atlbillsfan1975

I think there are many factors for Woods decline. Mostly as you guys have pointed out about middle of the field and also being a secondary option that Thad has been unable to find. I also wonder if Thad having time in practice with Graham and Goodwin has anything to do with their seemingly more involvement? Woods is going to be very very good. Honestly the past 3 games watching Graham and Goodwin make some catches has also been nice to witness. Lets hope we have a very good young core of WR's and we have a QB(EJ) that will make them all happy with opportunities.

no arguement there. I believe why people are excited about this D is because of some of the young guys on it, as well as the aggressive style Pettine uses at times. Also factor in the laid back base D we watched last year, this scheme is much more exciting. As others have said once the O fully pulls it's weight i think we will see much better W-L. Plus a few more pieces are needed on both sides of the ball. I also may say that by next year some of those pieces may be ready to be real starters- like a Robey who shows flashes of being good, but then shows why he is a rook.

I was at th egame yesterday and i will say this for the first quarter and about 10 mins into the second quarter the D was everywhere shutting down Brees and Co. The last 5 mins of the second quarter sealed the Bills fate. The o need to get one drive and run the clock down and get a field goal at least. When this was not accomplished the Saints went right after the Bills. It appears due to injuries the Bills are thin in certain areas. As the season is progressing we are seeing what the Bills need to address in the draft and FA. Another stud corner, OG, DT, and LB(s). Robery looks great for depth. McKelvin will be an awesome slot corner. And Gilmore with another good Corner will make this D awesome. Kiko just keeps looking better and better. The guy is everywhere. This D is going to be great. I think the Bills have the right guy in Pettine with the makings of the right talent.

ha! True. I think that the RGIII injury has every team on high alert about rushing a player and specifically a QB back. When EJ is ready we will see him back in there. Lets hope EJ has watched how Thad has protected himself and learned to slide. After the big hit yesterday you can tell Marrone told Thad 'we can not lose you'. OR his ribs told him to get the heck down! Ha

Yep, i have watched four of their games entirely and most of a fith game. the scary thing about them is they have a decent D this year. last year Brees was trying to do way to much to compensate for the horrendous D. this year brees feels much more comfortable that he does not have to score every drive. The Falcons game was one Atl should of had if they had any running game. The Dolphins where playing the Saints close till Tannehill gave the ball away a few times. This game could be close or it could be a blow out. It will depend on the Bills not turning the ball over. You can not give Brees a short field , he loves to score quick right after a turnover and demoralize a team even more.

Who cares really? I mean Buddy is still an employee of the Bills and Whaley is too... Lets hope these guys work well together for another draft or two. This team would be something with at least one more draft like this past one. Two more? Wow. I do believe Whaley had a little more say in this past draft then any before.

Yep, got to agree, the Browns thus far got the better end of the deal. Richardson appears the same ole guy just in a Colts uni now.

I also remember from that 2009 game that the Bills had the ball right before half and where moving it up near midfield. Roscoe's inability to get lined up right cost the Bills a time out and ultimatel a chance at evening the game up for halftime.

man, i played football through college. Not saying it makes me an expert, but i understand football a lot. It is clear to me that Hackett as taken a very very conseravtive approach. That said there are many plays of the conservative type which can be run out of similar packages and personel. As i have said i hope i am wrong about Hackett and he improves greatly. The fact is right now he is one of the main reasons this team does not have a few more wins. Also i remember and so do you guys that the few times EJ looked his best was when EJ was calling his own plays, the headset went down. Just saying.

Yep. You have got to block his lanes. Dareus and Williams need to be moving thos guards around and causing Brees to constantly have to look down and then back up.

I will be at the game with 3 buddies who are all Saints Fans. Obviously i want a win. Can it happen, sure. The saints have been known to lay an egg once a year, even when good. Will it be this weekend? i do not think so. Coming off the defeat to the Patsies will make Peyton and Brees hungry for a win. I am torn on wanting a blow out so i can just get over it and have fun with my buddies. I hear the experience in the Superdome is awesome for a Saints game. I really do not want to lose by a last second field goal and have my heart torn out. No one needs to see a grown man cry in public!!!

It was literally the same run bud. Same formation and everything. I watched it. No different set, or different way of getting Summers the ball. It is inept to do the same play twice in a row!!!! Choice was available. You guys can watch with rose colored glasses. trust me i am not a pessimist. I call it like i see it. I have gotten mad at other posters for being negative. But Hackett is just not very good at calling plays. understanding the flow of the game right now. i am sure he can improve, if not he will not be here next year. No big. None of you are changing my mind on what i have seen over the first 7 weeks. I would love to see the stat on how many times a CJ Spiller hand off has started a game or the second half.

I think it is more about certain situations where Hackett has displayed his ineptness. Like the last drive before the half in Miami. Or the Frank Summers FB run that gets like 30 yds and they line right back up and try to run it again. It was a promising drive that ended up getting no points. IIRC. I am sorry, Hackett is in over his head. Can he get better, sure. But this is the NFL, nepotism has killed many coaches. Hackett better get more creative and adjust as the year goes along or Marrone will need to fire him. The other thing i would like to point out is that Hacketts limited plays are going to become more and more easy to diagnose by opposing DC. The second half of the season will be very telling. IF Hackett does not adjust this O will be one of the worse in the NFL . Yes, everyone will point to rookie this and back up that. Good coaches find ways to disguise weakness'. I would also contend that the SJ out/hurt argument is not a good one. Woods has every bit as much talent right now as SJ does. Thad is a Duke grad. EJ carries himself as very intelligent and confident. At some point the CJ run to start most drives has got to go. it almost always has the Bills looking at a 2nd and 9.

Kind of nice to see a 'National' guy giving the Bills a little respect. King may also see the potential on this team, and want to be one of the first to say he saw it. IF the Bills can finish 8-8 or better, watch for a lot of love in the offseason. The Bills will be the 'darkhorse' or 'team on the rise' for next season. Lets just hope Marrone keeps his guys focused and ready to play against N.O. If not this game will get ugly, and the Bills will have a blow out on their resume.

This makes me think of the song 'Unanswered Prayers'. Boy how happy are we that Clabo 'used' the Bills to get a better deal with the Falcons??

Gragg actually got on the field some. i would rather see what Gragg has then go after Davis. IF Gragg can show signs he can play then let him develope while Chandler provides the 'go to' TE for now.

Listen, i get what you are saying. but that is exactly when you have to have creative play calling. he ran Frank Summers yesterday for a nice gain. Then he lined right back up and called the exact same play out of the same formation. That is dumb. No other way to put it. You can stick up for Hackett all you want, but he has been terrible so far. I mean i have seen more creativity out of high school offenses. Hackett is in over his head and has shown it. The excuse of back up players is not a good one.

I believe it was said later it was Wilson???

Thank you, I was too lazy to use the world wide web.

Hackett calls that on 3rd and 9 after CJ run to the left on first down for one yard and then CJ/Freddie run or short pass on second gets nothing.

I am one of those not happy with yesterdays win. Look we have seen this team win games with smoke and mirrors in the past under Chan and Jauron. The reason I am upset is because I feel like the OCord is killing this team. Hackett is bad, there is no other way to put it. IF Hackett had any semblance on creativity this team could be 7-0. That is what I am angry about. The play calling stinks, and the more teams get to see Hackett's tendencies the less effective it will be. I can already see another 6-10 year starring at us. That is why I am angry. The talent is on this team. If Hackett was as good as Pettine this team would be 5-2 at least. Hackett needs to go by the end of the year if he keeps p this same putrid lake of innovative play calling. Sorry this is the NFL, no time for you to learn on the job. Give me a Marty Morningwhig and this team is a lot easier to watch.

Guys, seriously??? Why??? EJ is the starter. Thad looks to be a capable back up. Let us be happy with that. Like someone else stated, unless Thad throws for 300 yds pr game and 3 t.d. with little to no INTS, there is no reason to discuss this. So far Thad has played about the same as EJ did. Thad has had more time in the NFL and thus understands the speed a little better. EJ has a very high ceiling like Sears Tower, Thad has the ceiling of the tallest building in downtown Buffalo.

The Bills could be 7-0 if the play calling was better. IF Hackett could get any creativity about him this O would be as good or better then the D is. Stats are great. But watching the game and play calls like Frank Summers two times in a row up the middle show Hackett's lack of creativity. It was like he watched that play work once so he went right back to it. Make no mistake as this season goes on and team get more film of Hackett's tendencies this O will look worse and worse. I pray that Hackett and Marrone figure it out. The talent and will appears on this team, now the coaching needs to step up on the O side.

I will say this, Hackett is horrible, I am sorry but calling the same crappy CJ run play again and again to start a drive and getting nothing from it is inexcusable. Hackett has shown little to no game management or feel for the game. He is in over his head. I said it in the game thread and i say it here. And as long as Marrone allows Hackett to call the game Marrone is as much to blame. This is the NFL a Cord should not develop!!!! Hackett should have proven he belonged here and that is why he is the Bills OC. Miami is not a great team. Tanneyhill is not a good QB. The Bills would have lost that game if Tanneyhill was good. They did lose that same game against Brady and Dalton. I am not happy at all with this staff- stay consistent. They go for it last week against Cincy and show an aggressive style. This week they get a turnover late in the game, and are moving the ball. Go for the TD! Seal the game. There are other examples from this game where Hackett had no idea how to work the clock. D coaches are great and doing the best they can with the talent they have. Pettine is showing over and over that he learned well from Rex.

Hackett is bad. Been saying it since week one and he has done nothing to improve his play calling.