thewildrabbit

Steve Fairchild is now working for the Chargers

This team has been desperate for a top pass rusher since 2008 when Aaron Schobel was injured. Yea bonehead Jauron drafted a huge project in Maybin that didn't work out, 2 years= zero sacks. So why didn't Buddy Nix move to correct that issue in 2010 when he first got here? NFN, but Jason Pierre Paul was the tenth rated player with a grade of 8.6. Another one of those woulda, shoulda, coulda I know. But Jeez, just think if the Bills would have drafted him instead of a position they were already deep in. Stating this I'm not 100% certain this team is moving in the right direction when they keep making wrong moves. It shouldn't take 3 years to find a pass rusher. For the 2011 season clearly Nix was counting on Shawn Merriman to be the man. But this was another huge gamble considering his old team dumped because he is so injury prone and hasn't been able to stay healthy. They should have had some adequate help this year at WR -TE and just might have had at WR if they don't trade Evans. But most importantly at center where they had Geoff Hangartner and cut him in pre season.The center position was a complete fiasco this year as they had 5 different players at that position. Will this team sign its free agents? Will they make an honest effort to finally secure a top pass rusher this year? Will they finally build an O line that will allow the offense to run the full spectrum of plays, run and pass? Still so many holes on this team after 2 years. Lets hope the team make a real effort in free agency this year, instead of Buddy Nix stating he is going to get some sleep when free agency opens like he did in 2010. Is this the year that Chan Gailey finally beats Jauron's record of 7-9?

Most posters here truly believe the Bills have a great O line because of so few sacks given up and the production from Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller. Its almost impossible to convince fans otherwise The reason for so few sacks is because the Bills utilize a quick, short passing scheme, and Ryan Fitzpatrick can get the ball out in under 3 seconds. Most times he has to.... because he usually doesn't have more the 3 seconds in the pocket. Also, a lot of those yards by the RB's were because they broke long runs. The reason for the long runs was because when teams did try to play up on the line, or stack the box to try and stop that short passing game. They were caught to close to the line of scrimmage and once the RB broke out its was a long gain before anyone caught them. FJ is still the #20th rusher even after getting injured in game 11. he had 10 runs of over 20 yards-some long gains in different games, 24-43-21-21-22-80-43-23-19. He was averaging a career best 5.5 YPC this year because of those long runs. Even Spiller started to duplicate the success that FJ had only without Eric Wood at center. He had long runs of 35-16-24-38-12 during his 6 games of starting. My problem with the current offense is Gailey calls way to many passing plays, and passes to set up the pass. Perhaps the older fans will remember that Ted Marchibroda ran the spread offense with Jim Kelly at RB and Thurman Thomas and both made it into the HoF because of that spread offense. Tom Brady and the Patriots use the spread offense, even empty backfield sets If anyone would care to look up the numbers of that late 80's early 90's Bills teams you would find that the Bills often ran more then they threw. Take 1990 for example(the year they set the league on fire for #1offense in the NFL) 425 attempts passing vs 479 attempts rushing. The Bills ran to set up the pass. All everyone remembers tho is the K gun & no huddle, to bad they don't remember that team was such a great dominate running team.

IDC what any of you say, this team could have used his skill set, his experience and veteran leadership on the field and in the locker room. Never mind the fact that the team really couldn't utilize his full skill set because they don't have any semblance of a deep passing game. In case most of you missed the sarcasm in my other post, Brad Smith was listed on the DC as the #3 QB and #2 WR, and he wasn't getting it done from my view. Derek Hagan was better. The 4 guys they tried as center didn't get it done once Wood went on IR. It is very conceivable that this team wins more then 6 games this year if they keep Evans, Hangartner...but then. it isn't about winning is it.

The Bills couldn't have possibly used Evans this season, they had Brad Smith as the #2 WR and guys like Ruvell Martain & Kamar Aiken to help run those 4, 5 WR empty backfield sets

I stated two years because that is what this regime has had, 2 drafts, 2 free agency periods. Yea well did you read Carringtons combine report? More of a run stopper then pass rusher. What kind of impact has this player had in sacks so far? I'd have to say that MD is more adapt at run stuffing then pass rushing, even when he did play DE. While no one is arguing that MD is a major upgrade at DT for this team, he is by no means a dominate pass rusher that the team is so desperate for. Oh, this just in- the Bills are STILL desperate for a dominate pass rusher, in case you missed it ... Other then that your love as a homer is undeniable

No worries, the Bills won't waste an early pick on any OT's as there are far to many skill players that entice them Looking at that NY Giants pass rush and how they just killed the Packers.... can anyone figure out why this team hasn't bothered to even try and draft a pass rusher with an early pick the last two years?

Lee made 20k+ for that one playoff game, he will make at least that much again next week when he plays in the AFC Championship game even if the Ravens lose. If the Ravens win next week he will get an honest shot to help win a super bowl ring along with making an extra 50k to 75k. I hope he makes it there and does well with his new team

Yea, Donte sucked, so did Lee Evans and Perry Frewell They all made an extra 20k just for one playoff game win, and all will be in either an NFC or AFC Championship game to make even more playoff money. Then at least one of them will make it to the super bowl.

In a word...NO! He would get killed behind this Bills line as not many QB's in this league can do what Fitz can do with so little around him. Besides this team needs to focus on building a better team around the current QB for him to be successful. Do I need to go into detail about how bad this Bills team was this year at almost every offensive position save QB & RB. I'll just say one thing tho, the 3rd string QB was listed on the depth chart as the #2 WR.

Jeez guy, just let it go... It wasn't his fault that Dickhead Jauron drafted him at #8 th in the first round when he had a late 2nd round grade. BTW, they are calling that hit by Whitner that knocked out Pierre Thomas a "Game changer" as the Saints lost their starting RB on that one hit !!! http://sports.yahoo....urn=nfl,wp16240 I'll never understand the hate for ex Bills players

Not only that, FJ is as good, if not better then Daryn Sproles who was the total yardage leader this season. Almost UN-replaceable at this point. What other RB that in the history of the Buffalo Bills that they have drafted have been anywhere near as good as FJ. I can only think of one in Thurman Thomas. Spiller might have a bright future with the Bills, but he is nowhere near as good as FJ at this point.

The Dolpfins are screwed with Jeff Ireland, phins fans h8 the guy. The hired a sky writing plane to implore the Miami owner to fire Ireland. Now that he caused Fisher to choose the Rams they gotta hate him even more, all good stuff for Bills fans Then the Jets are imploding, they went from having the best O line and running game in the NFL to 22nd. they are turning over the offensive staff. The QB is under fire and there are rumors out of Jetville that the FO wants to bring in Peyton Manning. again all good stuff for Bills fans. Wonder where that tool of a jet fan Jimmy Spagnola aka "puffy eye" has gotten off to? http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/topic/137438-jets-game-and-smack-talk/ Now "If only" something could go horribly wrong with the Patriots...

The Bills took a chance on a DC who was the Dolphins LB coach before becoming the Bills defensive coordinator. Dunno why they wasted two years on the guy when he stunk it up so bad his first year. I mean fielding a defense that was historically the worst defense against the run in franchise history should have been enough of an embarrassment to the team to fire him after one year. Anyway, the teams new DC is an old 4-3 man with a solid history of building a good defense. Lets see if he can finally get this franchise to field a defense that can stop the run, AND rush the passer. I expect some early draft picks and free agents to help with both.

What bias? Is this team not desperate for a dominate pass rusher at OLB / DE or a top LOT? Who cares other teams do, or if they draft 10 DB's a year! My entire point here is that both Jauron and Nix / Gaily have tried to fix the two most important positions in the NFL with late round picks that are usually developmental players rather the early draft picks for top players. Between the two regimes they have drafted ONE PLAYER #1 DE / OLB in Maybin (Jauron) who was clearly a huge gamble as a pass rusher. Gailey dumped him because the lame DC he hired couldn't figure out how to get any production out of him, and yet the Jets did get 6 sacks from him. This current regime hasn't even tried to draft early for a pass rusher OLB / DE, or OLT

can you imagine what the Rams are going to get in draft picks for RG3....2 #1's, 2 #2's at least. great way to build that team quickly

I'd also be let down with ANOTHER 1st round on a CB/DB Dick Jauron may have been an Ivy league grad, but he wasn't very bright in certain areas. Being an ex DB himself in the league he must have felt that the prime way to build a defense was to load up on top DB's I imagine he is still wakes up in a cold sweat seeing Tom Brady hit randy Moss for another deep TD. Jauron's problem was he couldn't see the forest for the trees. If he would have found a replacement for Aaron Schobel after Schobel was injured he might not have felt the need to draft so many DB's during his time in Buffalo. Whitner- Youboty- Simpson- Wendling- Mckelven- Corner- Cox- Byrd- Harris- Langster... 10 DB's & 3 DE's drafted under Jauron ...Chris Ellis a 3rd rounder- CJ Ah You 7th rounder, Aaron Maybin 1st rounder. What Jauron didn't get it is that Maybin was a huge project as a pass rusher, (only played his SR year) and the team needed help immediately like Brian Orakpo could have given the team. While Nix has drafted 2 DB's In #2 Williams & #4 Searcy, he also drafted 2 DE's in #6 Batten and #3 Carrington. So the team under Nix / Gailey hasn't really addressed either OT or DE / OLB pass rusher in the early stages of the draft for their two years. I can't understand why because both areas have been glaring needs. When you have two areas of the highest need of the team its just doesn't make any logical sense to gloss over them with late round maybe picks like this team has the last 3-4 years

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, and although I don't share it, Its OK because I think most fans posting here don't see it either. Drafting an OT early is not a sexy or exciting pick and most really don't want to see this team draft a position they all think is currently fine. But its not fine and hasn't been fine since the the departure of JP. A top LOT is so very key to any team being successful in about every offensive play they run. A big reason why I post on this subject has to do with the fact that both Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey stated before their first draft in 2010 that an OT early was a "priority", and they didn't draft one until rounds 5 & 7.... both players are long gone. They drafted Hairston last year with a #4 pick, but a 4th rounder at that position is usually a developmental player. I'm not the only one that thinks this team needs upgrades on the line. #10 OT Riley Reiff – Iowa McShay's take: The Bills have had a pressing need at left tackle for years, and haven't drafted one since they missed on Mike Williams at No. 4 overall in 2002. Reiff isn't a finished product but has good natural feet for his size, and he projects as a very good starting left tackle if developed properly. allow me to reiterate: http://www.buffalobi...88-e718580579a3 #10 OT Jonathan Martin – Stanford Lande's take: Proof that stats lie: The Bills allowed 29 sacks in 2011, tied for third-fewest in the NFL, but sources in Buffalo say the team's tackles "are a major concern." Martin is an elite athlete with the talent to be a top tackle. He would be an immediate upgrade on the left side. This Bills team has been desperate for a dominate pass rusher and LOT since 2008, anything other then either of those two positions with that #10 would make me PS Even Dick Jauron thinks drafting a CB at #10 this year is lame...

When did I ever say anything to the contrary to that bolded part ? Yea well, I'm not hating on anything or anyone. All I've been trying to do is open some other fans eyes to the fact that there is more to what transpires on the field then what the stats say. Finally someone at OBD gets what I've been seeing. http://www.buffalobi...88-e718580579a3 #10 OT Jonathan Martin – Stanford Lande’s take: Proof that stats lie: The Bills allowed 29 sacks in 2011, tied for third-fewest in the NFL, but sources in Buffalo say the team's tackles "are a major concern." Martin is an elite athlete with the talent to be a top tackle. He would be an immediate upgrade on the left side. The running game improvements this year have a great deal to do with the formations utilized by Chan Gailey, that spread offense keeps opposing defense's from stacking the box to stop the run. Did you ever see a running play this past season when this Bills team used a closed formation trying to make short yardage, it wasn't pretty, and it wasn't usually successful either.

Calling them sub par is being kind, i just don't think many fans understand just how bad those OT's really are. The reason is, Fitz can mask a lot of deficiencies by getting the ball out so quickly. Plus Chan is helping mask them by setting up a short passing game. I just don't get how a HC could go into a season knowing how limited his play calling is going to be in the passing game and yet keep trying to make it work game after game. Finally after 2 years of this Buddy Nix is talking about drafting some OT's, lets see what happens.

Chan will get there, he just needs 6 years

Wannastache says hi too Yeah, one poster had it right about his OC was terribad and MM needed to take over the play calling. Meanwhile, Tom Donahoe wanted him to make Losman into another Ben Rothlisberger

The Jags felt they wanted an offensive minded HC to help mentor 1st round draft pick QB Blane Gabbert, just like he did with Matt Ryan in Atlanta. Mularkey must think Gabbert has some skill or he wouldn't take that job. Morris lost the team, the youth movement at HC failed and now the team is looking at older more experienced HC's Wade Phillips-Marty Schottheimer Da Bears- KC Chiefs -Colts -Bengals -Steelers -Raiders- Vikings all have black HC's. I think teams look more at the talent then the skin color, all teams want to win.

Perhaps Brian doesn't think Sanchez is developing properly as he seemed to regress this year. I think he will follow his dad to wherever job he takes. They changed linemen and RB's and things seemed to go downhill. From Thomas Jones, Shone Green, Leon Washington to LT, Shone Green, Joe McKnight. Dunno maybe Sanchez also misses WR's Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery.The offense also lost RT Damien Woody, RB Danny Woodhead & QB-RB-WR Brad Smith so perhaps those 3 factored into their problems. My take is it looks like the team was putting more pressure on Sanchez to carry the team. Two years ago they had the most dominate O line and run game in the league, and for some reason moved away from that into a more passing offensive. The results of doing that were obvious. Not only are the Jets losing OC Brian Schottheimer, they are losing their O line coach Bill Callahan to Dallas and WR coach Henry Ellard. I think Callahan was a big reason as to why that line played so well. They also have ex Bills O line coach Jim McNally as a consultant.

Jeez, if Fisher takes that St Louis HCing job and trades RG3. Oh man, the Rams could get a record amount of picks for him, way to instantly upgrade a team