thewildrabbit

I still have a problem with the HC & GM reporting to the finance / marketing guy...and yet he supposedly has no voice or influence over either. I don't dislike the man, all I know is I want him as far away from the football side of operations as he can get. After Marv Levy stepped down Russ Brandon became the de facto GM, and then so many here claim he didn't make football decisions. Hiring Buddy Nix, Chan Gailey, Doug Marrone, and promoting Doug Whaley might not have all his decisions. Yet, I'm sure he had his share of influence on all of them, and all of the important team decisions made by all of them. Should the Pegula's fire him I won't shed a tear, and should they retain him and move him totally away from the football decisions I'll be fine with that too. The latter is all I want to see happen.

You would think its an easy task to replace an offensive guard, as Buddy Nix thought they were a dime a dozen, that any tackle can be moved to OG with instant success. That you can always draft OG's in the later rounds as they are the easiest position on the team to fill. Yet, now its going to be three years, and still counting for a decent replacement for Levitre. The reality is its a whole hell off a lot easier to draft a top OG then it is to find a franchise QB. But first you might need to actually use an early pick on a guard. Like following the Cowboys lead with a #16 first round pick in Zack Martin at OG. (who made the pro bowl as a rookie) Or like the Browns with a #2 draft pick in Joel Bitonio for OG.

Apparently you missed the last game against the Raiders in which Urbik was shoved five yards into the Bills backfield with Raiders D lineman Antonio Smith draped all over him to make the tackle on Spiller five yards behind the line of scrimmage. Then even if Spiller had managed to elude that tackle there were two other Raiders ready to jump on him before he even got back to the line of scrimmage. On that particular play it was seven Bills on five Raiders, and the Bills lost. That is the trouble for the entire line this year, as they all stink. The O line coach should be fired. The Bills OC should be fired, and the guy who is coaching the entire offensive mess should be fired, and now I'm wondering if Whaley shouldn't go right along with them all.

Great article, and pretty much sums up my thoughts on the O line situation. Sucks it has taken over two years to fix it, and it still isn't good. Still, Hackett must go for not even trying to run the ball in some games, and if running the ball was Marrone's offensive philosophy. Then why didn't he curtail all the passing game after game or demand / ask for a trade before the deadline. There was also the option of Richie Incognito who would be an upgrade over any OG on the roster. My favorite line was, "The Bills’ offensive line has played at such a low level this season that it’s actually pretty incredible that the team managed to claw out eight wins."

I didn't say that, I was quoting what i heard WR Mike Williams was saying about the Bills playing against the wrong coverage's , and he didn't say they were so well covered it shut down the passing game.Did you watch the Bills video? Try using internet explorer because it doesn't work with google chrome for me. http://www.buffalobi...bb-c911b4607d09 http://billsmafia.com/2014/12/24/buffalo-bills-must-prioritize-offensive-line-qb-2015-nfl-offseason/ This Article pretty much sums up my opinion.

Thought I recently read something like this somewhere else, and will keep looking for that article. Meanwhile this article is telling that Marrone soured on Pears, and for good reasons. "The front office has also bristled at how certain players are being used, sources said. Team executives believe tackle Cyrus Kouandjio, this year's second-round pick, warranted more of a long look this summer, were unhappy that emerging receiver Robert Woods was benched at times, and they were also at odds over guard Kraig Urbik, who the personnel side believes is a quality guard (he just received a contract extension a few years back) but who Marrone has soured on (the team explored trades for Urbik before roster cuts, league sources said)." http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/24695455/buffalo-tension-boils-over-in-shouting-match-for-marrone-bills-officials

I'll try and find it again

The real problem from what I recently read is that Marrone wanted real changes to the players on the line, and was denied. He was told by the FO that the current players were good enough. I noticed in the article that it didn't say Whaley, so I gotta wonder if this is Russ Brandon and his stinking analytic dept with a very stupid attempt to "moneyball" the OG position. Both Pears, and Urbik were barely serviceable as pass blockers, and always stunk at run blocking. In fact the entire line stinks at run blocking. It might have something to do with Buddy Nix and his moronic thinking that bigger is always better. All I need to do is look at what the Cowboys did to build a top offensive line to realize this FO has been near totally inept in their process of trying to get by with some sub par players.

This should have happened two years ago http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp223/furian63/GIFs/BeatDeadHorse.gif Most of the entire fan base voiced concerns over letting Levitre walk and not replacing him adequately, and here it is going on three years now. For the love of god why does it take three years? The same thing happened with LT Jason Peters who was an all pro the FO tried to replace him with a 7th round pick in Bell. Nobody on that line is an elite player, and some should be.

My only complaint is that the Bills & Patriots schedules are usually always unfavorable vs favorable. New England has gotten Denver at home the last few years, and since Manning has been their QB Denver is always @ NE. Why is Buffalo the Patriots their last regular season home game 3 out of the last 4 years, and if not the Bills its Miami. I actually like the Thursday games, as it spreads out the games Sun, Mon, and Thurs. The NFL is the only pro sport I watch so I would rather it be spread out over the week rather then condensed all on one day. On another note, Merry Christmas Just think, the Bills finally have new owners who are so stinking rich they don't care about how much profit the team makes, and expensive head coaches will no longer be cost prohibitive.

I only hope you are right on all this. The Bills are desperate for an actual NFL football man at the top as president. The GM & HC shouldn't be reporting to the finance / marketing guy.

Does it really matter at this point? At least EJ isn't going to get seriously injured in a game with the Bills OC calling 40+ passes.

Things are looking up when you consider it was 2004 since the last time the Bills did better then 7-9 in a season, and the Bills could conceivably finish this season by trouncing the hated division rival Patriots. If that happened the Bills would duplicate the 9-7 finish of 2004, and everyone in the current coaching staff might get a third year. OTOH, most of us Bills fans knew LG Andy Levitre needed to replaced with someone better then Colin Brown, and the backup center should be better then Doug Legursky. Most fans knew the team needed a viable veteran QB on the roster instead of three rookie QB's, and with Hackett as OC it was the blind leading the blind. Then we mostly knew that the team should have had an NFL senior adviser, and an experienced NFL QB coach. The team had neither in 2013. Fix these things properly and the team could have been in the playoffs last year instead of 6-10, and spinning wheels like a dragster on an oil slick. 2014 it was the same nonsense on the offensive side concerning the O line. The Bills bring in a veteran LG, but one who graded as one of the worst LG's in the NFL along with a history of being injured a lot. After that usually always injured LG went on IR the team tried filling the LG spot with a 5th round draft pick. All the while knowing that just about every player drafted after the 4th round the last 15 years has had a snowballs chance in hell of becoming a decent starter. The team used a #2 on a RT, and good thing they also used a 7th round on an OT because that 7th rounder started all year. Most of the BS with the really bad offense could have been readily helped with the addition of some real NFL top talent at the OG position the last two years. I gotta wonder If GM Doug Whaley is going to try and get another year out of bums like Erik Pears & Kraig Urbik. The 11-4 Dallas Cowboys used a #1 pick on OG Zack Martin, and he made the pro bowl as a rookie. He is also a big, big reason why they have the best rushing team in the NFL with a RB who leading the NFL in rushing with 1745 rushing yards. Plus, that line is allowing QB Tony Romo ample time to rip teams apart in the passing game. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wanted to draft Johnny football with that #1 pick, and was overruled by his son who opted for the OG. Who is the smarter person in that FO? Anyway, some of us Bills fans think the Bills could have been in the playoffs last season minus all the massive moronic mistakes on the offensive side of the ball two years in a row.

Although he denies it, i think he is injured and it shows in his speed, and delivery. His arm, shoulder, back, bursa sac something that he is not talking about for whatever reason. I'm certain we will find out after his season ends.

Its Broncos at Bungals I want the Broncos to win and see them get home field... just cuz i h8 da Patsies

Let me put this in better perspective if I may. The Denver Broncos this season were at a crossroads after that St Louis game in week 11 in which they lost to the Rams on the road 7-22. Denver QB Peyton Manning threw 54 times for 389 yards, one TD, and two INT's. Meanwhile the Broncos only rushes 10 times for 28 yards in that losing effort. Sound familiar? The Broncos coaching staff wanted to change up the offense to keep Manning from wearing out his arm over the coarse of the season, and help him manage games instead of forcing to to carry the entire offense. The difficulty with this situation was the the Denver offensive line was't very good, and in particular their offensive guards were very bad. Sound familiar? What the Broncos coaching staff did was have each inside O lineman double up on a defender to make their blocks instead of a zone block man on man. It was working so well that the very next game against Miami who had a good run defense CJ Anderson ran 27 times for 167 yards and one TD. The next game against KC 32 rushes for 168 yards. Against the Bills Anderson only had 21 rushes for 58 yards but had 3 TD's. Against Buffalo Manning went 14 of 20 for 173, 2 INTs. This just shows how a good coaching staff with ingenuity can turn an offense completely around from a total passing scheme to a power running team, and they did this with already having an ''elite" QB.

In which sentence, and where exactly did I imply that the Bills receivers were so well covered it shut down the passing game? I don't read that at all. Did you happen to watch last years Buffalo Bills with the #2 rushing team in the NFL, and #1 in attempts. It was a very simplistic offensive run scheme that ran the ball up the middle 71% of the time. Simplistic, and predictable, and a big reason as to why that offense was nicknamed the "hurry up and punt" offense. What happened from last year to this year that is causing the Bills to go from #2 in the NFL in rushing to #25? I happen to think its simply calling way to many passing plays vs run plays. This years Bills offense 556 passing attempts vs 369 rushing attempts. In 2013 Bills offense, 552 passing attempts vs 546 rushing. What I am saying is that Orton isn't very good, and everyone in the world besides the Bills OC knows that. There should be better options in the run game. Have you ever watched what Gary Kubiak did with the Ravens line in running a zone run game which is setup like the old Redskins "counter trey" offense in that the entire O line takes a single step in one direction, and then runs the play the opposite direction. This causes the defense to take a first misstep and generally give the offense the advantage. The 90's Buffalo Bills ran that ''counter trey" and Thurman's cutbacks were legendary. Misdirection plays, and getting Sammy involved in an end around, reverses, and fake reverses. The Raiders had the 24th worst run defense in the league, and it shouldn't have been that difficult to get production against them. At the very least try more then 13 rushes in a game. With that few rushing attempts the Bills didn't even try to establish a ground game. EDIT: From other fans perspectives http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/topic/174378-tell-me-why-sammy/

This~ It makes so much common sense its probably blinding anyone who reads it. Not to justify keeping Maroon but I read an article recently that stated St Doug wanted different players at OG, and was told by the FO that the current players were good enough. 6'7'' Pears is just ridiculous at RG, and Urbik is even worse. Did anyone besides me watch Raider D lineman Antonio Smith push Pears 5 yards into the backfield to make the tackle on Spiller? The penalties, and no push in the run game at all. It just amazes me on how bad the players are, and someone in the FO said they were good enough. Here is hope new ownership cleans house.

I honestly don't know what to expect from the new owners this off season. They took ownership, and announced they would be hiring an NFL consultant. Then after they saw the team was winning they announced they might not do anything at all. I don't want to see another year of the GM & HC reporting to the finance / marketing guy. I don't want to see another year of an atrocious, almost league worst offense two years in a row, and the first year it was all runs. This year it was all passes, and forcing the QB to try and carry the team. Even Andrew Luck fell on his face in Dallas trying to do that, and its a formula to lose games. I don't want to see another year of having the worst O line in the league, and its going to be three years now of failure to replace a decent LG the team didn't want to pay. I can only hope the new owners saw what we all saw in 13 runs for 13 yards against the 24th worst run defense in the league. 49 passes against the #7 pass defense in the league. How can any coach on offense be retained when they coach like they did at Oakland. Doug Marrone is out on the field in practice every day working with the players, on what exactly I don't know.

Lynch would make his yards in Buffalo with three defenders draped all over him, and the coaching staff thought he couldn't find the hole...when there wasn't even a crease for more then a millisecond. I yearn for the days when the Bills finally hire a president of football operations that actually has a career record of doing a good job at his profession. aka the wizard of Oz, Ozzie Newsome in Baltimore, Ted Thompson Green Bay, Jerry Reese in NY Giants. John Schneider in Seattle. Buddy Nix was a buffoon, and Doug Whaley reporting to the finance / marketing guy in Russ Brandon is wrong on so many levels.

Excellent post. Just don't forget that Russ Brandon is still a brilliant salesman and is pitching his heart out for continuity to the new owners. We Bills fans can only hope the new owners were taken aback as we were with the 13 rushing attempts for 13 yards against the 24th ranked run defense. Along with the 49 passes against the #7 defense against the pass. The Raiders aren't a very good football team, and yet the Bills offense played right into their defensive strengths. The defense had key injuries, and their OC was smart enough to exploit them. So, some really huge questions remain. Were the Pegula's watching, and did they see what we all saw? Will they be winning to accept Brandon's pitch for another year with the same staff, or not?

and I stated such earlier in the thread, and was just taken aback by all the love for Chan. Yea, Chan would be better, but only slightly IMO. The Bills need a real upgrade at OC, and not someone who was fired as OC in KC before the ridiculous moron Buddy Nix hired, and promoted him to a HC job because he was getting desperate and running out of time, choices. There will be quite a few NFL experienced bright minded OC's available once this years glut of head coaches are fired, and that could be as many as 10.

OK, for the people really pulling for Chan... Everyone needs to recall that he hitched his wagon to QB Ryan Fitzpatrick for three years for a REASON!! Fitz had an uncanny ability to get the ball out to the open receiver faster then Peyton Manning does, yes faster! Hence the quick, short passing scheme. 2.2 seconds vs 2.5 seconds, and this mostly negated the pass rush against them making the O line look far superior then what it actually was. His spread offense was a "real" spread out offense from one side of the field to the other, and thus allowed for big runs from Spiller with that crappy O line. Chan was able to make a 7th round WR look brilliant because of his smoke and mirror 4-5 WR sets in that spread offense. The best his offense ever did in Buffalo was in 2011, and that year it was ranked #14 in both points, yards. Now, what everyone is also forgetting is that offense was soon figured out by opposing defenses, and completely shut down at times. Gailey had a .333 record with the Bills going 16-32. Because then in 2012 his offense went to 21st points, 19th yards, and darn close to what it is now. Lastly, how did this great offensive guru that whom everybody complained about calling way to many passing plays vs run plays do against the team biggest rival in the New England Patriots. In three years he went 5-1, and that one win at home the Bills defense was incredibly lucky to induce Tom Brady to have a 4 INT poor game. Yet, Brady almost managed to pull out the win. Left to his own devices Chan Gailey sucks, and under I'm not going to touch a thing as all my time is spent helping my good friend Danny Crossman St Doug, Chan Gailey left to his own devices would still suck. However, Chan Gailey under a strong minded head coach like Bill Cowher, Tom Coughlin type as both would demand a strong run game to accompany the passing game, things just might work. I want better then the 24th ranked offense to the 20th, and I would think that like me, most everyone would want to see a top 10 offense next season to go along with that top 5 defense. First and foremost the Bills need a team that can crush the Patriots.

He would be an upgrade over Hackett for certain, but then there should be better options out there after the season ends. Should Titans HC Ken Whisenhunt get the ax in Tennessee after a 2-14 season (I doubt they beat Indy next week) he would be a top choice for OC. then again the Titans may keep him and draft a rookie QB with that #2 overall pick. Miami HC Joe Philbin might be done after this season, as well as a plethora of OC's after the HC's get canned , Atlanta, Jets, Giants, Bears, Jags, Panthers, 49ers, Redskins, Bucs. The Bills need to find the offensive equivalent of Schwartz for the offense, and then hire a senior adviser or president of football operations who will finally crap-can Urbik, Pears, and bring in quality talent for the offensive line.

Pretty tough for Spiller to make a play when he is getting hit, and tackled 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage. This happened with LG Kraig Urbik draped all over Raiders D linemen Antonio Smith in the first quarter. The Bills O line had 7 on 5, and it still looked like a jailbreak. The entire Bills offense is the mistake.