thewildrabbit

My biggest problem with this game was the play calling in allowing an un drafted FA QB to throw 39 times in his first NFL start!!! Against the #5 ranked defense, especially when the Bills RB's are averaging 6.1 YPC. This looked like good ole Chan Gailey calling shotgun pass plays thinking he has Tom Brady behind center This freaking moron OC should have run Spiller until he threw up, along with FJax, and Choice. There should have only been 20-25 pass attempts max for Tuel and 50+ rushes for the Bills RB's. Nathaniel Hackett stated he thought the Bills QB's were responsible for over 15 of the 28 QB sacks against the Bills this year. No freaking crap with 3 rookies at QB. Nothing like throwing the rookies under the bus. I'm done defending this complete moron. http://fansided.com/2013/11/02/bills-offensive-coordinator-blames-sacks-quarterbacks/ Chandler batted down a perfect pass thrown to him when he was wide open. He also got a false start penalty on that last series with the game on the line. The Bills do need a better TE.

This is exactly right. However, I DID have greater expectations before today. But now looking at letting an undrafted FA rookie QB throw 39 times in his first start when the RB's are averaging 6.1 ypc. It looked like Gailey calling plays in the 4th QTR. The score was tied 13-13 going into the 4th QTR. Then there was a Tuel pass and a TJ fumble TD for Chiefs. score 20-13 Next Bills series Tuel, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, punt! Next Bills series, penalty in Chandler, run Choice, pass, punt Next Bills series, pass, scramble, pass, pass, pass, run, Jackson. pass. turnover on downs. The Bills need better play at QB, and TE

Total plays Bills 77 to KC 44 Bills with 38 rushes for 241 yards rushing against that #5 KC defense. Bills RB's averaged 6.3 YPC!! Now why the eff is Tuel throwing it 39 times? Tuel 18 of 39 for 229 yards one TD, 2 INT's. Spiller, 12 attempts for 116- FJax, 16 attempts for 77. Bills with 38 rushes for 241 yards rushing against that #5 KC defense. Bills RB's averaged 6.3 YPC!! Why on gods green earth is this un drafted FA rookie QB throwing so many times in his first NFL start ?

I have seen worse. But yea, that was really bad. 40% completion percentage, one INT, 2 sacks in a QTR and a half. Spiller is healthy and back in the line up. Like someone else mentioned it would be great if Tuel doesn't throw more then a few passes.

How do those facts change the facts this team still went into the regular season with not only a rookie at QB, but an un drafted free agent rookie QB as his only backup. Was EJ's psyche so fragile they didn't want or need an experienced backup? How smart was it to not keep Tarvaris Jackson on the roster? Because I don't get it, as EJ was already hurt in the 2nd pre season game, and was iffy for the start of the season. First time ever in the history of the NFL i can recall hearing that an NFL team went into the regular season with no experienced back up QB, and a rookie QB starting. Someone, somewhere at OBD should have been panicking over this thinking. Or change the fact this team went into the regular season with a LG who was graded as the worst player in the NFL after five weeks, and his backup was even worse. So now both are gone and the Bills have Doug Legursky at LG which is a big upgrade from either of those two. A backup guard right off the waiver wire. Still, Legursky came from one of the worst O lines in the game last season and he graded as the worst of that bunch. Not very confidence inspiring to anyone in my opinion. For a HC / OC / GM simply not knowing the degree of competence for the players on that line previous to the season starting is unnerving to me. Particularly when entering the season with two rookie QB's on the roster, and of primary importance would be protecting those rookie QB's. While I'm not entirely blaming this coaching staff / GM for these missteps because they are also rookies at their respective jobs. EJ played 4 1/2 games, and sacked 13 times,3 INT's. Thad Lewis 3 games also sacked 13 times, 2 INT's. Jeff Tuel played 1 1/2 QTRs and was sacked 2 times, 1 INT. With a better O line this team could easily be 5-3 as they have been in every game this year. There are smart NFL people out there that could possibly help this team win more games this season. This team could use an offensive mentor with proven NFL knowledge in building teams and winning games over an analytic dept IMHO. Any analytic dept the team builds will probably stay even if this coaching staff doesn't.

Jeff "turf throw" Tuel 40% completion percentage...yikes. Hope Flynn is fully ready JIC. Hope the Bills D owns.

NFN, but this team cut LG Chad Rinehart over Colin Brown, and made the decision to not sign an NFL experienced back up QB. Marrone & Hackett both need some help whether they like it or not. I dunno that a top consultant would work for a relatively small salary.

At this point in time Tuel may know the Bills offense more then Flynn. Tuel against Cleveland, 8 of 20 for 80 yards, 1 INT. 40% completion percentage. Lots-0-turf balls Flynn did go 21 of 32 for 227 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT against the Redskins in week four. But perhaps it was the fact that he was sacked 7 times in that game. 64.7 completion percentage tho. That one game went something like this, punt, TD, INT, punt, punt -end of half-punt, punt, missed FG, punt, punt, fumble, downs. I didn't watch that Raiders game so I don't know if it was Flynn or the O line. If It were me, I'd go with Flynn for this game

I do believe Buddy Nix is still in that capacity as GM consultant. I'm thinking more of a OC-QB consultant like former Colts OC Tom Moore, which I mentioned earlier in this thread. Someone to help those young QB's read NFL defenses in regards to the heavy blitzes they have recently faced and have shown they are pretty much clueless on how to read them. Help those young QB's to set protections, make their blitz reads, hot reads and progressions. Clearly both Marrone & Hackett need some help in determining how to effectively run an NFL offense in several areas. OTOH, DC Mike Pettine seems to have his side of the team under control. then what is it?

Contrary to popular opinion I already stated I get why they hired this new guy, and that every NFL team most likely already has a dept in place. The Buffalo Bills didn't have one, so they are in the process of building one. I just happen to think the money would be better spent at this time on an actual NFL football consultant to help these rookie coaches to make smarter decisions. Like going into the season with a rookie QB, and a back up QB that had no NFL experience. Also, like going into the season with a LG as bad as Colin Brown and backup G who also has already been cut. Gailey made almost the same ludicrous decisions with the QB & O line his first year and it was inexcusable IMO given his previous NFL experience.

All I'm saying is that one great hire at the head coach position completely turned around this franchise in the past. That one hire changed the coaching staff, the scouting dept, and the team made the playoffs in three short years. At this point it really is to early to tell if Marrone is going to become a great NFL head coach, and he does deserve his three years to prove he can turn things around. Although, judging from the past, and some really very good college head coaches that failed at the NFL level, it does make me think Marrone has very little chance to make it.

Spending the money on top coaches would be the correct approach IMO. You know, sorta like Bill Cowher over Chan Gailey. I get that every NFL team has a dept that handles anayltic's, statistics. Just like every HC has a cheat sheet of what plays to run in any given situation. I'm saying is this new hire for the Bills won't mean anything if Marrone, and his staff doesn't get it done.

In case you both missed it You could have NASA scientists running the Buffalo Bills anayltic's department with a Cray XT5-HE, and it won't mean a darn thing without good coaching.

“doubtful” officially means there’s a 25-percent chance he’ll go. Injured ribs? Broken or cracked ribs is not an easy injury to contend with as every movement is painful. Just breathing is painful. Man this kid has taken a pounding in his three games, sacked 13 times . That first play of the Saints game it looked like he was all done. I commend him for being one tough sob. If its Tuel time in Buffalo on Sunday ...

NFN but this team doesn't need a guy giving a worksheet to the coaches at game time that tells them what script to run at any given situation. They need a QB who is a Peyton Manning clone behind center reading the defense, and having the wherewithal to understand what he sees the defense about to do and counters it like Manning does so often. Ted Marchibroda taught Jim Kelly to call his own plays at the line. Tom Moore taught Peyton Manning to call his own plays. They need a head coach like Bill Belchick who watches endless amounts of film on his opponents so he knows what tendencies to expect from an opponent. In terms of an actual "moneyball" person for an NFL team who will make judgement calls on which players to draft or bring in for free agency based on statistics, analytic's is perhaps the most moronic thing I've ever heard of doing in football. Completely different sport, MLBaseball is a sport where players play both offense and defense. Where you have success if you hit 3 out of 10 at bats. Try getting 3 out of 10 in anything on a football field and see where you end up. Its not just about the physical stats either, try reading a stat sheet on a players effort, leadership, attitude, football intelligence, and heart. I suppose if you don't want to hire top NFL experienced coaches ...it makes sense to do something different. IMO the money would be better spent if Russ Brandon were to hire a voodoo priestess, exorcist instead to take the frickin curse off this franchise.

I'm sure it was part of it. But mostly because Long had been injured the last few years. Missing 2 games in 2011, 4 games in 2012. Parcells chose LT Jake Long over QB Matt Ryan for a reason. GM Jeff Ireland might have just screwed himself with this maneuver.

Pre-snap read of the defense and understanding what is going to happen on the field. Peyton Manning is a master at this and its almost like playing chess in determining what the defense is going to do, and then calling out audibles to change the play, and or making hot reads to set the receivers, calling and setting the O line protections. Making the determination of which player is blitzing and which is dropping into coverage, and which is going to give you single coverage on which receiver. It certainly doesn't help when the best receiver on the team is hobbled, and the next best WR is a rookie.

It wasn't all the QB's fault, but he sure played a big part of why they failed. Thad Lewis had great difficulty in reading the defense, setting protections, making hot reads. Isn't that a huge part of being a QB in the NFL? The O line didn't play all that good, and the all around blocking by TE's & RB's wasn't all that great either. This same thing happened against the Jets with EJ. I can only think these same set of players will not do very well against the league best pass rushers in the KC Chiefs, no matter who the QB is!

My take from this whole thing is that this franchise wants to think up new ways to save / make money! Anyway, as I mentioned earlier I thought it would be wiser to hire an actual known talented football mind, and still think so. Again thinking of a proper consultant brings to mind the man who tutored QB Peyton Manning, in Tom Moore. Since leaving the Colts as OC in 2009, senior offensive assistant in 2010 to consultant for the Jets 2011, Titans 2012, and now assistant HC / offensive consultant for Arizona. I didn't say hire him pre se, just someone qualified to teach all these new / young QB's on the roster. I mention this because of the recent apparent lack of ability for both EJ & Thad Lewis to handle heavy blitz situations in setting protections, calling hot reads and making the proper progressive reads.

That money would be better spent on someone with astute football acumen (like hiring ex Bill HC Chuck Knox as a consulant) rather then some number cruncher / bean counter, JMO

Man, some of you guys are even more pessimistic them myself, which is unusual to say the least. I can see the Bills winning 5 more games, and finishing 8-8. Mostly because that defense should only get better. Once SJ & Spiller get healthy, and if a QB steps up and plays better they could win more then 8 games this year. Part of the big problem has been the protections of the O line, and not just those 5. The RB's and TE's have been failing to make key blocks. Which is not really the lines fault as its the QB's job to read the defense, call protections, and set hot reads. I gotta wonder if Flynn would do a better job.

agree. On another note, good thing the Phins GM traded away their 2008 #1 overall draft pick, four time all pro LT Jake Long this off season. Dunno why they didn't keep him, and keep Martin at RT. This is a big reason as to why that Dolphin O line stinks this year IMO.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000273683/article/qb-roundup-uncertain-starters-in-buffalo-minnesota

Dude, are you forgetting what "Mr Deer in headlights" looked like in that Cleveland game? Or "Mr throw it in the turf" if you prefer. Lewis is like a Timex watch, can get a beating and keep on ticking. Although, In 3 games Lewis has been sacked 13 times, 6x fumbles while losing 3. The problem is that the Bills protections didn't hold up very well against that Saints D, as they sent 5, 6, sometimes 7, and not only did the extra blockers fail. Lewis had great difficulty in pre snap reads and hot reads. I highly doubt Tuel would be any better setting protections or making hot reads. I dunno at this point If I'd trust Matt Flynn over Jeff Tuel or Lewis just because of his time in the NFL. Packers 2008-2011, Seahawks 2012, 2013 Oakland-Buffalo 6 years in the league. I gotta wonder if he has the offense down yet. If so, then Flynn might be the wiser choice this week.

You take a long look at the Chiefs offense and you think that no way can QB Alex Smith (#16 ranked) beat this defense at home, in Buffalo! But then the realization sinks in that the Chiefs will probably run Jamaal Charles until he pukes (#2 ranked) Then looking at the Chiefs road record this season, 0-8 Jacksonville, 3-5 Philly, 3-4 Tennessee. Then beating 4-4 Dallas, 2-6 NY Giants, 3-4 Oakland, 2-5 Houston, 3-5 Cleveland in Arrowhead its easy to see why they are 8-0. The Chiefs have yet to play a team with an actual winning record, AND they have yet to play the 7-1 Denver Broncoe's 2x, a team in their division! Guess who is next on their schedule? You guessed it @ DENVER!! Ya know what, The Bills might just catch the Chiefs looking past the 3-5 Buffalo Bills, while looking solely at their division rival they need to beat for the division title. The Bills are getting +4.5 points. Now, that Bills O line will face the leagues best pass rush this week against the #5 defense. That KC defense has the very best pass rush with, Justin Houston 11 sacks- Tamba Hali 9 sacks. Chiefs have sacked the QB 36 times in 8 games. The #2 in pass rush Bills have 27 over the same 8 games. Good News-Bad News! The good news is that LG Colin Brown is gone off that O line. The bad news is the Bills O line has shown they don't handle the blitz very well even with Brown gone. The Saints sent 5, 6, and sometimes 7 rushers at Lewis, and not only did the extra blockers miss assignments, Lewis didn't make the pre snap reads very well to set protections. Then he wasn't very good at seeing the hot reads either. In his 3 starts for the bills QB Thad Lewis has been sacked 13 times, fumbled 6x, while losing 3x, and pressured countless times. I think this game will come down to the Bills offense being able to handle the Chiefs pass rush, and of course the Bills defense being able to stop the run. Also, should the Chiefs look past the Bills to their next game against Denver, it could be a win!!