thewildrabbit

I get the Gostkowski over Carp simply because so many of the patriots kicks went out the back of the end zone or weren't returned. Nobody in the AFC East did better at LT then Glenn IMO. Mangold had a down year, but then so did Wood. Kinda stinks that the Patriots have a down year and still take the division

You are dude, from Talleywhacker to ..... here is a link to a list of QB's you can drool over http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/2014/QB So, do we want the Bills to draft Bridgewater, Bortles, Manziel, Carr, Mettenburger, AJ McCarron, Tajh Boyd? Might be about 8 million reasons as to why Fitz is gone. Plus, most Bills fans had their torches lit and pitchforks out if he had stayed in Buffalo. They loved him over Trenty, but got very tired of his inaccuracy. It is a shame as he could have mentored EJ with his reads and pass protections.

Where exactly did I say that? The HC is accountable for every player on the roster, as well as all the coaches under him. You pointed out 3 players on the defensive side of the ball, and all I did was point out that, that is clearly the DC's area of expertise. What my point was, is not only did Marrone fail in his area of expertise (offense, specifically O line player, coach, OC) on the starting replacement for LG Andy Levitre, he also failed with the backup player on the roster. Then both the RG & center didn't play as well in 2013 as the both did in 2012. Marrone was even "hands on" out there on the field coaching those players! If this type of stuff doesn't give you pause for concern like it does for me. Then more power to you as I can't overlook it.

Yep, he was the scapegoat for this years 28th ranked offense. The GM's lack of building a proper O line. The bad O line play, and the offensive injuries caused Eli to get hurried / hit so often. Which also caused the bad protections, the bad run game, and injuries to the RB's. Never mind that this is the very same OC that took over an 8-8 team from 2006, and in 2007 and setup the offense / called plays well enough for a 10-6 record and a super bowl win. Then the NY Giants went to the super bowl and won it again in 2011, and had many injuries along that O line that he overcame. Whew, a 2x SB winning OC and the NYC fans want him burned on the cross. I gotta wonder what they would want to do with Hackett

I would say that Pettine made the judgments for the defense, as that is his area of expertise. "Marrone played offensive line and coached that unit with the New York Jets when Curtis Martin led the league in rushing. Marrone has been a hands-on O-line instructor throughout the summer. "It's a position I coached for a very long time," Marrone said. "I'm not as sold as much on the continuity factor than what other people may be. That has never been my type of philosophy. "You want the five best players out there, and it's my job to get them ready during the week. It's my job to get them ready during the season, to make sure they have the continuity." http://blogs.buffalo...ed-concept.html http://thelcn.com/20...A.LeQ09rgs.dpbs What a catastrophic failure there was at LG when the replacement for Levite wasn't just bad at his job. He graded as the very worst player in the entire NFL thru week 5, as both Colin Brown and his backup Sam Young were both benched and released. Good thing GM Doug Whaley brought in Doug Legursky to be the back up center because he took over at LG, and he also sucked at it. But was miles better then the players he replaced. Clearly some fans are taken affront to these facts pointed out. Sorry guys, but it really concerns me that a coach with so much experience in his field of work could fail so miserably in his area of expertise. This also sheds some light on the offensive coordinator as well, and his ability to also judge talent on his side of the ball. This wasn't the only problem with the offense as the backup QB was also an issue, as is the current special teams coach. Since we are on the subject of the Bills OG's.... "8. Erik Pears ($2.8 million). A steady performer in each of his last two seasons, the 12th-highest paid player on the roster didn't have a good season for the Bills in 2013. Despite playing every offensive snap, his cap figure was way too high for a guy getting beat as consistently as he did." http://www.buffaloru...t-roster-values

Same here, and is a winner. Was fired after a 10-6 season and took the Bears to the Super Bowl with some serious scrubs at QB. What makes me sad is this man is one of the few winning HC's on this earth that actually wanted to be the Buffalo Bills head coach.

One step forward, and two steps back. Not to mention that two losses can be attributed directly to very bad special teams play, against Cleveland & New England, IMO. The Bills ranked 9th in special teams in 2012, and went to 30th this year. What bothers me the most about the Levitre issue is that this new HC is an ex NFL O lineman, an ex NFL O line coach, an ex NFL OC. A supposed O line guru? Then went "hands on" in the off season, during preseason. Meaning the HC was out there on the field instructing those line players, and the result were two players that were supposedly good enough to start and backup the LG position. Then both were benched and cut after week five and replaced by the backup center, and waiver wire pickups. Doesn't anyone besides myself find it most peculiar that this HC failed in his own area of expertise ? If not for DC Mike Pettine this season could have been more of a disaster then it was, perhaps garnering that #1 overall draft pick.

Good for him

99.9% of the fans have acknowledged that, and the fact that stats say 30th. So they actually got worse from 9th in 2012 to 30th in 2013 with the same core players. Then notice Crossman was the ST coach with Detroit in 2010 & 2012 and guess what...the Lions ranked 30th in 2012, 29th in 2011. This guy sucks. http://www.footballo...om/stats/teamst The problem is Crossman is a "friend" of Marrone, so this will be another George Edwards type debacle only with special teams instead of the defense. Ultimately this will be Marrone's own undoing. EDIT: does anyone else remember the Thursday night game against Cleveland where the Browns PR set a franchise record for 179 yards on punt returns by Travis Benjamin (who?). Remember the 79 yard punt return for a TD. So, Marrone blamed the loss on the punter Shawn Powell and released him. One could easily surmise that special teams helped cause two losses this season against Cleveland and New England.

The Browns fans have new GM Michael Lombardi along with the Browns owner, and CEO on their shirt. Bills fans could do the same thing with Brandon, Littmann, Wilson on a t-shirt. I don't think new Bills GM Doug Whaley deserves any humiliation just yet, JMO. In other news, former Bears HC Lovie Smith is the new Bucs HC. He was fired after a 10-6 season in 2012, and he did get the Bears to the super bowl in 2006 Lovie wanted to be the HC in Buffalo before Marrone got the job. Just like Marty Schottenheimer wanted the job before they hired Gailey. Whatever....

Then hiding under the table when he is actually needed for anything. In response to the OP's question, -"Marrone announced that he fired wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard over a "difference in philosophy." He said he does not believe anyone else will be fired, even special teams coach Danny Crossman who had a rough year."- -"The Bills finished second in the NFL with 144.2 yards per game, but their 4.2 average per carry was 14th. That was an indication that C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson made some big plays, but there were also far too many plays that failed. Spiller had 30 runs that were held to zero or negative yardage, tied for sixth-most in the league."- http://sports.yahoo.com/news/team-report-buffalo-bills-115517731--nfl.html

This +1 Hackett called more running plays then any other NFL OC, and 71% of those runs came from mid-guard. The Bills were #2 in the NFL in rushing, and #1 in attempts, and yet can't control the LoS or clock with the run. So did we see innovation or just the same run plays over and over. Is the run game good because of Hackett or that the Bills have two excellent RB's? Lets not forget that the Bills were #6 in rushing overall last season under Gailey, with a lot less attempts #13. Anyway, I'd rather have Kubiak, Chudzinski as OC then Norv Turner. Both the Browns fans and players are pissed that Chud was fired.

Exactly! I can only wonder If Ike got the blame for TJ Graham trying to catch the ball with his stomach. Then blaming Ike as the one who said to cut Da'Rick Rodgers. It will get very heated in this forum should Rodgers do well in the playoffs for Indy. What is very disconcerting to me is that Marrone is a supposed O line guru, and was out on the field "hands on" in pre season / practices. Then to have the starting LG perform so poorly in the first five games that they were forced to bench him and then outright cut him as he graded as the very worst OG in the NFL. Then his backup Sam Young turned out to be just as bad so he was also outright cut. The back ups at OG then were secured right off the waiver wire. This makes me wonder if this ex NFL lineman, ex NFL O line coach, ex NFL OC even knows wtf he is looking at in terms of player evaluation. Top coaches don't make these type of mistakes in their area of expertise. Crossman is by far the worst ST's coach this team has had in a while grading at 30th in the league http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamst How does a 250 lb RB gain 147 yards on 2 returns ....oh I forgot, the special teams needs better players. The countdown has already started on this HC / staff getting fired, its only a question of when.

Much ado about nothing if the guy stays in school..

The Texans hired Penn St HC Bill O'Brien. So clearly Wade Phillips didn't get the job, FIRED! Anyone else remember O'Brien getting into a shouting match with Tom Brady when he was an assistant with the Patriots. I like him already! http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24394043/report-texans-to-hire-bill-obrien-as-new-coach 1) Shanahan -skins 2) Frazier-Vikes 3) Schwartz- Lions 4) Chudzinski-Browns 5) Schiano - Bucs 6) Phillips- Texans, tho he was the interim HC from Gary Kubiak The count is up to six now. More to follow i think. Perhaps the Dolphins, Titans, Raiders, NY Giants. Apparently, big mouth Rex is safe, as is Jerry's boy Jason Garrett

Great perspective, and the entire post very well stated I highlighted some of the more critical points. Some Bills fans posting here have been involved in some sort of football since youth football leagues (4-12), high School, college and even some have played some pro ball. I have found that some have even been ex Buffalo Bills players. So consequently, some fans simply have more knowledge about the sport / team then others. Yet some fans think their opinion is the only one that matters. What is truly tragic is that I've seen some Bills fans become so hostile, obtuse that they callously drove other Bills fans away from this forum. Like Lori, who was so very much liked and admired. That said, it would be great if all Bills fans were more cognizant of the fact that they share the same passion for the very same team with the fans they are conversing with here.

I have this sneaking suspicion that NGU was Buddy Nix, and ultimately he gave up talking with the fans. That baby screamed the entire three years he was here, and all we ever saw was a toenail. He is still here, although Dog got lambasted so much for supporting a player he liked that he did need to take a break.

The Bills are 30th in special teams this season. I only have one question, How in thee-hell do the Bills special teams allow a 250 LB RB to gain 145 yards on 2 kick off returns? Oh, I forgot. Its the players! I also notice that the Patriots kicker S.Gostkowski manages to kick it out of the back of the end zone on many occasions

What prompts me to even post in this thread is the fact that ST coach Danny Crossman is still with the team. 30th in special teams shouldn't be tolerated, and this assistant coach should have gotten the boot the same way his punter was cut during the season. This is very similar to Gailey keeping DC George Edwards and expecting different results, and then hiring Wannstedt. So many mistakes in his first year that were blatantly obvious to so many posters here before they even happened. I kinda doubt this HC gets more then two years if his team fails again next season. This off season should be very telling as to if this coaching staff will succeed in 2014, or not. Its not just about EJ either, as the QB's supporting cast and run defense are desperate for upgrading.

While I agree that one year is way to soon to fire a new HC like the Browns did with Chud this year. Although, It is very disconcerting to me that a "hands on" supposed O line guru would make such glaring mistakes with some players on that line. The backup QB situation. The discipline at times. The play calling, schemes at times. The horrific play at times on the road by the entire team. I know its still early into the off season but simply firing the WR coach isn't that reassuring to me that things will be corrected properly. Considering the Bills fielded one of the worst special teams coverage / return units in the NFL. 30th is pretty bad. Watching a 250 lb RB gain 189 yards on 4 returns made me want to find Marrone's dog and give it a kick.

Marrone stating that because the Bills were the #2 rushing team in the NFL that they must be doing something right. That the players on the line must be pretty good to achieve that. Yet, that line still can't control the clock or the LoS by running, still has great difficulty making a 3rd and short by running. So, did we see an innovator or someone just calling a lot of the same run plays over and over? Were the Bills just lucky to have two excellent RB's in Spiller & Jackson? The Bills were #6 in the NFL rushing in 2012 and #13 in attempts with a better yard / avg at 5.0 vs 4.2. Still both teams went 6-10. Being #1 in rushing is moot unless the team can control the LoS like the Patriots did against the Bills in week 17. JMO

I sorta miss that jerk of a Jets fan who wrote like he was a mobster. I forget his name tho. I also kinda miss SKOOBY, and all the fun he brought to this forum with his remarks about his beamer being worth more then most fans houses. Seriously, Lori, TheDean, Tim Graham

Crossman needed to go asap just like the punter they booted during the season. I can see this as a George Edwards type move to give Marrone's buddy another year of sucking.

Wonder if this will be the excuse for letting Rodgers go and keeping mr jumpy

I agree, and give this DC a second year along with some better players at different positions they will improve, IMO That Atlanta game where the TE & WR both fumble the ball away on two consecutive drives late in the game? I wouldn't fault the defense for the loss of that game. If the Bills could ever control the LoS or clock with the run game they would win games like that one. Or in either the Patriots game where New England is 30th against the run, and although the Bills ran the ball fairly well, they still failed to play keep away. While I agree the defense still has issues. Like letting the 4th string NE RB rip them a new one in a rain storm, and 267 yards rushing to the Patriots on the road Its my take that the offense has even more issues with the fact that they lead the NFL in rushing attempts, and are #2 overall in rushing. Yet they can't get a first down by rushing when they need to, can't control the clock or LoS. They were #4 in the NFL in QB hits allowed. They were #5 in the NFL in sacks allowed. They were #3 in negative rushing yards. The entire Bills team seemed to play so much better at home then on the road this year. Anyway, Pettine and the defense has been a bright spot at times compared to what the Bills fielded the previous 3 years. JMO