I feel confident in saying the Bills WILL be improved in 2011. However, when you’re coming off a 4 win season, the bar is set pretty low. All us fans are hungry for a playoff run, but I think that’s at least another year away. Considering their 6 games against the AFC East, and 4 against the NFC East, the Bills have a brutal schedule ahead of them. (2nd toughest in the league) So the question is, what COULD they do other than a playoff birth, to show progress? Here are ten things that would be nice to see:
10) Double-digit Sacks for Merriman: He might not ever be “lights-out” again, but it would be great to see someone on the Bills defense that teams have to game plan for.
9) One “big play” from Aaron Maybin: Assuming he makes the roster, it would be nice to see something, ANYTHING, from the former 1st round draft pick to make fans believe he may not be a complete bust after all.
8) Less Than 10 Players Placed on IR: The past few seasons the Bills have resembled a beleaguered army platoon more than a football team. Injuries have decimated the roster and it’s tough to develop young talent when it’s standing around in street clothes.
7) A Legit Pro-Bowler Who Isn’t Named Brian Moorman: It would be nice to see a player emerge and gain national recognition other than our punter. Moorman has been the best player on the team for too long. Hopefully Steve Johnson can ride last year’s momentum and avoid God’s wrath, to stardom.
6) .500 Record Against Division Opponents: Can’t have playoff aspirations until you can prove you have what it takes to hang with your division rivals. Splitting the season series would be a step in the right direction.
5) Finish in the Top 20 Against the Run: Can’t be a playoff team when you let up 200 yards/game on the ground. Ideally, the additions of Merriman, Barnett, and Dareus, combined with the continued development of Kyle Williams and Alex Carrington, would catapult the Bills’ rush-D to medicore status.
4) A Dramatic Come From Behind Win: The past two seasons has featured many a game where the Bills “hang tough” from ¾ of the game, only to let things get out of hand in the final 15 minutes. It would be uplifting to see the youth rise up and pull victory from the clutches of defeat in the final seconds. Much of the team’s development rests on learning how to win the close ones.
3) Win in Toronto: I loather the Toronto series. Bills fans hate it, Canadians hate it, and opposing teams love it. I suppose I understand the financial benefits of the deal, though I find it hard to believe the team makes more money off 30,000 people in the Rogers Centre than they do with 70,000 at the Ralph. Either way, the only thing more embarrassing than exporting a home game to Toronto, is going 0-5 in the series. We’re at 0-3, two years left to get a win and the Redskins are as beatable as anyone on the schedule this year.
2) C.J. Spiller Puts up 500/500: I don’t think anyone expects CJ Spiller to become an all-purpose back in his sophomore season, but 500 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving would be a nice year for the 2010 first round draft pick.
1) Beat. The. Pats. : The Bills could go 1-15 this year, but if that one win is against New England, I’ll celebrate like we clinched a playoff birth. Really, fifteen straight loses? Enough already.
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