San Jose Bills Fan

So does the stadium not look white to anyone else?

He DID air it out. You'll notice on the TD that he threw it with LESS trajectory.

Yep. The deep incomplete just now floated too.

I have no doubts that the Bills D can be successful today. The question is whether the offense can be successful.

If I'm the Bills GM and I have any doubts about EJ becoming a franchise QB, I'm drafting another QB in this ridiculously QB rich draft. For one thing one has to consider the fact that this is a historically rich QB draft which means you have to view the situation in a historical context. Secondly you've had numerous situations with young QBs surrounded with good talent (like Ponder with Peterson, Simpson, Harvin, Rudolph or Gabbert with Blackmon, Shorts, Jones-Drew, Marcedes Lewis) where the weapons were meaningless because the QB simply couldn't perform. IMO, you invest in QB until YOU KNOW you have it right. Then you get the other pieces. I realize that there are numerous ways to build a team but I believe that the QB has to be the first ESTABLISHED piece. I was his biggest advocate here before the draft but the fact remains that EJ is not established.

I'm not disagreeing with you nor am I judging EJ one way or another. I'm just saying that the likelihood of the Bills spending a high draft pick on a QB this coming April (even though this is a historically rich QB draft) is very remote. I've actually always advocated doubling up on QBs when given the opportunity. If EJ is truly a great prospect he will NOT suffer from additional competition but rather, the cream will rise to the top. To be more clear, I'd have zero problems if the Bills drafted one of the half-dozen or so QBs who look like sure first rounders BUT I think it's highly unlikely that they do so.

However you can name the instances of NFL team's drafting a promising young quarterback AFTER already drafting a promising young quarterback on one hand. There was the Steve Walsh-Troy Aikman occurrence. Stretching it you could say RG3-Kirk Cousins. More often it's a situation where teams have passed on one of the top draftable QBs in favor of giving the first guy ample time to develop/be evaluated as in the situation of Blaine Gabbert.

If you're referring to this: http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-2/Bills-launch-analytics-department-with-hire-of-Lyons/3bf96f90-a18a-4845-aaae-2d20cc83d72b you're wrong: “Mike will be leading the department and he will work with different project teams along the way,” said Brandon. “We have a lot of pieces in place already here through the football administrative department through the things we want to do business-wise. We have a long list of things for Mike to start working on.” Lyons’ responsibilities will include analyzing and developing strategic performance initiatives for all functions of the Buffalo Bills organization including – football operations, business development, and marketing. As such he will work with several department heads on both the football and business sides of the organization. “He’ll work closely with (Senior VP of Football Administration) Jim Overdorf, (Player Personnel Analyst) Kevin Meganck, Stephen Brown, who is the assistant to coach Marrone. In the offseason he’ll work with coach Marrone directly and myself. Then as we broaden the scope of what we want to do he’ll work very heavily with the business department.” While Lyons’ work will provide additional data to the football department it will be far from the sole determining factor in making football decisions. It doesn't say anywhere that he'll "answer to Overdorf" and I disagree that it even suggests that he'll work mainly with Overdorf.

Perfectly stated. At this point the damage to EJ's inaugural season has already been done. It's unfortunate but there's no need to rush him back. It's more realistic to accept that his development as a player and the Bills evaluation of him has been stunted by injuries.

Ordinarily with competent QB play I'd think the Bills would be pretty competitive in this game but the combination of KC's outstanding pass rush and a very green, undrafted QB is not promising for the Bills. Hali and Houston are outstanding pass rushers. Hackett is gonna have to call a nearly perfect game and the players will have to execute almost flawlessly. The Bills margin in this one is very thin.

Unfortunately it's behind a paywall but Gaughan's always a good read for those who have access: http://www.buffalone...efense-20131102 Thad Lewis is listed as doubtful due to sore ribs and was not able to throw in Friday’s practice. Coach Doug Marrone said the team would give him more time to see if he can be ready. But the more likely scenario is undrafted rookie Jeff Tuel will get the start. He got more snaps in preparation this week than No. 3 QB Matt Flynn. And this: Hackett says that is no indication of how well the offensive line is playing. “Not at all,” Hackett said. “I’d say about 15 of those sacks are truly on the quarterback. “Young quarterbacks need to get the ball out. Young quarterbacks need to throw the ball away. Thad had two where he slid and got minus-1 yard. It’s just him trying to make a play not realizing where he’s at and not throwing it out of bounds.” By The News’ count, the Bills’ offensive line is responsible for 12 of 28 sacks. Six of those sacks are by offensive linemen no longer on the team (four by Colin Brown and two by Sam Young). Left tackle Cordy Glenn has been outstanding in pass protection. He has allowed only one sack – or 1.5, depending on how one grades. Right tackle Erik Pears has received a bit more help with the presence of a tight end on his side. He has allowed more pressure overall than Glenn, but Pears still has only allowed two sacks, by News count.

Gotcha. I thought you were questioning his talent level.

Perhaps Belichick didn't like Geno. We don't know. But the OP reported that New England liked EJ and were hoping to draft him and my posts in this topic are based on that premise.

I don't quite agree as far as Blackmon's talent level. Here's his game logs from last year (his rookie year): http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/gamelog/_/id/14907/year/2012/justin-blackmon Note the 236 yard game against Houston in week 11 when he torched elite corner Johnathan Joseph. Check out the heavy production in the second half of the season playing on a lousy team with two lousy quarterbacks. The guy is a carbon copy of Michael Crabtree IMO. Both lack the blazing speed but have pretty much everything else.

Slow feet are the least of Martin's problems and in fact lateral movement is considered a strength of his. The problem is that Martin isn't big and strong enough. While bench press isn't always an indicator of functional strength, Martin had 20 reps on the bench in a private workout compared to 31 for Cordy at the combine. Cordy's a much stronger man while Martin gets eaten up in the hand fighting. Tim Krumrie could destroy Martin with one pinkie finger. Also Martin weighs in the 315 range. Even Cordy at 345 can be walked back (like every OT in the NFL) by a pass rusher such as 260 pound Junior Galette if he overplays the inside or outside rush and gets bullrushed instead. Point is it's very hard to anchor and survive in the NFL as a 315 pound tackle unless you excel in other areas. Martin needs to get bigger and stronger if he's to become a good finesse tackle like D'Brick.

Much of what you say is true: 80,020 (1972-1983) 80,290 (1984-1994) 80,024 (1995-1998) 75,339 (1999-2000) 73,967 (2001-2007) 73,079 (2008–present) Curiously though, by the testimony of many long-time Bills fans the 2007 MNF game against the Cowboys was as loud a home game as the Bills have ever played in.

It seems like you're saying that it's unlikely that New England would choose their future QB at pick 29 because it wouldn't help them win now. However I'm not sure that trading the 29th pick for 4 later picks can be viewed as a "win now" kind of trade. I guess I'm in the minority in that I don't think EJ to New England at #29 is implausible.

Richie strikes me as the kind of guy who likes to give wedgies to rookie placekickers.

You do realize that Brady is 36 years old? Also you seem unaware that New England drafted Ryan Mallett in the 3rd round just 2 years ago. If they have doubts about Mallet's development, why wouldn't they take EJ at #29? If New England drafted EJ late in the first round, why would he project as a 3rd stringer? Would you say that New England has shown a lot of confidence in Ryan Mallett? Do you know how many passes Mallett's attempted in 2 and a half seasons of preseason ball? Do you know how many passes Mallet's attempted in 2 and a half regular seasons?

I'm not sure either but didn't he leave the Dolphins facilities and immediately go to a hospital? That might be why some are drawing the conclusion.

What part of "It's another layer of information" are some people here having a hard time understanding?

I mostly agree with you and would fully agree except that the latest injury came close on the heels of his preseason injury which he suffered by scrambling and being tackled. I know he's a football player and not a china doll but I personally would like to see him run out of bounds and/or throw the ball away and avoid ever getting hit. As an NFL QB he'll be hit in the pocket often enough. Hopefully someday he'll be an established star and it will be crucial for the team's success that he stay healthy. Until that time, as a young ascending QB it is crucial that he stay healthy to progress and develop properly. IMO only two things can derail his career: bad coaching and injuries. While he can't pick who his coaches are he can learn to protect himself at all times.

Good stuff. Thanks for linking, CB.

The Dolphins had the 29th and 59th picks entering the draft… and then traded away the 29th pick after the Bills took EJ at #16 so IF this rumor is true, the theory that New England targeted EJ at the end of the first round is pretty plausible to me.

Would it have been any better had the Bengals won but still not covered? A loss is a loss is a loss, I guess.