State of The Herd: What to Look Forward to As Buffalo Bills Fans

At 3-5, the post-season doesn't look promising for the Buffalo Bills. We've heard that before; way to often.

Let's evaluate what's in store for Buffalo this season first, then look ahead to 2010. 

On the slate

The Bills have road contests against AFC South teams in consecutive weeks following their bye, as they'll travel to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans. Neither the Titans or Jaguars currently have a better record than Buffalo.

But headed into this week's game, you'd think the Titans would be favorites and they are; six point favorites to be exact.

Since Vince Young replaced Kerry Collins behind center, Tennessee has looked like the team we expected all year. They haven't won convincingly, but at 0-6, they'll take wins anyway they can get them.

Buffalo is getting healthier, as most teams do during their bye week. Trent Edwards has been named (for better or worse) the starter this week and guys like Donte Whitner, Bryan Scott, and Johnathon Scott look like they'll be plugged in for their first action in some time. 

The news of Terrell Owens possibly sitting out this game with a hip strain has some worried; what for?

The Bills need drastic changes offensively. Yes, I'm trying to beat that into your brain. Though the star-factor that Owens has brought to Buffalo has kept the Bills' from drowning in the sea of irrelevancy, he hasn't worked in the simplistic system.

The emphasis being, he hasn't fit in the offensive game-plan. He's still got the speed and skill-set to be a top-flight receiver in this league regardless of what you've heard from the "experts"; guys that have personnel problems with the polarized athlete.

I'm all for Owens playing every game as a Bill, but maybe without him in the lineup, adjustments will be forced on the Bills coaching staff. They need a swift kick in the rear for sure.

They'll no longer be able to use the conventional three receiver look on third down with Evans and Owens split out wide and Josh Reed in the slot. There's a better chance they'll use trip formations, four and five wide-out sets, and utilize that simple looking yet extremely effective thing called motion. Remember, James Hardy has been activated for Sunday, and the Bills have a contingent of seven wide-outs on their roster.

It seems too easy of a fix to work, but if the offense throws some complex formations and play-calls at a struggling Tennessee defense it could turn to another odd Bills road win.

People see Chris Johnson against the Bills defense and give the immediate edge to the Titans.

I'm not totally buying it. When the Bills defense has been on the field a ridiculous amount of time, they've given up yards as any defense would. But overall, Perry Fewell's unit is solid, plays hard, and we know what they can do in the turnover department.

Looking past Tennessee, they have winnable games against Jacksonville and the Miami Dolphins.

When I say winnable, I mean on paper. All "winnable" means is the Bills should compete in the game. We're well aware of what they've done in some "winnable" games recently.

If Buffalo wins all three games, then we'll talk.

By reading you this, you can probably tell, I'm not ready to call the season over quite yet though Buffalo is on the cliff ready to be pushed off. Call me insane, that's fine, because there's a good possibility the Bills have driven me crazy and I haven't even realized it. 

The offensive changes most likely won't happen. But the need for change is so clear, I can't envision only minimal adjustments being made. Who knows though, the Bills coaching staff never ceases to amaze me in their stupidity.

Ahead in 2010

Talk these days surrounding Buffalo has been more focused on next season, something I was hoping would happen after the Bills were knocked out of the playoffs in January, not in Week 10.

The hottest topic is the Mike Vick saga. Ok, it's not exactly a saga yet and Vick's lack of playing time and mediocre production has faded his story into the background this NFL season.

I'm just calling it a saga beforehand because regardless if Vick has enough skill to play the quarterback position anymore or not, the media will jump on him the moment he's released by the Eagles.

That should coincide with the Eagles being eliminated from the playoffs or from playoff contention this year.

Vick could work in Buffalo, give him a full off-season to train, study playbooks, and maybe he'll have something; that's one school of thought.

However, the sentiment behind Vick to Buffalo has been a mixed bag thus far.

In reality it comes down to the offense system in place. Most likely, there's going to be a total wipe of the Bills' coaching staff this off season which leads to a brand spankin' new system.

A system that utilizes all wide-receivers, works the middle of the field with the tight end, and calls for frequent throws deep to keep the defense on it's toes, while pouding the rock with the run.

That system sits atop my Christmas list.

It's a system I'm calling for now, but for it to be implemented next season, at it's earliest, is more realistic.

Could Vick, or many other quarterbacks flourish in a new system that resembles Green Bay, New England, or Philadelphia?  Certainly.

The only thing that's been keeping me from launching a full-fledged campaign that's behind Vick in a Bills helmet next season, is the simple fact that I don't think it'll happen.

Russ Brandon's background is in marketing and he knows his football too. The thousands of fans that rushed to Bills stores to buy Terrell Owens jerseys are now feeling dooped because the Owens acquisition has lead to a 3-5 record.

The fans won't fall for the "bring-an-old-star-to-town" again, especially in consectutive seasons.  Although I've said Vick could work in Buffalo, his stock isn't near where it was, say, four years ago.

The Bills know they'll need a franchise guy, unless Trent Edwards makes a complete 180 in the season's last half. Vick, at this point, just isn't a sure thing and the Bills front office knows they can't take another huge risk with a overly-frustrated fan-base.

Heck, I don't want to be embarrassed as a fan again either.

Coaching changes

Unless the Bills go 8-0, 7-1, or 6-2 down the home stretch, they aren't making the playoffs, which will lead to the firing of Dick Jauron.

Where to next?

There's plenty of accomplished coaches on the market, but it's tough to say right now which, if any, of the high profile guys will want to make Buffalo their home.

Whoever it is, must bring a positive, aggressive, and most importantly, a winning attitude to the Buffalo Bills organization.

The state of irrelevence has to cease with this new guy. He's got to demand the addition of good players in free agency, must have a big say in the draft, and it's imperative that he works the players hard in practice and during games.

Players now love Jauron because he's weak and doesn't push the players throughout the week. When you're the Indianapolis Colts that's fine, not when you're struggling to reach the .500 mark.

An ingenious offensive mind is the final must in the hire.

Personnel changes

The 2010 off-season will be a tough one when evaluating player's spots on the roster. Trent Edwards should be, in worst case scenario, kept as a back-up. He's established rapport with many players and he's an intelligent guy, whether you like him or not.

I'm not giddy about drafting a future franchise QB in the draft, however. It has nothing to do with my liking of Edwards either. There's no one that gives me that "wow" factor this year. After Jake Locker, who I think could be a stud on the right team, there's no player that sticks out to me. Tebow's name has been heard on the local sports radio airwaves, but intangibles can only get you so far.

Is he really going to run continual quarterback draws up the middle in the NFL? I don't think so.

We'll need to use the Bill Parcells approach and build the team from the offensive line up. Any elite tackle prospect should be on top of the Bills "big board". Tackles are the only draft picks I believe deserve those mega-contracts top draft picks get anyway.

Look for a linebacker in the second/third round area and a quarterback in the later rounds.

Guys like Lee Evans, Fred Jackson, and Terrence McGee have been signed to long term deals within the past calendar year, which is a great sign for the future. The Bills have a core of talent and they must find contributors and role players throughout the draft and free-agency.

Guys who I'm not sure about

Though it's not entirely his fault, the future for Marshawn Lynch is interesting. Yes, I said it; his line, for the most part, has failed him in his two-plus years in Buffalo. With Fred Jackson behind him, a more than capable runner, it'll be intriguing to see what One Bills Drive does with their hard-nosed feature back.

He should be kept as the cornerstone for the future for many reasons. He's got youth on his side, has accumulated limited carries for a starting tailback, and he's got extreme willingness to stay on his feet. But if there's another off the field slip up, don't be shocked to see Lynch on another team in the near future.

Terrell Owens is the most tricky one to figure out. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus recently blamed the Bills coaching staff, offensive line, and quarterback play for Owens sub-par season. It's funny because many believe he went off solely to protect his client, but he couldn't be anymore correct.

Sure Owens has dropped his fair share of passes, but six more meaningless catches, (outside of his drop against the Saints) wouldn't have catapulted him into his usual Pro-Bowl status anyway.

At this point, I'm not sure what team will want him at season's end. He's only under contract with Buffalo for one year, but the Bills may just want to keep him around. One things for sure, he's a veteran you want hanging around your young receivers.

Still, with him, you never know.

There's a lot on your mind if your a member of Bills faithful these days and yes, you should still remain faithful, as tough as that'll be.

Bills/Titans 1:00 Sunday. Seen and Herd to follow