering it’s the Bills.
"huge, big, fast, nasty...all those terms"
Why not let the promising but inexperienced younger OT’s who are already on the roster or about to be drafted get lots of playing time to give them a chance to develop?
I give it till week 8 for Bell to be our starter at RT.
The more I see, the less I know.
by CanadianBillsFan on Mar 12, 2010 10:10 AM EST up reply actions
You’re assuming he’s not our starter at LT at the time…
Official ledge-talker-offer of the Buffalo Bills.
by WhyBillsWhy on Mar 12, 2010 11:32 AM EST up reply actions
I’m also assuming that we draft our starting LT in the first or second round.
The more I see, the less I know.
by CanadianBillsFan on Mar 12, 2010 11:49 AM EST up reply actions
both are good representations
CBF and M Necci both have valid points. To add, it all comes down to simple math. We do not have enough draft picks to fill all the holes. That’s where fan frustration comes in.
The frustration level rises when the “overhaul” has been illustrated as huge, yet, as of this writing, the sense of urgency from the team seems directly opposite the sense felt by the fans.
We can only hope that Nix and Gailey live up to their billing and have a “plan” that is yet to reveal itself to us. I don’t believe anyone is foolish enough to think the plan has a year shelf life. But again, the fans would like to see some palpable progress.
"huge, big, fast, nasty...all those terms"
by fansince60 on Mar 12, 2010 9:06 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
The way I view it is this: If we were to fill three big holes by 3 highly priced middle aged FAs, mercenaries sorta speak, what would it give us? 2-3 more wins? would it guarantee a playoff birth? probably not. And even if it did, would those 3 high priced FAs be the long term solution to get to the big game? probably not. The problem with those three high priced FAs, is they take money that could be used to resign our own AND those 2-3 extra wins bring us further away from the top players in the next draft. Also, another very important factor is playing time, if you accept the fact that rookies get better with playing time, adding guys like TO just take reps away from guys like Hardy & Johnson who could be the future but we’ll never know…
We need to be patient and accept the rebuild process.
Nothing left to say... the clock is ticking...
by keysh67 on Mar 12, 2010 9:26 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs
It is a huge overhaul.
that’s why there’s so little urgency. It’s not like you’re fixing the roof on your house really quickly before it caves in. Your house is already as flat as a pancake. Why bother hurrying now? Better to take a bit of care in building your new house, and maybe it’ll be a nicer one than the last one.
And I do think they have a plan we don’t know about. Chan strikes me as a smart guy, and I really do think he has a good vision for what he wants to do and an idea how to do it. But then again, I’m a Bills fan. Optimism has to win out despite all evidince to the contrary.
Last year we were hurrying up to fix the roof before it fell on our heads.
We FAILED, miserably. As a result, our house is as flat as a pancake.
Great analogie and totally agree.
The more I see, the less I know.
by CanadianBillsFan on Mar 12, 2010 11:51 AM EST up reply actions
Kennedy
I think the fact that Chris Brown sited “reports” that Kennedy would visit makes it somewhat “official”… Also we have had some updates, if only via Kennedy’s Twitter.
Chris Browns “reporting” the “reports”
I got nothing.
by Jason from OH-IO on Mar 12, 2010 9:23 AM EST reply actions
Defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy, the last of the Vikings’ unrestricted free agents, was scheduled to arrive in Buffalo on Thursday and continue his visit with the Bills on Friday.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Mar 12, 2010 9:29 AM EST up reply actions
Good innitial discussions and now moving onto contract talks?
The more I see, the less I know.
by CanadianBillsFan on Mar 12, 2010 9:47 AM EST up reply actions
Let us pray that’s true. Kennedy could be the one dynamite FA signing the Bills make this year. It remains to be seen how well he would work out as a 3-4 NT, but given his considerable strength and abilities as a run-stuffer all the signs suggest he would be very good. His main liability is as a pass-rusher, but that would be largely irrelevant in the role we would ask him to play.
Would like to see this signing…plus a 3-4 linebacker then hopefully use the draft for the rest. I don;t see any other FA worth going after that aren’t part of a long term goal.
by Buffalo Brad on Mar 12, 2010 2:31 PM EST up reply actions
So the average team has signed 1.5 free agents this off-season and the Bills have only signed one so far?!?
OMG, THE TEAM IS DOOMED!
by Pistol on Mar 12, 2010 9:44 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
not arguing
but those numbers are a little skewed by the “final eight” provision etc. Some of the teams who needed improvement have jumped in (Chicago). I’d put the Bills in the need improvement catagory. :-)
"huge, big, fast, nasty...all those terms"
The Bears have got better.
. Some of the teams who needed improvement have jumped in (Chicago)
But that’s still a flawed team that will struggle to make the playoff’s.
the point made
was that, yes, they’re flawed…but much less so than the Bills but still they have made an effort to mend some of those flaws with free agency.
Never implied the Bears were going to the Super Bowl as result of their moves. Simply stated, they have been more active in FA than most – so far. More than 1.5FA mentioned above.
"huge, big, fast, nasty...all those terms"
Your going to be more active
When you have a regime and FO who’s job’s may all very well be on the line this year. When you have a new regime in place you can afford to be patient.
Captain Sarcastic strikes again!
Rec’d!
The more I see, the less I know.
by CanadianBillsFan on Mar 12, 2010 10:11 AM EST up reply actions
Fair enough
But how many of those other teams switched there defensive scheme, don’t have a franchise quarterback, lost their starting RT to retirement, in the previous year traded their pro-bowl LT, let their #1B and #3 WR leave via FA, potentially have lost their RG to injury for a portion of the season, and have their best defensive linemam considering retirement.
I think you have to have perspective on the issue of signing/not signing free agents. We have entirely way too many holes to not fill some of them via free agency. We can not expect to fill all of these positions during the draft.
Kennedy would be a big step in the right direction.
I got nothing.
by Jason from OH-IO on Mar 12, 2010 10:31 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
unlike your sig
you got something! – rec’d
"huge, big, fast, nasty...all those terms"
in the previous year traded their pro-bowl LT,
Never miss a chance do you?
No weekend spent pantsless is a wasted weekend.
Yeah. C’mon, Jason. Literally everything else you said in that comment was bang on and completely relevant to next season and the current regime.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Mar 12, 2010 11:23 AM EST up reply actions
Kennedy would be a big step in the right direction.
Big is a little much don’t you think? I mean this is a guy who has bounced around the league and been a back-up pretty much the whole time. He was playing for the vet minimum last year. He would help, but a big step?
No weekend spent pantsless is a wasted weekend.
Re-building
I think the fact that we as fans have never truly experienced a ground up rebuilding process has come to hurt us here. The closest period I remember is 2001 after firing/releasing Phillips and hiring Greg Williams. We went 3-13 but having only been 2 years removed from 11-5, had a stronger base to lean on. We traded for Bledsoe and immediately were “contenders” again in 2002.
The free agency or trade route (T Spikes, S Adams, L. Fletcher, L. Malloy, T. Vincent, T. Teague, D. Bledsoe, M. Gandy) was heavily exhausted by Donahoe’s and really it only had short term benefits. However I will say several of his draft picks are still contributing roster players.
Now you can look at this last decade as a long term re-building period if you’re truly optimistic but the reality we need to be able to stomach a few consecutive 3-13 type seasons before legitimately expecting a return on the investment – which in this case will be some terrible football. Don’t expect that light at the end of the tunnel to be anywhere close yet.
I think the fact that we as fans have never truly experienced a ground up rebuilding process has come to hurt us here.
I hope we someday do a complete rebuilding, I don’t know when that will be… Too bad we cling to our talent evaluator (Modrak), not to mention just reshuffling some positions at OBD, so what we are doing now CAN NOT be considered a complete rebuilding.
I got nothing.
by Jason from OH-IO on Mar 12, 2010 10:26 AM EST up reply actions
Expect Modrak to be releived of his duties after the draft.
The more I see, the less I know.
by CanadianBillsFan on Mar 12, 2010 10:34 AM EST up reply actions
or as some might
say – Closing the barn door after the horse has trotted down the road.
"huge, big, fast, nasty...all those terms"
Firing your college scouting guy a month or two before the draft is exactly the same level of stupidity as firing your offensive coordinator a week before the regular season. It’s crazy. You lose a ton of work already put in. I don’t know if they’ll keep Modrak long term or not, but it’s literally insane to toss him (and of course all of his friends in the organization) out this late in the game. It’s not like we don’t have at least some solid picks to our credit over the last few years. Hopefully Nix can make better choices at the top of the draft than has been done recently and then evaluate if Modrak is worth keeping.
Official ledge-talker-offer of the Buffalo Bills.
by WhyBillsWhy on Mar 12, 2010 12:03 PM EST up reply actions
wasn't saying we should do it now
I was bringing up the sentiment that some felt it should have been done long ago.
"huge, big, fast, nasty...all those terms"
Agreed, it should have been done long ago. But it wasn’t. And it would be insanely stupid to fire him right now. Wait a month and you should get your wish.
The more I see, the less I know.
by CanadianBillsFan on Mar 12, 2010 12:17 PM EST up reply actions
Expect Modrak to be releived of his duties after the draft.
That doesn’t make sense IMO. This is the draft for Chix. # years down the road these player’s will be the core of Gailey’s team. If Nix didn’t have complete faith in Modrak, he’d have been releived of duties at about the same time as John Guy was.
If thats the case then maybe the question we should be asking isn’t “Why was modrak drafting such bad players?” but rather “Why couldn’t DJ develop the players that were drafted for him?”
I honestly think that Modrak gets a bad rap because Jauron could develop a player if his life depended on it.
The more I see, the less I know.
by CanadianBillsFan on Mar 12, 2010 2:20 PM EST up reply actions
Agrred (Again)
Philadelphia did a pretty good job of developing player’s while Modrak was there. Jauron was a good player’s coach,but apparently he’s a crappy teacher. Unless of course were talking about everything except DB’s. ; )
Yeah but Modrak came from Phili.
The more I see, the less I know.
by CanadianBillsFan on Mar 12, 2010 5:01 PM EST up reply actions
Filling Holes
Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Anyway, maybe I am too optimistic, but I feel we are closer than some may realize.
- The team signed Green to add depth to the o-line. Green, Bell, and Meredith all play OT, and we add another tackle in the first or second round of this year’s draft.
- The team adds a NT in Kennedy, that can rotate with Kyle Williams to fill the spot. The teams adds another NT in the first or second round.
- The team can add a QB in the later rounds (3-5) to groom with Brohm and Edwards – Skelton, Pike, Lefavour, Tebow. Or the team can move a 5th round pick for Brady Quinn or Troy Smith.
- Add quality depth at DE or LB in rounds 3-5. Schobel coming back is a big question mark, but hopefully he does.
- All of these positions and WR can still be addressed in free agency. It is still early in the process.
I realize there are a number of holes, but there is still time to get it done.
Where is the rush?
Examining the Bills roster reveals that the need for a rush of free agents was not necessary which apparently Buddy Nix correctly concluded. As much as Bills fans want to feel sorry for ourselves, the fact is this roster is not as talent devoid as the St Louis Rams, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Bucs, Cleveland Browns or a host of other teams. What we are is missing talent in key and crucial areas that drag the whole team down. The first week of free agency is dedicated to teams that need the big name, big dollar players and considering Buffalo’s time frame for rebuilding and the infancy of the new regime, none of them made sense financially or in football terms. If you go through our needs list, you’ll find that the best way to fill it is either through the draft or through the type of free agent that typically gets signed 2-4 weeks into free agency. There is a reason coveted guys like Larry Foote still are on the market.
NT: Kyle Williams as a rotational piece reduces the need for a true 3 down beast and enables Nix to go after a young player in the draft who can play 2 downs or rotate – perfect for a rookie to get his feet wet. Besides, anyone worth signing in the first week was retained by their teams – Franklin, Wilfork, Hampton. A guy like Jamal Williams is going to a team that give him a ring before he hangs it up and would only be available to a bottom feeder like us if those caliber teams deduce he can no longer play – so if he’s available to us, we probably don’t want him. Patience wins here.
LB – The Bills potentially already have all four starting linebackers if Aaron Schobel doesn’t retire or leave the team. If Schobel stays the Bills can potentially get away with drafting a LB in the middle rounds to develop as this is a deep LB class. If Nix wants a free agent, guys like Larry Foote and Andra Davis will be available into this week and perhaps beyond, neither is a big enough name to have warranted a first week splash. Again, patience reigns here.
OT – Cornell Green provided the Bills more options and Demetrius Bell was no worse than many of the free agents available as a starting option at LT. At the end of the day, the draft class this year has as many as 6 LTs with a first round grade and 3 or 4 with a top 12 grade. In either case, whether its Meredith, Bell, or rookie – letting youth adapt to the position would appear to be the prudent approach rather than overpaying and financially strapping this team from making more impact moves a season down the road. Patience wins again here.
QB – Barring a trade, which themselves take time to negotiate lest we end up sending a 2nd rounder to the Eagles for Mike Vick, there are few free agents in this class worth rushing to sign. While a veteran presence would be a benefit for this team, there are enough of them out there that Nix can sign one later on in free agency without sacrificing the minimal quality that exists among them. Besides, a rebuild is not a rebuild unless a team has a young signal caller to lead it into the future. No matter if Nix believes that QB is a rookie this year, a rookie next year, or Trent Edwards, patience again trumps action. At this point anyway, Ryan Fitzpatrick may have shown enough moxie, leadership, and guts to be the backup veteran QB for this team for the foreseeable future, reducing the need for a veteran free agent even further. Patience wins here.
WR – Terrell Owens proved that a high priced, high talented receiver isn’t good enough to fix a woeful offense on its own. Considering the investment in James Hardy and his two year removal from injury as well as entering his big third year, the young big scoring threat will likely, and rightfully, be given his chance to be the number 2. Lee Evans needs no mention here. With Steve Johnson having shown promise and boasting a productive college career and Josh Reed out of the way, he and Roscoe should fill out roles 3 and 5 respectfully. That leaves a valid number 4 veteran, and a guy who can battle Steve Johnson for the slot, as a potential free agent target. A guy like that is never signed in the first week of free agency and it is wise to wait a few weeks until their agents are more likely to adhere to Buffalo’s terms. Drafting receivers who were productive in college in rounds 6 or 7 remain strong options for future depth as well. Here again, patience is the virtue.
At the end of the day, Buddy Nix appears to be demonstrating that he has done his research over the last year while evaluating the talent on this team. For the Bills, the big days of free agency are ahead of us rather than behind us.
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
by poz on Mar 12, 2010 10:47 AM EST reply actions 6 recs
Dead on Poz!
Rec’d
The more I see, the less I know.
by CanadianBillsFan on Mar 12, 2010 10:58 AM EST up reply actions
poz poz poz...
the fact is this roster is not as talent devoid as the St Louis Rams, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Bucs, Cleveland Browns or a host of other teams.
I wish I could get on that bandwagon. At this point, we have a bunch of 2nd stringers, with about 5 exceptions (this has already been covered). The Lions have waaaaaay more talent than we do. I would take the Lion’s and Cleveland’s roster over ours any day of the week. Tampa has a QB and a #3 pick. The Rams will have a franchise QB in Bradford. What do we have? Levitre and ?? Our best player, Wood, may not make it back for the start of the season, and if he does will not be 100%. No QB , no NT, no LT, no proven OLBs, 1 and a half ILBs, RB on the verge of suspension, no #1 WR, no proven TE………where is the talent again?
A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!
by Joe P. on Mar 12, 2010 11:55 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Oh man Joe, I couldn’t disagree more.
Lions: Lets start with the good news, Matt Stafford is a great starting QB of the future so it seems. The Lions lack of talent is most readily apparent on the offensive and defensive lines. Jeff Backus is maybe the worst starting LT in the NFL and the line is rounded out by such names as Dominic Raoila, Dan Loper, Gosder Cherilius, and Manny Ramirez. They could neither pass protect or run block last year. The D-line is a mess despite recently trading for Corey Williams from the Browns. The Lions have Dewayne White, Cliff Avril, Turk McBride and Grady Jackson – all in roles they aren’t good enough to be playing. Their linebacking corp is in shambles with Ernie Sims unlikely to play for them and Larry Foote walking out the door essentially leaving Julian Peterson to ground a unit of Jordan Dizon, Zack Follett and DeAndre Levy. While the Lions did draft a nice secondary player in Louis Delmas, the rest of the unit was highlighted by Will James as its most productive player – a guy who would be a dime back on our team. Phil Buchanon, Anthony Henry, and Kalvin Pearson are part of this unit. They needed to draft Brandon Pettigrew because after him they have nobody at tight end. After Calvin Johnson, the Panda and Dennis Northcutt, yes Dennis Northcutt, were the answers at WR last year. Yuck. Kevin Smith can be a good RB if he can stay healthy and they have no depth after that.
Browns: Brady Quinn and Seneca Wallace at QB begin our tour of the Cleveland depth chart. However, have no fear, Jake Delhomme is coming in to visit them today according to reports, Yay……? Jerome Harrison emerged as a big play back but likely cant carry a full load and has no one behind him to carry the rock. and I mean nobody. At receiver the Browns are nothing short of horrendous with Mohammad Massoqui, Brian Robiski, and Mike Furrey constituting the main unit. Tight end is no better with Robert Royal and Rucker. At least the Browns have a semblance of an offensive line, with Alex Mack, Joe Thomas, Tony Pashos, Eric Steinbach, Rex Hadnot and others. But thats the only bit of good news I can find on their roster. While their D-line boasts Shaun Rogers he wants to be traded and they already traded Corey Williams to the Lions as I mentioned above. Robaire Smith and Kenyon Coleman rounded out that unit – gross. Their linebacker corp has talent but has never realized it and D-Qwell Jackson may leave town. Kamerion Wimbley has flashes but still cant reach the early promise he displayed in his early days, Eric Barton, Veikune, and David Bowens are all average. Their secondary though is their pride and joy, maybe the worst secondary unit in the NFL. Such names as Eric Wright, Brodney Poole, Abram Elam ,Hank Poteat, and Brandon McDonald make up this unit. None would start in Buffalo – none. But they have Joshua Cribbs? Yay special teams?
Bucs: Lets start by saying the Bucs have aboslutely no offensive weapons – not one. Even if Josh Freeman pans out, there is not one weapon on his unit. Derrick Ward, Cadillac Williams and Earnest Graham are all number 2 backs. Antonio Bryant is gone, leaving their WR cabinet bare to the bone with Maurice Stovall, Mike Clayton, and Mark Bradley. Dont worry Kellen Winslow is at tight end! Their o-line has some promise but didnt show it last year with Donald Penn, Davin Joseph, Jeremy Trueblood, Jeremy Zuttah, and Jeff Faine. Just ask any Bucs fan how their patience with this unit is doing and they’ll tell you its running thin – they are under performing badly. Their D-line is atrocious – Chris Hovan highlights with um…..um…..Stylez White…..and…..um….a bunch of other terrible players rounding it out. Outside of great linebacker Barrett Ruud they have Niko Koutovides – who shouldnt be starting – and a bunch of scrubs. Ronder Barber is old in the secondary, Aqib Talib is a nice player who should get better, Tanard Jackson has promise and Sabby Piscitelli played well so there is a decent secondary but it needs serious upgrades.
I’m not trying to put these teams down and I’m not proclaiming to be an expert on them. I’ve gone through their lineups as best as I know them so I’m sure I’m off on whos starting or who is still with the team in some instances but there you have it since you said you think they are better than us. Neither of those three teams has anywhere near the talent we do. You say you would take their lineups but you would be singing a different tune if you had them.
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
oh the Browns signed Scott Fujita........
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
I won’t get into comparing players from other teams, but I will say this. The BILLS, have very little talent. Do they have more then some other teams? Maybe, but they still don’t have enough to be a competitive NFL team and that is all I care about.
No weekend spent pantsless is a wasted weekend.
of course
all I’m saying is the build through the draft approach is a smart move for this team as opposed to spending in FA. I do think we have more talent than other teams but of course we aren’t competitive as is. No one is debating that.
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
nice break down poz, but
where is our talent? I think you are undervaluing many of their players, but maybe I am doing the same to ours.
A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!
i might be overvaluing our players
but I just do not see how the Lions, Bucs or Browns are in better shape than us. If you ask me, the Bucs might be in the worst shape of the three – well, the Browns are pretty bad too.
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
The Bucs might be worse off than us, but the Browns have kicked our a$$ the last several times we have played
A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!
and by the way
sad state of affairs when our off-season involves debating if we are better than the Lions and Browns……ugh….
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
I can't argue with that :-)
A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!
gotta agree with Poz here
we have one of the better secondaries in the league, taltented and young. we are missing one or two key players on Defense…by no means would i take Cleveland, St. Louis, or Detroits defensive roser PRIOR to free agency this year. The lions and browns have made some good signings/moves so far, but they havent neccessarliy taken players the bills needed. On offense, we have holes at QB…but do those teams have a better proven play caller? i dont think so. our line was battered last year, but is very talented young group of players, i do think we overpaid for green…but a veteran in the lockeroom is usually a good thing. RB we are set, WR like Poz said, one more and we should let our young talent shine. POZ was dead on…we are just a few key pieces away. NT, OT, QB, LB, and WR are our needs…the only starter we really need is QB, unless Edwards can put together a good camp under a REAL OC. everyone talks about how he regressed, but his OC got fired before the season and AVP really didnt do much for him. So lets see how this plays out…good PMA (positive mental attitude) goes a long way
we are missing one or two key players on Defense
Your spot on for defense. Our defensive roster is infinitely better than those three teams. A NT is the only crucial signing if Schobel stays. OLB and 3-4 DE are future priorities if Schobel retires or Kyle and Spencer need to be upgraded. The Lions, Browns and Bucs defenses need help all across the board on the other hand.
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
I REALLY think we need to consider at least one 3-4 defensive end via FA/trade/draft/whatever. We’re hopeful about Johnson and Stroud, but they’re not locks and we have basically no depth behind them.
Official ledge-talker-offer of the Buffalo Bills.
sure they aren't locks
and I agree with you it would be nice to upgrade but its not like this is a make or break season. In terms of rebuilding and the 2010 season, 3-4 DE isnt as big a need for the upcoming season as some other positions because if we find Kyle and Spence can’t do it, we can upgrade then. If we find they can, hey great, we’ll just nab some depth behind them .
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
Interesting
PRIOR to free agency this year.
You realize those players will be suiting up this season? Do you want to exclude this year’s draft picks as well?
I am positive……that we will be picking in the top 5 next year. Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t we routing for the Bills to win each and every game, just means I won’t be surprised if they don’t win more than 5 games.
A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!
we are missing one or two key players on Defense
Wow, I totally disagree with this. I don’t think I’ve disagreed so strongly with a statement like this on here in a long time. We aren’t even close to fielding the defense that Nix and Gailey had in mind when they made the switch.
Let’s see:
No Nose Tackle. Kyle Williams isn’t a NT. Just because he could be getting snaps there, doesn’t mean he’ll excel there or should be playing there.
We don’t have any 3-4 DE’s, outside of maybe Spencer Johnson. Many people want to put Stroud’s name in there, but I think he’ll be mediocre at best there. He’s lost a lot of his athleticism and his creaky ankles are a big concern. Williams will play here too, but again isn’t much of a fit.
Poz and Mitchell could be ok at ILB, but neither is the big bopper we need on the strong side. We don’t have anybody that can take on blocks and take out blockers.
We need multiple pass rushers. Schobel should be a decent player for the year he’s here, if he doesn’t retire this offseason, but when he does leave there will be a gaping hole at OLB. Maybin is a total question mark. Who knows what he’ll provide. There’s nobody after them, either. We need at least 2-3 more OLB’s.
I’ll leave the secondary alone. It’s a solid unit, but will need CB’s in a year or so.
We most certainly are not a player or two away defensively. I’d say we’re about 5-6 players away.
~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 Mar 13, 2010 1:08 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Calling Bill Murray...did you see your shadow?
I can’t support fans’ reacting to things saying they don’t try to land big name coaches and don’t make a push to land high-profile, established vets.
It’s a rough card to be dealt, i’m sure, running this franchise. The team absolutely wanted Cowher, but the man was not coming here. The situation, for whatever reason, was not one he wanted attached to his legacy.
So now, they find a coach who has experience, some measure of success, but who’s not flashy. He’s not someone you think of as a proven leader, a guaranteed lock to take you where you want to go as a player – i’m sure.
Now what was problematic in signing a “name” HC, becomes the same problem when trying to sign “name” free agents. There’s little guarantee here, outside of paying more money than many other teams for the same player.
It’s a bit like the dog chasing his tail; the cat chasing the laser pointer. Coaches don’t want in on the fog surrounding this team right now, and established players aren’t willing to commit to something that itself isn’t established.
I will add that I find it refreshing that a player cares enough about the situation to pass up more money. I just wish it wasn’t with the team I love supporting.
TO was an anomoly. We should be able to move past his situation in terms of coming to grips with why moves are or are not made.
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Song recommendation of the week: U2 - Breathe
by TheAfghanTwilight on Mar 12, 2010 11:02 AM EST reply actions
adam schefter
says that joey porter, larry foote, and derek anderson are all in arizona and all have good chances at signing there, for all you people thinking that one of those would come to buffalo. i wish i had a link, but i dont. it was a video on the front page.
also, rumor is TO might go to oakland….
Buffalo, that's where it's at baby. - Adam 'Pacman' Jones
Can't say I am surprised....except for the T.O. thing.....he really has hit rock bottom.
By the way poz, told you the Cards would be restocking. Still think they don’t win the NFC West
A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!
well lets see if they sign first right?
I’d also say Derek Anderson is not an upgrade of any kind. Larry Foote is a downgrade from Dansby and Joey Porter is an upgrade, so we’ll see if its enough even if they do sign. Don’t forget they lost Boldin, Pro Bowler, and Warner, hall of famer, on offense. We’ll see.
I wouldn’t count the Seahawks out if Hasselbeck is healthy or the 49ers with a whole off-season to refine their team.
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
and don't forget the have to replace Mike Gandy at LT.....no way to do that...they are doomed....hahhhahahahhahahaha :-)
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Cardinals-bring-back-lineman-Bridges.html
A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!
If Derek Anderson or Matt Leinart is their starting QB
They’re going to be pretty bad, especially since that defense is nothing special.
~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."
Wouldn’t be surprised to see the Cards go after a Qb early in the draft this year.
The more I see, the less I know.
by CanadianBillsFan on Mar 13, 2010 10:27 PM EST up reply actions
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