San Jose Bills Fan

I've prepared a short speech…

It is a long season for rooks… 17 weeks plus minicamps, OTAs, training camp, preseason games… Some guys seem to handle it better than others. The other thing you hear all the time from vets is "I've really learned to take care of my body" which almost seems like code for "I don't party too much during the season." I think some of the guys are hitting an early wall now that we're one week into training camp. I'm expecting some strained hammies, etc.

Good one. Did he try to give you any grief about Vince Young? BTW another reason Bell might be looking good is that two of their excellent DEs, Trent Cole and Jason Babin are both injured right now.

but… but… how about the Marcus Allen thing?

Good post. I would add that as we finish week one of training camp that a lot of players are pretty worn down… especially wideouts and DBs. On top of that, 3 of the last 4 practices have been in full pads and we're starting to see some attrition in the ranks with more and more non-participants with each practice. The Bills don't have another non-practice day until Sunday so there will be no rest for the weary unless Gailey gives the team an unexpected day off or they mix in an extra walk-through session.

Picking up the idea that you can recognize up-and-coming teams, I remember well the feeling in 1987 that the Bills roster had accumulated so much talent that it seemed certain that they would arrive in earnest in 1988, which they did.

Ah, but Shepp was at practice tonight. I'm still thinking chicken wing eating contest.

http://www.buffalobills.com/media-center/videos/ And Coach Gailey's presser: http://www.buffalobills.com/media-center/videos/#?id=9a8028d1-ae10-45a0-ad0f-ef38ee4921f9&channelName=Recent

Gailey on if he has focused on the run a little bit more the past two days: "Yes. Consciously." http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-2/Transcript-HC-Gailey-S-Byrd--DT-Dareus/d65b8a74-e8e9-48db-926b-452fcf49dbf5

http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-2/Transcript-HC-Gailey-S-Byrd--DT-Dareus/d65b8a74-e8e9-48db-926b-452fcf49dbf5 "Gailey on when QB Brad Smith will begin practicing as a receiver: "That will be a little while yet. We want to keep giving him (practice at) quarterback. He will be the third quarterback going into the season so he has to know the offense to finish a game. We have to get him enough where he is comfortable, well as comfortable as he is going to get taking as many limited reps as he is taking. We have to get him that before we take him to receiver."

Unfortunately he's not healthy at the moment. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/bills-lb-sheppard-sidelined-medical-014838725--nfl.html?two-bills-drive "Starting middle linebacker Kelvin Sheppard missed practice due to what coach Chan Gailey would only call a medical issue." Chicken wing eating contest?

Not a bad article although not groundbreaking from an informational standpoint either. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/19705833/doitall-jackson-best-running-back-you-never-hear-about/two-bliis-drive Mostly I'm posting this to crow a little bit. For years I've been making this point repeatedly and finally a real "football person" validates my opinion: "Fred Jackson is everything you want from a running back, with one NFL assistant telling me that he reminds him of Marcus Allen because "he glides more than he runs, and he sees everything." All Hail Me!!! There are a few other significant points in the piece: "He's the best player we have on offense," said quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick." And finally from Fred himself to all Bills fans who wish the team would play smashmouth just a bit more (is Fred suggesting a modified offensive doctrine?): "You have to be able to run here," said Jackson. "It's a must. We're going to get swirling winds in that stadium and snow and all that so we have to be able to pound the ball, be able to keep teams off the field and stay on the field when we're out there. It's a huge piece to have, and hopefully we can live up to that expectation."

This is what most people see as the most-likely scenario. Potter will be the kickoff specialist but in addition will be given the occasional shot at longer attempts because his leg is stronger. It will give him live game experience without putting the entire burden on his shoulders.

Can't wait until the first preseason game to get our first indication of which player is better. Of course that won't be a legitimate sample size… nor is 5 practices in training camp. Your logic isn't very logical. If Potter outkicked Lindell in easy conditions, you think it automatically follows that he would outkick him in difficult conditions? Are you familiar with the well-documented concept of "practice players" vs "gamers?" Are you familiar with the concept of "clutch player" vs "choker?" There are countless examples of players who can perform well in practice who cannot do so in actual games. Regardless, Potter would have to blow away Lindell in games for your preferred scenario to come true. As the Bills said when they drafted him, they'll most likely carry two kickers.

Undoubtedly due to your mental approach to bowling…

Spiller was incredible in the Oakland game too… even though he had only 5 touches. Anyways, I'm not really talking stats… I'm talking about what Spiller actually looked like when he touched the ball. One of the biggest errors Gailey made last year was that after anointing Spiller the starter for no good reason in 2010, he suddenly decided to ignore him in 2011… until he overburdened Freddy to the point of injury. It's very arguable that the Bills would have won a few more games had Gailey utilized Spiller more and not driven Freddy into the ground, IMO. It's all moot anyways as an 8-8 record would have simply made our draft position poorer while still missing the playoffs. But as I've said before as much as I like him, Gailey has some proving to do in my eyes.

Rhetorical Question… not sure why it comes to mind. Let's say you're standing at the bar and you strike up a conversation with the guy next to you… after all you're in a bar and the point is to socialize and have a good time. However in pretty short order you realize the person you're talking to is really, really stupid and besides that, you disagree with most of his opinions. Would you: 1) start arguing with him over your differences of opinion, trying to convince him to change his mind or: 2) ignore him and start talking to someone else?

What if they're both better than Bell?

When I was a kid, every year our neighborhood would have a marbles tournament…

How many Bills games did you watch last year?

I would take the under for Jacksonville. They're really gonna suck.

I'm sorry. I know you'd have preferred if the Bills had a lousy offseason.

What were your thoughts on RG3?

Yes, we have to manhandle them for a decade even though our coach, their coach, our GM, their GM, our players, and their players will all be different than they are now. Excellent point that if we sweep them this year to go 3-1 in our last 4 meetings, that it is meaningless.