OK. Here it is point by point:
Oremland- "Middle linebacker London Fletcher merely takes over for Sam Cowart." As has already been mentioned, Cowart missed the last twenty games that he was under contract to the Bills. He started the first game last season and went down like on his second play. A healthy Cowart may be a better player than a healthy Fletcher, but that's not a fair comparison. Fletcher is far better than Spoon, the man he replaces. Moreover he is a far better value than the now overpaid Cowart.
O- "Offensive tackle Trey Teague is an overrated but necessary addition." I don't think Buffalo fans are overrating Teague. We know he was merely adequate for Denver. Our hope is that he was still hampered last year from a severe injury the previous year, and therefore has some modest upside. Even a merely adequate left tackle is a major upgrade from the abysmal play Buffalo got out of Fina when he could actually make it out onto the field, or his even worse backups. We're actually counting on a number of factors to make the line significantly better than last year. Williams is certainly one of those. Another is Ostroski's return to health after being injured most of last season. Another is the addition of Marcus Price, who provides higher quality depth at tackle than Buffalo had last year. Jennings will be a major upgrade from Conaty, who had to play with a badly dislocated shoulder virtually the whoe season. Buffalo's Oline may be a year or so away from remarkable, but in 2001 it was a disaster of historic proportions.
O- "Hollis is also coming off a weak season in which he went 8-11 from under 40 yards and hit nothing from further than 48." We know Hollis did not exactly set the league on fire. We understand he was dealing with some nagging injury problems and an ongoing feud with Coughlin. Otherwise he would not have been available. We're hopeful he can turn things around.
O- "Did you know that Bledsoe's career passer rating (75.9) is actually ten points lower than that of the man he replaces, Rob Johnson (85.7)?" Buffalo fans are well aware that Bledsoe has struggled for several seasons. Some of the reasons are connected with the team situation. The Patsies struggled with their running game, the Oline became degraded, the team had a succession of offensive coordinators. Bledsoe probably contributed to his problems. He allowed his attitude to go down hill and his play followed. The raging debate is whether he can turn things around with his new team. Oremland is a naysayer, along with most fin fans. Most Buffalo fans are hopeful. The only thing that can be said to this point is that Bledsoe made a strong positive impression on the Bills during their minicamps. His arm is in good shape, he showed good accuracy, and unlike Rob Johnson showed outstanding leadership. giving directions and helping the players around him. The naysayers will be right in saying that proves nothing. Ultimately, we won't know anything until September. Then Belichek may look like a genius or Tom Donahoe will, one only one of them can. The other will look like a fool.
O- "Furthermore, all the hype surrounding Bledsoe seems to have made people forget that Buffalo is still relying on Travis Henry and Shawn Bryson to carry the ball." Does anyone remember that apart from his rookie season, Antowain Smith could do anything in a Bills uniform? Then last year his running was a factor in The Patsie's Super Bowl run. Did he suddenly remember how to run? Hardly. Successful running is a team effort. The same offensive line that couldn't protect a QB couldn't open up holes for a running back either. The offensive coordinator was in over his head. Travis Henry was a tremendously productive running back for the Tennessee Volunteers, and did nothing last year that proves he can't be a very productive pro. In addition, the Bills have created a lot of competition at running back.
O- "The Bills have signed three defensive players this offseason, but they lost five to retirement and free agency, including team leaders Phil Hansen, an 11-year starter, and previously-mentioned Cowart." The Bills lost Cowart who played maybe two downs. They lost Phil Hansen who was a solid player for years, but had clearly lost a step last year. They lost Keion Carpenter, a journeyman free safety whom they had signed as an undrafted rookie, and chose not to offer a contract. In other words, they did not think he was worth trying to keep around. They lost Raion Hill, who started the season at strong safety, but lost his position to free agent pickup Peirson Prioleau. They lost Jay Foreman in the trade that brought kick returner Charlie Rogers to the team.
They added Billy Jenkins to play strong safety. His forte is run support which is what Buffalo's defense will stress out of the SS spot. They added Eddie Robinson who will in effect be an extra onfield position coach. They added London Fletcher at MLB. Is he as good as Sam Cowart? It's hard to make a comparison since Sam played so little. Is he better than Brandon Spoon? You'd better believe it. I'm not even sure who the third addition is that Oremland refers to unless he's speaking of Prioleau who was a late season pickup. The main improvement will need to come from younger players getting better; Ron Edwards, Tyrone Robertson. Nate Clements (who's already pretty good), Erik Flowers (who has been a major disappointment thus far). Do young players get better? Absolutely! Is there any guarrantee that will be enough? Absolutely not. There is also hope that players returning from injury will be a factor: Tony Driver (a young safety who has some potential) and Shawn Price (a journeyman DT who hasn't been fully healthy ever as a pro, but had surgery in the offseason that takes care of an injury from his college days). Then there are the rookies. Bannan, Denny and Wire will all get some playing time, but there is no way to tell how much or how little impact they will have.
Buffalo probably has not made enough offseason additions to win the division, but Oremland's assertions that they are bandaids is only partly correct. Tom Donahoe is building the team for a long run. Jenkins is probably a bandaid, but Coy Wire may be ready to start in 2003 and could be a big time player. He has all the tools but lacks experience at safety. Teague is probably a bandaid in that he will probably not be starting in two years. Williams probably moves to the left side eventually and the Bills will either need to find a player from their roster to develop or pick up someone from free agency. Bledsoe is a bandaid only if he flops. If he can jump start his career, he should be good for another five years. Fletcher is not a bandaid. He's a long term starter. Robinson is good for maybe three years but was brought in as much to teach the younger players as to fill a position himself.
Sometimes bandaids are necessary and Tom Donahoe has certainly used some for the Bills, but in his drafting he is looking long term. As the Bills get one more year removed form salary cap hell, they will look more and more for long term solutions.
