Keys to the Bills Future

by kterr on Feb 2, 2012 12:40 PM EST

Hi Bills fans. I am currently writing a season review and outlook for the Bills on my own sports site. I'm not going to plug it as I hate it when others post their sites all over my favorite blogs but I was wondering if I can get your opinions. One of the aspects I am trying to cover for the article is naming the 4 or 5 key pieces for the future of the Bills franchise. Generally for other teams I am looking for key players under 28 that will be essential to the future of their organization. Though I have also included draft picks for teams such as the Colts for obvious reasons and am willing to include coaches if they are important enough. I am really curious what you as Bills fans think are the 4 or 5 key players/coaches/picks that will be to the most important in determining the future of your franchise. I personally have written down players such as C.J. Spiller and Marcell Dareus as two of the key pieces but other then that I am not really sure what to include. These two may not even be the most important but they were the first young players I thought of. Anyone have any thoughts or ideas? Thanks again and good luck in 2012.

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

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Spiller, Dareus, Jairus Byrd, Andy Levitre, Stevie Johnson (if we keep him) are definite cornerstones of the franchise. Eric Wood is another (if he can stay healthy).

"Give a monkey a typewriter and infinite time, and he’ll eventually release Maybin." - stetzwebs

by DanRoc on Feb 2, 2012 12:50 PM EST reply actions

Agreed

Maybe even Shep if he’s gonna be anchoring the MLB spot for a while.

by TCMiller30 on Feb 2, 2012 12:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

That is my list exactly.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Feb 2, 2012 1:26 PM EST up reply actions

Hopefully, one day I’ll be able sit back and smile when there is a QB on that list.

"You are every bit as good as everyone else, but not one bit better."
-Eldred Lee

by arbon78 on Feb 2, 2012 1:32 PM EST up reply actions

Eric Wood & Andy Levitre: Offensive line

Jairus Byrd: Secondary

Kelvin Sheppard: Linebackers

Dareus Williams: Defensive Line

Aaron Williams: Shutdown Corner

CJ Spiller: Running Back

I would include Stevie Johnson, but I am not confident enough that he will be a Bill next year.

Sorry, more than 4-5 players, but I think that this is the “Core” that the Bills FO will be building around.

by BobDH on Feb 2, 2012 1:17 PM EST reply actions

Can you give us a link to it

I know I enjoy reading quality work.

I’d put Fitzpatrick in there for one reason. If he plays well, the offense will score and the defense will be able to force teams into passing more then they want to. If they have a stronger defense, which they should do in this draft, then that should also help Fitz. I think he is vital to the team being successful next year.

I'd rather go out in a blaze of glory, then slowly fade away in the antiquities of time.

by suteck on Feb 2, 2012 1:52 PM EST reply actions

Click on his username, their is a link to his website on his profile page.

by PineWoodsBillsFan on Feb 2, 2012 1:53 PM EST up reply actions

Yep its listed there

Its a work in progress but I a couple friends and I started it a few months ago and have had fun writing. If you have any suggestions I’d love to here them

by kterr on Feb 2, 2012 4:12 PM EST up reply actions

Good work on this article:

http://redzone2endzone.com/2012/01/29/nfl-draft-2012-senior-bowl-thoughts.aspx

I would like to the Bills to draft Isaiah Pead ! Announcers could quietly sneak in an ‘and’ during game calls,

“ISAIAH PEAD and RUNS for the ENDZONE!”

“ISAIAH PEAD on and then runs by two defenders!”

by PineWoodsBillsFan on Feb 2, 2012 4:57 PM EST up reply actions

on Offense:

Wood, Levitre, and Hairston

on Defense:

Dareus and K. Williams, Sheppard, Byrd, A. Williams

by PineWoodsBillsFan on Feb 2, 2012 1:55 PM EST reply actions

on offense would probaly be wood, levitre, johnson
on defense would probaly be dareus, williams, shep, byrd

by youngbillsfan83 on Feb 2, 2012 3:54 PM EST reply actions

Thanks guys

appreciate the insight!

by kterr on Feb 2, 2012 4:13 PM EST reply actions

To single out one player, I think the development of Aaron Williams is HUGE for this team. Their other CBs are old and/or have contracts expiring soon. I really think that the trio of McGee, Florence and McKelvin won’t be on the roster for the 2013 season. CB is a very important position and Williams is really the lone future at that spot other than a surprising 7th rounder from last year.

The Bills need to get better passing and stopping the pass. It’s really what is holding them back right now and Aaron Williams is the key guy on the roster who could help move their future in a better direction.

If you’re looking more at next season, then the DT duo of Kyle Williams and Dareus is the story. You’ve got PFF’s defensive player of the year for 2010 set to return from injury and the 3rd overall pick of 2011 moving into a scheme that allows them to both line up across from the middle of the OL.

"You mean @TWHITNER. It’s how he prefers to be referenced." - Jon Harrington

by kaisertown on Feb 2, 2012 4:54 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

The 2012 season is entirely about Ryan Fitzpatrick in my mind. the team will live and die next season based on how fitz plays.

as for the future, i like kaiser’s pick of aaron williams.
i think d’norris searcy is quietly an important piece. if he can get better awareness and savvy as a cover guy in the deep half then there’s nothing really holding him back physically from becoming a big time NFL strong safety.
as for draft picks, thats an easy one. the bills will use a premium pick (1st or 2nd probably) on a pass rusher this april. the bills need (NEED) to hit that pick right on the nose. the bills could better afford to whiff on practically any position without it killing them i think, but not that one.
beyond that i would echo a lot of what other people on here said

Its fun to think quarterback, but i think the odds of nix taking one in the first are close to 0%.

by boomsauce on Feb 2, 2012 5:50 PM EST reply actions

Good Start

My opinion, our offensive line has a good base. It takes years for a o line to become dominant. I like the guys we have and the direction they are headed.
Running backs , we are set and we need to use Mcintyre.
Wide receiver, sign Steve Johnson, let Roscoe go he can’t stay on the field. Draft or sign a deep threat.
Quarterback Fitz still needs to show consistency. Bottom line he has enouph starts now that we can’t put up with anymore of this, toughest position in sports, the man has potential lets give him a chance when he doesn’ t have the pressure of scoring 38 points to win a game.
Defence, I like our secondary. They will show how good they are when we complete our front seven.
Bottom line we Need Defensive Ends. We need guys that can rush the passer and still play some run defence, Second is upgrading our linebacker positions. Look this is the difference between us and the Ravens.

by cowlesville on Feb 3, 2012 8:41 PM EST reply actions

Defence, I like our secondary. They will show how good they are when we complete our front seven.

I agree with almost all this, though, i worry that by the time our front seven is “complete” they will all have retired. Seriously though, we need Rogers, and Williams and Searcy to be 10 year starters, because, otherwise- Florence? Junk. McGee? Roscoe Parrish on defense. Wilson? Solid, but not getting younger. Other than those mentioned…. we have one guy. Byrd. So, in all honesty, i worry when it is that all positions will prime at the same time (by the time the front seven is playing how we want, we might have less veteran guys in the secondary)