thewildrabbit

6-10...last in the division....again! Hackett was extremely lucky he had such top quality RB's in Freddy & CJ to help carry him. Where was the innovation? where was getting CJ into space? where was protecting all the rookie QB's and limiting their throws? The Bills threw the ball more this year with a bunch of rookies at QB, more then even Gailey did last season with Fitz. All I saw was Freddy & CJ up mid guard 70% of the time, and when that failed to work for yards. Then the entire game went right on that rookie QB's shoulders to make plays. When the QB also failed, it was then a complete disaster.

Hey guys, go to NFL.com and vote for Kiko Rookie of the year! http://www.nfl.com/voting/rookies/2013/Year/0?module=HP11_content_stream_voting_pepsi#playerId:0ap2000000252382 Posting this because I'm getting tired of clicking

It wasn't as simple as the offense was just bad in 2010. It was more that Buddy Nix screwed the pooch in free agency by stating he was getting some sleep as it opened. Then when he did wake up he must have been drowsy to sign RT Cornell Green to a 2 mill per contract. Demetress Bell was at LT. Hangartner at center suffered back problems. Mansfield Wrotto at RT once Green fell on his face. Then, lets not forget giving Trent Edwards all the reps in pre season only to cut him after two regular season games hurt all the other backups at QB. Wanna blame Edwards for playing so poorly, that's fine. But then Fitz was literally running for his life over the next 6 games to start that season 0-8. Finally, with Buddy Nix fully awake now after owner Ralph Wilson gave him a swift kick in his good ole boy arse. Nix manages to pick up Erik Pears & Kraig Urbik off the waiver wire to give that O line and Fitz a chance to finish the season. Funny thing is, I have more faith in EJ making it then I do for Marrone and his choice for assistant coaches making it.

Jeff Ireland and the Dolphins part ways... to phins fans .... oh wait. 46-50 in 6 seasons, one playoff appearance 2008 (Parcells was still there) 6 players picked by Ireland in the first two rounds are no longer with the team Now they might find a real GM.

Did i happen to mention how happy I am that Buddy Nix is no longer in control of this team. Bigger is not always better, and tackles don't always make good guards. Nix was excellent at band-aiding positions all over the team, and yet not so hot at evaluating the talent for several positions. The Buffalo Bills organizational philosophy the last decade (at times) is that they can develop mid to late round O line prospects into viable starters. How has that worked out for them in terms of wins? Its a team sport, and every position on the team is important in my view. Someone explain to me why an OG is not just as important as the DT on a team. I think they are as important, and perhaps even more so because that O line needs stability and continuity. With all five players knowing what to do in every situation so there are no unexplained sacks, hurries or hits on the QB. You can have two all pro tackles on the team and what will it matter if the guards are bad? If you have bad OG's then its almost impossible to run to control the LoS or clock. The QB can't step up in the pocket to throw deep. Now my hopes are dashed for an OG in free agency or with this years #2 draft pick http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Marrone-sees-promise-in-young-guard-prospects/eba6f00d-58f9-4daf-8dfe-6de9ab15ab16 and I say to you.... be prepared for another losing season. As for Pears, no poison here, as Hairston was penciled in as the starter until he suffered a leg injury, and then an undisclosed illness that knocked him out for the season. " He was originally pegged as a starter. Mon, Aug 26, 2013 03:58:00 PM" http://www.rotoworld.com/recent/nfl/6643/chris-hairston

excellent post

good point. The Music City Miracle, at this point I can only expect it will take something of that nature to get Crossman finally canned.

I defended Hackett too, and all the way up until that Chiefs game in which he let an un drafted free agent rookie QB throw it 39 times. That idea didn't result in limiting turnovers. Whats the point of running the ball 38 times with great success and then letting that raw a rookie throw it in a critical situation. EJ was the one who was usually always very careful with the ball. My point here is, there comes a time for diminishing returns on doing the same thing over and over, and not obtaining a better result. Being the #2 team in the NFL in rushing, and yet still 6-10. Hackett was a rookie play caller and it showed all year. Whether he can get better, and learn from this season has yet to be seen. Obviously since no change has been made, all we can do is hope he does get better. My take is that it was almost entirely on the poor play of the O line. Perhaps you missed the excruciatingly poor play of the Bills LG's all season. Fred Jackson didn't have as many tackles behind the LoS because he has the ability to make the first tackler miss or he easily breaks that first tackle. While Spiller had more trouble this season in regards to being elusive, and breaking tackles because of injuries. Teams were building their defensive game plans on stopping Spiller, keying on him and were very determined to stop him. However, he shouldn't need to break a tackle behind the line.

I'm really not excited for 2014 unless this team spends some quality draft picks and free agent money to shore up the O line properly. CJ Spiller had like 30 rushes this season in which he was getting hit behind the line of scrimmage, not much a RB can do if he is getting hit before he can even get to the line. The Bills were the #4 worst team in the NFL in QB hits allowed at 105. They were the #5 worst team in the NFL in sacks with 48 allowed. That Bills O line ranked 27th overall, as the Bills were #16 in run blocking, # 28th in pass blocking.

I tend to agree with this opinion. Hackett called the most running plays in the NFL in 2013, 37 more then any other team to be exact. Now, Buffalo was the #2 rushing team, and #14 in YPC avg at 4.2 in the NFL in 2013. Yet, went 6-10! Then looking at Chan Gailey in 2012 the Bills were the #6 team in rushing, #13 in attempts, #4 in YPC average at 5.0. So, Chan Gailey called less running plays, and was more effective with the running attack. Yet, went 6-10! What did we see from Hackett, innovation in the run game or simply calling the same running plays up mid guard over and over? What I saw was a play caller who called a lot of run plays with two excellent RB's, and when those RB's failed to make yards, then the onus went on the QB's shoulders to make plays. When the QB failed to make plays it was a disaster of a game. Jets first game, Saints, Steelers, Bucs. I also saw Hackett panic in different games. the Chiefs game comes to mind first, as the Bills were literally dominating that vaunted #1 at the time Chiefs defense by running it down their throat. When they got behind in the score Hackett stopped running and let QB Jeff Tuel sling it all over for 39 passes. What I learned from the last two seasons is the Bills can be a top running team in the NFL, and its gets very few wins if they can't control the line of scrimmage or the clock with the run. So, in essence all they did was put up good meaningless rushing stats.

At this point i don't thinks wins has much to do with it anymore. It seems like its more about how many season tickets they sell

So many options available because so many teams are desperate for a QB, so it really depends who is still on the board @ #9.

You left out the Cincy game. The Bills D held the Bungals on 5 straight possessions, and made them punt 5 straight times. Then in OT the Bills ST's allowed a 29 yard return and on the next Bungals 4th down the winning FG, game over! Crossman sucks!

...is a god? I bow to Mikey ! The Bills will get more notice when they win more games, until that time they will stay unnoticed in oblivion.

The Bills didn't run a spread offense very often under Hackett from what I saw. I noticed the Bills ran out of the shotgun quite a bit, and handed off to the single setback out of a 3 WR set. They almost always had a TE for max protection, and sometimes even a fullback. I don't think I ever saw Hackett call an empty backfield 5 WR set like Gailey used to run, and he rarely called 4 WR sets that I saw. It may have looked like a 4 WR set but it was TE Scott Chandler out in front of that 3 player cluster on the line. It was more of a hurry up, read option type offense that didn't work so well because of EJ's knee concerns, so EJ didn't run the read option very often. Kind of fubar'd from the very start of the season. The Bills really, really needed better play from their OG's and while Urbik was adequate in some games, in other games he really stunk it up. Just not near as bad as Brown or Legursky. In all honesty it seems to me that for the amount of times the Bills ran the football, and then when that failed they put the onus on the QB. This year they would have done so much better with better play from the OG position, In both pass and run blocking. My take is to the tune of at least two to three more wins. Anyway, I've argued this point long enough. I can only hope the Bills either draft an OG with their #2 pick or find a pair of top OG's in free agency. I like LBer Khalil Mack / WR Sammy Watkins with that #9 pick

thrown under the bus... Phins GM Jeff Ireland could be next. One year he makes some good moves, and the next year he screws some up.

Then we have a serious difference of opinion on the OG subject. Perhaps you would care to elaborate as to why you think the OG's play isn't of that importance to winning games.

Clearly, you just don't get how much the bad play by Colin Brown and then Legursky hurt the team this season. You keep bringing up Levitre and I don't know why. I thought I made it clear I've never advocated keeping him at 8 mill. There were other options at LG for a lot less money that made a whole lot more sense then Colin Brown / Sam Young. Many, many posters here kept bringing it up before the season even started.

I kinda disagree on both Wood and Glenn. Mostly because they were surrounded by less then stellar players at guard. While Urbik played well in some games, he also played poorly in others. Wood in past years has been playing at a pro bowl level at times, and just ended his first three seasons on IR or he might have made it to the pro bowl. Glenn played like an all pro LT this season, and if the team was winning more games that superior play probably would get recognized. Again, JMHO

FWIW, I didn't need 3 years to see that Jauron stunk, or 3 years to see that Gailey stunk. It was mostly because of their choices on assistant coaches too. Jauron promoted QB coach Turk Schonert to OC after OC Steve Fairchild took a college HCing job. That move proved to be a 2 year disaster and yet he ended up with a better record then Gailey. Then in his last season Jauron fired his OC Schonert two weeks before the start of the 09 season and promoted QB coach Alec Van pelt to OC. Chan Gailey had his anchor in DC George Edwards, who got two years as DC a man who he knew from his days as HC in Dallas. Same with Wannstadt who he knew from his days in Miami. Both friends basically got Gailey fired. Just like now, most every Bills fan knew George Edwards was never going to cut it after his first year. yet Gailey gave him another season to fall on his face harder. Wannstedt even had a 100 million dollar DE and still set franchise and NFL records for being bad. Crossman has already allowed a franchise record for returns to the Cleveland Browns. This is not going to end well, for Crossman or Marrone.

I've never really advocated paying Levitre that 8 million, mostly because over the last 3 years I've profusely stated the O line play was over rated. Generally because of two factors. One, Fitz and his ability to get the ball out so quickly, usually in 2-3 seconds. Two, because of Gailey utilizing a spread offense to help the run game. I did say, If you look at the top tier of teams with the best records, Seahawks, 49ers, Patriots, Saints, Broncos, Chiefs they all have a first or second round players at LG. IMO the OG is of utmost importance simply because the fastest path to the QB is right up the middle. The QB can't step up into a pocket for deep throws if there is no pocket. Want to build a top running team that actually works, then you need top OG's. You do realize that yours is basically the same attitude by this franchise the last 14 years, and is a clear example of why the Bills aren't winning games. If nothing else, this years team proved you can have a top rated rushing attack but if you can't make a 3rd down, and short by running, or control the clock when needed by running. Then all you are doing is putting up good stats.

I don't get it. Apparently, friendship is more important then winning to this HC. You would think Whaley or Brandon would force a change, that is "IF" they really wanted to win games.

Take a long honest look at what the Bills tried to get accomplished last off season. They tried to trade for QB Alex Smith and KC trumped them. They tried to acquire QB Josh Freeman when he became available, and he chose Minnesota. They signed QB Kevin Kolb in free agency and didn't realize until it was to late that he was made of glass. IMO the Bills drafted EJ in the hopes of bringing him along slowly, and letting him learn behind Kolb. Or perhaps hoping that he would beat out Kolb this season at some point. Once EJ was the only option at QB they proceeded to build a fast paced "read option" offensive scheme. Then the biggest hurdle hit when EJ hurt his knee in pre season. So much for letting the QB run it this season with a dinged up knee! So then the real read option went out the window, and now they were forced to try and mold a read option QB into a pocket passer asap. EJ only played in 10 games this season and with some very questionable players in front of him doing the blocking. That O line played particularly bad on the road against the Jets, Steelers, Saints, Bucs. Hows about we wait to see how EJ performs with some upgrades to the O line, to perhaps a better receiving corps in terms of healthier players or new draft picks. I think had the Bills fixed the Special Teams coach properly in the off season they might have won 3 more games just for that. Patriots, Browns, Bengals. If they had kept LG Chad Rinehart they could have won that first Jets game. Because lord only knows the Jets kept trying to lose it. 8 sacks on EJ was a huge reason for that loss. With a better run game the Bills score on first and goal against the Chiefs in the 3rd quarter, and play keep the ball away from Brady, and Falcon QB Matt Ryan. I see 3 to 6 games possibly lost because of of a bad O line, bad special teams. JMO

.Buddy Nix...err Doug Marrone....is that you In regards to Bill, and why I don't much care for Erik Pears at RT. While Pears has so many attributes that you want in a top tackle like long arms, he also has some flaws. At 6'8" 316 lbs he is very tall and this is somewhat of a liability because he just doesn't always get low enough. He can be slow to react and adjust to counter moves, as he can kick step out to pick up rushers but then struggles to recover, and move back to the inside. He is also not that quick when firing out of his stance. Don't get me wrong as i like the guy to a degree, as a back up. He is an adequate starter on an average team. but should the team want to win playoff games on the road the RT position will need a definite upgrade. JMHO

That was the old fool backwater bandit thinking. Look at some of the better teams in the NFL, look at the LG position for the playoff teams. 49ers, Mike Iupati LG #1 pick Seahawks, James Carpenter LG #1 pick. Patriots, Logan Mankins LG #1 pick. Saints, Ben Grubbs LG #2 pick. Broncos, Zane Beadles LG #2 pick. KC Chiefs, Jeff Allen LG #2 pick. Chargers, Chad Rinehart LG #3 pick. Eagles, Evan Mathis LG #3 pick. Colts, Hugh Thorton LG #3 pick Bengals, Clint Bowling LG #4 pick- RG Zane Zietler #1 pick Packers, Josh Sitton, LG #4 pick Panthers, Chris Scott, LG #5 pick Its a passing league right? The Bills had the very best pass blocking LG in the NFL and let him walk because they felt he wasn't worth 8 mill per. OK, I get that. What I don't get is trying to replace their best O lineman with an absolute scrub in Colin Brown. Look at the Chargers LG,as the Bills had a replacement for Andy and also let him walk away. As stated previously by Bill, now the Bills need to draft or sign a decent LG to finally replace Levitre properly. Lets see if they even make an attempt.