Can we Buffalo Bills fans be authentically optimistic about this season or is this a two years from now thing?

Answer 1

Depends
Now If:
1) Defense is not spectacular anymore - lost Nate Clements, Spikes, and Baker. Those are some key defensive players. though they've been replaced, those guys aren't proven yet. If they do step up, then the Bill's have a better chance of doing well.
2) JP Losman needs to step up even more - he did well last year but not great. He needs to be good, and Lee Evans will need to be even better.
3) Hope that the new RB - Lynch - will stand out. Their former RB (mcgahee) didn't do too well last year.
4) O-Line improves - they have some nice prospects that really need to do well this year.

So it really depends - this season can go either way. As a fan though, you should be authentically optimistic regardless of team chances.

At the very least, the Bills have a foundation to build upon.

Answer 2

We certainly have cause for optimism. The average age of our team is something like 261/2. Maybe 251/2. We're a very young team. This isn't the Donahoe years where we signed a bunch of veterans and thus have to succeed now or be back to square one. We'll progress, we'll get smarter and more disciplined as opposed to slower and weaker.
Elm's Top Ten reasons for Optimism
10) Ellison is better than Spikes. Not better than he WAS, but better than he IS right now.
9) Poz might make more than 15 tackles within four yards of the LOS.
8)Our defensive line is better, and full of youth. A healthy McCargo, Darwin Walker, and a more experienced Kyle Williams...I like it. A lot.
7) Ko and Donte have a year of playing experience. They both came out early and would've easily been top players in this year's draft(ditto for Youboty.) They should be a lot better.
6) Poz, Ellison, and Crowell have good coverage skills, which will make it more difficult for opposing offenses(like the Jets) to complete those short passes against us in the flat and to TEs.
5) Our pass rush figures to be pretty nasty right away. Who needs a shut-down corner when you can shut down opposing QBs?
4) Our depth is better pretty much across the board, so, outside of a few players, an injury can be dealt with.
3) Marshawn Lynch catches and blocks better than McGahee does despite the latter's experience, and probably runs at least as well. Marshawn Fau- err...Jacks-....John- err...you know who I mean! should offer JP a reliable safety valve in the face of enemy pass rushes.
2) Our revamped offensive line. You win or lose the game in the trenches, and boasting one of the best left sides in all of football ought to give us a huge advantage. The fact that we won't need to keep our TEs back to pass protect should help too.
1) JP to Lee baby! Opposing defenses will get torched all year, and it'll start with Denver! Yeah, I said it!

Answer 3

Marshawn Lynch is an improvement over McGahee, but I still don't think the Bills can keep up with the Patriots and Jets. Losing Nate Clements was also a step in the wrong direction for them. I predict the Bills will be third in their division and finish 8-8.

Answer 4

At the end of the season last year it looked like maybe a 2 year before being back to competeing. Now it looks like they are starting all over again, with the players they lost. I say they are at least 3 year away now. They will be worst than last year. Good news is they will be picking in the top 10 maybe even top 5 in the draft next year.

Answer 5

I am sorry but they are not heading in the right direction, I hate to say it. Here is my reasoning.

In 2003 they spend thier 1st round pick on Willis McGahee. in 2002 they spent a 2nd round pick on Travis Henry, and as a rookie gets 729 yards and goes on to average 1400 yards over the next two seasons? Why not commit to Travis? 3000 yards in his first 3 seaosn and 27 touchdowns?

Now its 2007 and two of your 1st four picks are running backs. So since Henry you guys have already wasted 3 draft picks on running backs. If they would have commited to Henry in 03 and 07 you could have spent your first round picks on something you need.

You have drafted well in past years, Donte Witner and Youboty and Ko Simpson. I think an Offensive lineman should ahve been addressed maybe even another WR to help out Lee Evans.

I like the Bills a lot. So I am not coming up with this to bash them, Thurman Thomas, Kelly and Andre Reed, that was a fun team to watch.

Answer 6

At least a few years. Losman will never be a superbowl type QB and I don't think Lynch will be close to McGahee. The Pats will easily win this division, then the Jets.

Answer 7

No. If you thought McGahee was a low-life(he is), wait until Lynch hits the street with a few million bucks in his pockets.

Answer 8

i agree with casey it is a few years at best they have some of the best afc teams in their league they will be fourth in their position

1patriots 14-2
2jets10-6
3dolphins 8-8
4bills 6-10 at best

Answer 9

its a few years thing