thewildrabbit

This guys is just evaluating the potential of the players the teams selected, not grading team needs. Besides the fact that some fans here think you need a season to grade players, so that last year was supposed to be a wash because gailey and Nix were evaluating the players. To the fans that think that Ryan Mallett was a wasted pick, every year half way thru the season some team is desperate for a QB and would be willing to give up a1st or 2nd to get one. Look what the Patriots got in return for a guy who had never taken a snap since high school in Matt Cassell. Not to mention the other factor, when was the last time Brady won a SB? Having someone behind him to push him might be just the thing to get him motivated back to SB form

I'd cut the DC and OC and hire some people that know what they are doing. If ya cut Donte then who will make up the tackles for DL and LB's when they are caught out of position and wiff on their tackles?......Ahh wth, let them score and maybe the first thing I said will happen. I don't think Kelsay makes a bad DE, just a bad OLB..... so this whole thought of drafting for the 3-4 and then taking 4 D linemen in Nix's first year makes no sense to me. Then he drafts only 2 LB's this draft a 3rd and a 6th. I sure hope Kelvin Sheppard can become a starter and make an impact this year. It would be nice to finally have someone start that Nix drafted... besides of course da beast, MD

Sometimes they hire the flavor of the month that gets stale pretty quickly, winning in today's NFL requires innovation and not some DC-OC who recently learned the latest trendy scheme. In my view the main difference between a bad head coach and a successful one, is the assistants he hires. Look at Dick Vermeil and his second stint as HC, he hired a bunch of older experienced veteran NFL coaches for his assistants, the result was a SB. Look at the Steelers and their DC, would they be in the playoffs every year without HoF Dick LeBeau and his 3-4 defense? Chan Gailey could be a great head coach and bring this team to the playoffs very quickly, he just needs to hire the right OC & DC. Look at KC last year, they hire 2 ex head coaches in Romeo Crennell and Charlie Weis and the team is suddenly in the playoffs I'm not so sure Wannstache is the answer at DC, otherwise he would have been more in demand as a DC for some pro team. He certainly will help this defense, and be an improvement over anyone on the current staff, but that's not saying much. From my perspective Gailey is a tool, as he is no better then Dick jauron in regards that he just sticks a QB behind center and expects him win games for him. He wants to run a high powered offense, but doesn't want to build a ground game for balance and to keep the defense honest. Doesn't want to build the line to protect the QB and to enhance run-pass blocking schemes. Doesn't want to draft-sign a top tight end to help as an outlet and block. doesn't want to hire a top OC to run the offense. Just like dickey! This man is so unbelievably lucky that Ryan Fitzpatrick stepped up and played so well for him last year.... otherwise we might already have a new HC, or at the very least more fans thinking the way I do. I still think he will be fired after this upcoming season especially if Fitz gets an injury. The world will see that it was all Fitz, and not Gailey working some magic on another QB. He sure didn't help Edwards or Brohm, and I have no doubt he won't improve any FA QB the team signs...unless prehaps if its VY.

Exactly what point did I miss, spell it out...or is this just your way of avoiding the argument I see you have reduced yourself to name calling because you have no real argument. You made the most moronic statement I think I've ever read in this forum, I didn't belittle you....even though you deserved it! Contrary to what you believe, no team needs to "BOTTOM OUT" in order to improve, nor do they need a season for evaluating talent. I don't hate either Gailey or Nix, they both are getting paid millions of dollars to do a particular job, and I just think they are both inept at those current jobs. All I've done is pointed out the mistakes this new staff has made, did I lie about any of it? "We started out with no players," Ralph Wilson said with a hearty laugh. "Our drafts in the last 10 years have been terrible." Says the man responsible for the ten years of bad drafts, or did someone else hire those men who did the drafting?

Well said. Until I see more W's I'll keep thinking this was another wasted 3-5 years for the Buffalo Bills franchise The guy was dismissed at GT after 6 seasons...a nice way of saying he was fired. where he NEVER beat that teams biggest rival in the Georgia Bulldogs, NEVER won the ACC, never went to a BCS bowl, NEVER won more then 9 games and NEVER finished in the top 25 After his offense finished 2-14 for the KC Chiefs he was demoted as OC of a 2-14 KC Chiefs and stripped of play calling, and then fired a few weeks before the start of the season, he was out of football in 2009. That happened the same year Jauron fired Turk Schonert 2 weeks before the start of the season I honestly don't know what Buddy Nix was thinking when he hired this man, but then again this might be the only guy who wanted the job in Buffalo, that the Bills were willing to hire.... Then considering the current owner is 92 and change will take place once ownership changes hands. Plus, not many quality HC's out there want to be micro managed by a notoriously cantankerous and frugal owner. An old school, Bill Bidwell, Al Davis, Robert Irsay, type of guy. I can't fault Bill Cowher and others for not wanting the head coaching job in Buffalo. What does bother me is that Marty Schottenheimer stated he wanted the HC job in Buffalo, but that the owner (because of Nix?) stated he wasn't comfortable with hiring him. To be honest I'd put a hella lot more trust in Marty evaluating talent then I do in Buddy Nix. Marty S would have never allowed a loser like Cornell Green to ever see the field, much less pay him 3 mil per. PS just wanted to add Gailey did have 6 winning seasons and most were 7-5, one 9-5 season. So perhaps after 5 years the Bills will go 9-7

Bill, I know you like to throw Levy under the bus, i just don't see him being the bigger problem. Although he did hire Dick Jauron as HC, and that was his fatal flaw. Also, lets not forget that Marv was only going by what the scouts told him was a good player, he no longer had Bill Polian to direct him to the proper talent. Don't forget that Marv made public on how he planned to run the draft, he stated it was a consensus between the scouts- Jauron and himself with Jauron having the last word and ultimate final say. because of this trust that Marv put in Jauron I think RW also picked up on that and let him become the DeFacto GM after Marv retired. This was the undoing of this team, letting Jauron run the draft, hire assistant coaches and judge what players to keep and which to let go. (Jim Leonard) I think he was also the reason the player strength and conditioning training went to hell, it was like club med and not a pro football team. The problem I have with Chan Gailey is that he failed badly as OC in KC 2-14, his QB looked good running the pistol offense, but that was mostly garbage yards when the opposing team had the lead and went they into a prevent defense. Kinda the same thing happened in Buffalo last year in a few games. Like Jauron, Gailey seems to be proficient in only one aspect, and that is the passing offense. The running game, the defense, special teams all went downhill under Gailey. Right now I question this head coaches judgement on O linemen, RB's, and his choices for his assistants. Its exactly like Jauron where he is afraid to hire a top assistants because they may eventually steal his job Not building the O line might just get Fitz killed this year, he may turn into another shell shocked version of JP-TE. With no power running game it will all be on the QB's shoulders again this season. To many posters here it didn't seem possible for this new regime to field a team that was worse then Dick Jaurons teams, but it happened!

I didn't miss any point, just keep defending them. Was the switch to a 3-4 more important then the RT position or building the line....apparently. That is exactly what is wrong with these two. With all those defensive picks to bolster the new 3-4 where is the stud OLB? Ohhh the injured guy from SD is supposed to regain his pro bowl form and lead the NFL in sacks, I'm not holding my breath. You think Nix has yet to make a bad pick in the draft, I think the ONLY one I know will be a starter and make an impact is Marcel Darius, and he fell into their laps. The thing is I have yet to see any of his draft picks make an impact, I kinda like to actually see some real production before I judge, I'm funny that way.

You are right, it is ridiculous... they way some fans defend this current regime. In case you guys missed it.... the team took 2 steps backwards and went 4-12. If not for Ryan Fitzpatrick playing great in some games.... the season would have been a total joke. I can recall 3 years ago some fan posing a 30+ page thread defending Dick Jauron and how the team would make the playoffs under him.... TWO DRAFTS.... AND NOT ONE DEFENSIVE PLAYER STARTED FROM THAT FIRST DRAFT! on a horribly bad 4-12 team. Do they need another year to evaluate those players? RB-DT-DE-WR-OT-DE-DE-QB-OT they drafted 4 guys for the D line and none could make the starting lineup? that 7th round OT was cut in preseason and Wang the 5th rounder never saw the field despite the team desperately needing help at RT. Not one freaking player showed anything from that draft so far....CJ Spiller has a reserved seat on the bench right next to Aaron Maybin! If Tom Modrak was the problem and Nix is supposedly better at judging player talent then how in the hell does he sign Cornell Green, and then how does Chan Gailey and his staff start him....then how do they not have an adequate back up? The thing is I don't need 4-5 years to see ineptitude, I saw enough of it in the first year. and not just from assistant coaches but Gailey and Nix as well. You guys are never going to see any babies from these two meat-heads PS I didn't edit my post and I did mention Kent Hull PPS Bill, from what I've seen so far this staff is way worse the Jauron / Levy, just wait and you will see

Two drafts and still no real help for the line. The team drafted a RB with the first pick under Nix / Gailey instead of a TE or O linemen, how has that worked out so far? They drafted a btw linemen again this year, another developmental player when they need immediate help at RT, just like last year. It looks like they will plug in another 4 guys at RT this year also. No offense but that bolded part is about the most moronic statement I think I've ever read. The problem is I keep reading in post after post from fans giving an excuse regarding the crappy coaches and GM currently running this team... are they really so lame that they need a season to evaluate players? Is that why the team brought in Cornell Green and he played so poorly? But jeez, they didn't give him the year he needed! Seriously snafu, any decent coach / GM should be able to watch a few games of tape on a player and be able to evaluate / grade him properly, anything beyond that is an excuse. How can they be expected to grade any college player they want to draft? OH wait! This might be the exact reason why this team has stunk so bad for so long. They need to draft a player and then watch them play in the NFL for a year and THEN evaluate them. C'mon guys, stop making excuses for the lamoids this owner hired again. Jauron and his staff of clowns looks better then this staff right now.

I agree with the OP on Tyson as this team still lacks talent on the line. Honestly, I think the Bills securing the rights to any decent player in free agency is a pipe dream. The problem is that Nix has stated that he doesn't like building through free agency, more then likely why he made the statement he was going to get some sleep the last time free agency opened. The other problem is that this is the same GM that brought in Cornell Green and paid him 3 million, then didn't secure an adequate backup at RT. Lastly, I'm not certain that anyone on this coaching staff or in the scouting dept knows the difference between a good player / bad player at any position. Then I have my doubts about the coaches ability to properly utilize a great talent if they ever get one.

Good points. From my perspective I would argue that when Jauron watched as the Jets NT Kris Jenkins was triple teamed by the Bills 2 guards and center and he still made it to the QB ... that one play finally had the impact to open Jauron's eyes to drafting some interior line help.JMO The world watched that play on TV and Phill Simms was announcing and made comments about that play. Its been rough on the Bills interior linemen with Jenkins and Vince Wilfork in the division. Although the Bills now have 2 decent young guards in Wood and Levitre they are still lacking a dominate center the likes of Kent Hull, a tight end like Pete M, a LT like Will Wolford. Nobody in this franchise realizes that one or two players isn't enough to make a solid O line, but if you are going to have two pro bowlers it appears that best positions for the highest priority are center and LT. The reason why fans really didn't get the impact of Jason Peters play during his time in Buffalo was because the centers were so dreadful, again JMO. Like I stated earlier, until this team hires someone that understands to build a strong team you first need a strong foundation, and that starts with the line. The NY Jets did it that way with a center Nick Mangold, and LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson, they have had one of the best lines and running attacks in the NFL since they drafted those two. You would think that GM's & head coaches getting paid millions of dollars to do their jobs would understand this stuff....

When Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey were first hired both men stated that the O line was a "priority" in their first draft, that "priority" didn't manifest itself until round 5, which is basically an after thought, and a developmental player. CJ Spiller took that priority, how much did he contribute to the running game last year? The Bills already had enough kick returners, they didn't need to waste a first round pick on one. Now think what would have happened if the Bills had drafted a decent RT with the #1, an entirely different season. Even Jauron was smart enough to draft 2 guards in rounds 1& 2, which is kind of lame when you think Gailey is supposed to be the offensive minded HC Sorry I can't share your rosy optimistic view as I think this team has already wasted another 2 years on an over the hill GM & HC as there is an abundance of evidence to prove this. I can only wonder how much longer it will take to get these two incompetents replaced by people that know what they are doing! I want the Bills to win as much as the next guy, but I simply can't support 2 men I know are inept. They both might be really great people and real nice guys, but you know what they say about "nice guys'

This goes hand in hand with stability at QB and should be the first thing built by a new head coach. This is also the reason the Bills can't get a QB to develop, get a QB to stabilize the offense or win many games. This team has had 10 QB's in the last decade along with 30+ linemen in that time. Go back and look at the linemen during the successful years, OJ had the electric Co, Kelly had LT Will Wilford,C Kent Hull, TE Pete Metzelaars, G Jim Ritcher. That last name was drafted by Chuck Knox and played for Knox and stayed and played for Marv levy also. No go back and look up the length of the careers of those linemen, they span decades and not 2 years and out like most of the recent linemen. This is the failure of the owner, front office, various coaching staffs and is the primary reason why this franchise hasn't won since the Levy era. There is always some skill player that takes priority over a big ugly on draft day, and until this team gets a HC-GM that understands to build the line first this team will continue to lose.

There is a world of difference between becoming the HC of a team that has a recent history of winning and is still filled with those players, then getting a bunch of nobody's and rookies to believe in themselves enough that they can be great players. So far all I'll Ive seen of Chan Gailey recently is he was able to make Tyler Thigpin look good in a bad offense that didn't win many games, and he did almost the exact same thing with Fitz last year. The ONLY thing that improved on last years team over the teams under Jauron was the passing offense. The defense, special teams and running game all got worse. You can't consistently win in the NFL being one dimensional like that. When he wins more then 7 games he will prove he is better then Jauron, until then....

Buffalo's' O line is not as settled as everyone thinks it is, just wait till Fitz gets an injury, and the world will see all the flaws. Fitz and his ability to get the ball out to the right guy in under 3 seconds was so unappreciated by so many last year, and Gailey got most of the credit for what Fitz was able to do. I have no idea what this staff is thinking going into this season with just Fred Jackson and Ryan Fitzpatrick as the only starters and no decent backups. But hey, they did the same thing last year with the RT position.

Exactly! He was voted best innovator by the fans, which doesn't mean he is a good head coach! Last season Ryan Fitzpatrick saved his bacon because Gailey put all his eggs into Trent Edwards basket, then cut him after two games. This is the same man who stated that rookie RB CJ Spiller would "make the O line block better". Then names him starter to open the season.... only to bench him after a few plays because he couldn't block, find holes, run routes. Fred Jackson was forced into the game with a cast on his hand. Lynch was forced into the game with a gimp leg. Names Cornell Green starter at RT only to find the guy couldn't even move in front of opposing defenders quickly enough to slow them down for as millisecond, something which any one of the thousands of drunken fans in the stadium could have successfully done. He gets a mysterious injury and then gets quietly cut during the season. With no adequate back up RT the team is forced to scavenge the waiver wire and back streets to find other players to suit up on Sunday at RT. Now the team is moving forward with one of these scrubs at RT this year. Now looking back at those first two games by Edwards is it any wonder why he sucked so badly when his RB and linemen can't do their jobs? To call last years team unprepared for the season would be a drastic understatement In my view Fitz is the ONLY reason as to why the Bills didn't duplicate the Detroit Lions 0-16 performance last year. Even Buddy Nix thought the team was better then 4-12, remember his statement before the season that the team was " not that far away", something he later recanted after the team didn't win a game by week five, with "its going to take some time" Then the owner proclaims ""PP"" patience and pain. RW was right, It was a painful season to watch. With only one QB & RB that knows the system.... no improvement on the O line...no improvement at the TE position...Its good to know that if anything happens to Fitz or Freddy J, that the team is screwed. Wasn't Gailey supposed to be an improvement over Jauron at 7-9? Like the man said, I will call Chan Gailey a good coach when all this translates into wins.

I didn't edit that post and i did say 3 years Knox was a winner, 3 teams different teams in the playoffs all with nobody's at QB. Think about it, that's impressive! Basically what I wanted to point out was that it doesn't take 5 years to build a team, it should take 1 to 3 years max if you hire a good coach. Marv did the exact same thing in the same time frame only he had Polian finding the talent. So I'd say Knox was a significantly better head coach as he made the playoffs with unknown assistants, and a bum for a GM. The only reason a team should regress under a new head coach and staff is if they are starting a rookie QB, otherwise they should improve. BTW, Knox brought in all those older vets for leadership purposes, guys like Phil Villapiano were invaluable for their ability to help motivate the younger guys in the locker room! Some of those you named didn't stay with the team very long. From my perspective Wilson didn't retain Knox because the fans were back and the stadium was filled again. Like I stated above, that even Nix figured last years team would improve. Shoot, most of the posters here where gushing about how any offensive minded coach should be an improvement over Dick Jauron and most were astonished when the team failed to improve from Jauron. Bill Cowher is still out there unemployed by an NFL team, and so is Marty S, and Marty ball would more then likely come a lot cheaper then Cowher. Marty could actually get this team on the right track in one year IMO. Plus I'm fairly certain Marty would love to get revenge on AJ Smith and the Chargers for dumping him after a 14-2 season. I for one would love to see Marty get another shot in the NFL. Unlike Gailey, the man knows who to hire as assistants, look at who he had at SD. Wade Phillips was the DC and Cam Cameron was the OC. Plus like Knox, Marty is a supreme motivator. It's just to darn bad that RW didn't feel "comfortable'" with Schotty, wonder if he is comfy with 4-12..... To Tcali. sucks this owner is his own worst enemy

You guys don't get it...It's not just about talent and it never will be just about talent, although it certainly does help to have good-great players... its not all important. CIP, Chuck Knox came into Buffalo at the end of 1977 with Stew Barber as GM, Barber was a complete tool, and responsible for Tom Cousineau for not signing with Buffalo. OJ was still with the team as were remnants of the Electric company O line, all aged and mostly over the hill. Knox realized OJ was done and traded him away. This man single-handedly reshaped the team the way he wanted, and brought in some older experienced veterans to add leadership to the locker room.Then drafted the players he wanted, and in 3 years had the team in the playoffs. The team improved his very first year, as it usually does under a good coach, unless they have a rookie QB. Anyway, Knox took a QB in Joe Ferguson that with every bad pass he threw... he would hang his head and shake it side to side, and then turned him into a playoff caliber QB! Chuck Knox was a supreme motivator who took a bunch of average players and made them believe that they could be great. He also hired the right assistants to teach / coach the players properly. The nickname they give Knox was "ground chuck" as he would build a good O line and run the ball. Today's game might be more of a passing league but a dominate running game still works well when you don't have a Manning or Brady, something that has escaped every coach the Bills have hired since Marv levy. Ralph Wilson knew what he was getting when he hired Knox and was willing to pay top dollar to bring his team back to respectability. His team had been bad since right after 1965 when they won a AFL championship, the Bills had 2 decent seasons in 73-74 where they went 9-5 but still, the Bills were dominated by the Miami dolphins for a decade. That's right, the Bills didn't beat Miami once in the entire decade of the 70's. The Bills were so bad at the end of the 70's that they couldn't even have a preseason game in Buffalo because nobody would attend the games. Wilson was desperate and was finally willing to spend the money it took to hire a top quality head coach. Today's fans, still longing for the days of Bill Polian and Marv Levy continue to flock to the Ralph to watch mediocre / crap team teams in the hopes that the team will at some point be good. While not realizing that the owner keeps hiring men who have just enough talent to keep the team mediocre. Wilson already won a championship, and he clearly doesn't care about winning a super bowl. As long as the stadium is filled and the cash keeps rolling in he is happy, after all what more could a true businessman want then to have a profitable business. A good head coach could have had last years Bills team at least back to 9-5 as there was enough talent. Even Buddy Nix thought so when he stated the team is "not that far away". which he retracted after they didn't win a game by week 5. Chan Gailey might be a decent OC, but he stinks as a head coach and if Buddy doesn't figure that out quickly he might be leaving when Chan finally gets the boot.

I suppose you would prefer the Bills coaches of the last ten years....

That ""creampuff" team you keep referring to went 13-3 in the NFC in 2006, they were 2nd in the NFL in scoring and 3rd in points allowed. That teams fatal flaw was at QB with Rex Grossmann, who really choked in the biggest game of his career. That creampuff team beat the Buffalo Bills 40-7 that year. It also just so happens that Payton Manning can tear apart a Tampa 2 defense as he did to Chicago in 2004 to the tune of 41-14 I get a kick out of you two downplaying a pair of great head coaches that took their teams to the playoffs year after year, all because one only won a single SB, while the other made it to 4 straight and never won a SB. Plus one already has a bust in Canton. I'd sure as heck take either man as head coach over any of the clowns that RW has hired this last decade

They didn't, and they are! What most of the fans posting here don't get is how much Ryan Fitzpatrick saved both Nix and Gailey from looking totally inept, and the team duplicating the Detroit Lions for an 0-16 season with no wins The team went from mediocre to bad and not many really saw that fact, my only question is....how much longer?

Kelly initially asked to be traded, Polian talked him into becoming a Buffalo Bill I get a laugh from people who ignore the fact that Polian managed to put enough quality talent on the Buffalo Bills-The Carolina Panthers- The Indy Colts in a matter of 2-3 years and then they were in the playoffs. Last time I looked Polian sits in an executive office and runs the team, he doesn't play on the field. I also get a laugh from anyone downplaying Polian's storied accomplishments as GM -president and then go on to blame him for the Bills not winning a SB. I literally when I read that. So.... Bill Polian missed that FG, and not Scott Norwood?.... man, I'll bet Scotty will be so relieved to hear that.

Horsecrap, where do you guys get this stuff from. I recall that era and nobody was saying RW was cheap for hiring Polian. Nobody knew who he was until the media informed them that it was Polian who had a major influence in Bruce Smiths first contract and RW was applauded for promoting him I think you make crap up as you go to fit whatever argument your into, provide us a link to this BS about anyone, stating anything, about RW being cheap when he hired Polian! wow, grasping at straws are we.... FYI Bill Polian was hired away from Carolina by the Colts and promoted to GM- President. He didn't wear out his welcome I can imagine you high on crack if you think Bill Polian would have brought this franchise to its knees any worse then this owner has. Your credibility just went into the ceramic convenience with this post! Now I can put you right up there with "paintmyhouse" and "alphad!ck"

Like Manning ...reading disorder? It was Bill Polian that had to talk Jim Kelly into becoming a Buffalo Bill, He didn't want to be a Buffalo Bill when he was drafted or when the USFL folded. I'd think that Polian would have found the Bills another top QB to lead the team at least ten years or more. Just like he did with Kelly and Manning Don't talk about luck with Bills Polain, that's Wilson's forte. After Polian was fired from Buffalo he went to Carolina and got them to the NFC championship game in the second year of their existence. Thats right, TWO FREAKING YEARS! Polian Joined the Colts in after 1997 season ended, he drafted Manning and his first year with the Colts they went 3-13, his second year with the Colts in 1999 they went 13-3. Thats right, TWO FREAKING YEARS! You can clearly see the evidence of what a great GM can do for team almost immediately, not some 5 year plan. Not some crap about Oh, the coaches had to see what they had on the field last year so last season was supposed to be a wash....what a load of crap! This owner keeps hiring bums to run and coach his teams....like I said earlier. ""Now he is just an old fool, hiring other old fools, and hoping to get lucky again""

The entire reason Bill Polian was promoted was because of his shrewd negotiating tactics that involved signing Bruce Smith to his first contract while the current GM was recovering from a heart attack. Polian earned his promotion. It wasn't that he was retired at age 70 as a head scout and then hired out of retirement to a job he had never done before. Bill Polian was a one of a kind find, RW was sorta like the proverbial blind squirrel finding an acorn. Polian was Buddy Nix's exact opposite in the GM role. He was fiery and feisty, I can recall a story on him that he got down in a 3 point stance in his office and told the person he was talking to, to try and tackle him. Nix OTOH went to sleep when free agency opened, I remember him stating that is what he was going to do. The result was RT Cornell Green, about the most worthless free agent ever. Face it, Wilson was darn lucky to find Polian and smart enough to promote him and then galactic-ly stupid enough to fire him. Imagine the buffalo Bills in the playoffs the last ten years with a QB like Payton Manning and a super bowl trophy. That's what the old fool lost when he fired perhaps the most brilliant GM the NFL has seen the last 40 years. Now he is just an old fool, hiring other old fools hoping to get lucky again.