thewildrabbit

That 2006 NFL executive of the year award wasn't just for the financial side. I just happen to think the man has a magical, golden touch at whatever he does, and not a lot of people can say that. Well, all I can say if Loomis isn't the guy eyeballing the talent then who is? Do you know? Buffalo really, really needs to 1000% hire that guy. The Bills should also try and hire Saints HC Sean Payton as he might just be available after this season, as his teams current 4-6 record might get him on a hot seat. Then again they are atop their division

and by Hackett, and in Miami. before the weather had anything to do with it.

If you have a defense that can actually get to Brady with just the front four, and have a competent secondary they are beatable. It just bugs me to no end that the schedule makers have had Denver going to New England since Manning became their QB. It allows me to conjure conspiracy theories in my mind like owner Robert Kraft making payoffs. A tough playoff team on the road... yeah, but right after their bye week. @Green bay, @ San Diego, and Miami might be the only chance to knock them out of first place in the AFC. Naturally they finish the season with Buffalo at NE.

That might be the way he is perceived by you, but from my looking at his first HC hire in Sean Payton vs what Brandon has been part of in Buffalo. I'd have to say its the exact opposite, and Loomis is closer to a Newsome. Brandon might have come from a financial background, but he was also from more a baseball background previous to Buffalo. Whereas Loomis has been in pro football all his professional career. The hiring of Sean Payton from his job as Cowboys QB coach, assistant HC was sheer brilliance, and a very bold move. The man had to know something about who he was going to hire as his HC. Who does that btw, and what team has ever done that in the past to hire a mere QB coach and promote him to HC. None that I can think of offhand, and simply amazing!

While we know that Watkins was rated as the highest graded player on the Buffalo Bills draft board. The real question is, are you 100% certain that you have a franchise QB in EJ, and if not it makes absolutely no sense to use two future picks, and next years #1 if you are not 100% certain. Then bringing in Kyle Orton was a curious even if you consider EJ the affirmed franchise QB. Also, was the guy worth three players? A 2014 1st rounder, 2015 first & fourth rounders? I see great talent in Sammy Watkins, but so far I don't see him being three players better then the other WR's in the draft. Plus, it looks to me like the Bills are still searching for that elusive "franchise" QB. This entire issue will come more and more under great debate as the teams W/L record goes south. Then it also has consequence as we watch the rest of the WR's do so well. I can only imagine this topic becoming a growing tsunami as we approach the end of the season, and the draft.

I totally disagree with being about as far from a football guy as you will find. In fact I think he is just exceptionally intelligent in all aspects. He did graduate with a degree in accounting, and earned a maters in sports administration. Before working for the Saints he did work for the Seattle Seahawks for 15 years and was first hired in 1983, and was promoted to vice president of fiance in 1990, and then executive vice president in 1992. Basically this means he started as business manager for the team, and then became vice president of finance to executive vice president which is a pretty great achievement in itself. From what I can gather he took off 1999, and then in 2000 became the New Orleans Saints "director of football operations". This meant in this job, he dealt with contract negotiations, salary cap stuff, and was coordinator of the teams "football operations". Then in 2002 after then GM Randy Mueller was fired Loomis was hired as general manager of football operations, and then bumped up to executive VP of the team later that year. His responsibilities now also encompassing coaching, player personnel and scouting, athletic training, equipment, video and communications. Like I said, a Bill Polian clone. The reality is that Loomis was a key figure in hiring Sean Payton as his first, and only HC hire for the Saints. Then it has been noted that Loomis lured Drew Bress to New Orleans. http://investing.bus...vcapId=39363539 The man just happens to be brilliant at just about everything he touches, including the draft. Certainly the team drafted better, and acquired better personnel once Sean Peyton was hired and this is a big reason as to why I've been promoting both Harbaugh & Cowher so much. Hiring the right HC to help the GM select his players for the schemes he wants to run is a crucial part of the process. The team went from 3-13 with Jim Haslett as HC to 10-6 with Sean Peyton as HC, and you almost know the first year if you made the right decision for the HC hire. When you hire losers like Jauron, Gailey, Marrone who either aren't good enough to ever be an NFL HC or aren't ready yet, it hurts the team in many facets. Its why I've been campaigning so hard for hiring someone who knows NFL player talent, and can evaluate talent for every position, Including QB. Which is why Harbaugh was my first choice, Cowher was my second. ** on a side note it must really irk Cowboys owner Jerry Jones that Sean Payton was an assistant HC / QB coach right under his nose.

The current New Orleans Saints GM Mickey Loomis has been with the team since 2000 as director of football operations, and became their GM in 2002. Somewhere along the way between 2002-2006 he was promoted, and named vice president of football operations. Just recently he signed a new contract to keep him with the team thru 2017. The HC when he was hired was Jim Haslett, and their OC was Mike McCarthy. In 2005 the Saints went 3-13 and Loomis fired Haslett. He then proceeded to hire Sean Payton in 2006, and that same year acquired Drew Brees. Loomis was named executive of the year in 2006 In 2006 the OC that year was Doug Marrone, and Payton called the game day plays. Marrone stayed at NO for three years as OC, and his last season they finished #1 in points, and #1 in yards. The very next year with Pete Carmichael as OC they win the super bowl, and are #1 again in both yards & points. The fact that the Saints were so good on offense during Marrone's time in NO is probably a big reason as to why he was given so much consideration for the head coaching job in Buffalo. Now looking at things it leads me to believe that it was all Sean Payton game planning, setting up the offense, and calling game day plays, and of course Drew Brees at QB. You would think that the three years that Marrone spent helping Payton run that Saints offense he would have picked up quite a bit of Payton's ingenuity in designing both new passing, and running schemes. Clearly that isn't the case at all because the Buffalo Bills look nothing like the Saints in running the ball or passing it. So Mickey Loomis looks very much like a Bill Polian clone, and the Saints owner is smart enough to not fire the guy. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It looks like the new Bills owners know very little on how to build a winning NFL team, or even how the football operations side even works. It has been stated they will hire a highly experienced NFL outside consultant to advise the Pegula's on how to proceed to building their team properly. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/24749471/pegulas-looking-to-bring-on-a-consultant-to-help-with-bills-transition From there I would think that they will suggest hiring an experienced president of football operations who current GM Doug Whaley will answer to. Like the Baltimore Ravens have in Ozzie Newsome. (Thus keeping current CEO Kim Pegula & president Russ Brandon on the financial side). After that I suppose the team will take whichever direction the new president wants it to take. Like I said, I'm very much looking forward to next years changes, as I don't see the same stupid mistakes being made next season that have plagued the franchise for the last 14 years.

Marrone's biggest fault as a head coach is his cronyism in hiring ten of his assistant coaches from college, and expecting that to work in the NFL. It takes years to make that transition for an assistant coach, as he has to learn an entire new coaching philosophy just like a rookie player. We saw that back in 2010 with Gailey. The NFL is about winning now, and not in 3-5 years after being hired, and being trained to do their jobs properly. Next, the man is an ex NFL lineman, ex NFL line coach, ex NFL offensive coordinator, and didn't call the offensive plays as an OC. This man was out on the field "hands on" coaching the current O lineman for 2x years now, and then the team fields the worst O line this team has ever seen, and is the worst in the NFL. The team starts, and fields a player that needs to be out right cut off the team by week six because he is playing so poorly, and so does his backup. How does this happen in the mans supposed area of expertise? The Buffalo Bills offense under Marrone is bad, and our eyes, and the film doesn't lie, nor do the stats. 27th in total offense in the NFL, last in the NFL in red zone TD's. I honestly don't know how on gods green earth anyone can keep defending him. I like the man more then either Jauron or Gailey, and someday... perhaps 10 years from now when he is NFL smarter he will be a winning NFL coach. I for one don't want to wait even one, two, or 5-10 years for him to learn what he doesn't know. If want a list! While I don't completely agree with the entire list of coaches on the "hot seat". I do agree that Marrone's butt should be blazing right about now. http://coacheshotseat.com/CoachesHotSeatRankingNFL.htm If you click on the link to winningest coaches you would see Marrone 29th at .423%. Only Zimmer, Gruden, and Bradly are worse. Think of Alex Smith behind that Bills O line where a QB can't step up in the pocket because the interior of the line is the weakest area. Smith is a game manager, and at times can lead a team from behind if given ample time to throw, and a clean pocket. He wouldn't hardly ever get that with Buffalo with the game on the line. Not in the last two years.

Thanks, that gave me an actual good laugh today St Doug Even Dick Jauron aka skeletor was better because he wasn't worse in he own area of expertise. Even Chan Gailey Mr pass happy with a broken QB was better because he wasn't worse in his own area of expertise. Doug Marrone has had two of the best defensive coordinators the last two years, and his offenses are so bad its embarrassing. About all his teams need to do is score 20 points a game, and he fails. Can you imagine if the bills had managed to secure QB Alex Smith, and this blatant moron of an OC tried to make him throw 40 times a game, and runs only 20. They would never win.

Man, I'm so hoping they don't keep Marrone and just dump Hackett. While that might work to some minor degree, I just don't see Marrone as in any way shape or form up ever up to competing with Bill Belichick. Marrone has already made so many, many major mistakes in his two years, and enough to show me he isn't nearly ready to be an NFL HC. Much less compete in the division with the very best in the league. There are still far to many of his ex college assistant buddies to compile a decent NFL staff. (Cronyism) Marrone's background, and forte is the offense, O line, and he is failing badly is his area of expertise. Not even Jauron, Gailey failed in that regard. I'm so looking forward to next year, and the Bills hiring a top NFL HC, along an experienced NFL staff. The one thought the new owners need to entertain is that in order to go anywhere with a winning team they must first beat the Patriots, and take the division title. That will ensure home field in the division, and the next step is home field throughout. Having the best record in the AFC conference, and home field throughout is what gave Buffalo a huge edge in beating the Raiders, Broncos, Chiefs to win the AFC. The one lone AFC championship game not in Buffalo was in Miami against the Dolphins. I just don't see many people on the horizon who could step into the Bills HCing job next season, and build a team that could actually instantly compete against the Patriots / Brady to win the division. The only two I see are Jim Harbaugh, Bill Cowher!

Man, you just love to argue for the sake of arguing, and even when you have no leg to stand on. Now go back and read what i stated. I didn't opine at all for Gailey as you put it. I even called you out on exactly where I stated that I "opined'' at all for Gailey in those two paragraphs. I gave you a reasonable explanation as to why I even mentioned the guy, and you ignored it. There is no debate in my view that Gailey would be an improvement to the offense then what we are seeing with Hackett. A 14th or even a 20th ranked offense would be a big improvement over what the Bills are currently fielding at 27th, and last in the NFL in red zone TD's. Gailey sucked no question, but he would be an improvement over Hackett. Then considering the players had to work with, Fitz very inaccurate with a weak arm, and literally one halfway decent WR in Stevie Johnson. Gailey as just an OC with Orton, Sammy, Woods the Bills with a 14th ranked offense would be a big improvement IMO.

that looks about right Seriously, are Lions fans going to buy tickets to see the Bills play the Jets?

I just happened to see the article while surfing around. What I wanted to extend to you is that Cowher is very up on the current offensives, defensive schemes in that he still watches a lot of game film. The door has always been open to him to being a head coach again, and the mere fact that he actually interviewed back in 2010 for the job in Buffalo lets me know he had an interest or he wouldn't have even interviewed. What he stated at that time was that he wanted to go to a team that had an established QB, and to work for an owner that was 100% committed to winning above all else. I also happen to think he wouldn't allow himself to be micromanaged as Wilson had a tendency to do, and they probably didn't even come close to making him a proper offer money wise. Do you recall the spin out of OBD back in 2010, that "they" were willing to pay the right head coach 10 million per, and even Shanahans head popped up for a bit, and eyed the Bills when that announcement was made. What stinks is that whole thing might have been just a ploy to see his plan to build the team, and what coaches he would hire as assistants. Because the Buffalo Bills hired one of those assistants as HC. Kyle Orton might just be enough of a QB for Cowher, and the current Bills defensive players must make him yearn to coach again. The new Bills owners look to be the type that won't spare any expense on coaching to get winning results, so that 7 mill per, or even 8 mill per will no longer be a road block. Bill Belichick is the highest paid HC in the league, and this team needs someone comparable to be able to compete with him.

Hey Kirby. "Yes," Cowher told Newsday, via Pro Football Talk, when asked if he plans to coach again at some point. "I did it for 27 years. You don't just forget things overnight," Cowher said. "One thing about this job is it's been really good, because it allows me to study the game and do features on the game. I want to know what I'm talking about, so I'm watching tape. It's not like I'm out of it. I know how the game is changing." http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/01/08/bill-cowher-interested-in-nfl-coaching-return/1819343/

Well, I do recall reading that it was Brandon, Whaley who went and interviewed Pettine, and then Marrone hired him. Its kinda why I think as soon as Pettine was off to Cleveland, and Schwartz became available it was probably the same two going after the new DC. Otherwise I'd be inclined to think that Marrone would bring his DC from college with him like all his other assistants. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8847859/buffalo-bills-coach-doug-marrone-hires-10-assistants

exactly in which sentence in either of those two quotes did I opine for Gailey? I might have suggested at some point this season that Gailey would be a better "offensive" game planner, play caller then Hackett will ever be. I still think that. The Bills stats this season corroborate my thoughts on this. I would never, ever want Gailey as a head coach again. I think that was more Russ Brandon / Doug Whaley then Marrone. Even if it was ALL maroon its the one thing he seems to have gotten right so far.

conditioning matters, and practicing matters, and now its a road / away game for both teams

I've hated on this "offensive" coaching staff from last years KC game, and I'm proud of it. Before that game I defended Hackett. What did Jauron's teams in was an unbelievably amount of injuries every season, and bad choices for OC's...all three of them Schonert, AVP, Fairchild. None of those people have advanced in the NFL past QB coach, and two are no longer even in the NFL. Jaurons forte was defense, and his offenses were weak. What did Gailey in was his choices for his DC's, both of them stunk and set both team & NFL records for being bad. Plus, his teams had a lot of injuries too. Gailey's forte was offense, and his defenses were weak. Maroon has no excuse, as his offense is #27th in the NFL in his area of expertise, and his red zone offense is worst in the NFL in getting TD's. His O line is ranked the worst, and his players are grading as some of the worst. He, and his staff had no idea how to get Spiller in space. Don't know how best to utilize WR Mike Williams, and mostly has been inactive because special teams are "obviously" more important the scoring TD's. This Bills OC forces his offensive game plan right into the teeth of his opponents strengths. Its almost as if he is taking bribes from the other team to throw games, or is losing on purpose in order to get the HCing job. Marrone's forte is offense, and is currently fielding one of the worst units in the league. http://coacheshotseat.com/CoachesHotSeatRankingNFL.htm

Surprisingly the Raiders gave the Chargers all they could handle last week in a 13-6 loss. Latavius Murray!

I agree with all this, as how can you evaluate the big picture on a player when he surrounded by crap.His OC starts calling passing plays all game against a team with the strongest pass rusher in the game, and most likely MVP this season. Then the OC basically uses the run game as a distraction, and it hasn't been used to help win games since week two. The poor guy was playing behind the worst O line in the game with a rookie player so bad he may never see another start. I think we can all agree that the lack of a good O line, and good coaching are the biggest issues with this years team. I've seen enough flashes of brilliance from EJ to know there is still something there worth developing under better coaching. Anyone else remember the Carolina game in week two of last year where EJ lead a two min drill to win the game in under a 1:38. EJ beat the Ravens last year. Then when he had a horrible game against the Jets week two, and he came back in week 11 when the run game wasn't working at all 68 rushes for 38 yards a 1.78 YPC avg. Ej played well for 20 of 28 245 yards and 2 TD's. It was EJ that helped beat the Bears and Dolphins this year, and it all went south when the moron of an OC decides to go pass happy against the Chargers even when the run game was getting 4.5 yards per carry. This blatant retard of an OC has helped screw his own offense into the ground game after game on offense by trying to force his game plan into his opponents strengths. Both EJ & Orton aren't even close to the problems with this years team, and until changes are made with the coaching staff they will never fully play to the best of their abilities. Lastly, would you agree that its pretty difficult to step up in the pocket to complete deep passes when the interior of the line is the weakest part of the line. Plus, it seems to me that the Bills miss Stevie in the red zone, and his replacement doesn't even seem to be used at all in any aspect. I think the benching saved EJ from this horror of an offensive coaching staff, and from possible multiple concussions that would absolutely ruin him.

No QB is going to have success behind the current line, and with the current coaches. Fix the coaches, O line, and then see what Orton & EJ can do.

Whats literally crazy is the NY Jets had the proper formula to develop a young QB when they drafted Mark Sanchez with a very strong run game, play great defense. Then tried to accelerate the QB development process by making him throw more, and more as games went on. They started out his rookie year by passing only 393 times vs 607 rushing attempts, and it was freaking working. The team went to the AFC Championship game that year, and basically lost because they couldn't run the ball well enough. Then the next year they started to pass more, run less and still has success by getting to the AFC Championship game again 525 attempts passing vs 534 attempts rushing with LT at RB. Again they lost because that game because they didn't even try and dance with what brought them, as they basically ignored the run game. Meanwhile the Steelers pounded the rock on them to the tune of 43 attempts for 166 yards. The Jets have had a very bad offense since 2010 mostly because they have no decent WR's, as their leading receiver in 2011 was the TE Dustin Keller, and he was injured almost all of 2012. Then they let him leave in 2013. The Jets haven't had a 1000 yard receiver since 2007. Plus, since getting to the last championship game they have failed to build a dedicated run attack. The Jets had a strong identity when they drafted Sanchez, and lost it along the way under Rex Ryan, and I know Jets fans hate GM John Idzik but the guy did bring in Eric Decker & Percy Harvin in an attempt to bolster their passing game. One of the problems with that is Harvin has never even had a 1000 yard receiving season, and want to know how many times he has caught a ball for more then 20 yards in his career? Never! The 2014 Jets have a good RB corps, and just don't utilize them properly (to our gain). Chris Ivory is a very tough to bring down RB who averages 4.5 YPC , and they simply don't use him enough. Chris Johnson is also in the backfield gaining about 4.2 YPC, and they don't use him enough either. Its great that the Jets OC is an idiot worse then Hackett. Plus, the defense has gone from great to bad under Ryan. So, in conclusion the drafted a QB #5 overall in 2009, and almost ruined him in New York Jauron style. Then last year drafted another QB in the 2nd round, and basically ruined him. Now after two years are giving up on him. Good news for Bills fans the Jets are even more dysfunctional then the Bills because they somehow managed to find a way to keep their bad coaches. Rex Ryan should have been fired after the 2011 season, and again after 2012 season, and again after the 2013 season. Good thing for us the Jets owner loves the guy Even with his Mark Sanchez tattoo on his arm. Then some Bills have suggested Rex Ryan as the Bills next HC P.S. The Jets will no doubt draft another QB this year. Lets hope they keep the same coaching staff, and ruin him too. Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota with the #3 overall. PPS. the story on EJ isn't done quite yet. Lets see what he can do with some real NFL coaches next year. The current coaches from the college ranks need to go back to what they were mediocre at....because they are bad at the NFL level.

quite true But it might help pounding it up the middle like Hackett was so prone to do 70% of the time last year, at least they won't ruin Jackson for the next coaching staff.

They are a great team on defense. They have / had some terrific offensive weapons. That's the good news. The bad news is they have an ineffectual offensive coaching staff, and are fielding one of the worst, if not the worst offensive line in the league. The result of this is that the Bills are dead last in scoring TD's in the red zone, and the coaches don't utilize the run game enough particularly when its working well. Its like the current Bills OC morphed into Chan Gailey who only wants to pass all game. Gailey was at least smart enough to recognize his teams weakness, and ran a lot out of a shotgun spread set that was an actual spread out line. Plus, Gailey realized his O line was very weak in opening holes, and pass blocking so he went with a short quick passing game that didn't rely on his blockers holding their blocks for more then 2-3 seconds. Hackett runs more of a 3-4 WR pro set sometimes considered a spread set, but his formations have is players closer to the ball then Gailey's spread set. Then, Hackett likes to keep that TE in to block to protect his QB. You could say that Hackett is more about protecting the QB, and being conservative on offense then he is about building a dominate run game or all out passing game. Now you would think that because the Bills are currently fielding massive, behemoth O linemen that they would be better in run / pass blocking. But its like the Bills O linemen have never seen a blocking sled or don't actually practice in pads against their own D line. The Bills O line has serious issues at both OG positions, and its killing the entire lines performance. Although last years Bills offense was very effectual in gaining yards on the ground it was mostly due to leading the league in attempts, and the ability of Spiller / Jackson to make something out of nothing. This years offense isn't even trying to run the ball very often even when they are doing so very well despite Spiller on IR, and Jackson injured. An example of this was against the Chiefs the Bills were doing very well averaging 5.0 YPC with the run, and only rushed 22 times vs 48 passes. The Chiefs had the #1 pass defense in the NFL, and the Dolphins had the #2 pass defense. So naturally this Bills OC has the team pass 48 times against the Chiefs, and passing 39 times against Miami, only 19 rushes attempts. The Bills O line is still bad, and neither the GM nor the coaches want to address it by trying different players at RG other then the one they have already played at that position. After that Miami game on Thursday night both announcers Phill Simms, and Deion Sanders went on to comment that the Bills QB wasn't at fault, as it was the bad offensive coaching that lost that game. Even if you don't care to listen to me, at least listen to ex NFL players who know, and have played the pro game. Its doubtful the Bills win any more games this year simply because they struggle in scoring more then 17 points on offense alone. Unless the defense can give them more turnovers or score with those turnovers they will continue to be a bad scoring team on offense. Which really sucks considering how good that defense is and that they finally have a decent veteran QB, but don't know how best to use him. Now for the really great news! The Bills have new owners who should make changes with the offensive coaching staff for next year, or maybe even this year should the Bills lose the next two at home against the Jets & Cleveland.

They don't have the guy playing QB who was nice enough to give the Bills defense three straight early Xmas gifts in the form of INT's, and that Jets team gave up 6 turnovers in all that day. 4 INTs, 2 fumbles, although they fumbles 4x.