thewildrabbit

naa, its Mrs Nix Welcome, no offense but Nix has way to go to prove he isn't one of the very worst GM's so far. 16-32 isn't just Chan Gaileys record, and who hired Gailey. This draft makes Nix look so much better, although it also very much depends on "IF" Marrone will be a good NFL HC, and "IF" EJ will be a good NFL QB, and "IF" those players with troubled pasts actually work out. Just keepin it real.

I was thinking the Bills would draft DE Jadeveon Clowney next year. Its just a very rich draft for QB's in 2014, unlike this year However, I would say everything depends on how these three QB's play this year. If they all play very poorly at least the bills would be in position to draft a starter next year, that doesn't need much development.

They have drafted 30+ the last 13 years, and wouldn't have needed to draft that many if they just paid Antonie Winfield what he was worth.

Silver linings... I think fans will be more tolerant this season with a rookie HC & perhaps rookie QB then they have in the past. Jadeveon Clowney DE Teddy Bridgewater QB Johnny Manziel QB Anthony Barr DE AJ McCarron and the list for QB's goes on...next years QB class is way better, and WalterFootball.com already has the Bills drafting at #3. With Seattle and Denver in the SB. With the Seahawks getting the Lombardi Trophy. http://walterfootball.com/draft2014_1.php want more? http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/5/6/4304044/2014-nfl-draft-quarterbacks-teddy-bridgewater-tajh-boyd

Unproven HC, perhaps a rookie QB starting. Even with Kolb or Jackson I posted this in another thread, but it has relevance in this one too. Hey, nobody thought the Bills could get worse then Jaurons teams, especially with an experienced HC that won in the NFL with the Cowboys

Wanna talk emotional mess...that's what most Bills fans just might be in week 8 or so... remember the 2010 seasons first 8 games? The odds of a college coach coming into the NFL and building a winning team his first stint are pretty slim, even tho he has a lot of endorsements from other NFL coaches. Even then his Syracuse team only went 8-5, and cuse came in 4th place in the Big East behind Louisville, Cincinnati, Rutgers. Then you have a QB that was graded as a 3rd or 4th rounder before the Senior Bowl, and although EJ was the MVP of that game, the rest of this years draft class is so bad it made an average QB look brilliant. EJ, 7 of 10 for 76 yards a TD, and an INT...that's it? EJ Manuel was viewed as a project by most draft sites. So, now you know why most of the scouts, analysts were shocked at the EJ pick in the first round. However, Bills fans are saying they love the pick because this franchise finally committed to drafting a QB in the first round. Like most Bills fans I'm pulling for Marrone and EJ to win some games this season.

We can only hope this coaching staff lives up to expectations this season. The world thought Dave Wannstedt would bring respectability to a bad defense under George Edwards, he didn't. In fact, he was far worse then Edwards was while trying to implement a 3-4 with mostly 4-3 players. Wannstedt was the biggest mistake Chan Gailey made. If Gailey finds a better DC he might still be with Buffalo. Gailey built his offense on a backup QB, and never saw past Fitz at all. The current QB's on the roster are way better then Fitz, or should be. Fitz 23-41-1 career, 0-3 at St Louis, 4-7 at Cincy, 19-31 in Buffalo. Kolb 9-12 career, 3-4 at Philly. 6-8 at Arizona. Jackson 17-17, career. 10-10 at Minn, 7-7 at Sea. However Tavaris Jackson played his worst when the game was on the line, and that was a big reason the Seahawks traded him away. So, even if EJ starts, I expect this season to be filled with growing pains ...in every area.

Found this article, thought some of you would like to offer an opinion on it. The complete schedule and odds are with the link. "We’re 17 weeks away from the kickoff of the NFL regular season, but the games have already begun in Las Vegas." "The Patriots are not an underdog in any game, but three of their games opened pick 'em." http://linemakers.sp...ts-books-cantor Las Vegas odds are giving the Buffalo Bills 3 wins this year, and a pickem against the Dolphins... Week one, -7 New England at Buffalo Week two,- 1 Carolina at Buffalo Week three, Buffalo at NY Jets -3.5 Week four, -4 Baltimore at Buffalo Week five, Buffalo at Cleveland -1.5 Week six, -2.5 Cincinnati at Buffalo Week seven, Buffalo at Miami -4 Week eight, Buffalo at New Orleans -6.5 Week nine, Kansas at Buffalo -1.5 Week ten, Buffalo at Pittsburgh -7 Week eleven, New York Jets at Buffalo -1.5 Week twelve, bye week Week thirteen, -3 Atlanta vs Buffalo in Toronto Week fourteen, Buffalo at Tampa Bay -3 Week fifteen, -1 Buffalo at Jacksonville Week sixteen, Miami at Buffalo pickem Week seventeen, Buffalo at New England Wins, KC, Jets,Jags and maybe Fins. Although, I don't see the Chiefs as a pushover anymore, not with Andy Reid as HC Obviously these odds change as teams win or lose throughout the season.

That really depends where your seats are IMO. In and around season ticket holders Bills fans aren't obtuse, spilling beer or swearing every other word. However, I have seen many Bills fans like this, even at the SB's and at times I'm ashamed to be a Bills fan. Anyway, I took my kids to every home game from 88-93 and never had a problem, ever They both are now season ticket holders and have their own seats. Things might have changed since the losing began, I dunno. But i never hear my children complain, and now they sometimes take their kids to games. What I do know is I'm not paying for an inferior product, and until the Bills start winning or even build a team I think has the ability to produce a winning record I refuse to attend. Although, nothing I can say will give my children pause to reconsider buying their season tickets every year. I suppose thats what keeps RW raking in the money while his team stinks. BTW, with the Direct TV NFL Sunday ticket you get "short cuts" which shows every game from Sunday in 30 min, so you can record and watch as many NFL games as you want without the commercials and announcer BS. P.S. The only thing getting old with me is that Buffalo Bills "shout song"

Way to early too tell yet. Although not understanding why they didn't replace LG Levitre.

First round QB's almost always get thrown into the fire right away, so I don't see EJ sitting if he can grasp the offense in pre season. Then again, it might be smarter to let Kolb / TJ take the first lumps in a new offense with a new OC calling plays. Remember Fitz literally running for his life those first 8 games in 2010, you know, the year they started out 0-8.

There is something about 80,000 screaming fans going nuts all around you when your team gets a win against a hated rival. Playoff games are even more pronounced. You simply can't feel that experience at home in a chair, nothing like it. NFL football even with all its rule changes to protect the players is still a very violent sport, people love that. The sounds you hear when they collide after a big hit or the grunts, snarls at the line of scrimmage. One of the linemen break a finger and they just tape it up and go back out there. Baseball is boring to me, even in the stadium...like watching golf

yea, good stuff, thanks for posting.

Well said, not to mention that one all pro LT isn't going to win games by himself as Its a team sport. Sometimes even two or three good players on that line isn't enough to make it a cohesive unit, it takes five players on the same page. I agree Center is very important. The Bills had an all pro LT in 2007-08 and they still had a bad line because the centers were terrible (Fowler - Preston). The Bills are lucky to have Eric Wood! Now if only he could stay healthy and finish a season. I'm a firm believer in building the O line first, and doing it right with top talent. Like the current 49ers have done.

No need to apologize.

Good stuff, love the pick if he stays clean

Pats fans were clamoring for a new top WR, and they got Aaron Dobson in the 2nd round Yea, the very last thing I want to see is Tom Brady to have an explosive Julio Jones type WR in Patterson. Now that they lost their go to possession guy in Wes Welker with 100+ catches every year, things could be very different in New England this season.

I think new HC is under a misconception that because he was an ex NFL linemen that he can fix the flaws in a lot of Bills O line players. Hey, perhaps he can, what do I know. What I do know is that putting lipstick on a pig does nothing as its still a pig. The current line has two good players, and perhaps three if Hairston develops into a decent RT. Will this line be good enough to protect Kolb or EJ this season, particularly up the middle. I have my doubts.

Sorry you don't care for the name, it stays until the fundamental psyche of the team changes. Because now its not just HC Marrone who's job is on the line, Its Buddy Nix and his staunch supporter Russ Brandon. They both need to fear the losing! Gailey's record at 16-32 is also Buddy Nix's record, and for that matter Russ Brandon's record. It seems to me no matter how bad the team plays the people in charge not only get a pat on the back, they get promotions! We will see what happens if things don't work out again. Anyway, the O line sucked back then because they ran the offense from a traditional closed pro shotgun set. The O line still sucks, Gailey just used smoke and mirrors, and a spread offense. Kinda why Gailey refused to play a different QB. Kinda why the RB's could gain big yardage all season but they couldn't make a first down on 3rd and short if their lives depended on it. Not to mention all the injuries that happen every year to every player on that line, no continuity. I firmly believe that it takes a very good O line to build a winning team in todays NFL, especially if you have a below average QB or a rookie. Don't get me wrong, I would be unbelievably happy to be proved wrong here. If I am, it means the Bills found an amazing talent at QB, aka Big Ben, Aaron Rodgers. But it just so happens that I have this very same argument with other Bills fans every year, and year after year since the Jim Kelly days. I love that Bills fans always have eternal optimism at this time every year, never lose it! Cheers!

That, plus Jauron scrood the pooch with Walker. He wanted to run the hurry up / no huddle at the start of the 09 season so he set it up in pre season. Then when Walker didn't get to the line quickly enough for Jauron he cut him two weeks before the start of the season. Kirk Chambers replaced him at RT. Walker went back to the Raiders, and played in 7 games for them in 09. 15 game starts in 2010. Jauron also fired his OC Turk Schonert two weeks before the season started and promoted QB coach AVP. Who really wasn't ready for that job, thus scuttling his own team.

You seem gleefully optimistic, good luck with that. I'll believe it when I see it.

#1 picks tend to get thrown into the fire right away. I'm hoping they let this kid sit and learn for a year like SF did with Kaepernick.

His Tenn coaching staff stunk, and the HC was fired before the last game the 2012 season. The team went 5-7 ,and although the team had Bray and decent receivers the defense was on of the worst in team history. Bray got the wrong advice and decided to leave school early. Hunter was the better WR with 73 rec, 1083 yards and Patterson had 46 rec for 778 yards + 25 carries for 308 yards. But they also dropped a lot of balls The team didn't have a 1000 yard rusher, and mainly depended on Bray to make things work. Bray has a bunch of issues with his techniques, footwork, delivery, decision making, not to mention some off the field maturity problems. His agent probably told him he would be a 2nd or 3rd rounder. Bray went to the right place to sit and learn, work on his craft. I can see this kid taking over the starting job next year and winning a bunch of games if he matures properly.

Like many others that post here, you read things, but don't interpret what others actually say. Not everything is black and white and pure stats. Throw the stats out the window for pass blocking / run blocking between two totally different offenses with two / three totally different QB's. Losman wasn't as good as Edwards, and Edwards had an actual faster release then Fitz, but then he couldn't get the ball out to the open receiver faster at all. Couldn't read the defense as well and couldn't set protections at the line like Fitz. Plus, he had more of a tendency to check down to the RB's because he didn't trust his receivers / line. Then under Jauron with OC's Steve fairchild, Turk Schonert, AVP he was forced to run a semblance of the Mike Martz passing offense which calls for more 5-7 step deep drops when he clearly didn't have the time on many occasions. What good did brining in TO do if they couldn't always get him the ball. Dick Jauron ran an offense from mostly a closed, shotgun formation for Losman / Edwards. But at least the Bills could make a first down on 3rd and short at that time. Jauron kept flip flopping between the two young QB's that year. The O line was not that bad in 2007 except for the center Melvin Fowler, who was a complete waste of space, as his bad play made the whole line look bad. Like I stated above, 28 year veteran O line coach retired at the end of 07 and the line did go to hell as nobody played up to the previous level under the new assistant O line coach in 08 -09. Duke Preston was the new center in 08 and he was just about as bad as Fowler. That 08 Bills line allowed the unblocked hit that severely concussed Trent Edwards in Arizona. Also, there was a game in 08 against the Jets in which Jets DT Kris Jenkins was triple teamed by the Bills center and both guards Dockery, Preston, Butler and Jenkins still broke thru the triple team and still got to the QB. I can remember announcer Phil Simms ranting about it. I believe that after watching that performance by his O line that Jauron finally decided to upgrade the line in the 09 draft by selecting Wood & Levitre. Jauron should have drafted for the line when he first got to buffalo, instead of brining in overpriced free agent players I admit by the end of their collective time in Buffalo, Dockery & Walker both sucked. However, Brad Butler was not that bad. OTOH, Chan Gaileys shotgun spread offense allowed the RB's to make bigger gains, and longer runs because the offense was spread out. So once the RB broke free of the line there were less defenders to make the tackle, hence the longer runs. Like I have stated many times, Fitz had many flaws, but getting the ball out quickly to the open receiver (SJ) wasn't one of them, and he had excellent escape-ability once the pocket broke down. Gaileys short / quick passing scheme along with Fitz at QB was the biggest reason why the pass blocking looked so much better with him under center. Fitz's play hid a lot of the flaws in that line, and even if the Bills run the same scheme Gailey ran, will Kolb, Jackson or even a rookie be able to hide those flaws? Like I stated above, "This current line is not as good as everyone thinks it is. You don't need to believe me, just wait until the season starts and see for yourselves."

My user name used to be FeartheBeard because Fitz / Gailey sported beards. I changed to that name in 2011 after they went 5-2, and it looked like the Bills might actually field a winning team for a change. In week 8 against the Redskins ex Bill LBer London Fletcher hit Fitz so hard he broke / cracked some ribs. Gailey knowing this, still allowed Fitz to continue to play the rest of the season, and the vicious cycle of beaten down Bills QB's strikes again. Fitz should have been benched / pulled from the lineup until he was healthy again, and able to play. Michael Vick had the same injury and he was pulled for a few weeks. Broken ribs is a very serious injury and very painful to even breathe at times, much less heave a football around for 60 min. At the end of 2011, after going 6-10. and another losing season I changed the user name again to FeartheLosing, for obvious reasons. Haven't had a chance or real reason to change the user name yet. This group of O linemen currently on the roster isn't miles above anything. They had All pro LT Jason Peters, LG Dockery, C Fowler, RG Butler, RT Walker in 2007 and except C Melvin Fowler all those players were better then current line. The problem was that Fowler, the center was so lame he ruined the entire line. The center anchors the line and usually calls the protections. Current Bills C Eric Wood could be an all pro "IF" he ever lasts an entire season. Wood 47 out of 65 games and still hasn't finished a season in four years. Kinda why every year when he goes down, the team goes with him. Why that line went into the toilet later was because 25 year veteran O line coach Jim McNally retired and Jauron replaced him with an assistant. Cordy Glenn and Hairston may develop into very good tackles, but until one becomes an all pro they are not better then Peters. Glenn played well last season but he also didn't play16 games. The Bills line played appeared to play well last season for two reasons. First, Fitz and his ability to get the ball out to the receiver in 1.5 to 3 seconds which usually negates the opposing pass rush. Still, he was hit quite often after the ball was already out (London Fletcher hit) Second, was the offensive scheme Gailey ran, a spread offense with the quick, short slants so the O linemen never had to continuously hold blocks longer then 3 seconds. When the Bills needed a first down on 3rd an short they usually passed because Gailey knew the line couldn't make it in a closed formation. They had tried 3rd and short in closed formations several times and always failed. The line couldn't even give Fitz time to throw at the end of the game against the pukey Titans (32nd in pts allowed last year) in week 7 when everyone was healthy. This current line is not as good as everyone thinks it is. You don't need to believe me, just wait until the season starts and see for yourselves.