From: GC.JAB@forsythe.stanford.edu (Tony Bechtold)
Subject: Re: Bruce.
Organization: Stanford University, California, USA
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 05:34:50 GMT

In article <BuA7r5.2no@acsu.buffalo.edu>,
v077mdph@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Snoopy) writes:

>In article <1992Sep8.204253.7882@morrow.stanford.edu>, GC.JAB@forsythe.stanford.
>edu (Tony Bechtold) writes...
>>In article <Bu82p3.BK2@acsu.buffalo.edu>,
>>v077mdph@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Snoopy) writes:

>>>        Also, someone else posted that the Bills would be destined to go to
>>>the Super Bowl if they beat the '49ers by 40-7 like they beat the Rams.
>>>Again, I think differently.
>>>        The '49ers are better, but they simply aren't such an awesome team
>>>that I would measure the Bills prospects by how well they play against the
>>>'49ers.  I expect the Bills to beat the '49ers, but not by that much.

>>>Snoopy

>>Both the Bills and 49ers have explosive offenses.  Hard to say which
>>one is really better, they both posses extreme talent.
>>However, the one major difference between the two teams is defense.
>>The Bills defense stinks!  And the Niners do have defense!  I would
>>think that the Bills would be spending more time playing keep up if
>>anything!  I see the 49ers winning, but not by much!

>        The Bills have a better offense.  Their quarterbacks are better, their
>receivers not as good, but they have a better running game.  Their defense is
>good.  To think it sucks, you must actually LISTEN to the announcers!
>
>Snoopy

I'll agree with you on the better running game.  As for the better
quarterback, I won't elvauate that position until after this season,
when whoever the 49ers real starter gets some significant playing
time unde his belt.  Kelly is good, but he doesn't seem to handle
pressure situations all that well IMO.
On the whole, the Bills had the number 1 offense in the NFL last
season, the 49ers were ranked number 3.  And there was a relatively
small margin of 394 yards seperating the two.  Now take into
consideration that the 49ers had no running game, Montana was out
for the season, Brent Jones sat out a good part of the season, and a
few other wrenches thrown into the gears, gaining 5858 yards in
offense wasn't too shabby!  And this year?  Jones is back, the QB
position is more settled then last year, and they do have a much
more improved running game.  Do the Bills have a better offense??

Last time I checked, the Bills defense was ranked 27th last year
in defense. They gave up 5458 yards to the opposing opposition.
The 49ers, recovering from the shocking sudden loss of Lott, two
starting CB's going down before the season really even got under
way, Haley playing hurt most of the season, Fagan missing the last 5
or so games, the Niner defense was ranked sixth, giving up 4554 in
total yards.  They have only improved their defense this year.
From the looks of things, the Bills defense hasn't had any
improvments at all. If anything, the are worse off.
I'm not trying to deny the Bills credit on being a good team.
Everybody knows that they are.  But as long as the Bills defense
is subject, they aren't going to be able to cut it when matched up
against well balanced teams such as the Eagles, 49ers, Redskins,
Oilers, to name a few. The only reason why the Bills/Giants Super
Bowl was close was because of the fact that New York didn't have
as powerful an offense as Buffalo. They relied on their defense to
keep them in it.  And that it did!

I'm sure you already know this, but I will say it anyways.
Championship teams are built on consistent defense.  Defense is
what often wins games for you.  Until the Bills beef up on "D", they
are going to have an awfully hard time winning late in post season
play.

                                                   Tony
                                                GO 49ERS!!!