thewildrabbit

Sad fact, but probably true I'm still holding out hope that Ralph Wilson goes thru that period of clarity that most old people go thru before they pass. He wakes up to the realization that his family will be set for the rest of their lives even if he sells before he passes. Sell it to either a single person or group but stipulate that the team stays in Buffalo for x amount of years.Buffalo fans have kept Ralph Wilson in profitability despite all the losing seasons, he needs to reciprocate that loyalty. That is if he wants leave a respectable legacy, and not one like Art Modell

BB you had the right idea the first time with Vic Fangio as HC. I like Mike Nolan but only as a DC, this was the guy Gailey should have hired to implement his 3-4.

Jeez, 100 Million dollars on a pass rusher, the 2011 #3 overall on a DT, the all pro DT fully healthy, more money spent in free agency on a pass rusher, the # 10 overall this year on a CB Is there any wonder why expectations were very high? Then the defense lays down to the tune of 48 points to the hapless Jets and 52 points to the Patriots, both division rivals the Bills were supposed to be competitive with this year. Those 2 wins came against the 0-4 Browns and 1-3 Chiefs.... The Bills look scary bad, particularly on defense. The offense is a turnover machine to the good teams even tho they scored enough TD's to win. The Bills defense looks worse then when the inept George Edwards was coaching them to historic fails, Kinda a lot of doubt about the season now.

I'd like to see Wannstedt get out...

Looks like were are in agreement over a lot that transpired back in the Knox era. I just can't get over that Wilson didn't pay whatever Knox wanted at the time. Same thing with John Butler, if Wilson makes him an offer to be one of the highest paid at his position, he stays IMO. Sit down at a table, look him in the eye and say whats it going to take...then pay the man. The thing is with Chuck Knox he didn't need an OJ or a Jim Kelly or a 100 million dollar super Mario. Knox could take a bunch of no name young players, bring in some older vets to rah rah rah the young guys, turn them all lose and win games. Knox was a supreme motivator, shrewd talent evaluator and overall really good head coach. Ralph Wilson had a Bill Belichick of his own in Chuck Knox and let him walk.JMO What is sad is the fans suffer as long as the stadium is filled, Wilson will never hire another top HC unless the fans stop filling the stadium. The current Bills marketing dept will never let that happen, so fans will be stuck with the status quo until the team changes hands. P.S. What really gets me is Marty S wanted the Bills HCing job badly in 09, and RW didn't feel "comfortable" with him for some reason. Bills fans are cursed....

I just can't get over 6 TD's in a half....48 pts to the Jets offense That defensive performance against the Patriots in the 2nd half reminded me of the Bruce Smith Tampa Bay game with Hank Bullough as head coach in week 9, 1986. In which Bruce Smith tells the defense in the huddle "anyone makes a tackle, they answer to me!" That week the Bills fired Bullough and hired Marv Levy. I dunno if Chan lost the team, it sure looks to me like Dave Wannstadt lost the defense. That defensive line is way better then what they have shown so far, we all know it! Good friend or no, if Wannstedt's defense gives another performance like they did against the Patriots, Gailey needs to replace him.

I don't have a Ralph is cheap mantra! However I do have a Ralph is not always smart with his money mantra! I know why Knox left, more money would have kept him in Buffalo! You do realize how much Knox transformed the Buffalo Bills. The Bills had a moron for a GM in Stew Barber, and Knox built a winner in Buffalo despite Barber. Barber was the reason the Bills couldn't get a deal done with Tom Cousineau. The Bills were only 10k apart, and let him walk It was Knox who made the deal to trade away OJ. It was Knox who was the shrewd talent evaluator. Knox also completely redid the scouting dept by hiring some new scouts and brought in Norm Pollom from the Rams. Knox wasn't only the head coach, he was also director of Football operations for the Bills. Not only did he coach but was also involved in filling the stadium with fans. The average attendance before Knox was 44k, 1/2 the stadium filled each game. The Bills couldn't play a pre season game at home because no other team would come in because basically no Bills fans would buy pre season tickets. Chuck Knox completely turned around things around with the 1980 "talking Proud campaign" After the 82 season Ralph Wilson had his fans back, his stadium was filled again, so he let one of the best coaches he ever hired leave. P.S.You can think whatever you like, I never read anywhere that Rauch, Saben or Levy were paid near the top of any scale. What I do know is that Marv Levy always kept his salary secret, not sure why. I also know that John Butler was fired by Wilson because he refused to sign a new contract before the season ended. Another top person in their field leaving for more money. I believe Chuck Knox called Buffalo "a coaches graveyard"

Yea well, got a link to how each of those coaches were paid compared to their peers? I know Knox was well paid because Wilson had to pay him to bring him into Buffalo after winning 5 straight divisional championships with the Rams, 1.2 million over 6 years. When it came to getting a raise for Knox, Wilson declined so Knox went to Seattle

I didn't miss any point. What I'm saying it is an apples to apples argument! The team Gailey inherited had some good talent on it. In fact Buddy Nix thought so also when he stated "you're going to think i'm crazy, but we are not that far away" Nix was correct in his assessment of the Bills prospects for 2010, the Bills were just hindered by being forced to hire a guy as HC that had been fired as OC of the Chiefs two weeks before the season started in 09, Just like the way Jauron fired Turk Schonert.The bigger problem was not only being limited to hiring like the 15th head coach on the list of desired hirings. It was the assistants that Chan Gailey chose to hire after he was hired. Instead of hiring experienced NFL coaches he chose to hire a bunch of his assistant coaches from his day as HC of Georgia Tech. So the Bills hired a bunch of assistants that needed to be trained on how the NFL works. The difference in 09 between the defenses was the Bills @ 19th, the 49ers at 15th. not that big a difference. http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?tabSeq=2&statisticCategory=TOTAL_YARDS&conference=ALL&role=OPP&season=2009&seasonType=REG What did i say? A "motivated" Marshawn Lynch in Seattle put up some really good numbers, and along with Fred Jackson are a much better tandem then just Frank Gore. In my view Jackson alone is very equal to Gore. Anyway, who is to say that if Harbough or another top HC had come to Buffalo they couldn't have properly motivated Lynch like Seattle did? The Bills changed like 8 players from the roster between 2009 -2010. When they desperately needed a LT, a RT, a pass rusher and a franchise QB. The Bills finally addressed LT and pass rusher this year

This is a great and very valid point. The Bills have never paid big money to a head coach. The one time they came close was with Chuck Knox they got a winner

Good lord I read this all the time, like the Bills had no talent anywhere on their roster when Gailey got here. The Bills had Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson. Lynch motivated in Seattle is a 1200+ yard a year rusher along with 12 TD's and he runs like a Mack truck. Fred Jackson is like a Jaguar who is so elusive he makes the first tackler miss and breaks the second, and could easily equal what Lynch has done if he had stayed healthy. The Bills had a better running game then the 49ers.This regime decided to draft another RB (Spiller) "waterbug" in 2010 with that #1 pick, a guy who sat on the bench for most of his first 2 years, and still isn't the starter. The biggest problem the Bills offense was they needed a LT to replace JP who they traded away. they finally drafted his replacement in 2012 in Cordy Glenn. Why it took them 3 years, i don't know! They also needed a RT in 2010 and still don't have a top RT or RG. For the defense the Bills have needed a top pass rusher since Aaron Schobel retired in 09. They were the #19 defense, and San Fran was the #15 defense in 2009. Jauron swung and missed with Aaron Maybin and yet the Redskins picked right after the Bills and hit a home run with Brian Arakpo. Anyway, Nix finally addressed the pass rush by adding super Mario and Mark Anderson in 2012, why it took 3 years, again I don't know Gailey /. Nix have made a multitude of boneheaded personnel / scheme / assistant errors along their 12-24 run so far in Buffalo. The 49ers have a great coaching staff, while the Bills have a mediocre to bad coaching staff. However, Lets not forget what Nix had to go thru just to get Chan Gailey to come to Buffalo

Well, I still believe BB tore them a new one at the half, reminding them they were 1-2 and down 21-7 to a team they normally own year in year out. If they continued to play flat like they did in the first half that they wouldn't be seeing any of that playoff money this year. Another main point I had is how poorly motivated that vaunted Bills D line has been against the Jets and Patriots. There are some great players on that D line IMHO, they just need someone (who can) to light a fire. The Dolphins had 8 sacks on the Cards this past week, and I think the Bills d line is better then Miami's. Do the players hate Gailey / Wannstadt?

My take is he was so worried about doing everyone else's job in Buffalo he had a tough time just doing his own. All he did was make the tackles the front 7 in front of him would whiff on. Whitner is right about Harbough,although I hope BB is correct and the Bills end up with Vic Fangio as their new HC next year yea me too, coaching is everything

One punt, then 6 TD's and a FG. Something happened, and it wasn't just one guy or one area either. It was their entire team overachieving for most of that 2nd half. Fine, you don't care to believe Belichick had involvement in what happened in that 2nd half, while I do. The Bills do possess one of the best D lines in the NFL, and its clear to me that nobody on that line has been motivated to make plays against the Jets or the Patriots for whatever reason. BTW, 2-2 and those 2 wins came against the 0-4 Browns and 1-3 Chiefs. 48 points given up against the Jets, 52 against the Patriots. Also, George Edwards didn't have Kyle Williams-Super Mario- Mark Anderson- Stephon Gilmore, and yet did so much better against the Patriots.

Ya know what it looked like to me. Bill Belichick went into the Patriots locker room at half time and planted his foot half way up everyones backside. Stating things like we are 18-1 against these losers, all they do is show up for a paycheck and don't care if they win the division or even have a winning record once the season ends. We were just in the SB against the NY Giants, and in order to get back to the SB we need to crucify these Buffalo Bums.I want to see some fire out there on the field or some of you will be looking for work next week. The NFL game is all about emotion, pure emotion will win every time. Bill Belichick motivated his team to go out and kick some serious arse, and they did just that. Just as the Bills defense was flopping all over the place, the Bills offense also took a nosedive. they couldn't run with authority and kept giving the ball back to Brady. The Patriots usually scored on a TD drive in less then 3 min again, again, again,again, again, again. Or perhaps DW was surfing for midget porn up in his box, either that or fell asleep. OTOH maybe the Patriots owner made DW an offer for some $$ he couldn't refuse. Personally, I think it was Belichick rallying his players to overachieve, something that eludes this Bills coaching staff. Mentally tough....naa. How about properly motivated, something Marv Levy knew how to do. That 2nd half reminded me of the Tampa Bay Bruce Smith game in which Bruce stated ""Nobody make a tackle or they answer to me"":

Yea, the time differential between the coasts may seem to make it easier on the east coast teams going west. But the reality is that all that flight time, and traveling disrupt most players normal routines. Most teams doing all the traveling usually lose. The only good thing is the Bills might just be more prepared and relaxed to face the Arizona Cardinals then the 49ers. But then there is the coaching I give the Bills no chance against the 49ers, and a decent shot to beat the Cards.

Gotta love that Buffalo Bills eternal optimism... Its normally very difficult for any team to cross from either coast and then be productive and win a game. So not only do the Bills need to face that obstacle, they also face a team that might lose just one or two games all year long. A team with the #3 in defense in the NFL, playing at home. A team that went 13-3 last year and was one game away from the SB. A team that is 3-1, 104 PF, 65 PA. A team that is the #2 favorite to win the SB this year @ 5-1 odds. A team that just smoked division rival Jets 34-0. The Niners are a -10 against the Bills As for me, I have lost all faith in this coaching staff! Still, GO BILLS! EDIT: 13-3 typo

Now think about Dick Jauron and that bolded statement. I think Gailey is as clueless about the defense as Jauron was about the offense.JMO I think its extraordinarily moronic for a HC to hand off any part of his team to an assistant and give them free reign. Yet, because Gailey is so "hands on" involved with the offense that is exactly what it looks like Gailey did with George Edwards and now Dave Wannstedt. So far Wannstedt looks far worse then George Edwards, unbelievable I know, but true. If anything Gailey needs to consider demoting Wannstedt from assistant HC and promoting Bob Sanders to that position along with more responsibility in running the defense. Look at the drive charts, 6 TD's, one FG in a half, and each drive usually taking under 3 min. What a colossal meltdown on the defense against a divisional rival. NWIH should the Bills be that much worse with a healthy Kyle Williams, super Mario and MD on that line. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracker/drivecharts/NFL_20120930_NE@BUF

The thing is Chan knew George Edwards and his 3-4 wasn't getting it done and yet gave him 2 years. One year with Wannstedt supposedly helping Edwards. Against the Patriots the new and improved D line looked so much worse then when Edwards was coaching it. Granted its only 2 games, but its also 48 points to the Jets, 52 to the Patriots. the wins were against the 0-4 Browns and 1-3 Chiefs. Chan Gailey hired his old friend to help him out, and so far all his old friend has done is make it worse. I doubt this cronyism is going to win many games against good teams.

Bills fans have seen flashes, they know Spiller could be another CJ2K, Jamaal Charles. They know Freddy Jackson should be a huge superstar in this league if they would run him more. They know Stevie Johnson is a top WR, and realize just how good he could be if the Bills had another top WR on the other side to take some coverage away from him. Like Roddy White / Julio Jones. While many fans love Fitz they also know he is not an elite QB, nor will he ever be. What he is, is a gunslinger type who would be best suited to hand off more and throw less, and just manage the game rather then be forced to shoulder everything. The Bills do possess the talent on that D line to kick some serious arse all game long, the problem now is they are burdened by a moron of a DC who expects them to dominate in a vanilla base scheme. I long for the days of Jauron / Fewell and 7-9. I look at the game plans against the Jets and Patriots and have to think the Bills win 5 games this season

I highly doubt Gailey will ever change The Bills have the personnel to build a dominate power running attack, and yet don't even try to build one. A power running game would have not only kept the ball away from Brady and the Patriots offense, and had ole Tom sitting on his arse most of that second half. It would have also helped keep Wannstadt's hapless D off the field. Chan Gailey's goal each game seems to try and force a perennial back up QB to magically transform into an elite / franchise who can out throw every other QB in the league. I have no more faith in this coaching staff, and am just counting the days until a change is made.

Running the ball would require a physically tough tough team, and not a finesse... try and do it with mirrors team. Gailey teases us with a semblance of a running game used only as a diversion because his real intent is to magically transform a back up QB into an elite franchise who can out throw every other QB in the league. I thought freaking Jauron was bad, i just can't wait until this staff of morons is fired. Even George Edwards was better then wannstedt

First off Kevin Gilbride is an "offensive coordinator" and left to his own devices Gilbride likes to throw more then he should. Working under Tom Coughlin who reigned him in, and now Gilbride calls much more of a balanced attack. Which is why its important for the head coach to fully understand the teams schemes on both offense and defense. Something that escapes Chan Gailey.

When all this is said and done with the current staff of moron coaches I want you to think back to this conversation. Gailey is a moron for hiring George Edwards and keeping his as his DC for 2 years, then he is an even bigger moron for hiring his good old buddy from his Cowboy / Dolphin days who is a "has been" "over the hill" loser who is clueless on how to make a 4-3 work in todays NFL. Get this straight, Kyle Williams is an all pro and a beast. His motor never stops and already has 3.5 sacks. Marcell Darius is a beast, there is a reason he was graded as the best pick in the draft in 2011 draft. There is also a reason why the Bills paid 100 million to super Mario, the most highly sought after FA DE in the NFL last year. Both Mark Anderson and Chris Kelsay are good players capable of putting pressure on the QB and getting sacks. The Buffalo Bills do currently possess one of the best D lines in the NFL. The problem is they are being coached by one of the worst DC's in the game, even the known moron George Edwards did better last season with less talent Someday soon when this staff is fired and replaced by people that know what they are doing ( I hope) you guys will see its not the players. Maybe reading comprehension is not your thing... Understand I didn't respond to the original post, but to a different one. Try reading that one

Yea, Kyle Williams a pro bowl DT, and a force in the middle is a bum, and so is the 100 million dollar DE. #3 overall Marcel Darius was a wasted pick. DE Mark Anderson who got 12 sacks last year now over the hill. The DC called a brilliant game and the players just didn't respond at all against a banged up NE O line.