Patience is a Virtue

Like alot of other fans, this draft did leave me feeling alittle disappointed.  I  was surprised and dismayed by some of the picks, but at the end of the day that is only my opinion.  Fortunately, my opinion (and everyone else's) has no bearing on wins and losses.  I have no problem with people coming on here and venting, because I do the same.  However, I think as a fan base we all need to take a collective step back and let this thing play out.

The Texans were widely banned for passing on Reggie Bush to take Mario Williams.  Two years later, it looked like the right move.  Tim Couch went before Donovan McNabb.  Wes Welker was an undrafted free agent.  Laurence Maroney and LenDale White were taken above Maurice Jones-Drew.  Jared Allen was taken in the fourth round.  JaMarcus Russell was supposed to be a stud.  I guess my only point is lets see how some of these guys pan out.  I was just as disspaoint if not more so than the rest of you in some of the picks this past weekend.  However, until we give them a few years to see what they can do it doesn't matter what we think.

Hopefully Spiller is as electric as advertised....if so it adds a dimension to the offense that was missing last year, it gives the "O" another weapon teams have to prepare for and helps open up some passing lanes.  Troup and Carrington should help improve the "D."  Rome wasn't built in a day, and this team has awhile to go before it can compete.

As far as the talent we already have on board, I admit it could be better.  The O-line and pass rush are 2 HUGE concerns.  However, Bell was extremely raw last year.  He has the tools, he just does not have as much actual football under his belt as other players and sometimes it shows.  Winston Justice, OT for the Eagles was beaten on so badly in his first career start (4 sacks) that he was completely written off.  The media and fans in Philly were certain he would never be a player.  2 years later and he is probably Philly's best lineman.  No reason to think Bell can't see a similar improvement.

Same goes for players like Maybin.  I will admit I was and still to a certain point am very down on him.  However, hopefully the switch to the 3-4 really accentuates his strength and it shows through in his production.  We have a decent secondary capable of really making plays and our D-line and LB corps seem to be adequate.  Yes we are going to have problems putting pressure on the QB but that was not likely to simply be solved through this draft anyway.

I understand these boards cater to overreaction, which I usually do as well.  Some people seem way too optimistic.  Others see much too despondent.  As much as I would have loved to see the draft unfold differently it didn't.  The only thing to do now is give it time.  Maybe Brian Bulaga turns into Anthony Munoz, maybe he turns Robert Gallery.  Maybe CJ Spiller is Chris Johnson, maybe he is Curtis Enis, etc for all the players in the draft.  There really is no way of knowing until the games start to be played.  Until then, the only thing you can do is be patient.  And Jake Locker could look really good in this offense in 2011 (haha).

Barring a near miraculous season, the Bills likely won't even sniff the playoffs.   As frustrating as the last 10 or so years have been, the one big reason for hope right now is this is a VERY young roster, and given time to develop, that could really pay off a few years down the road.