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1.  That's a lot of work. ProFootballReference.com is spotty about listing starters.


 

 

2.  Looking at their records after those seasons does not bode well. The Oilers had three more losing seasons before going 9-7. The Browns managed one 9-7 season in 2001 before returning to their losing ways. The Bills also managed but one winning (9-7) season in the next four years.


 

3.  I thought it was a good draft. No one is threatening the Pro Bowl so far, although Bortles and Hurns have flashed at times. Bortles is playing because he's far better than Henne, but that's division by zero. Lee and Robinson have been just guys so far. Linder and Bowanko would not start for most teams (if any) but are playing OK. Johnson looked good Sunday in his first playing time, although he didn't look like much in preseason.

 

 

4.You might also want to bring up the name 'Herschel Walker.' It's a shame Caldwell couldn't trade MJD for a boatload of high draft picks.


 

 

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1.  I discovered that when I was researching.  Generally they seemed okay, but there were some (not many but more than you'd like to be sure) instances that, when there was no defined starter at QB (for instance), they wouldn't list anyone there.  That said, they are the most convenient and generally the most reliable source out there.  Do you know of any better sources to identify starters for a team in a given season?

 

2.  I think there is a possible distinction to be made between us and those three teams.  None of those teams found their long term answer at QB.  Houston didn't get their QB until Warren Moon joined the team circa 1986.  The best Cleveland could muster during that time was Kelly Holcomb.  Buffalo eventually traded for Drew Bledsoe, but he did not last long there as he was already in his 30s, IIRC, when the Bills traded for him.  I know it's early, but if I had to guess right now, I'd say Jacksonville has the long term answer at QB with Bortles.

 

3.You are right that nobody in our draft class will make the Pro Bowl this year, but I can see that designation to come in the future.  The plan was to sit Bortles for most if not all of this year, and you are right in the fact he is playing now is as much of an indictment of Henne as it is an endorsement of Bortles.  But in his limited time, he has played decently.  He hasn't been 1983 Marino rookie year good, but he has shown some clear signs of long term potential success.  He just needs to get through the rookie year lumps.  I think all three of the receivers have flashed big play potential.  If you can anticipate growth from rookie season to second season like Cecil Shorts, then I can anticipate all three to be at least good receivers by this stage next year, and if that's the case, the passing game -assuming decent blocking by the OL- will win match ups in 3-4 WR sets.  I think that ability will easily transcend ANY group of receivers we've had since Jimmy Smith left.  The long term potential of Linder and Bowanko is more of a question, admittedly, but at least as time goes on, the unit won't be overwhelmed with inexperience. 

 

4.  Believe me, I am cognizant of the impact of the Herschel Walker trade on the ascent of Dallas into champions.  But those guys were on the roster before the trade, which happened midway through the 1989 season (25 years ago).  My point is that despite the bad records Dallas had in 1988 and 1989, there were still players on the roster that could be a part of a more successful team, and I can see that possibility here.  Maybe not team of the decade type of success that that Dallas team had, but certainly something we can be proud of. 

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