I think the Bills will be lucky to win 3 games. Jauron lost the team. He sounded defeated during his last press conference. They could not have looked more pathetic last game.

I get angry when I hear “it’s only preseason.” Yeah, if 53 yards passing in preseason sits well with you, then I have a bridge to sell you.

Let me be clear. A win or loss does not matter in preseason. But production does. If you look completely flat, well that is a sign of things to come.

I’ve noticed that in sports, everyone wants to point the finger one way. In football, probably more than any other sport, problems can be systemic.

Here is my rank of causes of the Bills trouble. All feed into eachother:
1) OL – This unit was not good last year. They lose 2 vets and bring in 2 rooks, plus shuffle the entire deck. Pass protection is spotty and run blocking is almost nonexistent. They have been bullied all over the field this pre-season. Constantly getting mauled and pushed back. The offensive woes start here.
2) DL – This unit does not get pressure at all. Which then highlights weaknesses with the LBs.
3) QB – Trent plays scared. He can’t be scared of making mistakes. You can’t dink and dunk all day. But, the OL doesn’t help one bit.
4) LBs – Poz is overrated. Mitchell is meh. Ellison isn’t good. Front 7 are very weak.
5) SS and FS – Whitner is below average. Not worth a 1st round pick. Scott is average.
6) TE – Maybe, just maybe Shawn Nelson will become a threat they haven’t had in ages.

Combine the above with the fact that Dick Jauron has only one winning season under his belt:
Bears 1999: 6-10
Bears 2000: 5-11
Bears 2001: 13-3
Bears 2002: 4-12
Bears 2003: 7-9
Lions 2005: 1-4
Bills 2006: 7-9
Bills 2007: 7-9
Bills 2008: 7-9
Total: 57-76 (.429)

Then combine that with a defense that doesn’t fit the personnel. And then mix in some no huddle stupidity. And what you’ve got is… Puke.

Our strong points are limited by the weak points above:
- The WRs are only as good as the QB getting them the ball.
- The RBs are only as good as the blocking.
- The CBs are only as good as the pass rush and the measly LBs.

Throw my lunch up and puke!

Ok to the uninformed, that’s me mocking the Bills’ Shout song, which is played after every score. I’ve had to sing my version for almost 10 years. It’s therapeutic.

And I think I’ll be singing it a lot more this year.

I wrote a post about the Bills’ futility in February. Now free agency has passed, the draft has passed, and 3 preseason games has passed, I think the Bills have dug themselves deeper. Their performance Saturday against the Packers was utterly embarrassing.

To sum up why I don’t expect even as good as another 7-9 season:

• The defensive unit is almost entirely the same, except one CB. I like McKelvin, but he’s not that much better than Greer.
• Paul Pozluszny is overrated. And it doesn’t look like he’s improved much–based on the 3 PS games.
• Aaron Schobel was never that good. I used to joke and call him “garbage time” because of his signature sacks at the point in games when it didn’t really matter. Now, he doesn’t even get good pressure or even any garbage time sacks.
• The defensive scheme is grossly too conservative (bend but don’t break).
• Everyone on the offensive line is playing a new position this year. And 2 veterans were replaced by rookies.
• The two rookies on the OL look, well like rookies in their first 2 PS games. I won’t call them out like I did Poz and Schobel yet. But development time is surely going to hurt this season.
• This no-huddle that they are running is an absolute joke. It seems that it takes them just as long to get off a play. So much for catching the defense off guard. Sure it helps prevent defensive substitution, but what does it matter when the offense is so lack-luster to begin with. It’s like a huddle without the actual huddle.
• Trent Edwards (this hurts me to say it because I really like him and want him to succeed) plays scared. Trent, you can’t check down to 2 yard passes every time. 9 for 9 for 9 yards is not good. Ok that was an exaggeration, but not too much of one.
• Aaron Maybin is a question mark. He needs to really step up to make a difference. From what I hear, he’ll be a situational pass rusher. That’s not good enough, in my opinion–for this season anyway.
• Jauron has only coached one winning season his entire career. It’s pretty clear why.
• Package all of the above up, then add in Terrell Owens, and what I think you’ll have is a disaster.

So there you have it. I predict 3 wins from the Bills this year.