thewildrabbit

season over....

Jason LaCanfora also mentioned on CBS "the NFL today" that UM is looking at Buffalo Doug Marrone for the HCing job. Man I hope they offer him enough to get him away from Buffalo, far away.

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Well, that wasn't the way the Bills started the season with the Bills rushing more then they threw against both Chicago 33 rushes vs 22 passes, and Miami 33 rushes vs 26 passes, and both wins. Then for whatever reason Nate Hackett went pass happy against the Chargers with 22 rushes vs 40 passes with EJ. It became even more ridiculous against Houston 23 rushes vs 44 passes. Having EJ throw 44 times with JJ Watt on that Texan defense was playing right into the strength of their defensive pass rush.

Nobody wanted the guy before Chip Kelly signed him. Now everyone thinks he has morphed into something different then what he was, and he really hasn't. Just shows what a really good coaching staff, and surrounding supporting cast can for a QB.

I see things differently as an OC shouldn't force any QB to fit "his" offensive system, and should figure out a way how best to utilize the players he has. The Bills haven't had an actual elite top QB since Drew Bledsoe, Jim Kelly, and they haven't had a top line since Kelly. Yet, just about every OC / HC the Bills have had recently thinks they have an elite QB behind center, and can't seem to stop calling passing plays all game. Kyle Orton needs to play QB as a complementary piece in an offense built around the running game. So he can be used primarily as a play-action passer / game manager in the Alex Smith mold, and not put the whole offense on his shoulders. This would have also worked for EJ too, and is the primary way to develop a young QB. I would say the worst problem with the offense is the O line, as they simply are horrible at run blocking for whatever reason, and the OG's are the real weak link. They have great difficulty getting push with their primary block, much less anything past that. Then the offense is just all wrong for the QB's they have. The WR's are all so young and inexperienced, and all are asked to do more then are even ready for just yet. Trading away Stevie Johnson was a huge blunder, and the trade for Mike Williams wasn't very well thought out. The Bills should be running the ball 30-40 times a game, and even running the ball 70% of the time up the middle like they did all last year would really help the offense in just about every aspect. But, WTH do I know, JMHO

I don't even want to think about all the interceptions per game that Jay Cutler would throw with Hackett as his OC. Trestman is calling about an equal amount of passing plays this year, and the difference is that the Bears are running a WCO with precise timed passing plays. The Bills are running a variation of the Saints passing offense, as near as I can tell, and Orton is far more careful with the ball. Both Cutler, and Orton need to play QB as a complementary piece in an offense built around the running game, and with a team with a top defense. So they can be used as a play-action passer / game manager in the Alex Smith miold, and not put the whole offense on their shoulders. This would have also worked for EJ too.

I just want the team in the playoffs sooner rather then later. The way some lame decisions on the offensive side are still being made after two years shows me that should this coaching staff remain intact. That it will probably be a lot later. It seems to me that Brandon wants Whaley, Marrone to continue to report to him after this year... even though he doesn't make any "football" decisions.

I agree john, as in so many games this season Hackett would force his offense to play right into the opposing defenses strengths. It was completely bewildering to me, as was it to many other Bills fans when reading the game day threads. I do believe I read somewhere that Marrone took over the play calling at the start of the second half of the Green Bay game, and that was the reason for the nine straight run plays for 40 yards, and a FG. This play calling with mostly all runs seemed to settle down Orton somewhat for the rest of the game. That drive took nearly six minutes off the clock which kept the Bills defense off the field, and also kept Rodgers off the field. That FG broke the 10-10 tie, and helped the offense gain confidence that they could move the ball by running. It also helped keep the Packer defense off balance so they weren't pinning their ears back going after Orton. I really have no idea why suddenly this season the Bills OC has changed the last years run first offense into an almost all passing scheme like the Saints, Patriots run with an only average QB. He even tried that with EJ behind center against the Chargers, and Texans. Hence the benching. The Bills hiring Jim Schwartz was their best coaching hire over the past decade, and I can only hope they make a similar move to a top NFL OC after this season.

The offense has been bad for two years now, and critically bad with multiple changes with the same crappy result. Not everyone agrees tho, and I'm sure Dave Wannstedt, George Edwards had their supports too. Some fans are just afraid of change. Can't Hackett, and his zombie offense must go!

I think that is, and has been a really big issue with this team over the last decade in there is no real transparency at the top. Smoke and mirrors with nobody to really blame for all the losing seasons. I don't know about anyone else, but I know I don't want the football HC, and GM to continue to report to the marketing, financial guy. Why would they report to him at all if he has no say in anything they do? Man, I hope the new owners have a clue about running the football operations side of the team they just paid 1.4 billion for, and allowing things to stay exactly the same this year as last doesn't sound like it.

I believe there isn't anything that has transpired on the team over the last few years that Brandon hasn't had an influence in or on. I have no problem with the Pegula's retaining Brandon, I just think that Brandon needs to stay in the area he does he best in, and that is the financial side. C'mon Kirby, Buddy Nix a 71 year old retied chief scout as GM, and him hiring Chan Gailey was a waste of three years. Hiring Marrone was a waste of one season, and possibly two should the team lose the next two. A 6.2% chance of making the playoffs. Marrone's area of expertise is O line, OC, offense, and yet he has fielded an offense in the ten worst for two years now. Some seriously questionable decisions that I've never seen a seasoned NFL head coach make. Some decisions were corrected, and others were not. The Pettine hire was a good one, and the Schwartz hire was brilliant. Whaley has made some brilliant moves, and some horrendous moves. Whaley, Marrone answering to the marketing, financial guy is just wrong on so many levels. I think an senior NFL adviser or even president off football operations would be a critically more intelligent move then what has transpired the last few years with Brandon running the ship. I just want to see the Bills make the playoffs sometime in the near future, and I doubt that happens with the current status quo.

Nataniel Hackett walks into a bar with a frog on his head, and the bartender asks may I help you....

Man, I hope not. I can only hope the Pegula's hire that senior consultant after this season no matter what happens. While I agree that Brandon has been brilliant on the PR, financial side of things, I also think Russ Brandon = the Matt Millen of the Buffalo Bills. The Bills have new owners that no longer need to scrimp, and cut corners to save money. In essence they no longer need really need Brandon like Mr Wilson needed him. They no longer need smoke, and mirrors or PR moves to keep the stadium filled with fans, as winning will do that for them. Anyway, Brandon has seen inside the real football operations honeycomb, and i gotta wonder if he will be satisfied to stay just on the financial side now. I think these new owners have a different vision of success with a sports franchise, as they want to win championships above all else. Brandon was very successful at his job as CEO in terms of making a profit, and not very good at winning games while making that profit. Some NFL CEO's are excellent at both.

Gee, ya think perhaps having Orton throw 57 times against a top 5 defense vs 16 rushes might have something to do with it? The Bills offense has been mostly one dimensional all season with the Bills OC forcing the QB to throw to carry the entire offense. The most experienced wide receiver on the team is 2nd year player Robert Woods. Considering Hackett had EJ throwing like crazy against SD, Houston. I suspect that if Jeff Tuel were the QB he would also be throwing the ball 40+ times a game. The Bills could bring in 15 mill a year Jay Cutler, and the results would be nearly the same on offense with all the passing this years team is doing 507 passing attempts vs 365 rushing....just lame.

The Packers receivers did uncharacteristically drop 8 passes, and Rodgers was about as wild as Orton in the first quarter. Still, i think the Bills are fielding the very best defense in their history. This considering all the NFL rule changes to allow the offense more big passing plays. Jim Schwartz and his staff are making the so many great game plans, game calls to shut down some of the very best QB's in the league.

... ... ... I get the distinct impression that some Bills fans are such homers that they just might be in Brandon's disinformation network. The Bills were 20th in offense last season despite the #2 rushing attack in the league, and the #1 in attempt's. This year the offense is running less, and throwing more and are actually much worse. Both years the Bills have been one of the worst teams in three and out percentage, meaning the team has great difficulty in sustaining drives. The Bills are 31st in red zone TD's. It seems like everyone in the world knows that Kyle Orton is not an elite QB but Bills OC Nate Hackett. The Bills won their first two games by rushing more then passing, and it was working. Suddenly in week 3 against the Chargers that plan went out the window, and this mental midget of an OC starts forcing the 2nd year QB to throw 40+ times a game while basically ignoring the run game. The Bills bench that 2nd year QB because he was failing, and the vet QB is also failing. The offense has regressed, the O line has regressed, the run game regressed. After two years of bad offenses I have no idea why anyone would want to give this offensive staff another year.

Actually he was, as he hired his buddy in George Edwards, and after his first year of failure when everyone wanted him gone. He then kept Edwards and brought in his next buddy in Dave Wannstedt to be the LBer coach. Ole Dave took over Gailey's third year. The mere fact that Marrone had no idea Hughes was benched during a game leads me to believe he is clueless about what transpires on defense. I kinda get the same idea about the offense because it has sucked so bad for so long. My take is that his good buddy Danny was nearly crucified last season so he is going all out every game to ensure the Special teams are doing well. Dunno what happened in Denver tho when they clearly crapped the bed. As others have pointed out he runs a conservative passing, running offense. I'd say up the middle 70% of the time is quite conservative, and predictable.

Excellent thread, and very much enjoy reading most responses. So, all in all it really, really, really begs the question why not put the ball in the hands of the more experienced, more talented players at RB. (Jackson & Spiller) More running plays, more often, more run plays every game. Currently the Bills with 507 passing attempts vs 356 rushing attempts. The Buffalo Bills with a known very average QB who shouldn't be throwing 40+ attempts a game, and to the most experienced WR on the team in only his second year in Robert Woods. The Denver game with Orton throwing 57 times vs 16 rushes. So many extra players active on special teams, and that game it was a complete waste. In my view two entire seasons wasted with offensive coaches that simply don't know what they are doing.

14 seasons of that. You could see the mistakes made by each, and every regime before the season even started most years. The Biggest one for me was in 2008 when Brady went down in week one, and the Bills started that season 5-1. Edwards went down in Arizona with a severe concussion, and was never quite the same after that. That was the year of Turk Schonert as OC, and Nathaniel Hackett as OQC coach.

Me too. The releasing of Frank Summers just reinforces to me that Hackett will go pass happy again in the game. Believe it or not the Raiders are the #1 team in the NFL in score red zone TD's. But, second to last in points per game, so it must be difficult for them to even move the ball down field. who knows what we will see.

Well said. I've recently learned that Marrone wanted more changes to the line previous to the season, and was told Urbik, Pears were quality players by the FO. I don't know who this is saying this, but they should be instantly fired after the season. If it were Whaley I would have thought they would have said so. So, someone above Whaley....hrmmm. OJ's line, the Electric Co come to mind.

Miami has stated they are not interested, and yet there are rumors that Philbin is done. Both the Jets, and Dolphins have the money, and desire to hire Harbaugh while offering 8.5 mill per. It will get very interesting in about two weeks. Harbaugh has been in the NFL limelight the past few years, and recently been to a super bowl. It must bother him greatly that he didn't win it. I highly doubt he takes the college deal, if even for one year. Oakland is where he has ties to the late Al Davis, and loved working for him. Davis's son might be something different, and the fact that the team is talking about relocation to San Antonio. So, who knows. Harbaugh will want lots of player control, which is something he didn't get in San Fran. He didn't even have control over the teams roster. So the team that hires him will need to give up more them just money.

It may be working for the defense, and at times for the special teams. It sure as hell isn't working for Marrone' supposed area of expertise on the offensive side of things except perhaps in field goals. The entire reason for Russ Brandon being the CEO has done a 180, as this franchise no longer needs to primarily count coins over the winning of games. There is absolutely no reason to "moneyball" in any area of the team as these new owners can afford to spend to the cap. They can also afford to hire the most expensive people on the football side of operations. Team president, head coach, assistant coaches. My thinking is that out of respect to the late Mr Wilson the new owners are waiting to see how this years team does, and won't make any changes unless warranted. Also my thinking that should the team make the playoffs then the Pegula's will not touch a thing. 10-6, and no playoffs would probably still mean hands off. A finish of 9-7, 8-8, and I would think an adviser will be hired, at least I'm hoping so. The hiring of a senior NFL adviser would probably be the conclusion of Brandon's hands being in the football side of things...thankfully!